Patents Issued in October 2, 2007
  • Patent number: 7276859
    Abstract: A ballast (20) for powering at least one gas discharge lamp (52) from a three-phase AC voltage source (30) comprises a three-phase rectifier circuit (200), a high frequency filter capacitor (300), a high frequency inverter (400), and a three-phase EMI filter (500). Three-phase EMI filter (500) comprises a common-mode EMI inductor (510), a Y-capacitor (540), and a plurality of X-capacitors (550,560,570). Common-mode EMI inductor (510) comprises three magnetically coupled windings (512,514; 522,524; 532,534) each of which is, preferably, split into two equal winding sections. Ballast (20) and three-phase EMI filter (500) provide substantial cost and performance benefits in comparison with existing approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventor: Grigoriy A. Trestman
  • Patent number: 7276860
    Abstract: An electrodeless lighting system includes: a resonator which is installed at an exit of a wave guide for guiding microwave generated from a magnetron and making light pass and microwave resonate therein; a bulb positioned in the resonator and having a luminous portion filled with a luminous material emitting light by the microwave energy and a shaft portion integrally extended from the luminous portion; a resonance control member disposed inside the resonator and having a height controlled according to a position of the luminous portion of the bulb and the entire length of the resonator so as to make optimum resonance of the microwave; and a reflector positioned around the resonator for reflecting light emitted from the bulb. Accordingly, the electrodeless lighting system can facilitate light distribution for achieving lateral lighting and a wider range of lighting and simultaneously improve lighting efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Joon-Sik Choi, Yong-Seog Jeon, Byeong-Ju Park, Hyun-Jung Kim, Ji-Young Lee, Yun-Chul Jung
  • Patent number: 7276861
    Abstract: A system drives one or plurality of LEDs regulating their brightness by controlling LEDs average current or voltage. The system includes a switching power converter and an integrated digital regulator with at least one of electrical, thermal and optical feedbacks. The regulator is constructed as a hysteretic peak current mode controller for continuous mode of operation of the power converter. For discontinuous mode of operation of the power converter a pulse averaging sliding mode control is being used. Average LED current is measured by integrating LED pulse current at off time and hysteretically adjusting on time of the power switch. Input battery is protected from discharging at abnormally low impedance of the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Exclara, Inc.
    Inventors: Anatoly Shteynberg, Harry Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 7276862
    Abstract: A stabilizer circuit for a high-voltage discharge lamp is provided. The stabilizer comprises an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter; a rectifying unit; a power factor correction (PFC) circuit; a buck converter; a commutator; an igniter; a high-voltage discharge lamp; a current detector; a voltage detector; an igniter voltage controller for receiving the voltage output from the igniter and controlling the voltage when abnormality in the high-voltage discharge lamp occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Media Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Byung-Sun Kim, Kyung-Soo Seok
  • Patent number: 7276863
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an LED array driving apparatus and a backlight driving apparatus using the same which enables regulation of analogue and PWM dimming for each channel and LED of a backlight, thereby allowing uniform luminance and color in all regions of backlight. The invention converts power with a constant voltage regulator to provide PWM pulse type power to the LED array having a plurality of LEDs connected in series. It regulates the on/off interval of the constant voltage regulator via a PWM dimmer to adjust the duty ratio of the PWM pulse. Further, it regulates the level of the driving current detected at the LED array via the feedback controller and analogue dimmer to apply to the constant voltage regulator by feedback process, thus regulating the amplitude of the PWM pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Yun Lee, Ju Young Gong
  • Patent number: 7276864
    Abstract: A computing circuit computes a target value of a current to be supplied to a discharge lamp and generates a pulse control signal for superpose a pulse current. Furthermore, the computing circuit controls a current control circuit so that a pulse current is superposed on a lamp current at a predetermined cycle and power supplied to the discharge lamp is kept constant. For that purpose, the computing circuit lowers a DC current level of the lamp current when a pulse current is superposed on the lamp current, and exercises control so that an integrated amount of power at a predetermined cycle is equalized to a predetermined integrated amount of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Media Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Haruna, Masaru Shimizu, Kouji Kitou, Tetsunosuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7276865
    Abstract: A power output apparatus includes two motor generators, a DC power supply, a relay, three inverters and a control CPU. One of the motor generators includes three-phase coils. The DC power supply is connected via the relay between respective neutral points of the three-phase coils. When the sum of respective powers of the motor generators is zero, the control CPU generates a signal SE at L level for rendering the relay OFF to output the generated signal to the relay, and generates signals PWMC1, PWMC2 and PWMI3 for driving the other motor generator by electric power generated by the one motor generator to output the generated signals to the inverters respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoe Ochiai
