Patents Examined by Ronald W. Leja
-
Patent number: 10411638Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit according to an embodiment includes: an output circuit configured to cause a current to flow out from an output terminal to a control target or cause a current to flow in from the control target via the output terminal, based on a control signal; a current source portion provided for the output circuit and configured to be capable of switching a current suppliable to the output terminal; and an adjustment circuit configured to switch a current that the current source portion is caused to generate, based on the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2016Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Kazuhiro Taguchi
-
Patent number: 10404068Abstract: A system of surge suppressor units is connected at multiple locations on a power transmission and distribution grid to provide grid level protection against various disturbances before such disturbances can reach or affect facility level equipment. The surge suppressor units effectively prevent major voltage and current spikes from impacting the grid. In addition, the surge suppressor units include various integration features which provide diagnostic and remote reporting capabilities required by most utility operations. As such, the surge suppressor units protect grid level components from major events such as natural geomagnetic disturbances (solar flares), extreme electrical events (lightning) and human-generated events (EMPs) and cascading failures on the power grid.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2017Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Asator Global Technologies LLCInventors: Daryl Moore, Jon Yarusso
-
Patent number: 10398193Abstract: A shoe for enhancing human performance and improving health by establishing a two-way electrical conduit between body and ground by way of a conductive rubber outsole material of a shoe. A resilient conductive element is integral with the outsole and extends along a heel of the shoe upper along its outer surface. An electrical tape or similar material extends into the interior of the shoe and contacts a conductive sock liner. The conductive tape or similar material may be placed over a non-conductive sock liner so as to contact the foot directly. The foot is in constant electrical connection with the conductive outsole via the tape, which may contain a lighted element on the outside of the shoe. A conductive sock or hose may be employed to provide lower resistant electrical path to the ground.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2018Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Inventor: Melvyn Cheskin
-
Patent number: 10404054Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates an under voltage lockout circuit in which a band gap circuit includes two current input terminals for generating a first current associated with band gap, an amplifier includes two inputs terminal coupled to the two current input terminal, and an output terminal configured to output an error-amplified signal, a terminal of a control device is coupled with a voltage source, and a control terminal of the control device receives the error-amplified signal, a voltage divider is coupled between current input terminals and other terminal of the control device, a comparator receiving a lockout voltage and outputting an under voltage lockout signal, a current mirror circuit is coupled to the first input terminal of the comparator and the band gap circuit, and configured to generate a second current mirroring from the first current.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2017Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventor: Ming-Hsin Huang
-
Patent number: 10396550Abstract: Disclosed examples include an electrostatic discharge protection circuit including a shunt transistor coupled between first and second power supply nodes, a sensing circuit to deliver a control voltage signal to turn on the shunt transistor in response to a detected change in a voltage of the first power supply node resulting from an ESD stress event, and a charge pump circuit to boost the control voltage signal in response to the control voltage signal turning the shunt transistor on.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: James P. Di Sarro, Farzan Farbiz
-
Patent number: 10396549Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device making it possible to promote area reduction while maintaining ESD resistance. The semiconductor device includes a power wire, a ground wire and a protection circuit provided between the power wire and the ground wire so as to cope with electrostatic discharge. The protection circuit includes a first transistor, a first resistive element, a second transistor, a first capacitive element, a first inverter and a protection transistor. A gate width of the second transistor is narrower than a gate width of the first transistor.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2018Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: Masashi Arakawa, Tadashi Fukui, Koji Takayanagi
-
Patent number: 10395875Abstract: A circuit breaker panel includes a control unit structured to generate a control signal and a number of circuit breakers. At least one of the circuit breakers includes a number of sets of separable contacts and is structured to open or close one set of separable contacts based on the control signal. At least one of the circuit breakers is structured to electrically connect between a line and load and includes a power supply structured to convert power from the line and to use the converted power to open or close the set of separable contacts.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2014Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITEDInventor: Jason Kohei Arthur Okerman
-
