Patents by Inventor Peter F. Gerhardinger

Peter F. Gerhardinger 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: 20150229131
    Abstract: A grid tie solar inverter system includes a DC solar array generating a DC voltage and a DC current. A DC bus is connected to the DC solar array to receive the DC current from the DC solar array. A battery bank is connected to the DC bus to transfer the DC current of the DC solar array to charge a plurality of batteries of the battery bank. At least one inverter is connected to the DC bus thereby connecting the DC bus to an AC grid. The inverter is operated either to transfer stored energy of the battery bank to the AC grid or to transfer AC power from the AC grid to the battery bank to charge the battery bank. A controller in communication with the battery bank monitors DC solar array and battery bank operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventor: Peter F. Gerhardinger
  • Patent number: 8963373
    Abstract: A grid tie system includes a plurality of solar panels, a plurality of inverters, wherein each of the inverters is in electrical communication with at least one of the solar panels to convert a direct current to an alternating current, wherein each of the inverters has an active state and an inactive state and at least one of the inverters includes a tracking component to track a maximum power point of at least one of the solar panels, and a controller in communication with at least one of the inverters for selectively toggling the at least one of the inverters between the active state and the inactive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nextronex, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Gerhardinger, David R. Feltner, Richard L. Ashton, Robert J. Simons
  • Publication number: 20140327314
    Abstract: A grid tie system includes a plurality of solar panels, a plurality of inverters, wherein each of the inverters is in electrical communication with at least one of the solar panels to convert a direct current to an alternating current, wherein each of the inverters has an active state and an inactive state and at least one of the inverters includes a tracking component to track a maximum power point of at least one of the solar panels, and a controller in communication with at least one of the inverters for selectively toggling the at least one of the inverters between the active state and the inactive state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Peter F. Gerhardinger, David R. Feltner, Richard L. Ashton, Robert J. Simons
  • Patent number: 8779627
    Abstract: A grid tie system includes a plurality of solar panels, a plurality of inverters, wherein each of the inverters is in electrical communication with at least one of the solar panels to convert a direct current to an alternating current, wherein each of the inverters has an active state and an inactive state and at least one of the inverters includes a tracking component to track a maximum power point of at least one of the solar panels, and a controller in communication with at least one of the inverters for selectively toggling the at least one of the inverters between the active state and the inactive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Nextronex, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Gerhardinger, David R. Feltner, Richard L. Ashton, Robert J. Simons
  • Patent number: 8461495
    Abstract: The present invention places an electronic controller and/or a triac in a frame, a cover, a chase, or a mounting member of a heated glass panel assembly, where the panel has a conductive coating dispose on it. By placing the controller in the panel frame, the cover, the chase, or the mounting member, field wiring of the panel assembly is greatly reduced, wire lengths are standardized, production glazing, wiring, and pre-testing are facilitated, and installation time and complexity are minimized. By placing the triac in thermal contact with the panel frame, the cover, the chase, or the mounting member, the heat from the triac may be used to complement the heat supplied by the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Engineered Glass Products, LLC.
