Abstract: A current limiting device comprises at least two electrodes; an electrically conducting composite material between the electrodes; interfaces between the electrodes and electrically conducting composite material; an inhomogeneous distribution of resistance at the interfaces whereby, during a high current event, adiabatic resistive heating at the interfaces causes rapid thermal expansion and vaporization and at least a partial physical separation at the interfaces; and a structure for exerting compressive pressure on the electrically conducting composite material, wherein the electrically conducting composite material comprises at least one polymer matrix and at least one conductive filler.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 24, 2002
Date of Patent:
April 1, 2003
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Anil Raj Duggal, Andrew Jay Salem, Lionel Monty Levinson, Michael Leslie Todt
Abstract: In a method for characterizing the angiogenesis status of a tumor in a living subject, timed magnetic resonance images of the subject into whom a reptating polymer contrast agent containing chelating diethylentriaminepentacetic acid dosed with gadolinum has been introduced are obtained. At least two images taken at different times are compared in order to determine the percentage image enhancement in a tumor region of interest. A contrast agent including a reptating polymer containing technetium-99 is used with a nuclear medicine version of this technique.
Abstract: The invention relates to an irradiation system for disinfecting water comprising a conduit which is transparent to ultraviolet radiation, a chamber having an annular cross section, disposed around the conduit, the chamber containing an ionizable gas, and a coil disposed around the chamber for ionizing the ionizable gas to produce an ultraviolet emission which propagates into the conduit to disinfect the water flowing through the conduit.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 13, 1999
Date of Patent:
March 18, 2003
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Joseph Darryl Michael, Bruce Edward Brackett
Abstract: A current limiting arrangement comprises at least two electrodes and at least two electrically conductive composite materials. The current limiting arrangement has predetermined operational bounds. The at least two composite materials each comprising a low pyrolysis temperature binder and an electrically conductive filler. The at least two conductive composite materials are in parallel with one another. Each conductive composite material has electrical and physical characteristics that define operational bounds, and at least two conductive composite materials having at least one different characteristic. A total of the electrical and physical characteristics of the at least two conductive composite materials being substantially similar to the operational bounds of the current limiting arrangement.
Abstract: The invention relates to a light source comprising one or more organic light emitting devices mounted on a mounting substrate, each of the organic light emitting devices comprising a first electrode which is light transmissive, an organic light emitting layer, a second electrode, a first device electrical contact extending from the first electrode to the mounting substrate, and a second device electrical contact extending from the second electrode to the mounting substrate. The invention also relates to a method of making such a light source.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 12, 2000
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2003
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Anil Raj Duggal, Richard Joseph Saia, Paul Alan McConnelee, Larry Gene Turner
Abstract: A light-emitting device includes an anode, a cathode, and at least one organic electroluminescent (“EL”) material positioned between the anode and the cathode. Nanoparticles of at least one photoluminescent material are dispersed in the organic EL material. The organic EL material emits a first electromagnetic (“EM”) radiation having a first spectrum in response to an applied electrical field. The PL material absorbs a portion of the first EM radiation emitted by the organic EL material and emits a second EM radiation having a second spectrum. A plurality of the light-emitting devices are arranged on a transparent substrate to provide a panel display or a lighting source.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 16, 2000
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2003
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Anil Raj Duggal, Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos
Abstract: A method for producing shaped articles of ceramic composites provides a high degree of dimensional tolerance to these articles. A fiber preform is disposed on a surface of a stable formed support, a surface of which is formed with a plurality of indentations, such as grooves, slots, or channels. Precursors of ceramic matrix materials are provided to the fiber preform to infiltrate from both sides of the fiber preform. The infiltration is conducted under vacuum at a temperature not much greater than a melting point of the precursors. The melt-infiltrated composite article substantially retains its dimension and shape throughout the fabrication process.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 30, 2001
Date of Patent:
January 7, 2003
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Gregory Scot Corman, Milivoj Konstantin Brun, Henry Charles McGuigan
Abstract: A device structure and method for outdoor signs utilizing organic light emitting device (OLED) technology. Exemplary embodiments of the device include an OLED that is patterned into a sign combined with an exterior layer consisting of a highly scattering, non-absorbing coating over the OLED emitting regions and a highly absorbing coating over the non-emitting regions. The result is a sign that can be viewed using organic electroluminescent (EL) light under low ambient light level conditions, and due to the exterior coating, can also be viewed under high ambient light conditions.
