Patents by Inventor Christopher Fred Keimel
Christopher Fred Keimel 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: 11326883Abstract: A gyroscope includes at least one anchor and a plurality of gyroscope spring elements coupled to the at least one anchor. The gyroscope also includes a plurality of concentric rings coupled to the plurality of gyroscope spring elements and configured to encircle the plurality of gyroscope spring elements. The gyroscope further includes an excitation/detection/tuning unit electrostatically coupled to the plurality of concentric rings.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2019Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sergey Alexandrovich Zotov, Christopher Fred Keimel, Todd Frederick Miller, Yizhen Lin
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Patent number: 11049671Abstract: A power distribution switch including a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) relay switch matrix disposed between a power source and an electrical load, and a controller module configured to operate the MEMS relay switch between a conducting and a non-conducting state, wherein the conducting state conducts power from the power source to the electrical load and the non-conducting state prevents power conduction from the power sources to the electrical load.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LimitedInventors: Russell Mark Compton, Glenn Scott Claydon, John Oliver Collins, Christopher Fred Keimel, Julian Peter Mayes
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Patent number: 10602950Abstract: The present approach relates to the fabrication and use of a probe array having multiple individual probes. In one embodiment, the probes of the probe array may be functionalized such that certain of the probes are suitable for electrical sensing (e.g., recording) or stimulation, non-electrical sensing or stimulation (e.g., chemical sensing and/or release of biomolecules when activated), or a combination of electrical and non-electrical sensing or stimulation.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2016Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Jeffrey M. Ashe, Kaustubh Ravindra Nagarkar, Christopher Michael Puleo, Christopher Fred Keimel, Craig Patrick Galligan, Yizhen Lin, Nancy Cecelia Stoffel, Richard Vanfleet, Robert Davis, Guohai Chen
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Publication number: 20200011667Abstract: A gyroscope includes at least one anchor and a plurality of gyroscope spring elements coupled to the at least one anchor. The gyroscope also includes a plurality of concentric rings coupled to the plurality of gyroscope spring elements and configured to encircle the plurality of gyroscope spring elements. The gyroscope further includes an excitation/detection/tuning unit electrostatically coupled to the plurality of concentric rings.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Sergey Alexandrovich Zotov, Christopher Fred Keimel, Todd Frederick Miller, Yizhen Lin
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Patent number: 10511163Abstract: A surge suppression device includes a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch electrically connected to a current path. Additionally, the surge suppression device includes a transient voltage suppression (TVS) device electrically connected in series to the MEMS switch. The surge suppression device is configured to protect electronic components from voltage surges or current surges.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2015Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Avinash Srikrishnan Kashyap, Christian M. Giovanniello, Christopher Fred Keimel
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Patent number: 10502568Abstract: A gyroscope includes at least one anchor and a plurality of gyroscope spring elements coupled to the at least one anchor. The gyroscope also includes a plurality of concentric rings coupled to the plurality of gyroscope spring elements and configured to encircle the plurality of gyroscope spring elements. The gyroscope further includes an excitation/detection/tuning unit electrostatically coupled to the plurality of concentric rings.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2015Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sergey Alexandrovich Zotov, Christopher Fred Keimel, Todd Frederick Miller, Yizhen Lin
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Publication number: 20190019637Abstract: A power distribution switch including a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) relay switch matrix disposed between a power source and an electrical load, and a controller module configured to operate the MEMS relay switch between a conducting and a non-conducting state, wherein the conducting state conducts power from the power source to the electrical load and the non-conducting state prevents power conduction from the power sources to the electrical load.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2018Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: Russell Mark COMPTON, Glenn Scott CLAYDON, John Oliver COLLINS, Christopher Fred KEIMEL, Julian Peter MAYES
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Patent number: 10083811Abstract: A switching system includes a MEMS switching circuit having a MEMS switch and a driver circuit. An auxiliary circuit is coupled in parallel with the MEMS switching circuit, the auxiliary circuit comprising first and second connections that connect the auxiliary circuit to the MEMS switching circuit on opposing sides of the MEMS switch, first and second solid state switches connected in parallel, and a resonant circuit connected between the first and second solid state switches. A control circuit controls selective switching of a load current towards the MEMS switching circuit and the auxiliary circuit by selectively activating the first and second solid state switches and the resonant circuit so as to limit a voltage across the MEMS switch by diverting at least a portion of the load current away from the MEMS switch to flow to the auxiliary circuit prior to the MEMS switch changing state.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2015Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Yanfei Liu, Glenn Scott Claydon, Christopher Fred Keimel, Christian Michael Giovanniello, Jr.
