Patents by Inventor Michael A. Willis

Michael A. Willis 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: 11933510
    Abstract: This application relates to a building energy analysis and management system for measurement and verification of building performance. The system can analyze, optimize, manage, maintain, trouble shoot, and/or modify building systems, such as HVAC systems, in connection with the building energy usage. Measurements may be gathered for one or more HVAC units coupled to pressure independent valves, and sent to one or more Surge Panels that pass data to remote analysis servers, which can receive other system or external data. The analysis servers compare measurements to predicted values and can standardize the predicted values to account for external conditions. The comparison can result in difference values used to generate probable causes and optimization recommendations. The system outputs reports or other data display using a graphical user interface that can be adjusted for an anticipated user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: FlowEnergy, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Arthur Neal Smith, Joshua Jerome Doerr, Christopher Tillman Reed, Jeffrey Michael Creighton, Christopher John Robson, Andrew James Horn, David Anthony Rogers, Larry Ray Willis, Jr., Billy Joe Melin, Sr., Tamara Jewell Hansen
  • Patent number: 11935152
    Abstract: A system for identifying biomarkers in a digital image of a Hematoxylin and Eosin-stained slide of a target tissue includes a processor and an electronic network; and a memory having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to: process segmented tile images determine a predicted biomarker presence; and transmit the predicted presence. A non-transitory computer-readable medium includes a set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computer to: process segmented tile images; determine a predicted biomarker presence; and transmit the predicted presence. A computer-implemented method includes processing segmented tile images; determining a predicted biomarker presence; and transmitting the predicted presence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TEMPUS LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Yip, Irvin Ho, Lingdao Sha, Boleslaw Osinski, Aly Azeem Khan, Andrew J. Kruger, Michael Carlson, Abel Greenwald, Caleb Willis
  • Patent number: 11906487
    Abstract: An abrasion testing apparatus with a base, a test platform, a pair of angle adjustment wheels disposed on opposite sides of the test platform, a drive wheel, a tension control wheel, and a plurality of idler wheels. The test surface can be raised or lowered and the pair of angle adjustment wheels can be moved toward or away from the test platform to change the angle of contact between a material on the test surface and a material being moved by the drive wheel. The tension control wheel is movable to control the tension of the moving material during the test. A method of testing abrasion resistance involves placing a first material on the test platform and threading a second material around the drive, idler, tension control, and angle adjustment wheels, and in contact with the first material and moving the second material against the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Fjord, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Ratigan, Michael Ratigan, Michael Willis
  • Patent number: 11878630
    Abstract: A system and method for mounting structures to a vehicle may include providing an anchor point; the anchor point may have of an anchor point aperture in a structural member. The system and method may also include securing a plate to the anchor point by aligning an aperture in an anchor flange of the plate with the anchor point aperture. The system and method may also include locating a fastener through the anchor flange aperture and the anchor point aperture to secure the plate to the anchor point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Adrian Steel Company
    Inventors: Earl Richard Austin, III, Mark Anthoney Henry, Jr., Joshua Merle Rogers, Thomas Michael Willis, Kyle Jeffery Lakatos
  • Patent number: 11874262
    Abstract: A system for producing a high precision blended gas product (BGP), the system comprising: a supply of a volatile analyte in liquid form; a supply of an inert carrier gas; a supply of at least one diluent gas; an analyte gasifier (AG) subsystem for receiving the volatile analyte in liquid form, nebulizing the volatile analyte and mixing the nebulized volatile analyte with the inert carrier gas so as to form an analyte gas stream (AGS); and a gas mixer (GM) subsystem for receiving the AGS from the AG subsystem and mixing the AGS with the supply of at least one diluent gas so as to produce the BGP, wherein the GM subsystem comprises: a gas analyzer (GA) for receiving the AGS and analyzing the same; a gas proportioner for receiving the AGS from the GA, receiving the at least one diluent gas, and proportioning the AGS and the at least one diluent gas based on the results of the GA so as to provide a proportioned AGS and a proportioned at least one diluent gas; and a gas mixing chamber for receiving the proportione
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Automotive Coalition For Traffic Safety, Inc.
