Nonlinear (e.g., Thyrite) Patents (Class 324/132)
  • Patent number: 11921249
    Abstract: Example ultrasonic acoustic sensors for measuring formation velocities are disclosed herein. An example sensor includes a housing, a first transmitter carried by the housing, a second transmitter carried by the housing, and a receiver array carried by the housing and disposed between the first transmitter and the second transmitter. The first transmitter is disposed at a first angle relative to a surface the housing and the second transmitter is disposed at second angle relative to the surface the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hori, Evgeniya Deger, Tatsuaki Kamoi, Hiroshi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11747390
    Abstract: The subject application provides an apparatus and method for measuring dynamic on-resistance of a device under test (DUT) comprising a control terminal electrically connected to an output of a first controlling module being configured to generate a first control signal to switch on and off the DUT. The apparatus comprises a switching device and a second controlling module configured to: receive the first control signal from the first controlling module and generate a second control signal to switch on and off the switching device such that the switching device is turned on later than the DUT for a first time interval and turned off earlier than the DUT for a second time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: INNOSCIENCE (SUZHOU) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Rong Yang, Sichao Li, Chunhua Zhou, Donghua Bai
  • Patent number: 11217684
    Abstract: A method for rapidly gathering a sub-threshold swing from a thin film transistor is provided. The method includes: electrically connecting an operational amplifier and an anti-exponential component to a source terminal of the thin film transistor; performing a measuring process to the thin film transistor in which the measuring process is inputting multiple values of a gate voltage to a gate terminal, such that multiple values of an output voltage are correspondingly generated from the output terminal of the operational amplifier; and performing a fitting process to the output voltage corresponding to the thin film transistor in which the fitting process is fitting at least two of said multiple values of the output voltage to get the sub-threshold swing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: MIKRO MESA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Li-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 11183873
    Abstract: A method is provided for smoothing of an overall load curve. The method includes aggregation of a plurality of elementary load curves. In one example, the method makes provision to determine (S1) a regulation period di associated with the load i; determine and store each elementary load curve by obtaining (S2) a plurality of measured consumption samples with a sampling period Tech that is a submultiple of each regulation period di. Starting from a reference time common to all of the loads, the method time-shifts (S3) the operation of each load i by a random shift ?ti depending on the sampling period Tech, on the regulation period di determined for the load i and on a random integer value Ni associated with the load i.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: VOLTALIS
    Inventors: Bruno Heintz, Mathieu Bineau, Marc Autord, Benjamin Pinard, Christophe Tan, Jean Marc Oury
  • Patent number: 10852330
    Abstract: Improved techniques for sensing and reporting power consumption from a single or multiple power supplies are disclosed. The disclosed techniques comprise integrated circuit solutions for sensing power. In some embodiments, an integrated circuit comprises circuitry for converting source voltage into a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal and circuitry for modulating the PWM signal with a current sense signal to determine sensed power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Silego Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Truong, Albert Chen, Minghan Chuang
  • Patent number: 10330709
    Abstract: A method of estimating a root mean square (RMS) of an alternating current (AC) voltage is provided. The system includes a rectifier configured to rectify the AC voltage and a controller configured to derive a delayed AC voltage by delaying the rectified AC voltage by a preset delay time. The controller is configured to estimate a root mean square (RMS) of the AC voltage based on the rectified AC voltage and the delayed AC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hui Sung Jang, Gi Bong Son, Hyun Wook Seong
  • Patent number: 10194520
    Abstract: A circuit assembly includes a circuit board, a heat dissipation member on which the circuit board is placed and that is configured to release heat of the circuit board, an insulating layer that is formed on a surface on the circuit board side of the heat dissipation member, a bonding portion made of a bonding agent that is arranged in a predetermined region between the circuit board and the heat dissipation member, and an adhesive portion that is arranged in a region other than the predetermined region between the circuit board and the heat dissipation member and that is made of an adhesive with which the circuit board and the heat dissipation member are bonded to each other with lower bonding force than with the bonding agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 10152276
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array including a plurality of memory cells that store data, a sense circuit coupled to the memory array for reading data stored in the memory array, a data register for storing data to be written into the memory array, a data processor, and a control unit. The data processor is configured to receive input data units to be written into the memory array, and process the input data units based on array data units stored in the memory array to generate processed data units. The control unit is configured to write the processed data units into the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Johnny Chan
  • Patent number: 9917593
    Abstract: An analog to digital converter includes an error integration circuit configured to receive an input charge from a detector and to integrate a difference between the input charge and one or more feedback charge pulses to create an error voltage. A quantizer is in operable communication with the error integration circuit and is responsive to the created error voltage. An accumulator having a mantissa component and a radix component is in operable communication with the quantizer. A charge feedback device in operable communication with the quantizer and the radix component of the accumulator. The charge feedback device is configured to generate the one or more feedback charge pulses proportional to the radix component of the accumulator and an output of the quantizer. Digital focal plane read out integrated circuits including the analog to digital converter are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Intrinsix Corp.
