Patents by Inventor Robert D. Rix

Robert D. Rix 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).

  • Publication number: 20150358745
    Abstract: An earpiece for use in conducting a hearing test, a hearing test kit and a method of conducting a hearing test. The earpiece includes a speaker which generates stimuli and a microphone which detects ambient noise. The stimuli generated by the speaker compensates for the ambient noise detected by the microphone. The method including: detecting ambient noise using a microphone housed in an earpiece; analyzing the ambient noise; and generating stimuli which have been adjusted to compensate for the ambient noise through a speaker housed in the earpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Robert D. RIX, Mohammad Siddique AHMED, James SHAFER
  • Patent number: 8878454
    Abstract: A solid state lighting system includes an electronic driver having a power input configured to receive power from a power source and the electronic driver having a power output. The electronic driver controls the power supply to the power output according to a control protocol, and the electronic driver has at least one expansion port having a separable interface. The system also includes a light emitting diode (LED) subassembly having an LED board having at least one LED that receives power from the power output of the electronic driver to power the LED. The system further includes a first expansion module configured to be coupled to the at least one expansion port of the electronic driver having a first functionality affecting the control protocol, and a second expansion module configured to be coupled to the at least one expansion port of the electronic driver having a second functionality affecting the control protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Rix, Ronald Martin Weber, Charles Raymond Gingrich, III, Matthew Edward Mostoller, Christopher George Daily
  • Publication number: 20140141548
    Abstract: A metal clad circuit board includes a metal substrate. A dielectric layer is applied to the metal substrate. A conductive seed layer is printed on the dielectric layer. A conductive circuit layer is plated onto the conductive seed layer. Optionally, the conductive seed layer may be inkjet printed on the dielectric layer. Alternatively, the conductive seed layer may be pad printed on the dielectric layer. Optionally, the dielectric layer may be powder coated to the metal substrate. The dielectric layer may include polymers and fillers compression molded to the metal substrate. Optionally, the conductive circuit layer may be electroplated to the conductive seed layer. Optionally, a solder mask may be applied over the conductive circuit layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Edward Mostoller, Robert D. Rix, Michael F. Laub, Marjorie K. Myers, Dean Perronne, Miguel Morales, Charles Randall Malstrom, Leonard H. Radzilowski
  • Patent number: 8540391
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) interconnection system is provided. The system includes a cable having a driver end and a termination end. The cable has conductive pathways extending between the driver end and the termination end. The driver end is configured to engage a driver to carry an electrical current to the conductive pathways. The termination end is configured to terminate the conductive pathways. A connector is provided having a cable contact and a LED contact joined to the cable contact. The cable contact pierces the cable and engages the conductive pathways to electrically join the connector to the conductive pathways. A LED board is provided having a circuit board including circuit board contacts. A LED is positioned on the circuit board and electrically joined to the circuit board contacts. The LED contact of the connector engages the circuit board contacts to electrically join the connector to the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Edward Mostoller, Ricky Edward Brown, Christopher George Daily, Rohan Narang, Robert D. Rix
  • Patent number: 8513955
    Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a lighting module labeled with an indicator. The lighting module indicator is indicative of electrical capacities of the lighting module. A driver is provided to power the lighting module. The driver is labeled with an indicator indicative of electrical capacities of the driver. The lighting module indicator and the driver indicator are compared to determine whether the driver has electrical capacities that enable the driver to power the lighting module. A cable electrically couples the driver and the lighting module. The cable has an indicator indicative of electrical capacities of the cable. The cable indicator is compared to the driver indicators and the lighting module indicator to determine whether the cable has electrical capacities that enable the cable to convey power from the driver to the lighting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Rix, Stephen Jackson, Mohammad Ahmed, Gerald Wingle, Jr., Dean Perronne, Barbara Grzegorzewska
  • Publication number: 20130051018
    Abstract: A metal clad circuit board includes a metal substrate. A dielectric layer is applied to the metal substrate. A conductive seed layer is printed on the dielectric layer. A conductive circuit layer is plated onto the conductive seed layer. Optionally, the conductive seed layer may be inkjet printed on the dielectric layer. Alternatively, the conductive seed layer may be pad printed on the dielectric layer. Optionally, the dielectric layer may be powder coated to the metal substrate. The dielectric layer may include polymers and fillers compression molded to the metal substrate. Optionally, the conductive circuit layer may be electroplated to the conductive seed layer. Optionally, a solder mask may be applied over the conductive circuit layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW E. MOSTOLLER, ROBERT D. RIX, MICHAEL F. LAUB, MARJORIE K. MYERS, DEAN PERRONNE, MIGUEL MORALES, CHARLES RANDALL MALSTROM, LEONARD H. RADZILOWSKI
  • Patent number: 8348478
    Abstract: A light module includes a light engine that has an LED package having power terminals. A base ring assembly holds the light engine. The base ring assembly has a base ring configured to be mounted to a supporting structure. The base ring has a securing feature. The base ring assembly has a contact holder that holds power contacts. The power contacts are spring biased against the power terminals to create a separable power connection with the power terminals. A top cover assembly is coupled to the base ring. The top cover assembly has a collar surrounding the base ring. The top cover assembly has a securing feature that engages the securing feature of the base ring to couple the collar to the base ring. The collar has a cavity and the optical component is received in the cavity. The optical component is positioned to receive light from the LED package and the optical component is configured to emit the light generated by the LED package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics Nederland B.V., Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Pelton, Olaf Leijnse, Jasper Van Der Krogt, Matthew Edward Mostoller, Robert D. Rix, Erik Derks
