Thermal Patents (Class 340/584)
  • Patent number: 10813497
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for controlling a fryer having a high limit module. The high limit module selectively decouples a heater of the fryer from an energy source in response to a signal received from a high limit temperature probe indicating a maximum allowable temperature has been exceeded at a hard trip condition. A controller monitors signals received from an operational temperature probe and the high limit temperature probe. Based on these signals, the controller determines if the high limit module is approaching the hard trip condition. If the controller determines the high limit module is approaching the hard trip condition, it preemptively adjusts the output of the heater to avoid the hard trip condition. The controller may thereby prevent the fryer from being completely deactivated by the high limit module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob Dean Fritz, Adrian Jason Pereira, Mark Gogel, Edward J. Florkey
  • Patent number: 10809780
    Abstract: A system and method for active disturbance rejection based thermal control is configured to receive, at a first active disturbance rejection thermal control (ADRC) controller, a first temperature measurement from a first thermal zone. The ADRC controller generates a first output control signal for controlling a first cooling element, wherein the first output control signal is generated according a first estimated temperature and a first estimated disturbance calculated by a first extended state observer (ESO) of the first ADRC controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhan Ping, Qinling Zheng
  • Patent number: 10803921
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards apparatuses and methods for temperature management of a non-volatile memory device, e.g., an open-channel solid state device (OCSSD). In embodiments, an apparatus includes a temperature manager operatively coupled to the processor to submit a request for a temperature of an individual die of a memory device and based at least in part on a response to the request that includes the received temperature of the individual die, control access to the individual die by selectively restricting access to the individual die, while permitting access to another individual die on the memory device. In embodiments, the request is submitted via an input/output (I/O) path or I/O queue and includes a physical address of the individual memory die. Additional embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. McVay
  • Patent number: 10779090
    Abstract: A hearing aid device including sensors are disclosed. Specifically a hearing aid with a temperature sensor and a reference sensor. Also disclosed is a method for estimating body core temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Mathias Bruun Larsen, Mikkel Nielsen, Kenneth Rueskov Møller, Ole Andersen
  • Patent number: 10754961
    Abstract: A data processing apparatus and a data processing method thereof for an Internet of Things (IoT) system are provided. The data processing apparatus generates a plurality of diagnosis rule data, diagnoses each of the device data received from at least one IoT apparatus to generate a plurality of diagnosis log data, packages the device data, the diagnosis log data and the diagnosis rule data respectively based on a preset data amount to generate a plurality of device files, a plurality of diagnosis log files and a plurality of diagnosis rule files individually, stores each device file, each diagnosis log file and each diagnosis rule file in an interplanetary file system individually, and stores hash values of each device file, each diagnosis log file and each diagnosis rule file in a blockchain system individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Institute For Information Industry
    Inventors: Yu-Cheng Hsiao, Ying-Hsun Lai
  • Patent number: 10741051
    Abstract: A method for loose joint detection in medium voltage switchgears with busbar joints, circuit breaker upper and lower spouts, and cable connection joints, arranged in an air insulated housing, and medium voltage switchgear itself, in order to create an effective loose joint detection with lower operating expense, but with high performance and accuracy, involves measuring actual temperatures at a first phase as a first temperature (T1), at a second phase as a second temperature (T2), at a third phase as a third temperature (T3), at predefined critical points, such as at the busbar joints, and/or at the circuit breaker upper spouts, and/or at the circuit breaker lower spouts, and/or the cable connection; and comparing temperatures in a logical dependency Ti>(Tj+dT), with i?j, permuted with i from 1, 2, 3, and j from 1, 2, 3, and setting the alarm if the logical dependency is fulfilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Marcel Stupak, Tomas Kozel, Massimo Scarpellini, Stefano Magoni
  • Patent number: 10681954
    Abstract: Presented are intelligent electronic footwear and apparel with controller-automated features, methods for making/operating such footwear and apparel, and control systems for executing automated features of such footwear and apparel. A method for automating a collaborative operation between an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) and an intelligent transportation management (ITM) system includes receiving, via a detection tag attached to the IES shoe structure, a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module communicatively connected to a traffic system controller of the ITM system. In reaction to the received prompt signal, the detection tag transmits a response signal to the transmitter-detector module. The traffic system controller uses the response signal to determine a location of the IES's user, and the current operating state of a traffic signal proximate the user's location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Andon, Jordan M. Rice
  • Patent number: 10655882
