Patents by Inventor Timothy John Sommerer
Timothy John Sommerer 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).
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Publication number: 20190244775Abstract: A high voltage gas switch includes a gas-tight housing containing an ionizable gas at a preselected gas pressure. The gas switch includes a gas-tight housing containing an ionizable gas at a gas pressure selected based upon a Paschen curve for the ionizable gas, where the Paschen curve plots breakdown voltages of the ionizable gas as a function of gas pressure multiplied by grid-to-anode distance, and where values of gas pressure multiplied by grid-to-anode distance increase over at least a portion of the Paschen curve in conjunction with increasing breakdown voltages. The gas switch also includes an anode disposed within the gas-tight housing, a cathode disposed within the gas-tight housing, and a control grid positioned between the anode and the cathode, where the control grid is spaced apart from the anode by a grid-to-anode distance selected based upon a desired operating voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2018Publication date: August 8, 2019Inventors: Timothy John Sommerer, Joseph Darryl Michael
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Patent number: 10256067Abstract: A gas switch includes an anode and a cathode spaced apart from the anode, wherein the cathode includes a conduction surface. The gas switch also includes a plurality of magnets arranged to generate a magnetic field that defines an annular path over a portion of the conduction surface at a radial distance from a switch axis, and a control grid positioned between the anode and the cathode. In operation, the control grid is arranged to establish a conducting plasma between the anode and the cathode, wherein, in the presence of the conducting plasma, a voltage drop between the anode and the cathode is less than 150 volts, and wherein the conducting plasma forms a cathode spot that circles the annular path.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2018Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Timothy John Sommerer, David John Smith, Joseph Darryl Michael, Steven Charles Aceto, Kirk Ernest Marquard, Jason Fredrick Trotter, James E. Lawler, William Nicholas Guy Hitchon
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Publication number: 20190013651Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a spark gap device that includes a first electrode having a first surface and a second electrode having a second surface offset from and facing the first surface. The spark gap device also includes a light source configured to emit light toward at least the first surface such that photons emitted by the light source when the spark gap is operated are incident on the first surface and cause electron emission from the first surface. The light source includes a discharge probe having a third electrode sealed in a tube filled with an inert gas. The spark gap device may not include a radioactive component.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2018Publication date: January 10, 2019Inventors: Joseph Darryl Michael, Timothy John Sommerer, Jason Fredrick Trotter, Mohamed Rahmane, Karim Younsi
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Patent number: 10103519Abstract: An approach is disclosed for generating seed electrons at a spark gap in the absence of 85Kr. The present approach utilizes the photo-electric effect, using a light source with a specific nominal wave length (or range of wavelengths) at a specific level of emitted flux to generate seed electrons.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Joseph Darryl Michael, Jason Frederick Trotter, Mohamed Rahmane, Timothy John Sommerer, Karim Younsi
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Patent number: 10096999Abstract: A var compensator circuit is provided. The var compensator circuit includes a gas tube switch and a reactive impedance. The gas tube switch is configured to be coupled to a transmission line. The transmission line is configured to deliver real power and reactive power to a load at an alternating current (AC) line voltage. The reactive impedance is configured to be coupled to the transmission line at the AC line voltage through the gas tube switch. The reactive impedance is configured to modify the reactive power configured to be delivered to the load.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Xu She, James William Bray, Timothy John Sommerer, Rahul Shantilal Chokhawala
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Patent number: 9973092Abstract: A direct current (DC)-DC converter includes a transformer and a gas tube-switched inverter circuit. The transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding. The gas tube-switched inverter circuit includes first and second inverter load terminals and first and second inverter input terminals. The first and second inverter load terminals are coupled to the primary winding. The first and second inverter input terminals are couplable to a DC node. The gas tube-switched inverter circuit further includes a plurality of gas tube switches respectively coupled between the first and second inverter load terminals and the first and second inverter input terminals. The plurality of gas tube switches is configured to operate to generate an alternating current (AC) voltage at the primary winding.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2016Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Xu She, James William Bray, Timothy John Sommerer, Rahul Chokhawala
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Patent number: 9913359Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a spark gap device that includes a first electrode having a first surface and a second electrode having a second surface offset from and facing the first surface. The spark gap device also includes a cantilevered component coupled to the first electrode that is configured to generate a field emission, a corona discharge or both, to emit light toward at least the first surface such that photons are incident on the first surface and cause electron emission from the first surface. The spark gap device may not include a radioactive component.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Joseph Darryl Michael, Timothy John Sommerer, Karim Younsi, Mohamed Rahmane
