Patents Examined by Dominic Hawkins
  • Patent number: 10114080
    Abstract: The present invention provides an LED lighting device and a method for determining an operation time of the LED lighting device. The LED lighting device includes an LED module configured to emit light; an LED driver configured to supply power and drive the LED module; a micro controller unit (MCU) module that is connected to the LED driver and configured to measure an operation time of the LED lighting device; a display module that is connected to the MCU module and configured to receive the operation time sent from the MCU module and display the operation time; and a power supply module configured to supply power to the MCU module and the display module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG SHENGHUI LIGHTING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jinxiang Shen, Fang Chen, Yehua Wan
  • Patent number: 10116351
    Abstract: A pollution detection circuit and a pollution detection method for data lines are provided. The pollution detection circuit and the method detect an impedance of at least one data terminal for detecting the pollution occurring at the data terminal or the data lines. The pollution occurring at the data terminal or the data lines is confirmed when the impedance is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eui-Soo Kim, Ju-Hyun Kim, Yung-I Chang, Jian-Ming Fu, Zhi-Bo Tao, Jung-Sheng Chen, Young-Bae Park, David Jay Kunst
  • Patent number: 10107848
    Abstract: A portable testing device includes a housing that encloses an electric motor and a power source. The power source is configured to provide electrical power to the electric motor. The system also includes a sensor port operatively coupled to the housing and the electric motor. The sensor port includes a converter member that is movable to adjust a depth of the sensor port. The system also includes a user interface device operatively coupled to the housing. The user interface device is configured to adjust an amount of the electrical power provided by the power source to the electric motor. The sensor port is configured to removably receive a sensor for testing operation of the sensor relative to the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Anthony, Gerry J. Kielar
  • Patent number: 10107931
    Abstract: A method for choosing a frequency to locate an underground object. A locating receiver is provided with a display. The locating receiver scans multiple pre-selected frequencies to determine a noise level, or a signal-to-noise ratio. The locating receiver transmits the chosen frequency to a transmitter, which places the chosen frequency on the underground object to provide an optimal locating frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Bailey, Michael F. Gard
  • Patent number: 10107095
    Abstract: A fluid monitoring apparatus includes a housing and a tracer sensor attached to an exterior of the housing. The housing has at least one flow passage for a fluid sample and a port for the tracer sensor to monitor the fluid sample in the housing. In one example, the monitoring apparatus may include a plurality of tracer sensors attached to the housing, wherein the tracer sensors are interchangeably attached to the housing. In one embodiment, the monitoring apparatus may be attached to a first well for detecting the presence of a tracer in the first well, wherein the tracer is supplied from a second well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Sean M. Christian, Daniel Charles Boyde
  • Patent number: 10101364
    Abstract: A circuit tester is provided in which an edge lit display is incorporated into the handle of a circuit tester and the indicators lights are arranged in the handle, and the handle is formed in such a manner, that the indicator lights can also illuminate the work area of the circuit tester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Inventor: Ben Schloss
  • Patent number: 10101414
    Abstract: Thin film resistive sensors typically include a number of resistive components. These components should be well matched in order for the sensor to provide accurate readings. When a sensor is incorporated within an integrated circuit, the resistive components may be formed over, or under, metallic traces that form part of other components. As a result, the thin film resistive components are subjected to different levels of stress. This disclosure provides a structure that is arranged to mitigate the effects of stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventors: Jan Kubik, Seamus P. Whiston, Padraig Michael Doran
  • Patent number: 10096764
    Abstract: A system (10) and a method (200) supply power in high external magnetic fields. Alternating current (AC) line power is converted (202) to isolated power using one or more piezoelectric transformers (18). The flow of AC line power to the piezoelectric transformers (18) is regulated (204) to maintain the isolated power at a predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Paul Wayne Bailey
  • Patent number: 10094788
    Abstract: The implementations described herein generally relate to a sensing device for use in the semiconducting industry which sense process parameters to control semiconductor processes. More specifically, the implementations relate to packaging for a surface acoustic wave (SAW) based devices or wireless or RF-responsive sensors for use in the harsh processing environments of a semiconductor processing chamber such that the neither the sensor and its components nor the chamber components interfere with or contaminate one another. The sensor packaging may include various packaging layers with or without protective coatings and a waveguide. The packaging may have a thickness chosen such that the thickness is less than the electromagnetic wavelength of a SAW sensor radio wave. The sensing devices may be disposed in cavities of the chamber, the processing volume, on chamber components, and/or on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh Gopalan, Simon Yavelberg, Zubin Huang
