Patents Examined by Lucy M. Thomas
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Patent number: 11387645Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a selectively reduced voltage to a portable electronic device are disclosed. When a determination is made that an output voltage from a voltage source exceeds a predefined maximum permitted voltage, a plurality of circuitries, including an adaptive active current limiting circuitry, are enabled in order to derive the reduced voltage from the output voltage. The reduced voltage is at least at or below the predefined maximum permitted voltage and is supplied to the portable electronic device by battery circuitry that includes the active current limiting circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventors: Muhamad Ridzuan Azizan, Chen Kok Yeoh, Wai Mun Lee, Mohd Faisal Abdullah, Kow Chee Chong, Macwien Krishnamurthi
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Patent number: 11387067Abstract: A circuit interrupter is structured to protect a protected circuit. The circuit interrupter includes a ground fault current sensor structured to sense a ground fault current in the protected circuit and a processor including a routine structured to perform a ground fault output self-test. The ground fault output self-test includes to output a trip signal within a predetermined phase angle of a zero-crossing of current flowing through the protected circuit, to stop outputting the trip signal before the zero-crossing, to determine whether the trip signal caused a pulse in the ground fault current, and to determine whether the circuit interrupter passed the ground fault output self-test based on whether the trip signal caused a pulse in the ground fault current.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2017Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITEDInventors: Jian Jiao, Adonna Angelika Anderson
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Patent number: 11385029Abstract: A safety guard for an ammunition cartridge (cartridge) of a conductive energy weapon (CEW) includes a body having a first electrical contact on a first side of the body and a second electrical contact on a second side of the body opposite the first side of the body. The first and second electrical contacts are in electrical communication with each other through the body. The first and second electrical contacts are configured to contact a first electrode of the cartridge and a second electrode of the cartridge, respectively, when the body is placed over the cartridge. The safety guard is configured to prevent the cartridge from firing when a firing input, such as a trigger pull, is received by the CEW from a user. In implementations the body includes at least one clip having a projection configured to be inserted in a corresponding depression of the cartridge of the CEW.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Leonidas IP, LLCInventor: Steven Abboud
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Patent number: 11380464Abstract: A surge arrestor includes an active part extending along a longitudinal direction of the surge arrester, a first electrode having a first interlocking part, a second electrode resting against a second end of the active part, a flexible insulating housing, and a second interlocking part formed on an inner surface of the flexible insulating housing. The flexible insulating housing includes: a support member mechanically connecting and supporting the assembly of the first electrode, the active part and the second electrode, which has a plurality of supporting elements being arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction of the surge arrester and being arranged laterally at sides of the assembly of the first electrode, the active part and the second electrode, and an insulating expandable part with a plurality of sheds extending outwards, being moulded around the support member and being spaced apart from the assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2018Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AGInventors: Chun Li, Ektor Sotiropoulos, Felix Greuter, JianSheng Chen, Jian He, Liang Song, Weidong Zhou
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Patent number: 11374393Abstract: Circuits for providing overcurrent protection are disclosed herein. The circuits feature depletion mode MOSFETs connected to resistive elements, preferably, Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) devices, configured in such a way so that the voltage across the PTC device is the same as the gate-to-source voltage of the MOSFET. The circuit may further be configured using a TVS diode, for clamping the drain-to-source voltage of the MOSFET during the overcurrent events. Heat transfer between the MOSFET and the PTC device facilitates overcurrent protection. A two-terminal device including a depletion mode MOSFET, a PTC device, and a TVS diode may provide overcurrent protection to other circuits. A bidirectional circuit c including two MOSFETS disposed on either side of a PTC is also contemplated for AC voltage overcurrent protection.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Jeff Chin, Neil LeJeune, Orware Liu, Teddy To
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Patent number: 11362514Abstract: A dual transient surge and communication protection device, which can have less than 5 nanosecond response time and can provide communication and power transient surge protection for field instrumentation and be configured for operating under multiple communication protocols. The dual transient surge and communication protection device can have a positive power and communication terminal, a negative power and communication terminal, a grounding terminal, a first silicon avalanche diode array, a second silicon avalanche diode array, a first non-polar wire, a second non-polar wire, a grounding wire and a unit viability wire. The device provides protection from 4 milliamps to 20 milliamps of power and communication signals for field instruments.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2017Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Inventor: Scott Hill Holliday
