Patents by Inventor Winston S. Fliess

Winston S. Fliess 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: 8304699
    Abstract: A proximity switch flow sensor detects movement of a faucet handle of a faucet of a hot water container in order to detect flow from the hot water container. The proximity switch flow sensor includes an emitter paired with a detector, which can be mounted in association with the faucet handle to detect open and closed positions of the faucet handle, to provide electronic logic information regarding the status of the faucet handle position, as an indication of a flow condition, to a control unit that controls heating of water in the hot water container. An electro-mechanical switch and a mechanism to transfer movement of the faucet handle to the switch may also be used to detect open and closed positions of the faucet handle as an indication of a flow condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: BE Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Winston S. Fliess, Anitha Kalla
  • Patent number: 8302473
    Abstract: The electro-optic liquid level sensing system detects a level of liquid in a container having an upper opening, such as for a server container of a beverage maker for a transport system, such as for aircraft, trains, trucks, buses and the like. A support housing mates with the upper opening of the container, and a primary liquid level sensor is mounted in the support housing for non-intrusively measuring the liquid level. A secondary liquid level sensor may be mounted in the support housing to sense a predetermined liquid level to prevent accidental overflows. Protective lenses may be placed in front of the primary liquid level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: BE Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastien A. Ramus, Keith R. DeBald, Joseph C. Dettmer, Winston S. Fliess
  • Patent number: 7992436
    Abstract: The electro-optic liquid level sensing system detects a level of liquid in a container having an upper opening, such as for a server container of a beverage maker for a transport system, such as for aircraft, trains, trucks, buses and the like. A support housing mates with the upper opening of the container, and a primary liquid level sensor is mounted in the support housing for non-intrusively measuring the liquid level. A secondary liquid level sensor may be mounted in the support housing to sense a predetermined liquid level to prevent accidental overflows. Protective lenses may be placed in front of the primary liquid level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: BE Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastien A. Ramus, Keith R. DeBald, Joseph C. Dettmer, Winston S. Fliess
  • Publication number: 20100186499
    Abstract: The electro-optic liquid level sensing system detects a level of liquid in a container having an upper opening, such as for a server container of a beverage maker for a transport system, such as for aircraft, trains, trucks, buses and the like. A support housing mates with the upper opening of the container, and a primary liquid level sensor is mounted in the support housing for non-intrusively measuring the liquid level. A secondary liquid level sensor may be mounted in the support housing to sense a predetermined liquid level to prevent accidental overflows. Protective lenses may be placed in front of the primary liquid level sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: BE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
    Inventors: Sebastien A. Ramus, Keith R. DeBald, Joseph C. Dettmer, Winston S. Fliess
  • Publication number: 20100102050
    Abstract: A proximity switch flow sensor detects movement of a faucet handle of a faucet of a hot water container in order to detect flow from the hot water container. The proximity switch flow sensor includes an emitter paired with a detector, which can be mounted in association with the faucet handle to detect open and closed positions of the faucet handle, to provide electronic logic information regarding the status of the faucet handle position, as an indication of a flow condition, to a control unit that controls heating of water in the hot water container. An electro-mechanical switch and a mechanism to transfer movement of the faucet handle to the switch may also be used to detect open and closed positions of the faucet handle as an indication of a flow condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: BE Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Winston S. Fliess, Anitha Kalla
  • Patent number: 7694559
    Abstract: The electro-optic liquid level sensing system detects a level of liquid in a container having an upper opening, such as for a server container of a beverage maker for a transport system, such as for aircraft, trains, trucks, buses and the like. A support housing mates with the upper opening of the container, and a primary liquid level sensor is mounted in the support housing for non-intrusively measuring the liquid level. A secondary liquid level sensor may be mounted in the support housing to sense a predetermined liquid level to prevent accidental overflows. Protective lenses may be placed in front of the primary liquid level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: BE Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastien A. Ramus, Keith R. DeBald, Joseph C. Dettmer, Winston S. Fliess
  • Publication number: 20100000315
    Abstract: The electro-optic liquid level sensing system detects a level of liquid in a container having an upper opening, such as for a server container of a beverage maker for a transport system, such as for aircraft, trains, trucks, buses and the like. A support housing mates with the upper opening of the container, and a primary liquid level sensor is mounted in the support housing for non-intrusively measuring the liquid level. A secondary liquid level sensor may be mounted in the support housing to sense a predetermined liquid level to prevent accidental overflows. Protective lenses may be placed in front of the primary liquid level sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: BE Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastien A. Ramus, Keith R. DeBald, Joseph C. Dettmer, Winston S. Fliess
  • Patent number: 7610804
    Abstract: The electro-optic liquid level sensing system detects a level of liquid in a container having an upper opening, such as for a server container of a beverage maker for a transport system, such as for aircraft, trains, trucks, buses and the like. A support housing mates with the upper opening of the container, and a primary liquid level sensor is mounted in the support housing for non-intrusively measuring the liquid level. A secondary liquid level sensor may be mounted in the support housing to sense a predetermined liquid level to prevent accidental overflows. Protective lenses may be placed in front of the primary liquid level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: BE Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastien A. Ramus, Keith R. DeBald, Joseph C. Dettmer, Winston S Fliess
  • Patent number: 7293458
    Abstract: The electro-optic liquid level sensing system detects a level of liquid in a container having an upper opening, such as for a server container of a beverage maker for a transport system, such as for aircraft, trains, trucks, buses and the like. A support housing mates with the upper opening of the container, and a primary liquid level sensor is mounted in the support housing for non-intrusively measuring the liquid level. A secondary liquid level sensor may be mounted in the support housing to sense a predetermined liquid level to prevent accidental overflows. Protective lenses may be placed in front of the primary liquid level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: BE Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastien A. Ramus, Keith R. DeBald, Joseph C. Dettmer, Winston S. Fliess
  • Patent number: 7017408
    Abstract: The electro-optic liquid level sensing system detects a level of liquid in a container having an upper opening, such as for a server container of a beverage maker for a transport system, such as for aircraft, trains, trucks, buses and the like. A support housing mates with the upper opening of the container, and a primary liquid level sensor is mounted in the support housing for non-intrusively measuring the liquid level. A secondary liquid level sensor may be mounted in the support housing to sense a predetermined liquid level to prevent accidental overflows. Protective lenses may be placed in front of the primary liquid level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Be Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastien A. Ramus, Keith R. DeBald, Joseph C. Dettmer, Winston S. Fliess