Patents Issued in March 28, 2017
  • Patent number: 9609698
    Abstract: A microwave heating device mountable to an electric device, includes: a commercial power supply; an AC/DC converter which outputs a plurality of DC voltages according to power supplied from the commercial power supply; a controller which receives power from the AC/DC converter and totally controls the electric device; a microwave processing device using a compound semiconductor which receives a plurality of outputs of the AC/DC converter and outputs a microwave; and a plurality of loads connected between, of the DC voltages output from the AC/DC converter, a predetermined Vd voltage and ground through a plurality of contacts. The loads form a group of electric components in the electric device. The controller controls power supply to the loads, and controls on/off of the contacts to drive the loads by the Vd voltage regardless of the voltage of the commercial power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Mihara, Tomotaka Nobue, Yoshiharu Omori, Toshiyuki Okajima
  • Patent number: 9609699
    Abstract: A display device of the present invention includes a body stand unit; a display displaying unit; and an arm unit, arranged upright from the body stand unit, for supporting the display displaying unit; where the arm unit is arranged on either left or right end side from a center in a horizontal direction of the display displaying unit, and supports the display displaying unit in a cantilever state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Sakata, Makoto Miyashita, Toyoki Takahashi, Daiki Adachi, Sachiko Koyama
  • Patent number: 9609700
    Abstract: Various embodiments may relate to a Light Engine Module including a plurality of series connected LEDs, a positive power supply line, a common ground line, a communication line, a current set resistor) coupled to the communication line, with its value of conductance being indicative for the current demand of the Light Engine Module, and a variable current generator connected to the communication line. The variable current generator is responsive to at least one measurement signal provided by at least one sensor. Various embodiments may further relate to a Power Supply Unit, and a lighting system including the Power Supply Unit with at least one Light Engine Module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: OSRAM GMBH
    Inventors: Francesco Angelin, Paolo De Anna, Bernd Rudolph
  • Patent number: 9609701
    Abstract: A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) may be used in a power stage DC-to-DC converter, such as a converter in LED-based light bulbs. The power stage may be operated by a controller to maintain a desired current output to the LED load. The controller may operate the power stage by monitoring a start and end of a reverse recovery time of the BJT. Information regarding the start and end of the reverse recovery time may be used in the control of the power stage to improve efficiency of the power stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Melanson, Ramin Zanbaghi, Thirumalai Rengachari, Prashanth Drakshapalli, Rahul Singh, Arnab Kumar Dutta
  • Patent number: 9609702
    Abstract: Disclosed are an LED lighting apparatus and a control circuit thereof which controls the brightness of a lamp including LEDs using a dimmer. The LED lighting apparatus and the control circuit use a starting current based on a rectified voltage, in order to supply a holding current to the dimmer in a state where a lamp including LEDs is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SILICON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Goo Kim, Won Ji Lee, Kyung Min Kim, Jong Min Lee, Young Suk Son
  • Patent number: 9609703
    Abstract: A lighting controller and method has light sources which are activated for a respective lighting duration in a repeating non-overlapping sequence. The end of the lighting duration for one light source is detected for triggering the switching on of the next light source in the sequence. This provides non-overlapping control of the light sources and provides an efficient and easy to implement the required controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Xianhui Zhang, Marco Haverlag, Jie Fu, Shan Wang, Shu Xu, Peter Alexander Duine, Herman Johannes Gertrudis Gielen, Junhu Liu
  • Patent number: 9609704
    Abstract: A load control device (e.g., a switching device) for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical device (e.g., a lighting load) may be configured to detect that a relay is stuck closed and attempt to fix the relay. The relay of the load control device may be adapted to be coupled between the source and the electrical device to control the power delivered to the electrical device so as to generate a switched-hot voltage. The load control device may comprise a detect circuit configured to generate a detect signal indicating a magnitude of the switched-hot voltage, and a control circuit configured to monitor the detect signal. The control circuit may be configured to determine that the relay is stuck closed in response to the detect signal, and to control the relay in order to attempt to fix the relay by repeatedly closing and opening the relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventor: William Zotter
  • Patent number: 9609705
    Abstract: A switching control circuit includes a switching trigger unit that receives a sensing voltage, which senses a driving current that includes a first and second driving current sections, and that provides a first switching trigger signal based on the sensing voltage in the second current section, an off-time control unit configured to provide a second switching trigger signal in the first driving current section to control a maximum off-time of a driving switching element and a switching control unit configured to turn on the driving switching element based on the first or second switching trigger signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: MagnaChip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung Woo Hong
  • Patent number: 9609706
