Different Frequencies Or Phase Patents (Class 307/3)
  • Patent number: 11803668
    Abstract: In various examples, an integrated circuit includes first and second portions operating within separate domains. The second portion has an interface that connects the first and second portions. The second portion selectively locks the interface to prevent communication with the first portion over the interface, and selectively unlocks the interface to allow communication with the first portion over the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: NVIDIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Padam Patt Krishnani, Avinash J V, Anirban Ghosh, Phanikumar Parvatham, Vamshikrishna Yalamaddi, Srinivasa Reddy Kalluri
  • Patent number: 11689377
    Abstract: A powered device interface includes a supply sensing circuit, a demand sensing circuit, and a control circuit. The supply sensing circuit is configured to sense an amount of power received by the powered device from at least one power source equipment over an ethernet cable. The demand sensing circuit is configured to sense a power demand requested by the powered device. The control circuit is coupled with the supply sensing circuit and the demand sensing circuit and is configured to cause the power demand requested by the powered device to be reduced when the power demand requested by the powered device exceeds the amount of power allowed by the power source equipment for the powered device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gaoling Zou, Yangyang Wen, Harrison Zhang, Qicheng Huang, Antonio Panebianco, Salvatore G. Pastorina
  • Patent number: 11655708
    Abstract: A downhole telemetry method and system are disclosed. In some embodiment, a method includes driving a pulser device based on an input data stream, wherein driving the pulser device includes generating modulated pressure pulses including modulated pulse shapes within a fluid telemetry medium. In some embodiments in which bi-modulation is utilized, the method further includes driving the pulser device including modulating pressure pulses including pulse position modulating pressure pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Li Gao, Ravi P. Nanayakkara, Joni Polili Lie, Mukul M. Agnihotri
  • Patent number: 11348777
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method of processing ions in a mass spectrometer is disclosed, which comprises trapping a plurality of ions having different mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios in a collision cell, releasing said ions from the collision cell in a descending order in m/z ratio, and receiving the ions in a mass analyzer having a plurality of rods to at least one of which an RF voltage is applied, where the RF voltage is varied from a first value to a lower second value as the released ions are received by the mass analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: DH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Mircea Guna
  • Patent number: 11101830
    Abstract: A system for clock calibration is described herein which comprises a serializer configured to convert an input data stream in parallel format to provide an out data stream in a serial format; a clock source configured to generate one or more clock signals; a first frequency divider configured to provide at least one divided clock signal of the one or more clock signals; a delay line configured to delay at least one divided clock signal; and a clock calibrator configured to control delay of the at least one divided clock signal at the delay line to adjust the one or more divided clock signals at a fixed relationship with respect to the one or more clock signals based on voltage and temperature variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Shourya Kansal, Ravi Mehta, Biman Chattopadhyay
  • Patent number: 11057306
    Abstract: Examples include a method of determining a first traffic overload protection policy for a first service provided by a first virtual network function in a network of virtual network functions in a computing system and determining a second traffic overload protection policy for a second service provided by a second virtual network function in the network of virtual network functions. The method includes applying the first traffic overload protection policy to the first virtual network function and the second traffic overload protection policy to the second virtual network function, wherein the first traffic overload protection policy and the second traffic overload protection policy are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jasvinder Singh, John J. Browne, Shobhi Jain, Sunku Ranganath, John O'Loughlin, Emma L. Foley
  • Patent number: 11032819
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a base station interface configured to receive a modulated signal in a first spectral segment directed to a mobile communication device, wherein the modulated signal conforms to a wireless signaling protocol. A transceiver is configured to: convert the modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first modulated signal in a second spectral segment based on a signal processing of the modulated signal and without modifying the wireless signaling protocol of the modulated signal, wherein the second spectral segment is outside the first spectral segment; generate fault mitigation messaging in a control channel; and transmit the modulated signal in the second spectral segment and the control channel to another network device of the distributed antenna system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Irwin Gerszberg
