Patents by Inventor Thomas Collins

Thomas Collins 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: 20120306354
    Abstract: Provided according to embodiments of the invention are method of coating a phosphor that include contacting the phosphor with a sol comprising at least one of silica, alumina, borate and a precursor thereof, to form a coating on the phosphor; and heating the phosphor. Also provided are phosphors that are coated with alumina, silica and/or borate, and light emitting devices that include such phosphors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Harry A. Seibel, II, Brian Thomas Collins
  • Publication number: 20120305958
    Abstract: Provided according to embodiments of the invention are phosphor compositions that include Ca1-x-ySrxEuyAlSiN3, wherein x is in a range of 0.50 to 0.99 and y is less than 0.013. Also provided according to embodiments of the invention are phosphor compositions that include Ca1-x-ySrxEuyAlSiN3, wherein x is in a range of 0.70 to 0.99 and y is in a range of 0.001 and 0.025. Also provided are methods of making phosphors and light emitting devices that include a phosphor composition according to an embodiment of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Harry A. Seibel, II, Brian Thomas Collins, David Todd Emerson
  • Patent number: 8287759
    Abstract: A luminescent particle includes an interior portion of the luminescent particle comprising a luminescent compound that reacts with atmospherically present components and a passivating layer on an outer surface of the luminescent particle that is operable to inhibit the reaction between the luminescent compound and the atmospherically present components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Collins, Jesse Colin Reiherzer, Florin A. Tudorica
  • Patent number: 8256777
    Abstract: There is provided a shopping cart adapted to receive elongated items. The shopping cart includes a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion. A plurality of wheels are connected to the lower portion of the frame. The shopping cart includes an upper basket attached to the upper portion of the frame and a lower basket attached to the lower portion of the frame. The upper basket and lower basket are each open at the top and each is formed from a plurality of vertical and horizontal wire segments which form a plurality of windows. The upper basket has a front wall with a slot therein. The slot has a top portion and a bottom portion with the top portion being open so as to receive and retain an elongated item. The bottom portion of the slot extends down at least a portion of the front wall. The lower basket has a back wall with at least one major open for receiving an elongated item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Technibilt, Ltd
    Inventors: Alan Deal, Thomas Collins, Joe Whisnant
  • Publication number: 20120114804
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a forming apparatus comprising (a) first and second forming rolls with forming pockets in corresponding alignment, wherein at least one roll has one or more continuous grooves extending around the circumference of the roll in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roll and which intersects the forming pockets in the plane, wherein the first and second forming rolls rotate in directions counter to one another, and (b) one or more forming pins positioned between the counter rotating rolls and within the continuous groove of the roll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: MARS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David Pontzer, Peter T. Kashulines, JR., Bob Crossley, Thomas Collins
  • Patent number: 8084069
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a forming apparatus comprising (a) first and second forming rolls with forming pockets in corresponding alignment, wherein at least one roll has one or more continuous grooves extending around the circumference of the roll in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roll and which intersects the forming pockets in the plane, wherein the first and second forming rolls rotate in directions counter to one another, and (b) one or more forming pins positioned between the counter rotating rolls and within the continuous groove of the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventors: David Pontzer, Peter T. Kashulines, Jr., Bob Crossley, Thomas Collins
  • Publication number: 20110219741
    Abstract: A method for determining the speed of at least one rotating fan, such as a propeller, through sensing pressure waves generated by the blades of the fan. An apparatus operable to execute the method is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a fan having a hub portion and a plurality of blades extending radially outward from the hub portion. The apparatus also includes an engine operable to rotate the fan about an axis of rotation. The apparatus also includes a sensor spaced from the fan along the axis of rotation. The sensor is positioned to sense at least one physical condition that is external of the engine and is changed by rotation of the plurality of blades. The sensor is operable to emit a signal corresponding to at least one physical condition. The apparatus also includes a processor operably engaged with the engine and the sensor. The processor is operable to receive the signal from the sensor and change the operation of the engine in response to the signal to change a speed of the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: JAMES ERNST, Claudio Zizzo, Shawn Thomas Collins
  • Publication number: 20110220929
    Abstract: Light emitting devices include a solid state lighting source and a recipient luminophoric medium for down-converting at least some of the radiation emitted by the solid state lighting source. The recipient luminophoric medium includes a first material that down-converts the radiation emitted by the solid state lighting source to radiation having a peak wavelength in the green color range that has a full width half maximum emission bandwidth that extends into the cyan color range, and at least one additional material that down-converts the radiation emitted by the solid state lighting source to radiation having a peak wavelength in another color range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Collins, Jasper Cabalu
  • Publication number: 20110220920
    Abstract: Methods of forming a light emitting device are provided in which a solid state lighting source is heated and a luminescent solution is applied to the heated solid state lighting source to form the light emitting device. The luminescent solution includes a first material that down-converts the radiation emitted by the solid state lighting source to radiation that has a peak wavelength in the green color range and that has a full width half maximum emission bandwidth that extends into the cyan color range, and at least one additional material that down-converts the radiation emitted by the solid state lighting source to radiation having a peak wavelength in another color range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Collins, Jasper Cabalu, Matthew Donofrio, Nathaniel O. Cannon
  • Patent number: 7994695
    Abstract: A RGB phosphor system for a carbon nanotube (CNT)/field emission device (FED) display operated between about 4-10 kV. The RGB phosphor system is formed on an interior surface of a screen of the CNT/FED display. The RGB phosphor system includes ZnS:Cu, Al (green phosphor), ZnS:Ag,Cl (blue phosphor) and Y2O2S:Eu+3 (red phosphor). The average particle size for each of the green, blue and red phosphors should be about 3-4 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Collins, Peter Michael Ritt, David Paul Ciampa, James Kleppinger