    Abstract: A luminaire for use with power over an Ethernet emergency lighting is disclosed. The luminaire includes a rechargeable battery pack, an emergency backup LED driver, a normal lighting LED driver and an LED lamp. The luminaire also includes a power loss monitor that monitors the presence of normal lighting power present on a power over Ethernet link, and connects the emergency backup LED driver to the LED lamp through a relaying device in the event of a loss of normal lighting power. Furthermore, a method of detecting the power loss in a POE link segment is provided, wherein the method includes detecting a differential DC voltage between a first conductor in a first data pair on the POE link segment and a second conductor in a second data pair on the same POE link segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Iota Engineering LLC
    Inventor: David Crenshaw
  • Patent number: 9609707
    Abstract: A method for controlling a portable lighting device. The device has a switched-mode power supply, a light source, a high frequency switch, a controller controlling the operation of the light source and a user interface for inputting commands to the controller. A DC power source has a negative pole that is connected by only one single electric contact with the lighting device tail. The method for controlling a portable lighting device includes connecting a DC power source, an inductor, a light source, a high frequency switch and a resistor in series, measuring a voltage across the resistor, and controlling the high frequency switch dependent on the voltage measured across the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Stacey West
  • Patent number: 9609708
    Abstract: A distributed system for driving strings of series-connected LEDs for backlighting, display and lighting applications that includes multiple intelligent satellite LED driver ICs connected to an interface IC via a serial lighting interface bus. The interface IC translates information obtained from a host microcontroller into instructions for the satellite LED driver ICs pertaining to such parameters as duty factor, current levels, phase delay and fault settings. Fault conditions in the LED driver ICs can be transmitted back to the interface IC. An analog current sense feedback system which also links the LED driver ICs determines the supply voltage for the LED strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ADVANCED ANALOGIC TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Richard K. Williams, Kevin Peter D'Angelo, David Alan Brown, George A. Hariman
  • Patent number: 9609709
    Abstract: An integrated circuit component can include an integrated circuit package and a plurality of terminals provided on the exterior of the integrated circuit package. The terminals are configured to provide electrical connectivity to an interior of the integrated circuit package and a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) segments that includes an LED string in the interior of the package, coupled to the plurality of terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernd Peter Keller, Robert D. Underwood
  • Patent number: 9609710
    Abstract: A lighting device is configured such that only one of a first current control circuit and a charging current control circuit operates in any of operation modes from a first mode to a fourth mode. The lighting device is configured such that the first current control circuit and the charging current control circuit are not included in the same closed circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Ido, Hiroshi Kido, Akinori Hiramatu, Daisuke Ueda
  • Patent number: 9609711
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) tube lamp comprises a lamp tube, a first rectifying circuit, a filtering circuit and an LED driving module. The lamp tube has a first pin and a second pin for receiving an external driving signal. The first rectifying circuit is coupled to the first and second pins, for rectifying the external driving signal to produce a rectified signal. The filtering circuit is coupled to the first rectifying circuit, for filtering the rectified signal to produce a filtered signal. The LED driving module is coupled to the filtering circuit to receive the filtered signal for emitting light. Wherein, the filtering circuit includes a capacitor and an inductor connected in parallel and between one of the first and second pins and the first rectifying circuit, and the parallel-connected capacitor and inductor are configured for presenting a peak equivalent impedance to the external driving signal at a specific frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Jiaxing Super Lighting Electric Appliance Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tao Jiang, Chang Yang, Aiming Xiong, Qifeng Ye, Xintong Liu
  • Patent number: 9609712
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a signal generating method and a circuit for controlling dimming of an LED. The method comprises generating a first pulse signal, the first pulse signal comprising information of P bits gray levels, P being an integer, wherein the minimum pulse-width of the first pulse is N, N is an integer; generating a second pulse signal after the first pulse signal, the second pulse signal comprising information of Q bits gray levels, Q being an integer, wherein the amplitude of the second pulse signal is different from the amplitude of the first pulse signal, the minimum pulse-width of the second pulse is the same as the minimum pulse-width of the first pulse; and utilizing the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal to represent gray levels information of the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SILICON TOUCH TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Chi-Yuan Chin, Kuei-Jyun Chen
  • Patent number: 9609713
