Patents by Inventor Robert Kenneth Alexander

Robert Kenneth Alexander 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: 11498386
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing multi-zone climate control for a vehicle. One system includes a power source, a plurality of switches, a first zone heating/cooling device, a second zone heating/cooling device, and an electronic controller. The electronic controller is configured to operate the plurality of switches to supply current bi-directionally through the first zone heating/cooling device, bi-directionally through the second zone heating/cooling device, or bi-directionally through a series connection of the first zone heating/cooling device and the second zone heating/cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Franklin Czerwonka, Craig Schultz, Bryan Thieme, Andrew Paul Weiss, Robert Kenneth Alexander
  • Patent number: 11292542
    Abstract: Systems and methods for heating a handgrip of a vehicle. One system includes a first handgrip and a second handgrip. The first handgrip includes a first processor, a first heating element, and a first temperature sensor configured to produce a temperature signal indicative of a temperature related to the first heating element. The second handgrip includes a second processor, second heating element, and a second temperature sensor configured to produce a temperature signal indicative of a temperature related to the second heating element. The first processor is configured to receive a temperature signal from the first sensor, compare the signal to a first threshold, and adjust power supplied to the first element based on the signal. The second processor is configured to receive a second temperature signal from the second sensor, compare the signal to a second threshold, and adjust power supplied to the second element based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, LLC
    Inventors: Nikita Dobrinin, Nathan Gugliotti, Benjamin Hynes, Anthony Langeweg, Steven E. Twining, Andrew Alfred Knitt, Robert Kenneth Alexander
  • Patent number: 11066120
    Abstract: Systems and methods for heating a handgrip of a vehicle. One system includes a first handgrip including a first heating element and a first temperature sensor and a second handgrip including a second heating element and a second temperature sensor. The system further includes a polarity switching circuit configured to provide power, when active in a first polarity, to the second temperature sensor and provide power, when in a second polarity, to the second heating element. The system includes an electronic processor configured to receive, when the polarity switching circuit is active in the first polarity, a temperature signal from the second temperature sensor, compare the temperature signal to a predetermined threshold, and set, in response to the temperature signal failing to exceed the predetermined temperature threshold, the polarity switching circuit to the second polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Alfred Knitt, Robert Kenneth Alexander
  • Patent number: 10720952
    Abstract: A method of securing a portable electronic device with a touchscreen interface for use in a sterile environment comprises providing a sterilizable enclosure and providing a transfer device. The transfer device has an upper wall and a lower wall defining a passage. The enclosure provides a frame and a base movable between open and closed positions. The enclosure is held open with the transfer device. The electronic device is inserted through the passage and into the enclosure. One of the transfer device and the enclosure is moved away from the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor Jonathan Lambert, Robert Kenneth Alexander
  • Publication number: 20200119761
    Abstract: A method of securing a portable electronic device with a touchscreen interface for use in a sterile environment comprises providing a sterilizable enclosure and providing a transfer device. The transfer device has an upper wall and a lower wall defining a passage. The enclosure provides a frame and a base movable between open and closed positions. The enclosure is held open with the transfer device. The electronic device is inserted through the passage and into the enclosure. One of the transfer device and the enclosure is moved away from the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor Jonathan Lambert, Robert Kenneth Alexander
  • Patent number: 10511341
    Abstract: An enclosure for a portable electronic device includes a frame, a base, and a unitary seal. The frame includes a frame periphery edge and defines a window. A glass panel is attached to the frame adjacent the window, positioned to abut a touchscreen interface of the electronic device. The base comprises a base periphery edge. The base and the frame cooperatively define a closed position of the enclosure for securing the portable electronic device therein. The seal comprises a seal periphery edge, and is fixed to one of the base and the frame and positioned to be engaged by the other in the closed position. The seal periphery edge, the frame periphery edge and the base periphery edge are aligned in the closed position. The seal defines a boundary between a touch zone outside of the seal and a no-touch zone inside of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor Jonathan Lambert, Robert Kenneth Alexander, Bruce D. Henniges
  • Publication number: 20190366799
