Patents Examined by T C Patel
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Patent number: 7955104Abstract: A shorting clip terminal connector assembly electrically shorts together terminals in a first connector body dependent on connection status of a first and a second connector body. A shorting clip terminal disposed in a shorting clip terminal cavity in the first connector body receives a protrusion disposed on the second connector body. When the second connector body is mated with the first connector body, the protrusion engages a lift element of the shorting clip terminal in the shorting clip terminal cavity thereon and urges the lift element to lift contact elements of the shorting clip terminal away from the terminals in the shorting clip terminal cavity enabling insertion of protrusion side walls intermediate the contact elements and the terminals in the shorting clip terminal cavity. The contact elements of the shorting clip terminal do not make electrical contact with the terminals and the protrusion side walls further shield the contact elements from making electrical contact with the terminals.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: John Wicks, Mark D. McCall, Nicole L. Liptak, Paul S. Lam
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Patent number: 7955096Abstract: A wiring system includes a wiring module and a functional module. The wiring module in at least one embodiment includes elongated holes or openings which are configured to engage or lock with prongs on a functional module to create a lockable connection. The wiring module and the functional module form both a physical and an electrical connection. In another embodiment, the wiring module has at least three elongated openings or holes, and wherein one of the openings or holes is for receiving a ground prong, while the other openings or holes are for receiving prongs which conduct electricity or communicate information. In another embodiment there is a wiring module that has four elongated openings or holes with all four of these connections associated with the four elongated openings or holes configured to conduct electricity.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2010Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.Inventors: Alfredo Arenas, Paul Endres, John Eder, Sunil Ganta
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Patent number: 7952303Abstract: An electronic ballast has control circuitry to operate a gas discharge lamp in both full and dimmed illumination modes. The electronic ballast also includes a full power circuit having a power control coupled to the dimming controller output to receive the dimming controller signal, a filament heating circuit having a heating input coupled to a reduced power circuit to receive a reduced power signal and a heating output that can couple to the filaments of one or more lamps. When the full power circuit receives the dimming controller signal, via the power control, and the dimming controller signal is not in the dimming request range (i.e. the full illumination mode has been selected), the full power circuit generates a full power signal capable of driving/operating the lamp(s) in the full illumination mode. When the reduced power signal is present, the filament heating circuit generates and provides a filament heating signal to the filaments, via the heating output.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wei Xiong, Christopher Radzinski
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Patent number: 7950930Abstract: It is object of the present invention to provide an electric junction box that can effectively drain liquid away therefrom. The electric junction box in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention comprises a wiring board; a connector block having a body, and a terminal passing through a bottom wall of the body and being electrically connected to the wiring board at an end portion thereof, the body having a groove formed on an inner face of the bottom wall, and an outlet communicating with an end of the groove; and a case being disposed above the bottom wall, having a hole disposed thereon, and being configured to receive both the wiring board and the connector block therein, the hole being configured to pass an opposite end portion of the terminal therethrough. In such a construction, when liquid leaks into the case via the hole and arrives at the bottom wall, the groove is configured to take the liquid up and to guide the liquid to the outlet due to capillary phenomenon.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Yazaki CorporationInventors: Masaoki Yoshida, Takuya Nakayama, Koji Ueyama
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Patent number: 7950946Abstract: An electrical connector (1) for receiving a CPU (5) includes a rectangular planar receiving portion (10) having a top surface (14) for mating with the CPU. At least two posts (20) extend perpendicularly from corners of the planar receiving portion. At least two posts and the planar receiving portion together define a receiving space for receiving the CPU. The post includes a resilient portion (22) and a fixing portion (24). A gap (241) is defined between a resilient portion and a fixing portion, and the resilient portion forms a protrusion block (26) protruding into the receiving space.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Fang-Jwu Liao, Chun-Yi Chang
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Patent number: 7950970Abstract: A terminal assembly includes a contact terminal having a base board, a driven terminal having a retention portion and an insulating block. Two opposite ends of the base board form a pair of contact portions located at one side of the base board for contacting a corresponding external terminal group. A portion of an edge of the retention portion extends to form an elastic arm. The insulating block is integrated with the contact terminal and the driven terminal by means of a substantial middle portion of the base board and a free end of the elastic arm being integrated in the insulating block. The base board of the contact terminal and the elastic arm of the driven terminal are intersected with and non-contacting with each other.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2010Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chao-Yong Ye, Kai-Hsiang Chang, Kuo-Chin Lin
