Patents by Inventor Brian Houghton

Brian Houghton 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: 9263968
    Abstract: A bidirectional inverter-charger includes a first stage receiving or delivering energy from a line or to a load. The first stage including at least one inductor coupled with a split phase bridge. A link storage is connected between rails of a first bus and between the first stage and a second stage. The second stage includes a DC-to-DC converter connectable to a battery. The DC-to-DC converter includes a transformer providing galvanic isolation between a second bridge, connected between the rails of the first bus, and a third bridge connected between the rails of a second bus. In operation, the first stage provides power factor correction and a voltage boost while charging the battery and inverting when providing power to the line or the load. The second stage provides a controllable charge current to the battery and a voltage boost of a voltage of the battery to the link storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: EETREX, INC.
    Inventors: Dennis L. Potts, Brian Houghton
  • Patent number: 8896263
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a charging system that provides a consistent specified charge power to a battery. Aspects of the disclosure also involve a bi-directional inverter charger system using boost and buck topologies substantially similar to buck and boost topologies for the charging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Eetrex, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Riggio, Brian Houghton
  • Publication number: 20130057200
    Abstract: A bidirectional inverter-charger includes a first stage receiving or delivering energy from a line or to a load. The first stage including at least one inductor coupled with a split phase bridge. A link storage is connected between rails of a first bus and between the first stage and a second stage. The second stage includes a DC-to-DC converter connectable to a battery. The DC-to-DC converter includes a transformer providing galvanic isolation between a second bridge, connected between the rails of the first bus, and a third bridge connected between the rails of a second bus. In operation, the first stage provides power factor correction and a voltage boost while charging the battery and inverting when providing power to the line or the load. The second stage provides a controllable charge current to the battery and a voltage boost of a voltage of the battery to the link storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Eetrex, Incorporated
    Inventors: Dennis L. Potts, Brian Houghton
  • Publication number: 20130038273
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a charging system that provides a consistent specified charge power to a battery. Aspects of the disclosure also involve a bi-directional inverter charger system using boost and buck topologies substantially similar to buck and boost topologies for the charging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: EETREX, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Brian Houghton
  • Patent number: 5619112
    Abstract: A limited angle torque motor and control circuit are adapted to convert an electrical demand signal of varying magnitude into a motor shaft position relating to the magnitude of the demand signal. More particularly, a bidirectional motor is provided having two stator coils wound in phase opposition, so that the torques produced by the currents in the opposedly wound coils are summed such that the coil having the greater current controls the direction of rotor rotation. A position sensor provides feedback of the present shaft position; the magnitude of the feedback signal being indicative of motor shaft position. Finally, an electronic control circuit which is responsive to both the demand signal and the shaft position signal is provided and has two outputs for simultaneously driving the current in each respective stator coil. A summing means is included in the control circuit for combining the shaft position signal and demand signal so as to produce an error signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Woodward Governor Company
    Inventors: Ramin Younessi, Brian Houghton