Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130241217 | Compliant Solid-State Bumper for Robot - A robot bumper assembly includes a bumper body, a first sensor array, and a second sensor array. The first sensor array is disposed along and contoured to the periphery of a forward facing portion of the bumper body and senses contact with an external environment at positions along the contour of the periphery forward facing portion of the bumper body. The second sensor array is disposed along and contoured to the periphery of a top portion of the forward facing portion of the robot body. The top portion is angled, ramping up. The second sensor array senses contact with an external environment at positions along the periphery of the angled top portion of the bumper body. | 09-19-2013 |
20140124004 | Autonomous Coverage Robot - A mobile floor cleaning robot includes a robot body supported by a drive system configured to maneuver the robot over a floor surface. The robot also includes a cleaning system supported by the robot body, an imaging sensor disposed on the robot body, and a controller in communicates with the drive system and the imaging sensor. The controller receives a sequence of images of the floor surface; each image has an array of pixels. For each image, the controller segments the image into color blobs by color quantizing pixels of the image, determines a spatial distribution of each color of the image based on corresponding pixel locations; and for each image color, identifies areas of the image having a threshold spatial distribution for that color. The controller then tracks a location of the color blobs with respect to the imaging sensor across the sequence of images. | 05-08-2014 |
20140246874 | Compliant Solid-State Bumper for Robot - A robot bumper including a bumper body having a forward surface and a top surface angling away from the forward surface. The bumper body conforms to a shape of a received robot chassis. The robot bumper also includes a force absorbing layer disposed on the bumper body, a membrane switch layer comprising a plurality of electrical contacts arranged along the top surface of the bumper body, and a force transmission layer disposed between the force absorbing layer and the membrane switch layer. The force transmission layer includes a plurality of force transmitting elements configured to transmit force to the membrane switch layer. | 09-04-2014 |
20150120128 | Autonomous Coverage Robot - A mobile floor cleaning robot includes identifying, using a controller, a location of an object on a floor surface away from the robot, and issuing a first drive command from the controller to a drive system of the robot to drive the robot across the floor surface to clean the floor surface at the identified location of the object. The method also includes determining whether the object persists on the floor surface, and when the object persists, driving across the floor surface to re-clean the floor surface at the identified location of the object. | 04-30-2015 |
20150183389 | Compliant Solid-State Bumper for Robot - A robot bumper including a bumper body having a forward surface and a top surface angling away from the forward surface. The bumper body conforms to a shape of a received robot chassis. The robot bumper also includes a force absorbing layer disposed on the bumper body, a membrane switch layer comprising a plurality of electrical contacts arranged along the top surface of the bumper body, and a force transmission layer disposed between the force absorbing layer and the membrane switch layer. The force transmission layer includes a plurality of force transmitting elements configured to transmit force to the membrane switch layer. | 07-02-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20150242876 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN INVESTMENT FUND FOR CONSUMER REWARDS - A method for investing consumer loyalty rewards includes: storing, in a rules database, one or more conversion rules, wherein each of the one or more conversion rules includes at least an account identifier and a conversion rate; receiving, by a receiving device, an investment request, wherein the investment request includes at least a specific account identifier and a reward amount; identifying, in the rules database, a specific conversion rule where the included account identifier corresponds to the specific account identifier; calculating, by a processing device, a monetary value based on application of the conversion rate included in the specific conversion rule to the reward amount included in the received investment request; and transmitting, by a transmitting device, an investment request, wherein the investment request includes at least the calculated monetary value and requests investment of the calculated monetary value in one or more investment accounts. | 08-27-2015 |
20150302405 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VALIDATION OF MERCHANT AGGREGATION - A method and system that involve retrieving, from one or more databases, a first set of information including merchant aggregated payment card transaction data for a defined time period, and retrieving, from one or more databases, a second set of information including merchant reported sales data for the defined time period. The method and system further involve analyzing the first set of information and the second set of information to generate a correlation coefficient for the defined time period, and assessing the merchant aggregated payment card transaction data based on the correlation coefficient. The method and system enable validation or verification of merchant aggregation, e.g., determining if merchant aggregation is optimal or above a predetermined threshold value. The method and system leverage consumer payment transaction data and merchant sales information in a way so as to enable validation or verification of merchant aggregation. | 10-22-2015 |
