Patents by Inventor Bernard R. Tolmie

Bernard R. Tolmie has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7569774
    Abstract: Self-healing cable apparatus and methods disclosed. The self-healing cable has a central core surrounded by an adaptive cover that can extend over the entire length of the self-healing cable or just one or more portions of the self-healing cable. The adaptive cover includes an axially and/or radially compressible-expandable (C/E) foam layer that maintains its properties over a wide range of environmental conditions. A tape layer surrounds the C/E layer and is applied so that it surrounds and axially and/or radially compresses the C/E layer. When the self-healing cable is subjected to a damaging force that causes a breach in the outer jacket and the tape layer, the corresponding localized axially and/or radially compressed portion of the C/E foam layer expands into the breach to form a corresponding localized self-healed region. The self-healing cable is manufacturable with present-day commercial self-healing cable manufacturing tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: University of Vermont and State Agricultural College
    Inventors: Dryver R. Huston, Bernard R. Tolmie
  • Publication number: 20080283272
    Abstract: Self-healing cable apparatus and methods disclosed. The self-healing cable has a central core surrounded by an adaptive cover that can extend over the entire length of the self-healing cable or just one or more portions of the self-healing cable. The adaptive cover includes an axially and/or radially compressible-expandable (C/E) foam layer that maintains its properties over a wide range of environmental conditions. A tape layer surrounds the C/E layer and is applied so that it surrounds and axially and/or radially compresses the C/E layer. When the self-healing cable is subjected to a damaging force that causes a breach in the outer jacket and the tape layer, the corresponding localized axially and/or radially compressed portion of the C/E foam layer expands into the breach to form a corresponding localized self-healed region. The self-healing cable is manufacturable with present-day commercial self-healing cable manufacturing tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Dryver R. Huston, Bernard R. Tolmie
  • Patent number: 7156690
    Abstract: An extruded metal connector that does not require an insulating layer in the channels is disclosed. Further an extruded metal connector that does not require and IPCB is also disclosed. The connector includes a metallic extruded housing having one or more connector channels formed therein during extrusion. The one or more connector channels have first and second ends and channel walls. The connector also includes a singular or plurality of pin guides each with a central aperture and each operatively coupled to a corresponding channel. An intermediate printed circuit board (IPCB) or other such member having one or more spaced apart first electrical contact pins serves to hold the connector pins within the connector channels and away from the channel walls by the IPCB at the first end of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Inventor: Bernard R Tolmie
  • Patent number: 6821146
    Abstract: A hybrid connector for transmitting different types of electrical signals, or both electrical and optical signals, is disclosed. The hybrid connector includes a metallic extruded housing having a plurality of connector channels formed therein during extrusion. The connector also includes an intermediate printed circuit board (IPCB) having contact members fixed to the IPCB and that reside within respective connector channels. The contact members include contact pins for transmitting electrical signals and optical fibers for transmitting optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Inventor: Bernard R. Tolmie
  • Patent number: 6612857
    Abstract: A rectangular connector assembly having a plurality of contacts, with each contact being enclosed in a metal shield along the contact length is disclosed. The assembly has a rectangular metallic housing that contains a plurality of contact channels through which the contacts are inserted. The contacts are insulated from the surrounding housing by a coating on the inside of the housing. The contacts are connected at one end of the housing to an intermediate printed circuit board. The other end of the housing forms the mate to a receptacle mounted on the motherboard of an electronic system. The housing assemblies are stackable because of their shape. The invention also includes a hybrid electrical-optical connector that employs VCSEL technology, so that both electrical and optical connections can be accommodated in the same connector. Further, the connector can include a connector cooling system to cool the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Bernard R. Tolmie
  • Publication number: 20030129872
    Abstract: A hybrid connector for transmitting different types of electrical signals, or both electrical and optical signals, is disclosed. The hybrid connector includes a metallic extruded housing having a plurality of connector channels formed therein during extrusion. The connector also includes an intermediate printed circuit board (IPCB) having contact members fixed to the IPCB and that reside within respective connector channels. The contact members include contact pins for transmitting electrical signals and optical fibers for transmitting optical signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: Bernard R. Tolmie
  • Publication number: 20030008560
