Patents Issued in January 15, 2019
  • Patent number: 10181691
    Abstract: A production method for a terminal-equipped electrical wire in which a terminal including a bottom plate portion and a pair of wire barrels extending sideward from the bottom plate portion is crimped to a core wire exposed at an end of an electrical wire, includes: a step of placing the core wire on the bottom plate portion; and a step of allowing the wire barrels to surround the core wire and be crimped to the core wire using a crimp tool, wherein the crimp tool includes a first tool having a placement face on which the bottom plate portion and the core wire are placed, and a second tool having a curved face for holding and curving the wire barrels between the curved face and the placement face, and a surface roughness Ra2 of the curved face is larger than a surface roughness Ra1 of the placement face (Ra2>Ra1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takanobu Shimada
  • Patent number: 10181692
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a coaxial connector with a translating grounding collar for establishing a ground path with a mating connector. The coaxial connector is configured to provide an electrical connection between two mating connectors. The coaxial connector includes a housing with a first conductor and a second conductor mounted within the housing. Further, the coaxial connector comprises a grounding collar mounted to the housing to provide a grounding of the coaxial connector with a mating connector that can discharge electro-static discharge build up before connections are established between the first and second conductors and a mating connector. Thus, the coaxial connector is grounded before establishing an electrical connection between the coaxial connector and a mating connector while also compensating for tolerance stack variability in the coaxial connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications RF LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Edmond Flaherty, IV
  • Patent number: 10181693
    Abstract: A laser source (340) that generates an output beam (354) that is directed along a beam axis (354A) that is coaxial with a first axis and orthogonal to a second axis comprises a first frame (356), a laser (358), and a first mounting assembly (360). The laser (358) generates the output beam (354) that is directed along the beam axis (354A). The first mounting assembly (360) couples the laser (358) to the first frame (356). The first mounting assembly (360) allows the laser (358) to expand and contract relative to the first frame (356) along the first axis and along the second axis, while maintaining alignment of the output beam (354) so the beam axis (354A) is substantially coaxial with the first axis. The first mounting assembly (360) can include a first fastener assembly (366) that couples the laser (358) to the first frame (356), and a first alignment assembly (368) that maintains alignment of the laser (358) along a first alignment axis (370) that is substantially parallel to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Daylight Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Arnone, David P. Caffey, Michael Pushkarsky, Miles Weida
  • Patent number: 10181694
    Abstract: An optical module includes a semiconductor optical device in which an active layer located at one side, an electrode located at the same side, and a mirror that reflects light toward the side opposite the electrode are monolithically integrated, a sub-mount having one surface on which a first wiring pattern is formed, a substrate in which an optical waveguide and a grating coupler are formed in a surface layer of the substrate, a spacer having an upper surface on which a second wiring pattern is formed, and a wire. The sub-mount is mounted on the spacer. The first wiring pattern on the sub-mount faces part of the second wiring pattern on the spacer and is electrically connected thereto. The second wiring pattern on the spacer includes a pad being disposed in a region exposed from the sub-mount and being bonded to the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Oclaro Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Kohichi Robert Tamura, Takanori Suzuki, Mitsuo Akashi, Shigehisa Tanaka, Hiroaki Inoue, Hiroyasu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10181695
    Abstract: A laser diode has a layer arrangement including a first layer structure extending along a Z axis in a longitudinal direction, along an X axis in a transverse direction and along a Y axis in a height direction, and a second and third layer structure arranged along the Z axis on opposite longitudinal sides of the first layer structure and adjoining the first layer structure, wherein the active zone of the first layer structure is arranged offset in height relative to the active zones of the second and third layer structures, and an intermediate layer is arranged laterally with respect to the first layer structure in the second and third layer structures, the intermediate layer configured as an electrically blocking layer that hinders or prevents a current flow, and the intermediate layer being arranged between the active zone and an n contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Lell, Harald Koenig, Adrian Stefan Avramescu
  • Patent number: 10181696
