Self-regulating (e.g., Nonretroactive) Patents (Class 323/304)
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Patent number: 7554312Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, a method and apparatus for DC voltage conversion are described. According to one embodiment, a voltage converter comprises a current mirror, the current mirror being coupled with a power source; a first transistor device coupled with a bias generator to receive a bias voltage; a second transistor device coupled between the current mirror and the first transistor device; and an output transistor device, a gate of the output transistor device being coupled with a gate of the second transistor device and to the current mirror.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2003Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Robert Fulton, Andrew Volk, Chinnugounder Senthilkumar
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Publication number: 20090085548Abstract: A converter circuit is specified in which, in order to avoid losses to the greatest possible extent, a first inductance is connected in series into the connection of a DC voltage source of the converter circuit to a first switch of the converter circuit, and in which, moreover, a second inductance is connected in series into the connection of a second switch of a switching group of the converter circuit to the junction point between a second capacitive energy store and a second unidirectional non-drivable power semiconductor switch of the switching group. Two further alternative converter circuits and also a method for operating the converter circuit are furthermore specified.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Yongsug Suh, Peter Steimer, Oliver Keiser
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Publication number: 20090001956Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving a powered device (PD) detection signal at a PD from a powered network and applying the PD detection signal to an external resistor to provide a detection signature to the powered network. Further, the method includes receiving a PD classification mark signal at the PD, applying the received PD classification mark signal to the external resistor, and selectively activating a classification mark current path in parallel with the external resistor to produce a classification mark signature.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: Silicon Laboratories Inc.Inventors: Alejandro Velez, D. Matthew Landry
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Publication number: 20080265859Abstract: A selectively protected electrical system includes or operates with a power source, a load, a power driver circuit for controllably transferring power from the power source to the load, the power driver circuit being encapsulated in a potting material, and a controller for enabling and disabling the power driver circuit, the controller being un-encapsulated by the potting material. If a contaminant induced electrical fault occurs in the selectively protected electrical system, the electrical fault is more likely to occur in the un-encapsulated controller, such that the selectively protected electrical system is disabled. The contaminant is inhibited from contacting and inducing an electrical fault in the power driver circuit, thus providing for a controlled failure of the selectively protected electrical system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventors: Cary D. Talbot, Sheldon B. Moberg, James D. Causey, Jay A. Yonemoto
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Patent number: 7433800Abstract: A system for measuring performance of a voltage regulator module (VRM) attached to a microprocessor includes: a voltage transient tester (VTT) fixture (5) for setting different working voltage levels of the VRM; an oscillograph (2) for measuring transient voltage levels of the VRM, and generating a transient voltage waveform according to the transient voltage levels; an voltmeter (3) for measuring steady voltage levels of the VRM under thermal effects generated by the microprocessor; a direct current (DC) electronic load (4) for educing load currents from the VRM; and a measurement control module (10) installed in a computer (1) for generating load current control signals, controlling the DC electronic load to educe the load currents from the VRM according to the load current control signals, and generating a performance report of the VRM by integrating various measurement results.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2006Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ming-Shiu Ou Yang, Wei-Yuan Chen, Sung-Kuo Ku, Cho-Hao Wang
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Publication number: 20080157745Abstract: A circuit system comprising a power supply unit configured by a POL power source and a circuit unit of a low voltage/large current consumption for receiving supply of power from this power supply unit and able to respond to a sudden change of load of the circuit unit at a high speed, whereupon the circuit unit is provided with an increase prediction function unit for predicting in advance an increase of its internal power consumption and wherein when an increase is predicted in the function unit, increase prediction information is given to a power supply control function unit before an output voltage of a power supply unit starts to drop so that a power supply capability of the power supply unit is increased in advance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2007Publication date: July 3, 2008Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventor: Nobuki Nakata
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Publication number: 20080129270Abstract: The present invention relates to a power supply device of a small arms fire control system or a similar small arms system. The device includes a first current limit part for limiting a low current when power is supplied from a battery, a second current limit part for limiting a high current when the power is supplied from the battery, a Zener diode and a step-up DC-DC boost converter connected to the first and second current limit parts, and adapted to primarily charge a supercapacitor to a battery voltage level and subsequently charge the supercapacitor up to a final voltage that will be supplied to a load, and a microprocessor for checking a power supply state of the system and a voltage of the supercapacitor in real-time and controlling ON/OFF of the first and second current limit parts used in the system. An instant high power is supplied to the load using a variable current limit and multi-step charging method.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Inventors: Ki-Ho Kawk, Jung-Ho Ko, Joo-Hong Yoon
