Patents by Inventor Michael Hughes

Michael Hughes 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: 20230356859
    Abstract: Provided in this disclosure are components and methods for diagnostic and communication for an electric aircraft. Components may include a diagnostic element connected to a flight component which may include a sensor and a diagnostic circuit. Component may detect a module datum, maintenance phenomenon, maintenance datum, and flight status. Flight status may be transmitted to a remote device accessible by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Braedon Lohe, Sean Donovan, Nathan William Joseph Wiegman, Tom Michael Hughes
  • Patent number: 11776797
    Abstract: A vacuum cell is described. The vacuum cell includes an inner chamber, a buffer channel, and a buffer ion pump. The buffer channel is fluidically isolated from the inner chamber and fluidically isolated from an ambient external to the vacuum cell. The buffer ion pump is fluidically coupled to the buffer channel and fluidically isolated from the ambient and the inner chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ColdQuanta, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Michael Hughes
  • Publication number: 20230307801
    Abstract: In an aspect of the present disclosure is a system for locking a battery for an electric aircraft, the system including a battery pack including a high voltage (HV) connection configured to electrically connect to the electric aircraft; and a lock attached to the battery pack and configured to electrically disconnect the battery pack from the electric aircraft when locked, wherein the lock is configured to only be unlocked manually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Braedon Lohe, Cullen Jemison, Andrew Giroux, Tom Michael Hughes
  • Publication number: 20230302956
    Abstract: In an aspect, a system for monitoring a battery system in-flight. The system includes at least a battery pack and a pack monitoring unit (PMU) communicatively connected with a battery pack. The battery pack includes a plurality of battery packs. The PMU may include at least a sensor and a controller. At least a sensor is configured to detect battery datum. A controller is communicatively connected with at least a sensor. A controller is configured to receive battery datum, detect a significant event as a function of battery datum, and transmit the significant event to a remote device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Braedon Lohe, Cullen Jemison, Andrew Giroux, Tom Michael Hughes
  • Publication number: 20230298880
    Abstract: A vacuum system is described. The vacuum system includes a vacuum cell and an ion trap. The vacuum cell includes walls having an inner surface that form at least a portion of a vacuum chamber. At least a portion of the inner surface has a topography including structures therein. The structures include a getter material. The ion trap is within the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Steven Michael Hughes, Clinton Cahall, Steffen Michael Kross, James S. Hale, Hugo Leon, Matthew Barton Jaskot
  • Patent number: 11757162
    Abstract: In an aspect of the present disclosure is a system for locking a battery for an electric aircraft, the system including a battery pack including a high voltage (HV) connection configured to electrically connect to the electric aircraft; and a lock attached to the battery pack and configured to electrically disconnect the battery pack from the electric aircraft when locked, wherein the lock is configured to only be unlocked manually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Braedon Lohe, Cullen Jemison, Andrew Giroux, Tom Michael Hughes
  • Publication number: 20230260670
    Abstract: A drop-in multi-optics module for a quantum-particle (e.g., rubidium, cesium) cell provides for more convenient and cost-effective manufacture of such cells (including vacuum cells, cold/ultra-cold matter cells, vapor cells, and channel cells). In a 3D printing approach, a model of a frame augmented by buffer material is 3D printed. The buffer material is removed from the augmented frame to achieved desired dimensions with greater precision than could be achieved by 3D printing the frame directly. Optical and, in some cases, other components are attached to the frame to realize the multi-optics drop-in module. Alternatively, the module can be formed by cutting out portions of a metal sheet and then folding the resulting 2D preform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Steven Michael Hughes, Christopher Robert Sheridan, III
  • Publication number: 20230253542
    Abstract: Fiducial markers (reference marks and associated tracing codes) are applied to sheet materials such as electrodes, paper, plastics, and fabrics and serve as reference points along the machine direction. As the sheet advances, tracing codes are recorded to create a database of tracing codes and as a physical property of the sheet of material is measured a measurement profile is recorded wherein measurements of the physical property are synchronized with the tracing codes from the database so that different portions of the measurement profile are associated with one or more accompanying tracing codes. Customers can match measurements made during production to finished products such as electrochemical batteries so that defects found at a later stage of production can be traced to the source measurements to achieved improved quality assurance. The reference marks facilitate alignment among measurements made by different scanners especially on discontinuous batch processes that require resetting and rethreading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Hughes, Sudhir Thalore
