Including Related Electrical Parameter Patents (Class 702/65)
  • Publication number: 20120048326
    Abstract: A photovoltaic power generating device comprising a current collecting box side detector for detecting a ground fault in each of the photovoltaic strings, a switch disposed in correspondence to each of the photovoltaic strings and interposed between the photovoltaic string and a connecting cable, a current collecting box including a control unit providing an on/off control of the switch according to the detection result from the detector, a detector that detects a ground fault in a connecting cable between the current collecting box and the power conditioner, a switch interposed between the connecting cable and the inverter, and a power conditioner including a control unit providing an on/off control of the switch according to the detection result from the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahisa MATSUO, Shuhei NISHIKAWA, Tsuyoshi SEKINE
  • Publication number: 20120053873
    Abstract: Embodiments related to sensing a capacitance are described and depicted
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Mee Hing He, Leela Madhuri Bhaskarabhotla, Arno Rabenstein, Qian Zhao
  • Patent number: 8125193
    Abstract: Methods and associated apparatus for testing an electrochemical device, such as a fuel cell. A first method involves charging the fuel cell during a charge period; discharging the fuel cell during a discharge period; and monitoring the response of the fuel cell during at least part of the discharge period or the open-circuit response of the fuel cell. Another method involves testing the fuel cell when the fuel cell is in a passive state in which substantially no electrochemical reactions are taking place in the fuel cell. simultaneously applying a stimulus to all of the devices, and independently monitoring the response of each of the devices to the stimulus. Further methods involve obtaining test data from a device being tested; obtaining equivalent circuit values; calculating sets of simulation data for each equivalent circuit value; comparing sets of simulation data with the test data; and selecting one of the equivalent circuit values based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Power Quality Company
    Inventors: Shannon Charles Page, Adnan Al-Anbuky, Susan Pran Krumdieck
  • Patent number: 8126666
    Abstract: A fuel cell evaluation apparatus of the present invention is provided with a fuel cell for generating electricity using fuel gas and oxidizer gas; a fuel gas supplying section for supplying the fuel gas; an oxidizer gas supplying section for supplying the oxidizer gas; an inert gas supplying section; a detector for detecting an amount of electricity generated by the fuel cell; a bypass for interconnecting a gas supply port of the fuel cell with a gas exhaust port of the fuel cell; three-way valves for switching the gas to either the fuel cell and the bypass; and a control section for controlling at least one of the three-way valves so as to replace the gas inside the fuel cell. The fuel cell evaluation apparatus and a fuel cell evaluation method of the present invention can evaluate the properties and performance of a fuel cell in a nondestructive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: ESPEC Corp.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Okuda
  • Patent number: 8126667
    Abstract: A measurement base voltage stability monitoring and control scheme having a means for measuring current and voltage phasors at a boundary bus of a load center; and an equivalent network having a fictitious bus with an aggregate load representative of all loads of the load center. The scheme further includes a computing device to calculate a voltage stability margin index based on the aggregate load of the fictitious bus and compare the voltage stability margin index to a pre-set threshold. The computing device causes an action to take place based on the comparison between the voltage stability margin index and the pre-set threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Pei Zhang, Liang Min, Jian Chen
  • Publication number: 20120046896
    Abstract: A process for monitoring a machine including moving pieces, a lubrication system and an electromagnetic sensor fitted with a magnet and two electrodes is disclosed. The sensor is capable of collecting particles present in the lubrication system between the electrodes. The monitoring process includes a step for obtaining measurements of resistance between the electrodes of the sensor, taken during an operating period of the machine; a step for determining from said measurements a first autoregressive mathematical model characterizing the resistance; a step for comparison between the first model and a predetermined reference model; and a step for working out an opinion on maintenance of the machine as a function of the comparison result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Xavier FLANDROIS, Jean-Rémi André Masse, Maurice Georges Vernochet
  • Publication number: 20120046895
