Other

Alwin Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Square D Company

American National Manufacturing, Inc.

Autotrol Corporation

Banner Engineering Corporation

James A Rodrian

Donald R Janke

David Delory Driscoll

John Joseph Riley

Susan Marie Hrobar

Michael P Bolton

Sigurdur S Witt

Alan P Paal

Robert Thomas Buczkiewicz

Daniel C Kananen

Lawrence R Hansen

Jeffrey E Rodrian

Jerome H Weslow

A method for inflating or deflating an air mattress chamber, includes: receiving a user input; inflating or deflating the air mattress chamber; obtaining pressure measurements corresponding to the air mattress chamber; determining first and second constants corresponding to inflation and deflation of the air mattress chamber; comparing a dynamically-obtained static pressure value to a threshold value; and presenting the dynamically-obtained static pressure value to a user on a display of a user remote. Methods for calculating and updating the first and second constants. A method for performing an offset measurement and latency qualification. A method for controlling an inflate operation of air mattress chamber based on a predetermined motor speed corresponding to a mode of operation. A method of controlling the deflation an air mattress chamber utilizing first and second stage exhaust ports to control an exhaust.

Methods for airbed pump calibrations and pressure measurements

An airbed system, connectable to an air mattress chamber of an air mattress, includes: a pressure sensor, configured to obtain pressure measurements corresponding to the air mattress chamber; and a control unit, configured to operate a pump and valves of the airbed system to inflate and deflate the air mattress chamber, and to determine first and second constants corresponding to inflation of the air mattress chamber and third and fourth constants corresponding to deflation of the air mattress chamber.

Airbed pump calibration and pressure measurement

Apparatus, systems and methods for dispensing sheet material from a roll which include a low-material sensing system. The low-material sensing system provides an indication when the sheet material approaches depletion or is depleted so that the depleted sheet material roll can be replaced with a full roll. The low-material sensing system determines that the sheet material is depleted or near depletion by comparing the rotational speed of a sheet material roll from which the sheet material is unwound with the speed of the motor which produces movement of the sheet material roll when power is supplied to the motor. The sheet material roll speed increases as material is unwound while the motor speed remains relatively constant. A low-material indication is provided when the comparison reaches a threshold representative of the low-material state.

Dispenser with low-material sensing system

An automatic dispenser for a rolled material has a sensor that detects the presence of a user in front of the dispenser. When that occurs, a motor is driven by energy stored in a battery or a capacitor and a short length of the material is dispensed from the roll. The user then grasps that short length and pulls more of the material off the roll, thereby causing the roll to rotate. Rotation of the roll drives the motor as a generator producing electrical energy that recharges the battery or capacitor.

Rolled material dispenser with energy harvesting

Automatic dispensers, proximity detectors and user-detection methods. A proximity detector can be used to trigger operation of the dispenser to dispense products such as towel, tissue, wipes, sheet-form materials, soap, shaving cream, fragrances and personal care products.

Method and apparatus for controlling a dispenser and detecting a user

Towel dispensing methods and automatic towel dispensers permitting conservation of the overall amount of towel dispensed. The towel dispensing methods and towel dispensers limit the amount of towel dispensed in dispense cycles which occur shortly after an initial dispense cycle. The user is provided with sufficient towel to meet the user's needs while reducing overall towel usage and limiting towel waste.

Method and apparatus for controlling a dispenser to conserve towel dispensed therefrom

Automatic dispensers for dispensing products such as towel, tissue, wipes, sheet-form materials, soap, shaving cream, fragrances and personal care products. A dispenser includes a housing, an electrical power source, a user input device, a dispensing mechanism, and motor control apparatus. The user input device generates a signal responsive to a user request for product. Motor control apparatus de-powers the dispensing mechanism based on a determination of dispenser conditions representing discharge of the product.

Automatic dispensers

A system includes a motor for producing motion when current is supplied to the motor and a motor controller coupled to the motor for receiving a motor current signal indicative of the current supplied to the motor. The motor controller has an analog-to-digital converter for converting the motor current signal to a sampled motor current signal. The motor controller is operable to detect pulses in the sampled motor current signal, count the detected pulses to generate a first pulse count, and determine a run parameter for the motor based on the first pulse count. A method for controlling a motor includes counting a first plurality of pulses in a motor current signal produced while the motor is activated to generate a first pulse count. A second plurality of pulses is counted in the motor current signal produced while the motor is deactivated to generate a second pulse count. A run parameter for the motor is determined based on the first and second pulse counts.

