Patents by Inventor Steven R. Nickel

Steven R. Nickel 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: 9908989
    Abstract: A composition for recyclate verification is produced by adding a predetermined quantity of one or more verification compounds to a base resin. Each of the verification compounds is thermally stable over a range of temperatures that includes the maximum processing temperature of the base resin but is less than the degradation temperature of the base resin. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material provided for verification as a recyclate is analyzed to detect the presence (and, optionally, the loading level) of one or more verification compounds associated with the base resin of the thermoplastic material. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for recyclate verification is performed using a computer program product. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material verified as a recyclate is heated to drive off the verification compound(s), then a known quantity of the verification compound(s) is added to the recyclate, which is then blended with virgin base resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Patent number: 9902625
    Abstract: One or more brevetoxins or other toxins produced by red tides or other harmful algal blooms (HABs) are removed from a body of water by contacting an aqueous phase containing water, algae and one or more HAB-produced toxins with an organic phase, extracting the one or more toxins into the organic phase, and separating the organic phase enriched in the one or more toxins from the aqueous phase depleted in the one or more toxins. In some embodiments, the organic phase is comprised of vegetable oil, mineral oil, or other suitable oil. In some embodiments, an annular centrifugal contactor is used to accomplish the contacting, extracting, and separating. In some embodiments, the toxin-depleted aqueous phase is pumped back into the source of the aqueous phase, and the toxin-enriched organic phase is recirculated until a predetermined threshold concentration of the one or more toxins is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Patent number: 9783645
    Abstract: A composition for recyclate verification is produced by adding a predetermined quantity of one or more verification compounds to a base resin. Each of the verification compounds is thermally stable over a range of temperatures that includes the maximum processing temperature of the base resin but is less than the degradation temperature of the base resin. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material provided for verification as a recyclate is analyzed to detect the presence (and, optionally, the loading level) of one or more verification compounds associated with the base resin of the thermoplastic material. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for recyclate verification is performed using a computer program product. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material verified as a recyclate is heated to drive off the verification compound(s), then a known quantity of the verification compound(s) is added to the recyclate, which is then blended with virgin base resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Patent number: 9778244
    Abstract: A composition for recyclate verification is produced by adding a predetermined quantity of one or more verification compounds to a base resin. Each of the verification compounds is thermally stable over a range of temperatures that includes the maximum processing temperature of the base resin but is less than the degradation temperature of the base resin. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material provided for verification as a recyclate is analyzed to detect the presence (and, optionally, the loading level) of one or more verification compounds associated with the base resin of the thermoplastic material. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for recyclate verification is performed using a computer program product. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material verified as a recyclate is heated to drive off the verification compound(s), then a known quantity of the verification compound(s) is added to the recyclate, which is then blended with virgin base resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Patent number: 9714177
    Abstract: One or more brevetoxins or other toxins produced by red tides or other harmful algal blooms (HABs) are removed from a body of water by contacting an aqueous phase containing water, algae and one or more HAB-produced toxins with an organic phase, extracting the one or more toxins into the organic phase, and separating the organic phase enriched in the one or more toxins from the aqueous phase depleted in the one or more toxins. In some embodiments, the organic phase is comprised of vegetable oil, mineral oil, or other suitable oil. In some embodiments, an annular centrifugal contactor is used to accomplish the contacting, extracting, and separating. In some embodiments, the toxin-depleted aqueous phase is pumped back into the source of the aqueous phase, and the toxin-enriched organic phase is recirculated until a predetermined threshold concentration of the one or more toxins is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Patent number: 9708463
    Abstract: A composition for recyclate verification is produced by adding a predetermined quantity of one or more verification compounds to a base resin. Each of the verification compounds is thermally stable over a range of temperatures that includes the maximum processing temperature of the base resin but is less than the degradation temperature of the base resin. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material provided for verification as a recyclate is analyzed to detect the presence (and, optionally, the loading level) of one or more verification compounds associated with the base resin of the thermoplastic material. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for recyclate verification is performed using a computer program product. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material verified as a recyclate is heated to drive off the verification compound(s), then a known quantity of the verification compound(s) is added to the recyclate, which is then blended with virgin base resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Publication number: 20170190849
    Abstract: A composition for recyclate verification is produced by adding a predetermined quantity of one or more verification compounds to a base resin. Each of the verification compounds is thermally stable over a range of temperatures that includes the maximum processing temperature of the base resin but is less than the degradation temperature of the base resin. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material provided for verification as a recyclate is analyzed to detect the presence (and, optionally, the loading level) of one or more verification compounds associated with the base resin of the thermoplastic material. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for recyclate verification is performed using a computer program product. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material verified as a recyclate is heated to drive off the verification compound(s), then a known quantity of the verification compound(s) is added to the recyclate, which is then blended with virgin base resin material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Publication number: 20170191978
    Abstract: A composition for recyclate verification is produced by adding a predetermined quantity of one or more verification compounds to a base resin. Each of the verification compounds is thermally stable over a range of temperatures that includes the maximum processing temperature of the base resin but is less than the degradation temperature of the base resin. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material provided for verification as a recyclate is analyzed to detect the presence (and, optionally, the loading level) of one or more verification compounds associated with the base resin of the thermoplastic material. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for recyclate verification is performed using a computer program product. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material verified as a recyclate is heated to drive off the verification compound(s), then a known quantity of the verification compound(s) is added to the recyclate, which is then blended with virgin base resin material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Publication number: 20160202233
