Patents Issued in October 21, 2008
  • Patent number: 7439689
    Abstract: In one aspect, an impedance component which exhibits a high impedance in a high frequency region is arranged on a high pressure line formed on a secondary side of a transformer. The potential difference generated at both ends of the impedance component is used to detect an abnormal electrical discharge generated in the high pressure line. When the abnormal electrical discharge is detected, a switching operation is stopped by a controlling circuit, whereby a protection operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Honda, Shinichi Ishida, Tatsuya Sakurai
  • Patent number: 7439690
    Abstract: A lighting control technology for a discharge lamp can be capable of suppressing start-up variations of luminous flux in consideration of variations in lamp voltage. A discharge lamp lighting apparatus can include a lamp voltage detection circuit and a lamp current detection circuit for detecting a lamp voltage and a lamp current of a discharge lamp, respectively. The lamp can include a control circuit for performing a starting-time control for applying a current or power several times as high as a rated value of the lamp in order to light the discharge lamp substantially instantaneously, and a stable-time control for lighting the discharge lamp stably at substantially constant rated power. The lamp current or lamp power can be controlled from a starting time to a stable time in accordance with the voltage value detected by the lamp voltage detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Fukuwa
  • Patent number: 7439691
    Abstract: To shorten the luminous flux rise time and prevent melting/deformation of the projections in the initial ignition period of high pressure discharge lamps that have a sealed mercury volume of no less than 0.20 mg/mm3, a power supply device feeds a current that exceeds the maximum current value of the constant power control period to the high pressure discharge lamp during a first control period from the initial discharge until the lamp voltage reaches a specified lamp voltage and causes a switch to constant power control, and then, during the following period until a change to steady power control, the power supply device feeds it a current that is less than the maximum current during regular operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Sugaya, Izumi Takaya, Tomoyoshi Arimoto
  • Patent number: 7439692
    Abstract: A linear compressor and apparatus to control the linear compressor are provided which allows a frequency of a drive current supplied to a drive motor to synchronize with a resonance frequency varying according to a load fluctuation, in real time, thus obtaining a maximum efficiency of the linear compressor. The linear compressor includes a drive motor, a piston reciprocating by the drive motor and a control unit generating a reference current having a phase difference of 90° with respect to a displacement waveform of the piston and a frequency equal to the displacement waveform of the piston, and controls a drive current supplied to the drive motor to synchronize with a resonance frequency of the piston by synchronizing the drive current with the reference current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwang Woon Lee
  • Patent number: 7439693
    Abstract: A control unit of a motor driver performs feedback control to supply current to a linear motor based on a detection value of a linear encoder. An anomaly detection unit monitors the supply current to the linear motor, and the anomaly detection unit detects anomaly of a linear motion apparatus based on a waveform of the supply current. In the case where the anomaly is detected, a user is notified of warning by means of a lamp, a buzzer, an e-mail, and the like. Therefore, the anomaly of the linear motion apparatus can be detected early and accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Shoda, Yuki Nomura, Yoshifumi Nagato
  • Patent number: 7439694
    Abstract: An adjustable lectern includes a base portion having a tubular upstanding base member and a tubular upstanding tower member that is mounted in a telescoping arrangement with respect to the base member. The base member and the tower member are each respectively formed as rigid tubes or channels by a single, unitary piece of material such as sheet metal. The lectern further includes a work platform that is positioned at an upper end of the tower portion. The work platform is both vertically and horizontally adjustable with respect to the base portion, so that both users who will be standing behind the lectern making a presentation and users who will be sitting behind the adjustable lectern in a wheelchair when making a presentation may be accommodated. Both the work platform and the base member include industry-standard rackmount structure for facilitating integration of electronic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventors: Richard B. Atlas, Oleh M. Artym
  • Patent number: 7439695
    Abstract: A mechanical braking system is provided for a vehicle having an electric propulsion system which is utilized for retard speed regulation. While the retard speed regulation is normally performed via electric braking, in some conditions the electric braking is not able to maintain a desired speed for the vehicle. In this condition, upon receipt of a signal from the electric propulsion system, the mechanical braking system is automatically activated so as to maintain the vehicle at the desired speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Komatsu America Corp.
