Patents Examined by Arleen M. Vazquez
  • Patent number: 9658082
    Abstract: A method for determining an absolute angular position of a crankshaft target of an internal combustion engine, including a plurality of teeth for which at least one signal is acquired representing the passage of each tooth in front of a sensor as a function of time comprising: i. generating during a phase with the engine running an absolute angular position from the at least one signal and from a period of a tooth; ii. continuously determining during a phase of stopping the engine when determination of the period is not possible, a number of teeth passing in front of the sensor; and iii. during a phase of restarting the engine, using a number of teeth to reduce the cycle synchronization time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignees: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES, SILICON MOBILITY
    Inventors: Thierry Lepage, Farid Tahiri
  • Patent number: 9645188
    Abstract: An arrangement for monitoring a condition of a direct current voltage circuit including first and second supply poles for forming an operating voltage. A first fuse is connected to the first supply pole, and has a supply pole and an output pole. A second fuse is connected to the second supply pole, and has a supply pole and an output pole. The arrangement can form one or several reference voltages (UREFa,UREFb,UREFc), can form a first measurement voltage (U1a,U1b,U1c,U1d) between the output pole of the first fuse and the supply pole of the second fuse, and can form a second measurement voltage (U1a,U1b,U1c,U1d) between the output pole of the second fuse and the supply pole of the first or the second fuse. One or several reference voltages and measurement voltages can be compared to estimate a condition of the first and second fuse, and a comparison result can be indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Marko Takala, Matti Rajala, Marko Pylkäs
  • Patent number: 9640920
    Abstract: A protective cover structure includes a protective cover that is fitted to an assembly work opening disposed in a wall of a case in which electric components are accommodated, thereby closing the opening, and a fitting detecting connector that detects that the protective cover is fitted to the assembly work opening. The fitting detecting connector includes a receptacle connector which is fixed to an interior of the case and an insertion/extraction connector which is disposed on the protective cover in a mutually insertable/extractable manner while being opposed to the receptacle connector. The receptacle connector includes a tubular housing and fitting detecting conductors in the tubular housing. The insertion/extraction connector holds a pair of detecting electrodes which are electrically conductible with the fitting detecting conductors, and is molded integrally with the protective cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Hanaoka, Takanori Kanamori, Takuomi Wada
  • Patent number: 9638763
    Abstract: A resonant impedance sensing system includes a negative impedance control loop incorporating the resonator as a loop filter, and including a class D negative impedance stage implemented with a class D comparator, and a loop control stage implemented with an output comparator clocked (D_clk) by the class D comparator. The class D comparator receives resonator oscillation voltage, and generates a class D switching output synchronized with resonator oscillation frequency. A discrete current source (such as a current DAC) drives the resonator through an H-bridge switched by the class D switching output, so that the time average of the discrete drive current corresponds to resonator oscillation amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: George P. Reitsma
  • Patent number: 9632453
    Abstract: A differential transformer magnetic permeability sensor includes a substrate, a drive coil, a first differential coil, a second differential coil, a first interconnection pattern, and a second interconnection pattern. The first differential coil is disposed at a side of a first surface of the substrate, and an induced voltage is generated therein when the drive coil is driven. The second differential coil is disposed at a side of a second surface of the substrate, and an induced voltage is generated therein when the drive coil is driven. The first interconnection pattern is located on the first surface and allows the first differential coil to serve as a reference coil, and the second differential coil as a sensing coil. The second interconnection pattern is located on the second surface and allows the second differential coil to serve as a reference coil, and the first differential coil as a sensing coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yukihiro Aikawa
  • Patent number: 9625539
    Abstract: A magnet evaluating device evaluates an evaluation magnet by passing the evaluation magnet, which is formed by connecting a plurality of magnetic sections with insulating material in between, and a master magnet of the same form through an alternating magnetic field generated by an excitation coil, measuring the eddy current occurring in the magnetic section as voltage or current occurring in a detection coil and comparing the measured value for the evaluation magnet and the measured value for the master magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Higaki, Kimio Nishimura, Masahiro Omata, Hideki Watanabe, Yasuhisa Koike, Takashi Sekikawa, Yasushi Matsushita, Akihisa Hori, Takumi Ohshima, Michito Kishi, Kiyoshi Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shibukawa, Kazuhiro Takaichi, Hideo Sakuyama, Yuhei Yamane, Yoshito Ozawa
  • Patent number: 9625277
