Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Pfeiffer

Thomas A. Pfeiffer 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: 20240151139
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying a likelihood that a reservoir of a geological formation received a secondary charge of hydrocarbons of relatively very different thermal maturity of composition are provided. One method includes positioning a downhole acquisition tool in a wellbore in a geological formation and testing one or more fluid properties of the formation fluid. Data processing circuitry may identify whether a relationship of the one or more fluid properties exceeds a first threshold that indicates likely asphaltene instability. When this is the case, data processing circuitry may be used to model the geological formation using a realization scenario in which multiple charges of hydrocarbons of substantially different thermal maturity or substantially different composition, or both, filled a reservoir of the geological formation over geologic time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Hadrien Dumont, Vinay K. Mishra, German Garcia, Li Chen, Thomas Pfeiffer, Soraya S. Betancourt Pocaterra, Jerimiah Forsythe, Andrew Emil Pomerantz, Youxiang Zuo, Oliver C. Mullins
  • Publication number: 20240108301
    Abstract: One or more example embodiments of the present invention relates to a dose control method for a mobile x-ray detector of a medical x-ray system, comprising generating a data packet having a time stamp of a clock of the mobile x-ray detector and a dose value; sending the data packet via a radio link from the mobile x-ray detector to an x-ray generator; receiving the data packet from the x-ray generator; comparing the time stamp with a clock of the x-ray generator and calculating a latency; and extrapolating an overall dose from the dose value, the time stamp and the latency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Thilo HANNEMANN, Thomas PFEIFFER, Thomas WEBER
  • Patent number: 11948704
    Abstract: Techniques described herein relate to systems and methods for obtaining a high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable assembly and filling the HTS cable assembly with a molten metal, such as solder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Amanda Hubbard, James Irby, Rui Vieira, William Beck, Richard Murray, Andrew Pfeiffer, Thomas Toland, William Burke
  • Patent number: 11945392
    Abstract: A metal-fixing material feedthrough for at least one of an airbag igniter or a belt pre-tensioner includes a main body having a through opening formed therein and at least one metal pin fused into the through opening in a vitreous or glass ceramic fixing material. A surface of the vitreous or glass ceramic fixing material is a freely fused surface and lies in a same plane as an end face of the at least one metal pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Ranftl, Thomas Pfeiffer-Landshut, Susumu Nishiwaki, Ondrej Rousek
  • Patent number: 11938067
    Abstract: A patient containment system for securing a patient to a patient transport apparatus, comprising a first lower strap and a second lower strap. Each of the first lower strap and the second lower strap have a thigh region, a waist region, and a connection region arranged between the thigh region and the waist region. A first connector is coupled to the connection region of the first lower strap. A second connector is coupled to the connection region of the second lower strap, and is configured to releasably attach to the first connector to at least partially limit movement of the first lower strap relative to the second lower strap. The connection region defines a connection width, and the thigh region defines a thigh width larger than the connection width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel V. Brosnan, Melvin Gottschalk, Jr., Zachary Baker, Scott I. Biba, Erik P. Eagleman, Cory P. Herbst, Nathan W. Matheny, Trey Thomas Pfeiffer, Kelly Sandmeyer, Jeffrey R. Staszak, John Wallace, James K. Galer, James Robert Tumavich, Jr., Kevin M. Patmore, Scott Zufall
  • Patent number: 11927230
    Abstract: A friction brake body for a friction brake of a motor vehicle, in particular a brake disk, includes a base body made in particular from gray cast iron and having at least one wear resistant layer formed on a friction contact surface of the base body. The wear resistant layer is made from ferritic-austenitic steel and includes an incorporated hard material particle, in particular finely distributed hard material particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ilja Potapenko, Christian Schnatterer, Thomas Pfeiffer, Kangjian Wu, Simon Loskyll
  • Publication number: 20240074720
    Abstract: A control system for a medical installation, wherein the control system is configured to control a motorized movement of an installation component. The control system includes a control path and a protection path. The control path is configured to control the motorized movement. The protection path is independent of the control path and configured to monitor the control path with regard to compliance with a safety criterion for the motorized movement. The protection path includes at least one freely programmable microcontroller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias MUELLER, Thomas Pfeiffer, Franz Atzinger, Harald Karl, Claus-Guenter Schliermann, Franz Dirauf
  • Publication number: 20240066623
