Patents Examined by James P Evans
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Patent number: 9409484Abstract: An improved power supply unit for a vehicle electrical system of a motor vehicle, which has an a.c. generator, that provides a phase signal, having an excitation coil, a field regulator assigned to the excitation coil and a rectifier having rectifier elements for the rectification of the generator voltage supplied by the a.c. generator. The field regulator has a voltage detection range for the evaluation of the phase signal having a minimum value and a maximum value, the maximum value being adjusted to the nominal voltage of a power supply unit of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2011Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Gert Wolf, Stefan Einbock, Rolf Jaros, Helmut Suelzle
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Patent number: 9407113Abstract: An electronic device includes a detecting unit configured to detect cut-off of a main power supply; a power storage unit configured to store power; a sensing unit configured to sense an amount of remaining power of the power storage unit; a determining unit configured to determine whether a functional operation designated by a user is completed with the amount of remaining power sensed by the sensing unit in a cut-off condition of the main power supply detected by the detecting unit; and an operation control unit configured to control execution of the functional operation in the cut-off condition when the determining unit determines that the functional operation is completed with the amount of remaining power.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2013Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Satoshi Tanaka
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Patent number: 9407094Abstract: A method for adaptive load control by an electronic device is described. The method includes determining a wiring mode. The method also includes determining a frequency of a power source. The method further includes capturing a voltage waveform. The method additionally includes capturing a current waveform. The method also includes determining a load type of a load based on the voltage waveform and the current waveform. The method further includes determining a power factor based on the voltage waveform, the current waveform and the wiring mode. The method additionally includes operating the load based on the load type, the power factor and the frequency.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2013Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Control4 CorporationInventors: James K. Russell, Luis F. Gomez, Michael Stephenson, William Richard Schonle
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Patent number: 9401614Abstract: A method is used for controlling a battery having at least one battery module line with a plurality of battery modules that are connected in series. Each battery module has at least one battery cell, at least one coupling unit, a first connection, and a second connection. Each battery module is configured to assume one of at least two switching states dependent on a control of the coupling unit. The different switching states correspond to different voltage values between the first connection and the second connection of the battery module. The method includes determining a ranking among the battery modules. The method also includes engaging the battery modules in a supply of a desired output voltage of the battery module line using the ranking. The battery modules compare respective battery module operating states among one another and determine the ranking on the basis of the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2011Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Ralph Schmidt, Stefan Butzmann, Holger Fink
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Patent number: 9396869Abstract: An inductively coupled power transfer (ICPT) system includes a primary winding for generating an electromagnetic field (EMF), and an ICPT device. The ICPT device includes a phase detecting winding which generates a detecting voltage according to the EMF, a resonant circuit which has an adjustable reactance and which generates an AC voltage according to the EMF and the adjustable reactance, and a control circuit which compares a phase of the AC voltage with a phase of the detecting voltage so as to determine whether said resonant circuit operates in an under-tuned or an over-tuned interval, and which varies the adjustable reactance according to the output voltage and one of the under-tuned and over-tuned intervals.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2013Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: POWERWOW TECHNOLOGY INC.Inventor: Jr-Uei Hsu
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Patent number: 9397572Abstract: An apparatus controls a DC-DC converter that converts an input voltage to an output voltage. The DC-DC converter includes a switching element having a duty ratio controlled by the apparatus to regulate the output voltage, a first transformer, a second transformer and a capacitor. A terminal voltage applied between input and output terminals of the switching element varies depending on the duty ratio and the input voltage. The apparatus may be configured to: limit the duty ratio in response to the input voltage represented by a modulated signal; enable the DC-DC converter to continue to convert the input voltage to the output voltage when an abnormal condition of the modulated signal is determined; and limit the duty ratio of the switching element when the abnormal condition is determined. Main and sub switching elements of the switching element and the capacitor are disposed between the first and second transformers.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2012Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yuuki Suzuki, Toshiyuki Kouno, Shinya Goto
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Patent number: 9391454Abstract: An apparatus and a method for power supply are provided. In the invention, the residual standby power can be quickly discharged by an additional fast discharging unit within a predetermined time when an external AC power (for example, city power) received by the power supply apparatus capable of supporting ATX (Advanced Technology eXtended) specification is unavailable (for example, power trip). Accordingly, any host system applied with the inventive power supply apparatus and method would not be inoperable when the received external AC power (city power) is recovered, and thus effectively promoting the stability of the applied host system.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: FSP TECHNOLOGY INC.Inventor: Chien-Lung Hsu
