Patents Examined by Swarna N Chowdhuri
  • Patent number: 10008855
    Abstract: A method and device for the wireless transmission, in closed spaces, of energy emitted by at least one light source. The energy emitted by the light source is received by at least one solar cell module in the closed space and is converted into electricity. The method includes the steps of reflecting at least a part of the light energy emitted by the light source at a reflective surface inside the space, receiving the reflected light energy in the at least one solar cell module, and converting the reflected light energy into electricity. The device includes at least one solar cell module inside the closed space, configured to receive the light energy and convert the light energy into electricity. At least a portion of the space comprises a reflective inner surface comprising a multilayer insulation surface, at which the energy emitted by at least one light source is reflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus DS GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Sebald, Hendra Kesuma
  • Patent number: 10001799
    Abstract: Apparatus embodiments of the invention are disclosed for requesting power via a wired interface. In example embodiments, a pull-down circuit in the apparatus acting as a power consumer when there is no energy in the apparatus, is connected via a configuration line over a cable to a power provider device. The apparatus may be in a power down mode, it may have an empty battery, or it may have no battery. The pull-down circuit is configured to use energy from the configuration line to pull down a voltage on the configuration line, to signal the power provider device to provide power over another line of the cable to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Pekka Leinonen, Kai Inha, Pekka Talmola, Timo Toivola, Teemu Helenius, Seppo Jarvensivu, Kristian Vaajala, Tino Hellberg
  • Patent number: 9981568
    Abstract: An ECU of an electric vehicle supplies a target rotation speed RT having a value corresponding to the temperature TB of a main battery to a cooler, controls a main DC/DC converter such that the SOC of an auxiliary battery is in a predetermined range SOCL to SOCH less than 100% when a cooling fan in the cooler is driven at the target rotation speed (RT), and controls the main DC/DC converter such that the SOC of the auxiliary battery is 100% when the cooling fan is not driven at the target rotation speed (RT).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiichi Minamiura, Takuro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9979240
    Abstract: Examples described herein include systems and methods for multiband harvesting. An example system may include a single wideband antenna followed by several narrowband rectifier chains. Each rectifier chain may include a bandpass filter, a tuned impedance matching network, and a rectifier. The outputs of the rectifiers may be combined using a summation network. The summation network, which may be a diode summation network, may in some examples provide good performance even when only a subset of the narrowband harvesters (e.g. a subset of the rectifier chains) is excited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Aaron N. Parks, Joshua R. Smith
  • Patent number: 9960640
    Abstract: An inductive power transfer system is provided that includes at least one inductive power receiver having at least one secondary inductor for forming an inductive couple with a primary inductor and providing power to an electric load and at least one inductive power outlet having at least one primary inductor wired to a power supply via a driver configured to provide a driving voltage across the primary inductor. The driving voltage is oscillating at a transmission frequency significantly different from the natural frequency of the inductive couple. The system further includes at least one power monitor and at least one frequency modulator operable to adjust the natural frequency of the inductive couple thereby regulating power provided to the electric load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: POWERMAT TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Elieser Mach, Arik Rofe, Oola Greenwald, Guy Raveh
  • Patent number: 9941933
    Abstract: A magneto-inductive waveguide comprising a plurality of resonant elements, the plurality of resonant elements including a first resonant element comprising a conductive loop broken by at least one capacitive gap, and a second resonant element comprising a conductive loop broken by at least one capacitive gap, the second resonant element for magneto-inductively coupling with the first resonant element; wherein the first resonant element and second resonant element are conductively coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ISIS INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventor: Christopher Stevens
  • Patent number: 9929774
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and a Broadband over Power Line (BPL) module cover assembly for enabling communication between an aircraft and a ground-based network are provided. The BPL module cover assembly includes a connection interface configured to be coupled to and receive power from a stringer connector and a BPL network interface coupled to and configured to receive power from said connection interface. The BPL module cover assembly also includes a fuse interface including a plurality of fuses coupled between the connection interface and the BPL network interface. The fuse interface is configured to prevent power provided by the connection interface from damaging the BPL network interface in the event of an electrical fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Donald B. Lee
