Patents by Inventor Michael Hall

Michael Hall 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: 20240081808
    Abstract: Methods and devices for tissue fixation. A cortical button with a rib between two slotted openings. The rib increases the cortical button structural rigidity without increasing palpability. An adjustable loop construct with two discrete locking passages that provides manageable loop reduction and improved tissue coupling. The adjustable loop construct may be coupled to tissue via a passing construct. An assembly with a reduction bar, a button and an adjustable loop construct, the assembly provided assembled in a first configuration that disassembles to guide steps of tissue fixation. The reduction bar may be assembled to the reduction bar for reducing the adjustable loop construct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: ALI HOSSEINI, Christopher David MacCready, Kendra O'Malley, Geoffrey Ian Karasic, Zenan Qi, Benjamin Michael Hall, Chun Liu, Paul McGovern, Han Teik Yeoh
  • Patent number: 11929642
    Abstract: A generator including a stator frame, a plurality of stator donuts including a plurality of circumferentially disposed notches, and a plurality of a wedge assemblies for mounting the stator donuts to a plurality of building bolts is presented. Each wedge assembly includes a set of opposing wedges. The set of opposing wedges are positioned within a notch in a stator donut to create a locking force between a building bolt and the stator core. The wedge assembly also includes a tensioning bolt to set the opposing wedges to a position creating the locking force between the stator core and the building bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael R. Vindler, Michael A. Hall
  • Patent number: 11922711
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to tracking and determining a location of an object in an environment surrounding a user. A system includes one or more imaging devices and an object tracking unit. The system identifies an object in a search region, determines a tracking region that is smaller than the search region corresponding to the object, and scans the tracking region to determine a location associated with the object. The system may generate a ranking of objects, determine locations associated with the objects, and generate a model of the search region based on the locations associated with the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, Byron Taylor
  • Patent number: 11924396
    Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) for depth sensing of a local area. The DCA includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a controller. The transmitter illuminates a local area with outgoing light in accordance with emission instructions. The transmitter includes a fine steering element and a coarse steering element. The fine steering element deflects one or more optical beams at a first deflection angle to generate one or more first order deflected scanning beams. The coarse steering element deflects the one or more first order deflected scanning beams at a second deflection angle to generate the outgoing light projected into the local area. The receiver captures one or more images of the local area including portions of the outgoing light reflected from the local area. The controller determines depth information for one or more objects in the local area based in part on the captured one or more images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, Qing Chao, Byron Taylor, Xinqiao Liu
  • Patent number: 11920916
    Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) includes a light generator emitting a beam of light into a local area and a detector. The detector captures light from the beam reflected by objects in the local area to a portion of an array of pixels that each include a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD). The location of the portion of the array is based in part on the angle of the beam emitted from the projector. The DCA identifies a set of pixels of the array corresponding to the portion and selectively retrieves current generated from the reflected light by the pixels in the portion of the array without retrieving current generated by pixels in other portions of the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, Xinqiao Liu
  • Patent number: 11897282
    Abstract: A bicycle rim and/or wheel are provided. The bicycle rim and/or wheel includes a single wall formed into the bicycle rim. The wall is formed of composite material having a spoke attachment portion and a tire attachment portion formed therein. The composite material may include at least two different materials, or fibers used as reinforcement material, forming layers of a thickness of the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Ruan Trouw, Michael Hall, Aaron Packard
  • Patent number: 11884116
    Abstract: A weight distribution hitch system comprising a vehicle attachment member comprising a forward end configured to rigidly attach to a vehicle, and a rearward end extending rearwardly toward a trailer, the rearward end comprising an upper portion comprising a trailer attachment member configured to pivotally attach to a coupler of the trailer, and a lower portion configured to receive a moment bar, a moment bar forward end attached to the lower portion of the rearward end of the vehicle attachment member so as to prevent rotation about a horizontal axis, and a moment bar rearward end; a tension member comprising a top end configured to be supported by a frame member of the trailer, and a bottom end configured to support the rearward end of the moment bar, and wherein, when the tension member is in tension, it imposes an upward force on the moment bar rearward end, which, in turn, imposes a forward moment on the vehicle; and wherein the length of the moment bar is less than 28 inches is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, David R. Hall, Thomas Corie, Dallin Clawson, Jeffery Duncan, Justen Hansen
  • Patent number: 11878558
