Including Related Electrical Parameter Patents (Class 702/65)
  • Patent number: 8843334
    Abstract: An apparatus has an input section arranged to receive values representative of the total instantaneous supply of electrical current as a function of time from an alternating voltage supply. Current waveforms comprising sets of values representative of the cyclic waveform of the electric current supply are obtained. A delta waveform generator calculates the difference between a current waveform and an earlier current waveform. An edge detector is arranged to detect an edge or edges in the delta waveform. An analysis section is arranged to identify at least one appliance load based at least on information on the edge or edges detected by the edge detector, and to determine the electrical energy consumed by said appliance load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Isis Innovation Limited
    Inventors: James Donaldson, Malcolm McCulloch
  • Publication number: 20140278160
    Abstract: An estimation method for a variable resistance element including (i) a first electrode, (ii) a second electrode, and therebetween (iii) a variable resistance layer in which a local region is formed which has resistive status that reversibly changes according to an electric pulse applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, the estimation method including: obtaining, when changes are made to the resistive status of the local region, measurement values each indicating a resistance state after one of the changes; and determining, based on a distribution of the obtained measurement values, an estimated amount of a physical parameter regarding structural characteristics of the local region by a calculation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiqiang WEI, Takeki NINOMIYA, Shunsaku MURAOKA, Takeshi TAKAGI
  • Publication number: 20140278175
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement including a rectifier circuit and a current determining circuit. The rectifier circuit is configured to rectify an alternating signal into a rectified signal. The current determining circuit is configured to determine a current of the alternating signal from at least a current of the rectified signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventor: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
  • Publication number: 20140266260
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a sensor signal indicating information on a capacitance of a variable capacitor including a variable capacitance includes a sensor unit and a compensation unit. The sensor unit is configured to generate a sensor signal indicating information on a varying current flowing through a connection between the sensor unit and the variable capacitor caused by a variation of the capacitance of the variable capacitor while the variable capacitor is biased by a predefined bias voltage. Further, the compensation unit is configured to influence the sensor signal or to provide a compensation signal capable of influencing the sensor signal so that the sensor signal includes less nonlinear signal portions than a sensor signal without the influence of the compensation unit or the compensation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Christoph Bernhard Wurzinger, Andreas Wiesbauer, Dieter Draxelmayr, Dietmar Straeussnigg
  • Publication number: 20140278172
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive distance protection are provided. An adaptive ground distance protection system may be installed in a power system to provide an accurate measurement of the apparent impedance of the transmission lines thereby ensuring reliable and stable operations of the power system. The potential of a system ground in reference to the remote earth is measured and used in calculating the apparent impedance of a transmission line. An accurate assessment of the apparent impedance of a transmission line is therefore provided and reduces the risk of misoperation of relays. Existing protection systems of a power system may be augmented, for example, via a retrofitting process, to enhance reliability of the power system, reduce costs, reduce customer service interruption, and expand opportunities for deployment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: GIROLAMO ROSSELLI
  • Publication number: 20140278173
    Abstract: A processing system for baseline management includes a sensor module comprising sensor circuitry coupled to sensor electrodes, where the sensor module is configured to receive resulting signals with at least a portion of the sensor electrodes. The processing system further includes a determination module operatively connected to the sensor electrodes. The determination module is configured to obtain a first profile from the resulting signals, calculate, using the first profile, a first statistic and a second statistic for the first profile, and select, according to a first range of the first statistic and a second range of the second statistic, a baseline relaxation technique from a plurality of baseline relaxation techniques to obtain a selected baseline relaxation technique. The determination module is further configured to adjust a baseline for the capacitance sensing input device according to the selected baseline relaxation technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Curtis Elia, Adam Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20140278174
    Abstract: A battery pack monitoring apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a voltage measurement system configured to couple to opposed ends of each of a plurality of blocks of a battery pack and to measure voltages thereof, the blocks being coupled in series by interconnects each having an interconnect resistance. The voltage measurement system is configured to derive an internal resistance of each of the plurality of blocks based upon the voltages of the opposed ends of each of the plurality of blocks and based upon a measurement of current of the battery pack and derive the interconnect resistance of each of the interconnects based upon the voltages of the opposed ends of each of the plurality of blocks and based upon the measurement of current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventor: Atieva, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140278176
