Patents by Inventor Stephen Francis

Stephen Francis 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: 20240131271
    Abstract: A drive train for a wind-up injection device is described. The drive train includes a torsional energy storage adapted to be loaded or unloaded by a rotatable element, a rotatable user handle, a rotationally driveable expelling mechanism adapted to expel the liquid drug, and a clutch element coupled with the torsional energy storage via the rotatable element and including a ratchet for maintaining the rotatable element at one of a number of discrete angular positions against the torque of the torsional energy storage. The clutch element is adapted to transmit the torque from the user handle to the torsional energy storage, or alternatively from the torsional energy storage to the expelling mechanism. The ratchet is switchable from one position to an adjacent position by a torque transmitted from the user handle to the torsional energy storage. The drive train is adapted to dampen torque peaks visco-elastically and/or visco-frictionally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Jugl, Stefan Blancke, Axel Teucher, Ralph Donald Quentin Collings, James Robert Coop, James Anthony West, Stephen Francis Gilmore, Daniel David Higgins, Mark Digby Teucher, Anthony Paul Morris, Matthew Meredith Jones, William Geoffrey Arthur Marsh, Samuel Keir Steel
  • Publication number: 20240122777
    Abstract: Systems are provided for an imaging system isolation enclosure for use with a medical imaging system includes a pathogen impermeable enclosure for use with one or more of radiation imaging systems and magnetic resonance imaging systems, the pathogen impermeable enclosure is configured to provide a barrier between the imaging system and at least one of a patient user and an imaging room, and an air filtration system including an inlet to supply a cooling air flow to an interior of the imaging system isolation enclosure and an outlet to output exhaust air from an interior of the imaging system isolation enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Paul Francis FitzGerald, Uwe Wiedmann, Ross Christopher Stalter, Stephen Lorenco Araujo, Michael James Rishel, Chad Allan Smith
  • Patent number: 11961011
    Abstract: Entity aggregation for security computing resources involves an aggregation covenant that conditionally conveys rights to aggregation members. The ruling covenant is defined for protecting one or more computing resources by overriding system-level and/or entity-specific rights (e.g., super-users). An aggregation configuration module defines an aggregation-specific instance of an entity (user/device, process, or data) that receives the conveyed rights. The entity can use the rights conveyed only through its corresponding instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventors: Dennis Paul Ackerman, Stephen Francis Taylor
  • Publication number: 20240110104
    Abstract: Processes are described for the production of a pitch for use in the manufacture of carbon composite materials. The process comprises the steps of providing a purified coal product (PCP), wherein the PCP is in particulate form, and wherein at least about 90% by volume (% v) of the particles are no greater than about 25 ?m in diameter; wherein the PCP has an ash content of less than about 10% m; and combining the PCP with a feedstock for pitch to create a combined blended mixture suitable for thermal reaction followed by distillation to create a resultant pitch. The combined blended mixture comprises at least around 0.1% m and at most around 90% m PCP. Composite materials that find utility as carbon electrodes, particularly electrolytic baked carbon anodes, can be made from combining the pitch and PCP with a filler material, such as a pet coke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Arq IP Limited
    Inventors: John Francis Unsworth, Jeramie Adams, Seth Taylor Bassham, Stephen Carl Paspek, Khalid Baig
  • Patent number: 11946017
    Abstract: The current invention relates to a method of separating polyunsaturated fatty acids containing lipids from a lipids containing biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: Evonik Operations GmbH, DSM IP Assets B.V.
