Voltage Patents (Class 361/86)
  • Patent number: 11606044
    Abstract: The present power conversion device includes an inverter, a step-up/down converter, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a voltage sensor, a control device, and a backup power supply. The auxiliary device is connected between the first DC power supply and the step-up/down converter, and the control device includes an abnormality determination unit configured to determine that an abnormality has occurred when a control voltage is equal to or lower than a first threshold value, and a control unit configured to execute discharge control when the abnormality determination unit determines that the abnormality has occurred and an inter-terminal voltage measured by the voltage sensor is equal to or lower than a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu Yamaguchi, Yuta Nakamura, Yasuhiko Kondo
  • Patent number: 11595034
    Abstract: A load switch includes a switch input, a switch output, a first field-effect transistor (FET), and a second FET. The switch input is adapted to be coupled to a controller output of a controller. The switch output is adapted to be coupled to a controller input of the controller. The first FET has a gate and a source. The gate of the first FET is coupled to the switch input. The second FET has a gate and a source. The gate of the second FET is coupled to the source of the first FET. The source of the second FET is coupled to the switch output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Cameron Wayne Phillips, Wenchao Qu, Tianhong Yang, Md Abidur Rahman
  • Patent number: 11573275
    Abstract: A device for detecting a leakage current generation condition in a universal serial bus (USB) interface including at least one pull-up circuit connected to the at least one power pin, and a port controller configured to detect at least one impedance between a ground pin and at least one power pin, detect a leakage current generation condition in the at least one power pin based on the at least one impedance detected, and activate a detection signal in response to the leakage current generation condition being detected, the port controller configured to detect the at least one impedance by controlling the at least one pull-up circuit to pull up the at least one power pin and detecting a voltage of the at least one power pin may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun-hye Ko, Je-kook Kim
  • Patent number: 11552632
    Abstract: A method includes detecting a signal on a switching node connected to a power switch, detecting a gate drive voltage of the power switch, during a gate drive process of the power switch, reducing a gate drive current based on a first comparison result obtained from comparing the signal with a first threshold, and during the gate drive process of the power switch, increasing the gate drive current based on a second comparison result obtained from comparing the gate drive voltage with a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: NuVolta Technologies (Hefei) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junxiao Chen, Yingying Yang
  • Patent number: 11531054
    Abstract: A circuit for detecting faults affecting a power transistor comprises a conditioning circuit, a first fault status circuit, and a fault signaling circuit. The power transistor is turned on and off by assertion and de-assertion, respectively, of an input signal. The conditioning circuit produces a conditioned gate voltage signal from a gate voltage of the power transistor. The first fault status circuit asserts a first fault indication when the conditioned gate voltage signal is greater than a first fault reference voltage during a first interval after the assertion of the input signal. The fault signaling circuit asserts a fault signal in response to the first fault indication being asserted, and de-asserting the fault signal in response to the input signal being de-asserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Taesung Kwon
  • Patent number: 11496125
    Abstract: A driver circuit controls a first switch element. A first resistor is connected between the driver circuit and the first switch element. A second switch element is connected to the first switch element. An overcurrent detector circuit controls the second switch element based on an overcurrent current flowing through the first switch element. A second resistor is connected between the overcurrent detector circuit and the second switch element. The first and second resistor is set such that a turn-off time of the first switch element when the second switch element is turned on by the overcurrent detector circuit is longer than a turn-off time of the first switch element when the first switch element is turned off by the driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Okada, Satoshi Iwai, Noriyuki Nosaka, Takeo Nishikawa, Kenji Kobayashi, Keiji Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 11455949
    Abstract: A drive device for a display panel, a drive method thereof and a display apparatus. The drive device for the display panel includes: a power management circuit and an internal driver circuit; wherein the power management circuit is configured to provide a first power supply voltage to a digital power supply terminal, the internal driver circuit is configured to convert a second power supply voltage provided by a power supply terminal into a third power supply voltage and provide the third power supply voltage to the digital power supply terminal, and the digital power supply terminal is configured to provide a drive voltage to the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignees: CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanni Jiang, Euncheol Eom, Guoqiang Wu
