Condition Of Electrical Apparatus Patents (Class 340/635)
  • Patent number: 8421645
    Abstract: An electrostatic protector used in a portable electronic device includes an electrostatic conducting unit and an electrostatic protecting unit connected to the electrostatic conducting unit. The electrostatic protecting unit includes at least one protecting circuit, each protecting circuit includes a diode, and the diode has a cathode connected to the electrostatic conducting unit and an anode grounded. Electrostatic charges on the portable electronic device are transmitted to the electrostatic conducting unit and generate a voltage on the cathode of the diode to break down the diode, such that the electrostatic charges are transmitted to the ground via the broken down diode and the voltage on the cathode of the diode is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Hsing-Yuan Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8416093
    Abstract: A machine includes at least one piston and a pump shaft. A method for detecting a leak in the machine includes receiving a vibration signal from a vibration sensor disposed on at least one of an upstream pipe and a downstream pipe of the machine, receiving a rotational speed signal and an angular shaft position signal from a speed and position sensor disposed on the machine, calculating a rotational speed and an angular shaft position of the pump shaft, calculating at least one complex harmonic Fourier amplitude of the received vibration signal, low pass filtering the at least one complex harmonic Fourier amplitude, calculating a deviation amplitude as a magnitude of a complex difference between the filtered amplitude and a base amplitude, and monitoring the deviation amplitude to detect a leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: National Oilwell Norway AS
    Inventor: Age Kyllingstad
  • Publication number: 20130082843
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for detecting display panel or other patterned device fractures or microfractures using outer resistive trace(s) on the display panel or the other patterned device. To provide just one example, a system may include a display and data processing circuitry. The display may include a display panel with an outer resistive trace disposed near edges of the display panel. The display may include discontinuity detection circuitry that can detect the occurrence of a discontinuity of the outer resistive trace. The data processing circuitry may determine whether the display panel is likely to suffer a catastrophic failure based at least in part on the occurrence of the discontinuity. The data processing circuitry may also cause the display to display a user warning when the display panel is likely to suffer the catastrophic failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Grey Wurzel, Yafei Bi, Wei H. Yao
  • Patent number: 8410950
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) panel monitoring apparatus includes a monitoring module for measuring parameter values related to PV panel output, comparing measured values against minimum and maximum values saved in the monitoring module, and outputting an alarm signal when a measured value is outside a range defined by the minimum and maximum values. An alarm signal causes a visual indicator to activate and an audible indicator to sound, thereby assisting maintenance personnel in locating a PV panel with an out-of-range parameter value. The monitoring module further includes a PV panel identification memory for saving an identification code for each PV panel in a PV array. The identification code is transmitted with time, date, and parameter data when the monitoring module detects an out-of-range parameter value. Data may optionally be transmitted from the monitoring module through a communications input/output port or through a wireless transmitter to an external monitoring and control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Paceco Corp.
    Inventors: Toru Takehara, Shinichi Takada
  • Patent number: 8411073
    Abstract: A video processing device comprises a display interface coupleable to a display device and a display controller configured to transmit a video signal via an output node of the display interface. The video signal comprises an active segment comprising video information and an inactive segment comprising synchronization information. The video processing device further comprises a display detector configured to determine whether the display device is coupled to the display interface based on a comparison of a first voltage at the output node during transmission of the inactive segment to a second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: David Glen, Jatin Naik, Raymond Chau, Paul Edelshteyn, Richard Fung
  • Patent number: 8405512
    Abstract: A technique is provided for accessing diagnostic information in an electronic device. In accordance with this technique, a system is provided for determining diagnostic information about a power source. In one embodiment, the system provides an interface to provide access to the diagnostic information. The system may further provide a memory, wherein the diagnostic information may be stored. The system may further be configured to provide access to the diagnostic information when the electronic device is non-operational.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Michael Johnson
  • Patent number: 8405513
    Abstract: An electrical connection confirmation system includes a cartridge type HDD 200 and a storage device main body 100 into which the cartridge type HDD 200 is inserted. The cartridge type HDD 200 includes a HDD connector 230 configured to comply with SATA standard, and having pins 210a to 210j and 210l to 210o that are internally shorted. The storage device main body 100 includes a main body connector 130 configured to comply with SATA standard, and having pins 110a to 110j and 110l to 110o provided in positions respectively opposite to the pins 210a to 210j and 210l to 210o. The electrical connection of the cartridge type HDD 200 to the storage device main body 100 is detected based on voltage states or electric current states of the specified pins 110d, 110g, and 110m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Kouyama, Yasunori Hashizume, Satoru Goto
