Patents Issued in April 14, 2015
  • Patent number: 9006959
    Abstract: A lead-free piezoelectric ceramic composition includes a first crystal phase of alkali niobate/tantalate type perovskite oxide having piezoelectric properties and a second crystal phase of A-Ti—B—O composite oxide (where the element A is an alkali metal; the element B is at least one of Nb and Ta; and the contents of the element A, the element B and Ti are not zero). Examples of the second crystal phase are those represented by A1?xTi1?xB1+xO5, and x preferably satisfies 0?x?0.15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Yamazaki, Takayuki Matsuoka, Katsuya Yamagiwa, Kazushige Ohbayashi
  • Patent number: 9006960
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrating piece includes a first extraction electrode and a second extraction electrode. The first extraction electrode is extracted from an excitation electrode formed on one principal surface to a framing portion via one principal surface of a connecting portion. The second extraction electrode is extracted from the extraction electrode formed on another principal surface to the framing portion via another principal surface of the connecting portion, a side surface of the connecting portion, and the one principal surface of the connecting portion. A distance between a first side and a second side at the framing portion is larger than a distance between the first side and the second side at the connecting portion. The first side is a side of the first extraction electrode at the second extraction electrode side. The second side is a side of the second extraction electrode at the first extraction electrode side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Mizusawa, Takehiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9006961
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing shield (5) for an electrical motor having a rotor and a stator, wherein the bearing shield (5) has a receptacle (25) for a bearing (400) for bearing a shaft of the rotor (100) and wherein the bearing shield is arranged in a housing (35) of an electrical motor, wherein the bearing shield has a current carrier (13, 23, 24, 60) which is configured to connect at least one coil (74) of the stator to a power connection or to another coil (74) of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hussam Helmi
  • Patent number: 9006963
    Abstract: A light bulb with dual connector comprising a connector assembly for lamps/bulbs rotatably connected to the lamp body to provide alternative connective means for engaging different types of lamp sockets. The connector is integrally assembled with respect to the lamp such that the electrical connection necessary to illuminate the lamp is operative at all times. The connector is defined by an elongated body having a spiral/screw-threaded connector (spiral installation head) at one end and a pin-type (pressed installation head) at its opposite. Dependent upon the type of socket/holder available (screw threaded or pin type), the head most suited for a particular holder can be rotated to an operative position to facilitate installation of the inventive lamp-connector combination into the socket/holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Daoud S A N Al-Saqabi
  • Patent number: 9006964
    Abstract: The present invention relates to afield emission cathode, comprising an at least partly electrically conductive base structure, and a plurality of electrically conductive micrometer sized sections spatially distributed at the base structure, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of micrometer sized sections each are provided with a plurality of electrically conductive nanostructures. Advantages of the invention include lower power consumption as well as an increase in light output of e.g. a field emission lighting arrangement comprising the field emission cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Lightlab Sweden AB
    Inventor: Qiu-Hong Hu
  • Patent number: 9006965
    Abstract: A lightweight flexible light-emitting device which is able to possess a curved display portion and display a full color image with high resolution and the manufacturing process thereof are disclosed. The light-emitting device comprises: a plastic substrate; an insulating layer with an adhesive interposed therebetween; a thin film transistor over the insulating layer; a protective insulating film over the thin film transistor; a color filter over the protective insulating film; an interlayer insulating film over the color filter; and a white-emissive light-emitting element formed over the interlayer insulating film and being electrically connected to the thin film transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Seo, Kaoru Hatano
  • Patent number: 9006966
    Abstract: The teachings are generally directed to phosphors having combination coatings with multifunctional characteristics that increase the performance and/or reliability of the phosphor. The teachings include highly reliable phosphors having coatings that contain more than one inorganic component, more than one layer, more than one thicknesses, more than one combination of layers or thicknesses, a gradient-interface between components, a primer thickness or layer to inhibit or prevent leaching of phosphor components into the coatings, a sealant layer to inhibit or prevent entry of moisture or oxygen from the environment, a mixed composition layer as a sealant and multifunctional combination coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Intematix Corporation
    Inventors: Xufang Chen, Yi-Qun Li, Yuming Xie, Haoguo Zhu, Xiongfei Shen, Shengfeng Liu, Dejie Tao
  • Patent number: 9006967
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, each defined by a scan line, a data line, and a power supply line, a plurality of control lines branching off of one wire in a first direction and simultaneously transferring control signals to the plurality of pixels; and a plurality of repair bridges placed between neighboring ones of the plurality of control lines, each of the plurality of repair bridges including a first bridge connected to one of the neighboring ones of the plurality of control lines and a second bridge connected to another one of the neighboring control lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guang-Hai Jin, Jae-Beom Choi, Kwan-Wook Jung, June-Woo Lee, Seong-Jun Kim, Ga-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 9006968
