Patents Examined by Thai Tran
  • Patent number: 10277281
    Abstract: A power feeding unit includes: an electrode array including a plurality of power feeding electrodes arranged side by side; a power feeding section configured to supply power to a power receiving unit via the electrode array; and a setting section configured to set a power feeding condition for each of the power feeding electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Hirabayashi, Masakazu Yajima, Kiminobu Ichimura
  • Patent number: 10277029
    Abstract: An energy storage device includes: a number of cells; and a dual-active-bridge converter connected to the cells, wherein the cells are floating relative to the system and are galvanically isolated therefrom. The energy storage device can be included in an energy storage system that includes: a grid tie unit comprising at least one DC/AC converter; and multiple pods connected to the grid tie unit, each pod including: a number of cells; and a power electronics unit, wherein the cells are floating relative to the system and are galvanically isolated therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Pierquet, Mehmet Ozbek, Andrew David Baglino
  • Patent number: 10263457
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply device (60) does not have a wire connecting a bidirectional chopper (24) to a neutral point (NP). The bidirectional chopper (24) includes first and second capacitors (C11, C12), first to fourth transistors (Q11-Q14), and a normal mode reactor (50). In a discharging mode, a controller (63) causes the second and third transistors (Q12, Q13) to be complementarily turned on and controls the ON period of each of the second and third transistors (Q12, Q13) so that terminal-to-terminal voltages (V11, V12) of the first and second capacitors (C11, C12) are equal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuki Nishimura, Hiroshi Masunaga, Masahiro Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 10199832
    Abstract: A photovoltaic DC power distribution system provides a DC-DC converter having an output serially connected between a photovoltaic module array and a power converter, such as an inverter, in which the input voltage to the power converter is the sum of the voltage from the array and a voltage output of the DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter only handles a portion of the power transferred from the array to the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Ranjan K. Gupta, Kevin G. Collins
  • Patent number: 10193345
    Abstract: A solar cell management system for increasing the efficiency and power output of a solar cell and methods for making and using the same. The management system provides an electric field across an individual solar cell, an array of solar cells configured as a panel, or a group of solar panels. The imposed electric field exerts a force on both the electrons and holes created by light incident on the solar cell and accelerates the electron-hole pairs towards the electrodes of the solar cell. Compared to conventional solar cells, these accelerated electron-hole pairs travel a shorter distance from creation (by incident optical radiation) and spend less time within the solar cell material, therefore the electron-hole pairs have a lower likelihood of recombining within the cells' semiconductor's material. This reduction in the electron-hole recombination rate results in an overall increase in the solar cells' efficiency and greater power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Solarlytics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. McNamara, Douglas M. Raymond
  • Patent number: 10193348
    Abstract: An arrangement having a first group of rectifiers, which form a series circuit on the DC voltage side and which can be connected to a first AC voltage network, and having a reserve rectifier that, in the event of a fault in one of the rectifiers, can be electrically connected by suitable switching apparatuses to the first AC voltage network and on the DC voltage side to a first DC voltage line to form an augmented series circuit with the rectifiers. An installation for transmitting electric power between at least one first wind farm with at least one wind power installation and the first power supply system, including the first group of rectifiers, is able to be connected to the first wind farm via the first AC voltage network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Timo Christ, Peter Menke, Frank Schettler
  • Patent number: 10187056
    Abstract: A direct current (DC) circuit breaker for power transmission or distribution system includes a current sensor for sensing current of a system, a controller, a physical switch, and multiple switch modules. The multiple switch modules are electrically coupled to the current sensor and the physical switch in series. Each switch module includes multiple base elements electrically coupled in parallel. Each base element includes a first silicon carbide (SiC) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) and a second SiC MOSFET electrically coupled in an opposite series connection mode. The first and second SiC MOSFETs are configured in a synchronous rectification mode by channel reverse conduction control. The controller controls the multiple switch modules to connect current in the system, and break current of the multiple switch modules according to sensed current signals from the current sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Pengju Kang, Saijun Mao, Fei Xu, Wenqiang Yang, Yingqi Zhang, Pengcheng Zhu
  • Patent number: 10181727
    Abstract: A controller of a fuel cell system performs a starting operation that switches on a first precharge circuit so as to reduce a voltage difference between a first smoothing capacitor and a second smoothing capacitor and subsequently turns on a first relay, when a start switch is turned on in a system off state that the first relay is off. Upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition including at least one of a condition that a difference between the voltage of the first smoothing capacitor and the voltage of the second smoothing capacitor is equal to or greater than a first reference value and a condition that the voltage of the first smoothing capacitor is equal to or higher than a second reference value, the controller uses a second converter to charge the second smoothing capacitor so as to bring the voltage of the second smoothing capacitor closer to the voltage of the first smoothing capacitor, and subsequently switches the first precharge circuit from off to on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Katano, Masahiro Imanishi
  • Patent number: 10178344
    Abstract: In some aspects, control circuitry receives and stores a user-specified time duration to associate with a skip-forward command. When the user later issues a skip-forward command to advance playback of a media asset to a desired location, the control circuitry retrieves the stored time duration, and determines an expected overshoot value associated with the skip-forward command. The control circuitry then compensates for the expected overshoot by calculating a new location in the media asset based on both the retrieved time duration and expected overshoot value. Upon advancing to the new location, the media asset is played back in a fast-forward mode, e.g., at a speed higher than normal speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Milan Patel, Abubakkar Siddiq, Ajay Kumar Gupta, Sai Rahul Reddy Pulikunta, Sashikumar Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 10176920
    Abstract: This building includes a power supply coil of a contactless power supply system using magnetic resonance type. Then, a construction method for this building includes steps of: linking a plurality of building members to each other respectively provided with split wires into which a power supply coil forming a loop as a whole is split at a plurality of locations along an extending direction of the power supply coil, so as to surround an indoor space; and forming the power supply coil surrounding the indoor space by electrically connecting the respective split wires to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichiro Iwasa, Kenzo Matsumoto, Masataka Kawakubo
