Electrical Devices Patents (Class 219/209)
  • Patent number: 10732655
    Abstract: Disclosed are an energy harvesting apparatus and a current control circuit which include: a current control unit; a first voltage control unit that controls the current control unit so that an input voltage to the current control unit becomes equal to or higher than a first voltage; and a second voltage control unit that controls the current control unit so that an output voltage from the current control unit becomes equal to or lower than a second voltage which is equal to or higher than the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: ZEON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayoshi Yoshida, Kiyoshige Kojima
  • Patent number: 10697050
    Abstract: A shape memory actuator system and control methods thereof are provided that include a shape memory actuator having a body made of shape memory material, with individual power conductors interfaced with a first portion of the body, and one or more individual ground conductors interfaced with a second portion of the body. A power source provides power to the individual power conductors. One or more controllers are provided for pulse controlling or regionally controlling a resistive heating current connection sufficient to impart shape memory to the body or regions of the body between the individual power conductors and the one or more individual ground conductors with the provision that the ground conductors are physically separated from the individual power conductors. Structures of shape memory actuators and methods of control are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Inventor: Gibson Elliot
  • Patent number: 10670651
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a testing apparatus comprises: a modularized logic unit comprising circuitry for testing a plurality of devices under test (DUTs); a DUT interface board for physically and electrically interfacing with said modularized logic unit, said DUT interface board comprising: a loadboard comprising a plurality of sockets for receiving said plurality of DUTs; and a partial enclosure for partially enclosing said plurality of DUTs; a top fan disposed adjacent to a top of said partial enclosure; and a bottom fan disposed adjacent to a bottom of said partial enclosure, wherein the top fan and the bottom fan are operable to generate a vertical ambient air flow from the bottom fan to the top fan to cool said plurality of DUTs with exposed top and bottom sides, wherein the bottom fan is operable to draw ambient air from a surrounding environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
    Inventor: Roland Wolff
  • Patent number: 10632857
    Abstract: A battery support structure for a vehicle includes a first peripheral member configured to be supported by a longitudinal section of a vehicle frame. A second peripheral member has an end surface that selectively attaches at an inside surface of the first peripheral member to enclose a corner section of a battery containment area. Prior to fixed attachment of the first and second peripheral members, a slip plane is defined between the end surface and the inside surface to adjust the second peripheral member along the first peripheral member to a predefined dimension of the battery containment area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Matecki, Dennis V. Rupar, James H. Dodd
  • Patent number: 10634566
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a temperature sensing device that includes a base structure that is positioned in proximity to a cavity of an organic substrate, an input transducer coupled to the base structure, and an output transducer coupled to the base structure. The input transducer includes a first piezoelectric material to generate vibrations which are transmitted on the base structure in response to input signals being applied to the input transducer. The output transducer includes a second piezoelectric material to receive the vibrations and to generate output signals which are used to determine a change in ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Feras Eid, Sasha N. Oster, Georgios C. Dogiamis, Thomas L. Sounart, Adel A. Elsherbini, Shawna M. Liff, Johanna M. Swan
  • Patent number: 10629877
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a lower case having a plurality of cell fastening portions fastened to a plurality of cells, respectively, and a bracket to support the lower case to a floor panel of a vehicle. The bracket has a plurality of case fastening portions fastened to the lower case, and a body fastening portion to be fastened to the floor panel. The body fastening portion is disposed on the outer side of the vehicle relative to an outermost cell fastening portion disposed on the outermost side of the vehicle of the plurality of cell fastening portions. The case fastening portions are disposed on the inner side of the vehicle relative to the outermost cell fastening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Nagamine, Yoshiki Nakatsuru
  • Patent number: 10620644
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a plurality of digitally addressable sectors. Each sector includes an on-die sensing element. The on-die sensing element includes an on-die temperature sensor configured to measure a sector temperature and provide an analog signal associated with the sector temperature; and an on-die digitizer configured to generate a digital sensed temperature signal based on the analog signal. The IC further includes a first output configured to output a plurality of digital sensed temperature signals from the plurality of sectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Suresh P. Parameswaran, Boon Y. Ang, Sarayanan Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 10612790
