Power Or Energy Patents (Class 307/126)
  • Patent number: 11881660
    Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided an electrical socket system comprising: an electrical socket comprising at least one temperature sensor; and a controller configured to monitor a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, wherein the controller is configured to: determine a temperature gradient of the temperature with respect to time; determine if the temperature gradient exceeds a threshold gradient value; and trigger an alarm event if it is determined that the temperature gradient exceeds the threshold gradient value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Keith Turner, Neil Brown, Jason Yu, Rick Fang
  • Patent number: 11862945
    Abstract: A power management system for selectively providing power to one or more electrical loads using a standby generator includes a meter mounted transfer switch, a power management module, and a controller. The meter mounted transfer switch is configured to receive electrical power from a utility source. The power management module is configured to receive electrical power from each of the standby generator and the utility source. The controller is in communication with the standby generator and the power management module, and monitors a load on the standby generator and communicates to the power management module to selectively disconnect at least one of the one or more electrical loads based on the monitored load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Miller, Gary Gracyalny, David A. Kratz, Richard Gilpatrick, Dean Weigand, Sie Teong Lim, Nicholas Demos
  • Patent number: 11693035
    Abstract: A current sense system may include a relay, a load conductor, and an integrator sub-circuit. Current may be provided to an electrical load via the load conductor and a latch of the relay. The current carried via the load conductor may induce a sense voltage in a coil of the relay. Based on the sense voltage induced in the relay coil, the integrator sub-circuit may determine a load sense voltage that indicates a level of the current carried via the load conductor. In some implementations, a current indication module may provide an indicator signal based on the load sense voltage. In addition, the indicator signal may be provided to additional components or devices, such as a relay controller configured to activate the latch. In some implementations, the relay controller may be configured to open the latch based on the current level described by the indicator signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: David J. Long, Miroslaw Grotkowski, Richard Lee Westrick, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11693376
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved smart green power node using predictive switching, predictive operation at a daily and hourly level, and both grid connected and island operating modes with built-in cybersecurity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Homer Alan Mantooth, Yuzhi Zhang, Janviere Umuhoza, Shuang Zhao, Stephen Joe Moquin, Roger A. Dougal
  • Patent number: 11689797
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, and a system. In one example, the information processing apparatus is a camera. The camera includes a memory, communication circuitry, and control circuitry. The memory is configured to store a first set of backup camera settings. The communication circuitry is configured to communicate with a server, the server configured to store a second set of backup camera settings. The control circuitry is configured to perform a start-up process when the camera is turned ON, the start-up process includes comparing the first set of backup camera settings to the second set of backup camera settings to determine whether the first set of backup camera settings is newer than the second set of backup camera settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Ito, Kaoru Takada
  • Patent number: 11569621
    Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided an electrical socket system comprising: an electrical socket comprising at least one temperature sensor; and a controller configured to monitor a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, wherein the controller is configured to: determine a temperature gradient of the temperature with respect to time; determine if the temperature gradient exceeds a threshold gradient value; and trigger an alarm event if it is determined that the temperature gradient exceeds the threshold gradient value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Keith Turner, Neil Brown, Jason Yu, Rick Fang
  • Patent number: 11552458
    Abstract: An electrical distribution panel for controlling the distribution of electrical power to a plurality of loads includes a plurality of solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs), each including a thermally conductive heatspreader and one or more power semiconductor devices that control whether electrical current is able to flow to an attached load; a distribution panel heatsink configured in thermal contact with the SSCB heatspreaders; one or more cooling fans that blow air onto the distribution panel heatsink; a stacked bus bar with quick-fit pin-mount receptacles for receiving mating/matching press-fit connection pins located on line-side terminals of the SSCBs; a communications and control (comm/control) bus communicatively coupled to the plurality of SSCBs; and a head-end interface and gateway to which an external computer can connect, to, among other things, set and alter trip settings of the plurality of SSCBs via the comm/control bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Atom Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor Santore, Frederick Miller, Denis Kouroussis, Ryan Kennedy
