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).

  • FILAMENTOUS FUNGAL STRAINS COMPRISING REDUCED VISCOSITY PHENOTYPES
    Publication number: 20210017487
    Abstract: The present strains and methods of the disclosure relate to genetic modifications in filamentous fungi that give rise to variant strains having altered phenotypes, altered morphologies, altered growth characteristics, and the like. More specifically, as presented and described herein, such variant strains of filamentous fungi comprising reduced viscosity phenotypes are well-suited for growth in submerged cultures (e.g., for the large-scale production of enzymes and other proteins or metabolites for commercial applications).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Bodie, Robert James Pratt, III, Michael Ward, Jonathan M. Palmer
  • Sampling probes, systems, apparatuses, and methods
    Patent number: 10890596
    Abstract: A sampling system is provided. The sampling system includes a housing. Mounted to the housing is a Hall effect sensor. A probe configured to contact a sample is inserted into the housing. The probe includes an elongated portion and a restorative spring inserted onto the elongated portion of the probe. The restorative spring provides sufficient restorative force to return the probe to a relaxed position. The Hall effect sensor is configured to sense a field strength generated by the proximity of the restorative spring of the probe in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Glen Davis, John Jackson, Gregory Kaduchak, Wesley Smith, Michael Ward
  • Protein production in filamentous fungal cells in the absence of inducing substrates
    Patent number: 10876103
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the disclosure are directed to variant filamentous fungal cells, compositions thereof and methods thereof for increased production of one or more proteins of interest. More particularly, in certain embodiments, the disclosure is directed to variant filamentous fungal (host) cells derived from parental filamentous fungal cells, wherein the variant host cells comprise a genetic modification which enables the expression/production of a protein of interest (POI) in the absence of inducing substrate. In certain embodiments, a variant fungal host cell of the disclosure comprises a genetic modification which increases the expression of a variant activator of cellulase expression 3 (ace3) gene encoding an Ace3 protein referred to herein as Ace3-L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignees: DANISCO US INC, VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLAND LTD
    Inventors: Michael Ward, Yun Luo, Felipe Oseas Bendezu, Mari Valkonen, Markku Saloheimo, Nina Aro, Tiina Pakula
  • METHODS OF TREATING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
    Publication number: 20200399352
    Abstract: Methods of treating Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in patients suffering from mild to moderate AD, including ApoE4 positive patients and patients suffering from mild AD are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: GENENTECH, INC.
    Inventors: William Cho, Michel Friesenhahn, Robert Paul, Michael Ward
  • Optical connector and adapter
    Patent number: 10871616
    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: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael Aaron Kadar-Kallen, Michael Ward Zitsch, Dwight Andrew Bretz, Michael James Ott, Robert Charles Flaig
  • DECODING OF ENCODED AUDIO BITSTREAM WITH METADATA CONTAINER LOCATED IN RESERVED DATA SPACE
    Publication number: 20200357422
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for generating an encoded audio bitstream, including by including program loudness metadata and audio data in the bitstream, and optionally also program boundary metadata in at least one segment (e.g., frame) of the bitstream. Other aspects are apparatus and methods for decoding such a bitstream, e.g., including by performing adaptive loudness processing of the audio data of an audio program indicated by the bitstream, or authentication and/or validation of metadata and/or audio data of such an audio program. Another aspect is an audio processing unit (e.g., an encoder, decoder, or post-processor) configured (e.g., programmed) to perform any embodiment of the method or which includes a buffer memory which stores at least one frame of an audio bitstream generated in accordance with any embodiment of the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael GRANT, Scott Gregory NORCROSS, Jeffrey RIEDMILLER, Michael WARD
  • LOUDNESS ADJUSTMENT FOR DOWNMIXED AUDIO CONTENT
    Publication number: 20200359152
