Patents Examined by Aditya Krishman
  • Patent number: 5719755
    Abstract: A transformer has a primary winding connected across a dc power supply via a first switch such as a field effect transistor, and a secondary winding connected to a smoothing capacitor via a rectifying diode. Another field effect transistor or like second switch is connected in parallel with the rectifying diode. The voltage of the rectifying diode, detected by a serial circuit of a resistor and a reverse blocking diode, is compared with a reference voltage, and the second switch is made conductive when the diode voltage is less than the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Usui
  • Patent number: 5717318
    Abstract: FET's lying on a switching circuit are used to execute a switched capacitor action. The FET's connect a first capacitor to a battery to charge the former at an input power voltage, and after charging, disconnect the first capacitor from the battery but simultaneously connect the first capacitor to a second capacitor to transfer accumulated electric charges to the latter. A control circuit including a comparator and a voltage controlled oscillator monitors an output voltage from the second capacitor and performs a switching control so that the output voltage is maintained at a specific level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kouichi Matsuda, Mitsuo Saeki, Hidetoshi Yano, Hidekiyo Ozawa
  • Patent number: 5708577
    Abstract: A regulated power supply includes a transformer having a primary winding coupled to an AC power line, and a secondary winding coupled to a rectifier. A storage capacitor is coupled through a switching transistor to the rectifier, where the storage capacitor provides a DC output power terminal. A control circuit having a comparator amplifier is coupled to the secondary winding and to the switching transistor, and compares the voltage from the secondary winding to a reference voltage value. The switching transistor is turned on from 0 to positive voltage values, as output by the rectifier, to regulate the voltage applied to the capacitor. The switching transistor switches off when the input voltage value equals or exceeds the reference value. Several passive circuit elements (e.g., diodes, resistor-capacitor networks, etc.) slow the turn on and turn off time of the switching transistor to help eliminate switching noises and other EMI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Audio Control
    Inventor: Meredith Robert Mckinley
  • Patent number: 5694021
    Abstract: A system comprises a rechargeable battery charged with a constant voltage and a charger. The battery includes a storage unit storing charge voltage data. The charger reads the charge voltage data from the storage unit and charges the battery in accordance with the read charge voltage data. In one aspect, the charger is assigned identification data to identify the charger and charge the battery. In another aspect, a charge controller includes a full-charge detecting means for detecting that the battery is fully charged based upon current measured from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shizuo Morioka, Nobuyuki Hosoya, Yoshiaki Ukiya, Katsuo Ozawa, Masayasu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5486724
    Abstract: A two buss system to accomplish; 1) communication from contact pairs located at vehicle access points such as a vehicle door or trunk to a central controller; and 2) transmitting current for energization of actuators to implement respective commands such as normal lock or super lock. The contact pairs function to provide entry ports for commands as well as providing status signals of various points of interest. The contact pairs are connected to individual output ports of a counter. Each contact pair is sequentially pulsed by a single pulse of a pulse train provided by the central controller. If a contact pair is engaged or closed when pulsed, the pulse will cause a coincident buss loading to occur. The central controller monitors buss loading and is appraised of the contact status by the coincidence (or lack thereof) of a pulse and a respectively loaded buss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Pierre Periou, Xavier Bonnefond, Dennis A. Kramer, Mark E. Malinowski
  • Patent number: 5475296
    Abstract: A digitally controlled switchmode power supply by the use of a pulse width modulated (PWM) controlled field effect transistor, switches an inductor between input and output sides to provide a controllable DC output voltage. The digital processor receives and digitizes the input and output voltages and also the current through the associated inductor and derives a PWM control loop signal driving the associated field effect switching device to switch the inductor. The foregoing compensates for nonlinear changes in the value of the inductance due to changes in inductor currents and also avoids resonance at pole points of the LC circuit in the power supply. In addition a change in buck to boost modes may be accomplished automatically depending on input voltage operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Adept Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald G. Vinsant, John E. DeFiore
  • Patent number: 5357143
    Abstract: The conventional door lock on a bulkhead door of a delivery van or the like is controlled by an electrical circuit including a solenoid which is activated by a time delay relay circuit operatively connected to the vehicle ignition. When the vehicle is being operated, the lock maintains the door in a locked position. When the vehicle stops and the operator removes the key from the ignition, the circuitry of the invention momentarily unlocks the door lock which enables the operator to manually slide the door open without the necessity of using the key to unlock the door. After a few seconds, the circuit deactivates the solenoid so that the lock will relock automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Inventors: David D. Lehr, Daniel S. Lehr
  • Patent number: 5329163
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an auto-switch which is used for a control circuit of a power window for moving automobile window glass up and down using an electric window motor, and has a manual/automatic contact, wherein the auto-switch is operably by a single operating knob. In the auto-state, the auto-switch can mechanically retain the manual/automatic contact at a closed state, and can always reset the operating knob to the neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Toyo Denso Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Satoh, Noboru Kamiya, Toru Tanaka, Sadayoshi Oshima, Minoru Mohri
  • Patent number: 5198697
    Abstract: Device for the electrical power supply of a plurality of local electrical apparatuses (12) from a single source (1), including a central bistable switch (3) connected between a terminal of the source and the power supply lines (4) of the apparatuses (12) and a central resistor (7) connected in parallel with said central switch (3), each apparatus (12) including a local resistor (8) and at least one control switch (9) in series between its power supply line (4) and the second terminal of the source, each local resistor (8) forming, together with the central resistor (7), a divider bridge connected to a central detector (10) which controls said central switch (3). Each apparatus (12) comprises means for isolating it from its power supply line (4), means for cancelling the current in the local resistor (8) and means for detecting the closure of the central switch (3) which controls the closure of the isolating means and the opening of the current cancelling means when the central switch closes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignees: Automobiles Peugeot, Automobiles CItroen, Regie Nationale des Usines Renault
    Inventor: Siri-Yuth Loth