  • Patent number: 11717154
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method that can be used to remotely acquire high resolution depth resolved images from a sample. The apparatus employs an adapter to an imaging device, where the adapter uses a minimum of components to produce interferometry patterns on the input facet of the imaging device. The imaging device can be a bundle endoscope terminated on a camera sensor or on several camera sensors or simply a camera sensor. In conjunction with a swept source or a broadband source, at least one camera sensor may be employed to provide optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the sample. When the imaging device uses a bundle of optical fibers, the apparatus and method can provide OCT images tolerant to bending of the bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: University of Kent
    Inventors: Adrian Podoleanu, Manuel Marques, Michael Hughes
  • Publication number: 20230246117
    Abstract: A quantum-particle cell manufacturing process includes coating a substrate with transparent conductive oxide (TCO) such as indium tin oxide (ITO). Regions of the TCO are then transformed, e.g., by pulsed-laser annealing, to increase their resistivity. The annealed region then electrically isolates adjacent higher conductivity and lower resistivity regions, which can serve as field plates. At least one annealed region extends from the cell interior through a bond between the substrate and sidewalls and into the cell exterior so that adjacent unannealed regions can serve as independently controllable feedthroughs. The annealing does not significantly affect the TCO thickness so the bond between the substrate and the sidewall structure remains intact and the completed quantum particle cell can be hermetically sealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventor: Steven Michael Hughes
  • Publication number: 20230231253
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to a battery pack for an electric vehicle. Exemplary battery pack includes a first pouch cell and a vent configured to vent the ejecta from the first pouch cell. The first pouch cell includes at least an outer coating, at least a first pair of electrodes, at least a first pair of foil tabs electrically connected to the at least a first pair of electrodes, at least a first insulator layer located substantially between the at least a first pair of foil tabs, a first pouch substantially encompassing the at least a first pair of foil tabs and the at least a first insulator layer, and a first electrolyte within the first pouch. The battery pack is also configured to power at least a propulsor component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Denson Schreiber, Nathan William Joseph Wiegman, Tom Michael Hughes
  • Patent number: 11699441
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for dynamically determining when information is to be output to a user, as well as what information is to be output to a user. A natural language processing system may receive, from a first device, first data representing information to be output at a first point during a skill session. The natural language processing system may also receive, from a second device, second data representing a natural language input. The natural language processing system may determine a skill component is to execute with respect to the natural language input. The natural language processing system may send, to the skill component, second data representing the natural language input. The natural language processing system may receive, from the skill component, an indication that an ongoing first skill session with the second device has reached the first point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Conrad Kockerbeck, Muhammad Yahia, Jordan Michael Hughes, Kevin Boehm, Rohit Sauhta
  • Publication number: 20230206310
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods, and non-transitory media for providing multiple items for purchase to consumers are discussed herein. Some embodiments may include a system including circuitry configured to initiate an add-to-order session timer subsequent to the primary purchase of a first item using transaction data of the consumer. The add-to-order session timer may indicate a period of time in which one or more additional items may selected for purchase using the same transaction data as the primary purchase. In some embodiments, the system may be further configured to provide incentives to the consumer for selecting an additional item prior to expiration of the add-to-order session timer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Groupon, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Michael HUGHES, Jeffrey A. HOLDEN, Jeffrey M. AYARS
  • Publication number: 20230190960
    Abstract: The present invention relates to expression constructs and vectors for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases that are associated with a loss of NPC1 function, such as the lysosomal storage disorder Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Michael HUGHES, Ahad RAHIM
