Patents Issued in October 25, 2007
  • Publication number: 20070247091
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for driving a DC motor (15) under conditions of a controlled average current. An inductive element may be arranged for connection in series with the DC motor. A switch (14) is preferably coupled to the inductive element for connecting and disconnecting a terminal of the inductive element from the voltage source. A diode may be arranged for connection in parallel with a combination of the inductive element and the DC motor arranged in series, with the appropriate polarity so that current circulating through the inductive element circulates through the diode when the switch disconnects the terminal from the voltage source. A capacitor is arranged for connection in parallel with the motor, for limiting a resulting voltage over the motor or for storing charge depending on the embodiment of the invention. A device for measuring a current through the motor is provided, and a device (13) for controlling operation of the switch dependent upon the measured current in the motor is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventor: Sergio Maiocchi
  • Publication number: 20070247092
    Abstract: A drive control device for a brushless motor having a rotor and a plurality of coils with different phases can be included in an image reading apparatus or an image forming apparatus. The drive control device may include a detection target configured to rotate in synchronization with rotation of the rotor and having formed thereon a pattern representing modulation information, a detector configured to read the pattern and to output modulated output signals, a demodulator configured to demodulate the modulated output signals and to obtain demodulated information, and a controller configured to control rotation of the rotor on the basis of at least the demodulated information obtained by the demodulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Makoto Komatsu, Hiroshi Koide
  • Publication number: 20070247093
    Abstract: The disclosed system, device and method for an electric motor generally includes a hollow shaft having a first end and a second end. An electromagnet is coupled to the hollow shaft, where the electromagnet is suitably configured to emit an electromagnetic field, and where the electromagnet is disposed between the first end and the second end of the hollow shaft. A drum substantially encases the electromagnet, where the drum is coupled to rotate about an axis of the hollow shaft in response to the electromagnetic field emitted by the electromagnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventor: Keith Brock
  • Publication number: 20070247094
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of speed control selection for an electronically commutated motor comprising the following steps: (a) a motor controller receives an input signal T from a speed control selection circuit; (b) the motor controller retrieves a corresponding value for a motor running speed S from a comparison list correlating the input signal with the motor running speed, which list has been stored in the motor controller in advance, by searching the comparison list for the input signal T; and (c) the motor controller controlling a motor M to run at the motor running speed S, achieving the purpose of the speed selection. This method allows for from 2 to 256 speed choices with a single signal wire only. Such a circuit structure has the advantages of high integration, simple wiring, low cost, good performances, low failure rate, higher number of optional speeds, and simpler and more practical control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: ZHONGSHAN BROAD-OCEAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Aiqian PENG, Maosen ZENG, Wenwei HUANG
  • Publication number: 20070247095
    Abstract: A hand-held power tool has an electric drive motor having a drive shaft and a tool connected to the drive shaft and rotatably driven by the drive shaft. The drive motor has a control device that has correlated therewith at least a first operating curve and a second operating curve. The control device operates the electric drive motor in idle according to the first operating curve and operates the electric drive motor under load according to the second operating curve. The first operating curve covers the low power range at low speed and the second operating curve covers a large power range at high speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Kai-Ulrich Machens, Heinrich Leufen, Markus Herzog
  • Publication number: 20070247096
    Abstract: A communication protocol is employed between a movable barrier operator and an associated wall button using the traditional signaling wires connecting them. Implementing the communication protocol using the existing signaling wires also allows backward compatibility with the traditional push wall buttons that have a physical contact switch. In one embodiment, the communication protocol allows bi-directional communication between the moveable barrier operator and the wall button. The bi-directional embodiment of the protocol allows further communications, such as handshaking, signal confirmation and more advanced control between the wall unit and the barrier operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Ping Hung Tang, Gallen Ka Leung Tsui, Philip Y.W. Tsui
  • Publication number: 20070247097
    Abstract: In an electric power tool and a method for operating an electric power tool, a torque limitation of an electric motor reacts when a load moment exceeds a predetermined threshold and in which an output request is carried out by means of a switch. A supply of current to the motor is interrupted when a criterion for the reaction of the torque limitation is detected based on a speed detection of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Hartmut Seiler, Dirk Lamprecht
