Patents by Inventor Kevin E. Rice

Kevin E. Rice 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: 20010009363
    Abstract: A controller for a starter.generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to be realized in an integrated programmable system configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Inventors: Kevin E. Rice, Ronald W. Roseman, Charles A. Green, Dean A. Snider
  • Patent number: 6188203
    Abstract: A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to be realized in an integrated programmable system configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Lucas Aerospace Power Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin E. Rice, Ronald W. Roseman
  • Patent number: 6153942
    Abstract: A starter cutoff control apparatus and method for a starter/generator used on an engine includes a circuit for detecting starter/generator armature current during an engine start operation, comparing the armature current to an armature current setpoint to produce an error signal; using the error signal to produce a field weakening control signal; and a circuit for producing a starter cutoff signal as a function of the field weakening control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Lucas Aerospace Power Equipment Corp.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Roseman, Kevin E. Rice
  • Patent number: 6107775
    Abstract: A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to be realized in an integrated programmable system configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventors: Kevin E. Rice, Ronald W. Roseman, Charles A. Green
  • Patent number: 5903130
    Abstract: A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to be realized in an integrated programmable system configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Lucas Aerospace Power Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin E. Rice, Ronald W. Roseman, Charles A. Green, Dean A. Snider
  • Patent number: 5801516
    Abstract: A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to be realized in an integrated programmable system configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Lucas Aerospace Power Equipment Corp.
    Inventors: Kevin E. Rice, Ronald W. Roseman, Charles A. Green, Dean A. Snider
  • Patent number: 5663632
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for connecting a generator to an energized bus includes a circuit for determining voltage differential between the generator voltage and the bus voltage; a circuit for connecting the generator to the bus when the voltage differential reaches a predetermined threshold; a circuit for limiting the generator field current during build-up so that the generator reaches a predetermined speed before the generator is connected to the bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Aerospace Power Equipment Corp.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Roseman, Kevin E. Rice
  • Patent number: 5623197
    Abstract: A system for actively controlling the charging profile of a battery uses a software-based generator control unit to control the charging voltage. The voltage may be initially reduced following battery discharge to prevent large current inrush transients. The voltage may then be raised above a normal charging level to increase the battery charging rate. The control system provides better control over battery charging prevent overheating of the battery and generator and allows the battery to be recharged more quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Aerospace Power Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald W. Roseman, Kevin E. Rice
  • Patent number: 5583420
    Abstract: A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to be realized in an integrated programmable system configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Aerospace Power Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin E. Rice, Ronald W. Roseman, Charles A. Green, Dean A. Snider