Patents by Inventor Robert Michael Zacharias

Robert Michael Zacharias 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: 9528880
    Abstract: A temperature measurement system includes a plurality of filaments. The plurality of filaments are configured to emit thermal radiation in a relatively broad and substantially continuous wavelength band at least partially representative of a temperature of the plurality of filaments. A first and second portion of the filaments has a differing first and a second diameter and/or emissivity, respectively. The system also includes a detector array configured to generate electrical signals at least partially representative of the thermal radiation received from the filaments. The system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the detector array configured to transform the first electrical signals to a first temperature indication at least partially as a function of the first diameter and/or first emissivity and transform the second electrical signals to a second temperature indication at least partially as a function of the second diameter and/or emissivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Guanghua Wang, Nirm Velumylum Nirmalan, Ronald Scott Bunker, Todd Garrett Wetzel, Robert Michael Zacharias, Shawn David Wehe, Robert David Briggs
  • Patent number: 9335215
    Abstract: A temperature measurement system includes at least one filament configured to emit thermal radiation in a relatively broad and substantially continuous wavelength band that is at least partially representative of a temperature of the at least one filament. The system also includes an optical system configured to receive at least a portion of the thermal radiation emitted from the filament. The optical system includes a wavelength splitting device configured to split the emitted thermal radiation into at least one relatively narrow wavelength band of thermal radiation. The optical system also includes a detector array configured to receive the at least one relatively narrow wavelength band of thermal radiation and to generate electrical signals at least partially representative of the received thermal radiation. The temperature measurement system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the detector array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Guanghua Wang, Nirm Velumylum Nirmalan, Todd Garrett Wetzel, Ronald Scott Bunker, Robert Michael Zacharias, Shawn David Wehe, Robert David Briggs, Jonathan Edward Slepski
  • Publication number: 20150049786
    Abstract: A temperature measurement system includes a plurality of filaments. The plurality of filaments are configured to emit thermal radiation in a relatively broad and substantially continuous wavelength band at least partially representative of a temperature of the plurality of filaments. A first and second portion of the filaments has a differing first and a second diameter and/or emissivity, respectively. The system also includes a detector array configured to generate electrical signals at least partially representative of the thermal radiation received from the filaments. The system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the detector array configured to transform the first electrical signals to a first temperature indication at least partially as a function of the first diameter and/or first emissivity and transform the second electrical signals to a second temperature indication at least partially as a function of the second diameter and/or emissivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Guanghua Wang, Nirm Velumylum Nirmalan, Ronald Scott Bunker, Todd Garrett Wetzel, Robert Michael Zacharias, Shawn David Wehe, Robert David Briggs
  • Publication number: 20140033737
    Abstract: A temperature measurement system includes at least one filament configured to emit thermal radiation in a relatively broad and substantially continuous wavelength band that is at least partially representative of a temperature of the at least one filament. The system also includes an optical system configured to receive at least a portion of the thermal radiation emitted from the filament. The optical system includes a wavelength splitting device configured to split the emitted thermal radiation into at least one relatively narrow wavelength band of thermal radiation. The optical system also includes a detector array configured to receive the at least one relatively narrow wavelength band of thermal radiation and to generate electrical signals at least partially representative of the received thermal radiation. The temperature measurement system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the detector array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Guanghua Wang, Nirm Velumylum Nirmalan, Todd Garrett Wetzel, Ronald Scott Bunker, Robert Michael Zacharias, Shawn David Wehe, Robert David Briggs, Jonathan Edward Slepski