Insulation Patents (Class 324/551)
  • Patent number: 11921138
    Abstract: An insulation resistance detection device detects a voltage at a connection point between a coupling capacitor and a resistance in the case where a frequency signal is outputted to the resistance, and detects an insulation resistance between a ground portion and a power supply path based on a moving average value of a detection voltage. The insulation resistance detection device includes a first determination unit, a resistance detection unit, and a second determination unit. In response to a determination that the pulsation of the detection voltage is attenuated, the resistance detection unit detects the insulation resistance based on, instead of a first moving average value, a second moving average value calculated by using the detection voltage in a second range including a smaller number of detection voltages than in the first range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Kouda, Ryota Kubokawa, Yusuke Shindo, Toru Wakimoto
  • Patent number: 11855263
    Abstract: A communication device includes a battery, a communication module, a first charging circuit between the battery and the communication module, a fast charge signal, a second charging circuit between the battery and the communication module, and a control module configured to route power from the battery to the communication module via the second charging circuit in response to the fast charge signal being enabled and to route the power via the first charging circuit in response to the fast charge signal being disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Murali Krishna Bezawada, Golakoti Ravi Kumar
  • Patent number: 11768242
    Abstract: A test device for testing an electrical circuit includes input terminals connectable by test leads to different test points of the electrical circuit; at least first and second measurement circuits; switches; a processor; and a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the test device to perform a first test of the electrical circuit while one or more of the switches electrically couples at least first and second ones of the input terminals to the first measurement circuit, and perform a second test of the electrical circuit while one or more of the switches electrically couples at least third and fourth ones of the input terminals the second measurement circuit, where the first and second tests are performed without changing connections of the input terminals of the test device to the different test points of the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: Ulrich Boecherer
  • Patent number: 11745286
    Abstract: An example welding-type power supply includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power, and to output the welding-type power via a welding-type circuit; a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of at least one component of the welding-type power supply; and stray current detection circuitry configured to detect stray welding-type current based on the measured temperature of the at least one component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Schneider, Michael D. Madsen, Bernard J. Vogel, Andrew J. Henry
  • Patent number: 11675012
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting partial discharge in a stator for an electric motor are provided. An exemplary method includes applying a high voltage AC sinewave input signal to the stator and energizing at least one winding therein. The method includes sensing a first resulting load signal occurring in the stator with a first device and filtering the first resulting load signal to form a first high frequency signal indicating any partial discharge (PD) voltage occurring in the stator. The method also includes sensing a second resulting load signal occurring in the stator with a second device and filtering the second resulting load signal to form a second high frequency signal indicating any partial discharge voltage occurring in the stator. Further, the method includes processing the first and second high frequency signals to form a processed signal indicating whether partial discharge occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ronald M Lesperance, John S Agapiou
  • Patent number: 11614475
    Abstract: A method and a photovoltaic inverter for determining the insulation resistance of a photovoltaic system relative to ground are provided. The voltage required for the measurement can be provided by an intermediate circuit in the form of an intermediate circuit voltage and a measuring device is designed to actuate an input short-circuit switch for short-circuiting a DC input with an AC disconnector open, as a result of which the intermediate circuit voltage can be applied to the DC input in the reverse direction. The measuring device is configured to record measured voltages with a switch of a voltage divider open and closed, and to determine the insulation resistance from the measured values of the two measured voltages recorded with the switch of the voltage divider open and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Fischereder, Andreas Muehlberger, Juergen Pirchenfellner, Andreas Luger
  • Patent number: 11515701
    Abstract: A coupling circuit (20) with switching function for coupling an insulation monitoring device (6, 6a, 6b) to an unearthed power supply system (2, 2a, 2b), consisting of a coupling module (22) or a plurality of identical coupling modules (22) connected in series, wherein the coupling module (22) has at least one switch unit (25), which comprises a coupling impedance (26), a switch (24), arranged in series to the coupling impedance (26), for mains disconnection and a control circuit (28) for controlling the switch (24), and also exactly one transformer (30) for voltage supply and for potential separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: BENDER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Herber, Gerd Joachim Klostermann
