Patents by Inventor Robert J. Thomas
Robert J. Thomas 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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Patent number: 11962621Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a computer system, information related to device health of an electronic device, determining, by the computer system, a health status of the electronic device based at least in part on the received information related to the device health of the electronic device, requesting, by a switch having a port connected to the electronic device, the health status of the electronic device from the computer system, receiving, by the computer system, the request for the health status of the electronic device from the switch, transmitting, by the computer system, the health status of the electronic device to the switch, evaluating, by the switch, the transmitted health status of the electronic device using network access rules associated corresponding to health statuses, and applying, by the switch, a network access control configuration to the port of the switch based on the evaluating the transmitted health status.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2022Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Sophos LimitedInventors: Biju Ramachandra Kaimal, Andrew J. Thomas, Kerav Vaidya, Yogesh Bansal, Robert Paul Andrews
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Publication number: 20240084756Abstract: A computer system includes a processor and a memory configured with instructions executable by the processor to determine a fuel configuration in response to input received by the HMI, determine fuel composition constituents in response to at least the fuel configuration, determine one or more fuel properties in response to at least one or more fuel composition constituents, determine one or more engine controller adjustments in response to the one or more fuel properties, and provide the one or more adjustments to an engine control system. A human-machine interface (HMI) is operatively coupled with the processor, and a memory and may be utilized to provide commissioning or service inputs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventor: Robert J. Thomas
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Publication number: 20240075473Abstract: A lateral flow assay device of the present disclosure has numerous features to ensure correct operation of the device under gravity, such as vent pockets for enabling the flow of sample fluid from one chamber to the next when the vent pocket is unsealed. The vent pockets have protrusions to help prevent accidental resealing. The device also can have a gasket to ensure free air movement between open vent pockets. Flow control features that protrude horizontally into a chamber proximal to an outlet act to deflect the flow to the side of the chamber opposite from the outlet, prior to the flow entering the outlet. Such features can reduce the flow velocity of the sample fluid and increase the effective fluid flow path length, enhance mixing of reagents with a sample, and enabling more accurate control of fluid flow in the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2022Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Mark Nowakowski, Michael Wang, Robert B Cary, Hong Cai, Conrad Lindberg, Martin Bouliane, Donald J Thomas
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Publication number: 20240076724Abstract: An automated method for performing an assay of the present disclosure can be performed in a microfluidic device that is a lateral flow device having numerous features to ensure correct operation of the device under gravity, such as vent pockets for enabling the flow of sample fluid from one chamber to the next when the vent pocket is unsealed. Each chamber can have a reagent recess proximal to an inlet end of the chamber. A reagent pellet formed in a reagent recess can be effectively mixed with a sample as the sample flows into the chamber. A flexible circuit with patterned metallic electrical components disposed on a heat stable material can be in direct contact with fluid in the chambers and has resistive heating elements aligned with, for example, a chamber for performing an amplification reaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2022Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Mark Nowakowski, Michael Wang, Robert B Cary, Hong Cai, Conrad Lindberg, Martin Bouliane, Donald J Thomas
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Patent number: 11891944Abstract: A controller includes at least one processor coupled to a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: determine a target engine outlet coolant temperature for a coolant in an engine system; determine an adjustment to a temperature of the coolant based on a determined engine inlet coolant temperature and the target engine outlet coolant temperature; and, alter a flow of the coolant by controlling a coolant valve in response to the determination of the adjustment to the temperature of the coolant.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2021Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Mihir Desai, Luke T. Jennings, Robert J. Thomas
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Publication number: 20230124692Abstract: A controller includes at least one processor coupled to a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: determine a target engine outlet coolant temperature for a coolant in an engine system; determine an adjustment to a temperature of the coolant based on a determined engine inlet coolant temperature and the target engine outlet coolant temperature; and, alter a flow of the coolant by controlling a coolant valve in response to the determination of the adjustment to the temperature of the coolant.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2021Publication date: April 20, 2023Applicant: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Mihir Desai, Luke T. Jennings, Robert J. Thomas
