Patents Examined by Dharti Patel
  • Patent number: 9281677
    Abstract: A method for protecting an electrical energy distribution box (BODP) equipped with a supply current distribution bar (BDP) intended to be connected between an electrical energy source (G) and loads (Q1, Q2, Q3 . . . Qn) to be supplied, comprising detecting an electrical fault in the distribution box (BODP). The detection step comprises: —measuring a supply current drawn on said supply current distribution bar (BDP) by the electrical energy source (G), —measuring load currents distributed from the distribution bar to each of the loads (Q1, Q2, Q3 . . . Qn), and continuous processing of said measurements of current in the course of which the supply current and the load currents are compared with load current threshold values so as to detect overloads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: ECE
    Inventor: Henri Billod
  • Patent number: 9269705
    Abstract: A circuit for protecting a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) device is configured to hold down or pull down a voltage at a gate of the protected MOS device during an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event. The circuit includes at least one active device or capacitance-providing element connected to the gate of the protected MOS device, configured to pull down or hold down the voltage at the gate of the protected MOS device when the ESD event occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Polar Semiconductor, LLC
    Inventors: Kurt Kimber, David Litfin
  • Patent number: 9270162
    Abstract: There is provided a switching regulator including an overcurrent protection circuit which is able to automatically return from an overcurrent state. The switching regulator includes an error amplification circuit which amplifies a difference between a feedback voltage and a reference voltage based on an output voltage and outputs the amplified difference; a PWM comparator which compares an output of the error amplification circuit with an output of a triangular wave oscillation circuit, and controls an output transistor; an overcurrent detection circuit which monitors a load current flowing through a load connected to an output terminal, detects that the load current is an overcurrent, and outputs an overcurrent detection signal causing a switching operation to stop; and a negative feedback control circuit which receives the overcurrent detection signal, and controls the load current to a predetermined current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Akihiro Kawano, Michiyasu Deguchi
  • Patent number: 9263884
    Abstract: An electrostatic protection circuit includes a trigger circuit connected between a first and second power source line. The trigger circuit outputs a trigger signal in response to a voltage difference between the power source lines, such as occurs when an electrostatic discharge is received along the power source lines. A buffer circuit in the protection circuit outputs a drive signal in response to the trigger signal. A switch circuit is connected between the first and second power source lines and controls the ON/OFF conduction state between the power source lines in response to the drive signal. A control circuit supplies a control signal to the switch circuit after the drive signal causes the switch circuit to switch to the ON conduction state. The control signal maintains the switch in the ON conduction state while the voltage difference between power source lines exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Kato
  • Patent number: 9257833
    Abstract: Disclosed are adaptive communication assisted protection and control. Local intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) associated with local switching devices and having unique IDs may transmit switch status and unique IDs to an area IED. The area IED may calculate topology using switch status, and provide control information to local IEDs using the topology. The area IED may communicate the unique ID of the local IED calculated to be immediately upstream of each local IED and, upon detection of a fault, the local IEDs may send blocking signals that include the received unique ID of the IED immediately upstream therefrom. The area IED may communicate control commands that include the unique IDs and control commands for the local IEDs to take the control action. Upon matching of the unique ID in the control command with its own unique ID, the local IEDs may take the control action and transmit remaining actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Allen, Dennis Haes, Bryan J. Fazzari
  • Patent number: 9257252
    Abstract: This invention discloses a type of intelligent magnetic-hold miniature circuit breaker and its control method, comprising a casing, a magnetic-hold relay, and a drive circuit, wherein said drive circuit receives control signal and then drives operation of said magnetic-hold relay; said magnetic-hold relay comprises a dynamic spring assembly, a static spring assembly, a deflector rod, a pushing piece, and a magnetic steel assembly; rotation of said magnetic steel assembly drives said deflector rod and then closing or opening of contacts of said dynamic spring assembly and said static spring assembly via said pushing piece; said miniature circuit breaker also includes a central processor, a communication chip, and a voltage state circuit; and said deflector rod extends out through a hole on said casing to allow manual operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Inventor: Zhenyang Liu
  • Patent number: 9257828