  • Publication number: 20070247098
    Abstract: Apparatus, and associated method, for controlling intermittent operation of a windshield wiper assembly. A user interface, formed of a pair of momentary contact switches, is used to set the repetition rate of intermittent operation of a wiper blade and, subsequently, when desired, to terminate the intermittent operation. A first of the switches is actuated two times, with the time period separating the actuations defining the repetition rate of the wiper blade when in the intermittent mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: John Pawlicki, Jason Sattler
  • Publication number: 20070247099
    Abstract: Control systems and speed estimation systems are presented having a transient-based speed estimation system that provides a rotor speed estimate based on a measured speed-related motor transient signal, and a transient excitation system which selectively modifies at least one switch control signal to excite the measured motor transient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Haihui Lu, Thomas A. Nondahl, David M. Messersmith
  • Publication number: 20070247100
    Abstract: This method for controlling a motorized awning installation comprises: during the deployment of a cloth, a step of supervising the tension of the cloth, and a step of rolling up the cloth on a tube initiated automatically in response to a drop in the supervised tension, and stopped automatically before a perceptible folding of the arms for guidance of the cloth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Serge Bruno, Pierre-Emmanuel Cavarec
  • Publication number: 20070247101
    Abstract: An actuator driving device includes: an actuator made of a shape metal alloy having a property that a predetermined shape is memorized in advance, and that the predetermined memorized shape is recovered when the actuator is heated to a predetermined temperature; an applier for applying, to the actuator, a pulse current or a pulse voltage at least having a predetermined current value or a predetermined voltage, and a predetermined duty ratio to heat the actuator; and a determiner for determining the current value or the voltage value, and the duty ratio of the pulse current or the pulse voltage to be applied to the actuator by the applier, wherein the determiner is operative to determine the pulse current or the pulse voltage having: the current value larger than a current value of a constant current required for displacing the actuator by a predetermined targeted displacement amount, or the voltage value corresponding thereto; and the duty ratio of making an applied current amount smaller than an applied curr
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Noda, Shigeru Wada
  • Publication number: 20070247102
    Abstract: Provided is a motor having a combination of a plurality of coil pairs and a permanent magnet, wherein these coil pairs are supplied with an excitation signal from a drive circuit so as to be excited at alternate opposite poles, and the permanent magnet is constituted such that the plurality of polar elements is disposed to become alternating opposite poles; the drive circuit is constituted to supply an excitation signal having a prescribed frequency to the coil pairs, and relatively move the coil pairs and permanent magnet with the magnetic attraction—repulsion between the coils and permanent magnet; and the drive circuit is constituted to supply to the coil pairs a waveform signal corresponding to the pattern of the back electromotive voltage to be generated in accordance with the relative movement between the coil pairs and permanent magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventor: Kesatoshi Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20070247103
    Abstract: A method for controlling power supply to an induction motor is disclosed. A baseline reactive power on an induction motor during operation is initially measured. A new reactive power for offsetting the baseline reactive power is determined. Appropriate capacitance is then applied on the power lines for the induction motor in order to supply the new reactive power to the induction motor. After the appropriate capacitance has been added to the induction motor, an instant reactive power on the induction motor is measured. A determination is made whether or not the instant reactive power on the induction motor is equal to or less than the new reactive power. If the instant reactive power is equal to or less than the new reactive power, the instant reactive power on the induction motor is continuously measured. If the instant reactive power is greater than the new reactive power, the added capacitance is removed from the power lines, and a new baseline reactive power is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: John Lottman Shudde, Igmar Avendano
  • Publication number: 20070247104
    Abstract: An AC power controller system applies three-phase AC operating power to an induction motor that drives a non-linear mechanical load. A primary low pass filter is connected in series between branch phase conductors and a power controller of the type that uses gate-controlled switching thyristors for controlling power to the motor. KVAR capacitors connected between the power controller and the induction motor phase windings form a secondary low pass filter across the controller output terminals. The primary and secondary low pass filters isolate the power controller and induction motor with respect to spurious noise and harmonics generated by local as well as remote sources, and also improve real power transfer efficiency from the power generating source to the induction motor by transforming the effective impedance of the power source and induction motor load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: Power Conservation LTD.
