Patents Examined by Jeff W Natalini
  • Patent number: 10634726
    Abstract: A voltage detecting device according to an aspect of embodiments includes a detecting unit and a mode switching unit. The detecting unit detects voltages of battery cells of a battery stack in which the battery cells are connected to each other. The mode switching unit switches between an active mode in which the detecting unit detects the voltages and a standby mode in which a current flowing into the detecting unit is less than a predetermined value. Moreover, the detecting unit includes a voltage detecting unit that detects the voltages of the battery cells and/or a voltage of a power supply of the detecting unit in a predetermined interval. The mode switching unit switches between the active mode and the standby mode in accordance with a timing at which the voltage detecting unit detects the voltage (s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN Limited
    Inventors: Yukio Ishikawa, Kensuke Matsuda, Masahiko Kusaki
  • Patent number: 10627208
    Abstract: A system and method for testing rotor stack assemblies having a plurality of rotor disks is disclosed. A measurement system for measuring at least one electrical characteristic of the plurality of rotor disks is used with a computer electronically connected to the measurement system for capturing data from the measurement system. Software associated with the computer transforms the data into output used to determine flange joint contact topography in the plurality of rotor disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael E. Friedman, Jonathan Tilley, Brian Patrick Senkiw, Bryan Williams, Andrew Joseph Colletti
  • Patent number: 10613156
    Abstract: A ground fault detection apparatus connected to an ungrounded battery supplying power via a step-up circuit to a load and calculating insulation resistance of a system provided with the battery to detect a ground fault includes a capacitor, a set of switches switching among a V0 measurement path, a Vcn measurement path, and a Vcp measurement path, a bypass resistor connected in parallel with the negative-electrode-side insulation resistance via a normally open switch, and a control unit configured to, when the insulation resistance is to be calculated based on a charge voltage measurement value of the capacitor in each of the measurement paths, in a case in which the charge voltage measurement value of the capacitor in the Vcn measurement path is regarded as 0, switch the normally open switch to a closed state and measure the charge voltage of the capacitor in the Vcn measurement path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10605687
    Abstract: In the present invention, a pressure measurement device for determining the vacuum level within the evacuated housing of a vacuum electrode device is provided that includes an electrically conductive enclosure secured to an interior surface of the housing, an electrically conductive electrode extending through an aperture in the housing, the electrode having a tip at one end positioned within the interior of the housing inside the enclosure to define a gap between the tip and the enclosure and a conductive lead at a second end disposed outside of the housing, and a voltage source connected to the conductive lead to supply a voltage potential to the tip of the electrode. A voltage difference produced between the electrode and the enclosure ionizes gas within the enclosure causing a measurable current to flow between the electrode and the enclosure which can be used to determine the vacuum level in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Michael Roffers, Sergio Lemaitre, Christian Bennett Fuller, Kalyan Koppisetty
  • Patent number: 10606227
    Abstract: Method for automatic switching of a communication resistor of a HART device in or out, wherein the method comprises steps as follows: transmitting a test signal on an electrical current loop; reading from the electrical current loop a test voltage signal, which is based on the transmitted test signal; comparing the test voltage signal with a reference signal; connecting the communication resistor into the electrical current loop when the test voltage signal exceeds the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG
    Inventor: Fabian Bihler
  • Patent number: 10591521
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to a power monitoring system that may include an external power supply source, an energy storage system and a distribution board. In some embodiments, the power monitoring system includes the external power supply source, the distribution board, the energy storage system, a first power metering device, a second power metering device, a third power metering device and a server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sang-Ki Shon
  • Patent number: 10577122
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting relative movement between two adjacent components includes a first member, a second member rotatable about an axis relative to the first member, and a fuse element including a first electrical contactor connected to the first member and a second electrical contactor connected to the second member. When the first member and the second member are skewed, the first electrical contactor and the second electrical contactor are not in electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Carbone, Joseph M. Bielefeldt
  • Patent number: 10578674
