Patents Examined by Christopher J Clark
  • Patent number: 10749316
    Abstract: A multiple spark-gap arrester is disclosed. In an embodiment the arrester includes a series connection of a plurality of spark gaps between a first potential node and a reference-ground potential node and a trigger circuit having an input and an output, the input being coupled to a second potential node between two adjacent spark gaps of the plurality of spark gaps, and the output being coupled to at least one of the spark gaps between the second potential node and the reference-ground potential node, wherein the trigger circuit is configured, when at least one spark gap between the first potential node and the second potential node is ignited, to supply a trigger signal for the at least one of the spark gaps between the second potential node and the reference-ground potential node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Peter Bobert, Eduard Dorsch, Frank Werner
  • Patent number: 10734178
    Abstract: This electromagnetic contactor comprises a set of controlled switches (C1, C2, C3), at least one electromagnetic field generator (L; L1, L2), for example a coil, associated with an adjustable core (P) controlling the state of the controlled switches and a unit (UC) controlling the power supply of the electromagnetic field generator. It comprises means for detecting the position of the adjustable core to detect the state of the controlled switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Zodiac Aero Electric
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Balbinot
  • Patent number: 10734805
    Abstract: A circuit is provided for limiting an applied voltage applied between a power line and an electrical ground. The circuit includes a transistive element connected between the power line and the electrical ground to provide a channel, where current flow through the channel is controlled by a control voltage provided to a control terminal of the transistive element. A first Correlated Electron Material (CEM) device having an impedance state is coupled between the power line and a first node, and a sensing circuit coupled between the first node and the control terminal of the transistive element. The sensing circuit is configured to detect a voltage drop across the CEM device and to provide the control voltage. The channel of the transistive element is opened when the detected voltage drop across the CEM device exceeds a threshold. The CEM device may contain a transition metal oxide (TMO), for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventors: Bal S. Sandhu, Lucian Shifren, Glen Arnold Rosendale
  • Patent number: 10734806
    Abstract: High voltage clamps with active activation and activation-release control are provided herein. In certain configurations, a clamp can have scalable operating clamping voltage level and can be used to protect the electrical circuit connected to a power supply of a semiconductor chip from damage from an overstress event, such as electrostatic discharge (ESD) events. The pins of the power supply are actively monitored to detect when an overstress event is present, and the clamp is turned-on in response to detecting the overstress event. A timer is used to shut down the clamp after a time delay from detecting the overstress event, thereby providing a false detection shutdown mechanism that prevents the protection clamp from getting falsely activated and remain in the on-state during normal circuit operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: James Zhao, Javier Alejandro Salcedo, Srivatsan Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 10727650
    Abstract: An arrangement of stack spark gaps, whereby a stack spark gap has multiple electrodes and insulating elements that are arranged between the electrodes, with a first electrically conductive clamping element and a second electrically conductive clamping element, whereby the two clamping elements are arranged opposite to the front ends of the stack spark gaps, with at least one connecting element, by which the two clamping elements are connected to one another, and with connection elements for electrical connection to the stack spark gaps. A device is provided for holding the stack spark gaps together and having them make contact. Three stack spark gaps are arranged beside one another between the two clamping elements, at least one of which is electrically conductive, and the two clamping elements are connected to one another electrically via the connecting element and are arranged with the spark gaps so as to form a star circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Meyer, Hannes Sagebiel
  • Patent number: 10714931
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrostatic protection circuit, an array substrate and a display device, comprising: a first electrostatic discharge circuit and a second electrostatic discharge circuit; wherein the first electrostatic discharge circuit is configured to, in case that an electrostatic voltage formed on the first signal wire is greater than or equal to a first preset turn-on voltage, transmit the electrostatic voltage on the first signal wire to the second signal wire. In case that the electrostatic voltage formed on the first signal wire is greater than or equal to a second preset turn-on voltage, the first electrostatic discharge circuit couples the voltage on the first signal wire to a first node, so that the second electrostatic discharge circuit transmits the electrostatic voltage on the first signal wire to the second signal wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhidong Yuan, Can Yuan, Yongqian Li, Xuehuan Feng
  • Patent number: 10704827
    Abstract: An electrical connector testing system can include a first connector end and a controller coupled to first connector end. The system can also include an electrical load coupled to the first connector end, where the electrical load includes an electrical cable and a second connector end coupled to an end of the electrical cable. The controller can determine whether an adverse electrical condition exists with respect to the electrical load before allowing power to flow between the first connector end and the second connector end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Benjamin Avery Freer, Joseph Michael Manahan, Charles John Luebke, David McClanahan
