Patents Examined by Thomas Valone
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Patent number: 9621104Abstract: Apparatus and method for registering conditions of performance in a photovoltaic array are provided. A group of neighboring photovoltaic modules may be arranged to sense a reference performance for a respective photovoltaic module of the photovoltaic array. Each of the neighboring photovoltaic modules may have a transmitter to transmit data indicative of the reference performance. The respective photovoltaic module may have a receiver to receive the data transmitted by the group of neighboring photovoltaic modules. A processor in the respective photovoltaic module may be provided to compare data indicative of its respective performance relative to the data received from the group of neighboring photovoltaic modules. The processor may be configured to register a condition of the performance of the respective photovoltaic module based on a result of the data comparison.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark Ronald Lynass, Said Farouk Said El-Barbari, Lucian Vasile Stoica
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Patent number: 9614001Abstract: An active matrix substrate includes a plurality of bus lines (1, 2) provided in a pixel region, a plurality of signal terminals (5) provided in a connection terminal region (K), connection lines (3), additional signal terminals (11), test lines (8), and switching elements (4). The switching elements (4) are divided into a plurality of groups, and can control connections between the bus lines and the test lines (8) on a group basis, and connection elements (12) that each include a diode or a switching element and connect the signal terminals (5) to each other are provided in the connection terminal region (K).Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nobuyuki Kawase, Isao Ogasawara, Kazuhide Ikuta
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Patent number: 9614472Abstract: The electric machine comprises at least one winding made of a material having a temperature dependent resistance. The temperature of the winding is monitored using the resistance therein. Temperatures or resistances indicative of a fault can be sensed, and corrective action taken, without the need for dedicated temperature sensors.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2013Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
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Patent number: 9615174Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for converting an input signal v into an output signal p(ra) by using an electro-mechanical transducer and for reducing nonlinear total distortion pd in said output signal p(ra), whereas the nonlinear total distortion pd contains multi-modal distortion ud which are generated by nonlinear partial vibration of mechanical transducer components. An identification system generates distributed parameters Pd of a nonlinear wave model (Nd) and lumped parameters Pl of a network model (Nl) based on electrical, mechanical or acoustical state variables of transducer measured by a sensor. The nonlinear wave model distinguishes between activation modes and transfer modes, whereas the activation modes affect the transfer modes, which transfer the input signal u into the output signal p.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2015Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Inventor: Wolfgang Klippel
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Patent number: 9599652Abstract: A measuring system and a method for operating it to detect wire breakage based on the measured current or voltage in which the impedance of at least a first sensor is measured and the result transmitted to a connected system. The invention is capable of detecting wire breakage and sensor failure in temperature sensor systems simultaneous with the temperature measurement by the measuring system comprising an AC current source which generates an AC current that is transmitted through the wires, and through at least the first sensor, measuring system analyzing changes in the phase angle between the current and voltage of the AC signal. If the difference in the frequency of the signal affecting the impedance or voltage of the sensor, and the frequency of the injected wire testing signal is sufficiently high, it is possible to distinguish between the first measuring signals and the second wire testing signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2014Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: PR Electronics A/SInventor: Bjarne Funch Skipper
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Patent number: 9588624Abstract: A wrist worn device includes a metal device housing and a capacitive touch sensor. The capacitive touch sensor includes a conductive plate which is supported by and separated from the metal body of the device housing via an isolation body formed of PTFE (low static relative permittivity). An outer plate is formed over the conductive plate and is formed of glass (high static relative permittivity). The action of the isolation body is to reduce the effect of the metal device housing on the capacitance detected by the conductive plate. The effect of the outer plate is to try to increase the effect of the capacitance associated with the object being brought into proximity with the conductive plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: ARM IP LimitedInventor: Hugo John Martin Vincent
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Patent number: 9588190Abstract: A method includes supplying a current to at least one conductive path integral with a MEMS device to thereby exert a Lorentz force on the MEMS device in the presence of a magnetic field. The method includes determining the magnetic field based on a control value in a control loop configured to maintain a constrained range of motion of the MEMS device. The control loop may be configured to maintain the MEMS device in a stationary position. The current may have a frequency equal to a resonant frequency of the MEMS device.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2012Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.Inventors: Eric B. Smith, Riad Wahby, Yan Zhou
