Including Related Electrical Parameter Patents (Class 702/65)
  • Patent number: 8972216
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a power regulator according to various aspects of the present invention may comprise a sensor adapted to generate a measurement of a voltage or a current. A memory may store a correction parameter that corresponds to the measurement, and a correction system may be adapted to adjust the measurement according to the correction parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Benjamim Tang, Chun-Yen Lin, Rohan Samsi, Jinghong Guo, Tim M. Ng, Richard Pierson
  • Patent number: 8972213
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining a state-of-health of a battery in a vehicle-during an engine cranking phase. An engine cranking phase is initiated. Characteristic data is recorded that includes battery voltage data and engine cranking speed data during the engine cranking phase. The characteristic data is provided to a pre-processing unit. The pre-processing unit normalizes the characteristic data for processing within a classifier. The normalized data is input o the classifier for determining the vehicle battery state-of-health. The classifier has a trained state-of-health decision boundary resulting from a plurality of trials in which predetermined characterization data is collected with known classes. The battery state-of-health is classified based on the trained state-of-health decision boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Xiaodong Zhang, Yilu Zhang, Yuen-Kwok Chin
  • Publication number: 20150051857
    Abstract: A measurement method for an aviation-specific inductive proximity sensor (IPS for short) includes steps of: 1) building a measurement circuit, wherein an IPS comprises an internal resistance r and an inductance L; 2) building a look-up table, wherein the step 2) specifically comprises steps of: sampling a first voltage measured value U1 corresponding to a first constant delay time T1 with the ADC; sampling a second voltage measured value U2 corresponding to a second constant delay time T2 with the ADC; then obtaining voltage discharge formulas U1(T1, R, r, L) and U2(T2, R, r, L) of an r-L circuit; and 3) compressing the look-up table, utilizing the compressed look-up table for calculation during measurement. The present invention ensures that the system works within a standard temperature range, and improves measurement stability, reliability, and real-time performance. Furthermore, there is no floating point calculation, which saves CPU or MCU hardware resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: XI'AN JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Zhibiao Shao, Yixin Guo
  • Publication number: 20150051856
    Abstract: A method for estimating voltage stability, includes establishing a multi-port equivalent model and the measurement-based equivalent impedance; calculating the reactive power response factor through two consecutive samples from wide-area phasor measurement unit measurement; finding the mitigation factor; constructing the modified coupled single-port model with the modified impedance and voltage; and using the modified maximal loading parameter for voltage stability assessment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Chia-Chi Chu, Jian-Hong Liu
  • Patent number: 8949054
    Abstract: A monitoring system for detecting earth faults in an electrical power supply grid providing a power signal includes a plurality of monitoring devices, each of the monitoring devices including a detector for detecting the level of harmonics in the power signal, wherein the level of harmonics is detected in a specific frequency range. Each of the monitoring devices further includes a memory for storing a harmonics reference value, a processor for comparing the detected level of harmonics with the reference level, and a communication device for transmitting an alarm if the detected level of harmonics is above the reference level for a specific period of time. Each of the detectors includes an optical sensor for detecting the harmonics by use of the Faraday effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Powersense A/S
    Inventor: Lars N. Bjørn
  • Publication number: 20150032396
    Abstract: A controller of a boost converter may be configured to dynamically adjust conditions within the boost converter by monitoring conditions in the boost converter. For example, the controller may determine an current inductance value for an inductor of the boost converter by monitoring a current through the inductor. When the inductance value of the inductor is known, a slope compensation value may be used in determining a transition time between charging the inductor of the boost converter and discharging the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ullas Pazhayaveetil, Jeffrey May, Gautham Kamath, John Christopher Tucker, Christian Larsen
  • Publication number: 20150032395
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for recognizing touch. A first value T1 and a second value T2 are set. A number of first sensing values C1 are obtained. C1 is compared with T1 and T2. When C1 is greater than or equal to T1, a touch with finger is recognized. When C1 is smaller than T2, no touch is recognized. When C1 are greater than or equal to T2 and smaller than T1, following steps are taken. A third value T3 is set. At least three driving electrodes are driven and a number of second sensing values C2 are obtained. A number of maximum sensing values C2peak are selected from the C2 and compared with T3. When C2peak are greater than or equal to T3, a touch with glove is recognized. And when not, no touch is recognized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: TIANJIN FUNAYUANCHUANG TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: LI-MIN CHAO, CHIEN-YUNG CHENG, PO-SHENG SHIH
