Frequency Of Cyclic Current Or Voltage (e.g., Cyclic Counting Etc.) Patents (Class 324/76.39)
  • Patent number: 11953970
    Abstract: A controllable voltage source (902) is coupled to a microelectronic circuit (901) for providing an operating voltage. Said microelectronic circuit (901) is adaptive, so its performance is at least partly configurable by value of said operating voltage. The operating voltage is regulated into conformity with a target value. Reregulating said operating voltage into conformity with a new target value involves a time constant. On a processing path a first register circuit (502) comprises a data input coupled to an output of a preceding first logic unit (501). The microelectronic circuit (901) responds to a digital value at said data input changing later than an allowable time limit by generating a timing event observation (TEO) signal. The allowable time limit is defined by at least one triggering edge of at least one triggering signal coupled to the first register circuit (502). The system uses said TEO signal to trigger an increase in said operating voltage faster than said time constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Minima Processor Oy
    Inventors: Matthew Turnquist, Navneet Gupta, Lauri Koskinen, Tuomas Hollman
  • Patent number: 11782073
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a probe extension system that allows extending the distance between a measurement device and a measurement probe. The probe extension system comprises a first releasable adaptor comprising a device-side electromechanical interface that is releasably couplable to a measurement interface of the measurement device, and a first cable-side electromechanical interface that is releasably couplable to an extension cable harness and that is in the first releasable adaptor electrically coupled to the device-side electromechanical interface, and a second releasable adaptor comprising a second cable-side electromechanical interface that is releasably couplable to the extension cable harness, and a probe-side electromechanical interface that is releasably couplable to the measurement probe and that is in the second releasable adaptor electrically coupled to the second cable-side electromechanical interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ROHDE & SCHWARZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Kunze, Stefan Ketzer, Benedikt Lippert, Martin Peschke
  • Patent number: 11603806
    Abstract: Sensor delivering detection information in the form of a variation of a current, including a sensitive portion adapted to detecting the passage of a mobile target, an electronic module able to control and shape signals coming from the sensitive portion, an embedded intelligence module adapted, inter alia, to receive information from an electronic computer and to process and generate information intended for the electronic computer, characterized in that the sensor includes a random-number generation module able to generate a random number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Jacques Rocher, Yannick Leroy, Benjamin Marconato
  • Patent number: 11587546
    Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and methods for interference based wave synthesis. The invention comprises (i) receiving information defining output wave characteristics, said output wave characteristics comprising at least an output wave frequency B, and an output signal amplitude M, (ii) determining a constant value A and (iii) driving a first input wave generator to generate a first input wave and (iv) driving a second input wave generator to generate a second input wave, such that the interfered wave synthesized by interference of the first input wave and the second input wave has output wave characteristics defined by the received information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Pradnesh Mohare
  • Patent number: 11569745
    Abstract: An example electrical system is disclosed. The electrical system can include a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) and a power inverter connected to the RESS. The power inverter can be configured to provide electrical power to a traction motor. The electrical system can include a plurality of machine windings connected between the power inverter and a switch. The switch can be configured to transition between a closed state to allow current flow from an off-board power source through the plurality of machine windings to the RESS and an open state to prevent current flow between the off-board power source and the plurality of machine windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Rashmi Prasad, Chandra S. Namuduri
  • Patent number: 11561644
    Abstract: In a display system, a display device includes multiple sensor electrodes divided into multiple groups. A second drive circuit supplies, to the multiple sensor electrodes, a touch drive signal having a phase different for each group. A touch detection circuit performs detection of a touch by an object on the display device, based on a detection signal received from the multiple sensor electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Natsuki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 11481074
