Patents Examined by Anh Tran
  • Patent number: 10076009
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting system (1) comprising a lighting device (6) having a first USB-PD connector and a power providing unit, which is preferentially a component of a power providing device (4) and which is operable in different operational modes. A second USB-PD connector is electrically connected with the power providing unit and adapted to be connected with the first USB-PD connector for generating a USB-PD connection (5) via which power and optionally also data are receivable by the lighting device. A connection feature value being indicative of a feature of the connection is determined and the operational mode of the power providing unit is controlled depending on the determined connection feature value. This allows for a reaction on the current connection situation. For instance, if the connection feature value indicates a relatively low thermal coupling, the power providing unit may provide less power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Petrus Creusen, Mark Johannes Antonius Verhoeven, Reinier Imre Anton Den Boer, Marcel Beij
  • Patent number: 10075170
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for determining a majority vote from a plurality of inputs. An example circuit includes a voting input stage, a transfer stage, and an accumulating stage. The voting input stage includes at least three input switched capacitors. The transfer stage includes transfer switched capacitors corresponding to the input switched capacitors. The transfer switched capacitors charge a voting capacitor corresponding to each input switched capacitor during a state of a clock signal. The accumulating stage includes accumulating switched capacitors connecting the voting capacitors in series. The accumulating switched capacitors cause the charges of the voting capacitors to be accumulated during an alternate state of the clock signal. The accumulated charge of the voting capacitors represents a majority vote of the input switched capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Vigeant, Antonio E. de la Serna
  • Patent number: 10071685
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a head unit, a vehicle including the same, and a method for controlling the vehicle having the head unit. The head unit includes: a controller configured to control an in-vehicle device contained in a vehicle by interacting with manipulation of a user device, where the controller is configured to: receive information from the user device; control the in-vehicle device based on the information; and perform a command for operating the in-vehicle device based on signal sensitivity of the information and a predetermined logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dae Sun Park, Unhwan Sol
  • Patent number: 10069495
    Abstract: A memory device includes a first on-die termination circuit, a second on-die termination circuit, a voltage generator, and a code generator. The first on-die termination circuit may correspond to a data input buffer. The second on-die termination circuit may correspond to a command/address buffer. The voltage generator may generate a reference voltage. The code generator may generate a resistance calibration code of a selected one of the on-die termination circuits in response to the reference voltage. The reference calibration code may calibrate a resistance value of the selected on-die termination circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hangi Jung, Hun-Dae Choi, Jinhyeok Baek
  • Patent number: 10067845
    Abstract: A method of monitoring operations of a set of ICs. The method loads a first set of configuration data into a first IC for configuring a group of configurable circuits of the first IC to perform operations of a user design. The method receives a definition of an event based on values of a set of signals in the user design and a set of corresponding actions to take when the event occurs. The set of signals includes at least one signal received from a second IC. The method generates an incremental second set of configuration data based on the definition of the event and the set of corresponding actions. While the first IC is performing the operations of the user design, the method loads the incremental second set of configuration data into the first IC and monitors the signals received from the second IC at the first IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Andrea Olgiati, Matthew Pond Baker, Steven Teig
  • Patent number: 10070498
    Abstract: An LED tube lamp is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Jiaxing Super Lighting Electric Appliance Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aiming Xiong, Qifeng Ye
  • Patent number: 10063388
    Abstract: A lighting-control processor (100, 300) for controlling operation of an external lighting unit comprises an exchange control unit, which is configured to control exchange of lighting-control information with the lighting unit via a lighting-control interface in accordance with an exchange protocol and to generate and provide exchange monitoring information indicative of an operational status of the exchange control unit. A reset unit is configured to receive a soft-reset command and to cause a soft reset of the lighting-control processor upon receiving the soft-reset command. An exchange watchdog unit is configured to receive the exchange monitoring information, determine validity of the exchange monitoring information in accordance with a predefined validity criterion, and to provide the soft-reset command upon detecting that the received exchange monitoring information is not valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Jurgen Mario Vangeel, John André Van Beurden, Robbert Martinus Andreas Driessen, Wijnand Johannes Rietman
