Patents Issued in April 24, 2007
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Patent number: 7208879Abstract: An embodiment of a discharge lamp lighting apparatus of the present invention includes a socket inserted with a discharge bulb, a transformer having a coil including a secondary side winding connected at one end to the socket, connected at the other end to a first drive wire, and a primary side winding connected at one end to a second drive wire, connected at the other end to a third drive wire through a discharge gap, a core inserted into the coil, and a resin filled between the core and the primary side winding, the secondary side winding, and a capacitor connected between the second drive wire and the third drive wire, wherein the transformer and the socket are aligned side by side.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Harison Toshiba Lighting CorporationInventor: Manabu Kika
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Patent number: 7208880Abstract: There is provided a vehicular lamp that can reduce a high-frequency noise occurring between a primary side and a secondary side of an anode voltage applying coil at low cost. The vehicular lamp includes a cold cathode fluorescent lamp having a cathode, a gate, and an anode, and an anode voltage applying coil operable to apply an acceleration voltage between the cathode and the anode of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp, in which one end of a secondary side of the anode voltage applying coil is connected to a reference potential of a primary side. Moreover, the vehicular lamp further includes an anode current detecting unit operable to detect an electric current flowing between a connecting point to the reference potential in the secondary side of the anode voltage applying coil and the cold cathode fluorescent lamp.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd.Inventors: Hitoshi Takeda, Masayasu Ito
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Patent number: 7208881Abstract: An LED light that includes an LED light source. A thermoelectric device is configured to maintain the LED light source within a predetermined temperature range. A controller provides a pulse signal to the LED light source, so that the LED light can particularly operate as a strobe light. Such an LED light can find application in an obstruction light.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2006Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Dialight CorporationInventor: Garrett J. Young
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Patent number: 7208882Abstract: A lighting device for high-pressure discharge lamp for lighting the high-pressure discharge lamp by lowering or raising a DC voltage applied to an input side by a DC/DC converter circuit, then converting the DC power into an AC power by a DC/AC inverter circuit, supplying the AC power to the high-pressure discharge lamp and lighting the high-pressure discharge lamp, wherein when the polarity of the current of the high-pressure discharge lamp lit by the substantially rectangular wave is inverted, the output voltage of the DC/DC converter circuit is set to 1.5 times or more as large as the voltage at the stable lighting time of the high-pressure discharge lamp.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Harison Toshiba Lighting CorporationInventor: Akio Ishizuka
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Patent number: 7208883Abstract: In the current detection circuit that detects the output currents of a switching power supply circuit, an improved current detection circuit makes it possible to detect the output current directions of power supplies solves the malfunction of the power supplies vibrating or diverging during changes in load state and during parallel operation, and thus implements stable operation. The direction of an output current I2 can be detected by using the current detection circuit 8 that has multiple switching elements S1 to S4 each operating synchronously with an inverter circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Maru, Hideho Yamamura, Koji Nisisu, Shigeo Oomae
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Patent number: 7208884Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting circuit includes an open protection circuit. The discharge lamp lighting circuit includes an open protection circuit and an over-voltage detecting circuit. The open protection circuit detects whether any of the discharge lamps are unlit, and sends a voltage control signal to a control circuit if one of the discharge lamps is not lit, whereby the control circuit sends a pulse signal to a buck converter according to the voltage control signal, and the buck converter generates and outputs a DC voltage according to the pulse signal. If the DC voltage from the buck converter reaches a predetermined voltage, the over-voltage detecting circuit conducts and sends a voltage control signal to the control circuit, and the control circuit ceases operating according to the voltage control signal. Consequently, damage to the other normal discharge lamps is prevented.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Wei-De Bao, Kuan-Hong Hsieh
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Patent number: 7208885Abstract: A dimming control method and a lighting system having dimming control, in which the lighting system (200) includes an input unit (210), a light-emission unit (260) and a current control circuit (220). The dimming control method is characterized by outputting a continuous current with a varying amplitude to the light-emission unit under a higher brightness, and clamping the amplitude of the current output to the light-emission unit to a fixed value and outputting a discontinuous current with a fixed amplitude and a varying duty cycle to the light-emission unit under a lower brightness.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventor: Cheng-Chia Hsu
