Patents by Inventor Robert Mason

Robert Mason 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).

  • Patent number: 10680259
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for regenerating an electrode of a flow battery. The method can be executed during shutdown of the flow battery from an active charge/discharge mode to an inactive, shut-down mode in which neither a negative electrolyte nor a positive electrolyte are circulated through at least one cell of the flow battery. The method includes driving voltage of the least one cell of the flow battery toward zero by converting, in-situ, the negative electrolyte in the at least one cell to a higher oxidation state. The negative electrolyte is in contact with an electrode of the at least one cell. The higher oxidation state negative electrolyte is used to regenerate, in-situ, catalytically active surfaces of the electrode of the at least one cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew Smeltz, Michael L. Perry, Robert Mason Darling
  • Patent number: 10661599
    Abstract: Apparatus for visually indicating a loose wheel nut on a motor vehicle has a first ring for engaging a first wheel nut so as to be rotatable therewith and a second ring for engaging a second wheel nut adjacent to the first wheel nut so as to be rotatable therewith. The first ring has a first pointer for indicating a start position of the first ring, and the second ring has a second pointer for indicating a start position of the second ring. A resiliently flexible elongate member interconnects the first and second rings. The elongate member is configured to curve in at least two directions and has a first end portion connected to the first ring and an opposed second end portion connected to the second ring. In use, any loosening rotation of the first wheel nut will cause the first ring and is pointer to rotate therewith, thereby providing a visual indication of a loosening of the first wheel nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Inventor: Ronald Robert Mason
  • Patent number: 10637082
    Abstract: A flow battery includes a liquid electrolyte having an electrochemically active specie. A flow field plate includes a first flow field channel and a second flow field channel that is separated from the first flow field channel by a rib. There is a flow path for the liquid electrolyte to flow over the rib between the channels. An electrode is arranged adjacent the flow field plate such that the liquid electrolyte that flows over the rib must flow through the electrode. The electrode includes a carbon paper that is catalytically active with regard to liquid electrolyte. The carbon paper defines a compressive strain of less than 20% at a compressive stress of 0.8 MPa and an uncompressed porosity in the range 60-85%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Mason Darling, Laura Roen Stolar
  • Patent number: 10596526
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ion-exchange membrane that includes a molecular barrier for influencing permeation selectivity through the membrane. The membrane includes fluorinated carbon backbone chains and fluorinated side chains that extend off of the fluorinated carbon backbone chains. The fluorinated side chains include acid groups for ionic conductivity. The acid groups surround and define permeable domains that are free of the fluorinated carbon backbone chains. Molecular barriers are located in the permeable domains and influence permeability through the domains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sergei F. Burlatsky, Vadim Atrazhev, Wei Xie, Robert Mason Darling, Michael L. Perry
  • Publication number: 20200067346
    Abstract: A power provider circuit includes a plurality of power delivery controllers, a single stage power supply, and control circuitry. Each of the plurality of power delivery controllers is configured to provide power to a detachable device. The single stage power supply is configured to generate the power for provision to the detachable devices, and to provide the power at a plurality of selectable voltages. The control circuitry configured to select a given voltage of the plurality of selectable voltages to be made available via all of the power delivery controllers based on power utilization capabilities and other optional status indications reported by the detachable devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Deric Wayne Waters, Robert Mason Hanrahan
  • Publication number: 20190384412
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided to allow a user to perform finger gesture motions, such as making typing, swiping, tapping, or other types of finger motions to provide device input, such as typing, clicking, or selecting data into a webpage, application, operating system, or toolbar, that was normally performed by the user having to use a keyboard, mouse, stylus, microphone, touchscreen, or another input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventor: Robert A. Mason
  • Publication number: 20190379031
    Abstract: A battery cut-out device (11) has a housing (13) which interposes between a battery terminal and the vehicle lead that connected to the battery terminal. At one end (17) of the housing a first high current capacity termination (18) to connect to the battery terminal, and at the other end (21) of the housing (13) a second high current capacity termination (22) connects to the battery lead. A fly lead (25) extends from the housing (13) which connects to the other battery terminal to provide power to electronics in the housing. Also located at one end of the housing is a press-to-make momentary push button switch (27) which is provided to perform a reset function, and an LED indicator (29) which is provided to show the operational status of the battery cut-out device (11). The reset function electrically connects terminations (18) and (22), and the electronics disconnects these terminations if the battery voltage falls below a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventor: Robert Mason
  • Patent number: 10505199
    Abstract: A method of treating a carbon electrode includes heat treating a carbon-based electrode in an environment that is above approximately 325° C. and that includes an oxidizing gas, and prior to use of the carbon-based electrode in an electro-chemical battery device, soaking the carbon-based electrode in an oxidizer solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Mason Darling
  • Patent number: 10505197
    Abstract: A catalyst layer for use in a fuel cell includes catalytic nanoparticles and a perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomer. The catalytic nanoparticles have a palladium or palladium alloy core and an atomically thin layer of platinum on an outer surface of the palladium or palladium alloy core. The PFSA ionomer has an equivalent weight equal to or greater than about 830. A unitized electrode assembly is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Krista Marie Shoemaker, Robert Mason Darling, Laura Roen Stolar, Elise Lorraine Izzo
  • Publication number: 20190370428
    Abstract: A method for compensation network design in a power converter design system is provided that includes computing optimal values for compensation components in a compensation network based on a plurality of loop specifications comprising crossover frequency (Fco), phase margin (PM), Gain Margin (GM), and low frequency gain (LFG), and applying changes to a power converter design comprising the compensation network based on the optimal values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Srikanth Pam, Yudhister Satija, Pradeep Kumar Chawda, Makram Mounzer Mansour, Robert Mason Hanrahan, Jeffrey Robert Perry
  • Patent number: 10498167
