Patents Issued in November 5, 2019
  • Patent number: 10468868
    Abstract: An electrical control system may include a sensor unit with an attachment mechanism for mounting the sensor unit to a fluid pipe, a fluid flow sensor, and a signal generator configured to generate a signal indicating at least one of whether the flow sensor detects a fluid flow in the fluid pipe or whether the flow sensor detects no fluid flow in the fluid pipe. The system may also include a control unit having one or more of an electrical plug, an electrical socket, an interruptible circuit between the electrical plug and the electrical socket, a receiving device configured to receive the signal from the sensor unit, and a processor configured to interrupt the circuit between the electrical plug and the electrical socket based on at least one of receipt of the signal or interruption of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventor: Patrick Stepp
  • Patent number: 10468869
    Abstract: An analog transmit/receive switch and voltage detection circuit that do not require depletion mode devices are provided. The switch may be configured to operate in a receive mode and a protection mode. The voltage detection circuit may be coupled to the switch and may be configured to measure a potential difference between two terminals of the switch. The switch and the voltage detection circuit may not include any depletion mode devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Isaac Ko, Ka Wai Ho, Wan Tim Chan
  • Patent number: 10468870
    Abstract: An electrostatic protection circuit includes a trigger circuit that is connected between a first power line and a second power line. The trigger circuit is configured to output a trigger signal in response to a voltage fluctuation between the first and second power lines. A shunt element has a main current path between the first power line and the second power line and is controllable to be on and off using the trigger signal. A control circuit is configured to supply a control signal to turn off the shunt element when a current value of the main current path of the shunt element exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Kato
  • Patent number: 10468871
    Abstract: A modular distribution block for a high-current power system includes a ground module and one or more phase modules. The ground module includes a grounding clamp configured to electrically and mechanically connect to a DIN rail and to retain the distribution block in place with respect to the DIN rail. The phase module(s) include: a conductive splice block that connects a line current from a power supply to a powered device; and, a first surge protective device (SPD) terminal and a second SPD terminal configured to together receive and electrically connect to an SPD module, such connection forming a surge protection circuit within the distribution block, the first SPD terminal electrically connecting to the bus terminal and the second SPD terminal electrically connecting, to the splice block. A rigid bus bar electrically connects the ground module to the phase module(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: ERICO INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christian Barcey, Thomas Bendlak, Thomas Bockstoce
  • Patent number: 10468872
    Abstract: A battery operated portable communication device provides converged functionality while avoiding resets to the device. Composite logic circuitry formed of at least one comparator and a logic interface controls current limiting to a primary load formed of high power land mobile radio (LMR) devices and programming to secondary loads formed of non-LMR peripherals. At least one current limit control signal is used to control current to the primary load under high current mode operations. Another control signal provides an interruption alert to a slave processor for controlled programming of the secondary loads during the high current operations of the primary load. Current to the primary load is restored while the secondary load is interrupted. Operation of secondary load processes is resumed when the primary load ceases high power operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Peter J. Bartels, Javier Alfaro, Hugo Garcia, Kevin Alonso, Stephen C. Glass
  • Patent number: 10468873
    Abstract: A current-breaking device for high-voltage direct current includes a main conduction-line and a secondary conduction-line connected in parallel between its terminals. The main conduction-line comprises a first controlled-switch and a circuit connected in series. The circuit comprises a first current-limiter and a first capacitor connected in parallel. The secondary conduction-line comprises a second controlled-switch. These conduction lines cooperate to form an oscillating circuit that oscillates with an amplitude that is at least equal to limiting current passing through the current limiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SUPERGRID INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Bruno Luscan, Alberto Bertinato, Christophe Creusot
  • Patent number: 10468874
