Patents by Inventor Joseph W. Zimmerman

Joseph W. Zimmerman 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: 10446373
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention there is a cyclotronic actuator utilizing a high-voltage plasma driver connected to a first electrode. A second electrode is grounded and the two are isolated from each other by a dielectric plate. A magnet is positioned beneath the dielectric plate such that a coaxial dielectric barrier discharge plasma is formed outwardly between the first electrode across the dielectric plate. The magnet positioned beneath the dielectric plate introduces a magnetic field transverse to the plasma current path, such that the plasma discharge discharges radially and the local magnetic field is oriented vertically in a direction perpendicular to the dielectric plate to create a Lorentz Force, which forces the plasma discharge to move radially outwardly in a curved radial streamer mode pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: CU Aerospace, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph W. Zimmerman, David L. Carroll, Phillip J. Ansell, Georgi Hristov
  • Publication number: 20190246482
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention there is a cyclotronic actuator utilizing a high-voltage plasma driver connected to a first electrode. A second electrode is grounded and the two are isolated from each other by a dielectric plate. A magnet is positioned beneath the dielectric plate such that a coaxial dielectric barrier discharge plasma is formed outwardly between the first electrode across the dielectric plate. The magnet positioned beneath the dielectric plate introduces a magnetic field transverse to the plasma current path, such that the plasma discharge discharges radially and the local magnetic field is oriented vertically in a direction perpendicular to the dielectric plate to create a Lorentz Force, which forces the plasma discharge to move radially outwardly in a curved radial streamer mode pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicants: CU Aerospace, LLC, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Joseph W. Zimmerman, David L. Carroll, Phillip J. Ansell, Georgi Hristov
  • Patent number: 10332724
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention there is a cyclotronic actuator. The actuator is defined by having a high-voltage plasma driver connected to a first electrode. The first electrode is surrounded by a dielectric material. A second electrode is grounded and placed away from the first electrode, such that a plasma arc is formed between the pair of electrodes when the high-voltage plasma driver is activated. A ring magnet surrounding the second electrode is configured to introduce a magnetic field locally to the plasma arc. The plasma arc will then discharge in a radial direction. The magnet creates a local magnetic field oriented vertically in a direction parallel to the axisymmetric orientation of the first and second electrodes to create a Lorentz Force. The force causes the plasma arc to move in a tangential direction and causes the plasma arc to discharge out in a circular pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: CU Aerospace, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph W. Zimmerman, David L. Carroll, Phillip J. Ansell, Georgi Hristov
  • Publication number: 20180286635
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention there is a cyclotronic actuator. The actuator is defined by having a high-voltage plasma driver connected to a first electrode. The first electrode is surrounded by a dielectric material. A second electrode is grounded and placed away from the first electrode, such that a plasma arc is formed between the pair of electrodes when the high-voltage plasma driver is activated. A ring magnet surrounding the second electrode is configured to introduce a magnetic field locally to the plasma arc. The plasma arc will then discharge in a radial direction. The magnet creates a local magnetic field oriented vertically in a direction parallel to the axisymmetric orientation of the first and second electrodes to create a Lorentz Force. The force causes the plasma arc to move in a tangential direction and causes the plasma arc to discharge out in a circular pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicants: CU Aerospace, LLC, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Joseph W. Zimmerman, David L. Carroll, Phillip J. Ansell, Georgi Hristov