Patents Examined by Yemane Mehari
  • Patent number: 11489329
    Abstract: A power supply system includes: a first power circuit having a first battery, a second power circuit having a second battery, a voltage converter which converter voltage between the first power circuit and second power circuit, a current sensor which acquires a passing current value Iact of the voltage converter, a passing power control unit which operates the voltage converter, and a failure determination unit which determines failure of the voltage converter. The failure determination unit determines that the voltage converter has failed in a case of the passing current value Iact becoming negative in a state in which the passing power control unit is not operating the high-arm element of the voltage converter to ON, and makes a time from when the passing current value Iact first became negative until determining that the voltage converter failed shorter as the passing current value Iact increases to the negative side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hisaya Oiwa
  • Patent number: 11482868
    Abstract: A secondary battery protection circuit for a secondary battery includes: a reference voltage circuit configured to generate a reference voltage by using a depletion-type transistor and a transistor unit of enhancement type connected in series with the depletion-type transistor; a voltage divider configured to output a detection voltage obtained by dividing a power source voltage of the secondary battery; a detection circuit configured to detect an abnormal state of the secondary battery based on the reference voltage and the detection voltage; a first adjustment circuit configured to adjust a size ratio of the depletion-type transistor to the transistor unit based on threshold voltages of the depletion-type transistor and the transistor unit; and a second adjustment circuit configured to adjust the detection voltage based on the reference voltage after adjusting the size ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daichi Yamashita, Norihito Kawaguchi, Yoshihiro Satake, Nobuhito Tanaka, Koji Koshimizu
  • Patent number: 11476657
    Abstract: A DC power attachment device provides a convenient solution in adapting DC powers from AC sockets connected to an existing power distribution circuit. It enables multitude DC devices to concurrently access multiple DC powers at the same or at different voltages on the same power attachment device, which may be coupled to a DC power source, an existing socket, or directly connected to a DC power distribution circuit. The method on the assembly of a DC power attachment device is also addressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Entrantech Inc.
    Inventor: Kong-Chen Chen
  • Patent number: 11473879
    Abstract: A CEW includes a handle and one or more cartridges. A cartridge may cooperate with the handle to launch one or more electrodes. Launched electrodes fly toward the target to couple to the target to provide a stimulus signal through the target to impede locomotion of the target. Prior to launch, detents may retain an electrode in a bore of the cartridge. The bore may be sealed with a door. Launching the electrode may remove the door from the cartridge. The door may couple to the electrode. The door may remain coupled to the electrode during flight and impact of the electrode with the target. The door may cushion the impact of the electrode against the target. Cushioning the impact may reduce the likelihood of injuring the target. Retaining the door coupled to the electrode during flight may improve the flight characteristics of the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke Salisbury, Dubravko Zekanovic, Magne Nerheim
  • Patent number: 11476772
    Abstract: A voltage converter circuit, comprising: a bridge rectifier; a first transistor, having a first end, a second end and a third end; a second transistor, having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the first transistor and the first end of second transistor are electrically connected to bridge rectifier, and the second end of the first transistor is electrically connected to the first end of the second transistor; and a Zener diode, connected between the third end of the first transistor and the second end of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: EPISTAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sheng-Bo Wang, Chiao Fu, Chang-Hsieh Wu, Jai-Tai Kuo, Chao-Kai Chang, Yao-Zhong Liu, Yi-Ru Shen, Chen-Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 11469039
    Abstract: A rupture reduction system for fluid-immersed electrical equipment includes a turret for mounting of a bushing. The turret is expandable in volume in response to a surge in pressure of the fluid in the turret. The expansion volume can be provided by an expandable section of the turret, which may include a bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Samuel Brodeur, Mattias Viksten, Glenn Stromberg, John Tillery
  • Patent number: 11462921
    Abstract: A secondary-battery protection circuit is configured to, in response to detecting that a first switching circuit is turned on and a second switching circuit is turned on, supply a first output voltage to a first load between a first terminal and a second terminal; and supply a third output voltage to a second load between the first terminal and a third terminal, the third output voltage indicating the sum of the first output voltage and a second output voltage, the second output voltage corresponding to a voltage across a second secondary battery. In response to detecting that the first switching circuit is turned off and the second switching circuit is turned on, the secondary-battery protection circuit is configured to stop supplying the first output voltage to the first load; and stop supplying the third output voltage via the first terminal and the third terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamaguchi, Yoshihiro Motoichi, Junji Takeshita
