Patents Examined by Christopher Clark
  • Patent number: 9882375
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device with a high holding voltage is disclosed including at least an ESD clamp coupled to a holding voltage tuning circuit. The ESD clamp may be coupled to the holding voltage tuning circuit through a connection circuit such as a diode. The ESD clamp may be implemented by a first silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) and the holding voltage tuning circuit may be implemented as a second SCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SOFICS BVBA
    Inventor: Sven Van Wijmeersch
  • Patent number: 9863862
    Abstract: The various embodiments described herein significantly increase charge probabilities of nanoparticles by first growing them to larger droplets using a diethylene glycol-based preconditioner, neutralizing the droplets with a bipolar charger, and then removing the condensed liquid to recover the original aerosol particles. The small droplet size is an important element in reducing the amount of aerosol particles with more than one charge. The high single-charge particle probability significantly enhances the monodisperse aerosol throughput of a DMA, while the reduced multiple charge probabilities ensure high monodispersity of DMA-classified aerosols and good data quality of SMPS measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TSI INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Hee-Siew Han
  • Patent number: 9866151
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck that enables high speed and high quality processing of a plate to be processed, and in which the weight of a base member is reduced and the strength thereof increased so as to maintain the flatness of the base member and prevent the plate to be processed from falling; a glass substrate processing method; and said glass substrate. An electrostatic chuck (1) provided with a base member (2) and an electrostatic suction layer (3). The base member (2) is formed by a lower-surface plate (20), side-surface plates (21-24), and an upper-surface plate (25), and has a part (4) for a plurality of individual structures configured therein. The part (4) for a plurality of individual structures has a honeycomb structure that is caused by regular hexagonal tubes (40) and enables the weight of the base member (2) to be reduced and the strength thereof increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Tatsumi, Toshifumi Sugawara
  • Patent number: 9853442
    Abstract: A protection device, externally connectable to an existing circuit breaker with zone selective interlock functionality, enables a circuit breaker to implement directional zone selective interlock. The protection device includes a first input port and a first output port connectable to a circuit breaker, and second and third ports for connecting to a protection device of another circuit breaker and for transmitting interlock signals via an input bus and an output bus inside the EDP. A control unit is configured to enable one of the second and third ports as a second input port and the other as a second output port according to the direction of current currently flowing through the circuit breaker; and configured to forward an interlock signal from the first input port to the output bus and to forward an interlock signal on the input bus received from the second input port to the first output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Wei Gang Chen, Mario Dankert, Li Ming Huang, Yue Zhuo
  • Patent number: 9851184
    Abstract: A personal defense accessory for interaction with a mobile communications device includes a main housing. A pair of electrodes are disposed in the main housing. A controller is disposed with the main housing and connected to the pair of electrodes to deliver a stun rated shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventor: Christopher C. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 9853579
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a dielectric disk having a support surface to support a substrate and an opposing second surface, wherein at least one chucking electrode is disposed within the dielectric disk; a radio frequency (RF) bias plate disposed below the dielectric disk; a plurality of lamps disposed below the RF bias plate to heat the dielectric disk; a metallic plate disposed below the lamps to absorb heat generated by the lamps; a shaft coupled to the second surface of the dielectric disk at a first end of the shaft to support the dielectric disk in a spaced apart relation to the RF bias plate and extending away from the dielectric disk and through the RF bias plate and the metallic plate; and a rotation assembly coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft and the dielectric disk with respect to the RF bias plate, lamps, and metallic plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Anantha K. Subramani, Ashish Goel, Wei W. Wang, Bharath Swaminathan, Vijay D. Parkhe, Xiaoxiong Yuan
  • Patent number: 9837814