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Patent number: 7208886Abstract: A starting voltage adjustment circuit (70), which can vary starting voltages to CCFLs (40) according to variations in the temperature of the immediate environment, is employed in an apparatus for driving CCFLs. The starting voltage adjustment circuit includes a zener diode (710), a thermal resistor (720), and a voltage dividing resistor (730) connected in series between a buck converter, a resonant boost converter, and ground. The starting voltage adjustment circuit also includes a control chip (740) which includes pins, of which one is connected between the thermal resistor and the voltage dividing resistor and outputs a constant voltage, and another is connected between the voltage dividing resistor and ground. The thermal resistor has a voltage drop thereacross varying with the temperature. The starting voltage adjustment circuit adjusts an input voltage to the resonant boost converter, thereby adjusting the starting voltage to the CCFLs according to variations in temperature.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kuan-Hong Hsieh, Wei-De Bao
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Patent number: 7208887Abstract: A ballast for a gas discharge lamp comprising a first circuit portion for providing power to a lighting load and a second circuit portion for processing data exchanged with a communication link, the first circuit portion receiving power from an AC main supply for conversion to a form suitable to supply power to the lamp, and the second circuit portion having a power supply supplied from the AC main supply, the power supply being coupled at the input of the AC main supply to the first circuit portion, further comprising a first protection circuit coupled in series with the AC main supply for protecting the first and second circuit portions in the event of an electrical circuit failure leading to an overcurrent condition, the power supply for the second circuit portion being coupled such that it is protected by the first protection circuit; further comprising a second protection circuit disposed in series with the first circuit portion and providing protection only in the event of electrical failure leading toType: GrantFiled: December 14, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Donald R. Mosebrook, Dragan Veskovic
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Patent number: 7208888Abstract: The lighting device comprises at least one emitter (10) of white light (9) produced by an initial radiation (1) and a secondary radiation (2), an electronic control circuit (11) to control the lighting, and a communication circuit (12). The electronic circuit (11) controls power supply of the light emitter to emit a modulating light signal (3, 4, 31, 36) of said initial radiation according to a communication signal (13). Said modulating light signal is designed to be received by a light signal receiver (18) sensitive to the initial radiation (1). A lighting installation comprises a power supply line, at least one lighting device (8) and at least one electrical apparatus (95, 96) connected to a receiver (18) comprising a sensor (19) sensitive to the initial radiation (1).Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2003Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SASInventors: Jean-Louis Lovato, Vincent Minier, Virginie Collomb, Roland Moussanet, Michel Barrault
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Patent number: 7208889Abstract: A particle accelerator system for producing a charged particle beam having pulses of charged particles that have different energy levels from pulse to pulse. The system enables independent adjustment of the RF power delivered to first and second accelerating sections thereof without adjustment of the RF power generated by an RF source. Such independent adjustment enables the RF power provided to the first accelerating section to be maintained at a level appropriate for optimal particle capturing therein and for producing a tightly bunched beam of particles having different energy levels from pulse to pulse, while enabling the RF power provided to the second accelerating section to be varied in order to vary the energy levels of the charged particles of the charged particle beam from pulse to pulse.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2003Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Scan Tech Holdings, LLCInventors: Alexandre A. Zavadtsev, Gary F. Bowser
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Patent number: 7208890Abstract: A particle accelerator system, including apparatuses and methods, that is configurable through repositioning of shorting devices therein to operate at different charged particle beam currents while maintaining optimum transfer of electromagnetic power from electromagnetic waves to one or more accelerating sections thereof, and reducing or eliminating reflections of electromagnetic waves. The particle accelerator system includes at least two accelerating sections and an electromagnetic drive subsystem with portions of the electromagnetic drive subsystem being interposed physically between the accelerating sections, thereby making the particle accelerator system compact. The electromagnetic drive subsystem includes, among other components, a 3 dB waveguide hybrid junction having a coupling window in a narrow wall thereof which is shared by the junction's rectangular-shaped waveguides.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2003Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Scan Tech Holdings, LLCInventors: Alexandre A. Zavadtsev, Gary F. Bowser
