Electrical Characteristic Patents (Class 340/657)
  • Patent number: 10184964
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and system for determining electrical power levels using one or more sensors on a computing device including: determining threshold levels and alert criteria, receiving electrical power level data from one or more sensors of a computing device, determining if the electrical power level data exceeds the alert criteria, and sending an alert to the appropriate parties if the electrical power level data exceeds the alert criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald Ambrosio, Younghun Kim, Tarun Kumar
  • Patent number: 10170917
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits a power transmission signal (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signal waves) to create a three-dimensional pocket of energy. At least one receiver can be connected to or integrated into electronic devices and receive power from the pocket of energy. A wireless power network may include a plurality of wireless power transmitters each with an embedded wireless power transmitter manager, including a wireless power manager application. The wireless power network may include a plurality of client devices with wireless power receivers. Wireless power receivers may include a power receiver application configured to communicate with the wireless power manager application. The wireless power manager application may include a device database where information about the wireless power network may be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Bell, Michael Leabman
  • Patent number: 10123154
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a method, system and apparatus to utilized a network of wireless transmission units (PTUs) to communicate between devices connected to the network through each of the PUTs. In certain embodiments, a plurality of PTUs are interconnected into a Local Area Network (LAN) such that messages may be broadcast to all PTUs connected to the network. Each PTU may then relay the broadcast message to each of the mobile devices being under its charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Remi Laudebat
  • Patent number: 10095255
    Abstract: An information processing method including: acquiring power information that indicates a power amount supplied by each of a plurality of circuits; outputting a command that causes a change in power consumption for one of the electrical devices; and determining the connection relationship between the one electrical device and the circuit to which the one electrical device is connected, based on the power information acquired, in which, in the determining, when it is determined that the state of the power amounts supplied by the plurality of circuits is a steady state from the power information acquired in the acquiring, the connection relationship is determined by specifying that the circuit corresponding to the power information that includes the change in power consumption corresponding to the command output with respect to the one electrical device in the outputting of the command is the circuit to which the one electrical device is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventor: Tomonari Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10097696
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for direct control of constrained electronic devices with a remote resource. A method performed in a mobile device is provided. The method includes the mobile device receiving a network address and a smart device identifier from a smart device; accessing a remote resource, such as an external internet application, based on the network address; receiving a command indication, wherein the command indication indicates an action to be executed by the smart device; and causing a transmission of a command to the smart device, wherein the transmission includes the smart device identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Markus Isomäki, Teemu Savolainen
  • Patent number: 10068297
    Abstract: A system for remote non-intrusive occupant space monitoring. The system may have sensors and other mechanisms for non-intrusively obtaining information by capturing utility and communication signals, images, light, sound, environmental factors, background information, and so on, about a space and its occupants. The obtained information may be locally or remotely analyzed and modeled by a processor. Models of buildings, behavior, and power systems from the processor may be compared with pre-defined models to infer further information about the space and its occupants. Also, behavioral information may be obtained, inferred and/or learned. The models may be updated with the obtained, inferred and learned information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Julie Hull Roskos
  • Patent number: 10055325
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a visual indication of cable connection status. A method may include determining whether an Information Handling System (IHS) has established data communications using one of a plurality of different types of protocols supported by a cable and providing, on the cable, a visual indication of the type of protocol being used and/or an amount of power delivered via the cable. A cable may include a plurality of conductors, a controller coupled to the plurality of conductors, and a plurality of LEDs coupled to the controller. The controller may: determine whether an IHS coupled to the cable has established data communication with another device via the cable using one of a plurality of different types of protocols supported by the cable; and provide a visual indication of the type of protocol being used in the data communication and/or power delivered via the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Adolfo S. Montero, Marcin M. Nowak
  • Patent number: 10056786
