Patents by Inventor Thomas H. S. Gordon

Thomas H. S. Gordon 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).

  • Automated pill dispensing systems configured for detecting bottles in output chutes and related methods of operation
    Patent number: 9299213
    Abstract: An automated pill dispensing system includes an output chute configured to hold pill-containing vials and an optical sensor located at a predetermined location in the output chute. The optical sensor includes an optical emitter and an optical detector configured to be operated cooperatively to output a detection signal indicating a presence or absence of a vial at the predetermined location of the output chute. A controller is coupled to the optical sensor and is configured to receive the detection signal therefrom, detect the presence or absence of the vial at the predetermined location of the output chute in response to the detection signal, and control a next depositing event whereby a next vial is deposited in the output chute responsive to the detection. Related methods of operation are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Schedel, James Robert Rivenbark, Jr., Mark Alan Uebel, Thomas H. S. Gordon
  • AUTOMATED PILL DISPENSING SYSTEMS CONFIGURED FOR DETECTING BOTTLES IN OUTPUT CHUTES AND RELATED METHODS OF OPERATION
    Publication number: 20120271452
    Abstract: An automated pill dispensing system includes an output chute configured to hold pill-containing vials and an optical sensor located at a predetermined location in the output chute. The optical sensor includes an optical emitter and an optical detector configured to be operated cooperatively to output a detection signal indicating a presence or absence of a vial at the predetermined location of the output chute. A controller is coupled to the optical sensor and is configured to receive the detection signal therefrom, detect the presence or absence of the vial at the predetermined location of the output chute in response to the detection signal, and control a next depositing event whereby a next vial is deposited in the output chute responsive to the detection. Related methods of operation are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Schedel, James Robert Rivenbark, JR., Mark Alan Uebel, Thomas H.S. Gordon
  • Automated pill dispensing systems configured for detecting bottles in output chutes and related methods of operation
    Patent number: 8224482
    Abstract: An automated pill dispensing system includes an output chute configured to hold pill-containing vials and an optical sensor located at a predetermined location in the output chute. The optical sensor includes an optical emitter and an optical detector configured to be operated cooperatively to output a detection signal indicating a presence or absence of a vial at the predetermined location of the output chute. A controller is coupled to the optical sensor and is configured to receive the detection signal therefrom, detect the presence or absence of the vial at the predetermined location of the output chute in response to the detection signal, and control a next depositing event whereby a next vial is deposited in the output chute responsive to the detection. Related methods of operation are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Schedel, James Robert Rivenbark, Jr., Mark Alan Uebel, Thomas H. S. Gordon
  • AUTOMATED PILL DISPENSING SYSTEMS CONFIGURED FOR DETECTING BOTTLES IN OUTPUT CHUTES AND RELATED METHODS OF OPERATION
    Publication number: 20090177316
    Abstract: An automated pill dispensing system includes an output chute configured to hold pill-containing vials and an optical sensor located at a predetermined location in the output chute. The optical sensor includes an optical emitter and an optical detector configured to be operated cooperatively to output a detection signal indicating a presence or absence of a vial at the predetermined location of the output chute. A controller is coupled to the optical sensor and is configured to receive the detection signal therefrom, detect the presence or absence of the vial at the predetermined location of the output chute in response to the detection signal, and control a next depositing event whereby a next vial is deposited in the output chute responsive to the detection. Related methods of operation are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Schedel, James Robert Rivenbark, JR., Mark Alan Uebel, Thomas H. S. Gordon