Patents Examined by Justen Fauth
  • Patent number: 9197423
    Abstract: A network device comprises an interface coupling an electronic device to a differential pair of signal lines, and an integrated active common mode suppression and electrostatic discharge protection circuit coupled to the interface in parallel to differential signal lines of the electronic device. First and second resistors are respectively coupled to the differential lines between the integrated active common mode suppression and electrostatic discharge protection circuit and the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: AKROS SILICON, INC.
    Inventors: Philip John Crawley, Amit Gattani, John R. Camagna, Jun Cai
  • Patent number: 8552593
    Abstract: A non-contact power transmission apparatus accurately determines the kind of object that is placed on the charging deck of the non-contact power transmission apparatus, and, only when a non-contact power receiving apparatus is placed on the power transmission apparatus, allows power transmission and data communication to take place, thereby accurately determining the state of the receiver side and efficiently controlling the transmission of power. In the power transmission apparatus, the power supplied to the non-contact power receiving apparatus is measured, and the output power of the wireless power signal output from two different cores is controlled, thereby allowing the charging operation to be stably conducted even if the non-contact power receiving apparatus is moved anywhere on the power transmission apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hanrim Postech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Kil Jung, Yoon-Sang Kuk
  • Patent number: 8427004
    Abstract: There is obtained an electric-vehicle controller that prevents energy stored in a power storage unit from being discharged in the case where a collision, a derailment, or breakage of an overhead line occurs. The electric-vehicle controller is provided with a DC-to-DC converter one terminal pair of which is connected to the DC power source side of the inverter, a power storage unit that is connected to the other terminal pair of the DC-to-DC converter and stores electric power, a switch provided between the power storage unit and the DC-to-DC converter, and a control unit that opens the switch in the case where abnormal circumstances may occur or have occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kitanaka
  • Patent number: 8390149
    Abstract: A distributed electrical power generating and utilizing system includes an induction generator driven by a prime mover requiring reactive power to operate for providing electrical power on a bus. The bus has a gross load and is also connectable to a utility power grid by a switch. The gross load includes at least a non-linear electrical load component, typically including a variable speed device and associated diode rectifier front end. The bus includes a harmonic filter having a power factor-correcting capacitor integrated therewith for collectively compensating harmonic distortion caused by the non-linear load component and for correcting power factor to compensate for reactive power required by at least the inductive generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Fredette, Rishi Grover
  • Patent number: 8350413
    Abstract: The power pack includes a plurality of parallel groups. Each parallel group includes a plurality of electrical power sources connected in parallel. The pack also includes a plurality of series groups. Each series group connects in series one of the power sources from each of the parallel groups. The pack also includes a series balancing circuit configured to balance the voltage of the power sources in one of the series groups such that one or more power sources in the series group recharges one or more other power sources in the same series group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Quallion LLC
    Inventor: Hisashi Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 8338988
    Abstract: A method and systems of adaptation of an active power supply set using an event trigger are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes providing power to a system load using an active power supply set. The active power supply set includes a power supply in an active mode. The method also includes detecting an event trigger. In addition, the method includes increasing a power mode of an additional power supply when the event trigger is detected. The method may include detecting an additional event trigger and decreasing the power mode of a unit of the active power supply set when the additional event trigger is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventor: Radhakrishna Togare
  • Patent number: 8338986
    Abstract: A method for providing power to devices in a network and coordinating actions of multiple power supplies on the network is described. The method may include maintaining connectivity of communication signals and ground between upstream and downstream portions of the network relative to a power supply, while terminating power from an upstream power supply and taking over power supply functions for downstream devices. This may be achieved by including a logic feature within one or more of the multiple power supplies that monitors a power status of an upstream power supply and/or the power status of the associated power supply. When the logic feature detects a power cycle, it initiates a coordinated power cycle of the associated power supply and/or other networked power supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Furukawa, Nicholas R. Goebel, Amy L. Stachowiak, Robert D. Law
