Patents by Inventor Thomas John Miller

Thomas John Miller 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: 20210374750
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a computer system displaying user interfaces for accessing passes and transfer accounts. In some examples, passes are added to the computer system. In some examples, passes are accessed. In some examples, transfers relating to the passes and transfer accounts are displayed, such as in search user interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas John MILLER, Russell FENENGA, Morgan GRAINGER
  • Publication number: 20210373744
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a computer system displaying user interfaces for accessing passes and transfer accounts. In some examples, passes are added to the computer system. In some examples, passes are accessed. In some examples, transfers relating to the passes and transfer accounts are displayed, such as in search user interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas John MILLER, Russell FENENGA, Morgan GRAINGER
  • Publication number: 20160058243
    Abstract: Potato chip cooking process and apparatus includes controlled cooking of potato slices from the initial to the final cooking stages. Slices are deposited in hot cooking oil to develop a slice pack which is carried along a cooking path during which the pack is agitated and mixed by paddle means or tumbled so that the individual slices receive maximum contact with the cooking medium. The cooking path may be divided into one or more stages in each of which the cooking times and temperatures are selected and maintained to produce potato chips of different styles having a final moisture content in the range of 1.2% to 2%. The apparatus includes temperature and oil circulation controls for the oil heat exchangers dedicated to each stage of a cooking protocol. A multiplicity of variable rate, rotatable paddle wheel assemblies are positioned along the cooking path for thorough agitation of the potato pack encouraging good oil contact with the individual slices and consistent, chip-to-chip final moisture content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, John Macrae Silvester, Anthony Wade Morris, Thomas John Miller, Enrique Alejandro Leon
  • Patent number: 8651016
    Abstract: The unitized vacuum fryer is capable of low atmosphere vacuum cooking and has an elongate cooking tunnel having an upper portion separable from a base portion for cleaning and maintenance. When hermetically sealed together the two portions function to retain a high vacuum for an enclosed fry cooking system. Hermetic sealing locks at each end of the tunnel afford product entry and exit. The vacuum fryer does not require a separate enclosing pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Heat and Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, James A. Padilla, Anthony A. Caridis, Thomas John Miller, Donald Giles
  • Patent number: 8372467
    Abstract: Potato chip cooking process and apparatus includes controlled cooking of potato slices from the initial to the final cooking stages. Slices are deposited in hot cooking oil to develop a slice pack which is carried along a cooking path during which the pack is agitated and mixed by paddle means or tumbled so that the individual slices receive maximum contact with the cooking medium. The cooking path may be divided into one or more stages in each of which the cooking times and temperatures are selected and maintained to produce potato chips of different styles having a final moisture content in the range of 1.2% to 2%. Further disclosed are apparatus that includes temperature and oil circulation controls for the oil heat exchangers dedicated to each stage of a cooking protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Heat and Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, John Macrae Silvester, Anthony Wade Morris, Thomas John Miller, Enrique Alejandro Leon
  • Publication number: 20120279399
    Abstract: The unitized vacuum fryer is capable of low atmosphere vacuum cooking and has an elongate cooking tunnel having an upper portion separable from a base portion for cleaning and maintenance. When hermetically sealed together the two portions function to retain a high vacuum for an enclosed fry cooking system. Hermetic sealing locks at each end of the tunnel afford product entry and exit. The vacuum fryer does not require a separate enclosing pressure vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Heat and Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, James A. Padilla, Anthony A. Caridis, Thomas John Miller, Donald Giles
  • Patent number: 8231919
    Abstract: Cooking of French fried potatoes by facilitating a generally vertical arrangement of potato strips while in the frying operation is disclosed wherein the slices may be cooked within a very deep pack while oil is urged to flow upwardly through the pack and steam entrapment within the cooking slice pack is minimized. A conveyor belt carrying the slices through the cooker has a multiplicity of openings facilitating oil flow there through and the cooker is configured to permit oil discharge for reheating purposes both laterally and longitudinally of the processing path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Heat and Control Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Anthony Caridis, Thomas John Miller
  • Patent number: 7946133
    Abstract: Methods for modifying preform core ovality during and subsequent to the formation of an optical fiber preform. After MCVD deposition forms the core rod, but prior to overcladding of the core rod, the code rod may be etched to change its ovality. In order to etch the core rod, the core rod may be mounted to lathe, rotated by at least two rotors, and subjected to a heat source. Additionally, one of the at least two rotors may be phase-shifted from another one of the at least two rotors after the core rod is mounted on the lathe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Fitel USA Corp.
