Patents by Inventor Robert F. Oldenburg

Robert F. Oldenburg 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: 9244481
    Abstract: A vehicle pedal assembly with a rotatable pedal. A hysteresis assembly includes a friction device and plunger, and first and second springs that are all separate and decoupled from each other and the pedal. The first spring exerts a force against the friction plunger that forces the friction device into frictional contact with the housing to generate and transfer a resistance force to the pedal. The first spring also exerts a force against the pedal when a foot force is removed from the pedal to return the pedal to idle with and without the movement of the friction device and without the force of the second spring. The second spring exerts a force against the friction device when the foot force is removed to return the pedal to idle without the force of the first spring. Barriers block the entry of debris into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: CTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: William S. Stewart, Robert F. Oldenburg, Murray Kaijala
  • Publication number: 20140352485
    Abstract: A vehicle pedal assembly with a rotatable pedal. A hysteresis assembly includes a friction device and plunger, and first and second springs that are all separate and decoupled from each other and the pedal. The first spring exerts a force against the friction plunger that forces the friction device into frictional contact with the housing to generate and transfer a resistance force to the pedal. The first spring also exerts a force against the pedal when a foot force is removed from the pedal to return the pedal to idle with and without the movement of the friction device and without the force of the second spring. The second spring exerts a force against the friction device when the foot force is removed to return the pedal to idle without the force of the first spring. Barriers block the entry of debris into the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: CTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: William S. Stewart, Robert F. Oldenburg, Murray Kaijala
  • Patent number: 8806977
    Abstract: A vehicle pedal assembly with a rotatable pedal. A hysteresis assembly includes a friction device and plunger, and first and second springs that are all separate and decoupled from each other and the pedal. The first spring exerts a force against the friction plunger that forces the friction device into frictional contact with the housing to generate and transfer a resistance force to the pedal. The first spring also exerts a force against the pedal when a foot force is removed from the pedal to return the pedal to idle with and without the movement of the friction device and without the force of the second spring. The second spring exerts a force against the friction device when the foot force is removed to return the pedal to idle without the force of the first spring. Barriers block the entry of debris into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: William S. Stewart, Robert F. Oldenburg, Murray Kaijala
  • Publication number: 20130087009
    Abstract: A vehicle pedal assembly with a rotatable pedal. A hysteresis assembly includes a friction device and plunger, and first and second springs that are all separate and decoupled from each other and the pedal. The first spring exerts a force against the friction plunger that forces the friction device into frictional contact with the housing to generate and transfer a resistance force to the pedal. The first spring also exerts a force against the pedal when a foot force is removed from the pedal to return the pedal to idle with and without the movement of the friction device and without the force of the second spring. The second spring exerts a force against the friction device when the foot force is removed to return the pedal to idle without the force of the first spring. Barriers block the entry of debris into the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventors: William S. Stewart, Robert F. Oldenburg, Murray Kaijala
  • Patent number: 6031448
    Abstract: A position sensor, in particular, a modular position sensor for easy coupling to another modular device, like a gas pedal of a vehicle. The sensor eliminates the use of permanently attached electrical leads or pins attached to, for example, the output pads on flexible film coupled to a rotor. The sensor is provided with a housing wall having slots therein, conductive elements, a flexible film, and a pressure wall. In the preferred embodiment, the sensor is mounted on an external device having pins or electrical leads. The pins protrude through the slots in the housing wall and the contact conductive elements that are in direct contact with the output pads on the flexible film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Starkweather, Robert F. Oldenburg