Voltage Or Current Patents (Class 702/64)
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Patent number: 9789766Abstract: A method and arrangement for operating a motor vehicle having a vehicle electrical system having a semiconductor switch, which during the vehicle operation is loaded with load events based on at least one load-influencing factor, and for which a service life load relationship is predefined, for a nominal service life for a nominal load, and with which for at least one point in time within the nominal service life a nominal load proportion corresponding to the at least one point in time is ascertainable, and the method for the at least one point in time including ascertaining an actual load of the semiconductor switch based on establishing past load events at the at least one point in time, the ascertaining of the nominal load proportion corresponding to the at least one point in time with the predefined service life load relationship, and comparing of the actual and nominal load proportion at the at least one point in time and the reducing of the at least one load-influencing factor when the actual load exceeType: GrantFiled: January 16, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Oliver Dieter Koller, Christoph Tobias, Martin Richter
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Patent number: 9784776Abstract: A frequency mask trigger capable of triggering based on a logical combination of two or more areas of a frequency mask transforms a frame of digital data representing an input signal into a frequency spectrum having a plurality of frequency bins, with each frequency bin having a power amplitude value. A frequency mask is defined having a plurality of reference power levels, one reference power level being associated with each frequency bin. Two or more areas of the frequency mask are defined, with each mask area corresponding to one or more of the frequency bins. A violation status is determined for each mask area by comparing all of the power amplitude values within each mask area to the associated reference power level. If any of the power amplitude values within the mask area violates the associated reference power level, then the entire mask area is deemed to be violated. A trigger signal is generated when a logical combination of the violation statuses of the mask areas is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2013Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Tektronix, IncInventor: John A. Dement
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Patent number: 9720019Abstract: A method for determining a topology information item on a low-voltage electrical distribution system. A group of at least two current measuring devices that are arranged at different points in the low-voltage distribution system is selected, and in each case the current is measured by the current measuring devices so as to form a current measurement value. The current measurement values are added so as to form a current sum taking into consideration the current flow direction. A topology information item is formed which specifies that the current measuring devices electrically isolate a load-free and source-free section of the low-voltage distribution system when the current sum, in terms of absolute value, falls below a predetermined threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2011Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Jaroslaw Kussyk
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Patent number: 9645200Abstract: Disclosed herein are various battery power measurement devices, methods, and related apparatuses. In one embodiment, a method of measuring a battery power can include: (i) detecting a voltage and a temperature at an output terminal of a battery; (ii) obtaining a first correction coefficient based on a battery open-circuit voltage at a previous sample time; (iii) obtaining a second correction coefficient based on the battery temperature; (iv) calculating a real-time battery open-circuit voltage by using the voltage at the output terminal of the battery, the first and second correction coefficients, the battery open-circuit voltage at the previous sample time, and a time interval between the previous sample time and a present sample time; and (v) converting the real-time battery open-circuit voltage into a battery power measurement for display.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTDInventors: Feng Yu, Xiaodong Huang, Hejinsheng Cao
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Patent number: 9638726Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a system monitor for a load center comprising a current sensor configured to be coupled to a circuit branch within the load center and to produce a measurement signal having a level related to a current level of the circuit branch, a sensor circuit coupled to the current sensor and removably coupled to a terminal, the sensor circuit configured to provide the measurement signal to the terminal, and a controller coupled to the terminal and configured to monitor signals at the terminal, wherein the controller is further configured to detect disconnection of the current sensor from the terminal based on a signal level at the terminal.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2012Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATIONInventors: Vishwas Mohaniraj Deokar, Brian Patrick Mearns, Bret Alan Orner