  • Patent number: 11539200
    Abstract: A fault protection arrangement may include a neutral grounding resistor, the neutral grounding resistor comprising a ground end and a non-ground end. The fault protection arrangement may include a neutral grounding resistance monitor assembly, coupled to the neutral grounding resistor, where the neutral grounding resistance monitor assembly includes a sense circuit, coupled to the ground end of the neutral grounding resistor; and an injection signal generator, arranged to generate a frequency of 240 Hz or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristophor Jensen, Kip M. Larson, Cornelis Verhey
  • Patent number: 11500439
    Abstract: A storage system comprises one or more storage devices, power supplies supplying power to the storage device, a processor that performs in response to determining that the total power consumption of the one or more storage devices is less than a first percentage threshold of a load of the active power supplies, deactivating one or more of the active power supplies until the total power consumption is equal to or greater than the first percentage threshold of a load of each of the active power supplies, and in response to determining that the total power consumption is equal to or greater than a second percentage threshold of a load of each of the active power supplies, activating one or more of the deactivated ones of the power supplies until the total power consumption is less than the second percentage threshold of the load of each of the active power supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ramdas P. Kachare, Wentao Wu, Sompong Paul Olarig
  • Patent number: 11482851
    Abstract: A device includes an electro-mechanical switching device having an open-circuit and closed-circuit conditions and a path of least resistance having a path input and a path output with the switching device between the input and the output. The device includes a bypass power switch device that comprises a solid-state circuit interrupter and that is configured to conduct current between the input and the output in response to an open-circuit condition of the switching device. The device includes a current sensor that is connected to the output and configured to detect a fault current event. The device includes an actuator that is coupled to the switching device and a controller that is configured to generate a trigger signal to activate the actuator to cause the open-circuit condition of the switching device and to interrupt the fault current event by the power switch device, based on the detected fault current event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Brian E. Carlson, Brooke E. Lang, Robert P. Griffin
  • Patent number: 11462906
    Abstract: A method for predicting when energy consumption will exceed normal production capacity for buildings including generating data sets for each of the buildings, where energy consumption values within each set are shifted by one of a plurality of lag values relative to time and temperature values, and where each lag value is different; performing a regression model analysis on each set to yield corresponding regression model parameters and a corresponding residual; determining a least valued residual indicating a corresponding energy lag for each of the buildings; using outside temperatures, regression model parameters, and energy lags for all of the buildings to estimate a cumulative energy consumption for the buildings, and to predict the time when energy consumption will exceed normal production capacity; and receiving the time when energy consumption will exceed normal production capacity, and preparing and commencing exceptional measures required to manage the energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Enel X North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Husain Al-Mohssen, Angela S. Bassa, Richard R. Paradis
  • Patent number: 11411429
    Abstract: A management system includes a power conversion device converting power output from a distributed power source and a management device. The management device includes a transmitter transmitting to the power conversion device a command requesting a state of the power conversion device. The power conversion device includes a transmitter transmitting to the management device a response command including a property indicating a state of the power conversion device in response to the command. The property includes output suppression information on output suppression of the distributed power source based on output suppression specified by a provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuji Kakuda
  • Patent number: 11340645
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus for tracking maximum power point (MPP) includes: a signal processing circuit generating a first sensing signal at a sensing node; a first comparison circuit generating a first control signal according to a difference between the first sensing signal and a first reference voltage; and a second comparison circuit sensing a second sensing signal generated from the conversion circuit. The second comparison circuit generates a second control signal according to a difference between the second sensing signal and a reference signal. The signal processing circuit includes a bias sensing circuit and a clamp circuit. The bias sensing circuit adjusts the first sensing signal according to the second control signal, to adjust the first control signal. The conversion circuit adjusts a voltage and/or current of the output power according to the adjusted first control signal, so that a power retrieval source operates near its MPP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuo-Chi Liu, Chang-Yu Ho