  • Patent number: 11451049
    Abstract: A device includes: a controller configured to output a contactor control signal for controlling an operation of a contactor; a system basis unit configured to monitor a state of the controller and to output a safety detection signal; an operation maintaining unit including a first level shifter configured to shift a voltage level of the safety detection signal, a second level shifter configured to shift a voltage level of the contactor control signal, a retention output unit configured to compare the voltage level of the first level shifter with the voltage level of the second level shifter and to output a retention output signal, and a timer output unit configured to output a timer output signal to output the retention output signal for a preset time; and a contactor driver configured to output a contactor driving signal based on the contactor control signal and the retention output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyu Sung Cho, Sang Taek Han, Seung Ho Han
  • Patent number: 11435411
    Abstract: A method can be used for fault detection of a transmission. The method includes obtaining instantaneous measurements of local voltages and local currents of the transmission line, obtaining filtered measurements of the local voltages and local currents by subjecting the measurements of the local voltages and local currents to low pass filtering, obtaining a compensated voltage calculated by subjecting the filtered measurements to a differential equation based algorithm, and performing fault detection by forming a ratio between the compensated voltage and the a reference voltage. An internal fault is determined when the ratio is below a threshold and an external fault is determined when ratio is larger than above the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: YouYi Li, Jianping Wang, Aken-Kai Liu
  • Patent number: 11408940
    Abstract: Passive monitoring the integrity of current sensing devices and associated circuitry in GFCI and AFCI protective devices is provided. A protection circuit interrupter employs a capacitively coupled noise signal obtained by an arrangement of one or both of the line side arms relative to a Rogowski coil. The noise signal is monitored while the line and load sides of a protective circuit interrupter are disconnected, and the connection of the line and load sides disabled if the noise signal fails to correlate sufficiently to a reference noise cycle. When the line and load sides are connected, the RMS value of the observed current signal is monitored such that the line and load sides are disconnected if the observed current signal fails to meet an RMS threshold. The observed current signal is compensated by subtracting the reference noise cycle prior to monitoring for the fault condition applicable to the protective device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary Michael Miller, William Vernon Miller, III, Edward Shi Chen
  • Patent number: 11411383
    Abstract: A leakage protection circuit can include: a pull-down current generation circuit coupled between output terminals of a rectifier circuit; and a control circuit configured to control the pull-down current generation circuit to generate a pull-down current during a predetermined time interval, and to determine whether leakage occurs in accordance with a voltage detection signal that is representative of an output voltage of the rectifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Longqi Wang, Jianxin Wang
  • Patent number: 11302504
    Abstract: A fuse control system and method using a defective mode detection, in which an overcurrent protective fuse and a signal fuse capable of performing a function under various conditions in order to protect a circuit are integrated. Thus, it is possible to protect the circuit even in states such as overvoltage, a high temperature, a low temperature, and other dangerous states in addition to an overcurrent state and a short-circuited state. In addition, it is possible to reduce a wide design space and design cost which result from various kinds of fuses being used in series, and to simplify a circuit configuration. Consequently, since circuit resistance is reduced, it is possible to have a positive influence on a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventor: Jae Chan Lee
  • Patent number: 11302971
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, one or more methods, and/or one or more processes may determine first multiple impedance values of respective multiple resistors associated with a barrier of an enclosure of a cell of a rechargeable battery that includes multiple cells; determine second multiple impedance values of the respective multiple resistors; determine multiple impedance value changes of the respective multiple resistors based at least on the first multiple impedance values and the second multiple impedance values; determine that at least a portion of the multiple impedance value changes exceed a threshold impedance value change; determine that the cell is compromised based at least on determining that the at least the portion of the multiple impedance value changes exceed the threshold impedance value change; and in response to determining that the cell is compromised, remove the cell from a topology of the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Karunakar Palicherla Reddy, Richard Christopher Thompson, Deeder M. Aurongzeb
