Patents by Inventor Larry J. Schmersal

Larry J. Schmersal 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: 5450054
    Abstract: A programmable hand-actuatable controller and method of producing control signals using same are disclosed. The programmable controller has a compact housing from which a rotatable shift lever extends. A twist grip type handle is rotatably mounted to the end portion of the shift lever. A flexible electronic circuit carrying Hall-effect sensor is affixed to the lever and is electrically interfaced with a signal processing module contained within the housing. Directional control signals are produced when shift lever is shifted to any of three detented positions about a first rotational axis for selections of forward, neutral, and reverse directions. Gear ratio control signals are produced for selection of various gear ratios when the handle is rotated to any of a plurality of detented positions about a second rotational axis disposed along the longitudinal extent of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Imo Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry J. Schmersal
  • Patent number: 4056806
    Abstract: An interface circuit and method for multiple discharge gaseous display and/or memory panels utilizing the slope characteristics of individual discharge units in a multiple discharge panel to control the status of individual units without effecting the status of other individual discharge units. A low level voltage signal from an addressing logic system is translated into a high voltage unidirectional pulse which is added to a periodic alternating voltage at selected times to modify the slope of discharge potential of a charge storage discharge unit to control on and off states of selected discharge units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1973
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1977
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Schmersal, William E. Johnson