Patents by Inventor Thomas Frank

Thomas Frank 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: 20210071985
    Abstract: An interactive device for improving accuracy in archery and similar endeavors is provided. In some embodiments, a deformable device is provided that is operable to communicate with an archery bow and receive force during use of the bow. The deformable device is operable to deflect in a manner that produces an audible and tactile signal to a user. The signal may correspond to an appropriate amount of string tension or draw, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: Rocky Mountain Specialty Gear, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Frank Clum, Alexander Marlon Droessler, Robert Gould
  • Publication number: 20210063892
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for characterizing a microlithographic mask. A device according to the invention has an illumination optical unit for illuminating structures of a mask intended for use in a lithography process in a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, a detector unit, and an evaluation unit for evaluating the data recorded by the detector unit, wherein the detector unit is configured for the spatially resolved determination of both the intensity and the polarization state of the respectively impinging light emanating from the mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Sven Martin, Thomas Frank, Ulrich Matejka
  • Patent number: 10877083
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a method and system for metering an electrical grid comprising at least one processor executing instructions from a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of an electrical grid fault detection system. In some embodiments of the system, the instructions cause a processor to calculate a prediction of whether power delivery to at least a portion of the electrical grid is functioning abnormally using voltage sensing devices coupled to at least one feeder, where one or more of the voltage sensing devices are responsive to a determination that the power delivery is functioning abnormally. Further in some embodiments, the determination includes the electrical grid fault detection system receiving at least one signal or voltage reading from the electrical grid based at least in part on a sensed or received voltage level or range of voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric Michael Schoenman, Wei Li, Sophia Chen, Daniel Marlowe Partridge, James Louis Meadows, Thomas Frank Martin
  • Publication number: 20200385272
    Abstract: Newly discovered allotrope of carbon having a multilayered nanocarbon array exhibits among other properties exceptional stability, electrical conductivity and electromagnetic frequency (emf) attenuation characteristics. Members of this new allotrope include nanocarbon structures possessing vast electron delocalization in multiple directions unavailable to known fullerene-characterized materials like carbon nano-onions (CNOs), multiwalled carbon nano-tubes (MWNTs), graphene, carbon nano-horns, and carbon nano-ellipsoids such that stabilizing electron delocalization crosses or proceeds between layers as well as along layers in multiple directions within a continuous cyclic structure having an advanced interlayer connectivity bonding system involving the whole carbon array apart from incidental defects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Danny CROSS, Larry Herbert KIRBY, Thomas Frank BAILEY
  • Publication number: 20200384190
    Abstract: A medical device controller is provided that avoids unintended user inputs and unwanted medical device operation(s). A controller sends display commands to a graphical user interface (GUI) display to generate a first screen having a swipe field with no moving icons that prompts a user to initiate a designated operation by the medical device. When a valid swipe gesture is inputted, the controller generates a second screen with confirm button that requires a valid user press before the controller undertakes the designated operation, the controller generating and sending a command for the designated operation to the medical device when the controller determines that a valid user press has been inputted to the confirm button. The controller also sends commands to generate a status screen that transitions a rotating progress ring symbol and level indicator in accordance with a selected event to clearly indicate the status of medical device operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Margaret Anne JACOBI, Sonya MEAD, David John SIEDZIK, Tony Hai NGUYEN, Ping ZHENG, Clinton James GOYETTE, Justin David CUMMING, Thomas Frank KINST, Marc Clifford VOGT, J. Richard GYORY
  • Patent number: 10788575
    Abstract: Extendable air-based line arrays of directional projectors are provided with the arrays affixed and parallel to a ship hull. An anchor and a vibration isolator are affixed to the hull and the arrays in which the anchor and isolator separate the arrays from the hull. Each of hydraulically-actuated arms rotatably connect at a cam to an arm stop affixed to the anchor. A sound vibration dampener is positioned between the arm stops. The arms are capable of extending the directional projectors to an activation position with the projectors forming narrow beams into the water to become sonar waves that reflect from a target. The reflections from the target are received with a hydrophone on the ship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventors: Jackeline D Diapis, Thomas A Frank, Lynn T Antonelli, Stephen C Butler
  • Publication number: 20200267971
