Patents by Inventor Christopher Yeckel

Christopher Yeckel 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: 11672716
    Abstract: An overhead lift system may include a motor and a lift strap connected to the motor. The motor raises and lowers the lift strap. A hand controller may be communicatively connected to the motor. The hand controller includes a force sensor associated with the body of the hand controller such that force applied to the body is detected with the force sensor. An orientation sensor may also be arranged within the body and determines an orientation of the hand controller. A control unit may be communicatively connected with the motor, the force sensor, and the orientation sensor. The control unit detects a force applied to the hand controller with the force sensor, determines a direction of motion of the hand controller with the orientation sensor, and provides a signal to the motor to raise or lower the lift strap based on the force and orientation of the hand controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Liko Research & Development AB
    Inventors: Jesse Newman, Christopher Yeckel, Joseph Tari, Sravan Mamidi, Jackie Berkebile, Jessica Cushman
  • Patent number: 11622898
    Abstract: A person relocation device includes sheet which defines a person space for a person. The sheet includes a left lateral strap, a right lateral strap, a head end strap and a foot end strap. Each strap is attached to the sheet only at a perimeter thereof and does not extend into the person space. The straps are adapted to be connected to a hoist so that when all of the straps are so connected and tensioned by the weight of the person the sheet suspends the person in a seated posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Liko Research & Development AB
    Inventors: Jessica Cushman, Christopher Yeckel
  • Publication number: 20220054339
    Abstract: A person lifting apparatus includes a strap movement system. The person lifting device includes a housing and a lifting strap feeding device located in the housing. The lifting strap feeding device includes a motor connected to a drum and a lifting strap wound on the drum. A sensor provides a signal indicative of force on the lifting strap. A controller receives the signal from the sensor. The controller controls operation of the motor based on the signal. A user input is used to place the strap movement system in a fast mode during which the controller speeds up operation of the motor from a normal operating speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: Liko Research & Development AB
    Inventor: Christopher Yeckel
  • Patent number: 11191688
    Abstract: A person lifting apparatus includes a strap movement system. The person lifting device includes a housing and a lifting strap feeding device located in the housing. The lifting strap feeding device includes a motor connected to a drum and a lifting strap wound on the drum. A sensor provides a signal indicative of force on the lifting strap. A controller receives the signal from the sensor. The controller controls operation of the motor based on the signal. A user input is used to place the strap movement system in a fast mode during which the controller speeds up operation of the motor from a normal operating speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Liko Research & Development AB
    Inventor: Christopher Yeckel
  • Publication number: 20210236363
    Abstract: An overhead lift system may include a motor and a lift strap connected to the motor. The motor raises and lowers the lift strap. A hand controller may be communicatively connected to the motor. The hand controller includes a force sensor associated with the body of the hand controller such that force applied to the body is detected with the force sensor. An orientation sensor may also be arranged within the body and determines an orientation of the hand controller. A control unit may be communicatively connected with the motor, the force sensor, and the orientation sensor. The control unit detects a force applied to the hand controller with the force sensor, determines a direction of motion of the hand controller with the orientation sensor, and provides a signal to the motor to raise or lower the lift strap based on the force and orientation of the hand controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Liko Research & Development AB
    Inventors: Jesse Newman, Christopher Yeckel, Joseph Tari, Sravan Mamidi, Jackie Berkebile, Jessica Cushman
  • Publication number: 20200397635
    Abstract: A person relocation device includes sheet which defines a person space for a person. The sheet includes a left lateral strap, a right lateral strap, a head end strap and a foot end strap. Each strap is attached to the sheet only at a perimeter thereof and does not extend into the person space. The straps are adapted to be connected to a hoist so that when all of the straps are so connected and tensioned by the weight of the person the sheet suspends the person in a seated posture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Liko Research & Development AB
    Inventors: Jessica Cushman, Christopher Yeckel
  • Patent number: 10855262
    Abstract: A parallel Marx generator topology capable of producing high power, high current output pulses is provided. The parallel Marx generator topology can include a plurality of Marx generators that operate in parallel to one another to jointly generate an output pulse. The topology can further include a pulse transformer configured to step up the voltage of the pulse created by the plurality of generators and also ensure that each Marx generator of the plurality of Marx generators is outputting substantially the same amount of current. The system can include a common interface that allows for fault detection and control of all the Marx generators using one common control panel. The parallel Marx generator topology can allow for a high voltage, high current pulse to be generated using import/export compliant switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Stangenes Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Yeckel, Kelli Noel, Magne Stangenes, Paul Holen, Randy Ross, Richard Cassel, Sherry Hitchcock
  • Publication number: 20190231623