    Inventor: Filiberto Garza
  • Publication number: 20070247105
    Abstract: A battery charger is provided. The battery charger may be designed as a versatile, portable battery charger addressing the most common needs of power for a consumer. The battery charger preferable can provide DC power, AC power, vehicular battery charging capability, portable battery charging capability, and other power providing capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Krieger, Kevin Ellsworth
  • Publication number: 20070247106
    Abstract: When detecting an abnormality in some storage batteries, the hybrid vehicle control system separates the faulty storage batteries and leads the sound storage batteries to a high SOC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Youhei Kawahara, Akihiko Emori, Manabu Jyou, Yoshinori Aoshima
  • Publication number: 20070247107
    Abstract: For charging a rechargeable hybrid battery pack, a first cell stack coupled in parallel with a second cell stack of the hybrid battery pack are pre-charged in parallel. The cell stack to first complete the pre-charge phase, is selected to receive a normal charge with a constant current while the non-selected one of the cell stack continues to receive the pre-charge. The first cell stack and the second cell stack receive the normal charge in the selected sequence. Upon completion of the normal charge for each cell of the hybrid battery pack, the first cell stack and the second cell stack are trickle-charged in parallel to complete the charging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Ligong Wang, Stephen Sterz
  • Publication number: 20070247108
    Abstract: A new portable battery charger for jump-starting an engine of a disabled vehicle. The inventive device includes a main housing having a motor and a generator disposed therein. The main housing includes gasoline and oil intake portions in communication with the motor. A pair of cables extend outwardly from one of the side walls of the main housing. The pair of cables are in communication with the generator. The pair of cables each have a spring-loaded clip disposed on free ends thereof for operative coupling with positive and negative terminals of a battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventor: Audley Brown
  • Publication number: 20070247109
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for improving the efficiency of a battery supplied power supply system. More particularly, a method and system is provided for improving the voltage regulation efficiency for a system in which the input voltage that is to be regulated may vary widely. In the techniques disclosed, the voltage supply that is utilized for the drive control circuitry of the voltage regulators is varied in relation to variations in the input voltage. Thus in one embodiment, the voltage supply that is utilized for the circuitry that drives a control terminal of the output transistor of the regulation circuitry may be varied in relation to variations in the input voltage. For example, an inverse relationship may be established between the input voltage level and the voltage level that is used for the gate drive circuitry that controls the gates of regulator output transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Shiguo Luo, John Breen
  • Publication number: 20070247110
    Abstract: A charger configured to charge a battery includes a battery storage chamber configured to accommodate the battery; an opening formed on a first end of the battery chamber in a depth direction, the battery being attached to and detached from the battery storage chamber through the opening; a charger-side terminal provided on the battery storage chamber, the charger-side terminal being connect to and disconnect from a battery-side terminal of the battery stored in the battery storage chamber; and an attaching and detaching mechanism configured to prevent the battery from moving toward the opening while the battery is stored in the battery storage chamber and the battery-side terminal and the charger-side terminal are connected and to eject a second end of the battery in the depth direction from the opening by disconnecting the battery-side terminal and the charger-side terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Eiji Kaji, Norio Ito
  • Publication number: 20070247111
    Abstract: A charger configured to charge batteries includes a housing including a plurality of battery storage chambers accommodating the batteries, the battery storage chambers being aligned in a horizontal direction such that depth directions of the battery storage chambers are parallel to each other; openings formed on first ends of the battery chambers in the depth direction, the batteries being attached to and detached from the battery storage chambers through the openings; and charger-side terminals provided on the battery storage chambers, the charger-side terminals being connect to and disconnect from battery-side terminals of the batteries stored in the battery storage chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Eiji Kaji, Hideki Kikuchi, Masayuki Enari
  • Publication number: 20070247112
