With Specific Voltage Responsive Fault Sensor Patents (Class 361/88)
- With resistor sensor (Class 361/91.2)
- Including time delay (Class 361/91.3)
- Including photo-coupling (e.g., photo-receptors, photo-emitters, etc.) (Class 361/91.4)
- Including P-N junction (e.g., a diode, a zener diode, or transistor) (Class 361/91.5)
- Protection by snubber circuitry (Class 361/91.7)
- Protection for thyristor (Class 361/91.8)
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Patent number: 12212263Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a motor driving apparatus and a method. More specifically, a motor driving apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: an electric motor; an inverter that drives the electric motor using a plurality of high-side switching elements and low-side switching elements; a rotary switch that connects the electric motor and the inverter to each other; and a controller that identifies a switching element in which a malfunction has occurred in a case where a malfunction has occurred in the inverter connected to the electric motor and performs control of the rotary switch such that connection with the identified switching element is cut out, and a switching element not connected to the electric motor is connected.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2022Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATIONInventor: KwangHyung Lee
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Patent number: 12176827Abstract: To allow reliable current measurement of the output current of the switching stage of an inverter, especially at switching frequencies of the semiconductor switches in the 100 kHz range, a voltage at the choke is measured and integrated over time to be representative for the leg current in the choke. The time integral is processed in a processing unit, whereas the processed time integral is used in an inverter controller for controlling the inverter. The voltage at the choke is analogously integrated over time by two serially connected integrator capacitors, whereas across each of the integrator capacitors a reset switch is provided, for alternately resetting the corresponding integrator capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2021Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: Fronius International GmbHInventors: Philipp Luger, Friedrich Oberzaucher
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Patent number: 12107457Abstract: A system and method is provided to provide power to a load or electronic equipment which includes a multi-pole switch that connects the input of the load or electronic equipment to a first AC source or a DC source or an optional second AC source created from the DC source through a DC-AC converter. The connection to the DC source is either direct or through a DC-DC converter that provides voltage adjustment or isolation. A controller changes the position of the switch in response to the sensing of the presence and magnitude of the sources or in response to an external command to select a preferred source.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2022Date of Patent: October 1, 2024Inventor: Ravisekhar Nadimpalli Raju
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Patent number: 12082924Abstract: An analyte sensor apparatus including a sensing portion including one or more electrodes including a working electrode and one or more contacts for electrically connecting the sensor portion to control circuitry (e.g., a printed circuit board assembly, PCBA); and a circuit comprising the one or more contacts; wherein the circuit detects an electrical connection between the control circuitry without requiring exposure of the sensing portion to a fluid.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.Inventors: David Yueh-Hua Choy, Ellis Garai, Melissa Tsang, Anuj M. Patel
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Patent number: 12029003Abstract: An apparatus and a method of use are disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a disaggregated fault tolerant backplane having a front side and a back side with at least two daughter card slots configured on the front side and configured to receive slot fanout signals over the backplane. The apparatus further comprises at least two switch boards (SBs) configured to provide electrical power to the at least two daughter card slots and at least one main fanout board (MFB) configured to send and receive SB control signals to and from the at least two SBs. The at least one MFB connects to the backplane through at least one MFB connector configured on the back side of the backplane. In one embodiment, the MFB receives control signals from the daughter card slots and sends slot fanout signals to the daughter card slots.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2021Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: NOVO SPACE, CO.Inventors: Facundo Ignacio Jorge, Rodrigo Jesus Diez
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Patent number: 11967470Abstract: A method for determining contact thickness change in a contactor includes sensing a first displacement distance moved by an armature of the contactor from a reference location to a first transition point during a switch-off operation of the contactor at a first contactor life reference time when movable contacts and fixed contacts of the contactor define a first contact thickness. The method further includes sensing a second displacement distance moved by the armature from the reference location to a second transition point during a switch-off operation at a second contactor life reference time that is after the first contactor life reference time when the movable and fixed contacts define a second contact thickness that is less than the first contact thickness. The first displacement distance and the second displacement distance are used to determine a contact thickness change between the first contact thickness and the second contact thickness. A contactor adapted to implement the method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Junfeng Liao, Benfeng Tang