    Abstract: A mounting substrate includes: a wiring substrate; and a plurality of optical elements mounted on a mounting surface of the wiring substrate, and each having a first electrode and a second electrode. The wiring substrate includes a support substrate, a plurality of first wires, and a plurality of second wires. The first wires and the second wires are provided within a layer between the support substrate and the mounting surface. The first wires are electrically connected with the first electrodes. The second wires are electrically connected with the second electrodes, and each have cross-sectional area larger than cross-sectional area of each of the first wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiko Watanabe, Yoichi Ohshige, Masato Doi, Akiyoshi Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 9006969
    Abstract: A light emitting display device and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The light emitting display device comprises: a substrate comprising an active region in which a plurality of active pixels for displaying images are formed and a first dummy region disposed outside the active region and in which a plurality of first dummy pixels is formed; a first electrode formed on the substrate in each pixel; a pixel defining layer having an opening that exposes the first electrode; a surface treatment layer formed on the first electrode and having a plurality of grooves in each of the first dummy pixels; a light emitting layer formed on the surface treatment layer; and a second electrode formed on the light emitting layer in each of the active pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eui Gyu Kim, Young Il Kim
  • Patent number: 9006970
    Abstract: An organic light emitting display apparatus includes a base substrate, a light emitting unit on the base substrate and including an organic light emitting element, a driving unit on the base substrate, a sealing substrate opposite from the base substrate, and a sealing unit between the base and sealing substrates and enclosing the light emitting unit, the sealing unit being at least partially on the driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Yong Song, Sun-Young Jung
  • Patent number: 9006971
    Abstract: A planar helix slow-wave structure with straight edge connections where the structure consists of two arrays of thin, parallel, conductors printed on top and bottom faces of a low-loss dielectric material or substrate, the conductors in the arrays printed on the top and bottom surfaces being inclined at different but symmetric pitch angles on the surface of the planar surface, the conjunction ends of the conductors on the top and bottom faces being connected by vertical conductors with circular rings with a diameter greater than the diameter of the vertical conductors to ensure proper connections between them, and a vacuum tunnel inside the planar helix structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventors: Ciersiang Chua, Sheel Aditya, Zhongxiang Shen
  • Patent number: 9006972
    Abstract: A low-temperature, atmospheric-pressure microplasma generator comprises at least one strip of metal on a dielectric substrate. A first end of the strip is connected to a ground plane and the second end of the strip is adjacent to a grounded electrode, with a gap being defined between the second end of the strip and the grounded electrode. High frequency power is supplied to the strip. The frequency is selected so that the length of the strip is an odd integer multiple of ¼ of the wavelength traveling on the strip. A microplasma forms in the gap between the second end of the strip and the grounded electrode due to electric fields in that region. A microplasma generator array comprises a plurality of strongly-coupled resonant strips in close proximity to one another. At least one of the strips has an input for high-frequency electrical power. The remaining strips resonate due to coupling from the at least one powered strip. The array can provide a continuous line or ring of plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Hopwood
  • Patent number: 9006973
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes: a substrate having opposed first and second main faces; a light emitting element mounted on the first main face of the substrate; and a driver integrated circuit (IC) formed in an area corresponding to a lower side of the light emitting element within the substrate, and adjusting the amount of current applied to the light emitting element. Since the circuit provided to drive a light emitting diode (LED) is integrated within the substrate, a compact light emitting device having an integrated structure can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho Young Song
  • Patent number: 9006974
    Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus according to an embodiment includes a switching element, an inductor, a drive circuit, a mounting substrate, and an insulating substrate. The switching element is connected between a power supply and a lighting load. The inductor is connected in series to the switching element. The drive circuit controls the switching element, converts a voltage supplied from the power supply, and is mounted on the mounting substrate. The insulating substrate is thermally connected to the switching element, and has thermal conductivity higher than the mounting substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kitamura, Yuji Takahashi, Hitoshi Kawano, Masatoshi Kumagai, Yosuke Saito
  • Patent number: 9006975
    Abstract: Described herein is a method and apparatus for removing metal oxides on a surface of a component via electron attachment. In one embodiment, there is provided a field emission apparatus, wherein the electrons attach to at least a portion of the reducing gas to form a negatively charged atomic ions which removes metal oxides comprising: a cathode comprising an electrically conductive and comprising at least one or more protrusions having a high surface curvature, wherein the cathode is surrounded by a dielectric material which is then surrounded by an electrically conductive anode wherein the cathode and anode are each connected to an electrical voltage source, and the dielectric material between the cathode and anode is polarized to provide an electric field at one or more protrusions and thereby electrons from the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Chun Christine Dong, Russell A. Siminski
