Patents by Inventor Richard Alsobrooks

Richard Alsobrooks 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).

  • Rapid high resolution position sensor for auto steering
    Patent number: 6956198
    Abstract: A position sensor for determining the angular position of a steering wheel. The shaft of the steering wheel is connected to a code disk and turn ring of the sensor so that when steering wheel is rotated, the coded disk and turn ring are also rotated. The code disk is a flat circular disk having a series of cut-outs or bits around its perimeter. A light emitting diode shines a light through the cut-outs and is read by a photo detector which determines the angular position of the code disk. The turn ring is fitted on the outside of the code disk and rotates in a hypocycloidic circle so that for every full revolution of the code disk, the turn ring rotates through a smaller angle. The turn ring is placed over a series of Hall sensors to determine the number of revolutions of the code disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Alsobrooks, Richard Graham, Jr., Thomas Wand, Roland Ruegenberg, Vladimir Karasik, Michael Shahan
  • Rapid high resolution position sensor for auto steering
    Patent number: 6844541
    Abstract: A position sensor for determining the angular position of a steering wheel. The shaft of the steering wheel is connected to a code disk and turn ring of the sensor so that when steering wheel is rotated, the coded disk and turn ring are also rotated. The code disk is a flat circular disk having a series of cut-outs or bits around its perimeter. A light emitting diode shines a light through the cut-outs and is read by a photo detector which determines the angular position of the code disk. The turn ring is fitted on the outside of the code disk and rotates in a hypocycloidic circle so that for every full revolution of the code disk, the turn ring rotates through a smaller angle. The turn ring is placed over a series of Hall sensors to determine the number of revolutions of the code disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Alsobrooks, Richard Graham, Jr., Thomas Wand, Roland Ruegenberg, Vladimir Karasik, Michael Shahan
  • Rapid high resolution position sensor for auto steering
    Publication number: 20040206895
    Abstract: A position sensor for determining the angular position of a steering wheel. The shaft of the steering wheel is connected to a code disk and turn ring of the sensor so that when steering wheel is rotated, the coded disk and turn ring are also rotated. The code disk is a flat circular disk having a series of cut-outs or bits around its perimeter. A light emitting diode shines a light through the cut-outs and is read by a photo detector which determines the angular position of the code disk. The turn ring is fitted on the outside of the code disk and rotates in a hypocycloidic circle so that for every full revolution of the code disk, the turn ring rotates through a smaller angle. The turn ring is placed over a series of Hall sensors to determine the number of revolutions of the code disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Richard Alsobrooks, Richard Graham, Thomas Wand, Roland Ruegenberg, Vladimir Karasik, Michael Shahan
  • RAPID HIGH RESOLUTION POSITION SENSOR FOR AUTO STEERING
    Publication number: 20040173734
    Abstract: A position sensor for determining the angular position of a steering wheel. The shaft of the steering wheel is connected to a code disk and turn ring of the sensor so that when steering wheel is rotated, the coded disk and turn ring are also rotated. The code disk is a flat circular disk having a series of cut-outs or bits around its perimeter. A light emitting diode shines a light through the cut-outs and is read by a photo detector which determines the angular position of the code disk. The turn ring is fitted on the outside of the code disk and rotates in a hypocycloidic circle so that for every full revolution of the code disk, the turn ring rotates through a smaller angle. The turn ring is placed over a series of Hall sensors to determine the number of revolutions of the code disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Richard Alsobrooks, Richard Graham, Thomas Wand, Roland Ruegenberg, Vladimir Karasik, Michael Shahan