Patents by Inventor David Alun James
David Alun James 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).
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Patent number: 11535488Abstract: Elevator systems having an elevator machine connected to an elevator car within an elevator shaft, the elevator shaft including a plurality of landings, at least one first sensor assembly attached to the elevator car, at least one second sensor assembly arranged within the elevator shaft and configured to interact with the at least one first sensor assembly, and a computing system in communication with at least one of the at least one first sensor assemblies and the at least one second sensor assemblies such that the computing system receives at least one of signals or data from the at least one of the at least one first sensor assemblies and the at least one second sensor assemblies. The at least one first sensor assemblies and the at least one second sensor assemblies form a contactless position sensing system for determining a position of the elevator car within the elevator shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2018Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: David Ginsberg, Ronnie E. Thebeau, David Alun James
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Publication number: 20190062106Abstract: Elevator systems having an elevator machine connected to an elevator car within an elevator shaft, the elevator shaft including a plurality of landings, at least one first sensor assembly attached to the elevator car, at least one second sensor assembly arranged within the elevator shaft and configured to interact with the at least one first sensor assembly, and a computing system in communication with at least one of the at least one first sensor assemblies and the at least one second sensor assemblies such that the computing system receives at least one of signals or data from the at least one of the at least one first sensor assemblies and the at least one second sensor assemblies. The at least one first sensor assemblies and the at least one second sensor assemblies form a contactless position sensing system for determining a position of the elevator car within the elevator shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: David Ginsberg, Ronnie E. Thebeau, David Alun James
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Publication number: 20100039682Abstract: An object identifying system includes an optical scanning device configured to record a series of linear images of successive portions of a support surface as the support surface is moved between first and second positions. A processor in electrical communication with the optical scanning device is configured to compile data corresponding to the series of linear images of the successive portions of the support surface to construct a digital image of the support surface. The processor is configured to compare the digital image of the support surface to at least one stored digital image of a known object to identify an object when the object is disposed on the support surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2009Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicant: WATERLOO INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Paul R. Peot, David Alun James, Mark Johnson, Graham Lodge, Rupert Menzies
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Patent number: 7514919Abstract: A sensor for sensing a parameter such as position, comprises: (i) an excitation winding for example coils (7, 9) in quadrature; (ii) a signal generator (41, 42, 43) operable to generate an excitation signals and arranged to apply the generated excitation signal to the excitation winding; (iii) a sense coil (11) that can be electromagnetically coupled to the excitation winding such that, in response to the excitation signal being applied to the excitation winding by the signal generator, a periodic electric signal is generated in the sense coil that is indicative of the value of the parameter to be measured by the sensor; and (iv) a signal processor (108) operable to process the periodic electric signal generated in the sensor winding to determine a value representative of the parameter being measured.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2003Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: TT Electronics Technology LimitedInventors: David Alun James, Darran Kreit, Colin Stuart Sills, Mark Anthony Howard
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Publication number: 20080262628Abstract: The present invention relates to an implant 100 which comprises a plurality of electrically-conductive closed loops (300A, 300B, 300C, 300D; 120A, 120B, 120C, 120D each constituted from a plurality of loop portions such as struts (400, 500). The loops together form apertured walls of a cage with an interior volume, and the portions in any one said loop providing electrically-conductive pathways within which eddy currents are liable to be induced when the implant is subjected to an time-dependent external magnetic field, with each said loop comprising at least first and second said pathways. The implant is characterized in that the first and second pathways are arranged such that, in any particular magnetic field, the direction of the eddy current that would be induced in the second pathway is the reverse of the direction of the eddy current that would be induced in the first pathway, so as to mitigate the tendency of the implant to function in said magnetic field as a Faraday cage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2005Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: ANGIOMED GMBH & CO. MEDIZINTECHNIK KGInventors: Peter Georg Laitenberger, Valerie Anne Scott, Dominic George Webber, David Martin Pooley, David Alun James, Thiemo Arnim Blank
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Publication number: 20080204116Abstract: There is described a sensor for sensing the parameter, the sensor comprising a transmit aerial, an intermediate coupling element, a receive aerial electromagnetically coupled to the transmit aerial via the intermediate coupling element, a signal generator operable to generate a periodic excitation signal at a first frequency, and arranged to apply the generated excitation signal to the transmit aerial in order to generate a sense signal in the receive aerial indicative of the value of the parameter to be measured and a signal processor operable to process the signal induced in the receive aerial to determine a value representative of the parameter being measured.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2005Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicant: SENSOPAD LIMITEDInventor: David Alun James
