Of Ground Fault Indication Patents (Class 324/509)
  • Patent number: 11018495
    Abstract: A control device for an electric power conversion apparatus, the control device detecting occurrence of an earth fault in a direct-current path in a system in which the direct-current path between a solar cell module and an electric power conversion apparatus is grounded, is provided. The control device for the electric power conversion apparatus includes: a grounding control unit configured to, in a system in which a direct-current path between a solar cell module and an electric power conversion apparatus is grounded via a switch, control a switch; and an earth fault determination unit configured to, when the switch is open under the controlled of the grounding control unit, detect whether or not an earth fault has occurred in the direct-current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Tawada, Ruben Alexis Inzunza Figueroa, Tatsuaki Ambo, Masahiro Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 10998853
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided herein in connection with IoT-enabled solar PV health monitoring and advising related thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Amar P. Azad, Manikandan Padmanaban, Kalyan Dasgupta, Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, Jagabondhu Hazra
  • Patent number: 10985553
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting battery leakage. The method includes determining whether an insulation resistance value difference is smaller than a preset reference difference when a representative insulation resistance value is larger than a preset reference resistance value, wherein the insulation resistance value difference is a difference between a previous representative insulation resistance value and the representative insulation resistance value, allocating a first value to a diagnosis flag when the insulation resistance value difference is smaller than the reference difference, allocating a second value to the diagnosis flag when the insulation resistance value difference is equal to or larger than the reference difference, and activating a count indicator when the second value is allocated to the diagnosis flag. The first value indicates that the representative insulation resistance value is valid. The second value indicates that the representative insulation resistance value is invalid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventor: Hyeon-Ju Shin
  • Patent number: 10967744
    Abstract: A dump truck is provided with a ground fault detection device that detects a ground fault detection voltage V0 as a difference between a detection voltage Vp between a positive electrode line of a DC bus and a neutral point N and a detection voltage Vn between the neutral point N and a negative electrode line of the DC bus and detects a ground fault based upon the ground fault detection voltage V0. The ground fault detection device includes a DC component determining section that extracts a DC component VLdc from the ground fault detection voltage V0 and determines a ground fault based upon the DC component VLdc, and a drive frequency component determining sections (that extract drive frequency components VLiR, VLiL of the inverters from the ground fault detection voltage V0 and determine a ground fault based upon the drive frequency components VLiR, VLiL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihiko Ishida
  • Patent number: 10962583
    Abstract: A high-voltage system including a high-voltage battery and a DC/DC converter, the high-voltage system having two different galvanically connected voltage levels with enabled DC/DC converters. A first measuring device detects the voltage of the high-voltage battery and a second measuring device detects the voltage at the output of the DC/DC converter. An insulation resistance measuring device may be configured to carry out insulation resistance measurements only when the DC/DC converter is disabled. A third measuring device may detect a voltage between a positive high voltage line and the ground and a fourth measuring device and a voltage between a negative high-voltage line and the ground. An insulation monitoring device may monitor the insulation resistances from data of the first to fourth measuring device at least when the DC/DC converter is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marcus Lehnhardt, Fabian Albrecht, Kay-Michael Günther, Marcus Sommerfeld
  • Patent number: 10965247
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating a measurement of characteristics of a photovoltaic cell. The apparatus includes an input port for coupling to a photovoltaic cell and an output port for coupling to a measurement equipment. The apparatus is configured to couple a first resistor across positive and negative inputs of the input port and a second resistor between the negative input and ground when the input port is not selected or inactive, and decouple the first and second resistors from the input port when the input port is selected and active. The apparatus couples the positive input of the input port to the output port when the input port is selected but inactive or selected and active. The resistors protect the photovoltaic cell from adverse consequences due to incident ambient light. Examples of multiple port versions of the apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: NEWPORT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Greggory W. Switzer, Eric H. Shelton
  • Patent number: 10937611
