Patents Issued in August 7, 2014
  • Publication number: 20140217924
    Abstract: In an organic EL display apparatus, a chromaticity change of image display due to deterioration in an OLED is corrected. The organic EL display apparatus includes an EC element layer formed of one kind or a plurality of kinds of electrochromic elements which are disposed on an OLED portion and develop colors. Each of the electrochromic elements has a peak in a transmission spectrum during development of a color in any one of the emission wavelength bands of the pixels corresponding to the plurality of colors. The electrochromic element receives a DC voltage from a driver so as to be driven. Chromaticity of image display is adjusted by controlling a color development intensity of the electrochromic element by using the DC voltage which is applied by the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Toshihiro SATO, Hironori TOYODA
  • Publication number: 20140217925
    Abstract: An input voltage transfer apparatus for an LED lighting system is provided. The input voltage transfer apparatus includes a source voltage storage unit, a zero voltage switching unit, and a nonzero voltage switching unit. The source voltage storage unit stores a source voltage. The zero voltage switching unit turns on according to the source voltage stored in the source voltage storage unit when a zero voltage is inputted. The nonzero voltage switching unit turns on according to a current applied thereto through the zero voltage switching unit when a nonzero voltage is inputted. When the nonzero voltage switching unit is turned on, the source voltage storage unit discharges the stored source voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Jong Kim, Sang Hyun Park, Sang Man Kim, Woo Chang Jung, Gwan Bon Koo, Dong Young Huh, Seok Yoon
  • Publication number: 20140217926
    Abstract: Thermal management and control techniques for light emitting diode and other incandescent replacement light technologies using a current controller are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Anthony Catalano, Daniel Harrison, John J. Hall
  • Publication number: 20140217927
    Abstract: A hybrid light bulb is configured to automatically select a low heat emitting (low power) mode such as a CFL bulb portion when ambient temperature is above a predetermined threshold, and to select a high heat emitting (conventional incandescent or halogen bulb) portion when ambient temperature is below the predetermined threshold
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Joseph Patrick Quinn
  • Publication number: 20140217928
    Abstract: A two-conductor hard-wired communications link accepts a value of at least one parameter from an environmental sensor in the form of data encoded on the conductors via current modulation. The sensor can be mounted in a location remote from a controller. A circuit connected to the sensor transmits an RF signal representing the value of the parameter detected by the sensor. A data relay connects to the hard-wired communication link of the controller. The data relay includes a receiver that receives the RF signal, and circuitry configured to extract the value of the parameter and to emulate a set of physical and protocol properties of the hard-wired communication link of the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: HUNTER INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Peter John Woytowitz
  • Publication number: 20140217929
    Abstract: A MEMS device (20) includes a movable element (20) suspended above a substrate (22) by a spring member (34) having a spring constant (104). A spring softening voltage (58) is applied to electrodes (24, 26) facing the movable element (20) during a powered mode (100) to decrease the stiffness of the spring member (34) and thereby increase the sensitivity of the movable element (32) to an input stimulus (46). Upon detection of a stiction condition (112), the spring softening voltage (58) is effectively removed to enable recovery of the movable element (32) from the stiction condition (112). A higher mechanical spring constant (104) yields a stiffer spring (34) having a larger restoring force (122) in the unpowered mode (96) in order to enable recovery from the stiction condition (112). A feedback voltage (56) can be applied to feedback electrodes (28, 30) facing the movable element (32) to provide electrical damping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Yizhen Lin, Andrew C. McNeil, Mark E. Schlarmann
  • Publication number: 20140217930
    Abstract: A circuit for driving a plurality of capacitive actuators, the circuit having a low-voltage side, a high voltage side and a flyback transformer between the two. The low-voltage side comprises first and second pairs of low-side switches connected in series across an input voltage. The flyback transformer has a primary winding connected to the two pairs of switches. The high-voltage side has a pair of switches connected between the secondary winding of the flyback transformer and a ground and a plurality of capacitive loads and bidirectional switches to connect the loads to the secondary winding of the flyback transformer and a ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Karpelson, Robert J Wood, Gu-Yeon Wei
  • Publication number: 20140217931
    Abstract: In order for keeping the amplitude of the excitation current of a vibrator constant irrespective not only of the temperature variation but also of the manufacturing variation and the variation in frequency, a comparison control circuit for controlling the amplitude of the drive signal for exciting the vibrator includes a comparative voltage supply circuit for supplying the comparative voltage, and the comparative voltage supply circuit generates the comparative voltage with a constant current source and a second resistor made of a material the same as a material of a first resistor included in a current-voltage conversion circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20140217932
    Abstract: A method of minimizing the cold start delay and impact fatigue of an actuator includes calibrating the actuator by initially raising the temperature to a desired operating temperature through induction heating of the actuator rod. Additionally, a control system for a magnetostrictive actuator includes a rod of magnetostrictive material, a solenoid coil wrapped at least once around said rod, and a controller operatively connected to said solenoid coil wherein the controller detects an impact of the rod with another surface and adjusts the operation of the actuator to minimize the potential for additional future impacts. The rod may be segmented and include end caps to further reduce the potential for impact fatigue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: GREAT PLAINS DIESEL TECHNOLOGIES, L.C.
