Patents Issued in January 15, 2019
  • Patent number: 10181741
    Abstract: A storage battery device according to the present disclosure includes a storage unit accumulating charge, an attachment unit attachable to an electronic device, and a controller charging the storage unit by a first current value when the storage battery device is attached to the electronic device via the attachment unit, and charging the storage unit by a second current value lower than the first current value when the storage battery device is not attached to the electronic device via the attachment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Saeki, Yoshiharu Takemori, Daichi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 10181742
    Abstract: An electronic device including a connector and a charger is provided. The connector is arranged for coupling to a power supply external to the electronic device, wherein the power supply is arranged to provide a supply voltage to the electronic device to charge a battery of the electronic device. The charger is coupled to the connector and selectively operated in a normal mode or a self-test mode, wherein when the charger operates in the normal mode, the charger is arranged for receiving the supply voltage via a power pin of the connector to charge the battery of the electronic device; and when the charger operates in the self-test mode, the charger provides a specific voltage to the power pin of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Yuan Hsu, Yu-Yuan Kuo
  • Patent number: 10181744
    Abstract: A capacitive power converter circuit converts a DC power from a bus node to a charging power for charging a battery in a charging mode, and converts a battery voltage to a supply voltage through the bus node in a supply mode. The capacitive power converter circuit includes a conversion switch circuit including plural conversion switches configured to be operably coupled to one or more conversion capacitors, and a conversion control circuit for controlling the plural conversion switches. In the charging mode, the plural conversion switches control the conversion capacitors such that the charging current is scaled-up, and in the supply mode, the plural conversion switches control the conversion capacitors such that the supply voltage is scaled-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsung-Wei Huang
  • Patent number: 10181745
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a charging system, a charging method and a power adapter. The system includes a battery, a first rectifier, a switch unit, a transformer, a compositing unit, a sampling unit, and a control unit. The control unit outputs a control signal to the switch unit, and adjusts a duty ratio of the control signal according to a voltage sampling value and/or a current sampling value obtained by primary sampling of the sampling unit, such that a second alternating current outputted by the compositing unit meets a charging requirement. The second alternating current is applied to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Jialiang Zhang, Chen Tian, Jun Zhang, Shebiao Chen, Shiming Wan, Jiada Li
  • Patent number: 10181746
    Abstract: A storage assembly can include a housing defining an interior space, a top surface, a front surface, and an upper recessed storage area defined at the top surface. A moveable storage receptacle can define a movable storage area. The movable storage receptacle can include a front exterior surface that defines a part of the front surface of the housing. The moveable storage receptacle can be configured to move between a closed position in which the moveable storage area is disposed within the interior space of the housing, and an open position in which at least a portion of the moveable storage area is disposed beyond the interior space of the housing. A wireless charger can be disposed and configured to charge an electronic device when the electronic device is disposed at the upper recessed storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kevin Kramer, Nathaniel Joseph Buchheit, David Joseph Bryant, Zi Yang Sun
  • Patent number: 10181747
    Abstract: A base may include a frame, a keyboard partially enclosed by the frame, a battery, and a single coil coupled to the battery. The keyboard may be configured to wirelessly communicate with a computing device. The battery may be configured to provide power to the keyboard. The single coil may be configured to induce a current from a magnetic field to charge the battery. The base may not include any charging coils other than the single coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Bowers, Michelle Yu
  • Patent number: 10181748
    Abstract: A power storage system includes: a power generation element that performs environmental power generation; a storage battery that is supplied with power generated by the power generation element; a DC/DC converter that converts an output voltage from the power generation element into a predetermined voltage; a first switch unit that switches whether directly supply the output voltage from the power generation element to the storage battery or to supply thereto via the DC/DC converter; and a first changeover unit that compares a voltage of the storage battery with a first threshold voltage, and controls the first switch unit according to a comparison result, in a case where a voltage of the voltage or higher of the storage battery bringing the DC/DC converter into a main boost mode is the first threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamamoto, Ryoji Yanagimoto, Yuji Yamada, Kenjiro Yano, Kenichi Okada
