Patents Issued in March 31, 2011
  • Publication number: 20110074345
    Abstract: A method for wirelessly charging and/or re-charging at least one sports object embedded with a battery and circuitry is provided. The method includes positioning the sports object proximate to a charging system, the charging system containing circuitry for wirelessly communicating with the sports object, whereby information is bi-directionally transferred by radio frequency and electric power is transferred to the sports object by induction. The sports object circuitry is adapted for determines a charging requirement of the power cell therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Richard ERARIO, John ERARIO
  • Publication number: 20110074346
    Abstract: Wireless vehicle charger safety systems and methods use a detection subsystem, a notification subsystem and a management subsystem. The detection subsystem identifies a safety condition. The notification subsystem provides an indication of the safety condition. The management subsystem addresses the safety condition. In particular, undesirable thermal conditions caused by foreign objects between a source resonator and a vehicle resonator are addressed by sensing high temperatures, providing a warning and powering down a vehicle charger, as appropriate for the environment in which the charger is deployed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Katherine L. Hall, Morris P. Kesler, Ron Fiorello, David A. Schatz, Konrad J. Kulikowski, Marin Soljacic
  • Publication number: 20110074347
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for use in wireless energy transfer, which includes a first resonator structure configured to transfer energy non-radiatively with a second resonator structure over a distance greater than a characteristic size of the second resonator structure. The non-radiative energy transfer is mediated by a coupling of a resonant field evanescent tail of the first resonator structure and a resonant field evanescent tail of the second resonator structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Aristeidis Karalis, Andre B. Kurs, Robert Moffatt, John D. Joannopoulos, Peter H. Fisher, Marin Soljacic
  • Publication number: 20110074348
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic method for controlling a high-frequency inductive coupling power transfer system, which maintains the transferred power at a load equal to the nominal load with misalignments of up to 99% of the area of the secondary, in which the supply voltage and frequency of the system are controlled using a closed-loop control system in order to regulate the misalignments and the variation in the distance to the secondary and, in this way, transfer the nominal power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Juan Luis Villa Gazulla, Andrés Llombart Estopiñán, Jesús Sallan Arasanz, José Francisco Sanz Osorio, Julio Javier Melero Estela
  • Publication number: 20110074349
    Abstract: A wireless charging system for inductively charging and/or powering a device. The system includes a stationary base system and a moving subject. The stationary base system includes an array of primary coils that are adapted to generate a magnetic field, and a sensor system. The moving subject carries a device that includes a secondary coil that can be inductively charged and/or powered by the magnetic field emitted from the primary coil, and a magnet to be tracked by the sensor system. The moving subject can move in proximity to a surface of the stationary base system. The sensor system is adapted to communicate the location of the moving subject along the surface, wherein those coils closest to the moving subject may be activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Maysam Ghovanloo
  • Publication number: 20110074350
    Abstract: A vehicle charging and selection system for kiosk operated electrical vehicles. The system includes a utility connected AC charging source, a battery-to-battery DC charging source, a number of vehicle charging stations, a local power bus connectable to both charging sources and each of the charging stations and a system controller connected to each of the charging stations. The system controller evaluates the vehicle battery condition of each electric vehicle connected to one of the charging stations and determines the most efficient method for charging the largest number of vehicle batteries based on current condition of the individual batteries, weather conditions, time of day, status of the utility electrical grid, etc. The system controller also selects one of the connected electric vehicles for customer use by using the battery charging information and additional information about the desired trip provided by the customer and other external data sources monitored by the system controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: MARK J. KOCHER
  • Publication number: 20110074351
    Abstract: An electric charging system for charging electric vehicles is particularly adapted for use in a parking garage. Parking spaces in the garage are fixed with a charging station so that the vehicles may be charged while they park at the garage. The power cable which connects to charge the vehicle battery is suspended at a height generally above the vehicle and is automatically retractable. Information concerning the power charge is automatically transmitted to the payment station at the exit gate. A point of sale (POS) module is mounted for communication with the power cable. The point of sale (POS) module and the connector are easily accessible and the connector is positionable for ease of connection with the vehicle terminal. A retractor for extending and retracting an overhead power cable employs a drive wheel and a clutch which are electronically controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: James S. Bianco, John Fahy
  • Publication number: 20110074352