    Abstract: A safety switch device configured to perform at least one of connecting a load to a power supply and disconnecting the load from the power supply is provided. The safety switch device comprises a first set of two serially connected controllable switching elements; a safety circuit to verify a switching state of the first set of two switching elements, wherein each switching element of the first set of two switching elements is configured as a toggle; a control circuit configured to provide a test signal to the safety circuit; and decoupling means configured to galvanically decouple the load circuit from the control circuit. The decoupling means comprise a transformer, and the control circuit comprises a transformer driver configured to provide the test signal to the safety circuit via the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventors: Rudolf Papenbreer, Stefan Klein
  • Patent number: 10910831
    Abstract: A monitoring system is described, to monitor the condition of an industrial wiring system provided with a multipolar electric cable with a number of electric conductors having a power and/or data transmission function and enclosed inside a protective sheath, wherein: monitoring conductors, to monitor wear of the electric cable, are arranged inside the protective sheath electrically insulated from the electric conductors; and a monitoring device is operatively coupled to the monitoring conductors so as to detect at least one electric parameter associated with the monitoring conductors to detect the wear of the electric cable and generate corresponding monitoring data. The monitoring device obtains its own power supply from, and/or transmits the monitoring data by means of, the electric conductors of the same electric cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventors: Roberto Gariboldi, Davide Bentivoglio
  • Patent number: 10895601
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes using a monitoring circuit disposed on a monolithic integrated circuit to monitor an output signal of a first switching transistor for a first output edge transition at a monitoring terminal of the monolithic integrated circuit; using a time measuring circuit disposed on the monolithic integrated circuit to measure a first time delay between a first input edge transition of a first drive signal and the first output edge transition, where the first drive signal is configured to cause a change of state of the first switching transistor; using an analysis circuit disposed on the monolithic integrated circuit to compare the measured first time delay with a first predetermined threshold to form a first comparison result; and indicating a first error condition based on the first comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Matthias Bogus, Jens Barrenscheen, Christian Heiling, Benno Koeppl, Markus Zannoth
  • Patent number: 10868422
    Abstract: A detection and location-based active protection method for flexible DC distribution systems with multi-terminal distributed photovoltaic sources is disclosed. The disclosed protection method actively utilizes the coordinated control between local protection and the converters in the DC distribution system. The converter can then be modified to become an injection source with characteristic signal, providing a known fault signal to build a clear protection boundary. The disclosed protection method can distinguish the correct faulted area by calculating the harmonic impedance of the characteristic signals. Compared with existing DC protection techniques, this disclosed method does not require additional injection equipment and modification of the DC distribution system configuration, nor does it need high data sampling frequency. The disclosed technique is also unaffected by measuring noise and cable-distributed capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: North China Electric Power University
    Inventors: Ke Jia, Tianshu Bi, Congbo Wang
  • Patent number: 10852334
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose methods and systems in a vehicle having high voltage (HV) for measuring isolation impedance in an EV or HEV utilizing an AC impedance measurement system. The method utilizes an extraction algorithm based on a Fourier transform to calculate phase and amplitude and then utilizes the calculated phase and amplitude to determine the isolation impedance. The isolation impedance comprises leakage resistance and total capacitance that are coupled in parallel between the high voltage system and the chassis. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a method and systems for component value self-calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: MAXIM INTEGRATED PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Jiangang Liu, Jason Allen Wortham
  • Patent number: 10845429
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic control device capable of performing abnormality diagnosis of a digital input circuit without modifying the circuit configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Aoyagi, Takao Fukuda, Atsushi Okonogi
  • Patent number: 10790658
    Abstract: An electronic circuit breaker may include a monitoring circuit configured to monitor and respond to a power supply and/or detection circuit failure within the electronic circuit breaker. In some embodiments, the monitoring circuit may monitor a DC current received from a detection circuit within the electronic circuit breaker. A response to a power supply and/or detection circuit failure may include interrupting current flow between an electrical power source and an electrical circuit protected by the electronic circuit breaker. Methods of monitoring and responding to a power supply and/or detection circuit failure within an electronic circuit breaker are also provided, as are other aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Hugh T. Kinsel, Joselito Endozo
  • Patent number: 10775441
