Patents Examined by Hoang X Nguyen
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Patent number: 9222838Abstract: A detection device includes a heat sensing element, a detection circuit connected to a detection node of the heat sensing element, and a read circuit connected to a read node of the detection circuit, wherein the detection circuit includes a drive transistor whose gate is controlled by the detection node. In a program period the detection node is programmed to a voltage value corresponding to the threshold voltage of the drive transistor, and in a read period following the program period the read circuit reads the detection result of the detection circuit.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2011Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Hiroshi Horiuchi
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Patent number: 9210598Abstract: An embodiment of a low power system for measuring passive intermodulation (PIM) includes a port, a test signal source, a dielectric frequency domain multiplexer and a receiver. The test signal source provides a test signal including two tones each capable of producing a signal at the test port of amplitude +30 decibels referenced to one milliwatt (dBm) or less. The dielectric frequency domain multiplexer connected with the port and the test signal source and is adapted to multiplex the test signal provided by the test signal source and a measurement signal obtained at the port. The receiver receives the multiplexed measurement signal from the dielectric frequency domain multiplexer and provides a signal indicative of PIM.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: ANRITSU COMPANYInventor: Donald Anthony Bradley
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Patent number: 9201094Abstract: A wafer examination device includes a probe, a fusion section and a measurement section. The probe is made of a metal which reacts with silicon carbide to produce silicide. The fusion section fuses the probe to a silicon carbide wafer as an examined object. The measurement section measures an electrical property of the silicon carbide wafer through the fused probe.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirokazu Fujiwara, Narumasa Soejima
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Patent number: 9200883Abstract: Transferable probe tips including a metallic probe, a delamination layer covering a portion of the metallic probe, and a bonding alloy, wherein the bonding alloy contacts the metallic probe at a portion of the probe that is not covered by the delamination layer are provided herein. Also, techniques for creating a transferable probe tip are provided, including etching a handler substrate to form one or more via arrays, depositing a delamination layer in each via array, depositing one or more metals in each via array to form a probe tip structure, and depositing a bonding alloy on a portion of the probe tip structure that is not covered by the delamination layer. Additionally, techniques for transferring transferable probe tips are provided, including removing a handler substrate from a probe tip structure, and transferring the probe tip structure via flip-chip joining the probe tip structure to a target probe head substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2011Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Paul S. Andry, Bing Dang, Steven L. Wright
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Patent number: 9176170Abstract: A current sensor comprises a flat housing made of plastic having an underside and an upper side and electrical connections, a current conductor through which the current to be measured flows, and a semiconductor chip having two magnetic field sensors, wherein the component of the magnetic field detected by the two magnetic field sensors points in opposite directions at the locations of the two magnetic field sensors. The semiconductor chip is connected as flipchip to the electrical connections. The current conductor extends from one side wall to the opposite side wall of the housing, is embedded flat in the underside of the housing and is therefore exposed on the underside of the housing. The opposing surfaces of the semiconductor chip and the current conductor are separated by an electrical insulation layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2011Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Melexis Technologies NVInventor: Robert Racz
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Patent number: 9164132Abstract: A current sensor includes: a core formed by U-shaped flat plates made of a magnetic body and stacked together; a flat plate-like conductor which is inserted on an interior side of a U-groove of the core and through which a current to be measured flows; a detection element which is arranged on the side of an opening of the U-groove in such a way that a detecting direction extends in a spacing direction of the opening, and which detects a strength of a magnetic field; a housing which supports the core, the conductor and the detection element; and a pair of spacing direction supporting portions which are provided at positions along the spacing direction on both sides of the detection element, in an opening-side end of the core, and which abut on the housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ken Okumura, Shigeki Niimi, Kenichi Taguch, Akira Kamiya
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Patent number: 9153608Abstract: A reverse bias voltage is applied to a photodiode array provided with a plurality of avalanche photodiodes operated in Geiger mode and with quenching resistors connected in series to the respective avalanche photodiodes. Electric current is measured with change of the reverse bias voltage applied, and the reverse bias voltage at an inflection point in change of electric current measured is determined as a reference voltage. A voltage obtained by adding a predetermined value to the determined reference voltage is determined as a recommended operating voltage.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2011Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.Inventors: Kenichi Sato, Shogo Kamakura, Shigeyuki Nakamura, Tsuyoshi Ohta, Michito Hirayanagi, Hiroki Suzuki, Shunsuke Adachi
