Patents Examined by Tung X Le
  • Patent number: 11665800
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for operating DC-DC regulators such as LED drivers. Various embodiments herein allow a DC-DC regulator to switch between buck mode and buck-boost mode without suffering effects otherwise resulting from transient currents when switching between modes. In certain embodiments, this is accomplished by operating the DC-DC regulator in a buck-boost mode to charge a boost capacitor with a substantially constant inductor current. The inductor current is also used to control a set of switches to operate the DC-DC regulator in a buck mode to drive a load by using the capacitor as a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products Inc.
    Inventors: Suresh Hariharan, Gregory Michael Fattig, Ramesh Selvaraj, Ron Vincent Ocampo
  • Patent number: 11658006
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to inductively coupled plasma sources and plasma processing apparatus. In at least one embodiment, plasma source includes a first sidewall and a gas injection insert defining a plasma source interior volume. The gas injection insert includes a peripheral gas injection port, a second sidewall disposed concentric with the first sidewall, and a center gas injection port. The plasma source includes a first induction coil disposed proximate the first sidewall and disposed around the first sidewall. The plasma source includes a first radio frequency power generator coupled with the first induction coil. The plasma source includes a second induction coil disposed proximate the second sidewall and disposed around the second sidewall. The plasma source includes a second radio frequency power generator coupled with the second induction coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Nagorny, Wei Liu, Rene George
  • Patent number: 11658012
    Abstract: A control method includes: (a) connecting a power supply to an electrode of an electrostatic chuck inside a chamber and applying a voltage from the power supply to the electrode; (b) after (a), switching a connection between the electrode and the power supply to a non-connection state; (c) after (b), supplying a gas into the chamber to generate plasma; and (d) measuring a potential of the electrode during (c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Arakane, Tetsu Tsunamoto, Masanori Sato, Yoshinori Osaki
  • Patent number: 11657691
    Abstract: A technology for configuring a lifestyle LED light with a tunable light color temperature is disclosed. The technology of tuning the light color temperature is made possible by blending two LED loads emitting light with different color temperatures thru a light diffuser with an arrangement that a first electric power delivered to a first LED load emitting light with a low color temperature and a second electric power delivered to a second LED load emitting light with a high color temperature are reversely and complementarily adjusted for tuning a diffused light color temperature such that a total light intensity generated by the LED light is kept essentially unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Vaxcel International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chia-Teh Chen
  • Patent number: 11649953
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for deployment of fixtures. The apparatus may include a system for controlling deployed fixtures. The system may receive user commands different devices in different formats. The fixtures may be independently addressable. The fixtures may be magnetically supported by a fixture support. A brace may join two or more fixture supports without reducing space available to support fixtures. The brace may join a fixture support to a fixture support accessory. An accessory may include a variable-angle junction. The fixture may include articulating joints for controlling the direction of a beam. The fixture may include a lens having an electrically controllable beam spread angle. The fixture may be stowable in the fixture support. The fixture may be slidable along a cord to adjust a height of the fixture. The fixture may include an extendable ring. The system may coordinate motions of the fixtures to follow a target. The fixture may include an elongated board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Wangs Alliance Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Vancorenland, Michael Sabolcik
  • Patent number: 11638341
    Abstract: An isolated converter has a transformer with a primary winding (in a primary side circuit) and a secondary winding magnetically coupled to the primary winding. A first Y-capacitor is electrically connected between the primary side circuit and the secondary winding. The detection circuit is for detecting information at the primary side, preferably information about the input supply received at the input, and more preferably the information is that whether the input supply is an alternating current (AC) supply or a direct current (DC) supply, and the detection circuit includes the first Y-capacitor. The detection circuit enables the detected information to be provided directly to a secondary side controller, without needing opto-isolators or other isolated data transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Ming Li, Bernd Clauberg, Yuhong Fang, Johannes Petrus Wernars, Liang Hong, Ashwin Premraj
  • Patent number: 11631588
    Abstract: A method of doping a substrate. The method may include providing a substrate in a process chamber. The substrate may include a semiconductor structure, and a dopant layer disposed on a surface of the semiconductor structure. The method may include maintaining the substrate at a first temperature for a first interval, the first temperature corresponding to a vaporization temperature of the dopant layer. The method may further include rapidly cooling the substrate to a second temperature, less than the first temperature, and heating the substrate from the second temperature to a third temperature, greater than the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Hatem, Piero Sferlazzo, Roger Fish, Dale K. Stone