    Inventors: Khanh Tu Ngo, Nobuki Hasegawa, Gerald Horst
  • Patent number: 7439696
    Abstract: A control device of a rotating electric machine to which an inverter is integrally assembled is downsized, and manufacturing costs are reduced. An inverter for controlling outputs from the rotating electric machine is integrated with a rotating electric machine, and in which a control device forming an inverter is constructed of a switching element and a heat sink, a drain electrode terminal of the switching element is directly joined to the heat sink, and a source electrode terminal and gate electrode terminal of the switching element are joined to a metal pattern formed at a connection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yoshihara, Masao Kikuchi, Masaki Kato, Yoshihito Asao
  • Patent number: 7439697
    Abstract: As a boosting-type motor driving device using no reactor, a motor driving device capable of controlling boosting operation and motor driving at the same time is provided, and an automobile using the motor driving device is also provided. The motor driving device is used for driving a motor with a double-winding structure having a first set of three-phase windings and a second set of three-phase winding which are wound over a stator, and includes first and second inverters, which are connected respectively to the first set of three-phase windings and the second set of three-phase windings, thereby controlling the first and second inverters to control a driving force of the motor with the double-winding structure. The first and second inverters have positive and negative terminals which are connected respectively in common to a high-voltage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Miyazaki, Satoru Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7439698
    Abstract: An electric motor system having a rotor with a plurality of permanent magnets, and a stator having a winding through which current is flowing for driving the rotor. A control unit controls the current flowing through the winding. The control unit employs a first filter and a second filter, each filter is connected to the winding and has outputs coupled to a comparator. The comparator compares the signal output of the first filter to the signal output of the second filter. The control unit controls the current flowing through the winding depending on the result of the comparison of the two filtered signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Ludwig, Oliver Lamparth, Arno Kutzki, Matthias Rupprecht
  • Patent number: 7439699
    Abstract: An animatronics system and method for incorporation in talking toys, puppets, animated special effects and costumes. The system utilizes a removable storage device such as a flash memory chip to store pre-programmed audio and animation data and a microcontroller configured with both an audio player and an animation player. The microcontroller is adapted to access the audio and animation data and play the data in a manner such that the system produces synchronized sound and movement. The system also incorporates an auto-tuning system which automatically calibrates the system to compensate for variations in the arrangement of mechanical components in individual units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Dreamation, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Lawrence Earnest
  • Patent number: 7439700
    Abstract: A control system which is capable of avoiding an overloaded state of an actuator without using sensors or the like. An ECU 2 of the control system 1 calculates a lift control input U_Liftin to a variable valve lift mechanism 50 with an algorithm expressed by equations (2) to (5), such that the valve lift Liftin follows up a target valve lift Liftin_cmd, calculates a cumulative value Simot by cumulative calculation of the product of the value Imot of electric current flowing through the variable valve lift mechanism 50 and a sampling time period Stime, and when SImot?Simot_J1 holds, sets two parameters pole_f_lf and ploe_lf to respective predetermined failure-time parameters pole_f_lf_J1 and ploe_lf_J1 which cause the lift control input U_Liftin to become smaller than when Simot<Simot_J1 holds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanako Shimojo, Yuji Yasui
  • Patent number: 7439701
    Abstract: A method and device for detecting an initial excitation phase of a stepping motor is provided, by which an initial excitation phase of a rotor corresponding to a position of a stopper can be detected with a unit of a stepping angle of a microstep drive which is smaller than that of a full step drive without using elements such as magnetoelectric elements. Upon appropriately changing an excitation phase of a stepping motor, on the basis of a generated pattern of an induced electromotive force in an exciting coil in a non-excitation state upon a full step drive, whether or not a pointer comes in contact with a stopper to stop a reverse rotation of the pointer and rotor is judged so that it is specified on which excitation phase the pointer and rotor are reversed, thereby detecting an initial excitation phase of the rotor corresponding to a position of the stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Torikoshi
  • Patent number: 7439702
    Abstract: A chiller system includes a switched reluctance motor for powering the compressor of the chiller system. A variable speed drive with a boost converter provides a boosted voltage to the switched reluctance motor. The switched reluctance motor and the compressor may be disposed within the same hermetic enclosure and driven by a common drive shaft. Cooling for both the variable speed drive and the switched reluctance motor is provided from condenser water in the condenser water circuit, or from an intermediate liquid cooled by water from the condenser circuit to increase system efficiency. Windage losses are reduced by barriers introduced within the motor, and by maintaining a reduced pressure in the switched reluctance motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Harold Smith, Harold Robert Schnetzka, Ivan Jadric