  • Patent number: 11474164
    Abstract: A method for determining a function of a capacitor of a passive filter circuit, which partially reduces line-conducted interference of an electrical device electrically coupled to a power supply system via the passive filter circuit. The passive filter circuit comprises the capacitor having a predefined capacitance value and a choke having a predefined inductance value. An electric capacitor voltage on the capacitor is detected. A connection voltage of the electrical device is detected. Spectral components are determined for the capacitor voltage and the connection voltage. The function of the capacitor is determined by analysing the spectral components in consideration of the inductance value of the choke by a statistical processing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Benesch, Franz Bauer
  • Patent number: 11448683
    Abstract: A circuit includes: an isolation power module, a first and second sampling modules, a first and second sampling points, a processor. A first terminal of the first sampling module is connected to a positive electrode of a battery pack and first terminal of a positive switch module, a second terminal of the first sampling module is connected to a negative electrode of the battery pack and a first terminal of the negative switch module, a third terminal of the first sampling module is connected to a first reference voltage end; a first terminal of the second sampling module is connected to a second terminal of the positive switch module and a positive electrode of the isolation power module, a second terminal of the second sampling module is connected to a second terminal of the negative switch module and a negative electrode of the isolation power module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Baohai Du, Le Chu, Jiayu Yu, Qiandeng Li
  • Patent number: 11418018
    Abstract: An arc detection circuit includes: a current detector that detects a current supplied from a power supply apparatus via a transmission path; a voltage detector that detects a voltage applied to the transmission path; and an arc determination unit configured to determine whether an arc has occurred in the transmission path based on the voltage, when one or more particular frequency components of the current exceed a first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Koga
  • Patent number: 11372047
    Abstract: A drive circuit for driving an electronically commutated motor contains a DC voltage intermediate circuit, and an inverter which is connected to the latter and has a bridge circuit containing a plurality of transistors, to which the motor phases of a motor configuration containing the motor can be connected. For detecting an insulation fault in the motor configuration, a positive or negative transistor of the inverter is switched on, while all other transistors of the inverter are switched off before all transistors of the inverter are switched off. A motor phase voltage of a selected motor phase of the motor phases with respect to a reference potential is then captured, while all transistors of the inverter remain switched off in order to determine whether there is an insulation fault on the motor phase on a basis of a voltage profile of the motor phase voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Weinmann, Andreas Schmid, Sebastian Tinius
  • Patent number: 11255883
    Abstract: A device for detecting a current leakage and a current leakage detection system including the same are provided. The device for detecting a current leakage includes a magnetic core having an internal space and both ends the core are separated from each other. An electric wiring extends to pass through the internal space of the magnetic core, and is connected between a power source and an electric load to supply power from the power source to the electric load. A hall sensor senses a magnetic field induced in the magnetic core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Ju Han Kim
  • Patent number: 11187759
    Abstract: A ground fault detection device comprising a capacitor which serves as a flying capacitor, a switch group which switches between a V0-charging path, a Vcn-charging path, a Vcp-charging path and a charging voltage measurement path for the capacitor, and a controller which controls the switch group and calculates an insulation resistance based on V0, Vcn and Vcp, wherein V0 is a measured value on the V0-charging path, Vcn is a measured value on the Vcn-charging path, and Vcp is a measured value on the Vcp charging path, wherein, if Vcn can be considered as zero, the controller switches to the Vcp-charging path and performs measurement while keeping a charged state of the capacitor, wherein Vcp obtained after discharging the capacitor is subtracted from a measured value obtained from the measurement in order to calculate Vcn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11169199