  • Patent number: 10170937
    Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus for wireless receiving power comprises a receive circuit configured to receive wireless power via a magnetic field sufficient to power or charge a load. The apparatus further comprises a tuning circuit comprising a variable reactive element, coupled to the receive circuit, and configured to detune the receive circuit away from a resonant frequency to adjust an output power level to a first output power level. The apparatus comprises a rectifier, comprising a switch, coupled to the receive circuit and configured to rectify an alternating current to a direct current for supplying power to the load. The apparatus comprises a drive circuit configured to actuate the switch when a current through the switch satisfies a first non-zero current value and adjust the first non-zero current value to a second non-zero value to adjust the first output power level to a second output power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Paolo Menegoli
  • Patent number: 10164483
    Abstract: A tunable resonant inductive coil system includes an electrical circuit having an alternating current (AC) voltage source, a barium strontium titanate (BST) variable capacitor coupled in series with a first terminal of the AC voltage source, a coil coupled in series with the BST variable capacitor, and a return line coupling the coil with a second terminal of the AC voltage source and/or a ground. The electrical circuit forms an LC circuit (resonant circuit). The electrical circuit adjusts between two configurations. In the first configuration the resonant circuit has a first resonant frequency configured for wireless power transfer and in the second configuration it has a second resonant frequency configured for near field communication (NFC). An entire length of the coil is used for both resonant frequencies. Adjusting between the first and second configurations includes varying a capacitance of the BST variable capacitor in response to receiving a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Gareth Pryce Weale
  • Patent number: 10154276
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for separately processing depth and texture components of video data. A device configured to process video data including a view component comprised of a depth component and a texture component may perform various aspects of the techniques. The device may comprise a processor configured to determine a supplemental enhancement information message that applies when processing the view component of the video data, and determine a nested supplemental enhancement information message that applies in addition to the supplemental enhancement information message when processing the depth component of the view component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ying Chen, Ye-Kui Wang
  • Patent number: 10147460
    Abstract: Systems and methods for authoring and encoding haptic effects are provided for space-dependent content, such as 360-degree videos, three-dimensional videos, or virtual or augmented reality contents. The systems and methods can generate one or more haptic layers for encoding or modifying haptic effects for the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Ullrich
  • Patent number: 10144300
    Abstract: A power receiving portion is installed in a middle in a vehicle width direction at a front portion on a lower surface of a floor panel close to steered front wheels. Therefore, the power receiving portion can be accurately aligned with a power supply portion on the road surface side so as to face each other with a sense of steering in such a manner as to align the center of a vehicle with the power supply portion when the vehicle advances to a predetermined stop position in a parking space. Moreover, a high-current system wire harness for transmitting electric power from a battery located on the lower surface of the floor panel to a motor unit in a front compartment passes above the power receiving portion so as to improve the safety of the wire harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akihiro Asai
  • Patent number: 10142674
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically recording media assets not explicitly scheduled for recording by a user when the user leaves his or her home. For example, when the user leaves home, a media guidance application, being executed on a user equipment device (such as a set-top box), schedules to record media assets that the user has expressed interest in, but has not explicitly scheduled for recording. If the user returns home before a recording has begun, the media guidance application does not record the media assets the user has not explicitly scheduled for recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashwini Dharwa, Vikram Makam Gupta
  • Patent number: 10141781
    Abstract: A contactless power transfer system includes a power transmission device and a power receiving device. A second electronic control unit of the power transmission device is configured to determine whether a series of manipulations including severing connection between the power transmission device and the power supply via the power supply cable, and then connecting the power transmission device with the power supply again via the power supply cable, are performed. The second electronic control unit is configured to send a predetermined signal to the power receiving device when the second electronic control unit determines that the series of manipulations are performed. A first electronic control unit of the power receiving device is configured to generate a command for start of power transmission to the power transmission device, irrespective of the time schedule, when the first electronic control unit receives the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya Katanoda, Junji Inoue, Yuki Tsunekawa, Yuji Abe
  • Patent number: 10141022
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electronic device for generating a multiple point of view (MPOV) video and the method thereof. The present disclosure involves the electronic device to obtain a plurality of media contents. The electronic device would identify a first media content relating to a second media content in time and location according to time information, audio information, and location information including a geographic tag and a surrounding signal information. Then, the first media content and the second media content are provided as relevant media contents for generating the MPOV video of the event having the relevant media content captured from different point of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Wen-Ping Ying, Yuan-Kang Wang, Hira Singh Verick, Jing-Lung Wu, Wen-Chuan Lee, Chia-Wei Chen, Kenneth Todd Culos, Wei-Chih Kuo, Ming-Han Tsai, Hsin-Ti Chueh, Tai Ito
  • Patent number: 10141024
    Abstract: Playback and distribution systems and methods for multimedia files are provided. The multimedia files are encoded with indexes associated with the content data of the multimedia files. Through the use of the indexes, playback of the content is enhanced without significantly increasing the file size of the multimedia file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: DIVX, LLC
    Inventors: Kourosh Soroushian, Roland Osborne, Jason Braness, Shaiwal Priyadarshi
  • Patent number: 10136153
    Abstract: The proposed technology comprises identifying a DRAP sample and its associated IRAP sample in a media container file (1) comprising a bitstream of encoded video content in the form of encoded pictures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Martin Pettersson, Richard Mitic, Jonatan Samuelsson, Rickard Sjöberg