Voltage Or Current Patents (Class 702/64)
  • Publication number: 20130110432
    Abstract: Various arrangements for determining a voltage of a voltage source using pre-charging are presented. Such arrangements may include a measurement module comprising an analog to digital converter, a driver, and an interface. The interface may be electrically coupled with the analog to digital converter and the driver. The driver may be configured to output current to charge a capacitor. After a first predefined period of time, the driver may stop outputting current to pre-charge the capacitor. After the driver has stopped pre-charging the capacitor and a second predefined period of time has elapsed, the analog to digital converter may be configured to measure a voltage of the capacitor. Such arrangements may include a capacitor, wherein the capacitor is electrically coupled with the interface of the measurement module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jeremy Mickelsen
  • Publication number: 20130110433
    Abstract: An apparatus for identifying the location of the terminal end of one or more wire pairs in a structure having a first end at a common origin, a microprocessor sequentially scans voltage applied on the first ends of each of the plurality of wire pairs, storing in memory a value relative to the voltage reading of the selected wire pair and identifying which wire pair has a change in value to a previously stored value when a user changes the status of the second end of each wire pair at the remote location. The microprocessor sends a wireless signal to a hand held device identifying the selected wire pair with the changed status and the user located at the remote location records the physical location of the second end of the wire pair relative to the identity of the first end of the wire pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Troy W. Gotschall, David T. Hodierne
  • Publication number: 20130110434
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for detecting a frequency of a measured three-phase voltage. The method includes measuring a three-phase voltage, forming a discrete model for a periodic signal, the discrete model including the three-phase voltage and a difference between positive and negative voltage components of the three-phase voltage, forming a discrete detector based on the discrete model, detecting a fundamental wave component of the voltage and the difference between the positive and negative voltage components of the three-phase voltage from an error between the measured voltage and detected fundamental wave component of the voltage by using the discrete detector and a sampling time together with a detected frequency of the measured voltage. The detected frequency is detected from a detected difference between positive and negative voltage components of the measured voltage and from an error between the measured voltage and the detected fundamental wave component of the voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventor: ABB Research Ltd
  • Patent number: 8433529
    Abstract: In a watt-hour meter, encoders 116, 117, 118 and 119 respectively convert a signal concerning a current and voltage used by a customer into a code sequence signal by Reed-Solomon codes or convolutional codes. Decoders 121, 122, 123, and 124 reversely convert the code sequence signal to the signal concerning the current and voltage. A power calculating section 125 converts the signal concerning the current and voltage into data concerning electricity consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Toko Meter Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nakano, Yoshito Sameda, Yukio Takanohashi, Tadanori Maoka, Mitsuhiro Sakoyama, Fuyuki Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 8433938
    Abstract: A computer system includes a device which operates depending on a clock frequency; a battery unit which comprises a plurality of battery cells and supplies power to the device; a temperature sensor which senses temperature of the battery cells; and a controller which decreases the clock frequency if the sensed temperature is beyond a first preset critical point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-deok Cha, Jong-tae Chun
  • Publication number: 20130103334
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing an operating state of a contractor, which contractor includes a processing unit for acting on a voltage control means, an actuating coil, means for measuring an electric characteristic of the actuating coil, a free wheel diode connected in parallel the actuating coil, and the means for measuring, the method including sending a drop-out order by applying a drop-out voltage at the terminals of the actuating coil, measuring an electric characteristic if the actuating coil during a period wherein a drop-out voltage is applied, reconstituting a specific value of the measured electric characteristic, comparing such a specific value with a specific initial operation reference value of the contactor; and diagnosing the state of wear of the contactor; and diagnosing the state of wear of the contactor as a function of the specific value with respect to the initial operation reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventor: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
  • Patent number: 8429433
