Patents Examined by Vincent Tran
  • Patent number: 9708852
    Abstract: Methods for integrated room management in a building management system and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes determining a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) for a room in a building and determining predicted room temperatures for the room at the plurality of time intervals based on the SHGC and a plurality of window blinds tilt angles. The method includes determining illumination heat and illumination energy for the room and determining climate energy for the room. The method includes determining a total room energy as a function of the window blinds tilt angles based on the climate energy, illumination energy, and predicted room temperatures. The method includes determining an optimal blind tilt angle that minimizes the total room energy at each of the time intervals and controlling the tilt angles of window blinds according to the optimal blind tilt angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Cascia
  • Patent number: 9703341
    Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronous adapter power energy burst mode support for system turbo are described. In some embodiments, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the IHS to: determine that the processor is expected to enter a turbo mode; and transmit a command to a power adaptor in anticipation of the turbo mode to make an additional amount of energy available to the IHS when the processor enters the turbo mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Sultenfuss, Vijay Thyagarajan Ramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 9690346
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for sharing power load across multiple input supplies in a peripheral device. Current utilized by the peripheral device from a first voltage supply is monitored and if the current exceeds a first threshold, a voltage converter is utilized to supplement the current from the first voltage supply with current from a second voltage supply up to a maximum total current threshold for the second voltage supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: James Douglas Bucher, II
  • Patent number: 9690361
    Abstract: An analog frontend (AFE) interface is dynamically programmable based on a determined operating state. The AFE includes hardware to interface with multiple different sensors. The AFE includes analog processing hardware that can select input data from one of the multiple sensors. The analog processing hardware is coupled to a processor that computes features from the sensor, where the features represent selected operating condition information of the AFE for the sensor. The processor is to determine one of multiple discrete operating states of the AFE for the sensor based on the computed features and dynamically adjust operation of the AFE to interface with the sensor based on the determined operating state. Dynamically adjusting the operation of the AFE includes controlling a configuration of the AFE that controls how the AFE receives the input sensor data from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Oguz H Elibol, Varvara Roula Kollia, Esha John, Ryan M Field
  • Patent number: 9692402
    Abstract: In an example, a system and method for centering in a high-performance interconnect (HPI) are disclosed. When an interconnect is powered up from a dormant state, it may be necessary to “center” the clock signal to ensure that data are read at the correct time. A multi-phase method may be used, in which a first phase comprises a reference voltage sweep to identify an optimal reference voltage. A second phase comprises a phase sweep to identify an optimal phase. A third sweep comprises a two-dimensional “eye” phase, in which a plurality of values within a two-dimensional eye derived from the first two sweeps are tested. In each case, the optimal value is the value that results in the fewest bit error across multiple lanes. In one example, the second and third phases are performed in software, and may include testing a “victim” lane, with adjacent “aggressor” lanes having a complementary bit pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mahesh Wagh, Zuoguo Wu, Venkatraman Iyer, Gerald S. Pasdast, Todd A. Hinck, David M. Lee, Narasimha R. Lanka
  • Patent number: 9684357
    Abstract: Approaches are provided for a predictive electrical appliance power-saving management mode. An approach includes ascertaining a location and pace of a mobile device. The approach further includes calculating an amount of time that it will take to enable or start programs and services upon a computing device waking from a sleep mode or hybrid sleep mode. The approach further includes determining a distance threshold to the computing device that allows for the calculated amount of time to pass such that the programs and services are enabled or started prior to a user of the mobile device arriving at the computing device when the user is returning to the computing device at the ascertained pace. The approach further includes sending a signal to awaken the computing device from the sleep mode or hybrid sleep mode when the mobile device is within the distance threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James E. Bostick, John M. Ganci, Jr., Sarbajit K. Rakshit, Kimberly G. Starks
  • Patent number: 9665158
    Abstract: A battery-powered device may receive document data that includes information associated with a document. The device may determine a battery level and may determine whether the battery level satisfies a threshold value. If the battery level satisfies the threshold value, the device may present the document for display. If the battery level does not satisfy the threshold value, the device may present a battery-saving version of the document for display. The battery-saving version may omit and/or modify one or more elements included in the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Joseph, Guruharan Ravi, Santosh C. Abraham, Sudharsanan Swaminathan, Rajarathinam Maduram
  • Patent number: 9658670
