Patents Issued in February 7, 2017
  • Patent number: 9564751
    Abstract: Circuit protection devices, power distribution systems, and circuit protection device monitoring in a zone selective interlocking (ZSI) system are described. In one example, a circuit protection device for use in a ZSI power distribution system includes a trip mechanism configured to interrupt current flowing through the circuit protection device, and a trip unit operatively coupled to the trip mechanism. The trip unit is configured to monitor current flowing through the circuit protection device, output a first signal when the monitored current is less than a threshold value, and output a second signal when the monitored current is greater than or equal to the threshold value. The first and second signals are different from each other and different than an absence of a signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John James Dougherty, Marcelo Esteban Valdes
  • Patent number: 9564752
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus comprises: a displacement unit provided to an electronic apparatus main body; a first power source provided to the main body and supplying power to a load provided to the displacement unit; a first connecting unit that opens and closes a first supply path supplying an electric current from the first power source to the load in response to displacement of the displacement unit; a limiting unit provided on the first supply path and limiting an electric current flowing through the first supply path for a predetermined time from when an electric current is supplied from a second power source; and a second connecting unit that opens and closes a second supply path supplying an electric current from the second power source to the limiting unit in response to the displacement, wherein the first connecting unit opens and closes the second supply path in response to the displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Hamano
  • Patent number: 9564753
    Abstract: Systems and methods for protecting an electrical component in an alternating current system that includes a transformer are disclosed. In one aspect, a circuit includes a switch assembly connected between a transformer neutral of a transformer and a ground and having an open position and a closed position. In normal operation, the switch remains in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Emprimus, LLC
    Inventors: Frederick R. Faxvog, Wallace Jensen, Terrence R. Noe, Craig Eid, David Blake Jackson, Greg Fuchs, Gale Nordling
  • Patent number: 9564754
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy router for an energy internet, which comprises a three-phase three-level bi-directional rectifying unit, a six-phase interleaved DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, a self-excitation soft start push-pull full-bridge DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, a three-phase resonant soft switching bi-directional inversion unit, a single-phase full-bridge bi-directional inversion unit, a high-voltage DC bus and a low-voltage DC bus. The three-phase three-level bi-directional rectifying unit, the six-phase interleaved DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, the self-excitation soft start push-pull full-bridge DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, the three-phase resonant soft switching bi-directional inversion unit and the single-phase full-bridge bi-directional inversion unit each have three energy flow operating modes: a forward conduction, a reverse conduction and a non-conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Qiuye Sun, Huaguang Zhang, Dazhong Ma, Bonan Huang, Lei Chen, Heng Du, Zhenwei Liu, Fei Teng, Guotao Hui
  • Patent number: 9564755
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing power of a smart appliance is provided. The method includes acquiring, from the smart appliance, by an Energy Management System (EMS) for managing power of the smart appliance at home over a home network, terminal information including function information and power consumption information; monitoring power of the smart appliance and transmitting results of the results to an energy service provider; and controlling, upon receiving a power reduction command from the energy service provider, the power of the smart appliance based on the acquired terminal information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Ji-Hye Lee, Wuk Kim
  • Patent number: 9564756
    Abstract: An improved interface for renewable energy systems is disclosed for interconnecting a plurality of power sources such as photovoltaic solar panels, windmills, standby generators and the like. The improved interface for renewable energy systems includes a multi-channel micro-inverter having novel heat dissipation, novel mountings, electronic redundancy and remote communication systems. The improved interface for renewable energy systems is capable of automatic switching between a grid-tied operation, an off grid operation or an emergency power operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Technology Research, LLC
    Inventors: Aldo P Della Sera, Arnold Kravitz, Luis Acosta
  • Patent number: 9564757
    Abstract: An apparatus optimizes a hybrid power system with respect to long-term characteristics of the hybrid power system. The apparatus includes a real-time controller of the hybrid power system and a processor. The processor cooperates with the real-time controller and is structured to input current measurements of information from the hybrid power system and hybrid dynamics information including continuous dynamics and discrete time dynamics that model the hybrid power system. The processor provides online optimization of the hybrid power system based upon the input, and outputs a power flow reference and a number of switch controls to the real-time controller based upon the online optimization. The processor is further structured to provide at least one of: real-time forecasts or real-time prediction of future information operatively associated with the hybrid power system as part of the input, and real-time processing of the online optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yigang Wang, Neha Mishra
  • Patent number: 9564758
