Patents Examined by Christopher McAndrew
  • Patent number: 9562950
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an automated apparatus and method for testing a crowbar circuit of power converter. The crowbar circuit includes an anti-parallel diode and a voltage-controlled switching element, e.g. a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR). The method includes implementing a first test sequence for testing operability of the diode and a second test sequence for testing operability of the voltage-controlled switching element. More specifically, the first test sequence determines a first current-voltage feedback that is indicative of the operability of the diode and the second test sequence determines a second current-voltage feedback that is indicative of the operability of the voltage-controlled switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Igor Berroteran Gil, Anthony Michael Klodowski, David Smith, Robert Allen Seymour, Benjamin Arthur Niemoeller
  • Patent number: 9559511
    Abstract: Circuit configuration for error reporting, having a signal transmitter (1) for issuing error signals, having an error reporting line (46) that is connected with an error report evaluation device (6), having a coupler (2) for galvanic separation of the error reporting line (46) from the signal transmitter (1), and having a power supply (5) for making available an operating voltage for the coupler (2). A connection circuit (3) is provided between coupler (2) and error reporting line (46), which places the error reporting line (46) at a predetermined potential, the error report potential, if the operating voltage of the coupler (2) is insufficient. The connection circuit (3) can furthermore be controlled by the coupler (2), in such a manner that if the signal transmitter (1) issues an error signal, the connection circuit (3) places the error signal onto the error reporting line (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Fabian Zink
  • Patent number: 9559616
    Abstract: A generator for producing an electric field for with an inspection technology system is provided. The generator provides the required variable magnitude quasi-static electric fields for the “illumination” of objects, areas and volumes to be inspected by the system, and produces human-safe electric fields that are only visible to the system. The generator includes a casing, a driven, non-conducting and triboelectrically neutral rotation shaft mounted therein, an ungrounded electrostatic dipole element which works in the quasi-static range, and a non-conducting support for mounting the dipole element to the shaft. The dipole element has a wireless motor system and a charging system which are wholly contained within the dipole element and the support that uses an electrostatic approach to charge the dipole element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION.
    Inventor: Edward R. Generazio
  • Patent number: 9557309
    Abstract: Provided is a pen type of apparatus for measuring multiple water qualities, which is capable of measuring acidity (pH) and electric conductivity (EC) without interfering with each other in agricultural water for hydroponic cultivation to easily confirm the measured results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventor: Yun-Ho Son
  • Patent number: 9546907
    Abstract: Dynamic Digital Modulation obtains thermal image data on active semiconductor devices with sufficient sensitivity to be used in situ with packaged devices. These techniques can be applied to dynamic failures, but can also produce quantitative data of actual power dissipation as the device is placed into different operational modes. The thermal image results can be analyzed to assist in thermal management and assessing reliability and failure analysis issues in semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Quantum Focus Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: R. Aaron Falk, Tram Pham, Anthony Ruiz
  • Patent number: 9547100
    Abstract: Multi-array laterolog tool systems and methods acquire a set of array measurements sufficient to provide laterolog tool measurements of differing array sizes. Such systems and method offer multiple depths of investigation while offering greater measurement stability in borehole environments having high resistivity contrasts. In at least some system embodiments, a wireline or LWD tool body has a center electrode positioned between multiple pairs of guard electrodes and a pair of return electrodes. The tool's electronics provide a current from the center electrode to the pair of return electrodes and currents from each pair of guard electrodes to the pair of return electrodes. Each of the currents may be distinguishable by frequency or distinguishable by some other means. This novel arrangement of currents provides a complete set of measurements that enables one tool to simultaneously emulate a whole range of laterolog tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Shanjun Li, Luis E San Martin, Michael S Bittar, Jing Li
  • Patent number: 9530339
    Abstract: A device for inspecting an organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a power supply unit, a power receiving unit, a wiring location sensing unit, and a control unit. The power supply unit applies an AC signal to each of wirings arranged in the organic light-emitting display apparatus. The power receiving unit senses an electrical signal from each of the wirings. The wiring location sensing unit senses a location of each of the wirings. The control unit determines whether each of the wirings has a defect based on the sensed electrical signal and information pertaining to each wiring type of the wirings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: June-Woo Lee, Kwan-Wook Jung, Guang-Hai Jin, Jae-Beom Choi