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for dynamically power capping one or more units. A power capping mechanism sets a counter value corresponding to an initial energy budget assigned to a unit for a given interval. Responsive to the unit receiving an operation to perform during the given interval, the power capping mechanism decrements the counter value by a decrement value. Responsive to the given interval expiring, the power capping mechanism sends the counter value to a power control loop in the data processing system, receives a new energy budget from the power control loop, and resets the counter value to a value corresponding to the new energy budget assigned to the unit for a next interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John B. Carter, Heather L. Hanson, Karthick Rajamani, Malcolm S. Ware
  • Patent number: 8421438
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for diffusion sensing are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) switch and a switch sense block. The switch includes a gate, a drain, a source, and a well. The source and drain are formed in the well. The gate is formed adjacent the well between the source and drain, and the source is configured to receive a bias voltage from a power amplifier. The switch sense block is configured to measure a signal indicative of the voltage of at least one of the source or drain voltage of the switch and to generate an output signal based on the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan M Pratt, Karl J Couglar, David K Homol
  • Patent number: 8423308
    Abstract: A multi-circuit direct current monitor consists of a plurality of Hall Effect current sensors mounted on a printed circuit board oriented to sense the direct current (DC) flow from power generating devices such as solar arrays, output from the Hall Effect sensors connected to an analog to digital (A/D) converter which in turn is connected to a microprocessor. The multi-circuit direct current monitor continuously monitors instantaneous and average current values for each circuit as well as total instantaneous current and average current for all active circuits. The multi-circuit direct current monitor provides continuous communications via Modbus RTU as well as providing alarm outputs if one or more circuits deviates from the average output by a percentage greater than the user specified threshold for a user-defined period of time to detect failed or underperforming power output devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Leviton Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: James E. Lewis, Stephen E. Herzog
  • Patent number: 8423309
    Abstract: A method is provided for performing quality control on an organic light emitting diode (OLED) pixel comprising three sub-pixels formed in parallel. A method is provided for determining an weighted average current leakage for three sub-pixels of an OLED pixel. The method includes selecting a total luminance level, determining a first current flowing when a first sub-pixel is energized causing the OLED pixel to emit light having 1/3 total luminance. The method includes determining a second current flowing when the first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel are energized causing the OLED pixel to emit light having a 213 total luminance. The method includes calculating weighted average current leakage by multiplying the first current times two forming a first product, subtracting the second current from the first product forming a result, multiplying the result by two forming a second product, and dividing the second product by nine. A computer-readable medium is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Emagin Corporation
    Inventors: Amalkumar P. Ghosh, Ilyas I. Khayrullin
  • Publication number: 20130090873
    Abstract: A microcontroller measures capacitance of capacitive sensors having guard rings associated therewith. A guard ring is provided around each capacitive sensor plate and is charged to substantially the same voltage as a voltage on the associated capacitive sensor plate. The guard ring reduces parasitic capacitances of the capacitive sensor plate caused by differences in voltage potentials between the capacitive sensor plate, and adjacent circuit conductors, ground planes and power planes. An analog output is buffered and coupled to an analog input coupled to the capacitive sensor plate, and is used to drive the guard ring voltage to substantially the same voltage as the voltage on the capacitive sensor plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventor: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
  • Publication number: 20130083441
    Abstract: A lightning surge detector 1 includes a first terminal unit 3 connected to a ground-side terminal unit of a surge protective device, a second terminal unit 4 connected with a ground wire, a conducting coupling bar 5 adapted to couple the first terminal unit 1 and the second terminal unit 4, a detection coil 7 placed in a vicinity of the conducting coupling bar 5 and adapted to detect a lightning surge current flowing through the conducting coupling bar 5, a waveform processing unit adapted to stretch a voltage waveform of the detected lightning surge current and thereby output a waveform-modified voltage, a computation control unit adapted to produce a calculation result of the lightning surge current from the waveform-modified voltage, and a display unit 40 adapted to display the calculation result, wherein all the above components are unitized by being housed in a casing 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: SANKOSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuji HIGASHI, Yuichi TAKAHASHI, Kenichi EBUCHI, Tsuyoshi KAWABATA
  • Publication number: 20130085697