    Abstract: An rf probe is placed within a plasma and an rf signal from a network analyzer for a given dc bias voltage Vp is applied The frequency applied by the network analyzer, ?, is less than the plasma frequency, ?pe, and therefore is not in the resonant absorption range (?=?pe) used to determine electron density in typical rf impedance probe operation. Bias voltages at the applied frequency are applied to the probe in a series of voltage steps in a range which includes the plasma potential. At each bias step, a value of Re(Zac), the real part of the plasma's complex impedance, is returned by the analyzer. A local minimum in the real part of the impedance Re(Zac) occurs where the applied bias voltage Vp equals the plasma potential ?p. The plasma potential ?p can be found by taking the first derivative of Re(Zac) with respect to Vp, ? ( Re ? ( Z a ? ? c ) ? V p , and finding the value of Vp at which ? ( Re ? ( Z a ? ? c ) ? V p = 0 within error tolerances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David N. Walker, Richard F. Fernsler, David D. Blackwell, William E. Amatucci
  • Publication number: 20120041699
    Abstract: A matching network having a pi configuration between an antenna and another component in an RF circuit may be tuned by a process including computing the admittance of the antenna using measured reflection coefficients from three settings of the matching network, and identifying capacitance values for tuning the matching network. Capacitance values for an antenna side shunt and a circuit side shunt are found by computing target susceptance value for the shunts and comparing to a list of available susceptance values. The capacitance values corresponding to the available susceptances closest to the target susceptances are used to tune the antenna side shunt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Charles Kasimer Sestok
  • Patent number: 8116998
    Abstract: A battery state of health estimator and similar method, system and computer product is disclosed providing for a estimate of a state of health (SOH) of one or more batteries, comprising, estimating a sampling of internal resistances of the one or more batteries, generating a time history of the internal resistance over a predetermined amount of time, generating a cumulative internal resistance histogram from the time history, calculating a final estimate of internal resistance of one or more batteries which represents the calculated SOH of one or more batteries and comparing the calculated SOH to a predetermined critical resistance threshold. If the calculated SOH is less than the predetermined critical resistance threshold, the battery is in no worse than a “Blue Monday” condition, and if the calculated SOH is greater than the critical resistance threshold, then the one or more batteries has failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: BAE Systems Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Hess
  • Publication number: 20120035875
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and process for measuring a property of a material such as the moisture content of cotton fibre. An embodiment is specifically adapted for determining an absolute value of the moisture content of the cotton fibre while being conveyed through ducts such as the ducts of the ginning machine. The embodiment combines large area capacitor plates with light detectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: Cotton Catchment Communities Coopertive Research Centre Limited
    Inventors: Stuart Gordon, Andrzej Krajewski
  • Patent number: 8112236
    Abstract: A device capable of receiving one or more digital stimulus signals and accurately measuring an open-loop gain of an amplifier comprises: a digital charge converter (DCC), a charge integrator, an A/D converter, a control logic circuit and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU). The DCC and the charge integrator are composed of a plurality of switches, one or more sampling capacitor, at least one integrating capacitor and an operational amplifier under test (OPAUT) with a single-ended output or differential-ended outputs. The DCC, the charge integrator, and the A/D converter are controlled by control signals generated by the logic control circuit and can be reconfigured as a first-order Sigma-Delta modulator capable of receiving at least one of the digital input stimulus signals. The ALU calculates the open-loop gain of the OPAUT with single-ended output or differential-ended outputs according to the digital stimulus signals and the digital output of the first-order Sigma-Delta modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventor: Hao-Chiao Hong
  • Publication number: 20120029853
    Abstract: A lightning detection and damage estimation system for a structure is disclosed herein. The system includes a lightning receptor coupled to a lightning conductor configured to receive multiple lightning strikes and induce lightning current in a pick-up coil coupled to the lightning conductor. An integrated circuit coupled to the lightning conductor via the pick-up coil includes a non-volatile memory for successively storing one or more samples of the lightning induced current for the multiple lightning strikes. A damage estimation unit is configured to estimate a condition of the structure based on analyzing a history of stored samples of the lightning induced current of the multiple lightning strikes from the non-volatile memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thorsten Frank Baumheinrich, Marko Klaus Baller, Yaru Najem Mendez Hernandez
  • Patent number: 8108163
