Patents Examined by Daniel J. Cavallari
  • Patent number: 11005307
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitter includes a power conversion unit configured to transfer wireless power to a wireless power receiver by forming magnetic coupling with the wireless power receiver; and a communication/control unit configured to communicate with the wireless power receiver to control transmission of the wireless power and to perform transmission or reception of data, wherein the communication/control unit is configured to: receive, from the wireless power receiver after a configuration phase, a received power packet (RPP) which indicates a value of the wireless power received by the wireless power receiver; transmit, to the wireless power receiver, a bit pattern which requests communication initiated by the wireless power transmitter in response to the RPP when the communication/control unit has data to be sent to the wireless power receiver; and receive a packet for polling the data to be sent from the wireless power receiver in response to the bit pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Yongcheol Park
  • Patent number: 11005299
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitter that transfers power to a wireless power receiver includes a coil assembly comprising first and second bottom coils placed adjacent to each other in a line and each consisting of a single layer of 11 turns and a top coil stacked on the first and second bottom coils and consisting of a single layer of 12 turns; a series capacitance; a shielding extending to at least 2 mm beyond an outer boundary of the coil assembly, has a thickness of at least 1.5 mm and being composed of Mn—Zn; and a full-bridge inverter driving each of coils included in the coil assembly individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jinmoo Park, Jeongkyo Seo, Beomseok Chae, Jaesung Lee, Jihyun Lee
  • Patent number: 11005291
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a handle, an adaptor, and a non-contact electrical interface. A proximal end of the adaptor is releasably coupled to a distal end of the handle. The non-contact electrical interface is configured to wirelessly transmit energy from the handle to the adaptor and is configured to wirelessly transmit data from the adaptor to the handle. The electrical interface may include a proximal coil disposed within the handle and a distal coil disposed within the adaptor. When the adaptor is coupled to the handle, the proximal coil may be disposed adjacent the distal coil to form a transformer to inductively transfer energy from the handle to the adaptor and inductively transmit data from the adaptor to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Anthony Calderoni
  • Patent number: 10998774
    Abstract: In one example a docking mat for an electronic device comprises a first major surface on which the electronic device may be positioned, a wireless power transmitting device, and a controller comprising logic, at least partly including hardware logic, to determine a location of the electronic device on the first major surface of the docking mat, establish a communication connection with the electronic device, receive at least one charge parameter from the electronic device, and activate the wireless power transmitting device in response to a determination that the electronic device is positioned proximate the wireless power transmitting device and the at least one charge parameter indicates that the electronic device is in a condition to receive power from the wireless power transmitting device. Other examples may be described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hong W. Wong, Timothy Nguyen, Shaorong Zhou, Xiaoguo Liang, Chia-Hung Kuo
  • Patent number: 10998775
    Abstract: Provided are a device and method for performing authentication in a wireless power transfer system. Provided is an authentication method in a wireless power transfer system including receiving a first packet including indication information on whether a target device supports an authentication function from the target device; transmitting, when the target device supports an authentication function, an authentication request message to the target device; receiving an authentication response message including a certificate on wireless charging from the target device in response to the authentication request message; and confirming authentication of the target device based on the authentication response message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Yongcheol Park
  • Patent number: 10998760
    Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling uninterruptible power supplies of electrical power systems are described. According to one aspect, an electrical power system can include a generator having a stator and a rotor, a power converter coupled to a rotor bus of the rotor, and a control system comprising one or more control devices, the one or more control devices configured to operate the power converter to provide an AC signal for a rotor bus. The system can also include an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). The UPS can include a power storage element configured to receive and store electrical power, and configured to power the control system during a power failure, and, a health check circuit configured to verify a health status of the power storage element, and including a health check disable component configured to disable the health check circuit during the power failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Joseph Andrew Trzemzalski
  • Patent number: 10992238
