Patents Examined by Jeffrey Shin
  • Patent number: 9642230
    Abstract: An electric fence energizer provides automated reporting of faults and other events as well as fault location to reduce effort in diagnosing faults and intrusion events in electric fences by measuring impedance changes using a time-domain reflectometer. In some embodiments, methods determine the location of a fault in distance from the energizer and provide timely and appropriate condition information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRIC GUARD DOG, LLC
    Inventors: Jack DeMao, Steve Batti, Michael Baxter, Mark Roberts
  • Patent number: 9634878
    Abstract: Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) methods, apparatus, and systems including a QAM transmit modulator to generate an output signal using a two-dimensional (2-D) QAM symbol constellation is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: SEE SCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Stephanie M. Bench, Roger B. Shaffer, Mark S. Olsson
  • Patent number: 9628020
    Abstract: A semiconductor circuit includes an oscillation circuit; an output circuit that receives a first oscillation signal from the oscillation circuit and outputs a second oscillation signal; a DC circuit that receives a voltage based on a power supply voltage and outputs at least one of a DC voltage and a DC current; and a semiconductor substrate on which the oscillation circuit, the output circuit, and the DC circuit are formed. In a plan view of the semiconductor substrate, the DC circuit is disposed between the oscillation circuit and the output circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kobayashi, Yoshiki Makiuchi, Takeshi Yasui
  • Patent number: 9628096
    Abstract: In order to configure an oscillation circuit, an oscillator, a fractional N-PLL circuit, and the like that can output a plurality of frequencies, while decreasing an influence of an integer value boundary spurious at one reference frequency, the oscillation circuit includes a circuit for oscillation that oscillates a resonator, a fractional N-PLL circuit to which a signal from the circuit for oscillation is input, and a non-volatile memory that stores a plurality of division ratios, which can be selected from outside, of the fractional N-PLL circuit. A fractional portion of at least two of the plurality of division ratios is equal to or higher than 0.05 and is equal to or lower than 0.95.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Toriumi, Hayato Terashi, Mitsuaki Sawada, Hisahiro Ito, Yasunari Furuya
  • Patent number: 9614478
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating an amplitude modulation signal to a switchmode power amplifier. A DC to DC switch is configured to receive a DC input voltage and to provide a DC output voltage. A low dropout regulator is configured to provide the amplitude modulation signal according to a modulation control signal received by the low dropout regulator. A control circuit is configured to establish a nominal operating power level for the power amplifier via the amplitude modulation signal and to maintain a minimum voltage difference between the DC output voltage and the low dropout regulator output. A modulator control circuit is configured to provide the modulation control signal to the low dropout regulator. The modulator control circuit provides the transition from a high amplitude to a low amplitude and a transition from the low amplitude to the high amplitude at configurable first and second slopes, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: STRYKER COMBO, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Regis J. Nero, Jr., Jeffrey A. Gibala
  • Patent number: 9608564
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed a metamaterial circuit may further be coupled to a möbius strip resonator or a substrate integrated waveguide. The disclosure is also directed to a device having a tuning circuit and a metamaterial resonator operatively coupled to the tuning circuit. The metamaterial resonator operatively coupled to the tuning circuit may likewise be coupled to a möbius strip resonator or a substrate integrated waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Synergy Microwave Corporation
    Inventors: Ajay Kumar Poddar, Ulrich L. Rohde
  • Patent number: 9608396
    Abstract: A maser assembly includes a pump light source; a maser material including molecules that are excited through the absorption of light (1) from the pump light source, and which subsequently transfer via intersystem crossing (9) into the sublevels of their triplet ground states, so causing a population inversion between two sublevels (16,18); an electromagnetic structure in which the masing material is disposed, and which supports a microwave mode that is both resonant in frequency with and magnetically coupled to the transition between these two sublevels; and where energy is supplied to the microwave mode through stimulated emission (25) across the transition at such a rate as to exceed the mode's electromagnetic losses, the microwave mode being a maser mode. The assembly includes provisions for effecting substantially continuous maser activity during operation of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS OF HER MAGESTY'S BRITANNIC GOVERNMENT
    Inventor: Mark Oxborrow
  • Patent number: 9602110
    Abstract: An oscillator amplifier biasing technique configures an oscillator amplifier to operate at a bias point causing loading on a tank circuit to have reduced or negligible dependence on amplifier bias conditions or device characteristics. The bias signal level may vary with variation in temperature. The oscillator amplifier biasing technique includes determining a bias signal level that has a minimum sensitivity of the frequency of oscillation as a function of temperature. The technique may store associated data in non-volatile memory to describe the bias signal level dependence on temperature. A digital-to-analog converter may drive the bias signal of the oscillator to the minimum sensitivity point as a function of temperature. The technique may substantially reduce effects of up-conversion of flicker noise in the oscillator output signal as well as improve frequency accuracy in the presence of effects such as mechanical strain and/or aging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron J. Caffee
  • Patent number: 9595915
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for providing a variable output using an array of cells are discussed. In the fine tuning bank of an apparatus, control is implemented by selecting a boundary cell from the array of cells and having every cell before the boundary cell in a circuit path be grounded and having the boundary cell and every cell after the boundary cell in the circuit path be connected to a voltage source. The circuit path may be the one formed by using thermometer coding in the fine tuning bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Wing Fai Loke, Chih-Wei Yao, Sunghwan Kim
  • Patent number: 9595914
    Abstract: An electronic component includes a wiring substrate, a heating element, a first support, a second support, and a container. The heating element, the first support, and the second support are electrically connected to the wiring substrate. Each of the first support and the second support includes a protrusion portion, and the protrusion portion of the second support is shorter than the protrusion portion of the first support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kensaku Isohata
  • Patent number: 9590638
