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Albers, US

Chad Albers, Minneapolis, MN US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080290178TRANSACTION CARD WITH THERMOCHROMIC FEATURE - A transaction card includes a substrate and a thermochromic feature. The substrate defines a first surface and includes an account identifier linking the transaction card to at least one of an account and a record. The account identifier is machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal. The thermochromic feature portrays a character on a portion of the first surface. The thermochromic feature is configured to change between a first state and a second state when an actual temperature of the thermochromic feature reaches an activation temperature of the thermochromic feature. In the first state, the thermochromic feature appears as a first color. In the second state, the thermochromic feature presents at least one of a second color and a graphic not otherwise visible when the thermochromic feature is in the first state. Stored-value cards, combinations, methods of providing a transaction card, and other embodiments are also disclosed.11-27-2008
20100051705TRANSACTION CARD ASSEMBLY WITH SUBJECT AND STAND PORTIONS, ELECTROSTATIC CLINGS AND A BACKER - A transaction product includes a subject portion defining a first slot, a stand portion defining a second slot having a similar width as the first slot, and an account identifier. The stand portion is coupled to the subject portion along a line of weakness and is readily separable from the subject portion along the line of weakness without using tools. The account identifier is fixedly connected to one of the subject portion and the stand portion and links that portion to at least one of an account and a record. When separated, the subject portion and the stand portion are configured to be reassembled such that the first slot receives a thickness of the stand portion and the second slot receives a thickness of the subject portion. Stored-value cards, combinations, methods of facilitating use of a transaction product and other embodiments are also disclosed.03-04-2010
20100325038TRANSACTION CARD WITH OSCILLATING MEMBER - A transaction card includes a base member, an auxiliary member, and an account identifier. The base member defines a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a spiral cut extending through the base to define a spiral portion. The spiral portion is stretched to extend in a conic helical form in front of a portion of the first surface defined by a remainder of the base member. The auxiliary member is coupled to the spiral portion opposite the portion of the first surface defined by the remainder of the base member. The account identifier is fixedly connected to one of the base member and the auxiliary member. The account identifier links the transaction card to at least one of an account and a record and is machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal. Other cards, combinations and associated methods are also disclosed.12-23-2010

Patent applications by Chad Albers, Minneapolis, MN US

Dale Albers, Maria Stein, OH US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20120011654TABLE BACK FOR EXAMINATION TABLE - An examination table includes a base portion and a table portion with a support surface having a backrest member. The backrest member includes an upper structural frame panel defining a first outer periphery, and a lower structural frame panel defining a second outer periphery. A plurality of fastener-less clinch joints is formed along the first outer periphery and the second outer periphery, thereby permanently coupling the upper structural frame panel and the lower structural frame panel. The backrest member may also include an upholstery layer substantially covering the upper structural frame panel, the first outer periphery, and the second outer periphery.01-19-2012

David Albers, Gresham, OR US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080215462STILL IMAGE SHOPPING EVENT MONITORING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM AND METHOD - The still image shopping event analysis systems and methods provided herein may implement low frequency still image sampling and perform a computer analysis of the still images captured, including discriminating differences between frames of the still images based on changes of pixels between the frames and detecting and/or analyzing one or more shopping events based on the discriminated differences between frames of the still images. The systems and methods provided herein may further count and/or analyze the shopping events based on patterns of changes between frames, including for example, numbers of customers visiting and amounts of time customers spent visiting a shopping area, whether the visit was a transitory visit or involved more detailed shopping, whether a purchase occurred, and/or which and number of item(s) purchased.09-04-2008
20080303662TRAFFIC AND POPULATION COUNTING DEVICE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A traffic and population counting device system and method is provided. The traffic and population counting device may be executable by a computing device and may include an entry selector configured to be selected to indicate that a shopper has entered a shopping zone and to keep a running count of a number of shoppers who enter the shopping zone. An exit selector may be configured to be selected to indicate that a shopper has exited a shopping zone and to keep a running count of a number of shoppers who exit the shopping zone. Further, a display may be configured to display a running population count of shoppers within the shopping zone. The running population count may be determined by a running difference between the running count of the number of shoppers who enter the shopping zone and the running count of the number of shoppers who exit the shopping zone.12-11-2008
20080306756SHOPPER VIEW TRACKING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM AND METHOD - Devices, systems, and methods for tracking a view of a shopper are disclosed. The system may include camera coupled with a head of a shopper, and configured to capture one or more images in a field of view of the camera as captured image data. The shopper view tracking system may also include an analysis computing device configured to receive the captured image data, and an analysis program configured to determine an estimated shopper field of view having a boundary that is calculated to represent a probability of a person in a data sample having an actual measured focal point that occurs within the boundary, and to display the estimated shopper field of view superimposed on the one or more images in the captured image data. The analysis program further may be configured to generate an output including statistical measures based on the estimated field of view.12-11-2008
20090271251POINT OF VIEW SHOPPER CAMERA SYSTEM WITH ORIENTATION SENSOR - A point of view shopper camera system is provided to generate and analyze shoppers' view data. The point of view shopper camera system may comprise a head device including an eye camera and a head orientation sensor, a position tracking sensor to identify a shopper's position, and an analysis computing device. The eye camera may be configured to be mounted to the head of the shopper, and to capture a still or moving image of the field of view of the shopper. The analysis computing device may be configured to receive the captured image data from the eye camera, head orientation data from the head orientation sensor, and the shopper's position data from the position tracking sensor, and determine an estimated field of view of the shopper during a trip in a shopping environment.10-29-2009

