Patents by Inventor Stephen R. Lewis

Stephen R. Lewis 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: 20240138064
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a multilayer circuit board is provided which includes forming a layer of a the multilayer circuit board with an internal clearance region having a modified voltage-to-ground clearance of conductive material adjacent to an aperture of the multilayer circuit board. The modified voltage-to-ground clearance of conductive material is based on a configuration of a connector pin to be press-fit connected within the aperture of the multilayer circuit board, and the internal clearance region is enlarged in a direction of greatest normal force outward from the aperture with insertion of the connector pin into the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: James D. BIELICK, Theron Lee LEWIS, David J. BRAUN, John R. DANGLER, Timothy P. YOUNGER, Stephen Michael HUGO, Timothy JENNINGS
  • Patent number: 11268471
    Abstract: A method for identifying a type of a fuel injector installed in an internal combustion engine includes generating a control signal to supply electrical energy from a power source for actuating the fuel injector, monitoring the electrical energy, identifying a pattern in the electrical energy, the pattern being indicative of the type of the fuel injector, and outputting a notification indicative of an incorrect injector type based on the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Adam C. Hill, Manjunath B. Nagaraja, Stephen R. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10711754
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a pump includes an electrical actuator having a stator and an armature, where the armature includes a top armature surface facing the stator and having an inwardly stepped-up profile that forms a raised surface at a radially inward location, and a lower, gap-forming surface at a radially outward location that forms a gap between the armature and the stator when the electrical actuator is activated to facilitate displacing fluid and avoiding production of high velocity, potentially damaging fluid flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Nelson, Sana Mahmood, Stephen R Lewis
  • Patent number: 10662910
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a fuel pump is provided. The valve assembly may include an inlet valve limited to a first range of travel extending between a fully closed position and a fully opened position of the inlet valve, a valve pin coupled to the inlet valve, an armature pin selectively engaging the valve pin, and an armature coupled to the armature pin and limited to a second range of travel extending between an engaged position and a disengaged position that is less than the first range of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn B. Cox, Stephen R. Lewis, Adrienne M. Brasche, Venkata R. Tatikonda
  • Patent number: 10519916
    Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a common rail and a plurality of fuel injectors connected to the common rail and each including an outlet check, an injection control valve, and an injection rate controller. The injection rate controller varies a flow area to a nozzle of the fuel injector such that a pressure drop through the fuel injector is varied to provide injection rate shaping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, Sana Mahmood, Stephen R. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20190383254
    Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a common rail and a plurality of fuel injectors connected to the common rail and each including an outlet check, an injection control valve, and an injection rate controller. The injection rate controller varies a flow area to a nozzle of the fuel injector such that a pressure drop through the fuel injector is varied to provide injection rate shaping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, Sana Mahmood, Stephen R. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20190170267
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a pump includes an electrical actuator having a stator and an armature, where the armature includes a top armature surface facing the stator and having an inwardly stepped-up profile that forms a raised surface at a radially inward location, and a lower, gap-forming surface at a radially outward location that forms a gap between the armature and the stator when the electrical actuator is activated to facilitate displacing fluid and avoiding production of high velocity, potentially damaging fluid flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Nelson, Sana Mahmood, Stephen R. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20180163677
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a fuel pump is provided. The valve assembly may include an inlet valve limited to a first range of travel extending between a fully closed position and a fully opened position of the inlet valve, a valve pin coupled to the inlet valve, an armature pin selectively engaging the valve pin, and an armature coupled to the armature pin and limited to a second range of travel extending between an engaged position and a disengaged position that is less than the first range of travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn B. Cox, Stephen R. Lewis, Adrienne M. Brasche, Venkata R. Tatikonda
  • Patent number: 9530344
    Abstract: A method of operating a display including loading image data to pixels in multiple rows of pixels in an array of pixels during a data loading phase, actuating the pixels in the multiple rows during an update phase, and illuminating at least one lamp during an lamp illumination phase to illuminate the actuated pixels to form an image on the display, in which each of the loading, actuating and illuminating phases partially overlap in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: SnapTrack, Inc.
