Patents by Inventor Tom Xiong

Tom Xiong has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20190160955
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for electric vehicle supply equipment, the electrical circuit including a pilot control signal unit structured to generate a pilot control signal having a state including one of a high state and a low state, an isolation unit electrically connected to the pilot control signal unit and a first ground and being structured to isolate the pilot control signal to generate an isolated pilot control signal, and an amplification unit electrically connected to the isolation unit, having a second ground, and being structured to amplify the isolated pilot control signal to generate a pilot signal. The isolation unit is structured to isolate the second ground of the amplification unit from the first ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: LIN YANG, TOM XIONG, KEVIN ZHONG, CHUANCHUAN ZHUANG, XIANZHEN ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20190097409
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter including a first set of separable contacts, a second set of separable contacts, a first operating mechanism structured to open the first set of separable contacts, a second operating mechanism structured to open and close the second set of separable contacts, and an electronic trip unit including a routine structured to detect a fault condition and a type of the fault condition, to control the second operating mechanism to open the second set of separable contacts in response to detecting a first type of fault condition, and to control the second operating mechanism to close the second set of separable contacts a predetermined amount of time after controlling the second operating mechanism to open the second set of separable contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARTIN CHEN, TOM XIONG, KEVIN ZHONG, LILY DU
  • Publication number: 20190097415
    Abstract: An electronic device that is configured to be coupled to an alternating current (AC) power unit that includes an AC input power signal is described. The electronic device includes a reference signal generator circuit that is configured to generate a reference signal based on a direct current (DC) power source, a voltage divider circuit that is configured to scale the reference signal for application to the AC input power signal to generate a divided AC input power signal, an amplifier circuit that is configured to output a fault indication signal responsive to the divided AC input power signal, and an amplifier control circuit that is coupled to the amplifier circuit and is configured to control a fault indication signal level of the fault indication signal that is output by the amplifier circuit. Related methods and computer program products are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew Yang, Tom Xiong, Harry Zhang, Alex Zhuang, Jerry Zhang, George Zhang
  • Patent number: 10150374
    Abstract: Electric vehicle supply equipment includes a contactor having a first set of contacts and a second set of contacts, an amplifier circuit electrically connected to the load side output of the first set of contacts via a first connection and to the load side output of the second set of contacts via a second connection, the amplifier circuit being structured to amplify a voltage difference between a first voltage at the first connection and a second voltage at the second connection, and control electronics structured to compare the amplified voltage difference to a threshold voltage and to determine whether the first and second sets of contacts are closed based on the comparison between the amplified voltage difference and the threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Tom Xiong, Jackie Hao, Andrew Yang, Darron Kirby Lacey
  • Patent number: 10141144
    Abstract: Self-powered switches include an externally accessible user input member, a switch housing attached to the user input member, a permanent magnet held in the switch housing, a magnet housing held in the switch housing that is attached to the user input member, the magnet housing having a spindle that extends laterally outward from opposing sides of an upper portion of the magnet housing. The spindle is attached to the switch housing. The switches also include a magnet assembly that includes a coil and a shaft extending a distance beyond the coil held in the switch housing. A least one of the magnet assembly and permanent magnet moves in response to movement of the user input member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Alex Zhuang, George Zhang, Erik Jeffrey Gouhl, Harry Zhang, Andrew Yang, Darron Kirby Lacey, Tom Xiong
  • Patent number: 10123391
    Abstract: A dimmer switch system electrically connected between a power source and a load includes a primary housing including a primary switch actuatable by a user, a processor structured to change a state of the dimmer switch based on actuation of either the primary switch or the secondary switch, and a secondary switch isolation circuit. The dimmer switch system also includes a secondary housing including a secondary switch actuatable by the user and being electrically connected to the power source. The secondary switch isolation circuit is electrically connected between the secondary switch and the processor, the secondary switch isolation circuit including a transistor electrically coupled between the power source and the processor and being structured to provide impedance between the power source and the processor. The secondary switch isolation circuit is structured to provide a signal to the processor based on a state of the secondary switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Tom Xiong, Kevin Zhong, Lin Yang
