Patents by Inventor John Andrew Leonard

John Andrew Leonard 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: 9157406
    Abstract: A method for initializing a generator may include sending a field reference voltage to an exciter that may provide a direct current (DC) current and a DC voltage to a rotor of a generator based on a current set point that corresponds to the field reference voltage. The method may then include receiving a voltage feedback signal output by the generator, determining one or more locations of one or more poles of the generator based on the voltage feedback signal, and sending one or more firing signals to one or more switches of a starter after determining the locations of the poles, such that the switches couple the voltage to a stator of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sreedhar Desabhatla, William Robert Pearson, John Andrew Leonard, John Carver Maters, Shashidhar Nibhanupudi, Sudeep Pathak
  • Publication number: 20150219055
    Abstract: A method for initializing a generator may include sending a field reference voltage to an exciter that may provide a direct current (DC) current and a DC voltage to a rotor of a generator based on a current set point that corresponds to the field reference voltage. The method may then include receiving a voltage feedback signal output by the generator, determining one or more locations of one or more poles of the generator based on the voltage feedback signal, and sending one or more firing signals to one or more switches of a starter after determining the locations of the poles, such that the switches couple the voltage to a stator of the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sreedhar Desabhatla, William Robert Pearson, John Andrew Leonard, John Carver Maters, Shashidhar Nibhanupudi, Sudeep Pathak
  • Publication number: 20150102824
    Abstract: An electrical system includes an electrical circuit having a plurality of current paths and a plurality of switches for directing current to the plurality of current paths. A sensor senses a current or voltage in the electrical circuit. A processor connected to the sensor receives sensor data corresponding to the current or voltage in the circuit. The processor is configured to determine a location of a loose connection in the electrical circuit based on the current or voltage data and a switching sequence of the plurality of switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jordan Brantley Casteel, John Andrew Leonard, William Robert Pearson, Joseph Clark Rowny
  • Patent number: 8423160
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for controlling electronic circuitry. A system can include at least a first controller and a second controller and at least one power electronic circuitry module. The first controller can be in electrical communication with the power electronic circuitry module via a first high-speed serial link (HSSL). The second controller can be in electrical communication with the power electronic circuitry module via a second HSSL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jordan Brantley Casteel, William Robert Pearson, Mark Eugene Shepard, John Andrew Leonard, Douglas Gregg Fowley, John Robert Booth
  • Patent number: 8018748
    Abstract: A method to convert direct current (DC) power generated by a photovoltaic (PV) arrays to alternating current (AC) power using a PV inverter, the method includes: applying the DC power generated the PV array to the PV inverter; boosting the DC power from the PV array from a predetermined voltage level to a predetermine DC link voltage, wherein the PV array is regulated by the boosting to output a voltage at the predetermined voltage level; converting the boosted DC power to AC power, and disabling the boost of the power generated by the PV array after the array has a predetermined voltage level at least as great as the DC link voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Andrew Leonard
  • Publication number: 20110204857
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for controlling electronic circuitry. A system can include at least a first controller and a second controller and at least one power electronic circuitry module. The first controller can be in electrical communication with the power electronic circuitry module via a first high-speed serial link (HSSL). The second controller can be in electrical communication with the power electronic circuitry module via a second HSSL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jordan Brantley Casteel, William Robert Pearson, Mark Eugene Shepard, John Andrew Leonard, Douglas Gregg Fowley, John Robert Booth
  • Publication number: 20090121549
    Abstract: A method to convert direct current (DC) power generated by a photovoltaic (PV) arrays to alternating current (AC) power using a PV inverter, the method includes: applying the DC power generated the PV array to the PV inverter; boosting the DC power from the PV array from a predetermined voltage level to a predetermine DC link voltage, wherein the PV array is regulated by the boosting to output a voltage at the predetermined voltage level; converting the boosted DC power to AC power, and disabling the boost of the power generated by the PV array after the array has a predetermined voltage level at least as great as the DC link voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: John Andrew Leonard
  • Patent number: 7320038
    Abstract: An interface card connects a LAN with a drive. The interface card comprises a dual port memory interface, which interfaces to the main control card of the drive. An interrupt line informs a communication processor on the main control card to update feedbacks in the dual port memory and read the set points from the dual port memory. Special control registers interface the communication processor with the LAN. The apparatus also facilitates a method for interfacing the drive to the LAN without modifying the main control card of the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Andrew Leonard