Patents by Inventor Peter Alfred

Peter Alfred 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: 8789431
    Abstract: An sampling device for capturing a material sample and a method of using said device to process said material sample in situ within the device. Embodiments of the invention may be disposed as elongate probes having extendable sample capture elements. A sample capture element of such a device may include a sample capture pocket located near a distal end thereof for capturing and trapping a sample of material. The sample capture pocket may be provided with a port for receiving material therein and a port for expelling material therefrom. These ports may be placed in communication with corresponding material transfer channels extending through the sample capture element to allow for the in situ processing of a material sample, and the subsequent discharge of the sample to an analyzer or another downstream location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Peter Alfred Blacklin, Wayne Fowler, Jr., Joel Michael Hawkins, Howard William Ward, II
  • Publication number: 20140109589
    Abstract: A variable bleed valve includes a variable bleed valve door disposed in a bleed inlet in transition duct and rotatable about an axis at or near a forward end of door. Valve is operable to open and close a bleed slot open to a booster bleed flowpath located outwardly of transition duct and having an airflow restrictor. Airflow restrictor may be variable such as a flapper valve. Booster bleed flowpath may pass through a bifurcated bleed duct including an inner passage radially bound by spaced apart inner and middle bleed walls and an outer passage radially bound by middle bleed wall and an outer bleed wall. Airflow restrictor may include an outlet area smaller than an inlet area of inner passage. Door seals against middle bleed wall to open inner passage and against outer bleed wall to open both passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Byron Andrew Pritchard, JR., Charles Daniel Califf, Peter John Wood, Raymond Gust Holm, Allan George van de Wall, Peter Alfred Pezzi
  • Patent number: 8703274
    Abstract: A microcavity structure is provided. The structure comprises a cavity layout that enables centering of reflowed solder at each of one or more interconnect locations and protrusion of the reflowed solder sufficiently from the cavity to facilitate wetting. Techniques are also provided for producing a microcavity structure, for using injection molded solder (IMS) for micro bumping, as well as for using injection molded solder (IMS) for three-dimensional (3D) packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Russell A. Budd, Bing Dang, William S. Graham, Peter Alfred Gruber, Richard Levine, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Patent number: 8667659
    Abstract: A system and method for releasably coupling an extendable element to an actuator. Such a system may include an actuator housing with a specially adapted integral connecting end having a cavity therein. An extendable element may extend into the cavity through an opening in the connecting end of the housing and be coupled to a motive element of the actuator by a rotatable collar that resides in the cavity. A cover plate forms a part of the actuator housing connecting end. The cover plate compliments the integral portion of the connecting end and, in conjunction therewith, encloses the collar and the coupled portion of the extendable element. A substantially hollow end cap is passed over the extendable element and releasably attached to the actuator housing to enclose the distal connecting end thereof. In some embodiments, the coupled extendable element may reciprocate within an outer tube that is also releasably attached to the actuator housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Peter Alfred Blacklin
  • Patent number: 8561880
    Abstract: A process and tools for forming and/or releasing metal preforms, metal shapes and solder balls is described incorporating flexible molds or sheets, injection molded metal such as solder and in the case of solder balls, a liquid or gaseous environment to reduce or remove metal oxides prior to or during metal (solder) reflow to increase surface tension to form spherical or substantially spherical solder-balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Alfred Gruber, Paul Alfred Lauro, Jae-Woong Nah
  • Patent number: 8561475
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for investigating subsurface properties of sediment, soil, snow, food stuff and other soft materials incorporates a probe head, preferably in the form of a coil spring that functions as a screw thread, which moves into the soil, snow, sediment, food stuff or other soft material, isolates a column of the material and applies tension to that column while measuring the applied force with a force sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventors: Bruce David Johnson, Bernard Paul Boudreau, Mark Andrew Barry, Kelly Maureen Dorgan, Peter Alfred Jumars
  • Publication number: 20130233098
    Abstract: An adapter for releasably securing a probe to a reaction vessel. Embodiments of the adapter include a cover plate for mating with a reaction vessel, a body portion extending from the cover plate, and a probe gripping portion secured to the body portion. A collet and at least one anvil resides within the body portion/probe gripping portion assembly. The collet has at least one split conical end that may be divided into a plurality of flexible gripping fingers, the conical end of the collet adapted to mate with the at least one anvil. An o-ring is preferably located in the body portion and surrounds a probe when the probe is passed through the adapter. Pressure from the reaction vessel exerts an axial force on the o-ring which, in turn, exerts a like force on the anvil, thereby causing the gripping fingers of the collet to exert a gripping force on the probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AutoChem, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Alfred Blacklin