    Inventor: Eugene M. Petilli
  • Patent number: 9735751
    Abstract: A system for tuning an audio reproduction device is disclosed. The system includes an audio signal generator for generating an audio signal to be played back in an audio reproduction device and sending the audio signal to the audio reproduction device; a microphone signal module for receiving a microphone signal from a microphone, the microphone signal recording a sound wave reproduced by the audio reproduction device when the audio signal is played back in the audio reproduction device; a comparison module for determining whether the microphone signal matches target sound signature data; and a filter module for applying a digital filter to emulate a target sound signature responsive to determining that the microphone signal does not match the target sound signature data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
    Inventor: Tetsuro Oishi
  • Patent number: 9651600
    Abstract: A power up detecting system for generating one of a first power up detecting signal and a second power up detecting signal as the final power up detecting signal, according to power provided by a power supplier. The power up detecting system comprises: a power up detecting module, controlled by a control signal to generate the first power up detecting signal in a first mode and to generate the second power up detecting signal in a second mode, wherein a voltage level of the first power up detecting signal is transited when the power reaches a first predetermined voltage value, and the voltage level of the second power up detecting signal is transited when the power reaches a second predetermined voltage value; where the first predetermined voltage value is higher than the second predetermined voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventor: Wayne A. Batt
  • Patent number: 9625499
    Abstract: A smart receptacle is for a number of loads. The smart receptacle includes separable contacts; an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts; and a number of current sensors structured to sense current flowing through the separable contacts to one of the number of loads. A number of indicators indicate a relative level of the sensed current or corresponding energy. A processor inputs the sensed current, determines the relative level of the sensed current or the corresponding energy, and controls the number of indicators to indicate the relative level of the sensed current or the corresponding energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hoyma Joel Mazara Diaz, Sandy Omar Jimenez Gonzalez, Glennys Johanny De Jesus Reyes, Mario Nunez Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20150084618
    Abstract: An electronic circuit is described comprising a load, a power supply node, a first transistor coupled between the supply node and the load such that the input at a control terminal of the first transistor controls current flow from the supply node to the load through the first transistor, a current source, a second transistor coupled between the current source and the load such that the input at a control terminal of the second transistor controls current flow from the current source to the load through the second transistor, a control node coupled to the control terminal of the first transistor and the control terminal of the second transistor and a measuring circuit connected to the point of coupling between the current source and the second transistor configured to measure the difference between the current provided by the current source and the current consumed by the second transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Maximilian Hofer, Christoph Boehm
  • Publication number: 20140139206
    Abstract: A voltage detection circuit includes: a transistor; a switch coupled to a drain terminal of the transistor; the drain terminal is coupled to an one end of the switch; a first driver that controls the switch in synchronization with a second driver that drives a gate terminal of the transistor; and a plurality of resistors coupled in series and coupled to an another end of the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Tatsuya Hirose
  • Publication number: 20140097828
    Abstract: A local area networking apparatus comprises a power stage for connecting to a network cable for carrying power and data. The power stage comprises a main current flow path which includes a switch comprising at least one transistor positioned in the main current flow path and a current monitoring apparatus for monitoring current flow in the main current flow path, and wherein the current monitoring apparatus comprises a sensor which is not placed in series with the main current flow path. The current monitoring apparatus can comprise a current mirroring stage which is arranged to mirror current flowing in the main current flow path to a monitoring current flow path. The switch can be implemented as a set of switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jacques J. BERTIN, Stevan Van Roeyen, Alexis Hout-Marchand, Koen Geirnaert, Johan Janssens, Christophe Gouwy, Joannes Mathilda Josephus Sevenhans
  • Patent number: 8680842
    Abstract: A method of measuring the total harmonic distortion in an electrical distribution system. The distribution system is sampled regularly to generate a set of data. The data is filtered using a narrow band filtering algorithm to measure the energy in fundamental and other harmonic frequencies. Due to the filtering, the energy in harmonic frequencies can be measured without interference from broadband noise, which provides an improvement in the measurement of total harmonic distortion at low current or voltage levels. A method is provided to sum the energy in identified frequencies in a multi-pass configuration, such that only a subset of all monitored frequencies are filtered and summed in each pass, with the balance being filtered and measured in subsequent passes. After all subsets are measured, the total harmonic distortion is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt H. Copley, Donovan Eugene Wilkerson