  • Patent number: 9523747
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive device includes a carrier, an xMR-sensor, a magnetic layer formed above an active xMR-region of the xMR-sensor and an insulating layer arranged between the xMR-sensor and the magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Raberg
  • Patent number: 9517338
    Abstract: A multichannel clip device and methods of use that facilitate connection of multiple electrical components of a first device and a second device for testing and/or verification are provided herein. Such multichannel clip devices can include a spring-loaded clip having multiple electrical contacts for coupling with a contact portion of a first device and which are connected to a proximal connector through a flexible stimulation cable. The contacts can be included within a neurostimulation lead connector and the proximal connector adapted to couple with standard connectors on a clinician programmer, each contact being coupled to a corresponding contact of the proximal connector to define multiple separate channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: AXONICS MODULATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Guanqiang Jiang, John Woock, Dennis Schroeder, Eric Schmid, Andres Dandler
  • Patent number: 9513755
    Abstract: A sensor array includes a first sensor element of a unit cell and a second sensor element of the unit cell. The unit cell includes core traces of the first sensor element, where the core traces are the widest portion of the first sensor element. The unit cell includes main traces of the second sensor element and subtraces of the second sensor element, where each main trace crosses the first sensor element at a corresponding bridge to form an intersection of the unit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Creator Technology B.V.
    Inventors: Min Chin Chai, Patrick Prendergast, Tao Peng
  • Patent number: 9508402
    Abstract: A readout device includes a plurality of detecting circuits arranged in rows and columns to form a detecting array, and an output module. Each of the detecting circuits includes two transistors for generating a detection signal associated with impedance at a target site. Through selection of the rows and the columns of the detecting circuits, the output module outputs an output voltage signal having a magnitude positively correlated with magnitude of a selected one of the detection signals received from the detecting circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHI NAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tai-Ping Sun, Yi-Chuan Lu, Tsung-Shuo Kao
  • Patent number: 9500735
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for calibrating a conductivity measuring cell located in a measurement setup for determining conductivity of a liquid medium, especially very pure water, by means of two electrodes of predetermined area arranged in the liquid medium at a predetermined separation relative to one another, supplied with an alternating voltage and having a cell constant, which is predetermined by separation and electrode area and must be calibrated. In order to be able to determine the cell constant independently of calibration standards with predetermined conductivity and/or reference measurement cells, an electrical capacitance of the measuring cell is ascertained by means of an alternating voltage placed on the electrodes in a frequency range between 1 kHz and 1 MHz, following which the cell constant is determined from the ascertained capacitance and the permittivity of the liquid medium contained in the measuring cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventor: Harald Riegel
  • Patent number: 9490520
    Abstract: A broadband directional coupler for measuring a power of a forward or returning high-frequency signal on a coaxial line provides a voltage splitter comprising a first resistor, a second resistor and a third resistor. The first connection of the first resistor is connected to an inner conductor of the coaxial line, the second connection of the first resistor and the first connection of the second resistor are connected to a measuring unit. The first connection of the third resistor is connected to an outer conductor of the coaxial line and to the second connection of the second resistor. The second connection of the third resistor is connected to a ground. The third resistor is annular in shape and arranged concentrically to the inner conductor in a plane orientated orthogonally relative to the inner conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Morgenstern, Dirk Fehse
  • Patent number: 9485671
    Abstract: An inter-stage test structure for a wireless communication apparatus is provided. The wireless communication apparatus has a unit under test (UUT) and a next-stage component connected to the UUT through a signal wire. The inter-stage test structure is disposed on the signal wire and electrically connects the UUT to the next-stage unit component. The inter-stage test structure includes an upper board, a lower board, and an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is disposed between the upper board and the lower board. The intermediate layer includes a first region and a second region defined thereon. The first region has an air cavity for generating an air impedance. The second region has an impedance adjusting cavity for generating an adjustable impedance. Accordingly, the inter-stage test structure can detect the condition of the UUT of the wireless communication apparatus based on the air impedance and the adjustable impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: AZUREWAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Huang-Chan Chien
