Patents Issued in March 7, 2017
  • Patent number: 9590534
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of systems, devices and methods for generating electricity, transforming voltages and generating motion using one or more piezoelectric elements operably coupled to one or more non-piezoelectric resonating elements. In one embodiment, a non-piezoelectric resonating element is configured to oscillate and dissipate mechanical energy into a piezoelectric element, which converts a portion of such mechanical energy into electricity and therefore acts as a generator. In another embodiment, a piezoelectric element is configured to drive one or more mechanical elements operably coupled to the one or more non-piezoelectric resonating elements, and therefore acts as a motor. In still another embodiment, a piezoelectric element is operably coupled to a non-piezoelectric resonating element to form an electrical transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Dmitriy Yavid
  • Patent number: 9590535
    Abstract: A thermionic energy converter is provided that includes an anode, a cathode, where the anode is disposed opposite the cathode, and a suspension, where a first end of the suspension is connected to the cathode and a second end of the suspension is connected to the anode, where the suspension moveably supports the cathode above the anode to form a variable gap between the anode and the cathode, where the variable gap is capable of enabling a variable thermionic current between the anode and the cathode, where the thermionic converter is capable of an AC power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Igor Bargatin, Roger T. Howe
  • Patent number: 9590536
    Abstract: A method and apparatus using electromagnetic switching in a two-step connection process is provided to minimize surge currents and torque oscillations in three-phase motors during starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technolgies, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Kinsella, Peter Unsworth
  • Patent number: 9590537
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a variable frequency drive system and a method of detecting a ground in a system having a pump driven by a motor. The drive system and method can provide one or more of the following: a sleep mode, pipe break detection, a line fill mode, an automatic start mode, dry run protection, an electromagnetic interference filter compatible with a ground fault circuit interrupter, two-wire and three-wire and three-phase motor compatibility, a simple start-up process, automatic password protection, a pump out mode, digital input/output terminals, and removable input and output power terminal blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Pentair Flow Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Micheal Robert Pasche, Gary Thomas Baase, II, William James Genaw
  • Patent number: 9590538
    Abstract: An electrodynamic braking device for a universal motor includes a field winding configured to be fed from a grid during a braking operation, and an armature that is configured to be directly short-circuited. A braking process is performed by means of control electronics. Good braking is achieved with relatively low brush wear. Such an electrodynamic braking device can be used effectively for a power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Hermann Rottmerhusen
  • Patent number: 9590539
    Abstract: A controlled motion system having a plurality of movers controlled as they travel along both smart and simple sections of a track. The controlled motion system comprises a control system for controlling the speed of a mover as it travels along a simple section, and permits the pitch or distance between movers to increase or decrease as they travel along a simple section. In a preferred embodiment the controlled motion system includes at least one coupling feature having a driving feature on a simple section for engaging and operably driving a driven feature on each mover such that positive control of each mover is maintained throughout its transition from a smart section to a simple section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Keith G. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 9590540
    Abstract: A system or method controlling a variable speed drive based on PWM techniques, wherein a first PWM method is used when the input current is less than a predetermined threshold value, for higher efficiency and lower total harmonic distortion (THD); and a second PWM method comprising a discontinuous modulation signal is used when the input current is greater than the predetermined threshold value for higher efficiency. By doing so, the maximum efficiency of VSD within the whole operation range can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Zhiqiao Wu, Ajit W. Kane, Shreesha Adiga-Manoor
  • Patent number: 9590541
    Abstract: A control system for an electronically commutated motor (401) can rotate smoothly to very low speeds without using a high resolution encoder and can respond to variations in load without excessive speed fluctuations. The control system can be applied to motors operating with low resolution encoders and motors operating with sensorless rotor position feedback. The electronic control system can vary the magnitude and frequency of the stator excitation applied to one or more stator phase windings, the electronic control system comprising a frequency setting section (402) and a magnitude setting section (403) characterized by the fact that the frequency setting section (402) is constrained to operate over a limited range of frequencies, the maximum frequency being a function which is closely related to the frequency associated with rotation of the rotor at the desired speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TECHNELEC LTD.
