John H Schultz

US Patent:

7343814, Mar 18, 2008

Filed:

Apr 3, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/397507

Inventors:

Divyasimha Harish - Union City CA, US
William D. Dallenbach - Sunnyvale CA, US
King Wong - Saratoga CA, US
John Schultz - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Loadstar Sensors, Inc. - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

G01B 7/16

US Classification:

73780, 73718, 73777, 73862625, 73862626

Abstract:

A multi-zone capacitive force sensing apparatus/method is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes one or more capacitors each having an upper conductive surface and a lower conductive surface substantially parallel to the upper conductive surface, a housing with a top plate and a bottom plate to encompass the capacitors, and a sensor in the housing to generate a measurement based on a change in a distance between the upper conductive surface and the lower conductive surface of each of the capacitors when a contact zone of the top plate associated with the each of the plurality of capacitors is deflected by a force applied on the contact zone. The apparatus may also include a comparison module associated with the sensor to generate a signal indicating unevenness of a force applied on the top plate when there is any significant difference between measurements of the capacitors.

US Patent:

7570065, Aug 4, 2009

Filed:

Mar 1, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/365358

Inventors:

Divyasimha Harish - Union City CA, US
William D. Dallenbach - Sunnyvale CA, US
King Wong - Saratoga CA, US
John Schultz - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Loadstar Sensors Inc - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G01R 27/26
G01L 1/00

US Classification:

324662, 324661, 324686, 73780, 73862626

Abstract:

Cylindrical capacitance force sensing device/method is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a capacitor having two parallel conductive surfaces, a cylindrical housing with a cover plate to encompass the capacitor, and a sensor in the cylindrical housing to generate a measurement based on a change in a distance between the two conductive surfaces when the cover plate is deflected by a load applied on the cover plate. In another embodiment, a method may include applying a load on top of a housing which encompasses a capacitive sensor having two parallel conductive surfaces to produce a deflection of a cover plate of the housing, automatically generating a measurement from the capacitive sensor when a distance between the two parallel conductive surfaces is charged due to the deflection of the cover plate, and decreasing an error in the measurement via stabilizing to a mounting surface.

US Patent:

7743667, Jun 29, 2010

Filed:

Feb 12, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/705273

Inventors:

Divyasimha Harish - Union City CA, US
Jonathan T Lim - Fremont CA, US
King Wong - Saratoga CA, US
John Schultz - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Loadstar Sensors, Inc. - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G01B 7/16

US Classification:

73780

Abstract:

A capacitive device and method with an enhanced measurement error correction capability is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a sensor capacitor based on one or more pairs of parallel conductor surfaces, a housing to encompass the sensor capacitor, a digitizer module in the housing to generate a digital measurement based on a change in a capacitance of the sensor capacitor when a contact zone of the housing is deflected by a force applied on the contact zone. The apparatus also includes a compensation module of the digitizer module to apply another digital measurement of one or more distortion factors to the digital measurement to minimize an effect of the one or more distortion factors to the apparatus. In addition, the apparatus includes a communication module to communicate an analog signal and/or a digital signal through a wired channel and/or a wireless channel.

US Patent:

7775130, Aug 17, 2010

Filed:

Oct 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/925709

Inventors:

John Schultz - Santa Clara CA, US
King Wong - Saratoga CA, US
Jonathan T. Lim - Fremont CA, US

Assignee:

Load Star Sensors, Inc - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G01L 1/12

US Classification:

73862626, 73780

Abstract:

A method, apparatus and system of capacitive sensor based inventory control is disclosed. In one embodiment, an inventory management system includes a first conductive surface and a second conductive surface substantially parallel to the first conductive surface, a sensor to generate a measurement based on a change in a distance between the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface, a scale formed with a set of plates having inserted between the set of plates the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface and a container placed above the scale such that an item (e. g. , a liquid, a solid, a discrete part, a powder and/or a gas, etc. ) of the container is weighed through the measurement. The inventory management system may further include a reference capacitor associated with the apparatus to enable the sensor to adjust the measurement based on the environmental condition.

