Patents Examined by Zeev V. Kitov
  • Patent number: 10207750
    Abstract: A vehicle in which separation of airflow from a vehicle surface can be prevented without causing disfigurement is provided. A vehicle body is insulated from a road surface, and positive static charges accumulate on the vehicle body during propulsion. The vehicle comprises a charge control device adapted to decrease the positive potential of a separation point at which positively charged airflow flowing along a vehicle surface deviates from the vehicle surface during propulsion by applying negative ions to an inner surface of the separation point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10211290
    Abstract: A bipolar junction transistor is configured to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection for an integrated circuit. The bipolar junction transistor includes a substrate configured to function as a gate for the bipolar junction transistor. At least one drain finger extends in a first direction on a first surface of the substrate and is configured to function as a collector for the bipolar junction transistor. At least one source finger extends in the first direction on the first surface of the substrate and is configured to function as an emitter for the bipolar junction transistor. The at least one source finger includes a pickup region that is configured to set a substrate potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Da-Wei Lai
  • Patent number: 10211603
    Abstract: The invention specifies a surge protection element (100) comprising a first electrode (1), a second electrode (2) and a gas discharge chamber (10). The gas discharge chamber (10) is arranged between the first electrode (1) and the second electrode (2), wherein the surge protection element (100) comprises an intermediate electrode structure (3), which is arranged in the gas discharge chamber (10) and is electrically isolated from the first electrode and the second electrode (1, 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Eduard Dorsch, Frank Werner, Peter Bobert, Thomas Westebbe
  • Patent number: 10209308
    Abstract: A MV switching device (100) comprising: one or more electric poles, each comprising a movable contact (16) and a fixed contact (17) adapted to be coupled or uncoupled during the switching operations of said switching device; and an electromagnetic actuator (13) operatively coupled to the movable contacts of the electric poles, said electromagnetic actuator having at least an excitation winding (152); power supply means (60) for supplying electric power to said electromagnetic actuator; a power drive circuit (1) for driving said electromagnetic actuator, said power drive circuit comprising sensing means for providing signals indicative of the currents flowing along the circuit branches of said power drive circuit and of the voltages at the terminals of said power drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Andrea Ricci, Gabriele Valentino De Natale, Marco Testa
  • Patent number: 10211005
    Abstract: A simple, economically efficient, synchronized switching system for control of a three phase motor contactor utilizes only Voltage monitoring to determine zero crossings and knowledge of the sinusoidal power waveforms and operational delay period of the contactor, to synchronize operation of the contacts at low power. The phases can be serially utilized for zero crossing detection upon Close or Open commands, so as to spread the wear over each set of contacts. Expensive metal at the contact surfaces can therefore be used more efficiently. For arc energy reduction upon contact opening, knowledge of Line-Load Voltage on at least one phase can be used to derive an empirical determination of the voltage angle at opening which yields the lowest arc energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M Jefferies, Benjamin W Edwards, Matthew L White, Alan E Freeman, Richard Karl Weiler
  • Patent number: 10207817
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a static discharger, an aircraft, and an installation process for the static discharger. According to an aspect of the present invention, a static discharger is provided which includes: a basement; and a discharger body installed to the basement. An installation orientation adjusting mechanism is provided between the basement and the discharger body, and the installation orientation adjusting mechanism allows the discharger body to be rotationally orientated, with respect to the basement, to a predetermined installation orientation during an on-site-installation of the static discharger. The static discharger further includes a first fixing mechanism adapted to fix the discharger body, which has been oriented to the predetermined installation orientation, to the basement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS (BEIJING) ENGINEERING CENTRE COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Long Wang, Zengli Han
  • Patent number: 10204741
    Abstract: An electronic component having a multilayer body that includes a plurality of insulating layers that are stacked on top of one another; a primary coil and a secondary coil that are arranged inside the multilayer body in a stacking direction of the multilayer body; a first ground electrode and a second ground electrode that are provided in the multilayer body and between which the primary coil and the secondary coil are interposed in the stacking direction; and a ground terminal that is connected to the first ground electrode and the second ground electrode. A capacitance is generated between the first ground electrode and the primary coil or the secondary coil and a capacitance is generated between the second ground electrode and the primary coil or the secondary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Minoru Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 10193312
