Current Responsive Patents (Class 361/57)
  • Publication number: 20130321965
    Abstract: A residual-current circuit breaker includes switching contacts and at least one residual current detector configured to determine a residual current signal. The residual-current circuit breaker is configured to bring about an opening of the switching contacts upon the detection of a residual current greater than a pre-definable tripping current. A first circuit arrangement is configured to inhibit tripping of the residual-current circuit breaker when a residual current occurs that has a duration that is shorter than half a period of a grid frequency of an associated electrical grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: EATON INDUSTRIES (AUSTRIA) GMBH
    Inventor: Ronaldus Niehoff
  • Publication number: 20130314827
    Abstract: A current detecting mechanism according to this invention includes a direct current shunt having a plurality of resistor members with high resistivity to output an electric potential difference across the resistor members, proportional to a current flowing through an electric load side terminal, as a voltage signal, and a hall sensor assembly having a pair of magnetic cores installed to face each other with an air gap therebetween, and a hall sensor to output an output voltage according to a magnetic flux induced in proportion to a current flowing through a load side terminal, without being connected with the direct current shunt, of load side terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jong Mahn SOHN
  • Publication number: 20130301166
    Abstract: Method for protecting an electrical energy distribution box, the electrical energy distribution box comprising a set of distribution bars intended to be connected between a generator and loads, each of the bars being able to transfer at least a part of the electrical energy passing through it to at least one other bar of the set of bars. According to this method, the incoming and outgoing currents of a single distribution bar are measured and a fault in the set of bars is detected on the basis of the currents measured in the said bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventor: Jérôme Jean-Louis Comeil Valire
  • Publication number: 20130286521
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, systems and methods for detecting and handling faults in a DC bus system (“system”) can comprise detecting a fault in the segment, isolating the segment from the system, waiting for a period of time, connecting a probe power unit to the system at the isolated segment, and determining if a fault still exists on the isolated segment, wherein the determining is based on whether power is discharging from the probe power unit when connected to the system. The system can comprise one or more controllers and a probe power unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventor: Jae-Do Park
  • Publication number: 20130286520
    Abstract: A high performance ESD protection circuit is provided. Embodiments include a circuit having an RC clamp circuit including a first NMOS transistor having a first source, drain, and gate, a current mirror circuit including first and second PMOS transistors having a second and third source, drain, and gate, respectively, and an SCR circuit including a first P+ contact. The first source is coupled to a ground rail, the first drain is coupled to the second drain, second gate, and third gate, the second and third sources are coupled to a power rail, and the third drain is coupled to the first P+ contact, wherein during an ESD event the first NMOS and PMOS transistors turn on to discharge a first current to the ground rail, and the current mirror provides a second current to the first P+ contact for turning on the SCR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi Shan, Manjunatha Prabhu
  • Patent number: 8570779
    Abstract: A device for converting an electric current has a phase module, which in turn has an alternating current connection and at least one direct current connection connected to an intermediate direct current circuit. The device further has an energy accumulator. A phase modulation path is formed between each direct current connection and each alternating current connection. Each phase modulation path has a series connection of submodules, which each have a power semiconductor. A semiconductor protective device is provided in parallel connection to power semiconductors of each submodule. A control unit actuates the semiconductor protective device, and energy accumulator(s) are equipped for supplying energy to the control unit. The device safely prevents damage from a short circuit on the direct-current side, even when the supply grid is connected, because a direct current connection of each phase module is connected to the intermediate direct current circuit via a direct-current switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mike Dommaschk, Jörg Dorn, Ingo Euler, Jörg Lang, Quoc-Buu Tu, Klaus Würflinger
  • Publication number: 20130140890
    Abstract: An overload protection circuit for supplying electric power has advantageous applications especially in supplying power to capacitive loads. In prior art circuits, the charging current is lead to the capacitive load through a linearly operating transistor or through a power resistor. Therefore, prior art circuits often involve a risk of exceeding safe operating area of a power transistor, or circuits with a large number of components are needed. The present overload protection circuit has an inductor (L) coupled in series with a switching element (Q). Load current is measured (35, 38), and the switching element (Q) is controlled (35, 36) to supply current to the load via the inductor (L) until a determined current limit is achieved. After achieving the current limit the switching element (Q) is controlled to off-state, during which the freewheeling current of the inductor (L) is lead through a voltage dependent element (Z).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: EFORE OYJ
    Inventor: Efore Oyj
  • Patent number: 8452255
