Patents Examined by David M Stables
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Patent number: 9768612Abstract: To provide a power supply system equipped with a storage battery assembly including a plurality of storage battery control units, the power supply system being configured such that a group of the storage battery control units, which are selected from the storage battery control units, and which have output voltages within a predetermined voltage range, are first connected to the parallel connection line, and such that the voltage range is set so as to maximize the number of the storage battery control units having output voltages within the voltage range.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2011Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshiya Iwasaki, Yasuo Okuda, Souichi Sakai
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Patent number: 9759497Abstract: Described embodiments include a device, a system, and a method. A described device includes a closed-cycle heat transfer device. The device includes a thermal management system adapted for dissipating heat generated by transmission lines of a power transmission system in use to transport electric power from one place to another. The system includes a heat-dissipation device and a transmission-line temperature manager. The heat-dissipation device includes a heat-acquisition element configured to absorb heat from a portion of a live transmission line of the power transmission system. The heat-dissipation device includes an assembly of one or more controllable fins thermally coupled to the heat-acquisition element and configured to dissipate at least a portion of the heat absorbed by the heat-acquisition. The transmission-line temperature manager is configured to control an aspect of the assembly of one or more controllable fins.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2016Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Thomas A. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
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Patent number: 9748768Abstract: A pre-charging and voltage supply system for a DC-AC inverter is provided. The system includes a first battery having a first anode and a first cathode, and a second battery having a second anode and a second cathode. The first cathode is electrically isolated from the second cathode. The system includes a contactor coupled in series between the first anode and an electrical node. The system includes a microprocessor that generates a first control signal to induce a DC-DC voltage converter to increase a voltage level applied to the DC-AC inverter. The microprocessor generates a second control signal to induce the contactor transition to a closed position such that a first voltage level is applied to the DC-AC inverter, if the voltage level between the electrical node and the first cathode is greater than a threshold voltage level.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.Inventor: Alexander Jeffrey Smith
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Patent number: 9744866Abstract: An electric power control device has a first connector connected to a second connector provided in a second appliance, and a control circuit provided within a first appliance that exchanges electric power with the second appliance via a harness and connected to the first connector via the harness. The first connector includes a latching solenoid that switches connector connection, i.e., connection between the first and second connectors, between a locked state and an unlocked state. The control circuit outputs a first or second voltage to an operating coil inside the latching solenoid to bring the connector connection into the locked or unlocked state, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kohzaburoh Murakami
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Patent number: 9734108Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that limit the number of types of connectors needed by an electronic device. One example may provide a connector receptacle capable of adapting to multiple types of connector inserts. In this way, connector inserts conveying one of a number of interfaces can be accepted by the same connector receptacle. This may reduce the number and types of connector receptacles needed on an electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2012Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Erik J. Shahoian, Gregory A. Springer
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Patent number: 9732967Abstract: A system for using solar and wind energy for electricity generation and thermal regulation. The system may include a high altitude wind turbine, which may generate electric power and conduct cold to the ground and the rest of the system. The cold may be conducted to a crystallization tank, which may also include an input for heat, for example from solar energy. Cold and heat from the crystallization tank may then be stored or used to heat or cool one or more buildings. Generated electric power may be used in conjunction with or separately from the heating/cooling system.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2014Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Inventor: Farouk Dakhil
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Patent number: 9720026Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and integrated circuits that provide radiation hardening through chip level integrated recovery are provided. The apparatus may include first and second circuits within a partition of an integrated circuit having isolated grounds and a state machine configured to monitor current leakage of the first circuit while the first circuit is powered on and to power on the second circuit and power off the first circuit when the monitored first circuit current leakage exceeds a first current leakage threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Defense Electronics CorporationInventor: Stephan P. Athan
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Patent number: 9722443Abstract: There is a request for charging and discharging of a lithium-ion battery with as less degradation as possible. In an operation using only binary values as in conventional technology, however, in a charged state in which the battery is used, there is a high possibility that the battery is used toward accelerating the degradation thereof. In a power distribution device for distributing power between a plurality of batteries and a plurality of customers, when distributing the power of the batteries to the loads of the customers, by being based at least on the degradation information of the batteries, the state of charge, and the temperature data of the batteries, a battery discharging function is achieved that makes the degradation of the batteries minimum.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2011Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Takaharu Ishida, Kazumi Rissen, Tohru Watanabe
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Patent number: 9713960Abstract: A power supply system and method for providing uninterrupted low voltage electrical power to control circuitry in an electric or hybrid-electric vehicle. A transformer includes a first primary side configured to receive a low voltage input from a vehicle battery and a second primary side configured to receive a rectified AC high voltage input. A first controller coupled to the low voltage input is operational to drive a first switching device to regulate a low voltage output using energy from the low voltage input when the rectified AC high voltage input is absent. A second controller connectable to the rectified AC high voltage input is operational to drive a second switching device to regulate the low voltage output using energy from the rectified AC high voltage input and deactivate or activate the first controller using a switching signal when the rectified AC high voltage input is present or absent, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: Lear CorporationInventor: Zhonghui Bing