    Inventors: Manfred Bärz, Marc Beiser, Georg Borchers, Stephen Robert Cherinko, Mathias Dernedde, Michael Diehl, Xiao Daniel Dong, Jürgen Haberland, Michael Benjamin Johnson, Robert Cody Kertis, Jochen Lebert, Neil Francis Leininger, Kirt Lyvell Matthews, Sr., Holger Pfeifer, Christian Rabe, Shannon Elizabeth Ethier Resop, Ginger Marie Shank, Vinod Tarwade, David Allen Tinsley, Daniel Verkoeijen
  • Publication number: 20240094316
    Abstract: A hyperpolarization micro-magnetic resonance imager for three-dimensional imaging of a biological composition with cellular resolution includes a hyperpolarizer source, hyperpolarizer transmission line, an NMR console, a nuclear magnetic resonance tuned circuit, an imaging cell, a magnet, a gradient-shim coil, a Hall probe and thermometer, and a printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Stephen E. Russek, Karl Francis Stupic
  • Patent number: 11918794
    Abstract: A button for a drug delivery device with a reduced operating loudness includes a plate-like button body forming a touch surface, wherein the plate-like button body is coupled by an axial supporting member to a noise-generating interface of the drug delivery device and movable into a longitudinal direction of the drug delivery device, wherein the plate-like button body includes a material composite with at least one first component consisting of a first material and at least one second component consisting of a second material different from the first material, wherein the at least one first component and the at least one second component are coupled via at least one coupling plane that is at least sectionwise slanted or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Further, the disclosure describes a button assembly for a drug delivery device which is shock resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Sanofi
    Inventors: Ralph Donald Quentin Collings, James Robert Coop, James Anthony West, Stephen Francis Gilmore, Daniel David Higgins, Mark Digby Teucher, Matthew Meredith Jones, Anthony Paul Morris, Sophie Sladen, William Geoffrey Arthur Marsh, Denny Lustosa Horn, Stefan Blancke, Michael Jugl
  • Patent number: 11924820
    Abstract: A communication system includes multiple nodes of a time-sensitive network and a scheduler device. At least one of the nodes is configured to obtain a first signal that is represented in a frequency domain by multiple frequency components. The scheduler device generates a schedule for transmission of signals including the first signal within the time-sensitive network. The schedule defines multiple slots assigned to different discrete frequency sub-bands within a frequency band. The slots have designated transmission intervals. The nodes are configured to transmit the first signal through the time-sensitive network to a listening device such that the first signal is received at the listening device within a designated time window according to the schedule. At least some of the frequency components of the first signal are transmitted through the time-sensitive network within different slots of the schedule based on the frequency sub-bands assigned to the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Francis Bush, Guillaume Mantelet
  • Patent number: 11879691
    Abstract: A counter-flow heat exchanger including a core region and a plenum region. The core region including a first set of heat exchanging passageways and a second set of heat exchanging passageways disposed at least partially therein. A plenum region is disposed adjacent opposed distal ends of the core region. Each of the plenum regions including a fluid inlet plenum, a fluid outlet plenum and a tube plate disposed therebetween. The first set of heat exchanging passageways is truncated and defines a first tube-side fluid flow path in a first direction. The second set of heat exchanging passageways defines a second tube-side fluid flow path in a second opposing direction. Each of the heat exchanging passageways extending from a fluid inlet plenum to a fluid outlet plenum. The tube plates and the core region include one of a cast metal formed thereabout each of the heat exchanging passageways or a braze bond formed between each of the heat exchanging passageways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: William Dwight Gerstler, Douglas Carl Hofer, Adegboyega Masud Makinde, Stephen Francis Rutkowski, Chiranjeev S. Kalra
  • Patent number: 11872381
    Abstract: A drive train for a wind-up injection device is described. The drive train includes a torsional energy storage adapted to be loaded or unloaded by a rotatable element, a rotatable user handle, a rotationally driveable expelling mechanism adapted to expel the liquid drug, and a clutch element coupled with the torsional energy storage via the rotatable element and including a ratchet for maintaining the rotatable element at one of a number of discrete angular positions against the torque of the torsional energy storage. The clutch element is adapted to transmit the torque from the user handle to the torsional energy storage, or alternatively from the torsional energy storage to the expelling mechanism. The ratchet is switchable from one position to an adjacent position by a torque transmitted from the user handle to the torsional energy storage. The drive train is adapted to dampen torque peaks visco-elastically and/or visco-frictionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Sanofi
    Inventors: Michael Jugl, Stefan Blancke, Axel Teucher, Ralph Donald Quentin Collings, James Robert Coop, James Anthony West, Stephen Francis Gilmore, Daniel David Higgins, Mark Digby Teucher, Anthony Paul Morris, Matthew Meredith Jones, William Geoffrey Arthur Marsh, Samuel Keir Steel
  • Publication number: 20240015106
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, system and methods are provided, comprising receiving, from a network configuration module, configuration data at a network driver of a communication network; configuring the network driver based on the received configuration data; receiving one or more data packets at the network driver from an application; determining that one or more segregation features are present in the data packet based on the received configuration data; transmitting the one or more data packets based on the one or more segregation features; and controlling one or more operations of an installed product based on the transmitted one or more data packets. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Tony FRANGIEH, Andrew William BERNER, Stephen Francis BUSH, Vincent STAUDINGER
  • Patent number: 11859724
