Patents Examined by Emmanuel Dominique
  • Patent number: 11050272
    Abstract: Systems of an electrical vehicle and the operations thereof are provided. Inflow current occurs when components of differing voltage are connected absent mitigating components. Batteries and other components may be damaged by unrestrained inflow current. By performing a pre-charge, a battery line is gradually brought up to the voltage source potential. Additionally, by determining the observed voltage, while a lesser voltage is applied, to a connected component, a determination may be made if charging should or should not continue. If the observed voltage is less than that applied, a problem may be present and charging discontinued. As a result, high-voltage current that may be inadvertently exposed may be curtailed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander J. Smith
  • Patent number: 10978905
    Abstract: There are provided systems, apparatuses, and methods for controlling power delivery from an auxiliary power supply. For example, there is provided a method that includes generating a first random number to define a timeout period. During the timeout period, the method may detect whether a voltage is present at an output of an auxiliary power supply, may disable the auxiliary power supply when the voltage is detected at the output, and may enable the auxiliary power supply when the voltage is not detected at the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Jessica Lynn Burk, David Joseph Tracy, Nina Rose Scheidegger, Matthew Heida, Tamas Istvan Vegh
  • Patent number: 10944287
    Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a UPS system comprising an input, an output, a neutral connection, an AVR transformer, relays configured to selectively couple a primary winding of the AVR transformer to the input and the output, a bypass relay configured to selectively couple the primary winding to the neutral connection, a DC/AC inverter, and a controller configured to operate the relays, the bypass relay, and the DC/AC inverter to provide output AC power derived from at least one of input AC power and backup DC power, wherein in a backup power mode, the controller is further configured to operate the DC/AC inverter to convert the backup DC power into AC power provided to a secondary winding of the AVR transformer, to monitor the AC output power, and to identify that the bypass relay has decoupled the primary winding from the neutral connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wei-Hsiang Lin
  • Patent number: 10935994
    Abstract: An exemplary time fault circuit interrupter for interrupting a power supply to an equipment unit upon the occurrence of a trip condition may include a sensor configured to monitor a current flow to the equipment unit. The circuit interrupter may also include a trip mechanism configured to interrupt the current flow. The circuit interrupter may further include a processor in communication with the sensor and the trip mechanism, and the processor may be configured to cause the trip mechanism to interrupt the current flow when a current flow time has reached a predetermined time limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin L LaFuente, Salvatore Tringali
  • Patent number: 10938206
    Abstract: A modular power system includes a plurality of electronic modules, the plurality of modules is arranged in a manner that each of the modules is detachable from the others, and adjacent modules are in fluid communication with each other through a passage, and at least one thermally activated element is disposed within each said passage. In normal operation, the thermally activated element is in an unexpanded state, and fluid communication between the plurality of modules is allowable through a space between the thermally activated element and the passage, and in a failure event when at least one of the modules fails, the thermally activated element is activated and expanded to block the passage between the failed module and the other modules. A method of mitigating failure propagation between a plurality of modules in the modular power system is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Ross Williams, Peter James Handy
  • Patent number: 10931139
    Abstract: A distributed low voltage power system can include a power distribution module (PDM) that distributes a low voltage signal through at least one output channel. The system can also include at least one electrical device coupled to the at least one output channel of the PDM, where the at least one electrical device operates using the low voltage signal. The system can further include an emergency battery pack (EBP) coupled to the at least one output channel of the PDM and to the at least one electrical device, where the EBP comprises at least one battery cell. The EBP can use the low voltage signal to charge the at least one battery cell, and where the EBP releases emergency low voltage signal to the at least one electrical device when the PDM stops distributing the low voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: James Christopher Andrews, Kevin O. Porter, Yash Sanjay Rajwade
  • Patent number: 10931133
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wireless power receiving device that wirelessly receives power transmitted from a wireless power transmitting device. The wireless power receiving device comprises: a power receiving coil that receives an AC power through a magnetic field; a power-receiving-side capacitor that constitutes a resonance circuit together with the power receiving coil; a rectifying circuit that rectifies the AC power received by the power receiving coil by a plurality of bridge-connected semiconductor devices each having a rectifying function; and a short-circuit detection circuit that detects a short circuit in the rectifying circuit based on a first AC voltage which is a voltage between a one-side input line of the rectifying circuit and a stable potential and a second AC voltage which is a voltage between the other-side input line of the rectifying circuit and the stable potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazunori Oshima, Hisashi Oyama