    Abstract: A power charging system is provided. The power charging system may have an information processing apparatus having a first communication unit and a power receiving unit, and an external apparatus having a second communication unit and a power transmission unit. The second communication unit may be configured to wirelessly communicate with the first communication unit using a first carrier wave having a first frequency and the power transmission unit may be configured to wirelessly transmit power to the power receiving unit using a second carrier wave having a second frequency, the second frequency being different from the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahide Kadoyama
  • Patent number: 9564759
    Abstract: A wireless power supply system includes a first underwater vehicle that has a power-receiving coil for wirelessly receiving electric power and a second underwater vehicle that has a power-supplying coil for wirelessly supplying electric power and transmits electric power between the power-receiving coil and the power-supplying coil while moving in parallel to the first underwater vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Motonao Niizuma
  • Patent number: 9564760
    Abstract: A contactless power feeding system includes a power transmitting device and a power receiving device. The power transmitting device includes a first AC power source configured to generate an AC power with a first frequency, a second AC power source configured to generate an AC power with a second frequency which is different from the first frequency, a first electromagnetic induction coil, and a first resonant coil. The power receiving device includes a second resonant coil, a second electromagnetic induction coil, and a power storage unit. Power is wirelessly supplied to the power storage unit at the second frequency by a magnetic resonance phenomenon which occurs between the first resonant coil and the second resonant coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koichiro Kamata
  • Patent number: 9564761
    Abstract: A battery assembly has a command module with a power connection interface and a battery matrix interface. A battery matrix has a plurality of battery cells, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) and a command module interface. The battery matrix interface may be removably interconnected with the command module interface, enabling power delivery from the battery matrix through the command module to the power connection interface and review of the EEPROM for capacity feedback with respect to remaining electrical power of the battery matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: PALLADIUM ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Albert Nicholas Hopfer, III, William Mark Batts, Kenneth Habegger
  • Patent number: 9564762
    Abstract: A Wireless battery area network permits the wirelessly monitoring and controlling of individual batteries within large-scale battery applications. The system automatically configures its wireless nodes in the network and provides for the linking of a plurality of batteries (10) to a master battery management unit (M-BMU) (100) by establishing a wireless battery area network within a battery pack that include slave units (S-BMU) (210). The entire system may also be controlled by a top level battery management unit (T-BMU) (510). The system and method allows for the monitoring of voltage, current, temperature, or impedance of individual batteries and for the balancing or bypassing of a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Navitas Solutions
    Inventors: Jaesik Lee, Inseop Lee, Minkyu Lee, Andrew M. Chon
  • Patent number: 9564763
    Abstract: A non-contiguous group of cells in a battery of cells is selected for charging or discharging the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Finberg, Michael Kishinevsky
  • Patent number: 9564764
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for battery management. The present disclosure may significantly reduce the likelihood that a fuse of a battery pack will be melted based on a voltage value of a battery cell to which an error has occurred. Accordingly, the present disclosure may avoid an economic loss and a time loss that may occur when the fuse is incorrectly melted and the battery pack becomes unusable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Han, Jin-Seob Kim, Ho-Sang Kwon
  • Patent number: 9564765
    Abstract: In battery voltage monitoring ICs for measuring voltages of unit cells of an assembled battery, communication with a system control unit is realized in consideration of fail-safe. The system control unit and the battery voltage monitoring ICs are coupled to each other by a communication path using a daisy chain. Each battery voltage monitoring IC has a placement setting pin designating, by a binary code, a unit cell group to which the IC is coupled, in the unit cell groups. When it is detected that the Hamming distance between the code indicative of coupling to a group of the highest potential or a group of the lowest potential and a state actually set in the placement setting pin is 1, some failure such as line disconnection, short-circuit, or the like in the placement setting pins is detected, and the communication path is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Akiko Fukute, Ryosuke Enomoto, Junko Kimura, Toshitaka Ukai
  • Patent number: 9564766
    Abstract: An energy transfer apparatus includes a cable having first end with a first connector operably coupled thereto and a second end with a second connector operably coupled thereto. The energy transfer apparatus also includes a control unit coupled to the cable. The control unit includes a device interface module configured to determine a first energy parameter of a first portable device connected to the cable via the first connector and to determine a second energy parameter of a second portable device connected to the cable via the second connector. The control unit also includes an energy transfer module configured to facilitate energy transfer between the first and second portable devices based on the first and second energy parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Eun Young Hwang, Roderick A. Hyde, Tony S. Pan, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9564767
