en System for and method of classifying and translating graphics commands in client-server computing systems By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A client-server computing system includes a server that has a virtual display driver that classifies and, if necessary, translates graphics application programming interface (API) functions to a cross-platform format. Classification involves determining whether the graphics command(s) are platform-specific and/or client-supported functions. After classification and translation, the graphics command(s) are marshaled and transmitted to a client via a network. The client includes a client display driver that executes the functions using a client 3D library and renders the resulting image data to a display. Full Article
en Display device having a power line arrangement for reducing voltage drop By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A display device includes: a pixel area comprising pixels in rows and columns; main power lines at a first side of the pixel area and a second side of the pixel area facing the first side; first sub-power lines coupled to a first main power line of the main power lines formed at the first side and extending into the pixel area in a column direction; and second sub-power lines coupled to a second main power line of the main power lines formed at the second side and extending into the pixel area in the column direction, wherein the first sub-power lines and the second sub-power lines extend in different columns of pixels, and wherein a column of pixels of the pixels are alternatingly coupled to a neighboring sub-power line of the first sub-power lines and a neighboring sub-power line of the second sub-power lines. Full Article
en System and method for adjusting presentation of moving images on an electronic device according to an orientation of the device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a system, method and device for changing a notional viewing location for a moving image on a device, depending on an orientation of the device. For the moving image management system, it comprises: a sensor; a movement detection module connected to the sensor providing movement data registering a notable signal from the sensor; and a moving image adjustment module determining a new viewing location of the moving image utilizing the movement data and generating a replacement moving image for the moving image representing the moving image as viewed from the new viewing location. Full Article
en 5-wire resistive touch screen pressure measurement circuit and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT A 5-wire touch screen system includes a touch screen (10) including a wiper (11) and a resistive layer (16) aligned with the wiper and first (UL), second (UR), third (LR), and fourth (LL) resistive layer contacts, wherein a touch on the screen presses a small portion of the wiper against the resistive layer, producing a touch resistance (RZ) between them at a touch point on the resistive layer. The wiper and various contacts are selectively coupled to first (VDD) and second (GND) reference voltages, respectively, to generate an analog touch voltage (VZ) at the touch point. The wiper and various contacts are selectively coupled to an analog input (56) and a reference voltage input of an ADC (48) for converting the touch voltage (VZ) to a digital representation. Analog voltages (VX) and (VY) at the touch point are converted to corresponding digital representations by the ADC. Full Article
en Methods, apparatus and systems for generating location-corrected searchable electronic records of underground facility locate and/or marking operations By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Oct 2015 08:00:00 EDT Generating a corrected electronic record of a locate and/or marking operation. The operation comprises locating and/or identifying, using a physical locate mark, presence or absence of an underground facility within a dig area. At least a portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed. First information relating to a location of the facility and/or the mark is received. Based at least in part on the first information, the location of the facility and/or the mark is represented to generate an electronic visual representation of the operation. Second information relating to a corrected location of the facility and/or the mark is received. Based at least in part on the second information, the corrected location is represented to generate a corrected electronic visual representation of the operation. Third information relating to the corrected representation of the operation is transmitted and/or stored to generate the corrected electronic record of the operation. Full Article
en Methods, apparatus and systems for generating searchable electronic records of underground facility locate and/or marking operations and assessing aspects of same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Oct 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method is disclosed for assessing an aspect relating to a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician based on an electronic representation of the operation. The operation includes locating and/or identifying, using a physical locate mark, a presence or an absence of an underground facility within a dig area. A portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. The method includes digitally representing, on a display device, the facility and/or the physical locate mark to generate an electronic visual representation of the operation. The method further includes determining a length associated with a portion of the digitally represented facility and/or physical locate mark in the electronic visual representation of the operation. The method further includes, based on the determined length, automatically assessing the aspect relating to the operation. Full Article
