Patents by Inventor Robert A. Johnson

Robert A. Johnson 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: 20240134357
    Abstract: An industrial communication module includes a controller and a common interface coupled to the controller. The common interface is configured to couple to a plurality of different types of sensor modules. The industrial communication module includes protocol/output circuitry coupled to the controller and configured to provide an output to a remote device. A sensor module includes a controller and a common interface coupled to the controller. The common interface is configured to couple to a plurality of different types of industrial communication modules. The sensor module includes measurement processing circuitry coupled to the controller and configured to measure an analog electrical characteristic of a sensor and provide a digital indication of the measured analog electrical characteristic to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Jason h. RUD, Laura A. SCHAFER, Theodore H. SCHNAARE, Cory M. ROBINSON, Eric R. LOVEGREN, Robert M. WEINBERGER, Greg E. GINDELE, James A. JOHNSON, Ryan C. TARRAS, Ryan T. LINDSEY
  • Publication number: 20240132347
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a catalyst, methods of manufacturing the catalyst, and methods for using the catalyst for ammonia decomposition to produce hydrogen and nitrogen. The catalyst may comprise an electrically conductive support with a layer of one or more metal oxides adjacent to the support and at least one active metal adjacent to the layer. Methods are disclosed for deposition of metal oxide and active metal, drying and heat treatment. The method of using the catalyst may comprise bringing ammonia in contact with the catalyst in a reactor. The catalyst may be configured to be heated to a target temperature in less than about 60 minutes, by passing an electrical current through the catalyst. The method of using the catalyst may comprise bringing the catalyst in contact with ammonia at about 400 to 900° C., to generate a reformate stream with a conversion efficiency of greater than about 70%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Boris SHELUDKO, Jongwon CHOI, Young Suk JO, Gregory Robert JOHNSON, Hyunho KIM, Samuel DULL, Tomas RICCIARDULLI
  • Patent number: 11965691
    Abstract: Methods of operating a refrigerator appliance are provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a food storage chamber with a drawer slidably mounted within the food storage chamber. The refrigerator appliance also includes a sensor operable to detect an atmospheric condition within the food storage chamber of the drawer and a camera assembly positioned and configured for monitoring the drawer. The methods generally include obtaining an image using the camera assembly and analyzing the image to identify a first food item and a second food item in the food storage chamber of the drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Robert Eden, Eric Scott Johnson, Michael Goodman Schroeder
  • Patent number: 11963571
    Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a head-mounted device, a visor that includes a reflective object that is substantially transparent in a visible light spectrum and embodied at a physical surface of the visor, at least one visor attachment assembly that couples the visor to the head-mounted device; at least one optical sensor; and at least one computing device communicatively coupled to the at least one optical sensor, the at least one computing device comprising a memory and one or more computer processors that: receive, from the optical sensor, an indication of light outside of a visible light spectrum that is reflected from the reflective object; determine, based at least in part on the light outside of a visible light spectrum that is reflected from the reflective object, a position of the visor; and perform, based at least in part on the position of the visor, at least one operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven T. Awiszus, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Eric C. Lobner, Robert J. Quintero, Micayla A. Johnson, Milo G. Oien-Rochat, Neeraj Sharma
  • Publication number: 20240123283
    Abstract: A nonlinear radar system includes a first antenna configured to generate and emit an incident signal having a first frequency, a transponder tag attached to an existing portable object, wherein the transponder tag includes an electromagnetic nonlinear element configured to be detected by the incident signal. Upon being detected by the incident signal, the transponder tag is configured to transmit a reflected return harmonic signal having a second frequency different from the first frequency, wherein the reflected return harmonic signal is an on-off keying (OOK) signal. A second antenna is configured to receive the reflected return harmonic signal having the second frequency. The transponder tag includes a conductive layer in electrical communication with the electromagnetic nonlinear element including a Schottky diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicants: BALLOCATOR LLC, Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Dan Fazzini, Robert B. Fazzini, Steven Johnson, Changzhi Li, Vishal Gajendrarao Yadav, Emmanuel Camacho, Rhyse James Ishmael Joseph, Leya Zeng
  • Patent number: 11959434
    Abstract: Some embodiments described herein relate to a method of operating a compression ignition engine. The method of operating the compression ignition engine includes opening an intake valve to draw a volume of air into a combustion chamber, closing an intake valve, and moving a piston from a bottom-dead-center (BDC) position to a top-dead-center (TDC) position in the combustion chamber at a compression ratio of at least about 15:1. The method further includes injecting a volume of fuel into the combustion chamber at an engine crank angle between about 330 degrees and about 365 degrees during a first time period. The fuel has a cetane number less than about 40. The method further includes combusting substantially all of the volume of fuel. In some embodiments, a delay between injecting the volume of fuel into the combustion chamber and initiation of combustion is less than about 2 ms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ClearFlame Engines, Inc.
