By Reflection Technique Patents (Class 324/534)
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Patent number: 11689948Abstract: Faults along a transmission pathway of a cell tower disrupt or prevent the cell tower from connecting user equipment (UE) to a cellular network. A cell tower monitoring and diagnostic system identify faults that occur along the transmission pathway and provide information regarding the faults to a network management center. The cell tower monitoring and diagnostic system can include multiple monitoring devices that are electrically coupled to portions of the transmission pathway. Each of the monitoring devices outputs an inquiry signal along the portion of the transmission pathway and receives a response signal in return. Each of the monitoring devices generates and transmits an output based on the response signal. A base station analyzes or evaluates the outputs from the monitoring devices to identify a fault on the transmission pathway. The base station can also determine the location and type of the fault based on the output.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: T-MOBILE USA, INC.Inventor: Bhagwan Singh Khanka
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Patent number: 11609258Abstract: According to an apparatus and a method for detecting a cable abnormality based on reflectometry utilizing artificial intelligence according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to monitor a state of the cable which connects the nodes in real time by inserting a result of the time-frequency domain reflectometry into a variational autoencoder (VAE) which is one of unsupervised learning.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: UIF (University Industry Foundation), Yonsei UniversityInventors: Yong-June Shin, Gu-Young Kwon
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Patent number: 11581956Abstract: One of a plurality of radio communication apparatuses (100) becomes a master apparatus (100-M), and a rest of them become slave apparatuses (100-S). The master apparatus and each of the slave apparatus includes a plurality of transceivers (31) each composed of a transmitter and a receiver and first ports (55 and 56). The master apparatus further includes a calibration transceiver (51). The first port of the master apparatus is connected to the first port of the slave apparatus via an RF cable. When transmission calibration is performed, each transmitter of the slave apparatus transmits a transmission calibration signal to the calibration transceiver of the master apparatus via the RF cable. When reception calibration is performed, the calibration transceiver of the master apparatus transmits a reception calibration signal to each receiver of the slave apparatus via the RF cable.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2019Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: NEC CORPORATIONInventor: Takuji Mochizuki
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Patent number: 11418029Abstract: A monitoring system includes in-field measurement devices adapted to generate measurement data of a power supply network, and a processing unit adapted to process the measurement data using a local network state estimation model to calculate local network state profiles used to generate a global network state profile. The processing unit is adapted to process the measurement data to provide a relevance profile comprising, for the in-field measurement devices, a relevance distribution indicating a probability where an origin of a contingency within the power supply network resides. The processing unit is adapted to compute a similarity between a candidate contingency profile formed by the generated global network state profile and by the calculated relevance profile and reference contingency profiles stored in a reference contingency database of the monitoring system to identify a reference contingency profile having a highest computed similarity as a recognized contingency within the power supply network.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2018Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Silvio Becher, Denis Krompaß
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Patent number: 11408918Abstract: An electrical measurement apparatus may include a bias voltage generator configured to generate and output a bias voltage, a bias probe coupled to the output of bias voltage generator configured to apply voltage bias to a first portion of an external circuit which may be subjected to environmental stresses such as vibration, temperature, humidity etc., a measurement probe configured to receive a second electrical signal from a second portion of the external circuit, and a control unit configured to control the bias voltage generator to generate different bias voltages, patterns, AC/DC etc., receive the second electrical signal from the measurement probe and cause the device to output a response in the second electrical signal to the time-domain discontinuity in the first electrical signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING LLCInventor: Amruteshwar Hiremath
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Patent number: 11265745Abstract: Faults along a transmission pathway of a cell tower disrupt or prevent the cell tower from connecting user equipment (UE) to a cellular network. A cell tower monitoring and diagnostic system identify faults that occur along the transmission pathway and provide information regarding the faults to a network management center. The cell tower monitoring and diagnostic system can include multiple monitoring devices that are electrically coupled to portions of the transmission pathway. Each of the monitoring devices outputs an inquiry signal along the portion of the transmission pathway and receives a response signal in return. Each of the monitoring devices generates and transmits an output based on the response signal. A base station analyzes or evaluates the outputs from the monitoring devices to identify a fault on the transmission pathway. The base station can also determine the location and type of the fault based on the output.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2020Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: T-MOBILE USA, INC.Inventor: Bhagwan Singh Khanka
