Patents by Inventor Michael A. Francis

Michael A. Francis 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: 20210102814
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting when users deviate from a provided transportation route and for correcting the transportation route in response to such user deviations is presented. In one embodiment, a method is provided including detecting a changed condition for a transportation route between a first location and a second location. The transportation route may include multiple transportation segments. A first transportation segment designating a first modality may be identified, wherein the changed condition decreases a likelihood that vehicles associated with the first modality will be available to service the first transportation segment. In response, a second transportation segment designating a second modality different from the first modality is generated. The first transportation segment is then replaced with the second transportation segment in the transportation route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Charles Parker Spielman, Mayank Gulati, Karina Goot, Priyanka Madhav Phatak, Michael Francis Lodick, Jatin Chopra
  • Patent number: 10971921
    Abstract: Example DC-DC converters include a housing having at least two bullet terminals. The at least two bullet terminals are configured to mate with corresponding terminals in a DC bullet breaker panel. The converter also includes a DC-DC voltage converter circuit coupled between the at least two bullet terminals, and a controller coupled with the DC-DC voltage converter circuit. The controller is configured to control the DC-DC converter circuit to convert a DC input voltage at a first one of the at least two bullet terminals to a different DC output voltage at another one of the at least two bullet terminals. Methods of converting DC voltages using DC-DC converters having bullet terminals are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Vertiv Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Brooklyn Strouse, Michael Francis Smith, Paul Brian Hiidel
  • Patent number: 10966815
    Abstract: An enclosure device is disclosed for delivering an implantable sheet-like support or repair device, such as ligament, tendon or other soft tissue support or repair device, to a surgical site. The enclosure device protects the support or repair device from unwanted adhesion and deformation during delivery and facilitates its optimal positioning at the injury or repair site where the support or repair device will be implanted. The enclosure device has a planar body foldable along one or more fold lines into at least two panels configured to contain the repair device between the panels; an optional cutout in one or more panels of the planar body at the panel edge opposite the fold line configured to expose a portion of the repair device; an optional positioning tab extending out from the fold line; and an optional securing mechanism to secure the enclosure device in a folded position. Methods of using the enclosure device are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: EMBODY INC.
    Inventors: Nathan Kemper, Michael Francis, Christy Nelson, Yas Maghdouri-White
  • Publication number: 20210092988
    Abstract: Methods of forming cellulosic sugars from the stalk or roots of a plant of the Nicotiana species are provided herein, the methods including i) receiving a tobacco material including at least one of a stalk material and a root material of a harvested plant of the Nicotiana species; ii) delignifying the tobacco material to form a tobacco-derived pulp; and iii) hydrolyzing the tobacco-derived pulp to form a hydrolyzed tobacco product including residual solids and a liquid including at least one tobacco-derived cellulosic sugar. A cellulosic sugar derived from hydrolyzed tobacco material including at least one of a tobacco stalk material and a tobacco root material of a harvested plant of the Nicotiana species is also provided herein. Tobacco products incorporating the cellulosic sugars derived from hydrolyzed tobacco material or products derived from the cellulosic sugar are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Francis Dube, Rhys Thomas Dale, Morrison Clark Dale, Jessica Hanna Johnston
  • Publication number: 20210080059
    Abstract: A proactive, prophylactic vehicle fluid capture system that embodies an inflatable air-diaper disposed under the engine. The inflatable air-diaper is deployed upon an indication of a sufficient crash event, wherein the deployed inflatable air-diaper catches the above-mentioned vehicular fluid prior to contact with the surrounding ground, thereby lessening the negative environmental impact and clean-up time resulting from the crash event. The inflatable air-diaper may deploy with peripheral sidewalls to facilitate the retention of the hazardous fluid on the inflatable air-diaper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Francis Pelc, Stanley Pelc
  • Publication number: 20210075909
    Abstract: A method of providing blockchain wireless services in a controlled environment is provided. The method comprises a wireless communication device associated with an inmate of a controlled environment receiving one of a voice and video call from a device external to the controlled environment. The method further comprises the device placing the received call into a hold state and sending a request for validation of the call via a blockchain, the request identifying at least parties to the call. The method further comprises the device, upon receipt of validation, removing the call from the hold state; and enabling at least one of voice and video functionality for the parties. The method further comprises the wireless communication device sending the request for validation to a telecommunications server and the server conducting real time monitoring of the call. The method further comprises the device continuously recording the call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Francis Byrne, Brian Francis Byrne
