Patents by Inventor William A. Johnson

William A. Johnson 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: 9687004
    Abstract: A device for removing skin from meat cuts of irregular thickness is presented. The device for removing skin from meat cuts includes an overhead roller having a drive roller and a pair of idler rollers rotatably mounted to a pair of support plates. The device further includes a belt extending around the driver roller and pair of idler rollers. A support shaft extends between the support plates within a loop of the belt. A plurality of resistive devices are attached to the hold down members to provide varying resistance when a meat product is lifted into contact with the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Marel Meat Processing Inc.
    Inventors: Colin R. Hart, Matthew A. Bergman, William A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9545115
    Abstract: An automatic skinning mechanism having an inlet conveyor, a take away conveyor, a skinning mechanism and a hold down mechanism that removes pressure form a food product as the skinning mechanism begins skinning food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Marvel Meat Processing Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Bergman, Stephen H. Cate, Joseph A. Gross, Colin R. Hart, William A. Johnson, Ryan J. Rohe
  • Publication number: 20160309727
    Abstract: An automatic skinning mechanism having an inlet conveyor, a take away conveyor, a skinning mechanism and a hold down mechanism that removes pressure form a food product as the skinning mechanism begins skinning food product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew A. Bergman, Stephen H. Cate, Joseph A. Gross, Colin R. Hart, William A. Johnson, Ryan J. Rohe
  • Patent number: 9374887
    Abstract: Resonances can be tuned in dielectric resonators in order to construct single-resonator, negative-index metamaterials. For example, high-contrast inclusions in the form of metallic dipoles can be used to shift the first electric resonance down (in frequency) to the first magnetic resonance, or alternatively, air splits can be used to shift the first magnetic resonance up (in frequency) near the first electric resonance. Degenerate dielectric designs become especially useful in infrared- or visible-frequency applications where the resonator sizes associated with the lack of high-permittivity materials can become of sufficient size to enable propagation of higher-order lattice modes in the resulting medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Larry K. Warne, Lorena I. Basilio, William L. Langston, William A. Johnson, Jon Ihlefeld, James C. Ginn, III, Paul G. Clem, Michael B. Sinclair
  • Publication number: 20140378039
    Abstract: A device for removing skin from meat cuts of irregular thickness is presented. The device for removing skin from meat cuts includes an overhead roller having a drive roller and a pair of idler rollers rotatably mounted to a pair of support plates. The device further includes a belt extending around the driver roller and pair of idler rollers. A support shaft extends between the support plates within a loop of the belt. A plurality of resistive devices are attached to the hold down members to provide varying resistance when a meat product is lifted into contact with the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Colin R. Hart, Matthew A. Bergman, William A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8781067
    Abstract: The present application is directed toward an X-ray scanning system having a plurality of detectors and a controller, where a) the controller is configured to receive and identify a minimum X-ray transmission level detected by at least one detector, b) the controller compares the minimum X-ray transmission level to at least one predetermined threshold transmission level, and c) based on said comparison, the controller generates an adjustment signal. The present application further comprises an X-ray source, where the X-ray source receives an adjustment signal and is configured to adjust an X-ray pulse duration based on the adjustment signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Rapiscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Willem G. J. Langeveld, William A. Johnson, Roger D. Owen, Russell G. Schonberg
  • Patent number: 8660282
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology provide improved amplification circuits and hearing aids that can utilize such amplification circuits. In an embodiment, for example, an amplification circuit includes: a first sub circuit configured to create a voltage drop when a supply voltage is above a first voltage; and a second sub circuit configured to create a reverse voltage drop when the supply voltage is below a second voltage, wherein the first and second sub circuits operate to maintain idling current within a range. Certain embodiments of the present technology also provide hearing aids that include removable dampers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Etymotic Research, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Johnson, Mead C. Killion
  • Patent number: 8437448
    Abstract: The present application is directed toward an X-ray scanning system having a plurality of detectors and a controller, where a) the controller is configured to receive and identify a minimum X-ray transmission level detected by at least one detector, b) the controller compares the minimum X-ray transmission level to at least one predetermined threshold transmission level, and c) based on said comparison, the controller generates an adjustment signal. The present application further comprises an X-ray source, where the X-ray source receives an adjustment signal and is configured to adjust an X-ray pulse duration based on the adjustment signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Rapiscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Willem G. J. Langeveld, William A. Johnson, Roger D. Owen, Russell G. Schonberg