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a power transmitting device includes a wireless power generator configured to generate a wireless power signal. A transmit resonator is configured to transmit the wireless power signal via a transmit magnetic field to a power receiving unit. The transmit resonator includes a transmit coil configured to generate that transmit magnetic field in response to the wireless power signal. At least one variable magnetic element is configured to adjust at least one property of the transmit coil by varying a reluctance of the at least one variable magnetic element in response to at least one control signal. A processing device is configured to generate the at least one control signal to select the reluctance corresponding to the at least one property of the transmit coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD
    Inventors: John Stuart Walley, Vadim Bishtein
  • Patent number: 10014708
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technique to control a distribution of electric power depending on electric power consumption of each of a plurality of electric power receiving apparatuses. An electric power supply apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information associated with electric power consumption of each of the plurality of electric power receiving apparatuses, a determination unit configured to determine the distribution of electric power to the plurality of electric power receiving apparatuses based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit such that a greater amount of distribution of electric power is assigned to an electric power receiving apparatus having greater electric power consumption, and an electric power supply unit configured to supply electric power to each of the plurality of electric power receiving apparatuses according to the distribution of electric power determined by the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inoue, Tomoaki Hokyo, Kazuhide Nagamine
  • Patent number: 9924242
    Abstract: Given a node of a utility service distribution network, a topology of a subset of the distribution network having the given node as a root node and one or more child nodes branching from the given node is determined. The topology may be determined based on relationships or correlations of utility usage information between the given node and a plurality of potential nodes that are considered in the topology determination. Upon determining the topology associated with the given node, the determined topology may be used to detect fraud and leakage that may occur in the distribution network on a regular basis or upon request. If fraud or leakage is detected in the distribution network, the system may schedule a follow-up and/or field investigation to investigate and fix the fraud or the leakage in the distribution network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Itron Global SARL
    Inventor: Hartman Van Wyk
  • Patent number: 9890967
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system has an irrigation subsystem and an HVAC system controller configured to selectively implement a drought related irrigation subsystem control scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventor: Arun Kumar Buduri
  • Patent number: 9838206
    Abstract: A network device is provided, which is connected to a receiver. The network device includes a signal processing unit and a transceiver unit. Prior to occurrence of a hardware interrupt event, the signal processing unit detects the connection configuration between the network device and the receiver and outputs a temporary signal corresponding to the configuration of connection. The transceiver unit, which is connected to the signal processing unit and the receiver, receives and stores the temporary signal so that, when a hardware interrupt event occurs, the transceiver unit generates a dying gasp corresponding to the temporary signal and transmits the dying gasp to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ACCTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shih-Hsien Wang, Keng-Shao Liu
  • Patent number: 9805864
    Abstract: An electrical connector system for communication or power transfer between a two connectors in which the first of the two connectors may be inserted into a receptacle of a second connector in order to align a coil within the first connector with a coil within the second connector to promote inductive communication between the first and second connector. In many embodiments, at least one of the two coils may also be used as a spring, providing a mechanical force. The mechanical force may assist in joining or separating the connectors. For example, the spring coil may be used in conjunction with a push-push mechanism to retain the first connector within the second connector and to eject the first connector when the connectors should be separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Darshan R. Kasar
  • Patent number: 9719803
    Abstract: A system including a transceiver that is in a first device and receives wirelessly or over a powerline and from a second device, (i) a voltage value of a voltage detected between bus bars of a power source, where the power source supplies power to a load, and where the load is distinct from the first and second devices, or (ii) a current value of a current detected by a current sensor and drawn from the power source by the load. A sensing module one of (i) if the transceiver receives the current, detects the voltage and timestamps the voltage value with a first timestamp, and (ii) if the transceiver receives the voltage, determines the current and timestamps the current value with a second timestamp. A parameter module determines a parameter of the load based on the voltage, the current, and the first and second timestamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory W. Ratcliff
  • Patent number: 9696354
    Abstract: A system to measure electrical energy of current in a secondary electrical conductor connected to a primary electrical conductor, the primary and secondary conductors having substantially same voltage. The system includes a primary module including an emitter and a unit for measuring voltage of the primary conductor, at least one secondary module including a receiver, an intensity sensor of current in the secondary conductor, and a unit for calculating energy of the current. The primary module compresses the measured voltage value and emits, to each secondary module, a first message containing the compressed measured voltage value. A time synchronization mechanism performs time synchronization of each intensity sensor with the voltage measuring unit. The calculating unit is connected to the receiver and can calculate energy from the measured voltage and intensity values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Olivier Coutelou, Pascal Houbre, Francois Vincent