    Abstract: Deterioration of a power storage device is reduced. Switches that control the connections of a plurality of power storage devices separately are provided. The switches are controlled with a plurality of control signals, so as to switch between charge and discharge of each of the power storage devices or between serial connection and parallel connection of the plurality of power storage devices. Further, a semiconductor circuit having a function of carrying out arithmetic is provided for the power storage devices, so that a control system of the power storage devices or a power storage system is constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Takahashi, Junpei Momo, Yutaka Shionoiri
  • Patent number: 9564768
    Abstract: A battery-condition monitoring device that monitors a condition of the battery through discharge thereof includes a discharger and a discharge control device. The discharger includes a discharge circuit having a load resistor and a switching element connected in series between a positive electrode of the battery and a negative electrode thereof. The discharge control device controls an open/close operation of the switching element. The discharge control device adjusts the resistance value of the load resistor in the discharger, thereby enabling an adjustment of a discharge current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keita Hatanaka, Sho Shiraga, Toshihiro Wada, Shoji Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 9564769
    Abstract: An electronic device sends a wireless signal to a charging station indicating that charging of a battery of the electronics device is to commence. The electronic device generates a profile representing characteristics of the battery during charging. The electronic device sends a wireless signal to the charging station indicating the first type of charging is to be applied to the battery. The electronic device responds to a determination that charging of the battery is to continue by determining a second type of charging to be applied to the battery. The electronic device determines whether charging of the battery is to continue. In response to a determination that charging of the battery is not to continue, the electronic device sends a wireless signal to the charging station indicating that charging of the battery is to cease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin Poulton
  • Patent number: 9564770
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power management circuit, and a control circuit and a control method thereof. The power management circuit converts an input voltage at an input terminal to an output voltage at an output terminal, and charges a battery from the output terminal. The present invention detects a power supplying capability of the input terminal to generate an adjustment signal, and adjusts the output voltage according to the adjustment signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nien-Hui Kung
  • Patent number: 9564771
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and circuits are disclosed delivering a first level of output voltage to a rechargeable battery from a battery charger, the rechargeable battery is coupled to the battery charger by a charging cable. The methods, device, and circuits may further be disclosed applying, in response to an indication of an altered output voltage, a compensation current to one or more elements of the battery charger including a zero crossing (ZC) pin and a selected resistor, the selected resistor is defined by the charging cable coupling the battery charger to the rechargeable battery, and applying the compensation current to the ZC pin and the selected resistor causes an adjustment of the output voltage from the first level of output voltage to a second level of output voltage corresponding to the voltage drop from the impedance of the selected charging cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Yong Siang Teo, Kok Kee Lim
  • Patent number: 9564772
    Abstract: An embodiment of a charger may include an input, at least one switch having a first node coupled to a reference voltage, a current sensor coupled between the input and a second node of the at least one switch, an output coupled to a third node of the at least one switch, and a charge controller coupled to the input to determine an input voltage, to the current sensor to determine an input current and to control inputs of the at least one switch. The at least one switch may be responsive to control signals supplied by the charge controller to the control inputs thereof to control voltage and current at the output of the charger. The charge controller may be responsive to the input voltage and the input current to produce the control signals in a manner that maximizes electrical power drawn at the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventors: Weihong Qiu, Xiaozhou Zhou, Jun Liu, Bertram J. Rodgers, III
  • Patent number: 9564773
    Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing wireless charging are provided. The method may include identifying, by a charging controller, charging apparatus location information associated with a wireless charging apparatus configured to direct charging beams, and identifying, by the charging controller, an optimal charging zone of the wireless charging apparatus based at least in part on the charging apparatus location information. The method may include receiving, by the charging controller, a first location information associated with a mobile device, and determining, by the charging controller, a first proximity of the mobile device to the optimal charging zone of the wireless charging apparatus based at least in part on the first location information. The method may include transmitting, by the charging controller, first optimal charging indicator information to the mobile device, the first optimal charging indicator information based at least in part on the first proximity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Intel IP Corportation
    Inventors: Oleg Pogorelik, Adi Shaliv, Justin Lipman, Shahar Porat
  • Patent number: 9564774
