Patents Examined by Joseph Inge
  • Patent number: 10315523
    Abstract: A conductor arrangement structure for a wireless power supply system which is equipped with a ground-side device (3) that is installed on a ground side and has a power-feeding coil (L1) and a vehicle-side device (2) that is installed on a vehicle (1) and has a power-receiving coil (L2) and in which electric power is supplied from the ground-side device (3) to the vehicle-side device (2) without contact, wherein grounding wires (23) are arranged between the power-feeding coil (L1) and the power-receiving coil (L2) so as to extend over a high-potential portion and a low-potential portion of an electric field that is generated when the power-feeding coil (L1) is excited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Kinoshita, Yukinori Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 10256635
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for operating a solar farm inverter as a Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) device—a STATCOM—for voltage control. The solar farm inverter can provide voltage regulation, damping enhancement, stability improvement and other benefits provided by FACTS devices. In one embodiment, the solar farm operating as a STATCOM at night is employed to increase the connectivity of neighboring wind farms that produce peak power at night due to high winds, but are unable to connect due to voltage regulation issues. The present invention can also operate during the day because there remains inverter capacity after real power export by the solar farm. Additional auxiliary controllers are incorporated in the solar farm inverter to enhance damping and stability, and provide other benefits provided by FACTS devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar Varma
  • Patent number: 10256632
    Abstract: A method of operating a power supply including first and second power converters connected to a load and a power factor correction circuit connected to the power converters includes operating the power supply in a normal power mode such that: the first and second power converters and the power factor correction circuit are active, the first and second power converters each drive their respective load, and the power factor correction circuit performs power factor correction for each circuit formed by the first and second power converters and their respective load, and operating the power supply in an auxiliary power mode such that: both the first power converter and the power factor correction circuit are deactivated and the second power converter is active, the second power converter drives its load, and the second power converter performs power factor correction for a circuit formed between the second power converter and its load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Tae Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 10243408
    Abstract: An automatic tuning assist circuit is coupled with a transmission antenna. Multiple switches SW and a first auxiliary capacitor CA are arranged between a first terminal and a second terminal of the automatic tuning assist circuit. A first control unit is configured to switch on and off the multiple switches SW in synchronization with a driving voltage VDRV. A power supply is configured to apply the driving voltage VDRV across a series circuit that comprises the transmission antenna and the automatic tuning assist circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Endo, Yasuo Furukawa
  • Patent number: 10232807
    Abstract: A control apparatus for the boost converter to reduce the total loss is proposed. The control apparatus for the boost converter which controls the boost converter in a power system, the system has a DC power source having source voltage; the boost converter including a switching device and boosting the source voltage by predetermined boost control including change of switching state of the switching device based on boost instruction voltage and outputs the boosted voltage to a load apparatus; and a voltage detecting device detecting output voltage of the boost converter, the control apparatus has: a boost controlling device performing the boost control; and an intermittent controlling device performing intermittent process of the boost control based on the detected output voltage to keep the output voltage within range including the boost instruction voltage which is used when the last boost control is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Okamura, Naoyoshi Takamatsu, Kosuke Hirano
  • Patent number: 10211643
    Abstract: A switching module comprising at least one current sense component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Petrovich Soldatov, Vasily Alekseyevich Syngaevskiy, Gennady Mihaylovich Vydolob
  • Patent number: 10199883
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method that may stably perform wireless transmission. According to one general aspect, a power supply for a wireless power transmitter may include: a detecting unit configured to detect voltage, current, or both supplied to a power amplifier (PA); a controller configured to determine power supplied to the PA based on the detected voltage, the detected current, or both, and to determine a reference current based on the determined power supplied to the PA; and a breaker configured to cut off the power supplied to the PA based on a comparison of current supplied to the PA and the reference current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nam Yun Kim, Sang Wook Kwon, Yun Kwon Park, Jin Sung Choi
  • Patent number: 10199173
