With Specific Quantity Comparison Means Patents (Class 361/78)
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Patent number: 12119644Abstract: A method for controlling a photovoltaic rapid shutdown system, an inverting system, and a photovoltaic rapid shutdown system. In the photovoltaic rapid shutdown system, the inverting system determines whether the photovoltaic rapid shutdown system is to enter a safe mode, introduces fluctuations onto a direct-current bus in the photovoltaic rapid shutdown system in response to the photovoltaic rapid shutdown system being not to enter the safe mode, and otherwise does not introduce the fluctuations onto the direct-current bus. A shutdown device for a photovoltaic module determines according to an output parameter thereof whether an electrical parameter on the direct-current bus connected to the shutdown device meets a preset condition, controls itself to be turned on or maintains itself being on in response to the electrical parameter meeting the preset condition, and otherwise controls itself to be turned off or maintains itself being off.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2021Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yu Yang, Yanfei Yu, Jun Xu, Qiaodi Chen
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Patent number: 12068610Abstract: A control device includes: a phase error calculation unit to calculate a phase error between a phase of a voltage command for the power converter and a phase of a point-of-interconnection voltage; and an isolated system determination unit to determine whether the AC power system has shifted from an interconnected system to an isolated system, based on the phase error and a magnitude of the point-of-interconnection voltage, the interconnected system being the AC power system connected to a generator, the isolated system being the AC power system not connected to the generator. The isolated system determination unit determines that the AC power system has shifted from the interconnected system to the isolated system, when at least a first condition is met that the phase error is outside a reference range and the magnitude of the point-of-interconnection voltage is greater than a first voltage threshold.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2019Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Ryosuke Uda, Takeshi Kikuchi, Shuhei Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Kono
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Patent number: 11929223Abstract: An abnormality detection circuit includes a first voltage detection circuit to which a voltage is applied from an AC power source when a first relay contact is closed and a second voltage detection circuit to which a voltage is applied from the AC power source when a second relay contact is closed. One end of the first voltage detection circuit is connected to the AC power source via the second wiring line while passing through no other switch. One end of the second voltage detection circuit is connected to the AC power source via the first wiring line while passing through no other switch. Abnormalities of the first and second relay contacts are detected by comparing the voltage applied to a comparative voltage detection circuit with each of the voltages applied to the first and second voltage detection circuits, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2021Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Toshihiko Katayama
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Patent number: 11764563Abstract: A vehicle electrical system, particularly for a motor vehicle. The vehicle electrical system has at least two electrical system branches, a disconnecting switch device between the two electrical system branches, wherein the disconnecting switch device has a first controllable switch unit and a series circuit having a second controllable switch unit and an overcurrent protection unit, wherein the first switch unit and the series circuit are electrically connected to each other in parallel between the two electrical system branches, and a control unit which in an idle mode of the vehicle electrical system, is equipped to switch the first switch unit into an open, current-disconnecting switching state and to keep it in the current-disconnecting switching state and to switch the second switch unit into a closed, current-carrying switching state and to keep it in this current-carrying switching state. A motor vehicle with the above-mentioned vehicle electrical system is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventors: Ludwig Ramsauer, Rainer Knorr, Stephanie Preisler, Dirk Reichow
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Patent number: 11710963Abstract: A power conditioning system (PCS) includes: a grid blackout determiner, a voltage controller, and a processor electrically connected to the grid blackout determiner and the voltage controller. The processor is configured to identify a state of a grid as a blackout state or an unstable state based on at least one of an amplitude or a frequency of a voltage of the grid that is detected by the grid blackout determiner, control the voltage controller to adjust, based on the identified state of the grid being the blackout state or the unstable state, load voltage input to the voltage controller to be equal to a command voltage, and adjust, based on the identified state of the grid being the blackout state or the unstable state, a first frequency of the detected voltage of the grid to a second frequency that is different from the first frequency.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Seung Wook Hyun, Chang Jin Lim, Sun Young Park, Jungmin Kim
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Patent number: 11689016Abstract: A solar power generation network shut-off unit includes a first circuit breaker and second circuit breakers. The first circuit breaker is provided to a power line connecting a plurality of solar power generation modules and a power conditioner in series, and shut-off the supply of power from the solar power generation modules through the power line and transmits an emergency shut-off signal when an emergency shut-off button is pressed. The second circuit breakers are provided to each of a plurality of solar power generation modules, and shut-off the supply of power from the plurality of solar power generation modules through the power line and transmit a shut-off completion signal to the first circuit breaker when an emergency shut-off signal is received from the first circuit breaker.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: OMRON CORPORATIONInventors: Hideaki Kojima, Ryo Ogura, Mitsunori Sugiura