    Abstract: In a tracking device, a crescent-shaped PCB partially encircles a battery to minimize thickness of the device. A speaker and an LED emit alerts upon command of a control apparatus or in response to motion or temperature sensed by sensor. A local network has one hub to tracking devices and a wider area network has multiple hubs for more detailed tracking of devices. A wide area network tracks devices anywhere and stores data of each tracking device including its last known position and its sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: PB Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Daoura, Nicholas Pearson-Franks
  • Patent number: 9564775
    Abstract: An uninterruptable power supply (UPS) and a direct current-direct current (DC-DC) converter. An input end of the DC-DC converter is connected to a BUS+, a BUS?, and an N wire, and a load in the DC-DC converter is connected to a switch tube through an inductor rather than being directly connected to the switch tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Peiguo Liu, Zhenfu Fei, Yanan Zhou
  • Patent number: 9564776
    Abstract: A device may measure or detect, using at least one magnetic sensor, a magnetic field to determine whether a magnet is included within a charging device. In some examples, the device may include a receiving coil for charging of a battery based on magnetic induction. In response to determining that a magnet is present within the charging device, the device may instruct the charging device to adjust an amount of electrical current supplied to a transmitting coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Harri Armas Lampinen
  • Patent number: 9564777
    Abstract: Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for wireless power transfer utilizing a midfield source and implant. In one variation, a midfield source may be realized by a patterned metal plate composed of one of more subwavelength structures. These midfield sources may manipulate evanescent fields outside a material (e.g., tissue) to excite and control propagating fields inside the material (e.g., tissue) and thereby generate spatially confined and adaptive energy transport in the material (e.g., tissue). The energy may be received by an implanted device, which may be configured for one or more functions such as stimulation, sensing, or drug delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: NeuSpera Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Jueshyan Yeh, Milton M. Morris
  • Patent number: 9564778
    Abstract: A stator core that includes a pair of poles separated by an air gap. Each pole includes a first side adjacent the air gap and a second opposite side remote from the air gap. A pole arc is formed in the first side and an arcuate mounting recess is formed in the second side of each pole. Additionally, an electric machine that includes the stator core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Dyson Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Howard Charles Fulford, Stephen Greetham, Andrew Charlton Clothier, Matthew John Childe
  • Patent number: 9564779
    Abstract: Provided is a permanent magnet motor that realizes reduction of both cogging torque and torque ripple, and also downsizing and weight reduction together with torque ripple reduction. When two sets of three-phase armature windings are defined such that a first armature winding 30-1 corresponds to U1 phase, V1 phase, and W1 phase and a second armature winding 30-2 corresponds to U2 phase, V2 phase, and W2 phase, U1 phase is provided in both of any adjacent slots of a plurality of slots 27, or at least one of U1 phase and U2 phase is provided in one of any adjacent slots 27, U1 phase, V1 phase, and W1 phase are shifted by an electric angle of 20° to 40° from U2 phase, V2 phase, and W2 phase upon driving, and a slot opening width Ws of a stator iron core 22 is set to satisfy Ws/(2?Rs/Ns)?0.15, where Rs is an inner radius of the stator iron core and Ns is a slot number of the stator iron core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masatsugu Nakano, Satoru Akutsu, Yoshihito Asao, Yuji Takizawa, Yu Hirotani, Ryuichi Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 9564780
    Abstract: A rotary electric machine is provided, which includes a rotor core, a plurality of permanent magnets embedded in the rotor core, and a stator core arranged so as to oppose to the rotor core. The plurality of permanent magnets include a pair of first permanent magnets. The pair of first permanent magnets are arranged so that first magnetic poles thereof having the same polarity oppose to each other and are separated from each other on both sides of a magnetic path of d-axis by a predetermined distance. The rotor core includes gaps formed within the magnetic path of the d-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Yukio Tsutsui, Atsushi Kawahara, Motomichi Ohto
  • Patent number: 9564781
    Abstract: The proposed principle relates to an electric machine having a stator (1) and a rotor (2) that can move relative to the stator. The stator (1) comprises a first and at least one second winding system (4, 5) that have coils, each of which is placed in stator slots (3) and is wound around stator teeth (6). The first winding system (4) and the second winding system (5) each have at least one tooth (7) around which no coil is wound. When combining the first and second winding system (4, 5), all teeth of the stator (1) have coils wound around them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: FEAAM GMBH
    Inventor: Gurakuq Dajaku
  • Patent number: 9564782
    Abstract: [Problem] A winding is provided which is so arranged that disengagement of a winding conductor is not caused after a winding around being finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Kimura, Kazunori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9564783
    Abstract: An electric direct current motor is disclosed which includes a shaft, a winding support, a collector having several collector wires, and an air-cored outer rotor winding with several winding terminations. The outer rotor winding is at one end connected to the shaft via the winding support in a torque-proof manner, and is electrically connected with the collector. The winding support can be replaced by a printed circuit board as a bearing component of glass-fiber reinforced thermosetting plastics, wherein the printed circuit board includes at least one layer and is connected to the shaft via a metal hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: LAKEVIEW INNOVATION LTD.