  • Patent number: 11296594
    Abstract: A failure prediction system disclosed herein is configured to predict a failure of a power converter which converts output power of a power source to power for driving a traction motor. The system may include: a sensor provided at the power converter; and a controller configured to predict a failure of the power converter based on a measurement value of the sensor. The controller may be configured to: calculate a difference between previous and present measurement values of the sensor, wherein the controller repeatedly calculates the difference at predetermined time intervals; obtain intermediate data by applying variable conversion to a plurality of the past differences; calculate a damage level of the power converter based on the intermediate data; and output a warning signal in a case where the damage level exceeds a damage threshold, wherein the warning signal indicates that a timing when the failure occurs is approaching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masataka Deguchi
  • Patent number: 11196242
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter for interrupting an electric current in an electrical line is disclosed. The circuit interrupter includes an electronic circuit for monitoring and detecting a breaker fault condition. The electronic circuit is connected to a semiconductor switch for energizing a solenoid to trip a circuit breaker. A winding of the solenoid is energized to trip the circuit breaker. The solenoid is configured to have a center tap in the winding, such that there are two parts in the winding separated by the center tap. Further, upon detection of an open circuit condition in a part of the winding, the electronic circuit is configured to provide a trip signal to the circuit breaker using the other part of the winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Chandrashekar N, Raghava Kambham
  • Patent number: 11193442
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel injection control device capable of detecting individual differences in fuel injection valves and appropriately collecting information on the individual differences. For this reason, the fuel injection control device includes a fuel injection valve drive circuit that supplies a current or a voltage to a coil of a fuel injection valve to drive the fuel injection valve, a valve body operation time period detection unit that detects a valve body operation time period related to an operation of a valve body of the fuel injection valve, and a state determination unit that determines that at least one of the fuel injection valve, the valve body operation time period detection unit, and the fuel injection valve drive circuit is abnormal based on information related to a valve body operation time period detected by the valve body operation time period detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Itaba, Osamu Mukaihara
  • Patent number: 11171478
    Abstract: A power stage in an electronic fuse circuit is driven by controller. The controller includes a first comparator set for output voltage control and a second comparator set for output current control. Each comparator set includes at least one comparator having a reference input, a feedback input, and one or more outputs. A driver circuit includes output terminals for driving the power stage. The driver circuit includes a switch that is selectively activated in response to outputs from the first and second comparator sets to clamp the voltage across the output terminals of the driver circuit. The clamp operation is made in response to feedback input to either of the first and second comparator sets having exceeded a certain reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Manuela La Rosa, Giovanni Sicurella
  • Patent number: 11156672
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second power supply terminals to which a first power supply voltage is supplied, a third power supply terminal to which a second power supply voltage is supplied, a power supply wiring coupled to the first and second power supply terminals, an abnormality detection circuit which diagnoses the first power supply terminal, a first current generation circuit which flows a current from the power supply wiring to the third power supply terminal in a diagnosis, and a second current generation circuit which couples to the power supply wiring at a vicinity of the first power supply terminal and flows a current from the power supply wiring to the third power supply terminal in the diagnosis. And, the abnormality detection circuit compares a voltage of the first current generation circuit with a voltage of the second current generation circuit in the diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirotsugu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11152779
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a technique to prevent and/or reduce a terminal of an audio jack from being corroded due to residual moisture introduced into the audio jack. According to various embodiments of the disclosure, an electronic device may include an audio jack including a plurality of terminals including a first detection terminal and a second detection terminal; at least one processor functionally connected to the audio jack; and a memory. The memory may store instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, control the electronic device to: detect an occurrence of an insertion interrupt of an object in the audio jack through the first detection terminal, determine whether the object is a jack plug based on an impedance value measured through the second detection terminal, and stop applying a voltage to the first detection terminal when the object is determined not to be the jack plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daun Jung, Min Lee, Jinyoung Kim, Jongkwang Jung