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Patent number: 9588188Abstract: A method and system of remotely monitoring an operational status of electronic discharge devices in an air purification system senses emitted radiation at a location proximate the air purification system, alone or in combination with a determination of an amount of time remaining in an operational lifetime of the electronic discharge device, or an amount of power delivered to at least one of the electronic discharge devices. A determination of the operational status of at least one of the electronic discharge devices is made based on at least emitted radiation, and the status information is transmitted to a remote monitoring unit that receives the status information and displays an indicator of operational status. In one embodiment, the operational status of a UV-C germicidal lamp may be monitored using optically sensitive devices located within a purification system.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Steril-Aire, Inc.Inventors: Kanghong Zhang, Robert M. Culbert, Robert Scheir, Richard Mueller
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Patent number: 9588144Abstract: An apparatus and method make use of a single shunt and two or more instrumentation amplifiers, switchably measuring voltages at the shunt. This permits current measurement. At times each instrumentation amplifier has its input shorted, which permits zeroing out many sources of offset in the signal path of that amplifier. Dynamic range is several orders of magnitude better than known current measurement approaches, permitting coulometry.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Sendyne CorporationInventor: Victor Marten
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Patent number: 9581624Abstract: An electric power line monitoring, communication and response system schedules the transmission of packets to occur during voltage zero-crossing intervals when corona is minimized. The transmitters may be located at high voltage hanging directly from the power line conductors along with associated current transformers and voltage sensors. A system of these transmitters distributed throughout the power grid communicate with each other in a data-forward manner to bring complete, real-time current and voltage waveform, device status and fault monitoring information to data aggregation waypoints, such as transmission substations where supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) equipment is installed. The power line monitoring data is then transmitted from the data waypoints to a central monitoring and control center, typically using existing SCADA equipment, to provide h detailed power line monitoring data for a large number of data monitoring points distributed throughout the power grid.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Southern States, LLCInventors: Joseph R. Rostron, Joshua D. Keister, Harold Dean Allen, III
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Patent number: 9583854Abstract: To provide a connector wherein ground terminals can be designed easily, which not only suppresses the occurrence of impedance mismatch and crosstalk, but which does not lead to interferences between contacting portions. A ground terminal for a connector has a cylindrical main body. A plurality of contacting portions, for contacting a circuit board, are formed on the bottom edge of the cylindrical main body. The ground terminal has, as contacting portions, inner contacting portions and outer contacting portions. The inner contacting portions extend toward the inside of the cylindrical main body and in the downward direction, and the outer contacting portions extend toward the inside of the cylindrical main body and in the downward direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2011Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignees: Molex Japan Co., Ltd., Advantest CorporationInventors: Ryo Uesaka, Jun Watanabe, Akinori Mizumura, Hirotaka Wagata
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Patent number: 9575109Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for remote coal mine leakage test. The remote leakage test method comprising: installing and connecting a leakage test device (3) at the a control switch (2) located at the most distal end of a coal mine power line (5); a leakage detection and protection device (1) connecting the leakage test device (3) via the coal mine power line (5) and providing it with a detection circuit for detecting whether remote leakage has occurred; generating a grounding current flowing through the coal mine power line (5) by controlling the grounding of the leakage test device (3); the leakage detection and protection device (1) detecting the grounding current, and enabling a leakage protection relay (KA) to operate, so as to cut off the coal mine power line (5); and detecting the coal mine power line (5) or manually observing an indication lamp (HL), so as to determine whether the remote leakage test is successful.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2013Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Inventor: Chunping Guo
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Patent number: 9568500Abstract: An electrical test probe according to an embodiment includes a probe main body portion having a connection end to a circuit of a probe base plate and made of a first metal material with resiliency, and a probe tip portion having a probe tip, made of a second metal material with higher hardness than that of the first metal material for the probe main body portion, and communicating with the probe main body portion, wherein the probe main body portion and the probe tip portion are provided with a current path made of an equal metal material extending from the probe tip to the connection end.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon MicronicsInventors: Hideki Hirakawa, Yuko Kanazawa
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Patent number: 9551751Abstract: A high speed controllable load uses a voltage waveform synthesizer and a driver circuit to dynamically control an electronically variable load to generate a current though an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) device under test. Sensors may be used to monitor a source voltage and the output current to generate an arbitrary waveform have a range of voltage and current phase shifts. An optical isolation circuit allows separation of grounds between a control stage and the AFCI device under test.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2011Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: UL LLCInventor: Paul W. Brazis, Jr.
