Patents by Inventor Virgil A. Chichernea

Virgil A. Chichernea 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).

  • Compact fluorescent lamp and LED light source with electronic components in base
    Patent number: 8749161
    Abstract: Light sources are presented in which lamp ballast or LED driver circuitry is disposed within a base assembly using integrated boards with components embedded between board layers and/or circular flex boards with pot core magnetic components and/or ASICs and thermally conductive board core materials with thermal vias, reflective mirrors, and/or potting materials to conduct heat out through the base to facilitate reduced form factors for lamps and/or LED light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Louis Robert Nerone, Virgil A. Chichernea, David Joseph Kachmarik, Himamshu Prasad
  • COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP AND LED LIGHT SOURCE WITH ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS IN BASE
    Publication number: 20120104947
    Abstract: Light sources are presented in which lamp ballast or LED driver circuitry is disposed within a base assembly using integrated boards with components embedded between board layers and or circular flex boards with pot core magnetic components and/or ASICs and thermally conductive board core materials with thermal vias, reflective mirrors, and/or potting materials to conduct heat out through the base to facilitate reduced form factors for lamps and/or LED light sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Louis Robert Nerone, Virgil A. Chichernea, David Joseph Kachmarik, Himamshu Prasad
  • Low cost compact size single stage high power factor circuit for discharge lamps
    Patent number: 7923941
    Abstract: The present application claims a compact low cost topology solution of a ballast for a discharge lamp that can provide both high power factor and low total harmonic distortion with fewer components than prior art. The topology provides the feature of a low crest factor and quick start that increase both the lamp life and the number of starts for the product. By using Bipolar Junction Transistor instead of Field Effect Transistor as the main switches and also a lower value electrolytic, the cost and size are considerably reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Chen, Virgil A. Chichernea, James K. Skully
  • Lamp igniter module and transformer carrier
    Patent number: 7772780
    Abstract: Disclosed are a lamp igniter module and method of assembling a lamp igniter module. The lamp igniter module comprises a transformer carrier, a slide-in electrical connector, a pc board, and a housing. Assembly of the lamp igniter module is accomplished by initially inserting a transformer carrier assembly within the housing and subsequently installing a slide-in electrical connector which may or may not be attached to the pc board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rajendra K. Pokharna, David J. Kachmarik, Virgil Chichernea, Bruce Roberts, David A. D'Onofrio
  • LOW COST COMPACT SIZE SINGLE STAGE HIGH POWER FACTOR CIRCUIT FOR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    Publication number: 20100097000
    Abstract: The present application claims a compact low cost topology solution of a ballast for a discharge lamp that can provide both high power factor and low total harmonic distortion with fewer components than prior art. The topology provides the feature of a low crest factor and quick start that increase both the lamp life and the number of starts for the product. By using Bipolar Junction Transistor instead of Field Effect Transistor as the main switches and also a lower value electrolytic, the cost and size are considerably reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Timothy Chen, Virgil A. Chichernea, James K. Skully
  • Lightweight electromagnetic interference shielding for automotive igniters
    Publication number: 20080225504
    Abstract: In an igniter module housing (F) of an automotive headlamp assembly, an improved EMI shielding includes a thin coating (12) on the housing. This arrangement eliminates the need for separate EMI shielding components. The coating is electrically conductive, typically a metal such as aluminum, and may be sputtered, painted, or dipped onto the plastic substrate at a thickness of approximately 3 microns or less. The total weight of the aluminum coating is on the order of 1 milligram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Virgil A. Chichernea, Bruce Roberts
  • Lamp igniter module and transformer carrier
    Publication number: 20080157696
    Abstract: Disclosed are a lamp igniter module and method of assembling a lamp igniter module. The lamp igniter module comprises a transformer carrier, a slide-in electrical connector, a pc board, and a housing. Assembly of the lamp igniter module is accomplished by initially inserting a transformer carrier assembly within the housing and subsequently installing a slide-in electrical connector which may or may not be attached to the pc board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Rajendra K. Pokharna, David J. Kachmarik, Virgil Chichernea, Bruce Roberts, David A. D'Onofrio
  • Method and apparatus for a voltage controlled start-up circuit for an electronic ballast
    Patent number: 6989637
    Abstract: A voltage control startup circuit for a lighting ballast includes first and second transistors for converting direct current from a voltage source into alternating current to operate a lamp. The circuit includes an input portion for receiving a bus voltage signal, a resonant load portion for receiving a lamp load. The ballast also includes a start-up portion that delays firing of the lamp based on the detected bus voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Chen, James D. Mieskoski, Virgil Chichernea
  • Method and apparatus for a voltage controlled start-up circuit for an electronic ballast
    Publication number: 20050062425
    Abstract: A voltage control startup circuit for a lighting ballast includes first and second transistors for converting direct current from a voltage source into alternating current to operate a lamp. The circuit includes an input portion for receiving a bus voltage signal, a resonant load portion for receiving a lamp load. The ballast also includes a start-up portion that delays firing of the lamp based on the detected bus voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Timothy Chen, James Mieskoski, Virgil Chichernea