Patents Examined by Christopher J Clark
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Patent number: 10574226Abstract: In some examples, a gate driver includes a gate sense pin and a gate sense circuit configured to couple to a node of a transistor via the gate sense pin. The gate sense circuit includes an overcurrent detection circuit configured to detect a first fault condition based on the node before the transistor turns on in a soft switching mode. The gate sense circuit also includes a Miller plateau detection circuit configured to detect a second fault condition based on the node when the transistor is turning on in a hard switching mode.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Navaneeth Kumar Narayanasamy, Salil Chellappan, Apoorva Awasthy
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Patent number: 10559955Abstract: There is provided an electrostatic surge prevention structure capable of improving resistance against electrostatic surge, reducing costs and processes, and saving spaces. A flexible printed circuit board 31 connected to a control printed circuit board contained in a front casing 22 is provided at a position corresponding to a gap 41, between the front casing 22 and a touch panel assembly 21, appearing in a display device 12, the flexible printed circuit board 31 has two layers of conductor parts 43 and 44, surfaces of these conductor parts 43 and 44 are covered with insulative coats 46 and 47, an exposed part 44A (or coating part 51 by plating as the exposed part) through which the conductor part 44 is externally exposed is formed at a portion opposing the gap 41 by peeling off the insulative coat 47, and the conductor part 44 having the exposed part 44A (or coating part 51) is grounded.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2015Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Clarion, CO., LTD.Inventors: Shinji Morita, Sachiko Toshimori, Yuichi Kaneko, Yuji Adachi
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Patent number: 10553381Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an electrical switchgear configured to control an electro-magnet by using the electro-magnet, a critical temperature device, and an electro-magnet control unit without using a bimetal and a mechanical contact. The electro-magnet switches power applied through a power line in response to a flow of control current to a power device connected to a load side. In a critical temperature device, an output current value varies when a temperature of a heating wire, which is connected to the power line, exceeds a critical temperature by supply current flowing to the power device. An electro-magnet control unit, which is realizable with an SCR, allows a flow of control current of the electro-magnet to be generated or cut off in response to the output current value of the critical temperature device.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2016Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Hyun-Tak Kim, Sungwoo Jo, Sun-Kyu Jung, Jin-cheol Cho
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Patent number: 10536140Abstract: A half bridge circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a GaN-based substrate, an oscillator on the substrate, and one or more components forming one or more of a low side power transistor, a low side driver, low side logic circuitry, a high side power transistor, a high side driver, and high side logic circuitry. At least one of the low side power transistor, the low side driver, the low side logic circuitry, the high side power transistor, the high side driver, and the high side logic circuitry is at least partially formed on the substrate. The oscillator is configured to generate non-overlapping pulses, and the non-overlapping pulses are separated by a dead time.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2016Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: NAVITAS SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.Inventors: Thomas Ribarich, Santosh Sharma
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Patent number: 10529611Abstract: Provided is a barrier seal for an electrostatic chuck in the plasma etching process. The barrier seal comprises multiple sealing portions to block the connecting layer of the electrostatic chuck and the plasma gas. The groove of the electrostatic chuck may be completely filled by the barrier seal. Even one of the multiple sealing portions is destroyed in the plasma etching process by the plasma gas, the barrier seal still prevents leaking of the electrostatic chuck effectively. The barrier seal provides a buffer period for engineers to replace the damaged barrier seal before the leaking occurs. Danger of leaking caused by abrupt breaking of the barrier seal is reduced. Furthermore, the barrier seal facilitates stability and safety of the plasma etching process. The yield of products manufactured by the electrostatic chuck may be improved.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2016Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: MFC Sealing Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yo-Yu Chang, Chun-Yao Huang
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Patent number: 10527655Abstract: An overload monitoring device for an electrical system including a measuring device for current and/or voltage, a time measuring device and an evaluation device connected to the measuring device and the time measuring device being provided, the evaluation device being designed for generating parameters from measured values of the measuring device and/or for detecting an overload situation based on the measured values and/or the parameters using time data of the time measuring device. A method for overload monitoring of an electrical system is also described, measured values being determined for a current and/or a voltage of the electrical system; time data being determined; parameters based on the measured values being generated; and an overload situation being detected based on the measured values and/or the parameters using the time data.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2014Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Werner Schiemann, Ralph Weinmann, Joachim Joos
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Patent number: 10523002Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is provided. A detector is coupled between a first input-output pad and a second input-output pad and detects the voltage levels of the first and second input-output pads to generate a detection signal. A inverter generates a control signal according to the detection signal. A control element is coupled between the first input-output pad and a first node. A current release element is coupled between the first node and the second input-output pad. When the detection signal is at a specific level, the control element and the current release element provide a discharge path to release an ESD current from the first input-output pad to the second input-output pad. When the detection signal is not at the specific level, the control element and the current release element do not provide a discharge path.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2016Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: VANGUARD INTERNATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Shao-Chang Huang, Jung-Tsun Chuang, Chieh-Yao Chuang, Hung-Wei Chen
