Patents Issued in July 31, 2012
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Patent number: 8232736Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system includes a PFC and output voltage controller and a LED lighting power system. The controller advantageously operates from an auxiliary voltage less than a link voltage generated by the LED lighting power system. The common reference voltage allows all the components of lighting system to work together. A power factor correction switch and an LED drive current switch are coupled to the common reference node and have control node-to-common node, absolute voltage that allows the controller to control the conductivity of the switches. The LED lighting system can utilize feed forward control to concurrently modify power demand by the LED lighting power system and power demand of one or more LEDs. The LED lighting system can utilize a common current sense device to provide a common feedback signal to the controller representing current in at least two of the LEDs.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventor: John L. Melanson
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Patent number: 8232737Abstract: Electronic ballasts, driver apparatus, and methods are provided in which a heating current is generated by the driver to power a resistive heating element of an insulation detector associated with a recessed can fixture using a regulated current source/sink circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Glenn Felty, Joseph G. Elek
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Patent number: 8232738Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide circuits and methods for driving a light-emitting diode (LED) light source. In one embodiment, a printed circuit board (PCB) includes a bridge rectifier rectifying an AC voltage to a rectified AC voltage, an LED light source, and a first switch coupled to the LED light source in series controlling a current through the LED light source according to a predetermined current reference. The LED light source and the first switch coupled in series receive the rectified AC voltage while the first switch is controlled linearly. The circuit further includes a current path coupled in parallel with the LED light source and an illuminated switch coupled between the AC power source and the bridge rectifier.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2011Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: O2Micro, IncInventors: Sheng Tai Lee, Yung Lin Lin, Chuan Chiung Kuo
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Patent number: 8232739Abstract: An LED package containing integrated circuitry for matching a power source voltage to the LED operating voltage, LEDs containing such integrated circuitry, systems containing such packages, and methods for matching the source and operating voltages are described. The integrated circuitry typically contains a power converter and a constant current circuit. The LED package may also contain other active or passive components such as pin-outs for integrated or external components, a transformer and rectifier, or a rectifier circuit. External components can include control systems for regulating the LED current level or the properties of light emitted by the LED. Integrating the power supply and current control components into the LED can provide for fabrication of relatively small LEDs using fewer and less device-specific components.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2012Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Cree, Inc.Inventors: Robert Underwood, Yifeng Wu
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Patent number: 8232740Abstract: A capacitive current-sharing control circuit for LED lamp strings includes a signal generating unit, a control unit, a current-sharing unit, and a light-emitting unit. The control unit is used to control a driving voltage, which is generated from the signal generating unit, to drive the light-emitting unit, thus effectively providing a stable current source to the light-emitting unit to maintain illuminating brightness of the LED lamp strings.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Chicony Power Technology Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ming-Ho Huang
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Patent number: 8232741Abstract: An electronic ballast provides controlled preheating for a discharge lamp. A power converting circuit receives a DC power input and converts it into an AC power output. A starting circuit coupled to the power converting circuit generates a high voltage for starting the lamp. A control circuit controls the power converting circuit to generate AC power output to the lamp dependent on a mode of operation. A symmetry detecting circuit determines a positive-negative symmetrical state of the output power provided to the discharge lamp with respect to ground. The control circuit has a starting mode wherein the discharge lamp is triggered to start with a high voltage generated by the starting circuit, an electrode heating mode wherein the AC power output of the power converting circuit is controlled to a first frequency for heating each lamp electrode, and a steady-state mode wherein the AC power output of the power converting circuit is controlled to a second frequency for maintaining lighting of the discharge lamp.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Naoki Komatsu, Daisuke Yamahara