    Abstract: A power harvesting system including multiple parallel-connected photovoltaic strings, each photovoltaic string includes a series-connection of photovoltaic panels. Multiple voltage-compensation circuits may be connected in series respectively with the photovoltaic strings. The voltage-compensation circuits may be configured to provide respective compensation voltages to the photovoltaic strings to maximize power harvested from the photovoltaic strings. The voltage-compensation circuits may be include respective inputs which may be connected to a source of power and respective outputs which may be connected in series with the photovoltaic strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ilan Yoscovich, Ofir Bieber, Tzachi Glovinsky
  • Patent number: 10992132
    Abstract: A power control system provides multiple supply voltages that are guaranteed not to violate boundary conditions regardless of the timing of voltage change commands. A first voltage (Vlogic in the embodiments described herein) is controlled conventionally, and a second voltage (Vmemory) is either selected or generated by adding a selected offset to the first voltage. Both the size of the offset, and the absolute value of the second voltage, are constrained at all times, by constraint values specific to the current voltage zone. The invention ensures a smooth transition between different voltage operating points, and ensures that the trajectory of change between specified operating points remains within predefined boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Joni Jäntti, Cecilia Andersson, Bengt Edholm, Masao Naruse, Harri Nissi, Marko Pessa, Mikko Pulkkinen
  • Patent number: 10992169
    Abstract: A device capable of switching the supply source to a power storage unit without interrupting power supply to a power supply target even in the case where power supply from a power source unit cuts out is realized with a simple configuration. A backup device includes a discharging circuit that steps up or steps down a voltage applied to a power storage unit-side conduction path and applies the resulting voltage to an output-side conduction path, a control unit (5) that controls the discharging circuit to apply, to the output-side conduction path, a predetermined target voltage that is lower than a voltage that is applied to a power path in the case where a power source unit is fully charged, and a diode (element unit) that is provided between the power path and the output-side conduction path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazushi Fukae
  • Patent number: 10993302
    Abstract: A device can include multiple light loads, where each light load includes at least one light source. The device can also include multiple switches coupled to the light loads. The device can further include a controller coupled to the switches, where the controller actively operates the switches multiple times within each cycle to control delivery of power to the light loads. Active operation of the switches by the controller is performed on a dynamic schedule, where the dynamic schedule is based on multiple environmental conditions, and where the controller bypasses a forward voltage of the light loads when actively operating the switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Avery Freer, Andrew Francis Scarlata
  • Patent number: 10992136
    Abstract: A method for determining when a connection of a power system to a grid has been disconnected. The method includes the power system supplying a first amount of reactive power to the grid to which the power system is connected, and the power system determining if there is a frequency change within the grid. This includes if the frequency change does not exceed a predetermined threshold, the power system supplying a second amount of reactive power to the grid, and if the frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold, the power system supplying a first amount of reactive power to the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Donald J. Lucas, Christopher L. Barber, Xiaorong Xia
  • Patent number: 10985677
    Abstract: An electrically-powered device, structure and/or component is provided that includes an attached autonomous electrical power source in a form of a unique, environmentally-friendly structure that is configured to transform thermal energy at any temperature above absolute zero to an electric potential without any external stimulus including physical movement or deformation energy. The autonomous electrical power source component provides a mechanism for generating renewable energy, or a renewable energy supplement, as primary or auxiliary power for the electrically-powered device, structure and/or component. The autonomous electrical power source component is formed of one or more elements, each of which includes a first conductor having a surface with a comparatively low work function, a second conductor having a surface with the comparatively high work function and a dielectric layer on a scale of 200 nm or less interposed between the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Face International Corporation
    Inventors: Clark D Boyd, Bradbury R Face, Jeffrey D Shepard
  • Patent number: 10985568
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods that use separation of time scales to mitigate interaction between unintentional islanding detection schemes and GSFs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Jason C. Neely, Sigifredo Gonzalez, Michael Ropp, Dustin Schutz
  • Patent number: 10978246
    Abstract: Disclosed are a wireless power transmitter and a method of controlling power thereof. A wireless power transmitter includes a power supply device to supply AC power to the wireless power transmitter; and a transmission coil to transmit the AC power to a reception coil of a wireless power receiver by resonance. The wireless power transmitter controls transmission power to be transmitted to the wireless power receiver based on a coupling state between the transmission coil and the reception coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Su Ho Bae