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Patent number: 10068733Abstract: A switching system includes a MEMS switching circuit having a MEMS switch and a driver circuit, and an auxiliary circuit coupled in parallel with the MEMS switching circuit that comprises solid state switching circuitry. A control circuit in communication with the MEMS switching circuit and the auxiliary circuit performs selective switching of a load current towards the MEMS switching circuitry and the auxiliary circuit, with the control circuit programmed to transmit a control signal to the driver circuit to cause the MEMS switch to actuate to an open or closed position across a switching interval, activate the auxiliary circuit during the switching interval when the MEMS switch is switching between the open and closed positions, and deactivate the auxiliary circuit upon reaching the open or closed position after completion of the switching interval, such that the load current selectively flows through the MEMS switch and the solid state switching circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2015Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Yanfei Liu, Glenn Scott Claydon, Christopher Fred Keimel, Christian Michael Giovanniello, Jr.
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Publication number: 20180160929Abstract: The present approach relates to the fabrication and use of a probe array having multiple individual probes. In one embodiment, the probes of the probe array may be functionalized such that certain of the probes are suitable for electrical sensing (e.g., recording) or stimulation, non-electrical sensing or stimulation (e.g., chemical sensing and/or release of biomolecules when activated), or a combination of electrical and non-electrical sensing or stimulation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2016Publication date: June 14, 2018Inventors: Jeffrey M. Ashe, Kaustubh Ravindra Nagarkar, Christopher Michael Puleo, Christopher Fred Keimel, Craig Patrick Galligan, Yizhen Lin, Nancy Cecelia Stoffel, Richard Vanfleet, Robert Davis, Guohai Chen
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Patent number: 9997317Abstract: A switching system includes a control circuit that receives On-Off signals indicative of a desired operating state of a switch. The control circuit includes an oscillator that generates a first electrical pulse responsive having a first signal characteristic or a second signal characteristic that is determined by the received On-Off signal, which may be related to a frequency or duty cycle of the pulse. A pulse transformer connected to the oscillator receives the first electrical pulse and outputs a second electrical pulse having the same one of the first signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic as the first electrical pulse. A pulse detection circuit in the control circuit receives the second electrical pulse, determines whether the second electrical pulse has the first signal characteristic or the second signal characteristic, and controls transmission of power and control signals to the switch based on this determination.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2015Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Yanfei Liu, Glenn Scott Claydon, Christopher Fred Keimel, Christian Michael Giovanniello, Jr.
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Patent number: 9954263Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) microelectromechanical system (MEMS) package includes a first mounting substrate, a signal line formed on a top surface of the first mounting substrate, the signal line comprising a MEMS device selectively electrically coupling a first portion of the signal line to a second portion of the signal line, and a ground assembly coupled to the first mounting substrate. The ground assembly includes a second mounting substrate, a ground plane formed on a bottom surface of the second mounting substrate, and at least one electrical interconnect extending through a thickness of the second mounting substrate to contact the ground plane, wherein the ground plane is spaced apart from the signal line.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2015Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Yongjae Lee, Joseph Alfred Iannotti, Christopher Fred Keimel, Christopher James Kapusta
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Patent number: 9845235Abstract: A system and method for a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) device including a substrate and a free-standing and suspended electroplated metal MEMS structure formed on the substrate. The free-standing and suspended electroplated metal MEMS structure includes a metal mechanical element mechanically coupled to the substrate and a seed layer mechanically coupled to and in electrical communication with the mechanical element, the seed layer comprising at least one of a refractory metal and a refractory metal alloy, wherein a thickness of the mechanical element is substantially greater than a thickness of the seed layer such that the mechanical and electrical properties of the free-standing and suspended electroplated metal MEMS structure are defined by the material properties of the mechanical element.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2015Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joleyn Eileen Brewer, Christopher Fred Keimel, Marco Francesco Aimi, Andrew Minnick, Renner Stephen Ruffalo
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Patent number: 9814419Abstract: An array of emitters includes a device substrate having first and second sides, a thermally and electrically conductive layer disposed on the first side of the device substrate, and an interconnect layer disposed on a first plurality of portions of the second side of the device substrate. The array of the emitters further includes a plurality of emitters disposed in a second plurality of portions of the device substrate, where the plurality of emitters is electrically coupled to the thermally and electrically conductive layer. Also, the array of the emitters includes a plurality of wirebond contacts configured to electrically couple a portion of the interconnect layer to a corresponding emitter of the plurality of emitters, and a plurality of encapsulations, where one or more encapsulations of the plurality of encapsulations are disposed on at least a portion of a corresponding wirebond contact of the plurality of wirebond contacts.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jason Harris Karp, Christopher James Kapusta, Paul Jeffrey Gillespie, Christopher Fred Keimel, Jeffrey Michael Ashe, James Enrico Sabatini