  • Patent number: 8400315
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for indicating a process temperature anomaly during a power outage comprising employing a power source separate from that powering the process, setting a temperature set point; sensing presence and absence of power powering the process, sensing process temperature; and indicating to users that an absence of power was sensed and that the temperature sensed during the absence of power was below (or above) the temperature set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: William Sherman
  • Patent number: 8400318
    Abstract: A signal level detection method is provided, the method includes providing a feed line system that includes coaxial cable connectors connecting coaxial cable sections. Each coaxial cable connector includes a connector body, a coupling circuit positioned within the connector body, an electrical signal power level detection circuit electrically connected to the coupling circuit and comprised by the connector body, and an output component comprised by the connector body. At least one coupling circuit senses an electrical signal flowing through at least one associated coaxial cable connector. At least one electrical signal power level detection circuit detects a plurality of associated power levels of the electrical signal flowing through at least one associated coaxial cable connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Noah P. Montena
  • Patent number: 8400319
    Abstract: A coaxial cable connector structure is provided, the connector structure comprising: a connector; a physical parameter sensing circuit mechanically attached to the connector; and a status output component mechanically attached to the connector. The physical parameter sensing circuit configured to sense a condition of the connector. The status output component configured to report an ascertained physical parameter status to a location outside of the connector. A corresponding method of ascertaining a physical parameter status of a connector connection is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Noah P. Montena
  • Publication number: 20130063272
    Abstract: A system and a method for detecting and localizing abnormal conditions and electrical faults in an electrical grid are provided. A method includes receiving a notification message including a state of an electrical component on an electrical grid. The method further includes displaying, by a computing system, an alarm message indicating the state of the electrical component to a system operator responsible for the electrical component such that system operator is able to determine at least one action to take in response to the state of the electrical component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gopal K. BHAGERIA, Sandeep R. PATIL, Sri RAMANATHAN, Jean-Gael F. REBOUL, Matthew A. TERRY, Matthew B. TREVATHAN
  • Publication number: 20130057408
    Abstract: Systems for detecting arcing faults inside a utility meter are disclosed. In one embodiment, an arc detection system for a utility meter is disclosed including: a photoreceptor sensor configured for placement within a utility meter housing; and a computing device communicatively connected to the photoreceptor sensor, the computing device adapted to monitor arcing events within the utility meter housing by performing actions comprising: obtaining illumination data about an area within the utility meter housing from the photoreceptor sensor; and analyzing the illumination data to determine whether an arcing event has occurred within the utility meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Brian Matthew Aiken
  • Patent number: 8390466
    Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, a cable clamp (100) comprises a first half member (110) and a second half member (115). Each of the half members comprises first and second mating surfaces (120, 125), and interior and exterior surfaces (130, 135). The half members are connected at the first mating surfaces thereof such that the half members form a passageway (140) for receiving a cable (145) therethrough. The clamp further comprises at least one actuator (150) disposed on one of the exterior surfaces, at least one indicator (155) disposed on one of the exterior surfaces, and a transceiver (160) configured to transmit data regarding the at least one actuator and to receive data regarding the indicator via a wireless link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Crestron Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: George Feldstein, Mark LaBosco, Esteban Dragonanovic, Philip Bellingham
  • Patent number: 8390467
    Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, a system comprises a cable having a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to a portable device and the second end is connected to an A/V switcher. The A/V switcher is configured to monitor presence of an A/V signal in the cable and transmit data regarding said A/V signal presence. A cable clamp-on device is coupled to the cable and includes at least one indicator configured to display said A/V signal presence within the associated coupled cable, and a transceiver configured to receive the data, via a wireless link, the data regarding said A/V signal presence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Crestron Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: George Feldstein, Mark LaBosco, Esteban Dragonanovic, Philip Bellingham
  • Publication number: 20130049970
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory device configured to store computer-readable instructions and data representative of at least an alert trigger time that represents a time before an end of an operating cycle of an appliance communicatively coupled to a home energy manager. The apparatus further includes a processor coupled to the memory device and configured to execute the computer-readable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine a remaining cycle time for the operating cycle of the appliance, compare the remaining cycle time to the alert trigger time stored in the memory device, generate an alert when the remaining cycle time is equal to the alert trigger time, and transmit the generated alert to at least one remote device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Finch, Peter Pepe, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, David McCalpin
