With Storage Means For Voltage Or Current (e.g., Condenser Banks) Patents (Class 324/111)
  • Patent number: 11714107
    Abstract: A voltage divider circuit includes: a first voltage divider having first and second capacitors, and an output node configured to output a divider voltage from between the first and second capacitors; a second voltage divider having third and fourth capacitors, and first to third switches, and being connected in parallel to the first voltage divider; and a fourth switch provided between the output node and a connection node of the third and fourth capacitors. In the voltage divider circuit, the switches are controlled based on controlling periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriaki Matsuno, Shingo Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11437943
    Abstract: A method and a circuit arrangement for damping stepper motor resonances during operation of a stepper motor, in particular in the medium and high speed range, is described, wherein the coils of the stepper motor are each connected into a bridge circuit comprising semiconductor switches, in order to impress into the coils a predetermined target coil current. The resonance damping is achieved by activating a passive FD-phase in the zero crossing of the target coil current, during which all semiconductor switches are opened or switched blocking, in order to thereby feed a coil current flowing in the related motor coil back into the supply voltage source either via inverse or body diodes and/or via diodes connected in parallel to the semiconductor switches in the reverse direction between the positive supply voltage and ground potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernhard Dwersteg
  • Patent number: 11037621
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for reading a memory cell capable of storing three or more logic states. To read the memory cell, a charge may be transferred between a digit line and a sense component using a charge transfer device. The charge may be transferred by biasing a gate of the charge transfer device to a first voltage and discharging the memory cell onto the digit line, which may result in the digit line being biased to a second voltage. Based on whether the second voltage exceeds the first voltage, the charge transfer device may transfer the charge associated with the memory cell (e.g., and discharged onto the digit line) to the sense component. A charge may be transferred from a memory cell to a sense component based on a value of the logic state stored to the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: George B. Raad, John F. Schreck
  • Patent number: 10983187
    Abstract: Disclosed is a measuring bridge arrangement containing: a measuring bridge comprising at least one first half bridge having a first measuring connection and a second half bridge having a second measuring connection; a reference voltage divider having at least one first and a second test connection; a differential amplifier having at least one first and a second amplifier input and at least one amplifier output, a voltage amplification, and having an output voltage working range. In the arrangement, the first amplifier input is wired to a first capacitor and the second amplifier input is wired to a second capacitor, and the amplifier inputs can be selectively connected to the measuring connections or to the test connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Ypsomed AG
    Inventors: Michael Gentz, Thomas Buri, Stefan Lindegger, Markus Oberli
  • Patent number: 10702699
    Abstract: A system for cardiac pacing includes circuitry and at least two electrodes, configured to be placed in contact with a chest of a subject. The circuitry is configured to receive electro-cardiogram (ECG) signals from the at least two electrodes, to identify brachycardia or asystole or ventricular tachycardia in the subject based on the received ECG signals, upon identifying brachycardia or asystole or ventricular tachycardia, to shape a mains electrical source signal into a waveform applicable to a transformer for generating a pacing signal, to generate the pacing signal by applying the waveform to the transformer, and to apply the pacing signal through the at least two electrodes to the chest of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: PROROGO LTD.
