Patents by Inventor James L. Stopa

James L. Stopa 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: 5157382
    Abstract: Information as to a direction(s) to be followed to avoid a hazard is unambiguously transmitted by energizing lamps of an array in accordance with stored data whereby unique sequential flash patterns are generated. A selectable pattern includes a long initial flash followed by a plurality of relatively short flashes which progress in stepwise fashion in the direction of desired observer motion, the pattern ending with a terminal lamp of the array being flashed repetitively. The pattern is then caused to repeat after an off time which is of long duration relative to at least the short flashes of the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Whelen Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Stopa
  • Patent number: 5027260
    Abstract: A modular-type lightbar assembly has an elongated base having a bottom panel and a pair of oblique integrally extending front and rear sides. Lens elements are mounted to the base and a cover by lock and groove-type connections. Warning beacon units are mounted to platforms supported on base. The beacon units rotate for sequentially directing light through the front and rear lens elements. The beacon units have an efficient integral base which mounts the rotating beacon and a brush assembly for the motor. An electronic controller is employed to apply a pulse width modulated current to the beacon motor so that a fast and slow motor speed may be selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Whelen Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold W. Lyons, James L. Stopa
  • Patent number: 5016139
    Abstract: An electronic power supply which employs energy storage capacitors has an enclosure defining a housing including a base and a cover. The capacitors are resiliently supported within the enclosure on a carrier. Integral receivers extend from the underside of the top of the cover in registration with the carrier and engage the capacitors to clamp the capacitors in a fixed position within the housing. The housing exterior includes a thermal radiator consisting of multiple fins which extend outwardly from the receivers for dissipating heat generated in the capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Whelen Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Stopa, Stephen C. Bibbiani
  • Patent number: 5013973
    Abstract: A power supply for intermittently energized loads, particularly gas discharge tubes employed as high intensity lights, has a pair of capacitances which are charged to a high voltage level to provide primary and secondary sources of anode voltage for the load. A coupling circuit impedes the discharge of the secondary anode voltage source capacitance when the primary anode voltage source capacitance is discharged through the load whereby a high voltage is present at the load, i.e., a discharge tube anode, immediately subsequent to the tube being extinguished thus reducing the time between successive firings of the tube. The current available for recharging the primary anode voltage source capacitance may also be increased during the time periods when the tube is being rapidly and repetitively fired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Whelen Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Stopa
  • Patent number: 4972185
    Abstract: An radiant energy transmitter that includes a d.c. to d.c. converter, a d.c. energy storage circuit portion, a triggered radiant energy signaling device, a trigger pulse circuit to initiate operation of the signaling device and an operator adjustable trigger pulse timer circuit portion supplying signals to the trigger pulse circuit at a repetition rate selected by an operator with each signal causing the trigger pulse circuit to provide a trigger pulse to initiate an operation of the signaling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James L. Stopa, Earl B. Hoekman
  • Patent number: 4970439
    Abstract: An improved power supply circuit for supplying power to intermittently energized loads, such as gaseous discharge tube devices. Such power supply has a transformer wherein current flow in the primary winding is controlled by a first semiconductor device that in turn is controlled by a second semiconductor device. A feedback circuit coupled to the primary winding provides a signal for turn-off of the first semiconductor device when its turn-off is initiated by the second semiconductor device. A circuit portion connected between the primary winding and the second semiconductor device provides a signal to the second semiconductor device when it initiates a turn-off of the first semiconductor device. Such signal continues operation of the second semiconductor device until the turn-off signal from the feedback circuit is effective to turn-off the first semiconductor device serving to reduce power dissipated in the first semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: James L. Stopa