    Abstract: A radio frequency-assisted fast superconducting switch is described. A superconductor is closely coupled to a radio frequency (RF) coil. To turn the switch “off,” i.e., to induce a transition to the normal, resistive state in the superconductor, a voltage burst is applied to the RF coil. This voltage burst is sufficient to induce a current in the coupled superconductor. The combination of the induced current with any other direct current flowing through the superconductor is sufficient to exceed the critical current of the superconductor at the operating temperature, inducing a transition to the normal, resistive state. A by-pass MOSFET may be configured in parallel with the superconductor to act as a current shunt, allowing the voltage across the superconductor to drop below a certain value, at which time the superconductor undergoes a transition to the superconducting state and the switch is reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Solovyov, Qiang Li
  • Patent number: 9829530
    Abstract: In a method for adapting an arc sensor (35) to a position in an electrical installation system, according to the invention a specifiable number of specifiable arcs are simulated and/or produced at least at a first position in the installation system, wherein after each simulated or produced arc, at least one current curve and/or voltage curve is recorded in a measured-value recording unit (2), wherein at least one characteristic of the recorded current curves and/or voltage curves is determined and stored, and the arc sensor (35) is trained for the electrical installation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: EATON INDUSTRIES (AUSTRIA) GMBH
    Inventor: Michael Koch
  • Patent number: 9831661
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), a battery for supplying power to the PCB and at least one moisture detection sheet mounted on the PCB and the PCB shuts off power from the battery in response to detected electrical current conduction via the at least one moisture detection sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Myung-Kyoon Chung
  • Patent number: 9825456
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus, a power supply apparatus, and a power supply method. The electronic apparatus may include a controller to provide a control signal to generate a multiphase signal through conversion of an input power and to receive a feedback of an output voltage that is generated using the multiphase signal; and a power supply including a plurality of unit converters having upper and lower switching elements of a half or full-bridge type, being operated by the control signal, and configured to provide the output voltage by the multiphase signal generated according to driving of the plurality of unit converters, wherein the power supply detects whether the upper and lower switching elements are simultaneously turned on in the plurality of unit inverters and turns off the operation of the unit converters according to the detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jeong-gyu Park
  • Patent number: 9819172
    Abstract: A thermal protection circuit which relates to the field of electronic technologies can detect temperature of multiple locations simultaneously and adjust a preset threshold flexibly, thereby improving system reliability. The thermal protection circuit includes: at least one temperature sensor, a detection circuit, an execution circuit, a self-locking and triggering circuit, a protective temperature regulation circuit, and a power supply circuit. The at least one temperature sensor converts a temperature signal into an electrical signal and sends the electrical signal to the detection circuit; the detection circuit detects whether temperature reaches the preset threshold, and sends a turn-off signal to the execution circuit if the temperature reaches the preset threshold; the execution circuit cuts off power supply to the system; and the self-locking and triggering circuit maintains, a power-off state of the system until a power switch is triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: HUAWEI DEVICE (DONGGUAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Changqi Li, Bingwu Luo
  • Patent number: 9810719
    Abstract: There is provided a neutral pole transformer module for a circuit breaker capable of minimizing an influence of external noise, detecting a neutral pole current at low manufacturing cost, and detecting a neutral pole current without modifying a configuration of an existing overcurrent relay or without installing an additional component in the existing overcurrent relay. The neutral pole transformer module for a circuit breaker comprises a ZCT configured to allow a transmission line of a neutral pole detection current output from the current transformer to pass therethrough and to provide a secondary output current signal obtained by reducing the neutral pole detection current in a predetermined ratio; a printed circuit board configured to convert the secondary output current signal into a voltage signal, and to differentiate the converted voltage signal and output the same; and an enclosure formed of an electrical insulator and enclosing the ZCT and the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jin Seok Youn
  • Patent number: 9801316
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an exterior portion of a conductive material, a circuit portion including circuit elements, and a protection circuit portion connected between the exterior portion and the circuit portion. The protection circuit portion includes a switching unit to intercept leakage current that flows from the circuit portion and leaks to the exterior portion, and a conversion unit to reduce a voltage level of an electrostatic component that flows through the exterior portion and to transfer the electrostatic component to the switching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae-sub Youn
  • Patent number: 9793705
    Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter for transporting energy between two networks includes two or more converter circuits connected in parallel, wherein a first semiconductor switch that can be actuated as a function of a voltage drop across the first semiconductor switch is arranged in series to each converter circuit or a second semiconductor switch that can be actuated as a function of a voltage drop across the second semiconductor switch is arranged in series to each converter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Daub
  • Patent number: 9795020
    Abstract: An ESD (ElectroStatic Discharge) protection component has: first and second discharge electrodes arranged so as to be opposed to each other through a gap; and a discharge inducing portion kept in contact with the first and second discharge electrodes and configured to connect the first and second discharge electrodes to each other. The discharge inducing portion has metal particles, a ceramic material containing glass, and a dielectric material having a dielectric constant higher than that of the ceramic material. A content of the dielectric material is in the range of 7.5 to 40% by volume, with respect to a total volume of the ceramic material and the dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Shibayama, Hidenobu Umeda
  • Patent number: 9793709
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide short circuit detection capabilities for current drivers. One embodiment includes a controller and a current driver. The current driver includes a power switch circuit that couples a supply rail to a high side of a load in response to receiving a drive signal. The current driver further includes a continuity circuit that couples the supply rail to the high side and indicates to the controller whether a first current flow to the high side exceeds a first threshold. The current driver further includes a current sense circuit that couples a low side of the load to ground and indicates to the controller whether a second current flow from the low side exceeds a second threshold. The controller identifies, based on the first current flow, the second current flow, and the drive signal, a plurality of short circuit conditions that may exist at the current driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory H. Smith, Son T. Vo, Kenneth A. Seidner, Troy Cobb, Shamoon Sikora
  • Patent number: 9784785
    Abstract: An example method for monitoring the operation of a metal-oxide varistor (MOV) may involve monitoring an operating value of at least one parameter of the MOV using at least one sensor. Further, the method may involve determining, using one or more processors, that a difference between the operating value and a reference value corresponding to the at least one parameter satisfies a predetermined threshold condition corresponding to the at least one parameter. And the method may involve responsive to determining that the difference between the operating value and the reference value satisfies the predetermined threshold condition, transmitting a notification indicative of a potential failure of the MOV to at least one device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: ASCO Power Technologies, L.P.
    Inventors: Louis A. Farquhar, III, Michael J. Gerlach
  • Patent number: 9775224
    Abstract: A discharge device and a display panel preparation system based thereon are disclosed. The discharge device includes a conductive contact terminal electrically connected with an electrostatic discharge contactor of a substrate to be processed; and a voltage controller electrically connected to the contact terminal for adjusting a voltage on the contact terminal. The discharge device is able to eliminate (e.g., neutralize) the static electricity on the substrate to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhichao Zhang, Zongjie Guo, Zheng Liu, Xiangqian Ding, Mingxuan Liu
  • Patent number: 9774182
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a solid-state series switch positioned between a transmitter's high-voltage, direct current (DC) bus and a high-voltage DC power source, wherein the series switch is configured to establish an open circuit between the transmitter and the power source upon receiving a first trip signal; a solid-state shunt switch operatively coupled in shunt between the transmitter high voltage DC bus and a ground, wherein the shunt switch is configured to provide a short-circuit path from the transmitter to ground upon receiving a second trip signal; and a controller electrically coupled to the series and shunt switches, wherein the controller is configured to generate the first and second trip signals in the event that the controller receives a trouble signal from the transmitter, and wherein the first trip signal is sent to the series switch before the second trip signal is sent to the shunt switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: David Burns Phillips
  • Patent number: 9774173
    Abstract: A surge protection device includes, in one embodiment, a reversible surge responder operative to engage an inner conductor engager during a protect mode and disengage the inner conductor engager during a normal mode. The surge responder returns to the normal mode from the protect mode without the intervention of an operator or service technician to replace or re-set the surge responder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, LLC
    Inventor: Werner Wild