Including Related Electrical Parameter Patents (Class 702/65)
  • Patent number: 10809145
    Abstract: A sensor and system for monitoring integrity of a waterproofing system membrane. A geomembrane integrity monitoring system includes control means 18 and a plurality of sensors 20. The sensors 20 are electrically isolated from each other and in electrical communication to the control means 18. The sensors 20 have a sheet form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: SENSOR SPOL. S.R.O, SENSOR (UK) LTD
    Inventor: Vladimir Nosko
  • Patent number: 10802054
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for detecting traveling waves in electric power delivery systems. In one embodiment, a system comprises a capacitance-coupled voltage transformer (CCVT) in electrical communication with the electric power delivery system, the CCVT comprising a stack of capacitors and an electrical contact to a first ground connection. A current transformer is disposed between the stack of capacitors and the first ground connection. The current transformer provides an electrical signal corresponding to a current associated with the CCVT. An intelligent electronic device (IED) in electrical communication with the first current measurement device generates a voltage signal based on the electrical signal from the current transformer. The IED detects a traveling wave based on the first voltage signal; and analyzes the traveling wave to detect a fault on the electric power delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, Bogdan Z. Kasztenny, Veselin Skendzic
  • Patent number: 10795518
    Abstract: Baseline update for input object detection includes determining raw measurements from resulting signals acquired for a sensing region, obtaining a masked region of the sensing region based on the raw measurements, and generating a baseline update value using a subset of the raw measurements corresponding to an unmasked region. A baseline value of the masked region is updated using the baseline update value to obtain an updated baseline. A location of an input object is detected using the updated baseline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Katherine Kuan, Nickolas Fotopoulos
  • Patent number: 10789043
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a sensor, a communicator and a processor that, based on sensing an input device being attached, identifies a control function assigned to an area to which the input device is attached, and based on receiving a signal corresponding to a predetermined physical operation from the input device through the communicator, performs a control operation corresponding to the received signal based on the identified control function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong-woo Lee, Chang-heon Yoon
  • Patent number: 10775438
    Abstract: Lithium ion battery state of charge (SOC) is a function of open circuit voltage (OCV). Battery internal diffusion process needs to be nearly completed to be able to measure battery open circuit voltage. The length of the minimum settling time depends on the battery type, usage and temperature. Described are methods to determine electric vehicle battery voltage relaxation time based on battery temperature and usage history.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Xu Wang, Xiaoguang Chang, Chuan He
  • Patent number: 10768039
    Abstract: A stock management method and system utilizes a mat that includes a plurality of sensors corresponding to a plurality of sensing areas, each of sensors is configured to sense an item placed on a certain sensing area. Partitions define a plurality of lanes on the mat. A controller receives sensing results of the plurality of the sensors and calculates a stock level of remained items on the mat based on the sensing results. One of the sensing areas is located in both of two lanes of the plurality of lanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Thilmee Baduge, Ryuuichi Yatsunami, Yohei Kushido, Die Liu
  • Patent number: 10735149
    Abstract: An eye diagram measurement device includes a first mapping circuitry, a count circuitry, a second mapping circuitry and a memory circuitry. The first mapping circuitry maps one of plurality of internal signals of an electronic device to a first data signal having a predetermined number of bits. The counter circuitry performs a counting operation according to the first data signal and a plurality of signal values associated with the predetermined number of bits, to generate a plurality of count signals. The second mapping circuitry maps the count signals respectively to a plurality of eye diagram measurement signals corresponding to a present phase. The memory circuitry stores the eye diagram measurement signals in order to provide the eye diagram measurement signals to an external system for generating an eye diagram measurement result of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignees: GLOBAL UNICHIP CORPORATION, TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Juh Kang, Yu-Chu Chen, Hsun-Wei Kao
  • Patent number: 10725582
    Abstract: The invention relates to a processing system. The processing system includes a determination module configured to make a determination that a low ground mass condition associated with an input device exists in an initial combination signal obtained from a sensor module using initial sensor settings. Based on the determination, adjusted sensor settings are determined, and an adjusted combination signal is obtained, using the adjusted sensor settings and, using the adjusted combination signal, object information for one or more input objects in a sensing region of the input device is obtained. The sensor module is configured to generate, using a first sensor electrode, a second sensor electrode, and the adjusted sensor settings, the adjusted combination signal. The adjusted combination signal includes effects of a transcapacitive coupling between the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode and effects of an absolute capacitive coupling between the second sensor electrode and the input object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Matthew Stevenson, David Hoch
