Patents Issued in July 31, 2014
  • Publication number: 20140210425
    Abstract: A power generator device includes a heavy gyro body, at least one rotation-driving device and a control unit. The heavy gyro body is coupled to a power source and an induction power generator, the power source drives the heavy gyro body to rotate so as to drive the induction power generator to produce electricity. The rotation-driving device is located at an edge of the heavy gyro body and conducting a contact or non-contact interaction with an annular part in reaction to drive the heavy gyro body to rotate about a vertical spindle. The control unit is configured for starting the rotation-driving device to accelerate the speed of the heavy gyro body when a rotation speed of the heavy gyro body is less than a first predetermined rotation speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Jun-Dong Power Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Chun Tsai
  • Publication number: 20140210426
    Abstract: An on-vehicle power generation control unit includes current detecting unit; communication unit; holding unit; maximum current determining unit; and current control unit. The current detecting unit detects the excitation current at the field winding. The communication unit communicates with an external equipment to receive a first upper limit. The holding unit holds a second upper limit. The maximum current determining unit determines a maximum current to be the second upper limit when the first upper limit has not received by the communication unit or when the received first upper limit is more than or equal to the second upper limit. Further, the maximum current determining unit determines the maximum current value to be the first upper limit when the received first upper limit is less than the second upper limit. The current control unit controls the detected excitation current to be within the maximum current value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Kengo TERADA, Kenji SUGIURA
  • Publication number: 20140210427
    Abstract: A dynamic high-energy switch used for correcting load imbalance through connecting and disconnecting capacitance in a power feed circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: POWER METRICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Hamid Pishdadian
  • Publication number: 20140210428
    Abstract: In various embodiments a circuit arrangement is provided which may include: a first AC input node and a second AC input node; a first electronic switching device coupled between the first AC input node and an output node; a second electronic switching device coupled between the second AC input node and the output node; an inductor coupled between the first electronic switching device and the second electronic switching device; a controller configured to control the first electronic switching device and the second electronic switching device to, in a first mode, provide a first current path from the first AC input node to the output node via the inductor in a first current flow direction through the inductor; and, in a second mode, provide a second current path from the second AC input node to the output node via the inductor in a second current flow direction through the inductor, the second current flow direction being different from the first current flow direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Franz Hirler
  • Publication number: 20140210429
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for regulating a voltage level at a load. The method configures a current control mechanism to generate a current through a first inductor and a second inductor that are coupled in series and configures a voltage control mechanism to provide a portion of the current to regulate the voltage level. The second inductor isolates the load from a parasitic capacitance of the current control mechanism. An electric power conversion device for regulating the voltage level at the load comprises the current control mechanism that is coupled to an electric power source and configured to generate a current through the first inductor and the second inductor that are coupled in series and the voltage control mechanism that is coupled to the second inductor and configured to provide a portion of the current to regulate the voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: NVIDIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: William J. Dally
  • Publication number: 20140210430
    Abstract: Circuits and methods to maintain a resistive voltage divider ratio during start-up of an electronic circuit comprising a feed-forward capacitor across a feedback resistor using a dynamic start-up circuit are disclosed as e.g. a LDO or an amplifier. In a preferred embodiment of the disclosure is applied to an LDO. Modification of the resistive voltage divider ratio caused by the feed-forward capacitor during start-up is prevented while the voltage level of a voltage access point of the voltage divider on the feed-forward capacitor is maintained. Embodiments of the disclosure presented comprise using a start-up buffer or a start-up capacitor during the start-up phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicants: DIALOG SEMICONDUCTOR B.V., DIALOG SEMICONDUCTOR GMBH
    Inventors: Ambreesh Bhattad, Ludmil Nikolov, Marinus Wilhelmus Kruiskamp
  • Publication number: 20140210431