    Abstract: A cord correction circuit in a primary-side-controlled flyback converter compensates for the loss of output voltage caused by the resistance of the charger cord. In one embodiment, a correction voltage is subtracted from a feedback voltage received from a primary-side auxiliary inductor. A pre-amplifier then compares a reference voltage to the corrected feedback voltage. In another embodiment, the correction voltage is summed with the reference voltage, and the pre-amplifier compares the feedback voltage to the corrected reference voltage. The difference between the voltages on the input leads of the pre-amplifier is used to increase the output voltage to compensate for the voltage lost through the charger cord. The flyback converter also has a comparing circuit and a control loop that maintain the peak level of current flowing through the primary inductor of the converter. Adjusting the frequency and pulse width of an inductor switch signal controls the converter output current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Steven Huynh, Matthew Grant, David Kunst, Zhibo Tao
  • Publication number: 20110074353
    Abstract: A battery charger for charging a detachably attached battery pack by supplying an electric power from an external power source, the battery charger includes a notification unit for notifying a user of a charging operation by turning on or flickering a light-emitting member. The notification unit notifies the user of a power connection state of the battery charger by turning on or flickering the light-emitting member immediately after the battery charger is electrically connected to the external power source without attaching the battery pack thereto, and the notification unit turns off the light-emitting member after a predetermined period of time lapses and keeps the light-emitting member in an off-state until the battery pack is attached to the battery charger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Power Tools co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Miwa, Masaki Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20110074354
    Abstract: The power source apparatus is provided with a unit switch 16 connected in series with each battery unit 10, cell capacity equalizing circuits 20 to suppress variation in the remaining capacities of the battery cells 11 that make up each battery unit 10 based on the cell voltages, unit voltage detection circuits 45 to detect unit voltage that is the overall voltage of a battery unit 10, unit capacity equalizing circuits 40 to suppress variation in the remaining capacities of the battery units 10 based on the unit voltages detected by the unit voltage detection circuits 45, and a power source controller 30 that controls the cell capacity equalizing circuits 20 to equalize battery cell 11 remaining capacities in each battery unit 11 and subsequently controls the unit capacity equalizing circuits 40 to equalize battery unit 10 remaining capacities over the entire battery block 15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Junya YANO
  • Publication number: 20110074355
    Abstract: A battery unit balancing system comprises a discharging circuit and means for connecting the discharging circuit to a battery unit. The discharging circuit is configured such that it is automatically activated, when a voltage of the battery unit exceeds a predetermined threshold, to draw a constant discharging current from the battery unit until the voltage of the battery unit falls below the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Elite Power Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Yuan Dao, William Schlanger
  • Publication number: 20110074356
    Abstract: A charge and discharge circuit and a battery pack, both capable of voluntarily perform proper switching between a charge operation and a discharge operation of a secondary battery according to various situations, are provided. The charge and discharge circuit of a secondary battery is one capable of charging the secondary battery E2 by a power source voltage and of supplying power from the secondary battery E2 to an external device 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Mitsumi Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Yamazaki, Hidenori Tanaka, Yukihiro Terada, Toshio Nagai
  • Publication number: 20110074357
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a flow cell battery system is provided. The controller operates the flow cell battery system in a plurality of states including a plating state, a charging state and a discharge state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Gopalakrishnan R. Parakulam, Saroj Kumar Sahu, Ali Firouzi, Rick Winter, Jagat Banerjee, Binod Kumar Agarwal, PandariNath Siddineni
  • Publication number: 20110074358
    Abstract: A battery protection device which utilizes light current to control heavy current primarily uses an electronic control circuit of light current in combination with a large current control element, such as a relay, to protect large current recharging and discharging of a battery. The light current electronic control circuit includes three main circuits: a main control (micro control unit) circuit, a sampling circuit and a relay control circuit. The relay is primarily a latching relay, allowing the relay to have a self-locking function after operation, without continually supplying electricity to a solenoid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Chung-Ho LO
  • Publication number: 20110074359
    Abstract: A self-contained power source to charge a battery and/or power a load is provided. The power source does not utilize a connection to an external power supply, such as AC mains and/or an AC to DC converter. In one embodiment, the self-contained power source includes an ultra low voltage power generator, such as 0.3V of a single solar cell, or even lower to slightly above the GND potential, that provides a voltage to a rechargeable battery, a load or both. A voltage converter with boost topology is used to supply a voltage comparable to the voltage of the rechargeable battery. A first push circuit containing a zero threshold voltage switch, a MUX circuit and a one-pulse-control block is utilized to ensure initial and continued operation of the voltage converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Qi Deng
