With Predetermined Current Or Voltage Value-responsive Actuator Patents (Class 335/155)
  • Patent number: 9080684
    Abstract: A solenoid device includes a magnet armature and an armature counterpiece which is arranged at the end of the magnet armature. The magnet armature and the armature counterpiece are movable in relation to one another and an air gap is provided between a magnet armature end face and an armature counterpiece end face. The air gap creates a magnetic series path of the solenoid device. A disc is composed of a magnetizable material and is arranged in the air gap. The disc is configured to make physical contact with the magnetic armature end face and the armature counterpiece end face at least in regions. A magnetic shunt path is present when the magnetic armature and the armature counterpiece are in at least one position relative to one another. The magnetic shunt path runs across the disc at least in regions. The series path has a lower reluctance than the shunt path which runs across the disc when the magnet armature and the armature counterpiece are in the at least one position relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Wolf Stahr
  • Publication number: 20150084723
    Abstract: A downsized current sensor with a switch function is disclosed. The current sensor includes: a magnetic circuit to converge a magnetic flux generated from an electric circuit at a magnetic sensor; a switch to open and close the electric circuit in a way that operates together with a movable magnetic body configuring a part of the magnetic circuit; and a magnetizing coil to generate magnetic force enabling the movable magnetic body to be attracted to a fixed magnetic body configuring a part of the magnetic circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Osamu Tsuboi, Hiromitsu Soneda
  • Publication number: 20130307648
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator has a yoke for guiding a magnetic flux, and a holding plate attached to an actuating member, the holding plate and yoke forming a first magnetic circuit. Furthermore a magnetic flux generation device is provided for generating a magnetic flux in the first magnetic circuit. The magnetic flux generation device has an under voltage release coil electrically connected to an auxiliary voltage source representing the value of a voltage to be monitored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: EATON INDUSTRIES (NETHERLANDS) B.V.
    Inventor: Arend Lammers
  • Patent number: 8558646
    Abstract: A disconnect mechanism for a power receptacle, which includes a disconnect block, a locking member slidably coupled to the disconnect block, and an electromagnetic device moveably coupled to the locking member. The disconnect block includes two side arms extending outwards. A pressing plate is disposed above the disconnect block, and a disconnect spring is disposed above the pressing plate. The moveable contact arms of the main switch of the receptacle are disposed between the pressing plate and the disconnect block, and the pressing plate pushes the moveable contact arms when the main switch is being opened when a current leakage is detected. The receptacle also includes an auxiliary switch disposed because the disconnect block and the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Bingham McCutchen LLP
    Inventor: Cheng Li Li
  • Patent number: 8525542
    Abstract: A short circuit detection device is provided to check a circuit layout. The circuit layout includes electronic components connected in parallel. Any of the electronic components includes two contacts on the circuit layout. The short circuit detection device includes a determination circuit configured to determine whether a short circuit has occurred in the circuit layout, and a detection circuit configured to determine the specific electronic component or components responsible for the short circuit. The determination circuit connects with one contact of any of the electronic components. The detection circuit connects with two contacts of any of the electronic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Liang Xiong
  • Patent number: 8486718
    Abstract: A magnetic system for biosensors is switchable between attraction force and repulsion force near the sensor surface. The magnetic system includes a magnetic source and a sensor. The sensor corresponds with the magnetic field in a way that the magnetic source creates inhomogeneous magnetic field lines that results in a magnetic force towards the magnetic system and which subsequently or adjacently exerts a magnetic force directed away from the magnetic system with all magnetic forces generated at the same magnetic source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Petrus Johannes Wilhelmus Van Lankvelt, Menno Willem Jose Prins
  • Patent number: 8164403
    Abstract: A disconnect mechanism for a power receptacle, which includes a disconnect block, a locking member slidably coupled to the disconnect block, and an electromagnetic device moveably coupled to the locking member. The disconnect block includes two side arms extending outwards. A pressing plate is disposed above the disconnect block, and a disconnect spring is disposed above the pressing plate. The moveable contact arms of the main switch of the receptacle are disposed between the pressing plate and the disconnect block, and the pressing plate pushes the moveable contact arms when the main switch is being opened when a current leakage is detected. The receptacle also includes an auxiliary switch disposed because the disconnect block and the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Bingham McCutchen LLP
    Inventor: Cheng-li Li
  • Patent number: 8044442
    Abstract: A gated nano-electro-mechanical (NEM) switch employing metal-insulator-metal (MIM) technology and related devices and methods which can facilitate implementation of low-power, radiation-hardened, high-temperature electronic devices and circuits. In one example embodiment a gate electrode is configured as a cantilever beam whose free end is coupled to a MIM stack. The stack moves into bridging contact across a source and drain region when the applied gate voltage generates a sufficient electrostatic force to overcome the mechanical biasing of the cantilever beam. A second set of contacts can be added on the cantilever beam to form a complementary switching structure, or to a separate cantilever beam. The switching can be configured as non-volatile in response to stiction forces. NEM circuits provide a number of advantages within a variety of circuit types, including but not limited to: logic, memory, sleep circuits, pass circuits, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Hei Kam, Tsu-Jae King