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Patent number: 11688893Abstract: The present invention includes providing a plurality of batteries connected to a power generation line connected to an external generator, measuring the temperature of a space in which the plurality of batteries are positioned, and controlling charging and discharging between the plurality of batteries according to the measured temperature so as to raise the temperature of the plurality of batteries, and the present invention can prevent a reduction in the temperature of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2018Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: LG Energy Solution, Ltd.Inventor: Dong Keun Kwon
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Patent number: 11589420Abstract: A battery unit includes a power supply; a connection configured to be connectable with a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source and a charger for charging the power supply; and a controller that performs a specific process at least selectively executable to at least temporarily disable the supply of electric power to the load from the power supply, if erroneously determining the load connected to the connection as the charger is identified.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2019Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Manabu Takeuchi, Takaya Takahashi, Manabu Yamada, Takuma Nakano, Hajime Fujita
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Patent number: 11428749Abstract: Provided are embodiments for power supply monitoring with variable thresholds for variable voltage vails. An example method includes determining a proportionality factor based on a reference voltage value of a reference voltage and a rail voltage value of a rail voltage. The method further includes monitoring the rail voltage by a power supply monitoring circuit comprising a first resistor, a second resistor, and a third resistor, wherein the power supply monitoring circuit monitors the rail voltage based on the reference voltage to determine, by the power supply monitoring circuit, whether one of an under voltage condition or an over voltage condition occurs. The method further includes, responsive to a processor commanding a change in the rail voltage value of the rail voltage, causing, by the processor, a new reference voltage value to be generated based on the proportionality factor to adjust an under voltage threshold and an over voltage threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Vikas Gupta, Veerasamy Vasudevan
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Patent number: 11366898Abstract: In one form, an integrated circuit includes a plurality of electromagnetic fault injection (EMFI) sensors and a security management circuit. Each EMFI sensor includes a sense loop having a conductor around a corresponding portion of logic circuitry whose operation is affected by an electromagnetic pulse, and a detector circuit coupled to the sense loop and having an output for providing a pulse detection signal in response to a pulse of at least a predetermined magnitude. The security management circuit performs a protection operation to secure the integrated circuit in response to an activation of a corresponding pulse detection signal of one of the plurality of EMFI sensors.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Sonntag, Timothy Thomas Rueger
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Patent number: 11367336Abstract: A short-circuit isolator for electrically isolating a short circuit in a fire protection system includes a wireless communication module. The wireless communication module may transmit a status of short-circuit isolator and/or additional data that can be detected by a tool carried by an operator. The wireless communication module may additionally allow the operator to locate the short-circuit isolator, based on an intensity of a wireless signal from the wireless communication module.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2020Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventor: Andres Cordoba Galera
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Patent number: 11292404Abstract: A power supply system is installed in a vehicle having one or more sources of electrical energy. The power supply system includes at least two distributing boxes each having at least one internal distribution bus, at least two output switches and a driver processor. The internal distribution bus can be connected to the source or sources of electrical energy. The output switches for each supplies a different electrical consumer of the vehicle from the internal distribution bus. The driver processor controls the output switches so as to distribute a consumption load between the electrical consumers in association with different operating modes of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2019Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Patrick Savel, Jean Yves Stineau
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Patent number: 11228171Abstract: An electrical installation having a first source of power, such as the utility grid, and a second source of power from an electronic DC-to-AC converter, comprises a smart load center for selecting the source of power independently for each of a number of branch circuits protected by circuit breakers to be the first source or the second source. The smart load center comprises a software-controlled processor for operating the transfer relays that select the first or second source of power for each branch circuit. In the event that a current overload on a branch circuit connected to the DC-to-AC converter causes it to trip before the branch circuit breaker clears the overload, all circuits are transferred to the first power source to trip the fault breaker and then the microprocessor enters a restart sequence to verify that the fault is cleared or else to take other action.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2017Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Koolbridge Solar, Inc.Inventor: Paul Wilkinson Dent
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Patent number: 11152775Abstract: The invention includes an output circuit that outputs an operation signal to a direct current breaker that interrupts a direct current main circuit, and a processor that samples, at predetermined time intervals, digital data wherein a value detected by a direct current transformer that detects a current of the direct current main circuit is measured as an input current, calculates a computed measurement value to be output to a display circuit, and outputs control information for executing a protection process using measurement value sampling data obtained by the sampling to the output circuit, and executes a protection process of the direct current main circuit at every sampling.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2017Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Mamoru Togami, Toshihiko Miyauchi
