Patents by Inventor Michael A. Stephens

Michael A. Stephens 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: 20190150383
    Abstract: A method for plant breeding by identifying, balancing, and combining multiple traits is provided. The method enhances the profitability of a hybrid corn seed production system by providing traits having high impact on decreasing cost of production on female parent and traits having low impact on decreasing cost of production and end users traits on the female and/or the male parent. The invention also provides a hybrid corn seed produced by such method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Rajendra D. Ketkar, Jay Cartmell Pershing, Michael A. Stephens
  • Publication number: 20100257621
    Abstract: A method for plant breeding by identifying, balancing, and combining multiple traits is provided. The method enhances the profitability of a hybrid corn seed production system by providing traits having high impact on decreasing cost of production on female parent and traits having low impact on decreasing cost of production and end users traits on the female and/or the male parent. The invention also provides a hybrid corn seed produced by such method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Rajendra D. Ketkar, Jay Cartmell Pershing, Michael A. Stephens
  • Patent number: 7705215
    Abstract: This invention relates to a reproducible system for the production of stable, genetically transformed maize cells, and to methods of selecting cells that have been transformed. One method of selection disclosed employs the Streptomyces bar gene introduced by microprojectile bombardment into embryogenic maize cells which were grown in suspension cultures, followed by exposure to the herbicide bialaphos. The methods of achieving stable transformation disclosed herein include tissue culture methods and media, methods for the bombardment of recipient cells with the desired transforming DNA, and methods of growing fertile plants from the transformed cells. This invention also relates to the transformed cells and seeds and to the fertile plants grown from the transformed cells and to their pollen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Dekalb Genetics Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Adams, Paul C. Anderson, Sheryl A. Chambers, Paul S. Chomet, Richard J. Daines, Christopher E. Flick, Kimberly Glassman, William J. Gordon-Kamm, Albert P. Kausch, Lucille B. Laccetti, Peggy G. Lemaux, Catherine J. Mackey, Mary Lou Mangano, Michael T. Mann, James V. O'Brien, Emil M. Orozco, Peter Orr, Thomas B. Rice, T. Michael Spencer, William G. Start, Michael A. Stephens, Clayton S. Vetsch, David A. Walters, Donald S. Walters, Nancy G. Willetts, Susan J. Zachwieja
  • Patent number: 7314970
    Abstract: Methods and compositions relating to glyphosate resistant maize plants, including the GA21, GG25, GJ11 and FI117 transformation events, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of using herbicide resistance transformation events in plant breeding procedures. The invention further includes methods of ensuring plant seed purity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Monanto Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Spencer, Rita Mumm, J. Jefferson Gwyn, David McElroy, Michael A. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6803499
    Abstract: This invention relates to a reproducible system for the production of stable, genetically transformed maize cells, and to methods of selecting cells that have been transformed. One method of selection disclosed employs the Streptomyces bar gene introduced by microprojectile bombardment into embryogenic maize cells which were grown in suspension cultures, followed by exposure to the herbicide bialaphos. The methods of achieving stable transformation disclosed herein include tissue culture methods and media, methods for the bombardment of recipient cells with the desired transforming DNA, and methods of growing fertile plants from the transformed cells. This invention also relates to the transformed cells and seeds and to the fertile plants grown from the transformed cells and to their pollen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: DeKalb Genetics Corporation
    Inventors: Paul C. Anderson, Christopher E. Flick, William J. Gordon-Kamm, Albert P. Kausch, Catherine J. Mackey, Emil M. Orozco, Peter Orr, Michael A. Stephens, David A. Walters, Donald S. Walters
  • Patent number: 6762344
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of breeding maize using female plants having a transgene encoding an EPSPS enzyme where the female plants are female reproductively tolerant to treatment with glyphosate but can be made male sterile upon treatment with glyphosate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: DeKalb Genetics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Spencer, Rita Mumm, J. Jefferson Gwyn, David McElroy, Michael A. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6543704
    Abstract: A protecter for a riser connected to an underground water pipe and sprinkler head attached at a top portion thereof includes an elongate hollow body member having an upper portion with an upper opening and a lower portion with a lower opening, each opening being defined by a rim on respective upper and lower portion. The body defines an interior space for housing a riser and sprinkler head therein and has a lower portion including a pair of slots formed therein for fitting the body over an underground water pipe, and an upper portion further including a concave hood member extending laterally outwardly and downwardly of the rim of the upper opening and defining a cavity. The hood member has a lower edge portion for engaging a ground surface to limit downward travel of the protecter. The slots have an open lower portion and an arcuate upper portion for engaging the upper surface of an underground water pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Michael A. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6399861
    Abstract: This invention relates to a reproducible system for the production of stable, genetically transformed maize cells, and to methods of selecting cells that have been transformed. One method of selection disclosed employs the Streptomyces bar gene introduced by microprojectile bombardment into embryogenic maize cells which were grown in suspension cultures, followed by exposure to the herbicide bialaphos. The methods of achieving stable transformation disclosed herein include tissue culture methods and media, methods for the bombardment of recipient cells with the desired transforming DNA, and methods of growing fertile plants from the transformed cells. This invention also relates to the transformed cells and seeds and to the fertile plants grown from the transformed cells and to their pollen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Dekalb Genetics Corp.
