Patents Examined by Angela Brooks
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Patent number: 8411406Abstract: A fluid cooled electrical ionizer assembly includes a stack of honeycomb sheet-like structures of dielectric material with an electrode between each pair of honeycomb sheet-like structures. Alternate electrodes are electrically coupled together to each other and may be coupled to respective terminals of an electrical circuit. Fluid passages in the honeycomb sheet-like structures provide a place for fluid to affect electrical characteristics of the ionizer assembly and/or to provide for cooling. A method of assembling an ionizer assembly includes placing ionizer subunits including a dielectric honeycomb sheet-like structure and an electrode in parallel planar, overlying relation with the honeycomb. A method of cooling an ionizer assembly of dielectric honeycomb structure and electrodes includes directing a fluid through flow channels in the honeycomb structure.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Goudy Research, LLCInventor: Paul R. Goudy, Jr.
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Patent number: 8395876Abstract: A surge arrester is described which includes at least two electrodes. At least one of the electrodes includes a ventilation channel. The internal area of the surge arrester is connected to an external area of the surge arrester via the ventilation channel, wherein the ventilation channel is closed by means of a fusible element. The fusible element is preferably arranged at that end of the ventilation channel which faces the external area of the surge element.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2010Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: EPCOS AGInventors: Rainer Morczinek, Gero Zimmermann, Peter Bobert
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Patent number: 8395872Abstract: A current driver circuit comprises circuitry having a current adjustment function and operably coupled to a current driver for providing a current to a current consuming device. The circuitry comprises or is operably coupled to a function arranged to determine a current level being drawn by the current consuming device. The current adjustment function varies an over-load limit applied to the current driver in response to a variation in the determined current level. In this manner, the current level being drawn by a current consuming device, such as a light bulb, is used to continuously or intermittently adjusting the current limit of a current driver circuit, such as a lamp driver, to minimize the energy dissipated in case of an overload condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2005Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Pierre Turpin, Laurent Guillot
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Patent number: 8390967Abstract: A wiring device includes a leakage control unit for detecting a leakage current flowing through an electrical path connecting a commercial power supply and a load to perform a leakage determination and a switching unit for interrupting the electrical path in accordance with the leakage determination of the leakage control unit The leakage control unit has a filter for filtering the detected leakage, a square operation unit for calculating the square operation value of a signal which relates to the leakage current passing through the filter, and a threshold determination unit for performing the leakage determination in accordance with the square operation value obtained by the square operation unit. Consequently, the leakage determination is performed in accordance with the square operation value, so that the leakage can be detected with high accuracy even when the leakage current has a distorted waveform, and the electrical leakage can be reliably interrupted.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2009Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Kiyoshi Goto
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Patent number: 8390981Abstract: A flare ignition apparatus for igniting a flare having a power supply, a flare igniter, and a power-out cable for providing a spark. The flare igniter can be solar powered, and can have a water-tight enclosure, an actuating member, a coil, a condenser, and time-delay relays. The power-out cable can be disposed proximate a designated flare point on a flare stack.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Inventors: Bruce Treadaway, William C. Treadaway
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Patent number: 8385040Abstract: A conductive wheel for a cart includes a hub, a tread mounted on the hub, two bearings mounted in the hub and each having a axle, and an electrically conductive assembly mounted in the hub and the tread. Thus, the electrically conductive assembly will form a grounding effect to conduct and release the static charges produced between the two bearings and the cart to the ground so as to prevent from causing an electrical shock to a user when the user touching the cart, thereby protecting the user's safety when operating the cart.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2011Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Der Sheng Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ching-Tsun Chen
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Patent number: 8369060Abstract: A relay connection with at least two relays (K1, K2) connected in series or in parallel to a supply voltage (UV). In order to achieve a defined relay cut-out sequence should there be a dip in the supply voltage and consequently to increase safety, it is provided that the relays (K1, K2) have different minimum holding voltages (UHalt,min1; UHalt,min2) and/or inductive resistances (Rsp1; Rsp2).Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2008Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Schneider Electric Automation GmbHInventor: Remigius Wodniok
