Patents by Inventor Robert A. Miles

Robert A. Miles 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: 20210257533
    Abstract: A solid state cooler device is disclosed that comprises a first normal metal pad, a first aluminum layer and a second aluminum layer disposed on the first normal metal pad and separated from one another by a gap, a first aluminum oxide layer formed on the first aluminum layer, and a second aluminum oxide layer formed on the second aluminum layer, and a first superconductor pad disposed on the first aluminum oxide layer and a second superconductor pad disposed on the second aluminum oxide layer. The device further comprises a first conductive pad coupled to the first superconductor pad, and a second conductive pad coupled to the second superconductor pad, wherein hot electrons are removed from the first normal metal pad when a bias voltage is applied between the first conductive pad and the second conductive pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: AARON ASHLEY HATHAWAY, JOHN X. PRZYBYSZ, ROBERT MILES YOUNG, EDWARD R. ENGBRECHT
  • Patent number: 11034569
    Abstract: Systems and devices for cooling and dispensing a beverage fluid are disclosed herein. One beverage dispensing system includes a beverage tower comprising a tower body, a shank, and a faucet. In some implementations, a coolant line is routed proximal to a beverage supply line through the tower body, through the shank, and into the faucet. In these and other implementations, the faucet includes a removable nozzle having a supplemental portion of the coolant line. In these and still other implementations, the faucet include a removable nozzle having a second coolant line. The coolant line and the second coolant line are configured to transport a coolant medium proximal to a beverage fluid in the beverage supply line to maintain or adjust the temperature of the beverage fluid. Many other features are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: TAPHANDLES LLC
    Inventors: David Kaplan, David Zhang, Marcus Alan Latham, Robert Miles Blackmore
  • Publication number: 20210140128
    Abstract: A surface compactor machine includes a cylindrical drum defining a cylindrical space in an interior portion of the cylindrical drum and having a central axis of rotation, and a counterweight in the cylindrical space. The compactor further includes a non-driven support wheel affixed to the counterweight and in contact with an underlying portion of an interior surface of the cylindrical drum beneath the counterweight. A drive motor is provided in the cylindrical space, and a drive wheel is mechanically rotatable by the drive motor. The drive wheel contacts an inner surface of the cylindrical drum such that rotation of the drive wheel by the drive motor urges the cylindrical drum to rotate about the central axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventor: Robert Miles
  • Publication number: 20210063060
    Abstract: A solid state cooler device is provided that includes a substrate, a first and second conductive pad disposed on the substrate, a first and second superconductor pad each having a side with a plurality of conductive pad contact interfaces spaced apart from one another and being in contact with a surface of respective first and second conductive pads, and a first and second insulating layer disposed between respective first and second superconductor pads, and respective ends of a normal metal layer. A bias voltage is applied between one of a first conductive pad or first superconductor pad and one of the second conductive pad or the second superconductor pad to remove hot electrons from the normal metal layer, and the contact area of the plurality of first and second conductive pad contact interfaces inhibits the transfer of heat back to the first and second superconductor pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Miles Young, Aaron Ashley Hathaway, John X. Przybysz, Gregory R. Boyd, Zachary A. Stegen, Edward R. Engbrecht, Aaron A. Pesetski, Marc Eisenzweig Sherwin
  • Patent number: 10727162
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided that comprises a thermal sink layer, a first ground plane associated with a first set of circuits that have a first operational temperature requirement, and a first thermally conductive via that couples the first ground plane to the thermal sink layer. The circuit further comprises a second ground plane associated with a second set of circuits that have a second operational temperature requirement that is higher than the first operational temperature requirement, and a second thermally conductive via that couples the second ground plane to the thermal sink layer, wherein the first thermally conductive via has a greater volume of thermal conductive material than the second thermally conductive via to remove heat from the first set of circuits with less gradient than the second set of circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick Loney, Robert Miles Young, Daniel Robert Queen, Aaron Ashley Hathaway, John X. Przybysz
  • Patent number: 10700270
    Abstract: One example includes a method for making a switch. The method includes forming an insulating layer over a substrate. The method also includes forming a resistive heating material over the insulating layer. The method also includes depositing a thermally conductive electrically insulating barrier layer over the heating material. The method also includes forming a phase-change material (PCM) component over the barrier layer spaced apart and proximal to the resistive heating material. The method also includes forming a quench layer proximal to at least one of the resistive heating material and the PCM component. The method further includes forming conductive lines from ends of the PCM component and control lines from ends of the resistive heating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pavel Borodulin, Nabil Abdel-Meguid El-Hinnawy, Robert Miles Young
  • Patent number: 10688961
