Patents Examined by Aqeel Bukhari
  • Patent number: 9722411
    Abstract: The present provides a secondary power system and a power supply device. The secondary power system is used for supplying power for a load equipment, and comprises: a fuse circuit, a filter circuit, a convertor circuit and an over-voltage and under-voltage protection circuit, wherein, the fuse circuit, the filter circuit, the over-voltage and under-voltage protection circuit and the convertor circuit are sequentially connected in series; the over-voltage and under-voltage protection circuit is configured to cut off power supplied to the convertor circuit when power supplied by the primary power source is an under-voltage or over-voltage; the convertor circuit is configured to convert the primary power source into a secondary power source. The secondary power system, by providing an over-voltage and under-voltage protection circuit, can not only lower the cost of the convertor circuit, but also save the space occupied by the convertor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qingyong Li
  • Patent number: 9722409
    Abstract: A selectivity module for dividing a load current in an installation system includes a housing, a plurality of branches in the housing, a plurality of switching devices, and a control unit. Each of the plurality of switching devices is configured for switching a branch current on and off in a corresponding one of the plurality of branches. The plurality of switching devices serves to output information about corresponding switching states. The control unit is connected to the plurality of switching devices and configured to output a status signal as a function of the output information from the plurality of switching devices. The output information relating to the individual switching states of all of the plurality of switching devices is contained in the status signal in a serial encoded form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Heiko Janisch
  • Patent number: 9713965
    Abstract: An example method includes intentionally precharging a powertrain of an electric vehicle for an first time period that is different than a second precharge time period. An example electric vehicle assembly includes a precharge contactor transitionable back and forth between an open state and a closed state, a first main contactor, a second main contactor, and a controller configured to selectively close the second main contactor after the precharge contactor has been closed for a first time period that is different than a second precharge time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Ryan J. Skaff, Karin Lovett, Bryan Michael Bolger
  • Patent number: 9705308
    Abstract: A power strip includes a power plug and an outlet connected to the power plug through a power cord. The power plug has a plugging face and at least one power pin disposed on the plugging face. The power plug includes a first thermal cut-off device, which has a first thermal sensing pin exposed on the plugging face. The outlet has at least one set of apertures. The first thermal cut-off device is in electrically connection with a power output wire of the power plug. The first thermal cut-off device cuts off the power transmission between the power plug and the outlet when the temperature of the plugging face exceeds a first determined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: POWERTECH INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Lung Lee, Chi Feng Cheng
  • Patent number: 9698606
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission antenna apparatus (100, 200) is mounted on a wireless power transmitting apparatus configured to transmit electric power in a wireless manner, and is provided with: an antenna coil (10) obtained by winding a conductive member; a plurality of plate-like members (21, 22, 23, 24), each containing metal and disposed in surroundings of the antenna coil and in a radial direction of the antenna coil; and a housing case (30) containing metal and configured to accommodate therein the antenna coil and the plurality of plate-like members. The plate-like member is disposed such that a plate face thereof crosses a direction of extension of the conductive member. According to the wireless power transmission antenna apparatus, it is possible to improve power transmission efficiency while complying with radio wave protection guidelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Fujieda
  • Patent number: 9698629
    Abstract: In a power transmitting device constituting a wireless power transmission system, a voltage generating circuit applies a voltage between an active electrode and a passive electrode. In a power receiving device, a voltage generated between an active electrode that is opposed to the active electrode, and a passive electrode that is opposed to or brought into contact with the passive electrode when the power receiving device is placed on the power transmitting device is inputted to a load circuit as a power supply voltage. Passive electrodes of the power transmitting device are provided to electrostatically shield the opposed active electrodes with respect to the earth. Consequently, a wireless power transmission system, a power transmitting device, and a power receiving device are configured so the potential of the power transmitting device and the power receiving device during power transmission is stabilized to thereby prevent malfunction of the power receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9696776
    Abstract: A switch circuit includes a voltage follower module, a comparison module and a switch module coupled to the voltage follower module, the comparison module and a power supply. The voltage follower can receive a first control signal and a second control signal. The comparison module can receive the first control signal and the second control signal. The comparison module compares a voltage of the first control signal and the second control signal with a reference voltage. When the comparison module outputs a first signal to turn on the switch module, the first power supply unit and the second power supply unit work in the first operation mode. When the comparison module outputs a second signal to turn off the switch module, the first power supply unit and the second power supply unit work in the second operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Meng-Liang Yang
