Larry S Howe

US Patent:

63079208, Oct 23, 2001

Filed:

Sep 24, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/159432

Inventors:

James D. Thomson - Bellevue OH
James D. Heckelman - Norwalk OH
Larry S. Howe - Norwalk OH

Assignee:

Foresight Technologies, Inc. - Bellevue OH

International Classification:

H04M 1100

US Classification:

379 45

Abstract:

A signaling system (10) in the form of a dispatcher activated response identification system is provided for responding exclusively to a predefined signal transmitted from a first location through a telephone service line interconnected thereby with a telephone at a second location to assist responding personnel in identifying the second location when the predefined signal is transmitted from the first location. The signaling system includes first and second electronic circuits (40, 60) at the second location. The first electronic circuit is adapted to generate a first signal (58) at the second location in response to receiving the predefined signal transmitted through the telephone service line. The second electronic circuit is physically separated from the first electronic circuit and is preferably placed where it is easily visible from the street such as in a window. The second electronic circuit generates a visual indicia at the second location in response to the first signal being transmitted from the first circuit.

US Patent:

20230072419, Mar 9, 2023

Filed:

Jan 29, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/797807

Inventors:

- Cleveland OH, US
John David Rathbun - Hunting Valley OH, US
Larry S. Howe - Norwalk OH, US
Walter Jacob Harders - Rocky River OH, US

Assignee:

Austin Star Detonator Company - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

F42C 19/08
F42D 1/05
E21B 43/1185
E21B 47/07

Abstract:

A detonator includes a substrate, a controller mounted to the substrate, and a sensor coupled to the controller to measure a temperature, pressure, acceleration or other environmental parameter of the detonator. The controller is configured to transmit the measured environmental parameter from the detonator to a remote master controller, execute an action in response to a value of the measured environmental parameter, and/or prevent or modify at least one detonator function in response to the value of the measured environmental parameter.

US Patent:

20210003377, Jan 7, 2021

Filed:

Mar 7, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/978342

Inventors:

- Cleveland OH, US
Larry S. Howe - Norwalk OH, US
Bryan E. Papillon - Phoenixville PA, US
Gimtong Teowee - Westlake Village CA, US
Walter J. Harders - Rocky River OH, US

Assignee:

Austin Star Detonator Company - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

F42D 1/055
F42D 5/00

Abstract:

Ethernet systems, methods and blasting machines are presented for remote turn on of the blasting machine and reliable fire and arm commands issuance. Systems, methods, blasting machines and wireless bridge units are presented for wireless blasting for safe firing of detonators under control of a remote wireless master controller in which the blasting machine is connected by cabling to the wireless bridge unit and power to a firing circuit of the blasting machine is remotely controlled via the bridge unit. The bridge unit or Ethernet primary controller selectively provides first and second firing messages to the blasting machine contingent upon acknowledgment of safe receipt of the first firing message by the blasting machine, and the blasting machine fires the connected detonators only if the first and second firing messages are correctly received from the bridge unit.

US Patent:

20200003535, Jan 2, 2020

Filed:

Aug 16, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/542764

Inventors:

- Cleveland OH, US
Larry S. Howe - Norwalk OH, US
Thomas Allen Hoopes - Sandy UT, US
Gimtong Teowee - Westlake Village CA, US

Assignee:

Austin Star Detonator Company - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

F42D 1/05
F42D 1/045
F42D 1/055
F42D 5/00

Abstract:

Systems, methods, blasting machines and wireless bridge units are presented for wireless blasting for safe firing of detonators under control of a remote wireless master controller in which the blasting machine is connected by cabling to the wireless bridge unit and power to a firing circuit of the blasting machine is remotely controlled via the bridge unit. The bridge unit selectively provides first and second firing messages to the blasting machine contingent upon acknowledgment of safe receipt of the first firing message by the blasting machine, and the blasting machine fires the connected detonators only if the first and second firing messages are correctly received from the bridge unit. A wireless slave blasting machine is disclosed, including a wireless transceiver for communicating with a remote wireless master controller, which fires the connected detonators only if first and second firing messages are wirelessly received from the master controller.

US Patent:

20190257963, Aug 22, 2019

Filed:

Apr 29, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/397456

Inventors:

- Cleveland OH, US
Larry S. Howe - Norwalk OH, US
Gimtong Teowee - Westlake Village CA, US

Assignee:

Austin Star Detonator Company - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

G01V 1/06
F42D 3/06
G01V 1/104

Abstract:

Seismic blasting methods and apparatus are presented in which detonator confirmation time break (CTB) is accurately determined by maintaining an applied voltage across detonator leg wires following initiation of a firing command or signal and sensing one or more electrical parameters such as voltage and/or current, and selectively identifying a CTB representing a time at which the monitored electrical parameter indicates a successful detonation.

US Patent:

20170123087, May 4, 2017

Filed:

May 26, 2015

Appl. No.:

15/314726

Inventors:

- Cleveland OH, US
Larry S. Howe - Norwalk OH, US
Gimtong Teowee - Westlake Village CA, US

Assignee:

Austin Star Detonator Company - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

G01V 1/06
G01V 1/104
F42D 3/06

Abstract:

Seismic blasting methods and apparatus are presented in which detonator confirmation time break (CTB) is accurately determined by maintaining an applied voltage across detonator leg wires following initiation of a firing command or signal and sensing one or more electrical parameters such as voltage and/or current, and selectively identifying a CTB representing a time at which the monitored electrical parameter indicates a successful detonation.

US Patent:

20170089680, Mar 30, 2017

Filed:

Dec 1, 2014

Appl. No.:

15/100347

Inventors:

- Cleveland OH, US
Larry S. Howe - Norwalk OH, US
Thomas Allen Hoopes - Sandy UT, US
Gimtong Teowee - Westlake Village CA, US

Assignee:

Austin Star Detonator Company - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

F42D 1/05
F42D 1/045
F42D 5/00
F42D 1/055

Abstract:

Systems, methods, blasting machines and wireless bridge units are presented for wireless blasting for safe firing of detonators under control of a remote wireless master controller in which the blasting machine is connected by cabling to the wireless bridge unit and power to a firing circuit of the blasting machine is remotely controlled via the bridge unit. The bridge unit selectively provides first and second firing messages to the blasting machine contingent upon acknowledgment of safe receipt of the first firing message by the blasting machine, and the blasting machine fires the connected detonators only if the first and second firing messages are correctly received from the bridge unit. A wireless slave blasting machine is disclosed, including a wireless transceiver for communicating with a remote wireless master controller, which fires the connected detonators only if first and second firing messages are wirelessly received from the master controller.

US Patent:

20160187116, Jun 30, 2016

Filed:

Mar 3, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/059958

Inventors:

- Cleveland OH, US
Bryan E. Papillon - Phoenixville PA, US
Larry S. Howe - Norwalk OH, US

Assignee:

Austin Star Detonator Company - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

F42D 1/05

Abstract:

Logging apparatus, methods and systems are presented for logging data from electronic detonators one at a time, in which a logger is placed into an automatic logging mode and begins transmitting read request messages in repetitive fashion until a response is received from a single connected electronic detonator, whereupon the logger obtains serial ID number and potentially other data such as a delay from the electronic detonator, after which the logger automatically proceeds without further user button presses to again initiate read request messages, by which a user can sequentially connect and disconnect a number of electronic detonators one at a time for quick expeditious logging. Also presented are automatic electronic detonator programming apparatus and processes in which a logger is placed into an automatic programming mode and the user connects electronic detonators one at a time for automatic or semi-automatic programming of delay times from internal memory.