Frank M Cooper

US Patent:

6377110, Apr 23, 2002

Filed:

Aug 1, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/630047

Inventors:

Frank G. Cooper - Dix Hills NY

Assignee:

Keystone Thermometrics - St. Marys PA

International Classification:

H01L 3500

US Classification:

327513, 327 83, 327362, 327378, 257470, 702104

Abstract:

Apparatus, specifically a circuit ( ), for a highly accurate, low cost temperature sensor, particularly one using silicon thermometry and which can be implemented by an application specific integrated circuit, that also possesses a high degree of linearity and a wide dynamic range. The inventive circuit advantageously utilizes either a mixed-signal approach or a digital core and provides independent adjustment, through two point calibration, of slope and ambient output offset values, with a zero offset adjustment advantageously accomplished through use of a digital tear. Specifically, given the inherent linearity of silicon thermometry, zero offset and desired output voltage are set, independently of each other, at a first predefined ambient calibration temperature as effectively two separate offset values, while slope (span) is set at a second predefined calibration temperature (typically a full scale temperature) different from the first temperature.

US Patent:

6577139, Jun 10, 2003

Filed:

Nov 6, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/992775

Inventors:

Frank G. Cooper - Dix Hills NY

Assignee:

Keystone Thermometrics - St. Marys PA

International Classification:

G01R 2700

US Classification:

324600, 324692

Abstract:

An impedance converter module has a phase reversal circuit to receive a 2-wire excitation signal at first and second terminals, and to provide a polarized excitation signal with a predetermined polarity based on the 2-wire excitation signal. A series current path has a sense resistor connected in series with a variable impedance source. The polarized excitation signal is applied across the series current path. An output-voltage-sense circuit provides an output-voltage-sense signal based on a voltage across the series current path. A current mirror provides a drive signal to a ratiometric device based on current flowing through the series current path. Differential amplifiers receive a ratiometric response signal from the ratiometric device, and output measurement signals based on the ratiometric signal. A summing node combines the measurement signals to provide a single-ended ratiometric signal. The variable impedance source is controlled to provide a two-wire response signal at the 2-wire terminals based on the single-ended ratiometric signal and the output-voltage-sense signal.

US Patent:

7577539, Aug 18, 2009

Filed:

Jan 9, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/651172

Inventors:

David Hubanks - Madison WI, US
Eric Joseph Hoffman - Middleton WI, US
Frank George Cooper - Dix Hills NY, US

Assignee:

ZMD America Inc. - Melville NY

International Classification:

G01F 25/00

US Classification:

702104, 32420725, 702 91, 702 98

Abstract:

Apparatus and an accompanying method for calibrating a sensor signal conditioner coupled to a sensor. The signal conditioner sensor enables relatively easy and precise calibration of bridge sensors without the use of a microprocessor. When mated to a resistive bridge sensor, the sensor signal conditioner can digitally calibrate offset and gain, with an option to calibrate offset and gain coefficients and linearity over temperature. A second order compensation can be enabled for temperature coefficients of gain, offset or bridge linearity.

US Patent:

8358506, Jan 22, 2013

Filed:

Aug 27, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/807097

Inventors:

Frank G. Cooper - Dix Hills NY, US
Eric J. Hoffman - Middleton WI, US

Assignee:

Direct Grid Technologies, LLC - Edgewood NY

International Classification:

H05K 7/20

US Classification:

361714, 361704, 361705, 361707, 361722

Abstract:

A mechanical arrangement for use in implementing a galvanically-isolated, low-profile micro-inverter primarily, though not exclusively, intended for use with solar panels. The micro-inverter contains a circuitry assembly having a planar transformer formed of two abutting E-shaped core halves, and a chopper device assembly with all chopper devices mounted to a common thermally-conductive plate. To provide passive cooling, heat conduction paths are established, via separate compressive thermally-conductive pads, from a top surface of a top core half of the transformer and from a bottom surface of the conductive plate to large-area portions of opposing internal surfaces of top and base portions, respectively, of an enclosure. The enclosure portions, once secured together to house the circuitry and chopper device assemblies, exert a physical force through the compressive pads to effectively clamp the core halves together and eliminate air gaps that might otherwise form between abutting portions of the core halves.