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Patent number: 8232742Abstract: The present invention is directed to method, system and computer-readable media for controlling lighting devices. In some embodiments, a method for controlling pulse width modulated lighting devices within a lighting apparatus comprising a plurality of sets of lighting devices is disclosed. The method includes setting a counter for a first set of the plurality of sets of lighting devices using a master counter and an activation duration for one or more other sets of the plurality of sets of lighting devices. The method further includes determining an activation time period within a duty cycle for the first set of lighting devices using the counter for the first set of lighting devices and an activation duration for the first set of lighting devices. In some embodiments of the present invention, the lighting devices are light emitting diodes grouped into sets (or banks) and controlled to limit the magnitude and/or quantity of instantaneous current fluctuations in a power supply within the lighting apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Arkalumen Inc.Inventor: Gerald Edward Briggs
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Patent number: 8232743Abstract: A voltage converter for use in a backlight module stores energy of an input voltage using an inductor and outputs a plurality of output voltages accordingly. The charging path of the inductor is controlled according to the first output voltage so that the first output voltage can be stabilized. The discharging paths from the inductor to other output voltages are controlled according to the differences between other output voltages and the first output voltage so that other output voltages can also be stabilized.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Chunghwa Pictures Tubes, Ltd.Inventors: Ke-Horng Chen, Chi-Lin Chen, Yao-Yi Yang, Ling Li, Chia-Lin Liu, Chi-Neng Mo
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Patent number: 8232744Abstract: A method for the closed-loop control of the operation of a light source which is supplied with power by a DC/DC voltage converter, a manipulated variable being regulated by a setpoint value for an operational parameter of the DC/DC voltage converter being input, wherein the method comprises the steps of: increasing the switching frequency of the DC/DC voltage converter by an increase value prior to rapid changes in the setpoint value; waiting for a retention time; setting the new setpoint value; waiting for the end of a total retention time; and lowering the switching frequency of the DC/DC voltage converter by the increase value.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: OSRAM AGInventor: Martin Brueckel
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Patent number: 8232745Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, a method and system is provided for designing improved intelligent, LED-based lighting systems. The LED based lighting systems may include fixtures with one or more of rotatable LED light bars, integrated sensors, onboard intelligence to receive signals from the LED light bars and control the LED light bars, and a mesh network connectivity to other fixtures.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Digital Lumens IncorporatedInventors: Brian J. Chemel, Colin Piepgras, Steve T. Kondo, Scott D. Johnston
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Patent number: 8232746Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp lighting device in this invention comprises a converter, an inverter, an igniter, a controller, and a pulse voltage detection circuit. The converter outputs the direct current voltage. The inverter converts the direct current voltage into the lighting voltage which is alternating current voltage, and applies the lighting voltage to the high pressure discharge lamp through an output terminal. The igniter is configured to output the pulse voltage superimposed on the lighting voltage, whereby the starting voltage is applied to the high pressure discharge lamp. The controller is configured to control the igniter to allow the igniter to superimpose the pulse voltage on the lighting voltage. The pulse voltage detection circuit detects the starting voltage to output the detection signal. The starting voltage regulation circuit regulates the starting voltage to the desired voltage value of the voltage on the basis of the detection signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Akira Yufuku, Hiroyasu Eriguchi, Takeshi Goriki, Takeshi Kamoi, Jun Kumagai, Naoki Komatsu, Nobutoshi Matsuzaki, Satoru Nagata, Daisuke Yamahara
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Patent number: 8232747Abstract: A particle accelerator (100) comprises a power supply arrangement (110), a plurality of solid-state switched drive sections (120), a plurality of magnetic core sections (130) and a switch control module (140). The drive sections (120) are connected to the power supply arrangement (110) for receiving electrical power therefrom, and each drive section comprises a solid-state switch, electronically controllable at turn-on and turn-off, for selectively providing a drive pulse at an output of the drive section. The magnetic core sections (130) are symmetrically arranged along a central beam axis, and each magnetic core of the sections is coupled to a respective drive section (120) through an electrical winding connected to the output of the drive section.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: ScandiNova Systems ABInventors: Walter Frederick John Crewson, Mark H. Kaltenborn
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Patent number: 8232748Abstract: An electromagnetic wave having a phase velocity and an amplitude is provided by an electromagnetic wave source to a traveling wave linear accelerator. The traveling wave linear accelerator generates a first output of electrons having a first energy by accelerating an electron beam using the electromagnetic wave. The first output of electrons can be contacted with a target to provide a first beam of x-rays. The electromagnetic wave can be modified by adjusting its amplitude and the phase velocity. The traveling wave linear accelerator then generates a second output of electrons having a second energy by accelerating an electron beam using the modified electromagnetic wave. The second output of electrons can be contacted with a target to provide a second beam of x-rays. A frequency controller can monitor the phase shift of the electromagnetic wave from the input to the output ends of the accelerator and can correct the phase shift of the electromagnetic wave based on the measured phase shift.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Accuray, Inc.Inventors: Paul Dennis Treas, Roger Heering Miller, Juwen Wang
