Comprising Voltage And/or Current Measuring And Comparing Or Combining Means Patents (Class 219/497)
  • Patent number: 10204599
    Abstract: A method of vision correction in a virtual reality environment, comprising: judging if a user is for the first time entering the virtual reality environment, if yes, providing the user with an initial visual position; monitoring in real time action of the user, and judging if the user is in a stable state in the virtual reality environment; if the user is in a stable state, adjusting the visual position of the user according to change of sight lines of the user; and if the user is in an unstable state, renewedly providing the user with an initial visual position; and monitoring in real time change of a scene in the virtual reality environment, and if the scene is taking discontinuous switching, renewedly providing the user with an initial visual position according to a new scene. The present disclosure performs automatic vision correction according to the usage scenes and the cognition custom of the user, which reduces user operation and improves the user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: BEIJING PICO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wei Li
  • Patent number: 10180098
    Abstract: A control device of an exhaust sensor comprises a battery voltage detection part detecting a voltage of a battery, and a heater control part setting a target temperature of an electrochemical cell and controlling the electric power supplied from the battery to a heater. The heater control part sets the target temperature to a first temperature after startup of the internal combustion engine until the voltage of the battery recovers to a predetermined voltage, and switches the target temperature from the first temperature to a second temperature when the voltage of the battery recovers to the predetermined voltage. The first temperature is a temperature lower than an operating temperature of the electrochemical cell and at least a lowest temperature at which a Leidenfrost phenomenon occurs at the protective layer. The second temperature is a temperature of the operating temperature or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiichiro Aoki, Koji Ide, Go Hayashita
  • Patent number: 10173579
    Abstract: In certain example embodiments, moisture sensors, defoggers, etc., and/or related methods, are provided. More particularly, certain example embodiments relate to moisture sensors and/or defoggers that may be used in various applications such as, for example, refrigerator/freezer merchandisers, vehicle windows, building windows, etc. When condensation or moisture is detected, an appropriate action may be taken (e.g., actuating windshield wipers, turning on a defroster, triggering the heating of a merchandiser door or window, etc.). Bayesian approaches optionally may be implemented in certain example embodiments in an attempt to improve moisture detection accuracy. For instance, models of various types of disturbances may be developed and, based on live data and a priori information known about the model, a probability of the model being accurate is calculated. If a threshold value is met, the model may be considered a match and, optionally, a corresponding appropriate action may be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Guardian Glass, LLC
    Inventors: Vijayen S. Veerasamy, Jose Nunez-Regueiro
  • Patent number: 10166719
    Abstract: A print protection method adapting to a three-dimensional printing apparatus is provided. The print protection method includes following step: when a system voltage reduces from a normal voltage to a first threshold voltage, and lower than the first threshold voltage, generating a triggering signal to a control device by the trigger circuit; recording a position data of a current position of a print head to a storage device by the control device according to the triggering signal after the system voltage is lower than the first threshold voltage; and completely shutting down a peripheral device and the print head by the control device according to the triggering signal after the system voltage is lower than the second threshold voltage, so that the control device is continuously operated by remaining power after the system voltage is lower than the second threshold voltage. In addition, the above three-dimensional printing device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignees: XYZprinting, Inc., Kinpo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Jie Yang, Chung-Chih Yang
  • Patent number: 10139287
    Abstract: A thin-film device for generating a blackbody spectrum is disclosed. The device includes first layer configured to generate heat in response to an applied voltage and a second layer configured to generate the blackbody radiation spectrum in response to the heat from the first layer. A thermocouple is disposed between the first layer and the second layer for measuring a temperature at the second layer. The thermocouple measures temperature at the second layer in order to control temperature at the second layer. The thermocouple can be a copper-carbon nanotube thermocouple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: James R. Chow, Carl W. Townsend, Kurt S. Ketola
  • Patent number: 10126335
    Abstract: A system for the verification of the absence of voltage includes a first impedance, an amplitude limiter electrically connected to the first impedance, a second impedance electrically connected to the first impedance and the amplitude limiter, a varactor circuit electrically connected to the second impedance, an isolation capacitor electrically connected to the second impedance and varactor circuit, an envelope circuit with a voltage detection circuit connected to the isolation circuit via a buffer, and an RF oscillator. The amplitude limiter configured to limit the voltage applied to the varactor circuit. The RF oscillator configured to interact with the varactor circuit in order to create a modulated circuit for the buffer and envelope circuit. The envelope circuit is configured to demodulate the signal for the voltage detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Masud Bolouri-Saransar, James E. Fabiszak, Richard A. Rago
