Patents Assigned to Venture Research
  • Patent number: 7609006
    Abstract: A string of lights has an electrical plug at one end and a receptacle at the other end and plural light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in series with a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor. The device also includes a bridge rectifier providing direct current to the LEDs and the thermistor but split between the plug and receptacle of the light string so that alternating current from the plug is delivered to the receptacle but direct current flow through the LEDs. Light string fuses protect the string but the NTC fuses protect the LEDs at a lower current rating. The LEDs can be arranged in a simple electrical series, or, in an alternative embodiment, an electrical series of groups of plural LEDs each of which is arranged electrically in parallel with other LEDs of the same group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Ventur Research and Development Corp.
    Inventor: James W. Gibboney
  • Patent number: 7473024
    Abstract: A light for use in light strings has a deeper socket, a longer base and longer Dumet wires than a standard socket, base, and Dumet wires so that the standard bases and bulbs will not operate in the non-standard socket. Furthermore, the base and sockets are keyed so that they are restricted to at most two orientations with respect to each other and cannot be twisted with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Ventur Research & Development Corp.
    Inventor: James W. Gibboney
  • Patent number: 7036734
    Abstract: An RFID system is provided, which includes one or more radio frequency antennas and a generally column-shaped structure. The generally column-shaped structure supports the antenna(s) therein. The structure may include a base portion, a frame portion, one ore more paddle portions, and an external body portion. In such case, the frame portion is attached to and supported by the base portion. The frame portion extends along a vertical axis of the structure. Each paddle portion is pivotably coupled to the frame portion. Each paddle portion supports one or more antennas attached thereto. The hollow and elongated external body portion is attached to and supported by the base portion. The external body portion extends along the vertical axis. The frame portion, the paddle portion(s), and the antenna(s) are located within the external body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Venture Research Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Baker
  • Patent number: 6869313
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle for use in a string of holiday lighting that has a removable, replaceable, on-board power control board. The control board taps into normal alternating current delivered to the receptacle from a pair of wires running from an electrical plug and uses it to deliver electrical power through a fuse to a third wire that supplies current to a set of lights carried by the third wire as it runs from the receptacle back to the plug. The control board may also rectify the current to the third wire so that the lights operate on direct current rather than alternating current. However the receptacle delivers alternating current to subsequent load plugged into it. The control board is also capable, with suitable choices of components carried by it, of other modifications of the electrical current it delivers to the third wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Ventur Research and Dev. Corp.
    Inventor: James W. Gibboney
  • Patent number: 6646537
    Abstract: A single circuit element, referred to as a solid state rectifying fuse (SSRF), rectifies an incoming AC signal and opens the circuit if a programmed maximum current level is reached. The anode or cathode depending upon the particular application is designed with a plurality of conductors strips in electrical contact with the P or N region, respectively. Conductor strips are composed of a material that melts open if the current limit is exceeded. Conductor strips are designed to have a lower total current handling capacity than that of the PN junction so that the current is reduced or terminated before the PN junction can “short.” Depending on the desired maximum current of the SSRF, the current limit can be adjusted downward by burning out or severing some of the conductors. In this sense, it is a programmable diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Ventur Research & Development Corp.
    Inventor: James W Gibboney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6367952
    Abstract: A light for use in a string of lights has a lamp and a light socket that may include a parallel group device that may perform a variety of functions. One of those functions is to serve as a resistive element to regulate voltage and current to keep other lights in a group of lights arranged to be electrically in parallel lighted to the same intensity in the event one of the lights burns out or is removed. Another function of the parallel group device is to control the lamp in the socket so that it lights and goes out on command. The socket is designed to be closed against moisture and to be easily manufactured by hand or by machine. It includes piercing terminals that, when pressed into the electrical wires that run from light to light in the string, allow electrical connection with the lamp leads and the parallel group device leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Ventur Research & Development INC
    Inventor: James W Gibboney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6344716
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for use with plural, low voltage loads such as a string of Christmas lights is disclosed comprising groups of lights placed electrically in a series circuit but the lights within each group are in parallel, preferably with a semiconductor device in parallel with each group to limit current and voltage in the group. By suitable choice of bulb, group size and number of groups, a light string can be fashioned that that uses about one third the power with much less heat production and without loss of brightness. The semiconductor device can consist essentially of diodes such as two silica diodes on either side of a Zener diode, or a custom bipolar device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Ventur Research & Development Corporation
    Inventor: James W. Gibboney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6157139
    Abstract: A light socket is disclosed that has a built-in integrated circuit for rectifying the alternating current received from an electrical outlet and limiting the direct current produced. The light socket is specifically suited for low-current, low-voltage applications such as supplying DC to a string of ornamental lights. The integrated circuit has a diode with a modified cathode that acts as a fuse as it is rectifying the alternating current. The cathode is formed of a plurality of electrically parallel conductors. Excessive current blows out at least some of these conductors in the same way a conventional fuse blows. Various embodiments add other current-limiting elements, elements for producing full wave or near will wave rectification, and for opening the circuit when they detect extraneous currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Ventur Research & Development Corp.
    Inventor: James W. Gibboney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5994845
    Abstract: A light socket is disclosed that has a built-in integrated circuit for rectifying the alternating current received from an electrical outlet and limiting the direct current produced. The light socket is specifically suited for low-current, low-voltage applications such as supplying DC to a string of ornamental lights. The integrated circuit has a diode with a modified cathode that acts as a fuse as it is rectifying the alternating current. The cathode is formed of a plurality of electrically parallel conductors. Excessive current blows out at least some of these conductors in the same way a conventional fuse blows. Various embodiments add other current-limiting elements, elements for producing full wave or near full wave rectification, and for opening the circuit when they detect extraneous currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Ventur Research & Development Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Gibboney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5777868
    Abstract: A plug is diclosed that is adapted to be inserted into a standard electrical outlet and has a built-in integrated circuit for rectifying the alternating current received from the outlet and limiting the direct current produced. The plug is specifically suited for low-current, low-voltage applications such as supplying DC to a string of ornamental lights. The integrated circuit has a diode with a modified cathode that acts as a fuse as it is rectifying the alternating current. The cathode is formed of a plurality of electrically parallel conductors. Excessive current blows out at least some of these conductors in the same way a conventional fuse blows. Various embodiments add other current-limiting elements, elements for producing full wave or near full wave rectification, and for opening the circuit when they detect extraneous currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Ventur Research & Development Inc
    Inventor: James W. Gibboney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4525736
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the modification of the color of television pictures in arbitrarily selected regions of the color space and of the picture. A region within which color modification is to take place is defined by establishing the bounds, or limits for the region. Apparatus is described by which a determination can be made whether any given picture element lies within the region. For those picture elements which lie within the region, modification voltages are added to the television signals to accomplish the desired color modifications. Display apparatus is described which facilitates setting of proper bounds for the color modification region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: Ventures Research & Development Group
    Inventor: Nathaniel I. Korman
  • Patent number: D302867
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Venture Research
    Inventors: Warren E. Dennis, Eric D. Plambeck
  • Patent number: D610281
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ventur Research and Development Corporation
    Inventor: Jams W. Gibboney