48th week of 2010 patent applcation highlights part 21 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20100301798 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SOLAR CHARGE DEVICE AND PORTABLE TERMINAL USING THE SAME - A method for controlling a solar charge device and a portable terminal using the same by registering a driver software for controlling the solar charge device in an operating system. Upon booting of the portable terminal, and enabling the charge detection terminal every set given time period stored in the driver software after the booting completion, a charge detection signal corresponding to presence of power output of a solar cell being input to the charge detection terminal. The method and the portable terminal prevent the occurrence of lock-up in the portable terminal due to frequent interrupts occurring in the charge detection terminal from a non-uniform output of a solar cell that may occur as movement of the portable terminal can vary the amount of sunlight received by the solar cell. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301799 | POWER CONTROL CIRCUIT AND BATTERY MODULE INCLUDING THE SAME - This invention provides a power control circuit and a battery module including the same. The power control circuit is provided in an electronic device and is connected a solar power supply. The electronic device includes a first battery and a second battery. The power control circuit includes a processing unit and a control unit. When the processing unit is connected to the solar power supply, the processing unit outputs a first control signal. The control unit is connected to the processing unit, the first battery, and the second battery, respectively. Further, the control unit receives the first control signal to control the first battery and the second battery to alternately supply power to the electronic device and to control the first battery and the second battery to be alternately charged by the solar power supply. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301800 | Multi-purpose battery jump starter and reconditioner - A multi-purpose battery jump starter and reconditioner. The device is portable and includes electronic circuitry for use in desulfating lead-acid batteries. A rechargeable internal battery permits operation in remote conditions. Accessories include an air compressor, DC outlet, USB outlet, and light to cause cycling of the battery for optimum life. The jump starter, cables and air compressor are all integrated into a light weight compact housing. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301801 | Device for Mechanically and Electrically Connecting a Portable, Battery-Operated Apparatus and Portable, Battery-Operated Apparatus - A device is provided for mechanically and electrically connecting a portable, battery-operated apparatus in order to operate the apparatus and/or to charge its battery. The device includes a receiving area for the apparatus as well as a first coil arrangement, which is disposed on, in or under the receiving area and which is designed for interaction with a second coil arrangement of the apparatus, when the apparatus is disposed in a predefined position on the receiving area. Finally, the device exhibits a first coupling element, which, in interaction with a second coupling element of the apparatus, the apparatus can be moved into the predefined position after being placed on the receiving area. The first coupling element exhibits at least a first component, which is designed for magnetic coupling with a respective second component of the apparatus. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301802 | CHARGING APPARATUS - The charging apparatus supplying power from a power source to a vehicle includes a body, a cable, a communication device, a starting switch and a controller. The controller is connected to the communication device and the starting switch for controlling the power supply from the power source to the charging connector. If the charging connector is connected to a vehicle which has no communication function for communicating with the charging apparatus, the controller controls so that a voltage is applied to the charging connector when the starting switch is operated. If the charging connector is connected to a vehicle which has communication function for communicating with the charging apparatus, the controller controls so that a voltage is applied to the charging connector in accordance with the communication between the communication device and the vehicle. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301803 | CHARGING DEVICE AND ALGORITHM FOR CHARGING NIMH BATTERIES - A method of charging or recharging a NiMH battery. The disclosure further relates to a charging station and a system. The object of the disclosure is to provide a charging algorithm that charges the battery in a relatively short time and at the same time is relatively gentle as regards its life time degradation. The problem is solved in that the method includes a) providing a constant charge current until a predefined threshold voltage is reached; b) when the predefined threshold voltage is reached, keeping the voltage constant by reducing the charge current; and wherein the predefined threshold voltage is determined depending on the temperature of the battery. This has the advantage of providing a charging algorithm with a compromise between charging speed and battery life time. The disclosure may, e.g., be used for the portable communication devices, e.g. listening devices, such as hearing instruments. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301804 | Battery Charger with Mechanism to Automatically Load and Unload Batteries - A mechanism is disclosed for loading/unloading one or more rechargeable batteries. The mechanism includes one or more charging compartments configured to receive one or more rechargeable batteries and a first actuator configured to cause the one or more rechargeable batteries to be displaced from a first position to a second position. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301805 | CHARGER - A charger capable of clamping portable communication device is provided. The charger includes a body, a securing portion, and at least one elastic element, wherein the at least one elastic element is deformable elastically when electricity power is supplied thereto, and recoverable to its normal shape when the power is off. The at least one elastic element joins the securing portion to the body. When a user uses the charger, firstly, places the portable communication device between the body and the securing portion, then, supplies electricity power, and the at least one elastic element contracts and drives the securing portion to move towards the body, as a result, the portable communication device is clamped. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301806 | RECHARGEABLE ELECTRIC HERB GRINDER - A rechargeable electric herb grinder according to one embodiment comprises a grinder housing having one or more of housing compartments attachable to each other along a separating joint, a grinding chamber for receiving an herb, the grinding chamber being formed inside the grinder housing by the housing compartments and a spacer, an electric motor separated from the grinding chamber by the spacer, the spacer being rigidly coupled to the electric motor, a driven shaft mounted and received in the grinder chamber through an aperture in the spacer for rotation of a grinding means mounted on the driven shaft by the power provided by the electric motor, the grinding means being utilized to grind the herb, an internal rechargeable battery located outside of the grinding chamber, the internal rechargeable battery having first conductors to provide electric current to the electric motor, a recharging plug coupled to the grinding housing to recharge the internal rechargeable battery and having second conductors for connecting to an external power supply, thereby enabling recharging of the internal rechargeable battery, and a two-condition control switch, a relay having at least one pair of openable and closable contacts, and third conductors electrically interconnecting the electric motor, the two-condition control switch and the relay with the internal rechargeable battery. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301807 | Modular battery system having battery monitoring and data collection capability - Disclosed herein is a modular battery system having at least one subsystem comprising a plurality of battery modules connected in series or parallel, wherein each subsystem preferably having a first endplate and a second endplate. The battery modules may be bound between the first and second endplates. A plurality of band members couple the first and second endplates to each other and bind the battery module between the endplates. Further, a data collection panel is in electrical communication with each of the battery modules and the data collection panel transmits status information of the modules to a master control module, which converts the electrical into a data transmission through a controller area network (CAN) bus. Status information may include module temperature, module pressure and module voltage, essentially any measurable parameter that may be conducted via an electrical signal. Depending on the needs of a given application, the battery modules may be connected in series or parallel. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301808 | CHARGING DEVICE AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE EMPLOYING THE SAME - A charging device for recharging a battery includes an electric energy generating module, a voltage regulating module, and a battery electrically connected. The electric energy generating module converts kinetic energy into electric energy and outputs an unstable voltage. The voltage regulating module stabilizes the unstable voltage into stable voltage. The charging circuit outputs the stable voltage to the battery. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301809 | OVERCURRENT AND GROUND FAULT PROTECTION IN A NETWORKED CHARGING STATION FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A networked charging station for electric vehicles protects against overcurrent and ground fault conditions. Upon detecting an overcurrent condition or a ground fault condition, the networked charging station for electric vehicles de-energizes a charging point connection to prevent electric current from flowing between an electric vehicle and the networked charging station and suspends the charging session. The networked charging station clears the overcurrent condition or the ground fault condition upon receipt of an authorized request which is transmitted remotely. The authorized request can be received from the vehicle operator that is associated with the charging session or from an administrator of the charging station through a radio-frequency identifier (RFID) tag enabled device or through a text message or an email message. The networked charging station clears the overcurrent condition or the ground fault condition without a manual reset of a circuit breaker or a GFCI device respectively. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301810 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING - Methods and systems are provided to charge a vehicle battery from an external power source. The system includes a sensor configured to detect an electrical current received from the external power source and a processor configured to determine a charging schedule related to charging the vehicle battery. The processor is also configured to determine a variation from the charging schedule based on the electrical current and to direct transmissions of messages based on the electrical current detected by the sensor. The system includes a remote electronic device configured to receive the messages and to alert a driver of the plug-in vehicle based on the messages. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301811 | BATTERY CHARGING CIRCUIT AND BATTERY CHARGER - A battery charging circuit and a battery charger that stabilizes operation when switching between charging modes. The battery charging circuit includes first and second transistors that form a current mirror circuit with an output transistor. The source terminal of the first transistor is connected to a first resistor, and the source terminal of the second transistor is connected to a second resistor. Each source terminal is connected to a switch circuit, which controls switching between a trickle charge mode and a fast charge mode. The supply of current to the first and second resistors from the discrete transistors reduces the difference in phase lag resulting from the CR time constant and stabilizes operation in the trickle charge and the fast charge modes. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301812 | BATTERY CHARGING CIRCUIT - A battery charging circuit that stabilizes operation when switching between charge modes includes first and second transistors. The first transistor has a source connected to a first switch circuit. The first switch circuit connects the second transistor to either one of first and second external terminals. A mode switch circuit generates a switch signal for switching from a trickle charge mode to a fast charge mode. The mode switching circuit provides the switching signal to a comparison circuit. After a predetermined time elapses, the mode switching circuit provides the switching signal to the switch circuit. The comparison circuit lowers a current restriction reference voltage, which determines a charging current value, and returns the current restriction reference voltage to its original value after switching modes. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301813 | METHOD FOR CHARGING LITHIUM BATTERIES WITH POWER DISSIPATION CONTROL - Herein described are at least methods and systems to control power dissipation while charging a device. In a representative embodiment, the method comprises first monitoring a first voltage output by a charger used for said charging a battery of a device, second monitoring a second voltage at the battery, first determining a first current based on a power dissipation value associated with the device, the first voltage, and the second voltage, second determining a minimum of the first current and a second current, wherein the second current equals the maximum charging current during a typical charge cycle of the device, and applying a control signal to a control circuit to generate the minimum, wherein the control circuit is communicatively coupled to the charger at a first port, and the battery at a second port. An exemplary system comprises one or more circuits operable for, at least performing the aforementioned method. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301814 | SYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR PROTECTION - A scheme for synchronous generator protection is provided. Based on generator input and transformer output phase information, along with the energy function concept, the scheme for synchronous generator protection provides early detection of a loss of synchronism of a generator. As such, the generator with loss of synchronism can be tripped before the generator actually slips. An example for how such a synchronous generator protection schemes may function, is also provided. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301815 | ELECTRIC VEHICLE HAVING A GENERATOR - An electric vehicle having a generator includes a body, an electric machinery, an electric machinery controller, a battery and a generator. The generator generates electricity to the battery and provides power supply to the electric machinery through the electric machinery controller for driving wheels of the body to advance. The electric vehicle further includes a control system. The control system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a battery voltage detection module to detect a voltage value of the battery and send the voltage value of the battery to the CPU, a comparison module to compare the voltage value of the battery with a preset maximum voltage value and a preset minimum voltage value and send a comparison result to the CPU, a battery output current detection module to detect an output current value of the battery and send the output current value of the battery to the CPU, a generator output voltage detection module to detect an output voltage value of the generator and send the output voltage valve of the generator to the CPU, the CPU being adapted to receive the aforesaid data and analyze for controlling the generator to work and its output status. The present invention ensures that the electric vehicle is able to drive outdoors continually without causing any harmful effect to an electric machinery controller and a battery so as to provide a certain protection to the battery. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301816 | FIELD WINDING TYPE GENERATOR-MOTOR - Provided is a field winding type generator-motor capable of minimizing cost increase and structure modification while preventing a failure due to a temperature rise, without mounting a temperature sensor. The field winding type generator-motor according to the present invention includes: a dynamo-electric machine that has a field winding; a field current detecting section for detecting field current; a field current restriction deciding section for deciding whether or not the decision value has reached a predetermined decision threshold value by calculating a decision value based on the field current detected by the field current detecting section; and a field current controller for controlling the field current flowing in the field winding so that the field current is restricted to a predetermined permissible value in a case where the field current restriction deciding section decides that the decision value has reached the predetermined decision threshold value. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301817 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICAL POWER - Power output of a power generation system is controlled by measuring the output voltage of the system, dividing the measured voltage value into a target power value, then controlling the current provided by the generation system to the calculated value. In some embodiments the power generation system is connected to a grid. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301818 | VOLTAGE LEVEL SHIFTER AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING THE SAME THEREIN - A voltage level shifter and a semiconductor device having the same are presented. The voltage level shifter includes a swing width transformer and a power supply controller. The swing width transformer receives an input signal that ranges between a first level power voltage and a ground voltage and is configured to generate a signal that ranges between a second level power voltage and that of the ground voltage. The power supply controller is configured to control power supply to the swing width transformer in response to an enable signal activated in an active mode. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301819 | HIGH VOLTAGE GENERATING APPARATUS - A high voltage generating apparatus includes a regulator configured to control a pumping voltage at a voltage of a certain level, and an amplifier configured to amplify a current flowing through an output terminal of the regulator and to output an amplified current. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301820 | HIGH WITHSTAND VOLTAGE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND CURRENT CONTROL DEVICE USING THE SAME - To provide a high withstand voltage semiconductor device capable of accurately detecting a switch between a MOS operation and an IGBT operation, and thereby achieving a low-loss drive, and a current control device using the same. The semiconductor device includes: an N-type resurf region | 2010-12-02 |
