Patents Issued in May 27, 2014
-
Patent number: 8736190Abstract: A primary side PFC driver circuit is disclosed that includes a switch control circuit for commanding a switch to allow an inductor coupled to an output load (e.g., LEDs) to transfer energy provided by an input voltage source. The switch control circuit provides two signals for commanding the switch. A first signal having a first frequency, with a duty cycle in proportion to the input voltage amplitude, commands the switch to allow the average input current to be proportional to the input voltage amplitude. A second signal having a second frequency higher than the first frequency pulses the output load with substantially constant current pulses based on a value of the first signal (e.g., while the first signal is high). The current pulses produce a substantially constant current in the output load.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: ATMEL CorporationInventors: Jeff Kotowski, Charles Cai, Ranajit Ghoman
-
Patent number: 8736191Abstract: A method includes receiving a sense signal having multiple pulses, where the sense signal is based on an output of a dimmer. The method also includes, for each of multiple sampling periods, (i) identifying at least one pulse duty cycle for at least one pulse in the sense signal during that sampling period and (ii) generating an output value identifying a duty cycle for driving one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). The output value is based on the at least one pulse duty cycle. The method further includes filtering the output values using a filter and adjusting the filter based on a rate at which the output of the dimmer changes. The filter could be adjusted by controlling whether an additional resistor forms part of an RC filter based on a sampling state.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventor: Steven M. Barrow
-
Patent number: 8736192Abstract: An apparatus for driving an LED device having a plurality of LED channels is disclosed. Each LED channel has a plurality of LEDs connected in series. A power converter converts an input voltage into an output voltage and outputs the output voltage to an output terminal that is connected to first terminals of the plurality of LED channels. A plurality of current controllers are connected to second terminals of the plurality of LED channels, respectively. Each current controller controls a current of a corresponding LED channel. A detection controller determines a detection time based on voltages of the second terminals of the plurality of LED channels. A state detector detects the open-circuited states of the plurality of LED channels based on voltages of the second terminals of the plurality of LED channels at the detection time.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Ilyong Jung, Seunguk Yang, Jae-yong Lee, Jinkyum Kim
-
Patent number: 8736193Abstract: Threshold-based zero-crossing detection is provided. A power phase threshold detector detects when absolute value of a voltage level of the electrical power rises above a non-zero voltage threshold and outputs a zero-crossing signal to a controller to indicate occurrence of the zero-crossing. Delaying the zero-crossing signal to the point when the absolute value of the voltage level of the electrical power rises above the non-zero voltage threshold ensures completion of the zero-crossing of the power phase prior to signaling the controller. The controller provides signals to a switching circuit for controlling switching of electrical power to a load based on the zero-crossing indications.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.Inventor: Marc Gallo
-
Patent number: 8736194Abstract: A TRIAC dimmer gates an AC waveform from an AC power source in proportion to a control signal and outputs a TRIAC pulse having part of the waveform missing. The TRIAC pulse is rectified and is applied to an LED array and the drive current flowing to the LED array is detected at a current detection resistor. The drive current value and a predetermined value are compared at a comparator and in accordance with the comparison result thereof the control transistor is turned off. Then, the TRIAC pulse is converted to a DC voltage signal and in accordance with the obtained DC voltage signal the drive current value or the predetermined value input by the comparator are changed. Furthermore, instead of the TRIAC pulse, a PWM pulse supplied from an external source may also be utilized.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLCInventors: Shuhei Kawai, Tomoyuki Goto, Feng Xu
-
Patent number: 8736195Abstract: A system includes a single-inductor-multiple-out (SIMO) converter having storage circuitry in communication with a plurality of output channels, and a controller that controls and measures current flow through the SIMO converter. A signal generator may output switching signals to store current in the storage circuitry and discharge the stored current into the plurality of output channels. The discharged current may be measured and compared to a desired current draw through the output channels over a sample period. A compensator may determine whether to change one or more timing parameters used to control the flow of current through the SIMO converter.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Cree, Inc.Inventor: Michael Gilliom
-