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a combined device for electrical protection against transient overvoltages and monitoring of an electrical installation, of those used in installations with alternating single-phase or multi-phase current, or direct current, of those formed by cartridges plugged in to a fixed base or formed by a monoblock, both types of devices comprising one or more components for overvoltage protection in each plug-in cartridge or in the monoblock, characterised in that it comprises monitoring means configured so that they continuously measure and process one or several parameters related to the state of the electrical installation and the protective device itself, and connected to said monitoring means a series of indication means configured to indicate one or a combination of output parameters are comprised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignees: CIRPROTEC, S.L., MERSEN USA NEWBURYPORT-MA, LLC
    Inventors: Carles Pons Gonzalez, Jose Antonio Martin Peidro
  • Patent number: 10468875
    Abstract: A varistor failure detector includes one or more surge detector in communication with a varistor, to detect surges shunted by the varistor and a processor, in communication with the at surge detector(s). The processor is programmed to count surges shunted by the varistor, as indicated by the surge detector(s) and store at least one count representing a cumulative count of surges shunted by the varistor. An indicator of the count may be provided to an operator to indicate that the varistor should be replaced, to avoid catastrophic failure of the varistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS CANADA LIMITED
    Inventor: Eduard Fraiman
  • Patent number: 10468876
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a fault current limiter (FCL) providing symmetrical electrostatic shielding. In some embodiments, a FCL includes a superconductor maintained at a first voltage greater than zero voltage, and an enclosure containing the superconductor, the enclosure maintained at a second voltage greater than zero voltage, wherein the second voltage is different from the first voltage. The FCL may include an electrical connection directly coupling the superconductor and the enclosure, wherein the electrical connection enables each of a plurality of current limiting modules of the superconductor to receive, during a fault condition, an equal or unequal sub-portion of a total voltage drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Piotr Lubicki, Saeed Jazebi, David Morrell, George Emmanuel, Paul Murphy
  • Patent number: 10468877
    Abstract: The invention is an electrical system comprising an electrical source, an electrical device (4), a capacitor (2?) and a controlled active filter (7, L) providing stabilization of the electrical quantities. The active filter (7, L) is mounted in parallel with a capacitor (2?) of reduced capacity in relation to conventional means. Active filter (7, L) is at least partly integrated within electrical device (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventor: El Hadj Miliani
  • Patent number: 10468878
    Abstract: A circuit for combining direct current (DC) power including multiple direct current (DC) voltage inputs; multiple inductive elements. The inductive elements are adapted for operatively connecting respectively to the DC voltage inputs. Multiple switches connect respectively with the inductive elements. A controller is configured to switch the switches periodically at a frequency sufficiently high so that direct currents flowing through the inductive elements are substantially zero. A direct current voltage output is connected across one of the DC voltage inputs and a common reference to both the inputs and the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Gazit, Tzachi Glovinsky
  • Patent number: 10468879
    Abstract: A digital power distribution system comprises a digital power transmitter configured to accept analog electrical power and to convert the analog electrical power into discrete energy packets for distribution across a common set of transmission lines; a plurality of digital power receivers with parallel connections to the transmission lines, wherein the digital power receivers are configured to accept the energy packets from the digital power transmitter and to convert the packets back into analog electrical power for use by the load device; a load device electrically coupled with at least one of the digital power receivers and configured to receive analog electrical power from the digital power receiver with which it is electrically coupled; and a termination module with parallel connections to the transmission lines, wherein the termination module includes at least a capacitor configured to establish the characteristic capacitance of the transmission lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: VoltServer, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Spencer Eaves
  • Patent number: 10468880
    Abstract: A split-conductor electrical-injection power substation uses an array of series and parallel electrical-injection devices to control power flow in the power grid. The split-conductors allow the use of smaller electrical-injection devices in higher current distribution systems. The electrical injection devices introduce small voltage differences between the split-conductor wires because of electrical injection and sensor variations. The small voltage variations cause large loop currents on the low-impedance wires. Sensors detect current differences in the split-conductor wires and use feedback to adjust injected voltages, thereby reducing the loop currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Smart Wires Inc.