    Abstract: A friction stir welding tool for a machine tool having a frame and a spindle rotatable relative to the frame. The friction stir welding tool includes a pin, a shoulder, and a drive shaft connectable to the spindle to set the pin and the shoulder in rotational motion about a rotation axis, wherein the shoulder is rotatable relative to the pin about the rotation axis. To obtain different speeds of the pin and shoulder in a simple and robust manner, a planetary transmission having a ring gear, a planet carrier, and a sun gear is connected to the drive shaft, pin, and shoulder. The pin or the shoulder is connected to the planet carrier so that the pin and shoulder are set in rotation about the rotation axis at different rotational speeds, but in the same rotation direction, by driving the drive shaft by the spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Stirtec GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter FIGNER, Ozan CALISKANOGLU, Lucas OPPENEIGER, Christian PFEIFFER, Thomas WEINBERGER
  • Patent number: 11808150
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a separating a fluid having multiple phases during formation testing. For example, certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to receiving contaminated formation fluid on a first flow line and separating a contamination (e.g., mud filtrate) from the formation fluid by diverting the relatively heavier and/or denser fluid (e.g., the mud filtrate) downward through a second flow line and diverting the relatively lighter and/or less dense fluid upward through a third flow line. In some embodiments, the third flow line is generally oriented upwards at a height that may facilitate the separation of the heavier fluid from the relatively lighter fluid based on gravity and/or pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Pfeiffer, Ashers Partouche, Kai Hsu, Simon Edmundson
  • Patent number: 11806185
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is for determining at least one main acquisition parameter determining a dose of x-rays to be emitted from an x-ray emitter during image acquisition using an x-ray emitter and an x-ray detector. A first image data of a first preparatory image is evaluated to determine if a repeat condition is fulfilled and/or to determine the main acquisition parameter and/or at least one second preparatory acquisition parameter. The first preparatory image is acquired by the x-ray detector using at least one first preparatory acquisition parameter to control the x-ray emitter. In all cases or when the repeat condition is fulfilled, the main acquisition parameter is determined depending on second image data of a second preparatory image, acquired by the x-ray detector after the first preparatory image while at least one second preparatory acquisition parameter is used to control the x-ray emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Gebhardt, Sebastian Glawion, Thilo Hannemann, Carsten Illenseer, Daniel Lerch, Thomas Pfeiffer, Stefan Schaffert, Peter Scheuering, Bastian Schmidt, Thomas Weber, Wei He, Sven-Martin Sutter, Zhi Ming Yang
  • Publication number: 20230285209
    Abstract: A reconfigurable patient transport system may include a patient support apparatus and a patient transport apparatus. The patient support apparatus may include a hinge member, a left support board, and a right support board each coupled to the hinge member. The left support board may comprise a left proximal segment and a left wing segment each removably coupled to a left distal segment. The right support board may comprise a right proximal segment and a right wing segment each removably coupled to a right distal segment. The patient transport apparatus may comprise a support frame and an intermediate frame coupled to the support frame. The intermediate frame may comprise a support deck configured to support a patient. The patient transport apparatus may further comprise a left siderail bracket and a right siderail bracket each configured for engagement with one of the wing segments of the support boards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Cory P. Herbst, Kevin M. Patmore, Trey Thomas Pfeiffer, Kelly Sandmeyer
  • Publication number: 20230277393
    Abstract: A patient transport apparatus operable by a user for transporting a patient along stairs. A seat section is coupled to a support structure supporting a track assembly having a belt. A motor selectively generates torque to drive the belt. A user interface is arranged for engagement by the user, and has a direction input control for selecting a drive direction of the motor, and an activation input control for operating the motor to drive the belt. A controller in communication with the motor and the user interface is configured to limit operation of the motor in response to user engagement of the activation input control preceding engagement of the direction input control to prevent driving the belt, and to permit operation of the motor in response to user engagement of the activation input control following engagement of the direction input control to drive the belt in a selected drive direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Isaac A. Schaberg, Daniel V. Brosnan, Cory P. Herbst, Nathan W. Matheny, Trey Thomas Pfeiffer, Kelly Sandmeyer, Melvin Gottschalk, JR., Jason Anthony Vanderplas, Erik P. Eagleman, Jeffrey R. Staszak, John Wallace, Scott Zufall
  • Publication number: 20230228308
    Abstract: A friction brake body, in particular a brake disc, for a friction brake of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The friction brake body has a main part with at least one wear protection layer on at least one frictional contact region of the main part. The wear protection layer forms a frictional contact surface on the wear protection layer face facing away from the main part. The degree of hardness of the wear protection layer increases incrementally or continuously from the main part to the frictional contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Christian Schnatterer, Kangjian Wu, Ilja Potapenko, Thomas Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 11696860
