20th week of 2010 patent applcation highlights part 11 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20100123391 | Lamp - A method of making a cycleable, tungsten-halogen heat lamp for outputting a given amount of heat from a lamp envelope of given volume comprises the steps of designing a tungsten, incandescent coil capable of generating a given amount of heat, the coil to have a given number of secondary turns and a life time including a given number of cycles; and reducing the given number of secondary turns by one by increasing the diameter of the coil, whereby the given number of cycles of the lamp is increased by 100%. In practice the given number of cycles is in the range of 6800 to 7500 and the increased number of cycles is in the range of 15000. The lamp ( | 2010-05-20 |
20100123392 | PLASMA DISPLAY DEVICE - A plasma display panel, including: a first substrate; a second substrate; barrier ribs partitioning a space between the first and second substrates to define discharge cells; address electrodes extending along a first direction to correspond to the discharge cells on a surface of the first substrate and covered with a first dielectric layer; first and second electrodes extending along a second direction crossing the first direction on a surface of the second substrate to define a discharge gap at centers of the discharge cells and covered with a second dielectric layer; and a guide portion that corresponds to at least a part of the discharge gap, wherein the second dielectric layer includes, a first dielectric layer section inside a space defined by the guide portion, and a second dielectric layer section on the first dielectric layer section, and wherein a first dielectric constant is smaller than a second dielectric constant. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123393 | HID LAMP WITH A CANTED ARC TUBE - An HID lamp with a canted arc tube including a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp with an outer envelope ( | 2010-05-20 |
20100123394 | Excimer discharge lamp and method of making the same - An excimer discharge lamp includes an electric discharge container having a pair of plates which face each other and connected by a side wall. An electrical discharge space is formed between the plates. A pair of external electrodes are provided on exterior surfaces of the plates. A light emission gas of rare gas, halogen or halide is enclosed in the electrical discharge space. The pair of plates and the side wall are made of sapphire, YAG, or single crystal yttria. Impurities which exist in an inner surface of the electric discharge container surrounding the electrical discharge space contain at least silicon, carbon, or cerium, and the quantity thereof is 0.6 ng/cm | 2010-05-20 |
20100123395 | HEADLAMP CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - A headlamp control device for a vehicle is provided. The device includes a front sensor, a wheel speed sensor, an Electrical Control Unit (ECU), a first ballaster, a second ballaster, a relay switch, and a power supply switch. The front sensor senses a target vehicle. The wheel speed sensor detects a speed of a reference vehicle. The ECU outputs a switching control signal. The first ballaster generates a first boosting voltage. The second ballaster generates a second boosting voltage. The relay switch supplies an internal voltage to first and second high-beam lamps, or first and second ballasters. The power supply switch turns on in response to a switching control signal. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123396 | REPLACEABLE LAMP BODIES FOR ELECTRODELESS PLASMA LAMPS - An electrodeless plasma lamp comprising a lamp housing and a lamp body releasably received with the lamp housing. The lamp housing includes a first electrical connector operatively coupled a power source to provide radio frequency (RF) power. The lamp body includes a second electrical connector to releasably engage with the first electrical connector of the lamp housing. The lamp body includes a dielectric material having a relative permittivity greater than 2. RF power is coupled by the lamp body to a bulb containing a fill that forms a light emitting plasma. In an example embodiment, the plasma lamp includes a retaining arrangement releasably to retain the lamp body at least partially within the lamp housing. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123397 | LED based omni-directional light engine - An LED based omni-directional light engine includes a toroidal lens coupled to a controller circuit board and two or more evenly spaced LEDs mounted to the controller circuit board. The toroidal lens includes an inner surface coated with a layer of reflection materials, an outer surface, and a flat base surface. The controller circuit board is electrically coupled to a power source. The LEDs are located immediately under the flat base surface. The inner surface substantially reflects light beams emitted from the LEDs to the outer surface which refracts the beams to the omni-directions. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123398 | Led based precision approach path indicator - A precision approach path indicator system (PAPI) including multiple LHA indicators and power sources. Each LHA indicator comprises several assembly modules, with each module made up of several red and white LEDs, several collimating lens, one optical combiner, and one projection lens set. From a side view of the module, the red LEDs are placed on top of white LEDs, with a collimating lens in front of each LED. The optical combiner is in front of both the red and white LEDs, slightly above the white LEDs in vertical placement. The optical combiner has a reflective coating on the bottom surface, and a red light filter coating on the projection surface. The combined beam of light is projected out through a projection lens at front of the assembly module. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123399 | LED lighting system with bypass circuit for failed LED - A bypass circuit is provided for each LED in a series to permit continued operation with reduced lighting in the event of an LED failure. The bypass circuit is provided in parallel to the LED and comprises a Zener Diode provided in parallel to a thyristor. Upon LED failure, the voltage across the Zener Diode is increased thereby triggering the thyristor which is maintained in a triggered mode as long as current flows through the series circuit. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123400 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING CCFL AT LOW BURST DUTY CYCLE RATES - A cold cathode fluorescent lamp controller constituted of a pulse generator exhibiting a cycle period; a burst dimming control operative to set a burst dimming duty cycle for the pulse generator; a comparator arranged to receive a signal indicative of the value of current through a load driven by the pulse generator and compare the received signal to a reference signal; an error detection circuit operative to shut down the pulse generator responsive to an output of the comparator indicating that the received signal is less than the reference signal for a predetermined number of cycles of the pulse generator; and a disable circuit arranged to prevent, when the set burst dimming duty cycle is less than a predetermined value, the shut down of the pulse generator responsive to the output of the comparator indicating the received signal is less than the reference signal. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123401 | Method of Driving A Light Source, Light Source Apparatus for Performing the Method and Display Apparatus Having the Light Source Apparatus - A method of driving a light source of a light source module including a red light source, a green light source and a blue light source, includes sensing a luminous intensity of the environment; and adjusting a wavelength of light generated from the light source module according to the luminous intensity of the environment. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123402 | Bicycle control device - A bicycle control device includes a speed sensing unit, a light sensing unit, a microprocessor, at least one lamp, a lock module and a warning module. When a bicycle is moving, the speed sensing unit detects the speed of the bicycle and generates a speed signal transmitted to the microprocessor, and the light sensing unit detects lightness around the bicycle and generates a lightness signal transmitted to the microprocessor. According to the signals, the microprocessor of the control device sends a command signal to turn on the lamp and adjusts the luminance of the lamp in accordance with the lightness signal and the speed signal respectively. Once the bicycle is being parked and the bicycle control device is being removed, the microprocessor generates a lock control signal to lock the bicycle. Meanwhile, it also generates a trigger signal to turn on the warning module. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123403 | ELECTRONIC CONTROL TO REGULATE POWER FOR SOLID-STATE LIGHTING AND METHODS THEREOF - Apparatus and methods to regulate an input power applied to a plurality of light emitters are provided. A regulator device includes a plurality of switches and a control circuit that controls the plurality of switches. The plurality of switches selectively couple respective strings of the light emitters in series to the input power to emit light when deactivated. The control circuit may deactivate a number of the switches to couple the respective light emitters to the input power in response to a sensed operational parameter of the input power. The control circuit may adjust the number of the switches deactivated in response to a change in the sensed operational parameter of the input power. A number of the light emitters may be coupled to the input power regardless of the sensed operational parameter of the input power. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123404 | LED DRIVER WITH SINGLE INVERTER CIRCUIT WITH ISOLATED MULTI-CHANNEL OUTPUTS - A single-converter circuit-based LED driver circuit ( | 2010-05-20 |