    Inventors: Charles B. Bright, Russell Bosch
  • Publication number: 20140217933
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motor to enable drive assist of an engine with a high torque in a low rotation speed range as well as synchronized driving in a high rotation speed range. The method includes controlling a motor connected to a low voltage battery. The motor has a reluctance torque higher than a magnetic torque at a time of a highest torque generation. The motor includes a rotor connected to an output shaft of an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinari Murayama, Futoshi Yamane
  • Publication number: 20140217934
    Abstract: A motor-driven appliance includes a battery; a motor including permanent magnets as field magnets; a momentary maximum current upper limit storage unit in which a predetermined momentary maximum current upper limit is stored; a current detection unit that detects a current flowing in the motor; a current threshold setting unit that generates a current threshold based on the momentary maximum current upper limit, and outputs the generated current threshold; a current exceedance determination unit that determines whether the current detected by the current detection unit has become equal to or greater than the current threshold, and outputs an interruption signal used to interrupt a current path from the battery to the motor when the detected current has become equal to or greater than the current threshold; and a current flow interruption unit that interrupts the current path when the interruption signal is outputted from the current exceedance determination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20140217935
    Abstract: A motor control device according to the invention includes: a mode setting section that sets one of a first mode in which a charge/discharge current of a secondary battery varies according to load fluctuation of a motor and a second mode in which the charge/discharge current of the secondary battery becomes constant for a predetermined time regardless of the load fluctuation of the motor; and a drive signal generating section that generates a drive signal for driving the motor on the basis of the mode that is set by the mode setting section, a torque command value, and a motor rotation speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Matsui, Hiroyuki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20140217936
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive device and a drive method for a brushless motor. In a drive method in which a switching timing of energization patterns is detected by comparing a pulse induced voltage of a non-energized phase with a voltage threshold, when the pulse induced voltage does not reach the voltage threshold, the pulse induced voltage at an angle of switching the energization patterns is measured. Discrimination between a demagnetization failure and a lock failure is performed based on whether the measured pulse induced voltage satisfies a predetermined condition or not. When it is the demagnetization failure, motor control continues after changing the voltage threshold. When it is the lock failure, the motor control stops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140217937
    Abstract: A driving circuit for a single-phase-brushless motor and a method that includes a driving-signal-generating circuit configured to generate a driving signal for supplying, to a driving coil of the single-phase brushless motor, an output circuit coupled to the driving signal generating circuit; and an induced voltage zero-cross detecting circuit having a plurality of inputs and an output, a first input coupled to the driving signal generating circuit and configured to detect a zero cross of an induced voltage in response to operation in the de-energized period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Tsutomu Murata
  • Publication number: 20140217938
    Abstract: An embodiment of a motor controller includes a motor driver and a signal conditioner. The motor driver is operable to generate a motor-coil drive signal having a first component at a first frequency, and the signal conditioner is coupled to the motor driver and is operable to alter the first component. For example, if the first component of the motor-coil drive signal causes the motor to audibly vibrate (e.g., “whine”), then the signal conditioner may alter the amplitude or phase of the first component to reduce the vibration noise to below a threshold level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicants: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Frederic BONVIN, Ezio GALBIATI
  • Publication number: 20140217939
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus of a sensorless brush less direct current (BLDC) motor capable of rapidly driving the BLDC motor at a decreased speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Sang-Hyun Lee
  • Publication number: 20140217940
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes an EPS actuator that applies assist force to a steering system, and an ECU that controls operation of the EPS actuator. The ECU includes an inverter device, a gate driver circuit, a gate driver power source, a microcomputer, and the like. The microcomputer switches assist control to assist stop control, based on an indication of a voltage decrease in the gate driver power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20140217941
