Patents Examined by Esayas Yeshaw
  • Patent number: 9480145
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method to control a resonance frequency of a device subject to wireless power transmission interference. The apparatus and method include supplying power from a printed circuit board (PCB) to an integrated circuit (IC) during exposure to a wireless power transmission environment experiencing mutual resonance. The apparatus and method also include a resonance frequency of the PCB based on a change in the supply of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Wook Yoon, Sang Wook Kwon, Nam Yun Kim, Dong Zo Kim, Yun Kwon Park
  • Patent number: 9473211
    Abstract: A device for the inductive transmission of electrical energy having a coil which can be inductively coupled to another coil for energy transmission; a power electronic unit for drawing electrical power from the coil or for outputting electrical power into the coil; and a feedline connecting the coil to the power electronic unit. The feedline includes at least two multi-conductor cables with conductors which are insulated from one another and the connection of each terminal of the coil to a respectively assigned terminal of the power electronic unit includes a plurality of conductors of the multi-conductor cables. Each terminal of the coil is preferably connected to the respectively assigned terminal of the power electronic unit by conductors of at least two different cables and the same number of conductors of each individual cable connect each terminal of the coil to the respectively assigned terminal of the power electronic unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: CONDUCTIX WAMPFLER GMBH
    Inventors: Mathias Wechlin, Pascal Asselin
  • Patent number: 9466418
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission system includes first source conductor that generates a first electromagnetic near field in response to a power source. A first source element resonates in response to excitation from the first source conductor. A second resonant source element resonates in response to excitation from the first source conductor. A first resonant load element resonates in response to excitation from the first resonant source element. The first resonant load element generates a fluctuating field when resonating. A second resonant load element resonates at the second resonant frequency in response to excitation from the second resonant source element. The second resonant load element generates a fluctuating field when resonating. A first load element generates a first current applied to a first load in response to resonance in the first resonant load element and the second resonant load element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignees: Gerogia Tech Research Corporation, The Florida International University Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Stavros Georgakopoulos, Manos Tentzeris, Olutola Jonah
  • Patent number: 9467207
    Abstract: A system for transferring electrical power, data or both, by way of magnetic induction between a first article and a second article. A first electrically conductive coil is integrated in the first article and a second electrically conductive coil is integrated to a second article. A fastener comprising ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material is configured to be positioned through the first coil and the second coil to provide an efficient magnetic conductance path between the first coil and the second coil and to removably secure the first article and the second article together. A control circuit selectively energizes the first coil or second coil with alternating current to transfer electrical energy to the other of said first and second coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Christopher D. Meyer, Brian C. Morgan
  • Patent number: 9455574
    Abstract: A power distribution system includes a direct current (DC) power source and an appliance selection unit for selecting one or more appliances that can be operated with an available power of the DC power source. The power distribution system further includes a display unit for displaying results of selection by the appliance selection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yanagi, Kiyotaka Takehara
  • Patent number: 9455633
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling a frequency converter is provided. First, subsynchronous components in the electrical grid are identified using voltage measurements of the electrical grid. The subsynchronous components of the electrical grid are then used to determine set points for damping currents. These damping currents are then added to current set points calculated by power regulation loops to generate total current set points. Thereafter, the frequency converter is controlled based on the total current set points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: INGETEAM POWER TECHNOLOGY, S.A.
    Inventors: Eneko Olea, Josu Ruiz, Josu Elorriaga, Sergio Aurtenetxea, Ainhoa Carcar, Beatriz Gil
  • Patent number: 9455599
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a power receiving unit that receives power wirelessly from a power supply apparatus, a first unit that transmits, in response to a command received from the power supply apparatus, first information indicating a status of the electronic device, a second unit that transmits second information indicating a status of the electronic device, and a control unit that controls the first unit or the second unit in such a way as to transmit at least one of the first information and the second information to the power supply apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9450415
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for controlling a dual-fed induction generator (DFIG) during a high-voltage grid event is provided. The method includes setting, by a controller, an output of a closed-loop portion of a rotor current regulator to a fixed value such that a predictive feed-forward path sets an internal voltage for the DFIG; and detecting, by the controller, a condition of high dc voltage on a dc link or a condition predictive of high dc voltage on the dc link, and in response reduce a rotor torque producing current command to approximately zero, wherein the dc link connects a line-side converter connected to a system bus and a rotor-side converter connected to a rotor of the DFIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Einar Vaughn Larsen, Anthony Michael Klodowski, Sidney Allen Barker
  • Patent number: 9444252
    Abstract: A hybrid power plant is characterized by a substantially constant load on generators regardless of momentary swings in power load. Short changes in power load are accommodated by DC components such as capacitors, batteries, resistors, or a combination thereof. Resistors are used to consume power when loads in the power plant are generating excess power. Capacitors are used to store and deliver power when the loads in the power plant demand additional power. Reducing rapid changes in power load as seen by the generators allows the generators to operate at higher efficiencies and with reduced emissions. Additionally, power plants employing combinations of generators, loads, and energy storage devices have increased dynamic performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TRANSOCEAN SEDCO FOREX VENTURES LIMITED
    Inventor: Edward Peter Kenneth Bourgeau
  • Patent number: 9442543
    Abstract: A network, in particular in a motor vehicle, wherein the network includes a central subscriber and at least one first subscriber, wherein the central subscriber and the at least one first subscriber are interconnected by way of at least one first cable. The central subscriber has at least one signal coupling unit and at least one energy coupling unit, wherein by way of the signal coupling unit an AC voltage can be impressed on at least one first line of the first cable, or can be tapped from the signal coupling unit. Also disclosed is a method for operating a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Martin Döring, Olaf Krieger, Andreas Titze, Henning Harbs
