Patents Examined by Scott Bauer
  • Patent number: 12710745
    Abstract: To provide a static eliminator and a static elimination system capable of strictly managing a manufacturing status of a product without increasing a management burden. The static eliminator includes an ion generation unit, an ion control unit, a measurement value acquisition unit, a data generation unit, and a nonvolatile storage unit. The ion generation unit generates ions. The ion control unit controls the ion generation unit. The measurement value acquisition unit acquires a measurement value related to control by the ion control unit and acquires a measurement time at which the measurement value has been acquired. The data generation unit generates history data based on the measurement value and the measurement time. The nonvolatile storage unit stores the history data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2026
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Saeyoung Yang
  • Patent number: 12710798
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and techniques are described for controlling an energy storage device, such as a high-voltage capacitor, using a power based current control profile. Examples are described which comprise a control circuit comprising a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) and a system power and performance control (SPC) circuit. The PMIC may detect and characterize a fixed maximum power limit for a power source. The PMIC may further regulate the transfer of power, from a power source and/or the energy storage device, to a plurality of system loads. The SPC circuit may regulate the charging and/or discharging of the energy storage device based on a power based current control profile. The charging and/or discharging of the energy storage device may be controlled by the SPC as a function of an instantaneous power-gap between the dynamic system loading power and the fixed maximum power limit detected for the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2026
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Linfei Guo, Sagnik Kar, Leonardo Lee, Evan Fletcher Dougal
  • Patent number: 12712162
    Abstract: Exemplary substrate support assemblies may include an electrostatic chuck body defining a substrate support surface that defines a substrate seat. The electrostatic chuck body may define a backside gas lumen that extends through a surface of the substrate seat. The assemblies may include a bias electrode coupled with the electrostatic chuck body. The bias electrode may include a plurality of conductive mesas that protrude upward across the substrate seat. The assemblies may include a support stem coupled with the electrostatic chuck body. The assemblies may include at least one chucking electrode embedded within the electrostatic chuck body. The assemblies may include at least one heater embedded within the electrostatic chuck body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2026
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Paneendra Prakash Bhat, Qiwei Liang, Douglas Buchberger, Dmitry Lubomirsky, Naveen Kumar Nagaraja, Vijay D. Parkhe
  • Patent number: 12707933
    Abstract: A pedestal may be configured to support a substrate during a semiconductor process. An electrostatic chuck (ESC) may include electrodes embedded in the pedestal that are configured to deliver a chucking voltage to the pedestal during the semiconductor process. A power source coupled to an electrode may be configured to provide a signal having a frequency range to the electrode during the semiconductor process. A controller may be configured to receive a measurement of an impedance when the frequency range is applied to the electrode. The impedance measurements my then be used to determine a chucking state of the substrate, such as whether an airgap is present between the substrate and the pedestal during the semiconductor process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2026
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward P. Hammond, Tsutomu Tanaka, Alexander V. Garachtchenko, Dmitry A Dzilno
  • Patent number: 12695288
    Abstract: An electrical protection device including main electrical contacts, a switching mechanism, a solid-state power switch connected in series with the main electrical contacts, a safety device connected in parallel with the main electrical contacts, the safety device including secondary electrical contacts, and a control unit, the control unit being adapted to control the power switch and the switching mechanism. The safety device being adapted to, when a current of greater than a predetermined value flows through the safety device, activate the switching mechanism to switch the main electrical contacts and the secondary electrical contacts to the open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2026
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Eric Domejean, Emmanuel Frangin
  • Patent number: 12687567
    Abstract: An electric field measuring apparatus includes an electrostatic chuck with a through hole and holding a wafer, a lift pin picking up the wafer, a driver vertically moving the lift pin along the through hole, a probe in the lift pin and having a refractive index changed by an electric field of the wafer, the probe including an electro-optical crystal, an optical waveguide forming at least one internal path of light having a polarization characteristic changed by the changed refractive index between the probe and the wafer, and a control module controlling the lift pin and the driver. The lift pin moves to first and second positions. The control module calculates a strength of the electric field of the wafer, using electric field data measured using the probe at each of the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinyeong Yun, Meehyun Lim, Sungjin Kim, Masahiko Yamabe, Sungyeol Kim, Sungyong Lim, Sunghwi Cho
  • Patent number: 12688960