    Abstract: The invention discloses a kind of pulse width dimming control circuit for LED phase cut dimming power supply, which comprises LED phase cut dimming power supply circuit and pulse width dimming control circuit. The pulse width dimming control circuit is composed of voltage sampling amplification circuit, signal conversion circuit, photoelectric coupler and pulse width PWM control circuit. The signal input terminal of the voltage sampling amplification circuit is connected to the live wire L and the null line N after passing through the anti-interference circuit for voltage sampling. The output control part of the pulse width PWM control circuit consists of a field-effect transistor, the drain electrode of which connects to LED lamp. The Invention is a kind of pulse width dimming control circuit for LED phase cut dimming power supply, which has no restriction on load power and has strong compatibility with phase cut dimmer, wide dimming range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ZHUHAI SHENGCHANG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dehua Zheng, Xianyun Zhao
  • Patent number: 9609714
    Abstract: A power supply device includes LED driver circuits electrically connected to LED light sources, respectively, and a control circuit. Each of the LED light sources includes light-emitting diodes electrically connected in series. The control circuit is configured, when current is prohibited from flowing through a target light source, to perform control of a target driver circuit so that a voltage lower than a threshold voltage at which current starts to flow through the target light source is applied across the target light source. The target light source is a part of the LED light sources. The target driver circuit includes an LED driver circuit, corresponding to the target light source, of the LED driver circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hori, Noriya Hayakawa, Hiroshi Ogasawara, Masako Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 9609715
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems for generating tunable white light. The systems include a plurality of LED strings that generate light with color points that fall within blue, yellow/green, red, and cyan color ranges, with each LED string being driven with a separately controllable drive current in order to tune the generated light output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: EcoSense Lighting Inc.
    Inventors: Raghuram L. V. Petluri, Paul Kenneth Pickard
  • Patent number: 9609716
    Abstract: An undervoltage protection circuit for LED lamp includes a DC/DC converter, and a controlling circuit module. The controlling circuit module includes a signal collecting unit configured for collecting a signal, a signal comparing unit electrically connected to the signal collecting unit, and a signal processing unit electrically connected to the signal comparing unit. The signal comparing unit is configured for comparing a signal input from the signal collecting unit with a threshold voltage. The signal processing unit is configured for processing the signal output of the signal collecting unit to turn on or turn off the DC/DC converter. Whenever the voltage input is less than the threshold voltage which indicates an undervoltage condition, the controlling circuit module produces a high level and causes the DC/DC converter to not work as a result. Inversely, the controlling circuit module drops to a low level and the DC/DC converter begins to work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Self Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wanjiong Lin
  • Patent number: 9609717
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a light-emitting apparatus is disclosed. In one example, the light-emitting apparatus comprises a substrate, an LED string mounted on the substrate, in which LED string a plurality of LEDs are connected in series, a power supply path connected in series to the LED string, and a plurality of protection elements, each protection element having a first node commonly connected to the power supply path and a second node connected between a pair of the LEDs in the series, wherein the protection elements include capacitors or zener diodes, and an AC impedance of each protection element is smaller than an impedance between the pair of LEDs and a case ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Takaaki Yagi
  • Patent number: 9609718
    Abstract: A FET of a power supply reverse connection protection section is connected between a battery and an electronic device, and at a time of reverse connection of the battery, the FET is turned off and a parasitic diode of the FET prevents a current flowing in a direction opposite to a direction at a time of normal connection. A transformer is used in a DC/DC converter of a first power supply section that supplies power to a control section, and a voltage generated in a secondary winding is applied to the FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Okita
  • Patent number: 9609719
    Abstract: A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an antenna (e.g., a slot antenna or a hybrid slot-patch antenna) for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals, and may have a conductive material on a large amount (e.g., greater than or equal to approximately 85%) of a front surface of the control device. The wireless control device may operate consistently when installed with different types of faceplate assemblies (e.g., faceplate assemblies having metal and/or plastic components) and when installed with different types of electrical wallboxes (e.g., metal and plastic wallboxes). A faceplate comprising a conductive element may be installed on the wireless control device, such that the conductive element operates as a radiating element of the antenna. The wireless control device may comprise a conductive member (e.g., a conductive label or a conductive strap) extending around a rear enclosure of the wireless control device between opposite sides of a conductive yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William Taylor Shivell, Amy E. Miller
  • Patent number: 9609720