    Inventors: Arnold Teimel, Yves Triponez, Peter Mitterbäck
  • Patent number: 9564784
    Abstract: A cover structure in a motor may include a rotor, a stator having a drive coil, a connector provided so that an engaging connector is engaged in a rotation shaft direction of the rotor, a main body cover covering outer peripheries of the stator and the connector and integrally formed with a connector cover, coil terminals extended from the stator to an outer side, connector terminals supported by a terminal support part integrally formed with the connector cover and are extended at a position offset from the coil terminals in the rotation shaft direction, and a wall part which is provided on a radially inner side of the terminal support part along the connector terminals. The wall part is located on an outer side in the radial direction with respect to the coil terminals, and a space is formed on a radially inner side of the wall part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Yokoe, Tetsuhiko Hara
  • Patent number: 9564785
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined end cap and an electromechanical device equipped with the combined end cap. The combined end cap includes: an end cap body, which includes a fitting portion provided with a first mating portion; and an end cap flange, which is configured to have at least two segments adapted to be combined and mounted to the fitting portion, and at least one of the segments is provided with a second mating portion adapted to corporate with the first mating portion to prevent the segments having been combined and mounted to the fitting portion from rotating relative to the fitting portion. The application of this invention can not only significantly improve the versatility and convenience of the existing end caps, but also help to reduce the manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: BOSCH AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS (CHANGSHA) CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Andreas Juraschka
  • Patent number: 9564786
    Abstract: A generator for a wind turbine is disclosed. The generator comprises a rotor configured to rotate about a rotational axis, and at least one stator arranged next to the rotor. Each stator comprises at least one flux-generating module facing the rotor but spaced therefrom, thereby forming an air gap between the rotor and each flux-generating module. Each stator also comprises at least one bearing unit, each bearing unit comprising a body defining a cavity with an open end facing the rotor. The generator further comprises a source of pressurized fluid communicating with each bearing unit, and the body of each bearing unit directs the fluid towards the rotor to help maintain the air gap between the rotor and each flux-generating module. Thereby the air gap between the rotor and the flux-generating modules is controlled by means of the fluid bearing units. The invention further provides a wind turbine comprising such a generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Michael Staghøj, Gerner Larsen, Niels Christian Olsen, Frank Møller Hansen, Jörg Wadehn
  • Patent number: 9564787
    Abstract: A motor includes an impeller including a plurality of blades arranged in a circumferential direction and fixed to a shaft between a cover portion and an armature. The cover portion includes at least one cover portion through hole arranged to axially overlap with the blades. A cylindrical portion includes at least one cylindrical portion through hole arranged to radially overlap with the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Jumpei Kitamura, Kazuya Ichimura
  • Patent number: 9564788
    Abstract: A motor includes a main body and a cooling device. The cooling device includes a mounting seat defining an inlet hole and an outlet hole spaced from the inlet hole, and a cooling pipe communicating with the inlet hole and defining a plurality of ejection holes on a sidewall. The main body includes a rotor sleeved and sealed on the mounting seat. The cooling pipe is received in the rotor. Cooling liquid sprays at the rotor via the inlet hole and the ejection holes, and then the cooling liquid flow out of the rotor via the outlet hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: FU DING ELECTRONICAL TECHNOLOGY (JIASHAN) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Lu Yang, Yang-Mao Peng, Tian-En Zhang, Jian-Shi Jia, Wei-Chuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9564789
    Abstract: An assembly, having a substrate made of an electrically insulating material, an SMD component, which has lateral contact surfaces, and a lead frame part made of metal, which is fastened to the substrate and is used to establish electrical connections between the lateral contact surfaces of the SMD component and further functional elements of the assembly, wherein the lead frame part has contact tongues, which resiliently lie against the lateral contact surfaces and are connected to the lateral contact surfaces in a bonded manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Wallrafen
  • Patent number: 9564790
