Patents by Inventor Leah Chowenhill

Leah Chowenhill 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: 20230271639
    Abstract: A crossing gate mechanism (300) with a PCB reconfigurable for exit and entrance gate mode, the mechanism including a brake and a brake relay (312) coupled to an electric motor (320), the mechanisms being configured to operate a crossing gate arm of a crossing gate. The mechanism includes a configuration logic circuit (310) connected to the brake relay (312), and a internal power source (316), wherein the configuration logic circuit (310) is configured to operate the brake relay (312) in a entrance gate mode or exit gate mode, wherein the control of the brake relay is inverted in the exit gate mode with respect to the entrance gate mode, and wherein, in the exit mode, the internal power source (316) provides power for operating the brake relay (312).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: Siemens Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Leah Chowenhill, Quinton Reed, Daniel Spencer
  • Patent number: 11667311
    Abstract: Examples described herein provide a computer-implemented method that includes detecting a loss of power to a motor of the gate crossing mechanism. The motor is operably coupled to a gate of the gate crossing mechanism. The method further includes, responsive to detecting the loss of the power, providing, by at least one supercapacitor, power to the motor to initiate the gate moving from an open position to a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Leah Chowenhill, Quinton Reed, Daniel Spencer
  • Patent number: 11486098
    Abstract: Examples described herein provide a computer-implemented method for thermal lockout for a motor of a gate crossing mechanism. The method includes monitoring a motor current across a sense resistor of the motor. The method further includes determining a present thermal capacity unit (TCU) at a time interval based on the motor current across the sense resistor. The method further includes determining whether the motor is at a thermal limit by comparing the present TCU to an expected TCU. The method further includes responsive to determining that the motor is at the thermal limit, causing initiating a hard fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Quinton Reed, Leah Chowenhill
  • Publication number: 20210387658
    Abstract: Examples described herein provide a computer-implemented method that includes detecting a loss of power to a motor of the gate crossing mechanism. The motor is operably coupled to a gate of the gate crossing mechanism. The method further includes, responsive to detecting the loss of the power, providing, by at least one supercapacitor, power to the motor to initiate the gate moving from an open position to a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Leah Chowenhill, Quinton Reed, Daniel Spencer
  • Publication number: 20210262172
    Abstract: Examples described herein provide a computer-implemented method for thermal lockout for a motor of a gate crossing mechanism. The method includes monitoring a motor current across a sense resistor of the motor. The method further includes determining a present thermal capacity unit (TCU) at a time interval based on the motor current across the sense resistor. The method further includes determining whether the motor is at a thermal limit by comparing the present TCU to an expected TCU. The method further includes responsive to determining that the motor is at the thermal limit, causing initiating a hard fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Quinton Reed, Leah Chowenhill