  • Patent number: 9438043
    Abstract: A system has a power source connected to power access points and at least one environmental control system. A threshold compare device is effective to compare the proportional load on the environmental control systems to a preset threshold. If the threshold is exceeded, unused power access points are disabled. This prevents such access points from placing additional loads on the environmental control systems. Conversely, when the proportional load on the environmental control systems drops below a preset threshold, power can be restored to the disabled power access points. A master control unit can monitor the load on the environmental control systems and either or both the environmental conditions in environment zones or the power loading of the power access points and determine whether to disable unused power outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Jouper, John S. Lamb
  • Patent number: 9436203
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide an integrated circuit (IC) chip that includes a feedback control circuit and a detecting circuit. The feedback control circuit is configured to govern a feedback signal to a first regulator that regulates a first power supply to the IC chip based on the feedback signal. The feedback control circuit is powered at least partially by a second power supply. The detecting circuit is configured to detect a power down of the second power supply, and to cause the feedback control circuit to be disengaged from the feedback signal in response to the power down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Reuven Ecker, Ido Bourstein
  • Patent number: 9431921
    Abstract: One or more systems and/or techniques are provided for electrically coupling and/or decoupling a capacitive snubber component to/from an inverter as a function of a current in the inverter. A current sensing component may be configured to measure the current in the inverter and/or determine whether the current in the inverter exceeds a desired threshold. The desired threshold may be set at a value sufficient to reset the capacitive snubber component. When the current in the inverter is above the desired threshold, the capacitive snubber component may be coupled to the inverter. When the current in the inverter is below the desired threshold, the capacitive snubber component may be decoupled from the inverter. In this way, little to no energy stored in the capacitive snubber component may be dissipated in the inverter when the current in the inverter drops below a level sufficient to reset the capacitive snubber component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Analogic Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen J. Quigley
  • Patent number: 9429130
    Abstract: A method for maintaining a predetermined voltage in a battery-supported vehicle electrical system during the operation of an electrical starter includes steps of operating the electrical starter on the vehicle electrical system during a first time phase in series with a limiting resistor, in order to limit the current flowing through the starter, and operating the electrical starter on the vehicle electrical system during a second time phase with a reduced limiting resistance, in order to increase a power converted by the starter. A transition from the first time phase to the second time phase is controlled on the basis of electrical parameters sampled during the first time phase at the limiting resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Rasmus Rettig, Werner Schiemann
  • Patent number: 9431890
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for providing output power are disclosed. In an example method, a control signal is received at an output stage. The control signal may be provided by a control circuit. The method further includes providing a first power to a filter responsive to the received control signal having a first value, and providing a second power to the filter responsive to the received control signal having a second value. The method further includes decoupling the first power and second power from the filter responsive to the received control signal having a third value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Shaun A. Stickel
  • Patent number: 9431169
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for connecting and operating an AC source to a load. In one aspect a power supply topology is provided which may be of particular use in the area of wireless power transfer. The topology allows for a single source to energize one or more conductive structures configured to generate a field, improving power transfer to a power receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Chang-Yu Huang, Nicholas A. Keeling, Mickel Budhia, Michael Kissin, Jonathan Beaver
  • Patent number: 9404667
    Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of systems and methods for determining a power stealing capability of a climate control system controller. In an exemplary embodiment, a controller for use in a climate control system generally includes a capacitor chargeable by current flowing through an off-mode load of the climate control system. A voltage detect circuit detects a voltage across the capacitor. The controller includes a timer for determining a charge time of the capacitor from a first specific voltage to a second specific voltage based on input from the voltage detect circuit. The controller determines a resistance of the off-mode load based on the charge time and, based on the determined resistance, determines a level of current for power stealing through the off-mode load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Lihui Tu, Cuikun Chu
  • Patent number: 9401662
    Abstract: An inverter for feeding a grid-compatible AC voltage into a grid is described, wherein the inverter includes an inverter bridge for converting a DC voltage to a first AC voltage and a grid interface between the inverter bridge and the grid for converting the first AC voltage to the grid-compatible AC voltage for feeding into the grid. An AC interface via which an AC module for feeding into the grid can be connected, is arranged between the inverter bridge and the grid interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: SMA SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Gerd Bettenwort, Joachim Laschinski
  • Patent number: 9397503
    Abstract: To provide power to an electronic device, converter circuits include a first converter circuit having an input connected to a first power source, and a second converter circuit having an input connected to a second, different power source. A controller determines whether an overload condition of the first power source exists. In response to determining that the overload condition exists, the first and second converter circuits are activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Thomas P. Sawyers
  • Patent number: 9391455
    Abstract: A system for switching between first and second voltage supply units, the system may include a first interface unit that is connected between a first voltage supply unit and an output unit, a second interface unit that is connected between a second voltage supply unit and the output unit; a controller that is arranged to select a selected voltage supply unit and to instruct the first and second interface units and the output unit to facilitate a provision of a selected supply voltage provided from the selected voltage supply unit to a load coupled to the output unit. Each interface unit may include a positive input port, a negative input port, a positive output port and a negative output port. The negative and positive output ports of the first interface unit are isolated from the negative and positive output ports of the second interface unit, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Harmonic, Inc.
    Inventor: Nadav Harpaz