Patents Examined by Christopher Clark
  • Patent number: 10033162
    Abstract: A corona igniter assembly 20 comprises an ignition coil assembly 22, a firing end assembly 24, and a metal tube 26 connecting the ignition coil assembly 22 to the firing end assembly 24. A rubber boot 28 is disposed in the metal tube 26 and compressed symmetrically between a coil output member 30 of the ignition coil assembly 22 and an insulator 42 of the firing end assembly 24. Thus, the rubber boot 28 fills any air gaps and provides a hermetic seal between the ignition coil assembly 22 and the firing end assembly 24 to prevent unwanted corona discharge from forming from those air gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Inventors: Vittorio Urciuoli, Giulio Milan, Massimo Augusto Dal Re, Paolo Pignatti
  • Patent number: 10032561
    Abstract: A heat pipe cooled capacitor includes a capacitor body having opposing first and second ends and an opening defined between the opposing ends. A first heat pipe is thermally and electrically connected to the first end of the capacitor body. A second heat pipe is positioned at least partially through the opening of the capacitor body. The second heat pipe is thermally connected to the second end of the capacitor body, and electrically isolated from the first heat pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC CONCEPTS INC.
    Inventors: Bernard Lavene, Joseph Bond
  • Patent number: 10027109
    Abstract: In a thermal protection circuit with two electrical connection terminals for an electrical device to be protected from overheating and at least one temperature-dependent switch, at least one electronic semiconductor switch for DC voltage is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: THERMIK GERAETEBAU GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Christian Liehr, Marcel P. Hofsaess
  • Patent number: 10014680
    Abstract: To protect an electrical load from anomalous electricity provided by an electricity source, a switching mechanism is configured to transition into one of conducting and non-conducting states in response to respective on and off states of a switching signal. A power controller evaluates input frequency characteristics of an overvoltage event in input electricity provided by the electricity source against at least one frequency criterion. Event timing is established for the timing signal that corresponds to the frequency characteristics met by the frequency threshold criterion. The event timing coordinates the overvoltage event with the state transitions of the switching mechanism so that an amplitude notch is superimposed on the input electricity over a temporal duration proportionate to that of the overvoltage event. State transitions are compelled in the switching mechanism to superimpose the amplitude notch on the input electricity in accordance with the event timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Electronic Systems Protection, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Dawley
  • Patent number: 10008849
    Abstract: A surge protection device includes, in one embodiment, a surge responder operative to engage an inner conductor engager during a protection mode and disengage the inner conductor engager during a normal mode. The surge responder returns to the normal mode from the protection mode without operating intervention to replace or re-engage the surge responder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: JOHN MEZZALINGUA ASSOCIATES, LLC
    Inventor: Werner Wild
  • Patent number: 10002722
    Abstract: A switching system for breaking a current, including a contact arrangement having a first and second terminals, a resonance circuit connectable across the contact arrangement, In the closed state the first switch enables current to flow through the resonance circuit in a first flow direction and into the contact arrangement in a direction opposite to a contact arrangement arc current flow direction. A second switch connected to the resonance circuit and to the second terminal. In the closed state the second switch enables current to flow through the resonance circuit in a second flow direction opposite to the first flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Magnus Backman, Stefan Valdemarsson
  • Patent number: 9991681
    Abstract: A corona ignition system for maintaining a drive frequency approximately equal to the resonant frequency of a corona igniter is provided. The system includes a current sensor, at least two cascaded timers which are electrically independent of a controller, and at least two switches. During operation, the current sensor measures the current at an input of the corona igniter. A conditioned current signal including information related to the zero crossings of the current ultimately activates a pair of the timers which in turn control and drive one of the switches. The conditioned current signal is not processed by the controller before driving the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition Company
    Inventor: John Antony Burrows
  • Patent number: 9991066
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for synchronizing switching times of relays to a zero-crossing are described herein. One device includes a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive phase information of an alternating-current (AC) electric mains, determine, from the phase information, a zero-crossing of the phase of the AC electric mains, determine a reference time based on the zero-crossing for a number of relays corresponding to a number of relay controllers, and transmit the reference time to the number of relay controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Asmussen, Philipp Anton Roosli