    Abstract: A motor control system includes: a power supply; a converter; an inverter; an alternating-current motor; and a control unit that drives the motor in any one of sinusoidal PWM control, overmodulation control and rectangular wave control through operation control of the converter and the inverter. The control unit starts step-up operation of the converter when a current vector of motor current of the motor on a d-q coordinate plane becomes a current phase corresponding to motor torque, at which a system loss is equal between before and after starting the step-up operation, while the control unit supplies the direct-current voltage, supplied from the power supply, to the inverter without stepping up the direct-current voltage by the converter and performs the rectangular wave control of the motor in a state where the current phase is an optimal current phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Yamada, Yasuhiro Nakai
  • Publication number: 20140217942
    Abstract: In a driving system, an applying module apples, in response to an input of an on or off command as a switching command, a switch signal to a target switching element as a high- or low-side switching element to switch the target switching element to be an on or off state. A measuring module measures a delay period defined as a time interval from a first time to a second time. The first time represents a time at which the switching command is switched from one of the on command and the off command to the other. The second time represents a time at which the target switching element is actually switched to be the on or off state. An adjusting module adjusts, based on the delay period, an input timing of a next switch signal applied from the applying module to the target switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi FUKUTA, Tsuneo Maebara
  • Publication number: 20140217943
    Abstract: An embodiment of a motor controller includes first and second supply nodes, a motor-coil node, an isolator, a motor driver, and a motor position signal generator. The isolator is coupled between the first and second supply nodes, and the motor driver is coupled to the second supply node and to the motor-coil node. The motor position signal generator is coupled to the isolator and is operable to generate, in response to the isolator, a motor-position signal that is related to a position of a motor having at least one coil coupled to the motor-coil node. By generating the motor-position signal in response to the isolator, the motor controller or another circuit may determine the at-rest or low-speed position of a motor without using an external coil-current-sense circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicants: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.I.
    Inventors: Frederic BONVIN, Agostino MIRABELLI, Maurizio NESSI
  • Publication number: 20140217944
    Abstract: A system includes a permanent magnet motor having a rotor and a stator. The rotor and the stator have a configuration that causes the motor to generate a back-electromagnetic force (EMF) waveform that is substantially sinusoidal. The system also includes a motor controller having a sliding-mode observer configured to identify the back-EMF waveform and a position observer configured to estimate at least one characteristic of the motor using the identified back-EMF waveform. The stator may include multiple teeth projecting towards the rotor and multiple conductive windings, where each conductive winding is wound around a single tooth. The rotor may include multiple magnetic poles, where each magnetic pole has a span of about 60° or less. The sliding-mode observer may be configured to receive current measurements associated with three-phase signals and voltage commands generated by the motor controller. The position observer may include a proportional-integral (PI) regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Shih-Chin Yang
  • Publication number: 20140217945
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic resonance detection is disclosed for a motor-driven mechanical system such as a voice coil motor (VCM) in which a resonance detector and driver are provided. The automatic resonance detector may be implemented on the same integrated circuit as the driver, and dynamically determines the natural resonant frequency of the VCM driven by the driver. The resonant frequency is determined by measuring the back electromotive force (BEMF) of the VCM, detecting the slope of the BEMF signal, and determining the resonant frequency from the slope of the BEMF signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Analog Devices Technology
    Inventors: Alan Patrick Cahill, Gary Casey, John A. Cleary, Eoin Edward English, Christian Jimenez, Javier Calpe Maravilla, Colin G. Lyden, Thomas F. Roche
  • Publication number: 20140217946
    Abstract: An inverter device includes a power supply unit and a switch controller. The power supply unit supplies AC power to an AC motor whose electric characteristics in response to a rotation speed are switchable between low speed characteristics and high speed characteristics. The switch controller switches the electric characteristics of the AC motor. The switch controller executes switching control that alternately switches the electric characteristics of the AC motor between the low speed characteristics and the high speed characteristics on the basis of the rotation speed of the AC motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Tsuneo KUME, Hidenori HARA, Koji HIGASHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20140217947
    Abstract: Short circuit safe rectifier stage for a subsea power grid It is described a rectifier stage (251) for converting an input AC voltage to an output voltage, the rectifier stage comprising: a first AC input terminal (255); a second AC input terminal (257), wherein the input AC voltage is applicable between the first input terminal and the second input terminal; a first DC output terminal (267); a second DC output terminal (268); a first thyristor (261) connected between the first DC output terminal (267) and the first AC input terminal (255); a second thyristor (263) connected between the first DC output terminal (267) and the second AC input terminal (257); a gate control circuit (272) adapted and connected to control a first conductance state of the first thyristor (261) and to control a second conductance state of the second thyristor (263) such that the first thyristor and the second thyristor provide a rectified AC voltage between the first DC output terminal (267) and the second DC output terminal (268) a