    Abstract: An alert sensing stove assembly includes a stove that includes a plurality of burners. A plurality of valves is provided and each of the valves is in fluid communication with an associated one of the burners. A processor is coupled to the stove and the processor is electrically coupled to each of the valves. A sensor array is coupled to the stove to detect a variety of alert agents. The processor sends a shut down signal to each of the valves when the sensor array detects one of the alert agents. Thus, the sensor array enhances safety with respect to unattended operation of the stove. A communication unit is provided and the communication unit is coupled to the stove. The communication unit transmits an alert signal to an extrinsic communication network when the processor sends the shut off signal to alert a user to a potentially dangerous situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Inventor: Chanh Le
  • Patent number: 10600662
    Abstract: A system and method for heating silicon carbide substrates is disclosed. The system includes a heating element that utilizes LEDs that emit light at wavelengths between 600 nm and 650 nm. This wavelength is better absorbed by silicon carbide. In certain embodiments, collimating optics are disposed between the LEDs and the silicon carbide substrate. The collimating optics may increase the allowable distance between the LEDs and the substrate. In other embodiments, a diffuser is disposed between the LEDs and the substrate. In addition, a method of heating a substrate is disclosed. The relationship between absorption coefficient and wavelength is determined for the substrate. Based on this relationship, an optimal wavelength or range of wavelengths is selected. The substrate is then heated using an LED emitting light at the optimal wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul E. Pergande
  • Patent number: 10580687
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming voids within semiconductor constructions. In some embodiments the voids may be utilized as microstructures for distributing coolant, for guiding electromagnetic radiation, or for separation and/or characterization of materials. Some embodiments include constructions having micro-structures therein which correspond to voids, conduits, insulative structures, semiconductor structures or conductive structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David H. Wells
  • Patent number: 10564203
    Abstract: A probe system includes a heater and a control circuit. The heater includes a resistive heating element routed through the probe system. An operational voltage is provided to the resistive heating element to provide heating for the probe system. The control circuit is configured to provide the operational voltage and monitor a capacitance between the resistive heating element and a metallic sheath of the heater over time. The control circuit is further configured to determine a remaining useful life of the probe system based on the capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Magdi A. Essawy, Ben Ping-Tao Fok
  • Patent number: 10518346
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an X-ray detector comprises: an X-ray absorption layer configured to absorb X-ray photons; an electronics layer comprising an electronics system configured to process or interpret signals generated by the X-ray photons incident on the X-ray absorption layer; and a temperature driver in the X-ray absorption layer or the electronics layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: SHENZHEN XPECTVISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peiyan Cao, Yurun Liu
  • Patent number: 10511259
    Abstract: An oscillator includes a vibration element, an oscillation circuit configured to oscillate the vibration element and output an oscillation signal, a temperature sensor, a temperature compensation circuit configured to compensate for a frequency temperature characteristic of the vibration element based on an output signal of the temperature sensor. The vibration element is within a first case having a first atmosphere, and the oscillation circuit, the temperature sensor, and the first case are within a second case having a second atmosphere, whereby the first atmosphere has a higher thermal conductivity than the second atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naohisa Obata
  • Patent number: 10505297
    Abstract: An electronic device that includes a first electronic component with a pin element and a second electronic component with a solder element. A joint is formed that provides an electrical and mechanical connection between the first electronic component and second electronic component when the pin element is heated, inserted into the solder element, and cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Feroz Mohammad, Srinivasa Aravamudhan
  • Patent number: 10502486
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the heat treatment of a product, comprising an enclosure, means of conveyance inside the enclosure, which comprise a screw mounted so as to rotate in the enclosure about a geometrical rotational axis and means for rotating the screw about said axis, and means for heating the screw by Joule effect. According to the invention, the screw comprises a strip which is made of an electrically insulating material and is applied to the screw so as to form an outer circumference of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: E.T.I.A.—EVALUATION TECHNOLOGIQUE, INGENIERIE ET APPLICATIONS
    Inventors: Olivier Lepez, Philippe Sajet
  • Patent number: 10421273
