Patents - stay tuned to the technology

Inventors list

Assignees list

Classification tree browser

Top 100 Inventors

Top 100 Assignees


Mckinzie, US

Abasi Hasani Mckinzie, Memphis, TN US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100244379Nine Square--Tic-Tac-Toe game - An embodiment of a gameboard with a playing surface divided into at least nine squares. There are a plurality of writing/playing cards of at least two sets that have an X on the back of one set and an O on the back of the other set. The writing/playing cards have a writing surface on the front of both sets in which players write words to complete fill-in-the-blank sentences. The back of the writing/playing cards, which are marked with an X or an O, is utilized to participate in playing the game of “Tic-Tac-Toe” after a correct response is given for the fill-in-the-blank sentence.09-30-2010

Billy John Mckinzie, Houston, TX US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100108310OFFSET BARRIER WELLS IN SUBSURFACE FORMATIONS - A plurality of first barrier wells are formed in a formation for a first barrier. A substantially constant spacing separates adjacent first barrier wells. The formation is analyzed to determine the principal fracture direction of at least one layer of the formation. An offset distance of second barrier wells relative to first barrier wells is determined based on the principal fracture direction to limit a maximum separation distance between a closest barrier well and a theoretical fracture extending between the first barrier and the second barrier along the principal fracture direction to a distance of less than one half of the spacing that separates adjacent first barrier wells. The second barrier wells are offset from the first barrier wells by a distance that is at least substantially the same as the offset distance.05-06-2010

Bradley K. Mckinzie, Spartanburg, SC US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090120705Shoe with retractable motorized wheels - A pair of shoes is provided having retractable motorized wheels. Each of the shoes has an upper, a sole, and first and second wheels mounted on the sole and movable from a retracted to an extended position. When the wheels are in an extended position, at least one wheel of one of the shoes engages a battery-powered, DC motor mounted on the shoe. The motor is controlled by a hand-held throttle. A latching mechanism engages to secure the wheels in the desired position. The shoes may be used for skating, with and without power assistance, with the wheels in an extended position, and may be used for walking, with the wheels in a retracted position.05-14-2009

Chris Mckinzie, Lakeway, TX US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20130268526DISCOVERY ENGINE - A searching/discovery engine is disclosed wherein the searching methodology may involve selecting at least one category of sources; selecting at least one source (i.e. a collection of documents) within at least one category of sources; utilizing search terms to search the at least one source; returning related documents from the at least one source based on the search terms; collecting any of the related documents into a collection; permitting at least one related document returned to be selected for a further search utilizing the entire text of the at least one related document as the search criteria in a selected source to return additional related documents; and exporting the collection of related documents by creating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with all of the collected related documents stored at a location referenced in the URL.10-10-2013
20140236941DISCOVERY ENGINE - A method that is relatively inexpensive to implement and that permits a user to conduct searches of electronically stored documents using an entire document, multiple documents or portions of a document as the search criteria and to collect, store and to share the relevant documents from the search.08-21-2014

Christopher Mckinzie, Lakeway, TX US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20120215614SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDING RELEVANT OFFERS TO CUSTOMERS - Disclosed is a method including determining, by a computer based system for managing a rewards program, an assignment for transaction account data associated with a first transaction account. Thereafter, the first transaction account is assigned to a first population of a plurality of populations based on the transaction account data. Thereafter, an offer comprising an offer criteria is received from an offeror. Thereafter, the offer criteria is analyzed to identify a subset of the plurality of populations. The subset comprises the first population. Thereafter, the offer is communicated to the subset of the population.08-23-2012