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Espen Haugan
  • Publication number: 20140217948
    Abstract: A method for controlling a multiphase machine which is connected to a direct current voltage source. The machine has a DC link which is provided with a DC link capacitor, phase windings, and a high side switch and a low side switch for each phase. The switches associated with the individual phases are acted on by control signals from a control unit. For reducing the DC link current, the control unit provides block-shaped control signals for the switches associated with the individual phases in such a way that trapezoidal or pulsed phase currents are predefined, at least one phase current is connected at any point in time in each control cycle, and the value of the amplitude ratio of the predefined phase currents is selected in such a way that the connected phase currents correspond to the instantaneous current of the direct current voltage source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Fabio Magini, Paul Mehringer
  • Publication number: 20140217949
    Abstract: A method of PWM regulating a motor through a half-bridge drive stage includes sampling the motor current to obtain sampled values during driving intervals or during current decay intervals, and comparing a last sampled value with a current threshold. The motor is coupled in a slow decay electrical path for the duration of a current decay interval if the last sampled value does not exceed the current threshold. Otherwise the motor is coupled in a fast decay electrical path for a portion of the duration of the current decay interval, and is coupled in the slow decay electrical path for a remaining part of the duration of the same current decay interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.
    Inventors: Paolo PASCALE, Federico Magni, Ezio Galbiati, Giuseppe Maiocchi, Michele Berto Boscolo
  • Publication number: 20140217950
    Abstract: There are provided a constant voltage circuit that outputs a stable constant voltage for an analog electronic clock, and an analog electronic clock featuring low current consumption and prolonged battery life. The constant voltage circuit has a first voltage holding circuit connected between the gate of an output transistor and an output terminal and a second voltage holding circuit connected between the gate of the output transistor and a ground terminal, and carries out control such that the second voltage holding circuit is enabled when the motor is operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kotaro WATANABE, Makoto MITANI
  • Publication number: 20140217951
    Abstract: A motor control device includes a power converter, a velocity controller, and a certain-position stop controller. The power converter outputs a driving current on the basis of an input torque command. The velocity controller generates a calculated torque command on the basis of a difference between a velocity represented by a velocity command and a motor velocity. The certain-position stop controller performs position control by, after first detecting a reference position of a motor during velocity control, generating a position command for positioning the motor from the reference position to a target stop position at a torque of a torque schedule, generating the velocity command on the basis of a difference between a position represented by the position command and the motor position, and outputting a value resulting from adding a torque feedforward command generated on the basis of the torque schedule to the calculated torque command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventor: Tominori SUGIHARA
  • Publication number: 20140217952
    Abstract: A position control apparatus is configured to perform full-closed control for controlling the position of a driven member. The position control apparatus includes a vibration period and amplitude detector that detects a vibration period and a vibration amplitude included in a difference value between the position command value and the driven member position detection value. The position control apparatus also includes a constant vibration detector that outputs, as a vibration period of the constant vibration, a vibration period obtained while the driven member is not in an acceleration/deceleration state and the vibration period and the vibration amplitude detected by the vibration period and amplitude detector are equal to or greater than a vibration period threshold value and a vibration amplitude threshold value, respectively. The position control apparatus also includes a control parameter changer that changes the control parameter based on the vibration period output from the constant vibration detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: OKUMA Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Miyaji
  • Publication number: 20140217953
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system of a vehicle generally comprises a heat source, an air-passage body, and a heat-preservation container. The heat source is provided with a pipe. The air-passage body is coupled to the pipe. The air-passage body defines therein a chamber and at least one passage communicating with the chamber, wherein the chamber communicates with the pipe for collecting the waste heat energy transferred by the pipe. The heat-preservation container, being placed above the air-passage body, communicates with the passage of the air-passage body and is provided with multiple heat-transfer elements therein. With the waste heat recovery system, the waste heat energy can be transferred via air from the heat source to the container to enable the container to keep at a lower temperature for food or articles required to be warmed. Furthermore, the waste heat energy enables a conversion module in the chamber to generate electrical power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: CHUNG-CHIEN CHANG
