Patents by Inventor David A. Witt

David A. Witt 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: 12228431
    Abstract: Rotary position sensors are provided. In one example implementation, a rotary position sensor can include a first member and a second member, one of the first and second members having a transmit aerial and a receive aerial and the other of the first and second members having an intermediate coupling element. The receive aerial has at least one receive conductive winding arranged to form a first set of current loops and a second set of current loops. The intermediate coupling element comprises a conductive material arranged in a pattern. The pattern of the intermediate coupling element and the layout of the first and second set of current loops are mutually arranged such that any electromotive force induced in the first set of current loops by a background magnetic field is substantially balanced by an electromotive force induced in the second set of current loops by the background magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Kyocera AVX Components (Werne) GMBH
    Inventors: David Witts, Timothy Biggs, Paul Smith, Peter Constantinou
  • Publication number: 20250027791
    Abstract: A system, comprising: a processing circuitry that is configured to: receive a signal S1 and a signal S2, the signal S1 being generated by a first receiving coil in response to a first magnetic field, the signal S2 being generated by a second receiving coil in response to the first magnetic field, receive a signal S3 and a signal S4, the signal S3 being generated by a third receiving coil in response to a second magnetic field, the signal S4 being generated by a fourth receiving coil in response to the second magnetic field; calculate a first electrical angle based on signals S1 and S2; calculate a second electrical angle based on signals S3 and S4; and generate an output signal based on the first and second electrical angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2023
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Solène Bastien, Alexander Latham, Emanuele Andrea Casu, Rémy Lassalle-Balier, David Witts, Paul Smith
  • Publication number: 20240380288
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for an electric machine includes a position sensor mounted to the stator. The sensor assembly further includes a target configured to be inductively coupled to a transmit coil of the position sensor and a plurality of receive coils of the position sensor when the target passes the position sensor during a revolution of the rotor relative to the stator. The sensor assembly includes a circuit mounted to the rotor. The sensor assembly further includes a power generation element on the rotor. The power generation element generates electrical power needed for powering electronic components of the circuit based on an inductive coupling with the transmit coil when the power generation element passes the position sensor during the revolution of the rotor. The electronic components can include a sensor configured to obtain data that can be communicated to the position sensor mounted to the stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: David Witts, Peter Constantinou, Jonathan Michael Hayes
  • Patent number: 12141580
    Abstract: A processor includes an instruction issue unit that receives a first instruction, and issues the first instruction with a write time, which for a load instruction corresponds to a data cache latency time or to a non-cacheable latency time of a non-cacheable predictor. The non-cacheable predictor includes a tag array and data array with a plurality of entries to predict non-cacheable latency times of non-cacheable load instructions. The non-cacheable predictor can be implemented as a direct map, an N-way associative cache, or a fully associative cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Simplex Micro, Inc.
    Inventors: David Witt, Thang Minh Tran
  • Publication number: 20240369344
    Abstract: An inductive sensor includes a first circuit board having a sensor element configurable in a plurality of different coil configurations. The sensor element includes a transmit coil and a plurality of receive coils. The first circuit board includes interconnect points positioned at a same location on the first circuit board for each of the plurality of different coil configurations. The inductive sensor includes a second circuit board spaced apart from the first circuit board along the axial direction. The second circuit board includes processing circuitry associated with the sensor element and configurable in a plurality of different configurations. The second circuit board includes interconnect points positioned at a same location on the second circuit board for each of the configurations of the processing circuitry. Furthermore, each interconnect point on the second circuit board is aligned with a corresponding interconnect point on the first circuit board along circumferential and radial directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Robert Wood, Peter Constantinou, David Witts
  • Publication number: 20240293143
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a transducer assembly and a shaft assembly. The transducer assembly is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft assembly comprises an ultrasonic waveguide, a sheath, a shroud, and a torque transfer assembly. The waveguide is configured to couple with the transducer assembly. The waveguide is disposed within the sheath. The sheath extends through the shroud. The torque transfer assembly is contained within the shroud. The torque transfer assembly is configured to transfer a predetermined range of torque from the shroud to the waveguide to thereby couple the waveguide with the transducer assembly. The torque transfer assembly is further configured to prevent transfer of torque from the shroud to the waveguide beyond an upper limit of the predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Inventors: Cory G. Kimball, David A. Witt, William E. Clem, Nathan D. Grubbs, Daniel J. Prenger
  • Patent number: 12078481
    Abstract: An inductive sensor includes a first circuit board having a sensor element configurable in a plurality of different coil configurations. The sensor element includes a transmit coil and a plurality of receive coils. The first circuit board includes interconnect points positioned at a same location on the first circuit board for each of the plurality of different coil configurations. The inductive sensor includes a second circuit board spaced apart from the first circuit board along the axial direction. The second circuit board includes processing circuitry associated with the sensor element and configurable in a plurality of different configurations. The second circuit board includes interconnect points positioned at a same location on the second circuit board for each of the configurations of the processing circuitry. Furthermore, each interconnect point on the second circuit board is aligned with a corresponding interconnect point on the first circuit board along circumferential and radial directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Kyocera AVX Components (Werne) GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Wood, Peter Constantinou, David Witts
