Neal A Schumacher

US Patent:

6492821, Dec 10, 2002

Filed:

Jul 31, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/629499

Inventors:

Lawrence J. Marko - Savage MN
Brian P. Rosengren - Eden Prairie MN
Neal A. Schumacher - Golden Valley MN

Assignee:

Banner Engineering Corporation - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

G01R 2726

US Classification:

324671, 324686, 324690, 23546201, 3405454

Abstract:

A system and method are disclosed for detecting the occurrence of an external event. The system eliminates the need for users to adjust amplifier offsets as well as detection thresholds by continually analyzing the signal and optimizing the offset and threshold values accordingly. Additionally, the system detects the external events in a noisy environment when the duration of the events vary by several orders of magnitude by employing cascaded difference filters.

US Patent:

61220396, Sep 19, 2000

Filed:

Oct 28, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/181196

Inventors:

Neal A. Schumacher - Golden Valley MN

Assignee:

Banner Engineering Corp. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

G01C 300
G02B 704
G03B 1300

US Classification:

356 307

Abstract:

A object displacement measuring system and utilizing optical triangulation techniques is constructed to determine the displacement of an object between a near and far sensing limits. In constructing the system to determine the object displacement relative to these sensing points, the mathematical calculations needed to determine the controlling transfer function are simplified. In alternate embodiments, the object displacement is measured relative to a measurement window having a fixed width and a known mid-point. With the use of the transfer function resulting from the use of either coordinate systems, an output signal generated by a digital-to-analog converter can be controlled digitally to set the gain and offset values of the output signal rather than adjusting these values using analog circuitry.

US Patent:

20200074820, Mar 5, 2020

Filed:

Nov 6, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/675708

Inventors:

- Minneapolis MN, US
Darrell Raymond Pikkaraine - Elk River MN, US
Maximilian John Aponte - Shakopee MN, US
Neal A. Schumacher - Plymouth MN, US

International Classification:

G08B 5/38
G08B 7/06
G08B 21/18

Abstract:

An indicator module includes first electrodes disposed on a first support surface, each of the first electrodes having a flexible portion having a sloped section forming an oblique angle with the first support surface, a second electrodes disposed on a second support surface spaced apart from the first support surface along a longitudinal direction, a set of conductors elongated substantially in the longitudinal direction, each of the first electrodes being electrically connected to the a respective one of the second electrodes via a respective one of the conductors, and an indicator circuit, such as a set of LEDs, electrically connected to one or more of the conductors and adapted to generate a human perceptible signal when the indicator circuit receives electrical power from the one or more of the conductors.

US Patent:

20190331829, Oct 31, 2019

Filed:

Apr 11, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/381804

Inventors:

- Plymouth MN, US
Paul D. Bratton - Plymouth MN, US
Dennis John Smith - Minneapolis MN, US
Neal A. Schumacher - Plymouth MN, US

International Classification:

G01V 8/22

Abstract:

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a photoelectric sensor system with a primary photo-detector to receive an on-axis return reflected by a retro-reflective target, and a monitor photo-detector to detect off-axis light indicative of a diffuse reflective object blocking the optical path between an emitter and the retro-reflective target. In an illustrative example, the optical path may include a coaxial transceiver module that includes a beam splitter mirror to redirect the optical path. In some embodiments, a bifurcated lens may provide, for example, a lateral offset of the emitter axis through one lens, and the return axis through an adjacent parallel lens. The second photo-detector may provide, for example, an array of one or more detection surfaces to detect off-axis light associated with a diffuse reflective object, such as a white card, for example.

