41st week of 2008 patent applcation highlights part 17 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20080246401 | Electric lamp with a laser-structured metal fuse seal - An electric lamp with a fuse seal, which seals off the lamp bulb, a metal seal with power supply wires and feed lines being provided in the fuse seal, and the metal seal with power supply wires and feed lines being provided with a structure, which has been produced by a laser. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246402 | ULTRAVIOLET LAMP FOR USE IN WATER PURIFIERS - A lamp is provided having terminal pins mounted on and extending outwardly along a longitudinal axis of an end cap of the lamp. The pins are offset relative to one another along the longitudinal axis. The end cap has semi-circular, parallel surfaces with an asymmetrical section or recess at one end, and the pins extend outwardly from the respective semi-circular, parallel surfaces. A barrier wall extends substantially perpendicularly between the semi-circular surfaces. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246403 | Display, method for driving display, and electronic apparatus - Disclosed herein is a display including: a pixel array part configured to include pixels that are arranged in a matrix, each having an electro-optical element, a write transistor for writing a video signal, a drive transistor for driving the electro-optical element based on the video signal written by the write transistor, and a holding capacitor connected between the gate and source of the drive transistor, wherein the holding capacitor includes a first electrode, a second electrode disposed to face one surface of the first electrode for forming a first capacitor, and a third electrode disposed to face the other surface of the first electrode for forming a second capacitor, and the first capacitor and the second capacitor are connected in parallel to each other electrically. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246404 | VEHICLE HEADLIGHT BEAM CONTROLS - A method of manually overriding automatic activation of an automatic headlight control system for a motor vehicle, headlamps operable in a high beam state and a low beam state, a high/low beam switch movable from a neutral position to a latched position and from a neutral position to a non-latched position for controlling the state of the headlamps and a headlamp on/off switch comprising a multi-position switch with at least a selectively automatic headlamp position is disclosed. The system includes forward-facing sensor for collecting light emanating from for instance a second vehicle, and a controller for controlling, when the headlamp switch is detected as being in the automatic headlamp position, the headlamp states as a function of the sensed intensity of the beam of light emanating from said second vehicle. The method comprises the steps of: monitoring the states of the headlamps when the headlamp on/off switch is in the automatic position, causing the controller to initiate an override mode if the high beam states is detected (step | 2008-10-09 |
20080246405 | POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS - A power supply apparatus for controlling an ion accelerator includes a controller configured to adjust magnitude of ion acceleration in the ion accelerator. The controller controls an anode voltage applied to an anode electrode of the ion accelerator, a gas flow rate of gas flowing through a gas flow rate regulator of the ion accelerator, and magnetic flux density at an ion exit of the ion accelerator to satisfy a formula given as follows: | 2008-10-09 |
20080246406 | Helicon plasma source with permanent magnets - A helicon plasma source has a discharge tube, a radio frequency antenna disposed proximate the discharge tube, and a permanent magnet positioned with respect to the discharge tube so that the discharge tube is in a far-field region of a magnetic field produced by the permanent magnet. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246407 | Display Device - The invention provides an active matrix EL display device which can perform a clear multi-gray scale color display. In particular, the invention provides a large active matrix EL display device at low cost by a manufacturing method which can selectively form a pattern. Power supply lines in a pixel portion are arranged in matrix by the manufacturing method which can selectively form a pattern. Further, capacitance between wirings is reduced by providing a longer distance between adjacent wirings by the manufacturing method which can selectively form a pattern. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246408 | EL lamp driver with plural outputs - A driver for electroluminescent (EL) lamps is an integrated circuit that includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and an inductor connected in series between the first transistor and the second transistor. The driver also includes at least four output circuits coupled to said inductor for separately driving at least four electroluminescent lamps. The driver further includes memory for storing data representing dimming levels and device addresses. Data is communicated to the driver through a serial interface that recognizes at least one standard protocol. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246409 | Power Supply for Halogen Lamp - A circuit ( | 2008-10-09 |
20080246410 | Lighting Device and a Lighting Method for a High Pressure Discharge Lamp - Even in a high pressure discharge lamp causing temperature difference between electrodes when an AC current is supplied, the temperature difference is eliminated to suppress the arc movement, thereby suppressing flickering caused thereby during stable lighting. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246411 | Fluorescent lamp driver power - A kind of fluorescent lamp driver power consists of the multi-switch converting circuit, power transformer, resonant inductor, resonant capacitor, step-up transformer and rectifier. The primary winding (PW) of the power transformer connects with the AC output of multi-switch converting circuit. The resonant inductor and resonant capacitor, after series connection, connect to the secondary winding (SW) of the power transformer through the PW of the step-up transformer. The SW of the power transformer connects with the rectifier. The SW of the step-up transformer connects with the load output. This invention combines the fluorescent lamp driver power and the power supply of the control system, so that the energy transformation occurs only once for the output from the Power Factor Correction (PFC) Circuit to lamp. By using this invention, the system cost is lowered greatly by saving two converters, working efficiency remarkably enhanced and system stability improved as well. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246412 | Fluorescent lamp driver - The present invention discloses a kind of fluorescent lamp driver, which consists of the multi-switch converting circuit, power transformer (T | 2008-10-09 |
20080246413 | DC/AC COLD CATHODE FLUORESCENT LAMP INVERTER - A DC/AC cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) inverter circuit includes a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding for providing increased voltage to a CCFL, a first and second MOSFET switches for selectively allowing direct current of a first polarity and a second polarity to flow through the transformer respectively. The primary and secondary windings of the transformer are electrically coupled to ground. A capacitor divider is electrically coupled to the CCFL for providing a first voltage signal representing a voltage across the CCFL. A first feedback signal line receives the first voltage signal. A timer circuit is coupled to the first feedback signal line for providing a time-out sequence of a predetermined duration when the first voltage signal exceeds a predetermined threshold. A protection circuit shuts down the first switch and the second switch when the first voltage signal exceeds the predetermined threshold after the predetermined duration. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246414 | INDUCTIVE LOAD SENSOR FOR DIMMER CIRCUIT - A lighting control circuit includes a dimmer circuit which is provided for an electrical outlet. An inductive load detection circuit is provided for identifying the presence of an inductive load in the electrical outlet. When an inductive load is sensed, dimming of the power directed to the electrical outlet is stopped such that full power is delivered to prevent damage to the load. The inductive load detection circuit identifies the presence of an induction load by sensing voltage spikes. In one embodiment, diodes which have a high impedance at lower voltages, but are largely conductive at higher voltages are utilized to achieve this control. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246415 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ADJUSTABLE BALLAST FACTOR - The invention includes an electronic ballast that is operable to receive a ballast factor setting that enables the ballast to provide a desired ballast factor when the ballast drives a lamp. The electronic ballast includes an input that is adapted to receive a ballast factor setting that represents a desired ballast factor for the ballast and a respective lamp. The ballast further includes a memory that is adapted to store the ballast factor setting, and the ballast includes a processor that uses the ballast factor setting stored in the memory to cause the ballast to provide the desired ballast factor as the ballast drives the lamp. The ballast includes means for substantially preventing subsequently changing the ballast factor setting stored in the memory. Various business methods are further provided as a function of the electronic ballast. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246416 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED LED PERFORMANCE - Process and apparatus for improving LED performance are disclosed in which, in one exemplary embodiment, a lamp having one or more LEDs is powered by at least one rechargeable battery that may be recharged by solar photovoltaic panel or any number of DC or AC power sources, including a car battery or household AC outlets. The power to illuminate the LEDs from the rechargeable battery is regulated by a control circuit that enables the LEDs to illuminate for at least twice the operating time for the same LEDs and the same rechargeable battery without the control circuit. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246417 | Device, system and method for adjusting the luminous flux of a lamp - The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the luminous flux of a lamp, which, in one embodiment, comprises a conversion unit for converting a main voltage into a supply voltage to be applied to one or more lamp or light elements. The device also comprises a microcontroller which controls the conversion unit in accordance with a luminous flux adjustment program which may be based on current date and time. The device also includes a receiver (for example, a GPS receiver) to receive a broadcast signal carrying date and time information employed by controller when executing the luminous flux adjustment program or for updating a clock/calendar module. The present invention also relates to a system incorporating such a device as well as to a related method for adjusting the luminous flux of a lamp. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246418 | DRIVER SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH MULTI-FUNCTION PROTECTION FOR COLD-CATHODE FLUORESCENT LAMP AND EXTERNAL-ELECTRODE FLUORESCENT LAMP - System and method for driving a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp. The system includes a control subsystem configured to generate one or more control signals, and a power supply subsystem configured to receive the one or more control signals and a DC input voltage, convert the DC input voltage to an AC output voltage, and send the AC output voltage to a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp. If the DC input voltage is lower than a predetermined threshold, the system for driving the cold-cathode fluorescent lamp is turned off in response to the one or more control signals. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246419 | Led Luminary System - The present invention relates to a light emitting diode (LED) luminary system ( | 2008-10-09 |
20080246420 | LIGHT SOURCE DRIVING DEVICE - A light source driving device is for driving a plurality of light sources of a light source module ( | 2008-10-09 |
20080246421 | Actuator Arrangement - An actuator arrangement comprises a plurality of linearly extendable actuators arranged to be driven by a common electrically driven motor, each actuator, being provided with limit stops to limit extension and/or retraction thereof, wherein the limit stops of the actuators are positioned such that a first one of the actuators has a smaller range of permitted extension than at least a second one of the actuators. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246422 | Method for Controlling a Mechanically Communicated Electric Motor - A method for controlling a mechanically commutated electric motor, wherein the rotational angle of the output of said motor is determined by means of detection of the change in back electromotive force, when the electric motor commutates, and wherein the power supply to the electric motor is halted after a predetermined number of detected commutations. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246423 | DRIVE REGENERATIVE CONTROL SYSTEM - Provided is a drive regenerative control system of a drivee with a motor superior in torque and weight balance and suitable for miniaturization as the drive source. In a drive regenerative control system having a drive source with an electric motor, a drivee, a control circuit having a drive control circuit of the motor and a regenerative control circuit, and a detection unit for detecting the driving status of the drivee, the drive control circuit and regenerative control circuit have a control unit for controlling, linearly or in multiple stages, the duty ratio of the drive or regenerative signal to be supplied to the motor based on the phase difference of the phase of the detection signal from the detection unit and the command value signal to the motor. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246424 | Brushless motor - The brushless motor has a first and second drive member. The first drive member is equipped with M phase coil groups each having N electromagnetic coils where M is an integer of 1 or greater and N is an integer of 1 or greater. The second drive member has a plurality of permanent magnets, and is able to move relative to the first drive member. The first drive member has 2 (M×N) magnetic body cores. Each phase electromagnetic coil is coiled on a periodically selected magnetic body core at a ratio of 1 to 2M from among the arrangement of 2 (M×N) magnetic body cores. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246425 | CONTROLLER FOR MOTOR - In a predetermined operating state of an electric motor | 2008-10-09 |
20080246426 | Control system for multiphase rotary machines - A control system aims at converting, via a switching circuit, a direct current voltage into an alternating current voltage to be applied to multiphase windings of a multiphase rotary machine to thereby control rotation of the multiphase rotary machine. In the control system, a command voltage determiner determines a command voltage value for an alternating current voltage to be applied to the multiphase windings based on a zero crossing of a line-to-line current and a zero crossing of the amount of change in the line-to-line current. A driving unit drives the switching circuit on and off based on the determined command voltage value to thereby modulate the direct current voltage to the alternating current voltage to be applied to the multiphase windings. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246427 | Electromechanical Drive System, in Particular For Progressive Cavity Pumps For Oil Wells - The following invention is an electromechanical system ( | 2008-10-09 |
20080246428 | Industrial Robot - A robot arm | 2008-10-09 |