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Patent number: 11237199Abstract: In the field of power transmission networks, particularly high voltage direct current (HVDC) power transmission networks, there is provided an electrical assembly (10). The electrical assembly (10) comprises a converter (12) that includes at least one AC terminal (14A, 14B, 14C) for connection to an AC network (16) and at least one DC terminal (18, 22) which is operatively connected to a DC power transmission medium (20, 24). The electrical assembly (10) also includes a signal injection circuit (32) which is operatively coupled with at least one DC power transmission medium (20, 24). The signal injection circuit (32) includes a signal generator (38) to selectively inject a plurality of different frequency signals into the said at least one transmission medium (20, 24). In addition the signal injection circuit (32) includes a signal analyser (42) to establish a response signature of the said at least one transmission medium (20, 24) to the plurality of different frequency injected signals.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2018Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbHInventor: Andre Canelhas
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Patent number: 11143711Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a wiring short in a substrate includes a voltage source configured to apply a rising or falling measurement voltage to a first wiring of a substrate, a plurality of electrodes including first and second electrode elements capacitively coupled to the first and second wirings of the substrate, respectively, a sensing circuit configured to generate an output voltage based on a voltage or a current between the first and second electrode elements, and a processor configured to determine whether a short circuit connection having a resistance value greater than a reference resistance value is present between the first and second wirings based on a change rate of the output voltage after application of the measurement voltage. Methods for detecting wiring shorts in the substrate are further provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.Inventor: Tai Jin Kim
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Patent number: 11121782Abstract: Various embodiments relate to detecting a cable fault within a 10SPE network. A method may include transmitting a pulse signal to a cable of a shared bus from a node, and observing a signal received at the node in response to the pulse signal. The method may also include determining a fault condition of the cable based on the pulse signal and on an amplitude of each sample of a number of samples of the one or more observed signals.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Microchip Technology IncorporatedInventors: John Junling Zang, Dixon Chen, Hongming An, Jiachi Yu, Kevin Yang, Yanzi Xu, Henry Liang
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Patent number: 11121890Abstract: A channel prediction system and a channel prediction method for an OFDM wireless communication system include a standard echo state network and a two-layer adaptive elastic network. In the method, with respect to each subcarrier of a pilot OFDM symbol, an echo state network is trained by using frequency domain channel information of each subcarrier obtained by channel estimation. The trained echo state network may realize short-term prediction of the frequency domain channel information. To overcome a likely ill-conditioned solution of an output weight in an echo state network, the output weight in the echo state network is estimated by using a two-layer adaptive elastic network.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2020Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: WUHAN UNIVERSITYInventors: Yigang He, Yongbo Sui, Guolong Shi, Liulu He, Hui Zhang, Chaolong Zhang
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Patent number: 11114856Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of protecting a component using a deliberately created impedance mismatch between conductive impedance transition elements and an electric power line. The method comprises coupling a plurality of conductive impedance transition elements having a greater diameter than the power line at a position between an extended length of the power line and the component. The difference between the diameters of the conductive transition elements and the power line causes an intentional impedance mismatch between the two or more impedance transition elements with adjacent portions of the power line, and the mismatch causes high-frequency components of the transient electromagnetic signals induced on the power line by the transient electrical disturbance to be reflected by at least one of two or more impedance transition elements away from the protected component.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2020Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: ADVANCED FUSION SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Curtis A. Birnbach, John Anthony Cappelletti
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Patent number: 11041898Abstract: There is provided a method of locating a fault in a power transmission medium, including: monitoring, at a first monitoring location, an electrical characteristic of a power transmission medium at a plurality of frequencies; detecting, at the first monitoring location, a set of propagating fault signals including: a first propagating fault signal of the electrical characteristic at a first frequency of the plurality of frequencies, and a second propagating fault signal of the electrical characteristic at a second frequency of the plurality of frequencies, wherein each propagating fault signal is caused by the fault in the power transmission medium; comparing the first and second propagating fault signals with one another to obtain a set comparison value; and determining a location of the fault in the power transmission medium by deriving, from the set comparison value, a fault distance from the first monitoring location.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2016Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbHInventor: Rosemary King
