Capacitor Patents (Class 307/109)
  • Patent number: 11947753
    Abstract: The present application provides a touch driving circuit, a driving chip and a touch display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN GOODIX TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Long Huang, Chenyang Kong
  • Patent number: 11705757
    Abstract: A capacitive coupling device for capacitive coupling to a capacitive coupling means which is arrangeable on the capacitive coupling device. The capacitive coupling device can have a first coupling surface, which has at least three coupling surface segments which are arranged separated from one another, a voltage supply configured to provide a first supply voltage and a second supply voltage which is different therefrom, and a control circuit, which is arranged to connect each of the coupling surface segments selectively to the first supply voltage or to the second supply voltage in an electrically conductive manner or to disconnect it from the control circuit in such a way that the coupling surface segments connected to the first supply voltage form, with a first coupling surface area of the capacitive coupling means, a first capacitor, and the coupling surface segments connected to the second supply voltage form, with a second coupling surface area of the capacitive coupling means, a second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Leutgeb, Josef Haid
  • Patent number: 11692853
    Abstract: A source follower for a capacitive sensor device having a sense node and a shield node is provided. The source follower may include a transistor, and a switch array selectively coupling the transistor between the sense node and the shield node. The switch array may be configured to substantially disable current to the transistor during a first mode of operation, precharge the transistor during a second mode of operation, and enable the transistor to copy a sense node voltage to a shield node voltage during a third mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Bjørnar Hernes, Pål Øyvind Reichelt
  • Patent number: 11689059
    Abstract: A transmit resonator is provided. The transmit resonator comprises: two inductors; a switching network electrically connected to the inductors; a plurality of capacitive electrodes electrically connected to the switching network; a detector communicatively connected to the capacitive electrodes; and a controller communicatively connected to the switching network and the detector. The detector is configured to detect impedance. The controller is configured to control the switching network to control which electrodes are connected to the inductors based on the detected impedance. The inductors and electrodes are configured to resonate to generate an electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Solace Power Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmad M. Almudallal, Andrew Bartlett, Samuel Robert Cove
  • Patent number: 11476660
    Abstract: A method of protecting a supercapacitor module of a vehicle contains steps of: A) installing; B) judging; C) executing a protection mode; and D) executing an operating mode. In the step A), an open circuit remains between the rechargeable battery and the supercapacitor module, and a voltage value of the supercapacitor module is 0. In the step B) the supercapacitor module is judged whether being satisfied with a protection condition, an external voltage is V1, a fully charging voltage of the supercapacitor module is V2, an ambient temperature value of the supercapacitor module is T1, and a safe temperature value of a respective supercapacitor is T2. In the step C), when the supercapacitor module is satisfied with the protection condition, the protection mode is executed. In the step D), when a connection circuit between the supercapacitor module and the rechargeable battery occurs, the supercapacitor module is rechargeable and dischargeable electrically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Fu-Chieh Chen
  • Patent number: 11296598
    Abstract: Driver circuitry for driving a load based on an input signal, comprising: at least one variable boost stage comprising: first and second input nodes configured to receive a first voltage and a second voltage respectively; first and second flying capacitor nodes for connection to a flying capacitor therebetween; a network of switching paths for selectively connecting the first and second input nodes with the first and second flying capacitor nodes; an output stage for selectively connecting a driver output node to each of the first and second flying capacitor nodes; and a controller operable in a first boost mode to: control the output stage to selectively connect the driver output node to the first flying capacitor node; control the network of switching paths to switch connection of the second flying capacitor node between the first and second input nodes at a controlled duty cycle; and in a first charge top-up cycle, control the network of switching paths to connect the first input node to the first flying c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. King, Axel Thomsen, Anthony S. Doy, Thomas H. Hoff, John L. Melanson
  • Patent number: 11296548
    Abstract: A wireless power feeder includes a rotatable body and a non-rotatable body including a first surface and a second surface, respectively, that face each other at a predetermined distance, and a power receiving board and a power feeding board on the first surface and the second surface, respectively. The power receiving board includes a pair of first electrodes each including alternating first interconnect patterns and first slits in respective first regions bent at the first slits to form first corrugated parts where a distance from the first surface alternately increases and decreases. The power feeding board includes a pair of second electrodes each including alternating second interconnect patterns and second slits in respective second regions bent at the second slits to form second corrugated parts where a distance from the second surface alternately increases and decreases. The first and second corrugated parts face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SHINKO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Mori