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods in accordance with this invention provide a multi-cell power supply for receiving power from a source and delivering power at an output terminal to a load. The multi-cell power supply includes a first power cell coupled to the source, and a first current sensor circuit. The first power cell provides a first output current, and includes a first output terminal coupled to a reference node of the multi-cell power supply, and a second output terminal coupled to the output terminal. The first current sensor circuit includes a first current sensor and a power supply. The first current sensor is coupled to the first output terminal of the first power cell, and measures the first output current. The power supply is coupled to either the reference node or a floating ground node of the first power cell, and provides power to the first current sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Mukul Rastogi, Daniel Edward Erb, Edward Alan Cheesman
  • Publication number: 20140210432
    Abstract: A voltage adjusting circuit includes a reference voltage generating circuit, a subtractor circuit, a threshold generating circuit and a comparator circuit. The voltage adjusting circuit may provide power supply signals to an amplifier circuit so that the amplifier circuit may provide an output signal to a load according to an input signal. The subtractor circuit generates a difference signal according to the output signal and the power supply signal. The comparator circuit compares the difference signal and a threshold signal generated by the threshold generating circuit for configuring the reference voltage generating circuit to adjust the signal value of the power supply signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Jun HSIAO, Teng-Hung CHANG, Shao-Ming SUN
  • Publication number: 20140210433
    Abstract: Techniques for providing negative current information to a control loop for a buck converter in reverse boost mode. In an aspect, negative as well as positive current through an inductor is sensed and provided to adjust a ramp voltage in the control loop for the buck converter. The techniques may prevent current through the inductor during reverse boost mode from becoming increasingly negative without bound; the techniques thereby reduce settling times when the target output voltage is reduced from a first level to a second level. In an aspect, the negative current sensing may be provided by sensing negative current through a charging, or PMOS, switch of the buck converter. The sensed negative current may be subtracted from a current used to generate the ramp voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joseph D Rutkowski, Lennart Karl-Axel Mathe
  • Publication number: 20140210434
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for regulating a voltage level at a load. A current source generates a current and a voltage control mechanism provides a portion of the current to regulate the voltage level at the load. When the voltage level at the load is greater than a maximum voltage level, the current source is decoupled from the load and the current source is coupled to a current sink to reduce the voltage level at the load. An electric power conversion comprises the current source and the voltage control mechanism. A downstream controller is configured to control the voltage control mechanism to decouple the current source from the load and couple the current source to a current sink to reduce the voltage level at the load when the voltage level at the load is greater than a maximum voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: NVIDIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: William J. Dally
  • Publication number: 20140210435
    Abstract: A regulator includes a first transistor, a first bias circuit, a second bias circuit, a differential circuit having second to fifth transistors, and a current mirror circuit. The first transistor outputs an output voltage lower than the input voltage. The first bias circuit generates a first bias voltage lower than a reference voltage. The second bias circuit generates a second bias voltage lower than a feedback voltage relating to the output voltage. The second transistor into which the reference voltage is inputted and the third transistor into which the feedback voltage is inputted are a pair of differential transistors. The fourth transistor is complementarily connected to the second transistor. The fifth transistor is complementarily connected to the third transistor. The differential circuit outputs a comparison signal to the first transistor. The current mirror circuit is connected to the second and third transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Ichiro NISHIKAWA, Yuichi GOTO
  • Publication number: 20140210436
    Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) switching circuitry includes support circuitry for maintaining one or more RF switching elements in either an ON or OFF state. The support circuitry includes a negative charge pump adapted to quickly generate a negative voltage during a “boost” mode of operation, and maintain the negative voltage during a normal mode of operation. The negative charge pump includes an oscillator adapted to generate a high frequency oscillating signal for driving the charge pump during the boost mode of operation and a low frequency oscillating signal for driving the charge pump during the normal mode of operation. By generating the high frequency oscillating signal only during a boost mode of operation, spurious noise coupled to the RF switch circuitry is minimized during a normal mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Jinhua Zhong, Daniel Charles Kerr, Kelvin Kai Tuan Yan, Brian Keith White
