Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100130052 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - An electrical connection system includes a first electrical connector having a first plurality of electrically conductive elements. A second electrical connector has a second plurality of electrically conductive elements and is matable with the first electrical connector such that the first plurality of electrically conductive elements are in contact with the second plurality of electrically conductive elements. A probe is mounted with respect to the first electrical connector, and a receptacle is mounted with respect to the second electrical connector. The probe has a tip, an untapered section, a tapered section between the tip and the untapered section, and a cross-sectional shape that has no more than one plane of mirror symmetry. The receptacle defines a cavity having substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the probe. | 05-27-2010 |
20100234994 | METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY CONTROLLING A ROBOTIC ARM - A method for maneuvering an articulable robotic arm includes monitoring a position of a dynamically moveable workpiece. Individual motion segments are iteratively executed to control the articulable robotic arm to position the end-of-arm tool contiguous to the workpiece and corresponding to an initial position of the end-of-arm tool, an initial position of the workpiece and an iteratively determined updated position of the workpiece. | 09-16-2010 |
20130035783 | MOVING STOP STATION FOR ROBOTIC ASSEMBLY - A moving stop station includes a vehicle carrier configured to move a vehicle along an assembly line, an assembly platform disposed adjacent to the assembly line, and a synchronizer in communication with the vehicle carrier and the assembly platform. The synchronizer is configured to synchronize the motion of the assembly platform with the motion of the vehicle carrier as the vehicle carrier moves along a length of the assembly line, and includes a sensor, processor, and actuator. The sensor is configured to sense the position of the vehicle carrier and to generate a position signal corresponding to the sensed position. The processor is configured to receive the position signal and selectively provide a synchronization signal in response, and the actuator is configured to receive the synchronization signal and synchronize the motion of the vehicle carrier and the motion of the assembly platform in response. | 02-07-2013 |
20130041502 | FAST GRASP CONTACT COMPUTATION FOR A SERIAL ROBOT - A system includes a controller and a serial robot having links that are interconnected by a joint, wherein the robot can grasp a three-dimensional (3D) object in response to a commanded grasp pose. The controller receives input information, including the commanded grasp pose, a first set of information describing the kinematics of the robot, and a second set of information describing the position of the object to be grasped. The controller also calculates, in a two-dimensional (2D) plane, a set of contact points between the serial robot and a surface of the 3D object needed for the serial robot to achieve the commanded grasp pose. A required joint angle is then calculated in the 2D plane between the pair of links using the set of contact points. A control action is then executed with respect to the motion of the serial robot using the required joint angle. | 02-14-2013 |
20130158709 | ROBOT CONTROL DURING AN E-STOP EVENT - A system for a work cell having a carrier that moves a product along an assembly line includes an assembly robot, sensor, and controller. An arm of the robot moves on the platform adjacent to the carrier. The sensor measures a changing position of the carrier and encodes the changing position as a position signal. The controller receives the position signal and calculates a lag value of the robot with respect to the carrier using the position signal. The controller detects a requested e-stop of the carrier when the arm and product are in mutual contact, and selectively transmits a speed signal to the robot to cause a calibrated deceleration of the platform before executing the e-stop event. This occurs only when the calculated tracking position lag value is above a calibrated threshold. A method is also disclosed for using the above system in the work cell. | 06-20-2013 |
20140021731 | RECONFIGURABLE GRIPPING DEVICE - A reconfigurable gripping device for securely gripping, lifting, and transporting a work piece is provided. The reconfigurable gripping device may include at least a first finger and a second finger each secured to a base platform with a base support. Each of the respective fingers may have a first link, a second link, and a third link each having a corresponding drive mechanism to individually drive the respective link. The first link drive mechanism and second link drive mechanism are configured to control the grasp and adaptability of each of the respective fingers to place the third link upon a work piece. The third link drive mechanism is configured to drive the third link of each of the respective fingers to apply a clamping force upon the work piece. | 01-23-2014 |
20140163729 | Planning a Grasp, for Use by a Robotic grasper to Pick Up a Complex Object, Based on Object, Grasper, and Grasper Approach Data - A system, for planning a grasp for implementation by a grasping device having multiple grasping members, comprising a processor and a computer-readable storage device having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform multiple operations. The operations include generating, for each of the multiple grasping members, multiple planar polygon representations of a three-dimensional object model. The operations also include transforming a planar polygon, of the multiple polygons generated, to a frame of a link of multiple links of a subject member of the multiple grasping members, forming a transformed polygon, being a cross-section of the object model taken along a member-curling plane of the subject member. The operations further include sweeping, in iterations associated respectively with each link of the subject member, the link from a fully-open position for the link to a point at which the link contacts the transformed planar polygon. | 06-12-2014 |