    Inventors: Charles Pollock, Helen Pollock
  • Patent number: 9590542
    Abstract: A brushless motor includes a rotor, a plurality of sets of stator windings, a position detection assembly, a MOSFET assembly, an inductance detection module and a main control module that controls them. The position detection assembly has a plurality of detection elements for detecting a position of the rotor and a position detection module for receiving signals fed back from the detection elements with the position detection module being electrically connected to the main control module and feeding back the positional information of the rotor thereto. The main control module alternatively switches between the position detection assembly and the inductance detection module to detect the position of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Chervon Intellectual Property Limited
    Inventors: Dezhong Yang, Pingbo Shi
  • Patent number: 9590543
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to reduce noise by controlling vibration due to rotation fluctuation, and to consume only current required for maintaining the rotation by bringing the current for driving a motor closer to a state of synchronization. A drive means drives a sensorless brushless DC motor by switching an energization pattern at a constant frequency to determine the rotation position of the rotor of the sensorless brushless DC motor. A detection means detects a zero-cross signal representing the switching of the phase of the rotor. A calculation means calculates a synchronization determination rate representing a percentage of the number of detected zero-cross signals. A pulse width control means controls the pulse width of a PWM drive duty in the drive means so that the calculated synchronization determination rate falls within a target range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: MIKUNI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Watanabe, Naoki Kobayashi, Kazuhiro Fujiwara, Takashi Doi
  • Patent number: 9590544
    Abstract: A method for operating an electric motor connectable via a switching device to a current source and connected in parallel with a freewheeling device, the switching device having control applied to it at a specific activation ratio within each working cycle to establish a desired effective operating voltage of the electric motor, so that in at least one operating mode each working cycle is includes an activation and a freewheeling time period. The freewheeling device has a freewheeling transistor and a freewheeling diode, connected in parallel with the transistor and reverse-biased as to the current source; and control is applied to the freewheeling transistor in the freewheeling time period as follows: identifying the freewheeling voltage dropping across the electric motor; and switching the freewheeling transistor for a specific switching time period if the freewheeling voltage is different from zero, particularly less than zero. Also described is an electric motor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Schmidtlein, Gotthilf Koerner, Marco Ferwagner, Christoph Emde
  • Patent number: 9590545
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a generator includes a rotor configured to rotate in cooperation with a stator to generate electrical power. A sensor, which is supported by the rotor, is configured to generate a trigger signal indicative of a position of the rotor. A communication interface is configured to receive the trigger signal from the sensor of the rotor and receive data indicative of an output of the generator. A controller supported by the rotor or configured to perform a phase analysis of the trigger signal and the output of the generator and calculate a power angle for the generator based on the phase analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Kohler, Co.
    Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Adam Larson, Richard Van Maaren
  • Patent number: 9590546
    Abstract: A power dissipating arrangement for dissipating power from a generator in a wind turbine is provided. The generator comprises a plurality of output terminals corresponding to a multi-phase output. The power dissipating arrangement comprises a plurality of dissipating units, a plurality of semiconductor switches, a trigger circuit for switching the semiconductor switches and a control unit for controlling the operation of the trigger circuit, thereby controlling the switching of the semiconductor switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Ove Styhm, Anshuman Tripathi, Amit Kumar Gupta
  • Patent number: 9590547
    Abstract: A double fed induction generator (DFIG) converter, methods and computer readable mediums are presented in which rotor side current spikes are attenuated by selectively activating at least one series damping circuit to conduct current through a series damping circuit resistance coupled in series between one or more DFIG rotor leads and a grid side converter in response to a grid fault occurrence or a grid fault clearance, and selectively bypassing the series damping circuit resistance after activating the series damping circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Haihui Lu, Zhenhuan Yuan, Lixiang Wei, Russel J. Kerkman, Richard Lukaszewski, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Anmed
  • Patent number: 9590548
    Abstract: A method of regulating an output voltage of an alternator. The method comprises measuring first and second external contacts of the alternator regulator module operably coupled to first and second output contacts of the alternator respectively during an ON state of an excitation cycle for the alternator, measuring a second voltage across the first and second external contacts of the alternator regulator module during an OFF state of an excitation cycle for the alternator, deriving an average voltage value of the first and second voltage measurements, and deriving an offset value based at least partly on the derived average voltage value. The method further comprises measuring an instantaneous voltage across the first and second external contacts of the alternator regulator module, and configuring a control signal for regulating the output voltage of the alternator based at least partly on the instantaneous voltage measurement and the derived offset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Vasily Alekseyevich Syngaevskiy, Denis Sergeevich Shuvalov, Kirill Alexandrovich Treshchanovskiy
  • Patent number: 9590549
    Abstract: A method and controller for controlling the torque in a wind turbine is described wherein the wind turbine is configured to deliver power via a converter to a public grid. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a fault signal; and, in response to said fault signal, a converter controller controllably ramping down the torque of said turbine from a nominal torque value to a predetermined low torque value within a predetermined time window selected from 0.2-2 seconds, preferably 0.5-1.5 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: XEMC DARWIND B.V.