  • Patent number: 10923268
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a wireless power transmitting module and an installation method thereof, wherein the wireless power transmitting module comprises: an insulating bracket, a first side of which has a first central space; a coil, disposed around the first central space; and a circuit component, at least a part of which is located in the first central space, electrically connected to the coil. The present disclosure makes full use of the central blank space of the coil, and places the circuit component at the center of the coil, thereby realizing a miniaturized structure, improving space utilization and greatly reducing volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Liangsong Che, Tianding Hong, Shuailin Du, Yongkai Liao, Meng Wang
  • Patent number: 10917138
    Abstract: One example discloses a near-field communications device, including: an energy harvesting circuit configured to be coupled to a near-field antenna that is responsive to non-propagating quasi-static near-field energy; wherein the harvesting circuit is configured to harvest energy from the non-propagating quasi-static near-field energy; and wherein the harvesting circuit includes a harvesting filter configured to input a first set of near-field energy and output a second set of near-field energy; and wherein the second set of near-field energy is a sub-set of the first set of near-field energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Anthony Kerselaers
  • Patent number: 10910151
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the contact-free inductive transfer of electrical energy from a first, preferably stationary system of a shifting device into a second system of the shifting device, which can be moved relative to the first system, comprising a magnetic circuit of a primary core, which is assigned to the first system and onto which a primary coil is wound, and a secondary core, which is assigned to the second system and onto which a secondary coil is wound. The secondary core is arranged so as to be capable of being shifted relative to the primary core along a shifting path, which preferably runs parallel to a shifting path of the shifting device. The primary core extends at least along the entire length of the shifting path. According to the invention, provision is made for the primary core to comprise at least one primary core gap, which is embodied along the entire longitudinal extension of the primary core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SCHNEEBERGER HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Martin Vix
  • Patent number: 10910876
    Abstract: A generation circuit is configured to generate an output voltage command value Vor* for an inverter based on a three-phase reference value Vr, a zero-phase reference value, a detected value of a current sensor, and a detected value of a voltage sensor. A compensation circuit is configured to compensate for a voltage drop in a three-phase AC line when three-phase AC power is supplied from the inverter to an AC load. A corrector is configured to correct the output voltage command value Vor* based on a compensation command value Vol. A control circuit is configured to control the inverter based on an output voltage command value Vo* corrected by the corrector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaru Toyoda
  • Patent number: 10903658
    Abstract: The invention relates to a grid synchroniser for connecting an AC output of a power converter to the AC grid mains. In one aspect the invention provides a grid synchroniser comprising an inverter controller to control an AC output of the inverter, the controller including a receiver to receive grid data from a grid sensor location remote from said inverter. In another aspect we describe techniques for rapid removal of charge from a control terminal of a power switching device such as a MOSFET, IGBT or Thyristor using a particular driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Gehan Anil Joseph Amaratunga, Lesley Chisenga, Andrabadu Viraj
  • Patent number: 10892449
    Abstract: A backpack tool system and a backpack power supply apparatus for use with an electric tool. The backpack power supply apparatus includes a battery pack for providing electric energy, a body for carrying the battery pack, and a wearable device connected to the body and wearable by a user to carry the body. The battery pack is detachably connected to the body. The body defines a plane and a height extending in a heightwise direction. The body is at least partially symmetrical about the plane. The wearable device includes a strap, which includes an upper end connected to an upper portion of the body. The upper end of the strap applies a force to the body when the user wears the wearable device. An included angle between a projection of a direction of the force on the plane and the heightwise direction is greater than or equal to 30 degrees and less than or equal to 50 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinari Yamaoka, Kaichao Dai
  • Patent number: 10892752
