Patents Examined by Tuyet Vo
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Patent number: 9642223Abstract: A vehicle wheel illumination assembly is provided. The assembly includes a light source located on the body of a vehicle near the wheel well and oriented to direct light onto a wheel assembly having a tire. A tire pressure indicator detects tire pressure of the tire. The light source illuminates the wheel assembly with a desired color to indicate a tire pressure status based on the detected tire pressure. A sensor senses a person near the wheel assembly and a controller activates the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly based on the sensed person to enable servicing of the tire.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2016Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Pietro Buttolo, Cornel Lewis Gardner
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Patent number: 9627182Abstract: Systems and methods for tuning a parameter associated with plasma impedance are described. One of the methods includes receiving information to determine a variable. The information is measured at a transmission line and is measured when the parameter has a first value. The transmission line is used to provide power to a plasma chamber. The method further includes determining whether the variable is at a local minima and providing the first value to tune the impedance matching circuit upon determining that the variable is at the local minima. The method includes changing the first value to a second value of the parameter upon determining that the variable is not at the local minima and determining whether the variable is at a local minima when the parameter has the second value.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2016Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: John C. Valcore, Jr., Bradford J. Lyndaker
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Patent number: 9622316Abstract: Thermal management and control techniques for light emitting diode and other incandescent replacement light technologies using a current controller are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: TerraLUX, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Catalano, Daniel Harrison, John J. Hall
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Patent number: 9622326Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a light intensity level of emitted light from an illuminator of a display device and the ambient light surrounding the display device such that, for example, the display device may compensate for performance variations of the illuminator over time.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2016Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Serge Devyver, Omar Sze Leung, Serkan Hatipoglu
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Patent number: 9615422Abstract: The invention relates to a network of luminaires for an automatic lighting system comprising at least two luminaires (1) and at least one controller, each luminaire comprising a light source (4) and at least two communication ports (3, 6, 9, 12), wherein the communication ports have predetermined configuration and orientation (3, 6, 9, 12), each communication port (3, 6, 9, 12) is adapted to be communicatively connected to a communication port of another luminaire (1) in said network in the direction and orientation of the port (3, 6, 9, 12), and wherein the identification of unused communication ports (3, 6, 9, 12) is communicated to said at least one controller.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2012Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.Inventors: Michel Cornelis Josephus Marie Vissenberg, Ramon Pascal van Gorkom
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Patent number: 9615440Abstract: A current-limiting reactor that regulates a short-circuit current, a controller that controls an action of an inverter, and a detection unit that detects a short circuit. The controller causes the inverter to stop when a short circuit has occurred.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2013Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems CorporationInventors: Yoichiro Tabata, Yujiro Okihara, Noriyuki Nakamura, Shinichi Nishimura
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Patent number: 9615437Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating a light generator (2) with a voltage source (4) makes possible a simple and reliable determination of the light generator's condition. The apparatus provides (a) a device (5; 13) for generating a measurement voltage the voltage present at ale light generator (2), (b) device (6, 9) for generating a first and a second comparison voltage, each proportional to the current flowing through the light generator (2), (c) a device (9, 8) for forming a difference voltage from the measurement voltage and one comparison voltage and a summation voltage from the measurement voltage and the other comparison voltage, (d) two capacitive rectifiers (7) for rectifying the difference voltage and the summation voltage, and (e) a controller (3), by which the rectified difference voltage and the rectified summation voltage can be evaluated.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2015Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: IIE GmbH & CO. KGInventor: Ekkehard Kress
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Patent number: 9609720Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for lighting systems, including high output lighting systems for various environments. The lighting systems include a lighting controller for driving lighting modules and transmitting a data signal to the lighting modules. The data signal varies between logical states. The lighting controller provides a low loss rectified power signal. The lighting controller further provides data within the power signal by forming a positive polarity rectified power waveform corresponding to data in a first state and a negative polarity rectified waveform signal corresponding to data in a second state using substantially loss-less circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2013Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: HUNTER INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Peter John Woytowitz, Gregory R. Hunter
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Patent number: 9609726Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing indoor location information are disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a signal reception unit, a global positioning system (GPS) data reception unit, a frame generation unit, a scheduling unit, and a signal transmission unit. The signal reception unit receives a lighting control frame from a lighting control device. The GPS data reception unit receives location data from GPS satellites. The frame generation unit generates a location data frame by extracting the location of an illumination light stored in a lighting arrangement storage unit, modifying the location data and adding a header to the modified location data. The scheduling unit schedules the lighting control frame or the location data frame. The signal transmission unit transfers the lighting control frame or the location data frame to the corresponding illumination light based on the results of the scheduling of the scheduling unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: In-Su Kim, Hyun-Chul Kang, Hyun-Joo Kang, Seong-Hee Park, Jung-Sik Sung, Jong-Woo Choi, Tae-Gyu Kang
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Patent number: 9609718Abstract: A FET of a power supply reverse connection protection section is connected between a battery and an electronic device, and at a time of reverse connection of the battery, the FET is turned off and a parasitic diode of the FET prevents a current flowing in a direction opposite to a direction at a time of normal connection. A transformer is used in a DC/DC converter of a first power supply section that supplies power to a control section, and a voltage generated in a secondary winding is applied to the FET.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Shuichi Okita
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Patent number: 9596724Abstract: In a power converter, a circuit determines an average value of an inaccessible current from an average value of an accessible current and a value of the operating duty cycle of the converter. A method of measuring an average value of an inaccessible current from a measured value of a current in a power converter by a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal representing a duty cycle of the power converter. Coupling a voltage representing the measured value to an input of a low pass filter during a time period (D) and coupling the input of the low pass filter to a reference voltage during a time period (1?D).Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2014Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Isaac Cohen
