Patents Examined by Kevin J Comber
  • Patent number: 11711025
    Abstract: A power semiconductor module includes at least one upper arm provided between a positive electrode line and a node and including a power semiconductor device and a freewheeling diode connected in parallel, at least one lower arm provided between a negative electrode line and the node and including a power semiconductor device and a freewheeling diode connected in parallel, and a snubber circuit provided between the positive electrode line and the negative electrode line. The snubber circuit includes a snubber capacitor and a snubber resistor connected in series. At least one control terminal outputs a voltage representing the temperature of the snubber resistor or a voltage related to the temperature of the snubber resistor to a driver that drives the power semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Horiguchi, Takayoshi Miki
  • Patent number: 11709194
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for high impedance detection in electric distribution systems. An example method may include calculating, by a processor, a relative randomness of a signal, wherein the relative randomness is a derivative of a first scale wavelet transform divided by an energy of the signal. The example method may also include calculating, by the processor, one or more scales of a wavelet transform of the signal. The example method may also include calculating, by the processor, one or more energy ratios between energy of the wavelet transform in the one or more scales. The example method may also include calculating, by the processor, a zero-crossing phase difference between a third harmonic and a fundamental component of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Xiaoming Li, Hengxu Ha, Ling Xiang
  • Patent number: 11711882
    Abstract: Problem All conductive bodies and particularly humans bodies, living in an electrified environment are traversed by alternating currents. Especially with the rise of electromobility, these currents are also present outside the typical house or office or factory environment, influencing the body almost during the whole 24 hours life cycle. Solution The invention proposes simple, contactless means to protect the body, by compensating the induced currents from the electrified environment. An isolated, intermediate conductive plate between the ground and the body is used to sense and minimize the induced currents. A coil at the periphery of the intermediate plate is used to sense and compensate the induced magnetic field, in its simplest embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventor: Georgios Sergiadis
  • Patent number: 11705263
    Abstract: The present invention belongs to the technical field of magnetically controlled soft-bodied robots, and more specifically, relates to a controllable and reconfigurable magnetization system and method for a magnetic soft-bodied robot. The system comprises a pulse power supply module, magnetizing coil units axisymmetrically arranged up and down, and a magnetic soft-bodied robot placed between the upper and lower magnetizing units. By means of changing the relative current flow direction of the upper and lower magnetizing coil modules, radial and vertical magnetic fields can be generated between the magnetizing coils arranged oppositely without any mechanical movement, so that the internal magnetization direction of the magnetic soft-bodied robot can be configured simply and flexibly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Liang Li, Quanliang Cao, Xiaotao Han, Yuwei Ju
  • Patent number: 11705717
    Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter is provided, including a main control chip, a tripping unit and a self-test detection unit, wherein the tripping unit is connected with the self-test detection unit at a detection point and coupled with a load circuit; the self-test detection unit is coupled with the main control chip, and configured to detect a signal at the detection point and output the signal to the main control chip; the main control chip is coupled with the self-test detection unit, and configured to in a self-test state, simulate a circuit fault, perform self-test, and determine whether the circuit fault could be detected and an alarm signal response to the circuit fault is generated, based on the signal. A self-test function and alarm function response to a circuit fault in a ground fault circuit interrupter can be tested during a final test of production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Shanghai Fudan Microelectronics Group Company Limited
    Inventors: Chunyong Wu, Yang Liu, Lei Shen, Shusen Hao
  • Patent number: 11703897
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: receiving a main supply voltage; generating a first regulated output voltage with a DC-DC converter; providing the main supply voltage to a driver of a control terminal of an output transistor of an LDO; receiving, at an input terminal of the LDO, the first regulated output voltage; generating, at an output terminal of the LDO, a second regulated output voltage from the first regulated output voltage; and when the main supply voltage falls below a predetermined threshold, discharging a capacitor coupled to the input terminal of the LDO by activating a switch coupled to the input terminal of the LDO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Michel Cuenca, Bruno Gailhard, Daniele Mangano
  • Patent number: 11705724
