David W Dranchak

US Patent:

6388396, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Oct 2, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/677688

Inventors:

Robert H. Katyl - Vestal NY
Robert M. Murcko - Binghamton NY
David W. Dranchak - Endwell NY
James R. Petrozello - Endicott NY

Assignee:

Technical Consumer Products, Inc. - Aurora OH

International Classification:

G05F 100

US Classification:

315294, 315312, 315318, 315324

Abstract:

The present invention features an electronic ballast for use with gas discharge lamps incorporating a microprocessor-based network controller which facilitates the direct attachment of the ballast to a local or building-wide energy management systems. The use of the inventive ballast allows the production of a lighting luminaire whose light output, power consumption, and other operational or environmental parameters can be monitored and controlled as part of the distributed building control network. A building control computer network can control lighting functions, such as power on/off and dimming. The ballast of the present invention includes provision allowing connection to a local utility so that lighting in large buildings can be cut back in times of high power demand to help balance system loading.

US Patent:

7061188, Jun 13, 2006

Filed:

Oct 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/283589

Inventors:

Robert H. Katyl - Shavertown PA, US
David W. Dranchak - Endwell NY, US

Assignee:

Technical Consumer Products, Inc. - Aurora OH

International Classification:

G05F 1/00
H05B 1/02

US Classification:

315291, 315226

Abstract:

The present invention relates to an electronic ballast that energizes fluorescent lamps connected in a parallel configuration. The ballast employs a power factor correcting boost converter that can be used over a wide range of AC line voltages to provide regulated power to a self-oscillating sine wave inverter that drives the fluorescent lighting load at high frequencies. The inverter employs special networks that limit a certain type of shoot-through current, and thus improve the efficiency of the unit. Also included is a restart circuit that limits power losses during the zero lamp condition, by periodically interrupting the inverter operation when the zero lamp state is detected. To improve operation of the power factor correcting circuitry over the wide range of AC line voltages, a DC offset is added to the sampled AC voltage at the higher AC line voltages by Zener diode based coupling circuit.

US Patent:

20130312581, Nov 28, 2013

Filed:

Apr 19, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/986299

Inventors:

Richard A. St. Pierre - Horsebeads NY, US
Fletcher W. Chapin - Vestal NY, US
David W. Dranchak - Endwell NY, US

International Classification:

B26D 1/30

US Classification:

83605

Abstract:

The present invention provides a family of devices to slice or cut items such as produce and more particularly, even large items such as watermelons safely, cleanly, and efficiently. The invention is scalable and can also be applied to the slicing or cutting of other items including logs. Other embodiments showing extensions to the invention are also disclosed.

US Patent:

20140042783, Feb 13, 2014

Filed:

Oct 9, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/998179

Inventors:

Richard A. St.Pierre - Horseheads NY, US
Fletcher W. Chapin - Vestal NY, US
David W. Dranchak - Endwell NY, US

International Classification:

A61G 5/10

US Classification:

29719511

Abstract:

A transitioning device incorporating a rotatable platform supported on a base and having an elongated straddleable seat supported above the rotatable platform. A mechanism, either manual or powered, is provided to selectively rotate the rotatable base to facilitate moving a user to allow the user to transition from a first location to a second location angularly displaced from the first location. A user may desirably mount the seat when moving in a forward direction. Suitable hand rails and other support structures are provided to assist a user in mount and dismounting the seat. The seat may optionally be removable. Wheels or casters may be provided to facilitate moving the transitioning device. In one embodiment, a propulsion system may be included in the device. The fundamental functional concepts of the transitioning device may be combined with other devices to impart similar mobility benefits thereto.

US Patent:

59532149, Sep 14, 1999

Filed:

May 24, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/999841

Inventors:

David William Dranchak - Endwell NY
Robert Joseph Kelleher - Endicott NY
David Peter Pagnani - Endicott NY
Patrick Robert Zippetelli - Endwell NY

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H05K 114
H01R 2368

US Classification:

361767

Abstract:

An electronic package assembly for being electrically connected to a conducting member (e. g. , a printed circuit board) wherein the assembly includes a pair of substrates. The first substrate includes opposing circuit patterns, those on one surface being of higher density and thus adapted for having high density electronic devices mounted thereon. This high density pattern is electrically coupled to the lesser density second pattern which is connected to contacts of a second substrate. These contacts are of the lesser density also, and extend through a dielectric member for being coupled to conductors (e. g. , copper circuit pads) on the conducting member. Ready separability of various parts of the assembly is thus assured.

US Patent:

58381163, Nov 17, 1998

Filed:

Apr 15, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/632297

Inventors:

Robert H. Katyl - Vestal NY
Robert M. Murcko - Binghamton NY
David W. Dranchak - Endwell NY

Assignee:

JRS Technology, Inc. - Endicott NY

International Classification:

G05F 100

US Classification:

315307

Abstract:

The present invention features an electronic fluorescent lighting ballast which provides a way to transmit data by modulating the light that is emitted from lamps in a luminaire. The modulation occurs at a sufficiently high frequency, so that it is imperceptible in the range of human vision. Data can be represented in the emitted light by frequency-, phase- or amplitude-modulation. Communication methods can be either simplex or duplex. In the preferred embodiment, a simple modification of the base circuit of a typical, Class D, bipolar, push-pull inverter permits frequency- or phase-modulation of the inverter waveform. This causes modulation of the emitted light from the lamps of the luminaire. The transmission of data through an otherwise conventional lighting luminaire is desirable for many commercial applications. One example of its usage is in the transmission of audio or digital information in a grocery or department store from a centralized computer to display units on store shelves.

US Patent:

6181086, Jan 30, 2001

Filed:

Apr 27, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/067352

Inventors:

Robert H. Katyl - Vestal NY
Robert M. Murcko - Binghamton NY
David W. Dranchak - Endwell NY
James R. Petrozello - Endicott NY

Assignee:

Jrs Technology Inc. - Endicott NY

International Classification:

H02B 3702
G05F 100

US Classification:

315307

Abstract:

The present invention features an electronic ballast for use with gas discharge lamps incorporating a microprocessor-based network controller which facilitates the direct attachment of the ballast to a local or building-wide energy management systems. The use of the inventive ballast allows the production of a lighting luminaire whose light output, power consumption, and other operational or environmental parameters can be monitored and controlled as part of the distributed building control network. A building control computer network can control lighting functions, such as power on/off and dimming. The ballast of the present invention includes provision allowing connection to a local utility so that lighting in large buildings can be cut back in times of high power demand to help balance system loading.

US Patent:

62187872, Apr 17, 2001

Filed:

Apr 20, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/063325

Inventors:

Robert M. Murcko - Binghamton NY
Robert H. Katyl - Vestal NY
David W. Dranchak - Endwell NY

Assignee:

JRS Technology Inc. - Endicott NY

International Classification:

H05B 3702

US Classification:

315194

Abstract:

A system is described for remotely controlling the dimming level of ballasts for fluorescent lamps through standard two-wire AC power wiring normally used within buildings. The system makes use of a unique dimming control that creates a small positive-negative voltage asymmetry, or DC offset, and encodes this control signal onto the power lines that supply the ballasts to be dimmed. The control unit can be integrated with a wall switch as part of a variable dimming control to supply "local" remote control. It can be interfaced to a building control computer. A small decoding module preferably located in the lighting fixture near the ballast recovers the control signal from the applied asymmetry of the power voltage, processes it if necessary, and feeds it to the ballast. To minimize power losses in the dimming control, a DC offset of zero volts, or no asymmetry, produces full light output. For full dimming, an offset of about 15 volts is used.