Patents Examined by Thang X Le
  • Patent number: 10948525
    Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter includes at least one primary switch, a primary inductor, and a switch rectifier circuit or a switch flyback circuit. A switch driving circuit is structured to drive the at least one primary switch. A fault detection method includes directly or indirectly detecting a voltage waveform or a current waveform of at least one terminal of the primary inductor, and determining whether the at least one primary switch is in a diode rectifying state or in a diode flyback state based on the voltage waveform or the current waveform to detect whether there is a fault in the switch driving circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qiang Li, Xiaojun Wang
  • Patent number: 10948541
    Abstract: A system for diagnosing switching element selectively connecting Y-capacitors to ground is provided. The state of a switching device in a power conversion circuit is adjusted such that voltages of different levels are applied to the Y-capacitors, respectively. Therefore, a Y-capacitor disconnect switch which connects a plurality of Y-capacitors connected in common to a DC link to chassis ground is diagnosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ho Joon Shin, Nam Koo Han, Sang Yoo Lee, Heon Young Kwak, Hong Geuk Park
  • Patent number: 10934141
    Abstract: An electric winch control module of this disclosure provides improved means for detecting changes in a current carried by an electric winch motor power lead. The module's housing includes a magnetic flux shield contained within an exposed channel of the housing and located at or toward a vertical centerline of the channel and opposite a magnetic flux sensor of the control module. The magnetic flux shield is made of a ferromagnetic material and includes a bottom wall spanning the width of the open bottom of the channel, an open top arranged opposite the top wall of the channel, and opposing sidewalls opposite a respective sidewall of the channel. The shield surrounds the side and lower portions of the lead below the sensor when in the channel, shielding the wire and sensor from outside interference while at the same time exposing an upper portion of the lead to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ramsey Winch Company
    Inventors: Todd Brady, Greg Landon, Donald Milet, Mark A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10928435
    Abstract: An electrical system is provided. The electrical system includes an insulated electrical conductor installed in an aircraft and configured to conduct a current over a length of the insulated electrical conductor. The electrical system includes an optical fiber includes a jacket surrounding an optical core, the optical fiber installed adjacent to the insulated electrical conductor. The electrical system includes a photo detector coupled to the optical fiber and configured to detect an electromagnetic signal carried by the optical fiber and at least partially generated as a function of an electrical fault that occurs at a point along the length of the insulated electrical conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Mark Severns, Vyacheslav Khozikov
  • Patent number: 10928425
    Abstract: A current monitoring circuit includes: an output terminal configured to be coupled to a controller; an inverter having an output coupled to the output terminal; a first transconductance amplifier having first and second inputs configured to be coupled across a sense resistive element, and an output coupled to an input of the inverter; and a current generator having a second transconductance amplifier configured to generate a reference current at an output of the current generator based on a reference voltage, the output of the current generator being coupled to the input of the inverter, where the output of the inverter is configured to be in a first state when a load current flowing through the sense resistive element is higher than a predetermined threshold, and in a second state when the load current is lower than the predetermined threshold, and where the predetermined threshold is based on the reference current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Valerio Lo Muzzo, Alberto Gussoni, Ambrogio Bogani, Fabrizio Martignoni, Mattia Fausto Moretti
  • Patent number: 10928341
    Abstract: The disclosure includes an inductive conductivity sensor for measuring the specific electrical conductivity of a medium with a transmitter coil energized by an input signal, a receiver coil coupled with the transmitter coil via the medium, which receiver coil supplies an output signal that is a measure for the conductivity of the medium, and a housing enclosing the transmitter coil and the receiver coil, which housing comprises at least one housing section designed to be immersed in the medium, the housing wall of said housing section surrounding the transmitter coil and the receiver coil. The housing is made of a magnetic plastic or resin for inductively decoupling the transmitter coil from the receiver coil. In certain embodiments, the housing may be made of a ferromagnetic material. Another aspect of the disclosure includes a method for manufacturing the conductivity sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Nagel, André Pfeifer, Christian Fanselow
  • Patent number: 10928420
    Abstract: A probe pin is provided with a plate-like movable pin including: a flexible part configured to extend and contract lengthwise; a first contact part and a second contact part each provided at an end of the flexible part lengthwise; and a conduction-path forming element overlapping the movable pin along the thickness thereof. The conduction-path forming element includes a first contact surface and a second contact surface at lengthwise ends configured to contact the first contact part and second contact part; the movable pin and the conduction-path forming element are arranged to allow the first contact part to remain in contact with the first contact surface and the second contact part to remain in contact with the second contact surface while allowing relative movement of the movable pin and the conduction-path forming element lengthwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotada Teranishi, Takahiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 10921159