David R. Albers, Midland, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100112122METHOD OF PREFERENTIALLY REDUCING ABSORBABILITY OF SATURATED FATTY ACIDS - A method of reducing the amount of saturated fatty acids capable of being absorbed by an animal body relative to the amount of unsaturated fatty acids capable of being absorbed by an animal body in or from a fat-containing food product comprises the steps of 05-06-2010
20100331559SEPARATION OF NATURAL OIL-DERIVED ALDEHYDES OR HYDROXY METHYL ESTERS USING PROCESS CHROMATOGRAPHY - Use process chromatographic apparatus and process (for example, SMB chromatographic separation) to effect removal of at least a portion of components that contain neither a hydroxy moiety nor an aldehyde moiety from a feedstream that includes such components as well as components that contain one or more of a hydroxy moiety and an aldehyde moiety.12-30-2010
20110230439METHODS OF REDUCING ABSORPTION OF TRANS FATTY ACIDS USING WATER-SOLUBLE CELLULOSE DERIVATIVES - Provided are food products comprising at least 0.5 g of trans fatty acid per serving and at least 1.33 weight percent of one or more water-soluble cellulose derivatives, based on the total weight of the food product, methods of ameliorating the harmful effects of trans fatty acids on a mammal that has consumed trans fatty acids, and methods of reducing the amount of trans fatty acids capable of being absorbed by a mammal ingesting a trans fatty acid containing food product.09-22-2011

Greg Harold Albers, Dundas, MN US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110313535UROLOGICAL REPAIR APPARATUS AND METHOD - A urological repair device includes a stent having a diameter that fits within a portion of a urological structure. The stent also has a length to bridge a distance between a first end of the urological structure and a second end of the urological structure. The stent includes at least one tapered end. The tapered end enables placement of the stent within the urological structure. A method of repairing a urological structure includes placing a first end of a substantially tubular urological structure over a first end of a tubular stent, and placing a second end of a substantially tubular urological structure over a second end of a stent, and attaching the first end of the substantially tubular urological structure, the second end of a substantially tubular urological structure, and the tubular stent to form a fluid passageway.12-22-2011

Heidi Brown Albers, Rosemount, MN US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100036816SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND INTERFACES FOR RESEARCHING CONTRACTUAL PRECEDENTS - The present inventors, devised among other things, an exemplary method of researching provisions of contracts. The exemplary method entails receiving user selection of one or more predefined queries for contractual precedents, and executing a search of one or more databases containing agreements based on the received user selection. After executing the search, the method entails displaying a subset of the search results based on a predefined filter stored in association with an identifier for the user. The predefined filter may filter based on traits such as jurisdiction, deal size, industry, or a list of companies.02-11-2010

Jason Albers, Buffalo, MN US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110054351HIGH-MODULUS SUPERELASTIC ALLOY WIRE FOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL PURPOSES - A wire used in the medical field for guiding purposes, as well as in other fields, such as in the field of orthodontics for teeth aligning purposes. The wire, when prepared for use in such applications, exhibits an innovative blend of advantageous properties, including enhanced kink resistance over stainless steel wires and enhanced stiffness over Nitinol wires, which enhance its use as a medical guidewire or stylet, and further, as an arch wire in orthodontia applications.03-03-2011

Jason M. Albers, Buffalo, MN US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080255518MEDICAL GUIDEWIRE - The guidewire provides a core and wire coil construction. The core can be shaped with a generally squared-off distally facing shoulder that forms a platform for a proximal end portion of the wire coil. The wire coil can have a plurality of spaced apart coil turns at its proximal end portion. A bonding agent comprising an adhesive can be used to secure the core to the wire coil proximal end portion.10-16-2008

