Patents Examined by Robert P Alejnikov
  • Patent number: 11035697
    Abstract: A sensor system that simultaneously detects the positions of multiple movable carriages along a motion path. The sensor system includes a plurality of sensors arranged at least along a subsection of the motion path, wherein each sensor is designed for a contactless detection of a measuring element provided on each movable carriage. The sensor system also includes a processing device, which is connected electrically with the sensors and which is designed for a synchronous detection of sensor signals of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: FESTO SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Hartramph, Fabian Albert, Andreas Veit
  • Patent number: 11037715
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a plurality of magnetic detection elements, and a plurality of magnetic field generators associated with the plurality of magnetic detection elements. Each of the plurality of magnetic field generators includes a first ferromagnetic material section and a first antiferromagnetic material section. The first antiferromagnetic material section is in contact with and exchange-coupled to the first ferromagnetic material section. The first ferromagnetic material section has an overall magnetization. The plurality of magnetic field generators includes first and second magnetic field generators configured so that the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the first magnetic field generator is in a different direction from the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the second magnetic field generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yosuke Komasaki
  • Patent number: 11029341
    Abstract: A low-noise alternating current sensor enables low-cost, large dynamic range current measurements of low-frequency alternating current flows. The low-noise current sensor offers enhanced dynamic range and fine-grained sensitivity unavailable in existing sensor technology. The sensor's dynamic range and sensitivity to low-frequency AC enable new capabilities in precision current control: a valuable and necessary capability in the control and management of circuit considerations, from applications for the grid to transportation, to the control of remote assets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventor: James William Masten, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11018082
    Abstract: A space transformer for connecting a signal source and probing a semiconductor wafer and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The space transformer includes a circuit board, a redistribution structure bonded to the circuit board, and a conductive through via providing a vertical conductive path therebetween. The circuit board includes a wiring structure which includes alternately stacked dielectric layers and patterned wiring layers, and first contact pads of the patterned wiring layers connect the signal source. The redistribution structure is thinner than the circuit board and includes second contact pads for probing the semiconductor wafer. A pitch of adjacent second contact pads is finer than that of adjacent first contact pads. The conductive through via penetrates through the circuit board, and the conductive through via is laterally covered by the dielectric layers and is laterally and physically in contact with the patterned wiring layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventor: Dyi-Chung Hu
  • Patent number: 11018573
    Abstract: A system and method for power supply ripple detection is disclosed. A voltage across one or more capacitors of the power supply is measured. An AC ripple voltage component of the capacitor voltage is then filtered and rectified into a DC signal. A level of ripple represented by the DC signal is then compared to threshold values to assess a health of the power supply. In one implementation, the power supplies provide power to control panels of one or more building management systems. The power supplies determine and report information concerning health of the power supplies to the control panels, the information including the DC signal itself and the result of the comparison of the DC signal to the threshold values. A cloud-based connected services system then receives and analyzes the information concerning health of the power supplies forwarded from control panels of multiple building management systems to determine trends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP
    Inventor: Daniel Paul Cianfrocco
  • Patent number: 11002563
    Abstract: A first amplifier has an input to receive a Hall-signal output current from a first Hall element and has an output to output feedback current in response to the received Hall-signal output current. The Hall-signal output current is impeded by an impedance of the first Hall element. The feedback current is coupled to counterpoise the Hall-signal output current at the input, and a voltage at the output is an amplified Hall output signal. A second amplifier generates a high-frequency portion output signal in response to a difference between the amplified Hall output signal and a Hall-signal output signal from a second Hall element. A filter reduces high-frequency content of the high-frequency portion output signal and generates an offset correction signal. A third amplifier generates a corrected Hall signal in response to a difference between the amplified Hall output signal and the offset correction signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Arup Polley, Srinath Ramaswamy, Baher S. Haroun, Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay
  • Patent number: 11003560