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method including: calculating power supply input impedance of the LSI from the number of output buffers of the LSI, output impedance of an output buffer, signal characteristic impedance and characteristic impedance of power supply/ground of an LSI terminal, a package, and a chip terminal part, characteristic impedance of wiring connected to an LSI output terminal, and output signal damping resistance calculating a reflected voltage of power supply noise at a semiconductor device mounted on an electronic circuit board, based on impedance characteristic between a power supply and ground of the semiconductor device; and analyzing power supply noise of the electronic circuit board, based on the reflected voltage of the power supply noise at the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Kashiwakura
  • Patent number: 8108162
    Abstract: A load calculation control method and apparatus for load characteristic tests of electric generator is provided, which enables continuous and precise following of a load control value. In this apparatus, a resistor bank ?, which is to be connected to a load apparatus provided with a power supply apparatus (G), a ground relay (GR), a voltmeter (V), an electric power meter (P), an ampere meter (A), and main circuit breakers (CB, CBH), is divided into two or more (2-N). A switch (CL/CH) and a controller (CV) are connected to each resistor bank (?1-?N). and a power capacity obtained by dividing, maximum power capacity of resistor bank groups (?L, ?H) by two through (2n-1). The controller (CV) includes a control value storing circuit (MC) and a comparing/transmitting circuit (OC) that compares the power capacity value of the resistor banks (?1-?N) with the load control value and that transmits ON/OFF signals to the switches (CL, CH) connected to the resistor banks (?1-?N).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Koken Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kesafumi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8103468
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of evaluating the operating characteristics of a Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) laser diode is provided. According to the method, a diagnostic electrical current is injected into the wavelength tuning section of the DBR laser to generate amplified spontaneous emission of light in the wavelength tuning section. Light emitted from the wavelength tuning section is absorbed by the gain section and photo current generated by the light absorbed in the gain section is measured. The photo current measured in the gain section can be correlated with an evaluation of the operating characteristics of the DBR laser diode. For example, the measured photo current can be correlated with a substandard operating characteristic when it departs from a given photo current metric by more than an acceptable amount. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Martin Hai Hu, Hong Ky Nguyen, Paul Willard Smith
  • Publication number: 20120016608
    Abstract: This present disclosure provides a method and the system thereof for monitoring residential appliances, which includes: measuring electrical data in a residence and transmitting the electrical data to a local data-processing unit, the electrical data at least containing a voltage, a real power, and a reactive power; normalizing the electrical data according to the voltage; calculating a variation of the normalized electrical data when the electrical data change; and comparing the variation of the normalized electrical data to an electrical feature which is contained in appliance information of the local data-processing unit, so as to determine the appliance which causes the variation of the electrical data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: LEE-CHUN KO, CHIH-YUAN LIU, LUN-CHIA KUO, JUI-HUA TAN
  • Publication number: 20120016613
    Abstract: Provided is an insulation resistance measuring circuit including: a source resistor unit including a first source resistor connected between a positive terminal of a battery and a second source resistor and the second source resistor connected between a negative terminal of the battery and the first source resistor; a voltage sensing unit sensing a voltage of the first source resistor as a first voltage and sensing a voltage of the second source resistor as a second voltage; and an insulation resistance measuring unit measuring an insulation resistance of the battery through a value obtained by dividing a difference between the first and second voltages by a sum between the first and second voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: SK INNOVATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong Hwan Yang, Ki Seok Choi, Jae Hwan Lim
  • Publication number: 20120016612
    Abstract: A system for acquiring data of a multi-channel superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) signal includes a digital converter connected to a SQUID sensor having a plurality of channels and configured to receive a voltage signal output from the plurality of channels and generate a channel-voltage serial digital signal having information about a channel from which the voltage signal is output and information about the voltage signal, and an optical fiber cable through which the channel-voltage serial digital signal is transmitted from the digital converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
    Inventors: Jin Mok Kim, Yong Ho Lee, Hyuk Chan Kwon, Ki Woong Kim, Kwon Kyu Yu
  • Publication number: 20120016611