    Abstract: The present invention aims to solve the inconvenience in carrying assembled lithium-ion battery packs with large capacity to embark of the aviation apparatus. An assembled lithium-ion battery pack with large capacity comprises at least two boxes which can be connected as a single unit or disassembled as multiple boxes; each said box including multiple lithium-ion batteries connected in series or parallel, its total lithium equivalent is smaller than transportation safety bar; the multiple boxes being connected in series of parallel; one of said multiple boxes including an identification chip and alarm device controlled by said identification chip; other multiple boxes including an identity mark chip; said identification chip storing the identity mark of said identity mark chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: SWIT ELECTRONIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiangsu Yu, Weiguang Xiao, Yelin Chen
  • Publication number: 20070247113
    Abstract: An electrical tool assembly includes a battery-operated electrical tool, which has a housing and a charging terminal mounted in an insertion portion of the housing, and a charger, which has a receptacle fitting the contour of the insertion portion for the insertion of the insertion portion in a predetermined direction, a charging terminal for receiving the charging terminal of the electrical tool to charge the rechargeable battery of the battery-operated electrical tool, and a recessed seat for holding a body of the housing of the electrical tool in position upon insertion of the insertion portion into the receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: MOBILETRON ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wen-Hai Huang
  • Publication number: 20070247114
    Abstract: A computer comprises a computer chassis, a communication connector provided on a surface of the chassis to mate the computer with a docking station, and first and second battery packs. The first battery pack is adapted to mate to the surface of the chassis. The first battery pack has a shape that defines a volume in which at least a portion of the docking station can be inserted to mate to the communication connector. Further, the first battery pack has a first battery pack connector. The second battery pack has a shape that corresponds to the volume defined by the first battery pack's shape. The second battery pack has a second battery connector that mates to the first battery connector when the second battery pack is mated to the first battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Bobbykin Makwana, Paul Doczy, Memphle-Zhihong Yin, John Wozniak
  • Publication number: 20070247115
    Abstract: Providing a charge condition adjusting apparatus, which can shorten a time for equalization of each charge in unit cells, a low-voltage CPU selects each smallest unit cell in the each cell block, which has each smallest voltage between the both electrodes, from among plural unit cells structuring the cell blocks. The low-voltage CPU controls ON/OFF of a block-discharging switch to connect the both electrodes of each cell block and each block-discharging resistor for discharging the each cell block until the each voltage between the both electrodes of the selected smallest unit cell reaches the target voltage. Successively, the low-voltage CPU controls ON/OFF of a selecting switches and a cell-discharging switch to connect the both electrodes of each unit cell and each cell-discharging resistor to discharge the each unit cell until the each voltage between the both electrodes of the unit cells reaches the target voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Ishikawa, Tsutomu Saigo
  • Publication number: 20070247116
    Abstract: In secondary battery capacity adjustment apparatus and method for an assembled cell unit, the assembled cell unit includes: a plurality of secondary batteries; and a control board on which a capacity adjusting section is mounted, the capacity adjusting section being installed to correspond to each of the secondary batteries and configured to consume an electric power of a corresponding one of the secondary batteries to adjust a residual capacity of the corresponding one of the secondary batteries, the number of the secondary batteries to be capacity adjusted is determined in accordance with a heat radiation quantity of the control board, and the electric power of each of the secondary batteries to be capacity adjusted is caused to have consumed by the corresponding capacity adjusting section, for the determined number of secondary batteries to be capacity adjusted, to adjust a capacity of each of the secondary batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Morita, Atsushi Kawase
  • Publication number: 20070247117
