Patents by Inventor Ken Bell

Ken Bell 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: 10585006
    Abstract: Overheat and fire detection for aircraft systems includes an optical controller and a fiber optic loop extending from the optical controller. The fiber optic loop extends through one or more zones of the aircraft. An optical signal is transmitted through the fiber optic loop from the optical controller and is also received back at the optical controller. The optical controller analyzes the optical signal to determine the temperature, strain, or both experienced within the zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Wilson, David William Frasure, Mark Thomas Kern, Mark Sherwood Miller, Scott Kenneth Newlin, Chris George Georgoulias, Stefan Coreth, Ken Bell
  • Patent number: 10436652
    Abstract: Overheat and fire detection for aircraft systems includes an optical controller and a fiber optic loop extending from the optical controller. The fiber optic loop extends through one or more zones of the aircraft. An optical signal is transmitted through the fiber optic loop from the optical controller and is also received back at the optical controller. The optical controller analyzes the optical signal to determine the temperature, strain, or both experienced within the zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Wilson, David William Frasure, Mark Thomas Kern, Mark Sherwood Miller, Scott Kenneth Newlin, Chris George Georgoulias, Stefan Coreth, Ken Bell
  • Patent number: 10184831
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a test light to simulate a fire includes measuring a baseline resistance induced in a sensor cell of a two-color detector in response to a controlled fire. The method includes monitoring a test resistance induced in the sensor cell in response to exposure to emissions from a test light and adjusting the emissions of the test light until the test resistance of the sensor cell equals the baseline resistance of the sensor cell to achieve a calibration setting for the test light. A test light for a detector includes a housing and a first LED within the housing having a first emission wavelength. A second LED is within the housing. The second LED has a second emission wavelength. The second emission wavelength is different than the first emission wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark T. Kern, Ken Bell, Terry Simpson, Christopher Wilson, David Frasure, Charles B. McLean, Clinton E. Piland
  • Patent number: 10112726
    Abstract: Overheat and fire detection for aircraft systems includes an optical controller and a fiber optic loop extending from the optical controller. The fiber optic loop extends through one or more zones of the aircraft. An optical signal is transmitted through the fiber optic loop from the optical controller and is also received back at the optical controller. The optical controller analyzes the optical signal to determine the temperature, strain, or both experienced within the zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Wilson, David William Frasure, Mark Thomas Kern, Mark Sherwood Miller, Scott Kenneth Newlin, Chris George Georgoulias, Stefan Coreth, Ken Bell
  • Publication number: 20170334574
    Abstract: Overheat and fire detection for aircraft systems includes an optical controller and a fiber optic loop extending from the optical controller. The fiber optic loop extends through one or more zones of the aircraft. An optical signal is transmitted through the fiber optic loop from the optical controller and is also received back at the optical controller. The optical controller analyzes the optical signal to determine the temperature, strain, or both experienced within the zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Wilson, David William Frasure, Mark Thomas Kern, Mark Sherwood Miller, Scott Kenneth Newlin, Chris George Georgoulias, Stefan Coreth, Ken Bell
  • Publication number: 20170336269
    Abstract: Overheat and fire detection for aircraft systems includes an optical controller and a fiber optic loop extending from the optical controller. The fiber optic loop extends through one or more zones of the aircraft. An optical signal is transmitted through the fiber optic loop from the optical controller and is also received back at the optical controller. The optical controller analyzes the optical signal to determine the temperature, strain, or both experienced within the zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Wilson, David William Frasure, Mark Thomas Kern, Mark Sherwood Miller, Scott Kenneth Newlin, Chris George Georgoulias, Stefan Coreth, Ken Bell
  • Publication number: 20170336268
    Abstract: Overheat and fire detection for aircraft systems includes an optical controller and a fiber optic loop extending from the optical controller. The fiber optic loop extends through one or more zones of the aircraft. An optical signal is transmitted through the fiber optic loop from the optical controller and is also received back at the optical controller. The optical controller analyzes the optical signal to determine the temperature, strain, or both experienced within the zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Wilson, David William Frasure, Mark Thomas Kern, Mark Sherwood Miller, Scott Kenneth Newlin, Chris George Georgoulias, Stefan Coreth, Ken Bell
  • Publication number: 20170334575
    Abstract: Overheat and fire detection for aircraft systems includes an optical controller and a fiber optic loop extending from the optical controller. The fiber optic loop extends through one or more zones of the aircraft. An optical signal is transmitted through the fiber optic loop from the optical controller and is also received back at the optical controller. The optical controller analyzes the optical signal to determine the temperature, strain, or both experienced within the zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Wilson, David William Frasure, Mark Thomas Kern, Mark Sherwood Miller, Scott Kenneth Newlin, Chris George Georgoulias, Stefan Coreth, Ken Bell
  • Publication number: 20170205286
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a test light to simulate a fire includes measuring a baseline resistance induced in a sensor cell of a two-color detector in response to a controlled fire. The method includes monitoring a test resistance induced in the sensor cell in response to exposure to emissions from a test light and adjusting the emissions of the test light until the test resistance of the sensor cell equals the baseline resistance of the sensor cell to achieve a calibration setting for the test light. A test light for a detector includes a housing and a first LED within the housing having a first emission wavelength. A second LED is within the housing. The second LED has a second emission wavelength. The second emission wavelength is different than the first emission wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Mark T. Kern, Ken Bell, Terry Simpson, Christopher Wilson, David Frasure, Charles B. McLean, Clinton E. Piland