    Inventors: Abraham Teddy Weiss, Shimon Rozenheck, Shraga Gorni, Mendel Mandelbaum
  • Patent number: 10274211
    Abstract: An air conditioner capable of detecting resonance of a casing of an outdoor or indoor unit of an air conditioner at a low cost with high accuracy is provided. An outdoor unit of the air conditioner includes: a propeller fan that blows air to a heat exchanger; a fan motor that drives the propeller fan; a current detector that detects a current value of the fan motor; a phase detector that detects the magnetic pole position of the fan motor; a fan rotation speed detector that detects the rotation speed of the fan motor; a pulsation detector that detects pulsation of the current value; and a resonance determiner that determines resonance of a system of a casing of the outdoor unit having the fan motor. If the resonance determiner determines resonance, a controller executes resonance avoidance control for increasing or decreasing the fan rotation speed by a predetermined rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi-Johnson Controls Air Conditioning, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuuhei Tada, Katsuaki Nagahashi, Koji Naito, Kazumoto Urata, Hayato Mori
  • Patent number: 10156590
    Abstract: A digital multimeter receives a primary signal including a small amplitude DC component and an induced AC noise component with a magnitude exceeding a magnitude of the DC component. A 100 M? input resistor may couple an primary signal to signal processing circuitry that attenuates and filters the primary signal, convert a unipolar signal to a differential signal, and provide the differential output signal to an analog to digital converter. The multimeter may be configurable to couple any one or more of multiple available feedback paths to provide a plurality of available gain-bandwidth configurations. The multimeter may include a second input configurable with two or more feedback path impedances. The multimeter may include a second stage filter, shared by the primary and shunt inputs, that provides additional filtering and converts the signal to a differential signal. The second stage filter may support two or more available impedance configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: AMERICAN INNOVATIONS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenneth Alan Reindel, Stephen Peter Jachim
  • Patent number: 10156597
    Abstract: For determining a power consumption of electrical circuitry, at least one device executes at least a portion of a software application having an effect on a current through the electrical circuitry. A current is generated through a transistor for mirroring the current through the electrical circuitry. In response to a control word, a reference current is generated. In response to executing the portion of the software application, the control word is varied to determine a value thereof that causes the reference current to approximately equal the current through the transistor, in a manner that correlates the effect of the portion of the software application on the current through the electrical circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Somshubhra Paul, Ameet Suresh Bagwe
  • Patent number: 9945910
    Abstract: The voltage monitoring module includes an input terminal, a cell balancing input terminal, a switch, and a control circuit. The input terminal is coupled to a high-voltage-side terminal of a battery cell through a filter resistor. The cell balancing input terminal is coupled to the high-voltage-side terminal of the battery cell. The switch is coupled to the input terminal. The control circuit- controls ON/OFF of the switch. A filter resistor is coupled between the switch and a ground. The control circuit turns on the switch, so that a high-voltage-side voltage is compared with a low-voltage-side voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Kiuchi
  • Patent number: 9897964
    Abstract: The power supply apparatus includes first line and lines to each of which an AC voltage is input, a first capacitor arranged between the first and secondary lines, a voltage detection unit configured to detect the AC voltage, a conversion element to be connected to the first line or the secondary line, the conversion element being configured to convert the AC voltage to be input to the first line or the secondary line into a current corresponding to the AC voltage, a switch configured to switch between connection and disconnection of the voltage detection unit and the conversion element, and a control unit configured to control the voltage detection unit and the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Shimura
  • Patent number: 9876384
    Abstract: A charging device is disclosed herein, the charging device comprises: a charging circuit, an energy storage circuit and a control switch, wherein the charging circuit is configured to charge an object to be charged, the energy storage circuit is configured to store energy when the charging circuit is charging the object to be charged and to charge the object to be charged when the charging circuit is in a switch-off state, and the control switch is configured to alternately switch on and switch off the charging circuit according to control commands received periodically, to switch off the energy storage circuit when the charging circuit is switched on and to switch on the energy storage circuit when the charging circuit is switched off. A charging method of the charging device is also disclosed. Technical solution disclosed herein can be applied to improve charging efficiency of a charging device thereby enhancing utilization of the charging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventor: Kejing Liu
