Including Related Electrical Parameter Patents (Class 702/65)
  • Publication number: 20130027062
    Abstract: When the first electrical conductor overlaps one of the three or more detection electrodes, the one detection electrode and the first electrical conductor are capacitively coupled. When the position of the first electrical conductor has changed in accordance with movement of the operation member, it is determined, based on the capacitance of each of the three or more detection electrodes after the change, that the first electrical conductor has moved in a direction from a first detection electrode judged to have decreased the capacitance to a second detection electrode judged to have increased the capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kento Inai
  • Patent number: 8364433
    Abstract: A calibration system employed for use with a resistance capacitance (RC) filter having resistors and capacitors with parasitic capacitance associated therewith. The calibration system has a digital calibration circuit receiving a time constant signal and generating, based thereon, a control word of N digital bits. The calibration system includes an analog monitor circuit having monitor capacitance assembly having a particular equivalent resistor and capacitor configuration. The analog monitor circuit generates the time constant signal and includes N switches, where each switch is controlled by one of the N bits of the control word, each switch is configured to connect or disconnect one or more capacitors of the monitor capacitor assembly thereby generating a time constant signal that represents the time constant of the RC integrated filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mansour Keramat, Syed S. Islam, Mehrdad Heshami
  • Publication number: 20130024144
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for determining a harmonic are described herein. One method includes determining a temperature of a circuit conductor while the circuit conductor is conducting a current, and determining a harmonic associated with the circuit conductor based, at least in part, on the determined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Julie J. Hull Roskos
  • Publication number: 20130024147
    Abstract: A method for measuring a position using a magnet and a sensor for detecting the magnetic field strength of the magnet. The magnet and/or the sensor interact with a movable element so that a relative movement between the sensor and the magnet can be effected. The position of the movable element in accordance with the co-ordinates in a system of co-ordinates can be ascertained on the basis of the magnetic field generated by the magnet and detected by the sensor. The sensor ascertains the components of the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field in three linearly independent spatial directions. The magnet generates an analytically describable magnetic field. Each co-ordinate along a co-ordinate axis of the system of co-ordinates in a half-space of the magnetic field is determined individually and unambiguously by the combination of the components of the magnetic field strength detected by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Marquardt Mechatronik GmbH
    Inventors: Frank ALLMENDINGER, Eberhard BINDER
  • Publication number: 20130024146
    Abstract: A method of taking a plurality of measurements of the magnetic field using the plurality of sensors; includes assessing the inductive magnetic excitation; and determining the likely distribution of magnetic sources on the surface of the hull by resolving a system of equations derived from modeling the physical phenomena at play, on the basis of the plurality of measurements taken and the assessed inductive magnetic excitation. The model describes the induced magnetic sources as a distribution of dipolar sources and the remanent magnetic sources as a distribution of monopolar sources. A device (6) for determining the magnetization of the hull of a ship for implementing the method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: DCNS
    Inventors: Laurent Demilier, Yannick Vuillermet, Olivier Nicolas Chadebec, Jean-Louis Coulomb, Laure-Line Rouve, Gilles Cauffet
  • Publication number: 20130024145
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for determining a power flow are described herein. One method includes determining a temperature of a circuit conductor while the circuit conductor is conducting a current, and determining a power flow associated with the circuit conductor based, at least in part, on the determined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Julie J. Hull Roskos
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130018611
    Abstract: A method of determining a gap height in a droplet actuator including measuring an impedance between a droplet operations electrode of a first substrate in a droplet actuator and ground electrode of a second substrate in the droplet actuator, storing a lookup table that associates impedances to heights of gaps between the first substrate and the second substrate, querying the lookup table for the impedance measured between the droplet operations electrode of the first substrate and the ground electrode of the second substrate; and retrieving a height of a gap associated with the impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC INC
    Inventor: Ryan A. Sturmer
  • Publication number: 20130018612
