Patents by Inventor Jay Prager
Jay Prager 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: 8931755Abstract: An apparatus and method for automating the operation of a manual control valve upon the occurrence of a specified condition includes a valve handle engaging member mounted on an operating shaft turned by a motor held by a housing or support which is mountable to the manual valve body or associated conduit. The motor is operated by a motor control circuit when a sensor detects the condition. The structure and method of mounting may include a quick disconnect mechanism. The control circuit may operate at different power levels depending on the state of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Custom Controls, LLCInventors: Donald Staffiere, Don Drinkwater, David Staffiere, Dana St. James, Jay Prager
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Publication number: 20120132838Abstract: An apparatus and method for automating the operation of a manual control valve upon the occurrence of a specified condition includes a valve handle engaging member mounted on an operating shaft turned by a motor held by a housing or support which is mountable to the manual valve body or associated conduit. The motor is operated by a motor control circuit when a sensor detects the condition. The structure and method of mounting may include a quick disconnect mechanism. The control circuit may operate at different power levels depending on the state of the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: CUSTOM CONTROLS, LLCInventors: Donald Staffiere, Don Drinkwater, David Staffiere, Dana St. James, Jay Prager
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Patent number: 7233469Abstract: Protection and filtering functions are provided for external circuits by internal circuits that use controlled elements.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2004Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: VLT, Inc.Inventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Jay Prager
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Patent number: 7015561Abstract: A switching circuit has an active switch, a controller, and at least two terminals. The at least two terminals include two current control terminals for connection at two locations in another circuit. The controller is configured to turn the active switch off to block current between the two locations when the voltage between the two locations is of a first polarity and otherwise to turn the active switch on to conduct current between the two locations, whether or not the two current control terminals are the only ones of the at least two terminals that are connected to the other circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2002Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: VLT, Inc.Inventors: John Saxelby, Jay Prager, Patrizio Vinciarelli, Estia Eichten
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Patent number: 6985341Abstract: Circuitry provides various protection mechanisms to an external circuit using actively controlled elements. The controlled elements may by controlled to provide overcurrent, overvoltage, or undervoltage protection to an external circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2001Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: VLT, Inc.Inventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Jay Prager
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Patent number: 6940013Abstract: A power converter includes electrical contacts arranged on a first surface and a connection device. The converter has a top surface above the first surface and a bottom surface below the first surface. A border of the bottom surface is inset from a border of the second surface. The connection device includes a pair of conductive legs, each leg comprising a first end and a second end. The pair of legs lie opposite each other in a pair of evenly spaced planes that intersect the first surface. The first ends are adapted to connect to one or more of the contacts on the first surface and the second ends are adapted to connect to one or more conductive pads on a surface of a substrate. The connection device is adapted to enable the first ends of the two legs to connect to the contacts from below the first surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2003Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: VLT, Inc.Inventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Jay Prager, Michael B. LaFleur
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Publication number: 20050103521Abstract: A power converter includes electrical contacts arranged on a first surface and a connection device. The converter has a top surface above the first surface and a bottom surface below the first surface. A border of the bottom surface is inset from a border of the second surface. The connection device includes a pair of conductive legs, each leg comprising a first end and a second end. The pair of legs lie opposite each other in a pair of evenly spaced planes that intersect the first surface. The first ends are adapted to connect to one or more of the contacts on the first surface and the second ends are adapted to connect to one or more conductive pads on a surface of a substrate. The connection device is adapted to enable the first ends of the two legs to connect to the contacts from below the first surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2003Publication date: May 19, 2005Inventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Jay Prager, Michael Lafleur
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Publication number: 20040222484Abstract: A switching circuit has an active switch, a controller, and at least two terminals. The at least two terminals include two current control terminals for connection at two locations in another circuit. The controller is configured to turn the active switch off to block current between the two locations when the voltage between the two locations is of a first polarity and otherwise to turn the active switch on to conduct current between the two locations, whether or not the two current control terminals are the only ones of the at least two terminals that are connected to the other circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2004Publication date: November 11, 2004Applicant: VLT Corporation, a Texas corporationInventors: John Saxelby, Jay Prager, Patrizio Vinciarelli, Estia Eichten
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Publication number: 20040160714Abstract: Protection and filtering functions are provided for external circuits by internal circuits that use controlled elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2004Publication date: August 19, 2004Applicant: VLT Corporation, a Texas corporationInventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Jay Prager
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Patent number: 6522108Abstract: An apparatus includes (a) switching power conversion circuitry including an inductive element connected to deliver energy via a unidirectional conducting device from an input source to a load during a succession of power conversion cycles, and circuit capacitance that can resonate with the inductive element during a portion of the power conversion cycles to cause a parasitic oscillation, and (b) clamp circuitry connected to trap energy in the inductive element and reduce the parasitic oscillation.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2001Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: VLT CorporationInventors: Jay Prager, Patrizio Vinciarelli
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Publication number: 20020163322Abstract: A switching circuit has an active switch, a controller, and at least two terminals. The at least two terminals include two current control terminals for connection at two locations in another circuit. The controller is configured to turn the active switch off to block current between the two locations when the voltage between the two locations is of a first polarity and otherwise to turn the active switch on to conduct current between the two locations, whether or not the two current control terminals are the only ones of the at least two terminals that are connected to the other circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2002Publication date: November 7, 2002Applicant: VLT Corporation, a Texas corporationInventors: John Saxelby, Jay Prager, Patrizio Vinciarelli, Estia Eichten
