Patents Examined by Scott Bauer
  • Patent number: 11539200
    Abstract: A fault protection arrangement may include a neutral grounding resistor, the neutral grounding resistor comprising a ground end and a non-ground end. The fault protection arrangement may include a neutral grounding resistance monitor assembly, coupled to the neutral grounding resistor, where the neutral grounding resistance monitor assembly includes a sense circuit, coupled to the ground end of the neutral grounding resistor; and an injection signal generator, arranged to generate a frequency of 240 Hz or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristophor Jensen, Kip M. Larson, Cornelis Verhey
  • Patent number: 11539326
    Abstract: This application discloses a photovoltaic direct-current breaking apparatus, including a positive connection terminal and a negative connection terminal for connecting a photovoltaic string and a photovoltaic energy converter, a first diode, a first switch, a convector circuit, and an energy absorption circuit, where the first switch, the convector circuit, and the energy absorption circuit are connected in parallel. The convector circuit can effectively avoid arc discharge and ablation generated when the first switch cuts off a direct-current circuit between the photovoltaic string and the photovoltaic energy converter. The first diode can effectively bypass energy stored by an energy storage device in the photovoltaic energy converter, helping reduce required specifications of a semiconductor device in the convector circuit. The energy absorption circuit can also effectively reduce required specifications of the semiconductor device and a varistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: HUAWEI DIGITAL POWER TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xun Wang, Yanzhong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11538646
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for operating a three-way switch. The system includes a user input. The system further includes a relay electrically coupled to a first traveler wire, a second traveler wire, and a LINE conductor, wherein the relay has a first position and a second position. The relay may be initially set to the first position. The system further includes a toroid having an aperture, wherein a sensing conductor passes through the aperture to generate a sensing voltage. The system further includes a controller configured to toggle the relay from the first position to the second position when (1) the user input is in the on-setting and the sensing voltage is less than a threshold value or (2) the user input is in the off-setting and the sensing voltage is greater than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony M. Testani
  • Patent number: 11539357
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may include a power transistor coupled between a supply pin and an output pin; a current sensing circuit configured to sense a load current passing through the power transistor and to provide a respective current sense signal; a first configuration pin; a current output circuit configured to provide a diagnosis current at a current output pin; a diagnosis pin for receiving a diagnosis request signal; and a control circuit configured to: select a characteristic curve representing a current versus time characteristic dependent on a external circuit connected to the first configuration pin; generate a drive signal for the power transistor dependent on the selected characteristic curve and the current sense signal; and control—dependent on a pulse pattern of the diagnosis request signal—the current output circuit to set the value of the diagnosis current such that it represents the load current or the selected characteristic curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alexander Mayer, Robert Illing, Marco Faricelli
  • Patent number: 11530903
    Abstract: A short-range conducted electrical weapon (“conducted electrical weapon”) may be configured to deploy electrodes having a minimum spacing when coupled to a target at short-range. The conducted electrical weapon may comprise a housing. The housing may comprise a target end opposite a grip end. The grip end may be configured to removably receive a cartridge. The cartridge may house two or more electrodes. The target end may comprise one or more activation buttons or terminals. In response to the activation buttons or terminals being activated, the electrodes may be launched from the cartridge in the grip end. The electrodes may be disposed in the cartridge at an obtuse angle relative to the placement of the opposite electrode. The obtuse angle may enable the electrodes to be deployed effectively at short range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventors: Liam Quinn Burke, Anne Peabody Pratt
  • Patent number: 11527870
    Abstract: A spark gap circuit includes a circuit board. The spark gap circuit also includes an input configured to connect to the circuit board and to receive signals. The spark gap circuit also includes a spark gap configured to connect to the circuit board and the input. The spark gap circuit also includes an output configured to connect to the spark gap. The spark gap is configured to cause a return loss between the input and the output to be within a first predetermined range. The spark gap is configured to cause a parasitic capacitance between the input and the output to be within a second predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: PPC BROADBAND, INC.
