Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Gross

Thomas C. Gross 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: 11680840
    Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic sensor includes disposing at least a portion of the electro-optic sensor in a liquid chamber, providing light from a light source of the electro-optic sensor at a first intensity, driving a light detector of the electro-optic sensor at a first sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a first amount of light from the light source; determining whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the first amount of light, providing light from the light source at a second intensity, driving the light detector at a second sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a second amount of light from the light source, and/or confirming whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the second amount of light. The first sensitivity level may be different from the second sensitivity level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Gregory Kopansky, Thomas C. Gross, Stephen Showalter, George P. Birch
  • Patent number: 11300438
    Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic sensor includes disposing at least a portion of the electro-optic sensor in a liquid chamber, providing light from a light source of the electro-optic sensor at a first intensity, driving a light detector of the electro-optic sensor at a first sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a first amount of light from the light source; determining whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the first amount of light, providing light from the light source at a second intensity, driving the light detector at a second sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a second amount of light from the light source, and/or confirming whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the second amount of light. The first sensitivity level may be different from the second sensitivity level. An electro-optic sensor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Gregory Kopansky, David A. Weiser, Thomas C. Gross, Xin Pu
  • Patent number: 11268844
    Abstract: An electro-optic fluid level sensor includes a body having a first end portion and an oppositely disposed second end portion. A light source is disposed at the first end portion of the body. A first light detector is disposed at the second end portion of the body. A second light detector is disposed at the second end portion of the body. The second light detector is axially offset from the first light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Gregory Kopansky, George P. Birch, William C. Quaile, David A. Weiser, Thomas C. Gross
  • Publication number: 20220003590
    Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic sensor includes disposing at least a portion of the electro-optic sensor in a liquid chamber, providing light from a light source of the electro-optic sensor at a first intensity, driving a light detector of the electro-optic sensor at a first sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a first amount of light from the light source; determining whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the first amount of light, providing light from the light source at a second intensity, driving the light detector at a second sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a second amount of light from the light source, and/or confirming whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the second amount of light. The first sensitivity level may be different from the second sensitivity level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Gregory Kopansky, Thomas C. Gross, Stephen Showalter, George P. Birch
  • Patent number: 11137278
    Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic sensor includes disposing at least a portion of the electro-optic sensor in a liquid chamber, providing light from a light source of the electro-optic sensor at a first intensity, driving a light detector of the electro-optic sensor at a first sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a first amount of light from the light source; determining whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the first amount of light, providing light from the light source at a second intensity, driving the light detector at a second sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a second amount of light from the light source, and/or confirming whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the second amount of light. The first sensitivity level may be different from the second sensitivity level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Gregory Kopansky, Thomas C. Gross, Stephen Showalter, George P. Birch
  • Publication number: 20210003441
    Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic sensor includes disposing at least a portion of the electro-optic sensor in a liquid chamber, providing light from a light source of the electro-optic sensor at a first intensity, driving a light detector of the electro-optic sensor at a first sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a first amount of light from the light source; determining whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the first amount of light, providing light from the light source at a second intensity, driving the light detector at a second sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a second amount of light from the light source, and/or confirming whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the second amount of light. The first sensitivity level may be different from the second sensitivity level. An electro-optic sensor is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Gregory Kopansky, David A. Weiser, Thomas C. Gross, Xin Pu
  • Publication number: 20200232838
    Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic sensor includes disposing at least a portion of the electro-optic sensor in a liquid chamber, providing light from a light source of the electro-optic sensor at a first intensity, driving a light detector of the electro-optic sensor at a first sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a first amount of light from the light source; determining whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the first amount of light, providing light from the light source at a second intensity, driving the light detector at a second sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a second amount of light from the light source, and/or confirming whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the second amount of light. The first sensitivity level may be different from the second sensitivity level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory Kopansky, Thomas C. Gross, Stephen Showalter, George P. Birch
  • Publication number: 20200116544
    Abstract: An electro-optic fluid level sensor includes a body having a first end portion and an oppositely disposed second end portion. A light source is disposed at the first end portion of the body. A first light detector is disposed at the second end portion of the body. A second light detector is disposed at the second end portion of the body. The second light detector is axially offset from the first light detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory Kopansky, George P. Birch, William C. Quaile, David A. Weiser, Thomas C. Gross
  • Patent number: 10620032
    Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic sensor includes disposing at least a portion of the electro-optic sensor in a liquid chamber, providing light from a light source of the electro-optic sensor at a first intensity, driving a light detector of the electro-optic sensor at a first sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a first amount of light from the light source; determining whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the first amount of light, providing light from the light source at a second intensity, driving the light detector at a second sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a second amount of light from the light source, and/or confirming whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the second amount of light. The first sensitivity level may be different from the second sensitivity level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Gregory Kopansky, Thomas C. Gross, Stephen Showalter, George P. Birch
  • Publication number: 20180031407
    Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic sensor includes disposing at least a portion of the electro-optic sensor in a liquid chamber, providing light from a light source of the electro-optic sensor at a first intensity, driving a light detector of the electro-optic sensor at a first sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a first amount of light from the light source; determining whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the first amount of light, providing light from the light source at a second intensity, driving the light detector at a second sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a second amount of light from the light source, and/or confirming whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the second amount of light. The first sensitivity level may be different from the second sensitivity level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Gregory Kopansky, Thomas C. Gross, Stephen Showalter, George P. Birch
  • Patent number: 8139720
    Abstract: A first clock signal is generated by a first circuit and a second clock signal is generated by an auxiliary clock circuit. A switch controls whether the first clock signal or the second clock signal is provided to a subscriber line integrated circuit (SLIC). The SLIC is operable to generate a line voltage within predetermined tolerances on a loop line at a customer premises if the SLIC is receiving the first clock signal or the second clock signal. A resync signal is sent to the SLIC to cause it to resync with the first clock signal without going through a reset operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Dipak R. Patel, Christopher J. Cotignola, Thomas C. Gross
  • Patent number: 7724894
    Abstract: A first clock signal is generated by a first circuit and a second clock signal is generated by an auxiliary clock circuit. A switch controls whether the first clock signal or the second clock signal is provided to a subscriber line integrated circuit (SLIC). The SLIC is operable to generate a line voltage within predetermined tolerances on a loop line at a customer premises if the SLIC is receiving the first clock signal or the second clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Dipak R. Patel, Christopher J. Cotignola, Thomas C. Gross
  • Publication number: 20080267334
    Abstract: A first clock signal is generated by a first circuit and a second clock signal is generated by an auxiliary clock circuit. A switch controls whether the first clock signal or the second clock signal is provided to a subscriber line integrated circuit (SLIC). The SLIC is operable to generate a line voltage within predetermined tolerances on a loop line at a customer premises if the SLIC is receiving the first clock signal or the second clock signal. A resync signal is sent to the SLIC to cause it to resync with the first clock signal without going through a reset operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dipak R. Patel, Christopher J. Cotignola, Thomas C. Gross
  • Patent number: 5402895
    Abstract: A system for facing currency notes of a stack of notes, each of which is printed with magnetic ink on only the face thereof in which notes from the stack are moved one by one along a path past an examining location at which magnetic heads examine the respective sides of a note for the presence of magnetic material to produce first and second signals which are integrated over the period of time for which a note is at the location. The integrated first and second signals are compared to produce a facing signal which directs the notes to one or the other of two output trays in accordance with the disposition of the note faces toward one or the other of the path sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Brandt, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Mikkelsen, Thomas C. Gross