Patents by Inventor Stephen B. Porter
Stephen B. Porter 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: 20220141986Abstract: A central electrical cabinet unit is designed and assembled as a pre-assembled unit for installation at a client site for designing/building a custom electronic data center cabinet design or layout. The pre-assembled unit includes a central patch panel in a central cabinet for electronic devices. The central patch panel includes specified connections for components using the specified connections. Central patch panel connecting cables with central patch panel connectors include reciprocal connectors are connectible to client specified connections in a client cabinet. Power cables and electrical cables have electrical connections to the central patch panel. The electrical cables are configured to have reciprocal connectors connectable to compatible client electrical connectors on client electrical cables in the client cabinet, thereby the central patch panels in the central cabinet are a pre-assembled unit for installation at a client site and for connecting client cabinets thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventors: Jeffrey Fuchs, Brian Tesar, Stephen B. Porter
-
Patent number: 9983757Abstract: An inductive touch sensor comprises an inductors disposed in or on a deformable substrate. When a force is applied to the deformable substrate the physical shape of the inductor will change and thereby change its inductance value. The change in the inductance value can be detected and used to indicate actuation of an associated touch key of the inductive touch sensor. A plurality of inductive touch sensors may be used to form a touch panel.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2012Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATEDInventors: Stephen B. Porter, Dan Termer
-
Patent number: 8858003Abstract: A physical force capacitive touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensor element on a substrate, a physically deformable electrically insulating spacer over the capacitive sensor element and a conductive plane over the physically deformable electrically insulating spacer. A protective fascia may be placed over the conductive plane provides an environmental seal for physical and weather protection, but is not essential to operation of the capacitive touch sensor. Back lighting is accomplished with a light transmissive layer having a suspended metal target proximate to the capacitive touch sensor plate. When the light transmissive layer and metal target are displaced toward the capacitive touch sensor plate the capacitance value of the capacitive touch sensor plate changes and that change is detected.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Microchip Technology IncorporatedInventors: Stephen B. Porter, Keith Curtis, Fanie Duvenhage
-
Publication number: 20140246925Abstract: A line frequency monitoring and load shedding control apparatus is placed in or closely coupled to a power load and monitors the line frequency of the alternating current electric power source supplying the power load. When a decrease in line frequency is detected, this line frequency monitoring and load shedding control apparatus may interrupt certain portions of the power load, thereby allowing the power source frequency to stabilize. Subsequently, the line frequency monitoring and load shedding control apparatus makes a determination to return operation of the load that was shed to a normal state of operation as the power line frequency recovers to a normal operating frequency. Fixed time delays, e.g., adjustable, programmable, etc., and/or pseudo random time delays may be incorporated to sequentially reconnect the loads back onto the power source, thereby preventing the loads previously shed from being reconnected all at the same time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2013Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATEDInventors: Stephen B. Porter, Michael Ballard
-
Patent number: 8723833Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a user's touch in a capacitive touch sensor system is provided, including performing a series of potential touch detection tests for a plurality of sensors until a potential touch is detected and measuring a test frequency for one of the sensors, such that a potential touch may be detected when the measured test frequency deviates from a previously measured test frequency for the same sensor. After detecting a potential touch, the method may additionally include performing a series of baseline comparison tests for each of the sensors, for example, measuring a current frequency for one of the sensors, comparing the current frequency to a baseline frequency, and assigning a deviation value based on the comparison the current frequency and the baseline frequency. The method may identify the sensor with the largest deviation value as a touched sensor.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Microchip Technology IncorporatedInventors: Keith E. Curtis, Stephen B. Porter, Burke T. Davison, Aurelian Floricica-Voicu
-
Publication number: 20130187742Abstract: An inductive touch sensor comprises an inductors disposed in or on a deformable substrate. When a force is applied to the deformable substrate the physical shape of the inductor will change and thereby change its inductance value. The change in the inductance value can be detected and used to indicate actuation of an associated touch key of the inductive touch sensor. A plurality of inductive touch sensors may be used to form a touch panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2012Publication date: July 25, 2013Inventors: Stephen B. Porter, Dan Termer
-
Patent number: 8408723Abstract: Backing lighting of induction touch keys is accomplished with a spacer layer surrounding an inductive touch sensor coil and a light source on a substrate, and light transmissive layer having a suspended metal disk proximate to the inductive touch sensor coil. A protective fascia may be placed over the light transmissive layer and spacer layer. When the light transmissive layer is displaced toward the inductive touch sensor coil the impedance value of the inductive touch sensor coil changes and the change is detected. Materials used that are translucent (light transmissive) may be continuous and solid, and opaque materials may have openings therein for transmission of light therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Microchip Technology IncorporatedInventors: Stephen B. Porter, Keith Curtis
-
Publication number: 20120217147Abstract: A physical force capacitive touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensor element on a substrate, a physically deformable electrically insulating spacer over the capacitive sensor element and a conductive plane over the physically deformable electrically insulating spacer. A protective fascia may be placed over the conductive plane provides an environmental seal for physical and weather protection, but is not essential to operation of the capacitive touch sensor. Back lighting is accomplished with a light transmissive layer having a suspended metal target proximate to the capacitive touch sensor plate. When the light transmissive layer and metal target are displaced toward the capacitive touch sensor plate the capacitance value of the capacitive touch sensor plate changes and that change is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2012Publication date: August 30, 2012Inventors: Stephen B. Porter, Keith Curtis, Fanie Duvenhage
