Patents by Inventor Robert John Minor

Robert John Minor 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: 9701209
    Abstract: A charging device for a power storage device includes a current control device configured to selectively enable and disable current from being delivered to the power storage device. The charging device also includes an actuator that moves at least a first portion of the charging device from a first position to a second position, and a controller coupled to the actuator and the current control device. The controller determines whether a predetermined actuation condition is met, activates the actuator to move the at least a first portion of the charging device to the second position upon the determination that the predetermined actuation condition is met, and controls the current control device to enable current to be delivered when the at least a first portion of the charging device is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward Clark Fontana, Robert John Minor
  • Patent number: 9475399
    Abstract: A power conduit for charging a power storage device of a vehicle includes an output terminal and locking mechanism operatively disposable in one of an engaged and a disengaged position. The locking mechanism locks the output terminal to the vehicle when the locking mechanism is in the engaged position and unlocks the output terminal when in the disengaged position. The power conduit includes a controller including a memory device configured to store a plurality of computer-executable instructions and a processor coupled to the memory device. The instructions configure the processor to receive an identifier associated with one of the vehicle and a user of the vehicle, and generate and transmit an unlocking signal to cause the locking mechanism to be in the disengaged position upon one of a determination that the identifier was received and a determination that a predetermined charge state of the power storage device has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward Clark Fontana, Robert John Minor
  • Publication number: 20140232338
    Abstract: A power conduit for charging a power storage device of a vehicle includes an output terminal and locking mechanism operatively disposable in one of an engaged and a disengaged position. The locking mechanism locks the output terminal to the vehicle when the locking mechanism is in the engaged position and unlocks the output terminal when in the disengaged position. The power conduit includes a controller including a memory device configured to store a plurality of computer-executable instructions and a processor coupled to the memory device. The instructions configure the processor to receive an identifier associated with one of the vehicle and a user of the vehicle, and generate and transmit an unlocking signal to cause the locking mechanism to be in the disengaged position upon one of a determination that the identifier was received and a determination that a predetermined charge state of the power storage device has been reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Edward Clark Fontana, Robert John Minor
  • Publication number: 20140009112
    Abstract: A charging device for a power storage device includes a current control device configured to selectively enable and disable current from being delivered to the power storage device. The charging device also includes an actuator that moves at least a first portion of the charging device from a first position to a second position, and a controller coupled to the actuator and the current control device. The controller determines whether a predetermined actuation condition is met, activates the actuator to move the at least a first portion of the charging device to the second position upon the determination that the predetermined actuation condition is met, and controls the current control device to enable current to be delivered when the at least a first portion of the charging device is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Edward Clark Fontana, Robert John Minor