    Inventors: Julie Blumreiter, Bernard Johnson, Robert Schanz
  • Publication number: 20240117682
    Abstract: A cutting element assembly includes a cutter support including a cutter bore. A cutting element is in the cutter bore and a resilient element is integral with the cutter support. The resilient element is longitudinally compressible and has a displacement of greater than 0.1 mm and optionally less than 2 mm. Another cutting assembly includes a cutter support coupled to multiple cutting elements. A resilient element of the cutter support is compressible based on a force applied to the cutter support through one or more of the cutting elements. The resilient element can include a slit in the cutter support. A slit may, for instance, extend perpendicular or transverse to an axis of the cutting elements and allow the cutter support to flex and close off or reduce a size of the slit when forces act on one or more of the cutting elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: David Robert Evan Snoswell, Ashley Bernard Johnson, Mauro Caresta, John Mervyn Cook
  • Publication number: 20240116754
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for processing ammonia. A heater may heat reformers, where the reformers comprise ammonia (NH3) reforming catalysts in thermal communication with the heater. NH3 may be directed to the reformers from storage tanks, and the NH3 may be decomposed to generate a reformate stream comprising hydrogen (H2) and nitrogen (N2). At least part of the reformate stream can be used to heat reformers. Additionally, the reformate stream can be directed to a hydrogen processing module such as a fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Young Suk JO, Gregory Robert JOHNSON, Hyunho KIM
  • Publication number: 20240118792
    Abstract: A method for configuring a system having a wearable optical unit is disclosed. The method includes powering on the system, and in response to the system being powered on, using one or more processors to control the system to: determine whether to cause the system to run a configuration workflow, and in response to determining to cause the system to run the configuration workflow, (a) control the system in connection with configuring an interpupillary distance (IPD) for a user of the system, (b) determine whether the IPD is configured for the user, and (c) in response to determining that the IPD is configured for the user, control the system in connection with configuring a focus of the optical unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Trae Benjamin Stephens, Benjamin Eli Nelson Chelf, Nicholas Cory Johnson, John Aaron Boiles, Nicholas Grant Lewis, Kevin Robert McKinney, Steven David Oliver, Tun Yuen Yeung, Meghan Easley, Robin Porter, Jeremiah O'Leary, Keith Alsberg, Robert Samuel Clay
  • Patent number: 11950615
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a food product, at least one ingestible device associated with the food product to communicate information and at least one coating material surrounding the at least one ingestible device is disclosed. The ingestible device is associated with an ingestible medication to be ingested in conjunction with the food product. The coating is configured to release the at least one ingestible device upon the occurrence of an event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lawrence Arne, Mark Zdeblick, Aditya Dua, George Savage, Robert Leichner, Jafar Shenasa, Patricia Johnson, Raymond Schmidt, Zahedeh Hatamkhany, Veeraperumanallu Muralidharan
  • Patent number: 11954729
    Abstract: A method for providing a dynamically-updated electronic report of assets available for transaction to a user is provided. The electronic report is provided to a computing device operated by the user. The electronic report includes one or more entries that each corresponds to an asset for sale. Each entry can include a link for the corresponding asset. In response to receiving user selection of a link on the report, one or more characteristics of the asset corresponding to the selected link are determined. One or more additional assets are determined based on the one or more characteristics. The electronic report is dynamically updated to include one or more entries corresponding to the one or more additional assets. A user profile of the user can also be updated in response to the user's selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Auction.com, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Friedman, Sarina Kinder, Eric Johnson, Michael Jansta
  • Patent number: 11952954
    Abstract: Some embodiments described herein relate to a method of operating a compression ignition engine. The method of operating the compression ignition engine includes opening an intake valve to draw a volume of air into a combustion chamber, closing an intake valve, and moving a piston from a bottom-dead-center (BDC) position to a top-dead-center (TDC) position in the combustion chamber at a compression ratio of at least about 15:1. The method further includes injecting a volume of fuel into the combustion chamber at an engine crank angle between about 330 degrees and about 365 degrees during a first time period. The fuel has a cetane number less than about 40. The method further includes combusting substantially all of the volume of fuel. In some embodiments, a delay between injecting the volume of fuel into the combustion chamber and initiation of combustion is less than about 2 ms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ClearFlame Engines, Inc.
