Patents Assigned to Modern Controls, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5184392
    Abstract: A method apparatus for constructing an oxygen sensor in a layered construction including an anode element, a cathode element and an intermediate electrolyte-retentive insulator, wherein the layered anode element has a central flat metallic plate with two narrower outer plates bound against respective surfaces of the plate by an electrical conductor wrap, and the cathode element is uniformly compressed toward the anode along an elongate length by elongated support struts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: William N. Mayer
  • Patent number: 5159829
    Abstract: A system for measuring gas permeability of membranes under precise temperature and humidity controls, by the use of a gas detector made from a single metallic block, wherein the gas flow passages are virtually entirely confined within the metallic block, and a temperature control passage is provided in the block for stabilizing temperature of the block and the passages therein, at any predetermined temperature. The detector device also includes passages for forming into liquid reservoirs, for providing a controllable relative humidity by passing the test gases through the mubidifier passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Mayer, Robert L. Neiss
  • Patent number: 5139638
    Abstract: A method apparatus for constructing an oxygen sensor in a layered construction including an anode element, a cathode element and an intermediate electrolyte-retentive insulator, wherein the layered anode element has a central flat metallic plate with two narrower outer plates bound against respective surfaces of the plate by an electrical conductor wrap, and the cathode element is uniformly compressed toward the anode along an elongate length by elongated support struts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: William N. Mayer
  • Patent number: 5135113
    Abstract: A device for sorting tablets by capacitive measurement, including a disk rotating between capacitor plates, a tablet fielding device for sequentially metering a series of tablets onto the disk, an arcuate guide assembly for guiding the tablets along a guide path as the disk rotates, and a deflector assembly for deflecting the tablets along one of the possible paths, as a consequence of the capacitance measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Mayer, Steven W. Broders
  • Patent number: 5107696
    Abstract: A system for measuring gas permeability of membranes under precise temperature and humidity controls, by the use of a gas detector made from a single metallic block, wherein the gas flow passages are virtually entirely confined within the metallic block, and a temperature control passage is provided in the block for stabilizing temperature of the block and the passages therein, at any predetermined temperature. The detector device also includes passages for forming into liquid reservoirs, for providing a controllable relative humidity by passing the test gases through the humidifier passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Mayer, Robert L. Neiss
  • Patent number: 5101166
    Abstract: An on-line capacitance sensing system, including a capacitance sensor, for measuring changes in thickness of a plastic film which passes over the sensor in contacting relationship; the sensor is mounted to a carriage which may be reciprocated transversely across the width of the film, and a partial vacuum is applied to the sensor to assist in holding the moving plastic film in contacting relationship against the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger C. Oestreich, Richard Rosik
  • Patent number: 5081863
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring gas transmission through films and membranes comprises upper and lower staging sections with sample sites defined therebetween. The upper and lower staging sections communicate with sample sites of transmitted gas and carrier gases and a volatile substance can be positioned in sample sites of the upper staging section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip L. Reid
  • Patent number: 5053116
    Abstract: A device for humidifying gases without oxygen comprised of a gas conduit for passing the gases through the device to be humidified having a portion of the conduit being permeable to water but a barrier to electrolytes. The portion of the gas conduit is positioned closely adjacent the anode of a galvanic cell also having a cathode. A reservoir is provided for placement of the galvanic cell and the portion of the gas conduit therein which is at least partially filled with an electrolyte solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel W. Mayer
  • Patent number: 5030918
    Abstract: A capacitance gauge system is described for determining the thickness of thin-film non-conducting material (i.e. polyethylene, vinyl, etc.). An elongated capacitance sensing head is applied to one side of the material being measured thereby disturbing the electric field produced by the head. Internal circuitry monitors the effect of the material under test and produces an output proportional to the variation in the material's thickness. A new method of resolving capacitance changes results in the ability to resolve capacitance changes on the order of 5.times.10.sup.-17 Farads in a linear manner with the benefits of simplicity, excellent stability, low power requirement, and small physical size. These factors allow said apparatus to be incorporated into a small hand-held unit. Because of this advancement in portability, accurate measurements can be made more quickly and conveniently than previously possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Thon
  • Patent number: 4973395
    Abstract: An oxygen detection device utilizing a water permeable humidifier and two galvanic cells connected in series gas flow connection, each of the galvanic cells having an anode and cathode; the respective cathodes being connected to a common connection between two load resistors, and the respective anodes being separately connected across one each of the load resistors; the device further having a third galvanic cell in close proximity to a water permeable tube to provide an oxygen getter and humidifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: William N. Mayer, Daniel W. Mayer
