Patents by Inventor John Bonvallet

John Bonvallet 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: 20230149957
    Abstract: A hazer, method of controlling a hazer, and a system including one or more hazers are provided. The hazer includes a peristaltic pump, a heater, and a controller coupled to the peristaltic pump and the heater. During hazer operation, the controller actuates the peristaltic pump to pump fluid into the heater, and causes the heater to vaporize the fluid to form a haze. The controller may similarly actuate the pump and heater in each hazer of the system to form haze. In this way, more consistent pump operation and less pump failure rates may be observed in contrast to piston pumps. Additionally, the hazer may include various other features including at least one of an air pump with variable flow rate, a fan with tachometer for detecting fan errors, RDM error reporting, low voltages, a fan sponge, a pressure sensor, OTD for determining heater errors, and HVAC attachments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Ted ZIEMKOWSKI, John BONVALLET
  • Patent number: 10539711
    Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for operating a laser attraction. Aspects include instructing a plurality of laser transmitters to each emit a laser beam, each of the emitted laser beams being detected by a particular receiver device. In addition, a signal may be received that indicates that one of the laser beams has been broken. In an aspect, the signal may be received from a receiver device that is associated with the broken laser beam. Further, the receiver device may be instructed to illuminate a light source when the laser beam is broken, the light source being part of the receiver device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Z IMAGE, LLC
    Inventors: John Bonvallet, Ted Ziemkowski
  • Patent number: 10007026
    Abstract: A sensor for a laser may contain an at least partially transparent plastic with a fluorescent material that receives laser light at one frequency and creates light inside the transparent plastic with a second, different frequency. The light at the second frequency may travel through the plastic to an electronic sensor mounted against the transparent plastic. The sensor may be several feet in length or longer and still detect a single impinging Class I or Class II laser beam. In systems where the position of the laser may be known, a set of linear gain coefficients may be determined to calibrate the electronic sensor, as the signal strength of a received signal may decay with the distance from the electronic sensor to the location where the laser beam impinges the plastic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Inventors: Theodore Bruce Ziemkowski, John Bonvallet, Devon Clark, Peeraya Nilwong, Frank Kennedy, Patrick Simons
  • Publication number: 20180126259
    Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for operating a laser attraction. Aspects include instructing a plurality of laser transmitters to each emit a laser beam, each of the emitted laser beams being detected by a particular receiver device. In addition, a signal may be received that indicates that one of the laser beams has been broken. In an aspect, the signal may be received from a receiver device that is associated with the broken laser beam. Further, the receiver device may be instructed to illuminate a light source when the laser beam is broken, the light source being part of the receiver device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: John BONVALLET, Ted ZIEMKOWSKI
  • Patent number: 9588252
    Abstract: A two dimensional scanning laser system may automatically detect a laser, then align and calibrate itself to scan over the sensor area. The system may have a laser with a controller that may cause the laser to be directed over two dimensions, as well as a sensor apparatus. The laser may be controlled with a mirror system that may pivot in two directions, thus allowing the laser to be scanned over a two dimensional area. The sensor may be a point sensor, where the laser may be positioned in a constant direction, as well as a larger area sensor where the laser may be moved across the sensor area to detect objects in a two or three dimensional space. An alignment and calibration sequence may cause the laser to scan across its operational area and detect the location of one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventors: Theodore Bruce Ziemkowski, John Bonvallet, Devon Clark, Peeraya Nilwong, Frank Kennedy, Patrick Simons
  • Publication number: 20160370496
    Abstract: A sensor for a laser may contain an at least partially transparent plastic with a fluorescent material that receives laser light at one frequency and creates light inside the transparent plastic with a second, different frequency. The light at the second frequency may travel through the plastic to an electronic sensor mounted against the transparent plastic. The sensor may be several feet in length or longer and still detect a single impinging Class I or Class II laser beam. In systems where the position of the laser may be known, a set of linear gain coefficients may be determined to calibrate the electronic sensor, as the signal strength of a received signal may decay with the distance from the electronic sensor to the location where the laser beam impinges the plastic element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Theodore Bruce Ziemkowski, John Bonvallet, Devon Clark, Peeraya Nilwong, Frank Kennedy, Patrick Simons
  • Publication number: 20160170084