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Patent number: 10942210Abstract: A reflected-wave processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a reference signal generation unit for applying, to a cable, a first reference signal, the frequency of which increases over time, and a second reference signal, the frequency of which decreases over time; a reflected-signal acquisition unit for acquiring a first reflected signal and a second reflected signal which are reflected from the cable upon applying the first and second reference signals thereto; and a signal analysis unit for analyzing the first and second reflected signals.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2016Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: KOREA ELECTRIC POWER CORPORATIONInventors: Song-Ho Sohn, Sang-Cheol Han, Hyung-Suk Yang, Seong-Woo Yim, Yong-June Shin, Geon-Seok Lee, Su-Sik Bang, Yeong-Ho Lee, Gu-Young Kwon
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Patent number: 10938636Abstract: A physical layer transceiver (PHY) ability configuration system includes a peer computing device having a first communication subsystem that includes a first PHY device coupled to a first port. They system also includes a networking device having a second communication subsystem that includes a second PHY device and that is configured to operate in a plurality of modes and a second port that is coupled to the second PHY device. The networking device determines, in response to a cable coupling the first port and the second port while the second PHY device is configured to operate in a first mode of the plurality of modes, that a link is not detected at the second port. The networking device changes the first mode to a second mode of the plurality of modes, and detects the establishment of the link between the first port and the second port.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Sarat Krishnan, Chadwick Thomas Berry
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Patent number: 10833652Abstract: Systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products that can facilitate superconducting resonator definition based on one or more superconducting circuit attributes, are described. According to an embodiment, a system can comprise a memory that stores computer executable components and a processor that executes the computer executable components stored in the memory. The computer executable components can comprise a resonant circuit component that derives a resonant circuit indicative of a superconducting resonator of a superconducting circuit based on one or more attributes of the superconducting circuit. The computer executable components can further comprise a resonator definition component that defines a frequency value of the superconducting resonator based on the resonant circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventor: Salvatore Bernardo Olivadese
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Patent number: 10738589Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for monitoring the performances of a cable for carrying a downhole assembly in a wellbore, the cable comprising at least a conductive core and an insulating outer layer, comprising: measuring a downlink telemetry signal, transmitted from a surface control module to the downhole assembly, and/or an uplink telemetry signal, transmitted from the downhole assembly to the surface control module; representing the downlink and/or uplink telemetry signals as a function of a parameter representative of a depth of the downhole assembly, analyzing a variation of the telemetry signal as a function of the parameter in view of an electrical model of an installation including the cable and the downhole assembly disposed in the wellbore, determining location of anomalies of the cable based on the analysis.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Vincent Chatelet, Jean-Louis Pessin, François Chevillard
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Patent number: 10630397Abstract: Disclosed is a method for measuring free space properties of an antenna. The method may include supporting the antenna above the ground by an aircraft and using an analyzer to determine at least one property of the antenna while the antenna is suspended in the air. In example embodiments, the method may further include flying drone around the antenna while the antenna is suspended and using the drone to take measurements of the antenna.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2017Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Michael W. Howard
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Patent number: 10564246Abstract: A testing apparatus for imposing a traveling wave signal on an electric system signal for testing a fault detector is disclosed herein. The fault detector may be configured to simulate a fault at a particular location by controlling the timing of the traveling wave signal. The testing apparatus may be configured to impose multiple traveling wave signals to test the accuracy of the fault location determined by the fault detector. The testing apparatus may be configured to determine the calculation accuracy of the fault detector. The testing apparatus may impose a traveling wave signal on a signal simulating an electrical signal on an electric power delivery system. The testing apparatus may be used to test capabilities of a fault detector of detecting a fault using traveling waves or incremental quantities.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2016Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: David E. Whitehead, Tony J. Lee, Zachary King Sheffield, Tracey G. Windley