    Abstract: A field device for use in an industrial process control or monitoring system includes terminals configured to connect to a two-wire process control loop configured to carry data and to provide power. In one embodiment, RF circuitry in the field device is configured for radio frequency communication having variable power consumption. In another embodiment, the RF circuitry is coupled to the field device through a separate digital communication bus. A method of modulating the power of RF communication based upon a process communication signal is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly M. Orth
  • Publication number: 20130083441
    Abstract: A lightning surge detector 1 includes a first terminal unit 3 connected to a ground-side terminal unit of a surge protective device, a second terminal unit 4 connected with a ground wire, a conducting coupling bar 5 adapted to couple the first terminal unit 1 and the second terminal unit 4, a detection coil 7 placed in a vicinity of the conducting coupling bar 5 and adapted to detect a lightning surge current flowing through the conducting coupling bar 5, a waveform processing unit adapted to stretch a voltage waveform of the detected lightning surge current and thereby output a waveform-modified voltage, a computation control unit adapted to produce a calculation result of the lightning surge current from the waveform-modified voltage, and a display unit 40 adapted to display the calculation result, wherein all the above components are unitized by being housed in a casing 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: SANKOSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuji HIGASHI, Yuichi TAKAHASHI, Kenichi EBUCHI, Tsuyoshi KAWABATA
  • Publication number: 20130063847
    Abstract: A fault protection circuit for use on a spur of an IEC 61158 Fieldbus network comprising a fast acting current limiter adapted to limit the spur current to the level of a reference current when the spur current reaches said reference current, control means adapted to monitor the spur AC and/or DC current and/or voltage, and isolation means adapted to apply a shunt short circuit isolation to said spur upon receipt of an activation signal from the control means, in which the control means is adapted to control the level of the reference current, and in which when said control means detects one or more pre-determined fault conditions on said spur it activates the isolation means and lowers the level of reference current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: PEPPERL + FUCHS GMBH
    Inventors: Renato Kitchener, Steffen Graber
  • Patent number: 8390970
    Abstract: A method and a system for ESD protection are provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises a circuit comprising at least one non-linear element, an application module configured to apply a set of current pulses to the circuit, a determination module configured to determine at least one frequency-dependent and amplitude-dependent transfer function of the circuit based on the set of applied current pulses, a modeling module configured to model at least one frequency-dependent and current-dependent impedance of the at least one non-linear element, and a simulation module to simulate a transmission to the circuit based on the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Harald Gossner, David Johnsson, Wolfgang Soldner
  • Publication number: 20130050887
    Abstract: Circuits, integrated circuits, apparatuses, and methods, such as those for protecting circuits against electrostatic discharge events are disclosed. In an example method, a thyristor is triggered to conduct current from a signal node to a reference voltage node using leakage currents provided by a transistor formed in a semiconductor doped well shared with the base of the thyristor. The leakage currents are responsive to a noise event (e.g., electrostatic discharge (ESD) event) at the signal node, and increase the voltage of the semiconductor doped well to forward bias the base and the collector of the thyristor. The triggered thyristor conducts the current resulting from the ESD event to the reference voltage node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Fan, Michael D. Chaine
  • Patent number: 8384292
    Abstract: Methods of protecting an electrical device, such as a ballast, from damage due to an inrush current, and devices incorporating such methods, are disclosed. A loss of input power received by the ballast is detected. In response, the ballast is entered into a standby mode. The ballast is able to remain in the standby mode for a standby period of time. The input power is monitored during the standby period of time to measure a start time. Measurement of the start time is triggered by the ballast receiving input power again. The ballast is entered into an active mode when the measured start time exceeds a protection time. The protection time corresponds to an amount of time needed for an inrush current to dissipate following input power again being received by the ballast, protecting the ballast from possible damage due to the inrush current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Afroz M. Imam, Sivakumar Thangavelu
  • Publication number: 20130015833
    Abstract: A power converter includes a bypass circuit connected in parallel with a power stage of the power converter. The bypass circuit provides a lower loss current path in parallel with the power stage when an input voltage of the power converter exceeds a predetermined threshold. The power converter may be a boost power converter used in a vehicle to provide power from a main power bus of the vehicle to a subsystem of the vehicle such as an anti-lock brake system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Mark Steven George, Charles Lawrence Bernards
  • Publication number: 20120281325
    Abstract: A limiting circuit has a signal input and a signal output for limiting an output signal that is present at the signal output and that can be fed to a further circuit connected to the output of the limiting circuit. A voltage connection for feeding a bias voltage and a transistor are present, wherein the gate connection of the transistor is connected to the voltage connection by means of a first matching circuit and to the signal input by means of a second matching circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Reber, Patrick Schuh
