Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Shoaff

Thomas W. Shoaff 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: 8704670
    Abstract: A smoke detector includes processing circuitry coupled to a camera. The field-of-view of the camera contains one or more targets, each having spatial indicia thereon. At least a portion of one of the targets is coated, at least in part, by an infra-red absorbing dye. The dye produces visually discernable dark areas on the coated target(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Kwong Wing Au, Thomas W. Shoaff, Scott R. Lang
  • Publication number: 20120126985
    Abstract: A smoke detector includes processing circuitry coupled to a camera. The field-of-view of the camera contains one or more targets, each having spatial indicia thereon. At least a portion of one of the targets is coated, at least in part, by an infra-red absorbing dye. The dye produces visually discernable dark areas on the coated target(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Kwong Wing AU, Thomas W. Shoaff, Scott R. Lang
  • Patent number: 6521907
    Abstract: A low profile, low volume smoke chamber displaces a light source, such as a light emitting diode or laser diode, and a sensor, such as photodiode or phototransistor, to the exterior of the sensing volume. A symmetrical sensing volume results which can be coupled to symmetrical input/output ports via a generally U-shaped flow path. A two part sensing chamber housing is formed with a lower cylindrical base portion and an upper cylindrical cover portion which slideably engage one another. At least the upper cylindrical portion carries a plurality of grooves for suppression of reflections and collection of dust. An exterior end of the upper portion carries a plurality of spaced apart openings which can be filled with a screen. A reduced sensing volume in combination with a selected screen size produces an acceptable signal to noise ratio and response rate while still excluding insects and other non-smoke related particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Pittway Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Shoaff, Kalvin Watson, Dragan Petrovic, George A. Schoenfelder, Frederick J. Conforti, James F. Wiemeyer