Patent number: 10396558Abstract: A system of surge suppressor units is connected at multiple locations on a power transmission and distribution grid to provide grid level protection against various disturbances before such disturbances can reach or affect facility level equipment. The surge suppressor units effectively prevent major voltage and current spikes from impacting the grid. In addition, the surge suppressor units included various integration features which provide diagnostic and remote reporting capabilities required by most utility operations. As such, the surge suppressor units protect grid level components from major events such as natural geomagnetic disturbances (solar flares), extreme electrical events (lightning) and human-generated events (EMPs) and cascading failures on the power grid.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Asator Global Technologies LLCInventors: Daryl Moore, Jon Yarusso
-
Patent number: 10389110Abstract: An electronic circuit breaker with a semiconductor switch, a drain connection and a source connection of the semiconductor switch being connected between a voltage input and a load output, and a gate connection of said semiconductor switch being connected to a control device which is supplied, at the input end, with a signal which represents the load current. The control device determines the drain-source voltage and, from this and from the detected load current, generates a control signal which is routed to the gate connection of the semiconductor switch and by means of which the power of the semiconductor switch is adjusted to less than or equal to a maximum power value.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: ELLENBERGER & POENSGEN GMBHInventor: Diego Fernando Asanza Maldonado
-
Patent number: 10388438Abstract: An arrester is disclosed capable of coupling a cable accessory utilizing a push on method. The arrester comprises a body having a surge arrester portion, a receiving portion, and a conductive contact. The receiving portion is configured to couple to a coupling fastener comprising a first side, second side, and a latching mechanism. Various methods of engaging and disengaging the arrester to a cable accessory utilizing the coupling fastener are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2016Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Inventor: Glenn J. Luzzi
-
Patent number: 10381340Abstract: An apparatus can include a first circuit that is configured to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection against an ESD pulse applied between a first node and a second node. The first circuit includes a series stack of bipolar transistors that are configured to shunt current between the first and second nodes in response to the ESD pulse; and a diode connected in series with the stack of bipolar transistors and configured to lower a snapback holding voltage of the first circuit when shunting current between the first and second nodes.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventor: Da-Wei Lai
-
Patent number: 10374592Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first circuit operating with a first potential as a reference potential and a second circuit operating with a second potential different from the first potential as a reference potential, able to reliably detect that a negative voltage is applied to the first circuit. The first circuit includes a current source. The current source supplies a current to the low side circuit, and changes the current in response to whether or not the first potential becomes a negative voltage with respect to the second potential. Also, the second circuit includes a negative voltage detection circuit. The negative voltage detection circuit monitors a change in the current supplied from the current source and detects that a negative voltage is applied to the high side circuit.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2016Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Masashi Akahane
-
Patent number: 10374418Abstract: A circuit and a method for electrostatic discharge clamping are provided. The circuit includes a detection module, a control module, and a clamping module. The detection, control, and clamping modules are coupled with a first power line of a first power source and a second power line of the first power source. Third terminals of the detection, control and clamping modules are coupled to a first power line of a second power source, a voltage division terminal of the detection module, a fourth terminal of the control module respectively. According to an electrostatic discharge event on the first power line of the first power source, the division voltage terminal of the detection module provides a voltage to the control module. Then, the control module controls the clamping module to couple the first power line of the first power source to the second power line of the first power source.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2014Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Chih-Ting Yeh, Yung-Chih Liang
-
Patent number: 10374593Abstract: A signal indicating temperature of an IGBT chip, after input into an overheat detection terminal, is simultaneously input into a first comparator for protection operation and a second comparator for precaution. At a normal time when the chip temperature is low, a first transistor connected to an alarm signal output terminal via a resistor and a second transistor connected to the alarm signal output terminal via a Zener diode are turned off, and the alarm signal output terminal whose voltage is pulled up by an external pull-up circuit is set to high level voltage. When the second comparator detects a precaution condition, the second transistor is turned on, and the alarm signal output terminal is set to intermediate level voltage. When the first comparator detects chip overheat, the first transistor is turned on, and the alarm signal output terminal is set to low level voltage.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2016Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Masahiro Taoka
