Patents by Inventor Robert A Barton

Robert A Barton 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: 20090284384
    Abstract: An Unobtrusive Power Failure Lighting system is described where a power failure light, is integrated with an electric wiring device and its associated cover plate. An electric wiring device with an electric circuit is described. A cover plate with features for emitting light is also described. The electric wiring device is in communication with the cover plate through a first and second interface. A wireless power system is also described as one implementation of the first and second interface. The cover plate may contain a variety of components allowing the system designer to expand the functionality of the system while keeping manufacturing complexity low. The system is modularly designed to overcome size and space limitations found when combining the multiple safety functions and controls into an electric wiring device that fits into conventional electric work boxes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventor: Robert A. Barton
  • Patent number: 7552758
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a system for removing heat from server blades densely packaged in a rack of server blades. The system includes a liquid distribution manifold. In addition, the system includes a plurality of cold blades attached to the liquid distribution manifold, wherein liquid is circulated through the liquid distribution manifold and the cold blades. Moreover, the system includes at least one server blade attached to each of the cold blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Barton Garner, Winfried Wolfgang Wilcke
  • Publication number: 20090072970
    Abstract: A safety device is incorporated within conventional lighting fixtures, such as table lamps, floor lamps, wall lighting fixtures, ceiling lighting fixtures, chandeliers, recessed lighting fixtures, and decorative lighting fixture structural members such as ceiling medallions. The safety device incorporates several safety function response mechanisms within conventional lighting fixtures to conceal or obfuscate their presence. The safety device provides power failure lighting, alert signals in response to gas, smoke, fire, intrusion, and any other externally generated alarm signal. It may also provide night lighting. The safety device may include a safety module having a light and/or audio source, a power sensing circuit, a control circuit, and a light sensing circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventor: Robert A. Barton
  • Patent number: 7432097
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a purified and modified phytase enzyme from Escherichia coli K12 appA phytase. The enzyme has phytase activity and improved thermal tolerance as compared with the wild-type enzyme. In addition, the enzyme has improved protease stability at low pH. Glycosylation of the modified phytase provided a further improved enzyme having improved thermal tolerance and protease stability. The enzyme can be produced from native or recombinant host cells and can be used to aid in the digestion of phytate where desired. In one aspect, the phytase of the present invention can be used in foodstuffs to improve the feeding value of phytate rich ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Verenium Corporation
    Inventors: Jay M. Short, Keith A. Kretz, Kevin A. Gray, Nelson Robert Barton, James B. Garrett, Eileen O'Donoghue, William Baum, Dan E. Robertson, Paul Zorner
  • Publication number: 20080070291
    Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for the enzymatic treatment (“bleaching” or “de-colorizing”) of chlorophyll-comprising compositions, e.g., algae preparations, chlorophyll-containing or chlorophyll-contaminated feeds, foods or oils, for example, vegetable oils, including oils processed from oilseeds, such as canola (rapeseed) oil or soybean oil, or oil fruits, such as palm oil. In one aspect, the invention provides methods using a chlorophyllase enzyme for the enzymatic hydrolysis of chlorophyll in an algae, an animal (e.g., a fish) or plant preparation, a food or an oil. In one aspect, the chlorophyllase is immobilized onto a silica. The invention also provides compositions of manufacture and detergents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: David Lam, David Weiner, Timothy Hitchman, Nelson Robert Barton, Mark Burk
  • Patent number: 7242579
    Abstract: A three-dimensional computer infrastructure cooling system is provided. The three-dimensional computer infrastructure cooling system includes at least one compute, storage, or communications brick. In addition, the three-dimensional computer infrastructure cooling system includes at least one coldrail to facilitate the removal of heat from the at least one compute, storage, or communications brick. Also, the three-dimensional computer infrastructure includes a brick-internal carrier within the at least one compute, storage, communications brick, wherein the brick-internal carrier is attached to the at least one coldrail. Moreover, the three-dimensional computer infrastructure includes a power dissipating electronic element within the at-least-one compute, storage, or communications brick, wherein the power dissipating element is attached to the brick-internal carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Richard Fernandez, Claudio Matthias Fleiner, Robert Barton Garner, Harald Huels, Manfred Ries, Winfried Wolfgang Wilcke
  • Patent number: 7206194
    Abstract: A mechanism that automatically achieves alignment of the communications elements during assembly of a modular computer system, without the need for human intervention. The mechanism comprises an alignment frame provided with bumps and depressions. The bumps in the alignment frames mate with the depressions on adjacent alignment frames. Each depression comprises an entrance opening that is wider than the diameter of the bumps. The diameter of the entrance opening is determined by the expected accuracy of the alignment of subsystems or bricks within the modular electronic system. When it is desired to align the communication elements, the alignment frames are brought into engagement by causing alignment guides to slide past each other, and to guide the bumps in the alignment frames into the depressions in the adjacent alignment frames. The mechanism further comprises a set of springs that force the allow the alignment frames to be retained securely by the communications elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Barton Garner, Winfried Wolfgang Wilcke, Richard Michael Williams
