Patents Examined by Dominic E Hawkins
  • Patent number: 11493539
    Abstract: An open loop current transducer comprising a housing, a magnetic core comprising a pair of core parts forming a pair of magnetic field gaps therebetween, the magnetic core mounted in the housing, a pair of magnetic field detectors, one magnetic field detector being mounted in each magnetic field gap, a leadframe comprising core mounting parts and magnetic field detector contacts, and a mounting plate. The mounting plate is mounted on a top side of the magnetic core and the leadframe mounted on a bottom mounting side of the magnetic core. The mounting plate is fixed to the pair of core parts and defines the position of the magnetic core parts. The magnetic field detector contacts comprise circuit board contact portions for connection to an external circuit board, and magnetic field detector contact portions for connection to contacts of the magnetic field detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: LEM International SA
    Inventor: Ludovic Simonin
  • Patent number: 11493537
    Abstract: A current sensor for magnetic field-based current determination of an alternating current through a current conductor is based on a magnetic field-sensitive sensor element. The sensor element is arranged spatially adjacent the current conductor to detect a magnetic field brought about by the alternating current I in the current conductor. It is proposed that at least one conductive compensation element be arranged separately from the current flow through the current conductor and spatially adjacent the sensor element and the current conductor to compensate frequency-dependent distortions of the magnetic field by means of an induction-generatable compensation magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SENSITEC GMBH
    Inventors: Claudia Glenske, Matthias Brusius
  • Patent number: 11486905
    Abstract: An integrator for use with a current sensor provides a feedback loop reducing drift while maintaining wide bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Charles Nelatury
  • Patent number: 11480546
    Abstract: A magnetic body inspection system includes a processing unit for extracting a feature amount from a measured damage waveform and determining the type of damage to a magnetic body based on a comparison between the extracted feature amount and a feature amount stored in advance in a storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Iijima
  • Patent number: 11467191
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling an input current, the circuit includes a first input port configured to receive the input current. A current detector detects an input current value of the input current and generates a control signal indicative of the input current value. A first output port outputs an output current to a load. A second output port receives the output current from the load. A control circuit provides a low-impedance path in parallel with the load in response to the control signal indicating the input current value is below a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC
    Inventors: Abe Kanner, Serge Kniazev, Peter Spasopoulos, Carl Schwellnus
  • Patent number: 11467187
    Abstract: A multiphase current measuring apparatus and method for measuring current of a multiconductor current system with N current conductors, where N>2, by determining a magnetic field strength difference in a measurement plane between conductor currents of adjacent current conductors by using the multiphase current measuring apparatus having N?1 magnetoresistive gradient sensors. At least one bypass conductor of at least one of the further current conductors is arranged with respect to each magnetoresistive gradient sensor for compensating a DC field component of the two adjacent current conductors. The DC component of the conductor currents of the two adjacent current conductors is suppressed by passing a bypass current of the at least one further current conductor through the bypass conductor symmetrically through the measurement plane of the magnetoresistive gradient sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Sensitec GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Brusius, Claudia Glenske
  • Patent number: 11467197
    Abstract: Electric power system voltage control and voltage stability may be calculated using energy packets. Sets of negative energy packet sets normalized by a set of positive and negative energy packet sets may be used for voltage control by adding or removing capacitive units. Energy packet voltage indicators may be calculated using energy packets, and used to determine voltage stability. Control actions may be taken depending on the determined voltage stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, Gregary C. Zweigle, Ellery A. Blood
  • Patent number: 11467229
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a triaxial magnetic sensor, formed on or in a substrate of semiconductor material having a surface that includes a sensing portion and at least one first and one second sensing wall, which are not coplanar to each other. The sensing portion and the first sensing wall form a first solid angle, the sensing portion and the second sensing wall form a second solid angle, and the first sensing wall and the second sensing wall form a third solid angle. A first Hall-effect magnetic sensor extends at least partially over the sensing portion, a second Hall-effect magnetic sensor extends at least partially over the first sensing wall, and a third Hall-effect magnetic sensor extends at least partially over the second sensing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alessandro Paolo Bramanti, Alberto Pagani