    Abstract: A composition for recyclate verification is produced by adding a predetermined quantity of one or more verification compounds to a base resin. Each of the verification compounds is thermally stable over a range of temperatures that includes the maximum processing temperature of the base resin but is less than the degradation temperature of the base resin. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material provided for verification as a recyclate is analyzed to detect the presence (and, optionally, the loading level) of one or more verification compounds associated with the base resin of the thermoplastic material. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for recyclate verification is performed using a computer program product. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material verified as a recyclate is heated to drive off the verification compound(s), then a known quantity of the verification compound(s) is added to the recyclate, which is then blended with virgin base resin material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Publication number: 20160200894
    Abstract: A composition for recyclate verification is produced by adding a predetermined quantity of one or more verification compounds to a base resin. Each of the verification compounds is thermally stable over a range of temperatures that includes the maximum processing temperature of the base resin but is less than the degradation temperature of the base resin. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material provided for verification as a recyclate is analyzed to detect the presence (and, optionally, the loading level) of one or more verification compounds associated with the base resin of the thermoplastic material. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for recyclate verification is performed using a computer program product. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material verified as a recyclate is heated to drive off the verification compound(s), then a known quantity of the verification compound(s) is added to the recyclate, which is then blended with virgin base resin material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Patent number: 9335367
    Abstract: A method and structure are provided for implementing low temperature wafer testing of a completed wafer. A coolant gel is applied to the completed wafer, the gel coated wafer is cooled and one or more electrical test probes are applied through the gel to electrical contacts of the cooled wafer, and testing is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Patent number: 9315619
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for removing residual BPA from a residual BPA-containing substance and a method for making a container with residual BPA removed. The method may consist of preparing a stabilization reagent, wherein water is removed from the stabilization reagent. The method may also include preparing the residual BPA-containing substance. The method may also include reacting the residual BPA-containing substance in a melt condensation process with the stabilization reagent, wherein the stabilization reagent is non-toxic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Robert E. Meyer, III, Steven R. Nickel
  • Patent number: 9317802
    Abstract: A device includes a device casing and a water-soluble circuit located within the device casing. An identification code is encoded on the circuit. The identification code is associated with the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Patent number: 9299451
    Abstract: A tamper resistant electronic device includes multiple eFuses that are individually blown in each instance the electronic device is tampered with. For example an eFuse is blown when the electronic device is subjected to a temperature that causes solder reflow. Since it is anticipated that the electronic device may be tampered with in an acceptable way and/or an acceptable number of instances, functionality of the electronic device is altered or disabled only after a threshold number of eFuses are blown. In certain implementations, the threshold number is the number of anticipated acceptable tamper events. Upon a tamper event an individual eFuse is blown. If the total number of blown eFuses is less than the threshold, a next eFuse is enabled so that it may be blown upon a next tamper event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Robert E. Meyer, III, Steven R. Nickel
  • Publication number: 20160059166
    Abstract: One or more brevetoxins or other toxins produced by red tides or other harmful algal blooms (HABs) are removed from a body of water by contacting an aqueous phase containing water, algae and one or more HAB-produced toxins with an organic phase, extracting the one or more toxins into the organic phase, and separating the organic phase enriched in the one or more toxins from the aqueous phase depleted in the one or more toxins. In some embodiments, the organic phase is comprised of vegetable oil, mineral oil, or other suitable oil. In some embodiments, an annular centrifugal contactor is used to accomplish the contacting, extracting, and separating. In some embodiments, the toxin-depleted aqueous phase is pumped back into the source of the aqueous phase, and the toxin-enriched organic phase is recirculated until a predetermined threshold concentration of the one or more toxins is met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Publication number: 20160060138
    Abstract: One or more brevetoxins or other toxins produced by red tides or other harmful algal blooms (HABs) are removed from a body of water by contacting an aqueous phase containing water, algae and one or more HAB-produced toxins with an organic phase, extracting the one or more toxins into the organic phase, and separating the organic phase enriched in the one or more toxins from the aqueous phase depleted in the one or more toxins. In some embodiments, the organic phase is comprised of vegetable oil, mineral oil, or other suitable oil. In some embodiments, an annular centrifugal contactor is used to accomplish the contacting, extracting, and separating. In some embodiments, the toxin-depleted aqueous phase is pumped back into the source of the aqueous phase, and the toxin-enriched organic phase is recirculated until a predetermined threshold concentration of the one or more toxins is met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Publication number: 20150061712
    Abstract: A method and structure are provided for implementing low temperature wafer testing of a completed wafer. A coolant gel is applied to the completed wafer, the gel coated wafer is cooled and one or more electrical test probes are applied through the gel to electrical contacts of the cooled wafer, and testing is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Publication number: 20150048154
    Abstract: A device includes a device casing and a water-soluble circuit located within the device casing. An identification code is encoded on the circuit. The identification code is associated with the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Steven R. Nickel
  • Publication number: 20140210136
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for removing residual BPA from a residual BPA-containing substance and a method for making a container with residual BPA removed. The method may consist of preparing a stabilization reagent, wherein water is removed from the stabilization reagent. The method may also include preparing the residual BPA-containing substance. The method may also include reacting the residual BPA-containing substance in a melt condensation process with the stabilization reagent, wherein the stabilization reagent is non-toxic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Robert E. Meyer, III, Steven R. Nickel
  • Patent number: 8629688
    Abstract: A method for performing corrosion testing is provided. The method includes applying a thin film of silicone to an electrical device to be tested, positioning the device in a chamber, connecting the device to electrical testing equipment for determining any change in electrical resistance of the device, and disposing a gaseous compound of sulfur in the chamber. The method also comprises monitoring the device for any change in electrical resistance for indicating failure of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: King M. A. Chu, Steven R. Nickel, Timothy J. Tofil