20100123405 | FEEDBACK CIRCUIT FOR DC/AC INVERTER - A feedback circuit is utilized in a DC/AC inverter having a first power switch and a second power switch for driving a fluorescent lamp. The feedback circuit includes a protection circuit for disabling the first power switch and the second power switch when no fluorescent lamp is electrically connected, a first capacitor having a first terminal electrically connected to an output of the DC/AC inverter, a second capacitor having a first terminal electrically connected to a ground, and a second terminal electrically connected to a second terminal of the first capacitor, a diode having an anode electrically connected to the second terminals of the first and second capacitors, and a cathode electrically connected to the protection circuit, and a first resistor having a first terminal electrically connected to the cathode of the diode, and a second terminal electrically connected to the ground. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123406 | DRIVING DEVICE FOR DISCHARGE LAMP, LIGHT SOURCE DEVICE, IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS, AND DRIVING METHOD FOR DISCHARGE LAMP - A driving device for a discharge lamp includes: an alternating current supply section adapted to supply two electrodes of the discharge lamp with an alternating current; a frequency modulation section adapted to modulate a frequency of the alternating current, which the alternating current supply section supplies, in accordance with a predetermined condition of the discharge lamp within a range between a predetermined upper limit frequency and a predetermined lower limit frequency; and a modulation condition setting section adapted to set a modulation condition of the frequency by the frequency modulation section, wherein the modulation condition setting section sets the modulation condition so that the lower limit frequency when the discharge lamp is in a first state is higher than the lower limit frequency when the discharge lamp is in a second state in which a flicker is harder to occur than in the first state. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123407 | LIGHT COLLECTION SYSTEM FOR AN ELECTRODELESS RF PLASMA LAMP - An electrodeless plasma lamp and a method of generating light are provided. The plasma lamp may comprise a power source to provide radio frequency (RF) power and a lamp body to receive the RF power. The lamp body may include a dielectric material having a relative permittivity greater than 2. A bulb is provided that contains a fill that forms a light emitting plasma when the RF power is coupled to the fill. Collection optics is provided to direct the light along an optical path to an aperture, wherein the optical path includes at least one reflective surface and at least two refractive surfaces. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123408 | LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICES HAVING EXCITED SULFUR MEDIUM BY INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED ELECTRONS - A light-emitting device having an excited sulfur medium by inductively-coupled electrons is provided. This device includes a substrate, an energy transmission coil disposed over the substrate, a transparent discharge cavity disposed over the energy transmission coil, having a substantially planar top and bottom surface, and a high-frequency oscillating power supply coupled to the energy transmission coil. While power up, the energy transmission coil induces an electromagnetic field within the transparent discharge cavity of the light-emitting device. In one embodiment, the transparent discharge cavity includes a sulfur-containing medium disposed within the transparent discharge cavity, and a buffer gas or a plurality of buffer gasses filling inner space of the transparent discharge cavity. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123409 | LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICES UTILIZING GASEOUS SULFUR COMPOUNDS - A light-emitting device utilizing gaseous sulfur compounds is provided. This device includes a first substrate with an energy transmission coil disposed thereover, a dielectric barrier layer embedding underneath the energy transmission coil, a sealant wall circling around the dielectric barrier layer, a second substrate disposed against the first substrate and supported by the sealant wall, and a high-frequency oscillating power supply connected to the energy transmission coil. Normally the second substrate is a transparent substrate. Between the first and second substrates thereby defines an inner chamber, wherein a gaseous reactant comprising an inert gas and a sulfur-containing gas is filled. While powering up, the energy transmission coil induces an electromagnetic field within the inner chamber between the two substrates as causing decomposing/regenerating process cycles of sulfur molecules to lighting up the light-emitting device. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123410 | Driving and Dimming Control Device for Illuminator - The driving and dimming control device for illuminator includes an AC power input end connecting to a phase dimmer, a DC power output end for connecting to a lighting load, a rectifier connecting to the AC power input end, a pulse width modulator connecting to a transformer, a voltage/current detector, a photo-coupler connecting between the voltage/current detector and pulse width modulator, and a low-voltage-input locking circuit connecting between an output terminal of the phase dimmer and pulse width modulator. The low-voltage-input locking circuit includes a locking switch and a reset switch. The signals input to the pulse width modulator are locked by the locking switch to prohibit the pulse width modulator from hiccupping. Thus the DC output power can be stabilized. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123411 | COMPENSATION METHOD AND CIRCUIT FOR LINE REJECTION ENHANCEMENT - An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method and circuit to control light emitting diode (LED) output. The method includes receiving a line voltage signal which powers a lighting circuit comprising an LED and determining an adjustment of a threshold based on a variation of the line voltage signal and/or a controller delay or other practical controller limitation or imperfection. The method further includes dynamically adjusting a threshold or other reference of a controller which controls a switch of said lighting circuit for compensating for line variations to maintain a substantially uniform LED current. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123412 | PULSE GENERATING CIRCUIT - A high-voltage pulse generating circuit includes a direct current power source, a transformer, a switching device and a switching control circuit. The transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding. The switching device is connected between the direct current power source and the primary winding. The switching control circuit controls the switching device to be in the non-conductive state after the switching device is set in the conductive state during first conductive time and further controls the switching device to be in the conductive state during second conductive time after one of the voltages of the primary winding and the secondary winding excess the predetermined value and then to be in the non-conductive state. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123413 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING THE ACTIVATION OF AGRICULTURAL VEHICLE LIGHTING - An agricultural vehicle lighting system includes a plurality of HID lamps and a lighting controller. The HID lamps are configured to be mounted to the agricultural vehicle and powered by an existing electrical circuit of the agricultural vehicle. The lighting controller controls activation of the lamps and is configured to initially activate a first set of the lamps and to subsequently activate a second set of the lamps once it determines that the electrical circuit has the capacity to safely handle both the first and second sets of the lamps. The lighting controller may determine that the electrical circuit has sufficient capacity by determining when current drawn from the first set of the lamps drops below a threshold current level. Alternatively, the lighting controller may determine that the electrical circuit has sufficient capacity by delaying activation of the second set of the lamps for a time period corresponding to a current decay characteristic of the lamps. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123414 | Variable Lighting Zones - A zoned lighting space ( | 2010-05-20 |
