Patents by Inventor Allan Rodgers
Allan Rodgers 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).
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Patent number: 11629818Abstract: A safety system for a machine having a danger zone includes an induction coil having one or more turns extending along the periphery of a part of a worker's body as, for example, extending alone the fingers of a glove worn by the worker. A drive circuit applies a time-varying current having an identifiable characteristic such as the frequency of an alternating current. A magnetic field having the characteristic of the time-varying current is induced in an omnidirectional magnetic field sensor mounted adjacent the danger zone. The magnitude of this field is monitored. When the magnitude exceeds a threshold, a warning signal is issued and protective action may be taken, such as stopping or reversing the machine.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2020Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: ALKEN Inc.Inventors: Keith Hanf, Allan Rodgers, Jr.
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Publication number: 20210048145Abstract: A safety system for a machine having a danger zone includes an induction coil having one or more turns extending along the periphery of a part of a worker's body as, for example, extending alone the fingers of a glove worn by the worker. A drive circuit applies a time-varying current having an identifiable characteristic such as the frequency of an alternating current. A magnetic field having the characteristic of the time-varying current is induced in an omnidirectional magnetic field sensor mounted adjacent the danger zone. The magnitude of this field is monitored. When the magnitude exceeds a threshold, a warning signal is issued and protective action may be taken, such as stopping or reversing the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Applicant: ALKEN Inc., dba PolhemusInventors: Keith Hanf, Allan Rodgers, JR.
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Patent number: 10837599Abstract: A safety system for a machine having a danger zone includes an induction coil having one or more turns extending along the periphery of a part of a worker's body as, for example, extending alone the fingers of a glove worn by the worker. A drive circuit applies a time-varying current having an identifiable characteristic such as the frequency of an alternating current. A magnetic field having the characteristic of the time-varying current is induced in an omnidirectional magnetic field sensor mounted adjacent the danger zone. The magnitude of this field is monitored. When the magnitude exceeds a threshold, a warning signal is issued and protective action may be taken, such as stopping or reversing the machine.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: ALKEN Inc.Inventors: Keith Hanf, Allan Rodgers, Jr.
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Publication number: 20190242523Abstract: A safety system for a machine having a danger zone includes an induction coil having one or more turns extending along the periphery of a part of a worker's body as, for example, extending alone the fingers of a glove worn by the worker. A drive circuit applies a time-varying current having an identifiable characteristic such as the frequency of an alternating current. A magnetic field having the characteristic of the time-varying current is induced in an omnidirectional magnetic field sensor mounted adjacent the danger zone. The magnitude of this field is monitored. When the magnitude exceeds a threshold, a warning signal is issued and protective action may be taken, such as stopping or reversing the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2019Publication date: August 8, 2019Applicant: ALKEN Inc., dba PolhemusInventors: Keith Hanf, Allan Rodgers, JR.
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Patent number: 7967127Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable star wheel and guide rail assembly for use with containers being processed on an automated handling line between machines such as rotary packaging machines. Star wheels derive their name from their general shape. The star wheels of this invention have fingers that support containers, such that they convey the containers as the star wheel rotates. Conveniently, the fingers of the present invention may be set in any position within their range of movement. In addition, a supporting guide rail may be adjusted, for example by rotation on cams. Thus, the fingers and the guide rail may be set to convey containers of varying sizes while keeping the container's centers travelling along the centerline of the conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2004Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Diageo PLCInventors: Ian Spence, John Robertson, Allan Rodger
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Publication number: 20080120061Abstract: In an AC magnetic tracker one or more multi-axis field sources, each operating at a different frequency, or frequency set, are detected and tracked in three-dimensional space, even when wireless or otherwise not physically connected to the tracking system. Multiple sources can be tracked simultaneously as they each operate with their own unique detectable set of parameters. The invention not only provides the ability to uniquely identify one or more sources by their frequencies, but also to synchronize with these frequencies in order to measure signals that then allow tracking the position and orientation (P&O) of the source(s). Further, these sources need not be present at the time of system start-up but can come and go while being detected, discriminated and tracked. It also should be noted that application of such systems in multiples with more sensors not synchronized to a source or sources also could be employed to give the reverse appearance of a known source phase and incoherency with the sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2008Publication date: May 22, 2008Inventors: Robert Higgins, Herbert Jones, Allan Rodgers
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Publication number: 20070271871Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable star wheel and guide rail assembly for use with containers being processed on an automated handling line between machines such as rotary packaging machines. Star wheels derive their name from their general shape. The star wheels of this invention have fingers that support containers, such that they convey the containers as the star wheel rotates. Conveniently, the fingers of the present invention may be set in any position within their range of movement. In addition, a supporting guide rail may be adjusted, for example by rotation on cams. Thus, the fingers and the guide rail may be set to convey containers of varying sizes whilst keeping the container's centres travelling along the centreline of the conveyor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2004Publication date: November 29, 2007Inventors: Ian Spence, John Robertson, Allan Rodger
