Patents by Inventor Spiro Vamvakas

Spiro Vamvakas 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: 5834884
    Abstract: A systematic configuration of compact fluorescent lamps of different power levels determines the operating parameters for normal operation of each respective lamp in a single-type ballast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor David Roberts, Clarence James Harsa, David Joseph Kachmarik, Spiro Vamvakas
  • Patent number: 5708331
    Abstract: An electrodeless, low pressure gas discharge lamp includes a vitreous envelope containing a discharge medium and being shaped with an external chamber for receiving an electrical excitation circuit. The excitation circuit is effective for exciting the discharge medium to emit light with electromagnetic fields that are generated by the excitation circuit. A circuit is included for supplying electrical power from power mains to the excitation circuit. A transparent, electrically conductive coating is provided atop the vitreous envelope and is electrically connected substantially directly to one of the power mains at any given time. A transparent, electrically insulative coating is disposed atop the electrically conductive coating, and comprises a contiguous, inorganic glass layer. The insulative coating preferably has a minimum coating thickness of at least about 3.1 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Spiro Vamvakas, Timothy A. Taubert, Mahomed H. Girach, Curtis E. Scott, Vito J. Arsena
  • Patent number: 5412280
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrodeless, low pressure gas discharge lamp. The lamp includes a vitreous envelope containing a metal vapor and an inert gas. The envelope is shaped with an external chamber for receiving an electrical excitation circuit. The excitation circuit is effective for exciting the metal vapor to emit light with electromagnetic fields that are passed through the vitreous envelope from outside, to inside, the envelope. A circuit supplies electrical power from power mains to the excitation circuit. A transparent, electrically conductive coating is disposed on the inner surface of the vitreous envelope for suppressing electromagnetic interference on the power mains. An electrically conductive coating is disposed on the outer surface of the vitreous envelope; it is capacitively coupled to the inner conductive coating, via a wall of the vitreous envelope, and is maintained at a suitable potential for suppressing electromagnetic interference on the power mains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Curtis E. Scott, Vito J. Arsena, Spiro Vamvakas, Joseph C. Oberle
  • Patent number: 4749913
    Abstract: A power supply for a metal halide discharge lamp includes a circuit for applying a high voltage starting pulse to the arc tube of the lamp to initiate the discharge, a glow transition current to provide power transitioning the arc tube from its glow to its run mode, and a run power supply circuit to provide continuous controlled d-c current to the arc tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Karl Stuermer, William M. Rucki, Spiro Vamvakas
  • Patent number: 4495446
    Abstract: An energy efficient lighting unit is described designed for functional similarity to the incandescent light used in the home. The lighting unit utilizes a metal vapor arc lamp as the main source of light supplemented by a standby filamentary light source. The lighting unit includes means for converting 60 hertz ac to dc, and a dc energized operating network containing a three transistor switch. The transistor switch is used to provide dc and low frequency (120 Hz) energization to the filament, and high frequency energization for both filament and arc lamp. The high frequency energization, which starts and transitions the arc lamp, is discontinued after the arc lamp is started. In the final run state, the arc lamp, which is serially connected with the filament across the dc supply, is ballasted by the filament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Brown, Marc A. Dissosway, William Peil, Spiro Vamvakas
  • Patent number: 4377158
    Abstract: Electronic apparatus is disclosed which is usable to determine the fluency of a person's speech. This apparatus may monitor a dialogue directly, may be connected to a telephone to monitor a dialogue, or may be connceted to be responsive to a recording of the dialogue. The apparatus determines the number of hesitation pauses of joint silence of both persons bounded by speech uttered by the subject which pauses are in excess of a time interval in the order of one second of time. The apparatus gives an indication, either visible or audible, when the number of such pauses exceeds a presettable limit per unit of time. The apparatus may be used by the medical profession to determine in a subject the existence of or proneness to clinical coronary artery disease where the rate of such hesitation pauses is in excess of a presettable value. It may also be used by disc jockeys, sales personnel, executives, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: Ernest H. Friedman
    Inventors: Ernest H. Friedman, Charles N. Flammer, Daniel A. Baker, Spiro Vamvakas
  • Patent number: 4278096
    Abstract: Electronic apparatus is disclosed which is usable to determine the fluency of a person's speech. This apparatus may monitor a dialogue directly, may be connected to a telephone to monitor a dialogue, or may be connected to be responsive to a recording of the dialogue. The apparatus determines the number of hesitation pauses of joint silence of both persons bounded by speech uttered by the subject which pauses are in excess of a time interval in the order of one second of time. The apparatus gives an indication, either visible or audible, when the number of such pauses exceeds a presettable limit per unit of time. The apparatus may be used by the medical profession to determine in a subject the existence of present clinical coronary artery disease where the rate of such hesitation pauses is in excess of a presettable value. It may also be used by disc jockeys, sales personnel, executives, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: Ernest H. Friedman
    Inventors: Ernest H. Friedman, Charles M. Flammer, Daniel A. Baker, Spiro Vamvakas