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Ouwerkerk

David B. Ouwerkerk, Torrance, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090266397SOLAR BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM AND OPTIONAL SOLAR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE PROPULSION - A product includes a vehicle battery, capable of being charged using solar energy, a plurality of photovoltaic cells, arranged in at least one of series or parallel, forming an array that produces a self-regulated voltage and current for charging the vehicle battery using solar energy, and an electrical connection linking the array to the vehicle battery.10-29-2009
20090316321THERMAL SECURITY FOR HYBRID VEHICLE RECHARGING CABLE PLUGS DEVICE AND METHOD - A system is provided for interrupting current in an electrical cable having an end plug. The system comprises a sensor coupled to the plug and having an output indicative of the temperature of the plug, and a current interrupting device coupled to the sensor for interrupting current in the cable when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature.12-24-2009
20100025232RECOVERING THE COMPRESSION ENERGY IN GASEOUS HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN GENERATED FROM HIGH-PRESSURE WATER ELECTROLYSIS - Exemplary embodiments include an apparatus, and method associated therewith, for recovering the compression energy stored in hydrogen gas and oxygen gas generated by the electrolysis of water in a high-pressure water electrolyzer. The restored compression energy may be recovered and converted to a useable form to provide power to the high-pressure water electrolyzer, or alternatively to provide usable power to a coupled system that uses high-pressure hydrogen gas or oxygen gas such as a fuel cell for an electric vehicle, or both for use in providing power to the electrolyzer and to the fuel cell electric vehicle.02-04-2010
20100089747High pressure proton exchange membrane based water electrolyzer system - A high pressure proton exchange membrane based water electrolyzer system that may include a series of proton exchange membrane (PEM) cells that may be electrically coupled together and coupled to a proton exchange membrane to form a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that is spiral wound onto a conductive center post, wherein an innermost PEM cell of the MEA may be electrically connected with the conductive center post, or center electrode, and wherein an outermost PEM cell of the MEA may be electrically coupled to pressure vessel cylinder, or outer electrode. Each PEM cell may include an anode portion and a cathode portion separated by a portion of the PEM membrane. In addition, a non-permeable separator layer may also be spiral wound around the conductive center post and separates the wound portions of the PEM core.04-15-2010
20100231162SOLAR POWERED BATTERY CHARGING METHODS AND DEVICES FOR LITHIUM-ION BATTERY SYSTEMS - Exemplary embodiments include methods and devices for storing and recovering renewable solar (photovoltaic) energy in batteries by using circuits that automatically connect batteries in parallel during charging and in series when discharging and to build battery strings that automatically resist overcharging and excessive discharging. Other embodiments may include methods for optimizing the efficiency of solar charging by varying the number of battery cells in series to match the battery voltage to the photovoltaic maximum power point voltage.09-16-2010
20100276299HIGH PRESSURE ELECTROLYSIS CELL FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FROM WATER - Exemplary embodiments include a method or apparatus for improving the electrolysis efficiency of high-pressure electrolysis cells by decreasing the current density at the anode and reducing an overvoltage at the anode while decreasing the amount of hydrogen permeation through the cell membrane from the cathode chamber to the anode chamber as the high-pressure electrolysis cell is operated.11-04-2010
20110248567POWER FACTOR CORRECTION SYSTEM - A charging system of the present invention is connectable to a power grid having a monitoring device. The monitoring device monitors the power delivered to a plurality of loads and determines a power factor and a power factor correction value associated with the loads. The power factor correction value indicates the difference between the power factor and unity. The charging system includes an electrical device, a charger in communication with the electrical device, a charging controller, a power factor correction circuit, a communication device, and a controller. The communication device of the charger receives a data signal from the monitoring device indicative of the power factor correction value associated with the plurality of loads. The power factor correction circuit is configured to communicate an input current to and from the power grid, which adjusts the power factor of the associated loads to about unity.10-13-2011
20110297204METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OPTIMIZING THE USE OF SOLAR ELECTRICAL POWER - A method for optimizing the use of solar electrical power is disclosed. An operating voltage is determined for a process and at least a second process. The process is selectively connected to a portion of a photovoltaic array having a maximum power point voltage matching the operating voltage of the process. The at least a second process is selectively connected to a respective at least a second portion of the photovoltaic array having a maximum power point voltage matching the operating voltage of the at least a second process. The photovoltaic array has an available amount of electrical power that is distributed to the process and the at least a second process.12-08-2011

Patent applications by David B. Ouwerkerk, Torrance, CA US

John N. Ouwerkerk, Cincinnati, OH US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110062212SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING RECORDING CAPABILITIES - A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has an end effector and a trigger in communication with the end effector. The surgical instrument also has a first sensor and an externally accessible memory device in communication with the first sensor. The first sensor has an output that represents a first condition of either the trigger or the end effector. The memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor. In various embodiments, memory device may include an output port and/or a removable storage medium.03-17-2011
20110121052SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING RECORDING CAPABILITIES - A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has an end effector and a trigger in communication with the end effector. The surgical instrument also has a first sensor and an externally accessible memory device in communication with the first sensor. The first sensor has an output that represents a first condition of either the trigger or the end effector. The memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor. In various embodiments, memory device may include an output port and/or a removable storage medium.05-26-2011

