Patents by Inventor Robert Ryan

Robert Ryan 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: 20190178497
    Abstract: An injection assembly for a gas turbine combustor having a liner defining a combustion zone and a secondary combustion zone and a forward casing circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the liner is provided. The injection assembly includes a thimble assembly and an injector unit. The thimble assembly, which is mounted to the liner, includes a thimble that extends through a thimble aperture in the liner. The injector unit, which is mounted to and extends through the forward casing, includes an injector blade that extends into the thimble. The injection assembly introduces a flow of fuel into a flow of air flowing through the thimble, such that fuel and air are injected into the secondary combustion zone in a direction transverse to a flow of combustion products from the primary combustion zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charlie Edmond Jones, James Harper, Matthew Bernard Wilson, Robert Wade Clifford, Yon Han Chong, Benjamin Robert Ryan, Gilbert Otto Kraemer
  • Publication number: 20190137707
    Abstract: A hermetic optical fiber alignment assembly, including a first ferrule portion having a first surface provided with a plurality of grooves receiving the end sections of optical fibers, wherein the grooves define the location and orientation of the end sections with respect to the first ferrule portion, and a second ferrule portion having a second surface facing the first surface of the first ferrule, wherein the first ferrule portion is attached to the second ferrule portion with the first surface against the second surface, wherein a cavity is defined between the first ferrule portion and the second ferrule portion, wherein the cavity is wider than the grooves, and wherein a suspended section of each optical fiber is suspended in the cavity, and wherein the cavity is sealed with a sealant. The sealant extends around the suspended sections of the optical fibers within the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Shuhe LI, Robert Ryan VALLANCE, Michael K. BARNOSKI
  • Publication number: 20190137705
    Abstract: Optical alignment of optical subassembly and optoelectronic device is achieved using an external source and an external receiver, passing optical signal through a passive waveguide in the optoelectronic device, via alignment reflective surface features provided on the optical subassembly. The optical subassembly is provided with a first alignment reflective surface directing alignment signal from the source to a grating coupler at the input of the waveguide, and a second alignment reflective surface directing to the receiver the alignment signal directed from a grating coupler at the output of the waveguide after the alignment signal has been transmitted from the input to the output through the waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Robert Ryan VALLANCE, Gregory L. KLOTZ, Rand D. DANNENBERG
  • Patent number: 10274683
    Abstract: The present invention provides a spring bias that is particularly suited for use to preload a low profile ferrule of an optical connector. In accordance with the present invention, an axial preload is applied to a connector ferrule by a spring structure provided external of the connector. In one embodiment, spring structure is provided outside a plurality of optical fiber connectors, which provides axial preload of multiple ferrules. Each ferrule could be of the type that supports a plurality of optical fibers of a fiber cable. In one embodiment, the spring bias is effected by a planar flexure external of the connector. The ferrule is coupled to the planar flexure with its longitudinal axis through the center of the planar flexure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: NANOPRECISION PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Shuhe Li, Gregory L. Klotz, Michael K. Barnoski, Robert Ryan Vallance
  • Publication number: 20190113697
    Abstract: A reconnectable connection between an optical bench supporting an optical fiber and a photonic integrated circuit (PIC), which a foundation and a connector that is configured and structured to be removably attachable for reconnection to the foundation in alignment therewith. The foundation can be aligned to electro-optical elements in the PIC. The foundation may be permanently attached with respect to the opto-electronic device. The optical bench can be removably attached to the foundation. Alignment between the foundation and the connector is achieved by kinematic coupling, quasi-kinematic coupling, or elastic-averaging coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Shuhe LI, Robert Ryan VALLANCE
  • Patent number: 10244960
    Abstract: A system for sensing multiple local electric voltages from endocardial surface of a heart, includes: an elongate tubular member having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end; and a basket assembly including a plurality of flexible splines; an anchor for securably affixing proximal portions of the splines, where the anchor is securably affixed within the lumen of the elongate tubular member at the distal end of the elongate tubular member; and a tip for securably affixing the distal portions of the splines; where the tip is recessed within the basket assembly upon radial expansion of the basket assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Topera, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kordis, Ruchir Sehra, Eric T. Johnson, Darrin J. Kent, Robert Ryan Ragland
  • Patent number: 10241275
    Abstract: An expanded beam ferrule includes a first ferrule halve having first reflective surfaces and a second ferrule halve having second reflective surfaces, which together retain optical fibers. The pair of reflective surfaces output collimated light parallel to the mid-plane of the ferrule. An external sleeve aligns the external surface of two similar ferrules, with corresponding second reflective surfaces of the ferrules facing each other. Output light from an optical fiber held in one ferrule is bent twice by the pair of reflective surfaces, with beam divergence after the first bent, and collimation after the second bent. The collimated light is transmitted to the facing second reflective surface in a facing second ferrule aligned by the sleeve, which is subject to optical reshaping in reverse to that undertaken in the first ferrule, so as to converge and focus light to input to the optical fiber held in the other ferrule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: NANOPRECISION PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Shuhe Li, Robert Ryan Vallance, Rand D. Dannenberg, Matthew Gean, Gregory L. Klotz