    Abstract: In secondary battery capacity adjustment apparatus and method for an assembled cell unit, the assembled cell unit includes: a plurality of secondary batteries; and a control board on which a capacity adjusting section is mounted, the capacity adjusting section being installed to correspond to each of the secondary batteries and configured to consume an electric power of a corresponding one of the secondary batteries to adjust a residual capacity of the corresponding one of the secondary batteries, a priority order of the secondary batteries to be capacity adjusted is determined in accordance with a mounted position of the capacity adjusting section corresponding to one of the secondary batteries on the control board and an electric power of each of the secondary batteries is caused to have consumed by the corresponding capacity adjusting section in accordance with the determined priority order to adjust a capacity of each of the secondary batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Morita, Takeshi Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20070247118
    Abstract: A method of determining the end of discharge voltage, EDV2 and EDV0 of a battery according to loading current therefrom and the environmental temperature is disclosed. The methods comprises following steps: firstly, charging the battery until it is full and then discharging at a constant current and a first temperature; then plotting the first discharging curve. The battery is then recharged and discharged as above but at a second temperature. And then a second discharging curve is plotted. After that two sets of EDV2 and EDV0 are found from the first and second discharging curve. The resulted known values are then substituted into two empirical equations which are two variables (one variable is discharging current and the other is a temperature dependent variable) empirical equations. Thereafter two equations can be used to obtain the EDV2 and EDV0 for any given temperature and discharge current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventor: Chang-Yu Ho
  • Publication number: 20070247119
    Abstract: The vehicle-use power generation control apparatus regulates an output voltage of a vehicle generator driven by a vehicle engine at a set value by on/off controlling an excitation current flowing through an excitation winding of the vehicle generator The vehicle-use power generation control apparatus includes a rotation detecting circuit detecting a rotational speed of the vehicle generator, and an excitation current control circuit reducing, when the rotation detecting circuit detects decrease of the rotational speed, the excitation current at a rate depending on a rate of the decrease of the rotational speed detected by the rotation detecting circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fuyuki Maehara
  • Publication number: 20070247120
    Abstract: An electric alternator having a rotor, stator and at least one winding in the stator adapted to conduct a current, the machine also having and first and second magnetic circuits around different portions of the winding which may be configured relative to one another to control generated output voltage of the winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Kevin Dooley, Joshua Bell
  • Publication number: 20070247121
    Abstract: A power factor correction controller simultaneously controls several power converters to be operated at a critical conduction mode to improve the overall conversion efficiency and conversion power of the power factor corrector. The controller includes a primary power converter control circuit for feeding back an input voltage signal, an output voltage signal and a primary current signal, and outputting a primary gate control signal for controlling a primary power switch; at least one secondary power converter control circuit for receiving the primary gate control signal and outputting a secondary gate control signal for controlling a secondary power switch; and a phase splitter circuit for receiving the primary gate control signal to control a gate output driving circuit, so that the gate output driving circuit outputs the secondary gate control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Tsai-Fu Wu, Yaow-Ming Chen, Jiun-Ren Tsai
  • Publication number: 20070247122
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a bridgeless rectified power factor corrector circuit and control method thereof. The bridgeless rectified power factor corrector circuit includes a power factor corrector inductor, two diode rectifiers, a control unit, two power MOS switches and an energy-storage capacitor to define a complete booster circuit. Unlike the traditional control method of a bridgeless rectified power factor corrector circuit, the control method of the invention has lower conduction loss and higher conversion efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventor: Ming-Ho Huang
  • Publication number: 20070247123
    Abstract: An integrated boost inverter circuit including at least one inverter stage having series connected high- and low-side switches having a common node. Each switch having an anti-parallel connected diode connected across the switch, which diode can be an external diode or an internal body diode of the switch; at least one inductor connectable in series between a voltage source and the node of the at least one inverter stage; a bulk capacitor connected across the at least one inverter stage; and a load being connectable to the node of the at least one inverter stage, wherein at every switching cycle, when the low-side switch of the at least one inverter stage turns-ON the respective at least one inductor is charged and when the low-side switch turns-OFF, the current in the respective at least one inductor re-circulates through the anti-parallel connected diode of the high-side switch into the bulk capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL RECTIFIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Cesare Bocchiola