    Inventors: Haroon Inam, Ali Farahani, Andrii Luchko
  • Patent number: 10468881
    Abstract: An electrical power system connectable to a power grid includes a plurality of electrical power subsystems, each of the plurality of electrical power subsystems including a power converter electrically coupled to a generator having a generator rotor and a generator stator. The electrical power system further includes an intermediate power path extending from each of the plurality of electrical power subsystems for providing power from each of the plurality of electrical power subsystems to the power grid. The electrical power system further includes a zig-zag transformer electrically coupling each of the plurality of intermediate power paths to the power grid, the zig-zag transformer including a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings, each of the plurality of secondary windings connected to one of the plurality of intermediate power paths, and wherein at least one of the plurality of secondary windings is a zig-zag winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, David Smith, Govardhan Ganireddy
  • Patent number: 10468882
    Abstract: A method for managing electricity use of a plurality of household appliances connected within a local communication network and having one or more operating phases. The method includes the following steps, implemented by a data processing module: acquiring information related to the operating phases, in progress or forthcoming, for at least two household appliances, the information related to an operating phase for a household appliance including the power used by the household appliance during the phase; determining, on the basis of the acquired information, at least one operating phase of one of the appliances to be interrupted so as to minimize peak power use; and interrupting the determined operating phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: ORANGE
    Inventors: Fabrice Fontaine, Han Yan
  • Patent number: 10468883
    Abstract: Disclosed is a real-time decision support system for facilitating optimization of in a distributed environment. A data capturing module for capturing data from a plurality of data sources at a predefined interval of time. The data is captured pertaining to a specific domain and a specific geographical area. A forecasting module for forecasting demand of energy to be consumed by energy utilities in the specific domain and the geographical area upon analyzing the data. A position gap determination module for determining a position gap indicating a difference between the demand of energy and supply of energy. An energy optimization module for identifying at least one energy pool, from a plurality of energy pools, for retrieving a deficit of the demand of energy and providing the deficit of the demand of energy retrieved from the at least one energy pool in order to bridge the position gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventors: Awadhesh Kumar, Biswadip Paul
  • Patent number: 10468884
    Abstract: A device controls a load flow in an alternating-voltage network. The device is distinguished by a module series circuit of two-pole switching modules that can be inserted in series into a phase line of the alternating-voltage network. Each switching module has an energy store and controllable power semiconductors that can be switched on an off and each switching module can be controlled in such a way that a switching-module voltage can be produced at the poles thereof, which switching-module voltage corresponds to a positive or negative energy-store voltage or a voltage having the value of zero. A control apparatus for controlling the switching modules is provided, which control apparatus is configured to control the switching modules in such a way that a periodic longitudinal voltage can be produced at the module series circuit. A method for controlling a load flow in an alternating-voltage network is performed by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedemann Augsburger, Dominik Ergin, Hans-Joachim Knaak, Andreas Philipp, Jochen Schaefer
  • Patent number: 10468885
    Abstract: There is provided a power converter unit that can include an inverter and a plurality of batteries. The inverter and the plurality of batteries can be cooled by a common thermal management system. Furthermore, the power converter unit that can include a battery enclosure and the inverter can be co-located with the plurality of batteries inside the battery enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, John S Harrison, Lukas Mercer Hansen
  • Patent number: 10468886
    Abstract: Electrical systems and related operating methods are provided. One exemplary electrical system includes a sensing arrangement coupled to an electrical grid interface to measure an electrical characteristic of the electrical grid interface, a power conversion module having an output coupled to the electrical grid interface, and a control module coupled to the sensing arrangement and the power conversion module. The control module determines an estimated frequency of the electrical characteristic based on a phase error corresponding to a measured value of the electrical characteristic obtained from the sensing arrangement, determines a frequency correction power command based on a difference between the estimated frequency and a target frequency, and operates the power conversion module in accordance with the frequency correction power command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: S&C Electric Company
    Inventor: David Glenn Porter
  • Patent number: 10468888