  • Patent number: 10700511
    Abstract: A protector for an electricity supply circuit includes: a power switch for switching between connection and disconnection of the electricity supply circuit; a controller configured to output a switching command signal to the power switch in accordance with an input signal; and a current detector for detecting current flowing to the electricity supply circuit. The controller includes: a lower limit threshold determination unit configured to determine whether or not an estimated temperature of a power line has dropped below a lower limit threshold; a timer for counting the time that passes after a load has been turned off, when the load is turned off by the power switch; and a mode switching unit configured to switch the controller to a sleep mode when a predetermined time is counted by the timer and the lower limit threshold determination unit determines that the estimated temperature has dropped below the lower limit threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihide Nakamura, Akinori Maruyama, Keisuke Ueta
  • Patent number: 10700516
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit including: a first terminal configured to provide a first voltage having a first value in a normal mode; a second terminal configured to provide a second voltage having a second value in the normal mode; a detection circuit configured to provide a detection voltage according to the first and second voltages; and a protection circuit configured to operate in one of the normal mode and an ESD mode according to the detection voltage. When the difference between a value of the detection voltage and an average of the first and second values reaches a predetermined threshold, the protection circuit enters the ESD mode from the normal mode, and thereby has a first path between the first terminal and a grounding terminal and/or a second path between the second terminal and the grounding terminal be conductive for discharging abnormal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chien-Ming Wu
  • Patent number: 10672549
    Abstract: A solenoid electrical diagnostic system includes a solenoid circuit operable in response to an electrical current. A low-side switch includes a low-side input configured to receive a pulsed voltage signal and a low-side output in signal communication with the solenoid circuit. The low-side switch continuously switches between an on-state and an off-state based on the pulsed voltage signal to adjust a level of the current flowing through the solenoid circuit. A solenoid monitoring unit generates a low-side output state signal based on an output voltage at the low-side output, and a low-side input state signal based on an input voltage at the low-side input. The solenoid electrical diagnostic system further includes an electronic hardware controller determines at least one operating condition of the solenoid circuit based on a comparison between the state signals and a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael A. Wilson, Eduardo Ahuactzin Parra
  • Patent number: 10665404
    Abstract: An electrical DC switching system for extinguishing an electric arc, wherein the electrical DC switching system includes: a contact arrangement having a first contact and a second contact, a current injection circuit including a resonance circuit configured to be connected across the contact arrangement, and a first switch connected to the resonance circuit and to the first contact, wherein the first switch is configured to be switched between an open state and a closed state, wherein in the closed state the first switch is configured to enable an injection current to flow through the resonance circuit in a first flow direction and into the contact arrangement in a direction opposite to a flow direction of a contact arrangement arc current, and an arc chute assembly including a plurality of splitter plates configured to extinguish an electric arc across the first contact and the second contact, wherein each splitter plate of the plurality of splitter plates has a layered configuration including a magnetic lay
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Erik Johansson, Zichi Zhang, Stefan Valdemarsson
  • Patent number: 10644501
    Abstract: A driving circuit controlling a voltage level of an input/output pad and having an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection function comprises a detector, a controller, and a release control element. The detector is configured to couple to a power terminal and the input/output pad. The controller is coupled to the detector. The release control element is coupled to the power terminal or the input/output pad and coupled to the controller. When an ESD event occurs at the power terminal or the input/output pad, the detector activates the controller to a control signal to control the voltage level of the input/output pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Shao-Chang Huang, Shi-Hsiang Lu, Geeng-Lih Lin
  • Patent number: 10637230
    Abstract: An over current protection circuit, comprising: a current transformer, having a primary winding connected in series with a primary winding of a power supply transformer and a secondary winding, of which one end is grounded and the other end is coupled to a diode anode; a first resistor, having one end coupled to a diode cathode and the other end grounded; a second resistor, having one end coupled to the diode cathode and the other end coupled to a zener diode cathode; a triode, having a base coupled to a zener diode anode, an emitter grounded and a collector coupled to a light emitter cathode; wherein a light emitter anode is coupled to a LLC chip and a first voltage output end in the power supply; an output end of a light receiver is ground, an input end is coupled to a second voltage output end and a PFC chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Yang, Fangyun Liu
