Voltage Patents (Class 307/130)
  • Publication number: 20120175972
    Abstract: A battery saver device including a microcontroller that measures a voltage of a battery; a battery control module coupled to the microcontroller and including one or more transistors that electronically connect a device load to the battery when the transistors are in an active mode, and the microcontroller is further provided to turn off the transistors when the voltage of the battery falls below a predetermined threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventor: Guo Qing REN
  • Publication number: 20120169142
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a TPMS transmission module having a power saving function, the TPMS transmission module including: a micom outputting a switch turn-off control signal when a vehicle having the TPMS transmission module mounted therein is stopped; a switch supplying a power when the switch is turned on and blocking the supply of the power when it is turned off; an energy generator generating and outputting an electric power when a tire rotates; and a switch controller turning on the switch when the electric power of a predetermined voltage or more is generated in the energy generator and turning off the switch when a switch turn off control signal is output from the micom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyungno Lee, Kang Joo Kim, Jong Hyeong Song, Hae Seung Hyun, Seung Do An, Jong Woo Han
  • Patent number: 8212389
    Abstract: A capacitor 16 is charged by turning on a switching element 12, and when a relay 18 is operated, by turning off the switching element 12 and turning on a switching element 13, a constant-voltage power supply 11 and the capacitor 16 are series-connected, and a switching element 14 is turned on to cause the series circuit of the constant-voltage power supply 11 and the capacitor 16 to be connected to a relay coil 20, so that the voltage resulting from addition of the output voltage of the constant-voltage power supply 11 and the charging voltage of the capacitor 16 is supplied to the relay coil 20, whereby causing the relay 18 to be turned on, after which the capacitor 16 is gradually discharged by means of the relay coil 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Naohisa Morimoto
  • Patent number: 8207636
    Abstract: A solid state power control includes a sensor to detect when the power control is not connected to a power source. Disconnecting the power source turns off an output stage in the power control. If the power control receives a command to turn on its output stage while the power source is disconnected from the power control or otherwise not present, logic in the power control prevents the command from reaching the output stage. When the power source is connected or reconnected to the power control, the output stage remains off until the logic detects a zero crossing in the power source, thereby preventing high inrush currents into the power control. Suppressing high inrush currents caused by power source reconnection ensures that any current trip circuitry in the power control will be activated only by short circuit conditions and not by abnormal inrush currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstand Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Alan Henderson
  • Patent number: 8203335
    Abstract: An inductive proximity switch device has inductive elements including at least one transmitter coil and at least one receiver coil disposed on a common substrate. The inductive elements are arranged in one or more metalizing layers on the common substrate, and an evaluation circuit is coupled to at least one of the plurality of the inductive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Martin Feldtkeller
  • Publication number: 20120139477
    Abstract: Embodiments include a power supply arrangement where major components including an off-line switched power supply are shut off when not in use. When a load is coupled to the power supply arrangement, components are enabled so as to provide power to the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Oglesbee, Michael D. Geren, Dipti V. Desai, John E. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 8183719
    Abstract: A drive circuit for a DC latching device includes a battery, a storage element, and a plurality of switches connecting the battery to the storage element for charging the storage element from the battery and discharging the storage element into the coil of a DC latching device. The drive circuit further includes components for determining a state of the DC latching device. The drive circuit may include components for terminating the discharge of the storage element into the coil of the DC latching device in response to determining that the DC latching device has changed states to add reliability to the system and reduce energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Lucian Scripca, Peter J. Woytowitz
  • Patent number: 8169252
    Abstract: A low voltage drop unidirectional electronic valve constituted of: a first terminal; a second terminal; a first electronically controlled switch coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal; and a first charge pump arranged to close the first electronically controlled switch when the voltage potential at the first terminal is greater than the voltage potential at the second terminal by a first value. The first charge pump is arranged in a closed loop with the first electronically controlled switch so as to continuously maintain the voltage potential at the first terminal greater than the voltage potential at the second terminal by the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn Anthony Fahrenbruch, George Liu
  • Patent number: 8159092
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an electrical installation or device equipped with a power supply unit comprising a voltage converter having primary and secondary parts respectively defining a primary side and a secondary side of this electrical installation or device. This power supply unit comprises a power management unit arranged on said primary side, the primary part of the converter being associated with a control circuit also arranged on said primary side and controlling the electrical energy flowing in the primary power path of said primary part. The control circuit receives from the power management unit at least a first control signal for switching OFF the electrical energy in said primary power path, said power supply unit entering a very low power mode (“Power-down” mode) when said first control signal is set to OFF so that the converter is not supplied anymore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: EM Microelectronic-Marin S.A.
