Patents Examined by Scott Bauer
  • Patent number: 11404406
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first well, a first region and fourth regions of a first conductivity type as well as second regions, a third region, a second well of the second conductivity type. A first region is disposed in the first well and coupled to a first reference voltage terminal. Second regions are disposed in the first well, wherein one of the second regions is coupled to the first reference voltage terminal, and the second regions and the first well are included in a first transistor. A third region is disposed in the first well. A first resistive load is coupled between the third region and a second reference voltage terminal. A second well is coupled to the first well. Fourth regions are disposed in the second well, wherein the second well and at least one of the fourth regions are included in a second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chien-Yao Huang
  • Patent number: 11391547
    Abstract: A conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) launches wire-tethered electrodes from multiple cartridges to provide a stimulus signal through a human or animal target to impede locomotion of the target. The CEW may detect the quality of the electrical coupling (e.g., connection) of pairs of electrodes with the target. In accordance with the quality of the connections, the CEW may provide pulses of a stimulus signal to the various connections between electrode pairs in accordance with a sequence. The sequence may provide pulses at a first maximum pulse rate to any one connection to increase the likelihood of inducing neuromuscular incapacitation (“NMI”) and to save energy. The sequence may provide pulses to all connections at a second maximum pulse rate to increase the likelihood of inducing NMI and to save energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Goodchild, Gerzain Mata, Magne Nerheim
  • Patent number: 11381071
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of voltage harvesting devices used in power distribution systems, and provides power distribution system architectures utilizing the voltage harvesting devices. Generally, the voltage harvesting devices transform distribution line AC voltages to produce a low wattage output for distribution system communication and control type devices. The voltage harvesting device can operate whether irrespective of the presence of load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter Michael Agliata, Archana Sadhanala
  • Patent number: 11380574
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes: an electrically-conductive base plate including a first part, a second part at an outer circumference of the first part, and a gas inlet path for introducing a cooling gas; a first electrostatic chuck part configured to clamp a wafer on the first part, including a ceramic dielectric substrate that includes an embedded first clamping electrode and at least one through-hole communicating with the gas inlet path; and a second electrostatic chuck part configured to clamp a focus ring on the second part, including a ceramic layer that includes at least one through-hole for introducing a cooling gas and that includes at least a first layer contacting the focus ring when the second electrostatic chuck part clamps the focus ring, in which the first layer is less dense than the ceramic dielectric substrate. Thereby, the electrostatic chuck can increase the device yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Sato, Ikuo Itakura, Shuichiro Saigan, Jun Shiraishi, Yutaka Momiyama, Kouta Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11373815
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes: at least one external conductor section from an external conductor supply connection in the circuit breaker to an external conductor load connection in the circuit breaker; and a neutral conductor section from a neutral conductor connection in the circuit breaker to a neutral conductor connection in the circuit breaker. The at least one external conductor section includes a mechanical bypass switch and a first mechanical isolating switch which are serially arranged. A second mechanical isolating switch is arranged in the neutral conductor section. A semiconductor circuit arrangement in the circuit breaker is connected in parallel to the bypass switch. A current measuring device is arranged in the at least one external conductor section that is linked to an electronic control unit in the circuit breaker. The electronic control unit operates the bypass switch, the first and second mechanical isolating switches, and the semiconductor circuit arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Kenan Askan
  • Patent number: 11368009
    Abstract: An electronic control unit (ECU) operates between first and second voltage rails and includes an amplifier circuit and a single current sense circuit coupled to carry a signal to a bus pin and to protect the bus pin from both a short to ground and a short to battery. The single current sense circuit includes a switch circuit that passes the signal to the bus pin and a forward current sensing circuit that provides a second current that is proportional to an output current at the bus pin. The forward current sensing circuit causes the second current to be substantially zero when voltage on the bus pin is above a given value. The single current sense circuit also includes a forward current protection circuit and a reverse current switching circuit that receives the second current and closes a connection to the second voltage when the second current is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sri Navaneethakrishnan Easwaran, Timothy Paul Duryea
  • Patent number: 11362081
    Abstract: To prevent an electrostatic damage on a display device formed with a driving circuit. Protective circuits are provided not only at input terminal parts, but also at intermediate parts of a circuit or at the ends of wiring lines. Otherwise, the protective circuits are provided at the ends of the wiring lines and at the places immediately before and after the input terminals, respectively, and then the circuit is interposed therebetween. Further, the protective circuits are provided around a circuit with a large current consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Limited