  • Patent number: 9006976
    Abstract: A compact cold plasma device for generating cold plasma having temperatures in the range 65 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The compact cold plasma device has a magnet-free configuration and an induction-grid-free configuration. An additional configuration uses an induction grid in place of the input electrode to generate the cold plasma. A high voltage power supply is provided that includes a controllable switch to release energy from a capacitor bank to a dual resonance RF transformer. A controller adjusts the energy input to the capacitor bank, as well as the trigger to the controllable switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Plasmology4, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Watson, Robert M. Hummel, Marc C. Jacofsky, David J. Jacofsky
  • Patent number: 9006977
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting an incorrect load and preventing powering of that load, until a load change is detected, are disclosed. An incorrect load can be removed and a newly attached valid load can be operated without requiring a reset. A power supply or driver system for a lighting system including one or more solid state light sources includes the systems and methods. The power supply or driver system includes a processor and memory arrangement configured to detect whether a load is operable or non-operable while still being responsive to a new load being attached at any time, and to prevent the system from checking the same load more than once. These may be used in conjunction with features like auto-recovery, restart after faults, and load-hot-plug capability, while perhaps simultaneously reducing cyclical flashing of light output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Avinash Gunda, Christian Breuer, Markus Ziegler
  • Patent number: 9006978
    Abstract: A driving circuit with an over-voltage protection device for modulating an electrical parameter of a driven device includes at least a boost circuit, a signal processing circuit, an over-voltage protection device, a modulation device and a control circuit. The output terminal of the boost circuit is electrically coupled in series to a driven device, a transistor and a grounded feedback resistor sequentially, wherein the output terminal of the boost circuit is further electrically coupled to a voltage dividing circuit for outputting a voltage dividing signal. The signal processing circuit is provided for outputting a processing signal to the over-voltage protection device and the modulation device according to the voltage dividing signal and a modulation signal. The control circuit is provided for turning on the transistor or not according to an output signal of the over-voltage protection device and an output signal of the modulation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Power Forest Technology
    Inventors: Po-Jen Ke, Yang-Tai Tseng
  • Patent number: 9006979
    Abstract: The present invention provides a protection circuit with low energy-consumption and a driving circuit thereof. The protection circuit includes a detection circuit and a switch circuit. The switch circuit is disposed between a power supply circuit and a peripheral step-down shunt. The detection circuit and the switch circuit are connected for controlling. The switch circuit includes a PNP triode or a P MOS transistor connected between the power supply circuit and the peripheral step-down shunt. A base of the PNP triode or the P MOS transistor is connected to a drain of another N MOS transistor through a resistor, and a gate of the N MOS transistor is connected to a status pin of the detection circuit. The present invention solves drawbacks of existent input voltage after the circuit entering a protection state causing unnecessary energy-consumption in peripheral small-signal circuit and voltage-dividing resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Hua Zhang
  • Patent number: 9006980
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for driving a fluorescent lamp are provided. The apparatus submitted by the present invention includes an LC resonator and an automatic frequency tracing circuit. The LC resonator is used for receiving and converting a square signal to generate a sinusoidal driving signal for driving the fluorescent lamp. The automatic frequency tracing circuit is used for making a frequency of the sinusoidal driving signal automatically following a resonant frequency of the LC resonator according to a feedback signal related to the sinusoidal driving signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Beyond Innovation Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Chung Huang, Kuang-Yu Jung
  • Patent number: 9006981
    Abstract: End-of-life indicators for lamps, and methods for indicating the end-of-life for lamps, are provided. A solid state light source end-of-life indicator is located on the exterior of a housing of a lamp, and includes at least one light emitting diode. The solid state light source end-of-life indicator emits light at the end of the life of the lamp. The solid state light source end-of-life indicator may emit light upon receiving an end-of-life signal from an end-of-life detection circuit, which detects when the lamp is at an end of its life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Heinz W. Ito, Dan Bodocan, Shaun P. Montana
  • Patent number: 9006982
    Abstract: A system wherein a control panel is used to set brightness, select an operation sensor (occupancy or light level), and provide a selection of lights off or reduced light for night conditions. A sensor control mode or a manual control mode may be selected. A sensor module comprises an occupancy sensor and light sensor used to monitor the ambient light at predetermined intervals Absent interrupts from the control panel, the sensor module or the control module, the system is idle. Whenever the system is in an on state, light from light fixtures is adjusted to compliment daylight to produce the user set brightness, thus reducing energy consumption. In an active mode, at least some light remains on, instead of powering off, during periods of system “off”. A delay timer provides time until the light is reduced or turned off entirely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Juinn Jyi Chen