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Patent number: 8232749Abstract: A pair of cavities defined within a hollow elongate accelerator body include a first resonant cavity having a first resonant slot through an outer wall thereof, and a second resonant cavity having a second resonant slot through an outer wall thereof. The first resonant slot and the second resonant slot are separated by a void region that extends between the outer wall of the first cavity and the outer wall of the second cavity and is bounded in part by an inner surface of the hollow elongate member. The first and second cavities are coupled to each other through a dual slot coupling structure that includes the first resonant slot, the void region, and the second resonant slot.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Far-Tech, Inc.Inventors: Nikolai Barov, Roger H Miller
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Patent number: 8232750Abstract: A traction drive system comprising a plurality of electric motors selectably connected to a main shaft by engagement devices, each motor or combination of motors provides distinct performance characteristics along a broad spectrum of performance characteristics; and a method of managing a traction drive system including sensing physical parameters of the fraction drive system, selecting an electric motor having well-suited performance profile based on pre-selected criteria against which the sensed parameter is compared, and engaging one or more of the corresponding motors to the main shaft.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Craig Steven Smugeresky, Derrin Lynn Olischefski
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Patent number: 8232751Abstract: A position sensorless drive method capable of driving a permanent magnet motor by an ideal sine-wave current and enabling the driving from an extremely low-speed range in the vicinity of zero-speed is provided. A neutral-point potential of the permanent magnet motor is detected in synchronization with a PWM waveform of an inverter. The position of a rotor of the permanent magnet motor is estimated from the variation of the neutral-point potential. Since the neutral-point potential is varied in accordance with the magnetic circuit characteristics of an individual permanent magnet motor, the position can be detected regardless of the presence of saliency of the permanent magnet motor.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Renesas Electronics CorporationInventors: Yoshitaka Iwaji, Yasuhiko Kokami, Minoru Kurosawa
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Patent number: 8232752Abstract: An electric motor control apparatus that can quickly and accurately locate a short-circuit fault point. The electric motor control apparatus includes: a current controller determining respective phase voltage commands according to currents flowing in respective phases of an electric motor and a torque current command; a switching element drive circuit instructing, based on the respective phase voltage commands, an inverter to perform a switching operation; the inverter receiving a switching operation signal to drive the electric motor; current detectors disposed in series with the switching elements in the respective phases of the inverter; and a short-circuit point locating mechanism storing a test pattern indicative of a predetermined combination for turning on the switching elements of the inverter, and locating a short-circuit fault point based on the test pattern and current detection values in the respective phases detected by the current detectors in response to the test pattern.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2007Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Isao Kezobo, Masahiro Kimata, Takayuki Kifuku, Kazumichi Tsutsumi, Chiaki Fujimoto, Noriyuki Inoue
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Patent number: 8232753Abstract: A electric motor drive apparatus comprising a voltage control unit performing voltage control processing that determines alternating-current voltage command values serving as command values of the alternating-current voltages to be supplied to the alternating-current electric motor and generates switching control signals for the inverter; and a control mode selection unit selecting a synchronous control mode in which a cycle of electric angle of the alternating-current electric motor is synchronized with a switching cycle of the inverter, or an asynchronous control mode in which the cycles are not synchronized with each other. Current detection processing is performed to detect currents flowing in coils of the alternating-current electric motor in every standard calculation cycle that is set to a half of a cycle of the carrier.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Arinori Shimada, Mitsuru Nakamura, Subrata Saha, Ken Iwatsuki
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Patent number: 8232754Abstract: A control device for an electrically driven door is provided that can enhance the sensitivity of detection of a door pinch state and that can prevent a passenger from being pressed when the door pinch state occurs. The control device includes a driving force instruction value producing unit that outputs a driving force instruction value of the electrically driven door, a state observing unit that estimates a mechanical resistant force to a door driving system, a reference model that determines a dynamic characteristic of the electrically driven door to the mechanical resistant force estimated by the state observing unit, a gain compensator that computes a control compensation value that makes an output of the reference model coincide with an actual speed of the electrically driven door; and an adder that adds the control compensation value computed by the gain compensator to the driving force instruction value outputted by the driving force instruction value producing unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Satoru Ozaki