    Abstract: A weight distribution hitch system comprising a vehicle attachment member comprising a forward end configured to rigidly attach to a vehicle, and a rearward end extending rearwardly toward a trailer, the rearward end comprising an upper portion comprising a trailer attachment member configured to pivotally attach to a coupler of the trailer, and a lower portion configured to receive a moment bar; a moment bar having a modulus of elasticity, the moment bar comprising a moment bar forward end attached to the lower portion of the rearward end of the vehicle attachment member so as to prevent rotation about a horizontal axis, and a moment bar rearward end; a tension member comprising a top end configured to be supported by a frame member of the trailer, and a bottom end configured to support the rearward end of the moment bar; wherein, when the tension member is in tension, it imposes an upward force on the moment bar rearward end, which, in turn, imposes a forward moment on the vehicle; and wherein the modulus o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, David R. Hall, Thomas Corie, Dallin Clawson, Jeffery Duncan, Justen Hansen
  • Patent number: 11873240
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing an average particle size of blackwater solids is disclosed. A vessel is configured to receive a blackwater stream through a one-way inlet. The one-way inlet is configured to allow the blackwater stream into the vessel and prevent backflow. The blackwater stream contains blackwater solids and water. A device in a bottom portion of the vessel is configured to receive the blackwater and comminute the blackwater solids. A recirculating pump is configured to recirculate the blackwater stream under pressure through the device until the average particle size of the blackwater solids is reduced below a size threshold, resulting in a sized blackwater stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: David Hall, Michael Hall, Cody Rees, Thomas Corie, Nathan Davis
  • Publication number: 20230384071
    Abstract: A collator device for receiving finished ammunition cartridges in a non-oriented condition and orienting them into a stream of aligned ammunition cartridges for downstream manufacturing or packaging processes. The device incorporates a flat, circular collator plate which rotates inside a collator can with an upstanding circular sidewall. The collator plate upper surface forms a series of radially orienting vanes. Ammunition apertures are formed around the perimeter of the collator plate interleaved between the vanes. As the collator plate is rotated, the apertures receive ammunition cartridges aligned in either a radially inward or radially outward position. Features of the apertures cause the cartridges to drop in an aligned condition as the apertures pass over a slot in the collator can backing plate. Numerous features are provided to enhance throughput and reduce damage to the components as they are handled and processed in the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: MECTRON ENGINEERING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Mark L. HANNA, Michael A. HALL, Robert J. PEREZ, Alexander T. VANIAS
  • Publication number: 20230373819
    Abstract: A system for sanitizing water in a container is disclosed. The system includes a sanitizing chamber, separate from the container, sized to hold a small portion of the water from the container. A first conduit conveys water from the container to the chamber. A second conduit conveys water from the chamber to the container. A pump moves water from the container, through the first conduit into the chamber and from the chamber, through the second conduit into the container. A heater heats the water in the sanitizing chamber to a temperature and for a time sufficient to destroy or deactivate undesirable microorganisms. The first and second conduits each comprise at least one heat exchanger whereby water in the first conduit is heated by the water in the second conduit and water in the second conduit is cooled by water in the first conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, David R. Hall, Prabhakar Ramaraj
  • Publication number: 20230376127
    Abstract: A computer mouse module comprising a power supply component; a movement sensor, an encoder operable to encode data collected by the movement sensor, a transmitter for transmitting the encoded data to a computer and a physical connector for detachably attaching a handle portion to the computer mouse module. The computer mouse module may be attached to the handle portion to form a functioning mouse where a user grips the mouse handle portion to control the mouse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: John Franciscus Marie HELMES, Paul KOS, Nicholas Yen-Cherng CHEN, Michael HALL, Stephen Edward HODGES, James Alexander DEVINE, Qing FENG, Masaaki FUKUMOTO
  • Patent number: 11820180
    Abstract: A weight distribution hitch system comprising a vehicle attachment member comprising a forward end configured to rigidly attach to a vehicle, and a rearward end extending rearwardly toward a trailer, the rearward end comprising an upper portion comprising a trailer attachment member configured to pivotally attach to a coupler of the trailer, and a lower portion configured to receive a moment bar; a moment bar having a modulus of elasticity, the moment bar comprising a moment bar forward end attached to the lower portion of the rearward end of the vehicle attachment member so as to prevent rotation about a horizontal axis, and a moment bar rearward end; a releasable tension member comprising a top portion configured to be pivotally supported by a frame member of the trailer and configured to pivot about a horizontal axis, and a bottom portion configured to support the rearward end of the moment bar; and a moment bar preload mechanism configured to push up the moment bar rearward end to thereby preload the mome
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, David R. Hall, Thomas Corie, Dallin Clawson, Jeffery Duncan, Justen Hansen
  • Publication number: 20230366693
