Patents Examined by Albert W. Paladini
  • Patent number: 8022579
    Abstract: A circuit for dynamically increasing the drop-out voltage of an electromechanical automatic transfer switch (ATS) into a brownout voltage range is provided. The automatic transfer switch includes a first input, a first coil connected to the first input, and a first, normally-open auxiliary contact in magnetic communication with the first coil. The circuit includes a first resistor adapted to connect to the first, normally-open auxiliary contact, and a first transformer having a primary winding connected to the first resistor, and a secondary winding adapted to connect to the first coil. An operating voltage across the first coil is reduced a proportional amount by a secondary voltage across the secondary winding when the first, normally-open auxiliary contact is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Mark Groff, Trung Le
  • Patent number: 8022576
    Abstract: The electromagnetic energy transfer device includes a first resonator structure receiving energy from an external power supply. The first resonator structure has a first Q-factor. A second resonator structure is positioned distal from the first resonator structure, and supplies useful working power to an external load. The second resonator structure has a second Q-factor. The distance between the two resonators can be larger than the characteristic size of each resonator. Non-radiative energy transfer between the first resonator structure and the second resonator structure is mediated through coupling of their resonant-field evanescent tails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: John D. Joannopoulos, Aristeidis Karalis, Marin Soljacic
  • Patent number: 8018090
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus selects power having a higher voltage value out of power supplied via a plurality of external apparatuses, or selects power supplied from an external apparatus via a transmission line or power supplied from a power supply, whichever has a higher voltage value, to use the selected power within the information processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Umemura, Naoto Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8018095
    Abstract: A power conversion, control, and distribution system includes multiple bulk power regulator (BPR) subassemblies, a bulk power distribution (BPD) subassembly, and a bulk power controller and hub (BPCH) subassembly. The BPR subassemblies are each configured to provide regulated DC power from both AC input power and DC input power. The BPD subassembly is configured to distribute the regulated DC power. The BPCH subassembly is coupled to the multiple BPR subassemblies and the BPD subassembly. The BPCH subassembly is configured to monitor and control the BPR assemblies and the BPD assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Kumar Arimilli, Edward Joseph Seminaro, Kevin Robert Covi, Gerald J. Fahr, Daniel James Barus
  • Patent number: 8018098
    Abstract: A portable solar power supply system and its applying device are disclosed. The power supply system includes a receiving unit, a control block and a storage unit. After the receiving unit receives a solar power, the control block is used for storing the solar power into the storage unit. If a user wants to use a portable information processing device or other portable products, the portable solar power supply system supplies electric power to the device or product and extends the working time without limitations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Solar Focus Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan-Jui Lu, Kai-Shen Chen
  • Patent number: 8013470
    Abstract: System and methods for supplying electric power to a power grid are disclosed. The system includes a power generation source, a charging station for charging a zinc-based energy storage device from the power generation source, and a transport module for transporting the zinc-based energy storage device. The system also includes an input station for supplying power to the power grid from the zinc-based energy storage device, and a controller for selectively discharging the zinc-based energy storage device to the power grid based on the initiation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Votoupal, Robert C. Scott
  • Patent number: 8013468
    Abstract: A system transmits electric signals, electric energy or media over short distances between units movable relative to each other. The system has at least one first unit disposed along the trajectory of the movement and at least one second unit disposed for movement relative to the first unit. A diagnosis unit is associated with at least one of the units to detect the condition of at least one of said movable units and signals that detected condition to a central control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Schleifring und Apparatebau GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Lohr
  • Patent number: 8008802
    Abstract: An electrical power pack may include a first power switch and a cycle control to cycle between the first power switch and a second power switch. An electrical power pack may include a first power switch and a delay element to delay an operation of the first power switch. A power pack system may include a first power switch to operate in response to a constant-on control and a second power switch to operate in response to an automatic control. A power pack system may include a first power switch to operate in response to a manual-on control, and a second power switch to operate in response to an automatic-on control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas W. Leonard, Robert Hick
  • Patent number: 8004116
    Abstract: Different systems to achieve solar power conversion are provided in at least three different general aspects, with circuitry that can be used to harvest maximum power from a solar source (1) or strings of panels (11) for DC or AC use, perhaps for transfer to a power grid (10) three aspects can exist perhaps independently and relate to: 1) electrical power conversion in a multimodal manner, 2) alternating between differing processes such as by an alternative mode photovoltaic power converter functionality control (27), and 3) systems that can achieve efficiencies in conversion that are extraordinarily high compared to traditional through substantially power isomorphic photovoltaic DC-DC power conversion capability that can achieve 99.2% efficiency or even only wire transmission losses. Switchmode impedance conversion circuits may have pairs of photovoltaic power series switch elements (24) and pairs of photovoltaic power shunt switch elements (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: AMPT, LLC
    Inventors: Anatoli Ledenev, Robert M. Porter
  • Patent number: 7999419
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a “while-in-use” electrical device cover that shuts the power off to the device when the cover is open. The power is re-activated when the cover is closed using a cam device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. Drane, Joey D. Magno, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7994654
    Abstract: A wireless-controlled power-saving apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus particularly includes a power-saving control strip and a wireless power-detection controller. The power-saving control strip has a master socket and at least one slave socket to be controlled. The strip further includes a receptacle for containing the wireless power-detection controller. More, the wireless power-detection controller connects to an external host for detecting the performance thereof. When the external host boots up, the wireless power-detection controller controls the slave socket to be powered. Or otherwise, when the external host shuts down, the wireless power-detection controller controls the slave socket to be disconnected. Thus the invention achieves the sockets mounted on the power-saving control strip to function a wireless master-slave-correlation operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Powertech Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Lung Lee, Ming-Chou Kuo
