Richard S Cullen

US Patent:

46366121, Jan 13, 1987

Filed:

Apr 6, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/597460

Inventors:

Richard A. Cullen - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Cyclomatic Industries, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

B23K 912

US Classification:

21912434

Abstract:

The optical tracker of this invention is for tracking a boundary on an illuminated surface where the reflectivity of the surface changes at the boundary. In the preferred embodiment the optical tracker includes an optic foot which rides on the surface to be tracked. The optic foot comprises a housing with two channels for receiving a transmitter optical fiber and the receiver optical fiber. The two channels converge to form an opening in the housing which faces the surface to be tracked. Light supplied by the transmitter optical fiber illuminates the portion of the surface underneath the opening and the reflected light from such portion of the surface enters the receiver optical fiber which transmits the light to a detecting means for locating and tracking the boundary on the surface. In the preferred embodiment the receiver optical fiber is oriented substantially normal to the surface and the transmitter optical fiber substantially at 60 degrees thereto to reduce dynamic range. In the preferred embodiment the optic foot rides on two ruby or sapphire half spheres to accommodate uneven surfaces to be tracked.

US Patent:

62046454, Mar 20, 2001

Filed:

Jul 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/619807

Inventors:

Richard A. Cullen - Encinitas CA

International Classification:

G05F 1613

US Classification:

323223

Abstract:

A controller for a solar electric generator that permits the generator to produce power substantially at its maximum capacity while also providing efficient charging at three charging stages; i. e. , bulk charging, acceptance charging and float charging. Power is transferred from the generator to a temporary electric storage device that is periodically partially drained of power to maintain the temporary electric storage device at a voltage corresponding to the voltage needed by the generator to provide maximum generator power. The electric power drained from the temporary storage device is used to charge conventional batteries. In a preferred embodiment, the temporary storage device is a capacitor that is part of a buck regulator operating at 50 kHz with duty factor control between 0% and 100%. This buck topology switching type regulator provides the periodic draining. In the preferred embodiment control of the duty factor of the buck regulator is utilized to limit current, to prevent battery over charging, to test for the voltage corresponding to maximum power, and to operate the solar generator at is maximum power voltage.

US Patent:

46237780, Nov 18, 1986

Filed:

Apr 6, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/597612

Inventors:

Richard A. Cullen - San Diego CA
Thomas S. Thorvick - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Cyclomatic Industries, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

B23K 912

US Classification:

21912434

Abstract:

The optical tracker of this invention tracks a boundary on the surface where the light reflectivity of the surface changes at the boundary. The optical tracker includes a sensing means for sensing light reflected from an elongated portion of the surface defining a window. When the sensing means is moved over the surface it will receive consecutively light reflected from a sequence of windows that ir passes over and generates a set of electrical signals indicative of the intensity of light reflected from locations along the length of the window. A microprocessor control means derives from the signals provided by the sensing means secondary sets of signals useful for serving as a template and for finding the boundary when the window includes a selected portion of the boundary. The microprocessor control means can be activated to record a secondary set of signals as a template. If the sensing means is moved across the surface to find the boundary the microprocessor control means will compare the secondary set of signals derived from signals provided by the sensing means with the template to find a boundary.

US Patent:

61113913, Aug 29, 2000

Filed:

Sep 11, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/152049

Inventors:

Richard A. Cullen - Encinitas CA

International Classification:

G05F 1613

US Classification:

323223

Abstract:

A controller for a solar electric generator that permits the generator to produce power substantially at its maximum capacity. Power is transferred from the generator to a temporary electric storage device that is periodically partially drained of power to maintain the temporary electric storage device at a voltage corresponding to the voltage needed by the generator to provide maximum generator power. The electric power drained from the temporary storage device is used to charge conventional batteries. In a preferred embodiment, the temporary storage device is a capacitor that is part of a buck regulator operating at 50 kHz with duty factor control between 0% and 100%. This buck topology switching type regulator provides the periodic draining. In the preferred embodiment control of the duty factor of the buck regulator is utilized to limit current, to prevent battery over charging, to test for the voltage corresponding to maximum power, and to operate the solar generator at is maximum power voltage. When operated at its maximum power operating point, the output to the battery is constant power, providing greater battery charge current than prior art controllers.

US Patent:

46509577, Mar 17, 1987

Filed:

Apr 29, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/727421

Inventors:

Richard Cullen - San Diego CA
Randolph A. Koploy - San Diego CA
Thomas S. Thorvick - San Diego CA
Donald A. Westman - El Cajon CA

Assignee:

Cyclomatic Industries, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

B23K 912

US Classification:

21912403

Abstract:

The voltage between a work instrument and a workpiece varies with the distance between them. A microcoded controller is used to compare the voltage between the work instrument and the workpiece when the instrument moves relative to the workpiece, to generate a correction signal. The correction signal is the sum of a proportional term, a derivative term and an integral term. A servo means responds to the correction signal to correct the distance between the work instrument and the work piece so as to maintain the voltage between them at a set level. A battery-backed memory is used to store crucial parameters necessary for operating the automatic control system to prevent loss of the parameters from the controller memory caused by power interruptions. A stepper motor operating in either the full of half step mode may be used to move the work instrument away from or towards the work piece in response to the correction signal.