    Abstract: In order to transmit high frequency energy to a coupling circuit, if the high frequency energy is transmitted via a harness provided with a high-voltage cable, the loop in which the high frequency energy is conducted is long, and thus, noise occurring from the loop is increased. Thus, shielding is needed to be provided to the entire apparatus. The present invention has a structure in which: a high frequency energy supply circuit and a coupling circuit are connected by a connection member; and a housing having therein the high frequency energy supply circuit is integrated with a housing having therein the coupling circuit. Accordingly, the entire apparatus can be downsized and noise occurring from the loop can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Shimizu, Takaaki Tanaka, Yusuke Naruse
  • Patent number: 10193331
    Abstract: A method of containing arc faults in a power distribution unit includes in response to a bus bar temperature exceeding a bus bar temperature threshold, thermally opening a conductive element extending between an energizing coil of a contactor, a bus bar, and a controller. The controller is configured to selectively open and close the contactor. The conductive element is electrically connected to the energizing coil of the contactor and the controller. The conductive element is electrically isolated from a power source electrically connected to the first bus bar through the contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Donald G. Kilroy, Robert C. Cooney
  • Patent number: 10192817
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection element is provided, which leads out the electrostatic discharge current between an internal circuit and an input/output terminal in the event of electrostatic discharge. The electrostatic discharge protection element includes an I/O pad, conductor, and a gap structure. The I/O pad is connected between the I/O terminal and the internal circuit, and the conductor is connected to a ground terminal. The gap structure is disposed between the I/O pad and the conductor, which is configured to establish a path from the I/O pad to the conductor connected to the ground terminal for conducting the electrostatic discharge current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: Tay-Her Tsaur, Cheng-Cheng Yen
  • Patent number: 10192766
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck device 80 includes: an electrostatic chuck section 2 having one principal surface serving as a placing surface on which a plate-shaped sample is placed, and having a built-in electrostatic attracting internal electrode; a first adhesion layer 4; a sheet material 6; a second adhesion layer 8; and a temperature adjusting base section 10 which adjusts a temperature of the electrostatic chuck section 2 to a desired temperature, in this order, in which the first adhesion layer 4 includes a joining layer 14 having a layer thickness in a range of 1 nm to 500 nm, and a silicone adhesive layer 24 having a thickness in a range of 2 ?m to 30 ?m, and the second adhesion layer 8 includes a joining layer 18 having a layer thickness in a range of 1 nm to 500 nm, and a silicone adhesive layer 28 having a thickness in a range of 2 ?m to 30 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO OSAKA CEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomomi Ito, Yukio Miura
  • Patent number: 10181462
    Abstract: To prevent an electrostatic damage on a display device formed with a driving circuit. Protective circuits are provided not only at input terminal parts, but also at intermediate parts of a circuit or at the ends of wiring lines. Otherwise, the protective circuits are provided at the ends of the wiring lines and at the places immediately before and after the input terminals, respectively, and then the circuit is interposed therebetween. Further, the protective circuits are provided around a circuit with a large current consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Limited
    Inventor: Yutaka Kobashi
  • Patent number: 10170907
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit including a dynamic field plate bias circuit, and associated methods. In some embodiments, the ESD protection circuit includes a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) based ESD protection circuit including a field plate configured to increase a breakdown voltage of the BJT based ESD protection circuit. The ESD protection circuit also includes a dynamic field plate bias circuit coupled to the field plate of the BJT based ESD protection circuit. The dynamic field plate bias circuit is configured to provide the field plate a field plate bias at transient opposite to a field plate bias at a normal operation. The transient bias reduces a trigger voltage of the BJT based ESD protection circuit and increases a shunt current of the BJT based ESD protection circuit during the ESD event. Thereby, ESD protection reliability is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Fang Lai
  • Patent number: 10163610
    Abstract: An edge ring assembly for a plasma processing chamber is provided, including: an edge ring configured to surround an electrostatic chuck (ESC) that is configured for electrical connection to a first RF power supply, the ESC having a top surface for supporting a substrate and an annular step surrounding the top surface, the annular step defining an annular shelf that is lower than the top surface; an annular electrode disposed below the edge ring in the annular step and above the annular shelf; a dielectric ring disposed below the annular electrode for isolating the annular electrode from the ESC, the dielectric ring positioned in the annular step over the annular shelf; and, a plurality of insulated connectors disposed through the ESC and through the dielectric ring, each of the plurality of insulated connectors providing electrical connection between a second RF power supply and the annular electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Saravanapriyan Sriraman, Tom A. Kamp, Alexander Paterson
