Bi-directional (e.g., With Transceiver, Etc.) Patents (Class 340/12.37)
  • Patent number: 11489556
    Abstract: A communication apparatus that comprises a second coupler to be coupled to a first coupler of a different communication apparatus by electric field coupling and/or inductive coupling, a termination resistor connected to the second coupler and having a resistance value larger than a predetermined value is provided. The communication apparatus receives a signal comprising (i) an output signal that is output from the second coupler in response to input of a transmitted signal to the first coupler, (ii) a signal obtained by performing amplification processing on the output signal, or (iii) a signal obtained by shaping, via a comparator, a signal obtained by performing amplification processing on the output signal, and processes the received signal as a signal that is obtained by reproducing the transmitted signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Asai, Yuki Shoji
  • Patent number: 11482861
    Abstract: Accordingly the embodiments herein provides a method for load balancing in an energy measurement information system. The method includes collecting, by a power information collecting unit, power information at a snapshot extraction frequency. The snapshot extraction frequency is within a range. Further, the method includes detecting, by an operating status extracting unit, an operating status of at least one load apparatus at the snapshot extraction frequency. The operating status is one of a steady state and a transient state. Furthermore, the method includes generating, by a data set generating unit, a data set including only one or a representative snapshot of the power information, when the normal status is detected; and a data set including a plurality of snapshots of the power information, when the transient state is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: ENCORED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jong-Woong Choe, Hyoseop Lee, Seonjeong Lee, Hyeri Yi, Ilhan Ham
  • Patent number: 11316367
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for smart electric power grid communication are disclosed in the present invention. At least one grid element transmits at least one registration message over an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network to at least one coordinator. The at least one coordinator registers the at least one grid element upon receipt of the at least one registration message. The at least one grid element automatically and/or autonomously transforms into at least one active grid element for actively functioning in the electric power grid. The at least one coordinator tracks based on revenue grade metrology an amount of power available for the electric power grid or a curtailment power available from the at least one active grid element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: CAUSAM ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventor: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11243961
    Abstract: Disclosed is a computer implemented method and related system to improve the efficiency of querying remote databases. The method includes receiving, from a host, a query, wherein the query is configured to retrieve a set of data from a remote database. The method also includes, generating an access plan, the access plan comprising a plurality of nodes wherein each node of the plurality of nodes includes a command. The method further includes determining capabilities of the remote database. The method includes executing the query and returning the set of data to the host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ya Qiong Liu, Xue Huang, Ping Liu, Lei Cui, Ying Qi Pan
  • Patent number: 11159697
    Abstract: In a case in which a communicating apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus using a first interface supports a predetermined service, and a second interface of the communicating apparatus, which is to be used when the communicating apparatus communicates, for the predetermined service, with another apparatus different from the information processing apparatus, is different from the first interface, a control apparatus sets the second interface of the communicating apparatus to enable communication with the other apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keiichi Ando
  • Patent number: 11121577
    Abstract: A mobile energy storage system and a method are provided for supplying power to entities at disparate locations. The system includes a set of vehicles. Each of the vehicles in the set includes a battery set having one or more batteries for storing power. Each of the vehicles in the set further includes a power connector having an end connected to the battery set and another end for connecting to a power transfer switch at the entities. The system also includes a central server for scheduling vehicles in the set to provide power to the entities responsive to energy charging requests issued by the entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Julian de Hoog, Fatemeh Jalali, Arun Vishwanath
  • Patent number: 11031861
    Abstract: A protection method in a distributed power system including of DC power sources and multiple power modules which include inputs coupled to the DC power sources. The power modules include outputs coupled in series with one or more other power modules to form a serial string. An inverter is coupled to the serial string. The inverter converts power input from the string and produces output power. When the inverter stops production of the output power, each of the power modules is shut down and thereby the power input to the inverter is ceased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Adest, Guy Sella, Lior Handelsman, Yoav Galin, Amir Fishelov, Meir Gazit
  • Patent number: 10871512