    Abstract: A lightning protection spark gap assembly comprises: a lighting protection spark gap having a first main connection and a second main connection, wherein a first voltage line of a supply network is connectable to the first main connection and a second voltage line of the supply network is connectable to the second main connection; a safety fuse device which is triggerable and which is connectable between the first or second voltage line and the corresponding main connection of the lightning protection spark gap, wherein at least one current path leading via the lighting protection spark gap is formable between the first voltage line and the second voltage line during operation; an indicator device for detecting a current flow in the current path or a corresponding portion of the current flow in the current path and for mechanically or electrically delayed triggering of the safety fuse device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: DEHN SE
    Inventors: Arnd Ehrhardt, Klaus Bühler
  • Patent number: 11705714
    Abstract: A switching apparatus includes first and second electric terminals, and first and second electric branches comprising one or more switching devices. The second electric branch is electrically connected in parallel with said first electric branch between said first and second electric terminals. The switching apparatus comprises a current blocking circuit adapted to block a current along said second branch. The current blocking circuit includes a first switching device of solid-state type and a first electronic circuit electrically connected in parallel to said first switching device of solid-state type. The switching apparatus further comprises a current limiting circuit adapted to limit a current flowing along said second electric branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Strassel, Antonello Antoniazzi, Markus Abplanalp, Thierry Delachaux
  • Patent number: 11699900
    Abstract: The present application discloses a semiconductor chip, an electronic device and an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection method for an electronic device thereof. The semiconductor chip includes an operation electrical contact, a detection electrical contact, an ESD protection unit, and a logic circuit. The operation electrical contact receives an operation signal. The detection electrical contact receives a chip connection signal. The ESD protection unit is coupled to the operation electrical contact. The logic circuit is coupled to the detection electrical contact, and adjusts capacitance of the ESD protection unit according to a chip connection signal received by the detection electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chun-Lu Lee
  • Patent number: 11695267
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a protective relay detecting disconnection in a circuit comprising a disconnection detection unit including a plurality of nodes connected to both ends of an output of a transformation unit, a reference voltage generation unit forming a reference voltage, and a plurality of resistors forming a voltage dividing resistor and connecting the plurality of nodes and the reference voltage generation unit; a sensing voltage generation unit applying a voltage for forming a predetermined voltage difference with respect to the reference voltage; and a disconnection determination unit connected to a first node, in which the magnitude of a voltage signal applied by the voltage dividing resistor varies depending on whether at least one of the transformation unit and the circuit connected to the transformation unit is disconnected, and detecting whether at least one of the transformation unit and the circuit connected to the transformation unit is disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: LS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sangtack Shin
  • Patent number: 11687104
    Abstract: In certain aspects, a system includes an amplifying circuit having an input and an output, wherein the input of the amplifying circuit is coupled to a gate of a pass transistor of a low dropout (LDO) regulator. The system also includes a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor coupled between the output of the amplifying circuit and the input of the amplifying circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kuan Chuang Koay, Hua Guan, Jize Jiang
  • Patent number: 11676847
    Abstract: A substrate placing table according to an exemplary embodiment includes a base and an electrostatic chuck provided on the base. The electrostatic chuck includes a lamination layer portion, an intermediate layer, and a covering layer. The lamination layer portion is provided on the base. The intermediate layer is provided on the lamination layer portion. The covering layer is provided on the intermediate layer. The lamination layer portion includes a first layer, an electrode layer, and a second layer. The first layer is provided on the base. The electrode layer is provided on the first layer. The second layer is provided on the electrode layer. The intermediate layer is provided between the second layer and the covering layer and is in close contact with the second layer and the covering layer. The second layer is a resin layer. The covering layer is ceramics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Taga, Naoyuki Satoh, Tatsuo Nishita
  • Patent number: 11677232
    Abstract: A circuit protection system is provided herein that minimizes the disconnection time of a circuit while protecting other electrical components. Some configurations comprise a set of parallel circuit interruption devices, each connected in series with respective fuses. A control device sets a state of the circuit interruption device based on a current of the circuit. Under certain current loads, the circuit is interrupted without causing a fuse to blow. Under other current loads, the circuit is interrupted by having one or more fuses blow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Putnam, Nathaniel C. Wynn
  • Patent number: 11676752