  • Patent number: 8378834
    Abstract: A kitchen exhaust hood assembly having a fire suppression system with built-in redundancy and monitoring capabilities is presented. The fire suppression system includes one or more fire suppression devices associated with the kitchen hood for extinguishing a fire within the vicinity of the exhaust hood. The fire suppression devices can be triggered by a series of manual actuators or fire sensors. A switching circuit including a plurality of switches operatively connected to the manual actuators or fire sensors triggers the fire suppression devices by enabling either a first or second actuating circuit. The switching circuit and first and second actuating circuits are configured such that a break in the electrical connection between the switches and actuating circuits does not cause a failure in the operation of the fire suppression system. A supervision module is included in the assembly for monitoring the elements of the fire suppression system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Captive-Aire Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Glaub, William Brian Griffin
  • Patent number: 8378835
    Abstract: A refrigerator and a control method of the refrigerator are discussed. According to an embodiment, a control method of a refrigerator connected to an electric power management network comprises steps of receiving power-rate information via the electric power management network; setting an over-cooling period and a power-saving period based on the received power-rate information; controlling at east one storage chamber to be over-cooled by over-cooling cold air during the over-cooling period; and controlling the other storage chamber to be over-cooled by the over-cooled cold air during the power-saving period. According to the present invention, the functions of the refrigerator are provided with minimal use of electricity and/or with reduced electricity charges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Min Shin, Ji Young Lee, Woo Hyun Paik
  • Publication number: 20130027212
    Abstract: A circuit for displaying a status of a secondary identification code stored in a memory associated with a wireless garage door opener keypad unit is disclosed. The circuit comprises a keypad for receiving entries; a control circuit coupled to receive the entries on the keypad, wherein the control circuit enables and disables the use of a secondary identification code; and a visual indicator on the wireless keypad garage door opener keypad unit indicating whether the secondary identification code is enabled or disabled. A method of displaying a status of a secondary identification code is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventor: John Joseph King
  • Patent number: 8362909
    Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting a low battery detection threshold in a remote control. An embodiment of a method includes determining a type of a battery powering a remote control of an entertainment device and determining a first low battery threshold for the battery based on the type of the battery. The first low battery threshold indicates a low battery condition of the remote control. Responsive to measuring a voltage of the battery, a determination is made regarding whether the voltage of the battery is below the low battery threshold. Responsive to determining that the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold, a low battery message is transmitted to an entertainment device. The entertainment device utilizes the message to present an indicator to a user regarding the low battery condition of the remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: William R. Reams
  • Patent number: 8362908
    Abstract: Various mechanisms are described for indicating to a user a low battery condition of a remote control for a controlled device. More particularly, a remote control detects a low battery condition as well as the replacement of batteries in the remote control. The remote control transmits a low battery message to a controlled device responsive to detecting a low battery condition. The remote control refrains from transmitting one or more subsequent low battery messages to the controlled device prior to detection of replacement of batteries. The remote control transmits a battery status message to the controlled device responsive to detecting the replacement of batteries in the remote control. The controlled device utilizes the low battery message and the battery status message to determine whether to present a low battery indicator to a user regarding a low battery condition of the remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: William R. Reams
  • Publication number: 20130021162
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging apparatus is disclosed. The electric vehicle charging apparatus has a housing having a body, and a light guide assembly adapted to display a status of the electric vehicle charging apparatus. The light guide assembly generates and displays one or more colors, flashing lights, or combinations thereof on a light exit region of the light guide. In another aspect, a locking hinged lid configuration of the electric vehicle charging apparatus is provided. In yet another aspect, a mechanical control panel including lighted status indicators on the lid is provided. In another aspect, the electric vehicle charging apparatus has one or more low voltage terminals contained in a first front cavity under the lid, whereas high voltage components are provided in a separate second front cavity. Methods of operating the electric vehicle charging apparatus are provided, as are other aspects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: John DeBoer, John Quentin Cowans, Timothy Biedrzycki
  • Publication number: 20130021161
