Patents Represented by Attorney Kris T. Fredrick

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  • Modified dual diaphragm pressure sensor
    Patent number: 6886410
    Abstract: A device for sensing pressure including a chamber defining part having a first diaphragm mounted in communication with the sealed chamber defining part, and a second diaphragm electrically insulated from the first, preferably by a spacer. The diaphragms are flexible and have a conductive surface. A sensor chamber is mounted on the other side of the second diaphragm. It has an opening in communication with a sensing atmosphere. One of the diaphragms includes openings it its surface to permit fluid to flow through the openings and the other diaphragm is solid and responds to change in pressure in the sensor chamber to move away from or toward the one diaphragm. Electrical connections measure the capacitance between the diaphragms as a function of the pressure in the sensor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Wang, Eugen I Cabuz
  • Tamper resistant vapor sensor method and system
    Patent number: 6883366
    Abstract: A vapor sensor is disclosed, which includes a substrate containing a sensing element, wherein the substrate is located proximate to a sleeve portion which covers and protects the sensing element. The vapor sensor also includes a vapor filter or permeable membrane affixed to an end of the sleeve portion, wherein the end of the sleeve portion is located opposite the sensing element. A housing and a cover are also provided, such that the housing retains the substrate and the cover snaps onto the housing. The housing itself includes walls from which a hole is formed through which vapors may pass. The vapor sensor can be mounted to a gas water heater in such a manner as to reduce air flow to the sensing element and prevent tampering of the vapor sensor unit itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Gehman, Todd H. Sellman, Richard C. Cholke, Michael R. Hoefer
  • Diaphragm for bonded element sensor
    Patent number: 6877380
    Abstract: A pressure sensor device for producing a signal indicative of a pressure of a fluid to be monitored, including a housing having a fluid conduit for receiving the fluid to be monitored and a diaphragm positioned at an end of the fluid conduit. The diaphragm includes at least first and second portions, wherein a thickness of the first portion is less than a thickness of the second portion. A transducer is bonded to a surface of the first portion of the diaphragm and including piezoresistive elements for sending the signal. Preferred is a circular second portion and an annular first portion around the outer edge of the second portion. The housing is preferably tubular and includes an annular shoulder for mounting the diaphragm, along with an annular groove on the outer surface of the first portion and connecting the first portion to the annular shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Brian D. Lewis
  • Sensor package for flush mounting of a sensor
    Patent number: 6874377
    Abstract: A sensor package having a force sensing element and a housing. The force sensing element has an element surface, a well, a first and second shelves within the well. The housing has a housing surface. The first and second shelves of the housing are arranged to support the force sensing element so that the element surface and the housing surface are substantially coplanar and so that the element surface of the force sensing element directly senses a force without need of an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Said Karbassi, D. Joseph Maurer
  • Liquid flow sensor thermal interface methods and systems
    Patent number: 6871537
    Abstract: A sensor method and system are disclosed. A fluid flow sensor can be provided, which measures the thermal conductivity of a fluid. The sensor itself can be configured to comprise one or more sensing element associated with a sensor substrate. A heater can be associated with said sensor wherein said heater provides heat to said fluid. A film component can also be provided that that isolates said fluid from said heater and said sensor, such that said film component conducts heat in a direction from said heater to said sensor, thereby forming a thermal coupling between said sensor, said heater and said fluid, which permits said sensor to determine a composition of said fluid by measuring thermal conductivity thereof without undesired losses of heat in other directions. The film component can be configured on or in the shape of a tubing or a flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Gehman, Richard A. Alderman, Brian D. Speldrich
  • Methods and systems for capacitive balancing of relative humidity sensors having integrated signal conditioning
    Patent number: 6867602
    Abstract: Methods of and systems for balancing the capacitance of a common series capacitive circuit in a semiconductor-based sensor, such as a humidity sensor, are described. Relative humidity sensors can provide measurements via a series capacitive circuit including a humidity-sensitive dielectric separating a common top plate and first and second bottom plates associated with a first and second capacitor, Cx1 and Cx2. For proper operation, the common top plate should be in capacitive balance. Capacitive balance can be achieved by creating voids within and/or along the common top plate of the sensor. A system for creating voids can include a precision cutting instrument, a measuring device for enabling the measurement of capacitance of at least one of the common series capacitive circuit, Cx1 and Cx2, and power provided from a voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Davis, Richard A. Kirkpatrick, II, Steve R. Foote, Ron Foster