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Patent number: 11355915Abstract: A protection relay comprises a digital processing unit including: a first filter to eliminate a DC component in the time-series data, the first filter having a first window length; a second filter to eliminate a DC component in the time-series data, the second filter having a second window length shorter than the first window length; and a coefficient calculation unit to multiply an amplitude value of an output signal of the first filter and an amplitude value of an output signal of the second filter by first and second coefficients respectively, and integrate multiplication results. An operation determination is performed based on an output of the coefficient calculation unit. The first coefficient is decreased and the second coefficient is increased when a failure of the power system is detected, and thereafter, the first coefficient and the second coefficient are changed with a lapse of time.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2018Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuma Murata, Shigetoo Oda
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Patent number: 11349295Abstract: In a power supply control device, a switching device turns a main switch on or off to control supply of power via the main switch. When a battery supplies power to the switching device, a fuse is disposed in a first current path of an output current output from the switching device. A diode is disposed in a second current path of the output current different from the first current path. If a current flowing through the fuse increases to or above a first threshold, the fuse blows. If a current flowing through the diode increases to or above a second threshold, the diode blows.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2019Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Shinnosuke Nakaguchi, Masayuki Kato
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Patent number: 11329473Abstract: According to one aspect of embodiments, a driver circuit having an overcurrent protection function includes a control signal generating circuit that outputs a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) control signal for controlling turning ON and OFF of the output transistor that supplies output current to a load; and a control circuit that generates a signal indicating an overcurrent state when a count value of an overcurrent detecting signal exceeds a predetermined number, which indicates that a value of an output current of the output transistor within the predetermined time interval exceeds a predetermined threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignees: TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION, AISIN AW CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroyuki Sugiyama, Yuji Yamanaka, Tatsufumi Kurokawa
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Patent number: 11315919Abstract: An integrated circuit is formed on a substrate, and the integrated circuit includes first and second conductors for providing supply and ground voltages, respectively, a clamp device, and a trigger circuit. The clamp device includes first and second metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors coupled in series between the first and second conductors, wherein the first and second MOS transistors include first and second gates, respectively. The trigger circuit is coupled between the first and second conductors and is configured to drive the first and second gates with first and second voltages, respectively, in response to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event. The trigger circuit includes a biasing circuit for generating the first voltage as a function of the supply voltage, a PMOS transistor coupled between the first conductor and the second gate, wherein the PMOS transistors includes a third gate.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventor: Michael A. Stockinger
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Patent number: 11316325Abstract: An apparatus includes a first terminal configured to be coupled to a substation around mat for a substation and a second terminal configured to be coupled to a safety around mat for a piece of electrical equipment powered by the substation. The system further includes at least one voltage-dependent resistance device, such as at least one metal oxide varistor (MOV) configured to be coupled between the first and second terminals. At least one circuit interruption device, such as a fuse and/or a disconnect switch may be coupled in series with the at least one voltage-dependent resistance device.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power LimitedInventors: Matthew A. Moore, Michael Peters, David Shipp
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Patent number: 11316338Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for supplying energy to at least one intrinsically safe load in a potentially explosive area, the device including: a housing with an electrical input and with at least one electrical output, the housing is encapsulated in a pressure-proof manner, the electrical input encapsulated in a pressure-proof manner, and the at least one electrical output being intrinsically safe; an ignition protection module arranged in the housing and electrically connected to the electrical input and to the at least one electrical output, wherein the ignition protection module converts an electrical voltage present at the electrical input into an intrinsically safe electrical voltage and provides it at least one electrical output there, wherein the ignition protection module converts an electrical current present at the electrical input into an intrinsically safe electrical current and provides it at the at least one electrical output there.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2019Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KGInventor: Christian Felcmann
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Patent number: 11309152Abstract: An integrated circuit for demagnetizing an inductive load includes a first switch to control current supplied by a voltage supply to the inductive load. A Zener diode includes an anode connected to a control terminal of the first switch and a cathode connected to the voltage supply. A second switch includes a control terminal and first and second terminals. A temperature sensing circuit is configured to sense a temperature of the first switch and to generate a sensed temperature. A comparing circuit includes inputs that receive a reference temperature and the sensed temperature and an output connected to the control terminal of the second switch.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2017Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.Inventors: Siro Buzzetti, Marco Demicheli, Danilo Ranieri
