Patents by Inventor L. Allen

L. Allen 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).

  • System and method for harvesting eggs from arthropods
    Patent number: 8776721
    Abstract: The system and method for harvesting eggs from arthropods includes a modular arthropod egg repository that is essentially a plurality of substrates connected along a common edge in a tablet-type configuration. The egg repository is deployed in an arthropod containment vessel. Arthropods ambulate onto a repository substrate and implant eggs. Operators can selectively remove entire repositories or individual substrates (as required) from the containment vessel. The system allows operators to utilize batch, continuous, and semi-continuous culture methods to rear target arthropods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Margaret L. Allen
  • SURFACE CONTAMINATION DETERMINATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20140193042
    Abstract: A computer receives a first set of spectral information for a first surface, wherein the first set of spectral information includes a pixel count for each color value of a range of color values, with regard to each color, measured at time one. The computer determines, with regard to the first set, whether dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, with regard to each color, exceeds a first threshold value. The computer determines, with regard to the first set, a surface contamination level based on at least whether the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, with regard to each color, exceeds the first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ira L. Allen, Rogerio S. Feris, Yun Zhai
  • NOadsorber catalyst condition evaluation apparatus and associated methods
    Patent number: 8756922
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for evaluating the condition of a NOx adsorber catalyst (NAC) of an internal combustion engine system includes a rich condition timing module, NAC outlet lambda module, and NAC condition module. The rich condition timing module is configured to accumulate the total time during which exhaust gas exiting the NAC has a lambda value less than 1.0. The NAC outlet lambda module is configured to store NAC outlet lambda values of the exhaust gas while the exhaust gas exiting the NAC has a lambda value less than 1.0. The NAC condition module is configured to evaluate the condition of the NAC based on the total time during which exhaust gas exiting the NAC has a lambda value less than 1.0 and an accumulation of the stored NAC outlet lambda values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Waratt Rattasiri, Neal W. Currier, Mathew L. Allen
  • TRIGGERING PERFORMANCE EVENT CAPTURE VIA PIPELINED STATE BUNDLES
    Publication number: 20140168231
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for analyzing the performance of a graphics processing pipeline. A first workload and a second workload are combined together in a pipeline to generate a combined workload. The first workload is associated with a first instance and the second workload is associated with a second instance. A first and second initial event are generated for the combined workload, indicating that the first and second workloads have begun processing at a first position in the graphics processing pipeline. A first and second final event are generated, indicating that the first and second workloads have finished processing at a second position in the graphics processing pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: NVIDIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roger L. ALLEN, Ziyad S. HAKURA, Thomas Melvin OGLETREE
  • REGULATION OF ENERGY METABOLISM AND OBESITY BY MODULATING B CELL ACTIVATING FACTOR (BAFF, BLYS) OR BAFF SIGNALING
    Publication number: 20140170107
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating energy metabolism and weight in mammals, in particular by modulating thermogenesis associated with brown fat, including thermogenesis by brown fat or brown fat cells, adaptive thermogenesis by brown fat or brown fat cells, thermogenic capacity of brown fat or brown fat cells, or a combination thereof. More specifically, methods and compositions provided herein for treating or preventing obesity, or methods and compositions for identifying compounds effective for treating or preventing obesity are taught in connection with ligands such as B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), their receptors, and molecules that modulate the interactions between the ligands and receptors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Children's Hospital Medical Center
    Inventors: Christopher L. Karp, Senad Divanovic, Jessica L. Allen
  • Authentication using multi-layered graphical passwords
    Patent number: 8756672
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a computerized method includes presenting multiple choices for attributes of a multi-layered graphical password, wherein each of the attributes is associated with one of a plurality of layers of the multi-layered graphical password. The multi-layered graphical password is for use in accessing a system. The method includes receiving selections from among the multiple choices, wherein the selections identify a group of the attributes of the multi-layered graphical password. The selections are associated with a user attempting access to the system. The method includes authenticating the user based on the group of the attributes of the multi-layered graphical password. The method also includes allowing the user access to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Rory L. Block, Douglas B. Childs
  • VIDEO SWITCHER AND TOUICH ROUTER METHOD FOR A GAMING MACHINE
    Publication number: 20140155167
    Abstract: A method is described for presenting video signals from a first video source and one or more second video sources on a single touch screen display. The method includes: enabling display of primary content from a first video signal and secondary content from a second video signal on the touch screen display, using a display manager, in an adjacent or overlapping condition by scaling or shifting one of the first video signal(s) or the second video signal(s) to alter the size and to render the first video signal with the second video signal(s); and calculating a coordinate transformation, using a touch router device, on coordinates received from the touch screen display that correspond to the presentation at the touch screen display of the video signals and to accommodate any scaling or shifting performed on the first video signal(s) or the second video signal(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Kelly, Stephen E. Patton, Kiran Brahmandam, Robert W. Crowder, Vijay K. Kompella, Jeffrey L. Allen
