Patents Examined by Viet Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9938956
    Abstract: Disclosed is an energy harvesting system for ocean waves. The energy harvesting system includes each of a buoyant platform and a plurality of wave energy harvesting units. The buoyant platform is configured to float above the ocean bed. Further, each wave energy harvesting unit may be tethered between the buoyant platform and the ocean bed. Additionally, a wave energy harvesting unit may be configured to be actuated by motion of the buoyant platform. Accordingly, the wave energy harvesting unit may absorb energy from the buoyant platform's movement resulted from the ocean waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Rohan V Patel
  • Patent number: 9932952
    Abstract: An electricity supply device that reduces a delay in starting an engine. A vehicle includes a starter motor for starting an engine, a start magnet making and breaking connection between the starter motor and a battery, a fuel pump, and a control unit controlling fuel injection and ignition timing of the engine. An electricity supply device of the vehicle includes: a main relay making and breaking connection between a load of the vehicle, the load not including the starter motor, the start magnet, and the battery; a clutch switch connected to the battery, and set in a conducting state when a clutch lever is gripped; a start switch connected between the clutch switch and a coil of the start magnet; and a diode allowing a current to flow from a point of connection between the clutch switch and the start switch to a coil of the main relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Tsusaka
  • Patent number: 9935799
    Abstract: Modulated signal A is transmitted from a first antenna, and modulated signal B is transmitted from a second antenna. As modulated signal B, modulated symbols S2(i) and S2(i+1) obtained from different data are transmitted at time i and time i+1 respectively. In contrast, as modulated signal A, modulated symbols S1(i) and S1(i)? obtained by changing the signal point arrangement of the same data are transmitted at time i and time i+1 respectively. As a result the reception quality can be changed intentionally at time i and time i+1, and therefore using the demodulation result of modulated signal A of a time when the reception quality is good enables both modulated signals A and B to be demodulated with good error rate performances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America
    Inventors: Yutaka Murakami, Kiyotaka Kobayashi, Masayuki Orihashi, Akihiko Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 9935582
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking systems are provided. In certain configurations, an envelope tracking system includes a digital filter that generates a filtered envelope signal based on a digital envelope signal representing an envelope of a radio frequency signal, a buck converter controllable by the filtered envelope signal and including an output electrically connected to a power amplifier supply voltage, a digital-to-analog converter module including an output electrically connected to the output of the buck converter and that provides an output current, and a digital shaping and delay circuit configured to generate a shaped envelope signal based on shaping the filtered envelope signal. The shaped envelope signal controls a magnitude of the output current, and the digital shaping and delay circuit controls a delay of the shaped envelope signal to align the output of the digital-to-analog converter module and the output of the buck converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Florinel G. Balteanu, Sabah Khesbak, Yevgeniy A. Tkachenko, David Steven Ripley, Robert John Thompson
  • Patent number: 9929685
    Abstract: A fault protection circuit for an alternator is provided for preventing faults such as a prolonged full-field condition in the alternator. The fault protection circuit includes a safety switch that is opened when the alternator output voltage becomes too high, as may occur during a full-field condition caused by an electrical short, or when some other fault is detected within the alternator. The opening of this safety switch disconnects a supply voltage feeding an excitation current control switch. The excitation current control switch normally adjusts an excitation current provided to a rotor in the alternator, in order to regulate a voltage output from the alternator. By providing a safety switch that disconnects the supply voltage for the rotor excitation in the alternator, the alternator output voltage may be prevented from reaching excessive levels that may damage devices in an electrical system and a battery coupled to the alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Martin Graefling, Christoph Seidl
  • Patent number: 9927517
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a rainfall sensor having a rainfall analyzer configured to induce transmitted electromagnetic waves that are guided by a transmission medium to propagate along the transmission medium, wherein the transmitted electromagnetic waves propagate without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the rainfall analyzer receives reflected electromagnetic waves from the transmission medium in response to the transmitted electromagnetic waves and wherein the rainfall analyzer analyzes the reflected electromagnetic waves and generates rainfall data in response thereto. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Bennett, Paul Shala Henry, Irwin Gerszberg, Farhad Barzegar, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 9919647
