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Degroot, MI

Jon Degroot, Midland, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090003758Impact Resistant Optical Waveguide and Method of Manufacture Thereof - An impact resistant waveguide includes a clad surrounding a core. A reinforcing filler is incorporated in a curable silicone composition used to prepare the core, thereby imparting impact resistance to the core. A method of manufacture of the waveguide includes injecting the curable silicone composition into a clad made of silicone elastomeric tubing and thereafter curing the curable silicone composition.01-01-2009
20110176764INTEGRATED PLANAR POLYMER WAVEGUIDE FOR LOW-LOSS, LOW-CROSSTALK OPTICAL SIGNAL ROUTING - The present invention provides a planar waveguide. In one embodiment, the planar waveguide includes first and third layers formed above a substrate and adjacent each other. The first and third layers are formed of a first material having a first index of refraction. The planar waveguide also includes a second layer formed between the first and third layers of a second material having a second index of refraction that is larger than the first index of refraction. The planar waveguide further includes a plurality of organo-functional siloxane based resin or polymer waveguides formed in the second layer. Each organo-functional siloxane based resin or polymer waveguide has an input on one edge of the second layer and an output on one edge of the second layer so that the input and output are on different line-of-sight paths. The plurality of organo-functional siloxane based resin or polymer waveguides is formed such that intersections of the plurality of organo-functional siloxane based resin or polymer waveguides occur at approximately right angles.07-21-2011

Patent applications by Jon Degroot, Midland, MI US

Kenneth P. Degroot, Macomb Twp., MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080302331ENGINE EVENT-BASED CORRECTION OF ENGINE SPEED FLUCTUATIONS - Ignition timing for a combustion engine may be controlled by determining the roughness of current engine operation, comparing the determined roughness with a control roughness to determine if the determined roughness is within a threshold limit of the control roughness, and changing the ignition timing in a subsequent fuel delivery event as a function of the difference between the determined roughness and the control roughness. Preferably, the ignition timing is changed at least when the determined roughness is not within the threshold limit, although other factors may be taken into account when changing the ignition timing.12-11-2008

Kenneth P. Degroot, Macomb Township, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20120240908SECONDARY AIR SYSTEM WITH VARIABLE SPEED AIR PUMP AND MULTI-POSITION GATED CHECK VALVE - A secondary air system comprising a variable speed air pump and a gated check valve connected between the variable speed air pump and an IC engine. The gated check valve has two ports, and generally, a first of the two ports is connected to a first bank of engine cylinders, and a second of the two ports is connected to a second bank of engine cylinders. The system further comprises a controller for controlling the speed of the variable speed air pump, and the positioning of the gated check valve. The gated check valve is operable to fully close air flow to both ports, fully open air flow to one of the two ports, or variably split air flow between the two ports.09-27-2012

Marty W. Degroot, Midland, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100243046METHOD OF FORMING A PROTECTIVE LAYER ON THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC ARTICLES AND ARTICLES MADE WITH SUCH A LAYER - Chalcogenide based photovoltaic devices cells with good resistance to environmental elements can be formed by direct low temperature deposition of inorganic barrier layers onto the film. A unique multilayer barrier can be formed in a single step when reactive sputtering of the silicon nitride onto an inorganic oxide top layer of the PV device.09-30-2010
20110034642SILYLIMIDAZOLIUM SALT COMPLEXES - The present invention relates to silylimidazolium salt complexes and their uses as catalysts including tunable latent catalysts for curing epoxy resins.02-10-2011
20110168243MOISTURE RESISTANT PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES WITH EXPOSED CONDUCTIVE GRID - The present invention provides strategies for improving the adhesion among two or more of transparent conducting oxides, electrically conductive grid materials, and dielectric barrier layers. As a consequence, these strategies are particularly useful in the fabrication of heterojunction photovoltaic devices such as chalcogenide-based solar cells. When the barrier is formed and then the grid is applied to vias in the barrier, the structure has improved moisture barrier resistance as compared to where the barrier is formed over or around the grid. Adhesion is improved to such a degree that grid materials and dielectric barrier materials can cooperate to provide a hermetic seal over devices to protect against damage induced by environmental conditions, including damage due to water intrusion. This allows the collection grids to be at least partially exposed above the dielectric barrier, making it easy to make electronic connection to the devices.07-14-2011
20110192453MOISTURE RESISTANT PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES WITH IMPROVED ADHESION OF BARRIER FILM - The present invention provides strategies for improving the adhesion between a barrier region, a transparent conductive region, and/or an electrically conductive grid through the use of an adhesion promoting region. The adhesion promoting region is optically transmissive and comprises a metal layer, a metal nitride layer, a metal carbide layer, or a combination thereof and preferably comprises at least one of Cr, Ti, Ta, and Zr or a combination thereof. These strategies are particularly useful in the fabrication of heterojunction photovoltaic devices such as chalcogenide-based solar cells. Adhesion is improved to such a degree that grid materials and dielectric barrier materials can cooperate to provide a hermetic seal over devices to protect against damage induced by environmental conditions, including damage due to water intrusion. The adhesion promoting region also serves as a barrier to the migration of Na, Li, and the lanthanoid series of elements.08-11-2011
20110192454PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE WITH TRANSPARENT, CONDUCTIVE BARRIER LAYER - The present invention provides strategies for providing photovoltaic devices that are more resistant to moisture and/or oxygen degradation and the accompanying migration of key elements such as Na, Li, and the lanthanoid series of elements from the absorber layer and that have enhanced service life and improved performance. These strategies are particularly useful in the fabrication of chalcogenide-based photovoltaic devices such as chalcogenide-based solar cells. These strategies incorporate a barrier region between the photovoltaic absorber region and the front side collection grid. The barrier region keeps moisture and/or oxygen from the absorber layer and contains key elements such as Na, Li, and Ln in the absorber layer. As a result, the absorber layer retains its performance capabilities for an extended period of time.08-11-2011
20110297877ALKOXYLATION PROCESSES AND CATALYSTS THEREFOR - A process of contacting an alkylene oxide with 2-methoxy-1-propanol (PM1) in the presence of an oligomeric Schiff base metal complex catalyst is disclosed. Further, a process involving contacting an alkylene oxide with an alkyl alcohol using an oligomeric Schiff base metal complex as a catalyst is also disclosed. Additionally, novel compositions which can be used as catalysts in processes involving the contacting of an alkyl alcohol with an alkylene oxide are also disclosed.12-08-2011
20110309477GROUP IIB/VA SEMICONDUCTORS SUITABLE FOR USE IN PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - The present invention relates to devices, particularly photovoltaic devices, incorporating Group IIB/VA semiconductors such phosphides, arsenides, and/or antimonides of one or more of Zn and/or Cd. In particular, the present invention relates to methodologies, resultant products, and precursors thereof in which electronic performance of the semiconductor material is improved by causing the Group IIB/VA semiconductor material to react with at least one metal-containing species (hereinafter co-reactive species) that is sufficiently co-reactive with at least one Group VA species incorporated into the Group IIB/VA semiconductor as a lattice substituent (recognizing that the same and/or another Group VA species also optionally may be incorporated into the Group IIB/VA semiconductor in other ways, e.g., as a dopant or the like).12-22-2011