    Abstract: An impedance matching system is provided. The impedance matching system includes an impedance matching apparatus and an impedance analysis apparatus. The impedance matching apparatus varies a capacitance value of a capacitor according to an applied voltage value, and matches an impedance according to the varied capacitance value. The impedance analysis apparatus supplies a voltage for varying the capacitance value to an impedance matching circuit, and determines an impedance value, changed according to the voltage value, to analyze characteristic of a capacitor included in the impedance matching apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: JU YOUNG SONG
  • Publication number: 20120016610
    Abstract: A temperature measurement device is provided to measure an environment temperature and includes a thermistor, a resistor, a determination circuit, and a measurement circuit. The thermistor is coupled to a first node. The thermistor has a specific impedance value at a specific environment temperature point. The resistor has a first terminal coupled to the first node. The determination circuit determines a real impedance value of the resistor. The measurement circuit is coupled to the first node for receiving a measurement value signal generated at the first node and obtains a value of the specific environment temperature point according to the measurement value signal and the real impedance value of the resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventor: Kuo-Jung Lan
  • Patent number: 8099180
    Abstract: A device is described for ascertaining state variables and/or parameters of a mathematical energy accumulator model, in particular a battery model, that describes the electrical properties of the energy accumulator on the basis of various state variables and parameters, the mathematical energy accumulator model having correction equations by which the state variables and/or the parameters are corrected and adjusted to the actual operating performance of the energy accumulator. A particularly rapid and accurate compensation of the energy accumulator model may be achieved if the error between a measured battery performance quantity and the battery performance quantity calculated by the energy accumulator model, a differentiated component of the error and an integrated component of the error are calculated, the individual components are each weighted using a weighting factor and the weighted error components are taken into account in correction of a state variable and/or a parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Eberhard Schoch
  • Patent number: 8099250
    Abstract: A method of determining parameter values used in impedance analysis of a subject. The method includes using a processing system to determine a number of impedance measurements at a corresponding number of frequencies. The impedance measurements are used to determine estimates of parameter values, with the estimates being used to determine theoretical impedance values based on the parameter value estimates. The theoretical impedance values are compared to the measured impedance values to allow a modification direction to be determined for at least one of the parameter value estimates. This is then used to modify at least one parameter value estimate, with the parameter values being determined at least in part from one or more modified parameter value estimates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Impedimed Limited
    Inventors: Tim Essex, Leigh Cordwin Ward
  • Publication number: 20120004851
    Abstract: A field-portable impedance reader is provided. The impedance reader comprises a reader antenna, an impedance compensator, a calibrator, and a synchronous sampler. The impedance reader further comprises a digital processor that receives and processes signals from the synchronous sampler. Further, a wireless system comprising the impedance reader of the invention is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Jeffrey Michael Ashe, William Guy Morris, Cheryl Margaret Surman
  • Publication number: 20120004876
    Abstract: A portable package of testing equipment that enables real-time analysis in order to determine the correct amount of capacitance required to add to a motor to achieve optimal performance and power factor correction is provided; the system admits to the monitoring of key power quality measurements such as harmonics while capacitance is temporarily added to the system. A controller automatically calculates the amount of additional capacitance required to reach the desired power factor and then applies the calculated amount to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: James E. Hart, Harry Bailey
  • Publication number: 20110320145
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for extracting of solar cell parameters. After illuminating the solar cell by different simulated solar luminosity with different illumination intensity, measured current and measured voltages of the solar cell are acquired and the series resistance of the solar cell is extracted based on the measured current and measured voltages. The root mean square error (RMSE) is used to determine the series resistance of the solar cell. Therefore, the parameters of the solar cell are extracted without presuming current-voltage functional form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Sheng-Fu Horng, Ming-Kun Lee, Jen-Chun Wang, Hsin-Fei Meng
  • Publication number: 20110320146