20100123415 | Emulating light emission systems - The present invention is a fire fly emulation apparatus and method that functionally provides control of fire fly light emission emulation at each of the one or a plurality of light sources, in preferred embodiments LEDs. In some embodiments, the invention features integrated circuitry to each of the LEDs that affords accurate control of emulation of light emission of fire flies, or other light sources in some embodiments, such as timing, duration, delay, decay, ramping and fade emission control. In some preferred embodiments, the invention features transistors monolithically integrated with the LED. In still further embodiments control of current is provided to a plurality of LED light sources. The present invention affords preferable costs in manufacturing in a mechanically and electrically simple design embodied as fire fly emulation systems as both apparatus and method embodiments. The features of the present invention serve to provide embodiments that have applicability in decoration or other functional light display, generally, while providing preferred control that may not only emulate fire flies, but other light emissions. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123416 | METHOD OF SCANNING BACKLIGHT DRIVING LAMPS FOR AN LCD - A control signal is provided for turning on and turning off a lamp of a backlight source. For a first duration when the liquid crystal is rotating, adjust a frequency of the control signal to turn on and turn off the lamp of the backlight source consecutively or adjust a duty cycle of the control signal to turn off and then turn on the lamp of the backlight source. Thus, the backlight source has a luminance value for the first duration, and the control signal turns on the lamp of the backlight source for a second duration when the liquid crystal is in the steady state. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123417 | ELECTRICAL SWITCH, AS FOR CONTROLLING A FLASHLIGHT - An electrical switch and a flashlight employing the switch may comprise a base having three electrical conductors thereon and an electrically conductive flexible dome adjacent the base. The flexible dome has plural longer legs extending from its dome and in electrical contact with a first conductor, has a shorter leg extending from its dome and overlying a second conductor, and has its dome overlying a third conductor. A spring may extend from the base of the switch. A pushbutton may be moved to apply sufficient force to cause the shorter leg to contact the second conductor and the dome to contact the third conductor. A spring may be between the pushbutton and the flexible dome to couple force to the flexible dome. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123418 | ALTERNATING-CURRENT MOTOR CONTROL APPARATUS - When a rectangular wave voltage control mode is selected, a control apparatus estimates the output torque of an alternating-current motor based on the outputs of a current sensor and a rotation angle sensor, and executes torque feedback control by adjusting the phase of rectangular wave voltage based on the difference between the torque estimated value and a torque command value. The control apparatus executes a switching interruption that outputs a control command to a switching element of an inverter every 60 degrees of electrical angle, and executes an angle interruption that samples the phase currents of the alternating-current motor based on the output of the current sensor and converts those phase currents into a d-axis current and a q-axis current every predetermined electrical angle that is set beforehand. The control apparatus for the alternating-current motor then sets the predetermined electrical angle such that the number of angle interruptions between switching interruptions varies according to the rotation speed of the alternating-current motor. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123419 | ASYMMETRICAL DRIVER - A drive circuit having asymmetrical drivers. In an embodiment, a brushless DC motor may be driven by a drive circuit having three high-side MOSFETs and three low-side MOSFETs. A driver controller turns the MOSFETs on and off according to a drive algorithm such that phase currents are injected into motor coils to be driven. The high-side MOSFETs may be sized differently than the low-side MOSFETs. As such, when a MacDonald waveform (or similar drive algorithm) is used to drive the phases of the motor, less power may be required during disk spin-up because the MOSFETs that are on more (e.g., the low-side MOSFETs with a MacDonald waveform) may be sized larger than the MOSFETs that are on less (e.g., the high-side MOSFETs). In this manner, less power is dissipated in the larger size MOSFETs that are on more than the others. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123420 | MOTOR CONTROLLER HAVING INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS CONFIGURATIONS - A motor drive is provided that includes a control circuit or board and a one or more functional circuits or option boards coupled to the control board, and a profile that includes a configuration for the option board. A method of operating a motor drive that includes loading a profile for a option board coupled to a control board of the controller, wherein the profile comprises a configuration for the option board. A tangible machine-readable medium implementing the method is also provided. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123421 | HVAC ACTUATOR WITH OUTPUT TORQUE COMPENSATION - An HVAC actuator, such as a spring return actuator, may adjust the maximum output torque of the motor with the varying spring return force of the HVAC actuator as the HVAC actuator moves through its range of motion. In some cases, this may provide a more constant force at the output of the HVAC actuator and reduce the force that is applied through the motor, drive train and/or the HVAC component when an end stop is reached. Also, an HVAC actuator is disclosed that can be configured to discover and store the location of one or more end stop(s), and to slow the speed of the motor down before the end stop(s) is reached. This may reduce the force that is applied through the motor, drive train and/or the HVAC component when an end stop is reached. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123422 | MOTOR CONTROLLER WITH DETERMINISTIC SYNCHRONOUS INTERRUPT HAVING MULTIPLE SERIAL INTERFACE BACKPLANE - In one embodiment, a motor drive is provided that includes a control board and one or more option boards coupled to the control board via one or more serial interfaces such that data from the one or more option boards is communicated via one or more synchronous interrupts on the one or more serial interfaces. A method of operating a motor drive that includes transmitting one or more signals from an option board to a control board via one or more synchronous interrupts, wherein the option board is coupled to the control board via a serial interface. A tangible machine-readable medium implementing the method is also provided. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123423 | SERIAL INTERFACE MOTOR CONTROLLER HAVING USER CONFIGURABLE COMMUNICATIONS SPEEDS - In one embodiment, a motor drive is provided that includes a control board and an option board coupled to the control board via a serial interface, wherein the option board includes a configurable data transfer rate. A method of operating a motor drive that includes configuring a transfer rate of an option board coupled to a control board via a serial interface. A tangible machine-readable medium implementing the method is also provided. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123424 | MOTOR CONTROLLER WITH INTEGRATED SERIAL INTERFACE HAVING SELECTABLE SYNCHRONIZATION AND COMMUNICATIONS - In one embodiment, a motor drive is provided that includes a control board and a plurality of option boards configured to communicate with the control board via one or more serial interfaces, wherein the one or more serial interfaces are configured to transfer one or more synchronized signals from each option board. A method of operating a motor drive that includes transferring data between a control board and a plurality of option boards over one or more serial interfaces, wherein the transfer of data from each option board is synchronized with the plurality of option boards. A tangible machine-readable medium implementing the method is also provided. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123425 | MOTOR DRIVE SYNCHRONIZATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - Multiple motor drives are synchronized to permit complex coordination in operation. Each motor drive includes a control circuit coupled to functional circuits that are separately supported and linked to the control circuit via dedicated serial interfaces. The control circuit generates interrupts for coordinated transfer and collection of data from all functional circuits. Each drive includes a synchronization counter, and all synchronization counters are linked via a network link. The synchronization counters synchronized clocks of each control circuit. The interrupts, and consequent data transfer and collection are thus synchronized between all drives based on the synchronization of the clocks. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123426 | RELUCTANCE MOTOR WITH IMPROVED STATOR STRUCTURE - In a motor, a stationary member is provided with a number M (M is a positive integer) of first poles within 360 electrical degrees at spaces therebetween. A plurality of windings are at least partly wound in the spaces, respectively. A movable member is movably arranged relative to the stationary member and provided with a number K (K is a positive integer) of second poles. The number K of second poles is different from the number M of first poles. A unidirectional current supply unit supplies a unidirectional current to at least one of the windings so as to create an attractive force between at least one of the first poles and a corresponding at least one of the second poles to thereby move the movable member relative to the stationary member. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123427 | PSC Motor with 4/6 Pole Common Windings - A PSC motor includes a stator core, a rotor arranged in a rotation relationship with respect to the stator core, a first to eighth winding coil sets wound around the stator core and a capacitor. The motor has two kinds of configurations for 4-pole and 6-pole operation modes, respectively. The configuration for the 4-pole mode comprises a primary winding and a secondary winding which is connected in series with the capacitor, and has two reversible operation directions. When operating at one direction, the primary winding includes the first to fourth winding coil sets, and the secondary winding includes the fifth to the eighth winding coil sets; and when operating at another direction, the primary winding includes the fifth to the eighth winding coil sets, and the secondary winding includes the first to fourth winding coil sets. Also, the configuration for the 6-pole mode comprises a primary winding and a secondary winding which is connected in series with the capacitor, and has two reversible operation directions. When operating at one direction, the primary winding includes the first, second, fifth and seventh winding coil sets, and the secondary winding includes the third, fourth, sixth and eighth winding coil sets; and when operating at another direction, the primary winding includes the third, fourth, sixth and eighth winding coil sets, and the secondary winding includes the first, second, fifth and seventh winding coil sets. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123428 | Battery-Charging Device for a Stand-Alone Generator System having a MPPT Function and Method Thereof - A battery-charging device, having a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) function, for a stand-alone generator system includes a DC/DC power converter and a control circuit used to control the DC/DC power converter. The method applied in the device includes: performing a MPPT function to supply a continuous current when electric power generated from the electrical power source of the stand-alone generator system is low; operating a pulse charging function and continuing the MPPT function when the electric power generated from the electrical power source of the stand-alone generator system is high and not greater than the summation of load power and a maximum charging power of the pulse charging method for the battery; terminating the MPPT function while the electric power is greater than the summation of load power and the maximum charging power of the pulse charging method for the battery; operating a constant-voltage charging mode when the battery voltage is greater than a predetermined constant charging voltage. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123429 | CONTACTLESS CHARGING DEVICE AND CONTACTLESS CHARGING METHOD - A contactless charging device and contactless charging method is provided. The contactless charging device includes an energy-storing device for providing a DC signal as an input power, a power module electrically connected to the energy-storing device for generating an output signal in response to the DC signal and a control signal. The power module includes a transformer primary winding for coupling the output signal to a transformer secondary winding located external to the contactless charging device. The charging device further includes a feedback controller electrically connected to the power module for generating the control signal in response to the output signal, a predetermined power and a predetermined phase. When the contactless charging device is in close proximity to a plurality of loads, the output signal at the transformer primary winding will be coupled to the transformer secondary windings of the plurality of loads so as to simultaneously charge the loads. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123430 | Non-contact power transfer apparatus - There is provided a non-contact power transfer apparatus performing non-contact power transfer from a power transmission coil L | 2010-05-20 |
20100123431 | ADAPTER ASSEMBLY FOR RECEIVING CAR CHARGER OF COMMUNICATION DEVICES - One embodiment of an adapter assembly for a car charger configured to charge a communication device may include a housing having a floor member. The housing may also have a plurality of supporting members extending from the floor member. The adapter assembly may further include a cover carried by the housing for covering the housing. The cover may have an opening that has a periphery. Further, the adapter assembly may include a receptacle carried within the housing and circumscribingly attached to the periphery of the opening for receiving the car charger. The receptacle may include a base, a body, and an interface member. Furthermore, the adapter assembly may include a direct current voltage converter carried within the housing, and adapted to associate with the interface member of the receptacle and to receive power in the form of alternating current from a power source. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123432 | Battery charger - The present invention relates to a battery charger ( | 2010-05-20 |
20100123433 | VOLTAGE EQUALIZATION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BATTERY SYSTEM - The present invention provides a voltage equalization apparatus and method for a battery system. The apparatus includes: a mutual inductor or a transformer, which includes a primary winding, a magnetic core and multiple secondary windings; a first switch, connected in series with the primary winding, wherein the first switch and the primary winding are connected in parallel with the battery system; a plurality of second switches, respectively connected in series with the secondary windings, wherein the second switches and the secondary windings are connected in parallel with the cells; and a voltage equalization control circuit, configured to: test voltage of each cell in the battery system and control turning off and turning on of the first switch and second switches. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123434 | BATTERY PACK AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A battery pack includes: a secondary battery formed by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series; a control section measuring a voltage at each of the battery cells and controlling each part according to the measurement result; a charge/discharge control circuit temporarily inhibiting charging and discharging of the secondary battery under control of the control section; an interruption circuit interrupting charge and discharge currents of the secondary battery under control of the control section to inhibit charging and discharging of the secondary battery permanently; a discharge circuit discharging a predetermined battery cell among the battery cells under control of the control section; a capacity measuring section measuring the amount of electricity discharged from the battery cell; and a storage section storing total discharge amount information indicating a total amount of discharged electricity and a charge/discharge inhibition record indicating a count of temporary charge/discharge inhibitions imposed on the secondary battery. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123435 | REDUCTION OF PEAK CURRENT REQUIREMENTS - Method and apparatus are provided for controlling electrical current supplied to an electronic device, such as a computer system. The method includes drawing up to a predetermined amount of an electrical input current from a first current source, and supplying a first portion of the drawn electrical input current to the electronic device, wherein the amount of the first portion may change over time to supply the amount of electrical current demanded by the electronic device without exceeding the predetermined amount. A second portion is supplied to charge an energy storage device during a period that the first portion is less than the predetermined amount. The stored energy device is discharged, as needed, to supply supplemental electrical current to the electronic device. A power supply including an energy storage device, such as a rechargeable battery, may be used to carry out the method. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123436 | OPTIMIZED LITHIUM-ION BATTERY CHARGING - A device optimized battery-charging system for extending the useful life of a rechargeable battery. The optimized battery-charging system predicts periods of use and non-use of the device containing the battery and generates a schedule of when to charge the battery so the battery is ready for the next use cycle. During non-use cycles, the optimized battery-charging system reduces the battery charge level to an optimum level for storage based on the battery chemistry. When charging or discharging the battery, the optimized battery-charging system calculates a rate of charge or discharge that assures that the battery temperature does not exceed a preconfigured maximum value. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123437 | OVERCURRENT PROTECTION CIRCUIT OF A RECHARGEABLE BATTERY - An overcurrent protection circuit of a rechargeable battery includes a current detection terminal and an overcurrent return resistor connecting part. A voltage converted from a discharge current of the rechargeable battery is detected at the current detection terminal. The overcurrent return resistor connecting part connects the current detection terminal to overcurrent detection resistors having different resistances in accordance with a level of the voltage detected at the current detection terminal when the voltage detected at the current detection terminal is equal to or greater than a discharge overcurrent detection voltage and a discharge overcurrent state in which an overcurrent flows from the rechargeable battery is detected. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123438 | ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE SECONDARY BATTERY CHARGE METHOD - An electric vehicle includes a secondary battery which performs charge from an external power source and travels by using power of the secondary battery. The electric vehicle further includes: a charging unit which charges the secondary battery with power supplied by connecting a charge plug to the external power source; and a control unit which performs information acquisition or control for respective constituent elements. The control unit acquires a remaining capacity value from the secondary battery upon charge. When the control unit judges that a high charge capacity state continues a predetermined number of times, the control unit performs charge up to a charge capacity lower than a full electric capacity amount. This can suppress degradation of the secondary battery by charge. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123439 | Alternator Regulator With Variable Rotor Field Frequency - An alternator comprises a regulator configured to control the electric current to a field coil. The regulator includes a field driver circuit, the field driver circuit configured to deliver the electric current to the field coil at a switching frequency. The regulator further includes a controller configured to vary the switching frequency of the field driver circuit between a plurality of different switching frequencies. The alternator further comprises a sensor configured to detect a predetermined alternator condition, and the controller is configured to adjust the switching frequency of the field driver circuit in response to the sensed predetermined condition such as, for example, a rotor speed, a pulse width from the field driver circuit, an efficiency of the alternator, a temperature within the alternator, a temperature outside of the alternator, or magnetic noise of the alternator. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123440 | Workload Balancing Among Power Switching Components In A Multiphase Switching Power Supply - Methods and apparatus for workload balancing among power switching components in a multiphase switching power supply, the power supply including one set of power switching components for each switching phase, where workload balancing includes: dropping one or more switching phases when output current demand on the power supply drops below a predetermined threshold, leaving at least one active switching phase; and rotating the at least one active switching phase among all sets of power switching components. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123441 | MULTI-PHASE DC-DC CONVERTER CONTROL - A system and method of controlling a multi-phase DC-DC converter having a first phase-leg and a second phase-leg using a single current sensor and a controller is provided. The single current sensor senses an amount of current flowing through the direct current link. Based on the amount of current sensed, the controller controls current flowing through the first phase-leg as well as current flowing through the second phase-leg. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123442 | RECONFIGURABLE REGULATOR AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - One embodiment of the invention includes a regulator system that includes a high-side power transistor electrically connected between a first node and a second node. The system also includes a low-side power transistor electrically connected between the second node and a third node. The high and low-side power transistors can be controlled by high and low-side control signals, respectively. A mode controller provides at least one mode control signal having a value to enable operation of the regulator system in each of a buck switching, boost switching, negative switching, and linear regulator mode. The regulator system can utilize at least one of the high-side power transistor and the low-side power transistor to operate in the selected mode depending on at least one of an input voltage and an arrangement of external circuitry that are electrically coupled to at least one of the first, second, and third nodes to provide a regulated output voltage. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123443 | Hybrid power converter - Power converter circuits, structures, and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a hybrid converter can include: (i) a first switching device controllable by a control signal; (ii) an inductor coupled to the first switching device and an output; and (iii) a control circuit configured to receive feedback from the output for generation of the control signal to control the first switching device, where the control circuit includes a first detection circuit configured to detect first and second output conditions, the control circuit being configured to operate the first switching device in a switch control in response to the control signal when the first output condition is detected, and to operate the first switching device in a linear control region when the second output condition is detected. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123444 | ACCELERATED RESPONSE TO LOAD TRANSIENTS IN PFM DC-TO-DC CONVERTERS - A pulse generator circuit in a DC-to-DC converter may be configured to generate pulses that have a frequency that increases in response to increases in the load on the DC-to-DC converter. The pulse generator circuit may be configured to cause each pulse to have a constant width. When the pulse reaches the end of the constant width and the magnitude of the current through an inductance in the converter is less than a threshold value, however, the pulse generator may be configured to extend the pulse until the magnitude of the current through the inductance reaches the threshold value. The pulse generator circuit may be configured to prematurely terminate each pulse if and at such time as the load voltage exceeds a target value by approximately half of the peak-to-peak voltage of the ripple component plus the noise component margin. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123445 | SWITCHING CIRCUIT AND SMALL-SIZE HIGH-EFFICIENCY DC-DC CONVERTER FOR PORTABLE DEVICES INCLUDING THE SAME - Provided are a switching circuit and a small-size high-efficiency direct current-to-direct current (DC-DC) converter for portable devices including the same. Using dynamic threshold-complementary metal oxide semiconductor (DT-CMOS) transistors having dynamic threshold voltages as a switching device, the switching circuit maintains a low threshold voltage in a normal mode to improve current drivability while reducing conduction loss, and maintains a high threshold voltage in a standby mode to minimize power consumption. When the switching circuit is employed in a DC-DC converter, power conversion efficiency can be improved by reducing conduction loss in the normal mode, and power consumption can be minimized in the standby mode. Consequently, the DC-DC converter can maximize a use time of a battery of a portable device and can be useful in power supplies of portable devices that are gradually being miniaturized. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123446 | Feed-Forward Compensation for a Hysteretic Switching Regulator - One embodiment of the invention includes a hysteretic power regulator system. The system includes a switching stage configured to periodically couple an input voltage to an inductor in response to a control signal to generate an output voltage. The system also includes a hysteretic control stage configured to generate the control signal based on a comparison of a feedback voltage associated with the output voltage and a predetermined reference voltage. The system also includes a feed-forward stage configured to generate a feed-forward ramp voltage in response to the control signal. The feed-forward ramp voltage can be added to the feedback voltage to set a frequency of the control signal. The system further includes a compensation stage configured to cancel a DC error associated with the feed-forward ramp voltage relative to the feedback voltage to substantially mitigate errors associated with the output voltage. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123447 | OVER POWER COMPENSATION IN SWITCHED MODE POWER SUPPLIES - An over-power compensation circuit for use in a switched mode power supply having a current sense circuit for sensing a current flowing through a power transistor of the switched mode power supply. The over-power compensation circuit includes a peak detector, a sample-and-hold circuit, a current offset generator, and an offset resistor. The peak detector has an input for receiving an input voltage derived from the input line, and an output. The sample-and-hold circuit has an input connected to the output of the peak detector, and an output. The current offset generator has an input connected to the output of the sample-and-hold circuit, and an output for providing an offset current. The offset resistor has a first terminal connected to the output of the current offset generator, and a second terminal adapted to be connected to a current conducting electrode of the power transistor. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123448 | CONTROLLED ON-TIME BUCK PFC - An apparatus for generating an output voltage from an input voltage is provided. The apparatus comprises a switch that receives the input voltage, an inductor that is coupled to the switch, a capacitor coupled to the inductor with the output voltage being output from a node between the inductor and the capacitor, a measuring circuit that receives and measures the input voltage, and a controller that is coupled to the switch and to the measuring circuit. Additionally, the controller receives the measured input voltage and calculates an on-time for the switch based on the measured input voltage and actuates the switch for the on-time. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123449 | WALL CONTROL INTERFACE WITH PHASE MODULATION AND DETECTION FOR POWER MANAGEMENT - A wall control interface for power management includes a transmitting circuit that generates a switching signal to control a switch and achieve a phase modulation to a power line signal in response to a transmitting-data. A receiving circuit is coupled to detect the phase of the power line signal for generating a data signal and a receiving-data in response to the phase of the power line signal. The receiving circuit further generates a control signal to control power of a load in accordance with the data signal or the receiving-data. The phase modulation is achieved by controlling a turn-on angle of the power line signal. The switch remains in a turn-on state during the normal condition, which achieves good power and low current harmonic. The phase modulation is only performed during the communication of the power management. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123450 | INTERLEAVED LLC POWER CONVERTERS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF - A system is provided having a first LLC power converter and a second LLC power converter. The first LLC power converter comprises a first LLC voltage source. The second LLC power converter also comprises a second LLC voltage source. The first LLC power converter also comprises a first resonant inductor, a first magnetic inductor, and a first resonant capacitor coupled to the first voltage source of the first LLC power converter. The second LLC power converter comprises a second resonant inductor, a second magnetic inductor, and a second resonant capacitor coupled to the second voltage source of the second LLC power converter. The first LLC power converter and the second LLC power converter are both magnetically couplable to a common load. A resonance of the first LLC power converter substantially matches a resonance of the second LLC power converter. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123451 | INDUCTIVE POWER TRANSFER SYSTEM AND METHOD - An inductive power transfer system includes a base unit comprising a first inductive element for providing input power to a second inductive element of a target unit providing output power, a positioning structure provided on at least one of the base unit and the target unit for removably positioning the second inductive element at a predetermined orientation and distance relative to the first inductive element, a switch element configured for selectively applying a time varying electric current to the first inductive element to produce a time varying magnetic field for inducing an electric current in the second inductive element, and a control circuit for monitoring one parameter indicative of an efficiency of power transfer and automatically selectively adjusting at least one characteristic of the time varying electric current responsive to the parameter to maximize an efficiency of power transfer from the base unit to the target unit. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123452 | Power supply system and method of controlling power supply system - A power supply system that includes: a power supply coil and a power supply-side resonance coil that are provided at a facility; a power receiving coil and a power receiving-side resonance coil that are provided for a mobile unit; a power supply-side detection unit that detects a position of the power supply-side resonance coil; a power receiving-side detection unit that detects a position of the power receiving-side resonance coil; and an adjustment unit that adjusts a relative position of the power supply coil with respect to the power supply-side resonance coil and a relative position of the power receiving coil with respect to the power receiving-side resonance coil on the basis of the position of the power supply-side resonance coil and the position of the power receiving-side resonance coil. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123453 | ADVANCE MANUFACTURING MONITORING AND DIAGNOSTIC TOOL - The current invention relates to a monitoring and analysis device and a method for monitoring and analysis that utilizes the unintended electromagnetic emissions of electrically powered systems. The present invention monitors electrical devices by taking detailed measurements of the electromagnetic fields emitted by any component or system utilizing electricity. The measurements will be analyzed to both record a baseline score for future measurements and to be used in detailed analysis to determine the status of the analyzed system or component. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123454 | REVOLVABLE CLAMP METER - The clamp meter contains a revolving member configured between the meter's body member and jaw member. The revolving member is composed of a first base and a second base located on the interfacing sides of the body member and the jaw member, respectively. The first base and the second base are revolvably joined together by an axle extended axially from the body member into the jaw member via the first and second bases' aligned axle holes. The first base has at least a roller ball elastically embedded in a concave and exposed towards the second base. The roller ball would roll into one of a number of notches of the second base as the base and jaw members are rotated relative to each other, thereby creating a number of preset configurations of the included angle between the body and jaw members. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123455 | HIGH VOLTAGE CONNECTOR AND METHOD HAVING INTEGRATED VOLTAGE MEASUREMENT PROBE POINTS - An electrical connector adapted for staged disassembly to test for high voltage includes a plug having an enclosed electrical terminal with a first opening exposing the terminal and a socket having another enclosed electrical terminal with an opening exposing the other terminal. The socket opening is substantially complementary to the first opening to receive the plug sufficiently into the socket to electrically engage the terminals in first and second positions. A port in one of the socket or plug provides access to one of the terminals in one of the positions but is obstructed from access to a terminal in the other of the positions. The port is small enough to prevent a finger from accessing a terminal but large enough to receive an electrical meter probe for voltage testing. A latch on the box portions positions the port in each of the two positions. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123456 | METHOD FOR INFLUENCING AND/OR DETECTING MAGNETIC PARTICLES IN A REGION OF ACTION, MAGNETIC PARTICLES AND THE USE OF MAGNETIC PARTICLES - A method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a region of action, magnetic particles and the use of magnetic particles is disclosed, which method comprises the steps of: —introducing magnetic particles into a region of action, —generating a magnetic selection field having a pattern in space of its magnetic field strength such that a first sub-zone having a low magnetic field strength and a second sub-zone having a higher magnetic field strength are formed in the region of action —changing the position in space of the two sub-zones in the region of action by means of a magnetic drive field so that the magnetization of the magnetic particles change locally, —acquiring signals, which signals depend on the magnetization in the region of action, which magnetization is influenced by the change in the position in space of the first and second sub-zone, wherein the magnetic particles comprise a core region and a shell region, the core region comprising a magnetic material, wherein the magnetic material of the core region is provided as a mainly metallic material of comparably high saturation magnetization, wherein the shell region comprises mainly a metal oxide material or a noble metal material. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123457 | MICROPARTICLE ANALYSIS DEVICE, MICRO-FLUIDIC CHIP FOR MICROPARTICLE ANALYSIS, AND MICROPARTICLE ANALYSIS METHOD - A microparticle analysis device is provided and includes: a micro-fluidic chip configured to have a region into which a sample liquid containing a magnetic microparticle and a non-magnetic microparticle is introduced, and a microfluidic channel communicating with the region on a downstream side in a liquid sending direction; a magnetic field generating section configured to form a magnetic field in an internal space of the region; and a detecting section configured to detect an optical, electrical, or magnetic characteristic of a microparticle passing through the microfluidic channel. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123458 | TWIN VERTICAL HALL SENSOR - A Hall sensor comprises two separate wells and each having respective contacts provided thereover. An oppositely directed bias current is supplied via contacts. Accordingly, a differential signal can be obtained from the two output contacts. As in each well the middle contact can be precisely centred between the two outer contacts, the intrinsic offset is small. The sensor | 2010-05-20 |
20100123459 | Small optics cell for miniature nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope - A beamsplitter is arranged to split an incident laser beam into a pump beam and a detection beam. The pump beam passes through the beam splitter and then reflects from a pair of mirrors to a quarter waveplate into an NMR cell. After passing through the NMR cell, the pump beam reflects from a mirror to a first photodetector. The detection beam reflects from the beam splitter and propagates on a path perpendicular to the path of the pump beam through the NMR cell. After passing through the NMR cell, the detection beam is incident upon a polarizer. The polarized portion of the detection beam then is incident upon a photodetector. Electrical signals output from the first and second photodetectors may then be processed to determine the rotation rate of the NMR cell about a sensing axis. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123460 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE TOMOGRAPHY METHOD AND APPARATUS WITH SEPARATION OF FAT AND WATER IMAGES ACCORDING TO THE TWO-POINT DIXON METHOD DEPENDENT ON T*2 DECAY - In a magnetic resonance tomography method and apparatus for separation of fat and water images according to the two-point Dixon method dependent on the T* | 2010-05-20 |
