Patents by Inventor Robert Summers

Robert Summers 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: 11631795
    Abstract: Composite nanoparticle compositions and associated nanoparticle assemblies are described herein which, in some embodiments, exhibit enhancements to one or more thermoelectric properties including increases in electrical conductivity and/or Seebeck coefficient and/or decreases in thermal conductivity. In one aspect, a composite nanoparticle composition comprises a semiconductor nanoparticle including a front face and a back face and sidewalls extending between the front and back faces. Metallic nanoparticles are bonded to at least one of the sidewalls establishing a metal-semiconductor junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: David L. Carroll, Chaochao Dun, Corey Hewitt, Robert Summers
  • Patent number: 10840426
    Abstract: In one aspect, thermoelectric apparatus and articles and various applications of thermoelectric apparatus and articles are described herein. In some embodiments, a thermoelectric apparatus described herein comprises at least one p-type layer coupled to at least one n-type layer to provide a pn junction, and an insulating layer at least partially disposed between the p-type layer and the n-type layer, the p-type layer comprising carbon nanoparticles and the n-type layer comprising n-doped carbon nanoparticles. In some embodiments, the nanoparticles of the p-type layer and/or the nanoparticles of the n-type layer are disposed in a polymeric matrix comprising electrically poled polymer. In some embodiments, a thermoelectric article comprises a thermally insulating support and thermoelectric modules formed of a structure passing around or through the thermally insulating support to provide faces of the thermoelectric modules on opposing sides of the thermally insulating support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: David L. Carroll, Robert Summers
  • Patent number: 10540878
    Abstract: A method for disseminating emergency notification content from an emergency originating source. The method comprising: delivering the emergency notification content from the emergency originating source to at least one transmitting party; selecting a subset of users from among a set of users for dissemination of the emergency notification content based on the subject matter of the emergency notification content; and delivering the emergency notification content from the at least one transmitting party to a device corresponding to each user from the selected subset of users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Charles Eric Hunter, Bernard L. Ballou, John Hebrank, James Fallon, Robert Summer
  • Publication number: 20190224603
    Abstract: An air filter has a mechanism for preventing blow-by around a perimeter of the filter. The air filter has two rigid frames surrounding a filter and at least one of the rigid frames comprises a brush seal track with a brush seal therein. The air filter includes a latching mechanism to engage the rigid frames to each other and a handle for installation and removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: Environmental Management Confederation, Inc.
    Inventors: Forwood C. Wiser, III, Aditya A. Patel, George Robert Summers
  • Publication number: 20190035250
    Abstract: A method for disseminating emergency notification content from an emergency originating source. The method comprising: delivering the emergency notification content from the emergency originating source to at least one transmitting party; selecting a subset of users from among a set of users for dissemination of the emergency notification content based on the subject matter of the emergency notification content; and delivering the emergency notification content from the at least one transmitting party to a device corresponding to each user from the selected subset of users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Charles Eric Hunter, Bernard L. Ballou, John Hebrank, James Fallon, Robert Summer
  • Patent number: 10121993
    Abstract: An electroluminescent device described herein, in one aspect, comprises a first electrode and second electrode and a light emitting layer positioned between the first and second electrodes. A current injection gate is positioned between the first electrode and the light emitting layer or the second electrode and the light emitting layer. In some embodiments, the current injection gate comprises a semiconductor layer of electronic structure restricting injected current flow from the first or second electrode through the semiconductor layer as a function of alternating current voltage frequency applied to the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Wake Forest University
    Inventors: David Carroll, Robert Summers, Yonghua Chen
  • Patent number: 10062260
    Abstract: A method for disseminating emergency notification content from an emergency originating source. The method comprising: delivering the emergency notification content from the emergency originating source to at least one transmitting party; selecting a subset of users from among a set of users for dissemination of the emergency notification content based on the subject matter of the emergency notification content; and delivering the emergency notification content from the at least one transmitting party to a device corresponding to each user from the selected subset of users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Charles Eric Hunter, Bernard L. Ballou, John Hebrank, James Fallon, Robert Summer
  • Patent number: 10058809
    Abstract: An air filter has a mechanism for preventing blow-by around a perimeter of the filter. The air filter has two rigid frames surrounding a filter and at least one of the rigid frames comprises a brush seal track with a brush seal therein. The brush seal may be contained within a hinge element attached to the two rigid frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Environmental Management Confederation, Inc.