    Abstract: An insulation detection circuit, detection method, and battery management system are disclosed in the present disclosure. The insulation detection circuit includes a positive sampling unit, a negative sampling unit, a positive sampling point, a negative sampling point, a reference voltage terminal, and a processor. A first end of the positive sampling unit is connected with positive electrode of the power battery pack to be measured. A second end of the positive sampling unit is connected with the reference voltage terminal and the positive sampling point. A first end of the negative sampling unit is connected with negative electrode of the power battery pack to be measured. A second end of the negative sampling unit is connected with the reference voltage terminal and the negative sampling point. The processor is connected with the positive sampling point and the negative sampling point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Zhimin Dan, Zhanyu Sun, Yizhen Hou, Jiechao Luo, Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 10778005
    Abstract: A photovoltaic power plant (25, 32, 33, 34, 35) comprising one or more photovoltaic devices (27), each device comprising at least two terminals (30, 31) wherein one or more of the terminals (30, 31) is connected to a switch (12, 13) which is in turn connected to a point (10, 15, 16) held at a voltage relative to ground (11) and at least one switch (12, 13) is controlled in response to one or more parameters, and a method of controlling such a power plant (25, 32, 33, 34, 35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: SMA SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Uffe Borup, Frerk Haase
  • Patent number: 10778135
    Abstract: An electric motor control system, including an electric motor having a first winding set including first and second parallel windings, the first and second windings operable to each current based on the combined phase current, and a differential current sensor operably coupled to the first winding and the second winding. The differential current sensor measuring a differential current flowing through the first winding and the second winding and operable to transmit a signal indicative of the differential current based on the measuring. The system also includes a motor controller connected to the electric motor, the motor controller operable to direct the combined phase current through the phase lead, receive the differential current signal, determine if the differential current flowing through the winding set exceeds a selected threshold, and identify a health status of the motor winding set as degraded if the differential current exceeds the selected threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andreas C. Koenig, Joseph Kenneth Coldwate, Michael J. Menke, Gary L. Miles
  • Patent number: 10746807
    Abstract: Embodiments herein are directed to systems and methods for single wire precision measurement of a ground termination circuit. In some embodiments, a ground check monitoring apparatus includes a voltage source connected to a single insulated ground check wire, a pilot conductor, and a ground conductor, wherein the pilot conductor has a first resistance, and the ground conductor has a second resistance. The apparatus further includes a termination device connected between the pilot conductor and the ground conductor, and a ground conductor terminal connectable to a cable pilot wire. The apparatus may further include a ground terminal connectable with a cable ground wire, wherein voltage and current measured at the ground check terminal and the ground terminal are used to determine a ground check resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl Warkentin, George Fenty, Kim Haluik
  • Patent number: 10692190
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a memory device and at least one processor to calculate, in a pixel block including a pixel of interest and a plurality of surrounding pixels, an absolute value of a difference in pixel value between the pixel of interest and a surrounding pixel, the calculating being performed for each of the surrounding pixels, to convert a pixel value of the surrounding pixel in accordance with the calculated absolute value, the converting being performed for each of the plurality of surrounding pixels, and to perform smoothing processing for the pixel of interest by using the plurality of surrounding pixels including the surrounding pixel whose pixel value is converted. The converting performs a combination of a pixel value of the pixel of interest and the pixel value of the surrounding pixel, so that as the calculated absolute value increases, a weight of the pixel of interest increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirokazu Tamura
  • Patent number: 10669964
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve drive control device includes a boost circuit having a boost coil, a switching component (FFT or the like) supplying a switching current from a battery source voltage to the boost coil, and a boost capacitor accumulating a boosted voltage generated by the operation of the switching component; a discharge circuit for discharging the accumulated electric charge via a current limiter (e.g. discharge resistor, constant current source) and a discharge switch (FET or the like); and a monitoring circuit for monitoring the accumulated voltage. The discharge circuit is caused to operate when the control device is shutting down and performs a deterioration/failure diagnosis of the boost capacitor and an operation check of the discharge circuit on the basis of a monitored voltage value of the boost capacitor at starting the discharge operation and a monitored voltage value of the boost capacitor after a predetermined time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Nagata
  • Patent number: 10611243