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Patent number: 7208891Abstract: A variable speed drive with a boost converter is provided for a chiller system driven by an induction motor. The boost converter can be a diode or thyristor rectifier followed by a boost DC/DC converter or a three-phase pulse width modulated boost converter. The boost converter provides a boosted voltage to the DC link, which results in a boosted voltage being applied to the induction motor by the inverter of the variable speed drive.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: York International Corp.Inventors: Ivan Jadric, Harold Robert Schnetzka
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Patent number: 7208892Abstract: A floor care appliance is provided with an improved power management system for controlling the total amount of current provided to at least a first and a second load device of an appliance. The power management system is comprised of a microprocessor, an alternating current voltage source, a voltage regulating circuit, a clamping circuit, at least two load devices, and a MOC and a triac for each of the at least two load devices. The clamping circuit outputs a fixed voltage of 5.7 volts during the positive portion of the ac cycle and a fixed voltage of ?0.7 volts during the negative portion of the ac cycle. The fixed voltages are input to a microprocessor which utilizes these inputs to control the average voltage and the amount of time the current is turned on to each of the at least first and second load devices.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2003Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: The Hoover CompanyInventors: Aaron P. Tondra, Evan A. Gordon, Adam C. Sclafani
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Patent number: 7208893Abstract: A motor driving control device includes a motor, a switch unit that controls driving of the motor, a current detection resistor that outputs a detection voltage indicating a current of the motor, a comparator that compares the detection voltage with a target current value, an on signal generating unit that generates an on signal, a polarity of which is changed for each interval of predetermined time, and a control unit that has the comparator, a holding circuit receiving the on signal to change a circuit state. When a change in polarity of the on signal is detected, the holding circuit holds the circuit state such that the switch unit is turned on and a current is supplied to the motor. When the comparator detects that the current of the motor is increased to the target current value, the holding circuit holds the circuit state such that the switch unit is turned off.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2006Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shigeru Furuki
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Patent number: 7208894Abstract: The present invention is an electric vehicle power system that uses multiple permanent magnet motor/generators connected in series or parallel and multiple battery step switching. Motor, torque and speed are controlled by steps in series connection and then in parallel connection. Smooth acceleration, regeneration and current control are provided by delaying stepping from one battery step to the next until the next step is fully engaged. Transients are limited to the effect of one battery step by using rectifier shunt switching. Multiple motors provide acceleration torque at low speed in series connections and at cruising speeds in parallel connection. Regenerative deceleration is provided in the opposite manner. Battery depletion is averaged by flipping ends of a battery bank. Controls are provided with normal foot controls and a speed setter. A separate deceleration pedal or lever may be used.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Inventor: John L. Earle
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Patent number: 7208895Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a rotating electromagnetic machine. The rotating machine, such as a permanent magnet motor or hybrid switched reluctance motor, includes a stator having a plurality of phase windings and a rotor that rotates relative to the stator. A drive is connected to the phase windings for energizing the windings. A controller outputs a control signal to the drive in response to inputs of demanded torque, rotor position and/or speed. Control methods include calculating a scaled torque demand from the received torque demand to obtain substantially constant torque over a range of motor speeds, calculating an optimal dr-axis injection current using a cost function and a starting method that switches from speed control mode to torque control mode at a predetermined rotor speed or at predetermined start-up timing intervals.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.Inventors: Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz, Prakash B. Shahi, Michael I. Henderson
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Patent number: 7208896Abstract: An electric jack load balancing method and device for reducing the difference in load carried by each jack of a pair of electric jacks while adjusting the attitude of a platform. The device includes a controller configured to reduce the difference in load carried by each jack of a pair of electric jacks. The method includes monitoring the power draws of the jack motors of the pair of electric jacks, comparing the ratio of the power draws of the jack motors to a predetermined desirable power draw ratio, and when the jack motor power draw ratio differs from the desirable power draw ratio, modifying the operation of the jacks in such a way as to decrease the difference between their actual power draw ratio and the predetermined desirable power draw ratio.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Innovative Design SolutionsInventors: Robert M. Ford, John P. Manfreda, Mark J. Woloszyk, Shawn P. Haley