US Patent:

20180300995, Oct 18, 2018

Filed:

Jun 12, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/006158

Inventors:

- Minneapolis MN, US
Darrell Raymond Pikkaraine - Elk River MN, US
Maximilian John Aponte - Shakopee MN, US
Neal A. Schumacher - Plymouth MN, US

International Classification:

G08B 5/38
G08B 7/06
G08B 21/18

Abstract:

An indicator module in one example has a mounting portion to removably attach the module to another module or base. The indicator module also has a first set of electrodes disposed to be in contact with respective electrodes in the attached module or base. The indicator module further includes an indicator circuit, and a switch module configurable to selectively connect the indicator circuit to one of the electrodes in the indicator module. The indicator module can further include a second set of electrodes connected respectively to the first set of electrodes by conductors. The two sets of electrodes are located at respective ends of the module attach to another module at each end. In visual indicator modules, the conductors can be disposed in a more interior region of the module as compared to the visual indicator elements such as LEDs, which can be distributed near the periphery of the module.

US Patent:

20180284321, Oct 4, 2018

Filed:

Mar 28, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/472068

Inventors:

- Plymouth MN, US
Paul D. Bratton - Plymouth MN, US
Dennis John Smith - Minneapolis MN, US
Neal A. Schumacher - Plymouth MN, US

International Classification:

G01V 8/22

Abstract:

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a photoelectric sensor system with a primary photo-detector to receive an on-axis return reflected by a retro-reflective target, and a monitor photo-detector to detect off-axis light indicative of a diffuse reflective object blocking the optical path between an emitter and the retro-reflective target. In an illustrative example, the optical path may include a coaxial transceiver module that includes a beam splitter mirror to redirect the optical path. In some embodiments, a bifurcated lens may provide, for example, a lateral offset of the emitter axis through one lens, and the return axis through an adjacent parallel lens. The second photo-detector may provide, for example, an array of one or more detection surfaces to detect off-axis light associated with a diffuse reflective object, such as a white card, for example.

US Patent:

20170024977, Jan 26, 2017

Filed:

Jul 20, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/803619

Inventors:

- Minneapolis MN, US
Darrell Raymond Pikkaraine - Elk River MN, US
Maximilian John Aponte - Shakopee MN, US
Neal A. Schumacher - Plymouth MN, US

International Classification:

G08B 5/36

Abstract:

An indicator module in one example has a mounting portion to removably attach the module to another module or base. The indicator module also has a first set of electrodes disposed to be in contact with respective electrodes in the attached module or base. The indicator module further includes an indicator circuit, and a switch module configurable to selectively connect the indicator circuit to one of the electrodes in the indicator module. The indicator module can further include a second set of electrodes connected respectively to the first set of electrodes by conductors. The two sets of electrodes are located at respective ends of the module attach to another module at each end. In visual indicator modules, the conductors can be disposed in a more interior region of the module as compared to the visual indicator elements such as LEDs, which can be distributed near the periphery of the module.

US Patent:

20150145387, May 28, 2015

Filed:

Nov 25, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/552749

Inventors:

- Minneapolis MN, US
Neal Andrew Schumacher - Plymouth MN, US
Wade David Oberpriller - Chaska MN, US

International Classification:

H05K 5/00
B29C 65/54
G01V 8/00

US Classification:

3122231, 2952501, 29446, 264261

Abstract:

An example method for stabilizing a sensor component includes: positioning a portion of the sensor component relative to a support with a plurality of retaining members in contact with the portion of the sensor component, the plurality of retaining members including at least a first one of the retaining members being a resilient biasing member and a second one of the retaining members being an adjustable retaining member; adjusting the adjustable retaining member to reposition the portion of the sensor component relative to the support and deform the resilient retaining member; immobilizing the portion of the sensor component relative to the support with an additional, rigid retaining member in contact with the portion of the sensor component; and filling a space between the portion of the sensor component and the support with a glue. An example holder of a sensor component includes one or more support members; a plurality of retaining members adapted to cooperatively adjustably retain the sensor component in a position relative to the one or more support members; and an additional, rigid retaining member adapted to cooperate with at least some of the plurality of retaining member to fixedly retain the sensor component in a position relative to the one or more support members.