    Abstract: A remote management system includes an air conditioner, an information mediation device built in or connected to the air conditioner, an information management apparatus that acquires air conditioner information including items relating to the air conditioner via the information mediation device and a network, and a plurality of participant terminals. The terminals include one or more of a manager terminal, a manufacturer terminal, a seller terminal, a maintenance worker terminal, and a user terminal. The information mediation device transmits the air conditioner information to the information management apparatus at a certain transmission frequency. The information mediation device is able to change, according to a participant request input by each of the plurality of participant terminals, the items included in the air conditioner information to be transmitted or a transmission frequency relating to the transmission, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Erika Matsumoto, Hidehiko Hashimoto, Gou Nakatsuka
  • Patent number: 10657801
    Abstract: A method is provided for predicting occurrence of a temperature rise event caused by a fire within an environment. The method comprises receiving temperature data captured by at least one temperature sensor 6, 8 for sensing an ambient temperature in the environment, processing the temperature data captured by the at least one temperature sensor in a previous window of time using a trained machine learning model 16 to determine a risk indication indicating risk of the temperature rise event occurring in a future window of time, and outputting a warning indication in dependence on the risk indication determined using the machine learning model. This is useful for providing firefighters with advance warning of dangerous temperature rises such as flashover events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: STS Defence Limited
    Inventors: Syed Yusuf, David Garrity
  • Patent number: 10641660
    Abstract: A temperature sensor includes a first infrared measuring means, a second infrared measuring means, and a calculating unit. The first infrared measuring means measures infrared rays emitted from an object and outputs a first voltage. The second infrared measuring means measures infrared rays emitted from around the object and outputs a second voltage. The calculating unit calculates the output temperature of the object from the first voltage, calculates the ambient temperature of the object from the second voltage, and corrects the output temperature based on the ambient temperature to calculate the temperature of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 10601925
    Abstract: An architecture that can employ a control plane for managing communications with respect to a set of sensors is provided. By utilizing a control plane, a distinction between control messages and data messages can be provided in a standardized way and the set of sensors can benefit from additional functionality and configurability. For example, the control plane can be employed to modify parameters associated with the set of sensors, which can be effectuated in real time and in situ as opposed to at the time of fabrication or deployment. Moreover, such modifications can relate to both the sensing portions of a particular sensor as well as the communication portions of a particular sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I. L.P.
    Inventors: Lusheng Ji, Robert R. Miller, II
  • Patent number: 10513153
    Abstract: A tire includes a circumferential tread and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip disposed below the circumferential tread. The RFID chip includes a chip casing and a local antenna. The tire further includes an RFID antenna disposed radially between the RFID chip and a radially outer surface of the circumferential tread. The RFID antenna is operably connected to the local antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Terence Wei, Paul Wilson
  • Patent number: 10475324
    Abstract: A method of generating an alarm based on temperature conditions within an enclosed space. The method includes receiving, by a processor of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, operating-condition information of the HVAC system, determining, by the processor from the received operating-condition information, whether temperature within the enclosed space is approaching a setpoint temperature. Responsive to a determination that the temperature within the enclosed space has failed to approach the setpoint temperature, determining by the processor, whether anomaly conditions exist and responsive to a determination that the anomaly conditions do not exist, generating the alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Umesh Gokhale, Jon Douglas
  • Patent number: 10475046
    Abstract: A probe interface component for a probe that measures an environmental condition. The probe interface component may comprise a first interface configured to removably receive a probe, and a second interface configured to removably connect to an input interface of a mobile computer. The probe interface component may be configured to obtain a value from the probe based on the measurement of the environmental condition, and generate a signal representative of the value in a format compatible with the input interface of the mobile computer. The first interface, the second interface, and/or the input interface may comprise a wireless interface. The environmental condition may comprise a temperature, a humidity, a pressure, a water quality, a gas indication, a radiation level, an indication of contamination, and/or an appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Digi International, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry J. Schechter
  • Patent number: 10448749
    Abstract: A system can include a bed having a mattress, a sensor, and the data processing device. The sensor is configured to sense a feature of the mattress and transmit readings to a data processing device. The data processing device includes a processor and is configured to receive the readings from the sensor and determine if the readings i) indicate a user presence on the mattress and ii) indicate the user intends to sleep. The data processing device is configured to transmit a command to a peripheral controller responsive to determining that the readings i) indicate user presence on the mattress and ii) indicate the user intends to sleep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Sleep Number Corporation