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Patent number: 10365315Abstract: A method for locating an anomaly in a distribution circuit including utility power lines includes coupling a radio frequency energy source to the utility power lines, transmitting chirped radio frequency signals into the utility power lines, receiving and digitizing/analyzing signals reflected from the chirped signals by impedance mismatches caused by components and features of the distribution circuit, and generating from the digitized signals of multiple sets of the chirped radio frequency signals a reference data set identifying at least the locations of at least some of the components and features of the distribution circuit. Later sets of the chirped radio frequency signals are transmitted into the utility power lines and signals reflected from the sets of chirped signals are received and digitized and are compared with the reference data set to determine if there are anomalies on the distribution circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2017Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Southern California EdisonInventors: Sean Mitchem, Jake Casey-Snyder, Ben Abbott, Yaxi Liu, Christopher M. Huff, Bryan Pham
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Patent number: 10338124Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cable fault diagnosis system and method, wherein when an application signal and a reflected signal overlap each other due to the proximity of a fault location to an application location or when the intensity of the reflected signal is weak and thus falls outside of a prescribed fault diagnosis range due to remoteness of the fault location from the application location, a correction location, at which a correlation function value has a global maximum, is derived on the basis of a prescribed correlation function for an application signal applied to a cable to be inspected and an acquired reflected signal, a correction signal, which is a reflected signal from which the application signal is removed at the derived correction location, is calculated, the distance between the correction location and the acquisition location is derived on the basis of a time delay, which is calculated on the basis of the calculated correction signal and the reflected signal at the acquisition location, and a prType: GrantFiled: May 7, 2015Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Korea Electrical Safety CorporationInventors: Jeong-chay Jeon, Jae-jin Kim, Myeong-il Choi, Taek-hee Kim
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Patent number: 10030967Abstract: The invention concerns a device for locally measuring strains within a measurement volume that comprises a test body formed from a homogeneous material of known mechanical properties and ellipsoidal in shape intended to be included in the measurement volume, at least one measurement optical fiber for measuring deformation embedded within said test body and means for linking the at least one measurement optical fiber to a system designed to stimulate the at least one measurement optical fiber, detect signals coming from the fibers and, by means of an electronic system capable of carrying out calculations, determine strains from at least one of the detected signals and known mechanical properties.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: UNIVERSITE DE NANTESInventors: Marc Francois, Yann Lecieux, Dominique Leduc, Cyril Lupi
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Patent number: 9958490Abstract: An electrical monitoring system is configured to monitor one or more systems of a vehicle. The electrical monitoring system may include a housing, a loop resistance test (LRT) unit contained within the housing, a network analyzer unit contained with the housing, and a time domain reflectometer (TDR) unit contained within the housing. The LRT unit is configured to conduct loop resistance tests with respect to the system(s) of the vehicle. The network analyzer unit is configured to conduct network analysis with respect to the system(s) of the vehicle. The TDR unit is configured to conduct time domain reflectometry with respect to the system(s) of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2015Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Neal D. Whitlock
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Patent number: 9720028Abstract: There are disclosed apparatus and methods for testing a live circuit powered from an alternating current (AC) voltage. A live circuit tester includes a spread spectrum time domain reflectometer (SSTDR) configured to perform SSTDR measurements of the live circuit and a memory storing one or more ignore distance values. A processor coupled to the SSTDR and the memory detects a potential fault in the live circuit based on results of one or more SSTDR measurements, the potential fault associated with a distance from the apparatus. The processor compares the distance associated with the potential fault with each of the one or more ignore distance values, and stores, in the memory, data defining the potential fault if the associated distance does not match any of the one or more ignore distance values.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: LiveWire Innovation, Inc.Inventors: Lee Arthur Watkins, Niall Michael McNamara
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Patent number: 9407319Abstract: Described is a differential data bus system which maintains error free communication despite faults in one of the data bus lines.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2015Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Sital Technology Ltd.Inventor: Ofer Hofman