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Patent number: 11942774Abstract: An arc fault detector includes slew-rate-detection, envelope-step-detection, and first and second controller units. The slew-rate-detection-unit determines a slew rate of the electric current in the first electric line, comparing the slew rate with a threshold, and outputting a slew-rate-detection-signal on a second output when the determined slew rate is higher than the threshold. The envelope-step-detection-unit determines change of an envelope-value of a predefined frequency band of the broadband measurement signal within a predefined timespan, and outputs an envelope-step-detection-signal on a third output when the change is higher than a threshold change. The first controller-unit, connected to second and third outputs, outputs a second arc-detection-signal on a fourth output when it receives slew-rate and frequency-detection signals within a first detection-window.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2020Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITEDInventors: Werner Dichler, Guenter Martinek
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Patent number: 11821934Abstract: A power supply control apparatus detects a failure of a semiconductor switch element in a switching circuit having semiconductor series circuits each having semiconductor switch elements connected in series with reverse polarities. The power supply control apparatus includes a reference resistance value storing unit storing information on a combined resistance value between an input and an output of the switching circuit, a conduction current detection unit configured to detect a current flowing through the switching circuit, a potential difference detection unit configured to detect an input-output potential difference between the input and the output of the switching circuit, a voltage drop calculation unit configured to calculate an assumed voltage drop, a voltage comparison unit configured to compare the input-output potential difference with the assumed voltage drop, and a failure identification unit configured to identify a failure of the semiconductor switch element.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventor: Hiromichi Hanaoka
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Patent number: 11777150Abstract: A battery module includes a set of power contacts, a set of signal contacts and a battery pack operable to deliver electrical power to the set of power contacts. An electronic isolation system is operable to electrically disconnect and connect the battery pack and the set of power contacts. An electronic control system is electrically connected to the electronic isolation system and to one of the set of signal contacts or the set of power contacts. The electronic control system is operable to measure a parameter associated with one of the battery module and an electrical device and to compare the parameter to a predefined value. The electronic isolation system connects the battery pack to the set of power contacts based on a positive result of the comparison, and disconnects the battery pack and the set of power contacts based on a negative result of the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: SPARKCHARGE, INC.Inventors: Christopher R. Ellis, Richard Whitney
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Patent number: 11749980Abstract: The method for using semiconductor intelligence line of the invention, which is to set the semiconductor intelligence line on the drain source voltage axis of the first semiconductor output characteristic, has a gate voltage setting, which indicates the function of limiting the application limit of the drain source current on the output characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Inventor: Chao-Cheng Lu
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Patent number: 11695330Abstract: A switched power circuit to control a common-mode signal. The switched power circuit includes a first switch and a second switch configured to generate switch mode voltage between a first node and a second node. The switched power circuit further includes a feedback circuit that is configured to detect common-mode voltage generated between the first node and the second node by a first signal generated by the first switch and a second signal generated by the second switch, and incrementally adjust a timing parameter of the first signal to adjust the common-mode signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited CompanyInventors: Ciaran Brennan, Brian K. Jadus, Keith W. Bennett
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Patent number: 11652364Abstract: A power control device for controlling an electrical load. The system includes decision logic to implement a local response responsive to events currently occurring in a power grid. The power control device includes a user interface allowing programming the response to the grid imbalance to adapt that response to the particular application in which the load operates.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2019Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: SYSTEMEX ENERGIES INC.Inventor: Simon Jasmin
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Patent number: 11641198Abstract: A gate driver circuit includes first through third transistors, a first voltage clamp, and control logic. The first transistor has a first control input and first and second current terminals. The first current terminal couples to a first voltage terminal. The first voltage clamp couples between the first voltage terminal and the first control input. The second transistor couples between the first control input and the second voltage terminal. The third transistor couples between the first control input and the second voltage terminal. The third transistor is smaller than the second transistor. The control logic is configured to turn on both the second and third transistors to thereby turn on the first transistor, and the first control logic configured to turn off the second transistor after the first transistor turns on while maintaining in an on-state the third transistor to maintain the first transistor in the on-state.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2021Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Ahmed Essam Hashim, Karthikeyan Kandaswamy, Abhishek Badarinath
