Edwin M Thurnau

US Patent:

6384753, May 7, 2002

Filed:

May 15, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/681638

Inventors:

Thomas Brooks - Blacksburg VA
Edwin Thurnau - McGaheysville VA

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

H03M 106

US Classification:

341118, 341120, 341121, 341126, 341155, 341141, 341139, 700286, 700293, 700295, 375224, 375244, 375252, 375298, 375322

Abstract:

An interface module includes a high density analog interface (HAI) for electrical interconnection between a programmable logic controller (PLC) and an analog to digital converter (ADC) or a digital to analog converter (DAC). The HAI includes a single application specific integrated circuit having a data scaling function block, a diagnostics function block configured to verify functionality of said scaling function block, a self-calibration function block configured to compensate for drift in said ADC, and a shared interface function block configured to electronically connect said module with a programmable logic controller (PLC).

US Patent:

6816919, Nov 9, 2004

Filed:

Jul 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/682060

Inventors:

Ronald E. Gareis - Charlottesville VA
Edwin M. Thurnau - McGaheysville VA
Derald Herinckx - Charlottesville VA

Assignee:

GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc. - Charlottesville VA

International Classification:

G06F 300

US Classification:

710 14, 710 12, 710 8, 326 41, 439638

Abstract:

A control circuit for configuring at least one I/O module connector pin is provided. The circuit includes at least one port controlling a configuration of the at least one pin.

US Patent:

6978386, Dec 20, 2005

Filed:

Dec 28, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/751233

Inventors:

Ronald E. Gareis - Charlottesville VA, US
Donald A. Gates - Kents Store VA, US
Edwin M. Thurnau - McGaheysville VA, US

Assignee:

GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc. - Charlottesville VA

International Classification:

G05F001/40

US Classification:

713300, 323265, 323282

Abstract:

A method for reducing thermal dissipation in a single PLC package includes implementing a pulse width modulated current regulator including a field effect transistor (FET) switch, and utilizing a turn on delay of the FET to provide a wide operating range of current. The FET has an inherent turn-on time delay that can be exploited such that, as the duty cycle is reduced, the FET's drain to source impedance dominates an inductive path of an output filter and increases output filtering.

US Patent:

8037693, Oct 18, 2011

Filed:

May 13, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/119768

Inventors:

Edwin Thurnau - McGaheysville VA, US

Assignee:

GE Intelligent Platforms, Inc. - Charlottesville VA

International Classification:

F25B 9/00
F28G 7/00

US Classification:

62 6, 165 84

Abstract:

A method for cooling an object includes coupling a cooling device to the object, wherein the cooling device includes at least one thermoacoustic engine and a plurality of gas diodes, generating acoustic power with the thermoacoustic engine, channeling acoustic oscillations of a fluid through the gas diodes, and transferring the heat produced by the object to the fluid to facilitate moving the heat away from the object.

US Patent:

8285402, Oct 9, 2012

Filed:

Jul 14, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/172286

Inventors:

William Henry Lueckenbach - Charlottesville VA, US
Edwin Thurnau - McGaheysville VA, US
Marcel Van Helten - Wasserliesch, DE

Assignee:

GE Intelligent Platforms, Inc. - Charlottesville VA

International Classification:

G05B 9/02

US Classification:

700 79, 700 19, 361 1

Abstract:

A method, apparatus, and system for controlling a process are provided. The control device apparatus includes an input section configured to receive input signals from a controlled process, a first output section communicatively coupled to the input section wherein the first output section is configured to transmit the received input signals to a controller, and a second output section communicatively coupled to the controller, the second output section is configured to transmit control signals from the controller to the controlled process. The apparatus further includes a safety logic block communicatively coupled to the input section in parallel with the received input signals that are transmitted to the controller, the safety logic block is configured to generate a safety output signal using the received input signals, the safety logic block is further configured to transmit the safety output signal to the controlled process independent of the control signals.

US Patent:

46374469, Jan 20, 1987

Filed:

Dec 5, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/678582

Inventors:

Coy E. McQueen - Harvard IL
Lynn O. Twedt - Harvard IL
Edwin H. Thurnau - Delavan WI

Assignee:

Erect-A-Tube, Inc. - Harvard IL

International Classification:

E05D 1526

US Classification:

160207

Abstract:

A building including an upper wall portion and a lower wall portion and a bi-fold door assembly mounted within an opening therein. The wall portions have front surfaces facing outwardly of the building and the upper wall portion is disposed in a plane intersecting the plane defined by the lower wall portion. The upper wall portion is sloped downwardly and outwardly of the top thereof to a position overlying the lower wall portion and the plane defined by the lower wall portion is a generally vertical plane with the top of the upper wall portion being disposed in or near the generally vertical plane. The bi-fold door assembly is movable between raised and lowered positions within the opening in the wall portions and includes an upper door section and a lower door section. The upper door section is hinged to the lower door section with the door sections having front surfaces facing outwardly of the building and rear surfaces facing inwardly of the building. The upper door section is disposed in a plane intersecting the plane defined by the lower door section in the lowered position of the door assembly.