  • Publication number: 20110074360
    Abstract: An adapter including an associated battery capable of powering an electronic device. The power adapter typically includes the battery as an integral component that is connected to a plug or other interface capable of mating with a power source, such as a wall socket. Thus, the adapter battery may provide power either to operate the device or charge a battery within (or otherwise associated with) the device even if the adapter is not connected to a power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Duncan Kerr, David Robbins Falkenburg, Michael Nugent
  • Publication number: 20110074361
    Abstract: A power converter utilizes one or more nonlinear composite film capacitors constructed solely of polymer anti-ferroelectric (AFE) particle composites and configured as DC-link bus capacitors providing an energy buffer to reduce DC-link voltage ripple.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Fengfeng Tao, Yang Cao, Daniel Qi Tan
  • Publication number: 20110074362
    Abstract: A battery unit includes: a case; a circuit board configured to be provided in the case; a battery cell configured to be provided in the case and an endothermic reaction occurs during charging and an exothermic reaction occurs during discharging therein; a heat generating component configured to be provided on the circuit board; and a heat transferring member configured to be thermally connected with the heat generating component and the battery cell, and to transfer heat generated by the heat generating component to the battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Makoto MIDORIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20110074363
    Abstract: A method for preventing fake charging of an electronic apparatus is provided. The method includes: providing a power management table for setting function units for each power range; activating a fake charging preventing function according to a predetermined condition or an activating operation of users; detecting power of the electronic apparatus every a first predetermined time interval; determining a current power range the detected power falls into; determining whether the current power range is changed; beginning to time when the current power range is changed; activating function units which are disabled and whose power range is the current power range when the timing reaches a second predetermined time interval and the detected power is still in the current power range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hua-Dong Cheng, Han-Che Wang
  • Publication number: 20110074364
    Abstract: The control device detects the B-terminal voltage by a B-terminal voltage detection section. When an abnormal voltage detection section detects that a voltage value of the detected B-terminal voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage value, all switching elements of the negative pole-side arm in a power conversion section are brought into conduction by a negative pole-side arm short-circuiting section, whereas all switching elements of a positive pole-side arm are interrupted. In addition, a field current is limited to zero or to a limit value by a field current control section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji NAKAJIMA, Masato Mori
  • Publication number: 20110074365
    Abstract: A wind power generating system includes a unit for eliminating harmonics component of specified-order from inputted current detection value of a grid-side converter and a unit for controlling the grid-side converter using the current detection value in which harmonics are eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Yasuaki NAKAYAMA, Masaya Ichinose, Mitsugu Matsutake
  • Publication number: 20110074366
    Abstract: A permanent magnet generator assembly has a permanent magnet generator with magnetic flux control windings, a passive rectifier, and a passive control element. The passive control element electrically connects an output of the passive rectifier to the magnetic flux control windings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Richard A. Himmelmann
  • Publication number: 20110074367
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a static compensator and a method for controlling thereof, more particularly, to a static compensator including a transformer connected with a bus of a power system; an inverter operating according to a control signal and connected to the transformer in series; a tap changer changing turn ratio of the transformer; and a controller generating the control signal to operate the inverter and generating a tap up or a tap down signal to provide to the tap changer and a method for controlling thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Korea Electric Power Corporation
    Inventors: Jong-Su Yoon, Yong-Hak Kim
  • Publication number: 20110074368
    Abstract: A sensing circuit senses a load current to generate a sensed signal. A comparator's output is set to a first value if the sensed signal is equal to or greater than a reference signal, and to a second value if the sensed signal is smaller than the reference signal. A one-shot timer generates a logic signal that transitions from a first state to a second state in response to a first occurrence of the first value of the comparator's output, or optionally in response to each subsequent occurrence of the first value of the comparator's output if the one-shot timer is rearmed. A selector sets a first limit for the current delivered to the load in response to the first state of the logic signal, and a second limit for the current delivered to the load in response to the second state of the logic signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Decicon, Inc.