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to an agricultural formulation comprising an anucleated minicells and an anucleated cell-based platforms for encapsulation and scalable delivery of biologically active compounds. Disclosed herein are compositions for the stable and targeted delivery of biologically active compounds within achromosomal and/or anucleated cells onto and/or into a target cell. The present disclosure also provides methods of improving encapsulation and retention of biologically active compounds in achromosomal and/or anucleated cells and delivering biologically active compounds into a target cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Ameer Hamza SHAKEEL, Zachery George DAVIS, Joseph Thomas FRANK, Sepehr ZOMORODI, Payam POURTAHERI
  • Patent number: 10712119
    Abstract: An interactive device for improving accuracy in archery and similar endeavors is provided. In some embodiments, a deformable device is provided that is operable to communicate with an archery bow and receive force during use of the bow. The deformable device is operable to deflect in a manner that produces an audible and tactile signal to a user. The signal may correspond to an appropriate amount of string tension or draw, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Rocky Mountain Specialty Gear, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Frank Clum, Alexander Marlon Droessler, Robert Gould
  • Patent number: 10698318
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for characterizing a mask for microlithography. In a method according to the invention, structures of a mask intended for use in a lithography process in a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus are illuminated by an illumination optical unit, wherein the mask is imaged onto a detector unit by an imaging optical unit, wherein image data recorded by the detector unit are evaluated in an evaluation unit. In this case, for emulating an illumination setting predefined for the lithography process in the microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, the imaging of the mask onto the detector unit is carried out in a plurality of individual imagings which differ from one another with regard to the illumination setting set in the illumination optical unit or the polarization-influencing effect set in the imaging optical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Seitz, Ute Buttgereit, Thomas Thaler, Thomas Frank, Ulrich Matejka, Markus Deguenther, Robert Birkner, Dominik Grau
  • Publication number: 20200123527
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions of immobilized enzymes on the surface of achromosomal and/or anucleate cells and uses thereof. In particular, the present disclosure provides genetically engineered minicells with enzymes self-assembled on their surface. The immobilized enzymes on the surface of achromosomal and/or anucleate minicells, has agricultural, industrial, and environmental applications due to their improved stability durability and, reusability. Also, provided are methods for producing and purifying enzyme-immobilized minicells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Ameer Hamza SHAKEEL, Zachery George DAVIS, Joseph Thomas FRANK, Sepehr ZOMORODI, Payam POURTAHERI
  • Publication number: 20200113177
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to an anucleated cell-based platforms for encapsulation and delivery of agricultural compounds. Disclosed herein are compositions for the stable and targeted delivery of agricultural compounds within achromosomal and/or anucleated cells. The present disclosure also provides methods of improving encapsulation and retention of agricultural compounds in achromosomal and/or anucleated cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Ameer Hamza SHAKEEL, Sepehr ZOMORODI, Joseph Thomas FRANK, Zachery George DAVIS, Payam POURTAHERI
  • Publication number: 20200103668
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining the exposure energy during the exposure of an element in an optical system, in particular for microlithography, comprising an optical element, a diffractive structure which has a locally varying grating period, and an intensity sensor arrangement, wherein electromagnetic radiation diffracted at the diffractive structure during operation of the optical system, in at least one order of diffraction, is directed to the intensity sensor arrangement by way of total internal reflection effected in the optical element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas Frank
  • Patent number: 10578881
    Abstract: An illumination optical unit serves for illuminating objects to be examined by a metrology system. The illumination optical unit has an optical pupil shaping assembly for generating a defined distribution of illumination angles of illumination light over an object field in which an object to be examined can be arranged. An optical field shaping assembly for generating a defined intensity distribution of the illumination light over the object field is disposed downstream of the pupil shaping assembly in the beam path of the illumination light. The field shaping assembly has at least one optical field shaping element arranged in the region of a pupil plane of the illumination optical unit. This results in an illumination optical unit which ensures an illumination which can be set in a defined manner with regard to an intensity distribution and an illumination angle distribution over the entire object field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignees: Carl Zeiss AG, Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Frank, Dirk Doering, Holger Seitz, Mario Laengle, Ulrich Matejka
  • Publication number: 20190331494
