Patents by Inventor Brett Thompson

Brett Thompson 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: 8505309
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the efficiency of a power generation facility utilize heat energy to preheat inlet-air that is supplied to the compressor of a turbine or to preheat fuel that is burned in the turbine. The heat energy used to preheat the inlet-air can be drawn from a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) that produces steam using at least part of the exhaust gas of the turbine. The heat energy can be obtained from one or more predetermined points within the HRSG, such as a feed water line exiting a drum of the HRSG or a feed line connecting an economizer of the HRSG to a drum of the HRSG. The fluid drawn from the predetermined point passes through a heat exchanger or a preheater to remove the heat energy used for preheating. The fluid is then returned to the HRSG immediately downstream from the point from which it was drawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Barrett Gardiner, Brett Thompson, Aaron Vorel, Kihyung Kim, Ricky Conard
  • Publication number: 20120317988
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the efficiency of a power generation facility utilize heat energy to preheat inlet-air that is supplied to the compressor of a turbine or to preheat fuel that is burned in the turbine. The heat energy used to preheat the inlet-air can be drawn from a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) that produces steam using at least part of the exhaust gas of the turbine. The heat energy can be obtained from one or more predetermined points within the HRSG, such as a feed water line exiting a drum of the HRSG or a feed line connecting an economizer of the HRSG to a drum of the HRSG. The fluid drawn from the predetermined point passes through a heat exchanger or a preheater to remove the heat energy used for preheating. The fluid is then returned to the HRSG immediately downstream from the point from which it was drawn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Barrett GARDINER, Brett THOMPSON, Aaron VOREL, Kihyung KIM, Ricky CONARD
  • Publication number: 20080039012
    Abstract: A wireless repeater includes a directional donor antenna and a display that can be used to indicate the downlink signal strength experienced by the wireless repeater. When placed in a signal strength test mode, the wireless repeater shuts down or attenuates the gain of the uplink channel to a nominal, sets the downlink gain a test value, determines the signal strength of the downlink channel, and displays an indication of the signal strength of the downlink channel. Alternatively, the wireless unit may display the downlink gain setting and the measured downlink signal strength at the same time to give the user a better understating of the operational conditions of the unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Dave L. McKay, Stephen Brett Thompson, Donald Joseph McNeill
  • Publication number: 20060021920
    Abstract: Pond filters are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to pond filters having a filter mode and a backflush mode. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the pond filters incorporate a flow controller positioned inside a housing capable of being manipulated using a control knob located on the outside of the housing. The control knob moves a flow gate to direct incoming fluid flow to flow along a first direction for filtering or a second direction for backflushing the filter cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Forbes, Brett Thompson, Miguel Larios
  • Publication number: 20040166802
    Abstract: A low-cost user portable signal enhancer unit for extending service coverage of wireless communications to a user in a desired area of limited coverage. The enhancement supports an increase of signal power levels to allow wireless communication usage in a location, such as a small office or home office environment where the original cellular signals are weak or unreliable. A base station signal is enhanced by a bi-directional amplifier device (BDA), which receives a base station signal, amplifies the signal power and retransmits the amplified signal in a first signal path to a user in close proximity. The bi-directional amplifier also receives a user signal, amplifies the signal power and retransmits the amplified signal to the base station in a second separate signal path. Dual polarized antennas can receive and transmit the respective signals at opposite polarizations to increase isolation of the signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: EMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. McKay, Donald L. Runyon, Donald Joseph McNeill, Stephen Brett Thompson, James William Maxwell
  • Patent number: 4345201
    Abstract: A probe for sensing the direction of flow of an injected current pulse along a conductor of a circuit under test. The probe is linked to automatic test equipment (ATE), and is triggered to inject the pulse during a test sequence at a step previously found by the ATE to establish a faulty state in the circuit so that the faulty one of several components connected to a circuit node can be identified. The probe injects an approximately triangular-waveform current pulse which has a steep rising edge and a less steep falling edge, thereby inducing a voltage level and thus permits discrimination of the direction of current flow. To detect low level current pulses in the presence of masking noise, the output of the probe is connected to the series combination of a filter, an integrator and an A/D converter. The circuit under test is set to its faulty state, and then the probe is repeatedly operated, first with the injection of the current pulses inhibited and then with current pulses being injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1982
    Assignee: Membrain Limited
    Inventors: Brett A. Thompson, John A. Webb, Martin B. White