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including an optical receiver including a laser including a gain section; and a first tunable reflector configured to output a reference signal; a first coupler formed over the substrate; a shutter variable optical attenuator formed over the substrate, the shutter variable optical attenuator including an input port configured to receive the first portion of the reference signal from the laser; and an output port configured to provide or to block, based on a control signal, the first portion of the reference signal from the laser; and a second coupler including a first port configured to receive the first portion of the reference signal from the shutter variable optical attenuator; and a second port configured to (i) provide the first portion of the reference signal from the shutter variable optical attenuator to an optical analyzer or (ii) receive a data signal from a transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Peter W. Evans, Jeffrey T. Rahn, Vikrant Lal, Miguel Iglesias Olmedo, Amir Hosseini, Parmijit Samra, Scott Corzine, Ryan W. Going
  • Patent number: 10181697
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including a laser including a layer having first and second regions, the first region including a void; a mirror section provided on the layer, the mirror section including a waveguide core, at least part of the waveguide core is provided over at least a portion of the void; a first grating provided on the waveguide core; a first cladding layer provided between the layer and the waveguide core and supported by the second region of the layer; a second cladding layer provided on the waveguide core; and a heat source configured to change a temperature of at least one of the waveguide core and the grating, where an optical mode propagating in the waveguide core of the mirror section does not incur substantial loss due to interaction with portions of the mirror section above and below the waveguide core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Peter W. Evans, Mingzhi Lu, Fred A. Kish, Jr., Vikrant Lal, Scott Corzine, John W. Osenbach, Jin Yan
  • Patent number: 10181698
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including a laser including a layer having first and second regions, the first region including a void; a mirror section provided on the layer, the mirror section including a waveguide core, at least part of the waveguide core is provided over at least a portion of the void; a first grating provided on the waveguide core; a first cladding layer provided between the layer and the waveguide core and supported by the second region of the layer; a second cladding layer provided on the waveguide core; and a heat source configured to change a temperature of at least one of the waveguide core and the grating, where an optical mode propagating in the waveguide core of the mirror section does not incur substantial loss due to interaction with portions of the mirror section above and below the waveguide core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Peter W. Evans, Mingzhi Lu, Fred A. Kish, Jr., Vikrant Lal, Scott Corzine, John W. Osenbach, Jin Yan
  • Patent number: 10181699
    Abstract: A semiconductor optical device includes: a first conductive type semiconductor layer; an active layer; a second conductive type semiconductor layer including a ridge portion; a pair of first grooves, formed on bottom surfaces of both sides of the ridge portion and dividing the active layer; an optical functioning part including the first and second conductive type semiconductor layers, converting a state of light, and having a height higher than a height of the bottom surface of the ridge portion; and a second groove, at least a part thereof being formed on the optical functioning part, an end portion thereof being connected to the first groove, the second conductive type semiconductor layer being divided, and the maximum height of an inner wall surface thereof being higher than the maximum height of an inner wall surface of the first groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Oclaro Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Koichiro Adachi, Kouji Nakahara, Akira Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 10181700
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser includes a main body and a ridge structure arranged on the main body, the ridge structure being oriented along a longitudinal axis above an active zone, wherein the ridge structure has a first width, the ridge structure has two opposite end faces along the longitudinal axis, adjacent to at least one end face, the ridge structure has an end section arranged on one side with respect to a center axis of the ridge structure such that the ridge structure is widened on one side adjacent to the end face, and on an opposite side of the ridge structure relative to the end section a fracture trench is arranged adjacent to the end face and at a distance from the ridge structure in a surface of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Eichler, Jens Müller, Fabian Kopp
  • Patent number: 10181701
    Abstract: The invention describes a laser device (100) comprising between two and six mesas (120) provided on one semiconductor chip (110), wherein the mesas (120) are electrically connected in parallel. The laser device (100) is adapted such that degradation of at least one mesa (120) results in a decreased laser power emitted by the laser device (100) in a defined solid angle when driven at the defined electrical input power. The laser device (100) is adapted such that eye safety of the laser device (100) is guaranteed during life time of the laser device (100). Eye safety may be guaranteed by designing the semiconductor structure or more general layer structure of mesas (120) of the laser device (100) in a way that degradation of one or more layers of the layer structure results in a reduction of the maximum optical power emitted in a defined solid angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Holger Moench, Alexander Weigl, Philipp Henning Gerlach