  • Publication number: 20120262830
    Abstract: A protection system for an IT electrical distribution system (EDS) has a floating reference conductor and two electrical conductors in the form of an active conductor and a neutral conductor. System includes two input terminals for electrically connecting to an MEN electrical power source that is upstream of system. Two output terminals are electrically connected to an electrical load in the form of an electrical motor for a compressor of an upright freezer display. A motor protection device, in the form of an MCB, electrically connects terminals to allow a supply of electrical power to a motor. The MCB is responsive to a fault signal at a port for selectively electrically disconnecting at least one of the terminals. A sentinel unit selectively generates the fault signal at port in response to the current in conductor being greater than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: PROTECTELEC PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: David Paul Jankowski, Geoffrey Rubython, Wayne Callen, Walter Henry Berryman
  • Publication number: 20120264613
    Abstract: A fault current limiter system including a fault current limiter and a variable shunt current splitting device. The current splitting device includes first and second conductive windings, wherein the first conductive winding is connected in parallel with the fault current limiter and is configured to carry current in a first direction. The second conductive winding is electrically connected in series with the fault current limiter and is configured to carry current in a second direction opposite to the first direction so that the reactance of the first winding is negated by the reactance of the second winding during steady state operation of the fault current limiter system. Thus, a first portion of a steady state current is conveyed through the fault current limiter and a second portion of the current is conveyed through the current splitting device. The steady state current load, on the fault current limiter is thereby reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: Kasegn Tekletsadik
  • Patent number: 8285344
    Abstract: The method defines a user environment based on detected motion data and/or ambient noise data. The user environment is then used to apply an appropriate audio adjustment mode. In one embodiment, the user environment definition further includes location data. In one embodiment, the location data is obtained from one of: a global positioning system (GPS), and network triangulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: DP Technlogies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Kahn, Arthur Kinsolving
  • Publication number: 20120250200
    Abstract: A triac circuit comprises a triac having first and second main terminals (MT1,MT2) and a gate terminal and a thyristor connected between one of the main terminals (MT1,MT2) and a control terminal of the triac circuit. The thyristor is used to prevent turn on of the triac when it has turned on by temperature induced leakage currents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Nick Ham, Ed Huang, Jianfeng Zhang, Andrew Mark Warwick, Andrew Butler, Minghao Jin
  • Publication number: 20120229942
    Abstract: A gate circuit includes a gate resistive element connected at one end to the gate of a power device, an on-switching device connected between a power supply and the other end of the gate resistive element, a first resistive element whose connection to the gate is controlled by a first switching device, a second resistive element whose connection to the gate is controlled by a second switching device, and having a higher resistance value than the first resistive element, excessive current suppression means for turning on the first switching device just when the current in the power device reaches a predetermined value, and turn-off delay means for, after the excessive current suppression means turns on the first switching device, turning off the on-switching device and the first switching device and turning on the second switching device to turn off the power device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Khalid Hassan HUSSEIN, Akira YAMAMOTO, Fumio WADA
  • Patent number: 8264805
    Abstract: A module hot swap circuit includes a low voltage-drop rectifier adapted to receive either positive or negative voltages of different absolute values. The rectifier is coupled to a power manager that provides dual startup/shutdown voltage thresholds and inrush current limiting. A detector prevents reverse current flow allowing the module to hold up during input voltage drop-outs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Norman
  • Patent number: 8259425
    Abstract: A protection circuit is coupled between a chipset and an I/O port. The protection circuit comprises at least two protection devices and a control device. The protection devices are coupled in parallel with each other, and coupled between the I/O port and the chipset. The protection devices receive an input signal from the I/O port. When the I/O port has a surge current thereon, the protection devices perform a discharge operation for the surge current. The control device selects one of the protection devices to transmit the input signal t the chipset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Giga-Byte Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hui-Mou Wu, Kuo-Lun Tsen
  • Publication number: 20120213504
    Abstract: An apparatus has a light emitting diode module that has one or more light emitting diodes each with a light emitting circuitry. The apparatus further has a controller functionally connected with the one or more light emitting circuitries; a housing surrounding the controller and the one or more light emitting circuitries; and a pair of power supply connectors extending outside of the housing and functionally connected with the controller. The controller receives operating power from the pair of power supply connectors and uses the received operating power to control operation of the one or more light emitting circuitries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: NOKIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikko Ollila, Tuomo Morsky
