Patents by Inventor Paul J. Eckhoff
Paul J. Eckhoff 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).
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Patent number: 8269829Abstract: An imager assembly for a remote inspection device includes an imager body. A circuit board retainer is slidably received through an end of the imager body. The circuit board retainer has deflectable legs separated by a slot. A circuit board assembly has an imager device connected to a first circuit board. A second circuit board is electrically connected to the first circuit board. The second circuit board is received in the slot of the circuit board retainer and frictionally engaged by the deflectable legs. A flexible tube has a first end connected to an end of the imager body using a first ferrule. A male connector is connected to a second end of the flexible tube using a second ferrule. A wiring harness is disposed through a bore of the flexible tube.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2008Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Perceptron, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey J. Miller, Al Boehnlein, Tye Newman, Paul J. Eckhoff, Brandon Watt
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Patent number: 8218074Abstract: A remote inspection device is provided for inspecting visually obscured locations. The device is generally comprised of a imager housing and a display housing disposed on opposite ends of a modular, flexible cable. An imaging device is embedded in the end of the cylindrical imager housing, such that the imaging device is able to capture an image of a viewing area proximate to the distal end of the flexible cable. One or more light sources also protrude from the outwardly facing end of the cylindrical imager housing along a perimeter of the imaging device such that the imaging device is recessed between the light sources. A display housing is coupled to the other end of the flexible cable and configured to be grasped by a user of the device. A display device supported by the display housing receives a video signal from the imaging device and converts the video signal to a video image.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2009Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Perceptron, Inc.Inventors: Alfred A. Pease, Al Boehnlein, Tye Newman, Paul J. Eckhoff
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Patent number: 7979689Abstract: A remote inspection apparatus has an active display unit receiving image data in digital form and graphically rendering the image data on an active display. A communication medium connects devices to the active display unit, such as an imager head capturing the image data. A computer readable medium records one or more instances of software for operating the one or more devices. A computer processor located in the active display unit that operates a boot loader program to detects and sequentially interrogate the devices by different protocols in order to determine appropriate software to load and operate the devices.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2008Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Perceptron, Inc.Inventors: Brandon Watt, Al Boehnlein, Tye Newman, Paul J. Eckhoff, Jeffrey J. Miller, Jeff Schober
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Patent number: 7758495Abstract: An integrated solid state device for viewing and manipulating objects located in remote sites and locations which includes a flexible cable having a camera on one end and a viewer on an opposite end. The camera captures images near the end of the flexible cable and converts the images into a video signal that is transferred through wires that extend through the length of the flexible cable. The video signals are received by the viewer and converted into a displayed image. A variety of removable article manipulators can be attached to the distal end of the flexible cable and used to manipulate, capture and retrieve articles and objects near the distal end of the flexible cable.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2006Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Perceptron, Inc.Inventors: Alfred A. Pease, Al Boehnlein, Tye Newman, Paul J. Eckhoff
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Publication number: 20090284649Abstract: A remote inspection device is provided for inspecting visually obscured locations. The device is generally comprised of a imager housing and a display housing disposed on opposite ends of a modular, flexible cable. An imaging device is embedded in the end of the cylindrical imager housing, such that the imaging device is able to capture an image of a viewing area proximate to the distal end of the flexible cable. One or more light sources also protrude from the outwardly facing end of the cylindrical imager housing along a perimeter of the imaging device such that the imaging device is recessed between the light sources. A display housing is coupled to the other end of the flexible cable and configured to be grasped by a user of the device. A display device supported by the display housing receives a video signal from the imaging device and converts the video signal to a video image.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2009Publication date: November 19, 2009Applicant: Perceptron,Inc.Inventors: Alfred A. Pease, Al Boehnlein, Tye Newman, Paul J. Eckhoff