    Abstract: A processing system for an input device includes an in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) receiver module including a first and second charge integrators, and first and second demodulator modules. The I/Q receiver module alternates integration of a resulting signal, received from a receiver electrode of the input device, between the first and the second charge integrators in four consecutive quarter cycles, to obtain four consecutive integration results. The four consecutive quarter cycles coincide with one cycle of a local oscillator signal for the first and second demodulator modules. The I/Q receiver module further alternates demodulation of the four consecutive integration results between the first and second demodulator modules. The first demodulator module performs an in-phase demodulation to produce an in-phase component of a sensing signal associated with the first resulting signal, and the second demodulator module performs a quadrature demodulation to produce a quadrature component of the sensing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert J. Bolender
  • Patent number: 11451222
    Abstract: A reliability detection device includes a control circuit, oscillator circuits, and an output circuit. The control circuit is configured to generate enable signals according to a mode signal. The oscillator circuits output oscillating signals, in which each of the oscillator circuits is configured to generate a corresponding oscillating signal in the oscillating signals according to a switching signal when the mode signal has a first logic value, and generate the corresponding oscillating signal according to a corresponding enable signal in the enable signals when the mode signal has a second logic value, and the switching signal is associated with a functional circuit. The output circuit is configured to output a detection signal according to the oscillating signals when the mode signal has the second logic value, in which the detection signal is to indicate a reliability of the functional circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wen-Hsuan Hsu, Chun-Yi Kuo, Ying-Yen Chen
  • Patent number: 11327525
    Abstract: An apparatus including a serial clock routing pipeline including a first set of clock inputs and a clock output; a first set of clock generators including a first set of clock outputs coupled to the first set of clock inputs of the serial clock routing pipeline, respectively; and a first clock monitoring unit including a first clock input coupled to the clock output of the serial clock routing pipeline, and a first status output to provide information concerning one or more of the first set of clock generators. The apparatus may further include a set of phase locked loops (PLLs) coupled to the set of clock generators, respectively; the set of PLLs also coupled to the clock monitoring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Federico Salluzzo, Sina Dena, Amod Phadke, Vanamali Bhat
  • Patent number: 11204377
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for estimating a period and frequency of a waveform. In one embodiment a system may comprise an input configured to receive a signal comprising a representation of the waveform. A period determination subsystem may calculate an estimated period of the signal based on a period determination function. An estimated period adjustment subsystem may determine an adjustment to the estimated period based on a result of the period determination function. A quality indicator subsystem configured to evaluate a measurement quality indictor function based on the estimated period, and to selectively update the period of the waveform based on the measurement quality indicator. A control action subsystem configured to implement a control action based on the period of the waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Bogdan Z. Kasztenny, Tony J. Lee
  • Patent number: 10698008
    Abstract: A current-sense ratio calibration system includes a power field effect transistor (FET) integrated circuit (IC) that includes a regulator FET to regulate current through a power path and a sense FET to provide a sense current to a sense path. The regulator FET and sense FET have an intended current-sense ratio. The system calibrates the current-sense ratio by applying proportioned stimulus signals to the power and sense paths, the proportion being the intended current-sense ratio. The calibration circuitry compares a measurement of a sense path circuit parameter made during the stimulus application to a measurement of the parameter made not during the stimulus application to derive an error term used to calibrate for any sources of error in the current-sense ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Michael James Mills
  • Patent number: 10419007
    Abstract: A digital frequency-division phase-locked loop, including a time-to-digital converter (TDC), a digital loop filter (DLF), a digital-controlled oscillator (DCO), a feedback frequency divider (DIV), a sigma-delta modulator (SDM), and a calibration apparatus, where the calibration apparatus compensates for, based on a frequency control word and a frequency-division control word generated by the SDM, a digital signal output by the TDC to obtain a calibration signal. The DLF performs digital filtering on the calibration signal to obtain an oscillator frequency control signal and set the oscillator frequency control signal as an output signal of the DCO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Peng Gao
  • Patent number: 10310659
