vi Cam follower roller device, notably for a fuel injection pump By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Cam follower roller device, notably for an internal combustion engine fuel injection pump, comprising a tappet (12) and a roller (14) mounted to rotate on the tappet and intended to press against a cam. The tappet (12) comprises a roller support body (16), a shaft (26) for mounting the roller on the said body, and a guide sleeve (18) attached to the support body and at least partially surrounding the said body. The ends of the shaft are fixed in through-holes in the support body. Full Article
vi Device for actuating a flap By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for actuating a flap, in particular a wastegate flap in an exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine, includes a control rod, which can be moved by an actuator substantially in an axial direction and is guided in a fist gate via a first pin at the side thereof facing away from the actuator. A carriage is articulated on the first pin and is guided in the first gate via a second pin on the side facing away from the first pin, wherein a pivot lever is articulated on the second pin and, on the side facing away from the second pin, the pivot lever is rotatably mounted in a machine housing, preferably a turbine housing, and the flap is arranged on the pivot lever on the side facing away from the second pin. By way of the articulated design, a non-linear adjustment of the flap is possible. Full Article
vi Device for the pulsed release of an amount of fluid that is stored in a storage housing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for the pulsed release of an amount (3) of fluid that is stored in a storage housing (2) includes a piston (5) biased by a first spring (4) and movable within the storage housing (2) to dispense the fluid by the spring bias, when triggered by an actuator (6) to release a lock holding the piston in place (7). The lock (7) has individual catches (8) keeping the piston (5) in its pretensioned position and, when actuated by the actuator (6), releases the piston (5). Full Article
vi Vehicle bumpers having oval cross-section members By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A vehicle bumper for use with police and other emergency vehicles for pushing another vehicle which is fabricated of a tubular loop defining a generally oval cross-section. The oval cross-section tubular loop is oriented such that the major axis of the oval cross-section extends front to back with respect to the host vehicle while the minor axis extends up and down. The vehicle bumper further supports a plurality of resilient pads to aid in controlling the pushed vehicle and to cushion impact transfer between the bumper and the pushed vehicle. The inventive vehicle bumper is substantially stronger and substantially lighter in weight while simultaneously providing a more attractive front view cross-section when mounted on a host vehicle. A plurality of attachments are secured to the tubular loop and are used in securing the vehicle bumper to a suitable portion of a host vehicle. Full Article
vi Motor vehicles having bumper counter rotation brackets By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A motor vehicle includes a first side member having first lower and upper darts. The motor vehicle also includes a second side member parallel with and spaced apart from the first side member, the second side member having second lower and upper darts. The upper darts are positioned between the lower darts and end portions of the respective first or second side members. The motor vehicle further includes first and second bumper brackets coupled to the end portion of the respective first or second side members, a bumper reinforcement member coupled to the first and second bumper brackets, and a counter rotation bracket coupled to the bumper reinforcement member and extending upwards from the bumper reinforcement member. The lower darts and the upper darts form a preferential buckling zone of the first and the second side members. Full Article
vi Vehicle attachable carrier device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The vehicle attachable carrier device includes a mounting bracket assembly for movably mounting a guard frame to a vehicle that includes a bracket coupled to the vehicle. A frame is movably coupled to the bracket. The frame may guard the vehicle. The frame is positionable between a stored position and an extended position. Full Article
vi Airflow control device for an automotive vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An airflow control device is mounted to the front end of an automotive vehicle and includes an upper air scoop section having a scoop channel disposed rearward of a bumper assembly and oriented to direct airflow entering a bumper intake opening toward an air-receiving powertrain component. A lower air dam section extends downwardly from the upper section to be positioned below a lower extent of the bumper assembly to deflect airflow away from an underside of the vehicle. Full Article
vi Consist communication system having inductive transmission By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Feb 2014 08:00:00 EST A consist communication system is disclosed for use with a train consist. The consist communication system may have a fluid conduit, at least a first cable disposed within the fluid conduit and configured to transmit communication signals, and at least a second cable disposed within the fluid conduit and configured to transmit electrical power. The communication conduit may also have a coupling fixedly connected to an end of the fluid conduit, a first transformer coil connected to the at least a first cable, and a second transformer coil connected to the at least a second cable and disposed in an orthogonal orientation relative to the first transformer coil. Full Article
