Patents Examined by Sean Kayes
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Patent number: 12249907Abstract: A noise control circuit of a switching mode power supply is disclosed. The switching mode power supply has a primary switch, a secondary switch and a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding. The noise control circuit includes a reverse noise generating circuit having a first input terminal coupled to a first pulse terminal or a second pulse terminal of the primary switch, a second input terminal configured to receive an adjusting signal, and an output terminal configured to provide a noise control signal. The secondary winding has a first terminal and a second terminal. The noise control signal is coupled to either terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2022Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shuai Wang, Hui Li
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Patent number: 12244226Abstract: Topologies and configurations of step-down power supplies including unidirectional balancing cells are described. In one example, a step-down power supply includes an input and an output, a string of series-connected capacitors, and a plurality of unidirectional balancing cells coupled to the capacitors in the string of series-connected capacitors. A first balancing can be configured to transfer power, unilaterally, in a first direction among at least two capacitors in the string of series-connected capacitors, and a second balancing cell can be configured to transfer power, unilaterally, in a second direction among at least two capacitors in the string of series-connected capacitors, where the first direction is different than the second direction. The power supply can also include a gate controller for a balancing cell. The gate controller generates switching control signals at a first switching frequency that is decoupled from a resonant frequency of a balancing branch in the balancing cell.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2022Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.Inventors: Keyao Sun, Rolando Burgos, Dushan Boroyevich
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Patent number: 12244246Abstract: A power conversion device includes a power conversion circuit, a memory, a voltage detection circuit, a current detection circuit, and a control circuit. The power conversion circuit controls a switching device based on a switching pulse signal to convert direct current power into alternating current power and output the alternating current power to a power supply target. The memory stores an alternating current phase difference. The voltage detection circuit detects an alternating current voltage effective value. The current detection circuit detects an alternating current effective value. Based on the alternating current phase difference, the alternating current voltage effective value, and the alternating current effective value, the control circuit stops output of the switching pulse signal at a time when an alternating current has a value of 0.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2023Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Tsuyoshi Mano, Junpei Hosoya
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Patent number: 12242295Abstract: This application is directed to a bias circuit. The bias circuit includes a biasing voltage reference circuit including at least a first transistor. The biasing voltage reference circuit is configured to output a first voltage that depends on a threshold voltage of the first transistor. The bias circuit also includes a differential input circuit coupled to the biasing voltage reference circuit and having two differential inputs. The differential input circuit is configured to receive the first voltage and a reference voltage and generate a second voltage based on a difference between the first voltage and the reference voltage. The bias circuit further includes a buffer circuit coupled to the differential input circuit. The buffer circuit is configured to receive the second voltage and generate a bias voltage based on the second voltage. The bias voltage depends on the threshold voltage of the first transistor.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: CAES Systems LLCInventor: Matthew Braunstein
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Patent number: 12244232Abstract: Disclosed are a control method for a bidirectional DC converter, a control module for a bidirectional DC converter, a bidirectional DC converter, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The control method includes: determining an operating mode of the bidirectional DC converter according to an input voltage and an output voltage; respectively determining a duty cycle of a drive signal of the first switch transistor, a duty cycle of a drive signal of the second switch transistor, a duty cycle of a drive signal of the third switch transistor, and a duty cycle of a drive signal of the fourth switch transistor according to the operating mode of the bidirectional DC converter; and providing drive signals to gates of the first switch transistor, the second switch transistor, the third switch transistor and the fourth switch transistor respectively.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2021Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: ZTE CorporationInventors: Jianping Zhou, Qia Wang, Mingming Liu, Guoxian Lin, Ben E, Yulong Cui
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Patent number: 12235666Abstract: Techniques for controlling a low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator. In an example, an LDO voltage regulator circuit includes an amplifier having an output coupled to a transistor. First and second inputs of the amplifier are coupled to a power supply node via first and second resistors, respectively. The transistor gate is coupled to the amplifier output, the transistor source is coupled to the second input of the amplifier, and the transistor drain is coupled to a reference voltage node. The second resistor is variable based on the amplifier output and a reference voltage from the reference voltage node. In an example, the reference voltage node is connectable to ground via a reference resistor connected in parallel with a noise-filtering capacitor, which causes a reference current to flow through the transistor. The reference current is adjusted based on the drain-to-source voltage of the transistor.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2022Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Venkateswarlu Ramaswamy Tiruvamattur, RamaKrishna Ankamreddi
