Patents by Inventor John Stewart Ford

John Stewart Ford 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: 10761149
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for energizing a wound component are described. In one arrangement, a method of energizing a component with an alternating voltage is provided. The component comprises a coil wound on a magnetic core. The method comprises applying a voltage across the coil that has a first waveform during a first time period and a second waveform during a second time period. The second time period is subsequent to the first time period. The second waveform comprises an oscillating function comprising a sequence of identical waveforms. The first waveform is such that if the coil had zero electrical resistance the variation of flux density in the magnetic core with time would change sign at least once during the first waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: VOLTECH INSTRUMENTS, LTD.
    Inventors: John Stewart Ford, Lionel Ind
  • Publication number: 20180259565
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for energizing a wound component are described. In one arrangement, a method of energizing a component with an alternating voltage is provided. The component comprises a coil wound on a magnetic core. The method comprises applying a voltage across the coil that has a first waveform during a first time period and a second waveform during a second time period. The second time period is subsequent to the first time period. The second waveform comprises an oscillating function comprising a sequence of identical waveforms. The first waveform is such that if the coil had zero electrical resistance the variation of flux density in the magnetic core with time would change sign at least once during the first waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: John Stewart FORD, Lionel IND
  • Publication number: 20170097386
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for measuring an electrical current, particularly an AC electrical current, for example to measure a frequency response of a transformer. In a disclosed arrangement, a connection is made of a current input terminal for receiving a current to be measured to an input terminal of a differential amplifier via a portion of a resistive network. The resistive network holds the current input terminal at a ground voltage and the two input terminals of the amplifier at a common finite voltage above the ground voltage. The amplifier provides as output a measure of the current to be measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: Voltech Instruments, Ltd.
    Inventors: John Stewart FORD, Lionel IND
  • Patent number: 9201099
    Abstract: Conductive strips are stacked, insulated, folded, and formed into geometric shapes to provide a low resistance, low inductance, shunt, wherein the geometric shape readily enables cooling to reduce changes in resistance due to self-heating effects. One such geometric shape is attained by winding the conductive strips into a spiral. Another geometric shape is a shape resembling a wave. Both geometric shapes allow cooling by directing airflow from a fan across their surface portions. A variable-speed cooling-fan is controlled in response to measured temperature of the shunt, or in response to a measurement of the current through the shunt. Differential cooling may be employed by means of changing the amount of airflow across various portions of the shunt in response to measured temperature of the shunt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: TEKTRONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew John Tedd, John Stewart Ford, Lionel Ind
  • Publication number: 20140210454
    Abstract: Conductive strips are stacked, insulated, folded, and formed into geometric shapes to provide a low resistance, low inductance, shunt, wherein the geometric shape readily enables cooling to reduce changes in resistance due to self-heating effects. One such geometric shape is attained by winding the conductive strips into a spiral. Another geometric shape is a shape resembling a wave. Both geometric shapes allow cooling by directing airflow from a fan across their surface portions. A variable-speed cooling-fan is controlled in response to measured temperature of the shunt, or in response to a measurement of the current through the shunt. Differential cooling may be employed by means of changing the amount of airflow across various portions of the shunt in response to measured temperature of the shunt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew John Tedd, John Stewart Ford, Lionel Ind