Patents by Inventor William Vincent Torre

William Vincent Torre 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).

  • Publication number: 20220161945
    Abstract: This proposed system provides a method to generate electrical power for space-based orbiting satellites, probes, stations, habitations, and interplanetary missions. Electricity is generated by collecting the flow of ionized plasma in the solar system for low earth applications and in the solar wind beyond the earth's magnetosphere, then directing the plasma through a channel using the principle of magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD). The channel has conducting electrodes on two sides and a magnetic field directed orthogonally to the plasma flow direction. This results in an electrical current to power spacecraft functions such as batteries, communications, propulsion, guidance, navigation and control. This MHD generator has the potential of providing higher power generation density (e.g., watts/kg) for spacecraft than photo-voltaic panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: William Vincent Torre, Christopher Nolan Torre
  • Patent number: 9853449
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and computer program product for implementing a smart transformer, comprising a processor, and a balancing algorithm residing on the processor, wherein the balancing algorithm is stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable program code embodied thereon, the computer executable program code configured to cause the system to monitor and control an electric customer load and generation in order to optimize the performance of a distribution transformer, wherein the processor receives a plurality of system inputs and uses the balancing algorithm to determine a rating of the transformer and an amount of customer load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventors: William Vincent Torre, Amanda Louise Myers, Michael James Colburn
  • Patent number: 9156368
    Abstract: A method and application that utilizes a signal processing algorithm is provided for detecting plug-in electric vehicle charging events through interrogation of smart meter data. The method is a form of non-invasive load monitoring that allows the utility to track plug-in electric vehicle charging events in real time or over extended periods. These parameters are suitably flexible so as to accommodate diverse electric vehicle technologies and a range of electric vehicle owners' charging habits. Application of the method facilitates the integration of electric vehicles into utilities' electrical grids, protection of the utilities' assets, geographic mapping of electric vehicle owners and charging events, managed charging through communication between the utility and the vehicle or owner, managed charging through the offer of time of use rates for electric vehicle owners, and an enabling technology to accompany other Smart Grid functions such as Vehicle-to-Grid distributed energy storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Chris Chen, William Vincent Torre, Charles Lyle, Benjamin L. Colson, Eric S. Fan, Praneet Kolluru
  • Publication number: 20150194810
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and computer program product for implementing a smart transformer, comprising a processor, and a balancing algorithm residing on the processor, wherein the balancing algorithm is stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable program code embodied thereon, the computer executable program code configured to cause the system to monitor and control an electric customer load and generation in order to optimize the performance of a distribution transformer, wherein the processor receives a plurality of system inputs and uses the balancing algorithm to determine a rating of the transformer and an amount of customer load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: WILLIAM VINCENT TORRE, AMANDA LOUISE MYERS, MICHAEL JAMES COLBURN
  • Patent number: 9020654
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and computer program product for implementing a smart transformer, comprising a processor, and a balancing algorithm residing on the processor, wherein the balancing algorithm is stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable program code embodied thereon, the computer executable program code configured to cause the system to monitor and control an electric customer load and generation in order to optimize the performance of a distribution transformer, wherein the processor receives a plurality of system inputs and uses the balancing algorithm to determine a rating of the transformer and an amount of customer load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: San Diego Gas & Electric Company
    Inventors: William Vincent Torre, Amanda Louise Myers, Michael James Colburn
  • Publication number: 20120123709
    Abstract: A method and application that utilizes a signal processing algorithm is provided for detecting plug-in electric vehicle charging events through interrogation of smart meter data. The method is a form of non-invasive load monitoring that allows the utility to track plug-in electric vehicle charging events in real time or over extended periods. These parameters are suitably flexible so as to accommodate diverse electric vehicle technologies and a range of electric vehicle owners' charging habits. Application of the method facilitates the integration of electric vehicles into utilities' electrical grids, protection of the utilities' assets, geographic mapping of electric vehicle owners and charging events, managed charging through communication between the utility and the vehicle or owner, managed charging through the offer of time of use rates for electric vehicle owners, and an enabling technology to accompany other Smart Grid functions such as Vehicle-to-Grid distributed energy storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: San Diego Gas & Electric Company, c/o Sempra Energy
    Inventors: Chris Chen, William Vincent Torre, Charles Lyle, Benjamin L. Colson, Eric S. Fan, Praneet Kolluru
  • Publication number: 20120089268
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and computer program product for implementing a smart transformer, comprising a processor, and a balancing algorithm residing on the processor, wherein the balancing algorithm is stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable program code embodied thereon, the computer executable program code configured to cause the system to monitor and control an electric customer load and generation in order to optimize the performance of a distribution transformer, wherein the processor receives a plurality of system inputs and uses the balancing algorithm to determine a rating of the transformer and an amount of customer load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: William Vincent Torre, Amanda Louis Myers, Michael James Colburn
  • Patent number: 8024077
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and computer program product for implementing a smart transformer, comprising a processor, and a balancing algorithm residing on the processor, wherein the balancing algorithm is stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable program code embodied thereon, the computer executable program code configured to cause the system to monitor and control an electric customer load and generation in order to optimize the performance of a distribution transform wherein the processor receives a plurality of system inputs and uses the balancing algorithm to determine a rating of the transformer and an amount of customer load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: San Diego Gas & Electric Company
    Inventors: William Vincent Torre, Amanda Louise Myers, Michael James Colburn
  • Publication number: 20110071697
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and computer program product for implementing a smart transformer, comprising a processor, and a balancing algorithm residing on the processor, wherein the balancing algorithm is stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable program code embodied thereon, the computer executable program code configured to cause the system to monitor and control an electric customer load and generation in order to optimize the performance of a distribution transform wherein the processor receives a plurality of system inputs and uses the balancing algorithm to determine a rating of the transformer and an amount of customer load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: William Vincent Torre, Amanda Louise Myers, Michael James Colburn