    Abstract: A method and device for online insulation monitoring of a motor are applied to an inverter-driven motor system. The method includes: measuring phase-to-ground voltages of three-phase inlet lead ends of a motor; acquiring leakage currents of the three-phase inlet lead ends of the motor; acquiring a voltage common-mode component, a voltage differential-mode component, a current common-mode component and a current differential-mode component from the phase-to-ground voltages and the leakage currents; and acquiring ground-wall insulation equivalent capacitance and phase-to-phase insulation equivalent capacitance according to the components. A ground-wall insulation monitoring result and a phase-to-phase insulation monitoring result are distinguished from each other by the acquired ground-wall insulation equivalent capacitance and phase-to-phase insulation equivalent capacitance, such that two kinds of insulation are monitored respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Pinjia Zhang, Dayong Zheng, Hongdong Zhu
  • Patent number: 11150291
    Abstract: The functional reliability of a cable shield system for a high voltage cable circuit is determined by electrically isolating a segment of the conductive shield from ground along the circuit length and supplying a test voltage of gradually increasing amplitude to the isolated shield segment. Current flows in the shield segment and a connected shield voltage limiter (SVL) in response to the supplied test voltage. The current through the SVL is monitored; and the operational integrity of the shield system is determined as a function of the voltage across and the monitored current through the SVL. Current flow is monitored by sensing the heat dissipated by the SVL included in the link box to which the shield segment is connected. Information representing the voltage across and monitored current through the SVL are transmitted to a remote location whereat the operational integrity of the SVL is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Underground Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Smith, Charles J. Wills, Duncan C. Breese, Paul A. Alex
  • Patent number: 11125802
    Abstract: A method measures partial discharge pulses of a shielded cable, which has a core and a sheath. The method includes: connecting a coupling capacitor with a first connecting point of the core; providing a first, second, and third coupling unit, each having an input and a signal output; connecting the input of the first coupling unit with the coupling capacitor; connecting the input of the second coupling unit with a first connecting point of the sheath; connecting the input of the third coupling unit with a second connecting point of the sheath; providing a test voltage at the first connecting point of the core; acquiring respective measurement signals of the coupling units at their signal outputs; and determining at least one characteristic value for an apparent charge of a partial discharge pulse of the cable in dependence on the measurement signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: MASCHINENFABRIK REINHAUSEN GMBH
    Inventor: Erik Winkelmann
  • Patent number: 11095131
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to battery management technologies, and disclose a battery management system and an energy storage power station. The battery management system comprises: a plurality of CSC groups corresponding to a plurality of battery packs respectively, CSCs in each CSC group being connected to the battery units in a battery pack respectively; a plurality of SBMUs corresponding to the plurality of CSC groups respectively, each SBMU being connected to every CSC in a CSC group; an MBMU and an IMM, the MBMU being connected to every SBMU and connected to the IMM; the IMM further being connected to a plurality of the batteries, and used to acquire insulation parameter values of the plurality of the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Fangjie Zhou, Qiandeng Li, Fuming Ye
  • Patent number: 11073561
    Abstract: An insulation deterioration detection device which is mounted in an inverter device including a plurality of switching elements includes: a frequency component extractor which extracts the same frequency component as a frequency of the three-phase alternating current power from the current detection signal of an electric motor winding wire connected to the switching element; and an insulation deterioration detection controller which performs a first switching operation for turning on the switching element and turning off the other switching elements and stores in a first storage device the frequency component extracted by the frequency component extractor during an execution period of the first switching operation, in which it is determined whether insulation deterioration of the electric motor occurs at least based on a value stored in the first storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: OKUMA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasukazu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11073571
    Abstract: A ground fault detection apparatus includes a capacitor, switches for switching between a V0 charge path including the battery and the capacitor, a Vcn charge path including the battery, the capacitor and negative-side insulation resistance as insulation resistance between negative side of the battery and ground, a Vcp charge path including the battery, the capacitor and positive-side insulation resistance as insulation resistance between positive side of the battery and ground, and a charge voltage measurement path including the capacitor and a measurement resistor, an offset voltage divider circuit that divides and offsets voltage produced at the measurement resistor, a control device that controls the switches and calculates the insulation resistance using output voltage of the offset voltage divider circuit as a measured value, based on V0 measured at the V0 charge path, Vcn measured at the Vcn charge path and Vcp measured at the Vcp charge path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takamatsu, Yoshihiro Kawamura, Hisashi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10910993