    Abstract: A method for assessing a ripple of a signal, includes: a) determining a first signal value at a determination point in time, b) determining a signal value difference between the first signal value and a signal value determined at a previous determination point in time, c) incrementing an undershoot counter if the signal value difference falls below a first difference threshold value, and incrementing an overshoot counter and resetting the undershoot counter if the signal value difference exceeds a second difference threshold value, and d) determining that no ripple overshoot is present and resetting the overshoot counter if the undershoot counter overshoots an undershoot threshold value, and determining that a ripple overshoot is present if the overshoot counter exceeds an overshoot threshold value and the undershoot counter does not exceed an undershoot threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventor: Andres Murube Lindahl
  • Patent number: 8412658
    Abstract: A system includes a learning data input unit for receiving initial and long term characteristic learning data of a battery to be a learning object; a measurement data input unit for receiving initial characteristic measurement data of a battery to be an object for long term characteristic estimation; an artificial neural network operation unit for converting the learning data into first and second data structures, allowing an artificial neural network to learn the learning data based on each data structure, converting the measurement data into first and second data structures, and individually applying the learned artificial neural network corresponding to each data structure to calculate and output long term characteristic estimation data based on each data structure; and a long term characteristic evaluation unit for calculating an error of the estimation data of each data structure and determining reliability of the estimation data depending on error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Kon Song, Jeong-Ju Cho, Yeon-Uk Choo, Mi-Young Son, Ho-Chun Lee
  • Patent number: 8407642
    Abstract: A leak current calculation apparatus includes an acquiring section for acquiring partial circuit information, and a grouping section for forming a plurality of groups each comprising a part of the partial circuits connected with each other and for generating group information. The apparatus includes a leak difference value calculating section for calculating a leak difference value, which is a difference between a provisional maximum value acquired by adding up the maximum values of the leak current values of all the partial circuits and a sum of maximum values of the leak current values contained in the group information of the groups, and a maximum leak current calculating section for calculating the maximum leak current value of the integrated circuit by adjusting the provisional maximum value with the leak difference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Yuzi Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 8407019
    Abstract: A multi-circuit direct current monitor consists of a plurality of Hall Effect current sensors mounted on a printed circuit board oriented to sense the direct current (DC) flow from power generating devices such as solar arrays, output from the Hall Effect sensors connected to an analog to digital (A/D) converter which in turn is connected to a microprocessor. The multi-circuit direct current monitor continuously monitors instantaneous and average current values for each circuit as well as total instantaneous current and average current for all active circuits. The multi-circuit direct current monitor provides continuous communications via Modbus RTU as well as providing alarm outputs if one or more circuits deviates from the average output by a percentage greater than the user specified threshold for a user-defined period of time to detect failed or underperforming power output devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Leviton Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: James E. Lewis, Stephen E. Herzog
  • Patent number: 8405407
    Abstract: A current measurement circuit for measuring a current is provided. The current measurement circuit includes a current integrating unit with a capacitor array, a comparator coupled to the current integrating unit, and a control unit coupled to the comparator and the current integrating unit. The current integrating unit integrates the current on the capacitor array to obtain an input voltage. The comparator compares the input voltage with a specific voltage to generate a compare output. The control unit generates a control signal to apply to the capacitor array of the current integrating unit according to the compare output. A magnitude of the current is obtained according to the control signal and the capacitance of the capacitor array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventors: Martin John Edwards, Nicola Bramante
  • Publication number: 20130073108
    Abstract: A real-time distributed wide area monitoring system is presented. The real-time distributed wide area monitoring system includes a plurality of phasor measurement units that measure respective synchronized phasor data of voltages and currents. The real-time distributed wide area monitoring system further includes a plurality of processing subsystems distributed in a power system, wherein at least one of the plurality of processing subsystems is configured to receive a subset of the respective synchronized phasor data, process the received subset of the respective synchronized phasor data to determine respective system parameters, wherein the plurality of processing subsystems are time synchronized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Amol Rajaram Kolwalkar