  • Patent number: 10086158
    Abstract: A PAP system for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a flow generator to generate a supply of breathable gas to be delivered to the patient; a humidifier including a heating plate to vaporize water and deliver water vapor to humidify the supply of breathable gas; a heated tube configured to heat and deliver the humidified supply of breathable gas to the patient; a power supply configured to supply power to the heating plate and the heated tube; and a controller configured to control the power supply to prevent overheating of the heating plate and the heated tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ResMed Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Roderick Bath, Donald Angus Richmond, Nathan John Row, Jianhua Zhu, Timothy Nicholas Shadie, Ronald James Huby, Ivan Teodor Dujmovic
  • Patent number: 10085880
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for temperature modification of a patient, or selected regions thereof, including an induced state of hypothermia. The temperature modification is accomplished using an in-dwelling heat exchange catheter within which a fluid heat exchange medium circulates. A heat exchange cassette of any one of several disclosed variations is attached to the circulatory conduits of the catheter, the heat exchange cassette being sized to engage a cavity within one of various described re-usable control units. The control units include a heater/cooler device, a user input device, and a processor connected to receive input from various sensors around the body and the system. The heater/cooler device may be thermoelectric to enable both heating and 15? cooling based on polarity. A temperature control scheme for ramping the body temperature up or down without overshoot is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Zell Circulation, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R. Machold, Wade A. Keller, Alex T. Roth, Nicole Denise Bloom
  • Patent number: 10073134
    Abstract: A laminate bond strength detection apparatus is provided. The laminate bond strength detection apparatus includes first circuit elements affixable to a printed circuit board (PCB), a housing having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatched from that of the PCB, second circuit elements affixable to the housing and configured to be laminated to a surface of the PCB, connectors and circuitry. The connectors respectively connect pairs of the first and second circuit elements and are breakable during CTE mismatch inducing heat processing resulting in the corresponding second circuit element becoming delaminated from the surface. The circuitry is coupled to the first and second circuit elements and configured to determine a number of broken connectors following the heat processing and to calculate a laminate bond strength of the PCB from the number of broken connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen M. Hugo, Theron L. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10067600
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a touch display panel. A scan line enters a display mode and a touch mode in a scan period. In the display mode, the scan line receives a first voltage to turn off a switch unit and enable a pixel unit to receive a pixel voltage signal from a first signal transmission line; and in the touch mode, the scan line receives a second voltage to turn on the switch unit and disable the corresponding pixel unit to stop receiving the pixel voltage signal, such that a sensing pixel unit outputs a touch sensing signal to the first signal transmission line through the switch unit, wherein the first voltage is greater than the second voltage. In the disclosure, an aperture ratio of the touch display panel is improved efficiently to meet the requirement of narrow border design of the touch display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Innolux Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Tsung Liu, Te-Yu Lee, I-Che Lee, Hsing-Yi Liang, Hui-Ching Yang
  • Patent number: 10064247
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and methods of controlling cooling of a microwave heating apparatus are provided. The microwave heating apparatus typically includes a microwave source for generating microwaves, a cooling unit for cooling the microwave source and a control unit. According to one embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine the efficiency of the microwave source and then to control the cooling based on the determined efficiency. The methods and the microwave heating apparatuses of the present invention are advantageous with respect to energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ulf Nordh, Hakan Carlsson, Olle Niklasson, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Patent number: 10033251
    Abstract: An electric motor with an electronics housing (6) includes a removable cover (10) as well as an operating unit. The operating unit includes an operating panel (20) fastened on the cover (10). The cover (10) with the operating panel (20) is connectable to a lower part (8) of the electronics housing (6) in at least two alternative alignments. A pump assembly is also provided with such an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: GRUNDFOS HOLDING A/S
    Inventors: Peter Mønster, Lars Østergaard
  • Patent number: 9986600
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of using a water heater arranged for heating an aqueous liquid wherein the water heater comprises a heating element to heat aqueous liquid in the water heater. The method comprises (a) heating aqueous liquid in the water heater with the heating element), wherein the heating element is in contact with the aqueous liquid; and (b) applying a first AC voltage between the heating element and a counter electrode, and applying a DC voltage between the heating element and the counter electrode, wherein the DC voltage is at least 0.5 V, and wherein the heating element is chosen as positive electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V
