Patents Examined by Temilade S Rhodes-Vivour
  • Patent number: 11946965
    Abstract: A drone deployable power line fault detection sensor. The sensor can include a clamp mechanism having a clamp ring with first and second ring portions movably connected to each other and a resilient member positioned to urge the first and second ring portions toward a closed configuration. A latch can be positioned to retain the first and second ring portions in an open configuration whereby the sensor can be positioned on a power transmission line with a drone. A trigger can be coupled to the latch and operative, under the weight of the sensor, to disengage the latch thereby releasing the first and second ring portions to close around the transmission line under the force of the resilient member. One or more sensors are carried by the clamp mechanism and positioned to detect a line fault on the power transmission line, which is reported to a power station control system to de-energize the power transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: DISH Network L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lang McSchooler, Henry Gregg Martch
  • Patent number: 11933824
    Abstract: A power monitor comprises a current/voltage transformer, an electric energy meter connected in series with the current/voltage transformer, and at least one current regulating element connected between the current/voltage transformer and the electric energy meter. The current/voltage transformer connects the electric energy meter to a load to monitor the electric energy consumed by the load by the electric energy meter. When a current flowing from the current/voltage transformer to the electric energy meter is greater than or equal to a threshold current, the at least one current regulating element reduces the current to less than a rated maximum current of the electric energy meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Zongjie (Jason) Tao, Dandan (Emily) Zhang, Roberto Francisco-Yi Lu
  • Patent number: 11892325
    Abstract: A method of determining a linear or angular position of a magnetic sensor device relative to a magnetic source, or vice versa, the sensor device includes at least four magnetic sensor elements. The method involves the steps of: a) determining a first magnetic field gradient; b) determining a second magnetic field gradient; c) determining a ratio of the first and second magnetic field gradient; d) converting the ratio into a position; while matching signal paths of the magnetic sensor elements so as to improve signal-to-noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Nicolas Dupre, Yves Bidaux
  • Patent number: 11892481
    Abstract: A current detecting circuit includes a first switching element, a second switching element, and a third switching element electrically coupled in series with the first switching element. An output side of the third switching element is electrically coupled to an output terminal. The current detecting circuit includes a current amplifier configured to detect a difference between a first output voltage of the first switching element and a second output voltage of the second switching element. The current amplifier outputs a relative current to be used for detecting an output current that flows out from the output terminal. A ratio of resistance associated with the first switching element to resistance associated with the second switching element is n:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Takano, Kohei Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11891705
    Abstract: A reference electrode assembly including an extension device having a first end opposite a second end and a fluid reservoir disposed between the first end and the second end, a reference electrode engageable with the extension device at the first end of the extension device, an end cap having an external electrical connector positioned at the second end of the extension device, a selectively actuatable spout fluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir, and a conductive wire extending through the fluid reservoir to electrically couple the reference electrode with the external electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ahmed Al Eid, Abdullah Al Zahami
  • Patent number: 11874295
    Abstract: Apparatus and techniques are described for monitoring slosh of a liquid within a propellant tank. The approaches described herein can use an electromagnetic transmitter positioned at a first location on or within the tank, the electromagnetic transmitter coupled to a source of electromagnetic energy and arranged to establish a specified electromagnetic field configuration within the tank using a signal from the source, and an electromagnetic receiver positioned at a different second location on or within the tank, the electromagnetic receiver arranged to sense an electromagnetic field established within the tank by the electromagnetic transmitter. A control circuit can be coupled to the electromagnetic receiver, the control circuit configured to determine a characteristic of a spatial configuration of the liquid using the sensed electromagnetic field. The characteristic can include one or more of a position, a quantity, or a spatial distribution of the liquid, as an illustration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Inc.