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Patent number: 9121963Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for evaluating an earth formation. Methods may include conveying the carrier into a formation borehole; and using measure electrodes, in one mode of measurement, to make current measurements by applying a voltage to each measure electrode in a first set of sensor arrays while making first current measurements; and applying another high frequency voltage to each measure electrode in a second set of sensor arrays while making second current measurements. Optionally, methods include using the measure electrodes, in another mode of measurement, to make further resistivity measurements by applying a voltage to each measure electrode in both sets of sensor arrays while making third current measurements. Methods include combining first current measurements, second current measurements, and third current measurements to simulate a virtual impedance for each measure electrode. Optionally, any two consecutive sensor arrays around the circumference of the tool body are in different sets.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Alexandre N. Bespalov, Gregory B. Itskovich
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Patent number: 9113245Abstract: A headset or earphone is provided, having an electro-acoustic reproduction transducer with an oscillator coil arranged in an axis. An amplifier is coupled to the electro-acoustic reproduction transducer. The headset or earphone also has a magnetic interference sensor for measuring a magnetic interference field. A correction unit, for analyzing an output of the magnetic interference sensor and for producing a compensation signal, is coupled to the magnetic interference sensor. In addition, the headset or earphone also includes an adding unit for adding the compensation signal to an input signal and for outputting the result to the amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2011Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Oliver Gelhard
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Method and apparatus for determining curie temperature distribution of a sample of magnetic material
Patent number: 9103729Abstract: Determining a Curie temperature (Tc) distribution of a sample comprising magnetic material involves subjecting the sample to an electromagnetic field, heating the sample over a range of temperatures, generating a signal representative of a parameter of the sample that changes as a function of changing sample temperature while the sample is subjected to the electromagnetic field, and determining the Tc distribution of the sample using the generated signal and a multiplicity of predetermined parameters of the sample.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2011Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Ganping Ju, Jason L. Pressesky, Roy William Chantrell, Xiaowei Wu, Xi Chen, Xiaobin Zhu, Yingguo Peng -
Patent number: 9086368Abstract: Two test coupons are utilized in an apparatus, method and design process/structure for determining the moisture content in an electronic circuit board (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB) or panel). The first coupon has a laminate stack-up with voltage planes separated from each other by dielectric material. These voltage planes include etched clearances with neither plated through holes (PTHs) nor drilled holes extending therethrough. The second coupon is substantially identical to the first coupon except that each of the voltage planes of the first coupon includes PTHs extending through etched clearances corresponding to the etched clearances of the first coupon. In one embodiment, an alarm indicating unacceptably high moisture content is generated if a delta capacitance calculated as a difference between capacitance measurements acquired from the respective coupons is greater than a threshold. Preferably, the alarm notifies a user that at least one aqueous process related to PTH formation is implicated.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2011Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joseph Kuczynski, Wayne J. Rothschild, Kevin A. Splittstoesser
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Patent number: 9086400Abstract: An array of electrochemical detectors includes an array of electrodes that provide current responsive to oxidation events. Each electrode is coupled to a transistor, an amplifier coupled to an input of the transistor and having a feedback loop coupled to the electrode and providing a bias voltage to the electrode, an integrating capacitor coupled to the transistor operable to integrate charge from the electrode, and a reset switch coupled to the integrating capacitor. The amplifier may have a shared stage with other detectors. A shared buffer circuit may also provide a sampled output from multiple detectors.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2008Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Bradley A. Minch, Sunitha Bandla Ayers, Manfred Lindau
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Patent number: 9075099Abstract: A method for adapting a ground fault detection to a change of an electrical machine condition, wherein the machine includes a winding. The electrical machine is in a first machine condition, a first reference value being defined for measured values of an electrical quantity. The ground fault detection includes continuously measuring the electrical quantity in the winding and detecting a ground fault based on the measured values of the electrical quantity and the first reference value. The method includes receiving a signal, detecting a change of machine condition based on the received signal, and changing to a second reference value for the measured values of the electrical quantity, the second reference value being different from the first reference value when the change of machine condition is detected.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2011Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: ABB RESEARCH LTD.Inventors: Henrik Johansson, Joseph Menezes, Stefan Roxenborg, Tord Bengtsson