    Inventor: Ytsen Wielstra
  • Patent number: 9874927
    Abstract: A power detection circuit includes a sense element to convey current from a source to a load, a compensating reference element located proximate to the sense element, a comparator, and a precision current sink. The comparator includes a first input coupled to the sense element, a second input coupled to the compensating reference element, and an output. The comparator is configured to assert a signal on the output in response detecting that a first voltage on the first input equals a second voltage on the second input. The precision current sink is coupled to the second input of the comparator and is configured to pull constant current through the compensating reference element based on a predetermined power threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Viktor Vogman
  • Patent number: 9867921
    Abstract: A medical device having a heater with at least one heating element which has mains voltage applied to it by a heating control unit. The heating control unit includes a monitoring arrangement and a switching arrangement. The monitoring arrangement can recognize the zero crossings of the mains voltage, and the switching arrangement can switch the at least one heating element on or off in the zero crossing. The heating control unit controls the power of the heating by switching on and off of one or more half cycles of the mains AC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Sven Sebesta, Ulrich Wernicke
  • Patent number: 9857012
    Abstract: Provided is an electric power control apparatus of an electrofusion coupling pipe using a conductive polymer composite as a heating element and a method of controlling electric power using the same. The electric power control apparatus supplies electric power to the electrofusion coupling pipe using a conductive polymer composite as a heating element to detect resistance variation of the conductive polymer composite and then controls electric power supplied to the synthetic resin pipe electrofusion coupling pipe on the basis of the detected resistance variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Piping Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: You Shik Kwak
  • Patent number: 9823009
    Abstract: Methods and systems for de-icing an exterior heat exchanger of a vehicle's heat pump are presented. In one example, a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater provides heat to refrigerant that de-ices the exterior heat exchanger. In some examples, an additional PTC heater provides heat to engine coolant to warm a vehicle's passenger cabin when the vehicle's exterior heat exchanger is being de-iced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Franco Ragazzi
  • Patent number: 9697880
    Abstract: Self-referenced reading of a memory cell in a memory includes first applying a read voltage across the memory cell to produce a sample voltage. After applying the read voltage, a write current is applied to the memory cell to write a first state to the memory cell. After applying the write current, the read voltage is reapplied across the memory cell. An offset current is also applied while the read voltage is reapplied, and the resulting evaluation voltage from reapplying the read voltage with the offset current is compared with the sample voltage to determine the state of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Everspin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Andre, Syed M. Alam, Chitra Subramanian
  • Patent number: 9698030
    Abstract: A temperature controlled loadlock chamber for use in semiconductor processing is provided. The temperature controlled loadlock chamber may include one or more of an adjustable fluid pump, mass flow controller, one or more temperature sensors, and a controller. The adjustable fluid pump provides fluid having a predetermined temperature to a temperature-controlled plate. The mass flow controller provides gas flow into the chamber that may also aid in maintaining a desired temperature. Additionally, one or more temperature sensors may be combined with the adjustable fluid pump and/or the mass flow controller to provide feedback and to provide a greater control over the temperature. A controller may be added to control the adjustable fluid pump and the mass flow controller based upon temperature readings from the one or more temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsien Lin, Jyh-Cherng Sheu, Ming-Feng Yoo, Kewei Zuo
  • Patent number: 9684319
    Abstract: A method for entering an operation mode in a low-temperature environment is applicable in a situation that plural electronic devices in an electronic apparatus are not activated. Through performing the method, the electronic apparatus obtains a temperature of each electronic device after receiving a request of a user. Then the electronic apparatus determines whether the temperatures of all the electronic devices reach a threshold value. If the temperatures of at least two electronic devices do not reach the threshold value, the electronic apparatus generates a plurality of corresponding enable signals for the electronic devices having the temperatures lower than the threshold value. The waveforms of the enable signals vary alternately. The electronic apparatus transfers the enable signals to a plurality of corresponding heaters. Being activated by the received enable signal, each of the heaters heats the corresponding electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Getac Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Chia-Chang Chiu
  • Patent number: 9671764
