Patents by Inventor Paul Dominic Christian
Paul Dominic Christian 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).
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Publication number: 20240122437Abstract: An automated cleaning machine may include one or more short cleaning cycles in which the duration of a cleaning cycle is shortened relative to the duration of a default cleaning cycle. During a short cleaning cycle, other cleaning cycle parameters may also be adjusted to ensure that the articles subjected to the short cleaning cycle are adequately cleaned and sanitized. For example, the wash temperature, rinse temperature, and/or cleaning product amounts or concentrations, may be adjusted to account for the shortened duration of the cleaning cycle. The automated cleaning machine may further include one or more short cycle mode(s) during which short cleaning cycle parameters are used and one or more default cycle mode(s) during which default cleaning cycle parameters are used.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: Rachel Marie McGinness, Jonathan Charles Butwinick, Paul R. Kraus, Alissa R. Ellingson, Conor Sylvester Smith, Paul Dominic Christian
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Patent number: 11889963Abstract: An automated cleaning machine may include one or more short cleaning cycles in which the duration of a cleaning cycle is shortened relative to the duration of a default cleaning cycle. During a short cleaning cycle, other cleaning cycle parameters may also be adjusted to ensure that the articles subjected to the short cleaning cycle are adequately cleaned and sanitized. For example, the wash temperature, rinse temperature, and/or cleaning product amounts or concentrations, may be adjusted to account for the shortened duration of the cleaning cycle. The automated cleaning machine may further include one or more short cycle mode(s) during which short cleaning cycle parameters are used and one or more default cycle mode(s) during which default cleaning cycle parameters are used.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2021Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.Inventors: Rachel Marie McGinness, Jonathan Charles Butwinick, Paul R. Kraus, Alissa R. Ellingson, Conor Sylvester Smith, Paul Dominic Christian
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Publication number: 20230375991Abstract: A computing device and/or computer-implemented method determines whether acoustic data associated with operation of a cleaning machine represents normal or anomalous operation of the cleaning machine. In some examples, upon determining that the acoustic data represents anomalous operation of the cleaning machine, the computing device further identifies a root cause(s) of the anomalous operation and/or one or more remedial actions that may be taken in response the root cause of the anomalous operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Inventors: Conor Sylvester Smith, Paul Dominic Christian
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Publication number: 20230337891Abstract: Systems and/or methods for the monitoring and/or control of thermal sanitization in automated cleaning machines are described. A cleaning machine controller may predict a number of heat unit equivalents that will be delivered during a cleaning process based on a sump temperature difference (i.e., a change in the temperature of the cleaning solution in the sump) experienced at or near the beginning of the cleaning process. One or more cleaning process parameters may be adjusted and/or controlled based on the sump temperature difference in order to ensure that a target number of heat unit equivalents are delivered in order to achieve thermal sanitization of the wares subjected to the cleaning process.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Elizabeth Minhee Han, Conor Sylvester Smith, Paul R. Kraus, Paul Dominic Christian, Rachel Marie McGinness
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Publication number: 20230218137Abstract: Image classification is used to dynamically control one or more wash parameters in an automated cleaning machine. An imaging device installed in the wash chamber of the cleaning machine captures one or more image(s) of articles to be cleaned at various times throughout a cleaning process. A computing device analyzes the captured image(s) to classify the images as to an article type and a rack volume. Based on the article type classification and the rack volume, the computing device dynamically controls one or more parameters of the cleaning process to achieve a satisfactory cleaning and/or sanitizing result.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Inventors: Conor Sylvester Smith, Paul Dominic Christian, Elizabeth Minhee Han, Paul R. Kraus, Rachel Marie McGinness
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Patent number: 11666198Abstract: Systems and/or methods for the monitoring and/or control of thermal sanitization in automated cleaning machines are described. A cleaning machine controller may predict a number of heat unit equivalents that will be delivered during a cleaning process based on a sump temperature difference (i.e., a change in the temperature of the cleaning solution in the sump) experienced at or near the beginning of the cleaning process. One or more cleaning process parameters may be adjusted and/or controlled based on the sump temperature difference in order to ensure that a target number of heat unit equivalents are delivered in order to achieve thermal sanitization of the wares subjected to the cleaning process.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth Minhee Han, Conor Sylvester Smith, Paul R. Kraus, Paul Dominic Christian, Rachel Marie McGinness
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Patent number: 11627861Abstract: Image classification is used to dynamically control one or more wash parameters in an automated cleaning machine. An imaging device installed in the wash chamber of the cleaning machine captures one or more image(s) of articles to be cleaned at various times throughout a cleaning process. A computing device analyzes the captured image(s) to classify the images as to an article type and a rack volume. Based on the article type classification and the rack volume, the computing device dynamically controls one or more parameters of the cleaning process to achieve a satisfactory cleaning and/or sanitizing result.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.Inventors: Conor Sylvester Smith, Paul Dominic Christian, Elizabeth Minhee Han, Paul R. Kraus, Rachel Marie McGinness
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Patent number: 11583597Abstract: A lighting array including one or more antimicrobial light segments configured to emit light sufficient to inactivate one or more microorganisms at a target surface may be installed within identified contamination zones of food or beverage preparation, processing, storing or packaging equipment or machinery. In an ice machine, for example, an array controller is configured for communication with an ice machine controller to receive ice machine status information signals. The status information signals are usable by the array controller to determine cycle, state, and/or usage information associated with the ice machine. The array controller may individually control activation of the one or more antimicrobial light segments based on the status information signals received from the machine controller to achieve inactivation of one or more microorganisms on target surfaces within the machine.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.Inventors: Paul Dominic Christian, Paul R. Kraus, Gina McDowell, Amani Babekir, Anna Starobin
