Patents Examined by Son Le
  • Patent number: 9995799
    Abstract: A system for magnetic characterization of an induction heating wire including a conductor having a first end and a second end longitudinally opposed from the first end, wherein the induction heating wire extends along a portion of the conductor and is electrically isolated from the conductor, an alternating current power source electrically coupled with the conductor to pass an electric current between the first end and the second end, a current sensor positioned to sense the electric current, a sensing wire including a first lead and an opposed second lead, wherein the sensing wire defines a first loop having a first polarity and a second loop having a second, opposite polarity, the second loop being connected to the first loop at a crossover, and wherein the induction heating wire extends through the first loop, and a voltage sensor positioned to sense a voltage across the first lead and the second lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: John R. Hull
  • Patent number: 9989594
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit (1) for detecting a switching state of an electrical switching contact (2) in a current supply path (5) for at least one electrical load (3). The monitoring circuit (1) has a monitoring unit (8) and a transformer (9). The transformer has a primary winding (10) connected to the monitoring unit (8) and a secondary winding (11) connected to the electrical switching contact (2). The secondary winding (11) forms a monitoring current circuit (6) together with the electrical switching contact (2) electrically connected to the secondary winding. The monitoring unit (8) is designed to apply electrical power to the primary winding (10) and to determine the switching state of the electrical switching contact (2) in dependence on a measured value (UA) proportional to the current (IA) flowing through the primary winding (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: WAGO VERWALTUNGESELLSCHAFT MBH
    Inventor: Christian Voß
  • Patent number: 9983272
    Abstract: Provided is a magnetism detection device by which it is possible to achieve a reduction in size and an increase in accuracy. A magnetism detection device includes: a magneto-impedance element; a magnetic field direction changing body; and a substrate that is formed of a semiconductor material and has an element arrangement recessed portion bottom surface and a back surface that face mutually opposite sides in a thickness direction, and a through-hole that reaches the element arrangement recessed portion bottom surface and the back surface and has a cross-sectional dimension that increases toward the main surface starting from the element arrangement recessed portion bottom surface. The magneto-impedance element is mounted on the element arrangement recessed portion bottom surface, and the magnetic field direction changing body is accommodated in the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Isamu Nishimura, Yasuhiro Fuwa
  • Patent number: 9984944
    Abstract: Wafers, chips, or dies that contain fill cells with structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (“NCEM”). Such NCEM-enabled fill cells may target/expose a variety of open-circuit, short-circuit, leakage, or excessive resistance failure modes, including GATECNT-tip-to-side-short and/or GATECNT-tip-to-side-leakage failure modes. Such wafers, chips, or dies may include Designs of Experiments (“DOEs”), comprised of multiple NCEM-enabled fill cells, of at least two types, all targeted to the same failure mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: PDF Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Lam, Dennis Ciplickas, Tomasz Brozek, Jeremy Cheng, Simone Comensoli, Indranil De, Kelvin Doong, Hans Eisenmann, Timothy Fiscus, Jonathan Haigh, Christopher Hess, John Kibarian, Sherry Lee, Marci Liao, Sheng-Che Lin, Hideki Matsuhashi, Kimon Michaels, Conor O'Sullivan, Markus Rauscher, Vyacheslav Rovner, Andrzej Strojwas, Marcin Strojwas, Carl Taylor, Rakesh Vallishayee, Larg Weiland, Nobuharu Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9977094
    Abstract: An islanding operation detection device for a distributed power supply comprising an inverter connected to a commercial system power supply comprises: a commercial system frequency measurement circuitry; a reactive power injection amount calculation circuitry to calculate an amount of reactive power injection; a feedback signal generation circuitry; a reactive current control circuitry to feedback-control an output current command value to the inverter; an output current control circuitry to update the reactive current command value when a phase angle of the commercial system voltage is in the range of 90N°±?? so as to control an output current value of the inverter to follow the output current command value; and an islanding operation detection circuitry to detect whether or not the distributed power supply is in islanding mode, based on a commercial system frequency when the reactive power corresponding to the calculated amount of reactive power injection is injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Tabuchi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chienru Lung, Hideki Hidaka
  • Patent number: 9979389
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods and apparatuses that can detect the proximity of an object and differentiate between a human body and a non-human object. The detection and differentiation are facilitated by a first capacitive sensor of a first shape and a second capacitive sensor of a second shape. The detection and determination can be made based on a comparison between a first capacitance from the first sensor and a second capacitance from the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: SEMTECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Terrence Lee Van Ausdall, Mathieu Hoffmann, Pascal Monney
  • Patent number: 9970893
    Abstract: The double layer capacitance of a working electrode of a sensor may be measured with minimal disruption to the sensor equilibrium by open circuiting the working electrode and measuring the voltage drift on a periodic, or as-needed, basis. The values of the double layer capacitance may be monitored over time to determine, e.g., sensor age and condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventor: Wayne A. Morgan
  • Patent number: 9964568
    Abstract: A self-powered power sensor (SPPS) measures electrical parameter measurements at points of interest, such as circuit breakers, machines, and the like. The SPPS which comprises of components that may require corrections, such as the errors induced by, but not limited to, the use of a split core mounted around a current carrier, and hence calibration coefficients are provided based on test, measurements and/or calculations respective of the devices. These coefficients may be stored in a database for retrieval when calibration of measurements received from a measuring device. In one embodiment at least one of the calibration coefficients is stored on SPPS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Panoramic Power Ltd.
