Patents Examined by Michael Warmflash
  • Patent number: 9425618
    Abstract: A power supply device includes: an input determination section configured to determine which one of a commercial power supply and a power generator is an input power supply, and to generate a determination signal; a conversion section of a switching type configured to convert an input voltage into an output voltage; and a drive-signal generation section configured to be supplied with determination output from the input determination section, and to generate a switching drive signal for the conversion section, the drive-signal generation section being configured to serve as a power-factor correction control section and to generate the switching drive signal when the determination signal indicates that the commercial power supply is the input power supply, and being configured to serve as a maximum power point tracking control section and to generate the switching drive signal when the determination signal indicates that the power generator is the input power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shun Nagashima
  • Patent number: 9425704
    Abstract: An inverter includes a DC/AC converter connectable to a DC power grid, at least one DC/DC converter arranged upstream of the DC/AC converter and providing a galvanic isolation, and a DC voltage link at the input of the at least one DC/DC converter and connectable to at least one DC power source. The inverter also includes at least one further DC voltage link which is galvanically isolated from the first DC voltage link by the DC/DC converter, on-board voltage rails supplying a controller and other auxiliary devices of the inverter with electric energy; and an on-board supply unit. The on-board supply unit is configured and adapted to feed the electric energy into the on-board voltage rails both out of the first DC voltage link and out of the at least one further DC voltage link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: SMA SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Burkard Müller, Lars Bethke
  • Patent number: 9421877
    Abstract: A power transmission system has an AC power source and a high-frequency power driver that make up a high-frequency power source, and a primary self-resonant coil and a secondary self-resonant coil. The secondary self-resonant coil is magnetically coupled, by magnetic field resonance, to the primary self-resonant coil, and receives as a result high-frequency power from the primary self-resonant coil. The coils of the primary self-resonant coil and the secondary self-resonant coil resonate in an even mode when high-frequency power is transmitted from the primary self-resonant coil to the secondary self-resonant coil. Specifically, the primary self-resonant coil and the secondary self-resonant coil resonate in a state where currents in mutually opposite directions flow in the two coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION NAGOYA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Shinji Ichikawa, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Hiroshi Hirayama, Nobuyoshi Kikuma, Kunio Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 9419823
    Abstract: A disclosed PLC system includes a PLC modem electrically connected to a transmission medium that transmits or carries medium or high voltage without electrical isolation. The PLC system further includes a voltage divider that draws power from the transmission medium to the PLC modem, thereby eliminating a need of a separate power source for operating the PLC modem. Since the PLC modem is electrically connected to the transmission, the PLC modem or communication connections of the PLC modem may be located at a same potential level as the transmission medium and thus the PLC modem does not see a surge during a surge event occurs in the transmission medium. Therefore, the disclosed PLC system eliminates the use of a line coupler and a surge protection component for providing high-voltage isolation and surge protection to the PLC modem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Borisov, Philippe Chiummiento
  • Patent number: 9405303
    Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of apparatus, systems and methods for power stealing for a wireless-enabled thermostat. In an exemplary embodiment, a wireless-enabled thermostat generally includes a control having a wireless network interface that intermittently connects the thermostat in a wireless network in accordance with a duty cycle, the duty cycle having a connect time in which the thermostat is connected in the wireless network and a sleep time in which the thermostat is not connected in the wireless network. A power stealing circuit of the thermostat steals power through an “on-mode” load of a climate control system to charge a capacitor or other energy storage device to provide the power for the wireless network interface. The control adjusts at least the sleep time in accordance with a time for charging the capacitor or other energy storage device to a threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Bradley C. Zikes, William P. Butler, David L. Perry
  • Patent number: 9368920
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a plug-cable unit includes a plug connector which is equipped to receive a coding plug. A cable is used for connecting to a functional unit to be controlled, in particular of an electromechanically adjustable piece of furniture. A plug module is used for connecting to a control device of the piece of furniture. In one embodiment, a coding plug includes at least two ports for connecting to related contacts of a plug connector of a plug-cable unit, and at least one electronic component having at least one parameter of a functional unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Logicdata Electronic & Software Entwicklunga GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Lukas
  • Patent number: 9347634
    Abstract: An illuminable mat adapted for use in a variety of settings is provided. The illuminable mat includes an illuminable region and a light source that illuminates the illuminable region. The light source is powered by a receiver that is wirelessly supplied by a transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Ali Ammar, Cornel Lewis Gardner
  • Patent number: 9343925
    Abstract: An electrical power distribution apparatus that is configured to selectively communicate power from alternate power sources to one or more loads in a manner that maintains isolation of the input power derived from the alternate sources. The electrical power distribution apparatus includes a neutral input for connecting to a neutral output of the auxiliary power supply and a ground conductor for connecting a ground conductor of the auxiliary power supply. The apparatus includes an electrical bus that receives electrical power from a first electrical output of the auxiliary power supply and unswitchably communicates the first electrical output to a breaker connected to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Reliance Controls Corporation