  • Publication number: 20130073238
    Abstract: In a current sensor for detecting an electric current flowing in a current path, a magnetic field generating element generates a second magnetic field perpendicular to a first magnetic field generated by the electric current of the current path, and a magnetic sensor generates at least one of a first signal containing a sine value according to an angle defined between the second magnetic field and a synthetic magnetic field composed of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field and a second signal containing a cosine value according to the angle. A signal processing unit includes a calculation circuit that calculates a tangential value according to the angle using the at least one of the first signal and the second signal, and outputs a sensor signal containing the tangential value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kousuke NOMURA, Norihiro KURUMADO
  • Publication number: 20130073237
    Abstract: A submersion detection circuit includes a power source unit, a reference resistor connected between the power source unit and a voltage measurement node, a submersion unit configured to include a plurality of submersion measurement resistors connected in parallel to the voltage measurement node. Submersion contact terminals are formed at respective ends of the submersion measurement resistors, and a voltage measurement unit connected to the voltage measurement node and configured to measure voltage divided by the reference resistor and the submersion unit when the submersion contact terminals submerge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventor: Seongmun BAEK
  • Publication number: 20130066575
    Abstract: An average current value that is the average value of current values is found by connecting a detection resistor in parallel to two terminals that are the object of measurement, measuring the current value that flows in the detection resistor, and subjecting the current value to time-quadrature, and further, dividing the current value that follows integration by the integration time. The average current value is converted to a digital signal and sent to an arithmetic means (processor). The arithmetic means calculates the voltage value across the two terminals from the average current value and the resistance value of the detection resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: NEC ENERGY DEVICES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Hori, Shin Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20130066574
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the maximum open circuit voltage and the power that can be output by a photoconverter material subject to a measurement light intensity, the method including the following steps: measuring the photoluminescent intensity of the material, measuring the absorption rate of the photoconverter material at a second wavelength substantially equal to the photoluminescent wavelength of the photoconverter material, determining the maximum open circuit voltage of the photoconverter material with the measurement light intensity by means of the absorption rate and the photoluminescent intensity measured at substantially the same wavelength; said invention being characterised in that the light source and the photoconverter material are arranged such that the angular distributions of the rays incident on and emitted by the lit surface of the material and collected by the detector are substantially identical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicants: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-CNRS-, Universite de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en- Yvelines, Electricite de France
    Inventors: Jean-François Guillemoles, Arnaud Etcheberry, Isabelle Gerard, Pierre Tran-van
  • Patent number: 8396607
    Abstract: A control device for controlling an energy consumption of a load on an electricity grid includes a sensor for sensing over a period of time values of a physical variable of the grid, where the physical variable varies in dependence on a relationship between electricity generation and load on the grid. The control device also includes apparatus for varying the energy consumption of said load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: ResponsiveLoad Limited
    Inventor: David R Hirst
  • Publication number: 20130060494
    Abstract: A method of calculating a current correction formula may include first measuring voltage values at each of current measuring parts configured to measure currents in socket parts of a power strip in a state in which no current flows in the socket parts, second measuring the voltage values at each of the current measuring parts in a state in which a current flows in one of the socket parts, and calculating a correction formula formed by a inverse matrix of a matrix having as its elements differences between the voltage values measured by the second measuring and the voltage values measured by the first measuring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Fujitsu Limited
  • Patent number: 8390150