vi Moving body separating device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDT The moving body separating device includes a separating device main body, which separates an upstream-side moving body disposed on a base plate to be movable in a straight-line direction and a downstream-side moving body connected to the upstream-side moving body on the base plate at a prescribed separating point when moving to a downstream side. The separating device main body includes a rotary body for pushing out the downstream-side moving body towards the downstream side through a rotary action, a supporting shaft held by the upstream-side moving body for supporting the rotary body to be freely rotatable, and an original-position returning spring held by the supporting shaft for returning the rotary body to an original position. A protrusion member which applies a rotary pressure force to the rotary body is fixed at a prescribed separating point on the base plate by corresponding to one end part of the rotary body. Full Article
vi Device for coupling high-speed railroad cars and method for removing device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A device for coupling tilting railroad cars onto a high-speed railroad train comprises a coupler and a shock absorber held in a shock absorber frame, each joined by a coupling pin via a coupling joint. The frame includes a front inner surface with a front end wall opening and a cylindrical surface extending to a semi-circular concave inner surface. The joint includes a rounded convex surface engaged with a semi-circular concave surface, a circumferential surface of a short cylinder receiving the rear portion of the coupler, and an insertion hole which is provided in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the short cylinder. The frame has a removal hole and an air removal pin of the coupling pin facing each other at a position to rotate at a predetermined angle in a circumferential direction in the assembled state, and at a position coaxial with the coupling pin in the assembled state. Full Article
vi Device for electrical characterization of molecules using CNT-nanoparticle-molecule-nanoparticle-CNT structure By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A method of forming an electrode is disclosed. A carbon nanotube is deposited on a substrate. A section of the carbon nanotube is removed to form at least one exposed end defining a first gap. A metal is deposited at the at least one exposed end to form the electrode that defines a second gap. Full Article
vi Railway vehicle having front coupling cover By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A railway vehicle has a cover for a front coupling of the railway vehicle. The cover is formed of at least one displaceable front hatch that can be displaced by a drive between an opened and a closed end position. A displacement of the at least one front hatch is guided such that the displacement takes place along a circular segment path about a rotary axis. Full Article
vi Medical devices formed from recycled medical waste and methods of manufacture By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods of reclaiming plastic from plastic medical waste containers containing medical waste and manufacturing recycled medical devices are described. Recycled medical devices made from plastic medical waste containers containing medical waste are also described. Full Article
vi Device for producing chocolate By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a device (1) for producing chocolate by mixing and grinding ingredients, such as cacao mass, cacao butter, sugar and/or milk powder, comprising a mixer (3), a grinder (4), and means for passing the mixture from the mixer (3) to the grinder (4). The mixer (3) comprises a toroidal, preferably annular vessel (6) for receiving and mixing the ingredients. Full Article
vi Safety device for food cutting machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a magnetic safety device especially designed for use with a combined food cutting and processing machine. An assembly of elements work together to move a magnet vertically and modify the relative position of said magnet with respect to a magnetic detector/sensor located in the interior of the motor block of the combined food cutting machine. Full Article
vi Facility for grinding inorganic material, having a roller press By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A facility for grinding inorganic material include a roller press, a first static separator having an intake supplied with raw material, a dynamic separator having an intake connected to a first output of the first static separator, a ventilation circuit provided through the first static separator and the dynamic separator, and a second static separator having an intake that is connected to an output of the roller press. The first static separator includes two outputs, one for low-granulatory matter and one for larger granulatory matter, whereby the second output is connected to the roller press. The dynamic separator further includes a first output for particles having the desired granulometry and a second output for matter with larger granulometry connected to an intake of the roller press. The ventilation circuit participates in the separation, drying, and transport of low-granulometry particles. Full Article
vi Device for grinding roasted grains By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device (1) for grinding roasted grains, in particular coffee beans, of a kind including a grinding chamber (9) in which one or more electrically operated grinders grind coffee beans in order to reduce them to powder. The grinding chamber of the device is equipped with a plurality of cooling fins (29) that assist in removing heat produced during grinding, without the need to use cooling fins or similar cooling devices. Thanks to the provision of the cooling fins (28), the device (1) is inexpensive and compact and avoids an excessive increase in coffee temperature during grinding, thereby preserving the organoleptic qualities of the coffee. Full Article
vi Liquid flotation system with energy recovery devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method of operating the same includes an absorption tank having a compressor communicating gas thereto, a suspended solid filtration tank having a primary inlet, a secondary inlet, a primary outlet and a secondary outlet and a pump comprising a pump inlet coupled to the secondary outlet and a pump outlet communicating fluid to the absorption tank. The absorption tank forms a solution from the fluid and gas. A turbine mechanically couples the pump with a common shaft extending to the pump. The turbine has a turbine inlet coupled to the absorption tank and a turbine outlet coupled to the secondary inlet. The turbine depressurizes the solution. The system may also use a centrifugal pump in place of a turbine and absorption tank. Full Article