  • Patent number: 10181749
    Abstract: A charging system that includes a charging device and a secondary battery device with improved safety is provided. When the secondary battery device has been connected to a charging terminal of the charging device, a DC voltage for inspection is supplied from a DC power supply unit to the charging terminal to detect a DC signal by a DC signal detection unit, and an AC voltage for inspection is supplied from an AC power supply unit to the charging terminal to detect an AC signal by an AC signal detection unit. The secondary battery device is started to be charged only when the value of the DC signal falls within a reference range defined by a resistance value of the secondary battery device and the value of the AC signal falls within a reference range defined by an impedance value of the secondary battery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Izu, Yu Sasaki, Yoshihiro Okumatsu, Takahiro Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10181750
    Abstract: When a microcomputer does not charge an electric storage device, the microcomputer activates at an interval set based on a timer set value and determines whether an electric power voltage generated by a solar cell is equal to or higher than an electric power generation determination threshold. When the generated electric power voltage is lower than the electric power generation determination threshold, the microcomputer turns to a sleep state after increasing the timer set value by an addition set value while prohibiting charging the electric storage device. When the generated electric power voltage is equal to or higher than the electric power generation determination threshold and a generated electric power amount is equal to or larger than an electric power generation determination threshold, the microcomputer starts charging the electric storage device so the electric power device can be appropriately charged with an electric power generated by the solar cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Seigen Maeno, Takuya Hibino, Yohsuke Ochi
  • Patent number: 10181751
    Abstract: An energy supply device with connection portion for an energy source and an energy consumer. The energy supply device is arranged to feed energy from an energy source to an energy consumer, and also comprises energy storage for supplying a connected energy consumer with energy in the event of an interruption of energy supply. There is also a control unit and sensing portion for sensing an energy flow to and/or from the energy storage portion. The sensing portion is connected to the control unit which detects a power disturbance if there is an energy flow from the energy storage portion during a predefined length of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventor: Henrik Isaksson
  • Patent number: 10181752
    Abstract: There is provided a control apparatus including: a determination unit configured to determine whether a control target apparatus drivable with first power supplied from an external power supply and second power supplied from a battery is driven with the second power, on the basis of a supply state of the first power and a transmission signal acquired via a power line from an external communication apparatus connected to the power line through which the first power is transmitted; and a target control unit configured to drive the control target apparatus with the second power when the control target apparatus is determined to be driven with the second power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Takemura, Satoshi Konya
  • Patent number: 10181753
    Abstract: The electric power system protection device according to the present invention includes a transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding which are electrically isolated from each other. The primary winding is to be connected to a first electric path which is to be connected to an external power supply configured to supply AC power by use of a secondary battery, so as to receive the AC power from the external power supply. The secondary winding is to be connected to a second electric path to be connected to a power supply path from a commercial electric power system to an electric load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Kanda, Satoru Ueno, Kenji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10181754
    Abstract: A primary side wireless power transmitter inductively couplable to a secondary side wireless power receiver for supplying power to the wireless power receiver for receiving communications from the secondary side wireless power receiver through the inductive coupling comprises a primary side tank circuit receiving a signal on from the secondary side wireless power receiver. A phase delay or time delay circuit generates a fixed delay clock signal. A sample and hold circuit samples a tank circuit voltage utilizing the fixed phase or time delayed clock signal. A comparator is coupled to an output of the sample and hold circuit for extracting data or commands from the signal stream. A method of operating a primary side wireless transmitter inductively coupled to a secondary side wireless power receiver for supplying power to the wireless power receiver to power a load coupled to the receiver is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ashish Khandelwal, Joseph M. Khayat, Yipeng Su, Robert A. Neidorff, Bharath B. Kannan