20150302406 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVING ACCURANCY OF MERCHANT AGGREGATION - A method and a system that involve retrieving, from one or more databases, a first set of information including merchant aggregated payment card transaction data, and retrieving, from one or more databases, a second set of information including merchant hierarchical organizational structure. The method and the system further involve analyzing the first set of information and the second set of information to identify one or more associations between the merchant aggregated payment card transaction data and the merchant hierarchical organizational structure, and updating the merchant aggregated payment card transaction data based on the one or more associations. The method and the system provide up-to-date merchant identification information to enable accurate merchant aggregation. The method and the system leverage consumer payment transaction data and up-to-date merchant organizational structure information in a way that enables accurate merchant aggregation. | 10-22-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130036037 | FRAUD ANALYSIS FOR A LOCATION AWARE TRANSACTION - The disclosed subject matter provides for fraud analysis for a location aware transaction. In an aspect, location information can be associated with historical fraud events. The location of user equipment can be analyzed against historical fraud information to facilitate determination of a fraud factor value. The fraud factor value can reflect a determination related to the likelihood of fraud occurring in the present transaction based on the historic fraud events at the same or similar location as the present location of the user equipment. The determination can be based on fraud rules. Further aspects provide for abstraction of the fraud factor to limit exposure of personal information associated with wireless carrier subscribers in fraud analysis for a location aware transaction. | 02-07-2013 |
20130138334 | Comparison of Multi-Dimensional Datasets - Methods, systems, and apparatuses for comparing multi-dimensional datasets are provided. A multi-dimensional dataset comparison includes receiving a plurality of datasets, each including a plurality of coordinates, wherein a subset of coordinates defines a geo-fence. For a coordinate within a geo-fence of one of the plurality of datasets, determining analogous coordinates in each of the other datasets, the analogous coordinates defining a coordinate input set, and performing in parallel an operation on the coordinate input set to determine whether an entry is present at a coordinate of the coordinate input set. | 05-30-2013 |
20130276134 | EVENT DRIVEN PERMISSIVE SHARING OF INFORMATION - The disclosed subject matter provides for event driven permissive sharing of information. In an aspect, user equipment can include information sharing profiles that can facilitate sharing information with other devices or users, such as sharing location information. The information sharing profiles can include trigger values, such that when a target value transitions the trigger value, a permission value is updated to restrict access to sharable information. As such, event driven permissive sharing of information allows for designation of temporary friend information sharing with user-defined triggers. | 10-17-2013 |
20140067843 | Comparison of Multi-Dimensional Datasets - Methods, systems, and apparatuses for comparing multi-dimensional datasets are provided. A multi-dimensional dataset comparison includes receiving a plurality of datasets, each including a plurality of coordinates, wherein a subset of coordinates defines a geo-fence. For a coordinate within a geo-fence of one of the plurality of datasets, determining analogous coordinates in each of the other datasets, the analogous coordinates defining a coordinate input set, and performing in parallel an operation on the coordinate input set to determine whether an entry is present at a coordinate of the coordinate input set. | 03-06-2014 |
20140167447 | AIRFLOW BAFFLE FOR COMMERICAL TRUCK FUEL EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS - An aerodynamic drag reduction device for use on an over-the-road cargo vehicle. The vehicle has a prismatically shaped cargo area, which includes a rear face of the cargo area substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel. The device comprises a plurality of resilient prongs arranged along a rear edge of the vehicle body, extending from a respective fixed end secured to the vehicle body rearward in a flow-wise direction beyond the rear edge of the vehicle body to a respective free end. Each prong is separated from an adjacent prong in the plurality, and each is flexible to permit deflection, under the influence of airflow over the vehicle at a predetermined speed, above and below a first plane defined by the surface of the vehicle to which the plurality of prongs is secured. Each prong is further resistant to deflecting in a direction parallel to the first plane. | 06-19-2014 |
