Patents by Inventor Lawrence A. Johnson

Lawrence A. Johnson 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: 9567612
    Abstract: The invention presents novel corn fermentation processes that remove the oil-rich fraction either during or after fermentation instead of before fermentation as usual. Besides recovery of high value oil-rich fraction of the corn, the processes also produce other value-added co-products such as that with high fiber or high protein but low oil contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Tong Wang, Lawrence A. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120095190
    Abstract: According to the invention a novel vegetable protein fractionation procedure is disclosed which includes a straightforward process to obtain ?-conglycinin-rich and glycinin-rich isolated protein fractions with unique functional and nutritional properties desired by the food industry. The process is much simplified compared to the art and avoids multiple steps in the usual fractionation of soy protein and uses very small amounts of salts avoiding the necessity of excessive washing and desalting steps. The process yields high amounts of protein fractions with high isoflavone contents and improved functional properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Nicolas Alejo Deak, Lawrence A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8142832
    Abstract: According to the invention a novel vegetable protein fractionation procedure is disclosed which includes a straightforward process to obtain ?-conglycinin-rich and glycinin-rich isolated protein fractions with unique functional and nutritional properties desired by the food industry. The process is much simplified compared to the art and avoids multiple steps in the usual fractionation of soy protein and uses very small amounts of salts avoiding the necessity of excessive washing and desalting steps. The process yields high amounts of protein fractions with high isoflavone contents and improved functional properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas Alejo Deak, Lawrence A. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100260918
    Abstract: The invention presents novel corn fermentation processes that remove the oil-rich fraction either during or after fermentation instead of before fermentation as usual. Besides recovery of high value oil-rich fraction of the corn, the processes also produce other value-added co-products such as that with high fiber or high protein but low oil contents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Tong Wang, Lawrence A. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100227042
    Abstract: Compositions and processes for destabilizing an oil-in-water emulsion resulting from the aqueous solvent extraction of plant oils are disclosed. The processes comprise the use of one or more enzyme activities including phospholipase and protease activity. The processes are useful for improving the extraction of oil from oilseeds, as well as for obtaining more desirable proteins from those oilseeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher Penet, Peter Birschbach, Buddhi P. Lamsal, Lawrence A. Johnson, Stephanie E. Glatz, Charles E. Glatz, Cheng Zhang, Jianping Wu
  • Patent number: 6463989
    Abstract: An overhead door movement blocking system for selectively blocking opening of an overhead door with a device that is easily and quickly removable and transferred to other overhead doors. The overhead door movement blocking system includes a block device for positioning in the channel of the guide track of an overhead door structure to obstruct movement of the guide roller of an overhead door in the channel past the block device. The block device has inner and outer faces, and an aperture is formed in the block device for aligning with a hole in the base wall of the guide track when the block device is positioned in the channel of the guide track. The aperture extends between the inner and outer faces. The block device has opposite first and second ends, with the first end being positionable adjacent to the guide roller of the overhead door. The first end has a concave face for positioning adjacent to and abutting the guide roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5985216
    Abstract: A sorting nozzle having two tapered zones with elliptical cross-sections is able to orient and sort a large fraction of asymmetrical or "flattened" cells. This nozzle has particular application for sorting viable male (Y) and female (X) sperm populations in a cell sorter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Willem Rens, Glenn R. Welch, Lawrence A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5936069
    Abstract: The present invention provides an economical method to produce an improved soy protein concentrate from soybeans which have been genetically-modified to reduce or eliminate the raffinose, stachyose and lipoxygenase content and associated off-flavors. The improved soy protein concentrate is highly functional, has good palatability and high retention of vitamins, minerals and isoflavones, little or no indigestible oligosaccharides, and is low in fiber such that it can be used in place of soy protein isolates in many applications. Further, the low processing costs of the present invention result in an economical product which offers a superior alternative for lower value uses such as aquaculture diets, pet foods, calf milk replacers, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5749290
    Abstract: A multi-station press is provided with a press transfer device that engages articles at the press stations after processing and transfers the articles to the next station before the press performs its next press cycle. The press transfer device includes a pair of elongated transfer bars extending along the transfer directions of the press, and grippers or other article engaging elements mounted along the transfer bars to engage the articles for transfer. The transfer bars are moved together by a grip moving unit to engage the articles, the transfer bars are lifted by a lifter, the transfer bars are then moved endwise by an endwise moving unit to the next press station. The lifter then lowers the bars and the grip moving unit moves the bars apart to disengage the articles, thereby leaving the articles at the next station. The grip moving unit ensures that the transfer bars are moved far enough apart so as not to interfere with the press during the next press cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Johnson, Heinz H. Schmeisser
  • Patent number: 5520708
