Patents by Inventor Brent Charles Kumfer
Brent Charles Kumfer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7589942Abstract: A motor starter is disclosed. The motor starter includes control circuitry integrally arranged with at least one current path and a processor included in the control circuitry. The motor starter further includes at least one processor algorithm residing on the processor, the at least one processor algorithm containing instructions to monitor characteristics of current on the at least one current path and to provide data pertaining to a condition of the at least one current path. The motor starter further includes a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed on the at least one current path, the MEMS switch responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate the control of an electrical current, passing through the at least one current path.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2007Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brent Charles Kumfer, William James Premerlani, Robert Joseph Cagglano, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, David James Lesslie
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Patent number: 7554222Abstract: A current control device is disclosed. The current control device includes control circuitry integrally arranged with a current path and at least one micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch pair disposed in the current path. The current control device further includes a hybrid arcless limiting technology (HALT) circuit connected in parallel with the at least one MEMS switch pair facilitating the opening of the at least one MEMS switch pair.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2007Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brent Charles Kumfer, William James Premerlani, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Kuna Venkat Satya Rama Kishore, John Park, Owen Schelenz
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Patent number: 7542250Abstract: A motor starter is provided. The motor starter includes micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry. The system may further include solid state switching circuitry coupled in a parallel circuit with the electromechanical switching circuitry, and a controller coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry. The controller may be configured to perform selective switching of a load current from a motor connected to the motor starter. The switching may be performed between the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry in response to a load current condition appropriate to an operational capability of a respective one of the switching circuitries.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2007Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: William James Premerlani, Fengfeng Tao, Joshua Isaac Wright, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, John Norton Park, Robert Joseph Caggiano, David James Lesslie, Brent Charles Kumfer, Charles Stephan Pitzen, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Edward Keith Howell
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Publication number: 20090125124Abstract: A programmable logic controller is disclosed. The programmable logic controller includes control circuitry integrally arranged with a current path and at least one micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed in the current path. The programmable logic controller further includes a hybrid arcless limiting technology (HALT) circuit connected in parallel with the at least one MEMS switch facilitating the opening of the at least one MEMS switch. The programmable logic controller also may include a MEMS switch and a voltage sensor for measuring the voltage across the MEMS switch. The MEMS switches are arranged to transmit or receive logic signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2007Publication date: May 14, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: William James Premerlani, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Brent Charles Kumfer, Cecil Rivers, JR.
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Publication number: 20090115255Abstract: A current control device is disclosed. The current control device includes control circuitry integrally arranged with a current path and at least one micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch pair disposed in the current path. The current control device further includes a hybrid arcless limiting technology (HALT) circuit connected in parallel with the at least one MEMS switch pair facilitating the opening of the at least one MEMS switch pair.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2007Publication date: May 7, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Brent Charles Kumfer, William James Premerlani, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Kuna Venkat Kishore, John Park, Owen Schelenz
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Publication number: 20090079273Abstract: A circuit for servicing a load connectable with a power supply is disclosed. The circuit includes a plurality of three-terminal switches and one control supply. The three-terminal switches define a series conduction path connectable between the power supply and the load. Each of the plurality of three terminal switches includes a source terminal, a drain terminal, and a gate terminal. The control supply is productive of a control voltage and in power connection between the gate terminal and source terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches. Each of the plurality of three-terminal switches is responsive to the control voltage at its respective gate terminal to close a connection between the respective source terminal and respective drain terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2007Publication date: March 26, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Brent Charles Kumfer, Robert Keith Hollenbeck
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Patent number: 7508096Abstract: A circuit for servicing a load connectable with a power supply is disclosed. The circuit includes a plurality of three-terminal switches and one control supply. The three-terminal switches define a series conduction path connectable between the power supply and the load. Each of the plurality of three terminal switches includes a source terminal, a drain terminal, and a gate terminal. The control supply is productive of a control voltage and in power connection between the gate terminal and source terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches. Each of the plurality of three-terminal switches is responsive to the control voltage at its respective gate terminal to close a connection between the respective source terminal and respective drain terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2007Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brent Charles Kumfer, Robert Keith Hollenbeck
