Patents by Inventor Jim Kopec

Jim Kopec 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).

  • Method of operating an LED lighting system
    Patent number: 9107250
    Abstract: An LED-based lighting system is operated with a time-based process. The LEDs are first turned on by energizing the system at full power. After a predetermined time period, which is selected so that the junction temperature of the LEDs does not reach a critical temperature, the current supply is ramped down to a steady-state supply. The steady-state current is maintained as long as the light is turned on. When the light is turned on the next time and the LEDs have not cooled down all the way, as determined by the time that has expired since the LEDs were last lit, the full-power time period is shortened accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Robert Alvord, Jim Kopec, Jochen Aicher, Matthew Schwind
  • Adaptive defrost controller for a refrigeration device
    Patent number: 9032751
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling automatic defrost of a refrigerator device adaptively moves the defrost cycle to a time period of comparatively low compressor activity based on an evaluation of compressor usage over a cyclically recurring time interval. An adaptive defrost controller (ADC) analyzes stored data to develop a profile for compressor activity vs. time. From this profile, high compressor activity times of the time interval are distinguished from low compressor activity times in the time interval and a defrost cycle is scheduled based on the results of the analyzed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kevin Lacey, Robert Alvord, Jim Kopec
  • METHOD OF OPERATING AN LED LIGHTING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20130257314
    Abstract: An LED-based lighting system is operated with a time-based process. The LEDs are first turned on by energizing the system at full power. After a predetermined time period, which is selected so that the junction temperature of the LEDs does not reach a critical temperature, the current supply is ramped down to a steady-state supply. The steady-state current is maintained as long as the light is turned on. When the light is turned on the next time and the LEDs have not cooled down all the way, as determined by the time that has expired since the LEDs were last lit, the full-power time period is shortened accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: DIEHL AKO STIFTUNG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Robert Alvord, Jim Kopec, Jochen Aicher, Matthew Schwind
  • ADAPTIVE DEFROST CONTROLLER FOR A REFRIGERATION DEVICE
    Publication number: 20110088415
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling automatic defrost of a refrigerator device are provided. The system adaptively moves the defrost cycle to low usage times based on an evaluation of compressor usage in a daily cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kevin Lacey, Robert Alvord, Jim Kopec