  • Patent number: 10181755
    Abstract: A power transmitter and a power receiver are disposed with a space provided therebetween, and a power transmission device produces an electromagnetic field that periodically changes using the AC current in a space and forms a vibrating electromagnetic resonance field in which the space itself has energy. By obtaining electrical energy from the resonance field, a power reception device produces a resonance current, and a new electromagnetic resonance field is formed by the resonance current. The power transmission device or the power reception device is constituted of a conductor having a Peano curve shape that covers a surface having a given spread by passing through all regions obtained by dividing the surface having a given spread without intersecting with itself, and the electromagnetic field energy of a space in the periphery of the fractal-shaped device is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hosotani, Tatsuya Doi
  • Patent number: 10181756
    Abstract: Disclosed are a wireless power transmitter and a power transmission method thereof. The wireless power transmitter includes a plurality of transmission resonance units, a detection power applying unit applying detection power to the transmission resonance units to detect a location of the wireless power receiver, and a current measuring unit measuring current generating from an inner part of the wireless power transmitter based on the applied detection power. The wireless power transmitter transmits the power through at least one transmitting resonance unit corresponding to the location of the wireless power receiver based on the measured current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Su Ho Bae, Ki Min Lee
  • Patent number: 10181757
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for wirelessly transmitting power. In one aspect, an apparatus for wireless transmitting power is provided. The apparatus comprises a first metal sheet having a shape that defines a plurality of slots, the plurality of slots inwardly extending from a periphery of the first metal sheet. The apparatus further comprises a coil configured to generate a magnetic field sufficient to charge or power a load, wherein the first metal sheet extends over a width and a length of the coil, and wherein the plurality of slots are configured to at least partially cancel eddy currents generated in the first metal sheet via the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Seong Heon Jeong
  • Patent number: 10181758
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a resonant circuit that determines a resonant frequency, a drive unit that drives the resonant circuit, and a controller that causes the resonant frequency to change between a first resonant frequency and a second resonant frequency. The first resonant frequency is higher than a frequency of a drive signal of the drive unit and the second resonant frequency is lower than the frequency of the drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 10181759
    Abstract: Techniques for detecting a presence of a foreign object within a region for wirelessly transferring power to charge an electric vehicle are discloses. An example apparatus according to the disclosure includes a foreign object detection (FOD) structure including a transmitting loop structure, a receiving loop structure galvanically isolated from the transmitting loop structure and positioned relative to the transmitting loop structure such that a magnetic field generated by the transmitting loop structure induces a first voltage in the receiving loop structure, wherein the first voltage is below a threshold value, and a control circuit configured to drive the transmitting loop structure and detect a change in a magnitude of the first voltage in the receiving loop structure in response to the presence of the foreign object within the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Swagat Chopra, Leandro Percebon
  • Patent number: 10181760
    Abstract: Techniques are described for authenticating device in wireless power delivery environments. In some embodiments, a request for energy delivery is received from devices. The request may include an identifier, e.g., a client identification (ID). The charger may query a remotely located authentication platform via a network with the client ID. The authentication platform compares the client ID against devices that have been registered within the system. If the device is properly provisioned, the authentication platform may return an acceptance of authentication to the charger. In addition to device authentication, the current disclosure covers the ability to control the environment within a wireless network, and perform system diagnostics by monitoring the network environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Ossia Inc.
