Patents Represented by Attorney Global Patent Operations

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  • Method for fabricating a sensor
    Patent number: 7998777
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a sensor is disclosed that in one embodiment bonds a first device wafer to an etched second device wafer to create a suspended structure, the flexure of which is determined by an embedded sensing element that is in electrical communication with an outer surface of the sensor through an interconnect embedded in a device layer of the first device wafer. In one embodiment the suspended structure is enclosed by a cap and the sensor is configured to measure absolute pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sisira Kankanam Gamage, Naresh Venkata Mantravadi
  • Tannin based polymeric coagulants composition and method of use
    Patent number: 7998351
    Abstract: Composition and method of use for tannin based environmentally benign polymeric coagulants are disclosed. Tannin based coagulants are copolymers of naturally occurring tannins and a cationic monomer. One embodiment of the present invention provides for a composition, of a tannin based polymeric coagulant which is comprised of N,N-(dimethylaminoethyl) methacrylate (MADAME) polymerized using t-butylhydroperoxide and sodium metabisulfite. The resulting polyMADAME is converted to hydrochloride and then blended/reacted in an aqueous medium with tannin to obtain a homogenous poly(MADAME)-tannin composition. The method of use comprises adding an amount of the composition effective for the purpose of clarifying oily wastewater from food and beverage, steel, automotive, transportation, refinery, pharmaceutical, metals, paper and pulp, chemical processing and hydrocarbon processing industries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar Rai, Ashok Shyadligeri, Baraka Kawawa, Abdul Rafi Khwaja, Narain Madhavan
  • Locomotive engine multi-fuel control system and method
    Patent number: 7996147
    Abstract: A method, in certain embodiments, includes controlling a first parameter set (e.g., fuel injection timing, engine speed, etc.) of an engine to reduce specific fuel consumption to account for a plurality of different fuels alone or in combination with one another. The method also may include controlling a second parameter set (e.g., engine duration, engine speed, manifold air pressure, fuel supply temperature, fuel supply pressure, etc.) of the engine to reduce the possibility of exceeding design limits associated with the engine to account for the plurality of different fuels alone or in combination with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Manoj Prakash Gokhale
  • Ventilation device ventilating an electronic module
    Patent number: 7995340
    Abstract: An electronic module comprises a ventilation device used for the efficient cooling of the components of this module while at the same time minimizing the accumulation of solid particles. To this end, a selector switch is placed between an electrical power supply unit of the module and a motor of the ventilation device. This selector switch cyclically modifies the sense of rotation of the fan in order to suck in an airflow to cool the components and expel the airflow in order to expel the solid particles located in the module and on the ventilation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Guillaume Peter, Xavier Le Pennec
  • Adhesion of membranes on nitride layer in electrochemical sensors by attachment to underlying oxide layer
    Patent number: 7988838
    Abstract: An electrochemical sensor is provided that exhibits improved adhesion of the membrane to the nitride layer used as an insulating layer in silicon- or silicon-oxide-based electrochemical sensing devices. The sensing devices include a substrate, an oxide disposed on the substrate, a nitride disposed on the oxide, an electrically conductive structure disposed on the oxide layer, and an electrode disposed on the oxide layer and electrically coupled to the electrically conductive structure. At least one opening is formed in the nitride layer to form at least one adhesion trench that exposes a surface region of an oxide layer underlying the nitride layer. The membrane covers the electrode, and contacts the oxide surface regions exposed by the adhesion trenches. The contact between the membrane and the oxide surface region provides for improved adhesion of the membrane to the electrochemical sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: GE Analytical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Dipiazza, Glenn B. Martin
  • System and method for field calibration of flow meters
    Patent number: 7984637
    Abstract: A calibration system for a flow meter includes a flow simulator, the flow simulator including a receiver configured to receive flow meter transducer signals from a flow meter. A simulation subsystem is configured to create simulated transit time signal pulses, and to transmit the simulated transit time signal pulses to the flow meter at preselected time intervals. A calibration subsystem is configured to receive from the flow meter a transit time differential value generated by the flow meter based on the simulated transit time signal pulses and output a calibration factor to the flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaolei S. Ao, Jeffrey Tilden
