Patents Examined by Albert W. Paladini
  • Patent number: 8063504
    Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods of powering data communications transmitter circuitry using current sinked from biasing circuitry used to bias a transmission line between the data communications transmitter circuitry and data communications receiver circuitry. In some embodiments, the current sinked from the biasing circuitry is sourced by a power supply configured to power the data communications receiver circuitry. The current sinked from the biasing circuitry is then re-used to power the data communications transmitter circuitry. The data communications transmitter circuitry can be operated using less power overall than the prior art by re-using the current first used to bias the transmission line to power the data communications transmitter circuitry. Various embodiments include HDMI transceivers, DVI transceivers, and DisplayPort transceivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Analogix Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Hongwu Chi
  • Patent number: 8058748
    Abstract: Each of power supply units in a power supply system according to the present invention includes a power supply module, a voltage increase/decrease circuit for increasing the voltage across the power supply module and outputting the increased voltage to a load, and a control circuit. The control circuit calculates the power of the power supply module on the basis of the voltage across the power supply module and current flowing in the power supply module, outputs the power calculation result to a control circuit of another power supply unit, and generates and outputs a control signal to the voltage increase/decrease circuit on the basis of a target output voltage of the voltage increase/decrease circuit, the power calculation result, and a power calculation result obtained from a control circuit of a third power supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kohnotoh, Tomonori Kunimitsu
  • Patent number: 8058747
    Abstract: High voltage direct current systems to connect direct current energy sources to an alternating current system. In one aspect, a system includes a plurality of direct current modules having variable direct current inputs; an inverter; and a direct current bus to connect the direct current modules to the inverter, where the bus is configured to operate at a nominal voltage higher than 100 volts and to operate within 10 percent of the nominal operating voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Mordechay Avrutsky, Ron Hadar, Shmuel Arditi
  • Patent number: 8058749
    Abstract: A method for transferring power in an aircraft between an energy storage device and a power system. The method includes determining an amount of power required by the power system, determining a predetermined amount of power from a generator, comparing the power required by the power system to the predetermined power of the generator, and transferring power to the energy storage device from the power system or to the power system from the energy storage device based on the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Arthur Vorwerk Radun
  • Patent number: 8059010
    Abstract: A marine telemetry system can comprise a central processing unit (CPU) with data processing and storage capacity. The system can further comprise sensors and/or other electronic accessories such as radars, fish finders, weather stations, etc. The system can be operated by a touch-screen display. The system can perform the measuring, indication, recording and/or integration of values from the many quantities that are possible to measure by such sensors and other electronic accessories comprising part of the system. The system can have the capacity of transmitting, receiving and communicating at a distance through broadband internet accessed via various access points. In this way the user can also gain access to the World Wide Web and use its many references and information to enhance the onboard boating experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: SailorMade Tecnologia Ltd.
    Inventor: Octavio Guazzelli
  • Patent number: 8058752
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes at least one photovoltaic cell and a DC/DC converter electrically coupled to the at least one photovoltaic cell. The at least one photovoltaic cell and the DC/DC converter are integrated into a photovoltaic package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: MiaSole
    Inventors: Robert W. Erickson, Jr., Steven Croft, Shawn Everson, Aaron Schultz
  • Patent number: 8053925
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for monitoring and controlling voltage modulation on a power grid, in order to maintain closed-loop control of the grid. The power grid has a plurality of connections including used and unused connections. A detector is configured to detect a modulation voltage on the power grid. A controller is configured to receive signals from the detector, and to control connections to the power grid. The controller disables power to unused connections in accordance with the modulation voltage exceeding a first threshold and disables power to used connections in accordance with the modulation voltage exceeding a second threshold; used connections are disabled one at a time at a first time interval each for a period given by a second time interval. The controller also restores power to the connections in accordance with the detected modulation voltage being less than a third threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Jouper
  • Patent number: 8053926
    Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus provide a determination of available power capacity of a phase of a power supply in a data center rack. The method includes metering the power of a power supply and calculating an average peak power draw per phase of the power supply. Using average peak power draw per phase of the power supply and the expected power draw data corresponding to data center equipment coupled to the power supply, the available power capacity can be calculated on a per phase of the power supply. A method and corresponding apparatus for managing data center equipment may use the phase based available power capacity calculations to determine the optimal placement of new data center equipment within a data center configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Gert Lehmann, Mikkel Dalgas, Flemming Nicolas Harms
  • Patent number: 8053928
    Abstract: A power conversion circuit includes a driving circuit, an activating circuit, a converter and an auxiliary power source. The activating circuit receives a first power signal. The converter is used for converting the first power signal into a second power signal. The auxiliary power source is electrically connected to the activating circuit and the driving circuit. The auxiliary power source is driven by the driving circuit to issue either a first control signal to the activating circuit if the load is connected with the power conversion circuit or a second control signal to the activating circuit if the load is disconnected from the power conversion circuit. In response to the first control signal, the first power signal is converted into the second power signal and the second power signal is transmitted to the load. In response to the second control signal, the converter is disenabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jui-Yuan Hsu, Liang-Wei Lu
  • Patent number: 8053932