Abstract: A method of preparing and testing an array of ceramics for optical properties, comprising: providing a host material that is capable of being made optically transparent or translucent upon sintering; forming the host material into an array of pixels attached to a base plate; doping the host material; reacting the host material and the dopant, to form an array of products; and testing the products for optical properties.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 29, 2000
Date of Patent:
December 17, 2002
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Steven Jude Duclos, Charles David Greskovich
Abstract: A contaminated aqueous composition is withdrawn from a groundwater extraction well and the groundwater is treated in a pump and treat system to remove a contaminant. The treating of the aqueous composition is monitored from a location remote from the groundwater extraction well and the treating is adjusted to remove a contaminant in accordance with the monitoring. A system to treat a contaminated aqueous composition comprises a capture zone to intercept a contaminated aqueous composition and a surface pump and treat system to receive and treat the contaminated aqueous composition from the capture zone. The system also includes a sensor that senses a contaminant in the contaminated aqueous composition and a monitor to receive information concerning the contaminant from the sensor and to consequently control the pump and treat system to treat the contaminated aqueous composition. The monitor is situated at a location remote from the pump and treat system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 7, 2000
Date of Patent:
December 10, 2002
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Timothy Mark Sivavec, Patricia Denise Mackenzie, Sunita Singh Baghel, Joseph James Salvo
Abstract: An article includes a silicon-containing substrate and a modified mullite coating. The modified mullite coating comprises mullite and a modifier component that reduces cracks in the modified mullite coating. The article can further comprise a thermal barrier coating applied to the modified mullite coating. The modified mullite coating functions as a bond coating between the external environmental/thermal barrier coating and the silicon-containing substrate. In a method of forming an article, a silicon-containing substrate is formed and a modified mullite coating is applied. The modified mullite coating comprises mullite and a modifier component that reduces cracks in the modified mullite coating.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 26, 1999
Date of Patent:
November 26, 2002
Assignees:
General Electric Company, Cleveland State University
Abstract: A fluorosilicone crosslinker and method for making is provided. Reaction is effected between a silanol terminated polyfluoroalkyl silicone fluid and a polyalkoxysilane in the presence of a Platinum Group Metal catalyst. The fluorosilicone crosslinker can be used in combination with a silanol terminated fluoroalkyl substituted polydiorganosiloxane to formulate a neutral, condensation curable, solvent resistant sealant.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 27, 2000
Date of Patent:
November 12, 2002
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Navjot Singh, John Thomas Leman, John M. Whitney
Abstract: A non-iron sulfide is introduced into an iron-containing zone to form ferrous sulfide. A contaminated aqueous composition is then contacted with the ferrous sulfide to react with said contaminants.
Abstract: A multilayer cell is provided that comprises two solid, nonporous current collectors, two porous electrodes separating the current collectors, a porous separator between the electrodes and an electrolyte occupying pores in the electrodes and separator. The mutilayer cell is electrolyzed to disassociate water within the cell to oxygen gas and hydrogen gas. A vacuum is applied to the cell substantially at the same time as the electrolyzing step, to remove the oxygen gas and hydrogen gas. The cell is then sealed to form a ultracapacitor substantially free from water.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 5, 2000
Date of Patent:
October 15, 2002
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Chang Wei, Elihu Calvin Jerabek, James Day
Abstract: The invention relates to an organic light emitting device comprising a first conductor, a organic light emitting layer overlying the first conductor which emits light of a characteristic wavelength, a second conductor overlying the organic light emitting layer, and a transparent or substantially transparent substrate overlying at least one of the conductors. The substrate comprises dispersed particles of a getter material in an amount effective to protect the organic light emitting layer from being damaged by oxygen and/or water during a desired period of operation. The getter material has a particle size small enough that is smaller than the characteristic wavelength of the emitted light, so as to maintain the transparency or substantial transparency of the substrate. A method for making the device is also disclosed.