    Inventors: Julie Blumreiter, Bernard Johnson, Robert Schanz
  • Publication number: 20240112178
    Abstract: A transaction card includes a near-field communication (NFC) component, a security component, a wireless component, one or more memories, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more memories. The device receives a signal from a user device attempting to access a secure application, and energizes the NFC component based on the signal received from the user device. The device causes the security component to generate an encrypted code based on the NFC component being energized, and provides, via the security component, the encrypted code to the wireless component. The device provides, via the wireless component, the encrypted code to the user device to permit the user device to utilize the encrypted code as authentication for accessing the secure application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: James ZARAKAS, Molly JOHNSON, Robert PERRY, Adam KOEPPEL, Tyler LOCKE
  • Patent number: 11946235
    Abstract: A faucet handle assembly includes a mounting shank configured to be mounted to a mounting deck. A valve assembly is received within an internal chamber of the mounting shank, and the valve assembly includes a valve stem that is rotatable about a rotation axis to facilitate water flow through the valve assembly. The valve assembly further includes a valve stem adapter that is operably coupled to the valve stem. The faucet handle assembly further includes an upper handle. The upper handle includes a lever that is coupled to the valve stem adapter and the valve stem, and the lever is disposed on a first side of the rotation axis. The upper handle further includes a cover that is coupled to the valve stem adapter and disposed on an opposite second side of the rotation axis. The cover and the lever together obscure the valve stem adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Delta Faucet Company
    Inventors: Gerald Robert Hayes, Brian Wayne Johnson
  • Patent number: 11946017
    Abstract: The current invention relates to a method of separating polyunsaturated fatty acids containing lipids from a lipids containing biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: Evonik Operations GmbH, DSM IP Assets B.V.
    Inventors: Manfred Bärz, Marc Beiser, Georg Borchers, Stephen Robert Cherinko, Mathias Dernedde, Michael Diehl, Xiao Daniel Dong, Jürgen Haberland, Michael Benjamin Johnson, Robert Cody Kertis, Jochen Lebert, Neil Francis Leininger, Kirt Lyvell Matthews, Sr., Holger Pfeifer, Christian Rabe, Shannon Elizabeth Ethier Resop, Ginger Marie Shank, Vinod Tarwade, David Allen Tinsley, Daniel Verkoeijen
  • Patent number: 11944429
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to objectively identify sub-second behavioral modules in the three-dimensional (3D) video data that represents the motion of a subject. Defining behavioral modules based upon structure in the 3D video data itself— rather than using a priori definitions for what should constitute a measurable unit of action— identifies a previously-unexplored sub-second regularity that defines a timescale upon which behavior is organized, yields important information about the components and structure of behavior, offers insight into the nature of behavioral change in the subject, and enables objective discovery of subtle alterations in patterned action. The systems and methods of the invention can be applied to drug or gene therapy classification, drug or gene therapy screening, disease study including early detection of the onset of a disease, toxicology research, side-effect study, learning and memory process study, anxiety study, and analysis in consumer behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Sandeep Robert Datta, Alexander B. Wiltschko, Matthew J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11946238
    Abstract: A modular poppet assembly system for a toilet tank flush valve assembly, the modular system comprising a first float portion; and two or more second float portions; wherein, the first float portion is configured to removably attach to each of the two or more second float portions to form two or more poppet assemblies, each of the two or more poppet assemblies comprise a different buoyancy, each of the two or more poppet assemblies allow the toilet tank to fill to substantially a same water volume, and as the poppet assembly buoyancy increases, an increase in flush volume is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventors: Ken Nguyen, Robert Jensen, James Johnson
  • Publication number: 20240102426
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods of cylinder deactivation in compression-ignition engines. An engine described herein can include N cylinders, with N being an integer of at least 2, with each cylinder including an inner surface, a piston disposed and configured to move in each cylinder of the N cylinders, an intake port, an exhaust port, and a fuel injector. The piston and the inner surface define a combustion chamber. A method of operating the compression ignition engine includes injecting a fuel into each of the combustion chambers, combusting substantially all of the fuel in the compression ignition engine, monitoring engine load of the compression ignition engine, and deactivating a cylinder of the N cylinders upon a decrease in load to less than (N?1)/N×FL, wherein FL is a full load at a given engine speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: ClearFlame Engines, Inc.
    Inventors: Julie BLUMREITER, Bernard JOHNSON, Robert SCHANZ, Manohar VITTAL
  • Patent number: 11941592
    Abstract: A method of processing a virtual money order transaction includes establishing an account for a first user having a first user device and receiving from a second user device, a virtual money order purchase request identifying the first user as a payee, an amount, and payment information. A transfer of a payment amount from a second user account to a transaction processor account is processed and a virtual money order is generated with associated information accessible at a network address. A notification including the network address is transmitted to the first user device and a request to receive the money order information is received via the network address. Responsive to verification that the requester is authorized, the information is transmitted to the first user device. A redemption request is received and a transfer of the money order amount from the transaction data account to the redemption requester is processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: CAPITAL ONE SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Johnson, Salik Shah, Robert Perry
  • Patent number: D1023653
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Washington State University
    Inventors: Robert J. Krikac, Sarah M. Rosenthal, Shannon P. Spilker, Kris C. Kha, Jonathan P. Manwaring, Lisa A. Johnson-Shull, Reza Safavi