en Methods, apparatus and systems for generating digital-media-enhanced searchable electronic records of underground facility locate and/or marking operations By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Nov 2015 08:00:00 EST Generating a digital-media-enhanced electronic record of a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician. The locate and/or marking operation comprises locating and/or identifying, using at least one physical locate mark, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. A location of the at least one underground facility and/or the at least one physical locate mark is electronically rendered on a display device so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation. At least one digital media file representation of a corresponding digital media file relating to at least one aspect of the locate and/or marking operation or an environment of the dig area is also electronically rendered on the display device, so as to generate a digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation. Information relating to the digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation is electronically transmitted and/or stored so as to generate the digital-media-enhanced electronic record of the locate and/or marking operation. Full Article
en Apparatus and method for impedance adjustment By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A transceiver includes an antenna, an impedance adjustment device, an RF (Radio Frequency) front-end circuit, a storage device, and a processor. The antenna receives an RF signal. The impedance adjustment device is coupled to the antenna, and includes a plurality of branch circuit with different impedance values and a switch module. The processor is coupled to the RF front-end circuit and controls the switch modules. In a comparison mode, the switch module selects to connect to the branch circuits individually, and the processor detects each RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indications) value corresponding to the branch circuit and records all of the RSSI values to the storage device respectively. In the comparison mode, the processor further compares the RSSI values to for highest one. Finally, the switch module selects the branch circuit corresponding to the highest RSSI value as a transmission branch. Full Article
en Parasitic capacitance compensating transmission line By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A transmission line is provided in which a first portion of the transmission line is configured to be connected to a source, and a second portion of the transmission line is configured to be connected to a load. A capacitive element is coupled to the transmission line and is configured to compensate for an impedance difference between the load and at least one of the source or the transmission line, at a frequency within a frequency bandwidth of the load. A difference between an internal capacitance of the first portion of the transmission line and the second portion of the transmission line substantially matches the capacitance of the capacitive element. Full Article
en High frequency switch By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is provided a high frequency switch having a reduced circuit scale while maintaining satisfactory harmonic characteristics in a transfer path of a high frequency signal. The high frequency switch includes: at least one transmission port; at least one reception port; a common port; transmission side series switches each including a body contact type FET; transmission side shunt switches each including a body contact type FET; reception side series switches each including a body contact type FET; and reception side shunt switches each including at least one floating body type FET. Full Article
en Three dimensional branchline coupler using through silicon vias and design structures By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A three dimensional (3D) branchline coupler using through silicon vias (TSV), methods of manufacturing the same and design structures are disclosed. The method includes forming a first waveguide structure in a first dielectric material. The method further includes forming a second waveguide structure in a second dielectric material. The method further includes forming through silicon vias through a substrate formed between the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material, which connects the first waveguide structure to the second waveguide structure. Full Article
en Duplexer, communication module component, and communication device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A duplexer has an antenna terminal, a first terminal, and second terminals and provided with a first filter arranged between the antenna terminal and first terminal and including a parallel resonator for forming a ladder type filter circuit, a second filter arranged between the antenna terminal and the second terminal and having a passband higher than a passband of the first filter, and an electromagnetic coupling element arranged between the parallel resonator of the first filter and a ground part and electromagnetically coupled with the antenna terminal. Full Article
en Frequency-tunable filter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A frequency tunable filter is disclosed. The frequency tunable filter includes a filter unit that can tune a frequency band of a frequency signal being filtered, a communication module that receives a control signal for controlling the tuning of the frequency band, and a control unit that controls the tuning of the frequency band based on the control signals. The disclosed filter can control the tuning of the filter's frequency band wirelessly. Full Article
