Patents by Inventor Catalin Popovici
Catalin Popovici has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Publication number: 20230149260Abstract: A device, a system and a method for selectively applying pressure to at least one body part of a user. The device includes a frame, a plurality of pins, an actuator means, and a controller. The actuator means preferably includes a mold and at least one motor in communication with the mold. The system includes the device and a software application usable on an external device and configured for communication with the controller. The device applies pressure to at least one body part of a user and in doing so, prevents, or at least substantially prevents, ulcerous wounds from forming; particularly in users with little to no mobility, whether acute or chronic.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2021Publication date: May 18, 2023Inventor: Marius Catalin Popovici
-
Patent number: 11342784Abstract: In general, one or more loads on a vehicle can be connected to both a first voltage source on the vehicle and a backup vehicle power system on the vehicle. If the voltage provided by the first voltage source to the one or more loads satisfies a voltage threshold, the backup vehicle power system does not provide power to the one or more loads. However, if the voltage provided by the first voltage source to the one or more loads falls below the voltage threshold, the backup vehicle power system provides power to the one or more loads.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2021Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Woven Planet North America, Inc.Inventors: Chen-yu Hsieh, Catalin Popovici
-
Publication number: 20210351607Abstract: In general, one or more loads on a vehicle can be connected to both a first voltage source on the vehicle and a backup vehicle power system on the vehicle. If the voltage provided by the first voltage source to the one or more loads satisfies a voltage threshold, the backup vehicle power system does not provide power to the one or more loads. However, if the voltage provided by the first voltage source to the one or more loads falls below the voltage threshold, the backup vehicle power system provides power to the one or more loads.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Applicant: Woven Planet North America, Inc.Inventors: Chen-yu Hsieh, Catalin Popovici
-
Publication number: 20210253046Abstract: In general, one or more loads, such as a sensor suite of an autonomous (or semi-autonomous) vehicle, may be configured to draw power from a supercapacitor. A switching mechanism can selectively connect or disconnect the one or more loads and the supercapacitor from a voltage source of a vehicle power system. By systematically disconnecting the voltage source from the supercapacitor and the one or more loads, the exposure of the voltage source to the one or more loads is minimized. Accordingly, the exposure of the voltage source of the vehicle power system to potentially damaging short circuits or power surges that may arise in relation to the one or more loads can also be minimized.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Applicant: Lyft, Inc.Inventors: Chen-yu Hsieh, Catalin Popovici
-
Patent number: 10992166Abstract: In general, one or more loads on a vehicle can be connected to both a first voltage source on the vehicle and a backup vehicle power system on the vehicle. If the voltage provided by the first voltage source to the one or more loads satisfies a voltage threshold, the backup vehicle power system does not provide power to the one or more loads. However, if the voltage provided by the first voltage source to the one or more loads falls below the voltage threshold, the backup vehicle power system provides power to the one or more loads.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Lyft, Inc.Inventors: Chen-yu Hsieh, Catalin Popovici
-
Patent number: 10919464Abstract: In general, one or more loads, such as a sensor suite of an autonomous (or semi-autonomous) vehicle, may be configured to draw power from a supercapacitor. A switching mechanism can selectively connect or disconnect the one or more loads and the supercapacitor from a voltage source of a vehicle power system. By systematically disconnecting the voltage source from the supercapacitor and the one or more loads, the exposure of the voltage source to the one or more loads is minimized. Accordingly, the exposure of the voltage source of the vehicle power system to potentially damaging short circuits or power surges that may arise in relation to the one or more loads can also be minimized.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Lyft, Inc.Inventors: Chen-yu Hsieh, Catalin Popovici
-
Publication number: 20200303945Abstract: In general, one or more loads on a vehicle can be connected to both a first voltage source on the vehicle and a backup vehicle power system on the vehicle. If the voltage provided by the first voltage source to the one or more loads satisfies a voltage threshold, the backup vehicle power system does not provide power to the one or more loads. However, if the voltage provided by the first voltage source to the one or more loads falls below the voltage threshold, the backup vehicle power system provides power to the one or more loads.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2019Publication date: September 24, 2020Applicant: Lyft, Inc.Inventors: Chen-yu Hsieh, Catalin Popovici
-