    Inventors: Adi Shamir, Itay Reved
  • Patent number: 9964586
    Abstract: In a testing circuit performing a testing operation to detect an RF circuit characteristic, a first filter unit is provided, having a first external terminal electrically coupled to a testing signal and a second external terminal electrically coupled to an RF circuit of the RF device. The first filter unit is configured to allow the testing signal to enter the RF circuit while blocking an RF signal transmitted in the RF circuit from entering the testing circuit. In addition, a testing-result informing unit is provided, having an external input electrically coupled to the first external terminal, and generating an informing signal, which indicates a condition of the RF circuit according to an electric level at the external input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ALPHA NETWORKS INC.
    Inventors: Rong-Fa Kuo, Ming-Chih Peng
  • Patent number: 9964569
    Abstract: A detection circuit (1) comprises a first and a second contact terminal (P1, P2) for connecting a microphone (HM) with a defined polarity. Furthermore, a first and a second switch (S1, S2) are provided and respectively connect the first and the second contact terminal (P1, P2) to a reference potential terminal (GND). A supply terminal (SUP) for supplying an input signal is either connected to the first contact terminal (P1) or to the second contact terminal (P2) via a third switch (S3). A measuring device (MS) for acquiring a measurement signal in response to the supplied input signal is coupled to a connection between the supply terminal (SUP) and the third switch (S3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventor: Horst Gether
  • Patent number: 9958498
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a circulation method of a test tray in a test handler, the method comprising: in case of a first mode of test of temperature condition, firstly circulating the test tray along a first circulation path; and in case of a second mode of test of temperature condition different from the first mode, secondly circulating the test tray along a second circulation path, wherein the first circulation path and the second circulation path are different from each other in the transfer direction of the test tray at least in some sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TECHWING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-Sung Na, Young-Ho Kweon, Jong Ki Noh
  • Patent number: 9958488
    Abstract: A capacitance measurement circuit comprises a differential amplifier with first and second inputs and an output, first and second feedback capacitances, and a reset mechanism. The first input is coupled to a modulated reference voltage and the second input is coupled with a sensor electrode. A first feedback capacitance is coupled between the output and the second input. A second feedback capacitance is coupled between the output and the second input. The reset mechanism resets the first feedback capacitance to a first level of charge and the second feedback capacitance to a second level of charge. During an absolute capacitance measurement phase, the differential amplifier charges the sensor electrode while balancing voltages on the first and second inputs to a voltage level associated with the modulated reference voltage and integrates charge on the sensor electrode to measure capacitance corresponding to a coupling between the sensor electrode and an input object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Farzaneh Shahrokhi, Tracy Scott Dattalo, Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Adam Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9945690
    Abstract: A metering circuit includes a comparator including a first input to receive an input signal, and including a second input and an output. The metering circuit further includes a reference source to provide a time-varying reference signal to the second input during a peak counting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth A Berringer
  • Patent number: 9933459
    Abstract: Systems and methods of providing a magnetically coupled ground reference probe for use with test equipment, such as digital multimeters (DMMs). The magnetically coupled ground reference probes disclosed herein may be used instead of a typical test probe or alligator clip. A magnetically coupled ground reference probe may be provided which includes an insulative housing surrounding a conductive magnet such as a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. The magnet may autonomously retract into a cavity of the insulative housing when not coupled to a ground reference so that the magnet does not contact a high potential source when being handled by the operator. In at least some implementations, at least a portion of the insulation material of the housing may be compressible to allow the magnet to come into physical contact with a ground reference surface while providing a sufficient creepage and clearance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Epperson, Jeffrey Worones, Ricardo Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9927545