  • Patent number: 9991075
    Abstract: A load control device may control power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source. The load control device may include a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load, a zero-cross detect circuit configured to generate a zero-cross signal representative of the zero-crossings of an AC voltage. The zero-cross signal may be characterized by pulses occurring in time with the zero-crossings of the AC voltage. The load control device may include a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device and the zero cross detect circuit. The control circuit may be configured to identify a rising-edge time and a falling-edge time of one of the pulses of the zero-cross signal, and may control a conductive state of the controllably conductive device based on the rising-edge time and the falling-edge time of the pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert William Lenig, Michael Sizemore, Joshua Wilson Thaler, Russell L. MacAdam
  • Patent number: 9985427
    Abstract: An electronic circuit arrangement may include a first and a second electrical supply line for connecting an electronic device with a rechargeable battery. The first electrical supply line may be connected at one end with the rechargeable electric battery and at the other end with the electronic device for supplying electric energy. At least two switching elements may be provided in the first electrical supply line, which each may be switchable between an open state, in which the respective switching element electrically interrupts the first supply line, and a closed state. The electronic circuit arrangement may include a protective circuit arrangement and a reset circuit arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ECOM INSTRUMENTS GMBH
    Inventor: Norbert Sack
  • Patent number: 9984913
    Abstract: A tri-modal carrier provides a structural platform to temporarily bond a semiconductive wafer and can be used to transport the semiconductive wafer or be used to perform manufacturing processes on the semiconductive wafer. The tri-modal carrier includes a doped semiconductive substrate, a plurality of electrostatic field generating (EFG) circuits, and a capacitance charging interface. A positive pole and a negative pole from each EFG circuit are embedded into the doped semiconductive substrate. An exposed portion of the doped semiconductive substrate is located between the positive pole and the negative pole, which is used as a biased pole for each EFG circuit. The combination of these poles for each EFG circuit is used to generate a non-uniform electrostatic field for bonding the semiconductive wafer. The tri-modal carrier also uses flat surface properties and the removal of trapped gas particles to strengthen the bond between the tri-modal carrier and the semiconductive wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: DIABLO CAPITAL, INC.
    Inventor: Eryn Smith
  • Patent number: 9978627
    Abstract: A system for zapping a wafer, the system includes a pulse generator; a sensor; a first conductive interface; a second conductive interface; a controller; wherein the pulse generator is configured to generate zapping pulses; wherein the first conductive interface is configured to provide the zapping pulses to a first location of a backside insulating layer of a wafer; wherein the sensor is configured to monitor a coupling between the first conductive interface and the second conductive interface to provide a monitoring result; wherein the monitoring occurs while the second conductive interface contacts a second location of the backside insulating layer; and wherein the controller is configured to control a generation of the zapping pulses in response to the monitoring result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS ISRAEL LTD
    Inventors: Tuvia Biber, Efim Kerner, Efraim Siman Tov
  • Patent number: 9964326
    Abstract: An illustrative electronic assembly having an electrical connector therein to ground an electronic component of the electronic assembly to a grounding feature of a printed wiring assembly (PWA) of the electronic assembly. The electronic assembly may include a housing, the PWA, the electronic component and the electrical connector. The electrical connector may be a conductive and resilient extender or connector that may have a first portion connected to the PWA and a second portion extending generally away from the PWA toward the electronic component. The second portion of the electrical connector may be in mechanical and electrical contact with the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Tarik Khoury, Steven J. McPherson, Petr Adamik, Jiri Sapak
  • Patent number: 9960592
    Abstract: A method for detecting a short circuit fault in a multi-level inverter circuit is provided. The multi-level inverter circuit includes a plurality of single phase branches each including of switches. The method includes steps outlined below. At least one detecting pulse sequence is transmitted to the switches of each of the single phase branches. Whether a conducting path is formed in any of the single phase branches is determined according to the detecting pulse sequence. When the conducting loop is formed, respective position of one or more malfunctioned switch in the single phase branches is located according to a path of the conducting loop. A short-circuit detection device and a three-phase three-level inverter circuit are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liang Liu, Bo-Yu Pu, Yi Zhang, Hong-Jian Gan, Jian-Ping Ying