  • Publication number: 20070247124
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus and power supply method that are able to decrease the overshoot/undershoot that occurs at the time of power supply voltage switching and enhance the voltage switching speed. Power supply apparatus 100, when in a transient state where output voltage is increased, supplies DAC value DD1 of DCDC register 202, which is the register for switching regulator 400, to LDO DAC 302 in place of DAC value LDO1 of LDO register 201, which is the register for series regulator 300, and LDO DAC 302 of series regulator 300 performs DAC operation while referring to DAC value DD1 of DCDC register 202.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya MIHASHI
  • Publication number: 20070247125
    Abstract: A dc-dc converter comprising a power conversion circuit for converting an input voltage to an output voltage is described. A control circuit is adapted to drive the power conversion circuit so as to produce the output voltage at a predetermined magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: ITM Fuel Cells Ltd.
    Inventors: Anthony John Byrne, Simon Bourne
  • Publication number: 20070247126
    Abstract: An active linear regulator circuit in parallel with a filter capacitor of a switching voltage regulator injects current to a load only when the switching regulator and capacitor cannot supply adequate current to follow high frequency load transients in a manner which is compatible with adaptive voltage positioning (AVP) requirements. control of current injection and determination of the insufficiency of current from the switching regulator and capacitors is achieved by impedance matching of the linear regulator to the switching regulator. The linear regulator thus operates at relatively low current and duty cycle to limit power dissipation therein. By matching impedances and increasing the bandwidth of the switching regulator, filter capacitor requirements can be reduced to the point of being met entirely by packaging and/or on-die capacitors which may be placed close to or at the point of load to reduce parasitic inductance, as can the linear regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Ming Xu, Yuancheng Ren, Fred Lee, Andrew Schmit
  • Publication number: 20070247127
    Abstract: A remote sensing power supply regulator uses high impedance sensing inputs coupled internally to at least one circuit element within an integrated circuit, so as to regulate the voltages produced by the power supply to a level that maintains nominal voltage levels at the internal circuit element within the very large scale integrated circuit. The sense point can be chosen to serve one or a group of on-board load elements that are operationally sensitive to voltage droop and/or ground bounce.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventor: Douglas Lopata
  • Publication number: 20070247128
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting the discharge time of magnetic device are provided. A switching circuit generates a switching signal and an auxiliary signal. The switching signal is used to regulate the switching regulator. The auxiliary signal is used to control the synchronous rectifier. An evaluation circuit generates a timing signal in response to an input signal and the switching signal. The input signal is correlated to the input voltage of the switching regulator. The timing signal is formed for turning off the synchronous rectifier for preventing a reverse current under light load and no load conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventor: Ta-yung Yang
  • Publication number: 20070247129
    Abstract: A power converter including a power switch, an output filter, and a controller. The output filter receives a switched input voltage and produces a filtered power converter output characteristic represented by a state vector. A controller coupled to the power switch and the output filter estimates the state vector of the output filter and controls the power switch by partitioning a state-vector plane into a first region and a second region employing a line passing through a desired output characteristic. The controller turns the power switch on when the estimated state vector lies in the first region and off when it lies in the second region. The steady-state switching frequency of the power converter is controlled by offsetting a state-vector component at a desired switching frequency. To estimate the state vector of the output filter, the controller may advantageously be coupled to the switched input voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventor: Mark E. Jacobs
  • Publication number: 20070247130
