Patents by Inventor Jim Hartford

Jim Hartford 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: 20230258519
    Abstract: A pedal assembly includes an upper housing member separated from a lower housing member defining a cavity. The pedal arm is configured to move within the cavity and apply a force to the upper housing member. A pair of fixed magnets are attached to the upper and lower housing. Both of the fixed magnets are orientated with similar polarity facing in the same direction. A moveable magnetic is positioned between the pair of fixed magnets, the moveable magnet positioned with a polarity that is opposite of the pair of fixed magnets. A magnetic sensor is positioned in the housing. When a load is applied to the pedal arm, the pedal arm applies a force to the upper housing member moving the moveable magnet in the housing wherein the magnetic sensor senses movement of the moveable magnet indicative of the amount of depression of the pedal arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: KSR IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Marty Vanek, Jim Hartford, Shaun Fuller, Lingmin Shao
  • Patent number: 9702416
    Abstract: The present invention uses a sensor to determine when a pressure plate and a clutch plate of a dual clutch transmission system are in contact with one another. The assembly includes a housing having a plurality of pistons connected to both the clutch plate and pressure plate. The pistons contain either magnets or couplers and are positioned adjacent one another separated by either a Hall effect sensor or an inductive sensor. As the pressure plates and clutch plates come into contact with one another the pistons move within the housing and said movement is detected by the sensor. The sensor determines if the pressure plate is in contact with the clutch plate and if the clutch plate or the pressure plate has traveled any linear distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: KSR IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Lingmin Shao, Jim Hartford
  • Patent number: 9446745
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for a vehicle electronic braking system including a housing, at least one linear sensor, the at least one sensor contained within the housing, the linear sensor adapted to measure the linear distance traveled of a brake pedal. The assembly further includes a rotary sensor, the rotary sensor also contained within the same housing, the rotary sensor adapted to measure rotary motion of a DC motor in an the electronic braking system. The rotary sensor and the at least one linear sensor each in communication with a brake control unit. The at least one linear sensor and the at least one rotary sensor is encapsulated, either together or separately. The at least one linear sensor is a Hall-effect sensor. A wake up switch circuit is integrated with at least one of the linear sensors to wake up the system when the driver depresses the brake pedal in the electronic braking system. The rotary sensor is an inductive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: KSR IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan W. Elliott, Dan O'Neill, Lingmin Shao, Shaun Matthew Fuller, Jim Hartford
  • Publication number: 20150129389
    Abstract: The present invention uses a sensor to determine when a pressure plate and a clutch plate of a dual clutch transmission system are in contact with one another. The assembly includes a housing having a plurality of pistons connected to both the clutch plate and pressure plate. The pistons contain either magnets or couplers and are positioned adjacent one another separated by either a Hall effect sensor or an inductive sensor. As the pressure plates and clutch plates come into contact with one another the pistons move within the housing and said movement is detected by the sensor. The sensor determines if the pressure plate is in contact with the clutch plate and if the clutch plate or the pressure plate has traveled any linear distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Lingmin Shao, Jim Hartford
  • Publication number: 20150070003
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for a vehicle electronic braking system including a housing, at least one linear sensor, the at least one sensor contained within the housing, the linear sensor adapted to measure the linear distance traveled of a brake pedal. The assembly further includes a rotary sensor, the rotary sensor also contained within the same housing, the rotary sensor adapted to measure rotary motion of a DC motor in an the electronic braking system. The rotary sensor and the at least one linear sensor each in communication with a brake control unit. The at least one linear sensor and the at least one rotary sensor is encapsulated, either together or separately. The at least one linear sensor is a Hall-effect sensor. A wake up switch circuit is integrated with at least one of the linear sensors to wake up the system when the driver depresses the brake pedal in the electronic braking system. The rotary sensor is an inductive sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Ryan W. Elliott, Dan O'Neill, Lingmin Shao, Shaun Matthew Fuller, Jim Hartford