Patents Represented by Attorney Joseph J. Christian
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Patent number: 8153308Abstract: An electrode includes a hydrogen storage material wherein the electrode has a discharge capacity of greater than about 200 mHh/g. The electrode may include an electrically conductive substrate; and a material capable of storing hydrogen on a surface thereof supported by the substrate. The hydrogen storage material is formed by contacting a powder composition with a first solution prior to electrode fabrication and by contacting the hydrogen storage material to a second solution subsequent to electrode fabrication; and the first solution comprises a first reducing agent and a first alkaline base, and the second solution comprises a second reducing agent and a second alkaline base.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2007Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Qunjian Huang, Chang Wei, Tao Wang, Hai Yang
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Patent number: 8120290Abstract: A propulsion system is provided that includes an electric drive, a first energy storage system electrically coupled to the electric drive through a direct current (DC) link, and a second energy storage system electrically coupled to the electric drive. The propulsion system further includes a multi-channel bi-directional boost converter coupled to the first energy storage system and to the second energy storage system such that the second energy storage system is decouplable from the DC link, wherein the second energy storage system comprises at least one battery coupled in series with at least one ultracapacitor.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2008Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Robert Dean King
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Patent number: 8103429Abstract: A system includes a controller configured to estimate a brake specific nitrogen oxide emission of an engine based on a plurality of sensed parameters of the engine. The controller is also configured to control one or more control variables of the engine to reduce specific fuel consumption while ensuring compliance of brake specific nitrogen oxide emissions within predetermined limits.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2006Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Manthram Sivasubramaniam, Paul Kenneth Houpt, Roy James Primus, Sunil Shirish Shah
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Patent number: 8058802Abstract: An article includes a display layer having an outward facing surface and an inward facing surface. The display layer includes a light-emitting device that generates heat and light during use. A thermal transport layer may be secured to the display layer. The thermal transport layer may include a thermally conductive material that can transport heat generated by the light-emitting device away from the light-emitting device.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2007Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Yun Li, Mark Lewis Grabb, John Erik Hershey, Jian Zhang, Hua Xia
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Patent number: 8056322Abstract: A system is provided for supplying reductants to an emission treatment unit. The system comprises a fuel tank adapted to directly or indirectly supply a first premixed fuel stream and a second premixed fuel stream, wherein each fuel stream comprises a primary fuel component and an oxygenate reductant component. An engine is in fluid communication with the fuel tank, wherein the engine is configured to receive the first premixed fuel stream and create an exhaust stream. The system further includes an emission treatment unit to treat the exhaust stream. A separation unit is configured to receive the second premixed fuel stream, separate the second premixed fuel stream into a first fraction stream and a second fraction stream, and supply the first fraction stream to the emission treatment unit, wherein the first fraction stream comprises a higher concentration of the oxygenate reductant component than the second fraction stream.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2008Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Benjamin Hale Winkler, Dan Hancu, Frederic Vitse, Norberto Silvi, Hua Wang, Ke Liu
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Patent number: 8054094Abstract: A method of providing an image of an interior of a structure containing regions having different conductivities or admittivities. In one embodiment a series of electrical signal sets is applied to a series of electrodes, each signal set generating a rotating electric field. A measured set of electrical signals obtained from the electrodes are used to calculate a conductivity or admittivity distribution representative of the interior of the structure in a region about which the electrodes are positioned. The process of calculating the distribution includes defining a cost function, e.g., the energy function based on the distribution, and a forward model expressing the measured set of electrical signals as a function of the change in voltage values with respect to conductivity or admittivity and requiring that the partial derivative of the difference between the energy function and a function based on the forward model equal zero.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2010Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rajesh Veera Venkata Lakshmi Langoju, Manoj Kumar Koyithitta Meethal, Debasish Mishra, Sekethraman Mahalingam
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Patent number: 8050166Abstract: A method for storing data on a storage medium is provided. The method includes receiving a modulated bitstream, wherein the modulated bitstream comprises a plurality of bits comprising a bitstate of 1 and 0. The method also includes secondary modulating each of the plurality of bits comprising the bitstate of 1 to output a plurality of secondary modulated bits. The method further includes forming a plurality of marks in the storage medium, the marks indicative of each of the plurality of secondary modulated bits and the plurality of bits comprising the bitstate of 0 in the modulated bitstream.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2010Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Anderson Fergus Ross, Victor Petrovich Ostroverkhov, John Erik Hershey, Brian Lee Lawrence, Kenneth Brakeley Welles, II, Milos Todorovic