  • Publication number: 20100289045
    Abstract: A luminescent particle includes an interior portion of the luminescent particle comprising a luminescent compound that reacts with atmospherically present components and a passivating layer on an outer surface of the luminescent particle that is operable to inhibit the reaction between the luminescent compound and the atmospherically present components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Collins, Jesse Colin Reiherzer, Florin A. Tudorica
  • Publication number: 20100242495
    Abstract: A method of operating a drive system for a load is disclosed. The drive system may have an electric motor/generator and a gas turbine engine. The engine may have a combustor, and main and pilot flow paths via which fuel is supplied to the combustor. The engine may be operable in low and standard emissions modes. A proportion of the fuel that is supplied to the combustor via the pilot flow path may be greater in the standard emissions mode than in the low emissions mode. The method may include determining an engine power requirement of the load, and whether the engine power requirement of the load is sufficiently large to operate the engine in the low emissions mode. Additionally, the method may include operating the electric motor/generator if the engine power requirement of the load is not sufficiently large to operate the engine in the low emissions mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Steven Howard DeMoss, Robert Eleazar Mendoza, Roy Thomas Collins
  • Patent number: 7794764
    Abstract: A process for preparing an energy food product comprising the steps of (a) processing at least one base energy food component at a temperature and shear sufficient to form a homogeneous base energy food matrix; and (b) subsequently mixing at least one process sensitive component with said homogeneous base energy food matrix at a temperature and shear that does not deleteriously effect said process sensitive component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Mars Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward L. Rapp, Ralph Lee, Jamie Troy, Jeannette Dido, Douglas Mann, Thomas Collins, Kevin Rabinovitch
  • Publication number: 20100164366
    Abstract: A RGB phosphor system for a carbon nanotube (CNT)/field emission device (FED) display operated between about 4-10 kV. The RGB phosphor system is formed on an interior surface of a screen of the CNT/FED display. The RGB phosphor system includes ZnS:Cu, Al (green phosphor), ZnS:Ag,Cl (blue phosphor) and Y2O2S:Eu+3 (red phosphor). The average particle size for each of the green, blue and red phosphors should be about 3-4 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Collins, Peter Michael Ritt, David Paul Ciampa, James Kleppinger
  • Patent number: 7727566
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an energy bar having a mean hedonic score for consumer acceptability of at least about 5.2. Preferably, the energy bar is either a grain based energy bar or a chewy energy bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward L. Rapp, Jamie Troy, Jeannette Dido, Douglas Mann, Thomas Collins, Kevin Rabinovitch, Ralph Lee, Neil Willcocks, Robert Boushell, Ralph Jerome, Tiago O. Rodrigues, John M. Kaiser, Ivonne E. Nill
  • Publication number: 20100127613
    Abstract: A luminescent particle includes a luminescent compound that is configured to perform a photon down conversion on a portion of received light and a reflectance reducing outer surface of the luminescent particle that is operable to increase the portion of received light that is absorbed in the luminescent particle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Collins, Ronan P. Le Toquin
  • Publication number: 20100102523
    Abstract: There is provided a shopping cart adapted to receive elongated items. The shopping cart includes a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion. A plurality of wheels are connected to the lower portion of the frame. The shopping cart includes an upper basket attached to the upper portion of the frame and a lower basket attached to the lower portion of the frame. The upper basket and lower basket are each open at the top and each is formed from a plurality of vertical and horizontal wire segments which form a plurality of windows. The upper basket has a front wall with a slot therein. The slot has a top portion and a bottom portion with the top portion being open so as to receive and retain an elongated item. The bottom portion of the slot extends down at least a portion of the front wall. The lower basket has a back wall with at least one major open for receiving an elongated item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: TECHNIBILT, LTD.
    Inventors: Alan Deal, Thomas Collins, Joe Whisnant
  • Patent number: 7681891
    Abstract: There is provided a shopping cart adapted to receive elongated items. The shopping cart includes a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion. A plurality of wheels are connected to the lower portion of the frame. The shopping cart includes an upper basket attached to the upper portion of the frame and a lower basket attached to the lower portion of the frame. The upper basket and lower basket are each open at the top and each is formed from a plurality of vertical and horizontal wire segments which form a plurality of windows. The upper basket has a front wall with a slot therein. The slot has a top portion and a bottom portion with the top portion being open so as to receive and retain an elongated item. The bottom portion of the slot extends down at least a portion of the front wall. The lower basket has a back wall with at least one major open for receiving an elongated item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Technibilt, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alan Deal, Thomas Collins, Joe Whisnant
  • Publication number: 20100021596
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a forming apparatus comprising (a) first and second forming rolls with forming pockets in corresponding alignment, wherein at least one roll has one or more continuous grooves extending around the circumference of the roll in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roll and which intersects the forming pockets in the plane, wherein the first and second forming rolls rotate in directions counter to one another, and (b) one or more forming pins positioned between the counter rotating rolls and within the continuous groove of the roll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: MARS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David Pontzer, Peter T. Kashulines, Jr., Bob Crossley, Thomas Collins
  • Patent number: 7621734
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a forming apparatus comprising (a) first and second forming rolls with forming pockets in corresponding alignment, wherein at least one roll has one or more continuous grooves extending around the circumference of the roll in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roll and which intersects the forming pockets in the plane, wherein the first and second forming rolls rotate in directions counter to one another, and (b) one or more forming pins positioned between the counter rotating rolls and within the continuous groove of the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventors: David Pontzer, Peter T. Kashulines, Jr., Bob Crossley, Thomas Collins