    Inventor: Paul Bailey
  • Patent number: 11525867
    Abstract: Arrangements and methods for identifying a phase-to-ground inverter short circuit in an IT (isolé-terre or isolated ground) network are provided. In the method, AC current values of all three phases and DC current values are measured and evaluated at a frequency that is higher than the clock frequency of the inverter. An AC short-circuit current is also identified by subtracting the fundamental wave from the AC current sensor values. An AC component of the DC current sensor value is also identified, and it is identified whether this component is higher than a value predefined for regular operation. The AC short-circuit current and the AC component of the DC current sensor value are also compared. A short circuit is identified for the phase if the two values of the AC short-circuit current and the AC component of the DC current sensor value are approximately equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Marco Bohlländer
  • Patent number: 11527880
    Abstract: The present invention is applied to a power system of a power plant including a three-winding transformer, and relates to a double incoming breaker system, including: a plurality of main circuit breakers respectively connected one by one to the plurality of first non-safety class high voltage buses and the plurality of second non-safety class high voltage buses; a plurality of auxiliary circuit breakers, one of which is connected in series to one of the plurality of main circuit breakers; a first power source measurer installed to correspond to the main circuit breaker and measuring a power source level of a non-safety class high voltage bus applied to the main circuit breaker; a second power source measurer installed to correspond to the auxiliary circuit breaker and measuring a power source level at an installed first point thereof; and a controller that outputs a first open signal to the main circuit breaker when an abnormal situation of the non-safety class high voltage bus is checked through the power so
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: KOREA HYDRO & NUCLEAR POWER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-Ho Kim, Han-Sang Kim, Che-Wung Ha
  • Patent number: 11521884
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus. The apparatus includes a chuck for placing an object thereon, a gas passage extending along a periphery of an outer sidewall of the chuck and separating the chuck into an inner portion and a sidewall portion, and a plurality of gas holes through the sidewall portion and configured to connect a gas external to the chuck to the gas passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ian Hsieh, Che-fu Chen, Yan-Hong Liu
  • Patent number: 11517072
    Abstract: A shoe may include an upper sole and an outer sole. In one state of the shoe, the upper sole is conductively connected to the outer sole. In another state of the shoe, the upper sole is electrically insulated from the outer sole. The shoe may be changed between these states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Chandler Borrillo, Eric J. Campbell, Jennifer I. Bennett, Sarah K. Czaplewski-Campbell
  • Patent number: 11521793
    Abstract: A package on a die having a low resistive substrate, wherein the package comprises an inductor on low-k dielectric and a capacitor on high-k dielectric. The stacked arrangement having different dielectric materials may provide an inductor having a high Q-factor while still having a high capacitance density. In addition, moving the inductor from the die to the package and fabricating the high density capacitor on the package reduces the silicon area required permitting smaller RF/analog blocks on the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Saravana Maruthamuthu, Andreas Augustin, Andreas Wolter
  • Patent number: 11506985
    Abstract: A method for preventing photomask contamination includes generating a first electric field from an electrostatic chuck to attract a charged particle onto the electrostatic chuck, controlling the first electric field to detach the charged particle from the electrostatic chuck, and generating a second electric field below the electrostatic chuck to attract the charged particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jui-Chieh Chen, Tsung-Chih Chien, Chih-Tsung Shih, Tsung-Chuan Lee
  • Patent number: 11509300
    Abstract: An electronic switch includes switching modules to change a forward resistance of a semiconductor switch via a drive circuit depending on data exchanged via a data interface and depending on measurement values of a current sensor. The semiconductor switches of the switching modules are arranged electrically in parallel and a current through the electronic switch is divided among the semiconductor switches. The electronic switch controls a division of the current through the electronic switch among the semiconductor switches via the drive circuits by changing a forward resistance of the semiconductor switches, synchronously switches the semiconductor switches via the drive circuit and operates the semiconductor switches in a linear region in a time range of 1 ?s to 10 ?s upon a change between ON and OFF and a change between OFF and ON in such a way that the current through the switching modules is reduced in a controlled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Willi Böke, Markus Matthias Gaudenz
  • Patent number: 11506700
    Abstract: A power distribution system and method can include a controller and a set of power-using devices. Each power-using device in the set can include a sensor configured to measure a parameter and transmit a sensor signal representing the parameter to the controller, and the controller can respond to the transmitted sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventor: Arthur Vorwerk Radun