  • Patent number: 12074479
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for an electric machine includes a position sensor mounted to the stator. The sensor assembly further includes a target configured to be inductively coupled to a transmit coil of the position sensor and a plurality of receive coils of the position sensor when the target passes the position sensor during a revolution of the rotor relative to the stator. The sensor assembly includes a circuit mounted to the rotor. The sensor assembly further includes a power generation element on the rotor. The power generation element generates electrical power needed for powering electronic components of the circuit based on an inductive coupling with the transmit coil when the power generation element passes the position sensor during the revolution of the rotor. The electronic components can include a sensor configured to obtain data that can be communicated to the position sensor mounted to the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Kyocera AVX Components (Werne) GmbH
    Inventors: David Witts, Peter Constantinou, Jonathan Michael Hayes
  • Patent number: 12013300
    Abstract: A torque sensor can be configured to detect the positions of rotor targets relative to the position of respective receiver structures. A torque sensor can include an oscillator circuit coupled to an excitation coil. The oscillator circuit can be configured to generate a periodic voltage signal and energize the excitation coil with the periodic voltage signal. The inductive torque sensor can include a stator circuit board including receivers with receiver structures that are periodically repeated. The inductive torque sensor can include rotor targets coupled to respective rotors, the rotor targets can be configured to affect the strength of the inductive coupling between the excitation coil and the respective receivers. The inductive torque sensor can include processing circuitry configured to provide signals associated with positions of the rotor targets relative to their respective receiver structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Kyocera AVX Components (Werne) GmbH
    Inventors: David Witts, Paul Smith
  • Patent number: 12013264
    Abstract: Position sensing apparatus is provided. In one example implementation, the position sensing apparatus comprises a first member having an excitation conductive winding and a detection conductive winding formed thereon, and a second member having a resonant circuit formed thereon. An integrated circuit comprising excitation signal generation and detection signal processing circuitry is arranged to generate an alternating excitation signal at a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit and to process an alternating detection signal induced in the detection conductive winding as a result of a magnetic field generated by the alternating excitation signal flowing through the excitation conductive winding, and the excitation conductive winding and the detection conductive winding are arranged so that the detection signal varies in dependence on the relative position of the first and second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA AVX COMPONENTS (WERNE) GMBH
    Inventors: David Witts, Peter Constantinou, Paul Smith, Timothy Biggs, Andrew Parker
  • Patent number: 12004768
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a transducer assembly and a shaft assembly. The transducer assembly is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft assembly comprises an ultrasonic waveguide, a sheath, a shroud, and a torque transfer assembly. The waveguide is configured to couple with the transducer assembly. The waveguide is disposed within the sheath. The sheath extends through the shroud. The torque transfer assembly is contained within the shroud. The torque transfer assembly is configured to transfer a predetermined range of torque from the shroud to the waveguide to thereby couple the waveguide with the transducer assembly. The torque transfer assembly is further configured to prevent transfer of torque from the shroud to the waveguide beyond an upper limit of the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Cory G. Kimball, David A. Witt, William E. Clem, Nathan D. Grubbs, Daniel J. Prenger
  • Patent number: 11988528
    Abstract: A position sensor is provided. The position sensor includes a target and a segment sensor element. The segment sensor element defines a circumferential direction and a radial direction. The segment sensor element includes a transmit coil. The segment sensor element includes a plurality of receive coils positioned within a space defined by the transmit coil. The plurality of receive coils are offset relative to one another. The shape of each of the plurality of receive coils corresponds to a periodic waveform having a radial width that varies along the circumferential direction. Furthermore, the shape of at least one receive coil of the plurality of receive coils is distorted along at least one of the radial direction or the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Kyocera AVX Components (Werne) GmbH
    Inventors: Timothy Biggs, David Witts
  • Patent number: 11921251
    Abstract: Inductive position sensors for sensing relative position (e.g., relative rotary position) between members are provided. In one example implementation, the inductive position sensor includes a transmit aerial having at least one transmit winding. The inductive position sensor can include a receive aerial having one or more receive windings. The inductive position sensor can include a coupling element operable to be disposed on the second member. The inductive position sensor can include processing circuitry configured to provide one or more signals indicative of the position of the first member relative to the second member based on current induced in the one or more receive windings resulting from an oscillating signal provided to the transmit winding. The inductive position sensor includes at least one electrostatic shield. The electrostatic shield can include a plurality of conductive traces arranged so that no current loops are formed in the electrostatic shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA AVX Components (Werne) GmbH