  • Publication number: 20130271117
    Abstract: A power up detecting system for generating one of a first power up detecting signal and a second power up detecting signal as the final power up detecting signal, according to power provided by a power supplier. The power up detecting system comprises: a power up detecting module, controlled by a control signal to generate the first power up detecting signal in a first mode and to generate the second power up detecting signal in a second mode, wherein a voltage level of the first power up detecting signal is transited when the power reaches a first predetermined voltage value, and the voltage level of the second power up detecting signal is transited when the power reaches a second predetermined voltage value; where the first predetermined voltage value is higher than the second predetermined voltage value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: Wayne A. BATT
  • Publication number: 20120212212
    Abstract: In a voltage detecting circuit, a transistor is configured as a P-type MOSFET, and includes a source connected with an input terminal, a gate connected with a ground voltage terminal and a drain connected with an output terminal. A transistor is configured as a P-type MOSFET, and includes a gate and a source connected with the output terminal and a drain connected with the ground terminal. Gate width and gate length of the transistor and gate width and gate length of the transistor are adjusted so that source-drain current flowing between the source and the drain of the transistor becomes equal to source-drain current flowing between the source and the drain of the transistor when the voltage applied to the input terminal is set to be preset trigger voltage. This configuration accomplishes detecting that the input voltage exceeds the trigger voltage with simple configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Po-Hung CHEN, Makoto TAKAMIYA, Takayasu SAKURAI
  • Patent number: 8080990
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining operating parameters of an electrochemical storage battery, taking into account electrolyte stratification. The method including a) determining a first functional relationship between no-load voltage and state of charge as a value for the withdrawable charge in relation to nominal capacity of the storage battery, which is obtained in the state having electrolyte stratification in a discharge phase using the charge conversion since a prior no-load phase or pre-charge; b) determining a second functional relationship between no-load voltage and state of charge as a value for the withdrawable charge in relation to nominal capacity of the storage battery, obtained in the state having electrolyte stratification in a discharge phase using an accumulated charge conversion; and c) ascertaining operating parameters from the point of intersection of the first and second functional relationships and/or the slope of straight lines for describing the first and/or second functional relationships.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christine Ehret, Daniel Heinze, Andreas Jossen, Volker Spaeth
  • Patent number: 7756498
    Abstract: Disclosed is a channel estimator and a method for changing a coefficient of an IIR filter depending on a moving speed of a mobile communication terminal. In the channel estimator, a coefficient changing unit receives I and Q signals from a current base station, and selects a coefficient of the IIR filter optimized depending on the moving speed of the current mobile communication terminal. The coefficient changing unit sets the selected coefficient of the IIR filter to the IIR filter of the channel estimator. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the performance degradation of the channel estimator caused by the speed of the mobile communication terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Soo-Jin Park
  • Patent number: 7576544
    Abstract: An electric quantity indicator for an electromotive vehicle comprises an electric measuring wire parallel connected to a battery; a feedback circuit connected between a motor of the power supply load and the electric measuring wire; and a meter responsed to the quantity of electricity of the electric measuring wire. The meter is an electronic display panel, and the feedback circuit and the electric measuring wire are installed with analog to digital (A/D) converter for address dividing the value in a memory, in which this value is displayed in the aforesaid meter. Thereby, as a load is actuated and power is consumed, the feedback circuit will detect, and the electric measuring wire will conduct, a real value about the power stored in the battery is displayed on the meter so as to be viewed by a user. Therefore, the condition that due to an error of electric quantity, the user can not know the real the electric quantity and thus the car is stopped owing to exhaustion of electric power is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Index Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsun-Tying Hsu
  • Patent number: 6803754