  • Patent number: 10073150
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor is provided with first and second magnetoresistive effect elements that can detect an external magnetic field. The first and second magnetoresistive effect elements are a plurality of layers of multilayer body including free layers where their magnetization directions vary due to the external magnetic field. Shapes of the first and second magnetoresistive effect elements viewed from the upper side in the lamination direction are different from each other. The first magnetoresistive effect element has a shape that can increase a slope of an output of the first magnetoresistive effect element relative to the change of the external magnetic field. The second magnetoresistive effect element has a shape that can decrease a slope of an output of the second magnetoresistive effect element relative to the change of the external magnetic field compared to the slope of the output of the first magnetoresistive effect element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiro Ueda, Yoshiyuki Mizoguchi, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Suguru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10067185
    Abstract: A system for characterising a NOR flash memory cell provided with a floating gate transistor, includes a voltage generator having an output connected to the gate electrode that generates as output an erase signal; and a dynamic measurement apparatus including a first channel connected to the gate electrode and a second channel connected to the drain electrode. The dynamic measurement apparatus generates on the first and second channels write signals and measures a current flowing in the drain electrode during the writing of the memory cell. Only the gate electrode of the floating gate transistor is connected to the voltage generator and to the dynamic measurement apparatus by a CMOS switch, which switches between a first position, where the output of the voltage generator is electrically coupled to the gate electrode, and a second position, where the first channel of the measurement device is electrically coupled to the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: COMMISARIAT À L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ÉNERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Jean Coignus, Alexandre Vernhet
  • Patent number: 10065714
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a testing system that is configured to test subsea power components in-situ while they are deployed on the sea floor. The testing system includes a top side testing system with test instruments, a multi-conductor work-over umbilical cable, and a subsea deployable test head. The test head can be deployed using and ROV and makes electrical connection to the subsea power component via wet connects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: ONESUBSEA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Asbjoern Diesen
  • Patent number: 10060880
    Abstract: Magnetoresistive (MR) sensors employing dual MR devices for differential MR sensing are provided. These MR sensors may be used as biosensors to detect the presence of biological materials as an example. An MR sensor includes dual MR sensor devices that may be tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) devices or giant magnetoresistive (GMR) devices as examples. The MR devices are arranged such that a channel is formed between the MR devices for receiving magnetic nanoparticles. A magnetic stray field generated by the magnetic nanoparticles causes free layers in the MR devices to rotate in opposite directions, thus causing differential resistances between the MR devices for greater sensing sensitivity. Further, as another aspect, by providing the channel between the MR devices, the magnetic stray field generated by the magnetic nanoparticles can more easily rotate the magnetic moment orientation of the free layers in the MR devices, thus further increasing sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Wei-Chuan Chen, Jung Pill Kim, Seung Hyuk Kang
  • Patent number: 10060881
    Abstract: A method includes pulsating a magnetic field at a first location associated with an external surface of a wall containing magnetic material. The method also includes measuring at least one characteristic of the pulsating magnetic field at a second location associated with the external surface of the wall. The at least one characteristic changes based on corrosion on an internal surface the wall between the first and second locations. The magnetic field could be pulsated by applying an AC signal to a conductive coil or by vibrating a magnet. The method could also include analyzing the at least one measured characteristic to identify an amount of the corrosion and/or a change in the amount of the corrosion. Use of the internal surface the wall could be modified based on the amount or change of the corrosion. Multiple magnetic fields can be generated at multiple first locations, and the at least one characteristic can be measured at multiple second locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Leonardo William Estevez, Terry Lee Sculley, Christian Link
  • Patent number: 10060950
