Quotables
"It is my heart-warmed and world-embracing Christmas hope and aspiration that all of us, the high, the low, the rich, the poor, the admired, the despised, the loved, the hated, the civilized, the savage (every man and brother of us all throughout the whole earth), may eventually be gathered together in a heaven of everlasting rest and peace and bliss, except the inventor of the telephone. "
Mark Twain ; Christmas greetings, 1890
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 |
| 7375531 | Method of informing pilot of aircraft of spark detected 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... | 05/20/2008 |
| 7365546 | Apparatus and method for non-destructive testing of primers, in particular for airbags in motor vehicles A measuring device and a measuring method for non-destructive testing of an ignitor installed in a subassembly, particularly of a motor vehicle. The device and measuring method generate a measuring current with a predefined value, check-test the predefined value of ... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7289256 | Electrical characterization of interferometric modulators Disclosed herein are methods and systems for testing the electrical characteristics of reflective displays, including interferometric modulator displays. In one embodiment, a controlled voltage is applied to conductive leads in the display and the resulting current ... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7242195 | Integral spark detector in fitting which supports 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... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7230814 | Digital squib An intelligent switch system, a so-called squib, for providing power to sensitive equipment, such as missiles, rockets and the like, comprises a pair of serially connected power switches which are separately and sequentially enabled and which will not deliver power ... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7154732 | Apparatus and system for controlling a squib firing device A squib firing device is constructed to test and fire a squib load being applied to the squib firing device. A power supply of the squib firing device conditionally stores and discharges a squib firing power, which is a function of an analog OR of a first voltage fr... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7146912 | Flexible detonator system An electronic detonator system includes a control unit, a plurality of electronic detonators and a bus which connects the detonators to the control unit. Each electronic detonator includes a number of flags which may assume either of two possible values, each flag i... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7112899 | Device for controlling an electric load, and a control device A device for controlling at least one electrical load and a control device therefor. The electrical load includes a first load connection and a second load connection. The first load connection is able to be connected to an operating-voltage potential via a first co... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7107133 | Simulated airbag squib interface An electronic circuit connects to an airbag crash controller in a way which is functionally identical to an airbag squib. Based on a squib fire signal from the controller, the circuit provides an activation signal indicating airbag deployment and also allows communi... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7055435 | Spacecraft ordnance system and method for self-test An improved spacecraft ordnance system includes a plurality of squibs each connected with a resistor having a squib unique resistance value and a driver unit including built-in test circuitry. Ordnance harness cables connect the squibs with the driver unit. The resi... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7038206 | Infrared sensor and imager with differential ferroelectric cells A pyrometer cell comprises a first ferroelectric capacitor, a second ferroelectric capacitor, and a difference circuit for determining the difference between the polarization charge, voltage, or current between the first and second ferroelectric capacitors. The cell... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7015698 | Sensor for detection of spark in igniter in 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 inductive pick-up is used to detect current which produces the spark, the thereby infer the presence of spark. Further, t... | 03/21/2006 |
| 6975312 | Computer system having network connector and method of checking connection state of network cable therefor A computer system having a network connector to which a network cable is connected, including a displaying part displaying a connection state of the network cable; a signal processing part processing a signal inputted through the network connector; and a control par... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6943555 | Redundant safety circuit for squib testing An apparatus for measuring the resistance of a squib, including an input for receiving a power supply and a circuit connected to the input for limiting the power supplied to the squib. The circuit includes a voltage limiter which limits voltage output of the circuit... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6580279 | Method and apparatus for checking the capacitance of a storage capacitor provided in an occupant protection system A capacitance of a firing capacitor for the firing of a firing pellet, where the firing capacitor is contained in an occupant protection system of a motor vehicle, is implemented on a rising edge of a capacitor voltage in a charging phase. For this purpos... | 06/17/2003 |
| 6498494 | DIAGNOSTIC CIRCUIT FOR MEASURING THE RESISTANCE AND THE LEAKAGE CURRENT OF AT LEAST ONE FIRING CAP OF A MOTOR VEHICLE OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM, AND A MOTOR VEHICLE OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM INCLUDING THE DIAGNOSTIC CIRCUIT The resistance value and the leakage current of a load can be measured simultaneously. A load current is fed, mirrored by electrical power supplies (1, 3, 36), into a resistance measuring circuit (13, 30) and a leakage current measuring circuit (14 to 16)... | 12/24/2002 |
| 6384606 | Ignition coil with lead for secondary diagnostics An ignition coil with an isolated internal lead in proximity to the secondary side can be used in a capacitive discharge ignition system with a microprocessor-based signal-processing module to monitor system performance. The diagnostic lead is fed into a ... | 05/07/2002 |
| 6362539 | Method and circuit for monitoring a primer circuit in the safety system of a vehicle The ohmic resistance of a firing element connected in series to a capacitance is measured by charging the capacitance with a measured current for a specifiable charging time, by recording a first firing circuit voltage which drops at the firing circuit at... | 03/26/2002 |
| 6359450 | System for checking the resistance of a load connected to a transformer An arrangement that can be implemented with a simple circuit includes a measuring resistance that can either be connected in addition to a load or connected in place of the load. Furthermore, elements are provided that record the change in resistance resu... | 03/19/2002 |
