Patents Represented by Attorney Fletcher Yoder
  • Patent number: 8053990
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a high intensity discharge lamp having a composite leg. The composite leg includes a plurality of leg sections coupled together in series. The plurality of leg sections includes different materials, coefficients of thermal expansion, Poisson's ratios, or elastic moduli, or a combination thereof. A method, in certain embodiments, includes enclosing a high intensity discharge within a ceramic arc envelope. The method also includes reducing thermal stresses associated with the high intensity discharge via a composite leg extending outwardly from the ceramic arc envelope. The composite leg includes a plurality of leg sections coupled together in series. The plurality of leg sections includes different materials, coefficients of thermal expansion, Poisson's ratios, or elastic moduli, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Bruce Alan Knudsen, Mohamed Rahmane, James Scott Vartuli, James Anthony Brewer
  • Patent number: 8053260
    Abstract: Large-Area lighting systems and methods of making the same. More specifically, groups of organic light emitting modules, such as organic light emitting diode modules, coupled in series with respect to on another are provided. The modules cathode of each organic light emitting module is electrically coupled to the anode of an adjacent light emitting module in an interconnect region. A portion of the cathode of each module extends adjacent to an active area of an adjacent module at an interconnect region. Methods of fabricating series groups of organic light emitting modules employing continuous material layers is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Franklin Foust, Larry Gene Turner, Ernest Wayne Balch, Hak Fei Poon, William Francis Nealon, Jie Liu, Tami Janene Faircloth
  • Patent number: 8053777
    Abstract: A detector including an electrode formed from a first layer of conductive material, a readout line formed from a second layer of conductive material, and a via electrically connecting the readout line and the electrode. In one embodiment, the detector includes a source electrode and a drain electrode formed from the first layer of conductive material, and a data line formed from the second layer of conductive material, such that the source and drain electrodes are vertically offset from the data line. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the detector includes a gate electrode formed from the first layer of conductive material, and a scan line formed from the second layer of conductive material, such that the gate electrode is vertically offset from the scan line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Douglas Albagli, William Andrew Hennessy
  • Patent number: 8052770
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a filter clamping device for use in a filtering system that provides filtered intake air for a power generation facility. In some embodiments, a filter clamp is provided, which includes an over-center action mechanism that locks the clamp in place against the filter gasket. Some embodiments also include a camming surface that provides gradually increasing pressure on the filter gasket as the clamp is engaged. The clamp may also include a stop that engages the filter frame at a predetermined position and determines, in part, the amount of clamping pressure applied to the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gordon Ayshford, William Eyers
  • Patent number: 8048186
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a filter holding frame configured to support a plurality of filters for a turbine engine. The filter holding frame has a first filter cell and a first retainer. The first retainer has a first retaining pad coupled to a first shaft, wherein the first retaining pad and the first shaft are movable to secure and release a first filter in the first filter cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Michael Ashley Mann, Christina Goodrick Meech
  • Patent number: 8046191
    Abstract: A method is provided for the monitoring of heat transfer devices. The method includes the acts of receiving data from a heat transfer device, and computing a performance indicator indicative of an incipient anomaly condition of the heat transfer device based upon the received data, and/or computing a normalized efficiency of the heat transfer device. The normalized efficiency represents a corrected efficiency that isolates effects of a process parameter on performance of the heat transfer device. The data represents a measurable process parameter or a change in a measurable process parameter in the heat transfer device. The method receives the data and computes a performance indicator to predict performance degradation of the heat transfer device over time based upon the received data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vinay Bhaskar Jammu, Nishith Pramod Vora, Ravi Yoganatha Babu, Rama Venkata Mahajanam
  • Patent number: 8045776
    Abstract: A method is provided for processing an image. The method comprises identifying one or more contours or surfaces in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image generated from a set of projection data. The set of projection data is differentially processed based on the identification of those data points that largely define one or more contours or surfaces. An enhanced image set is reconstructed from the set of processed projection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Forrest Frank Hopkins, Peter Michael Edic
  • Patent number: 8046173
