Patents by Inventor Michael Porter

Michael Porter 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: 20050208180
    Abstract: The present invention is a nutrient delivery system including a protein source and, optionally, a fiber source. Extruding proteins disrupts the protein structure at the secondary level, rendering the protein relatively inert as compared to an unextruded protein. Because the extruded protein is relatively inert, it can be incorporated in relatively large amounts in food products without substantially adversely affecting the food product. In addition, the protein source can be coextruded with a fiber source to provide an extruded protein-fiber blend. The extruded protein-fiber blend of the present invention permits the inclusion of high levels of protein and fiber into a food product substantially without adversely affecting the food product. The nutrient delivery system of the present invention can be used to prepare food products that meet US FDA and other regulatory guidelines for food nutrition labeling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Jodi Engleson, Michael Porter, William Atwell, Stefan Baier, Douglas Elmore, Dennis Gilbertson, William Aimutis, Norris Sun, Allen Muroski, Sean Smith, Carrie Lendon, Tamara May
  • Publication number: 20050204235
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically instantiating built-in-system test (BIST) modules in memory designs is disclosed. The method and system include providing a server over a network that integrates a set of design tools, including an automated front-end software process and an automated back-end software process. According to the method and system, a user may access the server over the network and enter a request for a memory design. The front-end software process is then executed to automatically generate a netlist of a BIST from the user request. Thereafter, the back-end software process is executed to automatically generate a placement and route view of the BIST.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Yaron Kretchmer, Michael Porter, Thomas Obrien
  • Publication number: 20050190645
    Abstract: An agitation mechanism for a gypsum processing apparatus which includes a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one side wall. The housing can be constructed and arranged to receive and process gypsum-based products. An agitator frame having a similarly shaped cross-section to the cross-section of the housing is provided and positioned adjacent the bottom wall of the housing. The agitator frame is pivotally connected internally to the housing for reciprocating movement between first and second positions. The agitation mechanism is operable for preventing fluid channeling to ensure good fluidization of the gypsum products from collecting adjacent the bottom wall of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Bolind, Michael Porter
  • Publication number: 20050188897
    Abstract: An apparatus for calcining gypsum including a housing having a bottom wall, open top, and a plurality of side walls extending therebetween. A fixture is located adjacent the open top for receiving gypsum from a source and transferring the gypsum into the housing. At least one burner is connected to the housing and operable for combusting an air-fuel mixture to heat the gypsum. At least one serpentine burner conduit extends from the burner through the housing and terminates through a support floor of the apparatus. The exhaust flow is then directed through a fluidization pad and into the gypsum to further heat the gypsum product. An agitation mechanism is operable to mix the gypsum adjacent the fluidization pad to prevent pockets of gypsum from coagulating and preventing fluidization of the gypsum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Bolind, Warner Dundas, Michael Porter, Christopher Nelson, Subhash Deodhar
  • Patent number: 6931606
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically instantiating built-in-system test (BIST) modules in memory designs is disclosed. The method and system include providing a server over a network that integrates a set of design tools, including an automated front-end software process and an automated back-end software process. According to the method and system, a user may access the server over the network and enter a request for a memory design. The front-end software process is then executed to automatically generate a netlist of a BIST from the user request. Thereafter, the back-end software process is executed to automatically generate a placement and route view of the BIST.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventors: Yaron Kretchmer, Michael Porter, Thomas OBrien
  • Publication number: 20050146419
    Abstract: A programmable food storage container and behavior modification assistant, having an automatically closing and locking lid/door, and a programmable lock mechanism able to accept and store multiple defined sequential periods of inaccessibility of variable duration and frequency, and multiple defined periods of accessibility of variable duration and frequency. Use of the device mandates compliance with, and reinforcement of behavior consistent with, the user's desire to develop and adhere to a pattern of controlled and limited consumption of any products stored within the container. Addressing the problem left unsolved in the prior art (i.e., the inability of some consumers to resist impulses to consume, and the finite and consumable capacity of people to resist temptation), the device eliminates temptations regarding its contents, and thus eliminates wasteful consumption of the consumer's finite supply of willpower, or capacity to successfully resist an impulse to consume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventor: Michael Porter