  • Patent number: 9660456
    Abstract: Technique for providing power to a powered device (PD) over a cable having first and second sets of twisted pairs, such as signal pairs and spare pairs. Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) circuitry is coupled via a first switch to the second set, e.g. to the spare pairs. A switch control circuit turns the first switch off to enable the PSE circuitry to perform a prescribed operation in connection with the PD over only the first set, e.g. over the signal pairs, and turns the first switch on to enable the PSE circuitry to perform the prescribed operation in connection with the PD over the first and second sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David McLean Dwelley, Jeffrey Lynn Heath
  • Patent number: 9543945
    Abstract: System, method, and apparatus for automatically disabling an appliance to prevent accidental fires. A shut-off system is coupled to a smoke detector. When the smoke detector alarm is activated a signal is sent to the shut off system coupled to a cooking appliance. The shut off system includes a timer and an override mechanism. If the override mechanism is triggered prior to the timer expiring, then the shut off system does not activate. If the override mechanism is not triggered prior to the timer expiring then the shut off system activates and decouples the appliance from its power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin Henry Seigler, Tom Columbano
  • Patent number: 9244114
    Abstract: A system for the detection of discharges over high voltage power-line insulator strings of an electrical grid. A sensor unit is deployed on a non conducting cable of the grid. The sensor feeds an array of band cut-off filters receiving each signals from said at least one sensor unit. An analogue processor is associated with each of the band cut-off filters associated each with a current peak detector. An ADC unit is associated with each one of said analogue processors. In addition a digital processor is provided for calculating data received from each one of the ADCs and one radio transmitter unit sends data to a gateway of a network. A digital processor is adapted to send data processed based on the output of the ADCs, to the radio transmitter for conveying the data to processor associated with a WAN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Inventors: Roman Knijnik, Daniel Kottick, Leonid Maslovski, Eduard Wolfson, Liron Frenkel
  • Patent number: 9184633
    Abstract: A non-contact power supply control device controls power supply to transmit power in a non-contact manner from a ground-side power supply section provided outside a vehicle traveling using stored power to a vehicle-side power receiving section provided to the vehicle. A detection unit detects a living body at the periphery of the ground-side power supply section. A control unit restricts the power supply in a case where the detection unit detects the living body at the periphery of the ground-side power supply section during the power supply operation to the vehicle-side power receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Obayashi, Keisuke Tani
  • Patent number: 9153959
    Abstract: A phase detection circuit includes first to third power input modules, first to third power input terminals, an alarm module, first to fifth electronic switches, and a power management module. The power input modules are used to convert pulse signals from a multi-phase power supply into direct current voltages and output the direct current voltages to the first to third electronic switches. When the multi-phase power supply operates abnormally, no direct current voltages are output to the first to third electronic switches and the alarm module alarms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: ShenZhen Goldsun Network Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hai-Qing Zhou, Yi-Xin Tu
  • Patent number: 9143876
    Abstract: System and method for detecting a glitch is disclosed. An embodiment comprises increasing a bias voltage of a first capacitor, sampling an input signal of a first plate of the first capacitor with a time period, mixing the input signal with the sampled input signal, and comparing the mixed signal with a reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Kropfitsch, Jose Luis Ceballos
  • Patent number: 9130752
    Abstract: A system may include an integrated circuit and a coating at least partially encapsulating the integrated circuit. The coating may include an electrically insulating material at least partially encapsulating an analog circuit. The integrated circuit may be electrically connected to the analog circuit. Additionally, the integrated circuit may be configured to generate an analog electrical signal, transmit the analog electrical signal through the analog circuit to generate a modified analog electrical signal, receive the modified analog electrical signal, and in response to determining that the modified analog electrical signal is sufficiently similar to an expected analog electrical signal, use the modified analog electrical signal as an input to an algorithm performed by the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin David Cruzado, William J. Dalzell
  • Patent number: 9041544
    Abstract: A network device receives notification configuration information that includes a time interval criteria and a selected geographical area for providing power outage notifications. The network device receives, during a particular time interval, a loss-of-power alarm from a network interface device (NID) associated with a customer premises. The loss-of-power alarm includes a particular NID identifier. The network device retrieves, from a database, customer configuration information that associates the particular NID identifier with a particular address and identifies a power outage in a particular region associated with the particular address. The identifying is based on receiving the loss-of-power alarm and determining if other loss-of-power alarms have been received from other NIDs in the same region and within the particular time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Abbas Bagasra
