Patents by Inventor Nicholas Ward

Nicholas Ward 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: 20260116563
    Abstract: A method of electronically controlling operation of a vehicle is disclosed here. The vehicle has two engines, and the disclosed method involves: obtaining respective tachometer data from the two engines; obtaining vibration data from vibration sensors associated with the two engines; calculating a vibration phase angle between the two engines, the vibration phase angle calculated from the tachometer data from the engines and from the vibration data for the engines; and controlling operation of one or both of the engines, in response to the calculated vibration phase angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2024
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Applicant: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Kristopher Lynch, Nicholas Ward, Thomas Snyder
  • Patent number: 11536409
    Abstract: A connector assembly has a connector body to receive a spigot. The connector body includes a mechanism to retain the spigot in the connector body. A fluid transfer conduit is coupled with the connector body. A heating element extends through the fluid transfer conduit and into the connector body and spigot, when the spigot is retained by the connector body. The heating element heats the spigot and the connector body from the inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Norma U.S. Holding LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Ward, Brian Ignaczak, Glenn Moore
  • Patent number: 11305894
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a turbine engine, a vibration sensor, and a processor. The vibration sensor is attached to the turbine engine and is configured to output a vibration sensor signal. The processor is programmed to determine whether the vibration sensor signal indicates that fan case liner damage has occurred due to icing conditions. The processor is further programmed to indicate that a fan case inspection should be conducted in response to the vibration sensor signal indicating that fan case liner damage has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent DeChellis, Mike Lucas, Tongan Wang, Nicholas Ward, Paul Conti
  • Patent number: 11168452
    Abstract: A flood barrier to protect an area of land from floodwaters, the flood barrier having a waterside to be placed adjacent a body of water and a protected side opposing the waterside, the flood barrier comprising a plurality of supports spaced apart from one another; at least one intermediate barrier section supported to extend between a pair of neighbouring supports when assembled, the intermediate barrier section comprising at least a first beam arrangeable such that it is supported to extend between the corresponding pair of neighbouring supports and a water impermeable membrane sheet attachable to said first beam via a mechanical connection to form a skirt extending from said first beam, outwardly from the waterside of the flood barrier onto the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Einstein IP Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas Ward
  • Publication number: 20210285175
    Abstract: A flood barrier to protect an area of land from floodwaters, the flood barrier having a waterside to be placed adjacent a body of water and a protected side opposing the waterside, the flood barrier comprising a plurality of supports spaced apart from one another; at least one intermediate barrier section supported to extend between a pair of neighbouring supports when assembled, the intermediate barrier section comprising at least a first beam arrangeable such that it is supported to extend between the corresponding pair of neighbouring supports and a water impermeable membrane sheet attachable to said first beam via a mechanical connection to form a skirt extending from said first beam, outwardly from the waterside of the flood barrier onto the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: Einstein IP Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas Ward
  • Publication number: 20210102653
    Abstract: A connector assembly has a connector body to receive a spigot. The connector body includes a mechanism to retain the spigot in the connector body. A fluid transfer conduit is coupled with the connector body. A heating element extends through the fluid transfer conduit and into the connector body and spigot, when the spigot is retained by the connector body. The heating element heats the spigot and the connector body from the inside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas WARD, Brian IGNACZAK, Glenn MOORE
  • Publication number: 20200172269
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a turbine engine, a vibration sensor, and a processor. The vibration sensor is attached to the turbine engine and is configured to output a vibration sensor signal. The processor is programmed to determine whether the vibration sensor signal indicates that fan case liner damage has occurred due to icing conditions. The processor is further programmed to indicate that a fan case inspection should be conducted in response to the vibration sensor signal indicating that fan case liner damage has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent DeChellis, Mike Lucas, Tongan Wang, Nicholas Ward, Paul Conti
  • Patent number: 10422459
    Abstract: A conduit connector has a housing with primary and secondary latch retainers. The primary latch includes a base, a biasing member and a conduit receiving member. The conduit receiving member includes a pair of arms defining an elliptical opening with a gap between distal ends of the arms. The secondary latch retainer including a base, a verification mechanism and a retaining member. The verification mechanism includes a pair of legs and a slide member. In a locked position an enlarged annulus, of a conduit entering the housing, expands the legs enabling the retaining member to enter the housing toward the axis. A portion of the slide member projects beyond the housing indicating a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Norma U.S. Holding LLC
    Inventors: Carl Jones, Nicholas Ward, Douglas Fansler, Brian Ignaczak
  • Publication number: 20190109355
    Abstract: A battery thermal management manifold segment is used amid the circulation of thermal management fluid to help regulate temperatures in a battery of an electric vehicle (EV). The battery thermal management manifold segment has one or more tubes—a feed tube, a return tube, or both—that have an inlet, an outlet, and a passage spanning therebetween. The tube(s) has one or more branch tubes extending therefrom. The branch tube(s) has a branch passage spanning from the passage of the tube(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Carl Jones, Doug Fansler, Brian T. Ignaczak, Nicholas Ward, Dave Peterson, Michael R. Bucher
  • Patent number: 10221595