  • Patent number: 10620259
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is method and system for facilitating fault rectification in power backup devices using a fault rectification system configured in the power backup device. The fault rectification system detects occurrence of fault events in the power backup device and retrieves information required for rectification of the fault events based on the complexity level of the fault event. The rectification information is provided to the user, thereby facilitating the user in rectification of the detected fault event, without requirement of the expert service personnel. The method of instant disclosure helps in reducing total turnaround time of rectifying the faults in the power backup devices by eliminating involvement of expert/customer service personnel in the rectification of the faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Wipro Limited
    Inventor: Kothamangala Anandaiah Shetty Nagaraja
  • Patent number: 10622802
    Abstract: A power receiving apparatus receives a bus voltage from a power supply apparatus via a cable, and supplies the bus voltage to a load circuit. A power receiver side controller receives, as a power supply, a voltage VADP of a bus line that is more toward a bus switch. The power receiver side controller is capable of communicating with a power supply side controller of the power supply apparatus. Furthermore, the power receiver side controller determines the voltage to be supplied based on a negotiation, and controls the bus switch. A short circuit detection circuit detects a short circuit of a bus line that is more toward the load circuit side than the bus switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fuminori Koga, Kenichi Motoki
  • Patent number: 10615592
    Abstract: A method for reducing the inrush current of an inductive load, particularly a transformer, comprising the following steps: a) connecting a DC power source to the transformer for a time tc, to magnetize its magnetic core until saturation is reached, and connecting the transformer to the AC mains via an electromechanical switch, in an initially open position; b) disconnecting the transformer from the DC power source, the magnetic flux being reduced to its residual value; c) closing the electromechanical switch to complete the connection, this connection point being determined by the phase angle selected from the sinusoidal signal of the voltage power lines, in such a way that magnetic flux corresponding to the steady state voltage equals the residual magnetic flux that remains when the transformer is disconnected from the DC power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: INDRA SISTEMAS, S.A.
    Inventor: Farzad Fotrousi
  • Patent number: 10608428
    Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes a plurality of uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), each UPS of the plurality of UPSs including an inverter, a ring bus, and at least one controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of UPSs, the at least one controller configured to determine when a bridge current in at least one UPS of the plurality of UPSs reaches a predetermined bridge current limit, and modify, in response to the determination, a capacitor voltage in the inverter of the at least one UPS to reduce a DC fault current component of a load current in the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Andrea Mannuccini, Silvio Colombi
  • Patent number: 10593496
    Abstract: A high-speed closing device includes a first fixed contactor which is made from a conductive material; a second fixed contactor which is made from a conductive material, and faces the first fixed contactor so as to be arranged; and a movable contactor, of which a tip is made from a conductive material, which includes a hollow hole, in which an opposite side of the tip is opened, at an inner portion, and is separated from the first fixed contactor and the second fixed contactor with a distance being longer than an insulation distance so as to be arranged before the high-speed closing device is closed, and inserts the tip between the first fixed contactor and the second fixed contactor after the high-speed closing device is closed, and electrically connects the first fixed contactor and the second fixed contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Numata
  • Patent number: 10581236
    Abstract: A method of generating a trip current by a power supply device has electrical components and for the purpose of tripping a protection element connected between a load and the power supply device. In response to detecting an electrical fault situation in the power supply device, in order to eliminate the short-circuit fault with shortened tripping time, an AC trip current is generated having: for a first period of the signal, a current amplitude equal to the maximum current amplitude that can be withstood by the electrical components of the power supply device; and for the following periods, a current amplitude that decreases as a function of the thermal inertia of the electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: SOCOMEC
    Inventor: Pascal Boos
  • Patent number: 10574049
    Abstract: A ground overcurrent control system includes ground circuit with a first section and a second section. The first section is electrically connected to a ground member of an electrical connector and the second section is electrically connected to a ground reference. A switch element is positioned between the first section of the ground circuit and the second section of the ground circuit. A controller is configured to determine the current within the ground circuit while current is passing through the switch element and, upon the current exceeding a current threshold, the switch element is modified to an open condition. Upon determining that the voltage between the first section of the ground circuit and the ground reference is less than a voltage threshold, a command is generated to modify the switch element back to a closed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory L. Bella, Jeffrey R. Ciarlette