Patents by Inventor Robert L. Thompson

Robert L. Thompson 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: 20240093221
    Abstract: This disclosure provides recombinant DNA constructs and transgenic plants having enhanced traits such as increased yield, increased nitrogen use efficiency, and enhanced drought tolerance or water use efficiency. Transgenic plants may include field crops as well as plant propagules and progeny of such transgenic plants. Methods of making and using such transgenic plants are also provided. This disclosure also provides methods of producing seed from such transgenic plants, growing such seed, and selecting progeny plants with enhanced traits. Also disclosed are transgenic plants with altered phenotypes which are useful for screening and selecting transgenic events for the desired enhanced trait.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Edwards M. Allen, Bettina Darveaux, Stephen M. Duff, Mary Fernandes, Barry S. Goldman, Cara L. Griffith, Balasulojini Karunanandaa, Saritha V. Kuriakose, Paul J. Loida, Linda L. Lutfiyya, Robert J. Meister, Monnanda S. Rajani, Dhanalakshmi Ramachandra, Elena A. Rice, Daniel Ruzicka, Anagha M. Sant, Jon J. Schmuke, Rebecca L. Thompson, Srikanth Babu Venkatachalayya, Tyamagondlu V. Venkatesh, Huai Wang, Xiao Yang, Qin Zeng, Jianmin Zhao
  • Publication number: 20230321591
    Abstract: Steric effects on amine sites beta to amide or ester functional groups are utilized to result in a family of CO2 solvents with an unprecedented hybridization of chemisorption and physisorption properties. These versatile solvents provide very high CO2 working capacities in applications typically involved with physical solvents such as Selexol, Genosorb, Fluor Solvent, Purisol, and Rectisol with the added benefit of operation near ambient conditions without the need for solvent chilling along with the potential for high pressure recovery of CO2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Robert L. Thompson, Jeffrey T. Culp
  • Publication number: 20230043712
    Abstract: One or more embodiments relate to a method for removing CO2 from a gaseous stream containing CO2 having the steps of contacting the gaseous stream containing CO2 with a solvent at a first temperature and a first pressure to dissolve said CO2 in said solvent, where the solvent is made up of at least one ester, and where said at least one ester has two or more alkyl-ester functional groups on a central hydrocarbon chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Culp, Wei Shi, Robert L. Thompson, Surya P. Tiwari, Kevin P. Resnik, Lei Hong, Janice A. Steckel, David Hopkinson, Nicholas Siefert
  • Patent number: 10589228
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for the separation of a gas constituent from a gaseous mixture. The disclosure also provides polyethylene glycol disubstituted siloxane based solvents for use in the method. These solvents are of use for pre-combustion CO2 capture and are capable of replacing glycol-based solvents while offering operation at a higher temperature region. These solvents are also of use for generation of hydrogen from reformed natural gas or syngas, adjusting CO/H2 ratio for Coal & Biomass to Liquids, removal of CO2 from syngas for coal & biomass to NH3/Fertilizer, natural gas sweetening, and upgrading of landfill and biogas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: David P. Hopkinson, Nicholas Siefert, Robert L. Thompson, Megan Macala, Lei Hong
  • Publication number: 20190358585
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for the separation of a gas constituent from a gaseous mixture. The disclosure also provides polyethylene glycol disubstituted siloxane based solvents for use in the method. These solvents are of use for pre-combustion CO2 capture and are capable of replacing glycol-based solvents while offering operation at a higher temperature region. These solvents are also of use for generation of hydrogen from reformed natural gas or syngas, adjusting CO/H2 ratio for Coal & Biomass to Liquids, removal of CO2 from syngas for coal & biomass to NH3/Fertilizer, natural gas sweetening, and upgrading of landfill and biogas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: Energy, United States Department of
    Inventors: DAVID P. HOPKINSON, NICHOLAS SIEFERT, ROBERT L. THOMPSON, MEGAN MACALA, LEI HONG
  • Patent number: 9975080
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to methods for removal of CO2 and other acid gases from gaseous fuels prior to combustion. Exemplary methods may be used for CO2 capture, H2 purification and natural gas sweetening. Exemplary methods use at least one ionic liquid that has excellent CO2 solubility, selectivity over hydrogen, low viscosity, and resistance to H2S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: David Luebke, Hunaid Nulwala, Brian Kail, Fan Shi, Robert L Thompson, Nicholas Siefert
  • Publication number: 20150272132
    Abstract: A pesticide granule containing neem oil is provided. A biodegradable carrier granule is coated with neem oil and silica or a similar drying agent. The granule preferably contains a blend of nutrients and other ingredients beneficial to crops. The granules have a relatively dry exterior and are free-flowing. The granules are applied to crops by placing the granules into the seed furrows at the time of seed planting or otherwise incorporating the granules into the soil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Pieter W. Booysen, Ronald R. Shingler, Robert L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8986511
    Abstract: The method provides for use of sensitized photocatalyst for the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 under visible light illumination. The photosensitized catalyst is comprised of a wide band gap semiconductor material, a transition metal co-catalyst, and a semiconductor sensitizer. The semiconductor sensitizer is photoexcited by visible light and forms a Type II band alignment with the wide band gap semiconductor material. The wide band gap semiconductor material and the semiconductor sensitizer may be a plurality of particles, and the particle diameters may be selected to accomplish desired band widths and optimize charge injection under visible light illumination by utilizing quantum size effects. In a particular embodiment, CO2 is reduced under visible light illumination using a CdSe/Pt/TiO2 sensitized photocatalyst with H2O as a hydrogen source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Christopher Matranga, Robert L. Thompson, Congjun Wang
  • Patent number: 7441777
