Patents by Inventor Matthew Tavares

Matthew Tavares 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: 20070107508
    Abstract: A scanner and associated method for detecting pressures on a test member are provided. The scanner can be provided with an electronic module that includes an analog-digital (A/D) converter associated with each channel of the scanner and configured to provide digital signals representative of the pressures detected by pressure sensor elements associated with various locations on the test member. The electronic module can also include amplifiers and/or a multiplexer so that the output of the scanner provides an amplified and/or multiplexed digital output signal representative of the detected pressures. In some cases, the A/D converters and amplifiers can be provided in a single, mixed-signal chip of the scanner. The scanner can be small enough to be disposed in various locations in the test member, including small spaces that are generally incapable of accommodating conventional test equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Matthew Tavares, Don Morris, Richard Basham
  • Publication number: 20060212232
    Abstract: An apparatus, systems, and methods for measuring an amount of oil in a flow of fluid are provided. A housing defines an interior passage configured to pass a flow of fluid. A capacitance sensor, which suitably is a pair of insulated electrodes, is configured to respond to a capacitance of the flow of fluid is disposed within the interior passage of the housing. The capacitance sensor is coupled to conductors through which a first analog signal is generated. These conductors can be engaged to measure the capacitance of the flow of fluid. A conductance sensor configured to measure conductance of the flow of fluid also is disposed on the interior passage of the housing and generates a conductance signal as a second analog signal. The first and second analog signals can be used to assess the relative percentages of oil and water in the flow of fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Gary Foss, Matthew Tavares, Richard Basham
  • Publication number: 20060179952
    Abstract: A sensor, sensory array, and associated method for measuring a pressure are provided. The sensor includes a piezoelectric sensory device that is disposed on an electrically insulative substrate that can be adhered to a member for measuring the pressure on the member. The piezoelectric sensory device defines first and second contact surfaces and is adapted to provide an electric potential between the surfaces that corresponds to a pressure on the piezoelectric sensory device. Conductive terminals are in electrical communication with the piezoelectric sensory device and therefore also provide the electric potential indicative of the pressure on the surface of the test member. An electrically insulative sheet is disposed opposite the piezoelectric sensory device from the substrate. An electronic monitoring device can be electrically connected to the piezoelectric sensory device via the terminals and configured to monitor the electric potential provided by the piezoelectric sensory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Matthew Tavares, Donald Morris, Richard Basham, James Gillmore
  • Publication number: 20050044965
    Abstract: An apparatus, systems, and methods for measuring an amount of oil in a flow of fluid are provided. A housing defines an interior passage configured to pass a flow of fluid, and the housing has a receiving end coupled with an output of a source of the flow of fluid and an output end coupled with a fluid destination. A magnetic source is disposed inside the interior passage and the magnetic source is positioned such that a magnetic field induces an electric current in a conductive portion of the flow of fluid as the flow of fluid passes through the housing. A detector is disposed inside the interior passage between the magnetic source and the output end of the housing and the detector is configured to respond to the electric current induced and generate a signal representative of the amount of oil in the flow of fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: Gary Foss, Matthew Tavares, Richard Basham