  • Patent number: 10062731
    Abstract: An apparatus including a spin to charge conversion node; and a charge to spin conversion node, wherein an input to the spin to charge conversion node produces an output at the charge to spin conversion node. An apparatus including a magnet including an input node and output node, the input node including a capacitor operable to generate magnetic response in the magnet and the output node including at least one spin to charge conversion material. A method including injecting a spin current from a first magnet; converting the spin current into a charge current operable to produce a magnetoelectric interaction with a second magnet; and changing a direction of magnetization of the second magnet in response to the magnetoelectric interaction. A method including injecting a spin current from an input node of a magnet; and converting the spin current into a charge current at an output node of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Sasikanth Manipatruni, Dmitri E. Nikonov, Ian A. Young
  • Patent number: 10057967
    Abstract: A lighting device includes: a first lighting control circuit; a second lighting control circuit which controls the first lighting control circuit; a first control power supply which supplies a first voltage to the first lighting control circuit; a second control power supply to which the first voltage is supplied and which supplies a second voltage to the second lighting control circuit; and a reset circuit which (i) when the reset circuit detects that the first voltage decreases to a first threshold or lower, causes the second control power supply to stop supply of the second voltage, and (ii) when the reset circuit detects that the first voltage increases to a second threshold or higher and that the second voltage is higher than a third threshold, causes the second control power supply to start supply of the second voltage after the second voltage decreases to the third threshold or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Yamahara, Hiroyuki Asano, Satoshi Yagi, Koki Matsui
  • Patent number: 10054271
    Abstract: An LED tube lamp is disclosed. An installation detection circuit is configured in the LED tube lamp configured to receive an external driving signal. The installation detection circuit is configured to detect during one or more pulse signals whether the LED tube lamp is properly installed on a lamp socket, based on detecting a signal generated from the external driving signal. The installation detection circuit includes a switch circuit coupled to the pulse generating circuit, wherein the one or more pulse signals control turning on and off of the switch circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Jiaxing Super Lighting Electric Appliance Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aiming Xiong, Xintong Liu
  • Patent number: 10057963
    Abstract: A method for facilitating space experiences for at least a first space user and for at least first and second different spaces, the method comprising the steps of storing first and second space experience specifications for the first and second different spaces, respectively, wherein the first and second space experience specifications indicate space affordance settings for the first and second spaces, respectively, sensing a trigger event associated with at least one of the first and second different spaces, where the sensed trigger event is associated with the first space, using the first space experience specification to control the first space affordances and where the sensed trigger event is associated with the second space, using the second space experience specification to control the second space affordances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: STEELCASE INC.
    Inventors: Karl Mead, Hyun Yoo, Cherie Johnson
  • Patent number: 10039169
    Abstract: A light source apparatus including a light-emitting module and a control unit is provided. The light-emitting module is configured to provide a light. The control unit makes the light emitted from the light-emitting module switched among a plurality of kinds of first light. Correlated color temperatures of the plurality of kinds of first light are different from each other, and circadian action factors of the plurality of kinds of first light are substantially the same as each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Tzung-Te Chen, Chien-Chun Lu, Hsin-Yun Tsai, Tung-Yun Liu, Shih-Yi Wen
  • Patent number: 10038502
    Abstract: A lighting device includes: a DC power supply circuit which supplies a light-emitting element with a first voltage; a signal generation circuit which generates a control signal based on a visible light communication signal; a current control element which is connected in series to the light-emitting element and turned on and off based on the control signal; a DC power supply control circuit which causes a second voltage at a first node between the light-emitting element and the current control element to be a constant value, by controlling the DC power supply circuit based on the second voltage; and a first feedback circuit which supplies the DC power supply control circuit with the second voltage. The first feedback circuit supplies the DC power supply control circuit with a predetermined voltage in a period in which the current control element is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keisuke Seki
  • Patent number: 10039174