Method and apparatus for controlling a DC motor by counting current pulses

Dispenser apparatus for dispensing flexible sheet material including material-recognition apparatus permitting the dispenser to recognize sheet material from an authorized source and to be enabled for operation with such material. The dispenser preferably includes standard mechanical components for dispensing sheet material from the dispenser including a housing, structure for supporting a roll of sheet material, drive and tension rollers forming a nip through which the sheet material is displaced as the drive roller rotates and drive apparatus in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller. The material-recognition apparatus includes a sensor mounted in the dispenser housing and in position to scan a code, preferably located on the core on which the sheet material is wound. The sensor generates a code signal corresponding to the code. A control circuit operatively connected to the sensor is adapted to receive the code signal and compare the code represented by said code signal to at least one code in a code database. The dispenser is placed in a dispenser-enabled state capable of dispensing sheet material corresponding to agreement between the codes and a dispenser-disabled state in which the dispenser is disabled when no such code agreement exists.

Dispenser with material-recognition apparatus and material-recognition method

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for measuring a magnetic field and determining whether an anomaly is present based on the magnetic field measurement and a measured ambient magnetic field. The present invention is also directed to a method and apparatus for measuring the intensity of the magnetic field by implementing operations to essentially eliminate error components that arise due to factors including offsets and gains affecting the intensity signal processing.

Magnetic anomaly sensor system

A line isolation monitor (LIM) indicates the maximum hazard current of an ungrounded polyphase power distribution system. The LIM is microcontroller based and continuously monitors a fault impedance for the distribution system. The fault impedance is determined by the LIM by injecting a continuous sine wave measurement current into a ground terminal to generate a measurement voltage across the fault impedance. Using the measurement voltage and current, the LIM calculates the fault impedance and, using this impedance, calculates the hazard current based on the maximum line to ground voltage of the ungrounded system. The LIM has means for self-calibration and self-testing while on-line and during a power-up sequence to verify that components in the measurement circuitry are within specified tolerances.

System for measuring line to ground impedance

A line isolation monitor (LIM) indicates the maximum hazard current of an ungrounded polyphase power distribution system. The LIM is microcontroller based and continuously monitors a fault impedance of the distribution system. The fault impedance is determined by the LIM by injecting a continuous sine wave measurement current into a ground terminal to generate a measurement voltage across the fault impedance. Using the measurement voltage and current, the LIM calculates the fault impedance and, using this impedance, calculates the hazard current based on the maximum line to ground voltage of the ungrounded system. The hazard current is displayed and if it exceeds a predetermined threshold, the LIM will provide audio and visual alarms. A serial communications channel allows the LIM to communicate with other intelligent devices. The LIM has means for self-calibration and self-testing while on-line and during a power-up sequence. Line frequency is also determined by the LIM. Two LIMs can be used to monitor the same distribution system at the same time without interfering with each other.

Monitor for an ungrounded system

A line isolation monitor (LIM) indicates the maximum hazard current of an ungrounded polyphase power distribution system. The LIM is microcontroller based and continuously monitors a fault impedance for each phase of the distribution system. The fault impedance is determined by the LIM by injecting a continuous sine wave measurement current into a ground terminal to generate a measurement voltage across the fault impedance. Using the measurement voltage and current, the LIM calculates the fault impedance and, using this impedance, calculates the hazard current based on the maximum line to ground voltage of the ungrounded system. The LIM has means for self-calibration and self-testing while on-line and during a power-up sequence. These tests compare measured and theoretical values of circuit parameters of voltage and current sensing circuits. During this calibration check, the monitoring circuits of the LIM are removed from the isolated system and known voltage and current signals are injected internally to the monitoring circuits to verify the component parameters. If the calibration parameters are outside tolerances by a first, low level, the LIM annunciates a warning, but will continue to monitor the hazard current. If the deviation is greater than a second, higher level, the LIM will indicate a fault and remove itself from service.

System for calibrating a line isolation monitor

An apparatus controls the treatment of water that flows through a cooling system. The electrical conductivity of the water is sensed. A valve control opens a system drain valve when the sensed conductivity is greater than a threshold, and closes the drain valve when the conductivity drops below the threshold by a given amount. The water drained form the system is replenished through an inlet and a mechanism measures the volume of water added to the cooling system. Chemicals to treat the water are fed into the system when specified volumes of water have been added. The sensing of conductivity can be inhibited for a certain period following the application of the chemicals. A possible system malfunction is indicated when the conductivity does not drop below the threshold after the drain valve is open for a given period of time.

Growing community of inventors

Grafton, WI, United States of America

James A Rodrian