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing multi-zone climate control for a vehicle. One system includes a power source, a plurality of switches, a first zone heating/cooling device, a second zone heating/cooling device, and an electronic controller. The electronic controller is configured to operate the plurality of switches to supply current bi-directionally through the first zone heating/cooling device, bi-directionally through the second zone heating/cooling device, or bi-directionally through a series connection of the first zone heating/cooling device and the second zone heating/cooling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Adam Franklin Czerwonka, Craig Schultz, Bryan Thieme, Andrew Paul Weiss, Robert Kenneth Alexander
  • Publication number: 20190256161
    Abstract: Systems and methods for heating a handgrip of a vehicle. One system includes a first handgrip and a second handgrip. The first handgrip includes a first processor, a first heating element, and a first temperature sensor configured to produce a temperature signal indicative of a temperature related to the first heating element. The second handgrip includes a second processor, second heating element, and a second temperature sensor configured to produce a temperature signal indicative of a temperature related to the second heating element. The first processor is configured to receive a temperature signal from the first sensor, compare the signal to a first threshold, and adjust power supplied to the first element based on the signal. The second processor is configured to receive a second temperature signal from the second sensor, compare the signal to a second threshold, and adjust power supplied to the second element based on the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Nikita Dobrinin, Nathan Gugliotti, Benjamin Hynes, Anthony Langeweg, Steven E. Twining, Andrew Alfred Knitt, Robert Kenneth Alexander
  • Publication number: 20190238170
    Abstract: An enclosure for a portable electronic device includes a frame, a base, and a unitary seal. The frame includes a frame periphery edge and defines a window. A glass panel is attached to the frame adjacent the window, positioned to abut a touchscreen interface of the electronic device. The base comprises a base periphery edge. The base and the frame cooperatively define a closed position of the enclosure for securing the portable electronic device therein. The seal comprises a seal periphery edge, and is fixed to one of the base and the frame and positioned to be engaged by the other in the closed position. The seal periphery edge, the frame periphery edge and the base periphery edge are aligned in the closed position. The seal defines a boundary between a touch zone outside of the seal and a no-touch zone inside of the seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor Jonathan Lambert, Robert Kenneth Alexander, Bruce D. Henniges
  • Publication number: 20190135372
    Abstract: Systems and methods for heating a handgrip of a vehicle. One system includes a first handgrip including a first heating element and a first temperature sensor and a second handgrip including a second heating element and a second temperature sensor. The system further includes a polarity switching circuit configured to provide power, when active in a first polarity, to the second temperature sensor and provide power, when in a second polarity, to the second heating element. The system includes an electronic processor configured to receive, when the polarity switching circuit is active in the first polarity, a temperature signal from the second temperature sensor, compare the temperature signal to a predetermined threshold, and set, in response to the temperature signal failing to exceed the predetermined temperature threshold, the polarity switching circuit to the second polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew Alfred Knitt, Robert Kenneth Alexander
  • Patent number: 10270484
    Abstract: A sterilizable enclosure for securing a portable electronic device having a touchscreen and for preventing ingress and egress of contaminants to and from the secured device, comprising a frame with a frame periphery edge, the frame defining a window with a transparent panel adjacent the window arranged to abut the touchscreen. A base coupled to the frame comprises a base periphery edge and cooperates with the frame to define a closed position in which the device is secured between the base and the frame. A seal comprising a seal periphery edge is attached to at least one of the base and the frame and is arranged to be engaged between the base and the frame when the enclosure is closed to prevent ingress and egress of contaminants to and from the secured device with the seal periphery edge adjacent to the frame periphery edge and base periphery edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor Jonathan Lambert, Robert Kenneth Alexander, Bruce D. Henniges
  • Publication number: 20180234127
    Abstract: A sterilizable enclosure for securing a portable electronic device having a touchscreen and for preventing ingress and egress of contaminants to and from the secured device, comprising a frame with a frame periphery edge, the frame defining a window with a transparent panel adjacent the window arranged to abut the touchscreen. A base coupled to the frame comprises a base periphery edge and cooperates with the frame to define a closed position in which the device is secured between the base and the frame. A seal comprising a seal periphery edge is attached to at least one of the base and the frame and is arranged to be engaged between the base and the frame when the enclosure is closed to prevent ingress and egress of contaminants to and from the secured device with the seal periphery edge adjacent to the frame periphery edge and base periphery edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor Jonathan Lambert, Robert Kenneth Alexander, Bruce D. Hennings