  • Patent number: 11190099
    Abstract: A voltage conversion device that is operable as a switched capacitor, includes switches, a boost circuit that raises an input voltage to the voltage conversion device to a voltage that is higher than a predetermined reference voltage, and a control unit that controls states of the switches based on a voltage output from the boost circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takuya Sakamaki
  • Patent number: 11152850
    Abstract: A power source apparatus includes a switching control circuit configured to output a switching signal to switch a power source supplying power to each of a plurality of loads, and a reset control circuit having a plurality of output terminals outputting reset signals that reset the plurality of loads in response to the switching signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 11075526
    Abstract: A charging control device includes a switching unit configured to be capable of switching a connection state of a battery unit including a plurality of battery modules whose number is N×M; and a controller configured to control the switching unit, wherein the controller causes the switching unit to switch the connection state from a first state in which all the battery modules are connected in series to a second state in which N groups each including M battery modules connected in series are connected in parallel when a power storage amount of the battery unit becomes equal to or larger than a first connection switching value in a first charging method in which a current supplied to each of the plurality of battery modules decreases as the power storage amount increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Motonao Niizuma
  • Patent number: 11018576
    Abstract: A USB source device, supporting USB Power Delivery mode and coupled to a USB receiver device, includes a power converter delivering a supply voltage and a capacitive network coupled to the power converter. A method for managing the supply voltage on an output power supply pin of the USB source device includes discharging the capacitive network so as to reduce the supply voltage in response to a request to reduce the supply voltage by the USB receiver device to a target voltage. The method also includes delivering, to the power converter, a setpoint voltage for the supply voltage, a value of the setpoint voltage being reduced non-linearly so as to keep a temporal variation of the setpoint voltage lower than that of the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventor: Christophe Lorin
  • Patent number: 10928844
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a device body and a power supply module. The power supply module is coupled to the device body to supply power to the device body. The power supply module includes a plurality of power control circuits. An input end of each of the plurality of power control circuits is configured to receive a power input from a corresponding one of a plurality of power supply apparatuses. An output end of each of the plurality of power control circuits is coupled to the device body. Each of the plurality of power control circuits generates a corresponding power output according to the received power input to jointly supply power in a parallel manner to the device body. Each of the plurality of power control circuits limits, according to corresponding current limit information, a current captured from the corresponding power supply apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: PEGATRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsung-Ta Chuang, Shou-Lung Hung, Chih-Kun Kuo
  • Patent number: 10886793
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic device including: a wireless power receiver configured to receive wireless power from a wireless power transmission device; and a controller configured to obtain a reception ratio of wireless power received by the wireless power receiver relative to wireless power transmitted by the wireless power transmission device, and provide a user interface that guides a location movement of the wireless power transmission device, based on the obtained reception ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kyu-sung Lee
  • Patent number: 10878704
    Abstract: A server includes a processor, configured to responsive to verifying a location of a vehicle associated with a dealership is outside a predefined geofence, request to obtain electronic paperwork stored in the vehicle; and responsive to detecting the electronic paperwork fails to reflect a predefined transaction, raise a flag for the vehicle and send an autonomous driving instruction to the vehicle to direct the vehicle to a predefined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wassim Mahmoud Nahle, Catherine Duluc, Thomas Steiner
  • Patent number: 10839667
    Abstract: A fixing element for electrical devices, wherein at least one electrical device can be fixed to the fixing element, has at least one coupler, which forms at least one coupling to the at least one electrical device fixed to the fixing element, via which coupling electrical energy and/or data can be transmitted to the at least one electrical device, wherein the coupling is a capacitive and/or inductive coupling. In addition, equipment includes such a fixing element and a least one electrical device, which is fixed to the electrical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Pascal Gaggero, Ellen Wohlfart, Manuela Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10666129
