Patents Examined by Dru Parries
  • Patent number: 8928179
    Abstract: A method for no break power transfer in a variable frequency power generating system, the power generating system comprising a first bus connected to a first generator and a second bus connected to a second generator includes configuring a power transfer device to output power that is synchronized to match a voltage and a frequency of the second bus to the second bus; reconfiguring the power transfer device to output power that is synchronized to match a voltage and a frequency of the first bus to the second bus; and closing a tie switch located between the first bus and the second bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Waleed M. Said
  • Patent number: 8916992
    Abstract: A power generating system includes a control device, a first current detection device detecting a load alternating electric current, and a second current detection device detecting a direct current of the direct current power converted by a first converter. The control device obtains a first integrated value by integrating a direct current component corresponding to a positive electric current positioned at a positive side relative to a zero-crossing of the load alternating electric current among the direct current of the direct current power converted by the first converter and detected by the second current detection device by time, obtains a second integrated value by integrating a direct current component corresponding to a negative electric current by time, and detects a direct current component included in the load alternating electric current on the basis of a degree of a difference between the first integrated value and the second integrated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Nakano, Katsunori Yai
  • Patent number: 8907528
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device in which an influence of a power source noise is suppressed and the number of pins and the area of the semiconductor device are reduced. A power source line for a first internal circuit and a power source line for a second internal circuit are coupled to a common pin terminal. A ground line for the first internal circuit and a ground line for the second internal circuit are coupled to another common pin terminal. A power source noise generated on the power source line for the first internal circuit during an operation of the first internal circuit is absorbed by a P-channel MOS transistor and a capacitor. A power source noise generated on the ground line is absorbed by an N-channel MOS transistor and the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshio Tasaki
  • Patent number: 8884461
    Abstract: A battery system includes a motor serving as a driving source for driving a vehicle, a high capacity type battery and a high power type battery each capable of supplying a power to the motor, and a controller controlling charge and discharge of each of the high capacity type battery and the high power type battery. The controller causes the high capacity type battery to be discharged continuously. The controller controls charge and discharge of the high power type battery such that the SOC of the high power type battery is matched with a predetermined value while the high capacity type battery is discharged continuously. The controller causes the high power type battery to be discharged continuously such that the SOC of the high power type battery becomes lower than the predetermined value while the high capacity type battery is not discharged continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Nishi
  • Patent number: 8866333
    Abstract: A power control system includes a vehicle having a first battery and a second battery separate from the first battery; a power converter provided at a building, the power converter converting power charged in the first battery and supplying the converted power to electrical equipment; a first connection line connecting the first battery and the power converter and supplying the power from the first battery to the power converter; and a second connection line connecting the second battery and the power converter and supplying control power to activate the power converter from the second battery to the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Kamachi
  • Patent number: 8810068
    Abstract: A solar panel array for use in a solar cell power system is provided. The solar panel array includes a string of solar panels and multiple voltage converters. Each voltage converter is coupled to a corresponding solar panel in the string of solar panels. The solar panel array also includes multiple maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controllers. Each MPPT controller is coupled to a corresponding solar panel in the string of solar panels. Each MPPT controller is configured to sense an instantaneous power unbalance between the corresponding solar panel and an inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Gianpaolo Lisi, Ali Djabbari, Gerard Socci, Andrew Ronald Chemistruck, Rajaram Subramoniam, Jianhui Zhang, Kosha Mahmodieh
  • Patent number: 8810080
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery module including a base plate on which unit modules, each with two or more secondary batteries therein, are stacked in a vertically erected state, a pair of end plates disposed in tight contact with outer surfaces of outermost unit modules while bottoms of the end plates are fixed to the base plate, and supporting bars connected between opposite sides of upper or side parts of the end plates so as to support the end plates, wherein each of the end plates includes a main body contacting a corresponding one of the unit modules, and a top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of side walls protruding outward from the perimeter of the main body, the thickness of each of the side walls being increased from the top to the bottom wall, thereby dispersing pressure (bending load) from the unit modules and the supporting bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: YeonSeok Choo, Jin Kyu Lee, Ye Hoon Im, Kwanyong Kim