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Patent number: 9621104Abstract: Apparatus and method for registering conditions of performance in a photovoltaic array are provided. A group of neighboring photovoltaic modules may be arranged to sense a reference performance for a respective photovoltaic module of the photovoltaic array. Each of the neighboring photovoltaic modules may have a transmitter to transmit data indicative of the reference performance. The respective photovoltaic module may have a receiver to receive the data transmitted by the group of neighboring photovoltaic modules. A processor in the respective photovoltaic module may be provided to compare data indicative of its respective performance relative to the data received from the group of neighboring photovoltaic modules. The processor may be configured to register a condition of the performance of the respective photovoltaic module based on a result of the data comparison.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark Ronald Lynass, Said Farouk Said El-Barbari, Lucian Vasile Stoica
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Patent number: 9613304Abstract: A smartcard connector for connecting a smartcard within a card holder to an electronic device. The smartcard connector includes a card holder having a card holding space, a contact pad integral with the card holder and in communicative contact with the card holding space, and an external adapter integral with the card holder and in electrical contact with the contact pad. The adapter is for communicatively connecting a smartcard received and held within the card holding space and in electrical contact with the contact pad to an external data cable. The data cable is also connected to an electrical device, such as a computer, so that the smartcard may be accessed by the computer without removing the smartcard from the card holder. The card holder may also include a battery, display screen, read/write memory, security unit, notification unit, amplification unit, and/or a light.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2013Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Identity Stronghold, LLCInventor: Walter P. Augustinowicz
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Patent number: 9615147Abstract: A multisensory meter system is disclosed. The system comprises one main unit and a plurality of remote units. Each remote unit has at least a sensor to measure a physical parameter and wirelessly transmit the measured parameter as a signal to the main unit. The main unit and the remote units have an interface that allows at least one the remote units to be attached to the main unit. When attached, the main unit and the remote unit function as a single meter, and the main unit is capable of receiving signals from the other remote units. In one embodiment, the main unit and the remote units form a mesh network to transmit and receive signals, wherein each remote unit receives signals and transmits said signals. The mesh network may also contain relays. The remote units may measure a number of physical parameters such as relative humidity, temperature, vibration, moisture, electrical current, air speed, voltage and rotational speed.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2011Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventor: Dejan Radosavljevic
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Patent number: 9594122Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that estimates a state of charge for a battery. During operation, while the battery is relaxing toward a fully rested state, the system determines if a modified state of charge of the battery is substantially consistent with a predetermined decay pattern. If so, the system estimates the state of charge of the battery as a value of the modified state of charge determined at the time when the consistency is observed. Otherwise, the system continues monitoring the modified state of charge of the battery. In one embodiment, the predetermined decay pattern is a single exponential decay. After estimating the state of charge of the battery, the system may determine an uncertainty of the estimated state of charge.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Greening, Jeffrey G. Koller, Nils E. Mattisson, P. Jeffrey Ungar
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Patent number: 9588152Abstract: An observation is made that the peak voltage value for a rectified AC voltage signal is substantially the same from cycle to cycle. Using this observation, a method of measuring an AC voltage is used to determine a more accurate RMS voltage value under light load conditions. The method includes rectifying the AC voltage signal to form a rectified signal, sampling the rectified signal to obtain a set of sampled values for each half-cycle of the AC voltage signal, searching the sampled values for each half-cycle to determine a local minimum value for each half-cycle, searching the sampled values following the local minimum value to determine a local maximum value for each half-cycle, and calculating a root mean square value from the local maximum value for each half-cycle thereby determining the root mean square value for each half-cycle of the AC voltage signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2013Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLCInventors: Zhen Z. Ye, Xiangping Xu
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Patent number: 9559025Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for testing different types of TSVs in a single die or different types of TSV connections in a stack of die. The testing is facilitated by test circuitry associated with each type of TSV. The test circuitry includes a scan cell adapted for testing TSVs.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Lee D. Whetsel
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Patent number: 9542051Abstract: In a method for performing a touch determination with a capacitive sensor, a self capacitance measurement of a capacitive sensor is initiated, wherein at the same time a mutual capacitance measurement including the capacitive sensor is performed. Such a method can be performed such that the self capacitance measurement and the mutual capacitance measurement differentially cancel with ungrounded conductive objects approaching or touching the capacitive sensor and additively combine for grounded objects approaching or touching the capacitive sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATEDInventors: Burke Davison, Xiang Gao, Yann LeFaou
