Patents Assigned to P.I. Engineering, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130014585
    Abstract: A touchpad useful in timing competitive sporting events such as swim meets includes a touch plate having a front surface and a back surface, one or more accelerometers coupled to the touch plate, electrical circuitry in communication with the accelerometers to detect motion indicative of a user's touch, and communications circuitry to transmit information indicative of a user's touch to a display, storage device or other remote unit. The back surface of the touch plate may have resilient ridges or a backing structure that more positively ensures contact recording. The circuitry may battery powered with rechargeable batteries. The communications circuitry may use wireless RF technology such as WiFi synchronized absolute time to transmit the touch information to a central timing system. In competitive swimming events, the communications circuitry utilizes a standard Colorado Timing systems banana plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: P.I. Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Hetherington
  • Patent number: 8065951
    Abstract: A motion platform/simulator uses pumps coupled to servo-controlled electric motors to pump fluid directly into and out of rubber bellows-type actuators. Peristaltic or gear pumps may be used in conjunction with linear transducers/encoders. The fluid can be a gas such as air or one of many non-toxic fluids, even water, as the pump or actuators require no lubrication from the working fluid. In the preferred embodiment, a mechanical pivot such as a U-joint is situated between the platform and the ground surface, and each transducer is located immediately adjacent an actuator. A reservoir or reservoirs may be provided to supply and receive fluid to and from the actuator(s) through the pump(s) or, alternatively, the pump(s) may be coupled between two actuators, thereby eliminating the need for a fluid reservoir. A pump may be coupled between two stacked actuators or different actuators located at different points on the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: P.I. Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Hetherington, Michael Hetherington
  • Patent number: 7602376
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor configuration is capable of determining position and/or velocity for rotary or linear translation using a movable dielectric element coupled to an elongate member. The dielectric element is supported between at least one detection plate and a plurality of transmitting plates. By measuring the charge on the detecting plate, the capacitances of the assembly at a given point in time can be determined, and this measurement is used to solve for position of the member. The dielectric need not be rigid, and the dielectric's distance from the plates does not have to be tightly controlled. The apparatus can be used to measure the position or velocity of a variety of devices, including computer peripherals such as mice, keyboards, joysticks, and other input control panels and pointing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: P.I. Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack H. Hetherington
  • Patent number: 7489144
    Abstract: Cost-effective methods and apparatus are disclosed for measuring both absolute position and fluctuations using a moving dielectric medium between fixed electrodes. A position sensor according to the invention includes a pair of spaced-apart electrodes, an elongated dielectric that moves between the electrodes, and electrical circuitry interconnected to the electrodes to determine the position of the dielectric relative to the electrodes. To realize a linear position sensor, the electrodes are electrically conductive rods or wires, and the dielectric is also an electrically non-conductive rod or wire. The dielectric may be flexible or stiff, in which case the dielectric and the electrodes are preferably substantially parallel to one another. Alternatively, the spaced-apart electrodes may be concentric tubes, with the dielectric being an electrically non-conductive tube slideably disposed between the electrodes. In different embodiments, the dielectric is a liquid-receiving tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: P.I. Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Hetherington, Michael Hetherington
  • Publication number: 20090029325
    Abstract: A complete hardware and software railroad training system gives the trainee a hands-on operators experience in a safe and productive classroom environment. The system and method combines a complete virtual simulation of a yard and the associated equipment with a cost-effective Operator Control Unit (OCU) to fully address Remote Control Operation (RCO), including equipment handing, yard familiarization, rules and safety training. A simulated locomotive training system according to the invention comprises a computer system generating a display of an avatar in a simulated railroad environment including a virtual locomotive and associated equipment. The OCU, a hand-held unit in communication with the computer system, includes one or more video-game or “game-pad” type controls, enabling a user to manipulate the avatar in the simulated railroad environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: P.I. Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Hetherington
  • Patent number: 7394051
    Abstract: A cost-effective and accurate model train position transponding arrangement deploys inexpensive CCD cameras to “watch” the layout and determine the locations of trains and landmarks. Each item of interest features an optical beacon, preferably an infrared LED, which can be “seen” by the cameras. Filtering out other light and using color cameras these bright spots can easily be tracked by software. These beacons can be stationary, embedded in the track or mobile, mounted on the trains. Certain LEDs can be controlled to simply flash at a certain frequency if more accuracy is needed to determine the source of the bright spot. The cameras are preferably mounted more or less overhead, but any angle with sufficient visibility of the layout will work because the image will be calibrated to the actual layout. In cases where the LED beacon is blocked from the camera's vision the software may interpolate the position of the beacon based on the last known position and velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: P.I. Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Hetherington
  • Patent number: 6888076
    Abstract: An economical, force-sensing “stiff” capacitive joystick includes a user-manipulable handle coupled to an electrically conductive drive plate, and an electrically conductive surface spaced apart from the drive plate. In the preferred embodiment, one or both of the drive plate and the conductive surface are segmented to produce multiple capacitive sensing elements, such that a force applied to the handle causes a slight deflection of the drive plate, enabling the force to be computed in at least two dimensions through changes detectable in the capacitive sensing elements. One or more electrical controls may be provided on the handle to accommodate different functions. For convenient construction, the electrically conductive drive plate is non-segmented, and the electrically conductive surface forms part of a printed-circuit board having a segmented pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: P.I. Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Hetherington