    Abstract: A ground fault detection apparatus includes a control unit measuring fully charged voltage of a capacitor, a first switch and a first resistor connecting a positive electrode side of a battery to a positive-electrode-side end of the capacitor, a second switch and a second resistor connecting a negative electrode side of the battery to a negative-electrode-side end of the capacitor, a third switch connecting the positive-electrode-side end to ground, a fourth switch connecting the negative-electrode-side end ground, a positive-electrode-side termination resistor connecting the positive electrode side of the battery to the ground, and a negative-electrode-side termination resistor connecting the negative electrode side to ground. The control unit compares charge voltage of the capacitor measured while the first and fourth switches are turned on with charge voltage of the capacitor measured while the second and third switches are turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10607475
    Abstract: A remote monitoring system for monitoring parameters of an underground asset, such as an electric cable system, a pipeline serving as a conduit for water, gas, oil, sewage, or the like. Parameter detectors, such as sensors that measure temperature, voltage, current, moisture, etc., are distributed along the asset to provide electrical signals that represent respective monitored parameters of the asset. An underground hub disposed in an underground vault, or manhole, through which the asset passes is coupled to the parameter detectors to acquire the signals provided by the parameter detectors. The hub includes a controller to provide data derived from the acquired signals, the data being transmitted to a remote central location by a transceiver, or modem, via LP-WAN communication. Signals from the transceiver are transmitted directly from underground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Underground Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Smith, Charles J. Wills, IV, Duncan C. Breese, Paul A. Alex
  • Patent number: 10605886
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for testing the function of a standard insulation monitoring device, installed in an ungrounded power supply system, during operation. The basic concept of the invention rests upon adding a testing apparatus to the ungrounded power supply system, which is being monitored using an insulation monitoring device according to regulations, between the active conductors of an ungrounded power supply system and ground, said testing apparatus systematically changing an insulation resistance of the ungrounded power supply system and observing the reaction of the insulation monitoring device in a fully automated manner in perpetually repetitive testing cycles. The power supply system is monitored perpetually during its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: BENDER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Dieter Hackl
  • Patent number: 10601215
    Abstract: An on-vehicle power source switch apparatus configured to switch off a switch when a ground fault occurs is provided. A first system includes a generator, a first power storage that powers a first vehicle load. A second system includes a second power storage device that powers a second vehicle load. A separation switch is connected between the first and the second systems. A first and a second control circuits respectively output a first and a second provisional control signals for controlling the separation switch. A logic circuit switches on the separation switch when both the first and the second provisional controls signal indicate on. When power is generated, the first and the second control circuits output respective first and second provisional control signals indicating on, and when a ground fault has occurred, the first and second control circuits output the first and second provisional control signals indicating off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiromichi Yasunori
  • Patent number: 10571525
    Abstract: Insulation fault location systems and methods are for insulation fault location for an ungrounded DC power supply system, which is redundantly fed from a first direct voltage supply source coupled to diodes and a second direct voltage supply source coupled to diodes and to which a consumer is redundantly coupled. Due to the diode coupling and the asymmetric current splitting of the load current associated therewith, non-compensational partial currents arise in the supply lines in such a power supply system and consequently differential current portions, which can be captured by measuring current transformers and which can interfere with a valid test current during an insulation fault location. In order to eliminate the interfering differential current portions, compensating measures on the primary side are proposed in the measuring current transformers and indirect compensating measures on the secondary side are proposed in an insulation fault location apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: BENDER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Hackl, Carsten Hartmann
  • Patent number: 10525913
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problems of: providing a power supply system that does not cause a microcontroller to reset even when an abnormality occurs in the output of a third power supply within a battery voltage range in which an electronic control device ensures operation; and achieving said power supply system at low cost. An electronic control device is provided with: a first power supply circuit that outputs a predetermined voltage; a second power supply circuit that is disposed downstream from the first power supply circuit and that outputs a predetermined voltage; and a third power supply circuit that is disposed downstream from the first power supply circuit and that outputs a predetermined voltage. The electronic control device is characterized by comprising a means that makes it possible to switch the circuit operation state of the third power supply circuit in accordance with the states of the first to third power supply circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kurimoto, Mitsuhiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10530149
