Patents Examined by Thomas Skibinski
  • Patent number: 9776529
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling the operation of the electrical power supply to an electric motor vehicle comprising at least two energy storage modules connected in parallel, said modules being able to provide the motor with a delivered electrical power lying between a predetermined minimum power and a predetermined maximum power, noteworthy in that the method comprises the following steps: —detection (100, 110) of an operating anomaly of at least one defective module, —reduction (120, 130) of the maximum power that can be provided by the modules, —electrical disconnection (140) of each defective module, the disconnection step being implemented after the reduction of the maximum power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: BLUE SOLUTIONS
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Jestin, Jacques Colin
  • Patent number: 9774336
    Abstract: An all-digital-phase-locked-loop (ADPLL) includes a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) arranged to generate a DCO output signal, and a feedback loop comprising a set of components for controlling the DCO. The set of components comprise: a time-to-digital converter (TDC) arranged to generate a TDC output code indicative of the phase difference between the reference signal and the enable signal measured within the predetermined observation window; a subset of components arranged to generate the enable signal from the DCO output signal; and an offset calibration system connected to the TDC output, which when activated is arranged to evaluate the difference between the first and second offset delay values by monitoring the TDC output code generated over a predetermined period of time, and to adjust the difference to position the predetermined observation window with respect to the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Stichting IMEC Nederland
    Inventor: Yao-Hong Liu
  • Patent number: 9774329
    Abstract: An apparatus, comprising a clock adapted to provide a clock signal alternating with a cycle between a first level and a second level if a timing violation is not detected; a first latch adapted to be clocked such that it passes a first signal when the clock signal is at the first level; a second combinational logic adapted to output a second signal based on the first signal passed through the first latch; a second latch adapted to be clocked such that it passes the second signal when the clock signal is at the second level; a detecting means adapted to detect the timing violation of at least one of the first signal and of the second signal; a time stretching means adapted to stretch, if the timing violation is detected, the clock such that the clock alternates between the first level and the second level with a delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Minima Processor Oy
    Inventors: Jani Mäkipää, Lauri Koskinen, Matthew Turnquist, Markus Hiienkari
  • Patent number: 9768623
    Abstract: A wireless power receiver circuit forms a wireless power receiving apparatus together with a reception coil. An internal power supply line is connected to a capacitor C. An output line is connected to a secondary battery. An H-bridge circuit includes N-channel MOSFETs MH1, MH2, ML1, and ML2. A first switch is arranged between a rectification line and the internal power supply line. A second switch is arranged between the rectification line and the output line. A voltage VDD of the internal power supply line is supplied to a power supply terminal of a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Uchimoto, Naoki Inoue, Tatsuya Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9765749
    Abstract: A one-chip igniter is formed by a convenient manufacturing process and at a low cost. A device to switch a power semiconductor switch is provided, the device comprising a first semiconductor switch which is turned on or turned off in response to a first control signal input to a gate and, if turned on, provides a high voltage to a gate of the power semiconductor switch, and a voltage boosting circuit which boosts a voltage of the first control signal that turns the first semiconductor switch on. As one example, the voltage boosting circuit boosts a voltage of the first control signal which turns the first semiconductor switch on to a higher voltage than a high voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Miura, Shigemi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 9764702
    Abstract: A system and method for management of electrical powering of at least one piece of electrical equipment by a power supply battery of a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine. The motor vehicle includes a system for automatically stopping and restarting the internal combustion engine. The system and method: determine a charge status of the power supply battery; compare the charge status of the power supply battery with a predefined threshold value; and control cutting off of the power supply to the at least one piece of electrical equipment during an automatic restarting of the internal combustion engine if the charge status of the power supply battery is lower than the predefined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Thierry Planas, Sebastien Gehin
  • Patent number: 9768759