    Abstract: An observation device of a non-linear system includes: at least one sensor supplying a measurement vector each component of which is a measurable output parameter of the non-linear system; and a state observer processor that, based on a predetermined state representation of the non-linear system, is configured to supply an estimation of a state vector of the non-linear system according to the measurement vector supplied and a control vector of the non-linear system. In addition, the predetermined state representation including a non-linearity model of the system in a form of a gain parameter, and one component of the state vector is this gain parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Mathieu Grossard, Mehdi Boukallel
  • Publication number: 20130006559
    Abstract: A method for reducing the non-linearity effect of a digital-analogue converter. An electronic circuit includes an amplifier and a digital-analogue converter for supplying a measuring voltage. The method includes biasing the capacitor electrodes by the measuring voltage on the basis of the first digital signal, then biasing the fixed electrode of the first capacitor at a regulated voltage and the fixed electrode of the second capacitor at a low voltage, then biasing the capacitor electrodes by the measuring voltage on the basis of a second digital measuring signal, and finally biasing the fixed electrode of the first capacitor at a low voltage and the fixed electrode of the second capacitor at a regulated voltage. A defined offset voltage is introduced into the digital-analogue converter to modulate the first and second digital signals. A mean is taken of the two digital signals to reduce the non-linearity effect of the converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: EM Microelectronic-Marin S.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain GROSJEAN, Alexandre Deschildre
  • Publication number: 20130006557
    Abstract: On-chip test architecture and design-for-testability methods for pre-bond testing of TSVs are provided. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, a die level wrapper is provided including gated scan flops connected to one end of each TSV. The gated scan flops include a scan flop structure and a gated output. The gated output is controlled by a signal to cause the output of the gated scan flop to either be in a “floated state” or take the value stored in the flip-flop portion of the gated scan flop. The gated output of the gated scan flop can be used to enable resistance and capacitance measurements of pre-bonded TSVs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Krishnendu Chakrabarty, Brandon Noia
  • Publication number: 20130006558
    Abstract: A system and method for soft-field reconstruction are provided. One method includes obtaining applied input and measured output information for an excited object using a plurality of transducers and forming an admittance matrix based on the applied input and measured output information. The method also includes determining a plurality of moments using the admittance matrix and calculating a property distribution of the excited object using the plurality of moments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rajesh V.V.L. Langoju, Wrichik Basu, Manoj Kumar Koyithitta Meethal, Sakethraman Mahalingam
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120330590
    Abstract: A processing system includes a transmitter module, a receiver module, and a determination module. The transmitter module is configured to transmit in accordance with a first excitation mode with a transmitter electrode during a first interval and a third interval of a sensing frame period, wherein, during the first excitation mode, a first voltage variation is generated in the transmitter electrode. The transmitter module is further configured to transmit in accordance with a second excitation mode with the transmitter electrode during a second interval of the sensing frame, wherein, during the second excitation mode, a second voltage variation different from the first voltage variation is generated in the transmitter electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Mihai Bulea
  • Patent number: 8340921
    Abstract: A measuring arrangement of the invention includes: At least one measuring device, which generates, repeatedly during operation, measured values, especially digital, measured values, representing the at least one measured variable to be registered; as well as an electronic data processing system superordinated to the at least one measuring device, especially a data processing system which is spatially distributed and/or spatially remote from the measuring device. Measuring device and data processing system are connected together by means of at least two line-pairs, through each of which an electrical current flows, at least at times, during operation. According to the invention, the measuring device transmits the internally generated, measured values to the data processing system via both line-pairs. In this way, it is then possible to transmit a plurality of measured values simultaneously, when each of the two line-pairs is embodied as part of a two-conductor current-loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Jiri Karbula, Robert Lalla, Gernot Engstler
  • Patent number: 8340930