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Patent number: 8232755Abstract: A DC motor is provided. The DC motor prevents rush or overload of current in the DC motor during and/or after power input irregularities to the DC motor. A control circuit of the DC motor is configured to control current provided to the DC motor. When power irregularities in the power input to the DC motor are detected by the control circuit, the control circuit stops generating PWM (Pulse Width Modulated) signals and stops the current provided to the DC motor. After the stoppage of PWM signals, the control circuit can perform a soft-start of the PWM signals when the power irregularities are no longer detected. The soft starting of the PWM signals generates gradual increase in current to the DC motor, thus, preventing sudden rush of current that cause malfunction of the DC motor.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Inventor: Young-Chun Jeung
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Patent number: 8232756Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a motor control apparatus that can perform an abnormality diagnosis of current sensors and achieve cost reduction. When the outputs from three current sensors, which detect individual phase currents of a 3-phase AC current supplied from an inverter to a 3-phase AC motor, indicate that the sum of the individual phase currents of the 3-phase AC current is greater than a predetermined value, a sensor abnormality judgment unit of a motor control unit judges that one of the three current sensors is abnormal. The sensor abnormality judgment unit identifies an abnormal current sensor, which is one of the three current sensors, and performs calculations in accordance with the remaining two normal current sensors to output the current in the phase detected by the abnormal current sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Shigeyuki Yoshihara, Hirokazu Matsui, Kohei Myoen, Toshisada Mitsui
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Patent number: 8232757Abstract: A motor rotational position detecting method detects the magnetic pole position of each phase of a three-phase AC servomotor, generates a three-phase square wave signal having a phase difference of 120 degrees, allocates data on the rotational position of a motor shaft to the edge of each square wave signal, calculates the rotational speed of the motor on the basis of the elapsed time from the previous edge detection point to this time edge detection point, and estimates the rotational position of the motor shaft at a certain period and outputs it on the basis of the rotational speed of the motor and the rotational position allocated to this time edge in the rotational section from this time edge detection point to the next edge detection point. As a result, a detection mechanism can be constructed with a small installation space and at low cost and the output of a high-resolution encoder can be obtained in a pseudo manner.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2007Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.Inventor: Kozo Sasaki
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Patent number: 8232758Abstract: A controller estimates Coulomb friction itself together with inertia and viscous friction, and reduces the influence of the Coulomb friction on the accuracy of the estimated inertia. In addition, the controller estimates inertia, viscous friction and Coulomb friction simultaneously with sequential adaptation in which a Fourier transformer is not used but an inverse transfer function model is used in order to minimize the estimated error. Data sampled for a predetermined time need not be accumulated, as a result, a large amount of data memory is unnecessary.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Fanuc LtdInventors: Tadashi Okita, Yukio Toyozawa, Naoto Sonoda
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Patent number: 8232759Abstract: [Problem] In a pseudo-current source inverter which drives a motor at a high speed, a current phase adjustment is assured and facilitated to perform a field-weakening control or suppress a terminal voltage saturation at a time of the high-speed motor drive. [Means For Solving Problem] A phase advance correction is carried out for a magnetic flux phase information from which a 120 degree conduction pattern is obtained with a motor terminal voltage as a reference phase. The phase advance correction includes the correction of differentiating the terminal voltage detection signals of the motor, the adjustment of enlarging the phase advance correction quantity in a case where the motor load current is large, and delays the gate signals of the 120 degree conduction pattern in accordance with the speed estimation value through a delay counter and carries out the phase advance correction as the rising edge timing of the subsequent gate signal at the subsequent step phase.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Meidensha CorporationInventor: Yugo Tadano