    Abstract: A system may include a first resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, a second resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, and a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the first resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and the second resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and configured to measure first phase information associated with the first resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, measure second phase information associated with the second resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, and based on the first phase information and the second phase information, determine a displacement of a mechanical member relative to the first resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Tejasvi Das, Zhong You, Siddharth Maru, Eric J. King, Johann G. Gaboriau, Luke Lapointe, Matthew Beardsworth
  • Patent number: 10921160
    Abstract: A sensing circuit in a device having a moving body in which a unit to be detected including first and second pattern units spaced apart from each other is formed includes an oscillation circuit unit including first and second oscillation circuits fixedly mounted on a substrate spaced apart from the unit to be detected, including, respectively, first and second sensing coils having first and second inductance values depending on areas of overlap between the first and second sensing coils and the first and second pattern units and outputting, respectively, first and second sensed oscillation signals based on the first and second inductance values; and a sensing circuit outputting an output signal having movement information of the moving body based on each period count value for each of the first and second sensed oscillation signals using a reference oscillation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Woo Lee, Woo Young Choi
  • Patent number: 10921391
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a magnetic field sensor integrated circuit including a lead frame having a first surface, a second opposing surface, and a plurality of leads. A substrate has a first surface supporting a magnetic field sensing element and a second surface attached to the first surface of the lead frame. A magnet has a first surface and a second, opposing surface, and is configured to generate a magnetic field. A spacer is positioned between the first surface of the magnet and the second surface of the lead frame with a thickness selected to establish a predetermined distance between the first surface of the magnet and the magnetic field sensing element, the predetermined distance selected to provide the magnetic field signal as a sinusoidal signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Cadugan, William P. Taylor
  • Patent number: 10921362
    Abstract: An electric field detecting system is provided that comprises a first metal plate, a second metal plate, a sensor and a detector. The sensor has a first metal layer, a second metal layer and a non-linear permittivity dielectric material disposed between the first metal layer and the second metal layer. The first metal layer is electrically connected to the first metal plate, whereas the second metal layer is electrically connected to the second metal plate. The detector can detect a voltage between the first metal layer and the second metal layer and can determine a magnitude of the electric field based on the detected voltage and a priori information related to a variable capacitance of the non-linear permittivity dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Jack Y. Dea
  • Patent number: 10914610
    Abstract: A zero cross detection circuit has a first comparator circuit receiving a first input signal n1 and a second input signal n2 and outputting a first comparison result, a second comparator circuit having a hysteresis, receiving the first input signal n1 and the second input signal n2, and providing a second comparison result, and a logic circuit providing a zero cross detection signal based on the first comparison result and the second comparison result. The logic circuit provides a reverse signal to the second comparator circuit based on the first comparison result and the second comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventor: Minoru Ariyama
  • Patent number: 10914765
    Abstract: A current sensor can include a lead frame. The lead frame can include a first lead and a second lead, wherein the first and second leads are coupled together at a first junction region of the lead frame, wherein the current sensor is operable to sense a magnetic field generated by a first current passing through the first junction region. The current sensor can further include a first die disposed proximate to the lead frame. The first die can include a first magnetic field sensing element disposed on a surface of the first die, a first circuit coupled to the first magnetic field sensing element for generating a first signal indicative of a first current, and a first node coupled to the first signal. The current sensor can further include a second die disposed proximate to the lead frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Wade Bussing, Alexander Latham
  • Patent number: 10915080
    Abstract: Disclosed are a communication method between a master controller and slave controllers, a slave controller for the communication method, and a battery management system using the communication method and the slave controller, in which the master controller receives safety information about battery cells through a plurality of channels even when each of a plurality of slave controllers includes only one micro controller unit, thereby minimizing the increase in the cost and enhancing the safety of the battery management system. The communication method includes performing bidirectional communication between a master controller and first to Nth (where N is an integer equal to or more than two) slave controllers through a first communication channel, and receiving, by the master controller, an indication signal through a second communication signal via the first to Nth slave controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignees: SILICON WORKS CO., LTD., LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Myoung Su Song, Jae Wan Kim, Jin Yong Jeon, Ki Suk Cho, Il Kwon Kim, Seung Jun Choi, Kyu Ho Kim, Kyoung Choon Min, Ki Young Lee, Won Gon Kim
