Patents by Inventor Erica C. Clark-Heinrich

Erica C. Clark-Heinrich 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: 11633684
    Abstract: Various example embodiments relate to a filtration system and methods for the installation and use of such a filtration system. According to a set of embodiments, the filtration system comprises a housing that defines a central compartment therein. The filtration system further comprises a filter cartridge positioned within the central compartment of the housing. The filter cartridge comprises a filter media and an identification element. The filtration system further comprises a sensor. The sensor is structured to sense the identification element of the filter cartridge. The filtration system further comprises a filter blocking mechanism communicably coupled to the sensor. The filter blocking mechanism is structured prevent installation of the filter cartridge into the housing unless filter cartridge information of the identification element sensed by the sensor is identified as corresponding to an authorized filter cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Sonal Laxman Chirme, Erica C. Clark-Heinrich, Matthew Louison, Ken Tofsland, Mark V. Holzmann, Terry W. Shults, Scott W. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 11583794
    Abstract: Data relating to the status of a vehicle, an internal combustion engine powering the vehicle, and various filtration systems that provide filtered fluid to the vehicle and/or internal combustion engine is generated or gathered by an engine control module and a filtration monitoring system. The engine control module and the filtration monitoring system provide the data to a telematics system for transmitting the data to a remote data center (e.g., a cloud computing system, a remote diagnostics system, a maintenance system, etc.). Depending on an availability of a cellular data connection, the data is either sent directly to the remote data center via a network, or indirectly by first transmitting the data over a local connection to an operator device (e.g., a smartphone), which then sends the data to the remote data center once a connection to the network is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhijeet Vaidya, Erica C. Clark-Heinrich, Amit Dhingra, Bharadwaj R. Prabhala
  • Patent number: 11480078
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining, using service component authenticity detection contained in a sensor module, whether an authorized or genuine service component element is installed in an automotive system are described. The authorized service component determination may be based on close-range communication technology such as radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technology. An antenna in the sensor module may read the tag information from installed service component elements in a nearby service component and send any detected information into a filtration monitoring system. The filtration monitoring system or a remote diagnostic system analyzes the returned data (or absence thereof) to determine if a genuine (i.e., authorized, OEM approved, etc.) service component element is installed or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Erica C. Clark-Heinrich, Thomas J. Braun, Daniel Potratz, Bharadwaj R. Prabhala, Abhijeet Vaidya, Sonal Laxman Chirme
  • Patent number: 11434857
    Abstract: Various example embodiments relate to an automatic drain system for use with a fluid water separator. The automatic drain system includes a liquid-in-fuel sensor. The liquid in-fuel sensor is configured to detect a liquid level in a water sump. The solenoid has an open state and a closed state. A control unit is configured to activate the solenoid in response to a signal from the liquid-in-fuel sensor. Activation of the solenoid causes the solenoid to go from the closed state to the open state. The automatic drain system is placed in a condition for allowing fluid flow through the automatic drain system from the water sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Brian K. Wagner, Bryan P. Steffen, Ayesha Saha, Erica C. Clark-Heinrich, Anil I. Sawant, Sonal Laxman Chirme, Mahesh Suresh Chindarkar, Barry Mark Verdegan
  • Publication number: 20220080344
    Abstract: Various example embodiments relate to a filtration system and methods for the installation and use of such a filtration system. According to a set of embodiments, the filtration system comprises a housing that defines a central compartment therein. The filtration system further comprises a filter cartridge positioned within the central compartment of the housing. The filter cartridge comprises a filter media and an identification element. The filtration system further comprises a sensor. The sensor is structured to sense the identification element of the filter cartridge. The filtration system further comprises a filter blocking mechanism communicably coupled to the sensor. The filter blocking mechanism is structured prevent installation of the filter cartridge into the housing unless filter cartridge information of the identification element sensed by the sensor is identified as corresponding to an authorized filter cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Sonal Laxman Chirme, Erica C. Clark-Heinrich, Matthew Louison, Ken Tofsland, Mark V. Holzmann, Terry W. Shults, Scott W. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 11192055
    Abstract: Various example embodiments relate to a filtration system and methods for the installation and use of such a filtration system. According to a set of embodiments, the filtration system comprises a housing that defines a central compartment therein. The filtration system further comprises a filter cartridge positioned within the central compartment of the housing. The filter cartridge comprises a filter media and an identification element. The filtration system further comprises a sensor. The sensor is structured to sense the identification element of the filter cartridge. The filtration system further comprises a filter blocking mechanism communicably coupled to the sensor. The filter blocking mechanism is structured to prevent installation of the filter cartridge into the housing unless filter cartridge information of the identification element sensed by the sensor is identified as corresponding to an authorized filter cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Sonal Laxman Chirme, Erica C. Clark-Heinrich, Matthew Louison, Ken Tofsland, Mark V. Holzmann, Terry W. Shults, Scott W. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20210178309
