Patents Examined by Nicolas Bellido
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Patent number: 11972918Abstract: Disclosed is a two-section conductor type ground fault circuit interrupter with a reverse wiring protection function. A patch key switch is arranged on a PCBA assembly, a conduction spring is mounted between an electric plug bush and the PCBA assembly, and an electronic relay is mounted between an output end of a load copper sheet and the conduction spring. A condition that a metal key is exposed to generate a spark or a metal press piece falls off is avoided, so a two-section conductor structure with the reverse wiring protection function is achieved.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2023Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: WENZHOU FAHINT ELECTRIC CO., LTDInventors: Shangbing Wan, Yuejian Lu
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Patent number: 11962131Abstract: Integrated device having GDT and MOV functionalities. In some embodiments, an electrical device can include a first layer and a second layer joined with an interface, with each having an outer surface and an inner surface, such that the inner surfaces of the first and second layers define a sealed chamber therebetween. The electrical device can further include an outer electrode implemented on the outer surface of each of the first and second layers, and an inner electrode implemented on the inner surface of each of the first and second layers. The first layer can include a metal oxide material such that the first outer electrode, the first layer, and the first inner electrode provide a metal oxide varistor (MOV) functionality, and the first inner electrode, the second inner electrode, and the sealed chamber provide a gas discharge tube (GDT) functionality.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2021Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Inventors: Kelly Casey, Gordon L. Bourns
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Patent number: 11955792Abstract: A method for protecting at least a part of a network segment of an electrical power distribution network has: detecting voltage dips at the intermediate feeding devices of the line arrangements by the voltage dip detection devices; generating and feeding an electrical signal into the line arrangement by the signal generating device at each intermediate feeding device at which one of the voltage dips is detected, the electrical signals having frequencies different from a network frequency of the network segment; receiving the electrical signals via the line arrangements by the receiving devices of the line protection devices; detecting electrical faults on the line arrangement using the electrical signals received by the triggering device of the respective line protection device; and triggering the disconnecting device of the line protection device of the line arrangement, where an electric fault is detected, by the triggering device so that the line arrangement is electrically disconnected from the further elType: GrantFiled: March 23, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Wolfram Heckmann, Philipp STRAUß
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Patent number: 11951583Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic base, a ceramic dielectric layer, an electrostatic electrode, and a ceramic insulating layer. The ceramic dielectric layer is positioned on the ceramic base and is thinner than the ceramic base. The electrostatic electrode is embedded between the ceramic dielectric layer and the ceramic base. The ceramic insulating layer is positioned on the ceramic dielectric layer and is thinner than the ceramic dielectric layer. The ceramic insulating layer has a higher volume resistivity and withstand voltage than the ceramic dielectric layer, and the ceramic dielectric layer has a higher dielectric constant than the ceramic insulating layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Takebayashi, Kenichiro Aikawa, Tatsuya Kuno
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Patent number: 11949225Abstract: A control system that detects loosening of a vibrator component in a spreader system. As the vibrator loosens over time, it draws more current. Eventually, this excess current causes the vibrator motor to burn out. The control system detects the loosening of the vibrator to indicate a fault condition by measuring current increase in the vibrator, and then indicating a fault condition that the bolts must be tightened, which results in lowering of the current draw, thereby protecting the vibrator motor from burnout. The system has a “learning mode” capable of establishing and memorizing a baseline of current draw suitable for a vibrator. In this way, a current threshold is exceeded over time, which indicates loosening of the vibrator. The baseline level can be selectively changed adapted with changing conditions, or adapted to other types of systems besides spreader vibrators.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: BUYERS PRODUCTS COMPANYInventor: Philip Sandler
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Patent number: 11948763Abstract: An actuation device for actuating a circuit breaker, has a circuit arrangement and a plurality of resistor devices, wherein a plurality of first switching elements of the circuit arrangement are connected to a respectively assigned first voltage source and a respectively assigned resistor device and have a switching input that is connected to an actuation logic unit, wherein this actuation logic unit furthermore has a superordinate actuation input and a plurality of sensor inputs. A method for operating such an actuation device is also presented, wherein, during the switching-on or the switching-off process of the circuit breaker, the plurality of first switching elements are switched on in a clocked manner and therefore generate a target voltage profile at the control input of the circuit breaker.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2023Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: SEMIKRON DANFOSS ELEKTRONIK GMBH & CO., KGInventors: Orlando Capasso, Michael Kettler, Alexander Mühlhöfer, Daniel Obermöder