    Abstract: A method includes measuring a magnetic field generated by an electrical wire using a three-axis magnetometer disposed within a portable electronic device. The device then determines a first magnetic field strength component aligned with a first direction and a second magnetic field strength component aligned with a second direction. The position of the electrical wire relative to the magnetometer is movable in the first direction, and wherein the position of the electrical wire is constrained in the second direction. The device then provides an instruction via a display to move the wire to a position where the first magnetic field strength component is equal to the second magnetic field strength component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Vectorform, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph S. Wisniewski, Matthew Tilchen
  • Patent number: 8838402
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for voltage measurement with a transformer configuration comprising three single pole voltage transformers having tertiary windings open-delta connected with each other. The arrangement is configured to apply a correction to measured secondary voltages on the basis of one or more parameters of the voltage transformers and/or one or more quantities in a known relation to one or more parameters of the voltage transformers, one or more parameters of a circuit connected to the secondary windings and/or one or more quantities in a known relation to one or more parameters of the circuit connected to the secondary windings, and one or more parameters of a circuit connected to the tertiary windings and/or one or more quantities in a known relation to one or more parameters of the circuit connected to the tertiary windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Ari Wahlroos, Janne Altonen, Pentti Mähönen
  • Patent number: 8831898
    Abstract: An impedance measurement circuit comprises a current source arrangement, a voltage measurement arrangement and a processor. The circuit is operable in a two-point measurement mode and a four-point measurement mode and the processor is adapted to derive the impedance to be measured by combining the measurement voltages from the two-point and the four-point measurement modes. This combines the results of both two-point and four-point measurement techniques to provide improved accuracy. In particular, the two results enable the effect of the electrode resistance to be cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Robert Pinter, Ralf Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8831897
    Abstract: Determination of a remaining life fraction for a network of batteries during use in an electrical circuit is disclosed. A state of health of the battery network can be determined by measuring a change in impedance characteristics of the individual battery units and/or the battery network as a whole. More specifically, a mode and a severity of a failure can be determined for individual battery units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Global Energy Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: John McHardy
  • Publication number: 20140236514
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting concealed personal security threats may comprise conventional mirrors and less conventional arrays of Hall-effect sensors and/or magnetometers, preferably at least two axis or three axis sensors or sensors mounted back-to-back. The concealed personal security threats may comprise, for example, sticky devices consisting of geographic position sensors for covertly broadcasting motor vehicle location data, of so-called Improvised Explosive Devices (IED's) which may be covertly or openly affixed to, for example, the undercarriages of motor vehicles using strong magnets and later exploded, the former giving away private location information, the latter causing damage to the motor vehicles to which they are affixed and sticky containers for hiding contraband among other “sticky devices.” Magnetic fields detected by, for example, arrays of Hall-effect sensors and the like may be quantified and stored in processor memory as a vehicle magnetic field signature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Icove and Associates, LLC
    Inventors: David J. Icove, Carl T. Lyster, David M. Banwarth, Sandra K. Wesson
  • Publication number: 20140236512
    Abstract: A system including a computing device to compare a first measured characteristic of a planar structure to a first look up table and obtain the relative permittivity of the planar structure based on the comparison of the first measured characteristic. The computing device compares a second measured characteristic of the planar structure to a second look up table to obtain the tangential loss of the planar structure based on the comparison of the second measured characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P
  • Publication number: 20140236513
    Abstract: The invention discloses a region-based security evaluation method for the distribution system, which belongs to the field of electric power distribution system operation. The method contains the following steps: a. acquiring distribution system security region and security boundaries according to substation transformer capacity of the distribution system and link relationships among the substation transformers (101); b. acquiring the distance between operating point and the security boundaries (102); c. judging whether the operating point is within the distribution system security region according to the distance between the operating point and security boundaries (103); if yes, performing step (4), otherwise, performing step (5); d. acquiring the load shortage or excess Li of a link unit (104); e. adjusting the load of the substation transformers until the operating point comes back to the distribution system security region, then performing step (4) (105).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Jun Xiao, Chengshan Wang, Yixin Yu, Wenzhuo Gu
