Testing Potential In Specific Environment (e.g., Lightning Stroke) Patents (Class 324/72)
  • Publication number: 20140300333
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a current detection circuit configured to determine an input current and an output current of a switching regulator, can include: (i) a mirror circuit configured to mirror a current flowing through a main power transistor of the switching regulator to generate a sampling signal that is in proportion to the main power transistor current; (ii) a current generating circuit configured to perform a first average value calculation of the sampling signal based on a switching cycle of the switching regulator to determine the input current; and (iii) the current generating circuit being configured to perform a second average value calculation of the sampling signal based on a conduction duty cycle of the main power transistor to determine the output current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd
    Inventor: Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 8841964
    Abstract: An apparatus for demodulating an input signal that includes a frequency detector for tracking a frequency of the input signal, an oscillator and a mixer is disclosed. The input signal and an output signal of the oscillator can constitute the incoming signals for the mixer and the output signal of the mixer can constitute the demodulated input signal, wherein an arithmetic unit is arranged downstream of the frequency detector and upstream of the oscillator, wherein the tracked frequency of the input signal and a predefined second frequency constitute the incoming signals of the arithmetic unit and the arithmetic unit is designed such that it computes a control signal for the oscillator from the tracked frequency of the input signal and the predefined second frequency with the output signal of the oscillator depending on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Zurich Instruments AG
    Inventors: Sadik Hafizovic, Flavio Heer, Stefan Koch, Niels Haandbaek
  • Patent number: 8841898
    Abstract: Described herein is a self-powered system for detecting a current spike. The current spike is delivered through a current return network that energizes a resonant circuit to produce an alternating electrical output. The output is rectified by a rectifier into direct output that is then transferred to an integrator circuit. The integrator circuit slowly builds to and dissipates from a voltage threshold corresponding to an output transistor. When the output transistor is triggered by the voltage threshold this trigger is communicated to a fault monitoring software that recognizes the current spike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Bruce Van Deventer
  • Patent number: 8839461
    Abstract: A device includes: an electrode; a displacement measurement unit outputting voltage corresponding to electrostatic force between the electrode and a sample; a first power supply applying a first voltage between the electrode and sample; a second power supply adding, to the first voltage, a second voltage having a different frequency than the first voltage, and applying the added voltage; and a signal detection unit outputting a particular frequency component's magnitude contained in the displacement measurement unit's output, in which the signal detection unit extracts, from the output by the displacement measurement unit, and outputs, to a potential calculation unit, magnitude and phase of a frequency component of a frequency identical to the frequency of the first voltage, and magnitude of a frequency component of a frequency identical to a frequency equivalent to a difference between the frequencies of the first and second voltages, to measure the sample's surface potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: National University Corporation Kanazawa University
    Inventors: Takeshi Fukuma, Naritaka Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20140223614
    Abstract: A device includes: an electrode; a displacement measurement unit outputting voltage corresponding to electrostatic force between the electrode and a sample; a first power supply applying a first voltage between the electrode and sample; a second power supply adding, to the first voltage, a second voltage having a different frequency than the first voltage, and applying the added voltage; and a signal detection unit outputting a particular frequency component's magnitude contained in the displacement measurement unit's output, in which the signal detection unit extracts, from the output by the displacement measurement unit, and outputs, to a potential calculation unit, magnitude and phase of a frequency component of a frequency identical to the frequency of the first voltage, and magnitude of a frequency component of a frequency identical to a frequency equivalent to a difference between the frequencies of the first and second voltages, to measure the sample's surface potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Takeshi Fukuma, Naritaka Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20140210448
    Abstract: Provided is a method and system for measuring the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by a living being at a particular location. Using a clamp meter having a current probe, the probe is applied to an ankle of the living being. Next, a measurement of the current induced by absorption of radiation of the ankle is obtained. A measure of total absorbed radiation can be obtained by first taking the measurement at one ankle of a living being and then at the other ankle(s), and adding the measurements together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: DANIEL D. BRUNDA
  • Patent number: 8779751