    Inventor: Hakan Ates Gurcan
  • Publication number: 20110074369
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a reference voltage generation unit, a comparison voltage generation unit, and a calibration unit. The reference voltage generation unit is disposed in a reference die and configured to generate a reference voltage. The comparison voltage generation unit is disposed in a die stacked on the reference die and configured to generate a comparison voltage in response to a calibration control signal. The calibration unit is configured to compare a level of the reference voltage with a level of the comparison voltage and generate the calibration control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Kee KWON, Hyung Dong Lee, Young Park Kim
  • Publication number: 20110074370
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator capable of setting an accurate short-circuit current. Used as a circuit for determining a current value of a short-circuit current of an overcurrent protection circuit is not a resistor for converting current into voltage but a circuit for controlling in the form of current, that is, a circuit of an N-channel depletion type transistor including a gate and a drain that are connected to each other and operating in a non-saturated state. The N-channel depletion type transistor has process fluctuations that are linked with those of a detection transistor, and hence an accurate short-circuit current may be set without trimming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Takashi Imura, Teruo Suzuki, Takao Nakashimo, Yotaro Nihei
  • Publication number: 20110074371
    Abstract: A voltage regulator may include a comparator with a first comparator input to receive a reference voltage, a second comparator input to receive an output voltage from a phase interleaved converter, and a comparator input. The regulator may also include a set of cascaded flip-flops corresponding to phases of the converter. The set of cascaded flip-flops may have a plurality of phase outputs to trigger a phase transition in the converter if the output voltage falls below the reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Seeman, Rinkle Jain
  • Publication number: 20110074372
    Abstract: An improved architecture of a power supply circuit with power factor correction, the power supply circuit includes power supply circuit output terminals and a voltage negative feedback circuit, the power supply circuit output terminals include a high potential terminals and a low potential terminals, the voltage negative feedback circuit includes a first feedback circuit and a second feedback circuit connected in series in order from the high potential terminal to the low potential terminal, a connection point of the first feedback circuit and the second feedback circuit acts as a feedback signal output terminal through which the voltage negative feedback circuit outputs a feedback signal, in the improved architecture, the first feedback circuit is replaced by a light source branch including a constant-current light source, and the second feedback circuit is replaced by a resistor branch for determining a working current of the light source branch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: William YU
  • Publication number: 20110074373
    Abstract: Control signals are generated for a buck-boost power stage of a buck-boost power converter to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. The buck-boost power stage includes an inductor and at least two power switches connected thereto. The output voltage is monitored to generate an error signal having clamped level according to a first detecting signal related to at least one of the input voltage, output voltage and inductor current. In a buck-boost mode, a compensation signal and a duty insertion signal are generated according to a second detecting signal related to at least one of the input voltage, output voltage, inductor current and variation of the output voltage, the error signal is compensated with the compensation signal to generate a compensated error signal, and the control signals are determined upon the combination of the compensated error signal, the duty insertion signal and a ramp signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventor: SHUI-MU LIN
  • Publication number: 20110074374
    Abstract: A driving apparatus for an electromagnetic load, said apparatus having at least one pair of first and second transistors arranged so as to form a current path with the electromagnetic load for discharging the current produced by the electromagnetic load. The first transistor has an inherent diode between the non-drivable terminals and the apparatus is configured to control switching of the pair of first and second transistors, to diode-connect the second transistor, with said first and second transistors switched off, so that the current produced by said electromagnetic load, crossing said inherent diode, creates an overvoltage between the terminals of the second diode-configured transistor such to exceed the conduction threshold voltage thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Ezio Galbiati
  • Publication number: 20110074375