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting an interruption of an active conductor in an ungrounded direct-voltage power supply system. Five alternative methods are introduced, which are based on determining a current load current, a current total insulation resistance, a current displacement voltage, a current total capacitance or a current total impedance. Each of these methods minimizes the hazard related to accidental touching of two active conductors in an ungrounded direct-voltage power supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: BENDER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Hackl, Burkhard Macht
  • Patent number: 10522998
    Abstract: A method for detecting an open-phase condition of a transformer having a grounded-wye high voltage side connection including monitoring current flowing in a neutral connection on the high voltage side of the transformer in real time by voltage relaying and current relaying to identify an open phase condition signature in a signal capable of characterizing change of current magnitude. A current signal may be injected onto the neutral terminal and the zero-sequence mode of the transformer monitored to detect an open-phase condition indicated by an increase in network impedance and decrease or elimination of the injection current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: The UAB Research Foundation
    Inventors: Robert F. Arritt, Roger C. Dugan, Wayne E. Johnson, Gregory A. Franklin
  • Patent number: 10505370
    Abstract: Provided is a grid-connected inverter safety detection device applied in a photovoltaic inverter system and including voltage detection circuit, a filter circuit, a comparison circuit and a controller. The voltage detection circuit is configured to detect a voltage between the point N and the ground, or a voltage between the first terminal for any phase of the three-phase power grid and the ground. The filter circuit is configured to filter out an alternating current component of the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit and to retain an direct current component of the voltage. The comparison circuit is configured to compare the direct current component of the voltage with a preset voltage value and transmit a comparison result to the controller. The controller is configured to determine, according to the comparison result, whether an alternating current side at the output terminal of the inverter has normal insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: SUNGROW POWER SUPPLY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Houlai Geng, Qingqing Xu, Jun Xing, Haoyuan Li, Xiaodong Mei
  • Patent number: 10473707
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a monitoring device, method and computer program product for monitoring a transformer having a tap changer. The transformer has at least two magnetically coupled windings and a tap changer having impedance elements and a changeover switch configured to gradually pass the impedance elements when changing between two tap changer positions during a tap change operation. The method is performed in the monitoring device and including: obtaining waveforms of measured power transmission properties recorded at the first and second transformer sides, processing the recorded waveforms for obtaining at least one waveform (Ploss) representing a tap change operation, and extracting information indicative of the performance of the tap change from the at least one waveform that represents the tap change operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Tord Bengtsson, Nilanga Abeywickrama
  • Patent number: 10406921
    Abstract: Electrical bus isolation is detected for an electrified vehicle having a DC power source connected to positive and negative buses. The positive bus is connected to chassis ground, and a resulting first current is sensed that flows through a negative bus leakage resistance and a balanced leakage resistance. The negative bus is connected to chassis ground, and a resulting second current is sensed that flows through a negative bus leakage resistance and a balanced leakage resistance. The positive and negative bus leakage resistances are estimated in response to respective ratios of the first and second currents. An isolation value is compared to a threshold, wherein the isolation value is responsive to a voltage of the DC power source and a smaller one of the positive and negative bus leakage resistances. An atypical isolation is signaled when the isolation value is less than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Allan R. Gale, Richard W. Kautz
  • Patent number: 10393789
    Abstract: A ground fault tester (GFT) for monitoring ground fault of DC/Battery Powered Equipment is provided. The ground fault tester (GFT) comprises a signal conditioning unit to receive a raw signal (Vs) for monitoring a ground fault and output a voltage signal (Vr), an adjustable threshold module (TH) to provide a threshold voltage (Vth) and a comparator to compare two voltages (Vr), (Vth) and output a signal indicative of the ground fault. The ground fault tester (GFT) further comprises a controller to receive a test request command and output a GFT output. The controller to control a relay device (K) for flowing a calculated test current (Itest) to a ground (GND).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS MOBILITY, INC.
