Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Smith

Thomas J. Smith 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: 12648914
    Abstract: Described herein are injectable corticosteroid-loaded microparticles, pharmaceutical composition thereof and methods for reducing inflammation or pain in a body compartment such as a joint, an epidural space, a vitreous body of an eye, a surgically created space, or a space adjacent to an implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2026
    Assignee: Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals USA LLC
    Inventors: James A. Helliwell, Amanda M. Malone, Thomas J. Smith, Marc M. Baum
  • Publication number: 20260049659
    Abstract: An unchamfered piston ring that is pre-treated by grit blasting to a defined roughness, followed by PVD coating with a metal nitride to a thickness of at least 10 ?m, leaving peaks and valleys in the coated piston ring. The coated piston ring is then lapped to remove the peaks without penetrating the coating, so that valleys and plateaus remain in the coated surface. The resulting piston ring exhibits superior coating retention due to the increased surface area created by the grit blasting, and yet also superior performance, as the cavities remaining increase the porosity of the coating and thus enhance the lubrication of the ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2025
    Publication date: February 19, 2026
    Applicant: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas J. SMITH, Thomas STONG, Andrea C. PAUL, Alexander S. COOPER
  • Patent number: 12477770
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate. The apparatus further includes a group III-nitride buffer layer on the substrate; a group III-nitride barrier layer on the group III-nitride buffer layer, the group III-nitride barrier layer including a higher bandgap than a bandgap of the group III-nitride buffer layer. The apparatus further includes a source electrically coupled to the group III-nitride barrier layer; a gate electrically coupled to the group III-nitride barrier layer; a drain electrically coupled to the group III-nitride barrier layer; and a p-region being at least one of the following: in the substrate or on the substrate below said group III-nitride barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2025
    Assignee: Wolfspeed, Inc.
    Inventors: Saptharishi Sriram, Thomas J. Smith, Alexander Suvorov, Christer Hallin
  • Publication number: 20250321267
    Abstract: High density packaging of multiple semiconductor devices creates very large packages that are demanding to test reliably. The fabrication process causes imperfections such as distortion due to differential thermal expansion rates of attached parts. The loss of flatness creates a problem for reliable connectivity in a test environment leading to frequent wear in test receptacles. A novel approach to mitigate connection uncertainties offers greater reliability with much reduced down time for maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2024
    Publication date: October 16, 2025
    Inventors: James Ray Hastings, Joe Xiao, Charles William Martin, Thomas J. Smith, Quaid Joher Furniturewala, Brad Emberger, Albert Charles Seier
  • Publication number: 20250090467
    Abstract: Described herein are injectable corticosteroid-loaded microparticles, pharmaceutical composition thereof and methods for reducing inflammation or pain in a body compartment such as a joint, an epidural space, a vitreous body of an eye, a surgically created space, or a space adjacent to an implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: James A. Helliwell, Amanda M. Malone, Thomas J. Smith, Marc M. Baum
  • Publication number: 20240105829
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate. The apparatus further includes a group III-nitride buffer layer on the substrate; a group III-nitride barrier layer on the group III-nitride buffer layer, the group III-nitride barrier layer including a higher bandgap than a bandgap of the group III-nitride buffer layer. The apparatus further includes a source electrically coupled to the group III-nitride barrier layer; a gate electrically coupled to the group III-nitride barrier layer; a drain electrically coupled to the group III-nitride barrier layer; and a p-region being at least one of the following: in the substrate or on the substrate below said group III-nitride barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Saptharishi SRIRAM, Thomas J. SMITH, Alexander SUVOROV, Christer HALLIN
  • Publication number: 20220333687
    Abstract: An unchamfered piston ring that is pre-treated by grit blasting to a defined roughness, followed by PVD coating with a metal nitride to a thickness of at least 10 ?m, leaving peaks and valleys in the coated piston ring. The coated piston ring is then lapped to remove the peaks without penetrating the coating, so that valleys and plateaus remain in the coated surface. The resulting piston ring exhibits superior coating retention due to the increased surface area created by the grit blasting, and yet also superior performance, as the cavities remaining increase the porosity of the coating and thus enhance the lubrication of the ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas J. SMITH, Thomas STONG, Andrea C. PAUL, Alexander S. COOPER
  • Publication number: 20220087943
    Abstract: Described herein are injectable corticosteroid-loaded microparticles, pharmaceutical composition thereof and methods for reducing inflammation or pain in a body compartment such as a joint, an epidural space, a vitreous body of an eye, a surgically created space, or a space adjacent to an implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: James A. Helliwell, Amanda M. Malone, Thomas J. Smith, Marc M. Baum
  • Patent number: 11219604
    Abstract: Described herein are injectable corticosteroid-loaded microparticles, pharmaceutical composition thereof and methods for reducing inflammation or pain in a body compartment such as a joint, an epidural space, a vitreous body of an eye, a surgically created space, or a space adjacent to an implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventors: James A. Helliwell, Amanda M. Malone, Thomas J. Smith, Marc M. Baum
  • Patent number: 11162587
    Abstract: A piston ring that is pre-treated by grit blasting to a defined roughness, followed by PVD coating with a metal nitride to a thickness of at least 10 ?m, leaving peaks and valleys in the coated piston ring. The coated piston ring is then lapped to remove the peaks without penetrating the coating, so that valleys and plateaus remain in the coated surface. The resulting piston ring exhibits superior coating retention due to the increased surface area created by the grit blasting, and yet also superior performance, as the cavities remaining increase the porosity of the coating and thus enhance the lubrication of the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas J. Smith, Marc W. Benjamin, Andrea C. Paul
  • Patent number: 10927786
