Patents Examined by Terrence Willoughby
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Patent number: 9806694Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for use in tuning reactance are described. Open loop and closed loop control for tuning of reactances are also described. Tunable inductors and/or tunable capacitors may be used in filters, resonant circuits, matching networks, and phase shifters. Ability to control inductance and/or capacitance in a circuit leads to flexibility in operation of the circuit, since the circuit may be tuned to operate under a range of different operating frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2015Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Ronald Eugene Reedy, Dan William Nobbe, Tero Tapio Ranta, Cheryl V. Liss, David Kovac
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Patent number: 9806769Abstract: An electromagnetically-coupled state detection circuit including a detection unit that measures a primary side Q value of a circuit containing a primary side coil electromagnetically coupled with a secondary side coil and power transmission efficiency to the secondary side coil, corrects the power transmission efficiency based on the Q value of the primary side coil, and detects a state of electromagnetic coupling with the secondary side coil based on an obtained corrected value of the power transmission efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2012Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroaki Nakano, Tomomichi Murakami, Shinichi Fukuda, Osamu Kozakai, Kenichi Fujimaki
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Patent number: 9802562Abstract: An automotive power unit includes a plurality of storage batteries; a power supply box arranged between the storage batteries and a load; a switch means that is provided in the power supply box and selects whether or not to supply power to the load from the storage batteries; and a switch control unit that detects output voltages of the storage batteries and controls the opening and closing of the switch means so as to select a storage battery for supplying power to the load. The switch control unit enables, based on a control signal that is output from a load control unit when the load is driven, a storage battery selecting operation to be performed by the switch means.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2015Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Hiromichi Yasunori, Kosei Maekawa, Akio Ishihara
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Patent number: 9799445Abstract: A wireless power receiver for receiving power from a wireless power transmitter using resonance according to the embodiment includes a reception resonant coil resonance-coupled with a transmission resonant coil of the wireless power transmitter for receiving the power, a reception induction coil coupled with the reception resonant coil for receiving the power, and a connecting unit, and the reception resonant coil includes at least one conductive line having one end and an opposite end being open with each other, and the connecting unit couples the one end and the opposite end of each conductive line with each other so that the reception resonant coil forms a closed loop.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.Inventor: Jung Oh Lee
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Patent number: 9787100Abstract: According to an embodiment there is provided a multilevel power supply comprising two power sources that share a common node, a switching arrangement, a charge storage device and an output terminal. The two power sources are configured to provide a first potential V1, a second potential V2 and a third potential V3, wherein V1>V2>V3. The switching arrangement is configured to charge the charge storage device between potentials V1 and V3 in a first switching state and to connect the charge storage device between potential V2 and the output in a second switching state.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Gavin Watkins
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Patent number: 9787040Abstract: The panel (220), the energy-saving switch (230), and the connector (240) may be formed in a separable module type corresponding to each of the power sockets (130). The separable module type increases usability, because it is possible to use the modules only for necessary ones of the plugs (P) in the power sockets (130) and not to insert them into the power sockets (130) without a plug (P) connected.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Inventor: Tae-Wan Roh
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Patent number: 9774373Abstract: An apparatus for wirelessly transmitting energy based on a frame is provided. The apparatus includes a transmitter configured to transmit, to at least one reception device, energy in a frame unit through a mutual resonance between a source resonator and a plurality of target resonators, and a controller configured to determine information included in the frame based on whether energy is transmitted to the at least one reception device, or based on whether data is transmitted to the at least one reception device.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2013Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ui Kun Kwon, Sang Joon Kim, Seung keun Yoon
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Patent number: 9744865Abstract: A line for supplying electrical units with power of more than 3 kW in vehicles, comprising: at least two electrically conducting, oblong bus bars having a flat cross-section and two opposite ends in the longitudinal direction, the bus bars each being insulated from and extending parallel to each other; a foil shield surrounding the bus bars from a first of the ends to a second of the ends; a stranded drain wire running between the bus bars and the foil shield in the longitudinal direction from the first end to the second end; a pair of flexible electrical conductors at one of the ends of the bus bars, each surrounded by a shield and electrically connected at a first end to a respective one of the bus bars, with the shield of the conductors being electrically connected in each case to the stranded drain wire.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2016Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Lisa Draexlmaier GmbHInventors: Michael Wortberg, Alfred Grom, Konrad Hanakam, Josef Schandl, Klaus Specht, Harald Sommavilla
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Patent number: 9746868Abstract: A system comprising an ambient energy source, a power supply, and a power storage device. The ambient energy source is coupled to a first terminal end of an inductor. The power supply is also coupled to the first terminal end of the inductor. The power storage device is coupled to a second terminal end of the inductor. The ambient energy source provides power through the inductor in a first direction to the power storage device. The power storage device provides power through the inductor to the power supply in a second direction opposite the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Aatmesh Shrivastava, Yogesh Ramadass, Steven Bartling
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Patent number: 9741488Abstract: A power transmission coil includes a plane coil including a no-wire portion and a coil wound about a no-wire portion, a cover for covering the plane coil from above, a first foreign-matter-detecting unit provided at the no-wire portion, and a power control circuit electrically connected to the plane coil and the first foreign-matter-detecting unit. An upper surface of the cover has a first inclining portion inclining toward the first foreign-matter-detecting unit. The power control circuit transmits power through the plane coil if a foreign matter is not detected in the no-wire portion based on an output from the first foreign-matter-detecting unit. The power control circuit is configured to stop transmitting power through the plane coil if foreign matter is detected in the no-wire portion based on an output from the first foreign-matter-detecting unit. This power transmission coil is capable of detecting a small foreign matter that may generate heat.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2013Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Koji Higashiyama, Steffen Werner
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Patent number: 9733693Abstract: A combined power and input/output system for an electronic device includes a host system; a target system operably coupled to the host system via a combined power and I/O line; and a power boost circuit in the target system for enabling a higher voltage target device.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2016Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATEDInventors: Joseph Julicher, Pieter Schieke, Vivien Delport
