Patents Examined by Patrick Assouad
  • Patent number: 11774517
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a detector circuit, including: a voltage source configured to produce a first voltage on a first output, a second voltage on a second output, and third voltage on a third output, wherein the first voltage is greater than the second voltage and the second voltage is greater than the third voltage; a first switch connected to the second output; a sampling capacitor connected to the switch, wherein the sampling capacitor is charged by the voltage source when the switch is closed; a first comparator with one input connected to the first output and a second input connected to the sampling capacitor; a second comparator with one input connected to the third output and a second input connected to the sampling capacitor; a multiplexer with a plurality of inputs configured to be connected to a plurality of terminals of an external circuit and an output connected to the sampling capacitor, the first input of the first comparator, and the first input of the second comparator; and a controll
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: NXP B. V.
    Inventors: Costantino Ligouras, Harry Neuteboom, Sergio Andrés Rueda Gómez, Dave Sebastiaan Kroekenstoel, Peng Zhao
  • Patent number: 11768253
    Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) controller with a floating ground architecture for fault detection is described. A USB-C controller includes a floating ground circuit and a fault detection circuit coupled to a power converter. The floating ground circuit provides a floating ground voltage based on a supply voltage of the power converter. The fault detection circuit includes a comparator with power rails coupled to the supply voltage and the floating ground voltage. The fault detection circuit measures a differential signal across a first terminal and a second terminal, the differential signal representing a current of the power converter. The fault detection circuit compares the differential signal against a threshold using the comparator and outputs an indication of a fault condition in response to the differential signal satisfying the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Kiran Kumar Reddy Maley, Ramakrishna Venigalla, Hemant P. Vispute
  • Patent number: 11768229
    Abstract: A packaged current sensor integrated circuit includes a primary conductor having an input portion and an output portion configured to carry a current to be measured by a magnetic sensing element supported by a semiconductor die adjacent to the primary conductor. The primary current path contains a mechanical locking feature. The thickness of the molded body of the package is reduced to improve vibration immunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley Boden, Rishikesh Nikam, Robert A. Briano
  • Patent number: 11764413
    Abstract: Battery testing systems and methods are disclosed. One system includes one or more test platforms and a processing system. Each test platform performs ultrasonic scans of batteries. During the scans, each test platform can place pressure upon and measure temperature and open circuit voltages of each battery, transmit ultrasound signals into each battery and generate transmitted signal data in response, detect ultrasound signals reflected by or transmitted through each battery in response to the transmitted ultrasound signals and generate received signal data in response. The processing system can quantify aspects of the signal data and present the aspects to one or more battery models, which compute and assign a state of charge (SOC) and a state of health (SOH) to each battery in response. For example, the processing system can be in a service provider network that receives and analyzes signal data sent from test platforms at different customer facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TITAN ADVANCED ENERGY SOLUTIONS INC
    Inventors: Shawn D. Murphy, Jeff Kowalski, Christian Jensen, Nemanya Sedoglavich
  • Patent number: 11762009
    Abstract: A chamber module and a test handler including the same are disclosed. The chamber module includes a soak chamber providing a temperature adjusting space for adjusting a temperature of semiconductor devices, an elevating member disposed in the soak chamber and for elevating a tray in which the semiconductor devices are accommodated, a guide member extending in a vertical direction in the soak chamber and for guiding movement of the elevating member, and a temperature adjusting part for adjusting a temperature of the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyon Jin Lee, Jun Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 11762120
    Abstract: A system for performing downhole logging operations includes a conductor coil configured to alternate between producing a magnetic field and measuring a magnetic field induced in a formation, a power supply couplable to the conductor coil for providing an electrical control current to conductor coil, and a signal acquisition system couplable to the conductor coil. The system further includes a permanent magnet coupled to the conductor coil, and a multi-state switch operable in a first state and a second state. In the first state, the conductor coil is coupled to an output of the power supply and decoupled from an input of the signal acquisition system. In the second state, the conductor coil is coupled to the input of acquisition electronics and decoupled from the output of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Stanislav Forgang, Babak Kouchmeshky, Sushant Dutta, Randy Gold
  • Patent number: 11754635