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Patent number: 7208897Abstract: A system for operating a barrier system such as a garage door, gate or fence. A DC motor is connected to and operates a barrier drive. A power amplifier is configured to receive power signals from a power supply and to output modulated DC signals to the DC motor. A controller implements an intelligent closed-loop motion control algorithm to control the power amplifier according to a non-linear motion profile. A feedback sensor provides status signals to the controller to determine position or speed of the barrier.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Linear CorporationInventors: Robert Hotto, Paul D. Kahn, Lambert A. Ling
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Patent number: 7208898Abstract: Method and apparatus for control object manipulation from an initial position to a final position. A jerk control profile describes a near time-optimal jerk trajectory for the control object and includes a sequence of first, second and third sinusoidal pulses of respectively alternating polarity and common absolute magnitude. The area of the second pulse is nominally equal to the combined area of the first and third pulses, and the pulses are preferably symmetric about the respective maximum pulse values. Associated control profiles (control voltage, current, velocity, displacement, etc.) are derived from the jerk control profile. For longer seeks, constant, non-zero jerk segments are inserted into the profile between the pulses, during which control voltage is maintained near saturation. The control object preferably comprises a transducer in a data storage device and the jerk control profile is stored in a memory location of the device.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: The Board of Regents for Oklahoma State UniversityInventors: Chad Andrew Stoecker, Eduardo Akira Misawa, Clyde Everett Goodner, III
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Patent number: 7208899Abstract: An emergency-stop device provided in a robot system, a machine tool or the like, arranged to promptly detect failure of a circuit through which an emergency stop signal is supplied to an CPU, without stopping the robot system, the machine tool or the like, to improve reliability. When at least one of emergency stop switches is opened, a CPU #1 or #2 issues an emergency stop command through one of input circuits, so that a switch SW10 or SW20 is opened by an output circuit #1 or #2 to emergency-stop the system. Switching means #1, #2 are opened separately, at appropriate intervals, and change of output of each photo coupler is recognized. In this manner, it is checked that open/closed-state outputs related to contacts C11 and C21/C12 and C22, each connected to one of the input circuits, indicate an open state. If regarding any of the contacts, change of output of the corresponding photo coupler is not recognized, the system is stopped and an action such as causing a buzzer and displaying of an alarm is taken.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2006Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Fanuc LtdInventors: Yoshiki Hashimoto, Yoshikiyo Tanabe, Nobuo Chino
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Patent number: 7208900Abstract: An industrial robot including a manipulator, a control unit for controlling the manipulator, and a portable operating unit for teaching and manually operating the robot. The portable operating unit is adapted for wireless communication with the control unit and includes an operator control. The invention increases the safety by ensuring that the operator is within the specified operating area.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2002Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: ABB ABInventors: Erik Carlson, Jan Endresen, Snorre Kjesbu
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Patent number: 7208901Abstract: A control method for controlling a speed of a movable machine element of a numerically controlled industrial processing machine with jerk limitation is described. The processing machine can be, for example, a machine tool, a production machine and/or a robot. A travel path of the movable machine element is first decomposed into a plurality of sequentially arranged, interpolatable travel sections. Jerk profiles are then determined for the interpolatable travel sections, which are modified with a parameter-dependent shape function. The modified jerk profiles provide a filter action that can be represented by bandpass filters having blocking frequencies. The blocking frequencies of the bandpass filters are selected so as to substantially correspond to characteristic frequencies of the machine element. The control method significantly improves the machine dynamics without sacrificing accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Uwe Ladra, Elmar Schäfers
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Patent number: 7208902Abstract: A digital speed controlling apparatus includes: a target speed calculator that calculates a target speed of a driven conveyor belt, based on a sampling time; a current speed calculator that calculates a current speed of the conveyor belt, based on displacement and a difference of a sampling time; a target speed determining unit that determines whether a target speed is smaller than a predetermined value; a speed corrector that replaces the current speed with a set value, when the target speed is smaller than the predetermined value and also when the current speed is the minimum unit displacement per the sampling cycle; a speed error calculator that calculates an error between a replaced set value and the target speed; and an automatic controller that controls the drive motor based on a speed error.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2006Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Jun Yamane