    Abstract: The invention is related to a device for detecting insulation degradation in an inverter-driven load device, in particular a motor, the device including: zero-phase current measuring means for measuring a zero-phase current in power-feed lines, provided in the power-feed lines between an inverter device and the motor; and command control means for putting rotation of the motor on standby; wherein the zero-phase current measuring means measures the total of phase currents fed into respective phases so as not to rotate a shaft even when an external force is applied to the shaft during the rotation being on standby, whereby allowing regular detection of insulation degradation without switching over the power-feed lines connected with the load device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Watanabe, Ryuichi Nishiura, Yoshiharu Kaneda, Hiroshi Nishizawa, Toru Oka, Hirotaka Muto, Toshiki Tanaka, Yoji Tsutsumishita
  • Publication number: 20110316561
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes characterizing a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels being a channel between a location and a respective one of the plurality of communication interfaces; for each of the plurality of communication interfaces, supplying signals to the communication interface and detecting interference that occurs at the location as a result of emissions radiated from the plurality of communication interface while the signals are supplied thereto; for each of the plurality of communication interfaces, determining an estimate of interference that would occur at the location as a result of emissions radiated from the communication interface while the signals are supplied thereto, based at least in part on the characterization of the channel between the location and the communication interface; and for each of the plurality of communication interfaces, comparing the estimate of interference that would occur at the location to the detected interference that occurs at the
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Keith Raynard Tinsley, Alberto Alcocer Ochoa
  • Publication number: 20110320144
    Abstract: A method for accurately determining the sheet resistance and leakage current density of a shallow implant in a semiconductor surface (520) includes making one or more four-point resistance measurements with an induced current below 100 ?A on the semiconductor surface (520) with a plurality of electrode spacing sets, at least one set having an average spacing below 100 ?m. The sheet resistance and implant leakage is determined through fitting the measured data to theoretical data to within a predetermined error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Capres A/S
    Inventor: Christian L. Petersen
  • Patent number: 8078416
    Abstract: A method for estimating a remaining electrical charge or a remaining capacity of a battery that supplies power to a load, the method including: using, at a controller of a battery system, an approximate exponential decay function including a plurality of exponential function terms of time and a plurality of coefficients; stopping, at the battery system, a charge or discharge operation of the battery for a predetermined time; measuring, at a sensor of the battery system, a voltage of the battery at a plurality of instances during the predetermined time; obtaining, at the controller of the battery system, a relationship between the voltage of the battery and time; determining, at the controller of the battery system, the coefficients based on the obtained relationship between the voltage of the battery and the time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyasu Iwane, Yuichi Watanabe, Toshiyuki Sato, Atsushi Kimura, Fumikazu Iwahana
  • Publication number: 20110301892
    Abstract: A system for characterizing the electrical properties of semiconductor wafers with high surface state densities, such as GaN wafers, includes a support subsystem for supporting the semiconductor sample, at least one light source for illuminating a spot on the sample, and a detection subsystem for measuring the photovoltage signal produced from illumination of the sample. In use, the system utilizes in-line, non-contact photovoltage techniques that exploits the presence of the high surface state density and the known components of its associated electrostatic barrier as part of its novel characterization process. Specifically, the system illuminates the sample with one or more light beams that vary in photon energy and duration in order to excite charge carriers in specific layers of the sample while either preserving or collapsing the electrostatic barrier. In this manner, the system is able to electrically characterize individual or combined layers of the sample as well as embedded junctions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: Emil Kamieniecki
  • Publication number: 20110301893
    Abstract: The present application relates to a tool for detecting perforations in hydrocarbon pipelines based on the sensing system thereof. The function of said tool is to pass longitudinally through a pipeline of specific diameter, monitoring the thickness thereof and detecting any hole over the path followed and, in accordance with the data obtained, establishing the distance at which the holes are located, calculated from the starting point, the time at the instant of detection and also the circumferential position and size thereof, all the aforesaid as part of an online process implemented as the tool progresses through the target pipeline. At the end of the run, the information may be downloaded to a computer where it is available for use and for the corresponding decisions concerning integrity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: ECOPETROL S.A.