  • Patent number: 9035790
    Abstract: A transmit pad inspection device includes a magnetic coupling device, which includes an inductive circuit that is configured to magnetically couple to a primary circuit of a charging device in a transmit pad through an alternating current (AC) magnetic field. The inductive circuit functions as a secondary circuit for a set of magnetically coupled coils. The magnetic coupling device further includes a rectification circuit, and includes a controllable load bank or is configured to be connected to an external controllable load back. The transmit pad inspection device is configured to determine the efficiency of power transfer under various coupling conditions. In addition, the transmit pad inspection device can be configured to measure residual magnetic field and the frequency of the input current, and to determine whether the charging device has been installed properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Perry T. Jones, John M. Miller
  • Patent number: 9024761
    Abstract: A system and method for persistent ID flag for RFID applications includes a method for operating an RFID tag. The method includes measuring a voltage potential of a supply voltage for the RFID tag, and turning on a pass gate that couples a memory cell to a data line used for reading or writing data, if the voltage potential is greater than a first threshold. An accumulated charge on the memory cell is also measured, and both the voltage potential and the accumulated charge are used to generate a control signal to set a state of the pass gate. The pass gate is turned off if the control signal is a true value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsien Hung, Yu-Ling Lin
  • Patent number: 9019114
    Abstract: A device management system includes a bus bar, a device management module, and a remote management module. The device management module includes at least one remotely-controllable switching circuit and a detecting circuit. When a device is installed in the rack cabinet, the remotely-controllable switching circuit connected with the device is enabled by the detecting circuit. The remote management module is in communication with the remotely-controllable switching circuit and the detecting circuit through the bus bar. The information of the device is acquired by the remote management module through the remotely-controllable switching circuit. A switch element of the remotely-controllable switching circuit which is connected to the device is selectively turned on or turned off by the remote management module. When the switch element is turned on, the DC power is transmitted to the device through the switch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Lung Wu, Wen-Hsiang Lin
  • Patent number: 9019113
    Abstract: A circuit, a system and/or a method detect a passive electrical connection and/or an active electrical connection between an electrical device and a power supply. An integrity of the electrical connection between the electrical device and the power supply is monitored to determine if the electrical device may have access to power and/or to determine if the electrical device may be secure while on display. A high frequency AC signal is modulated onto a positive power rail between the electrical device and the power supply. Capacitance circuitry of the electrical device may remove the high frequency signal from the positive power rail. An absence of the high frequency signal on the positive power rail indicates that the electrical connection exists between the electrical device and the power supply. A presence of the high frequency signal on the positive power rail indicates that the electrical connection does not exist between the electrical device and the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Sennco Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Groth, Christopher Marszalek, Daniel Horvath, Kerry Berland, Try Ty, Mark Kmiecik
  • Publication number: 20150109133
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a control unit to control display of at least one first mark representing a power generating unit and a second mark representing a power storage unit and change of an indication display between the first mark and the second mark according to an amount of power supplied from the power generating unit to the power storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Alexis Andre
  • Publication number: 20150109132
    Abstract: A device management system includes a bus bar, a device management module, and a remote management module. The device management module includes at least one remotely-controllable switching circuit and a detecting circuit. When a device is installed in the rack cabinet, the remotely-controllable switching circuit connected with the device is enabled by the detecting circuit. The remote management module is in communication with the remotely-controllable switching circuit and the detecting circuit through the bus bar. The information of the device is acquired by the remote management module through the remotely-controllable switching circuit. A switch element of the remotely-controllable switching circuit which is connected to the device is selectively turned on or turned off by the remote management module. When the switch element is turned on, the DC power is transmitted to the device through the switch element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: CHIEN-LUNG WU, WEN-HSIANG LIN
  • Patent number: 9007228
    Abstract: An Ethernet-based transmission system using a dying gasp according to the present invention includes an SMPS for supplying power to an Ethernet-based lower level system, detecting a state of a power fault, and outputting a dying gasp alarm signal. A CPU receives the dying gasp alarm signal, and generates and transmits an alarm packet. A PHY chip receives the alarm packet, and uplinks the alarm packet so that the alarm packet is transferred to a higher level stage. An L3 switch receives the alarm packet and determines whether a power fault has occurred in the lower level system. Accordingly, the present invention applies a dying gasp to an Ethernet-based or EPON-based transmission system and is then capable of generating and transmitting an alarm packet so that when a power fault occurs, a device in a higher level network can rapidly determine the occurrence of the power fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: UBIQUOSS Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Il Song, Min-kyu Cho
