Patents by Inventor Stephen A. Thomas

Stephen A. Thomas 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: 20180138517
    Abstract: A gas diffusion electrode for an electro-synthetic or electro-energy cell, for example a fuel cell, including one or more gas permeable layers, a first conductive layer provided on a first side of the gas diffusion electrode, and a second layer, which may be a second conductive layer, provided on a second side of the gas diffusion electrode. The one or more gas permeable layers are positioned between the first conductive layer and the second layer, which may be a second conductive layer, and the one or more gas permeable layers provide a gas channel. The one or more gas permeable layers are gas permeable and substantially impermeable to the liquid electrolyte. The porous conductive material is gas permeable and liquid electrolyte permeable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Gerhard Frederick SWIEGERS, Stephen Thomas BEIRNE, Jun CHEN, Caiyun WANG
  • Publication number: 20180129894
    Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for detecting the curved surfaces of fruit using a flash and camera system and automated image analysis. Lighting upon fruit is controlled, with a flash or multiple flashes positioned beside the camera illuminate the fruit. The flash causes a strong specular reflectance at the center of curved fruit (such as apples, grapes, or avocados, among others). From this point of specular reflectance, pixel intensity decreases steadily toward the edges of curved fruit. The method searches the images to find points of specular reflectance surrounded by curved shaded regions belonging to the curved fruit and can detect fruit of various sizes and scales within image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Stephen Thomas Nuske, Zania Pothen
  • Publication number: 20180118086
    Abstract: A vehicle roof structure including a plurality of roof support pillars that include a plurality of receptacles on an outer surface of the pillars. The receptacles are adapted to receive a connector for securing an article to a vehicle either directly or by means of a tie down strap. A spider roof structure or conventional roof structure are disclosed that may include either X-shaped receptacle openings or a T-track slot. Articles may be directly secured to the receptacles or slots on the outer surface of the pillars or may be connected to the roof or side outer walls of the pillar by tie down straps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Dragan B. STOJKOVIC, Colleen Marie HOFFMAN, Stephen Thomas KOZAK
  • Patent number: 9954972
    Abstract: Cloud-aware industrial devices feed robust sets of data to a cloud-based data analyzer that executes as a service in a cloud platform. In addition to industrial data generated or collected by the industrial devices, the devices can provide device profile information to the cloud-based analyzer that identifies the device and relevant configuration information. The industrial devices can also provide customer data identifying an owner of the industrial devices, contact information for the owner, active service contracts, etc. The cloud-based data analyzer leverages this information to perform a variety of custom analytics on the data and generate reports or notifications catered to the particular industrial assets' optimal performance and business goals of the owner's industrial enterprise, as well as perform real-time decision making and control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan L. Asenjo, John Strohmenger, Stephen Thomas Nawalaniec, Bradford Henry Hegrat, Joseph A. Harkulich, Jessica Lin Korpela, Jenifer Rydberg Wright, Rainer Hessmer, John Dyck, Edward Alan Hill, Salvatore T. Conti
  • Patent number: 9943270
    Abstract: A monitoring device operable to provide information on data obtained from sensors operably connected between a patient and the device is provided that includes a central processing unit configured to receive incoming data signals from sensors concerning physiological parameters of the patient to compare the incoming data signals to predetermined alarm limits for the physiological parameters to determine an alarm condition and an analytics engine operably connected to the central processing unit and selectively operable to provide predictions of adverse events using the incoming data signals. The central processing unit is configured to alter the alarm limits for at least one of the physiological parameters in response to the activation of the analytics engine to reduce clinically irrelevant alarms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bruce Arnold Friedman, Stephen Thomas Treacy, David Alan Sitzman, Michael John Palmer
  • Publication number: 20180100160
    Abstract: Nonnaturally occurring host cells altered to increase their ability to transfer genetic molecules into the host cells as compared to an unaltered host cell are provided. Also provided are methods for identifying endogenous loci of a host cell which inhibit transformation efficiency and/or electroporation of genetic molecules into the cell as well as methods for producing nonnaturally occurring host cells with enhanced transformation efficiency and/or the modified ability to allow for genomic integration of an exogenous DNA sequence via electroporation. Methods for producing biochemicals and products produced with the nonnaturally occurring host cells are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Daniel Bawdon, Stephen Thomas Cartman, Jonathan Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20180096110
