Patents by Inventor Neil A. Johnson

Neil A. Johnson 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: 8965642
    Abstract: A display system of an excavating machine including a work machine having a bucket with an excavation edge and an arm to which the bucket is swingably attached, and a body to which the work machine is attached, the system including: a vehicle condition detector detecting first information related to a current position of the excavating machine and second information related to a posture of the body; a storage storing position information of a target surface indicating a target shape of an object and appearance information of the bucket; and a processor obtaining virtual images indicating positions of planes passing through both ends of the excavation edge from among planes parallel to a plane on which the arm moves based on the first and second information, and the appearance information, and displaying the virtual images on a screen with the bucket as viewed from above the excavating machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Neil Johnson, Takahiro Hashimoto, Takashi Kurihara, Azumi Nomura
  • Patent number: 8962978
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is described, including a semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor layer is both compositionally graded and structurally graded. Specifically, the semiconductor layer is compositionally graded through its thickness from substantially intrinsic at the interface with the substrate to substantially doped at an opposite surface. Further, the semiconductor layer is structurally graded through its thickness from substantially crystalline at the interface with the substrate to substantially amorphous at the opposite surface. Related methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bastiaan Arie Korevaar, James Neil Johnson, Todd Ryan Tolliver, Theodore Carlton Kreutz, Xiaolan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8912037
    Abstract: A method for making a photovoltaic device is presented. The method includes steps of disposing a window layer on a substrate and disposing an absorber layer on the window layer. Disposing the window layer, the absorber layer, or both layers includes introducing a source material into a deposition zone, wherein the source material comprises oxygen and a constituent of the window layer, of the absorber layer or of both layers. The method further includes step of depositing a film that comprises the constituent and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignees: First Solar, Inc., Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: James Neil Johnson, David Scott Albin, Scott Feldman-Peabody, Mark Jeffrey Pavol, Robert Dwayne Gossman
  • Publication number: 20140350013
    Abstract: Herein are disclosed indazoles of formula (I) where the various groups are defined herein, and which are useful for treating cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Celine DUQUENNE, Neil Johnson, Steven D. Knight, Louis Lafrance, William H. Miller, Kenneth Newlander, Stuart Romeril, Meagan B. Rouse, Xinrong Tian, Sharad Kumar Verma
  • Publication number: 20140308104
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for controlling dispersal of a granular material from a transport assembly. In an implementation, a system includes a transport assembly including a transport storage receptacle configured to receive granular material, and a payload deposit assembly coupled to transport storage receptacle. The payload assembly configured to disperse the granular material. A location-determining device coupled to the transport assembly. The location-determining device is configured to determine a position of the transport assembly with respect to a storage receptacle. A control mechanism is coupled to the transport storage receptacle, and the control mechanism is configured to control dispersal of the granular material. An electronic device is operatively coupled to the control mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Neil Johnson, Jay Ragsdale
  • Publication number: 20140295258
    Abstract: The present application provides configurations, components, assemblies and methods for sealing cells of sodium-based thermal batteries, such as NaMx cells. In some embodiments the cells may include an integrated bridge member hermetically sealed to an electrically conductive case and a ceramic collar of the cell to hermetically seal an anodic chamber of the cell. In some embodiments the cells may include the ceramic collar hermetically sealed to an electrolyte separator tube of the cell to hermetically seal the anodic chamber of the cell. In some embodiments the anodic chamber may be defined, at least in part, by the case, integrated bridge member, ceramic collar and electrolyte separator tube. In some embodiments the cells may include a current collector hermetically sealed to the ceramic collar, and a cap member hermetically sealed to the current collector tube to hermetically seal a cathodic chamber of the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sundeep KUMAR, Mohamed RAHMANE, Neil A. JOHNSON, Patrick D. WILLSON, Raymond R. COLE, Timothy YOSENICK, Thomas ANGELIU, Tobias JUETTING
  • Publication number: 20140295255