    Abstract: An ABS encoder arrangement for a driven wheel bearing unit, with a multi-pole ring, a sensor device with a sensor head, and an annular cap element that has an annular wall portion which shields a cap interior against the exterior. The annular wall section extends through an intermediate region lying between the multi-pole ring and an end face of the sensor head. An extension concentric with the axis of rotation of the multi-pole ring and extending axially over a circumferential area of an articulated shaft head is connected to the annular wall section on a side facing away from the multi-pole ring. In the end portion of the extension facing away from the multi-pole ring and extending over the articulated shaft head, the extension forms a circumferential profile that radially stiffens the extension and forms an annular edge which extends into a circumferential groove of the articulated shaft head and forms a channel cross-section open to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Roland Langer
  • Patent number: 9618568
    Abstract: A method of testing a semiconductor device using the test equipment includes loading an undivided printed circuit board (PCB) including unit PCBs in a test equipment. A semiconductor device is mounted in each of the unit PCBs. Product information of the undivided PCB loaded in the test equipment is confirmed. The undivided PCB whose product information has been confirmed is electrically connected to one of a plurality of main testers of the test equipment. Each of the main testers includes a main test interface directly connected to a cloud server in which firmwares for various kinds of tests are stored. The product information of the undivided PCB is transmitted to the main tester electrically connected to the undivided PCB. The main tester to which the product information has been transmitted performs a main test of the undivided PCB using the product information. The undivided PCB on which the main test has been performed by the main tester is unloaded from the test equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Chul Lee, Nam-Hong Lee, Kyung-Sook Lee, Jung-Hyun Park, Sang-Youl Lee
  • Patent number: 9618554
    Abstract: A system and method for performing radiation source analysis on a device under test (DUT) uses discrete Fourier transform on measured field components values at different sampling locations away from the DUT to derive field component values at locations on the DUT. The results of the discrete Fourier transform are multiplied by a complex phase adjustment term as a function of distance from the sampling locations to the DUT to translate the measured field component values back to the locations on the surface of the DUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Amber Precision Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Hamed Kajbaf
  • Patent number: 9612135
    Abstract: A device for determining motion parameters includes a magnetic multipole that generates an alternating magnetic field, at least one magnetic sensor for measuring the magnetic field of the magnetic multipole, and an evaluation and control unit for evaluating the signals from the magnetic sensor. The magnetic sensor includes a magnetizable core, a drive coil, and a measuring coil. The evaluation and control unit charges the drive coil with a periodic drive signal so as to bring about a periodic magnetic reversal of the core and detects the points in time at which the magnetic reversals occur in the core. Based on the points in time at which the magnetic reversals occur, the evaluation and control unit determines a current value of the effective magnetic field of the magnetic multipole within a defined measuring range representing a range around a zero crossing of the magnetic field of the magnetic multipole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Welsch, Frank Schatz
  • Patent number: 9608125
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display substrate, its testing method and its manufacturing method. A first testing terminal is connected to a gate electrode of a first TFT, a second testing terminal is connected to a source electrode of the first TFT and a drain electrode of a second TFT, a third testing terminal is connected to a gate electrode of the second TFT, and a fourth testing terminal is connected to a drain electrode of the first TFT and a source electrode of the second TFT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhenfei Cai, Jian Chen, Chaohuan Hsu, Zhengwei Chen
  • Patent number: 9606084
    Abstract: A method of locating metal or non-metal containing objects and materials includes regulating currents in at least two emission coils in relation to each other. A reception coil output signal is received by at least one reception coil or average values of demodulation phases generated from the reception coil output signal are regulated in relation to each other continuously to be zero even when exposed to metal. The amplitude(s) of the required controlled variables are detected as a value by demodulation, preferably at least at 0° and at a demodulation which is set off by 90° and are equalized, thereby allowing a reliable detection of an object to be detected even if other metal objects are present in the area of detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Gerd Reime
  • Patent number: 9600704
    Abstract: An novel impedance sensor is provided having a plurality of substantially parallel drive lines configured to transmit a signal into a surface of a proximally located object, and also a plurality of substantially parallel pickup lines oriented substantially perpendicular to the drive lines and separated from the pickup lines by a dielectric to form intrinsic electrode pairs that are impedance sensitive at each of the drive and pickup crossover locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: IDEX ASA