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Patent number: 7950950Abstract: A wire containment cap has twisted pair slots for routing twisted wire pairs through the wire containment cap. The twisted pair slots are provided with funnel-shaped entrances to assist in routing the twisted wire pairs from a rear end of the wire containment cap toward wire slots of the wire containment cap. The wire containment cap may be provided in shielded or unshielded versions, and is adapted for use with a communication jack assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2010Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Panduit Corp.Inventors: Jack E. Caveney, Michael V. Doorhy, Masud Bolouri-Saransar, Satish I. Patel
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Patent number: 7948100Abstract: A method of positioning a wind turbine rotor comprises defining a predetermined angular position in a main rotation plane of the rotor and controlling a rate of deceleration of the rotor, such as to stop the rotor at the predetermined angular position.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2007Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jacob Johannes Nies, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
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Patent number: 7948110Abstract: A vertical wind-driven electricity generation device is described, which utilizes a unique segmented Savonius rotor and which is easily handled, transported, assembled and maintained, even by a single person. The blades of the rotor are segmented into a plurality of modest size blade pair segments, each of which comprises two (or optionally, three or four) low height, helically curved blade portions. The blade pair segments are preferably of the same height and diameter. The rotor is mounted on a central vertical shaft connected to a generator. When the plurality of blade portions are installed on the device's central shaft, the overall blade configuration functions as an unitary Savonius rotor. Flow of gas (normally air in the form of wind) causes the segmented Savonius rotor to move, turning the shaft and rotating member of the generator to rotate, causing the generator to generate electricity.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2007Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Inventors: Ken Morgan, Micheal Slattery
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Patent number: 7946861Abstract: The invention relates to contact pins for providing an electrical connection between electronic devices. In one aspect the pin is adapted to be inserted into a hole of a circuit carrier and the pin comprises at least three portions; namely a contact termination portion, an electrical contact portion and a mechanical fastening portion. The mechanical fastening portion preferably allows a fastening of the contact pin without any soldering.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2007Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: FCIInventor: Reinhard Sander
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Patent number: 7948101Abstract: A platform apparatus for producing hydrogen gas from water includes a buoyant base configured for floating in a body of water, such as on the ocean, a vertical support member extending upwardly from the base, a wind turbine rotatably coupled to the support member for transforming the kinetic energy of wind into rotational energy, a generator coupled to the wind turbine for transforming the rotational energy generated into DC electricity, and an electrolysis apparatus affixed to the platform for using the electricity to extract hydrogen gas from water by the process of hydrolysis. The electrolysis apparatus preferably comprises an exchange chamber for storing water collected from the body of water, a pair of corrosion resistant electrodes, and a gas collection apparatus for collecting the hydrogen gas produced by electrolysis. The platform apparatus preferably includes a pumping apparatus powered by wave motion of the body of water for supplying water to the electrolysis apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2006Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Inventor: John Christopher Burtch
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Patent number: 7946883Abstract: An electrified wall panel in a modular furniture environment includes a plurality of multi-port electrical distribution blocks diversely located throughout the panel. Certain ones of the multi-port electrical distribution blocks are fixed to wall panel frame members and other ones of the multi-port electrical distribution blocks are free of the wall panel. A plurality of jumper cables, each having connectors at opposite cable ends are adapted to mate with any one of the multi-port electrical distribution block ports. The cables electrically interconnect the distribution blocks to form one complete circuit. There are a plurality of electrical receptacles, each having an electrical connector near one end which are electrically coupled to a port of a corresponding multi-port electrical distribution block. The system is assembled by fixing a jumper mounting bracket to a jumper cable near one end of the jumper cable. The jumper mounting bracket is attached to a support member.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2006Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Group Dekko, Inc.Inventors: Daniel L. Hayes, Shawn J. Kondas
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Patent number: 7948105Abstract: This invention provides a small, high efficiency, oil-free turbine-driven alternator (i.e. turboalternator) suitable for conversion of stored energy in a process gas to electrical power, facilitating recapture of energy during operation that would otherwise be wasted. The turboalternator includes a turbine and a generating device operatively connected together by a rotating shaft capable of rotating at high speeds. The rotating shaft is supported by foil gas bearings.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2008Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: R&D Dynamics CorporationInventors: Giridhari L. Agrawal, Charles William Buckley
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Patent number: 7948102Abstract: Method for operating a wind energy plant having a doubly-fed asynchronous machine, a grid-sided converter and a generator-sided converter both being controlled by a control means, the method comprising the following steps: in a regular operating mode the converters are controlled by the control means by means of command variables, in case of fault the converters are controlled by at least one control module which controls the torque and/or the active power and the reactive current and/or the reactive power by means of command variables such that a disconnection of the asynchronous machine from the grid will be performed only if the grid voltage falls below a predetermined voltage-time-characteristic curve, wherein the shape of the voltage-time-characteristic curve is configured by a plurality of pre-selectable parameters in the at least one control module.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2008Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbHInventors: Thomas Schubert, Uwe Bellgardt