    Abstract: An arrangement for protecting equipment of an AC electrical power system comprises first means configured to measure the frequency of the current and voltage at at least one location in the electrical power system along an interconnection between two theoretical electric machines of an equivalent two machine system. Fourth means are configured to use the values of the frequency of the current and voltage measured to determine whether a power swing has occurred and if an occurrence of a power swing has been determined determine whether the measuring location is located on a motor side or a generator side of a potential pole slip electrical centre along said interconnection, the electrical centre being defined as the location where the voltage becomes zero during a pole slip, and send this information further to third means for use in a control for protecting equipment of the electrical power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Zoran Gajic
  • Patent number: 8340829
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus of detecting and compensating for DC residual fault currents on electrical systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus which is capable of accurately detecting one or more parameters of the fault current waveform and generating a compensation factor which compensates for specific pulsed DC fault components present. In this way, trip sensitivity is optimized for all types of fault current waveforms. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention operates by detecting one or more parameters of the encoded fault current waveform and generating a measure of symmetry comparing the mean squared values of negative and positive sections of said encoded fault current waveform. In use, various bands of the ratio of the mean squared sum of the positive and negative sections of said encoded fault current waveform are obtained, and a compensation factor is determined from a look-up table stored in a processing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Industries Manufacturing GmbH
    Inventor: Jonathan Keith Jackson
  • Patent number: 8340831
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a system for non-intrusive load monitoring includes an output device, a data storage device including program instructions stored therein, a sensing device operably connected to a common source for a plurality of electrical devices, and an estimator operably connected to the output device, the data storage device, and the sensing device, the estimator configured to execute the program instructions to obtain data associated with a sensed state of the common source from the sensing device, obtain at least one model of each of the plurality of electrical devices, solve a Mixed Integer Programming problem for the at least one models over a fixed time horizon using the obtained data to determine a combination of operational stages of the plurality of electrical devices, and store operational data based on the solved Mixed Integer Programming problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Diego Benitez, Rui Huang
  • Publication number: 20120323514
    Abstract: A piezoelectric sensor device includes a piezoelectric element, a polarization processing unit and a controller. The piezoelectric element has a pair of electrodes sandwiching a piezoelectric body. The polarization processing unit is configured to execute polarization processing in which polarization voltage is applied to the polarization element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke NAKAZAWA, Tomohide ONOGI
  • Publication number: 20120323513
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for the detection of charge density distribution at the surface of a material sample. The apparatus comprises an electric potential sensor for measuring surface charge on a material sample, wherein the electrical potential sensor includes a probe for capacitively coupling the electric potential sensor to the surface of the material sample, an amplifier for generating a measurement output, the probe being connected to an input of the amplifier and the measurement output being supplied at an output of the amplifier, and a feedback arrangement driven from the output of the amplifier for enhancing the input impedance of the amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: The University of Sussex
    Inventors: Helen Prance, Robert John Prance, Philip Watson
  • Publication number: 20120316817
    Abstract: A circuit for measuring the DC resistance of an inductor includes an input unit, a microprocessor module, a current source and a voltage detecting unit. The microprocessor module receives signals from the input unit and generates different signals to command constant currents through the inductor by the current source. The voltage detecting unit reads voltages of the inductor and outputs the voltages obtained to the microprocessor module. According to the currents and the voltages read, the microprocessor module may calculate the DC resistance(s) of the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD
    Inventors: SONG-LIN TONG, QI-YAN LUO, PENG CHEN, FU-SEN YANG, YUN BAI
  • Patent number: 8332184
    Abstract: This invention relates to techniques for processing potential field measurement data from airborne surveys such as gravity surveys, and to methods, apparatus and computer program code for such techniques. The method comprises: inputting measured potential field data comprising data defining a plurality of potential field measurements each with an associated measurement position and measurement time; and determining a set of field mapping parameters using a model comprising a combination of a spatial part representing a spatial variation of a potential field and a temporal part representing time domain noise in the measured potential field data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Arkex Limited
    Inventor: Gary Barnes
  • Publication number: 20120310571