  • Publication number: 20120188672
    Abstract: A printed wiring board includes: a first-electrostatic-discharge-protecting pattern having a first anode pattern electrically connect to an anode of a laser diode and a first cathode pattern arranged to oppose the first anode pattern and electrically connect to a cathode of the laser diode; and a second-electrostatic-discharge-protecting pattern having a second anode pattern electrically connect to the anode of the laser diode and a second cathode pattern arranged to oppose the second anode pattern and electrically connect to the cathode of the laser diode, wherein the first-electrostatic-discharge-protecting pattern has a first soldering area at which solder is melted by a soldering iron such that the first anode and cathode patterns are short-circuited or short-circuit-released, and the second-electrostatic-discharge-protecting pattern has a second soldering area at which the solder is melted by a reflow such that the second anode and cathode patterns are short-circuited or short-circuit-released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicants: SANYO OPTEC DESIGN CO., LTD., SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keita TAKANASHI, Hiroshi MORIDERA
  • Patent number: 8228648
    Abstract: A compressor monitoring system includes current and voltage monitors, current and voltage averaging modules, a control module, and a switch. The current monitor measures a current drawn by a motor of a compressor. The current averaging module generates first and second average current values based on the current measured by the current monitor. The voltage monitor measures a utility power voltage. The voltage averaging module generates first and second average voltage values based on the voltage measured by the voltage monitor. The control module selectively generates a fault signal when a first ratio is greater than a first predetermined threshold and a second ratio is less than a second predetermined threshold. The first ratio is based on the first and second average current values. The second ratio is based on the first and second average voltage values. The switch deactivates the motor when the fault signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nagaraj B. Jayanth, George Ramayya
  • Publication number: 20120170163
    Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a barrier diode including a refractory metal layer coupled to a semiconductor substrate including at least a portion of a PN junction and the apparatus can include an overcurrent protection device operably coupled to the barrier diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventor: Adrian Mikolajczak
  • Publication number: 20120134060
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises an application circuit; a first supply rail having a first electric potential; a second supply rail having a second electric potential different from the first electric potential; at least one terminal having a third electric potential, connected to the application circuit; and a protection circuit for protecting the application circuit from an injected current. The protection circuit comprises a first conductive line connected between the at least one terminal and the first supply rail, the first conductive line comprising a first switch having a first control input; and a first voltage amplifier circuit having a first input connected to the at least one terminal, a second input connected to the second supply rail and a first output connected to the first control input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicants: Stmicroelectronics SRL, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Hubert Bode, Mauro Giacomini
  • Publication number: 20120106012
    Abstract: Device (21) for fault analysis and redundancy switching for a multi-section instrument cable, such as a marine seismic streamer, which multi-sectional instrument cable includes a number of conductor pairs (20a-b) for power supply and data transfer, which device (21) for fault analysis and redundancy switching is arranged in connection with a power supply for the multi-section instrument cable. The device (21) for fault analysis and redundancy switching is provided with means (22a-b) for controlling main power of conductor pairs (20a-b) of the instrument cable and means (23a-b) for switching between conductor pairs (20a-b) in the instrument cable. The invention also includes a method for fault analysis and redundancy switching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: KONGSBERG SEATEX AS
    Inventor: Herleif WESTRUM
  • Publication number: 20120057259
    Abstract: A controller with battery recharge protective function is disclosed in this invention. The controller is used for protecting a battery module. When the battery module is in a protective state, a recharge protection circuit of the controller is activated. A charging current from a positive recharge terminal flows into one pin of the controller. Afterward, the charging current passes the recharge protection circuit, flows out through another pin of the controller, and then returns to a negative recharge terminal. Accordingly, the recharge protection circuit makes the charging current bypass the battery module, so as to prevent the battery module from being damaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: GREEN SOLUTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yang YANG, Hai-Po LI, Li-Min LEE
  • Patent number: 8116050
