Anthony L Thompson

Address:

7902 Gladstone St, Houston, TX 77051

VIN:

1NXBR32E17Z823981

Make:

TOYOTA

Model:

COROLLA

Year:

2007

US Patent:

8004814, Aug 23, 2011

Filed:

Dec 18, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/338992

Inventors:

Jean Laurent Maraval - Houston TX, US
Anthony Ray Thompson - Lugoff SC, US

Assignee:

The Electric Controller & Manufacturing Company, LLC - St. Matthews SC

International Classification:

H01H 47/00

US Classification:

361144, 361143, 361152

Abstract:

A magnet controller supplied by an AC source controls a lifting magnet. Two bridges allow DC current to flow in both directions in the lifting magnet. During “Lift”, relatively high voltage is applied to the lifting magnet until it reaches its cold current. Then voltage is lowered. After a desired interval, once the magnet has had time to build its electromagnetic field, voltage is further reduced to prevent the magnet from overheating. The magnet lifting forced is maintained due to the magnetic circuit hysteresis. During “Drop”, reverse voltage is applied briefly to demagnetize the lifting magnet. At the end of the “Lift” and the “Drop”, most of the lifting magnet energy is returned to the line source. A logic controller controls current and voltage of the magnet and calculates the magnet's temperature. In one embodiment, a “Sweep” switch is provided to allow reduction of the magnet power to prevent attraction to the bottom or walls of magnetic rail cars or containers.

US Patent:

20120099238, Apr 26, 2012

Filed:

Aug 22, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/215010

Inventors:

Jean Laurent Maraval - Houston TX, US
Anthony Ray Thompson - Lugoff SC, US

Assignee:

The Electric Controller and Manufacturing Company, LLC - St. Matthews SC

International Classification:

H01H 47/00

US Classification:

361144

Abstract:

A magnet controller supplied by an AC source controls a lifting magnet. Two bridges allow DC current to flow in both directions in the lifting magnet. During “Lift”, relatively high voltage is applied to the lifting magnet until it reaches its cold current. Then voltage is lowered. After a desired interval, once the magnet has had time to build its electromagnetic field, voltage is further reduced to prevent the magnet from overheating. The magnet lifting forced is maintained due to the magnetic circuit hysteresis. During “Drop”, reverse voltage is applied briefly to demagnetize the lifting magnet. At the end of the “Lift” and the “Drop”, most of the lifting magnet energy is returned to the line source. A logic controller controls current and voltage of the magnet and calculates the magnet's temperature. In one embodiment, a “Sweep” switch is provided to allow reduction of the magnet power to prevent attraction to the bottom or walls of magnetic rail cars or containers.

US Patent:

20230050299, Feb 16, 2023

Filed:

Jan 7, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/791172

Inventors:

- Oakland CA, US
Brian M. CERA - Oakland CA, US
Anthony Allan THOMPSON - Oakland CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

B62D 57/02
B25J 9/10

Abstract:

A tensegrity robot includes multiple tensile members connected to multiple structural members to form a spatially defined structure. Each structural member is connected to one or more other structural members by tensile members therebetween. The robot further includes multiple actuators operatively connected to the tensile members and the structural members, and multiple controllers configured to communicate with each of the actuators. The controllers direct control of at least one of tension or length of the tensile members by the actuators to cause a change in at least one of the size, shape or center of gravity of the spatially defined structure to effect robotic actions. At least two tensile members are connected to an actuator such that at least one of tension or length in both of the tensile members are changed in coordination by the actuator.