Patents by Inventor John M. Fifield

John M. Fifield 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: 9590159
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed to use thermoelectric generating (TEG) devices to generate electricity from heat generated by a power cable. An apparatus includes multiple thermoelectric generating (TEG) devices. Each of the TEG devices has a first surface configured to be positioned in thermal communication with an outer surface of the power cable and a second surface configured to be positioned proximate to an ambient environment around the power cable. The apparatus also includes a set of terminals electrically coupled to the TEG devices. When a temperature differential exists between the first surface and the second surface, the TEG devices convert heat into electricity presented at the set of terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Lijun Gao, Shengyi Liu, John M. Fifield
  • Patent number: 9496713
    Abstract: A power electronics and control architecture for powering an AC load from a multi-source power system through a single conversion stage is disclosed. A controllable DC-to-AC inverter accepts a DC output voltage range from a DC power source at a DC input, and outputs an adjustable AC at an AC output. A sensor measures an output power of the DC power source to obtain a measured output power, and a processor sets a power level at the DC input based on the measured output power. The processor sets the power level to control the output power of the DC power source, and synchronizes the adjustable AC to a common AC output of the multi-source power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Matthew J. Krolak, John M. Fifield, Shengyi Liu
  • Patent number: 8854013
    Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a switch and a charging management module. The switch is configured to control an electrical connection between a charging device for a battery and a power source. A current flows from the power source through the charging device to the battery to charge the battery when the electrical connection is present between the charging device and the power source. The charging management module is configured to identify a period of time for charging the battery and to control the switch to electrically connect the charging device for the battery to the power source during the period of time identified for charging the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Lijun Gao, John M. Fifield, George M. Roe
  • Publication number: 20130025644
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed to use thermoelectric generating (TEG) devices to generate electricity from heat generated by a power cable. An apparatus includes multiple thermoelectric generating (TEG) devices. Each of the TEG devices has a first surface configured to be positioned in thermal communication with an outer surface of the power cable and a second surface configured to be positioned proximate to an ambient environment around the power cable. The apparatus also includes a set of terminals electrically coupled to the TEG devices. When a temperature differential exists between the first surface and the second surface, the TEG devices convert heat into electricity presented at the set of terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Lijun Gao, Shengyi Liu, John M. Fifield
  • Publication number: 20130030593
    Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a switch and a charging management module. The switch is configured to control an electrical connection between a charging device for a battery and a power source. A current flows from the power source through the charging device to the battery to charge the battery when the electrical connection is present between the charging device and the power source. The charging management module is configured to identify a period of time for charging the battery and to control the switch to electrically connect the charging device for the battery to the power source during the period of time identified for charging the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Lijun Gao, John M. Fifield, George M. Roe
  • Patent number: 8345454
    Abstract: A power electronics and control architecture for powering an AC load from a multi-source power system through a single conversion stage is disclosed. A controllable DC-to-AC inverter accepts a DC output voltage range from a DC power source at a DC input, and outputs an adjustable AC at an AC output. A sensor measures an output power of the DC power source to obtain a measured output power, and a processor sets a power level at the DC input based on the measured output power. The processor sets the power level to control the output power of the DC power source, and synchronizes the adjustable AC to a common AC output of the multi-source power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Matthew J. Krolak, John M. Fifield, Shengyi Liu