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a control system including a sensing device capable of periodically driving a corresponding operation device based on a trigger policy, wherein the sensing device and the operation device have the same trigger policy stored therein. The control system is characterized in that the trigger policy at least includes a trigger code, a time data (such as “after 15 minutes”) and an operation data (such as “turn on a lamp”). When the sensing device detects a sensing signal, the sensing device generates and transmits a trigger instruction to the operation device. When the operation device determines that a trigger code carried in the trigger instruction matches with a second identification code stored therein, the operation device calculates an expiration time of the time data based on the current time, and then executes an action corresponding to the operation data at the expiration time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: D-LINK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hsiu-Ju Cheng, Ming-Han Liu
  • Patent number: 9672721
    Abstract: A method for controlling a cooking device includes detecting a temperature of a door on the cooking device, comparing the detected temperature with a predetermined warning and/or reference temperature, generating a predetermined warning if the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined warning and/or reference temperature, and outputting the predetermined warning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: DONGBU DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seong Yeop Jeong
  • Patent number: 9645533
    Abstract: A fixing device thermally fixing an unfixed image by pressing a recording sheet against a heating rotating body using a resistance heating element as a heat source, comprising: a temperature monitoring unit monitoring temperature in a sheet passing region and in a non-sheet passing region of the heating rotating body; a power supply unit supplying power to the resistance heating element so that the temperature in the sheet passing region is maintained at a target temperature during thermal fixing; a cooling unit cooling the non-sheet passing region; and a control unit controlling cooling so that (i) electrical resistivity of the resistance heating element is lower in a region corresponding to the non-sheet passing region than in a region corresponding to the sheet passing region and (ii) an absolute value of a temperature difference between the sheet passing region and the non-sheet passing region does not exceed an allowable temperature difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Takuya Ishigai, Toru Hayase
  • Patent number: 9640412
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for processing substrates. Embodiments of the invention include apparatuses for processing a substrate comprising a dynamic heat sink that is substantially transparent to light from a radiant heat source, the dynamic heat sink being positioned near the substrate so the two are coupled. Additional embodiments of the invention are directed to methods of processing a substrate using the apparatuses described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Aderhold, Joseph M. Ranish, Blake R. Koelmel
  • Patent number: 9564064
    Abstract: Nutritional substance systems and methods are disclosed enabling the tracking and communication of changes in nutritional, organoleptic, and aesthetic values of nutritional substances, and further enabling the adaptive storage and adaptive conditioning of nutritional substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: Eugenio Minvielle
  • Patent number: 9553525
    Abstract: A method is disclosed to at least partially prevent back powering of power sourcing equipment. In one or more implementations, the method includes detecting a magnitude of current through a current sensor, such as a transistor and/or a resistor. The active FET bridge is configured to rectify input power supplied by power sourcing equipment to a power over Ethernet (PoE) powered device. The method also includes causing the transistor to transition from a closed configuration to an open configuration to at least substantially prevent current flow through the transistor when the magnitude of current is below a predefined threshold to at least substantially prevent back powering of the PSE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thong A. Huynh, Gaoling Zou, Andrea Vigna, Mauro Ranzato, Gianluca Mariano
  • Patent number: 9528972
    Abstract: Nutritional substance systems and methods are disclosed enabling the tracking and communication of changes in nutritional, organoleptic, and aesthetic values of nutritional substances, and further enabling the adaptive storage and adaptive conditioning of nutritional substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventor: Eugenio Minvielle
  • Patent number: 9517696
    Abstract: A system includes a contactor system, a vehicle control unit, and a fault diagnostic system. The contactor system includes one or more contactors. The vehicle control unit is coupled to the contactor system via a first connection and a second connection. The vehicle control unit is configured to provide a controlling signal to the contactor system through at least one of the first connection and the second connection to control the one or more contactors. The fault diagnostic system is configured to identify faults occurring in the first connection and the second connection. A method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronghui Zhou, Jian Zhou, Fei Li, Xi Lu, Fengcheng Sun, Xiangming Shen, Hai Qiu, Pengju Kang
  • Patent number: 9514636
    Abstract: A system is provided including a plurality of inter-connected premises management devices, each including one or more sensors that generate data about an environment, and a control device to control one or more operations of the premises management system, the control device including a movement detector. The premises management system detects an attempt by an intruder to damage the control device based on data from the movement detector indicating an abnormal movement applied to the control device, historical data obtained from the sensors, and current data obtained from the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Yash Modi, Kevin Charles Peterson, Mark Rajan Malhotra, Ken Herman