    Abstract: A circuit for driving a switching stage including control and sync switches series connected at a switching node, at least one of the control and sync switches being a normal ON depletion mode device, the circuit comprising a gate driver including first and second switching stages for generating gate drive signals for the sync and control switches, respectively, the first switching stage having a first driver output node and the second switching stage having a second driver output node, a signal from the first node driving the sync switch and a signal from the second node driving the control switch and a circuit connected to the first and second switching stages, the circuit including a first circuit providing a first voltage source, the first circuit being coupled to the first switching stage and to the sync switch, a first bias voltage from the first voltage source being switched by the first switching stage, the first switching stage having a first state wherein the sync switch is on, and a second state wh
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Bo Yang, Jason Zhang, Michael A. Briere
  • Publication number: 20110074376
    Abstract: An output driving circuit capable of reducing EMI effect includes a non-overlapping signal generation unit for generating a first non-overlapping signal and a second non-overlapping signal according to an input signal, a pre-driver for generating a first pre-driving signal and a second pre-driving signal according to the first non-overlapping signal and the second non-overlapping signal, a high-side switch, a low-side switch, and a control unit for controlling the high-side switch or the low-side switch to be switched into a weak on state to reduce load inductive current effect for a load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Fu-Yuan Chen, Yu-Chen Chiang, Ming-Hung Chang
  • Publication number: 20110074377
    Abstract: To provide a time constant circuit and the like capable of acquiring a characteristic of an output voltage that attenuates gradually after attenuating steeply, compared to a characteristic that attenuates monotonously. The time constant circuit includes: a series/parallel circuit formed by serially connecting a plurality of parallel circuits each formed with a resistance element and a capacitance element between a first terminal and a second terminal; and a voltage-dividing resistance element connected between a third terminal connected to the second terminal and a fourth terminal. A first parallel circuit is formed with a first resistance element and a first capacitance element, a second parallel circuit with a second resistance element and a second capacitance element, and an n-th parallel circuit with an n-th resistance element and an n-th capacitance element. Note that “n” is the number of the parallel circuits and it is an integer of 2 or larger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: NEC LCD TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Kouichi OOGA
  • Publication number: 20110074378
    Abstract: A method of controlling a multiphase power converter including a plurality of sub-converters coupled to provide power to a load is disclosed. Each sub-converter includes a power switch. The method includes selectively and consistently turning on the power switch of one or more of the sub-converters at substantially a same time as a reference signal representing a desired output of the power converter increases. The method further includes selectively and consistently turning off the power switch of one or more of the sub-converters at substantially a same time as the reference signal representing the desired output of the power converter decreases. Other methods, multiphase power converters and controllers for multiphase power converters are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Astec International Limited
    Inventor: Piotr Markowski
  • Publication number: 20110074379
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter including a power supply supplying direct current (DC) to an inductor, a switching device controlling the supply of DC from the power supply to the inductor by switching between a conductive state and a disconnected state according to a modulation signal, a signal output device generating the modulation signal for increasing or decreasing a period of the conductive state of the switching device, wherein the signal output device increases or decreases a duty ratio of the modulation signal to increase or decrease the period of the conductive state of the switching device, and a delay device controlling an increase of a duty ratio of the modulation signal, wherein the signal output device outputs the modulation signal with the controlled duty ratio to the switching device, thereby delaying the switching device from reaching a conductive state in which the duty ratio is a value of 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Morimoto, Shinji Asakawa
  • Publication number: 20110074380
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electric conduction pads and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to an electric conduction pad having elastic properties while enabling heat emission, passage of electric current and transmission of electrical signals, using an electrically conductive wire material, as well as a method for manufacturing the same. The electric conduction pad of the present invention comprises: a stretchable planar pad; and at least one conductive wire aligned in a zig-zag pattern on the pad to pass electric current supplied from a power source or emit heat by the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: SILVERAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byung-Ok Jeon