20100301821 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INPUT CHARGE CONTROL OF A POWER SUPPLY - An example controller includes a constant current control circuit and an integrator included in the constant current control circuit. The constant current control circuit is to be coupled to receive an input current sense signal, an input voltage sense signal, and an output voltage sense signal. The control circuit is adapted to regulate an output current of a power supply by generating a control signal to control switching of a switch. The integrator is coupled to integrate the input current sense signal during a switching period of the control signal to generate an integrated signal representative of a charge taken from an input voltage source of the power supply. The constant current control circuit is adapted to control the switching of the switch such that the integrated signal is proportional to a ratio of the output voltage sense signal to the input voltage sense signal. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301822 | Switching regulator and control circuit thereof, and method for determining on-time in switchng regulator - The present invention discloses a switching regulator and control method thereof, and a method for determining On-time in switching regulator. The switching regulator comprises: a power switch circuit including at least one power transistor switch which operates to convert an input voltage to an output voltage; a PWM generation circuit for generating a duty signal in a normal operation mode according to a feedback signal relating to the output voltage; a pulse skipping circuit for determining On-time in a pulse skipping mode according to a node with non-constant voltage level, the node being connected with the power transistor switch; and a driver circuit for driving the at least one power transistor switch according to one of the outputs from the PWM generation circuit and the pulse skipping circuit. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301823 | POWER SUPPLY UNIT AND CONTROL CIRCUIT OF POWER SUPPLY UNIT - An ADC, a comparator, a calculator and a DPWM for applying a feedback control to a power supply main circuit are provided on a control circuit. The comparator compares digital output voltage information obtained by analog to digital conversion of the ADC and target voltage information, and outputs its difference to an error adjuster. The error adjuster performs control by reference to the difference (error value information) so that an output voltage of the power supply main circuit is not included in a predetermined range adjacent to the resolution boundary of the power supply control signal, thereby preventing the occurrence of distortion (limit cycle oscillation) of the output voltage caused by the accumulation of errors. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301824 | STEP-UP DC/DC SWITCHING CONVERTER AND SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE - A step-up DC/DC converter having a step-up circuit which can performs a stable control without depending on a logic threshold of a semiconductor switching device and a semiconductor integrated circuit device having the step-up DC/DC converter are provided. The step-up DC/DC converter includes: a control logic which generates a driving voltage to be supplied to a semiconductor switching device; a power supply circuit which steps-up a battery voltage to perform a level shift of the driving voltage output by the control logic; and an amplifier operated with using a voltage generated by the semiconductor switching device as a power supply. Since the level-shifted semiconductor switching device control signal is higher than a logic threshold voltage of the semiconductor switching device, the ON/OFF of the semiconductor switching device can be controlled. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301825 | DC-DC CONVERTER - A DC-DC converter has an error amplifier that amplifies a potential difference between a first voltage based on an output voltage at the output terminal and a reference voltage, and outputs a resultant error amplified signal; a differential detecting circuit that senses an inclination of a temporal change of the output voltage by differentiating the first voltage, outputs a control signal according to a result of the sensing; and a PWM generating circuit that compares a synthetic signal obtained by conducting computation on the amplified error signal and the control signal with a periodically changing comparison signal, and outputs a PWM signal having a duty ratio controlled according to a result of the comparison. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301826 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORING PHASES TO OVERCOME DUTY CYCLE LIMITATIONS IN A MULTI-PHASE BOOST CONVERTER - A multiphase boost converter includes a multiphase PWM controller for generating a plurality of PWM signals. A plurality of boost converters are each associated with a separate phase connected between an input voltage node and an output voltage node and generating an output voltage responsive to an input voltage and the plurality of PWM signals. Phase nodes of each of the plurality of boost converters are ORed to each other. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301827 | Control for regulator fast transient response and low EMI noise - Methods and circuits for power supply arrangement and control are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a switching regulator can include: (i) a filter network coupled to an output terminal, where an output voltage is generated at the output terminal from an input source; (ii) an active switch to connect the input source to the filter network by periodically operating between on and off states over a switching period, where a duty cycle of the on state relative to the switching period is modulated based on a PWM control signal; (iii) a comparator receiving an output feedback signal, a hysteresis signal, and a reference level, and providing the PWM control signal therefrom; and (iv) a hysteresis programming circuit generating the hysteresis signal, and a ramp control signal, where the hysteresis signal is programmed based on conditions at the input source and the output voltage to achieve a pseudo constant frequency operation. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301828 | POWER MANAGEMENT CIRCUIT AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - The power management circuit includes a sampling unit, a reference voltage unit, a comparator, and a power managing unit. The sampling unit divides an input voltage from the power supply to generate a sampling voltage. The reference voltage unit receives the input voltage and generates a reference voltage when the input voltage is larger than a predetermined value. The comparator compares the sampling voltage with the reference voltage, generates a first signal when the sampling voltage is larger than the reference voltage, and generates a second signal when the sampling voltage is smaller than the reference voltage. The power managing unit establishes an electrical connection between the power supply and the load according to the first signal, and cuts off the electrical connection between the power supply and the load according to the second signal. A related electronic device is also provided. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301829 | BATTERY POWER SUPPLY FOR RADIOFREQUENCY TRANSMITTER - The invention relates to a power supply device for an RF transmitter ( | 2010-12-02 |
20100301830 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE INCLUDING VOLTAGE GENERATOR - A semiconductor device includes a voltage generator. The voltage generator includes a detection circuit having a number of voltage detection units, each detection unit including a different number of resistors compared to other detection units and each detection unit outputting a respective voltage, a voltage comparison circuit configured to compare a constant voltage to each respective divided voltage outputted from detection units of the detection circuit and to output a number of control signals in response to the comparison, and a reference voltage generator configured to generate a reference voltage in response to the control signals. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301831 | ZERO-VOLTAGE SWITCHING POWER CONVERTER - The zero-voltage converter is able to perform at extremely high power levels and bares significant benefits to all levels; system, inverter and circuitry level. Power losses are avoided by using a new developed resonant topology. EMI problems are reduced by power module integrated capacitors as well as smart selection of the terminal technology and under full utilization of the analog components and their potentials. The power module developed for this specific application is designed under a maxim of gaining highest power density as well as lowest stray inductances. High switching frequencies enable even special electro motors with extremely low leakage inductance to perform well. This is in particular beneficial for ultra high speed drives or motors with a high pole pair number. The mechanical concept of the inverter can specifically be adopted to the referring vehicle and to its available installation space. Thus, also (hybrid) electrical vehicles can be designed based on such highly innovative conception. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301832 | Curvature Compensated Bandgap Voltage Reference - Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for generating a curvature compensated bandgap voltage reference. In an embodiment, a curvature compensated bandgap reference voltage is achieved by injecting a temperature dependent current at different points in the bandgap reference voltage circuit. In an embodiment, the temperature dependent current is injected in the proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) and complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) current generation block of the bandgap circuit. Alternatively, or additionally, the temperature dependent current is injected at the output stage of the bandgap circuit. In an embodiment, the temperature dependent current is a linear piecewise continuous function of temperature. In another embodiment, the temperature dependent current has opposite dependence on temperature to that of the bandgap voltage reference before curvature compensation. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301833 | LOAD SENSING HIGH EFFICIENCY TRANSFORMER ASSEMBLY - A load sensing, high efficiency, modular transformer assembly for use in power distribution networks. The control of each module of the modular assembly of high efficiency transformers results in considerable energy savings when compared to conventional transformers. The assembly is controlled according to the requirements of the connected load, with modules being switched in and out of circuit, thereby resulting in a transformer with a higher efficiency than is possible with currently available distribution transformers of equivalent capacity. Connection and disconnection of the transformer modules is accomplished with the use of a purpose designed electronic controller. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301834 | Low-Cost Power Measurement Circuit - In embodiments of the present invention, a method and system is provided for designing improved intelligent, LED-based lighting systems. The LED based lighting systems may include fixtures with one or more of rotatable LED light bars, integrated sensors, onboard intelligence to receive signals from the LED light bars and control the LED light bars, and a mesh network connectivity to other fixtures. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301835 | Current sensor - A current sensor includes, a current-measured wiring including parallel wiring sections in which portions of the same wiring are arranged in parallel such that electric current to be measured flows therein in opposite directions each other; a magnetism detection unit which is arranged between parallel wirings located in the parallel wiring sections and detects a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to a plane formed by the parallel wirings; a current detection unit which detects electric current flowing in the current-measured wiring, based on the magnetic field detected by the magnetism detection unit; and a magnetic core surrounding the parallel wiring sections so as to intensify the magnetic field generated around the parallel wirings located in the parallel wiring sections when electric current flows in the wirings. The magnetic core has a pair of plates facing each other over a plane formed by the parallel wirings, the pair of plates having flat and parallel inner faces, and the magnetism detection unit is arranged between the pair of plates of the magnetic core. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301836 | DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE INTENSITY OF AN ELECTRIC CURRENT AND ELECTRIC APPLIANCE INCLUDING SUCH DEVICE - A device for measuring the intensity of an electric current which has a simple and economical design and offers a high measurement dynamic compatible with combined measurement, protection and energy metering applications. The device ( | 2010-12-02 |
20100301837 | POWER MEASURING SYSTEM, MEASURING APPARATUS, LOAD TERMINAL, AND DEVICE CONTROL SYSTEM - A power measuring system, a measuring apparatus, a load terminal, and a device control system are provided, which need no special installation work to be made by any skillful professionals such as persons qualified for electrical work. A voltage sensor detects a voltage waveform of a power line in a noncontact manner, and a current sensor acquires a current waveform of the power line in a noncontact manner. A measuring portion of a load terminal operates a contact means to connect the power line and a voltage measuring terminal to measure a current flowing from the power line to a load and to calculate a voltage value from the measured current value and the load. The measuring portion of the load terminal transmits, in response to a request from a measuring apparatus, the measured current value and the calculated voltage value to the measuring apparatus via a communication means. A control portion of the measuring apparatus receives the current value and the voltage value from the load terminal via a communication means. The control portion calculates a power value based on the received current value and voltage value, as well as on the voltage waveform acquired from the voltage sensor and the current waveform acquired from the current sensor. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301838 | Method for Monitoring the Output of an Electromechanical Actuator of the Rotary-Linear Type - The invention relates to a method for monitoring the output of an electromechanical actuator of the rotary-linear type in order to detect a gradual seizing thereof, wherein said method comprises: measuring the intensity, representative of the motor torque, of the electrical current powering an induction winding of the actuator and the axial stress undergone by an actuator rod; calculating the ratio (axial stress undergone by an actuator rod/motor torque) representative of the global output of the actuator and of its present state; and generating an evaluation of the present condition of the actuator based on its present state and optionally on previous stored states and/or on outer parameters. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301839 | MAGNETIC ANCHORAGE EQUIPMENT WITH A SELF-TEST UNIT - The present invention relates to magnetic anchorage equipment comprising a frame able to contain a plurality of polar units, each of the plurality of polar units having a ferromagnetic polar element which identifies an anchorage surface and a self-testing unit for checking the magnetic equipment. The magnetic anchorage equipment is characterized in that the self-testing unit for checking the magnetic equipment is at least partly integrated in the frame. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301840 | MEASURING THE POSITION OF AN OBJECT - Noncontact measuring of positions of objects is achieved through measurements of parameters characterized by the distribution of an AC magnetic flux in the air gap between stationary and moveable portions defining a sensor magnetic circuit. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301841 | ELECTROMAGNETIC TRACKING METHOD AND SYSTEM - Provided is an electromagnetic coil arrangement comprising a set of electromagnetic sensors at fixed locations with respect to each other, each of the electromagnetic sensors comprising a planar coil coupled to a conductive layer, the planar coil comprising non-concentric rings. Further, provided is an electromagnetic tracking system, comprising an electromagnetic coil arrangement, at least one complementary electromagnetic sensor and a processor configured to process a signal comprising data indicative of a mutual inductance between the at least one complementary electromagnetic sensor and each of the set of the electromagnetic sensors of the electromagnetic coil arrangement. Also, provided are a method of tracking and a method of manufacturing an electromagnetic coil arrangement. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301842 | MAGNETIC REVOLUTION COUNTER - A magnetic revolution counter for the unambiguous determination of a definable number of revolutions of a rotating element to be determined. The aim of creating such a revolution counter allowing a determination of any arbitrarily definable number of revolutions, for example up to values of N>4000 or more as defined, and enabling a cost-effective and small design, is achieved in that a plurality of sensor elements ( | 2010-12-02 |
20100301843 | POSITION ENCODER COMPRISING A PLASTIC ELEMENT - Disclosed is a position sensor, in particular a rotor position sensor, comprising a base. A track that is provided with a conducting coating is formed within the surface of the base relevant for evaluating signals. Since the track is formed within the base, the desired position-dependent modulation of the eddy current behavior is obtained by design measures, resulting in low manufacturing tolerance and reduced production costs. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301844 | Rotary Encoder - A rotary encoder comprising a magnet, AMR or GMR sensors and an evaluation means. The AMR or GMR sensors are arranged to generate two signals that unambiguously encode the rotary position of the magnet within a predetermined range of rotary positions and a direction of rotation of the magnet. The evaluation means is arranged to derive single-turn and multi-turn information solely from the signals. The encoder is arranged to be switched to a power saving state for a predetermined period of time, to be at least partially reactivated thereafter and to compare a current value derived from the signals with a stored previous value derived from the signals. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301845 | ABSOLUTE MEASUREMENT STEERING ANGLE SENSOR ARRANGEMENT - An angle sensor arrangement for measuring the rotational angle of a shaft comprising a first gearwheel and a first magnetic encoder with at least one encoder track. The first gearwheel and the first magnetic encoder rotate with shaft. The angle sensor arrangement also comprises a second gearwheel and a second magnetic encoder with at least one encoder track. The second encoder rotates with the second gearwheel, and the first and second gearwheels interact. At least one magnetic field sensor element is assigned to the first encoder and to the second encoder, respectively and the first and second gearwheels are embodied in terms of their common transmission ratio and the first and second magnetic encoders are embodied in terms of their pole numbers. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301846 | MAGNETIC SPEED SENSOR AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - An speed sensor for a rotating shaft includes a plurality of magnetic portions on the shaft that output a magnetic field from each of the magnetic portions, wherein the magnetic portions are integrally formed in the shaft by magnetically polarizing the shaft material itself. At least one magnetic field sensor is positioned proximate to the shaft for detecting the magnetic field from each of the magnetic portions and for outputting a signal corresponding to the angular speed of the shaft as the shaft rotates. The signal is useful for calculating the angular speed of the shaft, and the calculated angular speed value is useful for things like adjusting the angular speed of the shaft, monitoring the performance of the system in which the shaft is used, and for other purposes. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301847 | Wheel bearing device with rotation detector - A wheel support bearing assembly for supporting a wheel, which assembly includes an outer member having rolling surfaces and serving as a stationary member; an inner member having rolling surfaces; a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between the respective rolling surfaces; a magnetic encoder fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the inner member at a location adjacent one end thereof; an annular sensor holder made of resin and fitted to the outer member through a core metal, the annular sensor holder having a built-in magnetic sensor with an axial gap intervening between it and the magnetic encoder; and a sealing unit arranged on an outer side axially outwardly of the encoder and the sensor for sealing a space between the sensor holder and the inner member. The magnetic encoder includes a plastic magnetic encoder having a plastic magnet defining a to-be-detected portion. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301848 | Method for Continuously Determining the Tensile Force F in a Cable of a Parking Brake - Presented is a method for continuously determining the tensile force F in a cable of a parking brake that includes transmitting the tensile force F to a cable grommet coupled to a first end of an expandable intermediate part that includes a magnet and/or a magnetic sensor. The first end of the expandable intermediate part faces away from a drive spindle coupled to a second end of the expandable intermediate part. The method further includes changing the length of the expandable intermediate part in the direction of its longitudinal axis in response to the transmitted tensile force F, moving the magnet and the magnetic sensor relative to each other in response to the change in length, changing the signal voltage of the magnetic sensor in response to the relative movement between the magnet and the magnetic sensor, and determining the tensile force F from the respective signal voltage. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301849 | NOVEL SCANNING MAGNETIC IMAGING METHOD WITH HIGH RESOLUTION AND LONG DETECTION RANGE - A method of magnetic imaging at long detection ranges. In one embodiment the method comprises introducing a magnetic sample having magnetic particles into a detection field; detecting weak magnetic field signals of the magnetic particles; forming an image from the detected signals; and determining the location and quantity amount of the magnetic particles. The method further comprises introducing a magnetic sample to a human or other organism's body. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301850 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ANALYSING A MAGNETIC MATERIAL, AND ANALYSER INCLUDING THE DEVICE - Disclosed is a method of analysing a magnetic material which includes the construction of a signature S(H) of the magnetic material formed from at least two points S(H) | 2010-12-02 |
20100301851 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEARCHING EDDY CURRENT OF ELECTRIC HEAT TUBE USING MEASURING MAGNETIC PERMEABILITY IN STEAM GENERATOR - A detection apparatus for an eddy current in a heat generating tube using a permeability measurement method, and a method using the apparatus are provided. In the detection apparatus, a bobbin type probe acquires detection information with respect to a magnetic flux change by a magnetic phase occurring in the heat generating tube using a coil which is wound in an axis direction of at least one yoke located in a perpendicular direction with a bobbin of the bobbin type probe, and a material having a corresponding magnetic phase and a circumferential defect, which is difficult to be detected by the bobbin type probe, are detected based on the detection information. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301852 | ELECTRICAL CURRENT SENSOR - Closed-loop current sensor comprising a magnetic circuit, a magnetic field sensor, and a compensation circuit configured to generate a magnetic field opposing a magnetic field created by an electrical current to be measured flowing in one or more primary conductors ( | 2010-12-02 |
20100301853 | POLARIZING NUCLEI IN SOLIDS VIA SPIN TRANSFER FROM AN OPTICALLY-PUMPED ALKALI VAPOR - The present invention relates to a method and system for polarizing a solid compound of interest via spin transfer from an optically-pumped alkali vapor. In one embodiment, the method provides a cell which contains a solid compound as well as pure alkali metal and some amount of buffer gas. The cell is heated to vaporize some of the pure alkali. Resonant laser light is passed through the cell to polarize the atomic vapor, a process known as “optical pumping.” Optical pumping can transfer order from photons to atoms, causing a buildup of vapor atoms in one angular momentum state. This vapor polarization is then transferred through the surface of the solid compound in order to polarize the nuclei in the bulk of the compound. This can produce nuclear polarizations in the sample many times larger than the limit set by thermal equilibrium. The method can be used in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). | 2010-12-02 |
20100301854 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE FORCE DETECTION APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A magnetic resonance force detection apparatus, comprising a sample carrier for carrying a sample to be tested, a magnetic field source and a support for supporting either the sample carrier or the magnetic field source. The magnetic field source is configured to expose the sample to a magnetic field by simultaneously providing a plurality of volumes in which the magnetic field is configured to cause the spins of one or more nuclei or electrons in the sample to flip, and wherein the flipping of spins exerts a force on the support. The apparatus also comprises a support displacement measuring sensor configured to measure the displacement of the support and generate a signal representative of the displacement of the support, and a processor configured to process the signal representative of the displacement of the support in order to determine a component of the displacement of the support caused by one or more of the plurality of volumes. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301855 | Systems, devices, methods, and compositions including targeted ferromagnetic structures - Magnetic resonance systems, devices, methods, and compositions are provided. A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging composition includes, but is not limited to, a plurality of target-selective ferromagnetic microstructures configured to generate a time-invariant magnetic field within at least a portion of one or more internal surface-defined voids. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301856 | Systems, devices, methods, and compositions including functionalized ferromagnetic structures - Magnetic resonance systems, devices, methods, and compositions are provided. A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging composition includes, but is not limited to, a plurality of functionalized ferromagnetic microstructures configured to generate a time-invariant magnetic field within at least a portion of one or more internal surface-defined voids. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301857 | Multiplex imaging systems, devices, methods, and compositions including ferromagnetic structures - Multiplex imaging systems, devices, methods, and compositions are provided. A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging composition includes, but is not limited to, a plurality of ferromagnetic microstructures configured to generate a time-invariant magnetic field within at least a portion of one or more internal surface-defined voids. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301858 | NMR Diagnostics by Means of a Plastic Sample Container - Sample containers and methods for employing the same in in-vitro nuclear magnetic resonance measurements are provided. The sample containers are made of a material that comprises one or more polymeric materials. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301859 | Method and Apparatus for Correcting B1-Inhomogeneities in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging - A method of performing nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of a body (B), comprising: immerging said body in a static magnetic field B0 for aligning nuclear spins along a magnetization axis; exposing it to a transverse radio-frequency pulsed field Bi for flipping said nuclear spins by a predetermined angle; and detecting a signal emitted by flipped nuclear spins; the method being characterized in that it comprises the preliminary steps of: (i) determining a statistical distribution of the amplitude of said radio-frequency pulsed field within a volume of said body; and (ii) computing a set of optimal parameters of a composite radio-frequency pulsed field for jointly minimizing the dispersion of the spin flip angles distribution within said volume of the body, due to B1 and possibly B0 inhomogeneities, and the errors between the actual spin flip angles and their predetermined target value, wherein said radio-frequency pulsed field consists of a train of elementary pulses having a constant frequency and amplitude, and a continuous phase, and said parameters comprise: the number of said elementary pulses, as well as the duration, amplitude, frequency and relative initial phase of each of them. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301860 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER-ACCESSIBLE MEDIUM FOR PROVIDING BREATH-HOLD MULTI-ECHO FAST SPIN-ECHO PULSE SEQUENCE FOR ACCURATE R2 MEASUREMENT - Exemplary embodiments of system, method and computer-accessible medium can be provided in accordance with the present disclosure can be provided for generating a plurality of images associated with at least one anatomical structure using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. For example, using such exemplary embodiments, it is possible to obtain at least one multi-echo fast spin-echo (FSE) pulse sequence based on the MRI data, which can include, e.g., hardware specifications of the MRI system. Further, it is possible to generate each of the images based on a particular arrangement of multiple echoes produced by the multi-echo FSE pulse sequence(s). | 2010-12-02 |
20100301861 | MRI Apparatus - An MRI apparatus including a magnetic structure defining a cavity for receiving a body under examination or a part thereof, a mechanism for generating a magnetic field inside the cavity, a mechanism for causing the body under examination or a part thereof to emit nuclear magnetic resonance signals, and a mechanism for receiving the nuclear magnetic resonance signals. The mechanism for generating the magnetic field includes one or more elements made of permanently magnetized material of the so-called superconducting bulk material type and, in combination therewith, a mechanism for keeping the magnetization condition of the superconducting bulk material which includes mechanisms for maintaining the temperature of the permanently magnetized material below the critical temperature thereof and for restoring the magnetization of the superconducting bulk material upon a complete or partial demagnetization. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301862 | DUAL-FREQUENCY COIL ARRAY FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) SYSTEM - A dual-frequency coil array for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The coil array includes a first coil element having a pair of dual-frequency loop coils and a second coil element having a pair of dual-frequency loop coils. The coil array further includes at least one capacitive mesh configured to decouple the pairs of dual-frequency loop coils of the first and second coil elements. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301863 | MECHANICAL PICK-UP WITH REDUCED IMPACT FORCE BY USING A POTATING INTERMEDIATE PART - When a subject is being positioned in a diagnostic imager for a diagnostic scan, a subject support ( | 2010-12-02 |
20100301864 | MAGNETIC SHIELD BODY AND MAGNETIC SHIELDED ROOM - A magnetic shield body comprises a cylindrical body unit configured by having a plurality of cylindrical bodies having permeability and mutually same longitudinal cross-sectional shapes arranged with a mutual interval such that central axes of the cylindrical bodies coincide with each other and side surfaces of the cylindrical bodies form a mutually same plane; and a supporting unit that supports a plurality of the cylindrical body units such that side surfaces of cylindrical bodies of the cylindrical body units face each other with a mutual interval. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301865 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a gradient coil, a first cooling pipe, and a second cooling pipe. The gradient coil applies a gradient magnetic field onto a subject placed in a static magnetic field. The first cooling pipe is provided in the gradient coil, and circulates a coolant in a certain direction. The second cooling pipe is provided in the gradient coil so as to be in parallel with the first cooling pipe, and circulates a coolant in an opposite direction to a direction in which the first cooling pipe circulates the coolant. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301866 | Capacitive Detection System - An apparatus for detecting and avoiding an underground object during a horizontal directional drilling operation. The apparatus comprises a boring tool with a capacitive detection system. The boring tool is operatively connected to a drill string and advanced through the earth to create a borehole. The capacitive detection system includes a capacitive assembly and a processor. The capacitive assembly has first and second capacitive plates separated a known distance from an excitation plate. The capacitive plates detect a change in capacitance when the underground object is approached by the boring tool. The processor determines the distance to or location of the underground object from capacitance information sensed by the capacitive detection system. The distance and location information is transmitted to a machine operator. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301867 | REGENERATION CAPACITY CONTROL METHOD FOR A BATTERY - A method for controlling regeneration of a battery includes determining a scaled value for a state of charge of the battery, a scaled value for a battery temperature and a scaled value for a maximum charging power of the battery. An actual battery temperature is then compared with a predetermined operating temperature. When the actual battery temperature is less than the predetermined operating temperature, an actual regeneration amount is calculated based upon the scaled value for the state of charge of the battery and the scaled value for the battery temperature. When the actual battery temperature is greater than the predetermined operating temperature, the actual regeneration amount is based upon the scaled value for the state of charge of the battery, the scaled value for the battery temperature, and the scaled value for the maximum charging power of the battery. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301868 | VOLTAGE MONITORING APPARATUS - A voltage monitoring apparatus includes a plurality of voltage monitoring sections corresponding to a plurality of blocks of unit cells of a multiple-set battery respectively and a main control section. Each of the voltage monitoring section includes a voltage detection section which detects voltages of the unit cells of a corresponding block, a voltage adjustment section which adjusts the voltages of the unit cells of the corresponding block so that the voltages are uniformized, an active power source which obtains power from the unit cells of the corresponding block, and supplies power to the voltage detection section and the voltage adjustment section, a power source switching section which switches a power supply mode and a power disconnect mode of the active power source, and a low consumption power source which obtains the power from the unit cells of the corresponding block, and supplies power to the power source switching section. The main control section includes a failure diagnosis section which performs a failure diagnosis of each of the voltage monitoring sections, and a switching control section which controls to disconnect a supply of the power from the active power source when a result of the failure diagnosis indicates a failure. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301869 | COLD CATHODE IONIZATION VACUUM GAUGE, AUXILIARY DISCHARGE STARTING ELECTRODE, AND VACUUM PROCESSING APPARATUS - The present invention provides a cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge, an auxiliary discharge starting electrode plate, and a vacuum processing apparatus which have simple configurations and, even after long-term-use, which allow discharge to be initiated in a short-period of time and also to be performed stably after the start of the discharge. A cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: an anode; a gauge head chamber (cathode) placed in such a manner as to form a discharge space together with the anode; and a protruding configured so that, in voltage-application to the anode and the cathode, an electric field should be concentrated at the protruding portion to a larger extent than an electric field at the gauge head chamber is. The protruding portion is provided inside the discharge space in such a manner that the protruding portion has a floating potential. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301870 | FLAME IONIZATION DETECTOR - The flame ionization detector, which comprises a supply and an ignition device ( | 2010-12-02 |
20100301871 | GAS SENSOR - An electrochemical gas sensor is provided. The gas sensor includes a first electrode and a second electrode wherein the two electrodes are connected via an ion-conducting material. The first electrode is covered, at least in part, by a first catalytically active material. This top layer permits the catalytic reaction of gases. Thermally and chemically stable catalysts such as SCR or NO | 2010-12-02 |