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Patent number: 11082202Abstract: A system with fault injection attack detection can include a circuit block; at least one independent power network; a detector coupled to the at least one independent power network to detect a change in a power characteristic of the independent power network; and sensors coupled to the at least one independent power network and located in an active layer of a chip with the circuit block. The sensors are responsive to at least one type of fault injection attack. In some cases, the sensors can be inverters.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2018Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: ARM LIMITEDInventors: Subbayya Chowdary Yanamadala, Mikael Yves Marie Rien, Anish Dhanekula, Roma Rudra
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Patent number: 11024474Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for circuit breakers with integrated safety, control, monitoring, and protection features. In one aspect, a circuit breaker includes, an input and an output, a switch coupled between the input and the output, a sensor configured to measure the current flowing from the input to the output, and a control system coupled to the sensor and the switch, wherein the control system is configured to perform operations including comparing a rate of change of the current measured by the sensor to a threshold rate of change of current, determining that the rate of change of the current measured by the sensor exceeds the threshold rate of change of current for at least a predetermined period of time, and as a consequence of determining that the rate of change of current exceeds the threshold rate of change, opening the switch, thereby disconnecting the input from the output.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Jyoti Sastry, Anand Ramesh, Gregory E. Leyh, Ronald Scott Collyer, Arunava Majumdar, Ankit Somani
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Patent number: 10989764Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device (10) for localizing an insulation fault in an operating electrical equipment (8) connected to a power supply system (2). Fundamental function blocks of the invention are an electric monitoring device (12), which identifies an insulation fault and communicates a respective fault time to an identifying device (16) via a communication channel (14), said identifying device (16) identifying a faulty operating electrical equipment (8) by electrical equipment of a turning-on/-off signal progress characteristic to the particular operating electrical equipment (8).Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: BENDER GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Dirk Pieler, Joachim Wagner
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Patent number: 10890298Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods of detecting and providing an alert regarding the presence of liquid contamination in a pneumatic supply line and/or in a pneumatic instrument are described. A liquid detection device configured to be coupled to the pneumatic supply includes an electronic liquid sensor configured to detect the presence of liquid in the pneumatic supply and a wireless communicator configured to transmit data from the electronic liquid sensor to a wireless communication node. The liquid detection device may be installed at different locations along a pneumatic supply in a plant. The plant network can forward the transmitted message from the communication node onto a plant computer, where and alert or other message may be provided to an operator or other computer system when water or other liquid is detected.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2016Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLCInventor: Bruce F. Grumstrup
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Patent number: 10734990Abstract: A current detection circuit (4) detects a device current flowing in the semiconductor device (1). A voltage detection circuit (5) detects a device voltage applied to the semiconductor device (1). A temperature calculation device (6) has a table collecting device temperatures of the semiconductor device (1) respectively corresponding to plural collector currents and plural collector voltages, and reads out a device temperature corresponding to the device current detected by the current detection circuit (4) and the device voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit (5) from the table.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2016Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hideo Komo, Shoji Saito, Takeshi Omaru
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Patent number: 10666156Abstract: The present disclosure relates to power converters that convert power in different control modes based on the input voltage. For example, a power converter may include power conversion circuitry that receives electrical energy from an input at an input voltage and provides the electrical energy at an output voltage. The power converter may include control circuitry that receives a signal indicating the input voltage. The control circuitry may select a control mode from a plurality of control modes based at least in part on the input voltage. The control circuitry may control operation of the switch of the power conversion circuitry based at least in part on the control mode selected.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Bruce A. Hall, Sean D. Robertson
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Patent number: 10640059Abstract: A drive device includes: a first current path that has a high-side MOSFET; a second current path that has a low-side MOSFET; and a third current path connected to the other end portion of a coil and positioned between the first current path and the second current path. The drive device further includes: PWM drive circuits that generate a drive signal through PWM control; and an overcurrent detection circuit that detects that an overcurrent has flowed through the current paths. It is possible to precisely detect the occurrence of a battery short circuit and a ground short circuit by detecting which of the first current path and the second current path an overcurrent has flowed through.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2016Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.Inventor: Kento Yamashita