    Abstract: A person lifting apparatus includes a strap movement system. The person lifting device includes a housing and a lifting strap feeding device located in the housing. The lifting strap feeding device includes a motor connected to a drum and a lifting strap wound on the drum. A sensor provides a signal indicative of force on the lifting strap. A controller receives the signal from the sensor. The controller controls operation of the motor based on the signal. A user input is used to place the strap movement system in a fast mode during which the controller speeds up operation of the motor from a normal operating speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Liko Research & Development AB
    Inventor: Christopher Yeckel
  • Patent number: 10212799
    Abstract: A device and method for generating pulses to activate and deactivate a kicker magnet is provided. When the kicker magnet is deactivated the circuit generates and stores a magnetic field in an inductor. When the kicker magnet is activated, the circuit changes configuration so that the magnetic field and current stored in the inductor can provide the necessary current to activate the kicker magnet is a minimal amount of time. The configuration of the circuit changes via the use of switches. The switches can employ Zener diodes arranged so as to provide protection against high voltage events and rogue neutrinos that may bombard the switches when the kicker magnet is used in the context of deflecting a particle beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Stangenes Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Yeckel, Richard Cassel
  • Publication number: 20180367125
    Abstract: A parallel Marx generator topology capable of producing high power, high current output pulses is provided. The parallel Marx generator topology can include a plurality of Marx generators that operate in parallel to one another to jointly generate an output pulse. The topology can further include a pulse transformer configured to step up the voltage of the pulse created by the plurality of generators and also ensure that each Marx generator of the plurality of Marx generators is outputting substantially the same amount of current. The system can include a common interface that allows for fault detection and control of all the Marx generators using one common control panel. The parallel Marx generator topology can allow for a high voltage, high current pulse to be generated using import/export compliant switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Stangenes Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher YECKEL, Kelli Noel, Magne Stangenes, Paul Holen, Randy Ross, Richard Cassel, Sherry Hitchcock
  • Publication number: 20170236682
    Abstract: A device and method for generating pulses to activate and deactivate a kicker magnet is provided. When the kicker magnet is deactivated the circuit generates and stores a magnetic field in an inductor. When the kicker magnet is activated, the circuit changes configuration so that the magnetic field and current stored in the inductor can provide the necessary current to activate the kicker magnet is a minimal amount of time. The configuration of the circuit changes via the use of switches. The switches can employ Zener diodes arranged so as to provide protection against high voltage events and rogue neutrinos that may bombard the switches when the kicker magnet is used in the context of deflecting a particle beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Stangenes Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher YECKEL, Richard CASSEL
  • Publication number: 20160254108
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and systems to reduce high voltage breakdown jitters in liquid dielectric switches. In particular, dielectric liquids have been produced that contain a suspension of nanoparticles and a surfactant to reduce the breakdown jitter. In one embodiment, the suspended nanoparticles are Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) nanoparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Randy D. Curry, Christopher Yeckel, Daniel Crosby
  • Patent number: 9088207
    Abstract: One example embodiment may include a power supply system. The power supply system may include a main capacitor and a boost converter. The main capacitor is used to generate an electrical pulse. The boost converter is configured to be coupled to the main capacitor. Additionally, the boost converter includes a compensator supply including an energy storage capacitor that can store electrical energy. The boost converter also includes and a compensator inductor that receives the electrical energy from the compensator supply and is configured to supply electrical energy to the main capacitor when the main capacitor is generating the electrical pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: STANGENES INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Richard L. Cassel, Christopher A. Yeckel
  • Patent number: 8912460
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and systems to reduce high voltage breakdown jitters in liquid dielectric switches. In particular, dielectric liquids have been produced that contain a suspension of nanoparticles and a surfactant to reduce the breakdown jitter. In one embodiment, the suspended nanoparticles are Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Randy D. Curry, Christopher Yeckel, Daniel Crosby
  • Publication number: 20130320953
    Abstract: One example embodiment may include a power supply system. The power supply system may include a main capacitor and a boost converter. The main capacitor is used to generate an electrical pulse. The boost converter is configured to be coupled to the main capacitor. Additionally, the boost converter includes a compensator supply including an energy storage capacitor that can store electrical energy. The boost converter also includes and a compensator inductor that receives the electrical energy from the compensator supply and is configured to supply electrical energy to the main capacitor when the main capacitor is generating the electrical pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: STANGENES INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Richard L. CASSEL, Christopher A. YECKEL
  • Publication number: 20130062314
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and systems to reduce high voltage breakdown jitters in liquid dielectric switches. In particular, dielectric liquids have been produced that contain a suspension of nanoparticles and a surfactant to reduce the breakdown jitter. In one embodiment, the suspended nanoparticles are Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) nanoparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: THE CURATORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
    Inventors: Randy D. Curry, Christopher Yeckel, Daniel Crosby