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Patent number: 11574902Abstract: A system includes a clamp network coupled between an input and an output and configured to clamp a voltage between the input and the output to a first clamp voltage based on the presence of a trigger signal and to a second clamp voltage based on the absence of the trigger signal. The second clamp voltage is greater than the first clamp voltage and the first clamp voltage is less than a breakdown voltage of the power transistor device. A detector circuit is coupled to the input and the output. A power transistor device may also be coupled between the input and the output. The detector circuit is configured to detect a pulse signal at the input or the output while the power transistor device is off and to generate the trigger signal for a time interval based on detecting the pulse signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2019Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Eung Jung Kim, Kyle Clifton Schulmeyer, Sualp Aras, Md Abidur Rahman, Xiaochun Zhao
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Patent number: 11539332Abstract: An amplification circuit includes a switch circuit, an amplifier, and a control circuit. The switch circuit has a first terminal coupled to a radio frequency signal input terminal or a system voltage terminal, a second terminal coupled to an input terminal of the amplifier, and a control terminal configured to receive a control signal. The amplifier amplifies a radio frequency signal. The control circuit generates the control signal according to a driving current generated by the amplifier. When the control circuit determines that the amplifier operates in a high power mode, the control circuit controls the control signal to adjust a conducting level between the first terminal and the second terminal of the switch circuit according to the intensity of the driving current.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: RichWave Technology Corp.Inventors: Chih-Sheng Chen, Tien-Yun Peng
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Patent number: 11519954Abstract: An apparatus and methods to operate the same to provide fast fault-detection on power semiconductor devices such as power transistors are disclosed. In some embodiment, a desaturation based fault-detection circuit for a power transistor is provided. The fault-detection circuit has an adaptable blanking time and a disconnect switch in the blanking mechanism that allow for quick enabling of fault-detection mechanisms to achieve fast fault detection times on power semiconductor devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited CompanyInventors: Deepak Gunasekaran, Michael John Collins, Kenneth G. Richardson, Art Zirger, Steven Tanghe, Brian Jadus
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Patent number: 11472354Abstract: Provided is a vehicle controller that can suppress increase in startup time due to increase in the number of function portions related to communication. The invention includes a power supply unit 3 that is capable of supplying or shutting off operating power to a microcomputer 2 that communicates with other electronic control units through CAN channels (CAN1, CAN2), and communication controllers 4 and 6 that are respectively provided in the multiple CAN channels (CAN 1, CAN 2) used for communication of the microcomputer 2.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2018Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.Inventors: Shuhei Kaneko, Kenichi Osada
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Patent number: 11360156Abstract: Method, device and system for determining a line property in the form of an arc on a power transmission line, wherein at least one test signal is coupled into the power transmission and an interference signal at an interference point, which is formed by the arc, is generated along the power transmission line with the aid of the at least one test signal, which interference signal is acquired as at least one measuring signal, and the line property is determined from the at least one measuring signal, where the line property is determined by detecting at least one intermodulation product from the at least one test signal and the mains signal of the power transmission line in the at least one measuring signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Robert Frankenberg, Gottfried Ira
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Patent number: 11349300Abstract: The invention relates to a grounding fault protection method for a high-voltage capacitor of a direct-current filter. The method comprises the following steps of acquiring a head end voltage u and an unbalanced current iT2 of a direct-current filter, and acquiring a discrete head end voltage and unbalanced current sequence; calculating a virtual capacitance Czd; determining a protection setting value Cset according to the bridge arm capacitance of the high-voltage capacitor, and when the virtual capacitance Czd is larger than the protection setting value Cset, protecting and judging to be an internal fault; otherwise, protecting and judging to be an external fault.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2021Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: TIANJIN UNIVERSITYInventors: Yongli Li, Yunke Zhang, Jinzhao Song