  • Patent number: 11322963
    Abstract: A control method for a power supply, in which a link capacitor is connected between an external load and a power relay assembly (PRA) that includes a precharge resistor to control a power flow between a battery and the external load, the control method including: initiating precharge; after the initiating of the precharge, measuring voltages of the link capacitor by measuring a first voltage V1 of the link capacitor at a first time T1, measuring a second voltage V2 of the link capacitor at a second time T2, and measuring a third voltage V3 of the link capacitor at a third time T3, the first time T1, the second time T2, and the third time T3 each being different times; calculating a capacitance C of the link capacitor using the first voltage V1, the second voltage V2, and the third voltage V3; and terminating the precharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyunseok Go, Hyunah Park, Hyunchul Do, Daesung Lee
  • Patent number: 11307626
    Abstract: A storage system comprises one or more storage devices, power supplies supplying power to the storage device, a processor that performs in response to determining that the total power consumption of the one or more storage devices is less than a first percentage threshold of a load of the active power supplies, deactivating one or more of the active power supplies until the total power consumption is equal to or greater than the first percentage threshold of a load of each of the active power supplies, and in response to determining that the total power consumption is equal to or greater than a second percentage threshold of a load of each of the active power supplies, activating one or more of the deactivated ones of the power supplies until the total power consumption is less than the second percentage threshold of the load of each of the active power supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ramdas P. Kachare, Wentao Wu, Sompong Paul Olarig
  • Patent number: 11277024
    Abstract: A standby circuit includes a power regulator configured to operate in an ON state and an OFF state; a power detecting circuit configured to detect power of a load; an integrated circuit module including two interfaces, each of the two interfaces configured to receive an ON operating command or an OFF operating command from a remote control device; and a proximity detection circuit configured to determine a proximity of each of the two interfaces to the remote control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: ZQ Power, LLC
    Inventors: Calvin Shiening Wang, Zhen-Qiu Huang
  • Patent number: 11233388
    Abstract: A method of limiting a total power delivered by a power distribution unit having a plurality of output connectors is disclosed. A configurable power threshold is assigned for each of the output connectors so that a sum of the configurable power thresholds of the output connectors does not exceed a maximum rated power for the power distribution unit. A power level of a given output connector is sensed. A delivery of power by the given output connector is stopped when the power level of the given output connector exceeds the configurable power threshold for the given output connector. Power delivery may be resumed in response to receiving a user command to rearm the given output connector. A power distribution unit adapted to limit its total power delivery is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: OVH
    Inventors: Christophe Maurice Thibaut, Miroslaw Piotr Klaba
  • Patent number: 11221659
    Abstract: A storage system comprises one or more storage devices, power supplies supplying power to the storage device, a processor that performs in response to determining that the total power consumption of the one or more storage devices is less than a first percentage threshold of a load of the active power supplies, deactivating one or more of the active power supplies until the total power consumption is equal to or greater than the first percentage threshold of a load of each of the active power supplies, and in response to determining that the total power consumption is equal to or greater than a second percentage threshold of a load of each of the active power supplies, activating one or more of the deactivated ones of the power supplies until the total power consumption is less than the second percentage threshold of the load of each of the active power supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ramdas P. Kachare, Wentao Wu, Sompong Paul Olarig
  • Patent number: 11190033
    Abstract: The invention discloses an adaptor or coupling arrangement for a device to bus contact connection. According to the invention, the coupling arrangement may be integrated in the device or configured to mate externally to the device. The coupling arrangement comprises electrical contact areas configured to mate to a mating surface that is itself configured to connect to a power line, one or more data lines, or both. The coupling arrangement also comprises an electronic circuit that is configured to perform one or more anti-inversion of current functions. Thus the coupling arrangement of the invention allows detection of the current connections established or not with conductive areas of the mating surface. Also, the coupling arrangement operates as a protection circuit that prevents any short circuit, whatever the positioning of the device on the mating surface. The coupling arrangement may be used to operate smart phones, tablets, laptops or other types of electrical appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: ENERGYSQUARE
