Condition Responsive Patents (Class 307/116)
  • Patent number: 11832382
    Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) including: a negative thermal coefficient (NTC) thermistor which provides an electrical signal received from outside the PCB, wherein an electrical resistance of the NTC thermistor varies according to a negative thermal coefficient; and a heating pattern which receives the electrical signal from the NTC thermistor, wherein the heating pattern includes a positive thermal coefficient (PTC) thermistor with an electrical resistance that varies according to a positive thermal coefficient, wherein the PTC thermistor has a first thermal coefficient of resistance at a first critical temperature or below and changes to a second thermal coefficient of resistance above the first critical temperature, and the NTC thermistor has a third thermal coefficient of resistance at a second critical temperature or below and changes to a fourth thermal coefficient of resistance above the second critical temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae Beom Byun
  • Patent number: 11796402
    Abstract: A tactile sensor includes a support member with a curved surface, a sensor body disposed on the support member, and a buffer member with which the sensor body is coated, the buffer member being configured to, in response to contacting an object, transfer a force applied from the object to the sensor body. The sensor body includes an insulating layer, multiple first resistive portions of which a longitudinal direction is directed to a first direction of each and that are juxtaposed on one side of the insulating layer, multiple second resistive portions of which a longitudinal direction of each is directed to a second direction intersecting with the first direction and that are juxtaposed on another side of the insulating layer, and a pair of electrodes provided at both end portions of each of the first resistive portions and the second resistive portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kitamura, Shigeyuki Adachi, Toshiaki Asakawa, Satoshi Suzuki, Shinya Yamaguchi, Hirotsugu Iijima
  • Patent number: 11749983
    Abstract: A Boost DC-DC switching converter, having a safety protection method for a short circuit to ground during normal Boost operations, is described. A short circuit protection mechanism, to be used at startup, is also described. A low current capability active clamp is activated, during a soft or hard short circuit condition, and an isolation switch is turned off. An input of the switching converter is isolated from an output of the switching converter, and the Boost switching converter is able to safely discharge high energy stored in its coil, with no external components and minimum extra silicon area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Louis de Marco, Nicusor Bortun, Giovanni Tarroboiro
  • Patent number: 11707299
    Abstract: A load sensing assembly for a spinal implant includes a set screw having a central opening that extends from a first end of the set screw toward a second end of the set screw. The second end of the set screw is configured to engage with an anchoring member. The load sensing assembly includes an antenna, an integrated circuit in communication with the antenna, where the integrated circuit is positioned within the central opening of the set screw, and a strain gauge in connection with the integrated circuit. The strain gauge is located within the central opening of the set screw in proximity to the second end of the set screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Benson, Richard L. Brown, Newton H Metcalf, Jr., Arjun S. Kurian, James R. Wasson
  • Patent number: 11686032
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet. A door is coupled to the cabinet. The door is operable between a closed position and an opened position. A microphone assembly is coupled to the door. The microphone assembly is configured to receive a voice command. A microcontroller is coupled to the door. The microcontroller is operably coupled to the microphone assembly and the microcontroller. A proximity sensor is coupled to the microphone assembly. The proximity sensor defines a sensor field that extends outward from the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: William Gregory, Alexander Halbleib, Barry Steven Hazell, Christopher A. Jones, James Mann, Dennis Scott Prows
  • Patent number: 11641704
    Abstract: A load control device coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load may operate in a three-wire mode or a two-wire mode based on whether the load control device is connected to a neutral side of the AC power source. The load control device may further comprise first and second zero-cross detect circuits to be respectively used in the two-wire mode or the three-wire mode, and a neutral wire detect circuit configured to generate a neutral-wire detect signal indicating whether the load control device is connected to the neutral side of the AC power source. A control circuit of the load control device may determine whether the load control device should operate in the two-wire mode or in the three-wire mode in response to the neutral-wire detect signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Benning, Thomas W. Brenner, Quinn Brogan, Donald F. Hausman, Jr., Peter MacLellan, Matthew Kyle Olsen, Matthew Pennock
  • Patent number: 11601003
    Abstract: A universal wireless charging receiver for an electronic device is provided. The universal wireless charging receiver includes a base casing, a first magnetic shielding element, a power supply module and an induction coil. The first magnetic shielding element, the power supply module and the induction coil are installed in the base casing. The power supply module is located over the first magnetic shielding element. A magnetic field is shielded by the first magnetic shielding element. Consequently, an eddy current is not generated by the power supply module through the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsiang Tseng, Ling-Sheng Zeng, Chao Pang