    Abstract: Shielded probe systems are disclosed herein. The probe systems are configured to test a device under test (DUT) and include a measurement chamber that at least partially bounds an enclosed volume, an aperture defined by the measurement chamber, a probing assembly, and a shielding structure. The probing assembly includes a probe, which is oriented within the enclosed volume, a probe arm, which is operatively attached to the probe, and a manipulator, which is operatively attached to the probe arm. At least a portion of the probing assembly extends through the aperture. The shielding structure extends between the measurement chamber and the probing assembly and is configured to restrict fluid flow through the aperture and shield the enclosed volume from an ambient environment that surrounds the measurement chamber while maintaining at least a threshold separation distance from the probe arm throughout a probe arm range-of-motion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: FormFactor Beaverton, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E Simmons, Bryan Conrad Bolt, Christopher Anthony Storm, Kazuki Negishi, Joseph George Frankel, Robbie Ingram-Goble
  • Patent number: 10048815
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide improved sensor devices and methods that facilitate improved sensor devices. Specifically, the devices and methods provide capacitive image sensors that require only two layers of conductive elements formed on a single substrate. The ability to provide an image sensor using only a single substrate with two layers of conductive elements may substantially reduce the cost and complexity of the capacitive image sensor. In one embodiment, an input device is provided that comprises a first substrate having a first and second side. Each of the second array of second sensor electrodes comprises a plurality of isolated components disposed on the first side and a plurality of connectors disposed on the second side. The connectors and isolated components of the second sensor electrodes are arranged such that adjacent pairs of connectors along the first direction are separated by a distance substantially greater than the first pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Tai-Wei Yau, Yeh-Cheng Tan
  • Patent number: 10042222
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a test device, a method of manufacturing the test device, and a display apparatus. The test device comprises a first test electrode and a second test electrode. The first test electrode is configured to electrically connect with an electrode layer of an array substrate, and the electrode layer is a gate electrode layer or a source-drain electrode layer. The second test electrode is configured to electrically connect with a first transparent conductive layer provided on the array substrate, and the first transparent conductive layer is electrically connected to a second transparent conductive layer provided on a color film substrate. Thereby, it is possible to test liquid crystal characteristics of the whole liquid crystal display panel by applying a DC voltage through the first test electrode and the second test electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dongliang Wang, Xi Chen, Zhenyu Zhang, Linlin Wang, Bin Feng
  • Patent number: 10031164
    Abstract: A power MOSFET and a sense MOSFET for detecting a current of the power MOSFET are formed in a semiconductor chip, and a source pad and a Kelvin pad are formed of a source electrode for the power MOSFET. The source pad is a pad for outputting the current flowing to the power MOSFET, and the Kelvin pad is a pad for detecting a source potential of the power MOSFET. The source electrode has a slit, and at least a part of the slit is arranged between the source pad and the Kelvin pad when seen in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keita Takada, Nobuya Koike, Akihiro Nakahara, Makoto Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10024889
    Abstract: Embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods including a switching converter having an output stage including a power switch or first switching device to convert an input switching signal to an output switching signal and a sensor stage including a second switching device and a third switching device. In embodiments, the sensor stage may be coupled to receive the output switching signal from the first switching device and to substantially replicate a condition of the first switching device to generate a continuous signal rather than a switched signal. In embodiments, the continuous signal may allow detection of a current level. In some embodiments, the current level may indicate an overcurrent event. A digital post-processing circuit may be coupled to the switching device to count a number of overcurrent events according to various embodiments. Other embodiments may also be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
    Inventors: Holger Wenske, Stephan Henzler
  • Patent number: 10018665
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes a power conversion device connected to a 3-phase AC power source, a first fuse positioned on a first phase of the source between the conversion device and the source, a second fuse positioned on a second phase of the source between the conversion device and the source, a first voltage detection device which detects first voltage between a third phase and the first phase of the source on the conversion device side with respect to the first fuse, a second voltage detection device which detects second voltage between the third and second phases of the source on the conversion device side with respect to the second fuse, and a status detection device connected to the first and second voltage devices such that the status device detects status of the first and second fuses based on comparison between detection result of the first and second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Kenji Mitsuda, Hiroshi Takagi