  • Patent number: 9006983
    Abstract: One exemplary implementation of the present disclosure is directed to a lighting system for detecting the source of glare in imagery. The lighting system includes a first illumination light and a second illumination light each having an associated signal light. Each illumination light is configured to be illuminated independent of the other illumination light and both signal lights. Each signal light has a different spectral peak from the other signal light. The lighting system further includes a control system configured to control the illumination of the first and second illumination lights and associated signal lights based at least in part on identified glare.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Gregory Brueckner, Matthew Thomas Valente
  • Patent number: 9006984
    Abstract: When a pulsating current is applied to an LED string included in an LED lighting device, and the number of LEDs caused to light up is changed, the LED lighting device is in efficient, since there are LEDs lighting up for a long period of time and LEDs lighting up only for a short period of time. The LED string includes LED string 407 that lights up for a long period of time and LED string 408 that lights up only for a short period of time within a period of the pulsating current. The element size of the LED 102 included in LED string 407 is different from the element size of LED 203 string 408. Thus, the amount of light emission per unit area LED string 407 may be equal to the amount of light emission per unit area LED string 408.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd., Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9006985
    Abstract: A light emitting diode driving integrated circuit with a multi-step current setting function includes a regulator circuit, a variable resistor circuit, and a current generation unit. The regulator circuit provides a supply voltage to a first terminal of at least one series of light emitting diodes to drive the at least one series of light emitting diodes, and regulates a second terminal voltage of the at least one series of light emitting diodes to a target voltage. The variable resistor circuit is used for changing a resistance of the variable resistor circuit in a plurality of steps according to a switching signal. The current generation unit is coupled to the variable resistor circuit for changing current flowing through the at least one series of light emitting diodes in a plurality of steps according to a reference voltage and variation of the resistance of the variable resistor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Chung-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 9006986
    Abstract: Semiconductor light emitting devices are provided that include a first string of light emitting diodes (“LED”) that emit unsaturated light having a color point that is within at least eight MacAdam ellipses of one or more points within a first blue-shifted-yellow region on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram, a second string of LEDs that emit unsaturated light having color point that is within at least eight MacAdam ellipses from one or more points within a second blue-shifted-green region on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram, and a third light source that emits radiation having a dominant wavelength between 600 and 720 nm. A drive circuit is provided that is configured to supply a first drive current to the first string of LEDs, a second drive current to the second string of LEDs and a third drive current to the third string of LEDs, wherein at least two of the first, second and third drive currents are independently controllable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Antony P. van de Ven, Jason E. Taylor, Paul K. Pickard, Gauss Ho Ching So, Heidi M. Dieringer, Andrew Dummer
  • Patent number: 9006987
    Abstract: A wall-mountable luminaire may include interchangeable adapter plugs having first and second male connectors, the first of which connects electrically and mechanically to an external electrical socket, and the second of which connects electrically and mechanically to an on-board multi-standard socket. A power supply may detect a plurality of electrical power types received from the multi-standard socket, and may condition that input power to drive LEDs. Remote computing devices may transmit control data wirelessly to direct a controller to selectively operate the LEDs to form a modified distribution pattern. A housing assembly may support wall mounting of the luminaire, and trim assembly may define a cavity that provides aesthetic and protective cover for the components carried by the housing assembly. A method aspect of the invention details steps for operating the luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Lighting Science Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Fredric S. Maxik, David E. Bartine, Mark Andrew Oostdyk, Matthew Regan, Addy S. Widjaja
  • Patent number: 9006988
    Abstract: A method of controlling an ignition circuit to output an excitation voltage is disclosed. The ignition circuit is used to excite a discharge lamp and includes a transformer and a switch element which is connected to a primary winding of the transformer. The method of controlling the ignition circuit comprises steps of: (a) receiving a control signal which is set in accordance with a waveform characteristic of a predetermined excitation voltage to control an impedance of the switch element; (b) controlling a primary current in the primary winding or a primary voltage across the primary winding of the transformer by controlling the impedance of the switch element; and (c) generating the excitation voltage by the secondary winding of the transformer in accordance with the primary current or the primary voltage so as to excite the discharge lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Qi Zhang, Weiqiang Zhang, Jianping Ying
  • Patent number: 9006989
