Patents Represented by Attorney Fletcher Yoder

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  • Robust, low complexity communications system with interference mitigation
    Patent number: 7154934
    Abstract: A system for short range communications includes a transmitter capable of transmitting a colored noise-like preamble. A receiver receives the colored noise-like preamble and the receiver includes an antenna with an antenna pattern. A direction of the antenna is controllable by the receiver. A signal processor is connected to and responsive to the receiver. The signal processor detects and estimates the strength of the colored noise-like preamble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Erik Hershey, Ralph Thomas Hoctor
  • Cooled turbine integrated fuel cell hybrid power plant
    Patent number: 7153599
    Abstract: A hybrid power plant includes a turbine, a compressor driven by the turbine and a recuperator in flow communication with the compressor. The recuperator is configured to transfer heat from turbine exhaust to compressed air, and at least one fuel cell is in flow communication with said recuperator to provide fresh air for said fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald S. Bunker, Chellappa Balan
  • Method for detection of defects in anisotropic materials
    Patent number: 7150193
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for imaging anisotropic media comprising selecting multiple points within the anisotropic media, which is to be imaged; determining an acoustic path between each selected point in the anisotropic media and a receiver position on the surface of the anisotropic media; calculating an acoustic wave velocity at all necessary points; determining an acoustic path length based on each selected point in the anisotropic media and the receiver position; determining a time delay for each acoustic wave between each image point and the receiver position on the surface of the anisotropic media; calculating a sum for each point selected based on the appropriate acoustic wave velocities and the acoustic path lengths; and generating an image of the anisotropic media using the coherent sums generated for each said image point selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter William Lorraine, Ronald Alan Kline
  • Methods, cement compositions and oil suspensions of powder
    Patent number: 7147705
    Abstract: Methods, cement compositions and oil suspensions of powders selected from the group consisting of micro-silica, silica flour, fine silica flour, silica sand, fine particle size cement, ultra-fine particle size cement, fly ash, slag, vitrified shale and zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiten Chatterji, Ronney R. Koch, Bobby J. King
  • Method and system for improving contrast using multi-resolution contrast based dynamic range management
    Patent number: 7149358
    Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for implementing and performing a multi-resolution contrast-based dynamic range management algorithm and allowing for the efficient compression of an intensity dynamic range of an input image to a reduced intensity dynamic range of an image display signal. Specifically, the method, system and computer readable medium of the invention comprise decomposing the input image into a plurality of image components, modifying the intensity characteristics of the plurality of image components and reconstructing the plurality of image components into an output image for display on an image display device. In another aspect of the method, system and computer readable medium of the invention, the decomposition of the input image and reconstruction into an output image are performed using a Laplacian pyramid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: David A. Langan
  • Multi-layer ceramic acoustic transducer
    Patent number: 7148608
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multi-layer acoustic transducer with reduced total electrical impedance. The method is based on the bonding of two piezoelectric ceramic layers with confronting metallized surfaces to a thin electrical conductor, then electrically connecting the top and bottom surfaces to form a wrap-around electrode while a center conductor forms a second electrode. The total electrical impedance of a two-layer ceramic stack comprised of piezoelectric layers connected in this manner is one-fourth that of a solid ceramic element of the same size. This provides for better matching of the acoustic stack impedance to that of the electrical cable, increased penetration depth for imaging within the body, and improved acoustic element sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Baumgartner, Robert S. Lewandowski, George Sogoian
  • Method and apparatus for enhancing an image
    Patent number: 7149335
    Abstract: A method for facilitating an enhancement of a visibility of an object in an x-ray image includes generating an x-ray image including at least one object, generating an estimate of a background surrounding the at least one object, subtracting the background estimate from the x-ray image to generate an estimate of pixel intensities due the object, mapping the estimate of pixel intensities due to the object, and combining the mapped estimate of pixel intensities due to the object and the x-ray image to generate an enhanced image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Patrick Kaufhold