    Inventor: Fred G. Benkley, III
  • Patent number: 9599739
    Abstract: A material-discerning proximity sensor is arranged to include an antenna that is arranged to radiate a radio-frequency signal. A capacitive sensor is arranged to detect a change in capacitance of the capacitive sensor and to receive the radio-frequency signal. An electrical quantity sensor is arranged to detect a change of the received radio-frequency signal and a change of a radio-frequency signal at an output of the at least one band pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Alan H. Leek, Damian M. Szmulewicz
  • Patent number: 9593965
    Abstract: A non-contact adjustable hysteretic magnetic encoder includes a bipolar magnetic block, two magnetic sensing components, a storage, and a controller. After retrieving the current rotation angle by accessing a rotation angle table, the controller determines, by an encoding rule, digital logical values of a first phase signal (A-phase signal) and digital logical values of a second phase signal (B-phase signal) and outputs the digital logical values. The phase difference between a first phase signal and a second phase signal is adjusted, and a hysteresis range, also known as hysteresis angle, is adjusted, according to the grids attributed to the predetermined number of grids before the turning point and the grids attributed to the predetermined number of grids after the turning point. Hence, the non-contact adjustable hysteretic magnetic encoder features enhanced potential of expansion and marked industrial practicability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHUNG SHAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ruh-Hua Wu, Chung-Tseng Chang
  • Patent number: 9593966
    Abstract: A sensor of magnetic fields along a direction of measurement comprising N magneto-resistive transducers TMi, a resistance of each transducer TMi varying linearly to within ±xi% as a function of an intensity of a magnetic field to be measured within a maximum range [ai; bi] of intensity of the magnetic field to be measured and non-linearly outside of this range, the index i being an identifier of the transducer TMi. The sensor further comprises a generator which generates N magnetic fields CMi using at least one permanent magnet, where each magnetic field CMi exhibits an intensity Ii in the direction of measurement. The intensity Ii being constant and independent of the intensity of the magnetic field to be measured and each transducer TMi being placed inside a respective magnetic field CMi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignees: Commissariat à l'énergie et aux énergies alternatives, Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Bertrand Delaet, Sylvain Bacquet
  • Patent number: 9588170
    Abstract: A saturation edge detection circuit for testing a saturation level in an insulated gate bipolar transistor (“IGBT”) includes a first input operable to receive an on signal, a second input coupled to an IGBT driver circuit, and an output coupled to a control electrode of the IGBT. The output indicates a change in a state of a saturation voltage associated with the IGBT during operation of the IGBT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventor: Thierry Sicard
  • Patent number: 9581661
    Abstract: An XMR-sensor and method for manufacturing the XMR-Sensor are provided. The XMR-sensor includes a substrate, a first contact, a second contact and an XMR-structure. The substrate includes a first main surface area and a second main surface area. The first contact is arranged at the first main surface area and the second contact is arranged at the second main surface area. The XMR-structure extends from the first contact to the second contact such that an XMR-plane of the XMR-structure is arranged along a first direction perpendicular to the first main surface area or the second main surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Juergen Zimmer
  • Patent number: 9575143
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a design for a single-chip dual-axis magnetic field sensor, based on magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) elements and permanent magnets integrated on a semiconductor substrate to produce two types of sensor bridges that detect orthogonal magnetic field components. The orthogonal magnetic field component detection capability results from the different types of sensor bridges that can be produced by varying the shape of the MTJ elements and the bias fields that can be created by permanent magnets. Because the permanent magnets can create orthogonal bias fields on the different sensor bridges, it is possible to use a single pinned layer to set direction for both sensor bridges. This is advantageous because it permits the two-axis sensor to be fabricated on a single semiconductor chip without the need for specialized processing technology such as local heating, or deposition of multiple magnetoresistive films with different pinned layers setting directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: MultiDimension Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: James Geza Deak, Insik Jin, Weifeng Shen, Xiaofeng Lei, Songsheng Xue
  • Patent number: 9571614
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of determining a status of a cover of a display terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a terminal comprising a display screen, and a Hall sensor comprising a magnetic field sensing surface and a plurality of Hall elements disposed substantially parallel with the magnetic field sensing surface, the magnetic field sensing surface being substantially perpendicular to the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-nam Jin, Seung-hwan Park, Eunjoong Kim