    Abstract: A sensor system for protecting movable objects, in particular motor-driven doors or flaps, having at least one capacitive sensor and having at least one control unit. The control unit is designed to generate a transmission signal for the capacitive sensor and to evaluate a first reception signal therefrom. At least one further electrode is provided, wherein the capacitive sensor and the further electrode are movable relative to one another. The control unit has an evaluation arrangement which evaluates a second reception signal from the further electrode, and the evaluation arrangement is designed to derive an item of information relating to the distance between the capacitive sensor and the further electrode from the second reception signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: MAYSER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Martin Scheible, Markus Werner, Thomas Wiest
  • Patent number: 10886774
    Abstract: A method for switching a power supply for low current standby operation includes deactivating a first supply connected to a first supply node, in response to activating an enable signal. A second supply is changed to a low power mode in response to activating the enable signal, wherein the second supply is connected to a second supply node. The first supply node is connected to the second supply node in response to a first voltage of the first supply node being less than or equal to a positive offset above a second voltage of the second supply node. The first supply node is disconnected from the second supply node in response to deactivating the enable signal, wherein the first supply node is disconnected at a rate preventing the first supply node from discharging below a first supply minimum voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Jackoski, Arif Alam
  • Patent number: 10886775
    Abstract: An active multi-module switching (MMS) system provides at least Tier-III level reliability to a data center using a UPS system with only N+1 redundancy. Only one additional UPS module is provided over the total number of UPS modules required to fully power the loads. The active MMS system includes a controller, a control circuit, and a number of distribution units each having electrically operated circuit breakers and sensor components. The active MMS system operates to control the switching components on each of the UPS modules as well as to selectively connect/disconnect individual UPS modules from MMS operation. This allows for disconnection of a UPS module from the critical load bus whenever maintenance on the UPS module is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Toshiba International Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Bowman Thomas, Jesus Penalver-Gamboa
  • Patent number: 10873264
    Abstract: There is provided a powered device configured to switch between a power over Ethernet (PoE) source and an auxiliary power source without restarting the device. A PoE circuit within the device includes a minimum load circuit which enables detection of the device by PoE power sourcing equipment (PSE) even when the device is powered by the auxiliary power source. The minimum load circuit may maintain a load of around 10 mA to simulate powered components, thereby enabling the PSE to reinitiate PoE even though the powered components of the device are at that time powered by the auxiliary power source. When the power supplied to the powered components by the PSE overcomes that of the auxiliary power source, the power scheme may automatically revert to PoE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary D. Dotson
  • Patent number: 10862312
    Abstract: An electrical energy router includes cascaded submodules. Each submodule of the cascaded submodules includes a rectifying stage and an isolating stage. The rectifying stage includes a structure of a neutral point clamped full bridge. The isolating stage includes a DC-DC converter, which includes a primary side, a secondary side and a transformer. The primary side includes a structure of a neutral point clamped half bridge. A DC side of the neutral point clamped half bridge is connected to a DC bus line of the rectifying stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jianning Sun, Liqiang Yuan, Qing Gu, Kainan Chen, Zhengming Zhao
  • Patent number: 10855102
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an electric power source changeover switch, including a step of identifying all of the combinations of operating modes and availability states of the power sources, a step of associating a configuration of a state of switches with each combination, a step of watching for a change in configuration. Upon a change in configuration, a step of controlling the switches is executed in order to place the switches in a state complying with the configuration. In the absence of a change in configuration, a step monitors the compliance of the configuration with the actual state of the switches. A method further including monitoring a source changeover switch implemented in a test device, and to a source changeover switch implementing such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Alain Ret, Yannick Neyret, Jean-Pierre Nereau, Jean-Marie Hypolite
  • Patent number: 10850632
    Abstract: A power supply system for a vehicle includes: a main power supply; an electric power converter including a capacitor; a relay; a sub power supply; a boost converter; a cooler; and a controller configured to cause the sub power supply and the boost converter to precharge the capacitor, when a main switch of the vehicle is turned on and before the relay is closed to connect the electric power converter to the main power supply. The controller is configured to perform one of a control i) and a control ii) when one of a temperature of the boost converter and a temperature of a coolant in the cooler is higher than a specified temperature threshold. The control i) being a control to start the precharging while starting up the cooler. The control ii) being a control to start up the cooler before the precharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromichi Senba