    Abstract: To restrict a bowing amount of a piezoelectric actuator, provided is a switching apparatus comprising a contact point section including a first contact point; and an actuator that moves a second contact point to contact or move away from the first contact point. The actuator includes a first piezoelectric film that expands and contracts according to a drive voltage to change a bowing amount of the actuator, and a second piezoelectric film that is provided in parallel with the first piezoelectric film and restricts bowing of the actuator when the drive voltage is not being supplied to the first piezoelectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Hisao Hori, Yoshikazu Abe, Yoshihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8773107
    Abstract: A method and apparatus configured to detect electromagnetic field events are disclosed. One apparatus includes an antenna and a circuit electrically connected to the antenna. The circuit includes electronics communicatively connected to the antenna via a direct current isolation circuit and an equalizer compensating for the differentiating frequency response of the antenna. The circuit also includes a logarithmic amplifier electrically connected to the equalizer and configured to generate a range of signals based on signals received at the antenna. The circuit further includes a peak detector receiving signals from the equalizer and configured to capture a peak value of the signals. The electromagnetic field event is detected at least in part based on the peak signal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Emprimus, LLC
    Inventors: David Blake Jackson, Greg Fuchs, Frederick R. Faxvog, Terrence R. Noe
  • Patent number: 8766621
    Abstract: An analog input module for a programmable logic controller, wherein the analog input module has a ground potential, and includes a channel output configured at a first electrical potential, a first channel input configured at a second electrical potential where the absolute value of the second electrical potential is less than the absolute value of the first electrical potential and greater than the absolute value of the ground potential. The analog input module also includes a second channel input, and a third channel input, where the ground potential of the analog input module is the ground potential of the channel output, of the first channel input, of the second channel input and of the third channel input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Albert Naumovic
  • Patent number: 8760146
    Abstract: A safety interlock for use in a medical device having a control system for controlling operation of the medical device includes a central tubular portion defining a fluid passage for passing fluid through the safety interlock. An outer ring portion is adapted for mounting the safety interlock in the medical device. A spoked connector portion connects the central tubular portion to the outer ring portion so that the outer ring portion is spaced radially outwardly from the central tubular portion in opposed relation with at least a portion of the central tubular portion. The safety interlock is adapted for mounting in the medical device in a path of electromagnetic radiation from a source of electromagnetic radiation such that the central tubular portion reflects the electromagnetic radiation to a electromagnetic radiation detector when properly loaded on the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Joel D Wiesner, Joseph A Hudson, Jason Boulanger
  • Patent number: 8760150
    Abstract: Power transfer over power lines is indicated using a controller to short power lines briefly near the end of the positive portion of the alternating voltage cycle of a distant power generation source using a silicon-controlled rectifier thereby creating current pulses from the voltage produced by that source and at a frequency consistent with the source's electric system frequency. The pulse can be detected and measured on other parts of the same circuit using a probe. The controller and probe may be used for locating cables in the same electrical circuit, sorting particular cables in the same circuit from others cables, verifying the condition of cables, determining the source and load feeds on the primary side of a transformer from the low side of the transformer, locating unwanted ground faults, and determining the portion of the electrical load provided by each of plural generation plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventor: Walter S. Bierer
  • Publication number: 20140167732
    Abstract: A micromechanical structure, in particular a micromechanical electric field meter as a thunderstorm warning device, for detection of an electric field, comprising a substrate having a principal extension plane, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a drive assemblage for producing a relative motion of the second electrode with respect to the first electrode into an overlapping position, the first electrode and the second electrode being, in the overlapping position, disposed above one another in a projection direction extending perpendicularly to the principal extension plane of the substrate, wherein the second electrode has a defined potential for shielding the first electrode with respect to the electric field in the overlapping position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Lutz MUELLER, Jochen Beintner
  • Patent number: 8754635