vi Molded activated charcoal and water purifier involving same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides molded activated carbon, and the molded activated carbon is produced by molding a mixture containing powdery activated carbon (a) having a median particle size of 80 μm to 120 μm and a standard deviation σg of 1.3 to 1.9 in a particle size distribution and a fibrous binder (b). The molded activated carbon of the present invention has excellent removability for free residual chlorine, volatile organic compounds, CAT, and 2-MIB and excellent turbidity filterability, and is for use as a water purifier cartridge or the like. Full Article
vi Drainage device for closed chamber containing liquid By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A drainage device for draining liquid out of a closed chamber includes an air cylinder, a driving assembly, a first channel, a second channel, a first sealing assembly, a second sealing assembly, and a controller. The air cylinder includes a main body defining a receiving chamber, an action piston positioned in the receiving chamber of the main body, and a connecting rod connected to the action piston. The main body defines a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, both of which communicate with the receiving chamber, and the presence of a fixed piston with a seal in each of the inlet and outlet creates a double-acting one-way valve when the action piston is moved up and down. Full Article
vi Method and device for the purification of an aqueous fluid By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and device for the cleaning of spiral wound membranes. In the device two or more spiral wound membranes are included in series in pressure tubes. The membranes are cleaned by longitudinal rinsing with water, in which a well-dissolvable gas has been dissolved. In the device for the purification of an aqueous fluid with spiral wound membranes, the membranes can be longitudinal rinsed with water, in which a well-dissolvable gas has been dissolved. As gas that is well-dissolvable preferably CO2 gas or a mixture of gasses is used. Full Article
vi Method for sanitizing water dispensed from a water dispenser having a reservoir By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus of sanitizing drinking water to be dispensed from a water dispenser having a reservoir includes the steps of providing the ozone gas generator that generates an ozone gas stream, transmitting the ozone gas stream from the generator to the water dispenser reservoir, mechanically breaking up the ozone gas stream inside the reservoir to produce ozone gas bubbles, and using the ozone gas bubbles to disinfect water in the reservoir. The ozone gas stream can be mechanically broken up using a pump such as, for example, an impeller type pump. Full Article
vi Apparatus for preventing scale deposits and removing contaminants from fluid columns By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for providing magnetic fluid treatment is described. The apparatus includes a serial coupling of conduit segments forming a conduit. At least two of the conduit segments are constructed of a magnetically conductive material and at least one of the conduit segments is constructed of a non-magnetically conductive material and positioned in between the conduit segments constructed of the magnetically conductive material to establish a non-magnetically conductive region. At least one electrical conductor encircles at least a section of the outer surface of the serial coupling of conduit segments. Energizing the electrical conductor establishes a magnetic field having lines of flux directed along a flow path of the conduit and concentrated in the non-magnetically conductive region of the conduit. Full Article
vi Cylindrical liquid filtering device with central rotor, supported filter elements, and divergent inner wall radii that form curvilinear wing-shaped bulges to guide the liquid toward the filter elements By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for filtering liquids has a container, units for introducing a liquid to be filtered into the container, a container outlet for unfiltered liquid to be discharged from the container, and at least one rotor, which is drivable to rotate around the container axis. The rotor has a hollow shaft mounted in an end wall and a support device fastened thereon for filter elements, which are arranged with a clearance to the container axis or rotate around their own axis. The interior of the filter elements opens via the support device and the hollow shaft out of the container as the discharge for filtered liquid. To provide improved filtration conditions, the container internal radius of the inner wall of the container circumferential shell is enlarged up to a maximum in the container circumferential direction while bulging the inner wall between two minima. The bulge forms a guide unit which guides the liquid toward the filter elements. Full Article
vi Vibration-assisted dialysis method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method of increasing dialysis dose and waste removal with the introduction of mechanical energy, such as vibration, to a hemodiafiltration membrane The method generally includes providing a dialyzer that includes a vibration element in engaged vibratory communication with a hemodiafiltration membrane The method also includes enabling extracorporeal flow of pre-dialyzed blood and a dialysate through the dialyzer and respectively past opposing surfaces of a vibrating hemodiafiltration membrane to achieve a solute clearance from the pre-dialyzed blood that is at least about 10% greater than a solute clearance from the pre-dialyzed blood obtained in the absence of the engaged vibratory communication Various apparatus are also disclosed, each of which includes a vibration element in vibratory communication with the dialyzer. Full Article
vi Liquid filter device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a filter device for filtering liquid by passing it through one or more filtering media. The filter device comprises a cartridge defining a treatment region filled with said one or more filtering media and has a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. A locking mechanism may be located within a liquid flow through the cartridge and configured to lock at least one of the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet upon expiration of life time of said at least one filtering medium. Full Article
