Patents by Inventor Frank S. Nickel

Frank S. Nickel 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: 11022684
    Abstract: Various implementations directed to alert zones for a marine environment. In one implementation, a marine electronics device may include a memory having a plurality of program instructions which, when executed by the sonar signal processor, cause the processor to determine one or more alert zones for a marine environment proximate to a vessel, and to receive sonar data from a transducer array disposed on the vessel, where the sonar data corresponds to the marine environment. The memory may further have program instructions which, when executed by the sonar signal processor, cause the processor to analyze the received sonar data to determine a depth line, where the depth line is a representation of one or more depths of an underwater floor of the marine environment, and to provide one or more alerts if at least a portion of the depth line is positioned within the one or more alert zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Frank S. Nickel, Alan Proctor, Tracy Brown, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190004164
    Abstract: Various implementations directed to alert zones for a marine environment. In one implementation, a marine electronics device may include a memory having a plurality of program instructions which, when executed by the sonar signal processor, cause the processor to determine one or more alert zones for a marine environment proximate to a vessel, and to receive sonar data from a transducer array disposed on the vessel, where the sonar data corresponds to the marine environment. The memory may further have program instructions which, when executed by the sonar signal processor, cause the processor to analyze the received sonar data to determine a depth line, where the depth line is a representation of one or more depths of an underwater floor of the marine environment, and to provide one or more alerts if at least a portion of the depth line is positioned within the one or more alert zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Frank S. Nickel, Alan Proctor, Tracy Brown, JR.
  • Patent number: 10094918
    Abstract: Various implementations directed to alert zones for a marine environment. In one implementation, a marine electronics device may include a memory having a plurality of program instructions which, when executed by the sonar signal processor, cause the processor to determine one or more alert zones for a marine environment proximate to a vessel, and to receive sonar data from a transducer array disposed on the vessel, where the sonar data corresponds to the marine environment. The memory may further have program instructions which, when executed by the sonar signal processor, cause the processor to analyze the received sonar data to determine a depth line, where the depth line is a representation of one or more depths of an underwater floor of the marine environment, and to provide one or more alerts if at least a portion of the depth line is positioned within the one or more alert zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Frank S. Nickel, Alan Proctor, Tracy Brown, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160077199
    Abstract: Various implementations directed to alert zones for a marine environment. In one implementation, a marine electronics device may include a memory having a plurality of program instructions which, when executed by the sonar signal processor, cause the processor to determine one or more alert zones for a marine environment proximate to a vessel, and to receive sonar data from a transducer array disposed on the vessel, where the sonar data corresponds to the marine environment. The memory may further have program instructions which, when executed by the sonar signal processor, cause the processor to analyze the received sonar data to determine a depth line, where the depth line is a representation of one or more depths of an underwater floor of the marine environment, and to provide one or more alerts if at least a portion of the depth line is positioned within the one or more alert zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Frank S. Nickel, Alan Proctor, Tracy Brown, JR.
  • Patent number: 7251567
    Abstract: A monitoring system for use with a horizontal directional drilling machine and adapted to determine the roll and/or pitch orientation of the downhole tool assembly by detecting signals from a sensor assembly supported by the downhole tool assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the monitoring system uses an antenna assembly to detect a signal transmitted from the sensor assembly. The antenna assembly transmits the detected signal to a processor which determines a calibration factor indicative of the actual orientation of the sensor relative to the known orientation of the downhole tool assembly. The processor then uses the calibration factor and the signal emitted from the sensor, indicative of the actual orientation of the sensor, to determine the actual orientation of the downhole tool assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank S. Nickel, Martin A. Williams
  • Patent number: 7201236
    Abstract: A portable area monitoring system for use with a horizontal directional drilling machine and adapted to produce a composite of the positions of a beacon and a fixed object. In a preferred embodiment the sensor assembly is supported by a hand-held frame and adapted to detect signals emanating from each of a beacon and a fixed object. The sensor assembly transmits the detected signals to a processor which simultaneously processes the signals to produce a composite of relative positions of the beacon and the fixed object to the frame. The composite of the relative positions of the beacon and the fixed object to the frame is communicated to the operator using a portable display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank S. Nickel, Jian Jin
  • Patent number: 7013990
    Abstract: A portable area monitoring system for use with a horizontal directional drilling machine and adapted to produce a composite of the positions of a beacon and a fixed object. In a preferred embodiment the sensor assembly is supported by a hand-held frame and adapted to detect signals emanating from each of a beacon and a fixed object. The sensor assembly transmits the detected signals to a processor which simultaneously processes the signals to produce a composite of relative positions of the beacon and the fixed object to the frame. The composite of the relative positions of the beacon and the fixed object to the frame is communicated to the operator using a portable display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank S. Nickel, Jian Jin
  • Patent number: 6776246
    Abstract: A portable area monitoring system for use with a horizontal directional drilling machine and adapted to produce a composite of the positions of a beacon and a fixed object. In a preferred embodiment the sensor assembly is supported by a hand-held frame and adapted to detect signals emanating from each of a beacon and a fixed object. The sensor assembly transmits the detected signals to a processor which simultaneously processes the signals to produce a composite of relative positions of the beacon and the fixed object to the frame. The composite of the relative positions of the beacon and the fixed object to the frame is communicated to the operator using a portable display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank S. Nickel, Jian Jin
  • Patent number: 5621325
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for determining if the signal received from an underground beacon (10) at a locator (22) is a true signal or a ghost signal. Orthogonal horizontal antenna (38) and vertical antenna (40) are used and a ratio is computed of the signal strengths measured by the two antennas. At the true location, the signal strength in the horizontal antenna (38) will be maximum and the signal strength of the vertical antenna (40) will be a null. If the ratio of the signal strength sensed by the horizontal antenna and vertical antenna is large, exceeding a predetermined value, the locator is receiving a valid signal from the beacon and a display of this fact is made on a display on the locator and the depth of the beacon is calculated. If the ratio is less than the predetermined value, a ghost signal is being received and this fact is displayed on the display on the locator (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory W. Draper, Frank S. Nickel, Michael F. Gard, Jian J. Jin
  • Patent number: 5425179
    Abstract: A device utilized for accurately measuring inclination angles independent of roll position using optical methods, whereby an amplitude of reflected (or refracted) light rays from a surface of a gravity-leveled liquid are detected by a photo-detector. The amplitude of the detected light beam is a function of the beam's angle of incidence to the liquid, which is proportional to the angle of the sensor's inclination. The incline sensor includes a cylindrical symmetric vessel which is partially filled with a liquid, an axially symmetric light emitting diode (LED) and a photo-detector. The fluid is chosen to have indices of refraction of at least 1.33, or reflectivity >0.60 so that measurable refraction (or reflection) angles can be realized for the geometry of the sensor. The liquid is also chosen to have freezing and boiling points acceptable for use in the desired applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank S. Nickel, David R. Payne
  • Patent number: 5206595
    Abstract: A simple and inexpensive device which is suited for real-time location of a fault occurring anywhere in a residential distribution system by analysis of the propogating fault signal considering the predetermined propagating velocity of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventors: Carl M. Wiggins, Frank S. Nickel, David E. Thomas, Stephen J. Halko, Thomas M. Salas, Gary H. Shapiro