  • Patent number: 7276866
    Abstract: A moving control apparatus comprising: a moving member provided movably at least in one direction; a driver having a movable element connected to the moving member and a stator to displace the movable element; a controller which energizes the driver to cause the movable element to generate a thrust; a position detector which detects a relative position between the movable element and the stator in the driver; a measurement unit which drives the movable element of the driver and measures an induced voltage generated in the driver; and a correction calculator which calculates a thrust ripple correction value to correct a thrust ripple as a variation of a thrust generated in the driver from the measured induced voltage and the relative position in the driver, and multiplies a command to the driver by the correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tosiya Asano
  • Patent number: 7276867
    Abstract: A PWM controller for a direct current brushless motor comprising first and second windings includes a motor drive circuit receiving pulse width modulation control signals to drive the first and the second windings; and a control circuit having inputs coupled to the first and second windings to control a pulse width modulation control circuit such that pulse width modulated control signals are provided to the motor drive circuit only when the voltage across the first and second windings are at a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Andigilog, Inc.
    Inventors: Jade H. Alberkrack, Robert Alan Brannen
  • Patent number: 7276868
    Abstract: A soundboard for a hollow-body stringed instrument made of layers of carbon-fiber and resin material surrounding a core of one or more layers of constant-thickness plywood, veneer (thinly sliced wood) or paper. Additional shaped layers are provided to produce a desired pattern of stiffness in the soundboard. The soundboard may be tuned by attaching additional masses to a surface of the soundboard. A method of making and tuning the soundboard of the invention is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventor: Jimmie B. Allred, III
  • Patent number: 7276869
    Abstract: In a case where a motor cannot follow up a position designated by a position instruction in a velocity operation mode, when an operation is performed in a constant power operating region, or when a voltage is saturated, a limit is put on a position deviation in a motor control apparatus. A correction position deviation amount, by which the motor cannot follow up the position instruction, is subtracted from the position deviation. Further, a motor position-within-one-revolution deviation in the subtracted correction position deviation amount is corrected in a region in which the characteristic of torque is improved. Consequently, the followingness of the motor to the motor position-within-one-revolution in the position designated by the position instruction is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Tsutsui, Jyun Sawaki
  • Patent number: 7276870
    Abstract: The arrangement as overload protection for the mains voltage (U) comprises an electric motor (1), a compression unit having a compressor (2), a mains voltage-monitoring unit (3), a device for reducing the load on the motor (1) and a control arrangement (4). The control arrangement (4) is connected to the mains voltage-monitoring unit (3) and to the device for reducing the load on the motor (1) such that the motor (1) is disconnected from the load as soon as the mains voltage (U) falls below a predetermined, first threshold value. The load on the motor (1) comes from the pressure difference between the inlet (E) and the outlet (A) of the compressor (2), which is driven by the motor (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventor: Roland Weigel
  • Patent number: 7276871
    Abstract: A fault protection system and method of fault protection for permanent magnet machine (PMM)-based systems that utilize machine neutral decoupling (MND) to shut down a shorted winding and/or to isolate a short-circuit fault to prevent damage to a permanent magnet machine and to any downstream components are provided. The invention may be used for high-reactance and/or high current PMM-based systems, such as are commonly found in industrial and aviation applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Evgeni Ganev, Madan L. Bansal, William H. Warr
  • Patent number: 7276872
    Abstract: A power window device for lowering and raising window glasses. A window switch is operated to move a corresponding window glass. A motor drives the window glass when the window switch is operated. An ECU is provided for each window glass to control the motor in accordance with the operation of the window switch. An engine switch shifts positions to drive an engine. A control signal generator generates a signal to validate or invalidate control of the ECU over the motor. A control circuit determines that a signal wire connecting the ECUs to the control signal generator is in an unexpected condition when a signal cannot be received. The control circuit overrides the signals generated by the control signal generator when the signal wire is in an unexpected condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kozo Nishimura, Seiichi Watanabe, Masahiro Kasai, Takashi Kikuta, Yukio Isomura
  • Patent number: 7276873
