Shunting Or Short Circuiting Systems Patents (Class 307/100)
  • Patent number: 11949272
    Abstract: A power supply circuit of a terminal device includes a voltage boost circuit, a battery chip, and a controller. The battery chip is configured to provide an output voltage of a battery for a load. An input end of the voltage boost circuit is connected to a positive electrode of the battery, and an output end of the voltage boost circuit is connected to the load. The output voltage of the battery is boosted when the temperature is relatively low or the output voltage of the battery is relatively low. In addition, when a relatively high pulse current occurs on the terminal and the output voltage of the voltage boost circuit is stepped down, both the battery chip and the voltage boost circuit is controlled to supply power to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: HONOR DEVICE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yupeng Qiu, Ruiliang Li, Haibin Zhou, Fenwei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11462914
    Abstract: Methods for black-starting an electrical grid (2) are described herein. For example, a method comprising disconnecting the wind farm (1) from the grid at a first location, said first location being located between the electrical grid (2) and the energy storage (16) with the associated converter (17), energizing the AC export cable (12) using said energy storage (16) and the associated converter (17), energizing at least one part of the wind farm electrical infrastructure via said export cable (12) using said energy storage (16) and the associated converter (17), re-establishing energy supply to said wind farm electrical infrastructure by said wind turbine generators (3, 4), and reconnecting the wind farm (1) to said electrical grid (2) at said first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventor: Troels Stybe Sørensen
  • Patent number: 11316427
    Abstract: A voltage control circuit comprises a sampling sub-circuit and a control sub-circuit. The sampling sub-circuit is configured to detect a potential difference between an output voltage and an input voltage to obtain a first voltage and output the first voltage to the control sub-circuit. The control sub-circuit is configured to compare a magnitude of the first voltage with a first voltage threshold, if the first voltage is less than the first voltage threshold, output the input voltage as the output voltage, and, if the first voltage is greater than or equal to the first voltage threshold, superimpose and output the input voltage and a bootstrap voltage as the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignees: Hefei Xinsheng Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lixin Zhu, Chunyang Nie, Ke Dai, Lei Guo, Ruilian Li, Xueqin Wei
  • Patent number: 10721001
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first optical coupler configured to duplicate an optical signal carried by a first cable in a second cable and a third cable. The apparatus also includes a second optical coupler configured to combine an optical signal carried by the second cable and an optical signal carried by the third cable in the first cable. The apparatus further includes an electrical switch configured to selectively connect electrical conductors of the first, second, and third cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Neptune Subsea IP Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Desbruslais, Alistair Hill
  • Patent number: 10602607
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising includes a first pair of conductors to carry differential signals, at least one ground conductor neighboring the first pair of conductors, the ground conductor to be connected to a ground plane, and at least one particular conductor to carry sideband signals. The particular conductor is to be connected to a ground plane via a resonance mitigation circuit, and the resonance mitigation circuit comprises a resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy D. Wig, Steven K. Krooswyk, Marc Wells
  • Patent number: 10517168
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising includes a first pair of conductors to carry differential signals, at least one ground conductor neighboring the first pair of conductors, the ground conductor to be connected to a ground plane, and at least one particular conductor to carry sideband signals. The particular conductor is to be connected to a ground plane via a resonance mitigation circuit, and the resonance mitigation circuit comprises a resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy D. Wig, Steven K. Krooswyk, Marc Wells
  • Patent number: 10355744
    Abstract: Provided is a feedline branching apparatus that makes it possible for additional submarine cables to be installed easily, and with which cost increases can be restricted. For these purposes, the feedline branching apparatus comprises a branching unit and an earth unit. First, second and third terminal stations are connected to the branching unit via first, second and third cables, respectively. When the first and second cables are normal, the branching unit connects a feedline of the first cable to a feedline of the second cable, thereby forming a feedline using a first current. If one of the first and second cables is faulty, the branching unit grounds the feedline of the one of the first and second cables, while connecting the feedline of the other cable to the earth unit. The earth unit grounds a feedline of the third cable, thereby forming a feedline using a second current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shohei Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9522287
    Abstract: Switching power supplies made in accordance with the disclosed technology drive flash lamps of dermatologic treatment devices to emit a sequence of relatively small light pulses that are aligned with particular locations within the waveform of the AC line source. Such power supplies not only enable sufficient light energy in aggregate to therapeutically heat target chromophores in a skin region without causing undesired damage to surrounding tissue, but also provide the added benefit that the corresponding electrical energy need not be substantially drawn from any charged capacitor. The disclosed power supply further compensates for performance degradation of the flash lamps during their usable life, by modifying its operation based on predetermined values that are indicative of flash lamp aging/efficiency characteristics. The flash lamps and their associated stored values are preferably incorporated into a replaceable cartridge that facilitates user maintenance of the dermatologic treatment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: SHASER, INC.