  • Patent number: 7439703
    Abstract: A controller for a synchronous machine includes: a power converter; a synchronous machine driven by the power converter; a PWM modulation section for controlling the synchronous machine; a current detection section which detects a current conducted to the synchronous machine; a voltage detection section which detects a voltage applied to the synchronous machine; a current variation operation section which operates a current variation during a time interval between timings synchronized with detection sampling in the current detection section; a voltage integration operation section which operates a voltage integration value during a time interval between the same timings as the timings in the current variation operation section; a current variation operation section for a time interval in which all sets are included, defining, as one set, the current variation and the voltage integration value, and operating a current variation during the time interval in which all the sets are included; a voltage integration
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuya Yasui, Kazuaki Yuuki, Kentaro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7439704
    Abstract: An object is to provide an inverter device capable of detecting the welding of a switching device in early stages, and in summary, the inverter device is equipped with a parallel circuit of a charging circuit and a switch connected between a battery and an inverter module, and comprises a capacitor charged from the battery via the charging circuit; a resistor to discharge the capacitor; a serial circuit including resistors to detect a voltage after the switch; and a diode connected between a connection point of the serial circuit including the resistors on a positive line and a connection point of the capacitor, and directed forward to the capacitor side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nojima, Shigeharu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7439705
    Abstract: A diagnosis method diagnoses an electronic apparatus that is operable with a battery pack having a memory which stores information. The diagnosis method reads information from the battery pack, and sets the electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode when the read information indicates the diagnosis mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Koike
  • Patent number: 7439706
    Abstract: This system provides a method for determining whether ordinary battery cells, a battery pack, and/or a charger unit are attached to a portable electronic device. The system provides a center contact in a battery shaft that contacts a battery pack or a point on an individual battery and allows the device regulation unit to measure the voltage at that point. If the voltage is below a particular threshold, then the system determines that a battery pack may be inserted in the battery shaft and the portable electronic unit enters a battery pack mode. If the voltage is above the threshold voltage, then the portable electronic device enters the battery operation mode. If a voltage transition is sensed on the DEVICE START line, the portable electronic device determines that the charger is installed and the portable electronic device enters the appropriate mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: AKG Acoustics GmbH
    Inventor: Erich Brenner
  • Patent number: 7439707
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a charging technique used in a battery, a charging device, and an information-processing system. According to the present invention, for charging a secondary cell of a battery, charging the secondary cell is controlled based on identifying information output from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Souichirou Shigeeda
  • Patent number: 7439708
    Abstract: To reduce power consumption when charging a secondary battery is not performed, a first power supply circuit is disabled but a second power supply circuit is enabled when the secondary battery is unloaded from a battery charger. Both the first and second power supply circuits are enabled when the battery is loaded in the charger. The first power supply circuit is provided for supplying power to the secondary battery. The second power supply circuit is provided for supplying a first voltage to such components that are operated with the first voltage and a second voltage to such components that are operated with the second voltage, wherein the second voltage is greater than the first voltage. When the battery is unloaded from the charger, the second power supply circuit supplies only the first voltage whereas when the battery is loaded in the charger, the second power supply circuit supplies the first and second voltages to the corresponding components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Aradachi, Kazuhiko Funabashi, Nobuhiro Takano
  • Patent number: 7439709
    Abstract: A charger unit for an electronic device that includes a housing, a plurality of charging contacts provided on the housing, and a recess provided in the housing, preferably on a rear face thereof. A plug having a plurality of prongs may be selectively attached to and detached from the housing for electrically connecting the charger unit to a source of charging current. When attached to the housing, one or more of the prongs of the plug are electrically connected to a respective one of the charging contacts. In addition, a plurality of storage sockets are provided in the housing within the recess. Each of the storage sockets are adapted to receive and hold therein a respective one of the prongs of the plug to enable the plug to be safely and securely stored when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: George Baldwin Bumiller
  • Patent number: 7439710