    Abstract: A deterioration estimating apparatus estimates a deterioration state of an electric storage element, a deterioration value indicating the deterioration state being in a proportional relationship with an nth root of an elapsed time (where n is a value larger than one), and the proportional relationship being changed in accordance with a deterioration condition. The apparatus includes a computing device. The computing device predicts a period for which each of the deterioration conditions occurs before the elapse of the predetermined time period. The computing device calculates a change amount of the deterioration value in each of the deterioration conditions based on a deterioration characteristic and the period of occurrence of each of the deterioration conditions, and adds the calculated change amounts sequentially by using the deterioration value provided before each addition as a reference to calculate each change amount of the deterioration value to be added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaru Takagi
  • Publication number: 20120310570
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a capacitive inventory sensor. A system includes a track configured for retaining items. A first conducting plate is positioned along a portion of the track, and a second conducting plate is positioned in parallel with the first conducting plate along a portion of the track. The second conducting plate is positioned a distance from the first conducting plate, and the second plate is configured to have the items placed on top of the second plate. The system further includes a capacitance sensor configured for connection to the first and second conducting plates, where the capacitance sensor is configured to measure a capacitance between the first and second conducting plates, and where the capacitance varies based on a number of items positioned on the sensor track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: John W. Pyne, Gary L. Overhultz, Gordon E. Hardman
  • Publication number: 20120310572
    Abstract: An input device comprises a display, a plurality of sensor electrodes, and a processing system. The plurality of sensor electrodes is configured to detect an input object in a sensing region of the input device. The sensing region overlaps the display. The processing system is coupled with the plurality of sensor electrodes. The processing system is configured for: acquiring a capacitive image from the plurality of sensor electrodes; and correlating a part of the capacitive image with at least one input object template image to determine a type of an input object interacting with the input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Joel JORDAN
  • Patent number: 8326551
    Abstract: A method and system for incorporating electronic signature analysis in a low voltage power supply to centrally monitor current consumption is disclosed. The electrical loads powered by the low voltage power supply can be tested individually via an automatic test routine by measuring and scaling of current through a differential amplifier. The current consumption of each electrical load can be measured by analyzing a “delta” in the current draw of each electrical load's ON and OFF condition. This value can be compared against a stored table of high and low limits for each electrical load. If a load's current is outside the limits, it will be logged for repairs. A current sensing device can be inserted in series with the output(s) of the low voltage power supply, while in test mode, to allow the automatic test routine to run, and then be shorted out for normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Randall Brian Wirt
  • Patent number: 8326555
    Abstract: A system and related method are provided for measuring conductivity/resistivity of water having high purity, including a temperature sensor and a conductivity/resistivity sensor exposed to a water source. The system further includes a computing assembly configured to receive measurement signals from the sensors and to determine change in resistivity over a change in temperature (a collected R/T slope) from the collected temperature measurements and the collected resistivity measurements. The system compares the collected R/T slope to a standardized R/T slope at a temperature value corresponding to a midpoint temperature of the temperature measurements over the prescribed time interval. Based on the comparing, the system provides providing a compensated measurement for resistivity or conductivity of the water source. As a result, the system can calibrate the sensor continually during use, in real time, resulting in highly improved accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Signet LLC
    Inventor: John W. Morgan
  • Patent number: 8326402
    Abstract: A method for tracking a position of an object includes generating alternating current (AC) magnetic fields at two or more frequencies in a vicinity of the object using at least one field generator. The AC fields are sensed using a field sensor associated with the object. Corresponding AC data points that are indicative of amplitudes and directions of the AC fields at the field sensor are produced, wherein at least some of the sensed AC fields are subject to a distortion. A dependence of the AC data points on the frequencies of the AC fields is extrapolated to a target frequency so as to determine the amplitudes and directions of the AC fields with a reduced level of the distortion. Position coordinates of the object relative to the at least one field generator are calculated responsively to the extrapolated data points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Biosense Webster, Inc.