  • Patent number: 10715370
    Abstract: A test device for testing a communication between an access point and at least one station is provided. The test device comprises a communication recorder configured to record the communication between the access point and the at least one station, and a communication analyzer configured to analyze the recorded communication by looking for a burst of a specific type of one specific station of the at least one station. In this context, the communication analyzer is further configured to measure a deviation of an actual communication frequency of the burst of the specific type from a predefined communication frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: ROHDE & SCHWARZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Ralph Spitschka
  • Patent number: 10699045
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to regulating the supply voltage of an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may implement a circuit design. The circuit design implementation may meet timing constraints with timing margins when operated with the integrated circuit at a nominal supply voltage level. The integrated circuit may further include a voltage identification controller. The voltage identification controller may determine a reduced voltage level based at least on the timing margins such that operating the circuit design implementation with the integrated circuit meets timing constraints. The voltage identification controller may direct a voltage regulator, which may be included in the integrated circuit or located outside the integrated circuit, to reduce the supply voltage level from the nominal supply voltage level to the reduced voltage level, thereby reducing the power consumption of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Mendel, Khong Seng Foo
  • Patent number: 10684329
    Abstract: A method for estimating the ageing of a battery powering an electrical system. A set of data about the voltage and current across the battery terminals, in response to the current perturbations provoked during the normal operation of the battery by the changes of consumption rate of the electrical system are stored. The impedance of the battery, within a predetermined frequency interval, from the voltage and current data is determined. The age of the battery as a function of the impedance is estimated by comparing the impedance with a previously stored model of evolution of this impedance with ageing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignees: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS, CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES CNES
    Inventors: Laurent Gajewski, Pierre-Louis Taberna, Patrice Simon
  • Patent number: 10658858
    Abstract: A method of controlling the charging of a battery includes determining plural pieces of state information of a battery unit based on a sensed physical quantity of the battery unit, calculating a weight of the battery unit based on the pieces of state information and a correspondence value of each of the plural pieces of state information, and defining, based on the weight, control information corresponding to an input physical quantity in a charging physical quantity of the battery unit, where the input physical quantity is input to a converter of the battery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: YoungJae Kim
  • Patent number: 10637239
    Abstract: A device for monitoring a component of a utility network configured to access characteristic data associated with the component and a geographical region where the component is located, generate an operation model for the component, access sensor data for the component, identify a physical strain on the component, identify whether operation of the component is affected by the physical strain, and update the operation model for the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Victoria Neuenschwander
  • Patent number: 10620245
    Abstract: Device for monitoring a submarine cable (1) comprising at least one optical fiber (2) which is arranged in or on the submarine cable (1), at least one laser light source (3), the light of which can be coupled into the optical fiber (2), wherein portions of the light back-scattered in the optical fiber (2) can be coupled out from the optical fiber (2), detection and evaluation means (5) capable of detecting the back-scattered light and determining from the detected light spatially resolved the temperature of the optical fiber (2), detection means (6) for the electric current flowing in the submarine cable (1), evaluation means (7) capable of storing the time profile of the detected temperature and the time profile of the detected electric, wherein the evaluation means (7) are capable of calculating from the time profiles of the temperature and the electric current spatially resolved the thermal resistance of the soil surrounding the submarine cable (1) and inferring from the spatially resolved determined therm
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: NKT PHOTONICS GMBH
    Inventors: Wieland Hill, Peter Schaefer, Martin Olschewski
  • Patent number: 10606227
    Abstract: Method for automatic switching of a communication resistor of a HART device in or out, wherein the method comprises steps as follows: transmitting a test signal on an electrical current loop; reading from the electrical current loop a test voltage signal, which is based on the transmitted test signal; comparing the test voltage signal with a reference signal; connecting the communication resistor into the electrical current loop when the test voltage signal exceeds the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG
    Inventor: Fabian Bihler
  • Patent number: 10567191
