Patents by Inventor Kevin D. Banta

Kevin D. Banta 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: 20100078134
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing battery-backed power to movable partitions are disclosed. A power converter generates a DC output from an AC input. The DC output may be selectively decoupled from an enabled DC output such that the DC output can be monitored for acceptable operation in-situ. The enabled DC output may be selectively coupled to a battery output terminal. A charge current may be sensed between the enabled DC output and the battery output to control charging of the battery with a pulse-width modulation operation by controlling the selective coupling of the enabled DC output to the battery output. The enabled DC output and the battery output are coupled in a logical-or configuration to generate a supply output providing current from the enabled DC output and the battery. The supply output may drive a movable partition controller and a motor configured for opening and closing a movable partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: WON-DOOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin D. Banta, D. George Field, E. Carl Goodman
  • Patent number: 7656129
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing battery-backed power to movable partitions are disclosed. A power converter generates a DC output from an AC input. The DC output may be selectively decoupled from an enabled DC output such that the DC output can be monitored for acceptable operation in-situ. The enabled DC output may be selectively coupled to a battery output terminal. A charge current may be sensed between the enabled DC output and the battery output to control charging of the battery with a pulse-width modulation operation by controlling the selective coupling of the enabled DC output to the battery output. The enabled DC output and the battery output are coupled in a logical-OR configuration to generate a supply output providing current from the enabled DC output and the battery. The supply output may drive a movable partition controller and a motor configured for opening and closing a movable partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin D. Banta, D George Field, E. Carl Goodman
  • Publication number: 20090120595
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of directionally controlling a movable partition includes providing at least one roller assembly and a steering actuator, coupled therewith, to a portion of the partition. A controller may be used to control the steering actuator and thereby select, or change, the orientation of the roller assembly with respect to the partition. In one embodiment, one or more sensors may be used to determine the vertical orientation of the partition including whether the partition, or a section thereof, is substantially plumb. If the partition is substantially out of plumb, for example, if a lower edge of the partition is laterally displaced relative to an upper edge of the partition, the controller and steering actuator may cause the at least one roller assembly to direct the partition, or section thereof, in a particular direction until the partition, or section thereof, becomes substantially plumb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: WON-DOOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: E. Carl Goodman, Kevin D. Banta, D. George Field, William Michael Coleman
  • Publication number: 20090096622
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring an automatic door system. In one embodiment, an automatic door system may include a door system controller coupled to one or more input devices. The door system controller may be configured to receive data representative of an operational parameter of the automatic door system. At least one monitor display may be operably coupled to the door system controller and configured to display information regarding the operational parameter of the input devices. A remote display device interface may be configured to operably couple at least one remote display device to the door system controller. The at least one monitor display may be configured to automatically change from a master configuration to a slave configuration when the at least one remote display device is operably coupled to the door system controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Kevin D. Banta, D. George Field, E. Carl Goodman
  • Patent number: 7513293
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of directionally controlling a movable partition includes providing at least one roller assembly and a steering actuator, coupled therewith, to a portion of the partition. A controller may be used to control the steering actuator and thereby select, or change, the orientation of the roller assembly with respect to the partition. In one embodiment, one or more sensors may be used to determine the vertical orientation of the partition including whether the partition, or a section thereof, is substantially plumb. If the partition is substantially out of plumb, for example, if a lower edge of the partition is laterally displaced relative to an upper edge of the partition, the controller and steering actuator may cause the at least one roller assembly to direct the partition, or section thereof, in a particular direction until the partition, or section thereof, becomes substantially plumb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
    Inventors: E. Carl Goodman, Kevin D. Banta, D. George Field, William Michael Coleman
  • Patent number: 7478663
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of directionally controlling a movable partition includes providing at least one roller assembly and a steering actuator, coupled therewith, to a portion of the partition. A controller may be used to control the steering actuator and thereby select, or change, the orientation of the roller assembly with respect to the partition. In one embodiment, one or more sensors may be used to determine the vertical orientation of the partition including whether the partition, or a section thereof, is substantially plumb. If the partition is substantially out of plumb, for example, if a lower edge of the partition is laterally displaced relative to an upper edge of the partition, the controller and steering actuator may cause the at least one roller assembly to direct the partition, or section thereof, in a particular direction until the partition, or section thereof, becomes substantially plumb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
    Inventors: E. Carl Goodman, Kevin D. Banta, D. George Field, William Michael Coleman
  • Publication number: 20080264578
    Abstract: Various apparatuses, methods and systems for directionally controlling a movable partition are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus may include at least one roller assembly coupled to a portion of a movable partition. A roller element of the roller assembly may be configured to maintain contact with an adjacent surface (e.g., a floor) while the partition is displaced along a desired path even though the adjacent surface may exhibit unevenness, undulations or other substantially nonplanar surface features. In one embodiment, the apparatus may be configured to maintain a substantially constant force between the roller element and the adjacent surface. In another embodiment, the apparatus may be configured to maintain a force between the roller element and the adjacent surface substantially within a specified range. A steering actuator may also be used to select, or change, the orientation of the roller assembly with respect to the partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: E. Carl Goodman, D. George Field, Kevin D. Banta
  • Publication number: 20080197808
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing battery-backed power to movable partitions are disclosed. A power converter generates a DC output from an AC input. The DC output may be selectively decoupled from an enabled DC output such that the DC output can be monitored for acceptable operation in-situ. The enabled DC output may be selectively coupled to a battery output terminal. A charge current may be sensed between the enabled DC output and the battery output to control charging of the battery with a pulse-width modulation operation by controlling the selective coupling of the enabled DC output to the battery output. The enabled DC output and the battery output are coupled in a logical-or configuration to generate a supply output providing current from the enabled DC output and the battery. The supply output may drive a movable partition controller and a motor configured for opening and closing a movable partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Kevin D. Banta, D. George Field, E. Carl Goodman