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Patent number: 9591732Abstract: A method for lighting a high-pressure discharge lamp that is configured to change a power to be supplied to the high-pressure discharge lamp in accordance with a luminance parameter of an image content is disclosed. In the method, halogen is encapsulated in an internal space of an arc tube part of the high-pressure discharge lamp with an excessive volume with respect to a capacity of the internal space such that a halogen cycle is established when part of mercury deposits without vaporizing, and the internal space is configured to be kept at a higher temperature than a blackening temperature that is lower than a deposition temperature of the mercury and causes remarkable blackening on an inner wall of the arc tube part.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2016Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: PHOENIX ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Tetsuya Gouda, Shinichi Ushijima
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Multi-junction solid state transducer devices for direct AC power and associated systems and methods
Patent number: 9585206Abstract: Multi-junction solid-state transducer (SST) devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In several embodiments, for example, an SST system can include a first multi-junction SST chain having a first drive voltage, a first P-contact, and a first N-contact, and a second multi-junction SST chain having a second drive voltage, a second P-contact, and a second N-contact. The first and second multi-junction SST chains can be configured to be activated independently of each other. The SST system can further include a driver operably coupled to the first and second P- and N-contacts. The driver can be configured to activate the first multi-junction SST chain when voltage input is at least equal to the first drive voltage. When absolute voltage increases a predetermined voltage level, the driver can be configured to activate the second multi-junction SST chain or the first and second multi-junction SST chains.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2016Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Martin F. Schubert, Vladimir Odnoblyudov -
Patent number: 9585205Abstract: A system (100) for receiving electrical power wirelessly comprises a first (101) and a second electrode (102), with sandwiched there between at least one load module (103) dispersed in a matrix (104). Wherein at least the matrix (104) is applied in wet form.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.Inventors: Marc Andre De Samber, Antonius Wilhelmus Maria De Laat, Esther Anna Wilhelminia Gerarda Janssen, Johannes Franciscus Maria Cillessen, Egbertus Reinier Jacobs, Adrianus Sempel, Theodorus Johannes Petrus Van Den Biggelaar, Boudewijn Ruben De Jong
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Patent number: 9584028Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system are provided for power conversion to supply power to a load such as a plurality of light emitting diodes. An exemplary apparatus comprises: a first power converter stage having a first power switch and a first inductive element; a second power converter stage having a second power switch and a second inductive element; a plurality of sensors; and a controller. The second power converter stage provides an output current to the load. The controller is adapted to use a sensed input voltage to determine a switching period, and is further adapted to turn the first and second power switches into an on-state at a frequency substantially corresponding to the switching period while maintaining a switching duty cycle within a predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2015Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Chemtron Research LLCInventors: Anatoly Shteynberg, Harry Rodriguez, Bradley M. Lehman
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Patent number: 9585213Abstract: The present invention provides a light source driving circuit and method. The light source driving circuit is used to provide light source driving signals to a light source. The light source driving circuit comprises a light source driving chip, a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal input terminal, and a first control circuit. The light source driving chip is utilized for generating and outputting the light source driving signals. The first PWM signal input terminal is utilized for receiving a first PWM signal. The first control circuit is utilized for controlling the light source to emit light rays according to the first PWM signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventor: Xianming Zhang
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Patent number: 9585233Abstract: The invention relates to a digital bus interface for an operating device for a lighting means comprising: a transmitting branch and a receiving branch, wherein the receiving branch has a current source (Q90, Q95, R90, R91), which can be fed from a bus that carries voltage in the idle state, wherein the current source supplies at least the transmitting branch with energy and the transmitting branch has an optocoupler (U91), wherein an electrical energy store (C95) is provided in the receiving branch, which electrical energy store is charged by the current source and discharges via a resistor (100) in series with the secondary side of the optocoupler (U91) of the transmitting branch.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Tridonic GmbH & Co KGInventors: Frank Lochmann, Markus Schertler
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Patent number: 9576767Abstract: A focused ion beam system is provided. The focused ion beam system includes a plasma generation chamber configured to contain a source gas that is radiated with microwaves to produce plasma. The plasma generation chamber includes a plasma confinement device configured to confine the plasma in radial and axial directions within the plasma generation chamber and to form a plasma meniscus at an extraction end of the plasma generation chamber. The focused ion beam system also includes a beam extraction chamber configured to extract a focused ion beam from the confined plasma and to focus the extracted focused ion beam on a workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KANPURInventors: Sudeep Bhattacharjee, Jose Vettiyankal Mathew
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Patent number: 9578700Abstract: A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load is operable to conduct enough current through a thyristor of a connected dimmer switch to exceed rated latching and holding currents of the thyristor. The load control device comprises a controllable-load circuit operable to conduct a controllable-load current through the thyristor of the dimmer switch. The load control device disables the controllable-load circuit when the phase-control voltage received from the dimmer switch is a reverse phase-control waveform. When the phase-control voltage received from the dimmer switch is a forward phase-control waveform, the load control device is operable to decrease the magnitude of the controllable-load current so as to conduct only enough current as is required in order to exceed rated latching and holding currents of the thyristor.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., IncInventors: Christopher James Salvestrini, Ryan S. Bedell, Matthew V. Harte
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Patent number: 9578705Abstract: A lighting assembly to be primarily used in an agricultural setting to illuminate farm animals with different colors of lighting. The assembly has a circuit for emitting light with different colored light emitting diodes that are arranged in networks of LEDs. The second and third networks are arranged in parallel to a first network of LED forming three separate current paths for lighting the LEDs. Each path has controllable impedance element arranged in series with the network of LED in that particular path and is controlled by a dynamic impedance control element that is coupled to the controllable impedance element to direct current through the individual paths of the circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Once Innovations, Inc.Inventor: Zdenko Grajcar