  • Patent number: 11581738
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for flexible renewable energy power generation. The present disclosure also provides systems and methods for firming power generation from multiple renewable energy sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: 8ME NOVA, LLC
    Inventors: Gautham Ramesh, Lukas Mercer Hansen, Michael Healy, Thomas Buttgenbach
  • Patent number: 11569650
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle contains a plug outlet that has a pair of contacts for electrical connection to respective hot and neutral power lines. A controlled switch, such as a TRIAC, is connected in series relationship between the outlet contact and the hot power line. Sensors in the receptacle outputs signals to a processor having an output coupled to the control terminal of the controlled switch. The processor outputs an activation signal or a deactivation signal to the controlled switch in response to received sensor signals that are indicative of conditions relative to the first and second contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Brainwave Research Corporation
    Inventors: John Eriksen, Jean-Guy Gagne, James W. Rogers, Patrick Belanger, Rene K. Pardo
  • Patent number: 11509490
    Abstract: There are provided methods for associating an adapter controller with a device, among a plurality of devices, for instance a Power over Ethernet device or its controller, each device of the plurality being connected to a controller interconnected to other controllers by a power-over-data linear bus to which an item of power source equipment is also connected. The methods comprises an exchange of a pairing message comprising a unique identifier of the device to be paired with, wherein only said device from which is the pairing message receives power at the time of receiving the pairing message by the controller among the plurality of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Pascal Lagrange
  • Patent number: 11475716
    Abstract: A multi-function biometric scanner is provided. The multi-function biometric scanner includes a housing that includes a dome-shaped or semi-dome shaped user interface, the user interface including a capacitive film for fingerprint capture that is disposed along an outer-surface of the housing and a plurality of biometric sensors that are disposed within the housing and that are configured to concurrently retrieve a plurality of biometrics from a user, each sensor being configured to measure a respective biometric of the plurality of biometrics. Fingerprints and the plurality of biometrics are compared to threat information in one or more threat databases to identify a person of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: SECURIPORT LLC
    Inventors: Roberto Leandro Olie, Enrique Segura
  • Patent number: 11469687
    Abstract: A power supply device, provided with: a battery; a capacitor connected in parallel to a load; and a main switching unit capable of switching between a state of connection and a state of disconnection between the battery and the capacitor. The power supply device is provided with a precharge circuit for reducing the current from the battery and supplying the current to the capacitor. A control unit of the power supply device first supplies electric power from the precharge circuit to the capacitor, then sets the main switching unit from a state of disconnection to a state of connection, and stops the supply of electric power from the precharge circuit while the state of connection is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Yamagishi, Toru Yuki
  • Patent number: 11469660
    Abstract: A system for providing power from an AC power supply to an external load. The system includes a current limiter circuit, connected to an input of a switched-mode power supply. The system includes the switched-mode power supply that provides a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal. The system includes a supervisor circuit that is connected to the first output of the switched-mode power supply and coupled to a relay control circuit. The supervisor circuit monitors the first voltage signal and enables the relay control circuit. The relay control circuit provides a first voltage corresponding to the first voltage signal to a first voltage rail and provides a second voltage corresponding to the second voltage signal to a second voltage rail. A relay powered by a connection to the first voltage rail or the second voltage rail connects the AC power supply to an external load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Dalibor Zulim, Richard Lee Westrick, Jr., Frank van Horck
  • Patent number: 11460835
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present BOP control systems include a system controller configured to actuate a first BOP function by communicating one or more commands to one or more nodes of a functional pathway selected from one or more available functional pathways associated with the first BOP function, each node comprising an actuatable component configured to actuate in response to a command received from the system controller, each node having one or more sensors configured to capture a first data set corresponding to actuation of the component and a processor configured to analyze the first data set to determine a useful life remaining of the component and/or compare the first data set to a second data set corresponding to a simulation of actuation of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TRANSOCEAN INNOVATION LABS LTD.