  • Patent number: 7066297
    Abstract: An automatic door and method of operating the same. The door includes a first processor which may be located proximate a leading movable edge of the door and a second processor which is remotely located from the first processor. The first and second processors are operably coupled with a bus configured to transmit digital signals therebetween. One or more input devices may be coupled with the first processor to indicate the status of an operational parameter of the door. Operational parameters are transmitted to the second processor, which controls a drive operably coupled with the door to control the position thereof in response to such operational parameters. The second processor is configured such that, upon breakdown of communication between the first and second processors, the second processor causes the door to enter into a predetermined status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
    Inventors: E. Carl Goodman, D. George Field, Kevin D. Banta, John G. Garrett
  • Patent number: 7050283
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the fault protection of a monitor circuit is provided by coupling an input protection circuit to an output section. The input protection circuit may include a fusible device that limits or removes a fault condition present at an input to the input protection circuit. The fusible device may be, for example, a resettable positive temperature coefficient (“PTC”) device configured to limit the current passing through it to a predetermined level once it reaches a predetermined temperature. A resistive element may be thermally coupled to the PTC device to assist in reaching the predetermined temperature. The monitor circuit may further be configured to generate a sensory signal in response to a fault condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
    Inventors: D. George Field, Kevin D. Banta, E. Carl Goodman
  • Publication number: 20040094275
    Abstract: An automatic door and method of operating the same. The door includes a first processor which may be located proximate a leading movable edge of the door and a second processor which is remotely located from the first processor. The first and second processors are operably coupled with a bus configured to transmit digital signals therebetween. One or more input devices may be coupled with the first processor to indicate the status of an operational parameter of the door. Operational parameters are transmitted to the second processor, which controls a drive operably coupled with the door to control the position thereof in response to such operational parameters. The second processor is configured such that, upon breakdown of communication between the first and second processors, the second processor causes the door to enter into a predetermined status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: E. Carl Goodman, D. George Field, Kevin D. Banta, John G. Garrett
  • Patent number: 6662848
    Abstract: An automatic door and method of operating the same. The door includes a first processor which may be located proximate a leading movable edge of the door and a second processor which is remotely located from the first processor. The first and second processors are operably coupled with a bus configured to transmit digital signals therebetween. One or more input devices may be coupled with the first processor to indicate the status of an operational parameter of the door. Operational parameters are transmitted to the second processor, which controls a drive operably coupled with the door to control the position thereof in response to such operational parameters. The second processor is configured such that, upon breakdown of communication between the first and second processors, the second processor causes the door to enter into a predetermined status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
    Inventors: E. Carl Goodman, D. George Field, Kevin D. Banta, John G. Garrett
  • Publication number: 20030202310
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the fault protection of a monitor circuit is provided by coupling an input protection circuit to an output section. The input protection circuit may include a fusible device that limits or removes a fault condition present at an input to the input protection circuit. The fusible device may be, for example, a resettable positive temperature coefficient (“PTC”) device configured to limit the current passing through it to a predetermined level once it reaches a predetermined temperature. A resistive element may be thermally coupled to the PTC device to assist it reaching the predetermined temperature. The monitor circuit may further be configured to generate a sensory signal in response to a fault condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: D. George Field, Kevin D. Banta, E. Carl Goodman
  • Publication number: 20030155081
    Abstract: An automatic door and method of operating the same. The door includes a first processor which may be located proximate a leading movable edge of the door and a second processor which is remotely located from the first processor. The first and second processors are operably coupled with a bus configured to transmit digital signals therebetween. One or more input devices may be coupled with the first processor to indicate the status of an operational parameter of the door. Operational parameters are transmitted to the second processor which controls a drive operably coupled with the door to control the position thereof in response to such operational parameters. The second processor is configured such that, upon breakdown of communication between the first and second processors, the second processor causes the door to enter into a predetermined status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: E. Carl Goodman, D. George Field, Kevin D. Banta, John G. Garrett
  • Patent number: 5632614
    Abstract: A gas fired appliance measures infrared emissions from a metal object heated in a combustion chamber to evaluate combustion. Associated circuitry uses the evaluation to control operational parameters of the appliance, including fuel and air fed to the appliance. A second metal object, prior to fuel ignition, is electrically heated to emit infrared radiation. Infrared emissions from the second metal object, indicative of the temperature thereof, are monitored to assure an ignition temperature to ignite a combustible air and fuel mixture. A fan directs a stream of ambient air upon the second metal object to cool the same and reduce the infrared emanating therefrom. The reduction in infrared from the second metal object is monitored to verify proper fan operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Atwood Industries , Inc.
    Inventors: Franco Consadori, D. George Field, Kevin D. Banta, Gary S. Nichols
  • Patent number: 5526280
    Abstract: A system and method for using a gas detecting device that conducts electricity increasingly for increasing concentration of a gas being detected. The temperature of a gas sensor element is regulated to first burn-off impurities on the surface thereof, and then to cool down the gas sensor element to a temperature at or above which the gas catalyzes. During catalyzation, the sensor element conducts and electrically signals a microprocessor concentration data, which microprocessor controls a three color LED so as to emit a color pattern indicative of the concentration level of the gas. A sum of previously measured concentration levels is taken to gauge exposure to the gas over a period of time. The gas detection system includes a self-calibration routine that can be run prior to normal use by successive exposure to varying concentrations of gas to determine the sensor element-specific reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Atwood Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Franco Consadori, D. George Field, Kevin D. Banta