Patents by Inventor Stephen James Newton

Stephen James Newton 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).

  • Electromagnetic actuator system and method for engine valves
    Patent number: 6741441
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for electromagnetically actuating engine valves to obtain soft seating. The magnitude and duration of current pulses applied to the armature attracting coils are determined based upon a total mechanical energy and a total energy loss of the armature obtained from the armature position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Sean Hilbert, Stephen James Newton, Shawn Harold Swales, Youqing Xiang, Zeljko Popovic
  • Electromagnetic actuator for engine valves
    Patent number: 6631067
    Abstract: An amplifier/power supply for an engine valve actuator includes a pair of switches for operating an actuator coil in several modes from a low voltage power supply. A higher magnitude voltage is regeneratively created using the inductance of the actuator coil and selective actuation of the switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen James Newton, Youqing Xiang
  • Electromagnetic actuator system and method for engine valves
    Publication number: 20030150414
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for electromagnetically actuating engine valves to obtain soft seating. The magnitude and duration of current pulses applied to the armature attracting coils are determined based upon a total mechanical energy and a total energy loss of the armature obtained from the armature position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Harold Sean Hilbert, Stephen James Newton, Shawn Harold Swales, Youqing Xiang, Zeljko Popovic
  • Electromagnetic actuator for engine valves
    Publication number: 20030123211
    Abstract: An amplifier/power supply for an engine valve actuator includes a pair of switches for operating an actuator coil in several modes from a low voltage power supply. A higher magnitude voltage is regeneratively created using the inductance of the actuator coil and selective actuation of the switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Stephen James Newton, Youqing Xiang
  • Electrically actuable engine valve providing position output
    Patent number: 6269784
    Abstract: A controller for electrically actuated engine valves operates in a switching mode to monitor back EMF during periods when the coil drive current is off. Back EMF is used to determine a position of the armature so as to control the armature current to provide for soft seating of the valve reducing valve wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen James Newton
  • System for controlling lighting in an illuminating indicating device
    Patent number: 5896010
    Abstract: A system for providing one-step dimming of indicator lights in an illuminating indicating device while allowing adjustable control of the general illumination of the device. The system includes a first current drain (176) coupled to an indicator light source (32-42) for drawing a first current through the indicator light source. A second current drain (186), controlled by control circuitry (198), couples to the indicator light source (32-42) for selectively drawing additional current through the indicator light source (32-42). In a preferred embodiment, the first current drain (176) couples to the second current drain (186) to regulate the additional current draw by the second current drain (186). Preferably, the control circuitry (198) is responsive to an illumination signal to prevent the additional current draw during a low ambient light condition. For general illumination of the indicator device (10), an illumination light source (56-60) responsive to the illumination signal may also be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Matthew Mark Mikolajczak, Stephen James Newton