  • Publication number: 20120074875
    Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a lighting module labeled with an indicator. The lighting module indicator is indicative of electrical capacities of the lighting module. A driver is provided to power the lighting module. The driver is labeled with an indicator indicative of electrical capacities of the driver. The lighting module indicator and the driver indicator are compared to determine whether the driver has electrical capacities that enable the driver to power the lighting module. A cable electrically couples the driver and the lighting module. The cable has an indicator indicative of electrical capacities of the cable. The cable indicator is compared to the driver indicators and the lighting module indicator to determine whether the cable has electrical capacities that enable the cable to convey power from the driver to the lighting module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: ROBERT D. RIX, STEPHEN JACKSON, MOHAMMAD AHMED, GERALD WINGLE, JR., DEAN PERRONNE, BARBARA GRZEGORZEWSKA
  • Publication number: 20120051068
    Abstract: A light module includes a light engine that has an LED package having power terminals. A base ring assembly holds the light engine. The base ring assembly has a base ring configured to be mounted to a supporting structure. The base ring has a securing feature. The base ring assembly has a contact holder that holds power contacts. The power contacts are spring biased against the power terminals to create a separable power connection with the power terminals. A top cover assembly is coupled to the base ring. The top cover assembly has a collar surrounding the base ring. The top cover assembly has a securing feature that engages the securing feature of the base ring to couple the collar to the base ring. The collar has a cavity and the optical component is received in the cavity. The optical component is positioned to receive light from the LED package and the optical component is configured to emit the light generated by the LED package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: BRUCE PELTON, OLAF LEIJNSE, JASPER VAN DER KROGT, MATTHEW EDWARD MOSTOLLER, ROBERT D. RIX, ERIK DERKS
  • Publication number: 20110310628
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) interconnection system is provided. The system includes a cable having a driver end and a termination end. The cable has conductive pathways extending between the driver end and the termination end. The driver end is configured to engage a driver to carry an electrical current to the conductive pathways. The termination end is configured to terminate the conductive pathways. A connector is provided having a cable contact and a LED contact joined to the cable contact. The cable contact pierces the cable and engages the conductive pathways to electrically join the connector to the conductive pathways. A LED board is provided having a circuit board including circuit board contacts. A LED is positioned on the circuit board and electrically joined to the circuit board contacts. The LED contact of the connector engages the circuit board contacts to electrically join the connector to the LED.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW EDWARD MOSTOLLER, RICKY EDWARD BROWN, CHRISTOPHER GEORGE DAILY, ROHAN NARANG, ROBERT D. RIX
  • Publication number: 20110133668
    Abstract: A solid state lighting system includes an electronic driver having a power input configured to receive power from a power source and the electronic driver having a power output. The electronic driver controls the power supply to the power output according to a control protocol, and the electronic driver has at least one expansion port having a separable interface. The system also includes a light emitting diode (LED) subassembly having an LED board having at least one LED that receives power from the power output of the electronic driver to power the LED. The system further includes a first expansion module configured to be coupled to the at least one expansion port of the electronic driver having a first functionality affecting the control protocol, and a second expansion module configured to be coupled to the at least one expansion port of the electronic driver having a second functionality affecting the control protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: ROBERT D. RIX, RONALD MARTIN WEBER, CHARLES RAYMOND GINGRICH, III, MATTHEW EDWARD MOSTOLLER, CHRISTOPHER GEORGE DAILY
  • Patent number: 7651361
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a plurality of contacts defining a mating interface for a mating connector. A latch extends from the housing and is configured to securely couple the housing to the mating connector. The latch is depressible to an unlatched position. A tether is mated with the latch. The tether is movable between a released position and an actuated position, wherein the tether depresses the latch to the unlatched position when the tether is moved to the actuated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Randall R. Henry, Michael J. Phillips, Robert D. Rix
  • Publication number: 20090275228
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a plurality of contacts defining a mating interface for a mating connector. A latch extends from the housing and is configured to securely couple the housing to the mating connector. The latch is depressible to an unlatched position. A tether is mated with the latch. The tether is movable between a released position and an actuated position, wherein the tether depresses the latch to the unlatched position when the tether is moved to the actuated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: RANDALL R. HENRY, MICHAEL J. PHILLIPS, ROBERT D. RIX
  • Patent number: 4387501
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to apparatus for trimming and inserting insulated conductors into wire in slot, electrical terminals of a connector housing. The tool indexes to multiple positions along the housing and is designed for operation in the palm of a hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert D. Rix
  • Patent number: 4327485
    Abstract: A tool is disclosed which has a variable tool stroke useful for inserting a wire conductor into and along a conductor terminating slot of an electrical terminal of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,618.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1982
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert D. Rix