  • Patent number: 11631572
    Abstract: In a plasma processing apparatus of an exemplary embodiment, a radio frequency power source generates radio frequency power for plasma generation. A bias power source periodically applies a pulsed negative direct-current voltage to a lower electrode to draw ions into a substrate support. The radio frequency power source supplies the radio frequency power as one or more pulses in a period in which the pulsed negative direct-current voltage is not applied to the lower electrode. The radio frequency power source stops supply of the radio frequency power in a period in which the pulsed negative direct-current voltage is applied to the lower electrode. Each of the one or more pulses has a power level that gradually increases from a point in time of start thereof to a point in time when a peak thereof appears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Shinji Kubota
  • Patent number: 11632840
    Abstract: An the LED driving circuit, for driving an the LED load, includes: a bridge rectifier for rectifying an AC input voltage into a DC voltage; a serial capacitor voltage divider coupled to the bridge rectifier, including a plurality of serial capacitors; a half-bridge switch, coupled to the serial capacitor voltage divider; and a controller coupled to the half-bridge switch, for determining whether the DC voltage is higher than a threshold value and for controlling the half-bridge switch in a full-voltage mode or a half-voltage mode. In the full-voltage mode, the plurality of serial capacitors of the serial capacitor voltage divider synchronously supply power to the LED load. In the half-voltage mode, the plurality of serial capacitors of the serial capacitor voltage divider alternatively supply power to the LED load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Wen-Tien Tsai, Yu-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 11624498
    Abstract: An automated dimming load controller automatically measures the relationship between the current draw and the dimmer setting for each light or group of lights connected to the load controller. Once measured, the relationship between the current draw and the dimmer setting can be used to enable the dimmer controller to adjust the lights between their minimum and maximum effective illumination. This automatic setting of the dimmer controller may be performed regularly to accommodate changes in performance or replacement of any of the connected lights, drivers or ballasts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Cartrette, Peter J. Horton
  • Patent number: 11626557
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a communication device. The methods comprise: immersing an antenna in an electric field of an incident radio wave; producing a net change in electrical charge on a surface of an electrodeformative element that acoustically vibrates when the antenna is immersed in the electric field of the incident radio wave; harvesting the electrical charge produced on the surface of the electrodeformative element to provide an antenna receive function; and providing the harvested electrical charge from the antenna to a receiver circuit of the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: EAGLE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventor: Francis Parsche
  • Patent number: 11627651
    Abstract: An occupancy sensor with integral light level sensors is configured to turn off or disable peripheral circuits and go into a periodic deep sleep mode to reduce phantom loading. Peripheral circuits include occupancy sensor circuits and relay drive circuits, but may include other circuits such as communication circuits. The sensor may be configured to periodically wake itself up, check ambient light conditions to see if lighting is below the set threshold. If it is not, the sensor goes back to sleep. If it is, then the sensor can power up the occupancy sensor circuit to see if the space is occupied; if not, it can go back to sleep. If the space is occupied, it can turn on other peripheral circuits necessary to control the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Joyce, Thomas L. Grey
  • Patent number: 11621484
    Abstract: A radome structure for a multilayered broadband radome structure is described. The radome structure may include a central core layer comprising a first dielectric constant, an interior intermediate core layer adjacent to an interior side of the central core layer, comprising a second dielectric constant less than the first dielectric constant, an exterior intermediate core layer adjacent to an exterior side of the central core layer, comprising a third dielectric constant less than the first dielectric constant, and an interior outside core layer adjacent to an interior side of the interior intermediate core layer, comprising a fourth dielectric constant less than the second dielectric constant. In some examples of the radome structure described above may further include an exterior outside core layer adjacent to an exterior side of the exterior intermediate core layer, comprising a low dielectric constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew W. Pieratt
  • Patent number: 11622428
    Abstract: A constant current LED driver, for controlling a current flowing through a LED, comprising: an adjusting circuit, configured to generate a first current and a first adjusting signal; a feedback circuit, controlled by an output signal, to generate a feedback voltage according to the first current; an operation amplifier, configured to generate the output signal according to the LED voltage and the feedback voltage; and an edge adjusting circuit, configured to adjust a first type of edges or a second type of edges of the first adjusting signal to generate a second adjusting signal, wherein the LED is controlled by the second adjusting signal. The above-mentioned constant current LED driver can be used as a current control circuit for controlling a current flowing through a target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventor: Kok Siang Tan