    Abstract: Systems and methods of medical device alarm management include receiving alarm data from a plurality of medical devices. The alarm data includes a plurality of alarms from the plurality of medical devices. A summary of the received alarms from the plurality of medical devices is visually presented. Upon receiving a selection of a medical device of the plurality of medical devices, an identification of each of the alarms from the selected medical device is visually presented. A frequency of each of the alarms from the selected medical device is visually presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Thomas Treacy, Marriaine Sien Hak, Mary Jane Stover
  • Publication number: 20180094282
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for synthesizing dienes and derivative thereof, such as isoprene, in Cupriavidus necator are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Stephen Thomas Cartman, Alexander Brett Foster, Ana Teresa dos Santos Brito Mendes, Mark Paul Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180095802
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises determining, at a plurality of instances in time, a value of at least one stress characteristic of a hardware resource; determining an accumulated stress value of the hardware resource, the accumulated stress value comprising the sum of a plurality of incremental stress values, an incremental stress value determined based on the value of the at least one stress characteristic at a particular instance in time; and generating a first stress indicator in response to a determination that the accumulated stress value of the hardware resource is greater than a first threshold stress value associated with the hardware resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Hang T. Nguyen, Gordon McFadden, Pradeepsunder Ganesh, Stephen Thomas Palermo, Travis J. White, Ashok Raj, Vivek Garg, Dhruv Singh
  • Patent number: 9884654
    Abstract: A roof structure includes a roof support longitudinally extending over a compartment area at a lateral centerline of a vehicle. A plurality of pillars support the roof support and include a transverse leg extending laterally outward from the roof support to a curved section, and a vertical leg extending downward from the curved section to a vehicle beltline. Windows are assembled to a openings that are defined by two pillars, the roof support and the vehicle beltline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, Stephen Thomas Kozak, Jon A. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20180029405
    Abstract: A writing implement with a high voltage circuit and an evacuated noble glass globe attached that responds to human touch is disclosed. The apparatus utilizes a mini high voltage circuit and mini globe to produce the plasma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Stephen Thomas Feys
  • Publication number: 20180033317
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, from an aerial vehicle, information related to a plurality of radio-frequency signals detected by the aerial vehicle, and identifying access points that transmitted at least one of the plurality of radio-frequency signals based on at least the information. The method also includes determining a first geographical location of the aerial vehicle based on at least the information and locations associated with the access points and identifying a second geographical location, the second geographical location associated with at least one of an obstacle or a restricted zone. The method also includes controlling a navigation of the aerial vehicle based on at least the first geographical location and the second geographical location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Erie Lai Har Lau, Sangar Dowlatkhah, Brian Greaves, Stephen Thomas Hardin, Robert Osterwise
  • Publication number: 20180023102
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for regulating biosynthesis of at least one of pimelic acid, 7-aminoheptanoic acid, 7-hydroxyheptanoic acid, heptamethylenediamine, 7-aminohelptanol and 1,7-heptanediol (C7 building blocks) using a pathway having a pimeloyl-ACP intermediate, the method including the step of downregulating the activity of BioF. Also disclosed are recombinant hosts by fermentation in which the above methods are performed. Further disclosed are recombinant hosts for producing pimeloyl-ACP, the recombinant host including a deletion of a bioF gene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander Brett FOSTER, Stephen Thomas CARTMAN, Jonathan KENNEDY
  • Publication number: 20180023103
