Patents Examined by Michael Harrison
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Patent number: 11112432Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring arrangement (12) for measuring an electric current (I) in the high-current range, in particular in the current range of more than 1 kA, having a low-resistance current sense resistor (1) for measuring current in accordance with four conductor technology and a physically integrated measuring circuit (17) for measuring the voltage which is dropped across the current sense resistor (1). The invention provides several pairs of voltage taps for measuring the electrical voltage which is dropped across the resistor element (4), wherein the pairs of voltage taps are connected to the measuring circuit (17). The invention further provides two busbar connections (13, 14) for connection to two busbars (15, 16). Corrections of the temperature coefficient, the thermoelectric voltage and the offset and also a high sampling rate and resolution allow high-resolution measurement of a DC current in a high AC current.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2017Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: ISABELLENHUETTE HEUSLER GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Ullrich Hetzler, Michael Pollmann
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Patent number: 11092925Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a housing, a cover a process cartridge, an LED array, and a link member. The cover is pivotally movable about an axis extending in a first direction between an open position and a closed position. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a developing unit, and is attachable to and detachable from the housing in an open state where the cover is at the open position. The link member is movable in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in interlocking relation to movement of the cover. The link member is configured to: move the developing unit away from the axis in the second direction during movement of the cover from the closed position to the open position; and move the developing unit toward the axis in the second direction during movement of the cover from the open position to the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shougo Sato, Hideshi Nishiyama
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Patent number: 11079435Abstract: A method for diagnosing the wear status of an electrical switching unit including a phase for monitoring the electrical unit. The monitoring phase uses: learning data previously loaded and representative of the type of electrical unit, and initialization data corresponding to the unit to be monitored and stored in memory during an initialization phase. The monitoring phase includes the measurement and the acquisition of a measurement curve upon the opening of the electrical unit, the determination of values of local descriptors with little sensitivity to the temperature from the measurement curve as a function of values of the measurement curve, of initialization data, and of learning data, the determination of a global status class as a function of the positioning values. The device and the electrical unit implement the method.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SASInventors: Remy Orban, Jose Desforges
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Patent number: 11079409Abstract: At least two redundant analog input units for a measurement current have analog inputs which are connected in parallel and upon which voltage measuring devices directly lie to convert respectively applied voltages into a digital measurement value, wherein in order to detect errors, in particular in order to detect wire breakage, each analog input unit compares its generated measurement value with a threshold and outputs an error message if a measurement value is detected that falls below the threshold, where if the analog input of the analog input unit is in the low-resistance state, then the at least one other analog input unit is additionally caused to assume a current-measuring function and switch the analog input of the analog input unit to a low-resistance state.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Willi Maier, Norbert Rottmann
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Patent number: 11073408Abstract: A rotary sensor arrangement is configured to be used with a rotatable magnetic source and comprises a first and a second pair of magnetic field sensors, each pair arranged symmetrically with respect to rotation axes and providing respective sensor values. An evaluation unit determines a first sum value corresponding to a sum of the sensor values of the first pair, and a second sum value corresponding to a sum of the sensor values of the second pair. The evaluation unit further determines a difference value corresponding to a difference between the first and the second sum value and compares the difference value or a value derived thereof to a threshold value. Based on the comparison result, it is determined whether a failure status of the sensor arrangement is present.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2017Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: AMS AGInventors: Kurt Riedmueller, Simone Sabatelli
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Patent number: 11067607Abstract: Embodiments described herein are directed to a system having a processor and a bridge circuit. The bridge circuit includes a pair of differential voltage sources, a first pair of sensing elements and a second pair of sensing elements. The first pair of sensing elements generate a pair of measurement signals. The pair of measurement signals are independent of one another and based on the respective sensing element. The second pair of sensing elements communicatively coupled to first pair of sensing elements. The second pair of sensing elements define a first divider. The pair of measurement signals are input into the respective second sensing element of the second pair of sensing elements. The first divider is configured to output a first output signal to the processor. The first output signal is a first differential signal of the first pair of sensing elements.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2019Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: KSR IP Holdings, LLCInventors: Joong K. Lee, Ryan W. Elliott
