John A Schroeder

US Patent:

6756781, Jun 29, 2004

Filed:

Nov 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/294905

Inventors:

Paul Grems Duncan - Vienna VA
John Alan Schroeder - Leesburg VA

Assignee:

Airak, Inc. - Manassas VA

International Classification:

G01R 33032

US Classification:

3242441, 359484

Abstract:

Described are improved transmissive magneto-optical sensors that may be used to determine the magnitude and phase of a magnetic field surrounding a conductor, and when in contact with the conductor, the surface temperature of the conductor. The magneto-optical sensor may be made to be symmetric around the direction of propagation of the internal light, enabling ease of manufacturing as well as automated assembly and calibration. The magneto-optical sensor may also be made to be symmetric about the plane determined by the Faraday rotator material, thus enabling reciprocating optical paths for increased vibration and birefringence immunity. The disclosed sensors preferably include cylindrically symmetrical components, thereby making the sensor readily mass-producible.

US Patent:

6838660, Jan 4, 2005

Filed:

Jun 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/871692

Inventors:

Paul Grems Duncan - Vienna VA, US
Sean Michael Christian - Woodbridge VA, US
John Alan Schroeder - Leesburg VA, US

Assignee:

Airak, Inc. - Manassas VA

International Classification:

G01J 104
G02B 600

US Classification:

25022714, 25022719, 385 13, 356482

Abstract:

In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a fiber optic pressure sensor apparatus which includes a light source, a reflective sensor diaphragm movable in accordance with pressure in a medium and an optical fiber coupled to the light source for delivering a first wavefront of light to the reflective sensor diaphragm. The optical fiber has an endface which is separated from the reflective sensor diaphragm by a gap, the endface receiving a second wavefront of light reflected from the reflective sensor diaphragm. The first and second wavefronts constructively and destructively interfere to create a modulated optical signal. A spectrometer is coupled to the optical fiber for converting the optical signal into a series of digital values, and means for analyzing the digital values is provided for obtaining a measurement of the pressure in the medium. An optical coupler is preferably provided for coupling the light source, the optical fiber, and the spectrometer. A power monitoring optical detector means may be coupled to the light source by the optical coupler.

US Patent:

6972972, Dec 6, 2005

Filed:

Apr 15, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/413570

Inventors:

Paul G. Duncan - Vienna VA, US
John Alan Schroeder - Leesburg VA, US

Assignee:

Airak, Inc. - Manassas VA

International Classification:

H02H007/122

US Classification:

363 5601, 363131

Abstract:

An optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit that includes an input electrical power source, a heat pipe, a power electronic switch or plurality of interconnected power electronic switches, a mechanism for connecting the switch to the input power source, a mechanism for connecting comprising an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or input bus bars, an optically isolated drive circuit connected to the switch, a heat sink assembly upon which the power electronic switch or switches is mounted, an output load, a mechanism for connecting the switch to the output load, the mechanism for connecting including an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or output bus bars, at least one a fiber optic temperature sensor mounted on the heat sink assembly, at least one fiber optic current sensor mounted on the load interconnection cable and/or output bus bar, at least one fiber optic voltage sensor mounted on the load interconnection cable and/or output bus bar, at least one fiber optic current sensor mounted on the input power interconnection cable and/or input bus bar, and at least one fiber optic voltage sensor mounted on the input power interconnection cable and/or input bus bar.

US Patent:

7486693, Feb 3, 2009

Filed:

Mar 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/106705

Inventors:

Randy L. Walter - Ada MI, US
John L. Schroeder - Byron Center MI, US
Gerald W. Vanbaren - Ada MI, US
Donald G. Hodges - Kentwood MI, US
Courtney L. Albers - Grand Rapids MI, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schnectady NY

International Classification:

H04J 3/16

US Classification:

370437, 370442

Abstract:

A computing network uses Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) to divide the time on a bus into a plurality of frames, each frame having a plurality of time slots. Each time slot is assigned no more than one of the plurality of devices within a collision domain, the assignments indicating the identity of the device permitted to transmit packets onto the network during the assigned time slot. A bus cadence unit simultaneously sends an epoch packet initiating the frame. The epoch packet contains a time slot assignment table containing the time slot assignments, the device identification, as well as a time slot offset and duration. Each device on the network is configured to measure a frame interval between repeating epoch packets. The measured frame interval is further processed in each receiving node to obtain a calibrated frame interval. The calibrated frame interval is used to accurately synchronize transmissions of data from the various devices onto the network.