  • Patent number: 10931140
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to system and method used to transmit power to a remote location. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a system and method used to independently energize control and monitoring functions of a remote installation prior to and/or during energizing its main circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited
    Inventors: Aage Hadler-Jacobsen, Audun Magne Askeland
  • Patent number: 10914904
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system for receiving first optical power signals via an optical fiber connected with a light source of a network device, converting the first optical power signals to electrical energy utilizing an optical power converter where the electrical energy is utilized as power by the system, and transmitting or receiving electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves convey data. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Farhad Barzegar, Giovanni Vannucci, Paul Shala Henry, Thomas M. Willis, III, Irwin Gerszberg, Robert Bennett, Donald J. Barnickel
  • Patent number: 10910776
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle contains contacts, at least one contact for electrical connection to a hot power line and at least one contact for a neutral power line. A controlled switch, such as a TRIAC, is connected in series relationship between the contact and the hot power line. One or more sensors are provided which detect signals of the hot power line and/or the neutral power line. The processor provides activation or deactivation control to the controlled switch in response to the detected signals that are indicative of conditions relative to the first and second contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Brainwave Research Corporation
    Inventors: John Eriksen, Jean-Guy Gagne, Benoit Fortin, Rene K. Pardo
  • Patent number: 10742321
    Abstract: A baseband processing unit includes a baseband processor configured to receive a plurality of component carriers of a radio access technology wireless service, and a delta-sigma digitization interface configured to digitize at least one carrier signal of the plurality of component carriers into a digitized bit stream, for transport over a transport medium, by (i) oversampling the at least one carrier signal, (ii) quantizing the oversampled carrier signal into the digitized bit stream using two or fewer quantization bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jing Wang, Luis Alberto Campos, Zhensheng Jia, Curtis Dean Knittle
  • Patent number: 10735049
    Abstract: A repeater (9), system (1) and method (100) for facilitating data communication, over a power-line (7), between a first electronic communication device (3) and a second electronic communication device (5). The repeater (9) includes a first power-line communication (PLC) transceiver (11), a second PLC transceiver (13) and a repeater communication channel (15). The first PLC transceiver (11) communicates with the first electronic communication device (3) over the power-line (7). The second PLC transceiver (13) communicates with the second electronic communication device (5) over the power-line (7). The first PLC transceiver (11) communicates with the second PLC transceiver (13) over the repeater communication channel (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: NAUTITECH MINING SYSTEMS PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Douglas Raymond Honda Carter
  • Patent number: 10674574
    Abstract: A lighting control system includes a control system, a plurality of connected control devices and a plurality of lighting output devices each of which includes a processor at their installed location. The control devices and lighting output devices are in communication with the processors via the conventional two-wire power supply wiring. The connected lighting devices are configured to receive a control signal from the control devices through the control system and selectively operate based on the control signal received. The control system may further support multiple control systems that may be interconnected together via conventional two-wire power delivery systems to control larger arrays of sensors, control inputs, and lighting output devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Revolution Lighting Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Herbst, Nicholas G. Preiser, Ward Ramsdell, Marc Christiansen
  • Patent number: 10648686
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system having a control system suitable to control operation of a device in the HVAC system. The control system may include a zone control panel that may control operation of the device using power-line communication. Accordingly, the zone control panel and the device may be both communicatively and electrically coupled via one or more power lines. To that end, the zone control panel may determine a primary address identifying the device and/or a secondary address indicating the one or more power lines electrically coupled to the device. Further, the zone control panel may communicate with and/or coordinate operation of the device by transmitting data messages to the device via the one or more power lines based on the primary address and/or the secondary address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Theresa N. Gillette, Tyler P. McCune, Jonathan A. Burns, Brian D. Rigg, Shawn A. Hern, Tom R. Tasker, Andrew M. Boyd, Cody J. Kaiser, Noel A. Grajeda-Trevizo
  • Patent number: 10594367