    Abstract: An educational question and answer escape game combining the attributes of chance, knowledge and duel play to advance a player token from a start position to an end position along a game path. The game path has a plurality of interconnected path segments having a center section for movement along the game path and a ledge that defines a safety zone. The game has an antagonist element that moves on the game path to cause player tokens not on a safety zone to be redirected to the start position. A first chance mechanism controls the movement of the antagonist element along the center sections. The movement of a token along the center sections is controlled by a second chance mechanism. A token can be moved from the exposed center section to the safe zone by the player correctly answering a question or by operation of a third chance mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Inventor: Robert L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7328515
    Abstract: Archery bow sights, and archery bows including same are described, the bow sight comprising a sight pin guard having a portion defining a sighting plane, a rotatable shaft having ends installed in the sight pin guard, and at least one sight pin having a connector end and a sight end, the connector end removably and adjustably installed on the rotatable shaft. Certain embodiments comprise a plurality of sight pins arranged on the rotatable shaft at different longitudinal and circumferential locations so that upon rotation of the shaft a different one of the sight pins is viewable in the plane defined by the sight pin guard. This abstract allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It may not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: H-T Archery Products LLC
    Inventors: Timothy L. Helm, Robert L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5873272
    Abstract: A lock for use in a display case with sliding doors can be assembled by inserting a lock core and securing it into a lock cylinder from the front of the display case. The lock cylinder has a front, a rear end, a central opening extending from the front to the rear. It is adapted to receive the lock core from the front and has a threaded hole near the front and transverse and open to the central opening. A screw is threaded into the threaded hole such that a portion of the screw extends into the central opening blocking removal of the core from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Thompson Lock & Supply Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5600250
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the possibility of transfer of material through a protective barrier between a worker and an external object and warning the worker of that possibility is provided. In one embodiment, an electronic leak alarm module is electrically connected to the worker and to the external object. In another embodiment, the module is connected to the worker and a conductive layer on or within the protective barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventor: Robert L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5524498
    Abstract: To test a controller for a motor having a position feedback signal, a simulation circuit programmable by test equipment replaces the actual motor and emulates motors of various types. Motor direction command signals from the controller are detected by comparators in the simulation circuit and a counter is incremented or decremented according to the detected command. The initial count value, representing a beginning motor position and the count rate of change, representing motor speed, are programmed by the test equipment. The count is converted with high resolution to an analog feedback signal which is coupled to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Thompson, David C. Leingang, Clinton W. Erickson
  • Patent number: 5448177
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the possibility of transfer of material through a protective barrier between a worker and an external object and warning the worker of that possibility is provided. In one embodiment, an electronic leak alarm module is electrically connected to the worker and to the external object. In another embodiment, the module is connected to the worker and a conductive layer on or within the protective barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Inventor: Robert L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 4947214
    Abstract: An apparatus which transfers a developed image from a photoconductive surface to a copy sheet. The apparatus includes a corona generating device arranged to charge the copy sheet. This establishes a transfer field that is effective to attract the developed image from the photoconductive surface to the copy sheet. A blade is moved from a nonoperative position spaced from the copy sheet, to an operative position, in contact therewith. The blade presses the copy sheet into contact with at least the developed image on the photoconductive surface to substantially eliminate any spaces between the copy sheet and the developed image during transfer of the developed image from the photoconductive surface to the copy sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas J. Baxendell, Michael J. Cortash, William G. Osbourne, Robert L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 4806975
    Abstract: A lamp system which erases selected portions of an electrically charged photoconductive member. The lamp has a transparent housing defining a chamber filled with a gaseous medium. A charge is induced across a selected region of the gaseous medium. This causes the gaseous medium to ionize in the selected region so as to emit light rays thereat. The light rays illuminate the electrically charged photoconductive member in the selected region to discharge the charge thereat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald E. Godlove, Robert L. Thompson, Charles J. Urso, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4785725
    Abstract: An improved automatic french frying machine and method uses a supply of cooking oil which remains in a cooking vat during normal operation and is heated directly in the cooking vat. A system of thermostats combines with a heating element within the cooking vat to ensure proper cooking temperature and safe operation. An automatic initialization and monitoring system ensures safe startup and operation. Preferred embodiments also include an automatic flushing cycle which is activated at predetermined intervals to clean the cooking vat and replenish the cooking oil within the vat. A specially shaped cooking vat ensures that food particles will be removed from the vat during the flushing cycle. Oil degradation is minimized by either an open-topped cooking vat or a cooking vat having a lid which remains open during cooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: U1 Group
    Inventors: Maurice Tate, Robert L. Thompson, John H. Wilbur
  • Patent number: D267616
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1983
    Inventor: Robert L. Thompson
  • Patent number: D383622
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Robert L. Thompson
  • Patent number: D393995
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Thompson Lock & Supply Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Thompson