  • Patent number: 9689905
    Abstract: A power measurement apparatus configured to measure power consumed at a load, the apparatus includes a magnetic film module, an adjuster, a measurement resistance, and a voltage detector. The magnetic film module is arranged so that a longitudinal direction of the magnetic film module is parallel to current flowing in the load. The adjuster is configured to adjust a pass-frequency and a phase of a voltage at one terminal of the magnetic film module. The measurement resistance is serial-connected to the magnetic film module. The voltage detector is configured to detect a voltage between both terminals of the magnetic film module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: OSAKA CITY UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Hiroaki Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 9383400
    Abstract: An electronic circuit and method for carrying out built in test of a capacitor connected to, and arranged to suppress noise at, an input of an electrical circuit is disclosed. The electronic circuit causes current pulses at the input, and monitors the voltage at the input by comparing the voltage at the input with high and/or low reference voltages, outputting a fault signal if the voltage at the input is greater than a high reference voltage or lower than a low reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: SILICON SENSING SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Durston, Douglas Robert Sitch
  • Patent number: 9344109
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses for operating a converter or other circuits are disclosed. More particularly, in one embodiment a converter or other circuit can be operated in two modes which may include the count-to-time and time-to count modes to determine an output value corresponding to an input signal. During operation in the count-to-time mode a converter may be operated using a reference signal to determine a number of clock cycles needed until an output corresponds to a scaling factor is reached. During operation of the circuit in the time-to-count mode then, the converter may be operated for this number of clock cycles using the input signal to determine an output. This output may be proportional to the level on the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: Benjamin H. Ashmore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9329216
    Abstract: A method and circuit for determining a circuit element parameter in a ground fault circuit interrupter circuit. An electrical signal provided to a first node is used to generate another electrical signal at a second node. The electrical signal at the second node is multiplexed with a modulation signal to generate a modulated signal that is then filtered and converted into a digital representation of a portion of the circuit element parameter. The electrical signal at the second node is multiplexed with the modulation signal after it has been phase shifted to produce a modulated signal that is filter and converted into a digital representation of another portion of the circuit element parameter. In another aspect, a slope based solenoid self-test method is used for self-testing in a GFCI circuit. Alternatively, a method for determining a wiring fault is provided using a digital filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Riley D. Beck, Kent D. Layton, Matthew A. Tyler, Scott R. Grange
  • Patent number: 9317639
    Abstract: A method for reducing dynamic power consumption of an integrated circuit design having flip-flops with an EDA tool that initiates clock gating by gating a clock signal received by the flip-flops. A first set of positive-edge triggered flip-flops and a second set of negative-edge triggered flip-flops, and a first set of OR-type clock gating cells and a second set of AND-type clock gating cells are selected from a technology library. The OR-type clock gating cells are connected to clock input terminals of the first set of positive-edge triggered flip-flops and the AND-type clock gating cells to clock terminals of the second set of negative-edge triggered flip-flops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Rahul Jain, Nitin Dhamija, Umesh Chandra Lohani
  • Publication number: 20150084608
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of detecting a voltage can include: (i) generating a first current according to a first voltage and a converting resistor; (ii) charging a detection capacitor by the first current during a first time period of a switching cycle of a switching power supply; (iii) charging the detection capacitor by a second current during a second time period of the switching cycle; (iv) detecting a voltage across the detection capacitor to obtain a detection voltage at an end time of the second time period, where the first time period includes a rising portion of a current flowing through the inductor, and the second time period includes a decreasing portion of the inductor current; and (v) determining a state of a present output voltage of the switching power supply according to the detection voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Yunlong Han
  • Patent number: 8890510
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for fast detection of a low voltage in the range of few ?Volts have been achieved. In a preferred embodiment the low voltage represents a current via a shunt resistor and the circuit is used to generate a digital wake-up signal. In regard of the wake-up application the circuit invented is activated periodically and in case of a certain level of the voltage drop, e.g. 50 ?V, at the shunt resistor. The time required for a measurement of the voltage drop is inclusive calibration and integration time far below 1 ms. It is obvious that the circuit invented can be used for any measurements of very small voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Knoedgen, Francesco Marraccini