    Abstract: A power sensor for measuring the average power of modulated or non-modulated high-frequency or microwave signals across a wide dynamic range is disclosed, in which a combination of the following features are used: a) the signal power to be measured is delivered to a first sensor branch for measuring said signal power in a lower power measuring range (−70 to −16 dBm), b) the sensor branch has several spatially separate measuring points on a connecting line between the input and a power splitter connected downstream; and, c) at the same time, the signal power to be measured is delivered to at least two other sensor branches by means of the power splitter with a largely load-independent synchronous output, via attenuators, in order to measure the signal power in at least two other power measuring ranges (−22 to +4 dBm or −2 to +20 dBm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Toralf Bratfisch, Arnd Diestelhorst, Michael Katzer, Thomas Reichel
  • Publication number: 20030178984
    Abstract: A first device operates at a first hopping frequency during a first period of time and operates at a second hopping frequency during a second period of time. A second device operates at the first hopping frequency and communicates with the first device during the first period of time. A third device operates at the second hopping frequency and communicates with the first device during the second period of time. The second period of time may be a contention-free period during which time the second device may not communicate with the first device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: JAMES L. LANSFORD, JON W. T. INOUYE, DEBASHIS CHOWDHURY
  • Patent number: 6548999
    Abstract: A power meter includes components to measure RMS power over an 84 dB range or greater using the I-V square-law relation of a diode for measurements. The power meter includes multiple diodes along with a power distribution manifold which includes power dividers to distribute an input signal to the diodes. In one embodiment, a first power divider (202) distributes power to a first one of the diodes (203), and to the second power divider (204) which distributes power to the second (210) and third (212) diodes. The first power divider (202) is connected without attenuation to the first diode (203). The second power divider (204) is connected to the second diode (210) through a 11 dB attenuator (206), and to the third diode (212) through a 28 dB attenuator (208).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Anritsu Company
    Inventors: Vincent W. C. Wong, William W. Oldfield, Kenneth C. Harvey
  • Patent number: 6469492
    Abstract: A precision RMS measurement system is provided by extending the effective resolution of a medium-resolution sampling RMS converter. An AC or other time-varying cyclic signal is simultaneously applied to an average-responding AC-to-DC converter and to a high-speed medium resolution sampling analog-to-digital converter. The average voltage produced by the AC-to-DC converter is measured by a precision analog-to-digital converter to produce a highly accurate DC voltage measurement. The output of the sampling analog-to-digital converter is provided to a digital signal processor, which calculates the RMS and average values. A microprocessor then multiplies the ratio of the calculated RMS and average values by the highly-accurate DC average to produce a highly accurate RMS voltage. The precision RMS voltage is then displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Britz
  • Patent number: 6400131
    Abstract: A transducer circuit, particularly for monitoring current, compensates for offset in the transducer output by sampling the output periodically at a moment at which the output is known, and storing the sampled value as an offset. The offset is compared with subsequent outputs from the transducer to provide a difference signal which is the compensated output of the transducer. When the calibrated output of the transducer is non-zero at the said moment, the non-zero value is added as a reference to the compensated value to correct the magnitude of the transducer output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Switched Reluctance Drives, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael James Turner
  • Patent number: 6392402
    Abstract: An rms converter accommodates incoming signals of large crest factor by using an amplifier having a transfer function of non-uniform slope. The amplifier has a lower gain for larger signals. The output of the amplifier is converted to digital voltage values. The non-uniform gain of the amplifier is compensated for in digital calculations of the rms value. The invention produces accurate rms measurements by accurately measuring lower incoming signal voltages while still accommodating high peak voltages. The invention also reduces the dynamic range requirements for the analog to digital converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Dennis Swift
  • Patent number: 6362616
    Abstract: An analog gauge includes a coil assembly and a permanent magnet fixedly attached to a rotatable shaft whereby magnetically orthogonal stator coils are disposed about the permanent magnet. The shaft is fixedly attached to a pointer arm that moves over a dial face. As electrical current passes through the coils, electromagnetic fields are induced which, when summed, comprise a magnetic force which is followed by the permanent magnet, shaft, and pointer arm. With reduced-parts circuitry, the flat zone responsiveness of the circuit is delayed until a zener diode is forward biased, yielding increased control over the flat zone responsiveness, without reliance upon the voltage drop across a diode connected between ground and the coil located furthest from the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan J. Lo
  • Patent number: 6331769
