Patents Examined by Anh Q Tra
  • Patent number: 10605478
    Abstract: A control circuit for supplying current to actuate a gas valve in an HVAC system includes a solenoid coil adapted to selectively open and close the gas valve, input terminals coupled to receive an AC power input, and a rectifier bridge coupled between the input terminals and the solenoid coil. The rectifier bridge includes four nodes and at least four diodes. The control circuit also includes a capacitor, and a switch coupled in series with the capacitor between a ground potential and a node defined between the rectifier bridge and the solenoid coil. The switch is coupled to selectively electrically connect and disconnect the capacitor in parallel with the solenoid coil to allow the capacitor to smooth the voltage rectified by the rectifier bridge when the switch is on and to inhibit smoothing of the rectified voltage by the capacitor when the switch is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventor: Daniel L. Furmanek
  • Patent number: 10608471
    Abstract: A multimode receiver can include on or more of an over-voltage protection circuit or a high frequency mode switch. As such, some embodiments of a multi-mode receiver includes a rectifier; a high frequency circuit coupled to the rectifier; a low frequency circuit coupled to the rectifier; and a switching circuit coupled to disable at least a portion of the low frequency circuit while the multi-mode receiver operates in high frequency mode. In some embodiments, the multimode receiver further includes a high-voltage protection circuit coupled to the high frequency circuit that detunes the high frequency circuit when a high-voltage condition is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Mehmet Nalbant
  • Patent number: 10601414
    Abstract: A bias generator and a method for generating a bias voltage are presented. The bias generator is for use with an electronic circuit comprising a first switch coupled in series with a second switch. The bias generator is adapted to generate a reference voltage, a first bias voltage, and a second bias voltage. The second bias voltage is based on the reference voltage. After applying the first voltage to the first switch and the second voltage to the second switch, the bias generator controls a voltage across the first switch. The bias generator may be adapted to set a value of the reference voltage to control the voltage across the first switch. For instance, the reference voltage may be set to a fix value so that the voltage across the first switch is maintained at a constant value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor B.V.
    Inventors: Zhi Mou, Mohammad Hanif, Mahbub Reja, Shobak Kythakyapuzha
  • Patent number: 10601415
    Abstract: A system includes a control circuit having first and second detectors coupled to a first node of the control circuit, first and second filters coupled to the first and second detectors, and a logic circuit coupled to the first and second filters, a diode circuit having a first node coupled to the first node of the control circuit, and a switch having a first current node coupled to a second node of the diode circuit, a gate coupled to a second node of the control circuit, and a second current node coupled to a third node of the control circuit, wherein a first detector is used to provide a first event overcurrent signal and a second detector is used to provide a multiple event overcurrent signal or a warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventors: Karl Norling, Erwin Huber
  • Patent number: 10594328
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for providing frequency divided clocks are described. An example apparatus includes a first circuit configured to provide a first intermediate clock responsive, at least in part, to a first input clock, the first intermediate clock being lower in frequency than the first input clock and further includes a second circuit configured to provide a second intermediate clock and a third intermediate clock responsive, at least in part, to a second input clock, the second intermediate clock being complementary to the third intermediate clock and lower in frequency than the second input clock. The apparatus further includes a third circuit configured to select and provide as an output clock one of the second and third intermediate clocks responsive, at least in part, to the first and second intermediate clocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuo Satoh
  • Patent number: 10573272
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for determining a delay to be applied to a clock signal for synchronizing data communication. In an embodiment, a delay is applied to a first clock signal to generate a second clock signal, which is then communicated to a latch circuit via a clock signal distribution path. The delay is determined based on an evaluation of a first time needed for signal communication via a model of the clock signal distribution path. Such determining is further based on an evaluation of a second time for one cycle of a cyclical signal, where said cycle correspond to that of the first clock signal. In another embodiment, multiple different delays are applied each to a different respective clock signal, where each of said delays is based on both the evaluation of the first time and the evaluation of the second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Mozak, Senthil Kumar Sampath
  • Patent number: 10560019
    Abstract: An aircraft bipolar high-voltage network includes a DC voltage converter comprising two unipolar input connections, two bipolar output connections and a reference potential connection, and at least one unipolar device having two electrical connections which are each coupled to one of the two unipolar input connections. The DC voltage converter has a first DC voltage converter module coupled to a first of the unipolar input connections via a module input connection, to the reference potential connection via a module reference potential connection and to a first of the bipolar output connections via a module output connection, and a second DC voltage converter module coupled to a second of the unipolar input connections via a module input connection, to the reference potential connection via a module reference potential connection and to a second of the bipolar output connections via a module output connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Kaiser, Joerg Wangemann, Hauke-Peer Luedders