    Abstract: Embodiments of a discharge circuit are disclosed for quickly and safely discharging energy from an inductor load. The discharge circuit comprises a first switch, a second switch and a voltage regulator. The inductor load couples between the first switch and the second switch. During fast demagnetization, a high side switch is tuned off to decouple the load from a voltage source and the second switch is turned on. Voltage on one end of the load is pushed high and maintained at a predetermined level due to the voltage regulator. The predetermined voltage pulls down the current at the inductive load and causes temperature of the discharge circuit going up quickly. Once the temperature reaches a predetermined threshold, a comparing circuit outputs a signal to a driver and eventually pulls down voltage of the inductor load for low-power demagnetization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Siro Buzzetti, Danilo Ranieri, Marco Pio Demicheli
  • Patent number: 11670206
    Abstract: A power converter includes a voltage conversion unit that provides a first driving voltage at a first output electrode by converting a power supply voltage in response to a first control signal, the voltage conversion unit being configured to provide a second driving voltage at a second output electrode by converting the power supply voltage after a short detection period, the voltage conversion unit being configured to shut down in response to a third control signal, and a short detection unit that generates the third control signal by comparing a magnitude of a voltage of the second output electrode with a magnitude of a reference voltage during the short detection period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Cheon Park
  • Patent number: 11670633
    Abstract: The semiconductor device of the present invention includes a semiconductor substrate, a switching element which is defined on the semiconductor substrate, and a temperature sense element which is provided on the surface of the semiconductor substrate independently from the switching element and characterized by being dependent on a temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki Nakano
  • Patent number: 11664262
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck for a substrate processing system is provided and includes a baseplate, an intermediate layer disposed on the baseplate, and a top plate. The top plate is bonded to the baseplate via the intermediate layer and is configured to electrostatically clamp to a substrate. The top plate includes a monopolar clamping electrode and seals. The monopolar clamping electrode includes a groove opening pattern with coolant gas groove opening sets. The seals separate coolant gas zones. The coolant gas zones include four or more coolant gas zones. Each of the coolant gas zones includes distinct coolant gas groove sets. The top plate includes the distinct coolant gas groove sets. Each of the distinct coolant gas groove sets has one or more coolant gas supply holes and corresponds to a respective one of the coolant gas groove opening sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Matyushkin, Keith Laurence Comendant, John Patrick Holland
  • Patent number: 11664667
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a battery detection device. The detection circuit is disposed on the battery and produces an impedance value variation quantity according to a deformation of the battery. The detection circuit includes four connection nodes. The first connection node and the third connection node are connected with the battery. A voltage variation quantity is produced between the second connection node and the fourth connection node according to the impedance value variation quantity. The protection circuit is connected with the second connection node and the fourth connection node. The protection circuit is in an ON state when the voltage variation quantity is greater than or equal to a cut-off voltage. The protection circuit is in an OFF state when the voltage variation quantity is less than the cut-off voltage, so that an operation state of the battery is changed accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: COMPAL ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Huang-Chih Chen, Chen-Hao Lan, Yueh-Hsiang Chen
  • Patent number: 11664263
    Abstract: A substrate processing method is provided. The method includes a) causing a substrate to be attracted to an electrostatic chuck, and b) processing the substrate. The method includes c) determining a charge removal temperature based on information preliminarily stored in a storage, thereby adjusting a surface temperature of the electrostatic chuck to be greater than or equal to the determined charge removal temperature, the information indicating a relationship between a maximum surface temperature of the electrostatic chuck, during substrate processing, and a residual charge amount for the processed substrate. The method includes d) removing a charge from the processed substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yusuke Aoki, Ryusei Kashimura
  • Patent number: 11657941
    Abstract: A resonant energy stabilizer contains: a body, a lid, a mineral crystal, the current amplifier, and a medium frequency current device. The body includes an accommodation chamber. The lid includes an accommodating room. The mineral crystal includes a recess configured to accommodate a sapphire for producing far-infrared waves of electrostatic pulse. The recess is surrounded by a white crystal, a citrine and a green crystal which are surrounded by multiple titanium crystals, and a first magnetite is located above the white crystal, the citrine and the green crystal. The current amplifier includes multiple plasma pieces stacked together to increase a distance of the far-infrared waves of the electrostatic pulse, and each plasma piece has a copper coil layer, a red brass patch, and a red copper sheet. The medium frequency current device includes multiple second magnetites, an input segment, a central processing unit, a booster, and an output segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventor: Ching-Cheng Tsai