    Abstract: A rectangular connector assembly having a plurality of contacts, with each contact being enclosed in a metal shield along the contact length is disclosed. The assembly has a rectangular metallic housing that contains a plurality of contact channels through which the contacts are inserted. The contacts are insulated from the surrounding housing by a coating on the inside of the housing. The contacts are connected at one end of the housing to an intermediate printed circuit board. The other end of the housing forms the mate to a receptacle mounted on the motherboard of an electronic system. The housing assemblies are stackable because of their shape. The invention also includes a hybrid electrical-optical connector that employs VCSEL technology, so that both electrical and optical connections can be accommodated in the same connector. Further, the connector can include a connector cooling system to cool the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventor: Bernard R. Tolmie
  • Patent number: 6478625
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to an extruded metal rectangular electrical connector housing making a novel electrical connector module configuration having a plurality of contacts. The rectangular connector has a plurality of contacts, with each contact being enclosed in a metal shield along the contact length. The assembly has a rectangular metallic housing that contains a plurality of contact channels through which the contacts are inserted. The contacts are insulated by a coating positioned on the inside of the housing. The contacts are connected to an intermediate printed circuit board. The housing assemblies are stackable because of their shape. The invention also includes a hybrid electrical-optical connector that employs VCSEL technology, so that both electrical and optical connections can be accommodated in the same connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Inventors: Bernard R. Tolmie, Robert H. Wittemeyer
  • Publication number: 20020006748
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to an extruded metal rectangular electrical connector housing making a novel electrical connector module configuration having a plurality of contacts. The rectangular connector has a plurality of contacts, with each contact being enclosed in a metal shield along the contact length. The assembly has a rectangular metallic housing that contains a plurality of contact channels through which the contacts are inserted. The contacts are insulated by a coating positioned on the inside of the housing. The contacts are connected to an intermediate printed circuit board. The housing assemblies are stackable because of their shape. The invention also includes a hybrid electrical-optical connector that employs VCSEL technology, so that both electrical and optical connections can be accommodated in the same connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Bernard R. Tolmie, Robert H. Wittemeyer
  • Patent number: 6283792
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to an extruded metal rectangular electrical connector housing making a novel electrical connector module configuration having a plurality of contacts in densities of two millimeter (2 mm) on center or less. The rectangular connector has a plurality of contacts with each contact being enclosed in a metal shield along the contact length. The assembly has a rectangular metallic housing that contains a plurality of contact channels through which the contacts are inserted. The contacts are insulated by a coating positioned on the inside of the housing. The contacts are connected to an intermediate printed circuit board. The housing assemblies are stackable because of their shape. A method of producing the extruded metallic electrical connector assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Inventors: Bernard R. Tolmie, Robert H. Wittemeyer
  • Patent number: 5940963
    Abstract: The finished mass terminated end for a miniature coaxial ribbon cable is comprised of coaxial ribbon cable having an overlayer of metallic materials soldered into position, adhesive tape end portions and the insulation required by the conductor. The method of producing the mass terminated miniature coaxial ribbon cable comprises the steps necessary to produce a cable, both during the process and as a finished product that is consistently uniform in terms of the spacing of the conductors exposed and repetitive axial location without which later operations cannot be performed enmasse with a high degree of reliability and uniform appearance. The uniformity also allows termination without crossovers and shorts and improves strain relief by allowing all the conductors to become taut at the same time in order to equally share mechanical loads in a straight line motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Tensolite Company
    Inventors: Bernard R. Tolmie, Robert H. Wittemeyer
  • Patent number: 5636147
    Abstract: The method of providing ultrasonic electrical impedance matching circuits is designed to provide the ability to analyze a large number of variable parameters in order to obtain a quick and simplified read out for the tuning of ultrasonic signals. This is done in order to evaluate these signals based upon the electrical model of an ultrasound system. A computer program is disclosed that provides the basis for this method and results in a highly accurate and immediate analysis of the ultrasound system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Vermont Electromagnetics Corp.
    Inventors: Bernard R. Tolmie, Mark Haviland, Paul Smith
  • Patent number: D404009
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Tensolite Company
    Inventors: Bernard R. Tolmie, Thomas P. Dix, Christopher A. Tutt
  • Patent number: D408016
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Tensolite Company
    Inventors: Bernard R. Tolmie, Robert H. Wittemeyer