28th week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 19 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120176078 | SOLAR CHARGEABLE BATTERY FOR PORTABLE DEVICES - A solar chargeable battery comprises a built-in photovoltaic array and a programmable battery charging circuit. The photovoltaic array provides a variable power source in response to light. The battery charging circuit receives the variable power source and operates in different modes to charge the battery over a range of lighting conditions. For example, the battery charging circuit charges the battery to a substantially fixed regulated voltage level in a first mode when a voltage level of the variable power source is above a predefined threshold. The battery charging circuit charges the battery to an adjustable regulated voltage level in a second mode when the voltage level of the variable power source is below the predefined threshold. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176079 | Switching Circuit, Control Apparatus, and Power Generation System - A switching circuit capable of efficiently practically using power generated in a plurality of photovoltaic power generation modules is provided. The switching circuit is employed for a power generation system capable of switching a connection state between the plurality of power generation modules, for switching a first connection state where at least a part of the plurality of power generation modules are connected in series with each other, and a second connection state where at least a part of the plurality of power generation modules are connected in parallel with each other, or, the generated power output portion is connected to a storage portion so that generated power is supplied from one of the power generation module to the storage portion. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176080 | SECONDARY BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEM RACK - A secondary battery storage system rack is provided comprising a circuit block which is connected to an electric power line for exchanging electric power with the outside, a secondary battery block which is connected to the circuit block and which has a larger mass than the circuit block, and a storage body unit which stores, in the inside, the circuit block and the secondary battery block, wherein the secondary battery block and the circuit block are placed in one line along a direction of gravitational force, with the secondary battery block placed below the circuit block. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176081 | ENERGY STORAGE APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE - An energy storage apparatus including at least first and second energy storage devices to supply, or also consume, an electric current. At least the second energy storage device is an electrochemical energy storage device. A control device controls at least supply of electric current by at least one of the energy storage devices and can also control consumption of electric current by at least one of the energy storage devices. Energy density of the second energy storage device is higher than energy density of the first energy storage device; energy density is defined as the ratio between energy that can be stored in the energy storage device in a charged state and weight of the energy storage device. The control device can trigger the first energy storage device to supply electric current when the electric current exceeds a predetermined threshold value for the current strength. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176082 | BATTERY PACK SYSTEM OF IMPROVING OPERATING PERFORMANCE USING INTERNAL RESISTANCE OF CELL - Disclosed is a battery pack system to supply current necessary to operate an external device, including a battery module including battery cells which can be charged and discharged, a temperature sensor, an auxiliary power unit to supply a charge and discharge pulse current to the battery module, and a controller to connect the auxiliary power unit to the battery module so that the charge and discharge pulse current is supplied to the battery module when a measured temperature (T | 2012-07-12 |
20120176083 | ONE-PIECE CAR CHARGER - A one-piece car charger includes an enclosure and a circuit board. The circuit board is received in the enclosure and is electrically connected to a power output port. The enclosure is integrally formed as a one-piece configuration. The one-piece enclosure helps reducing manufacturing time (and is applicable to automatized manufacturing process). There is no need for operators to manually assemble the enclosures one by one so that the assembling time is shortened and mistakenly assembling incorrect parts is eliminated. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176084 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A CHARGING CIRCUIT - This invention utilizes the power electronics of a switched reluctance motor controller and the phase windings of a switched reluctance motor to make up a single stage boost converter capable of charging a battery with power factor correction (PFC) in the AC line. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176085 | REMOTE WIRELESS DRIVING CHARGER - A remote wireless driving charger includes: a transmitter; a primary side resonance capacitor connected to the transmitter; a primary coil which is connected to the primary side resonance capacitor and is tuned to be resonant with the primary side resonance capacitor in a predetermined power carrier frequency band; a secondary coil embedded in a portable device; and a secondary side resonance capacitor which is connected to the secondary coil and is tuned to be resonant with the secondary coil in the predetermined power carrier frequency band. Radioactive inductance components as micro loops of the primary coil and the secondary coil are cancelled out by the non-radioactive primary side resonance capacitor and secondary side resonance capacitor through an electromagnetic coupling between the primary coil and the secondary coil, and the portable device is remotely and wirelessly charged. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176086 | BATTERY CHARGER AND BATTERY CHARGER ATTACHING STRUCTURE - Provided are a battery charger, which is a different body from a vehicle and the durability, performance, etc., of which are maintained, and a battery charger attaching structure. The battery charger attaching structure comprises: a battery; a battery charger being a different body from a vehicle and charging the battery; an electric motor for generating driving force on the basis of the power supplied from the battery; vehicle covers for covering the vehicle; and an attachment portion provided on the vehicle covers and used for attaching the battery charger on the side of the vehicle. The attachment portion is provided at an upper part on a leg shield. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176087 | PORTABLE USER DEVICE WITH A CLIP HAVING ELECTRICAL TERMINALS - Systems and methods are provided for docking a portable user device to a docking device or adapter via a clip mechanism. A portable user device may include two clip members which rotate relative to one another about an axis. A coupling pivot may be coupled to both clip members to facilitate relative rotation, and may provide a clamping force between the clip members. One or more terminals may be located on at least one of the clip members, allowing data transfer, charging, or other functions when the portable user device is docked using the clip mechanism. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176088 | ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF - An energy storage system and a controlling method thereof are provided. Accordingly, an operation mode of the energy storage system is stably changed. The energy storage system includes: a battery; an inverter for receiving a first power from an external source and generating a second power; and a converter coupled between the battery and both the external source and the inverter. The converter is configured to enter an off mode between a charge mode for charging the battery and a discharge mode for discharging the battery. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176089 | LITHIUM SECONDARY BATTERY - Disclosed is a lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode comprising a combination of positive active materials. The combination includes a material represented by one or both of Formulae 1 and 2; and a material of Formula 3 as follows: | 2012-07-12 |
20120176090 | BI-DIRECTIONAL INVERTER-CHARGER - A bi-directional inverter-charger including a bridge rectifier and DC-to-DC conversion components. The inverter-charger may be connected between an alternating current source, e.g., an AC line, and a direct current source, e.g., a battery pack. The DC-to-DC conversion components may include boost and buck circuits that are switchably configured between a charge mode and an inverter mode such that common components are used in both charge and inverter configurations. In the charge configuration, a full wave rectified signal from the H-bridge is up converted by the boost circuit, and the buck circuit controls charge current to the direct current source. In the inverter configuration, the boost circuit up converts the direct current voltage source, and the buck circuit controls the current and its form to the bridge circuit so that the bridge circuit may be Connected directly with the AC source. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176091 | CONTROL APPARATUS, CONTROL APPARATUS NETWORK AND CONTROL METHOD - A first upper limit and a second upper limit of emission power are set in each of the NaS batteries. The second upper limit is maximum value of the emission power for maintaining the temperature of the NaS battery at an upper limit temperature or less. In allocation of the emission power to each of the NaS batteries, each of the NaS batteries is separated into a preferential virtual battery to which a non-excess of the emission power that does not exceed the second upper limit is allocated and non-preferential virtual battery to which an excess of the emission power that exceeds the second upper limit is allocated, and after the emission power is allocated to all the preferential virtual batteries, the emission power is allocated to each of the non-preferential virtual batteries. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176092 | BATTERY CAPACITY DETECTION DEVICE OF LITHIUM ION RECHARGEABLE BATTERY - A device detects a battery capacity of a lithium ion rechargeable battery having at least one inflection point or more within a range of 10% to 90% of the SOC thereof. The inflection point indicates a change of a correlation between a battery voltage and the SOC of the battery. The device fetches a battery capacity corresponding to an inflection point from a capacity table, and sets the fetched battery-capacity as a first battery capacity when an inflection point detection section detects the inflection point. A current integration section integrates a current from the time to detect the inflection point to the time when the battery voltage detected by a voltage detection section reaches a full charging voltage. The integrated current is used as a second battery capacity. The device adds the first and second battery capacities, and uses the added result as a full charging capacity of the battery. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176093 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE CHARGING OR DISCHARGING PROCESS OF A SECONDARY BATTERY WITH AUXILIARY ELECTRODE - The present invention includes three-dimensional secondary battery cells comprising an electrolyte, a cathode, an anode, and an auxiliary electrode. The cathode, the anode, and the auxiliary electrode have a surface in contact with the electrolyte. The anode and the cathode are electrolytically coupled. The auxiliary electrode is electrolytically coupled and electrically coupled to at least one of the anode or the cathode. Electrically coupled means directly or indirectly connected in series by wires, traces or other connecting elements. The average distance between the surface of the auxiliary electrode and the surface of the coupled cathode or the coupled anode is between about 1 micron and about 10,000 microns. The average distance means the average of the shortest path for ion transfer from every point on the coupled cathode or anode to the auxiliary electrode. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176094 | BATTERY CHARGE AND DISCHARGE CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING BATTERY CHARGE AND DISCHARGE - A master controller of a battery charge and discharge control apparatus is a device performing charge and discharge control on a group of a predetermined number of battery arrays, the battery arrays being connected together in parallel. The master controller acquires an entire charge or discharge instruction intended for the entire battery array group, starts charging or discharging each of the battery arrays at a uniform charge or discharge power value, acquires a charge or discharge status of each of the battery arrays after the beginning of the charge or discharge and compares the charge or discharge status with a predetermined charge or discharge set value for the entire battery array group, and changes the charge or discharge power value of each of the battery arrays based on a result of the comparison. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176095 | ELECTRIC POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An electric power management system is provided which executes charge and discharge control by detecting a state of charge of a storage battery pack with a high precision and controls charging and discharging of a storage battery system comprising a plurality of storage battery units. A total storage battery unit manager calculates an SOC of all storage battery packs in the storage battery system, and controls charging and discharging based on the calculated SOC. When a wait state, where the storage battery system is not charging or discharging, continues for a predetermined period, the SOC is calculated using a correlation relationship between an electromotive force and the SOC, to remove the influence of hysteresis. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176096 | Method for Controlling at Least One Operating Parameter that Influences the Aging State of an Electrical Energy Store in an Open-Loop or Closed-Loop Manner - A method is provided for the open-loop or closed-loop control of at least one operating parameter of an electric energy accumulator influencing the aging state of the electric energy accumulator. The method determines the actual aging state of the electric energy accumulator, compares the actual aging state with a target aging state predefined for the momentary age of the energy accumulator, and restricts an operating parameter range permitted for the at least one operating parameter if the actual aging state is worse than the target aging state. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176097 | METHOD FOR CHARGING/DISCHARGING POSITIVE ELECTRODE ACTIVE MATERIAL IN A LITHIUM SECONDARY BATTERY, CHARGING/DISCHARGING SYSTEM PROVIDED WITH LITHIUM SECONDARY BATTERY AND VEHICLE, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, BATTERY MODULE, BATTERY PACK - In a charge/discharge method for a positive-electrode active material in a lithium secondary battery, the lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode containing a positive-electrode active material capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions, a negative electrode containing a negative-electrode active material capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions, a separator located between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an electrolyte having a lithium ion conductivity; and the positive-electrode active material contains a nickel-type lithium-containing complex oxide. The positive electrode, which has been charged, is discharged until having a first potential VDp | 2012-07-12 |
20120176098 | POWER SOURCE HAVING A PARALLEL CELL TOPOLOGY - A power source with multiple cells connected in parallel to a common node or power supply point. The individual cells within the power source may also have a dedicated controller for each of the individual cells. Additionally, a system controller is coupled to each controller in a feedback loop and is configured to selectively connect each cell of the plurality of cells to a power bus to control the discharge of each of the plurality of cells. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176099 | Controller device for controlling a power converter device - A controller device for controlling a power converter device of an electrical generator during rotation of the electrical generator includes a signal converter which is configured to receive an angle signal and in response hereto transposes a current feedback onto two axes of a rotating d, q-reference frame. Further, a current controller has a regulator receiving a d-axis feedback and a d-axis demand and provides in response hereto a d-axis response operative in reducing the difference between the d-axis feedback and the d-axis demand. An error unit provides an error signal indicative of an angle error of the rotating reference frame on the basis of the d-axis response of the d-axis regulator. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176100 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A ROTATING ELECTRIC MACHINE, PARTICULARLY AN ALTERNATOR - The invention relates to a method for controlling an alternator or alternator-starter of a motor vehicle, the electric machine being capable of providing an electric current, the strength of which varies on the basis of the excitation signal (EXC), a duty cycle being associated with each excitation signal, the method comprising the following steps:—comparing the difference between the duty cycle values of two consecutive excitation signals at a predetermined threshold;—if said difference is greater than the predetermined threshold, releasing a gradual response phase, during which the duty cycle of the excitation signals is gradually increased, particularly in a substantially linear manner;—at the start of said gradual response phase, increasing the duty cycle of the consecutive excitation signals by a predetermined jump (D_B), then gradually increasing the duty cycle, the duty cycle jump at the start of the gradual response phase being less than or equal to the release threshold of the gradual response phase. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176101 | Power Factor Correction Device - Disclosed is a PFC (power factor correction) device for shaping an input current of a power converter. The device includes means for receiving a rectified input voltage derived from an AC input voltage; load determining means for determining a load value L which represents the power drawn by a load supplied by the power converter; current shaping means for shaping the input current of the power converter to follow a reference waveform; and control means for controlling the current shaping means to operate over a conduction interval α during each positive and negative half cycle of the AC input voltage. The duration of the conduction interval is controlled in accordance with the load value L. The current shaping means may shape the input current to follow the reference waveform which crosses zero at phase angles which substantially correspond to the start and end of the conduction interval. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176102 | POWER CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRACKING MAXIMUM POWER POINT IN A PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM - A power control method for tracking a Maximum Power Point (MPP) in a photovoltaic system including a solar cell and a boost converter. The power control method includes finding the MPP by applying a continuous ON/OFF signal to the boost converter as a first control signal for controlling a duty ratio of the boost converter, and maintaining an operating point of the photovoltaic system at the MPP by applying a second control signal for controlling the duty ratio to the boost converter depending on a constant-voltage command. In tracking an MPP in a photovoltaic system, an MPPT algorithm may remain at the MPP, without self oscillation, improving fast dynamic characteristics upon a change in solar radiation. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176103 | Voltage Conversion and/or Electrical Measurements from 400 Volts Upwards - A voltage-converter and a signal processing circuit are disclosed. A voltmeter, a power meter and a three-phase meter each including the voltage-converter and the signal processing circuit are disclosed. Methods of making the voltage-converters, voltmeters, three phase meters and power meters, as well as operating and/or using these apparatus are disclosed. Apparatus including feedback paths with at least one voltage-converters, voltmeters, three-phase meters and/or power meters are disclosed. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176104 | Synchronous Switching Power Converter with Zero Current Detection, and Method Thereof - Zero current detecting circuit includes a zero current comparator for determining current variation on an inductor of a synchronous switching power converter so as to accordingly turn off a down bridge transistor of the synchronous power converter; an integrator for executing integration to the signal on an input end of the zero current comparator within a transient period after the down bridge transistor is turned off, for eliminating the effect from the offset voltage of the zero current comparator; and an integration controller for determining if the down bridge transistor is turned off too early or too late so as to control the integrator to positively or negatively integrate. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176105 | Multi-phase switching regulator and driver circuit and control method thereof - The present invention discloses a multi-phase switching regulator, a driver circuit of a multi-phase switching regulator, and a control method of a multi-phase switching regulator. The multi-phase switching regulator includes: at least two power stages, switching power transistors in the power stages to convert an input voltage to an output voltage according to pulse width modulation (PWM) signals generated by corresponding PWM controllers respectively; and a current balance circuit, generating a current balance signal according to the current of the corresponding power stage and a phase adjustment signal to averagely distribute current over the active power stages. In the present invention, the gain of the current balance circuit is adjustable, to avoid or reduce output voltage overshoot and undershoot when the phase number changes, while the current balance function is still achieved in normal operation. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176106 | SWITCHING SUPPLY CIRCUITS AND METHODS - In one embodiment the present invention includes a switching circuit. The circuit comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, and a boost circuit. The first transistor couples a first power source to a first intermediate node during a first phase of operation and the second transistor couples a second intermediate node to the first intermediate node during a second phase of operation. The boost circuit is coupled to the second intermediate node and provides a second power source by a transferring of energy from the first power source. The transferring of energy includes an inductor receiving energy from the first power source during the first phase of operation and providing a portion of said energy to the boost circuit during the second phase of operation. The boost circuit provides a biasing to enable deactivation of the second transistor during the first phase of operation. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176107 | LDO LINEAR REGULATOR WITH IMPROVED TRANSIENT RESPONSE - An LDO regulator system has first and second current mirror circuits connected to its output terminal. A load attached to the output terminal is supplied with a constant voltage. Variations in the load that cause variations in the magnitude of the output voltage trigger one of the first or second current mirror circuits to generate a current that varies the magnitude of a gate voltage of a pass-transistor. The variation in the gate voltage in turns varies the drain current of the pass-transistor, which varies the output voltage to counter the change in the magnitude of the output voltage. Using the first and second current mirror circuits avoids the need for a large load capacitor and very high bandwidth of a conventional LDO regulator. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176108 | DC-TO-DC CONVERTER - According to one embodiment, a DC-to-DC converter includes a high-side switch, a low-side switch, a high-side controller, and a low-side controller. The low-side switch is connected to the high-side switch in series. The high-side controller is configured to control the high-side switch. The low-side controller includes a first detector and an offset canceller. The first detector is configured to detect a current of the low-side switch. The offset canceller is configured to hold an output of the first detector as an offset voltage when the low-side switch is off and compensate an output of the first detector by the offset voltage when the low-side switch is on. The low-side controller is configured to compare a compensated output of the first detector with a reference voltage and turn off the low-side switch. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176109 | Voltage Regulator - A voltage regulator circuit for providing a regulated output voltage is provided. The voltage regulator circuit includes an error amplifier configured to provide a control signal based on at least a portion of a fed-back output voltage and a reference voltage. A first output stage is configured to operate at a first supply voltage and provide the regulated output voltage based on the control signal. At least one second output stage configured to operate at a second supply voltage different from the first supply voltage and provide the regulated output voltage based on the control signal. A switch-over unit is configured to switch over the control signal between the first output stage and the second output stage. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176110 | VOLTAGE REGULATION CIRCUIT - A voltage regulating circuit includes a pulse width modulation controller, a current sense circuit, a voltage feedback circuit, and a gain-and-bias circuit. The current sense circuit includes an inductor and a capacitor. The voltage feedback circuit includes first and second resistors. The gain-and-bias circuit includes an operational amplifier. A first terminal of the capacitor is connected to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier through a third resistor. A second terminal of the capacitor is connected to a non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier through a fourth resistor. The inverting input terminal of the amplifier is connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier through a fifth resistor. The non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier is grounded through a sixth resistor. The output terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the node between the first and second resistors through a seventh resistor. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176111 | Power Control Circuit, Switching Power Converter, and Method for Reducing Noise and Switching Loss - Power control circuit with reducing noise and switching loss includes a first gate driver for driving a first switch, an additional gate driver for driving the first switch, and a managing circuit for controlling the first and the additional gate driver to drive the first switch according to a switching signal and turning off the additional gate driver according to a switching voltage on a first end of the first switch, wherein the first end of the first switch is coupled to a load, second end of the first switch is coupled to an input power source, a third end of the first switch is coupled to the first and the additional gate drivers. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176112 | CIRCUIT FOR SENSING LOAD CURRENT OF A VOLTAGE REGULATOR - A circuit for sensing load current of a voltage regulator. The circuit includes a power transistor and a minor transistor. A first transistor sizing circuit is coupled to the power transistor and is operable to control size of the power transistor based on a bias voltage of the power transistor, thereby regulating a first voltage for varying load conditions. The circuit also includes a feedback amplifier coupled to the power transistor and the mirror transistor. A transistor is coupled to the feedback amplifier and the mirror transistor. An analog to digital converter (ADC) is coupled to the transistor. A second transistor sizing circuit is coupled to the mirror transistor, the transistor, and the ADC. The second transistor sizing circuit is responsive to an output voltage to control size of the minor transistor, thereby ensuring that accuracy of output voltage sensed by ADC is not limited by ADC's resolution. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176113 | Regulating Current Output From A Buck Converter Without External Current Sensing - A step-down (buck) switching regulator regulates output current without sensing a current external to a converter integrated circuit. The regulator generates a set current that is indicative of a predetermined current level to which the output current is regulated. The regulator generates a sense current whose magnitude is proportional to an inductor current flowing through a power switch during an on time. During a first time period, the sense current is less than the set current. During a second time period, the sense current is greater than the set current. The output current of the regulator is maintained at the predetermined current level such that the first time period is equal to the second time period when the output current equals the predetermined current level. The set current is compared to the sense current in circuitry inside a bootstrap power generator whose voltage fluctuates with the voltage across the inductor. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176114 | POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM, CONTROLLER THEREFOR, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE OF CONTROLLER - A power supply system of the present invention aims to achieve optimization of the efficiency and therefore includes: z (z is a natural number equal to or larger than 2) power supplies (PS- | 2012-07-12 |