    Abstract: In some examples, a method of regulating a temperature of a printhead includes charging, in a first state of a temperature regulator, an analog memory to a reference voltage that corresponds to a predetermined temperature of the printhead. The temperature regulator monitors, during a second state, the temperature of the printhead, the monitoring including measuring a thermal voltage representing an actual temperature of at least a first local area of a plurality of local areas of the printhead, and comparing, with a comparator, the reference voltage to the thermal voltage to obtain a comparison result for at least the first local area. Based on the comparison result, a series of warming pulses from a warming pulse circuit to at least the first local area is selectively enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Van Brocklin, Mark Hunter, Peter James Fricke, Adam L. Ghozeil, James Michael Gardner
  • Patent number: 10412826
    Abstract: The present application discloses a circuit board and a method for manufacturing the same, and a terminal test device. The circuit board includes a base substrate, and a plurality of conductive lines on the base substrate, each of the plurality of conductive lines having one end configured to be connected with a signal output bus of a signal generator and the other end configured to be connected with a terminal. A fuse is connected in series in each conductive line, and a breaking current IT of the fuse, a maximum operating current I of the conductive line and a fault current IF of the conductive line satisfy: I<IT?IF, where the breaking current IT of the fuse is a minimum current that causes the fuse to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., ORDOS YUANSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pucha Zhao, Guoqing Zhang, Xiaopeng Bai, Hongwei Gao, Weifeng Wang, Yanbin Dang, Haotian Chen
  • Patent number: 10384544
    Abstract: A high-voltage unit casing 10 for on-vehicle use to house therein a plurality of devices includes: a first side face 20; a second side face 21 opposed to the first side face; and a connecting portion 22 for structurally connecting the first side face and the second side face to each other. The connecting portion includes a partitioning portion 50 which is fixed to the first side face at a fixing portion and which extends from the fixing portion toward the second side face, the partitioning portion being located at a position separate from an upper surface and a lower surface of the high-voltage unit casing in an inner surface of the first side face. Spaces for placing at least one device included in the plurality of devices are formed on both upper and lower sides, respectively, of the partitioning portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sekine
  • Patent number: 10372182
    Abstract: An approach to reduce thermal cycling fatigue associated with an identified component in an electrical system. The approach includes a controller determining power to the electrical system is turned off and initiating power from an external power source to one or more heating elements in a vicinity of the identified component. The approach includes a controller receiving a first temperature from one or more temperature sensors in the vicinity of the identified component and determining whether the first temperature is within a predetermined temperature range. Responsive to the controller determining that the first temperature is not within the predetermined temperature range, the approach includes the controller adjusting a power level of the one or more heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Campbell, Sarah K. Czaplewski-Campbell, Jennifer I. Bennett
  • Patent number: 10359223
    Abstract: A compressor driving apparatus and an air conditioner including the same, whereby the compressor driving apparatus includes a capacitor connected to a DC terminal, an inverter, including a plurality of three-phase switching devices, to convert DC power from the capacitor into AC power to drive a compressor motor, an output current detector to detect output current flowing in the motor, and a controller to output a switching control signal for controlling the inverter based on the output current, wherein the controller performs control such that some of the three-phase switching devices in the inverter are turned on or off in a compressor preheating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Cheonsu Park, Seunghyo Kim, Donggi Eom
  • Patent number: 10359376
    Abstract: A sample holder 2 for holding a capillary 40 for X-ray analysis has a first thermal transport member 36 on the base portion 14 on one side of a longitudinal slit 12 and a second thermal transport member 38 on the base portion 16 on the other side. The thermal transport members 36, 38 are compressed between a frame 30 and the base portion 14, 16 in the transverse direction to urge the edges of the first and second thermal transport members together, to hold a capillary 40 longitudinally aligned with the longitudinal slit 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: MALVERN PANALYTICAL B.V.
    Inventors: Vladimir Kogan, Detlef Beckers
  • Patent number: 10355380
    Abstract: An electronic device that includes a first electronic component with a pin element and a second electronic component with a solder element. A joint is formed that provides an electrical and mechanical connection between the first electronic component and second electronic component when the pin element is heated, inserted into the solder element, and cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Feroz Mohammad, Srinivasa Aravamudhan
  • Patent number: 10352781
    Abstract: A calibration device including a thermal sensing device, and a reference heater, where the heater and the sensing device are integrated together, the heater and the sensing have at least one dimension substantially in common, and the over all dimensions are in the range of thermal micro probes, 100 nm-500 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: APPLIED NANOSTRUCTURES, INC.