John Thomas Albers, Fircrest, WA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090200529MULTI-USE HOIST SYSTEM - Apparatus and methods repurpose a personnel hoist from a platform whereby at least one person can stand on said platform such that power applied to said hoist lifts the platform and at least one person. The personnel hoist is repurposed for use in material load applications by attaching it to a frame and attaching the frame to a support structure. As a result, applying power to the hoist then causes it to lift a material load. A wire rope from the personnel hoist is fed through a block to redirect the lift direction of the wire rope from the personnel hoist to lift the material load.08-13-2009

Joseph Albers, Fort Wright, KY US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20120082540LOW-DUCTILITY OPEN CHANNEL TURBINE SHROUD - A turbine shroud apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes: a plurality of arcuate shroud segments arranged as an annular shroud, each of the shroud segments comprising low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces, wherein an open channel is formed through the outer wall of each shroud segment; an annular stationary structure surrounding the shroud segments; and a hanger received in the open channel of each shroud segment and mechanically coupled to the stationary structure, each of the hangers passing through the respective open channel and including an enlarged portion having greater cross-sectional area than the open channel, the enlarged portion engaging the outer wall of the respective shroud segment, so as to retain the shroud segment radially relative to the stationary structure.04-05-2012

Joseph Albers, Wright, NY US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110229311SEAL ASSEMBLY - A seal assembly comprising a first movable stator member movable between a sealing position and a non-sealing position, a second fixed stator member, the first stator member being movable relative to the second stator member, the seal assembly further comprising at least one flexure member coupled to the second stator member, and at least one biasing member coupled between the at least one flexure and the movable stator for biasing the movable stator to a non-sealing position.09-22-2011

Joseph C. Albers, Ft. Wright, KY US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090033037SEAL ASSEMBLY - A seal assembly comprising a first movable stator member movable between a sealing position and a non-sealing position, a second fixed stator member, the first stator member being movable relative to the second stator member, the seal assembly further comprising at least one flexure member coupled to the second stator member, and at least one biasing member coupled between the at least one flexure and the movable stator for biasing the movable stator to a non-sealing position.02-05-2009

Patent applications by Joseph C. Albers, Ft. Wright, KY US

Joseph Charles Albers, Fort Wright, KY US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110293410LOW-DUCTILITY TURBINE SHROUD AND MOUNTING APPARATUS - A turbine shroud apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes an arcuate turbine shroud segment of low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces. At least a portion of each of the forward and aft walls is oriented at an acute angle to the outer wall. Radially inner ends of the forward and aft walls are substantially closer together than radially outer ends thereof.12-01-2011
20110318171TURBINE SHROUD SEALING APPARATUS - A turbine shroud sealing apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes: (a) an arcuate shroud segment comprising a low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces of the segment; and (b) a first seal assembly received in at least one slot formed in the first end face, the first seal assembly comprising one or more spline seals which protrude from the first end face and which are arranged to define a continuous sealing surface around the perimeter of the first end face.12-29-2011

Mark Albers, Mesa, AZ US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100188136DYNAMIC THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A dynamic thermal management system regulates heat dissipation of a system or device including a power supply and an amplifier. The heat dissipation from the power supply and amplifier are regulated to distribute heat more evenly across a heat sink shared by the amplifier and the power supply.07-29-2010

Mark D. Albers, Mesa, AZ US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110050349BOOSTED-RAIL AMPLIFIER - An amplifier device including an amplifier having an input for receiving an audio input signal and an output for sending an output signal to a load. A boosted-rail circuit is connected to a power source and has a single boosted rail connected to the BTL amplifier. Also, a common-mode circuit is coupled to the boosted-rail circuit and the BTL amplifier. The common-mode circuit sends a common-mode signal to the BTL amplifier that will dynamically track the output voltage supplied from the boosted-rail circuit to the BTL amplifier. In operation, the boosted-rail circuit reacts to the BTL amplifier and switches from a non-boost mode to a boost mode to increase the output voltage supplied to the BTL when the BTL amplifier requires additional voltage.03-03-2011
20110148521DYNAMIC CONSTANT POWER AMPLIFIER - A switching amplifier including a voltage sensor circuit connected to a high voltage supply rail for measuring the power supply voltage. A current sensor circuit is connected to the high voltage supply rail for measuring the power supply current. An error amplifier is connected to the switching amplifier and receives one or more values based on the measurements taken by the voltage sensor and current sensor, and the error amplifier produces an error signal when a predetermined power limit is exceeded. A signal limiting circuit is connected to the error amplifier and the switching amplifier and limits the output power to rated power at any rated load impedance when the error amplifier produces the error signal. This switching amplifier is capable of automatically limiting output power at rated power into all rated load impedances, and dynamically reacts to the frequency-dependant impedance of a typical audio system.06-23-2011
20110316627DYNAMIC CONSTANT POWER AMPLIFIER - A switching amplifier including a voltage sensor circuit connected to a high voltage supply rail for measuring the power supply voltage. A current sensor circuit is connected to the high voltage supply rail for measuring the power supply current. An error amplifier is connected to the switching amplifier and receives one or more values based on the measurements taken by the voltage sensor and current sensor, and the error amplifier produces an error signal when a predetermined power limit is exceeded. A signal limiting circuit is connected to the error amplifier and the switching amplifier and limits the output power to rated power at any rated load impedance when the error amplifier produces the error signal. This switching amplifier is capable of automatically limiting output power at rated power into all rated load impedances, and dynamically reacts to the frequency-dependant impedance of a typical audio system.12-29-2011

