Patents by Inventor Michael A. Ward

Michael A. Ward 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: 20240131956
    Abstract: A system and method for selectively charging removable batteries used for powering a fleet of local use vehicles may include placing and selectively charging batteries in a charging repository. Batteries are charged to an at least threshold charge level at which the batteries may be used to power a vehicle in a duty cycle. Charging can be managed based on at least one of fleet battery replacement needs and electrical cost optimization. The repository includes at least one rack in which batteries may be charged and a robotic device for moving batteries back and forth between the rack and the vehicles. Charging batteries within the repository and supplying them to vehicles that drive to the repository for battery exchange provides efficient spatial usage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Walker, John Ward
  • Publication number: 20240131957
    Abstract: A wireless communication system for batteries removably mountable in local use vehicles and chargeable in a charging repository includes a plurality of batteries, each battery having a housing; a first wireless communication device attached to an outer surface of the housing for receiving and transmitting data; and electrical contacts attached to the housing for selectively providing power to or from the battery. A plurality of second wireless communication devices is mountable to either a one of the local use vehicles or to a location in the charging repository for communication with one of the first wireless communication devices when in an adjacent communication orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Ryan Watts, Michael Walker, Timothy McCartney, John Ward
  • Publication number: 20240136645
    Abstract: A battery assembly for a local use vehicle has outer walls, electrical contacts, and a communication connection, the battery providing a quantity of energy to power the local use vehicle, the electrical contacts of the battery configured and located for electrical contact with the first electrical contacts within the battery compartment when the battery is in a fully-inserted position within the battery compartment, the communication connection of the battery configured and located for wireless non-contact communication with the communication connection within the battery compartment when the battery is in a fully-inserted position within the battery compartment. The battery further includes a grasping point extending from one of the outer walls of the battery, the grasping point configured for being grasped by the end effector of the robotic device to thereby move the battery back and forth between the fully-inserted position and a removed position outside of the local use vehicle via the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: John Ward, Ethan Oliver, Michael Walker
  • Publication number: 20240132287
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for powering a fleet of local use vehicles using batteries, the batteries being removable from the local use vehicles for charging. The system and method include moving one of the local use vehicles in a battery exchange location when the battery in the local use vehicle is in an uncharged state, removing the battery in the uncharged state from a battery compartment in the local use vehicle using a robotic device, and placing the battery in the uncharged state into a first charging bay within a charging repository using the robotic device, the charging repository configured with a plurality of the charging bays to simultaneously hold and to charge a plurality of the batteries, removing a battery in a charged state from a second bay in the charging repository using the robotic device, and placing the battery in the charged state into the battery compartment in the local use vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: John Ward, Michael Walker, Ethan Oliver
  • Publication number: 20240135090
    Abstract: Disclosed is a platform that manages worker users in a temporary staffing environment via an artificial machine learning model. The temporary staffing platform matches available workers to available shifts/gigs. Additional features include generating provisional or near-miss matches and informing workers how to turn those near-misses into full matches, plotting a gig-career path to develop additional skills, gamify development, and automatically generate resumes. The platform generates a set of skill tags associated with each shift/gig performed by the user. Designing of resume text files by the artificial machine learning model includes procedurally generated descriptions of experience the user has based on the recording of each shift/gig performed by the user and the skill tags associated with each recorded shift/gig, wherein a format of the resume text file is formulated by the artificial machine learning model evaluating a mix of skill tags and employers amassed by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher A. KAPCAR, Richard Paul BETORI, Jeffrey Howard RASH, Robert Michael WARD, Jeffrey S. DIRKS, Jeroen Anton DECKER, Shawn David DILLENBECK
  • Patent number: 11964010