    Inventor: Michiel Eduard Cornelis Damen
  • Patent number: 9590550
    Abstract: A system includes an excitation system. The excitation system includes a memory configured to store an adaptive power system stabilizer (PSS) system configured to dynamically stabilize the operation of a generator system, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to utilize the adaptive PSS system according to a value for one or more operational parameters of the generator system. The derived value is applied by the processor to operate the generator system when the generator system exhibits oscillations at least one of a plurality of operating frequency ranges associated with an oscillation of a power angle of the generator system. The derived value is configured to attenuate the oscillation of the power angle over the at least one of the plurality of interval operating frequency ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sreedhar Desabhatla, Adrien Cabarbaye, Julian Bonilla Alarcon, Kate Johannesen
  • Patent number: 9590551
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes an inverter for driving a three-phase AC motor when connected to a DC power source, a smoothing capacitor interposed between the DC power source and an input side of the inverter and connected in parallel to the DC power source, a current sensor for detecting a current of one phase of the motor, and a controller for controlling the motor through the inverter. The controller performs a discharge process to discharge the capacitor, when the DC power source is disconnected from the capacitor. The controller calculates a d-axis voltage command reference value based on d-axis and q-axis current command values. The controller sets a q-axis voltage command reference value to zero. The controller generates d-axis and q-axis voltage command values by correcting at least the d-axis voltage command reference value and outputs the d-axis and q-axis voltage command values to the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuji Omata, Takeshi Itoh, Hirofumi Kako
  • Patent number: 9590552
    Abstract: A motor drive device drives a multi-phase synchronous motor in an electric compressor. The multi-phase synchronous motor includes a rotor that is provided with a permanent magnet and a stator having coils of different phases. The motor drive device includes an inverter that supplies current to the coils and a control unit that controls the inverter. The control unit executes an initial angular position calculation processing of detecting a d-axis and a q-axis as an initial angular position of the rotor, a rotating processing of rotating the d-axis and the q-axis in a direction opposite to rotation of the rotor, an acceleration processing of accelerating the rotation of the rotor, and a sensorless control processing of controlling the rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Yoshiki Nagata, Takuya Naruse, Akimitsu Ichihara
  • Patent number: 9590553
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power conversion apparatus that improves the reliability of a redundant system therefor. The power conversion apparatus includes a motor having a cylindrical motor case, a multi-phase stator, and a rotor, a power conversion section that switches the supply of electrical power to the motor, a control circuit board that controls the power conversion section, and a cover made of metal on which the power conversion section and the control circuit board are mounted. The power conversion section includes a first power conversion section and a second power conversion section. The cover includes a protrusion that protrudes toward the motor from a surface substantially parallel to the radial direction of the motor. The protrusion is formed in such a manner as to separate the first and second power conversion sections from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuro Kanazawa, Haruaki Motoda
  • Patent number: 9590554
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rush current limiting circuit in which a series circuit consisting of an inductor and a resistor for detecting a current is connected between a power source and a first semiconductor switch, in which there is provided a second semiconductor switch whose inter-output-terminal voltage is controlled by the voltage across the series circuit consisting of the inductor and the resistor for detecting a current, and in which the inter-output-terminal voltage of the second semiconductor switch controls the inter-control-terminal voltage of the first semiconductor switch so as to limit a current to a load; the present invention relates also to an electric power converter including the rush current limiting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takamasa Asai
  • Patent number: 9590555
    Abstract: The structure (10) of light display for vehicle traffic lane(s) is of the type including at least one vertical support post (7), a substantially horizontal crossbar (3) fixed high to said at least one support post (7) and a variable-message light display panel (2) fixed to said crossbar, said display panel (2) having a front face on which the light messages are broadcast, and a rear face, said display panel being elongated along the crossbar (3), parallel and fixed to the latter, said structure including an autonomous electric power supply source comprising at least one photovoltaic panel (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: AXIMUM