Patent number: 8736196Abstract: A backlight unit includes; a light source, an inverter which provides the light source with an input voltage, and a printed circuit board (“PCB”) connected to the light source, wherein the PCB includes a protection circuit which detects an open-lamp-protection voltage which varies according to a change of the input voltage and changes a reference voltage according to the change of the input voltage, wherein the protection circuit turns off the inverter when the detected open-lamp-protection voltage is higher than the changed reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2009Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignees: Samsung Display Co., Ltd., Korea Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yun-Gun Lee, Ki-Bok Jang, Moon-Shik Kang, Sung-Kyu Park, Hyun-Ho Seo
-
Patent number: 8736197Abstract: A lighting apparatus (100) includes one or more first LEDs (202) for generating a first spectrum of radiation (503), and one or more second LEDs (204) for generating a second different spectrum radiation (505). The first and second LEDs are electrically connected in series between a first node (516A) and a second node (516B), between which a series current (550) flows with the application of an operating voltage (516) across the nodes. A controllable current path (518) is connected in parallel with one or both of the first and second LEDs so as to at least partially divert the series current, such that a first current (552) through the first LED(s) and a second current (554) through the second LED(s) are different. Such current diversion techniques may be employed to compensate for shifts in color or color temperature of generated light during thermal transients, due to different temperature-dependent current-to-flux relationships for different types of LEDs.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2008Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: Michael Datta, Ihor Lys
-
Patent number: 8736198Abstract: A circular accelerator comprises a target current value memory which stores a target current value of a beam current of charged particle which is extracted from an extracting device; and a frequency determination part in which a frequency change ratio is obtained by performing a feedback control based on an error signal between a detection signal of a beam current detector and a target current value which is stored in a target current value memory, and determines a subsequent frequency from the obtained frequency change ratio and a current frequency, wherein the subsequent frequency which is determined by the frequency determination part is stored in a frequency memory and a radio-frequency generator generates the subsequent radio-frequency of frequency which is determined.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Nobuyuki Haruna, Katsuhisa Yoshida, Masahiro Ikeda, Kengo Sugahara, Hirofumi Tanaka
-
Patent number: 8736199Abstract: The temperature rise due to the backstreaming electrons is canceled by an equal and opposite fall in temperature at the surface of the cathode due to the conduction of heat deposited at the surface immediately prior to the microwave pulse by a pulsed laser focused to uniformly illuminate the cathode surface. Variations in temperature across the surface of the cathode attributable to the non-uniform spatial distribution of the backstreaming electrons may be compensated using a second laser pulse fired during the RF pulse to maintain constant thermal power input across the surface of the cathode during the RF pulse. This second pulse can also be used to compensate for the time-dependent rate of decay of temperature due to conduction of the heat deposited by the first laser into the body of the cathode.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Inventor: John M. J. Madey
-
Patent number: 8736200Abstract: A method of power tuning an electric system, the electric system including an electric machine and a control system for driving the electric machine in response to control values stored in a power map. The method includes loading the control system with a first power map, driving the electric machine with the control system, measuring a power of the electric system, and loading the control system with a second power map in the event that the measured power lies outside a predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Dyson Technology LimitedInventors: Andrew Charlton Clothier, Tuncay Celik
-
Patent number: 8736201Abstract: In a drive control circuit of a linear vibration motor, a drive signal generating unit generates a drive signal used to alternately deliver a positive current and a negative current to a coil. A driver unit generates a drive current in response to the drive signal generated by the drive signal generating unit and supplies the drive current to the coil. An induced voltage detector detects an induced voltage occurring in the coil. After a running of the linear vibration motor has terminated, the drive signal generating unit generates a drive signal whose phase is opposite to that of the drive signal generated during the motor running; this drive signal of opposite phase includes a high impedance period during which the driver unit is controlled to a high impedance state. The induced voltage detector detects the induced voltage occurring in the coil during the high impedance period.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLCInventor: Tsutomu Murata
-
Patent number: 8736202Abstract: In a drive control circuit of a linear vibration motor, the drive signal generating unit generates a drive signal whose phase is opposite to that of the drive signal generated during the motor running, after the running of the linear vibration motor has terminated; this drive signal of opposite phase includes a high impedance period during which the driver unit is controlled to a high impedance state. An induced voltage detector detects an induced voltage occurring in the coil. A comparator has a function as a hysteresis comparator in which the output level does not vary in a predetermined dead band, and the comparator outputs a high-level signal or a low-level signal during the high impedance period. When an in-phase signal is consecutively outputted from the comparator during the consecutive high-impedance periods, the drive signal generating unit determines that the linear vibration motor has come to a stop.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLCInventor: Tsutomu Murata
