Circuit Interruption By Thermal Sensing Patents (Class 361/103)
  • Patent number: 11594871
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for battery current monitoring. An example apparatus includes a haptic device, an isolation switch to deliver power from a battery to the haptic device, an integrator to integrate a signal based on a current from the battery to the haptic device to generate an integrator output, and control logic to control the isolation switch based on a comparison of the integrator output to a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Tahoe Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Devin Cass, Jorge Zabaco, George D. Beckstein, III
  • Patent number: 11574785
    Abstract: A thermal cutoff includes a first fusible element, a second fusible element, and a closed cavity bounded by a housing having an open end, a cover plate, and a sealant. The two ends of the first fusible element and the two ends of the second fusible element are connected in parallel to a first electrode and a second electrode, respectively. The first fusible element and the second fusible element are provided in the closed cavity. A direction extending from a closed end to the open end of the housing is defined as a vertical direction. The first fusible element and the second fusible element are vertically arranged. The thermal cutoff has a vertical configuration and thus in its entirety has an elongated shape to meet corresponding application requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: XIAMEN SET ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yaoxiang Hong
  • Patent number: 11532934
    Abstract: Digital isolator devices, and many other devices, have a maximum device junction temperature, which, if exceeded, may cause device failure and the integrity of the isolation is no longer guaranteed. The use of an electronic fuse, eFuse, arranged in series with the digital isolator, provides a protection scheme for the digital isolator in which current is limited by the eFuse when it is determined that the supply current of the digital isolator exceeds a predetermined threshold that would the cause junction temperature to increase above an absolute maximum rating. As such, the integrity of the digital isolator is preserved in the event of a system fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Paul O'Sullivan, Maurice O'Brien, Donal G. O'Sullivan, Stefan Hacker, Conal Watterson
  • Patent number: 11524354
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to control weld current in a preheating system are disclosed. An example preheating power supply includes power conversion circuitry configured to output welding-type power via a first output power connector and a second output power connector, and a bypass path prevention circuit configured to prevent less than a threshold voltage applied to the first output power connector and the second output power connector from a different power supply from causing current to flow between the first output power connector and the second output power connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Quinn William Schartner, James Lee Uecker
  • Patent number: 11516938
    Abstract: A power distribution assembly is disclosed for use with at least one computer in a data centre. The power distribution assembly (11) comprises i) at least one controller (14) comprising at least one heat sensitive component (16) and ii) at least one cooling arrangement (17) comprising a casing (18) configured to contain a coolant (19). At least a portion of the coolant (19) is configured to come into contact with at least part of the controller (14) and/or at least one component for transferring heat away from the at least one controller (14)/component (16) towards at least one wall of the casing (18). This arrangement ensures that even in increased temperature data centres, there is provided consistent and reliable operation of heat sensitive components in smart power strips through dedicated cooling of the components (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
    Inventor: Rudi Nizinkiewicz
  • Patent number: 11499469
    Abstract: An engine cooling control apparatus, a system including the same, and a method thereof provide an engine cooling control apparatus including a processor configured to calculate a required fan rotation speed for controlling a cooling fan based on proportional integral (PI) control and a storage configured to store data acquired by the processor and an algorithm for driving the processor. The processor classifies a plurality of control regions depending on a coolant temperature and adjusts and outputs the required fan rotation speed for each of the control regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ji Ro Chu
  • Patent number: 11495476
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate treating apparatus that performs a heat treatment to a substrate. The apparatus includes the following elements: a heat treating plate; a casing that produces a heat treatment atmosphere by the heat treating plate; a movable top board that is movable between a ceiling surface of the casing and the heat treating plate; and a controller that causes the movable top board to be moved to a raised position when the substrate is loaded/unloaded, and causes the movable top board to be moved to a lowered position when the substrate is placed on the heat treating plate for performing the heat treatment, thereby controlling the lowered position for every substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventors: Tatsuhisa Tsuji, Koji Nishi, Yukihiko Inagaki, Ryuichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11495958