    Abstract: Systems and methods for free device placement for wireless charging are described. In some embodiments, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the IHS to: determine that the IHS is placed in a position on a wireless charging pad such that the wireless charging pad cannot provide power to the IHS above a minimum threshold value; request that the wireless charging pad provide fringe power to IHS without repositioning the IHS on the wireless charging pad, wherein the fringe power is smaller than the minimum threshold power level; and use the fringe power to indicate a problem or error to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Sultenfuss, Vijay Thyagarajan Ramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 9651931
    Abstract: Safety and/or reliability may he improved in industrial control systems by optimally utilizing integrated circuit elements to reduce the amount of components required and to provide cross monitoring. In one aspect, circuitry that is part of an Integrated Circuit (IC) for controlling a first channel may also be used to monitor and provide safe operation for circuitry for controlling a second channel, and the circuitry for controlling the second channel may similarly be used to monitor and provide safe operation for the circuitry controlling the first channel. Circuitry may include a windowed watchdog circuit which may be used to monitor various events of the other circuitry, and safe operation may be provided by removing power from the other circuitry to provide a safe state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward C. Hopsecger, Joseph G. Vazach
  • Patent number: 9652015
    Abstract: A capacitance sensing circuit receives an application of a power supply. The capacitance sensing circuit controls a switch circuit to connect the power supply to a processing device responsive to the application of the power supply. The capacitance sensing circuit receives, via a control interface and from the processing device, control information to configure the capacitance sensing circuit. The capacitance sensing circuit disconnects the power supply from the processing device subsequent to receiving the control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Carl Liepold, Hans Klein, Hans Van Antwerpen, Adrian Woolley, David Wright
  • Patent number: 9647489
    Abstract: Examples of the disclosure are directed to methods of managing power of various modules of an electronic device to prevent the voltage of the battery from falling to an undervoltage lockout (UVLO) threshold. In some examples, software operating on the electronic device or an associated electronic device (e.g., a paired electronic device) may assign power budgets to one or more modules, thereby preventing each module from drawing its maximum current capacity and causing the battery's voltage level to fall to the UVLO threshold. In some examples, a pre-UVLO threshold (i.e., a threshold higher than the UVLO threshold) may be used to modify the states of one or more modules to save power as the voltage of the battery approaches the UVLO threshold, but before the device must be fully powered off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cyril De La Cropte De Chanterac, David A. Hardell, Matthew L. Semersky, Yehonatan Perez
  • Patent number: 9639145
    Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a computing device is provided. The computing device includes an interface module and a power management module. The interface module is to provide a user interface that facilitates enabling and disabling of an always on feature, and further facilitates configuration of a permissible advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI) S3 state period. The power management module to receive a request to enter an ACPI S3 state, determine whether the always on feature is enabled, and in response to determining that the always on feature is enabled, determine whether the computing device is within a user-defined permissible ACPI S3 state period. In response to determining that the computing device is within the user-defined permissible ACPI S3 state period, the power management module is to set a wake event and cause the computing device to enter the ACPI S3 state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert C Brooks, Michael R Durham, Mark A Piwonka, Gregory P Ziarnik
  • Patent number: 9639142
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is connected to a plurality of input/output devices. The information processing apparatus includes an arithmetic processing device configured to perform a computation, and a plurality of communication devices each configured to perform a communication between the plurality of input/output devices and the arithmetic processing device. The information processing apparatus further includes a determination unit configured to determine a communication device whose power consumption is controllable, among the plurality of communication devices, and a managing unit configured to suppress power consumption of the communication device determined by the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Rinko Wakuda
  • Patent number: 9632567
    Abstract: A Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling (DVFS) method, comprising of a scheduling execution of DVFS to adjust frequency or voltage of a target device at a first scheduled time; monitoring operating frequency of the target device; and selectively deferring execution of DVFS at a later scheduled time based on the operating frequency of the target device; wherein execution of DVFS at a next scheduled time is deferred when the operating frequency of the target device is below a given minimum frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Lae Park, Woo Jin Lee, Sang Il Park, Gyeong Teak Lee
  • Patent number: 9634511
    Abstract: Disclosed are charging control methods for a rechargeable battery and portable computers. The charging control method includes acquiring a control parameter for a charge current of the rechargeable battery; modifying, based on the control parameter, the charge current from a first charge current to a second charge current less than the first charge current; and charging the rechargeable battery with the second charge current. Compared with conventional methods of charging the battery always with the maximal charge current, the present disclosure can improve the battery's lifetime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignees: LENOVO (BEIJING) LIMITED, BEIJING LENOVO SOFTWARE LTD.
