Patents by Inventor Kenneth A. Hansen
Kenneth A. Hansen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Publication number: 20240102061Abstract: Methods and engineered cells are provided for increasing activity of a norcoclaurine synthase in a microbial cell. The method comprises, within the engineered microbial cell, contacting an engineered norcoclaurine synthase with a substrate, wherein contacting the substrate with the engineered norcoclaurine synthase increases conversion, within the engineered microbial cell, in comparison to a non-engineered norcoclaurine synthase.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2021Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Christina D. SMOLKE, Catherine THODLEY, KRISTY M. HAWKINS, Kenneth TAKEOKA, Douglas HANSEN
-
Publication number: 20240016335Abstract: Methods and systems of determining the amount of liquid in a liquid supply tank of a beverage forming machine without a dedicated sensor are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the beverage forming machine includes a controller capable of determining the amount of liquid in the liquid supply tank based on a gas volume in a reference vessel, such as a conduit, in fluid communication with the liquid supply tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2021Publication date: January 18, 2024Applicant: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.Inventors: Blair Mikkelsen, Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Jianming Huang
-
Publication number: 20230389748Abstract: Methods and systems for employing a sensor to detect two physical characteristics of a liquid in a beverage machine. A sensor may have a conductive probe portion to contact liquid, e.g., to detect a liquid level in a removable water tank, and a thermistor portion to detect a temperature of the liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2021Publication date: December 7, 2023Applicant: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.Inventors: Blair Mikkelsen, Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Jianming Huang
-
Patent number: 11814883Abstract: A door for an entryway includes an exterior-facing surface, an inner structure, and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is connected to the inner structure and configured to be fastened or released for controlling access to the entryway. The door also includes a key-cylinder accessible from the exterior-facing surface and configured to selectively lock and unlock the latch mechanism. The door additionally includes a pawl configured to be rotated by the key-cylinder about a pivot axis, connected to the latch mechanism, and defining a pass-through aperture distal from the pivot axis. The door also includes a shield defining a shield attachment aperture and connected to the inner structure. The door further includes a security fastener to fix the shield relative to the key-cylinder at the shield attachment aperture and extending through the pass-through aperture without impeding the pawl's rotation or contacting the pawl as the pawl operates the latch mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Eric S. Nielsen, Steve J. Briggs, Robert D. Granny, Phillip C. Storck, III, Gavin J. Brownlie, Jr., Mark T. McKiernan, Jeffrey Kenneth Hansen, Yong Sang Cho, Gunghun Jang, Suat Kaya
-
Publication number: 20220322867Abstract: Methods and systems for employing a sensor to detect disconnection of a liquid supply tank and/or a low fill level of the liquid supply tank are disclosed herein. The sensor may have an optical sensor to detect liquid, e.g., to detect a liquid level in a removable liquid supply tank and/or liquid at a pump. The optical sensor can include a body made of a resilient material and including first and second portions and an opening located between the first and second portions. The opening can be configured to receive and frictionally engage with a conduit for carrying liquid, with the first portion configured to support a light emitter and the second portion configured to support a light detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Tao Xu, Guozhuang Zeng, Edward Anthony Mello, III, Jianming Huang, Daniel Stuart Burke
-
Publication number: 20220298836Abstract: A door for an entryway includes an exterior-facing surface, an inner structure, and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is connected to the inner structure and configured to be fastened or released for controlling access to the entryway. The door also includes a key-cylinder accessible from the exterior-facing surface and configured to selectively lock and unlock the latch mechanism. The door additionally includes a pawl configured to be rotated by the key-cylinder about a pivot axis, connected to the latch mechanism, and defining a pass-through aperture distal from the pivot axis. The door also includes a shield defining a shield attachment aperture and connected to the inner structure. The door further includes a security fastener to fix the shield relative to the key-cylinder at the shield attachment aperture and extending through the pass-through aperture without impeding the pawl's rotation or contacting the pawl as the pawl operates the latch mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2021Publication date: September 22, 2022Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Eric S. Nielsen, Steve J. Briggs, Robert D. Granny, Phillip C. Storck, III, Gavin J. Brownlie, Jr., Mark T. McKiernan, Jeffrey Kenneth Hansen, Yong Sang Cho, Gunghun Jang, Suat Kaya
-
Patent number: 10813531Abstract: A dishwasher with at least one guide rail. The guide rail can slidably couple a dish rack to a tub, where the tub defines at least a portion of a treating chamber. The dish rack can carry at least one wheel assembly that includes at least one wheel. The wheel can be contained in a wheel channel of the wheel assembly. The wheel channel can in part be defined by walls of the guide rail. A track closure can rotatably couple to the guide rail for the selective removal of the dish rack from the guide rail.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Abhinay S. Munje