20140292025 | AIRFLOW BAFFLE FOR COMMERICAL TRUCK FUEL EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS - An aerodynamic drag reduction device for use on an over-the-road cargo vehicle. The vehicle has a prismatically shaped cargo area, which includes a rear face of the cargo area substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel. The device comprises a plurality of resilient prongs arranged along a rear edge of the vehicle body, extending from a respective fixed end secured to the vehicle body rearward in a flow-wise direction beyond the rear edge of the vehicle body to a respective free end. Each prong is separated from an adjacent prong in the plurality, and each is flexible to permit deflection, under the influence of airflow over the vehicle at a predetermined speed, above and below a first plane defined by the surface of the vehicle to which the plurality of prongs is secured. Each prong is further resistant to deflecting in a direction parallel to the first plane. | 10-02-2014 |
20140372437 | Comparison of Multi-Dimensional Datasets - Methods, systems, and apparatuses for comparing multi-dimensional datasets are provided. A multi-dimensional dataset comparison includes receiving a plurality of datasets, each including a plurality of coordinates, wherein a subset of coordinates defines a geo-fence. For a coordinate within a geo-fence of one of the plurality of datasets, determining analogous coordinates in each of the other datasets, the analogous coordinates defining a coordinate input set, and performing in parallel an operation on the coordinate input set to determine whether an entry is present at a coordinate of the coordinate input set. | 12-18-2014 |
20150082461 | EVENT DRIVEN PERMISSIVE SHARING OF INFORMATION - Event driven permissive sharing of information is disclosed. In an aspect, user equipment can include information sharing profiles that can facilitate sharing information with other devices or users, such as sharing location information. The information sharing profiles can include trigger values, such that when a target value transitions the trigger value, a permission value is updated to restrict or allow access to sharable information. As such, event driven permissive sharing of information allows for designation of temporary friend information sharing with user-defined triggers. | 03-19-2015 |
20150235223 | FRAUD ANALYSIS FOR A LOCATION AWARE TRANSACTION - Fraud analysis for a location aware transaction is disclosed. Location information can be associated with historical fraud events. A location of user equipment can be analyzed against historical fraud information associated with the location to facilitate determination of a fraud factor value. The fraud factor value can reflect a determination related to a likelihood of fraud occurring in an instant transaction based on the historic fraud events proximate to the location. The determination can be based on fraud rules. Further aspects provide for abstraction of the fraud factor to limit exposure of personal information associated with wireless carrier subscribers in fraud analysis for a location aware transaction. | 08-20-2015 |
20150242485 | Comparison of Multi-Dimensional Datasets - Methods, systems, and apparatuses for comparing multi-dimensional datasets are provided. A multi-dimensional dataset comparison includes receiving a plurality of datasets, each including a plurality of coordinates, wherein a subset of coordinates defines a geo-fence. For a coordinate within a geo-fence of one of the plurality of datasets, determining analogous coordinates in each of the other datasets, the analogous coordinates defining a coordinate input set, and performing in parallel an operation on the coordinate input set to determine whether an entry is present at a coordinate of the coordinate input set. | 08-27-2015 |
20160026821 | EVENT DRIVEN PERMISSIVE SHARING OF INFORMATION - Event driven permissive sharing of information is disclosed. In an aspect, user equipment can include information sharing profiles that can facilitate sharing information with other devices or users, such as sharing location information. The information sharing profiles can include trigger values, such that when a target value transitions the trigger value, a permission value is updated to restrict or allow access to sharable information. As such, event driven permissive sharing of information allows for designation of temporary friend information sharing with user-defined triggers. | 01-28-2016 |
20160029166 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING WHETHER A DEVICE IS LOCATED WITHIN A GEO-FENCE - Methods, systems, and apparatuses for comparing multi-dimensional datasets are provided. A multi-dimensional dataset comparison includes receiving a plurality of datasets, each including a plurality of coordinates, wherein a subset of coordinates defines a geo-fence. For a coordinate within a geo-fence of one of the plurality of datasets, determining analogous coordinates in each of the other datasets, the analogous coordinates defining a coordinate input set, and performing in parallel an operation on the coordinate input set to determine whether an entry is present at a coordinate of the coordinate input set. | 01-28-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120283315 | SDF-1 DELIVERY FOR TREATING ISCHEMIC TISSUE - A method of treating a cardiomyopathy in a subject includes administering directly to or expressing locally in a weakened, ischemic, and/or peri-infarct region of myocardial tissue of the subject an amount of SDF-1 effective to cause functional improvement in at least one of the following parameters: left ventricular volume, left ventricular area, left ventricular dimension, cardiac function, 6-minute walk test, or New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification. | 11-08-2012 |