    Inventor: Yutaka Kobashi
  • Patent number: 11355916
    Abstract: Devices having one primary transistor, or a plurality of primary transistors in parallel, protect electrical circuits from overcurrent conditions. Optionally, the devices have only two terminals and require no auxiliary power to operate. In those devices, the voltage drop across the device provides the electrical energy to power the device. A third or fourth terminal can appear in further devices, allowing additional overcurrent and overvoltage monitoring opportunities. Autocatalytic voltage conversion allows certain devices to rapidly limit or block nascent overcurrents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Symptote Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Mark D. Creech
  • Patent number: 11355919
    Abstract: A current differential relay apparatus includes a first relay and a second relay. The first relay calculates a first differential current and a first suppression current, using a first current and a second current, and performs a ratio differential relay operation based on the first differential current and the first suppression current. The second relay calculates a maximum of results of add operations of the first current and the second current as a second differential current, calculates an add operation of the maximum of the first current and a maximum of the second current as a second suppression current, and performs a ratio differential relay operation based on the second differential current and the second suppression current. The current differential relay apparatus includes an output controller that outputs an operation signal based on results of operations performed by the first and second relays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigetoo Oda
  • Patent number: 11355920
    Abstract: An improved electric circuit structure for short circuit protection is applicable to examining a device under test, comprising a circuit breaking element, a thermistor, a filtering and rectifying module and a capacitor. A first end of the circuit breaking element is connected to a power source. The filtering and rectifying module is connected to a second end of the circuit breaking element, a ground, a first end of the thermistor and a first end of the capacitor. A second end of the capacitor is connected to a second end of the thermistor. The capacitor is connected in parallel with the device under test. The circuit breaking element disclosed in the present invention is a ceramic tube fuse and forms an open circuit when the device under test forms a short circuit. Meanwhile, the ceramic tube fuse withstands voltage between its first and second end without generating any physical damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Leader Electronics
    Inventors: Shi-Guo Deng, Zuo-Quan Zhou, Jing Feng
  • Patent number: 11348753
    Abstract: A contactor includes a fixed iron core, a movable iron core, an operation coil, a first crossbar, a tripping spring, and a second crossbar. The contactor includes a push spring to push a movable contact toward a fixed contact, a trip coil connected to the fixed contact, and a plunger that is operated by an electromagnetic force generated in the trip coil when a current of a predetermined value or higher flows through the trip coil. The contactor includes an opening lever to push the second crossbar in a direction away from the first crossbar in conjunction with the operation of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Inaguchi, Kazuki Takahashi, Katsuki Hotta, Hiroyuki Nozaki
  • Patent number: 11349294
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter including a current sensor having a normal sensor output and an over current detection output, a solid state switch module structured to have a closed state to allow current to flow through the circuit interrupter and an open state to interrupt current flowing through the circuit interrupter, a gate driver structured to control the solid state switch module including a desaturation function output, wherein the gate driver is structured to cause the solid state switch module to interrupt current flowing through the circuit interrupter when the DESAT function output changes to the on state, and an electronic trip circuit structured to output a tri when the normal sensor output reaches a first threshold level or the overcurrent detection output changes to the on state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Brian E. Carlson, Yanjun Feng, Jianyang Liu, Michael Slepian, Andrew L. Gottschalk, Santhosh Kumar Chamarajanagar Govinda Nayaka
  • Patent number: 11336081
    Abstract: A protection circuit is for a medium voltage or high voltage transformer and includes a sensing device, a measurement device, and a switching device. The sensing device is configured to be connected between a primary winding of a voltage transformer and ground potential. The measurement device is connected to the sensing device and the measurement device is configured to measure at least one parameter sensed by the sensing device. The protection circuit is configured to analyse the measured at least one parameter sensed by the sensing device. The protection circuit is configured to generate a trip signal based on the analysis of the measured at least one parameter sensed by the sensing device. The switching device is configured to receive the generated trip signal and disconnect the voltage transformer from a high voltage potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Radek Javera, Marek Pavlas
  • Patent number: 11328884