  • Patent number: 9507291
    Abstract: A magnetic permeability detector includes an LC oscillator circuit including a coil and a capacitor; and a resistor connected in series with the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Hirota, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Masayuki Yamane, Masahiro Watanabe, Shingo Nishizaki
  • Patent number: 9499273
    Abstract: A propeller assembly comprises two or more blade elements each comprising two or more blade element portions arranged sequentially radially along the blade element. Each of the two or more blade element portions that are radially equi-positioned along corresponding ones of the two or more blade elements together form a blade element portion array. Each of the two or more blade element portions comprise at least one heating element with each one of the at least one heating elements that is located in a correspondingly radially positioned blade element portion being connected to one another to form a heating element array. The two or more heating element arrays are adapted to sequentially heat respective ones of the two or more blade element portion arrays so as to de-ice the blade elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: David Michael Beaven
  • Patent number: 9491808
    Abstract: An induction heating cooker includes a scorching detection portion adapted to output scorching detection information, when the temperature of a cooking container comes to be equal to or higher than a second set temperature, based on infrared-ray detection information (A) from an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays from the cooking container, in a heating mode which enables setting the output. A control portion is adapted to perform heating-output suppression operations for preventing the progress of scorching, when the scorching detection portion outputs scorching detection information. Further, the control portion is adapted to prohibit such heating-output suppression operations and to continue heating operations, even if the scorching detection portion outputs scorching detection information, until the measured cooking time period after start of heating operations reaches a first set elapsed time period (T1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumitaka Ogasawara, Shintaro Noguchi, Teruo Hayashinaka
  • Patent number: 9462639
    Abstract: An induction heating cooker includes an inverter for supplying a current to a heating coil, a control portion for driving the inverter, an electrostatic capacitance detecting portion for measuring electrostatic capacitance of a plurality of electrodes, and a boiling over detecting portion. The boiling over detecting portion reduces an output of the inverter from a first set value to a second set value after a sensed value of the electrostatic capacitance is within a first variation range (?V1) or more, and returns the output of the inverter to the first set value when a sensed value during a boiling over establishing period (T2) performed after the sensed value has reached the first variation range or more and falls within a second variation range (?V2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Takehira, Fumitaka Ogasawara, Masashi Kinoshita, Yuji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9442103
    Abstract: A method for preventing circumvention of a intoxication test includes defining a detection time envelope with a first sensor activated in response to the presence of a human test subject proximate the first sensor and sensing with a second sensor for a change from an ambient condition caused by the presence of the human test subject proximate the second sensor. The intoxication test is validated when a change from the ambient condition is detected by the second sensor during the time envelope defined by the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: 1A Smart Start LLC
    Inventor: Richard Goad
  • Patent number: 9423152
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling heating of an aerosol precursor arrangement of an electronic smoking article. An average power is directed from a power source to a heating device arranged to heat the aerosol precursor arrangement and a heating time period commensurately initiated. The average power corresponds to a selected power set point associated with the power source. An actual power directed to the heating device is determined as a product of a voltage at, and a current through, the heating device. The actual power is compared to the average power, and the average power is adjusted to direct the actual power toward the selected power set point. The actual power is periodically determined and compared to the average power, and the average power adjusted toward the selected power set point, until expiration of the heating time period. An associated apparatus and computer program product are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Michael Ryan Galloway, Scott Ingham, Allen Michael East, Glen Kimsey, Keith William Anderson, Raymond C. Henry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9422634
    Abstract: Single crystals are produced by means of the floating zone method, wherein the single crystal crystallizes below a melt zone at a crystallization boundary, and the emission of crystallization heat is impeded by a reflector surrounding the single crystal, wherein the single crystal is heated in the region of an outer edge of the crystallization boundary by means of a heating device in a first zone, wherein a distance ? between an outer triple point Ta at the outer edge of the crystallization boundary and a center Z of the crystallization boundary is influenced. An apparatus for producing the single crystal provides a heat source below the melting induction coil and above the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: SILTRONIC AG
    Inventors: Georg Raming, Ludwig Altmannshofer, Gundars Ratnieks, Johann Landrichinger, Josef Lobmeyer, Alfred Holzinger
  • Patent number: 9419429