    Inventors: John Matthew Dalton, Luis Pereira
  • Patent number: 11452451
    Abstract: An eavesdropping arrangement for acquiring a measured physiological variable of an individual includes a receiver and a communication interface in a housing separate from the receiver. The communication interface is positioned along a communication link between a first sensor, which is configured to measure aortic blood pressure and to provide a signal representing measured aortic blood pressure, and a central monitoring device configured to monitor the measured aortic blood pressure. The communication interface includes a connection to the communication link that permits the communication interface to eavesdrop on the signal representing measured aortic blood pressure such that information representing measured aortic blood pressure is sent to the receiver while allowing the central monitoring device to receive and use the signal representing measured aortic blood pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: ST. JUDE MEDICAL COORDINATION CENTER BVBA
    Inventors: Ulrik Hübinette, Magnus Samuelsson
  • Patent number: 11329505
    Abstract: A load control device may be used to control and deliver power to an electrical load. The load control device may comprise a control circuit for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device may comprise multiple actuators, where each of the actuators is connected between a terminal of the control circuit and a current regulating device. The number of the actuators may be greater than the number of the terminals. The control circuit may measure signals at the terminals and determine a state configuration for the actuators based on the measured signals. The control circuit may compare the state configuration to a predetermined dataset to detect a ghosting condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Patent number: 11273776
    Abstract: A device, a system, a configuration process, and an operating procedure are provided for the electric control of at least one real electric consumer of a motor vehicle. In order to design in a more flexible manner the electric control of at least one electric consumer of a motor vehicle, the device is implemented as a configurable device. Correlations between a plurality of actions and operating settings of a plurality of hypothetical electric consumers are stored. At least one action is selectable depending on the at least one input signal (I), and the at least one electric output of the device allocable to the at least one real electric consumer can be activated depending on the operating setting of the at least one hypothetical electric consumer allocated to the selected action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Malte Drost
  • Patent number: 11255111
    Abstract: An electronic push button for a motor vehicle door handle, including an activation pattern supported by a membrane that is flexible in the direction of an electric switch carried by a printed circuit board, the activation pattern defining an activation surface that is pressed by an operator's finger in order to push the activation pattern in the direction of the electric switch. The activation pattern is made up of a set of studs that extend parallel to one another away from the electric switch, with the majority of the studs being spaced apart from one another, the set of studs discontinuously delimiting an outer contour of the activation surface of the electronic push button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventors: Florian Brunet-Lugardon, Pascal Perrot, Michel Collet
  • Patent number: 11237044
    Abstract: A wireless battery-powered daylight sensor for measuring a total light intensity in a space is operable to transmit wireless signals using a variable transmission rate that is dependent upon the total light intensity in the space. The sensor comprises a photosensitive circuit, a wireless transmitter for transmitting the wireless signals, a controller coupled to the photosensitive circuit and the wireless transmitter, and a battery for powering the photosensitive circuit, the wireless transmitter, and the controller. The photosensitive circuit is operable to generate a light intensity control signal in response to the total light intensity in the space. The controller transmits the wireless signals in response to the light intensity control signal using the variable transmission rate that is dependent upon the total light intensity in the space. The variable transmission rate may be dependent upon an amount of change of the total light intensity in the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: James P. Steiner, Greg Edward Sloan, Nathan A. Boring
  • Patent number: 11171485
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for flexible renewable energy power generation. The present disclosure also provides systems and methods for firming power generation from multiple renewable energy sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: 8ME NOVA, LLC
    Inventors: Gautham Ramesh, Lukas Mercer Hansen, Michael Healy, Thomas Buttgenbach
  • Patent number: 11164563
    Abstract: A sound-enabled detection system responds to a wakeup sound, and notifies a central server. Based on which wakeup sound is detected; the system's configuration is modified accordingly. More particularly, at least one sensor in the system has its wakeup sound reconfigured to “wake up” upon detection of a second wakeup sound when the first wakeup sound is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Fabrice Saadoun, Nissim Gean, Kenneth A. Haas
  • Patent number: 11147026
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes: a foldable housing comprising a hinge structure, and a first and a second housing structures connected to the hinge structure; a flexible display, a wireless communication circuit disposed inside the foldable housing; a grip sensor disposed in the foldable housing; at least one sensor disposed inside the foldable housing; a processor disposed inside the first housing structure or the second housing structure and operatively connected to the flexible display, the wireless communication circuit, the grip sensor, and the at least one sensor; and a memory, operatively connected to the processor, storing instructions that cause the processor to: measure an angle between the first and the third surface and/or an angle between the second and the fourth surface; detect a distance between the foldable housing and an external object; and control transmission power of the wireless communication circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seokwoo Lee, Hokyung Kang, Yundong Kim, Bowoong Seo, Hyunchul Oh, Hyunsuk Choi
  • Patent number: 11118804
    Abstract: A ceiling-mounted sensing unit includes (i) one or more air temperature sensors; (ii) an infrared sensor having a field of view oriented towards a floor of the room; and (iii) a microcontroller receiving readings from both the air temperature sensors and the infrared sensor, the microcontroller providing an estimated temperature at a predetermined distance above the floor of the room based on a model of the room. The model may be based on a double-exponential smoothing function obtained by matching a Kalman filter model. Alternately, the model may be itself a Kalman filter model or a machine learning trained linear model obtained using a linear regression technique, such as L2 regularization. The Kalman filter model uses a state vector that includes both the estimated temperature and a rate of change in the estimated change in temperature. The machine-trained model may be verified using a k-fold cross-validation technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: DELTA CONTROLS INC.