    Abstract: An electronic appliance powered by a power supply unit connected to a mains type electricity network, and for connection to a transmission line having two conductor elements and to a terminal in order to transfer data between the line and the terminal. The appliance has a front-end component connected to the line via an isolating transformer. Also, various additional components are connected to an electrical ground of the appliance. A discharge component is connected to the conductor elements of the line and becomes conductive in the event of a voltage surge due to a lightning strike. This eliminates the surge by establishing a flow of current from the line to electrical ground. A capacitive and/or resistive type divider component is interposed between the discharge component and electrical ground in order to co-operate with the power supply unit and/or one or more additional components to constitute a divider bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: SAGEMCOM BROADBAND SAS
    Inventor: Nicolas Dangy-Caye
  • Patent number: 9248635
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electrostatic chuck comprises a mount plate, a first layer, and a second layer. The first layer includes a heater. The second layer is provided between the mount plate and the first layer. The second layer transmits heat from the heater to the mount plate. The second layer includes a compressive attachment portion. The compressive attachment portion is formed at the outer edge. The face on the mount plate side of the compressive attachment portion is compressed and attached to the mount plate. The face on the first layer side of the compressive attachment portion is compressed and attached to the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideo Eto, Yasuhiro Nojiri, Makoto Saito
  • Patent number: 9246357
    Abstract: A contactless power feeding system includes a power transmitting device and a power receiving device. The power transmitting device includes a first AC power source configured to generate an AC power with a first frequency, a second AC power source configured to generate an AC power with a second frequency which is different from the first frequency, a first electromagnetic induction coil, and a first resonant coil. The power receiving device includes a second resonant coil, a second electromagnetic induction coil, and a power storage unit. Power is wirelessly supplied to the power storage unit at the second frequency by a magnetic resonance phenomenon which occurs between the first resonant coil and the second resonant coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koichiro Kamata
  • Patent number: 9240400
    Abstract: An input/output (IO) circuit is provided that reduces stress on a driver without using an additional reference voltage. The IO circuit receives an overshoot voltage and an undershoot voltage in a receive mode. The IO circuit includes a driver circuit. The driver circuit includes an NMOS transistor coupled to a PMOS transistor. A pad is coupled to the driver circuit. A PMOS protect circuit is coupled to the driver circuit and the pad. An NMOS protect circuit is coupled to the driver circuit and the pad. The NMOS protect circuit is configured to be activated only for a duration of the overshoot voltage received at the pad during the receive mode and the PMOS protect circuit is configured to be activated only for a duration of the undershoot voltage received at the pad during the receive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Venkateswara Reddy P, Vinayak Ghatawade, Rajat Chauhan
  • Patent number: 9240683
    Abstract: An over-current regulating system includes a protecting resistor, an amplifying circuit, and a comparing circuit. The protecting resistor is configured to be electrically coupled to a power supply unit. The amplifying circuit is electrically coupled to the protecting resistor and the comparing circuit and configured to amplify a voltage of the protecting resistor, and output the amplified voltage value to the comparing circuit. The comparing circuit is configured to determine whether the amplified voltage is greater than a first predetermined value when the comparing circuit is coupled to the power supply unit. When the voltage is greater than the first predetermined value, the comparing circuit outputs a controlling signal to reduce a work frequency of a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Pin Tseng, Min-Wei Lee
  • Patent number: 9234489
    Abstract: In a method for operating a temperature-limiting device of an electrical unit activatable for a limited time period by way of an activation signal, the temperature-limiting device permits activation of the electrical unit upon occurrence of the activation signal only if a counter value is greater than or less than a reference value, the counter value being incremented or decremented by a determined temperature equivalence value upon each activation of the electrical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Tumback
  • Patent number: 9236734
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming an electric field gap device, such as a lateral field emission ESD protection structure, in which a cathode layer is formed between dielectric layers. Anode channels are formed and they are lined with a sacrificial dielectric layer. Conductive anode pillars are formed in the anode channels, and then the sacrificial dielectric layer is etched away in the vicinity of the anode pillars. The etching leaves a suspended portion of the cathode layer which defines a lateral gap to an adjacent anode pillar. This portion has a sharp end face defined by the corners of the cathode layer and the lateral gap can be defined accurately as it corresponds to the thickness of the sacrificial dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Michael in 't Zandt, Klaus Reimann, Olaf Wunnicke
  • Patent number: 9225167