  • Publication number: 20140210437
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a boost-buck converter can include: (i) first and second switches coupled in series between input and an output of the boost-buck converter; (ii) a first inductor coupled to the input and third and fourth switches, where the third switch is coupled to ground, and the fourth switch is coupled to the output; (iii) a second inductor coupled to the output and a common node of the first and second switches; and (iv) a control circuit configured to control switching of the first, second, third, and fourth switches according to the input and output voltages, such that the boost-buck converter operates in at least one of: a buck mode and a boost mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventor: Wei Chen
  • Publication number: 20140210438
    Abstract: A multi-input low dropout regulator includes an amplifier, a first metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, and a resistor. The amplifier has a plurality of first input terminals, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. Each first input terminal of the plurality of first input terminals is used for receiving an internal voltage. The first metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor has a first terminal for receiving a first voltage, a second terminal coupled to the output terminal of the amplifier, and a third terminal coupled the second input terminal of the amplifier. The resistor has a first terminal coupled to the third terminal of the first metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, and a second terminal for receiving a second voltage. The third terminal of the first metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor is further used for coupling to a monitor pad, and the monitor pad is used for outputting the internal voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Etron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yen-An Chang, Yi-Hao Chang
  • Publication number: 20140210439
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a switching regulator and a control circuit thereof. The switching regulator includes a boost or buck-boost power stage, a first operation circuit and a bypass circuit. The power stage controls at least one power transistor switch included therein according to a first operation signal, to convert an input voltage to an output voltage at an output terminal. The first operation circuit generates the first operation signal in response to the output voltage or a related signal thereof. The bypass circuit includes a bypass transistor and a second operation circuit. When it is required to provide power to the output terminal promptly, the second operation circuit turns ON the bypass transistor, and when the input voltage is equal to the output voltage or equal to a sum of the output voltage plus a safety offset value, the second operation circuit turns OFF the bypass transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Tzu-Huan Chiu, Chung-Lung Pai, Hung-Yu Cheng, Shuo-Wen Chang
  • Publication number: 20140210440
    Abstract: Circuits and methods to achieve a clean start-up process and power saving of pulsed enabled electronic devices having an output capacitor and components requiring biasing during normal operating conditions are disclosed. These electronic devices could be e.g. LDOs, amplifiers or buffers. A set of switches are enabling bias currents from the output capacitor to internal nodes requiring biasing under normal operational conditions as e.g. output nodes of amplifying means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: DIALOG SEMICONDUCTOR GMBH
    Inventors: Ambreesh Bhattad, Ludmil Nikolov
  • Publication number: 20140210441
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for providing a variable switching frequency for a power supply. The system includes a controller and a filter. The controller generates a switching frequency for a power supply. The switching frequency is modified as a function of an input voltage and an output voltage. The filter provides the output voltage to a load based at least in part on the switching frequency generated by the controller. In one example, the controller adaptively modifies the switching frequency as a function of the input voltage and the output voltage in order to maintain a peak to peak current for an inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Semtech Corporation
    Inventors: Min Mao, Steven M. Granger, Kun Xing
  • Publication number: 20140210442
    Abstract: In a switching regulator, a power feed circuit section includes a reactor, a capacitor, and a switching circuit controlling power supply from a power supply source to the reactor. A reference command value generation portion generates a reference command value based on a physical quantity representing a state of the power feed circuit section. An adder adds a pseudo command value depending on a reactor current flowing in the reactor to the reference command value. A limiter limits at least one of an upper limit value and a lower limit value with respect to an adding result of the adder. A removing section removes a value corresponding to the pseudo command value from a processing result of the limiter. A control performing section controls a duty ratio of the switching circuit using a processing result of the removing section as a command value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuhiro UMETANI
