Patents by Inventor Nicole Christine Reeves Hedges

Nicole Christine Reeves Hedges 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).

  • System and method for avoiding contact stiction in micro-electromechanical system based switch
    Patent number: 7808764
    Abstract: A system that includes micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry, such as may be made up of a plurality of micro-electromechanical switches, is provided. The plurality of micro-electromechanical switches may generally operate in a closed switching condition during system operation. A controller is coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry. The controller may be configured to actuate at least one of the micro-electromechanical switches to a temporary open switching condition while a remainder of micro-electromechanical switches remains in the closed switching condition to conduct a load current and avoid interrupting system operation. The temporary open switching condition of the switch is useful to avoid a tendency of switch contacts to stick to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Nicole Christine Reeves Hedges, Michael Solomon Idelchik, Owen Jannis Schelenz
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AVOIDING CONTACT STICTION IN MICRO-ELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEM BASED SWITCH
    Publication number: 20090107813
    Abstract: A system that includes micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry, such as may be made up of a plurality of micro-electromechanical switches, is provided. The plurality of micro-electromechanical switches may generally operate in a closed switching condition during system operation. A controller is coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry. The controller may be configured to actuate at least one of the micro-electromechanical switches to a temporary open switching condition while a remainder of micro-electromechanical switches remains in the closed switching condition to conduct a load current and avoid interrupting system operation. The temporary open switching condition of the switch is useful to avoid a tendency of switch contacts to stick to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Nicole Christine Reeves Hedges, Michael Solomon Idelchik, Owen Jannis Schelenz