    Abstract: The present provides a variable capacitance element enabling a further reduction in capacitance variation among variable capacitance elements, and provides a packaged circuit including the variable capacitance element. A variable capacitance element is configured to include an element body unit, a compensation unit, a first external terminal for signals, a second external terminal for signals, external terminals for control, and external terminals for capacitance compensation. The compensation unit has second variable-capacitance capacitor units C9 to C 11, each including a second dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material, and is connected to the element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to a control voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: DEXERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kanno, Norio Saito
  • Patent number: 10190247
    Abstract: Provided is a wall-mounted drum washing machine which includes a rear panel having a buffer member interposed between a through-hole and a wall surface and mounted on the wall surface through a fastening member inserted through the through-hole, a tub containing wash water and supported by the rear panel, and a box unit coupled to the rear panel so as to surround the tub. The wall-mounted drum washing machine includes a sensor configured to sense a contact state between the rear panel and the wall surface, a control unit configured to determine a mounting abnormality of the drum washing machine based on the sensed contact state, and a power supply unit configured to control power supply according to the determination result of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ju Dong Lee, Ui Kun Hwang, Jae Min Lee, Sang Ill Bae, Sang Ok Lee
  • Patent number: 10193387
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission device is disclosed. The wireless power transmission device, which is a medium-power wireless power transmission device that transmits power to a low-power wireless power reception device or a medium-power wireless power reception device, includes: a power conversion unit that converts electrical energy to a power signal; and a communications and control unit that communicates with the wireless power reception device and controls power transfer, the power conversion unit including: an inverter that converts DC input to an AC waveform that drives a resonant circuit; a primary coil that creates a magnetic field; and a current sensor that monitors the current in the primary coil, wherein the inverter operates in a full-bridge mode that drives a plurality of bridges or in a half-bridge mode that drives a single bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaesung Lee, Jinmoo Park, Jihyun Lee
  • Patent number: 10186871
    Abstract: A detector detects a peak of a power value in a current-voltage characteristic curve to DC power output from a solar battery module. A setting device, when a plurality of peaks is detected, when a current value is greater than a threshold value in a first peak having a maximum voltage value of the plurality of peaks, sets an operation point based on the first peak. The setting device, when the current value in the first peak is equal to or less than the threshold value, sets the operation point based on a second peak in which the voltage value is less than that in the first peak and the current value is greater than the threshold value, of the plurality of peaks. A power regulator regulates output of the DC power of the solar battery module in accordance with the operation point set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yousuke Ishii
  • Patent number: 10177599
    Abstract: A contactless power feeding system comprises a power feeding device and a movable device. The movable device is installed on a power feeding case of the power feeding device, and a liquid crystal TV (E) is installed on the movable device. The liquid crystal TV (E) can be arranged at a desired position on a wall (W) in a room (R) by moving the movable device along the power feeding case. The liquid crystal TV (E) can be arranged at a desired height by moving the liquid crystal TV (E) in the axial direction of a guide pipe provided on a power receiving case. The liquid crystal TV (E) can be directed in a desired direction by rotating the liquid crystal TV (E) around the guide pipe. The contactless power feeding system feeds power to the liquid crystal TV (E) via the power feeding device and the movable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Abe, Toyohiko Tsujimoto, Mamoru Ozaki, Hiroshi Kohara, Toshihiro Akiyama, Akira Yabuta
  • Patent number: 10168364
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a battery source monitoring system for a vehicle. The system comprises at least one current sensor configured to detect current flow from one or more accessory devices connected to an auxiliary battery source. The control unit on detecting vehicle ignition OFF condition, is configured to determine ON condition of one or more accessory devices and switch power source of the one or more accessory devices in ON condition from primary battery source to auxiliary battery source. The control unit then compares current flow received from current sensor with a predetermined threshold. When current flow detected by current sensor surpasses predetermined threshold, the control unit disconnects one or more accessory devices from auxiliary battery source and primary battery source, and switch power source of one or more accessory devices from auxiliary battery source to the primary battery source, thereby monitoring battery source of vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: WIPRO LIMITED
    Inventor: Rudranil Chakrabarty
  • Patent number: 10164428