  • Publication number: 20060262462
    Abstract: A concealed safety lighting and alerting system is described where a power failure light, night light, visual and audio alarm are integrated into an electric wiring device and its cover plate. An electric wiring device with built-in safety condition sensing is described. A cover plate with features for emitting light is also described. The electric wiring device contains a sensing circuit that provides a signal to control a system safety device that may be a safety lighting source, audible alarm source or both. The cover plate may contain a variety of components allowing the system designer to expand the functionality of the system while keeping design complexity low. The system is modularly designed to overcome space limitations found when combining the multiple safety functions and controls into an electric wiring device that fits into conventional electric work boxes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventor: Robert Barton
  • Patent number: 7118235
    Abstract: A concealed safety light is described where the light source is integrated and mounted into a switch or power outlet wiring device form factor (20,21,22) to replace conventional electric wiring devices. The light source (10) is controlled by a power and control circuit (90, 790) that derives power from the primary power supply or an alternate power supply. The circuit can detect light levels and turn on the light source when it is dark and also detect power failures to turn on the safety light in the event of a power failure using the alternate power supply The safety light is also capable of responding to an alarm condition from other systems. The resulting safety light is conceyaled in a standard wiring junction box and trimmed with a wall cover plate in the same way as conventional electric wiring devices, allowing it to be concealed while in plain view and provide safety lighting in a variety of ways including power failure, night light and alarm conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventor: Robert A Barton
  • Patent number: 7038553
    Abstract: A scalable and compact computer system of three-dimensional subsystems each having capacitive couplers on its external surfaces for transmitting and receiving electrical signals to and from adjacent subsystems. Each surface having an electrically non-conducting substrate, one or more electrically conducting pads on the substrate, and electrical leads for coupling the pads to the subsystem's circuits. Two adjacent pads, each from a different subsystem, form a capacitive coupler to carry the signals between the subsystems. The pads are covered by a low-loss dielectric material having a large dielectric constant for improved signal transmission. A differential signal may be supported using two capacitive couplers to respectively carry the positive and negative signals of the differential signal. The subsystems might be replaced or left in place when they failed. Additional subsystems might be added to the system to expand its capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Barton Garner, Winfried Wolfgang Wilcke, Barry Jay Rubin, Howard Kahn
  • Patent number: 6855365
    Abstract: A purified and modified phytase enzyme from Escherichia coli K12 appA phytase is provided. The enzyme has phytase activity and improved thermal tolerance as compared with the wild-type enzyme. In addition, the enzyme has improved protease stability at low pH. Glycosylation of the modified phytase provided a further improved enzyme having improved thermal tolerance and protease stability. The enzyme can be produced from native or recombinant host cells and can be used to aid in the digestion of phytate where desired. In particular, the phytase of the present invention can be used in foodstuffs to improve the feeding value of phytate rich ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Diversa Corporation
    Inventors: Jay M. Short, Keith A. Kretz, Kevin A. Gray, Nelson Robert Barton, James B. Garrett, Eileen O'Donoghue, Eric J. Mathur
  • Publication number: 20040218379
    Abstract: A concealed safety light is described where the light source is integrated and mounted into a switch or power outlet wiring device form factor (20,21,22) to replace conventional electric wiring devices. The light source (10) is controlled by a power and control circuit (90, 790) that derives power from the primary power supply or an alternate power supply. The circuit can detect light levels and turn on the light source when it is dark and also detect power failures to turn on the safety light in the event of a power failure using the alternate power supply The safety light is also capable of responding to an alarm condition from other systems. The resulting safety light is conceyaled in a standard wiring junction box and trimmed with a wall cover plate in the same way as conventional electric wiring devices, allowing it to be concealed while in plain view and provide safety lighting in a variety of ways including power failure, night light and alarm conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventor: Robert A. Barton
  • Publication number: 20040163347
    Abstract: An insulating unit has a pair of glass sheets about an edge assembly to provide a compartment between the sheets. The edge assembly has a U-shaped spacer made of metal, metal coated plastic, gas and moisture impervious polymer, or gas and moisture impervious film coated polymer. The outer legs of the spacer and the glass provide a long diffusion path to limit the diffusion of argon gas out of the compartment. The edge assembly has materials selected and sized to provide edge assembly having an RES-value of at least 75.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Robert Barton Hodek, Thomas Patrick Kerr, Stephen C. Misera, William Randolph Siskos, Albert Edward Thompson
