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: 20240102061
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Christina D. SMOLKE, Catherine THODLEY, KRISTY M. HAWKINS, Kenneth TAKEOKA, Douglas HANSEN
  • Publication number: 20240016335
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair Mikkelsen, Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Jianming Huang
  • Publication number: 20230389748
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair Mikkelsen, Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Jianming Huang
  • Patent number: 11814883
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: 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: 20220322867
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Tao Xu, Guozhuang Zeng, Edward Anthony Mello, III, Jianming Huang, Daniel Stuart Burke
  • Publication number: 20220298836
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: 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: 10813531
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Abhinay S. Munje
  • Publication number: 20200288942
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Abhinay S. Munje
  • Patent number: 10765293
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Ronald M. Nowell, Jr., Richard Lawrence Kretz, Kapil Gutpa, Darryl C. Bodine, Jerry M. Visin, Ameresh B. Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 10694924
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Abhinay S. Munje
  • Publication number: 20200121159
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Ronald M. Nowell, JR., Richard Lawrence Kretz, Kapil Gutpa, Darryl C. Bodine, Jerry M. Visin, Ameresh B. Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 10582829
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Ronald M. Nowell, Jr., Richard Lawrence Kretz, Kapil Gupta, Darryl C. Bodine, Jerry M. Visin, Ameresh B. Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 10398284
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen
  • Publication number: 20190125161
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Ronald M. Nowell, JR., Richard Lawrence Kretz, Kapil Gupta, Darryl C. Bodine, Jerry M. Visin, Ameresh B. Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 10253532
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Huf Huelsbeck & Fuerst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kenneth Hansen, Eugene Kozak, Suat Kaya
  • Patent number: 10233680
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: HUF HUELSBECK & FUERST GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kenneth Hansen, Suat Kaya
  • Publication number: 20180192852
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventor: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen
  • Publication number: 20170254121
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: HUF HUELSBECK & FUERST GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kenneth HANSEN, Suat KAYA
  • Publication number: 20170254122
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: HUF HUELSBECK & FUERST GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kenneth HANSEN, Suat KAYA
  • Publication number: 20170198505
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: Huf Huelsbeck & Fuerst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kenneth Hansen, Eugene Kozak, Suat Kaya