    Inventors: Assaf Govari, Alexander Goldin, Meir Bar-Tal
  • Publication number: 20120303299
    Abstract: A method and apparatus measures electrical power usage and quality, while mitigating the effects of noise on measured signals or parameters. Specifically, a digital electrical power and energy meter employs a method in which a processor averages a parameter, such as voltage or current, over a plurality of cycles of a time-varying signal, such as an AC electrical signal. The method employed by the meter samples a parameter over the plurality of cycles and computes the average of the samples corresponding to the same phase angle of the signal to produce an average signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: ELECTRO INDUSTRIES/GAUGE TECH
    Inventor: Tibor Banhegyesi
  • Publication number: 20120303305
    Abstract: An electronic circuit detecting proximity includes an excitation coil emitting an inductive excitation field toward a target. A first pair of detection coils obtains a first differential inductive signal that is modified by a transition of the target within the inductive field. An out-of phase second pair of detection coils obtains a second differential inductive signal that is modified by a transition of the target within the inductive field. A comparator generates a transition signal when the difference between the first and second differential signals reaches a threshold value. A stationary target, in a ferromagnetic or conductive material, creates an offset to the signals at the outlet of the coil pairs. The offset is decreased during the presence of a movable target within the same type of material or increased during the presence of a movable target within another type of material. A comparator detects the offset level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Johan Bergqvist, Sietse Wouters
  • Publication number: 20120303303
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for evaluating current transients measured during an electrical stress evaluation of a dielectric layer in a semiconductor device. Measured current transients are fit to an equation representing a time dependence for stress induced leakage currents. The measured current transients are corrected based upon stress currents computed from the equation to define corrected current transients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven W. Mittl, Ernest Y. Wu
  • Publication number: 20120303304
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for detecting a location of an underground facility, which calculates a gauss value at each depth of a magnetic marker, measures a magnetic field at each depth through each sensor based on the calculated gauss values, extracts factors by performing a factor analysis on the measured magnetic fields, obtains extracted variable values by performing a regression analysis on the extracted factors, stores the extracted variable values in a database, and determines a location of the magnetic marker based on the stored extracted variable values and the values measured by the sensors in real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: EWOOTEC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pyung KIM, Yeol KIM
  • Publication number: 20120303306
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a method of subsynchronous resonance detection in electrical power systems with series capacitors. Voltage signals are measured on line and by using finding zero crossing points of discrete signal of measured voltage, positive and negative half cycles of the wave form of discrete signal of voltage are calculated in a computer device to which constant parameters are delivered by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Maciej Orman, Przemyslaw Balcerek, Michal Orkisz
  • Patent number: 8319599
    Abstract: An electrical appliance (100) comprises a digital control system (SC), configured for enabling the performance of a plurality of pre-determined basic functions, and an auxiliary device (200) comprises means (PM, 230-231) for acquiring and/or processing auxiliary information. The electrical appliance (100) and the auxiliary device (200) moreover comprise respective communication means (270), for setting up between them a bi-directional communication of data. The control system (SC) of the electrical appliance (100) is provided for enabling execution of additional functions with respect to the basic functions and for sending to the auxiliary device (200), via the communication means (270), requests for auxiliary information, necessary for the performance of said additional functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Indesit Company S.p.A.
    Inventors: Valerio Aisa, Paolo Santonicola, Valerio Cascio
  • Patent number: 8321165
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus including: a test program 2 that acquires a first voltage value which is a voltage value at which a target apparatus operates, allows the target apparatus to operate at the first voltage value, and determines an operating state of the target apparatus; a voltage change controller 12 that changes, in the case where a result of the determination is abnormal state, a voltage value difference which is a difference between a voltage value at the next stage and the first voltage value or a time difference so as to reduce the change rate obtained by dividing the voltage value difference by the time difference and outputs, when a time obtained by adding the time difference to the current time has come, a second voltage value obtained by adding or subtracting to/from the first voltage value to the test program 2 as the first voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kimihiro Nishiyama
  • Publication number: 20120296588
    Abstract: A method of measuring resistance in each of a plurality of resistors in a resistor matrix is provided. Each resistor is located at a different intersection between a column conductor and a row conductor. The, the method includes determining an offset error row current of each row conductor, scanning each row conductor to identify if that row conductor is connected to a column conductor by one of the plurality of resistors, if that row conductor is connected to a column conductor by one of the plurality of resistors, scanning each resistor connected to that row conductor to determining if that resistor is connecting a column conductor to that row conductor, and if that resistor is connecting a column conductor to that row conductor, outputting an offset compensated resistance of that resistor calculated from the row current measured for that resistor less the offset error row current for that row conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Paul Dietz
