Patents by Inventor Val Jean F. Hillman

Val Jean F. Hillman 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).

  • Method and apparatus for detecting obstructed vacuum nozzles
    Patent number: 5742396
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting whether a vacuum nozzle on a high speed component placement machine is obstructed. A vacuum nozzle (10) has a hollow tube with a vacuum port (25) and an opening (12) at one end. A plastic light guide is connected to the vacuum nozzle such that one portion of the light guide is exposed to be illuminated (50) by a remote light source (30). The light guide transmits light to illuminate the opening (12) from the interior of the vacuum nozzle. The amount of light exiting the illuminated opening is measured (55) by a remotely located light detector (35). A decision (60) is made as to whether the opening is obstructed by comparing the measured illuminated opening to a predetermined standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Vahid Kazem-Goudarzi, Alex Marron, Val Jean F. Hillman