  • Patent number: 10908183
    Abstract: A novel coupling system may include a head-end circuit for coupling a probe via a cable to an instrument, delivering power to the probe over the cable while the cable carries signal(s) from the probe to the instrument. The head-end circuit may include a first terminal for coupling to the probe via a cable, and may further include a second terminal for coupling to the instrument. The head-end circuit may apply direct-current (DC) power to the cable, and may remove a DC voltage offset resulting from the applied DC power before a signal from the probe reaches the instrument. The head-end circuit may include a common node coupled to the first terminal, a current source coupling the common node to a supply voltage, and a voltage source coupling the common node to a second terminal that couples to the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Whittington
  • Patent number: 10900988
    Abstract: Provided is a rotary machine in which the output of a magnetic sensor is hardly lowered even if the rotation speed of a rotor becomes high. The rotary machine includes a rotor, a housing, a magnet, and a magnetic sensor. The rotor axially rotates around a rotation axis. The housing is formed of a conductive material and contains the rotor. The magnet is attached to the rotor such that an arrangement direction of a pair of magnetic poles is in a radial direction of the rotor. The magnetic sensor is attached to the housing. The magnetic sensor detects a time variation of a magnetic field generated from the magnet to detect the rotation speed of the rotor. The magnetic sensor is located on the outside than the magnet in the radial direction. The magnetism sensing direction of the magnetic sensor is orthogonal to the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiharu Yamamoto, Tomohiko Nagao, Takeshi Kawano, Koei Gemba
  • Patent number: 10900887
    Abstract: A corrosion prevention survey system for determining locations of faults along an underground structure includes a data collector to record location data and voltage data; a voltage reading system to secure to a leg of a user, the voltage reading system having a pole with a spike to be inserted into a ground surface, the spike being able to read a voltage current running through the ground; an attachment device to secure the pole to the leg of a user; and one or more wires to connect the pole to the data collector; the pole is a predetermined length not greater than 2 feet; the voltage data is transmitted from the pole to the data collector; and the location data and voltage data are used in analysis to determine directions of voltage gradients for further determination of location of faults along the underground structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventor: Russell Barnett
  • Patent number: 10895147
    Abstract: A method and system for estimating a thickness of at least one casing string in a cased hole may comprise obtaining a plurality of induction measurements from a plurality of channels using a casing inspection tool, computing a quality vector for the plurality of channels, wherein each element of the quality vector is a numeric output, identifying the plurality of channels is a high-quality or a low-quality based at least in part on an evaluation of the quality vector to obtain a high-quality subset of the plurality of channels and a low-quality subset of the plurality of channels, and estimating the thickness of the at least one casing with an inversion using a high-quality subset of the plurality of channels. A system may comprise a multi-channel induction tool and an information handling system. The multi-channel induction tool may comprise at least one transmitter and at least one receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kai Ren, Ahmed Elsayed Fouda, Ilker R. Capoglu
  • Patent number: 10890607
    Abstract: A sense circuit for a piezoresistive sensor is provided that comprises: an energy storage circuit coupled to the piezoresistive sensor via a first node; a charge control circuit coupled to the first node and configured to charge the energy storage circuit to a predetermined potential; a discharge control circuit configured to allow the energy storage circuit to discharge through the piezoresistive sensor; and a readout circuit coupled to the first node and configured to output a sensed voltage based on a level of charges stored by the energy storage circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chihjen Cheng, Xiaoliang Ding, Pengpeng Wang, Xueyou Cao, Yuzhen Guo
  • Patent number: 10890642
    Abstract: A method of calibrating an impedance measurement device for measuring DUT impedance includes performing short calibration measurements using a short calibration standard to obtain short raw data; performing first shunt calibration measurements using a first shunt calibration standard to obtain first raw data, the first shunt calibration standard having known first resistance and unknown first inductance; performing second shunt calibration measurements using a second shunt calibration standard to obtain second raw data, the second shunt calibration standard having known second resistance and unknown second inductance; determining first and second complex impedances of the first and second shunt calibration standards by calculating the first and second inductances using the short, first and second raw data applied to a specific error model; and determining general error coefficients for an error model using the first and second complex impedances and the first and second raw data applied to a one-port calibrat
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Manuel Kasper