Patents by Inventor Michael Shawn Bechtold

Michael Shawn Bechtold 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: 10459113
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to activating a blanking programming mode, such as fixed blanking (FB) or floating blanking (FLB), for example, for at least one user-selectable light curtain segment proximally connected to a distal-most segment in a string of cascaded light curtain segments. In an illustrative example, the selective activation may be initiated in response to a request signal from a remote request generator. The remote request generator may, in some examples, communicate the request signal to initiate the programming mode via a wireless communication link. In some embodiments, a request interface module may receive the request signal while releasably plugged into a terminal end of the distal-most segment. In various implementations, the remote selective activation may advantageously empower operators to rapidly configure cascaded light curtain systems that require programming modes for functions such as, for example, FB, FLB, or reduced resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Banner Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew Michael Gelineau, Charles Lee Osborn, Michael Shawn Bechtold
  • Patent number: 9870681
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a modular plug-in accessory including a connector for making pluggable electrical connection to a cascading electrical output port for providing cascading connection from an elongate light curtain, the accessory comprising an omni-directional light indicator to illuminate a light signal indicative of a status of the light curtain, wherein the accessory is configured to releasably make or break operative connection to the end cap containing the output port while the end cap is sealably connected to an end of the light curtain. In an illustrative example, the accessory may plug in directly to the terminal end of a light curtain. The receiving light curtain may be connected at the distal end of a string of light curtains. In some examples, the accessory may provide high visibility status indication information about any of the light curtain segments in the string of light curtains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Banner Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew Michael Gelineau, Calvin James Sargent, Matthew John Schmitt, Charles Lee Osborn, Michael Shawn Bechtold
  • Publication number: 20170228991
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a modular plug-in accessory including a connector for making pluggable electrical connection to a cascading electrical output port for providing cascading connection from an elongate light curtain, the accessory comprising an omni-directional light indicator to illuminate a light signal indicative of a status of the light curtain, wherein the accessory is configured to releasably make or break operative connection to the end cap containing the output port while the end cap is sealably connected to an end of the light curtain. In an illustrative example, the accessory may plug in directly to the terminal end of a light curtain. The receiving light curtain may be connected at the distal end of a string of light curtains. In some examples, the accessory may provide high visibility status indication information about any of the light curtain segments in the string of light curtains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew Michael Gelineau, Calvin James Sargent, Matthew John Schmitt, Charles Lee Osborn, Michael Shawn Bechtold
  • Patent number: 9671523
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a modular plug-in accessory including a connector for making pluggable electrical connection to a cascading electrical output port for providing cascading connection from an elongate light curtain, the accessory comprising an omni-directional light indicator to illuminate a light signal indicative of a status of the light curtain, wherein the accessory is configured to releasably make or break operative connection to the end cap containing the output port while the end cap is sealably connected to an end of the light curtain. In an illustrative example, the accessory may plug in directly to the terminal end of a light curtain. The receiving light curtain may be connected at the distal end of a string of light curtains. In some examples, the accessory may provide high visibility status indication information about any of the light curtain segments in the string of light curtains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Banner Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew Michael Gelineau, Calvin James Sargent, Matthew John Schmitt, Charles Lee Osborn, Michael Shawn Bechtold
  • Publication number: 20170146687
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to activating a blanking programming mode, such as fixed blanking (FB) or floating blanking (FLB), for example, for at least one user-selectable light curtain segment proximally connected to a distal-most segment in a string of cascaded light curtain segments. In an illustrative example, the selective activation may be initiated in response to a request signal from a remote request generator. The remote request generator may, in some examples, communicate the request signal to initiate the programming mode via a wireless communication link. In some embodiments, a request interface module may receive the request signal while releasably plugged into a terminal end of the distal-most segment. In various implementations, the remote selective activation may advantageously empower operators to rapidly configure cascaded light curtain systems that require programming modes for functions such as, for example, FB, FLB, or reduced resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew Michael Gelineau, Charles Lee Osborn, Michael Shawn Bechtold
  • Publication number: 20170038494
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a modular plug-in accessory including a connector for making pluggable electrical connection to a cascading electrical output port for providing cascading connection from an elongate light curtain, the accessory comprising an omni-directional light indicator to illuminate a light signal indicative of a status of the light curtain, wherein the accessory is configured to releasably make or break operative connection to the end cap containing the output port while the end cap is sealably connected to an end of the light curtain. In an illustrative example, the accessory may plug in directly to the terminal end of a light curtain. The receiving light curtain may be connected at the distal end of a string of light curtains. In some examples, the accessory may provide high visibility status indication information about any of the light curtain segments in the string of light curtains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew Michael Gelineau, Calvin James Sargent, Matthew John Schmitt, Charles Lee Osborn, Michael Shawn Bechtold