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Patent number: 8232760Abstract: A system and method for controlling an AC motor drive includes a control system programmed with an energy algorithm configured to optimize operation of the motor drive. Specifically, the control system input an initial voltage-frequency command to the AC motor drive based on an initial voltage/frequency (V/Hz) curve, receives a real-time output of the AC motor drive generated according to the initial voltage-frequency command, and feedback a plurality of modified voltage-frequency commands to the AC motor drive, each of the plurality of modified voltage-frequency commands comprising a deviation from the initial V/Hz curve. The control system also determines a real-time value of the motor parameter corresponding to each of the plurality of modified voltage-frequency commands, and feeds back a modified voltage-frequency command to the AC motor drive so that the real-time value of the motor parameter is within a motor parameter tolerance range.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Easton CorporationInventors: Bin Lu, Ting Yan, Steven John Fredette, Charles John Luebke
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Patent number: 8232761Abstract: A two-stage voltage step-up converter and energy storage system is utilized for harvesting trickling electrons from benthic microbe habitats. A relatively random low voltage from the microbial fuel cell (less than about 0.8 VDC) is provided to the first stage step-up converter, which stores power in a first output storage device. A first comparator circuit turns on the second stage step-up converter to transfer energy from the first output storage device to a second output storage device. A second comparator circuit intermittently connects the load to the second output storage device. After initial start-up, the system is self-powered utilizing the first and second output devices but may use a battery for the initial start-up, after which an automatic switch can switch the battery out of the circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Daniel P. Thivierge, Promode R. Bandyopadhyay
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Patent number: 8232762Abstract: A computer includes a system part which has at least one electronic component, a power supplying part which supplies a main electric power to the system part, a battery part which receives charging electric power from the power supplying part and supplies auxiliary electric power to the system part, and a controlling part which, if the main electric power is supplied by the power supplying part, and if charge level of the battery part according to supply of the charging electric power exceeds a reference level corresponding to a discharged state, cuts off the supply of the charging electric power and controls the battery part to discharge the auxiliary electric power.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Chong Kyu Yun
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Patent number: 8232763Abstract: Electrical vehicle profiles for power grid operation. Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for collecting and storing electrical vehicle usage and charging information, which may enable the generation of usage and charging profiles. Additionally, these usage and charging profiles may be usable to operate electricity grids in areas where electrical vehicles are prevalent. Grid maintenance, as well as power allocation, may be controlled based at least in part on the usage and charging profiles.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2011Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: John Christopher Boot
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Patent number: 8232764Abstract: An electronic apparatus (1) includes a power receiving device (2) and an electronic apparatus main body (3). The power receiving device (2) includes a power receiving coil (11) having a spiral coil, a rectifier (12), and a secondary battery (13). The electronic apparatus main body (3) includes an electronic device (14) and a circuit board (15). A magnetic foil (16) is arranged in at least one position between the spiral coil (11) and the secondary battery (13), the rectifier (12), the electronic device (14), or the circuit board (15). The magnetic foil (16) has a ?r?·t value expressed as the product of the real component ?r? of relative permeability and the plate thickness t of 30000 or larger.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Materials Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tetsuo Inoue, Takao Kusaka
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Patent number: 8232765Abstract: An electric vehicle charging system includes logic collocated with an electric service panel to monitor a total present electric current consumption value for all electric consumers below a point in the service panel; a first input to receive the present electric current consumption value from the logic collocated with the service panel, and to compare the present electric current consumption value with a maximum current capacity value for the service panel; a second input to receive electric current from the service panel; an output to supply electric charging power to at least one electric vehicle; and logic to set an electric charging current drawn from the service panel through the second input and provided to the electric vehicle charging output to a value less than a difference between the maximum current capacity for the service panel and a sum of the present electric current consumption value and the current consumption value of a largest expected electric consumer.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2011Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Inventor: James A Billmaier