en Electromagnetic interface secured by using an indirect compression force to slidably engage first and second force transfer features By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In an example embodiment, an electromagnetic interface can comprise: a first component comprising a first waveguide channel, a first interface surface, and a first force transfer feature; a second component comprising a second waveguide channel, a second interface surface, and a second force transfer feature; and a fastener that can be configured to force the first force transfer feature in sliding engagement with the second force transfer feature. The first and second force transfer features can be configured to interoperate to create an indirect force holding the first interface surface in contact with the second interface surface and holding the first waveguide channel in alignment with the second waveguide channel. Full Article
en Virtual RF sensor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A radio frequency (RF) generation system includes an impedance determination module that receives an RF voltage and an RF current. The impedance determination module further determines an RF generator impedance based on the RF voltage and the RF current. The RF generation system also includes a control module that determines a plurality of electrical values based on the RF generator impedance. The matching module further matches an impedance of a load based on the RF generator impedance and the plurality of electrical components. The matching module also determines a 2 port transfer function based on the plurality of electrical values. The RF generation system also includes a virtual sensor module that estimates a load voltage, a load current, and a load impedance based on the RF voltage, the RF generator, the RF generator impedance, and the 2 port transfer function. Full Article
en Attenuation reduction control structure for high-frequency signal transmission lines of flexible circuit board By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An attenuation reduction control structure for high-frequency signal transmission lines of a flexible circuit board includes an impedance control layer formed on a surface of a substrate. The impedance control layer includes an attenuation reduction pattern that is arranged in an extension direction of the high-frequency signal transmission lines of the substrate and corresponds to bottom angle structures of the high-frequency signal transmission lines in order to improve attenuation of a high-frequency signal transmitted through the high-frequency signal transmission lines. An opposite surface of the substrate includes a conductive shielding layer formed thereon. The conductive shielding layer is formed with an attenuation reduction pattern corresponding to top angle structures of the high-frequency signal transmission lines. Full Article
en Attenuator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An attenuator includes, on a substrate: a resistor section; an insulating film covering the resistor section; and connection terminals covering the insulating film and connected in part to the resistor section. A total thickness of the insulating film and the connection terminal in a region where the insulating film and the connection terminal overlap with the resistor section is from 50 μm to 200 μm. Full Article
en High frequency electronic component By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electronic component includes: a first circuit connected to a first common terminal for inputting/outputting a first signal set, a second common terminal for inputting/outputting a second signal set having a frequency higher than the first signal set, and a third common terminal for being connected to an antenna; and a second circuit connected in parallel to the first circuit between the first and second common terminals, wherein the first circuit includes a first filter transmitting the first signal set and reflecting the second signal set, and a second filter transmitting the second signal set and reflecting the first signal set, the third common terminal is located between the first and second filters, and the second circuit reflects a first transmission signal and a second transmission signal, transmits parts of the first and second transmission signals, and inverts phases of the parts of the first and second transmission signals. Full Article
en De-noise circuit and de-noise method for differential signals and chip for receiving differential signals By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A de-noise circuit and a de-noise method for differential signals and a chip for receiving differential signals are provided. The de-noise circuit includes a filter and a register. Both the filter and the register are disposed in the chip. The chip receives a differential signal through a first input terminal and a second input terminal. The filter is coupled between the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the chip. The filter filters out noises in the differential signal. The filter includes at least one filter unit. Each filter unit has at least one resistance value or at least one capacitance value. The register is coupled to the filter. The register receives and stores a control value. The register controls the resistance value or the capacitance value of at least one of the filter units based on the control value. Full Article
en Cavity filter with connecting structure connected between slider and driving device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cavity filter includes a slider, a driving device, and an adapter. The slider is used to slide relative to and couple with a plurality of resonators located in the cavity filter to adjust a resonating frequency of the cavity filter. The driving device is used to drive the slider slide relative to the plurality of resonators and includes a shaft having a free end. The adapter is installed between the slider and the driving device and rotateably connected to the free end of the shaft with a gap configured between the free end and the adapter. Full Article
