Patents Examined by Anh Tran
  • Patent number: 9474130
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for lighting control. Initial lighting may be applied to an object in response to identifying presence of the object. The initial lighting may be adjusted based on a user lighting manipulation gesture made proximal to the object. Also, for example, in some embodiments a lighting system (100, 200) may be provided that includes at least one light source (164, 264), an object sensor (153, 255), a gesture sensor (156, 255), and a controller (150, 250). The controller may provide lighting having a first state in response to the object sensor initially identifying presence of the object and may adjust the lighting in correspondence with a lighting manipulation gesture sensed via the gesture sensor to achieve a second state distinct from the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Bartel Marinus Van De Sluis, Tatiana Aleksandrovna Lashina, Philip Steven Newton, Dzmitry Viktorovich Aliakseyeu, Dirk Valentinus Rene Engelen
  • Patent number: 9462666
    Abstract: A ballast circuit for a lighting system using an induction fluorescent lamp utilizes an AC-DC rectification circuit, a DC-DC boost power conversion circuit, a DC-AC half bridge inverter circuit, and a resonating circuit to ignite the lamp and maintain substantially constant power output of the lamp, while the DC-AC half bridge inverter circuit is further comprised of a gate isolation transformer connected in a half bridge inverter schematic which uses a ballast integrated circuit (IC) to drive a high side MOSFET and a low side MOSFET and the gate isolation transformer electrically isolates a gate signal to the high side MOSFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ENVIRONMENTAL POTENTIALS
    Inventors: Andrew C Pickett, Naveen R Tera, Robert V Rawlings
  • Patent number: 9450581
    Abstract: A drive capability of a dynamic logic circuit is improved. A logic circuit includes a dynamic logic circuit, a first output node, a first transistor that is diode-connected, and a capacitor. The dynamic logic circuit includes a second output node. The first transistor and transistors in the dynamic logic circuit have an n-type conductivity or a p-type conductivity. The first output node is electrically connected to a first terminal of the capacitor, and the second output node is electrically connected to a second terminal of the capacitor. A first terminal of the first transistor is electrically connected to the first output node, and a first voltage is input to a second terminal of the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hikaru Tamura
  • Patent number: 9451664
    Abstract: An adaptive switch mode LED driver provides an intelligent approach to driving multiple strings of LEDs. The LED driver determines an optimal current level for each LED channel from a limited set of allowed currents. The LDO driver then determines a PWM duty cycle for driving the LEDs in each LED channel to provide precise brightness control over the LED channels. Beneficially, the LED driver minimizes the power dissipation in the LDO circuits driving each LED string, while also ensuring that the currents in each LED string are maintained within a limited range. A sample and hold LDO allows PWM control over extreme duty cycles with very fast dynamic response. Furthermore, fault protection circuitry ensures fault-free startup and operation of the LED driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Xuecheng Jin, Yu Cheng Chang, Yang Li, Maofeng Lan, John W. Kesterson, Xiaoyan Wang, Chenghung Pan
  • Patent number: 9447929
    Abstract: An LED tube lamp including a glass lamp tube, an LED light strip disposed inside the glass lamp tube, and an end cap attached over an end of glass lamp tube is disclosed. The glass lamp tube is covered by a heat shrink sleeve. The inner surface of the glass lamp tube is formed with a rough surface or a light scattering region. The glass lamp tube includes a main body region, a rear end region, and a two-arc-shaped transition region connecting the main body region and the rear end region. The LED light strip includes a bendable circuit sheet being longer than the glass lamp tube to form a freely extending end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: JIAXING SUPER LIGHTING ELECTRIC APPLIANCE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Tao Jiang
  • Patent number: 9451670
    Abstract: Various embodiments may relate to an optoelectronic component apparatus, including a carrier, an optoelectronic component and a thermoelectric component on or above the carrier. The optoelectronic component has a planar, optically active region. The thermoelectric component has at least one thermoelectrically sensitive section, wherein the thermoelectrically sensitive section has a first electrical conductivity at a first temperature and a second electrical conductivity at a second temperature, and wherein the thermoelectrically sensitive section is thermally connected to the optoelectronic component in a planar fashion. The thermoelectric component is formed as a temperature sensor and/or thermogenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: OSRAM OLED GMBH
    Inventors: Andrew Ingle, Kilian Regau
  • Patent number: 9450490
    Abstract: The present document relates to switching DC converters In particular, the present document relates to creating an auxiliary reference voltage for the switching converter to implement a dynamic correction of static load regulation. Main objective of the disclosure is minimizing the regulation error on account of accuracy when non-idealities present in the regulation loop are considered. An additional control loop to monitor the regulated error signal has been added. The additional loop has the purpose to create an auxiliary reference for the boost converter which will be updated (up and down) whenever the regulation exceeds a target threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Pier Cavallini, Louis DeMarco
  • Patent number: 9445485
