Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Smith

Thomas L. 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: 12139635
    Abstract: A circuit board water-proofing coating composition is provided comprising: at least one passivating agent, preferably containing a molecule comprising a thio-functional group, desirably a thiol group, an azolic moiety, or an azole, and combinations thereof; at least one binder component comprising an organic or inorganic film-forming polymer, and/or one or more polymer pre-cursors polymerizable on a substrate surface; and optionally one or more additive(s); also provided are methods of making and using the coating composition and coated circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: John L. Zimmerman, John D. McGee, Gregory T. Donaldson, Thomas S. Smith, II, William G. Kozak, Lisa K. Miller, Eric C. Kuhns
  • Patent number: 12110413
    Abstract: A circuit board water-proofing coating composition is provided comprising: at least one passivating agent, preferably containing a molecule comprising a thio-functional group, desirably a thiol group, an azolic moiety, or an azole, and combinations thereof; at least one binder component comprising an organic or inorganic film-forming polymer, and/or one or more polymer pre-cursors polymerizable on a substrate surface; and optionally one or more additive(s); also provided are methods of making and using the coating composition and coated circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: John L. Zimmerman, John D. McGee, Gregory T. Donaldson, Thomas S. Smith, II, William G. Kozak, Lisa K. Miller, Eric C. Kuhns
  • Patent number: 12085559
    Abstract: A plenum assembly configured for electrophysiology assays, such as patch clamp techniques, includes one or more ground electrode assemblies. The ground electrode assemblies are individually removable from a plenum base of the plenum assembly in a non-destructive manner, and may be reinstalled in the plenum base in a manner that reestablishes electrical contact with ground circuitry without requiring soldering or other additional steps. A rejuvenating apparatus is provided for rejuvenating one or more ground electrode assemblies removed from the plenum base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Molecular Devices, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas L. Smith, Edward Verdonk
  • Publication number: 20240269080
    Abstract: A process system and method for the making of articles, using an omnidirectional magnetic movement system with a transport surface and fabrication modules having a formation surface that can be transported omnidirectionally over the transport surface under the control of a movement controller. An article forming system provides process unit operations for forming articles onto the formation surface as the fabrication modules are moved asynchronously between a plurality of processing positions on the transport surface, and features a depositing device for placing a construction material onto the formation surface and one or more processing devices to form the construction material into the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas J. BRADBURY, Scott N. DANHOF, Jared T. EMERSON, Thomas D. HAUBERT, Jeffrey R. HELD, Steven Van Cleve KOROL, Grace M. LILLIE, James A. PRESCOTT, Jake M. PYZZA, Steven M. RISSER, Kenneth B. SCOTT, Frederick A. SEXTON, Kyle Edward SMITH, John P. TALLARICO, Jaedeok YOO, Kevin L. YUGULIS
  • Publication number: 20210325366
    Abstract: A plenum assembly configured for electrophysiology assays, such as patch clamp techniques, includes one or more ground electrode assemblies. The ground electrode assemblies are individually removable from a plenum base of the plenum assembly in a non-destructive manner, and may be reinstalled in the plenum base in a manner that reestablishes electrical contact with ground circuitry without requiring soldering or other additional steps. A rejuvenating apparatus is provided for rejuvenating one or more ground electrode assemblies removed from the plenum base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: Molecular Devices, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas L. Smith, Edward Verdonk
  • Patent number: 11067563
    Abstract: A plenum assembly configured for electrophysiology assays, such as patch clamp techniques, includes one or more ground electrode assemblies. The ground electrode assemblies are individually removable from a plenum base of the plenum assembly in a non-destructive manner, and may be reinstalled in the plenum base in a manner that reestablishes electrical contact with ground circuitry without requiring soldering or other additional steps. A rejuvenating apparatus is provided for rejuvenating one or more ground electrode assemblies removed from the plenum base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Molecular Devices, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas L. Smith, Edward Verdonk
  • Patent number: 10919655
    Abstract: A packaging system includes a first sealer and a gas flusher. The first sealer creates a first seal in packaging material along a direction of travel of the packaging material, thereby forming a packaging loop. The gas flusher flushes ambient air from the packaging loop and includes a mechanically retractable lance that can be selectively repositioned relative to the first sealer. When the mechanically retractable lance is in an operative position, the mechanically retractable lance projects into the packaging loop, with a gas flowing through the mechanically retractable lance into the packaging loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph A Stenvik, Emil Bogdanov, Thomas L Smith
  • Publication number: 20200247567
    Abstract: A packaging system includes a first sealer and a gas flusher. The first sealer creates a first seal in packaging material along a direction of travel of the packaging material, thereby forming a packaging loop. The gas flusher flushes ambient air from the packaging loop and includes a mechanically retractable lance that can be selectively repositioned relative to the first sealer. When the mechanically retractable lance is in an operative position, the mechanically retractable lance projects into the packaging loop, with a gas flowing through the mechanically retractable lance into the packaging loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph A Stenvik, Emil Bogdanov, Thomas L Smith
  • Patent number: 10434213
    Abstract: Provided herein are keratin compositions (e.g., keratin gels, scaffolds, particulates, and the like) including a compound of interest, useful for release and/or delivery of the compound of interest (e.g., in vivo or in vitro). In some embodiments, the composition is a composition formulated for controlled release of the compound of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
    Inventors: Mark E. Van Dyke, Justin M. Saul, Thomas L. Smith, Roche de Guzman
  • Patent number: 10148266