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a navigation system and computer-implemented methods for proactively re-routing vehicles based on an analysis of input component data obtained from the navigation-enabled devices. The navigation system scores the input component data to obtain a measure of frustration (e.g., a feeling of being upset or annoyed) of the user of the navigation-enabled device. The navigation system may provide a detour suggestion for display on the navigation-enabled device to persuade the user of the device to direct their vehicle to depart from its current location or route in an effort to remove the vehicle from traffic, and thereby reduce the frustration level of the user. The detour suggestion may include an alternative route to the original destination, or an alternative destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Dane Glasgow, Matthew Bret MacLaurin, Neville Rhys Newey, Justin VanWinkle, Christopher Michael Hall, Trista Mcneill, David Ramadge
  • Publication number: 20230328401
    Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) determines distances between the DCA and objects in a local area within a field of view of the DCA. The DCA projects a series of sinusoidal patterns into the local area DCA and captures images of the sinusoidal patterns via a sensor. Each pixel of the augmented sensor includes a plurality of charge bins, and charge accumulated by a photodiode of a pixel during different time intervals (e.g., times when different sinusoidal patterns are emitted) is stored in a different charge storage bin. Charge may be retrieved from different charge storage bins to determine depth from the DCA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Hall, Qing Chao
  • Publication number: 20230323381
    Abstract: Methods for improving the efficiency and productivity of hybrid corn seed production are provided herein. Various methods to improve the transfer of pollen from male corn plants to female corn plants, and thus increase yield, are provided herein. Without being limiting, these methods include varying the height of male and female corn plants in a field, as well as varying the number, arrangement, and ratio of male-to-female rows in a field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Paul Cannon, Edward J. Cargill, Charles T. Foresman, Michael A. Hall, Scott C. Johnson, John A. Miklos
  • Patent number: 11781239
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of forming crystals of chemical molecules. The methods are effective even when only very small amounts of a compound are available and can be used to explore the experimental crystallisation space including screening for optimal crystallisation conditions such as for polymorphic phases, salts, solvates and co-crystals of chemical molecules and to provide single crystals for structural determination of unknown molecules by single crystal X-ray crystallography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: University of Newcastle upon Tyne
    Inventors: Michael Hall, Michael Probert, Andrew Tyler
  • Publication number: 20230311424
    Abstract: A generator injection tool is provided. The generator injection tool injects an adhesive into a generator that includes a rotor positioned within a stator having a stator vent, the stator and rotor having a gap therebetween. The generator injection tool includes a first carriage sized to fit within the gap, a tube, a first motor, a controller, and an adhesive source. An end of the tube is movable between a first position in which the end is outside of the stator vent and a second position within the stator vent. The first motor is operable to move the tube between the first position and the second position. The controller is operable to selectively activate the first motor to position the end of the tube within the stator vent. The adhesive source moves the adhesive through the tube end to inject a portion of the adhesive into the stator vent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Anthony Barca, Lucas Ramsey, Bryce Merrill, Eric Evans, Michael A. Hall, Carl R. Larson
  • Patent number: 11774252
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a navigation system and computer-implemented methods for proactively re-routing vehicles to control traffic flow. Consistent with some embodiments, the navigation system seeks to reduce traffic flow along primary navigation routes (e.g., routes with relatively short travel times) by re-routing vehicles to alternative navigation routes (e.g., routes with relatively longer travel times) using incentives. As an example, upon detecting a vehicle traveling along an alternative route instead of a primary route, the navigation system updates a data structure that represents a user account of a vehicle occupant to reflect an increased account balance. Consistent with some embodiments, the amount of value provided to an occupant of a vehicle traveling along an alternative routes may be obtained from user accounts of occupants of other vehicles that are traveling along a primary route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Dane Glasgow, Matthew Bret MacLaurin, Neville Rhys Newey, Justin VanWinkle, Christopher Michael Hall, Trista Mcneill, David Ramadge
  • Patent number: 11774769
    Abstract: A depth measurement assembly (DMA) includes a pulsed illuminator assembly, a depth camera assembly, and a controller. The pulsed illuminator assembly has a structured light projector that projects pulses of structured light at a pulse rate into a local area. The depth camera assembly captures images data of an object in the local area illuminated with the pulses of structured light. An exposure interval of the depth camera assembly is pulsed and synchronized to the pulses projected by the pulsed illuminator assembly. The controller controls the pulsed illuminator assembly and the depth camera assembly so that they are synchronized. The controller also determine depth and/or tracking information of the object based on the captured image data. In some embodiments, the pulsed illuminator assembly have a plurality of structured light projectors that projects pulses of structured light at different times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Hall