    Abstract: A locking device for a leaf pivotally mounted in a frame, the leaf having a leading face, a trailing face, a bottom edge and side edges, and being pivotally moveable relative to the frame between an open position and a closed position, the locking device comprising at least a first cam rotatable between an unlocked condition and a locked condition, the plane of rotation of the cam being perpendicular to the plane of the leaf when in the closed position, wherein in the locked condition the cam is engageable with a cam engaging surface on the leaf or the frame, engagement of the cam with the cam engaging surface preventing the leaf from moving away from the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Einstein IP Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Ward, Brian Clegg
  • Publication number: 20170023163
    Abstract: A connector assembly has a connector body to receive a spigot. The connector body includes a mechanism to retain the spigot in the connector body. A fluid transfer conduit is coupled with the connector body. A heating element extends through the fluid transfer conduit and into the connector body and spigot, when the spigot is retained by the connector body. The heating element heats the spigot and the connector body from the inside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Nicholas WARD, Brian IGNACZAK, Glenn MOORE
  • Publication number: 20160376821
    Abstract: A locking device for a leaf pivotally mounted in a frame, the leaf having a leading face, a trailing face, a bottom edge and side edges, and being pivotally moveable relative to the frame between an open position and a closed position, the locking device comprising at least a first cam rotatable between an unlocked condition and a locked condition, the plane of rotation of the cam being perpendicular to the plane of the leaf when in the closed position, wherein in the locked condition the cam is engageable with a cam engaging surface on the leaf or the frame, engagement of the cam with the cam engaging surface preventing the leaf from moving away from the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: Einstein IP Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Ward, Brian Clegg
  • Publication number: 20160201835
    Abstract: A conduit connector has a housing with primary and secondary latch retainers. The primary latch includes a base, a biasing member and a conduit receiving member. The conduit receiving member includes a pair of arms defining an elliptical opening with a gap between distal ends of the arms. The secondary latch retainer including a base, a verification mechanism and a retaining member. The verification mechanism includes a pair of legs and a slide member. In a locked position an enlarged annulus, of a conduit entering the housing, expands the legs enabling the retaining member to enter the housing toward the axis. A portion of the slide member projects beyond the housing indicating a locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Carl Jones, Nicholas Ward, Douglas Fansler, Brian Ignaczak
  • Patent number: 8774956
    Abstract: A yield prediction is received by a strategy engine. The strategy engine compares the end-of-line yield prediction to a plurality of rules. The strategy engine then instructs a component of an equipment engineering system to perform an action included in a rule that corresponds to the end-of-line yield prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: James Moyne, Nicholas Ward, Richard Stafford
  • Patent number: 8612043
    Abstract: A yield prediction is received by a run-to-run controller that includes an intra-process run-to-run control module that specifies process performance targets, wherein the yield prediction is associated with at least one of a manufacturing tool, a product or a process. The run-to-run control module adjusts first parameters associated with intra-process run-to-run control based on the yield prediction, wherein the first parameters include processing parameters of a process recipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: James Moyne, Nicholas Ward, Richard Stafford
  • Publication number: 20110166688
    Abstract: A yield prediction is received by a run-to-run controller that includes an intra-process run-to-run control module that specifies process performance targets, wherein the yield prediction is associated with at least one of a manufacturing tool, a product or a process. The run-to-run control module adjusts first parameters associated with intra-process run-to-run control based on the yield prediction, wherein the first parameters include processing parameters of a process recipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: James Moyne, Nicholas Ward, Richard Stafford
  • Publication number: 20110166684
    Abstract: A yield prediction is received by a strategy engine. The strategy engine compares the end-of-line yield prediction to a plurality of rules. The strategy engine then instructs a component of an equipment engineering system to perform an action included in a rule that corresponds to the end-of-line yield prediction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: James Moyne, Nicholas Ward, Richard Stafford
  • Patent number: 7974723
    Abstract: A yield prediction is received by a scheduling and dispatch controller, wherein the yield prediction is associated with a manufacturing tool and a product. A weighting of the manufacturing tool is adjusted in a routing algorithm based on the yield prediction. A cost-benefit analysis is computed that identifies a cost and a benefit of manufacturing future products on the manufacturing tool. A determination is made regarding whether to process a future product on the manufacturing tool based on the cost-benefit analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: James Moyne, Nicholas Ward, Richard Stafford
  • Publication number: 20090228129
    Abstract: A yield prediction is received by a scheduling and dispatch controller, wherein the yield prediction is associated with a manufacturing tool and a product. A weighting of the manufacturing tool is adjusted in a routing algorithm based on the yield prediction. A cost-benefit analysis is computed that identifies a cost and a benefit of manufacturing future products on the manufacturing tool. A determination is made regarding whether to process a future product on the manufacturing tool based on the cost-benefit analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: James Moyne, Nicholas Ward, Richard Stafford
  • Publication number: 20050174257
    Abstract: An intersection assistance system includes at least one vehicle sensor and a gap estimator. The vehicle sensor is configured to obtain vehicle information on vehicles approaching the intersection along a main roadway. The gap estimator is configured to estimate gap information relating to a gap between the vehicles based on the vehicle information. The gap information includes a length of the gap, a location of the gap, and a velocity of the gap. In a method of obtaining information for use in assisting a driver of an entering vehicle to safely enter an intersection, vehicle information is obtained on vehicles traveling toward the intersection on a main roadway. Next, gap information is estimated relating to a gap between the vehicles based on the vehicle information. The gap information includes a length of the gap, a location of the gap, and a velocity of the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Applicant: The University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Craig Shankwitz, Lee Alexander, Pi-Ming Cheng, Max Donath, Alec Gorjestani, Arvind Menon, Bryan Newstrom, Nicholas Ward