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for lighting systems, including high output lighting systems for various environments. The lighting systems include a lighting controller for driving lighting modules and transmitting a data signal to the lighting modules. The data signal varies between logical states. The lighting controller provides a low loss rectified power signal. The lighting controller further provides data within the power signal by forming a positive polarity rectified power waveform corresponding to data in a first state and a negative polarity rectified waveform signal corresponding to data in a second state using substantially loss-less circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HUNTER INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Peter John Woytowitz, Gregory R. Hunter
  • Patent number: 9609721
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for performing actions based on a determined relative composition of light. In some implementations, data representing an amount of ambient light detected within the portion of the property by a light sensor located at the portion of the property is initially obtained. Data indicating (i) a shape of an optical spectra for a natural light source, and (ii) a shape of an optical spectra for a non-natural light source is then obtained. A relative composition of the ambient light detected within the portion of the property is determined. An estimated amount of natural light within the portion of the property is then determined. In response, the amount of light output by one or more light sources located at the portion of the property is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: David James Hutz, Robert Leon Lutes
  • Patent number: 9609722
    Abstract: Described herein is a lighting system capable of responding to user input provided via proximity sensors. In some embodiments, proximity sensors are communicatively coupled to a processor capable of receiving input from the sensors. The sensors may be arranged in a row such that an object moving down the row proximate to the sensors may trigger each sensor sequentially. In some embodiments, the lighting system may alter a beam configuration or cycle between various lighting modes in response to receiving input from the proximity sensors. In some embodiments, the order in which the sensor input is received may be used to determine which lighting mode to cycle to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Coleman Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew G. Law
  • Patent number: 9609723
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatic grouping of light sources within an illumination system. The method is performed starting from a first light source of the illumination system emitting a first light signal and a first sound signal. The method includes steps of using an intensity of the first light signal as received by a second light source and an intensity of the first sound signal as received by the second light source to determine a value of a grouping function (410, 420), and assigning the first light source and the second light source to the same group of light sources when the determined value of the grouping function satisfies one or more pre-determined conditions (430, 440, 450). In this manner, a determination could be made whether or not the first and second light sources should be assigned to the same group in a manner that yields improved results over the prior art solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Feri, Robert James Davies, Ronald Rietman, Willem Franke Pasveer
  • Patent number: 9609724
    Abstract: An environment control system (1) for controlling the environment in an area (50), the area (50) comprising a plurality of sub-areas (50a1-50c5), the environment control system (1) comprising: a sensor unit (20) for generating a sensing signal pertaining to activity in the area (50), the sensor unit (20) comprising an activity type determination unit (22) for determining an activity type for each sub-area (50a1-50c5) based on the generated sensing signal for the area (50), a sound generating device (30) adapted to generate sound (32) with a varying sound property individually in each sub-area (50a1-50c5), the varying sound property having a first frequency, a light generating device (40) adapted to generate light (42) with a varying light property in each sub-area (50a1-50c5), the varying light property having a second frequency, a control unit (10) adapted to control the sound generating device (30) and the light generating device (40) independently for each sub-area (50ai-50c5), depending on the determined
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Murtaza Bulut, Raymond Van Ee, Maria Estrella Mena Benito
  • Patent number: 9609725
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lighting device comprising a light output means, a computing device, data communication means, and a casing, wherein the light output means is configured to be controllable by the computing device, the computing device configured to receive and/or transmit instructions to/from the data communication means. The lighting device may be capable of outputting light have various effects, or may emit notifications to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: LIFI Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Bosua, Andrew Gelme
  • Patent number: 9609726
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing indoor location information are disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a signal reception unit, a global positioning system (GPS) data reception unit, a frame generation unit, a scheduling unit, and a signal transmission unit. The signal reception unit receives a lighting control frame from a lighting control device. The GPS data reception unit receives location data from GPS satellites. The frame generation unit generates a location data frame by extracting the location of an illumination light stored in a lighting arrangement storage unit, modifying the location data and adding a header to the modified location data. The scheduling unit schedules the lighting control frame or the location data frame. The signal transmission unit transfers the lighting control frame or the location data frame to the corresponding illumination light based on the results of the scheduling of the scheduling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: In-Su Kim, Hyun-Chul Kang, Hyun-Joo Kang, Seong-Hee Park, Jung-Sik Sung, Jong-Woo Choi, Tae-Gyu Kang