    Inventors: David Witts, Peter Constantinou, Paul Smith
  • Publication number: 20240050118
    Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises an ultrasonic transducer, an acoustic waveguide, and an ultrasonic blade. The blade includes a pair of obliquely extending edges. The obliquely extending edges diverge away from the longitudinal axis of the waveguide and away from each other along respective paths extending distally in relation to the waveguide. A distal portion of the blade is wider than a proximal portion of the blade along a plane. The blade further includes a curved distal edge and several laterally presented surfaces. The laterally presented surfaces may provide combinations of concave and convex curvatures. The laterally presented surfaces may be angled and/or curved along one or more orthogonal planes associated with the longitudinal axis of the waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: David A. Witt, Timothy G. Dietz, Stephen J. Balek, Benjamin M. Boyd, David C. Groene, Benjamin V. Vins, William C. Horton, III, Ashvani K. Madan
  • Publication number: 20240041515
    Abstract: An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a discharge port in communication with a first fluid path, an aspiration port in communication with a second fluid path, a first and second electrode, and a diverter in mechanical communication with the two electrodes. The diverter may receive, on its surface, a fluid emitted by the discharge port, and maintain a contact of the fluid with the first and second electrodes. The diverter may be further configured to prevent an aspiration, by the aspiration port, of the fluid on its surface. An electrosurgical device may include a source port in communication with a first fluid path, an evacuation port in communication with a second fluid path, a first and second electrode, and a housing. The device may include a shaft extending distally from the housing and the end effector as described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: David A. Witt, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, David C. Yates, Chad P. Boudreaux, Eric M. Roberson, Kevin L. Houser, Geoffrey S. Strobl
  • Publication number: 20240011800
    Abstract: Rotary position sensors are provided. In one example implementation, a rotary position sensor can include a first member and a second member, one of the first and second members having a transmit aerial and a receive aerial and the other of the first and second members having an intermediate coupling element. The receive aerial has at least one receive conductive winding arranged to form a first set of current loops and a second set of current loops. The intermediate coupling element comprises a conductive material arranged in a pattern. The pattern of the intermediate coupling element and the layout of the first and second set of current loops are mutually arranged such that any electromotive force induced in the first set of current loops by a background magnetic field is substantially balanced by an electromotive force induced in the second set of current loops by the background magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: David Witts, Timothy Biggs, Paul Smith, Peter Constantinou
  • Patent number: 11860203
    Abstract: A dual channel differential can include a first channel, the first channel configured to produce a first component signal, and a second channel that is independent from the first channel, the second channel configured to produce a second component signal. The sensor can include a sensing circuit configured to obtain the first component signal and the second component signal, the first component signal having a first polarity and the second component signal having a second polarity, the second polarity opposing the first polarity, determine a first cross-channel differential signal based at least in part on the first component signal and the second component signal, and provide the first cross-channel differential signal as a first output of the dual channel differential sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Kyocera AVX Components (Werne) GmbH
    Inventors: Rafael Giolbas, Marius Gloger, David Witts
  • Publication number: 20230414244
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical blade includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface. The distal end is movable relative to a longitudinal axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end. At least a portion of the outer surface of the body comprises a lubricious coating adhered thereto. The lubricious coating has a coefficient of friction that is less than the coefficient of friction of the outer surface of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: David A. Witt, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Kevin L. Houser
  • Publication number: 20230404612
    Abstract: An apparatus for operating on tissue comprises a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, and an end effector. The acoustic waveguide extends along the shaft and is configured to transmit ultrasonic vibration. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide. The clamp arm is pivotable toward the ultrasonic blade. The end effector defines a first longitudinal region and a second longitudinal region. The end effector is configured to clamp tissue between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade in the first longitudinal region. The end effector is configured to sever tissue with the ultrasonic blade in the second longitudinal region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, David A. Witt, Foster B. Stulen, Christopher A. Papa, Vincent P. Battaglia, JR.
  • Patent number: 11839422
    Abstract: An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a discharge port in communication with a first fluid path, an aspiration port in communication with a second fluid path, a first and second electrode, and a diverter in mechanical communication with the two electrodes. The diverter may receive, on its surface, a fluid emitted by the discharge port, and maintain a contact of the fluid with the first and second electrodes. The diverter may be further configured to prevent an aspiration, by the aspiration port, of the fluid on its surface. An electrosurgical device may include a source port in communication with a first fluid path, an evacuation port in communication with a second fluid path, a first and second electrode, and a housing. The device may include a shaft extending distally from the housing and the end effector as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: David A. Witt, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, David C. Yates, Chad P. Boudreaux, Eric M. Roberson, Kevin L. Houser, Geoffrey S. Strobl