  • Resin transfer molding
    Patent number: 6856856
    Abstract: A sensor placement algorithm uses process data to determine the optimal distribution of sensors in a distributed parameter manufacturing system. An automatic classification procedure maps any problems in the process to a predetermined set of process disturbances. A control procedure uses process data to determine the best control action that will ensure good system response. Methods for sensor placement, automatic decision tree classification, corrective action control and the apparatus to effectuate these respective methods are integrated into a design methodology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Soumitri N. Kolavennu, Anoop K. Mathur, Sanjay Parthasarathy, Wendy Foslien Graber, Hai D. Pham, Suresh Advani, Karl Steiner, Roderic Don, Simon Bickerton, Ercument Murat Sozer
  • Pressure regulating valve with adjustment features
    Patent number: 6854703
    Abstract: There is provided an electromagnetic actuator which includes a coil disposed about a tube bearing a movable armature, the coil being electrically connectable to a circuit configured to provide a current to the coil to generate a magnetic field and magnetic flux in at least one direction. The movable armature is magnetically coupleable with the coil. A flux adjustment element is also provide and is configured for movement within a magnetic flux output by the coil so as to increase a magnetic flux input to the armature upon movement of the flux adjustment element in a first direction and to decrease a magnetic flux input to the armature upon movement of the flux adjustment element in a second direction, wherein the flux adjustment element is externally disposed about a distal end of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Parker, Alfred J. Babineau, Jr.
  • System and method using thermal image analysis for polygraph testing
    Patent number: 6854879
    Abstract: Thermal image data of at least a region of a face of a person is provided. The thermal image data is transformed to blood flow rate data and may be used to determine whether the person is deceptive or non-deceptive based on the blood flow rate data, e.g., deceptive with respect to an elicited response from the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Ioannis Pavlidis
  • Methods and systems for utilizing a ring magnet for magnetic sensing applications
    Patent number: 6853184
    Abstract: Methods and systems of utilizing a ring magnet for magnetic sensing applications thereof are disclosed. A magnetoresistive sensor device can be provided which is associated with a ring magnet configured as a sensing target. The magnetoresistive sensor device is insensitive to magnetic pole polarities. The ring magnet is generally magnetized to include a plurality of magnetic poles, such that at least one pole thereof is larger than at least one other pole thereof. An output signal can then be produced from the magnetoresistive sensor device via a digital circuit thereof. The output signal is independent of a rotation of the sensing target. The sensor itself is rotationally insensitive provided that the ring magnet is symmetrically magnetized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis B. Johnson, Thomas J. Olson
  • Magnetoresistive based electronic switch
    Patent number: 6850136
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive-based electronic switching apparatus and method. A housing having a first compartment contains switching electronics and a second compartment contains an actuation assembly. A barrier can separate the first compartment from the second compartment. An actuating magnet can be associated with the actuation assembly within the second compartment. The actuating magnet provides a magnetic field that can activate a magnetoresistive device located within the first compartment. Additionally, a magnetoresistive device responsive to the magnetic field of the actuating magnet can be utilized, wherein the magnetoresistive device located within the first compartment in association with the switching electronics provides a solid-state magnetoresistive switch thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David R. McCollum, Wayne L. Ehlers, Michael J. Skarlupka
  • Method for transforming words to unique numerical representation
    Patent number: 6850930
    Abstract: Multiple words in a text are transformed to unique numerical representations for text mining applications. A web server receives the text, including multiple words in a natural language. A key-word extractor extracts one or more key-words from the received words. A morphologizer morphologizes the extracted key-words based on similarities of fundamental characteristics in the extracted key-words. An analyzer transforms each of the morphologized words to a unique numerical representation such that the transformed unique numerical representation does not result in multiple similar numerical representations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Ravindra K. Shetty
  • Negative rate snap-acting switch apparatus and method
    Patent number: 6847000
    Abstract: A negative rate snap-acting switch apparatus and method is disclosed, which generally includes a plunger associated with an actuating lever, a stationary anchor, a moveable contact, and at least two stationary contacts. The negative rate snap-acting switch apparatus also includes a snap-spring assembly reactive to the actuating lever, wherein the snap-spring assembly is assembled into the stationary anchor and the actuating lever to form a spring-anchor-lever assembly thereof including a central spring member loaded into an axial compression and persuaded to bend into a post-buckled elastic mode shape thereof to form a negative rate snap-acting switch apparatus in which the moveable and the stationary contacts are responsive to an actuating force derived from the snap-spring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Marchini, Edward L. Stern
