Patents by Inventor Christophor Pruyn Townsend

Christophor Pruyn Townsend 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).

  • Method of fabricating a coil and clamp for variable reluctance transducer
    Patent number: 6901654
    Abstract: Improved coils and clamps for variable reluctance sensors are disclosed. A method of fabricating a discrete coil involves providing a conductor wound in a coil on a tube. The coil has a coil outer surface that has insulation. A window is opened in the insulation on the coil outer surface to expose conductor of the coil for a contact. A movable core is provided within the tube for adjusting inductance of the coil. In one embodiment, the coil and tube are diced into small coils after the windows for each coil are opened. Another aspect the invention is a clamp comprising an elastic material, a shape memory alloy, and an apparatus for activating the shape memory alloy. The clamp holds the moveable core in its peak position. When the alloy is activated it changes shape and provides a force on the elastic material to change clamping state for resetting the transducer. The coils and clamps can be used for a variety of purposes in addition to the variable reluctance sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Microstrain, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven W. Arms, Michael J Hamel, Steven Ward Mundell, Christophor Pruyn Townsend
  • Coil and clamp for variable reluctance transducer
    Publication number: 20020088110
    Abstract: Improved coils and clamps for variable reluctance sensors are disclosed. A method of fabricating a discrete coil involves providing a conductor wound in a coil on a tube. The coil has a coil outer surface that has insulation. A window is opened in the insulation on the coil outer surface to expose conductor of the coil for a contact. A movable core is provided within the tube for adjusting inductance of the coil. In one embodiment, the coil and tube are diced into small coils after the windows for each coil are opened. Another aspect the invention is a clamp comprising an elastic material, a shape memory alloy, and an apparatus for activating the shape memory alloy. The clamp holds the moveable core in its peak position. When the alloy is activated it changes shape and provides a force on the elastic material to change clamping state for resetting the transducer. The coils and clamps can be used for a variety of purposes in addition to the variable reluctance sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Steven W. Arms, Michael J. Hamel, Steven Ward Mundell, Christophor Pruyn Townsend