  • Patent number: 9947478
    Abstract: A variable capacitance device includes a ferroelectric capacitor, a control terminal, a ground terminal, and a capacitor. The ferroelectric capacitor includes a ferroelectric film and capacitor electrodes sandwiching the ferroelectric film, and its capacitance value is changed according to a control voltage value applied between the capacitor electrodes. The control terminal is connected to a first end of the ferroelectric capacitor. The ground terminal is connected to a second end of the ferroelectric capacitor. The capacitor is connected between the control terminal and the ground terminal, and has a capacitance larger than that of the ferroelectric capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Ueki, Toshiyuki Nakaiso
  • Patent number: 9934923
    Abstract: A relay circuit includes a power supply to apply an AC input line voltage to the relay circuit, a relay coil and at least one pair of contacts actuated by the relay coil. A zero cross detection circuit and a control logic circuit for the relay circuit are also disclosed. The control logic circuit determines a zero crossover point in response to an output signal from the zero crossover detection circuit, and controls a relay coil to actuate the relay contacts to switch a load at the zero crossover point of a load current when the load is connected to the at least one pair of relay contacts, such that the voltage and current across the relay contacts is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mohammad Siddique Ahmed, Raymond Howard Kohler, Ganesh Bhatt, Alexander King
  • Patent number: 9929546
    Abstract: A support assembly is for an electrical system. The electrical system includes a network protector and a number of disconnect switches coupled to the network protector. The support assembly includes: an insulative mounting member coupled to each of the disconnect switches; a number of base assemblies each including a housing assembly and a stand assembly disposed on the housing assembly, the housing assembly being coupled to the insulative mounting member; and a lifting apparatus disposed on each of the base assemblies. The lifting apparatus moves each of the insulative mounting member and the housing assembly in a direction transverse to the stand assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: Travis Vernon Spoone
  • Patent number: 9899172
    Abstract: The invention is intended to provide a circuit breaker or a circuit breaker operating method enabling a current interruption action to be performed efficiently. A circuit breaker is characterized in that includes a fixed contact and a movable contact that comes in and goes out of contact with the fixed contact; a main circuit conductor that is electrically connected to the fixed contact and the movable contact; an operating mechanism including a mover configured by concatenating permanent magnets or magnetic materials alternately having opposite N and S magnetic polarities along the direction of motion axis of the movable contact and magnetic poles disposed to face the N and S magnetic polarities of the mover and wound with windings; a current detector that detects a current flowing through the main circuit conductor; and a control device that varies the amount of a current to be supplied to the windings of the magnetic poles, depending on a current value detected by the current detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Urai, Yasuaki Aoyama, Hiroaki Hashimoto, Katsuhiko Shiraishi, Tatsuro Kato, Ayumu Morita, Toshiaki Rokunohe, Yoichi Oshita
  • Patent number: 9891272
    Abstract: A module plate is provided for use with a wafer handler and testing mechanism. The module plate has a diameter equivalent to an integrated circuit wafer and a height equivalent to or less than a height of a module lid associated with each module in a plurality of modules associated with the module plate. The module plate has a plurality of cutouts in the module plate that have a width equivalent to a width of the module lid and at least a length equivalent to a length of the module lid. The height of the module plate is such that, when a test head contacts a module base of each module in a plurality of modules, the module lid contacts a chuck on which the module plate resides during testing of the module thereby providing resistance in order to accurately test the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Eckert, Eckhard Kunigkeit, Quintino L. Trianni, Christian Zoellin
  • Patent number: 9885748
    Abstract: A module plate is provided for use with a wafer handler and testing mechanism. The module plate has a diameter equivalent to an integrated circuit wafer and a height equivalent to or less than a height of a module lid associated with each module in a plurality of modules associated with the module plate. The module plate has a plurality of cutouts in the module plate that have a width equivalent to a width of the module lid and at least a length equivalent to a length of the module lid. The height of the module plate is such that, when a test head contacts a module base of each module in a plurality of modules, the module lid contacts a chuck on which the module plate resides during testing of the module thereby providing resistance in order to accurately test the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Eckert, Eckhard Kunigkeit, Quintino L. Trianni, Christian Zoellin