  • Patent number: 9415882
    Abstract: An overheat sensor system is provided. A controller may create an aircraft temperature profile and may compare temperature sensor data to the profile. The system may provide an output indicating temperatures or fires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark T. Kern, Ken Bell, Aaron Stanley Rogers
  • Patent number: 9410849
    Abstract: A testing device for testing infrared OFDs is provided. The testing device may comprise a body, an infrared source, a controller and a user input. The infrared source may be housed with the body. The controller may be operatively coupled to the infrared source. The controller may also be integral to the infrared source. The user input may be operatively coupled to at least one of the controller and the infrared source. The testing device may be configured to produce infrared emissions to simulate flaming fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ken Bell, Robert Thebert
  • Patent number: 9355542
    Abstract: An integral testing system for testing OFDs is provided. The OFD may comprise a body, a detector, and an infrared source. The detector and the infrared source may be housed with the body. The infrared source may be configured to generate emissions having one or more infrared wavelengths that are detectable by the detector. The infrared source may be configured to produce infrared emissions to simulate flaming fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Bell, Robert Thebert
  • Publication number: 20150336681
    Abstract: An overheat sensor system is provided. A controller may create an aircraft temperature profile and may compare temperature sensor data to the profile. The system may provide an output indicating temperatures or fires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark T. Kern, Ken Bell, Aaron Stanley Rogers
  • Publication number: 20150213699
    Abstract: An integral testing system for testing OFDs is provided. The OFD may comprise a body, a detector, and an infrared source. The detector and the infrared source may be housed with the body. The infrared source may be configured to generate emissions having one or more infrared wavelengths that are detectable by the detector. The infrared source may be configured to produce infrared emissions to simulate flaming fire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: KEN BELL, ROBERT THEBERT
  • Publication number: 20150204727
    Abstract: A testing device for testing infrared OFDs is provided. The testing device may comprise a body, an infrared source, a controller and a user input. The infrared source may be housed with the body. The controller may be operatively coupled to the infrared source. The controller may also be integral to the infrared source. The user input may be operatively coupled to at least one of the controller and the infrared source. The testing device may be configured to produce infrared emissions to simulate flaming fire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Bell, Robert Thebert
  • Patent number: 7221503
    Abstract: According to a first embodiment the invention provides, for achieving fast multi-wavelength scanning in an acousto-optical deflector based confocal scanning microscope, dynamically adjusting an optical path of said an acousto-optical deflector based confocal microscope by mechanical means in accordance with a selected wavelength of a laser light beam, to compensate for astigmatism and collimation changes due to the change in input beam wavelength and modifying detected images of an object by electronic means to maintain alignment of the scan lines of the image at all wavelengths. According to a second embodiment the invention provides, for achieving fast multi-wavelength scanning in an acousto-optical deflector based laser confocal scanning microscope, dynamically adjusting drive parameters of the acousto-optical deflector in accordance with the selected wavelength of the input laser light beams, to maintain alignment of the scan lines of the image at all wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: VisiTech International, Ltd.
    Inventors: Colin Eberhardt, Jafer Sheblee, Ken Bell
  • Publication number: 20050225850
    Abstract: According to a first embodiment the invention provides, for achieving fast multi-wavelength scanning in an acousto-optical deflector based confocal scanning microscope, dynamically adjusting an optical path of said an acousto-optical deflector based confocal microscope by mechanical means in accordance with a selected wavelength of a laser light beam, to compensate for astigmatism and collimation changes due to the change in input beam wavelength and modifying detected images of an object by electronic means to maintain alignment of the scan lines of the image at all wavelengths. According to a second embodiment the invention provides, for achieving fast multi-wavelength scanning in an acousto-optical deflector based laser confocal scanning microscope, dynamically adjusting drive parameters of the acousto-optical deflector in accordance with the selected wavelength of the input laser light beams, to maintain alignment of the scan lines of the image at all wavelengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Inventors: Colin Eberhardt, Jafer Sheblee, Ken Bell
  • Patent number: 5949795
    Abstract: Data overflow in a buffer of a set-top decoder for receiving asynchronous data, such as digital television signals, is prevented while also maintaining compliance with an interface timing standard such as the RS404-A standard. A fullness level of the buffer is monitored to determine whether the fullness falls within a first, nominal range, or into second or third higher ranges. A clocking signal is derived from a ratio of a fixed reference clock signal and a divisor for outputting asynchronous data from the buffer at a desired rate. A direct digital synthesis (DDS) circuit may be used to provide a fractional divisor. The divisor is selected to provide the clocking signal at a rate so that a difference between a target output rate and the actual output rate falls within a data performance standard such as the RS404-A standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Moroney, Ken Bell