Phaedrus, LLC

Motion Controls, LLC

Other

Bradley W Engstrand

Are Torr Engstrand

A valve actuator system includes a valve actuator assembly having a body defining an interior cavity and a piston coupled to a piston rod and movable within a piston cylinder provided within the interior cavity. The piston cylinder has a first chamber on a first side of the piston and a second chamber on a second rod side of the piston. One or more electronic components are disposed within the interior cavity and include at least one processor. The one or more electronic components are configured to move the piston via controlled air pressure and to continuously monitor and/or determine a position of the piston rod relative to the piston cylinder. A fail-safe reservoir is coupled to a source of air and is connected to both the first chamber and the second chamber to provide operating air thereto. A controller is configured to communicate with the processor of the one or more electronic components remote from the body and to selectively monitor and control functions of the valve actuator systems from the controller. The first chamber is maintained at a substantially constant pressure and the second chamber is varied in pressure to move and/or to hold the position of the piston to place the piston rod at a desired position relative to the piston cylinder.

Steam injection valve actuator, system, and method

A timing apparatus, system, and method are provided to determine a position of a rotating object in a device, such as an engine, and control the device according to the determined position of the rotating object. Light is emitted from a light source onto a reflecting region on a portion of the rotating object. Light is reflected off the reflecting region of the rotating object and detected as the rotating object rotates. Intensity of the reflected light is measured, via a microcontroller, and the position of the rotating object is determined according to the intensity of the detected light. A signal is generated that corresponds to the intensity of the detected light associated with the determined position of the rotating shaft. The reflecting region has a feature configured to effect a change in the intensity of the reflected light as the rotating object rotates. The microcontroller is configured to determine the determined position and to utilize the determined position and the change in the signal to control operating characteristics of the device.

Control system and method for detecting a position of a movable object

A system determines a position of a rotating object in a device and controls the device according to the determined position of the rotating object. The system includes a reflecting region on the rotating object and a light source located in the device. Emitted light is emitted by the light source onto the reflecting region and reflected light is reflected off the rotating object. The reflected light has an intensity. The system also includes a detector that detects the reflected light and measures the intensity of the reflected light. The reflecting region has a feature configured to effect a change in the intensity of the reflected light as the rotating object rotates. The change in the intensity of the reflected light corresponds to a change in a signal associated with a determined position of the rotating object. The device is controlled according to the determined position of the rotating object.

Apparatus, system and method for detecting a position of a movable object in a device and using the same for controlling the device

An apparatus, a system and a method for detecting position of a movable object in a device and using the same for controlling the device. A distance and/or an intensity of emitted light may be measured by using a sensor to emit light and detect light to determine the location of the movable object. The movable element absorbs emitted light from the sensor. The sensor determines and/or measures an intensity of the emitted light from the sensor which is not absorbed by the movable object. The intensity of emitted light is related to the position of the movable object in the device. A microprocessor may determine the position of the movable object based on the intensity of emitted light detected by the sensor. The position of a rotating object on a crankshaft in an engine may be detected.

An apparatus, a system and a method use a light-emitting diode (LED) to identify the presence of a material in a gas and/or a fluid and/or to determine properties of the material. The LED and a light detector may be used to determine a chemical compound in the material. The gas and/or the fluid may be located in a chamber. A first light detector may be positioned on the opposite side of the chamber relative to the LED, a second light detector may be positioned on the same side of the chamber as the LED, and/or a third light detector may be positioned inside the chamber. Additional light detectors with coatings may enable measurements to be corrected for the effects of temperature. The light detectors may determine light reflection, light refraction, light transmission, light diffraction, light interference, light diffusion, light collimation, light absorption and/or light focusing of the material.

Apparatus, system and method for using an LED to identify a presence of a material in a gas and/or a fluid and/or determine properties of the material

An apparatus, a system and a method obtain, transmit and/or provide transportation information. A microprocessor is configured to receive and/or transmit real time information concerning the operation of a vehicle. Real time information, such as, for example, a weight of a vehicle, an air pressure of tires, a location of the truck and the trailer, brake wear of brakes of the truck and/or the trailer, and/or engine measurements may be obtained. The real time information may be encrypted and may be transmitted to a central location using Wi-Fi communication, a cellular telephone network, radio transmission, a transponder, and/or the like. The real time information may be accessed by a terminal communicatively linked to the microprocessor and/or the central location. The signal may indicate vehicle compliance and/or non-compliance with a private commercial requirement and/or state and federal regulations.

System and method for obtaining, transmitting and/or providing freight transportation information

A portable device, a system and a method measure a volume of a vessel, such as, for example, an expandable bag and/or a pressurized vessel, using a light-emitting diode (LED) located within the portable device. A shaft which may extend from the portable device may be introduced into the vessel. The light emitted by the LED may travel through the shaft into the vessel, and light reflected by the interior of the vessel may travel through the shaft into the portable device. The shaft may be introduced into a container in which at least a portion of the vessel is located. The light emitted by the LED may travel through the shaft into the container, and light reflected by the interior of the container and/or the exterior of the vessel may travel through the shaft into the portable device.

