Having Inductive Sensing Patents (Class 324/76.75)
  • Patent number: 11674984
    Abstract: A directional power detector device includes a directional coupling network including a first transmission path connected between a radio frequency (RF) input and an RF output, the first transmission path having a voltage transmission gain A, phase ? and characteristic impedance Zo, a second transmission path having the same voltage transmission gain A, phase ? and characteristic impedance Zo, and a resistor connected between the first transmission path at the RF output and the second transmission path, where the resistor has a value including the characteristic impedance Zo. The directional power detector device further includes a detector diode including an anode connected to the second transmission path and a cathode, a capacitor connected between the cathode of the detector diode and the RF input port, and a detector output connected to the cathode of the detector diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: KEYSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Eric R. Ehlers
  • Patent number: 9257785
    Abstract: An electronic device having a fool-proof feature is provided, including a first magnet, an output terminal, a hall sensor and a power supply unit. The first magnet generates a magnetic field. The output terminal is disposed in the range of the magnetic field and is mated with an input terminal of a second electronic device. The hall sensor generates a hall voltage according to the magnetic field. The power supply unit is coupled to the output terminal and provides power to the output terminal according a control signal outputted from the hall sensor, in which the hall sensor outputs the control signal when the output terminal is coupled to the input terminal and the hall voltage exceeds a specific voltage, such that the power supply unit provides power to the output terminal according to the control signal, and the second electronic device receives power from the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: ACER INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Kim Yeung Sip
  • Patent number: 9223451
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may allow for the use of active capacitive sensing on a head-mountable device. An example method may involve: sending a first signal that has a first frequency from a signal transmitter positioned on a wearable computing device so that when the wearable computing device is worn, the signal transmitter couples to a part of a wearer of the wearable computing device, receiving a second signal at a capacitive sensor located on the wearable computing device, determining whether the second signal has the first frequency, if the second signal has the first frequency, outputting a third signal that is indicative of manual input on the capacitive sensor, and if the second signal does not have the first frequency, refraining from outputting the third signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Hayes Solos Raffle, Timothy John Prachar
  • Patent number: 9124159
    Abstract: A stator that includes stator windings wound around teeth. A rotor includes: a rotor core; rotor windings wound around main salient poles of the rotor; and a diode serving as a magnetic characteristic adjustment portion that causes magnetic characteristics produced on the main salient poles by electromotive forces induced in the rotor windings to differ in the circumferential direction of the rotor. The rotor has auxiliary salient poles that are each protruded from a side surface of each main salient pole in the circumferential direction. In each of rotor slots formed between the main salient poles adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, the auxiliary salient poles adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are connected to each other within the rotor slot. In each rotor slot, at least a portion of the rotor windings is disposed radially inside the auxiliary salient poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Yamada, Ryoji Mizutani, Shintaro Chinen, Kenji Hiramoto, Hideo Nakai
  • Patent number: 8912786
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for determining a direct current (i(t)) flowing in a conductor (7) and having an amplitude greater than 500 A, which direct current (i(t)) is composed of a number of time-dependent partial currents (ii(t)) flowing in individual conductors (8) with switching elements. To create a drift-free measured value, it is provided that at least one Rogowski coil (10) is arranged around at least one of the individual conductors (8) for the induction of a partial voltage (ui(t)) through the at least one partial current (ii(t)), wherein the individual conductor (8) is formed by a path of a rectifier (6) on a secondary side of a transformer (5) with central tapping, the at least one integrator (11) is designed for integration of the at least one partial voltage (ui(t)), and the at least one integrator (11) is connected to an evaluation unit (12) for determining the direct current (i(t)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Badegruber, Helmut Ennsbrunner
  • Patent number: 8841900
    Abstract: A combined measurement device for measuring current and/or voltage of an electrical conductor, comprising a supporting body, a current sensor housed inside the supporting body, and a voltage sensor located at least partially inside the supporting body. A shielding is positioned around the current sensor. The current sensor and the voltage sensor are mutually arranged so as the shielding shields at least partially both the current sensor and the voltage sensor against external electric field disturbances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Radek Javora, Petr J. Kral
  • Patent number: 8378660