    Inventors: Daniel Lollo, Timothée Le Quesne, Matthieu Poidatz
  • Patent number: 11125782
    Abstract: A high voltage line post sensor for a high voltage power distribution system having a high voltage power transmission line for transmitting electrical power at a high voltage includes a voltage line sensor. The voltage line sensor includes a high voltage high resistance circuit including a first high voltage high resistance resistor coupled to the high voltage power transmission line and a second high voltage high resistance resistor coupled to the high voltage power transmission line in parallel to the first resistor; and a low voltage low resistance circuit coupled in series between the high voltage high resistance circuit and a reference voltage. The line post sensor also includes a body surrounding and encasing the high voltage high resistance circuit and the low voltage low resistance circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Hossein Nabi-Bidhendi, Vivek Siddharth
  • Patent number: 11121527
    Abstract: A power management system includes a generator, a meter mounted transfer switch, and a power management module. The generator includes a controller positioned in the housing of the generator. The generator connects to the power management module to provide power to one or more electrical loads. The controller is configured to selectively disconnect at least one of the electrical loads by communicating, via a wireless gateway, to a transfer switch of the power management module to move between first and second positions for connecting the generator to the one or more electrical loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Miller, Gary Gracyalny, David A. Kratz, Richard Gilpatrick, Dean Weigand, Sie Teong Lim, Nicholas Demos
  • Patent number: 11002804
    Abstract: Sensing systems and methods are provided for compensating for offset and gain changes. A sensing system includes a magnetic element, a current sensing arrangement to provide a current measurement signal influenced by a flux induced in the magnetic element, an oscillator arrangement to provide a reference oscillating current signal configured to induce an oscillating flux in the magnetic element, and a compensation arrangement coupled the current sensing arrangement to adjust the current measurement signal to compensate for gain changes in the measurement signal output and provide a compensated current measurement based at least in part on the adjusted measurement signal and the reference oscillating current signal. The oscillating flux influences the current measurement signal output by the current sensing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Smith, Paul Schwerman, Terry Ahrendt
  • Patent number: 10890883
    Abstract: An EMS (200) receives at least one of a message indicating a rated output of the storage battery (141) and a message indicating number of charged and discharged times of the storage battery (141), from the power storage apparatus (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaomi Satake
  • Patent number: 10873163
    Abstract: An electronic power connector including a contact and a contact core. The contact is configured to electrically connect a power supply to a load. The contact core is configured to receive the contact. The contact core includes a transformer winding configured to sense a current and a sensor slot configured to receive a sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor is configured to sense a temperature. In some embodiments, the sensor is configured to sense a voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Shadi Alex AbuGhazaleh, Ryan Gene Papageorge, Thomas Louis Scanzillo
  • Patent number: 10827595
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for transmission of control data is provided. Application software executed on a smart phone or other computing device communicates with lighting fixtures or other configurable devices to automatically detect and pair with the devices without requiring a user to go through a pairing process. Additionally, the application software automatically places the devices in groups to coordinate the operation of those devices without requiring any complicated programming effort by a user. Further, the application software instructs each group of devices to provide a particular output or result, which may be different from group to group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CHAUVET & SONS, LLC
    Inventors: Allan Reiss, Raglan Jones, Toby Freeman
  • Patent number: 10823763
    Abstract: A device for measuring electric currents includes Rogowski-type current sensors, each configured to measure an AC electric current in an electrical conductor, each sensor including coils that are electrically connected in series to form a measurement circuit and being joined to one another to delimit a central zone of this sensor to receive the corresponding electrical conductor. One of the coils is common to the first and second sensors, this common coil being electrically connected to the first and second measurement circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Houbre, Sebastien Buffat