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for measuring a load current provided to a load via a first load terminal of a load transistor is disclosed. In accordance with one example of the invention, the circuit arrangement includes a sense transistor coupled to the load transistor to provide a sense current representing the load current at a first load terminal of the sense transistor. The first load terminals of the load and the sense transistors are at respective floating electric potentials. A floating sense circuit coupled between the load terminals of sense transistor and load transistor, at least in one mode of operation the sense circuit receives the sense current and provides a floating signal representing the sense current. A non-floating measurement circuit is coupled to the sense circuit via a DC decoupling capacitor for transferring the floating signal representing the sense current to the non-floating measurement circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Peter Bogner, Luca Petruzzi
  • Publication number: 20140145706
    Abstract: A feedthrough insulator is characterized by the fact to comprises:>-a central rod (10) which extends longitudinally with respect its longitudinal axis (10y);>-a sleeve (20) positioned coaxial around said rod of connection (10) with the respective circular shell (21) radially spaced (D-21) with respect to the central rod (10);>-a sensor (30) of electric field and/or of magnetic field, positioned in proximity of the inner surface (22) of said shell (21) of the sleeve (20); and>-a carrying body (40) formed by dielectric material able to contain and to embed said central rod (10), said sleeve (20) and said sensor (30) of electrical field and/or of magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventor: Alberto Bauer
  • Publication number: 20140093373
    Abstract: A system and associated method for detecting lighting strikes on a wind turbine uses a plurality of lightning strike conductors that are connected to any combination of the wind turbine components. A common ground cable is connected to the conductors and to a wind turbine grounding system. A sensor is operatively configured on the common ground cable to detect current flowing through the cable from a lightning strike incident on any one of the receptors, with the sensor producing a signal proportional to the intensity of the lightning strike.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Schmidt, Michael Christopher Booth
  • Patent number: 8666688
    Abstract: A system and a method is provided for the detection and capture, and in particular for an ultra high speed detection and capture, of transients in input voltages by an intelligent electronic device. The system and method detects transients for input voltages in either phase to phase or phase to neutral measurements and permits a user to set threshold levels for detecting transients in input voltages. In an embodiment, the system and method further provides a field programmable gate array as a controller for managing transient detection. The field programmable gate array includes a state machine for determining the state of the sampled signal with respect to a threshold level at a specified waveform sample period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Electro Industries/Gauge Tech
    Inventors: Joseph Spanier, Hai Zhu, Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 8653822
    Abstract: A chopperless ambient field apparatus and method is described having top and bottom sensing plates; a transistor-based device having first, second and third terminals; a first signal line coupled to the top plate and the first terminal of the device; a second signal line coupled to the bottom plate and the second terminal of the device; at least one controllable grounding circuit coupled to at least the first and second plates and to the first terminal of the device; an electrical parameter detector coupled to the second and third terminals of the device; and a protective enclosure disposed about the top and bottom plates, the device, and the detector, wherein with control of the grounding circuit, the detector measures AC fields and quasi-static DC electric fields impinging on the plates. A calibration procedure converts the unit to a DC measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Navy
    Inventor: Jack Y. Dea
  • Publication number: 20140028281
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for measuring voltage from a conductor. The device has first and second cylindrical electrodes positioned about the conductor and a circuit interfaced with the first and second electrodes that generates a signal proportional to a voltage of the conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventor: Eric George de Buda
  • Patent number: 8633699
    Abstract: A method and apparatus includes detecting lightning induced electromagnetic pulses and determining a physical property of an underground structure based on the lightning induced electromagnetic pulses. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an antenna, a low noise amplifier, a processor, cable, and a transmitter. The antenna includes three substantively perpendicular loops of electrical conductors. The processor is configured to condition the amplified signal. The cable is about 100 meters in length and connects the low noise amplifier to the processor. The transmitter is configured to send conditioned data to a data aggregation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Ivan Richard Linscott, Timothy Chevalier, Umran S. Inan, David Strauss
  • Patent number: 8633683