    Inventors: Wade Daniel Palashewski, Robert Erko, Robert Nunn, Gordan Redzic
  • Patent number: 10401232
    Abstract: Visual and electronically readable temperature indicators and methods of making the same have an electric circuit with a microchip and a bridge within the circuit, and a facing material over the electric circuit. The bridge includes either a single layer or multiple layers that include a conductive material, a phase change material having a pre-selected melt temperature, a binder, a first colorant that is soluble in the phase change material and/or a second colorant that is a special effect pigment. In operation, at temperatures below the pre-selected melt temperature, the bridge is electrically conductive, and at a temperature at or above the pre-selected melt temperature, the phase change material melts and dilutes the conductive material, so that the bridge is electrically non-conductive, and a color change occurs that is visible to the user through the facing material such as through a transparent window or in an absorbent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: KLT Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Yeager, Justine Gaston, Carl M. Lentz, Randall Lane
  • Patent number: 10360780
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to, in general, a fire detection device and notification system configured for generating alerts based on detected environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, presence of flame or smoke or combustion gas). In some embodiments, the fire detection device employs various sensor devices (e.g., temperature, humidity, flame, smoke, gas, and the like) to collect environmental data and determine whether the detected environmental conditions indicate the presence of or the increased possibility of a fire. In some embodiments, the invention further comprises a notification system for automatically generating and transmitting alerts to one or more computing devices (e.g., responder dispatch systems) based on the detection of hazardous conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Inventors: Nandita Chakravarthy Balaji, Shreyas Narayan Bhasin, Kevin James Kaspar, Zoe Paige Sherman
  • Patent number: 10298817
    Abstract: An optical system recycles heat from a cooler coupled with an image sensor across a heat transfer element in order to warm and de-ice a window. The optical system may be implemented in high altitude or space vehicles/platforms, regardless of whether manned or unmanned, and the window may be outwardly facing relative to the vehicle/platform so at to allow electromagnetic radiation to pass therethrough onto the image sensor. The optical system enables the reduction of size, weight, and power by recycling heat exhausted from the cooler to warm the window, thus eliminating the need for a separate de-icing system or device for the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Schlupf, Michael N. Mercier
  • Patent number: 10288306
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system for a building includes an air handling unit (AHU) and a controller. The AHU is configured to provide mechanical cooling for a cooling load in the building when operating in a mechanical cooling state and provide free cooling for the cooling load in the building when operating in a free cooling state. The controller is configured to calculate a minimum free cooling time based on an estimated cost savings resulting from operating in the free cooling state relative to operating in the mechanical cooling state and transition the AHU from operating in the mechanical cooling state to operating in the free cooling state in response to predicting that outside air temperature will be less than a free cooling temperature threshold for at least the minimum free cooling time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Bradley J. Ridder, Graeme Willmott, Matthew J. Asmus
  • Patent number: 10240875
    Abstract: A data acquisition module is disclosed for use with electronic components such as superconductive magnets wherein the electronic components and the data acquisition module may reside inside a cryostat. The data acquisition module allows conventional electronic technologies to work inside cryostats at cryogenic temperatures as low as 4° K. This is achieved by management of heat inside the module to keep the module operating at a temperature above the cryogenic temperature. This approach avoids the difficulties that arise from changes in carrier mobility in semiconductors operating at deep cryogenic temperatures. A cryogenic system comprises a cryostat containing a cryogenic fluid and at least one sensor, and a data acquisition module located within the cryostat, the module in communication with the at least one sensor to acquire data, wherein the module comprises a thermal package, a conditioning and digitizing electronic module, a controller module, a power module, and a thermal management module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Marcos de Azambuja Turqueti, Robert Alan Albright, Soren O. Prestemon
  • Patent number: 10229563
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for indicating a status of an instrument via visible colored light is described. Status is preferably indicated according to which color is displayed on the apparatus, which is preferably configured to illuminate on or within the handle of the instrument. Statuses may be configured by the end user, or may be pre-established according to specific uses of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: LIGHTHOUSE WORLDWIDE SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Salton, Paul Newman, Rocco D. Pochy
  • Patent number: 10209143