  • Publication number: 20140222360
    Abstract: A method of extracting an Integrated Circuit (IC) current is provided. The method includes generating a transfer function value by using a voltage measured in a node nearest an input terminal of the IC, substituting the generated transfer function value for a reverse fast Fourier transform function, so as to extract the IC voltage, and extracting the IC current from the extracted IC voltage through a simulation in a time domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Ho LIM, Sang-Ho LEE, Chea-Ok KO, Jong-Wan SHIM, Jeong-Nam CHEON
  • Patent number: 8798946
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement based on two-port network (TPN) theory that allows analytically estimating the loop transfer function from open and short-circuited input impedance measurements, e.g. single ended line transmission (SELT) measurements, by utilizing the fact that the line under test (LUT) can be considered reciprocal and by assuming that the LUT is symmetric. Hence, by using the present invention and an estimation of the noise on the line, the attainable bit rate at the customer premises can be determined by means of SELT measurements at the CO. The transfer function of a telephone copper-loop is estimated regardless of its topology by impedance measurements from the CO side. Specifically, such estimation is carried out from the calculation of the transmission parameters of loop, which are expressed only in terms of open and short-circuited input impedance measurements at the CO when reciprocity and symmetry is assumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Klas Ericson, Roberto Menezes Rodrigues, Joäo C. Weyl Albuqerque Costa, Aldebaro Klautau
  • Patent number: 8798947
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for the detection of charge density distribution at the surface of a material sample. The apparatus comprises an electric potential sensor for measuring surface charge on a material sample, wherein the electrical potential sensor includes a probe for capacitively coupling the electric potential sensor to the surface of the material sample, an amplifier for generating a measurement output, the probe being connected to an input of the amplifier and the measurement output being supplied at an output of the amplifier, and a feedback arrangement driven from the output of the amplifier for enhancing the input impedance of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Sussex-Falmer
    Inventors: Helen Prance, Robert John Prance, Philip Watson, Sam Thomas Beardsmore-Rust
  • Publication number: 20140214351
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining ion energy are described. One of the methods includes detecting output of a generator to identify a generator output complex voltage and current (V&I). The generator is coupled to an impedance matching circuit and the impedance matching circuit is coupled to an electrostatic chuck (ESC). The method further includes determining from the generator output complex V&I a projected complex V&I at a point along a path between an output of a model of the impedance matching circuit and a model of the ESC. The operation of determining of the projected complex V&I is performed using a model for at least part of the path. The method includes applying the projected complex V&I as an input to a function to map the projected complex V&I to a wafer bias value at the ESC model and determining an ion energy from the wafer bias value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Valcore, JR., Bradford J. Lyndaker
  • Patent number: 8791689
    Abstract: Disclosed is a probe for an oscilloscope comprising a multi-stage transistor amplifier that acts as an impedance transformer. Said amplifier is a d.c.-coupled emitter follower circuit that is composed of bipolar transistors or a d.c.-coupled source follower circuit which is composed of field effect transistors and the successive amplifier elements of which are dimensioned and tuned to each other in such a way that the resulting offset direct voltage between the input and the output is minimal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Peschke, Alexander Schild
  • Patent number: 8788227
    Abstract: A method for measuring critical current density of superconductor wires according to the present invention is characterized in that it includes: (a) applying an external magnetic field to the superconductor wires, (b) measuring a magnetization loss of the superconductor wires according to the application of the external magnetic field, (c) normalizing the measured magnetization loss, and then calculating a fully-penetration magnetic field of the superconductor wires according to the normalized magnetization loss, (d) calculating a critical current density of the superconductor wires according to the calculated fully-penetration magnetic field. Therefore, the critical current density of parallel superconductor wires such as stacked superconductor wires may be measured without applying current to the superconductor wires directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Korea Polytechnic University Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation, Woosuk University Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Kyeong Dal Choi, Ji Kwang Lee, Woo Seok Kim, Chan Park, Byung Wook Han, Se Yeon Lee
  • Patent number: 8788244
    Abstract: Systems and methods for global voltage security assessment in power systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for assessing voltage security in a power system having a number (i) of buses includes capturing a change in bus voltage and a change in line reactive power for at least some of the buses in the power system, for each of the i number of buses, calculating a voltage assessment index) (?i) for as follows: ? i = ? j ? ? ? ? Q ij ? ? ? V i where ?Vi is the change in bus voltage and ?Qij is the change in line reactive power from a connection j over a predetermined period of time. The method further includes assessing a current voltage security status of the power system based on the calculated voltage assessment index (?i).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Washington State University