  • Patent number: 10181702
    Abstract: A spark plug wherein when a discharge tip is viewed from a direction of an axial line, a melted portion is formed in at least a region on a second-end side of an electrode base material from a center of a discharge layer, and wherein in a section that includes a center line along a longitudinal direction of a ground electrode and that is parallel to an axial line, a proportion of a length of the melted portion along the longitudinal direction to a length of the discharge tip along the longitudinal direction of the electrode base material is greater than or equal to 76.2%, with the length of the melted portion along the longitudinal direction being within a range in which the discharge tip exists along the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kaori Suzuki, Tomoaki Kato
  • Patent number: 10181703
    Abstract: The invention discloses electrode for generating negative oxygen ion and negative oxygen ion generator using the electrode, comprising a wire loop with a longitudinal section shaped U, a circle of fibre bundle filled inside of the U-shaped groove in the wire loop, wherein the fibre bundle and wire loop are tightly glued by conducting resin and the said wire loop is composed of micrometer-size carbon fiber or fullerene fiber. The invention improves the productivity of negative oxygen ions and greatly reduces the generation of Ozone molecules. Besides, by utilizing the strong turning air flow to transfer the generated negative oxygen ions in high concentration to the space of a long distance for human to breathe, it improves the use efficiency of negative oxygen ions without the filter net, simplifies the structure of negative oxygen ion generator in this invention, as well as decreases its size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventor: Yanbing Liu
  • Patent number: 10181704
    Abstract: Examples described herein relate to power distribution units (PDUs) with receptacles on one surface and branch rated circuit protection devices on an opposite surface. For example, a PDU includes a first surface including a plurality of receptacles to couple a plurality of electronic devices to the PDU. The PDU also includes a second surface, opposite the first surface, including a plurality of branch rated circuit protection devices associated with the plurality of receptacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Matthew E Stevens, Derrick G Runcie, Darrel G Gaston
  • Patent number: 10181705
    Abstract: An electrical isolator includes a flexible non-electrically conductive membrane and an inelastic flexible dielectric member journalled in the membrane and extending from the first end of the membrane to the second end of the membrane. First and second coupling members are anchored to the ends of the dielectric member. The ends of the membrane are mated in sealed engagement with the coupling members so that the coupling members fluidically seal the ends of the membrane and fluidically seal the dielectric member within the membrane. The membrane is filled with a dielectric fluid so as to displace any air in the membrane and the dielectric member. The coupling members are adapted to couple to objects at opposite ends of the electrical isolator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Quanta Associates, L.P.
    Inventors: David Karl Wabnegger, Robert Wayne Palmer, Jody Milton Greer, Michael Howard Boudreau
  • Patent number: 10181706
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for removing carbon steel components of a subsea oilfield facility in a subsea environment by accelerating the corrosion of the carbon steel components in the surrounding seawater, by a passive and/or active impressed current method. In the passive method, the facility is connected to a cathodic metal of greater electrical potential, such as copper. In order to cause the maximum and uniform corrosion, it is preferred that a wire of the chosen cathodic metal be extended along the facility and through pipelines. In the active impressed current method, an external DC electrical supply is used to apply an electrical potential difference between the steel components of the facility and the cathodic metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Ian Paul Kemp, David Glynn Thomas, Ursula Louise Benson
  • Patent number: 10181707
    Abstract: Provided is a electroconductive resin body formed of fiber-reinforced resin including resin and a plurality of fiber strings formed of at least one selected from carbon fiber, high-strength fiber and glass fiber, the resin impregnating between the fiber strings, wherein the fiber strings are metal-plated. In the vehicle grounding structure, while the electroconductive resin body is used as a vehicle body, the minus terminals of vehicle-mounted devices VD and of a vehicle battery B are electrically connected to locations in the electroconductive resin body that have the metal-plated fiber strings arranged therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Kondo, Satoru Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 10181708