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Patent number: 8232766Abstract: An adapter for providing a source of power to a mobile device through an industry standard port is provided. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the adapter comprises a plug unit, a power converter, a primary connector, and an identification subsystem. The plug unit is operative to couple the adapter to a power socket and operative to receive energy from the power socket. The power converter is electrically coupled to the plug unit and is operable to regulate the received energy from the power socket and to output a power requirement to the mobile device. The primary connector is electrically coupled to the power converter and is operative to couple to the mobile device and to deliver the outputted power requirement to the mobile device. The identification subsystem is electrically coupled to the primary connector and is operative to provide an identification signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2011Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Research In Motion LimitedInventors: Daniel M. Fischer, Dan G. Radut, Michael F. Habicher, Quang A. Luong, Jonathan T. Malton
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Patent number: 8232767Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for testing batteries, which can prevent errors from occurring due to the tolerance of voltage sensors when the charged states of batteries are measured, and can charge a battery having a charged state deteriorated due to the difference in the resistance of each battery. The apparatus includes a voltage circuit for measuring voltages of N batteries. A resistance circuit decreases voltages of batteries, which are greater than a reference voltage. A connection switch unit selects any one of the N batteries. A divert change unit separates polarities of each battery and changes positions of an cathode and a anode of the battery depending on separated polarities. A selection switch unit selectively connects the cathode and anode of the battery to an cathode and a anode of the voltage circuit or the resistance circuit.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2006Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jeon Keun Oh, Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang
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Patent number: 8232768Abstract: A system for cell balancing comprises battery modules and a controller. Each of the battery modules comprises battery cells, balance circuits and a battery management module. The battery management module in each of the battery modules is coupled to the battery cells and for acquiring cell voltages of battery cells. The balance circuits are coupled to the battery cells and for performing balance operation on the battery cells under control of the battery management module. The controller is coupled to the battery modules and for generating a reference signal based on the cell voltages provided by each of the battery modules. The battery management module in each of the battery modules can control the balance circuits to balance the battery cells according to the reference signal, thereby achieving cell balance among the battery modules.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: O2Micro, Inc.Inventors: Xiaohua Hou, Jiulian Dai
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Patent number: 8232769Abstract: A passive battery discharge apparatus located within a cap. The cap extends over battery contacts to be discharged. The discharge apparatus includes a conductive material with specified volumetric resistivity properties that is formed into a pad. The cap is positioned over the contacts so that the pad touches and spans between the contacts to be discharged. A spring insures good contact between the pad and the battery contacts. A metal heat sink provides added thermal control. The discharge apparatus provides an economical solution to safely transport batteries that are beyond their useful service life by avoiding circuit components in favor of conductive elastomers or conductive foams.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Bren-Tronics, Inc.Inventor: Henry Paczkowski
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Patent number: 8232770Abstract: To provide a technology for obtaining a remaining capacity of a battery with high accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventor: Masafumi Okumura
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Patent number: 8232771Abstract: A gas gauge circuit has a power supply pin, a power return pin, power-on reset capability, and a communications signal pin. A reset control circuit is coupled between the power supply pin and the communications signal pin, or between the power return pin and the communications signal pin. The reset control circuit removes power to the gas gauge circuit in accordance with a control signal asserted on the communications signal pin. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Timothy M. Johnson, Scott Mullins, David John Tupman
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Patent number: 8232772Abstract: An integrated circuit is disclosed including a primary input for receiving an input voltage, a battery voltage input for receiving a battery voltage signal and an output for providing an output voltage higher than the battery voltage. First circuitry responsive to the input voltage is provided for turning off the output voltage responsive to an input over voltage condition. Second circuitry responsive to the battery voltage signal is provided for turning off the output voltage responsive to a battery over voltage condition. Third circuitry provides for over current protection.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.Inventors: Zheren Lai, Hsien Yi Chou, Zengjing Wu
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Patent number: 8232773Abstract: An over voltage transient controller to protect a rechargeable battery from an over voltage transient condition. The over voltage transient controller may comprise a comparator to compare a first signal with a second signal representative of a reference voltage level and to provide an output signal representative of an over voltage transient condition to a switch if the first signal is greater than or equal to the second signal. The switch is responsive to the output signal to protect the rechargeable battery from the over voltage transient condition. The over voltage transient controller may further comprise a DAC, wherein the second signal is based, at least in part, on an output of the DAC. An apparatus comprising a charge switch and such an over voltage transient controller is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: O2Micro, Inc.Inventors: Bruce Denning, Guoxing Li, Liusheng Liu