    Abstract: A thermo wire testing circuit, comprising: a current source terminal for supplying a test current to a first thermo wire via a first terminal during a test mode; a current drain terminal for receiving the test current from a second thermo wire via a second terminal during the test mode; a reference resistor for generating a reference voltage, which reference resistor is arranged in the current circuit of the test current; and a processing unit coupleable to the first and second terminals and to the reference resistor, and configured to compare a voltage drop caused by said test current between the first and second terminal with the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER WETZER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventor: Roberto Lugli
  • Patent number: 10203994
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining and using correlative thermal efficiency impacts to distribute workloads includes a baseline module, a deviation module, and a transfer module. The baseline module determines a baseline system thermal efficiency of a plurality of servers based on a utilization level of the plurality of servers, the baseline system thermal efficiency including a baseline thermal efficiency of a first server of the plurality of servers. The deviation module determines a deviation in a thermal efficiency from the baseline thermal efficiency of the first server of the plurality of servers based on a new workload assigned to the first server of the plurality of servers. The transfer module transfers the new workload to a second server of the plurality of servers in response to the deviation being above a deviation threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: LENOVO Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) PTE. LTD
    Inventors: Gary D. Cudak, Shareef F. Alshinnawi, Joseph F. Herman, Jason A. Matteson, John M. Weber
  • Patent number: 10187137
    Abstract: A user equipment (UE) includes a transmit chain that includes multiple radio frequency transmitters, multiple power amplifiers and a front end (FE) through which signals are transmitted. To achieve a high power UE solution, aspects of the disclosure selectively combine two or more power amplifier outputs based on an expected power output of the UE. To synchronously combine the outputs, an output feedback signal from a feedback receiver is used to adjust a delay and a phase of one or more signals associated with the power amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Haim Mendel Weissman, Sumit Verma
  • Patent number: 10180689
    Abstract: A vehicle security unit is for a vehicle including at least one data communications bus, an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) port coupled to the at least one data communications bus, and a vehicle tracking unit to be coupled to the OBD port. The vehicle security unit may include a security unit housing, a short-range security wireless device carried by the security unit housing, and a vehicle security controller carried by the security unit housing and configured to establish a wireless communication link via the short-range security wireless device with the vehicle tracking unit and communicate via the at least one data communications bus responsive to the communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 10164626
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a semiconductor switch circuit and a drive circuit. The semiconductor switch circuit includes a semiconductor switch and a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature in a periphery of the semiconductor switch. The drive circuit includes an overheating protection unit configured to, upon determining that the detected temperature of the semiconductor switch reaches an overheating protection temperature, perform overheating protection of the semiconductor switch and issue an overheating protection alarm signal. The drive circuit also includes an advance warning control unit configured to set a threshold temperature that is lower than the overheating protection temperature, and upon determining that the detected temperature reaches the threshold temperature, to output an advance warning signal before the overheating protection becomes operational.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Nakamori
  • Patent number: 10119847
    Abstract: An interior sensor assembly is provided that comprises a first sensor housing that is mounted to a first interior surface, and a second battery housing that is mounted to a second interior surface. The battery housing and the sensor housings are electrically connected by way of a wired connection therebetween, and the battery housing is independently mountable relative to the sensor housing. In use, the sensor housing is mounted in an ideal location for detecting smoke, heat, carbon monoxide, or the like, while the battery housing is mounted in a convenient location such that a user has ready access to check and replace the battery when necessary. The battery housing comprises a lid, and optionally comprises a local circuit that supports an additional sensor or test circuit. The battery housing and the sensor housing may be secured to studs within an interior wall, or optionally using drywall tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Inventor: Alfred Heffernan
  • Patent number: 10117003
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting and managing wildfires using fixed sensors is described. The system and method deploy a plurality of fixed sensors in an area to be monitored. Each fixed sensor is operable to detect ambient conditions in the vicinity of the fixed sensor and to relay that information to a central control center. Each fixed sensor dormant until powered by heat from a detected fire allowing the fixed sensor to send data related to the ambient conditions using the transceiver before the sensor device is consumed by the fire. The system can then determine the attributes of the wildfire from the collective data from the plurality of fixed sensors and coordinate the activity of responders in response to the wildfire using the collective data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Inventor: Kyle B. Smith
  • Patent number: 10101810
