Patents by Inventor Edward C. Fontana

Edward C. Fontana 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: 8797718
    Abstract: A power distribution system comprising a cabinet configured to hold electronic components therein. An outside surface of the cabinet has one or more electrical termination contacts thereon such that a surface of the electrical termination contacts is part of the outside surface. The electrical termination contacts are configured to be coupled to an external DC power source at the outside surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward C. Fontana, Paul Smith, William C. England, III
  • Patent number: 8686592
    Abstract: A system for, and method of, combining the outputs of multiple, disparate types of power sources and an isolated converter module employed in the same. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a plurality of isolated converter modules having power inputs couplable to corresponding disparate types of power sources and a DC-output converter configured to convert power received from at least one of the power sources to DC power and (2) a DC bus coupled to power outputs of the plurality of isolated converter modules and configured to receive and aggregate the DC power. With such system, a universal converter module can be employed to identify and convert power from a variety of conventional and renewable power sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward C. Fontana, Paul Smith
  • Patent number: 8427815
    Abstract: A power distribution system comprising a platform having one or more electrical connections each with cabinet connection contacts and one or more receptacles in an outer surface of the platform. Each receptacle is configured to hold one or more electrical over-current protection devices that route electrical power to the cabinet connection contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward C. Fontana, Paul Smith, William C. England, II
  • Patent number: 8270572
    Abstract: The present invention provides a wiring degradation detector for use with telephone wire-pairs providing electric power. In one embodiment, the wiring degradation detector includes a transmission section configured to transmit load power over the telephone wire-pairs. Additionally, the wiring degradation detector also includes a test section coupled to the transmission section and configured to provide a load power test signal that determines a condition of the telephone wire-pairs. In an alternative embodiment, the wiring degradation detector further includes a degradation monitoring section coupled to the test section and configured to track values of the condition of the wiring over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Lineage Power Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Buskmiller, Roy J. Davis, Edward C. Fontana, Mark A. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120202098
    Abstract: A battery enclosure and a method of manufacturing a battery enclosure. In one embodiment, the battery enclosure includes: (1) an outer shell, (2) an inner capsule configured to contain multiple batteries, (3) a deformable structure configured to support the inner capsule within the outer shell and (4) at least one conductor extending from the inner capsule through the outer shell and configured to convey power to an external load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventor: Edward C. Fontana
  • Publication number: 20120176734
    Abstract: A power distribution system comprising a cabinet configured to hold electronic components therein. An outside surface of the cabinet has one or more electrical termination contacts thereon such that a surface of the electrical termination contacts is part of the outside surface. The electrical termination contacts are configured to be coupled to an external DC power source at the outside surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Lineage Power Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Fontana, Paul Smith, William C. England, II
  • Patent number: 8174821
    Abstract: A power distribution system comprising a cabinet having one or more equipment envelops for holding electrical component modules therein and an interior passageway that is configured to accommodate DC vertical bus bars within the cabinet. The interior passageway is also configured such that the vertical bus bars can be positioned outside of lateral perimeters of the equipment envelops and the vertical bus bars can substantially traverse an entire interior long axis length of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Lineage Power Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Fontana, Paul Smith, Roy J. Davis
  • Patent number: 8154856
    Abstract: A power distribution system comprising a cabinet configured to hold electronic components therein. An outside surface of the cabinet has one or more electrical termination contacts thereon such that a surface of the electrical termination contacts is part of the outside surface. The electrical termination contacts are configured to be coupled to an external DC power source at the outside surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Lineage Power Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Fontana, Paul Smith, William C. England, II
  • Publication number: 20110141663
    Abstract: A power distribution system comprising a platform having one or more electrical connections each with cabinet connection contacts and one or more receptacles in an outer surface of the platform. Each receptacle is configured to hold one or more electrical over-current protection devices that route electrical power to the cabinet connection contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Lineage Power Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Fontana, Paul Smith, William C. England, II
  • Publication number: 20110141666
    Abstract: A power distribution system comprising a stack of bus bars having through-hole openings arranged in end portions of each of the bars such that the stack of the bars are connectable to bars of an adjacent stack. One or more connectors pass through the holes in one of the end portions of the bars of the stack. The one or more connectors also pass through holes in one of the end portions of the bars of the adjacent stack. One of the end portions of the bars of the stacks are interleaved with one of the end portions of the bars of the adjacent stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Lineage Power Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Fontana, Paul Smith, William C. England, II, Richard H. Hock
  • Publication number: 20110141664
    Abstract: A power distribution system comprising a cabinet configured to hold electronic components therein. An outside surface of the cabinet has one or more electrical termination contacts thereon such that a surface of the electrical termination contacts is part of the outside surface. The electrical termination contacts are configured to be coupled to an external DC power source at the outside surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Lineage Power Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Fontana, Paul Smith, William C. England, II
  • Publication number: 20110140686
