Patents Examined by Esayas Yeshaw
  • Patent number: 9866034
    Abstract: This power transfer unit includes a power supply portion and a control portion, and the control portion acquires proper voltage ranges of a plurality of receivers and sets a supply voltage value in a common range among the proper voltage ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Michisaka, Naoyuki Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 9865413
    Abstract: In a switching control device of a vehicle control device, when a vehicle is in a non-traveling condition, an operating method for a pressing operation, which is carried out with respect to a push switch in relation to a switching control for switching an operating state of a drive source of the vehicle or a power supply state to a vehicle mounted device of the vehicle, in a case that the operating state of the drive source of the vehicle or the power supply state to the vehicle mounted device of the vehicle is switched from off to on, differs from an operating method for a pressing operation in a case that the operating state or the power supply state is switched from on to off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junpei Noguchi, Shinichi Arie, Masayuki Yamazaki, Tomonori Watanabe, Masayuki Habaguchi, Kentaro Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 9859956
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and particularly wireless power transfer to remote system such as electric vehicles. In one aspect an apparatus for use with a wireless power transfer transmitter device comprising a first inductive element for generating a magnetic field, is provided. The apparatus comprises a direct current (DC) power source having an adjustable output voltage. The apparatus also comprises an inverter configured to convert the adjustable output voltage of the DC power source to alternating current. The apparatus also comprises at least one controller configured to receive an indication of current in the first inductive element and control the output voltage of the DC power source in response to the indication of current in the first inductive element. The apparatus reduces distortion signals in the alternating current output of the inverter while maintaining current in the inductive element substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Kissin, Nicholas A Keeling, Jonathan Beaver, Edward Van Boheemen
  • Patent number: 9853447
    Abstract: Active droop current sharing among power supply units may regulate output currents of power supply units supplying shared current to a common load. The regulation may employ a combination of droop control and active current control. The shared current may be regulated such that each power supply unit provides a substantially equal share of the total current supplied. A current difference between two power supplies may be regulated to be within a desired maximum threshold for current difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Tsai-Fu Hung, Shih-Chieh Wang, Yi-Chiao Hsu, Chung-Fu Lai
  • Patent number: 9853495
    Abstract: A discharge circuit for a decoupling capacitor to stabilize a voltage supplied from a first power supply unit to a first load includes a first capacitor, a first switch, and a discharge control circuit. The first capacitor is charged by power supplied from a second power supply unit that supplies power to a second load that is different from the first load. The first switch is arranged between the decoupling capacitor and ground. The discharge control circuit discharges, in a case where power supplied from the second power supply unit to the second load is cut off, charges of the decoupling capacitor to the ground by driving the first switch using charges stored in the first capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Takizawa
  • Patent number: 9853456
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission apparatus includes a resonator configured to transmit power through a resonance with another resonator, a switch configured to connect the resonator to a power source, a setting unit configured to set a target amount of current to flow in the resonator, and a control unit configured to control the switch based on the target amount of current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ui Kun Kwon, Sang Joon Kim, Seung Keun Yoon
  • Patent number: 9854709
    Abstract: A wireless power-supply system (1) performing a wireless power supply between a vehicle (10) and a stop station (20), wherein the wireless power-supply system includes a heat-transfer device (30). The heat-transfer device (30) transfers heat generated due to the wireless power supply to the stop station (20) having high heat capacity from the vehicle (10) having low heat capacity. The heat-transfer device (30) includes a flexible heat-transfer member (32), in which the flexible heat-transfer member has tiltability in a moving direction of the vehicle (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Motonao Niizuma
  • Patent number: 9847751
    Abstract: Techniques for optimizing power production from photo-voltaic systems using, e.g., inductive coupling, are provided. In one aspect, a method of optimizing photo-voltaic generated power from a string of photo-voltaic devices is provided. The method includes the step of: providing corrective power to at least one photovoltaic device in the string of photo-voltaic devices to boost performance of the at least one photovoltaic device and thereby increase overall the photo-voltaic generated power from the string of photo-voltaic devices, wherein the corrective power is from about 1% to about 5%, and ranges therebetween, of the photo-voltaic generated power from the string of photo-voltaic devices. A system for optimizing photo-voltaic generated power from a string of photo-voltaic devices and a method for use thereof are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter D. Kirchner, Yves C. Martin, Theodore G. van Kessel
  • Patent number: 9843188
    Abstract: A multiple uninterruptible power supply system includes at least two uninterruptible power supply modules. Each uninterruptible power supply module has a control unit with the control unit coupled to a synchronization bus. The uninterruptible power supply module are synchronized to each other with one of the uninterruptible power supply modules being operated as a sync master UPS and its control unit sending synchronization signals on the synchronization bus that are received on the synchronization bus by control units of each of the other uninterruptible power supply module which are each operated as a slave UPS synchronized to the sync master UPS. When a bypass power source for the uninterruptible power supply module that is being operated as the sync master becomes unqualified, another one of the UPS modules is operated as the sync master and its control unit then sends out the synchronization signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Xian Chen, Brian P. Heber
  • Patent number: 9837862
    Abstract: A surgical instrument system is disclosed. The surgical instrument system includes an instrument case and a charging plate that may be placed in a sterile surgical field. The charging plate is configured to receive electrical power from outside the sterile surgical field and transmit that electrical power to other devices within the sterile field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Jason T. Sherman, Sherrod A. Woods, Matthew R. Dressler
  • Patent number: 9837864