    Abstract: In a PoDL system, where DC power and differential data are supplied over the same conductors between a PSE and a PD, a low-power test is first performed to determine the conductor resistance. The PSE and PD are connected to the conductors via DC-coupling inductors that block the data signals. Such inductors have a DC resistance (DCR). To avoid the DCR of the PD inductors being included in the resistance test of the conductors and to avoid the requirement of additional pins for kelvin sensing, the PD includes a MOSFET switch connected across the conductors on the line-side of the PD inductors. The PSE applies a current pulse of a known value to one of the conductors while the MOSFET switch is temporarily closed. The PSE measures the resulting voltage across the wires and uses Ohm's law to more accurately calculate the resistance of the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Linear Technology Holding LLC
    Inventor: Gitesh Bhagwat
  • Patent number: 10498567
    Abstract: Examples described herein provide a communication scheme between integrated circuit (IC) dies. In an example, an IC package includes a first IC die and a second IC die. The first IC die includes an encoder/decoder configured to implement encoded communications. The second IC die includes a transceiver configured to implement unencoded differential communications. The encoder/decoder is communicatively coupled to the transceiver. The encoder/decoder is configured to implement communications to the transceiver using a subset of a code map of the encoded communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventor: Alireza S. Kaviani
  • Patent number: 10461809
    Abstract: A circuit, system and method for controlling electrical power to a load, the circuit has a controller with power supply input nodes and a controller data input node. Two power supply input terminals supply electrical power to the circuit. A digital control signal pre-processing unit couples one of the power supply input terminals to the controller data input node. The digital control signal pre-processing unit has a capacitor arranged to block voltage biasing resulting from power supplied across electrical power supply input terminals from being supplied to the controller data input node. The digital control signal pre-processing unit is arranged to generate positive and negative voltage impulses in response to corresponding rising and falling edges of a digital control signal provided at the power supply input terminals. The digital control signal pre-processing unit is further arranged to generate a revised version of the digital control signal without the voltage biasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: LIGHTING AND ILLUMINATION TECHNOLOGY EXPERIENCE LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael John Merrick, Rod Holt
  • Patent number: 10439397
    Abstract: A system of surge suppressor units is connected at multiple locations on a power transmission and distribution grid to provide grid level protection against various disturbances before such disturbances can reach or affect facility level equipment. The surge suppressor units effectively prevent major voltage and current spikes from impacting the grid. In addition, the surge suppressor units include various integration features which provide diagnostic and remote reporting capabilities required by most utility operations. As such, the surge suppressor units protect grid level components from major events such as natural geomagnetic disturbances (solar flares), extreme electrical events (lightning) and human-generated events (EMPs) and cascading failures on the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Asator Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Daryl Moore, Jon Yarusso
  • Patent number: 10439396
    Abstract: A system of surge suppressor units is connected at multiple locations on a power transmission and distribution grid to provide grid level protection against various disturbances before such disturbances can reach or affect facility level equipment. The surge suppressor units effectively prevent major voltage and current spikes from impacting the grid. In addition, the surge suppressor units include various integration features which provide diagnostic and remote reporting capabilities required by most utility operations. As such, the surge suppressor units protect grid level components from major events such as natural geomagnetic disturbances (solar flares), extreme electrical events (lightning) and human-generated events (EMPs) and cascading failures on the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Asator Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Daryl Moore, Jon Yarusso
  • Patent number: 10432258
    Abstract: A system includes a multi-use power interface configured to be electrically and communicatively coupled to a vehicle via Broadband over Power Line (BPL) data links. The system also includes sensors configured to collect power quality data and load management data for the BPL data links and the multi-use power interface. The multi-use power interface includes a user interface, a processor, and a memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the multi-use power interface to perform operations. The operations include receiving power quality data and load management data from the sensors. The operations also include determining, based on the received data, functional health statuses of the multi-use power interface and the BPL data links. The operations further include transmitting the functional health statuses, the power quality data, and the load management data to a data store, and indicating, in the user interface, the functional health statuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy M. Mitchell, Everett D. Brown, Payal Shah, Shahram Nameni, Donald E. Dillenburg, Navpreet Singh, Michael D. McInnis