    Abstract: A method of overpower protection in a power supply system for driving a light source includes determining a voltage drop across a voltage-controlled resistor (VCR) coupled in series with the light source, calculating a power dissipation of the VCR based on the voltage drop and an output current of the power supply system, determining whether the power dissipation is greater than a power threshold, and in response to determining that the power dissipation is less than or equal to the power threshold, determining that an accumulated energy of the VCR is greater than zero, and decrementing the accumulated energy based on the power threshold and the power dissipation of the VCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: ERP POWER, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Archer, Louis Chen, James H. Mohan
  • Patent number: 11472357
    Abstract: A wiring system for a vehicle is specified, which has a voltage source and an electrical load, whereby a need for the electrical load depends on an external condition. Furthermore, the wiring system has a load path with an electrical line, which connects the voltage source to the electrical load, and a first switching element, which is arranged in the load path, for disconnecting the electrical load from the voltage source, wherein a working range of the external condition is defined, within which the function of the electrical load is reasonable, and a control unit is arranged, which is designed in such a way that a switching on of the electrical load is prevented if the external condition lies outside the working range. Furthermore, a method for the design of an electrical line of such a wiring system is given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Bernhard Schraud
  • Patent number: 11476071
    Abstract: The invention relates to a disconnecting device for a surge arrester which is accommodated by a support body, and wherein plug contacts which are connected to at least one arrester element of the surge arrester extend from the support body. The invention further comprises a switching tongue which is connected at a first end to the arrester element via a thermal separating point and with a second end to one of the plug contacts. Furthermore, a spring-preloaded insulating disconnecting bracket which is pivotably mounted on the support body is provided, the spring preload acting on the thermal separating point via the switching tongue. According to the invention, the switching tongue is configured as a straight-surface, elongated, metallic, resiliently elastic disconnecting strip having a rectangular cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: DEHN SE
    Inventor: Edmund Zäuner
  • Patent number: 11456591
    Abstract: An emulating device for emulating a bimetallic strip, the emulating device comprising a current sensor capable of measuring a line current (IP) flowing through the emulating device, the emulating device being capable of providing a value representative of a cumulative thermal state over time t, which value is referred to as cumulative thermal state, by recursively adding a value representative of an initial thermal state, which value is referred to as initial thermal state, and a value representative of a present thermal state, which value is referred to as present thermal state, which is determined on the basis of the line current (IP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventor: Francis Abdesselam
  • Patent number: 11410801
    Abstract: Provided herein are thermally protected varistor (TPV) devices including a varistor body and a terminal assembly directly coupled together. The terminal assembly may include a housing, wherein an opening is provided in a base of the housing. A lead is coupleable with the varistor body via a thermal linking material positioned within the opening of the base, the thermal linking material operable to maintain direct physical contact with the lead when the thermal linking material is below a melting point. The terminal assembly may further include a shield slidable within the housing between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the shield is positioned adjacent the thermal linking material, and in the second position the shield is positioned between the lead and the second side of the varistor body. The shield includes a tab for releasably coupling the shield to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Dongguan Littelfuse Electronics Company Limited
    Inventors: Dongjian Song, Libing Lu
  • Patent number: 11411339
    Abstract: An apparatus for modifying an electrical circuit includes a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, an electrical coupler formed of an electrically conductive material, a first assembly including a cavity, a driving portion, an inhibiting portion, and a second assembly electrically coupled to the second electrical contact. The electrical coupler is moveable within the cavity along a movement axis, a wall of the cavity is electrically coupled to the first electrical contact and to the electrical coupler, and when the electrical coupler is disposed at an initial position within the cavity, the electrical coupler is not electrically coupled to the second electrical contact. The driving portion applies a first force on the electrical coupler in a movement direction along the movement axis. The inhibiting portion inhibits the movement of the electrical coupler along the movement axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: R.S.M. Electron Power, Inc.