Christopher W. Mckinzie, Lakeway, TX US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20120158500METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MATCHING SELLERS WITH BUYERS - Methods, systems and computer readable medium are provided for matching providers with potential buyers. According to one method, custom proposed merchant offerings are established from merchant offerings data, stored in a database, based at least in part on at least one of a profile and transaction history of a first entity. The custom proposed merchant offerings are organized into a subset of proposed merchant offerings based, at least in part, on the transaction history of the first entity. The method further includes organizing the subset of proposed merchant offerings further based, at least in part, on geographic location to create an organized subset of proposed merchant offerings. The organized subset of proposed merchant offerings is presented to the first entity through a user interface.06-21-2012
20130090985System and Method for Assessing Viability and Marketability of Assets - Systems and methods for assessing viability and marketability of an asset are provided. In exemplary embodiments, an asset assessment system receives disclosure information for the asset. The disclosure information comprises information indicating at least one taxonomy segment associated with the asset. An attribute grade may then determined based on the disclosure information, while a market grade may be determined based on market data for the at least one taxonomy segment. A final grade based on the attribute grade and the market grade is then calculated. This final grade provides an indication of the viability and marketability of the asset. The final grade may then be output.04-11-2013
20140046827SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FRAUD DETECTION USING A COOPERATIVE DATA EXCHANGE - A method is provided comprising receiving, at a first node, transactional data associated with a consumer (wherein the first node comprises a processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory), receiving, at the first node, a credit approval request associated with the consumer, wherein the credit approval request is associated with a proposed transaction, determining, by the first node, whether the transactional data conforms with the proposed transaction, and at least one of approving and denying the credit approval request in response to the determination.02-13-2014

Patent applications by Christopher W. Mckinzie, Lakeway, TX US

David Lee Mckinzie, Whitestown, IN US

Keith J. Mckinzie, Two Harbors, MN US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100083951Interior Solar Heater - A solar heater includes a plurality of suspended vertical components that cover at least a portion of an interior side of a window and have open top and bottom ends. Each suspended vertical component has a heat absorbing body position within the transparent sheath. The heat absorbing body is located a first spaced distance from the inner sheath surface of a first side portion of the sheath and a second spaced distance from the inner sheath surface of a second side portion of the sheath. The open bottom end of the sheath receives cool ambient air that is heated while passing between the heat absorbing body and the inner sheath surface of the first side portion and between the heat absorbing body and the inner sheath surface of the second side portion. The open top end of the sheath exhausts the heated air to an interior space of a building.04-08-2010

Kyle K. Mckinzie, Altamont, KS US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20130196812FLEXIBLE AND SCALABLE MULTI-RATIO PLANETARY TRANSMISSION - The present disclosure provides a multi-ratio scalable transmission system for multiple vehicle configurations. The system includes an input disposed along a first axis configured to receive torque from a variable speed propulsion device and an output disposed along a second axis and coupled to the input. The system further includes a selectably engageable clutch coupled between the input and output and a planetary unit coupled to both the input and the output, where the planetary unit includes at least one planetary gearset and a brake. The system is configurable based on a particular vehicle configuration such that the first axis and second axis can be coaxial or non-coaxial.08-01-2013
20130248274Work Machine With Compact Generator And Hydraulic Drive Assembly - A work machine in which the engine and power output system is to be contained within a minimal volume in an engine compartment. A gear housing is mounted to and receives the output of the internal combustion engine and has side by side gears meshing with a first input gear, one of which drives a generator and the other drives an internal lubricant pump as well as an external hydraulic pump. The gears are in substantially the same plane. The output of the generator is connected via a controller to a motor which drives a transmission system for driving the wheels of the vehicle. The gear housing permits placement of additional components within the engine compartment while taking up a minimum volume.09-26-2013
20130300250Stator Lamination Stack Indexing And Retention - An electrical device including a housing having an inner surface, a lamination assembly and at least one pin extending from an inner surface of the housing. The lamination assembly has at least one slot therein. The lamination assembly is clocked to a position so that the at least one pin coacts with the at least one slot to rotationally orient the lamination assembly. The at least one pin additionally acts to constrain the lamination assembly from axial removal from the housing thereby rotationally and axially limiting movement of the lamination assembly to a predetermined range of movement within the housing.11-14-2013
20130313928Electric Machine Rotor Cooling Method - An electric motor coupled to a driven device of a vehicle. The electric motor includes a rotor and a shaft coupled to the rotor. The rotor has at least one radially oriented cavity and at least one fluid channel. The fluid channel extends in a generally axial direction. The fluid channel is fluidly connected to the at least one radially oriented cavity. The shaft has a fluid passageway therein. The at least one radially oriented cavity has a fluid connection to the fluid passageway of the shaft. The at least one radially oriented cavity leads to a radial exit from the rotor for a flow of fluid therefrom.11-28-2013
20140015355Electric Machine Cooling Arrangement And Method - An electric machine coupled to a driven device in a vehicle, the electric machine including a stator and a housing containing the stator. The housing has at least one cooling channel around at least a portion of an internal circumference of the housing. The cooling channel is defined by a first housing portion and a second housing portion, the first housing portion being sealed to the second housing portion.01-16-2014
20140167559ELECTRIC MACHINE STATOR SECURING METHOD - A vehicle including a movable element and an electric machine either driving or being driven by the movable element. The electric machine having first and second housing portions and a stator. The second housing portion is engaged with the first housing portion. The stator being coupled to the first housing portion and the second housing portion by way of compressive force applied to the stator by and between the first housing portion and the second housing portion.06-19-2014