    Inventors: Daniel Luthi, Jean-Noël Divoux, Steffen Schmid, Siegfried Kern
  • Publication number: 20120074776
    Abstract: An electronic switch control system, including an alternating voltage source, an electronic switch, a load, a control circuit, an alternating voltage source being electrically associated to a first conduction terminal of the electronic switch, a second conduction terminal of the electronic switch being associable to a load, the load being associated to a second power terminal. The control circuit includes first, second and third electric potential terminals, and is arranged to command the electronic switch by way of a trigger terminal. The control circuit is electrically associated to a voltage regulator block that is electrically associable to the electronic switch by way of first and third electric contact terminals and first and second conduction terminals respectively, the voltage regulator block being arranged to provide a minimum electrical voltage (Vmin) to run the control circuit in at least a conduction instant of the electronic switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Marcos Guilherme Schwarz, Nerian Fernando Ferreira
  • Publication number: 20120074793
    Abstract: There is provided a peripheral device capable of being connected to a host device through a connection cable including a power line. This peripheral device comprises: a first power terminal capable of being connected to the power line of the connection cable; a power circuit connected to a second power terminal different from the first power terminal and for supplying power to an internal circuit; a start signal generating circuit for generating a start signal causing the power circuit to start supplying power to the internal circuit, when power has been supplied to the first power terminal through the connection cable; and a feedback circuit for allowing the start signal to remain activated when power has been supplied to the internal circuit from the power circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro TAMURA, Masao Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8143749
    Abstract: A dual current switch detection circuit with selective activation is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the switch detection circuit comprises an input node coupled to a switch to receive an input signal from the switch, a first current source coupled to the input node, a second current source coupled to the input node, and a detection circuit having an input coupled to the input node and an output coupled to the second current source to selectively activate the second current source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Justin Joseph Rosen Gagne
  • Publication number: 20120062042
    Abstract: A start-up circuit includes an energy storage device operable to selectively power a load. A switch controls a flow of current from the energy storage device to the load. The switch preventing a flow of current to the load in an OFF state. A voltage comparison device is configured to turn the switch ON to permit a flow of current to the load in response to a charge of the energy storage device exceeding a predefined voltage threshold. The voltage comparison device maintains the switch in an OFF state in response to the charge of the energy storage device being below the predefined voltage threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: David M. Burke
  • Publication number: 20120032513
    Abstract: A battery management circuit, a battery module and a battery management method are provided. The battery management circuit includes a conduction circuit and a control circuit. The battery management is coupled to a rechargeable battery cell and has a first conduction path passing through the rechargeable battery cell and a second conduction path without passing through the rechargeable battery cell. The control circuit is coupled to the rechargeable battery cell and the conduction circuit, and conducts selectively the first conduction path or the second conduction path of the conduction circuit so as to avoid over charging or over discharging of the rechargeable battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: ENERGY PASS, INC.