  • Publication number: 20150032397
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of electrical power systems and automation technologies thereof, and disclosed is a method for estimating a dynamic power transmission line capacity by using a synchronized phasor technology. Synchronized phasor measurement units are arranged at two sides of a power transmission line. The synchronized phasor measurement units measure voltage and current phasors of the power transmission line and transmit the voltage and current phasors to a data buffer of a measurement system for calculation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Ruikun Mai, Ling Fu, Haibo Xu, Simo He
  • Patent number: 8942937
    Abstract: A capacitance distribution detection circuit includes a multiplexer, a driver, and a sense amplifier. The multiplexer switches states between a first connection state and a second connection state. The first connection state drives first signal lines in parallel so that voltages are applied, outputs, along second signal lines, a linear sum of electric charges stored in capacitors corresponding to that respective one of the second signal lines, and estimates, a capacitance of capacitors formed along that second signal line. The second connection state drives, the second signal lines in parallel so that voltages are applied, outputs, along the first signal lines, a linear sum of electric charges stored in the capacitors corresponding to that respective one of the first signal lines, and estimates, a capacitance of the capacitors formed along that first signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Miyamoto, Kunihiko Iizuka
  • Publication number: 20150025826
    Abstract: Proposed are a C-V characteristic measurement system and a method of measuring C-V characteristics that allow for less change in resistivity with time in repeated measurement of a single crystal silicon wafer using a mercury electrode, as compared to those in the related arts. Measurement is conducted with use of a C-V characteristic measurement system including: a mercury probe 30 for putting mercury as an electrode to contact with a single crystal silicon wafer; an LCR meter 40 for forming a depletion layer by supplying a high-frequency wave to the single crystal silicon wafer via the mercury probe 30 to apply a reverse bias voltage to the single crystal silicon wafer while measuring a capacitance of the depletion layer; analysis software for calculating C-V characteristics based on the reverse bias voltage and the capacitance of the depletion layer; and a static electricity removing device 20 for removing static electricity of the single crystal silicon wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Fumitaka Kume, Hisatoshi Kashino
  • Publication number: 20150019150
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor module comprises a substrate, a first wiring, an electrode pad, a junction, an oscillator, and a detector. The first wiring is disposed on the substrate, and has a characteristic impedance Z0. The electrode pad is connected to the first wiring. The junction is disposed on the electrode pad, and has an impedance Z1. The oscillator is disposed in contact with the first wiring, and oscillates a pulse wave of a voltage toward the junction via the first wiring. The detector is disposed in contact with the first wiring, and detects an output wave of the pulse wave from the junction. The characteristic impedance Z0 and the impedance Z1 satisfy a following relationship (1), ? Z ? ? 0 - Z ? ? 1 Z ? ? 0 ? ? 0.05 .
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenji HIROHATA, Minoru MUKAI, Tomoko MONDA
  • Patent number: 8935114
    Abstract: A method for determining a closing time of a valve having a coil drive, in particular a direct injection valve for an engine of a motor vehicle, has the steps: (a) switching off a current flow through a coil (L_inj) of the coil drive, so that the coil (L_inj) is depowered, (b) capturing a time curve (110) of a voltage induced in the non-powered coil (L_inj), wherein the induced voltage is generated by decaying eddy currents in a magnetic circuit of the coil drive and by a motion of the armature relative to the coil (L_inj), (c) evaluating the captured time curve (110) of the voltage induced in the coil (L_inj), and (d) determining the closing time based on the evaluated time curve (110). A corresponding device and a computer program for determining the closing time of a valve with a coil drive can be provided accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Beer, Stephan Bolz
  • Patent number: 8928287
    Abstract: A first upper limit and a second upper limit of emission power are set in each of the NaS batteries. The second upper limit is maximum value of the emission power for maintaining the temperature of the NaS battery at an upper limit temperature or less. In allocation of the emission power to each of the NaS batteries, each of the NaS batteries is separated into a preferential virtual battery to which a non-excess of the emission power that does not exceed the second upper limit is allocated and non-preferential virtual battery to which an excess of the emission power that exceeds the second upper limit is allocated, and after the emission power is allocated to all the preferential virtual batteries, the emission power is allocated to each of the non-preferential virtual batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Abe, Tetsuya Hatta
  • Publication number: 20150006095