    Inventors: Gary D. Aden, Josiah F. Willard
  • Patent number: 10338623
    Abstract: A power and control device (1) for medium voltage applications characterized in that it comprises a power and control unit (2) having a first feeding port (21) electrically coupleable with electric power supply means (60), a first control device (3) operatively coupled to said first feeding port, said first control device being adapted to prevent the electrical feeding of said power and control unit through said first feeding port, when the operating temperature of said power and control device is lower than a first threshold value (TH1) indicative of a minimum operating temperature provided for said power and control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Gabriele Valentino De Natale, Luciano Di Maio, Marco Testa
  • Patent number: 10317258
    Abstract: A rotary encoder of the present invention has a hermetically sealed structure having at least one desiccant and an electric circuit by which the moisture absorbing amount of the desiccant can be obtained. The desiccant is arranged in a sealed space defined by a flange and a cover member. The electric circuit, a rotary slit plate, a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged in the sealed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Imai, Hirosato Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10319619
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor package using the same. The manufacturing apparatus may include a base with a plurality of through holes and weight blocks respectively bound by the through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: BongJin Son, Yose Eum, JangWoo Lee
  • Patent number: 10306776
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a processing chamber, a pedestal arranged in the processing chamber, and an electrostatic chuck (ESC) arranged on the pedestal. The ESC contains a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) made up of a plurality of printed circuit board layers to mount circuitry that controls operation of the ESC. One or more of the printed circuit board layers includes a heater layer having one or more metal traces, which may be copper, to cover some or all of a surface of the heater layer sufficiently to provide heat to one or more of the remaining printed circuit board layers, to maintain the circuitry within a predetermined temperature range. The heat may be conducted directly among the various other printed circuit board layers, or may be conducted through vias in various ones of the printed circuit board layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Pape, Changyou Jing, Fred Dennis Egley
  • Patent number: 10272758
    Abstract: A method of operating an electric vehicle having a battery system with a first battery module and a second battery module includes sending a triggering signal. And, in response to the triggering signal, selectively dissipating energy from the first battery module without dissipating energy from the second battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Proterra Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin Grace, Brian Pevear
  • Patent number: 10260863
    Abstract: Interferometer (10) for the real-time measurement of absolute distances and/or relative position movements between a first and a second machine part, comprising a measurement unit (20) and a reflector unit (40). wherein the measurement unit (20) comprises a housing (21) with at least one wall made of heat-conducting material, wherein several measurement elements are arranged in the housing (21), wherein the measurement elements comprise: a laser source (22), a Peltier element (24) and a digital control (23) wherein the measurement elements are thermally coupled to the wall of the housing (21) made of heat-conducting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: attocube systems AG
    Inventors: Martin Zech, Klaus Thurner
  • Patent number: 10222394
    Abstract: A sensor is compensated by selectively activating a temperature element to drive temperature within the thermal envelope encompassing the sensor towards an operating temperature and applying a compensation to output of the sensor based at least in part on the operating temperature. The initial ambient temperature is estimated and the operating temperature is selected from a set of predetermined temperatures based on the estimate. The current ambient temperature is estimated and a new operating temperature selected when the current ambient temperature is within a threshold of the operating temperature. Correspondingly, the temperature element is selectively activated to drive temperature within the thermal envelope towards the new operating temperature and an appropriate compensation is applied to the sensor output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Karthik Katginari, Ardalan Heshmati, Jianwei Shen
  • Patent number: 10209297
    Abstract: An apparatus with a burn-in board containing a microcontroller unit and a heater socket for insitu testing of a packaged integrated circuit while under stress. A method for insitu testing of a packaged integrated circuit while under stress. A method for insitu testing of multiple packaged integrated circuits while under stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ning Tan, Jose Abdiel Rodriguez-Latorre
  • Patent number: 10184954
    Abstract: Disclosed is a probe card case for accommodating a probe card. The probe card case includes: a first case member configured to mount the probe card at a predetermined position therein; a second case member configured to be fitted to a top side of the first case member, and including a card fixing mechanism for fixing the probe card; and a case fixing mechanism configured to fix the first case member and the second case member. The probe card is capable of being transferred in a state where the probe card is accommodated in the probe card case and the first case member and the second case member are fixed, and the probe card is capable of being transferred only with the second case member in a state where the probe card is fixed to the second case member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Japan Electronic Materials Corp.
