Patents by Inventor Frederic C. Pla

Frederic C. Pla 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).

  • Patent number: 5548653
    Abstract: An active noise and vibration control system which minimizes noise output by creating a secondary, cancelling noise and/or vibration field using vibrational inputs. The system includes one or more piezoceramic actuators mounted to the inner surface of a magnetic resonance imaging device. The actuators can be either mounted directly to the device or to one or more noise cancelling members which are resiliently mounted to the device. Transducers are also provided for sensing the noise or vibrations generated by the device and producing an error signal corresponding to the level of noise or vibrations sensed. A controller sends a control signal to the actuators in response to the error signal, thereby causing the actuators to vibrate and generate a noise or vibration field which minimizes the total noise emanating from the device. Alternatively, the system can use noise and vibration feedback simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederic C. Pla, Robert A. Hedeen, Imdad Imam