  • Publication number: 20210061914
    Abstract: Provided herein are HLA-PEPTIDE targets and antigen binding proteins that bind HLA-PEPTIDE targets. Also disclosed are methods for identifying the HLA-PEPTIDE targets as well as identifying one or more antigen binding proteins that bind a given HLA-PEPTIDE target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Karin Jooss, Wade Blair, Brendan Bulik-Sullivan, Michele Anne Busby, Jennifer Busby, Joshua Michael Francis, Gijsbert Marnix Grotenbreg, Mojca Skoberne, Roman Yelensky
  • Publication number: 20210059461
    Abstract: Improvements in and relating to a cooking apparatus A container (201) for storing and steaming food is disclosed, together with a packaged food product, a method of packaging food items and a method of cooking food items. The container (201) comprises a first compartment (202) for containing a steam source and a second compartment (203) for containing at least one food item. The second compartment (203) is disposed above the first compartment (202). Preferably, the first compartment (202) is separated from the second compartment (203) by a partition (221) and an adjustable barrier (240), the partition (201) comprising at least one opening (223) for admitting water vapour into the second compartment (203) from the first compartment (202).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Francis, Suzanna Mellersh
  • Patent number: 10933455
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tubular core on which sheets of metal or other material can be wound and supported, for shipment, handling and dispersal, and a method for forming the core. The core comprises a metal sheet or strip which has a rectangular-ribbed cross-sectional profile comprising rectangular, flat ribs, and which is wound spirally into a tubular configuration. The core is formed by passing the strip through a plurality of roll-forming stands, to progressively form sections of the ribs and progressively define the sections into the rectangular ribbed profile in which the flat ribs collectively form a support surface for the sheets which are to be wound on the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Pacific Roller Die Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Miller, Garrett Colin Gersten, Russell L. Hinckley, Sr., Michael Francis Kraut
  • Publication number: 20210050742
    Abstract: A device for inductively charging an electronic accessory includes a first portion, a second portion, and a spacer. The first portion includes a first transmission coil in a first plane where the first transmission coil is configured to generate a first magnetic field, and the second portion includes a first transmission coil in a second plane where the second transmission coil is configured to generate a second magnetic field. The spacer is positioned between the first transmission coil and the second transmission coil and between the first plane and the second plane. The spacer material magnetically insulates the second transmission coil from the first magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Casey Sean CALLAN, Stefan Jon KRISTJANSSON, Daniel Thomas NEVISTIC, George KARAVAEV, Michael Francis DEILY, David William VOTH, Srinivas Reddy NAGAMPET
  • Patent number: 10915783
    Abstract: An imaging device may capture images of a scene, where the scene includes retroreflective materials. Where visual images and depth images are captured from a scene, and the depth images have ratios of supersaturated pixels that are less than a predetermined threshold, a location map of the scene is generated or updated based on the depth images. Where the ratios are greater than the predetermined threshold, the location map of the scene is generated or updated based on the visual images. Additionally, where each of a plurality of imaging devices detect concentrations of supersaturated pixels beyond a predetermined threshold or limit within their respective fields of view, an actor present on the scene may be determined to be wearing retroreflective material, or otherwise designated as a source of the supersaturation, and tracked with the scene based on coverage areas that are determined to have excessive ratios of supersaturated pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Nathan Hallman, Petko Tsonev, Michael Francis O'Malley, Jayakrishnan Eledath, Jue Wang, Tian Lan
  • Patent number: 10914600
    Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing, ranking, and presenting multi-modality transportation proposals are presented. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving a request for transportation and generating proposals that include routes for transportation an origin location and a destination location of the request. The proposals each include segment(s) corresponding to a portion of a route and at least one modality identifying a type of transportation for the segment(s). Proposal scores may then be calculated for each of the proposals. Proposal scores for a proposal may be calculated based on a disutility measure of the proposal that measures a predicted inconvenience for a user following the route identified by the proposal. The proposals may be ranked based on the proposal scores and the ranking may be transmitted to a mobile device for display on the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Parker Spielman, Mayank Gulati, Karina Goot, Priyanka Madhav Phatak, Michael Francis Lodick, Jatin Chopra, David Louis Bergman Quaid
  • Publication number: 20210000605
    Abstract: A glenoid implant comprises a body comprising: an articular surface and a scapula-engaging surface, the scapula-engaging surface including first and second portions angled relative to each other; and a fixation feature extending from the scapula-engaging surface. A method comprises: forming a planar bone surface at a glenoid using a guide pin; forming a first bore into the glenoid located near the guide pin; forming a second bore into the glenoid offset from the first bore; inserting an augment ream guide into the first and second bores; and forming an angled bone surface at the glenoid relative to the planar bone surface using the augment ream guide. A ream guide comprises: a base having first and second surfaces; a bone peg extending from the first surface; an alignment peg spaced from the bone peg; and a guide peg extending from the second surface at an oblique angle to the bone peg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Francis Kovacs, Thomas M. Vanasse, Lawrence Gulotta
