Patents by Inventor Tad Decataur Simons

Tad Decataur Simons 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).

  • Apparatus and method for penetration with shaft having a sensor for sensing penetration depth
    Patent number: 7780631
    Abstract: An apparatus having a shaft that can sense the depth of penetration, for penetrating into an object (the substrate). The substrate being penetrated has impedance that varies according to the depth under a surface of the substrate. The shaft has a tip for penetration and has conductive ends near to the tip of the shaft. A change of impedance of material of the object between the conductive ends can be sensed to provide information on the depth of penetration. A processor can be provided external to the object being penetrated by the shaft to gather and process the impedance information to determine whether the desired depth has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Pelikan Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Lum, Hewlett E. Melton, Jr., Tad Decataur Simons, Michael Greenstein, Dominique M. Freeman
  • Apparatus and method for penetration with shaft having a sensor for sensing penetration depth
    Patent number: 6391005
    Abstract: An apparatus having a shaft that can sense the depth of penetration, for penetrating into an object (the substrate). The substrate being penetrated has impedance that varies according to the depth under a surface of the substrate. The shaft has a tip for penetration and has conductive ends near to the tip of the shaft. A change of impedance of material of the object between the conductive ends can be sensed to provide information on the depth of penetration. A processor can be provided external to the object being penetrated by the shaft to gather and process the impedance information to determine whether the desired depth has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Lum, Hewlett E. Melton, Jr., Tad Decataur Simons, Michael Greenstein
  • Apparatus and method for penetration with shaft having a sensor for sensing penetration depth
    Publication number: 20020042594
    Abstract: An apparatus having a shaft that can sense the depth of penetration, for penetrating into an object (the substrate). The substrate being penetrated has impedance that varies according to the depth under a surface of the substrate. The shaft has a tip for penetration and has conductive ends near to the tip of the shaft. A change of impedance of material of the object between the conductive ends can be sensed to provide information on the depth of penetration. A processor can be provided external to the object being penetrated by the shaft to gather and process the impedance information to determine whether the desired depth has been achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Paul Lum, Hewlett E. Melton, Tad Decataur Simons, Michael Greenstein