Patents Examined by Thienvu Tran
  • Patent number: 10211680
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a methodology for wireless power transmission based on pocket-forming. The method includes a transmitter device capable of forming pockets of energy used by a receiver device to charge an electronic device such as a computers, cell phones, tablet and/or devices of the like. The method may include using an array of antennas at the transmitter to locate the position of a receiver device. The transmitter may identify the position of the device by capturing a signal from a receiving device using two subsets from the array of antennas. The subset of antennas may then be adjusted to form pockets of energy at the appropriate location of the receiving device. Previously stored data pertaining to each antenna in the array may serve to determine the proper adjustments for the entire array of antennas based on the results from the subsets used to capture the receivers signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Leabman, Gregory Scott Brewer
  • Patent number: 10205315
    Abstract: A fault detection system is provided which includes power lines connecting between a DC power supply and electric equipment, switches respectively provided to the power lines, a capacitor connected to the power lines at a position where a distance to the electric equipment is shorter than a distance between the switches and the electric equipment, a charging unit charging the capacitor before the switches are turned on, a detection section connected to the power line at a connecting point where a distance to the DC power supply is shorter than a distance between the switches and the DC power supply, and detecting a change in an electric potential of the connecting point, and a determination section determining whether a short-circuit fault has occurred in any one of the switches based on a difference in the electric potential of the connecting point between before and after the capacitor is charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hayato Mizoguchi, Takashi Inamoto
  • Patent number: 10202168
    Abstract: A bicycle electronic system comprising a battery unit, at least one operating unit and a power supply and communication bus, each of said units being connected to said bus is provided. The system comprises first means or controller for switching-off/(re)switching-on able to be activated/deactivated by a user and second means or controller for switching-off/(re)switching-on suitable for disconnecting/connecting said battery unit from/to said power supply and communication bus in response to the activation/deactivation of said first means or controller for switching-off/(re)switching-on. A battery unit and a method for switching-off/(re)switching-on a bicycle electronic system are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: CAMPAGNOLO S.R.L.
    Inventors: Flavio Fusari, Flavio Cracco
  • Patent number: 10205321
    Abstract: An electrical accumulator arrangement includes a plurality of energy storage modules having source and return leads. The source lead of a first energy storage module is connected to the return lead of a second energy storage module. The return lead of the first energy storage module is electrically isolated from the source lead of the second energy storage module to pulse voltage across rails of a multi-level direct current power bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew L. Wilhide, Christopher J. Courtney
  • Patent number: 10204731
    Abstract: Disclosed are a transmitting coil structure and wireless power transmitting terminal using the transmitting coil structure. The transmitting coil has a first winding and a second winding connected in parallel, so that the transmitting coil has a smaller inductance than the conventional transmitting coil in the condition of the same spatial magnetic field. When the receiving terminal is near the transmitting coil, the inductance of the transmitting coil is smaller, and the influence of the receiving terminal to the inductance of the transmitting coil is reduced significantly, and the effect to the impedance matching of the primary side transmitting coil and the resonant capacitor will not be too large, so as to improve the power transmission efficiency of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ningbo WeiE Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hengyi Su
  • Patent number: 10205326
    Abstract: Disclosed, in one example, is an energy consumption node. The node includes a guided surface wave receive structure configured to obtain electrical energy from a guided surface wave traveling along a terrestrial medium. The node also includes a distribution system coupled to the guided surface wave receive structure and configured to distribute the obtained electrical energy to an electrical load coupleable to the distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: CPG Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James F. Corum, Kenneth L. Corum, James D. Lilly
  • Patent number: 10202042
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes a controller to control discharge of a smoothing condenser based on at least one signal received through an input. The at least one signal indicates a failure of a discharge circuit configured to discharge the smoothing condenser The controller controls discharge of stored charge in the smoothing condenser through parasitic resistance components of a power system which includes the smoothing condenser. The power conversion system may be used with an electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Futoshi Yamane, Masami Ishikawa, Mitsutoshi Muraoka, Taro Yoshida, Yoshinari Murayama, Kenji Furusawa
  • Patent number: 10198016