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Patent number: 12231060Abstract: A voltage source converter includes first and second DC terminals which have at least one converter limb extending therebetween. Each limb portion includes a chain-link converter that extends between an associated AC terminal and a corresponding one of the first or the second DC terminal. Each chain-link converter also includes a chain-link converter controller which is programmed to control a series of connected chain-link modules. The voltage source converter additionally includes a voltage source converter controller which is arranged in operative communication with each chain-link converter controller to coordinate operation of the chain-link converters. Each chain-link converter controller is further programmed to reconstruct from a received modulation index demand the chain-link converter voltage reference, which the chain-link converter it is controlling is required to produce, by multiplying the received modulation index demand by a total voltage sum established at a first time instant.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2021Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Pablo Briff, Andrzej Adamczyk, Sameer Singhal
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Patent number: 12228954Abstract: A system includes a voltage regulator having an output voltage and a power management system, coupled to the voltage regulator. The power management system operable to determine whether the output voltage is within an active range, set the active range to a first range during a first time, or during a first mode, and set the active range to a second range for a second time, or during a second mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Ruchi Shankar, Somshubhra Paul, Gaurang Helekar
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Patent number: 12216485Abstract: An output circuit includes an output driver, a voltage regulator, a control circuit and a charge pump circuit. The output driver includes a signal input terminal, a signal output terminal and a first power receiving terminal. The voltage regulator is coupled to the first power receiving terminal of the output driver. The control circuit is coupled to the signal input terminal of the output driver. The charge pump circuit is coupled to the control circuit and the first power receiving terminal of the output driver.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2021Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.Inventor: Jen-Yi Lin
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Patent number: 12204286Abstract: A solar panel includes a plurality of solar cells. Each of the solar cells includes a plurality of power generation regions, and connection regions that connect the plurality of power generation regions and have a lower power generation capacity than the plurality of power generation regions. A plurality of power generation functional units are formed in which the connection regions are disposed adjacent to each other.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2019Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.Inventor: Yuta Saito
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Patent number: 12204289Abstract: An electronic device includes a device body having a back surface, a band configured to fasten the device body to a user with the back surface facing a body part of the user, an optical sensor system, and a device removal detector. The optical sensor system has a first optical measurement path and a second optical measurement path. The first optical measurement path has a first optical path length that differs from a second optical path length of the second optical measurement path. The device removal detector is configured to generate a device removal indication responsive to either of, a first set of object proximity measurements received from the optical sensor system for the first optical measurement path, or a second set of object proximity measurements received from the optical sensor system for the second optical measurement path.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Nicholas P. Allec, Ueyn L. Block, Xiyu Duan
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Patent number: 12191762Abstract: Large semiconductor ICs provide the processing power for billions of electronic devices used in every facet of modern life. Multiphase converters are the most common means of providing the current required for these CPUs, GPUs, and ASICs. Contemporary designs require 8, 12, 16, and even higher phase counts. Existing designs require each phase provide an independent current feedback line to the multiphase controller for current sharing purposes; this drastically increases the pin count of the controller and creates congestion in PCB routing. Our new idea moves the current sharing function to the power stage element, thereby reducing the cost of the controller and the complexity of the PCB.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2022Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: INNOVISION SEMICONDUCTOR INC.Inventors: Brian Carpenter, Xuening Li
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Patent number: 12189339Abstract: An electronic watch includes a pointer; a stepping motor including a coil and configured to drive the pointer; a driving circuit configured to drive the stepping motor; an A/D converter configured to detect electromotive force generated in the coil due to an impact; and a CPU configured to control driving of the driving circuit. The CPU determines a direction in which the pointer is likely to be shifted, based on the electromotive force detected by the A/D converter, determines whether the pointer is shifted due to the impact, and upon determining that the pointer is shifted, corrects a position of the pointer in accordance with the direction in which the pointer is likely to be shifted.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2020Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuta Saito, Yohei Kawaguchi, Fumiaki Ochiai