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting a source of noise in an electrical grid distributing network implementing Power Line Communications, the method including, at each meter, disposing an element behaving as a resistive element within the frequency band of the PLC, and behaving as a nonresistive element at the frequency of the electrical grid, between a first cable belonging to the distributing network and a second cable belonging to the enduser network; measuring the difference in electric potential between the two ends of each element disposed between the first cable belonging to the distributing network and the second cable belonging to the enduser network; and from the one measurement, determining whether a device belonging to the enduser network and connected to the meter is causing a noise disturbance or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: FUNDACIÓN TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATION
    Inventors: García-borreguero Melero Ibone, López Arantzamendi Beñat, Castro Rentería Marta, Arechalde Ugarteche Ibon
  • Patent number: 10855088
    Abstract: Self-healing charging devices and techniques for identifying and/or troubleshooting causes of performance degradation in user devices are described. The self-healing charging devices described herein can leverage performance logs associated with user devices to identify problems on the user devices while the user devices are charging. Additionally or alternatively, the self-healing charging devices can leverage predictive models learned from a collection of data derived from a plurality of users associated with a network to identify usage and/or performance patterns for predicting issues that can arise based on usage patterns of the user of the user device. In some examples, the self-healing charging devices can be communicatively coupled to at least one network for offloading some of the processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel E. Herb
  • Patent number: 10809159
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and computer-readable medium for automatically generating a combined display of measurement data representing a combined measurement, such as a multiphase parameter, includes establishing, by a mobile computing device, communication connections with a plurality of measurement devices configured to generate measurement data. The mobile computing device receives the measurement data generated by the plurality of measurement devices, and in response to information indicative of the measurement data representing related parts of a combined measurement, the mobile computing device automatically groups the measurement data received from the measurement devices and automatically displays the grouped measurement data in a combined display that shares at least one axis of measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: John Neeley, Bradley Honsinger, Tyler Bennett Evans, Joseph V. Ferrante
  • Patent number: 10764284
    Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which destination device identifiers associated with network devices are subject to a validation process before an end device attempts to establish a communication session with a network device. Based on an outcome of the validation process, a data flow subsequently established by the end device may be subject to a rule provided under a data usage plan subscribed to by the end device or another rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Chiaverini, Barry F. Hoffner, Richard Tom, Gregory Femec
  • Patent number: 10732212
    Abstract: A data communication network that includes a wired network operably configured to transfer data at a rate between 100 Mbps to 500 Mbps over ordinary wire of the type used for low power electric distribution. This may be accomplished through use of two or more communication nodes each, respectively, including an Ethernet port electrically coupled to a first external power source at a lower voltage and including an AC/DC low pass filtering circuit and a LISN circuit configuration and communicatively coupled to one another through a wired connection, forming a wired network operably configured to exchange data between one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: SUN DIGITAL SYSTEMS INC
    Inventor: John Dennis Brown
  • Patent number: 10734815
    Abstract: Power coordination control systems (10a-10c) are provided with superimposed signal generation units (11a-11c), transmission units (12a-12c), receiving units (13a-13c) and connection relation estimation units (14a-14c). At the location of a utility consumer A (20), the superimposed signal generation unit (11a) generates a superimposed signal by superimposing a prescribed signal on a voltage supplied from a system (50). The transmission unit (12a) transmits the superimposed signal generated in the superimposed signal generation unit (11a) from the utility consumer A (20) to utility consumers B (30) and C (40). The receiving unit (13b) receives the superimposed signal at the location of the utility consumer B (30). The connection relation estimation units (14a-14c) estimate the connection relation between the utility consumer A (20) and the utility consumer B (30) on the basis of the receiving status of the superimposed signal and/or the received information received by the receiving units (13a-13c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Eda, Kazuki Kasai, Hiroshi Imai, Hiromasa Takatsuka, Fumiji Aita
  • Patent number: 10545301
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system for receiving first optical power signals via an optical fiber connected with a light source of a network device, converting the first optical power signals to electrical energy utilizing an optical power converter where the electrical energy is utilized as power by the system, and transmitting or receiving electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves convey data. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Farhad Barzegar, Giovanni Vannucci, Paul Shala Henry, Thomas M. Willis, III, Irwin Gerszberg, Robert Bennett, Donald J. Barnickel
  • Patent number: 10416202