  • Patent number: 8334618
    Abstract: An area electric power system includes a number of direct current power sources, and a number of inverters operatively associated with the number of direct current power sources. Each of the number of inverters is structured to provide real power and controlled reactive power injection to detect islanding. An output is powered by the number of inverters. A number of electrical switching apparatus are structured to electrically connect the number of inverters to and electrically disconnect the number of inverters from a utility grid. A number of devices are structured to detect islanding with respect to the utility grid responsive to a number of changes of alternating current frequency or voltage of the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Vijay Bhavaraju, Richard P. Peplinski, Anish Prasai, Uday Mhaskar
  • Patent number: 8334615
    Abstract: A system for supplying electric power from a main power grid to a plurality of ships moored at a respective berth of a quay. The system includes a connection point for connecting to the grid supplying electrical power at a first frequency, a frequency converter arrangement for converting electric power from the grid at the first frequency to electric power at a second frequency, a first connector, arranged to provide power from the grid at the first frequency, a second connector, arranged to provide power at the second frequency from the frequency converter arrangement, a plurality of switches, each switch being configured to supply of power from either of the two connector to a respective berth, the system further includes a plurality of ship connection arrangements connected to a respective switch, each ship connection arrangement being adapted for connection to an electric system of a ship. A corresponding arrangement and method are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Ambra Sannino, Georgios Demetriades, Lars Hultqvist, Ola Norén
  • Patent number: 8330297
    Abstract: There is provided a system for supplying power to a site having a load. The system comprises a number n of power source units, the value of n being greater than or equal to 3. The system further comprises a number t?tmax of loads groups, each load group having a number i of inputs. The value of i is greater than or equal to 2 and less than the value of n. Each load group receives power from i power source units, such that each load group is connected to a unique combination of i power source units. tmax is such that every possible combination of i power source units is connected to a unique load group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Aviem Systems Ltd
    Inventor: Avi Pines
  • Patent number: 8330293
    Abstract: A charging system of the present invention is connectable to a power grid having a monitoring device. The monitoring device monitors the power delivered to a plurality of loads and determines a power factor and a power factor correction value associated with the loads. The power factor correction value indicates the difference between the power factor and unity. The charging system includes an electrical device, a charger in communication with the electrical device, a charging controller, a power factor correction circuit, a communication device, and a controller. The communication device of the charger receives a data signal from the monitoring device indicative of the power factor correction value associated with the plurality of loads. The power factor correction circuit is configured to communicate an input current to and from the power grid, which adjusts the power factor of the associated loads to about unity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David Brown, Norman J. Weigert, Gery J. Kissel, George D. Bellino, David B. Ouwerkerk, Christopher P. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 8324755
    Abstract: A power management system connectable to a primary power source and a secondary power source, and a method of operating the power management system. A transfer switch is electrically connected to the primary and secondary power sources, and a plurality of branch circuits are electrically connected to the transfer switch. The plurality of branch circuits includes a plurality of electrical outlets. The system includes a controller wirelessly coupled to a plurality of portable receptacles, which are coupled between respective electrical outlets and managed devices. The controller manages the receptacles, and consequently the managed devices, during the second power source powering the transfer switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Briggs and Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Kenny J. Stair, Brandon M. Batzler
  • Patent number: 8324754
    Abstract: A system is provided for supplying voltage to electrical loads in the onboard electrical system of a motor vehicle, in which system the onboard electrical system includes at least two onboard electrical system regions. The first onboard electrical system region has an electric generator, a vehicle battery, and one or more first electrical loads, and the second onboard electrical system region has a double-layer capacitor or a so-called supercap, and one or more second electrical loads. A blocking apparatus, in particular a semiconductor diode or a circuit breaker, is provided between the two onboard electrical system regions. The blocking apparatus permits current to flow from the first onboard electrical system region to the second onboard electrical system region and largely prevents current from flowing in reverse from the second onboard electrical system region to the first onboard electrical system region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Broesse, Dieter Polenov, Hartmut Proebstle, Marcus Hafkemeyer