    Abstract: The apparatus is provided with an abnormality determination means for determining abnormality of the apparatus where two different combinations of two electrodes are selected from the three electrodes, an alternating-current voltage is applied to an electrode in one combination by the voltage-applying portion to measure a value of a current flowing to the other electrode via the dielectric body by electrostatic coupling, an alternating-current voltage is applied to an electrode in another combination out of the at least two different combinations by the voltage-applying portion to measure a value of a current flowing to the other electrode via the dielectric body by electrostatic coupling, and an abnormality of the apparatus is determined from the current values measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Yokoi, Takayuki Sakurai, Tatsuya Okayama, Masanobu Miki, Keizo Iwama, Makoto Hattori, Hidetaka Ozawa
  • Patent number: 8598864
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting stray voltage anomalies in electric fields are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for detecting an electrical field may comprise: at least one sensor probe for generating data corresponding to an electrical field detected by the at least one sensor probe, wherein the at least one sensor probe comprises at least one electrode; a processor, coupled to the at least one sensor probe, for analyzing the data to identify a voltage anomaly in the electric field; and an indicator, coupled to the processor, for alerting a user to a presence of the voltage anomaly in the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Power Survey LLC
    Inventors: David Kalokitis, Leonard Joshua Schultz, Christos Alkiviadis Polyzois, Vincent Paragano
  • Publication number: 20130300398
    Abstract: An exemplary discharge test circuit for testing whether there is current on a circuit board includes a comparison module, a switch module, a control module and a display module. The comparison module receives a first direct current (DC) voltage from the circuit board, compares the first DC voltage with a reference voltage, and outputs a switch signal according to a result of the comparison. The switch module receives the switch signal, and output a control signal accordingly. The control module receives the control signal, determines a status of the circuit board according to the control signal, and outputs a display signal corresponding to the status of the circuit board. The display module receives the display signal, and displays whether there is current on the circuit board according to the display signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WUHAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: ZHONG-GANG WU
  • Patent number: 8575942
    Abstract: This invention relates to non-contact measurement methods and an apparatus for the identification of hazardous contact voltages on energized objects and surfaces. The apparatus includes an electric field sensor structured to sense an electric field and a gain amplifier electrically connected to the electric field sensor to amplify electric signals from the electric field sensor. The apparatus further includes a signal conditioning circuit adapted to process the amplified electric signals and form time-coordinated signals and a digital signal processor adapted to evaluate the time-coordinated signals and provide a user with a status of a contact voltage source by activating an appropriate status indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Stewart Dorr, Kermit O. Phipps, Thomas A. Cooke, Philip C. Cochrane
  • Publication number: 20130273671
    Abstract: A method for detecting an endpoint during removal of material from an electronic device includes while removing material from an electronic device-under-test (DUT) using a tip driven by a spindle, applying an input signal to the DUT via the tip and using an output signal received from one of the DUT and a mounting plate to which the DUT is attached to determine an endpoint for removal of material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: James Barry Colvin
  • Publication number: 20130271110
    Abstract: An electric potential measuring apparatus includes a detecting unit, a generating unit, and a measuring unit. The detecting unit is provided on a surface of a measurement subject and detects a second signal including a first signal within a first frequency range from the measurement subject. The generating unit generates a fourth signal by averaging a third signal within a second frequency range outside the first frequency range. The measuring unit measures electric potential of the first signal included in the second signal detected by the detecting unit with reference to electric potential of the fourth signal generated by the generating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazunori Yamanaka, Kazuaki Kurihara
  • Publication number: 20130265032
    Abstract: External monitoring and control apparatus and associated method comprising means to continuously provide a precision reference voltage to an internal monitoring instrument such as a cathodic monitoring instrument operable, in use, to monitor externally produced voltage and/or current signals indicative of rectifier current, rectifier voltage and soil potential in the system being monitored, wherein the normally continuous supply of precision reference voltage is interruptable by a Reed relay connectable in its open position to a source of incoming measurement signals indicative of current and/or voltage parameters relating to the system being monitored by the internal monitoring instrument, the arrangement being such that the internal monitoring instrument is only briefly in direct electrical contact with the system being monitored when external monitoring occurs via the external monitoring and control apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventor: Frank Joseph PRINEPPI
  • Publication number: 20130241302