    Abstract: An apparatus for connecting two generators to run in parallel including a conductive path that connects the generators to an electrical load, a switching circuit that opens/closes the conductive path, a current sensor that detects current flowing the conductive path and an electronic control unit comprising a microcomputer. The control unit functions as a generator model identifier that inputs a signal indicating a model ID from each generator and determines whether the model ID corresponds to data stored in memory, and a switching circuit operator that operates the circuit to close the conductive path to connect the generators to the electrical load when the model ID corresponds to the data, while operates it to open the conductive path when the current is not detected by the current sensor after the conductive path was closed, thereby preventing the outputs of other generators from appearing at the terminals of a disconnected plug and damage to the generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Eguchi, Ryuichi Kimata, Minoru Tamura
  • Patent number: 8053920
    Abstract: A terminal assembly for a power converter is provided. The terminal assembly includes first and second conductive components and a current sensor. The first conductive component has first and second releasable attachment formations. The second conductive component has first and second portions with respective first and second widths. The first width is less than the second width. The first portion is releasably attached to the first conductive component with the second releasable attachment formation. The current sensor has an opening therethrough and is positioned between the first conductive component and the second portion of the second conductive component such that the first portion of the first conductive component extends through the opening. The current sensor is responsive to current flowing through the first portion of the second conductive component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Terence G. Ward, George John, Edward P. Yankoski, Gregory S. Smith, James M. Nagashima
  • Patent number: 8049366
    Abstract: A DC power system is provided to generate the power from renewable energy and directly supplies the DC power to DC household appliances, thus saving energy that would be wasted during the conversion of DC to AC and back to DC and saving the cost of a rectifier or power factor corrector. The DC power system includes a generator, a DC/DC converter, a battery bank, a bi-directional inverter, a DC load and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Atomic Energy Council - Institute of Nuclear Energy Research
    Inventors: Shian-Shing Shyu, Chung-Lin Lee, Shyh-Wern Sun, Chao-Te Lee
  • Patent number: 8044532
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a main switch, a main switch wiring connected to the main switch and extending downward from the main switch, and a headlight stay for supporting a headlight part provided in a vicinity of a lower part of the main switch as seen from a side of the vehicle. The motorcycle is constructed so that the main switch wiring extending downward from the main switch is disposed in an inside, concave portion of the headlight stay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiro Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8044535
    Abstract: A power backup processor and a method of operating the power backup processor suitable for a single-phase AC power supply and with a higher efficiency, at least when the critical load is fed with the single-phase AC power supply, while having a high availability and quality of voltage supply. This can avoid the drawbacks related to high DC voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Constructions Electroniques+ Telecommunications, En Abrege “C.E.+T”
    Inventor: Paul Bleus
  • Patent number: 8044531
    Abstract: An engine starting device includes an ignition switch configured to cause turning-on and off of a main power source line connecting a power source for a vehicle and an engine control unit (ECU). The ignition switch includes a stationary contact and a movable contact that is rotatable relative to the stationary contact. The stationary contact includes a main contact configured to be connected to a power source input section of the ECU and a starter contact configured to be connected to a starter. The engine starting device also includes a relay provided on a sub power source line that is connected in parallel to the main power source line, the relay connecting the power source of the vehicle and a sub power source input section of the ECU, the relay being excited by the start of the ECU and providing electric continuity between the power source and the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Kobayashi, Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 8039993
    Abstract: Systems and methods for discharging a high-voltage bus coupled to a discharge circuit are provided. A method comprises obtaining a first voltage level of the high-voltage bus. The method further comprises determining a first discharge time based on the first voltage level and activating the discharge circuit. The method further comprises obtaining a second voltage level of the high-voltage bus after the first discharge time, comparing the first voltage level and the second voltage level, and deactivating the discharge circuit if a difference between the first voltage level and the second voltage level is less than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Daniel J. Kaplan
  • Patent number: 8039987
    Abstract: A power source device includes first and second rechargeable batteries, a load circuit, a first step-up converter converting voltage between a first node to which the first battery is connected and a second node to which the load circuit is connected, a second step-up converter converting voltage between a third node to which the second battery is connected and the second node, and a charge/discharge unit transmitting power received from an external power source. Preferably, the power source device further includes a first system main relay, a second system main relay, and a controller controlling the first and second system main relays and the first and second step-up converters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Sawada, Yoshinori Fujitake
  • Patent number: 8035253
    Abstract: The method of controlling a multi-converter having N converters with series-connected inputs and parallel-connected outputs is provided in the present invention. The proposed controlling method includes steps of: causing each of the N converters to have an intermittent operating period, an intermittent operating time interval and an intermittent operating duty ratio equal to a value of the intermittent operating time interval divided by a value of the intermittent operating period; and causing the N converters to operate alternately with the intermittent operating period, wherein N is an integer larger than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Haoyi Ye, Jianhong Zeng, Hongyang Wu, Chao Yan, Teng Liu, Jianping Ying
  • Patent number: 8030800
    Abstract: A mobile electronic device comprises at least one electronic component, at least one mobile power source, and at least one integrated power source. The at least one mobile power source is operable to supply power to the at least one electronic component. The at least one integrated power source is operable to supply power to at least a portion of the at least one electronic component to maintain operation of the portion of the at least one electronic component while a voltage level of the power supplied by the at least one mobile power source is below a threshold and the mobile electronic device does not receive power from an external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventors: William J Terrell, Bernadette J Lee
  • Patent number: RE42915
    Abstract: A vehicle security control apparatus has a connecting portion within a vehicle for receiving a switch device and a determination backup device. The determination backup device determines whether to permit or prohibit use of the vehicle by performing a code comparison with the switch device connected to the connecting portion if a determiner is unable to determine whether to permit or prohibit the use of the vehicle. Therefore, the apparatus is able to permit use of the vehicle even if the battery of a portable device is depleted or radio interference occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroki Okada