Patents by Inventor Joel T. Aslakson

Joel T. Aslakson 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).

  • Object locator system
    Patent number: 5446701
    Abstract: An object locating system, especially for use in locating a gaming ball in the game of football, utilizes a series of three sensors positioned on one side of a football playing field and a calibration source positioned on the other side. The calibration source emits an ultrasonic signal which is received by the sensors in order to provide a calibration signal. A ball marking unit is positionable on the field at a location of the ball and emits an ultrasonic signal which is received by the sensors and an RF signal which is received by the calibration source in order to turn the calibration source off. The sensors provide signals in which a processing unit calculates time delays by a time acquisition process in order to determine the position of the ball. In an alternate embodiment, the ball marking unit emits only an RF signal which is received by the sensors. The sensors again provide signals which are analyzed by the processing unit to determine delay between receipt of the signals at the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Teem Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Reinhold E. Utke, John L. Eidsness, Dale P. Van de Loo, Gary L. Ellingson, Joel T. Aslakson
  • Object locator system
    Patent number: 5346210
    Abstract: An object locating system, especially for use in locating a gaming ball in the game of football, utilizes a series of three sensors positioned on one side of a football playing field and a calibration source positioned on the other side. The calibration source emits an ultrasonic signal which is received by the sensors in order to provide a calibration signal. A ball marking unit is positionable on the field at a location of the ball and emits an ultrasonic signal which is received by the sensors and an RF signal which is received by the calibration source in order to turn the calibration source off. The sensors provide signals in which a processing unit calculates time delays by a time acquisition process in order to determine the position of the ball. In an alternate embodiment, the ball marking unit emits only an RF signal which is received by the sensors. The sensors again provide signals which are analyzed by the processing unit to determine delay between receipt of the signals at the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Teem Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Reinhold E. Utke, John L. Eidsness, Dale P. Van de Loo, Gary L. Ellingson, Joel T. Aslakson