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Patent number: 8232774Abstract: According to some embodiments, battery charge management using a scheduling application is disclosed. A first parameter may be received from a scheduling application running on a mobile computing device having a battery pack. Based on at least the first parameter and battery pack data, a required charge percentage for the battery pack may be determined and the remaining capacity of the battery pack may be determined. If the remaining capacity of the battery pack is less than the required charge percentage, a charge termination voltage may be determined and the battery pack may be charged to the charge termination voltage.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Naoki Matsumura, Nobuhiro Otani, Don J. Nguyen, Kiyohiro Hamaji
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Patent number: 8232775Abstract: Several methods and systems to perform limitation of vampiric power consumption with decoupling of an inductive power apparatus and an alternating current power source is disclosed. In an embodiment, an inductive battery charging system includes an inductive power apparatus that provides power to a target load when the inductive power apparatus is coupled to an alternating current power source. The system further includes an observation circuit to determine a power consumption associated with the target load, and a detection circuit to determine when a power consumption reaches a threshold level. The system also includes a separation circuit to decouple the inductive power apparatus and the alternating current power source when the power consumption is lower than a threshold level to limit vampiric power consumption of the inductive power apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Vampire LabsInventor: Jeffrey Raymond Eastlack
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Patent number: 8232776Abstract: According to one embodiment, a charging method for an assembled cell including a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series is disclosed. The method can detect the cell voltages. The method can set a charging current setting value so as to lower the charging current setting value of the assembled cell, if at least one of the detected cell voltages reaches a predetermined charge termination upper limit voltage. The method can control the charging current of the assembled cell according to the charging current setting value. In addition, the method can stop the charge, when a lowest cell voltage is lower than a predetermined charge termination lower limit voltage at a time when at least one of the cell voltages detected reaches the charge termination upper limit voltage.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Yoshinao Tatebayashi
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Patent number: 8232777Abstract: In an inverter generator having an engine generator unit generating alternating current, a converter converting the alternating current to direct current, an inverter that converts the direct current to alternating current, an inverter driver that drives switching elements with a PWM signal generated using a reference sine wave of a desired output voltage waveform and a carrier and makes the alternating current to the alternating current of a predetermined frequency, the alternating current supplied to an electrical load is detected, gains Gn (n: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, . . . m) of n-th harmonics of the reference sine wave and amplitudes An are calculated from the detected current, and the reference sine wave is corrected by a sum obtained by the calculated gains and amplitudes. With this, the reference sine wave is accurately corrected to reliably remove harmonic distortion components from the output voltage waveform.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shoji Hashimoto, Kazufumi Muronoi
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Patent number: 8232778Abstract: A generator controller provides independent and redundant overvoltage protection to an associated generator. The generator controller monitors the generator output at a first point of a regulation and a second point of regulation. A generator control unit (GCU) provides overvoltage protection based on the generator output monitored at the first point of regulation, including at least one of tripping a first generator control relay (GCR) to remove excitation from an exciter winding and tripping a generator line contactor (GLC) to disconnect the generator output from a bus. A overvoltage protection unit (OPU) provides independent, redundant protection based on the generator output monitored at the second point of regulation, including at least one of tripping a second GCR to remove excitation from the exciter winding and tripping the GLC to disconnect the generator output from the bus.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2011Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventor: Daxesh K. Patel
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Patent number: 8232779Abstract: A method for selecting the optimum number of phases for a converter is provided, which selects a duty range using an input voltage and an output voltage, obtains ripple values for multiple phases in the duty range, and selects the optimum number of phases using the corresponding ripple values. The method for selecting the optimum number of phases for a converter includes a duty range selection step of selecting a duty range using an input voltage and an output voltage, a ripple value calculation step of obtaining ripple values for multiple phases within the selected duty range, a range ripple selection step of selecting one or more phases in the duty range, and a rated ripple selection step of selecting the phases having the minimum ripple value in a rated duty among the phases selected in the range ripple selection step.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Sungkyunkwan University Foundation for Corporate CollaborationInventors: Byoung-Kuk Lee, Jong-Soo Kim, Gyu-Yeong Choe
