Patents by Inventor Hugh Kirbie

Hugh Kirbie 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: 7855904
    Abstract: An apparatus having one or more modular stages for producing voltage and current pulses. Each module includes a diode charging means to charge a capacitive means that stores energy. One or more charging impedance means are connected to the diode charging means to provide a return current pathway. A solid-state switch discharge means, with current interruption capability, is connected to the capacitive means to discharge stored energy. Finally, a control means is provided to command the switching action of the solid-state switch discharge means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Hugh Kirbie, Gregory E. Dale
  • Patent number: 7191706
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system having a plurality of capacitor discharge units (CDUs) that includes electrical bridge type detonators operatively coupled to respective explosives. A pulse charging circuit is adapted to provide a voltage for each respective capacitor in each CDU. Such capacitors are discharged through the electrical bridge type detonators upon receiving an optical signal to detonate respective operatively coupled explosives at substantially the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jay B. Chase, Philip A. Pincosy, Donna M. Chato, Hugh Kirbie, Glen F. James
  • Publication number: 20060245217
    Abstract: An apparatus having one or more modular stages for producing voltage and current pulses. Each module includes a diode charging means to charge a capacitive means that stores energy. One or more charging impedance means are connected to the diode charging means to provide a return current pathway. A solid-state switch discharge means, with current interruption capability, is connected to the capacitive means to discharge stored energy. Finally, a control means is provided to command the switching action of the solid-state switch discharge means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Hugh Kirbie, Gregory Dale
  • Publication number: 20050183607
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system having a plurality of capacitor discharge units (CDUs) that includes electrical bridge type detonators operatively coupled to respective explosives. A pulse charging circuit is adapted to provide a voltage for each respective capacitor in each CDU. Such capacitors are discharged through the electrical bridge type detonators upon receiving an optical signal to detonate respective operatively coupled explosives at substantially the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Jay Chase, Philip Pincosy, Donna Chato, Hugh Kirbie, Glen James
  • Publication number: 20050184686
    Abstract: A compact linear accelerator having at least one strip-shaped Blumlein module which guides a propagating wavefront between first and second ends and controls the output pulse at the second end. Each Blumlein module has first, second, and third planar conductor strips, with a first dielectric strip between the first and second conductor strips, and a second dielectric strip between the second and third conductor strips. Additionally, the compact linear accelerator includes a high voltage power supply connected to charge the second conductor strip to a high potential, and a switch for switching the high potential in the second conductor strip to at least one of the first and third conductor strips so as to initiate a propagating reverse polarity wavefront(s) in the corresponding dielectric strip(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: George Caporaso, Stephen Sampayan, Hugh Kirbie
  • Patent number: 6529387
    Abstract: A unified power architecture for generating high frequency switched power to a load is provided which includes a number of input branches, each input branch receiving direct current (DC) power from a power source. Each input branch includes a switch device coupled to a storage device for generating input pulses, and a transformer including a primary winding set receiving the input pulses. An output section is provided which includes a plurality of windings around a secondary of each transformer of each of the input branches, the output section generating an output pulse including components of each of the input pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA. Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh Kirbie
  • Publication number: 20020186577
    Abstract: A unified power architecture for generating high frequency switched power to a load is provided which includes a number of input branches, each input branch receiving direct current (DC) power from a power source. Each input branch includes a switch device coupled to a storage device for generating input pulses, and a transformer including a primary winding set receiving the input pulses. An output section is provided which includes a plurality of windings around a secondary of each transformer of each of the input branches, the output section generating an output pulse including components of each of the input pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: Siemens Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh Kirbie
  • Patent number: 6466455
    Abstract: A unified power architecture for generating high frequency switched power to a load is provided which includes a number of input branches, each input branch receiving direct current (DC) power from a power source. Each input branch includes a switch device coupled to a storage device for generating input pulses, a transformer including a primary winding set receiving the input pulses, and a reset section generating a reset current for setting a core of the transformer. An output section is provided which includes a plurality of windings around a secondary of each transformer of each of the input branches, the output section generating an output pulse including components of each of the input pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Seimens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh Kirbie
  • Publication number: 20020118558
    Abstract: A unified power architecture for generating high frequency switched power to a load is provided which includes a number of input branches, each input branch receiving direct current (DC) power from a power source. Each input branch includes a switch device coupled to a storage device for generating input pulses, a transformer including a primary winding set receiving the input pulses, and a reset section generating a reset current for setting a core of the transformer. An output section is provided which includes a plurality of windings around a secondary of each transformer of each of the input branches, the output section generating an output pulse including components of each of the input pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: Siemens Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh Kirbie