    Abstract: Audio content coded for a reference speaker configuration is downmixed to downmix audio content coded for a specific speaker configuration. One or more gain adjustments are performed on individual portions of the downmix audio content coded for the specific speaker configuration. Loudness measurements are then performed on the individual portions of the downmix audio content. An audio signal that comprises the audio content coded for the reference speaker configuration and downmix loudness metadata is generated. The downmix loudness metadata is created based at least in part on the loudness measurements on the individual portions of the downmix audio content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicants: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Michael Ward, Jeffrey Riedmiller, Scott Gregory Norcross, Alexander Stahlmann
  • CONTROLLING PHENOTYPE OF ORGANISMS WITH CRISPR/CAS GENE TARGETING
    Publication number: 20200318106
    Abstract: Engineered microbial organisms for altering gene expression are provided. In some embodiments, the engineered microbial organism comprises: one or more heterologous polynucleotide sequence comprising a phenotype coding sequence operably linked to a promoter; a heterologous polynucleotide sequence comprising an inducible promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a Cas nuclease; and a heterologous polynucleotide sequence comprising a guide RNA (gRNA) that targets the phenotype coding sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Alex Michael WARD, Molly Mo-Yin LEUNG, Jean Frances SPAGNOLO-SMITH, George CHENAUX
  • FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR WITH FIBER END PROTECTION
    Publication number: 20200310038
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to fiber optic connection systems including fiber optic connector having retractable noses for protecting bare fiber ends of ferrule-less connectors. In certain examples, the retractable noses are used in combination with protective shutters. In other examples, the retractable noses can accommodate multiple optical fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Danny Willy August Verheyden, Marc Eugène Willem Bervoets, Robert Charles Flaig, Randall Bobby Paul, Michael Ward Zitsch, David Donald Erdman, Gregory J. Schaible
  • COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING RECOMBINANT AAV
    Publication number: 20200283739
    Abstract: Provided herein are nucleic acid constructs, host insect cells, and methods for producing recombinant AAV capsids with high potency at high yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea J. Kang, Richard T. Surosky, Alex Michael Ward
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DECOMPOSITION OF DIFFERENTIABLE AND NON-DIFFERENTIABLE MODELS
    Publication number: 20200265336
    Abstract: Systems and methods for understanding diverse machine learning models.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: John Wickens Lamb Merrill, Geoffrey Michael Ward, Sean Javad Kamkar, John Joseph Beahan, JR., Marc Frederick Eberstein, Jose Efrain Valentin, Jerome Louis Budzik
  • Methods for cutting aligned full size holes
    Patent number: 10744573
    Abstract: A method for enlarging each one of an initial pair of holes, which includes a first hole, extending through a first component, and a second hole, extending through a second component, includes inserting a pilot member, corresponding to a tolerance of misalignment of the first hole and the second hole of the initial pair of holes, such that pilot member passes through a clearance gap, defined by at least a portion of a boundary of first hole and at least a portion of a boundary of second hole with pilot member having a first central axis. The method also includes cutting a second pair of aligned holes through first and second components, respectively, with a cutter section, which has a second central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: John P. Scheibel, James L. Scherer, Michael A. Ward
  • Gas fueled water heater appliance having a flame arrestor
    Patent number: 10746398
    Abstract: A gas fueled water heater appliance having a flame arrestor is provided herein. The gas fueled water heater appliance may include a tank for storage of water for heater, a chamber wall, a gas burner, and the flame arrestor. The gas burner may be positioned adjacent to the tank and within a combustion chamber. The flame arrestor may be positioned beneath the gas burner. The flame arrestor may include a bottom plate and a top plate. The bottom plate may define a non-permeable region and a perforated region. The perforated region may include a plurality of apertures extending through the top plate. The top plate may be positioned above the bottom plate and may define a non-permeable region and a perforated region. The perforated region may include a plurality of apertures extending through the top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Shaun Michael Ward
  • AUDIO ENCODER AND DECODER WITH DYNAMIC RANGE COMPRESSION METADATA
    Publication number: 20200219523