Marc Mckinzie, West Milton, OH US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20150115849SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PAUSING AND RESUMING AN OPERATION OF A MOTOR - A motor controller coupled to a motor is described. The motor controller includes a computing device configured to receive a first command designating a duration during which to operate the motor. The computing device is further configured to operate the motor during a first portion of the designated duration, receive a second command to pause the operation of the motor, in response to receiving the second command, pause the operation of the motor, receive a third command to resume the operation of the motor, and in response to receiving the third command, resume the operation of the motor for a second portion of the designated duration.04-30-2015
20150120062SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING A MOTOR CONTROLLER TO COMMUNICATE USING MULTIPLE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS - A motor controller including a communication port and a computing device coupled to the communication port is described. The computing device is capable of communicating using a plurality of communication protocols and is configured to detect that an external device has connected to the communication port. The computing device is further configured to identify a first communication protocol used by the external device, wherein the first communication protocol is one of the plurality of communication protocols, and communicate with the external device using the first communication protocol.04-30-2015

Marc C. Mckinzie, West Milton, OH US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20130104306INTEGRATED AUXILIARY LOAD CONTROL AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME05-02-2013
20140247002MOTOR ASSEMBLY WITH INTEGRATED ON/OFF DETECTION WITH SPEED PROFILE OPERATION - A motor assembly coupled to an external alternating voltage input, the motor assembly comprising a motor including a stator and a rotor rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The motor assembly further includes a circuit assembly, the circuit assembly having a state detector operable to detect the state of the external alternating voltage input and a control unit operable to control the motor based on the state of the external alternating voltage input detected by the state detector. The motor assembly also includes a housing substantially encasing the motor, and the circuit assembly.09-04-2014
20140277774SCHEDULE ADVANCE FOR PUMP MOTOR CONTROLLER - Methods and systems of controlling the operation of a pump according to a pump operation schedule are described. In one constructions, a pump controller enters a programming mode and monitors a number of inputs received through a user interface while in the programming mode. The programming mode is then exited and a delay time is defined equal to one hour for each input received through the user interface while in the programming mode. A stored pump operation schedule is accessed and operation of the pump is initiated according to the pump operation schedule after a period of time equal to the delay time has elapsed since exiting the programming mode. Operation of the pump is again initiated according to the accessed pump operation schedule every twenty-four hours since the pump operation schedule was last initiated.09-18-2014
20140277775USER-INTERFACE FOR PUMP SYSTEM - A pump system including a motor, a user-interface, and a controller. The user-interface having a single bar graph comprised of light-emitting diodes to provide visual feedback to an operator. The bar graph is used for programming purposes and for providing a motor speed and run duration status to the operator.09-18-2014
20140277776SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A PUMP SYSTEM USING INTEGRATED DIGITAL INPUTS - A pump system including a motor, a fluid pump powered by the motor, a user-interface, and a controller. The controller including a user-interface input electrically coupled to the user-interface, a serial communication input, a digital input having a plurality of digital input pins sharing a common ground pin, a processor, and a computer readable memory. The computer readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to receive an operating signal simultaneously from the serial communication input and the digital input, and control the motor based on one of the operating signal from the serial communication input and the operating signal from the digital input.09-18-2014