  • Patent number: 9007227
    Abstract: An optical interrogator system including a broad spectrum light source capable of emitting light having a spectral width spanning at least approximately 20 nm, and at least one optical sensor coupled to the broad spectrum light source by at least one multimode optical fiber, wherein the at least one multimode optical fiber is configured to support a plurality of propagation modes, and a method of using the same are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Carralero, Ty A. Larsen, Priya D. Maratukulam
  • Patent number: 8988245
    Abstract: For cable management, a bi-stable liquid crystal display is positioned on an exterior segment of a communications cable. A display module that connects to the bi-stable liquid crystal display, connects to the communications cable with one or more pins, and receives the signal associated with one or more messages about the communications cable. The display module further causes the one or more messages to be shown on the bi-stable liquid crystal display in response to the display module receiving the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tara Astigarraga, Louie A. Dickens, Nancy V. Ryson, Daniel J. Winarski
  • Patent number: 8988234
    Abstract: An alarm system for alarming whenever there is a power leakage from an electronic device, includes a voltage decreasing circuit, a switch circuit and an alarm circuit. The voltage decreasing circuit receives a first voltage from a live wire output terminal and outputs a second voltage. The switch circuit outputs a control signal when the power leakage is detected. The switch circuit is electrically connected to a connection port. The connection port is electrically connected to the live wire output terminal and a neutral wire output terminal. The alarm circuit receives the control signal and alarms. If there is power leakage from the electronic device, the first voltage from the live wire input terminal flows into the ground wire input terminal via the electronic device; the switch circuit turns on and the alarm circuit is closed to alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Zhongshan Innocloud Intellectual Property Services Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ke-You Hu
  • Patent number: 8988233
    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: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Verifone, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. H. Neo, Mehran Mirkazemi-Moud, John Henry Barrowman, Christian Eric Schulz
  • Patent number: 8981895
    Abstract: A method and system for detection of intrusion in networked control systems, is provided. The method includes generating an operating model of a system being controlled. The operating model of the system comprises a relationship between a plurality of components in the system defined by a plurality of parameters. Further, the method includes calculating an estimated value of at least one parameter for at least one component in the system. The operating model is used to calculate the estimated value of the at least one parameter. Furthermore, the method includes measuring a latest value of at least one parameter at a predefined interval. The method also includes triggering an alert for intrusion for the at least one component based on an analysis of at least one of the latest value and the estimated value of at least one parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Stephen Francis Bush
  • Patent number: 8983785
    Abstract: A method and system for displaying waveforms generated from input signals received at a common input channel (CIC) of a data acquisition (DAQ) device. An input signal received at the CIC can be displayed as a present-time waveform, and while the input signal is displayed as a present-time waveform, the input signal can be tagged for displaying the input signal as a historical waveform for the CIC. After receiving another input signal at the CIC, a display can be refreshed to display, simultaneously, the historical waveform for the CIC and the other input signal as another present-time waveform for the CIC. The DAQ device can tag the displayed input signal in response to a user pushing a selector device on the DAQ device. The display can display other present-time waveforms with the historical waveform to allow a user to compare input signals received at the CIC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventor: James A. Panko
  • Patent number: 8981948
    Abstract: A connector clip for medical sensors, including a first main body having two main tip contacts in electrical contact with electrical wires connectable to an instrument and a second main body mounted on the first main body and movable with respect to the first main body between an open position and a closed position. Two auxiliary tip contacts and an electric/electronic circuit provided with two connecting leads each electrically connected to one of the two auxiliary tip contacts are positioned in first or second main body. When a disposable sensor tab is correctly located and clamped each of two contacts is in contact with one of the main tip contacts and one of the auxiliary tip contacts and the electric circuit is connected in parallel with an electrical circuit defined by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Bo Olde, Eddie Nilsson, Derek White, Thierry Court, Eric Roussi
  • Patent number: 8964337
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring excitation of a generator based on a faulty status of a generator breaker are provided. According to one embodiment, a system may include a controller and a processor communicatively coupled to the controller. The processor may be configured to receive, from a contact associated with a generator breaker, a reported status of the generator breaker, receive operational data associated with one or more parameters of a generator associated with the generator breaker, and correlate the reported status of the generator breaker and the operational data. Based on the correlation, the processor may establish an actual status of the generator breaker, and, based on the actual status, selectively modify a mode of excitation of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abhinandan Sharma, Shashidhar Nibhanupudi, Sridhar Nedunsezian