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor integrated circuit including: a detection circuit that detects an occurrence of latch up and can be configured while adopting a layout configuration that suppresses the occurrence of latch up; and a recovery unit that enables a recovery from the latch up without cutting off a positive potential. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a n-channel MOS transistor 7 that is formed on a P-type region 3 on a semiconductor substrate; and a latch up detection circuit that detects an occurrence of latch up in the n-channel MOS transistor 7. The latch up detection circuit includes: a n-MOS transistor structure 12 in which a source 10 and a back gate 8 are connected in common with a source 5 and the back gate 8 of the n-channel MOS transistor 7; and an electric current detection unit 15 that detects an electric current flowing to a drain 9 of the n-MOS transistor structure 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshinobu Nagasawa, Tetsushi Toyooka, Masaharu Sato
  • Patent number: 8111494
    Abstract: A memristor-protection integrated circuit. The memristor-protection integrated circuit includes a first current-bias circuit, a second current-bias circuit, an inverter, and a current limiter. The first and second current-bias circuits are configured to be coupled to first and second power-supply rails, respectively. The inverter is coupled to the first current-bias circuit and to the second current-bias circuit, and is configured to couple at least one memristor to at least one of the first current-bias circuit and the second current-bias circuit in response to an input signal applied to the inverter. The current limiter is coupled to the first current-bias circuit and coupled to the second current-bias circuit, and is configured to limit current flowing through the memristor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Pickett, John Paul Strachan, Muhammad Shakeel Qureshi
  • Patent number: 8064178
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for balancing current through a first conductor and a second conductor. A method comprises determining if a first current through the first conductor is greater than a second current through the second conductor by more than a threshold value. The first current and the second current are received from a ground fault current interrupt device. The method further comprises increasing the second current in response to determining that the first current is greater than the second current by more than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Craig R. Markyvech
  • Patent number: 8054593
    Abstract: A circuit that includes a single grounded fault sensing transformer coupled to a resonant circuit that produces an output signal used by a microcontroller to determine a load current flowing through at least two conductors passing through the center of the sensing transformer. The microcontroller pings the resonant circuit, causing an impulse disturbance at the output signal, and the microcontroller calculates the inductance component of the resonant circuit based on the frequency of the decaying output signal. The microcontroller calculates the resistive core loss as a function of a known resistance of the resonant circuit, a known capacitance of the resonant circuit, the calculated inductance, and the determined rate of decay of the output signal. The calculated resistive core loss is compared to a table or to a polynomial function that characterizes known resistive core losses with known load currents to determine the load current corresponding to the calculated resistive core loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Inventors: Paul A. Reid, Robert Erger
  • Patent number: 8050878
    Abstract: A device and method for dynamically determining an impedance of a network is disclosed. The device includes at least a processing system for measuring a network voltage and network current when said network is determined to be in a first state, measuring a network voltage when said network is determined to be in a second state, estimating said impedance value dependent upon said measured voltages and current, adapting said estimated impedance based on at least one prior impedance value and storing at least said adapted impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John James Dougherty, Dale Finney, Senthoor Navaratnam
  • Patent number: 8045302
    Abstract: A compressor monitoring system includes current and voltage monitors, current and voltage averaging modules, a control module, and a switch. The current monitor measures a current drawn by a motor of a compressor. The current averaging module generates first and second average current values based on the current measured by the current monitor. The voltage monitor measures a utility power voltage. The voltage averaging module generates first and second average voltage values based on the voltage measured by the voltage monitor. The control module selectively generates a fault signal when a first ratio is greater than a first predetermined threshold and a second ratio is less than a second predetermined threshold. The first ratio is based on the first and second average current values. The second ratio is based on the first and second average voltage values. The switch deactivates the motor when the fault signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nagaraj Jayanth, George Ramayya
  • Publication number: 20110188163
    Abstract: An abnormality detection circuit monitors the sink current Irnf of a H-bridge circuit and determines the presence of an abnormal state if the sink current is not detected for a predetermined time. The abnormality detection circuit includes a clock pulse generator, a counter and a NMOS transistor. The abnormality detection circuit includes a clock pulse generator arranged to generate a clock pulse of a predetermined frequency, and a counter arranged so that a count value is incremented every time the clock pulse is provided to the counter and arranged so that the count value is reset when the sink current is detected. The counter generates a first abnormality detection signal that changes from a normal logic level to an abnormal logic level when the count value reaches a predetermined value without being reset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Motohiro ANDO
  • Publication number: 20110188162