  • Patent number: 11469223
    Abstract: A current monitor circuit comprises a sense transistor disposed in a first voltage domain; a reference transistor disposed in a second voltage domain isolated from the first voltage domain; and sensing circuitry configured to determine if a current in the sense transistor is greater than or less than a specified current using a current in the reference transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: David F. Schneider, Trevor W. Barcelo
  • Patent number: 11460515
    Abstract: A circuit includes a voltage comparator with an output, a first input and a second input, the first input being coupled to a first reference voltage terminal. An operational transconductance amplifier has an output coupled to the second input of the voltage comparator, an inverting input coupled to the output of the operational transconductance amplifier, and a non-inverting input coupled to a second reference voltage terminal. A filter capacitor is coupled in series between a power supply terminal and the second input of the voltage comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventor: Vincent Pinon
  • Patent number: 11459627
    Abstract: Multiple magnetic field sensors are arranged around a current-containing volume at multiple longitudinal and circumferential positions. Each sensor measures multiple magnetic field components and is characterized by one or more calibration parameters. A longitudinal primary current flows through two end-to-end electrical conductors that are separated by an arc gap, and flows as at least one longitudinal primary electric arc that spans the arc gap and that moves transversely within the arc gap. Estimated transverse position of the primary electric arc is calculated, based on the longitudinal position of the arc gap, and two or more of the measured magnetic field components along with one or more corresponding sensor positions or calibration parameters. In addition, estimated occurrence, position, and magnitude of a transverse secondary current (i.e., a side arc) can be calculated based on those quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: KW ASSOCIATES LLC
    Inventors: Matthew A. Cibula, Paul E. King, C. Rigel Woodside
  • Patent number: 11460441
    Abstract: A system for non-destructive inspection of a structure includes a magnetostrictive strip, a plurality of coil circuits, a jacket assembly, and a tensioner. The magnetostrictive strip is configured to be induced with a bias magnetic field and wrapped at least partially around an outer surface of a structure. The plurality of coil circuits disposed on a flexible circuit board having at least two layers of conductive signal traces. The jacket assembly includes an inner jacket component, an outer jacket component, and a mid-layer component configured to be disposed adjacent to the plurality of coil circuits. The tensioner is configured to provide a mechanical pressure coupling between the magnetostrictive strip and the structure. Each coil circuit is individually controllable by a plurality of channels to at least one of excite or detect guided waves in the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: FBS, Inc.
    Inventors: Cody J. Borigo, Steven E. Owens
  • Patent number: 11448667
    Abstract: A bidirectional sensor circuit includes a sensing impedance with first and second terminals; a first operational amplifier which non-inverting input is connected to the first terminal and its inverting input is connected to the second terminal; a second operational amplifier with the non-inverting input connected to the second terminal and its inverting input is connected to the first terminal; a first diode with the anode connected to the inverting input of the first operational amplifier and whose cathode is connected to the output of the first operational amplifier; and a second diode with the anode connected to the output of the first operational amplifier and to the cathode of the first diode. The input of the circuit consists of the terminals of the sensing impedance, and the output is at the anode of the second diode and senses a load impedance connected to the first terminal of the sensing impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: PANACEA QUANTUM LEAP TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Francisco Javier Velasco Valcke
  • Patent number: 11448668
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a current detection circuit includes a current detection part including an operational amplifier configured to compare a first voltage proportional to a load current with a second voltage proportional to a detection current. The current detection part is configured to output the detection current. The current detection circuit includes an adjustment part configured to generate data in accordance with a result of comparing a monitor voltage proportional to the detection current with a reference voltage, and to adjust an input offset of the operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Taguchi, Akihiro Murayama
  • Patent number: 11442080