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Patent number: 9806390Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) die package includes a switch assembly comprising an RF transmission line and a plurality of conductive mounting pads formed on a first substrate. A switching mechanism selectively couples a first portion of the RF transmission line to a second portion of the RF transmission line. An inverted ground plane assembly is coupled to the plurality of conductive mounting pads such that an electromagnetic field generated between the RF transmission line and the inverted ground plane assembly does not permeate the first substrate in a region of the switch assembly proximate the switching mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2017Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Yongjae Lee, Joseph Alfred Iannotti, Christopher Fred Keimel, Christopher James Kapusta
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Publication number: 20170187181Abstract: A surge suppression device includes a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch electrically connected to a current path. Additionally, the surge suppression device includes a transient voltage suppression (TVS) device electrically connected in series to the MEMS switch. The surge suppression device is configured to protect electronic components from voltage surges or current surges.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2015Publication date: June 29, 2017Inventors: Avinash Srikrishnan Kashyap, Christian M. Giovanniello, Christopher Fred Keimel
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Publication number: 20170155179Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) die package includes a switch assembly comprising an RF transmission line and a plurality of conductive mounting pads formed on a first substrate. A switching mechanism selectively couples a first portion of the RF transmission line to a second portion of the RF transmission line. An inverted ground plane assembly is coupled to the plurality of conductive mounting pads such that an electromagnetic field generated between the RF transmission line and the inverted ground plane assembly does not permeate the first substrate in a region of the switch assembly proximate the switching mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2017Publication date: June 1, 2017Inventors: Yongjae Lee, Joseph Alfred Iannotti, Christopher Fred Keimel, Christopher James Kapusta
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Publication number: 20170117109Abstract: A switching system includes a MEMS switching circuit having a MEMS switch and a driver circuit. An auxiliary circuit is coupled in parallel with the MEMS switching circuit, the auxiliary circuit comprising first and second connections that connect the auxiliary circuit to the MEMS switching circuit on opposing sides of the MEMS switch, first and second solid state switches connected in parallel, and a resonant circuit connected between the first and second solid state switches. A control circuit controls selective switching of a load current towards the MEMS switching circuit and the auxiliary circuit by selectively activating the first and second solid state switches and the resonant circuit so as to limit a voltage across the MEMS switch by diverting at least a portion of the load current away from the MEMS switch to flow to the auxiliary circuit prior to the MEMS switch changing state.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2015Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: Yanfei Liu, Glenn Scott Claydon, Christopher Fred Keimel, Christian Michael Giovanniello, JR.
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Publication number: 20170117111Abstract: A switching system includes a control circuit that receives On-Off signals indicative of a desired operating state of a switch. The control circuit includes an oscillator that generates a first electrical pulse responsive having a first signal characteristic or a second signal characteristic that is determined by the received On-Off signal, which may be related to a frequency or duty cycle of the pulse. A pulse transformer connected to the oscillator receives the first electrical pulse and outputs a second electrical pulse having the same one of the first signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic as the first electrical pulse. A pulse detection circuit in the control circuit receives the second electrical pulse, determines whether the second electrical pulse has the first signal characteristic or the second signal characteristic, and controls transmission of power and control signals to the switch based on this determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2015Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: Yanfei Liu, Glenn Scott Claydon, Christopher Fred Keimel, Christian Michael Giovanniello, JR.
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Publication number: 20170117110Abstract: A switching system includes a MEMS switching circuit having a MEMS switch and a driver circuit, and an auxiliary circuit coupled in parallel with the MEMS switching circuit that comprises solid state switching circuitry. A control circuit in communication with the MEMS switching circuit and the auxiliary circuit performs selective switching of a load current towards the MEMS switching circuitry and the auxiliary circuit, with the control circuit programmed to transmit a control signal to the driver circuit to cause the MEMS switch to actuate to an open or closed position across a switching interval, activate the auxiliary circuit during the switching interval when the MEMS switch is switching between the open and closed positions, and deactivate the auxiliary circuit upon reaching the open or closed position after completion of the switching interval, such that the load current selectively flows through the MEMS switch and the solid state switching circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2015Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: Yanfei Liu, Glenn Scott Claydon, Christopher Fred Keimel, Christian Michael Giovanniello, JR.