  • Patent number: 10056216
    Abstract: A trip bar cam unit for a trip bar is provided. The trip bar cam unit includes a trip bar cam unit body, a cam lever, and a keyed protrusion. The trip bar cam unit body defines an axis of rotation. The cam lever extends generally radially from the trip bar cam unit body. The keyed protrusion corresponds to a trip bar axial bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Martin Chen, Tom Xiong, Kevin Zhong
  • Publication number: 20180226793
    Abstract: Self-powered switches include a switch housing having an externally accessible user input member, a coil assembly, and a magnet arranged therein such that at least one of the coil assembly and the magnet move relative to each other responsive to movement of the user input member between first and second switch positions, and a control circuit held in the switch housing and coupled to first and second terminals of the coil assembly. The control circuit is configured to detect respective electrical characteristics of the first and second terminals of the coil assembly responsive to the movement of the user input member, and selectively transmit first and second wireless control signals to a remote receiver based on the respective electrical characteristics of the first and second terminals of the coil assembly, respectively. Related circuits and methods of operation are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Harry Zhang, Andrew Yang, Alex Zhuang, George Zhang, Tom Xiong, Darron Kirby Lacey
  • Publication number: 20180226215
    Abstract: Self-powered switches include an externally accessible user input member, a switch housing attached to the user input member, a permanent magnet held in the switch housing, a magnet housing held in the switch housing that is attached to the user input member, the magnet housing having a spindle that extends laterally outward from opposing sides of an upper portion of the magnet housing. The spindle is attached to the switch housing. The switches also include a magnet assembly that includes a coil and a shaft extending a distance beyond the coil held in the switch housing. A least one of the magnet assembly and permanent magnet moves in response to movement of the user input member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Alex Zhuang, George Zhang, Erik Jeffrey Gouhl, Harry Zhang, Andrew Yang, Darron Kirby Lacey, Tom Xiong
  • Patent number: 10017064
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for electric vehicle supply equipment including a pilot control signal unit structured to generate a pilot control signal having a state including one of a high state and a low state, a pilot control signal isolation unit structured to generate an isolated pilot control signal that is isolated from the power lines of the electric vehicle supply equipment and is based on the state of the pilot control signal, and an amplification unit structured to generate a pilot signal based on the state of the pilot control signal. The amplification unit is structured to receive the isolated pilot control signal and the isolated voltage and to use the isolated pilot control signal and the isolated voltage to generate the pilot signal, and the pilot signal is isolated from the power lines of the electric vehicle supply equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Yang, Tom Xiong, Kevin Zhong, Alex Zhuang, Martin Chen
  • Publication number: 20180170199
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for electric vehicle supply equipment including a pilot control signal unit structured to generate a pilot control signal having a state including one of a high state and a low state, a pilot control signal isolation unit structured to generate an isolated pilot control signal that is isolated from the power lines of the electric vehicle supply equipment and is based on the state of the pilot control signal, and an amplification unit structured to generate a pilot signal based on the state of the pilot control signal. The amplification unit is structured to receive the isolated pilot control signal and the isolated voltage and to use the isolated pilot control signal and the isolated voltage to generate the pilot signal, and the pilot signal is isolated from the power lines of the electric vehicle supply equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: ANDREW YANG, TOM XIONG, KEVIN ZHONG, ALEX ZHUANG, MARTIN CHEN
  • Publication number: 20180170198
    Abstract: A pilot signal detection and indication unit includes a pilot signal scaling unit structured to generate a scaled pilot signal by shifting a pilot signal using a bias voltage and scaling down the pilot signal, a pilot signal duty cycle comparator unit structured to generate a limited pilot signal that has a fixed peak voltage and a duty cycle that is equivalent to the duty cycle of the pilot signal, a processing unit structured to determine a voltage value and the duty cycle value of the pilot signal from the scaled pilot signal and the limited pilot signal, and to generate an indication signal based on the determined voltage value and duty cycle value, and an indication unit having a number of indicators and being structured to activate selected ones of the number of indicators based on the indication signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANDREW YANG, TOM XIONG, JERRY ZHANG, LILY DU, HARRY ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20180138723
