Patents by Inventor Tilton L. Block

Tilton L. Block 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).

  • Flash strobe power supply system and method
    Patent number: 6819059
    Abstract: A reliable strobe power supply is disclosed that provides requisite light energy for emergency uses without causing EMI problems. A two phase dual flyback power converter operating in transitional mode is disclosed containing a microcontroller that maintains a 180 degree displacement between the two phases by enabling a small, variable dead time between the cessation of stored energy in the flyback transformers and turn-on of the associated power switching transistor for one or the other phases. The power supply is capable of detecting a fault (neoning) and automatically correcting the condition by incrementing the flash capacitor charge off-time delay. The power supply is also capable of tolerating defective (persistently neoning) strobe tubes that cause an inordinate delay in capacitor charging by turning them off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Tilton L. Block, Joseph M. Allison
  • Flash strobe power supply system and method
    Publication number: 20040080282
    Abstract: A reliable strobe power supply is disclosed that provides requisite light energy for emergency uses without causing EMI problems. A two phase dual flyback power converter operating in transitional mode is disclosed containing a microcontroller that maintains a 180 degree displacement between the two phases by enabling a small, variable dead time between the cessation of stored energy in the flyback transformers and turn-on of the associated power switching transistor for one or the other phases. The power supply is capable of detecting a fault (neoning) and automatically correcting the condition by incrementing the flash capacitor charge off-time delay. The power supply is also capable of tolerating defective (persistently neoning) strobe tubes that cause an inordinate delay in capacitor charging by turning them off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Federal Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Tilton L. Block, Joseph M. Allison