  • Patent number: 8965720
    Abstract: An efficiency monitor for monitoring the efficiency of power transmission by an inductive power outlet. The efficiency monitor includes an input power monitor, for measuring the input power delivered to the primary coil, and an output power monitor, for measuring the output power received by the secondary coil. The input and output powers are used by a processor to determine an index of power-loss. A circuit breaker may be used to disconnect the inductive power outlet in case of excessive power loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Powermat Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yossi Azancot, Amir Ben-Shalom, Oola Greenwald, Arik Rofe
  • Patent number: 8957768
    Abstract: An operation apparatus includes a base, a sensing unit, a plurality of plates, and a drive mechanism. The base has a surface. The sensing unit includes at least three pressure-sensitive detection regions that are provided at different vertex positions of a polygon having at least three corners set in each of a plurality of regions obtained by partitioning at least a part of the surface of the base. The plurality of plates are provided to correspond to the plurality of regions and cover the at least a part of the surface. The drive mechanism is configured to drive the plurality of plates on the basis of a signal generated by detection of the sensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Kawabe, Masatoshi Ueno, Shinobu Kuriya, Yusaku Kato, Kenichi Kabasawa, Tetsuro Goto, Tsubasa Tsukahara, Toshiyuki Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20150022364
    Abstract: A method of detecting disturbance in a metallic conductor, comprises the steps of providing an inductance sensing circuit in mechanically and electrically connected to a metallic conductor having a monitorable inductance, tuning the inductance sensing circuit based on an electromagnetic field impressed upon the metallic conductor and an internally generated circuit oscillation, and outputting an alert signal when a tuned output signal from the tuned inductance sensing circuit becomes detuned due to a change in inductance of the metallic conductor by addition to or removal of at least a portion of the metallic conductor. A metallic conductor disturbance detection device for such a method is also provided, the device comprising an amplitude and/or frequency tunable inductance sensing circuit, and an alarm circuit for outputting an alarm signal based on an output of the inductance sensing circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Simon James Jarvis, Paul Mumford, Roger Merchant
  • Publication number: 20150015404
    Abstract: An electric socket can include a visual indicator capable of displaying time-series forecast information that forecasts a property or attribute related to the power being sourced from an energy provider. The information being displayed on the visual indicator can help an energy consumer decide whether to use an appliance now by plugging it into the electric socket or wait until some optimal time in the future to plug the appliance in.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: SAP AG
    Inventor: Andreas Dom
  • Patent number: 8907804
    Abstract: An alternating current contactor (AC contactor) with an electronic short circuit self-locking function, includes an AC contactor body (a). The AC contactor body (a) includes a shell body. A short circuit self-locking portion is provided inside the shell body. The short circuit self-locking portion includes a current collecting unit (b) for collecting a current signal of phase lines (A, B, C); a short circuit detecting unit (c) for obtaining a voltage signal which characterizes a current signal, comparing with a reference signal, and outputting a short circuit detecting signal when short circuit occurs; a short circuit self-locking executing unit (d) for obtaining the short circuit detecting signal to trigger the AC contactor body (a) to generate and maintain a circuit-breaking action; and a self-locking releasing unit (e) for releasing self-locking of the AC contactor body (a) and resetting the alternating current contactor body (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hubei Shengjia Wiring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jiasheng Wan
  • Patent number: 8906240
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to early detection of low bicarbonate level. In certain aspects, a method includes receiving a first signal from a conductivity detector connected to a line through which a solution of salt concentrate and fluid flows and determining a first conductivity of the solution based on the first signal. The method also includes receiving a second signal from the conductivity detector at a time after receiving the first signal, determining a second conductivity of the solution based on the second signal, and determining whether the second conductivity is less than the first conductivity by at least a threshold amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Joseph Crnkovich, Aiyuan Wang, Fei Wang
  • Publication number: 20140354439
    Abstract: An electrical sensor is described. The electrical sensor including an electrical signal input configured to receive an electrical signal, an alarm, one or more inputs configured to set a configuration value and at least one display configured to display said configuration value. The monitor is coupled with the electrical signal input, the alarm, the display, and the one or more inputs. Further, the monitor is configured to determine a characteristic of the electrical signal received on the electrical signal input. The monitor is configured to activate the alarm based on the configuration value set by the one or more inputs and the characteristic of the electrical signal. And, the monitor configured to generate at least one display signal based on the configuration value to be used by the at least one display to display the configuration value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Neilsen-Kuljian, Inc.
