Patents by Inventor Barry C. Mears

Barry C. Mears has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20210243942
    Abstract: A seed dispensing system is provided with a photoelectric sensor for monitoring the dispensing of seeds from a seed dispenser comprising a discharge conveyor with conveyor flights that transport seeds through the seed dispenser. The sensor outputs a signal representative of obstructions to the flow of light in an optical path of the sensor, and a computing unit is adapted to distinguish portions of the output signal that are attributable to the passage of one or more seeds from portions of the output signal that are attributable to the passage of a conveyor flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: TSI INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Barry C. Mears, Kyle T. Kalk
  • Patent number: 11022473
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is described herein that can automatically calibrate itself upon installation into an empty bin, eliminating the need to actually fill the bin to calibrate the level reading. The sensor will provide consistent measurement regardless of material properties (permittivity, density, temperature or moisture content). The capacitive nature of the sensor means that in some circumstances, it will sense the material through plastic/glass/fiber glass thereby allowing the sensor assembly to be mountable on the outside of a bin or container. The electrodes of the sensor system are designed to provide a continuous level reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: DICKEY-JOHN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Barry C. Mears
  • Publication number: 20200378816
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is described herein that can automatically calibrate itself upon installation into an empty bin, eliminating the need to actually fill the bin to calibrate the level reading. The sensor will provide consistent measurement regardless of material properties (permittivity, density, temperature or moisture content). The capacitive nature of the sensor means that in some circumstances, it will sense the material through plastic/glass/fiber glass thereby allowing the sensor assembly to be mountable on the outside of a bin or container. The electrodes of the sensor system are designed to provide a continuous level reading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventor: Barry C. Mears
  • Patent number: 10746584
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is described herein that can automatically calibrate itself upon installation into an empty bin, eliminating the need to actually fill the bin to calibrate the level reading. The sensor will provide consistent measurement regardless of material properties (permittivity, density, temperature or moisture content). The capacitive nature of the sensor means that in some circumstances, it will sense the material through plastic/glass/fiber glass thereby allowing the sensor assembly to be mountable on the outside of a bin or container. The electrodes of the sensor system are designed to provide a continuous level reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: DICKEY-JOHN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Barry C. Mears
  • Publication number: 20180073908
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is described herein that can automatically calibrate itself upon installation into an empty bin, eliminating the need to actually fill the bin to calibrate the level reading. The sensor will provide consistent measurement regardless of material properties (permittivity, density, temperature or moisture content). The capacitive nature of the sensor means that in some circumstances, it will sense the material through plastic/glass/fiber glass thereby allowing the sensor assembly to be mountable on the outside of a bin or container. The electrodes of the sensor system are designed to provide a continuous level reading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventor: Barry C. Mears
  • Patent number: 9810567
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is described herein that can automatically calibrate itself upon installation into an empty bin, eliminating the need to actually fill the bin to calibrate the level reading. The sensor will provide consistent measurement regardless of material properties (permittivity, density, temperature or moisture content). The capacitive nature of the sensor means that in some circumstances, it will sense the material through plastic/glass/fiber glass thereby allowing the sensor assembly to be mountable on the outside of a bin or container. The electrodes of the sensor system are designed to provide a continuous level reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: DICKEY-JOHN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Barry C. Mears
  • Publication number: 20140326066
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is described herein that can automatically calibrate itself upon installation into an empty bin, eliminating the need to actually fill the bin to calibrate the level reading. The sensor will provide consistent measurement regardless of material properties (permittivity, density, temperature or moisture content). The capacitive nature of the sensor means that in some circumstances, it will sense the material through plastic/glass/fiber glass thereby allowing the sensor assembly to be mountable on the outside of a bin or container. The electrodes of the sensor system are designed to provide a continuous level reading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: Barry C. Mears
  • Patent number: 5451014
    Abstract: A guidance system for internally controlling the flight path of a missile includes a guidance platform having dispersion control means mounted on the guidance platform for detecting acceleration of the missile due to lift and side forces. The dispersion control means includes dispersion detection means to calculate the velocity and position errors relative to a drag-only trajectory from the detected acceleration due to the lift and side forces. The internal guidance system also includes missile positioning means for controlling the position of the missile platform to substantially eliminate the velocity and position errors. The guidance system also includes level finding means for determining a substantially horizontal level axis and the orientation of the missile relative to a level axis. The missile positioning means also performs other functions such as missile leveling in which the wings-level axis of the missile is aligned to the level axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas
    Inventors: James M. Dare, Jerome A. Farm, Barry C. Mears