John N. Ouwerkerk, Staunton, VA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110174860SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH FORCE-FEEDBACK CAPABILITIES - A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has an end effector and a trigger in communication with the end effector. The surgical instrument also has a first sensor and an externally accessible memory device in communication with the first sensor. The first sensor has an output that represents a first condition of either the trigger or the end effector. The memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor. In various embodiments, memory device may include an output port and/or a removable storage medium.07-21-2011
20110290856ROBOTICALLY-CONTROLLED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH FORCE-FEEDBACK CAPABILITIES - A surgical instrument. Various embodiments of the surgical instrument include an end effector that has a moveable cutting implement. A main drive shaft assembly operably interfaces with the end effector for transmitting an actuation motion to the movable cutting implement therein. A gear drive train is connected to the main drive shaft assembly. The gear drive train is actuated by a motor that is configured to receive control signals from a robotic system. Various embodiments include a sensor arrangement that operably interfaces the end effector to communicate forces experienced by the end effector to the robotic system.12-01-2011
20110290857MOTOR-DRIVEN SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT WITH TACTILE POSITION FEEDBACK - A surgical cutting and fastening instrument is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the instrument includes an end effector comprising an elongate channel, a clamping member pivotably connected to the channel, and a moveable cutting instrument for traversing the channel to cut an object clamped in the end effector by the clamping member when the clamping member is in a clamped position. The instrument may also comprise a main drive shaft assembly for actuating the cutting instrument in the end effector, a gear drive train connected to the main drive shaft assembly, and a motor for actuating the gear drive train. The instrument may also includes a closure trigger and a firing trigger, separate from the closure trigger, for actuating the motor when the firing trigger is retracted. Also, the instrument may comprise a mechanical closure system connected to the closure trigger and to the clamping member for causing the clamping member to pivot to the clamped position when the closure trigger is retracted.12-01-2011
20110295295ROBOTICALLY-CONTROLLED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING RECORDING CAPABILITIES - A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes an end effector that comprises a staple channel and an anvil that is movably translatable relative to the staple channel. A tool mounting portion is configured to interface with a robotic system and operably communicate with the end effector. The instrument further includes a first sensor that has an output that represents a first condition of a portion of the robotic system A second sensor has an output that represents a position of the anvil. An third sensor has an output that represents a position of a reciprocating knife within the end effector. An externally accessible memory device communicates with the first, second and third sensors.12-01-2011

Martin Ouwerkerk, Culemborg NL

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080269664System and Method For Controlling Traversal of an Igested Capsule - A treatment system (10-30-2008

Martin Ouwerkerk, Geldrop NL

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100252124VALVE FOR A MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEM - The invention relates to a valve for opening and closing a channel (10-07-2010

Melinda Ouwerkerk US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20120015070FERMENTED MILK BEVERAGE - A beverage comprising a fermented milk product and an egg product, and methods for making such a beverage are described.01-19-2012

Paul Ouwerkerk, Rijkswijk NL

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100206589METHOD OF CREATING AN ANNULAR SEAL AROUND A TUBULAR ELEMENT - A method is disclosed of creating an annular seal around a tubular element for use in a wellbore. The method comprises providing at least one seal layer of a flexible sealing material susceptible to swelling upon contact with a selected fluid, the seal layer having a first edge and a second edge, and helically winding each seal layer around the tubular element so that the first and second edges extend opposite each other along the tubular element and so that the first and second edges seal relative to each other upon swelling of the flexible sealing material. The tubular element is lowered into the wellbore, and the selected fluid is allowed to contact each seal layer so as to induce swelling of the flexible sealing material whereby the first and second edges seal relative to each other.08-19-2010

Ronald Ouwerkerk, Baltimore, MD US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110144474ADIABATIC MULTI-BAND RF PULSES FOR SELECTIVE SIGNAL SUPPRESSION IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising: a magnetic resonance imaging scanner comprising: a main magnet providing a substantially uniform main magnetic field B0 for a subject under observation; and a radio frequency (RF) coil configured to irradiate a radio frequency (RF) pulse into a region of interest of the subject under observation, wherein the RF pulse comprises a base pulse comprising an adiabatic pulse having a first bandwidth time product (BWTP), wherein the RF pulse selectively suppresses magnetic resonance signals from more than one chemical component or more than one spatial region within the region of interest of the subject under observation, and wherein the adiabatic pulse is characterized by an amplitude modulation function and a frequency modulation function.06-16-2011

Theodorus Johannes Ouwerkerk, Leiderdorp NL

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090270963MEDICAL PROBE - A probe system for electro-stimulation and bio-feedback training of muscles in the pelvic floor region, in particular for pelvic floor physiotherapy and diagnosis, includes a probe having a probe body which is insertable into a vagina or a rectum, and a plurality of electrodes which are positioned at several locations along the length and around the circumference on the outer surface of the probe, the probe system further includes a control unit, operationally coupled to the probe, adapted for receiving EMG signals from each of the electrodes and for processing each of the signals for mapping the response of the muscles in the pelvic floor region.10-29-2009