en Localized wave generation via modal decomposition of a pulse by a wave launcher By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Implementations for exciting two or more modes via modal decomposition of a pulse by a wave launcher are generally disclosed. Full Article
en Unbalanced-balanced conversion circuit element By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT An unbalanced-balanced conversion circuit element includes an inductor connected in series between an unbalanced terminal and a first balanced terminal. The first balanced terminal side of the inductor is grounded via a capacitor. A capacitor is connected in series between the unbalanced terminal and a second balanced terminal. An inductor is connected between the first balanced terminal side of the inductor and the second balanced terminal side of the capacitor. In a laminate defining the unbalanced-balanced conversion circuit element, the capacitor is spaced far from a mounting surface of the laminate in comparison with other circuit elements. Full Article
en Flame resistant fabric and garments made therefrom By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT Protective garments include a flame resistant fabric that is strong and yet has a soft hand. The fabric is made from a combination of filament yarns and spun yarns. The filament yarns and spun yarns are woven together such that the filament yarns are separated by from about 2 to about 5 spun yarns in both the warp direction and the fill direction. The spun yarns may contain polybenzimidazole fibers in combination with other fibers, such as aramid fibers. The filament yarns may comprise para-aramid fibers. In one embodiment, the filament yarns may have a size larger than the spun yarns. Full Article
en Woven fabric having composite yarns for endoluminal devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT A woven fabric for a low profile implantable medical device includes a plurality of textile strands of a composite yarn aligned in a first direction interlaced with a plurality of textile strands of the composite yarn aligned in a second direction. The composite yarn includes a combination of a first material and a second material. The textile strands have a size between about 10 denier to about 20 denier. The first material has at least one characteristic different from the second material and the second material reacts favorably with blood when placed within an artery. Full Article
en Stent graft having floating yarns By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT An implantable graft device is disclosed. The device comprises a graft body forming a lumen defining a longitudinal axis and comprising proximal and distal ends. The graft body comprises a woven fabric having warp yarns aligned in a first direction and weft yarns aligned in a second direction. The weft yarns are woven with the warp yarns. A portion of the warp yarns along the longitudinal axis of the graft body are not interwoven with the weft yarns, defining floating yarns having loops aligned in one of the first direction and the second direction. The device further comprises an expandable stent disposed circumferentially about the longitudinal axis and received through the loops of the floating yarns to attach the stent to the graft body. Full Article
en Paint dispensing nozzle arrangement By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT A paint dispensing nozzle arrangement for dispensing paint into a paint applicator, the paint applicator having a base plate, an interface material to allow the paint to adhere to the base plate, and a removable paint mold, the nozzle arrangement comprising a dispensing nozzle for dispensing paint into the paint mold, and a displacement member, the displacement member arranged relative to the dispensing nozzle such that the nozzle can dispense paint into the paint mold without coming into contact with the interface material. Full Article
en Manufacturing method of medical textiles woven from chitosan containing high wet modulus rayon fibre By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST An anti-“Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)” chitosan containing antibacterial High Wet Modulus (HWM) rayon fiber textile for medical usage is made of the steps as following: chitin flakes made from natural shrimp or crab shells are deacetylated to generate chitosan with a high deacetylation degree of 90% or more. Next chitosan is dissolved in acetic acid and regenerated by caustic soda to form a chitosan antibacterial nanoparticles slurry, then added to HWM viscose rayon process, and spinning to produce a chitosan containing antibacterial HWM rayon fiber. The antibacterial amino groups of chitosan and the hydroxyl groups of rayon cellulose combine together via hydrogen bonding. Therefore, the fiber becomes the anti-MRSA antibacterial HWM rayon fiber containing amino groups (—NH3+). Finally the resulting HWM rayon fiber is conducted via a yarn spinning or/and weaving process to procure a medical textile with chitosan content. Full Article
en High strength ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene tape articles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST Processes for the production of high strength polyethylene tape articles from high strength ultra-high molecular weight multi-filament yarns, and to the tape articles, fabrics, laminates and impact resistant materials made therefrom. Full Article