    Abstract: A power meter includes components to measure RMS power over an 84 dB range or greater using the I-V square-law relation of a diode for measurements. The power meter includes multiple diodes along with a power distribution manifold which includes power dividers to distribute an input signal to the diodes. In one embodiment, a first power divider (202) distributes power to a first one of the diodes (203), and to the second power divider (204) which distributes power to the second (210) and third (212) diodes. The first power divider (202) is connected without attenuation to the first diode (203). The second power divider (204) is connected to the second diode (210) through a 11 dB attenuator (206), and to the third diode (212) through a 28 dB attenuator (208).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Anritsu Company
    Inventors: Vincent W. C. Wong, William W. Oldfield, Kenneth C. Harvey
  • Patent number: 6291984
    Abstract: A dual mode power meter provides a first operation mode in the square law operating range of the diode, and a second mode in the square law region as well as the transition and linear operating ranges of the diode. The power meter includes multiple diodes. A manifold made up of power dividers distributes a signal input to the power meter to the diodes. A different attenuation is provided to each diode so that the square law operating range for each diode covers a different power range. By selecting the appropriate diode output for power measurements in the first mode, the overall square law operating range for the power meter will be greater than a power meter using a single diode. The power meter further includes a memory map of voltage vs. power in the square law, transition and linear regions of a diode measured for an unmodulated CW input for the second operation mode. The map of voltage vs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Anritsu Company
    Inventors: Vincent W. C. Wong, Chris Turl, William W. Oldfield, Kenneth C. Harvey
  • Patent number: 6275022
    Abstract: A passive voltmeter for high voltage transmission lines that accurately measures and displays a wide range of voltages. A d'Arsonval type meter movement is preferably used in conjunction with the voltmeter wherein the scale contains a linear range and a compressed, nearly-logarithmic range. A circuit controls the pointer so that the deflection is linear for a low range of voltages while a high range of voltages is deflected in a compressed manner. The term “compressed” means that the display is scaled in a logarithmic manner although not a true logarithmic function. The circuit comprises one or more parallel branches with a meter movement and a resistor in the first branch; each additional branch, if more than one, contains a resistor and at least one diode connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Walter S Bierer
  • Patent number: 6084394
    Abstract: An electronic measuring device achieves an improvement in measurement accuracy while at the same time compensating for influences on the measurements, by providing for a correction factor to be stored in a correction element when the measuring device is first set up. During operation, provision is made for a test voltage to be received and compared with a reference value stored during setting. If there is a difference between the two values, a new correction factor is produced which compensates for any measurement signal effect. The measuring device is particularly suitable for electricity meters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Windsheimer, Georg Grimm
  • Patent number: 6064193
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the RMS value of an electrical signal. An electrical signal is converted to a digital signal. The digital signal is squared and low pass filtered to extract the DC component, the DC component being recognized as the mean-square of the signal. In use in a measurement device, the square root of the DC component is taken and displayed as the RMS value of the electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor L. Hansen, Charles L. Saxe
  • Patent number: 5929626
    Abstract: A contact making and breaking device improves the dielectric absorption property of capacitance between one signal wire brought out from a reed switch and an conductive casing. A low current measurement system using the contact making breaking device greatly shortens the measurement waiting time when low current is measured. The contact making and breaking device includes a reed switch with first and second signal wires brought out from either end, a conductive casing, and an insulating material formed between at least the first signal wire and the conductive casing. A tubular conductor is emplaced in the region in which the insulating material is formed and at least partially encloses the reed switch. The tubular conductor is connected to the first signal wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Yuko Iwasaki, Susumu Takagi, Hideyuki Norimatsu
  • Patent number: 5845275
    Abstract: A circuit for the measurement of current in a load includes a non-linear element for transforming a current into a voltage and includes a fuzzy logic processor to process a measurement of the voltage and provide an information element representing the current. The device permits the precise use of semi-conductor or other components for the measurement of current in making a linear approximation of the current-voltage characteristics of the semi-conductors used by using triangular type membership functions. The linear approximation may also be combined with a Gaussian interpolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Maurice Le Van Suu
  • Patent number: 5783805
    Abstract: Electrothermal conversion elements, apparatus and methods for use in comparing, calibrating and measuring electrical signals utilizing a thin film heater on a thin, low mass, low thermal conductivity substrate and low mass thermoresistive or PN junction thermal radiation sensors. The element emits IR radiation in response to electrical input. The radiation is collected and converted to an electrical signal proportional to the RMS value of the input signal. Isothermal operation enhances both IR and electrical operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventor: Fred L. Katzmann