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Publication number: 20180054045Abstract: An approach is disclosed for generating seed electrons at a spark gap in the absence of 85Kr. The present approach utilizes the photo-electric effect, using a light source with a specific nominal wave length (or range of wavelengths) at a specific level of emitted flux to generate seed electrons.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2016Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Joseph Darryl Michael, Jason Fredrick Trotter, Mohamed Rahmane, Timothy John Sommerer, Karim Younsi
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Publication number: 20180051633Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a spark gap device that includes a first electrode having a first surface and a second electrode having a second surface offset from and facing the first surface. The spark gap device also includes a light source configured to emit light toward at least the first surface such that photons emitted by the light source when the spark gap is operated are incident on the first surface and cause electron emission from the first surface. The light source includes a discharge probe having a third electrode sealed in a tube filled with an inert gas. The spark gap device may not include a radioactive component.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2017Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Joseph Darryl Michael, Timothy John Sommerer, Karim Younsi, Mohamed Rahmane, Jason Fredrick Trotter
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Publication number: 20180054881Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a spark gap device that includes a first electrode having a first surface and a second electrode having a second surface offset from and facing the first surface. The spark gap device also includes a cantilevered component coupled to the first electrode that is configured to generate a field emission, a corona discharge or both, to emit light toward at least the first surface such that photons are incident on the first surface and cause electron emission from the first surface. The spark gap device may not include a radioactive component.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2017Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Joseph Darryl Michael, Timothy John Sommerer, Karim Younsi, Mohamed Rahmane
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Publication number: 20180006461Abstract: A var compensator circuit is provided. The var compensator circuit includes a gas tube switch and a reactive impedance. The gas tube switch is configured to be coupled to a transmission line. The transmission line is configured to deliver real power and reactive power to a load at an alternating current (AC) line voltage. The reactive impedance is configured to be coupled to the transmission line at the AC line voltage through the gas tube switch. The reactive impedance is configured to modify the reactive power configured to be delivered to the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Inventors: Xu She, James William Bray, Timothy John Sommerer, Rahul Shantilal Chokhawala
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Patent number: 9806501Abstract: The present approach relates to generating seed electrons at a spark gap in the absence of 85Kr. The present approach utilizes electron emission from a triple-point instead to provide seed electrons to reduce the statistical time lag of a spark gap. In one such implementation, a spark gap a spark gap may be fabricated and/or operated without a radioactive component without otherwise changing its overall form or function of the spark gap.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Timothy John Sommerer
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Publication number: 20170310220Abstract: A direct current (DC)-DC converter includes a transformer and a gas tube-switched inverter circuit. The transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding. The gas tube-switched inverter circuit includes first and second inverter load terminals and first and second inverter input terminals. The first and second inverter load terminals are coupled to the primary winding. The first and second inverter input terminals are couplable to a DC node. The gas tube-switched inverter circuit further includes a plurality of gas tube switches respectively coupled between the first and second inverter load terminals and the first and second inverter input terminals. The plurality of gas tube switches is configured to operate to generate an alternating current (AC) voltage at the primary winding.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2016Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventors: Xu She, James William Bray, Timothy John Sommerer, Rahul Chokhawala
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Patent number: 9748857Abstract: A high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission system includes an alternating current (AC) electrical source and a power converter channel that includes an AC-DC converter electrically coupled to the electrical source and a DC-AC inverter electrically coupled to the AC-DC converter. The AC-DC converter and the DC-AC inverter each include a plurality of legs that includes at least one switching device. The power converter channel further includes a commutating circuit communicatively coupled to one or more switching devices. The commutating circuit is configured to “switch on” one of the switching devices during a first portion of a cycle of the H-bridge switching circuits and “switch off” the switching device during a second portion of the cycle of the first and second H-bridge switching circuits.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Xu She, Rahul Shantilal Chokhawala, James William Bray, Timothy John Sommerer, Rui Zhou, Di Zhang