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a device for diverting surge currents or transient overvoltages (1), with a switching stage (2) and a switching element (3). The switching stage (2) is so designed as to switch on the switching element (3) upon identification of an overvoltage or a surge current. The switching element (3) is a reversible semiconductor switching element, while the switch-on event is achieved by operating of the switching element (3) outside of the specified parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Martin WETTER, Gernot FINIS, Joachim CERNY, Ernst-Dieter WILKENING, Björn Bünsow, Rainer DURTH
  • Patent number: 7965479
    Abstract: An over-current and over-voltage protection assembly apparatus including an over-current protection (OCP) device and an over-voltage protection (OVP) device is provided. One end of the OCP device is electrically connected to a first connection point, and the other end is electrically connected to a second connection point. One end of the OVP device is electrically connected to a third connection point, and the other end is electrically connected to the second connection point. The second connection point is a common point. The OCP device and the OVP device are modularized and integrated to an assembly. The first, second, and third connection points are connected to an external circuit to be protected, such that the OCP device is connected in series to the circuit to be protected, and the OVP device is connected in parallel to the circuit to be protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Polytronics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Pao Hsuan Chen, Ching Han Yu, Tong Cheng Tsai
  • Patent number: 7957114
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a circuit breaker and a method for triggering a circuit breaker are disclosed, particularly a low voltage circuit breaker, including an electronic overload trigger, particularly for the protection against a short circuit, wherein the current is compared to a predetermined limit current and evaluated and the circuit breaker is triggered by the overload trigger, in case a short circuit is present according to the evaluation. In order to be able to reliably detect short circuits, the current is sampled with a predetermined sampling frequency and digitized. The wavelet coefficients of at least two segmentation levels are calculated for a predetermined number of digital current values in direct succession via a wavelet transformation. At least two wavelet coefficients, that is, one wavelet coefficient per segmentation level, are compared quantitatively to each other if the last of the current values in direct succession is larger than the limit current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Götz, Frank Jucht, Cornelia Prechtl
  • Publication number: 20110128658
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device is provided. The ESD protection device includes a source region and a drain region. The source region is to be coupled to a low-level voltage. The drain region is disposed apart from the source region and includes a first P-type heavily doped region and at least one first N-type heavily doped region. The first P-type heavily doped region is configured to couple to a pad, and the first N-type heavily doped region is adjacent to the first P-type heavily doped region and floated. An electrostatic discharge protection apparatus is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu-Ti SU, Chung-Ti HSU
  • Publication number: 20110090610
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a circuit arrangement (1) for electrically coupling a direct-current source (2) to a direct-current load, including a first and a second current input node (11, 12) for receiving a direct current generated by the direct-current source, a first and a second current output node (21, 22) for the delivery of the generated direct current to the direct-current load, an isolating means (4) connected between the first current input node (11) and the first current output node (21) and/or the second current input node (12) and the second current output node (22) for interrupting the electrical connection between the respective nodes, and an auxiliary switching means (14) connected between the first current input node (11) and the second current input node (12) for short-circuiting of the first and second current input nodes (11, 12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: voltwerk electronics GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Andresen, Jean Schuetz
  • Publication number: 20110075307
    Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit is provided. An overcurrent detecting element is connected between a power source and a load and detects an overcurrent flowing through the load. A main switch element is connected between the load and the overcurrent detecting element and controls flow of current to the load according to a voltage applied between a control end and an input end of the main switch element. The main switch element stops the flow of current to the load when a predetermined time is elapsed after the overcurrent detecting element detects the overcurrent flowing through the load. A first switch element has an output end connected to the control end of the main switch element. A current flows to the first switch when the overcurrent detecting element detects the overcurrent flowing through the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventor: Kazuaki MUROTA
  • Patent number: 7906933
    Abstract: An induction motor drive includes a plurality of inverters, a changeover switch which changes over outputs of the plurality of inverters to be supplied to one induction motor and a changeover controller which controls the changeover switch on the basis of a failure detection signal of one inverter to change over from the one inverter to another inverter to start the other inverter so that the induction motor is driven. The changeover controller includes a frequency/phase detector which always detects a frequency and a phase of a terminal voltage of the induction motor and a starting frequency/phase setting device which controls a frequency and a phase at starting of the other inverter in accordance with detected values of the frequency/phase detector when the failure signal is inputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tan, Hirohisa Satomi, Shigetoshi Okamatsu, Koichi Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20110058294
