Robert C Hansen

US Patent:

6520031, Feb 18, 2003

Filed:

Aug 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/935374

Inventors:

Asad M. Madni - Los Angeles CA
Jim B. Vuong - Northridge CA
Robert K. Hansen - Burbank CA

Assignee:

BEI Sensors Systems Company, Inc. - Sylmar CA

International Classification:

G01L 312

US Classification:

73862326, 32420717

Abstract:

A non contacting angular differential displacement torque sensor utilizes a split shaft with a connecting torsion bar with a pair of receive disks each with an intervening coupler disk carrying a conductive attenuating pattern where the inductive coupling between transmit and receive disks is individually attenuated in accordance with the angular position of the shaft on which the disks are mounted. The pair of receive disks which receive signals from a common transmitter have their angular difference taken and this is the actual torque on the shaft.

US Patent:

6772646, Aug 10, 2004

Filed:

Jul 11, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/904067

Inventors:

Asad M. Madni - Los Angeles CA
Robert K. Hansen - Burbank CA
Jim B. Vuong - Northridge CA

Assignee:

BEI Sensors Systems Company, Inc. - Sylmar CA

International Classification:

G01L 314

US Classification:

73862337

Abstract:

A differential capacitive torque sensor for a continuously rotating shaft such as the steering column of an automobile provides an apertured metal cage shielding a dielectric rotor. They are respectively mounted on opposite sides of a split shaft connected by a torsion bar. The relative rotation of the apertured conductive plates and the rotor change the overall differential capacitance of the system to proportionally indicate clockwise or counter-clockwise torque.

US Patent:

6955097, Oct 18, 2005

Filed:

May 11, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/842914

Inventors:

Asad M. Madni - Los Angeles CA, US
Jim B. Vuong - Northridge CA, US
Robert K. Hansen - Burbank CA, US

Assignee:

BEI Sensors & Systems Company, Inc. - Sylmar CA

International Classification:

G01L003/14

US Classification:

73862337, 73862045, 73862325, 310 40 R

Abstract:

A radial movement capacitive torque sensor includes a pair of concentric capacitor plate rings lying in a common plane, a capacitor plate ring facing the pair of concentric capacitor plate rings, and a paddle assembly disposed between the pair of concentric capacitor plate rings and the capacitor plate ring. The paddle assembly includes a first rotor having a circular opening and having at least one pair of spaced apart bearings mounted thereon, a second rotor having a circular opening and having at least one pivot point located thereon, and at least one paddle having a dielectric head, a curved neck and a body. The curved neck is disposed between a corresponding one of said at least one pair of spaced bearings, and the body is pivotally coupled to a corresponding one of said at least one pivot point. The sensor can be mounted on a shaft having two shaft portions interconnected by an embedded torsion rod to measure the torque applied to the torsion rod when the shaft portions are rotated one with respect to the other.

US Patent:

7501834, Mar 10, 2009

Filed:

Jun 21, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/159572

Inventors:

Asad M. Madni - Los Angeles CA, US
Jim B. Vuong - Northridge CA, US
Robert K. Hansen - Burbank CA, US

Assignee:

Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc. - Moorpark CA

International Classification:

G01R 27/26
H04R 9/06

US Classification:

324658, 381400

Abstract:

A voice coil actuator having a capacitive sensor. A magnetic housing contains at least one magnet, and has a wall that defines a first cavity. A magnetic core is coupled to the magnetic housing and extend from an interior surface of the magnetic housing in a direction of a center axis of the wall of the magnetic housing. A coil assembly has a wall defining a second cavity that at least partly envelops the magnetic core, disposed at least partly inside the first cavity, and adapted to move linearly with respect to the magnetic housing. The coil assembly forms a capacitive sensor with the magnetic core, the capacitive sensor adapted to measure at least one of position, velocity and acceleration of the coil assembly with respect to the magnetic housing.

US Patent:

60074825, Dec 28, 1999

Filed:

Dec 20, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/771444

Inventors:

Asad M. Madni - Los Angeles CA
Lawrence A. Wan - Malibu CA
Robert K. Hansen - Burbank CA

International Classification:

A61B 104

US Classification:

600115

Abstract:

An endoscope which is both flexible and easily cleaned having a pair of telescoping sections at its distal end one of which carries a camera and which are alternately actuated to provide movement through a body passageway by a Bowden type of cable. Such cable has an outer helical casing with an inner steel wire. Respectively attached to the two cylindrical sections are inflatable bladders which provide for the movement above which also are an integral part of the flexible sterilized sheath being held to the respective sections by O-rings.

US Patent:

41508696, Apr 24, 1979

Filed:

Nov 3, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/848293

Inventors:

Robert B. Hansen - Huntington Beach CA

International Classification:

G02B 718

US Classification:

350 61

Abstract:

A condensation-proof mirror, for use in such high humidity environments as conventional shower stalls or steam baths, has its reflective surface heated by diversion of a portion of shower water or live steam to a manifold on the mirror's rear surface, from which manifold the heated water or steam is distributed across the rear surface, condensing into or flowing into a catch basin or any suitable drain, heating said rear surface by convective transfer from the water or steam, and conducting the heat, so transferred, to the front reflective surface, thereby raising the temperature of that front surface above the condensation temperature for the environment impinging on that surface.

US Patent:

59749407, Nov 2, 1999

Filed:

Aug 20, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/908023

Inventors:

Asad M. Madni - Los Angeles CA
Lawrence A. Wan - Malibu CA
Robert K. Hansen - Burbank CA
Jim Vuong - Northridge CA

Assignee:

BEI Sensors & Systems Company, Inc. - Sylmar CA

International Classification:

F41G 300

US Classification:

89 4117

Abstract:

An adaptive fuzzy logic based control system for rifle stabilization uses a rifle where the barrel is freely pivoted on the stock which is held by the human being firing the rifle who may be shooting from a moving vehicle or helicopter; alternatively, the firing person may have erratic hand or body motion. During a tracking mode, when the target is being sighted in, undesired motion is sensed by position sensors to effectively lock the rifle barrel in alignment with the stock. During a stabilizing mode just before actuation of the trigger to fire the rifle, the barrel is unlocked, inertial rate sensors make the barrel relatively immune to movement of the stock to facilitate the barrel remaining sighted on the tracked target. The fire control system includes a fuzzy logic controller which by a set of inference rules provides for both alignment of the barrel with the stock during tracking and also for stabilization of the barrel just prior to firing.

US Patent:

57538280, May 19, 1998

Filed:

Mar 31, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/825539

Inventors:

Asad M. Madni - Los Angeles CA
Lawrence A. Wan - Malibu CA
Robert K. Hansen - Burbank CA

Assignee:

EI Sensors & Systems Company, Inc. - Sylmar CA

International Classification:

G01L 310

US Classification:

73862338

Abstract:

A shaft torque measuring device in the form of a compact sleeve may be slid on the steering shaft of an automobile and requires only about the same axial space as the diameter of the shaft itself. Two collars are integrally interconnected by four cross members, some of which carry strain gauges. Frictional force maintains the collars in place with torque applied to the steering shaft thus causing the cross member to bend. This deformation is sensed by the strain gauge bridge to produce a torque measurement.