Patents by Inventor Kenneth E. Zick

Kenneth E. Zick 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).

  • Publication number: 20030076744
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for use with an electrical appliance to record and display the electrical appliance's actual accumulated operating time and record and display the number of times the electrical appliance has been energized since the time the monitoring apparatus was installed or last reset. The monitoring apparatus may include a current detector, a time recorder, and a counter for detecting and recording operation time and number of start-ups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Zick
  • Patent number: 6541957
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-contact testing of a rotating shaft includes first and second proximity sensors coupled to an automated shaft testing system. Output signals from the proximity sensors are compared to empirically determined threshold values to determine the presence or absence of a shaft coupling characteristic, the speed of the rotating shaft, and the direction of rotation of the shaft when the shaft is oriented proximally to the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Zick
  • Patent number: 5473229
    Abstract: A microcontroller with external memory interacts with a host computer or terminal via a fully isolated RS232 serial interface. An eight-bit D/A converter transforms signals generated digitally in the microcontroller. The low level analog signal at the D/A output is further amplified in a power amplifier which supplies a signal to the motor terminals of the motor to be programmed via solid state relays. The solid state relays form an array of switches which are selectively closed by a low level digit signal generated by the microcontroller and processed by digital circuits. Four signals may be modulated with a signal representing the line frequency and are used specifically in an emulation mode. The interface receives multi-function feedback signals (RPM) from the motor such as speed, memory, content, and diagnostic information. Comparators provide an integrity check of the connections (cable) and the input section of the motor (optocouplers).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William R. Archer, Roger C. Becerra, Brian L. Beifus, Kenneth E. Zick