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Patent number: 9519162Abstract: An optical modulator apparatus may include a plurality of segment drivers, each segment driver having a unique offset voltage and driving but a portion or a segment of an electro-optical modulator. A modulating electrical signal may be applied to the segment drivers via a plurality of electrical delays. Parameters of the segment drivers may be selected so as to approximate a pre-defined transfer function, which may include a linear or a non-linear transfer function.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Coriant Advanced Technology, LLCInventors: Ran Ding, Thomas Wetteland Baehr-Jones, Peter D. Magill, Michael J. Hochberg, Alexander Rylyakov
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Patent number: 9513177Abstract: A system and method for the management of data collection from a pressure sensing apparatus. The system allows rapid measurement of pressure exerted upon a surface and may be useful in preventing bed sore development in a bed bound subject.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2011Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Enhanced Surface Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Amir Ben Shalom, Itai Raab, Tal (Nathan) Remez, Boaz Ben David, Dan Weiss, Ruth Poliakine, Lior Greenstein, Yonatan Assuline, Gusti Averbuch, Tsahi Asher
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Patent number: 9354678Abstract: A system and method for controlling airflow in a computer system enclosure are described herein. A computer system includes an enclosure and an airflow controller. The enclosure is configured to contain a plurality of compute nodes. The airflow controller configured to control a flow of air provided to each of the plurality of compute nodes. The airflow controller is configured to receive unsolicited requests for airflow from each of the plurality of compute nodes. The airflow controller is further configured to control airflow provided to a given compute node based on the unsolicited airflow requests received from a subset of the compute nodes, including the given node. The subset of the compute nodes is assigned to a same airflow zone by the airflow controller.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2009Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LPInventors: Darren J. Cepulis, Yasir Q. Hashmany, Chanh V. Hua
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Patent number: 9329023Abstract: A rotation control apparatus includes: a controller configured to supply test currents to a plurality of different paths of a motor when the motor is stopped; and a stop position detector configured to detect a rotational position of the motor based on an order of current values of the test currents. The controller causes one of the test currents to flow through one of the plurality of different paths, measure time taken until the corresponding detection voltage reaches a reference voltage, and set electrical conduction time of the test currents based on a result of the measurement.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2013Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuji Kunida, Norihiro Maeda
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Patent number: 9239572Abstract: A safety switching device, with which a safety-related device, can be set into a safe state. The safety switching device has a microprocessor or microcontroller, which can set an electric drive to be protected into a safe state both if an emergency circuit breaker, protective door switch, and/or two-hand switch is activated and also if there is faulty operation of the safety-related device or electric drive. For this purpose, the microprocessor is implemented such that it can determine from at least one analog signal to be measured whether a predetermined parameter lies outside a predetermined operating range. In addition, the microprocessor can be a component of a safety device which is constructed for multiple-channel control of a safety-related electric drive. In this way, the safety switching device can respond to several safety functions independent of each other in order to set an electric drive into a safe state.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2012Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Andre Korrek
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Patent number: 9232439Abstract: A server device may be configured to determine a first measure of throughput associated with a cellular wireless network, determine a second measure of throughput associated with a wireless local area network (“WLAN”), compare the first measure of throughput to the second measure of throughput; select, based on the comparing, a particular one of the cellular wireless network or the WLAN, and send an instruction to a user device that is in range of the cellular wireless network and the WLAN, the instruction instructing the user device to connect to the particular selected wireless network.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: Reza Okhravi, Robert Boice, William H. Stone, Stanley A. Zadrozny, Derek Hongwei Bao
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Patent number: 9213381Abstract: A method of controlling voltage in a circuit is provided. Within the circuit, a block of an electrical component provides an indication that it desires to switch states (such as from off to on, on to off, or from one speed to another). The change in states requires a different current draw by the electrical component block. The indication is received by an electrical component that controls the voltage of the circuit. The electrical component that controls the voltage then issues a signal granting permission for the electrical component block to switch states. This permission signal is received by the electrical component and the electrical component block changes state.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2012Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignees: ATI Technologies ULC, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Osborn, Sebastien Nussbaum, John P. Petry, Umair B. Cheema
