Patents by Inventor Ryan W. Schumacher

Ryan W. Schumacher 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: 8618809
    Abstract: A bus terminal is isolated from ground potential during normal operation of the vehicle. A first current is applied to the bus terminal. A current level detector is arranged to detect a first level of the first current, or a corresponding observed voltage level, that exists or flows from the bus terminal to ground. A compensator is configured to compensate for a range in the detected first level by applying a corresponding compensating voltage level to a first resistor coupled to the current level detector. An electronic data processor is capable of estimating a first isolation level between the bus terminal and ground based on the detected first level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Ryan W. Schumacher, Perry K. White
  • Patent number: 8554500
    Abstract: A first amplifier is arranged to receive a first signal from a first bus terminal. A second amplifier is configured to receive a second signal from a second bus terminal. An inverter input of an inverter is coupled to the output of the first amplifier. An input or inputs of an analog-to-digital converter are coupled to an inverter output of the inverter and the output of the second amplifier. The analog-to-digital converter is capable of producing a digital signal representative of the signals received from the first bus terminal and the second bus terminal. A data processor is capable of receiving an output of the analog-to-digital converter. The data processor is configured to apply one or more frequency domain transforms to the digital signal. The data processor identifies a circuit location of the ground fault or degraded isolation, a type of ground fault, or both based on the application of the frequency domain transform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Ryan W. Schumacher
  • Publication number: 20110304339
    Abstract: A bus terminal is isolated from ground potential during normal operation of the vehicle. A first current is applied to the bus terminal. A current level detector is arranged to detect a first level of the first current, or a corresponding observed voltage level, that exists or flows from the bus terminal to ground. A compensator is configured to compensate for a range in the detected first level by applying a corresponding compensating voltage level to a first resistor coupled to the current level detector. An electronic data processor is capable of estimating a first isolation level between the bus terminal and ground based on the detected first level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Ryan W. Schumacher, Perry K. White
  • Publication number: 20110307196
    Abstract: A first amplifier is arranged to receive a first signal from a first bus terminal. A second amplifier is configured to receive a second signal from a second bus terminal. An inverter input of an inverter is coupled to the output of the first amplifier. An input or inputs of an analog-to-digital converter are coupled to an inverter output of the inverter and the output of the second amplifier. The analog-to-digital converter is capable of producing a digital signal representative of the signals received from the first bus terminal and the second bus terminal. A data processor is capable of receiving an output of the analog-to-digital converter. The data processor is configured to apply one or more frequency domain transforms to the digital signal. The data processor identifies a circuit location of the ground fault or degraded isolation, a type of ground fault, or both based on the application of the frequency domain transform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventor: Ryan W. Schumacher