  • Publication number: 20120257719
    Abstract: The present application is directed toward an X-ray scanning system having a plurality of detectors and a controller, where a) the controller is configured to receive and identify a minimum X-ray transmission level detected by at least one detector, b) the controller compares the minimum X-ray transmission level to at least one predetermined threshold transmission level, and c) based on said comparison, the controller generates an adjustment signal. The present application further comprises an X-ray source, where the X-ray source receives an adjustment signal and is configured to adjust an X-ray pulse duration based on the adjustment signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Willem G.J. Langeveld, William A. Johnson, Roger D. Owen, Russell G. Schonberg
  • Publication number: 20120170780
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology provide improved amplification circuits and hearing aids that can utilize such amplification circuits. In an embodiment, for example, an amplification circuit includes: a first sub circuit configured to create a voltage drop when a supply voltage is above a first voltage; and a second sub circuit configured to create a reverse voltage drop when the supply voltage is below a second voltage, wherein the first and second sub circuits operate to maintain idling current within a range. Certain embodiments of the present technology also provide hearing aids that include removable dampers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: ETYMOTIC RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: William A. Johnson, Mead C. Killion
  • Patent number: 8202219
    Abstract: A method for the assessment of various properties of bone is provided. The method includes applying a pair of ultrasound transducers to skin on opposite sides of the bone and generating an ultrasound signal and directing the signal through both the bone to obtain a bone output signal. The method further includes establishing a set of parameters associated with the bone output signal and then further processing the parameters in order to obtain the desired bone property. Two novel parameters are also disclosed, namely the net time delay (NTD) and mean time duration (MTD) parameters. An apparatus for the assessment of various properties of bone is also provided. The apparatus includes a pair of ultrasound transducers which may be single-element transducers or array transducers in any combination. The apparatus further includes various computer hardware components and computer software for generating and directing the ultrasound signal, establishing the parameter set and performing the processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: CyberLogic, Inc.
    Inventors: Gangming Luo, Robert S. Siffert, William A. Johnson, Ronald L. Altman, Jonathan J. Kaufman
  • Patent number: 8160284
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology provide improved amplification circuits and hearing aids that can utilize such amplification circuits. In an embodiment, for example, an amplification circuit includes: a first sub circuit configured to create a voltage drop when a supply voltage is above a first voltage; and a second sub circuit configured to create a reverse voltage drop when the supply voltage is below a second voltage, wherein the first and second sub circuits operate to maintain idling current within a range. Certain embodiments of the present technology also provide hearing aids that include removable dampers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Etymotic Research, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Johnson, Mead C. Killion
  • Patent number: 8054937
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an X-ray scanning system having a plurality of detectors and a controller, where a) the controller is configured to receive and identify a minimum X-ray transmission level detected by at least one detector, b) the controller compares the minimum X-ray transmission level to at least one predetermined threshold transmission level, and c) based on said comparison, the controller generates an adjustment signal. The present invention further comprises an X-ray source, where the X-ray source receives an adjustment signal and is configured to adjust an X-ray pulse duration based on the adjustment signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Rapiscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Willem G. J. Langeveld, William A. Johnson, Roger D. Owen, Russell G. Schonberg
  • Publication number: 20100061576
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology provide improved amplification circuits and hearing aids that can utilize such amplification circuits. In an embodiment, for example, an amplification circuit includes: a first sub circuit configured to create a voltage drop when a supply voltage is above a first voltage; and a second sub circuit configured to create a reverse voltage drop when the supply voltage is below a second voltage, wherein the first and second sub circuits operate to maintain idling current within a range. Certain embodiments of the present technology also provide hearing aids that include removable dampers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: William A. Johnson, Mead C. Killion
  • Publication number: 20100034355
