Patents by Inventor Charles Walton

Charles Walton 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: 6590536
    Abstract: A body motion detector system which combines body exercise with game playing. The body motions are displayed in various forms of challenging games, causing increased user satisfaction in exercise. Body motion is sensed, in a preferred form, by accelerometer transducers mounted on the body. The accelerometer readings are transmitted by radio signals to a base station, a computer, and a display. The receiving station has multiple antennas, as does the transmitting station. The antenna field patterns are analyzed by calculations within the receiver, finding the angular orientation of the body and the body angle of tilt. The computer corrects for errors caused by the effects of gravity on tilted accelerometers. The corrected accelerometer readings are integrated to obtain body motion data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton
  • Publication number: 20020148895
    Abstract: An identification card, typically of the proximity type, having on its outer structure a numeric keyboard. When approaching a high security entrance, the user enters into the card a PIN code known only to himself or a few others. The PIN code entry is compared to a reference code within the card and if correct enables the logic system of the card. When the card is next placed in proximity to a reader antenna, a normal read occurs, that is the data of the card is transferred to the reader. The card acts as a data source. Identification data is transferred during the read action, and also financial transactions, and an emergency code if the user is under duress and requests emergency help. The data sent to the reader is also optionally sent to a higher order data processing system such as a central computer. In a second embodiment, the proximity circuits and antenna are made integral to a hand held palm top or lap top computer or cell phone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Kenneth B. Cecil, Charles A. Walton
  • Publication number: 20020073493
    Abstract: A system for cleaning underwater surfaces, comprised of an assembly which includes a brush or abrasive component which presses and scrubs against the surface to be cleaned, and further comprising a fluid jet which drives water away from the surface, consequently producing force against the surface. The brush is a stationary brush, with a handle for guidance by an underwater diver or from an arm at the surface; or the brush may be rotary or oscillatory to aid the scrubbing action. The water jet may be incorporated into a tube which guides the water away from the surface. The tube produces a Venturi or Bernoulli effect which increases the water thrust and thus additional force against the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 6340116
    Abstract: An identification card, typically of the proximity type, having on its outer structure a numeric keyboard. When approaching a high security entrance, the user enters into the card a PIN code known only to himself or a few others. The PIN code entry is compared to a reference code within the card and if correct enables the logic system of the card. When the card is next placed in proximity to a Reader antenna, a normal read occurs, that is the data of the card is transferred to the Reader. The card acts as a data source. Identification data is transferred during the read action, and also financial transactions, and an emergency code if the user is under duress and requests emergency help. The data sent to the Reader is also optionally sent to a higher order data processing system such as a central computer. In a second embodiment, the proximity circuits and antenna are made integral to a hand held palm top or lap top computer or cell phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Inventors: Kenneth B. Cecil, Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 5989157
    Abstract: An exercise and game playing system combined, forming a method in which the user gets large muscle physical exercise while at the same time is challenged with game play. There is a torso and limb mounted electronic section incorporating accelerometers, strain gauges, and other instruments, and a microprocessor, and a short range radio or wire link to a stationary base station and a display station. Body activity and exercise produce a display icon responsive to the degree and vigor of body activity. The display is a TV type screen or a head band mounted assembly or goggles of a virtual reality system. The accelerometer signals are double integrated and manipulated to produce useful display on the screen. There is net cursor advancement activity on the screen even when the body returns to the same location, accomplished by introduction of a dead zone in the accelerometer integration paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 5896215
    Abstract: At each booth there is, at an elevated position, an infra-red transmitter. The infra-red serves as a carrier for multiple audio messages. The audio messages are in various languages, and each language has a supplementary message of greater detail. The attendee carries an infra-red receiver, from which he selects whatever language he desires. He also has a button which, when he chooses, brings in a supplementary message in the same language. The attendee points his receiver towards the booth of interest. Thus he chooses the booth and generally neighboring booths do not interfere, as they would with radio frequency transmission. The receiver may be hand held, held next to the ear, badge level mounted, or head mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Inventors: Kenneth B. Cecil, Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 5342116
    Abstract: A chair having a pair of restraints against a sitting user's knees. Each restraint is a J shaped bar having an end that curves around in front of the chair, such that the user may sit with each knee in the space between the curved end of the restraint and the front of the chair and the back supported against the back of the chair. The device thereby maintains the lower end of the spine in an erect position. The restraints are adjustable to accommodate various sizes of the users. The restraints are spring loaded for additional comfort to the user. In another embodiment, the seat includes a seat hingeably supported on a base such that, in one version, the seat moves forward to provide additional support when the user sits down. In another version, the restraints are pulled back against the knees when the user sits down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 5159332
    Abstract: A proximity identification system incorporating ferrite rods. The rods are used in both the reader and the tag and additional rods may be used to strengthen and concentrate the flux field in the regions near the reader to obtain better performance in such regions. A coding system requiring minimum power for the tag is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 5022099
    Abstract: An improved radiation helmet having a radiation opaque liner and a replaceable hygienic tissue that is worn over the head of a dental patient during X-rays to protect the head from stray radiation. An alternative construction is to use radiation opaque materials for the radiation helmet and to omit the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 5021778
