Patents by Inventor Ralph Coleman

Ralph Coleman 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: 9979262
    Abstract: A positioning device in a gantry type of construction includes two linear guides that are arranged parallel to each other on a base and support a first cross member and a second cross member in a manner allowing movement in a first direction. A carriage having a functional element is supported on the first cross member in a manner allowing movement in a second direction. Position-measuring devices for measuring the position of the carriage relative to the second cross member are disposed on the carriage and on the second cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: ETEL S.A.
    Inventors: Nadim Maamari, Ralph Coleman
  • Patent number: 9705434
    Abstract: In a method for ascertaining a commutation angle in a permanently excited synchronous motor, the commutation angle indicates the position of a rotor within a magnetic period of the synchronous motor and is used for the field-oriented energization of the synchronous motor. The method includes the steps of specifying a random commutation angle as starting point of the method, impressing a current vector into the motor using the initially randomly specified commutation angle, ascertaining a positional deviation of the rotor, varying the commutation angle used for the energization with the aid of a controller structure in order to counteract the ascertained positional deviation, so that the commutation angle that comes about after a stabilizing period corresponds to the actual commutation angle of the rotor, an initial speed of the rotor being taken into account when ascertaining the positional deviation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ETEL S.A.
    Inventor: Ralph Coleman
  • Patent number: 9669730
    Abstract: A magnetic track system for a transport device for moving a rotor along the magnetic track system includes a plurality of linear sections having an even number of magnets of alternating polarity, which are disposed on a support in each case, the magnetic orientation of the magnets reversing itself at regular intervals across abutting sections n the linear regions of the magnetic track system. In the curved regions of the magnetic track system, on the other hand, the polarity of two adjacent magnets of different sections is the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: ETEL S.A.
    Inventors: Ralph Coleman, Samuel Mottier
  • Publication number: 20160164442
    Abstract: In a method for ascertaining a commutation angle in a permanently excited synchronous motor, the commutation angle indicates the position of a rotor within a magnetic period of the synchronous motor and is used for the field-oriented energization of the synchronous motor. The method includes the steps of specifying a random commutation angle as starting point of the method, impressing a current vector into the motor using the initially randomly specified commutation angle, ascertaining a positional deviation of the rotor, varying the commutation angle used for the energization with the aid of a controller structure in order to counteract the ascertained positional deviation, so that the commutation angle that comes about after a stabilizing period corresponds to the actual commutation angle of the rotor, an initial speed of the rotor being taken into account when ascertaining the positional deviation of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventor: Ralph Coleman
  • Publication number: 20150283916
    Abstract: A magnetic track system for a transport device for moving a rotor along the magnetic track system includes a plurality of linear sections having an even number of magnets of alternating polarity, which are disposed on a support in each case, the magnetic orientation of the magnets reversing itself at regular intervals across abutting sections n the linear regions of the magnetic track system. In the curved regions of the magnetic track system, on the other hand, the polarity of two adjacent magnets of different sections is the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Ralph Coleman, Samuel Mottier
  • Publication number: 20150280529
    Abstract: A positioning device in a gantry type of construction includes two linear guides that are arranged parallel to each other on a base and support a first cross member and a second cross member in a manner allowing movement in a first direction. A carriage having a functional element is supported on the first cross member in a manner allowing movement in a second direction. Position-measuring devices for measuring the position of the carriage relative to the second cross member are disposed on the carriage and on the second cross member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Nadim Maamari, Ralph Coleman
  • Patent number: 8860354
    Abstract: The control circuit of an electric motor, which has at least one phase supplied with high voltage and has a defined high-voltage zone, is provided with a control for the supply current of the phase with a setpoint-value current, and has devices for measuring the supply current which generate a first analog signal whose value corresponds to the measured current, an electronic control unit being disposed in a low-voltage zone, and having an analog-to-digital converter for converting the first analog signal or another analog signal acting as the first analog signal, into a corresponding digital signal which is supplied to the electronic control unit. The measuring devices are formed by a bleeder resistor, which is disposed in series with the phase, as well as by a differential amplifier whose two inputs, respectively, are connected to two contacts of the bleeder resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Etel S.A.
    Inventors: Didier Blanc, Ralph Coleman, Jean-Marc Vaucher, Claude Froidevaux
  • Patent number: 8720297
    Abstract: A parallel robot of the SCARA type includes a base or a body to which two articulated elements are attached, each including an arm and a forearm that are connected by a joint and are mounted in a manner allowing rotation about one and the same geometrical axis. The two articulated elements are attached to two annular segments, respectively, that form two movable parts of a circular motor whose stator at least partially forms the body, these two movable parts being assigned to one and the same circular path of the stator. Preferably, the two movable parts are guided through one and the same guideway in order to ensure that these two movable parts rotate very precisely about the same geometrical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Etel S.A.