    Abstract: There is provided a detecting apparatus including one or a plurality of magnetic coupling elements that include a plurality of coils, and a detector that measures an electrical parameter related to the one or plurality of magnetic coupling elements or to a circuit that at least includes the one or plurality of magnetic coupling elements, and determines from a change in the electrical parameter whether a foreign matter that generates heat due to magnetic flux is present. In the one or plurality of magnetic coupling elements, the plurality of coils are electrically connected such that magnetic flux produced from at least one or more of the plurality of coils and magnetic flux produced from remaining coils of the plurality of coils have approximately opposing orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Miyamoto, Kohei Mori, Tomomichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 8536856
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting stray voltage anomalies in electric fields are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for detecting an electrical field may comprise: at least one sensor probe for generating data corresponding to an electrical field detected by the at least one sensor probe, wherein the at least one sensor probe comprises at least one electrode; a processor, coupled to the at least one sensor probe, for analyzing the data to identify a voltage anomaly in the electric field; and an indicator, coupled to the processor, for alerting a user to a presence of the voltage anomaly in the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Power Survey LLC
    Inventors: David Kalokitis, Leonard Joshua Schultz, Christos Alkiviadis Polyzois, Vincent Paragano, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130229169
    Abstract: A voltage detection device includes: a plurality of voltage-detecting ICs installed in order to detect voltages of a plurality of blocks of a secondary battery, each of the voltage-detecting ICs being installed for each of the blocks; and an interruption control unit that controls interruption operations of the voltage-detecting ICs. After resetting all of the voltage-detecting ICs by transmitting a trigger signal to all of the voltage detecting ICs, the interruption control unit transmits a control signal in which an address of a voltage-detecting IC allowed to execute an interruption operation is designated. Each of the voltage-detecting ICs receives the control signal within a designated time set in advance, executes the interruption operation when an address of its own is designated, and is left reset when the address of its own is not designated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi ISHIKAWA, Masashi SEKIZAKI
  • Patent number: 8525507
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for monitoring external excitation on a surface using nanocomposite paint. The method comprises applying the nanocomposite paint on the surface, wherein the nanocomposite paint comprises a mixture of a plurality of carbon nanotubes and an epoxy resin along with a plurality of electrically conductive patterned electrodes. The electrical properties of the nanocomposite paint changes in response to the external excitation of the surface. The change in the electrical properties of the nanocomposite is measured by a measuring instrument, wherein the change in the electrical properties of the nanocomposite paint is directly proportional to the external excitation experienced by the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
    Inventor: Osama J Aldraihem
  • Patent number: 8519698
    Abstract: A presentable voltage sensor includes an electrode faced by an electric field probe and connected to a voltage source; a screening conductive shell wrapping the probe and connected to a reference potential; a dielectric material housed within the shell and interposed between the probe and the electrode; a conditioning circuit connected to an exit of the sensor and having a resistor of resistance Rm interposed between the probe and a second reference potential; and an integrator circuit formed from an RC network and having a resistor of resistance Ri, a capacitor of capacitance Ci, and a loss factor which, at a frequency of interest, is of an order of 10?4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Green Seas Ventures Ltd
    Inventors: Lorenzo Peretto, Roberto Tinarelli
  • Patent number: 8502521
    Abstract: A measuring device for a hard disk drive includes a first input node, a hard disk drive having a first input terminal, the first input terminal being coupled to the first input node to provide power to the hard disk drive. A first input current sampling unit is coupled between the first input node and the first input terminal of the hard disk drive to obtain a first input current Iin1. A first input voltage sampling unit is coupled to the first input terminal of the hard disk drive to obtain a first input voltage Uin1. A control unit is coupled to the first input current sampling unit and the first input voltage sampling unit to receive the first input current and the first input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Song-Lin Tong, Qi-Yan Luo, Peng Chen
  • Publication number: 20130193950
    Abstract: The present invention provides for safe and reliable electronic circuitry that can be employed in ingestible compositions. The ingestible circuitry of the invention includes a solid support; a conductive element; and an electronic component. Each of the support, conductive element and electronic component are fabricated from an ingestible material. The ingestible circuitry finds use in a variety of different applications, including as components of ingestible identifiers, such as may be found in ingestible event markers, e.g., pharma-informatics enabled pharmaceutical compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: PROTEUS DIGITAL HEALTH, INC.