  • Patent number: 4952882
    Abstract: A capacitance sensor for measuring changes in thickness of a dielectric film, such as plastic film, passed through the sensor, having an upper and lower housing projecting from a back plate, the lower housing having an upper electrode surface and the upper housing having an insulator aligned with the electrode surface; the insulator having an electrode conneced to an electrical conductor; the materials for constructing the two housings, the electrode and the insulator all having a coefficient of linear temperature expansion of less than 1.times.10.sup.-6 per degree Centigrade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: William N. Mayer, Roger Oestreich, Daniel W. Mayer
  • Patent number: 4947131
    Abstract: A capacitance sensor for measuring thickness variations in film materials, having a sensor mounted in a housing plate slot, with an air gap between the sensor and the housing plate, the sensor being affixed to an insulator support plate, the insulator support plate being affixed to the housing plate, with a bottom plate affixed against the lower side of the housing plate, having enlarged openings for permitting the passage of a conductor to the sensor; all of the conductor and insulator materials having a coefficient of linear temperature expansion of less than 1.times.10.sup.-6 per degree centrigrade, the insulator materials having virtually no dialectic variation with temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: William N. Mayer, Roger Oestreich, Daniel W. Mayer
  • Patent number: 4852389
    Abstract: A system for controlled humidity tests wherein gas transmission through a barrier may be measured, including apparatus for controllably mixing a dry gas and wet gas, for conveying the mixed gas to a test chamber or chambers for measurement of relative humidity and gas transition through a barrier, including gas transmission conduits having a pressure drop of less than 1 percent of ambient pressure, and including conduit temperature controls to maintain a controlled first temperature in the test chamber or chambers, and controlled higher temperatures in all other gas conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Mayer, Craig K. Loebig, Wayne K. Savick
  • Patent number: 4759882
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to the art of gas humidification and more particularly to an improved process for humidifying a gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Mocon Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip L. Reid
  • Patent number: 4402412
    Abstract: A device for insertion into the flow line of a high speed capsule classifying machine, having a capsule receptacle mounted on a movable gate, and a control circuit for detecting nonuniform capsules on the receptacle to position the gate and thereby move the receptacle in front of an air pressure jet to remove the nonuniform capsule from the receptacle, and then reposition the receptacle back into the capsule flow line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Rex C. Wood
  • Patent number: 4306234
    Abstract: Apparatus for providing a visual information screen by means of a plurality of gas cells serially arranged along gas channels within a glass panel, having orthogonal parallel conductors in dielectric separation over the channels, wherein a single electrical input circuit is utilized to ignite a gas cell which may be serially shifted to selected gas channels and subsequently parallel shifted with other similar gas cells along the channels by electrical excitation of the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: William N. Mayer
  • Patent number: 4278918
    Abstract: Low impedance gas display panel voltage driver circuit is disclosed for driving conductor segments imbedded in gas display panel, wherein such conductor segments present a capacitive load, and where input to driving circuit is digital logic signal from standard transistor-transistor logic (TTL) circuit, the driver circuit and variations thereof being suitable for coupling to one or a plurality of conductor segments in a gas display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Bachofer
  • Patent number: 4276492
    Abstract: Improved construction of Flat Glass Plasma Display Panel of the type having planar conductors transversely oriented relative to elongated gas channels wherein dielectric separation exists between the planar conductors and gas channels, including preferred relationship between conductor spacing and channel depth, and joining of conductor pairs to facilitate external electrical connections to all conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1981
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: William N. Mayer
  • Patent number: 4256533
    Abstract: Method is disclosed for applying sealing glass to glass surfaces intermediate multiple layers, etching channels through the sealing glass and partially into a glass layer, and bonding to the glass layers together to form a unitary glass display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1981
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: William N. Mayer
  • Patent number: 4223751
    Abstract: A dielectric tube, such as glass or plastic, having a square cross section extends between the two plates of a capacitance-sensing transducer. The opposite sides of the tube have a spacing only slightly greater than the diameter of the capsules to be checked. The capsules to be classified are oriented prior to their introduction into the tube so that they enter in an end-to-end relationship. The requisite spacing between the capsules is accomplished by an air jet device that rapidly accelerates the leading capsule as it enters the tube to such a velocity that it leaves the transducer before the next capsule enters, thereby assuring that only one capsule is in the transducer at any given moment. The capacitance-sensing transducer is repeatedly charged and discharged by means of a high frequency oscillator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1980
    Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Ayers, Rex C. Wood