    Inventor: Peter F. Gerhardinger
  • Patent number: 8215007
    Abstract: A heated insulating glass panel, with a fitting, is provided. The heated insulating glass panel is formed from two dielectric sheets that are separated by a spacer, which has a spacer layer at the spacer edge. The fitting, which is made of a fitting base portion and a fitting tubular portion, is attached to the spacer layer at the spacer edge by way of, for example, two screws. Thus, the fitting provides a pathway for routing wires into and away from the heated insulating glass panel. If necessary, an elbow may be provided which attaches to the fitting tubular portion for changing the direction of the routing of the wires. In addition, conduit may be attached to the fitting to route the wiring to and from the heated insulating glass panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Engineered Glass Products, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Gerhardinger, Dillon R. Ashton
  • Patent number: 8110782
    Abstract: Heated architectural panel temperature control systems and methods are provided for heating windows that are formed from heated architectural panels. The control system comprises the heated architectural panel that produces heat when connected to external AC power, a panel frame disposed around the panel periphery, and a temperature control circuit that is electrically connected to the window. The temperature control circuit, which may be disposed in the panel frame, controls the temperature of the panel by utilizing a Hall effect sensor and the panel temperature coefficient of resistance ?. The panel may comprise insulated glass panels, laminated structures, or combinations thereof, where the window is disposed in an opening of a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Engineered Glass Products, LLC
    Inventors: Dillon R. Ashton, Peter F. Gerhardinger
  • Publication number: 20110220639
    Abstract: A wireless inductive coupling assembly for a heated glass panel assembly is provided that includes a metal oxide coated glass panel with a panel frame, an opening frame that cooperates with the coated glass panel frame to allow the panel to cover a panel opening, a receiving coil that is positioned in the panel frame and that is wired to the panel, and a sending coil that is positioned in the opening frame and that is wired to an electrical power source. When the electrical power source supplies electrical power to the sending coil, the sending coil wirelessly induces an electrical current in the receiving coil, which causes the dielectric panel to provide heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Engineered Glass Products, LLC
    Inventor: Peter F. Gerhardinger
  • Patent number: 7968823
    Abstract: A wireless inductive coupling assembly for a heated glass panel assembly is provided that includes a metal oxide coated glass panel with a panel frame, an opening frame that cooperates with the coated glass panel frame to allow the panel to cover a panel opening, a receiving coil that is positioned in the panel frame and that is wired to the panel, and a sending coil that is positioned in the opening frame and that is wired to an electrical power source. When the electrical power source supplies electrical power to the sending coil, the sending coil wirelessly induces an electrical current in the receiving coil, which causes the dielectric panel to provide heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Engineered Glass Products, LLC
    Inventor: Peter F. Gerhardinger
  • Publication number: 20100325891
    Abstract: A heated insulating glass panel, with a fitting, is provided. The heated insulating glass panel is formed from two dielectric sheets that are separated by a spacer, which has a spacer layer at the spacer edge. The fitting, which is made of a fitting base portion and a fitting tubular portion, is attached to the spacer layer at the spacer edge by way of, for example, two screws. Thus, the fitting provides a pathway for routing wires into and away from the heated insulating glass panel. If necessary, an elbow may be provided which attaches to the fitting tubular portion for changing the direction of the routing of the wires. In addition, conduit may be attached to the fitting to route the wiring to and from the heated insulating glass panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Peter F. Gerhardinger, Dillon R. Ashton
  • Publication number: 20100253151
    Abstract: A grid tie system includes a plurality of solar panels, a plurality of inverters, wherein each of the inverters is in electrical communication with at least one of the solar panels to convert a direct current to an alternating current, wherein each of the inverters has an active state and an inactive state and at least one of the inverters includes a tracking component to track a maximum power point of at least one of the solar panels, and a controller in communication with at least one of the inverters for selectively toggling the at least one of the inverters between the active state and the inactive state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Peter F. Gerhardinger, David R. Feltner, Richard L. Ashton, Robert J. Simons
  • Patent number: 7805896
    Abstract: A heated insulating glass panel, with a fitting, is provided. The heated insulating glass panel is formed from two dielectric sheets that are separated by a spacer, which has a spacer layer at the spacer edge. The fitting, which is made of a fitting base portion and a fitting tubular portion, is attached to the spacer layer at the spacer edge by way of, for example, two screws. Thus, the fitting provides a pathway for routing wires into and away from the heated insulating glass panel. If necessary, an elbow may be provided which attaches to the fitting tubular portion for changing the direction of the routing of the wires. In addition, conduit may be attached to the fitting to route the wiring to and from the heated insulating glass panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Engineered Glass Products, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Gerhardinger, Dillon R. Ashton
  • Publication number: 20100116816