    Abstract: To protect a switching element to be used in a boost circuit for an in-cylinder injection type internal combustion engine or the like from damage caused by overheating without using a temperature detection element. In a control circuit that switches a switching element between a conductive state and a non-conductive state, the switching element is controlled or a temperature of the switching element is estimated based on a potential difference between an input terminal and an output terminal of the switching element and a voltage applied to a control terminal of the switching element in the conductive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Okonogi, Takao Fukuda, Koichi Tsukio
  • Patent number: 10658357
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first bipolar junction transistor (BJT) including a first base, a first collector, and a first emitter, the first collector connected to a first supply voltage node and a second BJT including a second base, a second collector, and a second emitter, the second collector connected to the first emitter at an output node. The circuit also includes a capacitor including a first capacitor terminal and a second capacitor terminal, the first capacitor terminal connected to the second emitter of the second BJT and the second capacitor terminal connected to a second supply voltage node. A current source device is also included that is connected in parallel with the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Pranav Kumar, Yogesh Darwhekar
  • Patent number: 10643568
    Abstract: A bias voltage generator circuit may include a mode control circuit, a clock generator circuit coupled with the mode control unit and configured to generate a plurality of clock signals, and a charge pump circuit configured to receive the clock signals. The charge pump circuit may be coupled with the mode control circuit and operable to output selectable output voltages according to input from the mode control circuit. The output selectable voltages may depend upon the clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Peter K. Nagey, Mudit Gupta, Huamin Zhou
  • Patent number: 10637355
    Abstract: Embodiments of switched capacitor voltage converters and methods for operating a switched capacitor voltage converter are disclosed. In an embodiment, a switched capacitor voltage converter includes serially connected switching devices, a voltage generator connected to the serially connected switching devices and configured to generate an output voltage for a bootstrap capacitor in response to a first voltage at a first terminal that is connected to the serially connected switching devices, and voltage drivers configured to drive the serially connected switching devices based on the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Bin Shao
  • Patent number: 10574140
    Abstract: Operating a charge pump in which switches from a first set of switches couple capacitor terminals to permit charge transfer between them and in which switches from a second set of switches couple capacitor terminals of capacitors to either a high-voltage or a low-voltage terminal includes cycling the switches through a sequence of states, each state defining a corresponding configuration of the switches. At least three of the states define different configurations of the switches. During each of the configurations, charge transfer is permitted between a pair of elements, one of which is a first capacitor and another of which is either a second capacitor or the first terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventors: Aichen Low, Gregory Szczeszynski, David Giuliano
  • Patent number: 10559963
    Abstract: A balance correction apparatus is stopped at an appropriate timing. Provided are an inductor; a first switching device electrically connected between another end of the inductor and another end of the first electric storage cell; a second switching device electrically connected between another end of the inductor and another end of the second electric storage cell; and a control section supplying a control signal to control ON/OFF operations of the first switching device and the second switching device, to the first switching device and the second switching device, where the control section obtains information representing a voltage difference between the first electric storage cell and the second electric storage cell, and the control section supplies the control signal to cause both of the first switching device and the second switching device to operate to be OFF, when the voltage difference is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: NExT-e Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Fumiaki Nakao
  • Patent number: 10540040
    Abstract: Dual power supply and energy recovery techniques are used in a capacitive touch panel that employs a concurrent drive scheme. A dual supply output buffer boosts a capacitor from an intermediate voltage level to a high voltage level. Energy recovery exchanges stored energy between a capacitor and an inductor. When both techniques are used together, power consumption of a capacitive touch panel drive circuit can be reduced dramatically, by as much as about 80%. Such high efficiency touch panels have wide application to ultra-thin touch screens, including those suitable for use in mobile devices and flexible displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD
    Inventor: Yannick Guedon
  • Patent number: 10530162
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for increasing the voltage gain range of a DC-DC power converter include: two multiplier stages, each comprising two capacitors, each capacitor respectively connected to a diode, which are adapted to charge the capacitors with a voltage; at least two switching devices arranged to interchangeably operate between the at least two multiplier stages, or arranged to selectively connect the at least two multiplier stages in series in a first mode of operation and to at least partly bypass one of the at least two multiplier stages in a second mode of operation, thereby increasing the voltage gain range of the DC-DC power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