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Patent number: 7208903Abstract: In one coordinate system of arbitrary rectangular coordinate systems including a coordinate system in which the position of a stator is fixed, a coordinate system in which the position of a rotor is fixed, and a coordinate system which rotates at a rotational frequency which is n times (n is an integer which is not 0 or 1) that of the rotor, a filter on any other coordinate system is defined. Further, driving of a motor is controlled by utilizing this filter. As a result, a coordinate transformation operation need not be individually performed with respect to control variables.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2006Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideo Nakai, Hiroki Ohtani, Yukio Inaguma, Katsuhiro Asano, Hideto Hanada, Masaki Okamura
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Patent number: 7208904Abstract: A controller for motor activation providing accurate and repeatable position changes by pressing and releasing a push button switch. Repeatable position changes are made in an advance direction by triggering a digital counter for a predetermined number of cycles of a reference clock signal. Backlash in retard motion of the motor is reduced by similarly asserting a retard motor input for an amount of time determined by another digital counter with a following advance correction made automatically after the retard signal is applied, by applying a predetermined retard-advance movement amount, as again counted by a digital counter. The advance binary amount, the retard binary amount and the retard-advance binary amount of set through binary switch inputs to respective counters to count the respective time periods (TG3, TG1, and TG2).Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Inventors: Dina M. Lewis, legal representative, Clarence A. Lewis, deceased
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Patent number: 7208905Abstract: The driving method of the present invention is a driving method to drive a stepping motor driven by a predetermined driving pulse, by the servo driving method, and is characterized in that a predetermined sampling period is set, and the generation condition of the driving pulse to drive the stepping motor is set at the sampling periods. Thereby, the stepping motor can be driven while the most suitable driving condition is determined at the predetermined sampling periods. That is, since the driving condition of the stepping motor can be changed at the sampling periods, even when the stepping motor driven by the driving pulse is the driving source, appropriate servo control can be realized.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc.Inventor: Kazuhiro Shibatani
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Patent number: 7208906Abstract: A switched reluctance drive is supplied from a power source. The phases of the machine are controlled by a current controller which uses an excitation strategy to minimize the supply current drawn for a particular output. The strategy alternates the excitation between two phases for a given time until the rotor moves to a desired position. A method of starting a switched reluctance motor having a stator with at least two phases, a moveable part, and a position transducer includes determining from transducer output a plurality of phases that are available to produce force in a desired direction, energizing a first phase of the available phases for a predetermined time period that is independent of the transducer output, and energizing a second phase of the available phases after energization of the first phase is initiated.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Switched Reluctance Drives LimitedInventors: Michael James Turner, Paul Andrew Sykes
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Patent number: 7208907Abstract: A system and method of restarting a switched reluctance motor after a cycling of power provided to the motor is provided that includes receiving at the motor a power-off signal followed by a power-on signal, determining a rotational speed of a rotor, and energizing a stator only when the rotational speed of the rotor is determined to be less than a threshold speed.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Shop Vac CorporationInventors: Neil N. Norell, James M. Robitaille, Mark E. Baer
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Patent number: 7208908Abstract: A method of controlling a power converter (258) of a synchronous machine drive system (100) determines position and speed of a rotor (350) of the synchronous machine (300); regulates a current vector relative to a reference frame, having a direct-axis component and a quadrature-axis component, the regulating step selectively causing the current vector to lag a quadrature axis of the machine (300); and outputs a command signal to the power converter (258) as a function of the regulating step. According to one implementation, this process creates higher total torque and maintains supply voltage within a maximum level during a high speed range of the machine.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventor: Cristian E. Anghel
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Patent number: 7208909Abstract: A circuit for inhibiting a protection device of a motor includes first, second, and third comparators and an inhibit signal generator. The first comparator is operable to determine if a motor current signal associated with the motor exceeds a starting threshold to identify a starting state of the motor. The second comparator is operable to determine if the motor current signal exceeds an inrush threshold to identify a transition from the starting state to an inrush state of the motor. The third comparator is operable to determine if the motor current signal falls below a running threshold to identify a transition from the inrush state to a running state of the motor. The inhibit signal generator is operable to deassert an inhibit signal for inhibiting the protection device responsive to the third comparator identifying the running state.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey J. Simon