    Inventors: Paul C. Anderson, Christopher E. Flick, William J. Gordon-Kamm, Albert P. Kausch, Catherine J. Mackey, Emil M. Orozco, Peter Orr, Michael A. Stephens, David A. Walters, Donald S. Walters
  • Publication number: 20010032890
    Abstract: A protective device for a riser connected to an underground water pipe and sprinkler head attached at a top portion thereof includes an elongate hollow body member having an upper portion with an upper opening and a lower portion with a lower opening, each opening being defined by a rim on respective upper and lower portion. The body defines an interior space for housing a riser and sprinkler head therein and has a lower portion including a pair of slots formed therein for fitting the body over an underground water pipe, and an upper portion further including a concave hood member extending laterally outwardly and downwardly of the rim of the upper opening and defining a cavity. The hood member has a lower edge portion for engaging a ground surface to limit downward travel of the device. The slots have an open lower portion and an arcuate upper portion for engaging the upper surface of an underground water pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventor: Michael A. Stephens
  • Patent number: 5640143
    Abstract: An occupancy sensor that provides improved performance by the inclusion of a microprocessor that controls the sensing transducers and processes the received signal to optimize desired detection performance. The occupancy sensor includes a quadrature detection technique and automatic sensitivity adjustment that reduce false detection caused by air flow, hallway traffic and other noise sources. A fault detection method executed periodically detects fault conditions in the sensor or sensing area caused by component failure or obstructions in front of the sensor. Transmitter power is varied depending on the size of the desired coverage area. Since various ambient parameters such as line voltage, light level, and temperature may be easily and usefully monitored, the microprocessor may use these variables to make intelligent decisions in controlling electrical loads, such as building lighting and ventilation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: MyTech Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas D. Myron, Errol R. Williams, Charles C. Hardin, Timothy W. Woytek, Michael A. Stephens
  • Patent number: 4769327
    Abstract: A vector including a DNA sequence encoding a secretory signal sequence substantially identical to the secretory signal encoding sequence of the Bacillus licheniformis .alpha.-amylase gene; upstream from the signal-encoding sequence, a promoter sequence and a ribosome binding site sequence, transcription of the signal-encoding sequence being under the control of the promoter sequence; and downstream from the signal-encoding sequence, a site for the insertion into the vector of a heterologous DNA sequence, in reading frame with the signal-encoding sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Biotechnica International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Stephens, Cathy F. Rudolph, Nancy M. Hannett, Diane L. Stassi, Janice G. Pero
  • Patent number: 4276651
    Abstract: A data communication system for use in the control and monitoring of mobile stations, for example, in a bus monitoring system, from a central station over a communication channel carrying both data and voice information. Information is encoded into digital messages having a start code followed by one or more data blocks. The start code identifies the beginning of the data block that follows and enables synchronization of clock circuitry to the received data frequency. The data blocks have N digital words with M binary bits where one word is a parity word and N-1 words are data words. Each of the data words has a data portion and parity portion coded for correction of at least one error. Reliability is enhanced by a data detector which discriminates between data and noise or voice to provide an indication of the presence of data. In transmitting the digital messages, the bits of the N words in each data block are interleaved to provide protection against error bursts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1981
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Bench, William R. Dirkes, Manohar A. Juglekar, James C. Secora, Michael A. Stephen