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Patent number: 7948216Abstract: A control apparatus controls power generation of an electric generator and communicates with an external control apparatus. The control apparatus includes: a control circuit that controls the power generation of the electric generator according to a command signal transmitted from the external control apparatus; means for reseting the control circuit; and means for informing the external control apparatus of a power generation condition of the electric generator by transmitting a condition signal, the condition signal indicating both the power generation condition of the electric generator and information on whether a reset of the control circuit is made by the reseting means. With such a configuration, when the control circuit is reset due to, for example, noises, the control apparatus can reliably inform the external control apparatus of the reset of the control circuit.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2008Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Tadatoshi Asada, Fuyuki Maehara
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Patent number: 7948218Abstract: The voltage regulator receives power in A.C. from a permanent magnet voltage generator, having phase windings with a configurable connection, to supply power in D.C. to a battery. The voltage regulator comprises a plurality of semi-bridge rectifiers connected between the terminals of the phase windings of the voltage generator, and a battery power supply terminal; it also comprises a control circuit designed to change over the connection of the phase windings between two different configurations, for example star and delta, in relation to the charging voltage of the battery upon exceeding a threshold value of the phase frequency of the voltage generator.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2008Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Ducati Energia S.p.A.Inventors: Gianni Regazzi, Pierluigi Calabri, Alessandro De Angelis
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Patent number: 7944185Abstract: A power control system comprises a prime mover and a generator driven by the prime mover. A control device is coupled with the prime mover and the generator wherein the control device ascertains a power level of the generator and varies an output power of the prime mover according to the power level. The control device measures a duty cycle of a generator output power controller to ascertain the generator power level and generates a signal to a prime mover controller so that the generator duty cycle remains within a pre-determined range. The power control system may include a transmission wherein the control device operation maybe conditioned on a state of the transmission. The power control system may include a speed converter coupled with the prime mover wherein the control device converts a speed of the prime mover according to the generator power level. The control device may operate to control an output power of the generator concurrently with controlling the output power of the prime mover.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2009Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: C. E. Niehoff & Co.Inventors: Issam Jabaji, Shadi Jabaji
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Patent number: 7944070Abstract: A yaw system of a wind turbine includes a plurality of motors, each motor being coupled to the nacelle for applying torque to the nacelle; a plurality of controllers, one controller for each of the motors, each controller being configured to control the respective motor and coupled to at least one other controller to transmit operation information thereto; and a yaw system controller configured to transmit control information to at least one controller of the plurality of controllers. At least one of the controllers is configured to control the respective motor based on at least one of the control information and the received operation information from the at least one other controller. Communication between the controllers of the respective motors can allow a faster response of the yaw system to yaw the nacelle according to a change of wind direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2010Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventors: Paw Rosenvard, Lars Brink Christensen
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Patent number: 7944184Abstract: A static compensator apparatus for a HVDC system may control harmonic wave compensation at high passive speed to meet operating characteristics of the HVDC system. A static compensator is turned-on in a normal mode and compensates for invalid power and removes a harmonic wave generated by the high voltage direct current system. A static compensator controller controls an operation of the static compensator. A diesel power generator operates complementarily to the static compensator and being turned-on when the high voltage direct current system starts.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Korea Electric Power CorporationInventors: Young Do Choy, Chan Ki Kim, Young Hoon Kwan, Seong Joo Lim, Hyoung Bae Moon
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Patent number: 7942692Abstract: A connecting element is disclosed for the connection of at least two switching devices and a switching device and an electric distribution system. In order to allow for the rapid and wireless connection of a plurality of electromechanical devices, at least one embodiment of the invention proposes a connecting device for the connection of at least two switching devices, wherein the connecting element includes first element(s) for mechanically connecting the switching devices to one and another and second element(s) for electrically connecting switching poles of the switching devices. The second element(s) include flexible connecting elements for connecting the switching devices to the switching poles that are electrically connected to the connecting device.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2007Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Martin Bodenmeier