    Abstract: A system comprises a power provider and a plurality of power consumers. The power provider has a plurality of power outlets. The power consumers are coupled with the power outlets via corresponding power cables. The power provider and power consumers may communicate via the power cables using powerline communication as the power provider provides operational power to the power consumers. Powerline communication may be provided using radio frequency integrated circuits in the power provider and in the power consumers. The power provider may provide power event notifications to the power consumers through the power cords. The power provider may also provide equipment identification of the power consumers through the power cords. The power provider may also monitor and regulate power consumption by the power consumers. An adapter may be used to retrofit a conventional computer system to provide powerline communication between a computer and a power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: PLUG ID, LLC
    Inventors: Brian P. Contario, Iwan Antonow
  • Patent number: 10231316
    Abstract: Methods of controlling an apparatus based on analysis of an input power waveform supplied to the apparatus. The methods may comprise demodulating a plurality of incoming data packets from the input power waveform. The methods may comprise determining whether N data packets of said plurality of incoming data packets are the same, wherein N is a positive integer having a dynamic value that depends on the input power waveform. The methods may comprise controlling at least one aspect of the apparatus based on said N data packets if said N data packets were determined to be the same. Also disclosed are apparatus corresponding to such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Willem Peter Van Der Brug
  • Patent number: 10042590
    Abstract: A printing apparatus which performs printing processing based on print data, and has a direct wireless communication function, includes a wired interface, a wireless interface, and a control unit. The wired interface receives print data. The wireless interface receives print data by a wireless communication by the direct wireless communication function. The control unit applies, as a condition of a port which can be used in a communication including receiving of print data, a first port condition to a communication by the wired interface, and applies a second port condition to a wireless communication by the direct wireless communication function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroki Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 10037044
    Abstract: A temperature controller for controlling the temperature of an inside space that is serviced by one or more pieces of HVAC equipment. The temperature controller may include a controller having a control algorithm for controlling one or more pieces of HVAC equipment as well as a user interface that may be configured to display a hierarchical menu structure and to permit a user to traverse the menu structure. The user interface may be configured to display breadcrumbs that provide an indication to the user of the current location within a hierarchical menu structure, and in some cases, provide instructional information in a designated or common display area that helps instruct the user in using a particular menu or menu option. These and other features may help make the special purpose controller more intuitive to set up, program and operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jason C. Laberge, Sinan C. Goknur, Jakub Andrzejewski, Jacqueline Lee Belleau, Dan Clements
  • Patent number: 9973323
    Abstract: An electronic device and method for providing a communication service are provided. The method of operating an electronic device includes: receiving a first signal transmitted through a first band and a second signal transmitted through a second band; determining a communication mode of the electronic device for processing the first signal and the second signal based on device information or environment information of the electronic device; and processing the first signal and the second signal using at least one of a first modem or a second modem functionally connected to the electronic device based on the communication mode, wherein the processing of the first signal and the second signal includes: processing, when the communication mode is a first mode, the first signal in the first modem and the second signal in the second modem; and processing, when the communication mode is a second mode, the first signal and the second signal in the first modem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Il-Pyo Hong, Tae-Young Oh, Young-Sang Hong
  • Patent number: 9960667
    Abstract: A protection method in a distributed power system including of DC power sources and multiple power modules which include inputs coupled to the DC power sources. The power modules include outputs coupled in series with one or more other power modules to form a serial string. An inverter is coupled to the serial string. The inverter converts power input from the string and produces output power. When the inverter stops production of the output power, each of the power modules is shut down and thereby the power input to the inverter is ceased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Adest, Guy Sella, Lior Handelsman, Yoav Galin, Amir Fishelov, Meir Gazit
  • Patent number: 9836802
    Abstract: Energy usage of a plurality of appliances is measured using a single meter. A pattern of energy usage with respect to the plurality of appliances is determined dependent upon the measured energy usage, appliance details of the plurality of appliances, and usage hours of the plurality of appliances. The pattern is provided to a user of the appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Nagaraja Sundaresh, Pradeep Shetty, Rajesh Ramesh, Chandrashekar Padubidri, Rangesa Arakere, Ananda Huchappa Shastry
  • Patent number: 9832844
