Patents by Inventor James E. Curran

James E. Curran 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: 6294898
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating, consistent with variations in cooling conditions, protection and limit functions of a generator. Limits of the capability curve of the generator, including the overexcited region, underexcited region and region limited by stator current heating, are modified in response to changes in coolant pressure or temperature depending on the type of generator being compensated. Feedback signals and setpoints being provided to fixed protection and limit functions are intercepted and modified in accordance with the relationship between generator rated values and generator performance in view of altered coolant conditions. Protection and limit functions are automatically coordinated. As a result, overall generator performance is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rodney A. Lawson, William R. Pearson, James E. Curran
  • Publication number: 20010001534
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating, consistent with variations in cooling conditions, protection and limit functions of a generator. Limits of the capability curve of the generator, including the overexcited region, underexcited region and region limited by stator current heating, are modified in response to changes in coolant pressure or temperature depending on the type of generator being compensated. Feedback signals and setpoints being provided to fixed protection and limit functions are intercepted and modified in accordance with the relationship between generator rated values and generator performance in view of altered coolant conditions. Protection and limit functions are automatically coordinated. As a result, overall generator performance is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: May 24, 2001
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rodney A. Lawson, William R. Pearson, James E. Curran
  • Patent number: 6204642
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating, consistent with variations in cooling conditions, protection and limit functions of a generator. Limits of the capability curve of the generator, including the overexcited region, underexcited region and region limited by stator current heating, are modified in response to changes in coolant pressure or temperature depending on the type of generator being compensated. Feedback signals and setpoints being provided to fixed protection and limit functions are intercepted and modified in accordance with the relationship between generator rated values and generator performance in view of altered coolant conditions. Protection and limit functions are automatically coordinated. As a result, overall generator performance is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rodney A. Lawson, William R. Pearson, James E. Curran
  • Patent number: 5970326
    Abstract: Anodising treatments are used to form insulating films (12) in the manufacture of a flat-panel display or other large-area thin-film electronic device. A first film (1,101) of anodisable material (e.g Al) is anodised through a part of its thickness to form an anodic second film (2). A mask pattern (4), e.g of photoresist, is provided at least on the second film (2) to define an area (5) where the second film (2) is etched away through at least a part of its thickness and where a further anodising step is carried out to form an anodic third film (3) contiguous with a remaining part of the anodic second film (2). The manufacture is simplified by using reverse-anodising in an electrolyte solution (20) to carry out the etching of the second film (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Lawley, James E. Curran
  • Patent number: 5476810
    Abstract: In manufacturing an electronic device comprising a thin-film circuit having semiconductor circuit elements (TFTs T1 & T2) processing limitations for the provision of the semiconductor film (1) and regions (5 & 6) of the semiconductor circuit elements are avoided by:(i) forming at least the thin-film semiconductive body or bodies (1) for the semiconductor circuit elements on a temporary support (10), and(ii) subsequently transferring it/them to the device substrate (20), e.g of an insulating polymer material.In a method in accordance with the invention, the temporary support is a metal foil (10) having opposite front and back faces (11 & 12) which are unattached over most of their area, the thin-film semiconductive body ( 1 ) is provided on the front face ( 11 ), and at least most of the metal foil (10) is etched away by etching into the back face (12) after the thin-film semiconductive body (1) is secured to the substrate (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Curran
  • Patent number: 4472652
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device comprising a housing that contains a piezoelectric body bearing aluminum film electrodes. The exposed surfaces of the electrodes bear a passivating layer of amorphous aluminum oxide formed by heating the electrodes at a temperature between 250.degree. and 550.degree. C. in an atmosphere containing free oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Brice, James E. Curran