  • Publication number: 20050112254
    Abstract: Modified oilseed material with a high gel strength is described. The modified oilseed material can be utilized in a variety of nutritional applications, including the preparation of protein supplemented food products such as processed meat products. The modified oilseed material typically includes at least 85 wt. % protein (dry solids basis) and has excellent functional properties. For example, the modified oilseed material can include at least about 40 wt. % of the protein has an apparent molecular weight of greater than 300 kDa, a gel breaking strength of at least 0.50 N, and/or the protein has a MW50 of at least about 200 kDa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventor: Michael Porter
  • Publication number: 20050061237
    Abstract: A feed apparatus for use in depositing a slurry upon a moving web having a direction of travel includes a main metering roll, a companion roll disposed in closely spaced relation to the metering roll to form a nip therebetween. The nip is constructed and arranged to retain a supply of the slurry, and the rolls are driven so that slurry retained in the nip progresses over an upper outer peripheral surface of the metering roll to be deposited upon the web. Also preferably included is a thickness control roll disposed in operational relationship to the metering roll for controlling thickness of a layer of slurry drawn from the nip over the outer metering roll surface. Preferably, the metering roll, the companion roll and the thickness control roll are driven in the same direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Ashish Dubey, Michael Porter
  • Publication number: 20050064164
    Abstract: A multi-layer process for producing structural cementitious panels, includes, (a.) providing a moving web; (b.) one of depositing a first layer of loose fibers upon the web and (c.) depositing a layer of settable slurry upon the web; (d.) depositing a second layer of loose fibers upon the slurry; (e.) embedding said second layer of fibers into the slurry; and (f.) repeating steps (c.) through (e.) until the desired number of layers of settable fiber-enhanced slurry in the panel is obtained. Also provided are a structural panel produced by the present process, an apparatus suitable for producing structural cementitious panels according to the present process, and a structural cementitious panel having multiple layers, each layer created by depositing a layer of settable slurry upon a moving web, depositing fibers upon the slurry and embedding the fibers into the slurry such that each layer is integrally formed with the adjacent layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Ashish Dubey, Joe Chambers, Aaron Greengard, Alfred Li, D. Miller, Michael Porter
  • Publication number: 20050064055
    Abstract: An embedment device for use in a structural panel production line wherein a slurry is transported on a moving carrier relative to a support frame, and chopped fibers are deposited upon the slurry, includes a first elongate shaft secured to the support frame and having a first plurality of axially spaced disks, a second elongate shaft secured to the support frame and having a second plurality of axially spaced disks, the first shaft being disposed relative to the second shaft so that the disks intermesh with each other. The intermeshing relationship enhances embedment of the fibers into the slurry and also prevents clogging of the device by prematurely set slurry particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventor: Michael Porter
  • Patent number: 6841184
    Abstract: A modified oilseed material formed from oilseed-based material is described. The modified oilseed material can be utilized in a variety of nutritional applications, including the preparation of protein supplemented food products such as beverages, processed meats, frozen desserts, confectionery products, dairy-type products, and cereal grain products. The modified oilseed material typically includes at least 85 wt. % protein (dry solids basis), at least about 40% of the modified oilseed material has an apparent molecular weight of greater than 300 kDa, and/or a MW50 of at least about 200 kDa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Cargill, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Porter, Harapanahalli S. Muralidhara, Ian Purtle, Jagannadh V. Satyavolu, William H. Sperber, Danièle Karleskind, Ann M. Stark
  • Patent number: 6830773
    Abstract: Processed meat products, which include high protein content modified oilseed material, are described. The modified oilseed material typically includes at least 85 wt. % protein (dry solids basis) and has a relatively high average molecular weight, e.g., at least about 40 wt. % of the material has an apparent molecular weight greater than 300,000 daltons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Cargill, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Porter, Harapanahalli S. Muralidhara, Ian Purtle, Jagannadh V. Satyavolu, William H. Sperber
  • Publication number: 20040219281
    Abstract: A modified oilseed material formed from oilseed-based material is described. The modified oilseed material can be utilized in a variety of nutritional applications, including the preparation of protein supplemented food products such as beverages, processed meats, frozen desserts, confectionery products, dairy-type products, cooked dough products and cereal grain products. The modified oilseed material typically includes at least 85 wt. % protein (dry solids basis), at least about 40 wt. % of the protein in the modified oilseed material has an apparent molecular weight of at least 300 kDa, and/or the modified oilseed material has a MW50 of at least about 200 kDa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael A. Porter, Harapanahalli S. Muralidhara, Ian C. Purtle, Jagannadh V. Satyavolu, William H. Sperber, Daniele Karleskind, Ann M. Stark, Jane E. Friedrich, Scott D. Johnson, Wade S. Martinson, Trent H. Pemble, Roger E. Bjork, Troy R. Smedley, William G. Foster, Thomas C. Inman, James C. Kellerman