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Patent number: 9331842Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for transmitting pulses onto respective cables so that the pulses arrive at the remote ends of the respective cables in synchronized (or controllably asynchronized) fashion. First, the round-trip time of flight of each cable is measured using speedy delivery pulses, i.e., pulses whose leading edges have exponential shape. Second, a calculation is performed to determine the input delay(s) between the pulses that would produce desired output delay(s). For example, it may be desirable that the pulses arrive at the respective remote ends at the same time, in which case the desired output delay(s) is (are) zero. Third, the same speedy delivery pulses are transmitted onto the respective cables so that the interpulse delay(s) conform to the computed input delay(s). Thus, the desired output delay(s) are achieved at the remote ends of the cables.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2015Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventor: Robert H. Flake
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Patent number: 9322865Abstract: A method of digital sampling of a current or group of currents in an electrical system including using in the sampling, sufficient bandwidth to reconstruct the amplitude and phase of a synthesized power frequency and its harmonics and a fundamental carrier frequency of switching electronics and modulation sidebands.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: AMPCONTROL PTY LTD.Inventors: Timothy Andrew Wylie, Ian Webster, Peter Stepien
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Patent number: 9297848Abstract: Modular wiring harness testing systems and apparatus are provided for testing wiring harnesses such as those used in the automotive industry. The testing apparatus is configurable (or re-configurable) to test a plurality of different types of wiring harnesses that have different configurations in terms of the number of wires, number of circuits and/or the number, size or type of connectors.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Timothy D. Julson, Gary W. Taraski, Kimberley R. Will, Khara D. Pratt
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Patent number: 9210257Abstract: Methods of testing at least a transmission line of interest within a group of transmission lines for anomalies using Time Domain Reflectometry are provided. The testing methods set forth herein aim to improve, for example, the quality and accuracy of information collected when propagating signals along a length of transmission line in order to pinpoint specific anomalies. To achieve this and other benefits, the testing methods simultaneously impose, for example, pulses of equal magnitude and form onto a group of transmission lines, such as the phases cables of a three phase power transmission cable system. From this, at least one transmission line from the group is monitored for reflected signals caused by impedance change. An example TDR is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2011Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: UTILX CorporationInventors: Nelson Hall, Keith Lanan, Oscar E. Morel
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Patent number: 9151795Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a passive component having a signal transmission line on a printed circuit board (PCB), includes a reflectometry unit for inputting an incident signal to an input port connected to the signal transmission line, receiving a reflected signal in response to the incident signal, and computing a plurality of frequency-based reflection coefficient values in a preset frequency range and a plurality of time-based reflection coefficient values in a preset time range based on the incident signal and the reflected signal; and a defect detection unit for determining whether the signal transmission line has a defect based on the plurality of frequency-based reflection coefficient values, and determining a location of the defect on the signal transmission line based on the plurality of time-based reflection coefficient values.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2012Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventor: Jin Jeong
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Patent number: 9128719Abstract: A controlling circuit supporting a power saving mechanism includes: a transmitting interface arranged to perform a signal transmission with a specific controlling circuit; and a setting unit coupled to the transmitting interface. The setting unit is arranged to control the specific controlling circuit to operate in the power saving mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2011Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.Inventors: Liang-Wei Huang, Ta-Chin Tseng, Chi-Shun Weng, Shieh-Hsing Kuo
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Patent number: 9097615Abstract: A system includes a wavelength tunable laser to provide a first optical pulse of a first wavelength and a second optical pulse of a second wavelength to an optical fiber, a reflection detector to determine a first fiber attenuation curve from the first reflected pulse and a second fiber attenuation curve from the second reflected pulse, and a discontinuous loss event analyzer to identify a discontinuous loss event at a discontinuous loss point in at least one of the first fiber attenuation curve and the second first fiber attenuation curve, determine a return loss slope based on a return loss at the discontinuous loss point for the first fiber attenuation curve and a return loss at the discontinuous loss point for the second first fiber attenuation curve, and determine whether the discontinuous loss event is a bad fiber bending event based on the return loss slope.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2013Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: Tiejun J. Xia, Scott R. Kotrla
