Patents Examined by Sean Curtis
  • Patent number: 9869656
    Abstract: In an impedance detector, a current application portion applies a first current and a second current, directions of which are opposite to each other, to an element of an oxygen concentration sensor. A detection portion detects a difference between a current application prior voltage and a current application subsequent voltage. The current application prior voltage is a voltage between both of ends of the element before being applied with the first current, and the current application subsequent voltage is a voltage between both of the ends of the element when being applied with the first current. An impedance calculation portion calculates an impedance of the element based on the difference detected by the detection portion and a value of the first current. The current application portion is configured to change a current application time to apply the first current and the second current according to a command provided thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya Uemura
  • Patent number: 9864000
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting difference in operating characteristics of a main circuit by using a replica circuit is presented. In one exemplary case, a sensed difference in operating characteristics of the two circuits is used to drive a tuning control loop to minimize the sensed difference. In another exemplary case, several replica circuits of the main circuit are used, where each is isolated from one or more operating variables that affect the operating characteristic of the main circuit. Each replica circuit can be used for sensing a different operating characteristic, or, two replica circuits can be combined to sense a same operating characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Dan William Nobbe, Ronald Eugene Reedy, Peter Bacon, James S. Cable
  • Patent number: 9835672
    Abstract: A system and method are described for determining if power lines have been damaged. A virtual circuit is established between a control unit and a remote response unit. A signal is transmitted from the remote response unit responsive to a prior signal transmitted by the control unit. Based on a comparison of measurements of the response signal to expected values, a determination is made as to whether or not the line has been damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Elecsys International Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Andrews, Robert Stamm
  • Patent number: 9825586
    Abstract: Techniques for solar cell electrical characterization are provided. In one aspect, a solar testing device is provided. The device includes a solar simulator; and a continuous neutral density filter in front of the solar simulator having regions of varying light attenuation levels ranging from transparent to opaque, the continuous neutral density filter having an area sufficiently large to filter all light generated by the solar simulator, and wherein a position of the continuous neutral density filter relative to the solar simulator is variable so as to control a light intensity produced by the device. A solar cell electrical characterization system and a method for performing a solar cell electrical characterization are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Oki Gunawan, Bao Lei
  • Patent number: 9817062
    Abstract: A parallel concurrent test (PCT) system is provided for performing the parallel concurrent testing of semiconductor devices. The PCT system includes a pick and place (PnP) handler for engaging and transporting the semiconductor devices along a testing plane, the PnP handler including at least one manipulator. The PCT system also includes a device under test interface board (DIB), the DIB including a broadside test socket for broadside (BS) testing of the semiconductor devices, the broadside testing using at least half of a total number of a semiconductor device pins, and a plurality of design-for-test (DFT) test sockets for DFT testing, the DFT testing using less than half of the total number of the semiconductor device pins, and a tester in electrical contact with the DIB for testing the semiconductor devices in accordance with a stepping pattern test protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: CELERINT, LLC.