    Abstract: A clock generator that outputs multiphase clocks comprises a ring oscillator that includes a plurality of inverter circuits connected in a circular pattern and outputs, from the inverter circuits, clocks provided with a delay time based on a delay control signal, a first frequency divider that divides an injection clock by a first value and outputs the clock as a reference clock, a second frequency divider that divides one of the multiphase clocks by a second value and outputs the clock as a comparison clock, and a frequency comparator that compares frequencies of the reference clock and the comparison clock and output the delay control signal based on a result of the comparison. The ring oscillator is configured to adjust the delay time based on the delay control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: MegaChips Corporation
    Inventor: Izuho Tanihira
  • Patent number: 9768683
    Abstract: A DC-to-DC voltage converter comprising a differential charge pump that utilizes a differential clocking scheme to reduce output electrical noise by partial cancellation of charge pump glitches (voltage transients), and a corresponding method of operating a differential charge pump. The differential charge pump can be characterized as having at least two charge pump sections that initiate charge pumping in opposite phases of a clock signal to transfer (pump) charge to storage capacitors. The differential charge pump is particularly well suited for implementation in integrated circuit chips requiring negative and/or positive voltages, and multiples of such voltages, based on a single input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Mark Englekirk
  • Patent number: 9762294
    Abstract: The communication system includes a first communication device, a second communication device, and a third communication device. The first communication device outputs a high frequency alternating current power, and a power receiving circuit of the second communication device receives the high frequency alternating current power via a second antenna. A power line is connected between the second antenna and the power receiving circuit. A first power line has a first semicircle portion and a second power line has a second semicircle portion. The first and second semicircle portions are combined together to provide a loop-shaped antenna. The third communication device receives the high frequency alternating current power output from the loop-shaped antenna. At least two of the first, second, or third communication devices transmit or receive communication signals using respective antennas. The first and second power lines are twisted with each other at a portion other than the loop-shaped antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Saitou, Akira Takaoka, Koji Ito, Koichi Ito
  • Patent number: 9762211
    Abstract: A device and method are disclosed. The device and method allow the clock signal of a wireless communication device to produce an oscillation with a 50% duty cycle. The device and method allows quick convergence to a 50% duty cycle after power up and also provides stability of the duty cycle across variations in ambient temperature and power supply fluctuations. The device includes, but is not limited to a buffer, a first inverter electrically coupled to the buffer, a second inverter electrically coupled to the first inverter, and a differential integrator, wherein a first output of the first inverter is electrically coupled to a first input of the differential integrator, wherein a second output of the second inverter is electrically coupled to a second input of the differential integrator, and wherein a third output of the differential integrator is electrically connected to the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Chung Y Lau
  • Patent number: 9744876
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a battery, a boost converter, a battery temperature sensor, a battery current sensor, a high-voltage sensor, and a control section. The control section includes an intermittent boosting operation program which stops the boost converter when a temperature of the battery is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature and when an absolute value of a battery current is within a range of ±I0 and which restarts the boost converter when an actual boosted voltage is outside a range from VH2 to VH4, and a threshold switching program that switches the threshold range to ±I2 that is wider than the range of ±I0 and switches the range from the threshold VH2 to the threshold VH4 to a wider range from a threshold VH3 to a threshold VH5 when the battery temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryoji Sato
  • Patent number: 9748949
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a gate drive circuit and a GaN HEMT switch where the gate drive circuit has a gate drive output to produce a gate drive signal in response to a gate control signal. The switch has a gate connected to the gate drive circuit through a gate drive resistor. The gate drive circuit includes a NPN (or NMOS) turn-on transistor and a PNP (or PMOS) turn-off transistor. The gate drive circuit includes a turn-on resistor with a first resistance coupled to the turn-on transistor and a turn-off resistor with a second resistance coupled to the turn-off transistor. The turn-on and turn-off transistors, gate drive resistor, the switching device, but not the turn-on and turn-off resistors are disposed in an integrated circuit to reduce a gate-drive loop inductance. The first and second resistances can be different to adjust the turn-on and turn-off speeds of the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.