  • Patent number: 9929777
    Abstract: A method for increasing the power transfer efficiency of a wireless induction power and/or data transfer system comprising a magnetic field transmitter which is positioned on a first side of a barrier and a magnetic field receiver which is positioned on a second side of the barrier opposite the first side comprises the steps of disposing at least one flux flow member in or adjacent the barrier at least partially between the transmitter and the receiver. The flux flow member comprises a magnetic permeability different from the magnetic permeability of the barrier. As a result, the flux flow member increases the amount of magnetic flux generated by the transmitter which is coupled through the barrier and into the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Corey Jaskolski, John J. Mulholland, Daniel McStay
  • Patent number: 9876533
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and an integrated Broadband over Power Line (BPL) module cover assembly for communicating data between an aircraft and a ground-based network are provided. The assembly includes a power receptacle cover plate and a BPL module coupled to said power receptacle cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Donald B. Lee, Timothy M. Mitchell, Brian E. Ward
  • Patent number: 9871406
    Abstract: A system for performing computing operations in a data center includes one or more sets of computer systems, one or more primary power systems, and a reserve power system. The primary power systems include a downstream portion that supplies power to at least one of the sets of computer systems. The reserve power system includes switches that switch between supplying a primary power feed and a reserve power feed from the reserve power system through part of the primary power system. An input resiliency switch can switch between supplying primary power or reserve power to support power supplied to the sets of computer systems through the primary power system based upon a primary power feed fault. A power distribution switch can switch between supplying primary power and reserve power to part of the downstream portion of the primary power system to bypass an upstream portion of the primary power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Andrew Churnock, Huyen Van Nguyen, Kelsey Michelle Wildstone, Patrick Hughes, Nigel McGee
  • Patent number: 9866145
    Abstract: There is described an electrical energy conversion system comprising: at least a first inverter (1) and at least a second inverter (2), whose outputs are connected in parallel; at least a first DC voltage source (PV1) connected to the input of the first inverter (1) and a second DC voltage source (PV2) connected to the input of the second inverter (2); a ground connection of the first inverter (1) and a ground connection of the second inverter (2). The ground connection of said inverters comprises a ground connection branch (1G; 2G) with a current sensor (5/1; 5/2) which supplies a signal proportional to a leakage grounding current (Ileak) measured in said ground connection branch (1G; 2G). Through the signal proportional to the leakage current measured a feedback signal is generated to control the leakage current (Ileak).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Massimo Valiani, David Martini, Andrea Marcianesi
  • Patent number: 9859071
    Abstract: A method for switching on and off electric current includes detecting a verification condition, switching on the electric current responsive to the detected verification condition, establishing a communication via a communication network after switching on the electric current, detecting a switch-off condition via the established communication, and switching off the electric current responsive to the detected switch-off condition. An apparatus and a system are described for controlling switching on and off electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks OY
    Inventor: Holger Elias
  • Patent number: 9853494
    Abstract: A system for providing backup power to a facility includes a generator and a controller. The controller is configured to operate the generator until a condition is met, determine a load history that occurs while operating the generator until the condition is met, determine a cool-down time based on the determined load history, and run the generator to the point when the condition is met and in an unloaded condition for the cool-down time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Todd M. Lathrop, David G. Loucks, Bert Popovich
  • Patent number: 9853491
    Abstract: Disclosed are a battery protection device and method for DC power supply. The device comprises: a first branch circuit unit and a second branch circuit unit; a monitoring unit is connected with a DC power supply, the first branch circuit unit and the second charge circuit unit respectively; the first branch circuit unit and the second branch circuit unit are connected in parallel, with one end connected to the DC power source and the other end connected to the load units in series via a battery unit; when the monitoring unit detects that the DC power supply supplies power normally, it controls the first branch circuit unit to conduct, the DC power supply supplies power to the load units; when the monitoring unit detects that the DC power supply supplies power abnormally, it controls the second branch circuit unit to conduct, the battery unit supplies power to the load units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: XI'AN ZHONGXING NEW SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanni Meng, Mingming Liu, Lingqiao Teng, Baohang Zhou, Shuwang Wei