  • Patent number: 10804791
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a driver circuit that is intended for a power semiconductor switch having a unidirectional flow direction and having a control connection, a reference potential connection and a controlled connection. The driver circuit includes a driver module having a control output, a reference potential input and an overvoltage monitoring input. In this case, the control output is connected to a first connection that is provided for connection to the control connection, the reference potential input is connected to a second connection that is provided for connection to the reference potential connection, and the overvoltage monitoring input is connected, via a first diode, to a third connection that is provided for connection to the controlled connection. The overvoltage monitoring input is also connected to the reference potential input via a capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SMA SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Andrzej Mondzik, Adam Penczek, Marek Rylko, Slawomir Szot, Milosz Szarek, Robert Stala
  • Patent number: 10761116
    Abstract: Sensors measure magnetic field components, and the measured fields are used to calculate and estimated transverse position of a longitudinal electric current flowing as an electric discharge across a discharge gap. Based on the estimated position, and according to a selected transverse trajectory or distribution of the estimated discharge position, magnetic fields are applied transversely across the discharge gap so as to control or alter the estimated discharge position. Inventive apparatus and methods can be employed, inter alia, during operation of a vacuum arc furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: KW ASSOCIATES LLC
    Inventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Joshua R. Motley, C. Rigel Woodside, Paul E. King
  • Patent number: 10605868
    Abstract: A method for predicting a performance of an electrical energy storage system includes receiving, as input, time series of data points pertaining to a plurality of operational parameters of the electrical energy storage system. The input time series is provided to a model that simulates dynamics of the electrical energy storage system. A plurality of performance indicators of the electrical energy storage system may be calculated based on the simulated dynamics of the electrical energy storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Joachim Bamberger, Stefan Jessenberger, Spartak Rasov, Jeremy Ralph Wiles, Philipp Wolfrum
  • Patent number: 10581207
    Abstract: A power outlet device including a first socket assembly coupled to an external power, a first switch, a detecting circuit coupled to the first socket assembly through the first switch, a controller is electrically coupled to the first switch and the detecting circuit, and a sensor is provided. The first switch is electrically coupled to the first socket assembly for turning on or oft power supply of the external power to the first socket assembly. The detecting circuit detects a first power value of the first socket assembly. A second power value of the first socket assembly is detected after detecting the first power value. The controller read the first and second power value. A first signal is received by the sensor for transmitting to the controller. The controller turns on or off the first switch according to the first signal, the first and second power value. A controlling method of the power outlet device is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: CYBER POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Yen-Nan Liu, Chih-Hao Hsu
  • Patent number: 10545554
    Abstract: The resource metering system comprises: an end-point device (25) consuming a resource, in particular for usage in a building (2) or in an outdoor lighting system, said device comprising a detection unit that produces status information and an indicator of usefulness; a smart meter (20) comprising: a communication circuitry provided with an interface adapted for receiving from said device status information and said indicator of usefulness; a metrology device connected to a medium (17) that provides the resource to said device; and a control circuitry connected to the metrology device for collecting resource consumption data, the control circuitry being connected to the communication circuitry and adapted to produce monitoring data to be securely transmitted to a server (10) after processing the status information and said indicator. Monitoring data are used when determining consumption tariffs, so as to encourage energy efficient usage of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Robert Paul Koster, Klaus Kursawe, Alphons Antonius Maria Lambertus Bruekers, Paulus Mathias Hubertus Mechtildis Anton Gorissen, Ileana R. Buhan, Petrus Johannes Lenoir, Sye Loong Keoh
  • Patent number: 10495374
    Abstract: A combination microwave and refrigerator system is provided. The microwave oven is connected to a source of power and has a control circuit for controlling the operation of the microwave oven. A first power supply outlet is provided on the microwave oven. A refrigerator is connected to the source of power by connection to the first power supply outlet. The control circuit is configured to disable the cooking operation of the refrigerator, when the microwave oven demands cooking power, and enable the cooling operation of the refrigerator when the microwave oven is not drawing cooking power. A safety sensor is provided in the microwave oven, and is configured to cause cooking power to the microwave oven to be turned off upon the safety sensor sensing a dangerous condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Intirion Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Allan Thomas Hall, Philip Emma
