Patents by Inventor William R. Thomson

William R. Thomson 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).

  • Control system and circuits for distributed electrical power generating stations
    Patent number: 5973481
    Abstract: A system (30) for providing electrical-power to remote communities (34) widely distributed over an extended geographical area (38) includes a generating station (32) located proximate each of the communities, each generating station supplying only that community to which it is proximate. The generating stations are in electronic communication with a central computer (40). Each generating station includes a plurality of generators (54-56). Each of the generators is controlled by a microprocessor based controller (64). Each controller is arranged to operate the generating station cooperatively with the other controllers associated with other generators in the station, and to assume a supervisory role in doing so by a mutual arbitration procedure among the controllers. Each controller is also arranged to monitor important generator operating parameters and to communicate these parameters to the central computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignees: National Bank of Alaska, Alaska Science and Technology Foundation
    Inventors: Scott B. Thompson, William R. Thomson
  • Control system and circuits for distributed electrical-power generating stations
    Patent number: 5754033
    Abstract: A system (30) for providing electrical-power to remote communities (34) widely distributed over an extended geographical area (38) includes a generating station (32) located proximate each of the communities, each generating station supplying only that community to which it is proximate. The generating stations are in electronic communication with a central computer (40). Each generating station includes a plurality of generators (54-56). Each of the generators is controlled by a microprocessor based controller (64). Each controller is arranged to operate the generating station cooperatively with the other controllers associated with other generators in the station, and to assume a supervisory role in doing so by a mutual arbitration procedure among the controllers. Each controller is also arranged to monitor important generator operating parameters and to communicate these parameters to the central computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Alaska Power Systems Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Thomson
  • Control system and circuits for distributed electrical power generating stations
    Patent number: 5734255
    Abstract: A system (30) for providing electrical-power to remote communities (34) widely distributed over an extended geographical area (38) includes a generating station (32) located proximate each of the communities, each generating station supplying only that community to which it is proximate. The generating stations are in electronic communication with a central computer (40). Each generating station includes a plurality of generators (54-56). Each of the generators is controlled by a microprocessor based controller (64). Each controller is arranged to operate the generating station cooperatively with the other controllers associated with other generators in the station, and to assume a supervisory role in doing so by a mutual arbitration procedure among the controllers. Each controller is also arranged to monitor important generator operating parameters and to communicate these parameters to the central computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Alaska Power Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Scott B. Thompson, William R. Thomson
  • Control system and circuits for distributed electrical-power generating stations
    Patent number: 5731688
    Abstract: A system (30) for providing electrical-power to remote communities (34) widely distributed over an extended geographical area (38) includes a generating station (32) located proximate each of the communities, each generating station supplying only that community to which it is proximate. The generating stations are in electronic communication with a central computer (40). Each generating station includes a plurality of generators (54-56). Each of the generators is controlled by a microprocessor based controller (64). Each controller is arranged to operate the generating station cooperatively with the other controllers associated with other generators in the station, and to assume a supervisory role in doing so by a mutual arbitration procedure among the controllers. Each controller is also arranged to monitor important generator operating parameters and to communicate these parameters to the central computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Alaska Power Systems Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Thomson