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Patent number: 11384700Abstract: Control of a spark ignited internal combustion in response to an exhaust manifold pressure measurement of an engine is disclosed. An engine out NOx amount for at least one cylinder is determined at least in part in response to the exhaust manifold pressure measurement and a brake mean effective pressure of the at least one cylinder. An operating condition of the engine is adjusted in response to the engine out NOx amount.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Ming-Feng Hsieh, Andrew G. Kitchen, Axel Otto zur Loye, Jinghua Zhong, Richard A. Booth, Robert J. Thomas, Jisang Sun
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Patent number: 11168624Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for producing a target compressor outlet pressure that is based on a desired pressure differential across an intake throttle of an internal combustion engine and an intake manifold pressure by opening or closing a compressor recirculation valve and a turbocharger wastegate to commanded positions based on the target compressor outlet pressure.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Mayura H Halbe, Robert J. Thomas, Ming-Feng Hsieh
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Publication number: 20210259561Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, a system for evaluating a health condition includes a storage containing cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) data and heart rate data for a person for a sleep time period, one or more processors, and a memory storing instructions. When the instructions are executed by the processor(s), they cause the system to access the CPC data and the heart rate data from the storage, identify one or more time periods in the sleep time period categorized as high frequency coupling (HFC) state based on the CPC data, evaluate one or more characteristics of a portion of the heart rate data corresponding to the one or more time periods, and evaluate health condition of the person based on the one or more characteristics of the portion of the heart rate data corresponding the one or more time periods categorized as HFC state.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2019Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Hugi Hilmisson, Robert J. Thomas
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Publication number: 20210079858Abstract: Control of a spark ignited internal combustion in response to an exhaust manifold pressure measurement of an engine is disclosed. An engine out NOx amount for at least one cylinder is determined at least in part in response to the exhaust manifold pressure measurement and a brake mean effective pressure of the at least one cylinder. An operating condition of the engine is adjusted in response to the engine out NOx amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Ming-Feng Hsieh, Andrew G. Kitchen, Axel Otto zu Loye, Jinghua Zhong, Richard A. Booth, Robert J. Thomas, Jisang Sun
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Patent number: 10920687Abstract: Control of a spark ignited internal combustion in response to an exhaust manifold pressure measurement of an engine is disclosed. An engine out NOx amount for at least one cylinder is determined at least in part in response to the exhaust manifold pressure measurement and a brake mean effective pressure of the at least one cylinder. An operating condition of the engine is adjusted in response to the engine out NOx amount.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Inventors: Ming-Feng Hsieh, Andrew G. Kitchen, Axel Otto zur Loye, Jinghua Zhong, Richard A. Booth, Robert J. Thomas, Jisang Sun
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Publication number: 20200309049Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for producing a target compressor outlet pressure that is based on a desired pressure differential across an intake throttle of an internal combustion engine and an intake manifold pressure by opening or closing a compressor recirculation valve and a turbocharger wastegate to commanded positions based on the target compressor outlet pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Mayura H. Halbe, Robert J. Thomas, Ming-Feng Hsieh
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Patent number: 10711723Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fuelling of dual fuel internal combustion engines are disclosed. The control techniques maximize the substitution rate of gaseous fuel for the liquid fuel by determining a target fuelling amount for the liquid fuel and then regulating an actual fuelling amount of the liquid fuel in response to engine speed and power variations and by modulating the flow rate of the gaseous fuel to the engine.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2016Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Thomas, Axel Otto zur Loye, Christopher Pollitt, Robert C. Borregard
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Patent number: 10677175Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is a system comprising a dual-fuel engine structured to selectably combust a first fuel type and a second fuel type, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the dual-fuel engine. The electronic control system is structured to control a transition of the dual-fuel engine from a dual-fuel mode to a single-fuel mode. After initiating the transition from the dual-fuel mode to the single-fuel mode, the control system stops provision of the second fuel type, requires combustion using control parameters configured for the dual-fuel mode until a transition ventilation condition is satisfied, permits non-emergency commanded engine shutdown only if the transition ventilation condition is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Thomas, David Lambert