    Inventors: Forwood C. Wiser, III, Aditya Patel, George Robert Summers
  • Publication number: 20180068547
    Abstract: A method for disseminating emergency notification content from an emergency originating source. The method comprising: delivering the emergency notification content from the emergency originating source to at least one transmitting party; selecting a subset of users from among a set of users for dissemination of the emergency notification content based on the subject matter of the emergency notification content; and delivering the emergency notification content from the at least one transmitting party to a device corresponding to each user from the selected subset of users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Charles Eric Hunter, Bernard L. Ballou, John Hebrank, James Fallon, Robert Summer
  • Patent number: 9905810
    Abstract: An electroluminescent device described herein, in one aspect, comprises a first electrode and second electrode and a light emitting layer positioned between the first and second electrodes. A current injection gate is positioned between the first electrode and the light emitting layer or the second electrode and the light emitting layer. In some embodiments, the current injection gate comprises a semiconductor layer of electronic structure restricting injected current flow from the first or second electrode through the semiconductor layer as a function of alternating current voltage frequency applied to the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Wake Forest University
    Inventors: David Carroll, Robert Summers, Yonghua Chen
  • Patent number: 9847008
    Abstract: A method for disseminating emergency notification content from an emergency originating source. The method comprising: delivering the emergency notification content from the emergency originating source to at least one transmitting party; selecting a subset of users from among a set of users for dissemination of the emergency notification content based on the subject matter of the emergency notification content; and delivering the emergency notification content from the at least one transmitting party to a device corresponding to each user from the selected subset of users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Eric Hunter, Bernard L. Ballou, John Hebrank, James Fallon, Robert Summer
  • Publication number: 20170162023
    Abstract: A method for disseminating emergency notification content from an emergency originating source. The method comprising: delivering the emergency notification content from the emergency originating source to at least one transmitting party; selecting a subset of users from among a set of users for dissemination of the emergency notification content based on the subject matter of the emergency notification content; and delivering the emergency notification content from the at least one transmitting party to a device corresponding to each user from the selected subset of users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Eric Hunter, Bernard L. Ballou, John Hebrank, James Fallon, Robert Summer
  • Patent number: 9615189
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus, system, and method for generating a head related audio transfer function in real time. Specifically, the present invention utilizes unique structural components including a tragus structure and an antihelix structure in connection with a microphone in order to communicate the location of a sound in three dimensional space to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Bongiovi Acoustics LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Copt, Joseph Butera, III, Robert Summers, III
  • Publication number: 20160044436
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus, system, and method for generating a head related audio transfer function in real time. Specifically, the present invention utilizes unique structural components including a tragus structure and an antihelix structure in connection with a microphone in order to communicate the location of a sound in three dimensional space to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Ryan Copt, Joseph Butera, III, Robert Summers, III
  • Publication number: 20140096494
    Abstract: An air filter has a mechanism for preventing blow-by around a perimeter of the filter. The air filter has two rigid frames surrounding a filter and at least one of the rigid frames comprises a brush seal track with a brush seal therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Environmental Management Confederation, Inc.
    Inventors: Forwood C. Wiser, III, Aditya Patel, George Robert Summers
  • Patent number: 7613794
    Abstract: Technology is disclosed for identifying dynamic groups that correspond to a user of a system. A system partitions a set of dynamic groups into multiple test sets of dynamic groups. The system selects a test set and determines whether the user corresponds to the test set. In one implementation, the system combines the filters for the dynamic groups in each test set into a single test set filter. The test set filter is satisfied if the filter of any dynamic group in the test set is satisfied. This allows the system to perform a single comparison between the resulting test set filter and the user's profile to determine whether the user is a member of any dynamic group in the test set. If the user is not a member of any dynamic group in the test set, the system eliminates all of the test set's dynamic groups from consideration, based on the single comparison. Otherwise, the dynamic groups in the test set remain in a list of groups that may include the user. This process is repeated for each test set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn P. Delaney, Robert Summers
  • Publication number: 20070275690
    Abstract: A method for disseminating emergency notification content from an emergency originating source. The method comprising: delivering the emergency notification content from the emergency originating source to at least one transmitting party; selecting a subset of users from among a set of users for dissemination of the emergency notification content based on the subject matter of the emergency notification content; and delivering the emergency notification content from the at least one transmitting party to a device corresponding to each user from the selected subset of users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Ochoa Optics LLC
    Inventors: Charles Hunter, Bernard Ballou, John Hebrank, James Fallon, Robert Summer, Laurie McNeil
  • Publication number: 20070168530
    Abstract: Technology is disclosed for identifying dynamic groups that correspond to a user of a system. A system partitions a set of dynamic groups into multiple test sets of dynamic groups. The system selects a test set and determines whether the user corresponds to the test set. In one implementation, the system combines the filters for the dynamic groups in each test set into a single test set filter. The test set filter is satisfied if the filter of any dynamic group in the test set is satisfied. This allows the system to perform a single comparison between the resulting test set filter and the user's profile to determine whether the user is a member of any dynamic group in the test set. If the user is not a member of any dynamic group in the test set, the system eliminates all of the test set's dynamic groups from consideration, based on the single comparison. Otherwise, the dynamic groups in the test set remain in a list of groups that may include the user. This process is repeated for each test set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn Delaney, Robert Summers
  • Publication number: 20070129067
    Abstract: A system, and an associated network ring-tone communication method, enabling creation and use of a personalized, user-defined communication ring-tone. The invention method includes (a) selectively placing, in an electronic ring-tone depot, digital snippet content suitable for extraction and use as at least a part of a digital communication ring-tone, (b) enabling controlled and sanctioned user access to that depot for the purpose of permitting selective user-extraction therefrom of at least one depot-held content snippet, and (c) further enabling user-employment of such an extracted snippet as at least a part of (1) a user-specific communication identifier, and/or (2) an ultimate, user-identifying action-stimulator, in relation to a user-to-another network communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Summer, Talmon Marco, Jon Dickinson
  • Patent number: 7206851
    Abstract: Technology is disclosed for identifying dynamic groups that correspond to a user of a system. A system partitions a set of dynamic groups into multiple test sets of dynamic groups. The system selects a test set and determines whether the user corresponds to the test set. In one implementation, the system combines the filters for the dynamic groups in each test set into a single test set filter. The test set filter is satisfied if the filter of any dynamic group in the test set is satisfied. This allows the system to perform a single comparison between the resulting test set filter and the user's profile to determine whether the user is a member of any dynamic group in the test set. If the user is not a member of any dynamic group in the test set, the system eliminates all of the test set's dynamic groups from consideration, based on the single comparison. Otherwise, the dynamic groups in the test set remain in a list of groups that may include the user. This process is repeated for each test set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn P. Delaney, Robert Summers