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Publication number: 20060255795Abstract: The 3-axis field source coils and 3-axis sensor coils derived from off-the-shelf suppliers in a magnetic tracker are integrated with driving and sensing circuitry to provide a complete six-degree-of-freedom tracker in only two modules: a sensor module and a source module plus being able also to track with at least a second sensor of identical design. One or both of the basic tracker modules may be mounted on respective single printed-circuit boards, and the source module may take advantage of digital wave generation and tuned coil drivers for reduced hardware. One or both of the coil sets may be non-concentric, and the output for providing P&O updates to a host computer may take advantage of a connector that receives electrical power from the host computer, such as a USB/USB-2 connector. To further reduce system cost, the circuitry used to amplify the signals received by the sensor coils may be multiplexed under control of the processor on the source board.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2006Publication date: November 16, 2006Inventors: Robert Higgins, Allan Rodgers, Donald Dickinson
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Publication number: 20060170417Abstract: Magnetic tracking systems and methods confine source(s)/sensor(s) to a compact region, thereby facilitating enhanced precision without the need for distortion compensation or mapping. Several sensors placed in accurately known (or determined through algorithms within the tracker processor) locations allow a single small magnetic field source to be tracked by all of them simultaneously. Such a configuration allows an operator's head to be tracked accurately, as in a flight simulator, where coupling between field source and sensors is kept short, thereby eliminating the need for distortion mapping.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2006Publication date: August 3, 2006Inventors: Allan Rodgers, Robert Higgins, Keith Hanf, James Farr
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Publication number: 20060038555Abstract: Self-calibrating AC magnetic tracking systems and combination “outside-in” and “inside-out” architectures offer unique motion tracking capabilities. More area is covered with minimal distortion using the tracking system itself to determine overall P&O based on the P&O of an initial, reference marker. The output as anticipated and needed by the user is output without confusion and without costly and time-consuming metrology while covering a large region when distance from the reference may be great. A method according to the invention includes the steps of positioning a plurality of stationary AC magnetic “markers” in a tracking volume and moving a mobile AC magnetic marker proximate to a first one of the stationary markers designated as a reference marker. The position and orientation (P&O) of the mobile marker is determined relative to the reference marker, then moved so as to be proximate to a second one of the stationary markers.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2005Publication date: February 23, 2006Inventors: Robert Higgins, Herbert Jones, Allan Rodgers, James Farr, Herschell Murry
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Publication number: 20060012571Abstract: A magnetic tracker system for use on an operator's head makes “mouse”/cursor movements on a screen similar to that of the classic computer “mouse”/track ball/touchpad/joystick. Only head movements are used as opposed to lifting a hand from the keyboard for making such moves. The new “mouse” avoids interrupting the hands from their position on the keyboard and has no moving mechanical parts that become clogged and that need a special surface (mouse pad) or special surface measurements (optical mouse).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2005Publication date: January 19, 2006Inventors: Allan Rodgers, Robert Higgins, Suzanne Gagnon, James Farr
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Publication number: 20050285590Abstract: In an AC magnetic tracker one or more multi-axis field sources, each operating at a different frequency, or frequency set, are detected and tracked in three-dimensional space, even when wireless or otherwise not physically connected to the tracking system. Multiple sources can be tracked simultaneously as they each operate with their own unique detectable set of parameters. The invention not only provides the ability to uniquely identify one or more sources by their frequencies, but also to synchronize with these frequencies in order to measure signals that then allow tracking the position and orientation (P&O) of the source(s). Further, these sources need not be present at the time of system start-up but can come and go while being detected, discriminated and tracked. It also should be noted that application of such systems in multiples with more sensors not synchronized to a source or sources also could be employed to give the reverse appearance of a known source phase and incoherency with the sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2005Publication date: December 29, 2005Inventors: Robert Higgins, Herbert Jones, Allan Rodgers
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Publication number: 20050285591Abstract: A small, lightweight field source acts as a “pseudo-sensor” in an AC magnetic tracking system, facilitating wireless operation. Upon activation, the source sends out three continuous low-power magnetic signals, a separate frequency from each of three resonant orthogonal coils, without the need for switching to a receive mode or detecting a synchronizing signal to start the three signals simultaneously. This simple structure allows the source to be kept small and consume little power so that it can operate for over one hour before needing to be re-charged. This design approach thus allows a user or object being tracked to move about freely with no restricting cabling to a base station or even to a body-mounted electronics module and bulky battery. A family of frequencies can be used for each of several such pseudo-sensor sources in order for the base station sensors and electronics to track multiple sources.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2005Publication date: December 29, 2005Inventors: Robert Higgins, Mark Roussel, Herbert Jones, Allan Rodgers