    Abstract: An adaptive current reversal comparator for synchronous switching regulator comparison circuit for use in a switching regulator is provided. The comparison circuit includes a voltage offset that is used at least in part to compensate for a propagation delay of the comparison circuit. The switching regulator includes an inductor and a synchronous transistor. The comparison circuit also includes a timing circuit that provides a threshold amount of time and an offset adjustment circuit. The offset adjustment circuit preferably decreases the voltage offset of the comparison circuit when a synchronous transistor control signal transitions to an OFF state more than the threshold amount of time prior to the discharge of an inductor. The comparison circuit also increases the voltage offset of the comparison circuit when the synchronous control signal transitions to an OFF state more than the threshold amount of time following the discharge of the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: Linear Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Jaime Tseng
  • Publication number: 20070247131
    Abstract: A switching regulator is disclosed that is able to operate with low power consumption and able to prevent variation of an output voltage. The switching regulator operates in a PWM control mode and a PFM control mode, and includes a switching unit; an error amplification circuit for amplifying an error voltage between an output voltage and a first reference voltage; a slope circuit for generating a slope signal; a reference voltage generation circuit for generating a second reference voltage for determining a time interval of an ON state in the PFM control mode; a multiplexer for outputting one of the second reference voltage and an output voltage from the error amplification circuit; a comparison circuit for comparing an output voltage from the slope circuit to an output voltage from the multiplexer; and an oscillation circuit for determining a timing of the ON state in the PWM control mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventor: Shohtaroh Sohma
  • Publication number: 20070247132
    Abstract: Configurations provide reduction in the hum and the weak shocks that are produced in audio equipments where electrical power is supplied. Switching electrical power sources include, a rectification element that rectifies a current that is supplied, a switching element that switches the input voltage that has been rectified by the rectification element, an oscillator circuit that oscillates at a specified frequency and drives the switching element by means of oscillation, and a transformer with which the voltage that has been switched by the switching element is input to the primary coil and. wherein an electrical power source output is obtained from a secondary coil. A plurality of capacitors are connected to the conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Hoichi Iwamoto, Hiroshi Emoto
  • Publication number: 20070247133
    Abstract: A voltage generation circuit comprises a reference voltage generation circuit; a differential amplifier; an output node; a P-channel MOS transistor; a first resistor series; a second resistor series; a third resistor series; and a selection control circuit. A reference voltage generated by the reference voltage generation circuit is input to a first input terminal of the differential amplifier. The first resistor series is connected between a drain of the P-channel MOS transistor and the output node. The second resistor series is connected between the output node and a second input terminal of the differential amplifier. The third resistor array is connected between the second input terminal of the differential amplifier and a ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Katsuaki Isobe, Noboru Shibata
  • Publication number: 20070247134
    Abstract: Control apparatus (1) for selectively applying a mains AC electrical supply (3) to an electrical appliance (4) in response to a remote signal received via a cellular telecommunications network comprises a housing (8) within which an electrical socket (14) for providing power to the appliance (4) is integrally formed. An electrical plug top (10) on a cable (12) extending from the housing (8) is provided for coupling to the mains supply (3). A switch circuit (15) under the control of a microcontroller (19) controls the mains supply (3) to the electrical socket (14). A communications circuit (20) which is adapted for communicating with a cellular telecommunications network receives SMS control messages, and the microcontroller (19) is responsive to the SMS control messages for in turn operating the switch circuit (15) to selectively switch the mains supply (3) to the appliance (4). A power supply circuit (28) independent of the mains supply (3) powers the control apparatus (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Liam Ryan, Edward Edmonds, John Curran
  • Publication number: 20070247135
    Abstract: The present invention provides a low-cost current detection device having a magnetic sensor easily placed on a choke coil, wherein assembly and manufacturing costs are reduced and a product is miniaturized. A current detection device including a choke coil for smoothing an input current or an output current and a magnetic sensor 1a built into the choke coil to detect the input current or output current, wherein the choke coil is composed of: a pair of cores 5 provided with an outer magnetic leg 5a constituting a closed magnetic circuit and a center magnetic leg 5b for providing a gap; and an air core coil 6 mounted on the center magnetic leg 5b, and space 6b is provided to a part of winding of the air core coil 6 with the magnetic sensor 1a placed in the gap between the space 6b and the center magnetic leg 5b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: Toko Kabushiki Kaisha a corporation of Japan