    Inventors: David Peng, Ching Au
  • Patent number: 11404866
    Abstract: An embodiment electronic circuit includes an electronic switch comprising a load path, and a control circuit configured to drive the electronic switch. The control circuit is configured to operate in one of at least two operation modes. The at least two operation modes comprise a first operation mode and a second operation mode. The control circuit, in the second operation mode, is configured to perform a set of basic functions and, in the first operation mode, is configured to perform the set of basic functions and at least one additional function. The at least one additional function comprises generating a first protection signal based on a current-time-characteristic of a load current of the electronic switch and driving the electronic switch based on the first protection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Robert Illing, Christian Djelassi, Markus Ladurner, David Jansson, Mario Tripolt, Bernhard Marinelli, Alexander Mayer
  • Patent number: 11387770
    Abstract: A power driving chip and method are disclosed. The power driving chip includes an integrated power module disposed in a package structure and including a transistor and a gate driver electrically connected to the transistor; a controller disposed in the package structure and electrically connected to the integrated power module; and a multi-level over-temperature protection circuit for measuring an inner temperature of the integrated power module. When the inner temperature exceeds a first trigger temperature, the multi-level over-temperature protection circuit triggers the controller to reduce the output power of the integrated power module. When the inner temperature exceeds a second trigger temperature, the multi-level overheating protection circuit triggers the controller to turn off the integrated power module. The second trigger temperature is higher than the first trigger temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ping-Ying Chu
  • Patent number: 11381079
    Abstract: An electromechanical switching protection system includes an electromechanical switchgear having contacts configured to selectively open and close in response to a control signal, and a junction field effect transistor (JFET) device electrically connected in series with the electromechanical switchgear between an input terminal and an output terminal of the electromechanical switching protection system, a gate of the JFET device being electrically connected to the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Imtiaz Ahmad Khan, Anhtai Le Tran, Kyle Richard Cantu
  • Patent number: 11340691
    Abstract: A heat dissipation apparatus with energy-saving effect is coupled to an operation unit, and the heat dissipation apparatus includes a control unit and a drive circuit. The control unit determines whether the operation unit enters an energy-saving mode according to a first signal provided by the operation unit. The control unit shields a plurality of second signals provided to the drive circuit according to the energy-saving mode. The drive circuit does not drive the heat dissipation unit and the heat dissipation unit enters an inertia deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chia-Feng Wu, Po-Hui Shen, Chien-Sheng Lin, Chun-Chieh Tsai, Chia-Wei Hsu, Rou-Sheng Wang
  • Patent number: 11309151
    Abstract: A direct current interrupting switch assembly comprising a primary conductor and a secondary conductor integrated with a direct voltage source and a load. The primary conductor of the switch assembly has two branches, the first branch including a fuse with a melting member and the second branch including a pyroswitch with an interrupting member. In a first position, the second branch of the primary conductor is uninterrupted, and the interrupting member is a sufficient distance apart from the secondary conductor. When the interrupting member is moved to a second position, the current in second branch of the primary conductor is interrupted and the interrupting member contacts the secondary conductor of the switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventors: Mitja Koprivsek, Brane Lebar
  • Patent number: 11296492
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a protection circuit is a protection circuit for protecting an output driver element from overheat, and includes a measurer configured to measure, as a measurement value, a value proportional to a supply power amount to the output driver element, an estimator configured to estimate a temperature rise amount of the output driver element corresponding to the supply power amount, on a basis of the measurement value, a detector configured to detect an ambient temperature of the output driver element, and a determiner configured to determine whether a temperature obtained by adding the temperature rise amount estimated to the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature, and to output a cutoff instruction signal for the output driver element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Taku Sogabe
  • Patent number: 11251603
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing thermal protection to a power backplane printed circuit board. A distributed hotspot detection grid is included in the printed circuit board, the distributed hotspot detection grid comprising a plurality of passive temperature sensors spread across the printed circuit board to measure temperature increases. The plurality of passive temperature sensors are connected to a detection circuit for comparing signals from the passive temperature sensors to a reference signal. If the temperature increases on the PCB, electrical characteristics of at least one passive temperature sensor will change, resulting in a change of the input signal to the detection circuit. When the threshold is exceeded (indicating a potential short circuit or hotspot), the detection circuit outputs a shut down signal to the one or more power supplies connected to the of the backplane printed circuit board, to avoid catastrophic damage to the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Vincent W. Michna, David G. Carpenter, Patrick Raymond
  • Patent number: 11196334
    Abstract: A current limiter 200 (corresponding to an example of a current detection circuit) has a comparator 210 and a variable delay unit 220. The comparator 210 switches a comparison signal OCP from a low level to a high level when the current to be monitored, which flows through an output switch, reaches a predetermined threshold value (in the present figure, when a sense voltage Vcs reaches an overcurrent detection voltage Vocp). The variable delay unit 220 measures a first time T1 from when the output switch turns on by SET=H until when the comparison signal OCP switches to the high level and delays the comparison signal OCP by a second time T2 (=K·T12) proportional to the square of the first time T1 to generate an overcurrent detection signal Sc. The variable delay unit 220 includes a first timer 223 for measuring the first time T1 and a second timer 224 for generating the overcurrent detection signal Sc by delaying the comparison signal OCP by the second time T2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Sato, Satoru Nate