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an intuitive haptic alert system that: (1) Identifies a second vehicle; projects a series of virtual waves emanating from the second vehicle at a source frequency, estimates observed frequencies of the virtual waves at the first vehicle according to the Doppler Effect, and generates a sequence of commands for a haptic motor based on the estimated observed frequencies. (2) Projects rumble zone(s) over road; identifies when the vehicle occupies the zone(s); generates a sequence of commands for a haptic motor based on: an identified occupation and received vehicle velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yifan Chen, Pietro Buttolo, James Peng
  • Patent number: 9922525
    Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring an environment and generating data in response to the presence of at least one chemical hazardous to human health in the environment. The monitoring system is configured to communicate the data to an associated personal communication device or the like for processing. The monitoring system can be in the form a selectively attachable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Gregory J. Hummer
  • Patent number: 9907999
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for tracking, collecting, or analyzing user data for gyms. For example, the system can include a mobile device associated with a user and a tracking device attached to an exercise device. The tracking device can be configured to detect when the mobile device or the user enters within a proximity value of the tracking device and notify the mobile device with a notification signal and identification information of the exercise device. The mobile device can be configured to receive the notification signal from the tracking device, detect a received signal strength (RSS) of the notification signal, and determine whether the RSS is above or at a pre-determined threshold. When the RSS is above or at the pre-determined threshold, the mobile device records the identification information of the exercise device. When the RSS is below the pre-determined threshold, the mobile device ignores the notification signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Tinoq Inc.
    Inventors: Daxiao Yu, Yang Sun
  • Patent number: 9905094
    Abstract: A stabilizer and status alert device for a refuse can includes a base configured to support the refuse can in an upright position, a retaining feature configured to releasably couple the refuse can to the base, and an alert system configured to deliver a status notification to a user device in response to the refuse can be uncoupled from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventor: Robert W. Hooper
  • Patent number: 9904824
    Abstract: A mm-wave RFID tag interrogation apparatus includes multiple transmitting antennas, and multiple receiving antennas. The transmitting and receiving antennas are spatially distributed and oriented in orthogonal polarization states. A transmitter is coupled to the transmitting antennas, and transmits a corresponding multiple number of separable mm-wave signals. A receiver coupled to the receiving antennas is configured to extract separable components of received mm-wave signals. A processing unit processes the extracted signal components using a synthetic aperture algorithm. An RFID tag, readable by the interrogation apparatus, includes meander-line conductive elements arranged to encode information spatially on a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Monash University
    Inventors: Nemai Chandra Karmakar, Mohammad Zomorrodi
  • Patent number: 9905068
    Abstract: A lock button status indicator member for use with a key fob having a depressable lock button for remotely activating a locking mechanism communicating with a door. The lock button status indicator member is formed of a viscoelastic polyurethane foam having a slow recovery time. The lock button status indicator member has a base configured to abut the upper surface of the lock button. An adherent, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, is located on the lower surface of the base of the lock button status indicator member, and is adapted to adhere the lower surface of the base to the upper surface of the lock button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventor: Ronald H. Stirtz
  • Patent number: 9899943
    Abstract: The invention enables durability in a higher temperature environment to be ensured without changing mechanical design specifications. A power generation control device for controlling generator output to a predetermined range by intermittently controlling a field current of a vehicle alternating current generator, includes a limit deactivation signal reception unit that receives a limit deactivation signal of the field current from an exterior, a rotation speed detection unit that detects generator rotation speed, a temperature detection unit that detects temperature of the power generation control device, and a limit activation/deactivation determination unit that, when the limit deactivation signal is input, deactivates the field current limit under predetermined rotation speed and temperature conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Katsurada, Katsuyuki Sumimoto
  • Patent number: 9898667
    Abstract: An accident information management apparatus for acquiring accident associated information such as images stored in a black box (i.e., black box images) from a peripheral vehicle through direct communication between vehicles when an accident such as a traffic accident occurs, a vehicle including the accident information management apparatus, and a method for managing accident information are disclosed. The vehicle includes an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements configured to transmit and receive a signal; and a beamformer configured to adjust a phase of the signal transmitted from the antenna elements so as to form a beam pattern focused in a specific direction; and a controller configured to focus the beam pattern onto a peripheral vehicle so as to control a communication unit to transmit a request signal of accident associated information. The antenna array and the beamformer are contained in the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kyunghyun Kang, Ki Dong Kang, HeeJin Ro, Seok-young Youn, Sung Un Kim, Bitna Baek, Ga Hee Kim, Jong Hyuck Heo, Chisung Kim