    Inventors: Neeraj Dalal, Brian E. Fratto, Kelly Ozdemir, Abdullatif Zaouk, Michael Willis, Clair Strohl
  • Publication number: 20230271678
    Abstract: A collapsible kayak may include a single-piece hull including a plurality of crease lines along which the hull is foldable. A removable floorboard lines a midship portion of the hull between a bow portion and a stern portion, the floorboard including a seat assembly and configured to be releasably retained by a pair of outboard walls permanently fixed at port and starboard sides of the cockpit. The stern portion of the hull is permanently folded in a V-shaped (AKA swallowtail) configuration to form a closed transom of the kayak. The bow, stern, and midship portions are configured as a tri-fold, such that the bow portion and the stern portion of the kayak are foldable toward each other to overlap the midship portion of the hull when collapsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventor: Anton Michael WILLIS
  • Publication number: 20230182651
    Abstract: A locking system for a vehicle slide out device may have a paddle having a body portion and a flange portion. The system may also have a lever connected to the paddle where the lever has a locking pawl, and at least one pivot aperture. The system may also have a lever support located adjacent the lever, where the lever support may have at least one pivot extending through the at least one pivot aperture. The system may also have a frame member having a plurality of notches selectively aligned with the locking pawl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas Michael Willis
  • Patent number: 11590901
    Abstract: A system and method for mounting structures to a vehicle may include providing an anchor point; the anchor point may have of an anchor point aperture in a structural member. The system and method may also include securing a plate to the anchor point by aligning an aperture in an anchor flange of the plate with the anchor point aperture. The system and method may also include locating a fastener through the anchor flange aperture and the anchor point aperture to secure the plate to the anchor point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Adrian Steel Company
    Inventors: Earl Richard Austin, III, Mark Anthoney Henry, Jr., Joshua Merle Rogers, Thomas Michael Willis, Kyle Jeffery Lakatos
  • Patent number: 11466444
    Abstract: Various implementations include methods and apparatuses for constructing a concrete structure. In one implementation, a structure includes a pre-cast concrete column section and a pre-cast concrete beam section. The column section includes an embedded first assembly with a threaded rod, and the beam section includes an embedded second assembly defining a channel for receiving the threaded rod. Grout is fed through a joint between the column and beam sections into the second assembly to couple the threaded rod with the second assembly. The grout is urged through the joint and the second assembly by gravity and by applying vacuum suction to a grout port defined by the second assembly. The grout port extends between the channel of the second assembly and an external face of the beam section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Tindall Corporation
    Inventors: Bryant Zavitz, Kevin Kirkley, Chris Sigmon, Michael Willis, Behnam Naji
  • Patent number: 11208048
    Abstract: A shelf system that may be used with a vehicle is described. The shelf system may have a shelf member that selectively pivots between a raised position and a lowered position. The shelf system may have a frame system as well as a sub-frame system to support it within the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Adrian Steel Company
    Inventors: Elizabeth Herriman, Mark Anthoney Henry, Jr., Richard Norman Beauleaux, Jr., Timothy Alan Mouch, Thomas Michael Willis, William Wood, III, Mark Alan Mohr
  • Publication number: 20210381220
    Abstract: Various implementations include methods and apparatuses for constructing a concrete structure. In one implementation, a structure includes a pre-cast concrete column section and a pre-cast concrete beam section. The column section includes an embedded first assembly with a threaded rod, and the beam section includes an embedded second assembly defining a channel for receiving the threaded rod. Grout is fed through a joint between the column and beam sections into the second assembly to couple the threaded rod with the second assembly. The grout is urged through the joint and the second assembly by gravity and by applying vacuum suction to a grout port defined by the second assembly. The grout port extends between the channel of the second assembly and an external face of the beam section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Bryant Zavitz, Kevin Kirkley, Chris Sigmon, Michael Willis, Behnam Naji
  • Patent number: 11072084
    Abstract: A vacuum diverter defined by a housing or hollow body having a first end, a second end, a plurality of sides, and an opening formed in one of the plurality of sides. A valve flap is disposed within the hollow body and moveable between a first position and a second position. The valve flap is supported by a shaft that extends across a cavity defined by the housing and which is rotationally supported by the housing such that the shaft and valve flap can be removed from the housing in a crossing direction relative to an axis of rotation of the shaft. Rotation of the shaft effectuates rotation of the valve flap relative to the cavity to selectively fluidly connect the discrete vacuum flow passages defined by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventor: Michael Willis
  • Patent number: 11072345
    Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a vehicle, the system comprising: a voice synthesizer unit for providing voice communication to a driver; a speech recognition unit for receiving speech from a driver; a breath alcohol sensor unit for detecting a presence of alcohol on the breath of a driver and providing a signal representative of the same; a vehicle operation interface for controlling operation of the vehicle; and a controller for (i) selectively causing the voice synthesizer unit to speak to the driver, (ii) operating the speech recognition unit to detect speech by the driver, (iii) receiving the signal from the breath alcohol sensor unit, and (iv) depending on the signal received from the breath alcohol sensor unit, providing a command to the vehicle operation interface to control operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Automotive Coalition For Traffic Safety, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Bowers, Abdullatif Zaouk, Robert Strassburger, Michael Willis, Neeraj Dalal