  • Patent number: 8773111
    Abstract: A current flowing through a switching element (5) of a power supply is detected by an AC current transformer (8), and a capacitor (201) is charged by a voltage corresponding to the current. A reduction factor of the terminal voltage of the capacitor in an off period of the switching element (5) is calculated based on an amplification factor of the terminal voltage of the capacitor, an absolute value of an instantaneous value of an input power supply voltage, and an instantaneous value of a direct current output voltage, and the capacitor is discharged so that the terminal voltage of the capacitor decreases by the reduction factor in an off period of the switching element (5). A current flowing through an inductor (4) is estimated from the terminal voltage of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihiro Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8610438
    Abstract: A branch circuit monitoring system (BCMS) for monitoring branch circuit currents in one or more electrical circuit panels is described. The system is comprised of a data center server, one or more panel processors, each with one or more collection devices, and one or more current sensors per collection device. The BCMS is designed to be installed entirely inside the panel without the need for a dedicated enclosure or power supply to facilitate ease of installation and low-cost. The BCMS also allows for future upgradability through standard software updates so that the system can be updated or patched easily. The BCMS data center server collects, aggregates, stores, and serves historical branch circuit current data from the panel processors to networked users via a web server to provide visualization of data such as tables, charts, and gauges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventors: Montgomery J. Sykora, Daniel L. Janovy, David L. Janovy
  • Patent number: 8610425
    Abstract: A solar monitor measures electrical characteristics of a designated solar device within an array of solar devices that are coupled in series. The solar monitor includes a charge storage element and a charger coupled to the charge storage element to establish a positive voltage and/or a negative voltage on the charge storage element. A switch within the solar monitor is coupled in a shunt configuration with the designated solar device and with a subsequent device in the array. The switch selectively couples the charge storage element to the designated solar device to vary an operating current that flows between the designated solar device and the subsequent solar device. The solar monitor includes a current detector to measure the current of the designated solar device, and a voltage detector to measure the voltage of the designated solar device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Solmetric Corporation
    Inventors: Roger L Jungerman, Randall King
  • Patent number: 8508215
    Abstract: An arrangement for measuring values of a voltage applied to an electronic component. The arrangement comprises a first signal transmitter which can emit a first switching signal, a first switch coupled to the first signal transmitter and can be controlled by the first switching signal. The electronic component is connected in series to the first switch and can be coupled, via the same, to an electric energy source. A second signal transmitter, which can emit a second switching signal. A second switch is coupled to the second signal transmitter and can be controlled by the second switching signal. A capacitive accumulator is connected in series to the second switch and can be connected in parallel, via the same, to the electronic component or to the series connection formed by the electronic component and the first switch. An analog/digital converter which is connected in parallel to the capacitive accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Lemforder Electronic GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Haevescher
  • Publication number: 20130110432
    Abstract: Various arrangements for determining a voltage of a voltage source using pre-charging are presented. Such arrangements may include a measurement module comprising an analog to digital converter, a driver, and an interface. The interface may be electrically coupled with the analog to digital converter and the driver. The driver may be configured to output current to charge a capacitor. After a first predefined period of time, the driver may stop outputting current to pre-charge the capacitor. After the driver has stopped pre-charging the capacitor and a second predefined period of time has elapsed, the analog to digital converter may be configured to measure a voltage of the capacitor. Such arrangements may include a capacitor, wherein the capacitor is electrically coupled with the interface of the measurement module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jeremy Mickelsen
  • Publication number: 20130082684
    Abstract: A voltage monitor comprising a first capacitive potential divider for presenting an attenuated representation of an input voltage to a comparator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventor: GEORGE REDFIELD SPALDING, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120302182