  • Publication number: 20120290238
    Abstract: A method includes measuring a first voltage (VA) across a first sensing coil of a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) and measuring a second voltage (VB) across a second sensing coil of the LVDT. The method also includes signaling a core fallout condition in response to (i) determining that a ratio of VA and VB is within a specified range of a value of one and (ii) determining that a sum of VA and VB is less than a sum of VA0 and VB0 by more than a specified amount. VA0 and VB0 are minimum voltages across the first and second sensing coils of the LVDT, respectively, when a core of the LVDT is in the LVDT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Damodaran Nair, Arulvel Sellamuthu, Nagaraja Sundaresh, Manjunatha Kotreshi Alabur, Amol Kinage, Karthik Giritharan, Ananda Huchappa Shastry
  • Publication number: 20120290240
    Abstract: A current sensor includes an electric wire to be measured, a guide portion for guiding the electric wire to be measured, a holding portion for holding the electric wire to be measured, and four pairs of magnetic sensor elements arranged at intervals of 90 degrees along a circumference around a center axis which is a virtual arrangement axis of the electric wire to be measured. The outputs of the magnetic sensor elements of each pair are appropriately linearly combined and the linearly combined outputs of all the pairs are added. Hence, a space for guiding the electric wire to be measured can be easily allocated, and the effects of variation sources such as the displacement of the electric wire to be measured, a constant external magnetic field, and an external magnetic field generated by a neighboring electric wire are compensated for, whereby a small high-accuracy current sensor is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirofumi FUKUI
  • Publication number: 20120290239
    Abstract: A thin metal film measurement method is disclosed. The method includes the following steps. A respective capacitance is measured before and after a thin metal film is formed. The thickness of the thin metal film is calculated according to the variation of the capacitance. In an embodiment, the capacitance is measured respectively by a capacitance measuring module before and after the thin metal film is formed so as to calculate the thickness of the thin metal film. In another embodiment, a pair of capacitance measuring modules opposite at up and down sides is applied to measure the capacitance before and after the thin metal film is formed so as to calculate the thickness of the thin metal film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yi-Sha Ku, Po-Yi Chang, Yi-Chang Chen, Hsiu-lan Pang
  • Publication number: 20120290241
    Abstract: A method of characterising an LED, as well as an integrated circuit using this method, based on a so-called characteristic resistance, in which the LED is operated at a first, relatively low, operating current and then at a second, relatively high, operating current. From the ratio between the difference between the forward voltages at these two operating currents, and the difference between the operating current, the characteristic resistance is determined. The characteristic resistance is measured at two or more moments during the operational lifetime of the device, and a prediction or estimate is made in relation to the total operational lifetime of the devices, from the evolution or change of the characteristic resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Viet Hoang Nguyen, Pascal Bancken
  • Publication number: 20120283973
    Abstract: Device and method for monitoring a plasma in a chamber of a plasma reactor is are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes measuring plasma parameter data at a surface of a single planar Langmuir probe in contact with the plasma. A biasing capacitor is connected between the single planar Langmuir probe and a DC-bias source. Subsequently a discharge current of the biasing capacitor as a result of the DC-bias is measured, and a probe potential at the single probe during the discharge is measured. The measurements can be used to detect presence and/or thickness of a dielectric film on the probe surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: IMEC
    Inventors: VLADIMIR SAMARA, JEAN-FRANÇOIS DE MARNEFFE, WERNER BOULLART
  • Publication number: 20120283971
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for monitoring for electrostatic discharge (ESD) events. An ESD monitor for potential of electrostatic discharge events in a sensed area through a plurality of ESD sensors coupled to the ESD monitor. The monitor senses for a charge level which could cause ESD event and entry of an operator into a sensed area. If an ESD event is detected, issue an ESD event alert to the operator and recording data to a tangible storage device; determine environmental factors at time and date of the ESD event; compare the ESD event and associated environmental factors to other ESD events with associated environmental factors; and determine if a correlation exists between the ESD event and associated environmental factors and the other ESD events with associated environmental factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
    Inventors: Paul L. Anderson, Anouar Braham, Tu T. Dang, Michael C. Elles, Ketan B. Patel
  • Publication number: 20120283972
