Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100302017 | Tactile Feedback for Joystick Position/Speed Controls - The present invention includes a control system with a joystick controller for controlling the direction and speed of one or more controlled systems, such as a boom lift platform or the vehicle on which it rides. The joystick is neutrally-biased and effects a null velocity of the controlled system when the joystick is positioned in a neutral position. The joystick controller has motors, or the like, that provide intuitive tactile feedback to the joystick operator. The tactile feedback includes biasing the joystick away from the neutral position according to the controlled system's actual direction and speed but without generating a commanded direction and speed based on the biased position. | 12-02-2010 |
20120059591 | Systems and Methods for Collecting, Analyzing, Recording, and Transmitting Fluid Hydrocarbon Production Monitoring and Control Data - Systems and methods for collecting, analyzing, transmitting, and acting on information collected from instruments monitoring and controlling equipment used for natural gas well production collection and pipeline insertion platforms (skids). Said instruments may include handheld computing devices like the Apple iPhone, iPad, or other PDAs; said devices using short or long range, wired or wireless communication. The systems and methods reduce costs, errors, inefficiencies, and increase safety by giving the user simple GUI interfaces for data collection and for action items. The said handheld devices can guide the data collector to the skid location using GPS or other location based services, collect data via wired of wireless methods, guide the data collector through manual data input methods or safety action items, compare current readings to past history and evaluate current safety or out-of-tolerance conditions or entries, among other items. | 03-08-2012 |
20120295501 | Apparatus and Method for the Control of Engine Throttle for Inboard and Outboard Boat Motors - A ski boat throttle control system incorporating a rotary assembly such as a thumbwheel within the control lever knob which is part of the control lever assembly that is gripped and held by the operator of the boat during use. The incorporation of such a thumbwheel assembly allows the operator to make more controlled adjustment to the speed of the boat when the boat is in normal operational mode and to intuitively make adjustments to the cruise control speed of the boat when in cruise control. | 11-22-2012 |
20130333671 | Highly Accurate Continuous-Flow Vaporized Fuel Supply for Large Dynamic Power Ranges - Methods and systems for accurate and precise fuel supply control for continuous-flow of gaseous fuel to an internal combustion engine over a large dynamic power range, including a dual-stage valve that allows optimal control—a first stage in the form of a voice-coil driven electronic pressure regulator, and a second stage in the form of a voice-coil-driven choked-flow valve; monitoring the pressure of the fuel intermediate the two stages and making appropriate adjustments to the first stage via a pressure actuator loop; feeding the gaseous fuel mixture through a unitary block assembly into the second stage; monitoring the pressure of the air/fuel mixture and making appropriate adjustments to the second stage via a valve actuator control loop. | 12-19-2013 |
20140156195 | Systems and Methods for Collecting, Analyzing, Recording, and Transmitting Fluid Hydrocarbon Production Monitoring and Control Data - Systems and methods for collecting, analyzing, transmitting, and acting on information collected from instruments monitoring and controlling equipment used for natural gas well production collection and pipeline insertion platforms (skids). Said instruments may include handheld computing devices like the Apple iPhone, iPad, or other PDAs; said devices using short or long range, wired or wireless communication. The systems and methods reduce costs, errors, inefficiencies, and increase safety by giving the user simple GUI interfaces for data collection and for action items. The said handheld devices can guide the data collector to the skid location using GPS or other location based services, collect data via wired of wireless methods, guide the data collector through manual data input methods or safety action items, compare current readings to past history and evaluate current safety or out-of-tolerance conditions or entries, among other items. | 06-05-2014 |
20140284142 | Tactile Feedback for Joystick Position/Speed Controls - A joystick controller is disclosed for controlling speed of a boom lift platform, the controller having motors or the like that provide tactile feedback that is intuitively interpreted and adjusted by the user of the joystick speed control, the joystick being neutrally-biased to effect a null velocity when the joystick is positioned in a neutral position, but the tactile feedback forcing the joystick away from neutral to a degree that represents the platform's actual speed. | 09-25-2014 |
20140295718 | Apparatus and Method for the Control of Engine Throttle for Inboard and Outboard Boat Motors - A ski boat throttle control system incorporating a rotary assembly such as a thumbwheel within the control lever knob which is part of the control lever assembly that is gripped and held by the operator of the boat during use. The incorporation of such a thumbwheel assembly allows the operator to make more controlled adjustment to the speed of the boat when the boat is in normal operational mode and to intuitively make adjustments to the cruise control speed of the boat when in cruise control. | 10-02-2014 |
20150090170 | Dual Rudder Watercraft Steering Control System for Enhanced Maneuverability - A steering control system for ski boat with an inboard motor and a single, non-steerable propeller. The control system augments the traditional aft rudder with a forward rudder (located immediately in front of the propeller), and controls one or both rudders to improve steering when backing and in low forward speed conditions. The control system may control only the forward rudder, while the pre-existing controls operate the aft rudder, or optionally controls both rudders. The rudder angle control algorithm calculates proportional rudder angles based on helm and throttle settings, or optimal rudder angles based on more sensed conditions including the operator's helm and throttle controls, the ski boat's direction and speed, propeller RPM and thrust direction, and each rudder's angle. An electronic controller sends control signals to the rudders to achieve the optimal rudder angles. | 04-02-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080243321 | Event sensor - An automatic timing measurement system that provides a measure of time of passage of a watercraft through a prescribed course. Algorithms based on inertial or other estimates augmented by GPS speed/position measurements are used to track position of a watercraft. Said position estimates are used to allow the locations of prescribed courses to be mapped and memorized. Algorithms are then used to allow the apparatus to automatically detect passage of a watercraft through mapped courses for the purpose of measuring and reporting time of passage of said watercraft past key points in said course, and for modifying the behavior of the speed control portion of the apparatus if necessary at certain points in the mapped course. A measure of accuracy of driver steering can be provided along with the ability to automatically steer the watercraft through the course if “steer-by-wire” mechanism is available. GPS speed control is augmented with a secondary velocity measurement device that measures speed over water resulting in an optional user selectable real-time compensation for water current. Furthermore, GPS is used as the key input to produce boat speed-based pull-up profiles. | 10-02-2008 |
20090209152 | WATERCRAFT SPEED CONTROL DEVICE - An automatic speed control system that provides desired watercraft velocity over land. The coupled algorithms correct engine speed and torque using inertia based measurements, GPS, and tachometer measurements, and the corrections are augmented and enhanced by velocity/speed and torque/speed relationships that are dynamically and adaptively programmed with real-time data collected during replicated operations of the watercraft in specified conditions. | 08-20-2009 |
20090209153 | WATERCRAFT SPEED CONTROL DEVICE - An automatic speed control system that provides desired watercraft velocity over land. The coupled algorithms correct engine speed and torque using inertia based measurements, GPS, and tachometer measurements, and the corrections are augmented and enhanced by velocity/speed and torque/speed relationships that are dynamically and adaptively programmed with real-time data collected during replicated operations of the watercraft in specified conditions. | 08-20-2009 |
20130220734 | Tactile Feedback for Joystick Position/Speed Controls - A joystick controller is disclosed for controlling speed of a boom lift platform, the controller having motors or the like that provide tactile feedback that is intuitively interpreted and adjusted by the user of the joystick speed control, the joystick being neutrally-biased to effect a null velocity when the joystick is positioned in a neutral position, but the tactile feedback forcing the joystick away from neutral to a degree that represents the platform's actual speed. | 08-29-2013 |