  • Patent number: 11502505
    Abstract: An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention may comprise: a housing; an interface connected to the housing or exposed through the housing and comprising at least one configuration channel (CC) pin; a circuit disposed inside the housing, comprising a current generator and a comparator, and electrically connected to the interface; a processor disposed inside the housing and operatively connected to the interface and the circuit; and a memory operatively connected to the processor. The memory cause the processor, when executed, to detect moisture corresponding to the at least one CC pin on the basis of the comparator while the at least one CC pin is connected to the current generator and to control at least one switch disposed between the current generator and the at least one CC pin, in response to detection of the moisture, thereby conducting switching such that the at least one CC pin is not connected to the current generator. Other embodiments are also possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoungwon Kim, Wonseok Kang, Kwangyeol Lee
  • Patent number: 11495483
    Abstract: Exemplary substrate support assemblies include an electrostatic chuck body defining a substrate platform. The substrate platform may be characterized by an upper surface. The platform may define a purge aperture. The platform may include a plurality of mesas that are disposed in an inner region of the upper surface. Each of the mesas may protrude upward from the upper surface. The platform may include a sealing band that extends upward from the upper surface in a circumferential pattern and partially encircles the inner region of the upper surface. Top surfaces of the mesas and sealing band may form a support surface for a substrate. The sealing band may define a number of gaps. The assemblies may include a support stem coupled with the electrostatic chuck body, a heater embedded within the electrostatic chuck body, and a backside gas source that is coupled with the purge aperture of the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkata Sharat Chandra Parimi, Diwakar Kedlaya
  • Patent number: 11495945
    Abstract: An actively driven pressure relief system for a container, a building, an enclosure, or a cubicle with an electrical installation, the actively driven pressure relief system includes a panel. The system further includes a fault detection device for detecting an arc fault in the electrical installation of the container, the building, the enclosure or the cubicle; and a triggering unit for triggering an opening signal for the panel upon detection of an arc fault by the fault detection device. A panel opening mechanism opens the panel in a destructive manner. Further, a container, building, enclosure or cubicle with an actively operated pressure relief system is described. A method for relieving pressure from a container with a panel and an electrical installation inside the container is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Christer Pers, Raeto Stadler
  • Patent number: 11493143
    Abstract: A solenoid comprises first and second coils connected to an electrical power supply circuit. In a first mode of operation the power supply circuit is arranged to provide a current flowing in opposite directions through the respective first and second coils, e.g. to produce a self-heating effect. In a second mode of operation the power supply circuit is arranged to provide a current flowing in the same direction through the respective first and second coils, e.g. to generate a magnetic force. In some embodiments, the power supply circuit includes a bridge rectifier or full wave rectifier connected to a bi-directional current driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Tony Jones, Peter William Bacon
  • Patent number: 11496125
    Abstract: A driver circuit controls a first switch element. A first resistor is connected between the driver circuit and the first switch element. A second switch element is connected to the first switch element. An overcurrent detector circuit controls the second switch element based on an overcurrent current flowing through the first switch element. A second resistor is connected between the overcurrent detector circuit and the second switch element. The first and second resistor is set such that a turn-off time of the first switch element when the second switch element is turned on by the overcurrent detector circuit is longer than a turn-off time of the first switch element when the first switch element is turned off by the driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Okada, Satoshi Iwai, Noriyuki Nosaka, Takeo Nishikawa, Kenji Kobayashi, Keiji Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 11489328
    Abstract: A method for protecting a server from damage by a liquid leak from a liquid-cooling unit of the server is provided. The server further includes a liquid leak sensor unit, a programmable logic circuit, and a power supply unit that supplies main power and standby power for the server. When a liquid leak is detected, the liquid leak sensor unit generates a main-power-off signal to the programmable logic circuit that causes the power supply unit to stop outputting the main power accordingly. The liquid leak sensor unit sends a total-power-off signal to the power supply unit to stop supply of the standby power after the power supply unit has stopped outputting the main power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Mitac Computing Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hsiu-Sheng Lin, Ho-Tien Chang