S. C. Johnson Son, Inc.

Pacific Fiberoptics, Inc.

Leon M Lemon

Paul E Furner

Nathan R Westphal

Chris A Kubicek

Brent Delbert Madsen

Kenneth W Michaels

Cory J Nelson

Thomas P Gasper

Michael E Short

M Scott Carpenter

Gene Sipinski

William I Fletcher

Jeffrey V King

David D Olsen

Steven L Farnes

Terrell S Fletcher

Scott Carpenter

An automatic discharge device includes a housing having a recess for receipt of the body of a container and a groove configured to receive a portion of a valve stem of the container. The recess includes a tapered upper end configured to fit a neck of the container. Further, a first compartment for receipt of a first battery and a second compartment for receipt of a second battery are provided. An actuator is disposed proximate the groove, which defines lateral sidewalls and a rear sidewall and has an open forward end to receive the valve stem.

Compact spray device

An automatic discharge device includes a housing having a recess for receipt of a container. Further, a first compartment for receipt of a first battery and a second compartment for receipt of a second battery are provided. An actuator is disposed above the recess and the first compartment and the second compartment are disposed on opposing sides of the recess.

An automatic discharge device includes a housing retaining two containers therein. An actuator arm is attached to the housing and movable between first and second positions. A drive unit is provided for automatically moving the actuator arm into one of the first and second positions in response to a signal from at least one of a timer, a sensor, and a manual switch. The movement of the actuator arm actuates a valve stem of one of the two containers in one of the first and second positions. The actuator arm is adapted to spray fluid disposed in an interior of the two containers.

A method of operating a dispensing unit includes the step of providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having at least two aerosol containers disposed therein and an actuator arm. The dispensing unit activates in response to a minimum threshold of light being sensed by a light sensor. The method also includes the step of selecting a sleep period interval between spray operations.

An automatic discharge device includes a housing having a top portion and a base portion, wherein surfaces defining a recess are provided therebetween for securely holding a container. At least one gear is disposed substantially between the recess and a rear panel of the housing. A drive motor is in association with the at least one gear. An actuator arm is also provided. Activation of the drive motor and the at least one gear provides for movement of the actuator arm between at least one of a pre-actuation position and a discharge position along a path that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container.

A power source is provided to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having an aerosol container disposed therein. A sleep period interval between spray operations is selected and a motion sensor is activated to detect motion within a sensory path of the sensor after completion of the sleep period interval. If no motion is detected by the motion sensor a fluid is automatically discharged from the aerosol container and the sleep interval is reset and if motion is detected by the motion sensor a delay time interval is initiated and fluid is not discharged from the aerosol container. The dispensing unit alternates between activating the sensor to detect motion and resetting the delay time interval until no motion is detected by the motion sensor at the expiration of the delay time interval, which results in the automatic discharge of fluid and a resetting of the sleep period interval.

An automatic discharge device includes a housing having a top portion and a base portion, wherein surfaces defining a recess are provided therebetween for securely holding a container. At least one gear is disposed substantially between the recess and a rear panel of the housing. A drive motor is in association with the at least one gear. An actuator arm is also provided. Activation of the drive motor and the at least one gear provides for movement of the actuator arm between at least one of a pre-actuation position and a discharge position along a path that has a directional component parallel to a longitudinal axis of the recess.

A method of operating a dispensing unit includes the step of providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having an aerosol container disposed therein and an actuator arm. Other steps include activating the dispensing unit in response to a minimum threshold of light being sensed by a light sensor and selecting a sleep period interval between spray operations. Yet another step includes moving the actuator arm after completion of a startup delay period from a pre-actuation position to a discharge position along a path substantially parallel to an axial length of the container to actuate a nozzle of the container to discharge a fluid from the container. The method also includes the step of alternating automatically between the sleep period having a duration commensurate with the selected sleep period interval and a discharge period during which the fluid is dispensed from the container.

An automatic discharge device comprises a housing adapted to receive a container therein. An actuator arm is attached to the housing and movable between first and second positions. The actuator arm includes a dispensing bore therein. A drive unit is provided for automatically moving the actuator arm into one of the first and second positions in response to a signal from at least one of a timer, a sensor, and a manual switch. The actuator arm is adapted to engage and actuate a nozzle of the container in the first position and allow a fluid disposed in an interior of the container to be dispensed through the nozzle and the dispensing bore of the actuator arm.

An intelligent fiberoptic receiver (500) and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. During calibration procedures for the receiver, the optical-to-electrical conversion device (avalanche photodiode (501) or PIN photodiode) and its supporting control and monitoring circuits in the receiver module are characterized over a defined operating temperature range. Characteristic data and/or curves defining these operational control and monitoring functions over the range of operating conditions (temperature, power supply) are stored in non-volatile memory (526) such as EEPROM. During operation, an embedded microcontroller (520) together with analog to digital converters (532), digital to analog converters and other associated circuitry, dynamically control the operational parameters of the module based on the current operating conditions (temperature, power supply).

Intelligent fiberoptic receivers and method of operating and

Intelligent fiberoptic/laser diode transmitter/controller modules and methods of operating and manufacturing the same are disclosed. During calibration procedures for the modules, a laser diode is characterized over a defined operating temperature range. Characteristic data and/or curves defining the operational characteristics of the laser diode over the range of operating conditions (temperature, power supply) are stored in non-volatile memory such as EEPROM. During operation, an embedded microcontroller together with analog to digital converters, digital to analog converters and other associated circuitry, dynamically control the operational parameters (e.g. modulation and bias current) based on the current operating conditions (temperature, power supply). The operating conditions are used as an index into the non-volatile memory containing operational data tables as well as predicted 'end-of-life' data. An automatic power control loop and data compensation scheme maintain constant optical output power over the entire operating range. The microcontroller continually updates the operating control parameters of the laser diode based on the currently sensed operating conditions. The microcontroller also continually monitors for alarm conditions such as (a) optical power-out of range (b) laser end-of-life condition. The microcontroller also gathers statistical information such as hours of operation, most extreme operating conditions, conditions at time of alarm event and number of alarm events that have occurred. Such information is stored in non-volatile memory. In addition, a serial interface to the microcontroller provides a programming and monitoring channel for pre-installation calibration and 'in-the-field' monitoring and control and provides the flexibility to monitor and/or change various parameters. The serial interface provides the channel to program the device during calibration. It also provides the flexibility (if the application requires) to monitor and change parameters in operational use without taking the laser diode transmitter off-line. If desired, the optical power out of range alarm thresholds, the laser end-of-life criteria, the bias and modulation currents, the optical output power, status and control information may be dynamically monitored and/or changed without taking the laser diode transmitter off-line.

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Mendon, UT, United States of America

Leon M Lemon