Patents by Inventor Michael Stephens

Michael Stephens 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: 11450246
    Abstract: A mobile product manufacturing demonstration, apparatus and method is intended to cut through the clutter and rise above the noise of typical marketing language and tactics, replacing the same with demonstrable, real-world demonstrations of how a producer is making a difference in terms of environmentally conscious manufacturing and good environmental stewardship. The mobile product manufacturing demonstration, apparatus and method includes a vehicle for transportation between rural townships and urban centers which itself is preferably battery powered, hydrogen powered, or powered by some other environmentally friendly mechanism. On board is a plurality of display stations which allow the public to interact with and/or manipulate materials used in the recycling and/or manufacturing process. Thus, the consumers will be able to see, hear, and feel (through touch and/or manipulation) how the products are made from recycled or recyclable materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: PIANA NONWOVENS, LLC.
    Inventors: Andrea Piana, Michael Stephen DeFranks, Andy Dean Hollis
  • Patent number: 11441010
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a fine silver particle dispersion comprising: (i) 60 to 95 wt. % of fine silver particles, wherein particle diameter (D50) of the fine silver particles is 50 to 300 nm, (ii) 4.5 to 39 wt. % of a solvent; and (iii) 0.1 to 3 wt. % of a resin, wherein the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the resin is 70 to 300° C., wherein the weight percentages are based on the weight of the fine silver particle dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: DOWA ELECTRONICS MATERIALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Teragawa, Takashi Hinotsu, Dave Hui, Michael Stephen Wolfe, Howard David Glicksman, Haixin Yang
  • Patent number: 11426851
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a combustion powered fastener driving tool including a fuel cell receiver configured to receive and engage a fuel cell metering valve of a fuel cell, the fuel cell metering valve configured to dispense a dose of fuel from the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Popovich, Stephen Patrick Moore, Walter Taylor, Alex Daniel Makeyev
  • Patent number: 11422213
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a B0 magnetic field for a magnetic resonance imaging system. The apparatus includes at least one permanent B0 magnet to contribute a magnetic field to the B0 magnetic field for the MRI system and a ferromagnetic frame configured to capture and direct at least some of the magnetic field generated by the B0 magnet. The ferromagnetic frame includes a first post having a first end and a second end, a first multi-pronged member coupled to the first end, and a second multi-pronged member coupled to the second end, wherein the first and second multi-pronged members support the at least one permanent B0 magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Hyperfine Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Cedric Hugon, Hadrien A. Dyvorne, Michael Stephen Poole
  • Publication number: 20220235184
    Abstract: A bio-assimilation master batch including a carrier resin, one or more transition metals, and one or more primary antioxidants is provided. The master batch may include one or more secondary antioxidants and one or more bioassimilation promoting additives. A process for producing polymeric bio-assimilating material including creating a master batch, mixing the master batch with a host polymer to form an end-use polymer mixture, and introducing the end-use polymer mixture to a polymer processing device to manufacture a polymer-based article. Products produced from a process for producing polymeric bio-assimilating material including creating a master batch, mixing the master batch with a host polymer to form an end-use polymer mixture, and introducing the end-use polymer mixture to a polymer processing device to manufacture a polymer-based article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: SMART PLASTIC TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Stephens
  • Patent number: 11397233
    Abstract: In some aspects, a magnetic system for use in a low-field MRI system. The magnetic system comprises at least one electromagnet configured to, when operated, generate a magnetic field to contribute to a B0 field for the low-field MRI system, and at least one permanent magnet to produce a magnetic field to contribute to the B0 field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Hyperfine Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Poole, Todd Rearick, Jonathan M. Rothberg
  • Publication number: 20220229133
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil apparatus is described herein for facilitating imaging of a patient positioned within a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, the MRI system comprising a B0 magnet. The apparatus may comprise a frame comprising a first plate and a second plate disposed opposite the first plate; and an RF transmit coil comprising a plurality of conductors connected in series, the plurality of conductors being would around the frame and forming a plurality of turns. According to some aspects, there is provided an MRI system configured to image a patient positioned within the MRI system, the MRI system comprises a Bo magnet that produces a B0 magnetic field and the RF coil apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Eddy B. Boskamp, Michael Stephen Poole
  • Publication number: 20220222401
    Abstract: A method includes determining a bit design based on a design criterion, determining a cutter design to be mounted on the bit design at a bit design position based on cutter information, wherein the cutter information is based on a historical cutter performance metric of one or more cutters having the cutter design. The method also includes generating a drill bit model based on the bit design and the cutter design and determining that the drill bit model meets the design criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: William Brian Atkins, Radompon Sungkorn, Michael Stephen Pierce