    Inventors: ROBERT Y.H. TSU, CHING LONG LIN
  • Publication number: 20120032528
    Abstract: A communication system in which an operating voltage can be selected from a plurality of interface voltages enables an interface voltage to be switched in a stable manner during operation of the system. When the interface voltage is to be switched, a host device (1) and a slave device (2) perform the switching while maintaining the signal level of buses in a stable manner. This structure enables the communication system to switch an interface voltage using a small number of signal lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki TOYAMA, Takaharu YOSHIDA, Keisuke SAKAI
  • Patent number: 8102080
    Abstract: A control system for determining a magnitude of a voltage and controlling an application of the voltage to at least one load device of an appliance is disclosed. The control system includes a threshold-crossing circuit configured to receive a representation of the voltage and to provide an output signifying the voltage crossing a predetermined voltage threshold; and a processor which receives the output from the threshold-crossing circuit and determine the magnitude of the voltage based on the output and a line frequency based on the period of the output, determines an initial cooking profile from a group of cooking profiles based on a user selected initial setting for controlling the application of the voltage to the at least one load device, and adjusts the application of the voltage to the at least one load device based on the determined magnitude of the voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Julia Fonseca, Robert Marten Bultman, Bobby Hayes
  • Patent number: 8084892
    Abstract: An object is to provide a duplex power supply for auxiliary machines. A power supply device includes a switching section that is connected to a direct-current link between a generator-side inverter and a grid-side inverter via an auxiliary machine power inverter for converting direct-current power supplied from the direct-current link into alternating-current power to form a first path, that is connected somewhere between a power-converting section and a utility grid to form a second path, and that is connected to auxiliary machines to form a third path, and the switching section switches between connection of the third path to the first path and connection of the third path to the second path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Yasugi
  • Patent number: 8084893
    Abstract: A semiconductor device controls a switching power supply. The semiconductor device includes a current inflow terminal; a starter circuit to cause a starting current to flow from the current inflow terminal to a power supply terminal to charge a capacitor externally connected to the power supply terminal; a control unit which controls the starter circuit to turn on to charge the capacitor with the starting current and controls the starter circuit to turn off to perform brown-out detection; a comparator which detects a brown-out state while the starter circuit is turned off; and a brown-out detection unit which receives output signals from the comparator and the control unit as inputs. The brown-out detection is performed while the starter circuit is off, so that the current inflow terminal for the starter circuit is used in common as a voltage detection terminal for detection of the brown-out state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanari Fujii
  • Patent number: 8076794
    Abstract: A multi-voltage vehicle electrical system for a motor vehicle is provided, including at least one multi-voltage generator, a first energy store, whose energy may be fed into a first low-voltage vehicle electrical system branch having low-voltage consumers, and a second energy store, whose energy may be fed into a second high-voltage vehicle electrical system branch having high-voltage consumers, as well as at least one controllable switching device, using which the energy generated by the multi-voltage generator may be distributed to the first and the second vehicle electrical system branches, the first and the second energy stores being connected in series to one another and the first vehicle electrical system branch being connected to a node between the first and the second energy store and to a reference potential of the first energy store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hartmut Proebstle, Michael Roesler, Joerg Merwerth, Thomas Christ
  • Patent number: 8063516
    Abstract: An electronically controlled four quadrant MOSFET based switch in which a pair of drivers are provided in cooperation with a MOSFET. A first one of the drivers is arranged such that when current flow through the MOSFET is to be enabled responsive to a first condition of the control signal, the gate of the MOSFET is driven with an appropriate voltage, and when current flow through the MOSFET is to be disabled responsive to a second condition of the control signal, the gate is driven towards a limit voltage. A second one of the drivers is arranged such that when current flow through the MOSFET is to be enabled the body diode connection of the MOSFET is driven towards the potential of the MOSFET source, and when current flow through the MOSFET is to be disabled the body diode connection is driven towards the limit voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8054120
    Abstract: An integrated circuit, comprises a wakeup terminal; a supply voltage terminal configured to receive a supply voltage; and a power control circuit. The power control circuit comprises an enable circuit coupled to the wakeup terminal and configured to generate a voltage monitoring enable signal as a response to a wakeup signal received at the wakeup terminal, and a voltage monitoring circuit for generating a supply voltage level indication signal. The voltage monitoring circuit is coupled to the supply voltage terminal and comprises an operation switch controlled by the voltage monitoring enable signal. The voltage monitoring circuit is configured to determine if the supply voltage is above a threshold voltage and set the supply voltage level indication signal accordingly. The integrated circuit further comprises processing circuitry, with the supply voltage level indication signal controlling the switching between a normal operation state and a standby state of the processing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Design & Application GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Huber, Peter Heinrich