  • Patent number: 11190178
    Abstract: Examples described herein provide an apparatus having a circuit with a grounding circuit and a switch. The apparatus generally includes a gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) protection circuit coupled to the switch and to an output voltage. The GIDL protection circuit may include a switch protection circuit configured to maintain a drain voltage of the switch less than a first supply voltage (Vdd) when the circuit is in an OFF state; and a ground protection circuit configured to maintain a drain voltage of the grounding circuit less than the first supply voltage when the circuit is in an ON state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Diarmuid Collins, Edward Cullen, Ionut C. Cical
  • Patent number: 11165246
    Abstract: An overvoltage protection device includes a first electrode member, a second electrode member, and a varistor assembly. The varistor assembly includes: a plurality of varistor wafers each formed of a varistor material; and at least one electrically conductive interconnect member connecting the varistor wafers in electrical parallel between the first and second electrode members. The varistor wafers are axially stacked between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: RIPD Research and IP Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Tine Tav{hacek over (c)}ar, Sa{hacek over (s)}a Rustja, Alexis Chorozoglou, George Peppas, Fotis Xepapas, Zafiris G. Politis
  • Patent number: 11139136
    Abstract: A fuse holder that includes a housing, which has a rotating fuse carrier that rotates about a pivot point between open and closed positions. The fuse carrier is configured to accept insertion of a fuse when in the open position, and configured to bring the fuse into electrical contact with a first and a second fuse clip when in the closed position. Additionally, the fuse carrier, when in the closed position, is further configured to orient the fuse so that the fuse is positioned more vertically than horizontally. In particular embodiments of the invention, the fuse carrier rotates about a pivot located in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Scheckelhoff, Paul Scott Buskey, Joseph Brown
  • Patent number: 11133667
    Abstract: A protection circuit for an automotive wiring harness includes an input node receiving a sensing signal indicating intensity of current in a conductor, an output node emitting a current control output signal to reduce the current and/or emitting a warning signal indicating the current intensity having reached a limit value. Signal processing circuitry coupled to the input node compares the current intensity with a reference value, and produces a comparison signal indicating whether the current intensity exceeds the reference value. A counting circuitry driven by the comparison signal counts in a first count direction as a result of the comparison signal indicating that the current intensity exceeds the reference value. Latching circuitry coupled to the counter circuitry generates the output signal at the output node as a result of the count value of the counter circuitry reaching a limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Romeo Letor
  • Patent number: 11118850
    Abstract: A thermal abnormality detection system includes: a first heat dissipation system having a first temperature sensor for measuring an actual temperature of the first heat dissipation system; a second heat dissipation system having a second temperature sensor for measuring an actual temperature of the second heat dissipation system. Assuming that a difference between the actual temperature of the first heat dissipation system and an upper limit temperature of the first heat dissipation system is d1, and a difference between the actual temperature of the second heat dissipation system and an upper limit temperature of the second heat dissipation system is d2, when a value of d1?d2 is greater than an error threshold value Error1_level, the first heat dissipation system is determined to be abnormal, and when the value of d1?d2 is less than an error threshold value Error2_level, the second heat dissipation system is determined to be abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Lei-Chung Hsing, Hsien-Chih Ou, Chun-Chang Huang
  • Patent number: 11065962
    Abstract: An inverter ECU is applied to a hybrid vehicle having an engine and a motor generator as drive power source and a motor generator control system. A drive control part generates drive signals for an inverter based on torque request to the motor generator. A temperature information acquiring part acquires an element temperature value and a cooling water temperature value as an inverter temperature value. An abnormality detection part detects whether the inverter temperature value is within a diagnosable temperature range, and performs abnormality detection for the motor generator control system when the inverter temperature value is within the diagnosable temperature range. When the inverter temperature value is not placed within the diagnosable temperature range, the energy supplied to the inverter is adjusted to move the inverter temperature value into the diagnosis allowable temperature range to correctly perform the abnormality detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Nishiyama, Hirofumi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11069498
    Abstract: A direct current interrupting switch assembly comprising a primary conductor and secondary conductor integrated with a voltage source and load. The primary conductor has two parallel branches, the first branch including a fuse with a melting member and the second branch including a pyroswitch with an interrupting member. In a first position, the second branch of the primary conductor is uninterrupted, and the interrupting member is a sufficient distance apart from the secondary conductor. When the interrupting member is moved to a second position, the current in second branch of the primary conductor is interrupted an the interrupting member contacts the secondary conductor of the switch assembly. The switch assembly also has a parallel circuit with a thermal fuse with a contact member, and an electromagnetic switch; which activates when a pre-determined value of electric current is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: NELA RAZVOJNI CENTER ZA ELEKTROINDUSTRIJO IN ELEKTRONIKO, D.O.O.