    Abstract: If the capacity variation is greater than a pre-stored value, the SOC converted from Qmin sometimes cannot recover to a control center value. In such a case, inconveniences including the continuation of an event where the HVECU cannot output a command to stop the charging are prevented by computing an apparatus SOC and reporting the SOC to the HVECU. The apparent SOC is computed by increasing the value of SOC in accordance with the magnitude of the capacity variation. The thus-computed apparent SOC is reported to the HVECU by the battery ECU, so that it can be determined that the control center value has been exceeded. Thus, it becomes possible to provide battery control apparatus, method and program and a battery control system for a battery pack which are capable of controlling the charging/discharging of the battery pack with an improved accuracy despite capacity variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Teruo Ishishita
  • Patent number: 7439711
    Abstract: An energy storage device for use with an electric vehicle includes an electrical energy storage device configured to be coupled to an electrical traction system of the electric vehicle to provide electrical power to the electrical traction system. The energy storage device also includes a sensor integrally mounted within the electrical energy storage device and configured to measure a voltage of the electrical energy storage device. The sensor also includes a status indicator integrally mounted to the electrical energy storage device and configured to provide a visual indication of the voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Bolton
  • Patent number: 7439712
    Abstract: An energy collection system may collect and use the energy generated by an electric field. Collection fibers are suspended from a support wire system supported by poles. The support wire system is electrically connected to a load by a connecting wire. The collection fibers may be made of any conducting material, but carbon and graphite are preferred. Diodes may be used to restrict the backflow or loss of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Clint McCowen
  • Patent number: 7439713
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for producing current with a desired output frequency from one or more fixed or variable speed alternators by varying a saturation level of a portion of the alternator(s) based on a output frequency desired, and preferably then rectifying the output to produce a desired electrical output which may be provided as direct current or alternating current to a suitable load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Patent number: 7439714
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a converter system of a wind turbine, wherein the converter system includes converter modules capable of converting electric power produced by a generator to electric power applicable to a utility grid. The converter modules include generator inverters and grid inverters. The method determines the enabling/disabling of the converter modules in response to a parameter related to the variable amount of electric power being produced by the generator. Advantages of the present invention are optimisation of power efficiency of the converter modules and improved reliability of the converter modules. Another advantage is the capability of fast enabling and disabling of the converter modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Gamesa Innovation & Technology, S.L.
    Inventors: Jose Ignacio Llorente Gonzalez, Björn Andresen, Jens Birk
  • Patent number: 7439715
    Abstract: A power generating system provides high voltage AC power and low voltage DC power using a single generator. The generator includes a rotor and a stator that is wound with a first winding and a second winding. The first winding has a greater number of turns than the second winding and generates high voltage AC power in response to the rotating magnetic field created by the rotor. The second winding generates low voltage AC power in response to the rotating magnetic field created by the rotor. The low voltage AC power is converted to low voltage DC power by a rectifier. The low voltage DC power is further controlled by a DC-DC converter to generate controlled DC power. A controller monitors the DC power generated by the DC-DC converter, and generates pulse width modulation signals that are provided to the DC-DC converter, selectively increasing or decreasing the controlled DC power provided by the DC-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Mahesh J. Shah, Alan E. King
  • Patent number: 7439716
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter and method for compensating for errors in the DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter includes an inductor coupled for receiving a source of operating voltage through a plurality of switches. The switches are controlled by a control circuit that has first and second circuit paths that are substantially parallel to each other. Each circuit path is comprised of two switched capacitor comparators that are connected in series. The circuit paths function such that during one portion of a clock period one of the circuit paths operates in an error correction mode and the other circuit path operates in a normal mode. During a different portion of the clock period the operational modes of the circuit paths switch. This allows for a calibration interval in a sampled system in which at least one circuit path is always active and responsive to the input signals in a desired manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michael John Gay
  • Patent number: 7439717
    Abstract: A synchronously switched buck post regulator is revealed for multi-output forward converters. The synchronously switched buck post regulator accomplishes precise independent load regulation for each output and reduced magnetics volume by using a coupled inductor with a common core for all outputs plus a second smaller inductor for each output except the highest voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Ernest Henry Wittenbreder, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7439718