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Patent number: 9608144Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a photovoltaic device is provided. The photovoltaic device includes a window layer and an absorber layer disposed on the window layer, wherein the absorber layer includes a first region and a second region, the first region disposed adjacent to the window layer. The absorber layer further includes a first additive and a second additive, wherein a concentration of the first additive in the first region is greater than a concentration of the first additive in the second region, and wherein a concentration of the second additive in the second region is greater than a concentration of the second additive in the first region. Method of making a photovoltaic device is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2011Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: First Solar, Inc.Inventors: James Neil Johnson, Bastiaan Arie Korevaar, Timothy John Sommerer
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Publication number: 20170047857Abstract: A high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission system includes an alternating current (AC) electrical source and a power converter channel that includes an AC-DC converter electrically coupled to the electrical source and a DC-AC inverter electrically coupled to the AC-DC converter. The AC-DC converter and the DC-AC inverter each include a plurality of legs that includes at least one switching device. The power converter channel further includes a commutating circuit communicatively coupled to one or more switching devices. The commutating circuit is configured to “switch on” one of the switching devices during a first portion of a cycle of the H-bridge switching circuits and “switch off” the switching device during a second portion of the cycle of the first and second H-bridge switching circuits.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2015Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Xu She, Rahul Shantilal Chokhawala, James William Bray, Timothy John Sommerer, Rui Zhou, Di Zhang
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Patent number: 9520801Abstract: A voltage source converter based high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission system includes a voltage source converter (VSC)-based power converter channel. The VSC-based power converter channel includes an AC-DC converter and a DC-AC inverter electrically coupled to the AC-DC converter. The AC-DC converter and a DC-AC inverter include at least one gas tube switching device coupled in electrical anti-parallel with a respective gas tube diode. The VSC-based power converter channel includes a commutating circuit communicatively coupled to one or more of the at least one gas tube switching devices. The commutating circuit is configured to “switch on” a respective one of the one or more gas tube switching devices during a first portion of an operational cycle and “switch off” the respective one of the one or more gas tube switching devices during a second portion of the operational cycle.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2015Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Xu She, Rahul Shantilal Chokhawala, Rui Zhou, Di Zhang, Timothy John Sommerer, James William Bray
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Publication number: 20160020057Abstract: A cold-cathode switching device is presented. The cold-cathode switching device (100) includes a housing (110) defining a chamber (111); an ionizable gas (112) disposed in the chamber; and a plurality of electrodes (120) disposed in the chamber. The plurality of electrodes includes a cathode (124) and an anode (122) defining a discharge gap, and wherein at least one of the cathode and anode comprises a material (140) that is liquid at an operating temperature of the cathode or the anode.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2013Publication date: January 21, 2016Inventors: Timothy John SOMMERER, Joseph Darryl MICHAEL, David John SMITH, Sergey Joseph ZALUBOVSKY
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Publication number: 20150098259Abstract: A power converter including at least one switching device is presented. The power converter is configured to convert an input parameter to an output parameter by periodically activating and deactivating the switching device. The switching device includes: (i) a chamber including an ionizable gas; (ii) a cathode and an anode defining a discharge gap disposed in the chamber; (iii) a magnet assembly configured to generate a first magnetic field such that a plasma is maintained in the discharge gap; and (iv) an electromagnet configured to generate, in response to a deactivation signal, a second magnetic field such that at least a portion of the plasma in the discharge gap is disrupted to deactivate the switching device. A method of power conversion and a switching device are also presented.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2013Publication date: April 9, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joseph Darryl Michael, Timothy John Sommerer
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Publication number: 20120307970Abstract: A phase-contrast imaging system and method. An embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of X-ray emitters for transmitting X-rays through an object to a detector. Adjacent X-ray emitters may be activated at different times to prevent confounding of X-ray striking on the detector. Each X-ray emitter can be operated independently to provide different flux outputs for reducing overall patient dose.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Timothy John Sommerer, Peter Michael Edic, Dirk Wim Jos Bequé, Cristina Francesca Cozzini