  • Patent number: 10431981
    Abstract: A system of surge suppressor units is connected at multiple locations on a power transmission and distribution grid to provide grid level protection against various disturbances before such disturbances can reach or affect facility level equipment. The surge suppressor units effectively prevent major voltage and current spikes from impacting the grid. In addition, the surge suppressor units include various integration features which provide diagnostic and remote reporting capabilities required by most utility operations. As such, the surge suppressor units protect grid level components from major events such as natural geomagnetic disturbances (solar flares), extreme electrical events (lightning) and human-generated events (EMPs) and cascading failures on the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Asator Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Daryl Moore, Jon Yarusso
  • Patent number: 10352984
    Abstract: A method of locating a fault on an electricity transmission line is disclosed. The transmission line has a known line impedance and is operable to transport electricity at one or more system frequencies. The method comprises using measurements of the current and voltage made on the line at one or more frequencies which are different to the system frequency and the known line impedance (Z) to determine a distance to the fault. The method may include monitoring the voltage and the current on the transmission line at the one or more non-system frequencies, and determining from the presence of signals at a non-system frequency on the transmission line that a fault has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: The University of Nottingham
    Inventors: David Thomas, Mark Sumner, Jia Ke
  • Patent number: 10271267
    Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate efficiently indicating parameter(s) associated with a base station utilizing synchronization signals in a wireless communication environment. For instance, relative locations of a PSC and a SSC in a radio frame can be a function of a parameter. Further, a PSC sequence utilized to generate PSCs can be selected based upon a parameter. Moreover, inclusion or exclusion of PSCs from a radio frame can be a function of a parameter. Additionally or alternatively, pseudo random sequence mappings (e.g., to cell IDs, tone locations) can be a function of a parameter. Example parameters can be whether the base station is part of a TDD or a FDD system, whether the radio frame employs FS1 or FS2, whether the base station is associated with a macro or a femto cell, or whether the base station is associated with a unicast or a multicast system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Tao Luo, Durga Prasad Malladi, Juan Montojo, Peter Gaal, Sandip Sarkar
  • Patent number: 10234835
    Abstract: This document relates to management of computing devices using modulated electricity. One example includes assigning a set of time slices to a computing device for drawing electricity and subsequently causing the computing device to adjust consumption of the electricity by assigning a different set of time slices to the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jie Liu, Brian Janous, Gregory Joseph McKnight, Sean James, Ricardo Bianchini
  • Patent number: 10164315
    Abstract: Coupling apparatuses, circuits having such coupling apparatuses and corresponding methods are provided that involve a first and a second signal being coupled out from an out-coupling circuit part and being separately coupled into first and second circuit pmts. The use of different coupling mechanisms effects signal separation in this case. In particular, one of the signals can be coupled as a differential signal and the other as a common mode signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Johann Peter Forstner, Vadim Issakov, Saverio Trotta
  • Patent number: 10097244
    Abstract: Devices and methods for supply or receiving electric power. A power supply method may include specifying a type of a power source, specifying a power receiving capability of a power receiving device, performing collation of the specified type of the power source with the specified power receiving capability, and controlling transmission of electric power from the power source of the specified type to the power receiving device based on the collation. A power receiving method may include specifying a type of a power source, specifying a power receiving capability of a power receiving device, performing collation of the specified type of the power source with the specified power receiving capability, and controlling, based on the collation, selective conversion of electric power transmitted from the power source of the specified type to the power receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sako, Takanori Washiro, Kazuyoshi Takemura, Isao Soma, Kuniya Hayashi, Kayoko Tanaka, Taro Tadano, Satoshi Higano, Kazutoshi Serita
  • Patent number: 10009067
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for exchanging electrical signals and guided electromagnetic waves between customer premises equipment and service provider equipment to provide uplink and/or downlink communication services. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Martin Birk, Paul Shala Henry
  • Patent number: 9991813