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging circuit breaker for charging an electric vehicle with power from a power source. The electric vehicle charging circuit breaker includes a circuit protection unit structured to provide circuit protection between the power source and the electric vehicle, an electric vehicle charging unit structured to control charging of the electric vehicle, a metering unit structured to meter power flowing between the power source and the electric vehicle, and a display unit structured to display information including at least one of metering information and a status of electric vehicle charging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: KEVIN ZHONG, TOM XIONG, DARRON KIRBY LACEY, SOPHIA ZHANG, LILY DU
  • Patent number: 9973106
    Abstract: An electric circuit for use with an AC power source includes a diode electrically connected to a line input from the AC power source, a transistor having a gate, a drain, and a source, wherein the drain is electrically connected to the diode, a zener diode electrically connected between the gate and the source of the transistor, a resistor electrically connected between the drain of the transistor and a neutral input from the AC power source, and a capacitor electrically connected in parallel with the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Tom Xiong, Kevin Zhong
  • Publication number: 20180118042
    Abstract: Electric vehicle supply equipment includes a contactor having a first set of contacts and a second set of contacts, an amplifier circuit electrically connected to the load side output of the first set of contacts via a first connection and to the load side output of the second set of contacts via a second connection, the amplifier circuit being structured to amplify a voltage difference between a first voltage at the first connection and a second voltage at the second connection, and control electronics structured to compare the amplified voltage difference to a threshold voltage and to determine whether the first and second sets of contacts are closed based on the comparison between the amplified voltage difference and the threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: TOM XIONG, JACKIE HAO, ANDREW YANG, DARRON KIRBY LACEY
  • Publication number: 20180062534
    Abstract: An electric circuit for use with an AC power source includes a diode electrically connected to a line input from the AC power source, a transistor having a gate, a drain, and a source, wherein the drain is electrically connected to the diode, a zener diode electrically connected between the gate and the source of the transistor, a resistor electrically connected between the drain of the transistor and a neutral input from the AC power source, and a capacitor electrically connected in parallel with the resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: TOM XIONG, KEVIN ZHONG
  • Publication number: 20180053616
    Abstract: A trip bar cam unit for a trip bar is provided. The trip bar cam unit includes a trip bar cam unit body, a cam lever, and a keyed protrusion. The trip bar cam unit body defines an axis of rotation. The cam lever extends generally radially from the trip bar cam unit body. The keyed protrusion corresponds to a trip bar axial bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Chen, Tom Xiong, Kevin Zhong
  • Patent number: 9871329
    Abstract: Terminal assemblies for power receptacles or switches or other electrical devices include a first terminal holding a first terminal screw and a second terminal adjacent the first terminal and holding a second terminal screw. The terminal assembly also includes a thermal protection plate having longitudinally opposed first and second end portions, the first end portion affixed to the first terminal and the second end portion attached to the second terminal. The thermal protection plate has an electrical conductive contact residing between the first and second end portions, closer to the second end portion than the first end portion. The thermal protection plate has a first material with a first thermal coefficient of expansion overlying or underlying a second material with a second thermal coefficient of expansion with the second thermal coefficient of expansion greater than the first thermal coefficient of expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Darron Kirby Lacey, Erik Jeffrey Gouhl, Alex Zhuang, George Zhang, Tom Xiong
  • Patent number: 9671466
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing an arc fault circuit interrupter includes an AC signal generator circuit configured to be capacitively coupled to an AC power line and to induce an AC signal thereon and a control circuit configured to control the AC signal generator circuit to selectively enable and disable generation of the AC signal responsive to a waveform of an AC power voltage of the AC power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Saivaraprasad Murahari, Tom Xiong, Jackie Hao
  • Patent number: D848958
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Alex Zhuang, George Zhang, Erik Jeffrey Gouhl, Harry Zhang, Andrew Yang, Darron Kirby Lacey, Tom Xiong