Patents by Inventor Peter Maxwell
Peter Maxwell 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: 20160146957Abstract: The present disclosure includes a data acquisition method for seismic exploration and monitoring including generating a time reference for an acquisition unit. The time reference defines a time window in the future. The method further includes transmitting the time reference to the acquisition unit. After the time window has elapsed, receiving a record of a seismic event measured during the time window.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2015Publication date: May 26, 2016Inventors: Peter Maxwell, Ray Sutyla, Ralph Fraile
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Patent number: 9301870Abstract: A urinary directional device for improving the directional urination and health of a male user is provided, in which the device comprises a conduit for the passage of urine and having a proximal end adapted for engagement with the penis of the user and a distal end having a distal aperture to enable the passage of urine from the conduit, the device having an interior surface providing one or more of a cleansing, an anti-bacterial or antiseptic or an anti-fungal function whereby the penis of the user can be cleansed by wiping on the interior surface of the device after urination and the device optionally further comprising a health detection indicator capable of indicating abnormalities in urine indicative of disease or health-related conditions.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2010Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Aim-Straight Ltd.Inventors: Michael Shelton, Peter Maxwell, Graheme Gunns
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Patent number: 9301258Abstract: System, apparatus and method for collecting data from, and providing power to, a geophysical data acquisition device are described herein. The method may include charging a data transfer device comprising a data transfer port, a power transfer port and a battery module, coupling the data transfer device to a geophysical data acquisition device, deploying the geophysical data acquisition device and collecting data therewith, collecting data from the geophysical data acquisition device via the data transfer port and providing power to the geophysical data acquisition device via the power transfer port, replacing the data transfer device with a charged device, coupling the data transfer device to a charging station, transferring data from the data transfer device, and transferring power to the data transfer device via the charging station.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: CGG SERVICES SAInventors: Thomas Preusser, Peter Maxwell, Jason Jurok
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Patent number: 9044142Abstract: A method of detecting a brain tumor includes administering indocyanine green to a living body; exposing brain tissue in the living body; irradiating the exposed brain tissue with excitation light of indocyanine green; obtaining an image based on fluorescence of the excited indocyanine green in the brain tissue, wherein the image is obtained using an endomicroscope; and identifying portions of the brain tissue corresponding to the brain tumor based on the image.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2011Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AGInventors: Christoph Hauger, Guido Hattendorf, Peter Maxwell Delaney, Robert F. Spetzler, Mark C. Preul, Jennifer Eschbacher, Peter Nakaji
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Publication number: 20150138917Abstract: A method for controlling impulsive sources during a geophysical survey includes receiving a set of predetermined shooting times for an impulsive source, receiving a detonation authorization for the impulsive source, and delaying a triggering of the impulsive source until a next available shooting time of the plurality of predetermined shooting times. A corresponding apparatus and system are also disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2013Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: CGG Services SAInventors: Jason Jurok, Tom Preusser, Olivier Winter, Peter Maxwell
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Patent number: 9022682Abstract: An assembly for and method of reinforcing interconnection between an active material wire actuator, such as a shape memory alloy wire, and structure, includes the generation and engagement of an enlarged formation affixed to or integrally formed with the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Richard J. Skurkis, Paul W. Alexander, Nicholas W Pinto, IV, Xiujie Gao, Nilesh D. Mankame, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Robin Stevenson, Nancy L. Johnson, Alan L. Browne
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Patent number: 9021801Abstract: Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuating elements are commonly simpler and of lower mass than alternative actuator designs and may find particular application in the transportation industry. Such SMA-powered devices are usually reliable and long-lived but the phase transformations which occur in the SMA alloy and are responsible for its utility are not totally reversible. This irreversibility, a consequence of irrecoverable strain, may progressively degrade the long-term actuator performance as the irrecoverable strain accumulates over many operating cycles. Methods and devices for compensating for these effects and extending the useful cycle life of SMA actuators are described.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Xiujie Gao, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Guillermo A. Herrera, Christopher B Churchill, Nancy L. Johnson, Alan L. Browne, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Paul W. Alexander