en Weaving machine having movable shed opening limiter device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A weaving machine for producing a woven fabric has a shedding device to form a loom shed of warp material, a weft insertion device for inserting a preferably tape-shaped or band-shaped weft material into the loom shed, a drawing-off device for drawing off the finished fabric in a drawing-off direction, fabric movement device for moving the fabric back and forth in the warp direction to bring the last inserted weft material into contact with the binding point or fabric edge. A shed limiter device limits the opening of the loom shed from above and below the warp, and is movable back and forth in the warp direction. The shed limiter device only loosely bounds the fabric and essentially without actively clamping or pinching or contacting the fabric and/or the last inserted weft material, at least while moving in the direction opposite the drawing-off direction. Full Article
en Method and device for the manufacturing of fabrics with at least two different pile heights in a same pile row By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A method weaves pile fabrics with at least two different pile heights (a, b) in the same pile row, wherein the fabrics have weft threads, ground warp threads and pile-warp threads (1, 2), wherein these pile-warp threads are interlaced in the fabric, according to a pattern, in a figure-forming manner or are inwoven in a non-figure-forming manner, and which, when they are figure-forming, form pile with a well-defined pile height. The method includes a first set of pile warp threads, under light strain and at least a second set of pile warp threads under a higher strain. A device for manufacturing such fabrics is described. Full Article
en Leno heddle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A leno heddle includes a pair of elongated shanks, which are removably assembled together in overlying relationship. One of the shanks has configured ends to be removably received within corresponding openings in the other shank. The shank having configured ends can be replaced within the leno heddle without having to remove the other shank from its coupled relationship with the loom's upper and lower leno heddle support bars. Full Article
en Weaving method and loom for implementing this method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST The loom includes a weaving area (18) into which weft threads are inserted into at least one upper channel and one lower channel, each of these weft threads being inserted between at least two warp threads by at least one weft insertion element: first element for focusing on one of these channels and determining the position of the warp threads relative to the weft thread, and second element for inserting at least one binding thread (16) above, between and below these channels. The loom includes at least one element for gripping the at least one binding thread and element for moving the at least one gripping element out of and into the weaving area (18) so as to place the at least one gripping element in contact with the at least one binding thread and to allow the drawing of the at least one binding thread. Full Article
en Three-dimensional woven fabric and method for producing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A three-dimensional woven fabric including front layer, rear layer, and light-shielding layer connecting front layer to rear layer and a method thereof are disclosed. The light-shielding layer is formed by repeatedly overlapping first, second, and third light-shielding layers with another light-shielding layer with adjacent ones among the first to the third light-shielding layers overlapped. The front layer includes front parts formed by weaving front layer wrap threads and weft threads, the front parts have front layer-connecting parts formed by sequentially and repeatedly weaving front layer wrapwrap threads and weft threads and light-shielding layer wrap threads, the rear layer includes rear layer-connecting parts formed by weaving sequentially and repeatedly the rear layer wrap threads and weft threads and light-shielding layer wrap threads. The light-shielding layers are formed by weaving light-shielding layer wrap threads and the weft threads, and the light-shielding layers are sequentially and repeatedly connected to front layer-connecting parts and rear layer-connecting parts. Three-dimensional shapes are implemented without adhesive. Various designs and light-shielding control are available. Full Article
en Group of reflection optic sensors in a weft feeder for weaving looms By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST Group of optic sensors (S) in a weft feeder, in particular for weaving looms, comprising one or more pairs of emitting sensors (E) and receiving sensors (R) arranged on a portion of the weft feeder (C) which extends laterally to the drum (T) of the weft feeder whereon the coils of the weft thread are wound, so as to form optic radiation going-paths from each of said emitting sensors (E) to a reflecting surface (9) provided on said drum (T) and optic radiation back-paths, from said reflecting surface (9) to corresponding receiving sensors (R), for detecting the presence/absence of a thread which crosses said paths. The optic sensors (E, R) are of the SMT type and are wired on a printed-circuit board (8) with an optic axis parallel to the plane of said board (8). A first group of total-reflection mirrors (V), one for each pair of emitting/receiving sensors (E, R), is inclined so as to deviate the optic radiation from the plane of the board (8) to a plane perpendicular to or inclined with respect to the same. A second group of partial-reflection mirrors (H), one for each pair of emitting/receiving sensors (E, R), is inclined so as to deviate the optic radiation in the same plane as board 8. Full Article
