Patents by Inventor Dale Weber

Dale Weber 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: 11192199
    Abstract: A system includes one or more sets of reflective visual markers, a light source configured to emit light, and a controller communicatively coupled to the light source. Each set of reflective visual markers is coupled to a component of a welding system. Each reflective visual marker is configured to reflect the emitted light received from the light source towards one or more cameras. The controller is configured to control illumination settings of the light source based at least in part on a status of the welding system being utilized to perform a live-arc welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Jeffrey Dale Weber
  • Patent number: 11127133
    Abstract: A welding system includes one or more cameras and a controller coupled to the one or more cameras. The one or more cameras are configured to detect a plurality of sets of visual markers of a welding device, where each each set is oriented in a respective marker direction. The controller is configured to determine one or more marker directions of one or more respective sets of visual markers based on a detected set of visual markers, to select one of the sets of visual markers as a tracked set of visual markers based at least in part on a determined marker direction of the tracked set of visual markers, to associate a rigid body model to the tracked set of visual markers, and to determine a position and an orientation of the welding device based on the associated rigid body model of the tracked set of visual markers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Jeffrey Dale Weber
  • Patent number: 10905846
    Abstract: A phototherapy mask adapted to fit over the eye area of the user. The mask comprises a plurality of semiconductor light sources such as, but not limited to, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or laser diodes, fiber optics, full spectrum light sources, RGB LEDs, piezo transducers, vibrational transducers (ultrasonic or otherwise), or a combination thereof, that provide therapeutic and rejuvenating effects to human tissue. The light sources are arranged so as to focus on the eye areas, and light enters through the eyes (open or closed). The light sources emit energy in the form of photons when switched on, which deliver energy to targeted tissue, penetrating the layers of skin and the eyes to produce a non-thermal photochemical effect at the cellular level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventors: Cornelia Weber, Dale Weber
  • Publication number: 20200034963
    Abstract: A welding system includes one or more cameras and a controller coupled to the one or more cameras. The one or more cameras are configured to detect a plurality of sets of visual markers of a welding device, where each each set is oriented in a respective marker direction. The controller is configured to determine one or more marker directions of one or more respective sets of visual markers based on a detected set of visual markers, to select one of the sets of visual markers as a tracked set of visual markers based at least in part on a determined marker direction of the tracked set of visual markers, to associate a rigid body model to the tracked set of visual markers, and to determine a position and an orientation of the welding device based on the associated rigid body model of the tracked set of visual markers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Jeffrey Dale Weber
  • Patent number: 10402959
    Abstract: A welding system includes one or more cameras and a controller coupled to the one or more cameras. The one or more cameras are configured to detect a plurality of sets of visual markers of a welding device, where each set is oriented in a respective marker direction. The controller is configured to determine one or more marker directions of one or more respective sets of visual markers based on a detected set of visual markers, to select one of the sets of visual markers as a tracked set of visual markers based at least in part on a determined marker direction of the tracked set of visual markers, to associate a rigid body model to the tracked set of visual markers, and to determine a position and an orientation of the welding device based on the associated rigid body model of the tracked set of visual markers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Jeffrey Dale Weber
  • Patent number: 10373304
    Abstract: A system includes a welding device, one or more cameras, and a controller coupled to the one or more cameras. The welding device includes a first set of visual markers oriented in a first direction and a second set of visual markers oriented in a second direction. Each set of visual markers includes at least three visual markers. The one or more cameras are configured to observe the first set of visual markers when the first direction is directed toward the one or more cameras, and to observe the second set of visual markers when the second direction is directed toward the one or more cameras. The controller is configured to track a position and an orientation of the welding device based at least in part on detection of a threshold quantity of the first set of visual markers or the threshold quantity of the second set of visual markers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Jeffrey Dale Weber