    Inventors: William Owens, Arthur Aaron, Douglas Ely, Bikram Yonjan, Victor Lazarev
  • Patent number: 9431840
    Abstract: A charger for charging a high voltage battery and a low voltage battery, includes a bidirectional buck boost converter, a first full duty converter and a second full duty converter. The bidirectional buck boost converter is configured to supply power to the high voltage battery or supply power to the low voltage battery from the high voltage battery. The first full duty converter is configured to generate charging power by using an AC commercial power supply. The second full duty converter is connected to the first full duty converter and the bidirectional buck boost converter and configured to generate charging power in the low voltage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Dae Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 9328425
    Abstract: A device for cleaning the surface of a molybdenum wire at high temperature, comprises a wire pay-off mechanism, a first wire guiding wheel, a cleaning mechanism, a second wire guiding wheel, and a wire take-up mechanism; wherein the two ends of a furnace body of the cleaning mechanism are provided with an inlet hole and an outlet hole for the molybdenum wire. Electrodes connected to a power supply are provided at the inlet hole and in a central part inside the furnace body. An upper part of the furnace body is provided with a gas outlet and a lower part thereof is provided with a wet hydrogen inlet; a heating section is formed between the electrode located at the inlet hole and the electrode located in the central part, and a cooling section is formed between the electrode located in the central part and the outlet hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: CHENGDU HONGBO INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qingchun He, Qi Zhou, Jian Li
  • Patent number: 8749096
    Abstract: An antistatic switch connected between a micro control unit and a power supply of an electronic device includes six terminals. A first terminal is left vacant and a third terminal is connected to the power supply. A second terminal is public access terminal connected to the micro control unit and selectively connected to the first terminal or the second terminal. The fourth terminal, the fifth terminal, and the sixth terminal are all grounded to remove the static electricity flowing to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xing-Hua Tang
  • Publication number: 20140152113
    Abstract: A discharge circuit includes a power supply unit, a connector, and a jumper. The connector includes a number of pins defined in two rows with one of the pin is coupled to a power terminal provided by the power supply unit. The jumper is connected between the pin coupled to the power terminal and another pin connected to ground, to make the power terminal to discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WUHAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CHUN-SHENG CHEN
  • Patent number: 8736107
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of power source redundancy in a power supply for a rack mounted computing device. The power supply includes a plurality of AC power converters configured to receive power from corresponding power sources. A first AC power converter provides DC power to a common DC bus of the power supply. A second AC power converter provides DC power to the common DC bus in response to a change in the voltage level provided by the first AC power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin Lee Frink, Peter G. Ross
  • Patent number: 8687391
    Abstract: A converter system is provided for the switching of at least three voltage levels and for the switching of two voltage levels. A method is also provided for the operation of a converter system for the switching of at least three voltage levels and for the operation of a converter system for the switching of two voltage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Bjoern Oedegard, Christoph Schaub, Claes Hillberg, Steve Aubert
  • Publication number: 20130221755
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for setting a potential of a photovoltaic generator with respect to a ground potential (GND) includes at least one first resistance connected between a negative output of the photovoltaic generator and a ground connection, and a series circuit including at least one second resistance and a breakdown diode connected in series between a positive output of the photovoltaic generator and the ground connection to which the ground potential (GND) is applied. Alternatively, the circuit arrangement includes at least one first resistance connected between a positive output of the photovoltaic generator and a ground connection, and a series circuit including at least one second resistance and a breakdown diode connected in series between a negative output of the photovoltaic generator and the ground connection to which the ground potential (GND) is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventor: SMA Solar Technology AG
  • Patent number: 8497598
    Abstract: A vehicle system for use in powering an AC load. The system may include an inverter system operating in cooperation with a power distribution system. The power distribution system may be configured to provide a stabilized power output to the inverter system. The inverter system be configured to inverter the stabilized power output to an output suitable for powering the AC load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Yann Darroman, Ignacio Alvarez-Troncosco
  • Patent number: 8436490