    Abstract: An indication circuit for an electronic device includes a control circuit, at least one LED, and at least one buffer register electronically connected between the control circuit and the at least one LED. The control circuit outputs control signals according to a running status of the electronic device, the at least one buffer register receives the control signals, and outputs voltage signals to turn on/off the at least one LED according to the control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: HAI-QING ZHOU
  • Patent number: 8358217
    Abstract: A stationary induction apparatus has: a winding to which AC current is supplied; an electrostatic shield which includes an electrostatic shield member having a hollow and an electrically conductive film wound around the electrostatic shield member, and which is configured to suppress the electric field of the winding; a housing which contains the winding, the electrostatic shield and the insulating fluid; an IC tag which has a sensor arranged in the hollow of the electrostatic shield member and configured to detect position of the electrostatic shield member, and a transmitter unit configured to transmit, by radio, information acquired by the sensor as a high-frequency signal having a frequency much higher than the frequency of the AC current; and a receiver unit which is arranged in the housing, receives the high-frequency signal transmitted by radio from the IC tag and transmits, by wire, the signal outside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Haruhisa Wada, Masaki Sugihara, Masahiro Hanai
  • Patent number: 8358218
    Abstract: A data entry device including a housing formed of at least two portions, data entry circuitry located within the housing, at least one case-open switch assembly operative to sense when the housing is opened and tamper indication circuitry operative to receive an input from the at least one case-open switch assembly and to provide an output indication of possible tampering with the data entry circuitry located within the housing. The at least one case-open switch assembly includes an arrangement of electrical contacts arranged on a base surface and a resiliently deformable conductive element, which defines a short circuit between at least some of the arrangement of electrical contacts only when the housing is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Verifone, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. H. Neo, Mehran Mirkazemi-Moud, John Barrowman, Christian Eric Schulz
  • Patent number: 8354813
    Abstract: A torque limit section that applies limit to a torque instruction value of an electric motor such that a switching elements temperature is restricted to no more than an element upper limiting temperature includes a torque restriction section that finds a torque restriction value for restricting the torque of the electric motor in accordance with the said switching elements temperature; a torque restriction mitigation section that finds a torque restriction mitigation value for mitigating the torque limit value in accordance with the integrated value of the deviation of the element upper limiting temperature and the switching elements temperature; a first subtractor that finds a torque restriction value by subtracting the torque restriction mitigation value from the torque limit value; and a second subtractor that finds a limited torque instruction value obtained by subtracting the torque limit value from the torque instruction value and outputs this to the gate generating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ryuta Hasegawa, Ryuichi Morikawa, Toshiharu Oobu
  • Patent number: 8350711
    Abstract: Systems and methods for safe handling of information handling resources are provided. In some embodiments, a method is provided. The method may include detecting occurrence of a power down sequence and in response to detecting of the power down sequence, controlling operation of a cooling fan coupled to information handling resources based at least on a first criteria of a predetermined policy. The method may include receiving a signal from a sensor, the signal indicating a thermal property of a particular information handling resource coupled to the sensor. The method may include determining if the thermal property satisfies a second criteria of the predetermined policy, the second criteria comprising a safe temperature range for handling the particular information handling resource. If the thermal property meets the second criteria, the method may provide an alert via an indicator to a user indicating the particular information handling resource is safe for handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Stuart Allen Berke, Dominick Lovicott, Hasnain Shabbir, William Coxe
  • Patent number: 8344737
    Abstract: A circuit tester device for testing continuity and polarity of vehicle relay circuits may include a housing and a plug carried by the housing. The circuit tester device may also have a battery lead adapted to connect to a battery terminal, and a ground lead adapted to connect to a ground. Further, the circuit tester device may have circuitry including three or more circuits connected between the battery and ground leads. Each circuit may have in series a first resistor, a first status indicator, a first diode, a test terminal, a second diode, a second status indicator and a second resistor. Each test terminal may be connected to a respective one of the pins. The circuitry may also have one or more load circuits tapped into one of the circuits between the first and second diodes. The load circuits may include in series a test switch and a load terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Watson
  • Patent number: 8339270
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for protecting against electrocution hazards that arise when an appliance is electrically connected to a miswired single-phase AC electrical source which includes an energized ground lead are described. The apparatus includes one or more sensors that detect electrical energy in the ground lead combined with a miswiring condition in the hot and common leads. A tester embodiment is also illustrated. The method includes the steps of detecting if the putative ground of the electrical source is energized and whether the hot and common leads are reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: General Wire Spring Company
    Inventors: Arthur A. Silverman, Anton D. Pfeiffer
  • Publication number: 20120319854