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Patent number: 7208910Abstract: A method, computer-readable code, and controller are provided for configuring a cycle-skipping control system having two or more cycle skippers connected to a common multi-phase AC (alternating current) power source to drive a variable frequency load. One or more circuit architectures (modified relative to a baseline circuit architecture) are provided. The modified circuit architectures enable at least some interconnections not enabled by the baseline circuit architecture when connected between the phases of the power source and the load phases. A respective firing sequence is generated to be applied to a plurality of power switches to the two or more cycle skippers with a modified circuit architecture for implementing a desired mode of operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2006Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ajith K. Kumar, Bret D. Worden, Emil Nikolaev Nikolov
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Patent number: 7208911Abstract: A method, computer-readable code, and controller are provided for controlling a cycle-skipping control system having at least one cycle skipper connected to a multi-phase AC (alternating current) power source to drive a variable frequency load. A respective firing sequence is generated to be applied to a plurality of power switches in the cycle skipper for implementing a desired mode of operation. The stream of pulses may be arranged to form a grouping of two or more closely adjacent pulses over a time interval, wherein each pulse grouping contributes a desired spectral power over the time interval, and further wherein each pulse grouping enables to spread the power over the time interval as compared to a single pulse having the desired spectral power, thereby reducing harmonic components in currents supplied by the power source.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2006Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ajith K. Kumar, Bret D. Worden, Emil Nikolaev Nikolov
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Patent number: 7208912Abstract: A method is provided for inductively charging a rechargeable battery of a portable device in a vehicle via a primary circuit that includes a primary inductive coil, a secondary circuit that includes a secondary inductive coil, and a rectifying circuit electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery. A primary coil is energized with a supply voltage. A frequency of the supply voltage is varied. A peak voltage of the primary circuit is detected. The frequency of the supply voltage is adjusted to a respective frequency associated with the peak voltage.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Riad Ghabra, Qingfeng Tang
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Patent number: 7208913Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic device and a control method, in which operating conditions can be changed according to the type of battery. A CPU 41 reads from a memory a corresponding zoom speed set value, a brightness set value, or a strobe charging time set value according to the type of battery, supplied from a battery type determination mechanism 12, a detected voltage of the battery, supplied from a battery voltage detection section 81, and a detected ambient temperature of the battery, supplied from a temperature detection section 91. Based on these set values, the CPU 41 controls the zoom speed of the zoom mechanism 45, controls the brightness of a display screen 62, and controls the strobe charging time of a strobe mechanism 72. The present invention can be applied to an imaging device driven by a battery.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2003Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Katsunori Ogawa
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Patent number: 7208914Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting the remaining discharge time of a battery are provided. The method includes measuring a dynamic parameter of the battery, obtaining a discharge current of the battery, measuring a voltage of the battery and obtaining a temperature of the battery. The remaining run time of the battery is predicted as a function of the measured battery dynamic parameter, the discharge current, the measured battery voltage, the battery temperature, a full charge battery dynamic parameter and an estimated capacity of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2003Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.Inventor: James K. Klang
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Patent number: 7208915Abstract: A constant-current battery charger includes a power supply for supplying a charge current to a secondary cell, and a current monitor for monitoring a charge current being supplied to the cell. A controller is included for varying the charge current in accordance with the monitored charge current. The controller calculates a current difference between a predetermined target current and the instant charge current, and generates a demand of varying the charge current at a first charge rate when the current difference is out of a predetermined range, and varying the charge current at a second charge rate when the current difference is within the predetermined range. The controller generates the demand repeatedly at regular or varying intervals for varying the charge current. The first charge rate is set to be higher than the second charge rate in order to make a rapid charging until it comes close to the target current.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.Inventors: Atsumasa Kubota, Tatsuya Miwa, Masaki Ikeda, Naoki Shimizu
