Patents Issued in February 28, 2008
  • Publication number: 20080048591
    Abstract: A power steering apparatus includes an electric motor, a temperature sensor, and a control unit. The electric motor produces an assist steering effort in a steering system. The temperature sensor measures a temperature of a first portion subject to thermal influence of operation of the electric motor. The control unit determines an estimated temperature of a second portion in accordance with a value of a motor current, the second portion being subject to thermal influence of operation of the electric motor. The control unit determines a first upper limit value in accordance with the measured temperature; determines a second upper limit value in accordance with the estimated temperature; limit the motor current to a smaller one of the first and second upper limit values, when determining that the temperature sensor is normal; limit the motor current to the second upper limit value, when determining that the temperature sensor is abnormal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Kenichi HAMADA, Tamotsu Yamaura, Atsushi Matsuoka, Yutaka Makino
  • Publication number: 20080048592
    Abstract: A motor control device has a target speed generating unit for generating a generated target rotational speed, speed detecting units for detecting rotational speeds of each of the plurality of motors, an average speed calculating unit for averaging the detected rotational speeds of each of the plurality of motors to calculate an average rotational speed, a drive command value output unit for outputting a drive command value to each of the plurality of motors based on the generated target rotational speed and the average rotational speed, rotation amount detecting units for detecting the rotation amounts of each of the plurality of motors, an average rotation amount calculating unit for averaging the detected rotation amounts of each of the plurality of motors to calculate an average rotation amount, and drive command value changing units for generating a feedback signal for rotation amount control corresponding to each of the plurality of motors based on the average rotation amount and the detected rotation am
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kensuke Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20080048593
    Abstract: In the m phase brushless motor, n (n<m) phase magnet coil groups are provided with magnetic sensors, while the remaining (m?n) phase magnet coil groups are not provided with magnetic sensors. The drive control circuit utilizes the sensor outputs of the n magnetic sensors to generates n sets of drive signals for the n phase magnet coil groups. The drive control circuit further generates (m?n) sets of drive signals for the (m?n) phase magnet coil groups not associated with the n magnetic sensors, using one or more of the sensor outputs of the n magnetic sensors in generation of each of the (m?n) sets of drive signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Kesatoshi Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20080048594
    Abstract: A method is provided for managing at least one transition in a three-phase BLDC motor describing a cycle including six successive states, wherein the motor obtains first, second and third synchronisation signals. The synchronisation signals are respectively associated with first, second and third coils of the motor. The method includes the following steps, for each current transition associated with the switching of the motor from a current state to a next state: selecting a current synchronisation signal on which the current transition is to appear; detecting the occurrence of the current transition on the current synchronisation signal; and sending, to the motor, at least one current control signal so as to switch the motor from the current state to the next state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Atmel Nantes SA
    Inventor: Eric Tinlot
  • Publication number: 20080048595
    Abstract: A reverse torque, forward commutation motor driver system for a phased motor rapidly decelerates or “brakes” the motor by exciting, in sequence, a complementary excitation signal in each normal commutation state of the forward state machine, thereby providing an active braking effect. After active braking reduces the rotational velocity of the motor below a threshold, a dynamic braking technique can replace the active braking, wherein high-side drivers are set to an opposite voltage as compared to low-side drivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: JiaHong Shu, Tze Ming Jimmy Pang, Larry Robert Hedding, KianKeong Ooi, JuneChristian Ang, Kwee Teck Say, Danny Joe Kastler
  • Publication number: 20080048596
    Abstract: An electric braking apparatus having a conversion mechanism for generating a force for pressing or separating a brake friction member based on a rotational torque generated by an electric motor, wherein a rotor angle position state of the electric motor and a brake process of the brake friction member which is pressed or separated are detected from rotational information of a rotational information obtaining unit, it is detected that the electric motor has reached a predetermined rotational state based on the detected value, and a relationship between a pressure command and the rotor angle position of the electric motor is corrected based on the current value information of the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasufumi KONISHI, Satoru Kuragaki
  • Publication number: 20080048597