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Patent number: 8363374Abstract: A fault tolerant synchronous rectifier regulator system and method are disclosed. In the system and method, a high side switch is operable to be coupled to an electrical bus, and a low side switch is coupled to a common ground. In addition, a first fuse is coupled to the high side switch and the low side switch, and operable to open in response to a first fault. Furthermore, a second fuse is coupled to the high side switch and the first fuse, and operable to be coupled to a current source and to open in response to a second fault.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2010Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Robert Matthew Martinelli
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Patent number: 8363365Abstract: The resistance of an integrated circuit against ESD (electrostatic discharge) is improved without disturbing improvement of the performance and reduction of size of the integrated circuit. A protection circuit is interposed between an input and output terminals. When ESD is generated, the input and output terminals are short-circuited by the protection circuit, so that overvoltage application to the circuit is prevented. The circuit is electrically connected to the input and output terminals by a connection wiring. The circuit has a plurality of electrical connection portions between the circuit and the connection wiring, and the connection wiring is formed such that the wiring resistance between the input or output terminal and each of the connection portions is the same. Accordingly, if ESD is generated, voltage application on only one of the connection portions is prevented, whereby the possibility that the circuit will be broken by ESD is decreased.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2009Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Osamu Fukuoka, Hideaki Shishido
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Patent number: 8358226Abstract: Methods for determining actuation of a capacitive button are described. In some embodiments, indicia from the at least three distinct sensor electrodes associated with at least three sensor electrode elements comprising the capacitive button are received, the indicia indicative of interaction of an input object with the at least three distinct sensor electrodes. The actuation of the capacitive button is then determined, based at least in part on satisfying a set of criteria comprising: a location condition concerning a location of the input object relative to a center of the capacitive button, and a coupling condition concerning a change in capacitive coupling of the at least three distinct sensor electrodes associated with the at least three sensor electrode elements comprising the capacitive button.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2008Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Tracy Scott Dattalo, Raymond A Trent, Jr., John M Feland, III, Izhak Baharav, John P Maloney, Jr.
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Patent number: 8358493Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrostatic chuck comprising a specific composite oxide sintered body, wherein in the sintered body, an L* value of a reflected color tone measured by a C light source on a 2° angle visual field condition is 10 or more and 50 or less in a CIEL*a*b* color system prescribed in JIS Z 8729-1994 and an electrostatic chuck device comprising an electrostatic chuck member (A) having a tabular body provided with a clamping surface for clamping a sample by the electrostatic force, an internal electrode layer for clamping a sample by electrostatic force which is provided on the back face of the tabular body and an insulation layer, wherein at least the sample clamping surface of the tabular body in the electrostatic chuck member (A) comprises the composite oxide sintered body constituting the electrostatic chuck described above.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2010Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hironori Kugimoto, Kazuto Ando, Yoshiaki Moriya
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Semiconductor integrated circuit having protection circuit capable of protecting against ESD and EOS
Patent number: 8355228Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit has an internal circuit having an input terminal connected to a connection terminal, a protection circuit that discharges an over-voltage supplied to the connection terminal to a power line. The protection circuit includes a first discharge circuit connected to the connection terminal, a second discharge circuit connected to the connection terminal and discharges the over-voltage to the power line, and an over-voltage detect circuit that detects a discharge current flowing through the second discharge circuit and generates an over-voltage detect signal when the discharge current is detected. The first discharge circuit is disabled to discharge the over-voltage when the over-voltage detect signal is supplied.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2010Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Kawasaki Microelectronics Inc.Inventor: Hajime Hirata -
Patent number: 8355225Abstract: Disclosed herein is an overvoltage protection apparatus and method of a high voltage inverter adapted to protect a load without any adverse effect from an overvoltage aroused by voltage fluctuation attributable to an impedance difference among an inverter, a load and a cable connected between the inverter and the load, wherein the apparatus and method converts a voltage command signal given as a digital signal into an analog reference signal by a main control unit, compares the analog reference voltage with a sawtooth wave having a predetermined voltage level and frequency in order to generate a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal, determines the pulse width of the PWM signal, and converts the pulse width of the PWM signal to have a predetermined time interval in a case the pulse width of the PWM signal is less than a predetermined time interval.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hyo jin Kim