    Inventors: Hatem Zeine, Benjamin Todd Renneberg, Fady El-Rukby
  • Patent number: 10181761
    Abstract: A relay apparatus in a wireless power transmission system includes a relay power reception antenna that receives power transmission alternating current power from a power transmission power transmission antenna, a relay rectifier that converts the power transmission alternating current power into relay direct current power, a relay inverter circuit that converts the relay direct current power into relay alternating current power, and a relay power transmission antenna that wirelessly transmits the relay alternating current power. When the relay apparatus has received binary relay received data, the relay apparatus reverses a sign of the binary relay received data and eliminates a difference between a first voltage of the relay direct current power and a second voltage of the relay direct current power on the basis of the reversed binary relay received data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Sakata, Hiroshi Kanno, Eiji Takahashi, Satoru Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10181762
    Abstract: In an insulator to insulate teeth of a stator, which is a three-phase electric motor and which has nine teeth or more, and a conducting wire wound around the teeth, slits for parallel wire connection to be conducting wire extraction parts only in parallel wire connection, slits for serial wire connection to be conducting wire extraction parts only in serial wire connection, and shared slits to be conducting wire extraction parts in both of the serial wire connection and the parallel wire connection are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10181763
    Abstract: A motor that includes a stator having an improved structure is provided. The motor includes a stator that includes stator cores wound with a coil, a rotor disposed in the stator and configured to interact with the stator and to rotate, a shaft mounted on the rotor and configured to rotate with the rotor, a printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connected to the coil, an insulator formed of an insulating material and mounted on the stator, and a terminal pin mounted on the insulator to connect the coil with the PCB. A terminal pin accommodating portion that protrudes in an extension direction of the shaft is provided in one side of the insulator and the terminal pin is accommodated in the terminal pin accommodating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woong Hwang, Yong Woo Nam, Uk Ho Seo, Sung Gu Lee, Su Kwon Jeong, Young Kwan Kim
  • Patent number: 10181764
    Abstract: Disclosed is a motor including a housing having a first receiving part formed at one side thereof, a stator disposed in the housing, a rotor disposed in the housing, a rotating shaft rotated along with the rotor, a holder coupled to one side of the housing, and a bearing disposed between the first receiving part and the holder to support a rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Ho Kim, Seong Jin Kim, Kyung Sang Park, Chang Hyun Park, Woo Seob Shim
  • Patent number: 10181765
    Abstract: An electric machine for a vehicle may include a stator, a rotor, and a coolant channel assembly. The stator may include a core defining a cavity and windings disposed within and partially protruding out of the cavity. The rotor may be sized for disposal within the cavity adjacent the windings. The coolant channel assembly may include a channel wound about the partially protruding windings such that the channel and windings are in thermal communication with one another. The coolant channel may define a circular or rectangular cross-section. The coolant channel may define fins therein to induce turbulence into coolant flowing therethrough. The coolant channel and the windings may be arranged such that the coolant channel assembly directly contacts the windings. The coolant channel assembly may be wound such that a portion of the coolant channel assembly is partially disposed between the plurality of base portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Prasad Dev Hanumalagutti, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 10181766
    Abstract: A motor includes a rotor with a shaft, a stator, first and second bearings supporting the shaft, a bus bar assembly holding the second bearing, a circuit board, a sensor magnet fixed to the shaft, and a rotation sensor which is attached to the circuit board and faces a direction. The bus bar assembly includes a bus bar and a bus bar holder. The bus bar holder includes a cylindrical main body portion including an opening at a second side. The bus bar includes a coil connection portion that protrudes from an inner surface of the main body portion and is electrically connected to a coil of the stator. The end of the second side of the coil connection portion is located at a second side ahead of a surface of a first side of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehiro Haga, Ryusuke Sato, Masashi Sonoda
  • Patent number: 10181767