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Publication number: 20070268010Abstract: A voltage regulator with a wire arranging structure is formed integrally with an insulated wire, and receives the insulated wire therein in a winding manner. The present invention has a collecting member extending from and covering the insulated wire. The collecting member has at least one accommodating groove and a surrounding groove. The accommodating groove is formed concavely from a periphery of the collecting member and passes through the collecting member in a lengthwise direction of the collecting member. The surrounding groove is formed concavely from a periphery of the collecting member in a helix-like structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2006Publication date: November 22, 2007Inventor: Fan Tsai
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Publication number: 20070252571Abstract: There is provided an electric power applying circuit for applying a direct current power to a load.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2007Publication date: November 1, 2007Applicant: ADVANTEST CORPORATIONInventors: KAZUNARI HIRATA, TADAAKI SATOH, MASAHIRO NAGATA
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Patent number: 7276861Abstract: A system drives one or plurality of LEDs regulating their brightness by controlling LEDs average current or voltage. The system includes a switching power converter and an integrated digital regulator with at least one of electrical, thermal and optical feedbacks. The regulator is constructed as a hysteretic peak current mode controller for continuous mode of operation of the power converter. For discontinuous mode of operation of the power converter a pulse averaging sliding mode control is being used. Average LED current is measured by integrating LED pulse current at off time and hysteretically adjusting on time of the power switch. Input battery is protected from discharging at abnormally low impedance of the output.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2005Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Exclara, Inc.Inventors: Anatoly Shteynberg, Harry Rodriguez
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Patent number: 7092795Abstract: In a turbine apparatus comprising a runner rotatable to be rotationally driven by a water, a gain of a derivative calculation element generating a derivative component of a control signal for controlling a flow rate of the water which derivative component is to be applied to the derivative calculation element and the integration calculation element by performing differentiation on a difference between an actual rotational speed and a desired rotational speed of the runner with respect to a time proceeding has a value sufficiently increased to converge a value of the control signal toward a desired value in accordance with the time proceeding in S-characteristic portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2003Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventor: Takao Kuwabara
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Patent number: 7072744Abstract: In a turbine apparatus comprising a runner rotatable to be rotationally driven by a water, a gain of a derivative calculation element generating a derivative component of a control signal for controlling a flow rate of the water which derivative component is to be applied to the derivative calculation element and the integration calculation element by performing differentiation on a difference between an actual rotational speed and a desired rotational speed of the runner with respect to a time proceeding has a value sufficiently increased to converge a value of the control signal toward a desired value in accordance with the time proceeding in S-characteristic portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2005Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventor: Takao Kuwabara
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Patent number: 6919811Abstract: A detection circuit is configured to detect the presence of a power source by comparing two input voltages (VIN1, VIN2). An example detection circuit is arranged, such that the first input voltage (VIN1) may operate above the process limit for transistor breakdown, while the second input voltage (VIN2) should be maintained below the transistor breakdown voltage. The detection circuit includes a built-in offset voltage (VOS) for hysteresis such that the detection signal is activated when VIN1>VIN2+VOS. The detection circuit is useful for providing an enable signal in a battery charger application. It is envisioned that the detection circuit is also useful in other applications where detection of a power source is required, and where detection of one voltage relative to another may be desired.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2003Date of Patent: July 19, 2005Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Vladislav Potanin, Elena Potanina
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Patent number: 6868293Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for performing energy usage management within a network. The system may include an energy management system, such as a thermostat device, that may be associated with an energy consuming entity, such as a residence. A server may be remotely located from the energy consuming entity and may perform one or more energy curtailment management operations within the network. The server may be in communication with the energy management system over the network. One or more software applications may be stored thereon for remotely controlling the energy management system in accordance with a particular energy curtailment management operation. Additionally, a database may be associated with the server for storing curtailment event information relating to the network. A signal may be transmitted by the server to the thermostat device to alter an offset temperature setting of the thermostat device thereby remotely controlling the operation of the thermostat device.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2000Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Allan J. Schurr, Gaymond Yee