    Abstract: A control system for a solar power plant includes: plural power conditioning systems performing grid connection control of transmission of electrical power generated by a solar power generator to a power grid; and a supervisory controller which issues a target output command to each power conditioning system so that interconnection point electrical power, electrical power fed to the power grid, becomes equal to or smaller than an upper limit output value. The supervisory controller: receives an urgent request including information related to a time of day at which the upper limit output value is scheduled to be changed and the scheduled upper limit output value; and calculates a target value of the interconnection point electrical power for each time of day so that the interconnection point electrical power conforms to the scheduled upper limit output value by the scheduled time of day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshio Okochi
  • Patent number: 10468889
    Abstract: A power distribution module (PDM) can include an input portion configured to receive high-voltage (HV) power from a power source. The PDM can also include a power transfer device electrically coupled to the input portion, where the power transfer device is configured to generate at least one low-voltage signal using the HV power. The PDM can further include an output section electrically coupled to the power transfer device and including a number of output channels. The PDM can also include at least one switch disposed between the output section and the power transfer device, where the at least one switch has an open position and a closed position. The PDM can further include a controller communicably coupled to the at least one switch, where the controller operates the at least one switch between the closed position and the open position based on a power demand measured at the output section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: James Christopher Andrews, Liang Fang, William Lee Shiley, James Moan, Kenneth Dale Walma
  • Patent number: 10468890
    Abstract: A system comprising a series of at least two benthic microbial fuel cells (BMFC), wherein each BMFC comprises an anode electrically connected to a cathode, and wherein for each BMFC there is a first and second comparator configured to monitor BMFC voltage to determine if the voltage falls below one of two present thresholds. The output of the first comparator is electrically connected to the BMFC via a switch and the output of the second comparator is electrically connected to a pulse width monitor (PWM) block via a switch. A DC/DC converter is electrically coupled to each BMFC and configured to transfer energy stored in each BMFC to a battery, wherein the DC/DC converter is driven by the PWM block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Alex G. Phipps, Lewis Hsu, Maxwell M. Kerber, David B. Chadwick, Y. Meriah Arias-Thode, Jeffrey Kagan
  • Patent number: 10468891
    Abstract: A charger for a vacuum cleaner and a fast charging controlling method thereof are provided. The charger includes: a plurality of first charging interfaces; a rectifying device configured to rectify an alternating current to output a direct current; a plurality of charging controlling devices each connected between an output end of the rectifying device and a first charging interface correspondingly; and a main controlling device configured to communicate with each of the first charging interfaces respectively to identify whether any first charging interface is connected with a device to be charged acquire a parameter of the device to be charged if identifying that a first charging interface is connected with the device to be charged, and perform charging control on the device to be charged through a charging controlling device corresponding to the first charging interface according to the parameter of the device to be charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventor: Dekang Wan
  • Patent number: 10468892
    Abstract: Provided is a battery management method and apparatus. The battery management method includes acquiring physical quantity data, for each of a plurality of batteries, of when corresponding physical quantities of the plurality of batteries, making up the physical quantity data, dynamically vary, calculating unbalance data based on physical quantity difference information derived from the physical quantity data, calculating feature data for the physical quantity data by projecting the unbalance data to a feature space, and determining a battery safety for one or more of the plurality of batteries based on determined distribution information of the feature data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeonghyun Park
  • Patent number: 10468893
    Abstract: A USB charging method adopted by an electronic source device and an electronic sink device electrically connected thereto through USB interface is present. The method comprises following steps: receiving a Discover Identity ACK from the sink device after connection; determining if the sink device is recorded in a protect list according to the Discover Identity ACK; adjusting voltage/current combinations which is to provide to the sink device according to a best working voltage of the sink device if the sink device is recorded in the protect list; transmitting the adjusted voltage/current combinations to the sink device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Tien-He Chen, Shou-Chieh Lin
  • Patent number: 10468894
    Abstract: A device for charging a mobile phone, comprising: a body having a length dimension, a width dimension and a thickness dimension, with the thickness dimension being substantially smaller than the length dimension and the width dimension; a power plug integrated in the body; and a charging and mounting support integrated on a front surface of the body, detachably and mechanically mounting and electronically connecting a back interface integrated on a back surface of a mobile phone; wherein in order to charge the mobile phone, a power connector of the charging and mounting support is connected mechanically and electronically to a power connector of the back interface; and wherein the back interface is rotationally movable and rotationally locking when mounted on the charging and mounting support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SoloQi Corp.