    Abstract: A control component for insertion in a standard size connection box of a conventional component such as a switch or other electrical mechanism. The control component may have new capabilities plus maintain the capabilities of the conventional component. The connection box need not be removed, or if the box is removed then the structure or space encompassing the box need not be enlarged. Further, no new wiring for is necessarily needed for connecting the control component. This placement or substitution may be particularly applicable to many rooms of hotels, motels, and other facilities. Neither time nor expense of modifications to the connection box, wiring and/or the room is necessarily needed. In many cases, a room or space cannot necessarily be modified to add a larger or an additional component having additional capabilities, such as a component having an air quality controlled device for operating a ventilation fan in a room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Philipp Roosli, Ryan Gardner, Ravi Sagar
  • Patent number: 10181709
    Abstract: A floor box assembly includes a floor box and at least one retainer coupled to the floor box. The floor box includes an outer wall extending along a longitudinal axis, and the outer wall includes a first end and a second end. The first end is configured to be coupled to an electrical receptacle. The floor box is configured to receive at least one cable in electrical communication with the receptacle. The retainer permits the floor box to be inserted in a first direction along the longitudinal axis and secures the floor box against movement in a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph V. DeBartolo, Sorin I. Mortun, Emircan M. Dumani
  • Patent number: 10181710
    Abstract: An electrical connection box includes a lower cover, an upper cover, a connector front opening, bus bars, four first ribs formed of two pairs opposing each other with the bus bar, formed on the lower cover, interposed therebetween, and four second ribs formed of two pairs opposing each other with the bus bar, formed on the upper cover, interposed therebetween. The first ribs and the second ribs are provided such that a pair of ribs is provided to oppose each other on one side and on another side with the bus bar interposed therebetween in a vertical direction, and a pair of ribs is provided to oppose each other on one side and on another side with the bus bar interposed therebetween in a width direction. When viewed from a direction of assembling, the first ribs and the second ribs are provided at different positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori Kanamori, Tatsuya Fukunaga, Takuomi Wada, Kenji Segawa
  • Patent number: 10181711
    Abstract: A spacer device includes an elongate spacing member extending a longitudinal axis for securing to electrical transmission lines, and has a minimum thickness dm. At least one thickened portion having a thickness Tt and length dt is positioned intermediate along the spacing member to form at least two column lengths Lc separated by the at least one thickened portion. Each column length Lc has a portion with the minimum thickness dm. The thickness Tt and length dt of the at least one thickened portion can be at least two times the minimum thickness dm to form at least one end support for the at least two column lengths Lc, such the at least two column lengths Lc behave as separate Euler type columns for producing increased Euler buckling strength with a minimal increase in weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: AR Patents, LLC
    Inventor: Albert S. Richardson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10181712
    Abstract: A device is provided for supporting a permanent cable splice during installation of one or more connected electrical transmission cables. The device includes one or more liners adapted to be affixable over at least portion of the permanent cable splice including the ends of the splice and one or more sleeves mountable over at least a portion of each of the one or more liners. A method is further provided for installing electrical transmission cable including connecting the second end of a first cable to the first end of a second cable using a permanent splice, affixing one or more liners over at least a portion including the ends of the permanent cable splice, assembling one or more sleeves over at least a portion of each of the one or more liners, pulling the first cable, permanent splice and second cable over one or more sheaves along the installation travel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Quanta Associates, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Wayne Palmer, Jody Milton Greer, David Karl Wabnegger
  • Patent number: 10181713
    Abstract: At least one method, apparatus and system disclosed herein involves providing an integrated circuit device comprising a protection circuit. And integrated circuit device is formed. A protection component is formed in parallel to the integrated circuit device. The protection component is configured for protecting the integrated circuit device from a portion of a charge. A circuit break device in series to the protection component, wherein the protection component and the circuit break device are in parallel to the integrated circuit device. The circuit break device is configured to break an electrical path of the protection component for electrically terminating the protection component based upon a current signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Arnaud Bousquet, Geetha Sai Aluri, Suresh Uppal
  • Patent number: 10181714