    Abstract: A method measures a resistance of an element that is operably coupled to receive an AC line voltage. The method includes obtaining a first voltage measurement value V1A from a first side of the element at a first time, and obtaining a second voltage measurement value V2A from a second side of the element at the first time. The method also includes obtaining a first current measurement value IA through the element at the first time, and obtaining a second current measurement value IB through the element at the second time. The method further includes obtaining a third voltage measurement value V1B from the first side of the element at a second time, and obtaining a fourth voltage measurement value V2B from the second side of the element at the second time. The processing device determines the resistance at least in part based on the values V1A, V2A, V1B, V2B, IA and IB. The determination based on an adjusted difference of V2B and V2A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: John T. Voisine
  • Patent number: 8924173
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Julie J. Hull Roskos
  • Patent number: 8924174
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Julie J. Hull Roskos
  • Patent number: 8922227
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting surface charge on a semiconductor substrate having a sensing arrangement formed thereon. An exemplary sensing system includes the semiconductor substrate having the sensing arrangement formed thereon, and a module coupled to the sensing arrangement. The module obtains a first voltage output from the sensing arrangement when a first voltage is applied to the semiconductor substrate, obtains a second voltage output from the sensing arrangement when a second voltage is applied to the semiconductor substrate, and detects electric charge on the surface of the semiconductor substrate based on a difference between the first voltage output and the second voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Chad S. Dawson, Bernhard H. Grote, Woo Tae Park
  • Publication number: 20140379286
    Abstract: A method for estimating PCB radiated emissions includes providing a BCI probe and a vector network analyzer; performing a calibration step; performing a measurement step; and performing an estimation step. A transfer impedance of the BCI probe is measured via a clamping device in the procedure of performing a calibration step. A measurement-input transfer function of an object and an output-input transfer function of the object are measured via the BCI probe in the procedure of performing a measurement step. Eventually, radiated emissions of the object can be estimated according to the measurement-input transfer function, the output-input transfer function and the transfer impedance in the procedure of performing an estimation step. The present invention accurately estimates radiated emissions of the object with low cost and high speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tzyy-Sheng Horng, Cheng-Yu Ho, Kai-Syuan Chen
  • Publication number: 20140379287
    Abstract: A method is provided for absolute capacitive measurement of an object relative to at least two hide—pendent electrodes integrated into a man-machine interface device for detecting the object. The method includes: a) for each electrode, a value of absolute capacitance between the electrode and the object is measured, a?) a prediction is made by applying a multi-variable nonlinear prediction model to the actual values of absolute capacitance to obtain an image of probability densities, these probability densities considered to be actual corrected values that are used for detecting the object. The multi-variable nonlinear prediction module is optionally obtained by nonlinear regression on the basis:—of actual values of absolute capacitance that are obtained for a plurality of object positions relative to the at least two electrodes, and—of an image of probability densities that is obtained for a plurality of object positions relative to idealized electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Bruno Luong
  • Publication number: 20140372058
    Abstract: A device for measuring a variation (?CX) of a capacitance (CX), includes: elements for charging the capacitance (CX) on the basis of a supply voltage (VCC). elements for discharging the capacitance (CX) into a reference capacitance (CS) in a fixed number of discharges (x), elements for measuring a voltage (VS) and for detecting a threshold of voltage (VTH) across the terminals of the reference capacitance (CS). elements for charging with current (IC) the reference capacitance (CS) on the basis of the supply voltage (VCC) for a duration (t), after the transfer of charge from the capacitance (CX) into the reference capacitance (CS), and elements for measuring the variation between the duration (t) with respect to a previously measured duration so as to estimate the variation (?CX) of the capacitance (CX).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicants: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GmbH, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE
    Inventor: Xavier Hourne
  • Publication number: 20140372059
    Abstract: Method for calculating model parameters for a coil (L), comprising of: incorporating the coil into a converter (1) with a switching element (2); connecting a resistive load (9); applying an input voltage (Uin); controlling the switching element in order to obtain a periodically varying voltage across the coil; measuring at least a first and second quantity representative of respectively the voltage (UL) across and the current (iL) through the coil; determining at least one voltage value and at least one current value on the basis of the measured first and second quantity; calculating a loss resistance and/or a loss power of the coil on the basis of the at least one voltage value and the at least one current value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: MINDCET BVBA