    Abstract: A system for testing a aerosol delivery device includes a test fixture configured to couple to a power unit for an aerosol delivery device and a vacuum source configured to fluidly couple to the power unit. The vacuum source induces a vacuum within the power unit. A power storage device is configured to electrically couple to the power unit, the power storage device configured to store power provided by the power unit. A power measurement device is electrically coupled to the power storage device, and the power measurement device is configured to measure the power stored in the power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Jacob A. Meadows
  • Patent number: 11754607
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
  • Patent number: 11746602
    Abstract: Systems and methods for testing downhole power cables wherein such systems and methods utilize a mounting bracket having a PEEK insulator extending from a first face of said bracket and at least one flexible lead extending from a second face of said bracket. Such systems and methods may accommodate three such flexible leads that are configured to interface with power cables. A shunting block may be incorporated in a protective cap configured to fit over the PEEK insulator extension from said first face of said bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: POWER FEED-THRU SYSTEMS AND CONNECTORS LLC
    Inventors: Roy Kinkaid, Brandon Marbach, James Patrick Payne, Brad Yingst, Leroy Cantu, Michael Colescott
  • Patent number: 11745592
    Abstract: A method for detecting an isolation fault in an isolation resistance between a positive and negative high-voltage bus rail and a vehicle chassis on a high-voltage propulsion side of a high-voltage system of an electric or hybrid-electric vehicle. The high-voltage system is split into a battery side and propulsion side by means of two high-voltage contactors located in the positive and negative high-voltage bus rails. The propulsion side includes first and second capacitors connected in series across the positive and negative bus rails, a common junction of the first and second capacitors connected to the chassis. The method supplies a low-voltage output to the positive and negative bus rails to charge the capacitors; and determines, based on charging current, voltage level or energy level of the capacitors, whether an isolation fault is present between the positive and/or negative high-voltage bus rail and the vehicle chassis on the propulsion side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CO.
    Inventor: Björn Isaksson
  • Patent number: 11740187
    Abstract: Portable microwave material gauge for determining the quality of a pavement material is provided. The gauge includes an electromagnetic field generator configured to generate an electric field mode that penetrates into the material wherein the material includes a heterogeneous material including at least one of a pavement material and a soil material, a calibration data set, a sensor of size and shape to support the electric field mode and to determine the response of the pavement material to the electric field wherein determining the response includes determining a change in the permittivity as a function of a change in the quality of the material; and an analyzer configured to correlate the sensor permittivity response to the calibration data set wherein correlating the response includes using stored relationships between the material quality and the sensor response using calibration samples having changes in permittivity as a function of quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Inventor: Robert Ernest Troxler
  • Patent number: 11740299
    Abstract: An electrical test device may include a power supply, a conductive probe element, and a spectral analysis block. The power supply may be connected to an external power source. The conductive probe element may be connected to the power supply and may be configured to be energized by the power supply. The probe element may be configured to be placed in contact with an electrical system under test and apply an input signal containing current for measuring at least one parameter of the electrical system. The spectral analysis block may be connected to the probe element and may be configured to receive an output signal from the electrical system in response to the application of the current to the electrical system. The spectral analysis block may be configured to analyze frequency spectra of the output signal and detect a broadband increase in energy of the frequency spectra above a predetermined energy threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: POWER PROBE GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Whisenand, Randy Cruz
  • Patent number: 11726144
    Abstract: The present invention performs a reference point detecting step (S20) to select a reference point by performing pattern analysis based on a characteristic pattern shown in a total leakage current (IT) when an applied voltage is 0V, a resistive leakage current calculating step (S30) to calculate a resistive leakage current by Fourier series-expanding the total leakage current (IT) starting at the reference point, and reference point verifying/correcting steps (S40 and S41) to correct the reference point until a characteristic pattern of the resistive leakage current (IR) according to non-linear resistance characteristics of the surge arrester (1) is shown so that the resistive leakage current (IR) is recalculated, and the present invention determines that the resistive leakage current (IR) calculated based on the completely corrected reference point is the resistive leakage current of the surge arrester (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventors: Song Yop Han, Jeong Woo Lee, Kwang Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 11726128