  • Patent number: 8796882
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying power to a load. The apparatus including a plurality of sources to provide charge, and a controller adapted to control a transfer of charge from the sources to the load at distinct times. The controller may control the transfer of charge based on variation of an ambient condition or a manufacturing process. The controller may control the transfer of charge to generate a defined voltage across the load. The apparatus may include a regulator adapted to regulate a voltage across the load. The regulator may regulate the voltage across the load in a defined timing relationship with the transfer of charge from the sources to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jorge A. Garcia, Ramkumar Sivakumar
  • Patent number: 8772961
    Abstract: A communication device includes: an oscillating circuit for generating a single including a signal potential that is based on a reference potential; a first terminal for communicating with a vehicle; and a first resistance circuit connected between an output of the oscillating circuit and the first terminal and having a resistance value variable according to a first input signal. Preferably, the vehicle includes: a second terminal connected to the first terminal; and a second resistance circuit connected between a ground node fed with the reference potential and the second terminal. The vehicle is provided with a first signal extraction node on a path connecting the second terminal and the second resistance circuit to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8772981
    Abstract: A multiplexer includes: a first switch unit coupled between a first input terminal and an output terminal and including a series connection of first and second switches; a second switch unit coupled between a second input terminal and the output terminal; and a third switch unit coupled to a third input terminal and a common node between the first and second switches. Different first and second voltages, and a third voltage greater than one of the first and second voltages and less than the other one of the first and second voltage are applied respectively to the first, second and third input terminals. The multiplexer is operable between a first mode, where the first voltage is transmitted to the output terminal, and a second mode, where the second voltage is transmitted to the output terminal and the third voltage is transmitted to the common node between the first and second switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ili Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chen-Jung Chuang, Chien-Kuo Wang
  • Patent number: 8772985
    Abstract: A system transmits electric signals, electric energy or media over short distances between units movable relative to each other. The system has at least one first unit disposed along the trajectory of the movement and at least one second unit disposed for movement relative to the first unit. A diagnosis unit is associated with at least one of the units to detect the condition of at least one of said movable units and signals that detected condition to a central control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Schleifring und Apparatebau GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Lohr
  • Fan
    Patent number: 8760011
    Abstract: A fan includes a housing, a cable, a number of blades received in and mounted to the housing, a motor driving the blades to operate and receiving electric energy by the cable, and a switch mounted on a bottom of the housing and connected with the cable. When the fan presses the switch, the cable and the switch form a closed circuit. When the fan releases pressure from the switch, the closed circuit is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: An-Gang Liang, Zheng-Heng Sun
  • Patent number: 8754544
    Abstract: An Intelligent Synchronization Module (ISM) for an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system for servicing a load is disclosed. The UPS system has at least one of a first UPS group and a second separate and independent UPS group, each of the first and second UPS groups having a master UPS. The ISM has a processing circuit and a storage medium, readable by the processing circuit, storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for: assigning the first UPS group the role of master group and the second UPS group the role of slave group; and, passing phase information relating to the master group to the slave group, thereby enabling the master UPS of the slave group to effect synchronization with the master group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Silvio Colombi, Nicolas Borgeaud
  • Patent number: 8736115
    Abstract: Electronic devices may use buttons to gather user input. Button status monitoring circuits may be provided that apply a time-varying bias voltage to each button. The time-varying bias voltage may be held at a fixed non-zero level when the state of the button is being monitored and may be held at a level of zero volts when the state of the button is immaterial and is not being monitored. The reduction of the bias voltage across the button when the button is not being monitored prevents undesired acceleration in dendritic growth when the electronic device is exposed to moisture. The bias voltage may be pulsed by using a control circuit. The control circuit may generate a series of square wave pulses that are applied across the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Fisher, Jr., Stephen Brian Lynch, Robert Caston Curtis