    Abstract: The inventive subject matter provides a circuit and a method for efficiently operating a lighting device, such as a light-emitting diode and a fluorescent lamp. In one aspect of the invention, the circuit includes an oscillator that generates a series of current pulses at a frequency that is at least 50,000 Hz and that corresponds to a resonant frequency of the circuit including the lighting device. The series of pulses is operated at a low duty cycle of no more than 15%. The lighting device has a manufacturer's specification for current consumption and power consumption for a specified luminosity. The circuit provides a current to the lighting device at no more than 1/500 of the manufacturer's specification to produce at least the specified luminosity. The lighting device also operates within the circuit at no more than 50% of the manufacturer's specification to produce the specified luminosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Colorado Energy Research Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wayne J. Powell, Robert D. Boehmer, Lee L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9006990
    Abstract: A replacement light tube for replacing a fluorescent light tube includes a bulb portion having a first end and a second end, a first end cap and a second end cap disposed at the first end and the second end, respectively, each configured to fit with a socket for the fluorescent light tube, a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed inside and extending between the first and second ends of the bulb portion, a pulse width modulator configured to receive power from a power source and modulate the received power to one of a first brightness level and a second brightness level, the second brightness level being different than the first brightness level and a current limiter comprising an inductive element coupled between the pulse width modulator and at least some of the plurality of light emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: iLumisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Jos Timmermans, Jean C. Raymond, John Ivey
  • Patent number: 9006991
    Abstract: A state cycling apparatus uses a capacitor instead of complicated and expensive microcontroller to fulfill a state cycling function of a system. The state cycling apparatus includes an internal circuit in the system connected to the capacitor. In a first embodiment, the internal circuit reads the voltage level on the capacitor at power on to determine a current state for the system, and writes the voltage level corresponding to a next state of the system to the capacitor. In a second embodiment, the system reads the state data stored in the internal circuit to determine a current state for the system at power on, the capacitor is charged during the system is under power on, and the capacitor provides power for the internal circuit to store a state data after the system is powered off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Richpower Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chin-Hui Wang, Peng-Ju Lan, Chen-Jie Ruan
  • Patent number: 9006992
    Abstract: Various apparatuses and methods for starting a thyristor are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide an apparatus for controlling power to a load. The apparatus includes a thyristor, a secondary load switchably connected to an output of the thyristor, and a sensor connected to the secondary load. The sensor is adapted to connect the secondary load to the thyristor when the output of the thyristor falls below a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: InnoSys, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence P. Sadwick, William B. Sackett
  • Patent number: 9006993
    Abstract: A replacement light tube for replacing a fluorescent light tube includes a bulb portion having a first end and a second end, a first end cap and a second end cap disposed at the first end and the second end, respectively, each configured to fit with a socket for the fluorescent light tube, a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed inside and extending between the first and second ends of the bulb portion, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes is arranged to provide light through at least a portion of the bulb portion and power supply circuitry configured to receive power from a power source and configured to regulate the intensity of light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes by pulse-width modulating the received power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: iLumisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Jos Timmermans, Jean C. Raymond, John Ivey
  • Patent number: 9006994
    Abstract: A dual voltage and current control feedback control loop for an optical sensor system. A power supply provides a regulated DC voltage. A current source receives the regulated DC voltage and provides switched current to a light source. A current feedback representative of the current to the light source is provided to the power supply on a feedback path when the current source is driving the light source. A voltage feedback representative of the DC voltage is provided to the power supply on the feedback path when the current source is not driving the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Vipin C. Madhani, Alan Adamsky
  • Patent number: 9006995
    Abstract: The invention relates to a retrofit LED lamp (17) comprising a carrier (18) having at least one light-emitting diode (LED) (29), further comprising a driver circuit (12) for supplying power to the LED (29) and a socket (20) for electrically and mechanically connecting to a conventional lamp holder, characterized in that the retrofit LED lamp (17) comprises a carrier frequency system or power line communication (PLC) unit (16) connected to the electrical contacts (3, 4) and designed for receiving and/or transmitting data via the socket (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Tridonic AG
    Inventors: Eduardo Pereira, Michael Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 9006996
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for controlling a luminaire are disclosed. One embodiment includes a lighting control sub-system. The lighting control sub-system includes a luminaire, a controller coupled to the luminaire, and a sensor coupled to the controller. The sensor generates a sensed input. The lighting control sub-system further includes a communication interface, wherein the communication interface couples the controller to an external device. The controller is operative to control a light output of the luminaire based at least in part on the sensed input, and to communicate at least one of state or sensed information to the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: enLighted, Inc.