-
Patent number: 10361043Abstract: A circuit breaker includes first and second terminals structured to electrically connect to a line and a load, respectively, at least one set of separable contacts movable between a closed position and an open position, a first operating mechanism structured to open one set of separable contacts in response to a detected fault condition on the protected circuit, a second operating mechanism structured to open or close one set of separable contacts in response to an external control signal, a remote operation circuit structured to receive the external control signal and to control the second operating mechanism to open or close based on said external control signal, the remote operation circuit including a power supply structured to convert power from the line and to provide the converted power to the second operating mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2014Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITEDInventor: Jason Kohei Arthur Okerman
-
Patent number: 10361552Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid state power controller, comprising: a power switch for interrupting a line; a current sensor for measuring a current flow on the line; and a control unit for controlling the power switch and that is configured to prevent a time-dependent overcurrent on the line on the basis of the current measured by the current sensor, wherein the control unit comprises a counter that is adapted to increment a count when the measured current is larger than a threshold value and to decrement the count when the measured current is smaller than the threshold value; and wherein the power switch is adapted to interrupt the line when the counter reaches or exceeds a predefined count.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Liebherr-Elektronik GmbHInventors: Rodolphe De Maglie, Erich Riedisser, Nejat Mahdavi
-
Patent number: 10354820Abstract: A device for switching a direct current includes an operating current path which has a mechanical switch, a switch-off current path which is connected in parallel to the operating current path and has a power-electronic switch, and a commutation device which allows commutation of the direct current from the operating current path into the switch-off current path. The commutation device includes a transformer.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2014Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Joerg Dorn, Dominik Ergin, Herbert Gambach
-
Patent number: 10344577Abstract: Embodiments include a system, control process, and method for improving the reliability of mineral insulated electrical cables for use in oil and gas industry applications. The embodiments may include a PWM variable speed drive having an optimized operating frequency, a sine wave filter connected to an output of the drive and designed to mitigate reflective voltage wave spikes from the drive's PWM voltage pulses, a mineral insulated electrical heater cable connected to the filter, and an external controller for receiving voltage, current, and temperature feedback to create a voltage set point at which the drive operates. The embodiments may (i) mitigate common failure mechanisms of mineral insulated cables operating at a medium voltage level and in a temperature range of from 200° C. to 700° C.; (ii) extend the range of application of mineral insulated cables; and (iii) prevent high voltage spikes from causing damage to the insulant material of heater cables.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2014Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: PSPC, LLCInventor: Lee Joseph Bourgeois, Jr.
-
Patent number: 10347403Abstract: An elbow arrester with a T-body is disclosed capable of coupling with an apparatus for protection from transient over voltage, and coupling with additional cable accessories, without having to loosen the initial connection with the coupled apparatus. The elbow body of the T-body arrester has a first portion, and a second portion protruding from an intermediate section of the first portion to define a T-body. A receiving feature is located within the first portion extending towards a first end, while a male feature is coupled to a second end of the first portion, opposite from the receiving feature. A coupling fastener is integrally molded into the first portion, providing for an apparatus coupled to the coupling fastener to be decoupled without loosening the connection of another apparatus connected to the T-Body elbow. Further, decoupling the other apparatus does not loosen the apparatus coupled to the coupling fastener.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Inventors: Glenn J. Luzzi, Jeffrey L. Madden
-
Patent number: 10340907Abstract: A drive device to drive a semiconductor element includes: an identification signal generating circuit generating an identification signal depending on a type of an input error signal; a protection operation signal generating circuit generating a protection operation signal having a pulse width equal to that of one of the error signal and the identification signal having a longer pulse width; an identification signal terminal inputting and outputting the identification signal; a protection operation signal terminal inputting and outputting the protection operation signal; and a protection circuit performing an error protection operation depending on an own-phase protection operation signal generated by the protection operation signal generating circuit and an other-phase protection operation signal input through the protection operation signal terminal.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2016Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Motoki Imanishi, Kenji Sakai, Takaki Nakashima