    Abstract: A power provider circuit includes a plurality of power delivery controllers, a single stage power supply, and control circuitry. Each of the plurality of power delivery controllers is configured to provide power to a detachable device. The single stage power supply is configured to generate the power for provision to the detachable devices, and to provide the power at a plurality of selectable voltages. The control circuitry configured to select a given voltage of the plurality of selectable voltages to be made available via all of the power delivery controllers based on power utilization capabilities and other optional status indications reported by the detachable devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Deric Wayne Waters, Robert Mason Hanrahan
  • Publication number: 20190331734
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a safety fault interrupter circuit. The safety fault interrupter circuit includes a safety fault monitor coupled to a first bias node and configured to selectively assert a fault interrupter signal based at least in part on a first bias voltage and a first power consumption. The safety fault interrupter circuit also includes a power fault monitor for the safety fault monitor, wherein the power fault monitor is coupled to a second bias node and is configured to selectively assert the fault interrupter signal based at least in part on a second bias voltage and a second power consumption that is less than the first power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventor: Robert Mason HANRAHAN
  • Publication number: 20190332688
    Abstract: The present technology pertains to a details pane that is displayed in coordination with a file explorer interface. The details pane can display details including activities, comments, and previews for content items displayed in the details pane. In some embodiments, the content items displayed in the file explorer interface can be stored in and accessed from different services, and the details in the details pane can also be populated from diverse sources. In some embodiments, edits or navigations can be performed within a preview of the content item. In some embodiments, comments can be shown along with previews that show the comment located within the content item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew Valentine, Thomas Fisher, Nicholas Sundin, Parker Wilf, Robert Mason, Tomaz Nedeljko, Evan Tana
  • Publication number: 20190332231
    Abstract: The present technology pertains to a details pane that is displayed in coordination with a file explorer interface. The details pane can display details including activities, comments, and previews for content items displayed in the details pane. In some embodiments the content items displayed in the file explorer interface can be stored in and accessed from different services, and the details in the details pane can also be populated from diverse sources. In some embodiments, edits or navigations can be performed within a preview of the content item. In some embodiments, comments can be shown along with previews that show the comment located within the content item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Alan Rogers, Parker Wilf, Robert Mason, Tomaz Nedeljko, Evan Tana
  • Publication number: 20190332687
    Abstract: The present technology pertains to a details pane that is displayed in coordination with a file explorer interface. The details pane can display details including activities, comments, and previews for content items displayed in the details pane. In some embodiments, the content items displayed in the file explorer interface can be stored in and accessed from different services, and the details in the details pane can also be populated from diverse sources. In some embodiments, edits or navigations can be performed within a preview of the content item. In some embodiments, comments can be shown along with previews that show the comment located within the content item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Parker Wilf, Robert Mason, Tomaz Nedeljko, Evan Tana
  • Publication number: 20190308134
    Abstract: A fuel tank inerting system is disclosed, comprising a fuel tank and an electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and an anode separated by a separator comprising an anion transfer medium. A cathode fluid flow path is in operative fluid communication with a catalyst at the cathode between a cathode fluid flow path inlet and a cathode fluid flow path outlet. An anode fluid flow path is in operative fluid communication with a catalyst at the anode, and includes an anode fluid flow path outlet. An electrical connected to a power source is arranged to provide a voltage difference between the anode and the cathode. An air source is in operative fluid communication with either or both of the cathode flow path inlet and the anode flow path inlet. An inert gas flow path is in operative fluid communication with the cathode flow path outlet and the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Bart Antonie van Hassel, Robert Mason Darling, Michael L. Perry
  • Patent number: 10428861
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for visually indicating a loose wheel nut (57) on a wheel of a motor vehicle has a plurality of wheel nut engaging members (12, 14, 16, 18, 20). Each wheel nut engaging member is rotatable with a respective wheel nut to which it is engaged and has a pointer (26) for indicating a start position of the wheel nut engaging member. Any two adjacent wheel nut engaging members of the plurality are interconnected by an elongate member (28) which is resiliently flexible so as to define an endless configuration of spaced apart but interconnected wheel nut engaging members. In use, any loosening rotation of a first wheel nut (57) will cause the engaging member (12) which engages that wheel nut and its pointer (26) to rotate therewith, thereby providing a visual indication of a loosening of that wheel nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: MARCHMONT PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Ronald Robert Mason
  • Patent number: 10423746
    Abstract: A method for compensation network design in a power converter design system is provided that includes computing optimal values for compensation components in a compensation network based on a plurality of loop specifications comprising crossover frequency (Fco), phase margin (PM), Gain Margin (GM), and low frequency gain (LFG), and applying changes to a power converter design comprising the compensation network based on the optimal values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Srikanth Pam, Yudhister Satija, Pradeep Kumar Chawda, Makram Mounzer Mansour, Robert Mason Hanrahan, Jeffrey Robert Perry
  • Patent number: 10388968
    Abstract: An illustrative example fuel cell component assembly includes a gas diffusion layer having a gas diffusion layer surface on one side. A microporous layer adjacent the gas diffusion layer includes a first portion having a first density and a second portion having a second density that is lower than the first density. The first portion and the second portion are arranged in a preselected pattern along the microporous layer. The first portion contacts a first section of the gas diffusion layer surface and the second portion contacts a second section of the gas diffusion layer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Siddique Ali Khateeb Razack, Robert Mason Darling
  • Patent number: 10338691
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided to allow a user to perform finger gesture motions, such as making typing, swiping, tapping, or other types of finger motions to provide device input, such as typing, clicking, or selecting data into a webpage, application, operating system, or toolbar, that was normally performed by the user having to use a keyboard, mouse, stylus, microphone, touchscreen, or another input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: PayPal, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Mason