Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Welling

Thomas L. Welling 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: 6956495
    Abstract: A control system for remotely activating an automatically opening door according to the present invention includes a plurality of transmitters held by different people and each transmitter transmits control signals. The system further includes a plurality of doors at least some of which are mounted in different buildings. Each of the doors includes an actuator for automatically opening and closing the door and a receiver electrically coupled to the actuator for receiving control signals from the transmitters and activating the actuator to open the door in response to the receipt of the control signals. In this system, any one of the transmitters may be used to open any of the doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignees: oneLINK, Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher J. Klein, Thomas L. Welling, Kurt A. Dykema, Mark S. Baynham, Fanie Duvenhage
  • Publication number: 20020175827
    Abstract: A control system for remotely activating an automatically opening door according to the present invention includes a plurality of transmitters held by different people and each transmitter transmits control signals. The system further includes a plurality of doors at least some of which are mounted in different buildings. Each of the doors includes an actuator for automatically opening and closing the door and a receiver electrically coupled to the actuator for receiving control signals from the transmitters and activating the actuator to open the door in response to the receipt of the control signals. In this system, any one of the transmitters may be used to open any of the doors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher J. Klein, Thomas L. Welling, Kurt A. Dykema, Mark S. Baynham, Fanie Duvenhage
  • Patent number: 6028537
    Abstract: The vehicle communication and control system of the present invention includes a transceiver for sending and receiving RF signals, a processor coupled to the transceiver, a location identifying sensor coupled to the processor for supplying vehicle location data, a user interface coupled to the processor for providing information to a user and for enabling a user to input commands to be executed by the processor, and a vehicle accessory interface for coupling the processor to a vehicle accessory control circuit to enable the processor to issue commands to a vehicle accessory. The processor is preferably adapted to perform a wide variety of functions in response to user input commands, received RF signals, and other commands received from other vehicle accessories and components coupled to the system of the present invention through the vehicle system bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Suman, Thomas L. Welling, Mark L. Zeinstra, Ruskin T. Lhamon, Matthew T. Nichelson
  • Patent number: 5871251
    Abstract: A visor display includes a the visor body having a window to which a display is movably mounted such that the display, when the visor is in one of a raised or lowered use position, is visible through the window and, when the visor is moved to the other of the raised or lowered positions, the display can be moved to be directly visible. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the visor display includes a display housing movable into a storage pocket in the visor body and movable from a closed position where the display is aligned with a window formed through the visor body to an open position where the display is visible when the visor window is adjacent the vehicle roof. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the visor window was formed in a vanity mirror in an area of the vanity mirror which is otherwise covered with a reflective material such that the display is viewed through the front surface of the mirror window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas L. Welling, Michael J. Suman
  • Patent number: 5822023
    Abstract: A projection system for projecting television images in a vehicle including a console for mounting to the roof of a vehicle with a housing in which a video projector for television signals is fixedly mounted. The console further includes a cover which is pivotally mounted to the housing at its forward end for movement between a closed position, substantially enclosing the projector, and an open position. A projection screen is movably mounted to the housing to move the screen between a substantially horizontal stored position within the cover and housing, and a substantially vertical use position when the cover is opened. The console further includes, in a preferred embodiment, light blocking panels coupled between the cover and housing for enclosing the sides of the space between the projector and screen for providing a dark environment between the projector and the surface of the screen facing the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Suman, Thomas L. Welling, Robert J. Schneider
  • Patent number: 5810420
    Abstract: A digital voice recorder is conveniently located within a vehicle body by a bezel positioned for convenient use by the vehicle operator. Preferably, the body is a visor and the bezel is elongated with a record switch and a playback switch in spaced relationship for easy operation. The digital voice recorder is microprocessor controlled to allow direct sequential access for playing back messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas L. Welling
  • Patent number: 5793300
    Abstract: A control system selectively controls the operation of at least one lamp and at least one garage door opener. The control system includes a control module. The control module includes connectors adapted to be coupled to at least one lamp through household AC power conductors. The control module also includes terminals adapted to be connected to a garage door opener mechanism. A circuit positioned in the control module receives and identifies radio frequency signals, stores control information associated with a plurality of received signals from a remote control in a training mode and outputs control signals for communication over the AC power line and the garage door mechanism in accordance with the stored control signals when one of said remote control signals is received in an operating mode. The control module also includes a selector used to select garage door and/or light control operations to be associated with a signal received by the control module in a training mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Suman, Thomas L. Welling