Patents by Inventor Mike McNeilly
Mike McNeilly 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: 9518882Abstract: A force sensor includes a rigid loaded member including a flat plate having a first major side, a second major side opposite the first major side, and a center; wherein the first major side and the second major side are substantially parallel to each other and to a plane including orthogonal X and Y axes, and are substantially perpendicular to the Z axis; at least two optical strain sensors directly secured to at least one of the first major side and the second major side; and an attachment means secured to the first major side substantially at the center; wherein the loaded member is configured to be securable to an associated supporting surface such that the second major side faces the associated supporting surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2014Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Inventor: Mike McNeilly
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Patent number: 9356691Abstract: A Sagnac interferometer event sensing device is disclosed. The device includes first and second light sources respectively emitting first and second light beams at first and second, different wavelengths. The device includes an optical fiber path, a first portion along which only the first light beam travels, a second portion along which only the second light beam travels, and a third portion along which both the first and second light beams travel. The device includes a first detector at an end of the first portion of the optical path to receive the first light beam, and a second detector at an end of the second portion of the optical path to receive the second light beam. The device includes a first plurality of depolarizers disposed along the first portion of the optical fiber path, and a second plurality of depolarizers disposed along the second portion of the optical fiber path.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2013Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: The Cleveland Electric Laboratories Co.Inventors: Scott V. Johnson, Mike McNeilly
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Patent number: 9297711Abstract: A sensor is disclosed herein. The sensor includes a fiber operable to communicate a light wave. The sensor also includes at least first and second Fiber Bragg Gratings disposed along the fiber. The sensor also includes a structure operable to be deformed in a plane of deformation. The at least first and second Fiber Bragg Gratings are disposed on opposite sides of the structure in the plane of deformation. The sensor also includes an interrogation unit operable to receive first and second signals corresponding to first and second wavelengths from the at least first and second Fiber Bragg Gratings. The first signal is associated with the first Fiber Bragg Grating and the second signal is associated with the second Fiber Bragg Grating.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2014Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: The Cleveland Electric Laboratories CompanyInventors: Mike McNeilly, Donald R Way
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Patent number: 9207133Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising a platform operable to support a human. The apparatus also includes at least one cable suspending the platform. The apparatus also includes an elongation sensor engaged with the at least one cable. The elongation sensor is operable to emit a signal in response to elongation of the at least one cable. A method of using the apparatus is also disclosed. The method includes the step of positioning the platform adjacent to one of a machine and a path along which the machine moves. The method also includes the step of detecting a mass on the platform by emitting the signal from the elongation sensor in response to elongation of the at least one cable. The method also includes the step of disengaging the machine in response to the detecting step.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2011Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Cleveland Electric Laboratories Co.Inventors: Mike McNeilly, James Richardson, Don Way
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Publication number: 20150330847Abstract: A force sensor includes a rigid loaded member including a flat plate having a first major side, a second major side opposite the first major side, and a center; wherein the first major side and the second major side are substantially parallel to each other and to a plane including orthogonal X and Y axes, and are substantially perpendicular to the Z axis; at least two optical strain sensors directly secured to at least one of the first major side and the second major side; and an attachment means secured to the first major side substantially at the center; wherein the loaded member is configured to be securable to an associated supporting surface such that the second major side faces the associated supporting surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2014Publication date: November 19, 2015Inventor: Mike McNeilly
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Publication number: 20140353477Abstract: An optical encoder includes: a first wavelength division multiplexer; a first set of optical launches including at least one optical launch, operatively connected to the first multiplexer; and an encoder plate including at least one patterned track; wherein each optical launch of the first set is positioned to direct light at the corresponding patterned track.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Inventors: Scott V. Johnson, Mike McNeilly
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Publication number: 20140321800Abstract: A sensor is disclosed herein. The sensor includes a fiber operable to communicate a light wave. The sensor also includes at least first and second Fiber Bragg Gratings disposed along the fiber. The sensor also includes a structure operable to be deformed in a plane of deformation. The at least first and second Fiber Bragg Gratings are disposed on opposite sides of the structure in the plane of deformation. The sensor also includes an interrogation unit operable to receive first and second signals corresponding to first and second wavelengths from the at least first and second Fiber Bragg Gratings. The first signal is associated with the first Fiber Bragg Grating and the second signal is associated with the second Fiber Bragg Grating.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Mike McNeilly, Donald R. Way