    Inventors: Solomon Avital, Yaniv Hamama
  • Patent number: 10468895
    Abstract: Provided herein is a charger with improved radiation function capable of lowering its surface temperature to prevent the surface temperature from increasing excessively, the charger according to one aspect of the present disclosure including a printed circuit board on which circuit elements are mounted; an inner case formed in a hollow case shape of which both surfaces are open, and where the printed circuit board is arranged inside; a radiation member formed to cover an outer surface of the inner case to release heat generated in the circuit elements of the printed circuit board; an outer case formed to encompass the radiation member and provided with one open surface; a cover assembled in the outer case and configured to close the one open surface of the outer case; and a terminal coupled to one surface of the outer case, and configured to enable electricity to be supplied to the charger when inserted into a consent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SOLUM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young-seung Noh, Hyun-su Kim, Soon-joung Yio, Young-joo Kim, Jun-kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 10468896
    Abstract: A charging path switching circuit includes a first port, a second port, a path switch unit, and a conversion unit. The first port is connected to an external electronic device to obtain a first electrical signal. The second port is connected to an external power source to obtain a second electrical signal. The conversion unit is connected the path switch unit and converts the first electrical signal or the second electrical signal to a predetermined voltage. The path switch unit is connected to the first port and the second port. The path switch unit selects to connect to the first port or the second port, to obtain the first electrical signal or the second electrical signal according to the connection of the first and the second port. The path switch unit preferentially selects to obtain the second electrical signal from the second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: AMBIT MICROSYSTEMS (SHANGHAI) LTD.
    Inventors: Sheng-Wen Chen, Yu-Hu Yan
  • Patent number: 10468897
    Abstract: The disclosure involves wireless electric power sharing between vehicles. A first vehicle sends a charging request, wherein the first vehicle is at least partially powered by a first on-board rechargeable electricity storage. The first vehicle receives a response to the charging request from a second vehicle which is at least partially powered by a second on-board rechargeable electricity storage, and a communication channel is established between the first and second vehicles. The first on-board rechargeable electricity storage is charged using energy stored in the second on-board rechargeable electricity storage and wirelessly transferred from the second vehicle to the first vehicle. The charging is controlled with information exchanged between the first and second vehicles over the communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Si Bin Fan, Ge Liang, Hao Sheng, Hai Dong Zhang, Jinfan Zhu
  • Patent number: 10468898
    Abstract: A power converter including a buck converter to receive input power and set operating voltages of the power converter, a current sensing circuit to determine an input current of the power converter, a charge pump circuit to store charge delivered by the voltage regulation circuit and output to a load and to a battery pack a current larger than the input current, and a battery pack controller to control switching and provide feedback within the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Robert Glenn Il Crosby, Peter Christiaans
  • Patent number: 10468899
    Abstract: Battery state of health is a term used to describe the amount by which a battery has degraded since manufacture, and in particular is a measure of the total capacity of the battery relative to its original total capacity. As it can be dangerous to attempt to charge an unhealthy battery, the present invention provides a system and method for determining battery 1 state of health in remote environments where equipment and high-speed data access are limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Swanbarton Limited of Barton House
    Inventors: Clive Tomlinson, Oliver Shotton
  • Patent number: 10468900
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a battery corresponding to a high-voltage lithium-polymer battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system monitors a cycle number of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery. If the cycle number exceeds one or more cycle number thresholds, the system modifies a charging technique for the battery to manage swelling in the battery and use of the battery with the portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hongli Dai, Richard M. Mank
  • Patent number: 10468901