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes at least one moveable contact. The moveable electrode is operably connected to a Thomson coil actuator that can separate and open the contacts of the circuit breaker. A sensor senses current or voltage in the circuit breaker. When a condition exists that triggers an opening action, a controller will use select a current level to apply to the Thomson coil actuator. The selected current level will vary based on the sensed current or voltage level. The controller will cause a driver to apply the selected current level to the Thomson coil actuator, and it will cause the contacts to separate and open. If the circuit breaker is a vacuum interrupter, the vacuum interrupter may employ a multi-section bellows in which each section has unique structural characteristics as compared to the other sections, so that different sections will dominate as the Thomson coil's speed of operation varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Wangpei Li
  • Patent number: 11328906
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic dielectric substrate, a base plate, and a first electrode layer. The ceramic dielectric substrate has a first major surface and a second major surface. The first electrode layer is provided inside the ceramic dielectric substrate and connected to a high frequency power supply. The first electrode layer is provided between the first major surface and the second major surface. The first electrode layer has a first surface and a second surface. The first electrode layer includes a first region including the first surface, a second region including the second surface, and a third region positioned between the first region and the second region. A porosity of the first region is lower than a porosity of the third region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Momiyama, Hitoshi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11327125
    Abstract: A ground monitoring tester for an AC power network, the tester comprising: a processor configured to repeatedly conduct impedance measurements of the ground of said AC power network at a point between a neutral reference point and the ground, wherein the processor is configured to conduct the impedance measurements repeatedly at intervals such as between 2 milliseconds and 2 minutes, indefinitely (i.e. without a time limit ending the measurements), whether or not the appliance or system is operational and whether or not there is an indication of a problem in the ground of said AC power network, wherein each of the impedance measurements is based on a voltage differential between a sequence of voltages including a first voltage without an internally generated reference current and a second voltage with an internally generated reference current, and at least one indication output based on the impedance measurements of the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Inventors: Ezra Shkury, Uri Shkury
  • Patent number: 11322321
    Abstract: A movable part of a circuit breaker for a gas-insulated switchgear is proposed. The movable part includes a puffer cylinder, a nozzle, and a main contact. An outer rib at the rear end of the nozzle is hooked to a hook rib at the front end of the hook part of the puffer cylinder. A chamber guide is provided inside the puffer cylinder so that the nozzle is immobilized. The main contact is mounted on the outer surface of the front end of the hook part. Thus, the number of components constituting the movable part of the circuit breaker is reduced, and the number of bolting points is reduced, thereby greatly reducing man-hours in an assembly work and preventing a main contact separation from occurring due to bolt loosening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: HYOSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sang Woo Lee, Su Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 11324101
    Abstract: An active fluid static elimination system installed in a fluid transportation pipeline includes a solenoid valve, an electrostatic measuring device, a fluid destaticizer, and a controller. The solenoid valve is connected to a connecting port of the fluid transportation pipeline, and the electrostatic measuring device is used to measure an electrostatic value of a fluid in the fluid transportation pipeline. The fluid destaticizer is connected to the solenoid valve, and the controller is connected to the electrostatic measuring device and the solenoid valve. The solenoid valve is opened to allow the fluid passing through the fluid destaticizer to eliminate the electrostatic charge of the fluid when the controller determines that the electrostatic value measured by the electrostatic measuring device is greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: Marketech International Corp.
    Inventors: Ping-Hsu Chen, Chien-Kuo Lu, Hsao-Szu Chang
  • Patent number: 11309106
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus having a protecting element for protecting the apparatus in an emergency, wherein the protecting element is a polymer PTC element, the polymer PTC element has a polymer PTC member, and the polymer PTC member is formed from a polymer composition containing a polyvinylidene fluoride as a main component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Liffelfuse Japan G. K.
    Inventors: Arata Tanaka, Keiichiro Nomura, Satoshi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11309156
    Abstract: An operating attachment for arrangement on a predefinable switching device and for operating a pivotable switching device toggle of the switching device includes: a one-sided open housing positionable on the switching device; a rotatable shaft having a rotation axis; a manual operating part, the manual operating part being situated on the rotatable shaft; a switch-on projection for pivoting the switching device toggle in a first pivot direction, the switch-on projection being situated on the rotatable shaft; a switch-off projection for pivoting the switching device toggle in a second pivot direction opposite the first pivot direction, the switch-off projection being situated on the rotatable shaft; and a housing stop for contacting a stop edge of the switch-off projection, the housing stop being situated in the one-sided open housing. The switch-off projection yields resiliently such that the switch-off projection is bent for contact with the housing stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Bernd Spritzendorfer, Raffael Zimmel