  • Patent number: 10468873
    Abstract: A current-breaking device for high-voltage direct current includes a main conduction-line and a secondary conduction-line connected in parallel between its terminals. The main conduction-line comprises a first controlled-switch and a circuit connected in series. The circuit comprises a first current-limiter and a first capacitor connected in parallel. The secondary conduction-line comprises a second controlled-switch. These conduction lines cooperate to form an oscillating circuit that oscillates with an amplitude that is at least equal to limiting current passing through the current limiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SUPERGRID INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Bruno Luscan, Alberto Bertinato, Christophe Creusot
  • Patent number: 10418818
    Abstract: Improved techniques for photovoltaic power generation are described. Inverter failure is can be a significant problem in solar photovoltaic systems as it can lead to loss of opportunity to harvest energy. A solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation system is described comprising solar PV panels and power conditioning units. A dc power distribution bus is coupled to the solar PV panels and the power conditioning units to switchably share dc power from the solar PV panels between the power conditioning units. Power distribution controllers detect a faulty power conditioning unit and reroute power from a solar PV panel coupled to the faulty power conditioning unit to other power conditioning units via the dc distribution bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Lesley Chisenga, Paul Randal Engle, Jr., Gehan Anil Joseph Amaratunga, Andrew John Matthews
  • Patent number: 10411478
    Abstract: A grid connection power conversion device having isolated operation function for connecting a distributed power supply to a commercial power system is provided which comprises an inverter for converting DC power to AC power, a capacitor connected between the inverter and the commercial power system, a commercial voltage amplitude detection circuitry, an amplitude adjustment circuitry to increase an amplitude of an output voltage from the inverter stepwise from a given value to match the amplitude of the commercial system voltage, and a start-up control circuitry to control the grid connection power conversion device so that after the amplitude adjustment circuitry adjusts the amplitude of the output voltage from the inverter, after the start-up, to match the amplitude of the commercial system voltage detected by the commercial voltage amplitude detection circuitry, the start-up control circuitry connects the inverter to the commercial power system to start grid-connected operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Tabuchi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chienru Lung, Hideki Hidaka
  • Patent number: 10381820
    Abstract: An undervoltage protection circuit and an overvoltage protection circuit include a first comparator and a second comparator. The first comparator has a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and a first output terminal. The second comparator has a third input terminal, a fourth input terminal, and a second output terminal. The third input terminal receives a reference voltage and the fourth input terminal receives a first feedback voltage. The first and the second output terminals are coupled with a logic device. The first feedback voltage is converted to a second feedback voltage by the delay circuit and the voltage level shifter. The first comparator outputs a detection enabling voltage for undervoltage/overvoltage detection when the first feedback voltage crosses the second feedback voltage. The logic device outputs a protection voltage level undervoltage/overvoltage protection when the first feedback voltage crosses the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chih-Heng Su, Yang-Fan Su
  • Patent number: 10305230
    Abstract: An electronic power connector including a contact and a contact core. The contact is configured to electrically connect a power supply to a load. The contact core is configured to receive the contact. The contact core includes a transformer winding configured to sense a current and a sensor slot configured to receive a sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor is configured to sense a temperature. In some embodiments, the sensor is configured to sense a voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Shadi Alex AbuGhazaleh, Ryan Gene Papageorge, Thomas Louis Scanzillo
  • Patent number: 10290066
