For Relays Or Solenoids Patents (Class 361/160)
  • Patent number: 11830693
    Abstract: A method may include receiving a command to move one or more armatures of a switching device from a first position that electrically couples a first contact to a second contact to a second position that electrically uncouples the first contact from the second contact. The method may also include selecting a current zero-crossing point along an electric waveform indicative of a change in current through the first contact and the second contact as a synchronization point, determining a predicted current zero-crossing point by adding a period measurement associated with a previously detected current zero-crossing point or a previously detected line-to-line crossing point in the electric waveform to the synchronization point, and transmitting a command to the switching device to move the armatures from the first position to the second position before or at the predicted current zero-crossing point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle B. Adkins, Andrew E. Carlson, David M. Messersmith
  • Patent number: 11823855
    Abstract: A relay control apparatus and method for retaining a relay in a closed state even though a system error occurs to reset the processor. Therefore, the relay control apparatus and method prevents an accident caused by the reset of the processor since the operation state of a plurality of relays is maintained even when the processor is reset. In addition, if the operation state of the processor is a reset state even after a predetermined time passes, the operation state of the plurality of relays is changed to a turn-off state, and system resources and energy are prevented from being wasted. In addition, when the operation state of the processor is recovered, the operation state of the plurality of relays may be controlled by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventor: Jang-Hyeok Choi
  • Patent number: 11791728
    Abstract: A circuit includes an electronic switch configured to be coupled intermediate a high-voltage node and low-voltage circuitry and configured to couple the low-voltage circuitry to the high-voltage node. A voltage-sensing node is configured to be coupled to the high-voltage node via a pull-up resistor. A further electronic switch can be switched to a conductive state to couple the voltage-sensing node and the control node of the electronic switch. A comparator compares a threshold with a voltage at the voltage-sensing node and causes the further electronic switch to switch on in response to the voltage at said voltage-sensing node reaching said threshold. A charge pump coupled to the current flow-path of the electronic switch is activated to the conductive state to pump electric charge from the current flow-path of the electronic switch to the control node of the electronic switch via the further electronic switch switched to the conductive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Salvatore Tumminaro, Alfio Pasqua, Marco Sammartano
  • Patent number: 11709188
    Abstract: An energy monitoring device includes a power supply circuit electrically coupled to a power source via a hot conductor and a load via a load conductor; a relay circuit including a relay and a relay driver circuit, where the relay includes a plurality of coils and the relay contact electrically coupled to the hot conductor and the load conductor; a sensing circuit including a hot voltage sensor and a load voltage sensor; and a controller electrically coupled to the power supply circuit, the relay driver circuit, and the sensing circuit, and structured to receive a hot voltage from the hot voltage sensor and a load voltage from the load voltage sensor, and determine a load current based at least in part on a relay contact resistance of the relay contact and a delta between the hot voltage and the load voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Saivaraprasad Murahari, Nilesh Ankush Kadam
  • Patent number: 11650650
    Abstract: A processing unit includes a plurality of components configured to execute instructions and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a power consumption of the processing unit, determine a waiting status of the processing unit based on waiting statuses of components, and selectively modify an operating state of the processing unit based on the waiting status and the power consumption of the processing unit. In some cases, the operating state is modified in response to a percentage of the components that are waiting for an action to complete being below a threshold percentage and the power consumption of the processing unit being below a power limit. In some cases, the controller identifies a pattern in the power consumption by the processing unit and modifies the operating state of the processing unit to increase the power consumption of the processing unit based on the pattern identified by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg Sadowski
  • Patent number: 11590958
    Abstract: A method for detecting undesirable vibrations of an actuator of an electromechanical brake includes the steps of: (1) providing an electrical signal comprising at least one piece of information about a current consumption of the actuator or a parameter correlated with the current consumption; (2) monitoring an operation of the actuator on the basis of the gradient of the electrical signal in such a way that after switching on the actuator and preferably after a subsequent delay time, which includes determining: whether the amount of an initial instantaneous value of the gradient exceeds the amount of a threshold and whether a subsequent second instantaneous value of the gradient has an inverted sign compared to the first instantaneous value; (3) evaluating the results to ensure that an undesirable vibration is assessed as detected the aforementioned conditions are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Müller, Ralf Kinder