    Abstract: The disclosure is related to a voltage-source multi-level converter including a phase unit. The phase unit includes first and second bridge arms, each includes modules and reactor connected in series. In the first bridge arm, a first terminal of first reactor is connected to alternating-current terminal of the phrase unit, a second terminal thereof is connected to a first terminal of the first modules, and second terminal of the first modules is connected to first DC terminal of the phrase unit. In the second bridge arm, a first terminal of the second reactor is connected to the alternating-current terminal, a second terminal thereof is connected to a first terminal of the second modules, and a second terminal of the second modules is connected to second DC terminal of the phrase unit. Then, a parallel fault shunt circuit is connected between the second terminals of the first and second reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignees: NR ELECTRIC CO., LTD, NR ENGINEERING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Guorong Shen, Jie Tian, Dongming Cao, Haiying Li, Yunlong Dong, Nannan Wang, Haibin Liu, Yu Lu
  • Patent number: 10131246
    Abstract: A circuit can include a CAN bus and multiple nodes. The multiple nodes can reboot at the same time so that a Time 0 is set at boot for each node. Each node can store an ID node and determine from its ID node one time slot of a plurality of periodic time slots starting from Time 0 in which to transmit on the CAN bus. Each node can transmit messages on the CAN bus in its determined time slot subsequent to Time 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: H55 SA
    Inventor: Sébastien Demont
  • Patent number: 10122211
    Abstract: A wireless power transfer system includes: a station that a vehicle is capable of entering and leaving; and a bottom part detection sensor having a detection unit capable of detecting an object that enters a detection range, provided at the station, and that outputs a bottom part detection signal corresponding to a portion, which enters the detection range, of a bottom part of the vehicle. The wireless power transfer system executes: a detection signal output step in which the bottom part detection sensor outputs a time-series bottom part detection signal when the vehicle moves in the station at a predetermined speed that is a prescribed speed; and a coil position information extraction step of extracting, from the time-series bottom part detection signal, coil position information that is information about a position of an electric power receiving coil in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Takatsu, Susumu Tokura, Akio Ueda, Sho Hashizume, Kei Akune, Tooru Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10122170
    Abstract: A method (3000) of load adjustment sharing for a space (100) including a first zone (110) and a second zone (120), and a control unit (10) for a load adjustment sharing system (1) are provided. The method comprises the steps of receiving (301) information (130) related to a load adjustment for the space, and receiving (302) environment information (113) about the first zone and environment information (123) about the second zone. Further, based on the environment information about the first zone, the environment information about the second zone and the information related to the load adjustment for the space, a load adjustment share (114) for the first zone and a load adjustment share (124) for the second zone are determined. The present invention may be utilized in buildings including a plurality of zones. The present invention is advantageous in that the load adjustment sharing is intelligently adapted to the environment circumstances in the different zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Yao-Jung Wen, William Woody Delp
  • Patent number: 10110074
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission method in which a demanded power of a first wireless power receiver is adjusted by the first wireless power receiver within first and second available power of the wireless power transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Woo Kil Jung
  • Patent number: 10069338
    Abstract: A control circuit is provided for a power receiver apparatus. A target voltage range setting unit sets an upper limit voltage VH and a lower limit voltage VL that define a target voltage range REF to be set for a rectified voltage VRECT that develops across a smoothing capacitor. An electric power control unit compares the rectified voltage VRECT with each of the upper limit voltage VH and the lower limit voltage VL, and generates a power control signal DPC based on the comparison result. A modulator modulates the power control signal DPC, and transmits the modulated signal to a wireless power transmitter apparatus via a reception coil. Upon detection of an oscillation state in the rectified voltage VRECT, the target voltage range setting unit expands the target voltage range REF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xun He, Daisuke Uchimoto, Takeshi Nozawa
  • Patent number: 10062532
    Abstract: A method for the activation of an electrical device (50), which comprises at least one electrical component (30) whose values are mechanically variable by rotating or displacing is characterized by the following steps: at least one first and one second threshold value are predetermined, which are adjustable by rotating, touching, displacing or other manipulations; a time window starts after reaching the first threshold value by manipulation of the electrical component (30); if the second threshold value is reached by manipulation of the electrical component (30) within the time window, an activation signal is output; and if the second threshold value is not reached within the predeterminable time window by manipulation of the electrical component (30), the activation process is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Kohler, Simon Mahler, Tobias Reissing