  • Patent number: 7994653
    Abstract: One aspect provides a pluggable power management module, comprising a module housing having input and output pluggable connectors extending therefrom configured to be couplable to a corresponding input and output terminals of a conventional, generic distribution panel, a controller interface located on or within the module housing and couplable to a controller, and a sensor located within the module housing and coupled to the controller interface and configured to produce a signal to the controller, that determines that a minimum or maximum threshold voltage or current of a source/load coupled to the pluggable power management module has been reached based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Lineage Power Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Gibson, Roy Davis, Michael Steeves
  • Patent number: 7989985
    Abstract: A battery return disconnect (“BRD”) circuit for use with a battery supply having a plurality of electrically parallel inter-connecting batteries. The BRD circuit includes a plurality of DC input ports, a set of OR-ing diodes, a plurality of polarity detectors and a plurality of switches. Each input port includes a DC input terminal and a DC return terminal. Each OR-ing diode is connected to a DC input terminal or a DC return terminal and is forward-biased to when the BRD circuit is connected to a plurality of batteries having substantially the same voltage level. Each polarity detector monitors the bias of an OR-ing diode electrically connected to a corresponding DC input terminal. Each switch is connected to a DC return terminal and a polarity detector. Each switch is closed as long as the monitored OR-ing diode is forward-biased and open when the monitored OR-ing diode is reverse-biased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventor: Amrish Patel
  • Patent number: 7989990
    Abstract: An automatic shut off apparatus for an electronic device includes an input circuit, a timing circuit, a control circuit, and a switch circuit. The input circuit is to receive a designated power-off time delay for the electronic device. The control circuit is to receive the designated power-off time delay from the input circuit, and output a control signal. The timing circuit is to time according to the control signal, and output an instruction signal in response to designated power-off time being reached. The switch circuit is to shut off power of the electronic device according to the instruction signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Ke Chen, Xiao-Zhu Chen, Zhen-Xing Ye
  • Patent number: 7986056
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for reducing energy waste. One aspect of the present invention provides an electrical adapter designed to mate with a pre-existing electrical outlet. The adapter includes a plurality of outlets along a surface thereof. At least one primary outlet is provided, the primary outlet controlling peripheral outlets so that when the power drawn by a device plugged into the primary outlet drops below a predetermined threshold, the power to the peripheral outlets is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Inventor: Dennis Harold Augur
  • Patent number: 7986058
    Abstract: A method for the alternating operation of power supply units for a device which has at least two power supply units is disclosed. An alternating operation of the at least two power supply units is supplied by a switchover between the two power supply units if the two power supply units are functional. With alternating operation, the power supply unit that is in operation contributes to the power supply for the device, whereas the power supply unit that is not in operation, is cut off from supplying power to the device. In the case of a failure of the power supply unit which is in operation at the moment, an immediate switchover between the at least two power supply units is provided for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Siemens Computers GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Draeger
  • Patent number: 7982336
    Abstract: Power is automatically allocated among a plurality of network switches, such as a plurality of stackable switches. In one embodiment, one device in the network is designated as a “master” device which controls the power allocation for all of the switches. In another embodiment, a distributed algorithm is used, in which each device uses power allocation decision logic to formulate a mutually agreed-upon power allocation. Power from multiple power-granting devices may be consolidated to provide aggregated power to one or more power-needing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: James Hiscock, Hazem Kabbara
  • Patent number: 7982339
    Abstract: A controlling method of a battery mode of a UPS for an active PFC power supply has the following acts of monitoring the AC power source and determining whether the AC power source is terminated or not, wherein if a determining result is positive, the controlling method proceeds to next act, and switching to the battery mode and converting a DC power source of a battery to a square wave. The square wave has a period, and each half of the period is alternately constituted by at least two ON times and at least two OFF times, and each of the at least two OFF times is equal to or less than a hold-up time of the active PFC load having a hold-up time circuit. Therefore, the voltage of the bulk capacitor of the active PFC power supply under a discharge condition is not lower than the low threshold voltage, since the OFF time of the square wave signal will be kept equal to or less than the hold-up time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Cyber Power System Inc.
    Inventors: Shou-Ting Yeh, Yung-Mei Lin
  • Patent number: 7982337
    Abstract: There is provided a DC-DC converter control circuit, wherein a reference feedback signal related to a supply voltage to a load is compared to a reference oscillation signal to generate a result of comparison. The result of comparison is used as a switching control signal to control the supply voltage to the load. The result of comparison is frequency divided to generate a frequency divided signal; and the switching control signal is generated in response to the frequency divided signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7977823
    Abstract: In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a method and circuit for reducing power consumption of a power module during idle conditions is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a power module is configured for reducing power during idle mode by disengaging at least one power output from a power input. A power module may include one or more power outputs and one or more power module circuits, with power input connected to the power outputs through the power module circuit(s). The power module circuit may include a current measuring system, a control circuit, and a switch. The current measuring system provides an output power level signal that is proportional to the load at the power output. If current measuring system behavior indicates that a power output is drawing substantially no power from the power input, the switch disengages the power input from the power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: iGo, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard G. DuBose, Walter Thornton