  • Patent number: 10559893
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for preventing theft of energy transmitted as a guided surface wave along the surface of a terrestrial medium, by pulsing the transmitted energy and protecting authorized devices from the pulse. In one embodiment, a guided surface wave receive structure is configured to obtain electrical energy from a guided surface wave. An electrical load coupled to the guided surface wave receive structure. The electrical load is experienced as a load at an excitation source coupled to a guided surface waveguide probe that is generating the guided surface wave with an electrical field strength that may be selectively increased. A pulse protection circuit is employed to selectively protect the electrical load from an increase in electrical energy received by the guided surface wave receive structure when the electrical field strength is selectively increased, while unprotected circuits may be damaged or disrupted by the pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: CPG Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James F. Corum, Kenneth L. Corum, Stephen W. Wilson, Joseph F. Pinzone
  • Patent number: 10560017
    Abstract: Provided is a charge pump including a flying capacitor, an output capacitor, a switch group arranged to switch connection states of the capacitors so as to generate an output voltage from an input voltage, and a feedback control unit arranged to adjust an interterminal voltage of the flying capacitor to a predetermined target value when charging the same. On the basis of a first node voltage applied to a first terminal of the flying capacitor, the feedback control unit adjusts a second node voltage at a second terminal of the flying capacitor. The feedback control unit includes a voltage detection unit arranged to detect the interterminal voltage of the flying capacitor, and a voltage adjustment unit arranged to adjust the second node voltage according to a result of detection by the voltage detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Muramatsu, Tetsuo Tateishi
  • Patent number: 10543751
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of communication between a vehicle and a wayside control unit for controlling an inductive power transfer to the vehicle, wherein the control unit controls a generation of an electromagnetic field by a primary unit with a primary winding structure of a system for inductive power transfer, wherein the vehicle includes a secondary unit with a secondary winding structure for receiving the alternating electromagnetic field, wherein charging-related data is transmitted in between the vehicle and the control unit via a first communication link, wherein the authentication-related data is transmitted from the vehicle to the control unit via a second communication link, wherein the authentication-related data is used to authenticate the charging-related data, and a vehicle and an arrangement of a vehicle and a primary unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Bombardier Primove GmbH
    Inventor: Thoralf Schnarr
  • Patent number: 10536125
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) limiter, and systems and methods thereof, to limit power of received high-power RF signals over a very broad bandwidth (e.g., approximately 17 octaves) using a single-channel solution. The limiter can be comprised of a coarse section and a fine section. The coarse section can include a first capacitor configured to receive a first RF signal; the rectifier, which is coupled to an output of the first capacitor; a transmission medium coupled to the output of the first capacitor and the rectifier; a plurality of PIN diodes each having a relatively thick I-region coupled between a second capacitor and the transmission medium; and a coupling mechanism configured to provide electrical coupling between the transmission medium and the rectifier. The rectifier can include a first inductor and a second inductor connected in series, and a Schottky diode coupled to the second inductor and the coupling mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Lockheed Marin Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Paul Jendrisak, David Lardiere
  • Patent number: 10511297
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for maintaining a stable power supply to a circuit when activating/deactivating a switch in order to accelerate the switching time of the switch. The gate of a FET is coupled to a switch driver. The switch driver is powered by a positive power supply and a negative power supply. When the switch is to be activated/deactivated, the gate is first coupled to a reference potential (i.e., ground) for a “reset period” to reduce any positive/negative charge that has been accumulated in the FET. At the end of the reset period, the gate is then released from the reference potential and the switch driver drives the gate to the desired voltage level to either activate or deactivate the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventor: Chengkai Luo
  • Patent number: 10503196
    Abstract: In certain aspects, a bias generation circuit comprises a bias voltage generator. The bias voltage generator has a main NMOS transistor having a drain and a gate of the main NMOS transistor both coupled to a first terminal, a main resistor having a first main resistor terminal and a second main resistor terminal, wherein the first main resistor terminal couples to a source of the main NMOS transistor; and a main PMOS transistor having a source of the main PMOS transistor coupled to the second main resistor terminal and a drain and a gate of the main PMOS transistor both coupled to a second terminal, wherein the second terminal couples to a main ground. The bias generation circuit further comprises an array of sensors coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sameer Wadhwa, Yi Wang, Lennart Mathe