    Abstract: A fault-handling system for a 2-phase motor. When an electric motor is used for power assist in a steering system in a vehicle, malfunctions can cause loss of assist, and detectable vibration. The invention utilizes a 2-phase motor in such an application, and implements alternate modes of operation when certain malfunctions occur, thereby maintaining the assist function in situations wherein the function would otherwise be lost or reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas James Gallagher, Hong Jiang, Sergei Kolomeitsev, John R. Suriano, Joseph P. Whinnery
  • Patent number: 7276874
    Abstract: A movement controlling unit performs movement control of a head toward a target track on a magnetic disk medium driving a head actuator, and a position controlling unit performs position control of the head actuator in accordance with proportional integral calculations such that a deviation of a head position relative to a track center is eliminated when the moving head arrives at the target track. A gain retaining unit retains an integral gain of the proportional integral calculations in an increased state during a predetermined retention time from the start of the position control, and a gain switching unit switches the increased integral gain smoothly to the original integral gain when the retention time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Aoki, Shunji Saitoh
  • Patent number: 7276875
    Abstract: A multimode integrated modulation circuit for controlling the fan rotating speed mainly includes a voltage regulating circuit, an integrated modulation circuit and a fan motor driving circuit. The voltage regulating circuit is used to receive an external voltage signal and regulate the external voltage signal to a suitable range of workable voltage and then a first output voltage is generated. The integrated modulation circuit that is electrically connected with the voltage regulating circuit is used to receive a PWM signal with a duty cycle and a second output voltage is accordingly generated depending on the product of the duty cycle of PWM signal and the first output voltage. The fan motor driving circuit is used to receive the second output voltage and decide the fan motor rotating speed depending on the second output voltage. Therefore, the present invention substantially adopts low-price circuit elements to integrate voltage regulating mode and PWM mode for controlling the fan rotating speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Adda Corporation
    Inventors: Chao-Ching Chen, Hsin-mao Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7276876
    Abstract: A synchronous motor driving apparatus having a power converter which applies AC variable voltages having variable frequency to a synchronous motor includes a pulsating current application unit for applying pulsating current to the synchronous motor and a magnetic pole position presumption unit. The magnetic pole position presumption unit detects two current values ?Idcp1 and ?Idcp2 on the positive side and two current values ?Idcn1 and ?Idcn2 on the negative side of the pulsating current and presumes the magnetic pole position of the synchronous motor on the basis of difference between change rates of ?Idcp1??Idcp2 and ?Idcp1??Idcp2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daigo Kaneko, Yoshitaka Iwaji, Kiyoshi Sakamoto, Tsunehiro Endo, Tomofumi Okubo
  • Patent number: 7276877
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provide a state observer control system 600 for a motor 106 that uses an extended Kalman filter 330 to predict initial rotor position and afterwards accurately predict rotor position and/or speed under variable types of loading conditions. A control system model 300 is generated that allows variable setting of an initial rotor position to generate estimated rotor position and speed as outputs. The control system model 300 includes an EKF (extended Kalman filter) estimator 330, speed controller 322, a current controller 324, and a variable load component 310. During operation, EKF estimator 330 estimates rotor speed 327 and position 333 based on reference voltages 402, 404 and currents 1325 generated by speed and current controllers 322, 324 and input from frame transformers 326, 328.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Qiu, Hassan A. Kojori, Bin Wu
  • Patent number: 7276878
    Abstract: Amperage control of a power tool motor is provided by pulse width modulation of current from a power supply. The pulse width modulation may be varied according to the determined motor current and measured power supply voltage. The power supply may include a battery such as lithium ion or nickel cadmium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Phillips, Julie L. Jones
  • Patent number: 7276880
    Abstract: The invention relates to devices and/or methods for determining the availability of electrical energy in two-energy accumulator vehicle electric systems, in which both energy accumulators, particularly batteries, can be connected to one another via a D.C. converter. The required electric energy is generated by means of a generator that is driven by a vehicle engine. The customary consumers are connected to a first consumer battery circuit (10, 24). Additional consumer, for example, high-current consumers, particularly the starter, are connected to the second battery circuit (11, 29). A control device, for example, a controller that is equipped with a microprocessor determines the availability of the electric energy and occurring faults while evaluating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, DaimlerChrysler AG, VB Autobatterie GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Kneifel, Sigmar Braeuninger, Christof Gross
  • Patent number: 7276881