    Abstract: A field device interface module includes a connector, a plurality of terminals, a protocol interface module, a controller and a power supply module. The connector is configured to operably couple to a computer. The terminals are operably coupleable to a field device. The protocol interface module is coupled to the plurality of terminals and configured to generate signals in accordance with a process communication protocol. A power supply module is coupled to the plurality of terminals. The controller is coupled to the protocol interface module and to the power supply module and is configured to measure a voltage across the plurality of terminals and selectively cause the power supply module to provide power to the field device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel E. Vande Vusse, Alden C. Russell, III, Douglas W. Arntson
  • Patent number: 8392132
    Abstract: A process variation detection apparatus and a process variation detection method are provided. The process variation detection apparatus includes a process variation detector and a compensation signal generator. The process variation detector includes a first process variation detection component, a second process variation detection component and a current comparator. The channel of the first process variation detection component is a first conductive type, and the channel of the second process variation detection component is a second conductive type, wherein the above-mentioned first conductive type is different from the second conductive type. The current comparator is connected to the first process variation detection component and the second process variation detection component for comparing the current difference between the two components and outputting a current comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ku-Feng Lin, Meng-Fan Chang, Shyh-Shyuan Sheu, Pei-Chia Chiang, Wen-Pin Lin, Chih-He Lin
  • Publication number: 20130049470
    Abstract: A method of analyzing the characteristics of a power source includes receiving a power source having at least one phase and sensing voltage signals of each phase of the at least one phase. The method includes detecting a zero crossing event of a selected phase of the at least one phase based on the sensed voltage signals of the selected phase. The method also includes determining, using a processor, voltage information for each phase of the at least one phase based on the corresponding sensed voltage signals. The method further includes outputting a series of pulses via a galvanic isolator in response to the zero crossing event. Respective lengths of some or all of the pulses in the series are based on the corresponding voltage information for each of the at least one phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: ASCO POWER TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
    Inventors: John Hayes, Vladimir Miloslavskiy
  • Patent number: 8386199
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the starter battery of a vehicle includes a central processing unit, a voltage sensor, a temperature sensor, a timer, a data store, and a display. A collection of computer software algorithms are executed by the central processing unit to ascertain the operational state of a vehicle's starter battery. The algorithms are operative to determine engine start time, initial start voltage drop, and the charge state of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: 4 Peaks Technology LLC
    Inventors: Lonnie Calvin Goff, Michael Richard Conley, Mark Edmond Eidson
  • Patent number: 8386200
    Abstract: A monitoring system includes a first sensor positioned at a first location along a phase conductor line and a second sensor position at a second location along the phase conductor line. The first sensor is configured to generate a first set of synchrophasor data. The second sensor is configured to generate a second set of synchrophasor data. The monitoring system includes a processor configured to receive the first and second sets of synchrophasor data. The processor is further configured to determine a primary side voltage of at least one distribution transformer electrically connected to the phase conductor line based on a secondary side voltage of the at least one distribution transformer. The processor is further configured to determine at least one phase conductor line condition based on the first and second sets of synchrophasor data and the primary side voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Taft
  • Patent number: 8373407
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provides improved resolution in an analog signal, relative to the resolution of a digital-to-analog converter producing the signal. In one embodiment, a digital electrical power and energy meter varies a digital input to a digital-to-analog converter such that an average of the output of the digital-to-analog converter indicates a value with greater resolution than the instantaneous resolution of the digital-to-analog converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Electro Industries/Gauge Tech
    Inventor: Tibor Banhegyesi
  • Patent number: 8374803
    Abstract: A damage detection apparatus and method which detect a damage occurring in a specimen include energizing an inspection area on a specimen into a predetermined energized condition, measuring a potential difference at predetermined intervals in the inspection area, and analyzing an existence or otherwise of a damage, and a shape thereof, based on a plurality of items of potential difference data. Parameters specifying a hypothetical damage are hypothesized in advance and, based on the potential difference data, calculation is executed using a maximum likelihood estimation method on a double body in which hypothetical specimens are doubled by bringing together their front surfaces, and furthermore on a quadruple body quadrupled by bringing rear surfaces of hypothetical specimens together, a maximum likelihood estimation value of the parameters is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: National University Corporation Okayama University