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Patent number: 10519037Abstract: An intermediate transfer surface includes a substrate, a two-dimensional array of electrodes, a dielectric spacer layer on the two-dimensional array of electrodes, and a voltage controller electrically connected to the array of electrodes. A method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer surface, depositing an array of etch stops on a conductive surface, etching the conductive surface to form mesas of the conductive surface separated by gaps, and coating the mesas with a dielectric coating. A microassembly system includes an assembly surface having a first two dimensional array of potential wells on a first surface, a first voltage source electrically connected to the first array of potential wells, an intermediate transfer surface having a second two dimensional array of potential wells on a second surface arranged to face the first surface, and a second voltage source electrically connected to the second array of potential wells.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2016Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATEDInventors: Sourobh Raychaudhuri, Jeng Ping Lu, David K. Biegelsen
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Patent number: 10511165Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit assembly for protecting a unit to be operated from a supply network against overvoltage, comprising an input having a first and a second input connection, which are connected to the supply network, an output having a first and a second output connection, to which the unit to be protected can be connected, and a protection circuit, which is provided between the first and the second input connections in order to limit the voltage present at the first and the second input connections. According to the invention, the protection circuit has a power semiconductor, in particular an IGBT, wherein a series circuit consisting of a diac, i.e., a bidirectional electrode, and a Zener element is connected between the collector and the gate of the power semiconductor, wherein the sum of the Zener voltage and the diac voltage results in a clamping voltage for the power semiconductor, which lies above the voltage of the supply network and defines the protection level.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2016Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: DEHN + SÖHNE GMBH + CO. KGInventors: Franz Schork, Ralph Brocke, Thomas Böhm, Dominik Donauer
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Patent number: 10510473Abstract: For the purpose of obtaining a switchgear that can perform a reliable operation, the switchgear includes: opening and closing coils that drive a movable element, opening and closing capacitors that supply energy to the coils, opening and closing control sections that perform control of charging the capacitors and of energizing the coils, an opening coil that drives the movable element to the open side, an opening capacitor frat supplies energy to the coil, a second opening control section that performs control of charging the opening capacitor and of energizing the opening coil, and an interlock circuit that energizes the second opening control section; and a signal showing that the second opening control section is in operation is supplied to an interlock circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2015Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Tadahiro Yoshida, Koichi Kagawa
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Patent number: 10511161Abstract: A diagnostic system for a DC-DC voltage converter is provided. A first temperature sensor generates a first temperature signal associated with a buck mode integrated circuit. A first analog multiplexer outputs the first temperature signal to a first analog-to-digital converter which generates a first temperature value. A second temperature sensor generates a second temperature signal associated with a boost mode integrated circuit. A second analog multiplexer outputs the second temperature signal to a second analog-to-digital converter which generates a second temperature value. A microcontroller generates control signals to command first and second bi-directional switches in the DC-DC voltage converter to each transition to an open operational state if the first temperature value is greater than a first threshold temperature value.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2017Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.Inventors: Kerfegar K. Katrak, Mehdi Rexha, Kunal Tipnis, Chieh-Kai Chang, Su Hyuk Jang
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Patent number: 10504655Abstract: The composite electronic component includes: the capacitor including a body in which a plurality of dielectric layers and internal electrodes facing each other, with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, are stacked, and the ESD protection device including first and second lead electrodes disposed on the body of the capacitor, a discharge part disposed between the first and second lead electrodes, and a protection layer disposed on the first and second lead electrodes and the discharge part; an input terminal connected to the internal electrode of the capacitor and the first lead electrode of the ESD protection device; and a ground terminal connected to the internal electrode of the capacitor and the second lead electrode of the ESD protection device. G2/G1<4.0 is satisfied, in which G1 is a distance between the internal electrodes adjacent to each other and G2 is a distance between the first and second lead electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2017Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Man Su Byun, Ho Yoon Kim, Dae Heon Jeong, Kyung Hwa Yu, Min Kyoung Cheon, Soo Hwan Son
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Patent number: 10497501Abstract: An example apparatus may include a solenoid actuator with a solenoid coil and a corresponding solenoid armature. A plurality of switches may be coupled to the solenoid coil. A controller may be electrically coupled to the plurality of switches, the controller having a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor. The memory device may contain a set of instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the processor to receive a feedback signal corresponding to a condition of at least one of the solenoid coil and the solenoid armature; and generate a control signal to alter the state of at least one of the plurality of switches based, at least in part, on the received feedback signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2015Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: Jianying Chu