vi Microfluidic device with a filter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A microfluidic device with a filter includes a substrate; a flowpath including a well formed in the substrate in fluid communication with a channel formed in the substrate; and a filter disposed across the flowpath and associated with the channel. Full Article
vi Nanostructured sorbent materials for capturing environmental mercury vapor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention is a method and material for using a sorbent material to capture and stabilize mercury. The method for using sorbent material to capture and stabilize mercury contains the following steps. First, the sorbent material is provided. The sorbent material, in one embodiment, is nano-particles. In a preferred embodiment, the nano-particles are unstabilized nano-Se. Next, the sorbent material is exposed to mercury in an environment. As a result, the sorbent material captures and stabilizes mercury from the environment. In the preferred embodiment, the environment is an indoor space in which a fluorescent has broken. Full Article
vi Filter device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A filter device is disclosed. The device includes at least one substantially flat filter media that may be encapsulated between non-permeable films. Some embodiments comprise ports for introducing a fluid to be filtered and for evacuating the filtered fluid. Various substrates may be employed therein in cooperation with the at least one filter media to enhance device performance. Also disclosed are various apparatuses configured to contain at least one filter device. Full Article
vi Supporting plate of a device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A supporting plate of a device is suggested. The device has at least one component and a housing for at least partly protecting the component. The supporting plate has at least one receiving element adapted for accepting the at least one component of the device in at least one of the following manners: in a form-closed manner, in a force-closed manner. The supporting plate is part of the housing. Full Article
vi Device for removing protein-based substances By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a means of dialysis for removing protein-bound substances from a biological fluid, especially blood or blood plasma, which contains at least one means for solubilizing protein-binding substances to be removed into the biological fluid and/or dialysis fluid, and to a process for removing protein-bound substances from a biological fluid. Full Article
vi Connection device for a system for filling jars for the production of nuclear fuel By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for filling a jar with powdery material, for example for the manufacture of nuclear fuel, including a device for connection between the jar and a material feed system, where the device includes: a stationary connection portion connected to the feed system,a connection portion which moves relative to the stationary connection portion intended to be connected to the container's filling orifice, where the moving connection portion includes in the area of a downstream end a lip seal to achieve a tight connection by contact with the contours of the jar's filling orifice and where the said downstream end is connected to the stationary connection portion by a bellows so as to provide mechanical disengagement between the downstream end of the moving connection portion and the stationary connection portion. Full Article
vi Device and method for filling containers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Method for filling containers with liquids, wherein the containers are filled using a plurality of controllable filling elements and the liquid is fed to these filling elements starting from a reservoir, common to the filling elements, for storing the liquid, wherein during the filling the containers are transported at least in sections along a circular track and wherein the filling of the containers by at least one filling element is controlled as a function of at least one first parameter characteristic of the liquid in the reservoir and this parameter is determined repeatedly at given intervals of time during the filling operation. Full Article
vi Method and apparatus for engaging a beverage extraction device with a container By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Devices and methods for clamping a beverage extraction device to a beverage container, such as a wine bottle. One or more clamp arms may be arranged to clamp the extraction device to a wine bottle as well as allow the device to be supported upright on a table top. Clamp arms may include tab and ridge features that operate to properly engage and position a wide variety of different bottle neck shapes relative to the device. The one or more clamp arms may move the bottle neck distally, e.g., toward a resilient pad, so that the neck is suitably positioned relative to the device. Proper positioning and engagement of the neck may allow for desired piercing of a cork or other closure of the bottle by the device. Full Article
vi System, device, and method for treating fuel By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device, system and/or method for dispensing a fuel additive to a fuel tank that employs a fuel additive delivery device secured to an opening of the fuel tank. The delivery device is fluidly coupled to a fuel additive reservoir. The delivery device includes a cap that automatically opens or closes fluid communication with the fuel additive reservoir. The delivery device also includes a bore defined through the delivery device configured to receive a fuel filler spout with a fuel passageway outlet positioned in the bore such that, as fuel passes through the bore and into the fuel tank, the bore is configured to create a suction at the fuel additive outlet to pull fuel additive from the reservoir, through the delivery device, and into the fuel tank with the fuel. Full Article