  • Publication number: 20190076188
    Abstract: An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular and/or peri-urethral tissue ablation includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes which expand around a central axis to engage the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the injection an ablative fluid for ablating tissue, and/or nerve fibers in the outer layer or deep to the outer layer of the vessel, or in prostatic tissue. The system may also include a means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into and beyond the tissue of the vessel wall. The catheter may also include structures which provide radial and/or lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes expand uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened injection needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: David R. Fischell, Tim A. Fischell, Robert Ryan Ragland, Darrin James Kent, Andy Edward Denison, Eric Thomas Johnson, Jeff Alan Burke, Christopher Scott Hayden
  • Publication number: 20190076187
    Abstract: An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular and/or peri-urethral tissue ablation includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes which expand around a central axis to engage the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the injection an ablative fluid for ablating tissue, and/or nerve fibers in the outer layer or deep to the outer layer of the vessel, or in prostatic tissue. The system may also include a means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into and beyond the tissue of the vessel wall. The catheter may also include structures which provide radial and/or lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes expand uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened injection needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: David R. Fischell, Tim A. Fischell, Robert Ryan Ragland, Darrin James Kent, Andy Edward Denison, Eric Thomas Johnson, Jeff Alan Burke, Christopher Scott Hayden
  • Publication number: 20190076186
    Abstract: An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular and/or peri-urethral tissue ablation includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes which expand around a central axis to engage the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the injection an ablative fluid for ablating tissue, and/or nerve fibers in the outer layer or deep to the outer layer of the vessel, or in prostatic tissue. The system may also include a means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into and beyond the tissue of the vessel wall. The catheter may also include structures which provide radial and/or lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes expand uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened injection needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: David R. Fischell, Tim A. Fischell, Robert Ryan Ragland, Darrin James Kent, Andy Edward Denison, Eric Thomas Johnson, Jeff Alan Burke, Christopher Scott Hayden
  • Patent number: 10226278
    Abstract: An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular or peri-urethral tissue ablation includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes which expand around a central axis to engage the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the injection an ablative fluid for ablating tissue, or nerve fibers in the outer layer or deep to the outer layer of the vessel, or in prostatic tissue. A method can involve injection of the ablative fluid over an extended time period of at least 10 seconds or with two injections at two different penetration depths to reduce or eliminate patient pain during ablation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ablative Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Fischell, Tim A. Fischell, Robert Ryan Ragland, Darrin James Kent, Andy Edward Denison, Eric Thomas Johnson, Jeff Alan Burke, Christopher Scott Hayden, Robert E. Fischell
  • Patent number: 10222553
    Abstract: A Mux/Demux subassembly includes a stamped optical bench, which includes an array of stamped reflective surfaces for redirecting optical signals. Alignment features and components of the Mux/Demux subassembly are integrally formed on a stamped optical bench, defining a desired optical path with optical alignment at tight tolerances. The optical bench is formed by stamping a malleable stock material (e.g., a metal stock), to form precise geometries and features of the optical bench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: NANOPRECISION PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Rand Dannenberg, Robert Ryan Vallance, Jeremy Burke
  • Publication number: 20180329146
    Abstract: A Mux/Demux subassembly includes a stamped optical bench, which includes an array of stamped reflective surfaces for redirecting optical signals. Alignment features and components of the Mux/Demux subassembly are integrally formed on a stamped optical bench, defining a desired optical path with optical alignment at tight tolerances. The optical bench is formed by stamping a malleable stock material (e.g., a metal stock), to form precise geometries and features of the optical bench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Rand DANNENBERG, Robert Ryan VALLANCE, Jeremy BURKE
  • Publication number: 20180290195