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus, which includes a load, an outside power source to supply the load with a power voltage and a switch electrically connected between the load and the outside power source, including a temperature detector unit configured to detect a temperature of the load, a no-power contact point unit provided with a relay, which is electrically connected between the load and the switch, and configured to activate a contact point of the relay before the power voltage is applied to the load, and a control unit configured to turn on the switch according to a power supply command that is input from an outside and configured to control an on/off of the switch according to the temperature of the load detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sun Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 9370045
    Abstract: A heat mat with thermostatic control having a reference voltage generating source that provide high voltage DC for a power controller and low voltage for a temperature sensor and hysteresis circuit. The sensor and hysteresis circuit establish a temperature threshold signal that is delivered to the resistance heating element. The resistance heating element is sandwiched between two layers of material with adhesive. Two layers of PVC protects the sandwich. In manufacturing the heat mat, the resistance heating element is placed with adhesive between two layers of material then cured and degassed under vacuum. The thermostatic control is sealed within an overmold housing or flat pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: DSM&T Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Sergio Corona
  • Patent number: 9362740
    Abstract: Apparatus for electrical water heater air entrapment detection includes two electrodes residing at opposite ends of a heater housing. The electrodes are part of a circuit and if either electrode is surrounded by air, the circuit is opened and entrapped air is sensed. The temperature sensors are located at opposite ends of the heater housing, the electrodes may be integrated into the temperature sensors. When entrapped air is sensed, a heater relay is opened preventing powering a heater element(s). A spa pump is operated to clear the entrapped air, and when a variable speed pump is present, the pump is turned to high speed to clear the entrapped air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Inventor: Joseph G. Elnar
  • Patent number: 9356180
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a solar module comprising one or more solar cell(s) encapsulated in a polymer matrix, wherein the process comprises applying a matrix composition to one or more solar cell(s) such that the one or more solar cell(s) is/are surrounded by a continuous layer of matrix composition and polymerizing the matrix composition in order to form a polymer matrix encapsulating the one or more solar cell(s), wherein the matrix composition is a structurally viscous liquid which comprises a polymerizable compound for forming the matrix and has a yield point, and to the thus obtainable solar modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: SOLARWORLD INNOVATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Harald Hahn, Matthias Georgi
  • Patent number: 9355540
    Abstract: A programmable interface module includes a linear power regulator to control and provide power to interfaced components on an as needed basis. The interface module is implemented in, for example, a sensor pack and multiplexed to a plurality of sensor modules. In a first mode, the linear voltage regulator provides a relatively small amount of power which allows a sensor module to output a signal responsive to detecting an environmental condition (e.g., gamma or x-ray radiation, extreme temperatures, etc.). The interface module can switch the linear voltage regulator to a second mode in which the linear voltage regulator ramps up the amount of power provided to a detecting sensor module. The sensor module can then provide a level indicative of a concentration or intensity of the environmental condition. If the level surpasses a predetermined threshold, the senor pack can output an alert signal to security server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: FTC Sensors, LLC
    Inventors: Francis S. Zajac, James Peverill, Tony Bachta
  • Patent number: 9339644
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for medical applications. The apparatus includes an oblong conductive element having a distal end. A resistance element is disposed in the vicinity of the distal end. The resistance element changes the resistance thereof as a function of a temperature and/or an electromagnetic field. To this end, the resistance element is designed to reduce a temperature rise of the distal end caused by energy absorption from, for example, an electromagnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Doerr, Ingo Weiss
  • Patent number: 9310928
    Abstract: A touch screen includes a capacitive sensor, a sensor driving portion, and a control portion. The capacitive sensor detects a touch position coordinate in a scanning plane for each frame of the scanning plane. The sensor driving portion drives the capacitive sensor at a speed of a frame rate, the frame rate representing a number of frames detected by the capacitive sensor per unit time. The central portion acquires an amount of movement of the touch position between successive frames based on positional information detected by the capacitive sensor, and sets the frame rate depending on the amount of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Yoshino
  • Patent number: 9288846