  • Publication number: 20100033274
    Abstract: A circuit for dynamically increasing the drop-out voltage of an electromechanical automatic transfer switch (ATS) into a brownout voltage range is provided. The automatic transfer switch includes a first input, a first coil connected to the first input, and a first, normally-open auxiliary contact in magnetic communication with the first coil. The circuit includes a first resistor adapted to connect to the first, normally-open auxiliary contact, and a first transformer having a primary winding connected to the first resistor, and a secondary winding adapted to connect to the first coil. An operating voltage across the first coil is reduced a proportional amount by a secondary voltage across the secondary winding when the first, normally-open auxiliary contact is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Mark GROFF, Trung LE
  • Patent number: 7616082
    Abstract: The electromagnetic relay of the present invention comprises a base (10), an electromagnet (20) disposed on the base, an armature (30) supported rotatably by the base, a movable spring (40) whose one end has a movable contact (41) and the opposite end is secured to the base, a fixed contact (51) disposed opposite to the movable contact, and a card (60). The card has a coupling part (61) to be coupled to the armature and an insertion hole (62) to which the one end of the movable spring is inserted, and it deforms the movable spring elastically in conjunction with a swing motion of the armature to selectively open or close a connection between the movable contact and the fixed contact. The movable spring has a U-shaped hook formed by bending the one end of the movable spring toward the opposite end side, and the hook can pass through the insertion hole while being pushed by an inner surface of the insertion hole and being deformed elastically, and an end of the hook is engaged with the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Katou
  • Patent number: 7417543
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring the integrity of a container specifically adapted for the system and constructed with at least one door. A sensor is secured in the container for detecting proximity of the at least one door relative to another area of the container and for providing sensor data that may be communicated from the container relative to its integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: CommerceGuard AB
    Inventors: Johan Bergman, Eric Sandberg, Martin Voigt
  • Patent number: 6121862
    Abstract: A magnetic flux concentrator shield is disclosed for use with magnetic flux sensors in an overload relay for multiple pole electromagnetic contactor applications. The magnetic flux concentrating shield has slotted layers of laminated members. The layers have a series of pole shielding slots which concentrate magnetic flux generated by conductors carrying current through conductor apertures in each layer. Magnetic flux sensors are positioned within air gaps within each pole of the shield. By shielding the generated magnetic flux from reaching the magnetic flux sensor of another pole, the pole shielding slots minimize cross pole magnetic flux sensor interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt von Eckroth, James A. Becker, Jan J. Walker
  • Patent number: 4926282
    Abstract: An electric circuit breaker for protecting an electric circuit of an electrical installation of a building is of such a construction that a substantial proportion of its components are standard for the preferred current ratings of the breaker and that some components having a limited useful life can be readily replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: BICC Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Terence V. McGhie
  • Patent number: 4551660
    Abstract: A switch device for controlling an electric motor which is used, for example, in a power window or sunroof of an automobile. The switch device includes a magnetically attractive piece, an electromagnet, sets of electrical switch contacts, and a spring coil of an alloy which, when heated to a predetermined temperature after being compressed, is restored to a released position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Masaru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4408174
    Abstract: A multi-functional mounting module for J and K frame breakers utilizes an accessory post for mounting a plurality of breaker accessories for common actuation by means of a resettable tripping mechanism cooperating with the breaker trip assembly. A slidably mounted cam assembly on the module housing provides for tripping the breaker under predetermined conditions as well as resetting and indicating the breaker operational state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Raymond K. Seymour, Dennis J. Doughty
  • Patent number: 4274068
    Abstract: A manual motor starter having a current responsive automatic trip means is provided with an undervoltage trip device. The latter includes a solenoid having a plunger biased to operate a lever into tripping engagement with the automatic trip means when the solenoid plunger is magnetically released. While the biasing means is strong enough so that the kinetic energy of the plunger when released from its magnetically held-in position is sufficient to trip the starter, the biasing means is not strong enough to prevent resetting of the trip means after restoration of operating voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1981
    Assignee: Gould Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Thompson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4048599
    Abstract: An electric switching device has a selector shaft that drives a switching element between a "cut-out" position in which the switch is open and a "cut-in" position in which the switch is closed. In the cut-in position, a set of "movable" electric contacts carried on the switching element each make electrical connection with a corresponding "fixed" contact supported on a housing. A cut-out mechanism automatically opens the switch when the voltage across the switch falls below a predetermined value (an undervoltage condition). The cut-out mechanism includes an electromagnet, wired in series with the switch, which controls the movement of the blocking lever. The blocking lever is movable between a blocking position in which it holds the switching element in its cut-in position, and a release position in which it allows the switching element to move to its cut-out position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1977
    Assignee: Elektra Tailfingen Ammann & Cie
    Inventor: Otto Groth