-
Publication number: 20110050626Abstract: Backing lighting of induction touch keys is accomplished with a spacer layer surrounding an inductive touch sensor coil and a light source on a substrate, and light transmissive layer having a suspended metal disk proximate to the inductive touch sensor coil. A protective fascia may be placed over the light transmissive layer and spacer layer. When the light transmissive layer is displaced toward the inductive touch sensor coil the impedance value of the inductive touch sensor coil changes and the change is detected. Materials used that are translucent (light transmissive) may be continuous and solid, and opaque materials may have openings therein for transmission of light therethrough.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Inventors: Stephen B. Porter, Keith Curtis
-
Publication number: 20110007028Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a user's touch in a capacitive touch sensor system is provided, including performing a series of potential touch detection tests for a plurality of sensors until a potential touch is detected and measuring a test frequency for one of the sensors, such that a potential touch may be detected when the measured test frequency deviates from a previously measured test frequency for the same sensor. After detecting a potential touch, the method may additionally include performing a series of baseline comparison tests for each of the sensors, for example, measuring a current frequency for one of the sensors, comparing the current frequency to a baseline frequency, and assigning a deviation value based on the comparison the current frequency and the baseline frequency. The method may identify the sensor with the largest deviation value as a touched sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: January 13, 2011Inventors: Keith E. Curtis, Stephen B. Porter, Burke T. Davison, Aurelian Floricica-Voicu
-
Patent number: 7478875Abstract: A child restraint system and a method for monitoring installation of the child restraint system are provided. The child restraint system includes a child seat configured to receive a child occupant. The child restraint system further includes a first sensor coupled to the child seat. The first sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of positional angle of the child seat relative to a first axis. The child restraint system further includes a controller coupled to the child seat configured to receive the first signal and to calculate a first angle value based on the first signal. The controller is further configured to induce a first device disposed on the child seat to indicate when the first angle value is not within a predetermined angular range from the first axis.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2005Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James F. Patterson, Stuart S. Sullivan, Rodney A. Lawrence, Duane D. Fortune, Edward J. Wallner, Stephen B. Porter, William W. Fultz, Kevin D. Kincaid
-
Patent number: 7422283Abstract: A child restraint system and a method for monitoring installation of the child restraint system are provided. The child restraint system includes a child seat configured to receive a child occupant. The child seat has at least a first seat belt guide member configured to engage a vehicle seat belt webbing for securing the child seat to a vehicle seat. The child restraint system further includes a first sensor coupled to the first seat belt guide member. The first sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of an amount of tension being applied to the vehicle seat belt webbing. The child restraint system further includes a controller coupled to the child seat configured to receive the first signal and to compute a first tension value based on the first signal. The controller further is configured to induce a first device disposed on the child seat to indicate when the first tension value is less than a predetermined tension value.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2005Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James F. Patterson, Stuart S. Sullivan, Duane D. Fortune, William W. Fultz, Kevin D. Kincaid, Rodney A. Lawrence, Edward J. Wallner, Stephen B. Porter
-
Patent number: 7325870Abstract: A child restraint system includes a belt assembly for restraining a child occupant and a control unit for monitoring proper adjustment of the belt assembly. The belt assembly may include a belt harness affixed to the child restraint system or a vehicle belt seat. The child restraint system also includes a sensor for detecting the presence of the child occupant, a sensor for determining whether the belt assembly is properly adjusted, and a sensor for determining whether the vehicle is in motion. The control unit provides an alert signal if the child is present, the vehicle is in motion and the belt assembly is not properly adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2005Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Rodney A. Lawrence, Kevin D. Kincaid, Duane D. Fortune, Stephen B. Porter, Stuart S. Sullivan, Edward J. Wallner
-
Patent number: 7224270Abstract: A child seat adapted for use in a vehicle, the child seat comprising: a shell portion; a harness for securing a child to the child seat, the harness comprising adjustable harness tether(s) secured to the shell portion at one end and having a latch plate at the other, the latch plate being configured to releasably engage a buckle of the harness; a tension sensor(s) for providing a signal indicative of a tension of the adjustable harness tether(s); and an electronic control unit secured to the shell portion, the electronic control unit being operably coupled to the tension sensor(s) to receive the signal, the electronic control unit being capable of processing the signal to compare the signal to a signal indicative of a predetermined range of acceptable tension, wherein the electronic control unit provides an output indicating whether the tension of the adjustable harness tether(s) is(are) within the predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2005Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James F. Patterson, Stuart S. Sullivan, Rodney A. Lawrence, Duane D. Fortune, Edward J. Wallner, Stephen B. Porter, William W. Fultz, Kevin D. Kincaid, Gary R. Grieb, Jeffry N. Zolkower
-
Patent number: 7188898Abstract: The child restraint system comprises a harness that extends through one of a plurality of slots in the shell for restraining a child occupant within the child restraint system, and a control unit for determining whether the harness is properly adjusted based upon the size of the child. Belt location sensors are disposed at the slots to detect the presence of a harness belt. The child restraint system also includes temperature sensors responsive to body temperature of the child. The control unit processes the signals from the belt location sensors and the proximity sensors and issues an alert signal if the belt location is not the recommended belt location based upon the size of the child.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2005Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James F. Patterson, Stuart S. Sullivan, Rodney A. Lawrence, Duane D. Fortune, Edward J. Wallner, Stephen B. Porter, William W. Fultz, Kevin D. Kincaid