  • Patent number: 9827858
    Abstract: An arrangement is provided for the current supply of electrical users arranged in a motor vehicle. At least two mechanically stable and electrically conductive support elements (4, 5) are arranged in the bottom portion of the motor vehicle (1), where the support elements (4, 5) extend essentially over the entire length of the motor vehicle (1). The two support elements (4, 5) are at one end thereof, each electrically conductively connected to one of the poles of the voltage source (2) and have over their entire length contact points (6, 7) which are separate from each other for connection of the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Helmut Steinberg, Frank Schroeer
  • Patent number: 9831870
    Abstract: A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly and tuning the assembly. The assembly includes proximity switches each having a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field and control circuitry processing the activation field to sense activation. The method of tuning includes generating an activation field with a proximity sensor, generating a signal in response to the activation field, detecting noise associated with the signal, and adjusting a parameter based on the detected noise, wherein the parameter is used to detect a proximity state such as activation of the proximity switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, Stuart C. Salter, Dipanjan Ghosh, Khaled Omar, James Stewart Rankin, II
  • Patent number: 9831671
    Abstract: A power supply device for supplying power to a load by combining a secondary battery and a capacitor includes a switching element which switches the supply of power to the load from the capacitor, a DC-DC converter which enables a voltage of the capacitor to be stepped up and supplied to the load and a control unit which enables power to be supplied to the load by pulse-controlling the switching element, controlling the DC-DC converter to output a pulse current alternately with the switching element and combining the alternately output pulse currents if the voltage of the capacitor drops below a minimum voltage capable of driving the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yamada, Takayuki Tsuchiya, Kunihiko Hikiri, Koichi Itani, Hiroshi Toyama, Noriaki Miyake
  • Patent number: 9803608
    Abstract: Method for voltage stabilization during an engine starting event of a vehicle includes receiving, at a switch device module, an active Start_ON signal from a starter solenoid module indicating initiation of the engine starting event. At the switch device module, an auxiliary electrical energy storage device (ESD) is electrically coupled to one or more auxiliary loads within a predetermined delay since the active Start_ON signal was received. A primary ESD and a starter motor are electrically decoupled from the one or more auxiliary loads only after the auxiliary ESD has been electrically coupled to the one or more auxiliary loads. In response to a predetermined condition occurring while the primary ESD and the starter motor are electrically decoupled from the one or more auxiliary loads, the primary ESD and the starter motor are electrically coupled to the one or more auxiliary loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chandra S. Namuduri, Shawn L. Boozer, Michael G. Reynolds, Kenneth J. Shoemaker
  • Patent number: 9802489
    Abstract: A method and a system for controlling vehicle electric power, and a vehicle comprising the same, are provided. The method includes converting a first voltage supplied by at least one of a startup generator and a storage battery of the vehicle into a second voltage, and controlling the at least one of the startup generator and the storage battery to supply power to a first device with the first voltage, and to supply power to a second device with the second voltage. The system includes a startup generator and a storage battery, configured to supply a first voltage, and a converter configured to convert the first voltage into a second voltage. At least one of the startup generator and the storage battery is configured to supply power to a first device with the first voltage, and to supply power to a second device with the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignees: BYD Company Limited, Shenzhen BYD Auto R&D Company Limited
    Inventors: Yongzeng Zhang, Xiaowen Du, Yilin Zhong, Chunfen Wu
  • Patent number: 9806707
    Abstract: Systems and methods for conditioning a power rail (e.g., reducing voltage droops and/or voltage overshoots on the power rail) are described herein. In one embodiment, a power circuit comprises a capacitor coupled to a high-voltage rail, and a droop slope limiter (DSL) coupled between the high-voltage rail and a power rail. The DSL is configured to detect a downward voltage slope on the power rail, and to control current flow from the high-voltage rail to the power rail through the DSL based on the detected downward voltage slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Qing Li