Michael Degroot, Grand Rapids, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090008224LOW FRICTION, DIRECT DRIVE CONVEYOR WITH A RAKED TOOTH DRIVE - A conveyor includes an endless belt having teeth with drive faces raked away from the direction of travel. The conveyor also includes a drive pulley having sheaves with drive faces raked toward the direction of travel. The drive faces on the sheaves engage the drive faces on the teeth to move the belt and the raked angle tends to pull the belt inwardly. A stationary foot assists removing a driven tooth from its corresponding sheave.01-08-2009
20090032376CONVEYOR BELT WITH ATTACHED STRIPS OF TEETH - An endless conveyor belt (02-05-2009
20090301845THERMOPLASTIC BELT CONNECTOR WITH FINGERS - A toothed belt connector for making an endless belt has two leaves, adapted to be connected to each other by knuckles along one or more teeth. Each knuckle has at least one hole extending through tooth portions so that when the holes are in registry, a pin can be extended through the holes to connect the leaves at the teeth. The leaves can be adjoined to the ends of a belt to make the belt endless. The tip end of each knuckle can be beveled or it can have a stepped finger that fits into a cutout on the opposite leaf to keep the end of the knuckle from protruding as the belt wraps around a sprocket.12-10-2009
20110017578LOW FRICTION, DIRECT DRIVE CONVEYOR WITH A RAKED TOOTH DRIVE - An endless conveyor belt has teeth with drive faces raked away from the direction of travel. The belt can be driven by a drive pulley having sheaves with drive faces raked toward the direction of travel. The drive faces on the sheaves engage the drive faces on the teeth to move the belt and the raked angle tends to pull the belt inwardly. A stationary foot assists removing a driven tooth from its corresponding sheave.01-27-2011
20110048903LOW FRICTION, DIRECT DRIVE CONVEYOR BELT - A thermoplastic endless belt has a smooth outer surface substantially free of discontinuities and an inner surface with a plurality of teeth at a given belt pitch. The teeth are adapted to engage a pulley with circumferentially spaced sheaves at a pulley pitch greater than the belt pitch. The belt is slightly stretchable so that the pulley can drive the endless belt when engaging the teeth within a range of load on the belt. Means are provided to minimize friction between the belt and the drive pulley. Also, a position limiter ensures that the driven tooth stays engaged optimally with the drive sheave.03-03-2011

Patent applications by Michael Degroot, Grand Rapids, MI US

Richard James Degroot, Southfield, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100202171Portable power supply for laboratory equipment - A portable power supply for controlling laboratory experiments, the power supply includes input terminals that receive control signals and power terminals that supply power to laboratory devices. The power supply enables power levels of standard laboratory equipment to be automatically controlled.08-12-2010
20100202924Modular Laboratory Automation System - A modular laboratory automation system for monitoring and controlling laboratory experiments, the modular laboratory automation system including a controller, an interface board, and a portable power supply. Power levels of standard laboratory equipment can be automatically controlled, and conditions and parameters of experiments can be automatically monitored and recorded. The laboratory automation system is modular and can be configured to operate with laboratory experiments having varying setups and equipment.08-12-2010