    Inventors: Mitja Koprivsek, Brane Lebar
  • Patent number: 11063418
    Abstract: One example device for overcurrent protection for wireless power receivers includes a wireless power antenna comprising a wire coil; a conditioning circuit electrically coupled to the wireless power antenna to receive an electric power signal from the wireless power antenna; a temperature-sensitive fuse electrically coupled between the wireless power antenna and the conditioning circuit and configured to electrically decouple the wireless power antenna from the conditioning circuit in response to being blown; and a thermal energy source configured to generate thermal energy based on an electrical signal from an output of the conditioning circuit, the thermal energy source positioned proximate the temperature-sensitive fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: VERILY LIFE SCIENCES LLC
    Inventor: Arvind Govindaraj
  • Patent number: 11056855
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a beam projector module that includes: a light source configured to output light; a substrate configured to support the light source; an optical device configured to reduce the light in terms of intensity output to a predetermined space; a frame configured to space the optical device apart from the light source by a predetermined distance, the frame forming a closed space with the substrate and the optical device; a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the frame; and a processor configured to control an output of the light source. The processor is configured to operate the light source in an eye-safety mode when a temperature drop rate of the frame exceeds a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: NAMUGA, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Youb Lee, Young Gyu Kang, Jeong Hwa Seo
  • Patent number: 11054874
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises an interface including a first terminal that receives power from an external device and a second terminal for communicating with the external device, and at least one processor and/or at least one circuit to perform the operations of a communication unit that communicates with the external device via the second terminal, and a control unit that controls a connection between the second terminal and a ground, wherein in a case that a state of power received via the first terminal is a predetermined state, the communication unit sends a reset request for stopping the supply of power to the external device, and the control unit controls the connection between the second terminal and the ground from a connected state to a disconnected state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Moritomo, Tsuyoshi Fujisaki, Kazuya Miyahara, Yasuhiro Sato, Tomoya Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11050242
    Abstract: A driver for a power device. The driver includes: a voltage providing module, configured to provide a voltage required for the power device; a drive signal isolation module, including a signal input end and a signal output end isolated with each other, the signal input end being configured to receive an external drive signal, and the signal output end being connected to a control end of the power device and configured to provide an isolation drive signal for the power device; a short circuit/overcurrent protection module, connected to a drain electrode of the power device, and configured to cut off the power device when a short circuit or an overcurrent occurs for the power device. The driver also includes a Miller clamp module, an under-voltage protection module and an over-temperature protection module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: SHENZHENSHI PENGYUAN ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chunxian Ye, Xubiao Zhan, Tao Li, Shengchao Ruan, Wenbo Chen
  • Patent number: 11047554
    Abstract: A light fixture includes a housing, a light module, and a trim assembly. The trim assembly includes a trim body, an upper flange, and an adjustable collar attached to the upper flange. The adjustable collar can attach to the upper flange in a plurality of different positions easily permitting adjustment of the orientation of the trim assembly with respect to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Jay P. Bokros, Charles Vasquez, Jason Q. Paulsel
  • Patent number: 11041766
    Abstract: An assembly, for example an electrostatic chuck, is provided including a substrate, an electrostatic chuck, a heating plate, and a bond layer comprising a phosphorescent material. In one form, an optical sensor is disposed proximate the bond layer to detect a temperature of the bond layer in the field of view of the optical sensor. The phosphorescent material is illuminated and the subsequent decay is observed by the optical sensor. From this information, the temperature of the electrostatic chuck and substrate is determined and heating elements may be adjusted by a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John Patrick Bergen, Daryl G. James
  • Patent number: 11037700
    Abstract: A system and method for an LCDI power cord and associated circuits is provided. The system and method include energizing shielded neutral wires and shielded line wires and monitoring the energized shields for surges, e.g., arcing, detected by a Leakage Current Detection Circuit (LCDC) and/or voltage drops, e.g., shield breaks, detected by a Shield Integrity Circuit (SIC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Tower Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Victor V Aromin, Louis Jay Shatkin
  • Patent number: 11029365
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an external terminal, a switching output stage that performs switching drive of a terminal voltage at the external terminal, an output control unit arranged to generate a drive signal for the switching output stage according to an input pulse signal, a counter arranged to count the number of pulses of the input pulse signal so as to generate a mask signal, a logical gate arranged to mask the input pulse signal according to the mask signal, and a comparator arranged to compare the terminal voltage with a predetermined threshold value voltage so as to generate a reset signal of the counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Maejima, Junichi Hagino