    Abstract: A patient transport apparatus for transporting patients in a stair configuration and in a chair configuration. A multiple mode handle assembly is provided for user engagement, and is movable between a first handle configuration, a second handle configuration, and a third handle configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Trey Thomas Pfeiffer, Cory P. Herbst, Nathan W. Matheny, Conor McCarrey, Daniel V. Brosnan, Kelly Sandmeyer, John Wallace, Melvin Gottschalk, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230201053
    Abstract: A patient transport apparatus including a support structure movable between a chair configuration for traversing floor surfaces and a stowed configuration for storage. A seat section is pivotably coupled to the support structure. A caster assembly includes a pin coupled to the support structure and defining a swivel axis, a caster frame arranged to pivot about the swivel axis between a plurality of caster orientations, a wheel coupled to the caster frame and arranged for engagement with the floor in the chair configuration, and biasing mechanism interposed between the caster frame and the pin. The biasing mechanism urges the caster frame toward a stowed aster orientation in response to disengagement between the wheel and floor surfaces occurring as the support structure moves from the chair configuration to the stowed configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Trey Thomas Pfeiffer, Nathan W. Matheny, Patrick Grossman, Adam Kammers
  • Patent number: 11680142
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing superabsorbent polymer particles, comprising surface postcrosslinking, classifying the surface postcrosslinked superabsorbent polymer particles, deagglomerating the separated oversize fraction using a roll crusher and recycling the disintegrated oversize fraction before or into the classification of the surface postcrosslinked superabsorbent polymer particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Ruediger Funk, Thomas Pfeiffer, Matthias Weismantel, Monte Alan Peterson, Karl Possemiers, Ronny De Kaey
  • Patent number: 11679045
    Abstract: A patient transport apparatus operable by a user for transporting a patient along stairs. A seat section is coupled to a support structure supporting a track assembly having a belt. A motor selectively generates torque to drive the belt. A user interface is arranged for engagement by the user, and has a direction input control for selecting a drive direction of the motor, and an activation input control for operating the motor to drive the belt. A controller in communication with the motor and the user interface is configured to limit operation of the motor in response to user engagement of the activation input control preceding engagement of the direction input control to prevent driving the belt, and to permit operation of the motor in response to user engagement of the activation input control following engagement of the direction input control to drive the belt in a selected drive direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Isaac A. Schaberg, Daniel V. Brosnan, Cory P. Herbst, Nathan W. Matheny, Brandon David Naber, Kevin M. Patmore, Trey Thomas Pfeiffer, Kelly Sandmeyer, Melvin Gottschalk, Jr., Jason Anthony Vanderplas, Scott Zufall, Erik P. Eagleman, Jeffrey R. Staszak, John Wallace
  • Publication number: 20230183128
    Abstract: A cover glass is provided that includes a silica based glass ceramic with a thickness between 0.4 mm and 0.85 mm. The glass ceramic has a transmittance of more than 80% from 380 nm to 780 nm and a stress attribute selected from: an overall compressive stress (CS) of at least 250 MPa and at most 1500 MPa, a compressive stress at a depth of 30 ?m (CS30) from one of the two faces of at least 160 MPa and at most 525 MPa, a depth of the compression layer (DoCL) of at least 0.2 times the thickness and less than 0.5 times the thickness, and any combinations thereof. The glass ceramic has at least one silica based crystal phase having in a near-surface layer a unit cell volume of at least 1% by volume larger than that of a core where the crystal phase has minimum stresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicants: SCHOTT AG, SCHOTT Technical Glass Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Ruediger Dietrich, Meike SCHNEIDER, Jochen Alkemper, Lars Mueller, Thomas Pfeiffer, Julian Koch, Bernd Ruedinger
  • Publication number: 20230183127
    Abstract: A cover glass made of a glass ceramic that is silica based and has a main crystal phase of high quartz solid solution or keatite solid solution is provided. The cover glass has a stress profile with at least one inflection point at a depth of the cover glass of more than 10 ?m, a thickness from 0.1 mm to 2 mm, and a chemical tempering structure with a surface compressive stress of at least 250 MPa and at most 1500 MPa. A process for producing the cover glass is provided that includes producing a silica based green glass, hot shaping the silica based green glass, thermally treating the silica based green glass with a nucleation step and a ceramization step, and performing an ion exchange at an exchange bath temperature for a duration of time in an exchange bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicants: SCHOTT AG, SCHOTT Technical Glass Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Lars Mueller, Ruediger Dietrich, Thomas Pfeiffer, Julian Koch, Bernd Ruedinger, Meike Schneider, Jochen Alkemper
  • Patent number: D1009943
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventor: Thomas Pfeiffer