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Patent number: 9081047Abstract: A method for locating a defect in an electric link includes measuring at least one part of components of an electromagnetic field in a vicinity of an estimated location of the defect at plural places along the link; deducing, via a processor, from the measuring an estimation of variation of at least the part of the components of the electromagnetic field along the electric link in a vicinity of the estimated location of the defect; and estimating, via the processor, a new location of the defect as a function of the estimated variation of at least the part of the components of the electromagnetic field.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: RTE RESEAU DE TRANSPORT D'ELECTRICITEInventors: Matthieu Surdon, Christian Aucourt, Xavier Bourgeat
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Patent number: 9052346Abstract: A method of estimating response of a medical lead to an electromagnetic field includes providing a medical lead having a proximal end, a distal end, a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end, a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end, and a plurality of conductors extending along the medical lead and electrically coupling the electrodes to the terminals; individually applying a test field at each of a plurality of test positions along the medical lead using at least one excitation probe; for each application of the test field, determining a response to the application of the test field at one or more of the electrodes or terminals; generating a transfer function using a combination of the responses determined for the applications of the test field; and using the transfer function to estimate a response of the medical lead to an electromagnetic field.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation CorporatonInventors: Gaurav Gupta, Joseph M. Bocek, Ross Daniel Venook, Matthew Lee McDonald, Rafael Carbunaru, Chirag M. Patel
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Patent number: 9021086Abstract: System and methods for inferring network topology are described, including a method comprising determining a normalized transmit power of a first device, identifying a second device based upon a parameter of the second device and the normalized transmit power of the first device, and generating a topology including the first device and the second device based upon at least one of the normalized transmit power of the first device and the parameter of the second device.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2011Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLCInventors: Lawrence Wolcott, Justin Riggett, Bryan Johnston
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Patent number: 8917097Abstract: A method for detecting and locating by reflectometry electrical faults in a metal structure includes injecting a probe signal into an electrical propagation line held at a substantially constant distance from the structure. The propagation line is connected at one end to the metal structure and at another end to a signal generator. The method further includes detecting a reflected signal in return from the injected signal. In addition, the method includes comparing the reflected signal with a reference signature of an undisrupted reflected signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2012Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)Inventors: Olivier Landes, Christophe Lochot
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Patent number: 8896318Abstract: Disclosed are advances in the arts with novel methods and apparatus for detecting faulty connections in an electrical system. Exemplary preferred embodiments include basic, ASIC, AC, DC, and RF monitoring techniques and systems for monitoring signals at one or more device loads and analyzing the monitored signals for determining fault conditions at the device loads and/or at the main transmission lines. The invention preferably provides the capability to test and monitor electrical interconnections without fully activating the host system.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2013Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Triune IP LLCInventors: Ross E. Teggatz, Wayne T. Chen, Brett Smith
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Patent number: 8829917Abstract: A physical layer device configured to interface with a plurality of pairs of wires. The physical layer device includes a cable test module configured to transmit a pulse over the plurality of pairs of wires, measure a reflection of the pulse as received from the plurality of pairs of wires, and determine whether a short circuit exists in one of the plurality of pairs of wires based on the measure of the reflection of the pulse. An autonegotiation module is configured to perform autonegotiation to establish a link at a particular speed over the plurality of pairs of wires. The particular speed at which the link is established over the plurality of pairs of wires is based, at least in part, on whether a short circuit exists in one of the plurality of pairs of wires as determined by the cable test module.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2012Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.Inventors: William Lo, Yiqing Guo, Tak Tsui, Tsin-Ho Leung, Runsheng He, Eric Janofsky
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Patent number: 8823534Abstract: Tampering with an electricity network is detected from an electricity meter by transmitting a probe signal over at least part of the electricity network (12) from a signal source (106a) in the electricity meter (10). A reflected signal produced by reflection of the probe signal in the electricity network (12) is received back. The reflected signal is compared with a reference signal. An alarm signal is generated when said comparing detects a deviation between the reflection signal and the reference signal, in particular when reflections from a new position on the electricity network near the electricity meter are detected.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2010Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: NXP, B.V.Inventor: Marco Kuystermans