  • Patent number: 8478743
    Abstract: Described herein are technologies pertaining to migrating state information of operators in a first continuous query plan to a second continuous query plan in an asynchronous manner, such that the first continuous query plan need not cease executing during the migrating of the state information. State information pertaining to stateful operators, such as join operators, is migrated from the first continuous query plan to the second continuous query plan by way of a transformation plan. State matching is utilized to generate the transformation plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Badrish Chandramouli, Jonathan David Goldstein, Peter Alfred Zabback, David Eugene Maier, Di Wang
  • Patent number: 8408448
    Abstract: A process and tools for forming spherical metal balls is described incorporating molds, injection molded solder, a liquid or gaseous environment to reduce or remove metal oxides and an unconstrained reflow of metal in a heated liquid or gas and solidification of molten metal in a cooler liquid or gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Claudius Feger, Peter Alfred Gruber, Mark Harrison McLeod, Jae-Woong Nah
  • Patent number: 8365617
    Abstract: An in situ sampling device for capturing a material sample from a vessel. Embodiments of the present invention may be disposed as elongate probes having extendable sample capture elements. A sample capture element of such a device may include a concave sample capture pocket located near a distal end thereof. The sample capture pocket is adapted to capture a known volume of material when the sample capture element is extended into said material. The material sample remains trapped in the sample capture pocket upon sample capture element retraction. The sample capture pocket may be provided with a port for receiving material therein and a port for expelling material therefrom. These ports may be placed in communication with corresponding material transfer channels extending through the sample capture element. A device of the present invention provides for substantially contemporaneous sample capture and sample processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Peter Alfred Blacklin, Wayne Fowler, Jr., Joel Michael Hawkins, Howard William Ward, II
  • Publication number: 20130003681
    Abstract: A network component comprising a plurality of encoders, a plurality of rate-matching modules coupled to the encoders, and a channel interleaver coupled to the rate-matching modules, wherein the rate-matching modules calculate the number of bits for rate matching a plurality of feedback control information based on a total number of bits allocated to a channel traffic without a traffic data. Included is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to encode a plurality of feedback control information, calculate the number of bits for rate-matching the feedback control information based on a total number of bits allocated to a channel traffic without a traffic data. Included is a method comprising receiving a downlink traffic, detecting a request to transmit uplink data in the downlink traffic, and transmitting feedback control information with or without data based on the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Mark Earnshaw, Zhijun Cai, Klaus-Peter Alfred Wachsmann, Yi Yu
  • Patent number: 8312780
    Abstract: An in situ autosampling method and associated sampling device for capturing a material sample from a vessel. Methods of the present invention make use of a sampling device having an extendable sample capture element with a concave sample capture pocket located near a distal end thereof. The sample capture pocket is adapted to capture a known volume of material when the sample capture element is extended into said material. The material sample remains trapped in the sample capture pocket upon sample capture element retraction. Ports in the sample capture pocket may be placed in communication with corresponding material transfer channels extending through the sample capture element to allow for the in situ processing of a material sample, and the subsequent discharge of the sample to an analyzer or another downstream location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Peter Alfred Blacklin, Wayne Fowler, Jr., Joel Michael Hawkins, Howard William Ward, II
  • Patent number: 8316009
    Abstract: Histograms formed based on samples of a population, such as histograms created from random page-level samples of a data store, are intelligently scaled to histograms estimating distribution of the entire population of the data store. As an optional optimization, where a threshold number of duplicate samples are observed during page-level sampling, the number of distinct values in the overall population data is presumed to be the number of distinct values in the sample data. Also, during estimation of distinct values of an overall population, a “Chao” estimator can optionally be utilized as a lower bound of the estimate. The resulting estimate is then used when scaling, which can take domain knowledge of the data being scaled into account in order to prevent scaled estimates from exceeding the limits of the domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Campbell Bryce Fraser, Ian Jose, Peter Alfred Zabback
  • Publication number: 20120234102
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for investigating subsurface properties of sediment, soil, snow, food stuff and other soft materials incorporates a probe head, preferably in the form of a coil spring that functions as a screw thread, which moves into the soil, snow, sediment, food stuff or other soft material, isolates a column of the material and applies tension to that column while measuring the applied force with a force sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Bruce David Johnson, Bernard Paul Boudreau, Mark Andrew Barry, Kelly Dorgan, Peter Alfred Jumars