Abstract: A composition of matter has the formula:
where n is an integer equal or greater than 1. The composition of matter possesses characteristic absorbance behavior with respect to infrared and visible energy, which is used to detect and determine the concentration of TCE. In another aspect, a method for generating the composition comprises reacting trichloroethylene (TCE) with poly(ethylenimine) in accordance with the formula:
where n is an integer equal or greater than 1. Also, the invention sets forth a sensor to detect trichloroethylene (TCE) in materials. The sensor includes the composition of material that can absorb at least one of infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV) or visible (VIS) energies when formed by the reaction of trichloroethylene (TCE) with poly(ethylenimine).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 17, 1999
Date of Patent:
October 8, 2002
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Timothy Mark Sivavec, Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo
Abstract: In a method for treating a contaminated fluid stream, a characteristic of a flow of the composition to a carbon adsorption zone is sensed. The sensing is remotely monitored to determine a treatment for the contaminated fluid stream. The contaminated fluid stream is then treated according to the monitoring. A system for treating a contaminated fluid stream comprises a sensor that senses a characteristic of a flow of a contaminated fluid stream prior to treatment and a monitor to receive information concerning the characteristic from the sensor and to consequently control the carbon adsorption zone to treat the contaminated fluid stream. The monitor is situated at a location remote from the carbon adsorption zone.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 20, 2000
Date of Patent:
September 17, 2002
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Timothy Mark Sivavec, Patricia Denise Mackenzie, Joseph James Salvo, Sunita Singh Baghel
Abstract: A sensing circuit for a triac dimmable gas discharge lamp ballast uses the duty cycle of the output waveform of a conventional triac dimmer as the parameter representing a set point for controlling the degree of clamping applied to the ballast circuit, and thus the amount of light produced by a fluorescent lamp. The sensing circuit may include a comparator that receives a rectified output waveform of a triac dimmer and produces output pulses corresponding in width to the duty cycle of the waveform, and a capacitor averaging the values of the pulses produced by the comparator to produce a set point signal representing a dimming level of the lamp. A triac dimmable ballast circuit using this sensing circuit has reduced sensitivity to line voltage and a wide mechanical range over which the light level of the fluorescent lamp is controlled by the user. The sensing circuit also enables a preheat timing circuit that eliminates the timing capacitor of prior art preheating circuits.
Abstract: There is provided a halophosphate phosphor having the formula (Ca, Mg, Ba, Sr, Zn)5(PO4)3(F, Cl, Br): Sb3+, Mn2+ doped with at least one rare earth ion which has a higher charge carrier capture cross section than the phosphor lattice defects. The rare earth ion preferentially traps charge carriers and thus decreases the density of color centers. The rare earth ions are preferably trivalent ions selected from Eu3+, Sm3+, Yb3+, Tm3+, Ce3+, Tb3+ and Pr3+.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 26, 2000
Date of Patent:
August 20, 2002
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Alok Mani Srivastava, William Winder Beers, Thomas Frederick Soules, Holly Ann Comanzo
Abstract: A method and system are provided that can be used at any stage of a manufacturing process to determine physical properties such as crosslink density. The method and system require little or no sample manipulation. The method and system are independent of rubber particle size and matrix composition. In the method and system, physical properties of a material are determined by NMR measurement. A T1 (spin lattice relaxation time) is measured for a material, a T2 (spin-spin relaxation time) is measured for the material and a value T1/T2 is calculated that is representative of a physical property of material.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 11, 2000
Date of Patent:
August 20, 2002
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Thomas Alan Early, Elizabeth Anne Williams, Bernadette Mondragon Bennett