Zebra Technologies Corporation

Emerson Electric Company

Other

Nidec Motor Corporation

James W Ensinger

Gregory A Peterson

Daniel F Donato

David L Poole

Vincent C Adams

David A West

William J Hamman

Michael Kenneth Platt

Kenneth V Naegele

Dan E Monnier

Kerry Berland

Jeffrey R Kaufman

Thomas P Zwier

David S Zubriski

Davis S Zubriski

An antenna assembly comprises a substrate, an impedance matching network, and a driven antenna element. The substrate includes an insulating layer and a first electrically conductive layer disposed on a top surface of the insulating layer. The impedance matching network includes a balun, a first resistor, and a second resistor. The balun converts unbalanced signals to balanced signals and vice-versa. The first and second resistors are electrically connected to the balun. The driven antenna element is formed from the first electrically conductive layer and disposed on the top surface of the insulating layer. The driven antenna element includes a body, a first arm, and a second arm with the first and second arms spaced apart from another, parallel to one another, and physically connected to opposing ends of the body. The first arm is electrically connected to the first resistor. The second arm is electrically connected to the second resistor.

Directional antenna for wireless motor connection

A secure container for controlling and monitoring access to at least one secured bag locking device is disclosed. The secure container is lockable to prevent access by unauthorized parties, and may include any feature of prior art secure containers, such as shock detection or a camera to photograph access. The secure container contains a number of rails to provide power to and monitor the status of docked secured bag locking devices. In addition, the secure container includes an antenna to allow secured devices to be tethered to it via communications with an active radio frequency identification tag secured to the tethered device.

Secured bag locking and tracking device

A liquid level sensor for an appliance having a container in which liquid flows, and associated method. The sensor comprises a radio frequency oscillator and an antenna array connected to an input port of the oscillator. The antenna array comprises a longitudinal strip and a plurality of conductive fingers extending therefrom. The antenna array is mounted on the appliance in the proximity of the container such that each finger corresponds to a respective level in the container. The sensor includes an output port interconnected with the radio frequency oscillator and outputting a frequency step indicative of the container level to which liquid has reached.

Liquid level sensor for appliance and associated method

The present invention provides a control system for a heating unit in a cooktop that is capable of detecting the presence (or absence) of a cooking pan or utensil. The heating unit has a spirally wound ribbon heater element and may be mounted below a glass-ceramic cooking surface. The control system includes a pan detection unit electrically connected to the heater element. The pan detection unit generates a high frequency signal through the heater element to determine whether a pan is present on the cooktop. The pan detection unit may have an oscillation circuit to generate the high frequency signal through the heater element. In one embodiment, the control system further includes at least one switch device that is connected between the heater element and a power source. The switch device is opened to remove the heater element from the power source when the pan detection unit generates the high frequency signal through the heater element. The present invention also includes a heating unit having dual heater units to determine the size of the pan placed on the cooktop. The present invention further includes methods of operating a heater unit and control system having the capability of detecting the presence of a pan.

Heating unit and control system for cooktops having capability to detect presence of a pan and methods of operating same

A demand printer has an input structure for receiving command signals related to the operation of the printer; a control circuit coupled to the input structure, and a power supply circuit for processing command signals and generating corresponding control signals for controlling the operation of the printer. A switch circuit line is coupled to at least a first and a second point on the power supply circuit. The switch circuit line provides a first operating voltage for the operation of the printer when connected between the first and second points in the power supply circuit and provides a second operating voltage when the connection between said first and second points is opened by a severing structure. The severing structure projects into a base cavity of the case and is retained therein for maintaining an open circuit between the first and second points on the power supply circuit once said switch circuit line is severed. The severing structure includes a wall of the base cavity which has an control aperture extending therethrough, a severing body having a head end and a severing end wherein the severing end projecting through the control aperture and contacting and severing the switch circuit line; a retaining segment on the severing body operatively associated with the case when the severing body is inserted through the control aperture for retaining the severing body in contact with the switch circuit line to maintain an open circuit between the first and second points.

Ribbon drive system for a thermal demand printer

A demand printer for printing on media includes a ribbon take-up spindle for accumulating spent printing ribbon and facilitating removal of the spent ribbon from the spindle. The spindle has a surface with a protrusion bore formed therethrough. At least one protruding segment extends through the protrusion bore. The protruding segment controllably projects away from the spindle surface for maintaining a space between a portion of the spindle surface and the spent ribbon accumulated on the spindle. A biasing structure is operatively associated with the spindle and the protruding segment for controllably biasedly directing the protruding segment through the protrusion bore in the spindle. A retracting structure is provided for controllably compressing and expanding the biasing means to controllably move the protruding segment through the protrusion bore.

A novel demand printer is used for printing on tickets, tags, pressure sensitive labels and other media. The printer has a spring wrap clutch assembly operatively associated with a media delivery structure for use with a rotating shaft to maintain a constant tension on a ribbon. The spring wrap clutch assembly includes a coiled spring having a leg extending away from one end of the coil, a collar having a bore therein for receiving the coiled spring with the leg extending away from the collar, the rotating shaft extending through the coiled spring and the collar is attachable to the rotating shaft, and a plurality of ramped teeth positioned around the rotating shaft. Each of the ramped teeth has a sloped surface and the leg of the coiled spring controllably engages the ramped teeth.

Ribbon drive for a thermal demand printer

A non-contact switch movs from an off position to an on position when a lossy material enters a sensitive area of the switch. The non-contact switch comprises a transmitting element and a sensing element. The transmitting element is capable of radiating a signal. A portion of the signal passes through the sensitive area of the switch. The sensing element is capable of receiving the signal. When the received signal is less than a predetermined level, the received signal represents the lossy material entering the sensitive area of the switch.

Non-contact key

Media sensor for a thermal demand printer

A thermal demand printer for printing on media is a novel system which includes a case structure including a hinged cover panel, easily removable guide structures and media hanger, and a single central support wall to which the various components are attached. The printer includes a power supply circuit for receiving power from an external source and conditioning it for operation of the printer. An input device is provided for receiving command signals related to the operation of the printer. A control circuit for processing the command signals and generating corresponding control signals for controlling the operation of the printer and a printhead assembly for processing the control signals and generating corresponding control signals for controlling the operation of the printer are mounted in the case structure and coupled to the input device and the power supply circuit. The printhead assembly includes a printhead support structure which controls the printhead. A ribbon take-up spindle, method of operating the take-up spindle using a PMDC motor, and a spring wrap clutch device help to control the tension in the transfer ribbon used in the printer. The printer also includes a medial sensor and a method of sensing media by way of detecting the opacity of the media passing through the sensor. The printer includes a method of printhead control using double data loading and a method of accelerating and decelerating media relative to the printhead using pulse width modulation.

Growing community of inventors

Palatine, IL, United States of America

James W Ensinger