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Publication number: 20200116100Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for managing engine output. A method includes receiving at least one of a torque input and an acceleration input; generating a torque request for an engine; receiving the torque request; and determining an amount of the torque request that can be provided by a fast response actuator including a spark timing actuator based on a governed torque fraction value based on existing operating conditions of the spark timing actuator and a torque fraction value indicative of a total torque request value and an anticipated future torque demand value. The method includes managing the spark timing actuator to produce the amount of torque; determining a remaining amount of the torque request that cannot be provided the fast response actuator based on an existing operating condition of the engine; and commanding a slow response actuator to provide the remaining amount of the torque request.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Applicant: Cummins IP, Inc.Inventors: David J. Stroh, Zachary Schwab, Govindarajan Kothandaraman, Robert J. Thomas, Richard S. Fox, Craig M. Calmer, Rohit Zope
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Patent number: 10524138Abstract: A communications system having a network of nodes that may transmit and receive wireless signals. RF channel quietness may be measured at each node. A channel that is the best for all of the nodes may be selected. However, if all of the nodes except for one node determine that a particular channel is the best and not acceptable to the one node but that another channel is acceptable to all of the nodes, then the entire network may choose to operate on the other channel. The network may choose to operate on more than one channel in a time slotted fashion if a single acceptable channel cannot be found for all of the nodes. Channel quietness measurements may be facilitated by and uploaded to a host controller. The host controller may build a profile of measurements from the nodes for each channel.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Thomas, Jeffrey M. Reeder
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Patent number: 10508614Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for managing engine output that includes a machine manager module and a combustion module. In one embodiment, the combustion module includes a slow response pathway and a fast response pathway. The slow response pathway includes managing air and fuel actuators and the fast response pathway includes managing spark timing. According to one embodiment, managing spark timing comprises bringing a spark actuator to the middle of a spark timing range for bi-directional control and involves sacrificing engine efficiency for engine responsiveness. Further, the fast response pathway may be selectively enabled based upon an optimization index.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2013Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.Inventors: David J. Stroh, Zachary Schwab, Govindarajan Kothandaraman, Robert J. Thomas, Richard S. Fox, Craig M. Calmer, Rohit Zope
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Patent number: 10227934Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for controlling operation of dual fuel engines are disclosed. One embodiment is a method for controlling operation of a dual fuel engine based upon a combustion index value. The combustion index may be empirically determined to provide desired engine operation at a plurality of ratios of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel. The desired engine operation may include a number of criteria including, for examiner an engine knock criterion and/or an exhaust emissions criterion. The combustion index value may be determined during operation of the engine based upon measured, estimated or predicted engine operating parameters. The combustion index value may be utilized to interpolate between a first engine operating map for a first ratio of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel and a second engine operating map for a second ratio of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Thomas, Axel Otto Zur Loye, Timothy P. Lutz, Christopher Pollitt, Phanindra V. Garimella
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Publication number: 20180135541Abstract: Control of a spark ignited internal combustion in response to an exhaust manifold pressure measurement of an engine is disclosed. An engine out NOx amount for at least one cylinder is determined at least in part in response to the exhaust manifold pressure measurement and a brake mean effective pressure of the at least one cylinder. An operating condition of the engine is adjusted in response to the engine out NOx amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2016Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Ming-Feng Hsieh, Andrew G. Kitchen, Axel Otto zu Loye, Jinghua Zhong, Richard A. Booth, Robert J. Thomas, Jisang Sun
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Publication number: 20170339583Abstract: A communications system having a network of nodes that may transmit and receive wireless signals. RF channel quietness may be measured at each node. A channel that is the best for all of the nodes may be selected. However, if all of the nodes except for one node determine that a particular channel is the best and not acceptable to the one node but that another channel is acceptable to all of the nodes, then the entire network may choose to operate on the other channel. The network may choose to operate on more than one channel in a time slotted fashion if a single acceptable channel cannot be found for all of the nodes. Channel quietness measurements may be facilitated by and uploaded to a host controller. The host controller may build a profile of measurements from the nodes for each channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventors: Robert J. Thomas, Jeffrey M. Reeder