Patents by Inventor Brian S. R. Armstrong

Brian S. R. Armstrong 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: 9599683
    Abstract: A camera assembly for use in a MRI machine. The camera assembly includes a Faraday cage defining a shielded cavity and an optical path mount constructed of a highly stiff, dense, and non-electrically-conductive material in the shielded cavity. The camera imager and lens are mounted to the optical path mount. The camera assembly includes a capacitor-based power regulation circuit. The optical path mount is not subject to eddy currents because it is non-electrically-conductive. The capacitor-based power regulation circuit includes very little ferrous material and is within the shielded cavity, to reduce eddy currents. The resulting camera assembly reduces vibrations and shaking in the magnetic field environment of the MRI machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: UWM Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian S. R. Armstrong, Todd P. Kusik, Robert T. Barrows
  • Publication number: 20140354282
    Abstract: A camera assembly for use in a MRI machine. The camera assembly includes a Faraday cage defining a shielded cavity and an optical path mount constructed of a highly stiff, dense, and non-electrically-conductive material in the shielded cavity. The camera imager and lens are mounted to the optical path mount. The camera assembly includes a capacitor-based power regulation circuit. The optical path mount is not subject to eddy currents because it is non-electrically-conductive. The capacitor-based power regulation circuit includes very little ferrous material and is within the shielded cavity, to reduce eddy currents. The resulting camera assembly reduces vibrations and shaking in the magnetic field environment of the MRI machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Todd P. Kusik, Brian S. R. Armstrong, Robert T. Barrows
  • Patent number: 8625107
    Abstract: A target for use in a motion tracking system includes an optically transparent substrate with front and rear artwork. A robust landmark is comprised of portions of the front and rear artwork, and includes alternating spokes and interstitial spaces. The front and rear artwork also define orientation dependent radiation regions that occupy a portion of the interstitial spaces. The artwork also provides target identification markings and markings for providing in-plane rotation information. The surface area of the robust landmark maximized with respect to the total surface area of the target size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: UWM Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Kusik, Brian S. R. Armstrong, Robert T. Barrows, Ethan V. Munson
  • Publication number: 20130058820
    Abstract: Methods for controlling the net-displacement of a rotary fluid pressure device are disclosed. One of the net-displacement control methods (47) includes obtaining a desired input parameter (23) and a relative position (21) of a first member (43) and a second member (35) of a fluid displacement mechanism. A determination of a first and second output value is then made for each of a plurality of volume chambers (45) when the volume chambers (45) are supplied with fluid at fluid inlet and fluid outlet conditions, respectively. A total output value is then computed for each of a plurality of control valve configurations (63) and compared to the desired input parameter (23). The control valve configuration (63) with the total output value most similar to the desired input parameter (23) is then selected. A plurality of control valves (15) are then actuated in accordance with the selected control valve configuration (63).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Brian S.R. Armstrong, Qinghui Yuan
  • Patent number: 8292605
    Abstract: A method for controlling a rotary fluid device includes providing a rotary fluid device having a fluid displacement assembly and a plurality of control valves. The fluid displacement assembly includes a first member and a second member. The first and second members have relative movement and define a plurality of volume chambers. The plurality of control valves is in fluid communication with the plurality of volume chambers. A desired displacement is received. A relative position of the first and second members is determined. An optimal displacement family is selected from a plurality of displacement families that is based on peak displacements of a plurality of displacement curves. A phase shift angle for the optimal displacement family is selected so that an actual displacement of the fluid displacement assembly approaches the desired displacement. The control valves of the rotary fluid device are actuated in accordance with the phase shift angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: QingHui Yuan, Brian S. R. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 8235676
    Abstract: Methods for controlling the net-displacement of a rotary fluid pressure device are disclosed. One of the net-displacement control methods (47) includes obtaining a desired input parameter (23) and a relative position (21) of a first member (43) and a second member (35) of a fluid displacement mechanism. A determination of a first and second output value is then made for each of a plurality of volume chambers (45) when the volume chambers (45) are supplied with fluid at fluid inlet and fluid outlet conditions, respectively. A total output value is then computed for each of a plurality of control valve configurations (63) and compared to the desired input parameter (23). The control valve configuration (63) with the total output value most similar to the desired input parameter (23) is then selected. A plurality of control valves (15) are then actuated in accordance with the selected control valve configuration (63).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Brian S. R. Armstrong, Qinghui Yuan
  • Publication number: 20110286010
    Abstract: A target for use in a motion tracking system includes an optically transparent substrate with front and rear artwork. A robust landmark is comprised of portions of the front and rear artwork, and includes alternating spokes and interstitial spaces. The front and rear artwork also define orientation dependent radiation regions that occupy a portion of the interstitial spaces. The artwork also provides target identification markings and markings for providing in-plane rotation information. The surface area of the robust landmark maximized with respect to the total surface area of the target size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: UWM RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Todd P. Kusik, Brian S. R. Armstrong, Robert T. Barrows, Ethan V. Munson
