Patents by Inventor Farshid Tofigh
Farshid Tofigh 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).
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Patent number: 11722130Abstract: A method of protecting a load circuit includes sensing a load current passing through a switch electrically in series with the load circuit, sensing a voltage drop across the switch, determining a rate of change of the voltage drop across the switch, determining whether to deactivate the switch based on the load current and the rate of change of the voltage drop across the switch, in response to determining to deactivate the switch, deactivating the switch to shut off current to the load circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Anhtai Le Tran, Imtiaz Ahmad Khan, Farshid Tofigh, Chad Uyehara, Tony Hana
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Patent number: 9685797Abstract: Systems and methods for balancing multi-cell batteries are provided. In one embodiment, the battery balancing circuit includes a battery including a plurality of cells coupled in series, a first terminal and a second terminal, a transformer including a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings, where each secondary winding is coupled to one of the plurality of cells via a secondary switch and a rectifier circuit, where the primary winding is coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal of the battery, a primary switch in series with the primary winding of the transformer, and a control circuitry coupled to the primary switch, the plurality of secondary switches, and each of the plurality of cells.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2010Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Farshid Tofigh, Anhtai Le Tran
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Publication number: 20170141590Abstract: Systems and methods for balancing multi-cell batteries are provided. In one embodiment, the battery balancing circuit includes a battery including a plurality of cells coupled in series, a first terminal and a second terminal, a transformer including a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings, where each secondary winding is coupled to one of the plurality of cells via a secondary switch and a rectifier circuit, where the primary winding is coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal of the battery, a primary switch in series with the primary winding of the transformer, and a control circuitry coupled to the primary switch, the plurality of secondary switches, and each of the plurality of cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2017Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Anhtai Le Tran
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Patent number: 8988912Abstract: A system and method for emulating an ideal diode for use in a power control device is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a circuit for emulating an ideal diode, the circuit including at least one field effect transistor including a source, a drain, a gate, and a body diode, an input; an output coupled to the drain, a control circuit including a current sensor coupled between the input and the source, and a control circuit output coupled to the gate, wherein the control circuit is configured to activate the at least one field effect transistor based on whether the current flowing into the source is greater than a predetermined threshold, and wherein the body diode comprises an anode coupled to the source and a cathode coupled to the drain.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2008Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Leach International CorporationInventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa
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Patent number: 8412966Abstract: Solid state power controllers are described that include a switch controlled by a microcontroller and communication contacts. In one aspect of the invention, the microcontroller is galvanically isolated from the communication contacts using magnetoresistive isolation. In another aspect of the invention a number of solid state power controllers are connected to an external microcontroller to form a power distribution array. In addition, messages exchanged between the external microcontroller and the solid state power controllers can be used to configure the solid state power controllers and provide a user interface.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2012Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Leach International CorporationInventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Imtiaz Khan, Iraj Ghahramani, David Lawton, Kent Policky
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Publication number: 20120206844Abstract: Solid state power controllers are described that include a switch controlled by a microcontroller and communication contacts. In one aspect of the invention, the microcontroller is galvanically isolated from the communication contacts using magnetoresistive isolation. In another aspect of the invention a number of solid state power controllers are connected to an external microcontroller to form a power distribution array. In addition, messages exchanged between the external microcontroller and the solid state power controllers can be used to configure the solid state power controllers and provide a user interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2012Publication date: August 16, 2012Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Imtiaz Khan, Iraj Ghahramani, David Lawton, Kent Policky
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Patent number: 8190934Abstract: Solid state power controllers in various configurations are provided. One such solid state power controller includes a power connector, a load connector and at least one communication connector, a solid state switch electrically connectable between the power connector and the load connector, where the switch includes an input, a microcontroller coupled to the input of the solid state switch, and current sensing circuitry coupled to the microcontroller and configured to sense a current flowing through the solid state switch, the current sensing circuitry including an amplifier having an offset error, where the current sensing circuitry is configured to generate a signal indicative of the current flowing through the solid state switch, and bias the generated signal to a predetermined level to substantially eliminate the offset error in the amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2010Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Leach International CorporationInventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Imtiaz Khan, Iraj Ghahramani, David Lawton, Kent Policky
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Patent number: 7995320Abstract: A system and method for protecting a coil structure in a controlled switch.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2007Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Leach International CorporationInventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa
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Publication number: 20110140663Abstract: Systems and methods for balancing multi-cell batteries are provided. In one embodiment, the battery balancing circuit includes a battery including a plurality of cells coupled in series, a first terminal and a second terminal, a transformer including a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings, where each secondary winding is coupled to one of the plurality of cells via a secondary switch and a rectifier circuit, where the primary winding is coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal of the battery, a primary switch in series with the primary winding of the transformer, and a control circuitry coupled to the primary switch, the plurality of secondary switches, and each of the plurality of cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Anhtai Le Tran