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Patent number: 11303108Abstract: One example includes a relay device that is comprised of a galvanic isolation barrier, a protection control and power extractor, and an electronic switch. The galvanic isolation barrier is coupled to an input of the relay device and receives a switch control signal and outputs another switch control signal. The protection control and power extractor is coupled to an output of the galvanic isolation barrier. The protection control and power extractor extracts power from a power supply coupled to the relay device. The protection control and power extractor is responsive to the other switch control signal and generates a protection signal in response to a determination of an operating parameter of the relay device. The protection control and power extractor further outputs an electronic switch device signal based on the generated protection signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Barry J. Male, Miroslav Oljaca, David W. Stout, Ajinder Singh
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Patent number: 11228912Abstract: Wireless communication enabled circuit breakers are described. Methods associated with such wireless communication enabled circuit breakers are also described. The wireless communication enabled circuit breakers may controlled by a remote entity. The remote entity may wirelessly case the wireless communication enabled circuit breakers to trip.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2018Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.Inventors: Scott Freeman, Abhishek Golwala, Rejaul Monir, Michael Ostrovsky, Alfred J. Lombardi, Ozgur Keser, Adam Kevelos, Paul Soccoli, Justin Berghoff
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Patent number: 11005382Abstract: In an isolated DC-DC converter, in response to a switching transistor connected to the primary winding of a transformer turning off, a turn-on control circuit turns on a synchronous rectification transistor on the secondary side. A turn-off control circuit determines the turn-off time point of the synchronous rectification transistor by charging a capacitor with a current commensurate with the magnitude of an induced voltage appearing in the secondary wiring of the transformer during the on-period of the switching transistor and, after the synchronous rectification transistor turns on, discharging the capacitor with a current commensurate with the output voltage of the DC-DC converter.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hideo Hara
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Patent number: 10972016Abstract: A power conversion system including a first converter configured to convert an input voltage into a plurality of discrete voltages. A second converter configured to convert the plurality of discrete voltages into a plurality of modulated voltages. Each modulated voltage of the plurality of modulated voltages comprises two voltage levels equal, respectively, to two of the discrete voltages of the plurality of discrete voltages. A selection unit configured to alternatively output each modulated voltage of the plurality of modulated voltages across a pair of output terminals.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2019Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Meir Gazit, Menashe Walsh
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Patent number: 10964490Abstract: A power contact health assessor system includes a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a set of switchable contact electrodes of a power contact and a contact separation detector configured to determine a time of separation of the set of switchable contact electrodes during deactivation of the power contact. The system includes a controller circuit operatively coupled to the pair of terminals and the contact separation detector. The controller circuit is configured to determine within a first observation window, a plurality of contact stick durations and an average contact stick duration. One or more additional observation windows with corresponding average contact stick durations are configured. A health assessment for the set of switchable contact electrodes may be based on a subsequent contact stick duration for a contact cycle after the first observation window and the corresponding average contact stick durations for the one or more additional observation windows.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2020Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Arc Suppression TechnologiesInventors: Reinhold Henke, Robert Thorbus
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Patent number: 10928450Abstract: A method for protecting a circuit is provided, wherein the circuit comprises a plurality of switch devices connected in series. The method comprises detecting a failure risk indicator of each switch device; determining whether each switch device has a failure risk based on the corresponding failure risk indicator; and making each of the switch device(s) having the failure risk in a constant on-state to eliminate the failure risk and prevent a failure of the switch device optionally if a number of the switch device(s) which have or had the failure risk is less than or equal to a preset value.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Marius Michael Mechlinski, Stefan Schroeder, Jie Shen, Fan Zhang, Zhihui Yuan
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Patent number: 10841998Abstract: A system for emitting light (such as a luminaire) includes a first light emitting diode (LED) string and a first LED driver that is electrically connected in parallel to the first LED string. The system also may include a second (or more) LED string(s), each associated with an additional LED driver. One-way conductors and normally-open switches are used so that if one LED driver fails, the remaining LED driver(s) will deliver power to the failed driver's LED string so that the light remains operational, but with a reduced brightness.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.Inventors: Benjamin David Vollmer, Isaac P. Dost, Walten Peter Owens, George Albert Dederich