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Patent number: 8047317Abstract: A power system is provided that includes a first voltage bus, a traction motor configured to generate electrical power during a regenerative braking mode and to supply the generated electrical power to the first voltage bus, and an auxiliary system coupled to the first voltage bus. The auxiliary system comprises a second voltage bus and a power interface unit coupling the first voltage bus to the second voltage bus. The auxiliary system also comprises an energy storage device coupled to the second voltage bus and configured to store energy supplied to the second voltage bus and configured to supply stored energy to the second voltage bus and an auxiliary load configured to receive power based on power in the second voltage bus.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2008Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: A. Jorge Mari Curbelo, Henry Todd Young
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Patent number: 8044358Abstract: A neutron sensing material detector includes an anode; a cathode; and a semiconductor material disposed between the anode and the cathode. An electric field is applied between the anode and cathode. The semiconductor material is composed of a ternary composition of stoichiometry LiM2+GV and exhibits an antifluorite-type ordering, where the stoichiometric fractions are Li=1, M2+=1, and GV=1. Electron-hole pairs are created by absorption of radiation, and the electron-hole pairs are detected by the current they generate between the anode and the cathode. The anode may include an array of pixels to provide improved spatial and energy resolution over the face of the anode. The signal value for each pixel can be mapped to a color or grey scale normalized to all the other pixel signal values for a particular moment in time. A guard ring or guard grid may be provided to reduce leakage current.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2009Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Adrian Ivan, Daniel Bruno McDevitt, Brent Allen Clothier
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Patent number: 8038620Abstract: A method for Fresnel zone imaging is provided. The method comprises identifying a plurality of constructive regions and a plurality of destructive regions in an energy transmitting device and converting the destructive regions to the constructive regions by using an apodization profile. The apodization profile comprises apodization values for each constructive region and destructive region and the apodization values comprise real numbers.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2005Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Warren Lee, Kenneth Wayne Rigby, Lowell Scott Smith
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Patent number: 8039726Abstract: A device includes a first thermally conductive substrate having a first patterned electrode disposed thereon and a second thermally conductive substrate having a second patterned electrode disposed thereon, wherein the first and second thermally conductive substrates are arranged such that the first and second patterned electrodes are adjacent to one another. The device includes a plurality of nanowires disposed between the first and second patterned electrodes, wherein the plurality of nanowires is formed of a thermoelectric material. The device also includes a joining material disposed between the plurality of nanowires and at least one of the first and second patterned electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2005Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: An-Ping Zhang, Fazila Seker, Reed Roeder Corderman, Shixue Wen, Fred Sharifi, Melissa Suzanne Sander, Craig Douglas Young
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Patent number: 8034457Abstract: A seal structure is provided for an energy storage device. The seal structure includes a sealing glass joining an ion-conducting first ceramic to an electrically insulating second ceramic. The sealing glass has a composition that includes about 48 weight percent silica, about 20 weight percent to about 25 weight percent boria, about 20 weight percent to about 24 weight percent alumina, and about 8 weight percent to about 12 weight percent sodium oxide based on the total weight of the sealing glass composition. A method for making the seal structure is provided. An article comprising the seal structure is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2008Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Inventors: Jian Wu, Dong-Sil Park, Craig Stringer, Sundeep Kumar
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Patent number: 8018110Abstract: An internal permanent magnet (IPM) machine is provided. The IPM machine includes a stator assembly and a stator core. The stator core also includes multiple stator teeth. The stator assembly is further configured with stator windings to generate a magnetic field when excited with alternating currents and extends along a longitudinal axis with an inner surface defining a cavity. The IPM machine also includes a rotor assembly and a rotor core. The rotor core is disposed inside the cavity and configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The rotor assembly further includes a shaft. The shaft further includes multiple protrusions alternately arranged relative to multiple bottom structures provided on the shaft. The rotor assembly also includes multiple stacks of laminations disposed on the protrusions and dovetailed circumferentially around the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Pellegrino Alexander, Ayman Mohamed Fawzi EL-Refaie, Murtuza Lokhandwalla, Manoj Ramprasad Shah, Jeremy Daniel VanDam