    Inventors: Eduardo Antonio Rojas, Bogdan Udrea, Daniel Sommer, Nicholas Moline
  • Patent number: 11867751
    Abstract: A wafer-level method of testing an integrated circuit (IC) device includes: (i) applying a plurality of test operation signals to a wafer containing the IC device, (ii) generating a test enable signal in response to detecting, on the wafer, a toggling of at least one of the plurality of test operation signals, and then (iii) testing at least a portion of the IC device in response to the generating the test enable signal. The generating may also include generating a test enable signal in response to detecting, on the wafer, an inactive-to-active transition of a toggle detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventors: Ahn Choi, Reum Oh
  • Patent number: 11860124
    Abstract: A method to effectively utilize an oil debris monitor to provide advanced warning to mechanical system failures in a high noise system by adapting detection and annunciation algorithms to the background noise in a system that includes collecting I and Q channel data from a sensor; processing the I and Q channel data to both calculate a noise based (RMS adjusted) detection threshold and to identify a ferrous and nonferrous signal; processing the ferrous and nonferrous signals to determine signal peaks above the RMS adjusted detection threshold; adjusting a detection threshold if more signal peaks observed than allowable particles in a given time window; transmitting the detection threshold previously determined to particle detection, rate limit adjustment, detectability algorithms, and estimated mass loss accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Thomas Rocco, Danbing Seto
  • Patent number: 11841380
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a contact probe and a socket for testing an electrical component. The contact probe includes: a tubular structure in which a receiving cavity is formed, and a contact part for contacting with a terminal of a first electrical component is provided at a first end of the tubular structure; a spring arranged in the receiving cavity; a plunger connected with the tubular structure in a slidable manner, wherein a first end of the plunger is provided with a spring positioning part, which abuts against the spring and is an eccentric structure arranged offset from a central axis of the plunger, a second end of the plunger projects from a second end of the tubular structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Inoue Yuta, Sakamoto Yasuyuki, Miura Akira, Obata Keiji, Komatsu Yasushige
  • Patent number: 11828827
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor device comprises a substrate. A first magnetic sensor, a second magnetic sensor, and one or more inductors are disposed over the substrate and are controlled by a magnetic sensor controller having a control circuit. The control circuit is adapted for controlling the first magnetic sensor to measure magnetic fields under presence of a first set of magnetic fields, and for controlling the second magnetic sensor to measure magnetic fields under presence of a second set of magnetic fields generated by the inductors. The control circuit calculates a relative sensitivity matching value that converts magnetic field values measured by the second magnetic sensor to a comparable magnetic field value measured by the first magnetic sensor or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES NV
    Inventors: Samuel Huber Lindenberger, Javier Bilbao De Mendizabal
  • Patent number: 11830828
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the presence of assembly related defects on a semiconductor device including an edge ring having a resistance value and including one or more layers configured to at least partially cover the semiconductor device in a first direction. The one or more layers are divided into a first section and a second section. Each layer of the one or more layers are in electrical communication with one another. The resistance value of the edge ring is at a first resistance value associated with the first and second sections being intact. At least one of the first section and second section is configured to break in response to an assembly related defect, and the resistance value of the edge ring is configured to change from the first resistance value to a second resistance value in response to at least one of the first and second sections being broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Liang Li, Kevin Hu, Wendy Yu
  • Patent number: 11830692
    Abstract: A state of a tripping solenoid in a circuit breaker is determined by a primary coil and a secondary coil wound around a hollow body of a solenoid. The secondary coil is positioned within magnetic coupling distance from the primary coil and is configured to produce a sensing voltage based on the primary coil voltage. A ferromagnetic plunger positioned in the hollow body, is configured to slide axially to a tripped position to trip the circuit breaker when a trip voltage is applied to the primary coil. A plunger position detecting circuit connected to the secondary coil, is configured to detect the position of the plunger in the hollow body of the solenoid based on the sensing voltage. A reduction or absence of the sensing voltage indicates a faulty or broken connection in the primary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonardo Rangel Martinez, Skylar Frances Wetzel, Juan Ignacio Melecio Ramirez
  • Patent number: 11820649
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for detecting movement of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device. The system uses a drive voltage signal source for generating a low frequency drive voltage signal for driving the MEMS device. An excitation signal source may be used for generating an excitation signal which is also applied to the MEMS device. The excitation signal has a frequency which is above a physical response capability of the MEMS device, such that operation of the MEMS device is not significantly affected by the excitation signal. A sensing impedance is used to help generate a signal which is responsive to the capacitance of the MEMS device. The capacitance of the MEMS device changes in response to movement of the MEMS device. An output subsystem is provided which responds to changes sensed by the sensing impedance, and which produces an output voltage signal. A filter filters the output voltage signal to produce a filtered output voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Panas, Princess Corral, Steven L. Hunter, Phillip Harris Paul