    Abstract: A protection method for preventing battery cells from over-discharging and being overcharged, a control circuit, and a battery unit are provided. In the protection method, when a set signal “1” is supplied to a set terminal, a flip-flop outputs “1”. The gate of a discharge control FET then becomes “1”, so that the discharge control FET is OFF regardless of a discharge control signal supplied from a voltage monitor circuit. When a reset signal “1” is supplied to a reset terminal, the flip-flop outputs “0”. The discharge control FET is then switched on and off in accordance with the output of a discharge control circuit of the voltage monitor circuit. In this manner, battery cells connected to an electronic device do not over-discharge, even when they are left unused for a long period of time. Thus, the battery unit can be prevented from deteriorating and shortening the life thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masafumi Okumura, Shigeo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7276882
    Abstract: Switching devices control the rectification and flow of alternating current power from a source such as an alternator to a load such as a battery in response to both the voltage of the battery and a minimum selected time period that is selected to eliminate or reduce an imbalance between various phases or polarities in possible current carrying paths. The selected time period may be constant or a predetermined function of variables such as the speed of the alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventors: Floyd M. Minks, Jeffrey K. Minks
  • Patent number: 7276883
    Abstract: A boost converter in which the conventional boost diode is replaced by a bidirectional normally conducting semiconductor switch. The circuit may be implemented so the bidirectional switch is self-driven by connecting a low voltage Schottky diode between a first gate-source terminal pair. An inrush current protection function may be provided by utilizing a second gate-source terminal pair to turn the switch on and off independent of the self-driven operation in response to predetermined excessive load current conditions. The inrush current protection function is implemented by use of a second Schottky diode connected between the second gate and source terminals, and an RC circuit connecting the second gate terminal to the return rail for the converter power output transistor with an externally controlled switch connected to the RC circuit to control the bias according to the load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Marco Soldano
  • Patent number: 7276884
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter includes a first transformer and a second transformer each having primary windings and secondary windings respectively having first windings and second windings, a second switch connected to both ends of a first series circuit, a fourth switch connected to both ends of a second series circuit, a third series circuit being connected to both ends of the second switch and having the second winding and a second DC power supply, a fourth series circuit being connected to both ends of the fourth switch and having the second winding and the second DC power supply, a reactor connected to both ends of a series circuit having the secondary windings, and a control circuit turning ON/OFF the first and third switches with a phase difference of a half cycle and turning ON/OFF the second and fourth switches with a phase difference of a half cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Tsuruya
  • Patent number: 7276885
    Abstract: A PMU that includes LDOs is provided. The PMU also includes, for each LDO, a corresponding reference circuit that provides a reference voltage for the LDO. Further, the PMU includes a central bias circuit that provides a reference current to each of the voltage reference circuits. Each reference circuit includes a delay circuit, a counter, a binary-weighted resistor ladder, and switches coupled to the resistor ladder. In each reference circuit, the resistor ladder provides the corresponding reference voltage from the received reference current. Further, the counter controls the switches to “step up” the reference voltage in a well-defined manner during the power-up sequence. The reference voltage is stepped up from a minimum voltage to a final reference voltage by one least significant bit at each clock pulse. Also, the delay circuits are employed to control when each reference voltage begins to increase from the minimum voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Madhavi Tagare
  • Patent number: 7276886
    Abstract: A dual output buck-boost power converter operates with a single inductor to achieve high efficiency with automatic or inherent load balancing. Switches associated with the opposite polarity outputs are driven based on feedback signals, with one feedback signal being a reference voltage and another feedback signal being related to an opposite polarity output. The opposite polarity feedback signal is provided to a comparator with a reversed polarity to achieve a simple balanced control that maintains polarity outputs. The power converter delivers power to each output with each switching cycle and uses a single inductor to achieve high efficiency performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Russell M. Kinder, Marco Corsi
  • Patent number: 7276887
    Abstract: A power supply circuit includes first and second power supply circuits. The first power supply circuit has a first voltage generation circuit and the second power supply circuit has a second voltage generation circuit and an operational amplifier. When a load is in a low power consumption mode, only the first power supply circuit operates to output a first voltage to the load. When the load is in a normal operation mode, the second power supply circuit also operates to output a desired power supply voltage based on a reference voltage generated by the second voltage generation circuit. In this case, the operational amplifier controls not only the second power supply circuit but also the first power supply circuit. Thus, a desired power supply voltage is output to the load regardless of whether the first voltage is greater than the desired power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Miki, Mitsuhiro Kanayama