    Abstract: A wind mill apparatus for generating electric power to a grid point of an electric network. The apparatus includes a wind rotor, an electric generator operatively connected to the wind rotor, and an electric multiphase ac link operatively connecting the generator to the grid point. The ac link includes a first current path including a switchgear, a second current path including a dc link including a first converter operatively connected to the generator, a second converter operatively connected to the grid point, and a capacitor operatively connected between the conductors of the dc link. The ac link further includes a connectable multiphase dump load for blocking during a fault condition on the network the reactive power flow in the ac link, yet providing a reduced transfer of active power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Lars Gertmar, Hans Christian Christensen, Erik Kolby Nielsen, Jouko Niiranen, Stefan Thorburn-Johansson, Leif-Erik Wraee
  • Publication number: 20130015717
    Abstract: A transistor switch that provides isolation is described. The transistor switch is adapted to receive an input signal at an input terminal and either transmit the input signal to an output terminal when the transistor switch is in a first state or ground the input signal when the transistor switch is in a second state. The transistor switch comprises series switches, which couple the input terminal to the output terminal when the transistor switch is in the first state; shunt switches, which couple the input terminal to ground when the transistor switch is in the second state; and filters to provide isolation between the input terminal and the output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Dykstra
  • Patent number: 8324756
    Abstract: A power management (PM) system architecture for a controlled SoC detects availability of power supply for signal-driving at a given node inside a chip, and uses a timer, a discharge mechanism with trigger for starting/stopping a discharge process, and a comparator for monitoring a measured voltage of an intended node during the discharge process. Enabling the discharge mechanism for a known time period helps detection. Power supply can be internally generated in the chip or from a source on board. The architecture detects if the node is driven or floating, an undriven floating node causing a dip in the measured voltage. The measured voltage does not have a dip when the node is driven. The architecture is also configured so that when there is a required on-board external power supply, an internal power supply is disabled to avoid a race-condition. The architecture obviates a dedicated IO pin for mode-indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ranjit Kumar Dash, Lakshmanan Balasubramanian, Anand Devendra Kudari
  • Patent number: 8072192
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a coupling capacitor arranged to be connected on its first end to ground; a transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding; a first rectifier bridge connected in parallel with the secondary winding; and an energy storage, to which a load is arranged to be connected. The primary winding is arranged to be connected between a second end of the coupling capacitor and a high voltage transmission line such that all current between the second end of the coupling capacitor and the high voltage transmission line passes through the primary winding. The energy storage is arranged to be charged by means of a current passing through the first rectifier bridge. Furthermore, the power supply apparatus includes a bypasser. A corresponding three-phase apparatus is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Lennart Angquist
  • Patent number: 7781915
    Abstract: Apparatus for delivering operating power from a data terminus to a utilization device includes a first data connection connecting the data terminus to a data repeater station and a second data connection connecting the data repeater station to the utilization device. A first power sourcing equipment delivers DC operating power to the data repeater station over a physical layer of the first data connection. A second power sourcing equipment at the repeater station receives operating power over the physical layer of the first data connection and delivers operating power over a physical layer of the second data connection to the utilization device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Tut Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold H. Webber, John R. Marum
  • Publication number: 20100194205
    Abstract: An isolation circuitry and method are provided for coupling between a power supply and processing circuitry in order to provide power to the processing circuitry whilst hiding a power consumption characteristic of that processing circuitry. The isolation circuitry comprises a plurality of sub-circuits, with each sub-circuit comprising a capacitor, a first switch configured to provide a first connection between the capacitor and the power supply, a second switch configured to provide a second connection between the capacitor and the processing circuitry, and a third switch configured to provide a third connection across the capacitor to partially discharge the capacitor. Control circuitry controls the plurality of sub-circuits, such that within each sub-circuit the first switch, second switch and third switch are placed in an active state in a repeating sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Carlos Alfonso Tokunaga, David Theodore Blaauw
  • Publication number: 20100102638
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for discharging a high-voltage bus using semiconductor devices. A discharge system for a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail comprises a first semiconductor device coupled to a first voltage rail and a second semiconductor device coupled between the first semiconductor device and a second voltage rail. A control circuit is coupled to the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device. In response to a discharge condition, the control circuit is configured to activate the first semiconductor device and gradually activate the second semiconductor device, such that the energy potential between the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail is gradually dissipated through the semiconductor devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: KEMING CHEN, CHRISTOPHER P. HENZE, STEPHEN RAISER, GEORGE R. WOODY