  • Publication number: 20220212086
    Abstract: Virtual and augmented reality sports training environments are disclosed. A user interacts with virtual players in a simulated environment of a virtual reality sporting event. In some embodiments, the user's actions and decisions are monitored by the simulated environment. The environment evaluates the user's performance, and provides performance feedback based on the user's decisions and timing. In one application, real life pitchers and their pitching data are tracked and replicated in a simulated pitching environment. A team of users may practice against a simulation of a pitcher they are about to compete against, swinging at pitches that they would see in a real game. Such environments may maximize effective practice time for users, and help develop better players with improved decision-making skills. Some embodiments include various pitch recognition training, which may be against replicated real-life pitchers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher O'DOWD, Michael STEPHENS, Kodi TAPIE, Nicholas KIPPES, Daniel O'DOWD, Garrett BEATTY
  • Patent number: 11377527
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing a product comprising fiber reinforced polymer material, the method comprising the steps of: providing 10 carbon fibers being embedded in a thermosetting resin, heating 20 the thermosetting resin up to its cure temperature by a current flowing through at least a part of said carbon fibers, letting convert 30 the thermosetting resin to a thermoset polymer. The invention is further directed to a device for performing the method and to a composite sandwich panel structure manufactured according to the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: RUAG SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Joseph Patrick Moran, Michael Stephen Pavloff
  • Publication number: 20220206093
    Abstract: A method of producing a permanent magnet shim configured to improve a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The method comprises determining deviation of the B0 magnetic field from a desired B0 magnetic field, determining a magnetic pattern that, when applied to magnetic material, produces a corrective magnetic field that corrects for at least some of the determined deviation, and applying the magnetic pattern to the magnetic material to produce the permanent magnet shim. According to some aspects, a permanent magnet shim for improving a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The permanent magnet shim comprises magnetic material having a predetermined magnetic pattern applied thereto that produces a corrective magnetic field to improve the profile of the B0 magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Hyperfine Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Cedric Hugon, Michael Stephen Poole, Tyler S. Ralston
  • Patent number: 11370865
    Abstract: A hardenable multi-part acrylic composition having at least two parts that react upon mixing to form a cement, such as bone cement, which hardens to a solid is described that includes storage stable liquid first and second parts, and optionally, further liquid parts. The parts react upon mixing to form a cement that hardens to a solid. The composition includes an acrylic monomer component and an initiator component in an amount effective to polymerize the acrylic monomer component when mixed and/or activated with it. The liquid first part comprises an aqueous dispersion of acrylic polymer particles and acrylic polymer beads. The polymer beads are at an equilibrium water content with the aqueous phase of the dispersion that generally has a viscosity between 10 and 10,000 centipoise. A twin barreled syringe, caulking gun or other cement mixing and delivery device and a method of producing the composition are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Chisholm, Sera Saheb Abed-Ali
  • Patent number: 11366188
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a portable magnetic resonance imaging system is provided, comprising a magnetics system having a plurality of magnetics components configured to produce magnetic fields for performing magnetic resonance imaging. The magnetics system comprises a permanent B0 magnet configured to produce a B0 field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, and a plurality of gradient coils configured to, when operated, generate magnetic fields to provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance signals, a power system comprising one or more power components configured to provide power to the magnetics system to operate the magnetic resonance imaging system to perform image acquisition, and a base that supports the magnetics system and houses the power system, the base comprising at least one conveyance mechanism allowing the portable magnetic resonance imaging system to be transported to different locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Hyperfine Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Poole, Cedric Hugon, Hadrien A. Dyvorne, Laura Sacolick, William J. Mileski, Jeremy Christopher Jordan, Alan B. Katze, Jr., Jonathan M. Rothberg, Todd Rearick, Christopher Thomas McNulty
  • Publication number: 20220184874
    Abstract: In an example method, a NWM molding blank, including a non-woven material held in compression by a binder, is placed in a separable mold, and heated to a melting temperature of the binder. The molding blank expands, forming as an intermediate NWM object a NWM molded object with a 3D geometric form. The intermediate NWM object is cooled through a temperature band with an upper boundary and a lower boundary, and further cooled to a solidifying temperature of the binder. The upper boundary is above the solidifying temperature and the upper boundary is lower than the binder melting temperature. While in the temperature band, the mold is separated, rendering accessible an exposed surface of the intermediate NWM object. The object is then transported to a contoured forming surface of a forming base, by an actuatable arm having an end effector gripping the exposed surface via vacuum suction, lifting the object from the mold and placing the object on the contoured forming surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Stephen DeFranks, Eric McCann, Andy Hollis
