Patents by Inventor James M. Maloof

James M. Maloof 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: 12247854
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to obtain increased performance and differentiation for an inductive position sensor through non-disruptive placement of multiloop coil interconnects are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a sense element includes at least one transmit coil and a first receive coil that includes a first plurality of arrayed loops. In this embodiment, two or more of the first plurality of arrayed loops are phase blended. The sense element also includes a first plurality of interconnects. In this embodiment, each of the first plurality of interconnects connects two of the first plurality of arrayed loops. In this embodiment, the first plurality of interconnects is disposed outside of a sensing area of the sense element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: James M. Maloof
  • Patent number: 11828627
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to obtain increased performance and differentiation for an inductive position sensor through improvements to the sense element and target design are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a sense element includes a transmit coil, a first receive coil that includes a first plurality of arrayed loops, wherein two or more of the first plurality of arrayed loops are at least one of phase blended and amplitude arrayed, and a second receive coil that includes a second plurality of arrayed loops, wherein two or more of the second plurality of arrayed loops are at least one of phase blended and amplitude arrayed, and wherein the first receive coil and the second receive coil are phase shifted. The sense element coils are arrayed in several geometries and layouts, and the coil and target geometry are manipulated to compensate for inherent errors in the fundamental design of an inductive position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: James M. Maloof
  • Patent number: 11740069
    Abstract: An improved inductive sensor determines angular positions for rotating objects, such as rotors of synchronous electric motors. The inductive sensor includes an arcuate transmitter coil, one or more receiver coils, and a conductive target configured to rotate with the rotating object, relative to the transmitter coil and the receiver coil(s). The conductive target includes a plurality of lobes and individual of the lobes is split into multiple lobe portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Inventors: James M. Maloof, Patrick F. McGrath
  • Publication number: 20230204338
    Abstract: An improved inductive sensor determines angular positions for rotating objects, such as rotors of synchronous electric motors. The inductive sensor includes an arcuate transmitter coil, one or more receiver coils, and a conductive target configured to rotate with the rotating object, relative to the transmitter coil and the receiver coil(s). The conductive target includes a plurality of lobes and individual of the lobes is split into multiple lobe portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: James M. Maloof, Patrick F. McGrath
  • Patent number: 10126037
    Abstract: An ice maker mechanism provides a position sensor sensing the position of the ice tray to allow control of absolute position of the ice tray without the need for motor stalling such as generates heat and wastes energy. An ice maker mechanism provides two motors for rotating the ice tray adapted for high torques low-speed rotation and low torque high-speed rotation the latter used for agitation of the water during freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Juan J. Barrena, James M. Maloof, Eric K. Larson, Jeffrey L. Prunty
  • Publication number: 20150276295
    Abstract: An ice maker mechanism provides a position sensor sensing the position of the ice tray to allow control of absolute position of the ice tray without the need for motor stalling such as generates heat and wastes energy. An ice maker mechanism provides two motors for rotating the ice tray adapted for high torques low-speed rotation and low torque high-speed rotation the latter used for agitation of the water during freezing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Juan J. Barrena, James M. Maloof, Eric K. Larson, Jeffrey L. Prunty