  • Patent number: 10972046
    Abstract: A solar device system includes one or more solar devices shingled into an array of solar devices. Each solar device includes one or more current generation cells configured to generate electric current, a plurality of current buses, and a control circuit configured to distribute the generated electric current to the plurality of current buses, and route the generated electric current to an adjacent solar device. Additionally, the solar device system includes an array collector electrically connected to the one or more solar devices, the array collector being configured to collect the generated electrical current from the one or more solar devices and direct the generated electrical current to an inverter or a power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Lee J. Gorny, Thierry H. Nguyen, David C. Okawa
  • Patent number: 10967755
    Abstract: A control system is designed or configured to control the state of charge of a battery or battery pack in a system containing a separate power source, which is separate from the battery or battery pack. In operation, the battery or battery pack is called upon to intermittently provide power for certain functions. The separate power source may be, for example, an AC electrical power source for a UPS or an engine of a vehicle such as a micro hybrid vehicle. The battery may be a nickel zinc aqueous battery. The control system may be designed or configured to implement one or more of the following functions: monitoring the state of charge of the battery or battery pack; directing rapid recharge of the battery or battery pack from the separate power source when the battery or battery pack is not performing its functions; and directing charge to fully charged level or a float charge level, which is different from the fully charged level, in response to operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ZincFive Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Phillips, Salil Soman
  • Patent number: 10971934
    Abstract: Systems, methods, techniques, and apparatuses of a medium voltage alternating current (MVAC) network are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a direct current (DC) interconnection system for an MVAC distribution network including an AC/AC power converter including a first AC terminal and a second AC terminal; a plurality of switching devices structured to selectively couple a first AC terminal to a plurality of feeder line points in the MVAC network; and a control system structured to receive a set of measurements, calculate a headroom value for each feeder line point using the set of measurements, select a first feeder line point using the calculated headroom values, operate the plurality of switching devices so as to couple the first AC terminal to the first feeder line point, and operate the AC/AC power converter so as to transmit MVAC power from the first AC terminal to the first feeder line point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Ritwik Majumder, Frans Dijkhuizen, Bertil Berggren
  • Patent number: 10965246
    Abstract: A shutdown control system and a shutdown control method are provided. A shutdown unit is a series circuit of multiple shutdown circuits connected in series or a series-parallel circuit of multiple such series circuits connected in parallel. Each shutdown circuit is connected to at least one direct current power supply. A SCU periodically transmits a first communication signal until receiving a first user command. A TCU controls states of a electrical energy transforming unit to control the operation state of a power generation system. Each PCU determines whether the first communication signal is received during a preset time period and whether the distributed power generation system operates in a power generation state, and controls a corresponding shutdown circuit to operate in a normal operation mode if at least one of the conditions is met; and otherwise operate in a security mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: SUNGROW POWER SUPPLY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanfei Yu, Hua Ni, Zongjun Yang, Huajin Chen
  • Patent number: 10962997
    Abstract: The invention refers to an apparatus for driving a load with a drive signal. The apparatus includes an AC voltage source, a DC voltage source, a capacitor and a control apparatus. The AC voltage source outputs an AC voltage. The DC voltage source outputs a DC voltage. The capacitor includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The AC voltage source is connected to the first terminal, and a signal output is connected to the second output. The control apparatus controls, depending on a voltage present at the signal output, a connection between the DC voltage source and the second terminal. Furthermore, the invention refers to a corresponding method as well as to a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Frank Vanselow, Bernadette Kinzel, Erkan Isa
  • Patent number: 10965152
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply adapted to be connected between an AC line and a load, comprising a battery system, an inverter, and a transformer, and a controller. The battery system stores battery power. The inverter is operatively connected to the battery system. The transformer is operatively connected to the AC line, the load, and an inverter winding operatively connected to the inverter. The controller controls the inverter to supply power to the primary winding using battery power stored in the battery system based on a cost value indicative of reduction of life of the battery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ALPHA TECHNOLOGIES SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Jim Heidenreich, Toby Peck, Craig E. Paoli, Peter Schmidt, Greg Thomas, John Rodgers