    Abstract: An electric motor is provided including: a stator, an armature rotatably received within the stator and having an armature shaft on which a commutator is mounted, and a brush assembly. The brush assembly defines a first surface facing the stator and a second surface opposite the first surface. The brush assembly includes a brush card mount having openings, brushes in sliding contact with the commutator to supply electric current to the commutator, and thermally-conductive brush holders that house the brushes. Each of the brush holders includes a base portion disposed substantially along a same plane as a surface of the brush card mount to form the first surface of the brush assembly, and a main portion protruding from the base portion through a respective opening of the brush card mount to house a respective brush at least partially over the second surface of the brush assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Osborne, Daniel F. Heck, Colin M. Crosby, Ryan F. Schroeder, Barak N. Gohn, William D. Spencer
  • Patent number: 10181768
    Abstract: An energy harvester for harvesting energy from a rotating machine having a rotatable machine shaft includes a non-magnetic housing, a harvester shaft, a rotor, and a plurality of electrically isolated stators. The housing is adapted to couple to the rotating machine. The harvester shaft is disposed within the housing and is adapted to couple to and rotate with the machine shaft or in some cases becomes the rotating shaft of the machine. The rotor is disposed within the housing and is coupled to and surrounds at least a portion of the harvester shaft. The rotor comprises an N-pole permanent magnet. The plurality of stators are disposed within and coupled to the housing. Each stator surrounds the rotor and is spaced apart therefrom by an air gap. Each stator also has a set of windings wound thereon. Different numbers of stators could be operating together, whereas other stators are disconnected to extend the rotational speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Andy Peczalski, Todd Hanson
  • Patent number: 10181769
    Abstract: A reciprocating piston engine is disclosed having a first inner magnetic field unit, arranged on a first crank web of a crankshaft, and a stationary first outer magnetic field unit, wherein the first inner magnetic field unit and the first outer magnetic field unit together form a first electromagnetic converter, in particular an electric motor or an electric generator. The first crank web has a first compensating weight on a side that is opposite a first connecting rod bearing and that faces radially outwards in relation to a crankshaft axis, wherein the first compensating weight is made of a non-magnetizable material. The first inner magnetic field unit is arranged on a side of the first compensating weight that faces outwards in relation to the crankshaft axis. The invention also relates to a system comprising the reciprocating piston engine, an energy store, an electric control unit and a crankshaft sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: HVD AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schuttenbach Von, Karl-Heinz Grabher
  • Patent number: 10181770
    Abstract: A standby generator includes an engine including an output shaft, an alternator, and an enclosure including a base and a number of walls extending from the base including a front wall, a rear wall, a first wall, and a second wall. The standby generator includes an intake opening configured to allow air to be drawn into the enclosure and an exhaust opening configured to allow heated air and exhaust gases to be expelled from the enclosure. The intake opening is provided on the rear wall proximate the first wall and the exhaust opening is provided on the front wall proximate the second wall. The air drawn into the enclosure at the first intake opening directly flows over the engine and is expelled through the exhaust opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan D. Janscha, Robert G. Townsend, Troy D. Tesmer
  • Patent number: 10181771
    Abstract: A wind turbine panel is configured to distribute electricity to a load. The wind turbine panel includes a frame further includes a first slot having a first slot first end and a first slot second end. A first alternator is located in a first panel mount on the first slot first end. A second alternator is located in a second panel mount on the first slot second end. A first alternator shaft, connects the first alternator and the second alternator. A wind turbine is connected to the first alternator shaft. The load is electrically coupled to the first alternator and the second alternator. Wind traveling through the frame rotates the wind turbine and thus turns the alternator shafts that generates the electricity which is transferred to the load for use in downstream applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventor: Valod Menaskanian
  • Patent number: 10181772
    Abstract: A shaft grounding apparatus including a grounding rope in electrical contact with ground, and an adjustable rope guide configured to guide the grounding rope on an electrically conductive surface of a rotating shaft of an electric machine. The adjustable rope guide includes a plurality of articulating segments configured to provide the adjustable rope guide with a variable radius of curvature to closely follow a radius of curvature of the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: CUTSFORTH, INC.
    Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
  • Patent number: 10181773
    Abstract: A detection device and a detection method of a rotor position of three-phase motor are disclosed which measure induced voltages under different voltage vectors and calculate an induced voltage relationship among the different induced voltages. Then the detection device and the detection method find out the rotor position suitable for the induced voltage relationship according to a rotor position table. Therefore, the detection device and the detection method can accurately detect the rotor position in a standstill state to prevent the three-phase motor from operating abnormally and burning out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yi-Cheng Liu
  • Patent number: 10181774
    Abstract: An electric motor assembly includes an electric motor, a casing configured to house the motor, and an electrical enclosure coupled to the motor casing. The electrical enclosure houses a control board including a microcontroller and a memory device therein. The microcontroller is configured to control the electric motor based at least in part on motor configuration data stored in the memory device. The assembly also includes a near field communications (NFC) antenna positioned adjacent to an opening defined in the motor casing or the electronics enclosure, and is communicatively coupled to the memory device. The NFC antenna is configured to: receive a radio signal transmitted by an external programming device, the radio signal including updated motor configuration data; convert the radio signal to an electrical signal that includes the updated motor configuration data; and transmit the electrical signal to the memory device to store the updated motor configuration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shailesh Prabhakar Waikar, Kamron Mark Wright, Ahmad Mohammad Ghannam, Ryan Keith Stephens, Steven Albert Nardin, Xiaohui Ji, Peter Bruff Lytle
  • Patent number: 10181775
    Abstract: A rotor of an asynchronous machine with a cage rotor includes a laminated core formed from a plurality of partial laminated cores. The laminated core has substantially axially extending conductors arranged in slots in the laminated core. The conductors include at least two materials of different electrical conductivities, such that a material with a higher electrical conductivity surrounds a material with a lower electrical conductivity by at least 65% in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Matthias Scherer, Josef Niedermeyer, Uwe Scharf
  • Patent number: 10181776
    Abstract: There is provided a winding to be wound at a stator of a rotary electric machine. The winding is produced from a flat wire having a rectangular cross section along a plane perpendicular to a length-wise direction. The flat wire is coated with an electric insulating layer and is bent to have curves at given portions of the flat wire in the length-wise direction. The curves are located on an axial outer side of the stator. The cross section of the flat wire has four corners, among which mutually-adjacent two corners are lager in curvatures than remaining mutually-adjacent two corners. The mutually-adjacent two corners whose curvatures are smaller are positioned on a circumferential outer side of each of the curves and the mutually-adjacent two corners whose curvatures are larger are positioned on a circumferential inner side of each of the curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Tokizawa
  • Patent number: 10181777
    Abstract: Method for forming at least one U-shaped winding element (10) for an electromagnetically excitable core (11) of an electric rotation machine (12), wherein the U-shaped winding element (10) has a first rod section (13) and a second rod section (15) which are connected by an arcuate connection section (16), wherein an inner tool part (23) having at least one recess (29) in the region of its outer circumference is provided, and an outer tool part (26) having at least one recess (30) in the region of its inner circumference is provided, and at least the U-shaped winding element (10) is inserted into the inner tool part (23) and the outer tool part (26) such that one rod section (13) is inserted into a recess (29) of the inner tool part (23), the other rod section (15) is inserted into a recess (30) of the outer tool part (26), and such that the inner tool part (23) and the outer tool part (26) are rotated with respect to one another about the axis of rotation (36), wherein in that context the at least two rod sec
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SEG Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Borrmann, Dittmar Kleemann, Peter Schreiber, Hans-Juergen Schwarz, Klaus Hilke
  • Patent number: 10181778
    Abstract: Active vibratory control device comprising an armature, a movable element comprising a coil and mounted so as to be able to slide with respect the armature, a spring connecting the armature to the movable element. The armature comprises an electrical supply circuit and the spring comprises a conductive part that connects the electrical supply circuit to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: HUTCHINSON
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Gastineau
  • Patent number: 10181779
    Abstract: Provided is a launching apparatus capable of efficiently obtaining water pressure sufficient for launching an underwater payload, including a launch tube, a conduit including a first end portion and a communicating portion communicating with the launch tube, a plurality of conduit coils to axially aligned in a first region between the first end portion and the communicating portion, a plurality of main circuits passing an electric current through respective conduit coils, and a main-circuit control section. The main-circuit control section controls operation of the main circuits to pass electric currents through the conduit coils to generate an axial first magnetic field in the conduit and thereby cause an axial second magnetic field in a moving object, thereby moving the moving object in an advance direction toward a second end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Matsui
  • Patent number: 10181780
    Abstract: A stator device for a linear motor comprises an electrically energizable magnetic field generator for forming a magnetic field, the magnetic field generator comprising a stator tooth and a coil wound around the stator tooth and a holding module for holding the magnetic field generator, the holding module having a first and a second holding device, wherein the magnetic field generator is arranged between the two holding devices in that a first end of the stator tooth is fixed to the first holding device and a second end of the stator tooth is fixed to the second holding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: BECKHOFF AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Jan Achterberg, Uwe Prüssmeier
  • Patent number: 10181781
    Abstract: Magnetic vibration damper includes three coaxial elements: a first coaxial element with first permanent magnets, a second coaxial element with first soft magnets and a third coaxial element with second permanent magnets. The first soft magnets are located between the first permanent magnets and the second permanent magnets in a radial direction. The spacing of the second permanent magnets is larger than the spacing of the first permanent magnets. The damper further includes an energy conversion component, such as conductive layers or coils to convert the mechanical movement of the magnets into heat or electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: MAG SOAR S.L.