  • GAME OF CHANCE UTILIZING SOCIAL NETWORK CONTACT ATTRIBUTES
    Publication number: 20140148245
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a game of chance in which profile data for social contacts in a social networking system is used to determine whether a player wins or loses the game of chance. An indication that a first player desires to be included in a game provided on a social network system is stored. The game randomly selects a subset of a plurality of social contacts of a second player. In response to determining that the first player is included in the randomly selected subset of the plurality of social contacts, an award is provided to the first player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Andrew C. Guinn, Damon E. Gura, Robert L. Kyte, Harry C. Lang, Richard B. Robbins, Pamela S. Smith, Danijel Stankovic
  • Regulation of energy metabolism and obesity by modulating B cell activating factor (BAFF, BLYS) or BAFF signaling
    Patent number: 8735347
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating energy metabolism and weight in mammals, in particular by modulating thermogenesis associated with brown fat, including thermogenesis by brown fat or brown fat cells, adaptive thermogenesis by brown fat or brown fat cells, thermogenic capacity of brown fat or brown fat cells, or a combination thereof. More specifically, methods and compositions provided herein for treating or preventing obesity, or methods and compositions for identifying compounds effective for treating or preventing obesity are taught in connection with ligands such as B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), their receptors, and molecules that modulate the interactions between the ligands and receptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Children's Hospital Medical Center
    Inventors: Christopher L. Karp, Senad Divanovic, Jessica L. Allen
  • GLOBAL POLICY FRAMEWORK ANALYZER
    Publication number: 20140143199
    Abstract: Analyzing a set of policies. A goal comprising a particular outcome is received. An analysis object comprising a data structure maintaining information needed to perform an analysis of the goal is defined. The analysis object is configured to limit a number of calculations needed to achieve the goal. Each member of a set of expressions found in the set of policies has an output. The output is the same for each expression. One of the set of expressions is solved. The solved output is cached in the analysis object such that the solved output is associated with each member of the set of expressions. The analysis object is processed to create a set of values that achieves the goal. Processing includes referencing the cache to retrieve the solved output each time a member of the set of expressions is to be solved during processing of the analysis object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul L. Allen, David J. Finton, Charles Theodore Kitzmiller
  • Integrating portable electronic devices with electronic flight bag systems installed in aircraft
    Patent number: 8732233
    Abstract: An electronic flight bag apparatus includes an electronic flight bag (EFB) system installed in an aircraft and which interfaces with a ground network, and a portable EFB device connectible with the EFB system via a trusted secure connection. This apparatus makes it possible for a flight crew member to remove the portable device from the aircraft, enter flight information into the device in a convenient manner, and transfer the information to the installed EFB system. Auxiliary crew members may use the portable device during flight to assist the flight crew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: David L. Allen
  • Broadband optical upconversion by energy transfer from dye antenna to upconverting crystal
    Patent number: 8724214
    Abstract: An optical upconverting nanomaterial includes a nanocrystal, a ligand layer directly bonded to the nanocrystal, and an optical antenna directly or indirectly bonded to the nanocrystal. The nanocrystal includes a transition metal-doped material exhibiting upconversion to optical wavelengths. The transition metal-doped material includes energy transfer facilitating transition metal dopants and (not necessarily distinct) emitter transition metal dopants, where an absorption spectrum of the energy transfer facilitating transition metal dopants overlaps with an emission spectrum of the optical antenna. The optical upconverting nanomaterial has at least one linear dimension (e.g., width or thickness) that is less than 150 nm in extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Voxtel, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Schut, Charles G. Dupuy, George M. Williams, Thomas L. Allen
  • Drill bit with continuously sharp edge cutting elements
    Patent number: 8720609
    Abstract: A method of optimizing drill bit design and an optimized drill bit for drilling a well into an earth formation comprising a bit body; a number of blades spaced around the bit body, each blade having a curved outer edge and a forward face; a first row of cutter pockets recessed into the face along the outer edge of each blade; a second group of cutter pockets recessed into the face of each blade offset from the first row; and a plurality of cutting elements, each cutting element being brazed into a different one of the cutter pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert M. Welch, Eric E. McClain, L. Allen Sinor
  • Single Detector Detection and Characterization of Thermal and Epithermal Neutrons From an Earth Formation
    Publication number: 20140097335
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting thermal and epithermal neutrons. The apparatus includes a first radiation responsive element configured to absorb substantially all incident thermal neutrons and produce first light scintillations indicative of the absorbed thermal neutrons and a second radiation responsive element configured to produce second light scintillations indicative of at least epithermal neutrons that traverse the first radiation responsive element. Also disclosed are borehole logging methods and apparatuses for estimating formation properties using nuclear radiation, particularly an apparatus and method for estimating parameters of a formation. The method may include using neutron count rate information from a detector to model porosity or salinity. The apparatus includes a processor and storage subsystem with a program that, when executed, implements the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Feyzi Inanc, Robbie L. Allen, Nikolay N. Velker
