Patents Examined by Dominic E Hawkins
  • Patent number: 11768230
    Abstract: A current sensor IC includes a unitary lead frame having a primary conductor with a first thickness and a secondary lead having a second thickness less than the first thickness. A semiconductor die adjacent to the primary conductor includes a magnetic field sensing circuit to sense a magnetic field associated with the current and generate a secondary signal indicative of the current. An insulation structure is disposed between the primary conductor and the die. A mold material encloses a first portion of the secondary lead and a second portion of the secondary lead that is exposed outside of the package has the second thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Shixi Louis Liu, Maxwell McNally, Alexander Latham
  • Patent number: 11768228
    Abstract: A current transformer assembly includes a first current transformer, a plug, a first wire and a second wire between the plug and the first current transformer adapted to transmit a measurement of the first current transformer; and a memory chip adapted to store a first scale factor of the first current transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Sense Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: John Andrew Watlington
  • Patent number: 11761992
    Abstract: A current measurement circuit, for wireless charging systems, for instance, comprises a differential input configured to have applied an input voltage sensed across a shunt resistor traversed by a current to be measured, a voltage reversal switch arrangement selectively switchable to reverse the polarity of the input voltage as applied between a first and a second voltage sensing nodes as well as a first and a second current flow line between the voltage sensing nodes and ground. A difference resistor intermediate the two current flow lines is traversed by a current which is a function of the input voltage as applied to the first and second sensing nodes via the voltage reversal switch arrangement. First and second current sensing nodes at the two current flow lines are coupled to a differential current output via a current reversal switch arrangement selectively switchable to reverse the output current polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L
    Inventors: Paolo Angelini, Roberto Pio Baorda, Francesco Borgioli
  • Patent number: 11761985
    Abstract: Techniques are described for calibrating sensors for use in systems in the presence of offset. Sensors may be used to generate sense signals which represent true signals that are part of a system. When the sensors are not calibrated, inefficiency due to offset can be introduced into a system that incorporates the generated sense signal. Flipping techniques may be used to mitigate offset. Applicant has appreciated that when the sensor gains are mismatched, the offset calibration associated with a sensor is not independent from the offset calibration associated with the other sensors. Some of the flipping techniques described herein account for gain mismatch by flipping the polarity of each sensor in a one-at-a-time fashion, and by combining the results in a common system of equations to determine the gain mismatch and the offset of each sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Guilhem Azzano, Jens Sorensen
  • Patent number: 11754599
    Abstract: A measurement circuit comprises an input terminal to receive a current signal, a first circuit branch coupled to the first terminal and including one or more circuit elements to receive a portion of the current signal, a second circuit branch coupled to the first terminal and including one or more additional circuit elements to receive another portion of the current signal, a nonlinear circuit element coupling the first circuit branch to the second circuit branch, and a quantization circuit configured to produce an input current measurement of current in the first and second circuit branches, and to include current in the second circuit branch in the input current measurement according to a magnitude of the input current signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Thomas, Joseph L. Sousa, Micah Galletta O'Halloran, Alex Robert Sloboda
  • Patent number: 11747369
    Abstract: A current sensor arrangement for measuring an AC electrical current, comprising: an electrical conductor having three transverse rectangular cut-outs; a sensor device comprising two sensor elements spaced apart along a first direction for measuring two magnetic field components oriented in said first direction, and configured for determining a magnetic field difference or magnetic field gradient, and for determining the AC current based on said difference or gradient. The sensor device is positioned at a particular location relative to the second cut-out, such that the magnetic field difference or gradient is substantially proportional to the AC current for frequencies from 100 Hz to 2 kHz. A current sensor system. A method of measuring an AC current with improved accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventor: Simon Houis
  • Patent number: 11747302
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of detecting a material response. The method includes providing an oscillating primary magnetic field to cause as ample to produce a secondary magnetic field. The method also includes reducing the effect on an atomic magnetometer of components of the primary and secondary magnetic fields in a direction substantially orthogonal to a surface of the sample. The method also includes detecting the secondary magnetic field with the atomic magnetometer to detect the material response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: Witold Chalupczak, Rafal Gartman, Patrick Bevington