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wireless current sensor (10) designed for measuring an electrical current (I) flowing in an electrical conductor (20), the said wireless current sensor (10) comprising: a current transformer comprising a core designed to be arranged around the said electrical conductor (20) forming a primary of the said transformer, and a winding (101) made around the core and forming a secondary of the said transformer in order to retrieve an electrical power when an electrical current flows in the electrical conductor, an electronic circuit connected to the secondary of the transformer, the electronic circuit comprising means for storing the generated electrical power, means for measuring the electrical current flowing in the electrical conductor (20) and a wireless data transceiver coupled to a microcontroller and making it possible to send the measurement data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Olivier COUTELOU, Bertrand Masseboeuf
  • Publication number: 20120242326
    Abstract: A probe is configured such that an output current pulse is able to be delivered by the charge storage at defined intervals to a load. A mean power to be fed to the charge storage is ascertainable for a subsequent time interval, and the level of the mean input power, which is to be drawn by the voltage transformer from the power source, is specifiable as a function of the ascertained mean power. The voltage transformer is controllable accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Klaus Groell
  • Patent number: 8217641
    Abstract: A device for reading electric currents including a capacitive element to integrate the current, the terminals of the capacitive element being connected to the mass and to an output branch of the device respectively, and a differential pair including: a first transistor mounted between the input branch of the input stage and the capacitive element, the transistor being controlled by a polarized impulse voltage, capable of putting the first transistor alternately into the off state and then into the on state; and a second transistor mounted between the input branch of the input stage and a potential other than that of the capacitive element, said transistor also being controlled by a polarized impulse voltage, capable of putting the second transistor alternately into the off state and then into the on state, wherein the second transistor is mounted in phase opposition relative to the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Societe Francaise De Detecteurs Infrarouges-Sofradir
    Inventor: Eric Sanson
  • Publication number: 20120098522
    Abstract: A non-contact voltage detection panel mount assembly is provided. The assembly includes a base to mount to an electrical enclosure, the base including of four voltage portals, a test point and a test voltage generator circuit used to test a pen. The pen is operatively connected to the base and includes an electrical charge storage device, a charge indicator operatively connected to the electrical charge storage device to indicate a presence of a charge within the electrical charge storage device, and a voltage present indicator to indicate presence of a voltage. The pen has a first position for lock-out-tag-out to monitor and test for voltage in any one of the four voltage portals and a second position to determine presence of voltage in the test point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: GRACE ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Philip Brown Allen, JR.
  • Patent number: 8164323
    Abstract: An apparatus monitors discharge processes in a conductor of a medium-voltage system or a high-voltage system. The apparatus contains at least one transformer which is suitable for detecting a current flowing in the conductor. The at least one transformer is connected to a device for monitoring the discharge process. In order to be able to monitor even very short discharge processes in an energy-saving manner, a release and at least one storage circuit are arranged between the transformer and the monitoring device. When a threshold current flowing in the conductor is exceeded, the release switches the monitoring device from a passive mode that is not suitable for monitoring into an active mode that is suitable for monitoring. The storage circuit stores the discharge current to be monitored and/or recorded by the monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lars Klingbeil, Walter Oechsle
  • Publication number: 20110246110
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for IR-drop and supply noise measurements electronic circuits. A first voltage at a point of interest in the circuit is sampled and stored during a quiescent mode of the circuit the voltage is to be measured in. Subsequently, the circuit is brought in an operating mode and a second voltage is sampled and held at the same point of interest. The first and the second voltage are compared and a corresponding voltage signal is passed to a system output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Hendricus Joseph Maria VeendrickK, Marcel Pelgrom, Victor Zieren
  • Publication number: 20110221396
    Abstract: An energy consumption output device for outputting the still remaining usability of an electrical consumer which may be connected to an energy storage. The energy consumption output device has the following features: a unit for providing a residual capacity of the electrical energy storage; a power consumption ascertainment unit which is configured to ascertain a power consumption rate in an instantaneous operating mode of the electrical consumer; and an output unit which is configured to determine information concerning the maximum usability for a user of the energy consumption output device with regard to the instantaneous operating mode, using the provided residual capacity and the ascertained power consumption rate, and to output this information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GMBH