    Inventors: Urmimala Chatterjee, Johan Driesen, Alex Masolin
  • Patent number: 10516284
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for a voltage controlled charge pump and battery charger. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for operating a voltage controlled charge pump. The method includes selectively opening and closing a plurality of switches based on a voltage on a feedback path. The plurality of switches are coupled between a voltage input terminal and a voltage output terminal. A first capacitor is coupled between at least a first switch and a second switch of the plurality of switches. A second capacitor is coupled to the voltage output terminal. The feedback path is coupled to at least one of the voltage output terminal, the first capacitor, and the second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph Maalouf, Sumukh Shevde
  • Patent number: 10498232
    Abstract: A method and a system for DC-to-DC conversion are provided herein. The system may include a direct current to direct current (DC-to-DC) converter which may include at least one silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) device operable to perform voltage multiplication. The method may include directionally altering the threshold voltage of at least one silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) device, including applying a positive or negative voltage to at least a gate region of said at least one SONOS device thereby forcing electrons or holes from a channel region in said SONOS device to tunnel through an oxide layer (SiO), become trapped in silicon nitride (SiN), and accumulate proximate to a source region and/or a drain region in said at least one SONOS device, said accumulated electrons or holes altering the threshold voltage of said at least one SONOS device in a direction of said source or said drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Inventor: Lior Dagan
  • Patent number: 10498396
    Abstract: A data transceiver device for bus communication includes: first and second semiconductor areas; a galvanic isolation means to galvanically isolate the first and second semiconductor areas; an input for receiving a signal to be transferred from the first semiconductor area to the second semiconductor area; a first capacitor in a first signal path and a second capacitor in a second signal path, each capacitor having a first plate connected to the first semiconductor area and a second plate connected to the second semiconductor area and each arranged for transferring a version of the received signal via the first and second signal paths, respectively; storage means having memory states controllable by the versions of the received signal and arranged to derive from the versions of the received signal the memory states. The storage means is arranged to obtain from the memory states an output signal in according to the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES NV
    Inventors: Michael Frey, Thomas Freitag
  • Patent number: 10476521
    Abstract: A circuit, system, and method for converting self capacitance to a digital value may include a pair of charge transfer circuits, each including a switch network, a sensor capacitor or modulation capacitor, and an integration capacitor may be coupled to a comparator to produce a data signal representative of the capacitance of the sensor capacitor of one of the charge transfer circuits. The data signal may be used to indicate a capacitance value of the self capacitance through conversion by a circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Andriy Maharyta
  • Patent number: 10388457
    Abstract: A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes: a multilayer structure in which each of a plurality of ceramic dielectric layers and each of a plurality of internal electrodes are alternately stacked and are alternately exposed to two edge faces of the multilayer structure; a first external electrode that is coupled to one of the two edge faces; and a second external electrode that is coupled to the other of the two edge faces, wherein: a main component of the plurality of ceramic dielectric layers is BaTiO3; the plurality of ceramic dielectric layers include a rare earth element; and an atomic concentration ratio of a total amount of Mn and V with respect to Ti in the plurality of ceramic dielectric layers is 0.035% or more and 0.120% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Nagaoka, Noriyuki Chigira
  • Patent number: 10381871
    Abstract: A system for power transfer to a movable platform makes use of a capacitive interface in moving elements of load-supporting bearings for power transfer. Tank circuits associated with each bearing increase power transfer by reducing effective impedance of the small bearing capacitances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Daniel Colin Ludois, Jiejian Dai, Skyler Hagen
  • Patent number: 10361565
    Abstract: Techniques for wirelessly transferring energy are described. An example device includes a transmitter coil to generate a magnetic field to wirelessly charge a battery. The device also includes a noise signal generator to generate a noise signal and send the noise signal to the transmitter coil. A frequency detection circuit is used to detect a resonance due to the noise signal and calculate a frequency of the resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Esa Ilmari Saunamaki
  • Patent number: 10348195