    Abstract: Coronavirus S ectodomain trimers stabilized in a prefusion conformation, nucleic acid molecules and vectors encoding these proteins, and methods of their use and production are disclosed. In several embodiments, the coronavirus S ectodomain trimers and/or nucleic acid molecules can be used to generate an immune response to coronavirus in a subject. In additional embodiments, the therapeutically effective amount of the coronavirus S ectodomain trimers and/or nucleic acid molecules can be administered to a subject in a method of treating or preventing coronavirus infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, The Scripps Research Institute, Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventors: Barney Graham, Jason Mclellan, Andrew Ward, Robert Kirchdoerfer, Christopher Cottrell, Michael Gordon Joyce, Masaru Kanekiyo, Nianshuang Wang, Jesper Pallesen, Hadi Yassine, Hannah Turner, Kizzmekia Corbett
  • Publication number: 20240124485
    Abstract: The present invention provides compounds useful for the treatment of narcolepsy or cataplexy in a subject in need thereof. Related pharmaceutical compositions and methods are also provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Younggi Choi, Yuan Hu, Hoan Huynh, Brian M. Aquila, Brian Kenneth Raymer, Ingo Andreas Mugge, James R. Woods, Lewis D. Pennington, Jörg Martin Bentzien, Jonathan Ward Lehmann, Michael R. Hale, Roman A. Valiulin
  • Publication number: 20240123736
    Abstract: An example method comprising requesting authorization to reprocess a replaceable supply component using first data stored in memory of the replaceable supply component and an interface, the first data including original manufacturing data for the replaceable supply component. The method further comprises, in response to the request, receiving second data using the interface, and appending the original manufacturing data stored in the memory with the second data to designate the replaceable supply component as reprocessed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Steven T CASTLE, Paul L JERAN, Jefferson P WARD, Alex Michael OAKS, Jesse Otto SUTHERLAND, III, Robert TAYLOR
  • Patent number: 11957429
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a hand controller apparatus for controlling a tool in a robotic surgery system can include a body with a proximal end and a distally located interface end configured to be coupled to an input apparatus configured to control the tool. The hand controller apparatus can also include a control lever attached to a pivot joint proximate a side surface of the body and extending along the body and away from the proximal end, the control lever being laterally moveable relative to the side surface of the body about the pivot joint. The hand controller apparatus can additionally include a lateral movement detector configured to magnetically or inductively detect a lateral movement of the control lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Titan Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Michael Kelly, Michael Darter Collins, Zachary Kevin Durand, William Jacob Ward, Mark Curtis Rector
  • Patent number: 11954619
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods described include receiving data related to an availability for a shift, automatically triggering initiation of a communications session related to the shift, conducting the communications session, and receiving and storing a plurality of audio or audio and visual signals from the communications session. Machine learning (ML) sentiment analysis is performed on data of the communications session and based on the sentiment analysis, a reliability score is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TRUEBLUE, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Kapcar, Carlos A. Lara Maldonado, Robert Michael Ward, Jeffrey S Dirks
  • Publication number: 20240102070
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to modified filamentous fungal strains (cells) comprising enhanced protein productivity phenotypes, wherein such modified strains are particularly well-suited for growth in submerged cultures (e.g., large-scale production of proteins for industrial/commercial applications). Thus, certain embodiments of the disclosure are related to such variant (modified) strains of filamentous fungus derived (obtained) from parental strains comprising a gene encoding a native GEF1 protein, wherein the variant strain comprises a genetic modification which disrupts or deletes a gene encoding a native GEF1 protein, wherein the variant strain comprises an increased protein productivity phenotype (i.e., relative to the parental strain) when grown/cultivated/fermented under the same conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Bodie, Zhongqiang Chen, Chuanbin Liu, Michael Ward
  • Patent number: 11940371
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing particle analysis through flow cytometry at comparatively high event rates and for gathering high resolution images of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Kaduchak, Michael Ward
  • Publication number: 20240078612
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for visualizing user spending data in an altered reality are provided. Spending data includes items purchased, budgets for specific rooms or categories, prices paid, dates of purchase, and amounts spent. The user may interact within the altered reality to manage spending and move budgets between rooms or categories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Vijeyta Aggarwal, Michael Charles Todasco, Kevin Ward
  • Publication number: 20240046158
