Patents by Inventor Paul Eckhoff

Paul Eckhoff 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: 20080026647
    Abstract: A remote inspection device is provided for inspecting visually obscured locations. The device is generally comprised of a imager housing and a display housing disposed on opposite ends of a modular, flexible cable. An imaging device and one or more light sources are embedded in the end of the cylindrical imager housing. A display housing is coupled to the other end of the flexible cable and configured to be grasped by a user of the device. A display device supported by the display housing receives a video signal from the imaging device and converts the video signal to a video image. The flexible cable can be removably attached to other components with a detachable coupling. The detachable coupling is adapted to facilitate movement of the coupling through confined spaces and inhibit relative axial rotation. Components of the coupling can have tapered mating surfaces to inhibit longitudinal movement within the coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Al Boehnlein, Paul Eckhoff, Brandon Watt, Tye Newman, Jeffrey Miller
  • Publication number: 20070185379
    Abstract: A remote inspection device includes a digital imager housing having a digital imaging device in communication with a digital video signal conversion device serializing the digital video signal. A digital display housing has a digital display in communication with a digital video signal re-conversion device de-serializing the digital video signal. A push stick housing is configured to be grasped by a user. A flexible cable interconnects the digital imager housing with the push stick housing, thereby rendering a position of the digital imager housing responsive to user manipulation of the push stick housing. The flexible cable also serves as a transmission medium transmitting the serialized digital video signal at least from the digital video signal conversion device to the push stick housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Tye Newman, Al Boehnlein, Paul Eckhoff, Alfred Pease
  • Publication number: 20070117437
    Abstract: A remote inspection device is provided for inspecting visually obscured locations. The device is generally comprised of a imager housing and a display housing disposed on opposite ends of a modular, flexible cable. An imaging device and one or more light sources are embedded in the end of the cylindrical imager housing. A display housing is coupled to the other end of the flexible cable and configured to be grasped by a user of the device. A display device supported by the display housing receives a video signal from the imaging device and converts the video signal to a video image. The flexible cable can be removably attached to other components with a detachable coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Al Boehnlein, Paul Eckhoff, Brandon Watt, Tye Newman
  • Publication number: 20060281972
    Abstract: A remote inspection device is provided for inspecting visually obscured locations. The device is generally comprised of a imager housing and a display housing disposed on opposite ends of a modular, flexible cable. An imaging device is embedded in the end of the cylindrical imager housing, such that the imaging device is able to capture an image of a viewing area proximate to the distal end of the flexible cable. One or more light sources also protrude from the outwardly facing end of the cylindrical imager housing along a perimeter of the imaging device such that the imaging device is recessed between the light sources. A display housing is coupled to the other end of the flexible cable and configured to be grasped by a user of the device. A display device supported by the display housing receives a video signal from the imaging device and converts the video signal to a video image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Alfred Pease, Al Boehnlein, Tye Newman, Paul Eckhoff
  • Publication number: 20060167340
    Abstract: An integrated solid state device for viewing and manipulating objects located in remote sites and locations which includes a flexible cable having a camera on one end and a viewer on an opposite end. The camera captures images near the end of the flexible cable and converts the images into a video signal that is transferred through wires that extend through the length of the flexible cable. The video signals are received by the viewer and converted into a displayed image. A variety of removable article manipulators can be attached to the distal end of the flexible cable and used to manipulate, capture and retrieve articles and objects near the distal end of the flexible cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Alfred Pease, Al Boehnlein, Tye Newman, Paul Eckhoff
  • Patent number: 6585017
    Abstract: A thickness planer is described having a carriage locking mechanism to minimize vibration and movement of the carriage during the planing operation. Also described is a depth of cut indicator to display the thickness of the material to be removed during the planing operation. A mechanism is also disclosed for facilitating setting the carriage and cutting head to a predetermined height over the base quickly and accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Randall E. Campbell, Paul Eckhoff, Liao Juei-Seng