    Abstract: The present technique provides for the analysis of a data series to identify sequences of interest within the series. The analysis may be used to iteratively update a grammar used to analyze the data series or updated versions of the data series. Furthermore, the technique provides for the calculation of a minimum description length heuristic, such as a symbol compression ratio, for each sub-sequence of the analyzed data sequence. The technique may then compare a selected heuristic value against one or more reference conditions to determine if additional iteration is to be performed. The grammar and the data sequence may be updated between iterations to include a symbol representing a string corresponding to the selected heuristic value based upon a non-termination result of the comparison. Alternatively, the string corresponding to the selected heuristic value may be identified as a sequence of interest based upon a termination result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Charles Evans, Stephen Francis Bush, Andrew Soliz Torres
  • Patent number: 8037589
    Abstract: A technique is provided for installing a device in which a part of the device and the location of the part are automatically determined. An installer is notified of the part and its location for installation. Routines implementing some or all of the technique may be provided on a computer-readable medium. A method is also provided for locating a part to be installed using a project manager application. An installer retrieves the part from the location and installs the part. In one embodiment, the present techniques are implemented using an installation system including a processor-based system and a locator system. The processor-based system is configured to indicate a location of a part to be installed while the locator system is configured to provide the location to the processor-based system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Crispian Lee Sievenpiper, Sandra Fieldstad Wiley
  • Patent number: 8038931
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a workpiece. An induction heating system is used to induce magnetic fields in a workpiece to inductively heat the workpiece. The induction heating system may comprise a portable power source, a portable power source controller, a fluid-cooled induction heating cable, and a portable cooling unit. The induction heating system may be used to perform a variety of induction heating operations, including: annealing, surface hardening, heat treating, stress-relieving, curing, shrink-fitting, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Thomas, Randall G. Baxter, Mark A. Ulrich, Paul D. Verhagen
  • Patent number: 8042012
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems and devices, such as a device including a data location, a quantizing circuit coupled to the data location, and a test module coupled to the quantizing circuit. The quantizing circuit may include an analog-to-digital converter, a switch coupled to the memory element and a feedback signal path coupled to the output of the analog-to-digital converter and to the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Jacob Baker
  • Patent number: 8037871
    Abstract: The seal assembly comprises providing a fuel conduit having a fluid flow passage therethrough for conveyance of a pressurized fuel-containing gas in a general fluid-flow direction with a first sealing surface disposed on the fuel conduit. A second sealing surface engages with the first sealing surface, such as to provide a fluid-tight connection preventing pressurized gas from leaving the fluid flow passage. The said first and second sealing surfaces are substantially perpendicular to the general fluid-flow direction. An o-ring is disposed between the first sealing surface and second sealing surface, the o-ring being compressed by the first and second sealing surfaces to form said fluid-tight connection. Preferably the o-ring is subjected to a squeeze of at least 40%, more preferably 50%, when the first and second sealing surfaces are coupled together. The sealing arrangement is most advantageously applied to throttle assemblies and the like, in particular for use with low-speed, gaseous fueled engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Gene McClendon
  • Patent number: 8039996
    Abstract: An electrically responsive ink composition comprising at least one electrically responsive optical-state change material, at least one electrolyte material, at least one solvent, and at least one binder material, wherein the ink composition has a viscosity between about 0.1 centipoise and about 10,000 centipoise, and a maximum optical absorbance in a range from about 200 nanometers to about 800 nanometers; and wherein the ink composition is capable of transforming from a first optical state to a second optical state upon exposure to an electrical stimulus. The electrically responsive ink composition may be used to deposit an electrically responsive coating composition, which may be used as part of an anti-theft system for optical articles. Articles comprising electrically responsive coating compositions are also disclosed, as are methods for activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: NBCUniversal Media, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Jeannine Peters, Marc Brian Wisnudel, Ben Purushotam Patel, Matthew Jeremiah Misner, James Mitchell White, Kasiraman Krishnan, Kaustubh Ravindra Nagarkar
  • Patent number: 8040035