  • AUTHORIZING AND MANAGING WAGERING AGENT ACCOUNTS
    Publication number: 20140080583
    Abstract: Described herein are processes and devices that authorize and manage wagering agents and associated accounts. One of the devices described is a wagering game system. The wagering game system can detecting a request from a first player account to utilize a shared wagering fund to wager on a wagering game. The shared wagering fund can be funded by a second player account. The wagering game system can make the shared wagering fund available to the first player account to wager on a wagering game. The wagering game system can determine a game award produced by the wagering game. The system can then allocate a portion of the game award to the second player account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Peter R. Anderson, Christopher R. Barney, Larry J. Pacey, Alfred Thomas
  • Broadband optical upconversion by energy transfer from dye antenna to upconverting crystal
    Publication number: 20140071517
    Abstract: An optical upconverting nanomaterial includes a nanocrystal, a ligand layer directly bonded to the nanocrystal, and an optical antenna directly or indirectly bonded to the nanocrystal. The nanocrystal includes a transition metal-doped material exhibiting upconversion to optical wavelengths. The transition metal-doped material includes energy transfer facilitating transition metal dopants and (not necessarily distinct) emitter transition metal dopants, where an absorption spectrum of the energy transfer facilitating transition metal dopants overlaps with an emission spectrum of the optical antenna. The optical upconverting nanomaterial has at least one linear dimension (e.g., width or thickness) that is less than 150 nm in extent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: David M. Schut, Charles G. Dupuy, George M. Williams, Thomas L. Allen
  • Systems and methods for increasing media absorption efficiency using interferometric waveguides
    Patent number: 8670294
    Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing media absorption efficiency using interferometric waveguides in information storage devices are described. One such system for an interferometric waveguide assembly includes a light source, a first waveguide arm and a second waveguide arm, a splitter configured to receive light from the light source and to split the light into the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm, and a near field transducer (NFT) configured to receive the light from the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm, where the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm converge to form a preselected angle at a junction about opposite the splitter, and where the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm are configured to induce a preselected phase difference in the light arriving at the NFT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Zhong Shi, Shing Lee, Hongxing Yuan, Sergei Sochava, Ronald L. Allen, Yunfei Li, Michael Morelli
  • Wagering game digital representative
    Patent number: 8662981
    Abstract: A wagering game developer can support an online wager gaming community and provide digital representatives to members to enhance real-life wager gaming experience. A wagering game establishment server imports a digital representative of a wagering game player from the online wager gaming community. The server determines wagering game activity of the wagering game player at one or more electronic wagering game machines. The server determines an update for the digital representative based on the determined wagering game activity of the wagering game player, and then associates the update with the digital representative. The update includes a second executable code. Later, the server exports the digital representative with the second executable code associated therewith to the online wager gaming community.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, James S. Halprin, Jeremy M. Hornik, Joel R. Jaffe, John M. Koszarek
  • Methods and apparatus for heating air with hot water
    Patent number: 8662404
    Abstract: A method controls an air handler that generates heated air from hot water generated by a water heater. The method includes generating a signal in the presence or absence of an indicia of water flow associated with the water heater; initiating operation of a pump associated with the air handler when the signal indicates that water flow associated with the water heater is at least at a selected level to supply hot water to the air handler sufficient to generate heated air; and/or terminating operation of the pump and/or a blower/fan associated with the air handler when the presence or absence signal indicates that the water flow associated with the water heater is less than the selected level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rinnai America Corporation
    Inventors: James Stuart York, Hugh L. Allen-Magande
  • Global policy framework analyzer
    Patent number: 8655824
    Abstract: Analyzing a set of policies. A goal comprising a particular outcome is received. An analysis object comprising a data structure maintaining information needed to perform an analysis of the goal is defined. The analysis object is configured to limit a number of calculations needed to achieve the goal. Each member of a set of expressions found in the set of policies has an output. The output is the same for each expression. One of the set of expressions is solved. The solved output is cached in the analysis object such that the solved output is associated with each member of the set of expressions. The analysis object is processed to create a set of values that achieves the goal. Processing includes referencing the cache to retrieve the solved output each time a member of the set of expressions is to be solved during processing of the analysis object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul L. Allen, David J. Finton, Charles Theodore Kitzmiller