    Inventors: Mike Irena Georges Wens, Jef Thone
  • Publication number: 20140372057
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring capacitance difference are disclosed. In one aspect, first and second capacitive elements are connected between voltage receiving nodes for receiving first and second DC voltages and nodes connectable to a third DC voltage via a first, resp. second switch. Further, in a first phase, a voltage difference is applied to charge the capacitive elements and the switches are alternately closed. First resulting currents are measured. Further, in a second phase, the first and second DC voltages are applied alternatingly and the switches are alternately closed. Second resulting currents are measured. The capacitance difference can be determined from the first and second resulting currents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Geert Van der Plas, Ken Sawada, Yuichi Miyamori, Ankur Anchlia, Abdelkarim Mercha
  • Publication number: 20140365152
    Abstract: A control system and data acquisition system for an electrical capacitance tomography sensor comprised of a sensor having a plurality of electrodes, where each electrode is further comprised of a plurality of capacitance segments. Each of the capacitance segments of each electrode can be individually addressed to focus the electric field intensity or sensitivity to desired regions of the electrodes and the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Tech4Imaging LLC
    Inventors: Qussai Marashdeh, Geoffrey Legg, David Matthews, Mohd Harish
  • Patent number: 8909490
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a battery state estimation device and a battery state estimation method which identify parameter of a secondary battery with high accuracy. A current and a terminal voltage of secondary battery are detected, then by using the current measured value and terminal voltage measured value thus detected, the terminal voltage of secondary battery based on predetermined battery model is estimated, and the parameter of the secondary battery is identified such that a difference between terminal voltage measured value and voltage estimated value is converged to zero. In the identifying of parameter of secondary battery, the terminal voltage measured value and terminal voltage estimated value are subjected to filter treatment by low pass filter having a common high frequency breaking characteristic and the terminal voltage measured value and terminal voltage estimated value subjected to the filter treatment are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiho Umeki, Hisafumi Asai, Hideo Nakamura, Kazuhiko Tazoe, Satoshi Segawa
  • Patent number: 8909493
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory system that has two or more sub-blocks in a block performs a check before accessing memory cells to see if the condition of a sub-block that is not being accessed could affect the memory cells being accessed. If such a sub-block is found then parameters used to access the cells may be modified according to a predetermined scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Avila, Yingda Dong, Man Lung Mui
  • Publication number: 20140358463
    Abstract: A touch detection device includes: an electrostatic capacitance detection device of each touch sensor; and a touch detection device to each touch sensor. The touch determination device obtains a maximum electrostatic capacitance, a minimum electrostatic capacitance and an intermediate electrostatic capacitance, and determines that the touch operation with respect to the touch sensor having the maximum change amount is performed when both of a first condition that a difference between the maximum electrostatic capacitance and the intermediate electrostatic capacitance exceed a second determination value and a second condition that a difference between the intermediate electrostatic capacitance and the minimum electrostatic capacitance is smaller than a third determination value are satisfied, and determines that a change of the electrostatic capacitance is caused by a noise when at least one of the first condition and the second condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Hidetaka Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20140358462
    Abstract: Real-time battery impedance spectra are acquired by stimulating a battery or battery system with a signal generated as a sum of sine signals at related frequencies. An impedance measurement device can be used to interface between the battery system and a host computer for generating the signals. The impedance measurement device may be calibrated to adapt the response signal to more closely match other impedance measurement techniques. The impedance measurement device may be adapted to operate at mid-range voltages of about 50 volts and high-range voltages up to about 300 volts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Jon P. Christophersen, John L. Morrison, William H. Morrison, Patrick A. Bald
  • Patent number: 8903668
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the speed of an alternator, for example, a vehicle alternator. The method includes measuring the current or voltage of a vehicle battery for a predetermined period of time, and then notch filtering the measured current or voltage signal to remove known harmonics. A limited data point Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) spectrum analysis operation is performed to identify the frequency peaks in the filtered signal, where the highest peak represents a ripple current on the DC alternator signal. The highest peak in the FFT signal is identified, and an interpolation process is performed between that peak and an adjacent peak in the data to identify the actual frequency of the ripple current. The ripple current is then converted to the speed of the alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yilu Zhang, Siwei Cheng, Mutasim A. Salman