  • Patent number: 9609727
    Abstract: A lighting device is provided, which may include a power converting module, a lighting module, a wireless receiving module and a wired receiving module. The power converting module may be coupled to the lighting module, the wireless receiving module and the wired receiving module. The wireless receiving module may receive a second control signal transmitted from a wireless control module by a wireless transmission technology, and convert the second control signal into a second converted control signal. The wired receiving module may receive a first control signal transmitted from a wired control module, and convert the first control signal into a first converted control signal. The power converting module may drive the lighting module and the wireless receiving module, and may adjust the luminous status of the lighting module according to the first and second converted control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HEP TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Yen Chen, Ta-Sheng Hung
  • Patent number: 9609728
    Abstract: A lighting system according to the embodiment includes a lighting device; and a graphic user interface displayed on a touch screen of a lighting control device to control the lighting device. The graphic user interface includes a first region to display a map for an installation space of the lighting device and a lighting icon corresponding to the lighting device in the map; and a second region to display a menu for setting a control condition of the lighting device corresponding to the lighting icon. The map includes a plurality of division spaces obtained by dividing the installation space into a plurality of regions and the lighting icon is displayed in a specific division space corresponding to an actual installation portion of the lighting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dae Hun Kim, Sin Young Jung, Jong Heon Lee
  • Patent number: 9609729
    Abstract: A method includes creating a gas flow in a gas cell and cooling a portion of the gas flow to create a thermally-induced temperature gradient in the gas flow. The method also includes directing at least one laser beam through at least a portion of the gas flow with the thermally-induced temperature gradient. The gas flow can be directed axially along a length of the gas cell or transverse to the length of the gas cell, and the at least one laser beam can be directed axially along the length of the gas cell through at least the portion of the gas flow. The gas flow may represent a first gas flow, and the method may further include creating a second gas flow in the gas cell and cooling a portion of the second gas flow to create a thermally-induced temperature gradient in the second gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric J. Griffin, Kalin Spariosu, David A. Vasquez
  • Patent number: 9609730
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of adjusting the emission of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation from a plasma in a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include generating a plasma in the processing chamber which includes a VUV-emitter gas and a collisional energy absorber gas, and adjusting the emission of VUV radiation from the plasma by altering the concentration ratio of the VUV-emitter gas to collisional energy absorber gas in the plasma. In some embodiments, the VUV-emitter gas may be helium and the collisional energy absorber gas may be neon, and in certain such embodiments, adjusting VUV emission may include flowing helium and/or neon into the processing chamber in a proportion so as to alter the concentration ratio of helium to neon in the plasma. Also disclosed are apparatuses which implement the foregoing methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Fischer, Thorsten Lill
  • Patent number: 9609731
    Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronous operation of debris-mitigation devices (DMDs) in an EUV radiation source that emits EUV radiation and debris particles are disclosed. The methods include establishing a select relative angular orientation between the first and second DMDs that provides a maximum amount of transmission of EUV radiation between respective first and second rotatable vanes of the first and second DMDs. The methods also include rotating the first and second sets of vanes to capture at least some of the debris particles while substantially maintaining the select relative angular orientation. The systems employ DMD drive units, and an optical-based encoder disc in one of the DMD drive units measures and controls the rotational speed of the rotatable DMD vanes. Systems and methods for optimally aligning the DMDs are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Media Lario SRL
    Inventors: Raymond Merrill, Jr., Natale Ceglio, Daniel Stearns
  • Patent number: 9609732
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing light includes a chamber and an ignition source that ionizes a gas within the chamber. The apparatus also includes at least one laser that provides energy to the ionized gas within the chamber to produce a high brightness light. The laser can provide a substantially continuous amount of energy to the ionized gas to generate a substantially continuous high brightness light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Energetiq Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald K. Smith
  • Patent number: 9609733
    Abstract: A front end assembly for a plasma torch and methods for assembling and disassembling a torch wherein a plurality of front end parts form a unit that is removable from, and installable in, the torch in a single operation without a special fixture. The front end assembly includes a nozzle retaining cup body connectable to a body of the torch, and a forward end connectable to a shield retainer. A nozzle retaining cup insert fits into the nozzle retaining cup body. The shield retainer has an inner surface for retaining the shield. A nozzle is received within the nozzle retaining cup insert. A stop on the nozzle engages the nozzle retaining cup insert when the front end assembly is removed from the torch so the nozzle does not remain in the torch. The shield engages an insulator, which engages the nozzle, to limit forward axial movement of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: The ESAB Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Stanley Severance, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9609734
