Patents Assigned to Foster-Miller, Inc.
  • Dynamical instrument for machining
    Patent number: 7341410
    Abstract: A dynamical instrument for machining comprising a sensor responsive to a non-rotating part of a machine proximate the tool of the machine for outputting a vibration signal, and a processor responsive to the sensor output configured to calculate a plurality of signature quantities which characterize the dynamics of the vibration signal and correlate the signature quantities to detect parameters associated with the operation of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne S. Hill, Bruce N. Barck
  • Open lattice mirror structure and method of making same
    Patent number: 7281809
    Abstract: A method of making a mirror structure includes assembling a supporting isogrid framework, assembling an isogrid back plane, interconnecting the supporting isogrid framework with the isogrid back plane by a truss core, and disposing an optical surface on the supporting isogrid framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Foster Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter A. Warren
  • Environmentally friendly de-icer and anti-icer compositions
    Patent number: 7270767
    Abstract: The invention relates to ice control formulations (deicing and anti-icing compositions) that have a tailorable BOD. The deicing compositions of the present invention comprise a) at least one first freezing point depressant (FPD) that is non-toxic, biodegradable and has a certain rate of degradation; b) at least one second FPD that is non-toxic, biodegradable, wherein the second FPD has a rate of degradation that is different from the rate of degradation of the first FPD; and c) at least one surfactant, wherein the surfactant is non-ionic, non-toxic and biodegradable, and wherein the first FPD of (a) and the second FPD of (b) are present in a ratio that provides a composition that has a predetermined biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). The invention further provides anti-icing compositions which further comprise a thickener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Carolyn S. Westmark, Kevin G. Joback, Marina Temchenko
  • Linear reluctance motor
    Patent number: 7218019
    Abstract: A linear reluctance motor including a stator with a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth. A shuttle also includes a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth. An active component is associated with either the stator, the shuttle, or both. The active component is divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc
    Inventor: Steven D. Potter
  • Non-invasive powerline communications system
    Patent number: 7158012
    Abstract: A non-invasive powerline communications system includes: means for generating communication signals at a first location for transmission on a powerline; means for reactively coupling the communication signals to the powerline; and means for receiving said communication signals at a second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Wiesman, Timothy J. Mason, Gary R. Bastarache
  • Enzyme degradable curable resin compositions
    Patent number: 7151124
    Abstract: The present invention provides degradable curable resin compositions containing no or essentially no volatile organic components. Oligomers for forming the coating compositions of the present invention are vinyl dioxolane end-capped oligomers having an enzyme degradable segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Kovar, Nese Orbey
  • Implantable bone distraction device and method
    Publication number: 20060235424
    Abstract: A self-contained, implantable bone distraction device is provided. The device is controlled by a programmable microcontroller that communicates with the outside world wirelessly, for example, via radio frequency or infrared. The microcontroller can be instructed, for example, to initiate an immediate distraction, or to stop a distraction in progress. Nitinol wire is used in conjunction with a one-way clutch to cause a distraction increment. The length of the wire is maintained after deactivation mechanically. Optional sensors allow the monitoring of the amount of actual distraction or the distraction force experienced by the bone under distraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: FOSTER-MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Vitale, Arthur Donahue, Scott Wheeler
  • Composite solid polymer electrolyte membranes
    Patent number: 7052793
    Abstract: The present invention relates to composite solid polymer electrolyte membranes (SPEMs) which include a porous polymer substrate interpenetrated with an ion-conducting material. SPEMs of the present invention are useful in electrochemical applications, including fuel cells and electrodialysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Formato, Robert F. Kovar, Paul Osenar, Nelson Landrau, Leslie S. Rubin
  • Active vibration control system
    Patent number: 7017857
    Abstract: An active vibration control system including a sensor responsive to a source of vibration and which provides an output signal representative of the vibrations; at least one actuator positioned to impart canceling vibrations to the source of vibrations based on an input signal; a correction subsystem responsive to the actuator for estimating the sensor output in the absence of the canceling vibrations and which outputs a corrected output signal representative only of the vibrations emanating from the source; and a state space predictor responsive to the corrected output signal for determining the input signal to the actuator based on variations in the corrected output signal to better control vibrations especially in chaotic systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Hill, Lev S. Tsimring
  • Chip package sealing method
    Patent number: 6977187
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a package including manufacturing a substrate to include at least one layer of LCP material, manufacturing a cover made of LCP material to include a lower lip, and sealing the cover to the substrate by heating the interface between the lower lip and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Farrell, Paul Jaynes, Malcolm Taylor
  • Electronic and optoelectronic component packaging technique