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Patent number: 8339760Abstract: Connectors for cables such as a 30-pin connector are provided. The connectors may have thermal protection circuits and may carry a power supply voltage and a ground voltage. The thermal protection circuits may disable the power supply voltage when the temperature of the connector exceeds a threshold value. The connectors may have structures that encourage any dendritic failure to occur in a preferred location.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2009Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Stanley Rabu, Ida Lo, Cameron Frazier, Mathias Schmidt
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Patent number: 8339762Abstract: A method of actuator coil temperature control for actuators that are not continuously operated, wherein when an actuation current is not being applied to the actuator coil, a) sensing a parameter indicative of the resistance of the actuator coil as an indication of the temperature of the actuator coil, b) if the sensed parameter indicates the temperature of the actuator coil is below a first predetermined limit, then initiating a series of successive actuation current pulses to the actuator coil, each actuation current pulse being terminated before actuation of the actuator occurs, and c) periodically repeating a) and b).Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2010Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Sturman Industries, Inc.Inventor: Christopher North
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Patent number: 8334738Abstract: A fault interrupting and reclosing device includes a circuit interrupter coupled to an actuator. The actuator includes at least one force generating element for generating an opening force for opening the circuit interrupter and for generating a restoring force to close the circuit interrupter. The device further includes a latch to engage the actuator to hold the contacts open once opened. In a preferred arrangement, the device is provided with an automatic mode of operation including a reclose process and a non-reclosing mode of operation. The device also preferably includes a method of determining the end-of-life of a vacuum interrupter monitors characteristics and/or parameters of a fault current or vacuum interrupter operation to predict a percent of life consumed with each fault current interruption operation. A cumulative percent of life consumed may also be determined, and an end-of-life may be predicted based upon the cumulative percent of life consumed.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2006Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: S&C Electric CompanyInventors: Richard G. Smith, Jason R. Bogusz, Michael G. Ennis, Gary W. Hardesty, Thomas E. Kovanko, Richard P. Mikosz, Andrew D. Pfister, Roy T. Swanson, Keith W. Benson, IV
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Patent number: 8331069Abstract: A structure for protecting an integrated circuit against electrostatic discharges, comprising an assembly of identical cells, each of which is connected to a terminal forming a pad of the circuit, a first supply rail, or a second supply rail, the cells forming between any two of said terminals an assembly of four alternated layers of different conductivity types.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: STMicroelectronics SAInventors: Philippe Galy, Christophe Entringer, Johan Bourgeat
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Patent number: 8310374Abstract: A telemetry system is disclosed herein. The telemetry system includes a transmitter/monitor configured to provide tracking data and monitoring data, and a receiver adapted to define a coverage area. The receiver is configured to receive the tracking data and the monitoring data from the transmitter/monitor when the transmitter/monitor is within the coverage area. The telemetry system also includes a processor configured to receive the tracking data and the monitoring data from the receiver, analyze the tracking data and the monitoring data, and identify an alarm condition based on the analysis of the tracking data and the monitoring data.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2009Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mathew George Grubis, Bruce Arnold Friedman, Robert Joseph Alberte, Jr.
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Patent number: 8310795Abstract: A power factor correction type switching power supply unit can change reference values of an overcurrent limit at an optimum timing at a time of an overcurrent protection of a step-up type converter, so that no sudden change occurs in an inductor current. A detection level selection circuit selects one of first and second threshold values with a selection signal, and outputs it as an overcurrent detection level to an overcurrent detection circuit. An input voltage monitoring circuit determines the selection signal in such a way that the larger of two threshold values is selected when an alternating current input voltage exceeds a first reference voltage, and the smaller threshold value is selected when the alternating current input voltage does not exceed a second reference voltage, and outputs the selection signal to the detection level selection circuit at a timing at which the alternating current input voltage approaches a zero.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2010Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jun Yabuzaki, Jian Chen
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Patent number: 8305728Abstract: Embodiments provide various apparatus and techniques for deflecting or redirecting a flow of ionized air generated from an ionic wind generator. In general, a deflection field generator can be located proximate to the path of the flow of ionized air. The deflection field generator is configured to generate an electromagnetic field, which deflects a least a portion of the flow of ionized air to a different path and may possibly increase local heat transfer.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jean L. Lee, Richard Lidio Blanco, Jr.