Did You Know...
...Chester Carlson was a patent agent who tired of having to make multiple copies of patent applications using the only duplication method available at the time: carbon paper. In 1959 he came up with a new copying system and took it to IBM for evaluation. The "experts" at IBM determined potential sales to be only 5,000 units because people wouldn't want to use a bulky machine when they had carbon paper. Carlson's invention was the xerography process, the company founded on the system is Xerox.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7960974 | Ignition current tester An apparatus to aid in the testing of engine ignition systems is herein disclosed. The apparatus is connected in a series wiring path between a spark plug wire and a spark plug of an internal combustion-type engine. The apparatus comprises a housing containing a res... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7333317 | Portable ionizer A portable ionizer is arranged for generating ionized air in an area of a user's fingers. The portable ionizer includes a battery-powered oscillator coupled via a high voltage conversion circuit to a positive electrode and a negative electrode for generating positiv... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7295130 | Voltage sensing hand tool A hand tool which provides an alarm signal to a user as the tool approaches a live electrical wire is disclosed. The hand tool comprises a tool head and coupled to a handle. A non-contact voltage sensing circuit is provided in the handle of the tool. As the tool app... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7188466 | Passive, high-temperature amplifier for amplifying spark signals detected in igniter in gas turbine engine A system for detecting spark in an igniter for a gas turbine engine. An igniter generates a plasma, or spark, somewhat similar to an automotive spark plug. In the invention, an inductive pick-up is positioned adjacent the igniter, to detect current pulses in the ign... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7093421 | Spark igniter for gas turbine engine An igniter for a gas turbine engine. An igniter generates a plasma, or spark, somewhat similar to an automotive spark plug. In the invention, an auxiliary electrode is provided, which is embedded in and covered by a solid insulator. During initial phases of operatio... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7093422 | Detecting spark in igniter of gas turbine engine by detecting signals in grounded RF shielding A system for detecting spark in an igniter for a gas turbine engine. An igniter generates a plasma, or spark, somewhat similar to an automotive spark plug. In the invention, an inductive pick-up is positioned adjacent the igniter, to detect current pulses in the ign... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7018080 | Shaped neon light spark plug connectors Shaped neon light spark plug connectors which include a continuous length of neon tubing fitted with electrodes at each end and configured to extend between and connect to the spark plug and coil of a motorcycle engine. The spark plug connectors are each characteriz... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7004133 | Wire harness assembly for producing high visibility glow in automobiles A wire harness assembly for producing a high visibility glow within an automobile vehicle having an ignition coil, a pair of spark plugs, a distribution panel, and a power adapter. The distribution panel has terminals and is connected in series between the ignition ... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6940284 | Efficient diagnosis of faulty distributorless and hybrid ignition systems A method for efficiently determining whether a distributorless or hybrid ignition system is the origin of engine problems by consecutively disconnecting and reconnecting the primary connector from each coil of the ignition system. Once a single primary connector is ... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6664789 | Engine ignition timing device An ignition timing device for timing an engine having a timing port and a timing mark indicative of a position of a movable member. The ignition timing device includes a sensor adapted to be secured in the timing port to provide a timing mark signal indic... | 12/16/2003 |
| 6512375 | Method of detecting spark plug fouling and ignition system having means for carrying out the same A method of detecting spark plug fouling in an internal combustion engine is provided. The method comprises calculating an integration value of discharge current flowing between electrodes of a spark plug during a period of a spark discharge and judging i... | 01/28/2003 |
| 6433551 | Engine timing measurement device with RPM and advance displays and flashlight function A timing light for measuring timing of spark ignition has separate displays of engine RPM and timing advance. Another aspect of the invention provides a flashlight function which triggers the flash tube of the timing light to produce a constant bright lig... | 08/13/2002 |
| 6429658 | Engine ignition timing device An ignition timing device for timing an engine having a timing port includes a sensor securable in the timing port to provide a timing mark signal. An ignition sensor is adapted to provide an ignition signal. A comparator receives the timing mark signal a... | 08/06/2002 |