    Inventors: Vaithianathan Venkatasubramanian, Xing Liu
  • Patent number: 8781771
    Abstract: A system and method employing a general impedance as a cost-effective detector to measure dielectric properties of a material at both high and low frequencies, using combinations of resistance, capacitance, and inductance. The method may be applied in a wood drying installation including a kiln as coaxial cable element for a data transmission, wherein metal walls and doors of the kiln grounded to the soil include the outer coaxial conductor (shield) relative to a substantially isolated axial central conductor. The method is further suitable for determining the fiber saturation point of wood by measuring the loss tangent of the wood and determining the point where the time derivative of the loss-tangent equals zero, which corresponds to the fiber saturation point of the wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: Liebrecht Rudolph Venter
  • Patent number: 8781786
    Abstract: A circuit includes a comparator having input terminals configured to be coupled across a drive transistor adapted to drive a phase of a motor. The comparator senses a drive current of the motor phase, said sensed drive current represented by a periodic signal whose period is indicative of motor speed. A motor speed calculation circuit receives the periodic signal and processes the periodic signal to determine a speed of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Chin Boon Huam
  • Patent number: 8781789
    Abstract: A method for determining an incline angle of electromagnetic pointer is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. First of all, an electromagnetic input pen/stylus is provided over antennas Xn/Yn along X/Y axes. Then a plurality of antennas at two sides of the antennas Xn/Yn are scanned. Next the signal distributions of the antennas Xn/Yn and the antennas at two side are analyzed. Then the number of antenna sampled of the signal distributions of the antennas at two side is determined. Next the antennas at two side are selected and the signal distributions are sampled and received according to the number of antenna sampled. Finally, an incline angle of the electromagnetic pointer is determined according to the sampled signal distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Waltop International Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Liang Hsieh, Yun-Hsiang Yeh, Chia-Jui Yeh
  • Patent number: 8781770
    Abstract: A method and a system for estimating a battery percentage are provided. The method includes the following steps. A coulomb counter calculated battery index (CCBI) relating to an accumulated amount of current flowing out of a battery is obtained. A battery voltage curve tracer calculated battery index (VCBI) relating to a temperature, an output voltage of the battery, and a current flowing out of the battery is obtained. A modified calculated battery index (MCBI) ranging between the CCBI and the VCBI is generated according to the CCBI and the VCBI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Lieh Shen, Chih-Chung Teng, Tsung-Yuan Yang, Chih-Hsiung Chang, Kuei-Yuan Lai
  • Publication number: 20140195183
    Abstract: Described herein are a method, system, and computer readable medium for estimating a diffusion potential (such as temperature) of a diffusive property (such as thermal energy, referred to herein as “heat”). The method includes modeling as a circuit a diffusion region having two subregions to which the diffusive property is introduced at different rates and through which the diffusive property linearly diffuses. The nodes of the circuit include a dividing node that divides branches of the circuit that model the two subregions. A circuit potential at one of the nodes of the circuit corresponds to the diffusion potential at a location within the diffusion region. The diffusion potential at the location within the diffusion region is estimated by simulating operating of the circuit and determining the circuit potential at the node of the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
    Inventors: Harish Chandra Rajput, Andrew Labun, Thomas Edward Johnson
  • Patent number: 8775108
    Abstract: On-chip test architecture and design-for-testability methods for pre-bond testing of TSVs are provided. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, a die level wrapper is provided including gated scan flops connected to one end of each TSV. The gated scan flops include a scan flop structure and a gated output. The gated output is controlled by a signal to cause the output of the gated scan flop to either be in a “floated state” or take the value stored in the flip-flop portion of the gated scan flop. The gated output of the gated scan flop can be used to enable resistance and capacitance measurements of pre-bonded TSVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Krishnendu Chakrabarty, Brandon Noia
  • Patent number: 8775109
    Abstract: A demand management monitoring system including a remote measurement device including a microprocessor for calculating RMS voltage data from digital samples and a wireless communications device, and a server system including a database configured to store the RMS voltage data from the remote measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Power Monitors, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Curt, Christopher Mullins
  • Publication number: 20140188417