  • Patent number: 5644238
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring and recording peak RMS electrical current over multiple moving-average time periods provides current-flow information in the same units used to characterize electrical system distribution components--primarily overcurrent protective devices such as fuses and circuit breakers. Rather than reporting current-flow information based on a series of brief observations of a few line cycles or seconds, short duration RMS current-flow information in multiple geometrically increasing time intervals is calculated and accumulated to form longer duration RMS values of current. The resulting set of peak RMS current-flow values properly characterizes both the long and short term heating effects of the electrical current in the circuit under inspection, and is used in direct side-by-side comparisons with manufacturer provided data for specific distribution components in the evaluation of usage versus capacity and other functions relevant to distribution system design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Inventors: Gregory J. Seifert, Peter G. Seifert
  • Patent number: 5606250
    Abstract: The secondary of a line powered transformer supplies power to a measurement unit. The measurement unit measures between a high test terminal and a low terminal on the secondary. The low terminal is connected to a low test terminal through a common mode current sensor to a device under test. The device under test is also connected to the high test terminal. The common mode current sensor senses current through the transformer capacitance that flows through the device under test to earth ground. A current source is connected in parallel with the low terminal and earth ground. In response to the current sensor, the source dynamically drives a current through the device under test that drives the common mode current to a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Keithley Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Niemann
  • Patent number: 5587653
    Abstract: A sensor characteristic adjustment circuit for adjusting the offset and the sensitivity of an output of a semiconductor sensor includes a serial-parallel converter for converting serial data bits into corresponding parallel data bits, a non-volatile memory for storing the parallel data bits, and digital-to-analog converters for converting the digital bits D.sub.1 through D.sub.m and D.sub.m+1 through D.sub.n into values corresponding to the offset and the sensitivity supplied to an adder and a voltage-controlled amplifier, respectively. Preferably, gates are inserted between the serial-parallel converter and the non-volatile memory to separate the non-volatile memory from the serial-parallel converter after the parallel data is written into the non-volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tohru Araki
  • Patent number: 5479096
    Abstract: Disclosed is a digital correction system for application to an analog parameter measurement transducer. A temperature sensor, either separate from or incorporated into a parameter measurement transducer provides a temperature signal which is converted by an A-to-D converter to address temperature gain and offset corrections. These corrections are applied to a preamplifier amplifying the output of the transducer. The preamplifier output which has been temperature gain and offset corrected, is applied as an input to a final stage amplifier and also to a further A-to-D converter which addresses a storage device including transducer gain and offset corrections. The transducer gain and offset corrections are applied to the final stage amplifier so that the analog sensor output is corrected for temperature effects and for transducer nonlinearities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Lucas Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackson Szczyrbak, Karmjit Sidhu, Oleg Boyarsky
  • Patent number: 5453682
    Abstract: A meter measures a voltage across a quasi-diode, the voltage caused by a current flowing through a resistance which changes substantially exponentially with changes in a medium being sensed. The meter comprises a logarithmic current measuring circuit coupled to the resistance to provide a measurement output that is a logarithmic function of the current flowing through the sensing resistance. A switchable current source is controlled by a switching circuit to repetitively output first and second current values. A reference logarithmic circuit is connected to the switchable current source and is physically coupled to the logarithmic measuring circuit so as to be maintained at a substantially equal temperature value. The logarithmic reference circuit manifests a first voltage in response to the first current value and a second voltage in response to the second current value, both voltage values dependent upon the temperature of the logarithmic reference circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Newport Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Hinrichs, Abdollah Mohtashemi
  • Patent number: 5414348
    Abstract: The secondary of a line powered transformer supplies power to a measurement unit. The measurement unit measures between a high test terminal and a low terminal on the secondary. The low terminal is connected to a low test terminal through a common mode current sensor to a device under test. The device under test is also connected to the high test terminal. The common mode current sensor senses current through the transformer capacitance that flows through the device under test to earth ground. A current source is connected in parallel with the low terminal and earth ground. In response to the current sensor, the source dynamically drives a current through the device under test that drives the common mode current to a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Inventor: James A. Niemann