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Patent number: 7208916Abstract: Numerous features and improvements currently related to a portable computing and data collection system are presented. It will be appreciated, however, that although the features disclosed herein are disclosed in connection with a small, portable hand-held system, these features can also be used singly or in combination with a variety of other computing or battery powered devices. Disclosed features include an improved battery pack containing a unique battery temperature-based sensing system, a modular radio system having an antenna board, a radio frame designed to accept any of a variety of different radio boards, a sealed hand-held personal computing system, a light transmissive window that also serves as a door providing access to the interior of the device, and a unique compact flash card implementation. Embodiments containing various combinations and relations of these features in a portable computing system are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Intermec IP Corp.Inventors: Darrell L. Boatwright, Ryan R. White, Rickey G. Austin, Kraig D. Brody
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Patent number: 7208917Abstract: A serial charger with the function of automatic change of charging speed for NiCd/NiH batteries is provided where the different charging modes for multi-speed (four speed) charging process, two speed charging process or two speed charging process in two charging phases can be achieved by use of the speed-changing principle with a low power consumption of an exchange power unit. The finished charging time of each battery varies inversely as the number of the detected batteries to be charged. No matter whether the charging voltage is variable or constant, the charging current varies automatically to achieve the speedy charging process or the normal charging process even under low power consumption. Accordingly, an exchange power unit can be reduced in size and built in the charger so that the charger is convenient to carry and the finished charging time can be adjusted automatically according to the demand of battery consumption of customers.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Inventor: Fu-I Yang
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Patent number: 7208918Abstract: An inverter device is mounted on the rotating electric machine body The inverter device includes a module unit having a converter circuit and a control unit that controls the operation of the converter circuit. The converter circuit is configured by connecting a plurality of the following series circuits in parallel, each of the series circuits includes a P-channel MOS semiconductor device disposed at a higher potential side and an N-channel MOS semiconductor device disposed at a lower potential side which are electrically connected in series. An electric power that is supplied from a battery or an electric power that is supplied to the battery is controlled.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Shinji Shirakawa, Mutsuhiro Mori, Masamitsu Inaba, Tatsumi Yamauchi, Masahiro Iwamura, Keiichi Mashino, Masanori Tsuchiya
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Patent number: 7208919Abstract: Provided is a digitally-controlled linear regulator having noise-shaped component selection. The digitally-controlled linear regulator has a regulated-voltage sensor, a comparator module, a quantization module, and an impedance switching network. The regulated-voltage sensor is operably coupled to sense an output voltage of the digitally-controlled linear regulator to produce a sensed output voltage. The comparator module is operably coupled to compare the sensed output voltage with a reference voltage at a predetermined clock rate to produce a digital regulation signal. The quantization module is operably coupled to quantize the digital regulation signal to produce a quantized regulation signal. The impedance switching network is operably coupled to convert a source voltage into the output voltage of the digitally-controlled linear regulator based on the quantized regulation signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Sigmatel, Inc.Inventor: Marcus W. May
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Patent number: 7208920Abstract: A buck/boost converter having an input and an output, a switching cell with a switch between the input and the output, and a selector selectively configuring the switching cell into at least two configurations from among the following: a parallel chopper configuration, a series chopper configuration, or an inductive-storage chopper configuration, the cell using the same switch in all the configurations. The converter has a single switch for various modes of operation of the converter.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLCInventor: Hugo Jorquera Fuentes
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Patent number: 7208921Abstract: A switch mode power supply in which the switching frequency is controlled by an oscillator having a nominal frequency, and having an error amplifier to provide an output signal which represents departure of the power supply output from a nominal value, and which functions by adjusting the frequency of the oscillator to a frequency which is higher or lower than the nominal frequency according to the value of the error amplifier output signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: International Rectifier CorporationInventor: Mike Walters