    Abstract: The present application provides configurations, components, assemblies and methods for sealing cells of sodium-based thermal batteries, such as NaMx cells, without a bridge member. In some embodimentsl the cells may include an electrically conductive case directly hermetically sealed to an electrically insulating ceramic collar of the cell to hermetically seal an anodic chamber of the cell. In some embodiments the ceramic collar and an electrolyte separator tube may be a cosintered one-piece member. In some embodiments the case and the ceramic collar and separator tube may form a hermetically sealed anodic chamber therebetween. In some embodiments the separator tube may define, at least in part, a cathodic chamber therein. In some embodiments the cells may include a current collector hermetically sealed to the ceramic collar, and a cap member hermetically sealed to the current collector to hermetically seal the cathodic chamber of the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sundeep KUMAR, Mohamed RAHMANE, Neil A. JOHNSON, Patrick D. WILLSON, Raymond R. COLE
  • Patent number: 8846935
    Abstract: Herein are disclosed indazoles of formula (I) where the various groups are defined herein, and which are useful for treating cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: GlaxoSmithKline LLC
    Inventors: Celine Duquenne, Neil Johnson, Steven D. Knight, Louis Lafrance, William H. Miller, Kenneth Newlander, Stuart Romeril, Meagan B. Rouse, Xinrong Tian, Sharad Kumar Verma
  • Patent number: 8731241
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the motion of objects is configured to identify objects meeting predetermined criteria appearing in a scene and to track the motion of identified objects across the scene. In a particular embodiment the system is configured to compile statistical data for multiple points or regions to indicate one or both of: the frequency with which objects are initialised at that region or point; and the frequency with which initialised objects cross the region or point. The initialisation data will indicate the areas in the scene where objects are most frequently initialised. If the statistical data shows an area of the scene in which objects are never initialised this might indicate that there is an obstruction between objects that need to be tracked and the detector. The path data will indicate the paths most frequently followed by objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Infrared Integrated Systems Limited
    Inventors: Neil Johnson, Glyn Cowe
  • Publication number: 20140107473
    Abstract: An instrument guide apparatus for use with a surgical or other guided intervention of a patient utilizing a guided instrument is disclosed. The instrument guide apparatus includes at least two line lasers mounted above the patient and generating intersecting planar laser lines along an instrument axis of entry in three-dimensional space above the patient. In an embodiment, the instrument axis of entry in three dimensional space above the patient is received from an imaging apparatus imaging the patient's body at least along a portion of the instrument's axis of entry into the patient. In an embodiment, the instrument axis of entry in three-dimensional space above the patient is a line-of-site for a camera mounted above the patient and controlled by the imaging apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
    Inventors: Charles L. Dumoulin, Neil Johnson, Ronald Pratt
  • Publication number: 20140100744
    Abstract: A display system of an excavating machine including a work machine having a bucket with an excavation edge and an arm to which the bucket is swingably attached, and a body to which the work machine is attached, the system including: a vehicle condition detector detecting first information related to a current position of the excavating machine and second information related to a posture of the body; a storage storing position information of a target surface indicating a target shape of an object and appearance information of the bucket; and a processor obtaining virtual images indicating positions of planes passing through both ends of the excavation edge from among planes parallel to a plane on which the arm moves based on the first and second information, and the appearance information, and displaying the virtual images on a screen with the bucket as viewed from above the excavating machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Neil JOHNSON, Takahiro HASHIMOTO, Takashi KURIHARA, Azumi NOMURA
  • Publication number: 20140083505
    Abstract: A method for forming thin films or layers of cadmium telluride (CdTe) for use in photovoltaic modules or solar cells. The method includes varying the substrate temperature during the growth of the CdTe layer by preheating a substrate (e.g., a substrate with a cadmium sulfide (CdS) heterojunction or layer) suspended over a CdTe source to remove moisture to a relatively low preheat temperature. Then, the method includes directly heating only the CdTe source, which in turn indirectly heats the substrate upon which the CdTe is deposited. The method improves the resulting CdTe solar cell reliability. The resulting microstructure exhibits a distinct grain size distribution such that the initial region is composed of smaller grains than the bulk region portion of the deposited CdTe. Resulting devices exhibit a behavior suggesting a more n-like CdTe material near the CdS heterojunction than devices grown with substrate temperatures held constant during CdTe deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicants: First Solar, Inc., Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: David S. ALBIN, James Neil JOHNSON, Yu ZHAO, Bastiaan Arie KOREVAAR