  • Patent number: 8049373
    Abstract: In a cooling system used in cooling of a heater housing box, the present invention presents an apparatus for stabilizing power supply of heater housing box cooling apparatus capable of changing over a plurality of taps provided in the winding of a power transformer before the output voltage exceeds an allowable voltage range when turning on alternating-current power supply. For this purpose, first resistor 1 for elevating slowly the output voltage of the power transformer when turning on the alternating-current power supply is provided at the secondary side of the power transformer, direct-current voltage V1 rectified and smoothed from the output voltage is delayed by the charging time of a first capacitor, and an electronic controller for operating a tap changeover relay for automatically changing over the plurality of taps provided in the power transformer is started before the output voltage exceeds the allowable voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Kouichi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8035254
    Abstract: An integrated circuit controller for a power converter to be coupled to a distribution network is disclosed. An example integrated circuit controller according to aspects of the present invention includes a switching control circuit that outputs a drive signal to control switching of a switch to regulate an output of the power converter. The integrated circuit controller also includes a cable drop compensator that outputs a compensated reference voltage signal to the switching control circuit in response to a switching signal. The switching signal is responsive to the drive signal. The compensated reference voltage signal is representative of a voltage value that is responsive to a distribution voltage across the distribution network and a load voltage across a load to be coupled to the distribution network. The switching of the switch is responsive to the compensated reference voltage signal and a feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Erdem Bircan
  • Publication number: 20110234173
    Abstract: A smart battery device includes an adapter, a switch electrically connected to the adapter, a battery pack electrically connected the switch, a sense resistor electrically connected to the battery pack and the adapter, an analog preprocessing circuit electrically connected to the battery pack and the sense resistor for digitizing analog signals measured at the battery pack and the sense resistor to form digital signals, and an adaptive control circuit electrically connected to the analog preprocessing circuit for receiving the digital signals, and electrically connected to the switch for selectively turning the switch on or off according to the digital signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Chin-Hsing Kao, Chun-Ming Chen, Tien-Chung Tso
  • Patent number: 8022579
    Abstract: A circuit for dynamically increasing the drop-out voltage of an electromechanical automatic transfer switch (ATS) into a brownout voltage range is provided. The automatic transfer switch includes a first input, a first coil connected to the first input, and a first, normally-open auxiliary contact in magnetic communication with the first coil. The circuit includes a first resistor adapted to connect to the first, normally-open auxiliary contact, and a first transformer having a primary winding connected to the first resistor, and a secondary winding adapted to connect to the first coil. An operating voltage across the first coil is reduced a proportional amount by a secondary voltage across the secondary winding when the first, normally-open auxiliary contact is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Mark Groff, Trung Le
  • Publication number: 20110221401
    Abstract: An approach is provided for a power factor compensating method to compensate other electronic devices that use a common power source in order to improve power factor from the perspective of a power company. The other electronic device is a type of a non-linear load, and the method enables a compensator to receive a supply voltage from the power source commonly connected to the traditional electronic devices and disables a load of the compensator for a period. The period corresponds to a range that makes an overall supply current more proportional to the supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Richard Landry Gray, Po Ming Tsai
  • Patent number: 8013475
    Abstract: An integrated circuit arrangement includes a semiconductor body having a substrate and at least one substrate terminal. At least one semiconductor component is integrated in the semiconductor body and is connected between a first supply terminal and a second supply terminal. The first supply potential is higher than the second supply potential during normal operation of the semiconductor component and the first supply potential is lower than the second supply potential during reverse voltage operation of the semiconductor component. A switch is adapted to couple at least one of the substrate terminals to the first supply terminal during reverse voltage operation and to the second supply terminal during normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Wotruba, Andrea Logiudice, Andrea Scenini, Salvatore Pastorina
  • Patent number: 8013473
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide multiple input voltage regulation in which one regulator is selected for operation based on input power conditions. In one example, a dual input voltage regulator system in a combination smart card selects between contact and contactless (e.g., RF) operation based on which power source provides the highest available voltage level. A single transistor drop architecture provides low drop-out voltage regulation capability without substantially increased transistor size. In some implementations, multiplexed control of the regulators for each of a number independent power source inputs may be arranged to substantially reduce or prevent reverse current flow through regulators connected to inactive power inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Louis Frew, Colin Bates