20140163731 | Planning a Grasp Approach, Position, and Pre-Grasp Pose for a Robotic Grasper Based on Object, Grasper, and Environmental Constraint Data - A system including a memory having instructions causing a processor to perform operations, for planning a grasping-device approach to an object by a grasping device, a pre-grasp device position, and a pre-grasp device pose. The operations comprise obtaining input data including grasping-device data, object data, and environmental-constraint data, determining, based on the grasping-device data, a grasp volume model, determining a test approach vector, and determining, using the vector, the constraint data, and the model, whether approach vector modification is needed. The operations also include modifying, if modification is needed, the test approach, yielding a resulting approach vector, and determining, if modification is not needed, that the test approach is the resulting approach vector. And the operations include determining a virtual floor indicating a position below which the grasping device cannot move, and determining, based on the resulting vector, virtual floor, model, and object data, the device approach, position, and pose. | 06-12-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110298438 | SWITCHING REGULATOR AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - A switching regulator includes a high side driver electrically coupled with a power line that is configured to provide a supply voltage. A low side driver is electrically coupled between the high side driver and ground. A regulator control circuit is electrically coupled with a gate of the high side driver and a gate of the low side driver. The regulator control circuit is configured to pre-charge a first node between the regulator control circuit and the gate of the high side driver to a first voltage level and to boost the first node to a second voltage level that is higher than the first voltage level to turn on the high side driver. | 12-08-2011 |
20120038340 | DYNAMIC CONTROL LOOP FOR SWITCHING REGULATORS - Some embodiments regard a method of controlling a regulator having an input voltage and an output voltage, comprising: turning on a first driver; determining a duration ratio having a first time period over the first time period and a second time period; the first time period and the second time period indicating a duration when the first driver and a second driver is on, respectively; generating a second voltage level for the reference voltage based on the duration ratio and a ripple voltage that is a difference between a high threshold voltage and a low threshold voltage; turning off the first driver and turning on the second driver based on a relationship between the second voltage level and a voltage level of the output voltage; turning off the second driver when a current flowing through a node of the output voltage reaches a pre-determined level; and generating a change in the first time period based on the duration ratio and a voltage difference between a peak of the output voltage and the high threshold voltage. | 02-16-2012 |
20120146716 | Apparatus for Controlling Slew Rate - An apparatus for controlling slew rate is coupled to two adjustable voltage rails. The output of the apparatus is coupled to the gate of a switching element. By employing two adjustable voltage rails, the slew rate of the switching element is proportional to the voltage difference between the first adjustable rail and the second adjustable rail. The slew rate control apparatus can be applied to a variety of switching elements including N channel Field Effect Transistors (NFETs), P channel Field Effect Transistors (PFETs), current mode logic circuits and level shifter circuits. | 06-14-2012 |
20120194141 | Battery Charger Digital Control Circuit and Method - A digital controlled battery charger comprises a power converter, a voltage sensor, a current senor, a mode selector and a digital controller. The voltage sensor and current sensor detect the voltage of a rechargeable battery and the current flowing through the rechargeable battery respectively. The mode selector selects a feedback signal from either the output of the voltage sensor or the output of the current sensor. The digital controller receives the selected feedback signal and generates a pulse width modulated signal for the power converter. Additionally, the digital controller is capable of dynamically adjusting its coefficients so that the control loop can maintain a stable system when the battery charger operates in different battery charging phases. | 08-02-2012 |
20120235728 | Level Shifter Design - A level shifter receives an input voltage signal and produces an output voltage signal. The level shifter includes a first inverter, configured to operate at a potential difference between a first voltage V | 09-20-2012 |
20130015827 | POWER MANAGEMENT CIRCUIT AND METHODAANM SHI; JustinAACI Ann ArborAAST MIAACO USAAGP SHI; Justin Ann Arbor MI US - A power management circuit and method are described. In the method, whether a first voltage and/or a voltage source are present is determined. Based on a first result of the determination, the first voltage is converted to a second voltage. A boost converter is used to convert the second voltage to a third voltage, Alternatively, based on a second result of the determination, a buck converter is used to convert the third voltage to the second voltage. | 01-17-2013 |
20130045404 | Battery Fuel Gauge Apparatus - A battery fuel gauge apparatus comprises a current amplifier formed by a first transistor and a second transistor. Both transistors operate in the same operation conditions except that the second transistor has a smaller channel width in comparison with that of the first transistor. The first transistor is connected in series with a battery pack. The second transistor is connected in series with a sensing device. The sensing device comprises a first resistor and a second resistor connected in series. The first resistor has a positive temperature coefficient and the second resistor has a negative temperature coefficient. | 02-21-2013 |