    Patent number: 6952046
    Abstract: A package including a substrate, a plurality of components on the substrate, and a lid assembly including a plurality of integrated covers for at least select components on the substrate. A method of manufacturing such a lid assembly is also disclosed as is a packaging method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Farrell, Paul Jaynes, Malcolm Taylor
  • Stiffener reinforced foldable member
    Patent number: 6910304
    Abstract: A foldable member including a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration and a second structural section also foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration. The second section is longitudinally aligned with the first structural section when both structural sections are in the open configuration. A hinged connection between the first and second structural sections allows the first structural section to be folded against the second structural section when both structural sections are folded flat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter A. Warren
  • No VOC radiation curable resin compositions
    Patent number: 6894084
    Abstract: The present invention provides radiation curable resin compositions that contain no or essentially no volatile organic components (VOCs), and to methods of using these compositions. The radiation curable resin compositions find particular use as coating compositions. In particular, the radiation curable resin compositions of this invention comprise a vinyl dioxolane end-capped oligomer blended with a photoinitiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Kovar, Nese Orbey, Stanley Wentworth
  • Upper bundle steam generator cleaning, inspection, and repair system
    Patent number: 6820575
    Abstract: An upper bundle steam generator cleaning, inspection, and repair system includes a deployment and support device receivable within the steam generator configured to raise and position a distal end of said device to the upper bundle region of the steam generator, a head subsystem connected to the distal end of the deployment and support device for at least one of cleaning, inspection, and repair of said upper bundle region, and a lateral support subsystem deployable to support said head subsystem within the upper bundle region of the steam generator and retractable to deploy said head subsystem up to the upper bundle region and to withdraw said head subsystem therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Augustus J. Ashton, III, J. Timothy Lovett, Daniel Fischbach, Steven K. Ruggieri, Alan Brightman, Steven Jens
  • Flexure and precision clamp
    Patent number: 6787223
    Abstract: A flexure including a plurality of plies of composite material consolidated everywhere except at at least one predefined region where preselected adjacent plies are purposefully delaminated so they can move relative to each other when the flexure is bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter A. Warren
  • Method of manufacturing a fabric article to include electronic circuitry and an electrically active textile article
    Patent number: 6729025
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fabric article to include electronic circuitry in which a flex circuit is assembled to include conductive traces and pads on a flexible substrate, a fabric article is placed on a rigid surface, and the substrate of the flex circuit is secured to the fabric article. Also disclosed is a fabric article which includes electronic circuitry and an electrically active textile article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Farrell, Patricia Wilson Nguyen, Justyna Teverovsky, Jeremiah Slade, Mara Powell
  • Wearable transmission device
    Patent number: 6727197
    Abstract: A knitted, woven, or braided textile ribbon including fibers and having a length and selvage edges and one or more transmission elements running the length of the ribbon in place of one or more of the fibers and integrated with the fibers to transmit data and/or power along the length of the ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia Wilson, Justyna Teverovsky, Brian Farrell, Wendy B. Horowitz, Carole A. Winterhalter, Richard A. Covel, Edward Joseph Tierney
  • High voltage powerline sensor with a plurality of voltage sensing devices
    Patent number: 6677743
    Abstract: A powerline sensor including a housing physically and electrically connectable to a powerline; a number of voltage sensing devices spaced peripherally about the housing, each voltage sensing device having an outer plate, an inner plate, and a dielectric material between the inner and out plates, the inner plates electrically connectable to the powerline, the outer plates electrically isolated form the powerline; and circuitry for sensing the voltage potential between the inner and outer plates to determine the voltage on the powerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron P. Coolidge, Timothy Mason, Michael Kast, Stephen P. Gill
  • Upper bundle steam generator cleaning system and method
    Patent number: 6672257
    Abstract: An upper bundle steam generator cleaning, inspection, and repair system including a deployment support device receivable within the steam generator to raise a cleaning device, an inspection device, and/or a tool up to the upper bundles of the steam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Augustus J. Ashton, III, J. Timothy Lovett, Daniel Fischbach, Steven K. Ruggieri, Alan Brightman, Steven Jens
  • Upper bundle steam generator cleaning system and method
    Patent number: RE38542
    Abstract: An upper bundle steam generator cleaning system including a cleaning head deployment and support device receivable through a hand hole of the steam generator and including retractable cylinders which raise the cleaning head up through the flow slots to position a cleaning head about a flow slot of the upper tube bundles; and a cleaning head mounted with the support device for directing fluid about the tubes of the upper bundles of the steam generator for directing fluid about the tubes of the upper bundles of the steam generator thereby cleaning the generator from the top down flushing deposits downward during the cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Augustus Ashton, Timothy Lovett, Daniel L. Fischbach