  • Publication number: 20110074381
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include sensors comprising high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with capture reagents on a gate region of the HEMTs. Example sensors include HEMTs with a thin gold layer on the gate region and bound antibodies; a thin gold layer on the gate region and chelating agents; a non-native gate dielectric on the gate region; and nanorods of a non-native dielectric with an immobilized enzyme on the gate region. Embodiments including antibodies or enzymes can have the antibodies or enzymes bound to the Au-gate via a binding group. Other embodiments of the invention are methods of using the sensors for detecting breast cancer, prostate cancer, kidney injury, glucose, metals or pH where a signal is generated by the HEMT when a solution is contacted with the sensor. The solution can be blood, saliva, urine, breath condensate, or any solution suspected of containing any specific analyte for the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Fan REN, Stephen John PEARTON, Tanmay LELE
  • Publication number: 20110074382
    Abstract: A contactless current and power consumption sensor can be safely mounted on a circuit breaker box of a structure, so as to sense the current flow and/or power consumed in the structure. Because the sensor can be mounted on a surface of the circuit breaker box without the need to access energized conductors inside the box, an unskilled person can readily install the sensor to monitor total instantaneous current flow and thus, determine the power consumed by energized devices in the structure on a continuing basis. The output from the sensor can be supplied to a readout or can be conveyed by a wired or wireless link to a computing device disposed at a remote location, where the data can be stored or viewed on a display. By integrating the power consumed over time, the energy usage by the energized devices in a structure can also be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventor: Shwetak Patel
  • Publication number: 20110074383
    Abstract: Assemblies and methods for sensing current through semiconductor device leads are disclosed. One example method includes mounting a current sense assembly about a lead of a semiconductor device. The current sense assembly may include a carrier adapted to hold a current sensor in close proximity to a semiconductor device lead to sense current flowing in the lead. One example assembly for sensing current through a semiconductor device lead includes a carrier for mounting to the semiconductor device lead and a current sensor supported by the carrier. The carrier includes output terminals. The current sensor has leads electrically coupled to the output terminals. The current sensor is positioned to extend around at least a portion of the lead and provide a signal to the output terminals representing current flowing in the lead when the carrier is mounted to the lead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Bruce A. Frederick, Kwong Kei Chin
  • Publication number: 20110074384
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to measure current in power switching supplies is disclosed for simplification of in-circuit measurement. The method and apparatus to measure current includes a sensing capacitor which in series with a resistor is placed across the output inductor of the power supply in order to utilize the parasitic resistance of the inductor, in conjunction with a measurement controller which performs initial calibration and temperature compensation. Initial and secondary measurements are performed using an adjustable current sink in order to eliminate thermal effects. The method and apparatus to measure current in power switching supplies is particularly useful for overcoming invasive measurement techniques of for measuring current known in the art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Alcatel-Lucent Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Rami Labib, Marcos Vivas
  • Publication number: 20110074385
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor integrated circuit in which a ring oscillator is formed by a variable delay circuit to cause the ring oscillator to oscillate (S2) at the test operation of the variable delay circuit and it is determined whether the variable delay circuit is normal or abnormal depending on whether the ring oscillator satisfies a predetermined monotonic increase condition (S6) and a predetermined linearity condition (S7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Yasuyoshi Sunaga, Hideki Sakakibara, Yuko Ito, Tomoji Nakamura, Atsushi Hazeyama, Kozaburo Kurita, Koki Tsutsumida
  • Publication number: 20110074386