-
Patent number: 8736203Abstract: An inverter/charger integrated device is provided. The inverter/charger integrated device includes: a three-phase motor; a rectifying unit configured to rectify AC power for charging a battery and output the rectified AC power to a neutral point of the three-phase motor; a rectifier/inverter integrated unit configured to be connected to the rectifying unit and charge the battery; and a control unit configured to control the charging of the battery and an operation of the three-phase motor.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae Hoon Jang, Byung Woon Jang
-
Patent number: 8736204Abstract: Apparatus for transferring power between an electricity network (UP) operating on alternating-current electricity and a multiphase electric machine (M2, M3), which apparatus comprises low-voltage power cells (CS, C11 . . . CN6) operating on a cascade principle, which power cells comprise a single-phase output connector (OUT), and at least one transformer (TA, T1 . . . TN), comprising for each power cell connected to it a single-phase or multiphase winding dedicated to the specific power cell, which transformer comprises at least one additional winding (WA, WB1 . . . WBN) connected to the same magnetic circuit as the other windings for the purpose of at least one auxiliary circuit, which can be connected to the aforementioned additional winding.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Vacon OyjInventors: Nicklas Södö, Risto Komulainen
-
Patent number: 8736205Abstract: A switching device and method are disclosed for terminating a braking process of a three-phase AC motor. The braking process of the AC motor is performed by way of a first and second thyristor. During the braking process of the AC motor, in a first step the first thyristor is actuated in such a way that a braking current is fed to the AC motor, and therefore a torque which brakes the AC motor is produced. In a second step the second thyristor is actuated in such a way that, when the first thyristor is quenched, the braking current is taken on by the second thyristor and the braking torque is maintained. The two steps are repeated during the braking process; wherein the second step is suppressed during the braking process after a last actuation of the first thyristor.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Dirk Hertz, Johann Seitz, Stefan Zitzler
-
Patent number: 8736206Abstract: A power converting apparatus including a power converter that converts a DC voltage into an AC voltage and applies the AC voltage to an AC rotating machine and a control unit that controls the power converter based on an operation command from the outside is provided. The power converting apparatus includes: a first calculating unit that calculates and outputs, from a d-axis current detection value and a q-axis current detection value detected by the AC rotating machine and current command values based on the operation command, first voltage command values to the power converter, magnetic fluxes of the AC rotating machine, and an angular frequency; and a second calculating unit that sets, as an initial value, at least one of the magnetic fluxes and the angular frequency input from the first calculating unit and calculates and outputs second voltage command value to the power converter and an angular frequency.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2009Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Masaki Kono, Keita Hatanaka
-
Patent number: 8736207Abstract: A method and system for a commutation control circuit are provided. The system includes an integrating voltage counter electrically coupled to an electrical power bus, wherein the integrating voltage counter is configured to integrate over time a voltage signal received from the power bus and to generate a trigger signal when the integrated voltage signal equals a predetermined count. The system also includes a plurality of transistor pairs configured to receive a trigger signal generated by the integrating voltage counter and electrically coupled to respective windings of a motor.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Allen Michael Ritter, Robert Allen Seymour, Rajib Datta, John Douglas D'Atre
-
Patent number: 8736208Abstract: When one of six FETs has short-circuit faulted, a controllable region identification unit stops driving of an electric motor, and then performs processes for determining whether a short-circuit fault has occurred, and when a short-circuit fault has occurred, for identifying the position of the FET that has short-circuit faulted based on phase voltages (induced voltages) VU, VV, and VW of phases. When the position of the FET that has short-circuit faulted is identified, the controllable region identification unit performs a controllable region identification process. In detail, the controllable region identification unit identifies a “possible region,” an “indeterminate region,” and a “impossible region” based on phase voltages VU, VV, and VW of the phases.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Jtekt CorporationInventors: Shigekazu Okumura, Fumihiko Satou, Hiroshi Sumasu
-