    Abstract: An apparatus for combined capacitance and pressure sensing is described. The apparatus includes a multiplexer (75) having a plurality of inputs (76) and an output (F), a touch panel (29), and a front end module (3). The touch panel includes a layer structure (5; FIG. 15) comprising one or more layers, each extending perpendicularly to a thickness direction, the one or more layers including a layer of piezoelectric material (10; FIG. 15), the layer structure having first (6) and second (7; FIG. 15) opposite faces, and the layer(s) arranged between the first and second faces such that the thickness direction of each layer is perpendicular to the first and second faces. The touch panel also includes a plurality of first electrodes (8) disposed on the first face, each first electrode connected to a respective input of the multiplexer. The touch panel also includes at least one second electrode (9) disposed on the second face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Cambridge Touch Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Arokia Nathan, Jackson Chi-Sun Lai, Suk-Bae Cha, Corbin Church
  • Patent number: 10290338
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a multilayer magnetic device, and specifically to a spin-torque transfer magnetoresistive random access memory (STT-MRAM) device which provides for a reduction in the amount of current required for switching individual bits. As such, a polarizing reference layer consisting of a synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) structure with an in-plane magnetized ferromagnet film indirectly exchange coupled to a magnetic film with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) is disclosed. By tuning the exchange coupling strength and the PMA, the layers of the SAF may both be canted such that either may be used as a tilted polarizer for either an in-plane free layer or a free layer with PMA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick M. Braganca, John C. Read
  • Patent number: 9819255
    Abstract: Control apparatus, techniques and computer readable mediums are presented to mitigate LCL filter resonance issue for voltage source converters. Two level voltage source converter with and without passive damping of LCL filter are selected for the comparative study. Control algorithms are presented to estimate the source impedance based on variable carrier PWM. Estimated source impedance is used to tune the control of the VSC to avoid the resonance of LCL filter has been presented. In situations in which LCL resonance cannot be avoided by tuning the control parameters, energy efficient techniques are disclosed to provide selective passive damping to facilitate continued power conversion system operation without significant adverse impact on system performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yogesh P. Patel, Lixiang Wei
  • Patent number: 9689708
    Abstract: A method for determining a value of a measured variable, which is a function of a first auxiliary measured variable and at least a second auxiliary measured variable, comprising: registering and providing a sequence of measured values of the first auxiliary measured variable over at least a first time range; providing a value of the second auxiliary measured variable, wherein the point in time of registering the provided value lies in the first time range; selecting a value of the first auxiliary measured variable from the sequence of measured values of the first auxiliary measured variable as a function of information concerning point in time of registering the provided value of the second auxiliary measured variable; and ascertaining a value of the measured variable as a function of the selected value of the first auxiliary measured variable and the value of the second auxiliary measured variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Romuald Girardey, Roland Dieterle, Marc Schlachter
  • Patent number: 9671427
    Abstract: A high-voltage active measurement probe is for a measurement instrument such as an oscilloscope. The high voltage active measurement probe includes an input terminal configured to receive an input signal from a device under test (DUT), a first output terminal configured to transmit a first output signal to the measurement instrument for measurement and display of peak voltages, and a second output terminal configured to transmit a second output signal to the measurement instrument for high sensitivity measurement and display of low level voltages. A first probe signal path is between the input terminal and the first output terminal, and a second probe signal path between the input terminal and the second output terminal. A first amplifier is in the first probe signal path between the input terminal and the first output terminal, and a second amplifier is in the second probe signal path between the input terminal and the second output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Johnson, Edward Vernon Brush, IV
  • Patent number: 9625516
    Abstract: A device and corresponding method for monitoring a photovoltaic system to detect an occurrence of events impairing normal operation of the photovoltaic system is provide. The photovoltaic system includes a photovoltaic generator including a first group of photovoltaic modules and a second group of photovoltaic modules being different from the first group. The device includes a first and a second pair of coupling means, both pairs including signal coupling-in means for coupling a test signal into the photovoltaic generator, and a signal coupling-out means for coupling out a response signal from the photovoltaic generator, the first pair of coupling means configured to selectively detect the occurrence of the events in the first group of photovoltaic modules, and the second pair of coupling means configured to selectively detect the occurrence of the events in the second group of photovoltaic modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Markus Hopf, Holger Behrends, Gerd Bettenwort, Sebastian Bieniek, Marcel Kratochvil