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Patent number: 9206758Abstract: A method for operating a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine is described. The fuel injection system has an injector for metering fuel into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. The injector has an actuator, a control valve and a nozzle needle. In the method, the actuator is supplied a voltage and/or a current during an activation period. The control valve is set into a lifting motion by the actuator. The injector is opened and closed by the nozzle needle, using the lifting motion of the control valve. A further time period is ascertained. The further time period ends at the closing time of the nozzle needle. A function is ascertained, which links the activation period to the further time period. A shortest activation period, for which the nozzle needle opens and produces an injection, is ascertained with the aid of the function. An opening delay period (do1) of the nozzle needle is ascertained as a function of the shortest time period.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2011Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Nestor Rodriguez-Amaya, Siegfried Ruthardt, Holger Rapp, Wolfgang Stoecklein, Bernd Berghaenel, Marco Beier
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Patent number: 9187007Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a controller configured to estimate battery capacity in accordance with a first state of charge estimation, a charge integration, and a second state of charge estimation. The first and second state of charge estimations are in accordance with time and temperature constraints and are such that the estimated battery capacity has limited uncertainty. The controller is further configured to generate an output based on the estimated battery capacity.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yonghua Li, Richard Dyche Anderson
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Patent number: 9157947Abstract: A communication apparatus and an associated estimation method are provided. The communication apparatus is electrically connected to a loading terminal and operates at a common bias voltage. The communication apparatus includes a transmitter, a connector, and a receiver. The connector includes a bridging circuit and a measurement circuit. The bridging circuit has a positive measurement end and a negative measurement end. The transmitter transmits an analog output signal. The receiver receives a common bias voltage during an estimation process. During the estimation process, the measurement circuit estimates a positive loading resistance and a negative loading resistance corresponding to the loading terminal according to a voltage difference between the common bias voltage and voltage at one of the positive measurement end and the negative measurement end.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2013Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.Inventors: Sheng-Fu Chuang, Su-Liang Liao, Liang-Wei Huang, Hsuan-Ting Ho
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Patent number: 9157938Abstract: A method of computing a peak current density specification (jpeakspec) for an electrical conductor line of an integrated circuit (IC) resulting from conducting pulsed electrical current represented as a current waveform. An on-time (ton) is identified for the current waveform based on a current density being greater than or equal to (?) a predetermined current density level. The jpeakspec is computed for the electrical conductor line using a jpeakspec modeling equation which includes the ton for the current waveform and a thermal time constant (?) for the electrical conductor line.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Young-Joon Park, Siva Prakash Gurrum
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Patent number: 9128162Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that estimates a state of charge for a battery. During operation, while the battery is relaxing toward a fully rested state, the system determines if a modified state of charge of the battery is substantially consistent with a predetermined decay pattern. If so, the system estimates the state of charge of the battery as a value of the modified state of charge determined at the time when the consistency is observed. Otherwise, the system continues monitoring the modified state of charge of the battery. In one embodiment, the predetermined decay pattern is a single exponential decay. After estimating the state of charge of the battery, the system may determine an uncertainty of the estimated state of charge.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2012Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Greening, Jeffrey G. Koller, Nils E. Mattisson, P. Jeffrey Ungar
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Patent number: 9129710Abstract: A dynamic trim method includes testing a selected number of cells on a die with predetermined testing margins. Data from this testing is used to determine dynamic reference margins for improving yield. Advantageously, yield is improved by allowing functioning fast or slow units to pass wafer sort by applying the dynamic reference margins for varying processes.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2014Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.Inventors: Yi He, Larry Y. Wang, Sean Lynch, Che-Ping Chen, Wei Zhao, Albert Bergemont