  • Patent number: 10881133
    Abstract: Methods of forming cellulosic sugars from the stalk or roots of a plant of the Nicotiana species are provided herein, the methods including i) receiving a tobacco material including at least one of a stalk material and a root material of a harvested plant of the Nicotiana species; ii) delignifying the tobacco material to form a tobacco-derived pulp; and iii) hydrolyzing the tobacco-derived pulp to form a hydrolyzed tobacco product including residual solids and a liquid including at least one tobacco-derived cellulosic sugar. A cellulosic sugar derived from hydrolyzed tobacco material including at least one of a tobacco stalk material and a tobacco root material of a harvested plant of the Nicotiana species is also provided herein. Tobacco products incorporating the cellulosic sugars derived from hydrolyzed tobacco material or products derived from the cellulosic sugar are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Michael Francis Dube, Rhys Thomas Dale, Morrison Clark Dale, Jessica Hanna Johnston
  • Publication number: 20200378300
    Abstract: The Rotary Roller Motor (RRM) is a four cycle rotary internal combustion engine that uniquely overcomes many of the drawbacks of other rotary type engines, by having the Rotor ‘roll’ around the inside of the engine block, rather than scraping it. This is accomplished with a two part rotor. The inner part of the rotor is composed of a Rotor Shaft (RS-12) with an Offset Circular Lobe (OCL-11) rigidly attached to it. The Outer Rotor (OR-9) fits symmetrically around the Offset Circular Lobe, with Inter Rotor Bearings (IRB-10) between the two to allow free movement. The four cycles are separated by two barriers; the Compression/Power Barrier (CPB-13), and the Exhaust/Intake Barrier (EIB-6). Compression is controlled by two non-reversing barriers, the Non-reversing Compression Barrier (NCB-3) and the Compression Hold Barrier (CHB-14), on either side of the Combustion Chamber (CC-2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventor: MICHAEL FRANCIS O'CONNOR
  • Patent number: 10855838
    Abstract: A method of providing blockchain wireless services in a controlled environment is provided. The method comprises a wireless communication device associated with an inmate of a controlled environment receiving one of a voice and video call from a device external to the controlled environment. The method further comprises the device placing the received call into a hold state and sending a request for validation of the call via a blockchain, the request identifying at least parties to the call. The method further comprises the device, upon receipt of validation, removing the call from the hold state; and enabling at least one of voice and video functionality for the parties. The method further comprises the wireless communication device sending the request for validation to a telecommunications server and the server conducting real time monitoring of the call. The method further comprises the device continuously recording the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Francis Byrne, Brian Francis Byrne
  • Publication number: 20200368386
    Abstract: A scaffold comprising an aligned fiber. Further, a scaffold comprising one or more electrospun fibers wherein a fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis result of the fibers have adjacent major peaks with about 180° apart from each other. Also, methods for promoting differentiation of stem cells into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, ligament or tendon, the method comprising culturing the cells on the scaffold or aligned fiber in conditions suitable for the cell differentiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Francis, Roy Ogle
  • Publication number: 20200368391
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compressed bone compositions, bone implants, and variants thereof. The present disclosure also relates to methods of preparing compressed bone compositions, bone implants, and variants thereof. The present disclosure also relates to methods of using the bone compositions, bone implants and variants thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Francis, Rudy Rodriquez, Nathan Kemper, Silvia Chen
  • Patent number: 10842095
    Abstract: Tray assemblies organized in a vertical stack with a grow light positioned above each. Plant nutrient solution flows into a feed reservoir positioned in a first end of the top assembly. When plant nutrient solution reaches the level of outlets positioned in a sidewall of the feed reservoir, it flows into longitudinal channels positioned on the tray assembly. A collection reservoir at a second end of the tray assembly collects excess solution from the channels. A lip positioned between the channels and the collection reservoir retains some of the solution in the channels so it is available to plants held by the tray assembly. Excess solution flows from the collection reservoir of the top tray assembly to a feed reservoir serving the next tray assembly in the stack. The pattern is repeated while alternating the orientation of each tray assembly such that solution is provided to each tray assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: KALERA, INC.
    Inventors: Cristian Ivanescu, Cristian Eugen Toma, Michael Francis Quigley
  • Patent number: D914565
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Michael Francis Guidoboni, Lauralee Grizzaffi, David Howard Carrillo, Sherif Fouad Ali, Glen Roy Brickey, Timothy Wahl, Mark Campbell