Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Ark-Les U.S. Controls Corporation

David Malcom Howie

Richard A Junk

Jeffrey P Rudd

Thomas A Mignone

James M Pellegrini

Levi G Fox

A capacitive touch switch suitable for use in areas with high environmental and electrical contamination employs a complex excitation signal that is demodulated to better distinguish it from environmental effects. Improved discrimination allows these sensed signals to be offset against a signal developed by a reference electrode to allow the system to operate robustly with contamination on the electrodes that would otherwise trigger or obscure pulses.

Pulsed antenna capacitive touch switch

An improved pump for washing machines provides resistance to roping of filamentary materials through the use of a single vane impeller. A combination of high clearance and elastomeric vane and asymmetry of the impeller serve to prevent or reduce clogging caused by filamentary materials.

Washing machine pump having a single vane impeller

Growing community of inventors

Foxboro, MA, United States of America

David Malcom Howie