    Abstract: A check valve (1) which comprises an obturator (2) and a biasing mechanism, the biasing mechanism arranged to urge the obturator towards a closed condition, and the check valve further comprising an actuator assembly (5, 7a, 7b) which is arranged to be selectively activated to cause the obturator to be in an open condition, and the check valve comprising a controller which has a control signal input to cause the controller to selectively activate the actuator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: LONTRA LIMITED
    Inventor: Stephen Francis Lindsey
  • Patent number: 11863300
    Abstract: A system and method determine a clock drift and a clock variance of each node in plural nodes of a time-sensitive Ethernet network. An accumulated clock offset along a time-sensitive network path in the time-sensitive network is determined based on the clock drifts and the clock variances. A guard band having a dynamic size is determined based on the accumulated clock offset. The times at which Ethernet frames are communicated through the nodes are restricted by communicating the guard band with the dynamic size to one or more of the nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen Francis Bush, Guillaume Mantelet
  • Patent number: 11859495
    Abstract: A rotary piston and cylinder device (1) comprising: a rotor (2), comprising a rotor surface (2a), a piston (5) which extends from the rotor surface, a stator (4), a rotatable shutter (3), the rotor surface and the stator together defining an annular chamber, and the piston arranged to rotate, through the annular chamber, wherein when the chamber is viewed in axial cross-section, substantially a single surface of the stator in part defines the chamber (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: LONTRA LIMITED
    Inventor: Stephen Francis Lindsey
  • Publication number: 20230393335
    Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit includes a waveguide that receive photons from an optical fiber and directs the photons in a loop formed by the waveguide. The circuit also includes one or more of a variable optical attenuator and configured to adjust a number of the photons between a key level and one or more decoy levels, an intensity modulator coupled with the waveguide and configured to adjust a number of the photons between a key level and a decoy level, and a phase shifter coupled with the waveguide and configured to change a phase of the photons. The waveguide is configured to direct one or more of the photons back out of the optical fiber after the one or more of the photons has passed through the loop formed by the waveguide with a polarization state of the one or more of the photons rotated by 90°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: William Albert Challener, Stephen Francis Bush
  • Publication number: 20230388193
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a time-sensitive network schedule for a desired TSN includes defining a network topology of the desired TSN including at least a set of end nodes communicative connected by way of a set of switching nodes, defining a set of device parameters for each of the set of end nodes and each of the set of switching nodes of the desired TSN, determining, by a TSN scheduler, a TSN schedule for the desired TSN based on the defined network topology and the defined set of device parameters for each of the set of end nodes and each of the set of switching nodes, and generating a per-device configuration for each of the set of end nodes and each of the set of switching nodes of the desired TSN, based on the determined TSN schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Abdul Jabbar, Stephen Francis Bush, Thomas Stephen Markham
  • Publication number: 20230379385
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a controller configured to control communication between or among plural vehicle devices that control movement of a single vehicle system or a multi-vehicle system via a network that communicatively couples the vehicle devices. The controller also is configured to control the communication using a data distribution service (DDS) and with the network operating as a time sensitive network (TSN). The controller is configured to direct a first set of the vehicle devices to communicate using time sensitive communications, a different, second set of the vehicle devices to communicate using best effort communications, and a different, third set of the vehicle devices to communicate using rate constrained communications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Tab Robert Mong, Stephen Francis Bush
  • Publication number: 20230364301
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating a fistula in a subject, such as, but not limited to, an anal fistula. In some embodiments, the method includes administering locally to the fistula in the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising a mammalian acoustic extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel, and optionally trehalose. Compositions of use in these methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Stephen Francis Badylak, George S. Hussey
  • Publication number: 20230351219
    Abstract: Entity aggregation for security computing resources involves an aggregation covenant that conditionally conveys rights to aggregation members. The ruling covenant is defined for protecting one or more computing resources by overriding system-level and/or entity-specific rights (e.g., super-users). An aggregation configuration module defines an aggregation-specific instance of an entity (user/device, process, or data) that receives the conveyed rights. The entity can use the rights conveyed only through its corresponding instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Go Logic Decision Time, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Paul Ackerman, Stephen Francis Taylor
  • Patent number: 11799788
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, system and methods are provided, comprising receiving, from a network configuration module, configuration data at a network driver of a communication network; configuring the network driver based on the received configuration data; receiving one or more data packets at the network driver from an application; determining that one or more segregation features are present in the data packet based on the received configuration data; transmitting the one or more data packets based on the one or more segregation features; and controlling one or more operations of an installed product based on the transmitted one or more data packets. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Tony Frangieh, Andrew William Berner, Stephen Francis Bush, Vincent Staudinger