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the data transmission from an emitter (1) to a receiver (2) in an AC voltage network, comprising a distributor (3) and at least one user group (4) with one or several users (5), wherein the emitter (1) feeds a signal to the AC voltage network by means of a power source (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: AIZO GROUP AG
    Inventors: Eckhard Bröckmann, Wilfried Beck, Wolfgang Kemmler, Volker Deckers
  • Patent number: 9838079
    Abstract: A load power monitoring apparatus and method use a power line communication apparatus and method. The power line communication apparatus is capable of performing power line communication through a simple circuit structure by loading a data signal on a current signal supplied over the power line. The power line communication apparatus includes a transmission unit configured to generate a data signal using the current signal, which is supplied through the power line, as a carrier wave, and to transmit the data signal through the power line, and a reception unit configured to receive the data signal, which is generated by the transmission unit, through the power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Soo Park, Young Jin Park, Sung Mok Seo, Jong Hyun Shin, Jae Won Choi
  • Patent number: 9831759
    Abstract: A voltage source converter includes at least one limb connected between DC terminals, the or each limb including: a phase element including switching elements to interconnect a DC electrical network and an AC electrical network; an auxiliary sub-converter configured to be controllable to act as a waveform synthesizer to modify a first DC voltage presented to the DC electrical network; and a tertiary sub-converter connected in parallel with the electrical block and controllable to act as a waveform synthesizer to modify a second DC voltage presented to a DC side of the phase element, the tertiary sub-converter (39) including at least one energy storage device. The voltage source converter includes a controller configured to selectively control the or each tertiary sub-converter to synthesize at least one tertiary voltage component so as to transfer energy to or from that tertiary sub-converter and thereby regulate an energy level of that tertiary sub-converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Omar Fadhel Jasim, David Reginald Trainer
  • Patent number: 9827976
    Abstract: A non-contact power reception device includes a load such as a power storage device identified as a subject of power feeding, and a secondary self-resonant coil receiving electric power to be supplied to said load from an external primary self-resonant coil. The secondary self-resonant coil is configured so as to be switchable between a first state and a second state. The first state is selected in a power reception mode in which the secondary self-resonant coil is magnetically coupled with the primary self-resonant coil through resonance of a magnetic field. The second state is selected in a power non-reception mode in which the magnetic coupling of the secondary self-resonant coil with the primary self-resonant coil through resonance is weaker than in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9825668
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to power line communications (PLC) systems and apparatus. In some implementations, a method includes determining information regarding a potential data rate to be used with a powerline communications (PLC) channel, reducing a bias current or voltage of an analog front end of a PLC transceiver based on the determined information to reduce power consumption of the analog front end of the PLC transceiver, and transmitting or receiving data over the PLC channel with the reduced bias current or voltage of the analog front end of the PLC transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: MAXLINEAR ASIA SINGAPORE PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventors: Lydi Smaini, Alexandre Rouxel
  • Patent number: 9798337
    Abstract: A control system includes a control device adapted to be connected to a live line and a neutral line that transmit a grid power, and to a load via a first power line and a second power line. The control device includes: a first switch adapted to be connected between the live line and the first power line; a second switch adapted to be connected between the neutral line and the second power line; a coupler adapted to be connected to the first power line, receiving a communication signal, and coupling the communication signal to the first power line; and a controller controlling the first and second switches to synchronously alternate between an ON state and an OFF state, and outputting the communication signal to the coupler when the first and second switches operate in the OFF state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: DIWIN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu-Cheng Hung
  • Patent number: 9785213
    Abstract: Smart Appliances are defined that assist in reducing energy consumption or cost. The Smart Appliances communicate with Smart Energy sources via the power lines and in particular by injecting communications signals between the live plus neutral power lines on the one hand and the ground line on the other hand, the communications protocol allowing a power source to identify the electrical circuit to which an appliance is connected and thereby to route a selected type of power to the appliance on the correct electrical circuit for that appliance. An addressable electrical outlet is also disclosed as one form of Smart Appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Koolbridge Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Wilkinson Dent, Lawrence D. Zirbel
