Patents by Inventor Stephen C. Hope

Stephen C. Hope 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).

  • Active damping vibration controller for use with cryocoolers
    Patent number: 9500391
    Abstract: A cryocooler assembly including a cryocooler housing and a free-piston engine arranged within the housing, an absorber housing and a damper motor arranged within the absorber housing, and a controller housing rigidly coupled between the cryocooler and the active damper such that vibrations may pass through the controller. A controller mounted within the controller housing provides power to the cryocooler and monitors the phase and frequency of the power supplied to the cryocooler. The controller monitors the vibration of the cryocooler assembly and provides a damping signal to the active damper. The damping signal generated by the controller is based at least in part on the phase and frequency of the power supplied to the cryocooler and the monitored vibration of the cryocooler assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: The John Hopkins University
    Inventor: Stephen C. Hope
  • ACTIVE DAMPING VIBRATION CONTROLLER FOR USE WITH CRYOCOOLERS
    Publication number: 20140325999
    Abstract: A cryocooler assembly including a cryocooler housing and a free-piston engine arranged within the housing, an absorber housing and a damper motor arranged within the absorber housing, and a controller housing rigidly coupled between the cryocooler and the active damper such that vibrations may pass through the controller. A controller mounted within the controller housing provides power to the cryocooler and monitors the phase and frequency of the power supplied to the cryocooler. The controller monitors the vibration of the cryocooler assembly and provides a damping signal to the active damper. The damping signal generated by the controller is based at least in part on the phase and frequency of the power supplied to the cryocooler and the monitored vibration of the cryocooler assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: Stephen C. Hope