Patents by Inventor Stephen A. Noble
Stephen A. Noble 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: 7739941Abstract: A hydraulic drive system comprises a hydraulic actuator comprising a piston reciprocable between two cylinder heads for actuating a machine. A flow switching device reverses the direction of hydraulic fluid flow to and from chambers on opposite sides of the piston. The piston stops at the end of each piston stroke when a shuttle valve associated with the piston opens to allow hydraulic fluid to flow between the chambers cancelling the differential pressure that acts on the piston to cause reciprocal movement. A controller is programmed to determine when the piston reaches the end of each stroke based upon at least one of hydraulic pump speed, hydraulic fluid pressure, or elapsed time, with each of these measured during each stroke. The controller then sends an electronic signal to command the flow switching device to reverse the direction of hydraulic fluid flow.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2007Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Westport Power Inc.Inventors: Stephen Noble, Greg Harper, Thomas Brook
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Publication number: 20090077957Abstract: A hydraulic drive system comprises a hydraulic actuator comprising a piston reciprocable between two cylinder heads for actuating a machine. A flow switching device reverses the direction of hydraulic fluid flow to and from chambers on opposite sides of the piston. The piston stops at the end of each piston stroke when a shuttle valve associated with the piston opens to allow hydraulic fluid to flow between the chambers cancelling the differential pressure that acts on the piston to cause reciprocal movement. A controller is programmed to determine when the piston reaches the end of each stroke based upon at least one of hydraulic pump speed, hydraulic fluid pressure, or elapsed time, with each of these measured during each stroke. The controller then sends an electronic signal to command the flow switching device to reverse the direction of hydraulic fluid flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2007Publication date: March 26, 2009Inventors: Stephen Noble, Greg Harper, Thomas Brook
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Publication number: 20070107089Abstract: A novel hybrid maize variety designated X5F802 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X5F802 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X5F802 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize hybrid variety X5F802, the hybrid seed, the hybrid plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of hybrid maize variety X5F802. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from hybrid maize variety X5F802 and to the maize varieties derived by the use of those methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2007Publication date: May 10, 2007Inventors: Stephen Noble, Dennis Dolan
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Patent number: 7036322Abstract: A storage tank for cryogenic liquids incorporates an ullage vessel that provides for an ullage space. The ullage vessel is in communication through an ullage line to a fill line that provides cryogen to a cryogen space. The junction where the ullage line and fill line meet is of a certain cross-sectional area. Downstream of the junction, the fill line is of a greater cross-sectional area than at the junction. This creates a pressure reduction at the junction during filling, which causes a net flow of material from the ullage space over the course of filling. Once the tank is liquid full, causing cryogen to be redirected down the ullage line, the smaller cross-sectional area of the ullage line compared to the fill line causes a reduction in flow of cryogen which is detected by the fill pump causing filling to stop.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2003Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Westport Research Inc.Inventors: Stephen Noble, Gregory C. Harper
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Patent number: 7035534Abstract: A lightmeter-remote is usable in a system with a remotely settable camera and a plurality of remotely settable photolamps. The lightmeter-remote has a body, and a lightmeter, exposure controller, and transmitter disposed in the body. The exposure controller can be selectively actuated to set aperture, exposure time, and gain parameters of the camera and to set output parameters of each of the photolamps. The transmitter operatively and wirelessly connects the camera and photolamps with the exposure controller. The lightmeter-remote can have a plurality of lighting models, each providing user instructions defining a lighting setup and requiring one or more light measurements.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2004Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Willy C. Shih, Stephen A. Noble, Kenneth A. Parulski
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Publication number: 20050281549Abstract: A lightmeter-remote is usable in a system with a remotely settable camera and a plurality of remotely settable photolamps. The lightmeter-remote has a body, and a lightmeter, exposure controller, and transmitter disposed in the body. The exposure controller can be selectively actuated to set aperture, exposure time, and gain parameters of the camera and to set output parameters of each of the photolamps. The transmitter operatively and wirelessly connects the camera and photolamps with the exposure controller. The lightmeter-remote can have a plurality of lighting models, each providing user instructions defining a lighting setup and requiring one or more light measurements.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2004Publication date: December 22, 2005Inventors: Willy Shih, Stephen Noble, Kenneth Parulski
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Publication number: 20050273889Abstract: A novel inbred maize line designated PH8TN and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing inbred maize line PH8TN with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH8TN through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the inbred line PH8TN or an introgressed trait conversion of PH8TN with another maize line. Inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PH8TN, methods for producing other inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PH8TN and the inbred maize lines and their parts derived by the use of those methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2005Publication date: December 8, 2005Inventor: Stephen Noble
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Publication number: 20050147513Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for pressurizing a fluid and delivering a gas comprising a pump, an accumulator and a heater such that the pump pressurizes a quantity fluid received from a fluid store and delivers that pressurized fluid to an accumulator. The accumulator then delivers a quantity of the pressurized fluid to a heater that, in turn, warms the fluid to a gas within a specified temperature and pressure range to be delivered to the end user as required. The invention further relates to a method of delivering a gas at a desired pressure and temperature wherein a quantity of fluid is received, pressurized and stored as a fluid in an accumulator storage vessel at a desired pressure. The fluid is then delivered from the accumulator to a heater where it is warmed and delivered to the end user as a gas at specified temperature and pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2002Publication date: July 7, 2005Inventors: Stephen Noble, Thomas Brook, Daniel Brennan, Valerie LeBlanc
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Publication number: 20050086949Abstract: The present invention is a cryogenic tank assembly that includes a vessel with a cryogen space capable of storing a cryogenic fluid at an initial pressure. The assembly further includes a pump that has an intake opening so that it can receive a quantity of the cryogenic fluid, pressurize it to a pressure above its storage pressure and deliver it to an accumulator within the cryogen space. The accumulator includes a storage volume to hold the pressurized fluid so that it is available depending on the demands of the end user.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2002Publication date: April 28, 2005Inventors: Stephen Noble, Thomas Brook, Lance Follett, Gregory Harper
