Patents by Inventor Mark A. Van Sant

Mark A. Van Sant 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).

  • Method of estimating solenoid heat accumulation and compensating for solenoid force loss
    Patent number: 6687636
    Abstract: A method of estimating solenoid heat accumulation and providing output power compensation thereof. The method is particularly well suited for compensating the drive solenoids within a player piano mechanism, or similar. A heat value is maintained for each coil whose accumulated heat is of interest. A quantity of heat is periodically removed from each heat value which corresponds to the level of thermal dissipation for the solenoid during the period. Similarly, a quantity of heat is periodically added to the heat value to account for the power being applied to the active solenoids. A gain compensation value may then be calculated from the heat value and used to temperature compensate the power being applied to the solenoids wherein force roll-off is prevented in response to solenoid use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Burgett, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Van Sant
  • Method of estimating solenoid heat accumulation and compensating for solenoid force loss
    Publication number: 20030191597
    Abstract: A method of estimating solenoid heat accumulation and providing output power compensation thereof. The method is particularly well suited for compensating the drive solenoids within a player piano mechanism, or similar. A heat value is maintained for each coil whose accumulated heat is of interest. A quantity of heat is periodically removed from each heat value which corresponds to the level of thermal dissipation for the solenoid during the period. Similarly, a quantity of heat is periodically added to the heat value to account for the power being applied to the active solenoids. A gain compensation value may then be calculated from the heat value and used to temperature compensate the power being applied to the solenoids wherein force roll-off is prevented in response to solenoid use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: BURGETT, INC.
    Inventor: Mark A. Van Sant