Patents by Inventor Richard J. Hellinga

Richard J. Hellinga 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: 8217755
    Abstract: Doors of a vehicle, such as a delivery vehicle, are controlled based on user inputs. A user may input a vehicle exit mode and stop the vehicle. When an exit mode has been input and the stopping of the vehicle has been sensed, an exit door of the vehicle is opened, with the door being selected based upon said exit mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Unicell Limited
    Inventors: Roger J. Martin, Mark S. Mull, Richard J. Hellinga, Chris K. Derbecker, Mike A. G. Johnson, Ray J. Minato, Markus A. Hetzler, Scott J. Vader
  • Publication number: 20100073131
    Abstract: Doors of a vehicle, such as a delivery vehicle, are controlled based on user inputs. A user may input a vehicle exit mode and stop the vehicle. When an exit mode has been input and the stopping of the vehicle has been sensed, an exit door of the vehicle is opened, with the door being selected based upon said exit mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Roger J. Martin, Mark S. Mull, Richard J. Hellinga, Chris K. Derbecker, Mike A.G. Johnson, Ray J. Minato, Markus A. Hetzler, Scott J. Vader
  • Patent number: 7213372
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the descent of a moveable element pivotally attached to a rigid structure. The moveable element is pivotally attached to the rigid structure, and is then pivotally connected to a compressible strut, which is attached to a linkage pivotally connected to the rigid structure. The descent of the moveable element is pivotally controlled using a microcontroller and a motor attached to the linkage, and the control path for the linkage is selected based on a comparison of the angle between the linkage and the rigid structure and the angle between the moveable element and the rigid structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Multimatic Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Hellinga, Michael Johnson
  • Patent number: 6883275
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the descent of a moveable element pivotally attached to a rigid structure. The moveable element is pivotally attached to the rigid structure, and is then pivotally connected to a compressible strut, which is pivotally attached to a linkage pivotally connected to the rigid structure. The descent of the moveable element is controlled using a microcontroller and a motor attached to the linkage, and the control path for the linkage is selected based on a comparison of the angle between the linkage and rigid structure and the angle between the moveable element and the rigid structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Multimatic, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Hellinga, Michael Johnson
  • Publication number: 20040016180
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the descent of a moveable element pivotally attached to a rigid structure is described herein. The moveable element is directly attached to the rigid structure, and is then connected to a compressible strut, which is attached to a linkage connected to the rigid structure. The descent of the moveable element is controlled using a microcontroller and a motor attached to the linkage, and the control path for the linkage is selected based on a comparison of the angle between the linkage and rigid structure and the angle between the moveable element and the rigid structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Richard J. Hellinga, Michael Johnson
  • Patent number: 6215681
    Abstract: A multiple current path device, for carrying electric current to and conducting heat from an electronic circuit, comprising an optional heat sink, a plurality of conducting substrates forming several electrically insulated current conductors, a thermally conductive, electrically insulating first layer, bonding each conducting substrate and the heat sink, and a plurality of electronic or electric components bonded to the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Agile Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Derek C. Schuurman, Robert G. Lankin, Richard J. Hellinga
  • Patent number: 5640304
    Abstract: A plastically deformable lever is used to compress a flat spring against the upper surface of a power electronic device in mounting the device on a bus bar or heat sink. The lever preferably is integral with the bus bar or heat sink. The heat sink or bus bar has at least one mounting area onto which at least one power electronic device may be mounted. At least one spring is positionable against an upper surface of each power electronic device to be mounted on the heat sink or bus bar, and at least one plastically deformable element is positioned such that deformation bends a spring so as to cause the spring to exert pressure against the upper surface of at least one of the power electronic devices to bias same against the heat sink or bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Agile Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Hellinga, Russell MacArthur Ballantyne
  • Patent number: 5331258
    Abstract: A MOSFET control topology and a physical structure for a motor control which provide a more efficient and economic DC motor control are disclosed. The control topology introduces a synchronous-rectification technique wherein free-wheel diodes are replaced with MOSFET devices that are switched on and off by a logic circuit so that they are conductive for commuting motor current during periods that the motor current supply is switched off. The physical structure and method of assembling a DC motor control eliminate time consuming assembly techniques while ensuring effective waste heat exchange between electronic components and a heat sink of the control by providing quick-install spring retainers for urging the components into heat sink conducting contact with the heat sink. The physical structure also provides for high density packing of electronic components in a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Solaria Research Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Lankin, Andrew E. Lankin, Richard J. Hellinga
  • Patent number: 5299143
    Abstract: A magnetic scale formed by arranging a non-magnetic material at a predetermined pitch in the direction of motion of a piston rod, and a pair of magnetic sensors which output two sine waves with a phase difference of 90.degree. corresponding to the pitch of said magnetic scale, are provided. The peak voltages of the sensor output at each pitch of the magnetic scale are updated and stored. Center voltages are computed from the peak voltages at each pitch, and a coarse displacement is computed based on the result of comparing the center voltages and sensor outputs. Correction coefficients of the sensor outputs are computed from the peak voltages and center voltages, and the sensor outputs are compensated based on these correction coefficients. A fine displacement is then computed by an inverse trigonometric function from the two corrected signals, and a displacement signal is output by adding the coarse displacement to the fine displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Kayaba Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Richard J. Hellinga, Masakazu Nakazato, Yoichi Shimoura, Hideki Yamagata