  • Publication number: 20190172195
    Abstract: A system includes one or more sets of reflective visual markers, a light source configured to emit light, and a controller communicatively coupled to the light source. Each set of reflective visual markers is coupled to a component of a welding system. Each reflective visual marker is configured to reflect the emitted light received from the light source towards one or more cameras. The controller is configured to control illumination settings of the light source based at least in part on a status of the welding system being utilized to perform a live-arc welding operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Jeffrey Dale Weber
  • Patent number: 10210773
    Abstract: A method including determining an orientation of a display of a welding torch relative to a joint of a workpiece, displaying, on the display of the welding torch during a welding operation, a graphical representation of a welding parameter in relation to a predetermined threshold range for the welding parameter as a position of the welding torch changes, the orientation of the welding torch changes, a movement of the welding torch changes, or some combination thereof, and rotating the graphical representation of the welding parameter based at least in part on the determined orientation of the display of the welding torch relative to the joint. The graphical representation of the welding parameter is associated with the position of the welding torch relative to the joint, the orientation of the welding torch relative to the joint, the movement of the welding torch relative to the joint, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Jeffrey Dale Weber, Jeremy John Erdmann
  • Patent number: 10204406
    Abstract: A system includes one or more sets of reflective visual markers, a light source configured to emit light, and a controller communicatively coupled to the light source. Each set of reflective visual markers is coupled to a component of a welding system. Each reflective visual marker is configured to reflect the emitted light received from the light source towards one or more cameras. The controller is configured to control illumination settings of the light source based at least in part on a status of the welding system being utilized to perform a live-arc welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Jeffrey Dale Weber
  • Publication number: 20170224951
    Abstract: A phototherapy mask adapted to fit over the eye area of the user. The mask comprises a plurality of semiconductor light sources such as, but not limited to, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or laser diodes, fiber optics, full spectrum light sources, RGB LEDs, piezo transducers, vibrational transducers (ultrasonic or otherwise), or a combination thereof, that provide therapeutic and rejuvenating effects to human tissue. The light sources are arranged so as to focus on the eye areas, and light enters through the eyes (open or closed). The light sources emit energy in the form of photons when switched on, which deliver energy to targeted tissue, penetrating the layers of skin and the eyes to produce a non-thermal photochemical effect at the cellular level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: CORNELIA WEBER, DALE WEBER
  • Publication number: 20160125593
    Abstract: A welding system includes one or more cameras and a controller coupled to the one or more cameras. The one or more cameras are configured to detect a plurality of sets of visual markers of a welding device, where each each set is oriented in a respective marker direction. The controller is configured to determine one or more marker directions of one or more respective sets of visual markers based on a detected set of visual markers, to select one of the sets of visual markers as a tracked set of visual markers based at least in part on a determined marker direction of the tracked set of visual markers, to associate a rigid body model to the tracked set of visual markers, and to determine a position and an orientation of the welding device based on the associated rigid body model of the tracked set of visual markers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Jeffrey Dale Weber
  • Publication number: 20160125594
    Abstract: A system includes one or more sets of reflective visual markers, a light source configured to emit light, and a controller communicatively coupled to the light source. Each set of reflective visual markers is coupled to a component of a welding system. Each reflective visual marker is configured to reflect the emitted light received from the light source towards one or more cameras. The controller is configured to control illumination settings of the light source based at least in part on a status of the welding system being utilized to perform a live-arc welding operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Jeffrey Dale Weber
  • Publication number: 20160125592
