Patents Examined by Jeffrey Shin
  • Patent number: 10096443
    Abstract: A direct-current switching device switches direct currents, in particular direct currents in the kiloampere range. The switching device contains a switching unit, a resonant circuit, and an overvoltage arrester. During the switching off of the switching unit, the resonant circuit produces an oscillating resonant current, which is superposed with the direct current still flowing through the switching unit during the switching off of the switching unit. Accordingly, connected in series with the switching unit, hereinafter referred to as the first switching unit, is a second switching unit, the switching behavior of which differs from the switching behavior of the first switching unit, and the resonant circuit and the arrester lie electrically in parallel with the series connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lutz-Ruediger Jaenicke, Joerg Teichmann, Jan Weisker
  • Patent number: 10090110
    Abstract: A crystal unit includes: a capacitor in which a plurality of dielectrics and a plurality of internal electrodes are alternately stacked; a crystal piece arranged above the capacitor and having excitation electrodes on both surfaces thereof; an external electrode formed on a surface of the capacitor; and a first conductor portion formed within the capacitor, and including one end electrically coupled to a first internal electrode among the plurality of internal electrodes, the other end electrically coupled to the external electrode, and a first exposed portion exposed on the surface of the capacitor between the one end and the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hajime Kubota, Masayuki Itoh, Masakazu Kishi
  • Patent number: 10090805
    Abstract: Method and systems are provided for voltage-controlling and tuning of oscillators. An oscillator may comprise comprises an oscillator core configured for contributing gain to oscillations generated in the oscillator and a frequency tuning network connected between the oscillator core and a signal source that provides an input signal for creating the oscillations in the oscillator. The frequency tuning network may be configured for tuning frequency of the oscillations, to inhibit amplifying a first capacitance from the oscillator core and to amplify a second capacitance from the frequency tuning network. The frequency of oscillations may be tuned by varying a capacitance, and isolating one or more of noise sources or parasitic capacitances from the tuning network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: MAXLINEAR ASIA SINGAPORE PTE LTD.
    Inventors: Srinivasa Rao Madala, Bharath Kumar Singareddy, Hormoz Djahanshahi, Stanley Ho
  • Patent number: 10084239
    Abstract: A spatial modulator for RF beams (microwave (uW), millimeter wave (MMW), and sub-millimeter wave (sub-MMW)) using dynamically-writable highly-reflective regions, with sub-wavelength diffractive pattern spatial definition that is finer than the wavelength of the incident RF beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Vadum, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse Hart Shaver, Francois Jacques Malassenet
  • Patent number: 10084320
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a power reception unit configured to wirelessly receive power from a power supply apparatus, a communication unit configured to receive a detection period, during which the power supply apparatus detects a foreign object, from the power supply apparatus and to notify a control unit of the detection period, the detection period, and the control unit configured to perform a process for keeping power consumed by the electronic apparatus in predetermined range constant until the detection period has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Tanabe, Yudai Fukaya
  • Patent number: 10076966
    Abstract: This contactless power transmission device transmits power to a contactless power reception device having a reception-side coil and a reception-side resonator which resonates with the reception-side coil. The contactless power transmission device has a transmission unit including a transmission-side coil, a transmission-side resonator which resonates with the transmission-side coil, and an inverter for feeding power to the transmission-side resonator. The inductance value of the transmission-side coil and/or the capacitance value of the transmission-side resonator is set so that the frequency range in which the phase difference of a primary-side current flowing through the transmission unit relative to a primary-side voltage applied to the transmission unit is zero or above is wider than when the inductance value of the reception-side coil are equal to each other as are the capacitance value of the reception-side resonator and the capacitance value of the transmission-side resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Koizumi, Osamu Ohashi, Tomohiro Ota, Takeshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10074944