Patent number: 8736209Abstract: A drive and control circuit for motor system and the method thereof are disclosed. The motor system could be applied in a cooling device, wherein the motor system comprises a rotor, a coil and a bridge circuit. The drive and control circuit comprises a control unit, a state detecting circuit, a load determining circuit, and a startup setting circuit. The startup setting circuit makes the motor run with the maximum torque, thus to make the motor system start up easily and quickly. The load determining circuit detects the load of the motor system, thus to generate a load determining signal to determine the speed of the motor system. The control unit could be realized with few components so as to save the costs.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems, Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jian Zhao, Yike Li, Yangwei Yu
-
Patent number: 8736210Abstract: Speed of a motor, generator or alternator, more particularly the speed of an alternating current (AC) induction motor is determined. Problems associated with previous devices are overcome by providing a speed monitoring device that is readily retrofitted to an existing motor. A test signal is superimposed onto an input voltage, which voltage in use is applied to at least one winding of the stator of a motor (the test signal is at a frequency substantially equal to the rotor frequency). The test signal frequency is varied so that it varies from a minimum frequency to a maximum frequency. A current monitor monitors a resultant current, in the at least one stator winding. and deriving from the resultant current is a signal indicative of the rotor frequency.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Inventor: Raymond John Peto
-
Patent number: 8736211Abstract: Provided is a motor control device which realizes automatic adjustment of control of a motor for driving a mechanical load through a simple operation. The motor control device includes: a follow-up control unit (6) for receiving detection information of a detector (3) to output a torque command signal and output a status of motor control of a motor (1) as a control status amount signal, when a command signal regarding the motor control to be output from an upper-level controller is absent; an oscillation detection unit (9) for receiving the control status amount signal and detecting oscillation of a control status amount to output an oscillation detection signal; and an automatic adjustment unit (10) for receiving the oscillation detection signal to monitor a control status of the motor (1) and adjust a control parameter of the follow-up control unit (6) only when abnormality is detected.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Akira Tanabe, Yoshihiro Marushita, Hidetoshi Ikeda, Kei Terada, Tetsuya Tanabe, Masahiko Yoshida, Masanori Ozaki
-
Patent number: 8736212Abstract: A robotic catheter control system includes a plurality of electric motors. Diagnostic logic automatically detects motor runaway fault conditions based on the current motor position, the target motor position and a predetermined tolerance parameter. Fault conditions include overshoot, movement in the a non-prescribed direction, exceeding a prescribed maximum motor speed and exceeding a prescribed maximum motor acceleration. The diagnostic logic terminates operating power to the electric motor when a fault condition is detected for any one of the motor. An error message is generated to notify the operator of the fault.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.Inventors: Kulbir S. Sandhu, Atila Amiri, Otto K. Chiu, Samuel K. Gee
-
Patent number: 8736213Abstract: The motor position controller inputs a command pulse signal and a desired pulse form setting, and drives a motor based on the command pulse signal. The motor position controller includes a position command generating device configured to generate a position command signal from the command pulse signal in accordance with the inputted desired pulse form setting, a motor controlling part configured to supply power to the motor based on the position command signal, and a first conformity determination device configured to determine the conformity of the desired pulse form setting and the command pulse signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa DenkiInventor: Tadashi Okubo
-
Patent number: 8736214Abstract: A motor-drive circuit includes: an output transistor configured to supply a drive current to a motor for a cooling fan; a switching-control circuit configured to control switching of the output transistor so that the motor rotates in a first direction, or rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a switching circuit configured to, when a first time has elapsed since start of rotation of the motor in the first direction, cause the switching-control circuit to start switching control so that the motor stops rotating in the first direction and thereafter rotates in the second direction, and configured to, when a second time has elapsed since start of rotation of the motor in the second direction, cause the switching-control circuit to start switching control so that the motor stops rotating in the second direction and thereafter rotates in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLCInventors: Tetsuya Yoshitomi, Masashi Tanabe, Syunji Suzuki
-