    Inventors: Chikaomi Mori, Takashi Amemiya
  • Patent number: 10178763
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatus, systems, and methods for warpage mitigation in printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies. In some embodiments, a PCB assembly for warpage mitigation may include: a PCB; an interposer disposed on the PCB, wherein the interposer has a first face and an opposing second face, the first face is disposed between the second face and the PCB, conductive contacts are disposed at the second face, solder is disposed on the conductive contacts, the interposer includes a first heater trace proximate to the conductive contacts, and, when a first power is dissipated in the first heater trace, the first heater trace is to generate heat to cause the solder disposed on the conductive contacts to melt; wherein the PCB includes a second heater trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Rashelle Yee, Russell S. Aoki, Shelby Ferguson, Michael Hui, Jonathon Robert Carstens, Joseph J. Jasniewski, Kevin J. Ceurter
  • Patent number: 10168296
    Abstract: A field-effect transistor includes a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a control electrode. The control electrode is configured as a heating unit having two terminals for receiving a heating voltage for heating the control electrode. The heating unit is configured as a meander-type heating element. A current-measuring device is configured to detect a current flowing between the source electrode and the drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Philipp Nolte
  • Patent number: 10153197
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming voids within semiconductor constructions. In some embodiments the voids may be utilized as microstructures for distributing coolant, for guiding electromagnetic radiation, or for separation and/or characterization of materials. Some embodiments include constructions having micro-structures therein which correspond to voids, conduits, insulative structures, semiconductor structures or conductive structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David H. Wells
  • Patent number: 10124582
    Abstract: An apparatus including an analog memory, a temperature sensor, a comparator, and a pulse circuit. The analog memory is charged to a reference voltage corresponding to a predetermined temperature of a printhead. The temperature sensor measures a thermal voltage of at least one of the plurality of local areas of the printhead. The comparator obtains a comparison result by comparing the reference voltage to the thermal voltage. The pulse circuit selectively transmits a series of warming pulses to the at least one of the plurality of local areas of the printhead based on the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Van Brocklin, Mark Hunter, Peter James Fricke, Adam L. Ghozeil, James Michael Gardner
  • Patent number: 10107856
    Abstract: An apparatus for the thermal testing of electronic devices may include a universal base board for coupling to an electronic driver unit for receiving electrical signals therefrom, and a plurality of test boards arranged on the base board. Each test board may include a holder for receiving a device under test and routing thereto electrical signals from the electronic driver unit as well as an adaptation board to the base board. Each test board may include a respective electrically powered heating element for heating the electronic device received thereat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Davide Appello, Giorgio Pollaccia, Antonio Giambartino
  • Patent number: 10101294
    Abstract: Provided is a method for recovering output of a gas sensor in shorter time. The method includes: determining a recovering temperature T1 and a recovering time ??1 based on a condition setting range where a high recovery rate is expected; and recovering the output based on T1 and ??1, wherein in the recovering, a duty ratio for a heater is instantly increased to value D1 higher than a value in a normal driving mode when the recovering starts, D1 is maintained up to T1, and PID control is performed by reducing the duty ratio to value D2 to maintain T1. After an elapse of ??1, the duty ratio is reduced to value D3. When the temperature of the element reaches a value 1 to 1.2 times as high as the temperature in the normal drive mode, the duty ratio is instantly changed to value D0 in the normal drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Nakasone, Noriko Hirata, Takayuki Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10074591
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques and configurations for providing a thermal interface to a PCB. In some embodiments, the system for providing a thermal interface to a PCB may include a heat sink couplable to a printed circuit board (PCB) via a thermal interface. The heat sink may include a base configured to accommodate a plurality of heat pipes. The system may further include a heater block couplable to the base with the plurality of heat pipes, to conduct heat generated by the heater block to the base via the plurality of heat pipes, to heat the thermal interface, and cause the thermal interface to spread substantially evenly between the heat sink and the PCB. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Devdatta P. Kulkarni, Russell S. Aoki
  • Patent number: 10067599
    Abstract: Disclosed is a touchscreen. The touchscreen can include a base material, a first coating, and a controller. The first coating can be applied to the base material. The first coating can be configured to generate an input signal. The controller can be configured to apply a base signal to the first coating, and filter the input signal from a combined signal. The combined signal can include the input signal and the base signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: James Joseph Colville
  • Patent number: 10060984
    Abstract: A battery management system comprises a circuit for controlling a heating component for a battery to prevent overheating of the battery. The circuit can include an RTD, a primary resistor and a secondary resistor, wherein respective reference voltages are compared to generate a signal. The signal can be filtered and converted to a digital signal for use to by a software programmable processing device (SPPD) to control a temperature of the battery via the heating component. Further, a method is provided that allows hardware only comparison of the nonlinear temperature representation to a fixed set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Kenneth Barfield
  • Patent number: 10056765