    Abstract: An apparatus for coupling to capacitors to form a charge pump includes first and second sets of switch elements, and a controller. Switches in the first set couple terminals of capacitors to permit charge transfer between them. Switches in the second set couple terminals of at least some of the capacitors to either a high-voltage or a low-voltage terminal. The controller causes the switches to cycle through a sequence of states, each defining a corresponding configuration of the switch elements. At least three of the states define different configurations permitting charge transfer either between a first capacitor and a second capacitor, or between a first capacitor and one of the terminals. The configured cycle of states causes voltage conversion between the two terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventors: Aichen Low, Gregory Szczeszynski, David Giuliano
  • Patent number: 10332476
    Abstract: A bias voltage generator circuit may include a mode control circuit, a clock generator circuit coupled with the mode control unit and configured to generate a plurality of clock signals, and a charge pump circuit configured to receive the clock signals. The charge pump circuit may be coupled with the mode control circuit and operable to output selectable output voltages according to input from the mode control circuit. The output selectable voltages may depend upon the clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Peter K. Nagey, Mudit Gupta, Huamin Zhou
  • Patent number: 10284080
    Abstract: A transformation system capable of efficiently transforming electrical power from one dc voltage to one or more other dc voltages or of regulating power flow within a network of constant nominal voltage; in each case without intermediate magnetic transformation. The transformation system is based on periodic and resonant delivery of charge from the first of two dc nodes to a system of capacitors, electrical reconfiguration of those capacitors, then delivery of power to one or more other dc nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignees: Electranix Corporation
    Inventors: Lionel O. Barthold, Dennis A. Woodford, Maryam Salimi
  • Patent number: 10277268
    Abstract: A switching network and associated method for operating within a transceiver are disclosed. The switching network has a timing control circuit that offsets the time at which a through switch and a shunt switch transition between on and off states. The output of the timing control circuit is an inverted and delayed version of a control signal applied to the input of the timing control circuit. Controlling the timing of the shunt switch provides a means to safely discharge any accumulated charge within the capacitance Cgs between the gate and source of transistors included within the through switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventor: Payman Shanjani
  • Patent number: 10250046
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for blocking electromagnetic interference, EMI is presented. In particular, the present invention relates to a switched mode power supply provided with an electromagnetic interference protection circuit with low power dissipation. There is provided an adiabatically-switched electromagnetic interference protection circuit. The protection circuit contains a first charge storage element and a second charge storage element. A switching regulator operates with a switching cycle having an on-time and an off-time; and the control signal is arranged to cause a transition between the first mode and the second mode to start during the off-time of a switching cycle of the switching regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: John Kesterson
  • Patent number: 10243376
    Abstract: According to at least one aspect, embodiments herein provide a method for operating a battery charging system, the method comprising receiving, by a first rectifier, a first AC voltage, receiving, by a second rectifier, a second AC voltage, converting, by the first rectifier, the first AC voltage to a first DC voltage, converting, by the second rectifier, the second AC voltage to a second DC voltage, biasing, by the second rectifier, the first rectifier with the second DC voltage, biasing, by the second rectifier, a battery charger with the second DC voltage, providing, by the first rectifier, a biased voltage to the battery charger, and providing, by the battery charger, a second power to a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Qinghong Yu
  • Patent number: 10243501
    Abstract: If a fault occurs in a buffer unit from which a PWM signal is outputted, an abnormal PWM signal may be outputted from the buffer unit. When a fault occurs in a first buffer unit, a fault detection unit detects a fault in the PWM signal being inputted via a second buffer unit. When the fault in the PWM signal is detected, the fault detection unit outputs a PWM fault signal to an arithmetic unit and the second buffer unit. In response to the input of the PWM fault signal, the second buffer unit sets the output thereof to high impedance and drives the inverter circuit by a protection operation PWM signal to perform protection operation of a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ogura, Satoru Shigeta
  • Patent number: 10204738
    Abstract: A capacitor assembly has series-connected capacitor element groups, each with a plurality of capacitor elements connected in parallel. The capacitor elements are divided into a first sub-set and a second sub-set. The capacitor elements of the first sub-set have a fuse while those of the second sub-set do not have a fuse. Extended operation is achieved even in the event of individual malfunctioning capacitor elements by using capacitor elements with fuses to separate the corresponding capacitor element in the event of a failure without generating a substantial change in the capacitance of the entire capacitor assembly. In order to prevent an avalanche effect in which the entire capacitor element group is separated, a sub-set of the capacitor elements do not have a fuse, so that a capacitor element is always provided which generates a bridge of the respective capacitor element group in the event of a failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stephan Wietzel