    Inventor: Proteus Digital Health, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8494120
    Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a digital network to telephone interface device having a controller capable of detecting foreign voltage faults without interrupting telephone service. Upon detection of a foreign voltage fault the controller can deactivate the telephone service and initiate a test sequence to confirm the foreign voltage fault. If the fault is confirmed the telephone service remains deactivated and an operator of the digital network is notified. The device will improve the quality of service and save the cost of sending some one to investigate the fault. The operator can take proactive action once the device provides fault analysis and information remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Dipak R. Patel, Robert L. Kirkner, Scott A. Reinert
  • Patent number: 8493053
    Abstract: A system and device for measuring voltage in a conductor having a voltage provides a first electrode surrounding and spaced from the conductor, and a second electrode surrounding and spaced from both the conductor and the first electrode such that there is no contact between the conductor and the electrodes or between the first and second electrodes. The first electrode is connected to a first input of a differential amplifier circuit and the second electrode is connected to the other input of the differential amplifier circuit. The output of the differential amplifier circuit provides a voltage signal in proportion to the voltage of the conductor, thus providing a non-contact means for measuring the voltage of a conductor without requiring a connection to ground while simultaneously providing a high level of rejection of external interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: GRID20/20, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric George de Buda
  • Patent number: 8487605
    Abstract: A real time Schumann frequency (approximately 6-10 Hz) band-based, lightning strike detector system is described, comprising: first and second sensor systems, each sensor system comprising: first and second magnetic field sensors, each sensor having a preferential directional sensitivity, wherein the sensors are arranged with their preferential directional sensitivity substantially orthogonal to each other; signal lines coupled to the sensors; an amplifier to coupled to the signal lines; an output of the amplifier coupled to a processor; and power source coupled to the amplifier and processor, wherein the first and second sensor systems are separated from each other by at least 400 miles, and wherein each sensor system upon detection of a Schumann frequency from a lightning strike provides a respective orientation angle, wherein an intersection of the angles of orientation following a great circle path indicates a location of the lightning strike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Jack Y. Dea
  • Patent number: 8482274
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting stray voltage anomalies in electric fields are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for detecting an electrical field may comprise: at least one sensor probe for generating data corresponding to an electrical field detected by the at least one sensor probe, wherein the at least one sensor probe comprises at least one electrode; a processor, coupled to the at least one sensor probe, for analyzing the data to identify a voltage anomaly in the electric field; and an indicator, coupled to the processor, for alerting a user to a presence of the voltage anomaly in the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Power Survey LLC
    Inventors: David Kalokitis, Leonard Joshua Schultz, Christos Alkiviadis Polyzois, Vincent Paragano, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8482273
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting stray voltage anomalies in electric fields are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for detecting an electrical field may comprise: at least one sensor probe for generating data corresponding to an electrical field detected by the at least one sensor probe, wherein the at least one sensor probe comprises at least one electrode; a processor, coupled to the at least one sensor probe, for analyzing the data to identify a voltage anomaly in the electric field; and an indicator, coupled to the processor, for alerting a user to a presence of the voltage anomaly in the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Power Survey LLC
    Inventors: David Kalokitis, Leonard Joshua Schultz, Christos Alkiviadis Polyzois, Vincent Paragano, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130099772