  • Patent number: 7276888
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including a precharge circuit for a DC/DC boost converter which includes a reference current circuit with a MOSFET transistor (MP4) that has a gate connected with the gate of the DC/DC boost converter's power MOSFET transistor (MP5) to form a current mirror. The precharge circuit works to approach the output voltage to the supply voltage prior to the converter startup. An included regulation circuit adjusts the gate potential at the power MOSFET transistor (MP5) and at the MOSFET transistor (MP4) in the reference circuit in response to a reduction of the drain-source voltage of the power MOSFET transistor (MP5) due to precharging load capacitance, in a sense to keep the precharge current through the power MOSFET transistor (MP5) constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Thiele, Kevin Scoones, Thomas Keller, Franz Prexl
  • Patent number: 7276889
    Abstract: A detect/modulate circuit comprises a plurality of modulate resistors connected to a main resistor of a bandgap in series, and each module resistor is connected to a transistor switch in parallel, and each transistor switch is connected to a logic controller, and the logic controller is connected in sequence to a plurality of detect circuits and fuses corresponding to the quantity of the transistor switches. When the detect circuit receives a low-to-high power-on reset signal to detect whether or not the fuse is fused, the detect circuit will issue a voltage level signal “0” for the fuse being not fused or a voltage level signal “1” for the fuse being fused to the logic controller. The logic controller converts the received voltage level signal according to a logic conversion table to control the electric connection of the corresponding transistor switch, so as to fine turn the main resistance of the bandgap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Phison Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Wee-Kuan Gan, Chih-Jen Hsu
  • Patent number: 7276890
    Abstract: Disclosed are bandgap circuits that use a resistive divider circuit to modulate the gate voltage of a reference source transistor. The reference voltage transistor is modulated at the base by a voltage that varies inversely with temperature. In this fashion, high sheet resistance poly resistors and diffusion resistors can be used that have very low process variation and minimize the use of die space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Ajay Kumar
  • Patent number: 7276891
    Abstract: To augment the temperature dependence of the voltage used to detect temperature in a semiconductor integrated circuit device having a temperature detection function, the operating power supply voltage of the semiconductor integrated circuit device needed to be enhanced. It becomes possible for such a semiconductor integrated circuit device to generate a voltage of great temperature dependence, even under a low operating power supply voltage, by including: a temperature-to-current converter which outputs a first electric current proportional to temperature; a current generator which outputs a second electric current having extremely small temperature dependence; a current subtracter which outputs a third electric current proportional to a differential current obtained by subtracting the second electric current from the first electric current; and a current-to-voltage converter which converts the third electric current into a voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Watanabe, Ryo Nemoto, Yoshiaki Yazawa
  • Patent number: 7276892
    Abstract: A spectrum analyzer includes an array of frequency-selective bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonators each tuned to a predetermined different resonant frequency. The spectrum analyzer further includes a broadband BAW resonator that generates acoustic energy when connected to a signal source. An acoustic coupling transmits the acoustic energy generated by the broadband BAW resonator to the frequency-selective BAW resonators so that one of the frequency-selective BAW resonators will generate an electrical output signal if the acoustic energy transmitted from the broadband BAW resonator contains spectral components at its predetermined resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Wireless IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: William Richard Trutna, Jr., Steven Rosenau
  • Patent number: 7276893
    Abstract: A range-changing circuit includes an array of graduated impedances in serial relationship, and a voltage sensing and limiting switch across one of said impedances. The switch limits the voltage across said one of the impedances in response to a voltage sensed by the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Keithley Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Banaska, Wayne C. Goeke
  • Patent number: 7276894
    Abstract: A cradle motion unit for positioning a test head. The test head has a support structure which provides three degrees of freedom, a first lock, and a second lock. The three degrees of freedom are prevented by actuation of the first lock and second lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: inTEST Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher L. West
  • Patent number: 7276895
