Patents Examined by Kevin J Comber
  • Patent number: 12046890
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle contains a plug outlet that has a pair of contacts for electrical connection to respective hot and neutral power lines. A controlled switch, such as a TRIAC, is connected in series relationship between the outlet contact and the hot power line. Sensors in the receptacle outputs signals to a processor having an output coupled to the control terminal of the controlled switch. The processor outputs an activation signal or a deactivation signal to the controlled switch in response to received sensor signals that are indicative of conditions relative to the first and second contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brainwave Research Corporation
    Inventors: John Eriksen, Jean-Guy Gagne, Rene K. Pardo
  • Patent number: 12046893
    Abstract: A leakage current detection and interruption device for power cord includes a switch module, a leakage current detection module, an open circuit detection module, and a trigger module. The switch module controls the electrical connection between input and output ends of the power cord. The leakage current detection module has two leakage current detection lines to collect leakage current on the power supply lines of the power cord. The open circuit detection module is coupled to the leakage current detection module, and generates an open-circuit fault signal when an open circuit exists in at least one of the two leakage current detection lines. The trigger module is coupled to the switch module and the open circuit detection module, and receives a leakage fault signal and/or the open-circuit fault signal, and in response thereto, drives the switch module to disconnect the electrical connection between the input and output ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Inventor: Chengli Li
  • Patent number: 12046894
    Abstract: There is provided a current limiting diode 200 comprising a gate 206, a source 202, a drain 204 electrically connected to the source by an n-channel or p-channel 220 and a thermoelectric generator 208; wherein the source and the gate are electrically connected by a fill structure 210, and wherein the thermoelectric generator is configured to: generate a thermoelectric voltage by absorbing heat from the n-channel or p-channel and rejecting heat to a heat sink in a current limiting condition; and apply the thermoelectric voltage between the gate and the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: David R Trainer, Mark Sweet
  • Patent number: 12040150
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for monitoring a mechanical trip mechanism of a circuit interrupter provides advanced diagnostics. The trip mechanism comprises a D-shaft that is actuated by the trip unit, an operating mechanism that is actuated by the D-shaft, and a pole shaft that is actuated by the operating mechanism to physically separate the separable contacts. During every opening operation, the diagnostic system determines how much time elapses between the D-shaft beginning to move to its open position and the pole shaft reaching its open position, in order to detect degradation of the trip mechanism as early as possible. This ensures that suboptimal performance is detected even if the trip mechanism is meeting the minimum requirements for acceptable performance. A user is notified once the performance has degraded to a level that is considered concerning before the trip mechanism fails altogether, saving significant time and resources and preventing more widespread damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Daniel A. Hosko, John E. Downs, Brian J. Schaltenbrand, Paul Richard Rakus
  • Patent number: 12040165
    Abstract: A wafer placement table includes a ceramic base having a wafer placement surface on its top surface and incorporating an electrode, a cooling base in which a refrigerant flow channel is formed, and a metal bonding layer that bonds the ceramic base with the cooling base. The cooling base includes a ceiling base made of a metal matrix composite material or a low thermal expansion metal material and defining a ceiling of the refrigerant flow channel, a grooved base of which a main component is made of the same ceramic material as a main component of the ceramic base and on a top surface of which a flow channel groove defining a bottom and a side wall of the refrigerant flow channel is provided, and a metal ceiling bonding layer that bonds a bottom surface of the ceiling base with the top surface of the grooved base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kuno, Seiya Inoue, Hiroshi Takebayashi
  • Patent number: 12040210
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing systems include a processing chamber, a power supply, and a chuck disposed at least partially within the processing chamber. The chuck includes a chuck body defining a vacuum port. The chuck also includes first and second coplanar electrodes embedded in the chuck body and connected to the power supply. In some examples, coplanar electrodes include concentric electrodes defining a concentric gap in between. Exemplary semiconductor processing methods may include activating the power supply for the electrostatic chuck to secure a semiconductor substrate on the body of the chuck and/or activating the vacuum port defined by the body of the electrostatic chuck. Some processing can be carried out at increased pressure, while other processing can be carried out at reduced pressure with increased chucking voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Li, Dmitry A. Dzilno, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Paul L. Brillhart, Akshay Gunaji, Mayur Govind Kulkarni, Sandeep Bindgi, Sanjay Kamath, Kwangduk Douglas Lee, Zongbin Wang, Yubin Zhang, Yong Xiang Lim
  • Patent number: 12034305
    Abstract: In the field of high voltage direct current (HVDC) power transmission networks, there is a need for improvements to allow a single power converter to control individual AC network voltages carried by multiple AC transmission conduits to multiple AC network elements, such as respective wind parks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLC
    Inventors: Guillaume De Preville, Julian Freytes, Jiaqi Li, Marc Thouvenin, Omar Jasim
  • Patent number: 12034281
    Abstract: A fault detection system and method includes a sensor; a processing unit; and an output unit. The sensor is configured to acquire temperature data at a sensor location of a device, wherein the temperature data comprises first temperature data and second temperature data acquired a first time period after the first temperature data. The processing unit determines a temperature magnitude comprising utilization of the first temperature data and/or the second temperature data, and determines a rate of change of temperature. The processing unit predicts a temperature at a location of the device using the temperature magnitude, the rate of change of temperature, and a correlation, wherein the correlation is a correlation of a plurality of temperature magnitudes and a plurality of rate of change of temperatures at the sensor location with a plurality of hotspot temperatures at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Joerg Ostrowski, Kai Hencken, Ralf Gitzel, Joerg Gebhardt, Oliver Becker, Maciej Mruczek, Tomas Kozel, Anastasios Papageorgiou
  • Patent number: 12033837
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to an electrostatic chuck assembly suitable for use in cryogenic applications. In one or more embodiments, an electrostatic chuck assembly is provided and includes an electrostatic chuck having a substrate supporting surface opposite a bottom surface, a cooling plate having a top surface, where the cooling plate contains an aluminum alloy having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of less than 22 ppm/° C., and a bonding layer securing the bottom surface of the electrostatic chuck and the top surface of the cooling plate, where the bonding layer contains a silicone material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Vijay D. Parkhe
  • Patent number: 12025409
    Abstract: A conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) comprises one or more switch devices and a charge storage circuit for delivering a stimulus signal via a deployed electrode. A charge may be stored in the charge storage circuit. A first switch device of the one or more switch devices may be selectively turned on according to the charge of the charge storage circuit. The stimulus signal may be delivered via a current flow path comprising the first switch device and the deployed electrode according to the charge of the charge storage circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventors: Magne H. Nerheim, Varun Sathyanarayan, Ryan Markle
  • Patent number: 12024923
    Abstract: A safety handle for the control of access to machines or industrial plants comprises a main body (3, 4) adapted to be gripped by a user for moving the movable part (M) of the access (A), fixing means for fixing the main body (3, 4) to the movable part (M), an actuator (2) suitable to be associated with the main body (3, 4) to interact with control means associated with the access (A) upon closure thereof for enabling the machine or industrial plant to be controlled. The main body (3, 4) houses thereinside one or more signalling and/or control devices (25, 26) provided with electrical connection means for connection to one or more power and/or service circuits of the machine or industrial plant, at least one of the signalling and/or control devices comprising one or more light sources (25) adapted to emit a light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: PIZZATO ELETTRICA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Pizzato, Simone Zonta
  • Patent number: 12027994
    Abstract: There is provided a system for providing (e.g., configured to provide) power to one or more loads. The system comprises a plurality of power converters, wherein each power converter is configured to be arranged in a parallel configuration with one or more additional power converters so as to provide power to the one or more loads. The system further comprises a central controller configured to receive a plurality of local current measurement values from each of the power converters, output a global current measurement value based on the local current measurement values, and transmit the global current measurement value to each of the power converters, wherein each power converter comprises an inverter for receiving an input voltage and converting this to an output voltage having one or more associated output current(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Andrei Dinu, Rodrigo Fernandez-Mattos, Diarmaid John Hogan, Sebastian Pedro Rosado, Virgilio Valdivia Guerrero
  • Patent number: 12027846
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an electrostatic protection structure and an electrostatic protection circuit. The electrostatic protection structure includes: a SCR structure and a trigger structure; the SCR structure includes: a well region of a second conductivity type and a first well of a first conductivity type region, a first-doped region of the first conductivity type, and a first-doped region of the second conductivity type; the trigger structure includes: a first-doped region of the second conductivity type, a second well region of the first conductivity type, a second-doped region of two conductivity types, a third-doped region of the second conductivity type, a fourth-doped region of the second conductivity type, and a first gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: ChangXin Memory Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yingtao Zhang, Pan Mao, Junjie Liu, Lingxin Zhu, Bin Song, Qian Xu, Tieh-Chiang Wu
  • Patent number: 12027339