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Patent number: 12183124Abstract: A wireless programmable digital chess clock having to a housing, a display mounted in the housing and operatively arranged to display time associated with a first player's clock and operatively arranged to display time associated with a second player's clock, a first switch mounted in the housing and operatively arranged to stop the first player's clock and start the second player's clock when activated; a second switch mounted in the housing and operatively arranged to stop the second player's clock and start the first player's clock when activated, a microcontroller operatively arranged to set and control the first and second players' clocks, and, a near field communication module, in communication with microcontroller, and operatively arranged to receive signals from an external transmitting device, where the signals are used to set the time on the first and second players' clocks.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2023Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: ZmartFun Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Roberto Socorregut
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Patent number: 12181843Abstract: For reducing power consumption associated with record of the positional information, an electronic apparatus comprises a positional information acquisition unit configured to acquire positional information of the electronic apparatus including time information; a memory; a clock circuit; and a processor configured to acquire first timing in a first operating state and second timing in a second operating state which differs from the first operating state, control the positional information acquisition unit to acquire, in the first operating state, the positional information of the electronic apparatus including the time information, control the memory to store a time of day measured by the clock circuit at the first timing, and control the positional information acquisition unit to acquire, in the second operating state, positional information of the electronic apparatus at the second timing.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2019Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.Inventor: Shigeki Kitamura
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Patent number: 12158733Abstract: Provided is a calendar allowing a user to easily read the display for a particular day. A calendar 10 includes a day-display section displaying a day. The day-display section has a plurality of arc FIGS. 28(1) to 28(5), each of which has an arc centered on a vertex of a polygon. The day is sequentially and continuously displayed along the plurality of arc figures.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2021Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Inventor: Tomio Kakimi
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Patent number: 12153380Abstract: A balance spring (1) intended to be fitted to a timepiece balance having fixed inertia, the balance spring (1) being formed of a core (10) having lateral faces (10c) connecting an upper face (10a) to a lower face (10b), the balance spring (1) including on one of the lateral faces (10) in one portion of the outer coil (5), a coating formed of one or more layers, the coating including two layers with a first electrically conductive layer (12) coated with a second outer layer (13) made of a ceramic, or a combined layer (13), made of an electrically conductive ceramic. Also a method of manufacturing this balance spring.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2019Date of Patent: November 26, 2024Assignee: NIVAROX-FAR S.A.Inventors: Marco Verardo, Christian Charbon
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Patent number: 12147195Abstract: A balance spring (1) intended to equip a balance of a horological movement, wherein the balance spring (1) is made of a niobium and titanium alloy containing: niobium: the remainder to 100 wt %; titanium with a weight percentage that is greater than or equal to 1 wt % and less than 40 wt %; traces of other elements chosen from among O, H, C, Fe, Ta, N, Ni, Si, Cu and Al, each of said elements being in the range 0 to 1,600 ppm of the total weight, and the sum of said trace elements being less than or equal to 0.3 wt %.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2020Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: NIVAROX-FAR S.A.Inventors: Christian Charbon, Marco Verardo, Lionel Michelet
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Patent number: 12147196Abstract: A selection and actuation device for at least a first and second function of a watch movement includes a translationally and rotationally movable control stem respectively selecting and actuating at least one of the functions. The control stem occupies at least first, second and third distinct, successive axial positions. An actuating lever bears first and second wheels and pinions. The actuating lever occupies a neutral position when the control stem is in one of its first and third positions, and pivots, on either side of the neutral position, between a first driving position actuating the first function responsive to control stem rotation in a first direction, and a second driving position actuating the second function responsive to a control stem rotation in a second direction. Also disclosed is a movement including such a selection and actuation device as well as to a timepiece including such a movement.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2022Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: MANUFACTURE D'HORLOGERIE AUDEMARS PIGUET SAInventors: Marc Lemonnier, Arthur Paris
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Patent number: 12105478Abstract: A variation reduction mechanism of a stop position of a pointer includes a return gear that is driven in conjunction with a time display mechanism, a slip torque spring (friction member) that contacts the return gear to apply a friction force to the return gear to be driven, and a return spring (return spring member) that applies, to the slip torque spring, a torque of the return gear in a direction (dashed line arrow—R direction) opposite to a normal hand movement direction (arrow R direction).Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2018Date of Patent: October 1, 2024Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuya Imamura, Shoichiro Morita