    Inventors: Tanuj Mohan, Premal Ashar, David Perkins
  • Patent number: 9006997
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) lighting fixture is configured to interface a three-way socket and provide three levels of output light intensity. A detection unit determines whether one or both input voltages lines of the three-way socket are active and provides a control signal to an LED controller indicating which input voltage lines are active. The LED controller is configured to provide different output current levels to an LED bank based on whether one or both input voltage lines are active. By adjusting the output current level based on which input lines are active, the LED lighting fixture provides three output lighting intensity levels. LED lighting fixtures according to various embodiments can therefore serve as a direct replacement for three-way incandescent bulbs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Nan Shi, Liang Yan
  • Patent number: 9006998
    Abstract: In a single lighting device including a large number of light-emitting elements (LEEs), the LEEs are divided into separately powered groups, and different combinations of the groups are fully energized to achieve the desired overall brightness. In some embodiments, the number of LEEs in each group has a binary relationship to the other groups. The resolution of the dimming is the brightness of the smallest group. In one example of five binary weighted groups of LEEs, 32 brightness levels can be achieved while the LEEs in the energized groups are fully ON. Thus, since there is no high frequency switching, there is substantially no power dissipation by the dimming control system, and there is limited noise or EMI created. The dimming control can be easily implemented with a logic circuit controlling a transistor switch for each group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
    Inventors: Wilson Dau, George Lerman, Ferdinand Schinagl, Jacqueline Teng, Allan Brent York
  • Patent number: 9006999
    Abstract: A flicker suppression system for a dimmable LED bulb. In one embodiment, the system includes a rectifier circuit having input terminals and output terminals. The rectifier circuit is configured to rectify a line voltage to generate a rectified voltage at its output terminals. A resistor and switch are also included and coupled in series. A switch control circuit is directly coupled between the output terminals and configured to control the switch only as a function of the rectified voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.
    Inventor: Jean Claude Harel
  • Patent number: 9007000
    Abstract: Electronic circuits provide an error signal to control a regulated output voltage signal generated by a controllable DC-DC converter for driving one or more series connected strings of light emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem Alnahas, Vijay Mangtani
  • Patent number: 9007001
    Abstract: A power supply system includes: a first electrical storage device; a charging device charging the first electrical storage device with external power from an external power supply; a second electrical storage device supplying an auxiliary load with a voltage lower than an output voltage of the first electrical storage device; a first converter stepping down a voltage of power from the first electrical storage device and supplying the auxiliary load and the second electrical storage device with a voltage; a second converter having a capacity smaller than that of the first converter and charging the second electrical storage device with the external power; and a controller, when the external power is charged, controlling charging power from the charging device to the first electrical storage device and charging power from the second converter to the second electrical storage device based on a state of charge of the second electrical storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Sugiyama, Wanleng Ang
  • Patent number: 9007002
    Abstract: A power-saving driving device is provided for a device 23 having the same load pattern and driven by a motor 21 receiving electric power from an inverter 19. The power-saving driving device includes a DC-DC converter 93 driven by a battery 91 and the inverter driven by an output of the DC-DC converter. The power-saving driving device further includes an electric power amount W calculator 81 that calculates an electric power amount received from the battery in the same load pattern, and a parameter selection/instruction unit 83 that causes a parameter (carrier wave frequency instruction value F and output voltage instruction value G) of the inverter to change to be a plurality of values, compares the received electric power amounts respectively corresponding to the values of the parameter, selects the parameter value minimizing the received electric power amount, and instructs the selected parameter value to the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Motonao Niizuma
  • Patent number: 9007003