    Abstract: A composite structure includes a base and an auxiliary portion of dissimilar materials. The auxiliary portion is shaped by stamping. As the auxiliary portion is stamped, it interlocks with the base, and at the same time forming a desired structured feature on the auxiliary portion, such as a structured reflective surface, an alignment feature, etc. With this approach, relatively less critical structured features can be shaped on the bulk of the base with less effort to maintain a relatively larger tolerance, while the relatively more critical structured features on the auxiliary portion are more precisely shaped with further considerations to define dimensions, geometries and/or finishes at relatively smaller tolerances. The auxiliary portion may include a composite structure of two dissimilar materials associated with different properties for stamping different structured features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Shuhe LI, Robert Ryan VALLANCE, Michael K. BARNOSKI, Yongsheng ZHAO, Matthew GEAN, Tewodros MENGESHA, Rand D. DANNENBERG
  • Publication number: 20180270543
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing a platform for optimizing overlay location over programming content that is distributed over a channel by a content provider and displayed on a display at an establishment, the system comprising one or more servers that communicates with a client over a network, each server including one or more processors, memory and one or more programs stored in the memory, the one or more programs comprising instructions for: generating an overlay with information in response to a request from a user via the client that communicates with the one or more servers over the network; and positioning the overlay over programming content from the content provider that is distributed over the channel and displayed on the display at the establishment, wherein the overlay is positioned over programming content so that the overlay does not interfere with one or more tickers transmitted by the content provider over the programming content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Ryan, Mitchell Kahn
  • Publication number: 20180222549
    Abstract: A convertible running bike capable of selectively converting from a non-motorized configuration to a motorized configuration may include a front fork rotatably engaged with a front wheel, a handle bar rotatably engaged with the front fork for steering the bike, a frame and a seat connected to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Ryan Ragland, Eric Johnson, Phillip Charles Burke
  • Patent number: 10025043
    Abstract: Optical alignment of optical subassembly and optoelectronic device is achieved using an external source and an external receiver, passing optical signal through a passive waveguide in the optoelectronic device, via alignment reflective surface features provided on the optical subassembly. The optical subassembly is provided with a first alignment reflective surface directing alignment signal from the source to a grating coupler at the input of the waveguide, and a second alignment reflective surface directing to the receiver the alignment signal directed from a grating coupler at the output of the waveguide after the alignment signal has been transmitted from the input to the output through the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: NANOPRECISION PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Ryan Vallance, Gregory L. Klotz, Rand D. Dannenberg
  • Patent number: 9991683
    Abstract: A connection system includes a feature module that supplies various functionalities, a portable countertop stand having an upright section that selectively receives the feature module and an umbilical connecting the portable stand to an external appliance to deliver utilities to the portable countertop stand. A utility port selectively delivers at least one utility to the feature module when engaged with the upright section. A utility receiver removably engages the utility port by hand without the use of tools and selectively receives a predetermined set of utilities when the feature module engages the upright surface. A connection interface detects when the feature module is engaged with the upright section and the predetermined utility set required by the engaged feature module. After the feature module is engaged, the connection interface prompts the utility port to release the predetermined utility set to the feature module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul B. Allard, Robert Ryan Bradley, James W. Kendall, Steven J. Kuehl, Douglas D. Leclear, Alan S. Lucas, Andrew M. Tenbarge, John J. VonderHaar, Guolian Wu
  • Publication number: 20180149817
    Abstract: A hermetic optical subassembly includes an optical bench having a mirror directing optical signals to/from an optical waveguide, a carrier supporting a photonic device, and an intermediate optical bench having a mirror directing optical signals between the photonic device and the optical bench. The optical bench and the intermediate optical bench optically aligns the photonic device to the waveguide along a desired optical path. In one embodiment, the photonic device is an edge emitting laser (EML). The mirror of the optical bench may be passively aligned with the mirror of the intermediate optical bench. The assembled components are hermetically sealed. The body of the optical benches are preferably formed by stamping a malleable metal material to form precise geometries and surface features. In a further aspect, the hermetic optical subassembly integrates a multiplexer/demultiplexer, for directing optical signals between a single optical fiber and a plurality of photonic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Ryan VALLANCE, Jeremy BURKE, Rand DANNENBERG
  • Publication number: 20180136411
    Abstract: The present invention provides a spring bias that is particularly suited for use to preload a low profile ferrule of an optical connector. In accordance with the present invention, an axial preload is applied to a connector ferrule by a spring structure provided external of the connector. In one embodiment, spring structure is provided outside a plurality of optical fiber connectors, which provides axial preload of multiple ferrules. Each ferrule could be of the type that supports a plurality of optical fibers of a fiber cable. In one embodiment, the spring bias is effected by a planar flexure external of the connector. The ferrule is coupled to the planar flexure with its longitudinal axis through the center of the planar flexure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Shuhe LI, Gregory L. KLOTZ, Michael K. BARNOSKI, Robert Ryan VALLANCE