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Publication number: 20100214703Abstract: Solid state power controllers are described that include a switch controlled by a microcontroller and communication contacts. In one aspect of the invention, the microcontroller is galvanically isolated from the communication contacts using magnetoresistive isolation. In another aspect of the invention a number of solid state power controllers are connected to an external microcontroller to form a power distribution array. In addition, messages exchanged between the external microcontroller and the solid state power controllers can be used to configure the solid state power controllers and provide a user interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Imtiaz Khan, Iraj Ghahramani, David Lawton, Kent Policky
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Patent number: 7760482Abstract: The present invention relates to a power control system with a fusible link. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a power control system, having a device possessing an output, a fusible link connected to the output of the device, a heating element controller, and at least one heating element connected to the heating element controller, where the heating element controller is configured to control the flow of current through the heating element, where the heating element controller is configured to monitor activity of the device, and where the heating element is configured to generate sufficient heat to fuse the fusible link within a predetermined time period when current flows through the heating element.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2006Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Leach International CorporationInventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Jesse Thomas Chen
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Patent number: 7747879Abstract: Solid state power controllers are described that include a switch controlled by a microcontroller and communication contacts. In one aspect of the invention, the microcontroller is galvanically isolated from the communication contacts using magnetoresistive isolation. In another aspect of the invention a number of solid state power controllers are connected to an external microcontroller to form a power distribution array. In addition, messages exchanged between the external microcontroller and the solid state power controllers can be used to configure the solid state power controllers and provide a user interface.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2006Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Leach International CorporationInventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Imtiaz Khan, Iraj Ghahramani, David Lawton, Kent Policky
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Publication number: 20100103709Abstract: A system and method for emulating an ideal diode for use in a power control device is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a circuit for emulating an ideal diode, the circuit including at least one field effect transistor including a source, a drain, a gate, and a body diode, an input; an output coupled to the drain, a control circuit including a current sensor coupled between the input and the source, and a control circuit output coupled to the gate, wherein the control circuit is configured to activate the at least one field effect transistor based on whether the current flowing into the source is greater than a predetermined threshold, and wherein the body diode comprises an anode coupled to the source and a cathode coupled to the drain.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2008Publication date: April 29, 2010Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa
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Publication number: 20090128979Abstract: A system and method for protecting a coil structure in a controlled switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2007Publication date: May 21, 2009Inventors: Farshid TOFIGH, Otmar Kruppa
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Publication number: 20080100411Abstract: The present invention relates to a power control system with a fusible link. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a power control system, having a device possessing an output, a fusible link connected to the output of the device, a heating element controller, and at least one heating element connected to the heating element controller, where the heating element controller is configured to control the flow of current through the heating element, where the heating element controller is configured to monitor activity of the device, and where the heating element is configured to generate sufficient heat to fuse the fusible link within a predetermined time period when current flows through the heating element.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2006Publication date: May 1, 2008Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Jesse Thomas Chen
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Publication number: 20060200688Abstract: Solid state power controllers are described that include a switch controlled by a microcontroller and communication contacts. In one aspect of the invention, the microcontroller is galvanically isolated from the communication contacts using magnetoresistive isolation. In another aspect of the invention a number of solid state power controllers are connected to an external microcontroller to form a power distribution array. In addition, messages exchanged between the external microcontroller and the solid state power controllers can be used to configure the solid state power controllers and provide a user interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2006Publication date: September 7, 2006Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Imtiaz Khan, Iraj Ghahramani, David Lawton, Kent Policky
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Patent number: 5615105Abstract: A multichannel power distribution system for individually controlling power from a source to a plurality of loads has individual power control devices and at least one logic stage responsive to status signals to impose preselected operational characteristics on the devices. In one embodiment, isolation circuitry is provided between the power control devices and the logic stage. The isolation circuitry then includes a modulator for converting the status signal to a status pulse train of modulated pulse width, and the logic stage includes decoder logic for measuring the pulse width of the status pulse train. In another embodiment, the logic stage is programmable to alter the operational characteristics of the devices in response to external inputs.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 1994Date of Patent: March 25, 1997Assignee: Leach CorporationInventors: Farshid Tofigh, Parminder S. Brar, Yen-Kuei Tsao, Evan Clements, Joseph Maier
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Patent number: 4695917Abstract: Power to a load is controlled by actuation of an inductive circuit from a first condition of low inductance to a second condition of higher inductance in response to a preselected overcurrent condition. In a first preferred embodiment, the inductive circuit comprises a pair of coils electrically connectible so that magnetic fields produced by current flow in the coils oppose each other in the first condition, reducing the magnetic flux and thus the effective inductance of the circuit. The magnetic fields are either neutral to each other or reinforce each other in the second condition, giving rise to a higher inductance. Alternatively, the inductive circuit may include one or more fixed value inductors interposed between a power supply and a load in response to an overcurrent condition.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1985Date of Patent: September 22, 1987Assignee: Leach CorporationInventors: Kenneth R. Jackson, Farshid Tofigh