  • Publication number: 20140210443
    Abstract: A DC-DC Buck circuit has a DC input terminal, a DC output terminal, a ground terminal, an inductor, a capacitor, a sampling resistor, a PWM control chip and a DrMOS chip. The output of the driver pin of the PWM control chip is unrelated to the voltage between the inductor and the sampling resistor. The DC-DC Buck circuit can produce a larger output voltage while also being compatible with a DrMOS chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Yu Ye Liu
  • Publication number: 20140210444
    Abstract: A switching power-supply device includes a main switching element connected between a power-supply and an output terminal; a driving circuit that drives the main switching element; a capacitor that feeds power to the driving circuit; a charging circuit that charges the capacitor when the main switching element is switched from an on-state to an off-state; a switching control circuit that performs switching control of alternately switching the main switching element to the on-state and the off-state via the driving circuit; a voltage detection circuit that detects a voltage between both ends of the capacitor, and a driving control circuit that switches a state of prohibiting driving of the main switching element and a state of permitting driving of the main switching element, based on a difference between an output voltage output from the output terminal and a preset reference voltage and the voltage between both ends of the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Nakamura, Takayuki Konishi, Chie Isshi, Satoshi Nakamoto, Jung Soo Lee, Hiroaki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140210445
    Abstract: A control circuit includes a detection circuit configured to detect a load current flowing into a load, and a setting circuit configured to set switching operations on first and second switch circuits according to the load current. The setting circuit is configured to cause both the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit to be in an off state, when a power supply stop signal is input from an outside, if the load current is in a first range, and to cause the first switch circuit to perform an on-off operation on the basis of the output voltage while causing the second switch circuit to be in the off state, if the load current is higher than a first reference value that is an upper limit of the first range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
    Inventor: Morihito HASEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20140210446
    Abstract: An example circuit includes a capacitance circuit, a regulator circuit, and a slew rate control circuit. The capacitance circuit is coupled between a first node and a second node. The regulator circuit is coupled to the capacitance circuit to regulate a supply voltage across the capacitance circuit with a charge current during a normal operation mode of the circuit. The slew rate control circuit is coupled to the capacitance circuit and the regulator circuit. The slew rate control circuit is coupled to lower a slew rate of a change in voltage over change in time between the first and second nodes during a power up mode of the circuit. The slew rate control circuit includes a transistor coupled between the first and second nodes to shunt excess current from the charge current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Kung, Leif Lund
  • Publication number: 20140210447
    Abstract: Techniques for optimizing the trade-off between minimizing switching losses and minimizing conduction losses in a buck converter. In an aspect, each of a high-side switch and a low-side switch may be implemented as a plurality of parallel-coupled transistors, each transistor having an independently controllable gate voltage, allowing adjustment of the effective transistor size. In response to the target voltage of the buck converter corresponding to a relatively high voltage range, more high-side switch transistors and fewer low-side switch transistors may be selected. Similarly, in response to the target voltage corresponding to a relatively low voltage range, more low-side switch transistors and fewer high-side switch transistors may be selected. In an aspect, the techniques may be applied during a pulse-frequency modulation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Joseph D Rutkowski
  • Publication number: 20140210448
    Abstract: Provided is a method and system for measuring the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by a living being at a particular location. Using a clamp meter having a current probe, the probe is applied to an ankle of the living being. Next, a measurement of the current induced by absorption of radiation of the ankle is obtained. A measure of total absorbed radiation can be obtained by first taking the measurement at one ankle of a living being and then at the other ankle(s), and adding the measurements together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: DANIEL D. BRUNDA
  • Publication number: 20140210449
