Patents by Inventor John I. Ykema

John I. Ykema 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: 8614868
    Abstract: A circuit fault detector and interrupter which consists of parallel current conduction paths, including a path through a mechanical contactor and a path through a power electronics switch having active feedback control. A fault can be detected by a fault detection circuit within 50 ?S of the occurrence of the fault, causing the mechanical contactor to be opened and the fault current to be commutated via a laminated, low-inductance bus through the power electronics switch. The power electronics switch is thereafter turned off as soon as possible, interrupting the fault current and absorbing the inductive energy in the circuit. The fault current can be interrupted within 200 microseconds of the occurrence of the fault, and the device reduces or eliminates arcing when the mechanical contactor is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: SPD Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lawler, John P. Barber, John I. Ykema
  • Publication number: 20120243137
    Abstract: A circuit fault detector and interrupter which consists of parallel current conduction paths, including a path through a mechanical contactor and a path through a power electronics switch having active feedback control. A fault can be detected by a fault detection circuit within 50 ?S of the occurrence of the fault, causing the mechanical contactor to be opened and the fault current to be commutated via a laminated, low-inductance bus through the power electronics switch. The power electronics switch is thereafter turned off as soon as possible, interrupting the fault current and absorbing the inductive energy in the circuit. The fault current can be interrupted within 200 microseconds of the occurrence of the fault, and the device reduces or eliminates arcing when the mechanical contactor is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SPD ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Robert Lawler, John P. Barber, John I. Ykema
  • Patent number: 7667938
    Abstract: A circuit fault detector and interrupter which consists of parallel current conduction paths, including a path through a mechanical contactor and a path through a power electronics switch. A fault can be detected by a fault detection circuit within 50 microseconds of the occurrence of the fault, causing the mechanical contactor to be opened and the fault current to be commutated via a laminated, low-inductance bus through the power electronics switch. The power electronics switch is thereafter turned off as soon as possible, interrupting the fault current. The fault current can be interrupted within 200 microseconds of the occurrence of the fault, and the device reduces or eliminates arcing when the mechanical contactor is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: SPD Electrical Systems
    Inventors: John I Ykema, John P. Barber, Antonios Challita
  • Patent number: 7076592
    Abstract: An electrical modular power node comprising a power bus backplane containing a plurality of bus bars, at least some of which are connectable to at least one power source, each bus bar having a plurality of terminals at regular intervals along the bus bar, each terminal being in a standard position in a pattern with terminals from the other bus bars and all terminal patterns being in a standard orientation on the backplane, and a plurality of functional modules, each housing circuitry having at least one connector for a connection to at least one terminal on one of the bus bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: SPD Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: John I. Ykema
  • Patent number: 6675302
    Abstract: A modular power node comprises modules containing components ultimately connectable to a load to modify power supplied to that load to make the power supplied to the load suitable therefor, the modules being shaped to conform to and contact one another to minimize node size by mutually supporting one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: SPD Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: John I. Ykema
  • Publication number: 20020091949
    Abstract: A modular power node comprises modules containing components ultimately connectable to a load to modify power supplied to that load to make the power supplied to the load suitable therefor, the modules being shaped to conform to and contact one another to minimize node size by mutually supporting one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventor: John I. Ykema
  • Patent number: 6377874
    Abstract: An electrical integrated power node control center (2) including a power bus (4′) to the control center, bus bars (F) for power distribution within the control center, a node power distribution device (A), a plurality of functional distribution devices within the node (B, C, D), and a control system (E). The control system includes controlling the functional distribution devices to either connect/disconnect or change the on/off state based on electrical system data gathered by monitoring the input/output data. The control system is also adapted to monitor the health of the functional distribution devices to initiate diagnostic procedures as well as display or record information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: SPD Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: John I. Ykema
  • Patent number: 6351715
    Abstract: An electrical integrated modular power node includes a power module having a common backplane with a plurality of bus bars for supplying the power requirements for the node, functional components and circuitry for connection through selected bus bars to a power supply for providing loads with power as required thereby with individual functional modules providing geometrical packages having bounding surfaces conforming to bounding surfaces of adjacent modules including the power module, for enclosing and supporting functional components and circuitry design so the conforming surfaces of the modules abut with one another in a position to be connected at abutting surfaces with at least some of the modules facing the power module to connect to connectors on the bus bars providing power as required by the load to which circuitry within the connected module is connected with the connectors mechanically supporting the modules relative to power module and to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: SPD Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: John I. Ykema
  • Patent number: 6320132
    Abstract: A compact electrical bus for transmission of three-phase electrical power through longitudinally elongated insulatively sandwiched lamina carrying respective power phases. A plurality of electrically conductive longitudinally elongated lamina have transversely off set parts respecting one another and a plurality of electrically conductive longitudinally elongated lamina devoid of offsets. The pluralities of lamina are sandwiched together between layers of insulation. When assembled, offsets of one lamina transversely align in a nested relationship with an off set of a second lamina. The lamina devoid of offsets further nests within the offset of the second lamina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: SPD Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John I. Ykema, John P. Barber
  • Patent number: 6222127
    Abstract: An electrical bus connector including a series of pins which are extended or retracted through a series of receptacles. Each receptacle is generally a bulbous-shaped longitudinally elongated shell having an opening at a base end and at a top end, the base end having a larger interior area than the top end. The bulbous base end includes a sleeve to guide the pin. The receptacle shell wraps around the sleeve and tapers inward toward the top end to retain the sleeve within the receptacle. The receptacle shell includes a series of longitudinally elongated leaves circularly arranged about the longitudinal axis. The leaves of the receptacle flare out at the top end, providing a lip to accept the pin. The receptacle shell has at least one and preferably two annular recesses, each recess receiving a coiled spring. The coiled spring(s) bias the leaves of the receptacle shell inwardly, but allow the leaves to expand upon pin insertion to ensure contact between the pin and the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: SPD Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John I. Ykema
  • Patent number: 5936201
    Abstract: A compact electrical bus includes an axially elongated conduit, an axially elongated insulator within the conduit and spaced apart axially elongated electrical conductors lying along the insulator for carrying electrical power. Optionally, fiber optic cables may be axially routed through the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: SPD Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: John I. Ykema