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Patent number: 7208922Abstract: The invention focuses on a voltage transformer (VT) that includes at least two transformer stages (VT I, VT II), each of them with an input connection and to each of which an input subvoltage UEI, UEII is attached and added together they form an input voltage UE, and each of them with an outlet connection where an output subvoltage UAI, UAII is attached to each outlet, the total forming an output voltage UA. In order to prove that a concentration of electrical power of several stages is possible with or without a transformer, as well as to improve the efficiency and lower the cost, it is planned to attach a positive output subvoltage UAI at the first outlet of the transformer stage (VT I) with reference to a ground potential (P) and to attach a negative output subvoltage UAII with reference to this ground potential (P) at the outlet of the second transformer stage (VT II), whereby the sum of the individual output subvoltages UAI, UAII is the output voltage UA.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Inventor: Reinhard Kalfhaus
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Patent number: 7208923Abstract: A multiple-output power device has a plurality of regulators for outputting regulated voltages; a plurality of power terminals for supplying an input voltage to the respective regulators; and a plurality of output terminals for outputting regulated output voltages from the plurality of regulators to the outside.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masashi Horimoto
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Patent number: 7208924Abstract: The invention intends to provide a technique that achieves a sufficient phase margin with ease. The circuit includes a power supply circuit that is formed with a phase compensating resistor and a phase compensating capacitor, between a second input terminal of a differential amplifier and a low supply voltage. Thereby, the first pole frequency in the overall gain is determined by the first pole frequency in the voltage-dividing resistor stage in the Bode diagram for the pole/zero compensation, which is shifted to a lower frequency. Also, the zero point cancels the first pole frequency in the differential amplifier stage, which reduces the phase delay to secure the phase margin.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2003Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignees: Renesas Technology Corporation, Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Toyoshima, Masahiko Nishiyama
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Patent number: 7208925Abstract: A method, circuit, and system for providing a power good signal for a voltage regulator are described. The voltages of the two input pins to an error amplifier within a voltage regulator may be compared to determine if the error amplifier is operating in the linear range. If it is determined the error amp is operating in the linear range, then the voltage regulator is operating properly, and the power good signal may be set to a high level.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Intel CorporationInventor: Bruce W. Rose
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Patent number: 7208926Abstract: A switching signal modulation circuit includes a switching control circuit having an ON time control terminal and an OFF time control terminal, the switching control circuit capable of adjusting respectively separately ON time and OFF time of a switching signal using values of resistors externally attached respectively to the ON time control terminal and the OFF time control terminal; a spread signal generating circuit operable to output a spread signal; an ON time setting resistor connected between the ground and the ON time control terminal of the switching control circuit; an OFF time setting resistor connected between the ground and the OFF time control terminal of the switching control circuit; a first weight resistor operable to vary the frequency and the duty of the switching signal, the first weight resistor connected between an output of the spread signal generating circuit and the ON time control terminal of the switching control circuit; and a second weight resistor operable to vary the frequency aType: GrantFiled: November 17, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Cosel Co., Ltd.Inventor: Nakada Mitsuo
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Patent number: 7208927Abstract: The present invention introduces methods and circuits to provide a soft start for a switching regulator. A feedback voltage from output terminal is monitored and used to regulate the bias current of the regulator's error amplifier. The present invention also enables a smooth transition from the soft start to normal operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.Inventor: James H. Nguyen
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Patent number: 7208928Abstract: A power converter for coupling an energy source to a load device comprising a selectively coupled output stage to deliver energy from an energy source to a load device, a controller coupled to the output stage, an output stage, a capacitive element coupled to the output terminals, a rectifying element, and a switch responsive to a control signal from the controller. The rectifying element and switch are coupled to the inductive and capacitive elements. The controller is responsive to input signals for generating the control signal to open the switch in a first state and close the switch in a second state. The input signals to the controller produce one or more output voltages across the output terminals, an input voltage across the input terminals, a selectable reference voltage and a feedback signal measured with respect to the inductive element.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2001Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: The Board of Trustrees of the University of IllinoisInventors: Dragan Danilo Nebrigic, Milan Marcel Jevtitch, Vladimir Gartstein, William Thomas Mllam, James Vig Sherrill, Nicholas Busko, Peter Hansen