  • Pattern recognition using an observable operator model
    Patent number: 6845357
    Abstract: Data structures, systems, and methods are aspects of pattern recognition using observable operator models (OOMs). OOMs are more efficient than Hidden Markov Models (HMMs). A data structure for an OOM has characteristic events, an initial distribution vector, a probability transition matrix, an occurrence count matrix, and at least one observable operator. System applications include computer systems, cellular phones, wearable computers, home control systems, fire safety or security systems, PDAs, and flight systems. A method of pattern recognition comprises training OOMs, receiving unknown input, computing matching probabilities, selecting the maximum probability, and displaying the match. A method of speech recognition comprises sampling a first input stream, performing a spectral analysis, clustering, training OOMs, and recognizing speech using the OOMs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindra K. Shetty, Venkatesan Thyagarajan
  • Method and apparatus for detecting objects
    Patent number: 6841780
    Abstract: An object detection system is provided that projects one or more patterns onto a monitored area, captures one or more live images of the monitored area, and detects objects that enter the monitored area by detecting changes in the one or more patterns in the live images. Such an object detection system may be less susceptible to dynamic lighting conditions, and more sensitive to object motion and/or presence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Darren D. Cofer, Rida M. Hamza, Marek Gierczak
  • Fluid mixture composition sensor
    Patent number: 6838287
    Abstract: An improved, affordable, and rapid fluid mixture composition or process monitor based on a thermal microstructure sensor. This is preferably accomplished with a microbridge sensor design that has reduced susceptibility to interfering components of the mixture. The sensor described herein is therefore suitable for monitoring the concentration of at least one component in a fluid mixture when the fluid mixture consists of either (1) two components with very different thermal conductivities; or (2) three or more components wherein at least one component has a very different thermal conductivity and the effects of the other components can be largely eliminated, especially if the component of interest is hydrogen and the interference is from the variability in the concentrations of CO2 and H2O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ulrich Bonne, Kenneth Creasy, Troy W. Francisco
  • Electrostatically actuated valve
    Patent number: 6837476
    Abstract: An electrostatically actuated valve that is relatively small, has relatively low fabrication costs, and consumes relatively low voltage and/or power. Normally closed, normally open, three (or more) way valves, and other configurations are contemplated. These electrostatically actuated valves are suitable for a wide variety of applications, including but not limited to, low power and wireless applications, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Cleopatra Cabuz, Eugen I. Cabuz
  • Health monitor
    Patent number: 6837118
    Abstract: An equipment or environment health monitor having a micro gas apparatus incorporating a phased heater array, concentrator, separator and detector for achieving the sensitivity needed for detection of extremely small amounts of fluids. The apparatus is capable of detecting trace gases, and may be utilized to detect “fault” gas of operating equipment so as to determine, for example, the prospects of imminent failure of the equipment. Also, the micro gas apparatus is capable of detecting miniscule amounts of pollutants in ambient environment of a conditioned or tested space. The output of the apparatus may go to a microcontroller and/or processor for prompt analysis. The output from the microcontroller or processor may go to either a transmitter/receiver for wireless communication or a modem for utility line, cable or optical communication with a station for data and results observation and review.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ulrich Bonne, Robert Nickels
  • Infrared detector packaged with improved antireflection element
    Patent number: 6838306
    Abstract: An infrared detector has a window in a cover having a cavity for exposing detector pixels to incident radiation. The window has an antireflective element formed within the cavity as a field of posts. The field of post structures is formed in a cavity by etching the posts in a desired pattern first, and forming the cavity by a general etch over the whole field afterward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Barrett E. Cole
  • Methods and apparatus for storing and delivering air to buildings
    Patent number: 6832952
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enhancing the air quality in buildings during a chemical and/or biological attack and/or when the air quality around a building drops to unacceptable levels. Preferably, relatively non-contaminated (clean) air is stored in one or more clean air reservoirs. Once stored, the clean air is selectively delivered to buildings when a chemical and/or biological attack is detected, and/or when the air quality around a building drops to unacceptable levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony E. Faltesek, Ronald H. Jiracek, Todd P. Carpenter