Patent number: 8736215Abstract: A motor drive device (1) of the present invention includes a converter unit (10) and an inverter unit (30). The converter unit (10) includes: power supply voltage monitoring unit (3) for detecting a power failure; DC link voltage detecting means (4); capacitor total capacity calculating means (6) which calculates total capacity of DC link smoothing capacitors (17, 18) and calculates a DC link low-voltage alarm detection level for an instantaneous power failure; DC link low-voltage alarm detection level setting means (8) which varies the DC link low-voltage alarm detection level for an instantaneous power failure as necessary; and alarm generating means (7) which monitors the DC link voltage and generates an alarm to protect the converter unit. In the case where a power failure is detected, the DC link low-voltage alarm detection level is increased in accordance with the total capacity of the DC link smoothing capacitors (17, 18).Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: FANUC CorporationInventors: Masakazu Niwa, Koujirou Sakai
-
Patent number: 8736216Abstract: A stator phase circuit for an electric machine includes a phase winding circuit including a plurality of series coupled sub-winding circuits, each sub-winding circuit includes a respective sub-winding coupled in parallel across a respective first controllable switch.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Sanjeev M. Naik, Lei Hao
-
Servo motor control device for controlling servo motor configured to drive feed axis of machine tool
Patent number: 8736217Abstract: An arithmetic coefficient setting unit sets a feedback control arithmetic coefficient to a value between a first feedback control arithmetic coefficient value for a cutting-feed and a second feedback control arithmetic coefficient value for a rapid-traverse operation smaller than the first feedback control arithmetic coefficient value. An arithmetic coefficient change unit continuously changes the feedback control arithmetic coefficient from the second feedback control arithmetic coefficient value to the first feedback control arithmetic coefficient value over a first period between a first time, which is an arbitrary time during the rapid-traverse operation, and the second time after the first time or a second period between a third time after the first time and before the second time, and the second time if it is predicted at the first time that the operating command switches from the rapid-traverse operation command to the cutting-feed command at the second time.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: FANUC CorporationInventors: Yasusuke Iwashita, Satoshi Ikai -
Patent number: 8736218Abstract: The present invention provides a power supply device for an electric vehicle that allows highly efficient operation of a compressor inverter.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Tetsuya Matsuyama
-
Patent number: 8736219Abstract: The invention relates to an industrial robot having a robotic arm. The robotic arm has several axes (A1-A6) and at least one electric drive, which comprises an electric motor (7-12) and power electronics (16) actuating the electric motor (7-12) and is equipped to move the relevant axis (A1-A6). The industrial robot (1) is equipped to short-circuit the electric motor (7-12) in the event of emergency braking simultaneously by means of two independent electric current paths.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2008Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: KUKA Laboratories GmbHInventors: Josef Hofmann, Richard Schwarz, Sönke Marx
-
Patent number: 8736220Abstract: A DC voltage value from a DC voltage detection section is input directly to a voltage correction section without passing through a compensator or a filter. Therefore, even when rapid voltage change occurs, such as short power interruptions, instantaneous voltage drop and return from instantaneous voltage drop, the voltage correction section can quickly perform the correction operation in response to the rapid voltage change. Since the amount of link resonance compensation is limited by the limitation section to a certain range, it is possible to prevent the amount of link resonance compensation from fluctuating excessively upon rapid voltage change. Since the amount of link resonance compensation which is limited by the limitation section to a certain range is input to one compensator that has an appropriate control band, among all control calculation sections, the response does not have to be unnecessarily fast, thus realizing a stable control.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2009Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Takurou Ogawa, Hiroshi Hibino, Masanobu Tomoe
-
Patent number: 8736221Abstract: A direct-current to three-phase alternating-current inverter system includes a three-phase motor, a plurality of switching elements, an inverter circuit for the three-phase motor, a capacitor, a direct-current power source and a control circuit. The switching elements arranged in the inverter circuit serve as upper and lower arms for the respective three phases of the three-phase motor, respectively. The capacitor is connected in parallel to the respective pairs of the upper and lower arms. The direct-current power source is arranged between the neutral-point of the three-phase motor and the respective lower arms or the respective upper arms. The control circuit controls the switching elements such that at least the switching frequency of one pair of the switching elements for one phase through which the current having the greatest value flows is lower than the switching frequencies of the other pairs of the switching elements for the other phases.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota JidoshokkiInventors: Takuya Naruse, Kazuki Najima
-