  • Patent number: 11075601
    Abstract: A solar module includes one or more photovoltaic (PV) modules, a short-circuit switch connected in parallel with at least one of the one or PV modules, and a control unit connected in parallel with the short-circuit switch. The at least one of the one or more PV modules supplies electrical power to the control unit and is connectable via a first and a second module terminal to further solar modules to form a string. The control unit is configured to actuate the short-circuit switch depending on an insulation voltage dropped between a ground potential reference terminal of the solar module and one of the first and second module terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventor: Andreas Falk
  • Patent number: 11061425
    Abstract: A voltage stabilizer receives a direct-current (DC) input voltage, and includes four resistors, two transistors, and a diode that cooperatively provide a stable DC output voltage. The voltage stabilizer is configured such that the diode does not directly receive the DC input voltage and does not conduct all the time, so as to reduce power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: AdvanOrigin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Te-Hua Liu
  • Patent number: 11056891
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for battery stack monitoring and balancing. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a first low-pass filter (LPF) coupled between a first terminal and a first input node of a circuit that comprises a plurality of input nodes, wherein the first terminal is configured to be coupled to a positive terminal of a battery cell. A second LPF is coupled between the first terminal and a second input node of the circuit. A first circuit is coupled between the first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first circuit is configured to transmit current between the first and second terminals when activated, and wherein the second terminal is configured to be coupled to a negative terminal of the battery cell. A second circuit is coupled between the second and third input nodes, wherein the second circuit is configured to activate the first circuit in response to the second circuit receiving a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Savino Luigi Lupo
  • Patent number: 11048316
    Abstract: The present application provides a power-down detection circuit and a control method. A low-voltage side power supply is connected to provide an output voltage of the low-voltage side power supply to a power-down detection sub-circuit and provide a standard supply voltage to the power-down detection sub-circuit, a controller and a memory via a voltage conversion circuit. The power-down detection sub-circuit is configured to obtain the output voltage of the low-voltage side power supply, and determine, according to the output voltage of the low-voltage side power supply, whether a power-down event occurs in the low-voltage side power supply. If it is determined that a power-down event occurs, a power-down signal is sent to the controller. The controller receives the power-down signal, and controls the memory to record current information of a high voltage bus sensed by a high-voltage side current sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Yuqun Zeng, Kai Wu, Le Chu, Jianwei Zhuo, Qiandeng Li
  • Patent number: 11037859
    Abstract: To improve cooling capability, power conversion apparatus 1 that converts a direct current voltage into an alternating current voltage includes: first substrate 100 on which power conversion circuit 2 is mounted; second substrate 200 on which driving circuit 3 that drives power conversion circuit 2 is mounted; and shield plate 300 that is disposed between first substrate 100 and second substrate 200, and first substrate 100 is a metal substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayata Onaga, Tomonari Nebashi
  • Patent number: 11002766
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining different measurements of voltages across terminals of a field device coupled to an I/O loop. The voltage measurements are associated with corresponding loop currents flowing through the I/O loop. The method also includes identifying a baseline loop resistance measurement of the I/O loop using the voltage measurements and the loop currents. The method further includes obtaining additional measurements of voltages across the terminals of the field device. The additional voltage measurements are associated with additional corresponding loop currents flowing through the I/O loop. The method also includes identifying additional loop resistance measurements of the I/O loop using the additional voltage measurements and the additional loop currents. In addition, the method includes detecting a problem with the I/O loop based on the baseline loop resistance measurement and the additional loop resistance measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Supriya Rawat, Sharad Gitaram Pathare, Sarabjit Singh, Anant Vitthal Vidwans
  • Patent number: 10935587