    Abstract: A motor driving device includes a brake mode control section for starting, when a brake instruction for a motor, braking of the motor in a reverse brake mode and then switching the reverse brake mode to a short brake mode; a cycle start detection section for receiving a rotation signal and detecting a start of a cycle of the rotation signal for each cycle; and a counter for performing, when the start of the cycle of the rotation signal is detected by the cycle start detection section, a count operation from an initial value. In the motor driving device, the brake mode control section detects that a value of the counter exceeds a threshold and performs switching from the reverse brake mode to the short brake mode with a delay from the detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Shuji Tamaoka
  • Publication number: 20080048598
    Abstract: When starting a brushless motor, if the stop position of the rotor is detected between time t1 and time t2, a start-up excitation pattern in accordance with the rotor stop position is input for an initial energization time Ts1. Afterward, when the energization is stopped, a plurality of signals SL1, SL2, SL3, SL4 are generated in sequence in excitation switch timing signals in accordance with the rotational position of the coasting rotor. From these signals SL1 to SL4, the rotor position is detected using the second and subsequent signals SL2 to SL4 and then the process shifts to ordinary energization switch control. In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to start up a motor in a short time with a simple method so as to obtain a large torque during start-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Shinji Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20080048599
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating rotor angle information for the control of permanent magnet AC motors having sinusoidal current excitation. The disclosed motor drive can provide full load operation at very low speeds including zero speed without the use of a shaft position sensing device. The rotor angle is estimated through injection of high frequency current, and rotor angle is extracted by a signal-conditioning algorithm, which utilizes current amplitude differential to discriminate the rotor angle. Rotor angle magnetic axis orientation (North or South pole) at startup is detected by comparing time average current ripple (at signal injection frequency) content between two different levels of d-axis current injection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Eddy HO
  • Publication number: 20080048600
    Abstract: A motor control circuit for supplying power to a DC motor which drives a mechanism having a driven shaft, the control circuit having a parallel combination of a capacitor and switch in series with the DC motor. When the movement of the driven shaft is obstructed, the motor driver and the switch are synchronized in a manner to first charge the capacitor and then to reverse the voltage generated by the motor driver to momentarily double the voltage applied to the DC motor so that the increased torque of the DC motor is able to overcome the obstruction. The mechanism having a shaft driven by the DC motor may be, for example, an ETC valve or a window regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Charles R. DeJohn
  • Publication number: 20080048601
    Abstract: This invention deals with a barrier operator system comprising a direct current (dc) motor coupled to a barrier, where the dc motor is driven by a string of voltage pulses. The system has a barrier operator that is programmed to determine various qualities including the speed of the motor from a generated voltage and a position of the barrier using the speed. Further, the barrier operator has the capability to adjust the speed of the motor based upon the determined position of the barrier using the speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: THE CHAMBERLAIN GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Gregori
  • Publication number: 20080048602
    Abstract: In an electric or hybrid vehicle drive having an electric machine, which can be operated either as a motor or as a generator, and includes an electronic power system, wherein a power source is connected to a direct voltage terminal of the electronic power system, and the electric machine is connected to an alternating voltage terminal thereof, an inverting, bidirectional DC/DC transformer is connected between the direct voltage terminal of the electronic power system and the power source providing the electric machine with a voltage in the motor mode of the electric machine, which is higher than, or equal to or lower than, the voltage of the power source, and the DC/DC transformer for charging the power source in the generator mode of the electric machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Conrad Rossel
  • Publication number: 20080048603
    Abstract: An integrated control and diagnostics system for a controlled system (e.g., a motor) includes a diagnostics module and a controller coupled to the motor. To optimize operation, the diagnostics information signal is used to modify the control provided by the controller as required. Moreover, the output of the control module is coupled to the diagnostics module so that the health assessment made by the diagnostics module can be based at least in part on the output of the controller. The invention uses a model-based diagnostics approach that allows integration of control algorithms with diagnostics algorithms to intelligently trade off optimizing performance to avert or accommodate failures, and to meet performance requirements in a wide range of applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Frederick Discenzo
  • Publication number: 20080048604