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Patent number: 7584534Abstract: A remote inspection device is provided for inspecting visually obscured locations. The device is generally comprised of a imager housing and a display housing disposed on opposite ends of a modular, flexible cable. An imaging device is embedded in the end of the cylindrical imager housing, such that the imaging device is able to capture an image of a viewing area proximate to the distal end of the flexible cable. One or more light sources also protrude from the outwardly facing end of the cylindrical imager housing along a perimeter of the imaging device such that the imaging device is recessed between the light sources. A display housing is coupled to the other end of the flexible cable and configured to be grasped by a user of the device. A display device supported by the display housing receives a video signal from the imaging device and converts the video signal to a video image.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2006Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Perceptron, Inc.Inventors: Alfred A. Pease, Al Boehnlein, Tye Newman, Paul J. Eckhoff
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Patent number: 7581988Abstract: A remote inspection device is provided for inspecting visually obscured locations. The device is generally comprised of a imager housing and a display housing disposed on opposite ends of a modular, flexible cable. An imaging device and one or more light sources are embedded in the end of the cylindrical imager housing. A display housing is coupled to the other end of the flexible cable and configured to be grasped by a user of the device. A display device supported by the display housing receives a video signal from the imaging device and converts the video signal to a video image. The flexible cable can be removably attached to other components with a detachable coupling.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2008Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Perceptron, Inc.Inventors: Al Boehnlein, Paul J. Eckhoff, Brandon Watt, Tye Newman
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Publication number: 20090198990Abstract: A remote inspection apparatus has an active display unit receiving image data in digital form and graphically rendering the image data on an active display. A communication medium connects devices to the active display unit, such as an imager head capturing the image data. A computer readable medium records one or more instances of software for operating the one or more devices. A computer processor located in the active display unit that operates a boot loader program to detects and sequentially interrogate the devices by different protocols in order to determine appropriate software to load and operate the devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2008Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventors: Brandon Watt, Al Boehnlein, Tye Newman, Paul J. Eckhoff, Jeffrey J. Miller, Jeff Schober
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Publication number: 20090196459Abstract: A remote inspection apparatus has an imager disposed in an imager head and capturing image data. An active display unit receives the image data in digital form and graphically renders the image data on an active display. Movement tracking sensors track movement of the imager head and/or image display unit. In some aspects, a computer processor located in the active display unit employs information from movement tracking sensors tracking movement of the imager head to generate and display a marker indicating a position of the imager head. In additional aspects, the computer processor employs information from movement tracking sensors tracking movement of the active display unit to control movement of the imager head. In other aspects, the computer processor employs information from movement tracking sensors tracking movement of the active display unit to modify the image data rendered on the active display.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2008Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventors: Brandon Watt, Al Boehnlein, Tye Newman, Paul J. Eckhoff, Jeffrey J. Miller, Jeff Schober
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Publication number: 20090167851Abstract: An imager assembly for a remote inspection device includes an imager body. A circuit board retainer is slidably received through an end of the imager body. The circuit board retainer has deflectable legs separated by a slot. A circuit board assembly has an imager device connected to a first circuit board. A second circuit board is electrically connected to the first circuit board. The second circuit board is received in the slot of the circuit board retainer and frictionally engaged by the deflectable legs. A flexible tube has a first end connected to an end of the imager body using a first ferrule. A male connector is connected to a second end of the flexible tube using a second ferrule. A wiring harness is disposed through a bore of the flexible tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2008Publication date: July 2, 2009Inventors: Jeffrey J. Miller, Al Boehnlein, Tye Newman, Paul J. Eckhoff, Brandon Watt
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Publication number: 20080248673Abstract: A remote inspection device is provided for inspecting visually obscured locations. The device is generally comprised of a imager housing and a display housing disposed on opposite ends of a modular, flexible cable. An imaging device and one or more light sources are embedded in the end of the cylindrical imager housing. A display housing is coupled to the other end of the flexible cable and configured to be grasped by a user of the device. A display device supported by the display housing receives a video signal from the imaging device and converts the video signal to a video image. The flexible cable can be removably attached to other components with a detachable coupling.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2008Publication date: October 9, 2008Inventors: Al Boehnlein, Paul J. Eckhoff, Brandon Watt, Tye Newman