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an X-ray scanning system having a plurality of detectors and a controller, where a) the controller is configured to receive and identify a minimum X-ray transmission level detected by at least one detector, b) the controller compares the minimum X-ray transmission level to at least one predetermined threshold transmission level, and c) based on said comparison, the controller generates an adjustment signal. The present invention further comprises an X-ray source, where the X-ray source receives an adjustment signal and is configured to adjust an X-ray pulse duration based on the adjustment signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Willem G.J. Langeveld, William A. Johnson, Roger D. Owen, Russell G. Schonberg
  • Patent number: 7293779
    Abstract: A gasket includes an intermediate layer having resilient sealing beads flanked by stopper beads. The three-layer gasket, particularly designed for heavy duty racing engines, provides a relatively robust cross-section in web-areas between cylinder bore apertures. A thin bottom layer includes wrap-around flanged portions extending about cylinder bore edges of the intermediate layer to partially overlap cylinder bore aperture areas of that layer. The flanged portions may include a plurality of waves to increase forces to generate the seal. A thin top layer overlies the intermediate layer, as well as the overlapping portions of the bottom layer. In one described embodiment, the overlapping portions are limited to cylinder bore edges between cylinder bores. As a between-engine-overhaul indication of engine health, the top gasket layer is adapted via plastic deformation to form a permanent indentation in an aluminum cylinder head to signal excessive engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Josefino T. Inciong, William A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6962345
    Abstract: A gasket includes an intermediate layer having resilient sealing beads flanked by stopper beads. The three-layer gasket, particularly designed for heavy duty racing engines, provides a relatively robust cross-section in web-areas between cylinder bore apertures. A thin bottom layer includes wrap-around flanged portions extending about cylinder bore edges of the intermediate layer to partially overlap cylinder bore aperture areas of that layer. The flanged portions include a plurality of waves to increase forces to generate the seal. A thin top layer overlies the intermediate layer, as well as the overlapping portions of the bottom layer. In one described embodiment, the overlapping portions are limited to cylinder bore edges between cylinder bores. As a between-engine-overhaul indication of engine health, the top gasket layer is adapted via plastic deformation to form a permanent indentation in an aluminum cylinder head to signal excessive engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Josefino T. Inciong, William A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6793120
    Abstract: An electrical connector is soldered or affixed to a conductive element of a glass sheet of a vehicular window via radiation heating of a layer of solder with an infrared radiative heating device. The heating device may include an infrared lamp and a reflector, which functions to direct the radiant energy from the lamp to a target region generally corresponding with the location of the solder layer between the electrical connector and the conductive element. The heating device is operable to rapidly and substantially heat the solder layer to a desired temperature to melt the solder layer, while substantially limiting directing of heat to the glass sheet. The electrical connector may be affixed at a vehicular or modular window assembly plant, such that the glass sheet may be transported from a glass manufacturing plant to the vehicular or modular window assembly plant without the electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6723960
    Abstract: A heater device for orthopedic splints is organized in a portable container to preheat plastic splint sheets for immediate use in forming various shapes to fit and to stabilize the injured body portion of the patient. The heater is incorporated in a container having heating elements, a temperature controller, a cut-out sensor, and a supply of plastic orthopedic splint sheets inside. A control panel outside contains a power-on indicator lamp, a heater-on indicator lamp, and a temperature dial control or a toggle switch having multiple preset temperature settings. An AC power input element is on one side of the container. A supply of plastic splint sheets are contained in a separate inner compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventors: Arthur DiMartino, William A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6722871
    Abstract: The present invention includes a device for dispensing food products such as ice cream, yogurt, sherbet, sorbet, whipped topping, cheesecake filling, pudding and the like comprising a scoop having a channel portion with a tapered, semi-circular cross section along a curved axis. The scoop is designed to be mounted on or adjacent to a container of food product and to extend substantially across one half of the opening of the container. The scoop may be mounted to the container with the smaller cross-sectional area mounted adjacent to the sidewall of the container and with the larger cross-sectional area mounted proximate the center of the container. Alternatively, the scoop may be mounted with the larger cross-sectional area adjacent the sidewall and with the smaller cross-sectional area mounted proximate the center of the container. The cross-sectional area of the channel portion in either case is tapered from end to end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Jim Dandy, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Howe, William A. Johnson