  • Patent number: 6777017
    Abstract: A protein supplemented food product formed from a premix which includes modified oilseed material is described. The premix can be utilized in a variety of nutritional applications, including the preparation of protein supplemented food products such as ready-to-eat cereals and other cereal grain products, wherein the modified oilseed material typically includes at least 85 wt. % protein (dry solids basis), and at least about 40 wt. % of the protein has an apparent molecular weight of greater than 300 kDa, and/or the protein has a MW50 of at least about 200 kDa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Cargill, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Porter, Harapanahalli S. Muralidhara, Ian Purtle, Jagannadh V. Satyavolu, William H. Sperber, Daniele Karleskind, Ann M. Stark, Jane E. Friedrich, Scott D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20040131747
    Abstract: A modified oilseed material formed from oilseed-based material is described. The modified oilseed material can be utilized in a variety of nutritional applications, including the preparation of protein supplemented food products such as beverages, processed meats, frozen desserts, confectionery products, dairy-type products, and cereal grain products. The modified oilseed material typically includes at least 85 wt. % protein (dry solids basis), at least about 40 wt % of the protein in the modified oilseed material has an apparent molecular weight of at least 300 kDa, and/or the modified oilseed material has a MW50 of at least about 200 kDa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Michael A Porter, Harapanahalli S Muralidhara, Ian Purtle, Jagannadh V Satyavolu, William H Sperber, Daniele Karleskind, Ann M Stark, Jane E Friedrich, Wade S Martinson, Trent H Pemble, Roger E Bjork, Troy R Smedley, William G Foster, Thomas C Inman, James C Kellerman, Scott D Johnson
  • Publication number: 20040123620
    Abstract: Heat-exchanging devices for cooling or heating liquids in a bottle or can, which include in a first embodiment, an elongated cooling or heating tube having a tube bore filled with a refrigerant/heating fluid such as water and sealed at the top, with liquid flow openings provided in the tube, or in a tube connector attached to the tube above a tube seal. The tube or tube connector is fitted with a cap having internal threads for engaging the external threads of the bottle neck of the bottle into which the cooling tube is inserted. In second and third embodiments the insertable tube contains a pair of interconnected reservoirs containing liquids that will create an exothermic or endothermic reaction when mixed. A disc separating the liquids is ruptured by button action at the base of the tube to facilitate mixing of the liquids by gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Michael A. Porter
  • Publication number: 20040120512
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing power dissipation in a plurality of Subscriber Line Interface Circuits (SLICs) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first voltage source is operable to supply a first voltage to a portion of the SLICs and a second voltage source is operable to supply a second voltage to the portion of the SLICs. Data relating to subscriber loops served by the SLICs is collected and used to dynamically determine the second voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Franciscus Maria Ploumen, Guy Michael Porter
  • Patent number: 6720020
    Abstract: Beverage compositions, which include high protein content modified oilseed material, are described. The modified oilseed material typically includes at least 85 wt. % protein (dry solids basis) and has a relatively high average molecular weight, e.g., at least about 40 wt. % of the material has an apparent molecular weight greater than 300,000 daltons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Cargill, Inc.
    Inventors: Danièle Karleskind, Ann M. Stark, Harapanahalli S. Muralidhara, Michael A. Porter, Ian Purtle, Jagannadh V. Satyavolu, William H. Sperber
  • Publication number: 20040067292
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for thawing, heating and/or glazing previously frozen baked goods and other dough-based products, wherein the products can be thawed in an environment having a selected temperature and elevated humidity; the conveyor is configured to prevent early and excessive insertion of the products into the oven; the oven is configured to heat the products to greater than a selected surface temperature; and wherein the glazer is configured to apply glaze to the products when the surface temperature of the product is within a desired range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Applicant: Belshaw Bros., Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Petersen, Michael Porter, Michael Bontatibus
  • Patent number: 6716469
    Abstract: Frozen dessert products, which include high protein content modified oilseed material, are described. The modified oilseed material typically includes at least 85 wt. % protein (dry solids basis) and has a relatively high average molecular weight, e.g., at least about 40 wt. % of the material has an apparent molecular weight greater than 300,000 daltons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Cargill, Inc.
    Inventors: Ann M. Stark, Harapanahalli S. Muralidhara, Michael A. Porter, Ian Purtle, Jagannadh V. Satyavolu, William H. Sperber