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Patent number: 11949326Abstract: Provided is a power supply device including a capacitor, a pre-charge circuit and a control circuit. The capacitor is connected in series with a contactor that is connected between an inverter driving a motor and a battery and that switches on or off power supply from the battery to the inverter, and is connected in parallel with the inverter. The pre-charge circuit is connected in parallel with the contactor and pre-charges the capacitor. The control circuit controls the pre-charge circuit and the contactor. The control circuit includes a sensor that measures the voltage of the battery and the voltage of the capacitor, and determines whether the pre-charge is necessary according to whether a ratio of the voltage of the capacitor to the voltage of the battery is equal to or less than a target value.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: MITSUBA CorporationInventor: Hiroaki Hiruma
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Patent number: 11942775Abstract: A high voltage battery cluster, and an overcurrent protection circuit and a switch box of the high voltage battery cluster are provided. The overcurrent protection circuit includes a first fusing module and a second fusing module. Since a withstand current-time curve of the first fusing module is different from a withstand current-time curve of the second fusing module, in a case that an overcurrent fault occurs in a high voltage battery cluster, one fusing module can cause an open circuit in the high voltage battery cluster prior to another fusing module, thereby preventing the high voltage battery cluster from being broken by a large current when an overcurrent fault occurs in the high voltage battery cluster, thus ensuring an electrical safety of the high voltage battery cluster.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2019Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: SUNGROW POWER SUPPLY CO., LTD.Inventors: Jianjie Zhou, Renxian Cao, Yilei Gu, Shanming Yang, Hui Tong, Xiaohu Xu, Jinsheng Li
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Patent number: 11929604Abstract: One or more examples relate, generally, to a programmable voltage lockout circuit provided at an electronic device. Such a programmable voltage lockout circuit asserts a lockout of the electronic device at least partially responsive to a user-programmed threshold and a supply voltage of the electronic device. One or more examples relate, generally, to configuring a programmable voltage lockout circuit utilizing a user-programmed threshold.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2021Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Microchip Technology IncorporatedInventor: Daniel Harfert
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Patent number: 11916544Abstract: A method for driving a power transistor includes comparing a measurement signal that is representative of a load current to a comparator threshold that corresponds to an overcurrent threshold; generating a first fault signal when the measurement signal exceeds the comparator threshold for a first time interval; generating a second fault signal when the measurement signal exceeds the comparator threshold for a second time interval that is greater than the first time interval; regulating a control voltage provided to the control terminal of the transistor to turn off the transistor in response to the second fault signal; and in response to the first fault signal, adjusting the control voltage to an adjusted voltage level in order to limit the load current to a reduced current level that is preconfigured to be greater than the overcurrent threshold. The adjusted voltage level is sufficient to maintain the power transistor in an on-state.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AGInventors: Sergio Morini, Andrea Lampredi, Salviano Marino, Daniele Miatton
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Patent number: 11916375Abstract: A fault-current limiting device having an input voltage node configured to receive a first voltage signal from an energy source, such as a battery, and an input reference node configured to receive a reference signal from the energy source. The device further includes a first switch coupled between the input voltage node and an output voltage node and a second switch coupled between the input reference node and an output reference node. The device further includes a current sensor circuit coupled to the output voltage node and coupled respectively to the first switch and the second switch wherein the current sensor circuit is configured to open the first and second switches in response to sensing a current signal at the output voltage node that exceeds a threshold current (e.g., a transient fault current).Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2019Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: PowerSecure, Inc.Inventors: Ruben Otero-De-Leon, Joaquin Aguerre, Bryan Daniels, Marshall Worth
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Patent number: 11909194Abstract: A differential protection device monitors a first object to be protected in an electrical energy supply network. The differential protection device has a measuring unit configured to acquire measurement values at one end of the first object to be protected, a communication unit configured to exchange measurement values with a differential protection device arranged at another end of the first object to be protected, the communication unit has a physical interface for transmitting and receiving the measurement values, and an evaluation unit configured to form a differential value and to generate a fault signal indicating a fault with regard to the first object to be protected if the differential value exceeds a predefined threshold value. Ideally, the differential protection device is configured to monitor further objects to be protected and to exchange respective further measurement values with regard to each further object to be protected.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Matthias Gross, Torsten Kerger, Sven Krueger-Gramatte, Robert Matussek, Andreas Regenbrecht, Torsten Schumacher
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Patent number: 11894638Abstract: A wireless-controlled smart plug device and methods of use and operation, using a solid state switch to provide electrical power from an outlet to a load, and provide protection against overload, short circuit, ground, arc, or voltage surge faults. The switch includes a bidirectional semiconductor switch with two back-to-back connected transistors, such as silicon power MOSFETs, silicon insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), silicon carbide (SiC) transistors, or gallium nitride (GaN) transistors, each configured to control the current flow from the electrical receptacle to the external electrical load.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2021Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Zheng Shen, Zhixi Deng, Yuanfeng Zhou
