Patents by Inventor Michael Tignor

Michael Tignor 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: 20070139845
    Abstract: A waveform recorder device for mounting to an electronic circuit breaker having an electronic trip unit and a communication port is disclosed. The device includes a connector configured to connect with the communication port, and a processing circuit in signal communication with the connector. The processing circuit is responsive to instructions which, when executed by the processing circuit, facilitate responding to a conditional signal received from the circuit breaker, and in response thereto recording waveform information arising from an additional signal received from the circuit breaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Geoff Butland, Michael Tignor, John Dougherty, Craig Williams, Mark Culler
  • Publication number: 20070139846
    Abstract: A method for recording and having analyzed waveform data associated with an electronic circuit breaker having an electronic trip unit is disclosed. The electronic trip unit has a communication port and is capable of providing to the communication port a first signal representative of a phase current passing through the circuit breaker, and a second signal representative of a conditional event at the circuit breaker. The method includes facilitating the connection of a waveform recorder device to the communication port of the electronic trip unit; facilitating recording in a first memory of the waveform recorder device in a circular queue fashion information relating to the first signal received from the electronic trip unit; and, in response to the second signal received from the electronic trip unit, facilitating the stopping of the recording in the first memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Geoff Butland, Michael Tignor, John Dougherty, Craig Williams, Mark Culler
  • Publication number: 20070133140
    Abstract: An electronic trip unit for a circuit breaker is disclosed. The electronic trip unit has a processing circuit, a real time clock chip, and a power source for powering the real time clock chip in the absence of current in the circuit breaker. The processing circuit is responsive to input signals representative of a current in the circuit breaker, and productive of a trip signal for tripping the circuit breaker. The real time clock chip is in signal communication with the processing circuit. In response to an off event at the circuit breaker following a current flow condition thereat, the real time clock chip is configured to generate time information for use by the processing circuit, which is configured to apply the time information to calculate a cooling effect arising from the circuit breaker being off, thereby providing for thermal memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Nataniel Vicente, John Dougherty, Michael Tignor
  • Publication number: 20050275411
    Abstract: A device for testing for a wiring fault condition is disclosed. The device includes an electrical connector, a first signal generator, a second signal generator, and a user interface. The electrical connector includes first and second contacts that are configured to establish an electrical connection to the wiring. The first signal generator is in signal communication with the electrical connector, and is configured to generate a signal on the wiring and to receive a reflected signal therefrom. The second signal generator is in signal communication with the electrical connector, and is configured to generate a radio frequency signal on the wiring. The user interface is in signal communication with either or both of the first and second signal generators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Inventors: Henry Mason, Craig Williams, Michael Tignor, Geoff Butland, Michael Bradley, Greg Lavoie, Raymond Seymour
  • Publication number: 20050219032
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing electrical protection to a protected circuit in electrical communication with an electrical source is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, a separable conduction path in series connection with the protected circuit, an operating mechanism in operable communication with the separable conduction path, a thermal element in thermal communication with the separable conduction path, and an electronic trip unit in signal communication with the thermal element and in operable communication with the operating mechanism. The electronic trip unit is adapted to sense a voltage drop across the thermal element and to trip the operating mechanism in response to the sensed voltage drop being in excess of a first trip threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Craig Williams, Henry Mason, Michael Tignor, Geoffrey Butland, Michael Bradley, Gregory Lavoie