Patents Examined by Jared J. Fureman
  • Patent number: 7961444
    Abstract: A high voltage power supply includes a current overflow prevention unit to detect a change in a load of a device that is operated by an output power supplied from a transformer and to ground filtered signals that are input to first and second comparison units according to the detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-hwa Cho
  • Patent number: 7960866
    Abstract: A pulse generation circuit for outputting a pulse with a predetermined waveform to an output terminal in response to a start signal includes a circuit adapted to generate a plurality of signals {Di|i denotes an integer in a predetermined range}, which has predetermined amounts of time differences from the start signal, based on the start signal, a plurality of power supplies {Ej|j denotes an integer} adopted to supply electric energy of a predetermined electric quantity, and a switching circuit adapted to sequentially switch the power supplies {Ej} in a predetermined order in accordance with logical function values of at least a part of the signals {Di} to connect the power supplies {Ej} to the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7960867
    Abstract: System and methods for wireless energy and data transmission are described. One aspect includes an emitter and receiver. The emitter may include primary and secondary emitting windings. The receiver may include primary and secondary receiver windings. In further aspects, the emitter may include a tertiary emitting winding and the receiver may include a tertiary receiver winding. In one aspect, the emitter uses driving circuitry and the receiver uses rectifying circuitry and one or more capacitors. In further aspects, the emitter and receiver are reversible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Extremely Ingenious Engineering
    Inventors: Anthony Francis Issa, Jeffrey Messer, John Michael Tobias
  • Patent number: 7960858
    Abstract: A device for reducing the consumption of closed-circuit current of a motor vehicle includes a first line, by way of which an ignition switch and a first terminal can be coupled; a second line, by way of which a supply voltage device and a second terminal can be coupled; a switching controller, which is disposed in a signal path of the second line; an actuatable bypassing device, which is switched in parallel to the switching controller and bypasses the switching controller as a function of a first control signal; and a control device, which generates the first control signal for actuating the bypassing device as a function of a first voltage, which corresponds to a difference in potential between a potential at the first terminal and a ground potential, and/or a current value of the current flowing on the second line, and/or a time allowance signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Bolz
  • Patent number: 7960870
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a power extractor may operate such that the source impedance and the load impedance may have various values. The power extractor dynamically matches the impedance of the source and the load for the maximum transfer of power. The power extractor includes detection circuitry to continuously detect power changes, and is operated such that impedances of the power extractor between the source and load are dynamically changed in response to the detected power changes. The power extractor may then match an impedance of a power source to the impedance of a load. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: XSLENT Energy Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Besser, Stefan Matan
  • Patent number: 7960855
    Abstract: A control circuit comprises a circuit adapted to determine a state of charge of a high side power source using a sensed output current to provide a variable gain signal based on the state of charge. The control circuit may also contain a circuit configured to provide a fixed gain signal based on the current of the high side power source and a circuit configured to combine the variable gain signal and the fixed gain signal to create a power command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Dean King, Dongwoo Song, Lembit Salasoo
  • Patent number: 7960856
    Abstract: The system allows the generation and distribution of energy on board a motor vehicle provided with a propulsion unit, a tank for fuel at least one distribution network or line for electric energy, electrical energy generation devices connected to the at least one distribution network or line, and a plurality of selectively activatable electrical utilizer devices or apparatus connected or connectable to the at least one distribution network or line. The electrical energy generator devices includes (at least) a microcombustor electricity generator matrix or battery connected to the fuel tank, and a supervision and control unit associated with this generator matrix or battery and coupled to the distribution network or line and arranged to control the operation of the generator matrix or battery in a predetermined manner as a function of the electrical power required or consumed by the network or line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: CRF Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Gianfranco Innocenti, Pietro Perlo, Cosimo Carvignese, Luca Liotti, Roberto Finizio, Piermario Repetto, Daniele Pullini, Marco Pizzi
  • Patent number: 7960864
    Abstract: Switching power supplies are implemented using a variety of methods and devices. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an arrangement provides power to a circuit by selecting between a first supply and a second supply. The arrangement includes a first circuit that charges a first capacitive element using the first supply and generates a first reference voltage by distributing charge between the first capacitive element and a second capacitive element. The arrangement also includes a first comparator that compares the first reference voltage to a second reference voltage derived from the second supply and a second comparator that compares the first reference voltage to a third reference voltage. The arrangement further includes a power control circuit that selects one of the supplies based on the results of the comparisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Friedbert Riedel, Giovanni Genna
  • Patent number: 7960860
    Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a circuit device is disclosed that includes a power sourcing equipment (PSE) circuit having a plurality of high-voltage line circuits adapted to communicate with a respective plurality of powered devices via network cables. The PSE circuit includes a serial interface circuit and includes a common controller coupled to the serial interface circuit and to the plurality of high-voltage line circuits. The circuit device also includes a low-voltage circuit having a programmable controller adapted to transmit control signals to the common controller via the serial interface circuit to control operation of the plurality of high-voltage line circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Russell J. Apfel
  • Patent number: 7957115
    Abstract: A protection circuit is installed between a gate terminal (a control terminal) and an emitter terminal (a ground terminal) of a voltage driven element generally called a power device. The protection circuit is structured as a duplex protection system in which a first discharge circuit is configured to perform a discharge from the control terminal at a current value set in accordance with a current flowing between the load terminal and the ground terminal, an overcurrent generation detection device is configured to detect an existence of an overcurrent between the load terminal and the ground terminal, and a second discharge circuit is configured to perform the discharge from the control terminal at a predetermined constant current value after the overcurrent is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Higashi
  • Patent number: 7957114