    Abstract: An electrical impedance detecting device of a portable electrical impedance imaging system by utilizing a theory of sending excitation signal and detecting response signal and a method thereof, wherein the excitation signal is a constant square wave excitation current signal, the response voltage signal on a target is transformed to a square wave signal with appropriate amplitudes by buffering, amplifying, RC filtering and differential amplifying circuits, and then is transformed to a digital signal at a proper time by an analog-to-digital converter. The response voltage signal is sampled once when at high level and once when at low level for every circle of the square wave signal by the ADC, and a sample V1 and a sample V2 are obtained respectively, difference of the sample V1 and the sample V2 is taken as a detecting result for one circle. An average value of the detecting result from a plurality of circles may be taken as a final result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: FOURTH MILITARY MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xiuzhen Dong, Xuyang Huo, Fusheng You, Xuetao Shi, Feng Fu, Ruigang Liu, Zhenyu Ji, Canhua Xu, Bin Yang, Min Yang, Jiaxue Qi, Wen Zhang, Nan Wang
  • Publication number: 20140180615
    Abstract: A device includes a field-detecting component, an input component, an accessing component, a comparing component and an identifying component. The field-detecting component can detect a field and generate a detected field signature based thereon. The input component can input the detected field signature into a database. The accessing component can access the detected field signature from the database. The comparing component can generate a comparison signal. The identifying component can identify item or location based on the comparison signal. The field-detecting component can further detect a second field and generate a second detected field signature based on the detected second field. The comparing component can generate the comparison signal based on a comparison of the detected field signature and the second detected field signature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventor: Sascha Simon
  • Publication number: 20140180616
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a methodology that incorporates real-time measurement of conductor temperatures and ground clearances using a transmission line monitor, coupled with information technology and data analytics, to allow utility operators to manage their transmission systems using a dynamic line rating process. Dynamic line ratings may incorporate real-time or near-real-time data of transmission line conditions in lieu of conservative assumptions, in order to more accurately assess actual transmission line performance such that more of the power conveying capacity of the existing transmission infrastructure can be accessed with continued compliance with safety requirements applicable to the transmission line system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: MWH
    Inventors: Robert Aaserude, Ryan Bliss
  • Patent number: 8762084
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel sensing technique, termed Multiple Excitation Capacitance Polling (MECaP), that improves the efficiency of Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT). Unlike traditional alternating current techniques, where excitation signal is applied to an electrode one at a time, MECaP involves simultaneously applying multiple excitation signals, in a progressively increasing fashion, to multiple electrodes on an ECT sensor. The received signals are filtered or otherwise decomposed (e.g., Fourier transformed) into different components, and the individual components are used to generate an image of the article or substance disposed between the electrodes. Because multiple capacitances can be simultaneously measured as a consequence, scanning with MECaP can significantly increase the image scanning speed. For example, scanning with MECaP may enable frames rates of tens of kHz for imaging dynamic processes such as engine combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Robert X. Gao, Zhaoyan Fan
  • Patent number: 8762085
    Abstract: A system and method of dynamically estimating the short circuit current availability (SCCA) at a node in an alternating current electrical distribution system by examining the spectral composition of current drawn by a direct current charging circuit connected to the node. A correlative relationship between the total harmonic current distortion (THDi) in the current drawn by the charging circuit and the SCCA at the node is established for a particular charging circuit. An estimation of the SCCA at the node is accomplished by taking current measurements of current drawn by the charging circuit, analyzing those current measurements to determine the THDi, and estimating a corresponding value of SCCA based on the determined THDi. A method is also provided for calibrating a particular charging circuit to have a reactance and resistance suitable for use in estimating SCCA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Lee Smith
  • Patent number: 8762083
    Abstract: An intelligent circuit protection system and method for automating component replacement and providing information to a user or operator about a load for circuit protection. The circuit protection method includes sensing current and voltage across a fuse protecting a load; sending at least one signal indicative of the current and voltage; and using the at least one signal to determine if the load is operating normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Rodseth, Daniel Stanek, Daniel Gilman
  • Publication number: 20140172338
    Abstract: A method of detecting whether a receiver coil is near a transmit coil in a wireless power transfer system (WPTS), the method involving: applying a pseudo-random signal to the transmit coil; while the pseudo-random signal is being applied to the transmit coil, recording one or more signals produced within the WPTS in response to the applied pseudo-random signal; by using the one or more recorded signals, generating a dynamic system model for some aspect of the WPTS; and using the generated dynamic system model in combination with stored training data to determine whether an object having characteristics distinguishing the object as a receiver coil is near the transmit coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Serge R. Lafontaine, Ian W. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20140172337
