Patents by Inventor Robert Benward

Robert Benward 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: 12270695
    Abstract: A fuel gaging system, such as may be used in determining an amount of fuel in an aircraft fuel system, includes a capacitance probe and a capacitance measurement circuit component including high resistance elements. The capacitance measurement circuit component includes a first excitation generator, an excitation wire connected between the first excitation generator and the capacitance probe, and a signal wire connected to the capacitance probe with the capacitance probe being connected between the excitation wire and the signal wire, wherein the first excitation generator generates an input signal applied to the excitation wire and an output signal is read from the signal wire to determine a capacitance at the capacitance probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Galati, Robert Benward
  • Publication number: 20220120599
    Abstract: A fuel gaging system, such as may be used in determining an amount of fuel in an aircraft fuel system, includes a capacitance probe and a capacitance measurement circuit component including high resistance elements. The capacitance measurement circuit component includes a first excitation generator, an excitation wire connected between the first excitation generator and the capacitance probe, and a signal wire connected to the capacitance probe with the capacitance probe being connected between the excitation wire and the signal wire, wherein the first excitation generator generates an input signal applied to the excitation wire and an output signal is read from the signal wire to determine a capacitance at the capacitance probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Gary Galati, Robert Benward
  • Patent number: 10337893
    Abstract: An aircraft measurement system includes an interrogator and an optical sensor assembly. The optical sensor assembly includes an optical sensor connected along a sensor path to the interrogator, a data storage device, and a control circuit connected along a power path to the interrogator. The sensor assembly also includes an opto-electric device for converting an optical signal to an electric current, connected along the power path between the interrogator and the control circuit, to power the data storage component through the control circuit, and a transmitter operationally connected to the control circuit and connected along a data path to the interrogator, to provide operational data along the data path to the interrogator. The data storage component provides operational data to the interrogator across the data path, and the interrogator is configured to receive sensor data from the sensor across the sensor path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Benward, Lewis John Boyd
  • Publication number: 20180195884
    Abstract: A measurement system for an aircraft includes an interrogator and an optical sensor assembly, remotely connected to the interrogator. The optical sensor assembly includes an optical sensor connected along a sensor path to the interrogator, a data storage device configured to store operational data, and a control circuit operationally connected to the data storage component, and connected along a power path to the interrogator. The sensor assembly also includes an opto-electric device for converting an optical signal to an electric current, connected along the power path between the interrogator and the control circuit, to power the data storage component through the control circuit, and a transmitter operationally connected to the control circuit and connected along a data path to the interrogator, to provide operational data along the data path to the interrogator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Lewis John Boyd, Robert Benward