vi Communication device activated by fuel door By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A communication device or auxiliary ECU is activated when a fuel door of a fuel cell vehicle is open. Upon closing the fuel door, the communication device/ECU is shut off. The communication device/auxiliary ECU is operational regardless of whether the keys in the vehicle or not. This assures that communication of information can occur when a refueling station is most likely to request the information, i.e. when the fuel door is open. A temperature measurement device may monitor a vehicle tank temperature, communicate the tank temperature data to a filling station, and confirm that the tank temperature data is associated with the tank being filled. Full Article
vi Device for introducing a defined amount of a second powder into a process container By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus to introduce a defined amount of a second powder into a process container in which a first powder or a powder mixture is present, includes a coupling flange having a cover flap located on the process container. The second powder is introduced into a tubular cartridge mounted displaceably in a transport unit, the latter including a joining flange having a cover flap. The joining flange is joinable to the coupling flange so that the respective cover flaps can be opened, and the cartridge can be pushed through openings thereby provided into the plane of the inner wall of the process container. The second powder is emptied from the cartridge into the process container by a delivery piston. The cartridge may include a piston rod having multiple pistons. Other embodiments include a double piston, a rotatable cartridge core or a rotary closure. Full Article
vi Gathering device for gathering plastic members By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a gathering device for gathering plastic members. The gathering device includes a gathering portion and a tray detachably connected to the gathering portion. The gathering portion includes an outer shell, a hollow inner shell and a number of fans. The inner shell is received in the outer shell. The inner shell includes a number of vent. The fans are positioned between the outer shell and the inner shell for blowing ions into the inner shell through the vents. The tray is configured for containing the plastic members passing through the gathering portion. Full Article
vi Conveying device for powdery and/or granulated material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A conveying device for free-flowing fine-particle solids, in particular for powdery and/or granular (mixed) material, especially plastic granulate, includes a vertically arranged and flexibly mountable telescopic pipe for the conveyance of, preferably, polymer granulates, for example in a plant for the filling of polymer granulates. Full Article
vi Powder refilling device, process cartridge and image including same, and powder refilling method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A powder refilling device includes a refill powder chamber to accommodate a powder bag containing powder, an opener to open the powder bag inside the refill powder chamber, and a squeezer to squeeze the opened powder bag to discharge powder therefrom and reduce a volume of the opened powder bag. Full Article
vi LDO (low drop out) having phase margin compensation means and phase margin compensation method using the LDO By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The phase margin compensation method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: outputting reference voltage (Vout2); outputting a first reference voltage (Vout1) actually supplied to the target circuit; comparing the reference voltage (Vout2) with the first reference voltage (Vout1) by the comparator; counting any section of an output signal (pulse signal) from the comparator by a predetermined frequency by the duty cycle calculator; and controlling a phase margin of a frequency of output voltage supplied to the target circuit by controlling buffer current based on the duty cycle ratios and the output bit information fed back from the duty cycle calculator. Full Article
vi Power supply for a load control device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A power supply for a load control device generates a DC voltage and provides an asymmetrical output current, while drawing a substantially symmetrical input current. The power supply comprises a controllably conductive switching circuit for controllably charging an energy storage capacitor across which the DC voltage is produced. The energy storage capacitor begins charging at the beginning of a half-cycle and stops charging after a charging time in response to the magnitude of the DC voltage and the amount of time that the energy storage capacitor has been charging during the present half-cycle. The charging time is maintained substantially constant from one half-cycle to the next. The power supply is particularly beneficial for preventing asymmetrical current from flowing in a multiple location load control system having a master load control device supplying power to a plurality of remote load control devices all located on either the line-side or the load-side of the system. Full Article
vi Power supply device control circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In some aspects of the invention, overcurrent protection is carried out by suppressing fluctuations in current flowing through a switching element after overcurrent detection. A peak current reaching time detection circuit detects a peak current reaching time needed until current flowing through a switching element reaches a peak value. A difference voltage detection circuit, including a ½ time detection circuit which detects a time of ½ an ON time of the preceding cycle of the switching element, detects difference voltage between reference voltage used when detecting overcurrent flowing to a load and a signal which has detected current flowing through the switching element for the ½ time. A delay time adjustment circuit, based on at least one of the peak current reaching time and difference voltage, carries out adjustment and control of a delay time occurring until the time when the switching element is turned off after detecting the overcurrent. Full Article