  • Patent number: 9618555
    Abstract: A method for impedance measurement using chirp signal injection is provided. The method includes injecting at least one chirp signal into the three-phase AC system, and collecting at least one response to the at least one chirp signal. The method further includes transferring the at least one response from abc coordinates to dq coordinates. At least one impedance is calculated based on the at least one response to the at least one chirp signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: Huntington Ingalls Incorporated, Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Verhulst, Mohamed Belkhayat, Zhiyu Shen, Marko Jaksic, Paolo Mattavelli, Dushan Boroyevich
  • Patent number: 9562939
    Abstract: A method for impedance measurement in a three-phase AC system is provided. The method includes injecting a shunt perturbation signal into the three-phase AC system and collecting a response to the shunt perturbation signal, and injecting a series perturbation signal into the three-phase AC system and collecting a response to the series perturbation signal. The response to the shunt perturbation signal and the response to the series perturbation signal are then transferred from abc coordinate to dq coordinates. At least one impedance of the three-phase AC system is calculated based on the response to the shunt perturbation signal and the response to the series perturbation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: Huntington Ingalls Incorporated, Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Verhulst, Mohamed Belkhayat, Zhiyu Shen, Marko Jaksic, Paolo Mattavelli, Dushan Boroyevich
  • Patent number: 9456755
    Abstract: A medical monitoring device for monitoring electrical signals from the body of a subject is described. The medical monitoring device monitors electrical signals originating from a cardiac cycle of the subject and associates each cardiac cycle with a time index. The medical monitoring device applies a forward computational procedure to generate a risk score indicative of hyperkalemia, hypokalemia or arrhythmia of the subject. The medical monitoring device can adjust the forward computational procedure based upon clinical data obtained from the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Orhan Soykan, VenKatesh R. Manda, Martin T. Gerber, Christopher M. Hobot
  • Patent number: 9041417
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject method and apparatus relate to a sequence of noncontact Corona-Kelvin Metrology, C-KM, that allows the determination and monitoring of interface properties in dielectric/wide band gap semiconductor structures. The technique involves the incremental application of precise and measured quantities of corona charge, QC, onto the dielectric surface followed by determination of the contact potential difference, VCPD, as the material structure response. The V-Q characteristics obtained are used to extract the surface barrier, VSB, response related to the applied corona charge. The metrology method presented determines an intersection of the VCPD-QC characteristic obtained in the dark with the VOX-QC characteristic representing the dielectric response. The specific VSB-QC dependence surrounding the reference VFB value is obtained from this method and allows the noncontact determination of the dielectric interface trap density and its spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Elena I. Oborina, Andrew Hoff
  • Patent number: 9030188
    Abstract: A frequency monitor provides high resolution frequency monitoring over a range of input signal frequencies by measuring the time period of the signal to produce a raw frequency value and then filtering the raw frequency value with a low pass filter to remove an error component caused by quantization effects at high input signal frequencies. The system automatically accommodates changes in the input frequency eliminating a need for manual adjustment of the system based on anticipated measured frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Hopsecger, David R. Goodnetter
  • Patent number: 9013172
    Abstract: There are provided an apparatus and a method for detecting a frequency, the apparatus including a signal converting unit removing a high frequency component from an input signal and then converting the input signal into a digital signal, an edge detecting unit detecting an edge of the digital to thereby generate an edge detection signal having a predetermined magnitude, and a frequency estimating unit generating a pulse signal based on the edge detection signal and averaging the pulse signal at a predetermined interval to thereby estimate a frequency of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wan Cheol Yang
  • Publication number: 20150097550