    Abstract: An operating mode of a charging/supplying system in which a vehicle is connected with a first external device or a second external device via a connecting portion used in common in a charging mode in which an electric storage device installed on the vehicle is charged with electric power from the first external device and a supplying mode in which electric power is supplied from the vehicle to the second external device, and which is operable in a selected one of the charging mode and the supplying mode, is identified. More specifically, a plurality of detection values are detected from at least one electric connection channel provided between the vehicle and the first external device or the second external device via the connecting portion, and it is determined whether the operating mode of the charging/supplying system is the charging mode or the supplying mode, based on a combination of the plurality of detection values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Shinji Ichikawa, Hiroki Sawada, Yasuo Suzuki, Yuka Niikawa
  • Publication number: 20140210450
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for return loss estimation are described. A forward power sample is taken from a power amplifier of a transmitter by sampling a feedback signal used for power control of the amplifier, and a reflected power sample at an output of the power amplifier is taken by observing the power at a circulator termination of the power amplifier. A difference determination is made for the forward power sample and the fleeted power sample in the analog domain to determine a return loss and may be digitized for further processing such as return loss measurement and comparison against thresholds. A further comparator circuit may be used to insure that measurements are made when the signal strength is adequate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Nokia Siemens Networks Oy
    Inventors: Darrell Barabash, Russell Morris, Donald Hutton
  • Publication number: 20140210451
    Abstract: A method of monitoring an output signal of a switching-mode power supply for the presence and magnitude of the switching frequency comprises sampling the output signal at a sampling frequency above the minimum Nyquist limit to provide a succession of samples; cross-correlating a reference signal and the samples to provide cross-correlation values; and monitoring the cross-correlation values to ascertain the magnitude of a component of the output signal at or near the frequency of the reference signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: AKER SUBSEA LIMITED
    Inventor: Philip Michael Bagley
  • Publication number: 20140210452
    Abstract: An evaluation system 1 according to the present invention includes: a light source 2 for exposing a pulsed white light or a pulsed laser light onto a sample; a microwave exposing and detecting unit 8 for exposing a microwave onto an organic material 12 and for detecting the intensity of the microwave which has passed through the organic material 12; a microwave passing unit 7 for making the microwave pass through the organic material 12 a plurality of times; and an evaluating unit 10 for evaluating the photoelectric conversion characteristics of the sample based on the intensity of the microwave which has passed through the organic material 12 when the pulsed white light or the pulsed laser light is exposed and the intensity of the microwave which has passed through the organic material 12 when the pulsed white light or the pulsed laser light is not exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
    Inventors: Akinori Saeki, Shuhei Seki
  • Publication number: 20140210453
    Abstract: A sensor array including multiple current sensors provides input for power measurement and management systems. The sensor array includes split ferrite cylinder portions connected by a frame, so that when the array is installed around multiple branch circuits in a power distribution panel or raceway, the ferrite cylinders are completed to surround the conductor(s) of the associated branch circuit. Voltage sensing may also be incorporated within the sensors by providing an electrically conductive plate, wire or other element that capacitively couples to the corresponding wire(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wael El-Essawy, Alexandre Peixoto Ferreira, Thomas Walter Keller, Karthick Rajamani, Juan C. Rubio, Michael A. Schappert
  • Publication number: 20140210454
    Abstract: Conductive strips are stacked, insulated, folded, and formed into geometric shapes to provide a low resistance, low inductance, shunt, wherein the geometric shape readily enables cooling to reduce changes in resistance due to self-heating effects. One such geometric shape is attained by winding the conductive strips into a spiral. Another geometric shape is a shape resembling a wave. Both geometric shapes allow cooling by directing airflow from a fan across their surface portions. A variable-speed cooling-fan is controlled in response to measured temperature of the shunt, or in response to a measurement of the current through the shunt. Differential cooling may be employed by means of changing the amount of airflow across various portions of the shunt in response to measured temperature of the shunt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew John Tedd, John Stewart Ford, Lionel Ind
  • Publication number: 20140210455