Publication number: 20200039454Abstract: In general, one or more loads, such as a sensor suite of an autonomous (or semi-autonomous) vehicle, may be configured to draw power from a supercapacitor. A switching mechanism can selectively connect or disconnect the one or more loads and the supercapacitor from a voltage source of a vehicle power system. By systematically disconnecting the voltage source from the supercapacitor and the one or more loads, the exposure of the voltage source to the one or more loads is minimized. Accordingly, the exposure of the voltage source of the vehicle power system to potentially damaging short circuits or power surges that may arise in relation to the one or more loads can also be minimized.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2018Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: Lyft, Inc.Inventors: Chen-yu Hsieh, Catalin Popovici
-
Patent number: 10153700Abstract: A power converter for converting input power to output power includes a first transformer circuit, a second transformer circuit, and balance circuitry. The first transformer circuit includes a first primary winding for receiving a first part of the input power and a first secondary winding for generating a first part of the output power. The second transformer circuit includes a second primary winding for receiving a second part of the input power and a second secondary winding for generating a second part of the output power. The balance circuitry is coupled to a first terminal of the first secondary winding and a second terminal of the second secondary winding, and operable for balancing the first and second parts of the output power by passing a signal between the first and second terminals. The first and second terminals have the same polarity.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2017Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: O2Micro, Inc.Inventors: Catalin Popovici, Alin Gherghescu, Laszlo Lipcsei
-
Publication number: 20180062522Abstract: A power converter for converting input power to output power includes a first transformer circuit, a second transformer circuit, and balance circuitry. The first transformer circuit includes a first primary winding for receiving a first part of the input power and a first secondary winding for generating a first part of the output power. The second transformer circuit includes a second primary winding for receiving a second part of the input power and a second secondary winding for generating a second part of the output power. The balance circuitry is coupled to a first terminal of the first secondary winding and a second terminal of the second secondary winding, and operable for balancing the first and second parts of the output power by passing a signal between the first and second terminals. The first and second terminals have the same polarity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Catalin POPOVICI, Alin GHERGHESCU, Laszlo LIPCSEI
-
Patent number: 9819271Abstract: A power converter for converting input power to output power includes a first transformer circuit, a second transformer circuit, and balance circuitry. The first transformer circuit includes a first primary winding for receiving a first part of the input power and a first secondary winding for generating a first part of the output power. The second transformer circuit includes a second primary winding for receiving a second part of the input power and a second secondary winding for generating a second part of the output power. The balance circuitry is coupled to a first terminal of the first secondary winding and a second terminal of the second secondary winding, and operable for balancing the first and second parts of the output power by passing a signal between the first and second terminals. The first and second terminals have the same polarity.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: O2Micro, Inc.Inventors: Catalin Popovici, Alin Gherghescu, Laszlo Lipcsei
-
Patent number: 9397579Abstract: A controller for a DC/DC converter controls a first, second, third, and fourth switches according to pulse signals generated alternately. The controller turns off the third switch on detection of a first edge of a first pulse signal, turns on the first switch after a delay from the detection of the first edge, turns off the fourth switch on detection of a second edge of the first pulse signal, turns on the second switch after a delay from the detection of the second edge, turns off the first switch on detection of a third edge of a second pulse signal, turns on the third switch after a delay from the detection of the third edge, turns off the second switch on detection of a fourth edge of the second pulse signal, and turns on the fourth switch after a delay from the detection of the fourth edge.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2014Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: O2Micro IncInventors: Catalin Popovici, Alin Gherghescu, Laszlo Lipcsei
-
Patent number: 9276431Abstract: An apparatus for managing power in an electric vehicle includes a control circuit and a first switch. The control circuit is configured to generate a first control signal based on a current of a battery operable for powering the electric vehicle, and to generate a second control signal based on a voltage of the battery. The first switch is configured to control connection of the battery to a power source and a load in the electric vehicle according to the first control signal. The first control signal controls a voltage at a terminal of the first switch to maintain the current of the battery to be substantially equal to a current setting, and the second control signal controls the battery to switch between a first state and a second state.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: O2MICRO INC.Inventors: Siyuan Gao, Wei Zhang, Wei Zhong, Catalin Popovici
-