    Inventors: Robert Christopher Kwong, John Vincent Nicholls, Dmitri John De Vaz, Kevin Scott Batdorf, Derek John Vanditmars, Junsang Yoo, Lap Yan Jonathan Tsui, Andrew Michael Swanton
  • Patent number: 11096844
    Abstract: A powered wheelchair is operated by sensor-based control pads that include force transducers to produce a variable output signal that is proportional to a varying force applied. The control pad provides an analog-type output that provides a variable speed signal to a controller to operate the wheelchair at a variable speed in both forward/reverse directions and in right or left turning directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical (US) LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Parker, Karl Jozef Chmielowiec
  • Patent number: 11094482
    Abstract: A control device includes a button assembly having one or more buttons and a button carrier that includes a plurality of resilient, independently deflectable spring arms. The control device may be configured as a wall-mounted keypad to control a load control device, or as a thermostat to control a temperature regulation appliance. The button carrier may be configured to prevent interference between the buttons during operation of the control device. The button assembly may be captured between a faceplate of the control device and a housing that is attached to a rear side of the faceplate. The control device may include one or more button retainers that are attached to the buttons and that are configured to align respective outer surfaces of the buttons relative to each other, and relative to the faceplate of the control device, when the buttons are in respective rest positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Nikhil Vithal Bhate, Rich Destremps, James Harrison, Jason Edward Jennings, Eric Jonathan Mace, Stephen Phillips
  • Patent number: 11088573
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve the accuracy of detection of the metallic foreign object. A metallic foreign object detector includes a sensor part having at least one antenna coil that receives a magnetic field or current to generate a vibration signal, an integration circuit that acquires the integral value of a waveform of a signal corresponding to the vibration signal, and a determination circuit that determines the presence/absence of a metallic foreign object approaching the antenna coil based on the integral value and a criterion integral value which is the integral value obtained in the absence of the approaching metallic foreign object. The integral value and the criterion integral value are obtained by integrating the waveform having the same wavenumber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuki Kondo, Kazunori Oshima, Akira Gotani, Narutoshi Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 11059251
    Abstract: A press system includes a detection unit configured to detect occurrence of an abnormality during press working for a workpiece, and an abnormality determination unit configured to determine an abnormality level, based on the abnormality detected by the detection unit and a stoppage period for which a pressing operation is stopped after occurrence of the abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: KOMATSU INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiko Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 11057988
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrostatic protection circuit, a circuit board, and an electrostatic protecting method. The electrostatic protection circuit includes a first relay and a second relay, wherein a control terminal of the first relay and a control terminal of the second relay are configured to be connected to a power supply of a system circuit respectively, and wherein the first relay and the second relay are connected in series between the system circuit and a ground terminal to form a charge release path, and the first relay is switched from an open circuit state to a short circuit state when the system circuit is powered off, and the charge release path is in a turn-on state after the first relay is switched to the short circuit state, thereby releasing an electrostatic charge in the system circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignees: BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pengtao Li, Ying Liu, Yangbing Yu, Jie Yu, Qin Tan
  • Patent number: 11054826
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving data from one or more sensors associated with a vehicle; and receiving a message from a first processor. The message from the first processor includes a first control command for an actuator of the vehicle and a first certificate function. The method also includes receiving a message from the second processor. The message from the second processor includes a second control command for the actuator of the vehicle and a second certificate function. The method also includes computing a first certificate based on the first certificate function and the data; computing a second certificate based on the second certificate function and the data; determining a valid control signal based on an accuracy of the first second control command and second control command relative the first certificate and second certificate; and transmitting the valid control signal to the actuator of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventors: George James Hansel, Gerard Joyce, Palak Talwar, Helen Ruth Lurie, James Allen-White Hoffacker
  • Patent number: 10996044