  • Altitude compensation system for naturally aspirated railroad locomotive
    Patent number: 7984677
    Abstract: A railroad locomotive includes a naturally aspirated reciprocating internal combustion engine driving a traction generator. A speed control system and load regulator provide an output signal which is operated upon and modified by a controller in response to the barometric pressure at which the locomotive is being operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mikhail Meltser, Bryan Thomas Jett, Neil Xavier Blythe, Ronald Bauerle, Ajith Kumar
  • Altitude compensation system for controlling smoke emissions from a naturally aspirated railroad locomotive
    Patent number: 7980183
    Abstract: A railroad locomotive includes a naturally-aspirated reciprocating internal combustion engine, and a traction generator driven by the engine. A throttle position sensor produces a signal corresponding to the throttle position selected by the locomotive's operator. A load regulator receives a speed signal derived from the throttle position signal and outputs an excitation signal for the traction generator which is modified by a controller in response to air availability so that engine speed and load are controlled independently of the selected throttle position, so as to limit the exhaust smoke output of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mikhail Meltser, Bryan Thomas Jett, Neil Xavier Blythe, Ajith Kumar
  • Quick engine startup system and method
    Patent number: 7975666
    Abstract: A technique is provided for improved response of internal combustion engines to increased load demands. The engine is equipped with an air storage tank that stores compressed air. The air may be stored at an elevated pressure (e.g., manifold air pressure) during normal full load operation of the engine. Valving maintains the compressed air isolated during normal operation. During transitory periods of higher power output demand, the compressed air is directed to the engine, and output of a turbo-driven compressor can be vented to avoid surge. The technique allows for quicker reaction to load demands, and improved combustion during transitory periods, and reduced particulate and smoke emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Manoj Prakash Gokhale, Yogesh Kumar
  • Protection device for a turbine stator
    Patent number: 7972106
    Abstract: Protection device (10) for a stator of a gas turbine of the type comprising a series of sectors (12) constrained to each other by connection means, each sector (12) has at least one cavity (14) having a bottom (15), in correspondence with at least one cavity (14), a corresponding sheet (20) equipped with a series of pass-through holes (21) and suitable for covering at least one cavity (14) is fixed on an outer surface of the relative sector (12), each sector (12) is cooled by means of a stream of air coming from the pass-through holes (21) of the corresponding sheet (20) which is passed on the bottom (15) and discharged from at least one outlet hole, the bottom (15) of each sector (12) comprises a series of protuberances (30) to increase the thermal exchange surface and increase the cooling efficiency of the protection device (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Manuele Bigi, Piero Iacopetti, Riccardo Cini
  • Tool free contact block
    Patent number: 7973625
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an auxiliary contact block. The auxiliary contact block comprises a housing and a tool free latching mechanism. The tool free latching mechanism further comprising a stationary member integral to the housing and a latching bar. The latching bar comprising a button in communication with a moveable member by a central body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Namitha Chandrappa, Subramanyan Ananthakrishnan, G. Kalyana Sundaram, Pedro Jose Riera
  • Adsorption of vanadium compounds from fuel oil and adsorbents thereof
    Patent number: 7967976
    Abstract: A method for treating crude or residual fuel oil includes extracting vanadium from the fuel oil by contacting the fuel oil with an adsorbent and a solvent. The adsorbent may be modified with a compound having both acidic functionality and basic functionality. The method provides effective removal of vanadium from crude or residual fuel oil at moderate temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Manio Silva, Grigorii Lev Soloveichik
  • Configuration of a wind turbine nacelle
    Patent number: 7969037
    Abstract: A wind turbine nacelle configuration includes a frame structure configured for mounting atop a wind turbine tower. The frame structure includes a base, side support members, and top support members. A shell is attached to the frame structure to enclose the nacelle. A drive train may be housed within the frame structure and includes a low speed rotor shaft connected to a gearbox, and a high speed shaft connecting the gearbox to a generator. The frame structure is configured so that at least one component of the drive train is suspended from the top support members within the frame structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eugenio Yegro Segovia, Pedro Luis Benito Santiago
