David Allen Topmiller

6434516, Aug 13, 2002

Nov 12, 1999

09/439064

David Allen Topmiller - Fort Wright KY

Balluff, Inc. - Florence KY

G01B 7008

702198, 324208

An incremental signal emulation method and apparatus which utilizes a variable frequency signal which is based on the rate of change of a sensor measurement. Preferably, the variable frequency signal is made up of a number of pulses, the frequency of which is based upon the rate of change of the sensor measurement. The variable frequency signal is converted to A and B incremental signals, the phase relationship between the A and B signals representing the sign (positive or negative) of the rate of change, and each transition in the A or B signal representing an increment to be added to or subtracted from the synthesized sensor measurement count. In one embodiment, a voltage-to-frequency converter is used to convert a velocity signal to a variable frequency signal, and flip flops and inverters are used to create the A and B signals. Preferably the A and B signals are square waves in quadrature. A method and apparatus for accurately controlling the output of an incremental signal generation system is also provided, wherein the synthesized transducer measurement count is fed back to produce a measurement error signal.

6757635, Jun 29, 2004

Jun 12, 2002

10/167739

David Allen Topmiller - Fort Wright KY

Balluff, Inc. - Florence KY

G06F 1500

702150, 702198, 73313, 32420713, 32420724

A sensor is provided in one illustrative embodiment that includes a microcontroller that executes a program that generates quadrature output signals that indicate the change in a parameter being measured. As an example, the sensor could comprise a linear position transducer. The quadrature output signals can comprise square wave signals that are ninety degrees out of phase, each transition of the signals representing a unit of change in position of the measured mass. According to another aspect, the quadrature signals can be placed into phase with one another to indicate an error condition. In another aspect, user inputs can be provided to allow the user to select parameters such as frequency, update rate, and/or resolution. Moreover, at least one of the sensor inputs can be utilized to load calibration factor data for the sensor.

6827202, Dec 7, 2004

Jun 17, 2002

10/172885

David Allen Topmiller - Fort Wright KY
James W. Braun - Cincinnati OH
James Clinton Ramler - Burlington KY

Balluff, Inc. - Florence KY

B65G 1306

19878105, 19878106, 198783

One aspect of the present invention relates to a module for controlling two or more zones of an accumulating conveyor system. In one embodiment, the single module includes outputs to provide independent actuation signals to cause movement of two zones of the conveyor. The module includes two sensor inputs to receive article detection signals from two zones. Circuitry controls the actuation signals based upon the detection signals received. According to another aspect, a control module is provided with an input for indicating the speed of the conveyor to be used, such that programmed features of the module can be adjusted according to the speed selected. According to another aspect, a sleep mode of operation is provided wherein multiple downstream zones are awakened upon the detection of an article in an upstream zone.

7310587, Dec 18, 2007

May 12, 2004

10/844227

David Allen Topmiller - Fort Wright KY, US

Balluff, Inc. - Florence KY

G06F 15/00

702150, 702 85, 702 89

A sensor is provided in one illustrative embodiment that includes a microcontroller that executes a program that generates quadrature output signals that indicate the change in a parameter being measured. As an example, the sensor could comprise a linear position transducer. The quadrature output signals can comprise square wave signals that are ninety degrees out of phase, each transition of the signals representing a unit of change in position of the measured mass. According to another aspect, the quadrature signals can be placed into phase with one another to indicate an error condition. In another aspect, user inputs can be provided to allow the user to select parameters such as frequency, update rate, and/or resolution. Moreover, at least one of the sensor inputs can be utilized to load calibration factor data for the sensor.

D692336, Oct 29, 2013

Aug 3, 2012

29/428769

Rongjau Lin - West Chester OH, US
Robert W Matthes - Loveland OH, US
David Allen Topmiller - Edgewood KY, US

Transducers Direct LLC - Cincinnati OH

1004

D10 85

20120278009, Nov 1, 2012

Apr 30, 2011

13/098409

Robert W. Matthes - Loveland OH, US
David A. Topmiller - Edgewood KY, US

TRANSDUCERS DIRECT LLC - Cincinnati OH

G06F 19/00
G01L 7/00

702 52, 702 50, 702 53

A melt pressure sensor comprises a housing, a stem, a pressure sensing element, a time-to-digital converter, a processor, a digital-to-analog converter, and a first input. The stem comprises a pressure sensing surface fluidly coupled to a molten material. The pressure sensing surface is mechanically or fluidly coupled to the pressure sensing element, and the pressure sensing element is electrically coupled to the time-to-digital converter, which determines the melt pressure by measuring an electrical characteristic of the pressure sensing element. The processor reads the pressure from the time-to-digital converter and outputs an analog output value from the digital-to-analog converter representative of the melt pressure. When the first input is activated, the processor causes the analog output signal to have a predetermined value.

20140245837, Sep 4, 2014

Mar 1, 2013

13/781830

- Cincinnati OH, US
David A. Topmiller - Edgewood KY, US

Transducers Direct LLC - Cincinnati OH

G01L 19/00

73714

A pressure sensor is disclosed for measuring the pressure of a fluid, the pressure sensor comprising an atmospheric pressure sensing element, a fluid pressure sensing element, a processing unit, and a switch. The atmospheric pressure sensing element measures atmospheric pressure and the fluid pressure sensing element measures relative pressure of the fluid with respect to the atmospheric pressure. The switch is electrically coupled to the processing unit and comprises a first state and a second state, wherein: when the switch is set to the first state, the processing unit determines the absolute pressure of the fluid, and the processing unit generates an output corresponding to the absolute pressure of the fluid; and when the switch is set to the second state, the processing unit determines the relative pressure of the fluid, and the processing unit generates an output corresponding to the relative of the fluid.

20140213308, Jul 31, 2014

Jan 31, 2013

13/755271

- Cincinnati OH, US
David A Topmiller - Edgewood KY, US

TRANSDUCERS DIRECT LLC - Cincinnati OH

G08B 21/02

455466, 340601, 34053926

An atmospheric pressure sensor is disclosed which comprises an atmospheric pressure sensing element, a processing unit, and an interface unit. The atmospheric pressure sensing element is operable to measure the atmospheric pressure, and the processing unit is electrically coupled to the atmospheric pressure sensing element and is operable to read the measured atmospheric pressure from the atmospheric pressure sensing element. The processing unit is operable to generate a message if the measured atmospheric pressure meets one or more criteria. And the interface unit is electrically coupled to the processing unit and is operable to electrically receive the message from the processing unit and transmit the message to a receiving device.