Patents by Inventor John L. Kurtz

John L. Kurtz 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: 20040040235
    Abstract: A baseboard assembly for covering lengths of wire behind a baseboard surface. The baseboard assembly has a wire channel and board support member attached to the wall. This member has an outwardly facing wire channel and a baseboard holding bar along its top edge. A baseboard is held to the wire channel and board support member by lowering a tongue and groove in the baseboard into a matching tongue and groove in the wire channel and board support member. The baseboard has a face which extends over the wire-containing channel. The baseboard may be cut and various outlet accessible fittings formed in an insert along the baseboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: John L. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 5501680
    Abstract: A laser operation and control system preferably comprising a laser adapted to be grasped by a user and freely passed over a treatment area, control circuitry for activating and deactivating the laser, at least one boundary sensor operable to transmit a signal to the control circuitry to deactivate the laser upon passage thereof beyond a boundary of the treatment area and to transmit a signal to the control circuitry to activate the laser upon passage thereof within the boundary, and at least one proximity sensor for transmitting a signal to the control circuitry to deactivate the laser should the proximity sensor fail to sense a substantially solid surface within a predetermined distance therefrom and for transmitting a signal to the control circuitry to activate the laser should the proximity sensor sense such a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: The University of Pittsburgh
    Inventors: John L. Kurtz, Marc D. Liang, Krishna Narayanan
  • Patent number: 5345538
    Abstract: A system is provided with a voice activated control apparatus which permits precise control of one or more system variables by means of voice commands uttered by the system operator. When a system variable is in a movement or change mode, the movement or change is terminated by any sound exceeding a preestablished acoustic threshold level. Any value of one or more system variables can be identified and appropriate data stored in a memory to permit the one or more system variables to return to an identified value or state with a single voice command. The control apparatus is combined with a screen monitor and/or an acoustic speaker to provide visible and/or acoustic responses to an operator. The control apparatus is practical for retrofitting existing remotely controllable systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Inventors: Krishna Narayannan, Marc D. Liang, John L. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 4989253
    Abstract: A microscope has a voice activated control system which permits precise location of the microscope and precise focusing by means of voice commands uttered by the microscope operator. When the microscope is in a movement mode, the movement is terminated by any sound exceeding a pre-established acoustic threshold level. Any microscope location can be identified and appropriate data is stored in a memory drive to permit the microscope to return to an identified location with a single voice command. The microscope is combined with a screen monitor and/or an acoustic speaker to provide visible and/or acoustic responses from the control system. The system is practical for retrofitting existing remotely controllable microscopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: The Montefiore Hospital Association of Western Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Marc D. Liang, Krishna Narayanan, John L. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 4840377
    Abstract: A system is provided that analyzes the output voltage caused by the impact of an object, particularly a tennis ball, relative to a boundry line. It combines sensors mounted on a tennis court's surface with computer graphics and data acquisition software that indicates to a tennis umpire, line judge or player that the ball or other object has struck a boundary line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: C. Frederick Bowser
    Inventors: C. Frederick Bowser, John L. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 4723911
    Abstract: An apparatus for conducting high-speed drilling bone tissue of varying density causing proportioned variations in the speed of the drill bur. A means is provided for automatically sensing the momentary bur rotational speed and producing either a visual or audible signal represented of the changing speed and its companion density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh
    Inventor: John L. Kurtz