Patents by Inventor William G. Osmer

William G. Osmer 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: 6369689
    Abstract: A linear position sensor for sensing the position of an attached object. The linear position sensor uses a strain gage to detect the position of the object. The sensor includes a housing and a ramp shaped actuator located in the housing. The actuator is attachable to the object. A strain gage is positioned in contact with the actuator. The actuator applies a strain to the strain gage as the actuator is moved. The strain gage generates an electrical signal that is proportional to the position of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Osmer, Robert Rainey
  • Patent number: 6362719
    Abstract: A rotary position sensor for sensing the position of an attached rotating object. The rotary position sensor uses a strain gage to detect the position of the object. The sensor includes a housing and a rotor located in the housing. The rotor is attachable to the object. A strain gage is positioned in the housing adjacent the rotor. The rotor rotates so as to contact the strain gage and apply a strain to the strain gage. The strain gage generates an electrical signal that is proportional to the position of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Osmer, Jeffrey McCurley, Robert Rainey, David Stewart
  • Patent number: 6329897
    Abstract: A rotary position sensor for sensing the position of an attached rotating object. The rotary position sensor has a housing and a volute shaped rotor having a variable width that varies about the circumference of the rotor. The rotor is positioned within the housing and is attached to the object. The rotor rotates as the object rotates. A strain gage is positioned in the housing. The rotor contacts the strain gage and applies strain thereto such the strain gage deflects according to the variable width of the rotor. The strain gage generates a variable electrical signal that is proportional to the rotational position of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Osmer, Robert Rainey
  • Patent number: 5963124
    Abstract: A position sensor for sensing the position of an attached device. There is a housing having terminals and a cover attached to the housing. Resistors, conductors and conductive traces are located on the cover and electrically connected to the terminals. A rotor is positioned between the housing and the cover, and has a contactor mounted thereon for contacting the resistor and the conductor such that as the rotor rotates a resistance value indicative of the sensor position is varied. The cover has a terminal insert which connect between the conductive traces and the terminals. A leaf spring rotates the rotor back to a starting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L. Buss, John R. Gietzen, James E. Haugh, Murray Kaijala, William G. Osmer, John Zdanys, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5828290
    Abstract: A position sensor, in particular, a position sensor that has a modular design for easily coupling to another modular device, like a gas peddle of a vehicle. The sensor unit eliminates the use of permanently attached electrical leads or pins attached to, for example, the output pads on flexible films coupled to a rotor. In another embodiment, the sensor unit is separate from a connector unit so different connector units can each be coupled to a standard sensor unit, or the sensor unit can be coupled directly to another device, like a gas pedal, without the use of an intermediate connector unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L. Buss, James E. Haugh, Murray Kaijala, William G. Osmer, William W. Wheeler, John Zdanys, Jr.