    Abstract: Described herein is a self-powered system for detecting a current spike. The current spike is delivered through a current return network that energizes a resonant circuit to produce an alternating electrical output. The output is rectified by a rectifier into direct output that is then transferred to an integrator circuit. The integrator circuit slowly builds to and dissipates from a voltage threshold corresponding to an output transistor. When the output transistor is triggered by the voltage threshold this trigger is communicated to a fault monitoring software that recognizes the current spike.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Bruce Van Deventer
  • Patent number: 8427352
    Abstract: An A/D converter circuit includes first to fourth pulse circulation circuits and first and second counters and configured to provide high conversion accuracy irrespective of a temperature change. The first pulse circulation circuit operates with a difference voltage of a specified voltage and an analog input voltage. The first counter outputs a difference of the number of pulse circulation in the first and the second pulse circulation circuits. The third pulse circulation circuit operates with a difference voltage of the specified voltage and a set voltage. The fourth pulse circulation circuit operates with the set voltage. The second counter outputs a difference of the number of pulse circulation in the third and the fourth pulse circulation circuits. When an output value of the second counter reaches a specified value, an output value of the first counter at that time is outputted as A/D conversion data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiko Tanizawa
  • Patent number: 8428878
    Abstract: A lightning strike simulation apparatus includes a storage device for storing lightning strike data, a setting unit for setting a simulation target in a simulation space, a downward leader advancing unit for advancing a downward leader from a lightning strike start position set by the setting unit, an upward leader advancing unit for advancing upward leaders from lightning strike-receiving candidate points set in the simulation space when a distance between a leading edge of the downward leader and a reference point is within a first threshold value, and a lightning strike point determination unit for, when a distance between a leading edge of the downward leader and a leading edge of any one of the upward leaders is within a second threshold value, determining that the lightning strike-receiving candidate point corresponding to the any one of the upward leaders is a lightning strike point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Naka, Tsuyoshi Wakasa, Shinji Arinaga
  • Patent number: 8427333
    Abstract: A lightning detection system is presented. The lightning detection system includes a plurality of sensing devices configured to generate sensor signals representative of one or more working state parameters of an object. The lightning detection system further includes a lightning signal processing subsystem configured to combine the sensor signals representative of the one or more working state parameters received from the plurality of sensing devices to generate a composite signal, extract noise signals from the composite signal, and compare the extracted noise signals with one or more lightning signal profiles to determine existence of lightning noise signals in the extracted noise signals, wherein the lightning noise signals are induced in the sensor signals in response to a lightning strike on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Sebastian Gerhard Maxim Kraemer
  • Publication number: 20130082681
    Abstract: A detecting circuit for detecting a feedback voltage of a pixel circuit includes a converting unit, a control chip and a display unit. The converting unit electrically connected to the pixel circuit performs an analog-to-digital operation to convert the feedback voltage into a digital signal. The control chip electrically connected to the converting unit controls the converting unit to perform the analog-to-digital operation and processes the digital signal to generate a display information. The display unit electrically connected to the control chip displays a voltage value of the feedback voltage according to the display information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: E Ink Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: CHUN-TA CHIEN
  • Publication number: 20130082680
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge testing (ESD) apparatus includes a platform, a control unit, an ESD gun, an X rod, a Y rod, and a Z rod respectively parallel to designated XYZ axes of the platform. The Z rod is slidably disposed on the X rod via a first sliding joint, and the Y rod is slidably disposed on the Z rod via a second sliding joint. The ESD gun is disposed on the Y rod. The control unit controls the Z rod to slide along the X rod, and controls the Y rod to slide along the Z rod and along an axis of the Y rod, according to a predetermined testing program. Thus, the ESD gun is moved along a working path to test a product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: TSUNG-PEI WU, XIAO-LIAN HE
  • Patent number: 8412120
