Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Mario J. Donato, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5894264
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a audible tone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a non-ferromagnetic container 105, a ferromagnetic member 110, a coil 115, a first stationary lead wire 175, a second stationary lead wire 180, and a flexible ferromagnetic diaphragm 120. The ferromagnetic member 110 is essentially disposed within the nonferromagnetic container 105. The coil 115 is encircling a portion of the ferromagnetic member 110. The coil 115 has an input end 165 connected to a first stationary lead wire 175, configured to receive an electrical signal, and an output end 170 connected to a second stationary lead wire 180. The flexible ferromagnetic diaphragm 120 is disposed along the top edge 135 of the non-ferromagnetic container 105. The flexible ferromagnetic diaphragm 120 is configured to flex when magnetically attracted toward the ferromagnetic member 110. As the flexible ferromagnetic diaphragm 120 flexes the first stationary lead wire 175 and the second stationary lead wire 180 will remain stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel E. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 5874856
    Abstract: A feed forward amplifier (200) comprises a main signal path (201), an error signal path (203), and a third signal path (205). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the third signal path (205) comprises a gain and phase adjuster (245), delay circuitry (249), summing circuitry (251), and an error cancellation detector (255). The third signal path (205) is designed to match passive components in a component section (207) of the main signal path (201) to the error signal path (203). Gain and phase adjustments are made by the gain and phase adjuster (235) to minimize the RSSI of the error components within the input signal (253).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark I. Van Horn
  • Patent number: 5867064
    Abstract: A feed-forward amplifier (600) has an error path (123) replaced by a feed-forward amplifier (603) in a nested feed-forward configuration. By replacing the error path (123) with the feed-forward amplifier (603), design parameters such as efficiency and power output which are difficult to achieve with the conventional error path (123) are easily achieved with the single loop feed-forward amplifier (603). In this configuration, the main path (613) of the feed-forward amplifier (603) is capable of operating in a more efficient Class AB mode while still operating over a large dynamic range with to provide a relatively constant gain/phase relationship, thus insuring good intermodulation performance. The error path (627) of the feed-forward amplifier (603) must still be biased Class A, but it's requirements are much less than those of a Class A error amplifier (124) in an un-nested configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark I. Van Horn, Joe Clark, Leroy Plymale
  • Patent number: 5859851
    Abstract: A digital communication circuit that avoids bit collisions between an external communication device and a controller that communicate to each other through a bi-directional serial communication link is disclosed. The digital communication circuit includes digital circuitry that receives and transmits a digital communication signal. A detection circuit detects when a digital communication signal is being received. And delay circuitry receives the transmitted digital communication signal and responsively produces a delay signal to delay the detection of the received digital communication signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Young, Gregory L. Williamson
  • Patent number: 5825762
    Abstract: A transmitter (300) is utilized to provide wireless communication in a sectorized coverage area. The transmitter (300) incorporates a hybrid matrix (303) and an inverse hybrid matrix (306) to combine input control signals (315) and traffic signals (316). The hybrid matrix (303) transforms the control signals (315) and traffic signals (316) into output signals which each contain a portion of the control signals (315) and traffic signals (316). The outputs from the hybrid matrix (303) are amplified by amplifiers (319), and the outputs from the amplifiers (319) are then inverse transformed by the inverse hybrid matrix (306). The inverse transform matrix (306) recombines the portions of the control signals (315) and traffic signals (316) originally input to the hybrid matrix (303), and the resulting signals are transmitted to mobile stations (203-205 and 208) in sectorized coverage areas (S1.sub.A and S1.sub.B) using sector antennas (320).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph A. Kamin, Jr., Graham Haddock
  • Patent number: 5781090
    Abstract: A latching electromagnet is provided. The electromagnet (300) includes a core (305) having a pole face, a coil of windings (325), and an armature (330). Advantageously, the core has a geometry that locally increases the magnetic flux density to saturation levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: C. Nickolas Goloff, Rodney L. Rolffs
  • Patent number: 5758304
    Abstract: An electronic transmission shift control is provided wherein an input device such as a vehicle control lever is connected to a sensor. The sensor sends out a substantially continuous signal to an electronic control module. The electronic control module controls the current going through a solenoid that, in one application, is controlling the pressure of a valve to engage a clutch in a transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Steven C. Bray
  • Patent number: 5757224