    Inventor: Naoya Tada
  • Patent number: 8374810
    Abstract: A method for calculating insertion indices for a phase leg of a DC to AC modular multilevel converter. Each phase leg includes two serially connected arms, wherein each arm includes a number of submodules, wherein each submodule can be in a bypass state or a voltage insert mode. The insertion index includes data representing the portion of available submodules that should be in the voltage insert mode. The method includes the steps of: calculating a desired arm voltage for an upper arm connected to the upper DC source common bar and a lower arm connected to the lower DC source common bar, obtaining values representing actual total arm voltages in the upper arm and lower arm, respectively, and calculating modulation indices for the upper and lower arm, respectively, using the respective desired arm voltage and the respective value representing the total actual arm voltage. A corresponding apparatus is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Lennart Angquist
  • Patent number: 8374809
    Abstract: A transceiver module for monitoring a voltage distribution network that includes a voltage carrying power line and a transmitter along the voltage carrying power line for transmitting a first monitoring signal that includes information related to the condition of the voltage distribution network. The transceiver module comprises a receiver located along the voltage carrying power line at a distance from the transmitter, the receiver configured to receive the first monitoring signal; a sensor that monitors a condition of the voltage distribution network and produces a sensor signal that contains information related to the condition being monitored; and a monitor in communication with the receiver and the sensor thereby receiving the first monitoring signal and the sensor signal, the monitor configured to provide a second monitoring signal that includes the information contained in the first monitoring signal and the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Electronic Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David DeLeo, Franklin Miller
  • Publication number: 20130035886
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for voltage measurement with a transformer configuration comprising three single pole voltage transformers having tertiary windings open-delta connected with each other. The arrangement is configured to apply a correction to measured secondary voltages on the basis of one or more parameters of the voltage transformers and/or one or more quantities in a known relation to one or more parameters of the voltage transformers, one or more parameters of a circuit connected to the secondary windings and/or one or more quantities in a known relation to one or more parameters of the circuit connected to the secondary windings, and one or more parameters of a circuit connected to the tertiary windings and/or one or more quantities in a known relation to one or more parameters of the circuit connected to the tertiary windings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: ABB Technology AG
  • Patent number: 8369055
    Abstract: A method of determining out of step condition and an instance of separation within electrical power system. The method does not require user settings and ensures reliable discrimination between recoverable power swing and pole slips that indicates non-recoverable power swing and the need for system separation. The method also allows tripping at a user selected system angle if desired. A calculated angle is used to determine the magnitude of the swing current to control the tripping at the desired angle ? when the system could be safely split after detection of out of step condition based on the criteria of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Areva T&D UK Ltd
    Inventors: Branislav Cvorovic, Harmeet Kang
  • Patent number: 8370094
    Abstract: A detecting device for a fuel injector includes a sensor unit and an ECU. The sensor unit is provided with a fuel pressure detection circuit which outputs a pressure detection signal in response to a fuel pressure. The ECU computes the fuel pressure based on a voltage value of the pressure detection signal relative to a reference voltage. The ECU obtains a comparative voltage according to an applied-voltage to the fuel pressure detection circuit and computes a deviation between the comparative voltage and the reference voltage. The sensor unit adjusts the applied-voltage in such a manner as to decrease the deviation. Thus, the computation accuracy of the fuel pressure is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Kou Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20130030574
    Abstract: A method for detecting heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) components is provided. The method includes the steps of measuring an initial current at a current sensor in a circuit, while a relay is de-energized; energizing the relay; measuring, at a periodic interval, an energized current while the relay is energized; incrementing a counter if an absolute difference between a first voltage related to the energized current and a second voltage related to the initial current is above a threshold; and determining a HVAC component is present if the counter exceeds a pre-determined value during a pre-determined time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Wayne Storm, Daniel J. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20130030731