  • Patent number: 11451131
    Abstract: Pulse train conditioning circuits and related methods are disclosed. An example circuit includes a first transistor having a first current terminal and a first gate terminal, a second transistor having a second current terminal and a second gate terminal, a third transistor having a third current terminal and a third gate terminal, a fourth transistor having a fourth current terminal and a fourth gate terminal, the fourth gate terminal coupled to the first through third gate terminals, a first switch having first through third terminals, the first terminal coupled to the first current terminal, the second terminal coupled to the third current terminal, and the third terminal coupled to the fourth current terminal, and a second switch having fourth through sixth terminals, the fourth terminal coupled to the second current terminal, the fifth terminal coupled to the third current terminal, and the sixth terminal coupled to the fourth current terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Ramesh Mosur Chandrasekaran
  • Patent number: 11451133
    Abstract: The present document describes a control unit for a converter circuit comprising a plurality of converter blocks, wherein each converter block comprises one or more switches which are turned on or off during switching events, and wherein at least some of the converter blocks share a common supply rail. The control unit is configured to determine that a first converter block from the plurality of converter blocks requests a switching event at a first time instant. Furthermore, the control unit is configured to determine whether a second converter block from the plurality of converter blocks, with which the first converter block shares a common supply rail, has a reserved switching time slot for a switching event at the first time instant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Nuno Dias
  • Patent number: 11451140
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a battery circuit module group in which a plurality of battery circuit modules are connected in series via their output terminals. The power supply device further includes a control circuit configured to: output, at intervals of a certain time, a gate signal for turning on and off a first switching element and a second switching element of each battery circuit module to the battery circuit modules in the battery circuit module group; and select one of the battery circuit modules that receives an input of the gate signal to output a predetermined voltage from the power supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Shigeaki Goto, Keisuke Ishikawa, Shuji Tomura, Naoki Yanagizawa
  • Patent number: 11444551
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve availability when a power is lost. In a power conversion device 1, a gate drive power supply circuit 50 can supply a gate drive power within a predetermined normal voltage range. A backup power supply circuit 70 supplies the gate drive power to a lower arm gate circuit 40 when a voltage of the gate drive power applied from the gate drive power supply circuit 50 to the lower arm gate circuit 40 falls below a normal voltage range. When the gate drive power is supplied from the backup power supply circuit 70, the lower arm gate circuit 40 drives a lower arm switching circuit 22 in a short state in which all switching elements of the lower arm switching circuit 22 are turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Ogura, Ryuji Kurihara, Ryoichi Inada
  • Patent number: 11437916
    Abstract: A flyback converter is disclosed that includes an auxiliary switch controller that adaptively controls the auxiliary switch for improved zero voltage switching. The auxiliary switch control adaptively adjusts the auxiliary switch on-time period responsive to a transformer reset time for the flyback converter, a resonant oscillation period for a power switch terminal voltage for a power switch transistor, and an on-time period for the power switch transistor to provide the improved zero voltage switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Cong Zheng, Wenduo Liu, Jianming Yao
  • Patent number: 11437185
    Abstract: A method and system for predicting performance of a fluid filled electrical device are provided. The system includes a sensing unit operable communicating with a fluid level estimation system. The sensing unit includes one or more sensors physically mountable on and/or around the electrical device, recording temperature data associated with the fluid and the ambient environment. The fluid level estimation system determines temperatures of the fluid and a an ambient temperature, generates feature vectors for one or more of the temperatures based on their correlation with the ambient temperature, and estimates a fluid level inside the electrical device and thereby the performance, based on the feature vectors and a probability density function derived from a distribution constructed using historical temperature gradient data associated with the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Simit Pradhan
  • Patent number: 11435769
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a low-dropout regulator (LDO) is disclosed. The system and method include a charge pump that is controlled to provide a charge pump voltage to power the LDO. The charge pump voltage can be adjusted relative to the LDO's input voltage to ensure efficient operation of the LDO for input voltages over a range. The charge pump is also controlled to limit the maximum charge pump voltage provided to ensure safe operation of the LDO. The system and method also include a under voltage lockout circuit that enables the LDO when it is determined that the charge pump voltage is sufficient to meet multiple criteria. For example, the charge pump voltage may be analyzed to determine if it is above a minimum voltage and if it is also sufficiently higher than the LDO's output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Pavel Londak, Jan Matej, Petr Rozsypal