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical energy storage apparatus having a plurality of electrical storage cells connected in series and to an inductive balun for balancing the storage cell voltages, wherein the balun has a balancer transformer having separate single coils for the storage cells and has a respective electric switch for each storage cell. Provision is made in accordance with the invention that the coils of the balancer transformer are connected to a pole of the respective storage cell via a respective at least one inductance and a switch connected to the named inductance, with the switch associated with one respective storage cell being connected via a diode to a pole of a storage cell respective arranged upstream or downstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Liebherr-Components Biberach GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schuster, Sven Welser
  • Patent number: 10023948
    Abstract: Endodontic instruments for use in performing root canal therapy on a tooth are disclosed. In one form, the instruments include an elongate shank having a cutting edge extending from a distal end of the shank along an axial length of the shank. The shank comprises a titanium alloy, and the shank is prepared by heat-treating the shank at a temperature above 25° C. in an atmosphere consisting essentially of a gas unreactive with the shank. In another form, the endodontic instruments have an elongate shank having a cutting edge extending from a distal end of the shank along an axial length of the shank. The shank consists essentially of a titanium alloy selected from alpha-titanium alloys, beta-titanium alloys, and alpha-beta-titanium alloys. The instruments solve the problems encountered when cleaning and enlarging a curved root canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: GOLD STANDARD INSTRUMENTS, LLC
    Inventor: Neill Hamilton Luebke
  • Patent number: 9995767
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a universal test container can include a universal external electrical interface configured to couple to each of a plurality of different devices to test. In addition, the universal test container is configured to enclose each of the plurality of different devices to test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ben Rogel-Favila, Roland Wolff, Eric Kushnick, James Fishman
  • Patent number: 9964792
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) defines an active area and a surrounding non-display area defined. The LCD includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a temperature controller. The second substrate includes a shading unit corresponding to the active area. The liquid crystal layer is between the first substrate and the second substrate. The temperature controller includes a heater configured to provide heat of the LCD to ensure a satisfactory function of the LCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Century Technology (Shenzhen) Corporation Limited
    Inventors: Zhao Liu, Min Hu, Chen-Fu Mai
  • Patent number: 9922869
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming voids within semiconductor constructions. In some embodiments the voids may be utilized as microstructures for distributing coolant, for guiding electromagnetic radiation, or for separation and/or characterization of materials. Some embodiments include constructions having micro-structures therein which correspond to voids, conduits, insulative structures, semiconductor structures or conductive structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David H. Wells
  • Patent number: 9918039
    Abstract: A docking assembly serves as an interface between (1) a portable digital media storage and playback (PDMSP) device, and (2) a media reproduction system. A remote controller preferably controls the docking assembly and PDMSP device, which may receive electric charge from the assembly. Media reproduction systems may reproduce audio and video signals in user-perceptible form. Telephonic relay capability is further provided between a telephonic PDMSP playback device and a telephonic remote controller by way of a telephone rebroadcast receiver associated with the docking assembly. Methods for downloading digital media files, and for creating or modifying playlists with a remotely controllable docking assembly adapted to provide a television-compatible video output signal, are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Jeff Grady, Garey De Angelis, Andrew Green, Vincent K. Gustafson
  • Patent number: 9888559
    Abstract: A method for producing or disassembling an electronic assembly are provided. The assembly may have a heating device integrated into a substrate. The heating device can be heated via an external power supply during the assembly process so that, for example, solder connections of an electric component can be melted. The heating device can also be used when operating the electronic assembly, and the heating device can then be directly actuated by the component. For this purpose, an electric connection is then established between the component and the heating device, the connection not yet being provided during the thermal assembly process in order to protect the electronic components of the circuit from being damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignees: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, NEUE MATERIALIEN BAYREUTH GMBH
    Inventors: Ruediger Knofe, Bernd Mueller, Andrey Prihodovsky
  • Patent number: 9821810
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an auxiliary battery and one or more accessory loads. An accessory load command is modulated such that the auxiliary battery outputs a discharge current to an accessory load. The discharge current has, in addition to a current component for driving the accessory load, an alternating current (AC) component to cause a temperature of the auxiliary battery to increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Allan Roy Gale, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Paul Theodore Momcilovich
  • Patent number: 9804007
    Abstract: A device and method for a MEMS device with at least one sensor is disclosed. A thermal element is disposed adjacent the MEMS device to selectively adjust a temperature of the MEMS device. A calibration operation is initiated for the sensor to determine a correction value to be applied to the sensor measurement based on the temperature. The correction value is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Invensense, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley James Emmanouel Teskey, Nim Hak Tea