    Abstract: The disclosed methods and systems employ a nonprobability-based detection scheme that measures conditions (e.g., voltage or current) at multiple locations on a circuit, such as a branch circuit, to detect for a presence of an arc fault condition. A centralized processing system, such as a controller (120), receives information corresponding to a branch origin voltage or current measurement sensed by a sensor (114, 116) at a branch origin upstream of the plurality of end-use devices (150) on the branch circuit (e.g. at a circuit breaker defining the branch), and receives information corresponding to a downstream voltage or current measurement at each of the end-use devices sensed by a corresponding downstream sensor (152, 154).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy D. Schroeder, Joseph Beierschmitt
  • Patent number: 10181715
    Abstract: A protection device comprises a first planar substrate, a second planar substrate, a heating element, a fusible element and an absorbent element. The first substrate comprises a first surface, and the second substrate comprises a second surface facing the first surface. The heating element is disposed on the first surface, and the fusible element is disposed above the heating element. The absorbent element is disposed on the second surface and above the fusible element. When over-current or over-temperature occurs, the heating element heats up to melt and blow the fusible element and the absorbent element absorbs melted metal of the fusible element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Polytronics Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Tsungmin Su, Tongcheng Tsai, David Shau Chew Wang
  • Patent number: 10181716
    Abstract: A hot-swap protection circuit includes: a hot-swap circuit, a hot-swap detection circuit, and an N-well generation circuit, where the hot-swap detection circuit is configured to detect whether hot-swap is performed on the hot-swap circuit, and feed back a detection result to the N-well generation circuit; and the N-well generation circuit is configured to receive the detection result fed back by the hot-swap detection circuit, and output a control signal according to the detection result, to protect the hot-swap circuit. The hot-swap detection circuit is used to detect whether hot-swap is performed on the hot-swap circuit, and the detection result is fed back to the N-well generation circuit, so that the N-well generation circuit outputs a control signal according to the detection result fed back by the hot-swap detection circuit, to protect the hot-swap circuit, thereby preventing the hot-swap of the hot-swap circuit from burning a host or a peripheral device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: CAPITAL MICROELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qinghua Xue
  • Patent number: 10181717
    Abstract: A surge suppression system provides surge protection both locally within the radio station building were the power plant and telecommunication equipment are located and remotely next to the radios and antennas located outside of the building on the communication tower. An external surge suppression unit provides a waterproof enclosure for both surge suppression devices and fiber optic connectors. A rack mountable surge suppression unit provides local in-line surge suppression protection for the electrical equipment located in the communication station. A unique surge suppression tray is hot swappable so that multiple surge suppression devices can be replaced at the same time without disrupting radio operation. Pluggable surge suppression modules can be used in both the external surge suppression unit and the rack mountable surge suppression unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: RAYCAP S.A.
    Inventors: Douglas Wayne Miller, Konstantinos Samaras, Kelly Rae Richards, Daniel Joseph Sullivan, Megaklis Marathias
  • Patent number: 10181718
    Abstract: Provided herein are improved electrical circuit protection devices for protection against electrostatic discharge (ESD), the devices including a first support substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode formed on the first support substrate, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are formed from a conductive material. The devices further include a first bonding pad disposed on the first and second electrode, the first bonding pad having a first cavity formed therein; a second support substrate disposed on the first bonding pad, the second support substrate having a second cavity formed therein, and a voltage variable material disposed within the first cavity and the second cavity and electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode. The devices further include a second bonding pad disposed on the second support substrate, and a third support substrate disposed on the second bonding pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Conrado De Leon, Albert Enriquez, Editha Liquido, Crispin Zulueta
  • Patent number: 10181719
    Abstract: A protection device is provided that is placed in series connection between an input or signal node and a node to be protected. If the node to be protected is a relatively high impedance node, such as the gate of a MOSFET, then the protection device need not carry much current. This enables it to be built to be very fast. This enables it to respond rapidly to an overvoltage event so as to protect the circuit connected to the node to be protected. The protection device may be used in conjunction with other protection cells that offer greater current carrying capability and controllable trigger voltages, but which are intrinsically slower acting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventor: Edward John Coyne
  • Patent number: 10181720
    Abstract: A circuit uses a high voltage diode to automatically block high voltage flyback pulses of either polarity from the transmit coil of a pulse induction type metal detector from its sensitive receive circuitry. The circuit being fully automatic requires no control signals and permits the receive circuitry to sample the signal being received immediately following the termination of the flyback pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventor: David Lawrence Emery