    Abstract: The invention relates to circuit arrangements for reducing potential-induced degradation in photovoltaic modules of a photovoltaic generator, said circuit arrangements comprising an insulation monitoring device for a temporally continuous insulation monitoring of the photovoltaic generator. Furthermore, the invention relates to a photovoltaic system comprising a circuit arrangement for reducing potential-induced degradation in photovoltaic modules, said photovoltaic system comprising a photovoltaic generator and an insulation monitoring device for a temporally continuous insulation monitoring of the photovoltaic generator. Different solutions are proposed which enable reducing potential-induced degradation while simultaneously continuously monitoring insulations. The circuit arrangements according to the invention rest upon an insulation monitoring device interacting with measures based circuit technology for influencing potentials in a photovoltaic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: BENDER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Hackl, Oliver Schaefer, Manfred Geiss, Karl Schepp
  • Patent number: 10804703
    Abstract: A waveform separator system for determining DC leakage current flowing through an insulating structure in a high voltage direct current power system, wherein the DC leakage current is a composite DC current comprising one or more high magnitude momentary spikes, and having a DC component and an AC component includes: (1) a waveform separator configured to receive the composite DC current flowing through the insulating structure and to separate the composite DC current into corresponding direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) components wherein the AC component has a first rate of change, and wherein the DC component has a second rate of change, and wherein the first rate of change is greater than the second rate of change; (2) at least one comparator configured to receive the AC component and produce at least one corresponding digital signal; and (3) a processor configured to: (a) receive the at least one corresponding digital signal and the DC component, (b) analyze the at least one corresponding d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Quanta Associates, L.P.
    Inventors: Zoran Bilic, David James Ball
  • Patent number: 10782357
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements to automatic permanently installed insulation resistance test equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to improvements to insulation test equipment for testing low voltage, medium voltage, and high voltage electrical equipment on the order of the rated voltage level while limiting the maximum output current to a safe level. The preferred test output voltage of the insulation test equipment would have a maximum test output of 5000 VDC, due to design considerations, but the AIRT test output could be made to be higher, up to a maximum of 15,000 VDC. After installation of the insulation test equipment in the control cabinet of the electrical equipment there will be no requirement to open the control cabinet to operate the insulation test equipment. The improvements will also allow personnel to perform an insulation test on electrical equipment without having to manually isolate the electrical equipment from the power source to perform the testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: MEG-ALERT, INC.
    Inventor: Richard J. Zelm
  • Patent number: 10746777
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting electrical current on an insulating element of a rail system, comprising: at least one electrically conductive lead or wire for attaching the sensor to the insulating element; an energy harvester for harvesting electric current transmitted from the insulating element to the energy harvester via the lead; a microprocessor circuit including a capacitor wherein the capacitor is charged by energy harvested by the energy harvester; and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting RF signals indicative of the detected current; wherein the microprocessor and transmitter are powered by the energy from the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: L. B. Foster Company
    Inventors: Jacob Bridges, Korhan Ciloglu
  • Patent number: 10734944
    Abstract: An inverter including a circuit arrangement configured to measure an insulation resistance is disclosed. The inverter includes at least one half-bridge including at least two switching elements extending between respective end points, and a grid disconnection point comprising a series circuit comprised of two disconnection devices. The series circuit is arranged between a center point of the half-bridge and an AC voltage terminal of the inverter, which AC voltage terminal is configured to connect to a phase conductor or a neutral conductor of an AC voltage grid. The circuit arrangement includes a resistor and a voltage measurement apparatus. The resistor is arranged electrically in parallel with one of the disconnection devices and the voltage measurement apparatus is arranged electrically between the output-side terminal of the resistor and one of the end points of the half-bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Jens Friebe, Burkard Mueller, Martin Putz