    Inventors: Gonzalo Leal Diaz, Juan Diego Ruiz Escobar, Jorge Alberto Toscano Rodriguez, Guillermo Latorre Cortes
  • Publication number: 20110301894
    Abstract: A system and method for use in a non-intrusive load monitoring system to identify specific types of loads and communicate the identified load information to interested parties. The non-intrusive load monitoring system includes an electricity meter that measures load information from a home or facility. The load information is analyzed by comparing the information to a series of load signatures for various known electrical loads to identify the specific type of electric load. Once the type of load is identified, the system utilizes the information to analyze the operation of the load and relay messages to the home owner regarding such operation. The load information may be used by a utility to better predict and manage peak and average electricity consumption over the year. Upon customer authorization, the load identification information may also be relayed to third parties for use in directed sales campaigns and discount promotions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: SENSUS USA INC.
    Inventor: H. Britton Sanderford, JR.
  • Patent number: 8073641
    Abstract: Electromagnetic field distribution is measured by considering time variations of a measured electric and/or magnetic field value. In response to scanning performed with a probe at an arbitrary set of measurement coordinates in a predetermined measurement plane in the vicinity of an object to be measured, a signal is detected at each of plural sets of coordinates in a measurement plane. Electric and magnetic fields are computed during a measurement time period at each set of measurement coordinates in the measurement plane based on measurement coordinates where the probe is positioned and the signal is detected with the probe. Amplitude probability distribution during the time period at each set of measurement coordinates in the vicinity of the object is computed based on a computed intensity, then mapped and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kazama, Keigo Hori, Hiroshi Tsutagaya
  • Publication number: 20110295528
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring and processing an input signal (To) of at least two decades, comprising: an electron multiplier (4) that has an exponential gain on the basis of the power supply voltage (Vm) thereof and which receives said input signal (To); a power supply (5) that provides the power supply voltage (Vm) of said multiplier (4); a control circuit (6) of the power supply (5), the gain (10) and shift (11) parameters of which are adjustable and define an output signal range while varying the exponential gain of said multiplier (4); a logarithmic compression amplifier (T), the output of which is received as an input of the control circuit (6) so as to vary the exponential gain of the electron multiplier (4), in a continuous manner over the dynamic range of a measurement, on the basis of the output signal (IoG) of the electron multiplier (4), and forming the output signal (Vout) of said device; a measuring and calculating means for predetermining the value of the exponent (b) for the
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: ADIXEN VACUUM PRODUCTS
    Inventor: Pascal Jourdan
  • Patent number: 8069000
    Abstract: An aging status diagnostic apparatus for a power conversion system and diagnosing method thereof are provided. The apparatus includes an output current sensing means detecting output current of an inverter switching module; and a measurement and diagnosis means receiving the output current, calculating one or more average values of the output current over one period, and magnitude or effective value of each harmonic of the output current, and determining whether aging of the inverter switching module has occurred. Furthermore, the measurement and diagnosis means determines that the aging of the inverter switching module has occurred if the average value of the output current over one period increases by a value equal to or greater than a predetermined range and/or an even order harmonic or a specific order harmonic based on FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) of the output current increases by a value equal to or greater than a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Powertron Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Deuk Soo Kim, Rae Young Kim
  • Patent number: 8069001
    Abstract: An isotherm sensor tracks space vehicle temperatures by a thermal protection system (TPS) material during vehicle re-entry as a function of time, and surface recession through calibration, calculation, analysis and exposed surface modeling. Sensor design includes: two resistive conductors, wound around a tube, with a first end of each conductor connected to a constant current source, and second ends electrically insulated from each other by a selected material that becomes an electrically conductive char at higher temperatures to thereby complete an electrical circuit. The sensor conductors become shorter as ablation proceeds and reduced resistance in the completed electrical circuit (proportional to conductor length) is continually monitored, using measured end-to-end voltage change or current in the circuit. Thermocouple and/or piezoelectric measurements provide consistency checks on local temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
    Inventors: Sergey Gorbunov, Edward R. Martinez, James B. Scott, Tomomi Oishi, Johnny Fu, Joseph G. Mach, Jose B. Santos
  • Publication number: 20110288799