    Abstract: An electrical system comprising an equipment enclosure configured to hold one or more DC power bus bars therein. The system also comprises one or more thermal extension structures. Each thermal extension structure is connected to one or more of the bus bars. Each thermal extension structure has a projection element whose thermal state reflects an electrical connectivity of the one or more DC power bus bars that the thermal extension structure is connected to. The projection element is viewable from a location outside of the equipment enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Lineage Power Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Fontana, Paul Smith
  • Publication number: 20110141665
    Abstract: A power distribution system comprising a cabinet having one or more equipment envelops for holding electrical component modules therein and an interior passageway that is configured to accommodate DC vertical bus bars within the cabinet. The interior passageway is also configured such that the vertical bus bars can be positioned outside of lateral perimeters of the equipment envelops and the vertical bus bars can substantially traverse an entire interior long axis length of the cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Lineage Power Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Fontana, Paul Smith, Roy J. Davis
  • Publication number: 20110006600
    Abstract: A system for, and method of, combining the outputs of multiple, disparate types of power sources and an isolated converter module employed in the same. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a plurality of isolated converter modules having power inputs couplable to corresponding disparate types of power sources and a DC-output converter configured to convert power received from at least one of the power sources to DC power and (2) a DC bus coupled to power outputs of the plurality of isolated converter modules and configured to receive and aggregate the DC power. With such system, a universal converter module can be employed to identify and convert power from a variety of conventional and renewable power sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Lineage Power Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Fontana, Paul Smith
  • Patent number: 7324331
    Abstract: Converter modules for providing and receiving electric power through a single telephone wire-pair and related systems and methods. In one embodiment, a converter module for providing electric power to a single telephone wire-pair includes: (1) a DC/DC boost converter configured to receive input power from an existing power supply and an existing distribution bus at a central office and further configured to provide output power to the single wire-pair and (2) a current-limiting converter controller coupled to the DC/DC boost converter and configured to limit a current output of the DC/DC boost converter to the single wire-pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward C. Fontana
  • Patent number: 6643122
    Abstract: For use with a rack for supporting a first battery having first terminals and a second battery having second terminals, an interlock kit comprising a partition mount and a partition. The partition mount is couplable to the rack proximate the first battery and the second battery. The partition is coupled to the partition mount and translatable between a first battery access position that allows access to ends of the first terminals and obstructs access to the second terminals and a second battery access position that allows access to ends of the second terminals and obstructs access to the first terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward C. Fontana, Vincent M. Byrne, Michael R. Buskmiller
  • Patent number: 6330160
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a mounting clip for electronic components and, more specifically, to a component retention spring clip for securing electronic components to an electronic device support such as the leg of a heat sink. In one embodiment the component retention clip is comprised of a resilient strip that has an arcuate portion and first and second ends. The resilient strip is configured to encompass an electronic component and an electronic device support adjacent to the electronic component. The arcuate portion of the component retention clip contacts a portion of the electronic component, thereby partially supporting the electronic component against the electronic device support. Located at the first end of the resilient strip is a first latch configured to cooperatively engage a corresponding second latch located at the second end and retain the electronic component on the electronic device support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Ayres, Susan M. Ayres, Vincent M. Byrne, Edward C. Fontana
  • Patent number: 6320749
    Abstract: The present invention provides a receptacle configured to receive an electronics module for use with an electronics equipment chassis. In one embodiment, the receptacle has a torsion bar, to which is coupled a first planar sidewall with a boss located on an inside planar surface, the boss configured to cooperatively engage a first notch formed on a rear wall of an electronics module. The first sidewall also has a locking slot formed in its front edge lo configured to receive a first locking cam associated with the electronics module, the locking slot cooperating with the locking cam and the boss to create a longitudinal compressive force along the first planar sidewall. A second planar sidewall opposing the first planar sidewall is coupled to the torsion bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventors: John W. Ayres, Vincent Byrne, Timothy F. Conway, Edward C. Fontana
  • Publication number: 20010040797
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electromagnetic interference (EMI) module cover for use in an electronics module that is configured to house electrical components that are capable of generating electromagnetic emissions that cause EMI. In one embodiment a conductive sidepanel has a resilient cantilever member formed therefrom with a fixed end that is integrally formed with the sidepanel and a movable end that is free of a module coupler, thereby allowing the resilient cantilever member to flex as the module is installed in a chassis. The resilient cantilever member has a boss that is formed proximate to the movable free end. The boss extends outward from the sidepanel a distance sufficient to provide a conductive path between the conductive sidepanel and an adjacent conductive surface when the module is installed in the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Michael R. Buskmiller, Vincent M. Byrne, Edward C. Fontana, Dan Kolides, Yehoshua Mandelcorn
  • Patent number: 6310776
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heat sink that, in an advantageous embodiment, includes a spine having a width with first and second opposing sides that are oriented to be abnormal to the substrate when the heat sink is mounted on the substrate. The heat sink further includes an electronic device support leg that extends generally transverse from the first side and that is configured to support a heat generating electrical component thereon. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may include a plurality of such electronic device support legs. A plurality of cooling fins are also included in the present invention, extending from the second side. Moreover, each of the plurality of cooling fins has a depth that is substantially less than the width of the heat sink, which give this unique heat sink an exceptional cooling efficiency. In particular advantageous embodiments, the depth to width ratio of the fins and spine, may range from about 1 to 5 or 1 to 10, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventors: Vincent Byrne, Edward C. Fontana, Ralph Sandage, Joanne Zhang