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Patent number: 7319319Abstract: There is described a sensor comprising an excitation winding, a signal generator operable to generate an excitation signal and arranged to apply the generated excitation signal to the excitation winding, a sensor winding electromagnetically coupled to the excitation winding and a signal processor operable to process a periodic electric signal generated in the sensor winding when the excitation signal is applied to the excitation winding by the signal generator to determine a value of a sensed parameter. The excitation signal comprises a periodic carrier signal having a first frequency modulated by a periodic modulation signal having a second frequency, the first frequency being greater than the second frequency. In this way, the sensor is well suited to using digital processing techniques both to generate the excitation signal and to process the signal induced in the sensor windings. In an embodiment, the sensor is used to detect the relative position of two members.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2007Date of Patent: January 15, 2008Assignee: TT Electronics Technology LimitedInventors: Ross Peter Jones, Richard Allen Doyle, Mark Anthony Howard, David Alun James, Darran Kreit, Colin Stuart Sills
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Patent number: 7298137Abstract: There is described an inductive position sensor in which a signal generator applies a excitation signal to an excitation winding formed on a first member, the excitation winding being electromagnetically coupled to at least two resonant circuits formed on a second member which are spaced from each other along a measurement path. The excitation windings are shaped so that the electromagnetic coupling between the exciting winding and each of the resonators varies along the measurement path. In this way, by applying an excitation signal to the excitation winding, respective different signals are induced in the resonators which depend upon the relative position of the first and second members.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2003Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: TT Electronics Technology LimitedInventors: Mark Anthony Howard, Colin Stuart Sills, Darran Kreit, David Alun James
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Patent number: 7208945Abstract: There is described a sensor comprising an excitation winding, a signal generator operable to generate an excitation signal and arranged to apply the generated excitation signal to the excitation winding, a sensor winding electromagnetically coupled to the excitation winding and a signal processor operable to process a periodic electric signal generated in the sensor winding when the excitation signal is applied to the excitation winding by the signal generator to determine a value of a sensed parameter. The excitation signal comprises a periodic carrier signal having a first frequency modulated by a periodic modulation signal having a second frequency, the first frequency being greater than the second frequency. In this way, the sensor is well suited to using digital processing techniques both to generate the excitation signal and to process the signal induced in the sensor windings. In an embodiment, the sensor is used to detect the relative position of two members.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2002Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: TT Electronics Technology LimitedInventors: Ross Peter Jones, Richard Alan Doyle, Mark Anthony Howard, David Alun James, Darran Kriet, Colin Stuart Sills
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Patent number: 6847530Abstract: A switched mode power supply which uses a shieldless transformer (11) in the dc to dc converter. Common mode switching noise is reduced by connecting two capacitors (17, 18) in series between the transformer primary (12) and secondary (13) circuits and connecting an inductor (19) between the junction of the two capacitors (17, 18) and chassis earth. The values of the capacitors (17, 18) and inductor (19) are selected such that the capacitors (17, 18) present a low impedance to noise signals and the inductor (19) presents a high impedance to noise signals.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2002Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Invensys Energy Systems (NZ) LimitedInventor: David Alun James
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Patent number: 6838873Abstract: A Position Sensor comprises: one or more excitation windings; a signal generator adapted to apply excitation signals to the or each excitation winding; tag means displaceable relative to said excitation windings; one or more sensor windings electromagnetically coupled to said excitation windings such that in response to said excitation signals being applied to said excitation windings, there is generated sensed signal in the or each sensor winding; and a signal processor adapted to process said sensed signals to determine the position of said tag means in any location in the X, Y and Z planes essentially in accordance with phase values or in accordance with phase values and amplitude values.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2002Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Scientific Generics Ltd.Inventors: David Alun James, Darran Kreit, Ross Peter Jones, David John Stocks
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Publication number: 20040262884Abstract: There is disclosed a vehicle (1) for travelling over snow or the like and comprising a straight runner means (19) and one or more curved runners (21, 23, 25) convex towards the straight runner means. When the vehicle is level it travels on the straight runner means in a straight line. By rolling the vehicle to one side, one of the curved runners engages the snow and the vehicle performs a carving turn whose radius is determined by the radius of the runner. Different turn radii are selectable by altering the roll angle of the vehicle. Embodiments are described for use on snow and ice and a wheeled version for use on hard surfaces is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventors: Jocelin Langford, David Alun James
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Patent number: 5907236Abstract: A resonance tapped transformer circuit in which the effective turns ratio of the transformer is dependent on the frequency of the input signal. The transformer selectively connects one or more primary coils of the transformer in series and/or in parallel where the connection type is dependent on the line frequency. This changes the transformation ratio of the transformer.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1997Date of Patent: May 25, 1999Assignee: Swichtec Power Systems LimitedInventor: David Alun James
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Patent number: 5757637Abstract: A power converter including a star converter module network and a star resistive network. A feedback network monitors the voltage difference between the nodes of the star converter module network and the star resistive network, and provides a signal for each phase of an AC supply corresponding to the voltage difference. An output sensing means senses the output voltage across output terminals and produces a demand signal based on a comparison of the output voltage with a required value. A controller produces a control signal based upon this comparison for each phase, and the control signal is used to control a corresponding converter module. Applications include power converters for supplying an isolated supply from a multi-phase main supply not having a neutral connection.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1996Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Switchtec Power Systems LimitedInventors: Colin John Tuck, David Alun James, Dennis Allan Chapman