Patents by Inventor Randy L. Houk

Randy L. Houk 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).

  • Patent number: 10753337
    Abstract: A motion control apparatus and method are disclosed. The motion control apparatus comprises a movable mechanism coupled to an external energy source, the energy source providing kinetic energy to the mechanism. An energy conversion module is mechanically coupled to the mechanism for converting kinetic into electrical energy. An electronic circuit is coupled to the energy conversion module and a storage module and a mechanism controller is coupled to the electronic circuit. A sensor module is coupled to both the electronic circuit and the movable mechanism to sense the movement of the movable mechanism to determine speed of the movable mechanism and transmit speed information to the electronic circuit. The method comprises applying energy to a movable mechanism, converting kinetic to electrical energy, storing the electrical energy converted, controlling the motion of the mechanism and sensing the movement of the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Jain Irrigation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Defrank, Jack Goldberg, Randy L. Houk, Jonathan R. Hall
  • Publication number: 20150226177
    Abstract: A motion control apparatus and method is disclosed. The motion control apparatus comprises a movable mechanism coupled to an external energy source, the energy source providing kinetic energy to the mechanism. An energy conversion module is mechanically coupled to the mechanism for converting kinetic into electrical energy. An electronic circuit is coupled to the energy conversion module and a storage module and a mechanism controller is coupled to the electronic circuit. A sensor module is coupled to both the electronic circuit and the movable mechanism to sense the movement of the movable mechanism to determine speed of the movable mechanism and transmit speed information to the electronic circuit. The method comprises applying energy to a movable mechanism, converting kinetic to electrical energy, storing the electrical energy converted, controlling the motion of the mechanism and sensing the movement of the mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Patrick DeFrank, Jack Goldberg, Randy L. Houk, Jonathan R. Hall
  • Patent number: 8270658
    Abstract: An active headworn device that includes a position sensing device used to determine whether the headworn device is in an extended state upon a user's head or in a contracted state off of the user's head. The position sensing device may be coupled with a microcontroller adapted to power up or power down the active headworn device based on a signal from the position sensing device. The position sensing device may various devices such as a Hall-effect device used in combination with a magnet or a LED in combination with a detector. The movement of the headworn device between positions changes the distance between components of the position sensing device such that the device signals the microcontroller to power up or down the active headworn device. The microcontroller may mute a portion of circuitry prior to the powering up or down the active headworn device to prevent undesirable feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Hearing Enhancement Group
    Inventors: Jack Goldberg, Randy L. Houk, Michael J. Stern, Luk Ching Chug
  • Patent number: 7903833
    Abstract: A headworn listening device includes a right ear assembly and a left ear assembly interconnected by a headband. The headworn listening device is preferably comfortable to wear and provides high-quality audio and flexible signal processing features without requiring customized fitting. The listening device includes a signal processor with programmable signal processing characteristics and a memory storing a plurality of user-selectable signal processing settings. For example, there may be signal processing settings for different environments, such as a first setting for a quiet environment and a second setting for a noisy environment. In operation, a user actuates a user-operable control coupled to a microcontroller to select a desired signal processing setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hearing Enhancement Group
    Inventors: Jack Goldberg, Randy L. Houk, Michael J Stern
  • Publication number: 20090268936
    Abstract: An active headworn device that includes a position sensing device used to determine whether the headworn device is in an extended state upon a user's head or in a contracted state off of the user's head. The position sensing device may be coupled with a microcontroller adapted to power up or power down the active headworn device based on a signal from the position sensing device. The position sensing device may various devices such as a Hall-effect device used in combination with a magnet or a LED in combination with a detector. The movement of the headworn device between positions changes the distance between components of the position sensing device such that the device signals the microcontroller to power up or down the active headworn device. The microcontroller may mute a portion of circuitry prior to the powering up or down the active headworn device to prevent undesirable feedback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Jack Goldberg, Randy L. Houk, Michael J. Stern, Luk Ching Chug
  • Publication number: 20070223720
    Abstract: A headworn listening device includes a right ear assembly and a left ear assembly interconnected by a headband. The headworn listening device is preferably comfortable to wear and provides high-quality audio and flexible signal processing features without requiring customized fitting. The listening device includes a signal processor with programmable signal processing characteristics and a memory storing a plurality of user-selectable signal processing settings. For example, there may be signal processing settings for different environments, such as a first setting for a quiet environment and a second setting for a noisy environment. In operation, a user actuates a user-operable control coupled to a microcontroller to select a desired signal processing setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Jack Goldberg, Randy L. Houk, Michael J. Stern