    Abstract: A motor control amplifier for position feedback control is provided utilizing the inherent inductor and/or resistor dynamics of the motor. The motor control amplifier applies a voltage to the motor equivalent to the electrical motor resistance multiplied by the current of the motor, canceling out the electrical motor resistance, and thereby providing position feedback control through motor inductance. A command term/voltage could be added to make the position feedback control relative to a setpoint. Further, a motor control amplifier for feedback control to arbitrary dynamics is provided. The motor amplifier applies a voltage proportional to a wave command signal. The motor amplifier has a sensing component to provide a wave return signal to construct a wave transformer from the electrical motor resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Gunter Niemeyer, Nicola Diolaiti, Neal Tanner
  • Publication number: 20080048605
    Abstract: Switching device for linking various electrical voltage levels in a motor vehicle, in which a drive voltage level has an electric drive machine which may be actuated by a power converter, and a drive energy accumulator which is associated with an intermediate circuit, and in which the drive voltage level is connected to a vehicle electrical system voltage level by an electrical converter. The electrical converter is designed as a coupling circuit which is connected at the drive side to at least one node point of a winding circuit of the electric drive machine and to a voltage potential relative to the intermediate circuit. The coupling circuit is connected at the vehicle electrical system side to the vehicle electrical system via a switching unit which has at least one non-diminishing, finite impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Torsten Franke
  • Publication number: 20080048606
    Abstract: In a system in which current is detected in an inexpensive manner or in a system in which a position detector is omitted, the present invention provides a high-efficiency vector controller for a permanent magnet motor that can minimize current at the same torque even when there is setting error (R?R*) in resistance. Even when a current value commanded for the d-axis is set to zero, a virtual inductance value calculated from a detected q-axis current value is used for output voltage value calculation and phase error estimation calculation; so even if there is setting error (R?R*) in resistance, current can be minimized at the same torque and thereby the present invention can provide a high-efficiency vector controller for a permanent magnet motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Terutaka Endo, Kiyoshi Sakamoto, Daisuke Maeda, Shigehisa Aoyagi
  • Publication number: 20080048607
    Abstract: Provided is a vector control apparatus for an induction motor which is capable of obtaining stable rotation in a short period of time for adjustment even at the time of low-speed operation by increasing the SN ratio of an output voltage to suppress the arithmetic error in the primary angular frequency arithmetic value based on a magnetic flux command value calculated from a circuit constant and an actual measurement of the induction motor even in the case where the rotation velocity of the induction motor is lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaki Kono
  • Publication number: 20080048608
    Abstract: A hybrid battery pack and methods of charging and discharging the same make it possible to manage at least two power sources by one circuit. The hybrid battery pack includes a first power source having a first switching circuit, a second power source connected to the first power source in parallel and having a second switching circuit, a current sensor serially connected to the first and second power sources to sense the currents of the first and second power sources, and a controller to obtain the voltages of the first and second power sources so that the first and second power sources are not over-charged or over-discharged and to calculate the entire capacity of the first and second power sources using the amount of currents obtained by the current sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong Ben LIM, Hong Seok Choi
  • Publication number: 20080048609
    Abstract: A charging device for transferring electrical charge between a variety of sources and clients comprising charging circuitry and electrical leads with magnetically attaching connectors is disclosed. The magnetically attachable leads are used to connect to external batteries or other sources or clients. The charging circuitry may be a buck, boost, or boost/buck switching ASIC or may be a micro-controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Kurt Kuhlmann, Dan R. Matthews
  • Publication number: 20080048610
    Abstract: A battery charger is disclosed to includes a power supply unit for converting AC power supply into DC power supply, and a charging unit, which is detachably connected to the power supply unit and adjustable through a rotary knob to change the length of the battery chambers thereof to fit different sizes of battery cells to be charged by the charging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Jen-Yen Yen
  • Publication number: 20080048611
    Abstract: A method and system for recharging a battery power supply unit is provided. During the recharging of a battery power supply unit for a bicycle electronic device, the power supply unit is electrically disconnected from the electronic device and receives recharging energy from a first power supply circuit of a battery charger. The battery charger comprises a second power supply circuit which, during the recharging of the battery power supply unit, supplies the electronic device. In such a manner, the first power supply circuit is intended only for recharging the battery power unit and the recharging is hence optimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: CAMPAGNOLO S.R.L.
