Patents by Inventor Andrew E. Blank

Andrew E. Blank 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).

  • Patent number: 11634937
    Abstract: A bus includes a vehicle body, a plurality of doors, a nosing seal, at least one sensor disposed inside the nosing seal, wherein the at least one sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive moving object proximal to the nosing seal such that the capacitance of the at least one sensor changes, and a controller coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller analyzing the sensing by the at least one sensor and senses a non-smooth signal from the at least one sensor and determines that an obstruction is present, senses signal fluctuation from the at least one sensor is not monotonic and determines that an obstruction is present, senses that the one of the doors has not closed after a predetermined time period and determines that the obstruction is present, senses that one of the doors has stalled and determines that the obstruction is present, the controller being configured to alert an operator of the bus when the obstruction is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: UUSI, LLC
    Inventors: John Washeleski, Todd R. Newman, Andrew E. Blank, David W. Shank, Edward J. Cox, Douglas M. Warnke, John M. Taylor, Bradley D. Looy
  • Publication number: 20210087868
    Abstract: A bus includes a vehicle body, a plurality of doors, a nosing seal, at least one sensor disposed inside the nosing seal, wherein the at least one sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive moving object proximal to the nosing seal such that the capacitance of the at least one sensor changes, and a controller coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller analyzing the sensing by the at least one sensor and senses a non-smooth signal from the at least one sensor and determines that an obstruction is present, senses signal fluctuation from the at least one sensor is not monotonic and determines that an obstruction is present, senses that the one of the doors has not closed after a predetermined time period and determines that the obstruction is present, senses that one of the doors has stalled and determines that the obstruction is present, the controller being configured to alert an operator of the bus when the obstruction is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: John Washeleski, Todd R. Newman, Andrew E. Blank, David W. Shank, Edward J. Cox, Douglas M. Warnke, John M. Taylor
  • Patent number: 10954709
    Abstract: A bus includes a vehicle body, a plurality of capacitive sensors mounted along a perimeter of the vehicle body, wherein one of the capacitive sensors capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the portion of the vehicle body such that the capacitance of the one of the capacitive sensors changes, and a controller coupled to the capacitive sensors, the controller being configured to alert an operator of the bus when the object is coupled to the at least one capacitive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: UUSI, LLC
    Inventors: John Washeleski, Todd R. Newman, Andrew E. Blank, David W. Shank, Edward J. Cox, II, Douglas M. Warnke, John M. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180030771
    Abstract: A bus includes a vehicle body, a plurality of capacitive sensors mounted along a perimeter of the vehicle body, wherein one of the capacitive sensors capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the portion of the vehicle body such that the capacitance of the one of the capacitive sensors changes, and a controller coupled to the capacitive sensors, the controller being configured to alert an operator of the bus when the object is coupled to the at least one capacitive sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: John Washeleski, Todd R. Newman, Andrew E. Blank, David W. Shank, Edward J. Cox, II, Douglas M. Warnke, John M. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9845629
    Abstract: A keyless entry assembly for a vehicle includes a sensor carrier, a sensor in the form of an electrically conductive pad, and a controller. The sensor is mounted to the sensor carrier and the sensor carrier is positioned adjacent a panel such that the sensor is adjacent the panel. The sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the panel while the sensor is driven with electrical charge such that capacitance of the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object. The controller is operable for driving the sensor with the electrical charge and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the capacitance of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: UUSI, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Washeleski, Edward J. Cox, II, Andrew E. Blank, David W. Shank, Todd R. Newman
  • Patent number: 9797179
    Abstract: An illustrative assembly includes a panel and a capacitive sensor. The panel is movable between an opened position and a closed position relative to a closure of a vehicle body. The sensor is positioned on the panel such that at least a portion of the sensor is perpendicular to the closure of the vehicle body as the panel moves between the opened and closed positions. The sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the closure of the vehicle body such that capacitance of the sensor changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: UUSI, LLC
    Inventors: John Washeleski, Todd R. Newman, Andrew E. Blank, David W. Shank, Edward J. Cox, II, Douglas M. Warnke, John M. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9575481
    Abstract: A fascia panel assembly includes an electrically non-conductive fascia panel, an electrically non-conductive isolator, and a capacitance sensor. The sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the sensor while the sensor is driven with an electrical charge such that capacitance of the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object. The isolator is sandwiched between the fascia panel and the isolator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: UUSI, LLC