    Abstract: An addresser for configuring an electronic ballast/lighting control device in a network of electronic ballasts/lighting control devices; said addresser comprises a first connection to allow the receipt of communication from a controller; a second connection to allow communication from the addresser to an individual electronic ballast/lighting control device; an interface for communicating with a programming device; and means for configuring the communication between said first and second connections dependent upon the communication received from said programming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Legrand Electric Limited
    Inventors: Paul Mans, Merlin Milner
  • Patent number: 9710537
    Abstract: Provided are a group selector 431 configured to select collection groups from multiple subgroups obtained by dividing a memory area in a first storage unit 411b; a collection group assigner 432 configured to assign the selected collection groups to data collection apparatuses 41 to 43 in order to distribute load of data collection; and a schedule generator 433 configured to generate a schedule for reading the data from the first storage unit 411b. Each of the data collection apparatuses 42, 43 includes a schedule generator 443 configured to generate a schedule for reading the data from the first storage unit 411b on the basis of a collection cycle and the number of collection groups assigned to the data collection apparatus 42.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Nojima
  • Patent number: 9696181
    Abstract: A display device includes: an image display section which displays an image on a screen on the basis of an image signal; and an execution section which executes an application which is acquired from a network on the basis of a user's instruction. When the image display section displays an image, the application which is executed by the execution section acquires, through the network, information related to energy that is used in a predetermined range, and displays the information on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yukiyoshi Hirose
  • Patent number: 9684322
    Abstract: A voltage limiting device for limiting the voltage being transferred from a trunk circuit to a spur circuit of a distributed control network includes an AC signal device that passes the AC data signals between the trunk circuit and the spur circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact Development and Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Colin Cherewka, Brenton Eugene Helfrick, Aaron Richard Kreider
  • Patent number: 9669720
    Abstract: A V2X system includes an electrical power distribution system configured to draw electrical power from a grid, support the supply of the drawn electrical power to one or more primary electrical systems and support the exchange of electrical power with a battery bank including at least one rechargeable vehicle battery. A controller manages the exchange of electrical power between the electrical power distribution system and the battery bank by identifying a change rate in electrical power drawn by the electrical power distribution system from the grid, selecting an amount of electrical power for the electrical power distribution system to exchange with the battery bank based on the change rate, and signaling for the exchange of the selected amount of electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Higashi, Yukinari Kato
  • Patent number: 9655149
    Abstract: A recording device 10 determines if a wireless LAN adapter AD was connected when the recording device 10 turned on; and monitors if a wireless LAN adapter AD becomes connected after the recording device 10 turned on. If the wireless LAN adapter AD is connected after the recording device 10 turns on and a password was previously set, the recording device 10 enables a wireless communication function and uses the previously set password for wireless communication through the wireless LAN adapter AD. If the wireless LAN adapter AD is connected after the recording device 10 turns on and a password was not previously set, the recording device 10 automatically generates a new password and enables the wireless communication function using the automatically generated password for wireless communication through the wireless LAN adapter AD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kawamori, Naohiro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9648706
    Abstract: Included are embodiments for customized load control. One embodiment of a method includes receiving altered alternating current power, where the altered alternating current power is altered via inclusion of a delay to communicate a message, converting the message in the altered alternating current power into a computer-readable format, and determining an action to take related to the message. Some embodiments include utilizing the altered alternating current power for performing the action, based on the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Earth Star Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Bret Millar
  • Patent number: 9618548
    Abstract: An energy monitoring system for retrofitting a miniature circuit breaker load center 100, comprises energy monitoring module 120, data bus 140, and main controller 110. The energy monitoring module attaches onto miniature circuit breaker 130, forming a combined shape that fits into a branch circuit space of the load center. An attachment connector 320 electrically and mechanically connects the energy monitoring module to load terminal 318 of the circuit breaker. An energy sensing circuit 314 in the energy monitoring module senses energy passing through the circuit breaker and transmits data signals over the data bus to the main controller. The main controller has a shape that fits into another branch circuit space of the load center. The main controller wirelessly transmits to a network, information based on the data signals received on the data bus. The main controller provides operating power via the data bus, to the energy monitoring module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.