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Patent number: 8867867Abstract: This disclosure is of a fiber optic switch, where an actuated plunger causes a snap-action mechanism to change rapidly from a first state to a second state and place a loaded member from a first strain condition into a second strain condition where the two conditions are substantially different. A strain sensor mounted on the loaded member senses the strain of the loaded member and transmits a corresponding signal on a fiber optic cable.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2013Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: The Cleveland Electric Laboratories CompanyInventors: Mike McNeilly, Scott V. Johnson
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Patent number: 8805137Abstract: A sensor is disclosed herein. The sensor includes a fiber operable to communicate a light wave. The sensor also includes at least first and second Fiber Bragg Gratings disposed along the fiber. The sensor also includes a structure operable to be Deformed in a plane of deformation. The at least first and second Fiber Bragg Gratings are disposed on opposite sides of the structure in the plane of deformation. The sensor also includes an interrogation unit operable to receive first and second signals corresponding to first and second wavelengths from the at least first and second Fiber Bragg Gratings. The first signal is associated with the first Fiber Bragg Grating and the second signal is associated with the second Fiber Bragg Grating.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2012Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: The Cleveland Electric Laboratories CompanyInventors: Mike McNeilly, Donald Way
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Publication number: 20140050473Abstract: A Sagnac interferometer event sensing device is disclosed herein. The device includes a first light source operable to emit a first light beam. The device also includes a second light source operable to emit a second light beam. The device also includes an optical fiber path including a first portion along which only the first light beam travels, a second portion along which only the second light beam from the second light source travels, and a third portion along which both of the first and second light beams travel. The device also includes a first detector disposed at an end of the first portion of the optical fiber path to receive the first light beam. The device also includes a second detector disposed at an end of the second portion of the optical fiber path to receive the second light beam. The device also includes a first plurality of depolarizers disposed along the first portion of the optical fiber path.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2013Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: CLEVELAND ELECTRIC LABORATORIES CO.Inventors: Scott V. Johnson, Mike McNeilly
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Publication number: 20130330032Abstract: This disclosure is of a fiber optic switch, where an actuated plunger causes a snap-action mechanism to change rapidly from a first state to a second state and place a loaded member from a first strain condition into a second strain condition where the two conditions are substantially different. A strain sensor mounted on the loaded member senses the strain of the loaded member and transmits a corresponding signal on a fiber optic cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2013Publication date: December 12, 2013Inventors: Mike McNeilly, Scott V. Johnson
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Publication number: 20130039613Abstract: A sensor is disclosed herein. The sensor includes a fiber operable to communicate a light wave. The sensor also includes at least first and second Fiber Bragg Gratings disposed along the fiber. The sensor also includes a structure operable to be deformed in a plane of deformation. The at least first and second Fiber Bragg Gratings are disposed on opposite sides of the structure in the plane of deformation. The sensor also includes an interrogation unit operable to receive first and second signals corresponding to first and second wavelengths from the at least first and second Fiber Bragg Gratings. The first signal is associated with the first Fiber Bragg Grating and the second signal is associated with the first Fiber Bragg Grating. The sensor also includes a processor operably to derive a difference between the wavelengths of the first and second signals and compare the difference with data correlating wavelength differences to extents of deformation of the structure to yield a current extent of deformation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2012Publication date: February 14, 2013Inventors: Mike McNeilly, Donald Way
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Patent number: 8359935Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a resilient member positioned near a rod member and a strain sensor operatively connected to the resilient member. The rod member includes an eccentric member, which causes the resilient member to deflect as the rod member rotates. The strain sensor measures the strain in the resilient member due to the deflections caused by the eccentric member. The amount of strain relates to a rotational position of the rod member.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2010Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Cleveland Electric LaboratoriesInventor: Mike McNeilly
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Publication number: 20120169455Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising a platform operable to support a human. The apparatus also includes at least one cable suspending the platform. The apparatus also includes an elongation sensor engaged with the at least one cable. The elongation sensor is operable to emit a signal in response to elongation of the at least one cable. A method of using the apparatus is also disclosed. The method includes the step of positioning the platform adjacent to one of a machine and a path along which the machine moves. The method also includes the step of detecting a mass on the platform by emitting the signal from the elongation sensor in response to elongation of the at least one cable. The method also includes the step of disengaging the machine in response to the detecting step.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2011Publication date: July 5, 2012Inventors: Mike McNeilly, James Richardson, Don Way
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Publication number: 20110011188Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a resilient member positioned near a rod member and a strain sensor operatively connected to the resilient member. The rod member includes an eccentric member, which causes the resilient member to deflect as the rod member rotates. The strain sensor measures the strain in the resilient member due to the deflections caused by the eccentric member. The amount of strain relates to a rotational position of the rod member.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2010Publication date: January 20, 2011Inventor: Mike McNeilly