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Patent number: 9099916Abstract: A parallel filter arrangement with at least two filters supplying current in line side sensing configuration and a number of sensors for measuring current. The sensors are used to determine the amount of current being supplied by the filters and the amount of current being supplied by a source. The filters adjust their supplied current in order to reduce or eliminate the amount of reactive or harmonic current being supplied by a source.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2014Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: TCI, LLCInventors: Ian Wallace, Ashish Bendre, William Kranz, Jeff Seibold
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Patent number: 9083230Abstract: Nested neutral point clamped (NNPC) multilevel power converter stages and systems are presented, in which the converter stage includes an NPC inverter core circuit with a flying (switched) capacitor nesting circuit, with the switches of the NPC core and the switched capacitor circuit being gated using selected redundant switching states to control the voltage of the switched capacitors to achieve a multilevel output voltage having equally spaced voltage step values. Multiple inverter stages can meet cascaded or connected in various configurations to implement single or multiphase power conversion systems, and higher output voltages can be achieved by forming to converter stages into an H-bridge configuration, and connecting multiple H-bridge stages in series with one another.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mehdi Narimani, Bin Wu, Zhongyuan Cheng, Navid R. Zargari
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Patent number: 9069922Abstract: A method includes designating a cell mismatch parameter of a memory cell including a plurality of transistors and an initial value of a transistor mismatch parameter for each of the plurality of transistors. A critical current sensitivity parameter is determined for each of the plurality of transistors based on the transistor mismatch parameters in a computing apparatus. The cell mismatch parameter is distributed across the plurality of transistors in the computing apparatus to update the individual transistor mismatch parameters for each of the plurality of transistors based on the critical current sensitivity parameters and the cell mismatch parameter. The memory cell is simulated based on the individual transistor mismatch parameters to generate a simulation result.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2012Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.Inventors: Bipul C. Paul, Randy W. Mann, Anurag Mittal
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Publication number: 20150149102Abstract: The present invention provides an online monitoring circuit of the series compensation spark gap divider return circuit, said series compensation spark gap divider return circuit includes voltage equalization link and the voltage sampling link; Said voltage link includes the capacitor C which series said voltage equalization link; Said online monitoring circuit includes the voltage sampling input module, series compensation current input module and the compare module; Said sampling voltage input module after amplified the voltage of the two ends of the series capacitor C converts it into direct current signal Udivide voltage; Said series compensation current input module after amplified the current signal of said series capacitor converts it into direct current voltage signal UCT; Said compare module realizes online monitoring the running state of said series spark gap divider return circuit though comparing said Udivide voltage and said UCT.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2013Publication date: May 28, 2015Inventors: Guofu Li, Hui Yu, Zhiyuan Li, Yongliang Li
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Patent number: 9043169Abstract: An electrostatic coating plant coats components with a coating agent that is electrically charged by high voltage device. A first operating variable of a high voltage device may be determined and compared to a limit value. A safety measure may be initiated if the comparison between the first operating variable and the limit value indicates a disturbance in the electrostatic coating plant. The limit value may be flexibly adjusted depending on the operation mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2010Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Durr Systems GmbHInventor: Andreas Geiger
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Publication number: 20150142354Abstract: This system comprises a first device comprising a member for measuring voltage of a primary conductor, means for sampling the measured voltage, means for transmitting a first message, and means for determining a set of variable values representative of the voltage, based on the voltage measured during a given transmission period; at least one second device having a current sensor for determining intensity in a secondary conductor connected to the primary conductor, means for sampling the measured intensity; and a member for calculating said energy, including means for receiving the first message and being configured for calculating an energy during the given transmission period on the basis of said data set and intensity samples associated with the given transmission period. The determination means are configured for determining said data set based on a correction coefficient which depends on a value representative of the voltage only for each voltage period where said value is greater than a threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: Schneider Electric Industries SASInventors: Olivier Coutelou, Christophe Mollier, Maxime Gaillard, Damien Sillans