    Abstract: A smoke detection system for an interior of a vehicle is provided. The smoke detection system includes a detection module and a reporting module. The detection module, while the vehicle is being used as part of a car sharing or ride sharing service: receives a sensor signal from a smoke detector; compares data included in the sensor signal to smoke characteristic or smoke pattern data; based on the comparison, determines whether an occupant of the vehicle is smoking; and generates an alert signal if the occupant is smoking. The reporting module at least one of: based on the alert signal, visually or audibly provides a warning to the occupant to stop smoking; transmits the alert signal to a mobile device of the occupant to indicate that a smoking event has been detected; or transmits the alert signal to a network device of a service provider to report the smoking event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher L. Oesterling, Orhan Bulan, Dawn M. Chorbagian, David H. Clifford, Robert Miles, Paul H. Pebbles, Hrushit B. Raval
  • Patent number: 10654447
    Abstract: A system for authorizing temporary access and operation of a vehicle via a mobile computing device, the system includes a processor and a memory device. The system also includes a SRWC module configured to communicate with the mobile computing device; and a CNG module being in communication with the SRWC module, the CNG module includes a NAD, configured to communicate with one or more remote entities over a wireless carrier system; a GPS module, configured to generate vehicle position information and communicate that position data to the one or more remote entities; a CGM, configured to monitor and control incoming communications from the SRWC module, NAD, and GPS module. The CGM further configured to establish communications across a CAN; and a CMS, configured to encrypt the communications established by CGM as well as store the communications in the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher L. Oesterling, Robert Miles, Hrushit B. Raval, Paul H. Pebbles
  • Patent number: 10644218
    Abstract: A superconducting structure is provided that comprises a first superconducting device coupled to a second superconducting device employing a plurality of superconducting bump bond structures. Each of the plurality of superconducting bump bond structures comprise a first normal metal layer disposed on the top surface of a given one of a plurality of first contact pads, a second normal metal layer disposed on the top surface of a given one of a plurality of second contact pads, and a superconducting metal layer disposed between the first normal metal layer and the second normal metal layer. The metal thicknesses of each of the first normal metal layer, the second normal metal layer, and the specific material of the superconducting metal and normal metal are selected to inhibit the transfer of heat between the first superconducting device and the second superconducting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aaron Ashley Hathaway, Robert Miles Young, Patrick Alan Loney, Justin Hackley
  • Patent number: 10629535
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided that comprises a first ground plane associated with a first set of circuits that have a first operational temperature requirement, and a second ground plane associated with a second set of circuits that have a second operational temperature requirement that is higher than the first operational temperature requirement. The second ground plane is substantially thermally isolated from the first ground plane. A superconducting coupler electrically couples the first ground plane and the second ground plane while maintaining relative thermal isolation between the first ground plane and the second ground plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick Alan Loney, Aaron Ashley Hathaway, Daniel Robert Queen, John X. Przybysz, Robert Miles Young
  • Publication number: 20200077796
    Abstract: A drawer system including: a drawer cabinet and a drawer mounted in said cabinet for forward and backward travel relative thereto; a power supply socket mounted in said drawer or said cabinet for providing power to the interior of said drawer at all positions between open and closed, the power supply socket including a pair of electrical conductors in electrical communication with a pair of contact means, said pair of contact means including a first contact half on or secured to said cabinet and a complementary second contact half on or secured to said drawer for movement therewith, said power supply socket being in electrical communication with said second contact half for electrical current can flow from said first contact half to said second contact half at all positions of the drawer between open and closed, the first half being in electrical communication with a power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventor: Shane Robert MILES
  • Patent number: 10490374
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a phase-change material switch. The switch includes a first terminal that receives an input signal and a second terminal. The switch includes an actuation portion that receives a control signal in one of a first state to emit a first heat profile and a second state to emit a second heat profile. The switch further includes a switch portion comprising a phase-change material arranged as a plurality of longitudinal strips that each interconnect the first terminal and the second terminal and that are each in proximity with the actuation portion. The phase-change material can be selectable between a conducting state in response to the first heat profile to conduct an input signal from the first terminal to the second terminal and a blocking state in response to the second heat profile to block the input signal from the first terminal to the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pavel Borodulin, Nabil Abdel-Meguid El-Hinnawy, Robert Miles Young, Matthew Russell King, Michael J. Lee
  • Publication number: 20190291644
    Abstract: A towing mirror including: a mount adapted to be mounted to a vehicle cabin; an extension component including a first member or portion extending from said mount and a second member operatively connected to said first member or portion for movement relative thereto from a retracted position to an extended position; and a mirror component operatively connected to said second member for pivoting movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal axis extending substantially in the intended direction of travel of the vehicle cabin to which the mirror is to be mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventor: Shane Robert Miles