    Abstract: A protection circuit is coupled between a chipset and an I/O port. The protection circuit comprises at least two protection devices and a control device. The protection devices are coupled in parallel with each other, and coupled between the I/O port and the chipset. The protection devices receive an input signal from the I/O port. When the I/O port has a surge current thereon, the protection devices perform a discharge operation for the surge current. The control device selects one of the protection devices to transmit the input signal t the chipset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: Hui-Mou WU, Kuo-Lun Tsen
  • Publication number: 20110051301
    Abstract: A method for designing an integrated electronic circuit (1) having Electro Static Discharge (ESD) protection, the method comprising providing an integrated electronic circuit (1) having a predetermined performance during normal operation of the circuit, the integrated electronic circuit (1) comprising a power supply line (2) and at least one active device (4) protected by an ESD protection device (5), the active device (4) being powered from the power supply line (2), simulating an ESD event on the integrated electronic circuit (1) to determine if and where, during the ESD event, a parasitic ESD current path is created between the power supply line (2) and the at least one active device (4), and creating in thus determined parasitic ESD current path a circuit (6) to interrupt this parasitic ESD current path, at least during part of the ESD event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: IMEC
    Inventors: Steven Thijs, Dimitri Linten
  • Patent number: 7899630
    Abstract: A metering device of a power substation and method are provided for operating on a secondary analog waveform output by a transformer assembly receiving a primary waveform. The method includes stepping down the secondary waveform and generating a corresponding output signal; operating on the corresponding output signal for generating a corresponding first digital signal having a value proportional to the corresponding output signal and within a first range; and operating on the corresponding output signal for generating a corresponding second digital signal having a value proportional to the corresponding output signal and within a second range. The method further includes processing the first digital signal and outputting a corresponding first output signal; processing the second digital signal and outputting a corresponding second output signal; processing the first and second output signals; and generating output corresponding to the processing of the first and second output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Electro Industries/Gauge Tech
    Inventor: Erran Kagan
  • Patent number: 7884557
    Abstract: A light source is protected by selectively coupling a shunt path in parallel with the light source, such that current is diverted away from the light source and through the shunt path. A detection circuit detects the current flowing in the shunt path when the shunt path is connected in parallel with the light source. A comparator determines whether the current flowing in the shunt path exceeds a predetermined threshold and, if so, prevents or limits the flow of current when the shunt path is disconnected from being in parallel with the light source. In this way, a current detector is provided for monitoring the flow of current in a shunt path, the current detector being configured to disable or limit the flow of current through a light source when a predetermined threshold is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Wolfson Microelectronics plc
    Inventors: Colin Steele, Catherine A. Hearne, David P. Singleton
  • Publication number: 20100289503
    Abstract: An input device is provided with improved electrostatic discharge protection. Specifically, the input device includes a plurality of capacitive sensing electrodes configured for object detection. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) shunt is disposed near the capacitive sensing electrodes and configured to provide ESD protection to the capacitive sensing electrodes. The input device also includes an extended-proximity capacitive sensing electrode configured to for object detection of relatively distant objects. The ESD shunt has an associated first resistance, and the extended-proximity capacitive sensing electrode has an associated second resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Tracy Scott Dattalo
  • Publication number: 20100277842
    Abstract: A buffer device includes a first driving circuit coupled between a signal terminal of the buffer device and a first reference potential, a current-limiting component including a first terminal coupled to the signal terminal, and a second driving circuit coupled between a second terminal of the current-limiting component and a second reference potential, wherein the current-limiting component limits an amount of ESD current flowing through the second driving circuit, and makes an amount of ESD current flowing through the first driving circuit be larger than the amount of ESD current flowing through the second driving circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventor: Chien-Hui Chuang
  • Patent number: 7715163
    Abstract: An electronic system and a cell module thereof are provided. The electronic system includes an electronic device and a cell module. The cell module includes a cell, a discharge switching circuit, and a surge current suppressed and controlled circuit. The discharge switching circuit is coupled to the cell. The surge current suppressed and controlled circuit is used for controlling the discharge switching circuit, so that the current flowing from the cell into the electronic device gradually increases by the discharge switching circuit when the electronic device is coupled to the discharge switching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: ASUSTek Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Min-Wei Lee, Hsiang-Pin Tseng