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved performance. In one embodiment, an input device comprises a plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes and a processing system coupled to the electrodes and configured to operate the electrodes to sense in a sensing region. Specifically, the processing system is configured to determine information about input objects in the sensing region based on comparisons of preliminary values with corresponding baseline values. The processing system is further configured to selectively operate in a first mode and a second mode. While operating in the first mode, the processing system selectively changes a baseline value of the plurality of baseline values by a first amount in response to that baseline value being below a corresponding preliminary value. This selective changing of baseline values occurs even when the processing system determines that an input object is in the sensing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Tom Vandermeijden
  • Publication number: 20120278018
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting hose degradation are disclosed. In one aspect, a hose degradation monitoring system includes a hose assembly including a hose having a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, and a monitoring circuit in electrical communication with the first and second conductive layers. The degradation monitoring circuit includes a circuit element having a non-linear electrical property in response to changed voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: JAMES JOSEPH HASTREITER
  • Publication number: 20120271580
    Abstract: A touch panel or screen has a serpentine transmission line fabricated on a substrate, e.g., printed circuit board, LCD, plasma or LED screen, etc., and has a constant impedance. Touches to the touch panel will cause changes of impedance of the transmission line at the locations of the touches. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) is used for determining the locations of the changes of impedance of the transmission line by accurately measuring the return pulse times at the source of a plurality of pulses, and then converting the return pulse times to X-Y coordinates of the touch panel or screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: James E. Bartling, Dennis P. Lehman
  • Publication number: 20120271573
    Abstract: Systems and methods (the “utility”) presented herein provide for the assessment of acousto-electrical probes, such as their connections (e.g., transducer leads) and their response characteristics. For example, the utility may provide for readily evaluating transducer leads that have been broken and/or detached from transducers within an ultrasound probe. Due to the increasing complexity of ultrasound probes, identification of broken and/or detached transducer leads also becomes increasingly complex. Being able to identify such disconnected transducer leads may enable a person to repair, or “reterminate”, these transducer leads leading to a potentially substantial cost savings, the least of which being incurred by avoiding total replacement of an ultrasound probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: UNISYN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Nickolas Markoff, Christopher M. Cone
  • Publication number: 20120266685
    Abstract: A sensing material for use in a sensor is disclosed. Such a sensing material includes a polymer base and a piezoresistive nanocomposite embedded into the polymer base in a continuous pattern. The nanocomposite comprises a polymer matrix and a plurality of conductive nanofillers suspended in the matrix. The conductive nanofillers may be one or a combination of nanotubes, nanowires, particles and flakes. The density of the plurality of nanofillers is such that the nanocomposite exhibits conductivity suitable for electronic and sensor applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Jin-Woo Choi, Chao-Xuan Liu
  • Publication number: 20120265464
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining the surface electromagnetic impedance of a conductive element and applying the diffuse field reciprocity principle using that surface electromagnetic impedance to determine electric fields induced in the conductive element. An exemplary method involves determining a surface electromagnetic impedance matrix for the conductive element based on its physical dimensions and an excitation frequency for an incident electromagnetic wavefield, applying diffuse field reciprocity to determine a metric indicative of an induced field based on the surface electromagnetic impedance matrix and an energy metric for the incident electromagnetic wavefield, and displaying a graphical representation of the metric on a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: SONELITE INC.
    Inventor: Robin Stewart Langley
  • Publication number: 20120262298
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing sensor data and self-calibration are provided. In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided which are capable of calibrating a continuous analyte sensor based on an initial sensitivity, and then continuously performing self-calibration without using, or with reduced use of, reference measurements. In certain embodiments, a sensitivity of the analyte sensor is determined by applying an estimative algorithm that is a function of certain parameters. Also described herein are systems and methods for determining a property of an analyte sensor using a stimulus signal. The sensor property can be used to compensate sensor data for sensitivity drift, or determine another property associated with the sensor, such as temperature, sensor membrane damage, moisture ingress in sensor electronics, and scaling factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastian Bohm, Daiting Rong, Peter C. Simpson
  • Patent number: 8290724
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a synthetic jet ejector is provided. The method includes (a) taking a first measurement DCR0 of the DC resistance of the coil; (b) adjusting the actuator drive voltage Vd to achieve a desired maximum displacement dmax1 at a frequency f1; (c) measuring the input current Iin and input voltage Vin; (d) calculating the back electromagnetic frequency BEMF, wherein BEMF=Vin?Iin*DCR; and (e) storing the calculated value of BEMF in a memory device associated with the synthetic jet actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Nuventix, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Darbin, Markus Schwickert, John Stanley Booth, Robert Taylor Reichenbach, Rick Ball, Steve Farrell, Daniel W. McFatter