    Inventor: Rainer Glauning
  • Publication number: 20110175595
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor comprising a substrate (10) carrying a field effect transistor (30) having a gate electrode (32), the sensor further comprising a measurement electrode (36) spatially separated from the gate electrode; and a reference electrode (40), said measurement electrode being in configurable conductive contact with said gate electrode, the sensor further comprising a charge storage element (60) comprising a first electrode connected to a node (38) between the measurement electrode and the gate electrode; and a second electrode configurably connected to a known potential source (80). The present invention further relates to a method of performing a measurement with such a sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Axel NACKAERTS, Matthias MERZ
  • Publication number: 20110062314
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pixel cell (100; pixel), comprising an output (102), a photosensor (110; sensor), which is configured to generate a first measuring current (IDPh1) in a first measurement cycle (?c) and a second measuring current (IDPh2) in a second measurement cycle (?c) as a function of radiation, an output node (104), a power storage device (120; SI-Mem), which is configured so that in a first operating mode a current (IM1) can be injected by the power storage device (120) as a function of the first measuring current (IDPh1), and so that in a second operating mode the power storage device (120) is configured to hold the injected current (IM1) so that the injected current can be detected at the output node (104), and a switching unit (130; IO), which is configured to form a difference between the injected current (IM1) and the second measuring current (IDPh2) at the output node in a reading cycle and couple the output node (104) to the output (102).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventor: Jens Doege
  • Publication number: 20100315064
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided to detect and control a voltage potential applied in a plasma chamber for processing a semiconductor wafer. The plasma chamber includes circuitry for monitoring and adjusting a pulsed RF bias voltage signal to be applied to a chuck in the plasma chamber, where the chuck is configured to mount the wafer for processing. The circuitry includes an RF bias voltage detector for detecting individual pulses of the pulsed RF bias voltage signal applied to the chuck. A timing circuit is provided for determining a time for sampling each of the individual detected pulses and a sample and hold circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Andras Kuthi, Stephen Hwang, James C. Vetter, Greg Eilenstine, Rongping Wang, Tuan Ngo
  • Publication number: 20100089109
    Abstract: A lock device is adapted to unlock a lock by transferring a lock catch from a locking position to a releasing position. The device comprises an electric motor, which is mechanically connected to an axle by means of at least one transmission means, and rotation of said axle actuates the lock catch. The lock device is characterized in that the transmission means comprise a weakening structure adapted to break and disrupt the mechanical connection between the electric motor and the axle if a predetermined threshold force is exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Phoniro AB
    Inventors: Olle Bliding, Johan Hörberg, Lennart Sjöstedt, Jens Norshammar, Thomas Persson
  • Publication number: 20100090681
    Abstract: A device for reading electric currents including a capacitive element to integrate the current, the terminals of the capacitive element being connected to the mass and to an output branch of the device respectively, and a differential pair including: a first transistor mounted between the input branch of the input stage and the capacitive element, the transistor being controlled by a polarized impulse voltage, capable of putting the first transistor alternately into the off state and then into the on state; and a second transistor mounted between the input branch of the input stage and a potential other than that of the capacitive element, said transistor also being controlled by a polarized impulse voltage, capable of putting the second transistor alternately into the off state and then into the on state, wherein the second transistor is mounted in phase opposition relative to the first transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Societe Francaise De Detecteurs Infrarouges-Sofradir
    Inventor: Eric SANSON
  • Publication number: 20100079922
    Abstract: A sensing and switching device, such as an overload relay, is provided which includes a processor configured to make measurements and control operation (e.g., tripping) of the device. The processor regulates measurement of voltage and/or current, and the supply of power to power supplies. The power supplies store charge to provide operational power for the processor and that can be used for tripping and resetting contacts within the device. The processor opens a burden resistor measurement circuit when charge is being stored in the power supplies, and opens switches in the power supplies while closing the burden resistor switch to permit measurements. By alternatively switching for charging of the power supplies and making of measurements, the processor is able to reliably make measurements, control the device, and store sufficient power for operation of the device despite a demanding power budget.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Herman Blakely, Gregory A. Helton, Mark Innes