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Publication number: 20050028536Abstract: The storage tank for cryogenic liquids incorporates an ullage vessel that provides for an ullage space. The ullage vessel is in communication through an ullage line to a fill line that provides cryogen to a cryogen space. The junction where the ullage line and fill line meet is of a certain cross-sectional area. Downstream of the junction within the fill line, measured in reference to the direction of cryogen flow during a coruse of filling the cryogen space, is of a greater cross-sectional area than is the case at the junction. This creates a pressure reduction at the junction during a course of filling that causes a net flow of material from the ullage space over the course of filling. Once the cryogen tank is liquid full causing cryogen to be redirected down the ullage line, the smaller cross-sectional area of the ullage line compared to the fill line causes a reduction in flow of cryogen which is detected by the fill pump causing filling to stop providing the ullage space.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2003Publication date: February 10, 2005Inventors: Stephen Noble, Gregory Harper
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Patent number: 6072605Abstract: A method which substantially maintains the exposure latitude contained in one or more digital images captured in linear form and which uses an output device with a predetermined aim curve for producing visual images from such digital image includes the steps of selecting a particular reference portion of the scene corresponding to the digital image and adjusting the code value of such reference portion to a code value corresponding to a desired density and which corresponds to a point on the aim curve and changing the remaining code values of the digital image based upon the selected code value of the point on the aim curve so that a new digital image in linear form is produced; transforming the new digital image to form a third digital image which has code values based on the aim curve; and producing visual images by the output device in response to the transformed third digital image.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1997Date of Patent: June 6, 2000Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Paul B. Gilman, Harry D. Franchino, Stephen A. Noble, John F. Hamilton
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Patent number: 5162829Abstract: A simultaneous image capture system including a film camera and an electronic image capture system includes a shutter release cable adapter with means for generating an output signal in response to initiation of a picture taking event. If the electronic image capture system is not ready to accept a new image, an imaging system controller responds to the adapter output signal to generate a warning indication to alert the photographer not to continue with the picture-taking event. The cable adapter is preferably a two position electromechanical device having an input responsive to the imaging system controller. When the electronic image capture system is not prepared to accept a new image, the controller sends a system busy signal to the adapter to cause the adapter to assume a blocking setting that physically blocks the cable release from initiating a picture taking event.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1991Date of Patent: November 10, 1992Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: William P. Lynch, Stephen A. Noble
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Patent number: 5008697Abstract: A system for simultaneous recording of a flash image on photographic film and video cameras in which flash operation during the process of image transfer out of an image sensor in the video camera is avoided by means of a simple synchronizing circuit. The synchronizing circuit operates in response to a flash request signal from the film camera to interrupt the transfer of image information out of the image sensor in the video camera for at least the duration of the flash illumination on the subject. Following conclusion of the flash illumination, the synchronizing circuit resets the image sensor processing circuits to restart transfer of the image information out of the image sensor at the beginning of an image field. The restart can coincide with conclusion of the flash illumination or can be delayed to coincide with a desired video frame in the composite video signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 1990Date of Patent: April 16, 1991Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Stephen A. Noble
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Patent number: 5006871Abstract: A system for simultaneous recording of a flash image on photographic film and video cameras in which flash operation during transfer of image out of the image sensor in the video camera is avoided by means of a simple synchronizing circuit. The synchronizing circuit generates a flash valid signal which allows the flash to be initiated only during a limited portion of the video field signal ending sufficiently far in advance of the next vertical blanking interval to assure that any flash illumination will be completed before the beginning of the next vertical blanking interval in which the video image transfer process occurs.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1990Date of Patent: April 9, 1991Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Stephen A. Noble
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Patent number: 4805037Abstract: An image recording system is provided including a conventional photographic film camera, an electronic video camera, and an electronic flash. Synchronizing apparatus is provided such that, responsive to the actuation of the film camera shutter by a human operator, the flash is substantially immediately triggered to illuminate a subject. Responsive to the single flash illumination, the synchronizing apparatus synchronizes the operation of the video camera to the film camera such that the film camera captures a photographic image of the subject, and the electronic video camera captures a full frame image of a substantially identical view of the subject as two consecutive video fields. The video camera is further synchronized such that the flash illumination is substantially entirely and equally distributed between the two fields of video information. The video camera normally operates in a movie format according to NTSC standards.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1987Date of Patent: February 14, 1989Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Stephen A. Noble, Thomas C. Nutting
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Patent number: 4772941Abstract: A video display system for displaying still frame images which emulate photographic images by being bordered with a mask of selected dimensions; the mask being selected from several masks so as to display the image with a desired aspect ratio. The video image is stored in a frame store. A memory having two arrays which map the video screen in x and y coordinates, respectively, provides storage for a plurality of sets of x and y coordinate data each of which sets define a different one of the masks. The memory may be addressed by a computer and supplied with data to change any one or more of the available masks. The memory is scanned while the frame store is read out in synchronism with the scanning of the memory. Registers are provided for storing digitized video information representing a border of a selected color. The memory is read out to provide mask signals which control the multiplexing of data from the mask registers or the frame store to a digital output bus.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1987Date of Patent: September 20, 1988Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Stephen A. Noble