US Patent:

20090158856, Jun 25, 2009

Filed:

Dec 23, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/343164

Inventors:

Divyasimha Harish - Fremont CA, US
John Schultz - Santa Clara CA, US

International Classification:

G01L 1/14
G01R 27/26

US Classification:

73780, 324660

Abstract:

A system and methods of a capacitive strain gauge are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a conductive element of a capacitive structure attached to a surface. The conductive element is comprised of an elongated member. An additional conductive element of the capacitive structure is attached to the surface, and the additional conductive element is comprised of an additional elongated member. The system includes an electrode coupled to the conductive element that applies a voltage to the conductive element when a capacitance is being determined. The system further includes an additional electrode coupled to the additional conductive element that receives an amplitude to determine a change in capacitance caused by a shape alteration of at least one of the conductive element, the additional conductive element, and a space between the conductive element and the additional conductive element.

US Patent:

54034973, Apr 4, 1995

Filed:

Sep 13, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/120291

Inventors:

John E. Schultz - Mount Hamilton CA

Assignee:

Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

B01D 1712

US Classification:

210745

Abstract:

A method for monitoring water filter performance and efficiency, by correlating particle size and distribution to turbidity measurement. The method includes the steps of installing and calibrating the filter system, and periodically testing the filter system efficiency. The calibration of the filter system includes the step of preparing a calibration "challenge" solution having a predetermined count of particles of known size which will serve as "surrogates" for the particles which are to be removed during normal filtration. The turbidity of the calibration challenge solution is measured, and correlated to the particle count information. Similarly, the effluent turbidity is measured and a particle size distribution count made to verify the percent removal specified.

US Patent:

51234173, Jun 23, 1992

Filed:

Jul 19, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/555985

Inventors:

Jack Walker - Sunnyvale CA
Quang Ton - San Jose CA
John Geis - San Jose CA
John Schultz - Santa Clara CA
Richard Lee - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Diasonics, Inc. - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

A61B 806

US Classification:

12866109

Abstract:

The method of the present invention comprises displaying an image comprising reflected pulsed doppler signals in real time produced by reflecting a reference pulsed doppler signal, each reflected signal displayed in a color defined by a polar coordinate plot, wherein the polar coordinate plot comprises an origin representing reflected signals of the reference pulsed doppler signal having zero amplitude and zero frequency. The polar coordinate plot further comprises an axis representing reflected signals of the reference pulsed doppler signal having zero frequency, a radius with respect to the origin representing amplitude information of reflected signals of the reference pulsed doppler signal, an angle with respect to the axis representing the frequency of reflected signals of the reference pulsed doppler signal, and a vector displaced 180 degrees from the axis, the vector representing a Nyquist limit of the reference pulsed doppler signal. The colors on the plot in a positive direction at a maximum amplitude for a first frequency towards a point representing maximum amplitude for a second frequency range from a first color to a second color, colors on the plot in a negative direction at a maximum amplitude for a third frequency towards a point for a maximum amplitude for a fourth frequency range from a third color to a fourth color, and the colors for each frequency on the plot range from the color at a maximum amplitude for each frequency to a fifth color at the origin.

US Patent:

50105558, Apr 23, 1991

Filed:

Jul 25, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/560461

Inventors:

John M. J. Madey - Palo Alto CA
Stephen V. Benson - Mountain View CA
John F. Schultz - Eau Claire WI
Antonello Cutolo - Naples, IT

International Classification:

H01S 300

US Classification:

372 2

Abstract:

The performance of free electron lasers can be greatly enhanced by including a non-linear optical element within the resonator for the oscillator. A system is described to enhance the peak or average power output of the FEL oscillator, or to modify the time structure of the oscillator output through the use of a non-linear element which modulates or diverts a portion of the optical wave circulating in the resonator.