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for wirelessly charging are disclosed. An accessory device is detachably mounted on an electronic device. The accessory device includes a housing including a first face configured to oppose a face of the electronic device when the housing is mounted on the electronic device, a second face opposite to the first face, and a third face extending in a first direction from the first face so as to enclose at least a portion of a side face. The accessory device further includes a battery and at least one conductive pattern electrically connected to the battery. The accessory device can transmit power to the electronic device in a wireless manner and/or receive power from an external device in a wireless manner. Areas of the first face and the third face of the housing of the accessory device are formed of a non-conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Uijin Lee, Sangwon Lee, Geunbeom Kim, Myunggi Seo, Jungtaek Lim, Chihun Hawng, Joonil Kim, Kyung-Woo Lim, Youngmi Seo, Seungju Lee, Byeonghyun Jang, Jong-Chul Choi
  • Patent number: 10468902
    Abstract: A sensor charging case having multiple receptacles for multiple sensors. One receptacle is for charging while the other receptacles are for holding additional sensors. The receptacles can be arranged to hold the sensors releasably by the sides and leaving at least two surfaces generally exposed to the environment, e.g. two opposite surfaces such as a front and back of the sensor. By leaving the front surface of the sensor exposed a user can see what sensor is being held and/or the sensing element on the front surface of the sensor can be exposed to the environment. By leaving the back surface of the sensor exposed a user can remove the sensor and/or heat can be effectively transferred away from the back of the sensor to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Zen-me Labs Oy
    Inventor: Toni Matti Virhiä
  • Patent number: 10468903
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a communication circuit that wirelessly transmits and receives power to and from an external electronic device, a sensor circuit that collects a sensor signal associated with a state of the electronic device, and a processor that determines an arrangement relationship with the external electronic device through the sensor circuit, and based on the determined arrangement relationship, receives a first notification signal, which provides notification that an event occurs in the external electronic device or transmits a second notification signal, which provides notification that an event occurs in the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jung Hoon Park, Hyun Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 10468904
    Abstract: In various examples, a system includes a power generating device configured to generate and transfer power to an electrical device. A sterilizable vessel is configured to accommodate the electrical device. The vessel is configured to allow power to be at least partially wirelessly transferred from the power generating device, through the vessel, and to the electrical device. In other examples, a method includes wirelessly powering and/or charging an electrical device disposed within a sterilizable vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory G. Decker, Brian R. Peterson, Eric Jankins, William A. Planck, Leslie I. Halberg, Jason Hamilton
  • Patent number: 10468905
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a power receiver (PRx) that includes a receiver coil for receiving a power signal from a wireless power transmitting device and a wireless charging integrated circuit (IC) for converting the power signal into electrical energy, a power management circuit that is electrically connected to the PRx and configured to charge a battery using the electrical energy, and a processor that is electrically connected with the PRx and the power management circuit. The processor activates a power hold mode (PHM) if a charging level of the battery is a fully charged level and controls auxiliary charging of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Su Kim, Ji Young Kim, Se Ho Park, Woo Jin Jung, Young Joon Park, Jung Su Park
  • Patent number: 10468906
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure can provide an optical charging system with an integrated sensor and power receiver. An electronic device (e.g., a wearable) can include an optical sensor for performing photometric measurements. A photodiode of the sensor can be shared and used for generating an electrical signal when exposed to a light source (e.g., LED) of a light power transmitter. The electrical signal can be conditioned by a power management circuit and can be used to charge a device battery. The light power transmitter can include a photodiode, which can be used for establishing a connection with the device using an optical signal emitted by a light source of the optical sensor. The light power transmitter can be power by, e.g., a USB connection. The intensity of the power transmitter light source can be regulated via a feedback signal from the device, based on the battery charging status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventors: Hua-Jung Yang, Suyi Yao
  • Patent number: 10468907