    Inventor: Michael O. Flegel
  • Patent number: 9337688
    Abstract: A set of two or more modular-critical-power-distribution skids are arranged in a redundant power center configuration to supply power to electrical loads in a modular data center facility. The skids are housed in hardened buildings. The uninterruptable power supply is electrically and mechanically connected into the multiple power distribution cabinets, all of which are mounted onto a steel framed support structure, which supports a weight of those uninterruptable power supplies and power distribution cabinets. The environmental control system controls a cooling system for the modular-critical-power-distribution skids. Electrical power from the A-side and B-side connects in a redundant power configuration to electrical loads in the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Modular Power Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew John Englert, Simon D. Harkins, Christopher J. Crosby, Jr., Steven Emert
  • Patent number: 9327742
    Abstract: An in-vehicle information display system includes a plurality of display devices each of which operates by receiving supply of alternating-current power obtained by converting power from a wiring or of direct-current power output from a power storage device and each of which performs guidance display to passengers, and a terminal device that operates by receiving supply of direct-current power from the power storage device and that distributes guidance display information used for the guidance display toward the display devices. The terminal device directly transmits the guidance display information to a part of the display devices, each of the display devices acquires the guidance display information from the terminal device either directly or via another display device, and the display device that acquires the guidance display information directly from the terminal device among the display devices operates by receiving supply of direct-current power from the power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ookita, Ryota Saito
  • Patent number: 9312835
    Abstract: A power control device can generate control signals to control operation of power sources. Additional control signals control operation of load switches that can be connected to the power sources to provide secondary sources of power. The load switches can be turned in a gradual manner at rates that depend on the power sources to which they are connected. The outputs of the load switches can be monitored for overvoltage and undervoltage conditions relative to the power sources to which they are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Inc
    Inventors: Crown Sen Shieh, Abid Hussain, Thomas J O'Brien
  • Patent number: 9300046
    Abstract: A multi-layer, multi-turn structure for an inductor having a plurality of conductor layers separated by layers of insulator is described. The inductor further comprises a connector electrically connected between the conductor layers. The structure of the inductor may comprise a cavity therewithin. The structure of the inductor constructed such that electrical resistance is reduced therewithin, thus increasing the efficiency of the inductor. The inductor is particularly useful at operating within the radio frequency range and greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: NuCurrent, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinit Singh, Jacob Babcock, Christine A. Frysz
  • Patent number: 9287771
    Abstract: A capacitor connected to a microcomputer voltage wiring is downsized. A series regulator on an electronic control unit for automotive includes a battery as an in-vehicle power supply, a relay, an input side capacitor, a series regulator circuit, and an output side capacitor, and is connected to a microcomputer. The series regulator circuit includes an n-channel MOSFET, a gate voltage regulator circuit as an output control circuit of an FET, and a gate voltage holding capacitor. A capacitor GND voltage (gate voltage) is adjusted by the gate voltage regulator circuit to convert an input side capacitor voltage into an output side capacitor voltage, and supply a microcomputer current to the microcomputer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayumu Hatanaka, Takuya Mayuzumi, Chihiro Sato, Yoshitaka Abe, Daisuke Sekine, Hirofumi Kurimoto
  • Patent number: 9281715
    Abstract: A backup power management system connectable to a primary power source and a secondary power source, and a method of operating the same. The system includes an enclosed housing that receives a control system including first and second controllers that are connected to a first transfer switch contactor and a second transfer switch contactor within the housing. Both the primary power source and a secondary power source are broken into two separate output supplies. The two separate output supplies from the primary power source and the secondary power source are each provided to one of the first and second transfer switch contactors. The control system sends signals to the first and second transfer switch contactors to control the movement of the contactors between first and second positions. The power management system can also include a load management controller to control the load on the secondary power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Sie Teong Lim, Robert J. Hurd, Sr., Kenny J. Stair, Brandon M. Batzler
  • Patent number: 9142956
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to a multilevel power converter the includes a DC power supply assembly having a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a zero terminal; a first semiconductor switch series circuit composed of first through sixth semiconductor switches connected in series between the positive terminal and the negative terminal. The converter can include a second semiconductor switch series circuit composed of a first bidirectional switch, seventh and eighth semiconductor switches, and a second bidirectional switch connected in series between the connection point of the first and second semiconductor switches and the connection point of the fifth and sixth semiconductor switches, a first capacitor connected in parallel with a series circuit of the third and fourth semiconductor switches and a second capacitor connected in parallel with the second semiconductor switch series circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Yatsu