For Relays Or Solenoids Patents (Class 361/160)
  • Patent number: 12128772
    Abstract: A semiconductor unit is arranged between a motor and an inverter circuit that controls the motor. The semiconductor unit includes a transistor and a controller. The transistor is arranged between the inverter circuit and a positive electrode of a battery that supplies power to the inverter circuit, and controls supplying of power from the battery to the inverter circuit. The controller is connected to a control terminal of the transistor, and controls a control voltage that is a voltage applied to the control terminal. When power starts to be supplied from the battery to the inverter circuit, the controller controls the control voltage to intermittently operate the transistor and also decreases the control voltage, which is applied to the control terminal of the transistor, to be lower than the control voltage at which the transistor is fully activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mineo Miura, Masashi Hayashiguchi
  • Patent number: 12125652
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a control device and method for a contactor. The control device comprises a first high-side control unit, a second high-side control unit, a first low-side control unit and a second low-side control unit. The first high-side control unit and the second high-side control unit respectively connect a first magnetic unit and a second magnetic unit of the contactor to a power supply. The first low-side control unit is connected between the first magnetic unit and a reference voltage node, and the second low-side control unit is connected between the second magnetic unit and the reference voltage node. The control device further comprises a freewheel unit connected to the first magnetic unit and the second magnetic unit. The control device further comprises a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Yongpeng Jia, Vincent Geffroy, Jiezhao Wang, Juan Xie
  • Patent number: 12125637
    Abstract: In an embodiment a shape-transformable switch apparatus includes an electromagnet arranged inside a housing, wherein the electromagnet has an outer circumferential surface wound with a solenoid coil and is configured to provide a magnetic field when a power is applied to the solenoid coil, a Magnetorheological Elastomer (MRE) disposed on an upper portion of the electromagnet, wherein the MRE is configured to change from an initial soft state to a relatively hard state when the power is applied to the solenoid coil and configured to be pressed and to move upward when the electromagnet moves upward and a switch cover disposed on an upper portion of the housing, the switch cover configured to form a switch shape and to protrude outward when the MRE moves in an upward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Korea University Of Technology And Education Industry-University Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Yoon Im, Yong Won Choi, Myung Hoe Kim, Joo Hwa Kim, Seok Han Lee, Hyun U Ko, Sang Youn Kim
  • Patent number: 12094674
    Abstract: A bistable electromagnetic actuator is described. The actuator includes a mobile assembly and a fixed assembly. The mobile assembly includes at least one pair of ferromagnetic plunger-cores, a frame integrally connecting the plunger-cores, and a guiding element. The fixed assembly includes a ferromagnetic core having cavities defined on each of its two sides configured to receive a corresponding one of the plunger-cores, at least one magnet positioned between the cavities in the core and being able to create a first magnetic flux, at least one coil operable via an excitation current to create a second magnetic flux, and a guiding element adapted to cooperate with the guiding element of the mobile assembly to allow the mobile assembly to move between a first and a second stable position. Methods for actuating the bistable electromagnetic actuator are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Bruno Francoeur, Pierre Couture
  • Patent number: 12087530
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a power grid separating apparatus using a latch relay and a method thereof. An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a power net separating apparatus including: a switch configured to have a first end connected to a first power source and a second end connected to a second power source; a latch relay coil configured to control on and off of the switch; a first signal terminal connected to the first power source; a second signal terminal to which a connection signal for opening the switch is applied; a third signal terminal configured to serve as a power terminal of the latch relay coil; a fourth signal terminal to which a blocking signal for closing the switch is applied; and a fifth signal terminal connected to the second power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jong Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 12088809
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image decoding method. The method of decoding an image comprises obtaining prediction information and residual signal information for a current block from a bitstream and reconstructing, based on the obtained prediction information and the residual signal information, the current block, wherein the prediction information is obtained through entropy decoding, and wherein a context model used for the entropy decoding of the prediction information is determined based on a prediction mode of a neighboring block of the current block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignees: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATIOIN FOUNDATION KOREA AEROSPACE University, INDUSTRY ACADEMY COOPERATION FOUNDATION OF SEJONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jin Ho Lee, Jung Won Kang, Ha Hyun Lee, Sung Chang Lim, Hui Yong Kim, Jae Gon Kim, Do Hyeon Park, Yung Lyul Lee
  • Patent number: 12034256
    Abstract: A circuitry is disclosed having one or more circuits and a connector portion coupled that is to the one or more circuits. The connector portion includes a plurality of pins, at least some of the pins having assigned functionality, and wherein at least one first pin is to activate a mechanism to bring the one or more circuits into an electrically safe state. The circuitry is configured, in case the connector portion is coupled with a first connector in a first orientation, to allow the one or more circuits to operate properly via the connector portion. The circuitry is also configured so that in a case where the connector portion is coupled with a second connector in a second orientation different from the first orientation, the at least one first pin of the plurality of pins receives a reference potential that triggers activation of a safety mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Albrecht Mayer, Patrik Eder
