Patents Examined by Trung Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11448524
    Abstract: A position encoder comprising a cylindrical rotor; first and second magnetic poles having opposite polarity helically disposed about the inner or outer diameter of the rotor; first and second Hall sensors disposed within a distance suitable for the Hall sensors to detect the magnet poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Phoenix America Inc.
    Inventor: John Kaste
  • Patent number: 10996251
    Abstract: Provided is a method and device for obtaining internal side and external side insulation resistances of a relay. The method includes steps of controlling the insulation resistance obtaining circuit to output a low-frequency AC signal; when both the main relay and the pre-charge relay are switched off, obtaining an internal side insulation resistance of the main relay according to the low-frequency AC signal; if the internal side insulation resistance of the main relay is normal, controlling the pre-charge relay to be switched on; and when the main relay is switched off and the pre-charge relay is switched on, obtaining an external side insulation resistance value of the main relay according to the low-frequency AC signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventors: Zhimin Dan, Yizhen Hou, Weiping Sun, Meng Li, Wei Zhang, Teng Yu
  • Patent number: 10989693
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes providing a first pipe having a first leading end and a first trailing end, providing a second pipe having a second leading end and a second trailing end, abutting at least a portion of the second leading end to at least a portion of the first trailing end to define a pipe abutment zone comprising a portion of the first pipe measured longitudinally from the first trailing end and a portion of the second pipe measured longitudinally from the second leading end, conveying the first and second pipe past an inspection device, inspecting by the inspection device a first portion of the pipe abutment zone and a second portion of the pipe abutment zone, and providing defect data that describes defects detected within the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Tenaris Connections B.V.
    Inventors: Alberto Nicolini, Javier Etcheverry, Fernando Núñez
  • Patent number: 10989755
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to functional test methods useful for fabricating products containing Light Emitting Diode (LED) structures. In particular, LED arrays are functionally tested by injecting current via a displacement current coupling device using a field plate comprising of an electrode and insulator placed in close proximity to the LED array. A controlled voltage waveform is then applied to the field plate electrode to excite the LED devices in parallel for high-throughput. A camera records the individual light emission resulting from the electrical excitation to yield a function test of a plurality of LED devices. Changing the voltage conditions can excite the LEDs at differing current density levels to functionally measure external quantum efficiency and other important device functional parameters. Spectral filtering is used to improve measurement contrast and LED defect detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Francois J. Henley
  • Patent number: 10989780
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging system includes a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a receiving coil unit. The apparatus includes first circuitry which transmits an RF pulse based on a first clock. The coil unit includes clock generating circuitry, a receiving coil and first conversion circuitry. The clock generating circuitry generates a second clock. The first conversion circuitry samples a magnetic resonance signal in accordance with the second clock. The coil unit further includes generation circuitry which generates shift information regarding a difference between the first clock and the second clock, and shift correction circuitry which corrects the sampled magnetic resonance signal by using the shift information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Uchida, Koji Akita
  • Patent number: 10976347
    Abstract: A magnet extension, magnetic test assembly, and probe card assembly includes a magnet having a first end and a second end, the first end of the magnet being geometrically configured to provide a selected magnetic field. A resilient member 5 is disposed around the magnet between the first end and the second end. A retaining member is disposed between the first end and the second end. The retaining member surrounds at least a portion of the resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: CELADON SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: William A. Funk, Bryan J. Root
  • Patent number: 10976374
    Abstract: A battery information processing system includes an analyzer configured to analyze a result of measurement of an AC impedance of a module M. The analyzer plots the result of measurement of the AC impedance on a first frequency characteristic diagram which is a Bode diagram (a first diagram) relating to a real number component of the AC impedance and on a second frequency characteristic diagram which is a Bode diagram (a second diagram) relating to an imaginary number component of the AC impedance, obtains a polynomial curve L1 by fitting processing onto a result of plotting on the first diagram and obtains a polynomial curve L2 by fitting processing onto a result of plotting on the second diagram, and converts the polynomial curves L1 and L2 into an impedance curve Z on a Nyquist diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuya Kodama
  • Patent number: 10969417
