Patents by Inventor Shawn Leininger

Shawn Leininger 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: 8541716
    Abstract: A multiple heater control system includes cables, connectors, and junction boxes for user-friendly daisy chain connections of heater controllers and heaters in various configurations or combinations of individually controlled heater series and/or master and slave heater series. The heater controllers include process control of AC power to the heaters and upper-limit safety shutoff that is substantially independent from the process control. The heater controllers also have variable levels of control, adjustment, display, and communications functionality in a base module that is expandable to various levels with expansion modules that are attachable to and detachable from the base module. Connector, cable, and junction configurations, adapters, and latch features enhance user friendliness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignees: MKS Instruments, Inc, Watlow Electronic Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Youfan Gu, Jeffrey D. Kiernan, Charles C. Lawhead, William C. Bohlinger, Eric E. Ellis, Curtis A. Foster, James P. Hentges, Mark Louis-Gilmer Hoven, James H. Kreisel, Shawn Leininger, Robert O. Moran, Kurt W. Peterson, Jason R. Powell, Dale T. Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20120061369
    Abstract: A multiple heater control system includes cables, connectors, and junction boxes for user-friendly daisy chain connections of heater controllers and heaters in various configurations or combinations of individually controlled heater series and/or master and slave heater series. The heater controllers include process control of AC power to the heaters and upper-limit safety shutoff that is substantially independent from the process control. The heater controllers also have variable levels of control, adjustment, display, and communications functionality in a base module that is expandable to various levels with expansion modules that are attachable to and detachable from the base module. Connector, cable, and junction configurations, adapters, and latch features enhance user friendliness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicants: WATLOW ELECTRONIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Youfan Gu, Jeffrey D. Kiernan, Charles C. Lawhead, William C. Bohlinger, Eric E. Ellis, Curtis A. Foster, James P. Hentges, Mark Loius-Gilmer Hoven, James H. Kreisel, Shawn Leininger, Robert O. Moran, Kurt W. Peterson, Jason R. Powell, Dale T. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 8010811
    Abstract: A variety of power controller coupling assemblies are provided that include at least one power controller, at least one cable assembly coupled to the power controller, and a plurality of power loads coupled to the power controller and the cable assembly. Power is provided from the power controller to the power loads through the cable assembly in a configuration such that power is provided to each of the power loads if one or more of the power loads should become disconnected from the power controller coupling assembly. Additionally, various cable assemblies are provided that include a plurality of power cables connecting a plurality of connectors, each of the connectors defining a number of conductor positions for providing power from a power source to at least one power controller and to a plurality of power loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Shawn Leininger, William C. Bohlinger, Eric E. Ellis
  • Patent number: 7932480
    Abstract: A multiple heater control system includes cables, connectors, and junction boxes for user-friendly daisy chain connections of heater controllers and heaters in various configurations or combinations of individually controlled heater series and/or master and slave heater series. The heater controllers include process control of AC power to the heaters and upper-limit safety shutoff that is substantially independent from the process control. The heater controllers also have variable levels of control, adjustment, display, and communications functionality in a base module that is expandable to various levels with expansion modules that are attachable to and detachable from the base module. Connector, cable, and junction configurations, adapters, and latch features enhance user friendliness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignees: MKS Instruments, Inc., Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Youfan Gu, Jeffrey D. Kiernan, Charles C. Lawhead, William C. Bohlinger, Eric E. Ellis, Curtis A. Foster, James P. Hentges, Mark Louis-Gilmer Hoven, James H. Kreisel, Shawn Leininger, Robert O. Moran, Kurt W. Peterson, Jason R. Powell, Dale T. Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20070235440
    Abstract: A multiple heater control system includes cables, connectors, and junction boxes for user-friendly daisy chain connections of heater controllers and heaters in various configurations or combinations of individually controlled heater series and/or master and slave heater series. The heater controllers include process control of AC power to the heaters and upper-limit safety shutoff that is substantially independent from the process control. The heater controllers also have variable levels of control, adjustment, display, and communications functionality in a base module that is expandable to various levels with expansion modules that are attachable to and detachable from the base module. Connector, cable, and junction configurations, adapters, and latch features enhance user friendliness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Youfan Gu, Jeffrey Kiernan, Charles Lawhead, William Bohlinger, Eric Ellis, Curtis Foster, James Hentges, Mark Hoven, James Kreisel, Shawn Leininger, Robert Moran, Kurt Peterson, Jason Powell, Dale Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20070204177
    Abstract: A variety of power controller coupling assemblies are provided that include at least one power controller, at least one cable assembly coupled to the power controller, and a plurality of power loads coupled to the power controller and the cable assembly. Power is provided from the power controller to the power loads through the cable assembly in a configuration such that power is provided to each of the power loads if one or more of the power loads should become disconnected from the power controller coupling assembly. Additionally, various cable assemblies are provided that include a plurality of power cables connecting a plurality of connectors, each of the connectors defining a number of conductor positions for providing power from a power source to at least one power controller and to a plurality of power loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Shawn Leininger, William Bohlinger, Eric Ellis
  • Publication number: 20070119848
    Abstract: A modular heater system is provided that includes a heat trace assembly and a connector assembly. The heat trace assembly has a heat trace section that defines a plurality of fins, an insulation jacket surrounding the heat trace section, and at least one terminating member disposed at an end of the heat trace section. The connector assembly has a shell, including a plurality of outer walls and inner walls defining cavities therebetween, and a fitting heater assembly that includes a fitting adapter, a heat trace section disposed around the fitting adapter, and an outer casing disposed around the fitting adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Eric Ellis, Shawn Leininger, Allen Boldt, Louis Steinhauser
  • Publication number: 20070108176
    Abstract: A heat trace assembly is provided that includes a heat trace section, an insulation jacket surrounding the heat trace section, and a plurality of standoffs disposed between the heat trace section and the insulation jacket. A corresponding plurality of passageways are formed between the heat trace section and the insulation jacket and between the plurality of standoffs. The standoffs can be a part of the insulation jacket and/or the heat trace section, and the standoffs can furthermore be integrally formed with or separately attached to the insulation jacket and/or the heat trace section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Eric Ellis, Shawn Leininger, Peggy Gruenloh, Steve Brncic, Louis Steinhauser, Allen Boldt