Patents by Inventor Michael J. Burke

Michael J. Burke 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: 4905200
    Abstract: An apparatus for replacing an undesired code stored in a plurality of storage locations in read-only memory (ROM) with a replacement code. The replacement code, including a jump-back instruction to readdress the ROM, are programmed into an EEPROM. First and second storage locations store the beginning address of the undesired code and the beginning address of the replacement code, respectively. When the beginning address of the undesired code is generated by a program counter, a comparator generates a transfer signal. In response, the beginning address of the replacement code stored in the second storage location is transferred into the program counter. Each address of the replacement code is then sequenced by the program counter until a central processing unit recognizes the jump-back instruction. The central processing unit then readdresses the ROM in response to the jump-back instruction after the entire replacement code has been executed in place of the undesired code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Pidsosny, Michael J. Burke, Mark W. Jarvis
  • Patent number: 4803646
    Abstract: A system for measuring distance traveled by a vehicle periodically updates the accumulated measurements, displays the updated measurements and electronically stores corresponding accumulations of updated distance data in a non-volatile memory device. The system employs a method of reading through the sequentially ordered storage locations of the non-volatile memory to determine the most recently stored correct data value as a value to be both displayed and used as a base value for subsequent measured distance accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Burke, Richard A. Pidsosny, Gerald J. Lehner
  • Patent number: 4710888
    Abstract: A system for measuring distance traveled by a vehicle periodically updates the accumulated measurements, displays the updated measurements and electronically stores corresponding accumulations of updated distance data in a non-volatile memory device. The system employs a method of reading through the sequentially ordered storage locations of the non-volatile memory to determine the most recently stored correct data value as a value to be both displayed and used as a base value for subsequent measured distance accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Burke, Richard A. Pidsosny, Gerald J. Lehner
  • Patent number: 4684881
    Abstract: A switched attenuator circuit providing three selectable voltage-divider ratios including one which passes substantially 100 percent of the input signal. The circuit places constant load resistance on its source in all positions when driving a high-resistance load. The circuit is inexpensive to construct, comprising three attenuation resistors, two input resistance compensating resistors, and two single-pole double-throw switching elements for changing the series/parallel configuration of the attenuation resistors and switching the compensating resistors into the circuit. The circuit places all parasitic capacitance associated with the switches on the input side of the circuit, thereby providing uniformly low output capacitance for all voltage-divider ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Calvin D. Diller, Michael J. Burke
  • Patent number: 4412558
    Abstract: A turbulator comprising a strip of metal formed into a generally zig-zag longitudinal extending element for insertion into a fire tube of a furnace which so deflects gases passing through the tube as to break up laminar flow and thus improve heat transfer. The apices at the junctures of the legs of the element, which contact the interior wall of the fire tube, are rounded both longitudinally and laterally of the length of the strip to insure non-scratch contact with the interior wall during insertion and retraction whereby to prolong the life of the tube by eliminating zones sensitive to corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1983
    Assignee: Western Fuel Reducers, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Burke, Harry E. Fowler
  • Patent number: 4275339
    Abstract: A brushless D. C. motor is disclosed having two bifilar winding wire pairs with each bifilar pair forming alternate windings. Each winding is switched by a transistor which has a back poled diode connected in parallel therewith. The control circuit sequences energization of single windings with each winding energized being in a different bifilar pair than the next preceding energized winding whereby when a transistor is switched off the other winding of the bifilar pair and the associated back poled diode protect the transistor and provide an energy conserving/heat eliminating path for the induced current. Each winding is further formed of a pair of subwindings having an angle of separation therebetween approximately half the angular separation between adjacent windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1981
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Burke, David W. Collins
  • Patent number: 4197265
    Abstract: A water vapor supply unit having a partition dividing a water tank into two compartments above a water line but allowing communication below the water line. A water level control in one compartment maintains the water level in both. One or more air inlet nozzles for each compartment are provided and are of angular form. They are side wall mounted for adjustment for regulation purposes. Each compartment has one or more vapor outlet fittings. A mount for a water level controller assures its proper disposition when mounted in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1980
    Assignee: Western Fuel Reducers, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Burke
  • Patent number: 4159432
    Abstract: Analog voltage levels derived from optically scanning a document or from magnetically scanning a magnetic record, depend upon the variable amplitude of a background signal. The analog voltage levels are processed by a bucket brigade circuit to set a threshold from which a binary decision may be made as to the presence of a black or white indicium in optical recognition or a one (1) or zero (0) bit in magnetic reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1979
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Burke, Michael M. Siverling, Raymond J. Wilfinger