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure decrease conflicts between individual lighting devices in a wireless network when responding to a broadcast/multicast message sent to a group of devices. In some embodiments the devices delay sending their acknowledgment to commands until after a specific time period. Some embodiments limit the number of time delays to one of a predetermined number of time delays, where the number of time delays are assigned by an external source, such as the gateway. Still other embodiments include assigning each device one of a limited number of preset time delays, where the total number of preset time delays are less than the number of devices, for example, ten (10) percent of the number of devices (here some devices will have the same time delays as other devices). Still other embodiments use bitmaps to designating which one or more individual devices the message is intended for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: RAB Lighting Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Lawrence Oliver, Frank Hubert Benetz
  • Patent number: 10029912
    Abstract: A capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (cMUT) is provided. The cMUT has a first layer having a first electrode and a second layer having a second electrode opposing the first electrode to define a gap width therebetween. At least one of the first layer and the second layer includes a flexible layer having a contact area in contact to a support, such that the first electrode and the second electrode are movable relative to each other to cause a change of the gap width. The support has two substantially continuous shoulder sides each extending along with the flexible layer, each shoulder side making graduated contact with more contact area of the flexible layer as the flexible layer deforms toward the shoulder side, causing the flexible layer to have a dynamically changing spring strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Kolo Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yongli Huang
  • Patent number: 10024503
    Abstract: An LED tube lamp comprises a plurality of LED light sources, an end cap, a power supply disposed in the end cap, a lamp tube, and an LED light strip. The lamp tube extends in a first direction along a length of the lamp tube, and has an end attached to the end cap. LED light strip is electrically connected the LED light sources with the power supply. The LED light strip has in sequence a first wiring layer, a dielectric layer and a second wiring layer. A thickness of the second wiring layer is greater than a thickness of the first wiring layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: JIAXING SUPER LIGHTING ELECTRIC APPLIANCE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Li-Qin Li, Tao Jiang, Chang Yang, Bao Wang
  • Patent number: 10020810
    Abstract: An example semiconductor chip includes analog circuits, digital circuits, and a digital input port. The digital input port is to receive an input signal. The analog circuit is to receive the input signal from the digital input port and produce a digital signal based on the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Warren S. Snyder, Monte Mar
  • Patent number: 10009981
    Abstract: A new system and apparatus for selectively interrupting the power supply of lighting elements is described by example herein. The system may include a power interruption apparatus in electrical communication with a lighting element such as a motion activated security light. In preferred embodiments, the apparatus may include a power interruption module configured to selectively interrupt the power supply to the lighting element to change the status mode of the lighting element. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be controlled by a wireless remote control while in other embodiments the apparatus may be controlled by a wall switch. In yet further embodiments, the apparatus may be configured to partner with a home automation system through a home automation remote thereby allowing a user to selectively change the status mode of a lighting element using an interface specific to their home automation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: GG TECH PRODUCTS CO., LIMITED
    Inventor: Ralph Gregory Greene
  • Patent number: 10009011
    Abstract: An impedance matching circuit, includes a multilayer substrate, a microstrip line, a spiral inductor, a first capacitor circuit, and a second capacitor circuit. The multilayer substrate includes a power amplifier, and the microstrip line is disposed on a first layer substrate and connected to the power amplifier. The spiral inductor includes a first spiral transmission line disposed on the first layer substrate and connected to the microstrip line, a second spiral transmission line disposed on a substrate layer below the first layer substrate and connected to the first spiral transmission line, and an output pad disposed on the first layer substrate and connected to the second spiral transmission line. The first capacitor circuit is disposed outside the spiral inductor and connected between the microstrip line and a ground. The second capacitor circuit is disposed outside the spiral inductor and connected between the output pad and the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Kojima, Yun Tae Nam
  • Patent number: 10001343
    Abstract: A lighting circuit includes a controllable electronic device in series with a power terminal of a controller, wherein operation of a switch causes the controller to maintain the electronic device conductive, whereby the controller then remains powered; and wherein the controller responds to a subsequent operation of the switch to render the electronic device nonconductive, whereby the controller is then unpowered even when electrical power is received. The lighting circuit is suitable for use, e.g., in a portable or other battery powered light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon C. Zeisler, Jonathan R. Sharrah