    Abstract: A solenoid drive circuit includes a power source, a first solenoid control circuit connected to the power source, the first solenoid control circuit including a first solenoid coil and a first solenoid control switch that controls a flow current through the first solenoid coil and a first regenerative drive circuit connected to the first solenoid control circuit and that includes a first regenerative capacitor. The first regenerative drive circuit can include a first diode bridge formed of four diodes (D1, D2, D3 and D4) and that has a positive input, a negative input, a positive output and a negative output, wherein the first regenerative capacitor is connected between the positive and negative inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rajkumar Sengodan, Thilak Raj Durairaj
  • Patent number: 12689208
    Abstract: A surge suppressor is connected in parallel to a circuit breaker of an input path of a MVAC conversion circuit. The surge suppressor includes a plurality of surge suppression circuits, and each surge suppression circuit includes a rectification circuit, a switch, a controller, and a conversion circuit. The rectification circuit includes an AC terminal and a rectification terminal, and the AC terminals of the surge suppression circuits are coupled in series. The switch is coupled to the rectifier terminal, the controller receives a control command and provides a control signal according to the control command. The conversion circuit is coupled to the controller and the switch, and provides a control voltage modulated by the control signal. The control voltage adjusts an on-resistance of the switch to adjust a magnitude of a first current flowing through the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Sheng-Hua Li
  • Patent number: 12690419
    Abstract: A body of an electrostatic chuck comprises mesas disposed on a polished surface of the body. Each of the mesas comprises an adhesion layer disposed on the polished surface of the body, a transition layer disposed over the adhesion layer, and a coating layer disposed over the transition layer. The coating layer has a hardness of at least 14 GPa. The body further comprises a sidewall coating disposed over a sidewall of the body. A method for preparing the body comprises polishing the surface of the body and cleaning the polished surface. The method further comprises depositing the mesas by depositing the adhesion layer on the body, the transition layer over the adhesion layer, and the coating layer over the transition layer. Further, the method includes, polishing the mesas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell Glenn Boyd, Jr., Stanley Wu, Matthew Boyd
  • Patent number: 12683346
    Abstract: A grounding brush assembly including a grounding brush and a mounting plate configured to axially and radially retain the brush, the brush providing a support and a plurality of electrically conductive fibers mounted in the support. The mounting plate is at least partially coated with an electrically conductive coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget, SKF
    Inventor: Samuel Viault
  • Patent number: 12683373
    Abstract: A base assembly for a portable lightning protection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: LBA Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Behr
  • Patent number: 12665408
    Abstract: An electrical safety apparatus includes a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) module, a timer module and a housing without a display screen. The GFCI module includes a sensor configured to output a differential current signal according to a current flowing to and from an electrical load, a ground fault circuit interrupter circuit in electrical communication with the sensor, and one or more switches arranged on one or more communication paths for supplying power to the electrical load. The timer module is in electrical communication with the GFCI module and configured to generate a timer signal. Responsive to the differential current signal or the timer signal, the ground fault circuit interrupter circuit generates a driving signal to selectively open or close the one or more switches. The housing encloses the GFCI module and the timer module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: Belgravia Wood Limited
    Inventors: Jaime Ramos, Alan Leung
  • Patent number: 12658911
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical power switching circuit. The electrical power switch circuit includes a first semiconductor switch having a first control input and a second semiconductor switch having a second control input. The first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch are connected in series. The electrical power switch circuit includes a comparator configured to compare a first voltage to a second voltage and to output a first electrical signal if the first voltage exceeds the second voltage by a first predetermined threshold and to output a second electrical signal if the second voltage exceeds the first voltage by a second predetermined threshold. The electrical power switch circuit includes a combiner configured to combine the first signal and the second signal and to feed a combined signal to the first and second control inputs of the first and second semiconductor switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
    Inventors: Emmanuel Boudoux, Thorsten Rosenthal, Benjamin Zass
  • Patent number: 12658686
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a power distribution protection system and a method thereof. The system includes: a main input unit configured to receive an alternating current power input; a electronic switch; a isolating switch; a main output unit configured to output alternating current power; a main-circuit automatic detection unit configured to detect a parameter of output from the electronic switch in a disconnection state of the isolating switch; a main control unit configured to determine whether a state of the electronic switch is normal based on electrical parameter information detected by the main-circuit automatic detection unit; the main input unit, the electronic switch, the isolating switch and the main output unit are connected in series. When the state of the electronic switch is normal, the isolating switch is closed, and then the electronic switch is turned on. When the state of the electronic switch is abnormal, the isolating switch remains disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: Schneider Electric (China) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heng Bai, Jungang Xu, Jiamin Chen