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device inductive touch analog front end excites selected ones of a plurality of inductive touch sensors and provides analog output signals representative of voltages across the coils of the plurality of inductive touch sensors. Various characteristics of the inductive touch analog front end are programmable. A digital processor controls selection of each one of the plurality of inductive touch sensors and receives the respective analog output voltage signal from the inductive touch AFE. The digital processor may program the characteristics of the inductive touch analog front end. When a sufficient change in the coil voltage is determined by the digital processor, that inductive touch sensor is assumed to have been actuated and the digital processor takes action based upon which one of the plurality of inductive touch sensors was actuated (touched).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Sean Steedman, Keith E. Curtis, Radu Ruscu, Petru Cristian Pop
  • Publication number: 20120062209
    Abstract: Electrical current sensor comprising a measuring circuit (6) and an inductor (4) for measuring a primary current IP flowing in a primary conductor (2), the inductor comprising a saturable magnetic core (10) made of a highly permeable magnetic material and a secondary coil (12) for carrying an alternating excitation i configured to alternatingly saturate the magnetic core, the coil being connected to the measuring circuit. The measuring circuit is configured to supply a positive or negative voltage to the inductor, to switch off the voltage when a condition signalling saturation is reached, to measure the time to saturation t1 in one direction and the time to saturation t2 in the other direction of the magnetic core and determine therefrom a value of the primary current for small current amplitudes, the measuring circuit being further configured for evaluating the average value of the excitation current i and determining therefrom the value of the primary current for large currents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Liaisons Electroniques-Mecaniques LEM SA
    Inventors: Wolfram Teppan, Davide Azzoni
  • Publication number: 20110037453
    Abstract: A high-frequency detector device (1) including a detector circuit in which the input gate of the branch line coupler, from which the fundamental wavelength of an input signal is extinguished, is used for decoupling a bias voltage VDC of two Schottky-diodes (4, 5) and by a HF-technique, is closed by a resistance (R0) of a line impedance (Z0). Both phase-displaced outputs (8, 9) of the branch line-coupler (7) traverse electrical connection lines (19, 20) to reach two detector diodes (4, 5) and are recombined after the detector diodes (4, 5). The combined signals are guided to the detector output (3) via a downstream path filter (34). A compensation circuit (21) includes, for compensating the temperature drift of the detector diodes (4, 5), at least one additional diode (22, 24) that is structurally identical to the detector diodes (4, 5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventor: Axel Hulsmann
  • Patent number: 7741133
    Abstract: Test methods and components are disclosed for testing resistances of helical coils formed in magnetic recording heads. Helical coils in magnetic recording heads include a bottom coil structure, a top coil structure, and connecting structures that electrically connect the top and bottom coil structures. A test component is fabricated on the wafer along with the magnetic recording heads. The test component includes a bottom coil structure connected in series, and includes a top coil structure connected in series which is electrically disconnected from the bottom coil structure. Resistances of the top and bottom coil structures are measured in the test component. A total resistance of a helical coil is also measured. The resistance of the connecting structures in the helical coil may then be determined based on the resistance of the bottom coil structure, the resistance of the top coil structure, and the total resistance of the helical coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Edward Hin Pong Lee, Jennifer Ai-Ming Leung
  • Publication number: 20090031157
    Abstract: An electrical device includes a choke with a sensor inductor in addition to inductors used for supplying AC power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Kin Hin Yap
  • Patent number: 6911829
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the inductance of a wire-loop with noise-cancellation, auto-calibration and wireless communication features, or detector circuit. The apparatus measures the effective change in inductance induced in a wire-loop as a vehicle passes over the wire-loop to produce an inductive signature corresponding to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Inductive Signature Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Hilliard, Michael J. Roberts, Geoffrey C. Yerem
  • Patent number: 6803773
    Abstract: A method and circuit for detecting a change in inductance of a variable inductance element. An oscillating signal has a frequency that varies with inductance of the element. An intermediate voltage is produced at a level that varies according to frequency of the oscillating signal. The intermediate voltage is scaled to produce an output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis P. Cyran, Robert J. Disser
  • Patent number: 6777922
    Abstract: When a human body touches any of linear electrode array mutually isolated and arranged in X and Y directions of an input device, an inducing signal from wiring of a commercial power supply is transmitted by way of the human body, so that an inducing voltage is generated at the linear electrode to which the human body touches. The input device detects the inducing voltage and outputs the detected inducing voltage to a signal processing section. The signal processing section detects a coordinate where the input device detects the inducing voltage, identifies a frequency of the inducing signal transmitted by way of the human body, and outputs the information to an output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Tajima, Junichi Rekimoto, Yuji Ayatsuka