  • Anion exchange polymers, methods for making and materials prepared therefrom
    Patent number: 7968663
    Abstract: A novel anion exchange polymer is provided. A method of making the anion exchange polymer includes reacting a tertiary amine, an acid inhibitor and a polyepoxide to form a quaternary ammonium monomer and polymerizing the quaternary ammonium monomer in the presence of a catalyst. The exchange polymer is prepared without using alkyl halides and can be used to make improved ion exchange materials that are chemically resistant and non-fouling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Russell James MacDonald, Jack Peters
  • System and method to determine an object distance from a reference point to a point on the object surface
    Patent number: 7969583
    Abstract: A system for determining an object distance z includes a plurality of light emitters. A group of at least one of the plurality of light emitters includes an emitter group, and the pattern projected when one emitter group is emitting includes a fringe set. The light pattern of one fringe set exhibits a phase-shift relative to the light patterns of the other fringe sets, and the phase-shift varies as the distance from the origin of the plurality of fringe sets varies. The system further includes a processing unit that is configured to compute a ripple metric value associated with each of a plurality of possible z values. The processing unit is further configured to determine an approximated z value using the computed ripple metric values. A probe system is also provided. The probe system is configured to project a plurality of fringe sets from the probe onto an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Clark Alexander Bendall, Kevin George Harding, Guiju Song, Li Tao
  • Advanced booster rotor blade
    Patent number: 7967571
    Abstract: A rotor airfoil having a leading edge extending from a root to a tip, an inner span region and an outer span region the leading edge having a sweep angle profile such that the sweep angle increases from the root a first height location at a first rate of change of sweep angle that is substantially constant and thereafter increases at a second rate of change of sweep angle that is substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter John Wood, Eric Andrew Falk, Lyle D. Dailey
  • Device and method for identifying occlusions
    Patent number: 7965810
    Abstract: A method of identifying one or more occlusions in vasculature located in a region of interest, includes extracting vasculature from the region of interest; identifying a subject geometry of the extracted vasculature; and comparing the subject geometry to a predetermined geometry to identify a blockage. A device for identifying one or more occlusions in vasculature located in a region of interest is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arunabha S. Roy, James Vradenburg Miller, Paulo Ricardo (dos Santos) Mendonca, Rahul Bhotika, Ajay Gopinath, Robert Franklin Senzig, Wesley David Turner, Srikanth Suryanarayanan
  • Wall oven and corresponding method
    Patent number: 7964823
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a wall oven has a cooking cavity surrounded by a baffled cavity. The wall oven has a door for restricting access to the cooking cavity. A control cavity has a front surface maintaining controls for operation of the wall oven. An exhaust fan is in flow communication with the control cavity and the baffled cavity for directing air from the control cavity and the baffled cavity into an exhaust cavity. An air divider separates the control cavity from the exhaust cavity. A method for cooling a control panel of a wall oven is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Armstrong, Michael David Gallant, William Henry Gross, William L. Holbrook, William Byron Wiggins
  • Load size measuring apparatus and method
    Patent number: 7958584
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a size of a load in a basket that is rotatably supported is presented. The method comprises determining an acceleration energy (AE) required to accelerate the basket; determining a friction energy (FE) required to maintain a stable rotational speed of the basket; subtracting the friction energy (FE) from the acceleration energy (AE) to obtain a load inertial energy (LE); and determining a load size from the load inertial energy (LE).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard D. Suel, II, Edward Hatfield, John Steven Holmes, Meher P. Kollipara, Shyam Ramamurthy, Jian Hua Zhong
  • Wind turbine rotor blade with acoustic lining
    Patent number: 7959412
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine is provided, the rotor blade comprising an acoustically porous surface layer at least partially covering at least one surface of the rotor blade, at least one reactive acoustic element located below said acoustically porous surface layer, and a resistive acoustic layer located between said acoustically porous surface layer and said at least one reactive acoustic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Laurent Bonnet