    Inventor: FEDERICO MIGLIORANZA
  • Publication number: 20080048612
    Abstract: A wireless battery charger comprises of a housing, a processing module, and a rechargeable battery. The housing has a socket, at least one terminal mounted on at least one inner wall of the socket, a first display unit, and a second display unit. The processing module mounted in the housing has a printed circuit board electrically connected to the terminal, at least one connector mounted on the printed circuit board and corresponding to an outer periphery of the housing, a switch, a power indicator corresponding to the first display unit, a charging indicator corresponding to the second display unit, and a plurality of electronic components. The rechargeable battery is received in the housing and electrically connected to the printed circuit board. The rechargeable battery can be fully pre-charged prior to taking the wireless battery charger outdoors for immediately charging a rechargeable battery used in a portable electronic appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Sheng-i Yang
  • Publication number: 20080048613
    Abstract: An electronic system is provided. The electronic system comprises at least one electronic component and a battery block configured to provide power to the at least one electronic component. The battery block comprises at least one battery cell; a voltage regulator circuit coupled to the at least one battery cell and configured to maintain an output voltage of the battery block within operating voltage limits of the at least one electronic component; and a housing configured to house the at least one battery cell and the voltage regulator circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Baron, Laura L. Calligan
  • Publication number: 20080048614
    Abstract: One or more buttons, located either on a battery pack or on an electronic device powered by the battery pack, that allow the user to charge the battery of a portable device faster than normal. Electronic circuitry is provided for activating the charge mode choices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Phillip Partin, Christina Lampe-Onnerud
  • Publication number: 20080048615
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprises as an anode, a lithium transition metal oxide or sulphide compound which has a [B2]X4n? spinel-type framework structure of an A[B2]X4 spinel wherein A and B are metal cations selected from Li, Ti, V, Mn, Fe and Co, X is oxygen or sulphur, and n? refers to the overall charge of the structural unit [B2]X4 of the framework structure. The transition metal cation in the fully discharged state has a mean oxidation state greater than +3 for Ti, +3 for V, +3.5 for Mn, +2 for Fe and +2 for Co. The cell includes as a cathode, a lithium metal oxide or sulphide compound. An electrically insulative lithium containing liquid or polymeric electronically conductive electrolyte is provided between the anode and the cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Thackeray, Rosalind Gummow, Ernest Ferg
  • Publication number: 20080048616
    Abstract: Described is a system and method for determining determining a present state of charge of a battery and determining a rate of change of the state of charge of the battery, the rate of change being determined based on a charge current being supplied to the battery. Then, an updated state of charge is determined based on the rate of change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher R. Paul, Benjamin Bekritsky, Joseph Cabana
  • Publication number: 20080048617
    Abstract: A remaining-capacity dispersion detecting apparatus for a battery pack having a plurality of cells includes a total voltage sensing section adapted to sense a total voltage which is a terminal voltage of the whole of battery pack; a storing section adapted to store a value of the total voltage when the battery pack becomes under unloaded condition from loaded condition; and a dispersion detecting section. The dispersion detecting section is adapted to detect a value of the total voltage at a time of activation before the battery pack becomes under the loaded condition from the unloaded condition, to compare the currently-detected total voltage value with the total voltage value previously stored by the storing section, and to detect a dispersion in respective remaining capacities of the plurality of cells in the case where a difference between the currently-detected total voltage value and the previously-stored total voltage value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Shinsuke Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20080048618