    Inventor: Jingwang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10353002
    Abstract: The invention relates to a test system and a method to test a circuit breaker (2) of an electrical switchgear assembly. A sub-station battery (3) of the electrical switchgear assembly is used to generate a supply voltage (7) for the circuit breaker (2) for the testing thereof, wherein the sub-station battery (3) is coupled to a test device (1) in order to generate the supply voltage (7) for the circuit breaker (7) [sic] from an input voltage (6) provided by the sub-station battery (3). The supply voltage (7) is stabilized by means of a voltage regulator (11) of the test device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: OMICRON ELECTRONICS GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Klapper
  • Patent number: 10345358
    Abstract: Certain embodiments may generally relate to a smart fault detection device for power grids, and a method of fault detection for power grids. A method may include receiving raw data samples of currents in grounding conductors and line conductors. The method may also include processing the raw data samples under at least one of a plurality of system operating modes. The method may also include monitoring normal operation and anticipating an impending fault while operating under at least one of the system operating modes. The method may further include extracting fault information based on the monitoring. The method may also include reporting the fault information to a supervisory control and data acquisition system human-machine interface. The method may further include anticipating faults based on an analysis of the raw data samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignees: QATAR UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ahmed Gaouda, Khaled Bashir Shaban, Magdy Salama, Atef Abdrabou, Ramadan Elshatshat, Mutaz Mohamed Elhassan Elsawi Khairalla, Ahmed Abdrabou
  • Patent number: 10319550
    Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter with a reversed wiring protection function is provided. The ground fault circuit interrupter may include a main circuit switch, a middle layer bracket, a reset button, a trip coil, an electromagnetic trip mechanism, a lifting piece, a locking piece, and an elastic reset mechanism. Sides of the lifting piece may be sleeved upon live line and neutral line metal rods, respectively. Reset springs may be sleeved upon the metal rods. In a correct wiring state, an upper end of the live line metal rod may be in conductive contact with a live line movable metal sheet of the main circuit switch, and an upper end of the neutral line metal rod may be in conductive contact with a neutral line movable metal sheet of the main circuit switch, the movable metal sheets extending from the power load end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: WENZHOU VAN-SHEEN ELECTRIC APPLIANCE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jinhe Huang
  • Patent number: 10317455
    Abstract: A device for monitoring an electrical insulation in a vehicle electrical system comprises a voltage source that generates DC voltages and a determining unit, configured to determine an insulation resistance between the vehicle electrical system and ground and from current measurement values of at least two current measuring units and from the first and second voltage values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Lars Schmelzer
  • Patent number: 10209291
    Abstract: System and method for monitoring the condition of electricity conductor support systems, i.e. towers, in a power network distribution system employing a tower structure integrity sensor assemblage. The system allows for identifying particular portions of a structural system for maintenance attention. The tower sensors allow identification of structural failures of electricity transmission towers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventors: Yilmaz Sozer, Jose Alexis De Abreu-Garcia, John Lauletta
  • Patent number: 10191120
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a defect of an electric power system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first state signal output unit for outputting a first state signal corresponding to a magnetic force generated at a periphery of a line, a second state signal output unit for outputting a second state signal based on a magnitude of a line current and an increase ratio thereof, and a determination unit for determining whether the electric power system is defective or not based on the first state signal and the second state signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hae-Yong Park, Chae-Yoon Bae, Jung-Wook Sim, Gyeong-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 10168379
    Abstract: Described herein is a system. The system comprises an output cabling comprising an output wire and a return wire. The system also comprises a surge generator configured to provide a voltage pulse at a first rise time down the output cabling to a device under test. The output wire causes a ring at an initiation of the voltage pulse being provided by the surge generator to the device under test. The return wire is a return leg of the output cabling that is in a parallel path to the output wire and is configured to reduce or eliminate the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Robert Pray
  • Patent number: 10161987
    Abstract: An insulation degradation monitoring device by which a degradation state of an insulator can be constantly monitored by a simple configuration, and a degradation degree can be decided. An insulation degradation monitoring device for an insulator, by which a high-voltage charging portion of an electric instrument is insulated from and supported to a grounding metal component, includes a penetration-type electric current sensor which is inserted to a connecting portion of the insulator and the grounding metal component, and detects a leakage electric current which is passed from the high-voltage charging portion through the insulator and is flowed to the grounding metal component; and a decision means which is connected to an output side of the electric current sensor, and decides a degradation degree of the insulator in accordance with a value of the leakage electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Yamaji, Susumu Kozuru, Nobukazu Nagayasu, Takahiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10134550
    Abstract: A short circuit detection circuit for an electrical circuit includes a secondary power supply. The electrical switch is connected in series with a load and is selectively connected in series with a first power supply. The secondary power supply is limited in comparison to the first power supply in terms of voltage and/or current. A first resistance is electrically connected between the secondary power supply and a first terminal of the electrical switch. A voltage measurement circuit measures a voltage at the second end of the first resistance. A controller is configured to, while the electrical switch is controlled to an open state, energize the secondary power supply and obtaining a first voltage measurement. In response to the first voltage measurement indicating that a voltage across the first resistance is greater than a predetermined threshold, the controller identifies a low-resistance condition in the electrical switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: ASCO Power Technologies, L.P.