  • Patent number: 10191119
    Abstract: An inspecting apparatus is for a noncontact power transfer system that transfers electric power from a transmitting unit to a receiving device in a noncontact manner. The inspecting apparatus includes a coupling capacitance varying unit configured to vary at least one of a first coupling capacitance formed between a transmitting-side passive electrode and a receiving-side passive electrode and a second coupling capacitance formed between a transmitting-side active electrode and a receiving-side active electrode when the receiving device is placed on the transmitting unit, and a control unit configured to monitor an alternating-current voltage generated between the receiving-side passive electrode and the receiving-side active electrode of the receiving device or a direct-current voltage obtained through conversion by a rectifying circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Goma, Kazuya Kato
  • Patent number: 10128745
    Abstract: An apparatus for coupling to capacitors to form a charge pump includes first and second sets of switch elements, and a controller. Switches in the first set couple terminals of capacitors to permit charge transfer between them. Switches in the second set couple terminals of at least some of the capacitors to either a high-voltage or a low-voltage terminal. The controller causes the switches to cycle through a sequence of states, each defining a corresponding configuration of the switch elements. At least three of the states define different configurations permitting charge transfer either between a first capacitor and a second capacitor, or between a first capacitor and one of the terminals. The configured cycle of states causes voltage conversion between the two terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventors: Aichen Low, Gregory Szczeszynski, David Giuliano
  • Patent number: 10097039
    Abstract: [OBJECT] There is provided a wireless power transmission system capable of transmitting power efficiently even when it is rotated. [ORGANIZATION] A power transmission device has a first and a second electrode (a center electrode 311 and an annular electrode 312) each having a rotationally symmetrical shape with respect to a common center axis, a first and a second connection line (connection lines 315, 316), and a first inductor to (inductor 313, 314). A power reception device has a third and a fourth electrode (center electrode 321 and annular electrode 322) each having a rotationally symmetrical shape with respect to a common center axis, a third and a fourth connection line (connection lines 325, 326), and a second inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kusunoki, Mitsuru Masuda
  • Patent number: 10075021
    Abstract: [OBJECT] There is provided a wireless power transmission system capable of transmitting power efficiently even when there is an obstacle or the like. [ORGANIZATION] A power transmission device has a first and a second electrode (111, 112), a first and a second connection line (115, 116), and a first inductor (113, 114). A power reception device has a third and a fourth electrode (121, 122), a third and a fourth connection line (125, 126), and a second inductor (123, 124). At least one of the first to the fourth electrode is housed in a conductive casing (310, 320) having an opening corresponding to an opposing electrode, and a resonance frequency of a power transmission coupler constituted of the first and the second electrode and the first inductor (113, 144) and a resonance frequency of a power reception coupler constituted of the third and the fourth electrode and the second inductor (123, 124) are set to be substantially equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kusunoki, Mitsuru Masuda
  • Patent number: 10074939
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a signal isolator having inductive and capacitive coupling. In embodiments, magnetic and electric fields are coupled by coils and capacitive plates. In embodiments, a floating plate can enable a top and bottom capacitive plate to be offset from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventor: Robert A. Briano
  • Patent number: 10069335
    Abstract: A power transfer system that transfers electric power from a power transmission device to a power reception device through electrical coupling. The power transmission device and the power reception device structurally designed such that the power transfer system is able to stabilize reference potentials of the power transmission device and the power reception device when the power reception device is placed on the power transmission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiichi Ichikawa, Tsuyoshi Suesada, Henri Bondar
  • Patent number: 10020029
    Abstract: The present invention provides a voltage scaling-up circuit which comprises a charge pump circuit and a multiplexer circuit. The charge pump circuit which includes at least one pumping switch, and is configured to operably periodically converts an input voltage to a pumped voltage onto a pump output node through the at least one pumping switch by charging and pumping, such that the pumped voltage has a scaling factor over the input voltage, wherein the at least one pumping switch has a bulk. The multiplexer circuit senses a predetermined voltage and the pumped voltage and selects one of the predetermined voltage and the pumped voltage which has a higher magnitude as a scaled output voltage at a scaled output node; wherein the bulk of the at least one pumping switch is biased to the scaled output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging (Penang) SDN. BHD.