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Patent number: 8803069Abstract: An electro-optical (EO) radiation collector for collecting and/or transmitting EO radiation (which may include EO radiation in the visible wavelengths) for transmission to an EO sensor. The EO radiation collector may be used with an arc flash detection device or other protective system, such as an intelligent electronic device (IED). The arc flash detection device may detect an arc flash event based upon EO radiation collected by and/or transmitted from the EO radiation collector. The EO radiation collector may receive an EO conductor cable, an end of which may be configured to receive EO radiation. A portion of the EO radiation received by the EO radiation collector may be transmitted into the EO conductor cable and transmitted to the arc flash detection device. The EO radiation collector may be adapted to receive a second EO conductor cable, which may be used to provide redundant EO transmission and/or self-test capabilities.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2009Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: James R. Kesler, Douglas M. Trout, Gary W. Scheer
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Publication number: 20140111220Abstract: There is provided a method for fault diagnosis on a solar module in which electrical potentials are checked within the solar module to provide the possibility for carrying out the fault diagnosis even when the solar module is not exposed to sun light. Specifically the solar cell module is excited by both a DCBIAS and an AC voltage over a wide frequency range, and the impedance of the solar cell module is measured as a function of the frequency response. There is also provided an embodiment, wherein time domain reflectometry (TDR) is used in combination with the DC BIAS and AC voltage based fault diagnosis. Based on the method safety operations can be carried out as a part of the integrated electric functionality.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2012Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: EMAZYS TECHNOLOGIES APSInventor: Anders Rand Andersen
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Patent number: 8670335Abstract: Reduced power transmission is described. In embodiments, networked devices communicate via a network connection. A characteristic of the network connection between the networked devices can be determined, and an output amplitude of a signal that is indicative of the communications between the network devices can be adjusted based on the characteristic of the network connection. Power consumption that is utilized for the communications between the network devices is reduced based on the adjustment of the output amplitude of the signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2009Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.Inventors: Ozdal Barkan, Tak-Lap Tsui
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Patent number: 8620605Abstract: A method for detecting and determining a position of faults using reflectometry in a wired electrical network including: injecting a test signal e(t) into a cable in the electrical network, a timing of successive injections being controlled by a synchronization module that generates an emission clock signal and a reception clock signal; retrieving a reflected signal on the cable; sampling the reflected signal at a frequency Fe=1/Te, where Te is a sampling period; counting a number of samples obtained for the reflected signal and comparing the number of samples obtained with a number n predefined as a function of a length of the cable or the electrical network to be diagnosed, where n is an integer; repeating the injecting, the sampling, and the counting steps N times, shifting the emission clock signal by a duration ?; reconstituting the reflected signal from n*N samples obtained; and analyzing the reconstituted reflected signal to detect a fault.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2008Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies AlternativesInventors: Julien Guilhemsang, Fabrice Auzanneau, Yannick Bonhomme
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Patent number: 8575945Abstract: A subsea line monitoring device includes a diagnostic unit adapted to be deployed, in use, in a subsea location and having a first connector, the diagnostic unit being operable, in use, to output a signal indicative of the integrity of a line or device connected to the first connector. The subsea line monitoring device may be deployed on a long term or permanent basis at the subsea location.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2010Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Viper Subsea LimitedInventor: Neil Douglas
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Patent number: 8564302Abstract: The test instrument is used to perform both time domain reflectometry (TDR) and analysis of transmission signals on a line under test. Further, the test instrument provides for both pulse TDR and step TDR. A coupling transformer having an enhanced low frequency response provides for coupling of the test instrument to the line under test. Isolation circuits between the coupling transformer and the line under test to prevent damage to the test instrument due to voltages on the line under test allow the test instrument to be used in connection with an active line under test. Two isolation circuits are utilized to maintain longitudinal balance of the circuit. During step TDR, the positive and negative transmitter circuits provide step-shaped impulse signals.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2010Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Greenlee Textron Inc.Inventor: Thomas W. Durston
