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).
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Publication number: 20210374750Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2020Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Thomas John MILLER, Russell FENENGA, Morgan GRAINGER
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Publication number: 20210373744Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2020Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Thomas John MILLER, Russell FENENGA, Morgan GRAINGER
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Publication number: 20160058243Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, John Macrae Silvester, Anthony Wade Morris, Thomas John Miller, Enrique Alejandro Leon
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Patent number: 8651016Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 2, 2011Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Heat and Control, Inc.Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, James A. Padilla, Anthony A. Caridis, Thomas John Miller, Donald Giles
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Patent number: 8372467Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 22, 2008Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Heat and Control, Inc.Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, John Macrae Silvester, Anthony Wade Morris, Thomas John Miller, Enrique Alejandro Leon
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Publication number: 20120279399Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2011Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: Heat and Control, Inc.Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, James A. Padilla, Anthony A. Caridis, Thomas John Miller, Donald Giles
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Patent number: 8231919Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 9, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Heat and Control Inc.Inventors: Andrew Anthony Caridis, Thomas John Miller
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Patent number: 7946133Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 12, 2010Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Fitel USA Corp.Inventors: James William Fleming, Siu-Ping Hong, Paul Francis Glodis, Thomas John Miller, Zhi Zhou, David Kalish, Shunhe Xiong
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Publication number: 20110056245Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2010Publication date: March 10, 2011Applicant: FITEL USA CORP.Inventors: James William Fleming, Siu-Ping Hong, Paul Francis Glodis, Thomas John Miller, Zhi Zhou, David Kalish, Shunhe Xiong
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Publication number: 20100227035Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2009Publication date: September 9, 2010Inventors: Andrew Anthony Caridis, Thomas John Miller
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Patent number: 7712743Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 27, 2008Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Inventor: Thomas John Miller
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Publication number: 20100021602Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2008Publication date: January 28, 2010Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, John Macrae Silvester, Anthony Wade Morris, Thomas John Miller, Enrique Alejandro Leon
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Publication number: 20090274810Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2008Publication date: November 5, 2009Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, Anthony Wade Morris, Thomas John Miller
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Patent number: 7546750Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 15, 2003Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: Fitel USA Corp.Inventors: Kai H. Chang, David Kalish, Thomas John Miller
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Publication number: 20040221617Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2003Publication date: November 11, 2004Inventors: James William Fleming, Siu-Ping Hong, Paul Francis Glodis, Thomas John Miller, Zhi Zhou, David Kalish, Shunhe Xiong
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Patent number: 6776012Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 26, 2001Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: Fitel USA Corp.Inventors: Kai H Chang, David Kalish, Thomas John Miller
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Publication number: 20040144133Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2003Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventors: Joseph Patrick Fletcher, Thomas John Miller, Donovan Alphanso Guthrie
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Publication number: 20040011081Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2003Publication date: January 22, 2004Inventors: Kai H. Chang, David Kalish, Thomas John Miller
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Publication number: 20020197005Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2001Publication date: December 26, 2002Inventors: Kai H. Chang, David Kalish, Thomas John Miller
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Publication number: 20020194877Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2001Publication date: December 26, 2002Inventors: Kai H. Chang, David Kalish, Thomas John Miller