Patents by Inventor Charles E. Hunt

Charles E. Hunt 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: 8853944
    Abstract: Electron sources for a cathodoluminescent lighting system are disclosed. An electron source is a broad-beam reflecting-type electron gun having a cathode for emitting electrons and a reflector and/or secondary emitter electrode and no grids. An alternative electron gun has a cathode having a heater welded to a disk, the disk having an emissive surface on a side facing a dome-shaped defocusing grid and an anode. A lighting system incorporating the electron sources has an envelope with a transparent face, an anode with a phosphor layer to emit light through the face and a conductor layer. The system also has a power supply for providing from five to thirty thousand volts of power to the light emitting device to draw electrons from cathode to anode and excite a cathodoluminescent phosphor, and the electrons transiting from cathode to anode are essentially unfocused. A power-factor-corrected embodiment is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Vu1 Corporation
    Inventors: Richard N. Herring, Charles E. Hunt, Thomas Skupien, Tomas Hasilik, Viktor Jelinek, Bernard K. Vancil
  • Patent number: 8749127
    Abstract: A device for lighting a room is described. The device has an envelope with a transparent face, the face having an interior surface coated with a cathodoluminescent screen and a thin, reflective, conductive, anode layer. There is a broad-beam electron gun mounted directly to feedthroughs in a base of the envelope with a heated, button-on-hairpin, cathode for emitting electrons in a broad beam towards the anode, and a power supply mounted on the feedthroughs at the base of the envelope that drives the cathode to a multi-kilovolt negative voltage. A two-prong snubber serves as an anode contact to permit the power supply to drive the anode to a voltage near ground. A method of manufacture of the anode uses a single step deposition and lacquering process followed by a metallization using a conical-spiral tungsten filament coated with aluminum by a thermal spray coating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Vu1 Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Herring, Charles E. Hunt, Bernard K. Vanch, Tomas Hasilik, Viktor Jelinek
  • Patent number: 8662522
    Abstract: A tow bar assembly for towing a vehicle which is immovable and stuck. The tow bar assembly includes an interconnector assembly including a first elongate member and an linkage assembly being hingedly attached to the first elongate member; a biased assembly for biasing the linkage assembly relative to the first elongate member; and a stop assembly being engagable to the linkage assembly upon the linkage assembly being in a biased position relative to the first elongate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventor: Charles E. Hunt, III
  • Patent number: 8330376
    Abstract: A cathodoluminescent lighting system has a light emitting device having an envelope with a transparent face, a cathode for emitting electrons, an anode with a phosphor layer and a conductor layer. The phosphor layer emits light through the transparent face of the envelope. The system also has a power supply for providing at least five thousand volts of power to the light emitting device, and the electrons transiting from cathode to anode are essentially unfocused. Additional embodiments responsive to triac-type dimmers with intensity and color-changes in response to dimmer control. A power-factor-corrected embodiment is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Vu1 Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Hunt, Regan Andrew Zane, Richard N. Herring
  • Patent number: 8308520
    Abstract: A light emitting device has a cathode-ray tube and power supply. The cathode-ray tube in an embodiment is optimized for emitting a broad electron beam, in one variation a dome-shaped diffusing grid is used to spread the beam. In another embodiment, the device has a base adapted for attachment to a standard lighting fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Vu1 Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Hunt, Bearnard K. Vancil, Richard N. Herring, Richard Gale Sellers
  • Patent number: 8294367
    Abstract: Electron sources for a cathodoluminescent lighting system are disclosed. An electron source is a broad-beam reflecting-type electron gun having a cathode for emitting electrons and a reflector and/or secondary emitter electrode and no grids. An alternative electron gun has a cathode having a heater welded to a disk, the disk having an emissive surface on a side facing a dome-shaped defocusing grid and an anode. A lighting system incorporating the electron sources has an envelope with a transparent face, an anode with a phosphor layer to emit light through the face and a conductor layer. The system also has a power supply for providing from five to thirty thousand volts of power to the light emitting device to draw electrons from cathode to anode and excite a cathodoluminescent phosphor, and the electrons transiting from cathode to anode are essentially unfocused. A power-factor-corrected embodiment is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Vu1 Corporation
    Inventors: Richard N. Herring, Charles E. Hunt, Thomas Skupien, Tomas Hasilik, Viktor Jelinek, Bernard K. Vancil
  • Publication number: 20120237762