  • Patent number: 8004121
    Abstract: A connection cable is disclosed for controlling a voltage-controlled generator such as an electrosurgery generator from a controlling device such as a robotic surgery system. The cable includes a first connector adapted to connect to a voltage-controlled generator and a second connector adapted to connect to a controlling device. Within the cable is a voltage divider interdisposed between the first connector and the second connector. The voltage divider is configured to divide a reference voltage provided by the voltage-controlled generator into at least one control voltage which is selectable by the controlling device. The cable additionally includes a plurality of electrical wires which operatively connect the first connector, the second connector and the voltage divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: TYCO Healthcare Group LP
    Inventor: Joe D. Sartor
  • Patent number: 7977824
    Abstract: A device for switching in and out a load with respect to an alternating voltage feeder has two mechanical switches connected in series in a current path between the load and the feeder and each having a by-pass branch with at least one member with ability to block current therethrough in at least a blocking direction and conduct current therethrough in at least one direction. A unit is adapted to control a procedure of a switching out and switching in by synchronization with the current in the feeder and the voltage of the feeder, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Stefan Halen, Ola Jeppsson, Edgar Dullni, Hans Begge
  • Publication number: 20110163613
    Abstract: Of a wireless communication system, an RF tag which can operate normally even when a communication distance is extremely short, like the case where the RF tag is in contact with a reader/writer, whereby the reliability is improved. The RF tag which communicates data by wireless communication includes a comparison circuit which compares electric power supplied from outside with reference electric power and a protection circuit portion which is operated when the electric power supplied from outside is higher than the reference electric power in the comparison circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kato, Asami Tadokoro
  • Patent number: 7973425
    Abstract: A power strip device includes a power plug, a master power outlet, multiple slave power outlets and a control circuit. The control circuit includes an inductor, a reed switch and a switching circuit. Under the control of the control circuit, the power strip device allows the slave power outlets to be automatically turned on or off simultaneous with the master power outlet being turned on or off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuang-Che Chen
  • Patent number: 7966839
    Abstract: A system for controlling a heating and cooling system for use on a machine includes a condenser, an evaporator assembly, an electric motor driven compressor, and a master controller operable to determine and regulate an operational speed of the compressor. The master controller includes a plurality of control algorithms each receiving respective dynamic input information and outputting a respective controller speed request based upon the respective dynamic input information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Patrick McEnaney, Brian Todd Morrical, John Jay Bernardi, Timothy Allen Goldammer
  • Publication number: 20110133571
    Abstract: A protection circuit having: a connecting terminal which is connected to an external circuit and which inputs and outputs a charging/discharging current of a secondary battery to and from the external circuit; a voltage detection unit for detecting an output voltage of the secondary battery; a current detection unit for detecting a discharging current of the secondary battery; a power consumption calculation unit for calculating power consumption of the external circuit by multiplying a value of the output voltage detected by the voltage detection unit by a value of the discharging current detected by the current detection unit; and an external protection unit for executing external protection processing of protecting the external circuit when the power consumption calculated by the power consumption calculation unit exceeds a power threshold set to a value that is not less than a maximum value of power consumption of the external circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kiyohara, Toshiyuki Nakatsuji, Takahisa Otsu
  • Patent number: 7948201
    Abstract: An induction motor control device includes an inverter circuit for driving an induction motor by outputting a command voltage, a current detector for detecting an output current, a magnetic flux estimation observer for generating an estimated magnetic flux, an estimated current, and a phase command for the motor using the command voltage and the output current, a primary angular speed estimator for estimating a primary angular speed using the estimated magnetic flux, a slip compensator for calculating a slip angular frequency using the output current, a first angular speed estimator for estimating a first angular speed using the primary angular speed and the output current, a second angular speed estimator for estimating a second angular speed using the output current, the estimated magnetic flux, and the estimated current, and a resistance estimator for estimating a secondary resistance value of the motor using the first and second angular speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventor: Masanobu Inazumi
  • Publication number: 20110095624
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a single wire transmission interface comprising: a signal detection circuit detecting level switchings of a transmission signal from a single wire, and generating an enable signal and a decoded signal corresponding to the transmission signal, the level switchings including first switchings from a first level to a second level and second switchings from the second level to the first level, wherein the enable signal starts according to one first switching of the transmission signal, and stops when no first switching occur in a predetermined period after one second switching of the transmission signal, and wherein rising edges (or falling edges) of the decoded signal correspond to the first switchings of the transmission signal; a counter, under enablement by the enable signal, counting a number of the rising edges (or the rising edges) of the decoded signal or the first switchings of the transmission signal, and generating a count; a single short pulse generator generating a shor