    Inventors: Hervé Stämpfli, Ralph Coleman, Didier Blanc
  • Publication number: 20130181652
    Abstract: The control circuit of an electric motor, which has at least one phase supplied with high voltage and has a defined high-voltage zone, is provided with a control for the supply current of the phase with a setpoint-value current, and has devices for measuring the supply current which generate a first analog signal whose value corresponds to the measured current, an electronic control unit being disposed in a low-voltage zone, and having an analog-to-digital converter for converting the first analog signal or another analog signal acting as the first analog signal, into a corresponding digital signal which is supplied to the electronic control unit. The measuring devices are formed by a bleeder resistor, which is disposed in series with the phase, as well as by a differential amplifier whose two inputs, respectively, are connected to two contacts of the bleeder resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: Didier Blanc, Ralph Coleman, Jean-Marc Vaucher, Claude Froidevaux
  • Publication number: 20110271785
    Abstract: A parallel robot of the SCARA type includes a base or a body to which two articulated elements are attached, each including an arm and a forearm that are connected by a joint and are mounted in a manner allowing rotation about one and the same geometrical axis. The two articulated elements are attached to two annular segments, respectively, that form two movable parts of a circular motor whose stator at least partially forms the body, these two movable parts being assigned to one and the same circular path of the stator. Preferably, the two movable parts are guided through one and the same guideway in order to ensure that these two movable parts rotate very precisely about the same geometrical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Hervé Stämpfli, Ralph Coleman, Didier Blanc
  • Patent number: 8040099
    Abstract: In a positioning device in gantry type of construction, due to a special arrangement of the position-measuring devices used for the positioning, errors due to thermal expansion of the positioning device may be avoided to a great extent. In particular, attention is given to the advantageous placement of fixed point of a scale relative to a straightness track of a further scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Etel S.A.
    Inventors: Ralph Coleman, Laurent Heiniger
  • Patent number: 7915768
    Abstract: A linear guide with an integrated linear motor, the linear guide having a stationary support extending in a guide direction, a table movable in the guide direction and a linear motor. The linear motor includes 1) a movable element connected with the table, 2) a stationary element connected with the stationary support and contactless bearings between the stationary support and the table and 3) an electromagnetic positioner based on electromagnetic interaction for positioning the table transversely in relation to the guide direction. The linear guide includes an integrated position-measuring system having a scale and scanning heads which detect a position of the table in the guide direction and a deviation direction, which lies transversely in relation to the guide direction and parallel in relation to a plane of an air gap of the linear motor. The electromagnetic positioner acts in such a way so that the table is positioned in the deviation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Etel S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Vaucher, Ralph Coleman, Kevin Derabasse
  • Publication number: 20100066298
    Abstract: In a positioning device in gantry type of construction, due to a special arrangement of the position-measuring devices used for the positioning, errors due to thermal expansion of the positioning device may be avoided to a great extent. In particular, attention is given to the advantageous placement of fixed point of a scale relative to a straightness track of a further scale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Ralph COLEMAN
  • Publication number: 20090152961
    Abstract: A linear guide with an integrated linear motor, the linear guide having a stationary support extending in a guide direction, a table movable in the guide direction and a linear motor. The linear motor includes 1) a movable element connected with the table, 2) a stationary element connected with the stationary support and contactless bearings between the stationary support and the table and 3) an electromagnetic positioner based on electromagnetic interaction for positioning the table transversely in relation to the guide direction. The linear guide includes an integrated position-measuring system having a scale and scanning heads which detect a position of the table in the guide direction and a deviation direction, which lies transversely in relation to the guide direction and parallel in relation to a plane of an air gap of the linear motor. The electromagnetic positioner acts in such a way so that the table is positioned in the deviation direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Vaucher, Ralph Coleman, Kevin Derabasse
  • Patent number: 7027402
    Abstract: In a method of routing digital signals based on criteria defined by the user all messages receive a prioritization based on the criteria defined by the individual user. Based on this guidance, each digital message is Tagged so that Overlay software can determine the prioritization that will be applied to the message and subsequently which media or route will be used and when a message should be sent. The Overlay software uses embedded look-up tables, which define available routes so that prioritization decisions can be made, real-time, based on route status or cost, and prioritization algorithms or a combination of both to determine the most appropriate media or route to send a message. The Overlay software also counts each message, the route used, and the time sent to enable accounting verification at an appropriate time in the future.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph Coleman Hedden
  • Publication number: 20020071542
    Abstract: In a method of routing digital signals based on criteria defined by the user all messages receive a prioritization based on the criteria defined by the individual user. Based on this guidance, each digital message is Tagged so that Overlay software can determine the prioritization that will be applied to the message and subsequently which media or route will be used and when a message should be sent. The Overlay software uses embedded look-up tables, which define available routes so that prioritization decisions can be made, real-time, based on route status or cost, and prioritization algorithms or a combination of both to determine the most appropriate media or route to send a message. The Overlay software also counts each message, the route used, and the time sent to enable accounting verification at an appropriate time in the future.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventor: Ralph Coleman Hedden
  • Patent number: 3939010
    Abstract: Improved cathodes for use in acid Leclanche cells, particularly of the reserve type where sulphuric acid is added to activate the cell prior to use, are constructed using an anodized lead current collector which possesses advantages over other materials in being less bulky than carbon, cheaper than platinum and giving a steadier output voltage than un-anodized lead, while still being resistant to corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1973
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1976
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence
    Inventors: John Ralph Coleman, Torstein Valand