Publication number: 20150188411Abstract: In an output circuit, a rectifying circuit outputs a rectified signal at an output node. The rectified signal has a rising edge and a falling edge. An energy storage component is coupled to the output node. A controllable path, coupled to the energy storage component, can be turned on if a voltage drop of the controllable path is greater than a voltage threshold. The controllable path can also be turned on in response to a turn-on signal. A control circuit, coupled to the controllable path, generates the turn-on signal subsequent to the rising edge of the rectified signal, and terminates the turn-on signal when a predetermined time interval expires subsequent to the generating of the turn-on signal and prior to the falling edge of the rectified signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2013Publication date: July 2, 2015Applicant: O2Micro IncInventors: Laszlo LIPCSEI, Catalin POPOVICI, Sorin HORNET, Alin GHERGHESCU
-
Publication number: 20150092451Abstract: A power converter for converting input power to output power includes a first transformer circuit, a second transformer circuit, and balance circuitry. The first transformer circuit includes a first primary winding for receiving a first part of the input power and a first secondary winding for generating a first part of the output power. The second transformer circuit includes a second primary winding for receiving a second part of the input power and a second secondary winding for generating a second part of the output power. The balance circuitry is coupled to a first terminal of the first secondary winding and a second terminal of the second secondary winding, and operable for balancing the first and second parts of the output power by passing a signal between the first and second terminals. The first and second terminals have the same polarity.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Catalin POPOVICI, Alin GHERGHESCU, Laszlo LIPCSEI
-
Publication number: 20140218973Abstract: A controller for a DC/DC converter controls a first, second, third, and fourth switches according to pulse signals generated alternately. The controller turns off the third switch on detection of a first edge of a first pulse signal, turns on the first switch after a delay from the detection of the first edge, turns off the fourth switch on detection of a second edge of the first pulse signal, turns on the second switch after a delay from the detection of the second edge, turns off the first switch on detection of a third edge of a second pulse signal, turns on the third switch after a delay from the detection of the third edge, turns off the second switch on detection of a fourth edge of the second pulse signal, and turns on the fourth switch after a delay from the detection of the fourth edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: O2Micro Inc.Inventors: Catalin POPOVICI, Alin GHERGHESCU, Laszlo LIPCSEI
-
Patent number: 8737099Abstract: In a controller for a power converter, a control terminal can provide a control signal to control a power converter. A cycle of the control signal includes a first time interval and a second time interval. The control circuitry can increase a primary current flowing through a primary winding of transformer circuitry and a secondary current flowing through a secondary winding of the transformer circuitry in the first time interval, and can terminate the increasing of the primary current in the second time interval. The control circuitry can also control the first time interval to be inversely proportional to an input voltage provided to the primary winding.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: O2Micro, Inc.Inventors: Laszlo Lipcsei, Alin Gherghescu, Catalin Popovici
-
Patent number: 8450976Abstract: Generally, a system includes a control circuitry configured to detect a current wherein the detected current is one of a battery discharge current or a battery charging current; a first transistor configured to disconnect a load from at least one of a battery and a DC/DC converter if the battery discharge current exceeds a maximum battery discharge current setting; and a second transistor configured to adjust the charging current to maintain the charging current at or near a charge current setting.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: O2Micro, Inc.Inventors: Laszlo Lipcsei, Catalin Popovici, Alin Gherghescu
-
Publication number: 20130016530Abstract: In a controller for a power converter, a control terminal can provide a control signal to control a power converter. A cycle of the control signal includes a first time interval and a second time interval. The control circuitry can increase a primary current flowing through a primary winding of transformer circuitry and a secondary current flowing through a secondary winding of the transformer circuitry in the first time interval, and can terminate the increasing of the primary current in the second time interval. The control circuitry can also control the first time interval to be inversely proportional to an input voltage provided to the primary winding.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2011Publication date: January 17, 2013Inventors: Laszlo LIPCSEI, Alin GHERGHESCU, Catalin POPOVICI
-
Publication number: 20120105008Abstract: Generally, a system includes a control circuitry configured to detect a current wherein the detected current is one of a battery discharge current or a battery charging current; a first transistor configured to disconnect a load from at least one of a battery and a DC/DC converter if the battery discharge current exceeds a maximum battery discharge current setting; and a second transistor configured to adjust the charging current to maintain the charging current at or near a charge current setting.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: O2MICRO, INC.Inventors: Laszlo Lipcsei, Catalin Popovici, Alin Gherghescu