Patents by Inventor William S. Richie, Jr.

William S. Richie, Jr. 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: 8861166
    Abstract: An ionization system for a predefined area includes a plurality of emitter modules spaced around the area, a system controller for individually addressing and monitoring the emitter modules and communication lines for electrically connecting the plurality of emitter modules with the system controller. Each emitter module has an individual address and including at least one electrical ionizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Richie, Jr., Richard D. Rodrigo, Philip R. Hall
  • Publication number: 20120092804
    Abstract: An ionization system for a predefined area includes a plurality of emitter modules spaced around the area, a system controller for individually addressing and monitoring the emitter modules and communication lines for electrically connecting the plurality of emitter modules with the system controller. Each emitter module has an individual address and including at least one electrical ionizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Richie, JR., Richard D. Rodrigo, Philip R. Hall
  • Patent number: 7391599
    Abstract: An ionization system for a predefined area includes a plurality of emitter modules spaced around the area, a system controller for individually addressing and monitoring the emitter modules and communication lines for electrically connecting the plurality of emitter modules with the system controller. Each emitter module has an individual address and including at least one electrical ionizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Richie, Jr., Richard D. Rodrigo, Philip R. Hall
  • Patent number: 7161788
    Abstract: An ionization system for a predefined area includes a plurality of emitter modules spaced around the area, a system controller for individually addressing and monitoring the emitter modules and communication lines for electrically connecting the plurality of emitter modules with the system controller. Each emitter module has an individual address and including at least one electrical ionizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Richie, Jr., Richard D. Rodrigo, Philip R. Hall
  • Patent number: 7081818
    Abstract: A tracking system uses RFID (radio frequency identification) tag technology to facilitate the identification and tracking of items in an environment through a technique known as shadowing. As an object or target moves within a pre-described detection zone with communicating antenna and RFID sensors, the object or target blocks the line of sight between respective antenna and sensors, preventing electromagnetic coupling between the sensor and the antenna and thus casting an electromagnetic shadow along the line of sight. One approach of this invention uses this shadow technique to perform functions such as theft (shrink) deterrence/detection; tracking the motion of objects through an environment by monitoring the shadow; and correlation analysis of people shadows to tagged items (e.g., merchandise, articles) to foster marketing and merchandizing effectiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Eckstein, Gary T. Mazoki, William S. Richie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6717414
    Abstract: A monitor apparatus and corresponding method of monitoring high voltage alternating current in the emitter and reference circuits of ionizers. The monitor is capacitively coupled to the emitter and reference circuits to detect faults without affecting the ionizer operation. Faults are displayed on a light emitting diode display. In an alternative embodiment, faults may be indicated by output signals. The output signals are used to automatically adjust the ionizer operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Rodrigo, William S. Richie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6643113
    Abstract: A method of balancing positive and negative ion output in an electrical ionizer having positive and negative ion emitters and positive and negative high voltage power supplies associated with the respective positive and negative ion emitters includes automatically adjusting at least one of the positive and negative high voltage power supplies by ramping up or ramping down the at least one of the positive and negative power supplies at a predetermined rate. Another method of balancing positive and negative ion output in an electrical ionizer having positive and negative ion emitters and positive and negative high voltage power supplies associated with the respective positive and negative ion emitters includes automatically adjusting at least one of the positive and negative high voltage power supplies by ramping up the at least one of the positive and negative power supplies at a predetermined rate upon initiation of the operation of the electrical ionizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Richie, Jr., Richard D. Rodrigo, Philip R. Hall
  • Patent number: 6507473
    Abstract: A room ionization system includes a plurality of emitter modules, each including an electrical ionizer. The emitter modules are spaced around the room and are connected in a daisy-chain manner to a system controller. Each emitter module has an individual address for allowing the system controller or a remote control transmitter to individually address and control each emitter module. Electrical lines containing both power and communication lines connect the plurality of emitter modules with the system controller. Each emitter module stores a balance reference value and an ion output current reference value for use by automatic balance control and automatic ion output current control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Richie, Jr., Richard D. Rodrigo, Philip R. Hall
  • Patent number: 6417581
    Abstract: Circuitry is provided in a device to automatically change the relative position of the electrical lines which enter the device upon detection of a miswired condition. More specifically, the circuitry allows the device to function normally even if an installer accidentally inverts (i.e., flips or reverses) the wiring connections when attaching connectors to a communication/power line of the device. In this manner, the installer does not need to rewire the lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. Hall, William S. Richie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6271756
    Abstract: A security tag detection and localization system for detecting a resonant security tag in a security zone comprising a Plurality of detection zones, and generating an alarm signal localizing the resonant security tag to a detection zone. The system includes an antenna array for radiating interrogation signals and receiving response signals. The antenna array forms the upper boundary, the lower boundary or both the upper and lower boundaries of a security zone and extends horizontally across the width and length of the security zone. The antenna array comprises at least two antennas. The antennas forming the upper and lower boundaries are disposed side-by-side in a single horizontal plane with each antenna being electromagnetically coupled to one of the detection zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Davies, Jr., Eric A. Eckstein, Edwin H. Hopton, Jr., William S. Richie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6252756
    Abstract: A room ionization system includes a plurality of emitter modules, each including an electrical ionizer. The emitter modules are spaced around the room and are connected in a daisy-chain manner to a system controller. Each emitter module has an individual address for allowing the system controller or a remote control transmitter to individually address and control each emitter module. Electrical lines containing both power and communication lines connect the plurality of emitter modules with the system controller. Each emitter module stores a balance reference value and an ion output current reference value for use by automatic balance control and automatic ion output current control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Richie, Jr., Richard D. Rodrigo, Philip R. Hall