US Patent:

8443539, May 21, 2013

Filed:

Mar 30, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/075880

Inventors:

Eric F. Cabahug - Fairfax VA, US
James S. Dodd - Linden VA, US
Ben Feldman - Reston VA, US
Don McLaughlin - Ashburn VA, US
John Schroeder - Leesburg VA, US
Hector Tapia - Ashburn VA, US

Assignee:

Prototype Productions Incorporated Ventures Two, LLC - Ashburn VA

International Classification:

F41C 23/00

US Classification:

42 85, 42 7101, 42 72, 42 84, 42 7503

Abstract:

A firearm may have a plurality of power-consuming accessories that can be attached to the weapon. In order to reduce the weight of these power-consuming accessories, as well as the proliferation of their batteries, the Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System provides a common power source to power the power-consuming accessories attached to the weapon. One or more powered rails are provided to encircle the barrel of the weapon, to provide a point of mechanical and electrical interconnection for the power-consuming accessories to provide quick connect mounting and dismounting of the power-consuming accessory, absent the use of connectors with their tethering cables, which are susceptible to entanglement. The Weapon Accessory Rail Contacts provide the mechanism to electrically interconnect the power-consuming accessory with the powered rail.

US Patent:

8448368, May 28, 2013

Filed:

Jan 19, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/689440

Inventors:

Eric F. Cabahug - Fairfax VA, US
James S. Dodd - Linden VA, US
Hector Tapia - Ashburn VA, US
John Schroeder - Leesburg VA, US
Jay Tilton - Leesburg VA, US
Don McLaughlin - Ashburn VA, US
Ben Feldman - Reston VA, US

Assignee:

Prototype Productions Incorporated Ventures Two, LLC - Ashburn VA

International Classification:

F41C 23/00

US Classification:

42 85, 42 7101, 42 72, 42 84, 42 7503

Abstract:

The present invention is related to weapons systems. In particular, the present invention is directed to accessory attachment systems for rifles and small arms weapons that enable attached accessory devices to draw power from a central power source and communicate with the user and/or other devices.

US Patent:

8516731, Aug 27, 2013

Filed:

Mar 30, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/075837

Inventors:

Eric F. Cabahug - Fairfax VA, US
James S. Dodd - Linden VA, US
Ben Feldman - Reston VA, US
John Schroeder - Leesburg VA, US

Assignee:

Prototype Productions Incorporated Ventures Two, LLC - Ashburn VA

International Classification:

F41A 19/00

US Classification:

42 84, 42 72, 42124

Abstract:

A firearm may have a plurality of power-consuming accessories that can be attached to the weapon. In order to reduce the weight of these power-consuming accessories, as well as the proliferation of their batteries, the Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System provides a common power source to power the power-consuming accessories attached to the weapon. One or more powered rails are provided on the handguard, which encircles the barrel of the weapon, to provide a point of mechanical and electrical interconnection for the power-consuming accessories to provide quick-connect mounting and dismounting of the power-consuming accessory, absent the use of connectors with their tethering cables, which are susceptible to entanglement. The Weapon Accessory Control System is provided to enable the user to control the activation of a power-consuming accessory as well as enable communications between the user and the accessory and among power-consuming accessories.

US Patent:

20050237051, Oct 27, 2005

Filed:

Mar 7, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/073378

Inventors:

Paul Duncan - Vienna VA, US
John Schroeder - Leesburg VA, US
Kee Koo - McLean VA, US
Robert Becker - Centreville VA, US
Benjamin Feldman - Reston VA, US
Scott Tilton - Leesburg VA, US
Paul Howard - McLean VA, US

Assignee:

Airak, Inc. - Ashburn VA

International Classification:

G01R033/00
G01R001/00

US Classification:

324126000

Abstract:

An optical sensor and sensor housing for measuring the magnitude and phase of an electrical current flowing through a conductor. Also disclosed is a flux concentrator method for rejecting external influences of adjacent conductors, as well as a method for attaching said sensor and flux concentrator to non-circular conductors.