  • Patent number: 10181721
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit includes a high power supply rail (VDD) and a low power supply rail (VSS). The ESD protection circuit further includes an active shunt transistor coupled between VDD and VSS. The active shunt transistor includes a gate. The ESD protection circuit also includes a sensing transistor connected between an input/output (I/O) pad and the gate of the active shunt transistor. If an ESD stress event occurs on the I/O pad or on a VDD pad, the sensing transistor is caused to be turned ON thereby permitting a voltage on the I/O or VDD pad experiencing the ESD stress event to turn ON the active shunt transistor in turn causing ESD current to flow from the pad experiencing the ESD event, through VDD, and through the active shunt transistor to VSS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Xianzhi Dai, Farzan Farbiz, Muhammad Yusuf Ali
  • Patent number: 10181722
    Abstract: A single-inductor DC-DC converter generates two DC output voltages at two capacitors. The converter selectively transfers energy from a battery to the inductor or from the inductor to a selected capacitor. While the converter is still settling, the converter is regulated based on only the more deficient DC output voltage. After the converter has already settled, the converter is regulated based on the common-mode voltage for both DC output voltages. By regulating the still-settling converter based on only the more deficient DC output voltage, instead of the common-mode voltage, even greater deficiencies in that already more-deficient DC output voltage are avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaowen Wu, Lei Tian, Yongqin Liang
  • Patent number: 10181723
    Abstract: Methods of operating a power supply switching circuit including selecting a first power supply signal for provisioning through the power supply switching circuit to a electronic storage device. A current draw can be detected via the first power supply signal that exceeds a predetermined current limit and a second power supply signal can be coupled to the first power supply signal for provisioning through the power supply switching circuit to the electronic storage device responsive to the current draw exceeding the predetermined current limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo-Sung Lee, Chung-Hyun Ryu, Sang-Hun Jeon, Jae-Woong Choi, Sang-Sik Heo
  • Patent number: 10181724
    Abstract: A power conversion system (PCS) seamlessly transitions between different control modes. A digital signal processor (DSP) may operate in a first control mode where a first setpoint for operating the inverter is associated with a first one of the AC power, DC voltage, or DC current. The DSP then seamlessly transitions into a second control mode where a second setpoint used for operating the inverter is associated with second one of the AC power, DC voltage, and DC current. The DSP also may seamlessly transition from the first or second control mode to an off-grid mode by operating the inverter based on an AC voltage setpoint generated by the inverter. The seamless control mode transitions allow the PCS to more effectively control the inverter output using feedback parameters other than just the output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: EGUANA TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Daljit Ghotra, Hoang Nguyen, Russell J. Morash, Keith W. Johnston
  • Patent number: 10181725
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating at least one distributed energy resource comprising a refrigeration system (1) with a number of cooling entities, wherein a power consumption information is communicated to a smart-grid setup (SG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: DANFOSS A/S
    Inventor: Torben Green
  • Patent number: 10181726
    Abstract: An AC power transformer includes primary and secondary windings for at least a first AC phase and a second AC phase, and a core for said at least first and second phases. The transformer further includes a control unit for transferring power from the first phase to the second phase via magnetic coupling in the core such that the sum of the phase vectors of all of the at least first and second phases is substantially zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Lars Jonsson, Nan Chen, Stefan Thorburn
  • Patent number: 10181727
    Abstract: A controller of a fuel cell system performs a starting operation that switches on a first precharge circuit so as to reduce a voltage difference between a first smoothing capacitor and a second smoothing capacitor and subsequently turns on a first relay, when a start switch is turned on in a system off state that the first relay is off. Upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition including at least one of a condition that a difference between the voltage of the first smoothing capacitor and the voltage of the second smoothing capacitor is equal to or greater than a first reference value and a condition that the voltage of the first smoothing capacitor is equal to or higher than a second reference value, the controller uses a second converter to charge the second smoothing capacitor so as to bring the voltage of the second smoothing capacitor closer to the voltage of the first smoothing capacitor, and subsequently switches the first precharge circuit from off to on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Katano, Masahiro Imanishi