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Patent number: 9003788Abstract: An energy harvesting system comprises a first region having a first temperature and a second region. A conduit is located at least partially within the first region. A heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy is disposed in heat exchange contact with the first region and the second region. The shape memory alloy is driven to rotate around at least a portion of the conduit by the response of the shape memory alloy to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region. At least one pulley is driven by the rotation of the shape memory alloy, and the at least one pulley is operatively connected to a component to thereby drive the component.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Patrick B. Usoro, Nilesh D. Mankame, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Christopher P. Henry
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Publication number: 20150057815Abstract: A method of delivery of fluid through a computer controlled fluid network, the network including: regulators to control the flow of fluid to deliver a predetermined amount thereof to at least one customer; a first control system for opening and closing the regulators, which collects data based on timed measurements of fluid levels upstream and downstream of respective regulators and the opening positions of respective regulators, using data analysis to provide models for prediction of fluid levels between regulators; a second control system that is a supervisory layer interacting with the first control system to provide adjustments to the controlling of the regulators based on constraint and future flow load; and a third control system interacting with the first and second control systems, which processes fluid delivery requests from the at least one customer to provide a flow load delivery schedule based on the hydraulic capacity of the network.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2013Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicants: The University of Melbourne, Rubicon Research Pty LtdInventors: Sumith Choy, Michael William Cantoni, Peter Maxwell Dower, Michael Peter Kearney
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Patent number: 8747264Abstract: An energy harvesting system includes a heat engine and a component. The heat engine includes a belt, a first member, and a second member. The belt includes a strip of material and at least one wire at least partially embedded longitudinally in the strip of material. The wire includes a shape memory alloy material. A localized region of the at least one wire is configured to change crystallographic phase between martensite and austenite and either contract or expand longitudinally in response to exposure to a first temperature or a second temperature such that the strip of material corresponding to the localized region also contracts or expands. The first member is operatively connected to the belt and moves with the belt in response to the expansion or contraction of the belt. The component is operatively connected to the first member such that movement of the first member drives the component.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Xiujie Gao, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Andrew C. Keefe, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Christopher P. Henry, Patrick B. Usoro
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Publication number: 20140060036Abstract: Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuating elements are commonly simpler and of lower mass than alternative actuator designs and may find particular application in the transportation industry. Such SMA-powered devices are usually reliable and long-lived but the phase transformations which occur in the SMA alloy and are responsible for its utility are not totally reversible. This irreversibility, a consequence of irrecoverable strain, may progressively degrade the long-term actuator performance as the irrecoverable strain accumulates over many operating cycles. Methods and devices for compensating for these effects and extending the useful cycle life of SMA actuators are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Xiujie Gao, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Guillermo A. Herrera, Christopher B. Churchill, Nancy L. Johnson, Alan L. Browne, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Paul W. Alexander
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Patent number: 8656714Abstract: Actuation assemblies for and methods of activating a thermally actuated active material actuator utilizing wireless transmissions of energy.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Nicholas W Pinto, IV, Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nilesh D. Mankame, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Andrew M. Mance, Nancy L. Johnson, Marten Wittorf
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Publication number: 20140026555Abstract: An energy harvesting system includes a heat engine and a component. The heat engine includes a belt, a first member, and a second member. The belt includes a strip of material and at least one wire at least partially embedded longitudinally in the strip of material. The wire includes a shape memory alloy material. A localized region of the at least one wire is configured to change crystallographic phase between martensite and austenite and either contract or expand longitudinally in response to exposure to a first temperature or a second temperature such that the strip of material corresponding to the localized region also contracts or expands. The first member is operatively connected to the belt and moves with the belt in response to the expansion or contraction of the belt. The component is operatively connected to the first member such that movement of the first member drives the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Xiujie Gao, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Andrew C. Keefe, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Christopher P. Henry, Patrick B. Usoro