  • Patent number: 11588321
    Abstract: A low-voltage protection switch unit, such as a motor protection switch, includes: at least an external conductor line, from an external line supply terminal of the low-voltage protection switch unit to an external line load terminal of the low-voltage protection switch unit; a neutral conductor line, from a neutral conductor terminal of the low-voltage protection switch unit to a neutral conductor load terminal of the low-voltage protection switch unit; a mechanical bypass switch arranged in the external conductor line; a semiconductor circuit arrangement connected in parallel with the mechanical bypass switch; an electronic control unit for actuating the mechanical bypass switch and the semiconductor circuit arrangement in a specifiable manner; and a current measurement arrangement connected to the electronic control unit, the current measurement arrangement being arranged at least in the external conductor line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: Kenan Askan
  • Patent number: 11587819
    Abstract: A pin lifting device is disclosed and configured for moving and positioning a substrate to be processed in an atmosphere region provided by a vacuum process chamber. The pin lifting device includes a coupling part having a coupling adapted to receive a support pin adapted to contact and support the substrate, and a drive part having a drive unit adapted to cooperate with the coupling by means of an adjusting member such that the coupling is controllably adjustable from a lowered normal position to an extended support position and back. The pin lifting device also has an insulating component located between the drive part and the coupling part and providing complete galvanic isolation between the drive part and the coupling part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: VAT HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Michael Dür, Rico Rohner, Adrian Eschenmoser, Marco Apolloni
  • Patent number: 11555855
    Abstract: A control system may include a processor that may receive a first dataset associated with power properties of a rotating load device coupled to a relay device. The processor may also determine frequency properties based on the power properties and determine a switching profile to control moving a first armature of three armatures in the relay device based on the frequency properties. The switching profile is configured to control movement of the first armature between a first position and a second position, and wherein the switching profile comprises a firing angle for moving the first armature with respect to an electrical waveform, a second armature, and a third armature. The processor may then control a current provided to a relay coil of the relay device based on the switching profile, such that the relay coil causes the first armature to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Elmiger, Ahmad K. Omari, Stefan T. Dziekonski, Randall S. Langer
  • Patent number: 11550280
    Abstract: An electrical control system which controls an electrical device from two or more locations with independent control function, the system including a wall adapter having a first integrated circuit board, a first enclosure, and a second enclosure. The first enclosure includes a first push button, a first synchronizing push button, and a second IC board electrically connected to the wall adapter; and the second enclosure includes a second push button, a second synchronizing push button, and a third IC board. Each of the wall switch, the first synchronizing push button, and the second synchronizing push button is a system power control button and part of a synchronizing circuit that synchronizes the electrical control system to default system power controls upon being pressed by a user. Each of the first and second push buttons is a local button that controls a respective controlled receptable of a respective enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas Glen Coon
  • Patent number: 11545324
    Abstract: A load control device may control power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source. The load control device may include a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load, a zero-cross detect circuit configured to generate a zero-cross signal representative of the zero-crossings of an AC voltage. The zero-cross signal may be characterized by pulses occurring in time with the zero-crossings of the AC voltage. The load control device may include a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device and the zero cross detect circuit. The control circuit may be configured to identify a rising-edge time and a falling-edge time of one of the pulses of the zero-cross signal, and may control a conductive state of the controllably conductive device based on the rising-edge time and the falling-edge time of the pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert W. Lenig, Michael Sizemore, Joshua W. Thaler, Russell L. MacAdam
  • Patent number: 11515114
    Abstract: A control circuit for a switch device including a first switch element including a movable contact and a drive coil that controls the movable contact of the first switch element, the control circuit for returning the movable contact when the drive coil turns off the movable contact after the drive coil turns on the movable contact during supply of a source voltage from a power source, the control circuit includes a second switch element inserted between a rectifier circuit or a surge absorbing element and the first switch element, the second switch element being turned off when the supply of the source voltage is turned off. The rectifier circuit or the surge absorbing element is connected between the power source and the control circuit. The first switch element is turned off the movable contact is returned by turning off the second switch element to turn off the first switch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Itoda, Takeshi Nishida, Shinya Matsuo
