Patents by Inventor James Steph

James Steph 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).

  • Publication number: 20060033382
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring a brake stroke of an air brake assembly utilize a sensor, such as an accelerometer, mountable on a movable component, such as a brake cam shaft, of the air brake assembly that is external of the brake chamber of the air brake assembly for detecting an acceleration of the movable component during a braking event. The sensor generates an output signal that depends on a magnitude of the detected acceleration, which is sent to a microcontroller coupled to the sensor. The microcontroller translates the sensor output signal to a value corresponding to a displacement of the movable component of the brake assembly during the braking event and calculates a brake stroke distance based on said value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: James Steph, Mark Kranz
  • Publication number: 20050097952
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for sensing fluid level comprising a calibration sensor completely immersed in a fluid, and a measurement sensor at least partially immersed in the same fluid, wherein said calibration sensor is disposed in the fluid at a position lower than the lowest level of the measurement sensor. The calibration sensor and measurement sensors comprise elongated apertures in a printed circuit board with electrically conductive plating formed on each side of, and spanning the length of, the elongated apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: James Steph, Charles Hood
  • Publication number: 20050024187
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) communication device is provided comprising means for switching between a low current operating mode and a high current operating mode. The low current operating mode is optimized to conserve power while the RF device is awaiting a wake-up signal from an interrogator. The high current operating mode is optimized to provide antenna matching during backscatter communications so as to maximize the range of backscatter communication between the RF device and the interrogator. Further provided, is a system and method for optimizing power consumption and backscatter range within an RF communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Mark Kranz, James Steph