Patent number: 8736222Abstract: Disclosed is a flux controller for maintaining reliable flux estimation performance in a low velocity region, the controller including a velocity controller, a torque current controller for outputting a torque voltage command, a flux controller for outputting a flux current command, a flux current controller for receiving the flux current command to output a flux voltage command, a three-phase converter for converting the torque voltage command and the flux voltage command into a three-phase voltage command applied to the induction motor to output the three-phase voltage command, a flux estimator for outputting a rotating angle of a rotor of the induction motor, an estimated flux value of the rotor and an estimated velocity of the rotor, and a flux regulator for receiving the torque voltage command and the estimated velocity to output a gain value that regulates a magnitude of the flux command.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.Inventor: Chan Ook Hong
-
Patent number: 8736223Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vehicle or watercraft cover that includes a solar battery charging component integrated therewith or attached thereto. Also disclosed is a kit for easily adapting a vehicle or watercraft to connect with a solar battery charging component.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Inventor: Michael W. Kimble
-
Patent number: 8736224Abstract: A method for charging an electric storage battery in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle through a power supply circuit, includes coupling the charger to the circuit, determining whether another appliance in the circuit other than the charger is drawing current, determining a maximum charge rate at which the battery can be charged using the charger, charging the battery at the maximum charge rate if no other appliance in the circuit is drawing current, and charging the battery at less than the maximum charge rate if another appliance in the circuit is drawing current.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2007Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Allan R. Gale, Michael W. Degner, Michael A. Tamor
-
Modularized interface and related method for connecting plug-in electric vehicles to the energy grid
Patent number: 8736225Abstract: This invention is directed to a modularized interface for connecting a plug-in electric vehicle to the energy grid. For use with public or semi-public outlets, the modularized interface comprises a module and a smart socket, where the module is integrated within or capable of being connected to, the vehicle's charging interface. The module is normally disabled, but is enabled only after the end user is authenticated, the smart socket and its associated meter have been identified, and the module and the end user's account with the local utility are validated. The module meters the energy consumption, and, when the module is disconnected from the smart socket, indicating termination of the charging session, the metered data is communicated to the utility for updating the end user's account, and the module is disabled. The module is also capable of use with conventional outlets located, for example, in private residences.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2008Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: San Diego Gas & Electronic CompanyInventors: Chris W. Chen, Robert Peelle, Viral Bhalodia, Ken Yu, Gabriel Gavrielides, Terry Mohn, John C. Martin -
Patent number: 8736226Abstract: A charging cable for an electric vehicle includes a power plug adapted to be detachably connected to a power socket of a commercial power source; a temperature detecting unit for detecting a temperature of the power plug; a cable connector adapted to be detachably connected to an electric vehicle for supplying a charging current to a battery of the electric vehicle; and a switching unit for opening and closing a current path between the power plug and the cable connector. The charging cable further includes a leakage detecting unit for detecting an electric leakage based on a current flowing through the current path; and a power cutoff unit for opening the switching unit when the detected temperature of the temperature detection means exceeds a threshold value or when the leakage detection means detects the electric leakage.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2009Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Tatsuya Mukai, Youji Minami, Satoru Ueno, Kiyoshi Goto, Shiro Mori, Hirotoshi Watanabe, Kouji Kakiuchi, Hiroshi Ooya, Tomoyoshi Hayashi, Yutaka Takada
-
Patent number: 8736227Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a charging emulator configured to be coupled to an electrical interface, the charging emulator including a control circuit configured to receive information about a peripheral device coupled to the electrical interface and a charger circuit configured to provide power to the electrical interface using the received peripheral device information. In an example, the charging emulator can include a component of a host device including a low-power state, and the charger circuit can be configured to provide power to the electrical interface when the host device is in the low-power state.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Peter Chadbourne, Gregory Maher
-
Patent number: 8736228Abstract: A robotic device can provide power management and other functionality for various electronic devices. An electronic device and the robotic device can communicate information such as device charge level, relative position and rate of power consumption and can determine an appropriate time at which the robotic device should cause the electronic device to be charged, either by charging the device directly or transporting the device to an appropriate charger. The robotic device can also cause other functions to be performed as well, such as to enable high-bandwidth data transfer or perform resource-intensive activities when in communication with the electronic device. The robotic device can transport the electronic device to specific locations or to specific users, or as otherwise appropriate.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ian W. Freed, Jeffrey P. Bezos, Keela N. Robison