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Patent number: 6859021Abstract: A circuit for controlling the power supplied to a load. The circuit includes a controlled self-conducting semiconductor switch (4) connected in-series with the load (2). Further, a first energy storage circuit (9a) is provided in-series with the load and includes a first energy storage element (6a) and a first rectifier (8a) connected in-series thereto. A controlled auxiliary switch (12) is also included in the circuit in-parallel fashion to the first energy storage element. A control sub-circuit (13) is provided near the energy storage element which is associated with the self-conducting semiconductor switch and the auxiliary switch. The control sub-circuit closes or opens the auxiliary switch when the voltage on the first energy storage element exceeds a predetermined first value or falls short of a predetermined second value.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2003Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Ulrich Link
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Patent number: 6756930Abstract: A signal transmitting means, in particular relates to a self-contained apparatuses for transmitting digital signals and remote control systems on their basis. Said apparatuses enables the creation of self-contained digital signal transmitters with efficient circuit of supplying power from charge generators, such as piezoelectric cells, triboelectric cells or radioactive sources of charged particles, which do not need periodical replacement or recharging in contrast to traditional power sources, batteries, this in turn enabling the creation of remote control systems for electric apparatuses, data acquisition systems and warning systems with the possibility of long-term integration of remote control signal transmitters in unmanned constructions and structures. In particular, a remote control system for lighting fixtures may be designed in which wall-board switches are in the form of self-contained on/off signal transmitters for respective lighting units.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2001Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Inventors: Martyn Sergeevich Nunuparov, Nikolai Mikhailovich Maslennikov
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Patent number: 6711189Abstract: Automatic power control (APC) is provided by a) a variable output voltage differential receiver/driver, which receiver is responsive to data signals for generating a voltage, the laser driver output voltage amplitude being controlled by a first potentiometer on an integrated circuit generating an AC current signal for summing with a DC current signal to provide a laser drive current signal to b) a laser transmitter having a laser diode, said laser diode for producing optical power over an optical transfer medium and a photodiode for producing a feedback signal in response to said optical power, the APC including c) a power stabilizing circuit including an error amplifier, a second potentiometer and a bias current drive transistor, the error amplifier having inputs for both the feedback signal and a voltage reference to generate an output control signal, the second potentiometer affecting said output control signal, and said bias current drive transistor being responsive to said output control signal for supplType: GrantFiled: February 4, 2000Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Stratos Lightwave, Inc.Inventors: Patrick B. Gilliland, Luis Torres, Evgueniy Anguelov, Mike A. Ward
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Patent number: 6583894Abstract: A power supply device and power supply method that may be used with an electronic apparatus, such as a facsimile machine. In the device and method, a communication device is placed in a sleep mode while a copy process is conducted. During the sleep mode, power is not supplied to the circuits of the communication device that are necessary for transmission with an external transmission line. Thus, a load current loaded to a DC voltage of +5V can be efficiently reduced. As a result, the energy quantity consumed in a regulator of the power supply device may be reduced. Accordingly, heating of the regulator can be restrained and useless energy consumption may be prevented.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 1999Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yukichi Sawaki
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Publication number: 20030038617Abstract: The present invention relates to a current reference system comprising a selectively activatable high current reference circuit operable to generate a reference calibration circuit when activated and a low current calibrated reference current circuit operable to generate a reference current having a value based upon a control data. The system further comprises a control circuit operable to activate the selectively activatable high current reference circuit during a calibration period. The control circuit is further operable to vary a characteristic of the low current calibrated reference current circuit in a predetermined fashion while comparing another characteristic of the low current calibrated reference current circuit to a predetermined value. The control circuit then identifies a calibration condition based on the comparison, and generates the control data associated therewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2002Publication date: February 27, 2003Inventor: Daniel A. Yaklin
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Publication number: 20030012546Abstract: An electrical power distribution module for a fiber optic network having a hybrid fiber optic cable. A circuit board in the module includes a source connector connected to a source of electrical power. At least one circuit leg is connected in parallel to the source connector. The circuit leg includes an over-current protection device and a client connection terminal in series therewith. A load can be connected to the connection terminal for providing electrical power thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2001Publication date: January 16, 2003Inventor: Robert L. Beers
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Publication number: 20020190699Abstract: A controllable damping member has a substrate with a semiconductor material; a coplanar conductor applied on the substrate and having a metalization; and a control voltage applied between the metalization of the coplanar conductor and the semiconductor material of the substrate and determining a damping of the coplanar conductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Roland Mueller-Fiedler, Thomas Walter, Markus Ulm, Johannes Schier, Erich Kasper
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Publication number: 20020079875Abstract: A power generator that operates at a reduced temperature level includes a flux shunt that reduces the amount of fringing magnetic flux axially impinging upon a stator, flange, and multiple keybars during operation of the generator. By reducing the amount of axially impinging flux, the flux shunt reduces an operating temperature of the stator and flange and reduces a voltage differential between keybar voltages induced by the flux in the multiple keybars.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2000Publication date: June 27, 2002Inventors: Manoj Ramprasad Shah, Sameh Ramadan Salem, Ronald Irving Longwell