    Abstract: A method detects a fault on a line of an electrical power supply system, in which current values are measured at the line ends of the line and the current values are used to check whether there is a fault on the line. In order to perform monitoring of the line such that faults can be detected comparatively quickly and sensitively, it is proposed that voltage values are also measured at the line ends. The respective measured current and voltage values are used to ascertain respective comparison current values indicating the current flowing at a comparison location on the line and the respective comparison current values are used to check for the presence of a fault on the line, and a fault signal is generated if the check has resulted in a fault present on the line being detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Cezary Dzienis, Andreas Jurisch
  • Patent number: 10962567
    Abstract: A probe system for facilitating inspection of a device under test comprising a plurality of panels, the probe system incorporating: a configurable universal probe bar comprising a plurality of probe blocks, the plurality of probe blocks comprising a plurality of probe pins positioned to simultaneously electrically engage a plurality of cell contact pads of the plurality of panels of the device under test to deliver a plurality of electrical test signals; and an alignment system configured to achieve an alignment of the plurality of probe pins with the plurality of the cell contact pads of the plurality of panels of the device under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventors: Gordon Yue, Lloyd Russell Jones, Neil Dang Nguyen, Kiran Jitendra, Kent Nguyen, Steven Aochi
  • Patent number: 10948521
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring low energy voltage in a high energy transmission line electrode divider network. A floating reference voltage screen is positioned between a high energy transmission line electrode and a ground plate at a distance from the high energy transmission line electrode that is shorter than a distance between the ground plate and the floating reference voltage screen. A first conductive lead electrically couples the high energy analog transmission line electrode to a first input of a voltmeter that is connected to a controller. A second conductive lead electrically couples the floating reference voltage screen to a second input of the voltmeter. An alternating voltage drop is measured across the high energy transmission line electrode and the floating reference voltage screen by electronics of the voltmeter connected to the controller. The controller and the voltmeter are both disconnected from the ground plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: G & W Electric Company
    Inventor: Blair S. Kerr
  • Patent number: 10935609
    Abstract: An example method of operating a solidly grounded, multi-source, multi-phase power distribution system having coupled neutral conductors is disclosed. The power distribution system includes a bus, a plurality of source protection devices coupled to the bus, and a plurality of feeder protection devices coupled to the bus. The method includes receiving, for each source protection device of the plurality of source protection devices, data indicative of detected source phase currents associated with the source protection device. Data indicative of detected feeder neutral currents and detected feeder phase currents associated with the feeder protection device are received for each feeder protection device of the plurality of feeder protection devices. A net source ground fault current associated with the plurality of source protection devices is determined based on the received data indicative of source phase currents and the received data indicative of feeder neutral currents and feeder phase currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Marcelo Esteban Valdes
  • Patent number: 10935598
    Abstract: Fault detection circuitry and a corresponding method are disclosed. A count value that is indicative of the switching period of a PWM signal is determined and it is determined whether this count value is between a first threshold and a second threshold. An error signal is generated when the switching period is not between the first and the second threshold. A count value that is indicative of the switch-on duration of the PWM signal is determined and compared with a switch-on threshold in order to determine whether the switch-on duration is greater than a maximum switch-on duration. A count value that is indicative of the switch-off duration of the PWM signal is determined and compared with a switch-off threshold in order to determine whether the switch-off duration is greater than a maximum switch-off duration. Error signals can be generated when the durations are greater than the maximum durations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giuseppe D'Angelo
  • Patent number: 10914623
    Abstract: A system (with corresponding a method and computer program product) for sensing wire tampering of a utility service. The system comprises a flow meter configured to produce output pulses indicative of a flow through the utility service, a switching-element receiving the pulses from the flow meter, a diode in parallel with the switching-element, and a processor for recording the flow, and having a first wire and a second wire electrically connected to the switching-element and the diode. The processor is configured to apply a forward voltage to the diode, detect a response at the diode during the application of the forward voltage to the diode, and based on a comparison of a magnitude of the response to at least two of three different electrical states, determine if the detected response is indicative of a) a short between the first wire and the second wire, b) a cut in either of the first wire and the second wire, or c) an untampered wire condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: SENSUS SPECTRUM, LLC
    Inventors: Adam D. Hansen, Anup Nandwana
  • Patent number: 10914759