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Patent number: 9076663Abstract: A semiconductor die is described. This semiconductor die includes a driver, and a spatial alignment transducer that is electrically coupled to the driver and which is proximate to a surface of the semiconductor die. The driver establishes a spatially varying electric charge distribution in at least one direction in the spatial alignment transducer, thereby facilitating determination of a vertical spacing between a surface of the semiconductor die and a surface of another semiconductor die. In particular, a spatial alignment sensor proximate to the surface of the other semiconductor die may detect an electrical field (or an associated electrostatic potential) associated with the spatially varying electric charge distribution. This detected electric field may allow the vertical spacing between the surfaces of the semiconductor dies to be determined.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2011Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventor: Ivan E. Sutherland
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Patent number: 9063178Abstract: A system for measuring current includes a current monitoring system comprises a current sensor configured to sense a first current passing through a conductor and a voltage conversion device coupled to the current sensor and configured to receive a second current from the current sensor and convert the second current into a first voltage. A first scaling circuit is coupled to the voltage conversion device and configured to convert the first voltage to a second voltage proportional to the first current based on a first scaling factor, and a second scaling is circuit coupled to the voltage conversion device and configured to convert the first voltage to a third voltage proportional to the first current based on a second scaling factor, wherein the second scaling factor is different from the first scaling factor.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2011Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: James H. Woelfel, Kaijam M. Woodley
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Patent number: 9054062Abstract: Methods and systems for providing current sensing over an extended area, such as a substrate of an integrated circuit, are described. The described methods and systems particularly describe a circuit layout procedure and configuration that can be used to carry out current sensing at diverse locations in the extended area.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2011Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor CorporationInventor: Chris Olson
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Patent number: 9047990Abstract: A circuit for determination of a resistance of an array of capacitive elements includes a reference ring oscillator circuit, the reference ring oscillator circuit being loaded with low-loss capacitive elements; an array test ring oscillator circuit, the array test ring oscillator circuit being loaded with the array of capacitive elements; and a resistance determination module, the resistance determination module configured to determine the resistance of the array of capacitive elements based on data from the reference ring oscillator circuit and the array test ring oscillator circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2011Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Noah Zamdmer
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Patent number: 9041392Abstract: There is provided a current sensor capable of performing malfunction determination with high accuracy even under the influence of an adscititious magnetic field. A current sensor includes first and second current sensor units, a computation unit, a storage unit, and a determination processing unit. The first current sensor unit measures a target current. The first and second current sensor units have almost the same sensitivity. The computation unit calculates and outputs an addition value and a difference value of outputs of the first and second current sensor units. In the storage unit, the addition and difference values output from the computation unit are stored. The determination processing unit determines whether a malfunction has occurred by using the addition and difference values stored in the storage unit. The determination processing unit determines that a malfunction has occurred, in a case where there is a correlation between the addition and difference values.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2013Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.Inventors: Yasuo Kotera, Manabu Tamura, Hisanori Kiyomatsu
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Patent number: 9035662Abstract: A device and a method for the capacitive detection of an object which is preferably arranged behind a flat article that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation or a wall, including a sensor incorporating sensor electrodes for the detection of the object, preferably for the detection of relative movements between the sensor and the flat article or a finger, where a control circuit serves for the control of the sensor electrodes and for the evaluation of the output signals of the sensor, and, due to the fact that the sensor comprises at least one sensor electrode which is surrounded by at least one further electrode, the surrounding further electrode is connected to the sensor electrode by the control circuit in such a manner that, in the event of a change of the potential of the sensor electrode, the potential of the surrounding further electrode is regulated in the opposite sense to the sensor electrode in such a way that the sensor electrode remains at a pre-determined or pre-definable potential, such thType: GrantFiled: October 26, 2010Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Inventor: Gerd Reime
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Patent number: 9030199Abstract: An apparatus of a magnetoresistance sensor consisting of a substrate, a conductive unit on the substrate, and a magnetoresistance structure on the conductive unit is provided. The conductive unit includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, and the first surface faces the substrate. The magnetoresistance structure is formed on the second surface of the conductive unit and is electrically connected to the conductive unit. The magnetoresistance sensor has high performance and reliability. A magnetoresistance sensor fabricating method based on this apparatus is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2011Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Voltafield Technology CorporationInventors: Fu-Tai Liou, Chien-Min Lee