    Inventors: Jignesh Gandhi, Jasper Lodewyk Steyn, John J. Fijol, Roger W. Barton, Stephen R. Lewis, Abraham McAllister, Nesbitt W. Hagood, IV
  • Patent number: 9400382
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMS-based light modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Stephen English, Abraham McAllister
  • Patent number: 9341153
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body forming an actuator portion. An actuator bore is formed in the actuator portion and is at least partially defined by an inner surface and by an end surface. An actuator disposed in the actuator bore and has an outer surface such that a flow channel can be defined between the inner surface of the actuator bore and the outer surface of the actuator. A cooling flow passage is formed in the injector body, in fluid communication with the actuator bore, and is adapted to supply cooling fluid to the actuator bore. A drain passage is formed in the injector body, in fluid communication with the actuator bore. An internal cooling fluid flow path extends from the cooling flow passage, through the flow channel, and from the flow channel through the drain passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Ibrahim, Stephen R. Lewis, Avinash R. Manubolu
  • Patent number: 9336732
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMs-based light modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, IV, Stephen R. Lewis, Abraham McAllister, Roger W. Barton, Richard S. Payne, Jasper Lodewyk Steyn
  • Patent number: 9239457
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes an array of light modulators. Each light modulator has a first actuator configured to drive the light modulator into a first state and a second actuator configured to drive the light modulator into a second state. The display apparatus also includes a control matrix including, for each light modulator in the array, a single actuation voltage interconnect. The actuation voltage interconnect is configured to apply a first drive voltage to the first actuator of the light modulator and apply a second drive voltage to the second actuator of the light modulator. In addition, the actuation voltage interconnect is configured to control application of a data voltage to a latch circuit to control the application of the first and second drive voltages to the first and second actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Stephen English, Jianguo Yao, John DeRoo, Roger W. Barton
  • Patent number: 9235046
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing relatively thinner and less stiff compliant beams for a shutter assembly. A protective coating is deposited and patterned over the shutter assembly before it is released from a sacrificial mold over which the shutter assembly is formed. Because some primary surfaces of the compliant beams are in contact with the sacrificial mold, these primary surfaces are not coated with the protective coating. Therefore, when the shutter assembly is finally released, the resulting compliant beams are relatively thinner and less stiff providing a reduction in an actuation voltage used to operate the shutter assembly. In some instances, the protective coating is patterned into discontinuous segments before release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Javier Villarreal, Timothy J. Brosnihan, Jasper L. Steyn, Richard S. Payne, Stephen R. Lewis
  • Patent number: 9223128
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for reducing undesired capacitance and electrostatic attraction among components of electromechanical systems (EMS) displays. An apparatus includes an array of display elements, a control matrix, and an electric insulation layer. The display elements each include a movable light blocking component coupled to a conductive beam. The control matrix includes a plurality of interconnects, including at least one switched interconnect, which passes under and is electrically isolated from at least one of the conductive beam and the movable light blocking component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jignesh Gandhi, Stephen R. Lewis, Timothy J. Brosnihan
  • Patent number: 9177523
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMs-based light modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Stephen R. Lewis, Abraham McAllister, Roger W. Barton
  • Publication number: 20150294613
    Abstract: A method of operating a display including loading image data to pixels in multiple rows of pixels in an array of pixels during a data loading phase, actuating the pixels in the multiple rows during an update phase, and illuminating at least one lamp during an lamp illumination phase to illuminate the actuated pixels to form an image on the display, in which each of the loading, actuating and illuminating phases partially overlap in time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Jignesh Gandhi, Jasper Lodewyk Steyn, John J. Fijol, Roger W. Barton, Stephen R. Lewis, Abraham McAllister, Nesbitt W. Hagood, IV
  • Patent number: 9159277
    Abstract: A display includes an array of light modulators each having a first actuator and a second actuator. A control matrix includes a circuit having a first state inverter having an output coupled to an input of a second state inverter. A data store capacitor is coupled to an input of the first inverter and configured to store a data voltage corresponding to a future pixel state of the pixel. A first update interconnect is coupled to the first state inverter and configured such that altering a voltage applied to the first update interconnect causes the first actuator to respond to the stored data voltage. A second update interconnect is coupled to the second state inverter and configured such that altering a voltage applied to the second update interconnect causes the second actuator to respond to a voltage state of the first inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen English, Stephen R. Lewis
  • Patent number: 9158106
    Abstract: The invention relates to method and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMs-based light modulators. The control matrix is formed on a transparent substrate and includes a first actuator controlled by a first switch to drive the light modulator into a first state, and a second actuator for driving the light modulator into a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Abraham McAllister, Stephen R. Lewis, Roger W. Barton
  • Publication number: 20150286047
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMS-based light modulators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Stephen English, Abraham McAllister