    Inventor: Howard H. Roberts, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9791483
    Abstract: Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure provide an electrical circuit and a method for measuring the power and power consumption of an LED lighting device in real time. The circuit includes a controlling unit configured to process data; a display unit configured to display data received from the controlling unit and other components; a power supply and driving unit configured to supply power; an LED light source; and a RF unit configured to send data to remote terminals. The electrical circuit further includes an input power sampling unit, an output voltage sampling unit, and an output current sampling unit, which are configured to capture the real time input voltage, output voltage, and output current data respectively. Further, the controlling unit may determine the power and power consumption of the LED lighting device by using the received real time voltage and current data measurements, and referring to the stored input voltage-efficiency curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG SHENGHUI LIGHTING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Chaoqun Sun, Jinxiang Shen
  • Patent number: 9791521
    Abstract: A method for verifying an operation of a Hall-effect sensor without an applied magnetic field. The method can include providing a bias signal to a first pair of terminals of a Hall-effect element, applying a Hall current signal to a second pair of terminals of the Hall-effect element, measuring a Hall output voltage across the second pair of terminals and comparing the measured Hall output voltage to an expected Hall output voltage that would be provided by a corresponding applied magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Edwin Butenhoff, Keith Ryan Green, Anuj Jain
  • Patent number: 9784656
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring properties of a cantilevered member according to various aspects of the present technology may utilize a test stand comprising a chuck configured to secure a first end of a test member or shaft such that a second end of the test member is cantilevered outward from the chuck. A loading system may be configured to apply a force to the test member causing the test member to deflect in response to the load. An image capturing system is configured to acquire one or more images of the deflected test member and a data acquisition system may analyze the collected data and images to calculate one or more properties of the test member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Cool Clubs, LLC
    Inventors: Simon Louis-Michel Grondin, Mark D. Timms
  • Patent number: 9784877
    Abstract: A detector/sensor/locator device for objects and materials of interest comprises a Faraday cage for containing or suspending a sample object or material of interest. The object or material of interest under principles of quantum theory emits electromagnetic radiation having a unique electromagnetic signature. The Faraday cage may have a cone-shape for channeling emitted electromagnetic waves upward to a barrel having mounted therein an L-shaped antenna element which may be free to rotate horizontally about the barrel or fixed in parallel with a second antenna element of similar length extending from a side of the barrel. The first and second antennae elements cooperate to detect, sense the presence of and locate a target object, the free-to-rotate antenna element capable of pointing in the direction of the target object or material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: AvaSensor, LLC
    Inventors: Fred D. Tompkins, John B. Wilkerson, Arpad A. Vass, Timothy R. Hutchison
  • Patent number: 9778299
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting the breakthrough of hardness in a water softener measures a change in the conductivity of elongated cation-exchange material in contact with the treated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Thomas A. Davis, David Nemir
  • Patent number: 9765613
    Abstract: A drilling system including a drill string, an EM telemetry assembly, and an electric contact assembly that defines an electrical connection with the drill string. The electric contact assembly permits a portion of the EM tool to slide along a portion of the drill string during drill string assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: APS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David Cramer, Andrew Roberts
  • Patent number: 9766288
    Abstract: A system for capturing an eye diagram is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Hung Huang, Chien-Chun Tsai, Ying-Yu Hsu
  • Patent number: 9761183
    Abstract: A display panel testing bench, wherein the display panel testing bench comprises: a bench base, a chassis, a probe assembly, and a linkage assembly; a bench base moving assembly is disposed on the chassis; the bench base is movable on the chassis by the bench base moving assembly, the bench base is configured to fix a display panel; the linkage assembly is disposed on the chassis, and is configured to perform a joint movement of the probe assembly and the bench base; the probe assembly is disposed above the bench base; wherein, when the bench base is moved on the chassis by the bench base moving assembly, the bench base drives the linkage assembly, and the probe assembly is driven by the linkage assembly to move above the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignees: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., Beijing BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Depo Yang, Si Chen, Hongliang Xu, Kuohai Wang, Liang Zheng
  • Patent number: 9759178