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Patent number: 10620675Abstract: The present discourse discloses an intelligent power distribution system and method, where the intelligent power distribution system includes: a load identification module, a management module, and an intelligent power distribution box. The management module is electrically connected to the load identification module and the intelligent power distribution box respectively. The load identification module is adapted to identify an electric device electrically connected to the intelligent power distribution system, acquire information of the electric device, and send the acquired information of the electric device to the management module. The management module is adapted to send, according to the information of the electric device sent by the load identification module, a circuit configuration instruction corresponding to the electric device.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2018Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.Inventors: Zhen Luo, Weifeng Duan, Qingyin Fang
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Patent number: 10599507Abstract: According to an aspect, a semiconductor apparatus includes semiconductor devices. Each semiconductor device includes: a state monitor that monitors a plurality of functions implemented by the semiconductor device, and outputs state monitoring signals; and an anomaly determination circuit that performs anomaly determination based on the state monitoring signals. When the anomaly determination circuit of a first semiconductor device detects that one or more of the functions of the semiconductor devices are abnormal based on a first anomaly determination result and a second anomaly determination result, the anomaly determination circuit of the first semiconductor device outputs an anomaly detection signal to the semiconductor devices.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Japan Display Inc.Inventors: Takuya Ito, Koji Shimizu
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Patent number: 10567854Abstract: A system includes first and second modules, each having a sensor and a processing circuit. First and second fault detection circuits are coupled with respective first and second modules. Each of the first and second fault detection circuits determines from a processed signal output from a corresponding module whether the module is faulted, prevents output of the processed signal when the module is faulted, and enables output of the processed signal when the module is not faulted. A signal processing unit combines the processed signals from the first and second modules to produce a first output signal when neither of the first and second modules is faulted, and the signal processing unit produces a second output signal by utilizing only the processed signal from a non-faulted one of the first and second modules when the other of the first and second modules is faulted.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Wayne Muddiman, Russell Joseph Lynch, Michael Collins
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Patent number: 10270253Abstract: A system for regulating reactive power flow of one or more inverters coupled to an electrical grid. The system includes one or more voltage regulators coupled between a voltage output of a feeder of the electrical grid and one or more inverters configured to generate or consume reactive power as a function of observed voltage. The one or more voltage regulators is configured to provide one or more output control voltages to control reactive power flow of the one or more inverters.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2015Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Varentec, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Kam, James Simonelli
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Patent number: 10262811Abstract: A control system for an electrical switching apparatus adapted to be installed in a medium voltage or high voltage electrical circuit. The control system includes at least a first module with first control means which are adapted to execute a first control logic, and a second module with second control means which are adapted to execute a second control logic; and at least one communication bus. The first control means and the second control means are adapted to be operatively connected to the at least one communication bus, and to share values of variables associated to the first control logic and to the second control logic through the at least one communication bus.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2016Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Gabriele Valentino De Natale, Fabio Mannino, Andrea Ricci, Andrea Crespi
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Patent number: 10243444Abstract: A power system for power conversion between at least one power source and a grid is disclosed. The power system includes a power converter having a plurality of semiconductor switches, configured to adapt a power supply to a desired output; and a controller for controlling the power converter in an active mode and an active standby mode, the controller configured to: determine to enter into the active mode or the active standby mode; based on the active mode or the active standby mode is determined, control the power converter to be in a gating state with the grid or to be in a non-gating state with the grid.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: DYNAPOWER COMPANY LLCInventors: Apurva Somani, John C. Palombini
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Patent number: 10236790Abstract: A system to detect application conditions exceeding SELV design limitations and to subsequently warn or take action. A pulse detector is coupled to the switching pole of an output FET of a SELV power supply through an optocoupler and tracks when the FET is commutated off to block conduction. If a pulse occurs more than once in a given period the power supply is declared to be outside of SELV design parameters and warnings are issued or actions are taken.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.Inventors: Kevin M Jefferies, Benjamin W Edwards, Matthew L White, Richard Karl Weiler