  • Patent number: 11488798
    Abstract: A system includes a contactor operatively connected to a coil for actuating the contactor to open and close a circuit. A pass element includes a source, a drain, and a gate, wherein the drain is electrically connected to the coil, and wherein the coil is in series between the pass element and ground. A voltage source is connected to the source of the pass element to pass current into the coil when the pass element is in a pass state. A current source control circuit with economizer is operatively connected to the gate of the pass element. A delay circuit is operatively connected to the current source control circuit with economizer and to a command line to command a lower current for holding the contactor closed after a delay has expired for the contactor to transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. Joyce, Jordan K. Vanevenhoven, Natalie Filipski
  • Patent number: 11380469
    Abstract: Tunable electronic units and associated systems, as well as methods for tuning characteristic properties of soft electronic units (e.g., inductance, capacitance, and resistance) and fabricating soft tunable planar inductors, axial inductors, capacitors, and resistors, are provided. Disclosed systems and methods enable standardized tuning of different types of soft electronic units (e.g., including a soft inductor, capacitor, and resistor, etc.), and enable remote tuning while maintaining a tuned value without expending power. In certain embodiments, electrical properties of the soft electronic units are tuned using a mobile component (e.g., ferrofluid and iron powder) dragged with a permanent magnet inside a soft fluidic channel. This may be used for applications and devices which need to be soft and flexible, such as implantable electronics, wearable devices, and skin electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Hamidreza Marvi, Mahdi Ilami, Reza James Ahmed
  • Patent number: 11342148
    Abstract: A relay device includes a coil portion, a fixed contact, a spring, a moving contact and a drive circuit. The drive circuit controls the electromagnetic force of the coil portion to be a first electromagnetic force when switching the fixed contact and the moving contact in a contact state to a non-contact state. The drive circuit controls the electromagnetic force of the coil portion to be a second electromagnetic force that is larger than the first electromagnetic force after a lapse of a first time from start of control of the electromagnetic force of the coil portion to be the first electromagnetic force. The drive circuit controls the electromagnetic force of the coil portion to be reduced with time after a lapse of a second time from start of control of the electromagnetic force of the coil portion to be the second electromagnetic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Marelli Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichirou Horikoshi, Junya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11342772
    Abstract: A precharge controller includes a main contactor, a capacitor, a precharge contactor, a current sensor, and a control unit. When starting a power supply from a battery to load, the control unit starts precharging by closing the precharge contactor when a detected current is equal to a preset value or lower, determines completion of precharging when the detected current once equal to or exceeded a first threshold value falls to a second threshold value or lower, and closes the main contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yu Kimoto
  • Patent number: 11340297
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a relay examination device and a battery management system including the same, the relay examination device includes a first resistor unit having one end connected to one end of a relay, a second resistor unit having one end connected to the other end of the first resistor unit, a power unit connected to the other end of the second resistor unit and configured to supply power, and a control unit configured to receive a voltage signal applied between the first resistor unit and the second resistor unit and to examine whether the relay is open or closed or whether the relay has malfunctioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SK INNOVATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byoung Kyu Park, Ho Sang Jang, Seon Yong Kim, Yong Sug Choi
  • Patent number: 11289918
    Abstract: Batteries, battery systems, battery submodules, battery operational methods, battery system operational methods, battery charging methods, and battery system charging methods are described. According to one aspect, a battery includes a first battery terminal, a second battery terminal, and a plurality of submodules individually comprising a first submodule terminal, a second submodule terminal, a plurality of rechargeable cells electrically coupled between the first and second submodule terminals, and switching circuitry configured to electrically couple one of the first and second battery terminals with one of the first and second submodule terminals of one of the submodules during an engaged mode of operation of the one of the submodules and to electrically isolate the one of the first and second battery terminals from the one of the first and second submodule terminals of the one of the submodules during a disengaged mode of operation of the one of the submodules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Lithion Battery Inc.