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Patent number: 9525570Abstract: Current sensing circuitry for sensing a current through a load comprises an adaptive-resistance sensor component arranged to be operably coupled in series with the load, and control logic for controlling a resistance of the adaptive-resistance sensor component. The control logic is arranged to receive a signal representative of a voltage across the adaptive-resistance sensor component, compare the received signal to a reference value that is representative of a determined voltage, and in response to the comparison control the resistance of the adaptive-resistance sensor component, such that the voltage across the adaptive-resistance sensor component substantially tracks the determined voltage value.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2009Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventor: Jerome Casters
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Patent number: 9515035Abstract: Wiring structures, methods for providing a wiring structure, and methods for distributing currents with a wiring structure from one or more through-substrate vias to multiple bumps. A first current is directed from a first through-substrate via of a first electrical resistance through a first connection line to a first bump and directing a second current from the first through-substrate via through a second connection line of a second electrical resistance to a second bump. The first connection line has a first length relative to a first position of the first bump and a first cross-sectional area, the second connection line has a second length relative to a first position of the second bump and a second cross-sectional area, the second length is different from the first length, and the second cross-sectional area is different from the first cross-sectional area.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Timothy D. Sullivan, Thomas A. Wassick
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Patent number: 9500718Abstract: A load testing apparatus includes at least two resistance units each configured with a plurality of resistor-groups arranged in stages along z direction, which is a vertical direction, and including a frame configured with an insulating material covering a side face of the resistor-groups, each of the resistor-groups including resistors arrayed along a horizontal direction; and at least two base parts each including a cooling fan and provided separately. At least one of the resistance units are provided on a top of each of the base parts via an insulator. A face of the frame that at least faces another adjacent resistance unit is positioned in an inner side of a side face of the base part, on which the resistance unit is provided, by a first distance when viewed from above. The at least two resistance units are disposed to have a gap between the frames of adjacent resistance units, the gap being equal to or larger than a second distance to provide insulation between the adjacent resistance units.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2016Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: TATSUMI RYOKI CO., LTDInventor: Toyoshi Kondo
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Patent number: 9482721Abstract: A control unit for a rotary electric machine includes a first current command module, a second current command module, a change module, and a return module. The first module performs a first current command on a maximum efficiency characteristic line on a d-q plane thereby to drive the machine at a maximum efficiency. The second module performs a second current command on a switching line set at a retard angle side relative to the maximum efficiency characteristic line. The change module changes a control mode from a rectangular wave voltage phase control mode to an overmodulation current control mode when an operation point of the machine reaches the switching line. The return module returns the current command from the second command to the first command after performance of the second command for a predetermined period.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuhiro Ichikawa, Yutaka Oohashi
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Patent number: 9478969Abstract: A method for operating a ground fault circuit interrupter. In accordance with an embodiment, an operating parameter of the ground fault circuit interrupter can be adjusted in response to an alternating current line signal and a reference signal. In accordance with another embodiment a plurality of indicator signals are generated in response to an alternating current signal. The indicator signals are used to generate one or more control signals and at least one of the control signals is used to control a control a ground fault circuit interrupter.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Riley D. Beck, Scott R. Grange
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Patent number: 9476914Abstract: Recesses are formed on one surface of a substrate. A conductive film covers an inner surface of each of the recesses. This conductive film contacts a bump of a semiconductor device to be inspected and is electrically connected to the bump. It is therefore possible to prevent damages of the bump to be caused by contact of a probe pin.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2012Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Takeshi Shioga, Kazuaki Kurihara