-
Publication number: 20200288942Abstract: A dishwasher with at least one guide rail. The guide rail can slidably couple a dish rack to a tub, where the tub defines at least a portion of a treating chamber. The dish rack can carry at least one wheel assembly that includes at least one wheel. The wheel can be contained in a wheel channel of the wheel assembly. The wheel channel can in part be defined by walls of the guide rail. A track closure can rotatably couple to the guide rail for the selective removal of the dish rack from the guide rail.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Abhinay S. Munje
-
Patent number: 10765293Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, at least one dish rack in the treating chamber, and a rack height adjustment assembly. The rack height adjustment assembly includes an adjuster plate slidably coupled to the at least one dish rack and fixed vertically relative to the tub, the adjuster plate including at least one adjuster detent, a locking lever having a catch end that is biased to engage the adjuster detent to hold the dish rack in place in either a lowered or raised position, the locking lever being pivotally movable relative to the at least one dish rack between an engaging position where the catch end engages the adjuster detent and a release position where the catch end does not engage the adjuster detent and the dish rack is vertically movable between the lowered and raised positions, and an actuator configured to move the locking lever to the release position when the actuator is moved from an undepressed position to a depressed position.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Ronald M. Nowell, Jr., Richard Lawrence Kretz, Kapil Gutpa, Darryl C. Bodine, Jerry M. Visin, Ameresh B. Viswanathan
-
Patent number: 10694924Abstract: A dishwasher with at least one guide rail. The guide rail can slidably couple a dish rack to a tub, where the tub defines at least a portion of a treating chamber. The dish rack can carry at least one wheel assembly that includes at least one wheel. The wheel can be contained in a wheel channel of the wheel assembly. The wheel channel can in part be defined by walls of the guide rail. A track closure can rotatably couple to the guide rail for the selective removal of the dish rack from the guide rail.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2019Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Abhinay S. Munje
-
Publication number: 20200121159Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, at least one dish rack in the treating chamber, and a rack height adjustment assembly. The rack height adjustment assembly includes an adjuster plate slidably coupled to the at least one dish rack and fixed vertically relative to the tub, the adjuster plate including at least one adjuster detent, a locking lever having a catch end that is biased to engage the adjuster detent to hold the dish rack in place in either a lowered or raised position, the locking lever being pivotally movable relative to the at least one dish rack between an engaging position where the catch end engages the adjuster detent and a release position where the catch end does not engage the adjuster detent and the dish rack is vertically movable between the lowered and raised positions, and an actuator configured to move the locking lever to the release position when the actuator is moved from an undepressed position to a depressed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Ronald M. Nowell, JR., Richard Lawrence Kretz, Kapil Gutpa, Darryl C. Bodine, Jerry M. Visin, Ameresh B. Viswanathan
-
Patent number: 10582829Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, at least one dish rack in the treating chamber, and a rack height adjustment assembly. The rack height adjustment assembly includes an adjuster plate slidably coupled to the at least one dish rack and fixed vertically relative to the tub, the adjuster plate including at least one adjuster detent, a locking lever having a catch end that is biased to engage the adjuster detent to hold the dish rack in place in either a lowered or raised position, the locking lever being pivotally movable relative to the at least one dish rack between an engaging position where the catch end engages the adjuster detent and a release position where the catch end does not engage the adjuster detent and the dish rack is vertically movable between the lowered and raised positions, and an actuator configured to move the locking lever to the release position when the actuator is moved from an undepressed position to a depressed position.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2017Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Ronald M. Nowell, Jr., Richard Lawrence Kretz, Kapil Gupta, Darryl C. Bodine, Jerry M. Visin, Ameresh B. Viswanathan
-
Patent number: 10398284Abstract: In one aspect, a dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and defining an access opening, a dishrack, and a guide rail assembly slidably mounting the dishrack to the tub. The guide rail assembly has a guide rail mounted to the dishrack or to the tub and has at least one wheel which is rotatably mounted onto an integral axle of the guide rail assembly to the other of the dishrack or the tub.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2017Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen
-