    Inventors: Juan Ignacio Melecio Ramirez, Vicente Noguez Salazar, Pamela Alejandra Calderon Nevarez, Eduardo Salinas Garcia, I, Luis Antonio Soto Cossio, Miguel Ivan Hernandez Cuan
  • Patent number: 9563390
    Abstract: A communication apparatus that communicates with an information processing apparatus includes a switching unit for switching between an invalid state and a valid state of an access point in the communication apparatus and a setting unit for setting, for the communication apparatus based on information acquired from the information processing apparatus to which the communication apparatus is connected via the access point in the valid state, a communication mode in which the communication apparatus can communicate with the information processing apparatus using a first connection method. The switching unit does not bring the access point into the valid state when the communication apparatus is connected to the information processing apparatus using a second connection method and is able to bring the access point into the valid state when the communication apparatus is not connected to the information processing apparatus using the second connection method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9442469
    Abstract: A washer-dryer is provided with a time shift function for performing timer presetting processing on the basis of a time shift computation result which indicates an operation start time suitable for operation. The washer-dryer includes: an input operation unit for allowing a user to perform operations for operating the washer-dryer; a display unit for displaying information relating to the operation of the washer-dryer; and an operation control unit for controlling the operation of the washer-dryer on the basis of the time shift computation result. When a start button on the input operation unit is operated by the user, the operation control unit automatically performs the timer presetting processing on the basis of the time shift computation result and also displays a timer preset time at the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Tsujimura, Toshihisa Ikeda, Yasuo Yoshimura, Naofumi Nakatani, Tetsuya Kouda, Kazunori Kurimoto
  • Patent number: 9444261
    Abstract: A power line communication device that will control multiple sub-units without exception via broadcasting from a main unit is disclosed. The power line communication device controls the machines connected to each sub-unit from a main unit using power line communication. The power line communication device has a controller, a main unit superimposing control signals containing data from said controller onto the power line, and multiple sub-units controlling the connected machines by receiving control signals being broadcast from the main unit. Each sub-unit is set up to be capable of data transfer, and it is possible to initiate data transfers from the main unit or selected sub-units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Inventor: Takeshi Miura
  • Patent number: 9300138
    Abstract: In accordance with particular embodiments, a method for managing power consumption includes receiving from a plurality of electricity relays an indication of a current state associated with each of the plurality of electricity relays. The method also includes receiving a power rate associated with a cost of power. The method further includes determining a threshold state based on the power rate and the current state associated with each of the plurality of electricity relays. The method additionally includes transmitting one or more control requests to one or more of the plurality of electricity relays. A first control request transmitted to a first electricity relay is based on the threshold state and a first current state associated with the first electricity relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Wei-Peng Chen, Koji Yoshimura, Ryusuke Masuoka, Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 9283862
    Abstract: A system that enables power flow management for electrical devices, such as electric vehicles. Power flow managers can coordinate charging activities. Power flow decisions may be based on site-level information. Power flow management strategies may be optimized. Power spikes may be avoided by using safe failure modes. Generation stacks may be used for reducing cost. AGC commands are used to control power resources. Power regulation are apportioned to power resources, and power regulation ranges may be determined. Power flow strategies are implemented in response to changes in intermittent power flow. Locations of devices may be determined using network fingerprints. Power flow measurements are determined, and AC power flows are inferred from DC power flows. Network traffic consumption are minimized. Communication protocols are translated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: GridPoint, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth W. Bridges, Seth B. Pollack, Joby Lafky, Zachary Axelrod
  • Patent number: 9268310
    Abstract: A system monitors geographical information for location of an aircraft and supplies that information to a sunrise/sunset calculator that feeds location and sunrise/sunset data to a controller. The controller controls operation of a pinger, limiting its hours of operation to save battery power and extend the time period within which the pinger is audible. The hours of operation are pre-programmed to consist of a time range from sunrise to sunset or from a time after sunrise to a time before sunset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Inventor: H. Jay Spiegel
  • Patent number: 9117251
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and systems for control of loads that are connected to plugs. Through the use of various embodiments of the present invention one may allow a plurality of users to control the use of power by individual loads and dynamically configurable sets of loads with ease, on both small and large scales. Users may select from energy savings plans to generate compiled device power state schedules that automatically cause devices to enter power savings modes as pre-determined times. Consequently, one can efficiently manage plug load electricity usage in a plurality of buildings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: ThinkEco, Inc.