  • Patent number: 12658348
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method of controlling a solenoid including an armature and a coil includes initiating, by a control system in electrical communication with the coil, movement of the armature by applying a first commanded electrical current to the coil. The method also includes, after the initiating, generating, by the control system, current fluctuations to vary a rate of change of current through the coil. The method also includes estimating, by the control system, a position of the armature based on the rate of change of current through the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Boru Wang, Yanyan Xie, Silva Hiti, Steven Ernest Schulz, Chia-Chou Yeh, Khwaja Mustafizur Rahman
  • Patent number: 12651896
    Abstract: A generator circuit breaker includes a main current branch, a current-limiting transfer branch, a freewheeling branch and a fast switch. The main current branch includes a high-speed mechanical switch S1 and a high-speed mechanical switch S2 in parallel, wherein two ends of each of breaks of the high-speed mechanical switch S1 and the high-speed mechanical switch S2 are directly connected with wire outlet ends of the circuit breaker respectively. One end of the current-limiting transfer branch is connected in parallel to one end of the main current branch and the other end of the current-limiting transfer branch is connected with the other end of the main current branch via a fast switch S3, wherein the current-limiting transfer branch includes a transfer capacitor C, an inductor L, thyristor components T1 and T2, and a current-limiting resistor R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2026
    Assignee: XI'AN JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Mingzhe Rong, Fei Yang, Yifei Wu, Jinru Sun, Yi Wu, Chunping Niu
  • Patent number: 12651898
    Abstract: A method for a collaborative protection mask in a wide-area protection system is disclosed. The method comprises determining, in a first zone, whether a first pair of protection relays (R5, R6) detects a fault occurrence on a first line (L3) from a first activation mask (DI) based on a first weighting factor. The method comprises determining, in the first zone, whether the first pair of protection relays detects the fault from a second activation mask (DII) based on a second weighting factor, and determining, in a second zone, whether a second pair of protection relays (R3, R8) detects the fault from the second activation mask based on the second weighting factor. The method comprises determining detections from a third activation mask (DIII) using the first, second, and third pairs of relays (R1, R10), and performing one or more operations on the first pair of relays based on the collaborative determinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2025
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2026
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Ali Mohammed Ahmed Almohammedi, Muhammad Suhail Hussain Shaik
  • Patent number: 12646920
    Abstract: A hybrid fault protection circuit (HFPC) includes an input, an output, a resistor-fuse circuit, an electrically-controlled safety switching device (ESSD) and an overload protection module (OPM). The input receives power from a power source. The output outputs power to a high-power cyclical load. The resistor-fuse circuit includes a resistor and one or more fuses collectively being connected in series with the resistor. The ESSD includes a coil and contacts. The contacts are connected in parallel with the resistor-fuse circuit. The OPM: arms the HFPC by energizing the coil and closing the contacts to supply load current from the input to the output via the contacts when a fault downstream from the HFPC does not exist; detects a fault downstream from the HFPC; and, in response to detecting the fault, opens the contacts to cause fault current to pass through the one or more fuses and not across the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: Terminal Power LLC
    Inventor: Gerald Murray Brown
  • Patent number: 12640728
    Abstract: Electrical circuits and methods for protecting a semiconductor switch in response to detecting a short-circuit condition of the semiconductor switch are presented. An electrical circuit includes a latch-reset portion that disables or enables the semiconductor switch by connecting or disconnecting, respectively, a gate of the semiconductor switch to a source of the semiconductor switch. The circuit also includes a power source portion that is energized by a voltage pulse that drives the gate of the semiconductor switch. The power source portion provides voltage and current to other parts of the circuit so that no external voltage source is needed to operate the circuit. The semiconductor switch may be a silicon carbide MOSFET, which may have a threshold voltage that changes with temperature and age. The circuit can account for such changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2026
    Assignee: Blue Origin Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Arash Nejadpak, Jacob Hoxsey Fenton
  • Patent number: 12640558
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fail-safe protection of circuitry from electrostatic discharge due through input and output connections. The power circuitry may include a string of diodes, connections to power lines, and particular diodes for voltage pull-up and pull-down clamping. There may be both a pull-up third diode in the diode string for connection between I/O and VDD and a pull-down third diode between I/O and VSS. During an ESD event the ESD device is configured to hold voltage from exceeding a threshold voltage and damaging internal circuitry. During operational mode the ESD device is turned off and does not interfere with circuit operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2026
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Heng Chang, Hsin-Yu Chen