    Abstract: This document describes biochemical pathways for producing a difunctional product having an odd number of carbon atoms in vitro or in a recombinant host, or salts or derivatives thereof, by forming two terminal functional groups selected from carboxyl, amine, formyl, and hydroxyl groups in an aliphatic carbon chain backbone having an odd number of carbon atoms synthesized from (i) acetyl-CoA and propanedioyl-CoA via one or more cycles of methyl ester shielded carbon chain elongation or (ii) propanedioyl-[acp] via one or more cycles of methyl ester shielded carbon chain elongation. The biochemical pathways and metabolic engineering and cultivation strategies described herein rely on enzymes or homologs accepting methyl ester shielded aliphatic carbon chain backbones and maintaining the methyl ester shield for at least one further enzymatic step following one or more cycles of methyl ester shielded carbon chain elongation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander Brett FOSTER, Stephen Thomas CARTMAN, Jonathan KENNEDY, William Joseph SIMMONS
  • Patent number: 9871255
    Abstract: A gas diffusion electrode for an electro-synthetic or electro-energy cell, for example a fuel cell, including one or more gas permeable layers, a first conductive layer provided on a first side of the gas diffusion electrode, and a second layer, which may be a second conductive layer, provided on a second side of the gas diffusion electrode. The one or more gas permeable layers are positioned between the first conductive layer and the second layer, which may be a second conductive layer, and the one or more gas permeable layers provide a gas channel. The one or more gas permeable layers are gas permeable and substantially impermeable to the liquid electrolyte. The porous conductive material is gas permeable and liquid electrolyte permeable. The gas diffusion electrode can be one of a plurality of alternating anode/cathode sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: AquaHydrex Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gerhard Frederick Swiegers, Stephen Thomas Beirne, Jun Chen, Caiyun Wang
  • Patent number: 9852265
    Abstract: Systems and methods of medical device alarm management include receiving alarm data from a plurality of medical devices. The alarm data includes a plurality of alarms from the plurality of medical devices. A summary of the received alarms from the plurality of medical devices is visually presented. Upon receiving a selection of a medical device of the plurality of medical devices, an identification of each of the alarms from the selected medical device is visually presented. A frequency of each of the alarms from the selected medical device is visually presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Thomas Treacy, Marriaine Sien Hak, Mary Jane Stover
  • Patent number: 9846038
    Abstract: Described herein are implementations of various technologies for an apparatus and method for providing navigation data. In one implementation, a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of computer-executable instructions. When the plurality of computer-executable instructions are executed by a computer, the plurality of executable instructions causes the computer to receive a user selection of a plurality of points of navigation data and receive a user selection of a geographical region. The computer can select at least a portion of the plurality of the points of the navigation data that are in the geographical region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Stephen Thomas, Tracy Brown, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9840939
    Abstract: In one or more of the inventive aspects, when a gas turbine system of a power plant operates at part load, a moisture content of fuel gas provided to the gas turbine system may be controlled so as to minimize combustion dynamics and/or to comply with emission requirements. The fuel gas moisture content may be controlled by modulating a flow of heated water to a fuel moisturizer. By using heated water from a heat recovery steam generator to moisturize the fuel gas, heat energy from the water may be transferred to the fuel gas, and the overall mass flow may be enhanced to thereby increase overall combined cycle efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Thomas, Stephen Kent Fulcher
  • Patent number: 9812920
    Abstract: An electric machine comprises a motor housing and an electronics enclosure coupled to the motor housing. The electronics enclosure defines an air passage between the electronics enclosure and the motor housing. The electronics enclosure further defines at least one air intake connected to said air passage. The electric machine also includes a fan configured to draw air through the at least one air intake and into the air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: REGAL BELOIT AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Marc McKinzie, Stephen Thomas English, Justin Michael Magyar, Zachary Alexander Borts
  • Patent number: 9784322
    Abstract: A driven disc assembly is provided. The backing plates have right angle depression sections that surround mounting holes of a clutch disc. The thickness of the backing plates are enlarged from their normal thickness causing a top surface of the backing plates to axially clear heads of conventional rivets. The thickness of the friction buttons on the backing plates can then be reduced to their minimal effective use thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Bernard Allmandinger, Brian William Franke, Mark Charles Barnholt, Stephen Thomas Hamm