  • Patent number: 11746018
    Abstract: A strain engineered material including a monolayer graphene sheet comprising an array of wrinkles induced by deformations in the graphene sheet, the deformations formed by a lattice of underlying nanostructures on a substrate. The lattice of nanostructures comprises rows of the nanostructures and each of the wrinkles comprise a ridge aligned on top of a different one of the rows and along an alignment direction defined by the rows. The deformations pattern a strain distribution in the graphene sheet that induces a periodically varying pseudo magnetic field distribution ranging between a positive value and a negative values. The periodically varying pseudo magnetic field distribution has field magnitude minima located parallel to and between the ridges and field magnitude maxima located near to and parallel to each of the ridges and can be designed for various valleytronic and spintronic device applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Nai-Chang Yeh, Chen-Chih Hsu, Jiaqing Wang, Marcus L. Teague
  • Patent number: 11747371
    Abstract: A current sensing topology uses an amplifier with capacitively coupled inputs in feedback to sense the input offset of the amplifier, which can be compensated for during measurement. The amplifier with capacitively coupled inputs in feedback is used to: operate the amplifier in a region where the input common-mode specifications are relaxed, so that the feedback loop gain and/or bandwidth is higher; operate the sensor from the converter input voltage by employing high-PSRR (power supply rejection ratio) regulators to create a local, clean supply voltage, causing less disruption to the power grid in the switch area; sample the difference between the input voltage and the controller supply, and recreate that between the drain voltages of the power and replica switches; and compensate for power delivery network related (PDN-related) changes in the input voltage during current sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nachiket Desai, Harish Krishnamurthy, Suhwan Kim, Fabrice Paillet
  • Patent number: 11747370
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of current sensors, and provides a fiber-optic current transformer based on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond, and a measurement method. The fiber-optic current transformer based on NV centers in diamond includes a device for laser light excitation and reflected light reception and analysis, a diamond NV center probe, a magnetic concentrator, and a microwave excitation device. The fiber-optic current transformer based on NV centers in diamond includes three measurement methods: an all-optical measurement method, a non-all-optical measurement method, and a measurement method combining the all-optical measurement method and the non-all-optical measurement method. A sensor in the present disclosure has advantages of a simple structure, strong practicability, resistance to external interference, and strong robustness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ANHUI GUOSHENG QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bowen Zhao, Shaochun Zhang
  • Patent number: 11747367
    Abstract: A current sensor of an embodiment includes a U-shaped conductor through which a current flows, a first magnetic field sensor configured to receive a magnetic field generated by the conductor in a first direction, and a second magnetic field sensor configured to receive the magnetic field in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventor: Jia Liu
  • Patent number: 11740263
    Abstract: A current sensor system for measuring an AC electrical current, comprising: a busbar having a thickness and a width; a sensor device comprising two sensor elements spaced apart along a first direction for measuring two magnetic field components oriented in a second direction; the sensor device configured for determining a magnetic field difference, and for determining the AC current based on said difference. The sensor device is positioned relative to the busbar such that a reference point in the middle between the two sensor elements is located at a first distance from a side of the busbar from 70% to 110% or from 70% to 95% of the width of the busbar and is located at a second distance from 0.5 to 4.0 mm from the busbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventor: Simon Houis
  • Patent number: 11740262
    Abstract: A current sensor includes a first component and a second component shaped to fit together to create a combined unit with multiple openings through the combined unit. The opening is bounded on a first side by the first component and on a second side by the second component. The first component and the second component are configured to be fitted together around current-carrying conductors passing through the openings. The first component includes first portions of an inductive energy harvesting device and a current sensing device, both proximal to the first side of the opening. The second component includes second portions of the inductive energy harvesting device the current sensing device, both proximal to the second side of the opening. The inductive energy harvesting device may include a split-core ferrite current transformer and the current sensing device may include a Rogowski coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ETACTICA EHF.