    Abstract: A fieldbus system comprises a switching device, a control device and a fieldbus module connected to a first electrical supply voltage, wherein a value of the first electrical supply voltage is ascertained and transmitted to a control device by the fieldbus module, wherein the ascertained value of the first electrical supply voltage is compared with a predetermined value of the first electrical supply voltage by the control device, wherein, if the value of the first electrical supply voltage that is transmitted to the control device is not concordant with the predetermined value of the first electrical supply voltage, shutdown of a second electrical supply voltage by the switching device is initiated by the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Jens Sachs, Thomas Rettig
  • Patent number: 10545185
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for diagnosing a current sensor serially connected to a battery module having at least one secondary battery, including a measuring unit connected to both ends of at least one secondary battery and both ends of the battery module to measure voltages, and connected to both ends of the current sensor to measure current flowing through, and a control unit including a first deviation checking part checking a first voltage deviation between the voltage at both ends of each secondary battery at first and second times by setting a time difference, a second deviation checking part summing the voltages at both ends of each secondary battery and checking a second voltage deviation between the summed voltage and the voltage at both ends of the battery module, and a diagnosing part diagnosing whether the current sensor is in an open circuit state using the first and second voltage deviations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Bo-Mu Cheon, Myeong-Hui Park
  • Patent number: 10502654
    Abstract: A system configured to detect failure of a hose includes a sensor assembly having a body with a first arm and a second arm pivotally coupled to one another at respective first ends, and the body is configured to move between a closed position and an open position. The sensor assembly also includes a first electrical contact positioned at a respective second end of the first arm and a second electrical contact position at a respective second end of the second arm. The first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are configured to contact one another to form a complete electrical circuit when the body is in the closed position and are configured to be separated from one another to form an open electrical circuit when the body is in the open position to facilitate detection of the failure of the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
    Inventors: Eric David Schroeder, Ashley Raine Philbrick, Manfred Amann, Donna Moncrief Brown
  • Patent number: 10501181
    Abstract: A sensor-enabled aerial vehicle carries spatial electric and magnetic field detection sensors and a processing system that employs algorithmic methods to process sensor data. The sensors effectively detect electric and magnetic fields that emanate from energized objects, and the algorithmic methodology analyzes the sensor data to distinguish whether the energized object is unintentionally energized. The aerial propulsion system is enclosed within two electrically conducting hemispheres that are electrically insulated from each other. Alternatively, the hemispheres may be suspended below the aerial vehicle. The hemispheres function as a large area electric-field collection surface, wherein a small alternating current (AC) developed between the two hemispheres is proportional to the collected AC electric fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Stewart Dorr, John Francis Jansen, Reid Leonard Kress, Doni Joe Nastasi
  • Patent number: 10481210
    Abstract: Lithium ion battery state of charge (SOC) is a function of open circuit voltage (OCV). Battery internal diffusion process needs to be nearly completed to be able to measure battery open circuit voltage. The length of the minimum settling time depends on the battery type, usage and temperature. Described are methods to determine electric vehicle battery voltage relaxation time based on battery temperature and usage history.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Xu Wang, Xiaoguang Chang, Chuan He
  • Patent number: 10461690
    Abstract: A defect inspection method and a defect inspection system for a solar cell are proposed, where the method includes the following steps. Output voltages and output currents of the solar cell are measured by a measuring device. A stepwise current-voltage curve (stepwise IV curve) and a fitted current-voltage curve (fitted IV curve) are generated by a processing device according to the output voltages and the output currents, and whether a first error of the fitted IV curve is less than a first error tolerance is determined by the processing device. When the first error is not less than the first error tolerance, whether there exists at least one surge in steps of the stepwise IV curve is determined by the processing device so as to determine whether the solar cell has a defect. Next, a determined result of the processing device is outputted by the output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yean-San Long, En-Yun Wang, Ren-Chin Shr, Yu-Ting Yen, Hsiang-Ying Cheng
  • Patent number: 10454308
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is capable of providing a method for efficiently transmitting power for multiple wireless power receivers by distributing the power of the wireless power receivers as power which matches the respective wireless power receivers in accordance with demand power information from the multiple wireless power receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyuk-Choon Kwon, Nam-Yun Kim, Soo-Yeon Jung, Hee-Won Jung, Jae-Sung Han
  • Patent number: 10403622
    Abstract: Structures for a frequency divider, methods of fabricating a frequency divider, and method of using a frequency divider. A first interconnect line is configured to selectively conduct a first signal of a first frequency. A second interconnect line is coupled with the first interconnect line. The second interconnect line is configured to selectively conduct a second signal of a second frequency. The first frequency is less the second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Mahadeva Iyer Natarajan, Haojun Zhang, Chien-Hsin Lee
