Patents by Inventor Edward Keith Howell
Edward Keith Howell 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).
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Patent number: 7643256Abstract: A switching system is provided. The switching system includes electromechanical switching circuitry, such as a micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry. The system may further include solid state switching circuitry coupled in a parallel circuit with the electromechanical switching circuitry, and a controller coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry. The controller may be configured to perform selective switching of a load current between the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry in response to a load current condition appropriate to an operational capability of a respective one of the switching circuitries.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2006Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joshua Isaac Wright, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, William James Premerlani, John Norton Park, Edward Keith Howell
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Patent number: 7542250Abstract: A motor starter is provided. The motor starter includes micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry. The system may further include solid state switching circuitry coupled in a parallel circuit with the electromechanical switching circuitry, and a controller coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry. The controller may be configured to perform selective switching of a load current from a motor connected to the motor starter. The switching may be performed between the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry in response to a load current condition appropriate to an operational capability of a respective one of the switching circuitries.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2007Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: William James Premerlani, Fengfeng Tao, Joshua Isaac Wright, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, John Norton Park, Robert Joseph Caggiano, David James Lesslie, Brent Charles Kumfer, Charles Stephan Pitzen, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Edward Keith Howell
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Patent number: 7473859Abstract: A gating voltage control system and method are provided for electrostatically actuating a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) device, e.g., a MEMS switch. The device may comprise an electrostatically responsive actuator movable through a gap for actuating the device to a respective actuating condition corresponding to one of a first actuating condition (e.g., a closed switching condition) and a second actuating condition (e.g., an open switching condition). The gating voltage control system may comprise a drive circuit electrically coupled to a gate terminal of the device to apply a gating voltage. The gating voltage control system may further comprise a controller electrically coupled to the drive circuit to control the gating voltage applied to the gating terminal in accordance with a gating voltage control sequence.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2007Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joshua Isaac Wright, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, William James Premerlani, John Norton Park, Christopher Keimel, Long Que, Kuna Venkat Satya Rama Kishore, Abhijeet Dinkar Sathe, Xuefeng Wang, Edward Keith Howell
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Publication number: 20080169707Abstract: A gating voltage control system and method are provided for electrostatically actuating a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) device, e.g., a MEMS switch. The device may comprise an electrostatically responsive actuator movable through a gap for actuating the device to a respective actuating condition corresponding to one of a first actuating condition (e.g., a closed switching condition) and a second actuating condition (e.g., an open switching condition). The gating voltage control system may comprise a drive circuit electrically coupled to a gate terminal of the device to apply a gating voltage. The gating voltage control system may further comprise a controller electrically coupled to the drive circuit to control the gating voltage applied to the gating terminal in accordance with a gating voltage control sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2007Publication date: July 17, 2008Inventors: Joshua Isaac Wright, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, William James Premerlani, John Norton Park, Christopher Keimel, Long Que, Kuna Venkat Satya Rama Kishore, Abhijeet Dinkar Sathe, Xuefeng Wang, Edward Keith Howell
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Publication number: 20080165457Abstract: A motor starter is provided. The motor starter includes micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry. The system may further include solid state switching circuitry coupled in a parallel circuit with the electromechanical switching circuitry, and a controller coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry. The controller may be configured to perform selective switching of a load current from a motor connected to the motor starter. The switching may be performed between the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry in response to a load current condition appropriate to an operational capability of a respective one of the switching circuitries.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Inventors: William James Premerlani, Fengfeng Tao, Joshua Isaac Wright, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, John Norton Park, Robert Joseph Caggiano, David James Lesslie, Brent Charles Kumfer, Charles Stephan Pitzen, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Edward Keith Howell
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Publication number: 20080137238Abstract: A switching system is provided. The switching system includes electromechanical switching circuitry, such as a micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry. The system may further include solid state switching circuitry coupled in a parallel circuit with the electromechanical switching circuitry, and a controller coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry. The controller may be configured to perform selective switching of a load current between the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry in response to a load current condition appropriate to an operational capability of a respective one of the switching circuitries.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2006Publication date: June 12, 2008Inventors: Joshua Isaac Wright, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, William James Premerlani, John Norton Park, Edward Keith Howell