  • Patent number: 7683598
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter and first and second bypass switch circuits are provided in parallel between an input pin and first and second output pins and operate in accordance with a combination of the voltage value of the input pin and the voltage value required for the first output pin. A start control circuit causes the DC-DC converter to operate unconditionally in a step-down mode during the period from when the DC-DC converter is started until the output voltage of the DC-DC converter becomes equal to the voltage of the input pin. An output slope control circuit synchronizes rising slopes of the output voltages of the first and second bypass switch circuits with a rising slope of the output voltage of the DC-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 7589437
    Abstract: A control unit in a vehicle is provided in which power is supplied via a converter that provides an electrical isolation. For the data exchange with external components and other components in the control unit that are not electrically isolated, the component isolated by this electrical isolation is additionally connected to a coupling element that likewise provides an electrical isolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Henne, Achim Henne
  • Patent number: 7538454
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for shunting leakage current of a solid state switching device (SSSD) (10). The apparatus selectively provides a shunt pathway to divert current away from the output load based on the switching state of the SSSD. The apparatus may include a shunt impedance component (14) connected to the SSSD, and a switching element (16) for selectively connecting the other end of the shunt impedance component to ground based on the switching state of the SSSD. Accordingly, when the SSSD is turned off, the switching element is switched to a state that connects the shunt impedance component to ground, thereby shunting leakage current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Wenjiang Yu, Zhenning Z. Liu, Daniel G. Filimon, Boris Plivcic
  • Patent number: 7507977
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a switch circuit and method to quickly enable or disable the ion beam to a wafer within an ion implantation system. The beam control technique may be applied to wafer doping repaint and duty factor reduction. The circuit and method may be used to quench an arc that may form between high voltage electrodes associated with an ion source to shorten the duration of the arc and mitigate non-uniform ion implantations. The circuit and method facilitates repainting the ion beam over areas where an arc was detected to recover dose loss during such arcing. A high voltage high speed switching circuit is added between each high voltage supply and its respective electrode to quickly extinguish the arc to minimize disruption of the ion beam. The high voltage switch is controlled by a trigger circuit which detects voltage or current changes to each electrode. Protection circuits for the HV switch absorb energy from reactive components and clamp any overvoltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Que Weiguo, Yongzhang Huang, John Ye, David Tao, Patrick Splinter
  • Patent number: 7375444
    Abstract: A microwave generator (11) has a parallel connection of series connections of uncontrolled discharge spark gaps (13) and charge storage means (12) which are charged up by way of charging resistors (17) and an inductor (19) common to all parallel connections, from a high voltage generator (26), until the respective spark gaps (13) short-circuit by way of arcs and the storage means (12) are discharged again by way of the inductor (19). The oscillating short-circuit currents which thus occur in stochastic steep-edged manner and which are superimposed on each other in the inductor (19) are emitted by way of an antenna (21) connected in single-pole manner thereto in the form of a high-energy microwave spectrum which is wide-band in accordance with the arc switching speed, with a spectral key point which is determined by the inductor (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Diehl Munitionssysteme GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Staines, Frank Sonnemann, Jürgen Bohl, Tilo Ehlen, Josef Dommer
  • Patent number: 7295900
    Abstract: The load drive apparatus has a driver unit and a control unit. The driver unit includes a control section modulating, in accordance with a PWM signal supplied from the control unit, a drive signal to be applied to a load apparatus between a high level and a low level, and a short circuit detecting section detecting, on the basis of a signal level of the PWM signal and a signal level of the modulated drive signal, short circuit on a path through which the modulated drive signal is applied to the load apparatus. The control unit includes a function of fixing a duty ratio of the PWM signal upon occurrence of short circuit to determine to which of a high-level side and a low-level side the path is short-circuited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Satoka Yasue
  • Patent number: 7280602
    Abstract: A signal edge detector circuit is described for the detecting the signal transitions in a stream of microwave signals at a predetermined clock signal rate, particularly for OC-768 data streams. Selected transmission lines in the signal edge detector circuit reflect the signal transitions to terminate each signal transition at the output terminal of the detector circuit and to cancel out each other at a circuit node to prevent reflected transitions back to the input terminal of the detector circuit and to the transmission lines. With a squaring circuit at the output terminal of the detector circuit and a narrow-band filter at the output of the squaring circuit, the clock signals at the predetermined clock signal rate are recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Bruce