  • Patent number: 8736116
    Abstract: A compact information device in which a shortened unlatch time is enabled so such device can transition from a power cutoff mode to a power supply mode to resume supplying power to internal circuits as a result of a latch circuit unlatching a control signal. Embodiments of such a device, which may be a printer, includes a CPU, tactile switch, smoothing capacitor, switch circuit, a switch control signal generator including a latch circuit, and a potential difference detection circuit. The latch circuit and potential difference detection circuit operate with voltage Vin2. The CPU outputs a start latch signal VLT when the operating mode changes from the power supply mode to the power cutoff mode. When the tactile switch is turned off, the potential difference detection circuit outputs an unlatch signal VRST. When the unlatch signal VRST is input, the latch circuit unlatches the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Yoshie
  • Patent number: 8736109
    Abstract: A data center is electrically coupled to a power grid at two separate access points, which may be located within geographic proximity to each other. Each access point is located between two power generation systems. The access points have one or more power generation systems located between them, allowing the data center to be coupled to three or more power generation systems simultaneously and have access to power in the event of multiple power generation system failure. The data center may comprise two separate data center power inputs, which may each be connected to a separate power grid access point. The power grid may provide a high voltage level to the data center, and the data center may comprise transformers which step the voltage down to a lower voltage level. The data center may comprise one such transformer coupled to each of the two data center power inputs. The outputs of such transformers may be coupled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: Seung Hoon Park
  • Patent number: 8716884
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle controller that is mounted in a box-shaped manner beneath the floor or on the roof of a vehicle so as to supply electric power to vehicle apparatuses. The vehicle controller is configured with a plurality of functional modules 4; each of the functional modules 4 has at one side thereof an interface side 22 in which a first interface region 5 where signal-line terminals are arranged and a second interface region 6 where power-line terminals are arranged are separated; in each of the interface sides 22, the first interface region 5 is disposed in the vicinity of one and the same end and the second interface region 6 is disposed in the vicinity of the other and the same end; the plurality of functional modules includes a monitoring circuit, an overvoltage protection circuit, and an inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Ikemoto, Hideo Okayama, Hidetoshi Kitanaka, Hidetoshi Sumita, Yoshinobu Koji, Kiyonobu Ueda, Yasuhisa Adachi, Makoto Sugiura
  • Patent number: 8717199
    Abstract: Configurable buttons for electronic devices such as portable electronic devices are provided. A configurable button may have a button member that moves relative to a device housing when it is desired to activate a switch. The button may have an associated touch sensor. The touch sensor may detect when a user's finger touches a particular portion of the button member. Contact with only this portion of the button member is generally inadvertent, so an actuator may be used to prevent or otherwise restrict motion of the button relative to a device housing. This prevents inadvertent activation of the button when a user is manipulating portions of an electronic device such as clip or lid, but does not intend to depress the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John Benjamin Filson, Stephen Brian Lynch, Emery Sanford, Pinida Jan Moolsintong
  • Patent number: 8716886
    Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a power sourcing equipment (PSE) device includes at least one network port adapted to couple to a powered device to provide power and optionally data to the powered device via a network cable. The PSE device further includes a current limiter circuit coupled to the at least one network port and having an adjustable threshold. The PSE device also includes a logic circuit coupled to the current limiter circuit and adapted to reduce the adjustable threshold of the current limiter circuit to have a threshold level that is below a nominal operating current level. After a period of time has elapsed during which the current limiter circuit is not activated, the logic circuit is adapted to determine that the powered device is disconnected from the at least one network port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: D. Matthew Landry, John Gammel
  • Patent number: 8704400
    Abstract: A vehicle power converter including a plurality of switching elements having diodes connected thereto in parallel and constituting a multi-phase bridge circuit and a controller for conducting the switching element corresponding to each diode in synchronization with a conduction state of the diode concerned to perform synchronous rectification and is connected between a power generator-motor driven from the external to generate multi-phase AC power and DC equipment, further includes a load state detecting unit for detecting a load state of the power generator-motor when the multi-phase AC power occurs, wherein a shift from diode rectification to synchronous rectification or a shift from the synchronous rectification to the diode rectification is carried out in accordance with an output of the load state detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Nakajima, Kenichi Akita, Masato Mori, Mitsunori Tabata, Katsuya Tsujimoto