    Inventors: Russell M. Troxel, Joel E. Sandahl
  • Patent number: 11289256
    Abstract: A coil actuator for low and medium voltage applications including: a coil electromagnet having a single coil winding and a movable member; and a power and control unit including: a power circuit operatively coupled with the coil electromagnet, the power circuit including input terminals for receiving an input voltage and an intermediate node, the electromagnet being electrically connected with the input terminal and the intermediate node, the power circuit further including a discharge circuit, which is electrically connected with the first input terminal and the intermediate node in parallel with the coil winding, and a switch circuit, which is electrically connected with the intermediate node and the second input terminal, the switch circuit including at least a power switch; a controller operatively coupled with the power circuit to drive the at least a power switch to control of an input current circulating through the power circuit, the controller being adapted to perform a PWM control of the input curre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Marco Testa, Roberto Usai
  • Patent number: 11216052
    Abstract: A processing unit includes a plurality of components configured to execute instructions and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a power consumption of the processing unit, determine a waiting status of the processing unit based on waiting statuses of components, and selectively modify an operating state of the processing unit based on the waiting status and the power consumption of the processing unit. In some cases, the operating state is modified in response to a percentage of the components that are waiting for an action to complete being below a threshold percentage and the power consumption of the processing unit being below a power limit. In some cases, the controller identifies a pattern in the power consumption by the processing unit and modifies the operating state of the processing unit to increase the power consumption of the processing unit based on the pattern identified by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Greg Sadowski
  • Patent number: 11159262
    Abstract: A system 1 for controlling a plurality of irrigation valves 21, 22 . . . 2n is shown. The system receives 110 or 240 volts, mains voltage, electricity from the mains. This is applied to a 28 volt square wave generator 3, whose output is modulated in a modulator 4 under control of a control circuit 5. The modulated output is applied to a live line 6, receiving modulated positive and negative pulses of 28 volts with respect to a neutral line 7. At each valve 21, 22 . . . 2n, a respective decoder 81, 82 . . . 8n is provided. Live and neutral lines 10,11 pass from the decoders to the valves. Each decoder 8n has an input connector 21 for the live and neutral pair 6,7 powering it and an output connector 22 for the further live and neutral pair 10,11 to the respective valve 2n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Heron Electric Company Limited
    Inventors: James Alexander Carter, David Jeffery Carter
  • Patent number: 11119128
    Abstract: Systems and methods to test an electric power delivery system include a communication subsystem to transmit test signals to one or more merging units, a test subsystem to transmit a test data stream to the one or more merging units via the communication subsystem, and a processor subsystem to receive looped back data from the one or more merging unit in response to the transmitted test data stream and to determine an operating condition based on the looped back data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, David E. Whitehead, Krishnanjan Gubba Ravikumar, Austin Edward Wade
  • Patent number: 10991499
    Abstract: A method may include generating an electrical drive waveform associated with a target actuator by stretching or compressing a reference drive waveform associated with a reference actuator in a time domain of the reference drive waveform in accordance with a time adjustment factor, wherein the time adjustment factor is determined based on a difference between a resonant frequency of the target actuator and a resonant frequency of the reference actuator. The same or another method may include generating an electrical drive waveform associated with a target actuator by increasing or decreasing an amplitude of a reference drive waveform associated with a reference actuator in accordance with an amplitude adjustment factor, wherein the amplitude adjustment factor is determined based on a difference between a resonant frequency of the target actuator and a resonant frequency of the reference actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Vadim Konradi, Carl Lennart Ståhl, Rong Hu
  • Patent number: 10856388
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a lighting control system with a motion sensor unit that electrically couples to a load circuit through a latching relay or load controller for turning on and off lights. The motion sensor unit is configured to power down to draw zero power after a time delay, when motion is longer detected within the work space by the motion sensor unit. The lighting control system further includes a control circuit that reinitiates or turns the motion sensor back on through a switch device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Mix, Tho Phan, Thomas L. Grey, Louia Weidman
  • Patent number: 10823177