    Abstract: A measurement method for an aviation-specific inductive proximity sensor (IPS for short) includes steps of: 1) building a measurement circuit, wherein an IPS comprises an internal resistance r and an inductance L; 2) building a look-up table, wherein the step 2) specifically comprises steps of: sampling a first voltage measured value U1 corresponding to a first constant delay time T1 with the ADC; sampling a second voltage measured value U2 corresponding to a second constant delay time T2 with the ADC; then obtaining voltage discharge formulas U1(T1, R, r, L) and U2(T2, R, r, L) of an r-L circuit; and 3) compressing the look-up table, utilizing the compressed look-up table for calculation during measurement. The present invention ensures that the system works within a standard temperature range, and improves measurement stability, reliability, and real-time performance. Furthermore, there is no floating point calculation, which saves CPU or MCU hardware resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventors: Zhibiao Shao, Yixin Guo
  • Patent number: 10983483
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic watch allowing data to be received, comprising: An electrical energy source A control member arranged to be supplied with power by the electrical energy source A receiver module comprising: An optical sensor capable of detecting a sequence of light pulses modulated by data, and of converting said sequence into a digital signal An energy storage element arranged to store electrical energy generated by the optical sensor A demodulator arranged to be supplied with power by the energy storage element, capable of extracting the data from the digital signal Transmission means capable of transmitting the extracted data to the control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: EM Microelectronic-Marin S.A.
    Inventor: Hugo Jaeggi
  • Patent number: 10976432
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing operations based on acoustic locationing are described. An example device includes one or more microphones configured to sense sound waves propagating in an environment. The example device also includes one or more processors and one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors. The one or more memories store instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to recover sound wave information from the sensed sound waves, detect a presence of one or more persons in the environment based on the received sound wave information, determine an operation to be performed by one or more smart devices based on the detected presence of one or more persons, and instruct the one or more smart devices to perform the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Richard R. Schediwy, Patrick A. Worfolk, Kirk Hargreaves, Mihai M. Bulea
  • Patent number: 10978896
    Abstract: A power storage adapter for portable information handling systems may include a separate battery and intelligent power management functionality. The power storage adapter may be equipped with fewer voltage regulators and boosted charging for improved efficiency. The power storage adapter may output power to a variable power bus, such as USB Type-C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Sultenfuss, Richard Christopher Thompson
  • Patent number: 10967739
    Abstract: A method for charging an electric bicycle from the power supply of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle is coupled via an electrical trailer connection and an electrical adapter to the battery of the electric bicycle. In order to provide anti-theft protection, the motor vehicle sends the battery a query signal relating to identification data of the battery via a communication channel. Subsequently, the motor vehicle listens in on the communication channel upon transmission of the identification data of the battery. For the case in which the motor vehicle receives incorrect identification data or no identification data from the battery, an alarm signal is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Peter Lacher, Markus Aunkofer
  • Patent number: 10950403
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter electrically connects a line terminal to a load terminal in a closed condition and electrically disconnects the line terminal from the load terminal in the open condition. A controller includes a fault detector configured to detect a fault in an electrical signal in a load circuit, such that when a fault is detected on the load circuit, the fault detector causes actuation of the interrupter to the open condition. The controller is adapted to receive an off command, and in response to the off command, generate a simulated fault in the load circuit, such that the fault detector causes actuation of the interrupter to the open condition, such that one and the same interrupter is employed for both fault tripping and commanded tripping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Carling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Fasano, Simon Cordner, William P. Frederick
  • Patent number: 10937746
    Abstract: An ultralong time constant time measurement device includes elementary capacitive elements that are connected in series. Each elementary capacitive element is formed by a stack of a first conductive region, a dielectric layer having a thickness suited for allowing charge to flow by direct tunneling effect, and a second conductive region. The first conductive region is housed in a trench extending from a front face of a semiconductor substrate down into the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer rests on the first face of the semiconductor substrate and in particular on a portion of the first conductive region in the trench. The second conductive region rests on the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Abderrezak Marzaki, Pascal Fornara
  • Patent number: 10907852