    Abstract: An ultra-low power clock source includes a compensated oscillator and an uncompensated oscillator coupled by a comparator circuit. In an example, the compensated oscillator is more stable than the uncompensated oscillator with respect to changes in one or more of temperature, voltage, age, or other environmental parameters. The uncompensated oscillator includes a configuration input configured to adjust an operating characteristic of the uncompensated oscillator. In an example, the uncompensated oscillator is adjusted using information from the comparator circuit about a comparison of output signals from the compensated oscillator and the uncompensated oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Benton H. Calhoun, Aatmesh Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 9584132
    Abstract: Provided is a clock generator that includes a comparator in which characteristics of two input signals vary over time. A voltage controller, having a resistor and at least one constant current source, generates a direct current (DC) voltage proportional to an output current of the constant current source and a resistance value of the resistor. The comparator compares a ramp voltage generated by the voltage controller with the DC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Jin Kim, Jihyun Kim, Taeik Kim
  • Patent number: 9577653
    Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing a quasi-linear spin-torque nano-oscillator based on exertion of a spin-transfer torque on the local magnetic moments in the magnetic layer and precession of the magnetic moments in the magnetic layer within a spin valve. Examples of spin-torque nano-oscillators (STNOs) are disclosed to use spin polarized currents to excite nano magnets that undergo persistent oscillations at RF or microwave frequencies. The spin currents are applied in a non-uniform manner to both excite the nano magnets into oscillations and generate dynamic damping at large amplitude as a feedback to reduce the nonlinearity associated with mixing amplitude and phase fluctuations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Robert A. Buhrman, Oukjae Lee, Daniel C. Ralph
  • Patent number: 9577462
    Abstract: A power transmission system transmits power underwater between a power-transmitting device and a power-receiving device of which at least one is capable of moving freely underwater. In this power transmission system, the power-transmitting device and the power-receiving device are each provided with a resonance coil that performs the power transmission wirelessly underwater by means of magnetic field resonance. At least one of the power-transmitting device and the power-receiving device is provided with a balloon that internally houses the resonance coil of its own device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuji Maekawa
  • Patent number: 9577060
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a first nonplanar transistor including a first fin that includes first source and drain nodes, and a first channel between the first source and drain nodes; a second nonplanar transistor including a second fin that includes second source and drain nodes, and a second channel between the second source and drain nodes; a nonplanar gate on the first fin between the first source and drain nodes and on the second fin between the second source and drain nodes; and first insulation included between the gate and the first fin and second insulation between the gate and the second fin; wherein the gate mechanically resonates at a first frequency when at least one of the gate and the first fin is actuated with alternating current (AC) to produce periodic forces on the gate. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Raseong Kim, Ian A. Young
  • Patent number: 9571034
    Abstract: Coupled multi-inductors and their applications. An apparatus includes several circuit stages. Each circuit stage includes an inductive element that overlaps with the inductive elements of its adjacent circuit stages, forming a loop of coupled circuit stages. The apparatus may be, for example, a multi-phase oscillator with multiple oscillators that are magnetically coupled to each other for generating oscillation signals at different phases. The apparatus may also be, for example, a phase interpolator for combining input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad Hekmat, Farshid Aryanfar, Kambiz Kaviani
  • Patent number: 9548744
    Abstract: In some examples, compensating for hysteretic characteristics of a crystal oscillator in a timing circuit includes obtaining a plurality of successive temperature measurements. From the plurality of successive temperature measurements, a temperature gradient having a sign and a magnitude can be determined. A frequency compensation parameter can then be determined based on any combination of two or more factors chosen from a set of factors including a temperature measurement, the sign of the temperature gradient, and the magnitude of the temperature gradient. A frequency error of the timing circuit can then be compensated based on the frequency compensation parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vishal Agarwal, Mahadevan Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 9545889
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power supply unit reducing deterioration of power loss caused by cables. A connector connecting a power line L11 connected to a battery and a plurality of ramp loads is attached to a holder housing at least one of the plurality of ramp loads. The connector is provided with: a pressure-bonding power source terminal to which the power line L11 is connected and power is inputted, a first branch circuit branching one power line inputted from the pressure-bonding terminal into a plurality of branch lines, a plurality of tub-like power source terminal, pressure-bonding power terminals each connected to the plurality of branch lines branched by the first branch circuit and outputting power to each ramp load; and a housing housing them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuuji Satake, Akiyoshi Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 9548699
    Abstract: An oscillator includes a circuit board including a supporting substrate (base member), a first VCXO (a first oscillator circuit), a second VCXO (a second oscillator circuit), and a ground terminal (terminal for ground). The first VCXO and the second VCXO are configured such that a second output frequency that is output from the second VCXO is higher than a first output frequency that is output from the first VCXO. The second VCXO is placed closer to the ground terminal than the first VCXO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9543964
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: an oscillator; a semiconductor chip that includes an oscillation circuit connected to the oscillator, a timer circuit that generates a timing signal of a frequency according to a oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit, and a frequency correction section that corrects a frequency of the timing signal based on temperature data; and a discrete device that includes at least one of a temperature sensing device that detects a peripheral temperature, that supplies the detected temperature as temperature data to the frequency correction section, and that is provided as a separate body to the semiconductor chip, or a capacitor that is electrically connected to both the oscillator and the oscillation circuit and that is provided as a separate body to the semiconductor chip, wherein the oscillator, the semiconductor chip and the discrete device are contained within a single package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: LAPIS Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yosuke Iwasa