  • Patent number: 7274116
    Abstract: A bypass control section (6) maintains a bypass switch (5) in the ON state during the period when a battery voltage (Vi) is higher than the output voltage (Vo) to an external load (L). Upon falling of the output voltage (Vo) at a desired voltage (ET), a converter control section (4) starts switching control at once, and a step-up chopper (3) promptly starts boost operation. The bypass control section (6) maintains the bypass switch (5) in the ON state from the start of the boost operation of the step-up chopper (3) until the match between the battery voltage (Vi) and the output voltage (Vo).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Inoue, Takuya Ishii, Keiji Akamatsu, Masaaki Kuranuki, Hiroki Akashi
  • Patent number: 7224600
    Abstract: A circuit includes a volatile memory array and a logic circuit operable to detect a memory array tamper situation and generate at least one control signal responsive thereto. Circuitry associated with each of the individual cells within the volatile memory array responds to the at least one control signal by destroying any data stored by the associated memory cell. Data is destroyed using one of several options including: shorting a true node of the latch to a complement node of the latch, shorting the true and complement nodes of the latch to a bit line and a complement bit line, shorting one of the true/complement nodes of the latch to a reference voltage, shorting both the true and complement nodes of the latch to at least one reference voltage, coupling a first and second positive reference voltage inputs to a positive/ground voltage supply, or shorting the bit line to a reference voltage while the pass gate is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. McClure
  • Patent number: 7187089
    Abstract: An electric steering lock apparatus that protects an actuator from overheating without enlarging the actuator. The electric steering lock apparatus includes a lock pin engaged with a steering shaft to lock the steering shaft. An actuator moves the lock pin between a lock position in which the lock pin is engaged with the steering shaft and an unlock position in which the lock pin is disengaged from the steering shaft. A control unit controls the actuator. The control unit generates a calculated value related to operation time of the actuator and suspends operation of the actuator when the calculated value is greater than a predetermined operation suspension threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yuji Fukano, Kenji Tanaka, Mitsuo Mori, Tomoyuki Funayama, Mikito Yagyu, Tomoo Kakegawa
  • Patent number: 7067940
    Abstract: A branching unit for use in submarine systems that includes a ground termination; first, second, and third cable terminations each coupled to a power feed line of a respective submarine cable; a re-configuration relay in series between the first cable termination and the ground termination, the re-configuration relay being unidirectional and having at least one contact positioned in series between the second and third terminations, the at least one contact being closed when the re-configuration relay is de-energized; and a bypass relay in series between the second and third cable terminations, the bypass relay having a contact positioned in parallel with the reconfiguration relay and being open when the bypass relay is de-energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Bianchi
  • Patent number: 7065662
    Abstract: A method of implementing a power-based current limiting circuit in an information handling system includes providing a power supply having an output voltage operating range that can vary between a first voltage output level and a second voltage output level. The power supply output voltage is coupled to a load module via a switch. A power output of the power supply supplied to the load module is detected as a function of the load module current and the output voltage. Lastly, the switch is controlled between a first state and a second state in response to the detected power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Y. Chen, Nikolai V. Vyssotski
  • Patent number: 6946752
    Abstract: An input power stabilizing circuit, adapted to be disposed between a DC power source and a load to which DC power from the source is to be supplied. Voltage on a capacitor in the input power stabilizing circuit is prevented as much as possible from causing reverse current to flow when the DC power source develops a short circuit momentarily. A current detecting unit detects reverse current from the capacitor in an input power supply line, and a current interrupting unit interrupts a current line connecting the load with the DC power source. When reverse current flow is detected, the current line is interrupted by the current detecting unit and the current interrupting unit. The reverse current from the capacitor is held to a minimum value in the input power stabilizing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Communication Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Tahara
  • Patent number: 6909203
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for regulating resonance in a computer system I/O interface is provided. A shunting impedance/resistance is arranged across a power supply of the I/O interface. The shunting impedance/resistance is controlled by circuitry that is arranged to detect voltage overshoot conditions in the I/O interface. The circuitry has (1) an analog front end that is arranged to detect power supply oscillations relative to a grounded terminal, (2) an amplifier (or logic conversion circuit) that is arranged to convert an output signal from the analog front end to a digital signal, and (3) a shunting apparatus arranged to modify power supply behavior in the I/O interface dependent on the digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude Gauthier, Brian Amick, Aninda Roy