    Abstract: A method and device for modeling a long-time-scale photovoltaic output time sequence are provided. The method includes that: historical data of a photovoltaic power station is acquired, and a photovoltaic output with a time length of one year and a time resolution of 15 mins is selected (101); weather types of days corresponding to the photovoltaic output are acquired from a weather station (102), and probabilities of transfer between each type of weather are calculated respectively (103); and a simulated time sequence of the photovoltaic output within a preset time scale is generated (104), and its validity is verified (105). By the method, annual and monthly photovoltaic output simulated time sequences consistent with a random fluctuation rule of a photovoltaic time sequence may be acquired according to different requirements to provide a favorable condition and a data support for analog simulation of time sequence production including massive new energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignees: China Electric Power Research Institute Company Li, State Grid Corporation of China, CLP Puri Zhangbei Wind Power Research & Testing Co
    Inventors: Weisheng Wang, Chun Liu, Chi Li, Yuehui Huang, Yuefeng Wang, Cun Dong, Nan Zhang, Xiaofei Li, Yunfeng Gao, Xiaoyan Xu, Yanping Xu, Xiaofeng Pan
  • Patent number: 10263712
    Abstract: An optical communications apparatus includes a subsea cable, first and second landing stations, a splitter/combiner unit connected to an end of the subsea cable, and first and second legs connecting the splitter/combiner unit to the first and second landing stations, respectively. Each of the subsea cable and first and second legs includes an optical fiber configured to carry optical communications and an electrical conductor configured to carry electrical power. The splitter/combiner unit is configured to duplicate optical signals carried by the subsea cable in both the first and second legs. The first and second legs are configured to provide redundant electrical power connections to the subsea cable via the splitter/combiner unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Neptune Subsea IP Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Desbruslais, Alistair Hill
  • Patent number: 10224729
    Abstract: It is inter alia disclosed an apparatus (10), comprising a power connector (210) configured to be connected to a removable first rechargeable energy source and configured to supply power from the first rechargeable energy source to the apparatus via a power supply line (220), a second rechargeable energy source (240), a balancing element (230) placed between the power supply line (220) and the second rechargeable energy source (240) and configured to provide power from the power supply line (220) to the second rechargeable energy in a first state of the apparatus and configured to provide power from the second rechargeable energy source (240) to the power supply line (220) in a second state of the apparatus, wherein in the first state the apparatus is configured to prevent supplying power from the second rechargeable power supply (240) to the power supply line (220).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Frank Borngräber
  • Patent number: 10122320
    Abstract: A solar panel is disclosed that detects conditions triggered by operational events and then selects behavioral actions for the solar panel to execute in response to the operational events. Condition detection devices detect conditions that the solar panel is exposed to where each condition is triggered by an operational event that the solar panel is encountering. The condition detection devices generate condition data that provides information as to each of the conditions that the solar panel is exposed to and each operational event that triggered each of the conditions that the solar panel is encountering. A personality engine analyzes the condition data provided by the condition detection devices to determine a behavioral action that the solar panel is to execute in response to each operational event that the solar panel is encountering and executes the determined behavioral action to respond to each operational event that the solar panel is encountering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Inventor: Christopher A. Estes
  • Patent number: 10122197
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is provided with a processing unit that has a first operation mode in which an operation is enabled using only external power from a feeding device and a second operation mode in which the operation is enabled by feeding from a battery in addition to the external power from the feeding device. When the remaining capacity of the battery is sufficient, the processing unit executes an apparatus operation in the second operation mode. However, when the remaining capacity of the battery decreases, the processing unit changes an operation mode to the first operation mode and executes charging of the battery while continuously executing the apparatus operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Oishi
  • Patent number: 10049373
    Abstract: Energy demand in an entire community including multiple demanders is properly predicted and energy consumption thereof is properly controlled. Every day, some demanders are selected from the community and a request to adjust energy consumption for the following day is sent to the selected demanders. To decide a content of the request, energy demand for the following day is predicted. In this case, demanders which did not receive a request on past days are specified, and demand in the community for the following day is predicted based on the actual energy consumption by those demanders on the past days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Takahashi, Yasushi Tomita, Hideyuki Kawamura, Jumpei Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10048653