  • Patent number: 9694789
    Abstract: A switching device includes an operation lever capable of being turned in a first direction and in a second direction with respect to a neutral position, a first switch to detect a condition when the operation lever is moved to a first operation position, a second switch to detect a condition when the operation lever is moved to a second operation position symmetric to the first operation position, and a control unit to control a multistage function in a stepwise manner to switch operating states in a stepwise manner such that the condition of control of the multistage function is switched up in a stepwise manner based on a condition detected by the first switch and such that the condition of control of the multistage function is switched down in a stepwise manner based on a condition detected by the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9698605
    Abstract: In a power transmission apparatus which transmits power from a power transmission device to a power reception device in a noncontact manner, the power transmission device includes a first main body supporting the power reception device on adjacent first and second surfaces, and a power transmission coil formed by planar coils which are respectively symmetrically disposed on the first and second surfaces with respect to an intersection between the first and second surfaces inside the first main body, and includes an extension region in which an occupation area of the coils gradually increases while becoming distant from a part close to the intersection. The power reception device includes a second main body that includes third and fourth surfaces which respectively face the first and second surfaces, and a power reception coil disposed in the second main body so as to correspond to the third and fourth surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Kanagawa, Masakazu Kato
  • Patent number: 9688224
    Abstract: A vehicle electric power supply apparatus includes first and second power sources connected in parallel to each other; a DC-DC converter connected between the first and second power sources; a switch connected in parallel to the DC-DC converter and connected between the first and second power sources; an opening and closing unit that is operable to open and close the switch; and a control unit that controls the DC-DC converter and the opening and closing unit. When an internal combustion engine is stopped, the control unit sets the switch to be OFF using the opening and closing unit, and the control unit causes the second power source to be discharged and the first power source to be charged until the output voltage of the second power source reaches a first voltage by electric power supply from the second power source to the first power source via the DC-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Takahashi, Satoshi Sekiguchi, Takushi Inoue
  • Patent number: 9685782
    Abstract: Power distribution modules capable of “hot” connection and/or disconnection in distributed antenna systems (DAS), and related components, power units, and methods are disclosed. The power distribution modules are configured to distribute power to a power-consuming DAS component(s), such as a remote antenna unit(s) (RAU(s)). By “hot” connection and/or disconnection, it is meant that the power distribution modules can be connected and/or disconnected from a power unit and/or a power-consuming DAS component(s) while power is being provided to the power distribution modules. Power is not required to be disabled in the power unit before connection and/or disconnection of power distribution modules. As a non-limiting example, the power distribution modules may be configured to protect against or reduce electrical arcing or electrical contact erosion that may otherwise result from “hot” connection and/or connection of the power distribution modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC
    Inventors: Chois Alven Blackwell, Jr., Boyd Grant Brower, Terry Dean Cox
  • Patent number: 9683911
    Abstract: A service panel for controlling at least one utility actuator to control the availability of a utility comprises a covered enclosure having an exterior region and an interior region, at least one readily accessible utility control providing ON and OFF request signals and a limited access control in the exterior region providing a temporary activate signal. The service panel has a controller and data storage programmed with code and data and control circuitry providing an “ON” control signal to the at least one utility actuator to switch the at least one utility actuator to the “ON” state, and the control circuitry providing an “OFF” control signal to the at least one utility actuator to switch the at least one utility actuator to an OFF state, the control circuitry further providing a re-key signal to the at least one actuator in response to activation of a switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Phil A. Parker
  • Patent number: 9680310
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless energy transfer are described. A transmitter unit has a transmitter resonator with a coil that is coupled to a power supply to wirelessly transmit power to a receiver unit. A receiver unit has a receiver resonator with a coil coupled to a device load. The receiver unit can include a ferrite enclosure to prevent transmission of magnetic flux into electronics of the receiver unit, and can include ferrite fins to increase a coupling between the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Thoratec Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Wong, George Chao-chih Hsu, John Duc Nguyen, Carine Hoarau, Steven Reichenbach, Kevin Gerald Heppell