    Abstract: In the disclosed method of measuring contact failure and contact failure measuring device, the magnitude of the excessive response fluctuation of the inductive magnetic field around a harness under measurement when an external force is applied to a terminal fitting part of the harness is detected by a magnetic sensor, and the result is displayed as an index of the quality of the contact state of the terminal fitting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Susumu Maruyama, Hideyuki Tsuchikiri, Koji Fukuda, Atsushi Demachi
  • Patent number: 8334783
    Abstract: A projection display device includes: a dustproof filter that removes dust and a foreign material from drawn air; an air guide path that guides, to a liquid crystal panel, the cooling air blown by a suction fan; an air velocity detector that is arranged in the air guide path and detects the velocity of the cooling air that flows in the air guide path; and a CPU that determines, on the basis of the value detected by the air velocity detector, whether or not the dustproof filter is clogged. The air velocity detector detects the velocity of the cooling air by measuring the temperature of the air in the vicinity of the heat generating element that will be increased due to heat transfer generated by the heat generating element. This configuration improves accuracy in determining whether or not the dustproof filter is clogged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Katayama, Miyuki Ikeda, Hirotoshi Kemi, Hideharu Saito
  • Patent number: 8330618
    Abstract: A telemeter system in which information that has an effect on a state of communication between a terminal device and a central device can be readily and accurately reported from the terminal device to the central device. When a central device (12) transmits a request signal for prescribed measurement result information to a terminal device (10), a terminal control component (20) of the terminal device (10) extracts the measurement result information from a measurement component (16), and transmits the measurement result information to the central device (12) via a telecommunication component (18) by using a short message service or the like. When a communication component (22) of the central device (12) receives the measurement result information, a center control component (26) stores the received measurement result information in a storage component (24) The state of communication between the terminal device (10) and the central device (12) is reported to an administrator as necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsutaka Hata
  • Patent number: 8330607
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radio field intensity measurement device having a display portion with improved visibility, in the case of measuring a weak radiowave from a long distance. In the radio field intensity measurement device, a battery is provided as a power source for power supply and the battery is charged by a received radiowave. When a potential of a signal obtained from the received radiowave is higher than an output potential of the battery, the power is stored in the battery. On the other hand, when the potential of the signal obtained from the received radiowave is lower than the output potential of the battery, power produced by the battery is used as power to drive the radio field intensity measurement device. As an element to display the radio field intensity, a thermochromic element or an electrochromic element is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Dembo, Atsushi Miyaguchi
  • Patent number: 8330606
    Abstract: A secure data entry device including a housing, a keypad mounted in the housing and including a plurality of selectably depressible keys, tampering alarm indication circuitry and at least one electrical conductor located in the housing in operative association with the keypad, the at least one electrical conductor being coupled to the tampering alarm indication circuitry and being arranged such that extraction of at least one of the plurality of selectably depressible keys results in at least one break in the at least one electrical conductor, which causes the tampering alarm indication circuitry to provide a tampering alarm indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Verifone, Inc.
    Inventors: Amihay Avital, Shih-An Steve Hsu, Chi-Jung Bruno Luo, Yung-Tai James Jiang, Richard Neo
  • Publication number: 20120306654
    Abstract: A rack server system includes a rack, a number of servers, and a power center. The rack defines a receiving space that is divided into a plurality of units. Each of the servers includes a motherboard and is received in a corresponding unit. The power center is received in at least one unit. The power center includes a plurality of cables connecting to the motherboards, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: ZHEN-XING MA, ZHENG-HENG SUN
  • Patent number: 8325054
    Abstract: A home appliance and a signal output method thereof are disclosed. The home appliance outputs product information in the form of a sound signal, which is transmitted to a service center at a remote site over a communication network so that the service center can readily check the state of the home appliance. A digital signal including product information of the home appliance is converted into a sound signal based on a plurality of frequency signals. Therefore, a larger amount of data can be rapidly transmitted for a fault diagnosis, so as to improve fault diagnosis accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yongtae Kim, Euihyeok Kwon, Koonseok Lee, Hyunsang Kim, Haeyong Kang
  • Publication number: 20120293336
    Abstract: An apparatus, and an associated method, tests for an anomaly, such as an open circuit or a short circuit, at a touch sensing device. An electrical characteristic sensor senses an electrical characteristic at an electrode of the touch sensing device. Responsive to the sensed electrical characteristic, a determination is made by a determiner as to whether a short or open circuit or other anomaly exists at the touch sensing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Stanislav Pereverzev, Mykola Golovchenko, Derek Raymond Solven
  • Patent number: 8314713