    Abstract: An MMS sensor assembly includes a U-shaped bottom housing that forms a recess in which is received a conductor whose current is to be sensed and a top housing arranged to be removably latched to the bottom housing. At least one magnetic field sensor is situated within the top housing, such the magnetic field sensor is positioned adjacent the conductor when the top housing is latched to the bottom housing, and is removable from the sensor assembly for repair or replacement. Circuitry connected to the magnetic field sensor includes a data storage device to store correction/compensation tables and/or equations for self-calibration or correction of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: POWER DISTRIBUTION, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Martin Cortes, Gordon Earl Flynn, Nesa Kumaran Kandaiah
  • Patent number: 8065100
    Abstract: A system and method for using loop topology identification to investigate a transmission line having a plurality of cable segments. At a measurement plane for each segment, a probing signal is transmitted into the cable. A reflected signal is detected, and an equivalent total input impedance is calculated. The system iteratively calculates the distance between the measurement planes as well as the length, characteristic impedance, and the propagation constant of each segment. A model is used to calculate the respective equivalent input impedance of each segment using the calculated characteristic impedance, propagation constant, and length of the preceding segment. The equivalent total input impedance is then calculated from the iteratively calculated segment values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Fredrik Lindqvist, Antoni Fertner, Per Ola Börjesson
  • Publication number: 20110282608
    Abstract: A portable defensive AC impedance data logging device is used for measuring the AC impedance. The portable defensive AC impedance data logging device disclosed in the present invention can display not only a traditional measured result but also a comparison result derived from the measured result and preset limit values for further producing a “near-fail” preventive result. A set of informative logging data, such as location code and date and time when the measurement is performed, is automatically added into each measured record that can be stored paperlessly in device memory for quick check. The device further combines a portable mass data storage technique to provide an unlimited automatic data storage space for convenient transporting of the measured records to other sophisticated data processing system such as personal computers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Tony-Sheng LIN
  • Publication number: 20110282606
    Abstract: A scalable capacitive touch system includes a header unit having a processor, an internal communication unit, and an external communication unit adapted to communicate button identification data to an external device; and at least one adder unit. Each adder unit can include at least one capacitive pad, a controller for monitoring the at least one capacitive pad, and a communication interface adapted, to communicatively connect to at least one of the header unit and another adder unit, and to communicate button actuation data to the header unit for processing by the processor to identify a user-activated capacitive pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Jameel Abdul Ahed, Siddhartha Eluppai Srivatsan
  • Publication number: 20110282607
    Abstract: A wireless electrical continuity analyzer of the present invention is used for testing the continuity of an electrical network having a plurality of testing points, each testing point including a plurality of pins. The analyzer includes a plurality of remote testers each having a wireless transceiver, a plurality of pin connectors, and a microcontroller. The pin connectors of each of the plurality of remote testers are configured for connection to pins of respective ones of the plurality of testing points. The continuity analyzer further includes a central computer system wirelessly connected to each of the plurality of remote testers. The central computer system sends a first wireless signal to a first of the remote testers activating at least one pin of the testing point associated with said first remote tester, and sends a second wireless message to all other remote testers to cause the other remote testers to sense voltages received at each pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Aaron Anderw Tunell
  • Publication number: 20110282609
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for estimating artifacts in the image reconstruction of an object of interest (101).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Hui Liu, Dayu Chen
  • Publication number: 20110282605
    Abstract: A test signal generating circuit generates an AC test signal. A driving unit supplies, to a motor, a driving voltage on which the test signal has been superimposed. A current detection circuit generates a detection signal that corresponds to an actual current that flows through a coil of the motor. A filter extracts, from the detection signal, a frequency component that corresponds to the test signal. A coil constant calculation circuit calculates the resistance value and the inductance value of the motor based upon the amplitude of the detection signal output from the filter, the amplitude of the test signal, and the phase difference between these signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuro SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 8060324
    Abstract: A method and a device for estimating parameter variations of transistors that belong to the same circuit. The method includes: providing the first circuit; providing a test circuit adapted to perform a first function and a stacked test circuit adapted to perform a second function that substantially equals the first function; wherein the test circuit, the stacked test circuit and the first circuit are processed under substantially the same processing conditions; determining a relationship between a parameter of the test circuit and a parameter of the stacked test circuit; and estimating parameter variations of transistors that belong to the first circuit in response to the determined relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Priel, Dan Kuzmin, Anton Rozen