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Patent number: 9391477Abstract: There is provided a wireless power transmitting device which can detect relative positions of a power transmitting coil and a power receiving coil with a simple configuration, and reduce cost of components. The wireless power transmitting device has: a power transmitting coil which supplies power to a power receiving coil by way of electromagnetic induction; an excitation coil which excites the power receiving coil; a plurality of detecting coils which are arranged around a center of the power transmitting coil; and notifying units, and each of the detecting coils has a shape which widens apart from the center of the power transmitting coil, and the notifying units notify relative positions of the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil by detecting an echo signal produced in the power receiving coil through the plurality of detecting coils.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: TOKO, INC.Inventor: Jianxin Sheng
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Patent number: 9385611Abstract: A power adapter to supply power at an output. The power adapter has a programmable gain compensation trim function. In some examples, the gain compensation trim function is a negative gain compensation trim function, and the output of plural power adapters are connected together to form a power supply.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2012Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.Inventor: Maxwell Scott DeHaven
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Patent number: 9385626Abstract: A transducer converts energy coming from an energy source into an electrical signal for storage as electrical energy on a first storage element. A switch is selectively actuated to pass electrical energy from the first storage element to a second storage element. The selective actuation of the switch is driven by sensing electrical energy stored in the second storage element. The switch is closed when electrical energy in the second storage element is sensed to fall below a first threshold. The switch is opened when electrical energy in the second storage element is sensed to rise above a second threshold.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2012Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Alessandro Gasparini, Stefano Ramorini, Giorgio Massimiliano Membretti
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Patent number: 9377794Abstract: A Power Over Ethernet (PoE) system includes Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) providing data and voltage over Ethernet wires to a Powered Device (PD). Instead of the conventional detection and classification routine being performed every time the system is powered up, the pertinent data to determine whether to apply PoE to the PD is stored in a memory in the PSE. The memory is accessed by a controller in the PSE when the PSE is powered up. Therefore, a time-consuming detection and classification routine does not have to be performed each time the system is powered up. The system is particularly useful in automobiles where the particular PDs and PSEs are predetermined. The PoE data may be obtained the first time the system is powered up or may be stored in the memory when the PSE is designed or fabricated.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2013Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Linear Technology CorporationInventors: David Dwelley, Jeffrey Heath
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Patent number: 9365173Abstract: A device (1) for stabilizing a supply voltage (UBatt) in a motor vehicle, having a function component of the motor vehicle, in particular in the form of a starter (4), a voltage source (10) which is connected to the function component (4) in order to supply the function component (4) with the supply voltage (UBatt), characterized in that the voltage source (10) is connected to the function component (4) via a resistor cascade (30) in order to stabilize the supply voltage (UBatt).Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2011Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Auto Kabel Managementgesellschaft mbHInventors: Rainer Mäckel, Thomas Schulz, Jürgen Schön
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Patent number: 9337667Abstract: Embodiments include a rechargeable battery pack, system, and power adapter that allow the rechargeable battery pack to both power a host device though a set of host contacts and provide power, through the power adapter, via a set of charging contacts that interface with the power adapter. The power adapter contains a voltage source which activates a control circuit to disable a discharge protection circuit in the battery pack to allow current to discharge through the charging contacts.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2013Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventor: Scott J. Arendell
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Patent number: 9331741Abstract: A power line communication system includes a power distribution device connected to two power lines, a plurality of power line communication devices and a first coupler device electrically connected between the first power line and the second power line. The first coupler device is configured at the last end of the power line communication system. Before a transmitting device transmits data to a receiving device, the first coupler device determines whether to couple the power lines with each other according a first signal quality between the transmitting and the receiving device when the power lines are not coupled with each other and a second signal quality between the transmitting and the receiving device when the power lines are coupled with each other.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2013Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Wistron NeWeb Corp.Inventor: Sheng-Kun Shen