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a system comprising a peripheral component interface (PCI) host bridge. The PCI host bridge is configured to be coupled to a PCI bus, and to receive a system reset signal, to generate a PCI bus reset signal based on the received system reset signal, to detect a PCI operational mode of the PCI bus, and to generate a voltage indicator signal based on the detected PCI operational mode. A voltage regulator is coupled to the PCI host bridge and configured to receive the voltage indicator signal and to regulate a signaling voltage for the PCI bus based on the voltage indicator signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Parag Birmiwal, Bernard Charles Drerup
  • Publication number: 20110074387
    Abstract: A spectrum detection method, system and base station are provided, which relate to the field of communications technology, and improve the spectrum utilization in a cellular multi-hop network. The spectrum detection method includes: receiving an intermediate spectrum detection result sent by each node; and integrating the intermediate spectrum detection results to obtain a final spectrum detection result. The spectrum detection method, system, and base station are mainly applied to cellular multi-hop networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Hongcheng ZHUANG
  • Publication number: 20110074388
    Abstract: A structure is provided, the structure includes a metallic coupler circuit formed within a disk located within a coaxial cable connector. The metallic coupler circuit is located in a position that is external to a signal path of a radio frequency (RF) signal flowing through the connector. The metallic coupler circuit is configured to extract samples of the RF signal flowing through the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Robert Bowman
  • Publication number: 20110074389
    Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable with the signal cable coupled to a signal processing instrument via an input node. The input node is coupled to an input current amplifier via input circuitry. The input circuitry provides at least one of resistive and capacitive termination of the resistive center conductor signal cable. The termination of the resistive center conductor signal cable in the signal processing instrument provides a signal acquisition system where the capacitive loading of a device under test at higher frequencies is reduced by reducing the input capacitance of the probe tip circuitry resulting in an increase in the signal acquisition system bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Lester L. Larson
  • Publication number: 20110074390
    Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable of the signal acquisition probe is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Daniel G. Knierim, Lester L. Larson, Scott R. Jansen, Kenneth P. Dobyns, Michael Duane Stevens
  • Publication number: 20110074391
    Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system having an input amplifier with feedback loop circuitry and a compensation digital filter providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Daniel G. Knierim, Lester L. Larson, Scott R. Jansen, Kenneth P. Dobyns, Michael Duane Stevens
  • Publication number: 20110074392
    Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable of the signal acquisition probe is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system having an input amplifier with feedback loop circuitry and a shunt pole-zero pair coupled to the input circuitry providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Daniel G. Knierim, Lester L. Larson, Scott R. Jansen, Kenneth P. Dobyns, Michael Duane Stevens
  • Publication number: 20110074393
    Abstract: A fiber optic current or magnetic field sensor uses a sensing fiber in a coil for measuring a current or a magnetic field and has a retarder for converting between linearly polarized light and elliptically polarized light. The retardation of the retarder; its temperature dependence as well as its azimuth angle in respect to the plane of the fiber coil are optimized in dependence of the birefringence in the sensing fiber in order to minimize the influence of temperature variations and manufacturing tolerances on the overall scale factor of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD
    Inventors: Robert WUEEST, Andreas Frank, Klaus Rohnert
  • Publication number: 20110074394
    Abstract: A method, test circuit and test system provide measurements to accurately characterize threshold voltage changes due to negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) and positive bias temperature instability (PBTI). Both the bias temperature instability recovery profile and/or the bias temperature shifts due to rapid repetitions of stress application can be studied. In order to provide accurate measurements when stresses are applied at intervals on the order of tens of nanoseconds while avoiding unwanted recovery, and/or to achieve recovery profile sampling resolutions in the nanosecond range, multiple delay or ring oscillator frequency measurements are made using a delay line that is formed from delay elements that have delay variation substantially caused only by NBTI or PBTI effects. Devices in the delay elements are stressed, and then the delay line/ring oscillator is operated to measure a threshold voltage change for one or more measurement periods on the order of nanoseconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fadi H. Gebara, Jerry D. Hayes, John P. Keane, Sani R. Nassif, Jeremy D. Schaub