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for testing a touchscreen electronic device. In some embodiments, an attachment for an end effector for use with testing a touchscreen electronic device comprises a body, wherein the body includes a connection portion configured to secure the attachment to the end effector, a first end, an opening, wherein the opening is located adjacent to the first end, and a conductive contact member, wherein the conductive contact member is wrapped about the first end, and wherein the conductive contact member is configured to contact the touchscreen during testing and simulate a touch of a human finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy M. Fenton, Christopher D. Johnson, Joel E. Strader
  • Patent number: 11002776
    Abstract: A method and device for determining a division of a total insulation resistance and of a total system leakage capacitance in an ungrounded power supply system. The basic idea is to determine how the total insulation resistance is divided into partial insulation resistances and how the total system leakage capacitance is divided into partial system leakage capacitances between the active conductors of the ungrounded power supply system from displacement voltages measured between each of the active conductors of the ungrounded power supply system based on values determined in advance for the total insulation resistance and for the total system leakage capacitance of the ungrounded power supply system. By evaluating the displacement voltages in terms of their changes in amplitude, their frequency and their phasing, conclusions can be drawn as to the division of the total insulation resistance and of the total system leakage capacitance between the individual active conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: BENDER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Hackl, Oliver Schaefer, Pascal Becker, Karl Schepp
  • Patent number: 11002874
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for detecting foreign objects. In some aspects, an apparatus for detecting objects is provided. In particular, the apparatus includes a circuit for measuring changes of a mutual impedance between sense coils of a plurality of sense circuits. The described implementations relate to configurations for driving and measurement circuitry for one or more sense circuits that allow for higher accuracy, sensitivity, and temperature stability as needed for detecting smaller objects. Implementations based on mutual impedance sensing allow for improved detection sensitivity e.g., in a presence of strong temperature variations such as may be experienced in an outdoor environment. The apparatus includes a driver circuit, a measurement circuit, and a plurality of sense circuits, each of the plurality of sense circuits including a primary sense coil, a secondary sense coil, and a capacitor connected to each of the primary sense coil and the secondary sense coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Lukas Sieber
  • Patent number: 11002797
    Abstract: The fault diagnosis circuit includes a first line including a first resistor, having one end connected to the positive (+) terminal of a battery, and having the other end connected to a first input unit of an analog to digital converter (ADC); a second line including a second resistor, having one end connected to the positive (+) terminal of the battery, and having the other end connected to a first input unit of a comparator; and a third line including a third resistor, having one end connected to the negative (?) terminal of the battery, having a first other end connected to a second input unit of the ADC, and having a second other end connected to a second input unit of the comparator. A fault in a battery management system can be efficiently diagnosed using a smaller number of elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-Seong Park, Seulkirom Kim, Jae-Min Park, Yeong-Geun Yeo, Sang-Ho Lee, Jong-Won Choi
  • Patent number: 10996197
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for shielding electrodes (204,205,504,505) within a photoionization detector (100). A photoionization detector (100) may comprise an ultraviolet radiation source (130); one or more detector electrodes (204,205,504,505); one or more collection surfaces (224,225,524,525) extending vertically from the detector electrodes (204,205,504,505); and a shielding material (206,506) located between the ultraviolet radiation source (130) and the one or more detector electrodes (204,205,504,505), wherein the ultraviolet radiation (130) does not directly impinge on at least a portion of the one or more detector electrodes (204,205,504,505). The one or more collection surfaces (224,225,524,525) may comprise a surface area that is not covered by the shielding material (206,506).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Bo Chen, Qidao Lin, Guangli Xie, Zhanghua Wu
  • Patent number: 10996736
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless capacitive presence detection are disclosed. In embodiments, a method includes: generating, by a tank circuit of a wireless presence detector, an electric field applied to a balanced electrode of the wireless presence detector utilizing power from a battery of the wireless presence detector; measuring, by a capacitive sensor of the wireless presence detector, a change in capacitance of the balance electrode; determining, by a microcontroller of the wireless presence detector, that the change in capacitance indicates a presence of a person within a predetermined distance of the balance electrode; and sending, by a radio circuit of the wireless presence detector, an alert to a remote gateway using a radio frequency sub-gigahertz (Ghz) transmission, wherein the alert is based on the determining that the change in capacitance indicates the presence of a person within the predetermined distance of the balance electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, TIRANTE A INDUSTRIA ELETRONICA LTDA
    Inventors: Vlamir Bachrany, Leonir Veneziani Silva, Alexandra Aparecido Paulino, Renato Pisani Gomes Da Silva
  • Patent number: 10989765