vi Modular power converter having reduced switching loss By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In one implementation, a modular power converter having a reduced switching loss includes a package, a field-effect transistor (FET) including a gate terminal, a drain terminal, and a source terminal, and fabricated on a semiconductor die situated inside the package, and a driver circuit inside the package. The driver circuit is configured to drive the gate terminal of the FET. The driver circuit is further configured to sample a drain-to-source voltage (VDS) of the FET directly from the drain terminal and the source terminal, thereby enabling the reduced switching loss. Full Article
vi System for eliminating current surges in electronic systems and equipment having intermittent current consumption By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a system for eliminating current surges that includes a first voltage regulator (7) having a current limit programmable to a value (I(limit)) that depends on the value of the intermittent current surges (IO(surge)) required by the intermittent load (3) and the relationship thereof to the work cycle, a second voltage regulator (9), a condenser (4) connected between the first and second regulators (7, 9), that loads when the current is no longer required and that unloads when there is a need for output current to provide current to the second regulator (9) which absorbs the changes in voltage produced by the loading/unloading of the condenser and provides a constant voltage for any value of the required output current surge, independently of voltage changes in the condenser (4), and a control loop between a sensor for the output current provided to the load and an input limit (15) for the input current (II) in the first regulator (7). Thus, the input current (I(limit)) (1) and the output voltage (VLoad) are constant for any value of the output current surge (IO(surge)). Full Article
vi Power supply device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A power supply device includes a first converter which converts an input voltage to a first voltage, a second converter which converts the first voltage from the first converter to a second voltage, a voltage comparison section which compares the first voltage outputted from the first converter with a predetermined reference voltage, a voltage comparison result output section which outputs a first signal until the first voltage is determined to be higher than the predetermined reference voltage by the voltage comparison section and retains a second signal as an output after the first voltage is determined to be higher than the predetermined reference voltage, and a converter control section which controls the second converter to stop when the first signal is outputted from the voltage comparison result output section and controls the second converter to operate when the second signal is outputted from the voltage comparison result output section. Full Article
vi Synchronous DC-DC converter having soft-stop function By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A synchronous DC-DC converter having a soft-stop function includes an output stage for supplying an output voltage, wherein the output stage includes a high-side transistor for charging the output voltage and a low-side transistor for discharging the output voltage; an output control circuit, coupled to the output stage, for controlling the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor of the output stage; at least one protection device, for controlling the high-side transistor to be turned off when a specific situation occurs, in order to stop supplying the output voltage; and a soft-stop control circuit, coupled to the output control circuit, for controlling the low-side transistor of the output stage to be turned on when the protection device controls the high-side transistor to be turned off or the synchronous DC-DC converter is disabled, in order to discharge the output voltage. Full Article
vi Method and device for linearizing a transformer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for linearizing voltage transmission through a transformer including a magnetic core and, input and output windings. A measurement signal is supplied to the input winding at a first frequency and an output signal is measured at the output winding of the transformer, wherein the voltage of the measurement signal may be so low that the transformer operates in a non-linear region. The method includes, for a conditioning signal, selecting a second frequency different from the first frequency, defining an amplitude value of the conditioning signal and supplying the conditioning signal to the input winding at the second frequency with the defined amplitude value so that the transformer operates in its linear region. Full Article
vi System and method for driving transistors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor having a reference node coupled to an output node of the first transistor, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to couple a second reference node to a control terminal of the second transistor during a first mode of operation, couple a floating reference voltage between the control terminal of the second transistor and the reference terminal of the second transistor during a second mode of operation and during a third mode of operation, and couple a third reference node to the reference terminal of the second transistor during the third mode of operation. The second reference node is configured to have a voltage potential operable to turn-on the second transistor, and the floating reference voltage is operable to turn on the second transistor. Full Article
vi Electronic apparatus having a diode connected to a control terminal of a switching element By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electronic apparatus includes a switching element which has a control terminal and is driven by controlling voltage of the control terminal, a driving power supply circuit which supplies voltage required for driving the switching element, an on-driving circuit which is connected to the driving power supply circuit and the control terminal of the switching element and is supplied with voltage from the driving power supply circuit, and which applies a constant current to the control terminal of the switching element to charge the control terminal, thereby turning on the switching element, and at least one diode which is connected between the on-driving circuit and the control terminal of the switching element. The on-driving circuit applies a constant current to the control terminal of the switching element through the diode. Full Article