20100301872 | Method for Determination of a Setting Value Which Indicates a Ground Impedance, and Measurement Device - A method for determining an adjustment value for an electrical protection device wherein, upon occurrence of a ground short circuit, first current indicator measured values and first voltage indicator measured values are captured by a first measurement device at a first end of a segment of an electrical power supply line, and second current indicator measured values and second voltage indicator measured values are captured by a second measurement device at a second end of the segment of an electrical power supply line. In order to design a method of this type such that an adjustment value for a ground impedance can be determined in a relatively simple fashion. A fault location value is determined using the first current and voltage indicator measured values and the second current and voltage indicator measured values, indicating a fault location at which the ground short circuit has occurred in the segment of the electrical power supply line, and an adjustment value indicating a ground impedance is calculated using the fault location value. There is also provided a correspondingly equipped measurement device. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301873 | CIRCUIT FOR DETECTING MALFUNCTION GENERATION ATTACK AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT USING THE SAME - An embodiment of the invention provides a circuit for detecting a malfunction generation attack, including: at least one sensor circuit adapted to detect a radiation of a light; and a detection circuit for detecting an intermediate voltage between a voltage corresponding to a High level and a voltage corresponding to a Low level in accordance with an output from the at least one sensor circuit, and outputting a detection signal. At least one sensor circuit has an output node a level at which is changed in accordance with the radiation of the light, and outputs a signal corresponding to the level at the output node which is changed in accordance with the radiation of the light. The detection circuit outputs the detection signal when a level of the output signal from the at least one sensor circuit reaches a level previously set. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301874 | CORRECTIVE DEVICE PROTECTION - A control system for an electrical power system includes an electrical corrective device, a voltage measuring device coupled to each phase of the electric power system, a current measuring device connected between each phase of the electric power system and the electrical corrective device, and a protective device connected to outputs of the voltage measuring device and the current measuring device. The protective device includes a controller configured to detect an imbalance using the measured voltages and currents output from the voltage measuring device and the current measuring device without using or independently of other recent voltage or current measurements for other points in the electrical corrective device and independently of a neutral-ground measurement at the electrical corrective device. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301875 | TUNER CHARACTERIZATION METHODS AND APPARATUS - Embodiments include methods and apparatus for characterizing a tuner. For a given tuner, a processing system is adapted to measure scattering parameters for a plurality of characterization points that are non-uniformly distributed across a Smith chart, and to store the scattering parameters in a tuner characterization file. Interpolation and extrapolation processes are performed to determine additional scattering parameters for a plurality of additional characterization points, which are also stored in the tuner characterization file. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301876 | METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING AN ELECTRONIC DISIPLAY DEVICE - A method of diagnosing an electronic display device ( | 2010-12-02 |
20100301877 | FLEXIBLE SHEET SENSOR INSERTED IN TUBE - A sensing unit ( | 2010-12-02 |
20100301878 | APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING AND/OR MONITORING AT LEAST ONE FILL LEVEL OF AT LEAST ONE MEDIUM IN A CONTAINER ACCORDING TO A TRAVEL-TIME MEASURING METHOD AND/OR A CAPACITIVE MEASURING METHOD - An apparatus for ascertaining and/or monitoring at least one fill-level of at least one medium in a container according to a travel-time measuring method and/or a capacitive measuring method by means of at least one measuring probe. The apparatus comprises a capacitive measurement circuit, a time-domain reflectometer measurement circuit, and a control/evaluation unit. There invention results from the provision of a diplexer, which sends the low-frequency measurement signal and the high-frequency, electromagnetic measurement signal to the measuring probe and effects a signal separation of the high-frequency, electromagnetic measurement signal into the first signal path of the time-domain reflectometer measurement circuit and the low-frequency measurement signal into the second signal path of the capacitive measurement circuit. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301879 | CAPACITIVE SENSOR WITH ADDITIONAL ELECTRODE - A capacitive touch sensor employing adjacent drive and sense electrodes, in which an additional sense electrode is provided as well as a conventional drive electrode and sense electrode. The drive and two sense electrodes are arranged on the bottom side of a dielectric panel, the top side providing a sensing surface to be touched by a user's finger or a stylus. The additional sense electrode is positioned on the underside of the dielectric panel so that it is shielded from the drive electrode by the conventional sense electrode. The signal collected from the additional sense electrode is subtracted from the signal collected from the conventional sense electrode to cancel noise. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301880 | OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM - An occupant detection system comprises a weight sensor and an electric field sensor, each operatively coupled to a seat. The electric field sensor generates an electric field from at least one electrode in the seat bottom of the seat, provides for generating a response to an influence of the occupant thereupon, and is adapted to provide for discriminating from the response a seated infant or child seating condition from another seating condition. If a measure of weight from the weight sensor is less than a threshold, or if a seated child seating condition is detected by the electric field sensor, then a signal processor provides for disabling an associated restraint actuator. The electric field sensor may comprise a plurality of electrodes over separate first and second regions of differing proximity to a seated infant or child, or at least one electrode in cooperation with a shield or void over at least one of the regions. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301881 | IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE TESTING OF AN EARTH CONNECTION | 2010-12-02 |
20100301882 | Method for operating a water softening system having two calibration characteristics and associated water softening system - In summary, the invention proposes to provide two different conversion modes for determining the water hardness on the basis of the conductivity of raw water in a water softening device ( | 2010-12-02 |
20100301883 | Method and Apparatus for Detecting a Fault in a Neutral Return Line of an Electrical Network - Apparatus is disclosed for detecting a discontinuity or irregularity in a neutral return line of an electrical power distribution network including the neutral return line, an active line and an earth return. The apparatus includes means for measuring a voltage change associated with a deliberate switching of a known impedance in the electrical network wherein the voltage change is due to a discontinuity or impedance irregularity in the neutral return line and means for implementing an algorithm for identifying the discontinuity or impedance irregularity in presence of allowable variations in nominal supply voltage to the electrical network including voltage changes resulting from network operations that mimic or hide a discontinuity or impedance irregularity in the neutral return line. The apparatus also includes means for comparing a result of the measuring with a reference to provide an indication of the discontinuity or impedance irregularity. A method for detecting a discontinuity or irregularity in a neutral return line of an electrical power distribution network is also disclosed. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301884 | THIN-FILM PROBE SHEET AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, PROBE CARD, AND SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP INSPECTION APPARATUS - A semiconductor chip inspection apparatus largely reduces occurrence of damage due to foreign matter in an inspection process and improves durability at the same time of miniaturization is provided. As to a highly accurate thin-film probe sheet which performs: a contact to electrode pads arranged at a narrow pitch and a high density along with integration of semiconductor chip; and an inspection of semiconductor chips, by providing two layers of metal films selectively removable in a step-like shape in a periphery region of fine contact terminal having sharp tips and arranged at a high density and a narrow pitch at the same level as electrode pads, an upper periphery of the contact terminals is covered with an insulating film, and a large space region is formed. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301885 | HIGH IMPEDANCE, HIGH PARALLELISM, HIGH TEMPERATURE MEMORY TEST SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE - An electronic device for use with a probe head in automated test equipment includes first and second pluralities of semiconductor devices. The first plurality of semiconductor devices is arranged to form at least one driver arranged to couple to a device under test. The at least one driver is configured to transmit a signal to the at least one device under test. The second plurality of semiconductor devices is arranged to form at least one receiver arranged to couple to the device under test. The at least one receiver is configured to receive a signal from the at least one device under test. Each of the second plurality of semiconductor devices has a thickness less than about 300 μm exclusive of any electrical interconnects. The at least one receiver is adapted to mount directly to the probe head. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301886 | TEST BOARD - A test board is provided. The test board includes a power connecting interface, diode modules, a power module a detecting module, and a processor. The power connecting interface includes power pins, wherein each of the power pins is electrically connected to a motherboard power socket to receive a power signal. Each of the diode modules is electrically connected to one of the power pins and includes at least one diode. The power module is electrically connected to the diode modules to receive the power signal through each of the diode modules. The detection module is electrically connected to points between the diode modules and the power connecting interface to generate a detection result according to the voltage between each diode module and the power connecting interface. The processor is used to determine the connecting state between the power pin and the corresponding motherboard power socket according to the detection result. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301887 | PROBE CARD - A probe card according to the present invention includes a support plate for supporting probes that contact an object to be inspected, a circuit board, a holding member for holding a lower surface of an outer peripheral portion of the support plate, and an abutting member disposed between the lower surface of the outer peripheral portion of the support plate and the holding member and protruding upward to abut to the lower surface of the outer peripheral portion of the support plate. Accordingly, horizontal expansion of the support plate itself is allowed, and at the time of inspecting electrical characteristics of the object to be inspected, even though the temperature of the support plate is increased and the support plate expands, the support plate can expand in a horizontal direction, thereby suppressing vertical deformation of the support plate. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301888 | PROBE DEVICE - A reinforcing member is formed at a top surface side of a probe card including a support plate for supporting a contactor and a circuit board. A plurality of long guide holes are formed in an outer peripheral portion of the reinforcing member. Fixing members fixed to a holding member and collars formed around outer circumferences of the fixing members are formed in the guide holes. A length in a longitudinal direction of each of the guide holes is greater than a diameter of each of the collars, and a central line in the longitudinal direction of each of the guide holes passes through a center of the reinforcing member. Due to the guide holes, horizontal expansion of the reinforcing member itself is allowed. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301889 | CIRCUIT BOARD UNIT AND TESTING APPARATUS - Provided is a circuit board unit for connecting a connecting terminal of a testing apparatus to a connected terminal of a device under test, including: a circuit board having, on one surface, a contact corresponding to the connected terminal; and a connector guide provided on the one surface of the circuit board, the connector guide guiding a connector having the connecting terminal to the circuit board, and pulling the connector towards the circuit board. In this circuit board unit, the connector guide may bias the connector on a side of the connecting terminal, towards the circuit board. Moreover in the circuit board unit, the circuit board may further have a substrate frame that is coupled to the connector guide and biases the connector guide towards the circuit board. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301890 | PROBING APPARATUS WITH MULTIAXIAL STAGES FOR TESTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - A probing apparatus for testing semiconductor devices comprises a housing configured to define a testing chamber, a device carrier positioned in the housing and configured to receive the semiconductor device, a platen positioned on the housing, an alignment module positioned on the platen, a planarity-adjusting module positioned on the alignment module, an angular adjusting module positioned on the planarity-adjusting module, and a card holder positioned on the angular adjusting module and configured to receive a probe card having a plurality of probes. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301891 | LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY, TESTING METHOD THEREOF AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - A test method of a liquid crystal display device includes driving pixel electrodes through a plurality of switching elements by applying a first test signal to a first pad and a second test signal to a second pad, and cutting a connection between a driving signal wire and a first display signal wire. The liquid crystal display device includes a first display signal wire having a plurality of a first display signal lines, a second display signal wire having a plurality of a second display signal lines that cross the first display signal lines, a plurality of switching elements each of which is connected to both of one of the first display signal lines, pixel electrodes connected to the switching elements, and a driving signal wire including first and second pads respectively connected to the first display signal wire at a near end thereof and at an intermediate portion thereof. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301892 | Electrostatic discharge withstand voltage evaluating device and electrostatic discharge withstand voltage evaluating method - In one embodiment of the present invention, an electrostatic discharge withstand voltage evaluating device includes: an application device, including a first connecting section and a second connecting section, for supplying pulse electric charge, the first connecting section being connectable to one or whole terminal(s) of one of input terminals and output terminals of a source driver, and supplying electric charge to the source driver, the second connecting section being connectable to one or whole terminal(s) of the other one of the input terminals and the output terminals, and enabling said one or whole terminal(s) of the other one of the input terminals and the output terminals to be grounded; and a common connecting section being connectable to the plurality of output terminals of the source driver, and causing the plurality of output terminals to be electrically connected to each other, wherein the output terminals of the source driver are connected, via the common connecting section, to one of the first connecting section and the second connecting section. Therefore, the electrostatic discharge withstand voltage evaluating device can more successfully recreate how a failure occurs in a semiconductor device and can evaluate an electrostatic discharge breakdown withstand of the semiconductor device. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301893 | SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND CIRCUIT OPERATION METHOD - In a semiconductor integrated circuit wherein low-threshold-voltage and high-threshold-voltage transistors are disposed mixedly, the operating speed of each transistor can be properly controlled in speed control execution through regulation of a power supply voltage V | 2010-12-02 |
20100301894 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE CAPABLE OF VERIFYING RELIABILITY - A semiconductor device includes an integrated semiconductor circuit unit, a chip guard-ring disposed along an outer portion of the semiconductor device, and a reliability verifying unit disposed between the integrated semiconductor circuit unit and the chip guard-ring. The reliability verifying unit is configured to delay a reliability verifying signal to detect a fault while in a reliability detecting mode. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301895 | Test system and test method of semiconductor integrated circuit - Provided is a test system of a semiconductor integrated circuit including an output device and an input device for conducting an input/output characteristics test of the output device and the input device inside the semiconductor integrated circuit. In the system, a transmission line provided in a test board where the semiconductor integrated circuit is mounted on establishes a wired connection between an external terminal of one circuit of one of the output device and the input device and external terminals of a plurality of circuits of another one of the output device and the input device. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301896 | PHASE-CHANGE MEMORY SECURITY DEVICE - A semiconductor chip having a subcircuit formed in a substrate; and a phase-change memory cell located on the subcircuit, and configured to directly detect an attack on the subcircuit, or to form a shield to prevent physical access to the subcircuit. | 2010-12-02 |
20100301897 | Apparatus and Method for Forming a Mixed Signal Circuit with Fully Customizable Analog Cells and Programmable Interconnect - A mixed signal integrated circuit includes a digital logic array and an analog cell array. Each cell of the analog cell array shares a common architecture and is fully programmable. An analog cell includes mirror NFETs, cascode NFETs, differential pair NFETs, differential pair PFETs, cascode PFETs and mirror PFETs. An analog cell may also include special purpose components, such as low value resistors, high value resistors and PFETs. | 2010-12-02 |