    Abstract: A protection element includes a first wiring line configured to be supplied with a signal voltage when electric current is on; a second wiring line configured to be supplied with a criterion voltage; a detection circuit connected between the first wiring line and the second wiring line, and configured to detect the signal voltage inputted onto the first wiring line; an inverter circuit including a plurality of inverters connected between the first wiring line and the second wiring line, and configured to be supplied with a reference voltage having a same level as that of the signal voltage between an odd-numbered inverter and an even-numbered inverter when electric current is on; and a protection transistor connected between the first wiring line and the second wiring line, and having a gate configured to receive output of the inverter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 9225166
    Abstract: The present invention relates to display technology. It discloses an electro-static discharge protective circuit comprising: a first thin film transistor having a first source electrode connected to a first reference level end, and a first gate electrode and a first drain electrode connected with each other at a first node; a second thin film transistor having a second source electrode connected to said first node, and a second gate electrode and a second drain electrode connected with each other at a discharge end; a third thin film transistor having a third source electrode connected to said discharge end, and a third gate electrode and a third drain electrode connected with each other at a second node, wherein said second node is connected with said first node; and a fourth thin film transistor having a fourth source electrode connected at said second node, and a fourth gate electrode and a fourth drain electrode connected to a second reference level end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yongqian Li
  • Patent number: 9225164
    Abstract: In various embodiments, apparatuses and methods are disclosed that may be able to implement a multi-layer, three dimensional routing between a decoupling component and an input port for a SoC or MCM. A three dimensional (3D) structure may provide a defined current return path from the decoupling component to the input port. The current return path may be constrained by design to provide an equal and opposite electromagnetic flux to the input port thereby reducing series inductance between the input port and the decoupling component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: William L. Barber, Keith Pinson, Andrew P. Collins, Boping Wu, Isaac Ali, Colin L. Perry
  • Patent number: 9225162
    Abstract: A protection system includes a control module, a switch, and an inductive device. The control module is used to provide control signals and switching signals based at least in part on a detected signal measured by a detecting device. The control signals include a first control signal corresponding to a normal mode and a second control signal corresponding to a fault mode. The switch is switched on and off according to the switching signals. The inductive device is coupled with the switch. The inductive device is controlled to be operated with a first inductance in response to the first control signal provided from the control module and a second inductance in response to the second control signal provided from the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yingqi Zhang, Tao Wu, Fan Zhang, Kunlun Chen
  • Patent number: 9225233
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a power conversion device control device, including multiple drive circuits having an alarm signal formation circuit that sets a pulse signal having as one cycle a period. The one cycle period includes a determination period, of which a different period is set for each of plural protection circuits that detect information for carrying out a protection operation of semiconductor elements configuring a power conversion device, and a constant period, in which a condition varies with respect to the determination period, takes a protection circuit for which it is first detected that a protection operation is necessary to be a first-come first-served protection circuit, and outputs the pulse signal corresponding to the first-come first-served protection circuit as an alarm signal, wherein the alarm signal formation circuit is such that a resetting condition of the alarm signal is a condition that a protection operation stopped condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Nakamori
  • Patent number: 9219384
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system in which one or more instances of a same modular power skid are assembled with main and backup uninterruptible power supplies and multiple power distribution cabinets arranged in different electrical configurations and control sequences to meet two or more different datacenter tier ratings with a built-in fault tolerance via a programmable logic controller housed in one of the cabinets on the skid as well as built-in autonomous responses to equipment failures programmed into the programmable logic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Rosendin Electric, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Emert, John Manual Loera
  • Patent number: 9219468
    Abstract: A failure detector circuit for detecting status of a protected circuit, the failure detector circuit having an operating cycle, has an enabling signal generator, a comparator circuit, a delay circuit. The enabling signal generator enables the comparator for an enable time in each operating cycle. The comparator circuit compares an output of the protected circuit with a reference signal. The delay circuit receives an output signal of the comparator to decide whether a failure occurred within a give delay time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiangyun Zhou, Yike Li