    Abstract: A plasma arc system includes a plasma torch having a torch nozzle with an opening at a distal end for a plasma jet to exit. An electromagnetic shield cap is disposed near the distal end of the torch nozzle with the shield cap having an opening that is coaxial with the opening of the torch nozzle. A plasma cutting power source supplies current to the torch to create the plasma jet. A magnetic field power source provides a current to the electromagnetic shield cap to generate a magnetic field near the plasma jet to focus the plasma jet as the plasma jet exits the torch nozzle. A controller synchronizes operation of the power sources during a transition from a piercing operation to a cutting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventor: Jeremy Stone
  • Patent number: 9609735
    Abstract: Provided is an electrode substrate, including: a substrate; a first pattern unit on the substrate; and a second pattern unit on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyoung Jong Yoo, Jin Su Kim, Young Jae Lee, Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 9609736
    Abstract: Disclosed are a touch panel and a method of manufacturing the same. A touch panel includes: a substrate on which an active area and an inactive area are defined, in which the substrate includes a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a third lateral side, and a fourth lateral side surrounding the active area and the inactive area is disposed at only two of the first lateral side, the second lateral side, the third lateral side, and the fourth lateral side; a sensing electrode pattern on the active area; and a wire pattern connected to the sensing electrode pattern, wherein the wire pattern is disposed at the inactive area. A use region on a front surface of the touch panel is maximized by removing a bezel formed at a side of the touch panel to improve convenience of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Bok Kim, Do Young Kim, Min Su Choe
  • Patent number: 9609737
    Abstract: A heat dissipation printed circuit board includes a metal core, lower and upper insulating layers, first lower and first upper circuit patterns, and second lower and second upper circuit patterns. The lower and upper insulating layers are disposed at a lower side and an upper side of the metal core, respectively. The first lower and first upper circuit patterns are disposed at a lower side of the lower insulating layer and at an upper side of the upper insulating layer, respectively. The second lower and second upper circuit patterns are disposed at a lower side of the first lower circuit pattern and at an upper side of the first upper circuit pattern, respectively. An etching portion in the first lower circuit pattern is filled with the lower insulating layer and an etching portion in the first upper circuit pattern is filled with the upper insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, YURA CORPORATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mun Jong Kim, Kwan Bum Lee, Jin Su Yeom
  • Patent number: 9609738
    Abstract: A formed graphite sheet is shaped and sized as a protective shield positioned over an electronic component coupled to a PCB. The formed graphite sheet is used to protect a body of the electronic component from heat applied during the assembly of the electronic component to the PCB, such as the heating steps used in SMT and through-hole technology. The formed graphite sheet is shaped to selective direct impinging heat. The heat can be directly away from the entire electronic component. Alternatively, the heat can be selectively directed away from some portions of the electronic component and toward other portions of the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Willie, Richard Loi, David Geiger, Anwar Mohammed, Murad Kurwa, Hector Rene Marin Hernandez
  • Patent number: 9609739
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic device according to an embodiment includes, for example, a board, a first electronic component, and a heat dissipation member. The board includes a first face. The heat dissipation member is disposed at a side opposite to the first face of the first electronic component. The heat dissipation member is thermally connected to the first electronic component. The heat dissipation member includes a first extending portion, a second extending portion, and a plurality of third extending portions. The first extending portion extends along the first face. The second extending portion is positioned away, in a direction that intersects the first face, from the first extending portion by a space. The second extending portion extends along the first face. The plurality of the third extending portions are connected to the first extending portion and the second extending portion. The plurality of the third extending portions are positioned away from each other by a space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 9609740
    Abstract: The printed circuit with a multi-layer structure comprises: a first layer machined to form a spotface passing through the layer, a second layer comprising a first cavity passing through the layer, a third layer comprising, on one face, an electronic component that is in the first cavity, a fourth layer comprising a second cavity, a heat-conducting element with two parts: one made of metal, called a thermal cover, inserted into the spotface of the first layer so as to close, mechanically and electrically, the first cavity, the other made of a dielectric material with heat conduction >30 W/(m·K), placed in the first cavity so as to be in contact with the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Sebastien Bonnet, Serge Verdeyme, Michel Campovecchio, Alain Dravet, Marc-Yves Lienhart