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Patent number: 8013548Abstract: A system includes a first energy storage system electrically coupled to a DC-link, and the first energy storage system comprises a first energy source that can exchange electrical power with an electric motor through the DC-link; a boost converter coupled to the DC-link; a second energy storage system that can be reversibly electrically coupled to the boost converter through a contactor, and wherein an operating voltage of the second energy storage system is less than an operating voltage of the first energy source; and the second energy storage system comprises both an energy battery and a second energy source, and the second energy source has an operating voltage that is higher than the energy battery and is lower than the first energy source operating voltage. A vehicle incorporating the system and a related method are provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2008Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Dean King, Gary Raymond Kilinski
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Patent number: 8006653Abstract: A method includes mixing air and converted fuel from an on-board fuel converter in a fuel mixer to form an air-converted fuel mixture, the air-converted fuel mixture includes a short chain hydrocarbon; mixing the air-converted fuel mixture with a high specific heat diluent to form an air-diluent-converted fuel mixture; mixing the air-diluent-converted fuel mixture with a first amount of fuel to form a homogenous mixture. A system and article are included.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2008Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bhaskar Tamma, Ke Liu
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Patent number: 8004140Abstract: An internal permanent magnet (IPM) machine is provided. The IPM machine includes a stator assembly and a stator core. The stator core also includes multiple stator teeth. The stator assembly is further configured with stator windings to generate a stator magnetic field when excited with alternating currents and extends along a longitudinal axis with an inner surface defining a cavity. The IPM machine also includes a rotor assembly and a rotor core. The rotor core is disposed inside the cavity and configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The rotor assembly further includes a shaft. The shaft further includes multiple protrusions alternately arranged relative to multiple bottom structures provided on the shaft. The rotor assembly also includes multiple stacks of laminations disposed on the protrusions and dovetailed circumferentially around the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Pellegrino Alexander, Ayman Mohamed Fawzi EL-Refaie, Murtuza Lokhandwalla, Manoj Ramprasad Shah, Jeremy Daniel VanDam
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Patent number: 7992389Abstract: A system and method for monitoring at least one operating parameter indicative of an operating condition of an engine and controlling a turbocharger assist device to maintain desired operating conditions of the engine equipped with a turbocharger. In one embodiment, a controller is provided to control operation of a turbocharger assist device in an engine for generating electric power when an excess of energy exists in the exhaust of the engine to subtract work from a turbocharger drive shaft.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2006Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Anthony Holmes Furman, Roy James Primus
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Patent number: 7985505Abstract: An apparatus is provided that relates to an electrochemical cell assembly. The apparatus is capable of controlling water loss from a fuel cell, at least in part by separating gas and liquid fluid flows. A variety of flow designs are provided that separate liquid electrolyte flow from reagent gas flow. Some flow designs may be suitable for one or more of fuel cells, rechargeable fuel cells, and batteries such as metal hydride batteries. Furthermore, some embodiments may include a single electrochemical cell, or plurality of cells arranged in parallel or in series. Some embodiments may also relate to methods of mitigating water loss from an electrochemical cell assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hai Yang, Jun Cai, Rihua Xiong, Chang Wei, Qunjian Huang, Andrew Philip Shapiro, Jinghua Liu, Shengxian Wang, Xianguo Yu
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Patent number: 7953245Abstract: A system, method and program product for camera-based object analyses including object recognition, object detection, and/or object categorization. An exemplary embodiment of the computerized method for analyzing objects in images obtained from a camera system includes receiving image(s) having pixels from the camera system; calculating a pool of features for each pixel; then deriving either a pool of radial moment of features from the pool of features and a geometric center of the image(s) or a pool of central moments of features from the pool of features; then calculating a normalized descriptor, based on an area of the image(s) and either of the derived pool of moments of features; and then based on the normalized descriptor, a computer then either recognizes, detects, and/or categorizes an object(s) in the image(s).Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2009Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gianfranco Doretto, Yi Yao
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Patent number: 7916605Abstract: The present techniques provide systems and methods for decoding a data signal with a control bit to improve bit estimation. The techniques in one embodiment involve using decoding algorithms to estimate the a posteriori state probabilities and the a posteriori transition probabilities of the data encoding, and estimating bit state probabilities. The techniques further involve using a control bit in the bit stream and comparing the estimation of the control bit state in the segment of the bit stream with a test control bit determined based on an average of bit states from the encoded segment of the bit stream. If the estimation of the control bit and the test control bit are not equal, the state of the bit estimate with the lowest confidence probability will be changed.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2009Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Anderson Fergus Ross, Aria Pezeshk