    Abstract: According to a present alternating-current electric quantity measuring apparatus, a voltage amplitude calculated by a square integral operation of at least three continuous voltage instantaneous values sampled at a sampling frequency twice or higher than a frequency of an alternating-current voltage to be measured is normalized. A voltage chord length calculated by the square integral operation of three voltage chord length instantaneous values representing an end-to-end distance between two adjacent voltage instantaneous values in at least four continuous voltage instantaneous values including the three voltage instantaneous values, which are sampled at the sampling frequency and used in calculating the normalized voltage amplitude, is normalized. A rotation phase angle in one period time of sampling is calculated using the normalized voltage amplitude and the normalized voltage chord length. A frequency of the alternating-current voltage is calculated using the calculated rotation phase angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Mitsbbishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kempei Seki
  • Patent number: 8364428
    Abstract: A junction-photovoltage method and apparatus for contactless determination of an electrical/physical parameter of a semiconductor structure having at least one p-n junction located at a surface is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes illuminating the surface with the p-n junction with a light beam of a first wavelength to create excess carriers at the surface. The method also includes modulating the light intensity of the light beam at a single predefined frequency. The method also includes determining a first photo-voltage at a first position inside the illuminated area and a second photo-voltage at at least a second position outside the illuminated area. The method also includes calculating an electrical/physical parameter of the semiconductor structure based on the first and second photo-voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventors: Frederic Schaus, Trudo Clarysse
  • Patent number: 8362909
    Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting a low battery detection threshold in a remote control. An embodiment of a method includes determining a type of a battery powering a remote control of an entertainment device and determining a first low battery threshold for the battery based on the type of the battery. The first low battery threshold indicates a low battery condition of the remote control. Responsive to measuring a voltage of the battery, a determination is made regarding whether the voltage of the battery is below the low battery threshold. Responsive to determining that the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold, a low battery message is transmitted to an entertainment device. The entertainment device utilizes the message to present an indicator to a user regarding the low battery condition of the remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: William R. Reams
  • Publication number: 20130024143
    Abstract: Examples disclose a processor with a measurement point to receive an input voltage and a voltage measurer to obtain a first voltage measurement. Further, the examples provide the processor with a switch, based on a signal, to enable a second voltage measurement at the measurement point. Additionally, the processor is to adjust the voltage measurer based on a difference between the first and second voltage measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventor: Ted A. Hadley
  • Publication number: 20130024142
    Abstract: A method of defining a quasi iso-gain supply voltage function for an envelope tracking system is disclosed. The method includes a step of capturing iso-gain supply voltage values versus power values for a device under test (DUT). Other steps involve locating a minimum iso-gain supply voltage value, and then replacing the iso-gain supply voltage values with the minimum iso-gain supply voltage value for corresponding output power values that are less than an output power value corresponding to the minimum iso-gain supply voltage value. The method further includes a step of generating a look-up table (LUT) of iso-gain supply voltage values as a function of input power for the DUT after the step of replacing the iso-gain supply voltage values with the minimum iso-gain supply voltage value for corresponding output power values that are less than an output power value corresponding to the minimum iso-gain supply voltage value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: RF MICRO DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Folkmann, James M. Retz, Nadim Khlat, Jean-Frederic Chiron
  • Patent number: 8359176
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing photovoltaic (PV) cell reverse breakdown during operation of a PV module. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a first temperature value; and restricting an operating voltage of the PV module based on the first temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Fornage
  • Patent number: 8359174