  • Patent number: 10395897
    Abstract: A virtual impedance auto matching method includes (a) deciding an input parameter of an RF generator and a load condition parameter of a plasma chamber, (b) applying an RF ON signal to an impedance matcher, (c) determining whether initial preset positions of a load vacuum variable capacitor and a tuning vacuum variable capacitor constituting the impedance matcher are within a matching range, (d) applying the RF OFF signal to the impedance matcher and generating an alarm signal indicating deviation from the matching range, when step (c) is not satisfied, (e) starting matching by operating the impedance matcher when step (c) is satisfied, and (f) deciding the initial preset positions of the load vacuum variable capacitor and the tuning vacuum variable capacitor by analyzing a magnitude error and a phase error with respect to 50+j0 according to an impedance change, when the matching is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: NEWPOWERPLASMA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: SoonIm Wi, HongKweon Moon, KookYoung Choi, KyoungWoon Boo, SeaWon Kim
  • Patent number: 10393782
    Abstract: Electrical structures, methods, and computer program products for radio frequency (RF) de-embedding are provided. A structure includes a first test device, a first through structure corresponding to the first test device, and a first open structure corresponding to the first test device. The structure also includes a second test device having at least one different physical dimension than the first test device but otherwise identical to the first test device, a second through structure corresponding to the second test device, and a second open structure corresponding to the second test device. A method includes determining a first electrical parameter of the first test device in a first DUT structure and a second electrical parameter of the second test device in a second DUT structure based on measured electrical parameters of the first and the second DUT structures, through structures, and open structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert A. Groves, Ning Lu, Christopher S. Putnam, Eric Thompson
  • Patent number: 10379168
    Abstract: Real-time battery impedance spectra are acquired by stimulating a battery or battery system with a signal generated as a sum of sine signals at related frequencies. An impedance measurement device can be used to interface between the battery system and a host computer for generating the signals. The impedance measurement device may be calibrated to adapt the response signal to more closely match other impedance measurement techniques. The impedance measurement device may be adapted to operate at mid-range voltages of about 50 volts and high-range voltages up to about 300 volts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Jon P. Christophersen, John L. Morrison, William H. Morrison, Patrick A. Bald
  • Patent number: 10379688
    Abstract: Disclosed herein include a processing system, an input device, and methods for transcapacitive sensing. In one example, a processing system is configured to reduce the capacitive coupling between sensor electrodes arranged in a column of sensor electrodes and routing traces running below the sensor electrodes by isolating a receiver electrode selected from the sensor electrodes in the column from the other sensor electrodes in the column by applying a signal that is not modulated relative to the receiver electrode on sensor electrodes that are immediately adjacent the receiver electrode and not being utilized as a transmitter electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Petr Shepelev
  • Patent number: 10369891
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a coil and a sensor. The coil is adapted to receive power wirelessly in single-phase form from an external coil. The sensor is adapted to measure a characteristic of the power. The vehicle is also provided with a controller that is programmed to estimate a parameter indicative of coil alignment using a three-phase representation of the power based on the characteristic, and to adjust the power received by the coil based on the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Elshaer, Chingchi Chen, John Paul Gibeau, Mark J. Ferrel
  • Patent number: 10337978
    Abstract: A method for determining the location of an interface of interest in a target domain, between a free volume of a flowable material and a solid material limiting said free volume, the method involves the steps of providing a mathematical model of the target domain determining, for a plurality of pairs of electrode groups, a characteristic electrical quantity proportional to the capacitance of a capacitor formed by a pair of electrode groups; receiving measurements of the characteristic electrical quantity for a plurality of pairs of electrode groups; adjusting the mathematical model by varying the location of the boundary surface in order to take into account possible wear of the boundary surface so as to reduce the differences between the measured characteristic electrical quantities and those defined by the mathematical model; and determining the location of the interface of interest on the basis of the adjusted mathematical model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: ROCSOLE LTD
    Inventors: Arto Voutilainen, Pasi Laakkonen, Anssi Lehikoinen
  • Patent number: 10324576