    Abstract: A voltage tap device is provided. The voltage tap device includes a housing. A tap needle may be protruding from the housing. A fuse is electrically connected to the tap needle. The housing may further include an input that is configured to receive a meter wire. The input is electrically connected with the fuse. Therefore, a user may attach the housing to an insulated conductor, pierce the insulation with the needle so the needle is in contact with the conductor, attach a meter wire to the input and determine the voltage level of the insulated conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Marvin Dee Allgood
  • Publication number: 20140210456
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a hitch angle sensor assembly includes a spacer fixed between a hitch ball and a mounting surface on a vehicle. An element is rotatably coupled with the spacer about a vertical axis defined by the hitch ball, and connecting member secures the element to a trailer. A hall sensor is coupled with the spacer and senses a magnetic portion of the element to determine a hitch angle between the vehicle and trailer. This and other embodiments of the hitch angle sensor assembly may be used independently or in combination with other hitch angle sensors or systems to estimate the hitch angle between the vehicle and trailer, which may be advantageously used for operation of the vehicle with a trailer backup assist system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: John Crossman
  • Publication number: 20140210457
    Abstract: There is provided a steering angle sensor in which the effect of errors in angles of rotation arising in a first driven gear and a second driven gear because of the roundness of an annular drive gear is reduced and which can generate angle-of-rotation information of a steering wheel with good precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Takeshi Ishimasa, Masaya Eto, Yuya Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20140210458
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for reducing errors in sensor devices and systems. In embodiments, the sensor devices comprise magnetic field sensor devices, such as ordinary or vertical Hall sensor devices, and the error to be reduced is a residual offset error, though in other embodiments other sensor devices can be used and/or other types of errors can be targeted for reduction or elimination. In one embodiment, at least two such sensor devices not electrically coupled with one another are sequentially operated in a spinning current-type mode such that an individual output signal from each of the at least two sensor devices is obtained. A total output signal can then be calculated, such as by averaging or otherwise combining the individual output signals from each sensor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: UDO AUSSERLECHNER
  • Publication number: 20140210459
    Abstract: A method for acquiring at least one signal transmitted via an electric conductor, wherein an electric and/or magnetic field of the conductor is acquired at at least two identical or different positions relative to a longitudinal coordinate of the conductor, thus obtaining two measurement signals corresponding to the respective positions, and the signal transmitted via the conductor is inferred from the measurement signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Martin PIASTOWSKI, Burkhard TRIESS, Patrick NICKEL
  • Publication number: 20140210460
    Abstract: This application concerns devices and methods for measuring power flow through an electric meter without a direct electrical connection to the current-carrying conductors of the electric meter. In one representative embodiment, a contactless electric meter sensor comprises an annular member configured to be disposed around an electric meter, and one or more magnetic field sensors mounted on the annular member. The one or more magnetic field sensors can be configured to sense one or more magnetic fields generated by one or more current-carrying conductors passing through the electric meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Hampden Kuhns
  • Publication number: 20140210461
    Abstract: Vertical Hall device with highly conductive node for electrically connecting first and second Hall effect regions. A vertical Hall device comprises a first Hall effect region and a different second Hall effect region, both in a common semiconductor body. The first and second Hall effect regions have a main face and an opposite face, respectively. A highly conductive opposite face node is in ohmic contact to the opposite face of the first Hall effect region and the opposite face of the second Hall effect region in the semiconductor body. The vertical Hall device also comprises a first pair of contacts in or at the main face of the first Hall effect region and a second pair of contacts in or at the main face of the second Hall effect region. A convex circumscribing contour of the second pair of contacts is disjoint from a convex circumscribing contour of the first pair of contacts. Alternative embodiments comprise a pair of contacts and an opposite face node contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Udo Ausserlechner
  • Publication number: 20140210462
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetism detection device. First and second switch units switch a direction of a current flown from a bias generating unit across two opposite terminals of four terminals of a hall sensor, and switch a direction of a voltage to be available in remaining two opposite terminals in the direction orthogonal to the direction of the current, respectively, so that in a first period, a polarity of a hall electromotive force is a first polarity and a polarity of the hall offset voltage alternates four times, and in a second period, the polarity of the hall electromotive force is a second polarity opposite to the first polarity and the polarity of the hall offset voltage alternates four times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: ASAHI KASEI MICRODEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeo Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140210463
