Patents Examined by Hoai-An D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11662579
    Abstract: A combiner lens system includes a lens and a lightguide in stack with the lens. The lightguide carries one or more electrically conductive traces. A detector circuit is electrically coupled to the one or more electrically conductive traces to form an electrical circuit. The detector circuit monitors the electrical circuit for an open circuit or a short circuit and generates an output signal that is indicative of a state of the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Shreyas Potnis, Kevin Orr, Kai Xu
  • Patent number: 11656256
    Abstract: A method and a photovoltaic inverter determines the system capacitance of a photovoltaic system relative to ground. The voltage required for the measurement can be provided by the intermediate circuit in the form of the intermediate circuit voltage, and the measuring device is designed to actuate an input short-circuit switch for short-circuiting the DC input with the AC disconnector open, as a result of which the intermediate circuit voltage can be applied to the DC input in the reverse direction, and the measuring device is configured to determine the system capacitance from the temporal waveform of the measured voltage after the switch of the voltage divider is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Fischereder, Andreas Luger, Christoph Pernegger, Juergen Pirchenfellner
  • Patent number: 11650257
    Abstract: A voltage detection unit includes a voltage detection terminal, an electric wire, a housing including a terminal accommodating concave and an electric wire accommodating concave, and a cover. The cover includes an extension piece extending in a first direction in which the cover is attached to the housing. The housing includes an accommodating hole to accommodate the extension piece. The electric wire accommodating concave includes an inclined surface and a guide surface. The inclined surface is inclined with respect to the first direction such that a first thereof end is provided closer to the accommodating hole than a second end thereof in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and being parallel to the housing. The guide surface is continuous with the inclined surface and continuous with an inner wall surface of the accommodating hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignees: YAZAKI CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Satoshi Morioka, Motoyoshi Okumura, Hiromi Ueda, Naoto Morisaku, Yutaro Okazaki, Hideki Inoue
  • Patent number: 11652292
    Abstract: A dual antenna with a shared radiator includes a radiator unit, a first feed-in unit, a second feed-in unit, a sensing module and a ground unit. The first feed-in unit and the second feed-in unit are respectively coupled with the radiator unit. The sensing module is connected to a substantial center of the radiator unit and used for sensing a distance between the radiator unit and an external object through the radiator unit. The ground unit is connected to the sensing module. The first feed-in unit is used to send or receive a first radio frequency signal together with the radiator unit, and the second feed-in unit is used to send or receive a second radio frequency signal together with the radiator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NANJING SILERGY MICRO (HK) CO., LIMITED
    Inventor: Chia-Lin Chang
  • Patent number: 11650272
    Abstract: A magnetism detection device according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a sensor section and a resistive section. The sensor section includes a first magnetism detection element. The first magnetism detection element has a first stacked structure and is configured to detect a magnetic field to be detected. The resistive section includes a first resistive element and is coupled to the sensor section. The first resistive element has the first stacked structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yongfu Cai, Toshihide Suto
  • Patent number: 11650643
    Abstract: A smart cord reel cable including at least one sensor for measuring cord or cord reel usage, a memory for receiving sensor input to create usage records, and a processor for analyzing the usage records to provide information for maintenance status indication and/or usage analytics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Konnectronix, Inc.