  • Patent number: 10718824
    Abstract: An apparatus for checking an inductor includes a detector outputting a detection signal including information corresponding to a parallel resistance component of a checking target inductor; and a determiner receiving the detection signal and determining whether the checking target inductor is satisfactory based on a magnitude of the parallel resistance component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gun Woo Koo, Hwan Soo Lee, Jong Woo Han
  • Patent number: 10700731
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated power cable is provided. The integrated power cable, comprises a power cable having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end is configured to be electrically coupled to a DC power supply; at least one DC-DC voltage converter having at least one input and at least one output; wherein the second end is fixedly electrically and mechanically connected to the input; a first connector fixedly connected mechanically and electrically to the output; and wherein the first connector is configured to be coupled to at least one remote radio head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Daryl A. Coleman, Khalid W. Al-Mufti
  • Patent number: 10690706
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring an electrical quantity of one phase of an AC electric current in an overhead electrical network, comprising: a sensor designed to be attached to an electric line of the network, the sensor including: an electrically conductive plate; an electrical conductor, designed to electrically connect the plate to the line, in order to circulate a first current from the line through the conductor; a processing unit, designed to determine the electrical quantity from value values of the first electric current and a value of a capacitance between the plate and ground. The device also comprises a generator, electrically connected to the conductor and designed to inject a second current through the conductor, the second current having a frequency other than the frequency of the first current, the processing unit also being designed to calculate the capacitance between the plate and ground as a function of the second current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Michel Clemence, Pascal Houbre, Erick Contini
  • Patent number: 10620256
    Abstract: A system for determining DC leakage current flowing through an electrically insulating structure in a high voltage direct current power system is provided. The DC leakage current is a composite DC current. The insulating structure is operatively coupled to at least an overhead energized DC electrical line. The system further includes a direct current meter adapted to be electrically coupled to at least the insulating structure. The meter includes a waveform separator. The separator is configured to receive and separate the composite DC current into a corresponding direct current (DC) and an alternating current (AC) component. The separator further includes at least one comparator which is configured to produce at least one corresponding digital signal from the AC component; and a processor. The processor receives and analyzes the at least one corresponding digital signal and the DC component to determine a resultant leakage current flowing through the insulating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Quanta Associates, L.P.
    Inventors: Zoran Bilic, David James Ball, Donald William McLennan
  • Patent number: 10580482
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory instance is provided that includes an array of memory cells. The array includes a plurality of semiconductor memory cells arranged in at least one column and at least one row. Each of the semiconductor memory cells includes a floating body region configured to be charged to a level indicative of a state of the memory cell. Further includes are a plurality of buried well regions, wherein each of the buried well regions can be individually selected, and a decoder circuit to select at least one of the buried well regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Zeno Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-Woo Han, Neal Berger, Yuniarto Widjaja
  • Patent number: 10416223
    Abstract: Provided is a ground fault detection device including a detection capacitor, a positive electrode power supply side resistor, a negative electrode power supply side resistor, a positive electrode ground side resistor, a negative electrode ground side resistor, a positive electrode side twin relay selectively switching a connection point of one end of the detection capacitor; a negative electrode side twin relay selectively switching a connection point of the another end of the detection capacitor, and a controller controlling switching of the positive electrode side twin relay and the negative electrode side twin relay, and calculating an insulation resistance of the system provided with the high-voltage battery based on a charging voltage of the detection capacitor, and determines there is a possibility that a sticking fault has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10379150
