Denise M Myers

US Patent:

20030084957, May 8, 2003

Filed:

Sep 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/259541

Inventors:

Forrest Seitz - Beaverton OR, US
Philip Krebs - West Linn OR, US
Brian Darby - Portland OR, US
Denise Myers - Washougal WA, US
John Cochran - Lake Oswego OR, US

International Classification:

B65B001/30

US Classification:

141/198000, 141/095000

Abstract:

A beverage mixing and dispensing valve, or a beverage dispenser including the valve, includes an automatic shut-off features. A user presses a cup or container against a lever on a soft-drink dispenser. The lever closes a switch to activate the opening of a solenoid-operated valve. At the same time, a detection circuit is monitored to determine whether overflow of drink or foam has occurred. When drink or foam overflows and bridges a gap between two metal conductors on the lever, resistance is lowered and electricity flows in the detection circuit. The valve then automatically shuts off the flow of beverage. Energy is saved in keeping the valve open using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique for voltage to the solenoid, rather than using a steady-state voltage.

US Patent:

20080088804, Apr 17, 2008

Filed:

Oct 12, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/871951

Inventors:

Mark Peterson - Lake Oswego OR, US
Kyrre Tangen - Fredrikstad, NO
Denise Myers - Washougal WA, US
Dan Loomis - Portland OR, US

International Classification:

G03B 21/14

US Classification:

353069000, 353121000

Abstract:

Methods, systems and apparatus for diffuser vibration to reduce speckle in a laser display device are provided. In some embodiments, a coil is operatively coupled to the diffuser to generate the desired vibrations in the diffuser. In some embodiments, an air jet may be operatively coupled to the diffuser such that vibrations from the air jet are transferred to the diffuser. In other embodiments, parasitic vibrations from other components in the laser display device may be used to vibrate the diffuser without requiring an additional motor dedicated to only vibrating the diffuser.