  • Patent number: 11431246
    Abstract: A power converter with an automatic balance mechanism of a flying capacitor is provided. The flying capacitor and a first terminal of an output inductor are connected to a switch circuit. Two terminals of an output capacitor are respectively connected to a second terminal of the output inductor and grounded. Two input terminals of an error amplifier are respectively connected to a node between the output capacitor and the output inductor, and coupled to a reference voltage. The error amplifier outputs an error amplified signal according to a voltage of the node and the reference voltage. A comparator circuit receives a ramp signal. A slope of the ramp signal is proportional to a voltage of the flying capacitor. The comparator circuit compares the ramp signal with the error amplified signal to output a comparison signal. The driving circuit drives the switch circuit according to the comparison signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fu-Chuan Chen
  • Patent number: 11424561
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a power control unit coupled to the PCB, AC electrical conductors, and an electrical receptacle coupled to the PCB. The electrical contacts are in electrical communication with respective ones of the electrical conductors. A first portion of each electrical conductor is coupled to a power source and a second portion of each electrical conductor is coupled to respective ones of the electrical contacts. The power control unit includes a controller and a switch, the switch operable to selectively establish continuity between the first and second portions of at least one of the electrical conductors. The controller is configured to selectively place the switch into either a closed position or an open position in response to a signal received from an environmental or occupancy sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventors: Norman R. Byrne, Timothy J. Warwick, Daniel P. Byrne, Robert Craig Klem, Roger D. Burdi
  • Patent number: 11411427
    Abstract: In an uninterruptible power supply apparatus, in a power failure of a commercial AC power supply, a switch is turned off to electrically cut off the commercial AC power supply from an AC input filter, and a DC voltage converter is controlled such that a DC voltage that is the difference between terminal-to-terminal voltages of first and second capacitors is eliminated, and when the DC voltage exceeds a threshold voltage, a converter is controlled to reduce the DC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yousuke Hayashi, Toshihide Nakano
  • Patent number: 11402180
    Abstract: An actuatable bay conducted electrical weapon comprises a plurality of bays. Each of the bays is configured to releasably receive a deployment unit comprising one or more electrodes. At least one of the bays the plurality of bays is coupled to a body of the conducted electrical weapon via a respective movable member. Each respective movable member is coupled to the body of the conducted electrical weapon by a respective kinematic joint. Responsive to an activation of a control interface, each respective movable member is configured to move about each respective kinematic joint to an expanded position, wherein a distance between each of the bays of the plurality of bays is greater in the expanded position than in a collapsed position. The increased distance is configured to provide a greater initial spread between the one or more electrodes to increase a likelihood of causing NMI in a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke Salisbury, Patrick W. Smith
  • Patent number: 11398723
    Abstract: A battery control apparatus includes: an MCU including a first control terminal, a first sensing terminal connected to a first node, a second control terminal, a third control terminal, a second sensing terminal connected to a second node, and a fourth control terminal; a relay including a switch and a coil connected between the first node and the second node; and a first reduction circuit including a first transistor having a first gate connected to the first control terminal and a first end connected to the first node, and a second transistor having a second gate connected to the second control terminal and the MCU controls the first gate and the second gate to respectively allow the first transistor to be turned on and the second transistor to be turned off when there is no voltage change of the first node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventor: Jang Hyeok Choi
  • Patent number: 11394315
    Abstract: A Power over Data Lines (PoDL) system provides a DC voltage and differential data signals on the same wire pair. A Powered Device (PD) load is coupled to the wire pair, via a gyrator, for being powered by the DC voltage. The gyrator emulates the DC-coupling properties of inductors using active components. The gyrator includes transistors that are controlled to act as a full-bridge rectifier for ensuring a correct polarity DC voltage is applied to the PD load. Since the transistors operate in saturation and are coupled to be insensitive to differential data signals on the wire pair, the current supplied to the PD load is substantially unaffected by the differential data signals. Negative feedback circuits in the gyrator reduce fluctuations in current through the gyrator due to differential data signals on the wire pair. No inductors are required in the gyrator. A PHY is AC-coupled to the wire pair via capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Gardner, Heath Stewart, Gitesh Bhagwat