20120289585 | SDF-1 Delivery For Treating Ischemic Tissue - A method of treating a cardiomyopathy in a subject includes administering directly to or expressing locally in a weakened, ischemic, and/or peri-infarct region of myocardial tissue of the subject an amount of SDF-1 effective to cause functional improvement in at least one of the following parameters: left ventricular volume, left ventricular area, left ventricular dimension, cardiac function, 6-minute walk test, or New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification. | 11-15-2012 |
20120289586 | SDF-1 Delivery For Treating Ischemic Tissue - A method of treating a cardiomyopathy in a subject includes administering directly to or expressing locally in a weakened, ischemic, and/or peri-infarct region of myocardial tissue of the subject an amount of SDF-1 effective to cause functional improvement in at least one of the following parameters: left ventricular volume, left ventricular area, left ventricular dimension, cardiac function, 6-minute walk test, or New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification. | 11-15-2012 |
20130034523 | USE OF SDF-1 TO MITIGATE SCAR FORMATION - The subject matter provided herein relates to method for inhibiting or mitigating scar formation in a wound of the skin, by increasing the concentration of SDF-1 in, or proximate to, the wound. As described herein SDF-1 protein or an SDF-1 expression vector can be administered to a wound or the area proximate a wound by providing a therapeutically effective amount of SDF-1 protein or an SDF-1 expression vector. | 02-07-2013 |
20130303597 | SDF-1 DELIVERY FOR TREATING ISCHEMIC TISSUE - Provided herein are methods of treating a cardiomyopathy in a subject by administering directly to, or expressing locally in, a weakened, ischemic, and/or peri-infarct region of myocardial tissue of the subject an amount of SDF-1 effective to cause functional improvement in at least one of the following parameters: left ventricular volume, left ventricular area, left ventricular dimension, cardiac function, 6-minute walk test, or New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification. Also provided are methods of treating critical limb ischemia in a subject by administering a DNA plasmid encoding human SDF-1 by direct injection into the affected limb. | 11-14-2013 |
20140135383 | SDF-1 DELIVERY FOR TREATING ISCHEMIC TISSUE - A method of treating a cardiomyopathy in a subject includes administering directly to or expressing locally in a weakened, ischemic, and/or peri-infarct region of myocardial tissue of the subject an amount of SDF-1 effective to cause functional improvement in at least one of the following parameters: left ventricular volume, left ventricular area, left ventricular dimension, cardiac function, 6-minute walk test, or New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification. | 05-15-2014 |
20140186419 | USE OF SDF-1 TO MITIGATE SCAR FORMATION - The subject matter provided herein relates to method for inhibiting or mitigating scar formation in a wound of the skin, by increasing the concentration of SDF-1 in, or proximate to, the wound. As described herein SDF-1 protein or an SDF-1 expression vector can be administered to a wound or the area proximate a wound by providing a therapeutically effective amount of SDF-1 protein or an SDF-1 expression vector. | 07-03-2014 |
20160024521 | RETROGRADE DELIVERY OF SDF-1 FOR TREATMENT OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION - Described herein are methods of treating a subject with a cardiomyopathy by administering to the subject's heart, via percutaneous retrograde coronary sinus perfusion, a pharmaceutical composition that comprises a DNA plasmid encoding SDF-1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. | 01-28-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090178599 | Process for operating a coal-fired furnace with reduced slag formation - There is provided a process for operating a coal-fired furnace to generate heat. The process has the steps of a) providing the coal to the furnace and b) combusting the coal in the presence of a first slag-reducing ingredient and a second slag-reducing ingredient in amounts effective to reduce slag formation in the furnace. The first slag-reducing ingredient and the second slag-reducing ingredient are different substances. The first slag-reducing ingredient is selected from the group consisting of magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, and combinations thereof. The second slag-reducing ingredient is selected from the group consisting of copper acetate, copper nitrate, aluminum nitrate, aluminum oxide, aluminum hydroxide, and ammonium phosphate. There is also provided a method for reducing slag formation in a coal-fired furnace. | 07-16-2009 |
20140014010 | PROCESS FOR OPERATING A COAL-FIRED FURNACE WITH REDUCED SLAG FORMATION - There is provided a process for operating a coal-fired furnace to generate heat. The process has the steps of a) providing the coal to the furnace and b) combusting the coal in the presence of a first slag-reducing ingredient and a second slag-reducing ingredient in amounts effective to reduce slag formation in the furnace. The first slag-reducing ingredient and the second slag-reducing ingredient are different substances. The first slag-reducing ingredient is selected from the group consisting of magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, and combinations thereof. The second slag-reducing ingredient is selected from the group consisting of copper acetate, copper nitrate, aluminum nitrate, aluminum oxide, aluminum hydroxide, and ammonium phosphate. There is also provided a method for reducing slag formation in a coal-fired furnace. | 01-16-2014 |
