Patents by Inventor Kermit O. Phipps

Kermit O. Phipps 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).

  • Non-contacting method and apparatus for determining contact voltage sources and providing a warning for same
    Patent number: 8575942
    Abstract: This invention relates to non-contact measurement methods and an apparatus for the identification of hazardous contact voltages on energized objects and surfaces. The apparatus includes an electric field sensor structured to sense an electric field and a gain amplifier electrically connected to the electric field sensor to amplify electric signals from the electric field sensor. The apparatus further includes a signal conditioning circuit adapted to process the amplified electric signals and form time-coordinated signals and a digital signal processor adapted to evaluate the time-coordinated signals and provide a user with a status of a contact voltage source by activating an appropriate status indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Stewart Dorr, Kermit O. Phipps, Thomas A. Cooke, Philip C. Cochrane
  • Non-contact arc detection apparatus and method
    Patent number: 8497688
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-contact arc detection, recognition, and warning apparatus for the detection of arcing in an electrical system. The apparatus includes an electric field detector having first and second electric field sensors adapted to sense electric fields; a magnetic field detector having a multi-axis magnetic field sensor adapted to detect a magnetic field; and a digital signal processor. The digital signal processor compares and enhances signals obtained from the electric field detector and the magnetic field detector and creates a response to alert a user of the presence of arcing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Stewart Dorr, Kermit O. Phipps, Thomas A. Cooke, Francis S. Doherty, Neil Weisenfeld
  • NON-CONTACT ARC DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20110254534
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-contact arc detection, recognition, and warning apparatus for the detection of arcing in an electrical system. The apparatus includes an electric field detector having first and second electric field sensors adapted to sense electric fields; a magnetic field detector having a multi-axis magnetic field sensor adapted to detect a magnetic field; and a digital signal processor. The digital signal processor compares and enhances signals obtained from the electric field detector and the magnetic field detector and creates a response to alert a user of the presence of arcing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Stewart Dorr, Kermit O. Phipps, Thomas A. Cooke, Francis S. Doherty, Neil Weisenfeld
  • NON-CONTACTING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING CONTACT VOLTAGE SOURCES AND PROVIDING A WARNING FOR SAME
    Publication number: 20110156723
    Abstract: This invention relates to non-contact measurement methods and an apparatus for the identification of hazardous contact voltages on energized objects and surfaces. The apparatus includes an electric field sensor structured to sense an electric field and a gain amplifier electrically connected to the electric field sensor to amplify electric signals from the electric field sensor. The apparatus further includes a signal conditioning circuit adapted to process the amplified electric signals and form time-coordinated signals and a digital signal processor adapted to evaluate the time-coordinated signals and provide a user with a status of a contact voltage source by activating an appropriate status indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Stewart Dorr, Kermit O. Phipps, Thomas A. Cooke, Philip C. Cochrane