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Patent number: 8607562Abstract: A heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley and a second rotatable pulley spaced from the first rotatable pulley. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at an SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element includes first spring coil and a first fiber core within the first spring coil. A timing cable is disposed about disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at a timing pulley ratio, which is different than the SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element converts a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region into mechanical energy.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Dynalloy, Inc.Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Andrew C. Keefe, Paul W. Alexander, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Guillermo A. Herrera, James Ryan Yates
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Patent number: 8590303Abstract: An energy harvesting system comprises a first region having a first temperature and a second region having a second temperature. A conduit is located at least partially within the first region. A heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy is disposed in heat exchange contact with the first region and the second region. A carrier surrounds the conduit such that the carrier is driven to rotate around the conduit by the shape memory alloy in response to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Patrick B. Usoro, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Christopher P. Henry
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Publication number: 20130240096Abstract: A shape memory alloy element is disclosed that is configured to undergo a graded phase change along a dimension of the shape memory alloy element in response to thermal stimulus. This graded phase change produces a graded displacement response of the shape memory element.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2012Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC.Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Peter Maxwell Sarosi
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Patent number: 8470193Abstract: Magnetorheological (MR) fluids are disclosed herein. An example of the MR fluid includes a carrier fluid, magnetic particles disposed in the carrier fluid, and non-magnetic particles disposed in the carrier fluid. The non-magnetic particles are particles of a shape memory alloy having an Austenite finish temperature (Af) that is lower than a temperature encountered in an application in which the MR fluid is used so that the shape memory alloy exhibits stress-induced superelasticity.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2012Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, John C. Ulicny
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Publication number: 20130157125Abstract: The gravimetric and volumetric efficiency of lithium ion batteries may be increased if high capacity materials like tin and silicon may be employed as the lithium-accepting host in the negative electrode of the battery. But both tin and silicon, when fully charged with lithium, undergo expansions of up to 300% and generate appreciable internal stresses which have potential to spall off material from the electrode on each discharge-charge cycle, resulting in a progressive reduction in battery capacity, also known as battery fade. A method of reinforcing such electrode materials by incorporating within them fiber reinforcements or shaped, elongated reinforcements fabricated of shape memory alloy is described. Electrode materials incorporating such reinforcements are less prone to damage under applied stress and so less prone to battery fade.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Anil K. Sachdev, Mark W. Verbrugge, Xingcheng Xiao, Peter Maxwell Sarosi
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Patent number: 8356419Abstract: A measuring device measures distances via a thin retractable wire with a removable head. Distance is calculated and displayed on a very bright, large LED or other type screen. As the wire is extended, a microprocessor calculates the distance and displays it on its screen. The digital measuring device comprises a housing, a very thin extendable wire, cable or tape, a rotating spool, (from which the wire extends then automatically retracts to), a sensor which measures the amount of wire extended, a microprocessor, a tiny flash drive or other type of memory storage, a microphone/speaker, a large (size of unit) mono or duo chromatic or other type of display screen (LED) and a few buttons and/or a menu driven interface which control functionally. A plurality of removable heads may be attached to the wire for performing different measuring functions.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2010Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Inventor: Peter Maxwell Lord
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Publication number: 20120216526Abstract: An energy harvesting system in thermal communication with a hot region and a cold region includes a hot end heat engine in thermal communication with the hot region, a cold end heat engine in thermal communication with the cold region, and an intermediate heat engine disposed between the hot end heat engine and the cold end heat engine. The hot end heat engine includes a hot end shape memory alloy (SMA) element, the cold end heat engine includes a cold end SMA element disposed, and the intermediate heat engine includes an intermediate SMA element. A hot side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a cold side of the hot end SMA element. A cold side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a hot side of the cold end SMA element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2011Publication date: August 30, 2012Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, John Andrew Shaw, Christopher Burton Churchill, Andrew C. Keefe, Geoffrey P. Mc Knight, Paul W. Alexander, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Nilesh D. Mankame, Wayne Brown, Guillermo A. Herrera, Richard J. Skurkis