Patents by Inventor Michael Patterson

Michael Patterson 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: 20050107680
    Abstract: A stereotaxic instrument is coupled to a split-screen imaging system to provide a split-screen image of the skull of the brain research subject animal along with an image of the X, Y and Z coordinates of the electrode tip (or other tool tip) being used. In addition, a third split-screen image of a recording graph displaying electrical activity recorded by an electrode may be shown. The imaging system may be a microscope/computer system or digital camera/computer system. The split-screen images may be displayed on a computer monitor or in a microscope. The system can be utilized with motor driven shift mechanisms or with manual shift mechanisms. The system allows experiments to be conducted with the subject enclosed within a Faraday cage. Remote and automatic cell searching experiments may be conducted as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: J. Kopf, Daniel Renwick, Michael Patterson
  • Publication number: 20050093707
    Abstract: A method for reducing false detects may include emitting an infrared light beam from a primary emitter to a primary monitor detector, measuring a first voltage value using a primary receive detector and setting a primary smoke alarm flag corresponding to a primary channel if the first voltage value is above a first threshold value. The method may also include measuring a second voltage value using a secondary receive detector, setting a secondary smoke alarm flag corresponding to a secondary channel if the second voltage value is above a second threshold value and setting an alarm indicating a smoke condition if the primary smoke alarm flag and the secondary smoke alarm flag are set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Wallace Van Winkle, Lester Lowery, Timothy Fujawa, John Lohmeier, Aileen McDowall, Richard Morey, Michael Patterson, Andrew Bunn, Maria Cornejo
  • Patent number: 6295425
    Abstract: A seal assembly for preventing developer material from damaging the drive shaft bearing in an electrographic reproduction apparatus development station. The development station has a housing defining internal chambers for particulate developer material, a rotatable mixer located in a developer material reservoir chamber within the housing, a developer device for applying developer material to an electrostatic image to be developed, a rotatable transporting mechanism for moving developer material from the reservoir chamber to the developer device, and at least one drive shaft, carried in a bearing supported by the development station housing, for rotating the rotatable mixer, the rotatable transporting mechanism, and the developer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Inventors: Christopher Stephen Garcia, Kenneth Michael Patterson, Paul Essic Thompson, Blaise Philip Pelligra
  • Patent number: 5443224
    Abstract: An emergency locking vehicle seat belt retractor has a locking arrangement operation of which is initiated by an inertial vehicle deceleration sensing mechanism constructed with one or more parts being a composite of at least two acoustically differing materials to minimize vibrating noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Patterson, David Blackadder, John F. Bell
  • Patent number: 4969876
    Abstract: A needle assembly of the so-called butterfly type in which the needle is retractable into its holder by pulling rearwardly on the flexible feed tube. The rearward movement of the needle is stopped by a turned portion of the holder which is turned after the needle is assembled into the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignees: Frank LaVallo, Raymond F. Ontko
    Inventor: W. Michael Patterson
  • Patent number: 4730844
    Abstract: A passive vehicle seat belt system includes measures to prevent overheating of the drive motor and obstruction of system operation. Drive motor excess current demand is sensed to effect motor de-energization and/or disabling of latching means of a retractor included in the system and/or operation of an indicator light. The indicator light can prompt manual motor de-energization. Disabling of retractor latching means can be effected by a belt movement command signal. Retractors with means for signalling operation of latching means, with solenoid means for disabling latching means, and with means for indicating when a predetermined belt length has been received therein, are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: ASE (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Michael Patterson
  • Patent number: 4611825
    Abstract: An adjustable anchorage, for example a shoulder anchorage of a vehicle seat belt system, has a first part formed with a slot and a second part received in and movable along the slot. One part may support a seat belt and the other part may be part of, or be attachable to, a motor vehicle. The slot has alternate narrow and wide portions and the second part is shaped to engage in the wide slot portions. Adjustment is achieved either by rotation of the second part to align flats on it with the narrow slot portions, or by movement perpendicular to the slot against a spring bias to bring a narrow portion of the second part into the plane of the slot. Advantageously, the second member has a frusto-conical portion and the walls of the slot are shaped always to urge the second member into a wide portion when released at a position intermediate two wide portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Assignee: ASE (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Michael Patterson
  • Patent number: 4550933
    Abstract: An adjustable anchorage, for example a shoulder anchorage of a vehicle seat belt system, has a first part formed with a slot and a second part received in and movable along the slot. One part may support a seat belt and the other part may be part of, or be attachable to, a motor vehicle. The slot has alternate narrow and wide portions and the second part is shaped to engage in the wide slot portions. Adjustment is achieved either by rotation of the second part to align flats on it with the narrow slot portions, or by movement perpendicular to the slot against a spring bias to bring a narrow portion of the second part into the plane of the slot. Advantageously, the second member has a frusto-conical portion and the walls of the slot are shaped always to urge the second member into a wide portion when released at a position intermediate two wide portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: ASE (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Michael Patterson
  • Patent number: 4541852
    Abstract: A system for liquefying and subcooling natural gas wherein compression power is shifted off the closed cycle refrigerant by subcooling the liquid natural gas to a relatively warm exit temperature and subsequently reducing the pressure and flashing the liquefied natural gas to recover a gaseous phase natural gas in excess of plant fuel requirements, the excess being recompressed and recycled to the feed to the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Newton, Wayne G. Stuber, Michael A. Patterson
  • Patent number: 4515395
    Abstract: An adjustable shoulder anchorage for a vehicle seat belt system comprises a length of webbing secured in the vehicle to extend generally upright in the region of the shoulder of the user of the system, and a connector having a running loop for the belt integrally formed therewith or secured thereto and movable to a selected position along the webbing. The webbing extends through a slot in the connector and reverses its direction around fixed and movable transverse bars of the connector between which the webbing is snubbed to securely hold the connector in the selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Assignee: Kangol Magnet Limited
    Inventor: Michael Patterson
  • Patent number: 4411677
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for rejecting nitrogen from a natural gas feed containing nitrogen over a wide range of compositions, e.g. 5-85% nitrogen by volume, under elevated pressure using a single distillation column and a closed loop methane heat pump which reboils and refluxes the column. An intermediate reflux condenser is refrigerated by both the heat pump and overhead nitrogen fraction from the distillation column. The process can handle feeds with increasing nitrogen content and more than 100 ppmv carbon dioxide. The feed can be at pipeline pressure with the natural gas liquid components still present or at lower pressure with natural gas liquids removed. A mixed cryogenic refrigerant can be used in the heat pump as an alternative to methane. The process provides a high methane recovery over the entire feed range, and provides a nitrogen product stream having an elevated pressure suitable for recycling and reinjection to an oil or gas well to improve well head pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Pervier, Harvey L. Vines, Vincent Marano, III, Michael A. Patterson