  • Publication number: 20100026278
    Abstract: An apparatus monitors discharge processes in a conductor of a medium-voltage system or a high-voltage system. The apparatus contains at least one transformer which is suitable for detecting a current flowing in the conductor. The at least one transformer is connected to a device for monitoring the discharge process. In order to be able to monitor even very short discharge processes in an energy-saving manner, a release and at least one storage circuit are arranged between the transformer and the monitoring device. When a threshold current flowing in the conductor is exceeded, the release switches the monitoring device from a passive mode that is not suitable for monitoring into an active mode that is suitable for monitoring. The storage circuit stores the discharge current to be monitored and/or recorded by the monitoring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Lars Klingbeil, Walter Oechsle
  • Publication number: 20090079417
    Abstract: An apparatus for a power bus includes an inductive power harvesting unit structured to provide a first power output arising from current flowing in the power bus, an energy storage unit structured to store energy from the first power output and to provide a second power output, and a selector structured to select one of the first and second power outputs and to provide a third power output from the selected one. A processor is powered from the third power output of the selector. The selector is further structured to normally provide the third power output from the first power output of the inductive power harvesting unit. The processor is structured to determine that the first power output of the inductive power harvesting unit is inadequate and to cause the selector to provide the third power output from the second power output of the energy storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: DEBORAH K. MORT, Carlos H. Rentel, Brian Thomas Pier
  • Publication number: 20090021239
    Abstract: There is provided a current measuring apparatus that measures an electric current received by an electronic device from an input terminal, The current measuring apparatus includes a first voltage accumulator that accumulates a reference supply voltage that acts as a reference for a voltage being supplied to the electronic device during measuring electric currents, a first switch that connects a power supply to the first voltage accumulator to accumulate the reference supply voltage before measuring electric currents and disconnects the power supply from the first voltage accumulator during measuring electric currents, a current supplying section that supplies an electric current based on the reference supply voltage accumulated in the first voltage accumulator and a terminal voltage of the input terminal to the electronic device during measuring electric currents, and a first current measuring section that measures the supply current supplied to the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
    Inventor: YOSHIHIRO HASHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 7304618
    Abstract: A remote display is provided for use with a portable meter, such as a portable meter used for obtaining electrical measurements. The remote display can optionally be mounted to an extremity of a user for displaying information obtained by the portable meter within an operating area of a user. The user may position leads that are coupled to the portable meter to obtain a measurement of an electrical apparatus, without having to look away, as the remote display may be positioned on the user's hand. Controls may also be located on the remote display, on a lead and/or on the portable meter for control of the display mode of the remote display and/or various operations of the portable meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventor: Henry J. Plathe
  • Patent number: 7271579
    Abstract: An AC voltage generated by an AC power source 1 is rectified by a full-wave rectifying circuit 2, which generates a rectified voltage. An internal regulator 33 performs waveform shaping of the rectified voltage. A comparator 42 compares the rectified voltage output from the internal regulator 33 with a reference voltage V1 and detects a period in which the rectified voltage exceeds the reference voltage V1. According to an output signal of the comparator 42, a determination signal generation circuit 50 determines the power source voltage supplied form the AC power source 1 and generates a determination signal. Accordingly, there is no need of a capacitor, etc. for detecting the peak value of the rectified voltage, and it is possible to reduce the size and cost of an AC voltage detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Shimada, Tomoyasu Yamada, Keiichi Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 7071677
    Abstract: An exemplary method and circuit for sensing bi-directional current through a resistive element comprises a sampling unit, a charge transfer unit, and an amplifier. The sampling unit is switchably coupled to the resistive element and samples and stores a voltage corresponding to a current flowing through the resistive element. The charge transfer unit switchably connects the sampling unit to the amplifier such that the charge transfer unit and the amplifier convert the sampled voltage to a ground-referenced output voltage corresponding to the magnitude of the current and in accordance with the direction of the current through resistive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corp.
