Patents by Inventor William C. Hoffman, III

William C. Hoffman, III 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).

  • Four-terminal connector for measuring resistance of a pyrotechnic initiator
    Patent number: 4829235
    Abstract: A four-terminal electrical connector device (40) for testing and measuring unknown resistances of initiators (11) used for starting pyrotechnic events aboard a Space Transportation System. The testing device minimizes contact resistance degradation effects and so improves the reliability of resistance measurement taken with the device. Separate and independent voltage sensing (19) and current supply (20) circuits each includes a pair of socket contacts (13-16) for mating engagement with the pins (17,18) of the initiator. The unknown resistance that is measured by the device is the resistance of the bridgewire (23) of the initiator which is required to be between 0.95 and 1.15 ohms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Robert L. Robinson, Thomas J. Graves, William C. Hoffman, III