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Patent number: 8232780Abstract: A switching control circuit includes an A/D converter that converts detection signals of an input voltage detection circuit, a current detection resistor, and an output voltage detection circuit into a digital signal, a D/A converter that provides a reference voltage to an analog comparator, a PWM circuit that outputs a control voltage to a switching element, and a CPU that provides a specified value to the D/A converter as a reference value, reads the values converted by the A/D converter, and obtains the average value of the inductor current. The CPU reads an inductor current Ib when the output of the PWM circuit is set at a high level, and obtains the average value of an inductor current peak value Ip determined by the specified value and the inductor current value Ib at turn-on as an average inductor current value ILav.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2011Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoshiyuki Uno
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Patent number: 8232781Abstract: A device for measuring the current flowing through a power transistor of a voltage regulator, the voltage regulator having an input voltage and providing a regulated output voltage and the power transistor coupled between the input and output voltages. The measuring device includes a further transistor adapted to mirror a portion of the current flowing through the power transistor, the further transistor and the power transistor have a first non-drivable terminal in common that is coupled to the input voltage. The measuring device also includes a circuit block to connect the second non-drivable terminals of the power and the further transistor and to provide an output current equal to the portion of the current flowing through the first transistor; the measuring device further including a circuit adapted to detect the output current of said circuit block.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Filippo Marino, Marco Minieri, Gaetano Petrina
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Patent number: 8232782Abstract: A control circuit for a variable phase voltage regulator comprises an error amplifier to generate a difference signal based on a difference between a reference voltage and a signal representative of a voltage at an output node of the variable phase voltage regulator. The control circuit also comprises a variable phase compensator to amplify the difference signal to produce a modified difference signal to compensate for effects of varying the number of active phases in the variable phase voltage regulator, wherein the amplification is proportional to a ratio of total number of phases in the variable phase voltage regulator to number of active phases in the variable phase voltage regulator.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.Inventors: M. Jason Houston, Bogdan M. Duduman, Weihong Qiu
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Patent number: 8232783Abstract: A constant-voltage power supply circuit which limits the consumption current inside at startup or when overloaded and suppresses the occurrence of an overshoot at startup, comprises an error amplifying part; an output part having an outputting PMOS; a load current monitoring part that monitors a load current flowing through the PMOS and increases the bias current of the error amplifying part according to the load current; and a gain adjusting part having a current limiting resistor and that monitors the load current and decreases a gain of the error amplifying part according to this load current. Hence, at startup or when overloaded, the gain adjusting part operates as a limiter circuit. Hence, at startup or when overloaded, the consumption current inside can be limited. Further, at startup, the response is made slower by this limiter operation, thus suppressing the occurrence of an overshoot.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kenji Yanagawa
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Patent number: 8232784Abstract: A current sensing circuit includes a first resistor, a second resistor and a sense amplifier. The first resistor converts a current flowing through the first resistor to a voltage drop between positive and negative sides of the first resistor. The second resistor is coupled to the negative side of the first resistor. The sense amplifier is coupled to the positive side of the first resistor via a first pin of the sense amplifier, and coupled to the negative side of the first resistor through the second resistor via a second pin of the sense amplifier. The sense amplifier employs a negative feedback to generate a sensing current proportional to the current flowing through the first resistor.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: O2Micro, IncInventors: Serban Mihai Popescu, Cristian Andreev
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Patent number: 8232785Abstract: A programmable AC/DC or DC/DC power supply adapted to compensate for voltage drop in a cable extending to a portable electronic device. The invention reduces the number and size of cable wires and tip components needed to remotely control an output voltage level and an output current limit. The voltage and current programming components are outside the compensation feedback loop.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: IGO, Inc.Inventor: Liming Sun