    Abstract: A earth fault detector has a controller, a detection capacitor, a positive side first resistance connected to a positive side of a high voltage battery, a negative side first resistance connected to a negative side thereof, a positive side second resistance, a negative side second resistance, a positive side C contact switch, and a negative side C contact switch. The positive side C contact switch switches a connection destination of a first end of the detection capacitor to either a path including the positive side first resistance or a path including the positive side second resistance based on an instruction of the controller. The negative side C contact switch switches a connection destination of a second end thereof to either a path including the negative side first resistance or a path including the negative side second resistance based on an instruction of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10358036
    Abstract: A vehicle ground fault detection apparatus (1) detects a ground fault of a high-voltage system electrically insulated from a vehicle body connected to a low-voltage system and includes a transformer (2) blocking a DC component between the low- and high-voltage systems, an oscillation circuit (3), in the low-voltage system, connected to a primary coil (21) of the transformer (2), and a voltage dividing resistor (4), in the high-voltage system, connected to a secondary coil (22) of the transformer (2). The vehicle ground fault detection apparatus (1) measures a positive peak of voltage generated in the voltage dividing resistor (4) by voltage induced in the secondary coil (22) through AC voltage generated by the oscillation circuit (3) and detects the ground fault using the peak voltage. The insulation of the coupling portion between the ground fault detection circuit and the high-voltage system circuit does not suffer breakdown during temporary AC noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumihito Watanuki
  • Patent number: 10236704
    Abstract: A charge collection device includes a capacitor, a first switch disposed between one terminal of the capacitor and a positive electrode of a DC power source, a second switch disposed between the other terminal of the capacitor and a negative electrode of the DC power source, a third switch disposed between the one terminal of the capacitor and a ground, a fourth switch disposed between the other terminal of the capacitor and the ground, and a charge collection circuit that has a fifth switch connected to the one terminal of the capacitor and configured to supply charge stored in the capacitor to an external circuit via the fifth switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10222196
    Abstract: The present invention monitors an electric power system using a time-series measurement value including abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Yamazaki, Masahiro Yatsu, Sumito Tobe, Osamu Tomobe, Tatsuki Inuduka
  • Patent number: 10067190
    Abstract: An object is to conduct an insulation degradation diagnosis with a simple configuration. An insulation diagnostic system includes a current detection sensor 4a that is installed, for a coil 3a of at least one phase of a ? connection type rotating machine in which current flows in the reverse direction at a winding start position and a winding end position, such that the current detection sensor 4a surrounds a current path flowing into a leader line at the winding start of the coil 3a and a current path flowing out from a leader line at the winding end of the coil 3a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Kato, Kohji Maki
  • Patent number: 10060970
    Abstract: An electronic component testing device which is able to release heat (radiate heat) efficiently from a self-heating electronic component, and is able to carry out an intended test efficiently while keeping the temperature of the electronic component within a predetermined range higher than ordinary temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Kinoshita, Keiichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9997909
    Abstract: Disclosed is a surge protection device (10, 110) for an outdoor lighting fixture that includes a live connection (23A, 123A), a neutral connection (23B, 123B), and a ground connection (23C, 123C). A first varistor (42) and a second varistor (43) may be electrically connected to one another in a series connection between the live and neutral connections and a third varistor (41) electrically connected between the live and neutral connections in a parallel configuration with the first varistor and the second varistor. A surge arrestor (46, 146) may also be electrically connected between the ground connection (23C, 123C) and the series connection between the first varistor and the second varistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Gerardus Wilhelmus Cornelis Sesink
  • Patent number: 9977067
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements to automatic permanently installed insulation resistance test equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to improvements to insulation test equipment for testing low voltage, medium voltage, and high voltage electrical equipment on the order of the rated voltage level while limiting the maximum output current to a safe level. The preferred test output voltage of the insulation test equipment would have a maximum test output of 5000 VDC, due to design considerations, but the AIRT test output could be made to be higher, up to a maximum of 15,000 VDC. After installation of the insulation test equipment in the control cabinet of the electrical equipment there will be no requirement to open the control cabinet to operate the insulation test equipment. The improvements will also allow personnel to perform an insulation test on electrical equipment without having to manually isolate the electrical equipment from the power source to perform the testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: MEG-ALERT, INC.