20100123461 | OSCILLATOR SENSOR FOR DETERMINING A PROPERTY OF AN EARTH FORMATION - An apparatus for evaluating an earth formation, the apparatus including: a logging tool configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating the earth formation; a coil inductively coupled to the earth formation, the coil being disposed at the logging instrument; and a circuit coupled to the coil wherein the circuit and the coil form an oscillator circuit, the oscillator circuit being configured to oscillate when a circuit parameter of the oscillator circuit satisfies an oscillation criterion, the circuit parameter being related to a property of the earth formation. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123462 | Electromagnetic Wave Resistivity Tool Having a Tilted Antenna for Geosteering within a Desired Payzone - This invention is directed to a downhole method and apparatus for simultaneously determining the horizontal resistivity, vertical resistivity, and relative dip angle for anisotropic earth formations. The present invention accomplishes this objective by using an antenna configuration in which a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna are oriented in non-parallel planes such that the vertical resistivity and the relative dip angle are decoupled. Preferably, either the transmitter or the receiver is mounted in a conventional orientation in a first plane that is normal to the tool axis, and the other antenna is mounted in a second plane that is not parallel to the first plane. This invention also relates to a method and apparatus for steering a downhole tool during a drilling operation in order to maintain the borehole within a desired earth formation. The steering capability is enabled by computing the difference or the ratio of the phase-based or amplitude-based responses of the receiver antennas which are mounted in planes that are not parallel to the planes of the transmitter antennas. Although this invention is primarily intended for MWD or LWD applications, this invention is also applicable to wireline and possibly other applications. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123463 | BATTERY END-POINT VOLTAGE DETECTION METHOD AND BATTERY END-POINT VOLTAGE DETECTION SYSTEM - Battery driven display device includes a battery, first and second comparators, non-volatile memory, controller driven by the voltage of the battery, and display device. Non-volatile memory stores the first and second reference voltages of the first and second comparators measured by using stabilized power supply. Controller detects when the first and second reference voltages of the first and second comparators become lower than the voltage of the battery when battery is connected, and determines the time at which end-point voltage of the battery will be reached based on the first and second detection times at the time of measurement and the measured reference voltages. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123464 | ULTRA-HIGH FREQUENCY PARTIAL DISCHARGE ARRAY SENSOR APPARATUS FOR HIGH-VOLTAGE POWER APPARATUS - The ultra-high frequency partial discharge array sensor apparatus for a high-voltage power apparatus includes: a sensing unit which detects an electromagnetic wave partial discharge signal generated due to an internal defect of a high-voltage power apparatus and includes a plurality of sensors installed to detect information related to the position where the defect occurs; an anti-surge filter unit which prevents a surge input from the sensing unit; a signal delay time adjusting unit which equally adjusts delay times of signals input from the anti-surge filter unit; a signal switching unit which selectively transmits or blocks signals input from the signal delay time adjusting unit; a connector unit which connects a signal transmitted from the signal switching unit to the outside; and a sensor body which has a receiving space. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123465 | AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY CIRCUIT FAULT DETECTION - In a vehicle having an electrical system including a ground circuit that provides an operative connection from the electrical system to an electrical ground and an electric power generator driven by an engine of the vehicle, the generator arranged to selectively provide electric power to an electrical load of the vehicle and to selectively charge a battery of the vehicle, a fault detection system is provided for detecting an open circuit or high resistance fault in the ground circuit. The fault detection system includes: a controller that controls a voltage output of the generator so as to at least one of restrict or suspend charging or increase or start charging of the battery by the generator for a designated test period; and, determining means for determining a current discharge from or charging current into the battery during the test period, wherein if the determined current discharge or charging current is less than a given threshold, then an open circuit or high resistance fault is deemed to be detected in the ground circuit. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123466 | System and Method for Corner Frequency Compensation - A system and method for corner frequency compensation in a wireless receiver. A method comprises computing a corner frequency of a filter, and determining if the computed corner frequency is different from a desired corner frequency by less than a threshold. The method further comprises if the computed corner frequency differs from the desired corner frequency by more than the threshold, adjusting parameters of the filter to alter the corner frequency, and repeating the computing and the determining. The method additionally comprises if the computed corner frequency differs from the desired corner frequency by less than the threshold, leaving the parameters of the filter unchanged. The computing uses a measured phase response of the filter at a frequency outside of a passband of the filter. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123467 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING THICKNESS OF A REFRACTORY WALL OF A GASIFIER USING ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY - A system and method for measuring a thickness of a refractory wall of a gasifier using electromagnetic energy is disclosed. The system includes a waveguide with a bistatic or monostatic phased array antenna at one end. The waveguide is operably connected to a Network Analyzer that generates a pulse of electromagnetic energy with a desired bandwidth. The pulse is transmitted through a coaxial cable to the waveguide. The reflection of the pulse is received by the waveguide and input to a data acquisition system. An output device displays the resolvable discontinuities in impedance encountered by the pulse in its propagation path in the system | 2010-05-20 |
20100123468 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZING WHEATSTONE BRIDGE ROBUST IN CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE - An apparatus for optimizing a Wheatstone bridge robust in a temperature change, the apparatus including; a voltage difference measuring unit which measures a voltage difference between a current input end and a current output end of the Wheatstone bridge, wherein the Wheatstone bridge comprises a first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor and a fourth resistor and a tuning resistor; and a resistance tuning controller which detects a resistance ratio of a first distribution resistance and a second distribution resistance of the tuning resistor so that the voltage difference measuring unit measures a maximum voltage difference, and controls tuning of the tuning resistor according to the detected resistance ratio. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123469 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING CIRCUIT BOARDS - A system and method for protecting electrical contact points on a circuit board from tampering and probing. The system includes a protective cover preventing access to electrical contact points on the circuit board. The protective cover includes: at least one nonconductive material layer, a plurality of electrical contacts coupled to the circuit board, and an irregular resistance pattern joined with the at least one layer of nonconductive material and coupled to the plurality of the electrical contacts. The system further includes a controller that is coupled to the plurality of electrical contacts. The system selects two electrical contacts and determines the resistance between the two electrical contacts. The determined resistance is then compared to a baseline resistance determination for the same set of electrical contacts. A security breach can be identified by a change in resistance from the baseline. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123470 | PROBE WITH BIDIRECTIONAL ELECTROSTATIC ACTUATION - A probe system that has a probe body comprising at least three arms extending from a central region and a probe tip centrally located on the probe body in the central region. A substrate is proximate the probe body opposite the probe tip. A first electrode is positioned to provide a centrally positioned voltage across the probe body and the substrate and a second electrode set is positioned radially outward from the first electrode, to provide an outer voltage across at least one of the at least three arms and the substrate. The probe structure may have, for example, four arms. Methods of actuating the probe tip are provided. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123471 | Digital Communications Test System for Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) Systems - A digital communications test system and method for testing a plurality of devices under test (DUTs) in which multiple sets of a single vector signal analyzer (VSA) and single vector signal generator (VSG) can be used together to perform error vector magnitude (EVM) measurements for one or more DUTs in parallel, including one or more of composite, switched and multiple input multiple output (MIMO) EVM measurements. This allows N pairs of a VSA and VSG to test N DUTs with N×N MIMO in substantially the sane time as a single VSA and VSG pair can test a single DUT, thereby allowing a substantial increase in testing throughput as compared to that possible with only a single VSA and VSG set. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123472 | Probe card and test method using the same - A test method of a semiconductor device using a probe card includes the steps of performing a self-test and performing a normal-mode test. In the self-test, a quality of the semiconductor device is examined while connecting the first probe needle to the first signal terminal of the semiconductor device, and using the tester connected to the connection terminal. In the normal-mode test, a quality of the semiconductor device is examined while connecting the second probe needle to the second signal terminal of the semiconductor device, and using the tester connected to the connection terminal. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123473 | A TEST POINT STRUCTURE FOR RF CALIBRATION AND TEST OF PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND METHOD THEREOF - A point structure for RF calibration and testing of a PCB is provided. The point structure includes a test pad, an antenna connection pad, and a device mounting pad. The test pad is connected to a circuit unit of the PCB, and a ground pad is connected with a ground of the PCB. A contact probe apparatus for performing RF calibration and testing is connected to the test pad and the ground pad. The antenna connection pad is connected to an antenna unit. The device mounting pad is connected with the test pad and the antenna connection pad. An antenna device is mounted on the device mounting pad. The test pad, the ground pad, the antenna connection pad, and the device mounting pad are separated from one another. Since the point structure can replace an RF switch, a circuit area on the PCB may be reduced, a mounting space may be secured, and a manufacturing cost may be reduced. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123474 | INSPECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - There are provided an inspection apparatus and method that can locally perform sample temperature regulation, so that the sample drift can be suppressed. There are included a sample stage | 2010-05-20 |
