Patents by Inventor Thomas D. Decker

Thomas D. Decker 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: 20140137868
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor for measuring pressure comprises a fixed charge plate integral to a printed circuit board, a flexible charge plate that is grounded, a conductive donut-shaped adhesive spacer between the charge plates, a lid, a non-conductive donut-shaped adhesive spacer between the second charge plate and the lid, means of providing a pressure, fixed or variable, to both sides of the flexible charge plate, wherein a microcontroller controls a power supply and provides a voltage to the first charge plate wherein the accumulative voltage may be measured as a means of determining differential pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: IPG, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick L. McLaughlin, Thomas D. Decker
  • Patent number: 8661910
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor for measuring pressure comprises a fixed charge plate integral to a printed circuit board, a flexible charge plate that is grounded, a conductive donut-shaped adhesive spacer between the charge plates, a lid, a non-conductive donut-shaped adhesive spacer between the second charge plate and the lid, means of providing a pressure, fixed or variable, to both sides of the flexible charge plate, wherein a microcontroller controls a power supply and provides a voltage to the first charge plate wherein the accumulative voltage may be measured as a means of determining differential pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: IPG, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick L. McLaughlin, Thomas D. Decker
  • Patent number: 8439034
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, computer program products, and circuits for conserving oxygen during the delivery of oxygen to a user. Embodiments of the invention use a microphone to detect breathing sounds indicative of different portions of a breathing cycle. Sounds not related to the breathing cycle are filtered out of the signal. Using the breathing sounds, a microprocessor differentiates inspiration from other portions of the breathing cycle. When inspiration is detected, a valve is transitioned to permit the flow of oxygen from an oxygen source to a user to deliver an appropriate bolus of oxygen. The microprocessor can also detect fault conditions, such as, for example, apnea, failure to deliver a bolus of oxygen, and restrictions in the flow of oxygen from the oxygen source to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: IPG, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Decker, Patrick L. McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20100300444
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, computer program products, and circuits for conserving oxygen during the delivery of oxygen to a user. Embodiments of the invention use a microphone to detect breathing sounds indicative of different portions of a breathing cycle. Sounds not related to the breathing cycle are filtered out of the signal. Using the breathing sounds, a microprocessor differentiates inspiration from other portions of the breathing cycle. When inspiration is detected, a valve is transitioned to permit the flow of oxygen from an oxygen source to a user to deliver an appropriate bolus of oxygen. The microprocessor can also detect fault conditions, such as, for example, apnea, failure to deliver a bolus of oxygen, and restrictions in the flow of oxygen from the oxygen source to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: IPG, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Decker, Patrick L. McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20080173303
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor for measuring pressure comprises a fixed charge plate integral to a printed circuit board, a flexible charge plate that is grounded, a conductive donut-shaped adhesive spacer between the charge plates, a lid, a non-conductive donut-shaped adhesive spacer between the second charge plate and the lid, means of providing a pressure, fixed or variable, to both sides of the flexible charge plate, wherein a microcontroller controls a power supply and provides a voltage to the first charge plate wherein the accumulative voltage may be measured as a means of determining differential pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Patrick L. McLaughlin, Thomas D. Decker