    Inventors: José Luis Pérez Díaz, Ignacio Valiente Blanco, Cristian Crisache, Efrén Díez Jiménez
  • Patent number: 10181782
    Abstract: A flyback power converter circuit includes: a transformer including a primary side winding coupled to an input power and a secondary side winding coupled to an output node, wherein the input power includes an input voltage; a primary side switch coupled to the primary side winding for controlling the input power to generate an output power on the output node through the secondary side winding, wherein the output power includes an output voltage; a clamping circuit including an auxiliary switch and an auxiliary capacitor connected in series to form an auxiliary branch which is connected with the primary side winding in parallel; and a conversion control circuit for adjusting an ON time of the auxiliary switch according to at least one of a current related signal, the input voltage, and the output voltage, such that the primary side switch is zero voltage switching when turning ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kun-Yu Lin, Tzu-Chen Lin, Wei-Hsu Chang, Ta-Yung Yang
  • Patent number: 10181783
    Abstract: There is provided a power converter which can suppress a surge voltage and reduce noise flowing from an input of a power changer. The power converter includes an inverter circuit 140, a capacitor 514 for smoothing DC power, a capacitor 515 for removing noise, and conductors 564p and 564n. The conductors 564p and 564n are connected to the capacitors 514 and 515 when power side terminals 562p and 562n are connected to an inverter circuit 140, and power source side terminals 561p and 561n are connected to a battery 136. In the conductors 564p and 564n, a parasitic inductance L1 between capacitor terminals 563p and 563n and capacitor terminals 560p and 560n is larger than a parasitic inductance L2 between capacitor terminals 563p and 563n and the power side terminals 562p and 562n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Youhei Nishizawa, Kaname Sasaki, Yutaka Okubo, Yuki Fujita
  • Patent number: 10181784
    Abstract: A power supply system includes: a switching power supply configured to output a direct current; a control circuit configured to output a switching signal; an abnormality detection circuit configured to output an abnormality signal; an operation control unit connected to the control circuit and the abnormality detection circuit and configured to output an operation control signal, and a power supply control circuit configured to, when a first operation control signal is input, switch a state of the switching power supply to an operation state or a stop state. The operation control unit outputs the first operation control signal to the power supply control circuit when the switching signal is input. The operation control unit outputs a second operation control signal to the power supply control circuit when the abnormality signal is input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Arimoto, Shinya Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10181785
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a short circuit and/or bad connection detection method for use in a power supply system. The power supply system includes a power converter which converts an input voltage to an output voltage and supplies an output current to an electronic device. In the short circuit detection method, the conversion from the input voltage to the output voltage is disabled in a disable time period, and whether a short circuit occurs is determined according to the decreasing speed of the output voltage. In the bad connection detection method, an actual voltage and an actual current received by the electronic device are compared with the output voltage and the output current, to determine whether a bad connection occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yi-Min Shiu, Isaac Y. Chen
  • Patent number: 10181786
    Abstract: A circuit for minimizing a cross-conduction time interval includes a phase node, a high-side gate drive node, a low-side gate drive node, a high-side FET coupled to the high-side gate drive node, and a low-side FET coupled to the low-side gate drive node. A high-side adjustable delay delays a transition edge of a high-side gate drive signal. A low-side adjustable delay circuit delays a transition edge of a low-side gate drive signal. A high-side delay adjustment guidance circuit provides high-side delay adjustment guidance based on a detected body-diode conduction of the low-side FET detected during a first time period. A low-side delay adjustment guidance circuit provides low-side delay adjustment guidance based on a detected body-diode conduction of the low-side FET detected during a second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Kurt F. Hesse, Jerry A. Rudiak