    Abstract: A contact probe comprises a probe body being extended in a longitudinal direction between respective end portions adapted to realize a contact with respective contact pads, at least one end portion having transverse dimensions greater than the probe body. Suitably, the end portion comprises at least one indentation adapted to house a material scrap being on the contact probe after a separation from a substrate wherein the contact probe has been realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Crippa, Raffaele Vallauri
  • Patent number: 11437569
    Abstract: A Hall sensor structure comprising a semiconductor body of a first conductivity type, a well region of a second conductivity type extending from a top side of the semiconductor body into the semiconductor body, at least three first semiconductor contact regions of the second conductivity type, each extending from a top side of the well region into the well region, at least one second semiconductor contact region of a second conductivity type, wherein the first semiconductor contact regions are spaced apart from one another and from an edge of the well region, a metallic connection contact layer is arranged on each first semiconductor contact region, the at least one second semiconductor contact region extends along the top side of the semiconductor body at least partially around the well region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: TDK-Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Maria-Cristina Vecchi, Reinhard Erwe, Martin Cornils, Kerwin Khu
  • Patent number: 11435316
    Abstract: This magnetic body management system (100) includes: a first magnetic body inspection device (1) configured to acquire a detection signal (DS) before the magnetic body (MM) is installed at a location of use; a second magnetic body inspection device (2) configured to acquire a detection signal (DS) after the magnetic body (MM) has been installed at the location of use, the second magnetic body inspection device (2) having the same method as that of the first magnetic body inspection device (1); a server (3); a first transmission unit (4); and a second transmission unit (5). The server (3) is configured to estimate a deterioration state of the magnetic body (MM) based on at least the first magnetic body information (10) and the second magnetic body information (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kodama, Mitsuo Yamashita, Satoshi Akasegawa, Taketoshi Noji, Yoshio Takami
  • Patent number: 11422166
    Abstract: A magnetic field detection apparatus includes a magnetoresistive effect element and a coil. The coil includes first and second tier parts opposed to each other in a first axis direction, with the magnetoresistive effect element interposed therebetween. The coil is configured to be supplied with a current and thereby configured to generate an induction magnetic field to be applied to the magnetoresistive effect element in a second axis direction. The first tier part includes first conductors extending in a third axis direction, arranged in the second axis direction and coupled in parallel to each other. The second tier part includes a second conductor or second conductors extending in the third axis direction, the second conductors being arranged in the second axis direction and coupled in parallel to each other. The first conductors each have a width smaller than a width of the second conductor or each of the second conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takafumi Kobayashi, Norikazu Ota, Kenzo Makino
  • Patent number: 11422208
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a magneto-sensitive portion (105); an excitation wiring (110) formed in a wiring region above the magneto-sensitive portion (105) through intermediation of an insulating film (12), the excitation wiring (110) including a plurality of conductor portions (1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, and 1105) arranged in in order across at least one radial direction from a center axis of the magneto-sensitive portion (105); a current flowing through the excitation wiring (110) having a current density of which an absolute value becomes zero in a vicinity of a center of the magneto-sensitive portion (105) and continuously increases toward an outer side of the magneto-sensitive portion (105); and a magnetic field generated by the current flowing through the excitation wiring (110) in a direction vertical to the surface of the magneto-sensitive portion (105).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventor: Hirotaka Uemura
  • Patent number: 11422165
    Abstract: A current sensor includes a plurality of individual sensors and a wiring case. Each of the individual sensors includes an electrical-conduction member through which a measurement current to be measured flows, a magnetoelectric converter and an insulating sensor housing. The magnetoelectric converter converts a measurement magnetic field caused by a flow of the measurement current into an electric signal. The sensor housing accommodates the electrical-conduction member and the magnetoelectric converter therein. The wiring case is larger than the sensor housing. The wiring case includes an insulating integrated housing in which the plurality of individual sensors is fixed, and an input/output wiring disposed in the integrated housing and electrically connected to the megnetoelectric converter of each of the plurality of individual sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Miwa, Akito Sasaki, Ryosuke Sakai, Takuma Esaka, Tatsuaki Sugito