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Patent number: 9728958Abstract: A current electronic distributing device that can limit maximum output currents of a plurality of input/output (I/O) ports to a first current or a second current. The current electronic distributing device includes a plurality of current detection units, a plurality of current limiting units, a control unit, and a power supply unit. The power supply unit supplies power to the current electronic distributing device. Each of the current detection units respectively detects consumption currents of each of the I/O ports. The control unit calculates a sum of the consumption currents of the plurality of I/O ports, and controls each of the current limiting units to limit the maximum output currents of each of the I/O ports to the first current or the second current according to the sum of the consumption currents of the plurality of I/O ports.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2014Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventor: Her-Shuenn Chung
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Patent number: 9729006Abstract: A power supply system includes at least one power supply module and at least one redundant power supply module. A power supply module may include a charging resistor in parallel with an OR-ing device to keep all filter capacitors charged as long as at least one power supply module remains operational. This may avoid current spikes at turn on and may enable the redundant module to turn on without using soft start.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2011Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Bill Carter, Brian Griffith, Viktor Vogman
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Patent number: 9726518Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting foreign objects. In one aspect an apparatus for detecting a presence of an object is provided. The apparatus includes a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency. The resonant circuit includes a sense circuit including an electrically conductive structure. The apparatus further includes a coupling circuit coupled to the sense circuit. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit coupled to the sense circuit via the coupling circuit. The detection circuit is configured to detect the presence of the object in response to detecting a difference between a measured characteristic that depends on a frequency at which the resonant circuit is resonating and a corresponding characteristic that depends on the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit. The coupling circuit is configured to reduce a variation of the resonant frequency by the detection circuit in the absence of the object.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Hanspeter Widmer, Markus Bittner, Lukas Sieber, Marcel Fischer
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Patent number: 9728960Abstract: Multimode distribution systems and methods are described. A multimode distribution system includes a first source interface for coupling to a first power source, a second source interface for coupling to a second power source, and a first selection device to be coupled via a first connection matrix and the first source interface with the first power source to provide main power to one or more power consumption devices. The multimode distribution system includes a second selection device to be coupled via a second connection matrix and the first source interface with the first power source to provide main power to one or more additional power consumption devices. The second selection device is to be coupled via the second connection matrix and the second source interface with the second power source to provide alternative power to the additional power consumption devices.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2015Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Excalibur IP, LLCInventors: Mozan Totani, Jesus Lalo Suarez, Barry C. Bianculli, Thomas Trevino, Bob Lytle, Norman Holt
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Patent number: 9716428Abstract: A high voltage transformer for transforming electric power from a high voltage direct current source to a lower voltage direct current or to a lower voltage alternating current, without intermediate magnetic transformation. The transformer has a number of stages. Each stage includes capacitors and switching devices. There is a controller that controls the switching devices to change the polarity of one or more capacitors.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Inventors: Lionel O. Barthold, Dennis A. Woodford
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Patent number: 9685887Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling power conversion systems. In one aspect, a power management system includes a first power conversion system coupled to a first energy source and a second power conversion system coupled to a second energy source, and a control system. The control system causes, while the first power conversion system is operating in an active mode and the second power conversion system is operating in a standby mode, the second power conversion system to exit the standby mode, the second power conversion system providing a reactive power flow upon exiting the standby mode. The control system causes the first power conversion system to provide a compensatory reactive power flow to compensate for at least a portion of the reactive power flow from the second power conversion system.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2012Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: YOUNICOS INC.Inventor: Eric Martin
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Patent number: 9680308Abstract: A method for managing allocation of electrical power includes selecting one or more power consuming entities for receiving a request to reduce electrical power usage (S23) based on data pertaining to past selections of entities for receiving requests to reduce power and a history of compliance with said requests (S22). A customized request to reduce power usage for each of the selected one or more power consuming entities is generated (S24). The generated customized request to reduce power usage is received at a corresponding power consuming entity and a cost associated with complying with the received customized request to reduce power usage is evaluated (S25). A commitment to comply with the received customized request to reduce power usage is returned when the evaluated cost is within a threshold of acceptability and negotiating a new request to reduce power when the evaluated cost is greater than a threshold of acceptability (S26).Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2012Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Paul J. Bruschi, Sindhu Suresh
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Patent number: 9671810Abstract: A system and method for providing power is disclosed. A variable direct current (DC) power source provides a variable DC voltage. A configurator dynamically converts the variable DC voltage to a selected DC voltage to provide the power. A set of switches combines the solar voltage with a substantially constant DC voltage. A control unit controls the set of switches and the configurator to provide the combined voltages at a selected voltage level.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2012Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Shankar Km, William P. Kostenko, Anand D. Meshram, Kota V R M Murali, Roger R. Schmidt
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Patent number: 9673629Abstract: A direct current to alternating current inverter sub-system is for a HVDC distribution system. The DC to AC inverter sub-system includes an enclosure and a DC to DC galvanically isolated buck converter having a DC input electrically connectable to a HVDC cable and a DC output. A DC to AC inverter includes a DC input electrically connected to the DC output of the DC to DC galvanically isolated buck converter and an AC output electrically connectable to an AC transmission line. The DC to AC inverter is mounted in an enclosure with the DC to DC galvanically isolated buck converter, in order that the DC output of the DC to DC galvanically isolated buck converter is directly electrically connected within the enclosure to the DC input of the DC to AC inverter.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2016Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: EATON CORPORATIONInventors: Harry Broussard, Geraldo Nojima