Patents by Inventor Steven John RATHJEN

Steven John RATHJEN 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).

  • Energy-efficient position determining with multiple sensors
    Patent number: 11499841
    Abstract: An example position determining apparatus, includes a power source, position sensors, and a controller. The position sensors are each selectively powered by the power source and configured to provide a respective sensor reading indicating a proximity of a tracked object. The controller is configured to receive respective sensor readings from the position sensors and identify a position sensor that provided an extremum sensor reading. Based on the sensor readings, the controller selectively cause powering of certain position sensors and prevents powering of other position sensors. The position sensor that provided the extremum sensor reading is one of the powered position sensors. A position output based on the sensor readings is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Osprey Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney L. Houfburg, Dale Brady, Steven John Rathjen, Alexander Dietz
  • ENERGY-EFFICIENT POSITION DETERMINING WITH MULTIPLE SENSORS
    Publication number: 20200326209
    Abstract: An example position determining apparatus, includes a power source, position sensors, and a controller. The position sensors are each selectively powered by the power source and configured to provide a respective sensor reading indicating a proximity of a tracked object. The controller is configured to receive respective sensor readings from the position sensors and identify a position sensor that provided an extremum sensor reading. Based on the sensor readings, the controller selectively cause powering of certain position sensors and prevents powering of other position sensors. The position sensor that provided the extremum sensor reading is one of the powered position sensors. A position output based on the sensor readings is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Rodney L. HOUFBURG, Dale BRADY, Steven John RATHJEN, Alexander DIETZ