    Inventor: Franck Gauthier
  • Patent number: 9590556
    Abstract: A construction element (29) which extends in two dimensions comprises a solar energy converter member (1) which also extends along and defines one surface of the construction element (29). The construction element (29) further comprises a building construction member (30) which extends along the construction element (29) and defines the second surface thereof. At least a part of the solar energy converter member (1) is integral with at least a part of the building construction member (30) whereby this integral part both contributes to the requirements for solar energy conversion as well as to requirements for constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: DESIGNERGY SA
    Inventor: Niccolo Pini
  • Patent number: 9590557
    Abstract: A masonry unit including a photovoltaic cell for generation of electricity is described herein. More particularly a photovoltaic-clad concrete block that combines the structural attributes of concrete block (or other masonry unit) and the energy production of solar photovoltaics is described herein. Methods for manufacturing, installing, and electrically connecting such photovoltaic-clad concrete blocks are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SolaBlock LLC
    Inventors: Patrick John Adrian Quinlan, Jonathan Richard Lewis, Jason Michael Laverty
  • Patent number: 9590558
    Abstract: A solar module comprising at least a plurality of lamellar solar panels, which are mounted pivotably, about a common axis, on an elongate support and can be and which can be moved between a first position, in which they are disposed on top of each other substantially congruently and parallel to the support, and a second position, in which they lie substantially next to each other in a fanned out manner about the aforementioned axis, wherein the support can be pivoted out of a housing, which accommodates the support together with the solar panels in the first position of the panels, characterized in that the solar module comprises two supports of the aforementioned type equipped with solar panels in the manner described, wherein the two supports are pivotably hinged at the diametrical longitudinal ends of an elongate base support, which is mounted rotatably, about an approximately vertical axis, in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Smart Flower Energy Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Swatek, Elmar Stoger, Michael Hoffmann, Peter Matisovits
  • Patent number: 9590559
    Abstract: A method for analyzing performance of a solar photovoltaic installation data indicating measured value of power generated by the photovoltaic installation receives and stores that data in a database. An expected output of the installation for at least one period of a test day using a first method is determined. The first expected output of the installation is compared with the measured value of power generated. If the expected output of the installation determined by the first method differs from the measured value by more than an acceptable tolerance, an expected output using another method is determined. If the expected output of the installation determined by the other method differs from the measured value by more than an acceptable tolerance, an under performance warning for the solar photovoltaic installation is issued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SOLAR ANALYTICS PTY LTD.
    Inventors: Stefan Jarnason, Avantika Basu, Valantis Vais
  • Patent number: 9590560
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a first transconductance device of a first type configured to convert a first voltage into a first current of an output node; a second transconductance device of a second type configured to convert a second voltage into a second current of the output node; a common mode feedback circuit coupled to the output node configured to control a mean voltage at the output node in accordance with a reference voltage; and a reset circuit configured to reset a voltage at the output node in accordance with a clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chia-Liang (Leon) Lin
  • Patent number: 9590561
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a differential amplifier. The differential amplifier includes a first side circuit configured to receive a first input signal, a second side circuit configured to receive a second input signal, and a resonant tank circuit coupled between the first and second side circuits. A first capacitor and first switch may be provided in series between a source and drain of a cascode transistor. A second capacitor and second switch may be provided in series between a source and drain of an input transistor. A method includes receiving a first input signal by a first side circuit, receiving a second input signal by a second side circuit, controlling a resource of a resonant tank circuit, and outputting an output signal according to the first and second input signals. The resource of the resonant tank circuit may be controlled according to a transmission mode, frequency band, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: MARVELL WORLD TRADE LTD.