  • Patent number: 10181787
    Abstract: A PFC device includes at least one main switch, a converter that converts a current to be sensed in the PFC device into a voltage to be sensed, the PFC device generating a switch control signal to control the at least one main switch based on the current to be sensed, and a voltage sensor that receives the voltage to be sensed and an offset voltage, and senses the voltage to be sensed using the offset voltage to output a sense voltage. A method includes sampling the sense voltage, determining a sense value of the offset voltage based on a sampling result, and calculating the current to be sensed based on a difference between the sense voltage and the sense value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chuk Hung Chan
  • Patent number: 10181788
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may include a first voltage source providing a first voltage having a first polarity. The integrated circuit may include a second voltage source providing a second voltage having a second polarity that is opposite the first polarity. The integrated circuit may include a first circuit portion configured to receive the first and second voltages and provide one or more feedback voltages. The integrated circuit may include a second circuit portion configured to receive the first and second voltages along with the one or more feedback voltages and provide an output voltage that is proportional to the first voltage based on a rational conversion ratio that is derived by selection of at least one of the first and second voltages and the one or more feedback voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Wanyeong Jung, Dennis Michael Chen Sylvester, David Theodore Blaauw
  • Patent number: 10181789
    Abstract: Provided is a signal isolator with reduced power loss. The signal isolating circuit comprises an input stage and an output circuit that is connected downstream thereof and which includes a linear regulator. The linear regulator comprises an operational amplifier and a switching regulator, wherein an input of the switching regulator is connected to an output of the operational amplifier and an output of the switching regulator is fed back to a first input of the operational amplifier. The operational amplifier regulates the switching regulator such that the switching regulator provides at its output an output measuring signal for a load that corresponds to the input measuring signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Heinz-Wilhelm Meier
  • Patent number: 10181790
    Abstract: A direct-current voltage conversion circuit and a liquid crystal display device are disclosed. The direct-current voltage conversion circuit includes a control chip, a conversion circuit and a protection circuit, wherein, the control chip is electrically connected to the conversion circuit, the control chip generates a control signal and an original voltage signal; the conversion circuit receives the control signal and the original voltage signal, and under a controlling of the control signal, obtaining a direct-current voltage signal according to the original voltage signal; the protection circuit detects if the conversion circuit generates an abnormality according to the direct-current voltage signal, and turning off the conversion circuit when the conversion circuit generates the abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Dan Cao
  • Patent number: 10181791
    Abstract: A control circuit for a voltage regulator includes a digital compensator having adaptive compensation to permit operation over different operating conditions. The digital compensator includes a gain parameter that is inversely proportional to the input voltage and is independent of the switching frequency. In embodiments, the voltage regulator has a crossover frequency established by at least one pole and at least one zero and the corner frequency of the converter output filter has a first fixed, predetermined relationship with respect to the switching frequency, a second fixed, predetermined relationship with respect to the crossover frequency, and a third fixed, predetermined relationship with respect to the at least one pole and at least one zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Kapil Kesarwani, Mackenzie Tope