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Patent number: 11047923Abstract: A ground fault detection device that is connected to an ungrounded battery, estimates an insulation resistance of the system provided with the battery, and detects a ground fault, includes a capacitor that operates as a flying capacitor, two C-contact switches that switch a V0 charging path including the battery and the capacitor, a Vcn charging path including the battery, a negative-side insulation resistance that is an insulation resistance between a negative side of the battery and ground, and the capacitor, a Vcp charging path including the battery, a positive-side insulation resistance insulation resistance that is an insulation resistance between a positive-side insulation resistance of the battery and ground, and the capacitor, and a measurement path that serves both a charge voltage measurement and a discharge of the first capacitor, and an optical MOS-FET capable of blocking charge inflow to and charge outflow from the capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2020Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventor: Yoshihiro Kawamura
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Patent number: 11041931Abstract: A voltage measurement device includes a voltage measurement circuit part, a voltage generation circuit part, and a control unit. In a voltage measurement mode, a measurement result of the input voltage is detected as an output voltage value based on the output signal of the voltage measurement circuit part. In a self-diagnosis mode, it is determined whether the measured output voltage value when the lower limit voltage is applied by the voltage generation circuit part is within a specific lower limit range (first determination). Further, a specific intermediate range is set based on the output voltage value and a specific upper limit range, and it is determined whether the output voltage value when the intermediate voltage is applied by the voltage generation circuit part is within the specific intermediate range (second determination). Self-diagnosis of the voltage measurement circuit part is performed based on the first and second determinations.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2019Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignees: YAZAKI CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Haruhiko Yoshida, Seiichiro Kondo
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Patent number: 11036172Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming device; a fixing device including a fixing unit configured to fix a toner image to a recording sheet; a first AC receiving portion configured to receive power for the image forming device from an AC power source; a second AC receiving portion configured to receive power for the fixing device from the AC power source; a third AC receiving portion, which is removably connected to the image forming device, and is configured to receive power to be supplied to the fixing unit via the first AC receiving portion; and a connection detecting portion configured to detect whether power is supplied from the third AC receiving portion to the fixing device. The image forming device detects whether the third AC receiving portion is connected to the image forming device based on a detection result of the connection detecting portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2020Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshinori Kimura, Teruhiko Suzuki, Naoki Ishikawa
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Patent number: 11029633Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt stretched taut around a plurality of supports, a pressure rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure rotator, a belt polishing mechanism to polish the fixing belt. The belt polishing mechanism includes a polishing roller to separably contact the fixing belt and slide over the surface of the fixing belt when the polishing roller is pressed against the fixing belt, a contact and separation driver to press and separate the polishing roller to and from the fixing belt, an opposed member disposed opposite the polishing roller via the fixing belt and configured to form a polishing nip with the fixing belt, and a polishing roller rotation mechanism to rotate the polishing roller. The polishing roller rotation mechanism includes a first rotator disposed coaxially with the polishing roller and a second rotator disposed coaxially with the opposed member.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Daisuke Arai
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Patent number: 11029631Abstract: A heating device includes a cylindrical film, a heater arranged inside the cylindrical film and extending along a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical film, a heat conductor extending along the longitudinal direction, and a first grease layer between the heater and the heat conductor and having a consistency grade less than or equal to three.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2020Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ryota Saeki
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Patent number: 11022912Abstract: In a cartridge, a housing has a developer accommodating portion and includes a first side wall and a second side wall. A coupling member is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the first side wall. A detection body is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the second side wall. A first driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the coupling member with respect to the first side wall, and transmits driving force from the coupling member to a rotating member. A second driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the detection body with respect to the second side wall, and transmits driving force from the rotating member to the detection body.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura
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Patent number: 11022930Abstract: An image forming apparatus set (200) includes an image forming apparatus (100) and a mounting base (3) on which the image forming apparatus (100) is placed. The mounting base (3) includes a locking mechanism (R). When the image forming apparatus (100) is placed at a first position in the mounting base (3), the locking mechanism (R) restricts movement of the image forming apparatus (100) relative to the mounting base (3). The locking mechanism (R) includes a first locking mechanism (4) and a second locking mechanism (R2). The first locking mechanism (4) restricts movement of the image forming apparatus (100) in a first direction (D1) relative to the mounting base (3). The second locking mechanism (R2) restricts movement of the image forming apparatus (100) in a second direction (D2) relative to the mounting base (3). The second direction (D2) is opposite to the first direction (D1).Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Chien Danh Nguyen