    Abstract: A device construct for lighting and display applications is fabricated from a substrate, a deposited phosphor layer over the substrate, and a layer of thermal and electrically-conductive luminescent material over the deposited layer. The layer of thermal and electrically-conductive luminescent material is a thin film that conforms to the morphology of the phosphor layer. The device is fabricated by providing a substrate, depositing a thin layer of phosphor powder on the substrate by any technique, and coating the phosphor layer with a layer of thermal and electrically-conductive luminescent material by atomic layer deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicants: OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Charles E. Hunt, Helmut Baumgart, Diefeng Gu
  • Publication number: 20120139407
    Abstract: A device for lighting a room is described. The device has an envelope with a transparent face, the face having an interior surface coated with a cathodoluminescent screen and a thin, reflective, conductive, anode layer. There is a broad-beam electron gun mounted directly to feedthroughs in a base of the envelope with a heated, button-on-hairpin, cathode for emitting electrons in a broad beam towards the anode, and a power supply mounted on the feedthroughs at the base of the envelope that drives the cathode to a multi-kilovolt negative voltage. A two-prong snubber serves as an anode contact to permit the power supply to drive the anode to a voltage near ground. A method of manufacture of the anode uses a single step deposition and lacquering process followed by a metallization using a conical-spiral tungsten filament coated with aluminum by a thermal spray coating process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: VU1 CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Herring, Charles E. Hunt, Bernard K. Vanch, Tomas Hasilik, Viktor Jelinek
  • Publication number: 20120126701
    Abstract: A cathodoluminescent lighting system has a light emitting device having an envelope with a transparent face, a cathode for emitting electrons, an anode with a phosphor layer and a conductor layer. The phosphor layer emits light through the transparent face of the envelope. The system also has a power supply for providing at least five thousand volts of power to the light emitting device, and the electrons transiting from cathode to anode are essentially unfocused. Additional embodiments responsive to triac-type dimmers with intensity and color-changes in response to dimmer control. A power-factor-corrected embodiment is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: VU1 CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles E. Hunt, Regan Andrew Zane, Richard N. Herring
  • Publication number: 20120056535
    Abstract: A light emitting device has a cathode-ray tube and power supply. The cathode-ray tube in an embodiment is optimized for emitting a broad electron beam, in one variation a dome-shaped diffusing grid is used to spread the beam. In another embodiment, the device has a base adapted for attachment to a standard lighting fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Charles E. Hunt, Bearnard K. Vancil, Richard N. Herring, Richard Gale Sellers
  • Patent number: 8102122
    Abstract: A cathodoluminescent lighting system has a light emitting device having an envelope with a transparent face, a cathode for emitting electrons, an anode with a phosphor layer and a conductor layer. The phosphor layer emits light through the transparent face of the envelope. The system also has a power supply for providing at least five thousand volts of power to the light emitting device, and the electrons transiting from cathode to anode are essentially unfocused. Additional embodiments responsive to triac-type dimmers with intensity and color-changes in response to dimmer control. A power-factor-corrected embodiment is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Vu1 Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Hunt, Regan Andrew Zane, Richard N. Herring
  • Patent number: 8058789
    Abstract: A light emitting device has a cathode-ray tube and power supply. The cathode-ray tube in an embodiment is optimized for emitting a broad electron beam, in one variation a dome-shaped diffusing grid is used to spread the beam. In another embodiment, the device has a base adapted for attachment to a standard lighting fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Vu1 Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Hunt, Bernard K. Vancil, Richard N. Herring, Richard Gale Sellers
  • Publication number: 20110062883
    Abstract: A cathodoluminescent lighting system has a light emitting device having an envelope with a transparent face, a cathode for emitting electrons, an anode with a phosphor layer and a conductor layer. The phosphor layer emits light through the transparent face of the envelope. The system also has a power supply for providing at least five thousand volts of power to the light emitting device, and the electrons transiting from cathode to anode are essentially unfocused. Additional embodiments responsive to triac-type dimmers with intensity and color-changes in response to dimmer control. A power-factor-corrected embodiment is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: VU1 CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles E. Hunt, Regan Andrew Zane, Richard N. Herring
  • Patent number: 7834553