    Abstract: A load control apparatus includes: a relay control unit that outputs an open or close command; a power supply adjustment unit; a contact resistance measurement unit that measures a resistance value of the relay; and an adjustment command generation unit that outputs to the power supply adjustment unit an increase command that causes a current flowing between the contacts of the relay or a voltage applied therebetween to be a value greater than a steady-state value when the resistance value becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, and outputs to the power supply adjustment unit a release command that returns the current flowing between the contacts of the relay or the voltage applied therebetween to the steady-state value when, after the increase command is outputted, the resistance value becomes smaller than the predetermined threshold value and the close command is received from the relay control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Taisei Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 10199862
    Abstract: An emergency dimming apparatus. The emergency dimming apparatus includes an input, a charger, an energy storage device, a power conversion device, an emergency control output, and a controller. The input is configured to receive a line voltage. The charger is configured to receive the line voltage and generate a charging voltage. The energy storage device is configured to receive the charging voltage and selectively output a stored voltage. The power conversion device is configured to convert the stored voltage to an output voltage. The emergency control output is configured to output an emergency control signal. The controller includes a processor and a memory. The controller is configured to monitor the line voltage, determine if the line voltage has crossed a threshold, output the output voltage when the line voltage has crossed the threshold, and output an emergency control signal when the line voltage has crossed the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Glenn D. Garbowicz, Edvin G. Blanco, Michael W. Bandel
  • Patent number: 10199878
    Abstract: A wireless power transceiver includes input generator, inverter, battery, antenna, impedance matching circuit, and mode voltage changer. The input generator outputs an input voltage as a primary input voltage and a secondary input voltage in a power transmitting mode. The input generator outputs a power supply voltage as a primary input voltage and outputs a ground voltage as a secondary input voltage in a power receiving mode. The inverter outputs to the second node, an inverted version of the input voltage in the power transmitting mode, and outputs to the first node, a rectified voltage of the second node in power receiving mode. The impedance matching circuit is connected between the second node and the antenna. The mode voltage changer converts a battery voltage of the battery to output the power supply voltage in the power transmitting mode, and charges the battery with a voltage converted from the power supply voltage in the power receiving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Hyo Lee
  • Patent number: 10199821
    Abstract: A control device for an electrical protection circuit for use in an alternating current system including a transformer is disclosed. An example system includes a first measurement probe, a second measurement probe configured to measure an electrical property within the electrical protection circuit, and a control module, including a processing device. The control module is configured to monitor a measurement from the first measurement probe and transmit a protection activation control signal to the switch assembly based on the measurement from the first measurement probe exceeding a first predetermined threshold. The control module is also configured to monitor a measurement from the second measurement probe and transmit a protection deactivation control signal to the switch assembly based on the measurement from the second measurement probe satisfying a second predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Emprimus, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Fuchs, Wallace Jensen, Frederick R. Faxvog, David Blake Jackson, Gale K. Nordling
  • Patent number: 10193342
    Abstract: Disclosed is a subnetwork controller for a subnetwork within an interconnected grid. The controller controls power generators, subnetworks, or loads of the subnetwork in accordance with sensor-captured internal measured variables and sensor-captured external measured variables as well as external controlled variables of the subnetwork in such a way that a dynamic behavior of the subnetwork in relation to its adjacent subnetworks corresponds to a defined desired behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Joachim Bamberger, Ulrich Münz
  • Patent number: 10193534
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission system comprising a wireless transmitter capable of transmitting power and a wireless receiver capable of receiving power such that the transmitter or receiver comprises a controller and resonant tank, and the resonant tank comprises a capacitor and an electrically tunable inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Garrity Power Services LLC
    Inventor: Paul Garrity
  • Patent number: 10193396
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits a power waves (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signal waves) to create a three-dimensional pocket of energy. At least one receiver can be connected to or integrated into electronic devices and receive power from the pocket of energy. A wireless power network may include a plurality of wireless power transmitters each with an embedded wireless power transmitter manager, including a wireless power manager application. The wireless power network may include a plurality of client devices with wireless power receivers. The wireless power transmitter managers may receive a plurality of power transfer attributes from one or more of the wireless power receivers, client devices, a management control system, and sensors. A master transmitter manager may select at least one of the power transmitter managers to control the transmission of power waves in accordance with the plurality of power transfer attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Bell, Michael A. Leabman