    Abstract: There is provided a power supply device for a work unit that supplies power to multiple work units constituting a work device as power supply targets, the device including: a first power supply line through which power supply is stopped when an emergency stop condition is satisfied and a second power supply line through which power supply is not stopped even when the emergency stop condition is satisfied, in which the first power supply line and the second power supply line can be used individually according to a difference in a safety structure of each work unit. According to this, when the emergency stop condition is satisfied, it is possible to reduce the restoration time required when the emergency stop is eliminated while guaranteeing the safety of the entire work device configured by the multiple work units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mizuho Yamamoto, Shingo Fujimura
  • Patent number: 10468908
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electronic apparatus includes supplying power to a second controller, receiving an activation time for supplying power to a communication portion and a deactivation time for interrupting power to the communication portion, setting time information based on the activation time and the deactivation time, performing, based on the time information, a standby step that includes interrupting power to a first controller, a first load portion, and the communication portion while supplying power to the second controller, controlling the communication portion switch to supply power to the communication portion based on the activation time, determining whether the communication portion has received the control command from the remote control terminal, and interrupting the power supplied to the communication portion and re-executing the standby step based on determining that the communication portion has not received the control command from the remote control terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: LG Electronics inc.
    Inventor: Jeongwon Hwang
  • Patent number: 10468909
    Abstract: A data center power distribution system includes at least one switch configured to couple at least one first power source to a load and at least one converter configured to couple at least one second power source to the load. The system further includes a control circuit configured to implement a state machine that controls the at least one switch and the at least one converter to redundantly provide power to the load using variable source designations for the at least one first power source and the at least one second power source. Variation of the source designations for the at least one first power source and the at least one second power source may vary a priority relationship among the at least one first power source and the at least one second power source responsive to a control input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: George Arthur Navarro, Vincent Edward Wilder
  • Patent number: 10468910
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an apparatus for driving a load is disclosed. In one example, the apparatus comprises an input configured to, in a first state, receive an input signal, an output configured to, in the first state, provide a first output signal to a series arrangement of the load and a source, wherein the first output signal is configured to feed the load and to charge the source with input power provided via the input signal, and a converter configured to, in a second state different from the first state, convert a source signal from the source into a second output signal destined for the load, wherein the second output signal is configured to feed the load with source power provided by the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Kumar Arulandu, Antonius Petrus Marinus Dingemans, Jean-Paul Marie Gerard Linnartz, Marco Haverlag
  • Patent number: 10468911
    Abstract: The invention concerns a switching system (6) for activating and deactivating of an electrical appliance (100) comprising a remote switch control device (9) that comprises a first terminal (90) electrically connected to a first power line (8), a second terminal (91) electrically connected to a second power line (7), and a third terminal (92) connectable to an electrical 5 terminal of the electrical appliance. The remote switch control device (9) is configured to modify the electrical connection between the first and the third terminal (90, 92) in response to a detection of an attenuation of an electrical parameter between the first and second terminals (90,91) caused by a electromechanical switch (1) configured to be manually actionable by 10 a user. The invention further concerns the remote switch control device (9) and a method for installing a switching system using the remote switch control device (9) and the electromechanical switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: eSMART Technologies SA
    Inventors: Fabrizio Lo Conte, Laurent Fabre, Andrew Watson
  • Patent number: 10468912