  • Publication number: 20230194884
    Abstract: Beamformers are formed (e.g., carved) from a stack of transparent sheets. A rear face of each sheet has a reflective coating. The reflectivities of the coatings vary monotonically with sheet position within the stack. The sheets are tilted relative to the intended direction of an input beam and then bonded to form the stack. The carving can include dicing the stack to yield stacklets, and polishing the stacklets to form beamformers. Each beamformer is thus a stack of beamsplitters, including a front beamsplitter in the form of a triangular or trapezoidal prism, and one or more beamsplitters in the form of rhomboid prisms. In use, a beamformer forms an output beam from an input beam. More specifically, the beamformer splits an input beam into plural output beam components that collectively constitute an output beam that differs in cross section from the input beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventor: Steven Michael Hughes
  • Publication number: 20230185892
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed. The method includes: receiving, via a computing device in a locked state, input of a first PIN; determining that the first PIN is associated with a first cryptographic key that is stored in a memory; responsive to determining that the first PIN is associated with the first cryptographic key, retrieving, from the memory, an encrypted form of a first credential that is associated with the first cryptographic key; recovering the first credential from the encrypted form using the first cryptographic key; and causing the computing device to be unlocked using the recovered first credential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Shopify Inc.
    Inventors: Michael HUGHES, Francisco Afonso CAVEDON, Mir Mustafa ALI, Tarika CHAWLA, Alexandre KALIAZINE
  • Patent number: 11604362
    Abstract: Beamformers are formed (e.g., carved) from a stack of transparent sheets. A rear face of each sheet has a reflective coating. The reflectivities of the coatings vary monotonically with sheet position within the stack. The sheets are tilted relative to the intended direction of an input beam and then bonded to form the stack. The carving can include dicing the stack to yield stacklets, and polishing the stacklets to form beamformers. Each beamformer is thus a stack of beamsplitters, including a front beamsplitter in the form of a triangular or trapezoidal prism, and one or more beamsplitters in the form of rhomboid prisms. In use, a beamformer forms an output beam from an input beam. More specifically, the beamformer splits an input beam into plural output beam components that collectively constitute an output beam that differs in cross section from the input beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: ColdQuanta, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Michael Hughes
  • Publication number: 20230070293
    Abstract: Metamaterial optics are integrated with vacuum-boundary walls of ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) cells to manipulate light in a manner analogous to various bulk optical elements including lenses, mirrors, beam splitters, polarizers, waveplate, wave guides, frequency modulators, and amplitude modulators. For example, UHV cells can have metasurface lenses formed on interior and/or exterior surfaces on one or more of their vacuum-boundary walls. Each metasurface lens can include a plurality of mesas with the same height and various cross-sectional dimensions. The uses of metasurface lenses allows through-going laser beams to be expanded, collimated or focused without using bulky refractive optics. Each metasurface lens can be formed on a cell wall using photolithographic or other techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Taek il OH, Steven Michael HUGHES
  • Patent number: 11597295
    Abstract: In an aspect, a system for monitoring a battery system in-flight. The system includes at least a battery pack and a pack monitoring unit (PMU) communicatively connected with a battery pack. The battery pack includes a plurality of battery packs. The PMU may include at least a sensor and a controller. At least a sensor is configured to detect battery datum. A controller is communicatively connected with at least a sensor. A controller is configured to receive battery datum, detect a significant event as a function of battery datum, and transmit the significant event to a remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Braedon Lohe, Cullen Jemison, Andrew Giroux, Tom Michael Hughes
  • Patent number: 11594779
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to a battery pack for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Exemplary battery pack includes a first pouch cell, a second pouch cell, at least a sensor, where the at least a sensor is configured to sense battery pack data and transmit the battery pack data to a data storage system, and a vent configured to vent the ejecta from the first pouch cell. In some embodiments, battery pack may be configured to power at least a propulsor component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Denson Schreiber, Nathan William Joseph Wiegman, Tom Michael Hughes