  • System and method for power conversion using semiconductor switches having reverse voltage withstand capability
    Patent number: 7148660
    Abstract: A power converter system is provided for supplying power to an electrical load. The power converter system includes a power converter circuit adapted to perform an AC to DC power conversion and an active clamp circuit coupled to the power converter circuit for regulating DC bus voltage overshoots. The power converter circuit is configured from a plurality of semiconductor switches having reverse voltage withstand capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rajesh Ghosh, Bansidhar Jagannath Phansalkar, Silvio Colombi
  • Rail based electric power generation system
    Patent number: 7148581
    Abstract: An electrical power generation system comprises a variable capacitor and a power source. The electrical power generation system is configured to generate electric power via movements of the rail. The power source is used in the form of a generator to prime the variable capacitor that effectively multiplies the priming energy of the power source by extracting energy from the passing vehicle. By alternately priming the variable capacitor using charge from the power source and discharging it at a later time in a cyclic manner to change the capacitance, a significantly large amount of electrical energy is produced due to change in capacitance than from the power source itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Erik Hershey, Kenneth Brakeley Welles, II, Charles Erklin Seeley, David Michael Davenport, Harold Woodruff Tomlinson, Jr., Thomas Paul Feist
  • Permanent magnet assembly with movable permanent body for main magnetic field adjustable
    Patent number: 7148689
    Abstract: A permanent magnet assembly comprising a fixed permanent magnet body and a movable permanent magnet body which is movable relative to the fixed permanent magnet body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xianrui Huang, Evangelos Trifon Laskaris, Kathleen Melanie Amm, Bruce Campbell Amm, Michael Anthony Palmo, Jr.
  • Angled implant in a fabrication technique to improve conductivity of a base material
    Patent number: 7148534
    Abstract: Ion implantation may be used to break up a dielectric layer that forms during the fabrication of a memory array. More specifically, during the fabrication of wordline stacks, a nitride layer may form between the polysilicon layer and the conductive metal layers above the polysilicon layer. While the nitride layer may be desirable during the fabrication process, it may inhibit electrical conductivity between the polysilicon layer and the conductive metal layers. A two step etch process may be implemented wherein the wordline stacks are etched into the polysilicon layer in the first etch and etched down to the substrate during the second etch. An angled implant may be used to break up the nitride layer between the first etch and the second etch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian F. Lawlor
  • Current transformers for partial discharge detection on aircraft cables and wires
    Patent number: 7145345
    Abstract: A technique for detecting defects in aircraft wiring, such as for detecting partial discharges or arcing in wiring or cables is disclosed. A high frequency current transformer (HFCT) is fixingly positioned in contact with a wire so that the wire is encircled by the HFCT. Partial discharges from a damaged wire so encircled will induce a current in the HFCT proportional to the current of the discharge. The HFCT includes a conductive coil-like pattern formed onto a flexible insulating material. The insulating material has slits between each coil-turn. The HFCT also includes a core of flexible material fitted between the coil-turns through the slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Janos Gyorgy Sarkozi, Nicole Andrea Evers
  • Dye sensitized solar cell having finger electrodes
    Patent number: 7145071
    Abstract: A solar cell comprising at least one electrode having a plurality of fingers. Specifically, an electrode comprising a planar surface and a plurality of fingers extending therefrom is provided. A second electrode is provided. The second electrode comprises a planar surface and may comprise a plurality of fingers which are interdigitated with the fingers of the first electrode. The second electrode provides a catalyst material for the electron transfer to an oxidant during the photovoltaic process. A semiconductor material is disposed between the electrodes. The semiconductor material is saturated with dye and injected with an electrolyte solution. The fingers are arranged to provide a reduced migration path for the oxidant through the electrolyte and for the electrons through the semiconductor material when exposed to incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James L. Spivack, Harish R. Acharya, Donald F. Foust
  • Method and apparatus for imaging of tissue using multi-wavelength ultrasonic tagging of light
    Patent number: 7144370