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Publication number: 20020154464Abstract: Protection and filtering functions are provided for external circuits by internal circuits that use controlled elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2001Publication date: October 24, 2002Inventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Jay Prager
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Publication number: 20020149348Abstract: An apparatus includes (a) switching power conversion circuitry including an inductive element connected to deliver energy via a unidirectional conducting device from an input source to a load during a succession of power conversion cycles, and circuit capacitance that can resonate with the inductive element during a portion of the power conversion cycles to cause a parasitic oscillation, and (b) clamp circuitry connected to trap energy in the inductive element and reduce the parasitic oscillation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2001Publication date: October 17, 2002Inventors: Jay Prager, Patrizio Vinciarelli
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Patent number: 6421262Abstract: A switching circuit has an active switch, a controller, and at least two terminals. The at least two terminals include two current control terminals for connection at two locations in another circuit. The controller is configured to turn the active switch off to block current between the two locations when the voltage between the two locations is of a first polarity and otherwise to turn the active switch on to conduct current between the two locations, whether or not the two current control terminals are the only ones of the at least two terminals that are connected to the other circuit.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2000Date of Patent: July 16, 2002Assignee: VLT CorporationInventors: John Saxelby, Jay Prager, Patrizio Vinciarelli, Estia Eichten
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Patent number: 6031726Abstract: Power conversion apparatus includes a circuit board and a power converter. The circuit board has top and bottom faces separated by a thickness, and an aperture penetrating through the thickness from the top face to the bottom face. The power converter has a body, and an electrical conductor extending from the body and having a free end to make electrical connection from the converter. The body of the power converter lies in the aperture and extends above the aperture on the side of the board which has the top face. The conductor extends from the body at a location which is below the top face.The power converter is mounted on the circuit board by inserting it through the aperture from the side of the board bearing the bottom face so that a body of the converter lies in the aperture and extends above the aperture on the side of the board which has the top face. The circuit board is connected to an electrical conductor that extends from the power converter.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1995Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignee: VLT CorporationInventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Jay Prager
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Patent number: 5875104Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating quantized power converters in a phase staggered power sharing array is disclosed. The number, N, of active converters in the array is automatically determined. The converter operating at the highest frequency is determined and awarded driver status. The system operating frequency is set to approximately N times the highest converter operating frequency and synchronous phase staggered timing signals are sent to the remaining converters. A method and apparatus for detecting faults and automatically reconfiguring the array are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1997Date of Patent: February 23, 1999Assignee: VLT CorporationInventor: Jay Prager
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Patent number: 5805434Abstract: Apparatus (and a method) useful in a switching power converter having a transformer and a primary switch for connecting a DC input source to a primary winding of the transformer during a portion of each of a succession of converter operating cycles, the apparatus includes a reset capacitor and a reset switch. Reset circuitry cooperates with the reset switch to connect and disconnect the reset capacitor in a manner which provides for resetting the transformer and which allows a current having a non-zero average value to flow in the reset switch.Another aspect is a method for limiting the slew rate in a switching power converter which includes a transformer and a reset circuit of the kind which non-dissipatively recycles the magnetizing energy stored in a transformer during each of a succession of converter operating cycles.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1997Date of Patent: September 8, 1998Assignee: VLT CorporationInventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Jay Prager
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Patent number: 5726872Abstract: AC-DC boost switching power conversion apparatus delivers power from a bipolar input voltage source to a load at a unipolar load voltage without including rectifiers directly in the path of the current which is delivered from the input source. By this means the converter exhibits lower power loss in semiconductor diodes and switches than is exhibited by prior art converters which interpose a rectifier between a bipolar source and a DC-DC boost converter. Power processing is performed by circuitry of the kind which includes an inductive element in series with the bipolar input source, shunt paths which include switching elements for recirculating a bipolar shunt current back toward the input source, a controller for turning the switching elements on and off during each of a series of converter operating cycles and rectification elements which are arranged to deliver a unipolar current to the load.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1997Date of Patent: March 10, 1998Assignee: VLT CorporationInventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Jay Prager
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Patent number: RE38196Abstract: Apparatus (and a method) useful in a switching power converter having a transformer and a primary switch for connecting a DC input source to a primary winding of the transformer during a portion of each of a succession of converter operating cycles, the apparatus includes a reset capacitor and a reset switch. Reset circuitry cooperates with the reset switch to connect and disconnect the reset capacitor in a manner which provides for resetting the transformer and which allows a current having a non-zero average value to flow in the reset switch. Another aspect is a method for limiting the slew rate in a switching power converter which includes a transformer and a reset circuit of the kind which non-dissipatively recycles the magnetizing energy stored in a transformer during each of a succession of converter operating cycles.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2000Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: VLT CorporationInventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Jay Prager
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Patent number: RE40072Abstract: An apparatus includes (a) switching power conversion circuitry including an inductive element connected to deliver energy via a unidirectional conducting device from an input source to a load during a succession of power conversion cycles, and circuit capacitance that can resonate with the inductive element during a portion of the power conversion cycles to cause a parasitic oscillation, and (b) clamp circuitry connected to trap energy in the inductive element and reduce the parasitic oscillation.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: VLT CorporationInventors: Jay Prager, Patrizio Vinciarelli