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a circuit breaker and a method for triggering a circuit breaker are disclosed, particularly a low voltage circuit breaker, including an electronic overload trigger, particularly for the protection against a short circuit, wherein the current is compared to a predetermined limit current and evaluated and the circuit breaker is triggered by the overload trigger, in case a short circuit is present according to the evaluation. In order to be able to reliably detect short circuits, the current is sampled with a predetermined sampling frequency and digitized. The wavelet coefficients of at least two segmentation levels are calculated for a predetermined number of digital current values in direct succession via a wavelet transformation. At least two wavelet coefficients, that is, one wavelet coefficient per segmentation level, are compared quantitatively to each other if the last of the current values in direct succession is larger than the limit current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Götz, Frank Jucht, Cornelia Prechtl
  • Patent number: 7956492
    Abstract: An outlet switch socket device includes a plug, at least one socket, at least one switch, a power converter, a communication module, a microprocessor and an infrared module. Moreover, the plug is used to receive an alternating current. Each switch is respectively coupled between each corresponding socket and the plug. The power converter is coupled to the plug and converts the alternating current into a direct current, thereby supplying the direct current to the microprocessor. Moreover, the microprocessor receives the direct current from the power converter and receives a control signal from a remote control via the communication module. Furthermore, the microprocessor is used to control those switches according to the control signal and transmits the control signal to the infrared module. The infrared module is used to output an infrared signal to control an infrared device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Powertech Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Lung Lee, Ming-Chou Kuo
  • Patent number: 7957110
    Abstract: A display apparatus current discharging method, includes steps of: providing a potential difference between a first line and a second line; switching on a first switching element; generating a voltage drop of a resistance element having a first end and a second end; switching on a second switching element; providing a first discharging path through the first line, the first switching element, the resistance element, the second switching element, and the second line; and discharging a first current via the first discharging path. A display apparatus current leakage reducing method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Hannstar Display Corporation
    Inventors: Hung-Jen Wang, Shao-Wu Hsu
  • Patent number: 7956497
    Abstract: An electret device includes an electret film into which charges are injected and a barrier film provided on a surface of the electret film and having an electron affinity smaller than the electron affinity of the electret film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Murayama, Naoteru Matsubara, Katsuji Mabuchi
  • Patent number: 7956490
    Abstract: The battery backup for vehicle emergency communicator includes mechanisms for applying backup battery power to an emergency communicator. Electrically operated relays may be employed to switch the backup battery in order to power the emergency communicator of a telematics device. When relays are used in the system, failure of the car battery causes normally open relay contacts to close, applying backup battery power to the emergency communications device. Normally closed relay contacts open to remove connection of the failed battery to the emergency communications device. Additional features of the battery backup for vehicle emergency communicator may include a battery charger, an uninterruptible power system (UPS), transistor switches, an emergency contact dialer, and a timer that limits application time of the backup battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventors: Jack Sotnikow, Milton Bodin
  • Patent number: 7957112
    Abstract: A protection circuit limits operating power supplied to an electrical device from an electrical power source below a predetermined power rating. The protection circuit comprises a switching device for adjusting electrical power supplied from the power source to the electrical device; a sensor sensing a parameter relating to the operating power; and a comparator comparing the parameter sensed by the sensor and, in response to identifying an undesirable operating condition, controlling the switching device to adjust electrical power supplied to the electrical device to below a predetermined power rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventors: Memie Mei Mei Wong, Sam Yun Sum Wong
  • Patent number: 7956491
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for integrating multiple transformers on a shared core, while avoiding interference between the transformers and other potentially undesirable effects of the integration. In one embodiment, multiple transformers are wound on a shared core. Each transformer is wound on the core, so that its primary and secondary windings are magnetically coupled to each other through the core without being coupled to the windings of other transformers sharing the core. The multiple integrated transformers may then be provided in a circuit arrangement by placing only a single core element in the arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: ASIC Advantage Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Seiichiro Ochi, Ernest Henry Wittenbreder, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7952840
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle includes at least one motion sensor for detecting movement of a blade of an electrical plug in the receptacle, an extraction detector operatively connected to the motion sensor for generating a signal in response to movement of the blade at a predetermined rate, a position detector operatively connected to the motion sensor for determining the position of the blade in the receptacle, a switch operatively connected to the extraction detector and the position detector for de-energizing the receptacle when the extraction detector detects extraction of the blade from the receptacle at a rate equal to or greater than the predetermined and wherein the extraction detector and switch are operative to de-energize the receptacle in less than six milliseconds when the extraction detector detects extraction of the blade from the receptacle at a rate equal to or greater than the predetermined rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Unitron, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Ford, Jerry Shires
  • Patent number: 7952844
    Abstract: A chip includes a core circuit, a main electrostatic discharge immunizing circuit, and a secondary electrostatic discharge immunizing circuit. The secondary electrostatic discharge immunizing circuit is disposed beneath a core power ring formed between the core circuit and the main electrostatic discharge immunizing circuit for reaching the aim of protecting the core circuit from damage by electrostatic discharges without area penalty of the chip. Both the main electrostatic discharge immunizing circuit and the secondary electrostatic discharge immunizing circuit include a power clamp and a plurality of current limiters, and keep electrostatic currents from reaching the core circuit with the aid of the power clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Kuey-Lung Hsueh, Chien-Kuo Wang, Yu-Ming Sun, Te-Chang Wu
  • Patent number: 7952220
    Abstract: An aircraft electrical system includes a generator that supplies electrical AC power to a plurality of accessories associated with a gas turbine engine. The generator also supplies power to an aircraft DC bus in parallel to the supply to the accessory bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignees: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Kevin Dooley