  • Patent number: 12024056
    Abstract: An apparatus for managing a shared personal mobility (PM) vehicle comprises a battery unit configured to supply power, a communication unit configured to communicate with a server and road side units, and a control unit configured to determine whether to manage a PM vehicle based on at least one of a position, a position change, and a battery charge amount of the PM vehicle and transmit a management notification message to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION, KOOKMIN UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY ACADEMY CO-OP FDN
    Inventors: Jae Jun Ha, Gu Min Jeong, Hyun Jung Oh, Seung Hyeon Lee
  • Patent number: 11961665
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling armature solenoid provided with a DC voltage source (14), at least one buffer capacitor (18), which is connected in parallel to the DC voltage source (14) and has a known capacitance (C), and a first switch (28), which is arranged between the DC voltage source (14) and the buffer capacitor (18). The exciter coil (16) and a second switch (30) arranged in series therewith are connected in parallel to the buffer capacitor (18). A control and evaluation unit (22), when the buffer capacitor (18) is charged, opens the first switch (28) and closes the second switch (30) in order to determine, on the basis of the measurement voltage (20), the frequency of the resonant circuit having the capacitance (C) of the buffer capacitor (18) and the inductance (L) of the armature solenoid (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: BEHR-HELLA THERMOCONTROL GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Kirsch, Bastian Bandlow
  • Patent number: 11932499
    Abstract: A linear motor system, which is in particular a transport system and, for example, a multi-carrier system, includes a guide track having a plurality of electromagnets arranged distributed along the guide track; and at least one carrier that is guided by and movable along the guide track and that has a drive magnet for cooperating with the electromagnets to move the carrier. The linear motor system furthermore has at least one coupling element and at least one securing structure that extends along the guide track and that is held by the coupling element. The coupling element couples the securing structure to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventor: Reiner Volk
  • Patent number: 11935719
    Abstract: A power switch controller includes a condition detector, a zero crossing detector, a retimer, and a driver. The condition detector detects a change in a sense signal towards a first or second condition. The zero crossing detector detects zero crossings in an AC powerline signal. The power switch controller drives a latching relay that connects a load to powerlines. The power switch controller activates or deactivates the latching relay based on the sensed condition, and retimes activation and deactivation pulses to align the relay contact opening and closing times to coincide with the AC powerline zero crossings, compensating for contact travel times. The activation and deactivation pulses have a duration of max 20 ms, and an amplitude of at least 110% of the maximum sustainable voltage for the relay coil(s). A power-on reset deactivates the relay, aligned with a second AC zero crossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SiliconBrite Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Cameron Nathan Jackson, Baris Karagozlu, Alexander Burinskiy
  • Patent number: 11933423
    Abstract: A method for determining a switching point of a solenoid valve. A solenoid coil is energized to raise a solenoid armature to unblock a flow opening. For a signal profile characteristic of a current profile in the solenoid coil, multiple periods each different from one another and each having the same predefined temporal length are determined. Within each period, a minimal and a maximal value of the signal profile and associated points in time are ascertained and a product of a difference between the maximal and minimal value and a difference between the associated points in time are ascertained. On the basis of the points in time of the minimal and maximal value of that period, which corresponds to a maximal value of the product, the switching point is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Rupp, Bastian Reineke, Paul Herrmann
  • Patent number: 11863058
    Abstract: A power converter circuit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the power converter includes a switching circuit coupled to an input power supply node and a regulated power supply node via an inductor, wherein the switching circuit is configured to source respective charge current to the regulated power supply node during a plurality of active cycles. The power converter further includes a control circuit configured to determine, for a particular active cycle, an average inductor current. The control circuit is further configured to perform a comparison of the average inductor current to a threshold value. Based on results of the comparison, the control circuit is configured to deactivate the switching circuit for a different active cycle subsequent to the particular active cycle. Two methods are disclosed to identify mode transitions, depending on conditions such as minimum time on and discontinuous current mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Erhan Ozalevli
  • Patent number: 11843380
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to contactor, and device and method for controlling same. A control device for a contactor comprises a high side control unit, a first low side control unit, a second low side control unit, a freewheeling unit, and a controller. The high side control unit is configured to switch on or switch off the connection of the first magnetic unit and the second magnetic unit of the contactor with a power supply. The first low side control unit is configured to switch on or switch off the connection of the first magnetic unit with the reference voltage node. The second low side control unit is configured to switch on or switch off the connection of the second magnetic unit with the reference voltage node. The freewheeling unit is connected across a branch comprising a first magnetic unit and a first low side control unit and connected across a branch comprising a second magnetic unit and a second low side control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Jiezhao Wang, Vincent Geffroy, Zifang Mao, Yongpeng Jia
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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