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for establishing a distance between a test head and a peripheral. The apparatus includes a frame to which one of either a test head or a peripheral is docked. The frame has a linear unit which moves the frame towards or away from a docking surface of either the test head or the peripheral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: inTEST Corporation
    Inventor: Christian Mueller
  • Patent number: 7276896
    Abstract: The invention provides a test apparatus for testing a circuit unit (101) to be tested having a test system (100), a control bus (102) for transferring control data (106), an address bus (103) for transferring addressing data (107) and a data bus (104) for exchanging test data (108) between the test system (100) and the circuit unit (101) to be tested. A voltage generating device (200) connected between the test system (100) and the circuit unit (101) to be tested serves for generating a predeterminable operating voltage output signal (202, 202a-202n) for the voltage supply of the circuit unit (101) to be tested in a manner dependent on a control signal (211) that is provided by the test system (100) and fed via the control bus (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Manfred Moser, Daniel Mysliwitz, Erwin Thalmann
  • Patent number: 7276897
    Abstract: An inductive position sensor for position sensing includes a transmitter coil and a receiver coil, the receiver coil generating a receiver signal when the transmitter coil is excited by an alternating current source. A moveable coupler element modifies the inductive coupling between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil so that the receiver signal is sensitive to the coupler element position. For example, the coupler element may rotate about a common central axis of the transmitter coil and receiving coil. In further examples, a reference coil is configured so that a provided reference signal is substantially insensitive to variations in the angular position of the coupler element. A ratio between the receiver signal and the reference signal is sensitive to the coupler element position, but substantially insensitive to common mode factors that influence the reference signal and receiver signal to a substantially equal degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: KSR International Co.
    Inventor: Joong K. Lee
  • Patent number: 7276898
    Abstract: An apparatus having a position sensor for determining a position of a moveable component is provided. The apparatus comprises a housing, a positioning member, a shaped magnetic pole, a magnet, and a hall effect sensor. The positioning member, the shaped magnetic pole, the magnet, and the hall effect sensor are each disposed within the housing. The positioning member is operably coupled to the moveable component and moveable relative to the housing. The magnet induces a magnetic flux in the shaped magnetic pole. One of the shaped magnetic pole and the magnet move in conjunction with the positioning member. The hall effect sensor is adapted to sense an intensity of the magnetic flux in the shaped magnetic pole and generate an output corresponding to the sensed intensity such that the position of the moveable component can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Woodward Governor Company
    Inventor: James D. Rosplock
  • Patent number: 7276899
    Abstract: A transducer comprising a fixed part and a mobile part which are mounted for relative motion about a given axis. On the shaft of the rotor part there is fitted a magnetized element consisting, for example, of an annular element diametrically magnetized at a single pair of poles. Mounted on the fixed part is a pair of Hall-effect sensors which are set angularly staggered by 90° about the axis of rotation of the shaft. The Hall-effect sensors generate corresponding output signals having values that vary in a continuous range. The values of the output signals generated by the transducer uniquely identify the relative positions of the aforesaid fixed and mobile parts with respect to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Campagnolo Srl.
    Inventor: Gianfranco Guderzo
  • Patent number: 7276900
    Abstract: A magnetic characteristic inspecting apparatus including a plurality of disk rotating devices or a plurality of magnetic heads include a unit for switching output signals of write signal production units or allocating the output signals to the magnetic heads, a unit for switching signals read from the magnetic heads or allocating the read signals to measurement resources, and a unit for selecting any of the disk rotating devices synchronously with which the measurement resources will perform measurement. The write signal production units and measurement resources are shared among inspections of the plurality of disk rotating devices or the plurality of heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Takahashi, Masami Makuuchi, Ritsuro Orihashi, Shinji Homma
  • Patent number: 7276901
    Abstract: For monitoring a sensor using differential voltage evaluation for detecting a short circuit to ground and/or to supply voltage UB, a first resistor and a second resistor R1, R2 are assigned to the sensor, a sum voltage is determined from voltages UP, UM at terminals of the sensor, the sum voltage is compared to supply voltage UB, a ratio a of determined sum voltage to supply voltage UB is then calculated, and depending on the value for the ratio a, the occurrence of a shunt at the positive terminal and/or negative terminal of the sensor is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Klein, Tobias Ernst
  • Patent number: 7276902
    Abstract: Methods and systems for spatially resolved spin resonance detection in a sample of material are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods and systems for spatially resolved impedance measurements in a sample of material. The disclosed methods and samples can be used in screening of plurality of biological, chemical and material samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Intematix Corporation