    Abstract: A capacitive contactless powering system (100) comprises a pair of receiver electrodes (141, 142) connected to a load (150) through a first inductor (160), wherein the first inductor is coupled to the load to resonate the system; a pair of transmitter electrodes (121, 122) connected to a driver (110); an insulating layer (130) having a first side and a second side opposite each other, wherein the pair of transmitter electrodes are coupled to the first side of the insulating layer and the pair of receiver electrodes are decoupled from the second side of the insulating layer, such that a capacitive impedance is formed between the pair of transmitter electrodes and the pair of receiver electrodes, wherein a power signal generated by the driver is wirelessly transferred from the pair of transmitter electrodes to the pair of receiver electrodes to power the load when a frequency of the power signal matches a series-resonance frequency of the first inductor and the capacitive impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus Sempel, Eberhard Waffenschmidt, Dave Willem Van Goor, Henricus Theorodus Van Der Zanden
  • Patent number: 10468913
    Abstract: This communication apparatus makes it possible to have a non-contact charging module and a sheet antenna coexist, even in the case where there the non-contact charging module and the sheet antenna in the communication apparatus. The apparatus is provided with: a housing; a secondary-side non-contact charging module, which is housed in the housing, receives power by means of electromagnetic induction, and has a first coil having a conducting wire wound thereon, and a first magnetic sheet facing the first coil; and an NFC antenna, which is housed in the housing, and has a second coil having a conducting wire wound thereon, and a second magnetic sheet facing the second coil. The secondary-side non-contact charging module and the NFC antenna are not laminated to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC
    Inventors: Akio Hidaka, Takumi Naruse, Munenori Fujimura, Kenichiro Tabata, Tokuji Nishino
  • Patent number: 10468914
    Abstract: A system for powering components in a vehicle seat enables electronic components within the vehicle seat to receive power without wires connecting the seat to a vehicle body. The system includes a power transmitter that generates an electromagnetic field, and a power receiver located within the vehicle seat and the electromagnetic field. The power receiver is configured to generate electrical power from the electromagnetic field and deliver the power to at least one component in the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Huang Lee, Martin Coors, Vivek Jain, Abtin Keshavarzian, Horace Arlen Olive, Jr., Murat Senel, Lakshmi Venkatraman
  • Patent number: 10468915
    Abstract: A power receiving unit of the disclosure includes: a power receiving section that receives power transferred from a power transfer unit in a contactless manner; a protection circuit section that varies a receiving power voltage of the power received by the power receiving section; and a control section that controls an operational state of the protection circuit section to a plurality of statuses on the basis of a plurality of thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Nakano
  • Patent number: 10468916
    Abstract: A signal generator generates an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier, which increases the power of the signal using power from a power source. The amplified signal is fed to a sender transducer to generate ultrasonic waves that can be focused and sent to a receiver. The receiver transducer converts the ultrasonic waves back into electrical energy and stores it in an energy storage device, such as a battery, or uses the electrical energy to power a device. In this way, a device can be remotely charged or powered without having to be tethered to an electrical outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventor: Meredith Perry
  • Patent number: 10468917
    Abstract: A battery charger for charging a battery is disclosed. In one embodiment, the battery charger comprises an input for receiving a first voltage and for coupling to a positive terminal of the battery; a first transistor having a first gate, a first drain and a first source, wherein the first gate is for coupling to a charging signal for the battery and the first drain is coupled to the battery negative terminal and, the first transistor to cause energy to be transferred from the input into the battery when turned on; and a group of transistors coupled to the first transistor and the input to control when the first transistor is turned on, wherein the group of transistors comprises a second transistor having a second gate coupled to the input and coupled to a third transistor to turn off the third transistor after a delay occurs after the voltage on the input reaches a predetermined level, and further herein the third transistor causes the first transistor to turn on when the third transistor is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenneth Gudan, Jonathan J. Hull, Matthew S. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 10468918
    Abstract: A receiving antenna of a wireless power receiving device wirelessly charging electric power according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate, a soft magnetic layer stacked on the substrate, and a receiving coil configured to receive electromagnetic energy emitted from a wireless power transmission device, wound in parallel with a plane of the soft magnetic layer, and formed inside of the soft magnetic layer, and an insulating layer is formed between the soft magnetic layer and the receiving coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok Bae, Donchul Choi, Soon Young Hyun