    Abstract: A system and related method for determining whether an electrical circuit has been compromised. The system includes a circuit probe positioned relative to the electrical circuit that detects electromagnetic circuit emissions therefrom and an analysis device electrically coupled to the circuit probe and receiving electromagnetic emissions detection signals therefrom, where the analysis device identifies constituent frequencies and their magnitudes in the detection signals. The system also includes a comparison processor responsive to the constituent frequencies and magnitudes from the analysis device, where the comparison processor compares the constituent frequencies and magnitudes to previously stored constituent frequencies and magnitudes obtained from an equivalent test circuit to the electrical circuit to determine whether the electrical circuit has been compromised. A background probe can be provided to obtain background emissions that can be subtracted from the circuit emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth F. McKinney, Kenneth R. Weidele, Geoffrey R. Janjua, Allan T. Hilchie, Kirk L. Haderlie
  • Patent number: 10916931
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes: monitoring a temperature difference between two double-side cooled (DSC) power modules of a plurality of DSC power modules arranged in stacks of DSC power modules; comparing the temperature difference with a first temperature threshold; detecting a cooling pipe system blockage when the temperature difference is above the first temperature threshold; and after detecting the cooling pipe system blockage, disabling gate driver circuits coupled to the plurality of DSC power modules or operating the DSC power modules in a low-power mode. Each stack includes a plurality of DSC power modules. Each DSC power module has a top surface and a bottom surface, which are each thermally coupled with one or more cooling channels of a cooling pipe system. The two DSC power modules are thermally coupled with a same cooling channel of the one or more cooling channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Tomas Manuel Reiter, Tom Roewe, Inpil Yoo
  • Patent number: 10879823
    Abstract: Enhanced motor power control circuitry is presented herein. In one implementation, a circuit includes power transistor elements in a half-bridge arrangement configured to selectively switch current for a phase of a motor according to control signals applied to corresponding gate terminals. The circuit also includes control circuitry configured to produce the control signals to achieve target states among the power transistor elements. The control signals have ramp rates determined based at least on polarities of the current through the power transistor elements during inactive states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Michael Edwin Butenhoff, Rakesh Raja, Nicholas James Oborny
  • Patent number: 10873162
    Abstract: An example electronic device includes a first switch and a second switch that are each coupled to an overvoltage detection and protection circuit. The first switch is configured to connect a first sideband use (SBU) terminal of a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) controller to a SBU crossbar switch of the USB-C controller. The second switch is configured to connect a second SBU terminal of the USB-C controller to the SBU crossbar switch. The overvoltage detection and protection circuit is configured to deactivate the first switch or the second switch when a voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold is detected on a terminal of the first switch or the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Partha Mondal, Arun Khamesra, Hemant P. Vispute
  • Patent number: 10862422
    Abstract: A wire connection terminal for a photovoltaic string is provided. The wire connection terminal includes: a terminal connector, a fuse and a printed circuit board (PCB). The terminal connector is connected to a positive electrode or a negative electrode of the photovoltaic string. The fuse is configured to prevent the photovoltaic string from outputting an excessive current. The PCB is configured to sample an output current and an output voltage of the photovoltaic string, communicate with an inverter, and control the photovoltaic string to disconnect from a direct current bus and output abnormal data for display when the output current and/or the output voltage of the photovoltaic string is abnormal or a system failure occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SUNGROW POWER SUPPLY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Tao, Nianan Pan, Zhiqiang Han, Ai Wang
  • Patent number: 10859624
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second semiconductor chips mounted on one package. In the first semiconductor chip, a current generation circuit generates a sense current in accordance with a load current and a fault current indicating that an abnormality detection circuit has detected an abnormality, and allows either one of the currents to flow through a current detecting resistor in accordance with presence or absence of detection of the abnormality. In the second semiconductor chip, a storage circuit stores a current value of the fault current obtained in an inspection process of the semiconductor device as a determination reference value. An arithmetic processing circuit sets a standard range based on the determination reference value, and determines presence or absence of detection of the abnormality based on whether or not a current value indicated by a digital signal of an analog-digital conversion circuit is included within the standard range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Uemura, Osamu Soma
  • Patent number: 10855277