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles for providing centralized control of area lighting hours of illumination. An area illumination system includes a central control system operatively coupled to a plurality of luminaires through a data communications network. In some implementations, the data communications network may include a power-line power distribution system and/or a wired or wireless communications network. Each of the plurality of luminaires includes a local illumination control system, which may include a photosensor. The central control system identifies one or more luminaires as having a faulty local illumination control system and issues illumination commands to such luminaires through the data communications network so that the luminaires continue to operate normally without a working local illumination control system. The central control system may store data relating to luminaires having faulty illumination control systems, such as addresses, map data, routing data, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Express Imaging Systems, LLC
    Inventor: William G. Reed
  • Patent number: 9444461
    Abstract: A universal input buffer has a pair of input pins. A first input of a multiplexer is coupled to the second input pin and a second input of the multiplexer receives a common mode voltage of a differential signal applied to the first pin. The multiplexer is responsive to a selection signal to select either of the first and second inputs of said multiplexer. A pair of single-input buffers have inputs coupled respectively to the first and second input pins. A first input of a first differential buffer is coupled to the first input pin, a first input of a second differential buffer is coupled to the second input pin, the second input of the first differential buffer is coupled to the output of the multiplexer, and the second input of the second differential buffer receives a common mode voltage of a differential signal applied to the second pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Microsemi Semiconductor ULC
    Inventors: Slobodan Milijevic, Guohui Situ
  • Patent number: 9444459
    Abstract: The logic circuit includes an input terminal, an output terminal, a main logic circuit portion that is electrically connected to the input terminal and the output terminal, and a switching element electrically connected to the input terminal and the main logic circuit portion. Further, a first terminal of the switching element is electrically connected to the input terminal, a second terminal of the switching element is electrically connected to a gate of at least one transistor included in the main logic circuit portion, and the switching element is a transistor in which a leakage current in an off state per micrometer of channel width is lower than or equal to 1×10?17 A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Sekine
  • Patent number: 9444457
    Abstract: In order to reduce power consumption, an arithmetic circuit having a function of performing a logic operation processing based on an input signal, storing a potential set in accordance with the result of the logic operation processing as stored data, and outputting a signal with a value corresponding to the stored data as an output signal. The arithmetic circuit includes an arithmetic portion performing the logic operation processing, a first field-effect transistor controlling whether a first potential, which is the potential corresponding to the result of the logic operation processing is set, and a second field-effect transistor controlling whether the potential of the output signal data is set at a second potential which is a reference potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 9439273
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus, method, and program product to control a lamp system. The apparatus comprises a plasma lamp bulb (20) and a microwave generator (12) operable to generate a microwave energy field to excite the plasma lamp bulb (20) to emit ultraviolet light (24). The apparatus further comprises a sensor (70) to measure the intensity of the ultraviolet light (24) and a reflector (42) positioned between the plasma lamp bulb (20) and the sensor (70) The reflector (42) is operable to reflect at least a portion of the ultraviolet light (24) generated by the plasma lamp bulb (20). The method comprises receiving a target intensity for the ultraviolet light (24) and measuring an intensity of the ultraviolet light (24) using a sensor (70). The method further comprises comparing the target intensity to the measured intensity and, in response to the comparison, adjusting power to a microwave generator (12) to adjust the intensity of the ultraviolet light (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Borsuk, James Khoury, Edward C. McGhee, James Smith
  • Patent number: 9438207
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a logic circuit capable of storing configuration data. The logic circuit includes a latch circuit, an arithmetic circuit, a delay circuit, and a first output timing generation circuit. The latch circuit has a function of receiving a pulse signal and a reset signal and outputting a first signal. The delay circuit has a function of receiving the first signal and outputting a second signal. The first signal controls power supply to the arithmetic circuit and the delay circuit. The second signal is obtained by delaying the first signal so as to correspond to a delay in a critical path of the arithmetic circuit. The first output timing generation circuit has a function of receiving a third signal obtained by a logical operation on the first signal and the second signal and outputting the reset signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 9431599