    Inventors: Jameslevi Schmidt, Jun Shimada, Mei Shibata, Ben Hertz-Shargel
  • Patent number: 9021302
    Abstract: A load control system includes: a power supply control unit for controlling a power feeding to multiple load devices; and a backup power supply unit for supplying backup power during a power failure. During a power failure, the power supply control unit supplies the power from the backup power supply unit only to a part of load devices selected among the load devices, and the load devices are devoid of communications function for communicating with the power supply control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Hirata, Shuji Matsuura, Yuji Fujita
  • Patent number: 9019083
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a remote control device is configured to receive a portable control device into a recess, such that the portable control device is mechanically and electrically coupled to the remote control device. The portable control device communicates with a programmable multimedia controller, by way of a bi-directional wireless communication path, and with a dedicated wireless receiver, providing a redundant communication path. The remote control device includes surface enhanced buttons that allow a user to make selections by the sense of touch for changing settings of components associated with the programmable multimedia controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Peter H. Corsini, Timothy R. Locascio, Michael E. Noonan, Michael C. Silva
  • Patent number: 9019086
    Abstract: The invention relates to a universal wireless trainable transceiver unit with integrated bidirectional wireless interface functionality, and a method for same. Using a scan, push button or untrained channel mode, a user may enter into a wireless bidirectional interface mode of a trainable transceiver. The interface mode allows a user to select a sub-set of modes that include diagnostics, flash and vehicle interface. Each mode provides the trainable transceiver to communicate wirelessly in a bidirectional manner with another remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Horia Eduard Pilat, Chris H. Vuyst
  • Patent number: 9007187
    Abstract: A communication system includes: a remote controller having an input unit inputting user operations and a communication unit performing bidirectional communication, transmitting a remote control code in accordance with the user operation with respect to the input unit from the communication unit; and a host device having a communication unit performing bidirectional communication and a host function unit executing processing corresponding to the remote control code received in the communication unit, wherein the host device transmits a status response from the communication unit in response to a status inquiry transmitted from the communication unit of the remote controller, the remote controller repeatedly executes a status check communication procedure including the transmission of the status inquiry and waiting for receiving the status response after transmitting the remote control code at given time intervals during which the communication unit is in a dormant state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Tsurumoto, Yoshinori Satoh
  • Patent number: 8952793
    Abstract: A bicycle electrical system is provided with a first electric component, a second electric component, and a third electric component. The first electric component includes a first electric power line communication section. The second electric component includes a second electric power line communication section. The third electric component includes a third electric power line communication section. The first and second electric power line communication sections are connected with a first electric power line such that the first and second electric power line communication sections conduct communications via the first electric power line. The second and third electric power line communication sections are connected with a second electric power line such that the second and third electric power line communication sections conduct communications via the second electric power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Shimaro Inc.