  • Patent number: 10190249
    Abstract: An appliance for treating at least one item according to a cycle of operation and configured to receive power from a power source having an AC voltage line and a neutral line includes a treating chamber for receiving the item and a central control unit to control independent electrical loads associated with the cycle of operation. The central control unit includes a plurality of parallel controlled master switches in the AC voltage line and a plurality of parallel controlled slave switches in the neutral line. The master and slave switches define a number of independent loads equal to the number of the master switches multiplied by the number of the slave switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Sarikhani, Maciej Tubielewicz
  • Patent number: 10188039
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing a local electrical power source at a header of a combine harvester. An alternator is mechanically coupled to a header backshaft. The header backshaft is mechanically coupled to a drive mechanism of the combine harvester to cause rotation of the header backshaft which, in turn, causes the alternator to generate electrical power. A power supply circuit transferred electrical power from the alternator to one or more electric devices mounted on the header. In some implementations, the header does not include any physical cables between the combine and the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Colin D. Engel
  • Patent number: 10193394
    Abstract: A wireless power receiver capable of receiving wireless power from close-coupled and mid-range wireless power supplies. The wireless power receiver includes a principal and supplemental receiver circuits. The principle receiver circuit is adjustable to operate in a close-coupled mode or a resonator mode. In close-coupled mode, the principle receiver circuit is coupled to the power input of a remote device and functions as the principle power source. In resonator-mode, the principle power circuit is electrically disconnected/isolated from the remote device and forms a closed resonant loop to function as a resonator that amplifies an electromagnetic field from a mid-range wireless power supply. The supplemental receiver circuit is coupled to the power input of the remote device and is configured to receive wireless power from the resonator and function as the power source when the principle receiver circuit is in the resonator mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: PHILIPS IP VENTURES B.V.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Norconk, Colin J. Moore, Joshua B. Taylor
  • Patent number: 10193383
    Abstract: The dual-shaft gas turbine power generation system includes: a high-pressure gas turbine; a first rotating shaft connecting a compressor and the high-pressure gas turbine; an electric motor connected to the first rotating shaft; a governor which adjusts the amount of air taken into the compressor; a low-pressure gas turbine; a second rotating shaft connected to the low-pressure gas turbine; a synchronous power generator connected to the second rotating shaft; a frequency converter which converts the frequency of power transmitted between the synchronous power generator and the electric motor; and a control device which controls a frequency converter control device for controlling the frequency converter, and the governor, on the basis of a power output command value indicating the power to be outputted to an external grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Hino, Naohiro Kusumi, Kazuo Takahashi, Tomomichi Ito
  • Patent number: 10193379
    Abstract: Disclosed is a direct current uninterruptible power supply system. The direct current uninterruptible power supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention is electrically connected to a direct current power converter for converting commercial alternating current power to direct current power, in order to: supply the direct current power to a load and charge an auxiliary power supply device therein with the direct current power. In the case of a short circuit of the direct current power converter due to a current leakage or breakage of the direct current power converter, or if the direct current power converter is disconnected, the direct current uninterruptible power supply system enables the auxiliary power supply device to constantly supply power to the load while completely blocking the electrical connection to the direct current power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignees: SUNCHANG TELECOM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 10193229
    Abstract: Aspects of magnetic coils having cores with relatively high magnetic permeability are described. In some embodiments, a system includes a guided surface wave receive structure configured to obtain electrical energy from a guided surface wave traveling across a terrestrial medium. The guided surface wave receive structure includes a magnetic coil and a core disposed in the magnetic coil. The core in some embodiments has a relative magnetic permeability greater than about 10 and less than about 1,000,000. An electrical load is coupled to the guided surface wave receive structure, with the electrical load being experienced as a load at an excitation source coupled to a guided surface waveguide probe generating the guided surface wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: CPG Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James F. Corum, Kenneth L. Corum, James D. Lilly