Patents by Inventor John E. Courtney

John E. Courtney 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: 5436696
    Abstract: An electronic component for making electrical contact with another component comprising a nonmetallic pultruded composite member having a plurality of small generally circular cross section conductive fibers in a polymer matrix said plurality of fibers being oriented in said matrix in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of said member and being continuous from one end of said member to the other to provide a plurality of electrical point contacts at each end of said member at least one end of said member having a fibrillated brush-like structure of said plurality of fibers providing a densely distributed filament contact wherein the terminating ends of the fibers in the brush-like structure defines an electrically contacting surface. In a preferred embodiment the brush-like member is a laser fibrillated structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Orlowski, Joseph A. Swift, Stanley J. Wallace, Wilbur M. Peck, John E. Courtney, David E. Rollins
  • Patent number: 5420465
    Abstract: Electronic switches and sensors have pultruded contact members. A switch includes first and second contact members, at least one of which including a pultruded contact member having an insulating body and a plurality of conductive fibers carried within the insulating body. The pultruded contact member is fibrillated at least at one end thereof to expose the conductive fibers for establishing electrical contact when brought into physical contact with the other of the first and second contact members. A sensor for detecting the presence of an article in a detection zone includes a contact at one side of the detection zone, and a pultrusion including a plurality of electrically conductive fibers and a host material carrying the plurality of fibers, supported at another end of the detection zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley J. Wallace, John E. Courtney, Wilbur M. Peck, Joseph A. Swift
  • Patent number: 5410386
    Abstract: An electroconductive contact is formed of a pultruded member that has a hollow construction. The pultruded member includes a plurality of continuous electroconductive strands embedded in a resin material. At least one end of the pultruded member has laser fibrillated strands that are intended to contact a photoreceptive belt. An alignment structure can be integrally formed during the pultrusion process on a surface of the pultruded member. The alignment structure aligns the pultruded member relative to a contact. The electroconductive contact may also provide electrical connection between a photoreceptive belt and a ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Swift, Stanley J. Wallace, John E. Courtney, Wilbur M. Peck, Thomas E. Orlowski
  • Patent number: 5396044
    Abstract: A method of making a connector by applying a focused beam from a laser to a polymer matrix containing plurality of conductive fibers in parallel. The laser is applied at one end of the matrix to volatilize the matrix so as to expose the plurality of conductive fibers to provide a laser fibrillated brush-like structure to define an electrically contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Orlowski, Joseph A. Swift, Stanley J. Wallace, Wilbur M. Peck, John E. Courtney, David E. Rollins
  • Patent number: 5354607
    Abstract: Static eliminator device includes a nonmetallic pultruded composite member having a plurality of conductive carbon fibers provided within a polymer matrix of thermosetting resin, wherein the plurality of carbon fibers are oriented within the polymer matrix in a longitudinal direction of the pultruded composite member and extend continuously therethrough. The pultruded composite member has at least one laser fibrillated end including a brush-like structure of densely distributed filament contacts formed from an exposed length of the carbon fibers for contact with the surface. The brush-like structure has either a straight edge configuration or a shaped configuration. The static eliminator device may include a base member for holding the pultruded composite member, wherein the base member electrically communicates with the plurality of conductive fibers to permit the electrical charge to pass therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Swift, Thomas E. Orlowski, Stanley J. Wallace, Wilbur M. Peck, John E. Courtney, David E. Rollins
  • Patent number: 5270106
    Abstract: An electronic component for making electrical contact with another component comprising a nonmetallic pultruded composite member having a plurality of small generally circular cross section conductive fibers in a polymer matrix the plurality of fibers being oriented in the matrix in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of the member and being continuous from one end of the member to the other to provide a plurality of electrical point contacts at each end of the member at least one end of the member having a fibrillated brush-like structure of said plurality of fibers providing a densely distributed filament contact wherein the terminating ends of the fibers in the brush-like structure defines an electrically contacting surface. In a preferred embodiment the brush-like member is a laser fibrillated structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Orlowski, Joseph A. Swift, Stanley J. Wallace, Wilbur M. Peck, John E. Courtney, David E. Rollins
  • Patent number: 5139339
    Abstract: A media discriminating and presence sensor that can detect and discriminate between paper and transparency uses a light emitting diode and two defectors configured so as to measure both diffuse and specular reflectivity of the media, and a media support surface that suppresses unwanted reflections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Courtney, Fred F. Hubble, III., Kenneth I. Chan
  • Patent number: 5075543
    Abstract: An optical sensor in a sheet transport system for detecting a sheet along a paper path. The sensor includes a light beam disposed in an interference relationship with a paper path, the light beam providing a plurality of crossings of the paper path and including a light emitter, a light detector disposed at the end of the light beam path, the light detector responsive to light projected along the light beam path to provide a signal, the signal providing an indication of the presence or absence of a sheet in the light beam path, and an optical fiber providing a portion of the light beam path for redirecting the light beam across the paper path. The light beam is projected at an angle with respect to the paper path, the angle being at least 10 degrees from the perpendicular to the paper path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Courtney
  • Patent number: 4066335
    Abstract: A lens is fabricated with a layer of liquid crystalline material between electrodes, wherein the liquid crystalline composition is capable of altering the state of polarization of light when a voltage is applied between the electrodes. A linear polarizer and an analyzer are used in conjunction with the lens, and optionally are incorporated into the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1978
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Courtney, Charles J. Urso, Gary A. Dir
  • Patent number: 4003650
    Abstract: A copier or reproduction machine of the type having a photoconductive plate, corona generating means to charge the plate in preparation for imaging thereof, exposure means to expose the charged plate to a light image of the original being copied, developer means to apply developing material to the electrostatic image, and transfer means for transferring the developed image to a support material, i.e., a copy sheet.To enable the electrostatic development field between the photoconductive plate and the developer section to be controlled and thereby enhance development, an automatic potential controller, which includes an electrometer, is provided. The electrometer includes a probe section arranged to sense voltages on the plate, the electrometer serving to provide a signal reflecting plate potentials. The electrometer signal is used by the controller to automatically adjust the electrostatic development field, as by controlling the voltage bias applied to the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1977
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Courtney, Charles J. Urso, Charles D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 3998538
    Abstract: Apparatus to enable potentials applied to various operating components of an electrostatic type reproduction machine to be measured by an electrostatic voltmeter. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises structures designed to place the sensing element of the voltmeter in predetermined spaced relationship with a test plate, the test plate being electrically connectable to the source of potential to be measured. In another embodiment, the apparatus locates the voltmeter sensing element in predetermined spaced relation with both the reproduction machine photoreceptor and the test plate.As a further alternative, a source of calibrating potential is provided for use in calibrating the voltmeter through the test plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1976
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Urso, Charles D. Wilson, John E. Courtney