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Patent number: 11309702Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of systems and methods for detecting and responding to islanding of distributed energy resources are disclosed. In at least one illustrative embodiment, a method may include measuring voltage and current at a connection point between a distributed energy resource and an electrical grid, determining a Thévenin impedance of the electrical grid based upon the voltage and current measurements, and determining whether the Thévenin impedance has exceeded a predetermined threshold. In some embodiments, the method may further include disconnecting the distributed energy resource from the electrical grid in response to determining that the Thévenin impedance has exceeded the predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2019Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AGInventors: Khoi Vu, Salman Khalid Gill
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Patent number: 11309697Abstract: An apparatus is provided for protecting high-voltage electrical connections, in particular in vehicles. A fuse for interrupting a line includes a conduction coil, which is designed to have a conduction current on the line flowing through the conduction coil and to thereby generate a magnetic field. Furthermore, the includes a control coil, which is magnetically coupled to the conduction coil, and a circuit breaker, which is designed to interrupt the line depending on a field intensity of the magnetic field. In addition, the fuse includes a control unit, which is designed to determine a control current through the control coil in order to vary the field intensity of the magnetic field, and thus to cause or suppress an interruption of the line by way of the circuit breaker.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2016Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventor: Josef Krammer
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Patent number: 11295935Abstract: The electromagnet device of the present invention comprises: a yoke having an annular groove in a front surface thereof; an annular coil provided in the groove; and an epoxy resin provided on an outer surface of the coil configured to secure the coil to the yoke, wherein there is a clearance between an outer circumferential surface of the groove in the yoke and the epoxy resin provided on an radially outer side of the coil.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2016Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: EBARA CORPORATIONInventors: Tomonori Ohashi, Toshimitsu Barada, Hironobu Yamasaki, Misako Kudo, Ichiju Sato
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Patent number: 11295912Abstract: An arrangement for interrupting current comprises a first and a second terminal. First, second, and third parallel circuit branches are arranged between the terminals to electrically connect two power networks. The first parallel circuit branch comprises a mechanical main circuit breaker, the second parallel circuit branch comprises an energy absorbing device, and the third parallel circuit branch comprises a resonant circuit and a voltage control means arranged in series. The voltage control means is controllable to inject energy into the resonant circuit to force a rapid increase of alternating current, wherein the alternating current flows in a loop containing the first and the third parallel circuit branches as the mechanical main circuit breaker is controlled to open to interrupt main current. Zero cross-over of the current through the mechanical main circuit breaker is thereby realized as the alternating current amplitude exceeds the main current amplitude.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2016Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: SCIBREAK ABInventors: Lennart Ängquist, Staffan Norrga
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Patent number: 11271558Abstract: An integrated circuit that may be employed as a smart switch is described herein. The integrated circuit may include a first power transistor coupled between a supply pin and a first output pin and a second power transistor coupled between the supply pin and a second output pin. The first and the second power transistors each having an intrinsic body diode which allows reverse conduction. The integrated circuit further includes a control circuit that is configured to trigger a switch-on and switch-off of the first and the second power transistors based on a first input signal and a second input signal, respectively. Furthermore, the integrated circuit includes a protection circuit configured to detect, for the first and the second power transistors, a transition from a reverse conducting state into a forward conducting state, and vice versa, and to generate an error signal in response to certain detections.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Christian Djelassi-Tscheck, Ulisse Lorenzo Lillo, Michael Luschin
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Patent number: 11264788Abstract: An example power adaptor includes a converter and a circuit to detect an overcurrent event at the converter and to pause power output of the converter when the overcurrent event is detected. The circuit is further to count a number of overcurrent events at the converter within a time period. The circuit is further to compare the number of overcurrent events to a threshold number and to switch off the power output of the converter when the number of overcurrent events passes the threshold number.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Asjad Shamim, Po Yu Li, Qijun Chen, Fangyong Dai
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Patent number: 11251608Abstract: A surge suppression system provides surge protection both locally within the radio station building were the power plant and telecommunication equipment are located and remotely next to the radios and antennas located outside of the building on the communication tower. An external surge suppression unit provides a waterproof enclosure for both surge suppression devices and fiber optic connectors. A rack mountable surge suppression unit provides local in-line surge suppression protection for the electrical equipment located in the communication station. A unique surge suppression tray is hot swappable so that multiple surge suppression devices can be replaced at the same time without disrupting radio operation. Pluggable surge suppression modules can be used in both the external surge suppression unit and the rack mountable surge suppression unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2018Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: RAYCAP S.A.Inventors: Douglas Wayne Miller, Konstantinos Samaras, Kelly Rae Richards, Daniel Joseph Sullivan, Megaklis Marathias