Patents by Inventor Michael Thomas McElhinny

Michael Thomas McElhinny 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: 8432062
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for wirelessly powering an item. A source is configured to send wireless power. A target is configured to receive the wireless power and convert the wireless power to a useable power. A component is connected to and configured to receive the useable power from the target. When the component receives the usable power, the component activates. Also disclosed is an assembly including a system for wirelessly powering a component and a structure for supporting the system and an item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Powercast Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Greene, Daniel W. Harrist, Michael Thomas McElhinny, David Jeffrey Graham
  • Publication number: 20110148347
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for wirelessly powering an item. A source is configured to send wireless power. A target is configured to receive the wireless power and convert the wireless power to a useable power. A component is connected to and configured to receive the useable power from the target. When the component receives the usable power, the component activates. Also disclosed is an assembly including a system for wirelessly powering a component and a structure for supporting the system and an item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: POWERCAST CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles E. Greene, Daniel W. Harrist, Michael Thomas McElhinny, David Jeffrey Graham
  • Patent number: 7898105
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for wirelessly powering an item. A source is configured to send wireless power. A target is configured to receive the wireless power and convert the wireless power to a useable power. A component is connected to and configured to receive the useable power from the target. When the component receives the usable power, the component activates. Also disclosed is an assembly including a system for wirelessly powering a component and a structure for supporting the system and an item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Powercast Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Greene, Daniel W. Harrist, Michael Thomas McElhinny, David Jeffrey Graham
  • Publication number: 20090102296
    Abstract: A device for receiving wireless power includes a point of reception, wherein the point of reception is positionable in at least a first position and a second position. A method for receiving wireless power. The method includes the steps of positioning a point of reception in contact with a housing to a first position. There is the step of receiving wireless power at the point of reception and providing it to a power harvester in the housing. There is the step of converting the wireless power to usable DC with the power harvester. There is the step of providing the usable DC to core components in the housing. There is the step of using the DC by the core components. There is the step of repositioning the point of reception to a second position. There is the step of receiving wireless power at the point of reception at the second position and providing it to the power harvester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Charles E. Greene, Daniel W. Harrist, Michael Thomas McElhinny
  • Publication number: 20090067198
    Abstract: A system includes a first device configured to receive a first wireless power associated with a first electromagnetic wave from a wireless power source. The first device is configured to convert the first wireless power to a first DC power, store the first DC power, and convert the first DC power stored in the first device to a second wireless power associated with a second electromagnetic wave. The system includes a second device configured to receive the second wireless power from the first device. The second device is configured to convert the second wireless power to a second DC power. The first device can receive the first wireless power at a first location and can convert the first DC power stored in the first device to the second wireless power at a second location different from the first location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: David Jeffrey Graham, Jesse Frederick Goellner, Michael Thomas McElhinny, Alexander Brailovsky
  • Publication number: 20080290822
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus according to an embodiment include a member, a first elongate member, and a second elongate member. Each of the first elongate member and the second elongate member are coupled to the member. A receiver configured to convert an electromagnetic wave to a DC power is disposed on the member. A first light-emitting device and a second light-emitting device are disposed on the first elongate member and on the second elongate member, respectively. Each of the light-emitting devices is configured to operate based on the DC power from the receiver. In another embodiment, a second receiver configured to convert an electromagnetic wave to a DC power can be disposed on one of the elongate members. In such embodiment, the light-emitting devices are configured to operate based on the DC power from the first and second receivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Charles E. Greene, G. Randolph Maruschock, Michael Thomas McElhinny, Daniel W. Harrist
  • Publication number: 20080290738
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus according to an embodiment include a converter, a power storage module, and a processing module. The converter is configured to convert an energy associated with an electromagnetic wave into a DC power. The power storage module is configured to store the DC power. The processing module is configured to receive information associated with the received power to determine a parameter to operate a device, such as a light-emitting device, for example. The information can include voltage levels associated with the received power at one or more predetermined time instances. The power storage module is configured to send the stored DC power to the device to operate the device in accordance with the parameter determined by the processing module. The processing module is configured to determine the parameter to operate the device, such as periods of activity or inactivity, when a predetermined event is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Charles E. Greene, G. Randolph Maruschock, Michael Thomas McElhinny
  • Publication number: 20080227478
    Abstract: A method and a system include a converter configured to convert received radio frequency signals to a direct current (DC) signal to provide power to at least a portion of a receiver. A received radio frequency signal can be associated with a plurality of carrier frequencies within a specified frequency band and time period. The received radio signals can have a total power level above a threshold power level. In some embodiments, the total power level can be above a threshold power level and below a pre-determined power level. Multiple converters can be used. Each converter can correspond to a subset of the carrier frequencies and/or to the carrier frequencies of different specified frequency bands. A combiner can combine the DC output from the converters into a single DC signal. The receiver can communicate data via a data carrier frequency associated with the carrier frequencies used for wireless power transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Charles E. Greene, Daniel W. Harrist, Michael Thomas McElhinny, Donald Corey Martin
  • Publication number: 20080169910
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for a particular purpose. The device includes a housing. A wireless power transmitter is connected to the housing. The wireless power transmitter sends wireless power. The particular purpose is something other than sending wireless power. A method for a particular purpose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Charles E. Greene, Daniel W. Harrist, Michael Thomas McElhinny
  • Publication number: 20080166965
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for wirelessly powering an item. A source is configured to send wireless power. A target is configured to receive the wireless power and convert the wireless power to a useable power. A component is connected to and configured to receive the useable power from the target. When the component receives the usable power, the component activates. Also disclosed is an assembly including a system for wirelessly powering a component and a structure for supporting the system and an item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Charles E. Greene, Daniel W. Harrist, Michael Thomas McElhinny, David Jeffrey Graham
  • Publication number: 20080054729
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for wirelessly powering an item. A source is configured to send wireless power. A target is configured to receive the wireless power and convert the wireless power to a useable power. A component is connected to and configured to receive the useable power from the target. When the component receives the usable power, the component activates. Also disclosed is an assembly including a system for wirelessly powering a component and a structure for supporting the system and an item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Charles E. Greene, Daniel W. Harrist, Michael Thomas McElhinny, David Jeffrey Graham