  • Patent number: 8324756
    Abstract: A power management (PM) system architecture for a controlled SoC detects availability of power supply for signal-driving at a given node inside a chip, and uses a timer, a discharge mechanism with trigger for starting/stopping a discharge process, and a comparator for monitoring a measured voltage of an intended node during the discharge process. Enabling the discharge mechanism for a known time period helps detection. Power supply can be internally generated in the chip or from a source on board. The architecture detects if the node is driven or floating, an undriven floating node causing a dip in the measured voltage. The measured voltage does not have a dip when the node is driven. The architecture is also configured so that when there is a required on-board external power supply, an internal power supply is disabled to avoid a race-condition. The architecture obviates a dedicated IO pin for mode-indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ranjit Kumar Dash, Lakshmanan Balasubramanian, Anand Devendra Kudari
  • Patent number: 8314513
    Abstract: A power transmission control device controls a power transmission device in a contactless power transmission system that transmits power from the power transmission device to a power reception device through electromagnetically coupling a primary coil and a secondary coil. The power transmission control device includes a power transmission driver control section that controls drive timings of a plurality of switching elements of a power transmission driver that drives the primary coil, the power transmission driver control section variably controlling the power to be transmitted from the power transmission device to the power reception device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Aoyama, Haruhiko Sogabe
  • Patent number: 8310102
    Abstract: A multilevel inverter is provided. The multilevel inverter includes a plurality of bridges, each bridge configured to receive a respective portion of an input DC power and convert the respective portion to a respective converted AC power. The multilevel inverter also includes at least one bridge controller for operating at least one of the plurality of bridges in a square waveform mode. The multilevel inverter further includes a plurality of transformers, each transformer coupled to a respective bridge and configured to increase a voltage level of the respective portion of converted AC power. The plurality of transformers further includes secondary windings coupled in series with the other secondary windings to combine the respective increased voltage level portions of the converted AC power. The multilevel inverter also includes a grid converter configured to provide output power for a power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ravisekhar Nadimpalli Raju
  • Patent number: 8299653
    Abstract: An HVAC/R system is configured with a variable frequency drive power supply which provides power to both a three-phase motor and to a single-phase motor. In some embodiments, the three-phase motor is a compressor motor and the single-phase motor is a condenser fan motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Rocky Research
    Inventors: Uwe Rockenfeller, Paul Sarkisian, Kaveh Khalili, Warren Harhay
  • Patent number: 8299646
    Abstract: An HVAC/R system is configured with a variable frequency drive power supply which provides power to each of a compressor, a condenser fan, and a blower. In some embodiments, the compressor has a three-phase motor and the condenser fan has a single-phase motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Rocky Research
    Inventors: Uwe Rockenfeller, Paul Sarkisian, Kaveh Khalili, Warren Harhay
  • Patent number: 8299652
    Abstract: In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a method and apparatus is disclosed that includes features of transmitting power from a transmitter of a wireless power system at a multiplicity of frequencies between a first transmission frequency and a second transmission frequency at a first power level and transmitting power from the transmitter at a second power level and at one or more frequencies between the first transmission frequency and the second transmission frequency if the one or more receiving devices are determined to be coupled to the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Alanson P. Sample, Joshua R. Smith
  • Patent number: 8294297
    Abstract: A scalable power distribution system for a data center and methods for scaling a power distribution system are described. The scalable power distribution system includes a transformer that is connected to a load at its output. The input of the transformer is connected to two isolation switches. A source is connected to one switch at all times, and the source can be switched without affecting power to the load by synchronizing the two sources at the transformer before switching sources. The load is not de-energized at any time during the transfer process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Ragingwire Enterprise Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles O. Linkhart, Yatish C. Mishra, George Macricostas