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Patent number: 10498138Abstract: A protective circuit for a current transformer for preventing a secondary voltage on a secondary circuit of the current transformer from exceeding a secondary voltage threshold. A protective circuit input can be coupled to the secondary circuit of the current transformer such that the secondary voltage is applied to the protective circuit input. A control unit is connected to the protective circuit input. A switch unit is connected to the protective circuit input and is operatively connected to the control unit. The control unit is adapted to provide a control signal to the switch unit in response to the secondary voltage exceeding the secondary voltage threshold. The switch unit is adapted to short-circuit the protective circuit input in response to the control signal provided by the control unit. The switch unit is implemented as a semiconductor circuit.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2013Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Martin Jankowski
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Patent number: 10498300Abstract: An IC for power conversion includes bias circuitry that generates one or more bias voltages. An adaptive biasing circuit adaptively shifts an input signal having a negative value to a positive value. An operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) receives a supply bias current and the first and second bias voltages. The OTA has first and second input terminals coupled to the input signal and ground, respectively. The OTA has first and second transistors coupled to the first and second input terminals through first and second resistors at first and second internal nodes, respectively. Additional circuitry of the OTA is coupled to the second internal node. The additional circuitry insures that the voltage at the second internal node follows the voltage at the first internal node. The OTA generates an output current signal responsive to a differential input voltage applied across the first and second input terminals.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.Inventor: Frank Joseph Schulz
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Patent number: 10497598Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic structural element, at least one electrode disposed on the ceramic structural element, and a surface dielectric layer disposed over the at least one electrode, the surface layer activated by a voltage in the electrode to form an electric charge to electrostatically clamp a substrate to the electrostatic chuck. The surface dielectric layer comprises: (i) an insulator layer of amorphous alumina, of a thickness of less than about 5 microns, disposed over the at least one electrode; and (ii) a stack of dielectric layers disposed over the insulator layer. The stack of dielectric layers includes: (a) at least one dielectric layer including aluminum oxynitride; and (b) at least one dielectric layer including at least one of silicon oxide and silicon oxynitride.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2015Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: ENTEGRIS, INC.Inventors: Richard A. Cooke, Wolfram Neff, Carlo Waldfried, Jakub Rybczynski, Michael Hanagan, Wade Krull
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Patent number: 10488886Abstract: Flexible display systems and methods for controlling and operating the same are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a display system is provided. The display system comprises a display that is configured to be shaped in one of a first shape and a second shape, the first shape and the second shape being different shapes. The display system further comprises electromagnets attached to the display and oriented such that when the electromagnets are actuated, the display is held in the first shape.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Jason Allen Browne, Jeffrey Ross Hamilton, Ross Lee Mickens, Mike Yubo Zhu
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Patent number: 10490994Abstract: A device for current sensing of a power transistor system having a power transistor, a first series circuit which includes a first transistor and a first resistance, the first resistance disposed in a load circuit of the first transistor, a second series circuit which has a second transistor and a second resistance disposed in a load circuit of the second transistor, the first series circuit, the second series circuit and the power transistor situated in parallel with one another, the first resistance connected to the first transistor in an electrically conductive manner when the first transistor is switched on, and the second resistance connected to the second transistor in an electrically conductive manner when the second transistor is switched on, and a gate terminal of the first transistor is connected in an electrically conductive manner to a gate terminal of the power transistor when the power transistor is switched on.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2015Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Thomas Jacke, Werner Schiemann
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Patent number: 10483062Abstract: An electric wire protection device comprising a pyrotechnic cutoff switch disposed between an electric wire connecting a load and a vehicle-mounted power supply that is connected to a reference potential. The pyrotechnic cutoff switch is disposed between the electric wire and has: a conductive part through which current between the vehicle-mounted power supply and the load flows; a cutting blade cuts the conductive part; a drive part, actuated by gunpowder, propels the cutting blade in a direction in which the conductive part is to be cut; and first and second terminals that input and output current that drives the drive part. In addition, the electric wire protection device comprises: a conductive wire having one end thereof connected to the electric wire and the other end thereof connected to the first terminal; and a diode having an anode connected to the reference potential and a cathode connected to the second terminal.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Yuuki Sugisawa
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Patent number: 10473711Abstract: A multi-channel device with a single diagnosis status pin may be configured to detect if one or more channels has a fault. The multi-channel device, which may operate within a system, can communicate which channel, of a plurality of channels, has the fault using only a single diagnosis status pin and no additional diagnosis control pins. The multi-channel device may output a fault signal on the diagnosis status pin and in response to an interrogation input signal on the same channel as a fault channel indicate to the system which channel is the fault channel.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Markus Ladurner, Albino Pidutti, Daniel Mayer