20120176115 | POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLER - The power supply controller performs the power-supply-path protection operation to restrict power supply through the switch element if a value of temperature increase of the power supply path W with respect to the reference temperature To exceeds the temperature threshold value and remove the restriction if the temperature decreases to the temperature threshold value or lower. And the controller performs the switch protection operation to restrict the power supply through the switch element if the value of the flowing current exceeds the current threshold value and remove the restriction after the reference time H elapses. And also the controller adds the additional value F to the value of temperature increase on condition that the value of the flowing current exceeds the current threshold value in the power supply protection operation and compares a post-addition temperature to the temperature threshold value. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176116 | OUTPUT CIRCUIT - An output circuit includes a driving transistor, an output transistor, a current limiting element, and a switching transistor. A first terminal of each of the driving transistor and the output transistor is connected to a power line. The current limiting element is connected between a second terminal of the driving transistor and a control terminal of the output transistor. The switching transistor is connected in parallel with the current limiting element. The output transistor and the switching transistor have the same junction type or the same conductivity type. A control terminal of the switching transistor is connected to the control terminal of the output transistor. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176117 | ELECTRONIC CONTROL APPARATUS HAVING SWITCHING ELEMENT AND DRIVE CIRCUIT - An electronic control apparatus includes a switching element; an ON-drive constant-current circuit supplying a constant current to the control terminal of the switching element thereby charging the control terminal of the switching element; an OFF-drive switching element discharging electrical charge from the control terminal of the switching element by being turned ON; and a control circuit adapted to control the ON-drive constant-current circuit and the OFF-drive switching element in response to a drive signal being inputted, thereby controlling the voltage of the control terminal of the switching element so as to drive the switching element. The control circuit controls the current control transistor based on the voltage of the current detection resistor and supplies the constant current to the control terminal of the switching element, and detects an abnormality in the ON-drive constant-current circuit based on the voltage of the current detection resistor. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176118 | VOLTAGE DOWN CONVERTER FOR HIGH SPEED MEMORY - A voltage down converter (VDC) applicable to high-speed memory devices. The VDC includes a steady driver and active driver along with at least one additional transistor. The steady driver and active driver are coupled by a transistor switch during device start-up to provide fast ramp-up to operating voltage and current. After start-up, the steady driver and active drive function to maintain a steady operating voltage and current. An additional transistor is digitally controlled to drive up operating voltage and current upon issuance of an active command representing read, write, and/or refresh of memory. In this manner, the additional transistor provides fast compensation for fluctuations in operating voltage and current brought on by activity in the memory array. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176119 | PHASE LINE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A phase line identification system including, at least one computer hardware device including: a first receiver that receives a plurality of times of a primary phase zero crossing for a plurality of primary phase lines at a feeder; a second receiver that receives a time of a secondary phase zero crossing for a secondary phase line at a single phase electric meter; a comparator that identifies which of the plurality of primary phase lines feeds the secondary phase line by comparing the plurality of times of the primary phase zero crossing for the plurality of primary phase lines at the feeder to the time of the secondary phase zero crossing of the secondary phase line at the single phase electric meter to determine which one of the plurality of times of the primary phase zero crossing matches the time of the secondary phase zero crossing. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176120 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING CURRENT DRAWN BY A PROTECTED LOAD IN A SELF-POWERED ELECTRONIC PROTECTION DEVICE - A circuit for measuring current drawn by a self-powered electronic protection device. The circuit monitors current in a polyphase alternating current (AC) power source by measuring current in a rectified secondary winding of a current transformer coupled to a phase current of the power source. The measurement circuit includes a measurement burden connected between the cathode of the current transformer rectifier and a switch. Closing the switch references the voltage drop across the measurement burden to a reference potential. A controller closes the switch while receiving measurements of the voltage drop. Because the voltage drop is referenced to a reference potential, it can be analyzed in a controller to detect a fault condition without being conditioned with an inverting amplifier or a difference amplifier. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176121 | CURRENT PASSAGE INDICATOR - A fault current passage indicator ( | 2012-07-12 |
20120176122 | CONTACT PROBE, LINKED BODY OF CONTACT PROBES, AND MANUFACTURING METHODS THEREOF - A contact probe, a method of manufacturing a linked body of contact probes, and a method of manufacturing a contact probe, which allow for stable use are provided. Contact probe includes a contact portion to be brought into contact with an object to be measured, a main body portion connected to the contact portion, and a covering portion covering the whole circumference of a cross section of the main body portion in a direction intersecting with an extensional direction, excluding the contact portion. The covering portion is of a material having a lower volume resistivity than a volume resistivity of a material of the main body portion. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176123 | POSITION SENSOR - A position sensor is configured such that a rotor pattern formed on a rotor in a position facing a stator includes non-magnetic conductive parts cyclically formed, a stator coil includes an excitation coil and a detection coil, which are wound in the same direction, and the width of each coil is equal to one cycle of the rotor pattern. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176124 | Method and Apparatus for a Half-Bridge Variable Differential Transformer Position Sensing System - A half-bridge variable differential transformer position sensing system that includes a transducer having a stator with an inductive coil having a center tap configured to provide an output signal. The transducer also has an armature with a magnetically permeable core configured to move within the inductive coil, such that movement of the magnetically permeable core causes a change in the output signal. The position sensing system includes a first circuit configured to provide an excitation signal at one terminal of the inductive coil. The system includes no more than three electrical interface wires, and a microcontroller configured to calculate the degree of change in the position of the magnetically permeable core, and is configured to correct for variations in the voltage of the output signal due to the temperature of the transducer and due to non-linear effects on the output signal caused by movement of the magnetically permeable core. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176125 | DEVICE FOR SENSING POSITIONS OF A ROTATING WHEEL - A device for sensing positions of a rotating wheel comprises a rotating wheel with a symmetrical weight distribution, with the rotating wheel being rigidly attached to an axle; a stationary plate coaxial with the rotating wheel, the stationary plate being free to rotate about the axle and having an asymmetrical weight distribution to keep the stationary plate stationary due to the forces of gravity; and a position sensor to sense positions of the rotating wheel. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176126 | ROTATION ANGLE SENSOR - A rotation angle sensor includes a magnet that rotates about a rotation axis. The magnet has an end face perpendicular to the rotation axis and has a magnetization in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis. The rotation angle sensor further includes a magnetic sensor that faces the end face of the magnet and detects a magnetic field produced by the magnet. The magnet includes a plate-shaped portion including the end face, and a ring-shaped portion that is located on a side of the plate-shaped portion farther from the end face and coupled to the plate-shaped portion. The plate-shaped portion does not include any hollow through which the rotation axis passes, whereas the ring-shaped portion includes a hollow through which the rotation axis passes. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176127 | APPARATUS FOR PIPELINE INSPECTION - A sensor assembly for pipeline inspection is provided. The sensor assembly comprises a sensor arm configured to mount the sensor assembly to a pipeline inspection tool and a sensor carrier configured to support a magnetic flux leakage sensor, the sensor carrier being pivotably coupled to the sensor arm by a pivot pin, wherein the sensor arm comprises a first end configured to connect the sensor assembly to a pipeline inspection tool, a distal end adjacent to which the sensor carrier is secured, and multiple elongate sections which cooperate with one another to capture the pivot pin at the distal end of the sensor arm and thereby secure the sensor carrier for movement with the sensor arm. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176128 | MICROMACHINED RESONANT MAGNETIC FIELD SENSORS - A micromachined magnetic field sensor comprising is disclosed. The micromachined magnetic field comprises a substrate; a drive subsystem, the drive subsystem comprises a plurality of beams, and at least one anchor connected to the substrate; a mechanism for providing an electrical current through the drive subsystem along a first axis; and Lorentz force acting on the drive subsystem along a second axis in response to a magnetic field along a third axis. The micromachined magnetic field sensor also includes a sense subsystem, the sense subsystem comprises a plurality of beams, and at least one anchor connected to the substrate; wherein a portion of the sense subsystem moves along a fourth axis; a coupling spring between the drive subsystem and the sense subsystem which causes motion of the sense subsystem in response to the magnetic field; and a position transducer to detect the motion of the sense subsystem. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176129 | MICROMACHINED RESONANT MAGNETIC FIELD SENSORS - A micromachined magnetic field sensor is disclosed. The micromachined magnetic field sensor comprises a substrate; and a drive subsystem partially supported by the substrate with a plurality of beams, and at least one anchor; a mechanism for providing an electrical current through the drive subsystem along a first axis; and Lorentz force acting on the drive subsystem along a second axis in response to a magnetic field vector along a third axis. The micromachined magnetic field sensor also includes a position transducer to detect the motion of the drive subsystem and an electrostatic offset cancellation mechanism coupled to the drive subsystem. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176130 | Detection of J-Coupling Using Atomic Magnetometer - An embodiment of a method of detecting a J-coupling includes providing a polarized analyte adjacent to a vapor cell of an atomic magnetometer; and measuring one or more J-coupling parameters using the atomic magnetometer. According to an embodiment, measuring the one or more J-coupling parameters includes detecting a magnetic field created by the polarized analyte as the magnetic field evolves under a J-coupling interaction. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176131 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FAT SUPPRESSION IN CHEMICAL SHIFT BASED WATER-FAT SEPARATED MR IMAGING - An apparatus and method for separating the NMR signal contributions from a plurality of different species having different chemical shifts is disclosed. The apparatus acquires MR image data sets including a first species signal and a second species signal, generates a first species image from the acquired MR image data, and generates a second species image from the acquired MR image data. The apparatus also identifies voxels in the second species image representative of only the second species and, for voxels identified as being representative of only the second species, calculates a fraction of the second species signal appearing in the first species image. The apparatus generates a modified first species image based on the fraction of the second species signal appearing in the first species image, with the modified first species image having a different fraction of the second species as compared to the first species image. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176132 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND IRRADIATION FREQUENCY ADJUSTING METHOD - A high-quality image is obtained using a two-dimensional selective excitation method even if the static magnetic field is not uniform. Therefore, non-uniformity of a static magnetic field of a region to be focused in particular in a selective excitation region excited by 2DRF is measured, and a result of the measurement is reflected in an imaging sequence using the 2DRF. For example, a resonance frequency of magnetization obtained from the measurement result is set as an irradiation frequency of the 2DRF. In addition, a shim gradient magnetic field is applied so as to correct the non-uniformity of the magnetization obtained from the measurement result. These are applied only in the imaging sequence using the 2DRF, and an irradiation frequency and a shim gradient magnetic field set in a conventional method are used in other imaging sequences. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176133 | Integrated high-frequency generator system utilizing the magnetic field of the target application - An integrated high-frequency generator system utilizing the magnetic field of the target application including a magnetic resonance magnet having an application zone and a high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) generator zone in the magnetic field of the magnetic resonance magnet; and a high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) generator disposed in the high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) generator zone and utilizing the magnet field of the magnetic resonance magnet to generate the high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) radiation. The magnetic resonance magnet may have an auxiliary magnetic field source for modifying the magnetic field profile in the high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) generator zone. The high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) generator may include an electron gun for generating an electron beam adapted to be focused by a magnetic field source having a spatially rising region, a homogenous region and a decaying region, an interaction structure for generating high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) radiation, an internal mode converter in the homogenous region for extracting the high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) radiation through a window, and a reduced collector disposed substantially in the homogenous region before the electron beam spreads in the decaying region. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176134 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM WITH THERMAL RESERVOIR AND METHOD FOR COOLING - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system with a thermal reservoir and method for cooling are provided. A cooling vessel for a magnet system of the MRI system includes a first portion containing a helium cryogen in contact with a plurality of magnet coils of an MRI system. The cooling vessel also includes a second portion separate from and fluidly decoupled from the first portion, with the second portion containing a material different than the helium cryogen and having a volume greater than the first portion. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176135 | OPTICALLY CONTROLLED MEMS SWITCH AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME - The present embodiments are directed towards the optical control of switching an electrical assembly. For example, in an embodiment, an electrical package is provided. The electrical package generally includes a micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) device configured to interface with an electrical assembly, the MEMS device being operable to vary the electrical assembly between a first electrical state and a second electrical state, a MEMS device driver in communication with the MEMS device and being operable to produce high voltage switching logic from an electrical signal, and an optical detector in communication with the MEMS device driver and configured to produce the electrical signal from an optical signal produced by a light source in response to an applied current-based electrical control signal. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176136 | SHIMMING DEVICE FOR SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNET - This shimming device sequentially records a history of conducted shim setting, momentarily dynamically calculates compensation values corresponding to the record by the aid of a characteristic function, and dynamically controls the shim coil by the aid of the compensation values thus obtained, to thereby compensate the magnetic field fluctuation of the superconducting magnet which is attributable to the setting of the shim, and stabilizes the magnetic field, in an NMR superconducting magnet. This device includes shim setting recording means ( | 2012-07-12 |
20120176137 | GRADIENT MAGNETIC FIELD COIL AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE - In the magnetic resonance imaging device, the distance between the first and second coils is different in the circumferential direction and has a first region (A | 2012-07-12 |
20120176138 | RELIABLE WIRED-PIPE DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - A high-frequency data and/or power transmission system suitable for down-hole use including signal/power couplers, transmission line segments and signal repeaters. Signals and power are/is transmitted between couplers and/or between couplers and repeaters by means of electromagnetic resonance coupling. In at least a portion of the system, the transmission line segments form parallel data paths and the repeaters provide crossover capability between the data/power paths, thereby significantly improving reliability. The invention also includes methods of transmitting data and/or distributing high-frequency power through a downhole transmission system including multiple data/power paths and multiple crossovers wherein a fault location in one data/power path is bypassed by routing data and/or power to a parallel data/power path by means of electromagnetic resonance coupling. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176139 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SENSING MULTIPLE USER INPUT SWITCH DEVICES - A system and method for sensing multiple user input switch devices uses a generated sense current that corresponds to an electrical current through a node to which the user input switch devices are connected to sense current states of the user input switch devices. The sense current is used to produce multiple output signals that indicate the current states of the user input switch devices. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176140 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING SECONDARY BATTERY - Disclosed is method for producing a secondary battery, which enables the selection of a secondary battery having a defect caused by a micro short-circuit with high accuracy. Specifically disclosed is a step (S | 2012-07-12 |