    Abstract: Multi-frequency buried object location system transmitters and locators are disclosed. A transmitter may generate and provide output signals to a buried object at a plurality of frequencies, which may be selected based on a connection type. Corresponding locators may simultaneously receive a plurality of magnetic field signals emitted from the buried object and generate visual and/or audible output information based at least in part on the plurality of received magnetic field signals. The visual and/or audible output may be further based on signals received from a quad-gradient antenna array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, David A. Cox, Stephanie M. Bench, Jan Soukup, Timothy M. Turner, Ryan B. Levin, Ray Merewether
  • Patent number: 9921274
    Abstract: Provided are a sensing apparatus using a plurality of Hall sensors and an apparatus using the sensing apparatus. The sensing apparatus is configured to measure an intensity of a magnetic field with respect to a magnetic element by using a plurality of Hall sensors and to identify a body that includes the magnetic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Haechitech Corporation
    Inventors: Eun Joong Kim, Seong Min Choe
  • Patent number: 9911868
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor device includes: a conductive substrate; a first nitride semiconductor layer which is formed on the substrate and contains Ga or Al; an electron supply layer which is formed in contact with the first nitride semiconductor layer and is made of a second nitride semiconductor having a different composition from that of the first nitride semiconductor layer in an interface between the electron supply layer and the first nitride semiconductor layer; and a source, a gate and a drain or an anode and a cathode which are formed on a front surface of the substrate, wherein the first nitride semiconductor layer has a thickness of w or more, a deep acceptor concentration distribution NDA(z) and a shallow acceptor concentration distribution NA(z), which satisfy the following equations (1) to (3): ? 0 w ? { E c ? ( x ) - ? 0 w ? q ? ( N DA ? ( z ) + N A ? ( z ) ) ? 0 ? ? ? dz } ? ? dz ? ? V b ( 1 ) E c ? ( x ) = 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Taketoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9910071
    Abstract: Disclosed is a metrology assembly that utilizes a multi-Hall effect device configuration which eliminates the necessity of a magnetic concentrator. In some embodiments, the metrology assembly includes a substrate or support platform configured to support at least two Hall effect devices per phase of an electricity meter. The metrology assembly may further include one or more electrical conductors coupled to the substrate and configured to conduct electric current. The at least two Hall effect devices may be coupled to the substrate at opposing sides of an associated electrical conductor, each Hall effect device being configured to detect a magnetic field created by the electric current of the associated electrical conductor, and to generate an output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Mosser, Youcef Haddab, David Nelson Makinson, Steven Grey
  • Patent number: 9903920
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor apparatus is provided for measuring one magnetic field vector component He. The apparatus includes at least one anisotropic magneto-resistive resistor device (AMR resistor device) on a chip substrate, where the resistor device includes a plurality of magneto-resistive AMR resistor elements which are connected in series by electrically conductive strips. At least one permanent-magnetic magnetization element with a magnetization axis is assigned to each resistor element in such a way that the resistor element is passed through by an initial magnetization field H0 of the magnetization element in the direction of the magnetization axis. A measurement current IS flowing through the resistor element from a contact region between a first conductive strip and the resistor element to a contact region between the resistor element and a second conductive strip has a mean current direction axis at a predefined linearization angle ?>0° and ?<90° relative to the magnetization axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: SENSITEC GMBH
    Inventors: Hubert Grimm, Viktor Spetter
  • Patent number: 9905144
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display and a test circuit thereof are provided. The test circuit has a plurality of signal pads, a first data distributor, a plurality of logic circuit units and N switches. N is a positive integer. The signal pads are configured to receive a test data signal, a voltage signal, an enable signal and a plurality of first switch control signals. The first data distributor distributes the test data signal to N output terminals of the first data distributor. Each of the logic circuit units generates a second switch control signal according to the voltage signal, the enable signal and a corresponding one of the first switch control signals. Each of the switches controls the electrical connection between an output terminal of the first data distributor coupled thereto and at least a data line coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: AU OPTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Nan-Ying Lin, Chung-Lin Fu, Yu-Hsin Ting