Portable device, system and method for measuring a volume of a vessel using an LED

A system and/or a method read, measure and/or control intensity of light emitted from a light-emitting diode (LED). A light detector may be located in a position adjacent to the LED for reading and/or measuring the intensity of light emitted from the LED. The LED and the light detector may be located in a cavity which may limit exposure of the LED and the light detector to ambient light. The cavity may have an aperture for allowing light emitted from the LED to exit the chamber to illuminate an environment in which the chamber is located. The aperture may be located between the cavity and a compartment, and the LED may emit light through the aperture into the compartment. An additional detector may be located in the compartment and/or may extend from the cavity through an additional aperture into the compartment.

System and/or method for reading, measuring and/or controlling intensity of light emitted from an LED

A system and/or a method reads, measures and/or controls intensity of light emitted from a light-emitting diode (LED). The system and/or the method have a light intensity detector adjacent to the LED for reading and/or measuring the intensity of light emitted from the LED. The system and/or the method have a control circuit that may be electrically connected to both the detector and/or the LED for measuring and/or for controlling an intensity of light emitted from the LED. A housing surrounds the light detector and/or the LED. The housing has a pathway that allows only light emitted from the LED to reach the light detector. The LED has a finish and/or a coating that eliminates and/or retards absorption of light by internal components of the LED. The finish and/or the coating eliminates and/or retards reflection of the light by the LED.

A programmable cylinder, a system and a method change a velocity of a machine element within a compartment. A light detector within the compartment determines that the machine element is located at a first position or at a second position and/or is moving at a first velocity or at a second velocity. Switches determine that the machine element may be located at the first position or at the second position and/or is moving at the first velocity or at the second velocity. A microprocessor transmits a control signal to a transducer to alter an electrical current of the transducer to move valves of the compartment between an open position and a closed position. A compressed fluid within the interior of the compartment is changed via the valves. The machine element is accelerated and/or is decelerated to the first velocity or to the second velocity via the compressed fluid. A graphic user interface and/or a terminal accesses and controls the microprocessor and/or the transducer to move the machine element at the first velocity or at the second velocity within the compartment.

Programmable cylinder, system and method for changing velocity of a machine element within a cylinder

A system and/or a method for reads, measures and/or controls intensity of light emitted from a light-emitting diode (LED). The system and/or the method have a light intensity detector adjacent to the LED for reading and/or measuring the intensity of light emitted from the LED. The system and/or the method have a control circuit that may be electrically connected to both the detector and/or the LED for measuring and/or for controlling an intensity of light emitted from the LED. A housing surrounds the light detector and/or the LED. The housing has a pathway that allows only light emitted from the LED to reach the light detector. The LED has a finish and/or a coating that eliminates and/or retards absorption of light by internal components of the LED. The finish and/or the coating eliminates and/or retards reflection of the light by the LED.

A system and a method detect a position of a movable element within the interior of the compartment via a light source and/or a light sensor. The light sensor is connected to a platform and/or to a film for detecting an intensity of a light within the interior of the compartment. The film, a bottom surface of an end cap and/or a surface of the movable element and/or the compartment attenuate light within the interior of the compartment and/or within an interior of the end cap. The intensity of the light detectable by the light sensor corresponds to the position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment. The position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment is detected by the light sensor via the intensity of the light detectable by the light sensor. The film, the platform, the bottom surface of the end cap and/or the surface of the movable element and/or of the compartment minimize diffraction of the light within the interior of the compartment and/or within the interior of the end cap.

System and method for detecting a position of a movable element

A system and a method emit and/or detect light within a compartment via one or more lenses. A light source emits the light in an interior of the compartment via one or more lenses and/or an optical fiber. Further, the system and the method may provide a light sensor for measuring and/or for detecting an intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment via one or more lenses. A movable element is located within the interior of the compartment which moves inwardly and/or outwardly with respect to the light source, the light sensor and/or one or more lenses. A surface of the movable element, a shaft attachable to the movable element and/or the compartment absorbs an amount of the emitted light. The amount of the emitted light absorbed by the surface of the movable element, the shaft of the movable element and/or the compartment is based on the position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment. The light sensor detects and/or measures the intensity of the emitted light which is not absorbed by the surface of the movable element, the shaft of the movable element and/or the compartment. The intensity of the emitted light which is detected by the light sensor corresponds to a position of the movable element. The light sensor determines the position of the movable element based on the intensity of the emitted light.

System and method for emitting and/or detecting light within a compartment

A collar, a system and a method detect a mark on a rod within an interior of the collar. The mark and the rod move from a first position to a second position within an interior of the collar between a first end and a second end of the collar. A light emitter and/or a light detector is connected to the collar for determining the first position and/or the second position of the mark and/or of the rod within the interior of the collar. An exterior surface of the rod and/or a mark on the rod absorb an amount of light emitted from the light emitter within the interior of the collar. The light detector measures and/or detects an intensity of light within the interior of the collar which is not be absorbed by the mark and/or by the exterior surface of the rod. The intensity of light within the interior of the collar detected by the light detector that is not absorbed by the mark or the exterior surface of the rod corresponds to the first position and/or to the second position of the mark within the interior of the collar.

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Hartford, WI, United States of America

Bradley W Engstrand