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling an inverter for driving a swing motor, and particularly, maximally generates braking torque of the swing motor upon generation of failure of the inverter by switching on/off a lower-phase switch or an upper-phase switch of the inverter in order to prevent an upper swing body from freely rotating which is generated when a semiconductor switch of the inverter is switched off upon the generation of over-current and over-voltage of the inverter that drives the swing motor, thereby being capable of protecting the inverter, rapidly stopping the upper swing body, and preventing the risk of accidents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9007004
    Abstract: A controller for an AC electric motor, includes a Feed Forward Torque Controller and a load model. The Torque controller directly derives a torque related component of applied motor voltages from a signal representing a torque command input T* and at least one motor parameter. The load model derives a motor speed value including a model of motor speed behavior of the AC electric motor to provide an output signal which represents the motor speed of the AC electric motor. This motor speed output signal is used in determining a frequency of rotation of an applied motor voltage vector. Where an input to the load model is the signal representing the torque command input T*, the load model uses the signal representing the torque command T*, at least over a part of an operating speed range of the AC motor which includes zero speed, to determine the motor speed output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: University of Technology, Sydney
    Inventor: Gregory Peter Hunter
  • Patent number: 9007005
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method of controlling an inverter to reduce noise in an eco-friendly vehicle. In the method, at least one of a current motor torque and a current motor speed is monitored in real-time. It is determined whether or not the at least one of the current motor torque and the current motor speed corresponds to a noise occurrence range set to a current switching frequency. A changed switching frequency value corresponding to the at least one of the current motor torque and the current motor speed is calculated when the at least one of the current motor torque and the current motor speed corresponds to the noise occurrence range. A PWM signal is generated using the changed switching frequency value to control an inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yu Hyun Sung, Seong Yeop Lim, Jeong Min Shin
  • Patent number: 9007006
    Abstract: Provided is a pump system. The pump system includes an AC (alternating current) electric motor, a converter, a smoothing unit, an inverter, a volt/hertz pulse width-modulation controller, and a main controller. The AC electric motor operates a pump which is a load. The converter receives AC power and converts the AC power into DC (direct current) power. The smoothing unit smoothes a DC voltage converted by the converter. The inverter converts the DC voltage output from the smoothing unit into an AC voltage. The volt/hertz pulse width-modulation controller applies switching voltage to a semiconductor switching device of the inverter. The main controller changes an operating frequency according to a load detected when the Ac electric motor is in operation and puts the AC electric motor to a sleep mode after determining a load operation status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hong Min Yun
  • Patent number: 9007007
    Abstract: A handheld machine tool has a drive motor and a supplementary handle which is mounted on the housing of the handheld machine tool and is assigned a drive-torque limitation device, the drive-torque limitation device limiting the drive torque to a torque level below a maximum torque if the supplementary handle is not mounted on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Thilo Koeder
  • Patent number: 9007008
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of an arrangement of at least two electric machines coupled to different wheels of a motor vehicle and connected to a battery which provides an actual minimum and maximum limiting current for the electric machines. Desired torques are provided for the electric machines by a drive control logic. A desired current resulting from the desired torque is ascertained for each electric machine, and the sum of the desired currents are compared with the maximum and minimum limiting current. If the sum lies outside an interval defined by the limiting currents, the desired currents are adjusted using at least one change rule such that the sum of the desired currents lies within the interval. Adjusted desired torques are determined from the adjusted desired currents and used to control the electric machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Alexander Kruse, Tobias Schneider
  • Patent number: 9007009
    Abstract: In a motor control apparatus for controlling an AC motor with an inverter, a current estimation value is calculated based on a current detection value of one phase of the motor and a rotation angle of the motor. A difference between a current command value related to driving of the AC motor and the current estimation value is calculated. A first voltage command value used to generate a drive signal related to driving of the inverter is calculated based on the difference. A sign of the difference is reversed at a reverse interval when the rotation speed is not greater than a determination threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuji Omata, Takeshi Itoh, Hirofumi Kako