    Inventors: Li Cai, Juan Xie, Poh Boon Leong
  • Patent number: 9590562
    Abstract: A semiconductor amplifier bias circuit includes a first transmission line, a first grounded capacitor, a second transmission line and a power supply terminal. The first transmission line is connected to an output end part of the output matching circuit and the external load. The second transmission line includes one end part connected to the first transmission line and the other end part connected to the first grounded shunt capacitor. An electrical length of the second transmission line is approximately 90° at a center frequency of a band. The one end part is connected to the first transmission line at a position apart from the output end part by an electrical length of approximately 45° at the center frequency. The power supply terminal is connected to a connection point of the first grounded shunt capacitor and the other end part of the second transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kazutaka Takagi
  • Patent number: 9590563
    Abstract: There is provided an amplification stage including an envelope tracking modulated supply for tracking a reference signal, comprising a low frequency path for tracking low frequency variations in the reference signal and for providing a first output voltage, and a high frequency path for tracking high frequency variations in the reference signal and for providing a second output voltage, and a combiner for combining the first and second output voltages to provide a third output voltage, the amplification stage further comprising a first amplifier arranged to receive the first output voltage as a supply voltage, and a second amplifier arranged to receive the third output voltage as a supply voltage, wherein the first and second amplifiers are enabled in different modes of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SNAPTRACK, INC.
    Inventor: Gerard Wimpenny
  • Patent number: 9590564
    Abstract: The present application provides a multiband power amplification apparatus. The first input terminal receives a signal in a frequency band f1; the second input terminal receives a signal in a frequency band f2. The first adjustment module adjusts a first channel of signal and then outputs an adjusted first channel of signal to the first adder. The second adjustment module adjusts a third channel of signal and then outputs an adjusted third channel of signal to the first adder. The first adder converges the signal adjusted by the second adjustment module and the signal output by the first adjustment module and then outputs a converged signal to a first digital-to-analog converter. The second adder converges a second channel of signal and a fourth channel of signal and then outputs a converged signal to a second digital-to-analog converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun Wang, Di Wu, Erni Zhu
  • Patent number: 9590565
    Abstract: In a class-D amplifier, oscillation phenomenon is suppressed in a high RF range and surge voltage is reduced. An oscillation absorption circuit is connected on the power supply side of the class-D amplifier circuit, and the class-D amplifier circuit and thus connected oscillation absorption circuit equivalently configure an oscillation circuit. Resistance provided in the oscillation absorption circuit is assumed as damping resistance of the oscillation circuit, thereby suppressing the oscillation phenomenon and reducing the surge voltage. The oscillation absorption circuit is made up of the RL parallel circuit of resistance and inductance. The oscillation absorption circuit and the class-D amplifier circuit constitute the oscillation circuit, and the resistance of the oscillation absorption circuit constitutes the damping resistance of the oscillation circuit in the high RF range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: KYOSAN ELECTRIC MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Itsuo Yuzurihara, Satoshi Aikawa, Ryosuke Ohma
  • Patent number: 9590566
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an amplifier and a pre-distortion circuit coupled to an input of the amplifier. A saturation value of an input signal corresponds to a maximum output power of an output signal of the amplifier. An input target value of the input signal is determined according to the saturation value. The input target value is determined by subtracting an offset from the saturation value or by multiplying a ratio by the saturation value. An average value or an RMS value of the input signal is controlled to be substantially equal to the input target value. A method comprises determining an input target value according to a saturation value, and controlling an input signal according to the input target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: MARVELL WORLD TRADE LTD.