    Abstract: A personal consumer product having an energy emitting element in selective electrical communication with a power source is provided. Thermal control circuitry is used to isolate the energy emitting element from the power source when a temperature of the energy emitting element exceeds a threshold. A diagnostics routine is used to test the functionality of the hardware and software of the personal consumer product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC
    Inventors: Klaus Heubach, Norbert Broemse, Timo Schmitt, Felix Koenig
  • Patent number: 10571508
    Abstract: Systems and methods detecting cable connectivity in a smart home environment are provided, including controlling, at a controller, an output of a notification when a condition is determined based on at least one signal received by the controller, converting, at a power converter coupled to a power source, power received by the power source for the controller, coupling, at a cable having at least one connector that includes a plurality of pins, the power converter and the controller together, and providing the converted power via a power pin and the at least one signal via an identification pin to the controller, and outputting, at the controller, the notification based on a determination that there is a power outage with the power supply or that the power converter is disconnected from the power source based on a detected output level of the at least one signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Nevin McConnell, Daran Wang, Nicholas Sims
  • Patent number: 10573231
    Abstract: A system for compensating the input signals to arrays of pixels that include semiconductor devices that age differently under different ambient and stress conditions. The system creates a library of compensation curves for different stress conditions of the semiconductor devices; identifies the stress conditions for at least a selected one of the semiconductor devices based on the rate of change or absolute value of at least one parameter of at least the selected device; selects a compensation curve for the selected device based on the identified stress conditions; calculates compensation parameters for the selected device based on the selected compensation curve; and compensates an input signal for the selected device based on the calculated compensation parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ignis Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: Gholamreza Chaji, Ricky Yik Hei Ngan, Nino Zahirovic
  • Patent number: 10564205
    Abstract: In order to provide a voltage abnormality detection circuit and a semiconductor device which are capable of detecting a voltage abnormality in an internal power supply voltage of the semiconductor device with a simple circuit configuration, the voltage abnormality detection circuit includes: a reference voltage circuit configured to output a first reference voltage, which is higher than the internal power supply voltage, and a second reference voltage, which is lower than the internal power supply voltage; a first voltage detection circuit configured to detect that the internal power supply voltage has exceeded a desired voltage value, with the use of the first reference voltage; and a second voltage detection circuit configured to detect that the internal power supply voltage has dropped lower than the desired voltage value, with the use of the second reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventor: Atsushi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 10564026
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fill level measurement device for determining a topology of a bulk material surface, comprising a foldable antenna assembly. The antenna assembly has a folded and an unfolded state. In the folded state, the antenna assembly can be pushed through a relatively small container opening when the measurement device is being fitted to a container. The antenna assembly is unfolded after the measurement device has been attached. This can make fitting less complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KG
    Inventors: Roland Welle, Levin Dieterle
  • Patent number: 10564210
    Abstract: A life determination device for a DC capacitor includes: a current detecting unit that detects a current outputted from a rectifier; a voltage detecting unit that detects a voltage of the DC capacitor; an initial charging device that performs initial charging of the DC capacitor up to a predetermined voltage value with the current outputted from the rectifier; a current integrating unit that integrates the current detected by the current detecting unit during a period of the initial charging; a capacitance estimating unit that calculates an estimated capacitance of the DC capacitor from the current integration value, the predetermined voltage value, and the voltage of the DC capacitor prior to the initial charging; and life determination unit that determines whether the DC capacitor is at the end of its life based on an initial capacitance value of the DC capacitor in an unused state and the estimated capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomokazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10557804