    Abstract: A method of detecting a cable connected to a first device includes generating a second signal within the first device, and outputting the second signal onto an input-only pin of a cable connector on the first device, wherein the input-only pin is assigned to receive a first signal from a driver on a second device when a cable is connected from the second device to the cable connector, and wherein the second signal has a frequency that is at least four times greater than the frequency of the first signal. The method further comprises determining that a cable is not connected to the cable connector in response to the detecting the second signal on a wire coupled to the input-only pin, and determining that the cable is connected to the cable connector in response to detecting a signal other than the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alfredo Aldereguia, Jeffrey R. Hamilton, Clifton E. Kerr, Grace A. Richter
  • Patent number: 8994363
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a grid monitoring system, in particular a grid monitoring system enabling real-time monitoring of grid variables, e.g. voltage and current, in electrical power systems, such as single or three-phase networks. The grid monitoring system includes a harmonic detection unit being adapted to subtract harmonics of an input signal before feeding the input signal to a plurality of signal generators in the harmonic detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Pedro Rodriguez, Remus Teodorescu
  • Patent number: 8981755
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of detecting electric variables of a three-phase AC network having a first, a second and a third phase, including the steps of measuring a respective voltage value of the first, second and third phases in relation to a neutral conductor at a first moment in time, transforming the three voltage values of the first moment in time into polar co-ordinates with a voltage amplitude and a phase angle, repeating measurement and transformation for at least one further moment in time, and determining the currently prevailing frequency, voltage amplitude and/or phase angle of at least one of the phases from the voltage values transformed into polar co-ordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Aloys Wobben
    Inventors: Alfred Beekmann, Volker Diedrichs
  • Publication number: 20150061639
    Abstract: A method is provided of determining a time interval between switching events for a switching device in a power converter, the switching device being for coupling a direct current (DC) source to provide an alternating current (AC) output at a particular switching frequency. The method comprises selecting an initial length of a time interval between a first switching event and a second, subsequent switching event for the switching device and obtaining a current measurement value for the switching device when the time interval between the first switching event and the second, subsequent switching event takes said initial length. The method further comprises changing the length of the time interval between the first switching event and the second, subsequent switching event and obtaining a current measurement value for the switching device when the length of the time interval is changed. The current measurement values which have been obtained are used to detect generation of a current in the switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Antony John Webster, Simon David Hart
  • Publication number: 20150054490
    Abstract: A combiner box capable of monitoring energy output from a photovoltaic system (or other alternative energy system) having improved troubleshooting functionality, the ability to independently verify utility charges, and a mechanism for reducing incorrect readings of energy output and consumption due to noise and interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: E GEAR LLC
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER ROBERT DEBONE, Steven Peter Godmere
  • Patent number: 8947071
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring frequency which reduces the impact of noise. The system and method includes the steps of sampling a signal train over a first signal portion of the signal train, determining a first average period for the first signal portion (t1) of the signal train, sampling the signal train over a second signal portion (t2) of the signal train, wherein, the second portion of the signal train overlaps with the first signal portion, determining a second average period for the second signal portion (t2) of the output signal train, and then determining the average of the determined average periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Weston Aerospace Limited
    Inventors: Mark Rudkin, Anthony Palmer
  • Publication number: 20150015239
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a measuring device may comprise two oscillators. The first oscillator may generate a local reference signal in a frequency detector to detect a fundamental frequency of the AC. The second oscillator may generate two substantially mutually orthogonal sinusoid signals having the selected frequency. The measuring device further may comprise a first group of multipliers that mixes the two sinusoid signals with a current and a voltage data signal of the AC respectively, a group of low-pass filters for removing high frequency components from the multiplication products, a second group of multipliers for mixing the filtered multiplication produces respectively, and a plurality of adders each to sum together a pair of multiplication products of the second group of multipliers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel ANTONESEI
  • Publication number: 20150008898