    Inventors: Taihei Nishihara, Takafumi Suzuki, Shun Kou
  • Patent number: 8890663
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a circuit coupled to a line, where the circuit may power a device, and where the power is transmitted to the device over the line as a pulse-width modulated signal. The circuit may set a duty cycle of the pulse-width modulated signal in order to transmit a determined power level to the device. The apparatus may vary a frequency of the pulse-width modulated signal to transmit data to the device while the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulated signal is fixed in order to continue to transmit the determined power level to the device. A variation in the frequency of the pulse-width modulated signal may be detectable by the device and represents at least a portion of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Redwood Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Covaro, Dave Leonard
  • Patent number: 8890679
    Abstract: A power device may include channels coupled to conductors in lines, where each one of the channels is coupled to a different one of the lines than the other channels and where the channels deliver direct current power signals over the conductors to the load devices. Each one of the load devices may be powered by a different one of the direct current power signals. The power device may include a power communicator that communicates with the load devices over the conductors that propagate the direct current power signals. The power communicator may determine a target power level for the load devices based on the communication over the conductors. The load device may adjust an amount of power in the direct current power signals in order to match the target power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Redwood Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Covaro, Dave Leonard
  • Patent number: 8774255
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit which operates based on a power supply voltage output from a power supply device configured to generate a voltage of a magnitude in accordance with an analog control signal includes: a first terminal to which the power supply voltage is applied; an internal interconnect which is connected to the first terminal, and distributes the power supply voltage to sections in the semiconductor integrated circuit; and a second terminal from which the analog control signal is output. The analog control signal is generated to have a magnitude in accordance with a potential of the internal interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuji Gotou, Hiroo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8723667
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for managing a power distribution network is provided. In one embodiment, the computer program product comprises a VARs management module configured to generate a command configured to cause a capacitor bank to connect to the power distribution network; a voltage management module configured to receive voltage data derived from a measurement of a power line of the power distribution network and to output an alert if the voltage data is beyond a threshold; a measurement module configured to generate a request for measurement data that comprises data of a measurement of one or more electrical parameters of the power distribution network; and a power outage management module configured to output data of a location of a power outage of the power distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Current Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Melvin Joseph White, II
  • Publication number: 20130335207
    Abstract: A powerline communication diversity coupling mechanism may implement a transformer coupling unit. The transformer coupling unit can receive a communication signal to be coupled to a plurality of powerline communication channels for transmission in a powerline communication network. The transformer coupling unit can split the communication signal into a plurality of communication signals for transmission. The transformer coupling unit can couple each of the plurality of the communication signals to a corresponding one of a plurality of the powerline communication channels for transmission in the powerline communication network. Also, the transformer coupling unit can receive a plurality of communication signals on each of a plurality of powerline communication channels. The transformer coupling unit can combine the plurality of the communication signals into a communication signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Gregory Allen MAGIN, Lawrence W. YONGE, III
  • Patent number: 8605798
    Abstract: Systems and methods for power and bidirectional data transmission using a plurality of wires. A multiphase digital signal is downlinked from a main unit to a remote unit over the plurality of wires and is converted to a DC power signal used to power the remote unit. Uplink data is sent from the remote to the main over one selected wire during a predetermined time period for an uplink transmission by amplitude modulating the received digital signal at the remote. During an uplink, the output impedance of the line driver in the main unit connected to the wire selected for the uplink is increased to allow for the uplink amplitude modulation. The modulated signal is maintained within the noise margins of the digital circuits in the main and remote units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research
    Inventor: Edward K. F. Lee
  • Patent number: 8576054
    Abstract: A pulsed electrical remote control interface for an equipment item including a plurality of functions to be controlled includes at least a first command input associated with a first command line (TC-Type, TC-Type-plus, TC-Type-minus) for selecting at least one function (RF ON, RF OFF, ALC ON, ALC OFF, FCA UP, FCA DOWN, GCA UP, GCA DOWN, SCA UP, SCA DOWN, INHIBIT) to be performed from the plurality of functions and at least one second command input associated with a second command line (EXE, EXE-UP-ON, EXE-DOWN-OFF) for executing the selected function, each command input being associated with an outbound pulsed command line and a return line, the return line possibly being shared with a number of outbound lines. Applicable to the control of any kind of equipment that includes a large number of functions and requires a large number of pulsed command signals, notably in the field of satellite communication systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Bruno Jacquet, Raoul Rodriguez, Michel Perrel, Jean Maynard, Emile Tonello
  • Patent number: 8548035
    Abstract: A PLC cable modem is provided which includes an analog electromagnetic field transducer for generating an electromagnetic field based on an analog electrical signal and also for generating an analog electrical signal based on an electromagnetic field. The PLC cable modem also includes an analog signal processing unit operatively coupled to the analog electromagnetic field transducer and a digital signal processing unit for processing signals received from (or to be sent to) the analog signal processing unit. An interface port is provided for communicating digital signals to and from a data transmission or receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Patrick Dawson, Ryuichi Iwamura
  • Patent number: 8514916
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments for determining the length of a connecting cable between a modem and a transceiver by measuring the propagation time of a signal along the connecting cable. A cable length signal is used to adjust the gain of the modem, that ensures that the transceiver circuit operates in the correct power range for both transmitting and receiving signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: ViaSat, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald M. Bishop