    Inventors: Kristján Guδmundsson, Karl Pálsson, Ragnar Einarsson
  • Patent number: 11740379
    Abstract: A device for locating an object. The device includes a housing including a first hole. The device also includes a sensor carried by the housing and comprising two or more electrodes that are positioned next to each other to form a substantially circular configuration. The sensor includes a second hole formed in the center of the circular configuration, and the second hole is axially aligned with the first hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Eidinger, Yong Cushing, Michael Murray, Bianca Linay
  • Patent number: 11733225
    Abstract: An oxygen sensor for a gas, coal, oil or wood fired kiln that is orders of magnitude cheaper than the current state of the art oxygen sensors. It uses a TiO2 tip sintered between and bridging a 1 mm spacing between a pair of 22 gauge Nichrome® series 90 round annealed resistance wires (0.64 mm diameter and having 0.648 Ohms/ft resistance). The Nichrome® 90 wires do not contact each other. One of the wires is a signal wire that resides down the center of an insulating sheath and the other wire is a ground wire that is wound around the outside of a high temperature ceramic insulating sleeve. The sensor needs no temperature compensation and exhibits an approximate 50,000 ohms of resistance change from a neutral (ambient) atmosphere and a fully reduced atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: Mark C Smith
  • Patent number: 11719726
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a current sensing device utilizing a magnetic flux concentrator loop composed of segmented ferromagnetic components. The concentrator loop is designed to focus magnetic flux generated by a current carrying cable, wire, or conductor along the Faraday rotation axis of a magneto-optic sub-assembly. The segmented magnetic flux concentrator encompassing the current carrying cable is held close to a circumferential geometry about the cable, in order to maximize magnetic flux concentration on the magneto-optic sensor. The segmented design of the magnetic flux concentrator loop, combined with a clamping mechanism, allows for easy, straightforward attachment and detachment, during installation and removal or the current sensing device from the current carrying cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: MICATU INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Fiorille, James Kennedy, Michael Oshetski
  • Patent number: 11714109
    Abstract: Presented are one or more embodiments of a device which includes a case and a sensor device. The case includes a first indent configured to secure an electronic device, the first indent in a first side of the case, a second indent in a second side of the case opposite the first side, the second indent extending from a first edge of the case in a first direction such that second indent is open at the first edge of the case, and a securing device in the second indent. The sensor device includes an outer casing configured to slide in the first direction in the second indent and at least partially prevented from leaving the second indent by the securing device, and a sensor at least partially in the outer casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventor: Zachary D. Gniewoz
  • Patent number: 11680927
    Abstract: The present invention provides a way to increase the density of Hall effect sensors on a MFL inline inspection tool mounting the sensors on a first circuit board which overlies a second circuit board. Op amps for the sensors which condition and filter the analog signal from the sensors are mounted on the first circuit board. Microprocessors mounted on the second circuit board receive the analog signal from the op amp and translate it into a digital signal. Use of the stacked circuit boards doubles the amount of area to mount the sensors and their op amps and microprocessors while maintaining the same footprint. This results in being able to increase the number of Hall effect sensors in that footprint area. In other embodiments the number of layers of circuit boards may be increased beyond two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Cypress In-Line Inspection, LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Fox, Calvin L. Simmons, Michael P. Sheffield, William Geoffrey Callahan
  • Patent number: 11656248
    Abstract: A current meter for detecting currents in electrical lines includes: a housing having a plurality of receiving grooves formed on a housing wall, into which receiving grooves an electrical line is in each case insertable from outside the housing; and an arrangement of magnetic field sensors enclosed in the housing. The arrangement of magnetic field sensors detects a magnetic field on electrical lines inserted into the receiving grooves. The housing encloses an interior delimited by the housing wall, inside which interior the arrangement of magnetic field sensors is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Martin Jankowski
  • Patent number: 11656251
    Abstract: An integrated magnetic current sensor is provided. Aspects include a first transformer comprising a magnetic core, a first primary winding and a first secondary winding, a voltage source configured to supply a first alternating current (AC) voltage to the first secondary winding, a second transformer comprising, the magnetic core, a second primary winding, a second secondary winding, and a third secondary winding, wherein the first primary winding and the second primary winding are connected in series, and a bi-directional current source configured to bias a magnetic field in the magnetic core by supplying a current to the second secondary winding responsive to a sense current flowing through the first primary winding and the second primary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: John Vorndran