    Inventors: John Alford, Mark Schwartz, Chris Hinojosa
  • Patent number: 11644493
    Abstract: A method for estimating resistances of a circuit having a plurality of resistances comprising a first resistance and a second resistance may include applying a first bias voltage across the circuit and measuring a first voltage at a common node between the first resistance and the second resistance in order to determine a mathematical relationship between the first resistance and the second resistance, applying a second bias voltage across the circuit and a third resistance in parallel with the circuit and measuring a second voltage at the common node between the first resistance and the second resistance in order to determine a mathematical relationship between the third resistance and at least one of the first resistance and the second resistance, and based on at least the measurement of the first voltage and the measurement of the second voltage, determining the first resistance and the second resistance as a function of the third resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Saurabh Singh, Chandra B. Prakash, Eric Kimball, Cory J. Peterson, Ryan Lobo
  • Patent number: 11644484
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a connecting bar extending along a longitudinal axis and a tubular body extending along the longitudinal axis and at least partially surrounding the connecting bar such that the tubular body is radially spaced from the connecting bar. The tubular body includes a support member made of insulating material. The tubular body also includes a first section with an electric field sensor comprising a first layer of electrically conductive material on an inner surface of the support member to detect an electric field produced by the connecting bar. The first section also includes a first electric screen comprising a second layer of electrically conductive material on an outer surface of the support member to shield the electric field sensor from outside electrical interference. A second section disposed adjacent the first section includes a second electric screen. A dielectric material at least partially encloses the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: G & W Electric Company
    Inventor: Alberto Bauer
  • Patent number: 11635804
    Abstract: A detection system has an interface including a substrate supporting a conductive coating. Electrodes are provided to the substrate. A multiplexer provides current to the electrodes. A demultiplexer receives voltages from electrodes and provides corresponding signals to a controller. The controller receives these signals and determines therefrom an operation performed in connection with the interface by applying an algorithmic approach. Static interaction is recognizable, and machine learning can be used for gesture recognition and/or identification of other interaction types. The technology can be used in a broad array of applications, e.g., where it is desirable to sense interactions with a defined region such as, for example, in the case of touches, gestures, hovers, and/or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GUARDIAN GLASS, LLC
    Inventors: Okan Agbuga, Xuequn Hu, Ali Mohammadkhah, Paul Topping
  • Patent number: 11638345
    Abstract: Feed forward compensation of parasitic capacitance in a device frontend is provided. A feed forward element is positioned along at least a portion of a length of a first input resistance and a distance away from the first input resistance. In some implementations, the feed forward element has a width that is increasing along the at least a portion of the length of the first input resistance. The feed forward element is operative to introduce an element capacitance that offsets a parasitic capacitance in a volume surrounding the first input resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Graw
  • Patent number: 11635309
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a control unit, a semiconductor memory, a reference capacitance unit, a determination capacitance unit, a calibration circuit configured to supply a selection signal to the reference capacitance unit to selectively connect capacitors to differing potentials, and a determination circuit configured to charge a capacitance of the reference capacitance unit, to charge a capacitance of the determination capacitance unit, and to attain a comparison result by comparing the differing potentials. The control unit is configured to control rewriting of the semiconductor memory on the basis of a determination result of the determination circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: LAPIS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Otsuka
  • Patent number: 11630163
    Abstract: A multi-core cable testing device is configured to specify a correspondence between ends of an insulated wire at both ends of a multi-core cable including insulated wires. The device includes a signal input unit for inputting a test signal by capacitive coupling into one end of the insulated wire as a testing object at one end of the multi-core cable, a signal output unit for outputting the test signal by capacitive coupling from each end of the insulated wires at the other end of the multicore cable, a correspondence specifying unit for measuring a voltage of the test signal from the signal output unit and for specifying an other side end of the insulated wire based on a measured voltage. At least one of the signal input unit and the signal output unit includes a signal transmission cable for transmitting the test signal and a substrate configured to be connected to the signal transmission cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI METALS, LTD.
    Inventor: Yohei Shirakawa
  • Patent number: 11623464
    Abstract: A system that combines an integrated circuit, sensors, and a detectable material on a device. The sensors are generally capable of detecting the presence of multiple substrates as well as their orientation relative to each other. In example embodiments, the sensors can also detect the velocity and direction of motion of the detectable material. In an example mode of use, the system is installed in a children's device, such as an interactive book. The detectable material is embedded in each page of the book such that the sensors can determine which page the book is open to the user. The integrated circuit can process the page open information to produce an output, such as a sound from a speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: KIDS2, INC.