    Abstract: A charge-pump biased battery protection circuit provides improved efficiency, reduced power dissipation, and reduced complexity in battery powered circuits. A charge pump is utilized to bias the gate of a single pass transistor such that the voltage between the pass transistor gate and the drain/source terminals of the pass transistor have a magnitude greater than the battery voltage, reducing the voltage drop across the pass transistor. The charge pump may be controlled in conformity with a sensed current through the pass transistor, so that at times of lower current loads, power is conserved. The bulk (body) of the pass transistor can be controlled using a resistor coupling a battery terminal to the bulk and a single switch coupling the bulk to a charger/load connection terminal, permitting a single pass transistor to be used for charging and discharging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: John L. Melanson
  • Publication number: 20080048619
    Abstract: In input/output power control apparatus and method for a secondary battery, in a case where neither a current sensor nor a voltage sensor fails, allowable input/output powers which are an allowable input power by which the secondary battery allowably inputs and an allowable output power by which the secondary battery allowably outputs are calculated on the basis of an input and/or output current and a terminal voltage of the secondary battery and, in a case where the failure in either one of the current sensor and the voltage sensor is detected, the allowable input/output powers are calculated on the basis of a detected value of one of the current and voltage sensors in which no failure is detected, and each of input and output powers of the secondary battery is limited to be equal to or smaller than the corresponding one of the allowable input/output powers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Shinsuke Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20080048620
    Abstract: When pulse charging is performed in an overcharge state or an overdischarge state in a charge and discharge control circuit and a battery device, a problem in that a pseudo overcurrent phenomenon occurs repeatedly to hinder normal operations of the charge and discharge control circuit and the battery device is addressed, thereby providing a safe battery device. Thus, there are provided a charge and discharge control circuit and a battery device having a structure in which charge overcurrent detection in the overcharge state and discharge overcurrent detection in the overdischarge state are invalidated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Wei Zhang
  • Publication number: 20080048621
    Abstract: A hybrid battery and full charge capacity calculation method thereof. A full charge capacity is calculated for each battery at at least two discharge voltage levels, and a total full charge capacity is calculated by adding the calculated full charge capacity of the discharging battery to a full charge capacity of a non-discharging battery. A hybrid battery includes: a first power source and a second power source; a sense resistor that senses and outputs current information of at least one of the first power source or the second power source; and a fuel gauge circuit that calculates a first accumulated discharge amount using the current information from the sense resistor when a voltage of a currently discharging one of the first or second power source reaches a first discharge voltage level, and to add a first capacity corresponding to the first discharge voltage level to the first accumulated discharge amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Changyong Yun
  • Publication number: 20080048622
    Abstract: A system and method to determine a resonant frequency of a battery is presented. One embodiment of the invention utilizes a PLL, digital or analog, to adjust the phase angle of a modulated current charging signal to that of the resonant frequency of the battery. A second embodiment of the invention utilizes an energy managed delta function to determine the resonant frequency of the battery. A third embodiment utilizes a small signal frequency sweep in order to determine the resonant frequency of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: John Fee, Laszlo Szerenyi
  • Publication number: 20080048623
    Abstract: The battery charging method uses a pulsed current alternately taking first and second amplitudes during first and second periods (t1, t2). At least one of the parameters, amplitude and duration, of the current during the first period (t1) is automatically servo-controlled as a function of a first value of the slope (P1) of the voltage (U), measured at the terminals of the battery to be charged. The first slope value (P1) is calculated at least at the end of the first period (t1). Likewise, a second value of the slope (P2) of the voltage (U) can be calculated at least at the end of the second period (t2) and at least one of the parameters of the current during the second period (t2) can be automatically servo-controlled as a function of the second slope value (P2). The different parameters of the pulsed charging current are thus continuously servo-controlled as a function of the voltage slope to keep the slope (P) within a range comprised between 1 mV/s and 6 mV/s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Murielle Le Gall, Daniel Benchetrite, Olivier Bach
