Patents by Inventor Christoph P. Menzel

Christoph P. Menzel 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: 7871221
    Abstract: An anchoring base for a delineating pole using the reconfiguration of protruding resilient mechanical members to facilitate insertion and resist the subsequent extraction force on the pole. The mechanical members extend outwards relative to the insertion rod longitudinal axis, and bend or configure upon insertion of the anchoring base, into a first position that facilitates insertion while impeding and resisting axial extraction forces, and upon subsequent rotation of the anchoring base, the mechanical members bend or reconfigure into a second position such that the extraction resistance force is significantly reduced. The anchoring base design may be used in conjunction with a spring cartridge having a plurality of interlocking members forming a rigid mechanical structure during rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: MBW Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph P. Menzel, Steven Barss
  • Publication number: 20100290834
    Abstract: An anchoring base for a delineating pole using the reconfiguration of protruding resilient mechanical members to facilitate insertion and resist the subsequent extraction force on the pole. The mechanical members extend outwards relative to the insertion rod longitudinal axis, and bend or configure upon insertion of the anchoring base, into a first position that facilitates insertion while impeding and resisting axial extraction forces, and upon subsequent rotation of the anchoring base, the mechanical members bend or reconfigure into a second position such that the extraction resistance force is significantly reduced. The anchoring base design may be used in conjunction with a spring cartridge having a plurality of interlocking members forming a rigid mechanical structure during rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: MBW TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Christoph P. Menzel, Steven Barss
  • Patent number: 7794175
    Abstract: An anchoring base for a delineating pole using the reconfiguration of protruding resilient mechanical members to facilitate insertion and resist the subsequent extraction force on the pole. The mechanical members extend outwards relative to the insertion rod longitudinal axis, and bend or configure upon insertion of the anchoring base, into a first position that facilitates insertion while impeding and resisting axial extraction forces, and upon subsequent rotation of the anchoring base, the mechanical members bend or reconfigure into a second position such that the extraction resistance force is significantly reduced. The anchoring base design may be used in conjunction with a spring cartridge having a plurality of interlocking members forming a rigid mechanical structure during rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: MBW Technologies
    Inventors: Christoph P. Menzel, Steven Barss
  • Publication number: 20090028640
    Abstract: An anchoring base for a delineating pole using the reconfiguration of protruding resilient mechanical members to facilitate insertion and resist the subsequent extraction force on the pole. The mechanical members extend outwards relative to the insertion rod longitudinal axis, and bend or configure upon insertion of the anchoring base, into a first position that facilitates insertion while impeding and resisting axial extraction forces, and upon subsequent rotation of the anchoring base, the mechanical members bend or reconfigure into a second position such that the extraction resistance force is significantly reduced. The anchoring base design may be used in conjunction with a spring cartridge having a plurality of interlocking members forming a rigid mechanical structure during rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Christoph P. Menzel, Steven Barss
  • Patent number: 6965189
    Abstract: Bender devices are demonstrated by developing non-uniform fields within a homogeneous, non-planar single slab active member material of non-uniform thickness through geometrical constraints and electrode placement. Single slab actuators are demonstrated for semiconductor designs including MEMS applications. Single slab bender periodic designs are demonstrated to be well suited for MEMS fabrication. Shaped actuators having a topological pattern formed across at least one portion are demonstrated to induced strain at the patterned portion of the actuator, causing the patterned portion to flare into open and close positions upon application of an external field. Voltage transformers, spark generators, power sources, and sensors are developed using the non-planar, homogeneous, single slab active member material of non-uniform thickness. Last, semiconductor process design techniques are demonstrated for periodic and other non-planar single slab actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Monodrive Inc.
    Inventor: Christoph P. Menzel
  • Patent number: 6879056
    Abstract: A way of converting sensed signals to a desirable form of electrical signals is provided that includes providing an input signal to a common input terminal of a sensing block. The way comprises receiving a sensed signal from the sensing block in response to applying the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kemp, Christoph P. Menzel
  • Publication number: 20040056567
    Abstract: Bender devices are demonstrated by developing non-uniform fields within a homogeneous, non-planar single slab active member material of non-uniform thickness through geometrical constraints and electrode placement. Single slab actuators are demonstrated for semiconductor designs including MEMS applications. Single slab bender periodic designs are demonstrated to be well suited for MEMS fabrication. Shaped actuators having a topological pattern formed across at least one portion are demonstrated to induced strain at the patterned portion of the actuator, causing the patterned portion to flare into open and close positions upon application of an external field. Voltage transformers, spark generators, power sources, and sensors are developed using the non-planar, homogeneous, single slab active member material of non-uniform thickness. Last, semiconductor process design techniques are demonstrated for periodic and other non-planar single slab actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventor: Christoph P. Menzel
  • Publication number: 20020117895
    Abstract: A way of converting sensed signals to a desirable form of electrical signals is provided that includes providing an input signal to a common input terminal of a sensing block. The way comprises receiving a sensed signal from the sensing block in response to applying the input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kemp, Christoph P. Menzel
  • Patent number: 6000287
    Abstract: A method is provided that may be used to design a family of capacitive microaccelerometers with different members of the family having different sensitivities to acceleration without having to make a radical design change to the basic construction. The microaccelerometer is a capacitively sensed angular motion micro-electromechanical system. The microaccelerometer includes a stationary plate electrode and a movable plate electrode substantially parallel with the stationary plate electrode. The movable plate electrode rotates through a dielectric fluid about an axis of rotation parallel to the stationary plate electrode in response to acceleration. The method includes determining the desired sensitivity and changing the stationary plate center of area relative to the movable plate so as to obtain the desired sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Christoph P. Menzel
  • Patent number: 5900550
    Abstract: An accelerometer includes an axis about which opposing sides having different mass and different capacitor plates sizes move in response to acceleration. The different size of capacitor plate improves linearity of the capacitor sensing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Christoph P. Menzel