  • Patent number: 10988920
    Abstract: Various implementations include methods and apparatuses for constructing a concrete structure. In one implementation, a structure includes a pre-cast concrete column section and a pre-cast concrete beam section. The column section includes an embedded first assembly with a threaded rod, and the beam section includes an embedded second assembly defining a channel for receiving the threaded rod. Grout is fed through a joint between the column and beam sections into the second assembly to couple the threaded rod with the second assembly. The grout is urged through the joint and the second assembly by gravity and by applying vacuum suction to a grout port defined by the second assembly. The grout port extends between the channel of the second assembly and an external face of the beam section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Tindall Corporation
    Inventors: Bryant Zavitz, Kevin Kirkley, Chris Sigmon, Michael Willis, Behnam Naji
  • Publication number: 20210063367
    Abstract: A system for producing a high precision blended gas product (BGP), the system comprising: a supply of a volatile analyte in liquid form; a supply of an inert carrier gas; a supply of at least one diluent gas; an analyte gasifier (AG) subsystem for receiving the volatile analyte in liquid form, nebulizing the volatile analyte and mixing the nebulized volatile analyte with the inert carrier gas so as to form an analyte gas stream (AGS); and a gas mixer (GM) subsystem for receiving the AGS from the AG subsystem and mixing the AGS with the supply of at least one diluent gas so as to produce the BGP, wherein the GM subsystem comprises: a gas analyzer (GA) for receiving the AGS and analyzing the same; a gas proportioner for receiving the AGS from the GA, receiving the at least one diluent gas, and proportioning the AGS and the at least one diluent gas based on the results of the GA so as to provide a proportioned AGS and a proportioned at least one diluent gas; and a gas mixing chamber for receiving the proportione
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Neeraj Dalal, Brian E. Fratto, Kelly Ozdemir, Abdullatif Zaouk, Michael Willis, Clair Strohl
  • Publication number: 20210009041
    Abstract: A shelf system that may be used with a vehicle is described. The shelf system may have a shelf member that selectively pivots between a raised position and a lowered position. The shelf system may have a frame system as well as a sub-frame system to support it within the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Elizabeth Herriman, Mark Anthoney Henry, JR., Richard Norman Beauleaux, JR., Timothy Alan Mouch, Thomas Michael Willis, William Wood, III, Mark Alan Mohr
  • Patent number: 10843772
    Abstract: A collapsible watercraft comprises a foldable sheet and is transitionable between a deployable kayak configuration and a stowed configuration by folding or unfolding along predefined fold lines in the foldable sheet. In the kayak configuration, the watercraft is switchable between at least a single-seat configuration and a tandem configuration by installing a desired number of seat and footrest assemblies. At least some of the seat and footrest assemblies are installed in the kayak by strapping seat and/or footrest components to loops nonreleasably attached to removable floorboards of the kayak. The removable floorboards are installed in the kayak using extruded engagement profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Oru Designs, LLC
    Inventors: Anton Michael Willis, Forrest Nelson Harvey, Stefania Cargnello
  • Publication number: 20200240131
    Abstract: Various implementations include methods and apparatuses for constructing a concrete structure. In one implementation, a structure includes a pre-cast concrete column section and a pre-cast concrete beam section. The column section includes an embedded first assembly with a threaded rod, and the beam section includes an embedded second assembly defining a channel for receiving the threaded rod. Grout is fed through a joint between the column and beam sections into the second assembly to couple the threaded rod with the second assembly. The grout is urged through the joint and the second assembly by gravity and by applying vacuum suction to a grout port defined by the second assembly. The grout port extends between the channel of the second assembly and an external face of the beam section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Bryant Zavitz, Kevin Kirkley, Chris Sigmon, Michael Willis, Behnam Naji
  • Patent number: 10619342
    Abstract: Various implementations include methods and apparatuses for constructing a concrete structure. In one implementation, a structure includes a pre-cast concrete column section and a pre-cast concrete beam section. The column section includes an embedded first assembly with a threaded rod, and the beam section includes an embedded second assembly defining a channel for receiving the threaded rod. Grout is fed through a joint between the column and beam sections into the second assembly to couple the threaded rod with the second assembly. The grout is urged through the joint and the second assembly by gravity and by applying vacuum suction to a grout port defined by the second assembly. The grout port extends between the channel of the second assembly and an external face of the beam section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Tindall Corporation
    Inventors: Bryant Zavitz, Kevin Kirkley, Chris Sigmon, Michael Willis, Behnam Naji
  • Publication number: 20200101982
    Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a vehicle, the system comprising: a voice synthesizer unit for providing voice communication to a driver; a speech recognition unit for receiving speech from a driver; a breath alcohol sensor unit for detecting a presence of alcohol on the breath of a driver and providing a signal representative of the same; a vehicle operation interface for controlling operation of the vehicle; and a controller for (i) selectively causing the voice synthesizer unit to speak to the driver, (ii) operating the speech recognition unit to detect speech by the driver, (iii) receiving the signal from the breath alcohol sensor unit, and (iv) depending on the signal received from the breath alcohol sensor unit, providing a command to the vehicle operation interface to control operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Kyle Bowers, Abdullatif Zaouk, Robert Strassburger, Michael Willis, Neeraj Dalal