  • Patent number: 5341089
    Abstract: A multimeter converts an input voltage into decibels. Preferably, the input voltage is converted into dbm. The multimeter includes a table of voltage values wherein each entry is associated with a given decibel value. The input voltage is compared with entries in the table to locate a first entry which is larger than the input voltage. A second entry having a lower value than the input voltage is then located in the table. A fractional value that is indicative of where the input voltage lies at a range between the first entry and the second entry is calculated using the first and second entries. The fractional value is added to a decibel value corresponding the second entry to produce a decibel value for the input voltage. The input voltage may be scaled down into an appropriate operational voltage range and then the calculated decibel value may be scaled up to compensate for this scaling down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Tandy Corporation
    Inventor: Jerry J. Heep
  • Patent number: 5311140
    Abstract: A circuit for measuring variations in the capacitance of a variable capacr forming part of a sensor includes an oscillator which generates an alternating signal which is supplied to two branches of a detection bridge. The first branch includes the variable capacitor connected in series with a variable capacitance diode. The second branch includes a capacitor connected in series with a variable capacitance diode. A differential stage has each of its in puts connected to the common point of a respective one of the branches. Synchronous demodulation means connected to the oscillator, are connected to the output of the differential stage for delivering a DC unbalance voltage Ve which is injected by a feedback line to the common point of the first branch, thereby continuously balancing the detection bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Societe d'Applications Generales d'Electricite et de Mecanique Sagem
    Inventor: Alfred Permuy
  • Patent number: 5283517
    Abstract: A measuring device comprises a plurality of signal converters, for measuring a signal by different measuring methods, and a selector, for selectively activating one of the signal converters. A control signal is developed in accordance with the activated signal converter. The measured value of the signal is exhibited in a color which is controlled by the control signal, to indicate the selected measuring method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Inventor: Karel Havel
  • Patent number: 5243545
    Abstract: An improved method and related apparatus for linearizing and spanning of the output from transducer systems such as load cells and the like. The method and system provide for deriving a constant that only requires calibration at mid-scale and full scale loads. The constant can thereafter be used in equations which correct subsequent data for nonlinearity and span so that the transducer system displays data in absolute units for all readings from zero to full scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Inventor: A. Newman Ormond
  • Patent number: 5164660
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to measure RMS current, RMS voltage, and true power for zero-fired alternating current loads are provided. These methods and apparatuses are simple and inexpensive and provide updated measurements after each set of blocked or unblocked alternating current cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Frederick G. Carl, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5150051
    Abstract: A meter (10) for measuring extremely-low-frequency radiation includes a coil circuit (22) whose output is filtered by a sharp-cut-off high-pass filter (24) to pass standard house-current frequencies but suppress the frequency components that would predominate as a result of movement of the meter with respect to the earth's magnetic field. An integrator (26) compensates for the frequency response of the coil circuit (22), an RMS circuit (35) converts the signal to its root-mean-square value, and a display circuit (28) provides a display determined by the resultant signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Memtec Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Friedman, Owen Harrington, David Dunn
  • Patent number: 5144226
    Abstract: A multi-mode signal measurement system provides at least True RMS and Average RMS signal measurement modes in one system in response to a measurement mode selection made by an operator. The system controls the processing of the input signal by a selected signal measurement unit according to the operator selected signal measurement mode. After signal processing is complete, a display unit displays a value of the measurement of the input signal according to the selected measurement mode. Other measurement modes providing peak value and resistance measurement readings may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Core Industries
    Inventor: Peter J. Rapp
  • Patent number: 5128611
    Abstract: A meter includes a measuring part (1) and an evaluating part (2). The measuring part (1) contains an open magnetic current transformer (3) of the unloaded transformer type and an integrator (6) connected downstream of the transformer. As a result, no measuring errors caused by saturation occur in the transformer, and the metering of consumption is frequency-independent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Zellweger Uster AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Konrad