Patents by Inventor Jorma Ponkala

Jorma Ponkala 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: 5631418
    Abstract: Electrical impedance detector for measurement of physical quantifies, in particular of temperature or humidity. The detector comprises conductor electrodes (10a, 10b; 10A,10W), between which the electrical impedance (C.sub.M) that represents the physical quantity to be measured is measured. Between the conductor electrodes (10a, 10b;10A, 10W) there is an active material (11;11P) whose impedance properties are a function of the physical quantity to be measured. The detector is composed of pieces cut-off out of a continuous detector filament (20; 20H;20K), which detector filament (20;20H;20K) comprises a conductive electrode wire or an assembly of electrode wires (10a, 10b; 10A, 10W), on/between which there is an active material (11;11P) whose impedance properties are a function of the physical quantity to be measured. Further, a novel process is described for the manufacture of said detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Vaisala Oy
    Inventors: Ingmar Stuns, Simo Tammela, Heikki Turtiainen, Jorma Ponkala
  • Patent number: 5557042
    Abstract: An impedance detector, in particular for radiosonde operation. The detector comprises a substrate (10 . . . 10E) made of an insulating material, onto which substrate the electrode and contact patterns (11, 11a, 13) necessary for the formation and connecting of the detector impedance have been applied. Between the detector impedance electrodes (11, 13), there is an active film (12), whose impedance values are a function of the physical quantity measured by means of the detector. The substrate of the detector is an oblong core filament (10; 10B; 10C; 10D; 10E) of an insulating material, onto and around which core filament said electrodes (11, 13) and said active insulating film (12) have been applied. Also, a novel process is described for the manufacture of said impedance detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Vaisala Oy
    Inventors: Ari Paukkunen, Jorma Ponkala
  • Patent number: 5553495
    Abstract: An impedance detector, in particular for radiosonde operation. The detector comprises a substrate (10 . . . 10E) made of an insulating material, onto which substrate the electrode and contact patterns (11, 11a, 13) necessary for the formation and connecting of the detector impedance have been applied. Between the detector impedance electrodes (11,13), there is an active film (12), whose impedance values are a function of the physical quantity measured by means of the detector. The substrate of the detector is an oblong core filament (10;10B;10C;10D;10E) of an insulating material, onto and around which core filament both electrodes (11,13) and such active insulating film (12) have been applied. Also, a novel process is described for the manufacture of such impedance detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Inventors: Ari Paukkunen, Jorma Ponkala
  • Patent number: 5511418
    Abstract: Method, in particular in radiosondes, for measurement of relative humidity by using a capacitive humidity detector (10) or a combination of detectors (10.sub.1,10.sub.2 ;10P), as well as humidity detectors. In the detector, between the capacitor plates, an insulating material (12) is used, whose permittivity is a function of the amount of water vapor absorbed by the insulating material (12). The detector (10) or the combination of detectors is heated in order to remove any ice, frost or condensed humidity deposited on the face and/or in the environment of the detector. The detector capacitance (C.sub.M) or a part (C.sub.1 . . . C.sub.N) of same is heated, in time and/or in place, periodically by means of electric current (I). The detecting of the detector capacitance (C.sub.M) is carried out without measurement of the detector temperature after the detector capacitance or a part (C.sub.1 . . . C.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Vaisala Oy
    Inventors: Veijo Antikainen, Ari Paukkunen, Lars Stormbom, Hannu Jauhiainen, Jorma Ponkala
  • Patent number: 5485747
    Abstract: Method, in particular in radiosondes, for measurement of relative humidity by using a capacitive humidity detector (10) or a combination of detectors (10.sub.1, 10.sub.2 ; 10P), as well as humidity detectors. In the detector, between the capacitor plates, an insulating material (12) is used, whose permittivity is a function of the amount of water absorbed by the insulating material (12). The detector (10) or the combination of detectors is heated in order to remove any ice, frost or condensed humidity deposited on the face and/or in the environment of the detector. The detector capacitance (C.sub.M) or a part (C.sub.1 . . . C.sub.N) of same is heated, in time and/or in place, periodically by means of electric current (I). The detecting of the detector capacitance (C.sub.M) is carried out without measurement of the detector temperature after the detector capacitance or a part (C.sub.1 . . . C.sub.N) of same has cooled down substantially to the temperature of the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Vaisala Oy
    Inventors: Veijo Antikainen, Ari Paukkunen, Lars Stormbom, Hannu Jauhiainen, Jorma Ponkala
  • Patent number: 5156045
    Abstract: Method in improving of the precision of impedance detectors in radiosondes. In the method, the temperature of the detector or detectors (30 and/or 10) is measured by means of a thermocouple (20), in which the joint (23) of one branch of its thermoelements (21,22) is placed in connection with, or at the proximity of, the detector to be measured. In the thermocouple (20) the joint (24) of the other branch is placed in the atmosphere (SA) surrounding the detector. By means of the thermocouple (20), the difference (T.sub.1 -T.sub.0) between the temperature (T.sub.1) prevailing in connection with the detector and the temperature (T.sub.0) in the surrounding atmosphere (SA) is detected. The output signal (f.sub.out) of the measurement coupling of the radiosonde is affected by means of an electric signal (U(t)) representing the difference (T.sub.1 --T.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Vaisala Oy
    Inventor: Jorma Ponkala
  • Patent number: 4905687
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method by which the amount of air supplied to a gas mask is kept essentially constant by using the fan motor (1) as a sensor, with the aid of which its power is regulated. The electronic regulation circuit of the invention keeps the air amount constant by regulating the pulse width ration of the voltage (U1) operating over the motor. The light emitting diode (LED) connected to the control circuit detects when the fan motor is unable to produce the selected amount of air. In order to prevent deep discharge of the battery, the voltage supervising circuit (6) interrupts the current supply to the device when the supplied voltage (SJ) drops below the set limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Kemira Oy
    Inventor: Jorma Ponkala
  • Patent number: 4295090
    Abstract: The output of each of a plurality of CMOS inverting amplifiers is connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of impedances to be measured. A stepping circuit is connected to the inputs of the amplifiers. A voltage supply is connected to the amplifiers and provides a signal to be measured which is directed via a corresponding one of the amplifiers to an impedance measuring circuit connected to the impedances to be measured in common. The impedance measuring circuit produces an output impedance proportional to the impedances to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1981
    Assignee: Vaisala Oy
    Inventor: Jorma Ponkala
  • Patent number: 4295091
    Abstract: A capacitance to be measured is connected between the input and output of an inverting amplifier. A bistable circuit has an input connected to the output of the inverting amplifier and an output impedance inversely proportional to the capacitance to be measured. A resistive feedback is connected from the output of the bistable circuit to the input of the inverting amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1981
    Assignee: Vaisala Oy
    Inventor: Jorma Ponkala