    Abstract: A ring carrier for a piston for an internal combustion engine is formed by a carrier body having an outer circumferential surface, an inner circumferential surface, a top surface and a bottom surface, with at least one ring groove formed in the outer circumferential surface. An outer circumferential portion of the ring carrier is formed of gray iron, and an inner circumferential portion is formed of ductile iron. A transition region between the outer circumferential portion and the inner circumferential portion intersects upper and lower flanks of the ring groove, so that an outer circumferential extent of the flanks is formed of gray iron and an inner circumferential extent of the flanks is formed of ductile iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas J. Smith, Likhit Sethi
  • Publication number: 20200038641
    Abstract: A drug delivery device with removable pods is described and related pods methods and systems. The drug delivery device comprises a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle configured to accept a corresponding drug pod, wherein each receptacle comprises: a recess configured to accept a protrusion in the corresponding drug pod, or a protrusion configured to insert in a recess in the corresponding drug pod. The corresponding drug pod comprises a shell, made of an impermeable polymer, having a first base comprising an opening configured to allow delivery of a drug, a second base, a lateral surface, a protrusion attached to, and extending away from, the lateral surface, or a recess in the lateral surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas J. SMITH, Sarjan SHAH
  • Publication number: 20200001062
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a drug delivery device. The device can comprise at least one core with a first active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), coated with a first layer that is permeable or semi-permeable to the API, coated with a second layer that is impermeable to the API and having a delivery window to allow passage of the API through the device and into body fluids or tissues. The device can also have a wicking material to modify the rate of transport of the API into the body fluid or tissues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: John A. MOSS, Thomas J. SMITH, Marc M. BAUM
  • Publication number: 20190368607
    Abstract: An unchamfered piston ring that is pre-treated by grit blasting to a defined roughness, followed by PVD coating with a metal nitride to a thickness of at least 10 ?m, leaving peaks and valleys in the coated piston ring. The coated piston ring is then lapped to remove the peaks without penetrating the coating, so that valleys and plateaus remain in the coated surface. The resulting piston ring exhibits superior coating retention due to the increased surface area created by the grit blasting, and yet also superior performance, as the cavities remaining increase the porosity of the coating and thus enhance the lubrication of the ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas J. SMITH, Thomas STONG, Andrea C. PAUL, Alexander S. Cooper
  • Patent number: 10428945
    Abstract: A method of forming a piston ring includes providing a base portion formed of a metallic material, the base portion having a first surface, and a second surface that is opposite the first surface, the base portion configured to interface with a piston ring groove. The method includes grinding the first surface to form a reference surface, applying a chromium layer to the second surface, and grinding the chromium layer to reduce a surface roughness of the chromium layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas J. Smith, Alexander S. Cooper, Robert J. Piccard, Timothy Andros, Claudinei J. de Oliveira, Jason P. Bieneman, Victor H. Tapia Ramirez, Terry Pecott
  • Publication number: 20190264809
    Abstract: A piston ring that is pre-treated by grit blasting to a defined roughness, followed by PVD coating with a metal nitride to a thickness of at least 10 ?m, leaving peaks and valleys in the coated piston ring. The coated piston ring is then lapped to remove the peaks without penetrating the coating, so that valleys and plateaus remain in the coated surface. The resulting piston ring exhibits superior coating retention due to the increased surface area created by the grit blasting, and yet also superior performance, as the cavities remaining increase the porosity of the coating and thus enhance the lubrication of the ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas J. SMITH, Marc W. BENJAMIN, Andrea C. PAUL
  • Patent number: 10323747
    Abstract: A piston ring that is pre-treated by grit blasting to a defined roughness, followed by PVD coating with a metal nitride to a thickness of at least 10 ?m, leaving peaks and valleys in the coated piston ring. The coated piston ring is then lapped to remove the peaks without penetrating the coating, so that valleys and plateaus remain in the coated surface. The resulting piston ring exhibits superior coating retention due to the increased surface area created by the grit blasting, and yet also superior performance, as the cavities remaining increase the porosity of the coating and thus enhance the lubrication of the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas J. Smith, Marc W. Benjamin, Andrea C. Paul
  • Patent number: 10253882
    Abstract: Exemplary oil control rings and methods are disclosed. An oil control ring may include an upper lamella having a first outer radial surface and a lower lamella having a second outer radial surface. An expander ring is in communication with the upper lamella and the lower lamella and generates an expander radial outward force on the lamellas. At least one of the first outer radial surface and the second outer radial surface is comprised of a first contact section and a first tapered section. The first tapered section is configured to generate a first radially inward force greater than or equal to the expander radial outward force when moved in a first direction and a second radially inward force less than the expander radial outward force when moved in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Steven J. Sytsma, Thomas J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20190030306
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a drug delivery device. The device can comprise at least one core with a first active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), coated with a first layer that is permeable or semi-permeable to the API, coated with a second layer that is impermeable to the API, and having a delivery window to allow passage of the API through the device and into body fluids or tissues. The device can also have a wicking material to modify the rate of transport of the API into the body fluid or tissues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: John A. MOSS, Thomas J. SMITH, Marc M. BAUM
  • Publication number: 20180283553
    Abstract: A piston ring that is pre-treated by grit blasting to a defined roughness, followed by PVD coating with a metal nitride to a thickness of at least 10 ?m, leaving peaks and valleys in the coated piston ring. The coated piston ring is then lapped to remove the peaks without penetrating the coating, so that valleys and plateaus remain in the coated surface. The resulting piston ring exhibits superior coating retention due to the increased surface area created by the grit blasting, and yet also superior performance, as the cavities remaining increase the porosity of the coating and thus enhance the lubrication of the ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas J. SMITH, Marc W. BENJAMIN, Andrea C. PAUL