  • Patent number: 7912164
    Abstract: A system includes first and second wireless nodes having a clock with plural times, a wireless transceiver, and a processor cooperating with the transceiver to transmit and receive packets. The second node transceivers wirelessly communicate with the first or other second node transceivers. The second nodes include a Kalman filter with an output, plural filter gains, and an input representing the difference between: about the time of the clock when a received packet should have ideally been received, and a time when the received packet was actually received as measured by the clock. A circuit provides dynamic adjustment of the filter gains. The Kalman filter output estimates the difference between the time of the receiving node clock and a corresponding one of the times of the transmitting node clock. The second processor cooperates with the Kalman filter output to adjust the times of the receiving node clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Brian S. R. Armstrong, Luis R. Pereira, Carlos H. Rentel
  • Patent number: 7697495
    Abstract: A wireless system includes a plurality of wireless nodes structured to participate in a system test of the wireless nodes. The system test includes a plurality of test packets. A packet sniffer node includes a wireless receiver, a memory storing a schedule defining transmission and reception of the test packets by the wireless nodes, and a processor cooperating with the wireless receiver and the memory to receive at least some of the test packets responsive to the schedule, and to output data corresponding to the received test packets of the system test. A monitoring computer receives the output data from the processor of the packet sniffer node. Operation of the packet sniffer node, which does not transmit, does interfere with or alter execution of the system test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Brian S. R. Armstrong, Luis R. Pereira, Sujit R. Das, Carlos H. Rentel
  • Publication number: 20100080721
    Abstract: A method for controlling a rotary fluid device includes providing a rotary fluid device having a fluid displacement assembly and a plurality of control valves. The fluid displacement assembly includes a first member and a second member. The first and second members have relative movement and define a plurality of volume chambers. The plurality of control valves is in fluid communication with the plurality of volume chambers. A desired displacement is received. A relative position of the first and second members is determined. An optimal displacement family is selected from a plurality of displacement families that is based on peak displacements of a plurality of displacement curves. A phase shift angle for the optimal displacement family is selected so that an actual displacement of the fluid displacement assembly approaches the desired displacement. The control valves of the rotary fluid device are actuated in accordance with the phase shift angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: QingHui Yuan, Brian S. R. Armstrong
  • Publication number: 20090123313
    Abstract: Methods for controlling the net-displacement of a rotary fluid pressure device are disclosed. One of the net-displacement control methods (47) includes obtaining a desired input parameter (23) and a relative position (21) of a first member (43) and a second member (35) of a fluid displacement mechanism. A determination of a first and second output value is then made for each of a plurality of volume chambers (45) when the volume chambers (45) are supplied with fluid at fluid inlet and fluid outlet conditions, respectively. A total output value is then computed for each of a plurality of control valve configurations (63) and compared to the desired input parameter (23). The control valve configuration (63) with the total output value most similar to the desired input parameter (23) is then selected. A plurality of control valves (15) are then actuated in accordance with the selected control valve configuration (63).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Brian S. R. Armstrong, Qinghui Yuan
  • Publication number: 20080151761
    Abstract: An embedded system includes a first wireless node and a number of second wireless nodes, each of which includes a wireless transceiver, a memory storing a schedule defining transmission and reception of test packets, and a processor transmitting and receiving the test packets responsive to the schedule. The memories store a corresponding predetermined application employing some of the wireless communications, and a corresponding predetermined measurement function measuring wireless communication performance. A corresponding one of the schedules is executed by the corresponding predetermined measurement function. The second wireless nodes wait to receive a number of the test packets before being synchronized with their schedule and receiving and transmitting the test packets according to their schedule. The processors store data from the test packets to assess wireless communication performance between corresponding nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: PETER J. THEISEN, Carlos H. Rentel, Charles J. Luebke, Ting Yan, Sujit R. Das, Brian S.R. Armstrong, Luis R. Pereira
  • Publication number: 20080151762
    Abstract: A wireless system includes a plurality of wireless nodes structured to participate in a system test of the wireless nodes. The system test includes a plurality of test packets. A packet sniffer node includes a wireless receiver, a memory storing a schedule defining transmission and reception of the test packets by the wireless nodes, and a processor cooperating with the wireless receiver and the memory to receive at least some of the test packets responsive to the schedule, and to output data corresponding to the received test packets of the system test. A monitoring computer receives the output data from the processor of the packet sniffer node. Operation of the packet sniffer node, which does not transmit, does interfere with or alter execution of the system test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Brian S. R. Armstrong, Luis R. Pereira, Sujit R. Das, Carlos H. Rentel
  • Publication number: 20080152046
