Patents by Inventor T. Vaughn Blalock

T. Vaughn Blalock 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: 6020744
    Abstract: An apparatus measures moisture content of cotton based upon rates of electrical charges flowing through the cotton. The apparatus includes a moisture sensor having first electrodes, second electrodes, and ground electrodes which are interdigitated between the first and second electrodes. The apparatus also includes a moisture content determination circuit that provides first electrical charges to the first electrodes, and second electrical charges to the second electrodes. The moisture content determination circuit determines the rate of electrical charge flowing from each of the first and second electrodes through the cotton to the ground electrodes, and determines the moisture content of the cotton based upon the rates of electrical charges flowing through the cotton. By thus applying first electrical charges to the first electrodes and second electrical charges to the second electrodes, the apparatus accurately measures the moisture content of the cotton over a wide range of moisture contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Zellweger Uster, Inc.
    Inventors: Hossein M. Ghorashi, Michael E. Galyon, T. Vaughn Blalock