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Patent number: 8558552Abstract: A method of characterizing a wiring network is implemented in a system which includes a test controller and at least two probes. On commands from the test controller, at least one of the probes changes its impedance between the nominal impedance of the wiring network and a mismatch impedance. Reflectometry measurements are performed before and after of switching the impedance of the second probe. At the first probe, an RF signal is generated and a reflected signal is measured. Then, the impedance of the second probe is changed, and again an RF signal is generated and a reflected signal is measured at the first probe. Additionally, a frequency response may be measured at the second probe. The results of the measurements are used for characterization of a transmission line between the first and second probes.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: JDS Uniphase CorporationInventors: Daniel K. Chappell, Richard Earl Jones, Jr., Eddie B. Gaines
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Patent number: 8552739Abstract: In an electronic device and a method of correcting time-domain reflectometers, two channels of a time-domain reflectometer are connected to a corrector using cables, and the two channels are enabled to transmit pulses. Parameters Step Deskew and Channel Deskew of the two channels are zeroed. Resistance values of the two channels are measured simultaneously, and the value of the parameter Step Deskew of one of the two channels is adjusted according to the Resistance values of the two channels. Times of achieving the same resistance value of the two channels are measured after the cables and the connector have been disconnected, and the value of the parameter Channel Deskew of one of the two channels is adjusted according to the times of achieving the same resistance value. The adjusted values of the parameters Step Deskew and Channel Deskew are displayed through a display unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2011Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hsien-Chuan Liang, Shen-Chun Li, Shou-Kuo Hsu
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Patent number: 8548760Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting a nonlinearity in a cable plant and for determining cable length to a source of the nonlinearity are disclosed. Upstream signal peaks are detected by averaging upstream signal waveforms. The upstream signal peaks are generated at the source of the nonlinearity from naturally occurring downstream signal peaks propagating in the cable plant. The downstream signal peaks occur due to constructive superposition of the downstream channel signals. Acquisition of the upstream signal waveforms is triggered by the downstream signal peaks. The cable length to the source of nonlinearity is determined from a time delay between the downstream signal peaks and the upstream signal peaks.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2009Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: JDS Uniphase CorporationInventor: Daniel K. Chappell
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Patent number: 8461847Abstract: Disclosed are advances in the arts with novel methods and apparatus for detecting faulty connections in an electrical system. Exemplary preferred embodiments include basic, ASIC, AC, DC, and RF monitoring techniques and systems for monitoring signals at one or more device loads and analyzing the monitored signals for determining fault conditions at the device loads and/or at the main transmission lines. The invention preferably provides the capability to test and monitor electrical interconnections without fully activating the host system.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2010Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Tribune IP LLCInventors: Ross E. Teggatz, Wayne T. Chen, Brett Smith
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Patent number: 8461848Abstract: An apparatus and method for cable diagnostics is disclosed for deployment as part of an Ethernet communication system to conduct diagnostics. The system transmits one or more pulses which are Ethernet compatible and of finite duration. Reflections are detected and through processing and measurement of the amplitude and round-trip delay of the pulse's reflection, cable faults are located. In one embodiment, this innovation uses an IEEE 802.3 compliant transmit pulse, such as an auto-negotiation signal (AN pulse), to conduct cable diagnostics. The benefits of a standard compliant allow for use with any vendor on the far-end and the signal requires no special hardware or software to produce and, therefore, reduces system complexity and cost. To reduce incorrect measurements, the apparatus measures cable length and termination with multiple AN pulses. It then applies non-linear filters to redundant measurements in such a way that it produces accurate cable diagnostics information.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2009Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.Inventors: Divya Srinivasan Breed, Brett McClellan
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Patent number: 8416699Abstract: A physical layer device for a network interface, in which the physical layer device includes a cable-test module and a data processing module. The physical layer module is configured to selectively test a cable connected to the physical layer device and to generate test data. The data processing module includes a first processor configured to process the test data and to generate test results indicating a cable status of the cable. The first processor is configured to selectively communicate the cable status to a second processor of a medium access controller.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2010Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.Inventor: William Lo