    Abstract: The occupancy status of a building space may be determined by sensing an indication of motion in the building space, in response to sensing the indication of motion in the building space, starting an occupied time period having a length during which the building space is indicated as being occupied, determining a measure related to a number of subsequent sensed indications of motion in the building space during the occupied time period, and selectively adjusting the length of the occupied time period based on the measure related to the number of subsequent sensed indications of motion in the building space during the occupied time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, David Johnson, Steven Hoglund, Jeffrey Boll, David Schultz, Steven C. Nichols
  • Patent number: 10879834
    Abstract: A temperature monitoring device of the present invention includes: a current value acquisition portion (50) that acquires a current value supplied for the motor; a calorific value inference portion (20) that infers a calorific value through a first thermal model indicating a relationship between the current value and a calorific value of a servo driver (2); and an anomaly judgment portion (10) that compares the calorific value with a threshold, so as to judge whether there is heating anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamawaki, Takao Ushiyama, Kentaro Hirao
  • Patent number: 10880624
    Abstract: An electric motor communication system for use with a fluid moving system and using at least one wireless sensor network is provided. The electric motor communication system includes an electric motor that includes a motor management device configured to transmit and receive input signals via the wireless sensor network, and a processing device coupled to said motor management device and configured to control said electric motor based at least in part on input signals received at said motor management device. The electric motor communication system also includes at least one external device configured to collect data and to transmit said input signals, via the wireless sensor network, to said electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Li, Roger Carlos Becerra
  • Patent number: 10873329
    Abstract: A high reliability AC load switching circuit is disclosed. In some embodiments, the AC load switching circuit includes a high-speed switch connected between the load and the voltage source, a cutoff switch connected between the load and the voltage source in parallel with the high-speed switch, and a level detector connected to the voltage source and to a control input of the high-speed switch. The high-speed switch may be a solid-state switch, for example, a TRIAC or a bidirectional switch, and the cutoff switch may be an electromechanical switch, for example, a relay. In some embodiments a snubber is connected in parallel with a solid-state switch. In some embodiments a microcontroller is connected to an electromechanical switch and the level detector. In some embodiments, both a first cutoff switch and a second cutoff switch are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Ideal Industries Lighting LLC
    Inventors: Yuequan Hu, Amruteshwar Hiremath, Kory A. Liszt
  • Patent number: 10871381
    Abstract: An angle sensor includes a plurality of composite magnetic field information generation units and an angle computing unit. The plurality of composite magnetic field information generation units detect, at a plurality of detection positions, a composite magnetic field of a magnetic field to be detected and a noise magnetic field other than the magnetic field to be detected, and thereby generate a plurality of pieces of composite magnetic field information including information on at least the direction, out of the direction and the strength, of the composite magnetic field. At each of the plurality of detection positions, the magnetic field to be detected varies in direction according to an angle to be detected. The angle computing unit generates a detected angle value using the method of least squares on the basis of the plurality of pieces of composite magnetic field information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenkichi Anagawa, Shinichirou Mochizuki, Hiraku Hirabayashi, Kazuya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10859990
    Abstract: An autonomous system for managing power distribution to an electrically-powered device that includes a power controller module that includes power input and power output abilities and operably connected power switching abilities, wherein the power switching is configured for actuation by an integral power management module operably connected thereto, the integral power management module including integral actuation signal detection and actuation abilities configured for, in accordance with commands and operational parameters, upon detection of an actuation signal, actuation the integral power switching to alter power output through the power output from a first output level to a second output level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: BCP CONTROLS, LLC
    Inventors: John Edward Fitch, James Michael Steward
  • Patent number: 10825278
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining an Authenticated Location of a GRL Device using a Smart Gateway. The GRL Device may include a Miniature Atomic Clock along with other components that can receive process and communicate information to enable locating, identifying, and tracking physical Assets and data contained within the Assets. More specifically, the present disclosure presents methods and apparatus of deploying a Global Resource Locating (GRL) device adhered to or inserted into packaging for an Asset. The Smart Gateway, either as stand-alone architecture or as a Smart Phone app, may be used to transmit and receive UUIDs from a GRL-enabled asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: LOCATOR X, INC.