    Inventor: Akihiro Koga
  • Publication number: 20070247136
    Abstract: The invention refers to an exchangeable power-supplying unit (200, 300) arranged to supply electric power to a device (100, 400). The power-supplying unit (200, 300) is arranged so as to provide the device (100, 400) with one or several additional functionalities and it can preferably be attached so as to form an integral part of the device (100, 400). The additional functionality is accomplished by one or several processing units (220, 312, 319) contained in the power-supplying unit (200, 300) for pre-processing information, which is subsequently communicated from the power-supplying unit (200, 300) to the device (100, 400).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Marcus Wallmark, Mattias Jonsson
  • Publication number: 20070247137
    Abstract: An apparatus adapted to detect a particle present on a bevel of a wafer. The apparatus includes a substrate support and a sensor housing adapted to receive an edge of the wafer. The sensor housing includes one or more probe electrodes and one or more position sensors. The apparatus also includes a translatable stage coupled to the sensor housing. The translatable stage is adapted to control the distance between the bevel of the wafer and the one or more position sensors. The apparatus further includes electrical circuitry electrically coupled to the substrate support and the one or more probe electrodes and adapted to generate an electric field between the bevel of the wafer and the one or more probe electrodes, detection circuitry electrically coupled to the electrical circuitry, and a processor adapted to process electrical signals and thereby detect the particle present on the bevel of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Harald Herchen, Christopher Beaudry
  • Publication number: 20070247138
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention determine the resonant frequency of a sensor by obtain sensor signals in response to three energizing signals, measure the phase of each sensor signal, and using a group phase delay to determine the resonant frequency. The phase difference between the first and second signal is determined as a first group phase delay. The phase difference between the second and third signal is determined as a second group phase delay. The first group phase delay and second group phase delay are compared. Based on the comparison, the system may lock on the resonant frequency of the sensor or adjust a subsequent set of three energizing signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Donald Miller, Michael Ellis, Mark Allen
  • Publication number: 20070247139
    Abstract: A system for detecting the wiring phase of an unknown phase voltage at a remote location (200) relative to a reference phase voltage (R) at a reference location (100) in an electrical power distribution system having a single phase or poly phase power line (L), comprises a circuit (1, 3, 32) for transmitting a signal (C1) from the reference location (100) to said remote location (200), the signal comprising a characteristic signal pattern (DEL). Moreover, a circuit is provided for detecting at said remote location the characteristic signal pattern (DEL) of the signal (C1) and for determining a first time interval (T1) between the characteristic signal pattern and the occurrence of a reference point (S+) in the unknown phase voltage. A circuit (2, 5 to 9) is provided for determining at said reference location (100) a second time interval (T2) between the characteristic signal pattern and the occurrence of a reference point (R+) in the reference phase voltage (R).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: ENEL DISTRIBUZIONE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Fabio Veroni, Paolo Giubbini
  • Publication number: 20070247140
    Abstract: Apparatus is for processing signals between a tester and devices under test. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes at least one multichip module. Each multichip module has a plurality of micro-electromechanical switches between a set of connectors to the tester and a set of connectors to devices under test. At least one driver is provided to operate each of the micro-electromechanical switches. A method of processing signals between a tester and devices under test is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes connecting the tester and the devices under test with at least one multichip module. Each of the at least one multichip module has a plurality of micro-electromechanical switches between a set of connectors to the tester and a set of connectors to the devices under test. The method includes operating each of the micro-electromechanical switches. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Romi Mayder, Pam Stellmacher, Edmundo Puente, John Andberg