  • Patent number: 11005259
    Abstract: A monitoring and load controlling system for a switchboard, according to one embodiment of the present specification, comprises: a gateway which acquires respective temperature information of circuit breakers included in a switchboard, and respective current amount information of lines corresponding to the circuit breakers, acquires respective capacity information of the circuit breakers on the basis of the acquired temperature information, and, on the basis of the acquired capacity information and current amount information, detects a circuit breaker corresponding to a line in need of load regulation; and a load controlling device which regulates the load of said line by stopping the operation of at least one device among devices connected to the detected circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: LS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seong-Joon Lee
  • Patent number: 10990661
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a power button, a fingerprint sensor, and a controller. The fingerprint sensor is integrated into the power button. The controller connects to the fingerprint sensor and the power button. The controller performs a booting process of the electronic device when the power button is pushed by an external object. The controller then compares the fingerprint pattern of the external object sensed by the fingerprint sensor with a previously stored fingerprint pattern. If the fingerprint pattern does not match the previously stored fingerprint pattern, the controller stops the booting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventor: Li-Te Hung
  • Patent number: 10978889
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for a multi-level battery protection system. In some embodiments, a multi-level battery protection system can include multiple levels at the junction box level and multiple levels at the battery level. In some embodiments, at the junction box level, the multi-level battery protection system can include junction box fuses and a current limiting circuit. In some embodiments, at the battery level, the multi-level battery protection system can include battery fuses and a microprocessor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: HADAL, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Goldin, Ben Kfir, Douglas Traeger, Robert S. Damus, Richard J. Rikoski
  • Patent number: 10971928
    Abstract: A remote suppression unit retains a first set of surge suppression modules. A base suppression unit retains a second set of surge suppression modules. An over voltage protection (OVP) board in the remote suppression unit includes power strips that couple the first set of surge suppression modules to remote ends of DC power cables. A configurable terminal assembly in the base suppression unit couples the second set of suppression modules to local ends of the DC power cables. The surge suppression modules in combination with the OVP board and terminal assembly provide more suppression protection in both the remote and base suppression units. A remote voltage monitor circuit in the remote suppression unit measures voltages on remote ends of the DC power cables and transmits the voltages and alarm status to a monitor circuit in the base suppression unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: RAYCAP IP ASSETS LTD
    Inventors: Shawn Warner, Michael Bloxham, Louie Mysse, Jonathan Martinez
  • Patent number: 10964988
    Abstract: This disclosure details exemplary battery pack designs for use in electrified vehicles. Exemplary battery arrays that may be incorporated into electrified vehicle battery packs may include a grouping of battery cells and a circuit connector module configured for electrically connecting the grouping of battery cells. The circuit connector module may include a first bus bar made of a single material and a second bus bar that is fusible and made of at least two dissimilar materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Francisco Fernandez-Galindo, Daniel Paul Roberts
  • Patent number: 10965119
    Abstract: Power cycle life of an intelligent power module that includes an IGBT is estimated by an abnormality detection circuit(s) while a chip temperature detection circuit or a case temperature detection circuit is outputting a chip overheating warning signal or a case overheating warning signal. Once the estimated power cycle life has reached a prescribed value, the abnormality detection circuit outputs an abnormality detection signal to forcedly and permanently stop operation of a driver circuit that drives an IGBT. The abnormality detection circuit may include a prescribed period calculation circuit that calculates the duration of the warning signal, a prescribed count calculation circuit that calculates the number of times the warning signal has been generated, and/or a cumulative time calculation circuit that calculates that the cumulative duration of periods in which the warning signal has been generated so as to estimate the power cycle life of the intelligent power module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10958264
    Abstract: A circuit system for controlling an electrical consumer, the circuit system including an up-down counter, and the circuit system being configured to generate a control signal for controlling the electrical consumer, in particular for shutting off the electrical consumer, as a function of a counter content of the up-down counter. The circuit system includes a controllable clock divider circuit, with the aid of which the circuit system is configured to predefine a counting direction and a counting speed of the up-down counter as a function of at least one variable characterizing an actual current and/or a nominal current of the electrical consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Yannick Chauvet, Federico Ignacio Sanchez Pinzon, Johannes Zondler, Michael Wilhelm Haas