    Inventor: John P. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6714049
    Abstract: A logic state transition sensor circuit. The logic state transition sensor circuit detects and records transitions in voltage corresponding to a transition of a digital logic state (high to low; low to high). The logic state transition sensor circuit may include a sensing circuit containing sensing and amplification elements and a recording circuit containing recording elements. When a logic state transition occurs at an input of the sensing circuit, a positive logic pulse may be generated. Propagation of the logic pulse to the recording circuit causes a charge to be transferred to an output stage capacitor. Repeated logic state transitions cause similar incremental increases in the charge of the output stage capacitor. Charge transfer is governed by ratios of capacitors internal to the recording circuit and hence may be insensitive to process variation. The output stage capacitor may output a voltage representative of a number of logic state transitions sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Shakti Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Shenai, Erik A. McShane
  • Patent number: 6384591
    Abstract: An electrical signal measurement device comprises a system unit which is carried on the person of a technician by attachment to a belt, harness or the like and, in one embodiment, a headpiece incorporating a display, microphone and ear phone. The display, microphone and ear phone are linked to the system unit and supported by software, including a speech recognition system, running on a central processing unit (CPU) which is part of the system unit. In operation, the technician connects a probe to a test point in the cable system, and the technician operates the device by speaking into the microphone. The speech recognition system responds to the technician's spoken words to direct and navigate through a displayed user interface in order to operate the signal level meter measurement functions. Synthesized speech signals are generated to provide user feedback and messages. A signal introduced at the probe is sampled and digitized by the CPU and then formatted for display by the headpiece mounted display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: ComSonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall S. Estep, Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 6320368
    Abstract: A method provides that, when a driver circuit is deactivated, a first capacitor disposed at an output of the driver circuit is placed at a first potential. The driver circuit is then activated at a first point in time, so that a current flows between its output and the first capacitor. The flow of current between the output of the driver circuit and the first capacitor is interrupted at a second point in time and the potential at the first capacitor is subsequently determined as a measure of the drive capability of the driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Florian Schamberger, Helmut Schneider
  • Patent number: 6211664
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring the rise time of the electronic component of a signal disturbed by electronic noise and whose signal-to-noise ratio is mediocre. It incorporates a differentiating circuit (C12, C11) having at least one resistor (r) and one capacitor (c) implementing a high pass filter for filtering the low frequency background noise of the signal from the detector and a discriminating circuit (C21, C22) incorporating a comparator (k) for performing a comparison with the filtered signal from the differentiating circuit and an offset voltage selected as a function of the noise level interfering with the signal from the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Bonnefoy, Olivier Monnet, Jean-Pierre Rostaing
  • Patent number: 6075369
    Abstract: A defibrillator and electrode system that gives the user a visible and/or audible indication of the condition of the electrodes and other parts of the defibrillator system prior to deployment of the electrodes and use of the defibrillator. In a preferred embodiment of the method of this invention, a patient simulation and analyze circuit within the defibrillator periodically tests the condition of the system and provides the user with a visual indication of the system's condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Heartstream
    Inventor: Carlton B. Morgan
  • Patent number: 6031369
    Abstract: An electricity meter including a circuit which receives a first A.C. signal having a magnitude dependent on power passing through a conductor, and a mains A.C. signal. While the mains signal is positive, first pulses are generated at a rate dependent on the first A.C. signal. While the mains signal is negative, second pulses are generated at a rate dependent on the first A.C. signal. Pulses are counted over time, the sum of pulse counts being a measure of energy used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Horstmann Timers & Controls Limited
    Inventor: Janez Trontelj
  • Patent number: 5808902
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting power quality or disturbance events, such as voltage swells, sags or impulses, in power signals at remote locations of a power distribution system and for conveying information relating to the power disturbances to a central location. Voltage and/or current signals in electric power lines are monitored and converted to low level analog signals. The low level signals are processed by analog processing circuits or are digitally sampled and processed by digital processing circuits to detect power disturbances. Each power disturbance is characterized according to multiple parameters. The characterization information is encoded into a single signal. This is done by assigning a subset of a range of possible values of the signal to represent a parameter and then assigning a value within each subset of the range to represent another parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Basic Measuring Instruments
    Inventors: George Levert, William Stuntz