  • Publication number: 20080048624
    Abstract: A method and system for supply voltage regulation in a motor circuit protector (MCP) that includes a current transformer coupled to a rectifier and a stored energy circuit. A solenoid is actuated by that circuit when a sufficient voltage is present. A controller having a configurable input is coupled to the stored energy circuit. Upon startup of the motor circuit protector, the controller causes the stored energy circuit to be charged to a startup voltage level via secondary current from the current transformer. The controller periodically interrupts the charging to measure the secondary current to detect fault levels. During startup, the configurable input is set to a comparator input for rapid current measurements. During run mode, the configurable input is set to an A/D input for accurate measurements. The controller measures the voltage of the stored energy circuit while charging it to a power level sufficient to actuate the solenoid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: William C. Davison, David Joseph Dunne, Kevin John Malo, Steve M. Meehleder
  • Publication number: 20080048625
    Abstract: A system and method for providing interleaving point-of-load (POL) regulators such that each regulator's switching cycle is phase displaced with respect to those of other POL regulators in the array is disclosed. As a result, the aggregate input and/or output reflected ripple and noise of the input, output, or both is reduced. Each regulator in the array is associated with an unique address. A serial data-line writes the phase spacing programmed to each addressable POL regulator in the array. The present invention permits phase displacement of POL regulators without limitation to the input and output voltages of each of the regulators in the array. The array of POL regulators may also operate in a phase displaced mode with only a single control line. The need for separate controllers and multiple control lines is thereby eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Alain Chapuis
  • Publication number: 20080048626
    Abstract: A series regulator circuit for supplying voltage with low current consumption without depending on the capacitance of a load. A constant current source, which is connected to an input voltage line, is connected to a ground voltage line via a bipolar transistor. The gate terminals of first and second n-channel MOS transistors are connected between the constant current source and the collector terminal of the bipolar transistor. The drain terminals of the first and second transistors are connected to the input voltage line. The source terminal of the transistor functioning as an output terminal is connected via a first resistor element to the source terminal of the first terminal, which is connected to a ground voltage line via second and third resistor elements. A connection node between the second and third resistor elements is connected to a base voltage of the bipolar transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kimura
  • Publication number: 20080048627
    Abstract: A regulator circuit for generating a regulation voltage obtained by stepping down a power supply voltage includes a plurality of voltage generation circuits that each generate a reference voltage; a differential amplifier circuit to whose first input terminal a reference voltage generated by one of the voltage generation circuits is inputted, to whose second input terminal the regulation voltage generated by the regulator circuit is inputted, and that amplifies a difference between the reference voltage and the regulation voltage; and an output circuit to which an output terminal of the differential amplifier circuit is coupled and that outputs the regulation voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichiro KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20080048628
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a voltage converter having a power switching unit, an analog-digital converting (ADC) unit, a digital low pass filter (LPF), an error value (EV) calculator, and a switching signal generator. The power switching unit may generate an output voltage by switching between an output terminal and one of the power voltage and the ground voltage in response to a switching signal. The ADC unit may output a converted power level signal and a converted output level signal. The EV calculator may generate an EV by comparing a low pass filtered power level signal and a low pass filtered output level signal output from the digital LPF, and an output set value. The switching signal generator may generate the switching signal for adjusting a time interval during which the output terminal is connected to one of the power voltage and the ground voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Yong-Hee Lee