    Inventor: Robert W. Schicke, II
  • Patent number: 10126347
    Abstract: Leakage current detection systems and detection methods are provided. A leakage current detection system includes a passive bridge circuit including a first branch having a first output and a second branch having a second output, a first output pad electrically connected to the first output, a second output pad electrically connected to the second output, a leakage surge structure disposed between the first output pad and the second output pad, where the leakage surge structure is connected to a low-ohmic node and is configured to draw a leakage current from the passive bridge circuit and pull voltages at the first and the second output pads in a same direction on a condition that the leakage current flows through at least one element of the passive bridge circuit, and a processing device configured to monitor for the leakage current and output a monitored result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Manfred Steiner
  • Patent number: 10126344
    Abstract: A method for measuring the isolation resistance between a chassis and a battery terminal in an electric vehicle. The method can include measuring an open voltage (VP(open)) of the positive terminal; measuring an open voltage (VN(open)) of the negative terminal; measuring a voltage (VN(S1 closed)) between the negative terminal and the chassis with switch S1 closed; measuring a voltage (VP(S1 closed)) between the positive terminal and the chassis with switch S1 closed; calculating the ratio (VP(open)/VN(closed)) of the voltages VP(open) and VN(closed); calculating the open ratio of the open voltages (VP(open)/VN(open)); calculating the difference between the ratio (VP(S1 closed)/VN(S1 closed)) and the open ratio (VP(open)/VN(open)); and multiplying the value of the test resistor (R0) by the difference between the ratio (VP(S1 closed)/(VN(S1 closed)) and the open ratio (VP(S2 open)/VN(S1 open)) to obtain the isolation resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: FARADAY&FUTURE INC.
    Inventor: Steven E. Schulz
  • Patent number: 10120013
    Abstract: A method and device for monitoring an electrical network, including: a mechanism detecting electrical signals and additional signals produced in the electrical network, the additional signals being of a different physical nature to the electrical signals; a mechanism for processing the electrical signals to define a first time reference representing a detection time of the electrical signals emitted upon a fault event arising in the electrical network; a mechanism processing the additional signals to define a second time reference representing a detection time of the additional signals emitted upon the fault event arising in the electrical network; and a processor spatially locating the fault event in the electrical network according to the first and second time references.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignees: SAFRAN ELECTRICAL & POWER
    Inventors: Thomas Klonowski, Ludovic Ybanez
  • Patent number: 10114056
    Abstract: A power-supply monitoring device includes a capacitor that is connected to an insulated electric power source to execute charging/discharging. A power-supply monitoring device including this capacitor forms a charging path for detecting deterioration in an insulation resistance of an electric power source, and detects a voltage of the capacitor when being charged through this charging path. A vehicle controller specifies an abnormal part based on whether or not the voltage of the capacitor detected by the power-supply monitoring device is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignees: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota Kawanaka, Sho Tamura, Takahiro Okada, Hiromasa Tanaka, Mitsuyori Matsumura
  • Patent number: 10096590
    Abstract: In conventional sensor devices, it has been difficult to achieve both EMC resistance and ESD resistance, which are required at the output terminals of an automobile sensor device. A sensor device 1 of the present embodiment comprises: a power supply terminal 2 that supplies power; a ground terminal 3; a sensor element 4, the electrical characteristics of which change in accordance with a physical quantity; a signal processing integrated circuit 5 that processes an output signal output from the sensor element 4; and an output terminal that outputs the output signal processed by the signal processing integrated circuit 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakano, Yoshimitsu Yanagawa, Akira Kotabe
  • Patent number: 10031174
