Patents by Inventor Jim Blount

Jim Blount 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: 7290993
    Abstract: A drive circuit (18) produces a drive signal having a waveform of a predetermined waveform shape for a device (10) having a piezoelectric actuator (14). The drive circuit (14) includes a memory (140) which stores waveform shape data which is utilized by the drive circuit in producing the drive signal. The drive circuit utilizes the waveform shape data so that, for each of plural points comprising a period of the waveform, the drive signal has an appropriate amplitude for the predetermined waveform shape. The waveform shape data has preferably been prepared to optimize one or more operational parameter(s) of the device. Preferably the waveform shape data has been prepared by solving a waveform equation, the waveform equation having coefficients determined to optimize at least one operational parameter of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: AdaptivEnergy LLC
    Inventors: Jim Vogeley, Jim Blount, Sanford Jones
  • Publication number: 20050219288
    Abstract: A drive circuit (18) produces a drive signal having a waveform of a predetermined waveform shape for a device (10) having a piezoelectric actuator (14). The drive circuit (14) includes a memory (140) which stores waveform shape data which is utilized by the drive circuit in producing the drive signal. The drive circuit utilizes the waveform shape data so that, for each of plural points comprising a period of the waveform, the drive signal has an appropriate amplitude for the predetermined waveform shape. The waveform shape data has preferably been prepared to optimize one or more operational parameter(s) of the device. Preferably the waveform shape data has been prepared by solving a waveform equation, the waveform equation having coefficients determined to optimize at least one operational parameter of the device. The number of coefficients determined for the waveform equation depends on the number of harmonics of the waveform that are within a bandwidth of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Jim Vogeley, Jim Blount, Garth Jones