Patents by Inventor Kent Watson

Kent Watson 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).

  • Patent number: 9120677
    Abstract: A scalable method allows preparation of bulk quantities of holey carbon allotropes with holes ranging from a few to over 100 nm in diameter. Carbon oxidation catalyst nanoparticles are first deposited onto a carbon allotrope surface in a facile, controllable, and solvent-free process. The catalyst-loaded carbons are then subjected to thermal treatment in air. The carbons in contact with the carbon oxidation catalyst nanoparticles are selectively oxidized into gaseous byproducts such as CO or CO2, leaving the surface with holes. The catalyst is then removed via refluxing in diluted nitric acid to obtain the final holey carbon allotropes. The average size of the holes correlates strongly with the size of the catalyst nanoparticles and is controlled by adjusting the catalyst precursor concentration. The temperature and time of the air oxidation step, and the catalyst removal treatment conditions, strongly affect the morphology of the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: National Institute of Aerospace Associates, The United States of America as represented by the Administration of NASA
    Inventors: Kent Watson, Yi Lin, Sayata Ghose, John Connell
  • Patent number: 7467639
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motion of a gas valve in a gas feed line coupling a supply device to a burner is provided. The method includes receiving a signal representative of a user-selected desired level of heat output of the burner, translating the received signal to a first current signal, measuring a second current signal in a conducting medium that is operatively coupled with the valve, deriving a third current signal from the first and second current signals, and providing the third current signal to the conducting medium to control the motion of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric Kent Watson, Derrick Douglas Little
  • Publication number: 20080004419
    Abstract: Novel compositions of matter comprise certain derivatives of 9,9-dialkyl fluorene diamine (AFDA). The resultant compositions, whether compositions of matter or monomers that are subsequently incorporated into a polymer, are unique and useful in a variety of applications. Useful applications of AFDA-based material include heavy ion radiation shielding components and components of optical and electronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Spac
    Inventors: Donovan Delozier, Kent Watson, John Connell, Joseph Smith
  • Publication number: 20070292699
    Abstract: A process for depositing nanometer-sized metal particles onto a substrate in the absence of aqueous solvents, organic solvents, and reducing agents, and without any required pretreatment of the substrate, includes preparing an admixture of a metal compound and a substrate by dry mixing a chosen amount of the metal compound with a chosen amount of the substrate; and supplying energy to the admixture in an amount sufficient to deposit zero valance metal particles onto the substrate. This process gives rise to a number of deposited metallic particle sizes which may be controlled. The compositions prepared by this process are used to produce polymer composites by combining them with readily available commodity and engineering plastics. The polymer composites are used as coatings, or they are used to fabricate articles, such as free-standing films, fibers, fabrics, foams, molded and laminated articles, tubes, adhesives, and fiber reinforced articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicants: National Institute of Aerospace Associates, U.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Kent Watson, Michael Fallbach, Sayata Ghose, Joseph Smith, Donavon Delozier, John Connell
  • Publication number: 20050137383
    Abstract: Polyimides displaying low color in thin films, atomic oxygen resistance, vacuum ultraviolet radiation resistance, solubility in organic solvents in the imide form, high glass transition (Tg) temperatures, and high thermal stability are provided. The poly(amide acid)s, copoly(amide acid)s, polyimides and copolyimides are prepared by the reaction of stoichiometric ratios of an aromatic dianhydride with diamines which contain phenylphosphine oxide groups in polar aprotic solvents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Applicant: U. S. A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: John Connell, Joseph Smith, Paul Hergenrother, Kent Watson, Craig Thompson
  • Publication number: 20040191711
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motion of a gas valve in a gas feed line coupling a supply device to a burner is provided. The method includes receiving a signal representative of a user-selected desired level of heat output of the burner, translating the received signal to a first current signal, measuring a second current signal in a conducting medium that is operatively coupled with the valve, deriving a third current signal from the first and second current signals, and providing the third current signal to the conducting medium to control the motion of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Eric Kent Watson, Derrick Douglas Little