  • Patent number: 9787362
    Abstract: A transmitter path of a power line communication (PLC) device is described. In an embodiment, the transmitter path may include an amplifier, a capacitor coupled to the amplifier, a shared transformer coupled to the capacitor, and a plurality of line interface coupling circuits coupled to the shared transformer, where each of the line interface coupling circuits is configured to be connected to a different phase of an electrical power circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Badri Varadarajan, Edward Mullins
  • Patent number: 9778711
    Abstract: A control device is provided. A first counting unit counts and generates a first output signal. When a counting value of the first counting unit is equal to a first pre-determined value, the first output signal is at a first level. When the counting value of the first counting unit is not equal to the first pre-determined value, the first output signal is at a second level. A second counting unit counts and generates a second output signal. When a counting value of the second counting unit is equal to a second pre-determined value, the second output signal is at the second level. When the counting value of the second counting unit is not equal to the second pre-determined value, the second output signal is at the first level. A determination unit generates a reset signal according to the levels of the first and second output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Nuvoton Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Yao-Chang Chang
  • Patent number: 9774370
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for data communication over power lines in a PLC system. The apparatus includes a data-coupling circuit configured to provide data to the power lines for transmission. The data-coupling circuit includes a DC-isolation circuit configured to isolate circuitry of the data-coupling circuit from the power lines. The apparatus also includes a feedback circuit connected to the DC-isolation circuit. The feedback circuit has a power-tap circuit on an endpoint side of the feedback circuit. The power-tap circuit is configured to indicate/estimate of an amount of power, current, and/or voltage provided from the data-coupling circuit through the DC-isolation circuit and to the power lines. Based on the feedback the signal, the strength of a transmitted may be adjusted (e.g., to maintain constant signal strength).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Damian Bonicatto
  • Patent number: 9671552
    Abstract: A few-mode fiber is described, having a graded-index core and a surrounding cladding comprising a ledge between the core and the trench, a down-doped trench abutting the ledge, and an undoped cladding region abutting the trench. The fiber's refractive index profile is configured to support 9 LP modes for transmission of a spatially-multiplexed optical signal and has optimized maximum differential group delay (MDGD) through a wide range of wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: OFS FITEL, LLC
    Inventor: Yi Sun
  • Patent number: 9667320
    Abstract: A power line communication modem is provided, including a connection element configured to connect the power line communication modem to at least three wires of a power line network; a transmitter configured to transmit a first signal via a first combination of at least two wires of the at least three wires and to transmit a second signal via a second combination of at least two wires of the at least three wires; a controller adapted to individually control a transmit power of the first signal and the second signal. A corresponding power line communication system and a power line communication method are provided as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Schneider, Andreas Schwager
  • Patent number: 9660680
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for communicating over power lines. The apparatus includes a coupling modem that is situated between a power line and a device. The coupling modem is configured to demodulate a signal received from the power line into a sine signal and a cosine signal. The coupling modem is also configured to modulate a communicated bit stream received from the device into a transmitted signal in order to impose the transmitted signal onto the power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Michael J. Krasowski, Norman F. Prokop, Lawrence C. Greer, III, Jennifer M. Nappier
  • Patent number: 9641221
    Abstract: An electrical device includes signal ports, transformers, and a differential mode device. The transformers are in communication with the signal ports, respectively. The transformers are configured to receive input signals, respectively, from the signal ports. Each transformer is configured to inject the respective input signal onto a pair of output lines of the transformer. The differential mode device is connected to a first output line of the pair of output lines of a first transformer exclusive of connection to a second output line of the first transformer. The differential mode device is configured to inject a signal from the first output line onto the pair of output lines of a second transformer. Signals from the pair of output lines of the second transformer are injected onto a pair of conductors, respectively, of a communications medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: MARVELL HISPANIA, S.L.