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Patent number: 10715055Abstract: A power semiconductor circuit comprising a field effect transistor having a drain, a source and a gate as terminals, and further comprising a control device having a drive device and an undervoltage detection circuit. The drive device drives the field effect transistor and is electrically connected to the gate of the field effect transistor. The undervoltage detection circuit generates an undervoltage detection signal if a power semiconductor voltage present between the drain and the source of the field effect transistor falls below a specific voltage value. The drive device switches on the field effect transistor when a switch-on command for switching on the field effect transistor and the undervoltage detection signal are present. The invention provides a power semiconductor circuit with low energy loss.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2016Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Semikron Elektronik GmbH & Co., KGInventors: Gunter Koenigsmann, Thomas Eck
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Patent number: 10627447Abstract: A system and method of determining a fault in two or more series switches of an electrical system. The electrical system includes, at least one AC power source, at least one sensor, at least two series switches, and a fault analysis module including a processor and a memory. The method includes applying, by the at least one AC power source, at least one time varying signal to the electrical system. The method further includes receiving, by the fault analysis module, at least one measurement, from the at least one sensor, of the at least one time varying signal, at least one node of the electrical system. The method further includes receiving, by the fault analysis module, at least one predetermined signal parameter and determining, by the fault analysis module, the presence of a fault, based on the at least one measurement and the at least one predetermined signal parameter.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2017Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignees: TE CONNECTIVIY CORPORATION, TE CONNECTIVITY GERMANY GmbH, TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GmbHInventors: Marco Grazioli, Robert Joseph Baragona, Frank Liebusch, Raymond Howard Kohler, Ganesh Shivaram Bhatt
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Patent number: 10386913Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a number of networking modules. Each module includes a respective voltage controller and a voltage-configuration circuit. The voltage-configuration circuit includes a number of transistors that are each coupled to a respective resistor. The system also includes one or more processors coupled to the voltage controllers including instructions executable by the processors. The processors being operable when executing the instructions to configure, for each module, an on-state or off-state of the transistors coupled to the respective resistor. The transistors coupled to the respective resistor correspond to a bit of a number of under-voltage thresholds. The processors are also operable to preset, during a module initialization, a relative ranking of under-voltage shutdown between the modules by setting the transistors. At least one of the number of networking modules has a different under-voltage threshold level relative to another one of the networking modules.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Platina Systems CorporationInventors: Frank Szu-Jen Yang, Jason Luo Pang
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Patent number: 10298149Abstract: A power electronic converter comprises controllable switches (104-109) and a control system (110) for operating the controllable switches. The control system is configured to control the controllable switches so as to produce at least one test voltage pulse. The power electronic converter comprises a voltage sensor (111) for detecting a reflected voltage that is caused by a reflection of the test voltage pulse in an electric system connected to the power electronic converter. The control system is configured to control the operation of the power electronic converter at least partly in accordance with information based on the detection of the reflected voltage. The information can be used for example for determining forbidden voltage pulse lengths which would cause reflection-based over-voltages and/or for detecting faults such as short circuits and earth faults.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2016Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Vacon OyInventors: Nicklas Sodo, Jussi Pouttu
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Patent number: 10205199Abstract: Provided is a portable rechargeable power supply device such that major accidents such as from overcharging due to a hazard prevention means being damaged by rain water, or the like can be prevented from occurring. This portable rechargeable power supply device comprises a lithium-ion battery (11), an assembled circuit board (20), and a case (40). Two terminals (31a, 31b), a hazard prevention circuit unit (26), and the like, are provided on the assembled circuit board (20). A terminal housing case portion (416) of the case (40) houses a first portion of the assembled circuit board (20), which is provided with the two terminals (31a, 31b). A main body housing case portion (417) of the case (40) houses the lithium-ion battery (11), and a second portion of the assembled circuit board (20), which is provided with the hazard prevention circuit unit (26), and the like.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: SFT LABORATORY CO., LTD.Inventor: Hiroshi Ichigaya