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Publication number: 20150142353Abstract: A method for monitoring an LVDT sensor including two secondary circuits, the method including: calculating the difference between voltages at terminals of one of the secondary circuits at a given instant and at a previous instant; calculating the difference between voltages at terminals of the other one of the secondary circuits at the given instant and at the previous instant; calculating the sum of the two differences calculated; modifying an indicator according to a distance to zero of the previously calculated sum; and comparing the indicator with at least one predetermined threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2013Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: SNECMAInventors: Vincent Cabret, Cedrik Djelassi
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Patent number: 9037424Abstract: A system for detecting a short-circuited ultracapacitor cell in a machine is disclosed. The system may have a memory that stores instructions and one or more processors capable of executing the instructions. The one or more processors may be configured to perform cell balancing among ultracapacitor cells arranged within two or more ultracapacitor modules, each ultracapacitor module including at least two ultracapacitor cells connected in series. The one or more processors may be further configured to measure a module voltage generated by each of the plurality of ultracapacitor modules after performing the cell balancing and before applying a load of the machine to the ultracapacitor modules, and determine whether an ultracapacitor cell among the plurality of ultracapacitor cells is short-circuited based on a comparison of the measured module voltages.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2012Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Igor Dos Santos Ramos, Andrew A. Knitt, Wellington Ying-Wei Kwok, Kaiyu Wang
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Patent number: 9037429Abstract: The present invention provides methods, apparatus, and systems of measuring frequency. The invention includes sampling a first number of full cycles of a signal at a rate based on a nominal frequency of the signal; converting the samples to digital samples; processing the digital samples to identify a first pair of digital samples with each one disposed on either side of a first zero-crossing and a second pair of digital samples with each one disposed on either side of a last full cycle zero-crossing; interpolating the first pair of digital samples and the second pair of digital samples to determine a position of the first and last zero-crossings relative to each other in time; and calculating a fundamental frequency of the signal based on the first number of full cycles sampled and the relative position of the first and last zero-crossings. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2011Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.Inventors: Chun Fan, Paul Terricciano
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Patent number: 9031801Abstract: A portable device driven by a secondary battery which is chargeable and dischargeable, the portable device including a full charge detecting unit configured to detect full charge of the secondary battery in receipt of a report of the full charge and acquires capacity data indicative of a capacity of the secondary battery, a memory controlling unit configured to store the capacity data acquired by the full charge detecting unit in a memory unit, and a display control unit configured to cause a display unit of the portable device to display the capacity data stored by the memory controlling unit in chronological order.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2009Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takayuki Sugaya, Takanori Asai
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Patent number: 9031791Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide systems and methods for using ballast sensors to detect rock fall events in a vicinity of railway tracks or similar roadways or tracks. The ballast sensors are spaced apart from the tracks. Particular embodiments permit the use of signals from the ballast sensors to discriminate rock fall events from other types of events and to detect the hypocenter of a rock fall event.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2010Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Weir-Jones Engineering Consultants Ltd.Inventors: Bohdan Nedilko, Iain Weir-Jones
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Patent number: 9031800Abstract: Power measurement by tracking of a voltage cycle when voltage and current measurements are taken at different locations on an AC power line, with the devices taking the measurements interconnected by an asynchronous data network. In general, a synchronization/timing message is sent from the voltage sensing side to the current sensing side, with the synchronization/timing message being transmitted at a predetermined point in the periodic voltage cycle. The receipt of the synchronization/timing message by the current sensing side may be used to re-synchronize an internal model of the voltage cycle maintained by the current sensing side to the measured voltage cycle. The predetermined point in the voltage cycle may be the zero-crossing point, or other point, of the voltage cycle.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2011Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.Inventors: Alexander S. Filippenko, Scott R. Brown, Paul R. Buda
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Patent number: 9026388Abstract: It is determined that a drop in the capacity of a sodium-sulfur battery has proceeded to an abnormal level when both the following expression (1) and expression (2) hold. Qe?Qn?K1 . . . (1) where Qe: abnormal block depth of discharge; Qn: normal block depth of discharge; and K1: block abnormality determination set point (setting value) and Qe?K2 . . . (2) where K2: depth of discharge abnormality determination set point (setting value).Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2011Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Hirai, Motohiro Fukuhara