20080246429 | CONTROLLER OF ELECTRIC MOTOR - A controller of an electric motor for improving operation efficiency in performing electric conducting control of the electric motor of an axial air-gap type is provided. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246430 | Electric vehicle drive apparatus - In an electric vehicle drive apparatus having an electric motor and a motor drive device, the electric motor having a stator, a rotor and a moving mechanism capable of changing a relative distance between the stator and the rotor to vary an effective magnetic flux of the motor, the motor drive device compares a regenerative current with a target current during a regenerative control of the motor, and when it is found that the regenerative current is larger than the target current, the distance between the stator and the rotor is increased to reduce the effective magnetic flux. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246431 | Apparatus and method of driving compressor - Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for driving a compressor, which are capable of being suitably used for driving a refrigeration system such as a refrigerator with high efficiency and low noise. The compressor driving apparatus including a motor and a compressor driven by the motor includes an inverter which supplies power to the motor to drive the motor; a rotator position detector which detects the position of a rotator of the motor; and an inverter drive controller which includes at least one wave generator for generating an optimal driving wave according to an operation mode and a control mode of the motor, stores the generated optimal driving wave, and drives the inverter with the generated wave. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246432 | FUEL CELL POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM INTEGRATED WITH RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES - A fuel cell power supply system integrated with rechargeable batteries comprises a fuel cell unit, a rechargeable battery device and a loop switching device. The fuel cell unit outputs DC power; the rechargeable battery device comprises a plurality of rechargeable batteries which are secondary cells and able to output or input DC power; and the loop switching device comprises a DC power output terminal and an electrical connect/disconnect selection means. The fuel cell unit and the rechargeable batteries are respectively electrically connected to the loop switching device, and the loop switching device selects electrical contact between the fuel cell unit and any rechargeable battery in the rechargeable battery device, and selects electrical connection between any other rechargeable battery in the rechargeable battery device and DC power output terminal of the loop switching device. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246433 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SENSING ATTACHMENT OR DETACHMENT OF BATTERY IN PORTABLE TERMINAL - A method for sensing detachment of a external battery in a portable terminal including a connector with which the external battery is detachably assembled includes determining that the external battery is assembled with the connector when an output voltage is observed, connecting the connector and an internal battery of the portable terminal to supply power from the external battery to the internal battery, disconnecting the connector from the internal battery to check an output voltage of the connector, and determining that the external battery has been detached from the connector when an output voltage is not observed. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246434 | Battery adapter system and night-vision scope using same - A battery adapter system and night-vision scope using same is disclosed. The system includes a housing having a body portion and a reversible cap adapted to screw on and off of the body portion. The body portion has an interior sized to accommodate the whole of a relatively short and wide 3-volt lithium battery or to partially accommodate the narrower, taller 1.5-volt AA battery. The reversible cap has an open end and an interior, and has outer threads that allow the cap to screw to the body portion in either of two orientations. When using the lithium battery, the cap is screwed onto the body portion in a first orientation that forms a first sealed housing interior that does not include the cap interior. When using the AA battery, the cap is screwed onto the body portion in a second orientation wherein the cap open end is first placed over the portion of the AA battery that protrudes from the body portion. This forms a second sealed housing interior that includes the cap interior. Interrupted outer threads facilitate the gripping of the cap when screwing and unscrewing it from the body portion. The housing is designed to provide an electrical connection between the battery housed therein and a voltage regulating circuit adapted to provide a 3 volt DC output for an input voltage anywhere between 0.6 VDC and 3 VDC. The output voltage powers an image intensifier device connected to the circuit. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246435 | Battery adapter system - The battery adapter system includes a housing having a body portion and a reversible cap adapted to screw on and off of the body portion. The body portion has an interior sized to accommodate the whole of a relatively short and wide 3-volt lithium battery or to partially accommodate the narrower, taller 1.5-volt AA battery. The reversible cap has an open end and an interior, and has outer threads that allow the cap to screw to the body portion in either of two orientations. When using the smaller and wider lithium battery, the cap is screwed onto the body portion in a first orientation that forms a first sealed housing interior that does not include the cap interior. When using the taller and thinner AA battery, the cap is screwed onto the body portion in a second orientation wherein the cap open end is first placed over the portion of the AA battery that protrudes from the body portion. This forms a second sealed housing interior that includes the cap interior. The housing is designed to provide an electrical connection between the battery housed therein and a voltage regulating circuit, which is adapted to provide a 3 volt DC output for an input voltage anywhere between 0.6 volt and 3 volts. The output voltage is suitable for powering an electrical and/or optical device such as a light-emitting device. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246436 | Energy Management System of a Transport Device - An energy management system for a transport device, in particular for a motor vehicle running on fuel and electricity, includes an energy source, an intermediate energy store and an electric energy consumer, in particular an electric drive. Control and/or regulation of the provision of energy, which is dependent on information relating to future energy requirements and supplied by means of at least one part of the transport device can be carried out by the energy management system by means of the intermediate energy store and/or the energy requirements. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246437 | Electronic Timepiece with Generator Function - An electronic timepiece with a generator function according to a first aspect of the invention has a generator, a storage unit that stores electrical energy produced by the generator, a timekeeping controller that is driven by the electrical energy stored in the storage unit, a time display that is controlled by the timekeeping controller and displays time, a voltage detector that detects the voltage of the storage unit, and a discharge unit that discharges the charge stored in the storage unit when the voltage of the storage unit detected by the voltage detector reaches a preset first setting. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246438 | Charging apparatus of portable devices - The present invention relates to a charging apparatus of portable device, which charges a battery module of the portable devices. The charging apparatus includes a sensing circuit, a control unit, and a linear charging circuit. The sensing circuit detects the voltage of a power adapter when the power adapter is plug to the portable devices, and then produces a sensing signal and transmits it to the control unit. The control unit produces a control signal according to the sensing signal and the remaining capacity of the battery module. The present invention features that the linear charging circuit receives an output power of the sensing circuit and charges the battery module according the control signal. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246439 | POWER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - Systems and methods that recharge power supply units of portable electronic devices by leveraging energy harvesting or scavenging techniques. A recharge component accumulates energy from a plurality of sources, and supplies an electric current to the portable electronic device for a charge thereof. The sources of energy are based on routine user actions such as muscle movements (e.g., walking, movement of eye lashes, body heat), and can further consider environmental factors such as exposure to sunlight, temperature, as well as availability of external power sources. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246440 | Adjustable input pulsation device - A battery pulsation system including a battery having a plurality of cells and a pulsation device connected to the battery to supply a pulsation energy to the plurality of cells, the pulsation energy having a pulsation amplitude and a pulsation frequency, wherein the pulsation device is adapted to control the pulsation amplitude of the pulsation energy. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246441 | BATTERY PACK PROTECTION CIRCUIT AND BATTERY PACK - A battery pack includes a first switching element which shuts off a discharging current flowing to a battery cell and a second switching element which shuts off a charging current. A positive temperature coefficient thermistor is inserted between a gate control terminal of a protective control circuit and a gate of at least one of the switching elements, and a resistor is connected between the gate and a source of the switching element. The positive temperature coefficient thermistor is thermally connected to one or more of the first and second switching elements and/or to the battery cell. Thus, an abnormally overheated state of one or more of the switching elements or the battery cell leads to an increase in the resistance of the positive temperature coefficient thermistor causing shut-off of the switching element thereby protecting the battery pack. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246442 | Overvoltage Protection Utilized When A Battery Is Removed From A System - A system and method are provided for safely recharging a battery. A current source is coupled to a node and configured to produce a current. The battery is coupled to the node, and is configured to recharge during a recharging cycle based on receiving the current through the node. An overvoltage protection system is coupled between the node and the current source, and configured to disable the current source when a voltage at the node exceeds a threshold value. For example, the current source may be substantially instantaneously disabled when this occurs. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246443 | System and Method for Boosting Battery Output - Electrical systems and methods are described. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246444 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POWER CONTROLLER - System and method for power controller. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a power factor correction apparatus. The apparatus includes a multiplier component that is configured to process a first input signal and a second input signal. For example, the first input signal is associated with a rectified alternating current signal, and the second input signal is associated with an error signal. The multiplier component further is configured to generate a first output signal based on the first input signal and the second input signal. The apparatus also includes a comparator component that is configured to process a third input signal and fourth input signal. The third input signal is associated with the first output signal. The comparator component is further configured to generate a second output signal based on the third input signal and the fourth input signal. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246445 | Power factor correction by measurement and removal of overtones - A power factor correction circuit ( | 2008-10-09 |
20080246446 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ON/OFF CONTROL OF A POWER CONVERTER - A power converter control method and apparatus is disclosed. An example power converter controller according to aspects of the present invention includes feedback sampling circuitry to be coupled to an output of a power converter. The feedback sampling circuitry is to generate feedback signal samples after a conduction of a power switch is terminated during enabled switching cycles. Switch conduction control circuitry is coupled to the feedback sampling circuitry. The switch conduction circuitry includes switch conduction enable circuitry that is coupled to enable or disable the conduction of the power switch during a switching cycle in response to the feedback signal samples. The power switch is caused to conduct during at least a portion of an enabled switching cycle and prevented from conducting during an entirety of a disabled switching cycle. Switch conduction termination circuitry is also optionally included in the switch conduction circuitry and is coupled to terminate the conduction of the power switch during enabled switching cycles in response to the current through the power switch. Switch conduction scheduling circuitry is also included in the switch conduction circuitry and is coupled to determine a varying number of future enabled and disabled switching cycles in response to the feedback signal samples from a present switching cycle and one or more past switching cycles. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246447 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATED CABLE DROP COMPENSATION OF A POWER CONVERTER - An integrated circuit controller for a power converter to be coupled to a distribution network is disclosed. An example integrated circuit controller according to aspects of the present invention includes a switching control circuit that outputs a drive signal to control switching of a switch to regulate an output of the power converter. The integrated circuit controller also includes a cable drop compensator that outputs a compensated reference voltage signal to the switching control circuit in response to a switching signal. The switching signal is responsive to the drive signal. The compensated reference voltage signal is representative of a voltage value that is responsive to a distribution voltage across the distribution network and a load voltage across a load to be coupled to the distribution network. The switching of the switch is responsive to the compensated reference voltage signal and a feedback signal. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246448 | Sleep mode control circuit and method for a DC/DC switching power supply system - A sleep mode control circuit and method are provided to pull high the error signal of a DC/DC switching power supply system to a target level when the switching power supply system is in a sleep mode, such that the switching power supply system can be more rapidly waked up from the sleep mode to its normal mode once the loading of the switching power supply system increases. A threshold is given for the output signal of the comparator that is used to determine the duty for the switching power supply system, and the error signal in the sleep mode is thus maintained slightly lower than the minimum voltage for the error signal in the normal mode. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246449 | FEED CONTROLLER - A feed controller adopted to be included in a battery drive type device, the feed controller adopted to supply power to a predetermined load from a battery holder that obtains rated electromotive force from plural rated number of batteries having predetermined specification and connected in series while held by the battery holder, the feed controller includes: an outer casing attached to the battery holder in place of one of the plural batteries and having shape and size appropriate for being held by the battery holder; a converter unit disposed within the outer casing to receive voltage corresponding to the sum of the electromotive forces from the other batteries when the outer casing is held by the battery holder in place of the one battery and convert the supplied voltage to output voltage corresponding to the rated electromotive force; a switch unit inserted into a feed path for supplying the output from the converter unit to the predetermined load to open and close the feed path according to a feed control signal; and a feed control unit which generates the feed control signal to be supplied to the switch unit. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246450 | Soft-Start Circuit and Method Therefor - In one embodiment, a soft-start circuit is configured to form drive pulses that increase in width independently of the current through the power switch during a first portion of the soft-start operation period. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246451 | POWER SUPPLY FOR A LOAD CONTROL - A power supply adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC voltage source and an electrical load for generating a DC voltage, the power supply comprising an energy storage capacitor, the DC voltage produced across the capacitor; a charging circuit adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the load and to conduct a load current from the source to the load, the charging circuit coupled to the energy storage capacitor for charging the energy storage capacitor; a controllably conductive device coupled in parallel electrical connection with the charging circuit and having a control input for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive, the controllably conductive device adapted to carry the load current from the source to the load when the controllably conductive device is conductive; and a triggering circuit coupled to the control input of the controllably conductive device for causing the controllably conductive device to become conductive when the energy storage capacitor has charged to a desired maximum value; wherein the charging circuit is adapted to conduct the load current from the source to the load when the controllably conductive device is non-conductive, the charging circuit imposing a low voltage drop relative to the peak value of an AC voltage of the AC voltage source, such that substantially all of the AC voltage is available to the load during the time when the controllably conductive device is non-conductive. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246452 | Device and Method For Charging an Electrical Energy Storage Device - A device is described for charging an electrical energy storage device, which has an active current-limiting device in a main current path in order to limit a supply current to a predefined maximum current. A voltage transformer device is situated downstream from the current-limiting device for raising the potential of the electrical energy storage device over a supply potential. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246453 | POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM USING DELAY LINES IN REGULATOR TOPOLOGY TO REDUCE INPUT RIPPLE VOLTAGE - A power supply system for reducing input ripple voltage, the system including: a first regulator having at least two inputs, one input being a voltage input pin and another input being a synchronization pin; a second regulator having at least two inputs, one input being a voltage input pin and another input being a synchronization pin; a Nth regulator having at least two inputs, one input being a voltage input pin and another input being a synchronization pin; wherein outputs of the first regulator, second regulator, and Nth regulator are connected to a single power bus or correspondingly to separate power buses; a first delay connected to the synchronization pin of the second regulator; a second delay connected to the synchronization pin of the Nth regulator; wherein the first delay and the second delay have different delays configured for enabling the first regulator, second regulator, and the Nth regulator to operate out of phase; and a master clock for providing timing control to the first and second delay. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246454 | DC/DC CONVERTER - A DC/DC converter is supplied such that the desired output setting voltage can be obtained as the load-side output, even when the difference between the power supply voltage and the output setting voltage of the load-side output is large. This DC/DC converter comprises a switching device, a voltage divider, an error amplifier, an oscillator which outputs a oscillation clock, a slope circuit which receives the oscillation clock and outputs a sawtooth waveform voltage having a slope which begins at the leading edge of the oscillation clock, a comparator which compares the sawtooth waveform voltage and the output voltage of the error amplifier, and a logic circuit which is set by the trailing edge of the oscillation clock, and is reset by the output of the comparator. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246455 | Adaptive zero current sense apparatus and method for a switching regulator - A switching regulator includes a low-side switch having a body diode. During the low-side switch is on, a zero-current sense circuit monitors the inductor current of the switching regulator and triggers a signal to turn off the low-side switch when the inductor current falls down to a zero-current threshold, to prevent reverse inductor current from the output terminal of the switching regulator. A body-diode turn-on time controller monitors the turn-on time of the body diode and adjusts the zero-current threshold according thereto, and the turn-on time of the body diode can be reduced to an optimal interval subsequently. The self-adjustable zero-current threshold is adaptive according to the application conditions, such as the inductor size, input voltage and output voltage of the switching regulator. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246456 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE MAXIMUM OUTPUT POWER OF A POWER CONVERTER - A controller for a power converter is disclosed. An example circuit controller according to aspects of the present invention includes an input voltage sensor to be coupled to receive an input signal representative of an input voltage of the power converter. A current sensor is also included and is to be coupled to sense a current flowing in a power switch. A drive signal generator is to be coupled to drive the power switch into an on state for an on time period and an off state for an off time period. The controller is coupled to adjust a switching cycle period of the power switch to be proportional to a value of the input signal multiplied by a time period. The time period is the time it takes for the current flowing in the power switch to change between two current values when the power switch is in the on state. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246457 | Voltage up-conversion circuit - According to one exemplary embodiment, a voltage up-conversion circuit includes a modulated voltage generator circuit, where the modulated voltage generator circuit is configured to receive an input voltage and generate a modulated voltage, and where the modulated voltage generator circuit includes at least one transistor. The voltage up-conversion circuit further includes a switching circuit coupled to the modulated voltage generator circuit, where the switching circuit is configured to couple the modulated voltage to a load capacitor when the modulated voltage is at a high level and decouple the modulated voltage to the load capacitor when the modulated voltage is at a low level. In the voltage up-conversion circuit, the load capacitor reaches a voltage greater a breakdown voltage of the at least one transistor in the modulated voltage generator circuit. The breakdown voltage can be a reliability breakdown voltage. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246458 | DIGITAL COMPENSATION TUNING FOR SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY CONTROL - A tuner having one or more digitally controllable tuning components may be coupled to an analog feedback compensation network in a target switching power supply controller to adjust the compensation while the power supply is operating. A communication interface couples the tuner to a host having a software interface to enable a user to adjust the values of the tuning components. The tuner may include components to adjust the values of a feedback network, an input network, a ramp adjust component, etc., on the target controller. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246459 | Common-Mode Surge Suppression - There is disclosed a filter for reducing electromagnetic interference generated by a power converter. The filter may include a common-mode inductor having first and second windings on a common core. The first and second windings may be connected between first and second power input lines and first and second inputs to the power converter, respectively. A series combination of a resistor and a voltage limiting device may be connected in parallel with the first winding. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246460 | Method and apparatus for measuring the output current of a switching regulator - One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus that measures the average-output-current produced by a switching regulator within an electronic device. The apparatus includes current-sensing-circuitry coupled to a switching field-effect-transistor (FET) within the switching regulator, wherein the current-sensing-circuitry is configured to bypass a small sense current from the conducting current of the switching-FET according to a sense ratio, wherein the conducting current is controlled by a control signal for the switching regulator. The apparatus also includes a current-to-voltage-converter coupled to the current-sensing-circuitry which is configured to convert the sense current into a sense voltage. The apparatus further includes voltage-averaging-circuitry which is configured to produce an average-sense-voltage from the sense voltage. This sense voltage is coupled to the input of the voltage-average-circuitry through a switch, which is gated by the control signal. The average-output-current of the switching regulator is indicated by the average-sense-voltage. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246461 | Methods and Apparatus for Testing Delay Locked Loops and Clock Skew - According to the methods of the invention, a further delayed DLL signal is compared to the reference clock and a delayed reference clock signal is compared to a DLL signal. These two comparisons are performed on the 360° signal and on the 180° signal. The delay introduced by the methods of the invention is preferably adjustable based on the results of a process monitor test. The process monitor test can be run continuously and accounts for process, voltage and temperature. The methods of the invention can also be used to test for clock skew in a clock tree on a chip. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246462 | Device for Measuring Electrical Current, Voltage and Temperature on an Electrical Conductor Made of Rigid Material - A device for measuring electrical current, voltage and temperature in a conductor made of rigid material is disclosed. The conductor is formed from two conductor sections, between which an electrical resistor element is provided that is made of a material having greater resistance than the material of the conductor sections. In the region of the resistor element, a flattened area with a depression is provided, over which a measuring arrangement, through which a portion of the current flowing through the conductor flows, is placed in the manner of a bridge. In the measuring arrangement is arranged in the vicinity of a contact piece by means of which the conductor can be connected in an electrically conducting manner to another conductor such that the heat generated at the contact point is measured. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246463 | MEASUREMENT OF CURRENT-VOLTAGE CHARACTERISTIC CURVES OF SOLAR CELLS AND SOLAR MODULES - A solar cell or solar module is measured during a short pulse of light in such a way that the resulting data for current and voltage at each light intensity is the same as would be measured under steady-state illumination conditions and therefore predictive of the actual performance of the solar cell or solar module in sunlight. A varying voltage is applied to the terminals of the solar cell during a light pulse so that the instantaneous current at a given voltage and light intensity during the light pulse is the same as would be measured under constant illumination at that same given intensity. A constant voltage is modified by a small signal correction that is proportional to the terminal current. Or, the small signal correction is proportional to the light intensity. An analog feedback circuit is constructed using the terminal current or light intensity for feedback in order to provide the requisite varying voltage. The varying voltage may also be supplied by digital synthesis. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246464 | Pusher block - An electronic device testing apparatus for conducting a test by pressing input/output terminals of an IC to be tested against sockets ( | 2008-10-09 |
20080246465 | Magnetoresistive Speed Sensor - In order to create a magnetoresistive speed sensor ( | 2008-10-09 |
20080246466 | Sensor Device - The invention relates to a sensor device ( | 2008-10-09 |
20080246467 | Device For Counting the Rotations of an Object in a Referential, and Method For Controlling One Such Device - A device for counting rotations of an object in a referential, in which a magnetic sensor linked to the object measures a field associated with the referential in order to generate measuring signals at the rotational frequency of the object. The sensor also functions as an antenna for receiving an electromagnetic wave. A method for controlling a counting device includes receiving measurement signals and a radio-frequency triggering signal from a sensor and sending information representative of the numbering cycles in the measurement signals. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246468 | METHOD AND ALGORITHMS FOR INSPECTION OF LONGITUDINAL DEFECTS IN AN EDDY CURRENT INSPECTION SYSTEM - A collection of data processing algorithms which, used in concert, are suitable for use in place of a high pass filter stage in an eddy current inspection system and provide for a system optimized to inspect test pieces for elongated defects running parallel to the scan axis. The algorithms use mathematical techniques to eliminate baseline impedance offset between test pieces, correct for offset drift during a scan, and allow for system balancing using only a set of test pieces of unknown quality. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246469 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A portable electronic device includes a body, a flippable unit, a pivoting shaft, a first magnetizable element, a second magnetizable element, a magnetic induction sensor IC, and a magnet. The pivot shaft connects the body and the flippable unit. A display is disposed in the flippable unit for showing an image. The magnetic induction sensor IC is disposed in the body. The magnet is disposed at and rotatable with the pivoting shaft. The first and the second magnetizable elements are disposed between the magnet and the magnetic induction sensor IC to enlarge the magnetic field of the magnet such that the magnetic induction sensor IC is capable of detecting change of the magnetic field of the magnet when the flippable unit together with the magnet is pivoted relative to the body. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246470 | Magnetic Sensor Device With Field Compensation - The invention relates to a magnetic sensor device ( | 2008-10-09 |
20080246471 | Magnetic Sensor Device With Different Internal Operating Frequencies - The invention relates to a magnetic sensor device ( | 2008-10-09 |
20080246472 | System and Method for Inductively Measuring the Bio-Impedance of a Conductive Tissue - System and method of inductively measuring the bio-impedance of a conductive tissue | 2008-10-09 |
20080246473 | Frequency Doubler Device - A frequency doubler circuit includes first and second arrangements of switches connected to the positive and negative inputs of a comparator, respectively, and arranged in such a way that first and third voltages during the first phase of a reference clock signal and second and fourth voltages during a second phase opposite to the first phase are applied to the positive and negative inputs, where the first and second voltages and the third and fourth voltages are shifted with respect to each other at a half-period of the reference clock signal and the ratio between slopes of the voltages is fixed with respect to a selected current. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246474 | MRI APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An MRI apparatus which performs MR imaging in an SSFP pulse sequence in which RF excitation is accomplished by a phase cycling method is caused; to collect data regarding all the frequency regions in a k-space in an SSFP pulse sequence in a first phase series out of a plurality of phase series; to collect data regarding low frequency regions in the k-space in the SSFP pulse sequence in the remaining phase series out of the plurality of phase series; to reconstruct an image by Fourier transform of the data regarding all the frequency regions collected in the SSFP pulse sequence in said first phase series; to generate frequency data of the k-space by inverse Fourier transform of said image; to separate said frequency data into data of the low frequency regions in the k-space and data of high frequency regions; to add data whose value is 0 to said separated data of the low frequency regions as substitute for the data of the high frequency regions; to add data whose value is 0 to said separated data of the high frequency regions as substitute for the data of the low frequency regions; to add data whose value is 0 to the data of the low frequency regions collected in the SSFP pulse sequence in the remaining phase series as substitute for the data of the high frequency regions; to reconstruct low space frequency images based on the low frequency regions to which said substitute data have been added; to reconstruct high space frequency images based on the high frequency regions to which said substitute data have been added; and to totally add said low space frequency images and said high space frequency images multiplied by a scaling factor. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246475 | MRI apparatus and MRI method - An MRI apparatus includes an application unit that applies a readout gradient magnetic field in which magnetic field strength thereof varies with time and RF pulses to a subject placed in a static magnetic field in accordance with a predetermined pulse sequence; a receiving unit that receives an MR signal obtained from the subject to which the readout gradient magnetic field and the RF pulses are applied; an AD converter that converts the received MR signal from analog to digital, and samples discrete MR-signal values; a filtering control unit that performs filtering processing on the sampled discrete MR-signal values, including a filter-coefficient setting unit that sets a plurality of filter coefficients to be used for the filtering processing with respect to each point of sampling time at which the filtering processing is to be performed, based on time-shift amounts corresponding to variations in an MR-signal frequency arising from temporal variations in the magnetic field strength, and a product-sum operating unit that performs the filtering processing on the MR-signal values by performing a product-sum operation between the filter coefficients and the MR-signal values; and an image-data creating unit that creates image data based on the MR-signal values on which the filtering processing is performed. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246476 | SELF-FASTENING CAGE SURROUDING A MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE AND METHODS THEREOF - The present invention discloses a novel self-fastening cage of a magnetic resonance device (MRD) ( | 2008-10-09 |