  • Patent number: 9481385
    Abstract: A method for predicting failure of a crossing warning system is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an electrical characteristic of a first route when an electric current is injected into the first route. The first route has a crossing intersection with a second route and a crossing signal at the crossing intersection. The electrical characteristic is monitored to detect when a vehicle is approaching the crossing intersection on the first route and to determine when to activate the crossing signal at the crossing intersection. The method also includes identifying one or more changes in the electrical characteristic of the first route, and, based on the one or more changes that are identified, predicting a failure mode of the first route that interferes with detection of the vehicle approaching the crossing intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Richard Lee Lawson, Aric Albert Weingartner, Curtis Doyle Mechling, Aaron Richard Mitti, Martin Paget, William David Shields
  • Patent number: 9484525
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a Hall effect device that includes a Hall effect region of a first semiconductive type, at least three contacts and a lateral conductive structure. The Hall effect region is formed in or on top of a substrate, wherein the substrate includes an isolation arrangement to isolate the Hall effect region in a lateral direction and in a depth direction from the substrate or other electronic devices in the substrate. The at least three contacts are arranged at a top of the Hall effect region to supply the Hall effect device with electric energy and to provide a Hall effect signal indicative of the magnetic field, wherein the Hall effect signal is generated in a portion of the Hall effect region defined by the at least three contacts. The lateral conductive structure is located between the Hall effect region and the isolation arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Udo Ausserlechner
  • Patent number: 9476934
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus for inspecting a wiring board having an opposing electrode facing an upper face of the wiring board, a capacitance meter electrically connected to the opposing electrode and the multi-layer wiring, and measuring capacitance between the opposing electrode and the multi-layer wiring, ground, a switch box that is connected to the ground wirings, the opposing electrode, and the ground, and switches to select between a first connection state, in which all the ground wirings are electrically connected to the opposing electrode, and a second connection state, in which one ground wiring is electrically connected to the ground. A control unit extracts a capacitance value by calculating difference between a first capacitance and a second capacitance, wherein capacitance in units of layers of the multi-layer wiring are measured based on the capacitance value extracted by the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA NIHON MICRONICS
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Fukami
  • Patent number: 9459303
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for identifying an allocation of control circuits to at least one control device. In this context, it can be checked whether wiring for example of heating circuits and/or sensors to a central control device is correct. Provided actuation patterns are switched on at a number of control circuits. This makes it possible to identify correct wiring efficiently and without error. The invention can be used in vehicle construction, and especially in aircraft construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Roederer, Maik Jalass
  • Patent number: 9455569
    Abstract: A method for operating an electrical circuit is described herein. The circuit includes a power converter having a plurality of switches and two capacitors that are parallel to the switches. The plurality of switches and the two capacitors are connected in series. The power converter has two AC voltage-sided connections and a measuring resistor is connected to the ground. A ground fault is detected by measuring a voltage drop in a measuring resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Saniter, Marco Boni, Sebastian Hildebrandt, Jörg Janning, Roland Jakob
  • Patent number: 9448278
    Abstract: An apparatus to test a semiconductive device includes a base plane that holds at least one heat-transfer fluid unit cell. The at least one heat-transfer fluid unit cell includes a fluid supply structure including a supply-orifice cross section as well as a fluid return structure including a return-orifice cross section. The supply-orifice cross section is greater than the return-orifice cross section. A die interface is also included to be a liquid-impermeable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher R. Schroeder, Christopher W. Ackerman, James C. Shipley, Tolga Acikalin, Ioan Sauciuc, Michael L. Rutigliano, James G. Maveety, Ashish Gupta