Patents by Inventor Kenneth Wayne Stone

Kenneth Wayne Stone 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).

  • Method and apparatus for controllably positioning a solar concentrator
    Patent number: 6704607
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, control system and computer program product are provided for controllably positioning the solar concentrator. The method, apparatus, control system and computer program product determine the respective errors generated by more and different error sources than prior techniques, including error sources selected from the group consisting of a gravitational residue error, an elevation transfer function error and an error attributable to atmospheric refraction. Based upon the respective errors, the method, apparatus, control system and computer program product determine an elevation command and an azimuth command to compensate for the vertical error and the horizontal error between the centerline of the solar concentrator and the sun reference vector such that the solar concentrator can be more precisely positioned, thereby improving the efficiency with which the solar concentrator collects solar energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Stone, James A. Kiefer
  • Method and apparatus for controllably positioning a solar concentrator
    Publication number: 20030045949
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, control system and computer program product are provided for controllably positioning the solar concentrator. The method, apparatus, control system and computer program product determine the respective errors generated by more and different error sources than prior techniques, including error sources selected from the group consisting of a gravitational residue error, an elevation transfer function error and an error attributable to atmospheric refraction. Based upon the respective errors, the method, apparatus, control system and computer program product determine an elevation command and an azimuth command to compensate for the vertical error and the horizontal error between the centerline of the solar concentrator and the sun reference vector such that the solar concentrator can be more precisely positioned, thereby improving the efficiency with which the solar concentrator collects solar energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Stone, James A. Kiefer