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Patent number: 9026254Abstract: In a multi-sensing, wirelessly communicating learning thermostat that uses power-harvesting to charge an internal battery, methods are disclosed for ensuring that the battery does not become depleted or damaged while at the same time ensuring selected levels of thermostat functionality. Battery charge status is monitored to determine whether the present rate of power usage needs to be stemmed. If the present rate of power usage needs to be stemmed, then a progression of performance levels and/or functionalities are scaled back according to a predetermined progressive power conservation algorithm. In a less preferred embodiment, there is a simple progressive shutdown of functionalities turned off in sequence until the desired amount of discharge stemming is reached. Battery charge preservation measures are also described for cases when an interruption of external supply power used to recharge the battery is detected.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2011Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Daniel Adam Warren, Grant M. Erickson, Andrea Mucignat, Edwin H. Satterthwaite, Jr., Joseph Adam Ruff, Joseph E. Palmer, Shigefumi Honjo
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Publication number: 20150115872Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for calculating the input current being drawn by a power converter. The power converter may be connected to and charging a battery and the method includes the steps of measuring the current and voltage being supplied to the battery, along with the frequency at which the power converter is operating. The voltage being supplied to the power converter may be calculated using a pre-determined relationship with the current and voltage being supplied to the power converter and the frequency of operation. The voltage being supplied to the converter may then be used to calculate the current being drawn by the converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventors: David Letombe, M. Francios Beaucamp, Mohamed Kechmire
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Publication number: 20150120227Abstract: A facility selection supporting device calculates a total current value of consumers located in and after a certain power supply section on the way from a distribution substation to a particular consumer and outputs a recommended distribution facility for the power supply section based on the calculated total current value.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventors: Tetsuya KASHIWAGI, Yuichi Matsufuji
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Patent number: 9021276Abstract: A method and device for setting a processor performance profile for a processor that is unable to directly measure voltage supplied by a voltage regulator includes determining a voltage requested of the voltage regulator and determining a first characteristic of a first portion of the electrical component. The first characteristic is one of power consumed by the first portion of the electrical component and load presented by the first portion of the electrical component. A first current is then determined by using the first voltage, the first characteristic, and a known relationship therebetween. A third voltage that is an estimate of the voltage supplied by the voltage regulator is then determined by comparing the first current to load line characteristics of the electrical component. The third voltage is then used to manage performance of the processor.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2012Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: ATI Technologies ULCInventors: Michael J. Osborn, Sebastien Nussbaum, John P. Petry, Umair B. Cheema
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Patent number: 9020772Abstract: A detection wire cutter including a conducting wire mechanically secured to a structure that is to be monitored. This wire is electrically powered at one end and at another end feeds back an electrical voltage corresponding to the power supplied, provided that the structure that is to be monitored has not undergone unacceptable mechanical damage. As an improvement, two arrays of wires extending over flat supports in two directions in space are proposed. Each array is powered by a distinct network electrical supply. The two networks extend in layers, with parallel wire portions. The position of a crack does not impede the passage of current between certain terminals, but certain other terminals will no longer receive any current because the crack has broken a network supply general connection between the connection of one wire and that of another.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2008Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: European Aeronautic Defence And Space Company EADS FranceInventors: Sébastien Rolet, Nicolas Dominguez
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Patent number: 9018938Abstract: An integrated device suspended at a high voltage potential for the metering and protection of a distribution network comprises a measurement current transformer (CT), a protective CT and a voltage sensor. The voltage signal is output from the voltage sensor to an electric energy metering module and first and second electric signal acquiring modules. The current signal acquired by the measurement CT is output to the electric energy metering module. The current signal acquired by the protective CT is output to the first and second electric signal acquiring modules. The electric energy metering module processes the current and voltage signals and sends the processed data to a comprehensive control module. The first and second electric signal acquiring modules send the voltage and current data to the comprehensive control module. The comprehensive control module comprehensively calculates the received data and sends the result to a low voltage terminal.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2011Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Wuhan Guoce Science & Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tiexin Hou, Zhengliang Bu, Shun Hu, Zhigui Xu, Youyi Li, Zhengtao Zhao, Leping Zhang