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide circuitry connecting an output of voltage reference circuitry powered by a relatively high voltage to an input of a voltage buffer configured to generate a voltage lower than the high voltage. The connecting circuitry prevents the high voltage from reaching the input of the voltage buffer. One example electronic circuit generally includes a voltage reference circuit configured to be powered by a relatively higher voltage, a buffer circuit configured to generate a relatively lower voltage as compared to the relatively higher voltage, and circuitry coupled between an output of the voltage reference circuit and an input of the buffer circuit, the circuitry being configured to prevent the higher voltage from reaching the input of the buffer circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Kshitij Yadav
  • Patent number: 10817450
    Abstract: A USB apparatus and an operation method thereof are provided. The USB apparatus includes a USB connector, a terminal resistor circuit, and an overvoltage protection circuit. The terminal resistor circuit includes a terminal resistor and a terminal switch connected to each other in series. The terminal resistor and the terminal switch jointly provide a current path between a configuration channel (CC) pin of the USB connector and a reference voltage. The terminal switch is turned on during a configuration detection period. During a power saving period after the configuration detection period ends, the overvoltage protection circuit controls the terminal resistor circuit to turn off the terminal switch. The overvoltage protection circuit detects an overvoltage event at the CC pin. When an overvoltage event occurs at the CC pin, the overvoltage protection circuit controls the terminal resistor circuit to turn on the terminal switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventor: Yu-Chung Wei
  • Patent number: 10813385
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a heating element configured to convert electricity to heat and thereby vaporize components of an aerosol precursor composition, and a control component coupled to and configured to controllably power the heating element. The control component includes a buck regulator circuit coupled to the heating element, and an operational amplifier circuit coupled to the heating element and buck regulator circuit. The buck regulator circuit is configured to step down voltage and step up current from a power source to the heating element to thereby power the heating element. The operational amplifier circuit is configured to amplify an output voltage from the heating element to produce a higher voltage that is fed back to the buck regulator circuit, which is configured to use the higher voltage to regulate an output voltage from the buck regulator circuit to the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Rajesh Sur
  • Patent number: 10819108
    Abstract: The invention relates to an overvoltage protection circuit, particularly in system where the load is remote from a regulated power supply and relates to an electric power supply system comprising such overvoltage protection circuit. The invention further relates to a downhole tractor comprising such overvoltage protection circuit, and to a tethered subsea vehicle comprising the overvoltage protection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Altus Intervention (Technologies) AS
    Inventor: Darrell S. Sonne
  • Patent number: 10788873
    Abstract: A power control circuit includes a first power supply circuit configured to supply power to a universal serial bus upon a motherboard is turned on. When the motherboard is turned on, a first power source outputs a first voltage to a first input terminal of a double diode of the first power supply circuit, a second power source outputs a second voltage to a second input terminal of the double diode, an output terminal of the double diode outputs a first voltage, the first voltage controls the first electronic switch to switch on, and a third power supply outputs a second voltage through a first electronic switch of the first power supply circuit to provide power to the universal serial bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WuHan) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qiu-Yun Shi
  • Patent number: 10747190
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an industrial control apparatus that minimizes the increase in time taken for detecting a short-circuit in the apparatus and the decrease in the number of unoccupied terminals of a microcomputer due to detection of a short-circuit event. The industrial control apparatus includes first and second voltage supplying units, first and second circuits, an amplification command circuit, and a voltage amplifier incorporated into the first circuit. The amplification command circuit compares the input signal from the first circuit with that of the second signal, and if the comparison results in agreement, outputs to the voltage amplifier an amplification command signal indicating an amplification factor that allows a pre-amplified signal inputted to the voltage amplifier after being amplified to have a voltage out of the range of detecting connection or non-connection of the first input device to the first circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Takaaki Maekawa
  • Patent number: 10739834