    Abstract: A thermoelectric display including an array of thermoelectric devices is used to provide output to a user in the form of thermal feedback. The thermal feedback may be used to provide navigation cues to the user to enable eyes-free navigation. The thermal feedback may be used to provide target acquisition cues to enable the user to accurately target a contact point on a touchscreen. The thermal feedback may be used to convey an emotive aspect of a message to the user. The thermal feedback may be used to identify to the user a caller associated with an incoming call. The thermoelectric display may be, alternatively or additionally, used to provide input to another device, such as a mobile device to which the thermoelectric display is operatively coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Ansia Li, Brian Amento
  • Patent number: 10102721
    Abstract: A display unit for a fluid delivery device which outputs water includes a printed circuit board, a diffuser supported by the printed circuit board, and a display screen electrically coupled to the printed circuit board. The display unit further includes a first light source electrically coupled to the printed circuit board, and a second light source electrically coupled to the printed circuit board. The first and second light sources define backlighting for the display screen. Operation of the first and second light sources is adjusted in response to a change in temperature of the output water of the fluid delivery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Delta Faucet Company
    Inventors: Randy L. Schneider, Scott Collevechio
  • Patent number: 10089594
    Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for monitoring the cold chain integrity of at least one packet of environmentally sensitive goods. The system comprises a monitoring unit applied directly to the goods packet, the monitoring unit comprising an environmental sensor monitoring an environmental condition to which the goods are subjected to and an optical output device for conveying environmental condition data. The system further comprises a camera operable to capture the environmental condition data conveyed by the optical output device, a memory for storing the environmental condition data captured by the camera and a processor for analyzing the environmental condition data. The use of a camera allows for a very simple, robust and inexpensive optical output device (e.g. an LED) to be used. The arrangement reduces the equipment cost significantly thereby allowing application across a wider range of products and provides greater flexibility and possibility for analyzing the cold chain integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Inventor: Ander Olaran Gray
  • Patent number: 10040355
    Abstract: A converter can selectively use reactors through an ON-OFF control on relays by an electronic control unit. The first reactor is disposed as a component of the converter separately from a main battery. On the other hand, the second reactor is so disposed as to have a heat transfer path between the second reactor and the main battery. At least based on the output from the temperature sensor, in a low temperature state of the main battery, the electronic control unit turns off the first relay, and turns on the second relay, thereby configuring a reactor of the converter by using the second reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kunihiko Arai
  • Patent number: 9977722
    Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates a cabinet type on-site monitoring device, which comprises a monitoring module and a positioning mechanism, and monitoring method thereof. The monitoring module can automatically detect an electric apparatus installed inside a cabinet for monitoring, and a main body can be combined on a casing structure, or the casing structure is movably pivoted on a cabinet door by using a positioning component and hang holes or a through hole on a support. Manager can watch the monitoring device via window or directly to look over current operation status of respective electric apparatus without opening the cabinet door. A sound or visible warning action is performed when the monitoring module automatically detects and gets real-time status data of any of electric apparatus exceeding a setting normal range, so as to increase convenience and flexibility of on-site immediate management, and keep the electric apparatus operate more efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: CYBERPOWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Hung-Ming Hsieh, Hung-Chun Chien, Yung-Hao Peng
  • Patent number: 9916740
    Abstract: A signal display lamp is provided that is capable of performing display in diverse modes and hence capable of increasing the quantity of transmittable information and capable of improving the reliability of information transmission. The signal display lamp includes a display portion that is capable of performing display in a plurality of display colors and that is capable of changing a position or a size of a display region in each display color, a display color determining means for determining the display color based on first information, a display region determining means for determining a position or a size of a display region in a display color determined by the display color determining means based on second information, and a display portion control means for controlling the display portion based on a display color determined by the display color determining means and based on a position or a size of a display region determined by the display region determining means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: PATLITE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 9899825