    Abstract: A printed circuit includes a hole, a stack, one or more first coils, a magnetic core, and a pad. The hole passes through the vertically through the board to receive a conducting wire. The stack comprises metallization layers vertically stacked and separated mechanically from one another by electrically insulating layers. The first coils fulfill functions of a measurement coil and of an excitation coil. Each first coil has turns wound solely around the magnetic core. The magnetic core forms a first magnetic ring surrounding the hole and extending horizontally between metallization layers. Each turn of each first coil is formed by two conducting tracks produced, respectively, in metallization layers situated above and below the first magnetic ring. The pad passes through an insulating layer and passes through an interior of the magnetic ring, electrically linking the two conducting tracks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Commissariat á l'énergie Atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventor: Philippe Klein
  • Publication number: 20140210464
    Abstract: Nuclear quadrupole resonance measurement using two or more wire loop(s) within a space to define a portal, and driving the wire loop(s) with a baseband digital transmitter generating a chirped or stepped signal, to create a corresponding varying electromagnetic field within the portal. Coherent emissions reflected thereby are detected through a directional coupler feeding the transceiver. The detected coherent emissions are processed with a matched filter to determine presence of a target object within the portal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: John T. Apostolos, Judy Feng, William Mouyos, Benjamin McMahon
  • Publication number: 20140210465
    Abstract: Provided are apparatuses and methods for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method includes applying radio frequency (RF) pulses to an object in a magnetic field, the RF pulses having different frequency bands for each of at least two types of nucleus in the object; applying predetermined pulse sequences for each type of nucleus to the object; receiving magnetic resonance signals emitted by each nucleus in response to the RF pulses and the predetermined pulse sequences; and generating an image of the object based on the received magnetic resonance signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young-beom KIM, Yeun-chul RYU, Jae-mock YI
  • Publication number: 20140210466
    Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) receiver includes a receiver coil on a substrate. The receiver coil includes one or more capacitors. The construction of the capacitors allows for the use of very flexible substrates and allows the capacitors themselves to be highly flexible. The increased flexibility permits the MRI receiver to be conformed to the body of a patient and accordingly improves the MRI process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Ana Claudia Arias, Shimon Lustig, Anita M. Flynn, Joseph Corea
  • Publication number: 20140210467
    Abstract: An MRI system acquires a susceptibility-weighted image by acquiring a first RF echo signal in a first echo time for providing an image exclusive of susceptibility-weighting and acquiring a second RF echo signal in a second echo time longer than the first echo time for providing an image including susceptibility-weighting. A compensation gradient field is applied for compensating for field inhomogeneity and in response, a third RF echo signal is acquired in a third echo time longer than the second echo time. First, second and third images are generated in response to data derived from the first, second and third RF echo signals respectively and data of the first, second and third images is combined to provide image data representing an image compensating for magnetic resonance signal attenuation in the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicants: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Young HWANG, Joon Soo KIM, Jae Moon JO, Yang Lim CHOI, Jongho LEE
  • Publication number: 20140210468
    Abstract: An imaging system configured to automatically detect a patient's body profile and to position the patient. The imaging system includes a scan support member configured to support a scan object, a processing device; and an identification device electrically connected to the processing device. The scan support member includes a machine identifiable code representing a distance from a position of the machine identifiable code to one end of the scan support member. The identification device is configured to identify the machine identifiable code, to decode the distance represented by the machine identifiable code and to send the distance represented by the machine identifiable code to the processing device. The processing device determines a distance from an interested location of the scan object to a scanning plane of the imaging system according to the distance represented by the machine identifiable code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: GE MEDICAL SYSTEMS GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Huijun XU
