| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 361211000 | CONTROL CIRCUITS FOR NONELECTROMAGNETIC TYPE RELAY (E.G., THERMAL RELAYS) | 22 |
| 20080273281 | LIQUID SWITCH - An apparatus comprising a liquid switch. The liquid switch comprises a substrate having a surface with first and second regions thereon and a fluid configured to contact both of the regions. The regions each comprise electrically connected fluid-support-structures, wherein each of the fluid-support-structures have at least one dimension of about 1 millimeter or less. The regions are electrically isolated from each other. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090154051 | Device for Connecting Two Points in an Electric Circuit - Device for connecting two points in an electrical circuit. The device acts externally like an individual relay, but includes a first micro electro-mechanical systems (“MEMS”) relay and at least a second MEMS relay. Each relay has four condenser plates and a conducting element movably housed inside the relay, opening and closing a circuit, by applying certain control signals to the condenser plates. The second relay can be connected to one of the plates of the first relay, to create a high impedance in the plate, or it can be connected serially or in parallel to the first relay but controlled with different control signals, whereby the operational range of the first relay and, therefore, that of the overall device, is extended. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090284892 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING ELECTROSTATIC ACTUATOR - A semiconductor device applies a hold voltage Vhold to an upper electrode of an electrostatic actuator and a ground voltage to a lower electrode. After the semiconductor device sets the voltage of the lower electrode to a test voltage Vtest, it eliminates the hold voltage Vhold from the upper electrode and places the voltage of the upper electrode in a high impedance state. The potential difference between the upper electrode and the lower electrode is set to Vhold−Vtest=Vmon. Thereafter, the voltage of the lower electrode is returned to the ground voltage. Whether the electrostatic actuator is placed in an open state or in a closed state is determined by measuring the capacitance between the electrodes based on the amount of drop of the voltage of the upper electrode due to capacitance coupling at the time. With this operation, the state of the electrostatic actuator can be simply and accurately determined, and when it is determined that charging and the like occur to the electrostatic actuator, it can be promptly returned to a normal operation state. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20100002351 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A DC LOAD - A method and apparatus is provided for controlling power to a DC load ON and OFF. The apparatus has a first FET bank, a second FET bank, connected in series with a first FET bank, and a controller. The controller is configured for detecting a operational failure of at least one of the FET banks, and turning at least on of the FET banks OFF in response, thereby turning power to the DC load OFF. The controller may also detect a operational failure of one of the FET banks, and turn the other FET bank OFF in response, thereby turning power to the DC load OFF. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100061029 | CIRCUIT BREAKER AND METHOD FOR TRIGGERING A CIRCUIT BRAKER, PARTICULARLY A LOW VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER - In one embodiment of the present invention, a circuit breaker and a method for triggering a circuit breaker are disclosed, particularly a low voltage circuit breaker, including an electronic overload trigger, particularly for the protection against a short circuit, wherein the current is compared to a predetermined limit current and evaluated and the circuit breaker is triggered by the overload trigger, in case a short circuit is present according to the evaluation. In order to be able to reliably detect short circuits, the current is sampled with a predetermined sampling frequency and digitized. The wavelet coefficients of at least two segmentation levels are calculated for a predetermined number of digital current values in direct succession via a wavelet transformation. At least two wavelet coefficients, that is, one wavelet coefficient per segmentation level, are compared quantitatively to each other if the last of the current values in direct succession is larger than the limit current. The circuit breaker is triggered if the wavelet coefficient of a higher segmentation level is larger than the wavelet coefficient of a lower segmentation level. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100232082 | RELAY SWITCHING METHOD AND HYBRID RELAY SWITCH - A control system comprises a solid-state switch, a mechanical current interrupting device, and a control module. The solid-state switch is connected in series with a power source and an intake air heater. The mechanical current interrupting device is connected in series with the power source and the solid-state switch. The control module selectively closes the solid-state switch to provide power to the intake air heater. The control module also causes the mechanical current interrupting device to mechanically interrupt current flow to the intake air heater when a voltage of the intake air heater is outside of a desired range. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100238600 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A semiconductor device includes a first static actuator having a first drive electrode and a second drive electrode, the first drive electrode and the second drive electrode being capable of coming close to each other upon shifting from an open state to a close state due to an electrostatic attractive force against an elastic force thereof; a detection circuit configured to detect a temperature of the first static actuator; and a drive circuit configured to apply a first voltage between the first drive electrode and the second drive electrode to maintain the first static actuator in the closed state between the first drive electrode and the second drive electrode, and to switch a polarity of the first voltage every first time period. The drive circuit varies a length of the first time period based on a detection result of the detection circuit. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100254062 | MEMS Switching Device Protection - A micro-machined switching system for equalizing an electrical property, such as charge due to parasitic capacitance formed at an input and an output of a micro-machined switching device. The micro-machined switching device may be a MEMS relay or a MEMS switch. In addition to the micro-machined switching device, the switching system also includes a balancing module for equalizing the electrical property between the input and the output of the micro-machined switching device. In certain embodiments, the balancing module includes a switch operable in a first state causing charge due to the parasitic capacitance on the input and the output of the micro-machined switching device to substantially balance. The switch is also operable in a second state wherein parasitic capacitance can separately accumulate at the input and the output of the micro-machined switching device. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20110019330 | CONTROL TECHNIQUES FOR ELECTROSTATIC MICROELECTROMECHANICAL (MEM) STRUCTURE - Disclosed are a method, device, and system for a microelectromechanical (MEM) device control system that can control the operation of a MEM device. The system can include a microelectromechanical device and a control circuit. The micromechanical device can include a moveable member coupled to an electrical terminal, a sensor, responsive to a movement of the moveable member, can output a sensor signal based on the movement of the moveable member, and an actuating electrode for receiving a control signal. The control circuit can be responsive to the signals output by the sensor and outputs the control signal to the actuating electrode. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110026185 | RELAY SYSTEM COMPRISING TWO JFET TRANSISTORS IN SERIES - A static relay system configured to be connected in series with an electrical load supplied with AC current, including: two series-connected field-effect transistors fabricated in a material having a high bandgap energy; a detector detecting a threshold of a voltage across the terminals of each of the transistors or of the two transistors; an electromechanical relay connected in series with the transistors; and a controller for opening at least one transistor or the electromechanical relay when the threshold voltage is exceeded. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110032653 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A RELAY IN ELECTRIC DRIVE VEHICLE - Disclosed is a relay control apparatus and method for electric drive vehicles. The apparatus controls turn-off of a relay operative to connect an electric drive unit with a battery pack for supplying electrical power to the electric drive unit, and comprises a current sensor for measuring and outputting a residual current flowing between the battery pack and the electric drive unit; and a controller for, in a situation requiring turn-off of the relay, receiving the measured residual current value, comparing the measured residual current value with a reference value for the residual current, and controlling to maintain the ON-state of the relay or to turn off the relay on the basis of the comparison results. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110286141 | SSPC for Soft Start of DC Link Capacitor - A solid state power controller (SSPC) for soft start of a direct current (DC) link capacitor of a DC power distribution system includes a power input connected to a DC power source of the DC power distribution system; a plurality of power switches arranged in parallel, the plurality of power switches being connected to a power output of the SSPC, the power output being connected to the DC link capacitor; and an SSPC controller configured to: pulse width modulate the plurality of power switches with a phase-shifted sequence in a current limiting mode; determine whether soft start is complete; and in response to determining that the soft start is complete, turn on the plurality of switches at a maximum gate-source voltage. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110317325 | Electrodes to improve reliability of nanoelectromechanical systems - The present invention provides for replacement of conventionally-used metal electrodes in NEMS devices with electrodes that include non-metallic materials comprised of diamond-like carbon or a dielectric coated metallic film having greater electrical contact resistance and lower adhesion with a contacting nanostructure. This reduces Joule heating and stiction, improving device reliability. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20130021714 | LOW CONSUMPTION LOGIC CIRCUIT AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE SUCH LOGIC CIRCUIT - Logic circuit for integrated circuit comprising a variable supply voltage source, the variation of which comprises at least three successive phases, a first phase of increasing the voltage from a zero value to a nominal voltage, a second phase of maintaining the supply voltage at the nominal voltage and a third phase of reducing the supply voltage from the nominal voltage to a zero value, and at least two mechanical switches, said switches being microelectromechanical switches or nanoelectromechanical switches, and means of switching said switches. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130083444 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RELAY CONTROL - A method and apparatus for controlling an electromechanical relay. In one embodiment, the method comprises reducing a relay current of a relay that is activated, determining a first value of the relay current, wherein the first value is either a minimum default current value or a value of the relay current at which the activated relay deactivates, and determining a holding current value for maintaining the relay in an activated state, wherein the holding current value is at least the first value and less than a second value of the relay current at which the relays activates. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20140049871 | MODULAR ELECTRONIC DETECTION DEVICE - A modular electronic detection device comprises a mechanical actuator connected to a target through a front surface of a panel. The device further comprises a plurality of sensors for detecting the position of the target, which are connected to a printed circuit board. The modular detection device of the present invention can be incorporated into an aircraft and can be used in aircraft assembly. | 02-20-2014 |
| 20140327997 | Device for Controlling a Power Switch and Related Electrical Appliance - A device is provided for controlling at least one electrical power supply switch. The device includes at least one input port configured to receive a control signal of the at least one switch and a control circuit coupled to the input port. The control circuit is configured to actuate the at least one switch. The control circuit is electrically passive in the absence of any control signal and is configured to be supplied electrically by the control signal. | 11-06-2014 |
| 20160012986 | REMOTE DISCONNECT SWITCH ASSEMBLY | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160035524 | CONTROLLING RELAY ACTUATION USING LOAD CURRENT - In some aspects, a relay control device includes a processor and a timer. The processor is electrically connectable to a relay that controls current flow to a load device. The processor causes the relay to be actuated at a first point in time so that a current flows to the load device. The processor determines an actuation duration for the relay from a measurement of the load current that is obtained with a current sense component. The processor determines a frequency of an input voltage or current from the measured load current. The processor synchronizes the timer with this frequency and identifies a zero-crossing point for a second load current based on the synchronized timer. The processor subsequently causes the relay to be actuated at a time that is offset from the zero-crossing point by the actuation duration. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160099122 | Safety Device - A safety device for an aerial lift having a basket or cage with controls which permit an operator standing in the basket or cage to manoeuvre it. The safety device comprises a control module which is programmed to prevent movement of the basket or cage and activate an alarm by cutting electrical supply to a function enable switch and, if the electrical supply to the function enable switch cannot be cut, the control module is further programmed to prevent movement of the basket or cage and activate the alarm by operating an emergency switch to cut the electrical supply. | 04-07-2016 |
| 20160126031 | Intelligent Electrical Switch - An intelligent electrical switch comprising a conventional mechanical switch connected to a computer system in communication with an external device and receiving instructions therefrom. The switch may be installed in an existing circuit to replace one switch in a multi-way wiring geometry, and includes a sensor detecting current on the neutral line. By determining the circuit state, the switch can determine whether, when instructions are received wirelessly to power the circuit on or off, the mechanical switch element should be toggled. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160141129 | RESIDUAL CURRENT CIRCUIT BREAKER - A residual current circuit breaker has a summation current transformer that has primary windings as well as a secondary and a tertiary winding, the secondary winding forming a circuit with an electronic trigger unit that is independent of the network voltage, and the tertiary winding forming a circuit with an electronic trigger unit that is dependent on the network voltage. The residual current circuit breaker may have an electronic control unit designed to actuate a switch upon predefinable actuation by the network voltage-dependent electronic trigger unit, and the switch, when in the actuated state, may interrupt contact of the secondary winding with the network voltage-independent electronic trigger unit and establishes contact of the tertiary winding with the network voltage-dependent electronic trigger unit. | 05-19-2016 |
