Patents by Inventor Michael Whitens

Michael Whitens 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: 20090324335
    Abstract: A secondary containment system for an above-ground petroleum storage tank includes a berm rising above the ground surrounding the tank and spaced apart from the tank for defining a petroleum retention basin about the tank. An impermeable liner covers the ground between the tank and the berm. At least one drain is formed through the liner and into the underlying ground. A hydrocarbon sensor monitors the presence of petroleum in the drain. A control device responds to the presence of petroleum in the drain by closing a containment valve to prevent discharge of petroleum from the basin. An indicator device provides at least one of an audible and visible signal indicating that petroleum is sensed in the drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Peter Van Fossen, Michael Whitener
  • Publication number: 20090324336
    Abstract: A secondary containment system for an above-ground petroleum storage tank includes a berm rising above the ground surrounding the tank and spaced apart from the tank for defining a petroleum retention basin about the tank. An impermeable liner covers the ground between the tank and the berm. At least one drain is formed through the liner and into the underlying ground. A hydrocarbon sensor monitors the presence of petroleum in the drain. A control device responds to the presence of petroleum in the drain by closing a containment valve to prevent discharge of petroleum from the basin. An indicator device provides at least one of an audible and visible signal indicating that petroleum is sensed in the drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Peter Van Fossen, Michael Whitener
  • Patent number: 7513553
    Abstract: A storage system for an automotive vehicle includes a storage module having opposing sidewalls and a primary storage compartment situated between the opposing sidewalls. A repositionable bin has a first position in which it is mounted at least partially within the primary storage compartment and at least one secondary position in which the repositionable bin is removably mounted to an interior surface of the vehicle, such as upon an exterior surface of the storage module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kaushlendra Singh, Peter Bejin, Michael Whitens
  • Publication number: 20080191626
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a lighting device configured to emit light having varying colors and intensities. In one embodiment, the emission of light occurs in response to pulse width modulated (PWM) signals generated by a control module. The lighting system may be programmed to emit light in accordance with user programming and various inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Salter, Lynda K. Fulgenzi, Michael Whitens, Roger Hayden
  • Publication number: 20080048466
    Abstract: A storage system for an automotive vehicle includes a storage module having opposing sidewalls and a primary storage compartment situated between the opposing sidewalls. A repositionable bin has a first position in which it is mounted at least partially within the primary storage compartment and at least one secondary position in which the repositionable bin is removably mounted to an interior surface of the vehicle, such as upon an exterior surface of the storage module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kaushlendra Singh, Peter Bejin, Michael Whitens
  • Publication number: 20070296423
    Abstract: A wafer support assembly has a first wafer support plate having a first grid pattern allowing first probe access through the first grid pattern to a first side of a wafer in the wafer support assembly and a second wafer support plate having a second grid pattern allowing second probe access through the second grid pattern to a second side of the wafer in the wafer support assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Whitener, Allen Anderson, John Larson, Matt Condron, Stephen Gilbert, Jose Marroquin, Matthew Richter, Ron Strehlow, Hassan Tanbakuchi, David Taylor
  • Patent number: 7313247
    Abstract: An automotive interior trim panel includes a contoured panel having an interior surface forming a portion of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, and an exterior surface cooperating with an exterior body panel, such as a door, to define a first volume. A speaker port is formed in the contoured panel for locating a speaker within the first volume. A shell including an integral acoustic volume circumscribes a portion of the exterior surface of the contoured panel, including the speaker port. The shell is mounted to the exterior surface of the contoured panel so as to define an acoustic chamber supported by the contoured panel and extending within the first volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Tilli, Benjamin Coon, Michael Whitens, Zhibing Deng, Chunhui Li, Se Kyoon Shin
  • Patent number: 7237825
    Abstract: An automotive interior trim panel includes a contoured panel having an interior surface forming a portion of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, and an exterior surface cooperating with an exterior body panel to define a first volume. A speaker port is formed in the contoured panel for locating a speaker within the first volume. A shell including an integral acoustic volume and a pelvic bolster circumscribes a portion of the exterior surface of the contoured panel, including a speaker port. The shell is mounted to the exterior surface of the contoured panel so as to define both an acoustic chamber and a pelvic bolster supported by the contoured panel and extending within the first volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Tilli, Benjamin Coon, Michael Whitens, Zhibing Deng, Chunhui Li, Se Kyoon Shin
  • Publication number: 20070132460
    Abstract: A microwave spectroscopy probe has a center conductor between a first ground plane and a second ground plane. A dielectric member has fluid channel between the center conductor and the first ground plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Hassan Tanbakuchi, Matthew Richter, Michael Whitener
  • Publication number: 20070109071
    Abstract: A coupler assembly has first and second conductors with first and second dielectric supports extending along a coupling section and supporting the first and second conductors at a support section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Hassan Tanbakuchi, Michael Whitener, Matthew Richter, Glenn Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20070069832
    Abstract: An interconnection includes a microcircuit package having a slot, and a receiving feature. A bead ring is fitted into the receiving feature. A center conductor extends through a dielectric support disposed in the bead ring and through the slot. The center conductor forms a coaxial transmission structure in cooperation with the bead ring and the dielectric support, and forms a slab line transmission structure in cooperation with the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Hassan Tanbakuchi, Matthew Richter, Michael Whitener, Bobby Wong, Jim Clatterbaugh
  • Publication number: 20070024388
    Abstract: A slabline structure includes a first slabline having a first orientation and a second slabline having a second orientation that is rotationally offset from the first orientation. The slabline structure also includes a transition interposed between the first slabline and the second slabline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Hassan Tanbakuchi, Michael Whitener, Matthew Richter