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Patent number: 11894671Abstract: An electrical over stress protection device is provided. A detection circuit detects an input voltage from a pad, provides a first discharge path when the input voltage is higher than a preset voltage, and provides a turn-on voltage to a discharge protection circuit to control the discharge protection circuit to provide at least one second discharge path.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2022Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventor: Chang-Ting Wu
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Patent number: 11881704Abstract: A circuit protection device is provided. The circuit protection device includes an active energy absorber that is coupled between two power lines in an electrical power distribution system and is configured to selectively conduct fault current responsive to overvoltage conditions. The active energy absorber includes an overvoltage protection module that includes two thyristors that are connected in anti-parallel with one another and a varistor that is connected with the overvoltage protection module as a series circuit. The series circuit including the varistor and the overvoltage protection module is connected between the power lines.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: RIPD RESEARCH AND IP DEVELOPMENT LTD.Inventors: Grigoris Kostakis, Zafiris G. Politis, Fotis Xepapas, Alexis Chorozoglou, Christos Prevezianos
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Patent number: 11881707Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a battery management system (BMS) having a protection circuit. In one example, a vehicle battery system may include the BMS, the BMS including a cutoff circuit electrically coupled to the protection circuit, and a battery pack, a positive supply line of the battery pack being electrically coupled to the cutoff circuit, wherein the protection circuit may include each of an input electrically coupled to a control input of the cutoff circuit, an output electrically coupled to an output of the cutoff circuit, and a control input of the protection circuit electrically coupled to the output of the cutoff circuit. In some examples, the protection circuit may further include a low-current leakage transistor configured to maintain the cutoff circuit in an OFF state upon detection of a reverse bias voltage. In this way, the protection circuit may mitigate unexpected switching ON of the cutoff circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: A123 SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Yue Li, Weiwei Lin, Steve Gierlach, Brian Large, Jiaping Zhang, Ke Xu
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Patent number: 11876365Abstract: A switching module a method for connecting a load to a DC network are disclosed. The switching module includes a first module connection, a second module connection, a third module connection, a first electronic switch connected between the first module connection and the second module connection, and a second electronic switch connected between the second module connection and the third module connection. The two electronic switches are connected in anti-series between the first module connection and the third module connection.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2019Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Karsten Handt
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Patent number: 11870238Abstract: A protection apparatus includes an interface, a protection switch, a direct current bus, and a controller. The apparatus is connected to at least two photovoltaic units via the interface, the at least two photovoltaic units are coupled to the direct current bus inside the apparatus to form at least two branches, and each branch is connected to at least one photovoltaic unit. The protection switch is configured to disconnect all or some of the photovoltaic units from the direct current bus, to enable a maximum of three photovoltaic units to be directly connected in parallel. According to the apparatus, a photovoltaic unit and a line are protected with a low power loss when a photovoltaic power generation system is faulty.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.Inventors: Xiufeng Zhang, Yanzhong Zhang
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Patent number: 11862960Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit includes a first diode, a second diode, an ESD clamp circuit and a first conductive structure on a backside of a semiconductor wafer, and being coupled to the first voltage supply. The first diode is in the semiconductor wafer, and coupled between an IO pad and a first node. The second diode is in the semiconductor wafer, coupled to the first diode and coupled between the IO pad and a second node. The ESD clamp circuit is in the semiconductor wafer, coupled between the first node and the second node, and further coupled to the first and second diode. The ESD clamp circuit includes a first signal tap region in the semiconductor wafer that is coupled to a first voltage supply. The first diode is coupled to and configured to share the first signal tap region with the ESD clamp circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2023Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Yu-Hung Yeh, Wun-Jie Lin, Jam-Wem Lee
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Patent number: 11862966Abstract: According to an embodiment, a surge protector includes a capacitor, a switch, and a first transistor. The capacitor charges based on an input power to the surge protector. The switch turns on when the capacitor is charged to a charge threshold. The surge protector outputs the input power when the switch is turned on. The first transistor turns on when a voltage of the input power exceeds a first input voltage threshold such that the capacitor discharges to below the charge threshold and such that the switch turns off. The surge protector stops outputting the input power when the switch is turned off.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2021Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung K. Baek