    Inventors: David M. Signoff, Renaldi Winoto
  • Patent number: 9590567
    Abstract: An apparatus relates generally to preconditioning an input signal. In this apparatus, a first digital predistortion module and a second digital predistortion module are for receiving the input signal for respectively providing a first predistorted signal and a second predistorted signal. A combiner is for combining the first predistorted signal and the second predistorted signal for providing an output signal. The first digital predistortion module includes a moving mean block for receiving the input signal for providing a moving mean signal. The first digital predistortion module further includes a digital predistorter for receiving the input signal and the moving mean signal for providing the first predistorted signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Hongzhi Zhao, Christopher H. Dick
  • Patent number: 9590568
    Abstract: A power amplifier includes a class D amplification section and a load current feedback circuit. The class D amplification section includes an input section and a switching section serving as an output stage and switched depending on a signal input to the input section, and outputs current from a power source to a load via the switching section. The load current feedback circuit negatively feeds back the current flowing in the load to the input section of the class D amplification section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yohei Otani, Masao Noro
  • Patent number: 9590569
    Abstract: Systems, circuits and methods related to low power efficiency improvement in multi-mode multi-band power amplifiers. In some embodiments, a power-amplifier (PA) system can include a first amplification path having one or more PAs configured to generate a high power radio-frequency (RF) signal from an input RF signal when in a high power mode. The PA system can further include a second amplification path having one or more PAs configured to generate a low power RF signal from the input RF signal when in a low power mode. The PA system can further include a switching circuit coupled to the first amplification path and the second amplification path. The switching circuit can be configured to allow amplification of the input RF signal through the first amplification path in the high power mode or the second amplification path in the low power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip H. Thompson, Michael Lynn Gerard, Ramanan Bairavasubramanian, David Anthony Sawatzky
  • Patent number: 9590570
    Abstract: To provide an impedance converter circuit for a condenser microphone which can secure a wide dynamic range using a voltage amplifier circuit. The impedance converter circuit is provided with: a first electron tube of a cathode grounded type in which an output signal of a condenser microphone unit is input into a grid and output from a plate; a second electron tube in which an output signal from the plate of the first electron tube is input into a grid and output from at least a cathode; and a feedback element configured to transmit a feedback signal from the cathode of the second electron tube to the grid of the first electron tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA AUDIO-TECHNICA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Patent number: 9590571
    Abstract: A single-stage buffer apparatus includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a high pass filter network. The first transistor is configured to receive an input signal from a microphone. The second transistor is configured to operate as a cascode transistor. The high pass filter network is coupled to the first transistor and the second transistor. The second transistor electrically decouples the first transistor from an output of the single-stage buffer apparatus. A gate terminal of the second transistor is driven by the high-pass filter network, and the high-pass filter network is driven by the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Jennings, Craig Stein, Dean Badillo
  • Patent number: 9590572
    Abstract: A logarithmic detector amplifying (LDA) system is provided for use as a high sensitivity receive booster or replacement for a low noise amplifier in a receive chain of a communication device. The LDA system includes an amplifying circuit configured to receive an input signal having a first frequency and generate an oscillation based on the input signal, a sampling circuit coupled to the amplifying circuit and configured to terminate the oscillation based on a predetermined threshold to periodically clamp and restart the oscillation to generate a series of pulses modulated by the oscillation and by the input signal, and one or more resonant circuits coupled with the amplifying circuit and configured to establish a frequency of operation and to generate an output signal having a second frequency, the second frequency being substantially the same as the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: DOCKON AG
    Inventors: Patrick Antoine Rada, Forrest James Brown, Alexandre Dupuy
  • Patent number: 9590573
    Abstract: In one aspect a satellite comprises a body, a solid state power amplifier, a heat acquisition and transfer device positioned proximate at least one heat generating element on the solid state power amplifier, and a heat rejection device in thermal communication with the heat acquisition and transfer device to reject heat acquired from the solid state power amplifier. Other aspects may be described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Rust, III, Gregory Kim, Jonathan M. Allison, Michael A. Whelan
  • Patent number: 9590574
    Abstract: An audio switching power amplifier having an output with controlled-slope transitions maintains efficiency while avoiding uncontrolled non-overlap intervals during switching transitions. A pair of transistors forming a half-bridge that supplies an output signal at an output terminal of the amplifier are operated so that neither transistor is fully on during an overlap time period. A current source provides an output current to the output terminal during the non-overlap time period to control the output voltage while changing the transistor that conducts the output current from a first one of the pair of transistors to a second one of the pair of transistors. The current source may be provided by operation of one of the transistors in a current source configuration. The voltage of a gate of one of the transistors can be compared with a threshold to provide an indication of the current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: CIRRUS LOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Shahrzad Naraghi, Johann Gaboriau, John L. Melanson
  • Patent number: 9590575