    Abstract: A cathodolumineseent lighting system has a light emitting device having an envelope with a transparent face, a cathode for emitting electrons, an anode with a phosphor layer and a conductor layer. The phosphor layer emits light through the transparent face of the envelope. The system also has a power supply for providing at least five thousand volts of power to the light emitting device, and the electrons transiting from cathode to anode are essentially unfocused. Additional embodiments responsive to triac-type dimmers with intensity and color-changes in response to dimmer control. A power-factor-corrected embodiment is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Vu1 Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Hunt, Regan Andrew Zane, Richard N. Herring
  • Publication number: 20100097004
    Abstract: Electron sources for a cathodoluminescent lighting system are disclosed. An electron source is a broad-beam reflecting-type electron gun having a cathode for emitting electrons and a reflector and/or secondary emitter electrode and no grids. An alternative electron gun has a cathode having a heater welded to a disk, the disk having an emissive surface on a side facing a dome-shaped defocusing grid and an anode. A lighting system incorporating the electron sources has an envelope with a transparent face, an anode with a phosphor layer to emit light through the face and a conductor layer. The system also has a power supply for providing from five to thirty thousand volts of power to the light emitting device to draw electrons from cathode to anode and excite a cathodoluminescent phosphor, and the electrons transiting from cathode to anode are essentially unfocused. A power-factor-corrected embodiment is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: VU1 CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard N. Herring, Charles E. Hunt, Thomas Skupien, Tomas Hasilik, Viktor Jelinek, Bernard K. Vancil
  • Publication number: 20080185970
    Abstract: A cathodolumineseent lighting system has a light emitting device having an envelope with a transparent face, a cathode for emitting electrons, an anode with a phosphor layer and a conductor layer. The phosphor layer emits light through the transparent face of the envelope. The system also has a power supply for providing at least five thousand volts of power to the light emitting device, and the electrons transiting from cathode to anode are essentially unfocused. Additional embodiments responsive to triac-type dimmers with intensity and color-changes in response to dimmer control. A power-factor-corrected embodiment is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Charles E. Hunt, Regan Andrew Zane, Richard N. Herring
  • Publication number: 20080185953
    Abstract: A light emitting device has a cathode-ray tube and power supply. The cathode-ray tube in an embodiment is optimized for emitting a broad electron beam, in one variation a dome-shaped diffusing grid is used to spread the beam. In another embodiment, the device has a base adapted for attachment to a standard lighting fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Charles E. Hunt, Barnard K. Vancil, Richard N. Herring, Richard Gale Sellers
  • Patent number: 6972245
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for co-fabricating strained and relaxed crystalline, poly-crystalline, and amorphous structures in an integrated circuit device using common fabrication steps. The system operates by first receiving a substrate. The system then fabricates multiple layers on this substrate. A layer within these multiple layers includes both strained structures and relaxed structures. These strained structures and relaxed structures are fabricated simultaneously using common fabrication steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Peterson, Charles E. Hunt
  • Patent number: 6884640
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that determines the composition of a layer within an integrated device. The system operates by first receiving the integrated device. Next, the system measures properties of the layer using electromagnetic radiation. The properties of the layer measured are used to determine an index of refraction for the layer. The system then solves for the composition of the layer using the index of refraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Peterson, Charles E. Hunt, Peter J. Bjeletich
  • Patent number: 6818137
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates construction of electromagnetic, optical, chemical, and mechanical systems using chemical endpoint detection. The system operates by receiving a system description that specifies multiple components, including a first component and a second component. The system fabricates the first component and the second component using selected construction materials. The system also creates a first interconnection structure on the first component and a second interconnection structure on the second component. These interconnection structures can be created using a sacrificial layer and chemical endpoint detection. Next, the system brings the first component and the second component together by connecting the first interconnection structure and the second interconnection structure. These interconnection structures align the first component to the second component so that accurate alignment can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Peterson, Charles E. Hunt