20120176141 | SIGNAL INPUT CIRCUIT AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A signal input circuit includes: a signal input device having a signal input terminal; an inspection capacitor connected between the signal input terminal and a reference potential; a connection unit connecting/disconnecting an inspection path between the inspection capacitor and the signal input terminal; a charge and discharge unit charging/discharging the inspection capacitor; and a determination processing unit carrying out a terminal failure detection processing. The determination processing unit controls the connection unit to disconnect the inspection path and controls the charge and discharge unit to set the voltage of the inspection capacitor to a terminal inspection voltage in a charge and discharge procedure, controls the connection unit to connect the inspection path in a continuity establishing procedure, and detects the terminal failure at the signal input terminal or a communication path from the signal input terminal based on a voltage of the inspection path. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176142 | TEST CIRCUIT FOR RESISTOR CAPACITOR CIRCUITS - An RC test circuit includes an RC circuit, a digital rheostat, a control chip, and an oscillograph. The RC circuit includes a plurality of positive terminals and a plurality of negative terminals. The digital rheostat includes a plurality of rheostats each including a sliding terminal and a fixed terminal. The sliding terminals are correspondingly connected to the positive terminals while the fixed terminals are correspondingly connected to the negative terminals. The control chip is connected to the digital rheostat, and configured for controlling the digital rheostat to change the resistance of each rheostat. The oscillograph is connected to the RC circuit for displaying a waveform of the RC circuit. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176143 | SAMPLING APPARATUS AND TEST APPARATUS - A sampling apparatus that converts an analog target signal in which the same waveform repeats into a digital value by sampling the target signal at each of a plurality of phases, and outputs the digital value. The sampling apparatus comprises a designating section that sequentially designates bits in the digital value as target bits, beginning with the most significant bits; a generating section that, for each designated target bit, generates a threshold value for determining a value of the target bit based on a determined value of a bit that is higher-order than the target bit in the digital value at each of the phases; and a converting section that, for each designated target bit, determines the value of the target bit in the digital value at each phase by comparing the target signal to an analog comparison signal corresponding to the threshold value at each phase. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176144 | AT-SPEED SCAN ENABLE SWITCHING CIRCUIT - A circuit for providing a local scan enable signal includes a first transistor having a first gate coupled to a general scan enable signal, a first source and a first drain and a second transistor having a second gate coupled to a scan clock, a second source coupled to the first drain and a second drain. The circuit also includes a third transistor having a third gate coupled to the general scan enable signal, a third drain coupled to the second drain and a third source and an output stabilizer coupled to the second drain, the output stabilizer including a first inverter and a second inverter coupled together in opposite orientations. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176145 | IMPEDANCE TUNER SYSTEMS AND PROBES - An impedance tuner may include a shunt stub located at a fixed location along the transmission media, and a phase shifter to control the reflection phase. Another embodiment includes an adjustable length shunt stub connected on the transmission media, a variable phase shifter connected between the DUT port and the adjustable length shunt stub, a probe arranged for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of signal propagation. Another embodiment includes a reflection magnitude control system mounted in a fixed position relative to a direction of signal propagation along the transmission media, and a phase shifter to control a reflection phase. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176146 | NONCONTACT DETERMINATION OF INTERFACE TRAP DENSITY FOR SEMICONDUCTOR-DIELECTRIC INTERFACE STRUCTURES - Embodiments of the subject method and apparatus relate to a sequence of noncontact Corona-Kelvin Metrology that allows the determination and monitoring of interface properties in dielectric/wide band gap semiconductor structures. The technique involves the incremental application of precise and measured quantities of corona charge, Q | 2012-07-12 |
20120176147 | CORROSION SENSOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A CORROSION SENSOR - A corrosion sensor includes a plurality of conductive portions and at least one non-conductive portion between adjacent conductive portions, wherein the at least one non-conductive portion has a dimension less than approximately 500 microns. A method for manufacturing a corrosion sensor includes applying a non-conductive material to a substrate and applying a conductive material to discrete locations on the non-conductive material. The method further includes applying a brazing material around each discrete location of the conductive material. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176148 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTION OF GASEOUS CORROSIVE CONTAMINANTS - A corrosion sensor includes a plurality of metal strips having different thicknesses. A first metal strip with the least thickness is first employed to provide sensitive corrosion detection. After an exposed portion of the first metal strip is consumed, a second metal strip having a second least thickness can be employed to provide continued sensitive corrosion detection employing a remaining un-corroded portion of the second metal strip. The plurality of metal strips can be sequentially employed as exposed portions of thinner metal strips become unusable through complete corrosion and un-corroded exposed portions of thicker metal strips become thin enough to provide sensitive corrosion detection. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176149 | SUBSTRATE AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE - A substrate includes a join-structure including a semiconductor package, first electrode pad, bump, second electrode pad, and circuit substrate joined in the order named. The substrate also includes a first wire and a second wire formed in a region bellow a corner of the semiconductor package. The first and second wires are configured to detect a change in electrical resistance value when the first wire or the second wire is disconnected. One of the first and second wires is connected to the first electrode pad or the second electrode pad. A break strength of each of the first wire and the second wire is lower than a break strength of the join-structure. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176150 | MEASURING EQUIPMENT FOR PROBE-EFFECT CANCELLATION AND METHOD THEREOF - A measuring equipment, such as a vector network analyzer, is provided. The measuring equipment includes a first port and a second port, a probe connected to the first port, an antenna connected to the second port, and a test board corresponding to a type of a device-under-test. A probe-effect is obtained by measuring the test board via the probe and the antenna. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176151 | Test Contact System For Testing Integrated Circuits With Packages Having An Array Of Signal and Power Contacts - A test fixture ( | 2012-07-12 |
20120176152 | Circuitry and Method Minimizing Output Switching Noise Through Split-Level Signaling and Bus Division Enabled by a Third Power Supply - Disclosed herein are circuitry and methods for transmitting data across a parallel bus using both high common mode and low common mode signaling. The transmitter stages are configured to work with two of three possible power supply voltages: a high Vddq voltage, a low Vssq voltage, and an intermediate Vx voltage. In one embodiment, the odd numbered transmitter stages, that drive the odd numbered outputs to the bus, use the Vddq and Vx supplies, such that the odd numbered outputs comprise high common mode signals. The even numbered transmitter stages, that drive the even numbered outputs to the bus, use the Vx and Vssq supplies, such that the even numbered outputs comprise low common mode signals. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176153 | IN-CIRCUIT DATA COLLECTION USING CONFIGURABLE SELECTION NETWORKS - In one general aspect, a data collection system for a circuit under test implemented as an integrated circuit or using a programmable logic device is disclosed. It comprises a configurable selection network connected to debug nodes of the circuit. The selection network can be reconfigured after implementation of the circuit to route data from selectable debug nodes in the circuit under test to a controller to allow analysis of the circuit. The data collection system can further comprise a configurable data packer. A method of use of the system associates data from the debug nodes with individual debug nodes of the circuit based on a configuration of the configurable selection network or that of the configurable data packer or both. The method and system of the invention allows for efficient data collection from different sets of debug nodes without having to re-implement the circuit. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176154 | ALL-SPIN LOGIC DEVICES - Illustrative embodiments of all-spin logic devices, circuits, and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an all-spin logic device may include a first nanomagnet, a second nanomagnet, and a spin-coherent channel extending between the first and second nanomagnets. The spin-coherent channel may be configured to conduct a spin current from the first nanomagnet to the second nanomagnet to determine a state of the second nanomagnet in response to a state of the first nanomagnet. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176155 | RESCALING - A novel method for designing an integrated circuit (“IC”) by resealing an original set of circuits in a design of the IC is disclosed. The original set of circuits to be resealed includes sequential nodes, combinational nodes, and interconnects. Each sequential node is associated with a phase of a clock. The method generates a resealed set of circuits that includes multiple replica sets of the circuits. Each replica set of circuits includes sequential nodes, combinational nodes, and interconnects that are identical to nodes and interconnects in the original set of circuits. Each sequential node is associated with a phase of a clock that is at a fraction of the phase of its corresponding sequential element in the original set. The method connects nodes in each replica set of circuits to a logically equivalent node in another replica set. The method replaces the original set of circuits with the resealed set of circuits. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176156 | SINGLE-ENDED SIGNALING WITH PARALLEL TRANSMIT AND RETURN CURRENT FLOW - A single-ended signaling system in which transmitted and returned signal currents are enabled to flow substantially parallel to one another and thereby maintain a substantially uniform impedance along the length of a single-ended signal conductor. A reference plane is disposed substantially parallel to a single-ended signaling conductor and coupled to the signaling conductor within a signal-receiving IC and to signaling supply voltage nodes within a signal-transmitting IC. By this arrangement, an signal current flowing to or from the receiving IC via the signaling conductor is conducted to the reference plane, thereby enabling a signal-return current to flow back to or back from the transmitting IC along a single path that is substantially parallel to the signal conductor. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176157 | Clock-Tree Transformation in High-Speed ASIC Implementation - A method includes providing a first clock tree including a root clock and a plurality of levels of integrated clock gates (ICGs) under the root clock. The plurality of levels of ICGs in the first clock tree is flattened to generate a second clock tree including a plurality of ICGs in a same level under the root clock. A fake module is formed to reserve a region between the root clock and the plurality of ICGs. The fake module includes the root clock as a first input, and a first plurality of outputs coupled to clock-inputs of the plurality of ICGs. A skew balancing is performed on the second clock tree using a clock tree synthesis (CTS) tool to generate a third clock tree, wherein no buffers are inserted into the fake module, and wherein buffers are inserted by the CTS tool under the plurality of ICGs. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176158 | TIME-DOMAIN VOLTAGE COMPARATOR FOR ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER - A time-domain voltage comparator for an analog-to-digital converter includes a first voltage-to-time converter configured to be connected in series with at least one time delay cell and convert an input voltage into time information; a second voltage-to-time converter configured to be connected in series with at least one time delay cell and convert an input voltage into time information; and a phase comparator configured to determine a difference between times outputted from the first voltage-to-time converter and the second voltage-to-time converter. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176159 | Systems and methods for precise event timing measurements - Systems and methods are disclosed for precise event time measurement. High speed serializer and deserializer circuitry are combined with high speed logic elements, such as exclusive-OR (XOR) or exclusive-not-OR (XNOR) logic circuitry, to achieve a measurement precision based upon a bit period associated with the high speed circuitry rather than upon slower reference clock signals. In certain embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods generate digital signal patterns, serialize them, transmit them as a high speed bit stream, utilize an event occurrence signal and logic circuitry to produce a modified bit stream, deserialize the modified bit stream to produce a modified digital signal pattern, compare the modified signal pattern with a predicted signal pattern, and determine bit positions or bit periods at which events occur based upon this comparison. These bit positions can then be used to generate precise timestamps and related time information for detected events. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176160 | SEMICONDUCTOR CIRCUIT, BATTERY CELL MONITORING SYSTEM, COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM STORING DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM AND DIAGNOSTIC METHOD - The present invention provides a semiconductor circuit including: a comparator section that compares discharge sections, each including a first signal line connected to a high potential side of each of a plurality of battery cells that are connected in series, a second signal line connected to a low potential side of each of the plurality of battery cells, a resistance element provided between the first signal line and the second signal line, and a discharge switching element connected in series to the resistance element, wherein the comparator section compares a threshold voltage, set according to a potential difference between a potential of the first signal line and a potential of the second signal line, with a voltage according to a potential between the resistance element and the discharge switching element. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176161 | System and Method for Preventing Bipolar Parasitic Activation in a Semiconductor Circuit - In an embodiment, a semiconductor device has a semiconductor body of a first semiconductor type, a first region of a second semiconductor type disposed in the semiconductor body, and a second region of the first semiconductor type disposed within the first region, where the second semiconductor type is opposite the first semiconductor type, and where an interface between the first region and the semiconductor body forms a first diode junction. The semiconductor device also has a comparator with a first input coupled to the semiconductor body and a second input coupled to the first region, and a switch having a first output node coupled to the first region, and a second output node coupled to the semiconductor body. The semiconductor body, the first region and the second region are configured to be coupled to a first supply voltage, a second supply voltage, and a third supply voltage, respectively. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176162 | High-Voltage Gate Driver that Drives Group III-N High Electron Mobility Transistors - A Group III-N high electron mobility transistor is driven by a high-voltage gate driver that limits the gate-to-source voltage across the transistor by controlling the maximum charge that can be placed on a boot strap capacitor that charges up the gate of the transistor to turn on the transistor. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176163 | DRIVING STAGE AND RELATED DRIVING METHOD - A driving stage of a signal transmitting system includes: a driver powered by a first supply source and arranged to output a driving signal via an output port capable of being connected to an external device; and a controllable isolating circuit including: a switching circuit arranged to selectively couple the first supply source to the output port, and a detecting circuit arranged to detect a specific signal derived from the signal transmitting system, wherein when the specific signal indicates the signal transmitting system turns into a power-off state, the detecting circuit controls the switching circuit to disconnect the output port from the first supply source. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176164 | Circuit Arrangement Having a Load Transistor and a Voltage Limiting Circuit and Method for Driving a Load Transistor - The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement having the following features:
| 2012-07-12 |