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Patent number: 10193481Abstract: A variable speed wind turbine is arranged to provide additional electrical power to counteract non-periodic disturbances in an electrical grid. A controller monitors events indicating a need to increase the electrical output power from the wind turbine to the electrical grid. The controller is arranged to control the wind turbine as follows: after an indicating event has been detected, the wind turbine enters an overproduction period in which the electrical output power is increased, wherein the additional electrical output power is taken from kinetic energy stored in the rotor and without changing the operation of the wind turbine to a more efficient working point. When the rotational speed of the rotor reaches a minimum value, the wind turbine enters a recovery period to re-accelerate the rotor to the nominal rotational speed while further contributing to the stability of the electrical grid by outputting at least a predetermined minimum electrical power.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventor: Germán Claudio Tarnowski
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Patent number: 10184969Abstract: A first electrical response of a capacitor bank is accessed, the capacitor bank including a plurality of capacitor units arranged in a fixed spatial relationship with each other, each capacitor unit having a nominal impedance; a test electrical signal is provided to the capacitor bank; a second electrical response of the capacitor bank is measured after providing the test electrical signal to the capacitor bank; the first electrical response of the capacitor bank and the second response of the capacitor bank are compared; and whether an impedance of one or more capacitor units in the capacitor bank has changed relative to the nominal impedance is determined based on the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power LimitedInventors: Mohammad Umar Hashmi, Michael Paul Nowak, Clay Lynwood Fellers, Karl Eric Fender, Santosh Kumar Sharma, Hassan Al-Atat, Damian Antonio Gonzalez, Nudurupati Naga Vasishta Pratap
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Patent number: 10184963Abstract: A power monitor includes a power conditioning circuit that provides conditioned power to a load. The power conditioning circuit includes at least one sensor to measure a power quality characteristic, e.g., input voltage, load current, temperature, etc. A terminal device implements a diagnostic tool for the power monitor and includes a processor to obtain data indicative of the power quality characteristic over a communication link with the power monitor. The data may be retrieved in response to a trigger condition. A user interface implemented on the terminal device displays the obtained power quality characteristic as at least one temporally varying waveform.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2013Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Electronic Systems Protection, Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Dawley, Richard J. Billingsley
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Patent number: 10120355Abstract: A vehicle load control device repeats a determination state in which at least one of a plurality of switching elements is turned off from an initial state in which the switching elements are all in an ON state until all of the switching elements have different ON/OFF states, and determines a connection form for each connection portion based on the change between an initial current value detected in the initial state and a determination current value detected for each determination state.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2017Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventors: Satoshi Morita, Yoshihide Nakamura, Yasuyuki Shigezane, Yoshinori Ikuta, Shuuji Satake
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Patent number: 10110158Abstract: Motor control systems and methods. A motor control system includes a temperature compensated power supply configured to receive a supply voltage and output a temperature compensated reference voltage. The reference voltage varies according to an ambient temperature of the motor control system. The motor control system includes a microcontroller configured to receive the temperature compensated reference voltage and a sensed motor current and to produce a corresponding pulse-width-modulated (PWM) motor control signal. The microcontroller is configured to increase a duty cycle of the PWM motor control signal as a function of the temperature compensated reference voltage. The motor control system includes a motor configured to be controlled according to the duty cycle of the motor control signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AGInventor: Donald E. Charles
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Patent number: 9997318Abstract: The disclosure relates to a relay having a relay contact, having an electrical connection terminal at which an electrical variable can be tapped off, a control connection for receiving a control signal for opening the relay contact, and a controller. The controller is configured to respond to the reception of the control signal by sensing a change of amplitude of the electrical variable and to open the electrical relay contact with a time delay when a rising amplitude of the electrical variable is sensed, in order to reduce an electrical loading on the relay contact. The controller is further configured to respond to the reception of the control signal by opening in a first disconnection process, to sense the amplitude of the electrical variable, to close the relay contact when the rising amplitude is sensed and to open it again, with a time delay, in a second disconnection process.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2017Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KGInventor: Elmar Schaper
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Patent number: 9735773Abstract: Systems and techniques detecting a reverse current are disclosed. An apparatus comprises a switching circuit coupled to a load and a reference node. The switching circuit may be capable of conducting a reverse current from the reference node to the load when a voltage at the load is lower than a voltage at the reference node. A voltage source has a first terminal coupled to the load, a second terminal configured to follow a voltage at the load, and produces a voltage proportional to a voltage drop across the switching circuit. A comparator circuit is coupled to compare a voltage at the second terminal of the voltage source to the voltage at the reference node and configured to indicate when the reverse current has a magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2014Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLCInventors: James McIntosh, Robert D. Christie, Douglas Bryce, Walter Morrison Stewart Wilson