  • Patent number: 10181728
    Abstract: A control system includes memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions. The processor is configured to receive a first indication of a power grid voltage, receive a second indication of a power grid phase angle, receive a third indication of a generator voltage of power provided by a generator, and receive a fourth indication of a generator phase angle of power provided by the generator. The processor is configured to determine a voltage gap between the generator voltage and the power grid voltage and a time difference between the generator phase angle and the power grid phase angle. The processor is configured to generate a signal to cause the generator voltage and the generator phase angle to synchronize with the power grid voltage and the power grid phase angle, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Tabrez Shakeel, Randall John Kleen, Muhammed Rahim
  • Patent number: 10181729
    Abstract: A system and method for a mobile hybrid transmitter/receiver (TX/RX) node for wireless resonant power delivery is disclosed. A hybrid TX/RX can be configured to travel to remote, wirelessly-powerable receivers and deliver power to them wirelessly. A hybrid TX/RX device can include a transmitter component (TX), a receiver (RX) component, and a power store for storing power for supply to remote receivers. The TX/RX device can be configured in an autonomous unmanned vehicle operational to travel between a fixed source transmitter devices and one or more specified locations that may be host to one or more remote receivers. In the location of the one or more remote receivers, the TX component may function to wirelessly transfer power from the power store to the one or more remote receivers. In the location of the fixed source transmitter device, RX component can be configured to receive power via wireless power transfer, and to use the received power to at least partially replenish the power store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Richard Wayne DeVaul, Brian John Adolf, Raj B. Apte
  • Patent number: 10181730
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe techniques for reducing human exposure to wireless energy in wireless power delivery environments. In some embodiments, a wireless power reception apparatus configured to receive wireless power from a wireless charging system in a wireless power delivery environment is disclosed. The wireless power reception apparatus includes a control system and an antenna array. In some embodiments, the control system is configured to dynamically adjust transmission and reception radiation patterns of the antenna array to reduce human exposure to wireless radio frequency (RF) energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Ossia Inc.
    Inventors: Hatem Ibrahim Zeine, Siamak Ebadi, Alireza Pourghorban Saghati, Anas Alfarra, Douglas Williams
  • Patent number: 10181731
    Abstract: An external power storage adapter (PSA) may supply electrical power to a portable information handling system or other power consuming device. The power storage adapter may include an AC-DC converter, a battery, and intelligent power management functionality. A PSA controller may cause a PSA battery management unit to combine electrical power supplied by the AC-DC converter and electrical power supplied by the battery in order to supply enough electrical power for the information handling system to operate in a particular operating mode. The power storage adapter may output power to a port of the portable information handling system, such as a USB Type-C port, over a variable power bus. The maximum power supply capacity of the power storage adapter, when the battery is at least partially charged, may be greater than the maximum power supply capacity of the AC-DC converter alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Sultenfuss, Richard Christopher Thompson
  • Patent number: 10181732
    Abstract: A circuit for balancing capacitor voltages at capacitors in a DC circuit includes a first circuit path having first and second capacitors connected in series between first and second potentials of a DC voltage of the DC circuit, with a first center tap arranged between the first and second capacitors. A second circuit path includes first and second switchable semiconductors and first and second balancing elements which are connected in series between the first and second potentials. The first switchable semiconductor is arranged at the first potential, the second switchable semiconductor at the second potential, and the first and second balancing elements are arranged between the first and second switchable semiconductors, with a second center tap arranged between the balancing elements. A first electrical connection is established between the first center tap in the first circuit path and the second center tap in the second circuit path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Melanie Eckert, Markus Frühauf, Peter Jänicke
  • Patent number: 10181733
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method of balancing voltages between battery racks, and the apparatus includes: a voltage measuring unit configured to measure a voltage of a plurality of battery racks; a collecting unit configured to collect the measured voltage of the plurality of battery racks; and a control unit configured to control voltage balancing to be performed between two battery racks among the plurality of battery racks based on the collected voltage of the plurality of battery racks, and control the voltage balancing to be repeatedly performed between the battery racks, on which the voltage balancing is performed, and the battery rack, on which the voltage balancing is not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: Yongmin Jo