    Inventor: Richard J. Zelm
  • Patent number: 9954426
    Abstract: A motor driving device includes, a PWM converter that performs power conversion between AC power and DC power in a DC link, an inverter that converts the DC power in the DC link to AC power for a motor and that converts the AC power from the motor to DC power for returning to the DC link, a power storage unit that stores the DC power, a switch that connects or disconnects between an AC power supply and the PWM converter in response to a command, and a command unit that continues outputting a connection command to the switch while a DC voltage in the DC link is boosted up to a prescribed voltage by the DC power, and that initiates outputting a disconnection command to the switch after the DC voltage in the DC link reaches the prescribed voltage and before the inverter initiates powering operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wataru Kuroki
  • Patent number: 9917337
    Abstract: A film covered battery (1) has a flat shape with an outer cover member (5) formed of a laminate film to accommodate therein a battery element (4) together with an electrolytic solution. For reliable inspection of an insulation failure between a metal layer (52) of the laminate film and a negative electrode plate (42) of the battery element (4), an inspection test is performed on the film covered battery by a first inspection device (73) under a condition where pressure is applied to a center region of the outer cover member (5) by a first press bar (72); and an inspection test is performed on the film covered battery by a second inspection device (83) under a condition where pressure is applied to the remaining side regions of the outer cover member (5) by a second press bar (82).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: AUTOMOTIVE ENERGY SUPPLY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshihiko Mankyu
  • Patent number: 9874613
    Abstract: Test measurements on a utility power device by a switch matrix apparatus and a common voltage source as separate devices is performed. Through the switch matrix apparatus, the common voltage source selectively sends a first high voltage signal via a first lead to a first terminal of the utility power device, measures a first corresponding signal returned via a second lead of the switch matrix apparatus from a second terminal of the utility power device. While the first lead and the second lead of the switch matrix apparatus remain electrically coupled to the first and the second terminal of the utility power device, a second high voltage signal is selectively sent via the second lead to the second terminal of the utility power device, and a second corresponding signal returned from the first terminal of the utility power device via the first lead of the switch matrix apparatus is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: DOBLE ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Clark Woodward, Jr., George Matthew Kennedy
  • Patent number: 9876459
    Abstract: A motor driving circuit has a supply line connected to a DC power source, an inverter whose input side is connected to the supply line and whose output side is connected to a motor, a power switch inserted in the supply line for switching the supply line between conducting and cut-off states, a voltage detector for detecting a voltage between the direct-current power source and the power switch, and an insulation resistance detector for first detecting, based on a result of detection by the voltage detector with the power switch in the cut-off state, an insulation resistance on the preceding-stage side of the power switch and subsequently detecting, based on a result of detection by the voltage detector with the power switch in the conducting state, an insulation resistance on the succeeding-stage side of the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Hayashi, Hoshihito Okada, Yoshihiko Maeda, Yoichi Enomoto, Hiroshi Takao
  • Patent number: 9864013
    Abstract: A deterioration detecting apparatus includes: a capacitor that is connected to an insulated electric power source, and is charged and discharged; a voltage detecting unit that detects a voltage of the capacitor; and a deterioration detecting unit that detects a deterioration in an insulating resistor of the electric power source on the basis of the voltage of the capacitor charged through a charging path for detecting a deterioration in the insulating resistor of the electric power source, and the voltage of the capacitor during discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventor: Shota Kawanaka
  • Patent number: 9793041
    Abstract: A reactor 1 according to the present invention includes a coil 2 and a magnetic core 3 where the coil 2 is disposed. In the reactor 1, a core part 4A (4B) including a stacked columnar body having a plurality of core pieces 31m and a plurality of gap members 31g stacked and coating resin 5A (5B) in which a peripheral surface coating portion 51oA (51oB) for coating an outer peripheral surface of the stacked columnar body to integrally hold the core piece 31m and the gap member 31g and an end surface coating portion 51eA for coating one end surface of the stacked columnar body are molded integrally is used for a part of the magnetic core 3, that is, an inner core 31. A manufacturing error of the core piece 31m or the gap member 31g is absorbed by the end surface coating portion 51eA. Consequently, the core part 4A (4B) can be molded with high accuracy and an outer core 32 can be assembled properly. Thus, the reactor 1 has high assembling workability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ito, Shinichiro Yamamoto, Junji Ido
  • Patent number: 9664716
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements to automatic permanently installed insulation resistance test equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to improvements to insulation test equipment for testing low voltage, medium voltage, and high voltage electrical equipment on the order of the rated voltage level while limiting the maximum output current to a safe level. The preferred test output voltage of the insulation test equipment would have a maximum test output of 5000 VDC, due to design considerations, but the AIRT test output could be made to be higher, up to a maximum of 15,000 VDC. After installation of the insulation test equipment in the control cabinet of the electrical equipment there will be no requirement to open the control cabinet to operate the insulation test equipment. The improvements will also allow personnel to perform an insulation test on electrical equipment without having to manually isolate the electrical equipment from the power source to perform the testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: MEG-ALERT, INC.