    Inventor: Kok-Siang Tan
  • Patent number: 10020667
    Abstract: A charging circuit that charges a capacitor using the power that is output from a power supply, includes: first and second PNP-type transistors; first and second resistors; and a current path maintaining unit, wherein the power supply is connected to the emitter terminal of the first PNP-type transistor, the first resistor is connected between the emitter terminal and the base terminal of the first PNP-type transistor, the capacitor is connected to the collector terminal of the second PNP-type transistor, the second resistor is connected between the collector and base terminals of the second PNP-type transistor, the base terminal and the collector terminal of the first PNP-type transistor are respectively connected to the emitter terminal and the base terminal of the second PNP-type transistor, and the current path maintaining unit is provided between the collector terminal of the first PNP-type transistor and the emitter terminal of the second PNP-type transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryo Yoshioka, Hiroto Kimura
  • Patent number: 10018659
    Abstract: A power transmission-side measurement tool is installed in a power transmitting apparatus that applies an AC voltage stepped up by a step-up transformer to an active electrode and a passive electrode. The power transmission-side measurement tool includes a measurement active electrode that faces the active electrode and a measurement passive electrode that faces the passive electrode, and the measurement active electrode and measurement passive electrode are shorted together. Frequency characteristics of a serial resonance circuit formed by leakage inductance of the step-up transformer and capacitors are measured in a state where the power transmission-side measurement tool is placed on the power transmitting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Goma, Keiichi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10014769
    Abstract: A bipolar output charge pump circuit having a network of switching paths for selectively connecting an input node and a reference node for connection to an input voltage, a first pair of output nodes and a second pair of output nodes, and two pairs of flying capacitor nodes, and a controller for controlling the switching of the network of switching paths. The controller is operable to control the network of switching paths when in use with two flying capacitors connected to the two pairs of flying capacitor nodes, to provide a first bipolar output voltage at the first pair of output nodes and a second bipolar output voltage at the second pair of bipolar output nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Lesso, Peter J. Frith, John L. Pennock
  • Patent number: 10014720
    Abstract: A power transmission system includes a charging station and a power receiving device. The charging station has a pair of first electrodes, and a signal source that emits an alternating current signal; and a step-up transformer that applies a stepped-up voltage to the pair of first electrodes. The power receiving device has a pair of second electrodes opposite to and that capacitively couple with the first electrodes; a step-down transformer; a rectifying and smoothing circuit that rectifies and smoothes the stepped-down AC voltage; and a load circuit, The charging station further has a potential stabilizing electrode that capacitively couples with the electrode connected to a reference potential of the power receiving device and the potential stabilizing electrode is connected to a reference potential of the charging station via a charge controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiichi Ichikawa, Shinji Goma
  • Patent number: 10008333
    Abstract: A capacitor circuit includes: a capacitor array including a plurality of capacitors; a switch array including a plurality of switch circuits, the switch circuits being respectively connected to the capacitors of the capacitor array; a plurality of switch control signal lines supplied with a plurality of switch control signals; and a substrate having a major surface on which the switch circuits are formed. At least part of the capacitors of the capacitor array is formed of a first conductive layer. The switch control signal lines are formed of a second conductive layer provided between the major surface and the first conductive layer. The capacitor array and the switch array are disposed so as to overlap each other at least in part in a plan view when viewed in a normal direction of the major surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanaka, Hideo Haneda