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Patent number: 10103643Abstract: A converter includes a transformer including primary windings and secondary windings, switches connected to the primary windings, an output inductor connected to the secondary windings, and a controller connected to the switches. The controller turns the switches on and off based on dwell times calculated using space vector modulation with a reference current ref whose magnitude changes with time.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2015Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tao Zhao, Dewei Xu, Jahangir Afsharian, Bing Gong, Zhihua Yang
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Patent number: 10090664Abstract: The present disclosure relates to detection of faults in an electric power system. In one embodiment, an incremental quantities subsystem is configured to determine a forward torque, an operating torque, and a reverse torque based on the plurality of time-domain representations of electrical conditions. Each of the forward torque, the operating torque, and the reverse torque may be integrated over an interval. A fault detection subsystem may determine an occurrence of the fault based on a comparison of the operating torque to the forward torque and the reverse torque. Further, a direction of the fault may be determined based on the comparison of the forward torque, the operating torque, and the reverse torque. A fault may be declared based on the comparison and the direction. A protective action subsystem may implement a protective action based on the declaration of the fault.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, Mangapathirao Venkata Mynam, David E. Whitehead, Bogdan Z. Kasztenny, Armando Guzman-Casillas, Veselin Skendzic
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Patent number: 9904347Abstract: A field device with a microprocessor and a display and/or operating module, which can be disconnected from the field device, with the microprocessor showing an energy saving module, in which the display and/or operating module are switched off, with the waking circuit being provided, which generates a waking signal when the display and/or operating module are disconnected from the field device or connected thereto.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2014Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Vega Grieshaber KGInventors: Volker Allgaier, Holger Staiger
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Patent number: 9864008Abstract: Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for monitoring the health of a circuit breaker. In various embodiments, a system may receive a voltage measurement across a trip coil assembly associated with a circuit breaker. The system may further receive a current measurement through the trip coil assembly. A plurality of transition points may be identified based on at least one of the voltage measurement and the current measurement, the plurality of transition points corresponding to at least one of a mechanical characteristic and an electrical characteristic of the circuit breaker during a trip event. A predictive analysis may be performed based at least in part on the plurality of transition points. An indication of the predictive health may be displayed.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2014Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Saugata Swapan Biswas, Anurag K. Srivastava
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Patent number: 9748763Abstract: Circuit protection devices, power distribution systems, and methods of monitoring circuit protection devices are described. In one example, a method of monitoring a circuit protection device in a zone selective interlocking (ZSI) system includes monitoring a variable associated with operation of the circuit protection device, determining, based at least in part on the monitored variable, when a likelihood of a malfunction of the circuit protection device exceeds a predetermined threshold, and preventing the circuit protection device from outputting a ZSI blocking signal when the likelihood of the malfunction of the circuit protection device exceeds the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2014Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Marcelo Esteban Valdes, Michael Constantin Von Kannewurff
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Patent number: 9507331Abstract: A multimedia delivery platform includes a platform manager configured to monitor status of platform resources including content acquisition resources and a managed element, visible to the platform manager, including an externally accessible contact closure. A state of the contact closure is specified by user input provided by a platform manager user. The platform includes a shaking device configured to shake a signal acquisition device such as a dish antenna. A power relay in the platform includes a control terminal coupled to the contact closure of the managed element and output terminals configured to deliver power to the shaking machine upon activation of the power relay.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2014Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Todd W. Jones, Jason Gabriel Hill, Gary Alan Thompson
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Patent number: 9390771Abstract: A circuit for sensing a difference in voltage on a pair of dual signal lines comprising a first signal line and a second signal line complementary to the first signal line, comprising: a pair of cross-coupled inverters arranged between the first and the second signal lines, each inverter having a pull-up transistor and a pull-down transistor, the sources of the pull-up transistors or of the pull-down transistors being respectively connected to a first and a second pull voltage signals, a decode transistor having source and drain terminals respectively coupled to one of the first and second signal lines and a gate controlled by a decoding control signal, whereby when the decode transistor is turned on by the decoding control signal, a short circuit is established between the first and the second signal lines through which current flows from one of the first and second pull voltage signals, thereby generating a disturb in between the first and the second pull voltage signals.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: SoitecInventors: Richard Ferrant, Roland Thewes