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Patent number: 7091871Abstract: An electrical hazard detection system is used to detect energized ground terminals on electric receptacles. This condition may not be detectable by traditional circuit testers when hot and neutral wires have been switched and ground terminals have been electrically connected to the neutral wires. The user's body is used to provide a high-impedance path to true ground thereby creating an electric current from an energized ground terminal, activating a transistor, and illuminating an associated indicator.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2004Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Inventors: Edward Keith Howell, Earl W. Roberts
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Patent number: 4115829Abstract: A circuit breaker electronic trip unit is equipped with a plurality of current transformers for sensing overcurrent and ground fault conditions in a distribution circuit. A ground fault signal voltage is applied to a differential amplifier together with an adjusted voltage establishing a desired ground fault signal pick-up level. The differential amplifier controls a variable duty cycle switch to establish charging versus discharging rates for a timing capacitor in accordance with the ground fault signal amplitude. When the voltage across the capacitor exceeds a predetermined threshold, a thyristor is triggered to draw a safe level of energizing current through a trip coil. Secondary open circuited protection is provided for any of the current transformers disposed externally of the circuit breaker.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1977Date of Patent: September 19, 1978Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Edward Keith Howell
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Patent number: 4001646Abstract: A GFCI utilizes a single transformer in responding to ground faults on either of the line and neutral conductors of a distribution circuit. The transformer, a differential current transformer, has a secondary winding which is periodically strobed during a first sampling interval for the presence of a fault signal indicative of a line-ground fault. During a second sampling interval, a negative resistance network sets up a ringing oscillation in the transformer secondary circuit. If the neutral conductor is grounded through a low impedance ground fault, the oscillation is damped, and circuit interruption is initiated. Absent a low impedance ground fault on the neutral conductor, the oscillation amplitude increases to exceed a predetermined threshold level during the second sampling interval, and circuit interruption is not initiated.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1975Date of Patent: January 4, 1977Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Edward Keith Howell
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Patent number: 3973171Abstract: The secondary winding of the differential current transformer in a ground fault circuit interrupter is normally short circuited through an electronic switch. A relaxation oscillator, including a timing capacitor, acts to periodically open the switch and divert any secondary current through a burden resistor, developing thereacross a relatively high amplitude fault signal voltage indicative of a liine ground fault. The timing capacitor discharges through the primary winding of a second transformer coupled with the neutral conductor to develop, in the event of a desensitizing neutral ground fault, a fault signal voltage across the burden resistor.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1975Date of Patent: August 3, 1976Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Edward Keith Howell
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Patent number: 3963959Abstract: The secondary winding of a differential current transformer in a ground fault circuit interrupter is short circuited through an electronic switch. The switch is periodically opened to force any secondary current occasioned by the existence of a ground fault to flow through a burden resistor, thereby developing a relatively high amplitude signal voltage thereacross for processing by a signal processor pursuant to initiating circuit interruption.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1975Date of Patent: June 15, 1976Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Edward Keith Howell
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Patent number: 3953766Abstract: An electronic module for ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) in both circuit breaker and receptacle configurations includes a signal processor having a plurality of fault signal threshold stages for differentially charging an integrating capacitor in accordance with the magnitude of the fault signal as amplified by a high gain differential amplifier. The accumulated charge on the integrating capacitor controls the generation of a trip signal. The processor also includes a highly stable grounded neutral excitation oscillator and a noise rejection network to combat nuisance tripping.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 1974Date of Patent: April 27, 1976Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Edward Keith Howell, Donald Leland Watrous, Robert George Hodgins
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Patent number: 3950677Abstract: An electronic module for use in ground fault circuit interrupting devices comprises an improved shell design structurally adapted for ease of assembly therein of the electronics and magnetics. The electronics, carried on a printed circuit board, is positionally mounted and retained in one shell compartment by integrally formed latching means. The magnetics are positionally mounted in other shell compartments and locked in place by the insertion therethrough of single-turn transformer winding elements. Potting of the electronics and magnetics thus becomes unnecessary.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1974Date of Patent: April 13, 1976Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Keith William Klein, Edward Keith Howell, Joseph Michael Palmieri