  • Publication number: 20140217954
    Abstract: A table is disclosed that uses a built-in solar panel to collect and store electrical energy. The table uses the solar panel as part of the table top. The table includes electrical outlets for both 12-volt DC power and 110-volt AC power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Nancy K. Wilde
  • Publication number: 20140217955
    Abstract: A charge apparatus including a natural energy conversion module, an energy converter, an energy transmitter, an energy receiver, and an electricity storage device is provided. The natural energy conversion module receives the natural energy and converts the natural energy into a first electric energy. The energy converter is electrically connected to the natural energy conversion module and converts the first electric energy into a wireless energy. The energy transmitter is electrically connected to the energy converter and transmits the wireless energy. The energy receiver receives the wireless energy and converts the wireless energy into a second electric energy to charge an external apparatus. The energy transmitter monitors the current charge status of the external apparatus so as to adjust transmitting the wireless energy. The electricity storage device is electrically connected to the natural energy conversion module to store the first electric energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jui-Ying Lin, Mu-Tao Chu, Yu-Chen Yu, Wen-Yih Liao, Ming-Hsien Wu
  • Publication number: 20140217956
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a first inlet to be connected to a commercial power source, a second inlet to be connected to a battery of an HEMS (Home Energy Management System) which supplies electric power greater than electric power supplied by the commercial power source, and an ECU. The ECU indicates one of the first inlet and the second inlet to a user in accordance with a state of a battery of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeki Kinomura, Shinji Ichikawa, Daisuke Ishii
  • Publication number: 20140217957
    Abstract: A system for supplying an electric load, in particular for charging a battery device, including a charging station with an accommodation unit for the battery device and a detection unit for the battery device. The detection unit includes a first optical transmitting device for transmitting a first optical signal and an optical receiving device for receiving the first optical signal. The battery device includes a second optical transmitting device for transmitting a second and third optical signal, the second optical transmitting device functioning as a transmitter of a discretely configured optocoupler for transmitting information from the battery device to the charging station. The optical receiving device of the charging station is configured as a receiver of the discretely configured optocoupler for receiving the second and third optical signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Juergen Mack
  • Publication number: 20140217958
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and information handling system manage a rate of decreasing full capacity of a rechargeable battery by using a projected/target rate of decreasing charge capacity for the battery. The method includes determining an actual rate of decreasing charge capacity of the battery, comparing the actual rate of decreasing charge capacity to the projected/target rate of decreasing charge capacity to determine whether the actual rate of decreasing charge capacity is greater than the projected rate of decreasing charge capacity, and if the actual rate of decreasing charge capacity is greater than the projected/target rate of decreasing charge capacity, modifying one or more variable parameters to slow down the actual rate of decreasing charge capacity of the battery such that the actual rate of decreasing charge capacity remains within a range of the projected/target rate of decreasing charge capacity, and charging and discharging the battery using the modified parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: GARY JOSEPH VERDUN, RICHARD C. THOMPSON
  • Publication number: 20140217959
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a synchronous switching converter that converts a DC input voltage into a DC output voltage. This synchronous switching converter includes a high-side switching MOSFET coupled between an input node and a first node. The converter also includes a low-side switching MOSFET coupled between the first node and a ground node and is in series with the high-side switching MOSFET. This converter additionally includes a bootstrap capacitor coupled to the high-side switching MOSFET to provide turn-on voltage for the high-side switching MOSFET. Furthermore, the converter includes a main refresh circuit coupled to the bootstrap capacitor and is configured to refresh the bootstrap capacitor during a first operating mode of the synchronous switching converter. Moreover, the converter includes an auxiliary refresh circuit coupled to the main refresh circuit and the bootstrap capacitor and is configured to refresh the bootstrap capacitor during a second operating mode of the converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Bin Chen, Mao Ye, Yongxuan Hu
  • Publication number: 20140217960