    Abstract: Methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and model evaluations systems for understanding diverse machine learning models (MLMs) are disclosed. In some examples, a feature contribution value is determined for features included in a reference or evaluation input data set. The evaluation input data set represents a protected class population and each feature contribution value identifies a contribution by a feature to a difference in output generated by an MLM for the evaluation input data set. Model explanation information is generated using the feature contribution values and execution of the MLM is monitored. The model explanation information explains the difference in output generated by the MLM for the evaluation input data set and includes information relating to a model-based decision. A report is generated from a knowledge graph for the MLM and output via a GUI to an operator device that includes the model explanation information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: John Wickens Lamb Merrill, Geoffrey Michael Ward, Sean Javad Kamkar, John Joseph Beahan, JR., Mark Frederick Eberstein, Jose Efrain Valentin, Jerome Louis Budzik
  • Publication number: 20240046349
    Abstract: A method, in some implementations, may include obtaining output from a machine learning (ML) model responsive to input data, obtaining initial training data representing training data used to train the ML model, generating, based on the output from the ML model and the initial training data, correction training data that represents a desired alteration to the output from the ML model responsive to one or more particular subgroups in the input data, generating, based on the correction training data, a correction ML model configured to receive, as input, the input data and to output correction values which, when combined with the output from the ML model, perform the desired alteration, and generating corrected output as a combination of the output from the ML model and the output correction values from the correction ML model, and providing, for display, the corrected output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Geoffrey Michael Ward, Sean Javad Kamkar, Jerome Louis Budzik
  • Patent number: 11889823
    Abstract: A fishing lure having interchangeable inserts includes a lure body having a front end, a rear end, a left side, a right side, a top side, and a bottom side. At least the left side, but in some embodiments also the right side, includes an insert slot with an opening proximate the rear end. The insert slot has at least one pair of opposing flanges. An insert engages the insert slot and has a catch at a forward end thereof adapted for engaging the snap aperture of the lure body. An outer surface of the insert with a natural attractant is visible through the insert slot between the flanges. The insert is preferably one of many available inserts that all have varying outer surface characteristics, such as color, pattern, texture, attachments, and the like. A fishing lure attachment cooperative with the inserts is used with existing fishing lures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventor: Michael Ward Kertz
  • Publication number: 20240012991
    Abstract: Disclosed is a platform that manages worker users in a temporary staffing environment via an artificial machine learning model. The temporary staffing platform matches available workers to available shifts/gigs. Additional features include generating provisional or near-miss matches and informing workers how to turn those near-misses into full matches, plotting a gig-career path to develop additional skills, gamify development, and automatically generate resumes. The platform generates a set of skill tags associated with each shift/gig performed by the user. Designing of resume text files by the artificial machine learning model includes procedurally generated descriptions of experience the a user has based on the recording of each shift/gig performed by the user and the skill tags associated with each recorded shift/gig, wherein a format of the resume text file is formulated by the artificial machine learning model evaluating a mix of skill tags and employers amassed by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher A. KAPCAR, Richard Paul BETORI, Jeffrey Howard RASH, Robert Michael WARD, Jeffrey S. DIRKS, Jeroen Anton DECKER, Shawn David DILLENBECK
  • Patent number: 11860423
    Abstract: A system for connecting a fiber optic connector to a fiber optic adapter includes various alternative improvements, including improvements to the shutter, the alignment device, and the adapter in general.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael Aaron Kadar-Kallen, Michael Ward Zitsch, Dwight Andrew Bretz, Michael James Ott, Robert Charles Flaig
  • Publication number: 20230417649
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing particle analysis through flow cytometry at comparatively high event rates and for gathering high resolution images of particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Gregory Kaduchak, Michael Ward
  • Publication number: 20230417650
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing particle analysis through flow cytometry at comparatively high event rates and for gathering high resolution images of particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Gregory Kaduchak, Michael Ward