  • Patent number: 11621149
    Abstract: Disclosed are a corrosion-resistant gas delivery assembly and a plasma processing apparatus. An inlet gas delivery component and a gas diffusion component are combined correspondingly with an inlet gas accommodation hole and a diffusion accommodation space that are arranged in a liner body, to form a multi-component structural configuration, which avoids direct contact of the process gas with the liner body due to liner body surface defects caused by high temperature. The advantages as offered include: effectively preventing the process gas from corroding a gas delivery assembly and the plasma processing apparatus, and solving the problems such as metal contamination and solid particle contamination in the reaction chamber caused by the corrosive fraction in the process gas; besides, the multi-component structural configuration facilitates routine maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: ADVANCED MICRO-FABRICATION EQUIPMENT INC. CHINA
    Inventors: Yilong Su, Rason Zuo, Miaojuan Chen
  • Patent number: 11617247
    Abstract: Multiple current sources are coupled in series to corresponding light-emitting elements. Switching converter supplies driving voltage to the multiple light-emitting elements and current sources. Pulse modulator generates pulse signal that transits to on level when the smallest from among voltages across both ends of the multiple current sources falls to bottom limit voltage, and subsequently transits to off level. Frequency stabilization circuit controls pulse modulator such that the frequency of pulse signal approaches its target. Dummy load circuit is configured to lower driving voltage in the enable state, to be set to the enable state when switching transistor continues to be off for a predetermined time, and to be set to the disable state in response to the next turn-on of the switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norito Takahashi, Satoshi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11605528
    Abstract: Examples of a plasma device includes a coaxial waveguide having an inner conductor and an outer conductor enclosing the inner conductor with a first gap provided between the outer conductor and the inner conductor, the coaxial waveguide having a shape of branching at a plurality of branch parts, a plurality of rods having a conductor and a dielectric enclosing the conductor with a second gap provided between the dielectric and the conductor, the plurality of rods connecting two end parts of the coaxial waveguide branched at the branch parts, so as to connect the first gap and the second gap, and a conductive stub provided at a branched portion, obtained by branching at the branch parts, of the coaxial waveguide, the conductive stub being insertable to and removable from the first gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Jun Yoshikawa, Toshihisa Nozawa
  • Patent number: 11605529
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber; a support member in the chamber; a window plate at an upper portion of the chamber and including a window plate body and a fastening hole, wherein the fastening hole includes a lower fastening hole portion and an upper fastening hole portion. and a gas injector including a first body having a plurality of distribution nozzles and a second body having an accommodating groove to which the first body is fastened and a plurality of injection nozzles. The second body includes a first portion disposed inside the upper fastening hole portion, a second portion disposed inside the lower fastening hole portion, and a third portion disposed below the window plate. The second portion of the second body includes a gas hole extending from the accommodating groove to an external side surface of the second portion of the second body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Inventors: Hakyoung Kim, Kyeongtea Bang, Dougyong Sung
  • Patent number: 11602034
    Abstract: A system (1) is configured to receive device control information. The device control information specifies how devices, e.g. lights, should be controlled. The device control information may identify specific devices or specify device requirements, for example. The system is further configured to form a group of identified devices by analyzing the device control information, the identified devices of the group being controlled similarly according to the device control information. The system is also configured to transmit at least one message comprising an identifier of the group to allow the identified devices to be configured to carry out one or more commands comprising the identifier when receiving such one or more commands. The at least one message identifies the identified devices of the group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Remco Magielse, Dzmitry Viktorovich Aliakseyeu
  • Patent number: 11600474
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) system includes a RF power source configured to power a load with an RF signal; an RF pipe including an inner conductor and an outer conductor connected to ground coupling the RF power source to the load; and a current sensor aligned to a central axis of the RF pipe carrying the RF signal. A sensor casing is disposed around the RF pipe, where the sensor casing includes a conductive material connected to the outer conductor of the RF pipe. A gallery is disposed within the sensor casing and outside the outer conductor of the RF pipe, where the current sensor is disposed in the gallery. A slit in the outer conductor of the RF pipe exposes the current sensor to a magnetic field due to the current of the RF signal in the inner conductor of the RF pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Barton Lane, Merritt Funk, Yohei Yamazawa, Justin Moses, Chelsea Dubose, Michael Hummel