20100123475 | RF CHIP TEST METHOD - An RF chip test method is disclosed. The RF chip test method includes disposing an RF chip within a chip socket, with the RF chip having at least one RF pin and at least one non-RF pin, the chip socket having conductive elements, and the conductive elements contacting the RF pin and the non-RF pin; connecting the non-RF pin to a ground end and connecting the RF pin to an RF measuring instrument; measuring a S11 parameter of the RF pin using the RF measuring instrument; and comparing the S11 parameter with an allowable range so as to judge the contact condition between the RF pin and the conductive element. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123476 | CONDUCTIVE CONTACT - A conductive contact includes a first plunger | 2010-05-20 |
20100123477 | PROGRAMMABLE ARRAY MODULE - A programmable array module includes a base circuit including an interface circuit and multiple layers of field programmable gate array (FPGA) disposed on and electrically connected to the base circuit. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123478 | LEVEL SHIFT CIRCUIT - A level shift circuit shifts a first voltage level to a second voltage level that is different from the first voltage level. The level shift circuit includes a set-level circuit | 2010-05-20 |
20100123479 | LEVEL-SHIFT CIRCUIT - A level-shift circuit converts a first voltage level into a second voltage level different from the first voltage level. The level-shift circuit includes a first high-side signal detection circuit, a second high-side signal detection circuit, a drive circuit and electric current detection circuits. The first high-side signal detection circuit sets a logical voltage state of the second voltage level via a first capacitor. The second high-side signal detection circuit resets the logical voltage state of the second voltage level via a second capacitor. The drive circuit on-off drives a high-side switch connected to a low-side switch in series by a set signal of the first high-side signal detection circuit and a reset signal of the second high-side signal detection circuit. The electric current detection circuits detect an electric current flowing into or from the first and/or second capacitors. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123480 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME, AND APPARATUS FOR DESIGNING SAME - A semiconductor device that includes multiple logic circuit cells having respective logic circuits formed therein and multiple interconnects connected to the corresponding logic circuit cells. At least one of the interconnects has an opening formed therein so as to have an opening ratio different from one or more of the opening ratios of the remaining interconnects. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123481 | Semiconductor integrated circuit - A semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a main-interconnect to which supply voltage or reference voltage is applied; a plurality of sub-interconnects; a plurality of circuit cells configured to be connected to the plurality of sub-interconnects; a power supply switch cell configured to control, in accordance with an input control signal, connection and disconnection between the main-interconnect and the sub-interconnect to which a predetermined one of the circuit cells is connected, the plurality of sub-interconnects; and an auxiliary interconnect configured to connect the plurality of sub-interconnects to each other. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123482 | PHASE DETECTOR CIRCUITRY - Phase detector circuitry for a phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer, the phase detector circuitry comprising
| 2010-05-20 |
20100123483 | Circuit and Method for a Digital Process Monitor - A circuit and method for a digital process monitor is disclosed. Circuits for comparing a current or voltage to a current or voltage corresponding to a device having process dependent circuit characteristics are disclosed, having converters for converting current or voltage measurements proportional to the process dependent circuit characteristic to a digital signal and outputting the digital signal for monitoring. The process dependent circuit characteristics may be selected from transistor threshold voltage, transistor saturation current, and temperature dependent quantities. Calibration is performed using digital techniques such as digital filtering and digital signal processing. The digital process monitor circuit may be formed as a scribe line circuit for wafer characterization or placed in an integrated circuit die as a macro. The process monitor circuit may be accessed using probe pads or scan test circuitry. Methods for monitoring process dependent characteristics using digital outputs are disclosed. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123484 | AC/DC INPUT BUFFER - A non-inverting AC/DC input buffer combines the desirable characteristics of an alternating current (AC) input buffer including low delay, high speed, and high input voltage swing range with the desirable characteristics of a direct current (DC) input buffer including stability, reliability, and ‘automatic’ high and low data setup. The AC/DC buffer includes logic to help prevent the DC input buffer from interfering with the AC input buffer until the DC input buffer has completed its operations on a transitioning input. The DC buffer is configured to enable the AC buffer to process low input voltage swings such as, for example, voltage swings less than the difference in power supply voltages. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123485 | Switch Driving Circuit And Switch Driving Method - Disclosed is a switch driving circuit for controlling the switching operation of a switch. The switch driving circuit includes a driver generating a normal gate signal for controlling the switching operation of the switch, and a gate signal correction circuit comparing the normal gate signal with a gate signal applied to a gate electrode of the switch so as to correct the gate signal in accordance with the comparison. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123486 | Driver for a Synchronous Rectifier and Power Converter Employing the Same - A driver for a switch, method of driving a switch, and a power converter employing the same. In one embodiment, the driver for the switch includes a first driver switch coupled to a terminal of the switch. The driver also includes a second driver switch inverted with respect to the first driver switch and coupled to another terminal of the switch, wherein the first and second driver switches are configured to provide a drive signal to a control terminal of the switch. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123487 | DIVIDER CIRCUITRY - Divider circuitry for a phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer, the divider circuitry comprising
| 2010-05-20 |
20100123488 | DIGITAL PLL WITH KNOWN NOISE SOURCE AND KNOWN LOOP BANDWIDTH - A phase locked loop (PLL) based frequency translator provides a divider augmented with a sigma delta modulator (SDM) in a reference path. The PLL is configured as an all digital PLL and includes a bang-bang phase frequency detector, digital loop filter, and digitally-controlled oscillator. The frequency translator is located in either the reference clock path for division or the PLL feedback loop path for multiplication. The SDM produces a predictable noise characteristic set with known stochastic properties which can be used to smooth any discontinuity in the bang-bang phase frequency detector. The predictable noise of the SDM will produce a dithering delay that eliminates any hard discontinuities. This allows for a bang-bang phase frequency detector based digital PLL. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123489 | PROCESS INSENSITIVE DELAY LINE - A delay line including a phase detector having two inputs and one output. The first input of the phase detector is connected to an input of the delay line. The second input of the phase detector is connected to an output of the delay line. The output of the phase detector is connected to a control circuit which controls current flow at a control node to produce a control voltage at the node. A voltage-controlled delay unit is responsible to the control voltage to control a delay applied to a signal at an input of the delay line. | 2010-05-20 |
20100123490 | CONTROL CIRCUITRY - Control circuitry, comprising: first control means operable to generate a first control signal, the first control signal being indicative of a relationship between an output signal and a first reference signal, and to generate said output signal in dependence upon said first control signal, the first control means being configured to tend to maintain a first desired relationship between the output signal and the first reference signal in response to said first control signal; and second control means configured to influence operation of said first control means in response to said first control signal by way of a second control signal so as to tend to maintain a second desired relationship between said first control signal and a second reference signal. | 2010-05-20 |