-
Patent number: 8736229Abstract: A battery control circuit includes a voltage detection circuit for measuring voltages of electric cells, balancing circuits for balancing the voltages or SOCs of the electric cells, a signal input/output circuit for communicating with the outside, a power supply circuit having two modes: a normal mode and a low consumption mode, and a time management circuit. It receives a signal containing a period of time until the shift of the power supply circuit from the normal mode to the low consumption mode, and stores it in the time management circuit. If a command from the outside has not been sent for a predetermined period of time or when an operation stop command has been sent from the outside, the time management circuit causes the power supply circuit to continuously operate in the normal mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.Inventors: Youhei Kawahara, Ryouhei Nakao, Akihiko Kudo, Akihiko Emori, Kei Sakabe
-
Patent number: 8736230Abstract: A system and method for rebalancing a battery in a vehicle during vehicle operation, the battery including a plurality of modules, is provided. The method may include determining when an automatic rebalance mode start condition is satisfied, modifying a target state of charge for the battery at least in part in response to the start condition being satisfied such that the target state of charge is raised from a standard operating value to a rebalance value, operating the vehicle with the target state of charge at the rebalance value, determining when an automatic rebalance mode end condition or an interrupt condition is satisfied, and modifying the target state of charge in response to the automatic rebalance mode end condition or the interrupt condition being satisfied such that the target state of charge is lowered from the rebalance value to the standard operating value.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka, Jacob Mathews, Ronald Elder
-
Patent number: 8736231Abstract: A system including a first cell, a second cell, a first switch, a second switch, an inductance, and a control module. The first cell and the second cell are connected in series to each other and respectively output a first voltage and a second voltage. The first switch and the second switch are connected in series to each other and are connected across the first cell and the second cell. The inductance is connected between the first switch and the second switch, and between the first cell and the second cell. The control module generates control signals to control the first switch and the second switch, and to transfer charge between the first cell and the second cell via the inductance until a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold is not equal to zero.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2013Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.Inventor: Pantas Sutardja
-
Patent number: 8736232Abstract: A full charge capacity correction circuit including: an integrating unit that calculates an integrated current value; a capacity storing unit that stores a full charge capacity value; a first estimating unit that estimates a storage ratio, which is a ratio of a quantity of stored electricity to an actual full charge capacity, as a first storage ratio; a second estimating unit that estimates a storage ratio; a full charge capacity correction unit that estimates a new full charge capacity value, and stores the estimated new full charge capacity value; an open circuit ratio estimating unit that uses a condition in which the rechargeable battery is in an open circuit state, and estimates the storage ratio based on a terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery; and a correction control unit that uses the open circuit ratio estimating unit as the first estimating unit or the second estimating unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki Nakatsuji, Tsuyoshi Morimoto
-
Patent number: 8736233Abstract: A power source device for rectifying the output of an AC generator in which magneto coils are in a star-shaped connection in three phases. The device includes a control rectifier circuit configured from a first control rectifier circuit for performing full-wave rectification on three-phase AC voltages, and a second control rectifier circuit for performing full-wave rectification on AC voltages obtained between neutral and each of two-phase AC output terminals selected from the three-phase AC output terminals of the generator, as well as on AC voltage obtained between the selected two-phase AC output terminals; and a controller controlling the first and second circuits so that the output of the first circuit is supplied to the load when the rotational speed of the generator is equal/less than a set speed, and the output of the second circuit is supplied to the load when the rotational speed exceeds the set speed.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shuichi Muramatsu, Ryosuke Tonooka, Shinji Komatsu, Nozomu Katsumata, Masaki Asari, Hirofumi Yamaguchi
-