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the operation of a metal detection system that comprises a balanced coil system with a transmitter coil that is connected to a transmitter unit, which provides transmitter signals having a fixed or variable transmitter frequency, and with a first and a second receiver coil that provide output signals to a receiver unit. A system adapted to operate according to an exemplary method is also provided. According to one embodiment, a carrier signal having the transmitter frequency and a monitoring signal having a monitoring frequency are provided to a modulation unit that suppresses the carrier signal and provides a modulated monitoring signal, which is supplied to a monitoring coil that is inductively coupled with at least one of the receiver coils, whose output signals are demodulated in a demodulation unit that provides a demodulated monitoring signal, which is compared in phase and/or in amplitude with a reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo Safeline Limited
    Inventor: Stephen McAdam
  • Patent number: 8310370
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for monitoring electrical safety conditions and managing energy consumption using a microcontroller embedded in a circuit breaker. The microcontroller receives a plurality of inputs detected by a plurality of sensors in the circuit breaker. An amount of energy consumed during a preset interval of time is determined. A temperature of a circuit breaker panel board detected by a temperature sensor is received and compared with a preset temperature alarm threshold value to determine a panel board overheating condition. A condition of the neutral conductor is determined based on a plurality of line voltages and currents received from a plurality of voltage and current sensors by comparing a voltage differential with a preset threshold differential voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Southern Company Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Olin A. Williams, Jr., Arnold C. Solomon
  • Patent number: 8311476
    Abstract: A transponder and method for operating a transponder, which has a capacitor (Cbuf) for storing power transmitted via an air interface and an arithmetic logic unit (10) that can be supplied with the stored power, in which a capacitor voltage (VC) of the capacitor (Cbuf) is compared with a first threshold (V1), in which the capacitor voltage (VC) is compared with a second threshold (V2), whereby the first threshold (V1) and the second threshold (V2) are different, in which in a first operating mode (M1), when the capacitor voltage (VC) is above the first threshold (V1), the arithmetic logic unit (10) performs a number of routines with a different priority, in which in a second operating mode (M2), when the capacitor voltage (VC) is between the first threshold (V1) and the second threshold (V2), a number of low-priority routines are stopped and a number of high-priority routines are continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Lepek
  • Publication number: 20120283532
    Abstract: Disclosed is a biological optical measurement instrument provided with: a light source unit which has a light-emitting unit that emits light and irradiates the light to an object; a light measurement unit configured to measure passing light at a measurement point of the object: a signal processing unit configured to process hemoglobin information outputted from the light measurement unit and create a light measurement image; and a display unit configured to display the light measurement image, further provided with a measurement/determination unit configured to measure the deterioration state of the light-emitting unit from the light output of the light-emitting unit and an electric current injected into the light-emitting unit and determine the necessity/unnecessity of replacement of the light-emitting unit, wherein the display unit displays information relating to the necessity/unnecessity of replacing the light-emitting unit determined by the measurement/determination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: HITACHI MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiromichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8305223
    Abstract: An Intelligent Electronic Device with integrated protection, and/or control, and/or monitoring for two power system primary objects or more power system primary objects, responsive to a plurality of inputs from the power system primary objects, and providing a plurality of outputs to the power system primary objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Sören Forsman
  • Patent number: 8305232
    Abstract: A utility network interface device is provided for operation with a utility network. The utility network interface device includes a detector configured to produce a state signal upon occurrence of a prescribed state that interferes with the ability of a utility meter, with which the utility network interface device is associated, to measure consumption of a commodity and/or report consumption of the commodity. The utility network interface device also includes a control unit configured to detect a tampering with the utility meter in accordance with the state signal produced by the detector. The control unit automatically controls a notification unit to output, external to the utility meter, notification of the tampering detected by the control unit, in response to the detection of the tampering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Gilbert, Raj Vaswani, Jana van Greunen
  • Patent number: 8305222
    Abstract: A device for detecting and signaling malfunctions in use of electrical appliances which have a cyclical or a continuous central measuring and processing unit connected to two input/output ports for connecting between a source of electrical power and an electrical appliance respectively. The central unit is connected to at least one signaling element controlled by a malfunction occurrence signal that is processed by the central unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventors: Pierluigi Ansaldi, Ezio Lazzareschi
  • Patent number: 8299932