    Inventors: James William Fleming, Siu-Ping Hong, Paul Francis Glodis, Thomas John Miller, Zhi Zhou, David Kalish, Shunhe Xiong
  • Publication number: 20110056245
    Abstract: Methods for modifying preform core ovality during and subsequent to the formation of an optical fiber preform. After MCVD deposition forms the core rod, but prior to overcladding of the core rod, the code rod may be etched to change its ovality. In order to etch the core rod, the core rod may be mounted to lathe, rotated by at least two rotors, and subjected to a heat source. Additionally, one of the at least two rotors may be phase-shifted from another one of the at least two rotors after the core rod is mounted on the lathe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: FITEL USA CORP.
    Inventors: James William Fleming, Siu-Ping Hong, Paul Francis Glodis, Thomas John Miller, Zhi Zhou, David Kalish, Shunhe Xiong
  • Publication number: 20100227035
    Abstract: Cooking of French fried potatoes by facilitating a generally vertical arrangement of potato strips while in the frying operation is disclosed wherein the slices may be cooked within a very deep pack while oil is urged to flow upwardly through the pack and steam entrapment within the cooking slice pack is minimized. A conveyor belt carrying the slices through the cooker has a multiplicity of openings facilitating oil flow there through and the cooker is configured to permit oil discharge for reheating purposes both laterally and longitudinally of the processing path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Andrew Anthony Caridis, Thomas John Miller
  • Patent number: 7712743
    Abstract: A three-dimensional reactionary turkey target includes a target stand shaped to represent the body of a turkey and a reactionary head and neck target that is shaped to represent the vital region of a turkey's head and neck. The head and neck target connects to the target stand, which is held in position via a support means. The target allows youth, novice, and experienced turkey hunters to assess the pattern of a turkey gun, gauge the shooter's accuracy, determine the efficacy of ammunition, and practice with a life-like target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas John Miller
  • Publication number: 20100021602
    Abstract: Potato chip cooking process and apparatus includes controlled cooking of potato slices from the initial to the final cooking stages. Slices are deposited in hot cooking oil to develop a slice pack which is carried along a cooking path during which the pack is agitated and mixed by paddle means or tumbled so that the individual slices receive maximum contact with the cooking medium. The cooking path may be divided into one or more stages in each of which the cooking times and temperatures are selected and maintained to produce potato chips of different styles having a final moisture content in the range of 1.2% to 2%. The apparatus includes temperature and oil circulation controls for the oil heat exchangers dedicated to each stage of a cooking protocol. A multiplicity of variable rate, rotatable paddle wheel assemblies are positioned along the cooking path for thorough agitation of the potato pack encouraging good oil contact with the individual slices and consistent, chip-to-chip final moisture content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, John Macrae Silvester, Anthony Wade Morris, Thomas John Miller, Enrique Alejandro Leon
  • Publication number: 20090274810
    Abstract: A method of controlling the movement of snack food products being cooked continuously in a bath of hot cooking oil to the end of realizing a more uniform moisture content in the final product employs a plurality of segmented paddle wheels with blades to penetrate and agitate vigorously the product pack as the wheels are rotated in both directions. Also disclosed are a variety of segmented paddle wheel configurations and their functions of impeding and urging product flow during cooking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, Anthony Wade Morris, Thomas John Miller
  • Patent number: 7546750
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for making optical fiber having reduced aging or hydrogen aging loss over the life of the fiber and optical fiber systems including such optical fibers. Improved silicon-oxygen stoichiometry during one or more preform manufacturing steps reduces the amount of Si defects generated in the optical fiber preform. Also, deuterium exposure of optical fiber drawn from the preform reduces the likelihood of having atomic defects such as Si defects in the optical fiber that, over time, attract and bond with hydrogen atoms to form molecules that contribute to increased water absorption loss. The inventive method produces optical fibers with improved transmission characteristics, e.g., optical fibers made by methods according to embodiments of the invention have transmission loss at 1385 nanometers that is less than 0.33 dB/km and the aging loss increase thereafter is less than 0.04 dB/km.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Fitel USA Corp.
