Patents by Inventor Robert Erhardt

Robert Erhardt 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: 20100332115
    Abstract: The system provides a method and apparatus for scheduling and routing. The system provides a database of locations, paths, and estimated time limits for a plurality of locations at a destination. A visitor provides input as to desired locations as well as a time limit for the overall visit. The system also includes information about weather, total expected visitors, visitors who have selected certain locations, start time of visit, and other factors that may affect traffic flow and accessibility of locations by visitors. Using this data, the system provides a schedule and a route for the visitor designed to satisfy the visitors desire to visit certain locations within a certain time frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Erhardt
  • Publication number: 20080067956
    Abstract: A lamp power circuit sensing system includes a unidirectional stage (22) having a unidirectional current, a bidirectional stage (24) operably connected to the unidirectional stage (22), and a power sensor (32, 34) operably connected to monitor the unidirectional current and to generate an indicated lamp signal (33, 35). The lamp power circuit sensing system further includes a power regulation circuit (19) having a lamp output (17) providing bidirectional lamp voltage (42), and a lamp voltage sensing circuit (26) operably connected across the lamp output (17) to generate indicated lamp voltage (46) in response to the bidirectional lamp voltage (42).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Ching-Yao Hung, Robert Erhardt
  • Publication number: 20080036401
    Abstract: A dual mode lighting device including a processor (86), a bus monitor (90) operably connected to receive a received wired signal (96) and to provide a bus signal (100) to the processor (86), and an antenna (88) operably connected to receive a received wireless signal (92) and to provide an antenna signal (102) to the processor (86), wherein the received wired signal (96) and the received wireless signal (92) conform to compatible communications protocols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventor: Robert Erhardt
  • Publication number: 20070029943
    Abstract: The invention provides an electronic ballast for a fluorescent-lamp (20), including a fluorescent-lamp ballast circuit (30), an arc detection circuit (40) electrically connected to the fluorescent-lamp ballast circuit (30), and a lamp cutoff device (50) in series with the fluorescent (20) and electrically coupled to the arc detection circuit (40). The fluorescent-lamp ballast circuit (30) provides power to the fluorescent lamp (20). The lamp cutoff device (50) is opened when arcing is detected by the arc detection circuit (40).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Erhardt, Ernesto Mendoza
  • Publication number: 20070018783
    Abstract: A lighting system having multiple network levels implements various addresses schemes to communicate messages among various devices. A master controller (10) or a slave translator (21) transmits a master message (MM) to a slave device (30, 31) at a lower network level, wherein the master message (MM) includes an address associated with that particular lower network level and assigned to that particular slave device (30, 31). In the case where the slave device is a slave translator (21, 31), the slave translator (21, 31) will translate the master message (MM) into a translated message (TM) and transmit the translated message (TM) to a slave device (30, 40) at a lower network level, wherein the translated message (TM) includes an address associated with that particular lower network and assigned to slave device (30, 40).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Robert Erhardt
  • Publication number: 20020195974
    Abstract: An auxiliary lighting system for a high-intensity discharge lamp. In one embodiment, the auxiliary lighting system has an auxiliary light source, an HID lamp status circuit having an input for connection to a status signal representative of the operational state of a high-intensity discharge lamp wherein the HID lamp status circuit determines whether the status signal meets predetermined signal criteria, a switch circuit having a first state that effects application of a voltage source to the auxiliary light source, and a second state that isolates the voltage source from the auxiliary light source, and a control circuit responsive to the HID lamp status circuit for controlling the switch circuit. The control circuit has a first state when the HID lamp status circuit determines that the status signal meets the predetermined signal criteria and a second state when the HID lamp status circuit determines that the status signal does not meet the predetermined signal criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V.
    Inventors: Robert Erhardt, Ching-Yao Hung, Raymond Kulka, Seymour Perkins, Oscar Deurloo
  • Patent number: 6489729
    Abstract: An auxiliary lighting system for a high-intensity discharge lamp. In one embodiment, the auxiliary lighting system has an auxiliary light source, an HID lamp status circuit having an input for connection to a status signal representative of the operational state of a high-intensity discharge lamp wherein the HID lamp status circuit determines whether the status signal meets predetermined signal criteria, a switch circuit having a first state that effects application of a voltage source to the auxiliary light source, and a second state that isolates the voltage source from the auxiliary light source, and a control circuit responsive to the HID lamp status circuit for controlling the switch circuit. The control circuit has a first state when the HID lamp status circuit determines that the status signal meets the predetermined signal criteria and a second state when the HID lamp status circuit determines that the status signal does not meet the predetermined signal criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Robert Erhardt, Ching-Yao Hung, Raymond Kulka, Seymour Perkins, III, Oscar Deurloo
  • Patent number: 6373199
    Abstract: Igniter circuitry for a gaseous discharge lamp includes an inductive igniting pulse generating circuit and a capacitive timing circuit. The pulse generating circuit includes a unidirectional voltage-sensitive switch which is electrically connected in series with a capacitor in the timing circuit to unidirectionally limit common current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Erhardt, Oscar Deurloo
  • Patent number: 6204614
    Abstract: A bi-level output electronic high intensity discharge (HID) ballast system includes a circuit for selectively generating a bi-level output for powering a lamp and an electronic HID ballast with a feedback loop. The system also includes an error amplifier receiving a first signal indicative of one of current and power applied to the lamp and a reference voltage and generating a control signal applied to the feedback loop to thereby control power the applied to the lamp, and a switch which controls the level of the reference voltage. Alternatively, the system includes an error amplifier receiving a feedback signal indicative of one of current and power generated by the electronic HID ballast and a reference voltage and generating a control signal applied to the feedback loop to thereby control the power applied to the lamp, and a switch which controls the level of the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Erhardt