20120176165 | SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a mixer circuit unit having a first single gate mixer configured to receive a first input signal having a first frequency and a second input signal having a second frequency as inputs, a second single gate mixer configured to receive the first input signal and a third input signal of a phase inverted from a phase of the second input signal as inputs, a third single gate mixer configured to receive a fourth input signal of a phase inverted from the phase of the first input signal and the second input signal as inputs, and a fourth single gate mixer configured to receive the third and the fourth input signals as inputs; and a ½-frequency divider unit configured to receive output signals from the first to the fourth single gate mixers as inputs and output a desired signal. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176166 | DRIVER CIRCUIT - A driver circuit drives a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller. The driver circuit includes an enabling circuit, a power supply input control circuit, a stabilizing circuit, and a discharge circuit. The stabilizing circuit is electrically connected to the PWM controller. The power supply input control circuit is electrically connected between the enabling circuit and the stabilizing circuit. The discharge circuit is electrically connected between the stabilizing circuit and the ground. In response to the driver circuit working in normal operation, the enabling circuit enables the power supply input control circuit to output a working voltage to the stabilizing circuit, and in response to the process of the driver circuit restarting, the enabling circuit enables the power supply input to stop outputting power supply to the stabilizing circuit. The discharge circuit leads a residual voltage of the stabilizing circuit to the ground, during the process of the driver circuit being restarted. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176167 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE INCLUDING POWER-ON RESET CIRCUIT - A semiconductor device including a power-on-reset (POR) circuit. The semiconductor device includes a driving voltage generator configured to generate a first voltage that rises at a first slope and subsequently rises at a second slope greater than the first slope and a first POR signal generator configured to receive the first voltage and generate a first POR signal having a first ramp-up time. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176168 | SIGNAL CIRCUIT - A signal circuit includes a clock terminal for transmitting a reference clock and a data terminal for transmitting an input/output data. In an embodiment, the frequency of the reference clock is one-eighth of the bit rate of the input/output data. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176169 | DIGITAL PHASE LOCKED LOOP WITH REDUCED SWITCHING NOISE - A method to operate a digital phase locked loop (DPLL) in which the DPLL includes a phase-frequency detector that compares the frequency of a reference signal with a feedback signal to generate an error signal. The error signal is used to generate first and second control words. Binary current control word bits and thermometric current control word bits are generated using the first and second control words, respectively. A binary controller switches a first set of binary current sources prior to a frequency lock being achieved using the binary current control word bits and the thermometric current control word bits are held at a predetermined value. After achieving the frequency lock, the binary current sources are fixed and then a thermometric controller switches a second set of thermometric current sources using the thermometric current control word bits. Operating the DPLL using the binary controller before the frequency lock and the thermometric controller after the frequency lock reduces switching noise and achieves stable loop dynamics. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176170 | DELAY LOCKED LOOP CIRCUIT FOR PREVENTING FAILURE OF COARSE LOCKING - A delay locked loop circuit includes a delay locked loop receiving an external clock, a frequency detector delaying an input frequency signal to generate a plurality of strobe signals and outputting a check signal indicating that the frequency of the input frequency signal is equal to or lower than a reference frequency when all of the strobe signals are positioned within a first-status section of one cycle of the input frequency signal, a delay lock reset unit generating a reset signal to reset the frequency detector and an activation signal to enable the delay locked loop to perform a delay lock process, and a direct phase detector controlling a coarse locking window on the basis of the check signal and generating a pair of phase detection signals indicating logic levels of the external clock. Accordingly, a failure of a coarse locking may be prevented thus facilitating improved circuit performance. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176171 | LOOP FILTER BUFFER WITH LEVEL SHIFTER - A system in accordance with the present invention may include a phase-locked loop circuit, comprising a first input signal oscillating at a reference frequency, a second input signal received from a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) after passing through an N-divider, a phase detector and charge-pump, the phase detector comparing a phase of the first input signal and a phase of the second input signal, a loop filter in series with the phase detector and charge-pump, the loop filter having an integrator, a pole zero, and a post-filter, and a buffer in parallel with the integrator and in series with the post-filter, the buffer receiving an output signal from the integrator and isolating the integrator from an input impedance of the post-filter, and the buffer having a multiplexer for selecting between a plus and minus level shift signal, wherein the VCO is in series with the loop filter and the N-divider, and the VCO is configured to receive a tuning voltage signal from the loop filter. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176172 | Systems and methods for playback of detected timing events - Systems and methods are disclosed for playback of detected timing events with detected phase variations. Disclosed signal generation embodiments can be used to generate digital signals having desired phase variation. Disclosed event detection circuitry can be used to generate event timing data representing one or more phase variations in detected events. The disclosed signal generation embodiments can utilize the event timing data to playback detect events along with the measured phase variations. Further, the signal generation circuitry and the event detection circuitry can be implemented in different devices or can be implemented in the same device. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176173 | ADAPTIVE MULTI-STAGE SLACK BORROWING FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE ERROR RESILIENT COMPUTING - Adaptive scaling digital techniques attempt to place the system close to the timing failure so as to maximize energy efficiency. Rapid recovery from potential failures is usually by slowing the system clock and/or providing razor solutions (instruction replay.) These techniques compromise the throughput. We present a technique to provide local in-situ fault resilience based on dynamic slack borrowing. This technique is non-intrusive (needs no architecture modification) and has minimal impact on throughput. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176174 | Systems and methods for precise generation of phase variation in digital signals - Systems and methods are disclosed for precise generation of phase variation in digital signals. The disclosed signal generation embodiments generate a pattern of information bits that represents a digital signal with desired phase variations and transmit this digital pattern at high speed utilizing a serializer to generate a high speed bit stream. The high speed bit stream can be used to generate one or more digital signals, such as clock signals, having desired rates and desired phase variations. In certain embodiments, the desired phase variation can be introduced into the resulting digital signal by removing and/or inserting bits in a digital pattern thereby moving logic transitions (e.g., rising edge transitions, falling edge transitions) as desired within the resulting digital signal. In addition to clock signals, the resulting digital signals generated can be control signals, data signals and/or any other desired digital signal. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176175 | APPARATUS AND SYSTEM TO SUPPRESS ANALOG FRONT END NOISE INTRODUCED BY CHARGE-PUMP - An apparatus, comprising: a charge-pump; a sampler that samples an optical signal, including: a black sampler; a video sampler; and an analog to digital converter. The first aspect further provides a single clock that is coupled to and provides clocking signals to: a) the charge-pump logic that is coupled to the charge-pump; and b) the sampler logic that is coupled to the sampler that samples the optical signal. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176176 | Resonant Gate Drive Circuit For A Power Switching Device In A High Frequency Power Converter - A resonant gate drive circuit for a power switching device, having a gate-emitter capacitance, is adapted for use with a high frequency power converter. The resonant gate drive circuit comprises a signal input source, a power supply and a resonant inductor. An electrical isolator is connected between the signal input source and a switching node. The electrical isolator is connected to the power supply. A first bidirectional switch is connected between the resonant inductor and the power switching device and includes a first switch control circuit connected to the node to be controlled by a signal from the signal input source. A second bidirectional switch is connected between the power supply and the power switching device and includes a second switch control circuit connected to the node to be controlled by the signal from the input source. The first and second control circuits are adapted to control the first bidirectional switch to provide a first charge path during a resonant period from the resonant inductor to the gate-emitter capacitance defining a quick resonant charge path and to control the second bidirectional switch to provide a second charge path defining a voltage equalization charge path subsequent to the resonant period. | 2012-07-12 |
20120176177 | SWITCH WITH IMPROVED EDGE RATE CONTROL - This documents discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods for a switch circuit including a break-before-make delay and a gradual turn-on. In an example, a switch circuit can include a switch transistor having a control node and coupled to a first node and a second node, a delay circuit configured to receive control information and to provide the control information after a delay interval, and a gradual turn-on circuit configured to receive the delayed control information from the delay circuit and to transition the transistor from the off-state to the on-state over a ramp interval in response to the delayed control information. | 2012-07-12 |