  • Patent number: 8903680
    Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating layers, including interlayer gaps, in a multi-layer structure; the multi-layer structure presenting a plurality of edges generally aligned athwart an axis; the apparatus includes: (a) a sensing unit configured for sensing at least one parameter; (b) a positioning unit coupled with the sensing unit; the positioning unit being configured to effect moving the sensing unit generally along the axis; and (c) a control unit coupled with at least one of the positioning unit and the sensing unit. The control unit provides an electrical signal to the sensing unit. The control unit monitors changes in the at least one parameter as the sensing unit moves past the plurality of edges. The control unit employs the changes in the at least one parameter to effect the evaluating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John R. Linn, Jeffrey G. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20140348526
    Abstract: In one example, a processor readable medium has instructions thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause a system to detect a change in electrical conduction of a liquid moving at an interface between two surfaces and determine a conductivity of the liquid based on the detected change in conduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Matthew G. Lopez, David F. Chiu, David Sabo, John W. Godden, Christopher S. Tanner, Eric G. Nelson, Guang Jin Li, James Michael Pingel
  • Patent number: 8896328
    Abstract: A processing system for a capacitive sensor device comprises circuitry and logic; and the capacitive sensor device comprises a first plurality of sensor electrodes and a second plurality of sensor electrodes. The processing system is configured to acquire a first plurality of capacitive measurements by emitting and receiving first electrical signals with the first plurality of sensor electrodes of the capacitive sensor device. The processing system is also configured to select a first set of the first plurality of sensor electrodes based on the first plurality of capacitive measurements. The processing system is further configured to acquire a second plurality of capacitive measurements by emitting second electrical signals with the first set of the first plurality of sensor electrodes and receiving the second electrical signals with the second plurality of sensor electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Phillip Acker
  • Publication number: 20140343881
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assessment of a power system and an early warning system for a power system, the method being based on aperiodic small signal instabilities. The power system has a plurality of generators comprising one or more synchronous machines and is represented by a plurality of nodes of power injection, injecting power into a network having a plurality of nodes and branches. The method for assessment of the power system comprises determining a present state of the power system, calculating system Thevenin impedances from each node of power injection in the power system on the basis of the determined present state of the power system, calculating injection impedances from each node of power injection in the power system on the basis of the determined present state of the power system, determining a stability boundary for each generator based on the calculated system Thevenin impedances and the calculated injection impedances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET
    Inventor: Hjörtur Jóhannsson
  • Publication number: 20140343880
    Abstract: A method for deriving characteristic values of a MOS transistor is described. A set of ?k values is provided. A set of VBi values (i=1 to M, M?3) is provided. A set of RSDi,j (i=1 to M?1, j=i+1 to M) values each under a pair of VBi and VBj, or a set of Vtq—q,j (q is one of 1 to M, j is 1 to M excluding q) values under VBq is derived for each ?k, with an iteration method. The ?k value making the set of RSDi,j values or Vtq—q,j values closest to each other is determined as an accurate ?k value. The mean value of RSDi,j at the accurate ?k value is calculated as an accurate RSD value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yi-Ting Wu, Cheng-Tung Huang, Tsung-Han Lee, Yi-Han Ye
  • Publication number: 20140343882
    Abstract: The present invention introduces a method, device and a computer program for removing artifacts present in individual channels of a multichannel measurement device. At first, a basis is generated defining an n-dimensional subspace of the N-dimensional signal space, where n is smaller than N, where using in the definition of the n-dimensional basis a physical model of a Signal Space Separation method, or a statistical model based on the statistics of recorded N-dimensional signals. Thereafter, a combined (n+m)-dimensional basis is formed by adding m signal vectors to the n-dimensional basis, each of these m signal vectors representing a signal present only in a single channel of the N-channel device. After this the recorded N-dimensional signal vector is decomposed into n+m components in the combined basis, and finally, components corresponding to the m added vectors in the combined basis are subtracted from the recorded N-dimensional signal vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Samu Taulu, Matti Kajola, Juha Simola
  • Patent number: 8892378
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: ECOPETROL S.A.