    Abstract: A method and a device are provided for monitoring an electrical power supply network. A temporal frequency change value is determined for at least two sections or for at least two points of the power supply network. The frequency change value indicates the respective temporal frequency change of the network frequency. A conclusion is drawn regarding a possible islanding within the power supply network, and a warning signal which indicates the possible islanding within the power supply network is generated when the difference between the frequency change values, exceeds a predetermined frequency change threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Andreas Litzinger, Stefan Piel
  • Patent number: 8922193
    Abstract: Apparatus, usable to measure current in a multiple-conductor cable having supply and return conductors spaced apart by a nominal conductor spacing and carrying respective supply and return currents in opposite directions, includes (1) a non-magnetic body having a cable-engaging portion defining a location and an orientation axis of the multiple-conductor cable relative to the apparatus when the cable-engaging portion engages the cable during use, (2) a planar, multi-turn wire coil supported by the body immediately adjacent to the location and lying in a plane parallel to the orientation axis, the wire coil having a coil diameter at least four times the nominal conductor spacing, and (3) signal conditioning circuitry operative in response to a voltage signal developed across output ends of the wire coil to generate a conditioned voltage signal having a voltage magnitude determined by and indicative of a magnitude of the supply current during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Brandeis University
    Inventors: Hermann F. Wellenstein, Paul Keselman
  • Publication number: 20140354261
    Abstract: A method, circuit, and integrated circuit for detecting resonance frequency is disclosed in which a first operational amplifier circuit receives an input signal and provides an output signal for a resonance circuit to store energy, a zero crossing comparator circuit samples a discharge current of the resonance circuit and transforms the sampled current into a sampled voltage and outputs a square signal to a digital signal processor based on the sampled voltage, and the digital signal processor obtains a resonance frequency based on the square signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Lei Huang, Na Meng
  • Patent number: 8901917
    Abstract: An element measurement circuit is provided, comprising a oscillator for generating a first oscillation clock and second oscillation clock, a frequency divider for dividing the first oscillation clock to generate a third oscillation clock and for dividing the second oscillation clock to generate a fourth oscillation clock, a frequency detector for detecting the third oscillation clock to generate a first count value and for detecting the fourth oscillation clock to generate a second count value, and a controller for generating a first oscillation period according to the first count value, for generating a second oscillation period according to the second count value, and for generating a measurement value according to the first oscillation period and the second oscillation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Ying-Yen Chen, Jih-Nung Lee, Chun-Yu Yang
  • Publication number: 20140347035
    Abstract: Described is an electrical measuring system with a six-gate circuit and a delay line. An electrical signal is fed from a resonator, at least one of directly and or via the delay line, to the six-gate circuit. The frequency of the signal is computed by the six-gate circuit in dependence on the length of the delay line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicants: HORST SIEDLE GMBH & CO. KG, Friedrich-Alexander-Universitaet Erlangen- Nuremberg
    Inventors: Ernst HALDER, Peter DINGLER, Francesco BARBON, Alexander Kölpin, Stefan LINDNER, Sarah LINZ, Sebastian MANN
  • Patent number: 8896323
    Abstract: Systems and methods for radiation-tolerant overcurrent detection are disclosed. In some embodiments, an integrated circuit may include a plurality of overcurrent detectors, each of the plurality of overcurrent detectors configured to detect a candidate overcurrent event. The integrated circuit may also include a voting circuit coupled to the overcurrent detectors, the voting circuit configured to indicate an overcurrent in response to receiving a selected number of candidate overcurrent events from the overcurrent detectors. At least one of the overcurrent detectors may be subject to detecting the candidate overcurrent in error, at least in part, due to exposure to ionizing radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles Parkhurst, Mark Hamlyn
  • Publication number: 20140340122
    Abstract: An integrated circuit has voltage generating circuitry for generating an on-chip voltage from a supply voltage in response to clock pulses. Clock control circuitry controls transmission of the clock pulses to the voltage generating circuitry. The clock control circuitry receives a reference voltage and a digital offset value comprising a binary numeric value identifying an offset. The clock control circuitry suppresses transmission of the clock pulses if the on-chip voltage is greater than the sum of the reference voltage and the offset identified by the digital offset value, to reduce power consumption. The offset can be tuned digitally to vary the average level of the on-chip voltage. A similar digital tuning mechanism may be used in a clocked comparator to compare a first voltage with a digitally tunable threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: ARM LIMITED