20080246477 | Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, RF coil system, and magnetic resonance imaging method - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus has at least one RF coil and a data processing control unit. The RF coil that generates unique information, receives a nuclear magnetic resonance signal, and wirelessly transmits the received nuclear magnetic resonance signal and the unique information. The data processing control unit receives the wirelessly transmitted nuclear magnetic resonance signal and the unique information, and generates image data based on the nuclear magnetic resonance signal in accordance with the unique information. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246478 | MRI APPARATUS AND AN MRI BED APPARATUS - The test body is placed on the top board. The support section has a support post, a hinge section and a receiving member. The hinge section is linked to the edge of the shorter direction of said top board at one edge of the support post and performs a hinge movement in said shorter direction. The receiving member holds said test body and supports RF coils, when it is positioned on the other edge of the support post and said support post is caused to stand up by the hinge movement. The support section is positioned on both edges of said shorter direction of said top board. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246479 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE LOCAL COIL, PATIENT BED, AND IMAGING APPARATUS, WITH VIBRATION DAMPING - A local coil arrangement for magnetic resonance imaging has a number of supporting connection devices for placement of the local coil arrangement on a patient bed, with each supporting connection device embodying a vibration damping device. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246480 | Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, shield coil, manufacturing method of shield coil, and driving method of magnetic resonance imaging apparatus - A passive type shield coil, disposed to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, for shielding of a magnetic flux of a gradient magnetic field at an inner circumference side generated by a gradient coil for generating the gradient magnetic field, and set at an outer circumference side of the gradient coil, has a coil body formed of a portion including a superconducting material and a portion including a non-superconducting material. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246481 | Locating Arrangement and Method Using Boring Tool and Cable Locating Signals - An arrangement and an associated method are described in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a path in which region a cable is buried. The boring tool and the cable transmit a boring tool locating signal and a cable locating signal, respectively. Intensities of the boring tool locating signal and the cable locating signal are measured along with a pitch orientation of the boring tool. Using the measured intensities and established pitch orientation, a positional relationship is determined to relative scale including at least the boring tool and the cable in the region. The positional relationship is displayed to scale in one view. The positional relationship may be determined and displayed including the forward locate point in scaled relation to the boring tool and the cable. Cable depth determination techniques are described including a two-point ground depth determination method. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246482 | Distinguishing False Signals in Cable Locating - Discriminating between a cable locating signal and a false cable locating signal is described. A reference signal, which contains a locating signal frequency impressed on it, is transmitted in a way which provides for detection of a phase shift between the locating signal and the false locating signal. Based on the phase shift, a receiver is used to distinguish the locating signal from the false locating signal. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246483 | TRACKING THE POSITIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A BORING TOOL AND ONE OR MORE BURIED LINES USING A COMPOSITE MAGNETIC SIGNAL - A boring tool is moved through the ground in a region which includes at least one electrically conductive in-ground line and which is subject to static magnetic fields including the magnetic field of the earth. Tracking a positional relationship between the boring tool and the line, as well as a directional heading of the boring tool within the region are provided by: (i) generating a time varying magnetic field from the line; (ii) at the boring tool, detecting a composite magnetic signal which includes one component affected by the static magnetic fields and another component affected by the time varying magnetic field such that the static magnetic field component varies as a function of the directional heading and the time varying component varies as a function of the positional relationship; and (iii) processing the composite magnetic signal to separate the static magnetic field component and the time varying magnetic field component from the composite magnetic signal for use in determining the directional heading and the positional relationship. In one feature, the static magnetic field component is used to determine the directional heading of the boring tool and the time varying magnetic field component is used to determine the positional relationship. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246484 | Airborne Electromagnetic (EM) Survey System - An airborne electromagnetic survey system for conducting geological mapping is disclosed. A transmitter closed loop structure is used in the system and is designed for connection to a towing airborne vehicle. The transmitter loop structure comprises a plurality of interconnected loop segments, and transmitting means are fitted to at least one of the loop segments for generating and transmitting an earthbound primary electromagnetic field effective for geological surveying. Sensing means are fitted to the loop segments for receiving and sensing a vertical component of a secondary resulting electromagnetic field which arises from an interaction of the primary electromagnetic field with ground bodies that are traversed by the sensing means, while simultaneously nulling the primary electromagnetic field. Helical sensing means are positioned in close proximity to the transmitting means to receive and sense a horizontal electromagnetic field contained in the secondary resulting field, while simultaneously nulling the primary electromagnetic field. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246485 | Compact underwater electromagnetic measurement system - An underwater EM measurement system, which is substantially smaller, much simpler to use, and more robust than prior systems, is formed as a sensor package integrated into a single pressure vessel includes two magnetic sensors including induction coils disposed substantially horizontally so as to measure fields in orthogonal directions. The package also includes two electric field sensors including electric potential antennas adapted to couple to a water potential via a capacitive electrode having a conducting material and an electrically insulative layer formed of an insulating material. The capacitive electrode has a capacitance to the medium of greater than 1 mF. Preferably, the insulating material is a metal oxide. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246486 | Mutual Shielding of Collocated Induction Coils in Multi-Component Induction Logging Instruments - In a multicomponent logging tool, a coil is electrically isolated by open circuiting another, substantially orthogonal coil. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246487 | ELECTRIC SWITCHING DEVICE - The patent describes an electric switchgear ( | 2008-10-09 |