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: NIEN-HUI KUNG, KWAN-JEN CHU
  • Patent number: 7932641
    Abstract: A method and structure for preventing operation of a circuit in a high current operating region by disabling a start-up circuit until a power supply headroom is detected at a predetermined voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bradford L. Hunter, Joseph A. Iadanza
  • Patent number: 7923869
    Abstract: A power adapter includes a primary side for receiving power from a mains power supply; a secondary side for providing operating and/or charging power, derived from the primary side, to an electronic device connected to the secondary side; presence logic for determining whether the electronic device is connected to the secondary side; and switching logic for turning off the primary side automatically when the presence logic determines the electronic device is not connected. The power adapter thus shuts itself down if no electronic device is attached, and automatically starts itself up when a device is connected to the power adapter and is thus needed. The power adapter may also include voltage detection logic that detects when the device is fully charged. The power adapter also shuts itself down when an attached electronic device becomes fully charged, and automatically starts itself up when the charged state of the electronic device falls below a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Fredrik B{dot over (a)}genholm, Stefan Sörensson, Idris Omerovic, Henrik Heringslack
  • Patent number: 7923856
    Abstract: A method for causing, in a power distribution network, an oscillation allowing data to be transmitted, includes connecting at least one capacitive load in series with a modulation circuit between two wires of the network. The amplitude modulation circuit includes at least one Zener diode and at least one switch. A short make pulse is applied to the switch such that it is conductive and short-circuits the Zener diode by modulating the amplitude of the network voltage. The duration of the make pulse is such that the amplitude modulation of the network voltage causes a response of the network in the form of a high-frequency oscillation of the network voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Watteco
    Inventors: Paul Bertrand, Michel Gaeta, Franck Hieramente
  • Patent number: 7911185
    Abstract: A battery-voltage detection circuit comprising: a first-capacitor; an operational-amplifier; a second-capacitor; a voltage-application-circuit to sequentially apply one and the other-battery-terminal-voltages to the other-first-capacitor-end; a discharge circuit to allow the second-capacitor to discharge before the other-battery-terminal-voltage is applied to the other-first-capacitor-end; a constant current circuit to output a constant-current causing predetermined-speed-discharge of electric charge accumulated in the second-capacitor in response to a discharge-start-signal input after voltage is applied to the other-first-capacitor-end; a comparator; and a measurement-circuit to measure a time-period from a time when the discharge-start-signal is input until a time when an comparator-output-signal changes to one logic level as a time-period corresponding to a battery-voltage, at least one of the operational-amplifier and the comparator being provided with an offset so that the comparator-output-signal chang
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 7911259
    Abstract: A voltage switching circuit selects a voltage from among a plurality of input voltages in response to a selection signal and outputs the selected voltage from an output terminal. The voltage switching circuit includes a first PMOS transistor that outputs a power supply voltage for operating a logic circuit of an output terminal. A second PMOS transistor outputs a first voltage higher than the power supply voltage to the output terminal. A third PMOS transistor outputs a second voltage lower than the power supply voltage to the output terminal. A well potential control section controls well voltages of the first and third transistors to be the power supply voltage where the power supply voltage and the second voltage are output to the output terminal, and controls the well voltages of the first and third transistors to be the first voltage where the first voltage is output to the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Oka
  • Patent number: 7893566
    Abstract: A circuit that automatically, seamlessly connects the higher (or the lower) of two power supplies to an output is described. The circuit does not incur a one diode drop when the two power supplies are at about the same voltage levels, and the unused power supply draws no stand-by current. Cross coupled transistor and cross coupled inverters are employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Roy L. Yarbrough, Julie Stultz, Steven M. Macaluso
  • Patent number: 7888822
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power-saving laser pointer mouse including a battery, a micro-controller and a laser diode. The power-saving laser pointer mouse can be operated in multi-stage power-saving modes according to the voltage value of the battery. The lighting time interval of the laser diode is adjusted by the micro-controller according to the voltage value of the battery. When the voltage value of the battery is reduced, the lighting time interval of the laser diode is shortened so as to achieve the power-saving purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Nan Su, Hung-Ming Lin, Yi-Guang Chen
  • Patent number: 7880341