  • Patent number: 10938302
    Abstract: A power system comprises a converter including an inductor core defining a gap, and a separator spanning the gap and contacting the core. The power system also includes a controller programmed to, responsive to a decrease in current ripple amplitude output by the converter to less than a first threshold, decrease power supplied by the converter. The first threshold is indicative of an inductance change through the core due to a temperature driven decrease in size of the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Craig Brian Rogers
  • Patent number: 10926603
    Abstract: A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to predict an overheat time at which a vehicle computer temperature will exceed a threshold and actuate a cooling component when the overheat time is prior to an initiation time of a trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Adel Awad Alla, Ray Siciak
  • Patent number: 10900846
    Abstract: An appliance includes an appliance interface forming a plug connection with an appliance-side interface unit of a power cable. The appliance interface includes at least one power contact part forming a power connection with a power contact part of the appliance-side interface unit supplying the appliance with electrical energy from a supply grid. The appliance interface includes a first thermoelectric element contacting a second thermoelectric element of the appliance-side interface unit, when the power connection exists. The first thermoelectric element is coupled to a first measurement input of a control unit. The appliance interface includes a measurement contact part forming a measurement connection, between the second thermoelectric element and a second measurement input of the control unit, with a measurement contact part of the appliance-side interface unit. The control unit determines measurement data relating to a measurement voltage between the first and second measurement inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Magnus Koeppl, Holger Helmschmidt, Claus Plecher
  • Patent number: 10901447
    Abstract: A power amplifier configured to amplify a received input signal, and the power amplifier includes a bias circuit and an output stage circuit. The bias circuit includes a reference voltage circuit and a bias generating circuit. The reference voltage circuit receives the first system voltage and provides a reference voltage according to a first system voltage, and the reference voltage changes as the temperature of the wafer changes. The bias generating circuit receives the second system voltage and the reference voltage, and generates an operating voltage. The output stage circuit is coupled to the bias circuit to receive the operating voltage and the driving current to receive and amplify the input signal. When a chip temperature is changed, the bias generating circuit changes the operating voltage according to the reference voltage, such that the driving current approaches a predetermined value as the chip temperature rises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: RichWave Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Hwey-Ching Chien
  • Patent number: 10892130
    Abstract: A protection device comprises a first planar substrate, a second planar substrate, a heating element and a fusible element. The second planar substrate is attached to the underside of the first planar substrate to form a composite structure. The heating element comprises an insulating layer and a heating layer disposed thereon. The heating element is disposed on the first planar substrate, and the insulating layer is disposed between the first planar substrate and the heating layer. The fusible element is disposed above the heating element. The heating element heats up to blow the fusible element in the event of over-voltage or over-temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: POLYTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Tsungmin Su, Tongcheng Tsai, David Shau Chew Wang
  • Patent number: 10853547
    Abstract: Embodiments are described for identifying critical sensors of a device, such as a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) card, installed within an IHS (Information Handling System). A remote access controller identifies temperature sensors provided by the device and determine alert level thresholds for each of the sensors. The temperature sensors are ranked based on the respective ranges of the alert level thresholds. A first portion of the temperature sensors with the smallest ranges of alert level thresholds are assigned to a first ranked list. Readings from the temperature sensors are monitored and temperature sensors indicating temperature sensor readings rising faster than a first threshold are assigned to a second ranked list. A portion of the temperature sensors in the first ranked list and a portion of the temperature sensors in the second ranked list are designated for use by an airflow cooling system of the IHS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Johan Rahardjo, Pavan Kumar Gavvala
  • Patent number: 10833574
    Abstract: A switching element control device for controlling a switching element incorporating a reverse conducting diode is provided. The switching element control device includes: a voltage detection circuit detecting a voltage across first and second main electrodes of the switching element; a comparator circuit comparing the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit with a threshold voltage; and a drive circuit controlling driving of the switching element. The comparator circuit controls the drive circuit so that an on signal is not provided to the switching element when the detected voltage exceeds the threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Kaneda, Tetsuo Takahashi, Shinya Soneda, Ryu Kamibaba