20080246488 | Method and configuration for monitoring a vehicle battery - A method for monitoring a battery includes the steps of activating a power conservation mode of an electrical system of a motor vehicle, measuring a duration of activation of the power conservation mode of the electrical system, and measuring a quiescent voltage of a vehicle battery of the motor vehicle. A battery status is determined based on the duration of activation of the power conservation mode and based on the quiescent voltage of the vehicle battery. Information indicative of the battery status is provided such that the information is perceivable outside the motor vehicle. A flashing pattern of a light emitting diode may for example indicate the battery status. A motor vehicle having a battery monitoring configuration is also provided. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246489 | Measuring Device For Impedance Spectroscopy and Associated Measuring Method - The invention relates to a measuring device and a measuring method for investigating particles which are suspended in a carrier liquid, including several measuring electrodes for carrying out electrical measuring of the particles. It is proposed that during electrical measuring, the particles be fixed in a field cage ( | 2008-10-09 |
20080246490 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AN IN-FLIGHT PRECIPITATION STATIC SENSOR - A precipitation static sensor includes a bottom flexible dielectric layer (e.g., a layer of urethane tape) configured to be attached to a wing or other external surface of an aircraft, a flexible conductive layer (e.g., a layer of aluminum tape) formed over a portion of the first flexible dielectric layer, and a conductor (such as a twisted-pair wire) coupled to the flexible conductive layer. A top flexible dielectric layer is formed over a portion of the bottom dielectric layer and a portion of the flexible conductive layer, thus forming an exposed detector region. In accordance with a further embodiment, multiple such precipitation static sensors are used and coupled to a meter device (e.g., a picoammeter), which may also be coupled to a data acquisition and display for providing a visual indication of the charge accumulated by the precipitation static sensors. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246491 | Scalable method for identifying cracks and fractures under wired or ball bonded bond pads - In a method and system for testing a presence of a crack ( | 2008-10-09 |
20080246492 | Processing tantalum capacitors on assembled PWAs to yield low failure rate - A method of conditioning tantalum capacitors on printed wire assemblies is disclosed. According to the method, each of the capacitors on an assembly is subjected to the same conditioning level during testing. To condition the tantalum capacitors, surge currents are induced in the capacitors in a controlled manner as a means of aging the capacitors so that they can be used without de-rating rating with low failure rates. The level of voltage, timing and current levels are set by circuitry used to perform the testing. The same circuits that are used with the capacitors in a system application are also used for the tantalum capacitor test circuit during the conditioning process. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246493 | Semiconductor Processing System With Integrated Showerhead Distance Measuring Device - A system for determining a distance between a showerhead of a semiconductor processing system and a substrate-supporting pedestal is provided. The system includes a showerhead having a showerhead surface from which reactive gas is expelled and a pedestal having a pedestal surface that faces the showerhead surface. A first capacitive plate is disposed on the pedestal surface. A second capacitive plate is disposed on the showerhead surface. A third capacitive plate disposed on one of the showerhead surface and the pedestal surface, but spaced from the first and second capacitive plates. Capacitance measurement circuitry is operably coupled to the first, second and third capacitive plates. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246494 | Capacitive Proximity Switch and Household Appliance Equipped Therewith - A capacitive proximity switch has an electrically conductive sensor surface, which is covered by an electrically non-conductive covering plate and which serves as a part of a capacitor with a capacitance that varies with proximity. The proximity switch includes a reference sensor surface for generating a reference signal for determining an actuation state of the proximity switch. Signal portions of the reference signal are proportional to the capacitance of a reference capacitor formed with the reference sensor surface, and the capacitance of the reference capacitor is determined by surrounding conditions of the sensor surface. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246495 | Detection apparatus for a capacitive proximity sensor - A switched capacitance detection circuit is responsive to changes in the fringing capacitance of a capacitive proximity sensor having at least one capacitive sensor element. In cases where the sensor has a single sensor element, the switching frequency of the detection circuit is controlled to maintain measurement accuracy in the presence of sensor moisture while minimizing power consumption and electromagnetic radiation. In cases where the sensor has multiple sensor elements, the capacitance values for each sensor element are differenced, absolute-valued and summed to form an output in which common-mode effects due to sensor moisture, temperature and sensor aging are canceled out. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246496 | Two-Dimensional Position Sensor - A two-dimensional position sensor is formed by drive electrodes ( | 2008-10-09 |
20080246497 | SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER INSPECTION APPARATUS - Efficiency of a charging processing of an insulator sample is improved. And, an electron optical system is adjusted according to a contact resistance value of the insulator sample. Breakdown of a sample is performed before the charging processing, and then, the charging processing is performed. A control parameter of the electron optical system is selected using a result of a resistance value of the sample for checking the breakdown. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246498 | Test structure and probe for differential signals - A test structure including a differential gain cell and a differential signal probe include compensation for the Miller effect reducing the frequency dependent variability of the input impedance of the test structure. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246499 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - A device and a method for the electrical contacting of semiconductor devices. One embodiment provides for testing semiconductor devices by using a contacting device for the electrical contacting of a number of semiconductor devices to be tested and for the electrical connection with a test system. The contacting device includes a fluid container for accommodating a fluid adapted to be tempered. | 2008-10-09 |
20080246500 | HIGH DENSITY INTERCONNECT SYSTEM HAVING RAPID FABRICATION CYCLE - An improved interconnection system and method is described, such as for connectors, socket assemblies and/or probe card systems. An exemplary system comprises a probe card interface assembly (PCIA) for establishing electrical connections to a semiconductor wafer mounted in a prober. The PCIA comprises a motherboard parallel to the semiconductor wafer having an upper surface and an opposing lower planar mounting surface, a reference plane defined by a least three points located between the lower surface of the motherboard and the wafer, at least one component located below the motherboard mounting surface, and a mechanism for adjusting the planarity of the reference plane with respect to the wafer. A probe chip having a plurality of spring probes extending there from is mountable and demountable from the PCIA, without the need for further planarity adjustment. The interconnection structures and methods preferably provide improved fabrication cycles. | 2008-10-09 |