    Abstract: A power supply architecture provides for the efficient distribution and failsafe monitoring of power in a microcontroller system. The power supply architecture incorporates various components with high integrity and diverse monitoring schemes that allow the associated control processors to operate with high safety standards. The various embodiments provide an integrated method or apparatus for an electronic module safety architecture which includes diversity, time and space independence for power supplies for the various microprocessors and control communication buses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC
    Inventors: Kerfegar K. Katrak, Paul Yuska
  • Patent number: 10727681
    Abstract: A charge/discharge control circuit includes: a first power supply terminal connected to a first electrode of a secondary battery; a second power supply terminal connected to a second electrode of the secondary battery; a charge control terminal connected to a discharge control switch and a charge control switch; a detection terminal; a control circuit; and an output circuit configured to output a charge control signal from the charge control terminal, and configured to output a first voltage when a charger is connected and the control circuit permits charging, and to output a voltage of the detection terminal which differs from the first voltage when the charger is connected and the control circuit prohibits charging. The output circuit is capable of outputting a voltage of the second power supply terminal which differs from the first voltage when the charger is not connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventor: Fumihiko Maetani
  • Patent number: 10680432
    Abstract: Redundancy in over-voltage fault protection may be provided by controlling switches already present in a power path of a port for an information handling system. An external device coupled to a port may be decoupled from the system when an over-voltage condition is detected at another port of the information handling system. To decouple an external device upon detection of an over-voltage condition, a switch coupled to the port and the external device is turned off. A battery may also be decoupled from a port upon detection of an over-voltage condition at another port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Mohammed Hijazi, Merle J. Wood, III, Wei-Cheng Yu, Tsung-Cheng Liao, Geroncio O. Tan
  • Patent number: 10637232
    Abstract: An internal electric circuit device that is connected to a connector terminal at the time of being short-circuited can be protected, but a load connected to the connector terminal has not been able to be protected. When a voltage of a cathode of a diode becomes a voltage equal to or more that an output voltage of a power source circuit by a short circuit of a positive terminal, an output voltage of an amplifier changes from the output voltage of the power source circuit to a voltage of a point connected to a negative power terminal of the OP amplifier. When the output voltage of the amplifier becomes 0 V, a voltage difference between the gate and the source of a switching element becomes equal to or more than a predetermined voltage. Therefore, the drain and the source of the switching element enter an open state, and the current flowing a negative terminal is blocked. Therefore, it is possible to protect a load from overcurrent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Issei Toda, Satoru Shigeta
  • Patent number: 10630068
    Abstract: A system, a switch assembly and an associated method. The system includes a number of switch assemblies, each including a switch module, isolation circuits, a detection unit, and a drive unit. The switch module includes power switch devices connected in parallel. The switch modules are connected in series. The isolation circuits each are connected in series to a gate terminal of at least one corresponding power switch device of the power switch devices. Each isolation circuit includes a capacitor or a controllable switch. The detection unit detects faults in at least one of the power switch devices. The drive unit is coupled to the switch module via the isolation circuits for driving the power switch devices of the corresponding switch module, and when the fault is detected, the drive unit is for turning on the power switch devices parallel connected to the at least one of faulty power switch devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zhihui Yuan, He Xu, Jie Shen, Fan Zhang, Stefan Schroeder
  • Patent number: 10608575
    Abstract: An abnormality diagnosis apparatus performs an abnormality diagnosis of a system equipped with a rotary electric machine (21). The abnormality diagnosis apparatus includes: an abnormality detection section that detects an abnormality of the system; a fail-safe processing section that, when the abnormality detection section detects an abnormality, performs a fail-safe process for controlling the rotary electric machine on a safe side; an abnormality signal generation section that, when the system is in a normal state, generates a false abnormality signal assuming that an abnormality that requires the fail-safe process has occurred; and an operation check section that performs, on the basis of the false abnormality signal generated by the abnormality signal generation section, an operation check for checking whether the fail-safe process operates normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinsuke Kawazu
  • Patent number: 10594133