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a circuit for receiving an input current and for producing an output voltage proportional to the input current. The circuit includes a first transistor which receives the input current, and a second transistor connected to the first transistor, wherein the first and second transistors comprise a current mirror topology. A third transistor is connected in series with the first transistor, and an operational amplifier has an output which is connected to the base of the third transistor. The third transistor has a collector coupled to a base junction of the current mirror. The operational amplifier has a positive input terminal coupled to a collector of the second transistor through a first resistor, and a negative input terminal coupled to an emitter of the third transistor through a second resistor, the first and second resistors having substantially similar impedance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Antone, Brian W. Mann
  • Patent number: 5753835
    Abstract: A receptacle 10 for holding a sensing device 15 and a method for controllably connecting a housing 20 and a probe 25 together to form the receptacle 10 is disclosed. The receptacle 10 is disposed along a longitudinal axis. The housing 20 has a first end portion 30 and a second end portion 35. The housing 20 also has a bore 37 disposed along the longitudinal axis that extends through the housing 20 and through both end portions 30, 35. Located near the first end portion 30 is a counter bore 43 that defines a step section 40. The probe 25 has a sensing end portion 50 and an attaching end portion 55. Located at the attaching end portion 55 is a flange portion 60. The probe 25, also has a bore 53 disposed along the longitudinal axis and through the attaching end portion 55. Extending near the first end portion 30 of the housing 20 is a lip 45 which has an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald R. Gustin
  • Patent number: 5732575
    Abstract: A closure fastener comprising a hasp assembly pivotally connected to a staple assembly. The hasp assembly includes a latch arm having an aperture adjacent its free end. The staple assembly includes a staple having an aperture disposed transversely therethrough providing a passage for a shackle of a lock, the staple being received by and extending through the latch arm aperture when the latch arm is in a closed position. A base member is integrally connected to the staple and has an aperture therethrough for receiving a switch engagement member of a disconnect switch. A stud is integrally connected to the base member, the stud having an aperture disposed transversely therethrough. A pivot pin in disposed through the stud aperture and through a pivot pin receiving aperture of the latch arm, thereby pivotally connecting the hasp assembly to the staple assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Kaveney
  • Patent number: 5720249
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an engine control system, and more particularly to an engine control system that decreases the amount of waste oil that must be disposed of in an internal combustion engine by automatically burning spent oil based upon engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Edward H. Betts, David M. Erickson, John L. Johnson, Jr., Charles J. Kocian, Robert L. Weber
  • Patent number: 5680917
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a clutch or brake in an application with variable torque requirements. Control logic momentarily sets the control signal to an initial level to allow adequate time to engage the clutch or brake, and then changes the control signal at an acceptable rate until reaching the required torque level. The initial level is varied based upon the required torque, such that at low levels of required torque, a signal with low initial torque (although possibly higher than the required torque), is used to achieve smoother engagement at some sacrifice in response, and at higher levels of required torque, a signal with higher initial torque is used to improve response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Steven C. Bray
  • Patent number: 5670924
    Abstract: The subject invention provides an inductor mounting assembly that is easy to assemble into any mounting scheme and which assures that an adequate clamping force to overcome vibration forces is provided.In one aspect of the present invention, an inductor mounting assembly is provided. The inductor mounting assembly includes an inductor assembly, a spacer assembly adapted to receive the inductor assembly, a wedge member for engaging one side of the inductor assembly and for distributing a clamping force substantially evenly about the inductor assembly, and a bushing disposed through each of the inductor assembly, the spacer assembly, and the wedge member, such that when a clamping force is applied to the wedge member, the inductor assembly is clamped to the spacer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew L. Heinrich
  • Patent number: 5546264
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing reverse protection to an electronic circuit is provided. The electronic circuit has a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal. The positive input terminal is coupled to a positive battery terminal via the apparatus. The negative input terminal is connected to a negative battery terminal. The apparatus includes a MOSFET transistor having a gate terminal, a drain terminal and a source terminal. One of the drain terminal and the source terminal is connected to the positive battery terminal and an other of the drain terminal and the source terminal is connected to the positive input terminal. One end of a resistor is connected to the gate terminal. One end of a pair of Zener diodes is connected to the gate terminal. The other end is connected to the source terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Williamson, John P. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5532529
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a contactless inductance switch is disclosed for use with a joystick. The switch is mechanically connected to a mass which is movable between a first and second position. When an operator presses the switch, the mass moves to the second position adjacent to an electrical circuitry. Sensing circuitry measures the change in inductance in the coil and produces a control signal indicating that the switch was pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: George Codina, Donald L. Copple, Kevin G. Yakes