Patents by Inventor Michael R. Wheaton

Michael R. Wheaton 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).

  • System for detecting the state of a switch device
    Patent number: 6369468
    Abstract: A system (10) for detecting the state of a switch device (60) includes a driver circuit (40) having an output (42) operative to provide a driver output signal. An indicator (44) is electrically connected between the driver circuit (40) and the switch device (60). The indicator (44) is activated in response to the driver output signal and upon the switch device (60) being in a first state. A monitoring circuit (70), which is responsive to the switch device (60) through the indicator (44), is electrically connected to a node (64) between the indicator (44) and the driver circuit (40). The monitoring circuit (70) is operative to provide a first signal in response to the switch device (60) being in the first state and a second signal in response to the switch device (60) being in a second state. The monitoring circuit (70) controls energization of a controller (28) so as to power the controller (28) when the switch device (60) is in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Goings, Michael R. Wheaton
  • System for detecting the state of a switch device
    Patent number: 6140622
    Abstract: A system (10) for detecting the state of a switch device (60) includes a driver circuit (40) having an output (42) operative to provide a driver output signal. An indicator (44) is electrically connected between the driver circuit (40) and the switch device (60). The indicator (44) is activated in response to the driver output signal and upon the switch device (60) being in a first state. A monitoring circuit (70), which is responsive to the switch device (60) through the indicator (44), is electrically connected to a node (64) between the indicator (44) and the driver circuit (40). The monitoring circuit (70) is operative to provide a first signal in response to the switch device (60) being in the first state and a second signal in response to the switch device (60) being in a second state. The monitoring circuit (70) controls energization of a controller (28) so as to power the controller (28) when the switch device (60) is in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Goings, Michael R. Wheaton