    Abstract: An induction heating cooker includes a boiling over detecting portion that reduces the heating output of an inverter to a predetermined value when a change amount of an electrostatic capacitance detected by a capacitance detecting portion with respect to a reference value is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The boiling over detecting portion stops a heating action or reduces the heating output to a third set value lower than a second set value when a change rate of the capacitance is equal to or greater than a predetermined change rate, and maintains the heating output at the second set value when the change rate of the capacitance is less than the predetermined change rate, during a boiling over determining period started from the time that the change amount of the capacitance with respect to the reference value is equal to or greater than the output reducing threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD
    Inventors: Fumitaka Ogasawara, Takashi Takehira, Masashi Kinoshita, Yuji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9272647
    Abstract: A seat climate control system includes a seat body having a first body surface and a second body surface opposite and spaced apart from the first body surface. The seat body defines an interior volume. The seat climate control system further includes at least one thermoelectric module at least partially disposed within the interior volume of the seat body. The thermoelectric module is configured to facilitate heat transfer upon receipt of electrical energy. The seat climate control system further includes at least one thermally conductive member disposed along the first body surface. The thermally conductive member is thermally coupled to the thermoelectric module. The thermally conductive member is configured to transfer heat between the thermoelectric module and a surface in contact with the thermally conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Dhama Innovations Private Limited
    Inventors: Tushar Rajaram Gawade, Rao Mallikarjuna Chalasani, Sankar Ayilam Swaminathan, Vijaiya Shankar Ramakrishnan, Kranthi Kiran Vistakula, Prasenjit Kundu, Vivek Silwal
  • Patent number: 9273662
    Abstract: The invention relates to a glow plug control device comprising a power transistor for switching the heating current on and off, a control unit for controlling the power transistor, a measuring resistor connected in series with the power transistor for measuring the intensity of a heating current, and a circuit board, which carries the power transistor, the control unit and the measuring resistor. The measuring resistor is connected to the circuit board via pins which are pressed into circuit board holes and which are made of an alloy that has a copper content of at least 80% by weight and a nickel content from 4 to 12% by weight. This disclosure also relates to the use of an alloy having a copper content of at least 80% by weight and a nickel content from 4 to 12% by weight for a pin of a press-in connection in a glow plug control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Halbrock, Michael Störzinger
  • Patent number: 9268437
    Abstract: A display device; a method for driving the display device; and electronic equipment, each enabling a detection device to perform detection with a frequency higher than a refresh frequency of the display device and with improved accuracy are provided. The display device has a screen including pixels and repeatedly alternates between a scanning frame during which the pixels are scanned to be sequentially brought into a selected state and a pause frame during which the pixels are not scanned, and includes a detection instructing circuit configured to output detection operation control signals corresponding to touch panel detection periods to the detection device in at least one pause frame. The detection instruction signal instructs the detection device to detect at least one of detection targets which are input by touching or approaching the screen and a radio wave coming from outside the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohji Saitoh, Akizumi Fujioka, Masami Ozaki, Toshihiro Yanagi
  • Patent number: 9265094
    Abstract: In an induction cooking device according to the present invention, a boiling-over detection portion is adapted to perform a heating-output suppression operation, on detecting boiling over, when the capacitances of electrodes have been changed by an amount equal to or more than a predetermined value. Further, the boiling-over detection portion is prevented from performing the heating-output suppression operation, if the boiling-over detection portion detects that the capacitances of the electrodes have been changed by an amount equal to or more than the predetermined value, due to the fact that the heating output of another heating coil in a heating area which is not subjected to boiling-over detection has been changed by an amount equal to or more than a predetermined change width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukuda, Takashi Takehira
  • Patent number: 9235297
    Abstract: A capacitive touch screen sensing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a protecting layer; a sensing layer under the protecting layer for sensing a touch to generate a position signal; and a DC common voltage signal layer electrically connected with a DC voltage for shielding against signal interferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Chi Kang Liu
  • Patent number: 9223264
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes first and second heat generating elements, first and second driving elements provided in a passage from a commercial power source to the heat generating elements, respectively, and a portion controlling the driving elements at a control level depending on a detection temperature. At the control level, a renewing period is two cycles of a waveform of an alternating current of the power source or an integral multiple thereof. The control portion controls, during a period when the control portion controls the driving elements at one control level, the driving elements so that the heat generating element to which the power is to be preferentially supplied is switched from the first to the second driving element and the waveform of the alternating current passing through each of the heat generating elements keeps symmetry of positive and negative half-cycle components with respect to a zero-voltage line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Kawazu