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a laminated core, in which while a laminated core body 10 formed by caulking and with permanent magnets 20 inserted in a plurality of magnet insertion holes 17, 18 is held between a resin injection die 23 and a receiving die 22 opposed to each other, resin is injected into the magnet insertion holes 17, 18 from resin reservoir portions provided to the resin injection die 23 to fix the permanent magnets 20, the method comprising: at a time of resin injection, pressing a flat press surface 24 of the resin injection die 23 against caulking portions 13 protruding from a surface of the laminated core body 10 to apply pressure thereto, thereby allowing the surface of the laminated core body 10 whereon the caulking portions 13 are formed to be pressed against the flat press surface 24 so as to prevent resin leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUI HIGH-TEC, INC.
    Inventors: Akira Nagai, Jin Oda
  • Patent number: 9564791
    Abstract: Method for producing a stator winding (18) of an electric machine (10), in particular an AC generator, wherein the stator winding (18) has at least n phase windings (120, 121, 122, 123, 124), and one phase winding (120, 121, 122, 123, 124) has a plurality of successive wound coils (82) with coil sides (88) and coil side connectors (91), wherein the coils (82) are divided into first coils (82.1) and second coils (82.2), with a forming tool (100), in which slots (105, 106) are provided which are suitable for accommodating the coils (82), wherein a first coil (82.1) is arranged in a slot (105), and a second coil (82.2) is arranged in the same slot (105).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Gert Wolf, Klaus Herbold, Gerlinde Weber, Christoph Schwarzkopf, Eberhard Rau, Alexander Mueller, Helmut Kreuzer, Kurt Reutlinger
  • Patent number: 9564792
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric motor having a rotor and a coiled stator, the rotor including a shaft and two disks that are rotatably fixed to the shaft and provided with permanent magnets, an outer portion of the stator extending from each disk axially parallel to a rotational axis of the rotor and radially beyond same, from the axis. The stator includes a plurality of disjointed bars made of a magnetically conductive material, certain parts of which form the outer portion of the stator. The stator also has a carrier structure holding the bars such that they are fixed in relation to each other, the carrier structure being mounted in such a way that it can rotate on the shaft, axially outside the two disks. The outer portion of the stator extends parallel to the rotational axis, axially outside the disks of the rotor, up to the carrier structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SOMFY SAS
    Inventors: Pierre-Emmanuel Cavarec, Norbert Dupielet, Frederic Maraval
  • Patent number: 9564793
    Abstract: An oscillator typically includes several rotatable drive magnets and pivotable oscillating arms having respective follower magnets so that the drive magnets drive movement of the follower magnets to pivot the arms back and forth in an oscillating manner. A generating magnet or electrically conductive member may be mounted on each oscillating arm for producing an electric current in the electrically conductive member. Repelling magnets may be mounted on the oscillating arms with respective repelling magnets positioned to repel the first repelling magnet to limit pivotal travel of the oscillating arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: Michael J. Froelich
  • Patent number: 9564794
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods provided for ping-pong charge pumps. Flying capacitors present in ping-pong charge pumps are operated out of phase to increase equalization periods. Out-of-phase operation also decreases voltage differences between flying capacitors during equalization periods thus decreasing ping-pong charge pump output voltage ripple and snapback. The voltages of the flying capacitors may be equalized without the use of an equalization switch. Differential control currents that are based on the voltage difference between the flying capacitors are used to enable or disable the flying capacitors from driving an output load of the ping-pong charge pump during certain phases of operation. A capacitor with a lower voltage may be disabled, thus providing for voltage equalization as the enabled capacitor sources current to the output load. The flying capacitors are also equalized during overlapping time periods in which the flying capacitors are charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: I-Ning Ku, Hui Zheng, Jungwoo Song, Xicheng Jiang
  • Patent number: 9564795
    Abstract: A method of filtering a ripple can include: (i) generating, by a sampling circuit, a sense voltage signal that represents an output current flowing through a load; (ii) generating, by a filter circuit, a filter voltage signal by filtering the sense voltage signal, where the filter circuit includes a switch capacitor circuit and a filter capacitor; and (iii) generating, by an error amplifying circuit, an error compensation signal by amplifying a difference between the sense voltage signal and the filter voltage signal, where the error compensation signal is configured to compensate and regulate the output current flowing through the load by controlling a power switch that is coupled to the load and the sampling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Jin Jin, Hongbin Lai