    Abstract: A circuit includes a connector having first and second mateable portions. Each portion includes at least two terminals configured to mechanically engage at least two terminals of the other portion. The two terminals within the first and second portions are arranged so that as the first and second portions are mated, a first terminal of the first portion and a first terminal of the second portions come into contact before respective second terminals of the first and second portions. The circuit also includes a polymeric positive temperature coefficient (PPTC) device with a first terminal in electrical communication with the first terminal of the first portion and a second terminal in electrical communication with the second terminal of the first portion. A power terminal is in electrical communication with the second terminal of the first portion and is configured to be connected to a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Kedar V. Bhatawadekar, Mario G. Sepulveda, Jason Larson
  • Patent number: 10069305
    Abstract: An apparatus and a procedure for the immission of electric energy supplied by a device supplying electric energy in a preexisting electric circuit, connected to a source of electric energy, in which one or more electric users may be connected to the electric circuit. The apparatus includes an adjusting device that makes the electric circuit autonomous so as to avoid that the source of electric energy has to supply electric energy to the same electric circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: FUTURE LABS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Dario Tagliaro, Francesco Ulian
  • Patent number: 10067545
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for controlling power in an active cable via a circuit mechanism located internally within the cable assembly. The system may include a first device communicatively coupled to a second device via the cable assembly and a device power line. The circuit mechanism may control power to the cable assembly and a voltage comparator may be connected to the circuit mechanism to regulate the flow of power associated with the cable of the cable assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Dunstan
  • Patent number: 10063102
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitting method performed in a wireless power transmitting apparatus wirelessly transmitting power includes determining reception strength of a short-range wireless communication channel, adjusting an interval of a short beacon signal in response to a change in reception strength; and transmitting the short beacon signal at the interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hyoung Cho, Jae Suk Sung, Sang Ho Cho, Eun Young Shin, Seung Won Park, Soon Tack Oh
  • Patent number: 10062525
    Abstract: A wireless switch includes: an adjusting member configured to rotate; a rotary plate comprising a first extending bar extending from a surface of the rotary plate in a radial direction and configured to be rotated together with the adjusting member; a first deformation member configured to be deformed by the first extending bar when the rotary plate rotates to cause the first extending bar to contact the first deformation member; a first piezoelectric element disposed on the first deformation member and configured to generate electricity when the first deformation member is deformed; and a radio frequency (RF) communications module unit configured to transmit a signal according to the electricity generated by the first piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In Wha Jeong, Jae Suk Sung, Hugh Kim
  • Patent number: 10046659
    Abstract: An apparatus for wirelessly receiving power from a wireless power transmitter is provided. The apparatus comprises an active switching rectifier operably connected to a coupler and configured to operate in a first bridge mode and a second bridge mode. The apparatus comprises a controller configured to adjust an input resistance of the rectifier to a first value that provides a first wireless power transfer efficiency when the rectifier operates in the first bridge mode. The controller is configured to adjust the input resistance of the rectifier to a second value that provides a second wireless power transfer efficiency less than the first wireless power transfer efficiency while operating within one or more operating limitations when the rectifier operates in the second bridge mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Roman Bucher, Marcel Fischer, Hans Peter Widmer
  • Patent number: 10050470
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein may generate and transmit power waves that, as result of their physical waveform characteristics (e.g., frequency, amplitude, phase, gain, direction), converge at a predetermined location in a transmission field to generate a pocket of energy. Receivers associated with an electronic device being powered by the wireless charging system, may extract energy from these pockets of energy and then convert that energy into usable electric power for the electronic device associated with a receiver. The pockets of energy may manifest as a three-dimensional field (e.g., transmission field) where energy may be harvested by a receiver positioned within or nearby the pocket of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventor: Michael A. Leabman
  • Patent number: 10044320
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system and method for generating noise waves at millimeter wave frequencies. A noise source generator is designed to be connected to a crystalline structure for efficient heat transfer and compatibility with millimeter wave receivers. The use of crystalline structure coupled to the noise source generator allows heat from a biasing device, such as a diode, to be carried away such that the diode is able to generate noise waves while being reversed biased without compromising the device. In another embodiment, the noise source generator includes the use of a backshort transmission line with vias that is connected to the biasing device for heat transfer from the biasing device to the backshort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Negar Ehsan, Jeffrey R. Piepmeier, Edward J. Wollack