    Abstract: A current detector circuit includes a current sense amplifier, coupled to a sense resistor, to receive a pair of input voltages and to output a first indicator signal responsive to a sensed input voltage difference produced by a sensed current passing through the sense resistor. The current detector circuit includes a comparator coupled to the current sense amplifier, the comparator to compare the first indicator signal to a reference voltage signal and output an interrupt signal responsive to the first indicator signal exceeding the reference voltage signal; and a reference voltage generator circuit coupled to the comparator, the reference voltage generator circuit to select the reference voltage signal from a plurality of reference voltages according to a first selector signal received from a configuration channel of a serial bus connector device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Derwin W. Mattos, Arnab Chakraborty, Ramakrishna Venigalla, Gerard Kato, Vaidyanathan Varsha
  • Patent number: 9857243
    Abstract: An array of resonant sensors self-corrects measured values for the effects of environmental conditions, such as operating temperature, pressure or humidity. The resonant sensors have varied frequency responses to N environmental parameters and M chemical parameters. Each of the sensors has a different, non-zero frequency response to at least two of the parameters. The device also comprises at least one detector for detecting frequency responses of the resonant sensors. Individual parameter values are determined for each of the N environmental parameters and M chemical parameters according to the detected frequency responses and a system of equations using calibration terms that relate the frequency responses to the individual parameter values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Matrix Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Wilkinson, Steven Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9842479
    Abstract: A warning system of the present disclosure has at least two detectors for detecting conditions within a structure that are communicatively coupled via a wireless area network (WAN), and each detector is configured to activate an alert and to transmit data indicative of a detected condition to a smart device. In addition, the warning system has a processor configured to receive the data indicative of the detected condition and automatically initiate control logic resident on the smart device. Further, the processor is configured to initiate an alert in response that indicates the presence of the detected condition in the structure, which is conveyed to a user of the smart device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventor: Dathan O. Black
  • Patent number: 9805575
    Abstract: Smart LED lighting systems and monitoring methods thereof are provided. An exemplary system includes a smart LED lighting device, and a smart terminal configured to communicate with the smart LED lighting device. The smart LED lighting device includes a microphone module, a voice recognition module, and a wireless communication module sequentially connected in series. The microphone module collects audio signals from surroundings and transmits the audio signals to the voice recognition module, such that the voice recognition module sends the audio signals to the smart terminal via the wireless communication module directly, or voice-recognizes the audio signal using an internal audio recognition software program to generate a notification message to send to the smart terminal via the wireless communication module. In this manner, voices can be collected, recognized, and transmitted to a smart terminal to enable simultaneous indoor lighting and smart monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG SHENGHUI LIGHTING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Chaoqun Sun, Jinxiang Shen
  • Patent number: 9739512
    Abstract: A system and method to control a thermoelectric device using a microcontroller is provided. The system and method include a temperature sensor operatively coupled to a microcontroller that has a central processing unit, at least one memory device, and a module for generating at least one pulse width modulation signal. The at least one pulse width modulation signal generated by the microcontroller has “ON” and “OFF” states to drive the thermoelectric device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Anantha Krishnan Rama Rao
  • Patent number: 9721458
    Abstract: Distributed sensing is provided. A first node of a plurality of nodes receives a fire status message from a second node of the plurality of nodes. The fire status message indicates a determination by the second node that an environmental condition exceeds a predetermined threshold. Each node of the plurality of nodes is a computing device. The first node estimates an arrival time of a fire based, at least in part, on the fire status message and a geographic location of the second node. The arrival time is a time until the fire arrives at a predetermined geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Michael P. Clarke
  • Patent number: 9706979
    Abstract: A mobile ultrasonic diagnostic device comprising: a battery (30); a storage processing unit (38) that performs storage processing of data used by the mobile ultrasonic diagnostic device; a high-speed storage unit (80) that performs storage processing faster than the storage processing unit (38); and a storage processing determination unit (36) that determines the storage processing on the basis of the temperature or remaining power of the battery (30). Data can be safely used without loss even when there is the possibility that power cannot be supplied from the battery, as a result of the storage processing unit (38) and the high-speed storage unit (80) performing storage processing on the basis of the storage processing determined by the storage processing determination unit (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masa Yamamoto, Yoshinori Hirano
  • Patent number: 9675324
    Abstract: A portable ultrasonic probe includes a main body including a transducer to generate an ultrasonic wave and a folder portion including a display portion and pivotally coupled to an end portion of the main body, the main body includes a first heat radiation module configured to absorb and emit heat generated by the transducer, and the folder portion includes a second heat radiation module thermally coupled to the first heat radiation module when the folder portion is in a first position and configured to emit heat transmitted from the first heat radiation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung Il Cho, Bae Hyung Kim, Young Il Kim, Jong Keun Song, Seung Heun Lee