    Abstract: Systems and methods for distributed downhole sensing of operating parameters in an ESP utilizing MEMS sensors. In one embodiment, an ESP is installed in a well. The ESP has a pump, a gas separator, a seal section and a motor. Multiple MEMS sensors are positioned within one or more of the ESP components. Each of the MEMS sensors has a sensor component and on-board circuitry that are formed on a substrate. Each MEMS sensor's sensor component senses a corresponding operating parameter and provides sensed information to the on-board circuitry, which processes the received sensor signal as needed and provides the processed information at an output of the MEMS sensor. The outputs of the different MEMS sensors can be networked together, and the sensor information for the different operating parameters can be communicated to equipment at the surface of the well via a common electrical line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Ketankumar Sheth, Michael A. Forsberg
  • Patent number: 10808380
    Abstract: A rotator arrangement (10) comprising a motor (11) with a stator (13) and a rotor (12) arranged inside the stator (13) to rotate with respect to said stator (13) around an axial axis (A). The rotator arrangement (10) comprises a rotor attachment piece (15) connected to the rotor and a stator attachment piece (16) connected to the stator, wherein one of the rotor attachment piece (15) and stator attachment piece (16) is arranged to be attached to a crane arm or the like, and the other is arranged to be attached to a tool implement. An angle meter (17) is arranged to continuously monitor the rotation of the rotor (12) with respect to the stator (13), wherein the angle meter (17) comprises a stator part (18) that is arranged to rotate with the stator (13) a rotor part (19) that is arranged to rotate with the rotor (14), and wherein the angle meter (17) is arranged along the axial axis (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Indexator Rotator Systems AB
    Inventors: Joakim Harr, Magnus Lindgren, Niklas Vännman
  • Patent number: 10797597
    Abstract: The present application proposes a transient enhancing circuit for a constant-on-time converter. The constant-on-time converter includes an error amplifier and a comparator. The transient enhancing circuit includes a first sample-and-hold circuit and a zero-current detection circuit. The first sample-and-hold circuit has an input terminal and an output terminal. The input terminal of the first sample-and-hold circuit is coupled to an output terminal of the error amplifier, and the output terminal of the first sample-and-hold circuit is coupled to a first input terminal of the comparator. The zero-current detection circuit is coupled to the first sample-and-hold circuit and arranged for outputting a control signal when current flowing through a load of the constant-on-time converter is detected to be zero. The present application also proposes a constant-on-time converter using the transient enhancing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: ELITE SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Yao-Ren Chang
  • Patent number: 10763694
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply includes an AC power source that supplies AC power to a load and includes a main AC input power source, an electromagnetic contactor provided between the AC power source and the load and excited to be switched on or off, and a first switch that switches between a first AC voltage of the main AC input power source and a second AC voltage capable of being supplied independently of the first AC voltage so as to excite the electromagnetic contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Hiroki Muratsu
  • Patent number: 10744963
    Abstract: A charge/discharge device switches between allowing and disallowing charging/discharging of an electrical storage unit by switching a relay with a drive circuit. The device, specifies at the time of an anomaly that prevents the relay from operating normally, the portion in which the anomaly has occurred. A charge/discharge circuit performs a charge or discharge operation on an electrical storage cell in response to instructions. A drive circuit generates a drive current where a drive instruction is given, and supplies the drive current to a relay. A control unit controls the instructions that are given to the charge/discharge circuit and instruction that is given to the drive circuit. An anomaly specification unit specifies the portion where an anomaly has occurred based on the power source voltage that is input to the drive circuit, output that is provided from the drive circuit to the relay, and the voltage of a charge/discharge path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Rina Konishi, Takafumi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 10738775
    Abstract: A method for actuating a pump having a reciprocating piston or a diaphragm for pressure generation in a hydraulic system, the reciprocating piston or the diaphragm being moved by way of an actuator which is driven by a magnetic field of a magnet coil, and a system pressure in the hydraulic system being determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Edna Boos, Roland Waschler
  • Patent number: 10699835