    Inventors: Juncheng Lu, Hua Bai
  • Patent number: 9743470
    Abstract: A lighting control circuit for an illuminating lamp includes: a rectifier part that is connected to a ballast to which commercial alternating-current electric power is supplied, and converts the alternating current to direct current; a smoothing capacitor that is provided on an output side of the rectifier part, and removes an alternating-current component included in direct current outputted from the output side; a drive circuit that has a switching element, and performs on-off control on electric current flowing to a plurality of solid-state light-emitting elements connected in series to both ends of the smoothing capacitor; and an inductor that is provided in an electric power supply system between the ballast and the smoothing capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi Tomiyama, Masaharu Urano, Kazuaki Iseda, Shigemi Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 9741420
    Abstract: A skyrmion driving method that utilizes electric current to make it possible to perform driving ON-OFF control at high speed and to suppress the influence of an inertial effect so that the driving control can be performed further logically. The skyrmion is driven based on a driving amount proportional to a time-integrated value of an electric current density j(t) (Am?2) at a clock time t for a location R(t) of the skyrmion at the clock time t and on a driving amount that is in accordance with a diffusive motion due to thermal fluctuation and increases as a Gilbert attenuation constant increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignees: RIKEN, University of Cologne
    Inventors: Naoto Nagaosa, Achim Rosch, Christoph Schuette
  • Patent number: 9742406
    Abstract: A circuit skew compensation trigger system comprises a voltage divider including a P-transistor and an N-transistor and a center node in the voltage divider pulled to a first level. The circuit skew compensation trigger system further comprising a trigger to activate when a skew between the P-transistor and the N-transistor is above a threshold. The trigger to initiate a compensator to adjust for the skew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamil Kawa, Thu Nguyen, Raymond Tak-Hoi Leung
  • Patent number: 9742414
    Abstract: A phase frequency detector (PFD) includes a first circuit portion and a second circuit portion. The first circuit portion receives a reference signal and activates a first error signal if the phase of the reference frequency leads the phase of a feedback signal. The second circuit portion receives the reference and activates a second error signal if the phase of the reference frequency lags the phase of the feedback signal. The first circuit portion is powered by a first power supply, and the second circuit portion is powered by a second power supply. A PLL implemented using the PFD generates a frequency output with minimized jitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: AURA SEMICONDUCTOR PVT. LTD
    Inventors: Raja Prabhu J, Augusto Marques, Srinath Sridharan, Ankit Seedher, Sriharsha Vasadi
  • Patent number: 9742418
    Abstract: A phase look loop (PLL) device has a dynamic lock range that is based on a temperature measured during a calibration process. The PLL device includes a calibration circuit configured to receive a temperature reading corresponding to a junction temperature of the PLL device during the calibration process. Based on this temperature reading, the calibration circuit initiates a preset procedure that presets a control voltage of a voltage control oscillator in the PLL device. The preset procedure implements a calibration function defined by a slope with a numerator component and a denominator component. The numerator component corresponds to a range of the control voltage, whereas the denominator component corresponds to a range of ambient temperatures within which the PLL device operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Aaron L. Frank, Hamid R. Safiri
  • Patent number: 9673815
    Abstract: A circuit may include first and second input nodes, first and second output nodes, first and second intermediate nodes, first and second resistances, a first amplification transistor coupled to the first input node, the first resistance, and the first intermediate node and a second amplification transistor coupled to the second input node, the second resistance, and the second intermediate node. The circuit may also include a first active device coupled to the first output node and the first intermediate node, a second active device coupled to the second output node and the second intermediate node, a first output transistor coupled to the first output node and configured to conduct based on a second intermediate signal on the second intermediate node, and a second output transistor coupled to the second output node and configured to conduct based on a first intermediate signal on the first intermediate node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arik Zafrany, Georgios Kalogerakis
  • Patent number: 9673792
    Abstract: A drive circuit includes a signal source that outputs an AC signal, a voltage generator circuit that includes a differential amplifier that generates a first AC voltage with a constant amplitude from the AC signal and outputs the first AC voltage to one end of an external load, and a voltage-to-current converter circuit that is connected to another end of the external load and supplies an AC current with a constant amplitude in opposite phase to the first AC voltage to the external load in accordance with the AC signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Asaki Mizuta
  • Patent number: 9673028
    Abstract: Systems and methods for arc handling in plasma processing operations are disclosed. The method includes providing current with a power supply to a plasma load at a first voltage polarity and energizing an energy storage device so when it is energized, the energy storage device applies a reverse polarity voltage that has a magnitude that is as least as great as the first voltage polarity. When an arc is detected, power is applied from the energy storage device to the plasma load with a reverse polarity voltage that has a polarity that is opposite of the first voltage polarity, the application of the reverse polarity voltage to the plasma load decreases a level of the current that is provided to the plasma load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: ADVANCED ENERGY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hendrik Walde, Joshua Brian Pankratz, David Christie, Brian D. Kowal