    Inventors: Alan Hightower, Jonathan Zufi
  • Patent number: 11624762
    Abstract: Circuits and methods that enable stacking of phase change material (PCM) switches and that accommodate variations in the resistance of the resistive heater(s) of such switches. Stacking is enabled by providing isolation switches for the resistive heater(s) in a PCM switch to reduce parasitic capacitance caused by the proximity of the resistive heater(s) to the PCM region of a PCM switch. Variations in the resistance of the resistive heater(s) of a PCM switch are mitigated or eliminated by sensing the actual resistance of the resistive heater(s) and then determining a suitable adjusted electrical pulse profile for the resistive heater(s) that generates a precise thermal pulse to the PCM region, thereby reliably achieving a desired switch state while extending the life of the resistive heater(s) and the phase-change material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventors: Jaroslaw Adamski, Jeffrey A. Dykstra, Edward Nicholas Comfoltey
  • Patent number: 11624634
    Abstract: A rotary controller for a vehicle apparatus such as an infotainment system has at least two operating elements which are arranged at a spacing from one another in a direction of extent of an axis of rotation of the rotary controller. The rotary controller has a receptacle on which the operating elements are mounted along with a plurality of contact-sensitive sensor elements. Each sensor element associated with a respective operating element to detect a rotational movement about the axis of rotation when a user manually contacts the respective operating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Matus Banyay, Martin Scheck
  • Patent number: 11624779
    Abstract: According to one aspect, an integrated circuit includes: an electronic module configured to generate a voltage at an output, and an electronic control circuit coupled to an output of the electronic module, the electronic control circuit comprising an emissive electronic component. The electronic control circuit is configured to cause the emissive electronic component to emit light radiation as a function of a value of the voltage at the output of the electronic module relative to a value of an operating voltage of the electronic module, and the operating voltage is specific thereto during normal operation of this electronic module. The light radiation emitted by the emissive electronic component is configured to diffuse to an outer face of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Alps) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventors: Etienne Auvray, Tommaso Melis, Philippe Sirito-Olivier
  • Patent number: 11614422
    Abstract: A biologically sensitive field effect transistor includes a substrate, a first control gate and a second control gate. The substrate has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, a source region and a drain region. The first control gate is disposed on the first side of the substrate. The second control gate is disposed on the second side of the substrate. The second control gate includes a sensing film disposed on the second side of the substrate. A voltage biasing between the source region and the second control gate is smaller than a threshold voltage of the second control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Jie Huang, Jui-Cheng Huang, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11614345
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to sensing a position of a surface proximate to a resonant LC sensor. One example provides a method on a sensing device comprising one or more resonant LC sensors each configured to output a signal responsive to a position of a surface proximate to the resonant LC sensor. The method comprises, for each LC sensor, generating an oscillating signal on an antenna of the resonant LC sensor and detecting a near-field response of the resonant LC sensor at a selected frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jouya Jadidian, Scott Francis Fullam, Rune Hartung Jensen
  • Patent number: 11609253
    Abstract: In certain aspects, an apparatus includes a power detector coupled between a power amplifier and an antenna, and a voltage detector coupled between the power amplifier and the antenna. The apparatus also includes a phase shifter coupled to the power detector, and a load measurement circuit coupled to the power detector, the voltage detector, and the phase shifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Bhushan Shanti Asuri, Chinmaya Mishra, Omar Essam El-Aassar
  • Patent number: 11612086
    Abstract: An electromagnetic tracking system includes a magnetic transmitter configured to output magnetic fields, a receiver responsive to the magnetic fields, an electronics assembly having conductive elements that cause distortion to the magnetic fields, and an output mechanism configured to output a position of the receiver relative to the magnetic transmitter, wherein the magnetic transmitter has at least one winding disposed around a hollow ferromagnetic core comprised of conductive material through which current is made to flow by the electronics, wherein the electronics assembly is at least partially contained within the hollow portion of the hollow ferromagnetic core. Methods of manufacturing include shaping walls into a hollow shell to surround an electronics assembly, covering the hollow shell with ferromagnetic material, inserting the wrapped hollow shell into a plastic bobbin, and winding the plastic bobbin with coil wire to produce three orthogonal windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Northern Digital Inc.
    Inventors: Westley S. Ashe, Richard van Wijngaarden, Andrew Wiles