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system for wear monitoring, includes a wear surface, a metallic reflector embedded in the wear surface, a radio-wave transmitter, and a radio-wave receiver. The metallic reflector reflects radio waves transmitted by the radio-wave transmitter for detection by the radio wave receiver. Attenuation of the radio waves between transmission by the radio-wave transmitter and detection by the radio-wave receiver indicates a degree of wear of the wear surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: REI, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Brunner, Randy Richardson, Robert Koontz, Alex Schumacher, Jeffrey J. Schwoebel, Randall Johnson
  • Patent number: 10559892
    Abstract: A method for monitoring depth of a cave front in a cave-type mine. The method includes: providing a stationary reader device and mobile marker devices, each of the marker devices adapted to (i) emit an electromagnetic signal, (ii) detect strength of the signal emitted by another of the marker devices, and (iii) wirelessly transmit information related to the detected signal via the other marker devices to the stationary reader device; drilling a hole into a rock region of a mine, installing the mobile marker devices at sequential known depths within the hole; monitoring the reader device to detect a decrease in the strength of a signal emitted by a first marker device by a second marker device; and in response to a decrease being detected by the second marker device, inferring the depth of the cave front to be between the known depths of the first and second marker devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: MINDSPARK TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD
    Inventor: Pieter Kuiper
  • Patent number: 10551220
    Abstract: A capacitive measurement device for indicating when two surfaces moving relative to each other are spaced less than a predetermined distance apart. The device comprises a probe having an elongated conductor, an insulating core, a conducting inner guard, an insulating interlayer, and a conducting sheath. A portion of the conductor, insulating core and conducting inner guard form a probe tip which extends beyond the insulating interlayer and conducting sheath by a predetermined offset. The probe is configured to extend from a first surface by a predetermined distance and to generate a signal when the tip is contacted by a second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenneth Fuller
  • Patent number: 10541746
    Abstract: A system for testing line attenuation defects includes a data transmission line configured to transmit a forward signal in a first direction, at least one reflection point at a first location along the data transmission line, a test probe configured to (i) electrically contact a center conductor at a second location along the data transmission line, (ii) introduce a broadband data signal onto the data transmission line, and (iii) measure, at the second location, a return signal from the reflection point, and a spectrum capturing device in operable contact with the test probe. The spectrum capturing device is configured to (i) collect and arrange frequency data measured by the test probe for the test signal, the return signal, and a standing wave created by the sum of the broadband data signal and the return signal, (ii) determine the voltage VSWR of the standing wave, and (iii) calculate a line loss from the VSWR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Cable Television Laboratories, Inc
    Inventors: Thomas H. Williams, Ryan Richard Vail
  • Patent number: 10539600
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including: an AC voltage generation unit that generates an AC voltage having an amplitude according to a control signal; a resistance element provided in series with a measurement target, the AC voltage being applied to the resistance element; a voltage detecting unit that detects that a difference voltage between two ends of the resistance element has reached a specified voltage; and a control unit that outputs the control signal to the AC voltage generation unit to cause the AC voltage generation unit to generate the AC voltage so that the difference voltage reaches the specified voltage, based on a detection result of the voltage detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masato Hirai, Siewling Lim
  • Patent number: 10527664
    Abstract: The present application provides a noise source analysis method including measuring a noise using voltage sensors 2a and 2b which are time-synchronized with each other and making an analysis to identify a noise source which is a cause of noise based on data of the noise measured by the voltage sensors 2a and 2b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigehiko Matsuda, Norihiro Suzuki, Noriyuki Maehata
  • Patent number: 10520540
    Abstract: A survey voltage transmitter includes a diode, a resistor, a first connection wire connected to a hot wire of AC power at a place, a second connection wire connected to a neutral wire of the AC power, a switching unit for turning on/off a circuit connected between the hot wire and the neutral wire to control a current flow through the diode and the resistor connected in series, a switching control unit for controlling a switch time of the circuit by providing a time control signal to the switching unit to turn on the circuit at a predetermined phase angle of the AC power and turn off the circuit before a half wave extinction phase angle of the AC power, and a coding unit for controlling the switching control unit to generate the current flow or not and for generating a series of logic values corresponding to the current flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Inventor: Hyun Chang Lee