  • Patent number: 9672978
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission antenna apparatus (100, 200) is mounted on a wireless power transmitting apparatus configured to transmit electric power in a wireless manner, and is provided with: an antenna coil (10) obtained by winding a conductive member; and a plate-like member (21, 22, 23, 24) containing metal, disposed in surroundings of the antenna coil and in a radial direction of the antenna coil. The plate-like member is disposed such that a plate face thereof crosses a direction of extension of the conductive member. According to the wireless power transmission antenna apparatus, it is possible to improve power transmission efficiency while complying with radio wave protection guidelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Fujieda
  • Patent number: 9673635
    Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (400) for powering an electrical load (322) in an environment. The methods involve using a battery (310) to simultaneously supply electrical energy to control electronics (308, 316) and a Super Capacitor (“SC”) storage element (314) immediately after a system has been disposed in the environment and turned on. In effect, the control electronics are caused to perform intended functions thereof nearly instantaneously after turning on the system. The SC storage element is charged from a first charge state in which approximately zero volts exist across terminals thereof to a second charge state in which greater than zero volts exists across the terminals. The SC storage element is then used to supply electrical energy to the electrical load of the system so as to cause the electrical load to perform intended functions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventors: Melwyn F. Sequeira, Mohammad Mohiuddin, Richard L. Copeland
  • Patent number: 9672976
    Abstract: A device may include a multiple inductive coils arranged concentrically for operating according multiple modes of wireless power transfer. The device may include multiple layers of magnetic shields to protect device components from the effects of the magnetic field used for power transfer. Construction and material of multiple layers of shields may be based on addressing individually the different parameters of the multiple modes of operation and based on the combined effect of the layers in each mode of operation. In some examples, the device may include first and second ferrite shields each having different magnetic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Sakari Johannes Levo, Jari Juhani Muurinen
  • Patent number: 9664714
    Abstract: The present invention relates to power conversion systems, specifically, it relates to a device for detecting the DC voltage rectified from the AC power supply voltage in an AC-DC converter, primarily used to determine whether the DC input voltage is under a brown-out level and to monitor whether the AC power supply is removed and to discharge the residue DC voltage generated in a high frequency filter capacitor, which is used to filter high frequency noise signals of the AC power supply, during the removal of the AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor (Cayman), Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Ming Chen, Chih-Yuan Liu, Pei-Lun Huang
  • Patent number: 9659731
    Abstract: A portable actuator and safety switch assembly wherein the portable actuator includes a housing and an actuator for selectively engaging with a control mechanism of said safety switch. The actuator is at least one of partially located within the housing, forms a part of the housing, or is attached to the housing. The assembly includes a controller that controls a configuration of the actuator assembly, such that the actuator assembly can selectively and controllably attain a first configuration wherein the actuator is able to interact with the control mechanism of the safety switch and a second configuration wherein the actuator is unable to manipulate the control mechanism of said safety switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Limited
    Inventors: Simon Mathew Hudson, Derek William Jones
  • Patent number: 9654025
    Abstract: A method for designing cascaded multi-level inverters with minimization of large-scale voltage distortion, based on KKT (Karush-Kuhn-Tucker) conditions and with simplified computation of conduction angles, simplifies the computation process, and is conducive to on-line calculation. Meanwhile, its fundamental voltage is adaptive, minimization of total harmonic is realized for cascaded multi-level inverters at high-voltage, and voltage power quality at grid connected nodes is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Inventors: Guojie Li, Xiuchen Jiang, Keyou Wang, Lin Feng, Bei Han, Lijun Hang
  • Patent number: 9653946
    Abstract: A power distribution system includes at least one server and a power distribution unit coupled to the at least one server. The power distribution unit includes a power distribution controller and a power input unit, a battery and a power switcher coupled to the power distribution controller. The power distribution controller detects a voltage of an alternating current (AC) received from power source by the power input unit. If the voltage is greater than a first threshold and smaller than a second threshold, the power distribution controller switches the power switcher to be coupled to the power input unit, and provides the alternating current (AC) to the at least one server. Conversely, the power distribution controller switches the power switcher to be coupled to the battery, and provides a direct current (DC) to the at least one server. Accordingly, power consumption and waste during power supply may be effectively reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Yung-Mei Lin