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for placing and contacting a contact element formed in particular as a test contact of a test contact arrangement, wherein in said method, for forming a heat transfer surface, a contact head provided with a contact element holding device, with the contact element received in the contact element holding device, is placed between the contact element and a contact material deposit arranged on a contact surface of a contact carrier in the direction of a feeding axis against a contact surface of the connecting material deposit, and, for realizing an at least partial fusing of the connecting material deposit and for producing a materially bonded connection between the contact element and the connecting material deposit, thermal energy is introduced into the connecting material deposit by means of treating the contact element with thermal energy, the temperature T of the contact element being measured while the contact element is being treated and the duration of the treatment being
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: PAC TECH—PACKAGING TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Thorsten Krause
  • Patent number: 10914609
    Abstract: A system includes a magnet configured to produce a magnetic field, the magnet having an asymmetric magnetization configuration that produces a distinct feature in the magnetic field. The asymmetric magnetization configuration can be produced via an asymmetric physical characteristic, nonuniform magnetization strengths, nonuniform magnetization distributions, off-centered magnet, and so forth. Magnetic field sensors are configured to produce output signals in response to the magnetic field, the output signals being indicative of the distinct feature in the magnetic field. A processing circuit receives the output signals and determines a rotation angle for the magnet using the output signals, the rotation angle having a range of 0-360°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Stephan Marauska, Edwin Schapendonk, Dennis Helmboldt, Jaap Ruigrok, Ralf van Otten, Jan Przytarski, Jörg Kock
  • Patent number: 10910994
    Abstract: A method for detecting a fault in a photovoltaic module includes determining a matrix of temperatures of the photovoltaic module, the matrix being obtained after dividing the module into a plurality of thermal zones and assigning a temperature to each thermal zone; detecting at least one hot thermal zone from among the plurality of zones of the module; determining a surface area ratio between the surface area of the detected hot thermal zone and the total surface area of the module; performing a first comparison of the surface area ratio with a coefficient dependent on the number of bypass diodes present in the module; and determining the type of fault from the result obtained in said first comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Duy Long Ha, Franck Al Shakarchi
  • Patent number: 10906735
    Abstract: A plastic fuel container with a fill level transmitter has a floating body, which is disposed on a rotatably mounted carrier via a lever arm, and a magnet, which is disposed on the carrier and which rotates together with the carrier when the carrier rotates as a result of the floating body, and a Hall sensor, which is disposed in a fixed position relative to the magnet, for detecting a field strength, which changes when the magnet rotates, as a measurement for the fill level in the container. In addition, the Hall sensor is disposed on a sensor carrier which can be mounted from the outer side of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TI AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Albert J. Boecker, Patrick Gmünd, Gerrit Michaelis, Thorsten Schaefer
  • Patent number: 10908234
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetoresistance effect element that has a first ferromagnetic metal layer, a second ferromagnetic metal layer, and a tunnel barrier layer provided between the first ferromagnetic metal layer and the second ferromagnetic metal layer. The tunnel barrier layer has a cubic crystal structure, and the first ferromagnetic metal layer or the second ferromagnetic metal layer is formed of a material having a cubic crystal structure represented by Fe2CoSi. A crystal surface for crystals constituting the tunnel barrier layer and a crystal surface for crystals constituting the first ferromagnetic metal layer or the second ferromagnetic metal layer are matched to be inclined at 0° or 45° in at least a part of a crystal interface between the tunnel barrier layer and the first ferromagnetic metal layer or the second ferromagnetic metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10908221
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a battery power estimating method. The method includes: performing a discharge operation of a battery; detecting, by an impedance component, a plurality of current values generated by the discharge operation of the battery during a time range, wherein the impedance component is coupled to a discharge path of the battery; obtaining a first average current value of the current values; obtaining a value distribution status of the current values; and estimating a remaining power of the battery according to the first average current value, the value distribution status and an initial power of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventor: Chin-Yi Tsai
  • Patent number: 10901000
    Abstract: An electrical testing jig includes: a substrate; a first bracket on the substrate, the first bracket having a first step extending in a first direction on a top of the first bracket; and a second bracket on the substrate, the second bracket being spaced apart from the first bracket in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and having two second steps spaced apart from each other in the first direction on a top of the second bracket. Each of the second steps is angular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kai Qiao, Han Chen, Peihuan Ning, Shilin Zhu, Wei Sun, Bin Wan, Weiquan Zeng, Zhuoyan Ni