Patents by Inventor Carl SCHWELLNUS

Carl SCHWELLNUS 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: 11467191
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling an input current, the circuit includes a first input port configured to receive the input current. A current detector detects an input current value of the input current and generates a control signal indicative of the input current value. A first output port outputs an output current to a load. A second output port receives the output current from the load. A control circuit provides a low-impedance path in parallel with the load in response to the control signal indicating the input current value is below a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC
    Inventors: Abe Kanner, Serge Kniazev, Peter Spasopoulos, Carl Schwellnus
  • Publication number: 20200081038
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling an input current, the circuit includes a first input port configured to receive the input current. A current detector detects an input current value of the input current and generates a control signal indicative of the input current value. A first output port outputs an output current to a load. A second output port receives the output current from the load. A control circuit provides a low-impedance path in parallel with the load in response to the control signal indicating the input current value is below a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Abe KANNER, Serge KNIAZEV, Peter SPASOPOULOS, Carl SCHWELLNUS
  • Patent number: 9589142
    Abstract: A safety communication scheme for a safety-critical system which includes two or more higher level units that have voting capabilities and one or two sets of lower level units that do not have voting capabilities, involves using one channel between the high and low level units for safety and two channels for redundancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Thales Canada Inc
    Inventors: Carl Schwellnus, Martin Krieger
  • Patent number: 9499184
    Abstract: A method of determining a position of a vehicle on a guideway includes detecting a position of the vehicle relative to a first reflective positioning element along the guideway. The method also includes detecting a unique identification code of a transponder along the guideway, wherein the transponder is located a first known distance along the guideway from the first reflective positioning element. The method further includes determining the position of the vehicle, using a position determining system, based on a modulated reflection signal received from the transponder, a first non-modulated reflection signal received from the first reflective positioning element, and the first known distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Thales Canada Inc
    Inventors: Carl Schwellnus, Colin Bantin
  • Publication number: 20160107662
    Abstract: A method of determining a position of a vehicle on a guideway includes detecting a position of the vehicle relative to a first reflective positioning element along the guideway. The method also includes detecting a unique identification code of a transponder along the guideway, wherein the transponder is located a first known distance along the guideway from the first reflective positioning element. The method further includes determining the position of the vehicle, using a position determining system, based on a modulated reflection signal received from the transponder, a first non-modulated reflection signal received from the first reflective positioning element, and the first known distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Carl SCHWELLNUS, Colin BANTIN
  • Patent number: 9227641
    Abstract: A position determining system for a vehicle on a guideway which includes an on-board controller configured to determine a position of the vehicle on the guideway. The position determining system further includes a transmitter/detector array configured to emit an interrogation signal and to receive reflection signals based on the emitted interrogation signal. The transmitter/detector array includes a first antenna and a second antenna, the second antenna spaced from the first antenna in a direction of travel of the vehicle. The position determining system further includes a transponder identification database configured to store transponder information. The on-board controller is configured to determine the position of the vehicle along the guideway based on a modulated reflection signal received by the transmitter/detector array and a first non-modulated reflection signal received by the transmitter/detector array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Thales Canada Inc
    Inventors: Carl Schwellnus, Colin Bantin
  • Publication number: 20150371048
    Abstract: A safety communication scheme for a safety-critical system which includes two or more higher level units that have voting capabilities and one or two sets of lower level units that do not have voting capabilities, involves using one channel between the high and low level units for safety and two channels for redundancy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Carl SCHWELLNUS, Martin KRIEGER
  • Publication number: 20140326835
    Abstract: A position determining system for a vehicle on a guideway which includes an on-board controller configured to determine a position of the vehicle on the guideway. The position determining system further includes a transmitter/detector array configured to emit an interrogation signal and to receive reflection signals based on the emitted interrogation signal. The transmitter/detector array includes a first antenna and a second antenna, the second antenna spaced from the first antenna in a direction of travel of the vehicle. The position determining system further includes a transponder identification database configured to store transponder information. The on-board controller is configured to determine the position of the vehicle along the guideway based on a modulated reflection signal received by the transmitter/detector array and a first non-modulated reflection signal received by the transmitter/detector array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Carl SCHWELLNUS, Colin BANTIN
  • Patent number: RE49043
    Abstract: A safety communication scheme for a safety-critical system which includes two or more higher level units that have voting capabilities and one or two sets of lower level units that do not have voting capabilities, involves using one channel between the high and low level units for safety and two channels for redundancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Carl Schwellnus, Martin Krieger