    Abstract: An amplifier applies a self-adapting voltage to an output terminal. A bias circuit provides a greater bias current in a first external connection condition, in the absence of a pull-up resistance connected to the output terminal, than when such a pull-up resistance is present. The amplifier applies a different voltage to the output terminal in the absence of a pull-up resistance than when such a pull-up resistance is present. The circuit can be used in a portable device for receiving charging current from a battery charger through a connector having a D+ pin for connection to the battery charger and connected to the amplifier output terminal for battery charger detection. The portable device can meet the USB battery charger specification rev. 1.2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Wenzhong Zhang, Shayan Zhang, Yi Zhao
  • Publication number: 20140217961
    Abstract: The portable power supply contains at least a first battery, at least a second battery, at least a first switch element, at least a second switch element, a plurality of charging and regulating circuits, an input interface element, and an output interface element. Each second battery is electrically connected in series with a first battery through a first switch element. Each second switch element is electrically connected in-series between ground and a first battery or a second battery. Each charging and regulating circuit is electrically connected to a first battery or a second battery The input interface element has an end electrically connected to an external power source, and another end electrically connected to all charging and regulating circuits. The output interface element has an end electrically connected to an external electronic device, and another end electrically connected to a first battery or a second battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: ZONESKING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: TZU-YU YANG, YI-AN CHEN, JIA-YI WU
  • Publication number: 20140217962
    Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a plurality of charging ports configured to charge external devices; a switch unit configured to connect or block power to or from each of the plurality of charging ports; and a controller configured to control so that an amount of current being supplied to at least one of the plurality of charging ports is increased depending on a power connection status for each of the plurality of charging ports in a rapid charging mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-suk KIM, Jin-hee KIM
  • Publication number: 20140217963
    Abstract: A protective circuit is provided. The protective circuit includes a charging unit, a voltage regulating unit, and a comparing unit. The charging unit receives a rise signal and an over-current signal, and outputs a first reference voltage. The voltage regulating unit receives the first reference voltage and adjusts an output voltage according, to the first reference voltage and a feedback voltage. The comparing unit receives the feedback voltage and compares the feedback voltage with a first threshold voltage to determine whether to output the rise signal to the charging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: ASMedia Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Ting-Wen SU
  • Publication number: 20140217964
    Abstract: A power conversion equipment or apparatus includes an AC/DC conversion circuit which rectifies and converts an alternating current power source to a direct current, and a DC/AC conversion circuit which converts the direct current to a high frequency three-phase alternating current voltage having 3N pulses times a fundamental wave frequency in a half cycle, the fundamental wave frequency being higher than the frequency of the alternating current power source. The power conversion equipment also includes a three-phase high frequency transformer having a primary winding that is connected to the output of the DC/AC conversion circuit, a rectifier circuit which rectifies a secondary winding voltage of the three-phase high frequency transformer, and a filter circuit connected to the direct current output of the rectifier circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi FUJIMOTO, Kouetsu FUJITA, Kazuo KUROKI
  • Publication number: 20140217965
    Abstract: A receiver device configured to connect to a chargeable device, including an inductive region including at least one receiver coil for receiving magnetic flux from an inductive charging system. Additionally the receiver device includes a conductive region having contacts for receiving wireless electric power from a conductive charging system. In addition, the receiver device includes a connector for transferring wireless power received from the inductive or conductive charging system to the chargeable device in order to charge the chargeable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Michael Hrecznyj
  • Publication number: 20140217966
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus and method for the alignment, verification and optimization of wireless charging systems manufactured for use and used with electric vehicles. With some minimal modifications the same apparatus may be used to align a charging coil mounted on a vehicle with a charging coil, mounted on or in an electric vehicle charging bay or parking space, or to verify and optimize manufactured wireless vehicle charging system elements before they are installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Jesse M. Schneider, Jonathan J. O'Hare
  • Publication number: 20140217967
    Abstract: A transmitter assembly is useful in optimizing in the delivery of wireless power to a plurality of receivers. Each receiver measures its own battery need for power and transmits that measurement as a request to the transmitter. The transmitter is configured to normalize and compare battery need requests. The transmitter then allocates pulses of wireless power among the requesting receivers according to their battery need.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Ossia, Inc.