    Inventors: Shuangcheng Zhao, Xiaoren Cheng, Ling Yao, Weizhi Lin
  • Patent number: 9632564
    Abstract: In a power supply device, the bridge circuit is configured by connecting, in parallel, a plurality of series circuits of an inverse-parallel connection circuit of a semiconductor switch and a diode. A control unit controls switching of a semiconductor switch so that a voltage v between AC terminals becomes zero voltage in equal periods ? before and after a center point shifted from one zero crossing point in one cycle of the input current by a compensation period (angle) ? calculated from a voltage applied to a resonance circuit constituted by the power receiving coil and a resonance capacitor Cr and an induced voltage of the power receiving coil, and becomes a positive-negative voltage whose peak value is the voltage Vo between DC terminals in other periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignees: CENTRAL JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY, FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Murai, Yoshiyasu Hagiwara, Tadashi Sawada, Masayuki Tobikawa, Ayako Saga, Michio Tamate, Koji Maruyama, Tomotaka Nishijima
  • Patent number: 9625981
    Abstract: An electronic device including an insertion portion for insertion of a connection terminal, includes a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory, configured to detect an acceleration when the electronic device is moved, detect whether or not the connection terminal is inserted in the insertion portion, based on a potential of a connection line with the insertion portion, and start application of voltage to the connection line when the detected acceleration varies from a value less than a threshold to a value equal to or greater than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Mitsunari Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9619014
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for reducing power consumption and improving performance on a computing device. A method includes scheduling, with a driver on the computing device, one or more activity times that indicate when the driver will be active and storing the one or more activity times that indicate when the driver will be active. When a request to suspend a system of the computing device is received, the stored activity times are accessed to identify when the driver will be active, and a determination is made whether any of the one or more activity times is scheduled to occur within a suspend time window. If the driver will not be active during the suspend time window, suspension of the system is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Qualcomm Innovation Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Sravan Kumar Ambapuram, Krishna V. S. S. S. R. Vanka, Murali Nalajala, Shirish Kumar Agarwal, Nikhil Kumar Kansal
  • Patent number: 9619246
    Abstract: An electronic computing device comprises first and second nonvolatile memories. The second nonvolatile memory serves as a main memory of the device. A processor clears the second nonvolatile memory in response to shutdown command according to a setting reflecting a first user operation. A processor clears the second nonvolatile memory and loads the kernel from the first nonvolatile memory to the second nonvolatile memory in response to a boot command according to a condition of a second user operation detected by the processor regardless of the setting reflecting the first user operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Chang Lu, Deng-Rung Liu
  • Patent number: 9613679
    Abstract: A controller includes first and second functional units, first and second clock-signal sources that provide corresponding first and second clock signals that drive the first and second functional units respectively. The second clock-signal generates its second clock-signal based on the first clock-signal. The clock-retardation unit dynamically causes the second clock-signal to have a target time-domain offset relative to the first clock-signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Cavium, Inc.
    Inventors: David Da-Wei Lin, Edward Wade Thoenes