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Patent number: 9312925Abstract: To realize a wireless communication apparatus with high transceiver coil mounting density, provided is a wireless communication apparatus comprising a plurality of differential coil pairs that respectively transmit and receive differential signals to and from a plurality of external differential coil pairs, through magnetic coupling, wherein one coil in a first differential coil pair among the differential coil pairs is provided at a distance from each of two coils of a second differential coil pair among the differential coil pairs that is less than or equal to a distance between the two coils of the second differential coil pair, and the other coil of the first differential coil pair is provided at a distance from each of the two coils of the second differential coil pair that is greater than the distance between the two coils of the second differential coil pair.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2013Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: ADVANTEST CORPORATIONInventors: Takashi Kusaka, Masahiro Ishida
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Patent number: 9299394Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reducing surge current in power gated designs. In one aspect, a storage capacitor supplies a portion of the current used to power up a circuit. The storage capacitor may be charged from a power supply or other source. When the circuit is to be powered up, the circuit is connected to the power supply and the storage capacitor. As a result, current is supplied to the circuit from the power supply and the storage capacitor to power up the circuit. Because a portion of the current used to power up the circuit is supplied from the storage capacitor, the amount of current needed from the power supply to power up the circuit can be reduced, thereby reducing current surge through the power supply. The storage capacitor may be shared by multiple circuits.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2012Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventors: Bharath Upputuri, Bruce Kauffmann, Ray Bloker
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Patent number: 9290137Abstract: Disclosed is a power supply circuit for vehicles, which can continuously supply a constant voltage without a complicated circuit configuration, even during a time when a surge voltage is applied (abnormal voltage time). The power supply circuit is provided with: a constant voltage circuit, which is connected to a battery mounted in a vehicle, and which outputs a predetermined voltage; a surge cut circuit, which is provided with a Zener diode and a transistor for protecting the constant voltage circuit; and a switching circuit, which is disposed between the constant voltage circuit and the surge cut circuit, and which performs on/off switching of output to the constant voltage circuit. The power supply circuit is also provided with a feedback line that connects the connecting line (output line) of the switching circuit and the Zener diode to each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2011Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: NIPPON SEIKI CO., LTD.Inventor: Tatsuyuki Ooya
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Patent number: 9293923Abstract: An energy storage system including: a battery; a power conditioning system coupled to the battery, switches coupleable to an internal load of the power conditioning system, the battery, a grid, or an external load; and a controller to: receive energy usage cost information of the grid and residual capacity information of the battery; determine which of an energy of the battery or the grid is to be provided to the external load, and to determine which of the energy of the battery or the grid is to be provided to the internal load, according to the energy usage cost information and the residual capacity information; and control the switches according to the determination to provide the energy of the battery or the grid to the external load, and to provide the energy of the battery or the grid to the internal load.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventor: Seong-Joong Kim
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Patent number: 9283906Abstract: In a vehicle with a power distributor and a control unit, the power distributor includes a bistable relay with at least one coil. The bistable relay can be set to first and second switching states. The bistable relay has an integrated circuit, wherein a control unit activates the integrated circuit by way of a control line and defines one of the two switching states via a control signal. The control unit applies a first control voltage or a second control voltage to the control line, wherein the first control voltage corresponds to the first switching state, and the second control voltage corresponds to the second switching state. The integrated circuit switches a current pulse through the coil in order to set the bistable relay to the switching state defined by the control unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2012Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventor: Martin Kaltenbrunner
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Patent number: 9281867Abstract: The present invention is to provide a PLC device, which includes a power receiving port connected to a power supply for receiving a power signal and a network signal carried by the power signal; a filtering unit having a first end connected to the power receiving port; a power output port connected to a second end of the filtering unit and a load, respectively, for supplying the power signal to the load while the filtering unit filters out noise generated in the power signal by the load; a switching unit having two connecting ends connecting to the first and second ends, respectively, and a control end switchable between the two connecting ends; and a processing unit connected to the control end and including a bridge module for receiving and then transmitting the network signal to a network apparatus, and a detection module for detecting the level of the noise.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: D-LINK CORPORATIONInventors: Jun-Hao Huang, Wei-Chung Hsu, Ming-Han Liu