    Abstract: An overvoltage protection arrangement includes a signal lead, a switch, and a comparator. The signal lead has a device segment and a bus segment. The switch is connected in series between the device segment and the bus segment. The comparator is operably connected to the switch to open the switch in response to sustained application of overvoltage to the bus segment of the signal lead. Aircraft electrical systems and methods of controlling voltage applied to electrical devices in electrical systems are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Charles Eberts, Joseph A. James
  • Patent number: 10553578
    Abstract: Provided are an electronic device and control method therefor. The electronic device may include: a first electronic component; a second electronic component electrically connected to the first electronic component via a first line, where the second electronic component receives a data signal from the first electronic component via the first line; and a third electronic component electrically connected to the first electronic component via a second line and electrically connected to the second electronic component. At least a portion of the second line is substantially parallel to at least a portion of the first line. The third electronic component is configured to compare an electrical signal received via the second line to a reference signal and determine whether an electrostatic discharge (ESD) has occurred based on the comparison result, and the second electronic component is configured to control the first electronic component based on the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jongjin Baek, Dongchul Song, Yongbok Lee, Jaeyoung Jang
  • Patent number: 10470497
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for assembling cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. The cartridges may be assembled by transporting carriages between various substations at which parts are added to a base. In another assembly method, the base may be moved between a plurality of robots which direct the base downwardly into contact with components to couple the components therewith. An inspection system may inspect the cartridges at various stages of completion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Timothy Brian Nestor, Jack Gray Flinchum, Jr., Wayne Douglas Brown, Nicholas Harrison Watson, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Paul Andrew Brinkley, James Robert Covino, John DePiano, Edward Louis Dickinson, Eugene R. Harris, Kevin Edward Keough, David Jay Smith, John Hook, Michael LaCourse, Robert Metcalf, Steven Hart, David Pelletier, Marc Bourque, Nathaniel Cambray, John William Wolber, James William McClellan, Steven R. Mongillo, Frank S. Silveira, Michael Laine, Quentin Paul Guenther, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10418936
    Abstract: A fault detection and positioning system for a cell panel in a large-scale photovoltaic array, includes a first photovoltaic panel fault detection and positioning system, a second photovoltaic panel fault detection and positioning system, and/or a third photovoltaic panel fault detection and positioning system. The detection and positioning system can detect faults of panels in the photovoltaic array in real time, especially accurately positioning a photovoltaic panel in which a fault occurs; the number of sensors can be minimized, so that the detection costs can be reduced; and the system can be easily implemented and mounted in existing power stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: SUZHOU RADIANT PHOTOVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jianrong Xu, Feng Zhou, Fei Xu, Yufeng Xie, Lecheng Zhou, Wenzhong Bao
  • Patent number: 10404446
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes: determining a power mode of a device; setting a first reference voltage level and a second reference voltage level based at least in part on the power mode; and using at least one of the first reference voltage level and the second reference voltage level for comparison against incoming data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Hua Beng Chan, Rex Wong Tak Ying, Ricky Setiawan, Obaida Mohammed Khaled Abu Hilal
  • Patent number: 10338122
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting a fault in an electrical network (1) through which an AC current flows, the method comprising a step of acquiring three samples (S1, S2, S3) of a sinusoidal signal (S) that is representative of the current flowing in the network (1), the acquisition of each sample being spaced apart by a fixed sampling time (T), a step of calculating an amplitude (A) of the signal (S), the calculation of the amplitude (A) depending solely on the three acquired samples (S1, S2, S3) and being independent of the sampling time (T), a step of determining a fault if the calculated amplitude (A) is above a first predetermined threshold or if the calculated amplitude (A) is below a second predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Guillaume Verneau, Nathalie Baumes
  • Patent number: 10288297
    Abstract: A movable cooking appliance comprises a structure which is adapted to be placed on a kitchen worktop appliance or inside a cooking oven appliance and includes a heating element and releasable connector assembly for making electrical connection with power supply connectors. The heating element is an induction heating element and an electronic driving unit is mounted on the appliance. The releasable connector assembly comprising a plug connector having a plurality of terminals designed in order to provide a disconnection signal to the electronic unit before the power supply connectors are fully extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Diego Neftali Gutierrez, Gianpiero Santacatterina, Francesco Farachi