    Abstract: A bistable solenoid valve device for a fluid system includes a bistable solenoid valve and a detection device. The bistable solenoid valve has a permanent magnet yoke, an armature configured to be displaced between a first armature position for contact against a first core to form an air gap with a second core and a second armature position for contact against the second core to form an air gap with the first core. The bistable solenoid valve device further includes a detection device configured to evaluate and/or measure a first inductance of the first armature coil, and evaluate and/or measure a second inductance of the second armature coil without displacement of the armature, to compare the inductance of the first armature coil and the inductance of the second armature coil, and to output a state signal that indicates the armature position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: WABCO EUROPE BVBA
    Inventors: Andreas Goers, Otmar Struwe, Andreas Teichmann
  • Patent number: 10666089
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a current recovery cell, unit, and system that enhances signal admittance and captures bipolar and uni-polar electro-magnetic and electro-static energy flux generated by input AC High Frequency Impulse currents, bandwidth adjusts selects, and converts this captured energy flux to uni-polar currents, thereby recovering input AC Impulse currents for system power reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Hopkins
  • Patent number: 10615593
    Abstract: An inrush current limiting method not requiring the use of a sense resistor, the method constituted of: generating a ramped voltage; comparing a first function of a voltage across a port capacitor with the generated ramp voltage; responsive to the outcome of the comparison of the voltage first function with the ramp voltage, controlling an electronically controlled switch coupled to the port capacitor such that the voltage across the port capacitor is a linear function of the generated ramped voltage; comparing a second function of the voltage at a terminal of the electronically controlled switch with a predetermined reference voltage; and responsive to the outcome of the comparison indicating that the second function of the terminal voltage is greater than the predetermined reference voltage, pulling the generated ramp voltage towards a predetermined shutoff voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSEMI P.O.E. LTD.
    Inventor: Tamir Langer
  • Patent number: 10593498
    Abstract: A circuit for reducing a power consumption when driving a relay, the circuit includes a first input, a second input, a timing element, a longitudinal control having a Zener diode and a transistor, a first output, and a second output. The first and second inputs are configured to input an input voltage and the first and second outputs are configured for outputting an output voltage for driving the relay. The Zener diode is configured, when the input voltage exceeds a breakdown voltage of the Zener diode, to generate a voltage source, which is connected to the control input of the transistor via a diode and to provide a control voltage that is stabilized and reduced in level compared with the input voltage. The control input is connected to the first input via a timing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Jan Rewald
  • Patent number: 10491301
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a triple-hop multiuser relay network. Further, the relay network is comprised of mixed communication mediums (radiofrequency/free-space optical/radiofrequency), and utilizes a generalized order user scheduling scheme for determining the next source or destination to be selected for transmission. Closed-form expressions were achieved to describe outage probability, average symbol error probability, and channel capacity assuming Rayleigh and Gamma-Gamma fading models for the radiofrequency and free-space optical links, respectively. The effects of pointing errors on the free-space optical link were also considered. Additionally, a power allocation algorithm was proposed to optimize power allocation at each hop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventor: Anas M. Salhab
  • Patent number: 10424452
    Abstract: An operation coil drive device includes a drive control unit to perform control to set, for a semiconductor switching element to switch on and off the source voltage applied to an operation coil of a magnetic contactor, a larger ON/OFF time ratio for a circuit-closing control and a smaller ON/OFF time ratio for a holding control, wherein the drive control unit includes: a circuit-closing-control inductance calculation unit to calculate an inductance of the operation coil immediately after a start of the circuit-closing control; a circuit-closing-control resistance value calculation unit to calculate a direct current resistance value of the operation coil based on the calculation result; and a circuit-closing-control switching correction unit to correct the ON/OFF time ratio of the semiconductor switching element for the circuit-closing control based on the calculation result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC FA COMPONENTS & SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Matsuo, Takahiro Taguchi, Masahiro Motonobu, Takashi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 10404253
    Abstract: A power supply unit for use with thermostats or other like devices requiring power. A power supply unit may be designed to keep electromagnetic interference emissions at a minimum, particularly at a level that does not violate governmental regulations. A unit may be designed so that there is enough power for a triggering a switch at about a cross over point of a waveform of input power to the unit. Power for triggering may come from a storage source rather than line power to reduce emissions on the power line. Power for the storage source may be provided with power stealing. Power stealing may require switching transistors which can generate emissions. Gate signals to the transistors may be especially shaped to keep emissions from transistor switching at a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Tousignant, Daniel Landry, Alex Daher