  • Patent number: 10498318
    Abstract: Electrical circuits and associated methods relate to duty cycle correction having a voltage controlled delay line VCDL controlled by an analog voltage and a digital command signal to generate a VCDLout signal. In an illustrative example, the analog voltage may be generated by an analog circuit, the analog circuit may include a reference voltage, a low-pass filter, an amplifier and a loop filter. In an illustrative example, the analog circuit may be controlled by an analog command signal. The analog command signal may be programmable applied on the analog circuit to produce the analog voltage. The digital command signal may be programmable to select desired delay band in the VCDL. The analog voltage and the digital command signal may be applied to the VCDL together to obtain a desired duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Jaewook Shin, Didem Z. Turker Melek, Parag Upadhyaya
  • Patent number: 10491109
    Abstract: A power system for a vehicle comprising: a battery; a charging interface for receiving external power to charge the battery; a network connecting the battery and the charging interface, wherein at least a part of the network is a DC network; an active EMI filter between the battery and the charging interface in the DC network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Schaffner EMV AG
    Inventor: Alessandro Amaducci
  • Patent number: 10491113
    Abstract: A switchable charge pump (SCP) combines a switching element and a charge pump. An SCP can be utilized within an RF circuit to allow the charge pump to be activated or deactivated in the circuit depending on incident RF power level. Multiple SCPs can be utilized to provide a generalized a single-pole N-throw (SPNT) system architecture. In one example, an RF transmit-receive (T/R) system utilizes SCPs to operate in one of three modes: transmit mode, receive mode, or self-selecting terminate mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Claire E. Mooney, David D. Heston
  • Patent number: 10491193
    Abstract: A circuit having a power amplifier port, an antenna port, and a ladder network coupled between the power amplifier and antenna ports is disclosed. The ladder network includes a proximal series acoustic resonator coupled to the power amplifier port, a distal series acoustic resonator coupled to the antenna port, and at least one series acoustic resonator coupled between the proximal series acoustic resonator and the distal series acoustic resonator. A first shunt acoustic resonator is coupled between a fixed voltage node and the proximal series acoustic resonator and the at least one series acoustic resonator. A second shunt acoustic resonator is coupled between the fixed voltage node and a second node to which the at least one series acoustic resonator is also coupled. A first inductor is coupled in parallel with the proximal series acoustic resonator to create notches below and above a passband of the ladder network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Aykut Cihangir, Andreas Link
  • Patent number: 10476382
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a device having a charge pump and a capacitor. The charge pump may be configured for coupling between first and second power sources. The capacitor may be configured for coupling between the first power source and an input of the charge pump. In an energy harvest mode, the charge pump may decouple from the first and second power sources, and the first power source may charge the capacitor with a first voltage while the charge pump is decoupled from the first and second power sources. In an energy transfer mode, the charge pump may couple to the capacitor and the second power source to transfer the first voltage from the capacitor to the second power source during discharge of the first voltage from the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Xiao Wu, David Theodore Blaauw, Dennis Michael Chen Sylvester
  • Patent number: 10476499
    Abstract: A power-on reset (POR) circuit includes: a signal generator circuit for generating a first and a second signal according to an input voltage, and a comparator circuit. The comparator circuit, having a non-zero input offset, includes a first MOS transistor with a first conductive type and having a first conductive type gate and a first threshold voltage, and a second MOS transistor with a first conductive type and having a second conductive type gate and a second threshold voltage. The input offset relates to a difference between the first and the second threshold voltage. The first and the second signal control the first and the second MOS transistors respectively to generate a POR signal. When the input voltage exceeds a POR threshold which relates to a predetermined multiple or ratio of the input offset, the POR signal transits its state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chin-Yuan Wei, Chih-Hsien Wang
  • Patent number: 10476489
    Abstract: A signal transmission circuit includes a primary element configured to receive differential signals which are generated from a transmission signal and contain alternating-current (AC) components, a secondary element magnetically or capacitively coupled with the primary element and configured to output AC signals containing the AC components of the differential signals, a secondary circuit including a pair of transmission lines configured to propagate the AC signals. The secondary circuit is electrically connected to the secondary element and extracts the transmission signal from the AC signals. The feedback circuit feedbacks an intermediate voltage between voltages of the pair of transmission lines such that the intermediate voltage is converged to a reference voltage. This signal transmission circuit prevents the secondary circuit from malfunctioning due to noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Kumahara, Richard Visee, Gerrit Van Der Horn, Ronny Van Rooij, Pooyan Sakian Dezfuli