    Inventors: Parameshwarappa Anand Kumar SAVANTH, James Edward MYERS, David Walter FLYNN, Bal S. SANDHU
  • Publication number: 20140340073
    Abstract: A signal processing device and a measuring method are provided. A ring oscillator includes (2n+1) signal transmission circuits (n is an integer greater than or equal to 1). One of the signal transmission circuits comprises an inverter, a first transistor, and a second transistor; one of an input terminal and an output terminal of the inverter is connected to one of a source and a drain of the first transistor; one of a source and a drain of the second transistor is connected to a gate of the first transistor; an output of a k-th (k is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 2n) signal transmission circuit is connected to an input of a (k+1)-th signal transmission circuit; and an output of a (2n+1)-th signal transmission circuit is connected to an input of a first signal transmission circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki OKAMOTO, Takayuki Ikeda, Yoshiyuki Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 8890507
    Abstract: A method of measuring the phase transient response of a device under test automatically provides a flattened phase transient response without any user intervention. The method comprises the steps of calculating an instantaneous phase waveform based on an instantaneous voltage waveform that represents an output signal of the device under test as it steps from a first frequency to a second frequency, calculating an instantaneous frequency waveform based on the instantaneous phase waveform, automatically estimating the second frequency based on the instantaneous frequency waveform without any user intervention, and flattening the instantaneous phase waveform based on the estimate of the second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathryn A. Engholm, Soraya J. Matos, Shigetsune Torin
  • Patent number: 8878519
    Abstract: Sub-surface detection systems include a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna that is coupled to a receiver circuit. The receiver antenna is rotated to three different orientations, and a reference null field direction is determined. Based on variations in the null field direction at other frequencies or variations in a magnitude of a field component in the reference null field direction, the presence, location, depth, size, and electrical properties of a target can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona
    Inventors: Steven L. Dvorak, Ben K. Sternberg
  • Publication number: 20140312881
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, detecting a position, including a polarity, of a rotor to detect incorrect rotor position offset of an electric machine without generating torque or motion within the electric machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. DEGNER, Shailesh Shrikant KOZAREKAR, Daniel Richard LUEDTKE
  • Patent number: 8860401
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor system and a corresponding sensing method employing the sensor system. The sensor system comprises a sensor (12) having an input (20) and an output (22), a feedback path (16) from the output to the input, and a filter (14; 92) in the feedback path. The filter comprises a narrow band filter, which is tuned or tunable to a respective one of signals that are wanted signals and signals that represent interference signals. The sensor and the filter are arranged so as to alter the relative amplitudes of the wanted signals and the interference signals in order to increase the relative amplitude of the wanted signals and reduce the relative amplitude of the interference signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: University of Sussex
    Inventors: Robert Prance, Helen Prance, Christopher Harland
  • Patent number: 8854030
    Abstract: A method is provided for measuring a frequency response of an object, the method involving: generating an excitation signal having relatively fast changing frequency, defined by a time-domain function; generating at least one reference signal, having a waveform corresponding to the excitation signal; introducing the excitation signal into the object, receiving a response signal from the object; analyzing said response signal in a signal analyzer by correlating the response signal with at least one reference signal during a relatively short sliding time-domain window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignees: Tallinn University of Technology, OÜ ELIKO Technoloogia Arenduskeskus
    Inventors: Olev Märtens, Mart Minn, Raul Land, Paul Annus, Tõnis Saar, Marko Reidla
  • Publication number: 20140253094
    Abstract: For passive sensor with resonator having a natural frequency, a method comprises: a first phase emission of an electromagnetic signal toward the passive sensor at an emission frequency, the resonator oscillating in a forced regime at the emission frequency and then oscillating at its natural frequency when the emission is cut off; a first phase reception of the damped signal oscillating at natural frequency emitted by passive sensor, a measurement of the frequency being performed; a second phase emission of an electromagnetic signal at the measured frequency toward the passive sensor, the resonator oscillating in a forced regime at the measured frequency and then oscillating at its natural frequency when the emission is cut off; a second phase reception of the damped signal oscillating at natural frequency, a measurement of the frequency being performed, determination of the natural frequency being stopped due to measurement performed in this second reception phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicants: Universite de Lorraine, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Mohamed M'Jahed, Gerard Prieur, Omar El Mazria