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Patent number: 7431619Abstract: A remote inspection device is provided for inspecting visually obscured locations. The device is generally comprised of a imager housing and a display housing disposed on opposite ends of a modular, flexible cable. An imaging device and one or more light sources are embedded in the end of the cylindrical imager housing. A display housing is coupled to the other end of the flexible cable and configured to be grasped by a user of the device. A display device supported by the display housing receives a video signal from the imaging device and converts the video signal to a video image. The flexible cable can be removably attached to other components with a detachable coupling. The detachable coupling is adapted to facilitate movement of the coupling through confined spaces and inhibit relative axial rotation. Components of the coupling can have tapered mating surfaces to inhibit longitudinal movement within the coupling.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2007Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Perceptron, Inc.Inventors: Al Boehnlein, Paul J. Eckhoff, Brandon Watt, Tye Newman, Jeffrey John Miller
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Patent number: 7384308Abstract: A remote inspection device is provided for inspecting visually obscured locations. The device is generally comprised of a imager housing and a display housing disposed on opposite ends of a modular, flexible cable. An imaging device and one or more light sources are embedded in the end of the cylindrical imager housing. A display housing is coupled to the other end of the flexible cable and configured to be grasped by a user of the device. A display device supported by the display housing receives a video signal from the imaging device and converts the video signal to a video image. The flexible cable can be removably attached to other components with a detachable coupling.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2006Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Perceptron, Inc.Inventors: Al Boehnlein, Paul J. Eckhoff, Brandon Watt, Tye Newman
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Patent number: 6783563Abstract: A downdraft dust collector includes a work table disposed with two outfeed support mechanisms, a dust collection system and a platform upon which a support apparatus and the dust collection system are disposed. The platform is disposed with locking base casters. The support apparatus connects to the work table and the platform providing a vertical adjustment system to the work table. A storage cabinet is disposed on the platform and houses the dust collection system.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: August 31, 2004Assignee: Delta International Machinery Corp.Inventors: Paul J. Eckhoff, Leslie Daily Gist, Angela Denise Shelton
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Patent number: 6507986Abstract: A blade tool that is useful for removing and installing blades into and out of a cutter head which is rotatably mounted in a thickness planer. The blade tool consists of a handle and a hook portion. This hook portion is designed to pull or pry blades away from the cutter head when removing the blades from the cutter head. The handle of the blade tool defines a curved portion that is designed to press against the edge of the blade when installing the blade into the cutter head. The blade tool may further comprise a magnet coupled inside a cavity at the end of the handle. The magnet is designed to extract the blade away from the cutter head once it has been loosened by the hook portion. In one embodiment, the magnet is a rare earth magnet.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2000Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.Inventors: Frank J. Tomiser, Jr., Randall E. Campbell, Paul J. Eckhoff
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Patent number: D594361Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2007Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: Perceptron, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey John Miller, Tye L. Newman, Paul J. Eckhoff, Larry Babb, Brian Harvanec
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Patent number: D606432Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2008Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: Perceptron, Inc.Inventors: Daniel M. Winterhalter, Owen W. Draper, Paul J. Eckhoff, Shepherd Whitcomb, Tye Newman
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Patent number: D606433Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2008Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: Perceptron, Inc.Inventors: Shepherd H. Whitcomb, Paul J. Eckhoff, Tye L. Newman, Owen W. Draper
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Patent number: D366881Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1995Date of Patent: February 6, 1996Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.Inventors: Curtis J. Eccardt, Paul J. Eckhoff
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Patent number: D432810Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1999Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.Inventors: Paul J. Eckhoff, Randall E. Campbell, Frank J. Tomiser, Jr., Daniel A. Terpstra