Michael E. Mckinzie, St. Louis, MO US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100005000Advertising sales tool - Online and paper-based telephone directory advertisement effectiveness may be determined and presented. A user interface may receive input, such as an advertisement characteristic. The advertisement characteristic may be part of an advertising mix including paper-based telephone directory advertisements and/or an online telephone directory advertisements. A processor may determine one or more effectiveness metrics, such as monthly call counts. The effectiveness metrics may be based on metered telephone directory listing information, generated by placing a number of unique metered telephone numbers in advertisements, recording data associated with calls made to these unique metered telephone numbers, and statistically processing the recorded data to generate models of how various advertisement types and characteristics have performed. The user interface may interactively present the metric and a sample advertisement that is in accordance with the inputted characteristic. The metric may include a return on investment calculation, providing an evidence-based, value proposition.01-07-2010

Todd Mckinzie, Goodrich, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090021039VEHICLE GATE ASSEMBLY WITH CARGO TRAY - A vehicle gate assembly for a vehicle that includes a first coupling member that is movably coupled to the vehicle. The vehicle gate assembly also includes a second coupling member and a gate that is movably coupled to the vehicle via the first coupling member so as to move between a raised position and a lowered position. The gate moves away from the vehicle when moving from the raised position to the lowered position. The gate assembly also includes a tray assembly that is movably supported by the vehicle, so as to move between a retracted position and an extended position. The tray assembly is coupled to the gate via the second coupling member such that movement of the gate between the raised and towered position coincidentally moves the tray assembly between the extended position and the retracted position.01-22-2009

William Mckinzie, Fulton, MD US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110063042TUNABLE MICROWAVE DEVICES WITH AUTO-ADJUSTING MATCHING CIRCUIT - An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an input port and a dynamic impedance matching network capable of determining a mismatch at the input port and dynamically changing the RF match by using at least one matching element that includes at least one voltage tunable dielectric capacitor. The matching network may be a “Pi”, a “T”, or “ladder” type network and the apparatus may further comprise at least one directional coupler capable of signal collection by sampling a portion of an incident signal, a reflected signal or both. In an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus may also include a control and power control & logic unit (PC LU) to convert input analog signals into digital signals and sensing VSWR phase and magnitude and processing the digital signals using an algorithm to give it a voltage value and wherein the voltage values may be compared to values coming from the coupler and once compared and matched, the values may be passed to a Hi Voltage Application Specific Integrated Circuit (HV ASIC) to transfer and distribute compensatory voltages to the matching network elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.03-17-2011