    Abstract: Embodiments provide an Energy Reduction Maintenance Setting (ERMS) key that includes a data connector configured to communicatively couple to a data port of a target device. The ERMS key further includes an illumination device and an actuator mechanism having a base positional state and an actuated positional state. The ERMS key includes logic configured to, upon detecting the actuator mechanism has moved from the base positional state to the actuated positional state, generate and transmit a first data message to the target device through the data connector instructing the target device to enter a protected mode. The logic is further configured to, upon receiving a second data message from the target device over the data connector acknowledging that the target device has successfully entered the protected mode, cause the illumination device to illuminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Robert Faber, Justin Siefkes
  • Patent number: 12028994
    Abstract: A telecommunications cabinet (100) for enclosing telecommunications equipment (110) of a telecommunications network, the telecommunications cabinet comprising: an electric water pump (140); a water detector (160), wherein the water detector is configured to cause activation of the electric water pump upon detecting water; a power supply (150) for powering the electric water pump; and a fluid conduit (170), coupled to the electric water pump, extending from within the cabinet to an outside of the cabinet via an aperture (180) in the cabinet so as to convey water out of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS public limited company
    Inventors: Daniel Calver, Martin Nottage
  • Patent number: 12019751
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to method and/or device which is effective at cancelling or altering electrical signals or pulses, generated by, for example, digital electronic systems and components, that are induced, reflected or otherwise made present on the mains power supply conductors and/or the earthing or grounding conductor (if present.) The disclosed embodiments cancel these electrical signals thereby providing an effective means of preventing the exfiltration of various data from a computing or similar system by means of power line emissions. The disclosed embodiments may perform this subjugation by: altering the shape of the fundamental current and voltage waveforms and also altering and diminishing any non-fundamental frequency waveforms to a point where they are no longer measurable or detectable; and preventing the communication via inductive coupling of any electrical signals on mains current onto the grounding path or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Lodestone LLC
    Inventor: Michael W. Januszewski
  • Patent number: 12019470
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a device magnet designed to magnetically couple with an accessory device magnet. The electronic device further includes a display assembly and a magnetic field sensor configured to detect the accessory device magnet, thereby providing an indication that the accessory device is covering the display assembly. The electronic device further includes a shunt assembly designed to reduce the magnitude of the magnetic field of the device magnet, as determined by the magnetic field sensor, while allowing the magnetic field from the accessory device to sufficiently reach the magnetic field sensor. As such, the magnetic field sensor can be placed near the device magnet without triggering the magnetic field sensor. The electronic device may further include a microphone. Communication between the microphone and an integrated circuit can cease based on the magnetic field sensor detecting the accessory device magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Pinciuc, Zhen Zhang
  • Patent number: 12018361
    Abstract: Power supplies, waveform function generators and methods for controlling a plasma process are described. The power supplies or waveform function generators include a component for executing the method in which a waveform shape change index is determined during a plasma process and evaluated for compliance with a predetermined tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shouyin Zhang, Keith A. Miller
  • Patent number: 12020877
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter has first and second contacts that are actuatable relative to each other between a closed position wherein a power source and a load are in electrical communication and an open position wherein the power source and the load are not in electrical communication. An arc extinguisher is also provided for extinguishing an arc that develops in the vicinity of the contacts. An electromagnetic coil, when energized, generates a magnetic field that permeates an area where the arc develops, the magnetic field urging the arc toward the arc extinguisher regardless of a polarity of the contacts. An auxiliary switch is operably connected to the contacts, such that upon movement of the contacts relative to each other from the closed position toward the open position, the auxiliary switch is activated so as to energize a circuit feeding power to the electromagnetic coil, thereby generating the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Carling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Fasano
  • Patent number: 12014947
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic dielectric substrate, a base plate, and a first porous part. The ceramic dielectric substrate has a first major surface and a second major surface. The base plate supports the ceramic dielectric substrate and includes a gas feed channel. The first porous part is provided between the base plate and the first major surface. The ceramic dielectric substrate includes a first hole part. The first porous part includes a porous section, and a first compact section being more compact than the porous section. The porous section including a plurality of sparse portions including a plurality of pores including a first pore and a second pore, and a dense portion having a higher density than the sparse portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Toto, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Shiraishi, Shuichiro Saigan, Tatsuya Mori, Masahiro Watanabe