  • Patent number: 9899941
    Abstract: A damping system can include a sensor disposed to measure an amplitude of a speed ripple of a drive shaft of a generator, and can include a feedforward circuit connected to the sensor and to the generator. The feedforward circuit can determine a phase angle formed by a load resistance and a load capacitance driven by the generator, calculate a voltage signal value based on the amplitude and the phase angle, and can adjust a DC link voltage provided by the generator and across the load resistance according to the voltage signal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Kaiyu Wang, Paul Robert Gemin, David Woodburn
  • Patent number: 9894887
    Abstract: A remote monitoring system and a method of remotely monitoring a feed environment that can sense feed stored within a filled container. The remote monitoring system can be configured to determine a distance between a level sensor and a top feed surface of the feed and to wirelessly send feed level data and, optionally, environmental data, to a communication device of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventor: Wilson Collins
  • Patent number: 9893663
    Abstract: A fault protection circuit for an alternator is provided for preventing faults such as a prolonged full-field condition in the alternator. The fault protection circuit includes a safety switch that is opened when the alternator output voltage becomes too high, as may occur during a full-field condition caused by an electrical short, or when some other fault is detected within the alternator. The opening of this safety switch disconnects a supply voltage feeding an excitation current control switch. The excitation current control switch normally adjusts an excitation current provided to a rotor in the alternator, in order to regulate a voltage output from the alternator. By providing a safety switch that disconnects the supply voltage for the rotor excitation in the alternator, the alternator output voltage may be prevented from reaching excessive levels that may damage devices in an electrical system and a battery coupled to the alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Martin Graefling, Christoph Seidl
  • Patent number: 9892624
    Abstract: A portable device for increasing road traffic safety, detecting emergencies and emitting an alarm call for a person. The portable device includes a communication device, a position-determining system, an evaluation unit and a vibration generator. The portable device communicates, by way of the communication device, with at least one further communication device of at least one external system. The person is warned by the vibration generator of a dangerous situation determined by the evaluation unit in combination with the position-determining system and the communication device. The dangerous situation is a collision of the person wearing the portable device with the at least one external system that includes the at least one further communication device. This collision is determined by way of a behavior prediction algorithm. When the, or a further dangerous situation arises, the portable device emits an alarm call by way of the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Deuter, Malgorzata Wiklinska, Matthias Holzer
  • Patent number: 9887866
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting wideband analog radio frequency (RF) signals. In an implementation, a first wideband analog RF signal may be received and handled. The first wideband analog RF signal comprises one or more first narrowband analog RF signals, with a total of bandwidths of the one or more first narrowband analog RF signals is less than a total bandwidth of the first wideband analog RF signal. Handling the first wideband analog RF signal may including selecting a first subset of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) from a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), with the number of ADCs in the first subset of ADCs being less than a total number of ADCs in the plurality of ADCs, and only the first subset of ADCs may be enabled. Only the one or more first narrowband analog RF signals may be analog-to-digital converted via the first subset of ADCs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: MAXLINEAR ASIA SINGAPORE PTE LTD.
    Inventors: Ryan Santa, Bernard Guay
  • Patent number: 9887605
    Abstract: A wind-driven electricity generation device includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly. The stator assembly includes a case and a magnetically permeable module disposed on the case. The rotor assembly is rotatably arranged in the case and includes a rotating member and a magnetic module disposed on the rotating member. The rotating member has a column and a spiral blade. A gap is formed between the spiral blade and the case. The spiral blade is connected to the column at a helix angle of 21˜55 degrees. The spiral blade is configured to rotate the rotor assembly with respect to the stator assembly by utilizing wind, such that an induced current is generated by the cooperation of the magnetically permeable module and the magnetic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignees: KUNIHIRO MIYAKE, NARIIE OMORI, MITSUSHIN CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Miyake, Nariie Omori