    Abstract: A device for monitoring signal levels of signals that are generated, for the purpose of detecting a magnetic field, by a plurality of Hall sensors includes a first, second, and third input and a diagnostic device. The first input is configured to receive a first signal from a first Hall sensor. A first electrical resistor is connected between the first input and a central point. The second input is configured to receive a second signal from a second Hall sensor. A second electrical resistor is connected between the second input and the central point. The third input is configured to receive a third signal from a third Hall sensor. A third electrical resistor is connected between the third input and the central point. The diagnostic device is connected to the central point and is configured to determine a position of the detected magnetic field using an average value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Kern, Tobias Kiefer
  • Publication number: 20140172335
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a value of a variable on a radio frequency (RF) transmission model are described. One of the methods includes identifying a complex voltage and current measured at an output of an RF generator and generating an impedance matching model based on electrical components defined in an impedance matching circuit coupled to the RF generator. The method further includes propagating the complex voltage and current through the one or more elements from the input of the impedance matching model and through one or more elements of an RF transmission model portion that is coupled to the impedance matching model to determine a complex voltage and current at the output of the RF transmission model portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: John C. Valcore, JR., Bradford J. Lyndaker
  • Publication number: 20140172336
    Abstract: A method and device for measuring a variation of a capacitance, the device includes: a capacitance having a voltage across its terminals; a charging element and a discharging element; a comparison element; control elements activating the charging element or the discharging element as a function of the value of the voltage across the terminals of the capacitance and of which an output voltage has a high value during the charging and a low value during the discharging; a counter measuring a time representative of a predetermined number of charging and discharging cycles of the capacitance; and an additional capacitance electrically connected to the output voltage and to the capacitance, able to be charged and discharged simultaneously with the charging and discharging of the capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicants: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GmbH, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE
    Inventor: Xavier HOURNE
  • Patent number: 8756026
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Xavier Flandrois, Jean-Rémi André Masse, Maurice Georges Vernochet
  • Publication number: 20140163913
    Abstract: The method for determining the concentrations of dopant impurities in a silicon sample includes provision of a silicon ingot including donor-type dopant impurities and acceptor-type dopant impurities, a step for determining the position of a first area of the ingot in which a transition takes place between a first conductivity type and a second opposite conductivity type, a step for measuring the concentration of free charge carriers in the second area of the ingot, distinct from the first area, by Hall effect, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy or a method using the lifetime of the charge carriers, and a step for determining the concentrations of dopant impurities in the sample from the position of the first area and the concentration of free charge carriers in the second area of the ingot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Sebastien Dubois, Nicolas Enjalbert, Jordi Veirman
  • Publication number: 20140163912
    Abstract: The present application discloses a method and an apparatus for measuring a rotor resistance of an induction motor, which method comprises: injecting a first voltage step signal into a test phase of the induction motor when the induction motor is at standstill; measuring and recording a current value I0+ at an initial moment of the first voltage step signal; and calculating the rotor resistance Rr of the induction motor based on a first current value Is1, a second current value Is2 and the current value I0+ at the initial moment, the first current value Is1 being equal to a steady-state current value corresponding to a voltage value before a step of the first voltage step signal, and the second current value Is2 being equal to a steady-state current value corresponding to a voltage value after the step of the first voltage step signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS (Shanghai) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhi guang GAO, Cheng LU
  • Patent number: 8751053
    Abstract: A method and system to provide a distributed local energy production system with high-voltage DC bus is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system comprises a management unit to be interconnected via a network bus to a set of link modules, each link module coupled to a separate local energy production unit, each link module to include a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) step-up converter and a parameter monitoring unit to produce parameter data for the respective local energy production unit, and the local energy production units to be coupled to a high voltage power line to deliver produced electrical energy to a consumer of the energy; and the management unit to receive measured parameters from the link modules, and to send control signals to link modules to provide individual operational control of the local energy production units, the management unit to be coupled to one or more separate computers to provide the computers with access to the parameter data and control of the local energy production units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Hadar, Stuart D. Davis