    Abstract: A system includes first and second wireless nodes having a clock with plural times, a wireless transceiver, and a processor cooperating with the transceiver to transmit and receive packets. The second node transceivers wirelessly communicate with the first or other second node transceivers. The second nodes include a Kalman filter with an output, plural filter gains, and an input representing the difference between: about the time of the clock when a received packet should have ideally been received, and a time when the received packet was actually received as measured by the clock. A circuit provides dynamic adjustment of the filter gains. The Kalman filter output estimates the difference between the time of the receiving node clock and a corresponding one of the times of the transmitting node clock. The second processor cooperates with the Kalman filter output to adjust the times of the receiving node clock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Brian S. R. Armstrong, Luis R. Pereira, Carlos H. Rentel
  • Publication number: 20080153423
    Abstract: A system for assessing wireless communication performance includes a first master wireless node and a number of second wireless nodes. A first schedule of the first node defines transmission and reception of a first set of test packets. A second schedule of the second nodes defines transmission and reception of a second set of the test packets. After start up, each of the second nodes is initialized, and waits to receive a number of the second set of test packets before being synchronized with the second schedule and beginning to receive and transmit the second set of test packets according to the second schedule. First and second processors store data from the first and second sets of test packets, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Brian S. R. Armstrong, Luis R. Pereira, Sujit R. Das, Carlos H. Rentel
  • Patent number: 6523533
    Abstract: A high precision ball launch system includes a major link, minor link, drive device, ball release mechanism, and support base. The major link is pivotally attached to the support base and rotated about a major axis by the drive device. A minor axis of the minor link is pivotally attached to one end of the major link. The ball release mechanism is attached to one end of the minor link. The ball release mechanism is preferably positioned on the minor link such that a center of the ball passes through the major axis. The major link is rotated in one direction and the minor link is rotated in the opposite direction. A second embodiment of the high precision ball launch system includes a pair of linear translating drive surfaces, at least one drive device, and a carriage. Each linear translating drive surface includes a linear drive surface, a drive wheel, and an idler wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Inventors: Brian S. R. Armstrong, Karl B. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6384908
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing orientation dependent radiation, and orientation detection systems are disclosed. An orientation dependent radiation source directs radiation to an observation area and facilitates a determination of the orientation of the orientation dependent source from the observation area. In particular, the orientation dependent source produces a radiation pattern having one or more detectable centroids that vary in position across an observation surface of the orientation dependent source as observed from the observation area, based on a rotation of the orientation dependent source about one or more axes of rotation. According to various embodiments, the orientation dependent radiation source may include one or more primary radiation sources or secondary sources, such as reflectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Go Sensors, LLC
    Inventors: Karl B. Schmidt, Brian S. R. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 5936723
    Abstract: An orientation dependent reflector for reflecting light from a light source to facilitate the determination of the angular orientation of an object, the reflector comprising a transparent substrate having front and back surfaces, a plurality of retro reflecting patches coupled to the back surface, and an opaque film layer coupled to the front surface having a plurality of openings therein to facilitate passing light through the transparent substrate to reflect off of the retro reflecting patches in correspondence to angular orientation such that the angular orientation of the object is determined from the centroid of reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Go Golf
    Inventors: Karl B. Schmidt, Brian S.R. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 5936722
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for determining the angular orientation of an object comprised of a light source directing an optically detectable beam of light at an orientation dependent reflector coupled to an object whereupon a light sensor positioned adjacent the light source detects the reflected optically detectable beam of light from the orientation dependent reflector and determines the centroid of reflection thereon from which the angular orientation of an object throughout a range of rotation about at least one axis of rotation is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventors: Brian S. R. Armstrong, Karl B. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5570094
    Abstract: A moving target which is reflecting waves will give rise to the well known Doppler frequency shift. When the reflected signal can be compared with the transmitted signal in homodyne detection, the resulting signal is called the Doppler signal. Both frequency and phase of the Doppler signal carry information about the motion of the target.By observing a Doppler signal at several points in space, it is possible to determine the position, velocity and acceleration of a moving target. Systems employing this principle are-used to track acoustic emitters with sonar, as well as radio emitters with radar. While the prior an has relied on analyzing the Doppler shift frequency, the present invention introduces a method employing the analysis of the phase of the Doppler signal. The phase-based algorithm shows a better signal to noise ratio in applications where the ratio of velocity and distance to the point of closest approach is large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Inventor: Brian S. R. Armstrong