    Inventors: Kai H. Chang, David Kalish, Thomas John Miller
  • Publication number: 20040221617
    Abstract: Methods for modifying preform core ovality during and subsequent to the formation of an optical fiber preform. Prior to MCVD deposition on a starting tube, the outer diameter of the starting tube is altered by etching or a like process to modify its ovality. Additionally, after MCVD deposition forms the core rod, but prior to overcladding of the core rod, the code rod may be etched to change its ovality. Both methods may be used independently or in combination to modify the ovality and reduce PMD of optical fiber drawn from the core rod. An additional method includes etching the cladding material of a core rod having an oval or elliptical core such that the cladding material mirrors the shape of the oval core. During drawing, the perform created there from is placed under a surface tension, or pulled in a manner to generate a circular or near perfect circular optical fiber having desired ovality and low PMD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: James William Fleming, Siu-Ping Hong, Paul Francis Glodis, Thomas John Miller, Zhi Zhou, David Kalish, Shunhe Xiong
  • Patent number: 6776012
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for making optical fiber having reduced aging or hydrogen aging loss over the life of the fiber and optical fiber systems including such optical fibers. The method includes the steps of dehydrating an optical fiber glass core rod in a first environment including oxygen and at least one of chlorine-containing gases, fluorine-containing gases and carbon monoxide; and adjusting the oxygen stoichiometry of the first environment so that it is neither oxygen-rich nor oxygen-deficient. Improved silicon-oxygen stoichiometry during one or more preform manufacturing steps reduces the amount of Si defects generated in the optical fiber preform. Also, deuterium exposure of optical fiber drawn from the preform reduces the likelihood of having atomic defects such as Si defects in the optical fiber that, over time, attract and bond with hydrogen atoms to form molecules that contribute to increased water absorption loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Fitel USA Corp.
    Inventors: Kai H Chang, David Kalish, Thomas John Miller
  • Publication number: 20040144133
    Abstract: A method of assembling two optical fiber tube preforms end-to-end without negatively impacting the local glass chemistry at the joint. The ends of two tubes to be joined together are reverse-tapered by a grinding such that the outside portion of the tube walls extend further outward than the inner portions of the tube walls. Two tubes having such ends are briefly heated and brought together, and the reverse taper minimizes the size of the cross-sectional area of the tube portions to be joined. A minimal amount of heat that does not significantly impact the glass chemistry at the joint is applied to the outside of the tubes to effect a tack weld that joins the tubes. Once the tack weld is in place, additional heat in combination with a vacuum force can be applied to the tubes, which completes the sealing of the weld.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Joseph Patrick Fletcher, Thomas John Miller, Donovan Alphanso Guthrie
  • Publication number: 20040011081
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for making optical fiber having reduced aging or hydrogen aging loss over the life of the fiber and optical fiber systems including such optical fibers. Improved silicon-oxygen stoichiometry during one or more preform manufacturing steps reduces the amount of Si defects generated in the optical fiber preform. Also, deuterium exposure of optical fiber drawn from the preform reduces the likelihood of having atomic defects such as Si defects in the optical fiber that, over time, attract and bond with hydrogen atoms to form molecules that contribute to increased water absorption loss. The inventive method produces optical fibers with improved transmission characteristics, e.g., optical fibers made by methods according to embodiments of the invention have transmission loss at 1385 nanometers that is less than 0.33 dB/km and the aging loss increase thereafter is less than 0.04 dB/km.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Kai H. Chang, David Kalish, Thomas John Miller
  • Publication number: 20020197005
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for making optical fibers that have reduced aging loss, hydrogen aging and other losses over the life of the fiber, and optical systems including such optical fibers. Improved conditions in fiber manufacturing environments are provided to reduce the likelihood of generating defects in optical fiber preforms that, in optical fiber drawn therefrom, attract and bond with hydrogen atoms to form molecules that increase transmission loss in the fiber. The improved conditions include the establishment and adjustment of the oxygen stoichiometry in one or more of the environments in which optical fiber manufacturing process steps occur. Optical fiber made by methods according to embodiments of the invention have improved transmission characteristics, e.g., transmission loss at 1385 nanometers that is less than 0.33 dB/km and the change in transmission loss thereafter is less than 0.05 dB/km.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Kai H. Chang, David Kalish, Thomas John Miller
  • Publication number: 20020194877
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for making optical fiber having reduced aging or hydrogen aging loss over the life of the fiber and optical fiber systems including such optical fibers. Improved silicon-oxygen stoichiometry during one or more preform manufacturing steps reduces the amount of Si defects generated in the optical fiber preform. Also, deuterium exposure of optical fiber drawn from the preform reduces the likelihood of having atomic defects such as Si defects in the optical fiber that, over time, attract and bond with hydrogen atoms to form molecules that contribute to increased water absorption loss. The inventive method produces optical fibers with improved transmission characteristics, e.g., optical fibers made by methods according to embodiments of the invention have transmission loss at 1385 nanometers that is less than 0.33 dB/km and the aging loss increase thereafter is less than 0.04 dB/km.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Kai H. Chang, David Kalish, Thomas John Miller