  • Patent number: 8744791
    Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes multiple strings of solar panels and a device presenting a DC load to the strings of solar panels. Output currents of the strings of solar panels may be sensed and provided to a computer that generates current-voltage (IV) curves of the strings of solar panels. Output voltages of the string of solar panels may be sensed at the string or at the device presenting the DC load. The DC load may be varied. Output currents of the strings of solar panels responsive to the variation of the DC load are sensed to generate IV curves of the strings of solar panels. IV curves may be compared and analyzed to evaluate performance of and detect problems with a string of solar panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M Kraft, Jason C. Jones
  • Publication number: 20140149059
    Abstract: A capacitance distribution detection circuit (102) includes a multiplexer (104), a driver (105), and a sense amplifier (106), and the multiplexer (104) switches states between a first connection state in which first signal lines (HL1 to HLM) are connected to the driver (105) and second signal lines (VL1 to VLM) are connected to the sense amplifier (106), and a second connection state in which the first signal lines (HL1 to HLM) are connected to the sense amplifier (106) and the second signal lines (VL1 to VLM) are connected to the driver (105). The first connection state (A) (a) drives, on the basis of code sequences (di (=di1, di2, . . . , diN, where i=1, . . .
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Miyamoto, Kunihiko Iizuka
  • Patent number: 8738195
    Abstract: Methods and devices capable of measuring, analyzing, and monitoring electrical energy consumption of appliances and devices within a building are provided. Voltage sensors that are optionally connected to electrical socket outlets are employed within a building or section of a building to infer the identity of electricity-consuming devices and the amount of power the devices are consuming individually and collectively. Energy use inferencing devices according to embodiments of the invention provide ease of installation, simplicity, manageability, and ease-of-use that can engender deployment by electricity consumers, such as, home owners and businesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tomm V. Aldridge, James Y. Song
  • Patent number: 8737493
    Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates to powerline communications (PLC) in an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) environment. A communications signal is applied to a power line by a PLC transmitting device. A receiver is provided that evaluates communications signals based on the power coupled to the power line by the transmitting device. In one present embodiment, PLC signal voltage and current levels are multiplied together to evaluate signal power to reproduce received PLC signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Borisov, Philippe Chiummiento
  • Patent number: 8731846
    Abstract: A measuring arrangement of the invention includes: At least one measuring device, which generates, repeatedly during operation, measured values, especially digital, measured values, representing the at least one measured variable to be registered; as well as an electronic data processing system superordinated to the at least one measuring device, especially a data processing system which is spatially distributed and/or spatially remote from the measuring device. Measuring device and data processing system are connected together by means of at least two line-pairs, through each of which an electrical current flows, at least at times, during operation. According to the invention, the measuring device transmits the internally generated, measured values to the data processing system via both line-pairs. In this way, it is then possible to transmit a plurality of measured values simultaneously, when each of the two line-pairs is embodied as part of a two-conductor current-loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Jiri Karbula, Robert Lalla, Gernot Engstler
  • Publication number: 20140136133
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining solar cell characteristics includes a quantum efficiency measurement tool configured to measure an external quantum efficiency of the solar cell and a reflectivity measurement tool configured to measure the reflectivity of the solar cell. The apparatus also includes a capacitance measurement tool configured to measure the capacitance of the solar cell and a processor configured to calculate a diffusion length of the solar cell based on the measured quantum efficiency, reflectivity and capacitance of the solar cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tayfun Gokmen, Oki Gunawan
  • Patent number: 8725441
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Charles Kasimer Sestok
  • Patent number: 8725436
    Abstract: A motion state detecting method using a detector, detecting one of a conducting state and a non-conducting state according to a movement of an object, includes: first processing to measure either a first number of times, indicating the number of times of change from the conducting state to the non-conducting state per unit time or a second number of times that is the number of times of change from the non-conducting state to the conducting state per the unit time; and second processing to regard either the first number of times or the second number of times as a change determination value and change a length of the unit time based on the change determination value; wherein a proportion of time of the conducting state per the unit time or the non-conducting state per the unit time is changed by changing the length of the unit time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Yamada, Michihiro Nagaishi