    Abstract: A method of producing a cathode for use in an x-ray tube assembly is provided including machining an emission aperture into a cup emission surface portion of a cup structure. The cup structure is comprised of a cup base portion opposite the cup emissions surface portion. Electro-discharge machining is used to form an electro-discharge machining slot into the cup structure to provide access to the interior of the cup structure. Electro-discharge machining is used to form a transverse coil chamber within the interior by way of the electro-discharge machining slot such that the transverse coil chamber is formed between the cup base portion and the cup emissions surface portion while retaining an essentially contiguous emissions surface perimeter surrounding the emission aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Sergio Lemaitre
  • Patent number: 8039731
    Abstract: The energy conversion system includes a first optical cover having a flat surface and a patterned surface. The patterned surface is configured to receive solar energy from the flat surface, then concentrate and guide the solar energy. The system also includes a second optical cover. The system further includes providing a photovoltaic cell layer between the patterned surface of the first optical cover and the second optical cover. The photovoltaic cell layer is configured to receive the solar energy from the patterned surface and convert the solar energy into electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ravi Shankar Durvasula
  • Patent number: 8035304
    Abstract: A high intensity discharge lamp, in certain embodiments, includes a uniquely shaped shoulder and dimensions selected to reduce stress and associated cracking. The uniquely shaped shoulder has a variable diameter, such as, e.g., a cup-shaped geometry, a curved funnel-shaped geometry, or a conical-shaped geometry. The selected or optimized dimensions may include a tip-to-neck distance, a tip-to-wall distance, and an internal diameter of the lamp. The selected or optimized dimensions also may include a uniform wall thickness, an arc gap distance, and an electrode thickness. These dimensions and shapes are selected to reduce undesirably high maximum stresses and temperatures in the lamp. As a result, the lamp is able to provide higher performance with a longer life due to a decreased risk of stress cracking during rapid start up and steady state operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Svetlana Selezneva, Mohamed Rahmane, Sairam Sundaram, Andrey Meshkov, Garry R. Allen, Viktor Varga, Agoston Boroczki
  • Patent number: 8035682
    Abstract: A device for modifying source image frames to create modified image frames and for projecting the modified image frames onto a geometrically changing viewable surface is presented. The device may include a viewable surface image sampler for outputting surface image frames each including surface image pixels that reflect the geometrically changing viewable surface and a comparator in circuit with the surface image sampler. The comparator may be configured for identifying a number and a location of the surface image pixels of one or more of the surface image frames and for identifying a number and a location of source image pixels in one or more of the source image frames. The comparator may be further configured to thereafter compare the number and the location of the surface image pixels with the number and the location of the source image pixels to determine a number and a location of target pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventor: Scott R. Trowbridge
  • Patent number: 8030920
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for modifying a pulse sequence. In one embodiment, a determination is made whether an estimated peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) associated with a pulse sequence exceeds a PNS limit. If the estimated PNS exceeds the PNS limit, a slew rate associated with one or more axes of the pulse sequence may be reduced and the maximum gradient amplitudes for each axis of the pulse sequence may be adjusted. In one embodiment, adjustment of the maximum gradient amplitudes or local slew rate may be based upon a cost analysis performed on the pulse sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony Tienhuan Vu, Wei Sun, Ersin Bayram
  • Patent number: 8031828
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a first set of projection data is acquired using a first portion of a detector and a second set of projection data is acquired using a second portion of the detector. The second set of projection data is supplemented based upon the first set of projection data to generate a supplemented set of projection data. A volumetric image may be generated using the supplemented set of projection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruno Kristiaan Bernard DeMan, Jiang Hsieh, Jed Douglas Pack, Kai Zeng
  • Patent number: 8031829
    Abstract: A method for analytically reconstructing a multi-axial computed tomography (CT) dataset, acquired using one or more longitudinally-offset x-ray beams emitted from multiple x-ray sources is provided. The method comprises acquiring one or more CT axial projection datasets, wherein the CT axial projection datasets are acquired using less than a full scan of data. The method further comprises reconstructing the CT axial projection datasets to generate a reconstructed image volume. The reconstruction comprises back projecting one or more voxels comprising the multi-axial CT dataset, along one or more projection views, based upon a cone-angle weight determined for the voxels, wherein the cone-angle weight for the voxels is determined along a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zhye Yin, Bruno Kristiaan Bernard DeMan, Jed Douglas Pack