    Abstract: A switching device for a transformer allows stable power supply without power interruption when a secondary winding voltage of the transformer is changed in the case of voltage drop on a distribution line due to a load characteristic. The switching device having an uninterruptible power supply function includes a plurality of switches operated by an external signal, a current circulation unit for multiple switches electrically connected to a large-current path of the switches to perform a switch-on function in place of the switches upon switching on and off between the switches, and a control unit electrically connected to the switches and current circulation unit to read voltage values and to apply signals to the switches depending on the voltage values to sequentially switch the switches. Accordingly, the switching device can stably supply power to power consumption sources without power interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Korea Electric Power Corporation
    Inventor: Dong Yeol Shin
  • Patent number: 7880340
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a radiation-triggered shutdown circuit that disables a critical aspect of the integrated circuit rendering the integrated circuit non-functional when the integrated circuit receives a predetermined radiation dose. That ensures integrated circuits including the radiation-triggered shutdown circuit are ITAR compliant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy Mark Miller
  • Patent number: 7875998
    Abstract: A power control circuit includes an isolation circuit for receiving a separate image signal and outputting a start signal, and a driving circuit for outputting a direct current (DC) power to start a power module. The other power control circuit includes a first signal generating circuit, for generating a first signal; a second signal generating circuit, for receiving a DC power and outputting a second signal upon receiving a first signal; a driving circuit, for outputting a DC power to start a power module after receiving the second signal; an isolation circuit, for receiving the separate image signal and outputting a start signal; and a control circuit, for outputting a DC power to start the power module after receiving the start signal. The operation of the power control circuit can be suspended, when the display device is in a standby state, thereby reducing power consumption in the standby state significantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Amtran Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Yuan-Ko Ting
  • Patent number: 7872846
    Abstract: A protective circuit (30) for intrinsically safe electromagnetic actuators operating at the voltage of a power supply approved for underground mining, for switching electrohydraulic valves in underground mining, comprising a coil (11) connected to a first potential (2) and a second potential (3) of the power supply and associated with at least two spaced apart short-circuit means (12) connected in parallel with the electromagnetic actuator coil (11) for short-circuiting ting the coil in the event of a reversal of the potential of the coil voltage. In accordance with the present invention the protective circuit comprises a semiconductor switch (T3) which is inserted between the coil (11) and the second potential (3) and, in the event of a voltage reduction or potential reversal, isolates the coil (11) from the second potential, so that the discharge from the coil (11) has no adverse effect on the energy supply system or the intrinsic safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Bucyrus Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Titschert, Achim Sondermann
  • Patent number: 7859132
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for safely connecting a device to a power source. The invention includes a power bus switch that operates to selectively allow operational power to flow from a power supply to a load. The operational power is independent of auxiliary power which may be separately provided to the load. A detection module determines whether an input impedance of the load is greater than a minimum impedance threshold in response to the load being connected to the power supply. A switch module causes the power bus switch to allow operational power to flow to the load in response to the detection module determining that the input impedance is greater than the minimum impedance threshold. Thus, if the load has an acceptable input impedance level, then operational power may be provided to the load without risk of failure to the power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chu R. Chung, Cecil C. Dishman, Jen-Ching Lin, Randhir S. Malik
  • Patent number: 7851948
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes that a first power line supplied with first power supply voltage, a second power line supplied with second power supply voltage, a third power line electrically connected to a internal circuit; a first switch configured to electrically connect or disconnect the first power line and the third power line, a second switch configured to electrically connect or disconnect the second power line and the third power line, and a control circuit controlling the second switch to electrically connect the first power line and the third power line following a predetermined period after the first power line and the third power line are electrically connected each other based on the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kenichi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7834484
    Abstract: A connection cable is disclosed for controlling a voltage-controlled generator such as an electrosurgery generator from a controlling device such as a robotic surgery system. The cable includes a first connector adapted to connect to a voltage-controlled generator and a second connector adapted to connect to a controlling device. Within the cable is a voltage divider interdisposed between the first connector and the second connector. The voltage divider is configured to divide a reference voltage provided by the voltage-controlled generator into at least one control voltage which is selectable by the controlling device. The cable additionally includes a plurality of electrical wires which operatively connect the first connector, the second connector and the voltage divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: TYCO Healthcare Group LP
    Inventor: Joe D. Sartor