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Patent number: 9698866Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing scheduling for charger and electric vehicle communication in a PLC system are described. In an illustrative embodiment, a method performed by a PLC device. In a further embodiment, the PLC device may be configured to operate according to a narrow-band PLC communication protocol. In a further embodiment, the narrow-band PLC communications between PLC devices in the charger and the electric vehicle are conducted over a pilot wire coupling the charger to the electric vehicle. In still a further embodiment, the pilot wire may be one of a standard set of existing wires in a standard cable used for connecting the charger to the electric vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Ramanuja Vedantham, Xiaolin Lu, Kumaran Vijayasankar
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Patent number: 9698625Abstract: Systems and methods include operating a power system in a first state, and detecting an anticipated load increase. The systems and methods further include changing operation of the power system from the first state to a second state upon detection of the anticipated load increase.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Joseph Petrus Eduardus Raats, Anthony J. Hackbarth, Isaac S. Frampton
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Patent number: 9684328Abstract: A system includes an excitation system configured to regulate one or more outputs of a power generating system. The excitation system includes a power conversion module (PCM). The PCM includes a direct current (DC) link, a plurality of insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) configured to generate an output to the system, and a nonlinear resistor configured to limit a voltage of the DC link to a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Jordan Brantley Casteel
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Patent number: 9679469Abstract: A remote control circuit includes a rectifying filter circuit coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source, a power supply module connected to the rectifying filter circuit; a leakage energy collecting circuit connected to the rectifying filter circuit; a remote control signal receiving circuit connected to the leakage energy collecting circuit; and a switch circuit connected to the remote control signal receiving circuit and the power supply module. When the remote control signal receiving circuit receives a remote power on signal, the remote control signal receiving circuit outputs a first signal to the switch circuit, and the switch circuit switches on the power supply module. When the remote control signal receiving circuit receives a remote power off signal, the remote control signal receiving circuit outputs a second signal to the switch circuit, the switch circuit switches off the power supply module.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventors: Ching-Chung Lin, Fu-Shan Cui
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Patent number: 9667064Abstract: A system includes a plurality of power supplies and a controller. The plurality of power supplies outputs power to a load. A serial bus connects the plurality of power supplies in a daisy chain. The controller is connected to first and last ones of the power supplies by the serial bus. The controller is connected to a management bus via a management bus interface. The controller monitors the plurality of power supplies via the serial bus. The controller transmits status information of the plurality of power supplies to the management bus via the management bus interface of the controller.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2015Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.Inventors: James Warren Templeton, Scott Kelly Herrington, Gregg Scott Kodra, Paul Walker Latham, II, Stewart Gall Kenly
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Patent number: 9643504Abstract: A wireless power transmission system, a resonator in the wireless power transmission system, and a resonator design method for optimum power division are provided. A power receiver of the wireless power transmission system, includes a resonator configured to receive a power from a power transmitter. The power receiver further includes a power supply configured to supply the received power to a load. A figure of merit (FOM) of the resonator corresponds to a power dividing ratio of the power transmitter.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Young Ho Ryu, Eun Seok Park, Sang Wook Kwon, Ki Young Kim, Nam Yun Kim, Dong Zo Kim, Yun Kwon Park, Keum Su Song, Chang Wook Yoon, Jin Sung Choi
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Patent number: 9623752Abstract: A vehicle power supply system includes a power supply connector having a power supply port which is provided within a trunk room and electrically connected to a DC power source, and an inverter device which is provided separately from a fuel cell automobile (an electrically driven vehicle) and is disposed within the trunk room, wherein the trunk room is provided therein with an inverter installation space where the inverter device may be installed at a position which does not overlap with the power supply port when viewed from a forward and rearward direction of the vehicle, and the invert device is provided with a connection cable which is drawn from a side surface thereof and of which a front end portion has a connector portion connected to the power supply port.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Takanori Mouri, Kazuhiko Kuyama, Hiroyuki Eguchi, Makoto Ogawa, Koichi Azuma, Takeshi Kanegae, Takeshi Goto, Hiroi Nonaka, Takumi Jinbo
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Patent number: 9625206Abstract: A pre-wired auxiliary power circuit (45, 47) is built into a transport refrigeration system for supplying electrical power to an optional auxiliary system when installed in connection with the transport refrigeration unit. A low cost safety interlock (70) is provided in association with the auxiliary power circuit.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2011Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: RongAi Ma, Kenneth Cresswell, David Whyte
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Patent number: 9627912Abstract: A mobile system includes a mobile cart and an electronic device supported by the mobile cart. The mobile cart includes integral power storage structures that store electrical energy. The mobile cart also includes power supply electronics configured to supply the electrical energy to the electronic device to power the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2012Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Wood, Ian K. Edwards, Raymond A. Lia, Jon R. Salvati, Robert L. Vivenzio, Miguel C. Mudge, Michael Curry, Shawn St. Pierre
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Patent number: 9616829Abstract: An electrical center for distributing electrical power to an electrical system of a vehicle is provided. A housing of the electrical center includes a shroud that protrudes outward from a sidewall of the housing. A fuse assembly which is configured to fit into the housing includes a tab that protrudes outward from the sidewall. A sleeve is configured to engage the shroud and the tab such that a receptacle for a connector of the electrical system is formed on the sidewall.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Eric J. Stern, William J. Mosby, Theodore J. Borowicz
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Patent number: 9616762Abstract: A vehicle power supply device includes: a plug socket to supply an external device with electrical power; and an external output switch configured to be switched between an on state in which the electrical power is supplied from a battery to the plug socket and an off state in which the supply of the electrical power is stopped. In a case where the external output switch is in the on state, when the vehicle transitions from a ready mode to an OFF mode, the switch control unit sets the external output switch to the off state along with the transition, and when the vehicle transitions from an ACC mode or an ON mode to the OFF mode, the switch control unit maintains the on state of the external output switch.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Naoki Yamamoto