20130082668 | SINGLE-INDUCTOR MULTIPLE-OUTPUT DC TO DC CONVERTER - A DC to DC converter includes a switching circuit and a controller. The switching circuit includes an inductor coupled to first and second voltage supply nodes and to a plurality of output loads. The controller is configured to monitor a current through the inductor and to selectively couple the inductor to each of the plurality of output loads such that at least one of the following criteria is met: 1) an average current through the inductor is minimized for the particular output loads coupled to the switching circuit, or 2) minimize a number of times the switching circuit is switched during a charging period for the particular output loads coupled to the switching circuit. | 04-04-2013 |
20130119511 | INDUCTOR HAVING BOND-WIRE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - The present application discloses an inductor including a substrate, a first conductive line and a second conductive line formed over the substrate, a passivation layer formed over the first and the second conductive lines, and a bond wire coupling an end of the first conductive line and an end of the second conductive line. At least a portion of the at least one bond wire is positioned above an upper surface of the passivation layer. The first conductive line, the bond wire, and the second conductive line are connected to form a coil. | 05-16-2013 |
20130134953 | SPREAD SPECTRUM POWER CONVERTER - A power converter includes a first stage voltage modulator configured to receive an input voltage and provide a modulated voltage. A second stage power converter is configured to receive the modulated voltage and vary a switching frequency of the second stage power converter in accordance with the modulated voltage to provide an output voltage. | 05-30-2013 |
20130241510 | DYNAMIC CONTROL LOOP FOR SWITCHING REGULATORS - In accordance with an embodiment, a regulator includes a controller, a driving unit, a digital-to-analog converter, and a comparator. The controller is configured to output a digital reference voltage and to output a control signal responsive to a comparison signal. The driving unit is configured to generate an output voltage at a first node responsive to the control signal. The digital-to-analog converter is configured to generate an analog reference voltage responsive to the digital reference voltage. The comparator is configured to generate the comparison signal based on the analog reference voltage and the output voltage. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241599 | COMPARATOR CIRCUIT HAVING A CALIBRATION CIRCUIT - A comparator has a first terminal, a second terminal, and an output terminal. A selection circuit is coupled to the first terminal. A calibration circuit is coupled to the output terminal and the second terminal. The comparator is configured to operate in a first mode when the selection circuit provides a first input signal to the first terminal and the calibration circuit provides a second input signal to the second terminal. The comparator is configured to operate in a second mode when the selection circuit provides a first calibration signal to the first terminal and the calibration circuit provides a second calibration signal to the second terminal based on an output signal at the output terminal. The comparator generates the output signal based on the first calibration signal and the second calibration signal. | 09-19-2013 |
20130271207 | REFERENCE GENERATION IN AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE - A method for generating a reference voltage in an integrated circuit device that is powered by a low voltage power includes generating a coarse first reference voltage using a coarse reference generator, routing the coarse first reference voltage to a boost regulator as an input reference voltage by a hand-off switch circuit, the boost regulator generating an initial-state stepped-up supply based on the first reference voltage, and generating at least two outputs of a second, more accurate, reference voltage from the stepped-up supply voltage using a fine-resolution reference generator. The second reference can be then looped back to the boost regulator, thus, generating a more accurate steady-state stepped-up supply voltage. | 10-17-2013 |
20140062542 | GATE DRIVER CIRCUIT AND METHOD - A driver circuit includes first switch, configured to selectively couple a first driving node to a power supply node, and a second switch, configured to selectively couple a second driving node to a ground node. The first driving node is coupled to each transistor in a first set of PMOS transistor(s) and the second driving node is coupled to each transistor in a second set of NMOS transistor(s). The driver circuit is configured to propagate a first drive signal in a first direction along an electrical path for biasing the first and second sets of transistors when the transistors in the first set, before receiving the first drive signal, are in a first state. The driver circuit is configured to propagate a second drive signal in a second direction along the path when the transistors in the first set, before receiving the second drive signal, are in a second state. | 03-06-2014 |
20150155859 | COMPARATOR CIRCUIT HAVING A CALIBRATION CIRCUIT - A comparator circuit includes a comparator, a first selection circuit, and a switched-capacitor circuit. The comparator has a first terminal, a second terminal, and an output terminal. The comparator is configured to generate an output signal at the output terminal based on a first signal on the first terminal and a second signal on the second terminal. The first selection circuit is coupled with the first terminal of the comparator and configured to selectively set a first input signal or a first calibration signal as the first signal in response to a control signal. The switched-capacitor circuit is coupled with the output terminal and the second terminal of the comparator. The switched-capacitor circuit is configured to adjust and output the second signal based on the output signal. | 06-04-2015 |