  • Patent number: 10404052
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for handling overcurrent and undercurrent conditions in subsea control subsystem components include determining, by a current sensor operatively coupled to a solenoid valve, that an input current to the solenoid is greater or lower than a predetermined threshold value, de-energizing, by a processor operatively coupled to the current sensor, the solenoid for a first period of time, re-energizing the solenoid at least three times after the first period of time, determining, by the current sensor, that during each of the at least three times the input current to the solenoid is greater or lower than the predetermined threshold value, and de-energizing the solenoid and transmitting a control signal to a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Hydril USA Distribution, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Dean Brooks, Steven James Ronan, An Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10316785
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling a flow control valve for a high-pressure fuel pump include: a pressure sensor for fuel in a delivery pipe; a control unit for controlling an operation of a flow control valve by controlling a current applied to a coil; a power switching unit for supplying or blocking driving power supplied to the flow control valve based on a control signal of the control unit; and a current adjustment unit electrically connected/disconnected with the flow control valve by the power switching unit to reduce a current supplied to the flow control valve when the current adjustment unit is connected with the flow control valve. Therefore, a noise and a vibration by collision between the plunger and the core upon closing the flow control valve may be attenuated by adjusting a current amount applied to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: MOTONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sang Ryul Lee, Wan Jae Jeon, Jun Hyeok Lee, Hyung Soo Kim, Hae Jin Kim, Kyu Sung Choi, Yeong Dong Park
  • Patent number: 10211752
    Abstract: A direct-current power supply device includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor connected in series between output terminals to a load, a charging unit including a first switching element that switches charging and non-charging of the first capacitor, a second switching element that switches charging and non-charging of the second capacitor, a first backflow preventing element that prevents charged electric charges of the first capacitor from backflowing to the first switching element, and a second backflow preventing element that prevents charged electric charges of the second capacitor from backflowing to the second switching element, and a control unit that controls the first backflow preventing element to an ON state at timing when the charging of the first capacitor is started and controls the second backflow preventing element to the ON state at timing when the charging of the second capacitor is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunori Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 10190526
    Abstract: A method for providing consistent actuator events for each of a plurality of consecutive actuator events of an electromagnetic actuator, includes applying a first bi-directional current waveform for a first actuator event and applying a second bi-directional current waveform for a second actuator event immediately subsequent to the first actuator event. The first bi-directional current waveform includes applying current in a first direction when the actuator is commanded to an actuated position and applying current in a reversed second direction when the actuator is commanded to a rest position. The second bi-directional current waveform includes applying current in the reversed second direction when the actuator is commanded to an actuated position and applying current in the first direction when the actuator is commanded to a rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas W. Nehl, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Avoki M. Omekanda, Chandra S. Namuduri
  • Patent number: 10176914
    Abstract: A method for controlling a current flowing through a consumer comprises the following steps, which are periodically traversed: determining a dither current based on a dither signal and a definite point in time, wherein the dither signal is determined by a frequency, an amplitude and a signal form and actuating a flow control valve to produce the sum of a target current and the determined dither current by the consumer. Furthermore, the method comprises determining an indication to the current flowing through the consumer; compensating the indication by the factor of the dither current; and providing the indication, wherein the determination of the dither current and the determination of the indication are synchronized with each other in a predetermined way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Dominik Hotter
  • Patent number: 10097077