    Abstract: A connection quality system can include a resistance test module, a first line connected to the resistance test module and configured to connect to a wire connection assembly past one or more physical connections of the wire connection assembly, and a second line connected to the resistance test module and configured to connect to the wire connection assembly directly or indirectly on an opposite side of the one or more physical connections of the wire connection assembly such that the first line and the second line are in electrical communication through the wire connection assembly. The resistance test module can be configured to determine if the one or more physical connections are degraded or broken based on a resistance of the wire connection assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Francis A. Carcia
  • Patent number: 10962346
    Abstract: A motor module includes a motor including a commutator, and an apparatus that is attached to the motor and obtains information on rotation of the motor. The apparatus includes a rotation angle calculator that calculates a rotation angle of the motor based on a voltage between terminals of the motor and an electric current flowing through the motor, a first signal generator that generates a first signal based on a ripple component included in the electric current flowing through the motor, a second signal generator that generates a second signal indicating that the motor has rotated by a predetermined angle based on the first signal and the rotation angle, and a rotation information calculator that calculates the information on the rotation of the motor based on an output from the second signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ikuyasu Miyako, Tsutomu Abe
  • Patent number: 10962671
    Abstract: A multi-sensor electromagnetic (EM) system and method for measuring gradients of EM signals. The multi-sensor EM system includes a frame; a transmitter device attached to the frame and configured to generate a primary EM field; a receiver device attached to the frame and configured to record a secondary EM field generated by the earth after being excited by the primary EM field; and a gradient sensor device attached to the frame and configured to record a gradient of the secondary EM field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: CGG SERVICES SAS
    Inventor: Philip Miles
  • Patent number: 10955451
    Abstract: A testing device includes a testing socket, a first transmission medium and a second transmission medium. The testing socket defines a radiation space. The first transmission medium is disposed in the radiation space of the testing socket. The first transmission medium is configured for supporting a device under test (DUT). The second transmission medium is disposed in the radiation space of the testing socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: ASE TEST, INC.
    Inventors: Yen-Chun Wang, Hung-Jen Huang, Chen-Kuo Chu, I-Chun Liu
  • Patent number: 10942216
    Abstract: An interconnect circuit testing apparatus including: an electric signal generating circuit for generating an electric signal; a first electrode arranged at a first region of a substrate, wherein the substrate includes an interconnect circuit, an upper surface and a lower surface; a second electrode arranged at a second region of the substrate; and a sensor for detecting an electric field emitted from the first region or the second region when the electric signal is applied to the substrate through the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Yeol Kim, Jae-Hong Kim, Kyung-Min Lee, Mee-Hyun Lim
  • Patent number: 10942229
    Abstract: A method for correcting the output of a Hall effect device for thermal electromotive force (thermo-EMF) utilizing the steps of: (1) supplying energy to the Hall effect device, (2) measuring a first output of the Hall effect device as a result of the supplying energy, (3) stopping the supply of energy to the Hall effect device, (4) waiting a period of time, (5) measuring a second output of the Hall device in response to a temperature difference between the output measurement location and a reference point, and (6) combining the first and second outputs to determine an output corrected for thermo-EMF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Udo Ausserlechner
  • Patent number: 10935002
    Abstract: A lightning protection system of a wind turbine (10) comprises electrically grounded receptors (51, 52) on turbine blades. A corresponding electrical ground connection must be tested regularly. For such a test, an unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV (4) places an electrode (41) near a receptor (51, 52). Using a high voltage generator (42), a high voltage is created between the electrode (41) and the receptor (51, 52), causing an electrical arc (45) between the two. A corresponding current through the lightning protection system (5) indicates whether the ground connection is in order. Thanks to the high voltage used, the electrical arc (45) can bridge a gap between the electrode (41) and receptor (51, 52) of at least several millimetres. It is not necessary to establish a direct physical contact between the electrode (41) and the receptor (51, 52). This simplifies controlling the UAV and speeds up the testing procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Sulzer & Schmid Laboratories AG
    Inventors: Thomas Sulzer, Joonas Asikainen
  • Patent number: 10908201
    Abstract: A detection device for measuring an antenna is disclosed, wherein the detection device is provided with a probe seat made of a reflected wave absorbent material; a front end of the probe seat is provided with an extending front arm for connecting to a probe; and a rear end of the probe seat is provided with a connector, of which one end is for connecting to a detection instrument and the other end is electrically connected to the probe through the front arm, thereby when measuring an antenna, the probe seat can absorb reflected waves from the antenna to measure the quality of the antenna pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventors: Ting Yuan Lee, Miao-Lin Hsu, Tsung-Hsin Liu, Yi-Ting Lin