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Patent number: 9570916Abstract: A method for compensating at least partially a frequency deviation in a grid is provided in which a grid frequency is determined and the grid frequency is applied to a grid frequency criterion. If the grid frequency meets the grid frequency criterion, a determination is made as to a set of wind turbines from a wind turbine power plant fleet based on the grid frequency criterion, and a command for a transient frequency response is transmitted to the set of wind turbines.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Kaj Skov Nielsen, Robert J. Nelson
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Patent number: 9346550Abstract: A method for deicing an aerostructure includes driving a sensing current through a heater element coated to an aerostructure, the heater element having a resistance that is temperature dependent. A resistance of the heater element is monitored. It is determined whether there is icing at the heater element using the monitored resistance of the heater element. A melting current is driven through the heater element when it is determined that there is icing at the heater element.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: MESOSCRIBE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Richard J. Gambino, Christopher Gouldstone, Jonathan Gutleber, David Hubble, Jason Trelewicz
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Patent number: 9279795Abstract: A flammable gas concentration detection apparatus (1) including an energization control unit (50) that switches the energization state of heating resistor (34) at regular time periods TW, and a gas concentration computation unit (7). The heating resistor has first and second set temperatures CH and CL. The voltage detected across the heating resistor at the first and second set temperatures corresponds to a high and low temperature voltage, respectively. The gas concentration computation unit computes the concentration of a flammable gas based on a first information group including an average high temperature voltage averaging the values of two temporally successive high temperature voltages, the low temperature voltage in a period of time between two high temperature voltages, and an environment temperature in the period of time in which the low temperature voltage is detected.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Yusuke Matsukura, Shoji Kitanoya, Masaya Watanabe
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Patent number: 9281545Abstract: A method of controlling discharge in a battery pack, including: measuring an ambient temperature of a battery cell and a voltage of the battery cell; a first discharge processing of discharging the battery cell until the voltage of the battery cell becomes a second voltage lower than a first voltage when the ambient temperature is higher than a first predetermined temperature and the voltage of the battery cell is higher than the first voltage; and a second discharge processing of discharging the battery cell until the voltage of the electrical battery cell becomes a fourth voltage lower than a third voltage when the ambient temperature is lower than the first predetermined temperature and the voltage of the battery cell is higher than the third voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2012Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventor: Tsuyoshi Nomura
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Patent number: 9257827Abstract: A quadrilateral distance module may be used to detect faults in an electrical power system. A resistive coverage of the quadrilateral distance module may be defined by an adaptive resistance blinder. The adaptive resistance blinder may be adapted to certain power system conditions, such as forward load flow and/or reverse load flow. A forward adaptive resistance blinder may be calculated in parallel with a reverse adaptive resistance blinder. The forward adaptive resistance blinder may use a polarizing quantity adapted for forward load flow conditions, and the reverse adaptive resistance blinder may use a polarizing quantity adapted for reverse load flow conditions. Fault detection may be performed by comparing both the forward and reverse adaptive resistance blinders to power system stimulus and detecting a fault when the stimulus satisfy either blinder.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2013Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Jorge Fernando Calero, Armando Guzman-Casillas, Gabriel Benmouyal
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Patent number: 9094306Abstract: Network power fault detection. At least one first network device is instructed to temporarily disconnect from a power supply path of a network, and at least one characteristic of the power supply path of the network is measured at a second network device connected to the network while the at least one first network device is temporarily disconnected from the network.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2013Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Martin Eckert, Roland Frech, Claudio Siviero, Jochen Supper, Otto A. Torreiter, Thomas-Michael Winkel
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Patent number: 9018881Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for diagnosing stator windings in an electric motor. An exemplary method for diagnosing stator windings in an electric motor involves determining an input energy imbalance across phases of the stator windings for an electrical period of the electric motor and identifying a fault condition when the input energy imbalance is greater than a first threshold value. In some embodiments, an input energy ratio across phases of the stator windings is also determined for the electrical period, wherein the fault condition is identified as a phase-to-phase short circuit fault condition when the input energy ratio is greater than a second threshold value and the input energy imbalance is greater than the first threshold value, or alternatively, as an in-phase short circuit fault condition when the input energy ratio is less than the second threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2013Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Xiaofeng Mao, Lei Hao