    Abstract: Collect a full band capture spectral reading from a plurality of cable/fiber broadband network customer units (e.g., cable modems or equivalent optical units); for each of the cable/fiber broadband network customer units, construct an ideal spectral reading. For each of the cable/fiber broadband network customer units, subtract the ideal spectral reading from the full band capture spectral reading to obtain a resultant spectrum. For at least one of the cable/fiber broadband network customer units, identify a persistent deviation from zero in the resultant spectrum that does not match a known impairment type. Identify at least one new impairment type corresponding to the persistent deviation from zero. Remediation of the new impairment type can be carried out as appropriate, and/or a detection pattern can be deployed to identify future occurrences of the new impairment type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING, LLC
    Inventors: Ben J. Guidarelli, William Berger
  • Patent number: 11726140
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for performing scan includes: entering scan mode; receiving a test pattern; applying the test pattern through a first scan chain by asserting and deasserting a scan enable signal to respectively perform shift and capture operations to the first scan chain; while applying the test pattern through the first scan chain, controlling a further scan flip-flop with the first scan chain without transitioning a further scan enable input of the further scan flip-flop; and evaluating an output of the first scan chain to detect faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Venkata Narayanan Srinivasan, Shiv Kumar Vats, Tripti Gupta
  • Patent number: 11722095
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing solar cell performance. The method for testing solar cell performance includes: provide a solar cell; illuminating the solar cell; acquire an illumination intensity of light onto the solar cell; acquire a luminous intensity of light emitted from the solar cell in response to the solar cell being illuminated; and determine the solar cell performance based on the illumination intensity and the luminous intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG JINKO SOLAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Robert William Dumbrell, Menglei Xu, Jie Yang, Xinyu Zhang
  • Patent number: 11719559
    Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor network comprising at least one optical fiber having one or more optical sensors. At least one of the optical sensors is arranged to sense vibration of an electrical device and to produce a time variation in light output in response to the vibration. A detector generates an electrical time domain signal in response to the time variation in light output. An analyzer acquires a snapshot frequency component signal which comprises one or more time varying signals of frequency components of the time domain signal over a data acquisition time period. The analyzer detects a condition of the electrical device based on the snapshot frequency component signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Peter Kiesel, Ajay Raghavan, Todd Karin, Qiushu Chen
  • Patent number: 11719767
    Abstract: The sensitivity of a magnetic sensor using a sensitive element sensing a magnetic field by the magnetic impedance effect is increased. The magnetic sensor includes: a sensitive element sensing a magnetic field by a magnetic impedance effect; and a focusing member provided to face the sensitive element, configured with a soft magnetic material, and focusing magnetic force lines from outside onto the sensitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Daizo Endo, Hiroyuki Tomita
  • Patent number: 11714147
    Abstract: Some aspects comprise a tuning system configured to tune a radio frequency coil for use with a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a tuning circuit including at least one tuning element configured to affect a frequency at which the radio frequency coil resonates, and a controller configured to set at least one value for the tuning element to cause the radio frequency coil to resonate at approximately a Larmor frequency of the magnetic resonance imaging system determined by the tuning system. Some aspects include a method of automatically tuning a radio frequency coil comprising determining information indicative of a Larmor frequency of the magnetic resonance imaging system, using a controller to automatically set at least one value of a tuning circuit to cause the radio frequency coil to resonate at approximately the Larmor frequency based on the determined information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Hyperfine Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Rearick, Jeremy Christopher Jordan, Gregory L. Charvat, Matthew Scot Rosen
  • Patent number: 11709208
    Abstract: In order to provide an environmentally secured voltage testing interface, an electrical enclosure box comprising a front panel is herein-described, into which is mounted a voltage indicator comprising a plurality of LED indicators that indicate a status of one or more circuits coupled thereto and monitored thereby. A test point device is also mounted through the front panel and comprises an interface comprising a plurality of external measurement sockets configured to receive one or more probes for manual measurement of voltages, wherein each external measurement socket is coupled to a voltage divider that is further coupled to each of a plurality of respective wires coupled to respective LED indicators of the voltage indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: GRACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Ronald Adkins, Jr., Roger Steven Clarke, Gang Chen