  • Patent number: 9609741
    Abstract: A printed wiring board has thereon an electronic component having a heat radiation pad, and an electrolytic capacitor provided for the electronic component. The printed wiring board further has thereon another electronic component having another heat radiation pad and exhibiting a higher heat value than that of the electronic component, and another electrolytic capacitor provided for the other electronic component. The heat radiation pad of the electronic component, a ground terminal of the electrolytic capacitor, the other heat radiation pad for the other electronic component, and another ground terminal of the other electrolytic capacitor are connected by using a ground conductor. In the ground conductor, a thermal resistance between the other heat radiation pad and other ground terminal is lower than the thermal resistance between the heat radiation pad and the ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9609742
    Abstract: Package substrates are provided. The package substrate may include a power line and a ground line on a first surface of a substrate body; a plurality of signal lines on the first surface between the power line and the ground line; and a lower ground pattern and a lower power pattern positioned on a second surface of the substrate body opposite to the first surface. The lower ground pattern may be disposed to be opposite to the power line and the lower power pattern may be disposed to be opposite to the ground line. Related semiconductor packages are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Eul Chul Jang, Qwan Ho Chung, Sang Joon Lim, Sung Woo Han
  • Patent number: 9609743
    Abstract: There are provided an electronic device mounting substrate and an electronic apparatus which are capable of miniaturization. An electronic device mounting substrate includes: an insulating base including a frame section; an electrode pad disposed on an upper surface of the frame section; and a first conductor disposed on a side surface of the frame section, the first conductor being electrically connected to the electrode pad, the electrode pad extending over a side surface of the first conductor from the upper surface of the frame section. By suppressing separation of the first conductor from the insulating base by means of the electrode pad, disconnection at the first conductor can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiko Funahashi, Kanae Horiuchi, Yousuke Moriyama
  • Patent number: 9609744
    Abstract: Printed circuit boards (PCBs) can be designed to have dynamic warp characteristics complimentary to those of an attached component. A PCB and an attached component can be designed to dynamically warp, during a thermal excursion, in the same direction and with approximately the same magnitude of warp. Warp characteristics of the PCB and the attached component can be determined by the vertical thickness of conductor and dielectric layers, by the wiring density and number of conductor layers. Warp characteristics can also be at least partially determined by the arrangement/ordering of conductor and dielectric layers, by dimensions of a sash structure surrounding a component outline and by dimensions of a prepreg layer applied to an existing design. Such a prepreg layer can cover a portion or an entirety of one of the PCBs planar surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark K. Hoffmeyer, Amanda E. Mikhail, Arvind K. Sinha
  • Patent number: 9609745
    Abstract: A transparent conductive film includes a film base, a cured resin layer formed at one side of the film base, and an indium composite oxide layer laminated at a side of the cured resin layer opposite to the film base. The indium composite oxide layer has a thickness of 20 nm to 50 nm. The cured resin layer has a plurality of spherical particles and a binder resin layer which fixes the plurality of spherical particles to the film base. A difference w?d between a mode particle size w and a thickness d of the binder resin layer is greater than zero and less than or equal to 1.2 ?m, where w is a mode particle size of the spherical particles and d is a thickness of the binder resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsunori Takada, Kazuhiro Ikai, Hiroki Kuramoto, Hiroyuki Takao, Naoki Tsuno
  • Patent number: 9609746
    Abstract: A circuit board structure includes an inner circuit structure and a first build-up circuit structure. The inner circuit structure includes a core layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, a first patterned circuit layer disposed on the upper surface, a second patterned circuit layer disposed on the lower surface and a conductive through hole connecting the first and the second patterned circuit layers. The first build-up circuit structure at least has a cavity and an inner dielectric layer. The inner dielectric layer has an opening connecting the cavity and exposing a portion of the first patterned circuit layer. A hole diameter of the opening is smaller than a hole diameter of cavity. A height difference is between an inner surface of the inner dielectric layer exposed by the cavity and a top surface of the first patterned circuit layer exposed by the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Unimicron Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Shu-Sheng Chiang, Ming-Hao Wu, Wei-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 9609747
    Abstract: A wiring board includes: an insulating substrate; and a wiring layer including a first metal layer disposed on the insulating substrate and a second metal layer disposed so as to cover a surface of the first metal layer, the surface not being in contact with the insulating substrate, wherein the thickness of the second metal layer is 1/10 of the total thickness of the wiring layer, the wiring layer contains a migration inhibitor, and the mass Y of the migration inhibitor contained in the second metal layer is greater than the mass X of the migration inhibitor contained in the first metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuaki Matsushita, Tokihiko Matsumura