Edward B Howell

US Patent:

7091871, Aug 15, 2006

Filed:

Jul 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/899481

Inventors:

Edward Keith Howell - Hendersonville NC, US
Earl W. Roberts - Mystic CT, US

International Classification:

G08B 21/00

US Classification:

340649, 340650, 340653

Abstract:

An electrical hazard detection system is used to detect energized ground terminals on electric receptacles. This condition may not be detectable by traditional circuit testers when hot and neutral wires have been switched and ground terminals have been electrically connected to the neutral wires. The user's body is used to provide a high-impedance path to true ground thereby creating an electric current from an energized ground terminal, activating a transistor, and illuminating an associated indicator.

US Patent:

7473859, Jan 6, 2009

Filed:

Jan 12, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/622483

Inventors:

Joshua Isaac Wright - Arlington VA, US
William James Premerlani - Scotia NY, US
John Norton Park - Rexford NY, US
Christopher Keimel - Schenectady NY, US
Long Que - Rexford NY, US
Kuna Venkat Satya Rama Kishore - Bangalore, IN
Abhijeet Dinkar Sathe - Bangalore, IN
Xuefeng Wang - Schenectady NY, US
Edward Keith Howell - Hendersonville NC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

International Classification:

H01H 51/22

US Classification:

200181, 200329

Abstract:

A gating voltage control system and method are provided for electrostatically actuating a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) device, e. g. , a MEMS switch. The device may comprise an electrostatically responsive actuator movable through a gap for actuating the device to a respective actuating condition corresponding to one of a first actuating condition (e. g. , a closed switching condition) and a second actuating condition (e. g. , an open switching condition). The gating voltage control system may comprise a drive circuit electrically coupled to a gate terminal of the device to apply a gating voltage. The gating voltage control system may further comprise a controller electrically coupled to the drive circuit to control the gating voltage applied to the gating terminal in accordance with a gating voltage control sequence. The gating voltage control sequence may comprise a first interval for ramping up the gating voltage to a voltage level for producing an electrostatic force sufficient to accelerate the actuator through a portion of the gap to be traversed by the actuator to reach a respective actuating condition. The gating voltage control sequence may further comprise a second interval for ramping down the gating voltage to a level sufficient to reduce the electrostatic force acting on the movable actuator.

US Patent:

7643256, Jan 5, 2010

Filed:

Dec 6, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/567296

Inventors:

Joshua Isaac Wright - Arlington VA, US
William James Premerlani - Scotia NY, US
John Norton Park - Rexford NY, US
Edward Keith Howell - Hendersonville NC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

International Classification:

H02H 3/00

US Classification:

361 8, 361 2, 361 13, 361 31

Abstract:

A switching system is provided. The switching system includes electromechanical switching circuitry, such as a micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry. The system may further include solid state switching circuitry coupled in a parallel circuit with the electromechanical switching circuitry, and a controller coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry. The controller may be configured to perform selective switching of a load current between the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry in response to a load current condition appropriate to an operational capability of a respective one of the switching circuitries.

US Patent:

53392108, Aug 16, 1994

Filed:

Jul 22, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/916752

Inventors:

Edward K. Howell - Hendersonville NC

Assignee:

General Electric Company - New York NY

International Classification:

H02H 700
H01H 930
H01H 956

US Classification:

361 9

Abstract:

To avoid arcing when the breaker is opened, load current is diverted from a circuit breaker, before it opens, to a pulse forming circuit containing a precharged capacitor and a switch. Load current normally flows from a source of electric power to a load through a network comprising the breaker and a series connected controlled impedance. The pulse forming circuit is connected across the network. When load current is to be interrupted, the switch is closed to discharge a current pulse through the network, and the impedance of the controlled impedance is increased. These actions divert load current from the network to the pulse forming circuit. The breaker is then opened. The voltage across the capacitor first linearly increases from the precharge voltage to zero and then tends to increase in magnitude with an opposite polarity, i. e. that of the source of electric power. The voltage magnitude with opposite polarity then attainable across the capacitor is limited to a very low value, such as by a diode or SCR connected in parallel circuit with the capacitor.