  • Patent number: 8829932
    Abstract: This application provides apparatus and methods for initiating tests in an interface circuit without using inputs of the interface circuit dedicated to initiating the tests. In an example, a test mode interface circuit can include a voltage comparator configured compare a first voltage to a second voltage, a ripple counter configured to count pulses from a processor when the voltage comparator indicates that the first voltage is greater than the second voltage, and wherein the test mode interface circuit is configured to provide a test mode enable signal and an indication of the a desired test mode an interface circuit that includes the test mode interface circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Turner, Nathan Charland
  • Patent number: 8816672
    Abstract: A system for measuring passive intermodulation (PIM) comprises a port connectable with a load and a PIM source, a test signal source providing a test signal having components of two or more frequencies, and a receiver including a phase-coherent detector to receive a reflected signal obtained at the port in response to the provided test signal. The phase-coherent detector has an output that provides a signal indicative of PIM. A reference signal source connected with the phase-coherent detector provides a reference signal derived from the test signal. A signal combiner having a first input connected with the output of the phase-coherent detector, a second input connectable with storing a measurement of residual PIM generated by the apparatus, and removes the residual PIM from the signal indicative of PIM and provides measured PIM of the PIM source at the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Anritsu Company
    Inventor: Donald Anthony Bradley
  • Publication number: 20140225592
    Abstract: The invention describes a method for detecting isolated operation of power generation instillations (5) which are set up to generate electrical power and can be coupled to an interconnected power supply system (1) for feed operation. The power generation installation (5) operates in isolation with respect M the interconnected power supply system when no power is exchanged between the power generation installation (5) and the interconnected power supply system (1). The method has the steps of; recording the temporal profile of the maims frequency present in the region in which the power generation installation (5) is connected to the interconnected power supply system (1) and evaluating the temporal profile of the mains frequency in order to detect isolated operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Ralf Hesse, Dirk Turschner, Hans-Peter Beck, Yong Chen
  • Patent number: 8803533
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject method and apparatus relate to a sequence of noncontact Corona-Kelvin Metrology that allows the determination and monitoring of interface properties in dielectric/wide band gap semiconductor structures. The technique involves the incremental application of precise and measured quantities of corona charge, QC, onto the dielectric surface followed by determination of the contact potential difference, VCPD, as the material structure response. The V-Q characteristics obtained are used to extract the surface barrier, VSB, response related to the applied corona charge. An intersection of the VCPD-QC characteristic obtained in the dark with the VOX-QC characteristic representing the dielectric response is determined. The specific VSB-QC dependence surrounding the reference VFB value is obtained and the dielectric interface trap density and its spectrum is determined. A method and apparatus to quantify and separate trapped charge components is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Elena I. Oborina, Andrew Hoff
  • Publication number: 20140218009
    Abstract: A device for measuring a duration of a level of an electrical signal, comprising first ring oscillator comprising inverting gates, whose electrical power supply is modulated by the electrical signal; second ring oscillator whose electrical power supply is not modulated by the electrical signal; first counting unit configured to count a total number of gate-to-gate transitions of a point of instability of the first ring oscillator, a point of instability being present at an inverting gate when a logic level at an input to the inverting gate is equal to a logic level at an output from the inverting gate; second counting unit configured to count a total number of gate-to-gate transitions of a point of instability of the second ring oscillator; and determining unit configured to determine a duration of a level of the electrical signal on a basis of values of the first and second counting units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: ASAHI KASEI MICRODEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Canard, Matthieu Lecuyer