  • Publication number: 20190248643
    Abstract: Systems and devices for cooling and dispensing a beverage fluid are disclosed herein. One beverage dispensing system includes a beverage tower comprising a tower body, a shank, and a faucet. In some implementations, a coolant line is routed proximal to a beverage supply line through the tower body, through the shank, and into the faucet. In these and other implementations, the faucet includes a removable nozzle having a supplemental portion of the coolant line. In these and still other implementations, the faucet include a removable nozzle having a second coolant line. The coolant line and the second coolant line are configured to transport a coolant medium proximal to a beverage fluid in the beverage supply line to maintain or adjust the temperature of the beverage fluid. Many other features are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: David Kaplan, David Zhang, Marcus Alan Latham, Robert Miles Blackmore
  • Publication number: 20190246503
    Abstract: Electrolytic Etching/Deposition System. A system for continuous circuit fabrication comprising means for storing and dispensing the substrate, means for laminating the substrate, means for printing the substrate, means for optical inspection of the substrate, means for photolithography of the substrate, means for drying the substrate, means for developing the substrate, means for washing the substrate and means for electroplating the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: DST Innovations Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Miles, Robert Miles
  • Publication number: 20190168711
    Abstract: A smoke detection system for an interior of a vehicle is provided. The smoke detection system includes a detection module and a reporting module. The detection module, while the vehicle is being used as part of a car sharing or ride sharing service: receives a sensor signal from a smoke detector; compares data included in the sensor signal to smoke characteristic or smoke pattern data; based on the comparison, determines whether an occupant of the vehicle is smoking; and generates an alert signal if the occupant is smoking. The reporting module at least one of: based on the alert signal, visually or audibly provides a warning to the occupant to stop smoking; transmits the alert signal to a mobile device of the occupant to indicate that a smoking event has been detected; or transmits the alert signal to a network device of a service provider to report the smoking event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
  • Patent number: 10312580
    Abstract: A tunable antenna structure including a substrate and at least one radiating element configured on the substrate. The antenna structure further includes a plurality of nanomaterial-based phase changing material (PCM) switches configured in the radiating element so that current flowing through the radiating element passes through the PCM switches. The antenna structure also includes a heating device, such as a laser or a resistive heater, configured relative to the PCM switches and being operable to selectively heat the PCM switches to switch the PCM switches between an on crystalline state and an off amorphous state, where once the heat is removed, the PCM switch remains in the particular state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Xing Lan, Vesna Radisic, Robert Miles Young, Nabil A. El-Hinnawy
  • Publication number: 20190157184
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided that comprises a thermal sink layer, a first ground plane associated with a first set of circuits that have a first operational temperature requirement, and a first thermally conductive via that couples the first ground plane to the thermal sink layer. The circuit further comprises a second ground plane associated with a second set of circuits that have a second operational temperature requirement that is higher than the first operational temperature requirement, and a second thermally conductive via that couples the second ground plane to the thermal sink layer, wherein the first thermally conductive via has a greater volume of thermal conductive material than the second thermally conductive via to remove heat from the first set of circuits with less gradient than the second set of circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: PATRICK LONEY, ROBERT MILES YOUNG, DANIEL ROBERT QUEEN, AARON ASHLEY HATHAWAY, JOHN X. PRZYBYSZ
  • Publication number: 20190131246
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided that comprises a first ground plane associated with a first set of circuits that have a first operational temperature requirement, and a second ground plane associated with a second set of circuits that have a second operational temperature requirement that is higher than the first operational temperature requirement. The second ground plane is substantially thermally isolated from the first ground plane. A superconducting coupler electrically couples the first ground plane and the second ground plane while maintaining relative thermal isolation between the first ground plane and the second ground plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: PATRICK ALAN LONEY, AARON ASHLEY HATHAWAY, DANIEL ROBERT QUEEN, JOHN X. PRZYBYSZ, ROBERT MILES YOUNG
  • Publication number: 20190092280
    Abstract: A system for authorizing temporary access and operation of a vehicle via a mobile computing device, the system includes a processor and a memory device. The system also includes a SRWC module configured to communicate with the mobile computing device; and a CNG module being in communication with the SRWC module, the CNG module includes a NAD, configured to communicate with one or more remote entities over a wireless carrier system; a GPS module, configured to generate vehicle position information and communicate that position data to the one or more remote entities; a CGM, configured to monitor and control incoming communications from the SRWC module, NAD, and GPS module. The CGM further configured to establish communications across a CAN; and a CMS, configured to encrypt the communications established by CGM as well as store the communications in the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019