    Abstract: A method may include obtaining a capacitive image of various sensor pixels in an input device. The capacitive image may include various capacitive measurements resulting from the first input object and the second input object in a sensing region of the input device. The method may further include obtaining various pixel response functions corresponding to the sensor pixels. The method may further include determining, from the capacitive image and using a search method and the pixel response functions, various capacitive contributions of the first input object in the capacitive image and various capacitive contributions of the second input object. The method may further include determining, using the capacitive contributions of the first input object and the capacitive contributions of the second input object, a first location of the first input object and a second location of the second input object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald R. Schropp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10317450
    Abstract: The method for measuring of quick changes of low surface conductivity of dielectrics under electromagnetic interference of line voltage is based on a comparison measurement on a voltage divider and synchronization of measuring pulses with periodic sinusoidal course of interference when voltage with pre-set parameters of square pulse is brought to the tested dielectric surface and potential is sampled in the voltage divider consisting of the measured dielectric surface and a resistor with preselected resistivity in certain time intervals both before application of the measuring pulse and immediately before its end, and then based on a difference between the values measured using a differential amplifier, the value corresponding to that measured without effect of electromagnetic interference 60 Hz is derived and the result is the possibility to measure quick changes of low surface conductivity of dielectric surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Palacky University Olomouc
    Inventor: Petr Fry{hacek over (c)}ák
  • Patent number: 10295570
    Abstract: The electronic device for sensing a current comprises a semiconductor chip comprising a main face, an electronic circuit integrated in the semiconductor chip, a redistribution metallization layer disposed above the main face of the semiconductor chip, a current path formed in the redistribution metallization layer, the current path forming a resistor that is connected at two resistance defining end points to the electronic circuit for sensing a current flowing through the current path, and external contact elements connected with the redistribution metallization layer for feeding a current to be sensed into the current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Gottfried Beer, Wolfgang Furtner
  • Patent number: 10282021
    Abstract: Increasing ground mass state of an input device is disclosed. Increasing the ground mass state includes driving sensor electrodes to acquire first measurements of a sensing region of the input device, and driving a first subset of the sensor electrodes while a second subset is coupled to device ground to acquire second measurements of a portion of the sensing region. Increasing the ground mass state further includes determining a location of an input object in the sensing region using the first measurements, determining the second subset corresponds to the location of the first input object in the sensing region, and coupling the second subset to device ground when driving the first subset in response to the second subset corresponding to the location of the first input object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Shubha Ramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 10278609
    Abstract: Methods for assessing a health condition of an individual using single coil magnetic induction tomography imaging are provided. A target area for medical imaging on a patient can be identified. A plurality of coil property measurements can be obtained using a single coil. The plurality of coil property measurements can be performed with the single coil at a plurality of discrete locations relative to the target area. The coil property measurements can be processed to generate an image of the conductivity distribution of the target area. The image can be analyzed to assess a health condition of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Feldkamp, Shawn Jeffery Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10267840
    Abstract: A method for testing inter-layer connections is presented. The method entails: providing a test semiconductor device, wherein the test semiconductor device comprises a two-port resistance network; measuring base input resistances on at least one of the first and the second ports of the test semiconductor device for different numbers of resistance links in a defect-free circumstance; obtaining a correspondence relationship between the number of resistance links and the base input resistances; measuring actual input resistances on at least one of the first and the second ports of the test semiconductor device; and determining a position of the resistance link corresponding to the actual input resistances based on the correspondence relationship, wherein the position of the resistance link determines the location of a defect. This method can promptly locate a defect in inter-layer components and can reduce test time and simplify test procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignees: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (BEIJING) CORPORATION, SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventor: Zhenghao Gan
  • Patent number: 10268313
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein mitigate the effect of a coupling capacitance between a sensor electrode in a touch sensor and a display electrode in a display screen. An input device, which includes the touch sensor and display screen, may transmit a guarding signal on the display electrodes when performing capacitive sensing. In one embodiment, the guarding signal may have similar characteristics as a modulated signal (e.g., similar amplitude and/or phase) driven on the sensor electrode to detect interaction between the input device and an input object. By driving a guarding signal that is similar to the modulated signal onto the display electrodes, the voltage difference between the sensor electrode and display electrode remains the same. Accordingly, the coupling capacitance between the sensor electrode and the display electrode does not affect a capacitance measurement used to detect the user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Christopher A. Ludden
