Patents by Inventor Ernest L. Hall

Ernest L. Hall 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: 5863310
    Abstract: A grill filter assembly for mounting in the exit or entrance wall opening of a forced air duct wherein the grill plate may be installed in a hinged relation to the duct enabling easy access to the duct opening. In a preferred embodiment, the grill face plate is adapted to have a particulate filter and/or, if desired, a scent dispenser disposed thereon and the hinged relation of the face plate enables easy access to the filter for the changing thereof. Since the grill filter assembly is adapted to be mounted directly into the exit or entrance opening of the duct, the faceplate contains no unsightly screws or other fixtures as are common on heating and air conditioning registers and face plates. In a preferred embodiment, the assembly includes match means for cooperating with the wall to expeditiously mount the assembly in the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Inventors: Barbara L. Brown, Ernest L. Hall
  • Patent number: 5175692
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for automatically palletizing parcels of various sizes, shapes and contents which arrive in random order at a pickup point to be transferred onto a pallet. A system is disclosed including a digital computer operating under an expert computer program which takes information about attribute factors of the parcels and applies predetermined rules to assign a space for the parcel on the pallet, and communicates coordinates of the assigned space to a flexible material handling robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: University of Cincinnati
    Inventors: Abdel-Kadar Mazouz, Gale D. Slutzky, Ernest L. Hall, Richard L. Shell, Ronald L. Huston
  • Patent number: 5155684
    Abstract: A vehicle primarily for unmanned operation is equipped with a video camera pointed up, and progressively records in an on-board computer memory the observed locations of points derived from overhead features such as pre-existing overhead lights in a building during a manually driven teaching mode trip along a desired course. On subsequent unmanned trips, the vehicle directs itself along the chosen course by again observing the overhead features, deriving points from them and comparing the locations of those points to the locations of the points that were recorded during the teaching mode trip. It then corrects its steering to bring the errors between the observed locations and the recorded locations to zero, thereby directing the vehicle to automatically follow the course that was followed during the teaching mode trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Steven A. Burke, Cao Z. Liang, Ernest L. Hall
  • Patent number: 4670648
    Abstract: An optical sensor apparatus receives visible light and converts that light to electrical signals for use by a control system. Visible light enters the apparatus through a hemispherical "fisheye" lens which provides a 360.degree. field of view in azimuth and a 180.degree. field of view in elevation. The light exiting the fisheye lens is projected through a shutter mechanism onto a receptor of a camera. The lens, shutter mechanism, camera and a level dector are mounted on a gimbal mounting to maintain a vertical orientation of the lens and camera. When the optical sensor apparatus is called upon by the control system to provide visual information, the shutter mechanism is energized to open when the lens and camera next become vertical. Image processing is then performed to determine the position of the optical sensor apparatus relative to known landmarks in the operating environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: University of Cincinnati
    Inventors: Ernest L. Hall, Mohammad Ehtashami