    Abstract: A high-speed voltage regulating apparatus and a method for high-speed voltage regulation. The apparatus includes: (A) a regulator, adapted to provide a regulated voltage; (B) switching circuitry, connected to the regulator, adapted to either (i) connect the regulator to an output node or (ii) disconnect the regulator from the output node; whereas the output node is connected to a dynamic power consuming device and to a load capacitor; (C) control logic, connected to the regulator, adapted to receive at least an indication reflecting a voltage of the output node and to control the switching circuitry such that the regulator is disconnected from the output node to facilitate a decrease in the voltage of the output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Anton Rozen, Michael Priel, Cor H. Voorwinden
  • Patent number: 7439719
    Abstract: A switching control circuit is provided which can increase the off period of a switching element when the on period of the switching element is equal to the sum of the minimum pulse period (blanking period (a fixed period during which drain current is not detected after the switching element is turned on)) and a detection delay period (a period from when the drain current is equal to or higher than a detection criterion to when the switching element is actually turned off) and PWM control is disabled. An off period adjusting circuit generates, when the on period of the switching element is equal to the minimum pulse period, an adjusting signal OFF_C for increasing the off period of the switching element and supplies the signal to an on/off circuit for controlling the periodic on/off operation of the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hachiya, Ryutarou Arakawa, Takashi Kunimatsu, Minoru Fukui
  • Patent number: 7439720
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling switching regulators to automatically switch from a traditional pulse-width modulation (PWM) mode, when the load current is higher than a predetermined value, to a pulse-frequency modulation (PFM) mode, when the load current drops to a point lower than the predetermine value. Switching modes increases the efficiency of the regulator when the load current is low without provoking a large output voltage transient. In some embodiments, a single switching cycle regulates the output in the PFM mode, which reduces the switching losses and enhances the efficiency of the regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems
    Inventors: James H. Nguyen, Thomas T. Chiang, Christopher T. Falvey
  • Patent number: 7439721
    Abstract: A constant-on-time power-supply controller includes an adder and a control circuit. The adder generates a sum of a sense voltage and a regulated output voltage generated by a filter inductor. The sense voltage is generated by a sense circuit that sources a current to the filter inductor while the inductor is uncoupled from an input voltage, and the sense voltage is related to the current. The control circuit couples the filter inductor to the input voltage for a predetermined time in response to the sum having a predetermined relationship to a reference voltage. Such a power-supply controller may yield a relatively tight regulation of the output voltage even with a power supply having with a low-ESR filter capacitor, and may do so with little or no additional compensation circuitry as compared to prior controllers and with no additional pin on the power-supply-controller chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Da Feng Weng, Jinrong Qian
  • Patent number: 7439722
    Abstract: A method for analyzing the filling of a cigarette by using a sinusoidal mathematical model representing the density of tobacco along the longitudinal axis of the cigarette and by conducting experimental measurements of density and of moisture at a plurality of points along this longitudinal axis, calculating a regression determination coefficient from the measured values, calculating the position of the strengthened tip from the phase ? and the parameters of the model and from experimentally determined constants, calculating the shift of the strengthened tip relatively to the cut and calculating the strengthening index from the values of these constants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Exploitation Industrielle des Tabacs et Allumettes (SEITA)
    Inventors: Jean Remi Poulet, Georges Cholet
  • Patent number: 7439723
    Abstract: The present invention determines the resonant frequency of a sensor by adjusting the phase and frequency of an energizing signal until the frequency of the energizing signal matches the resonant frequency of the sensor. The system energizes the sensor with a low duty cycle, gated burst of RF energy having a predetermined frequency or set of frequencies and a predetermined amplitude. The energizing signal is coupled to the sensor via magnetic coupling and induces a current in the sensor which oscillates at the resonant frequency of the sensor. The system receives the ring down response of the sensor via magnetic coupling and determines the resonant frequency of the sensor, which is used to calculate the measured physical parameter. The system uses a pair of phase locked loops to adjust the phase and the frequency of the energizing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: CardioMEMS, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark G. Allen, Michael Ellis, Jason Kroh, Donald J. Miller
  • Patent number: 7439724
