Patents by Inventor Ira C. Miller, Jr.

Ira C. Miller, Jr. 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).

  • System and method for overvoltage protection
    Patent number: 7561394
    Abstract: An overvoltage protection system and method including a control circuit and a bank of resistors to absorb the energy from a transient voltage without exceeding an allowed temperature for the resistors. The resistors in the bank are independently switched and configured such that upon detection of an overvoltage condition a combination of the resistors is switched into the circuit to dissipate energy. The resistance introduced by the combination of resistors prevents the voltage from rising to an unacceptable level that may damage the circuit being protected. As time progresses, the control circuit alters the combination of resistors in the bank of resistors so as to increase the effective load resistance value, thereby decreasing a load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Mulligan, Ira C. Miller, Jr.
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION
    Publication number: 20090147423
    Abstract: An overvoltage protection system and method including a control circuit and a bank of resistors to absorb the energy from a transient voltage without exceeding an allowed temperature for the resistors. The resistors in the bank are independently switched and configured such that upon detection of an overvoltage condition a combination of the resistors is switched into the circuit to dissipate energy. The resistance introduced by the combination of resistors prevents the voltage from rising to an unacceptable level that may damage the circuit being protected. As time progresses, the control circuit alters the combination of resistors in the bank of resistors so as to increase the effective load resistance value, thereby decreasing a load current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Mulligan, Ira C. Miller, JR.
  • Ignition system with feedback controlled dwell
    Patent number: 5043900
    Abstract: Controlling ignition current in the ignition control system of an internal combustion engine includes determining the amount of time it takes current in the ignition coil to reach a desired or limit value and adjusting the time of starting ignition coil charging before spark firing to be substantially equal to the amount of time it takes ignition coil charging current to reach the desired or limit current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: William R. Allen, Edward L. Korte, James T. Lee, Ira C. Miller, Jr., Kent A. Wikarski
  • Ignition system with feedback controlled dwell
    Patent number: 4933861
    Abstract: Controlling ignition current in the ignition control system of an internal combustion engine includes determining the amount of time it takes current in the ignition coil to reach a desired or limit value and adjusting the time of starting ignition coil charging before spark firing to be substantially equal to the amount of time it takes ignition coil charging current to reach the desired or limit current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: William R. Allen, Edward L. Korte, James T. Lee, Ira C. Miller, Jr., Kent A. Wikarski