20140318428 | PROCESS FOR OPERATING A COAL-FIRED FURNACE WITH REDUCED SLAG FORMATION - There is provided a process for operating a coal-fired furnace to generate heat. The process has the steps of a) providing the coal to the furnace and b) combusting the coal in the presence of a first slag-reducing ingredient and a second slag-reducing ingredient in amounts effective to reduce slag formation in the furnace. The first slag-reducing ingredient and the second slag-reducing ingredient are different substances. The first slag-reducing ingredient is selected from the group consisting of magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, and combinations thereof. The second slag-reducing ingredient is selected from the group consisting of copper acetate, copper nitrate, aluminum nitrate, aluminum oxide, aluminum hydroxide, and ammonium phosphate. There is also provided a method for reducing slag formation in a coal-fired furnace. | 10-30-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120002957 | METHODS FOR PROVIDING DIFFUSE LIGHT - Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method comprising: from an angled first end region of a substantially cylindrical beam splitter, reflecting incident light striking from any of a first set of predefined directions and to substantially transparently convey through said beam splitter and to a camera lens incident light traveling in any of a second set of predefined directions, the beam splitter defining a longitudinal central axis. | 01-05-2012 |
20140374601 | Method and Apparatus for the Application of Force to a Sample for Detection Using an Electromechanical Means - The embodiments of the present invention are directed to applying intimate contact pressures to samples while undergoing ATR infrared interrogation. As a general mode of operation, after a solid sample is placed on the ATR element, a force actuator moves an anvil arm to apply a contact force to the sample against the ATR. Thereafter, when the scan is over, the user can see the result of the one or more scans. The force actuator may be a motor or a solenoid or other type of force actuator. The applied contact force may be a fixed force or may be a user-selectable force or may be automatically controlled through feedback from the spectrometer based on the spectroscopic signature of the sample material. | 12-25-2014 |
20150323383 | VISUAL INDICATOR OF SCAN WORKFLOW - A hand-held spectrometer includes at least one indicator light and a processor configured to control the at least one indicator light to indicate a state of the hand-held spectrometer selected from a group consisting of a background scanning state, a ready-to-scan-sample state, a signal strength state, a fluorescence intensity state, a sample match state, a sample classification state, an error state, a data transfer state, a battery charge state, and a memory capacity state. The sample match state can be, for example, one of a positive match state, a mixture match state, a negative match state, and a match error state. In some embodiments, the error state can be at least one of a background error state, a user error state, and an instrument error state, or any combination thereof. | 11-12-2015 |
20160025569 | ADAPTATION OF FIELD USE SPECTROSCOPY EQUIPMENT - A spectrometer configurable for field analyses of chemical properties of a material is provided. The spectrometer includes: at least one sensor adapted for providing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) surveillance and at least another sensor for providing Raman spectroscopy surveillance. The spectrometer can be provided with a user accessible instruction set for modifying a sampling configuration of the spectrometer. A method of determining the most likely composition of a sample by at least two technologies using the spectrometer is also provided. | 01-28-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130021828 | INTEGRATED ON-TIME EXTENSION FOR NON-DISSIPATIVE BLEEDING IN A POWER SUPPLY - An example controller for a switched mode power supply includes a comparator, a drive logic, and an on-time extension block. The comparator has an output indicating whether the current through a switch of the power supply exceeds a zero-crossing current threshold. The drive logic is to generate a drive logic output signal in response to the current sense signal and in response to a feedback signal, where the drive logic output signal is representative of an on-time of the switch to regulate the output of the power supply. The on-time extension block is coupled to control switching of a switch and to extend the on-time until the output of the comparator indicates that the current sense signal reaches the zero-crossing current threshold or until the on-time of the switch reaches a zero-crossing time threshold. | 01-24-2013 |
