Patents by Inventor Gary Kercheck

Gary Kercheck 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).

  • Dual beam non-contact displacement sensor
    Patent number: 9228878
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for remotely monitoring an elevation, or change in elevation, of a fluid surface, such as that of molten sapphire. The remote monitoring can be performed by measuring positions of a pair of reflected laser beams off the fluid surface as detected on an imaging sensor. As the surface elevation falls, the positions of the pair of reflected laser beams move relative to each other, and this positional change can be converted into a change in the fluid surface elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Haw, Gary Kercheck
  • DUAL BEAM NON-CONTACT DISPLACEMENT SENSOR
    Publication number: 20130245996
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for remotely monitoring an elevation, or change in elevation, of a fluid surface, such as that of molten sapphire. The remote monitoring can be performed by measuring positions of a pair of reflected laser beams off the fluid surface as detected on an imaging sensor. As the surface elevation falls, the positions of the pair of reflected laser beams move relative to each other, and this positional change can be converted into a change in the fluid surface elevation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: ADVANCED ENERGY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Haw, Gary Kercheck
  • SAI and caster compensation for live caster and live camber readings
    Patent number: 5165177
    Abstract: Measurement devices are mounted on left and right steerable wheels of a vehicle. Caster is calculated for each of the wheels based upon measurements made with the measurement devices. Pitch at zero toe is determined for the left and right wheels and a steering axis inclination (SAI) compensation term is determined. Live caster is calculated using the live pitch of the wheel, the caster calculated for the wheel, the pitch at zero toe for the wheel and the SAI compensation term. An output representative of the live caster is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Bear Automotive Service Equipment Company
    Inventor: Gary Kercheck
  • Portable wheel alignment instrument
    Patent number: D332059
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Bear Automotive Service Equipment Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Kling, III, Michael P. Alusick, Gary Kercheck, Daniel A. Matre, Gary L. Friederichs, Jeff Krueger, Duane M. Schmitz, James L. Visser, Mark W. Geis, Terrence K. Mahon