  • Publication number: 20080048629
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator in which a rush current of an output circuit can be limited and a rise time of an output voltage is short. The voltage regulator includes a first output current limiting circuit and a second output current limiting circuit which are used to control the output circuit, and a detecting circuit for detecting a rise speed of an input voltage. The operation of the first output current limiting circuit whose detection current value is low is controlled by the detecting circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Teruo Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20080048630
    Abstract: A trigger-type signal Ve having the same period as that of a reference pulse signal Vp outputted from a reference pulse generation circuit is inputted to a set terminal of a logic circuit and a signal Vg having a polarity opposite to that of the signal Ve is inputted to a sample hold circuit. When a rise of the signal Ve is detected, a switching element S1 becomes on-state and a switching element S2 becomes off-state at the same time. Thus, a voltage based on a current flowing in the switching element S1 is not applied to an addition circuit but a voltage charged in a capacitor just before is applied thereto. After a time based on a pulse width of the signal Ve has passed, when the signal Vg rises and the switching element S2 becomes on-state, the voltage based on the current is applied to the addition circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Hideyuki Imanaka
  • Publication number: 20080048631
    Abstract: A synchronous switching regulator controller incorporates a switch detection circuit to determine the presence or absence of a power switch at the output of a switch driver so that the switch driver can be disabled when it is left unused. In one embodiment, the synchronous controller includes a switch detection circuit receiving a power cycle signal and the PWM ramp clock signal and measuring a voltage at an output node of the switch driver. The switch detection circuit provides a driver enable signal in response to the assertion of the power cycle signal. The driver enable signal has a first logical state when the voltage at the output node of the switch driver is greater than a reference voltage and a second logical state when the voltage at the output node is less than a reference voltage. The switch driver can be disabled based on the driver enable signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: MICREL, INC.
    Inventor: Sang Hoon Kim
  • Publication number: 20080048632
    Abstract: A high frequency power supply includes a DC source unit (19) that outputs a DC voltage Vdc having an output level corresponding to a target voltage, an oscillation unit (13) that outputs a high frequency voltage signal having an output level corresponding to a target power, an amplification unit (14) that includes a plurality of amplifying elements, and amplifies and outputs the high frequency voltage signal output by the oscillation unit (13) utilizing the DC voltage output by the DC source unit (19), an output voltage detection unit (21) that detects an amplitude of the voltage between the amplified-side terminals of the amplifying elements in the amplification unit (14), or an amplitude of a voltage that is proportional to the amplitude of the voltage between the amplified-side terminals, and a target voltage decision unit (22) that decides a target value of the DC source voltage Vdc to be outputted by the DC source unit (19) based on the detection result from the output voltage detection unit (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: DAIHEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kotani, Michio Taniguchi, Tatsuya Ikenari, Hirotaka Takei
  • Publication number: 20080048633
    Abstract: A circuit and a method for detecting a voltage of a transformer are provided. The circuit includes a current output circuit coupled to a winding of a transformer to generate a current signal. A current-to-voltage circuit is coupled to the current output circuit to generate a voltage signal in response to the current signal. A sample-and-hold circuit generates an output signal by sampling the voltage signal. An input voltage is applied to the transformer. The output signal is correlated to the input voltage of the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: SYSTEM GENERAL CORP.