  • Patent number: 9564796
    Abstract: Power circuitry is disclosed for protecting an electronic device during an overvoltage event. A voltage clamp is connected in parallel with a charge pump, wherein the voltage clamp limits an input voltage of the charge pump. A current limiting resistor couples a supply voltage to the voltage clamp and to the charge pump. A power transistor couples the supply voltage to a load, wherein a gate of the power transistor is controlled by an output of the charge pump during a power-on operation. When the supply voltage exceeds a threshold thereby activating the voltage clamp, the current limiting resistor limits a current flowing through the voltage clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Robert P. Ryan
  • Patent number: 9564797
    Abstract: A converter receives input of an AC voltage, converts the AC voltage into a DC voltage, and applies the DC voltage between a first power line on a positive electrode side and a second power line on a negative electrode side. A snubber circuit has a capacitor provided between the first and the second power lines, and a diode connected in series with the capacitor between the first and the second power lines, and including an anode on a side close to the first power line on the positive electrode side in a series path with the capacitor. An inverter converts the DC voltage into an AC voltage, and applies the AC voltage to an inductive load. An inverter-side current detection unit detects a current that flows through the first power line on the positive electrode side or the second power line on the negative electrode side between the inverter and the snubber circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Sumio Kagimura, Toshiaki Satou, Shinichi Ishizeki
  • Patent number: 9564798
    Abstract: Disclosed is a display apparatus including an image processor configured to process an image signal, a display configured to display an image based on the image signal, a controller configured to control the display of the image, and a power supply configured to supply actuating power to the controller, the power supply including a power circuit configured to receive alternating current (AC) power and output the actuating power by a switching mode, a noise reducer configured to reduce high-frequency noise due to the switching mode, and a discharging circuit configured to supply a residual voltage of the noise reducer to the power circuit when the AC power is input, and discharge the residual voltage of the noise reducer when the AC power is shut off. Thus, it is possible to decrease power consumption caused when the residual voltage of the noise reducer is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-yong Joo, Jin-hyung Lee
  • Patent number: 9564799
    Abstract: Boost-type switch-mode rectifiers (SMR) commonly use a resistor or a magnetic current sensor to measure the instantaneous input or inductor current that is used as the feedback to the current controller. A novel current sensorless scheme is described that computes the inductor current from the measured inductor voltage in a single-phase boost-type SMR using an adaptive low pass filter. This calculation requires an estimate of the inductance and the equivalent series resistance of the inductor coil. Both these parameters are dependent on operating conditions and are updated continuously. This is done using an adaptive model of the inductor that computes these parameters of the inductor once in every half cycle of the input current. The adaptation scheme is robust against parameter variations. Simulation and experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed technique which provides comparable performance to standard measured feedback current scheme both under steady-state and transient conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: UVic Industry Partnerships Inc.
    Inventors: Subhasis Nandi, Adrian Engel
  • Patent number: 9564800
    Abstract: An electrical-energy harvesting system envisages a transducer for converting energy from an environmental energy source into a transduced signal, an electrical energy harvesting interface for receiving the transduced signal and for supplying a harvesting signal, and an energy storage element coupled to the electrical energy harvesting interface for receiving the harvesting signal. The electrical-energy harvesting system also includes a voltage converter connected to the electrical energy harvesting interface for generating a regulated voltage. The harvesting interface samples an open-circuit voltage value of the transduced signal, generates an optimized voltage value starting from the open-circuit voltage value, and generates an upper threshold voltage and a lower threshold voltage on the basis of the optimized voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Stefano Ramorini, Alessandro Gasparini, Alberto Cattani