Patents by Inventor Larry Hand

Larry Hand 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: 20170318822
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing dry sausage. The process includes preparing a dry sausage meat mixture, stuffing the mixture into a casing or mould, fermenting the mixture, heat treating the mixture, cooling the mixture to a temperature sufficiently low to permit slicing, slicing the sausage, placing the sausage onto a conveyor, and passing the conveyor and sausage through a chamber. The process also includes introducing a supply of conditioned air into the chamber, the air having a relative humidity below about 60% and a temperature in the range of at least about 40° F. to 130° F., and introducing a supply of microwaves into the chamber. The air supply and microwaves are selected to reduce the moisture content of the meat to a predetermined moisture to protein ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: James ROBERDS, Larry HAND, Dave TAYLOR, Paul KAFER, Dan GLOWSKI
  • Patent number: 9713335
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing dry sausage. The process includes preparing a dry sausage meat mixture, stuffing the mixture into a casing or mold, fermenting the mixture, heat treating the mixture, cooling the mixture to a temperature sufficiently low to permit slicing, slicing the sausage, placing the sausage onto a conveyor, and passing the conveyor and sausage through a chamber. The process also includes introducing a supply of conditioned air into the chamber, the air having a relative humidity below about 60% and a temperature in the range of at least about 40° F. to 130° F., and introducing a supply of microwaves into the chamber. The air supply and microwaves are selected to reduce the moisture content of the meat to a predetermined moisture to protein ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC.
    Inventors: James Roberds, Larry Hand, Dave Taylor, Paul Kafer, Dan Glowski
  • Publication number: 20170027183
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing dry sausage. The process includes preparing a dry sausage meat mixture, stuffing the mixture into a casing or mould, fermenting the mixture, heat treating the mixture, cooling the mixture to a temperature sufficiently low to permit slicing, slicing the sausage, placing the sausage onto a conveyor, and passing the conveyor and sausage through a chamber. The process also includes introducing a supply of conditioned air into the chamber, the air having a relative humidity below about 60% and a temperature in the range of at least about 40° F. to 130° F., and introducing a supply of microwaves into the chamber. The air supply and microwaves are selected to reduce the moisture content of the meat to a predetermined moisture to protein ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: James ROBERDS, Larry HAND, Dave TAYLOR, Paul KAFER, Dan GLOWSKI
  • Patent number: 9526258
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing dry sausage. The process includes preparing a dry sausage meat mixture, stuffing the mixture into a casing or mold, fermenting the mixture, heat treating the mixture, cooling the mixture to a temperature sufficiently low to permit slicing, slicing the sausage, placing the sausage onto a conveyor, and passing the conveyor and sausage through a chamber. The process also includes introducing a supply of conditioned air into the chamber, the air having a relative humidity below about 60% and a temperature in the range of at least about 40° F. to 130° F., and introducing a supply of microwaves into the chamber. The air supply and microwaves are selected to reduce the moisture content of the meat to a predetermined moisture to protein ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Smithfield Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: James Roberds, Larry Hand, Dave Taylor, Paul Kafer, Dan Glowski
  • Publication number: 20120282372
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing dry sausage. The process includes preparing a dry sausage meat mixture, stuffing the mixture into a casing or mould, fermenting the mixture, heat treating the mixture, cooling the mixture to a temperature sufficiently low to permit slicing, slicing the sausage, placing the sausage onto a conveyor, and passing the conveyor and sausage through a chamber. The process also includes introducing a supply of conditioned air into the chamber, the air having a relative humidity below about 60% and a temperature in the range of at least about 40° F. to 130° F., and introducing a supply of microwaves into the chamber. The air supply and microwaves are selected to reduce the moisture content of the meat to a predetermined moisture to protein ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: James Roberds, Larry Hand, Dave Taylor, Paul Kafer, Dan Glowski
  • Publication number: 20070182486
    Abstract: Systems and methods for over-current protection in all-digital amplifiers using low-cost current sensing mechanisms. An over-current hard clipping unit receives a digital audio signal, clips the signal according to a clip level, and provides the signal to a modulator. The modulator modulates the signal to produce, e.g., a PWM signal and provides the modulated signal to an output stage which generates an output current to drive a speaker. An over-current sensing unit is compares the output current to a threshold value and generates a binary signal indicating whether the output current exceeds the threshold value. The hard clipping unit receives the binary signal and ramps down the clip level during time periods in which the binary signal indicates that the output current exceeds the threshold. When the binary signal indicates that the output current does not exceed the threshold value, the hard clipping unit ramps up the clip level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Daniel Chieng, Michael Kost, Jack Andersen, Larry Hand
  • Publication number: 20070152750
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performance improvements in digital switching amplifiers using simulation-based feedback. In one embodiment, a digital pulse width modulation (PWM) amplifier includes a signal processing plant configured to receive and process an input audio signal. The amplifier also includes a simulator configured to model processing of audio signals by the plant. The outputs of the plant and the simulator are provided to a subtractor, the output of which is then added to the input audio signal as feedback. The plant may consist of a modulator and power switch, a noise shaper, or any other type of plant. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) may be provided to convert the output audio signal to a digital signal for input to the subtractor. Filtering may be implemented before or after the ADC, and a decimator may be placed after the ADC if it is an oversampling ADC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Jack Andersen, Peter Craven, Michael Kost, Daniel Chieng, Larry Hand, Wilson Taylor
  • Publication number: 20070057720
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting the impedance of an output load coupled to a digital amplifier and compensating for changes in the response of the amplifier. One embodiment of the invention is implemented in a Class D pulse width modulated (PWM) amplifier. In this embodiment, a digital PCM test signal is generated. This test signal is processed by the amplifier to produce a corresponding analog audio output signal that is used to drive a speaker. A sense resistor placed in series with the speaker is used to generate a test voltage that is compared to a reference voltage. When the test voltage reaches the reference voltage, the current through the sense resistor (hence the speaker) is at a known level, so the value of the digital test signal is noted. The impedance of the speaker is then determined from the test signal value and the speaker current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Larry Hand, Wilson Taylor