  • Patent number: 10157907
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) structure is provided. The IC structure comprises a deep n-well (DWN), a first circuit, a second circuit, a first power line and a second power line. The first circuit is in the DWN. The second circuit is outside the DWN and electrically connected with the first circuit. The first power line is configured to provide the first circuit with power. The second power line is configured to provide the second circuit with power. The second power line is electrically connected with the first power line. The first power line and the second power line are in different conductive layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Lin Chu, Hsi-Yu Kuo, Chin-Yuan Ko
  • Patent number: 10153191
    Abstract: A substrate carrier system is provided. The substrate carrier system includes a substrate carrier body, an electrode assembly, a support base, and a controller. The substrate carrier body has a substrate supporting surface, and an electrode assembly is disposed in the substrate carrier body. The electrode assembly includes a plurality of laterally spaced apart electrode sets. Each electrode set includes a first electrode interleaved with a second electrode. The support base supports the substrate carrier body. The controller is configured to: select a first group of the electrode sets and a second group of the electrode sets from the plurality of the electrode sets; operate the first group of the electrode sets in a first chucking mode; simultaneously operate the second group of the electrode sets in a second chucking mode; and selectively switch at least one electrode set from the first group to the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zuoqian Wang, John M. White
  • Patent number: 10153631
    Abstract: An electrical protection device including an input line, an output terminal, and a power transistor coupled between the input line and the output terminal A sensing transistor is connected between the input line and the output terminal and has a body terminal. A control stage is coupled to respective control terminals of the power transistor and of the sensing transistor and is configured to limit a first current of the power transistor to a protection value. A body-driving stage is coupled to the body terminal and is configured to bias the body terminal of the sensing transistor as a function of an operating condition of the power transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Antonino Torres, Davide Giuseppe Patti
  • Patent number: 10147717
    Abstract: In the disclosure, an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is coupled between a first power rail and a second power rail to discharge any ESD stress. The ESD protection circuit includes a detection circuit, a triggering circuit, and a dual silicon controlled rectifier (DSCR) device. When an ESD stresses is being applied to the first or second power rail, the detection circuit may first detect the ESD stresses and output a detection signal to the triggering circuit. The triggering circuit generates a triggering signal based on the detection signal and the polarity of the ESD stress. Then, the DSCR device is symmetrically triggered based on the triggering signal received at a common node between at least two transistors of the same type. The exemplary ESD protection circuit may be implemented in nanoscale manufactured integrated circuit and achieve good ESD robustness while maintaining low standby leakage current and relatively small silicon footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Federico Agustin Altolaguirre, Ming-Dou Ker, Tzu-Chien Tzeng, Ju-Lin Huang
  • Patent number: 10147566
    Abstract: A switch is disclosed, in particular a power switch, for low voltages. The switch includes mechanically separable contact elements, in abutment when the switch is closed and via which a current to be monitored flows through the switch, an electronic trigger unit, which triggers a respective contact mechanics unit if a current condition is satisfied. In the event of triggering, the contacts are separated and the switch is switched on via the contact mechanics unit. A supply unit is included to extract a first electric energy from the current flowing through the switch to supply the trigger unit with energy. To guarantee energy supply even when switching to a short-circuit, the contact mechanics unit is coupled to a conversion unit, which converts a portion of the mechanical energy to be provided during switching-on into a second electric energy that supplies the trigger unit with electric energy during switching-on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Mario Dankert
  • Patent number: 10148086
    Abstract: A power switch capable of preventing a reverse connection is provided. The power switch includes a switch that is configured to supply power of a battery to a load or block the power of the battery and a protector that is connected to an output terminal of the switch and blocks the power applied from the battery when the battery is reversely connected and a driver is configured to operate a driving of the switch and the protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Dankook University
    Inventors: Sang Hyun Jang, Sun Woo Kim, Hee Jun Lee, Shi Hong Park, Jun Sik Kim, Jae Hyun Park