    Abstract: A reader section has a reader circuit connected to three parallel metal plates. The center plate is excited by an alternating voltage and the other two plates are excited by an inverse voltage. An identifier section has an identifier circuit connected to a metal plate identifier antenna. The electric field created by the metal plates of the reader antenna is detected by the identifier section and an identifier signal is generated in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 4980539
    Abstract: A portable warming container having an electric heating element, a temperature sensor, a battery, a wire loop, and a control circuit. The wire loop is arranged to charge the battery through the control circuit, and the temperature sensor ultimately controls the current delivered to the heating element from the control circuit and battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 4918416
    Abstract: An identification system in which power drain is minimized is disclosed. The system comprises a reader (10) including a first signal generator (12) for generating a first signal (F1) which is then radiated by an antenna (17). An identifier (11) is shown which includes an antenna (20) for receiving the first signal for transmission to a signal modulator (32) which operates to modulate the first signal in accordance with a preassigned code for the identifier. The modulated signal is then used to periodically unload or change the reactance of the antenna (20) which action in turn changes the reactance of the reader antenna (17) and the consequent voltage on the reader antenna. By detecting the change in the voltage on the reader antenna the code of the identifier is determined. Power is used efficiently by low frequency oscillation within the signal modulator, by unloading during modulation, and by changing circuit reactance without changing the circuit load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Sielox Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Walton, France Rode
  • Patent number: 4888474
    Abstract: A reader section has an oscillator for providing a power signal to a reader antenna. The reader antenna is constructed of a ferromagentic rod having primary and secondary windings. The primary windings are concentrated near the end of the ferromagnetic rod. A transformer is connected to the oscillator and the reader antenna and separates the power signal from an identifier signal. An identifier section has an identifier antenna which is constructed of a ferromagnetic rod having wire windings. An identifier circuit is connected to the identifier antenna for receiving the power signal and for transmitting a unique identifier signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 4782342
    Abstract: An electrical proximity identification system which has lateral flux. The system has a reader section with a reader antenna which is comprised of a pair of coils. The coils are located in the same plane and are oriented such that when they are energized by radio frequency power, the flux lines travel between the coils in a direction parallel to, but above and below, said plane. The system also has an identifier section with an identifier antenna. The identifier antenna is positioned such that its axis is parallel to the plane and in line with the flux lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 4656472
    Abstract: An electronic identification and recognition system which has a battery powered identifier. The reader section radiates stimulus to the identifier section. A battery is switched on and power a clock and memory which in turn vary the reactance of the identifier antenna circuit. The change in reactance affects the phase angle of the voltage within the reader antenna. The phase angle changes are detected and recorded by the reader section such that the internal code of the identifier section is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 4654658
    Abstract: An electronic identification and recognition system which detects vector phase angle changes. The recognition section radiates power to the identification section. The phase angle of the current in the identifier antenna is determined by a clock and memory system which varies the reactance of the identifier antenna circuit. The change in reactance affects the phase angle of the voltage within the reader antenna. The phase angle changes are detected and recorded by the recognition section such that the internal code of the identifier section is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 4600829
    Abstract: An electronic proximity identification and recognition system. The identification and recognition sections are physically separate from one another, but inductively coupled to one another by two-way coupling. The identification section and recognition section each have a sending and a receiving antenna. The antennas in each section are structured to have virtually zero mutual inductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 4580041
    Abstract: An identification system comprising a reader (10) including a first signal generator (12) for generating a first signal (F1) which is radiated by an antenna (17). An identifier (11) includes an antenna (20) receiving the first signal for transmission to a signal modulator (32) which operates to modulate the signal in accordance with a preassigned code for the identifier. The modulated signal is then used to periodically unload or change the reactance of the antenna (20) which action in turn changes the reactance of the reader antenna and consequent voltage on the reader antenna (17). By detecting the change in the voltage on the reader antenna the code of the identifier is determined. Power drain is minimized and power is used efficiently by unloading during modulation and by changing reactance without changing load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 4546241
    Abstract: An electronic identification and recognition system including a portable card having a circuit therein for generating and transmitting and identifying signal comprising predetermined frequency pulses. The card functions in cooperation with a reader which radiates a radio frequency carrier signal received by an antenna in the card. This signal is used both to power the circuit of the card and to provide the basic frequency signal which is modified to generate secondary frequency signals which are transmitted back to the reader in a predetermined sequence identifying the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton
  • Patent number: 4473825
    Abstract: A portable electronic identification system comprised of an identifier preferably of credit card size, and a fixed position reader which couples to it over short distances by space transmitted signals. The identifier card is energized from and the resulting signals are synchronized and detected by the reader. The identifier uses one loop antenna to both receive and send all signals, and provisions are made to prevent interference of these functions. The use of multiple radio frequencies greatly increases the data rate. Data that is unique to the authorized bearer is recorded in the identifier to minimize the likelihood of fraudulent use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Inventor: Charles A. Walton