  • Patent number: 11359992
    Abstract: A coiled tubing system includes a coiled tubing unit with a coiled tubing string carried by the unit, the coiled tubing string having a stinger end; an injector support frame having an upper and lower ends; a coiled tubing injector disposed at the upper end of the support frame and engaging the coiled tubing string; and a loading device supported between the coiled tubing injector and the lower end of the frame, the loading device attached to the stinger end of the coiled tubing string. The system may include a riser tube disposed between the upper end of the frame and the loading device, coupling a housing of the loading device to a base of the coiled tubing injector, the coiled tubing string extending through the riser. The system may include a support device supporting the loading device, the support device pivotally supporting the loading device relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Oser, Robert Eugene Domann, Mickie James Theriot, Harley Wayne Jones, II
  • Publication number: 20220172338
    Abstract: A method comprising identifying a cutter on a drill bit based on a drill bit image, assigning a grading value of the cutter based on a classification model of a machine learning system, wherein the classification model is generated based on a set of training cutter images associated with drill bit characteristics indicators, determining a surface parameter based on a surface of the cutter, generating a comparison value based on the surface parameter, and mapping a set of cutter information to the cutter on the drill bit, wherein the set of cutter information comprises the grading value and the comparison value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: William Brian Atkins, Radompon Sungkorn, Michael Stephen Pierce
  • Publication number: 20220165180
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for training an installer to cut a film without damaging an underlying substrate. The methods include the steps of applying a stretchable surface-protection film to an electrically-conductive substrate provided with at least one irregularity; and cutting the surface protection film with an electrically-conductive knife which, when in contact with the electrically- conductive substrate, causes one or more notifications to occur. Also disclosed are devices that may be used in carrying out the methods of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: EASTMAN PERFORMANCE FILMS, LLC
    Inventors: JAMES YANCY FARROW, BOBBY HOWARD CARDWELL, AMANDA SMART BROWN, RICHARD ANTHONY DILL, MICHAEL STEPHEN POWELL, JACOB NEAL MOTLEY, NIKOLAIE ARNOLD BROWN, KEISTER LOGAN RICHARDSON, III, IGOR LEONIDOVICH ZHELDAKOV
  • Patent number: 11306631
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assessing a state of a vent hose that fluidically couples a crankcase of an engine to an engine air intake system. In one example, a method may include sealing the crankcase from the vent hose, initiating cranking of the engine, monitoring a series of pressure pulsations during a monitoring window duration via a pressure sensor positioned between a crankcase oil separator and the vent hose, and indicating a presence of degradation associated with the vent hose based on the series of pressure pulsations and the monitoring window duration. In this way, diagnosis of a state of the vent hose may be reliably assessed without crankcase pressures confounding pressure measurements as recorded via the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Roy Jentz, Matthew Carpenter, Michael Stephen Sweppy, Adam Joseph Krach
  • Patent number: 11298042
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a magnetic resonance imaging system capable of imaging a patient is provided. The magnetic resonance imaging system comprising at least one B0 magnet to produce a magnetic field to contribute to a B0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system and a member configured to engage with a releasable securing mechanism of a radio frequency coil apparatus, the member attached to the magnetic resonance imaging system at a location so that, when the member is engaged with the releasable securing mechanism of the radio frequency coil apparatus, the radio frequency coil apparatus is secured to the magnetic resonance imaging system substantially within an imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Hyperfine Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Anne Michele Nelson, Christopher Thomas McNulty, Jeremy Christopher Jordan, Michael Stephen Poole
  • Publication number: 20220104722
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a magnetic resonance imaging system capable of imaging a patient is provided. The magnetic resonance imaging system comprising at least one B0 magnet to produce a magnetic field to contribute to a B0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system and a member configured to engage with a releasable securing mechanism of a radio frequency coil apparatus, the member attached to the magnetic resonance imaging system at a location so that, when the member is engaged with the releasable securing mechanism of the radio frequency coil apparatus, the radio frequency coil apparatus is secured to the magnetic resonance imaging system substantially within an imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Hyperfine, Inc.
    Inventors: Anne Michele Nelson, Christopher Thomas McNulty, Jeremy Christopher Jordan, Michael Stephen Poole, Gang Chen