    Abstract: An audio processing unit (APU) is disclosed. The APU includes a buffer memory configured to store at least one frame of an encoded audio bitstream, where the encoded audio bitstream includes audio data and a metadata container. The metadata container includes a header and one or more metadata payloads after the header. The one or more metadata payloads include dynamic range compression (DRC) metadata, and the DRC metadata is or includes profile metadata indicative of whether the DRC metadata includes dynamic range compression (DRC) control values for use in performing dynamic range compression in accordance with at least one compression profile on audio content indicated by at least one block of the audio data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey Riedmiller, Michael Ward
  • Loudness adjustment for downmixed audio content
    Patent number: 10674302
    Abstract: Audio content coded for a reference speaker configuration is downmixed to downmix audio content coded for a specific speaker configuration. One or more gain adjustments are performed on individual portions of the downmix audio content coded for the specific speaker configuration. Loudness measurements are then performed on the individual portions of the downmix audio content. An audio signal that comprises the audio content coded for the reference speaker configuration and downmix loudness metadata is generated. The downmix loudness metadata is created based at least in part on the loudness measurements on the individual portions of the downmix audio content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Michael Ward, Jeffrey Riedmiller, Scott Gregory Norcross, Alexander Stahlmann
  • Decoding of encoded audio bitstream with metadata container located in reserved data space
    Patent number: 10672413
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for generating an encoded audio bitstream, including by including program loudness metadata and audio data in the bitstream, and optionally also program boundary metadata in at least one segment (e.g., frame) of the bitstream. Other aspects are apparatus and methods for decoding such a bitstream, e.g., including by performing adaptive loudness processing of the audio data of an audio program indicated by the bitstream, or authentication and/or validation of metadata and/or audio data of such an audio program. Another aspect is an audio processing unit (e.g., an encoder, decoder, or post-processor) configured (e.g., programmed) to perform any embodiment of the method or which includes a buffer memory which stores at least one frame of an audio bitstream generated in accordance with any embodiment of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Grant, Scott Gregory Norcross, Jeffrey Riedmiller, Michael Ward
  • TRUSTED COMMUNICATION IN TRANSACTIONS
    Publication number: 20200167778
    Abstract: Trusted communication between a first computing device and a second computing device in a transaction process is established as follows. A communication channel is established between the first computing device and the second computing device. The first computing device provides a secure communication to the second computing device, this secure communication comprising cryptographic material encrypted by a first cryptographic method. The second computing device decrypts the secure communication using a key already available to it. The first and the second computing device then communicate where trusted communication is required by a second cryptographic method using the cryptographic material. A suitable first computing device and second computing device are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Applicant: Mastercard International Incorporated
    Inventors: David Anthony Roberts, Duncan Garrett, John Beric, Michael Ward
  • Compositions and methods for helper strain-mediated fungal genome modification
    Patent number: 10655148
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided employing a helper strain system for promoting genetic alterations in a fungal host cell, e.g., a filamentous fungal host cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: DANISCO US INC
    Inventors: Aleksandra Virag, Michael Ward
  • Apparatuses, Systems And Methods For Imaging Flow Cytometry
    Publication number: 20200141860
    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: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory Kaduchak, Michael Ward
  • CUTTER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR CUTTING ALIGNED FULL SIZED HOLES
    Publication number: 20200108456
    Abstract: A cutter assembly for increasing a diameter of an initial pair of holes that includes a first hole defined through a first component and a second hole defined through a second component. The cutter assembly includes a pilot member having a pilot diameter corresponding to a tolerance of misalignment of the first hole and the second hole. Further included is a cutter section associated with the pilot member wherein the cutter section has a cutting diameter larger than the pilot diameter and the cutter section is configured to produce a second pair of aligned holes in the first and second components having a diameter dimension of that of the cutting diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: John P. Scheibel, James L. Scherer, Michael A. Ward