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Publication number: 20220104680Abstract: Systems and/or methods for the monitoring and/or control of thermal sanitization in automated cleaning machines are described. A cleaning machine controller may predict a number of heat unit equivalents that will be delivered during a cleaning process based on a sump temperature difference (i.e., a change in the temperature of the cleaning solution in the sump) experienced at or near the beginning of the cleaning process. One or more cleaning process parameters may be adjusted and/or controlled based on the sump temperature difference in order to ensure that a target number of heat unit equivalents are delivered in order to achieve thermal sanitization of the wares subjected to the cleaning process.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2021Publication date: April 7, 2022Inventors: Elizabeth Minhee Han, Conor Sylvester Smith, Paul R. Kraus, Paul Dominic Christian, Rachel Marie McGinness
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Publication number: 20210369076Abstract: An automated cleaning machine may include one or more short cleaning cycles in which the duration of a cleaning cycle is shortened relative to the duration of a default cleaning cycle. During a short cleaning cycle, other cleaning cycle parameters may also be adjusted to ensure that the articles subjected to the short cleaning cycle are adequately cleaned and sanitized. For example, the wash temperature, rinse temperature, and/or cleaning product amounts or concentrations, may be adjusted to account for the shortened duration of the cleaning cycle. The automated cleaning machine may further include one or more short cycle mode(s) during which short cleaning cycle parameters are used and one or more default cycle mode(s) during which default cleaning cycle parameters are used.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Rachel Marie McGinness, Jonathan Charles Butwinick, Paul R. Kraus, Alissa R. Ellingson, Conor Sylvester Smith, Paul Dominic Christian
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Publication number: 20210369891Abstract: An antimicrobial lighting system includes an antimicrobial lighting array that emits antimicrobial light within one or more antimicrobial wavelength ranges to inactivate one or more microorganisms on common touch surfaces. The common touch surfaces may include, for example, restaurant menus, airline safety instructions, pamphlets, instruction cards, or other common touch objects having a generally flat form factor, or that can be reduced to a flat form factor. Application of the antimicrobial light to the common touch surfaces may improve hygiene of such common touch surfaces and may help maintain microbial growth below acceptable levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Steven Randall Hatch, Paul Dominic Christian, Paul R. Kraus
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Publication number: 20210369890Abstract: An antimicrobial lighting system is used to reduce microbial growth on surfaces in or on air conditioning and/or heating equipment. In some examples, antimicrobial light within one or more antimicrobial wavelength ranges is applied to inactivate one or more microorganisms on target surface(s) within or on a packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC). The antimicrobial light may include light within a first antimicrobial wavelength range and/or light within a second antimicrobial wavelength range. The antimicrobial lighting system may include an array of individually controllable antimicrobial light segments. An array controller may individually control activation of the one or more antimicrobial light segments based on the status information or commands received from a PTAC controller or from an external computing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Peter Andrew Voss, Paul Dominic Christian, Teresa C Podtburg, Paul R. Kraus
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Publication number: 20210161355Abstract: Experimental color data obtained from a plurality of cleaning process verification coupons is used to determine optimized cleaning process parameters in an automated cleaning machine. Color data may also be obtained from cleaning process verification coupon(s) to verify the efficacy of a real-world cleaning processes in an automated cleaning machine and/or to obtain one or more suggested corrective action(s) in the event the cleaning process yields an unsatisfactory cleaning result. Based on the optimized cleaning process parameters, an automated cleaning machine may automatically adjust one or more cleaning process parameters to correct for non-optimized parameters sensed during execution of a cleaning process to help prevent an unsatisfactory cleaning result.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2020Publication date: June 3, 2021Inventors: Rachel Marie Rahn, Conor Sylvester Smith, Paul R. Kraus, Paul Dominic Christian
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Publication number: 20210076898Abstract: Image classification is used to dynamically control one or more wash parameters in an automated cleaning machine. An imaging device installed in the wash chamber of the cleaning machine captures one or more image(s) of articles to be cleaned at various times throughout a cleaning process. A computing device analyzes the captured image(s) to classify the images as to an article type and a rack volume. Based on the article type classification and the rack volume, the computing device dynamically controls one or more parameters of the cleaning process to achieve a satisfactory cleaning and/or sanitizing result.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Conor Sylvester Smith, Paul Dominic Christian, Elizabeth Minhee Han, Paul R. Kraus, Rachel Marie Rahn
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Publication number: 20200289683Abstract: A lighting array including one or more antimicrobial light segments configured to emit light sufficient to inactivate one or more microorganisms at a target surface may be installed within identified contamination zones of food or beverage preparation, processing, storing or packaging equipment or machinery. In an ice machine, for example, an array controller is configured for communication with an ice machine controller to receive ice machine status information signals. The status information signals are usable by the array controller to determine cycle, state, and/or usage information associated with the ice machine. The array controller may individually control activation of the one or more antimicrobial light segments based on the status information signals received from the machine controller to achieve inactivation of one or more microorganisms on target surfaces within the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Inventors: Paul Dominic Christian, Paul R. Kraus, Gina McDowell, Amani Babekir, Anna Starobin