    Inventor: William D. Meadow
  • Patent number: 10804891
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to diagnose an abnormality detecting circuit that detects an abnormality, such as an overcurrent of a power semiconductor, with the number of insulating elements to be additionally provided, inhibited from increasing. There are provided: a drive circuit configured to output a gate signal to a power semiconductor; an abnormality detecting circuit configured to detect an abnormality of the power semiconductor; and a diagnosis signal applying circuit configured to apply a diagnosis signal to the abnormality detecting circuit. The diagnosis signal applying circuit applies the diagnosis signal, on the basis of the gate signal output by the drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Inada, Teppei Hirotsu, Hideyuki Sakamoto, Kouichi Yahata, Keiji Kadota
  • Patent number: 10796870
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electronic switch device, the device including a housing assembly including a front cover assembly having a user accessible surface, a back body assembly, terminals configured to be coupled to an AC power source and the load; an antenna assembly including an antenna substrate disposed inside the housing assembly adjacent a portion of the front cover assembly, an antenna being disposed on the antenna substrate having a conductive grid structure; and a circuit assembly disposed inside the housing assembly coupled to the terminals, the circuit assembly comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board including a ground plane, the circuit assembly being electrically connected to the antenna assembly via a conductor, the printed circuit board being separated from the antenna assembly by a predetermined distance, the circuit assembly including a relay switch having at least one solenoid winding connected to the circuit assembly and a set of contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Richard M. Rohmer, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10716229
    Abstract: An electrified wire containing a plurality of integrated hubs populated along the wire's span providing mechanical and electrical and data connectivity to an array of removable device platforms with IoT device assemblies whereas the devices assemblies operate in real time, are either networked or stand-alone, and can be placed where and when needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventor: Daniel S. Spiro
  • Patent number: 10706901
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a data processing circuit, an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit which is connected between a voltage rail and a ground rail and protects the data processing circuit from an ESD event on the voltage rail, and a switch circuit for controlling a connection between the voltage rail and the data processing circuit in response to a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki Ho Kong, Chang Hee Shin, Hong Keun Yune, Jae Hyok Ko
  • Patent number: 10707856
    Abstract: A circuit comprises a first metal-oxide semiconductor, MOS, power transistor having a first gate terminal, a first drain terminal, and a first source terminal, a second MOS power transistor having a second gate terminal, a second drain terminal, and a second source terminal, and a switch connected in-between the first gate terminal and the second gate terminal and configured to selectively couple the first gate terminal and the second gate terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Florian Brugger, Christian Djelassi-Tscheck, Alexander Mayer
  • Patent number: 10690763
    Abstract: One or more sensors are configured for detection of characteristics of moving objects and living subjects for human identification or authentication. One or more processors, such as in a system of sensors or that control a sensor, may be configured to process signals from the one or more sensors to identify a person. The processing may include evaluating features from the signals such as breathing rate, respiration depth, degree of movement and heart rate etc. The sensors may be radio frequency non-contact sensors with automated detection control to change detection control parameters based on the identification of living beings, such as to avoid sensor interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ResMed Sensor Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Redmond Shouldice, Emer Doheny, Alberto Zaffaroni
  • Patent number: 10684496
    Abstract: An electronic frame for an optical device, including: a frame surface element configured to house, at least in part, at least one lens, and connected to at least one temple by respective ends; a circuit controlling operation of at least one electronic component; at least one magnetic or electric field transmitter and one magnetic or electric field sensor, at least one of the sensor or transmitter mounted to be movable relative to one another between first and second positions, the sensor configured to detect a first field direction and a first field value emitted by the transmitter in the first position, and a second field direction and a second field value emitted by the transmitter in the second position, to generate a first position signal or a second position signal towards the control circuit to prompt a response from the control circuit towards the at least one electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Ludovic Jouard, Cedric Gilbert