    Abstract: A battery pack has a charge and discharge count measuring part (131) configured to measure the number of times of charges and discharges of a secondary battery based on the summed value of the charge current for the secondary battery, and a decay rate output part (132) configured to compute a decay rate that indicates a degree of decay of the secondary battery based on the number of times of charges and discharges measured by the charge and discharge count measuring part (131) and to output it to a device being a discharge load. For example, the charge and discharge count measuring part (131) repeatedly sums the detected values of the charge current to a predetermined threshold, and counts up the number of times of charges and discharges every time when the summed value reaches the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoichi Nakashima, Masashi Kumada, Hideyuki Sato, Yoshio Harada, Michihiro Kaneko, Kentaro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8355883
    Abstract: Methods and devices to measure voltage margins of electromechanical devices are disclosed. The voltage margins are determined based on responses to test voltages which cause the devices to change states. State changes of the devices are detected by monitoring integrated current or charge used to drive the devices with the test voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alok Govil, Kostadin Djordjev, Alan Lewis, Wilhelmus Johannes Robertus Van Lier
  • Publication number: 20130013125
    Abstract: Determining the number of loads associated with each phase in a three-phase electric power system. The loads can be associated with the consumption of electric power at a node, such as a metering device located at a facility. In one implementation, a central device that is connected to such nodes via a smart grid and a radio frequency mesh network can be leveraged to determine a phase in real time. For example, the central device can include a processor that executes one or more computer program modules which can cause a load tap changer having access to a distribution feeder in the smart grid to vary a voltage level supplied across each phase of the power system. Additionally, the central device can communicate with nodes in the mesh network to cause the nodes to perform voltage measurements and collect information related to such measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: CELLNET INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Derek Edward Booth
  • Patent number: 8350516
    Abstract: A control device controls a switching operation of a switching element such that an AC voltage allowing an AC motor to output torque in accordance with a torque command value is applied to a coil winding of each phase. The control device sets a gate resistance variably between a first pulse voltage at the time of reversal of polarity of the AC voltage and a remaining pulse voltage, in a drive circuit for turning on/off the switching element in response to a switching control signal. By making longer a time period for the first pulse voltage at the time of reversal of polarity to rise, occurrence of partial discharge in a gap between coil windings of respective phases is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeto Takeuchi, Tomotsugu Taira
  • Publication number: 20130006556
    Abstract: The provided solar simulator light-intensity evaluation apparatus and method can evaluate the characteristics of a solar cell in an arbitrary place at an arbitrary time and date, using an existing solar simulator, as follows: an estimated spectral irradiance of the natural sunlight is calculated under a measurement condition including a place and/or a time and date where and when the solar cell is measured; and an target value of adjustment and estimated light amount value of the solar simulator are calculated under the measurement condition, on the basis of the estimated spectral irradiance having been calculated, the spectral irradiance of the solar simulator, and solar cell information including a spectral sensitivity of the solar cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA OPTICS, INC.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8346500
    Abstract: A self check-type flame detector includes a casing provided with a monitoring window formed therein. A wavelength generation unit is disposed inside the casing and generates a wavelength in a direction of the monitoring window. A wavelength detection element is disposed inside the casing and detects the wavelength. A comparison unit is provided with a wavelength DB for storing intensity of a reference wavelength and determines whether the monitoring window has been contaminated. A display unit is located outside the casing and displays a state of the monitoring window. A communication unit is disposed inside the casing and configured to receive operation information for the wavelength generation unit, to provide the operation information to the wavelength generation unit, and to transmit the intensity of the wavelength, or a normal signal or a contamination signal of the monitoring window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Chang Sung Ace Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeu Yong Lee, Seung Hun Choi
  • Patent number: 8346496
    Abstract: A system for assaying electronic or electrochemically active materials or devices made therefrom includes a microcontroller, a main digital-to-analog converter (DAC), current and voltage sensing modules, a reference voltage DAC, and a power switch. The reference voltage DAC applies a calibrated voltage across the materials/devices, and the switch disconnects the main DAC to generate an open-circuit voltage. The microcontroller assays the materials/devices using the measured voltage, measured current, reference voltage, and/or open-circuit voltage. The main DAC may include coarse and fine DACs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Wildcat Disocovery Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: David Brecht, Patrick Bird