  • Patent number: 10181734
    Abstract: The present invention provides a charging control method for controlling a power delivery unit to supply output power to a mobile unit, wherein the output power includes a DC output voltage and/or a DC output current. The method includes: receiving a power delivery configuration by the power delivery unit, wherein the power delivery configuration at least defines at least one execution time period and plural voltage(s) and/or current(s); the power delivery unit regulates the DC output voltage and/or DC output current according to the power delivery configuration during the at least one execution time period such that the DC output voltage and/or DC output current correspond to the power delivery configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wei-Hsu Chang, Ta-Yung Yang, Pei-Yu Chiang
  • Patent number: 10181735
    Abstract: A portable electrical power unit includes a housing defining an interior region that receives a power source, such as a rechargeable battery or capacitor, and one or more electrical connectors that are accessible at or through outer surfaces of the housing. The housing includes a substantially flat base for resting atop generally horizontal surface, and may include a power switch for selectively energizing the outlets. Optionally, a charging indicator provides a visual indication of the current capacity or charge level of the onboard power source. The power unit may receive or convey electrical power via direct-contact electrical terminals or via inductive power transmission, and may include additional features such as a location-detecting circuit operable to detect and generate a signal in the event that the power unit is moved out of a predefined area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventors: Norman R. Byrne, Thomas A. Petersen, Jorge A. Givaudan, Elizabeth A. Wirgau
  • Patent number: 10181736
    Abstract: A method for operating a circuit for charging and discharging a capacitive actuator. The circuit has a series circuit of first and second power transistors with respective parallel-connected diodes connected between the potentials of a supply voltage source. The node between the power transistors is connected via a coil to the capacitive actuator. For charging the actuator, the first power transistor, which connects the capacitive actuator to the positive potential, is periodically turned on during a prescribed time and turned off when a first prescribed threshold value is reached by the current through the actuator, until a lower threshold value is reached by the current. If the actuator current no longer reaches the first prescribed threshold value then the first power transistor is turned off after a time that corresponds to the maximum value reached by the actuator current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Haggenmiller, Raul Lucian Alimareanu Torok, Emilian Gheorghe Lukic
  • Patent number: 10181737
    Abstract: A supply-and-demand adjustment system, that utilizes characteristics of supply-and-demand adjustment apparatuses and precisely matches a total supply-and-demand adjustment amount with a required adjustment amount when performing a supply-and-demand adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hisato Sakuma, Koji Kudo, Hitoshi Yano, Kazuhiko Aoki, Yoshiho Yanagita, Yuma Iwasaki, Ryo Hashimoto, Eisuke Saneyoshi, Takahiro Toizumi
  • Patent number: 10181738
    Abstract: A discharge control device includes a discharge circuit configured to include a switch and a resistor to discharge charges of a smoothing capacitor and a power converter which are connected to a high-voltage power supply. The discharge circuit sets the switch to an ON state to start the discharging for a fixed period when an ignition switch is changed from the ON state to an OFF state. The discharge circuit sets the switch to the OFF state to stop the discharging when the ignition switch is changed from the OFF state to the ON state during a period in which the discharge circuit performs the discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: KEIHIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryutaro Minesawa, Ikuo Sasanuma
  • Patent number: 10181739
    Abstract: A power storage adapter may use a high efficiency charging method when supplying electrical power to a portable information handling system when the power storage adapter is not connected to AC line power. In particular, when the portable information handling system draws the electrical power below a low load threshold, such as during a low power state, the power storage adapter may avoid supplying electrical power. When an internal battery of the portable information handling system has an SOC less than a recharging state of charge for the internally battery, the power storage adapter may resume supplying power to the portable information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Sultenfuss, Richard Christopher Thompson
  • Patent number: 10181740
    Abstract: A charging control apparatus is provided and includes a control unit configured to transmit instructions to a charging unit to execute charging of a battery. The control unit is configured to cause a scheme change from a first charging scheme to a second charging scheme based on charging scheme information received by the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatomo Tanaka, Yoshifumi Shimizu, Akira Ichihashi, Akira Yamaguchi