  • Publication number: 20110276292
    Abstract: In a method for reading a programmable anti-fuse block of a high-voltage integrated circuit a first voltage is applied to a first pin of the HVIC, the first voltage being lowered to a second voltage at a first node. Current is shunted from the first node, thereby lowering the second voltage to a third voltage. An isolation circuit block is then activated to couple the third voltage to a common node of the programmable anti-fuse block, the common node being coupled to a plurality of anti-fuses, each anti-fuse having a programmed state. A read signal is generated that causes a voltage potential representative of the programmed state of each anti-fuse to be latched into a corresponding latch element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Sujit Banerjee, Giao Minh Pham
  • Publication number: 20110276291
    Abstract: An electrostatic capacitance type input device includes: first electrodes arranged in a first direction and extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; second electrodes arranged in the second direction and extending in the first direction; a storage unit storing first direction detection values obtained through the first electrodes resulting from the change in capacitance between a first conductor and the electrodes, and storing second direction detection values obtained through the second electrodes resulting from the change in capacitance between the first conductor and the electrodes; and a calculation unit, which generates first map values from a first value and a second value obtained, respectively, by processing at least one of the first direction detection values and at least one of the second direction detection values. The calculation unit determines whether the first conductor has approached the first electrodes and second electrodes using the first map values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki OTSUKI, Yasushi KASAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20110273173
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement comprises at least one magnetic-field sensor (SM1). A signal-processing unit (PROC) is set up to determine a minimum signal (MIN) and a maximum signal (MAX) of the magnetic-field sensor (SM1) over the full scale range (FSR) of the sensor arrangement. An adjustment circuit (DSPL) is set up to generate a correction signal (COR) as a function of the minimum and maximum signals (MIN, MAX). A first combination means (ADD1) couples the first magnetic-field sensor (SM1) on the input side to the adjustment circuit (DSPL) and connects the magnetic-field sensor (SM1) on the output side to a signal output (OUT).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: austriamicrosystems AG
    Inventors: Kurt RIEDMUELLER, Thomas OSWALD
  • Patent number: 8055463
    Abstract: A fuel gauge for power supplies having a voltage pre-regulator; a main voltage regulator; a current sense resistor; an integrator with an op amp and capacitor, wherein the integrator receives power from the main voltage regulator, and receives a voltage proportional to current from the current sense resistor; a microprocessor with data storage and a hysteresis circuit, wherein the microprocessor operates in a low power state until activated by the resistor and the microprocessor converts the voltage proportional to current to a monotonic uni-polar representation of an aggregate number of electrons; a resistor disposed between the integrator and the microprocessor for activating the microprocessor from the low power state prior to saturation of the integrator with the voltage proportional to current; and a reset circuit disposed between the microprocessor and the integrator for resetting the monotonic uni-polar representation of an aggregate number of electrons to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Clint Alfred Davis, Dean Perkins
  • Patent number: 8055460
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the state of health (SOH) of a solenoid powered by a battery includes measuring a voltage and a current supplied to the solenoid by the battery, using a processor to determine each of an equivalent resistance and inductance of the solenoid using the voltage and the current, comparing the equivalent resistance and the equivalent inductance to a corresponding calibrated threshold, and recording deviations from the corresponding calibrated thresholds as a pair of SOH values. A trend of the SOH values is continuously monitored, and an appropriate control action is taken when either SOH value drops below a calibrated lower limit. A solenoid monitoring system includes a solenoid, voltage and current sensors, and a controller having an algorithm for continuously monitoring a state of health (SOH) of the solenoid as set forth above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Satish Rajagopalan, Mutasim A. Salman
  • Patent number: 8055462
    Abstract: A system for counting electrons including a power supply producing a current, a fuel gauge in communication with the power supply, a reader with a reader processor and display, wherein the reader is in communication with a microprocessor of the fuel gauge, and wherein the microprocessor transmits to the reader the established standard engineering unit of capacity, and wherein the reader processor displays the established standard engineering unit of capacity on the display; and a modem in communication with the fuel gauge, wherein the modem provides a communication signal over power lines of the fuel gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr., Clint Alfred Davis, Dean Perkins