    Abstract: A control method for improving dynamic response of switch power is based on a closed-loop control system comprising a sampling module, a dynamic control module, an error calculation module, a PID module, a mode control module, and a PWM module. The sampling module samples an output voltage Vo, and the dynamic control module compares the output voltage Vo with a set maximum voltage Vomax, a set minimum voltage Vomin, and a reference voltage Vref, so as to determine whether to adopt a dynamic mode. In the dynamic mode, when the output voltage Vo changes greatly, the output voltage Vo is rapidly restored to a stable voltage by inputting large power or small power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHEAST UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shen Xu, Chong Wang, Xianjun Fan, Weifeng Sun, Shengli Lu, Longxing Shi
  • Patent number: 9936274
    Abstract: A device includes a microphone, a sensor that generates a first signal that is indicative of an orientation of the microphone, and a processor. The processor uses the first signal to determine if the microphone is in a predetermined orientation. Further, the processor, responsive to determining that the microphone is not in the predetermined orientation, generates a second signal that is used to provide a notification that the microphone is not in the predetermined orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Werner Meskens, Robert G. Bennett
  • Patent number: 9932947
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuation system includes an electrical coil, a magnetic core, an armature, a controllable bi-directional drive circuit for selectively driving current through the coil in either of two directions, and a control module providing an actuator command to the drive circuit. Current is driven though the electrical coil in a first direction when an actuation is desired. When the actuation is not desired current is driven through the electrical coil including in a second direction sufficient to reduce residual flux within the actuator below a level passively attained within the actuator at zero coil current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Wolfgang Nehl, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri, Avoki M. Omekanda
  • Patent number: 9905384
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay is provided. The electromagnetic relay includes a first port and a second port, a first coil and a second coil, a movable armature coupled between the first port and the second port constructed to connect and disconnect the first port and the second port, a switch circuit, and a coil control circuit. The switch circuit is constructed to connect the first coil to an external power source to induce the first coil to create a first magnetic field having a first direction and disconnect the first coil from the external power source to cause the first magnetic field to collapse. The coil control circuit is constructed to induce the second coil to create a second magnetic field having a second direction responsive to the switch circuit being in the second state, the second direction being opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jidong Liu
  • Patent number: 9890931
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control device for solid state lighting fixtures. The control device is programmable and is configured to adjust the intensity of light emitted by solid state lighting fixtures. The control device includes a housing assembly and a programmable controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Adam Joseph Clark
  • Patent number: 9852852
    Abstract: A safety switching apparatus for switching on or off a technical installation has a failsafe control/evaluation unit with an input for receiving an input signal. The failsafe control/evaluation unit is designed to process the input signal in order to produce an output signal for switching on or off the technical installation at a defined output signal time. The failsafe control/evaluation unit has a first output for transmitting the output signal to an electromechanical switch. The electromechanical switch has an operating contact for switching a load circuit of the technical installation and has a positively guided auxiliary contact in an auxiliary contact current path. The auxiliary contact can be used to carry a current for checking the switching position of the operating contact. A switching element is arranged in the auxiliary contact current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: PILZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Kim Le, Sebastian Richter
  • Patent number: 9817413
    Abstract: Electrical power supply device for wireless sensor unit provided with a circuit for managing very low consumption electrical energy configured to limit the given level of electrical power between a lower limit and an upper limit, with the circuit being implemented with a JFET or MOSFET depletion transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventor: Hynek Raisigel
  • Patent number: 9812982
    Abstract: A method and apparatuses for handling delayed zero crossing in fault current through a circuit breaker are disclosed. An interface arrangement is configured to couple an alternating current, AC, power system with a direct current, DC, power system, or vice versa. The interface arrangement includes at least one converter for conversion of AC power to DC power, or vice versa, which includes a DC side for coupling of the converter to the DC power system and an AC side for coupling of the converter to the AC power system. A circuit breaker is arranged in a current path between the AC side of the at least one converter and the AC power system. There may be a risk of delayed zero crossing in fault current occurring in case a fault occurs in a predefined portion of the interface arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventor: Ying Jiang-Häfner