    Abstract: A differential amplifier stage may include: a first transistor having a gate terminal; a second transistor having a gate terminal; and a voltage limiting circuit coupled to the gate terminals of the first and second transistors, wherein the voltage limiting circuit limits a gate voltage supplied to at least one of the gate terminals of the first and second transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: José Moreira, Stephan Leuschner
  • Patent number: 9590576
    Abstract: A differential amplifier is disclosed. The differential amplifier includes: a pair of input terminals externally receiving an input signal; a first differential pair including a first transistor, a second transistor, a first resistor, and a second resistor and configured to generate a first signal; a second differential pair including a third transistor, a fourth transistor, a third resistor, and a fourth resistor and configured to generate a second signal; a current source connected to the first, second, third, and fourth resistors and configured to provide a current to the first and second differential pairs; a pair of level shifters configured to generate a shifted signal from the input signal; and a pair of output terminals externally outputting an output signal containing the first and second signals, wherein the first and second transistors receive the input signal and the third and fourth transistors receive the shifted signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Taizo Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 9590577
    Abstract: Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide a linearized high-ohmic resistor. In an example, a quantity of serially connected nonlinear impedances is arranged as a resistance. In one example, the quantity of impedances is applied in an amplifier circuit, between an input of the amplifier and an output of the amplifier, and arranged to set a DC operating point for the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dieter Draxelmayr
  • Patent number: 9590578
    Abstract: An amplifier device with at least one microwave tube, intended to be mounted on a satellite, includes a high voltage section directly connected to said microwave tube or tubes, a low voltage section, and a low voltage cabling assembly provided with low voltage connectors at the ends thereof connecting said low and high voltage sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Christophe Balayer, Bruno Trancart
  • Patent number: 9590579
    Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure is a transimpedance amplifier circuit with multiple resistive feedback loops can be implemented with multiple Kelvin sensing channels. A transimpedance amplifier and multiple Kelvin sensing channels can be implemented on a single die having multiple contacts, such as pins, for connecting multiple resistors to the Kelvin sensing channels. The Kelvin sensing channels can be implemented with T-junction switch networks in certain embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan R. Carter, Yogesh Jayaraman Sharma
  • Patent number: 9590580
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for loudness-based audio-signal compensation. According to one such system, an input line accepts an input audio signal; a loudness estimator, coupled to the input line, processes the input audio signal to obtain an audio playback loudness level and also provides a production loudness level for the input audio signal; and a filter generator/selector coupled to an output of the loudness estimator provides an audio compensation filter based on the production loudness level and the audio playback loudness level. The input signal is processed by the audio compensation filter to provide an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Guoguang Electric Company Limited
    Inventor: Yuli You
  • Patent number: 9590581
    Abstract: A system for suppressing signal harmonic distortion caused by a main signal processing device provides processing for an electrical signal containing sine components of multiple frequencies. A post-processor reduces the amplitude of each frequency, relative to other frequencies, as the frequency increases, thus suppressing harmonics, which have higher frequencies than their respective elementary signals. To compensate for frequency distortion caused by the differential frequency suppression in the post-processing stage, a pre-processor provided upstream of the main signal processing device provides frequency-dependent signal processing having a generally opposite effect to that of the post-processor, increasing the amplitude of each frequency of the signal passing through the pre-processor, relative to other frequencies, as the frequency increases. The resulting output signal thus has substantially the same frequency spectrum as the original signal while distortion-causing harmonics are reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Vladimir Benkhan
  • Patent number: 9590582
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with an inductor-capacitor (LC) resonant circuit includes a first insulation layer, an inductor component, and a capacitor component. The inductor component includes a coil-conductor segment and two extension-conductor segments. The coil-conductor segment and the extension-conductor segments are located on a same surface of the first insulation layer, and the extension-conductor segments are coupled to two ends of the coil-conductor segment, respectively. The extension-conductor segments are arranged at an interval, and extend outwards relative to the coil-conductor segment. A first region is defined by the extension-conductor segments and the coil-conductor segment, and the capacitor component is arranged corresponding to the first region in an embedded manner on the other surface, opposite to the inductor component, of the first insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: Hsiao-Tsung Yen, Yuh-Sheng Jean, Ta-Hsun Yeh
  • Patent number: 9590583
    Abstract: An AC coupler for transmitting high-frequency components of a wideband signal includes a signal conductor and a shielding structure arranged as a transmission line. The signal conductor includes a conductive element and a capacitor configured to block direct current (DC) components of the wideband signal while transmitting high-frequency alternating current (AC) components of the wideband signal. The shielding structure is configured for conducting at least the AC components of the wideband signal while confining electric fields and currents in the shielding structure substantially to a region proximate to the signal conductor. The shielding structure has a width substantially greater than a width of the signal conductor. The difference between the shielding structure width and the signal conductor width may be substantially greater than an offset distance between the signal conductor and the shielding structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shahrzad Jalali Mazlouman, David Deford