    Abstract: There are provided a plug built-in type optical measurement probe capable of obtaining a more accurate measurement value, and an optical measurement device provided with the same. A spark section and a light receiving section are held by a plug main body while being arranged next to each other in a protruding manner such that an end face of a holder is arranged at a position where discharge light from the spark section does not enter the field of view of the light receiving section. Accordingly, the light receiving section can be held in a manner protruding from the plug main body, and entering of the discharge light from the spark section can be restricted by the holder of the light receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignees: SHIMADZU CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryoji Hiraoka, Nobuyuki Iwai, Tetsuya Nagai, Isao Azumagakito, Satoru Okada
  • Patent number: 9753088
    Abstract: A portable diagnostic apparatus for performing diagnostic testing on a circuit breaker includes a number of sensor devices structured to generate a number of sensed parameter signals relating to operation of the circuit breaker during an operational sequence, a number of auxiliary input connectors structured to receive a number of auxiliary data signals from the circuit breaker, the number of auxiliary data signals relating to and being generated in response to the operation of the circuit breaker during the operational sequence, and control and diagnostic circuitry. The control and diagnostic circuitry is structured to control operation of the portable diagnostic apparatus, receive the number of sensed parameter signals and the number of auxiliary data signals, and generate a time signature based on the number of sensed parameter signals and the number of auxiliary data signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koustubh Dnyandeo Ashtekar, James Jeffery Benke, Greg D. Holland
  • Patent number: 9737746
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to power an exercise machine are disclosed herein. An example exercise machine includes a generator to convert movement of a moveable part of the exercise machine into electric power. The example exercise machine includes a generator power receiver to measure the power output by the generator, and to calculate a rotations per minute of the moveable part. A mode controller is to calculate a power supply duty cycle based on the power output by the generator, the rotations per minute of the moveable part, and a user selected wattage. A power output controller is to control power provided to a console of the exercise machine based on the power supply duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Sutkowski, John Michael Wong, Ferdinand David, Ming Jiang
  • Patent number: 9733317
    Abstract: A magnetism detecting element detects a leakage magnetism from a scale, on which a magnetic signal with a constant period is recorded, and a relative position between the scale and the magnetism detecting element is detected. The magnetism detecting elements are arranged, along a detection direction of the magnetic signal relative to the scale, in a pattern with a pitch of 1/2n (n is a prime number of 3 or more) of a wavelength ?? of a signal output by the element. Furthermore, as the pattern for cancelling m odd-order harmonics, the m-th power of 2 magnetism detecting elements are arranged within a range in which a pitch distance L of the magnetism detecting element farthest in the detection direction is expressed by L=(??/2)×(1/3+1/5+1/7+ . . . 1/(2m+1)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: DMG MORI SEIKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kusumi, Yusuke Takei, Shigeru Ishimoto, Mitsugu Yoshihiro
  • Patent number: 9689903
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a body of apparatus includes an opening, such as a V-shaped jaw, that deterministically locates a position of a wire in at least one dimension when the wire is placed in the opening. The apparatus also includes a plurality of sensors. At least one differential signal can be generated from signals from magnetic sensors, such as anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) sensors, of the plurality of sensors to cancel out common mode interference. An additional sensor of the plurality of sensors provides an output from which the location of the wire in another dimension is determined. The current flowing through the wire can be derived from at least the at least one differential signal and the location of the wire the other dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Yogesh Jayaraman Sharma, Nathan R. Carter, Teera Songatikamas, Brendan Cronin
  • Patent number: 9678372
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a peripheral test circuit of a display array substrate, and a liquid crystal display panel. The peripheral test circuit of a display array substrate includes: multiple groups of test signal lines, each group consisting of a first and a second test signal lines spaced from each other; a plurality of test pad leads, each being arranged in an interval formed between the first and the second test signal lines of a respective group, and connected with the first and the second test signal lines but not overlapped with the first and the second test signal lines of other groups; and a plurality of test pads, each being arranged on a respective test pad lead. According to the peripheral test circuit of the present disclosure, the problem existing in the current peripheral test circuit, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yanfeng Fu
  • Patent number: 9680421
    Abstract: A method and circuit for dynamically correcting offsets associated with an AC power system. In an embodiment, a first offset current generated in response to a ground to neutral fault stimulus is decreased and a second offset current generated in response to a differential fault stimulus is decreased. In another embodiment, the circuit includes an offset correction circuit that has one of a chopper circuit or an auto-zeroing circuit. An amplifier is connected to the offset correction circuit and an output connected to the offset correction circuit. A signal generator is switchably coupled to a first input of the offset correction circuit and a bias generator is switchably coupled to the first input of the offset correction circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Riley D. Beck, Kent D. Layton