    Abstract: A system includes a welding device, one or more cameras, and a controller coupled to the one or more cameras. The welding device includes a first set of visual markers oriented in a first direction and a second set of visual markers oriented in a second direction. Each set of visual markers includes at least three visual markers. The one or more cameras are configured to observe the first set of visual markers when the first direction is directed toward the one or more cameras, and to observe the second set of visual markers when the second direction is directed toward the one or more cameras. The controller is configured to track a position and an orientation of the welding device based at least in part on detection of a threshold quantity of the first set of visual markers or the threshold quantity of the second set of visual markers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Jeffrey Dale Weber
  • Publication number: 20160125761
    Abstract: A method including determining an orientation of a display of a welding torch relative to a joint of a workpiece, displaying, on the display of the welding torch during a welding operation, a graphical representation of a welding parameter in relation to a predetermined threshold range for the welding parameter as a position of the welding torch changes, the orientation of the welding torch changes, a movement of the welding torch changes, or some combination thereof, and rotating the graphical representation of the welding parameter based at least in part on the determined orientation of the display of the welding torch relative to the joint. The graphical representation of the welding parameter is associated with the position of the welding torch relative to the joint, the orientation of the welding torch relative to the joint, the movement of the welding torch relative to the joint, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Jeffrey Dale Weber, Jeremy John Erdmann
  • Publication number: 20160125762
    Abstract: A system including a base component configured to be detected by one or more cameras of a welding system. The base component includes a thermally insulating layer coupled to the base component, a first set of three or more visual markers coupled to the thermally insulating layer on a first face of the base component, and a cover layer disposed on the thermally insulating layer on at least the first face of the base component. An exterior surface of the cover layer is less reflective of visible light or infrared light than the first set of three or more visual markers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Jeffrey Dale Weber, David Paul Marcusen
  • Patent number: 6007389
    Abstract: A card edge type electrical connector including dual-beam ground contacts each having splayed pre-loaded tips and a realignment twist enabling a plurality of such contacts to be gang inserted into the insulator housing of the connector. To adjust the pitch of the pre-loaded tips, a predetermined twist is added to the bottom of the contacts during the stamping operation which re-aligns the tips with the correct contact receiving apertures. The re-alignment twist disappears once the contact(s) are fully seated in the insulator housing, thus allowing the pre-loaded tips to reach their ultimate position within the insulator housing relative other adjacent contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale A. Weber
  • Patent number: 5772072
    Abstract: A vending machine includes a refrigeration compartment, an oven compartment, structure for transferring a food product from the refrigeration compartment to the oven compartment, and structure for transferring the food product from the oven compartment to a user of the vending machine. The vending machine provides automated handling and cooking of packaged food products that enables a hot cooked food to be delivered to a customer in a cool package sleeve. The vending machine also includes a system for inventory control that enables vertical storage of packaged food products while minimizing crushing of packaged food products at the bottom of a stack. A magazine empty indicator automatically indicates when an inventory magazine is empty. An oven door latch mechanism eliminates the possibility that the oven can be operated while the oven door is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: KRh Thermal Systems
    Inventors: Jack R. Prescott, John D. Smead, Edward Durbin, Michael Kanyon, Michael E. Rudder, James W. Bradfield, Gregory Elliott, Stanley Arai, Mark A. Hopkins, Donald Morrison, Paul T. Rudewicz, Kenneth Sineri, Thom Thomas, Dale Weber
  • Patent number: 5503300
    Abstract: A vending machine includes a refrigeration compartment, an oven compartment, structure for transferring a food product from the refrigeration compartment to the oven compartment, and structure for transferring the food product from the oven compartment to a user of the vending machine. The vending machine provides automated handling and cooking of packaged food products that enables a hot cooked food to be delivered to a customer in a cool package sleeve. The vending machine also includes a system for inventory control that enables vertical storage of packaged food products while minimizing crushing of packaged food products at the bottom of a stack. A magazine empty indicator automatically indicates when an inventory magazine is empty. An oven door latch mechanism eliminates the possibility that the oven can be operated while the oven door is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: KRh Thermal Systems
    Inventors: Jack R. Prescott, John D. Smead, Edward Durbin, Michael Kanyon, Michael E. Rudder, James W. Bradfield, Gregory Elliott, Stanley Arai, Mark A. Hopkins, Donald Morrison, Paul T. Rudewicz, Kenneth Sinera, Thom Thomas, Dale Weber