Patents by Inventor Michael Van Niekerk

Michael Van Niekerk 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: 20240104998
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a gaming system, device, and method supportive of a self-evolving, AI-based playstyle models. A gaming system, device, and method are provided that identify data associated with a gameplay session at a gaming device, provide the data to a machine learning network; receive an output from the machine learning network in response to the machine learning network processing the data using a playstyle model, the output including an indication associated with modifying the playstyle model; and modify the playstyle model based on the indication. The data includes at least one of: a gameplay decision received during the gameplay session; and an emotional state of a user in association with the gameplay decision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: David Froy, Thomas Trenkler, Karen Van Niekerk, Michael Russ, David Small
  • Patent number: 10294136
    Abstract: A process for producing a biomass for use in the treatment of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reaction water includes introducing a nutrient component comprising Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P), and water into an aerobic reaction zone containing a sewage sludge, and maintaining, in the aerobic reaction zone and under aerobic conditions, a F/M ratio of 0.25-2 kg COD/kg MLSS, where F/M=Food to Microorganism Ratio; COD=Chemical Oxygen Demand, expressed as mg oxygen/B of liquid in the aerobic reaction zone; and MLSS=Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids, expressed as mg solids in the aerobic reaction zone/B of liquid in the aerobic reaction zone. The F/M ratio is maintained for a period of time, to produce a biomass suitable for use in the treatment of FT reaction water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SASOL TECHNOLOGY (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED
    Inventors: Trevor David Phillips, Maria Petronella Augustyn, Ignatius Michael Van Niekerk
  • Publication number: 20160152500
    Abstract: A process for producing a bio-mass for use in the treatment of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reaction water includes introducing a nutrient component comprising Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P), and water into an aerobic reaction zone containing a sewage sludge, and maintaining, in the aerobic reaction zone and under aerobic conditions, a F/M ratio of 0.25-2 kg COD/kg MLSS·day, where F/M=Food to Microorganism Ratio; COD=Chemical Oxygen Demand, expressed as mg oxygen/? of liquid in the aerobic reaction zone; and MLSS=Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids, expressed as mg solids in the aerobic reaction zone/? of liquid in the aerobic reaction zone. The F/M ratio is maintained for a period of time, to produce a biomass suitable for use in the treatment of FT reaction water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Trevor David Phillips, Maria Petronella Augustyn, Ignatius Michael Van Niekerk
  • Publication number: 20150030721
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an improved process for the manufacture of an alcoholic beverage, including the steps of providing a sugar source, subjecting the sugar source to at least one instance of fermentation, and simultaneously adding plant material of the family Fabaceae during the step of fermentation, thereby potentiating extraction of extractable compounds from the plant material, useful in imparting a unique flavour and aroma to the alcoholic beverage. The alcoholic beverage may be a wine, beer or cider beverage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Trevor Strydom, Michael Van Niekerk, Oliver Ghai
  • Publication number: 20100287795
    Abstract: A method of injection moulding a sole or a part of the sole of an article of footwear from an expandable material is disclosed. The method is characterised by forming a mould chamber that has at least a main sub-chamber and at least one other sub-chamber and injecting controlled amounts of the expandable material into the sub-chambers so that the sole is formed with different densities of the same expanded material in the sub-chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Van Niekerk