20130027991 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL A POWER CONVERTER HAVING A LOW LOOP BANDWIDTH - An example controller includes a comparator coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. A counter is coupled to receive an output of the comparator and a feedback sampling signal. The counter is coupled to sample the output of the comparator in response to the feedback sampling signal. A state machine is coupled to receive a feedback time period signal. The state machine is coupled to control switching of the power converter according to one of a plurality of operating conditions in response to the counter and the feedback time period signal. A period of the feedback time period signal is substantially greater than a period of the feedback sampling signal. The state machine is coupled to be updated in response to the feedback time period signal. | 01-31-2013 |
20130070488 | Power Supply Circuit with a Control Terminal for Different Functional Modes of Operation - A method of operation for flyback power converter includes operating a controller of the flyback power converter in a regulation mode when a control signal is below a first threshold. The control signal is provided as an input to a terminal of the flyback power converter. When the control signal is below a second threshold and above the first threshold, the controller is operated in a limiting mode. The controller is operated in an external command mode when the control signal is below a third threshold and above the second threshold. Lastly, when the control signal is above the third threshold, the controller is operated in a protection mode. | 03-21-2013 |
20130241440 | PHASE ANGLE MEASUREMENT OF A DIMMING CIRCUIT FOR A SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY - An example switched mode power supply includes a timer, a threshold adjust circuitry, a comparator, and a control circuitry. The timer times a duration between crossings of a phase-dimmed signal across a first threshold. The threshold adjust circuitry adjusts a second threshold representative of a desired output of the switched mode power supply, where the second threshold is adjusted responsive to the timed duration between crossings. The comparator compares a feedback signal with the second threshold and generates a comparison result. The control circuitry controls switching of a power switch responsive to the comparison result to regulate the output of the switched mode power supply. | 09-19-2013 |
20130320882 | INTEGRATED ON-TIME EXTENSION FOR NON-DISSIPATIVE BLEEDING IN A POWER SUPPLY - An example controller for a switched mode power supply includes a zero crossing detector, drive logic, and a logic gate. The zero-crossing detector generates a zero-crossing signal indicating a zero-crossing condition in the power supply. The drive logic generates a drive logic output signal in response to the zero-crossing signal and in response to a feedback signal, where the drive logic output signal is representative of an on-time of a switch to regulate an output of the power supply. The logic gate is coupled to receive a first signal representative of a current through the switch and a second signal representative of a zero-crossing time threshold. The logic gate is further coupled to extend the on-time of the switch until current through the switch reaches a zero-crossing current threshold or until the on-time of the switch reaches the zero-crossing time threshold. | 12-05-2013 |
20130336019 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING ZERO-CROSSING OF AN AC INPUT VOLTAGE TO A POWER SUPPLY - An example controller for a power supply includes a first circuit and a drive signal generator. The first circuit receives a first signal representative of a switch current flowing through a switch of the power supply and then generates a second signal in response the switch current not reaching a current threshold within an amount of time. The second signal indicates when a dimming circuit at an input of the power supply is utilized. The drive signal generator generates a drive signal to control switching of the switch in response to the second signal, where energy is transferred across an energy transfer element of the power supply in response to the switching of the switch. | 12-19-2013 |
20140016377 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL A POWER CONVERTER HAVING A LOW LOOP BANDWIDTH - A controller for use in a power converter includes a comparator coupled to receive a signal representative of an output of the power converter. A counter is coupled to an output of the comparator to sample the output of the comparator a plurality of times within a period. A state machine is coupled to an output of the counter to control switching of the power converter according to one of a plurality of operating condition states in response to the output of the counter. The state machine is coupled to be updated at an end of the period. | 01-16-2014 |
20140132184 | Power Supply Circuit with a Control Terminal for Different Functional Modes of Operation - A method of operation for flyback power converter includes operating a controller of the flyback power converter in a regulation mode when a control signal is below a first threshold. The control signal is provided as an input to a terminal of the flyback power converter. When the control signal is below a second threshold and above the first threshold, the controller is operated in a limiting mode. The controller is operated in an external command mode when the control signal is below a third threshold and above the second threshold. Lastly, when the control signal is above the third threshold, the controller is operated in a protection mode. | 05-15-2014 |