    Inventors: Hatem Zeine, Thomas H. Wilson, Ken K. Clark
  • Publication number: 20140217968
    Abstract: A contactless charging system is made up of an electronic device and a contactless charger 200 that recharges the electronic device in a contactless manner. The electronic device transmits a full charge command indicating completion of charge. Upon receipt of the full charge command, the contactless charger shifts to a charge stop state in which charge of the electronic device is not performed. In the charge stop state, the contactless charger generates a load check signal for checking whether or not the electronic device is placed in the contactless charger in a rechargeable state, and transmits the signal. Further, the contactless charger also generates a charge restart check command for checking whether or not the electronic device requests recharge in a charge stop state, and transmits the command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki TAKAHASHI, Hiroyuki OKU, Masanori OSHIMI
  • Publication number: 20140217969
    Abstract: A power receiving circuit, a power transmitting circuit, an apparatus, and a feed system are disclosed. The power receiving circuit receives power in a noncontact manner, and includes an LC parallel resonant circuit and a reactance element that is electrically connected in series to the LC parallel resonant circuit. The reactive element may be a capacitive or inductive element. In effect, a coil or capacitor in the LC parallel resonant circuit and the reactance element define another LC resonant circuit, namely, an LC series resonant circuit. The power transmitting circuit transmits power in a noncontact manner, and in one example, may also include a similar configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomomichi Murakami, Yoshitaka Yoshino
  • Publication number: 20140217970
    Abstract: This non-contact charging module can be suitably used by suppressing a change of an L value of a coil that is provided in the non-contact charging module, and achieves size reduction, even in the cases where a magnet that is provided in the other non-contact charging module is used or not used. The module is characterized in that: the module is provided with a primary side coil (21a) wherein a conducting line is wound in a substantially rectangular shape, and a magnetic sheet (51) that is provided with a surface on which the primary side coil (21a) is placed; and that a substantially rectangular-shaped hollow portion of the primary side coil (21a) has the short side thereof shorter than the diameter of a circular magnet (30a), and the long side thereof longer than the diameter of the circular magnet (30a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichiro Tabata, Tokuji Nishino, Toshiaki Kikui, Tatsunori Tabata
  • Publication number: 20140217971
    Abstract: A voltage at an output end of a switch of an electric vehicle supply equipment is detected before charging an electric vehicle. An earth leakage circuit breaker is tripped for cutting off power inputted to the switch and preventing the output end from outputting the power when the voltage is higher than a first predetermined value. The switch is turned on for outputting the power from the output end to charge the electric vehicle when the voltage is lower than the first predetermined value. A current is detected at the output end. Power inputted to the switch is cut off for preventing the output end from outputting the power when the current is higher than a second predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Chen-Kuan Wu
  • Publication number: 20140217972
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a charging unit receiving electric power supplied from an external power supply through a power feeding cable connected to an inlet for charging a power storage device; a discharging unit for supplying electric power from the power storage device to the power feeding cable through the inlet; a discharge relay; and a charge relay. When ending a discharging operation, an ECU outputs an opening instruction to the discharge relay and determines based on the state of a power line during output of the opening instruction whether the discharge relay is welded or not. When starting the discharging operation, the ECU outputs a closing instruction to the discharge relay and does not determine during output of the closing instruction whether the discharge relay is welded or not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Ishii, Tomoyuki Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20140217973
    Abstract: A charging apparatus and an electric vehicle including the same are disclosed. The charging apparatus includes a converter for, in a charging mode, converting an input alternating current (AC) voltage into a direct current (DC) voltage and a controller for controlling the converter. The converter includes a motor and a switching unit that is connected to an additional coil wound on a stator of one phase of the motor, and that supplies the input AC voltage to the motor by performing a switching operation. The converter also includes an inverter that, in a motor operation mode, converts a DC voltage from a battery into an AC voltage by a switching operation and drives the motor. In the charging mode, the inverter converts the input AC voltage into the DC voltage using the additional coil of the motor and the switching unit and supplies the DC voltage to the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dongcheol LEE, Yohan PARK, Junyoung LIM, Murat SENOL, Rik De DONCKER