Oliver Albers, Arlington, VA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100205109Closing in an Electronic Market - A method for trading a security in an electronic market includes receiving closing orders and orders for the security traded in the electronic market, disseminating an order imbalance indicator indicative of predicted trading characteristics of the security at the close of trading, determining a closing price for the security based on the closing orders and orders, and executing at least some of the closing orders at the determined closing price.08-12-2010

Robert Joseph Albers, Park Hills, KY US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090064522MULTI SENSOR CLEARANCE PROBE - A multi sensor clearance probe with at least longitudinally and transversely spaced apart first and second sensors operable to measure first and second distances respectively between the sensors and a longitudinally spaced apart rotating rotor. The sensors being operable to measure blade tip clearances between radially outer turbine blade tips and an annular stator shroud circumscribing the blade tips. The blade tips may be squealer tips and the sensors operable to measure the distances between the sensors and tops of squealer tip walls and outwardly facing walls within cavities of the squealer tips. The probe may be operably connected to a controller for sending signals to the controller indicating the first and second distances for controlling an air valve used for active clearance control. Two or more of the probe may be used to determine rotor centerline offset.03-12-2009

Patent applications by Robert Joseph Albers, Park Hills, KY US

Stephen J. Albers, Norwood, OH US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110277935ROBOTIC BASED FIBER PLACEMENT CELL WITH STATIONARY DISPENSING HEAD AND CREEL - A system for applying composite fiber to a lay-up tool has a fixed creel for supplying fiber to the fiber placement dispensing head and a fixed arm having a first end attached to the creel and having a second end attached to the dispensing head. The dispensing head is fixed on the end of the arm. A robot having a first and second pivot axis and at least a first wrist supports the lay-up tool. The robot manipulates the tool for application of fiber from the head to the tool. Manipulating the tool instead of the dispensing head allows the path length for the fiber between the creel and head to be fixed in length and orientation during application of fiber to the tool.11-17-2011

Walter Albers, Paradise Valley, AZ US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090283242THERMO-CHEMICAL HEAT PUMP AND METHODS OF GENERATING HEAT FROM A GAS STREAM - A method of generating heat from a gas stream includes providing a first gas stream having a first temperature and a moisture content approximately saturating the gas stream, removing the moisture content from the first gas stream to form a second gas stream having a second temperature greater than the first temperature of the first gas stream, and heat exchanging the second gas stream having the second temperature greater than the first temperature of the first gas stream.11-19-2009

Walter F. Albers, Paradise Valley, AZ US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090314624ENERGY EFFICIENT DISTILLATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A new distillation process of simultaneous evaporation and condensation distillation that enables efficient transfer of heat energy and allows binary fluids to attain different concentrations and temperatures in the stripper and rectifier stages is disclosed. The process utilizes preferential evaporation of the more volatile component in the stripper while in the rectifier the less volatile component condenses first allowing for concentration of the more volatile component in subsequent stages. The rectifier operates at correspondingly hotter temperatures than the stripper allowing energy transfer from the rectifier to the stripper.12-24-2009
20100175394AIR ENERGY REDUCTION METHOD AND APPARATUS USING WASTE HEAT FROM CONDENSERS OR OTHER LOW GRADE HEAT - The present invention provides a process for utilizing waste heat released by condensers of conventional air conditioning systems and more particularly using this low grade heat or other low grade sources that are slightly above ambient air temperatures to alter concentration of a liquid desiccant that contacts an ambient air stream thereby reducing its relative humidity while its temperature is controlled and generally reduced by heat exchange with another air stream that is saturated with water.07-15-2010

Patent applications by Walter F. Albers, Paradise Valley, AZ US