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Patent number: 9020654Abstract: The present invention provides a system and computer program product for implementing a smart transformer, comprising a processor, and a balancing algorithm residing on the processor, wherein the balancing algorithm is stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable program code embodied thereon, the computer executable program code configured to cause the system to monitor and control an electric customer load and generation in order to optimize the performance of a distribution transformer, wherein the processor receives a plurality of system inputs and uses the balancing algorithm to determine a rating of the transformer and an amount of customer load.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2011Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: San Diego Gas & Electric CompanyInventors: William Vincent Torre, Amanda Louise Myers, Michael James Colburn
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Patent number: 9020771Abstract: Testing of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) is performed using a device operable in either or both an active mode and a passive mode. In an active mode, the device provides or is connected with a programmable load capable of emulating the load of an electrical vehicle (EV). In passive mode, the load is an EV with the device being arranged in series between the EVCS and EV. In either case, energy delivery from the EVCS to the load is monitored by the device to determine energy measurement and billing accuracy of the EVCS. This enables a comparison to be made between a measured value of energy delivered and a metered value of energy delivered as given by the EVCS. Other measurements and safety tests may also be performed by the device.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2014Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Power Measurements, LLCInventor: William H. Hardy
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Publication number: 20150112622Abstract: The present disclosure provides an open-circuit voltage estimation device that estimates a high-precision open-circuit voltage value, a power storage apparatus, and an open-circuit voltage estimation method. The open-circuit voltage estimation device includes: an open-circuit voltage calculator that calculates an open-circuit voltage value of a secondary cell; a polarization voltage estimator that estimates a component having a relatively large time constant among polarization voltage components of the secondary cell; and an open-circuit voltage corrector that corrects the open-circuit voltage value calculated by the open-circuit voltage calculator with the component having the relatively large time constant estimated by the polarization voltage estimator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventor: Manabu UCHINO
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Publication number: 20150112621Abstract: In a voltage detection device for a transforming apparatus, a voltage divider is constituted by providing an intermediate electrode between a central conductor and a tank of the transforming apparatus, to detect a voltage E1 of the central conductor based on a voltage E2 of the voltage divider. The voltage detection device for a transforming apparatus includes an incomplete integration circuit having a reverse characteristic to an input/output voltage amplitude ratio-frequency characteristic of a high-pass filter formed by a floating electrostatic capacitance between the central conductor and the intermediate electrode, an earth electrostatic capacitance between the intermediate electrode and the tank, and a voltage dividing resistor connected in parallel to the earth electrostatic capacitance, and a signal processing circuit that outputs a value based on an output voltage E3 of the incomplete integration circuit as the voltage E1 of the central conductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2012Publication date: April 23, 2015Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Daigo Matsumoto, Shigeo Fujii
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Patent number: 9015215Abstract: Quantum annealing may include applying and gradually removing disorder terms to qubits of a quantum processor, for example superconducting flux qubits of a superconducting quantum processor. A problem Hamiltonian may be established by applying control signals to the qubits, an evolution Hamiltonian established by applying disorder terms, and annealing by gradually removing the disorder terms. Change in persistent current in the qubits may be compensated. Multipliers may mediate coupling between various qubits and a global signal line, for example by applying respective scaling factors. Two global signal lines may be arranged in an interdigitated pattern to couple to respective qubits of a communicatively coupled pair of qubits. Pairs of qubits may be communicatively isolated and used to measure a response of one another to defined signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2009Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: D-Wave Systems, Inc.Inventors: Andrew J. Berkley, Richard G. Harris, Mohammad Amin
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Publication number: 20150106045Abstract: There is provided a measurement method for an electrical characteristic, the measurement method including applying a voltage to an element, and determining stability of a current value at the applied voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2013Publication date: April 16, 2015Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Jusuke Shimura, Masahiro Morooka