    Abstract: A variable efficiency filter media. The variable efficiency filter media is a composite media formed of at least two different types of filter media, such as standard efficiency media and high efficiency media. The variable efficiency filter media has at least two different efficiency levels. The different efficiency levels can be spread across different zones. The filter media types for both the standard and high efficiency media can be spun media, melt blown media, nanofiber media, micro-glass media, cellulose media, carded staple fiber media, and the like. The variable efficiency filter media may be produced by any of an air laid or wet laid process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Wilson L. Currier, William C. Haberkamp, Jonathan D. Sheumaker, Charles W. Hawkins, Kyle Ellison, John C. Williams, Erica C. Clark-Heinrich, Zemin Jiang
  • Publication number: 20210183185
    Abstract: A sensor status indicator (SSI) assembly comprises a sensing interface configured to be communicatively coupled to a wiring harness of a sensor and receive a sensor signal therefrom. The sensor signal indicates a sensor status corresponding to a status of an apparatus to which the sensor is coupled. The SSI assembly also includes at least one visual indicator; and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensing interface and the at least one visual indicator. The controller is configured to interpret the sensor signal to determine the sensor status, and activate the at least one visual indicator to generate a visual signal corresponding to the sensor status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Abhijeet Vaidya, Daniel Potratz, Erica C. Clark-Heinrich, Mahesh Suresh Chindarkar, Abhijeet Pande, Rereloluwa Oluwafemi Fatunmbi
  • Publication number: 20210023492
    Abstract: Various example embodiments relate to a filtration system and methods for the installation and use of such a filtration system. According to a set of embodiments, the filtration system comprises a housing that defines a central compartment therein. The filtration system further comprises a filter cartridge positioned within the central compartment of the housing. The filter cartridge comprises a filter media and an identification element. The filtration system further comprises a sensor. The sensor is structured to sense the identification element of the filter cartridge. The filtration system further comprises a filter blocking mechanism communicably coupled to the sensor. The filter blocking mechanism is structured prevent installation of the filter cartridge into the housing unless filter cartridge information of the identification element sensed by the sensor is identified as corresponding to an authorized filter cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC,
    Inventors: Sonal Laxman Chirme, Erica C. Clark-Heinrich, Matthew Louison, Ken Tofsland, Mark V. Holzmann, Terry W. Shults, Scott W. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20200347760
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining, using service component authenticity detection contained in a sensor module, whether an authorized or genuine service component element is installed in an automotive system are described. The authorized service component determination may be based on close-range communication technology such as radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technology. An antenna in the sensor module may read the tag information from installed service component elements in a nearby service component and send any detected information into a filtration monitoring system. The filtration monitoring system or a remote diagnostic system analyzes the returned data (or absence thereof) to determine if a genuine (i.e., authorized, OEM approved, etc.) service component element is installed or not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Erica C. Clark-Heinrich, Thomas J. Braun, Daniel Potratz, Bharadwaj R. Prabhala, Abhijeet Vaidya, Sonal Laxman Chirme
  • Publication number: 20200318589
    Abstract: Various example embodiments relate to an automatic drain system for use with a fluid water separator. The automatic drain system includes a liquid-in-fuel sensor. The liquid in-fuel sensor is configured to detect a liquid level in a water sump. The solenoid has an open state and a closed state. A control unit is configured to activate the solenoid in response to a signal from the liquid-in-fuel sensor. Activation of the solenoid causes the solenoid to go from the closed state to the open state. The automatic drain system is placed in a condition for allowing fluid flow through the automatic drain system from the water sump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan P. Steffen, Ayesha Saha, Erica C. Clark-Heinrich, Anil I. Sawant, Brian K. Wagner, Sonal Laxman Chirme, Mahesh Suresh Chindarkar, Barry Mark Verdegan
  • Publication number: 20200086261
    Abstract: A variable efficiency filter media. The variable efficiency filter media is a composite media formed of at least two different types of filter media, such as standard efficiency media and high efficiency media. The variable efficiency filter media has at least two different efficiency levels. The different efficiency levels can be spread across different zones. The filter media types for both the standard and high efficiency media can be spun media, melt blown media, nanofiber media, micro-glass media, cellulose media, carded staple fiber media, and the like. The variable efficiency filter media may be produced by any of an air laid or wet laid process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilson L. CURRIER, William C. HABERKAMP, Jonathan D. SHEUMAKER, Charles W. HAWKINS, Kyle ELLISON, John C. WILLIAMS, Erica C. CLARK-HEINRICH, Zemin JIANG
  • Publication number: 20190374889
    Abstract: Data relating to the status of a vehicle, an internal combustion engine powering the vehicle, and various filtration systems that provide filtered fluid to the vehicle and/or internal combustion engine is generated or gathered by an engine control module and a filtration monitoring system. The engine control module and the filtration monitoring system provide the data to a telematics system for transmitting the data to a remote data center (e.g., a cloud computing system, a remote diagnostics system, a maintenance system, etc.). Depending on an availability of a cellular data connection, the data is either sent directly to the remote data center via a network, or indirectly by first transmitting the data over a local connection to an operator device (e.g., a smartphone), which then sends the data to the remote data center once a connection to the network is available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhijeet Vaidya, Erica C. Clark-Heinrich, Amit Dhingra, Bharadwaj R. Prabhala