Patents by Inventor Rodney Hyre

Rodney Hyre 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: 8266743
    Abstract: An examination table includes a support surface movable with respect to a base. The support surface includes a seat portion and a backrest portion. A first motor drives the support surface with respect to the base, and a second motor drives the backrest portion pivotally with respect to the seat portion. A control system includes a control panel and first and second Hall-effect sensors for detecting rotations of the respective first and second motors to determine the current positions of the support surface and the backrest portion. The control system executes a movement algorithm for moving the support surface and the backrest portion to a desired position from the current position. The control system also executes a calibration algorithm for calibrating position tracking of the support surface and the backrest portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Midmark Corporation
    Inventors: Chris Jones, Rodney Hyre
  • Publication number: 20120062011
    Abstract: A boot-strap capacitor pre-charge algorithm prevents unwanted motions in an examination table using a brushless direct current motor. The motor is supplied with power by a motor drive circuit which includes a high-side transistor coupled to a high-side gate driver, a low-side transistor coupled to a low-side gate driver, and a boot-strap capacitor coupled with the high-side gate driver. A control panel is provided that communicates with a motor controller. When the motor controller receives an indication that the motor is to be started, the motor controller activates a low-side gate driver to switch on the low-side transistor, thereby causing the boot-strap capacitor to charge. The motor controller then deactivates the low-side gate driver to switch off the low-side transistor and activates the high-side gate driver to switch on the high-side transistor, causing a voltage to be supplied to a stator of the first motor and/or second motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: MIDMARK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chris Jones, Rodney Hyre
  • Publication number: 20120060290
    Abstract: A braking action of movement of a support surface on an examination may be accomplished with a motor. The examination table includes a base, a support surface moveable with respect to the base, and a motor having a rotor and a stator. The motor is coupled to the support surface and configured to move the support surface. A motor controller of the examination table is in electrical communication with the motor. The motor controller is configured to brake the movement of the support surface by terminating power to a plurality of windings of the stator of the motor for a predetermined amount of time, and, selectively activating a subset of windings of the plurality of windings of the stator for a predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: MIDMARK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chris Jones, Rodney Hyre
  • Publication number: 20120042451
    Abstract: An examination table includes a support surface movable with respect to a base. The support surface includes a seat portion and a backrest portion. A first motor drives the support surface with respect to the base, and a second motor drives the backrest portion pivotally with respect to the seat portion. A control system includes a control panel and first and second Hall-effect sensors for detecting rotations of the respective first and second motors to determine the current positions of the support surface and the backrest portion. The control system executes a movement algorithm for moving the support surface and the backrest portion to a desired position from the current position. The control system also executes a calibration algorithm for calibrating position tracking of the support surface and the backrest portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: MIDMARK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chris Jones, Rodney Hyre
  • Publication number: 20070056105
    Abstract: An examination table including an actuatable patient surface comprising electronic components configured to adjust said examination table, a power supply to provide power to said electronic components and an electric power receptacle mounted to said examination table. A first electrical power cord is configured to connect said power supply to a first power source and a second electrical power cord is configured to connect said electric power receptacle to a second power source, wherein the electric power receptacle is grounded through said second electrical power cord. A conjoining connector is configured to attach the first electrical power cord to the second electrical power cord along the length of the cords.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Rodney Hyre, Randall Evers