    Inventors: Xiao-Dong Xiang, Haitao Yang, Gang Wang
  • Patent number: 7276903
    Abstract: A method for obtaining NMR (=nuclear magnetic resonance) spectra of quadrupolar nuclei having spin I>½ using magic angle spinning (=MAS) in solid powders and transfer of coherences from a neighboring nucleus with spin S= 1/2 to single- or double-quantum transitions of quadrupolar nuclei having spin I>½, is characterized in that the transfer of coherences occurs through a combination of scalar and residual dipolar splittings. With the inventive method improved NMR-spectra can be obtained from which parameters can be extracted, which can be related to the structure and internal dynamics of solids containing the quadrupolar nuclei.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
    Inventors: Adonis Lupulescu, Sasa Antonijevic, Geoffrey Bodenhausen
  • Patent number: 7276904
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating T1-weighted images are provided. The method includes acquiring a pair of single-shot fast-spin-echo (SSFSE) images S1 and S2. The method further includes generating a T1-weighted image ST1w based on S1 and S2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Reed F. Busse, John M. Pauly, Greg Zaharchuk
  • Patent number: 7276905
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking or otherwise determining positioning of an intracorporeal device is provided. The invention includes a device that may be inserted into a subject and tracked based on an imageable tag included with the device. The imageable tag is at least partially formed of a substance whose nuclei precess at a Larmor frequency different than the Larmor frequency of hydrogen when subjected to a polarizing magnetic field. MR data may be acquired from the imageable tag using an RF receiver tuned to the Larmor frequency of the substance and used to track movement of the device within the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignees: General Electric Company, The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Eric R. Tamaroff, John Pile-Spellman, Lei Feng, Stephen M. Dashnaw, Robert L. DeLaPaz
  • Patent number: 7276906
    Abstract: A gradient coil for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (10) includes a primary coil (16) defining an inner cylindrical surface (60), and shield coil (18) or coils defining a coaxial outer cylindrical surface (62). Coil jumps (74)connect the primary and shield coils (16, 18). The coil jumps (74) define a non-planar current-sharing surface (64) extending between inner and outer contours (66, 68) that coincide with the inner and outer cylindrical surfaces (60, 62), respectively. The coil (16, 18, 74) defines a current path that passes across the current sharing surface (64) between the inner and outer contours (66, 68) a plurality of times. Optionally, some primary coil turns (70) are electrically interconnected to define an isolated primary sub coil (P2) that together with a second shield (S2, S2?, S2?) enables a discretely or continuously selectable field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Shmaryu M. Shvartsman, Michael A. Morich, Gordon D. DeMeester
  • Patent number: 7276907
    Abstract: Provided is a magnetic resonance imaging system in which the posture of a magnet can be easily adjusted and the adverse effect on images can be suppressed. The magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a magnet that induces a static magnetic field, and legs that support the magnet and stand on a placement surface. The leg includes a posture adjustment mechanism that adjusts the posture of the magnet and an attenuation pad that attenuates a vibration applied through the placement surface into a vibration whose frequency is different from the resonant frequency of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Seiichi Kitagawa, Takami Sato
  • Patent number: 7276908
    Abstract: In the MRI apparatus of the present invention, a reinforcing member is firmly provided so as to enhance the rigidity strength of two connecting tubes connecting upper and lower cryostats, thereby suppression of vibration caused by a gradient magnetic field coil and suppression of variation of static magnetic field can be realized. Further, in the MRI apparatus of the present invention, the reinforcing member is provided in upper and lower portions of the connecting tubes of the vacuum vessels, thereby suppression of vibration caused by the gradient magnetic field coil and suppression of variation of static magnetic field can be realized. Further, in the MRI apparatus of the present invention, the reinforcing member is provided in upper and lower parts of the vacuum vessels, thereby suppression of vibration caused by the gradient magnetic field coil and suppression of variation of static magnetic field can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Medical Corporation, Hitachi Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihito Suzuki, Hirofumi Motoshiromizu, Kunihiro Takayama, Yoshihide Wadayama, Akira Kurome, Shin Hoshino
  • Patent number: 7276909
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to intensify the strength of a magnetic field to be applied to a subject. An auxiliary coil is interposed between a body coil incorporated in a magnet assembly included in an MRI apparatus and the subject. When RF pulses are transmitted from the body coil, an induced current flows through the auxiliary coil and generates a magnetic field. The magnetic field excites the subject near the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Kenichi Nukihara, Takashi Ishiguro