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a phase-locked circuit including: a phase-locked section including a voltage controlled oscillator having a capacitance bank and changing oscillation frequency according to voltage information, the phase-locked section phase-locking an oscillating signal of the voltage controlled oscillator to a reference signal; and a calibration section having a voltage correcting function for supplying an appropriate calibration voltage to the voltage controlled oscillator in performing frequency calibration for the voltage controlled oscillator; the calibration section including a counter circuit, a first storage circuit and a second storage circuit, a comparator circuit, a control circuit, a voltage generating circuit, and a processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fujiwara, Shingo Harada
  • Patent number: 8412386
    Abstract: An adaptive relaying control system and method is disclosed for adapting coordination of protective measures provided to an electric-energy distribution system as a function of at least an ambient weather condition. A weather sensor senses the ambient weather condition within a region adjacent to at least a portion of the electric-energy distribution system. A control unit is operatively coupled to the weather sensor to receive a weather signal indicative of the ambient weather condition and determine whether a storm condition exists based at least in part on the weather signal. The control unit establishes a suitable control philosophy for adapting coordination of the protective measures provided to the electric-energy distribution system based at least in part on whether the storm condition exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: FirstEnergy Corp.
    Inventor: Karl J. Fickey
  • Publication number: 20130076336
    Abstract: A device and a method for detecting a crowbar circuit in a wind turbine are provided, wherein the wind turbine comprises a converter electrically connected to the crowbar circuit, and the method comprises: electrically coupling a detection module to the crowbar circuit; inputting a first control signal into the crowbar circuit, to turn on the crowbar circuit; providing a three-phase voltage signal to the crowbar circuit via the converter, wherein voltage signals in any two adjacent phases has a predetermined phase angle difference; reading the first detection signal outputted by the detection module, to determine whether the crowbar circuit is normally thrown into the wind turbine; inputting a second control signal to the crowbar circuit, to turn off the crowbar circuit; and reading again the second detection signal outputted by the detection module, to determine whether the crowbar circuit is normally cut out from the wind turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liang Cao, Li Cai, Yan-Song Lu
  • Patent number: 8405378
    Abstract: The generation and monitoring of a load-independent output current for a level meter, pressure gauge, flowmeter or evaluation device are described. A current that is equal or unequal to the measuring current, but inverted relative thereto, can be generated continuously or within certain time intervals in a switching circuit that is realized independently of the network generating the measuring current. The generated current can be fed into the measuring circuit at a comparison point and added. The compensation principle makes it possible to determine whether the measuring current corresponds to the nominal value, wherein a testing current is fed into the first electric circuit by means of a second switching circuit that contains a second current source. A certain expectancy value of a voltage to be tapped can be calculated in dependence on the testing current being fed in and the nominal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventor: Andreas Blessing
  • Publication number: 20130063124
    Abstract: A measurement card includes a circuit board, an edge connector on a bottom edge of the circuit board, a port arranged on the circuit board, and a single-pole double-throw switch for connecting the port to either a first or a second pin of the edge connector to tests the VDDQ and VTT outputs of a memory slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD
    Inventors: FU-SEN YANG, YUN BAI, SONG-LIN TONG
  • Patent number: 8390271
    Abstract: The present invention relates to magnetic anchorage equipment comprising a frame able to contain a plurality of polar units, each of the plurality of polar units having a ferromagnetic polar element which identifies an anchorage surface and a self-testing unit for checking the magnetic equipment. The magnetic anchorage equipment is characterized in that the self-testing unit for checking the magnetic equipment is at least partly integrated in the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignees: Tecnomagnete S.p.A., Politecnico di Milano
    Inventors: Michele Cardone, Giovanni Cosmai, Roberto Faranda, Antonino Giglio