Patents by Inventor Joseph Steven Silkey

Joseph Steven Silkey 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: 9975625
    Abstract: A method and apparatus may comprise a first number of layers of a flexible material, a second number of layers of a dielectric material, a first electrode attached to a surface layer in the first number of layers, and a second electrode attached to a second layer in one of the first number of layers and the second number of layers. The first number of layers may be interspersed with the second number of layers. The first electrode may be configured to be exposed to air. The first electrode and the second electrode may be configured to form a plasma in response to a voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Steven Silkey, David James Suiter, Bradley Alan Osborne
  • Publication number: 20110253842
    Abstract: A method and apparatus may comprise a first number of layers of a flexible material, a second number of layers of a dielectric material, a first electrode attached to a surface layer in the first number of layers, and a second electrode attached to a second layer in one of the first number of layers and the second number of layers. The first number of layers may be interspersed with the second number of layers. The first electrode may be configured to be exposed to air. The first electrode and the second electrode may be configured to form a plasma in response to a voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Steven Silkey, David James Suiter, Bradley Alan Osborne
  • Patent number: 7744039
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling flow with electrical pulses are disclosed. An aircraft system in accordance with one embodiment includes an aerodynamic body having a flow surface exposed to an adjacent air stream, and a flow control assembly that includes a first electrode positioned at least proximate to the flow surface and a second electrode positioned proximate to and spaced apart from the first electrode. A dielectric material can be positioned between the first and second electrodes, and a controller can be coupled to at least one of the electrodes, with the controller programmed with instructions to direct air-ionizing pulses to the electrode, and provide a generally steady-state signal to the electrode during intervals between the pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignees: The Boeing Company, Princeton University
    Inventors: Richard B. Miles, Sergey O. Macheret, Mikhail Shneider, Alexandre Likhanskii, Joseph Steven Silkey