Patents by Inventor Darrall John Hicks

Darrall John Hicks 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).

  • Systems and methods for passive heating of temperature-sensitive electronic components
    Patent number: 11224098
    Abstract: A system configured for operation below a threshold temperature system includes a power supply, a housing, a temperature-sensitive electronic component, and a heating circuit. The temperature-sensitive electronic component is enclosed within said housing and electrically connected to the power supply, wherein the temperature-sensitive electronic component becomes susceptible to failure when the temperature of said temperature-sensitive electronic component decreases and crosses the threshold temperature. The heating circuit is at least partially enclosed within the housing and comprising a temperature-dependent resistor, the heating circuit electrically connected to the power supply and configured to generate heat energy within the housing when the temperature within the housing decreases and approaches the threshold temperature in order to maintain the temperature of the temperature-sensitive electronic component above the threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Darrall John Hicks, William Dwight Gerstler
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PASSIVE HEATING OF TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20200146112
    Abstract: A system configured for operation below a threshold temperature system includes a power supply, a housing, a temperature-sensitive electronic component, and a heating circuit. The temperature-sensitive electronic component is enclosed within said housing and electrically connected to the power supply, wherein the temperature-sensitive electronic component becomes susceptible to failure when the temperature of said temperature-sensitive electronic component decreases and crosses the threshold temperature. The heating circuit is at least partially enclosed within the housing and comprising a temperature-dependent resistor, the heating circuit electrically connected to the power supply and configured to generate heat energy within the housing when the temperature within the housing decreases and approaches the threshold temperature in order to maintain the temperature of the temperature-sensitive electronic component above the threshold temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Darrall John Hicks, William Dwight Gerstler