    Abstract: An on-chip jitter measurement circuit and corresponding method are provided for receiving a reference clock and a signal of interest, including a latch for comparing the arrival time of the signal of interest to the reference clock, a delay chain in signal communication with the reference clock for varying the arrival time of the reference clock, the delay chain having a first stage, a middle stage, and a last stage, a voltage controller in signal communication with the middle stage of the delay chain for controlling the delay of the arrival time of the reference clock while permitting the first and last stages of the delay chain to retain a full voltage swing independent of the delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Heidel, Keith A. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 7439725
    Abstract: A multimeter has a housing with at least three input connections, configured as female connectors, for connecting to two measurement lines. When a measurement variable is changed, it is possible to connect at least one of the measurement lines to another input connection. The multimeter has a measurement-range switch which can be moved to a switching position associated with the selected measurement variables, and a mechanical blocking apparatus coupled to the switch. The blocking apparatus allows specific input connections to be blocked such that contact can be made only with the input connections which have an associated measurement variable which corresponds to the measurement variable set by the switch. The blocking apparatus is formed as a pivotable angle lever, and the switch moves end regions of strip-shaped angle limbs of the angle lever to a position aligned with the input connections to be blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: GMC-I Gossen- Metrawatt GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Fischer, Dietmar Koops
  • Patent number: 7439726
    Abstract: A current clamp meter having a current meter body and a detachable current clamp. The current meter body and the current clamp are configured so that the current clamp is detachable from the current meter body and the meter is operable with the current clamp either attached to the current meter body or detached from the current meter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Shounan Luo, Wang Yong
  • Patent number: 7439727
    Abstract: A pair of interlocking electrical test probes, each probe having an interlocking end which mates or can be easily joined together with the other's end such that the pair of test probes can be operable with one hand when their respective interlocking ends are joined together. The pair of interlocking electrical test probes also capable of being operated separately or independently, one in each hand when in the unjoined state. When joined together, the pair of interlocking electrical test probes are free to pivot about their interlocked or mated ends, thus allowing the distance between their contact points to be varied while being held in one hand, therefore freeing up an electrician's or technician's other hand to hold a meter, flashlight, schematic or for some other purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Ralph Emery DeFlorio
  • Patent number: 7439728
    Abstract: A system and method for calibration of a test socket using a composite waveform. A group of input signal pins of test system are coupled together. A pin belonging to the group is selected as a pin under calibration. A first calibration edge is applied to the pin under calibration. After a delay, a group of complementary edges is applied to the remaining pins of the group. As a result of the coupling of the pins, a response comprising a reflected edge and a transmitted combined edge are produced, which overlap to form a composite waveform. A comparator is used to detect an observable feature in the composite waveform to obtain timing information with respect to the pin under calibration and the remaining pins of the group. Each pin may be analyzed in turn, and the group of pins calibrated using the acquired information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Credence Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Hickling
  • Patent number: 7439729
    Abstract: A hard disk drive system comprises N hard disk drive means for performing hard disk drive functions and is connected in a daisy chain, wherein N is greater than one. The system includes integrated system test (IST) means for testing and that is integrated with a first one of the N hard disk drive means and includes pattern generating means for generating test pattern data and pattern monitoring means for receiving a returned test pattern. The pattern generating means generates test pattern data that is routed from the first one of the N hard disk drive means serially through the remaining ones of the N hard disk drive means and back to the first one of the N hard disk drive means. The pattern monitoring means generates test result data based on returned test data returned to the first one of the N hard disk drive means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Saeed Azimi, Son Ho
  • Patent number: 7439730
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for analyzing photon emission data to discriminate between photons emitted by transistors and photons emitted by background sources. The analysis involves spatial and/or temporal correlation of photon emissions. After correlation, the analysis may further involve obtaining a likelihood that the correlated photons were emitted by a transistor. After correlation, the analysis may also further involve assigning a weight to individual photon emissions as a function of the correlation. The weight, in some instances, reflecting a likelihood that the photons were emitted by a transistor. The analysis may further involve automatically identifying transistors in a photon emission image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: DCG Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Romain Desplats, Patricia Le Coupanec, William K. Lo, Philippe Perdu, Steven Kasapi
  • Patent number: 7439731