    Inventors: Huy D. Nguyen, Roger Borders, Tom Lik-Chung Lee
  • Patent number: 8902073
    Abstract: A card protection device and method of protecting data stored on a contactless smartcard are disclosed. The card protection device may include an antenna, a detector circuit, and an alerting circuit. The antenna may include a magnetic loop that is coupled to a tuning circuit responsive to magnetic field emissions in a frequency band associated with contactless smartcard communications. The detector circuit is coupled to the antenna and may include control logic for attenuating the magnetic field emissions based on smartcard operating characteristics. The detector circuit can store energy associated with the magnetic field emissions and the alerting circuit can provide an audible and/or visual alert using the stored energy. Optionally, the card protection device may be integrated with other smartcard communication functions and/or it may share components with a contactless smartcard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Busch-Sorensen
  • Patent number: 8896455
    Abstract: An intrusion detection system disclosed herein includes a detector circuit that measures a change in value of impedance of an interconnection circuitry. A decoder coupled to the detector decodes the measured value of the change in the impedance of the interconnection circuitry to determine existence of an abnormal condition. In an example implementation of the intrusion detection system, the change in the value of the impedance of the interconnection circuitry is represented by a change in the phase delay on the interconnection circuitry. An implementation of the intrusion detection circuit terminates communication using the interconnection circuitry upon detection of the abnormal condition. The intrusion detection system is further configured to interpret the abnormal condition as a communication signal to the interconnection circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Eguro, Alessandro Forin, Ray A. Bittner, Jr., Ji Sun
  • Patent number: 8884774
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating energy or water consumption related information from a plurality of RF enabled peripheral devices in a home, such as utility meters, thermostats, appliances and load controllers. The system includes a home gateway that enables wireless RF peripheral devices in a home to communicate to a WAN network, such as the internet. The home gateway contains a RF multi-band software defined radio that is fully programmable and configurable so that it is capable of emulating, transmitting, and receiving any of a plurality of RF protocols over multiple RF channels. The home gateway supports commonly used interfaces for communicating to the public WAN network. The system also supports future peripherals that do not exist today due to the flexibility of the home gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: M&FC Holding, LLC
    Inventor: H. Britton Sanderford, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140313041
    Abstract: A method of tracking electromagnetic field, EMF, exposure of a user, comprising storing an aggregate EMF exposure value for the user, the aggregate EMF exposure value indicating EMF exposure due to use of one or more devices by the user; obtaining an estimate of EMF exposure associated with use of a particular one of the devices by the user; revising the aggregate EMF exposure value for the user in dependence upon the estimated EMF exposure; comparing the aggregate EMF exposure value to a threshold; and transmitting a signal related to use of the one or more devices if the aggregate EMF exposure value exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Milos TESANOVIC, Sunil Keshavji VADGAMA, Mick WILSON
  • Patent number: 8866629
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for monitoring for electrostatic discharge (ESD) events. An ESD monitor for potential of electrostatic discharge events in a sensed area through a plurality of ESD sensors coupled to the ESD monitor. The monitor senses for a charge level which could cause ESD event and entry of an operator into a sensed area. If an ESD event is detected, issue an ESD event alert to the operator and recording data to a tangible storage device; determine environmental factors at time and date of the ESD event; compare the ESD event and associated environmental factors to other ESD events with associated environmental factors; and determine if a correlation exists between the ESD event and associated environmental factors and the other ESD events with associated environmental factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul L. Anderson, Anouar Braham, Tu T. Dang, Michael C. Elles, Ketan B. Patel