    Inventors: Jorge Vicente Blasco Claret, Jose Luis Gonzalez Moreno, Jose Maria Vidal Ros
  • Patent number: 9642197
    Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit for compensating a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) base current that mirrors the BJT base current to induce a mirror current that is coupled to an emitter of the BJT to decrease an emitter current by a size of the mirror current. Also disclosed is a light-emitting diode (LED) driving apparatus including an LED array, a BJT series-coupled to the LED array, a measuring unit coupled to an emitter of the BJT to measure a current flowing into the LED array, a differential amplifier configured to differentially amplify a reference voltage and the measured current to supply a base current to a base of the BJT, and a BJT base current compensation circuit as disclosed to accurately control an LED current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gyu Ho Lim, Jun Sik Min
  • Patent number: 9614588
    Abstract: Smart Appliances are defined that assist in reducing energy consumption or cost. The Smart Appliances communicate with Smart Energy sources via the power lines and in particular by injecting communications signals between the live plus neutral power lines on the one hand and the ground line on the other hand, the communications protocol allowing a power source to identify the electrical circuit to which an appliance is connected and thereby to route a selected type of power to the appliance on the correct electrical circuit for that appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Koolbridge Solar, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Wilkinson Dent
  • Patent number: 9602161
    Abstract: A power line communication (PLC) network includes a plurality of PLC devices. One such PLC device may include a transmitter power control system that determines a minimum level of transmission power for sufficiently communicating a plurality of data packets from the PLC device over the PLC network to a first destination PLC device on the PLC network by executing a training sequence over the PLC network via an electrical power distribution system. The transmitter power control system applies this minimum level of transmission power to transmit the data packets to the first destination PLC device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yanjun Sun, Minghua Fu, Xiaolin Lu
  • Patent number: 9590421
    Abstract: Dynamic power flow controllers are provided. A dynamic power flow controller may comprise a transformer and a power converter. The power converter is subject to low voltage stresses and not floated at line voltage. In addition, the power converter is rated at a fraction of the total power controlled. A dynamic power flow controller controls both the real and the reactive power flow between two AC sources having the same frequency. A dynamic power flow controller inserts a voltage with controllable magnitude and phase between two AC sources; thereby effecting control of active and reactive power flows between two AC sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: VARENTEC, INC.
    Inventors: Deepakraj M. Divan, Anish Prasai
  • Patent number: 9570938
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply device, and method of use thereof, including a multiple-input source AC converter for receiving an AC input voltage and a DC input voltage, an inverter including a combiner module for combining the input power sources, and an AC/AC switching transformer, the inverter being controlled by a controller to provide an output voltage signal, the controller configured to sample the input voltage signal, the switching signal current and the output voltage signal, and to control the switching transformer based thereon so as to render the output voltage signal sinusoidal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: POWER OFFER ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Ofer Zilberberg, Eli Flaxer
  • Patent number: 9444367
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing AC power. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a cycloconverter controller for determining a DC value based on a reference waveform and a three-phase cycloconverter, coupled to the cycloconverter controller, for selectively coupling, based on the DC value, an alternating current to an AC line to generate a single-phase AC output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Fornage, Donald Richard Zimmanck
  • Patent number: 9419681
    Abstract: An electrical device is provided for a power line system for data transmission, including at least one line of a power supply network, at least one signal line, and a coupling region wherein the at least one line of the power supply network and the at least one signal line are partially arranged. The at least one line of the power supply network and the at least one signal line are electrically isolated from each other and capacitively coupled to each other in the coupling region. A motor vehicle is equipped with the power line system for data transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Torsten Herzog, Robert Weber, Richard Bogenberger, Winfried Siegl
  • Patent number: 9407323
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to power line communications (PLC) systems and apparatus. In some implementations, a method includes determining information regarding a potential data rate to be used with a powerline communications (PLC) channel, reducing a bias current or voltage of an analog front end of a PLC transceiver based on the determined information to reduce power consumption of the analog front end of the PLC transceiver, and transmitting or receiving data over the PLC channel with the reduced bias current or voltage of the analog front end of the PLC transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Lydi Smaini, Alexandre Rouxel
  • Patent number: 9379775
    Abstract: A communication system includes a router transceiver unit and a bandwidth module. The router transceiver unit includes a network adapter module and a signal modulator module. The network adapter module is configured to receive high bandwidth network data from one or more data sources disposed on board a vehicle. The signal modulator module is configured for electrical connection to a wired connection, and to convert the high bandwidth network data into modulated network data in a form suitable for transmission over the wired connection. The bandwidth module is configured to allocate different portions of a data communication bandwidth of the wired connection to the modulated network data. The allocation is based on categories representing at least one of the one or more data sources or contents of the high bandwidth network data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, Todd William Goodermuth, Eugene A. Smith, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Glenn Robert Shaffer