    Abstract: A wafer-scale probe card for temporary electrical contact to a sample wafer or other device, for burn-in and test. The card includes a plurality of directly metallized single-walled or multi-walled nanotubes contacting a pre-arranged electrical contact pattern on the probe card substrate. The nanotubes are arranged into bundles for forming electrical contacts between areas of the device under test and the probe card. The bundles are compressible along their length to allow a compressive force to be used for contacting the probe card substrate to the device under test. A strengthening material may be disposed around and/or infiltrate the bundles. The nanotubes forming the bundles may be patterned to provide a pre-determined bundle profile. Tips of the bundles may be metallized with a conductive material to form a conformal coating on the bundles; or metallized with a conductive material to form a continuous, single contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas E. Crafts, Jyoti K. Bhardwaj
  • Patent number: 7439732
    Abstract: A rotary magnetic position sensor including a housing, a sensor coupled to the housing, a rotor rotatably mounted to the housing, and a magnet coupled to the rotor and positioned adjacent the sensor. The sensor may be configured to provide a sensor output in response to a rotational position of the rotor relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew LaPlaca
  • Patent number: 7439733
    Abstract: A position-sensing system magnetically senses the position of a first component moving with respect to a second component. A magnetically hard layer on the first component provides a recording medium. Information is magnetically recorded in regions of the magnetically hard layer. These regions provide a relative encoding scheme for determining the position of the first component. Magnetic-field sensors are positioned over redundant tracks of magnetically recorded regions. Each magnetic-field sensor positioned over a given track senses the same magnetized regions while the first component moves with respect to the second component. Other magnetic-field sensors can sense ambient fields for use in performing common-mode rejection. A write head can dynamically repair damaged or erased regions detected by the magnetic-field sensors. Energized by a battery-backup power source, the magnetic-field sensors and associated circuitry can continue to track movement of the first component when the machinery is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Donald C. Arns, Jr., Pablo Garcia
  • Patent number: 7439734
    Abstract: A rotary encoder includes a first group of components and a second group of components. The first group of components has a pulse wire, a detector, and a circuit configuration. The second group of components has a magnet and a code element. Upon approach of the magnet to the pulse wire, a voltage pulse is able to be generated by the pulse wire. A signal is able to be generated by the detector as a function of the relative position, and based on the signal, a logic circuit is able to ascertain position information which is able to be stored in a non-volatile memory. Triggered by the voltage pulse, a voltage from a voltage source is able to be applied to the circuit configuration. The circuit configuration is disconnectable again from the voltage source at the latest after the storage of the position information in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Fischer
  • Patent number: 7439735
    Abstract: A position sensor including a sensor assembly adapted to mount to a first rail of an automotive seat rail assembly. The sensor assembly includes a Hall device and a magnet. The assembly is mountable to the first rail to cause a first output of the Hall device when the first rail is in a first position relative to a second rail of the automotive seat rail assembly, and to cause a second output of the Hall device when the first rail is in a second position relative to the second rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Susan M. Barnabo, Mark Freeman, Kayvan Hedayat
  • Patent number: 7439736
    Abstract: Magnetic resonance elastography pulse sequences for encoding position and motion of spins, and methods of using the pulse sequences are disclosed. The pulse sequences utilize imaging gradients, comprising a positive lobe and a negative lobe having non-symmetric amplitudes, to encode harmonic or wave motion within a specimen, such as tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventors: Paul M. Meaney, Keith D. Paulsen, John B. Weaver
  • Patent number: 7439737
    Abstract: A method of magnetic resonance imaging is provided. The method includes the steps of applying a preparation pulse sequence to a subject (16) disposed in an examination region (14), acquiring k-space data related to a plurality of k-space trajectories through the center of k-space such as radial trajectories and reconstructing a first image form the k-space data wherein data within a region (210) around the center of k-space (205) of at least a first of the k-space trajectories is not used. Rather, data of only a limited number of views within said region is used for image reconstruction. Hence, image contrast is essentially determined by said limited number of views.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Steffen Weiss, Tobias Schaeffter
  • Patent number: 7439738
    Abstract: Methods and systems for compensating for static magnetic field inhomogeneities during nuclear magnetic resonance detection are disclosed. Application of radio frequency pulses and/or magnetic field gradients may be used to correct for spin dephasing caused by the inhomogeneities. The methods and system may be used to improve signal-to-noise ratios in NMR and MRI systems where magnetic field inhomogeneity may have an effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of California
    Inventors: Alexander Pines, Daniel Topgaard, Dimitrios Sakellariou, Rachel W. Martin, Carlos A. Meriles