  • Patent number: 6580262
    Abstract: A method for inductively measuring the position of a metal strip is proposed, in which, at least on one side of the strip, a primary coil fed by AC voltage is arranged on one side of a strip edge and a secondary coil is arranged on the other side of the strip edge, which secondary coil measures the voltage which is induced by the primary coil and results from the coupling effect with the primary coil and the metal strip situated in between, in which, as a result of lateral relative movement between the metal strip and the primary and secondary coils, the measurement gradient that can be obtained as a result is determined and compared with a predetermined optimum measurement gradient, whereupon, in the event of a difference, the measurement gradient that has been ascertained is matched electronically to the predetermined optimum measurement gradient and the adapted values then obtained are used for the current strip movement control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Elektro-Mechanik GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfram Münker, Hubert Schwan, Harald Wagner
  • Patent number: 6546795
    Abstract: A wireless liquid sensing system includes a beverage container and a table top for holding the container. Embedded in the walls and bottom of the container are two electrically conductive plates coupled to a transponder wire coil. A reader radiates an RF signal at a predetermined frequency through a reader antenna. A microprocessor, also coupled to the transponder coil and the two plates, is powered by a rectifier circuit that gains power from then radiated RF signal. The microprocessor amplitude modulates the RF signal in accordance with the amount of liquid in the container. The reader can then detect this modulation with a peak detector to sense the amount of the substance in the container when the transponder antenna is inductively coupled to the reader antenna at the predetermined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul H. Dietz
  • Publication number: 20030052663
    Abstract: In a device for the monitoring and the prognosis of the failure probability of inductive proximity sensors (1) for the monitoring of the position of movable switch rails or rail components, in which the proximity sensor (1) has at least one coil (5) that is supplied by an oscillator (7), and the sensor current flowing by means of variable attenuation is measured and then fed to an evaluation circuit, characteristic lines (18, 22) of the sensor (1) are stored for the course of the sensor currents in dependency of the distance of the movable switch rails or rail components, i.e. the mechanical attenuation in an electric not additionally attenuated condition, and in an electric additionally attenuated condition. The measurement currents (22) corresponding to a mechanical attenuation condition (18), as well as to respective additionally electric attenuated condition are cyclic scanned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventor: Josef Frauscher
  • Patent number: 6501287
    Abstract: Apparatus are provided for measuring coating thickness. The apparatus include first and second inductors, which may be coils, and measuring the impedance of conductors by passing alternating current through the conductors. The conductors are arranged so that the first inductor may be positioned sufficiently close to a conductive surface so that its impedance changes and, when so positioned, any change in the impedance of the second inductor brought about by the surface is negligible compared to that in the impedance of the first. A microprocessor is provided and arranged to calculate a temperature compensated thickness measurement from the measured impedances of both inductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Elcomenter Instruments Limited
    Inventor: Peter Ian Baldwin
  • Publication number: 20020185999
    Abstract: When a human body touches any of linear electrode array mutually isolated and arranged in X and Y directions of an input device, an inducing signal from wiring of a commercial power supply is transmitted by way of the human body, so that an inducing voltage is generated at the linear electrode to which the human body touches. The input device detects the inducing voltage and outputs the detected inducing voltage to a signal processing section. The signal processing section detects a coordinate where the input device detects the inducing voltage, identifies a frequency of the inducing signal transmitted by way of the human body, and outputs the information to an output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Shigeru Tajima, Junichi Rekimoto, Yuji Ayatsuka
  • Patent number: 6323635
    Abstract: A Swain type direct current clamp-on sensor called MER2 is disclosed with improved magnetic error reduction from undesired magnetic fields generated by noise sources for accurate measurement of low currents. The sensor is comprised of a split core with non uniform magnetic structure designed to concentrate the magnetomotive force generated by the current being measured, and also by the switching magnetomotive force, through the windings near the lips of the sensor for better signal to noise ratio. The sensor core has non-uniform windings with greater ampere-turns near the lips than in other sectors of core remote from the lips so that the flux density of magnetic material in and near the lips is better switched. Furthermore, there is a provision for combining and adjusting current signals such that the noise is largely canceled. A method of making the direct current clamp-on MER2 is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventor: William H. Swain