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Publication number: 20080316664Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for over-current protection. The method comprising monitoring a load current value of a load current passing through a plurality of micro-electromechanical switching system devices, determining if the monitored load current value varies from a predetermined load current value, and generating a fault signal in the event that the monitored load current value varies from the predetermined load current value. The method also comprises diverting the load current from the plurality of micro-electromechanical switching system, devices in response to the fault signal and determining if the variance in the load current value was due to a true fault trip or a false nuisance trip.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2007Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: William James Premerlani, Robert Joseph Caggiano, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Brent Charles Kumfer, Charles Stephan Pitzen, David James Lesslie, Joshua Isaac Wright, Parag Thakre
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Publication number: 20080315980Abstract: The present invention comprises a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) micro-switch array based current limiting enabled circuit interrupting apparatus. The apparatus comprising an over-current protective component, wherein the over-current protective component comprises a switching circuit, wherein the switching circuit comprises a plurality of micro-electromechanical system switching devices. The apparatus also comprises a circuit breaker or switching component, wherein the circuit breaker or switching component is in operable communication with the over-current protective component.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2007Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: William James Premerlani, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, John Norton Park, Brent Charles Kumfer, Parag Thakre
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Publication number: 20080310056Abstract: The present invention provides a remote operable over-current protection apparatus. The apparatus includes control circuitry integrally arranged on a current path and a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed on the current path, the MEMS switch responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate the interruption of an electrical current passing through the current path. The apparatus further includes a communication connection in signal connection with the control circuitry such that the control circuitry is responsive to a control signal on the communication connection to control a state of the MEMS switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2007Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Brent Charles Kumfer, William James Premerlani, Robert Joseph Caggiano, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Christopher Fred Keimel, Charles Stephan Pitzen, David James Lesslie, Parag Thakre
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Publication number: 20080309438Abstract: A current control device is disclosed. The current control device includes control circuitry and a current path integrally arranged with the control circuitry. The current path includes a set of conduction interfaces and a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed between the set of conduction interfaces. The set of conduction interfaces have geometry of a defined fuse terminal geometry and include a first interface disposed at one end of the current path and a second interface disposed at an opposite end of the current path. The MEMS switch is responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate the interruption of an electrical current passing through the current path.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2007Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Robert Joseph Caggiano, William James Premerlani, Marcelo Esteban Valdes, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Brent Charles Kumfer, Charles Stephan Pitzen, John Norton Park
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Publication number: 20080310062Abstract: Electrical distribution systems implementing micro-electromechanical system based switching devices. Exemplary embodiments include a method in an electrical distribution system, the method including determining if there is a fault condition in a branch of the electrical distribution system, the branch having a plurality of micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switches, re-closing a MEMS switch of the plurality of MEMS switches, which is furthest upstream in the branch and determining if the fault condition is still present. Exemplary embodiments include an electrical distribution system, including an input port for receiving a source of power, a main distribution bus electrically coupled to the input port, a service disconnect MEMS switch disposed between and coupled to the input port and the main distribution bus and a plurality of electrical distribution branches electrically coupled to the main distribution bus.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2007Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Brent Charles Kumfer, William James Premerlani, Robert Joseph Caggiano, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Charles Stephan Pitzen
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Publication number: 20080310057Abstract: A motor starter is disclosed. The motor starter includes control circuitry integrally arranged with at least one current path and a processor included in the control circuitry. The motor starter further includes at least one processor algorithm residing on the processor, the at least one processor algorithm containing instructions to monitor characteristics of current on the at least one current path and to provide data pertaining to a condition of the at least one current path. The motor starter further includes a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed on the at least one current path, the MEMS switch responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate the control of an electrical current, passing through the at least one current path.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2007Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Brent Charles Kumfer, William James Premerlani, Robert Joseph Caggiano, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, David James Lesslie
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Publication number: 20080165457Abstract: A motor starter is provided. The motor starter includes micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry. The system may further include solid state switching circuitry coupled in a parallel circuit with the electromechanical switching circuitry, and a controller coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry. The controller may be configured to perform selective switching of a load current from a motor connected to the motor starter. The switching may be performed between the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry in response to a load current condition appropriate to an operational capability of a respective one of the switching circuitries.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Inventors: William James Premerlani, Fengfeng Tao, Joshua Isaac Wright, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, John Norton Park, Robert Joseph Caggiano, David James Lesslie, Brent Charles Kumfer, Charles Stephan Pitzen, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Edward Keith Howell