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Patent number: 9385620Abstract: A multiport AC link converter includes a resonant AC link, an input port, an output port, and a plurality of switches. A first subset of the switches is between the input port the resonant link and a second subset of the switches is between the resonant link and the output port. The switch sequencing for the input port is selected and executed independently of the switch sequencing for the output port the switch sequencings for the output port is selected and executed independently of that for the input port.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2013Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: David Louis Hoelscher, Em Hoang, Gregory George Romas, Jr., Brad Clinton Ortloff, Jatin Nikul Mehta, Daniel Homiak
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Patent number: 9157880Abstract: An electronic device includes a port for connecting the electronic device to other electronic devices and a moisture detector configured to detect an electrically conductive liquid in the first port. The moisture detector is configured to maintain a voltage on a first electrical contact of the port and to detect a short circuit between the first electrical contact and a second electrical contact of the port. The moisture detector determines that the electronic device has been exposed to an electrically conductive liquid if the monitor module detects the short circuit. The moisture detector may also put the electronic device into safe mode if it is exposed to an electrically conductive liquid.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: HZO, Inc.Inventors: Blake Stevens, Max Sorenson
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Patent number: 9158316Abstract: A circuit arrangement includes a load current controller (10a) and a monitoring device (11a, 11b). The load current controller (10a) has its input side connected to a first reference signal connection (A6) and a load reference connection (A2), the latter being able to be coupled to an output of the current source (SQn) and being designed to provide a control signal (IB) at an output which is coupled to a control connection (A1) for controlling the current source (SQn). The control signal (IB) is determined on the basis of a comparison of a load current (IL) with a first reference signal (IL-REF, IREF, VREF). The monitoring device (11a, 11b) has its input side coupled to the output of the load current controller (10a) and to one of the inputs of the load current controller (10a). The monitoring device (11a, 11b) is designed to provide a feedback signal (RS) at an output coupled to the feedback connection (A3) on the basis of a comparison of the control signal (IB) with the load current (IL).Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2011Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: ams AGInventor: Helmut Theiler
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Patent number: 9104167Abstract: A protection device includes a pair of electrodes and an output unit. In the pair of electrodes, one electrode, connected to a connection line that connects a load and a power supply that supplies voltage to the load, performs discharge toward the other electrode in response to application, to one electrode, of an abnormal voltage greater than or equal to a pre-set voltage exceeding a steady-state voltage output by the power supply in a steady state. The output unit detects discharge current that flows in the other electrode and outputs the detected discharge current as a control signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2013Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Sou Morizaki, Naohisa Fujita, Atsushi Hiroi, Katsuya Saito
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Patent number: 9041404Abstract: When a continuous short circuit occurs between both terminals of a battery pack, fault, destruction and rupture of the battery can occur. Further, when a momentary short circuit occurs, a user may continue to use, without knowing thermal and electrical damage to the batteries, and reliability for the batteries is impaired, To overcome the problem, in a battery pack configured by connecting a plurality of storage batteries in series, at least one first storage battery is included which has a low capacity compared to second storage batteries during high-rate discharge, and the first storage battery undergoes polarity inversion during external short circuit, thereby preventing the other batteries from becoming damaged. There are also included a detector that detects voltage of the first storage battery, and a fault signal generator that generates an output fault signal when a voltage detected by the detector inverses.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2010Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Shoji Yoshioka, Keita Hatanaka, Hidetoshi Kitanaka
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Patent number: 9041326Abstract: A method for operating a brushless electric motor, the windings being energized by an inverter with the aid of six switches. A detection unit for detecting defective switches, a unit for measuring voltage at the outputs of the inverter, and a microcontroller for controlling the switch and for generating a pulse width modulated voltage supply for the windings are provided. A short-circuited switch causes a torque in the electric motor opposite the actuating direction of the electric motor. The method proposes that after detecting a short-circuited switch, the windings (U. V. W) are energized to generate a motor torque that is, on the whole, positive. An actuating period of the electric motor is divided into a plurality of sectors, wherein, in accordance with the defective switch, individual sectors are deactivated for the actuation of the windings (U, V, W), while other sectors are used to actuate the windings (V, W).Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2011Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Christian Gunselmann, Mathias Fernengel, Nicolas Bruyant, Lionel Guichard, Michel Parette