  • Patent number: 11824343
    Abstract: An output module includes a first connection terminal, a second connection terminal, a power supply terminal, a controller, an output device, and a first cutoff switch. The first connection terminal is connected to a high potential side terminal of an external load. The second connection terminal is connected to a low potential side terminal of the external load. The power supply terminal is provided with an external power supply from an external power source. The output device is configured to operate by receiving a power supply generated by or based on the external power supply and to output an analog voltage or an analog current of a value instructed by the controller toward the first connection terminal. The first cutoff switch is configured to be controlled by the controller to open and close a first path between the second connection terminal and a ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Takaaki Maekawa
  • Patent number: 11802846
    Abstract: An oxygen concentration meter includes a zirconia sensor, a resistor, a constant-current circuit, a resistance detection section, and an oxygen concentration detection section. The resistor is connected in parallel to the zirconia sensor. The constant-current circuit is connected in parallel to the zirconia sensor and the resistor, and supplies an electric current. The resistance detection section detects the resistance of the zirconia sensor on the basis of the voltage of the zirconia sensor in accordance with the supplied electric current. The oxygen concentration detection section detects the oxygen concentration of gas to be measured that is supplied to the zirconia sensor, on the basis of the voltage of the zirconia sensor resulting from an oxygen concentration difference between the gas to be measured and reference gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichi Takenaka, Ken Ito
  • Patent number: 11799026
    Abstract: A semiconductor die includes: a SiC substrate; power and current sense transistors integrated in the substrate such that the current sense transistor mirrors current flow in the main power transistor; a gate terminal electrically connected to gate electrodes of both transistors; a drain terminal electrically connected to a drain region in the substrate and which is common to both transistors; a source terminal electrically connected to source and body regions of the power transistor; a dual mode sense terminal; and a doped resistor region in the substrate between the transistors. The dual mode sense terminal is electrically connected to source and body regions of the current sense transistor. The doped resistor region has a same conductivity type as the body regions of both transistors and is configured as a temperature sense resistor that electrically connects the source terminal to the dual mode sense terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dethard Peters, Sascha Axel Baier, Tomas Manuel Reiter, Sandeep Walia, Frank Wolter
  • Patent number: 11796570
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a power line that carries electrical current, using a mobile inspection device, the mobile inspection device has a magnetic sensor and a camera, the method includes the following steps: measuring a magnetic field generated by the current, by the magnetic sensor; and capturing an image of the power line by the camera according to the measured magnetic field. A mobile inspection device, a computer program and a machine-readable storage medium implement the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Engel, Josef Alois Birchbauer
  • Patent number: 11782097
    Abstract: A testing process for an electrical system is described. The electrical system includes a power converter and a direct current (DC) bus with two or more DC bus terminals and at least one DC bus capacitor. The testing process is a fully automated testing process where a sequence of different diagnostic tests are carried out on the electrical system, each diagnostic test testing one of the power converter and the DC bus to determine if it is responding as expected or operating within normal parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited
    Inventor: Olivier Rudloff
  • Patent number: 11773721
    Abstract: A turbine speed probe diagnostic system is provided. The turbine includes a speed probe and a speed reading circuit. A speed lead connects the speed probe and speed reading circuit together to transmit speed signals from the speed probe to the speed reading circuit. A speed probe diagnostic circuit is also provided for connection to the speed lead. An isolation switch is provided to isolate the speed probe diagnostic circuit during normal operation when the speed reading circuit is receiving speed signals from the speed probe. When no speed signals are being received, the isolation switch closes and the speed probe diagnostic circuit performs a test on the speed probe or speed lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Camilo Lopez, Mark Foltz, Steve Miller, Kevin Dowdell, Mark Wieland, Alan Majors
  • Patent number: 11768222
    Abstract: A portable connector assembly includes a belt having a clasp for creating a closed loop with the belt. A receiver has port and control electronics. A battery is removably securable in the port of the receiver. The assembly also includes an industrial connector electrically connected to the receiver for electrically connecting the control electronics with a product connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Test Products, Incorporated
    Inventors: Carlton R. Babcock, Thomas A. Gillespie, John P. Bergmann, John D. Bruszewski