    Inventors: Gonzalo Leal Diaz, Juan Diego Ruiz Escobar, Jorge Alberto Toscano Rodriguez, Guillermo Latorre Cortes
  • Patent number: 8892379
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rajesh V. V. L. Langoju, Wrichik Basu, Manoj Kumar Koyithitta Meethal, Sakethraman Mahalingam
  • Patent number: 8886474
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing one or more transmission lines is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a processor capable of configuring the apparatus in one of a master mode and a slave mode. The apparatus when configured in the master mode controls the testing of the one or more transmission lines of a cable. The apparatus also includes one or more test modules associated with one or more tests to be performed on the one or more transmission lines. Further, one or more transceivers of the apparatus are capable of one or more of sending and receiving a plurality of signals through the one or more transmission lines. One or more signals of the plurality of signals are associated with the one or more test modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Psiber Data Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Patel Arvindbhai Chimanbhai, Xing Zhu, Pandya Harshang Nileshkumar, Ravi Kishore Doddavaram
  • Patent number: 8886480
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Mihai Bulea
  • Patent number: 8884912
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Otsuki, Yasushi Kasajima
  • Publication number: 20140316729
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of hardware de-convolution for multi-phase scanning of a touch arrays are described. One apparatus includes a memory device configured to store a capacitance map including convolved capacitance data. The convolved data are results of multi-phase transmit (TX) scanning of a sense array with multiple TX patterns. The apparatus further comprises a de-convolution circuit block coupled to the memory device. The de-convolution circuit block is configured to de-convolve the convolved capacitance data with inverses of the multiple TX patterns to obtain capacitance data for a de-convolved capacitance map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Viktor Kremin, Volodymyr Bihday, Jan-Willem Waerdt, Colm O'Keeffe, Aaron Hogan, Paul Kelleher
  • Publication number: 20140303916
    Abstract: A probe is configured for measuring an electrical impedance of a workpiece using external testing equipment. The probe includes a non-conducting base and an array of at least four spaced-apart line conductors. The at least four spaced-apart line conductors are disposed generally in parallel to each other along their lengths on a surface of the non-conducting base and are electrically connected to a corresponding array of at least four terminals on the non-conducting base. The non-conducting base is configured to be placed over a surface of the workpiece so that the at least four spaced-apart line conductors contact the surface of the workpiece and the at least four terminals are configured to be connected the external testing equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Brian Anthony Mazzeo, Dean R. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 8855951
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for a power distribution circuit including a line, neutral and ground may include a switch configured to electrically connect the line and neutral, a first sensor configured to sense a line to neutral electrical parameter, and a second sensor configured to sense a neutral to ground electrical parameter. The system may also include a processor configured to close the switch, to observe at least some of the sensed electrical parameters before and after the switch is closed, and to identify a fault condition in the line or neutral based on the observed electrical parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Allan Roy Gale, Michael W. Degner, Larry Dean Elie
  • Patent number: 8855953
    Abstract: A motor drive device including a battery 10; switching elements 15 and 16 which are connected in series with a condenser C2 having a voltage Vdc resulting from an increase action of battery voltage and which are operated in a chopper control; a reactor L2 whose one end is connected with a common connection point of the switching elements 15 and 16; and an inverter 19 for driving a PM motor 20 which is connected between another end of the reactor L2 and a negative-pole terminal of the battery 10. In such a motor drive device, an electrical power W is determined based on the voltage Vdc of positive-side point P of the condenser C2, a current Idc flowing in the reactor L2, and a switching duty d1 of the switching element 15 which satisfies a condition of 0?d1?1, i.e., is determined by calculating Vdc·d1·Idc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Meidensha Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Yamaguchi, Yugo Tadano, Toru Kakebayashi
  • Patent number: 8855956
    Abstract: A method of determining state of charge of an energy delivery device includes sampling voltage values of the energy delivery device during relaxation of the device. The method further includes regressing an open circuit voltage value and the total overpotential being relaxed. The regression includes a predetermined time constant of relaxation associated with the energy delivery device. One embodiment uses the equation V(t)=OCV?? exp(?t/tau), where V(t) represents the sampled voltage values, t represents times at which each of the voltage values are sampled, OCV represents the open circuit voltage value of the energy delivery device, ?represents the overpotential value, and tau represents the time constant of relaxation. The method uses a predetermined profile that relates open circuit voltage of the energy delivery device to state of charge of the device, to determine a particular state of charge corresponding to the regressed open circuit voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventor: Karen E. Thomas-Alyea