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Publication number: 20150103457Abstract: A solid state primary power switching network for modular equipment centers (MECs) distributing primary power throughout a vehicle. The solid state primary power switching network includes multiple primary power switch network devices (PPSNDs) of a MEC for controlling and distributing primary power to other MECs spatially distribute throughout a vehicle. In one or more configurations, the PPSNDs have a universal structure in that each includes a common power input source and a plurality of common power outputs. In one or more configurations, primary power sources to the vehicle are switched without a perceivably visible break in power.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2013Publication date: April 16, 2015Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Mark S. Shander, N. Evan Lurton, Thomas F. Currier, Todd B. Brouwer, Mark E. Liffring, Jon J. Dhondt, Carolyn Kerr, Robert D. Holley, Lowell W. Schaffner, Eugene Solodovnik, Terrance L. Thomas
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Patent number: 9001483Abstract: The relay-welding detection circuit detects welding of relays (RYP, RYN) provided on a charging path from an external power supply (PW) to a first battery (14), and is provided with: a second battery (15) that can supply a welding-detection power supply independently of the external power supply (PW); a transistor switch (17) that is a circuit in which there is substantially zero current flowing in from the external power supply (PW) side of the relays, and that controls whether or not to supply the welding-detection power supply to the second battery (15) on the basis of the voltage at the external power supply (PW) side of the relays; and a control unit (18) that is electrically insulated from the transistor switch (17), and that to detects welding of the relays (RYP, RYN) on the basis of whether or not the transistor switch (17) has supplied the welding-detection power supply.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shintaro Tazaki
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Patent number: 9001480Abstract: A distributed energy resources control apparatus for controlling power from a distributed energy resource in a system section separable from a power system includes a detecting unit, a receiving unit, and a control unit. The detecting unit detects a fault of the power system. The receiving unit receives a signal indicating authorization for the distributed energy resource to perform independent operation as linking with the system section, when the system section is separated from the power system. The control unit controls a power converter converting power from the distributed energy resource and outputting to the system section, based on measurement results of a voltage and a frequency of the system section, when the fault is detected and the signal is received.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2013Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Yasuo Sato, Takafumi Ebara, Masahiro Watanabe, Tsukasa Onishi
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Patent number: 8988234Abstract: An alarm system for alarming whenever there is a power leakage from an electronic device, includes a voltage decreasing circuit, a switch circuit and an alarm circuit. The voltage decreasing circuit receives a first voltage from a live wire output terminal and outputs a second voltage. The switch circuit outputs a control signal when the power leakage is detected. The switch circuit is electrically connected to a connection port. The connection port is electrically connected to the live wire output terminal and a neutral wire output terminal. The alarm circuit receives the control signal and alarms. If there is power leakage from the electronic device, the first voltage from the live wire input terminal flows into the ground wire input terminal via the electronic device; the switch circuit turns on and the alarm circuit is closed to alarm.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2011Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Zhongshan Innocloud Intellectual Property Services Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ke-You Hu
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Patent number: 8975775Abstract: A power distribution system comprises a power supply, a plurality of loads connected to one of the power supply and ground and a plurality of pulse generators, each pulse generator connected to each of the plurality of loads, configured to generate pulses to connect the plurality of loads to the other one of the power supply and ground at predetermined frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventor: John A. Dickey
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Patent number: 8964337Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring excitation of a generator based on a faulty status of a generator breaker are provided. According to one embodiment, a system may include a controller and a processor communicatively coupled to the controller. The processor may be configured to receive, from a contact associated with a generator breaker, a reported status of the generator breaker, receive operational data associated with one or more parameters of a generator associated with the generator breaker, and correlate the reported status of the generator breaker and the operational data. Based on the correlation, the processor may establish an actual status of the generator breaker, and, based on the actual status, selectively modify a mode of excitation of the generator.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2012Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Abhinandan Sharma, Shashidhar Nibhanupudi, Sridhar Nedunsezian