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The imaging apparatus includes a source of electromagnetic radiation that is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at two or more wavelengths through an imaging volume. The imaging apparatus also includes an ultrasound transducer that is configured to direct ultrasound waves through the imaging volume such that electromagnetic radiation passing through the imaging volume is modulated at the frequency of the ultrasound waves. The imaging apparatus further includes one or more electromagnetic radiation detectors that are configured to detect the modulated electromagnetic radiation from the imaging volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Pavel Alexeyevich Fomitchov
  • Stationary computed tomography system and method
    Patent number: 7142629
    Abstract: A radiological imaging system includes one or more radiation sources substantially surrounding a desired portion of an imaging volume and configured to emanate a radiation beam from a plurality of individual source positions around the imaging volume, and one or more detectors configured to receive the transmitted radiation beam. At least one of the radiation source and the detector are displaceable to allow an unimpeded path for the radiation beam and to receive the transmitted radiation beam more completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter Michael Edie, Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man
  • Multi-bit ADC with sigma-delta modulation
    Patent number: 7142142
    Abstract: An oximeter uses a sigma-delta modulator and a multi-bit ADC with PWM feedback enabling high precision multi-bit conversion. Demodulation is done in software, thus requiring only a single hardware path for both red and IR. Multiple capacitors are switched into the integrator in the sigma-delta modulator, with different capacitors for red, IR and dark signals, thus enabling the use of the single hardware path. A switching circuit at the input of the sigma-delta modulator acts as a sample and hold, controlled by the PWM feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Nelicor Puritan Bennett, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Petersen, William Shea, Bradford B. Chew
  • Reduced data line pre-fetch scheme
    Patent number: 7142443
    Abstract: A memory device for reducing the number of data read lines needed in a memory device. Specifically, multiple helper flip-flops are used to prefetch data in a memory device. The helper flip-flops are configured to latch one or two of the data bits from a 4-bit prefetch in an alternating periodic fashion, thereby necessitating fewer data lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Merritt, Donald M. Morgan
  • Enhanced X-ray imaging system and method
    Patent number: 7142633
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for generating three-dimensional images, such as may be used in mammography. In accordance with these techniques, projection images of an object of interest are acquired from different locations, such as by moving an X-ray source along an arbitrary imaging trajectory between emissions or by individually activating different X-ray sources located at different locations relative to the object of interest. The projection images may be reconstructed to generate a three-dimensional dataset representative of the object from which one or more volumes may be selected for visualization and display. Additional processing steps may occur throughout the image chain, such as for pre-processing the projection images or post-processing the three-dimensional dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Wayne Eberhard, Bernhard Erich Hermann Claus, Cynthia Landberg
  • Method and apparatus for fabricating a memory device with a dielectric etch stop layer
    Patent number: 7141511
    Abstract: The present technique relates to a method and apparatus to provide a dielectric etch stop layer that prevents shorts for a buried digit layer as an interconnect. In a memory device, such as DRAM or SRAM, various layers are deposited to form structures, such as PMOS gates, NMOS gates, memory cells, P+ active areas, and N+ active areas. These structures are fabricated through the use of multiple masking processes, which may cause shorts when a buried digit layer is deposited if the masking processes are misaligned. Accordingly, a dielectric etch stop layer, such as aluminum oxide Al2O3 or silicon carbide SiC, may be utilized in the array to prevent shorts between the wordlines, active areas, and the buried digit layer when the contacts are misaligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology Inc.
    Inventor: H. Montgomery Manning
  • Thermal management apparatus and uses thereof
    Patent number: 7140420
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is a cooling assembly for an electrical component. The assembly includes a non-magnetic, thermally conducting spreader substrate, and at least one serpentine cooling tube disposed on and in thermal contact with the thermally conducting spreader substrate so that said substrate is cooled when the one or more serpentine cooling tubes are operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mehmet Arik, Kenneth William Rohling, Ronald Dean Watkins