  • Publication number: 20140210469
    Abstract: A method for providing an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with nonrigid motion correction of an object is provided. An MRI excitation is applied to the object. A magnetic field read out from the object using a plurality of sensor coils. Spatially localized motion estimates are obtained for each sensor coil of the plurality of sensor coils. The motion estimates are used for each sensor coil to provide motion correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicants: The Regents of the University of California, The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Joseph Y. CHENG, John M. PAULY, Michael LUSTIG, Shreyas S. VASANAWALA
  • Publication number: 20140210470
    Abstract: An imaging system for achieving automatic detection of a patient's body profile and intelligent positioning of the patient. The imaging system includes at least one transmitter disposed on one side of a bore of the imaging system, and a receiver disposed on the other side of the bore of the imaging system. The at least one transmitter is configured to transmit a beam incapable of effectively penetrating a scan object. The receiver is configured to receive the beam transmitted by the at least one transmitter and to send a received signal to a processing device. The processing device is electrically connected to the receiver, and configured to determine whether the beam transmitted by the at least transmitter is blocked by the scan object according to the received signal so as to determine a position of the scan object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: GE MEDICAL SYSTEMS GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Huijun XU
  • Publication number: 20140210471
    Abstract: In a method and a control device for operating a magnetic resonance imaging system, initially, in a sequence module, multiple slices are excited in an examination object by respective spatially selective RF slice excitation pulses whereby the time between two consecutive of these RF slice excitation pulses defines a first time interval. A preparation block follows the last excitation pulse. The preparation bloc radiates at least one RF refocusing pulse designed so that, for each of the slices, one echo signal is formed. The time interval between two consecutive echo signals is equal to the first time interval. Then, a second RF refocusing pulse is emitted at a second time interval after the last echo signal formed by the preparation block. The second RF refocusing pulse is designed so that, for each of the slices, one further echo signal is formed, and the time interval of two consecutive echo signals is equal to the first time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Alto Stemmer
  • Publication number: 20140210472
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a magnetic resonance imaging system (300) for acquiring magnetic resonance data (358) from a subject (318) that may comprise an electrically conductive object (e.g. an implant or a medical device). The magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a radio-frequency transmitter (314) for generating a radio-frequency transmit field for acquiring the magnetic resonance data using a radio-frequency antenna (310). The radio-frequency transmitter has multiple transmit channels. The radio-frequency antenna comprises multiple antenna elements (312) each adapted to connect to an antenna element. According to an embodiment of the invention, the amplitude and phase values of the RF transmit field of each of the transmit channels are selected such that the magnetic field generated by the RF antenna is minimized at the location of the electrically conductive object, thereby reducing RF heating of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Hanno Heyke Homann, Ingmar Graesslin, Ulrich Katscher, Tobias Ratko Voigt, Olaf Helmut Dössel, Sebastian Alfred Seitz
  • Publication number: 20140210473
    Abstract: An electron spin resonance spectrometer includes a bridge to transmit an excitation frequency and to receive a signal frequency; a probe electrically connected to the bridge and comprising: a first conductor in electrical communication with the bridge to transmit the signal frequency to the bridge; a shorting member electrically connected to the first conductor to transmit the excitation frequency to a sample, to produce the signal frequency, and to transmit the signal frequency to the first conductor; and a second conductor electrically connected to the shorting member; and a magnet disposed proximate to the probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: JASON P. CAMPBELL, KIN P. CHEUNG, JASON T. RYAN, PATRICK M. LENAHAN
  • Publication number: 20140210474
    Abstract: Samples of a Fourier transform of a signal may be received that are distributed in a generally spherically-shaped pattern on a surface of at least one sphere. The samples may be assembled to form a profile function having a domain that is a surface of at least one sphere. Information indicative of at least one property of the signal may be determined by applying a spherical linear transform to the profile function. The spherical linear transform may use more than just an equator of the profile function for each of multiple orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Justin P. Haldar, Richard M. Leahy