Edward C Nichols

US Patent:

49472780, Aug 7, 1990

Filed:

Jun 23, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/370761

Inventors:

Edward L. Nichols - Annapolis MD

Assignee:

Smart House Limited Partnership Limited - Upper Marlboro MD

International Classification:

H07H 316

US Classification:

361 46

Abstract:

A remote control power disconnect circuit for providing a ground fault across an electrical outlet when an unsafe condition such as a lost neutral or shorting of the AC power switch is detected. The remote control power disconnect circuit is placed at each electrical outlet within a dwelling and applies AC power to the outlet only when an appliance (load) is plugged into the outlet and no fault condition is detected. However, when a fault condition is detected, the circuit also functions to apply a ground fault across the outlet and to shut-off the supply of AC power to the outlet. Then, once the fault condition has been remedied, the circuit may be remotely reset so that AC power may again be applied to the electrical outlet. this circuit functions to prevent electrical shock accidents and fire hazards due to electrical shorts in that AC power is not supplied to the electrical outlet when the outlet is not in use and in that the supply of AC power to the outlet is immediately stopped remotely upon the detection of a fault condition.

US Patent:

46936009, Sep 15, 1987

Filed:

Oct 23, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/922797

Inventors:

Michael A. Cross - Severna Park MD
Edward W. Nichols - Reisterstown MD

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G01J 100

US Classification:

356121

Abstract:

A system for analyzing the characteristics of a light beam is disclosed. Functionally, the system includes an optical system for collecting the light beam to be analyzed. An array of light-sensitive elements is positioned at the focal plane of the optical system. A digital system sequentially samples the output signals of the light sensors and processes the resulting data to generate signals indicative of the characteristics of the light beam.

US Patent:

51626110, Nov 10, 1992

Filed:

Apr 3, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/680115

Inventors:

Edward L. Nichols - Annapolis MD
Gary Stirk - Grasonville MD
Palamadi S. Vishwanath - Annapolis MD

Assignee:

SmartHouse, L. P. - Upper Marlboro MD

International Classification:

H01B 734

US Classification:

174 36

Abstract:

The present invention provides two ribbon cable for conducting AC power and digital data signals respectively. A pliable insulating material holds together and electrically insulates the conductors on each ribbon cable. Conductive material, such as a conductive foil or conductive plastic serves to shield the electromagnetic interference generated by the transmitted AC power from the data conductors. The ribbon cables are folded in a protective outer jacket so that the conductive material is disposed substantially between the power conductors and the data conductors. This maximizes the electromagnetic interference shielding of the conductive material.

US Patent:

47462051, May 24, 1988

Filed:

Jan 30, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/009842

Inventors:

Michael A. Cross - Severna Park MD
Edward W. Nichols - Reisterstown MD

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G02B 700
G02B 2710
G02B 508
G02B 510

US Classification:

350574

Abstract:

An attenuated fiducial replica of the far field pattern of a high energy laser beam is obtained by a system and method wherein a first fraction of an incident high energy beam is deflected from one reflective surface of a holey plate and the diffracted orders of the beam are transmitted from the holes to a concave reflector, which reflects diffracted orders toward an opposite reflective surface of the holey plate. A zinc selenide partially reflective member is disposed on-axis between the rear reflective surface and the concave surface for re-reflecting successive fractional portions of the reflected beam a selected number of times to attenuate the beam converging upon a focal plane from an effective focal distance greater than the physical length of the optical system.

US Patent:

50576461, Oct 15, 1991

Filed:

Mar 21, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/496979

Inventors:

Edward L. Nichols - Annapolis MD
Gray L. Stirk - Graysonville MD

Assignee:

Smartouse Limited Partnership - Upper Marlboro MD

International Classification:

H01B 734

US Classification:

174 36

Abstract:

The present invention provides a ribbon cable for conducting AC power and digital data signals. The ribbon cable includes a plurality of spaced, parallel, wire conductors arranged in a row, the conductors including power conductors adaptable for conducting AC power and data conductors adaptable for conducting digital data signals. A pliable insulating material holds together and electrically insulates the conductors. Conductive material, such as a conductive foil or conductive plastic, is disposed either on or inside the insulating material to shield the electromagnetic interference generated by the transmitted AC power from the data conductors. The ribbon cable is then folded in a protective outer jacket so that the conductive material is disposed substantially between the power conductors and the data conductors. This maximizes the electromagnetic interference shielding of the conductive material.

US Patent:

51904683, Mar 2, 1993

Filed:

Jun 10, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/712535

Inventors:

Edward L. Nichols - Annapolis MD
David A. Jakopin - Washington DC

Assignee:

Smart House, L.P. - Upper Marlboro MD

International Classification:

H01R 424

US Classification:

439404

Abstract:

An improved ribbon cable connector is described for providing connection between an electrical device and a ribbon cable. Receptacle modules and a splice module having identical outer dimensions are provided for insertion into the cover of a receptacle tap. Each receptacle module contains receptacle sites for insertion of pins from an electrical device. Each receptacle site of the receptacle module is connected to an insulator displacement pin that is used to establish a connection with a conductor of a ribbon cable. A splice module connects pairs of insulator displacement pins together so that two different ribbon cables can be connected together in an efficient manner. Alignment projections on both the receptacle and splice modules allow for precise positioning of the insulator displacement pins within each module with the conductors of the ribbon cable.

US Patent:

51855801, Feb 9, 1993

Filed:

Sep 4, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/754758

Inventors:

Edward L. Nichols - Annapolis MD
Gary L. Stirk - Arnold MD

Assignee:

Smart House, L.P. - Upper Marlboro MD

International Classification:

G01R 3102
H03H 738

US Classification:

324539

Abstract:

A electrical transmission line termination device capable of performing various termination requirements including matching the line impedance of wires in a transmission line with load impedances, electrically connecting conductors in a transmission line for maintaining electrical continuity, detecting improper wiring of the various wires in a transmission line, and connecting a cable shielding conductor to a ground wire.

US Patent:

47129140, Dec 15, 1987

Filed:

Jan 10, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/817705

Inventors:

Michael A. Cross - Severna Park MD
Edward W. Nichols - Reisterstown MD

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G01J 100

US Classification:

356121

Abstract:

A system for characterizing miniature optical sources such as laser diodes is disclosed. In its most convenient form the system includes an optical system for collecting a wide angle beam and collimating the beam into substantially parallel rays. In the substantially parallel beam, equal area angular portions of the wide angle beam should correspond to equal areas in the parallel beam. Optical sensors are utilized to generate signals indicative of the intensity of the parallel optical beam. Digital processing is included to calculate the characteristics of the optical beam from the intensity samples of the parallel beam. In one embodiment, a reflecting plane is positioned between the source and the optical system so that Lloyd's fringes are produced in a measurement plane.