Patent number: 8736234Abstract: A power converter control apparatus includes a power converter part having a bridge circuit formed of a switching element and a field circuit controlling conduction of a field winding in an AC generator, and a control apparatus part having a field current detector, a temperature detector detecting a temperature of a generator part, the power converter part, or the control apparatus part, a field current instruction computation portion computing a field current instruction value of the generator, a temperature rise suppression portion computing a generated current suppression value on the basis of an output of the temperature detector and computing a field current suppression value on the basis of the computed generated current suppression value, a field current instruction selection portion selecting the field current instruction value or the field current suppression value whichever is the smaller, and a field current control portion controlling a field current.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Kenji Nakajima, Masato Mori, Kenichi Akita, Mitsunori Tabata
-
Patent number: 8736235Abstract: A power-generation motor control system is a control system that controls a power-generation motor provided with an armature and a magnetic-field winding, and is characterized in that when the power-generation motor is operated as a motor, before a power source energizes the armature, a preliminary excitation current, with the value of which the induction voltage across the armature does not exceed the voltage of the power source, is applied to the magnetic-field winding in accordance with the rotation speed of the power-generation motor so that preliminary excitation of the power-generation motor is performed.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Mitsunori Tabata, Masato Mori, Kenji Nakajima, Kenichi Akita
-
Patent number: 8736236Abstract: The present invention relates to a master-slave interleaved BCM PFC controller for controlling a PFC circuit with master and slave channels. In one embodiment, the PFC controller can include: a master channel controller that generates a master channel control signal and an inverted master channel control signal; a first phase shifter that provides a first phase shift for the master channel control signal, and generates a delayed opening signal therefrom; a second phase shifter that provides a second phase shift for the inverted master channel control signal, and generates a delayed shutdown signal therefrom; a slave channel controller that receives the delayed opening signal, the delayed shutdown signal, and a slave channel inductor current zero-crossing signal, and generates a slave channel control signal therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd.Inventors: Liangwei Sun, Qiukai Huang
-
Patent number: 8736237Abstract: A power supply controller includes a switching signal generator, a zero crossing detection (ZCD) circuit, first and second logic gates, and an interval generator. The switching signal generator generates a switching signal and the ZCD circuit generates a ZCD signal that pulses each zero-crossing of an ac input voltage. The first logic gate generates a first output when the ZCD signal pulses while the output of the power supply is below a threshold reference. The second logic gate generates a second output when the ZCD signal pulses while the output of the power supply is above the threshold reference. The interval generator is enabled in response to the first output and disabled in response to the second output. The interval generator allows the switching signal to pass through the interval generator to the switch when enabled and does not allow the switching signal to pass when disabled.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2013Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.Inventor: Raymond K. Orr
-
Patent number: 8736238Abstract: The configurations of a buck type and a buck/boost type converter systems and a controlling method thereof are provided in the present invention. The proposed buck/boost type converter system includes a rectifier bridge, a first auxiliary circuit including a first unidirectional switch coupled to the rectifier bridge and a second unidirectional switch coupled to the first unidirectional switch, a first capacitor coupled to the first unidirectional switch and the rectifier bridge, a buck/boost converter having a first input terminal coupled to the first unidirectional switch, a second input terminal coupled to the first capacitor, a first output terminal coupled to the second unidirectional switch and a second output terminal, a second capacitor electrically connected to the first and the second output terminals in parallel, and a DC source coupled to the second unidirectional switch.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Fei Li, Hongjian Gan, Fei Ji, Xin Li
-
Patent number: 8736239Abstract: There is provided a DC-DC converter circuit with which conduction loss between switching elements is lower than in the conventional art, which affords an increase in power conversion efficiency. A DC-DC converter circuit includes a first switching element including a first semiconductor switch and a first diode, a second switching element including a second semiconductor switch and a second diode, an inductor connected between the cathodes of the first and second diodes, and a third switching element and a fourth switching element provided so as to face in mutually opposite directions on the anode sides of the first and second diodes, wherein a first voltage supply is connected between the cathode side of the first diode and the anode side of the second diode, and a second voltage supply is connected between the anode side of the first diode and the cathode side of the second diode.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shinichi Motegi