    Abstract: A method is provided to reduce the crystallization temperature of a fatty acid oil ester-petroleum distillate fuel blend. The method comprises combining a petroleum distillate with an amount of an ester of a branched chain (C.sub.3 -C.sub.5) alcohol of a fatty acid, wherein the amount utilized is effective to lower the crystallization onset point of the blend by about 8.degree.-20.degree. C. Blowy that of a blend comprising the same amount of a methyl or ethyl ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Johnson, Earl G. Hammond
  • Patent number: 5356655
    Abstract: Starch-thickened acidic foodstuffs are provided in which the starch used as a thickener comprises sugary-2 starch obtaining from sugary-2 genotype maize seeds. Sugary-2 starch can be effectively used as a thickener in foodstuffs having a pH of 2.0 to 5.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignees: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Pamela J. White, Linda M. Pollak, Lawrence A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5135759
    Abstract: Intact X and Y chromosome-bearing sperm populations of rabbits and swine were separated according to DNA content using a flow cytometer/cell sorter. Sperm viability was maintained by special staining techniques and by sorting and collecting the sperm in nutrient media. The sorted sperm were surgically inseminated into the uteri of rabbits or swine. Of the offspring born from does inseminated with the sorted population of X-bearing sperm, 94% were females. Of offspring born from does inseminated with sorted Y-bearing sperm from the same ejaculate, 81% were males.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4806016
    Abstract: The optical displacement sensor modulates intensity of the light beam as a function of the physical displacement. The sensor includes a reflector positioned in a path of the light beam between a light source and a light detector. The reflector has a non-reflective portion surrounded by a reflective portion. Relative movement (displacement) of the beam and the reflector occurs as a function of a parameter which is being sensed. In a normal (no displacement) condition, the non-reflective portion can be positioned with respect to the light beam so that intensity of the light beam received by the detector is at a minimum, and the sensor is operating in a darkfield mode. Displacement from the normal position causes an increase in the light intensity received by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Gary P. Corpron, Lowell A. Kleven, Lawrence A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4775214
    Abstract: An optical sensor for providing an output signal representative of a sensed parameter such as pressure or temperature which includes an input/output optical waveguide and an optical resonator. The input/output waveguide is coupled to the resonator so that a significant change in light intensity at the output of the input/output waveguide occurs at resonance of the optical resonator. The optical resonator exhibits first and second independent resonant modes which differ from one another as a function of the parameter to be sensed. A narrow bandwidth variable frequency light source provides a frequency swept light beam to the input/output waveguide, and one or more photodetectors sense the intensity of the light beam at the output of the input/output waveguide to produce an output signal representative of the parameter based upon the time difference between occurrence of the first and second resonant modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4409256
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for making a soybean-based milk analog or soymilk and food products prepared therefrom.The process involves the comminuting of whole soybeans having the hulls thereon, forming a slurry of the comminuted soybeans, simultaneously initiating the inactivation of trypsin inhibitor and lipoxygenase without fixing protein bodies or substantially denaturing the soybean protein, confining the heated slurry until the trypsin inhibitor activity is reduced to a desired value, cooling the slurry, and separating the hulls from the slurry to recover the desired product.The resulting soymilk is an aqueous preparation of the soybean which exhibits minimal destruction of essential amino acids, enhanced nutritional value, maximal retention, and thus increased yield of soybean solids including lipid and protein, optimal inactivation of trypsin inhibitors, reduced chemical browning, and enhanced flavor and palatability along with prolonged storage life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: The Edlong Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Johnson, William J. Hoover, Charles W. Deyoe
  • Patent number: 4402874
    Abstract: Protein isolates are recovered from vegetable protein sources, such as for example sunflower meal, by extracting the meal with an alkali solution in the presence of an alkali metal borohydride, and then acid precipitating the resulting aqueous protein extract phase to produce a protein isolate. Typically, the alkali metal borohydride is employed in an amount of at least about 20 ppm, based on the combined weight of vegetable meal and alkali solution. Protein isolates produced by this process exhibit improved color, palatability and/or nutritional value, and comprise highly desirable additives for food products, animal foods, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Thiokol Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Johnson, Hwei-mei Wen
  • Patent number: 3988512
    Abstract: A cloud control agent for use in aqueous beverages such as soft drinks comprising ethoxylated monoglyceride in combination with essential oils wherein the ratio of ethoxylated monoglyceride to essential oil is between about 0.01 to 2. The cloud for beverages and similar food products can be effectively controlled by varying the ratio from about 0.01 to 0.75 to obtain an opaque solution whereas a ratio of 0.75 to 0 provides a clear solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1976
    Assignee: SCM Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 3985913
    Abstract: An improvement in process for producing encapsulated condiment particles by spray drying wherein a special surface-coating step is done while subjecting such particles to spray drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1974
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1976
    Assignee: SCM Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Johnson, Edgar J. Beyn
  • Patent number: 3976794
    Abstract: Improved sweetened coconut products coated with powdered sugar can be made by substituting for a fraction of said powdered sugar, particles of sugar encapsulated in edible fat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1976
    Assignee: SCM Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Johnson, Larry A. Walters
  • Patent number: D404677
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Johnson