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Patent number: 11016422Abstract: An attachment is attached to a holding shaft and includes a first hollow axial portion including a first slit that receives the holding shaft. A supplemental member includes a second hollow axial portion including a second slit that receives the holding shaft. The supplemental member rotates in a forward direction and a backward direction. A restrictor restricts rotation of the supplemental member in the forward direction and the backward direction in a state in which the first slit and the second slit receive the holding shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2020Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiharu Takahashi, Hiroshi Kajiyama
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Patent number: 11016425Abstract: In a case where an image formed on a recording material includes a contiguous image portion formed across a plurality of heating regions at a given density, power supplied to a plurality of heating elements that heat the plurality of heating regions is controlled by correcting respective control heating amounts of the plurality of heating regions set in accordance with respective maximum densities of image regions resulting from dividing the image into the plurality of heating regions, so that a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the control heating amounts among the plurality of heating regions in which the image portion is heated from among the plurality of heating regions, lies within a predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2020Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoto Tsuchihashi, Hideaki Yonekubo
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Patent number: 11009811Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a chassis having an opening, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, a primary-transfer member, a secondary-transfer roller, a cleaner device, an external-sheet inlet, a waste toner container, a connector, and a conveying roller, which is arranged within the feeding path to feed the recording sheet inserted through the external-sheet inlet in the feeding path. The conveying roller is mounted on the waste toner container and removable from the chassis along with the waste toner container.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2020Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11009559Abstract: An insertion determination unit (16) for precisely calculating a ground insulation resistance component of a leakage current regardless of the presence or absence of an inverter determines whether an inverter (3) is inserted between a commercial power system (2) and a three-phase motor (5). A resistance component leakage current calculation unit (18) calculates a ground insulation resistance component of a leakage current on the basis of a calculation procedure corresponding to the result of the above determination.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2018Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: OMRON CorporationInventors: Takuya Fukudome, Tsuyoshi Takeuchi, Koji Yokota, Tomohiro Yamada
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Patent number: 11002799Abstract: A method of evaluating a power storage device includes at least [a] to [f] below. [a] A power storage device is prepared. [b] A charge level of the power storage device is adjusted to produce a first potential difference between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. [c] The positive electrode or the negative electrode is selected as a reference electrode. [d] After the charge level is adjusted, an operation to insert a conductive rod-shaped member into a stack portion along a direction of stack of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is performed while a second potential difference between the reference electrode and the rod-shaped member is measured. [e] The rod-shaped member is stopped. [f] The power storage device is evaluated based on a state of the power storage device after the rod-shaped member is stopped.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2020Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kensaku Miyazawa, Shinichi Hamasaki, Yuya Ishihara, Tetsuya Kaneko
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Patent number: 11003117Abstract: A temperature control device controls a temperature of a temperature control target to which heat is propagated from a heater by supplying power to the heater. The temperature control device includes processing circuitry that acquires a temperature measurement result of the temperature control target from a temperature sensor. The processing circuitry estimates an input voltage being supplied to the heater based on an energization time of the heater and a change in the temperature of the temperature control target during the energization time. The processing circuitry generates a temperature estimation result by estimating the temperature of the temperature control target based on a previous energization pulse used to control energization of the heater and the input voltage. The processing circuitry outputs the energization pulse to control the power supplied to the heater based on the temperature estimation result and the temperature measurement result.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2020Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hiroshi Ota
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Patent number: 11003116Abstract: A fixing unit includes a rotary member, a magnetic core, a coil, a converter device, a temperature detection unit, and a controller. A conductive layer of the rotary member is heated by induction heating. The controller causes the converter device to output a cyclic waveform in which a first waveform and a second waveform appear. The first waveform is a waveform in which pulses having a constant cycle are successively output for a first output period and output of the pulses is paused for a first pause period after the first output period. The second waveform is a waveform in which the first waveform is repeatedly output for a second output period and output of the first waveform is paused for a second pause period after the second output period. The cyclic waveform is a waveform in which the second waveform is cyclically repeated as a repetition unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2020Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Aoji Isono