US Patent:

8422249, Apr 16, 2013

Filed:

Aug 25, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/199319

Inventors:

Frank G. Cooper - Dix Hills NY, US
Eric J. Hoffman - Middleton WI, US
Richard MacArthur - Franklin Square NY, US

Assignee:

Direct Grid Technologies, LLC - Edgewood NY

International Classification:

H02M 3/335

US Classification:

363 17, 363 98, 363132

Abstract:

A microinverter is disclosed for use in a solar power installation. The microinverter incorporates a voltage-to-current control loop that initially converts output current produced by a photovoltaic panel into a pulse width modulated output synchronized and phase-locked to the utility grid voltage. The duty cycle of that modulated output is specified by output power internally requested from the microinverter. This modulated output is converted into a full-wave rectified unipolar waveform that is converted, through a Commutator, into a bipolar AC output that is also phase-locked and synchronized to the grid voltage. The commutator uses an H-bridge composed of four FETs, with each of two diagonally-oriented pairs of these FETs being advantageously switched on substantially at zero-crossing points in the grid voltage. Switching these FETs during times of zero current and voltage, and switching each pair on for substantially an entire half-cycle of grid voltage reduces switching loss and power dissipation of the FETs and ensures that these FETs remain substantially unaffected by transients which might appear in the grid voltage.

US Patent:

49844512, Jan 15, 1991

Filed:

Feb 13, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/479291

Inventors:

Don J. Wilen - West Hempstead NY
Frank Cooper - South Huntington NY

Assignee:

Computer Instruments Corporation - Hempstead NY

International Classification:

G01N 928

US Classification:

73 53

Abstract:

A method is disclosed for determining physical properties of liquids, such as specific gravity or density. The method is performed through the use of a mainframe controller, a remote sensor, and two sets of dip tube assemblies, one for each of two measurement channels. The time at which a bubble is released by one of the dip tubes into a liquid and the size of the purge bubble are both controlled. By controlling the timing of bubble release, the pressure within a dip tube can b e measured after the system has been allowed to quiet down. If a pair of dip tubes is employed within the same vessel, the differential pressure can be measured when the pneumatic line pressure variations have reached steady state, that is after the gas flow into the dip tubes has been discontinued.

US Patent:

55071759, Apr 16, 1996

Filed:

Oct 21, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/327460

Inventors:

Frank G. Cooper - South Huntington NY

Assignee:

Protimeter, Inc. - Commack NY

International Classification:

G01N 2568

US Classification:

73 2902

Abstract:

A cycling chilled mirror hygrometer is described wherein the mirror employed comprises a sapphire substrate having deposited thereon alternating layers of titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide. The surfaces resulting from the described technology yield a ten fold enhancement over the "theoretically pure" optical surface characteristics achieved with the prior art gold mirrors. Additionally, these devices have provided ideal surface characteristics for 350 degree optical triangulation, thereby permitting greater primary sensor sensitivity at low humidity levels (below -40 Cdp) and the elimination of long term "optical reflective gain" variations due to aging characteristics as compared with the conventional gold mirrors having impurities.

US Patent:

49495720, Aug 21, 1990

Filed:

Nov 30, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/278223

Inventors:

Don J. Wilen - West Hempstead NY
Frank Cooper - South Huntington NY

Assignee:

Computer Instruments Corporation - Hempstead NY

International Classification:

G01N 928

US Classification:

73 53

Abstract:

A microprocessor based instrument is provided for measuring liquid level, specific gravity, or density. The instrument includes a mainframe controller, a remote sensor, and two sets of dip tube assemblies, one for each of two measurement channels. The instrument allows the operator to control both the time at which a bubble is released from one of the dip tubes into a liquid and also the size of the purge bubble which is released. By controlling the timing of bubble release, the pressure within a dip tube can be measured after the system has been allowed to quiet down. If a pair of dip tubes is employed within the same vessel, the differential pressure can be measured when the pneumatic line pressure variations have reached steady state, that is after the gas flow into the dip tubes has been discontinued.