  • Publication number: 20040066249
    Abstract: A scalable and compact computer system of three-dimensional subsystems each having capacitive couplers on its external surfaces for transmitting and receiving electrical signals to and from adjacent subsystems. Each surface having an electrically non-conducting substrate, one or more electrically conducting pads on the substrate, and electrical leads for coupling the pads to the subsystem's circuits. Two adjacent pads, each from a different subsystem, form a capacitive coupler to carry the signals between the subsystems. The pads are covered by a low-loss dielectric material having a large dielectric constant for improved signal transmission. A differential signal may be supported using two capacitive couplers to respectively carry the positive and negative signals of the differential signal. The subsystems might be replaced or left in place when they failed. Additional subsystems might be added to the system to expand its capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Robert Barton Garner, Winfried Wolfgang Wilcke, Barry Jay Rubin, Howard Kahn
  • Publication number: 20020136754
    Abstract: A purified and modified phytase enzyme from Escherichia coli K12 appA phytase is provided. The enzyme has phytase activity and improved thermal tolerance as compared with the wild-type enzyme. In addition, the enzyme has improved protease stability at low pH. Glycosylation of the modified phytase provided a further improved enzyme having improved thermal tolerance and protease stability. The enzyme can be produced from native or recombinant host cells and can be used to aid in the digestion of phytate where desired. In particular, the phytase of the present invention can be used in foodstuffs to improve the feeding value of phytate rich ingredients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Jay M. Short, Keith A. Kretz, Kevin A. Gray, Nelson Robert Barton, James B. Garrett, Eileen O' Donoghue, Eric J. Mathur
  • Publication number: 20010027600
    Abstract: An insulating unit has a pair of glass sheets about an edge assembly to provide a compartment between the sheets. The edge assembly has a U-shaped spacer made of metal, metal coated plastic, gas and moisture impervious polymer, or gas and moisture impervious film coated polymer. The outer legs of the spacer and the glass provide a long diffusion path to limit the diffusion of argon gas out of the compartment. The edge assembly has materials selected and sized to provide edge assembly having an RES-value of at least 75.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Robert Barton Hodek, Thomas Patrick Kerr, Stephen C. Misera, William Randolph Siskos, Albert Edward Thompson
  • Patent number: 6223414
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an insulating unit includes the steps of: providing a pair of sheets and a substrate; forming the substrate into at least one spacer section having a base and a pair of outer legs connected to the base, the spacer section having a surface designated as a supporting surface; providing a bead on the supporting surface, the bead provided on the supporting surface includes a moisture pervious adhesive having a desiccant therein and assembling a spacer frame that includes the at least one spacer section and the sheets provide an insulating unit having the pair of sheets in a fixed relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Barton Hodek, Thomas Patrick Kerr, Stephen C. Misera, William Randolph Siskos, Albert Edward Thompson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6212966
    Abstract: In a control system for a power shuttle transmission, the transmission comprises a first clutch pack engagement of which drives a transmission output in a first direction, and a second clutch pack engagement of which drives the transmission output in a second direction, and means to engage and disengage the first and/or second clutch pack, the control system comprising control means to initiate and complete engagement and/or disengagement cycles of the first and/or second clutch pack, and wherein the control system comprises adjustment means for actuation by an operator of the transmission to adjust the said engagement/disengagement cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: AGCO Limited
    Inventors: John Robert Barton, Sion Morgan Owen
  • Patent number: 5655282
    Abstract: An insulating unit has a pair of glass sheets about an edge assembly to provide a compartment between the sheets. The edge assembly has a U-shaped spacer made of metal, metal coated plastic, gas and moisture impervious polymer, or gas and moisture impervious film coated polymer. The outer legs of the spacer and the glass provide a long diffusion path to limit the diffusion of argon gas out of the compartment. The edge assembly has materials selected and sized to provide edge assembly having an RES-value of at least 75. A spacer for use in insulating units includes a plastic core having a gas impervious film e.g. a metal film or a halogenated polymer film. Also taught herein are techniques for making the unit and spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Barton Hodek, Thomas Patrick Kerr, Stephen C. Misera, William Randolph Siskos, Albert Edward Thompson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4919914
    Abstract: Hydrogen sulphide is removed from gas streams in rapid and efficient manner by oxidation to sulphur. The process is effected by intimately contacting the hydrogen sulphide in the gas stream with oxygen in an aqueous medium containing a hydrogen sulphide-oxidizing catalyst to effect oxidation of the hydrogen sulphide to sulphur, and transporting the sulphur particles to the surface of the aqueous medium. The sulphur particles collect on the surface of the aqueous medium and may be removed therefrom continuously or intermittently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: 780863 Ontario Limited
    Inventors: James W. Smith, Robert A. Barton, Cyril H. Knight, deceased