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitter may include a bridge inverter and a plurality of parallel paths operably coupled to the bridge inverter. Each path includes a resonance tank including a transmit coil coupled with at least one resonance capacitor, a first switch serially coupled with the resonance tank and switching node A of the bridge inverter, a first clamping element in parallel with the first switch, a second switch serially coupled with the resonance tank and switching node B of the bridge inverter, and a second clamping element in parallel with the second switch. A method includes generating a wireless power signal through a used coil in a first parallel path, and clamping a parasitic voltage generated in at least one unused coil in at least one additional parallel path through a clamp element across a switch in the at least one parallel path for the at least one unused coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gustavo J. Mehas, Nicholaus W. Smith, Adam M. Bumgarner
  • Patent number: 9825358
    Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. The system includes an antenna comprising a sub-Nyquist holographic aperture configured to define selectable arbitrary complex radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on a surface of the antenna. A mapping engine models an environment within a space radiateable by the antenna. The environment includes a target device and a human being. An optimization circuit selects responsive to the model of the environment a power transmission regime. The power transmission regime includes radiation pattern shaped to wirelessly transfer electromagnetic power from the antenna to the target device without exceeding a radiation exposure limit for humans. A gain definition circuit selects a complex radiofrequency electromagnetic field implementing the selected power transmission regime from the at least two selectable arbitrary complex radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Inventors: Pai-Yen Chen, Tom Driscoll, Siamak Ebadi, John Desmond Hunt, Nathan Ingle Landy, Melroy Machado, Milton Perque, Jr., David R. Smith, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 9825488
    Abstract: A power supply switching device and switch board checks whether or not a primary-side voltage of a remote shutoff breaker and a secondary-side voltage thereof become a rated voltage after a commercial power system is recovered from a blackout. Next, when both primary-side voltage and secondary-side voltage become the rated voltage, a contactor is actuated to interconnect a home power system with the commercial power system. Hence, charging of the home power system without causing a user to notice such a charging upon recovery of the commercial power system from a blackout can be prevented. As a result, the safety for the user can be ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Shinomoto, Kazunori Hatakeyama, Takashi Yamakawa, Makoto Kasugai, Naohide Tsuchimoto
  • Patent number: 9819229
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for receiving non-contact energy that includes; a receiving unit that is spaced from a transmitting unit and receives thermal or light energy from the transmitting unit; an energy converting unit that converts the thermal or light energy received from the receiving unit into electric energy and supplies electric energy to a target device; and an auxiliary power that receives electric energy from the receiving unit or the energy converting unit and supplies electric energy to the target device when the energy transmitted from the receiving unit or the energy converting unit to the target device is cut off, and a method of controlling the device. According to the present invention, it is possible to stably supply energy that is not harmful to the human body and, has a wide transmission region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION HANYANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tae-Whan Kim, Joo-Hyung You
  • Patent number: 9812969
    Abstract: A dimmer is provided for controlling power to a load, the dimmer having a ground leakage power supply deriving power from a connection of the dimmer to ground. The power supply may be a switching-mode power supply that can be the sole or primary power supply to power operation of the dimmer, including operation of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: Levan Papismedov, Alfred Lombardi, Michael Ostrovsky, Ozgur Keser
  • Patent number: 9798337
    Abstract: A control system includes a control device adapted to be connected to a live line and a neutral line that transmit a grid power, and to a load via a first power line and a second power line. The control device includes: a first switch adapted to be connected between the live line and the first power line; a second switch adapted to be connected between the neutral line and the second power line; a coupler adapted to be connected to the first power line, receiving a communication signal, and coupling the communication signal to the first power line; and a controller controlling the first and second switches to synchronously alternate between an ON state and an OFF state, and outputting the communication signal to the coupler when the first and second switches operate in the OFF state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: DIWIN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu-Cheng Hung
  • Patent number: 9796271
    Abstract: There is provided an air-conditioning apparatus including an auxiliary power supply that, when a voltage from an overhead line extending over sections powered by different power sources is stepped down with a transformer, converts the voltage into a low-voltage DC voltage and that, when a voltage from the overhead line is a DC voltage, is directly fed with the voltage and converts it into the low-voltage DC voltage that is the same as the converted DC voltage, and further including an inverter device that converts the DC voltage from the auxiliary power supply into an AC voltage and that supplies the AC voltage to a drive unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiji Yoshimura, Tatsuaki Umezaki
  • Patent number: 9791916
    Abstract: A control circuit is provided. The control circuit includes a load switch, and a controller configured to transfer a turn-on signal which is increased step by step to the load switch, and perform a soft start operation which turns on the load switch. In response to the load switch being turned on, the control circuit restricts an inrush current flowing in the load switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-hyung Lee, Gil-yong Chang
  • Patent number: 9793729
    Abstract: A UPS includes a battery contained within a battery housing. The battery housing has a first connector mounted on the battery housing. The UPS further includes a housing having a battery compartment for removably containing the battery housing of the battery. The housing has a second connector mounted within the battery compartment. The second connector is configured to mate with the first connector. The UPS further includes a first input configured to receive input power from an AC power source and at least one output configured to provide output AC power derived from the input power in a first mode of operation and configured to provide output power derived from the at least one battery module in a second mode of operation. The battery housing has a third connector configured to be coupled to a mobile device to provide power to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
    Inventors: George Hsia, Ming Che Chan, Shen-Yuan Chien
  • Patent number: 9787140
    Abstract: A power circuit for wirelessly communicating power to a receiving device includes one or more switches for coupling respective ends of different coils of a group of coils together to facilitate selectively connecting the coils in a series configuration, parallel configuration, or combination thereof. The circuit includes a controller configured to control a conduction state of each of the one or more switches, and power terminals in electrical communication with the coils through which a power signal flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation
    Inventors: Mudhafar Hassan-Ali, Jason Larson