  • Patent number: 9671505
    Abstract: In the present invention, a battery box is provided on the lower side of a survey meter body so as to protrude downwardly. Four primary batteries are accommodated inside the battery box with inclined postures. A stepped structure is formed between the front surface of the battery box and the lower surface of the body. The survey meter can be held by a hand while an index finger, or the like, is hooked on the stepped structure. It is also possible to remove the battery box and dispose a plate-like secondary battery in an accommodation space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Yoshida, Toshikazu Tanino
  • Patent number: 9638733
    Abstract: A method of detecting thermal hotspots in a power distribution system is provided. The power distribution system includes a conductive hub including a connection point for coupling to an electrical distribution component. The method includes measuring a first temperature of the conductive hub at the connection point, estimating a second temperature of the conductive hub at the connection point, and determining when a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature exceeds a first predetermined threshold. The estimation based at least partially on an amount of electric current flowing through the conductive hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: John James Dougherty
  • Patent number: 9618945
    Abstract: Techniques for monitoring surface temperature of devices are described. Generally, surface temperature of devices is monitored and controlled to prevent user discomfort and/or injury that may result from user contact with an excessively heated surface. In at least some embodiments, temperature of an external surface of the device is indirectly monitored. For instance, a temperature sensor is positioned at an internal location in a device that has a known temperature relationship to a temperature of an external surface of the device. Alternatively or additionally, a temperature of an external surface of a device may be directly detected. In at least some embodiments, when a temperature of an external surface of a device is determined to reach or exceed a threshold temperature, procedures can be implemented to reduce the temperature of the external surface and/or prevent further heating of the external surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Douglas Delano, Timothy Jakoboski, Ying Huang
  • Patent number: 9612164
    Abstract: A resonator for sensing a physical or an environmental parameter includes a support having a top surface that provides a ground plane, and a polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) element positioned on the top surface including a PDC layer, and a metal patch on the PDC layer. The metal patch is electrically isolated from all surrounding structure, and the resonator has a resonant frequency that changes as a function of the physical or environmental parameter. A system for wirelessly sensing a physical or environmental parameter includes at least one resonator and a wireless RF reader located remotely from the resonator for transmitting a wide-band RF interrogation signal that excites the resonator. The wireless RF reader detects a sensing signal retransmitted by the resonator and includes a processor for determining the physical or environmental parameter at the location of the resonator from the sensing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Xun Gong, Linan An
  • Patent number: 9541470
    Abstract: A system for measuring tire pressure and temperature including a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a processor responsive to an output of the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor, and a display. The processor is configured to output a value on the display indicative of a measured tire pressure and an indication of measured tire temperature, wherein the indication of measured tire temperature comprises an indication of the result of a comparison between the measured tire temperature and a predetermined temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Measurement Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven Petrucelli, Mark Kuskovsky
  • Patent number: 9530304
    Abstract: Distributed sensing is provided. A first node of a plurality of nodes receives a fire status message from a second node of the plurality of nodes. The fire status message indicates a determination by the second node that an environmental condition exceeds a predetermined threshold. Each node of the plurality of nodes is a computing device. The first node estimates an arrival time of a fire based, at least in part, on the fire status message and a geographic location of the second node. The arrival time is a time until the fire arrives at a predetermined geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Michael P. Clarke
  • Patent number: 9459141
    Abstract: A brightness control apparatus and a brightness control method are provided. A basic input/output system unit determines to let a chip or an embedded controller to control the brightness of a display according to an environmental condition or an adjustment operation of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Getac Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Chia-Huang Lin
  • Patent number: 9321398
    Abstract: Information relating to a change made to a concrete mixture in a concrete mixer truck is obtained. An expected value of a selected characteristic of the concrete mixture is determined based on the change. A representation of the expected value is displayed on a processing device located in a cab of the concrete mixer truck. In one embodiment, the mixture comprises a concrete mixture. The change may comprise an addition of water to the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: QuipIP, LLC
    Inventor: Farrokh F. Radjy