  • Patent number: 10038403
    Abstract: Several circuits and methods for transferring an input data signal in a digital isolator are disclosed. In an embodiment, the digital isolator includes an isolation element, input circuit, and output circuit. The isolation element includes at least one input node and at least one output node, the input circuit is electronically coupled to the input node and generates modulated differential data signals based on modulating the input data signal on a carrier signal. The input circuit operates using a first supply voltage with respect to a first ground. The output circuit is electronically coupled to the output node to receive the modulated differential data signals, operates using a second supply voltage with respect to a second ground and includes a frequency-shift keying demodulator configured to generate a demodulated data signal in response to detection of presence of the carrier signal. The output circuit further generates an output data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Anant Shankar Kamath, Sreeram N S
  • Patent number: 10033222
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein may generate and transmit power waves that, as result of their physical waveform characteristics (e.g., frequency, amplitude, phase, gain, direction), converge at a predetermined location in a transmission field to generate a pocket of energy. Receivers associated with an electronic device being powered by the wireless charging system, may extract energy from these pockets of energy and then convert that energy into usable electric power for the electronic device associated with a receiver. The pockets of energy may manifest as a three-dimensional field (e.g., transmission field) where energy may be harvested by a receiver positioned within or nearby the pocket of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: ENERGOUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael A. Leabman
  • Patent number: 10027168
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein may generate and transmit power waves that, as result of their physical waveform characteristics (e.g., frequency, amplitude, phase, gain, direction), converge at a predetermined location in a transmission field to generate a pocket of energy. Receivers associated with an electronic device being powered by the wireless charging system, may extract energy from these pockets of energy and then convert that energy into usable electric power for the electronic device associated with a receiver. The pockets of energy may manifest as a three-dimensional field (e.g., transmission field) where energy may be harvested by a receiver positioned within or nearby the pocket of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventor: Michael A. Leabman
  • Patent number: 10027110
    Abstract: In one example, a method includes receiving, by a power switching device and via a connector of the power switching device, a signal that causes the power switching device to transition from a first operating mode to a second operating mode in which the power switching device consumes less current than the first operating mode. In this example, the method also includes, responsive to determining, while the power switching device is in the second operating mode, an occurrence of one or more events, outputting, by the power switching device and via the same connector of the power switching device, a signal that indicates the occurrence of the one or more events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Christian Djelassi, Hans-Peter Kreuter, Robert Illing
  • Patent number: 10020678
    Abstract: Systems and methods to generate and transmit power waves are disclosed herein. An example method includes: transmitting, by one or more transmitters, one or more power waves to provide power. A first antenna of a first antenna array of one or more antenna arrays of a respective transmitter of the one or more transmitters is located at a distance from a second antenna of a second antenna array of the one or more antenna arrays such that power waves transmitted by the first antenna and the second antenna are directed to form a pocket of energy to provide power to the targeted electronic device. The respective transmitter determines the distance between the first and second antennas: based upon one or more parameters received in a communication signal from the targeted electronic device, and to allow a desired mutual coupling effect between the first and second antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventor: Michael A. Leabman
  • Patent number: 10009008
    Abstract: A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator includes a substrate having a top side surface and a bottom side surface. A Bragg mirror is on the top side surface of the substrate. A bottom electrode layer is on the Bragg mirror, and a piezoelectric layer is on the bottom electrode layer. A top dielectric layer is on the piezoelectric layer, and a top electrode layer is on the top dielectric layer. The bottom side surface of the substrate has a surface roughness of at least 1 ?m root mean square (RMS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stuart M. Jacobsen, Brian Goodlin