    Abstract: A switching circuit for controlling supply of electrical power from a power pole input to a power pole output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. White, Stephen M. Spiteri, Thomas L. Smith
  • Patent number: 9671301
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of sensing pressure in a region of interest by providing a plurality of metallic particles operatively associated with one another in the region of interest (for example, wherein the metallic particles sustain a plasmon upon excitation), and with the metallic particles configured or positioned in relationship to one another so that a physical property of the particles (for example, the energy of the plasmon) varies in response to pressure; measuring the physical property of the metallic particles that varies in response to pressure; and then determining the pressure in the region of interest from the detected physical property (e.g., resistance, energy of the plasmon). Compositions, articles and formulations for carrying out the method in industrial and biomedical applications are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
    Inventors: David L. Carroll, Faith M. Coldren, Nicole H. Levi, Lawrence X. Webb, William D. Wagner, Thomas L. Smith, Brian Werner, J. Baxter Mcguirt, Manoj Namboothiry
  • Patent number: 9646468
    Abstract: System, including methods and apparatus, for sample processing. In exemplary embodiments, the system comprises a plurality of devices to perform a protocol on sample holders supporting samples, and also comprises a control system that coordinates operation of the plurality of devices, such that the protocol is performed automatically. Each device of at least two of the plurality of devices may have one or more status lights configured to display a plurality of different visual indicators each indicating a different status of the device. The at least two devices may utilize a same indicator scheme as one another for each different status indicated by the visual indicators. In some embodiments, the indicator scheme is user-configurable. In some embodiments, the one or more status lights of at least one device are provided by one or more recessed light-emitting strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Molecular Devices, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas L. Smith, Grischa Chandy, Timothy Arthur Floto, Evan F. Cromwell
  • Publication number: 20170089882
    Abstract: A plenum assembly configured for electrophysiology assays, such as patch clamp techniques, includes one or more ground electrode assemblies. The ground electrode assemblies are individually removable from a plenum base of the plenum assembly in a non-destructive manner, and may be reinstalled in the plenum base in a manner that reestablishes electrical contact with ground circuitry without requiring soldering or other additional steps. A rejuvenating apparatus is provided for rejuvenating one or more ground electrode assemblies removed from the plenum base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas L. Smith, Edward Verdonk
  • Publication number: 20170046928
    Abstract: System, including methods and apparatus, for sample processing. In exemplary embodiments, the system comprises a plurality of devices to perform a protocol on sample holders supporting samples, and also comprises a control system that coordinates operation of the plurality of devices, such that the protocol is performed automatically. Each device of at least two of the plurality of devices may have one or more status lights configured to display a plurality of different visual indicators each indicating a different status of the device. The at least two devices may utilize a same indicator scheme as one another for each different status indicated by the visual indicators. In some embodiments, the indicator scheme is user-configurable. In some embodiments, the one or more status lights of at least one device are provided by one or more recessed light-emitting strips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas L. Smith, Grischa Chandy, Timothy Arthur Floto, Evan F. Cromwell
  • Publication number: 20160089139
    Abstract: Provided herein are protective devices that can fully capture and enclose a needle for a medical procedure, e.g., a swedged suture needle, such that the needle may safely remain attached to a wound or surgical site via suture material but also prevent accidental needle-stick injuries to medical personnel and patients. Such devices may be employed for temporary or longer periods of time while other phases related to the medical procedure transpire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: L. Andrew Koman, Thomas L. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140045670
    Abstract: An automated centrifuge apparatus for conducting a cell preparation procedure is provided. A rotor assembly supports centrifuge tubes, which are installable at respective tube positions. The tube positions are indexable to an index location. A sensing module monitors the index location during a set of status checks, which relate to the centrifuge tubes. Logic signals generated by the sensing module are used to automatically determine whether the status checks are satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: MOLECULAR DEVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas L. Smith, Bryan Wade, Edward Verdonk
  • Publication number: 20130344056
    Abstract: Provided herein are keratin compositions useful for treating ischemia and/or reperfusion injury, such as that associated with myocardial infarct, ischemic stroke, brain trauma such as traumatic brain injury, hypothermia, chronic wounds, and burns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
    Inventors: Mark E. Van Dyke, Thomas L. Smith, Michael Callahan, Luke Burnett
  • Patent number: 8545893
    Abstract: Provided herein are keratin compositions useful for treating ischemia and/or reperfusion injury, such as that associated with myocardial infarct, ischemic stroke, brain trauma such as traumatic brain injury, hypothermia, chronic wounds, and burns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
    Inventors: Mark E. Van Dyke, Thomas L. Smith, Michael Callahan, Luke Burnett
  • Publication number: 20110217356
    Abstract: Provided herein are keratin compositions (e.g., keratin gels, scaffolds, particulates, and the like) including a compound of interest, useful for release and/or delivery of the compound of interest (e.g., in vivo or in vitro). In some embodiments, the composition is a composition formulated for controlled release of the compound of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Mark E. Van Dyke, Justin M. Saul, Thomas L. Smith, Roche de Guzman
  • Patent number: D744880
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Molecular Devices, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas L. Smith, Grischa Chandy, Nicholas F. Talesfore, Joseph McArdle