| 6300764 | Apparatus and method for performing built-in testing of a squib fire network The present invention is directed to a squib fire network including built-in testing which is able to safely and efficiently verify the proper operational status of the squib fire network. All squibs in a given squib fire network of a missile can be teste... | 10/09/2001 |
| 6288551 | System for controlling the resistance of a load connected to a transformer In an arrangement that can be implemented with a simple circuit, the load is connected in parallel to an additional resistor. The primary-side input resistance of the transformer is measured, and when the input resistance differs from a predefined value, ... | 09/11/2001 |
| 6236219 | Programmable voltage divider and method for testing the impedance of a programmable element A programmable voltage divider has normal and test modes of operation. The divider includes first and second supply nodes, a divider node that provides a data value, and a first divider element that is coupled between the first supply node and the divider... | 05/22/2001 |
| 6211682 | Method and circuitry for measuring loop resistance This invention provides a method and electronic circuits for the testing of new initiation devices that use a small transformer whose heating element resistance can not be measured using traditional methods and instruments. A small current testing signal ... | 04/03/2001 |
| 6172507 | Circuit configuration for measuring resistance and leakage A circuit configuration for measuring resistance and/or leakage between two nodes, which includes a current source for feeding a test current into one of the two nodes and a circuit element that detects the voltage resulting between the two nodes. The out... | 01/09/2001 |
| 6140821 | Method and system for the recognition of insulation defects The invention concerns a method for the recognition of insulation defects in a circuit adapted for connection to a low-ohmic current source or sink having off-load voltage Un0, Towards this end the circuit is initially subjected, in a separated... | 10/31/2000 |
| 6133741 | Method for measuring resistance of load connected to a rotation transformer A method for measuring the resistance of a load, preferably the firing pellet of an airbag, that is connected on the secondary side of a rotary transformer, in which the resistance measurement is largely unaffected by the magnetic coupling between the win... | 10/17/2000 |
| 6096997 | Method of assembling an igniter including infrared testing of heating element and welds A method of assembling an igniter (24) for a gas generating composition (18) comprises providing a pair of spaced apart electrodes (40 and 42) and providing a heat ignitable material (46). A heating element (44) is spot electrical resistance welded to the... | 08/01/2000 |
| 5721493 | Apparatus for locating failures in detonation devices A method is provided for locating failures in a sequentially arranged chain of detonation devices. The method comprises initiating a test signal and passing this signal sequentially along the chain from each correctly operating detonation device to the ne... | 02/24/1998 |
| 5650727 | Circuit continuity testing device A circuit continuity test device is disclosed. The device utilizes a series circuit to provide a completed circuit for an external explosive or pyrotechnic circuit. The series circuit has a switch in the form of a light emitting diode and a power source. ... | 07/22/1997 |
| 5621326 | Fault diagnosis device for passenger protection apparatus A passenger protection apparatus is provided with a plurality of squibs (activating elements). Transistors are respectively connected in series to these squibs. By switching on these transistors at predetermined differing timing, first monitor currents ar... | 04/15/1997 |
| 5574375 | Dual pyroelectric sensor A dual-type pyroelectric elements. The first pyroelectric element is constituted by a larger electrode on a first surface and a smaller electrode on a second surface, respectively of a pyroelectric sheet. The second pyroelectric element is on the other ha... | 11/12/1996 |
| 5268643 | Apparatus for failure identification for use in vehicle occupant protecting system An apparatus for failure identification suitable for determining between existence and nonexistence of failure of the squib in occupant protecting system. The first terminal voltage generated between both the terminals of the squib when the first monitor ... | 12/07/1993 |
| 5155438 | Spark map for a resistive material using magnetic field detection A process for mapping the path of an electric arc through a sample of resive material whereby the magnetic field propagated by the arc is recorded on a sleeve of magnetic sensitive material which surrounds the sample, with the intensity of the recorded f... | 10/13/1992 |
| 4972152 | Apparatus and method for testing ignition modules and components of gas burners An apparatus and method for testing the ignition modules of gas burners is disclosed, and functions without the requirement of a gas feed in the test program. The method involves disconnecting the ignition module from the electrical supply, and from the g... | 11/20/1990 |
| 4862094 | Stroboscopic light circuit diagnostic system The self-contained diagnostic system is provided for a stroboscopic light circuit. The diagnostic system includes a plurality of signal lights, preferably LEDs, connected at various locations in the circuit to provide a visual indication of the faulty por... | 08/29/1989 |
| 4849701 | Method of testing the function of load resistors connected in parallel Load resistors connected in parallel in a heating circuit having switches operable to connect and disconnect the resistors from a common supply line for heating a plurality of zones to maintain predetermined temperatures therein, are tested by disconnecti... | 07/18/1989 |
| 4829235 | Four-terminal connector for measuring resistance of a pyrotechnic initiator A four-terminal electrical connector device (40) for testing and measuring unknown resistances of initiators (11) used for starting pyrotechnic events aboard a Space Transportation System. The testing device minimizes contact resistance degradation effect... | 05/09/1989 |
| 4636715 | Digital display ohmmeter An apparatus and method is provided for measuring the continuity and resistance of electric circuits, particularly electric wire circuits used in blasting, in the presence of spurious voltages due to galvanic currents. A constant current from a cell is pa... | 01/13/1987 |
| 4496901 | Electroexplosives, rf power safety margin measurement method Disclosed is a method of measuring the effective power absorbed by a resistive device such as an electroexplosive (or substitute) device due to radio-frequency (rf) energy induced in an electrical line connected to the device. The method comprises calibra... | 01/29/1985 |
| 4482858 | Apparatus for and a method of testing detonating systems An apparatus for and a method of testing AC operable detonating modules (10) whereby an electric charge is discharged through a primary wire (20) threaded through or around a transformer core (14) of a module being tested and the voltage across, or the cu... | 11/13/1984 |