  • Patent number: 8637509
    Abstract: Herein are disclosed azaindazoles of formula (I) where the various groups are defined herein, and which are useful for treating cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: GlaxoSmithKline LLC
    Inventors: Joelle Lorraine Burgess, Neil Johnson, Steven D. Knight, Louis LaFrance, William H. Miller, Kenneth Newlander, Stuart Romeril, Meagan B. Rouse, Xinrong Tian, Sharad Kumar Verma, Dominic Suarez
  • Publication number: 20130345200
    Abstract: Herein are disclosed indoles of formula (I) where the various groups are defined herein, and which are useful for treating cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: GlaxoSmithKline LLC
    Inventors: James Brackley, III, Joelle Lorraine Burgess, Seth Grant, Neil Johnson, Steven D. Knight, Louis Lafrance, William H. Miller, Kenneth Newlander, Stuart Romeril, Meagan B. Rouse, Xinrong Tian, Sharad Kumar Verma
  • Publication number: 20130261523
    Abstract: A conformable brace used for supporting both the abdomen and lower back of a wearer in preventative and treatment applications. The brace includes an abdominal support panel (110) substantially enclosed within a support envelope (120), a lumbar support panel (210) having a dome-shaped protrusion (240) that complements the lumbar contour of the user's back, and a belt (320) that places the abdominal support panel (110) and the lumbar support panel (210) in opposed biasing arrangement against the torso of a user. The belt (320) is associated with the support envelope (120) and is also inserted though vertical slots (220) in the lumbar support panel (210).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: Willie Neil Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130233374
    Abstract: A monolithically integrated cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) module includes a first electrically conductive layer and an insulating layer. The first electrically conductive layer is disposed below the insulating layer. The PV module further includes a back contact metal layer and a CdTe absorber layer. The back contact metal layer is disposed between the insulating layer and the CdTe absorber layer. The PV module further includes a window layer and a second electrically conductive layer. The window layer is disposed between the CdTe absorber layer and the second electrically conductive layer. At least one first trench extends through the back contact metal layer, at least one second trench extends through the absorber and window layers, and at least one third trench extends through the second electrically conductive layer. A method for monolithically integrating CdTe PV cells is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bastiaan Arie Korevaar, James Neil Johnson, Holly Ann Blaydes, James Edward Pickett, Thomas Miebach
  • Patent number: 8489808
    Abstract: Systems and methods for presenting virtual tape products to a client are disclosed. An exemplary method may include allocating a plurality of disks connected to a host bus adapter (HBA) as both virtual tape storage and virtual disk storage. The method may also include translating at the HBA an input/output (I/O) communication between the client and the plurality of disks to access at least a portion of the plurality of disks allocated as virtual tape storage. The method may also include handling all other I/O communication between the client and the plurality of disks for access to the plurality of disks allocated as virtual disk storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Neil Johnson, Mark Robert Watkins
  • Publication number: 20130160810
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device having n-i-p or p-i-n configuration is presented. The device includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer and an intrinsic layer interposed between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. The intrinsic layer includes cadmium, tellurium and oxygen. Method of making a photovoltaic device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bastiaan Arie Korevaar, James Neil Johnson, Oleg Sulima
  • Patent number: 8449484
    Abstract: A conformable brace used for supporting both the abdomen and lower back of a wearer in preventative and treatment applications. The brace includes an abdominal support panel (110) substantially enclosed within a support envelope (120), a lumbar support panel (210) having a dome-shaped protrusion (240) that complements the lumbar contour of the user's back, and a belt (320) that places the abdominal support panel (110) and the lumbar support panel (210) in opposed biasing arrangement against the torso of a user. The belt (320) is associated with the support envelope (120) and is also inserted though vertical slots (220) in the lumbar support panel (210).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventor: Willie Neil Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130059849
    Abstract: Herein are disclosed azaindazoles of formula (I) where the various groups are defined herein, and which are useful for treating cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Joelle Lorraine Burgess, Neil Johnson, Steven D. Knight, Louis Lafrance, William H. Miller, Kenneth Newlander, Stuart Romeril, Meagan B. Rouse, Xinrong Tian, Sharad Kumar Verma, Dominic Suarez