Patent applications by William Mckinzie, Fulton, MD US

William E. Mckinzie, Fulton, MD US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100085260Adaptively tunable antennas and method of operation therefore - An embodiment of the present invention is a method, comprising improving the radiated harmonic distortion of a transmitting antenna system by sensing the RF voltage present on a variable reactance network within the antenna system; controlling the bias signal presented to the variable reactance network; and maximizing the RF voltage present on the variable reactance network.04-08-2010
20120154975Thin film capacitors - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a first solid electrode, a second electrode separated into subsections, and a dielectric medium separating the subsections from the first solid electrode, where the subsections of the second electrode include a first group of subsections and a second group of subsections, where the first group of subsections are connectable with a first terminal for receiving an input signal, and where the second group of subsections is connectable with a second terminal for providing an output signal. Other embodiments are disclosed.06-21-2012
20120157026ADAPTIVELY TUNABLE ANTENNAS INCORPORATING AN EXTERNAL PROBE TO MONITOR RADIATED POWER - An embodiment of the present invention an apparatus, comprising an apparatus, comprising an adaptively-tuned antenna including a variable reactance network connected to the antenna, an RF field probe located near the antenna, an RF detector to sense voltage from the field probe, a controller that monitors the RF voltage and supplies control signals to a driver circuit and wherein the driver circuit converts the control signals to bias signals for the variable reactance network.06-21-2012
20130127561Tunable Microwave Devices with Auto-Adjusting Matching Circuit - An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an impedance matching circuit including a matching network. The matching network includes a first port and a second port, and one or more variable reactance components. The one or more variable reactance components are operable to receive one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable reactance components to change an impedance of the matching network. At least one of the one or more variable reactance components includes a first conductor coupled to one of the first port or the second port of the matching network, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor. Additionally, at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor are adapted to receive the one or more variable voltage signals to cause the change in the impedance of the matching network. Additional embodiments are disclosed.05-23-2013
20130169493Tunable Microwave Devices with Auto-Adjusting Matching Circuit - An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a variable impedance circuit including an antenna having a tunable component. The tunable component can be operable to receive a variable signal to cause the tunable component to change an impedance of the antenna. The tunable component can include a first conductor coupled to the antenna, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, where at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the variable signal to cause the change in the impedance of the antenna. Additional embodiments are disclosed.07-04-2013
20140015619METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADAPTIVE IMPEDANCE MATCHING - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an adaptive impedance matching network having an RF matching network coupled to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and comprising one or more controllable variable reactive elements. The RF matching network can be adapted to reduce a level of reflected power transferred from said at least one input port by varying signals applied to said controllable variable reactive elements. The one or more controllable variable reactive elements can be coupled to a circuit adapted to map one or more control signals that are output from a controller to a signal range that is compatible with said one or more controllable variable reactive elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.01-16-2014
20140118205TUNABLE MICROWAVE DEVICES WITH AUTO-ADJUSTING MATCHING CIRCUIT - An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a circuit including an antenna having a tunable component. The tunable component can be operable to receive a variable signal to cause the tunable component to change a reactance of the antenna. The tunable component can include a first conductor coupled to the antenna, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, where at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the variable signal to cause the change in the reactance of the antenna. Additional embodiments are disclosed.05-01-2014
20140145902ADAPTIVE IMPEDANCE MATCHING APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH IMPROVED DYNAMIC RANGE - An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising' an RF matching network connected to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and 5 including one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements; a voltage detector connected to the at least one RF output port via a variable voltage divider to determine the voltage at the at least one RF output port and provide voltage information to a controller that controls a bias driving circuit which provides voltage or current bias to the RF matching network; a variable voltage divider connected to the voltage detector and implemented using a 10 multi-pole RF switch to select one of a plurality of different resistance ratios to improve the dynamic range of the apparatus; and wherein the RF matching network is adapted to maximize RF power transferred from the at least one RF input port to the at least one RF output port by varying the voltage or current to the voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to maximize the RF voltage at the at least one RF output port.05-29-2014
20150042537TUNABLE MICROWAVE DEVICES WITH AUTO-ADJUSTING MATCHING CIRCUIT - An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an impedance matching circuit including a matching network. The matching network includes a first port and a second port, and one or more variable reactance components. The one or more variable reactance components are operable to receive one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable reactance components to change an impedance of the matching network. At least one of the one or more variable reactance components includes a first conductor coupled to one of the first port or the second port of the matching network, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor. Additionally, at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor are adapted to receive the one or more variable voltage signals to cause the change in the impedance of the matching network. Additional embodiments are disclosed.02-12-2015

Patent applications by William E. Mckinzie, Fulton, MD US

Website © 2015 Advameg, Inc.