Publication number: 20190125161Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, at least one dish rack in the treating chamber, and a rack height adjustment assembly. The rack height adjustment assembly includes an adjuster plate slidably coupled to the at least one dish rack and fixed vertically relative to the tub, the adjuster plate including at least one adjuster detent, a locking lever having a catch end that is biased to engage the adjuster detent to hold the dish rack in place in either a lowered or raised position, the locking lever being pivotally movable relative to the at least one dish rack between an engaging position where the catch end engages the adjuster detent and a release position where the catch end does not engage the adjuster detent and the dish rack is vertically movable between the lowered and raised positions, and an actuator configured to move the locking lever to the release position when the actuator is moved from an undepressed position to a depressed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2017Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Ronald M. Nowell, JR., Richard Lawrence Kretz, Kapil Gupta, Darryl C. Bodine, Jerry M. Visin, Ameresh B. Viswanathan
-
Patent number: 10253532Abstract: A door handle mounting device for a motor vehicle includes a door handle mount with a receiving space and a closing device attached to the door handle mount which is accommodated at least in part in the receiving space. The closing device includes a housing and a cylinder core rotatably supported in the housing and an actuator that is non-rotatably connected to the cylinder core for actuating a lock of the motor vehicle. A return element which exerts a return force on the actuator retains the actuator in its initial position or returns it thereto. The actuator is adapted to be rotated against the return force of the return element from the initial position and to an unlocking position or into a locking position. The return element is disposed lying radially surrounding the cylinder core and outside of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2017Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Huf Huelsbeck & Fuerst GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Jeffrey Kenneth Hansen, Eugene Kozak, Suat Kaya
-
Patent number: 10233680Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door handle arrangement having a closing cylinder for actuating a door lock by means of a key, wherein the closing cylinder is fixed in its installation position by means of a securing element displaceable relative to the closing cylinder from a pre-mounting position into a mounting position, wherein the securing element is displaced from the pre-mounting position into the mounting position by means of at least one actuation screw engaging in a thread in the securing element.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2017Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: HUF HUELSBECK & FUERST GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Jeffrey Kenneth Hansen, Suat Kaya
-
Publication number: 20180192852Abstract: In one aspect, a dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and defining an access opening, a dishrack, and a guide rail assembly slidably mounting the dishrack to the tub. The guide rail assembly has a guide rail mounted to the dishrack or to the tub and has at least one wheel which is rotatably mounted onto an integral axle of the guide rail assembly to the other of the dishrack or the tub.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2017Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventor: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen
-
Publication number: 20170254121Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door handle arrangement having a closing cylinder for actuating a door lock by means of a key, wherein the closing cylinder is fixed in its installation position by means of a securing element displaceable relative to the closing cylinder from a pre-mounting position into a mounting position, wherein the securing element is displaced from the pre-mounting position into the mounting position by means of at least one actuation screw engaging in a thread in the securing element.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Applicant: HUF HUELSBECK & FUERST GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Jeffrey Kenneth HANSEN, Suat KAYA
-
Publication number: 20170254122Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door handle arrangement having a closing cylinder for actuating a door lock by means of a key, wherein the closing cylinder is fixed in its installation position by means of a securing element displaceable relative to the closing cylinder from a pre-mounting position into a mounting position, wherein the securing element is displaced from the pre-mounting position into the mounting position by means of at least one actuation screw engaging in a thread in the securing element.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Applicant: HUF HUELSBECK & FUERST GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Jeffrey Kenneth HANSEN, Suat KAYA
-
Publication number: 20170198505Abstract: A door handle mounting device for a motor vehicle includes a door handle mount with a receiving space and a closing device attached to the door handle mount which is accommodated at least in part in the receiving space. The closing device includes a housing and a cylinder core rotatably supported in the housing and an actuator that is non-rotatably connected to the cylinder core for actuating a lock of the motor vehicle. A return element which exerts a return force on the actuator retains the actuator in its initial position or returns it thereto. The actuator is adapted to be rotated against the return force of the return element from the initial position and to an unlocking position or into a locking position. The return element is disposed lying radially surrounding the cylinder core and outside of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2017Publication date: July 13, 2017Applicant: Huf Huelsbeck & Fuerst GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Jeffrey Kenneth Hansen, Eugene Kozak, Suat Kaya