  • Publication number: 20140295302
    Abstract: In a fuel cell monitoring device, a gas-diffusion resistance calculation section calculates a gas-diffusion resistance Rtotal indicating a difficulty of diffusing reaction gas to a catalyst layer in a fuel cell based on a gas reaction resistance Rct calculated by a resistance calculation section. A second diffusion resistance calculation section calculates a second diffusion resistance Rdry varying depending on a dried-up in the fuel cell based on a proton transfer resistance Rmem calculated by the resistance calculation section. A first diffusion resistance calculation section calculates a first diffusion resistance Rwet varying depending on a flooding in the fuel cell by subtracting the second diffusion resistance Rdry from the gas-diffusion resistance Rtotal. A water content calculation section calculates a water content of the fuel cell based on the first diffusion resistance. A recovery control section adjusts the water content in the fuel cell based on the calculated water content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicants: Denso Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuji Ishikawa, Ikuyasu Kato, Takashi Yamada, Yuuichi Sakajoh, Keigo Suematsu
  • Patent number: 8849599
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Sheng-Fu Horng, Ming-Kun Lee, Jen-Chung Wang, Hsin-Fei Meng
  • Patent number: 8849600
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for measuring net charge density of membrane and apparatus thereof. The method measures the net charge density of a membrane by utilizing the relation between the mechanical pressure difference applied across the membrane and the generated streaming potential or the relation between the applied electric field and the generated electroosmotic flow. The present invention also provides a method and an apparatus for measuring the resistance of a membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Chung Yuan Christian University
    Inventor: Ching-Jung Chuang
  • Patent number: 8849520
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a sensor interface module that selectively varies the resistance of an RLC network based upon one or more properties of exchanges data signals between one or more sensors and a controller (e.g., an ECU). The disclosed sensor interface module has a closed control loop that receives modulated sensor current signals from one or more sensors and that regulates a modulated output voltage that is provided to the one or more sensors. A protocol processor detects one or more properties of the exchanged voltage and current signals. The protocol processor provides the detected properties to an impedance controller, which selectively varies the value of an impedance element within an RLC network, located between the sensor interface module and the one or more sensor, to adjust the one or more properties in a manner that improves performance of the sensor interface module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Publication number: 20140288862
    Abstract: A solution for compensating a magnetic field sensor to permit detection of a small magnetic field in the presence of a large magnetic field is disclosed. A magnetic field sensor detects the magnetic field which produces an analogue signal then encoded by an analogue to digital converter (ADC) into a digital stream. A controller operating on the digital stream incorporates additional sensor data to create a compensation signal which is sent to a digital to analogue (DAC) converter. This compensation signal then modifies the output of the magnetic field sensor before entering the ADC. Compensation is software controlled, and is thus adaptable to numerous conditions requiring compensation. Apart from being easily tunable, the compensation may respond dynamically to changing conditions. The invention has particular application to airborne electromagnetic surveying where small fields scattered from the Earth are measured in the presence of a large transmitted field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Gordon Fox WEST, Peter Whyte Walker, Benjamin David Polzer
  • Publication number: 20140288863
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a high-voltage electric-current transmission line includes: determining (100) the ampacity (A) of the high-voltage line from a distribution temperature, conduction parameters and meteorological parameters; measuring (202) the current strength effectively transmitted by the high-voltage line using at least one sensor; and monitoring (204), by a monitoring device connected to the sensor, an excess of ampacity (A) by the current strength measured. The determining (100) of the ampacity (A) includes: selecting (108, 110, 112, 114, 116) a value of this ampacity (A) by optimizing a probability of exceeding the distribution temperature, with this probability defined based on a joint probability model (P) of operating current strength and temperature that depends on meteorological parameters; and recording (118) the selected ampacity value in a storage unit of the monitoring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: RTE Reseau de transport d'electricite
    Inventor: Pierre Stevenin