Patents by Inventor Eric Ehrbar

Eric Ehrbar 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: 8907578
    Abstract: An autonomous method for minimizing the magnitude of plasma discharge current oscillations in a Hall effect plasma device includes iteratively measuring plasma discharge current oscillations of the plasma device and iteratively adjusting the magnet current delivered to the plasma device in response to measured plasma discharge current oscillations to reduce the magnitude of the plasma discharge current oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Busek Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Hruby, Nathaniel Demmons, Eric Ehrbar, Bruce Pote, Nathan Rosenblad
  • Patent number: 8550405
    Abstract: A solar powered spacecraft power system including a solar photovoltaic array, an electric propulsion system connected directly to the solar photovoltaic array in parallel with the spacecraft power system; the electric propulsion system including a Hall effect thruster, a thruster power supply for driving the thruster; a sensor for sensing the power output of the solar array and a controller responsive to the power output of the solar array and configured to periodically adjust an operating parameter of the thruster to operate the thruster at the maximum available output power of the solar array including comparing a previous solar array output power level with a later solar array output power level, and incrementing the operating parameter with a positive value if the later is greater and with a negative value if the later is lesser; a solar powered spacecraft power system including a solar photovoltaic array, an electric propulsion system connected directly to the solar photovoltaic array, and a power manage
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Busek Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Hruby, Thomas Jaquish, Antonio Rizzo, Eric Ehrbar
  • Publication number: 20130093350
    Abstract: An autonomous method for minimizing the magnitude of plasma discharge current oscillations in a Hall effect plasma device includes iteratively measuring plasma discharge current oscillations of the plasma device and iteratively adjusting the magnet current delivered to the plasma device in response to measured plasma discharge current oscillations to reduce the magnitude of the plasma discharge current oscillations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Vladimir Hruby, Nathaniel Demmons, Eric Ehrbar, Bruce Pote, Nathan Rosenblad
  • Patent number: 8197578
    Abstract: A liquid degasser for a space device including a gas permeable material configured for contact with a flow of liquid to be de-gassed on one side and a vacuum on the other side, and wherein the gas permeable material allows gas in the liquid to diffuse to the vacuum to remove the gas from the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Busek Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir J. Hruby, Nate Demmons, Tom Roy, Doug Spence, Eric Ehrbar, Jurg Zwahlen, Charles Gasdaska
  • Patent number: 7932492
    Abstract: An electrospray device includes an electrospray emitter adapted to receive electrospray fluid; an extractor plate spaced from the electrospray emitter and having at least one aperature; and a power supply for applying a first voltage between the extractor plate and emitter for generating at least one Taylor cone emission through the aperature to create an electrospray plume from the electrospray fluid, the extractor plate as well as accelerator and shaping plates may include a porous, conductive medium for transporting and storing excess, accumulated electrospray fluid away from the aperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Busek Co. Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Demmons, Roy Martin, Vladimir Hruby, Thomas Roy, Douglas Spence, Eric Ehrbar, Jurg Zwahlen
  • Publication number: 20110073714
    Abstract: a solar powered spacecraft power system including a solar photovoltaic array, an electric propulsion system connected directly to the solar photovoltaic array in parallel with the spacecraft power system; the electric propulsion system including a Hall effect thruster, a thruster power supply for driving the thruster; a sensor for sensing the power output of the solar array and a controller responsive to the power output of the solar array and configured to periodically adjust an operating parameter of the thruster to operate the thruster at the maximum available output power of the solar array including comparing a previous solar array output power level with a later solar array output power level, and incrementing the operating parameter with a positive value if the later is greater and with a negative value if the later is lesser; a solar powered spacecraft power system including a solar photovoltaic array, an electric propulsion system connected directly to the solar photovoltaic array, and a power manage
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Vladimir Hruby, Thomas Jaquish, Antonio Rizzo, Eric Ehrbar
  • Publication number: 20100025575
    Abstract: An electrospray device includes an electrospray emitter adapted to receive electrospray fluid; an extractor plate spaced from the electrospray emitter and having at least one aperature; and a power supply for applying a first voltage between the extractor plate and emitter for generating at least one Taylor cone emission through the aperature to create an electrospray plume from the electrospray fluid, the extractor plate as well as accelerator and shaping plates may include a porous, conductive medium for transporting and storing excess, accumulated electrospray fluid away from the aperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Nathaniel Demmons, Roy Martin, Vladimir Hruby, Thomas Roy, Douglas Spence, Eric Ehrbar, Jurg Zwahlen
  • Publication number: 20080083335
    Abstract: A liquid degasser for a space device including a gas permeable material configured for contact with a flow of liquid to be de-gassed on one side and a vacuum on the other side, and wherein the gas permeable material allows gas in the liquid to diffuse to the vacuum to remove the gas from the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Vladimir Hruby, Nate Demmons, Tom Roy, Doug Spence, Eric Ehrbar, Jurg Zwahlen, Charles Gasdaska