    Abstract: A non-volatile logic device, comprising: a first input element magnetizable along a first direction to impart or change a chirality of a domain wall traversing the first input element a second input element configured to transport the domain wall, a magnetization of the second input element along a second direction representing a second logical input; a bifurcated output section comprising a pair of output elements for receiving the domain wall from the second input element, a magnetization of at least part of the output elements being changeable by propagation of the domain wall along the output elements; and a non-magnetic conductive element; wherein the magnetization in an output element after propagation of the domain wall represents a value of a logical function selectable by passing an electrical current through the non-magnetic conductive element to induce a magnetic field of a desired magnitude and direction in the second input element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Wen Siang Lew, Chandrasekhar Murapaka, Indra Purnama, Sarjoosing Goolaup, Pankaj Sethi, Chinkhanlun Guite
  • Patent number: 9433043
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) power supply providing current to a plurality of LEDs comprises a planar transformer. The planar transformer comprises a first multilayer printed circuit board comprising a first plurality of planar windings electrically connected in series to form a first primary portion. Each winding of the first plurality of planar windings is carried on a separate layer of the first multilayer printed circuit board. The transformer further comprises a second multilayer printed circuit board comprising a second plurality of planar windings electrically connected in series to form a second primary portion. Each winding of the second plurality of planar windings is carried on a separate layer of the second multilayer printed circuit board. The transformer additionally comprises a third multilayer printed circuit board comprising a third planar winding carried on two layers to provide a secondary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: OPTOLUM, INC.
    Inventor: Douglas Laurence Hanz
  • Patent number: 9426856
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are disclosed for providing AC line power to lighting devices such as light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). A representative apparatus comprises: a plurality of LEDs coupled in series to form a plurality of segments of LEDs; first and second current regulators; a current sensor; and a controller to monitor a current level through a series LED current path, and to provide for first or second segments of LEDs to be in or out of the series LED current path at different current levels. A voltage regulator is also utilized to provide a voltage during a zero-crossing interval of the AC voltage. In a representative embodiment, first and second segments of LEDs are both in the series LED current path regulated at a lower current level compared to when only the first segment of LEDs is in the series LED current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC
    Inventors: Anatoly Shteynberg, Dongsheng Zhou, Stephen F. Dreyer, Harlan Ohara, Sinan Doluca
  • Patent number: 9425026
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for matching the impedance of a load to an impedance of a power generator. Embodiments include a matching network with a dynamically configurable component assembly array couplable to the variable impedance load and the RF power generator, wherein the component assembly array includes one or more tune and load electrical components. The component assembly array is adapted to be configured for each recipe step, and at least one of the electrical components is a variable impedance component adjustable to reduce RF energy reflected from the variable impedance load for each recipe step. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc
    Inventors: Suhail Anwar, Carl A. Sorensen, Jozef Kudela
  • Patent number: 9423815
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a highly reliable circuit are realized using the transistors having a lower withstand voltage. There are provided a differential pair including a first and a second transistor which respectively receive input signals having mutually reversed phases; a third and a fourth transistor respectively cascode-coupled to the first and the second transistor, and having the same conductivity type as the first and the second transistor; a first and a second output terminal coupled to respective drains of the third and the fourth transistor; and a voltage divider circuit which divides an intermediate potential between respective potentials of the first and the second output terminal and supplies the divided potential to gates of the third and the fourth transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Mitsuishi, Masayasu Komyo, Souji Sunairi
  • Patent number: 9415718
    Abstract: The vehicular headlight apparatus includes a control means configured to change a light illumination area following a position of a detected target object until a shift angle between a reference direction and a direction to the target object with respect to a headlight is calculated to exceed a maximum limit shift angle, and configured to, when a vehicle speed is detected to exceed a predetermined threshold value, set the maximum limit shift angle to a small deflection angle, and change the present light illumination area to a low-beam light illumination area covered by the headlight in a low-beam state if the shift angle is calculated to exceed the maximum limit shift angle set to the small deflection angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Futamura, Ryu Mizuno, Koichi Masuda
  • Patent number: 9420669
    Abstract: A control method according to the present disclosure causes a computer of an information apparatus to: display a display screen representing a floor plan for one floor including at least two or more rooms; display an illumination icon representing the one or more illumination devices on the display screen representing the floor plan, the illumination icon being commonly used for the two or more rooms included in the floor plan; and output to the network a first control command, when selection of the illumination icon is sensed, and when selection of a first room among the at least two or more rooms included in the floor plan is sensed, the first control command controlling on/off of power for an illumination device corresponding to the first room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Takamitsu Sasaki, Kohei Tahara