  • Publication number: 20040201284
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for changing vehicle personalization features. The apparatus comprises a multifunction switch coupled to a multifunction display. The display includes a main menu display configured to display, in response to signals from the switch, in sequence, first numeric codes that are representative of a sequence of settable features and a second numeric code identifying the current selected mode of a given feature. The display also includes a sub-menu display that is configured to display, in response to additional signals from the switch, a first numeric code defining the feature selected to be changed and to display, in sequence, second numeric codes representative of selectable modes of the settable feature. The multifunctional switch is also coupled to an electronic module that is configured to set a selected mode of a settable feature in response to yet a further signal from the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Scott A. McCullough, David A. Osinski, John E. Paluch
  • Patent number: 6768227
    Abstract: A power regulation device is connected between a power source and a load for receiving receive first voltage from the power source and providing a second voltage to the load. The power regulation device includes a first voltage detection circuit for detecting the first voltage and a second voltage detection circuit for detecting second voltage. A controller receives signals representing the first and second voltages and compares the signals with preset references to issue control signals. A switch circuit is connected between the power source and the load and is coupled to and controlled by the controller. The switch circuit is controlled by the control signals of the controller to change from the first state to a second state for selectively passing the first voltage and inducing different levels of the second voltage which are associated with different powers supplied to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Prodigit Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel Liu
  • Publication number: 20040095024
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining a charging capacitance of a capacitor in an air bag system using a bus system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Mitsuyasu Okamoto, Shingo Oda
  • Patent number: 6633092
    Abstract: A short circuit within the dynamic voltage restorer (1) is immediately detected by a short circuit detection units (9) which permanently monitors currents and voltages in the voltage source converter (3) and energy storage capacitor bank (2). Upon detection a fast discharge of the capacitor bank (2) including firing of all available semiconductors of the voltage source converter (3) and distributing the resulting current stress as evenly as possible within the voltage source converter (3) is initiated. Instead of letting costly fuses interrupt the high short circuit currents, these currents are detected and evenly distributed within the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Industrie AG
    Inventors: Peter Dähler, Gerold Knapp
  • Patent number: 6577479
    Abstract: A circuit for suppressing electrical arcing in an ion beam source or other plasma devices is provided. The arc suppression circuit of this invention detects current rises on ion beam source grids which cause arcing, disconnects the current flowing to the grid, and grounds the ion beam source to allow excess charge and current to be drained from the ion beam source rather than letting the charge and current arc on the grids of the ion beam source. A novel timing sequence is used for activating and deactivating the arc suppression circuitry to prevent shorting out of the power source. The arc suppressor circuits of this invention can be used on devices other than ion beam sources or plasma devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robert W. Springer, Donald E. Tolmie
  • Publication number: 20020171296
    Abstract: There are provided a lock detector that does not output a lock detecting signal of incorrect content even when approaching phase synchronization, when an input signal stops suddenly, or when a phase difference becomes zero momentarily in the progress that an output signal is synchronized with an input signal, as well as a PLL circuit including this lock detector. Specifically, a PLL circuit includes a lock detector (20) which comprises a reset signal output part (6, 7, 22 to 24) that outputs a reset signal (Pe) upon a phase difference between an input signal (f1) and a feedback signal (f2); and a D-FF circuit (8) that does not output a lock detecting signal (SL) upon receipt of the reset signal. The feedback signal (f2) is inputted to an NAND circuit (23) such that the reset signal is also based on the signal change of the feedback signal (f2). Further, a counter (21) performing output when the input signal (f1) reaches N-cycle is used for the clock of the D-FF circuit (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsuhiko Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 6452771
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting a potentially destructive state of an arrangement containing electronics and for terminating the potentially destructive state. In the method and system currents consumed by the electronics through connecting mechanisms from at least one supply voltage are measured. The measured currents are compared with respective stored maximum permissible currents stored in a memory. Further, the connecting mechanisms are disconnected from the at least one supply voltage to thereby ground the arrangement when at least one consumed current is measured as higher than the respective maximum permissible current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Thales Nederland B.V.