20150200599 | VARIABLE FEEDBACK SIGNAL BASED ON CONDUCTION TIME - A controller for a power converter includes conduction detection circuitry and a variable reference generator. The conduction detection circuitry is coupled to generate a conduction signal representative of conduction times that an input signal is above a threshold value. The variable reference generator is coupled to receive the conduction signal and configured to generate a count value in response to a first conduction time of the conduction signal. The variable reference generator is coupled to output a reference signal in response to the count value and in response to prior count values stored in the variable reference generator. | 07-16-2015 |
20150295500 | SAMPLING FOR DIMMER EDGE DETECTION IN POWER CONVERTER - A controller and a method for controlling a power converter includes a sample block coupled to generate a first, second, and third sample by sampling an input sense signal that is representative of an input voltage of the power converter. An enable signal is asserted when a first difference between the first sample and the second sample exceeds a first threshold. An edge signal is asserted when both the enable signal is asserted and a second difference between the first sample and the third sample exceeds a second threshold. A drive circuit is coupled to output a drive signal in response to the edge signal. The drive signal is for controlling a switch coupled to regulate an output of the power converter. | 10-15-2015 |
20150303812 | DIMMING EDGE DETECTION FOR POWER CONVERTER - A controller for a power converter includes an edge detection circuit and a drive circuit. The edge detection circuit includes a comparator, a count module, and an edge checking module. The comparator is coupled to output a compare signal in response to comparing an input sense signal and a count signal. The input sense signal is representative of an input voltage of the power converter. The count module is coupled to adjust the count signal to track the input sense signal in response to receiving the compare signal. The edge checking module is coupled to output at least one edge signal in response to the compare signal. The drive circuit is coupled to output a drive signal in response to the at least one edge signal. The drive signal is for controlling a switch coupled to regulate an output of the power converter. | 10-22-2015 |
20150333630 | MULTI-PACE CONTROLLER - A controller for controlling a power supply includes a feedback signal generator to generate a feedback signal representative of an output current in response to an output sense signal. A state selector circuit receives the feedback signal and outputs a digital state signal to set an operational state of a switch of the power supply. The state selector circuit adjusts the digital state signal in response to feedback information at an end of a feedback period. A driver circuit receives the digital state signal and generates a drive signal in response to the digital state signal. The drive signal drives switching of the switch in accordance with the operational state of the switch. | 11-19-2015 |
20150333764 | DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTER CIRCUIT FOR USE IN A POWER CONVERTER - A digital-to-analog converter circuit includes an input to receive a digital input signal having multiple bits. A modulation circuit is coupled to respond to less significant bits of the digital input signal by outputting a modulation signal that alternates between a logic low level and a logic high level. A digital-to-analog circuit is configured to convert more significant bits of the digital input signal to a first analog level. The digital-to-analog circuit is configured to alternate an analog output between the first analog level corresponding to a value of the more significant bits and a second analog level corresponding to one of adjacent values of the more significant bits in response to the modulation signal. | 11-19-2015 |
20150366010 | LINE RIPPLE COMPENSATION FOR SHIMMERLESS LED DRIVER - A power converter controller includes an oscillator, a drive circuit, and a frequency modulator. The drive circuit receives a clock signal from the oscillator and generates a drive signal in response thereto to control switching of a switch of the power converter. The frequency modulator controls the frequency of the clock signal in response to an inductor voltage across an inductor of the energy transfer element to reduce a peak-to-peak ripple value in an output current of the power converter. The frequency modulator controls the frequency of the clock signal during each line half cycle to be a fixed frequency when the inductor voltage is less than or equal to a threshold voltage. When the inductor voltage is greater than the threshold voltage the frequency modulator varies the frequency to be less than the fixed frequency to adjust a shape of an input current of the power converter. | 12-17-2015 |
20160006341 | TRAILING EDGE DETECTOR USING CURRENT COLLAPSE - A controller for a power converter compares a voltage sense signal to a first reference and compares a current sense signal to a current sense signal. The voltage sense signal is representative of an input voltage of the power converter. The current sense signal is representative of a current through the power converter. A slope of the voltage sense signal is measured over time. An edge detection is asserted by the controller when (1) the voltage sense signal is larger than the first reference, (2) the current sense signal is lower than the second reference, and (3) the slope is a negative slope. | 01-07-2016 |