    Inventors: Todd R. Newman, John M. Washeleski, Andrew E. Blank, David W. Shank, Edward J. Cox, II
  • Patent number: 9199608
    Abstract: A keyless entry assembly includes a carrier with an electrical conductor thereon, a light pipe having an indicator, and a controller. The light pipe is connected to the carrier such that the indicator and conductor are in alignment. The light pipe is operable for receiving light to illuminate the indicator. The carrier with the light pipe connected thereto is mountable to a user accessible portion of a vehicle. The conductor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the conductor while the conductor is driven with an electrical charge such that capacitance of the conductor changes due to the conductor capacitively coupling with the object. The controller is operable for driving the conductor with the electrical charge, measuring the conductor capacitance to determine whether an electrically conductive object is proximal to the conductor, and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the object being proximal to the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: UUSI, LLC
    Inventors: Todd R. Newman, John M. Washeleski, Andrew E. Blank, David W. Shank
  • Publication number: 20150267455
    Abstract: An illustrative assembly includes a panel and a capacitive sensor. The panel is movable between an opened position and a closed position relative to a closure of a vehicle body. The sensor is positioned on the panel such that at least a portion of the sensor is perpendicular to the closure of the vehicle body as the panel moves between the opened and closed positions. The sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the closure of the vehicle body such that capacitance of the sensor changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: John Washeleski, Todd R. Newman, Andrew E. Blank, David W. Shank, Edward J. Cox, II, Douglas M. Warnke, John M. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9051769
    Abstract: An illustrative assembly includes a panel and a capacitive sensor. The panel is movable between an opened position and a closed position relative to a closure of a vehicle body. The sensor is positioned on the panel such that at least a portion of the sensor is perpendicular to the closure of the vehicle body as the panel moves between the opened and closed positions. The sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the closure of the vehicle body such that capacitance of the sensor changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: UUSI, LLC
    Inventors: John Washeleski, Todd R. Newman, Andrew E. Blank, David W. Shank, Edward J. Cox, II, Douglas M. Warnke, John M. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20130311039
    Abstract: An illustrative assembly includes a panel and a capacitive sensor. The panel is movable between an opened position and a closed position relative to a closure of a vehicle body. The sensor is positioned on the panel such that at least a portion of the sensor is perpendicular to the closure of the vehicle body as the panel moves between the opened and closed positions. The sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the closure of the vehicle body such that capacitance of the sensor changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: UUSI, LLC
    Inventors: John Washeleski, Todd R. Newman, Andrew E. Blank, David W. Shank, Edward J. Cox, II, Douglas M. Warnke, John M. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20110313619
    Abstract: A keyless entry assembly for a vehicle includes a sensor carrier, a sensor in the form of an electrically conductive pad, and a controller. The sensor is mounted to the sensor carrier and the sensor carrier is positioned adjacent a panel such that the sensor is adjacent the panel. The sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the panel while the sensor is driven with electrical charge such that capacitance of the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object. The controller is operable for driving the sensor with the electrical charge and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the capacitance of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: UUSI, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Washeleski, Edward J. Cox, II, Andrew E. Blank, David W. Shank, Todd R. Newman
  • Publication number: 20110187492
    Abstract: A fascia panel assembly includes an electrically non-conductive fascia panel, an electrically non-conductive isolator, and a capacitance sensor. The sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the sensor while the sensor is driven with an electrical charge such that capacitance of the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object. The isolator is sandwiched between the fascia panel and the isolator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: UUSI, LLC
    Inventors: Todd R. Newman, John M. Washeleski, Andrew E. Blank, David W. Shank, Edward J. Cox, II
  • Publication number: 20110057773
    Abstract: A keyless entry assembly includes a carrier with an electrical conductor thereon, a light pipe having an indicator, and a controller. The light pipe is connected to the carrier such that the indicator and conductor are in alignment. The light pipe is operable for receiving light to illuminate the indicator. The carrier with the light pipe connected thereto is mountable to a user accessible portion of a vehicle. The conductor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the conductor while the conductor is driven with an electrical charge such that capacitance of the conductor changes due to the conductor capacitively coupling with the object. The controller is operable for driving the conductor with the electrical charge, measuring the conductor capacitance to determine whether an electrically conductive object is proximal to the conductor, and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the object being proximal to the conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: Uusi, LLC d/b/a Nartron
    Inventors: Todd R. Newman, John M. Washeleski, Andrew E. Blank, David W. Shank