Patents by Inventor Eric P. Reidemeister
Eric P. Reidemeister 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).
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Patent number: 5628100Abstract: An acceleration sensor is shown having a substrate (16, 16', 16", 16'") on which a capacitor detect plate (24) and source plate mounting portion (28c) are disposed. An electrically conductive blade member (40, 44) having an attachment portion (40a, 44h), a source plate portion (40i, 44a) and integrally attached beams (40b, 40c; 44b) extending along opposite sides of the blade member is mounted on the substrate by welding the attachment portion to a mounting element (36, 36', 36", 36'") which is closely received in a bore (32, 32', 32", 32'") formed through the substrate at the source plate mounting portion. The mounting element or the bore is formed with a surface suitable for forming an interference fit and for making electrical engagement with a conductive layer received in the bore. The mounting element has one end (36b, 36b', 36b") which extends above the top surface (26, 26") an adjustable selected amount(s) to provide desired spacing between the source plate portion and the detect plate.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1995Date of Patent: May 13, 1997Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Larry K. Johnson, Eric P. Reidemeister, Robert O. Southworth, Michael D. Gouin, William Silva, Andrew A. Amatruda, Jr.
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Patent number: 5555766Abstract: An acceleration sensor is shown having a substrate (16, 16', 16", 16'") on which a capacitor detect plate (24) and source plate mounting portion (28c) are disposed. An electrically conductive blade member (40, 44) having an attachment portion (40a, 44h), a source plate portion (40i, 44a) and integrally attached beams (40b, 40c; 44b) extending along opposite sides of the blade member is mounted on the substrate by welding the attachment portion to a mounting element (36, 36', 36", 36'") which is closely received in a bore (32, 32', 32", 32'") formed through the substrate at the source plate mounting portion. The mounting element or the bore is formed with a surface suitable for forming an interference fit and for making electrical engagement with a conductive layer received in the bore. The mounting element has one end (36b, 36b', 36b") which extends above the top surface (26, 26") an adjustable selected amount(s) to provide desired spacing between the source plate portion and the detect plate.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1993Date of Patent: September 17, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Larry K. Johnson, Eric P. Reidemeister, Robert O. Southworth, Michael D. Gouin, William Silva, Andrew A. Amatruda, Jr.
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Patent number: 5542296Abstract: An acceleration sensor (10, 10', 10") in which a metal blade member (24) having a source plate portion (24a), attachment portion (24p) and integral resilient beams (24b) extending between the source plate portion and the attachment portion is attached to a pin (22) received in turn in a bore (18a) of a substrate (18). The metal blade member (24) is mounted on the substrate (18) so that the source plate portion is a selected distance from a detect plate (18b) mounted on the substrate. The sensor is disposed in a cylindrical housing (12, 12', 12") which can be directly mounted to a circuit board (50) through terminal pins (18g, 18h, 18i) or can be provided with a threaded fastener (12"d). In one embodiment first and second sensor modules are received in a housing (42) to sense acceleration forces in two perpendicular directions.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 1995Date of Patent: August 6, 1996Inventors: Eric P. Reidemeister, Larry K. Johnson, Raymond E. Mandeville, Douglas B. Strott, Robert O. Southworth
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Patent number: 5345823Abstract: An accelerometer unit has a capacitor detect plate and a source place connector preferably defined respectively inside and outside a groove in one surface of a ceramic substrate. A flat metal member has an attachment portion secured in electrically conductive relation to the connector, has a source plate portion spaced over the detect plate to form a capacitor, and has integral resilient beams extending from the attachment portion to support the source plate portion spaced from the detect plate to be movable relative to the detect plate in response to acceleration force to provide an electrical signal. Preferably glass rods between the attachment member portion and source place connector facilitate the spacing.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1991Date of Patent: September 13, 1994Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Eric P. Reidemeister, Larry K. Johnson, Keith W. Kawate, Raymond E. Mandeville, Douglas B. Christensen, Robert O. Southworth
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Patent number: 5303589Abstract: An accelerometer has a capacitor detect plate defined on an electrically insulating substrate adjacent a capacitor source plate connector and has circuit paths on the substrate connected to the detect plate and source plate connector. A resilient metal plate has an attachment portion secured to the source plate connector, has a capacitor source plate portion, has integral first beam elements extending away from the attachment portion and has a second beam element extending from the first beam elements back toward the attachment portion to dispose the capacitor source plate in spaced relation to the detect plate to form a capacitor having selected initial capacitance. The capacitor source plate member portion is movable relative to the detect plate to modify device capacitance in response to acceleration. Electronic components are mounted on the substrate connected to the circuit paths to provide an output signal corresponding to the acceleration.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1993Date of Patent: April 19, 1994Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Eric P. Reidemeister, Steven Beringhause, Keith W. Kawate, Larry K. Johnson
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Patent number: 5239871Abstract: An accelerometer has a capacitor detect plate defined on an electrically insulating substrate adjacent a capacitor source plate connector and has circuit paths on the substrate connected to the detect plate and source plate connector. A resilient metal plate has an attachment portion secured to the source plate connector, has a capacitor source plate portion, has integral first beam elements extending away from the attachment portion and has a second beam element extending from the first beam elements back toward the attachment portion to dispose the capacitor source plate in spaced relation to the detect plate to form a capacitor having selected initial capacitance. The capacitor source plate member portion is movable relative to the detect plate to modify device capacitance in response to acceleration. Electronic components are mounted on the substrate connected to the circuit paths to provide an output signal corresponding to the acceleration.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1990Date of Patent: August 31, 1993Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Eric P. Reidemeister, Steven Beringhause, Keith W. Kawate, Larry K. Johnson
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Patent number: 5092174Abstract: A capacitive acceleration sensor using a common PWB as one of the plates of the capacitive transducer and the wiring connections thereto. An acceleration input moves a capacitor plate to produce a measurable change in capacitance. An electronic signal conditioner accurately converts the capacitance output to a voltage signal to provide an acceleration sensor featuring accurate DC performance. The transducer and electronics are disposed on a PWB making up a complete sensor package. In a first embodiment, the capacitor comprises a fixed electrode on the PWB and a movable acceleration responsive electrode secured to a support by a conductive resilient member, the support coupled to an electrically conductive region on the PWB spaced from the fixed electrode by a guard ring to minimize stray charge between the capacitor electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1989Date of Patent: March 3, 1992Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Eric P. Reidemeister, Keith W. Kawate