    Abstract: A two dimensional scanning laser system may automatically detect a laser, then align and calibrate itself to scan over the sensor area. The system may have a laser with a controller that may cause the laser to be directed over two dimensions, as well as a sensor apparatus. The laser may be controlled with a mirror system that may pivot in two directions, thus allowing the laser to be scanned over a two dimensional area. The sensor may be a point sensor, where the laser may be positioned in a constant direction, as well as a larger area sensor where the laser may be moved across the sensor area to detect objects in a two or three dimensional space. An alignment and calibration sequence may cause the laser to scan across its operational area and detect the location of one or more sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Theodore Bruce Ziemkowski, John Bonvallet, Devon Clark, Peeraya Nilwong, Frank Kennedy, Patrick Simons
  • Patent number: 9243449
    Abstract: An automated entrance device includes a housing and a first and second panel operably coupled to the housing. The panels are positioned approximately at a 90° angle to each other. The first panel and the second panel rotate together from a first position to a second position to allow entrance to a user. After allowing a user to enter, the panels reset to the first position ready to selectively allow entrance to additional users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Z Image, LLC
    Inventors: Ted Ziemkowski, John Bonvallet, Devon Clark, Peeraya Nilwong
  • Publication number: 20160010378
    Abstract: An automated entrance device includes a housing and a first and second panel operably coupled to the housing. The panels are positioned approximately at a 90° angle to each other. The first panel and the second panel rotate together from a first position to a second position to allow entrance to a user. After allowing a user to enter, the panels reset to the first position ready to selectively allow entrance to additional users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Ted Ziemkowski, John Bonvallet, Devon Clark, Peeraya Nilwong
  • Patent number: 8389919
    Abstract: A laser controller may operate a laser at a high power level, such as Class 3R, Class 3B, or higher, but may have safety interlocks to limit exposure to a safe level and may, as a system, be classified as Class 1. The laser controller may control a laser that transmits a light beam to a sensor, and may operate the laser in a high power mode when the sensor senses the light beam. While a laser is transmitting and the laser beam is not sensed, the laser may be operated within Class 1 power levels. When the light beam is broken, the laser controller may turn off the laser or change the power level to a safe level such that a person would not be exposed to any more energy than a Class 1 level. The laser controller may use various mechanisms to set a detection threshold and may use an ambient light sensor to determine when detection may be impossible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventors: Theodore Bruce Ziemkowski, John Bonvallet
  • Publication number: 20120120973
    Abstract: An amusement attraction may have a laser input device where a user may wave several fingers or make repeated motions to break a laser beam in a predefined pattern. The pattern may be recognized by a controller to perform a specific function. In one embodiment, a maintenance technician may use the input device to turn on or off certain lasers in a laser maze attraction. In another embodiment, a game player may use the input device to configure the game, change conditions of the game, or perform some other function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: Z-Image, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore Bruce Ziemkowski, John Bonvallet, Conrad Proft
  • Publication number: 20120085663
    Abstract: Amusement attractions are entertaining and sometimes challenging games that are designed to excite patrons. Attractions may be constructed inside portable, pre-constructed containers designed to be moved over short or long distances. Portability allows attractions to be constructed off-site, moved between a plurality of sites, or moved into different locations at a single site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Z-IMAGE, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore Bruce Ziemkowski, John Bonvallet, Chris Corman
  • Publication number: 20110220774
    Abstract: Light beam detection is used in a wide variety of applications, including manufacturing, security, transportation, scientific research, and amusement products. A system for detecting a moving light beam is comprised of a light beam detector, a moving light system, and a controller. A light beam detector may include a light receiver and a light sensor. A moving light system may include a focused light source and a light movement system. A controller may monitor the light detector for the presence or absence of a light beam and may control light beam movement and other aspects of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Z-IMAGE, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore Bruce Ziemkowski, John Bonvallet
  • Publication number: 20100004794
    Abstract: A laser controller may operate a laser at a high power level, such as Class 3R, Class 3B, or higher, but may have safety interlocks to limit exposure to a safe level and may, as a system, be classified as Class 1. The laser controller may control a laser that transmits a light beam to a sensor, and may operate the laser in a high power mode when the sensor senses the light beam. While a laser is transmitting and the laser beam is not sensed, the laser may be operated within Class 1 power levels. When the light beam is broken, the laser controller may turn off the laser or change the power level to a safe level such that a person would not be exposed to any more energy than a Class 1 level. The laser controller may use various mechanisms to set a detection threshold and may use an ambient light sensor to determine when detection may be impossible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: Z-IMAGE, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore Bruce Ziemkowski, John Bonvallet