  • Patent number: 10254873
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved performance. In one embodiment, an input device comprises a plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes and a processing system coupled to the electrodes and configured to operate the electrodes to sense in a sensing region. Specifically, the processing system is configured to determine information about input objects in the sensing region based on comparisons of preliminary values with corresponding baseline values. The processing system is further configured to selectively operate in a first mode and a second mode. While operating in the first mode, the processing system selectively changes a baseline value of the plurality of baseline values by a first amount in response to that baseline value being below a corresponding preliminary value. This selective changing of baseline values occurs even when the processing system determines that an input object is in the sensing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Tom Vandermeijden
  • Patent number: 10249895
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a stack voltage monitor that measures a voltage of each channel of a plurality of channels of a fuel cell stack. Each of the channel of the plurality of channels includes a predetermined number of unit cells. The stack voltage monitor calculates impedance of each of the channel from the measured voltage. The apparatus further includes a controller that diagnoses a state of the fuel cell stack based on the impedance of each of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Sang Bok Won, Young Bum Kum, Kwi Seong Jeong
  • Patent number: 10200190
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that may reconstruct a data signal in the presence of ground drift and high-frequency signal coupling. An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may reconstruct a received data signal by taking an finite difference of the received data signal, detecting edges of the received data signal by detecting positive and negative peaks of the finite difference of the received signal, and reconstructing the received data signal using the detected edges. Taking a finite difference of the received data signal removes the DC component of the received data signal, as well as the ground drift that may cause the DC component of the received data signal to change over time. Additional filtering may be used to reduce high-frequency signal coupling and power supply inductive coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hsiao-Ping Tsai, William P. Cornelius
  • Patent number: 10188348
    Abstract: A physiological monitor has a sensor port configured to attach and communicate with a sensor. A processor board is in communications with the sensor port and has a board digital signal processor (DSP). Firmware residing on the processor board is executable by the board DSP so as to calculate physiological parameters in response to a sensor signal received from the sensor. Upgrade tools are individually attachable to the sensor port in lieu of the sensor so as to designate to the processor board which of the physiological parameters, if any, to calculate when the sensor is attached to the sensor port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Masimo Corporation
    Inventors: Ammar Al-Ali, Phillip B. Trinh
  • Patent number: 10094145
    Abstract: A sensing module for sensing a position of a door panel includes a sensing unit, a processing unit, and a radio frequency transceiving unit. The sensing unit is disposed in a cavity for receiving a bolt of the door panel, detects a variation in magnetic field attributed to the bolt, and outputs a sensing signal indicating the variation in magnetic field detected thereby. The processing unit is electrically connected to the sensing unit to receive the sensing signal from the sensing unit, determines whether the position of the door panel is an open position or a closed position based on the variation in magnetic field and predetermined magnetic field information, and generates an informing signal indicating the position of the door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Vision Automobile Electronics Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tien-Bou Wan
  • Patent number: 10045310
    Abstract: Example implementations relate to detecting human presence in proximity of a user device. In example implementations, a portion of a first signal may be provided by a first directional coupler that is communicatively coupled to an antenna. A portion of a second signal may be provided by a second directional coupler that is communicatively coupled to a signal source. Transmit power of the signal source may be regulated based on the signal portions provided by the first and second directional couplers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Otis Robert Harris, III
  • Patent number: 10041986
    Abstract: A directional bridge for characterizing a signal reflected from an RF device under test (DUT) the bridge comprising: a differential signal source with two antipodal outputs wherein the first output is connected to a reference termination, and the second output is connected to the DUT, and at least one equal-ratio resistive divider wherein one side of the resistive divider is attached to the first output, and the second side of the resistive divider is connected to the second output and the middle point of the resistive divider is connected to a receiver, wherein the at least one equal-ratio resistive divider is configured to provide a separated forward and reverse signals by canceling a differential mode of a transmitted signal at the bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: VAYYAR IMAGING LTD.