  • Patent number: 8264992
    Abstract: A network component comprising a plurality of encoders, a plurality of rate-matching modules coupled to the encoders, and a channel interleaver coupled to the rate-matching modules, wherein the rate-matching modules calculate the number of bits for rate matching a plurality of feedback control information based on a total number of bits allocated to a channel traffic without a traffic data. Included is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to encode a plurality of feedback control information, calculate the number of bits for rate-matching the feedback control information based on a total number of bits allocated to a channel traffic without a traffic data. Included is a method comprising receiving a downlink traffic, detecting a request to transmit uplink data in the downlink traffic, and transmitting feedback control information with or without data based on the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Mark Earnshaw, Zhijun Cai, Klaus-Peter Alfred Wachsmann, Yi Yu
  • Publication number: 20120180290
    Abstract: A system and method for releasably coupling an extendable element to an actuator. Such a system may include an actuator housing with a specially adapted integral connecting end having a cavity therein. An extendable element may extend into the cavity through an opening in the connecting end of the housing and be coupled to a motive element of the actuator by a rotatable collar that resides in the cavity. A cover plate forms a part of the actuator housing connecting end. The cover plate compliments the integral portion of the connecting end and, in conjunction therewith, encloses the collar and the coupled portion of the extendable element. A substantially hollow end cap is passed over the extendable element and releasably attached to the actuator housing to enclose the distal connecting end thereof. In some embodiments, the coupled extendable element may reciprocate within an outer tube that is also releasably attached to the actuator housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: METTLER-TOLEDO AG
    Inventor: Peter Alfred Blacklin
  • Publication number: 20120166417
    Abstract: Described herein are technologies pertaining to migrating state information of operators in a first continuous query plan to a second continuous query plan in an asynchronous manner, such that the first continuous query plan need not cease executing during the migrating of the state information. State information pertaining to stateful operators, such as join operators, is migrated from the first continuous query plan to the second continuous query plan by way of a transformation plan. State matching is utilized to generate the transformation plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Badrish Chandramouli, Jonathan David Goldstein, Peter Alfred Zabback, David Eugene Maier, Di Wang
  • Publication number: 20120141338
    Abstract: An extendable sample capture element for use in a sampling device designed to extract samples, such as reaction/reactant samples, from vessels such as reactor vessels. A sample capture element of the present invention includes one or more concave sample pockets that may be of various shape and volume. A sample capture pocket is adapted to capture a known volume of material when the sample capture element is extended into said material. The material sample remains trapped in the sample capture pocket upon sample capture element retraction. When multiple pockets are present, at least one pocket may function as a mixing pocket. Ports in the sample pocket(s) may be placed in communication with corresponding material transfer channels extending through or along the sample capture element to allow for quenching, dilution and discharge of a captured material sample, such as discharge to an analyzer or another downstream location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: METTLER-TOLEDO AG
    Inventors: Peter Alfred Blacklin, Wayne Fowler, JR., Iasson Georgios Mustakis, Joel Michael Hawkins
  • Patent number: 8166566
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as described is particularly useful to the music industry as it enables them to make audio data available over the internet but to retain control of the uses to which that audio data can be put. Thus, upon completing a financial transaction to pay for the required audio tracks, the end user is enabled to download and decrypt encrypted music tracks and to play them on the end user's personal computer. The end user can also be allowed to burn a CD including the downloaded music tracks. However, the end user is only enabled to decrypt and record the music tracks onto the CD if the music tracks are recorded together with copy protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Rovi Solutions Corporations
    Inventor: Peter Alfred Newman
  • Publication number: 20110318243
    Abstract: An in situ sampling device for capturing a material sample from a vessel. Embodiments of the present invention may be disposed as elongate probes having extendable sample capture elements. A sample capture element of such a device may include a concave sample capture pocket located near a distal end thereof. The sample capture pocket is adapted to capture a known volume of material when the sample capture element is extended into said material. The material sample remains trapped in the sample capture pocket upon sample capture element retraction. The sample capture pocket may be provided with a port for receiving material therein and a port for expelling material therefrom. These ports may be placed in communication with corresponding material transfer channels extending through the sample capture element. A device of the present invention provides for substantially contemporaneous sample capture and sample processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: METTLER-TOLEDO AG
    Inventors: Peter Alfred Blacklin, Wayne Fowler, JR., Joel Michael Hawkins, Howard William Ward, II