    Inventor: Richard J. Zelm
  • Patent number: 9632128
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing measurements on a utility power device that shares a common ground with the apparatus selectively sends a first high voltage signal via a first lead to a first terminal of the utility power device, measures a first corresponding signal returned via a second lead of the apparatus from a second terminal of the utility power device. While the corresponding first lead and the second lead of the apparatus remain electrically coupled to the corresponding first and the second terminal of the utility power device. The apparatus selectively sends a second high voltage signal via the second lead to the second terminal of the utility power device, and measures a second corresponding signal returned via the first lead of the apparatus from the first terminal of the utility power device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Doble Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert Clark Woodward, Jr., George Matthew Kennedy
  • Patent number: 9606166
    Abstract: An insulation inspection technique for allowing the occurrence of sparks to be detected more satisfactorily and allowing a board in which sparks have occurred to be more satisfactorily detected as being detective is provided. An insulation inspection apparatus detects a voltage induced between insulation inspection target wiring patterns by the application of a voltage during a time period from the start of the voltage application between the insulation inspection target wiring patterns to a predetermined time when the voltage between the insulation inspection target wiring patterns has stabilized. When a voltage drop due to sparks occurring between the insulation inspection target wiring patterns is detected during the time period, the board to be inspected is determined to be defective. In particular, supply current during the time period is set in accordance with the number of inspection points of an upstream wiring pattern of the insulation inspection target wiring patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Nidec-Read Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Kasai
  • Patent number: 9606162
    Abstract: An insulation test apparatus and method for a circuit board having a plurality of wiring patterns formed thereon includes: selection means for selecting wiring patterns to be tested, power supply means for sending a predetermined electrical output between a first object to be measured and a target object to be measured; measurement means for measuring an electrical signal between the first object to be measured and the target object to be measured; and calculation means for calculating the resistance of an insulation failure portion between the first object to be measured and the target object to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Nidec-Read Corporation
    Inventor: Munehiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9599656
    Abstract: At least one method and system disclosed herein involves testing of integrated circuits. A device having at least one transistor and at least one dielectric layer is provided. A first voltage is provided during a first time period for performing a stress test upon the device. A second voltage is provided during a second time period for discharging at least a portion of the charge built-up as a result of the first voltage. The second voltage is of an opposite polarity of the first voltage. A sense function is provided during a third time period for determining a result of the stress test. Data relating to a breakdown of the dielectric layer based upon the result of the stress test is acquired, stored and/or transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC., INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Suresh Uppal, Andreas Kerber, William McMahon, Eduard A. Cartier
  • Patent number: 9594112
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for detecting faults in an electric power delivery system. In one embodiment, system may include a data acquisition subsystem configured to receive a plurality of representations of electrical conditions. The system may also include an incremental quantities subsystem configured to calculate an incremental current quantity and an incremental voltage quantity based on the plurality of representations. A fault detection subsystem may be configured to determine a fault type based on the incremental current quantity and the incremental voltage quantity, to select an applicable loop quantity, and to declare a fault based on the applicable loop quantity, the incremental voltage quantity, and the incremental current quantity. A protective action subsystem may implement a protective action based on the declaration of the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, Mangapathirao Venkata Mynam, Armando Guzman-Casillas, Bogdan Z. Kasztenny, Veselin Skendzic, David E. Whitehead