    Inventors: Zlvi Nadiri, Shay Moshe
  • Patent number: 10019024
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus to improve the stability of power distribution systems. The methods and apparatus include using edge processing to decrease the detection and reaction times associated with disturbances within the power distribution system. The edge processor can compare sampled phasor data with center of inertia data associated with the power distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Vit Tall LLC
    Inventor: Steve Chan
  • Patent number: 9974142
    Abstract: An electronic display assembly which allocates power to a plurality of displays without exceeding a maximum current level for the circuit is disclosed. An exemplary system preferably includes an AC current sensor, a power load sharing controller, ambient light sensors for each display, and a brightness controller for each display. A maximum total current draw may be selected. The ambient light contacting each display may be measured and a corresponding desired brightness calculated. Depending on the present amount of current draw, the system determines if the displays can be driven at the desired brightness without exceeding the maximum total current draw. If yes, the displays are driven at their desired brightness. If no, the desired brightness for each display may be slightly reduced to prevent exceeding the maximum total current draw. Thus, as the ambient light varies between the displays, the available power may be shared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: MANUFACTURING RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: William Dunn, Jerry Wasinger, Dave Williams, John Schuch
  • Patent number: 9967011
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides system and methods for calibrating a tunable metamaterial device including a plurality of external antennas. A sequence of port impedance vectors, (z(m), m) may be generated. Each of the port impedance vectors may be applied to the tunable metamaterial device, and measuring at least one S-parameter associated with an antenna external to the tunable metamaterial device. A simulated S-Matrix may be generated by associating each of the port impedance vectors, z(m), with the unknown admittance matrix. The unknown admittance matrix may be solved for by determining a plurality of optimization variables by comparing each of the S-parameters, S(m), to the simulated S-Matrix for each port impedance vector, z(m), and generating an estimated admittance matrix by associating each of the optimization variables with the unknown admittance parameters. The estimated admittance matrix may be used for more accurate radiation patterning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Guy Shlomo Lipworth, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 9948061
    Abstract: An optical wavelength sweeping apparatus is disclosed. The optical wavelength sweeping apparatus includes a laser diode having an active region including a thickness of less than 1 ?m, a cross-section of less than 7 ?m2, and a ratio of active region volume to total laser diode volume of less than 1/300, and a pulse generator coupled to the laser diode. The pulse generator is configured and operable to provide a current drive pulse to the laser diode to selectively and rapidly heat the active region and immediate vicinity to provide a peak increase in temperature of 30° C. or more at an end of the current pulse and to perform a wavelength sweep of emitted optical radiation which is greater than 5 nm. Methods of driving a laser diode and optical systems are disclosed, as are other aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: University of Maribor
    Inventors: Matej Njegovec, Denis Donlagic
  • Patent number: 9897639
    Abstract: A measuring system for implementing impedance matching of an electromagnetic immunity filter comprises an impedance measuring chip, an impedance reading device, and a power supply module and a load circuit in a circuit to be applied by the electromagnetic immunity filter; wherein, the impedance measuring chip, connected between the power supply module and the load circuit, is configured to output an excitation voltage to the load circuit, receive a current returned by the load circuit, calculate an impedance of the load circuit based on the excitation voltage and the current returned by the load circuit, and output the impedance to the impedance reading device; and the impedance reading device is configured to read the impedance calculated by the impedance measuring chip. Accordingly, the present invention further provides a method for implementing impedance matching of an electromagnetic immunity filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventor: Ming Zhou
  • Patent number: 9874612
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring an impedance of a laminated battery includes a laminated battery in which a plurality of power generating elements is laminated; a load connected to both ends of the laminated battery; a resistance component provided between the superimposing unit and the load; and a potential difference suppressing circuit that suppresses a pulsating potential difference between both ends of the resistance component. A superimposing unit superimposes a pulsating current or a pulsating voltage on an output of the laminated battery. An impedance measuring unit measures an internal impedance of the laminated battery on the basis of when the pulsating current is superimposed, the pulsating current and a pulsating voltage generated by superimposing the pulsating current, or on the basis of, when the pulsating voltage is superimposed, the pulsating voltage and a pulsating current generated by superimposing the pulsating voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masanobu Sakai
  • Patent number: 9876468
    Abstract: A method, a system and a program product for use when monitoring degradation of a photovoltaic cell each use a plurality of current-voltage curves for the photovoltaic cell obtained at a plurality of predetermined times, where the plurality of current-voltage curves is obtained when the photovoltaic cell (or related module, string or array) is in operational service. The use of such a plurality of current-voltage curves provides for extraction of a plurality of degradation characteristics or parameters for the photovoltaic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Kristopher O. Davis, David K. Click, Robert M. Reedy, Winston V. Schoenfeld