    Abstract: In a closed-loop monitoring system, a host device is operable to output encoded signals at a coupling side to a single transmission line. Each of monitoring devices includes: a current inducting generating unit generating induced encoded signals when the encoded signals pass through a signal current generating element coupled across an input side coupled to the transmission line; a control unit identifying a monitoring signal from the induced encoded signals generated by the current inducting generating unit; and a detecting unit detecting, in response to the monitoring signal, whether each of electronic devices coupled thereto is activated ox deactivated and transmitting a reply signal associated with states of the electronic devices to the transmission line based on a detection result made thereby. The host device receives the reply signal from each monitoring device through the transmission line and the coupling side to obtain state information associated with the electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: HICO Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Lin Tang, Nan-Jan Huang, Ruei-Cheng Liu, Wang-Cheng Chen, Cheng-Chung Yeh
  • Patent number: 8301399
    Abstract: In a method for predicting the lifetime of a photo-semiconductor device that has a maximum light output value restricted by thermal saturation, the maximum light output value is extracted by measuring the characteristic of light output from the photo-semiconductor device with respect to drive current. The decrease tendency of the maximum output values with respect to drive time is predicted to predict the lifetime of the photo-semiconductor. Further, the predicted lifetime is updated as time passes. Therefore, in this method, even if drive condition changes, or an individual difference of the photo-semiconductor per se is present, it is possible to substantially accurately predict the lifetime of the photo-semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Nichia Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Ohgoh
  • Patent number: 8294597
    Abstract: Monitoring systems, sensor nodes, and methods of operating a system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of a structure, are provided. An exemplary monitoring system includes one or more sensor nodes each including a power supply, a sensor configured to sense whether or not the power level of the power supply, and a communications interlace for communicating sensed operating conditions. The system also includes a controller in communication with the sensor nodes through a communication network to monitor the sensor nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Ertugrul Berkcan, Emad Andarawis, Samantha Rao, Eladio Delgado, Robert Wojnarowski
  • Publication number: 20120262298
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing sensor data and self-calibration are provided. In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided which are capable of calibrating a continuous analyte sensor based on an initial sensitivity, and then continuously performing self-calibration without using, or with reduced use of, reference measurements. In certain embodiments, a sensitivity of the analyte sensor is determined by applying an estimative algorithm that is a function of certain parameters. Also described herein are systems and methods for determining a property of an analyte sensor using a stimulus signal. The sensor property can be used to compensate sensor data for sensitivity drift, or determine another property associated with the sensor, such as temperature, sensor membrane damage, moisture ingress in sensor electronics, and scaling factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastian Bohm, Daiting Rong, Peter C. Simpson
  • Patent number: 8284066
    Abstract: An automated and/or remote method for identifying and/or changing the source of power for these generator sets, which may apply to any environment where there are alternative sources of power available which must be managed remotely (such as for other powered containers not used for refrigeration transport).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Startrak Information Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Herbert Perten, Timothy Slifkin, Thomas A. Robinson, Swati Chiney
  • Patent number: 8279073
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems, methods, and apparatus for monitoring and controlling a wind driven machine. According to one embodiment, a system including a wind driven machine with at least one component can be provided. The system can also include at least one data collection module for collecting operating data from the at least one component and for providing the operating data to at least one data processing module. The operating data can comprise an electrical characteristic associated with the at least one component. The data processing module can receive the operating data, determine whether the operating data indicates the component is operating in an alert condition and can provide an indicator when the component is operating in an alert condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Meng Gao, Haiqi Zhao, Zheng Wan
  • Patent number: 8274255
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a multi-function remote control which is supplied power by a rechargeable battery. The multi-function remote control comprises a micro controller unit (MCU), a residual power display, a button unit, a current detector and a voltage detector. The MCU couples to the rechargeable battery and then charges or discharges the rechargeable battery. The current detector measures the current of the rechargeable battery and correspondingly outputs a current-value signal (Si) to the MCU. The voltage detector measures the voltage of the rechargeable battery and correspondingly outputs a voltage-value signal (Sv) to the MCU. Then, the MCU obtains the residual power of the rechargeable battery by means of analyzing the current-value signal (Si) and voltage-value signal (Sv), and then reveals the corresponding residual power by the residual power display. Whereby, the multi-function remote control might have functions of remote control, charging and revealing residual power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: TPV Electronics (Fujian) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shu Hong Wu