    Abstract: An operating status identification system for a machine includes a position sensing module configured to generate a first signal value corresponding to a speed of the machine. The operating status identification system also includes a motion sensing nodule configured to generate a second signal value corresponding to at least one motion parameter of the machine. The operating status identification system further includes a control module communicably coupled to each of the position sensing module and the motion sensing module. The control module is configured to receive the first signal value and the second signal value. The control module is further configured to identify whether the machine is in at least one of an operating state and a non-operating state based on a combination of the first and second signal values. The control module is configured to identify that the machine is in the operating state when the machine is stationary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Frank Doherty, Darryl Victor Collins, Michael Siemer
  • Patent number: 10423494
    Abstract: Trimming unused blocks from a versioned image backup of a source storage that is stored in a sparse storage. In one example embodiment, a method may include identifying a versioned image backup that is stored in a sparse storage. The sparse may store first and second versions of the versioned image backup representing states of the source storage at successive first and second points in time, respectively. The method may further include deleting the first version, identifying a first set of blocks that were allocated in the source storage at the second point in time, identifying a second set of blocks that are allocated in the sparse storage for the second version, determining a third set of blocks that are included in the second set of blocks but are not included in the first set of blocks, and trimming the third set of blocks from the second version.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: STORAGECRAFT TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathan S. Bushman, Thomas Frank Christensen, David Merrill McConkie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10395554
    Abstract: A computer and method to assess technical skills of a student undergoing education in a training course on a computer-related topic. The computer includes a plurality of computer components having functions in the topic. A training application running on the computer instructs a user of the computer to perform an exercise on the computer; and a scoring application running locally in the computer has: a configuration file; a system inspector that determines states of the computer components according to the configuration file as a result of the exercise; and a scoring engine that computes locally a score of a skill of the user related to the topic based on the states of the computer components determined by the system inspector and in accordance with the configuration file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Information Systems Audit and Control Association, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Frank Downs
  • Publication number: 20190255611
    Abstract: An example of a metal-based pellet extrusion additive manufacturing system is disclosed. The system may include a printing nozzle system with a turnable screw, an extruder body, and a nozzle end, wherein the turnable screw is configured to transport metal-based pellets from an extruder body towards a nozzle end. A method for fabricating an object using metal-based pellet extrusion system is also disclosed. In one example, the additive manufacturing system and method are utilized to form a fan wheel for a fan assembly. In some implementations, the fan wheel is a monolithic part without any welds or other attachment features joining fan blades of the fan wheel to the base of the fan wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Frank, Jason Miller, Matthew Keener, Rick Johnson
  • Patent number: 10302190
    Abstract: A method for evaluating a transmission device using various characteristic values, wherein said characteristic values can be determined by means of variable or constant parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: AVL LIST GMBH
    Inventors: Falko Pflueger, Patrick Schatz, Martin Wohlfahrt, Erik Bogner, Thomas Frank Mueller-Werth
  • Publication number: 20190121145
    Abstract: An illumination optical unit serves for illuminating objects to be examined by a metrology system. The illumination optical unit has an optical pupil shaping assembly for generating a defined distribution of illumination angles of illumination light over an object field in which an object to be examined can be arranged. An optical field shaping assembly for generating a defined intensity distribution of the illumination light over the object field is disposed downstream of the pupil shaping assembly in the beam path of the illumination light. The field shaping assembly has at least one optical field shaping element arranged in the region of a pupil plane of the illumination optical unit. This results in an illumination optical unit which ensures an illumination which can be set in a defined manner with regard to an intensity distribution and an illumination angle distribution over the entire object field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Frank, Dirk Doering, Holger Seitz, Mario Laengle, Ulrich Matejka
  • Patent number: D906240
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SEMIKRON ELEKTRONIK GmbH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Frank, Stefan Weiss, Patrick Sturm, Thomas Ziegler, Marco Lederer, Thomas Hunka, Rainer Popp