    Abstract: Heated architectural panel temperature control systems and methods are provided for heating windows that are formed from heated architectural panels. The control system comprises the heated architectural panel that produces heat when connected to external AC power, a panel frame disposed around the panel periphery, and a temperature control circuit that is electrically connected to the window. The temperature control circuit, which may be disposed in the panel frame, controls the temperature of the panel by utilizing a Hall effect sensor and the panel temperature coefficient of resistance a. The panel may comprise insulated glass panels, laminated structures, or combinations thereof, where the window is disposed in an opening of a building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Dillon R. Ashton, Peter F. Gerhardinger
  • Patent number: 7675007
    Abstract: Heated architectural panel temperature control systems and methods are provided for heating windows that are formed from heated architectural panels. The control system comprises the heated architectural panel that produces heat when connected to external AC power, a panel frame disposed around the panel periphery, and a temperature control circuit that is electrically connected to the window. The temperature control circuit, which may be disposed in the panel frame, controls the temperature of the panel by utilizing a Hall effect sensor and the panel temperature coefficient of resistance ?. The panel may comprise insulated glass panels, laminated structures, or combinations thereof, where the window is disposed in an opening of a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Engineered Glass Products, LLC
    Inventors: Dillon R. Ashton, Peter F. Gerhardinger
  • Publication number: 20090320896
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar panel assembly which is particularly impervious to moisture due, primarily, to the nature of the materials forming the coverplate and the base member of the solar panel assembly, namely a transparent glass, and a flexible metal, respectively. The flexibility of the base member also facilitates the deposition of a photovoltically functional coating thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Peter F. Gerhardinger
  • Publication number: 20070285819
    Abstract: A wireless inductive coupling assembly for a heated glass panel assembly is provided that includes a metal oxide coated glass panel with a panel frame, an opening frame that cooperates with the coated glass panel frame to allow the panel to cover a panel opening, a receiving coil that is positioned in the panel frame and that is wired to the panel, and a sending coil that is positioned in the opening frame and that is wired to an electrical power source. When the electrical power source supplies electrical power to the sending coil, the sending coil wirelessly induces an electrical current in the receiving coil, which causes the dielectric panel to provide heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventor: Peter F. Gerhardinger
  • Patent number: 7265323
    Abstract: An electrically conductive heated glass panel assembly, control system, and method for producing panels are provided to warm objects and to insure unobstructed viewing through glass by removing moisture. An integrated connection circuit interconnects glass sheets, which have a low emissivity conductive coating deposited thereon. The circuit includes copper bus bars that are disposed onto the conductive coating through the use of a circularly rotating or an inline heating head and mask apparatus. A metallic tab, which extends from the glass sheet's peripheral edge, is disposed onto each conductive metal bus bar for external electrical connectivity. Two types of glazing channels are offered to interconnect multiple panels to external circuits and controls. A solid-state controller may be provided to obtain sensor control signals so as to drive a triac circuit that provides current flow through the panel for the desired heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Engineered Glass Products, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Gerhardinger, Randall L. Bauman, Dillon R. Ashton
  • Patent number: 7241964
    Abstract: Heating head and mask apparatus are provided for producing electrically conductive heated glass panels that may be used to warm objects or insure unobstructed viewing through glass by removing moisture. The heating head and mask apparatus utilizes either a circularly rotating or an inline heating head and mask apparatus, which deposits conductive metal bus bars into electrical contact with electrically conductive-coatings that are-disposed on the glass panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Inventors: Peter F. Gerhardinger, Randall L. Bauman, Dillon R. Ashton
  • Patent number: 7053343
    Abstract: Methods for forming electrically conductive heated dielectric panels are provided. The panels are utilized for warming objects and/or insuring unobstructed viewing through the panels by removing moisture. The methods include depositing electrically conductive metal bus bars onto the dielectric panel, onto which panel a conductive coating has previously been disposed. The conductive metal bus bars are deposited onto the coated dielectric panel through the use of a circularly rotating or an inline heating head and mask apparatus, in combination with an oxyacetylene or a plasma device. A metallic tab, which extends from the panel peripheral edge, is brought into electrical contact with each conductive metal bus bar for external electrical connectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Engineered Glass Products, LLC.
    Inventors: Peter F. Gerhardinger, Randall L. Bauman, Dillon R. Ashton
  • Patent number: 7041942
    Abstract: A heating assembly is provided for heating objects, for example, food items, that comprises a substrate attached to an insulating frame, which may optionally be attached to a metal pan. The complete assembly is attached to a cooking appliance. The substrate may take the form of a glass disk, for example, tempered soda-lime silica glass, having a conductive coating disposed on one of its surfaces. Conductive metal bus bars, for example, sprayed copper, are disposed onto and in electrical contact with the coating. A temperature sensor may be placed in thermal contact with the heating assembly. As a result, the temperature sensor would allow a cooking appliance to control the electric current being conducted through the heating assembly and, consequently, the temperature of the object being heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Engineering Glass Products, LLC
    Inventor: Peter F. Gerhardinger