    Inventor: Paulus Van Kempen
  • Patent number: 6414405
    Abstract: A powering arrangement for an undersea cable system provides that each branch of the system is supplied with a current equal to half of the current in the trunk. By coupling both branches to the trunk, the current adds at the branching unit. Upon occurrence of a power path fault in any branch, a virtual ground moves to the site of the fault. In addition, an image virtual ground moves to a similar point in the branch that does not have the cable fault. As a result of this implementation, the cable power system is able to tolerate at least one fault in a branch without necessitating repair, and can tolerate some multiple branch faults depending upon their location. In contrast to the operation of existing power-switched branching units, the fault-tolerant branching unit does not require down-powering and re-powering in order in order to change the power configuration, e.g., to allow a virtual ground to be re-located at shunt fault sites that occur in either trunk or branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Tyco Telecommunications (US) Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Schesser, Francis Bekampis, Cleo Anderson, Robert Lynch, David Gunderson
  • Patent number: 5987546
    Abstract: A computer system having an interconnection apparatus for connecting processors, peripherals and memories, the system including a plurality of electronic devices, and a multiple long bus structure with impedance elements disposed thereon for providing non-terminal termination points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventor: Bob L. Noonan
  • Patent number: 5973410
    Abstract: The safety device, especially in an electronic motor vehicle control system, protects external circuit branches supplied with current from an engine/motor vehicle control unit so that a single short circuit results in failure of only that circuit branch in which the short circuit is located, so that an emergency operation of the electronic motor vehicle control system is possible. The respective reference grounds of the external circuit branches are connected to a common ground conductor (11) via an interface (3) including respective reference ground connectors (d, k, m). Each reference ground connector includes a safety device in the form of thin wire plug bonds, whose maximum current load sets the maximum current load of the respective external circuit branches. Then, if there is a short circuit to the reference ground of the concerned external circuit branch to a main supply voltage, the remaining circuit branches remain unaffected and operational.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Herman Roozenbeek, Achim Herzog
  • Patent number: 5844330
    Abstract: A capacitor component having a discharge function, a mounter machine head fit for surface-mounting of a capacitor component, and a discharge method for a capacitor component. The capacitor component having the discharge function comprises a component body incorporating a pair of electrodes for generating a capacitance therebetween, a pair of terminals electrically connected to the pair of electrodes, respectively, and a short-circuiting member provided so as to electrically connect the pair of terminals together and having a portion to be molten to cut by heating. This capacitor component is always discharged by the short-circuiting member prior to mounting of the capacitor component. The short-circuited condition of the capacitor component is canceled by soldering in the mounting, thus creating a capacitor function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Furukawa, Hideyuki Kubo
  • Patent number: 5747893
    Abstract: A termination scheme for twisted-wire pairs for network communication systems, such as Fast Ethernet 100BaseTX, where the wires are electrically connected together and a single resistor is coupled in series between the junction of the wires and ground. A capacitor may also be coupled between the resistor and ground for DC isolation purposes. The single resistor preferably has a resistance equivalent to half of the common mode impedance between the unused pairs. The two wires of each pair are shorted together since there is no differential signal between the two wires. In this manner, two differential impedance resistors are eliminated, thereby reducing size and cost of the system without degrading performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur T. Bennett, Stephen L. Baum, Scott K. Rubenstein, Gary A. Randall
  • Patent number: 5550411
    Abstract: A downhole power supply system having a variable voltage surface power supply and a downhole shunt voltage regulator between which is disposed in series an energy transducing device. The shunt voltage regulator comprises a current control device which controls the amount of current shunted to the power return line between the series connected energy transducing device and the input to the voltage regulator to maintain a selected voltage at the voltage regulator. The shunt regulator senses the voltage on the power line, compares the sensed voltage to the selected voltage, and controls the shunt current control device to conduct more or less current in the event that the two voltages are not equal. As a result, changing the voltage at the remote power source will change the voltage across the transducing device and the amount of current conducted through it thus changing its output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Westech Geophysical, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Baker