    Abstract: A timing device is disclosed which is for controlling electronic devices and which is mounted in a wall switch box. This timing device comprises at least one controller, at least one transceiver in communication with the controller, at least one interface; and at least one cover plate. This device can also include at least one key coupled to the cover plates for interacting with the interface when said cover plate is inserted onto said at least one interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ostrovsky, Alfred Lombardi, Selin Tansi Glickman, Cheryl Samartano
  • Patent number: 10038310
    Abstract: A transfer switch and load controller that can be plugged into an existing utility meter socket and electrically positioned between the meter socket and a distribution panel to allow switching between utility power and standby power. The plug-in transfer switch functions to transfer the power supplied to a home between the utility power source and the generator power source upon loss of power from the utility power source. The transfer switch components are contained in an enclosed housing of a meter socket adapter that is mounted directly to the meter socket of a meter housing. The meter socket adapter is prewired to a standby generator such that the standby generator can be connected to a home power system by plugging the meter socket adapter into the meter socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Miller, Gary Gracyalny, David A. Kratz, Richard Gilpatrick, Dean Weigand, Sie Teong Lim, Nicholas Demos
  • Patent number: 9984818
    Abstract: A power distribution monitoring system is provided that can include a number of features. The system can include a plurality of monitoring devices configured to attach to individual conductors on a power grid distribution network. In some embodiments, a monitoring device is disposed on each conductor of a three-phase network and utilizes a split-core transformer to harvest energy from the conductors. The monitoring devices can be configured to harvest energy from the AC power grid and saturate the magnetic core of the transformer in the event of a fault condition or when harvested power is not needed. Methods of installing and using the monitoring devices are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SENTIENT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Ronald S. Rumrill
  • Patent number: 9893369
    Abstract: Described embodiments include a system and a method. A system includes a controllable electrochemical cell configured to output pulsed electric power. The controllable cell includes an electrolyte, and a first working electrode configured to transfer electrons to or from the electrolyte. The system includes a second working electrode configured to transfer electrons to or from the electrolyte. The system includes a gating electrode spaced-apart from the second working electrode and configured if biased relative to the second working electrode to modify an electric charge, field, or potential in the space between the electrolyte and the second working electrode. The system includes a control circuit configured to establish a nonlinear voltage-current property of the controllable cell in response to an externally originated trigger signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9871909
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a mobile electronic device includes at least one controller that enables a silent mode setting when a state of being in a vehicle is determined and that enables the silent mode setting when a set time is reached, and the at least one controller suspends the enabling of the silent mode setting based on the set time when the set time is reached after having determined the state of being in a vehicle. When in the state of being in a vehicle, the mobile electronic device does not enable the silent mode setting based on the set time but enables the silent mode setting based on the state of being in a vehicle even when the time of enabling the silent mode setting based on the set time is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Watanabe, Shinya Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9859725
    Abstract: An electronic device having an auto-on circuit is provided. The electronic device can include a charging circuit and a control circuit. The control circuit can cause the charging circuit to deliver energy to an external device. The auto-on circuit, which can include an active circuit, can activate the control circuit in response to one or more trigger input circuits. Each trigger input circuit can actuate a switch and deliver an auto-on signal to the control circuit. The control circuit can then actuate a latch to deliver power to a power input terminal to keep itself powered ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Nowak, Roshan Kamath, Daniel H Wagner
  • Patent number: 9806632
    Abstract: A photovoltaic inverter includes: an input unit to connected to a first terminal and a second terminal to which a positive (+) polarity or a negative (?) polarity of a photovoltaic module are connected; a switching device configured to control the first terminal and the second terminal connected to the input unit according to pre-set polarities of an inverter unit; a booster unit configured to boost a voltage of the photovoltaic module delivered form the input unit through the switching device; a capacitor configured to charge the voltage boosted by the booster unit; and an inverter unit configured to convert the voltage charged in the capacitor into an alternating current (AC) and provide the converted AC voltage for an electric power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dong Jin Yun