Patents by Inventor Mark E. Savage

Mark E. Savage 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: 9974155
    Abstract: A variable-pulse-shape pulsed-power accelerator is driven by a large number of independent LC drive circuits. Each LC circuit drives one or more coaxial transmission lines that deliver the circuit's output power to several water-insulated radial transmission lines that are connected in parallel at small radius by a water-insulated post-hole convolute. The accelerator can be impedance matched throughout. The coaxial transmission lines are sufficiently long to transit-time isolate the LC drive circuits from the water-insulated transmission lines, which allows each LC drive circuit to be operated without being affected by the other circuits. This enables the creation of any power pulse that can be mathematically described as a time-shifted linear combination of the pulses of the individual LC drive circuits. Therefore, the output power of the convolute can provide a variable pulse shape to a load that can be used for magnetically driven, quasi-isentropic compression experiments and other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Brian S. Stoltzfus, Kevin Austin, Brian Thomas Hutsel, David Reisman, Mark E. Savage, William A. Stygar
  • Patent number: 9514864
    Abstract: A flexible solid-state resistor comprises a string of ceramic resistors that can be used to charge the capacitors of a linear transformer driver (LTD) used in a pulsed power machine. The solid-state resistor is able to absorb the energy of a switch prefire, thereby limiting LTD cavity damage, yet has a sufficiently low RC charge time to allow the capacitor to be recharged without disrupting the operation of the pulsed power machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Stoltzfus, Mark E. Savage, Brian Thomas Hutsel, William E. Fowler, Keven Alan MacRunnels, David Justus, William A. Stygar
  • Publication number: 20150366045
    Abstract: A variable-pulse-shape pulsed-power accelerator is driven by a large number of independent LC drive circuits. Each LC circuit drives one or more coaxial transmission lines that deliver the circuit's output power to several water-insulated radial transmission lines that are connected in parallel at small radius by a water-insulated post-hole convolute. The accelerator can be impedance matched throughout. The coaxial transmission lines are sufficiently long to transit-time isolate the LC drive circuits from the water-insulated transmission lines, which allows each LC drive circuit to be operated without being affected by the other circuits. This enables the creation of any power pulse that can be mathematically described as a time-shifted linear combination of the pulses of the individual LC drive circuits. Therefore, the output power of the convolute can provide a variable pulse shape to a load that can be used for magnetically driven, quasi-isentropic compression experiments and other applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Brian S. Stoltzfus, Kevin Austin, Brian Thomas Hutsel, David Reisman, Mark E. Savage, William A. Stygar
  • Publication number: 20150243413
    Abstract: A flexible solid-state resistor comprises a string of ceramic resistors that can be used to charge the capacitors of a linear transformer driver (LTD) used in a pulsed power machine. The solid-state resistor is able to absorb the energy of a switch prefire, thereby limiting LTD cavity damage, yet has a sufficiently low RC charge time to allow the capacitor to be recharged without disrupting the operation of the pulsed power machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Brian Stoltzfus, Mark E. Savage, Brian Thomas Hutsel, William E. Fowler, Keven Alan MacRunnels, David Justus, William A. Stygar
  • Patent number: 8344553
    Abstract: A method and concomitant apparatus for generating pulses comprising providing a laser light source, disposing a voltage electrode between ground electrodes, generating laser sparks using the laser light source via laser spark gaps between the voltage electrode and the ground electrodes, and outputting pulses via one or more insulated ground connectors connected to the voltage electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Mark E. Savage, Brian S. Stoltzfus
  • Patent number: 6304042
    Abstract: A command triggered plasma opening switch assembly using an amplification stage. The assembly surrounds a coaxial transmission line and has a main plasma opening switch (POS) close to the load and a trigger POS upstream from the main POS. The trigger POS establishes two different current pathways through the assembly depended on whether it has received a trigger current pulse. The initial pathway has both POS's with plasma between their anodes and cathodes to form a short across the transmission line and isolating the load. The final current pathway is formed when the trigger POS receives a trigger current pulse which energizes its fast coil to push the conductive plasma out from between its anode and cathode, allowing the main transmission line current to pass to the fast coil of the main POS, thus pushing its plasma out the way so as to establish a direct current pathway to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Mark E. Savage, Clifford W. Mendel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5927996
    Abstract: An electrical connector accommodates high current, is not labor intensive to assemble and disassemble, and allows a wide range of motion to accommodate mechanical variations and movement of connected components. The connector comprises several parts with joints therebetween, wherein each joint provides electrical connection between and allows relative motion of the joined parts. The combination of parts and joints maintains electrical connection between two electrical components even if the components are misaligned or move after connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Mark E. Savage, Walter W. Simpson
  • Patent number: 5097200
    Abstract: An electron launching voltage monitor measures MITL voltage using a relationship between anode electric field and electron current launched from a cathode-mounted perturbation. An electron launching probe extends through and is spaced from the edge of an opening in a first MITL conductor, one end of the launching probe being in the gap between the MITL conductor, the other end being adjacent a first side of the first conductor away from the second conductor. A housing surrounds the launching probe and electrically connects the first side of the first conductor to the other end of the launching probe. A detector detects the current passing through the housing to the launching probe, the detected current being representative of the voltage between the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Clifford W. Mendel, Mark E. Savage