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Patent number: 6366224Abstract: The invention relates to programmable voltage regulator that programmably provides a desired operating voltage to a power pin based upon operating voltage configuration data. The programmable voltage regulator includes an operating voltage configuration data decoder arranged to decode the operating voltage configuration data. The programmable voltage regulator also includes a programmable voltage down converter connected to the operating voltage configuration data decoder. The programmable voltage down converter uses the decoded operating voltage configuration data to convert the first voltage to the desired operating voltage which is then output to the power pin.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2001Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: Altera CorporationInventors: Richard Cliff, Robert Bielby
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Patent number: 6361645Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for compensating a bias voltage on a wafer disposed over an electrostatic chuck in a processing chamber of a plasma processing system. The plasma processing system includes an electrostatic and RF power supplies that are coupled to the electrostatic chuck. The bias compensation device includes a voltage converter, a storage unit, and a voltage adjusting circuitry. The voltage converter is coupled to the electrostatic chuck for detecting a voltage Vpp of the electrostatic chuck. The voltage converter converts the detected voltage to a lower voltage Vref. The storage unit stores a predetermined slope and a predetermined offset of a calibration curve, which is derived by fitting a plurality of wafer bias voltages as a function of electrostatic chuck voltages.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1998Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Alan M. Schoepp, Robert E. Knop, Christopher H. Olson, Michael S. Barnes, Tuan M. Ngo
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Patent number: 6232893Abstract: The invention relates to programmable voltage regulator that programmably provides a desired operating voltage to a power pin based upon operating voltage configuration data. The programmable voltage regulator includes an operating voltage configuration data decoder arranged to decode the operating voltage configuration data. The programmable voltage regulator also includes a programmable voltage down converter connected to the operating voltage configuration data decoder. The programmable voltage down converter uses the decoded operating voltage configuration data to convert the first voltage to the desired operating voltage which is then output to the power pin.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1999Date of Patent: May 15, 2001Assignee: Altera CorporationInventors: Richard Cliff, Robert Bielby
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Patent number: 5514223Abstract: A dual discharge photovoltaic module responsive to high and low loads. The module includes a first plurality of series connected, high short circuit current cells, and a second plurality of series connected, low short circuit current cells connected in series with the first plurality. A diode is connected in parallel with the second plurality of cells such that current flow through the module when the module is under low load reverse biases the diode so that the module discharges at a low current. When the module is under high load, current flow through the module forward biases the diode and bypasses the second plurality of cells so that the module discharges at a high rate. The module is particularly useful for starting and running an electric motor.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1995Date of Patent: May 7, 1996Assignee: United Solar Systems CorporationInventor: Craig N. Vogeli
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Patent number: 4341607Abstract: A solar power system has a photovoltaic array having a locus of peak power points for various insolation levels, a voltage-dependent variable resistance load such as a water electrolysis unit electrically connected to the array, and a demand-dependent variable resistance load such as a DC to AC inverter connected in parallel with the electrolysis unit. The electrolysis unit or other voltage-dependent variable resistance load has a voltage-current characteristic in which the operating point is displaced from the array's peak power point for most insolation levels. The characteristic is displaced towards higher voltage-lower current operating points. The inverter may move the operating point of the photovoltaic array toward its peak power point when the load requires power. The system may be designed so that the array operates within about 5 percent of its peak power point over a wide range of inverter power demands.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1980Date of Patent: July 27, 1982Assignee: E:F Technology, Inc.Inventor: Raymond R. Tison
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Patent number: 4321524Abstract: The invention relates to a transistorized voltage limiter as a dipole having in the conduction direction the characteristic similar to that of the Zener diode. When low voltage is involved, this transistorized voltage limiter can replace the Zener diode in various electronic circuits for the stabilization of voltage. Moreover, it has a small dynamic resistance and eliminates noises in the curve.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 1979Date of Patent: March 23, 1982Inventor: Marko Petrovic
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Patent number: 4280088Abstract: A reference voltage source comprises a bridge network including two zener diodes and two resistors, two operational amplifiers and two switches whose inputs receive a control voltage from the source and whose outputs are coupled to non-inverting inputs of respective operational amplifiers. The first operational amplifier has its inverting input and its output coupled respectively to the anode and cathode of the first zener diode, while the second operational amplifier has its inverting input and its output coupled respectively to the cathode and anode of the second zener.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 1978Date of Patent: July 21, 1981Inventor: Toom A. Pungas