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Publication number: 20150062767Abstract: The protecting relay may include: an input conversion unit configured to receive the analog signal and sample the analog signal according to a pre-set sampling period; a multiplexer configured to selectively output any one of a plurality of signals output from the input conversion unit; a programmable gain amplifier (PGA) configured to set different gain values according to signals output from the multiplexer, and amplify a signal output from the multiplexer with a pre-set gain value; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to convert an analog signal output from the PGA into a digital signal; and a controller configured to determine whether the analog signal received through the input conversion unit includes a surge signal based on the plurality of sampled data which have been converted into the digital signal, and determine whether to perform a relay function based on the determination results.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: LSIS CO., LTD.Inventor: Kyung Won PARK
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Publication number: 20150062766Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting a defective amplifier. The device includes an electronic tripping unit which respectively carries out a check in order to determine whether the energy through the switch satisfies a condition and trips the switch if the condition has been satisfied; and an analog/digital converter respectively outputting the two differently amplified analog signals as digital values. In an embodiment of the method, a decision is made regarding which of the two digital values is used to check the condition. To detect defective amplifiers in the signal conditioning device of tripping units during ongoing operation, a check is carried out to determine whether at least one of the two digital values is in a predefined range; if so, whether the two digital values each belonging to the same time are in a predefined tolerance range. A fault is signaled if this is not the case.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventor: Stefan WIDMANN
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Publication number: 20150036250Abstract: An over-current and over-voltage protection circuit for an electronic cigarette, comprising a battery and an interface, a control unit and a charging detection switch unit; the control unit is configured for calculating an actual charging current according to the first working voltage and determining whether the actual charging current exceeds a preset charging current threshold value, and sending a first charging controlling signal to the charging detection switch unit; the control unit is further configured for real-timely detecting an input voltage of the interface, determining whether the input voltage of the interface is in over-voltage status, and controlling a turned-on or turned-off operation of the charging detection switch unit. The over-current over-voltage protection circuit and method eliminate the security risk of the battery pole not having a charging management circuit in the non-normal charging status.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2013Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventor: Zhiyong Xiang
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Patent number: 8946859Abstract: An integrated circuit chip including a plurality of parallel wells of alternated conductivity types formed in the upper portion of a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, and a device of protection against attacks including: between the wells, trenches with insulated walls filled with a conductive material, said trenches extending from the upper surface of the wells to the substrate; and a circuit capable of detecting a modification of the stray capacitance formed between said conductive material and a region of the chip.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2012Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SASInventors: Mathieu Lisart, Alexandre Sarafianos
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Publication number: 20150016000Abstract: A device including a system for preventing moisture damage to the device includes a processor and a module operable on the processor for monitoring for a predetermined capacitance criterion on a surface of the device. The device is automatically powered off in response to detecting the predetermined capacitance criterion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2013Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: Aaron J. Quirk, David A. Sakmar, Carlos L. Torres, Lin Sun, Rohith K. Ashok
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Publication number: 20150016001Abstract: A method, device and computer program product for preventing moisture damage to electronic circuitry of a device may include monitoring for a predetermined capacitance criterion on a surface of the device; and automatically powering off the device in response to detecting the predetermined capacitance criterion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2013Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: Aaron J. Quirk, David A. Sakmar, Carlos L. Torres, Lin Sun, Rohith K. Ashok
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Publication number: 20140355159Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an integration unit for protecting a power system from a failure includes an A/D converter configured to convert a quantity of electricity of a power system into digital data. The integration unit includes a communication interface unit configured to transmit the digital data to a process bus connected to a protection unit configured to protect the power system. The integration unit includes a relay calculation unit configured to execute a relay calculation operation to detect an abnormality of the power system based on the digital data and to output, based on the calculation operation result, a circuit breaking signal to trip and drive a circuit breaker inserted in the power system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Inventors: Hiroyuki Maehara, Shigeki Katayama, Tomonori Nishida, Michihiko Inukai
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Patent number: 8891216Abstract: A system that detects electrical disconnection of one connector from another connector includes a detection circuitry and a protection circuitry. The detection circuitry detects that a plug connector has been electrically disconnected from a corresponding receptacle connector. In response to the detection, the detection circuitry sends a signal to the protection circuitry. In response to the signal, the protection circuitry lowers or terminates power being supplied to a host device via one of the contacts of the plug connector. This helps to prevent shocks/shorts that may be caused by accidental disconnection of the plug connector.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2012Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Scott Mullins, Alexei Kosut, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi, Jahan Minoo