    Abstract: An apparatus embodiment comprises a voltage source, a measuring device, a controller, and at least two connecting elements. The connecting elements connect to an electrical supply network comprising at least a phase conductor and a neutral conductor. The voltage source applies at least a first voltage and a second voltage to a pair of the conductors of the electrical supply network. The measuring device measures the resistance between the pair of conductors. The controller compares a first resistance measured by the measuring device between the pair of conductors to a predetermined first threshold resistance value and detects that an electric device is connected to the electrical supply network when the first resistance is lower than or equal to the first threshold. When an electric device is not detected, the controller is further configured to perform a higher voltage insulation test of the electrical supply network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Fluke Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Laepple
  • Patent number: 9995781
    Abstract: A ground fault detection system based on capacitive sensing suitable for use in detecting a ground fault condition in electronic equipment (such as a PCBA) with a circuit ground electrically isolated from an isolation ground (such as chassis ground). The capacitive sensing system includes a capacitive sensor capacitively coupled to the system isolation ground, and a capacitance/data converter that captures sensor capacitance measurements for conversion to sensor data representative of a ground short. In one embodiment, the capacitive sensor includes a sensor electrode capacitively coupled to the system isolation ground by one of projected capacitance and a floating capacitor (such as 33 pf), and the CDC unit further includes sensor excitation circuitry configured to drive the sensor electrode, such that a sensor capacitance (projected or floating capacitance) is representative of an electrical condition of the system isolation ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Evgeny Fomin, Andrew Wang
  • Patent number: 9989576
    Abstract: A ground check monitoring device coupled to a trailing cable includes a voltage source and a switch. The trailing cable includes a first conductor, a second conductor, and a ground conductor. A resistive termination device is coupled between the first conductor and the ground conductor. A controller of the ground check monitoring device can toggle the switch between a first node of the first conductor and a second node of the second conductor. By measuring voltages at the first and second nodes, the ground check monitoring device can determine if the resistive termination device is shorted. Further, the controller can calculate resistance values of the first and second conductors and calculate a resistance value of the ground conductor. The calculated resistance values can be compared to expected values and the controller can signal a ground fault condition as appropriate based on the comparisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Vangool, Nehad El-Sherif El-Kharbawe, George J. Fenty
  • Patent number: 9984030
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic device and a data transmission system. A first electronic device includes a micro universal serial bus (USB) interface, a central processing unit (CPU) and a diode, wherein a pull-circuit for an identity (ID) pin of the CPU is coupled to a line between the ID pin of the CPU and an ID pin of the micro USB interface; the diode is coupled between the ID pin of the CPU and the ID pin of the micro USB interface, and is coupled between the pull-up circuit and the ID pin of the micro USB interface; the diode has a conducting direction from the ID pin of the CPU to the ID of the micro USB interface. With the present disclosure, the electronic device may be prevented from being damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: XIAOMI INC.
    Inventors: Zhenfei Lei, Wei Sun, Xiangdong Wang
  • Patent number: 9939495
    Abstract: A voltage detecting circuit includes a ground potential unit, a DC power supply which is insulated from the ground potential unit, a capacitor to which voltage from the DC power supply is applied, a control unit which controls charging and discharging of the capacitor, a charging circuit that includes the DC power supply, the capacitor and a charging path through which the capacitor is charged, and a discharging circuit that includes the capacitor and a discharging path through which the capacitor is discharged. The control unit includes a calculation unit which calculates a voltage value of the DC power supply, based on an actual capacitance value C of the capacitor which is obtained by both-end voltage of the capacitor corresponding to a first time and the both-end voltage of the capacitor corresponding to a second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyohei Yamamoto, Yoshihiro Kawamura