Patents by Inventor Donald K. Lefevre

Donald K. Lefevre 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: 5821530
    Abstract: A coadunate emitter/detector assembly for use with fiber optics. A housing has a socket for receiving an end face of a fiber optic or thin bundle of fiber optics. A detector is mounted in the socket for receiving light from a portion of the end face. An emitter is mounted close to the detector for directing light into another portion of the end face. The detector can respond to changes in the light received, which is generally varied by a device at the opposite end of the fiber optic that reflects more or less of the emitter generated light back to the detector. A condensing lens may be placed between the emitter and the fiber optic end face to maximize emitted light that enters the fiber optic. The emitter and detector may be placed in a single plain with a light barrier between them, may be stacked or may be axially spaced. The emitter may be located in a can with upstanding walls to reduce light scatter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Wireless Control Systems, Inc
    Inventors: Donald K. Lefevre, Mark V. Anderson, Daniel J. Mulally
  • Patent number: 5408550
    Abstract: A remote switch system for controlling electrical devices, such as electrical lights, from a remote switch location using a single optical fiber or thin bundle of optical fibers to communicate the controlling signal from the remote switch to the device. The fiber optic system includes both an emitter and a detector at the first end of a fiber optic. The emitter sends a light signal through the fiber and the detector detects a reflected signal coming back through the fiber. Conventional switching circuits or relays turn the electrical device, e.g. a light, to a different state, such as "on" or "off", different brightness or the like in response to a pulse of light or the presence or absence of a returning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Wireless Control System, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald K. Lefevre, Daniel J. Mulally
  • Patent number: 5163112
    Abstract: A remote switch system for controlling electrical devices, such as electrical lights, from a remote switch location using a single optical fiber to communicate the controlling signal from the remote switch to the device. Typically, the remote switch may be added to a normal switch near the device during modification or remodeling of a building, automobile or the like or installed in during original construction. The fiber optic system includes both an emitter and a detector at the first end of a fiber optic. The emitter sends a light signal through the fiber and the detector detects a reflected signal coming back through the fiber. Conventional switching circuits or relays turn the electrical device, e.g. a light, to a different state, such as "on" or "off" in response to a pulse of light or the presence or absence of a returning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Wireless Control Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald K. Lefevre, Daniel J. Mulally
  • Patent number: 4513290
    Abstract: A relatively short broad band monopole coaxial antenna is provided with a center conductor and an outer radiator. The antenna is mounted above a ground plane and comprises a bare outer radiator portion adjacent the ground plane and a portion remote from the ground plane which is covered with a variable thickness microwave absorbent material. The signal to be transmitted is applied to the base of the monopole antenna adjacent the ground plane. Non-radiated signals propagate up the antenna. The high frequency components are absorbed by the microwave absorbing material. A tip matching network and a base matching network are coupled between the outer conductor and the ground plane for attenuating and matching the low frequency components of the non-radiated signals. The resulting monopole coaxial antenna has no undesirable reflections and has the appearance of infinite effective length antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Sperry Corporation
    Inventors: Donald K. Lefevre, Patrick W. Dennis, Dennis F. Seegmiller