    Inventors: Chuh-Ching Li, Ta-yung Yang
  • Publication number: 20080048634
    Abstract: A reference circuit comprises a first current generator comprising a first transistor operably coupled to a second transistor and having respective base current corresponding to a positive temperature dependence of the reference circuit. A resistance is operably coupled to the first current generator and arranged to provide a second current corresponding to a negative temperature dependence of the reference circuit. A second current generator is operably coupled to the resistance and the first current generator that generates a combined current as a sum of the second current and base current. In this manner, the output voltage of the curvature compensated voltage and/or current reference circuit is substantially linear and substantially independent of the operating temperature of the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Ivan Kotchkine, Alexandre Makarov
  • Publication number: 20080048635
    Abstract: Non-visible objects which differ in their physical properties from their surroundings by association with a variable strength magnetic field may be detected by a suitable array of sensors which can be moved relative to the object in question. By analyzing the signals from the plurality of the sensors in the array, the position of the object can be deduced relative to the array and the array moved to enable a machining guide thereon to be aligned with the non-visible object. The system is of particular value in locating apertures in wing spars when attempting to fix the skin of the wing on to them where it is important to be able to locate the correct point at which to drill a hole through the skin to coincide with the hole in the spar. By defining a magnetic field in the vicinity of the hole to identify the hole magnetically and using an array of magnetic field sensors in a base with an aperture, it is possible to shift the array so that the aperture is precisely aligned with the non-visible hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: AB ELECTRONIC LIMITED
    Inventor: Richard Hughes
  • Publication number: 20080048636
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for thickness measurement of an active layer of a silicon-on-insulator material comprising a layered structure of silicon film, a buried oxide layer and a silicon substrate. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of directing a low intensity light of an energy greater than the silicon band-gap on the silicon film, the energy of light sufficient to be substantially absorbed within the silicon film such that the error from the substrate excitation is small compared to the small signal calibration of the apparatus; modifying the surface potential with the chemical treatment, electrical bias or corona, measuring surface photovoltage of the silicon film; and calculating the thickness of the silicon film in response to a non-contact photovoltage measurement of the semiconductor layered structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: QC Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Tsidilkovski, Kenneth Steeples
  • Publication number: 20080048637
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring the output current of a clocked half-bridge circuit (1) in which semiconductor switches (5a, 5b) located in half-bridge sections (2a, 2b) are alternatingly opened or closed in push-pull operation and thereby cause an alternating current in an output current circuit. The current flowing through a first semiconductor switch (5a) is measured. The current flowing through a first semiconductor switch (5a) is transformed inductively into a secondary current. At least two measured-value signals are generated for the secondary current, of which a first measured-value signal corresponds to the secondary current when the first semiconductor switch (5a) is closed, and a second measured-value signal corresponds to the secondary current when the first semiconductor switch (5b) is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: BERGER LAHR GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Leibl
  • Publication number: 20080048638
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device having at least one fuse capable of being blown in order to provide measurements of fuse current-voltage characteristics is provided. The integrated circuit device also provides at least one pulse generation circuit associated with the fuse and capable of generating a pulse to blow the fuse through one or more DC input signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Manjul Bhushan, Mark Ketchen, Chandrasekharan Kothandaraman, Edward Maciejewski
  • Publication number: 20080048639
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated systems and methods may relate to a wide bandwidth cable assembly that may include an active amplification stage to receive high frequency signals (e.g., 1 GHz or above) through a transmission line extending distally to a passive, high density signal probe stage. In an illustrative example, the probe stage may receive multiple analog or digital signals from a device under test (DUT). In some embodiments, the probe stage may include probe pins with integrated series resistance to control signal loading, and an equalizer to shape the signal path's frequency response. The amplification stage may provide a virtual ground reference for a termination impedance that may match the transmission line's impedance and may connect in series with a feedback impedance. In one example, a minimally invasive probe head may facilitate measurement of multiple channels of a high speed data bus with minimal signal distortion and/or attenuation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Albert Sutono, Julie Campbell, Lawrence Jacobs, Yigal Shaul
  • Publication number: 20080048640
    Abstract: Methods for detecting and classifying loads on alternating current (AC) lines are provided. One such method includes the steps of placing an AC field sensor in AC electric and magnetic fields generated by an AC line, generating an electric field signal representative of the AC electric field received by the AC field sensor, generating a magnetic field signal representative of the AC magnetic field received by the AC field sensor, generating a relative phase signal representative of relative phase changes between the electric and magnetic fields, and processing the relative phase signal to detect and classify loads on the AC line. In another method, relative load vector signals representative of relative magnitude and phase changes in the magnetic field are generated and processed to detect and classify loads on the AC line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: David Hull, Peter Cremona-Simmons