| 6407551 | Device for testing a solid state glow plug controller A glow plug controller test device including an electrical connector which can be electrically connected to the vehicle wiring harness connector of the glow plug controller. The test device also includes a pair of leads which are connected to the vehicle ... | 06/18/2002 |
| 6313635 | High voltage sensor assembly A high voltage sensor that is adapted to be connected to a terminal. The terminal is disposed in a housing having an outer surface and having a chute extending inwardly from the outer surface to a distal position inside of the housing. The high voltage se... | 11/06/2001 |
| 5508618 | Coreless detector for ignition dischage current In combination, a gas turbine engine ignition system exciter, an igniter, a conductor that connects the exciter to the igniter to form a discharge circuit, and a current pulse detector for detecting current pulses in the circuit, the detector comprising a... | 04/16/1996 |
| 5363045 | Hand-held non-contacting electric field detection tool A portable hand held diagnostic tool which non-invasively detects an electric field when placed adjacent a component of a spark plug firing portion of an ignition system and provides a positive indication of the detected electric field. A printed circuit ... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5241274 | On-board internal combustion engine spark plug efficiency visual display On-board apparatus for visually indicating the efficiency of the spark plugs and ignition wires of an internal combustion engine includes a capacitive clamp attached to the insulated ignition wire of each spark plug of the engine, preferably as close to t... | 08/31/1993 |
| 5208541 | Spark plug firing sensor with capacitive coupling and optical pickup A sensor for detecting the firing of a spark plug while maintaining electrical isolation of electronic equipment is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, a conductive element is attached to one electrical lead of a neon bulb. A wrap secures one end of a... | 05/04/1993 |
| 5055772 | High voltage ignition system monitor for spark initiated internal combustion engines A method and device for continuously monitoring the distributed high voltage pulses from an ignition coil of an electrical system of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The device is a transparent enclosure filled with a noble gas at low pressure.... | 10/08/1991 |
| 5001432 | Ignition test probe A self-contained handheld peak ignition breakdown voltage probe locates faulty sparkplugs in an internal combustion engine. The probe has a novel dual-polarity detection system suitable for all ignition systems, distributorless or distributor types. Each ... | 03/19/1991 |
| 4713617 | Digital timing light Engine timing apparatus includes a timing light and a pickup for producing a pickup signal in response to each ignition in a selected cylinder. The operator keys in the desired advance or retard angle in degrees in a range anywhere between +180° and -180... | 12/15/1987 |
| 4547734 | Equipment for recognizing misfiring An equipment for recognizing misfiring, which is particularly suitable for permanent installation in a motor vehicle. By means of high-pass filters coupled to the plug leads between the spark distributor and the spark plugs, the change to the voltage at t... | 10/15/1985 |
| 4349782 | Shielded differentiator for automotive ignition applications A portable electronic device for application in the diagnosis of automotive ignitions system failures is described. A novel probe is described, which can detect and differentiate the voltage on a typical ignition cable or spark plug. Means are provided to... | 09/14/1982 |
| 4306187 | Apparatus for visually monitoring ignition voltages A self-contained device for mounting on a motor vehicle, having an internal combustion engine, by means of which the ignition voltages at the spark plugs can be visually monitored by selecting any one of a number of switch points on a manual switch, to co... | 12/15/1981 |
| 4292591 | Ignition performance monitor for permanent installation An electric ignition performance monitoring device for permanent installation as an integral part of the ignition system used in conjunction with internal combustion engines wherein light is emitted from sensors when arc current flows across spark plug ga... | 09/29/1981 |
| 4117807 | Fuel injection cut off means for over temperature protection of exhaust treatment device For use with internal combustion engines equipped with electronic fuel injection systems and engine exhaust treatment devices, means for detecting spark plug misfiring resulting in excessive exhaust treatment device operating temperatures and for thereupo... | 10/03/1978 |
| 4053823 | Ignition arc monitor circuit Electronic apparatus for detection of improper arc in automotive vehicle ignition systems, and adapted for permanent installation in a vehicle, is disclosed. Ignition system dwell period and arc duration are measured for each ignition cycle and a visual i... | 10/11/1977 |
| 3978720 | Combustion detector for internal combustion engines Detection of the combustion within a cylinder of an internal combustion engine by sensing the visible and/or infra-red radiation emitted on combustion by means of a quartz window in the cylinder wall or head, a fiber optic light guide and a photo-transist... | 09/07/1976 |