en Woven preform, composite, and method of making thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A three dimensional woven preform, a fiber reinforced composite incorporating the preform, and methods of making thereof are disclosed. The woven preform includes one or more layers of a warp steered fabric. A portion of the warp steered fabric is compressed into a mold to form an upstanding leg. The preform includes the upstanding leg and a joggle in a body portion. The body portion and upstanding leg are integrally woven so there is continuous fiber across the preform. A portion of the warp steered fabric includes stretch broken carbon fibers in the warp direction, and another portion includes conventional carbon fibers. The warp steered fabric can be woven on a loom equipped with a differential take-up mechanism. The warp steered fabric can be a single or multilayer fabric. The preform or the composite can be a portion of an aircraft window frame. Full Article
en Woven fabric for air bags, air bags and process for production of the woven fabric By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An airbag fabric, airbag and method for making the airbag fabric, the fabric consisting of warp and weft yarns of synthetic fiber yarn, characterized by satisfying the following requirements: (1) the total fineness of the synthetic fiber yarn is 100 to 700 dtex;(2) Nf/Nw≧1.10 wherein, Nw represents the weaving density of warp yarns (yarns/2.54 cm) andNf represents the weaving density of weft yarns (yarns/2.54 cm);(3) EC1≧400N and EC2≧400N wherein, EC1 represents the edgecomb resistance (N) in the machine direction, as determined according to ASTM D6479-02, andEC2 represents the edgecomb resistance (N) in the crosswise direction as determined according to ASTM D6479-02;(4) 0.85≦EC2/EC1≦1.15; and(5) the air permeability, as determined according to the Frajour type method specified in JIS L1096 at a test pressure difference of 19.6 kPa, is 1.0 L/cm2·min or less. Full Article
en Device for making woven article By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for making a woven article from a plurality of strings includes a base, a post, first and second engagement devices and a stabilization device. The base has a plurality of slots formed therein. The first engagement device engages first ends of the strings and is fixedly attached to the base and fixed relative to the slots, thereby fixing the first ends relative to the base. The second engagement device is fixedly attached to the base and includes a plurality of slits each configured to secure a corresponding one of the strings. The slots formed in the base are disposed between and spaced apart from the first and second engagement devices. The stabilization device is removably engageable with a selected one of the slots and is configured to engage a selected portion of the strings between the first and second engagement devices to restrict twisting of the strings. Full Article
en Method for transferring energy between at least two energy storage cells in a controllable energy store By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In a method for transferring energy between at least two energy storage cells in a controllable energy store that serves to control and to supply electrical energy to an n-phase electric machine, which energy store has n power supply arms which each have at least two series-connected energy storage modules which each include at least one electrical energy storage cell with an associated controllable coupling unit, and are connected to one respective phase of the electric machine, in a charging phase, all coupling units of those energy storage modules which are to be used as an energy source are controlled in such a way that the respectively associated energy storage cells are connected into the respective power supply arm. Full Article
en Energy management system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An energy management system has an integration control portion that performs control to charge a storage battery with a power of such an amount that a power consumption including a power supplied by a supply portion is equal to or smaller than a target value indicated by power consumption target information recorded in a recording portion when a power consumption detected by a detection portion is smaller than the target value, and to supply a building with a power with which the storage battery is charged such that the power consumption including the power supplied by the supply portion coincides in amount with a power equal to or smaller than the target value indicated by the power consumption target information recorded in the recording portion when the power consumption detected by the detection portion is larger than the target value. Full Article
en Charging device with battery management system for rechargeable battery By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A charging device with a battery management system which remains a rechargeable battery in full capacity during standby after being fully charged is disclosed. The charging device includes a charging module, electrically connected to a power source, for charging the rechargeable battery; a voltage detecting module, for detecting a voltage of the rechargeable battery; and a determination module, for instructing the charging module to charge the rechargeable battery with a supplementary current, when the voltage of the rechargeable battery detected by the voltage detecting module reduces to a first predetermined voltage, until the voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches a second predetermined voltage. A reduction of the voltage of the rechargeable battery is due to self-discharge of the rechargeable battery during standby after being fully charged. Full Article
en Battery system and energy storage system including same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A battery system is disclosed. The battery system includes a plurality of battery cells, and a battery cell balancing unit, configured to adjust voltages across each of the battery cells to reduce variation among the voltages across the battery cells. The battery cell balancing unit includes a controller configured to receive a DC reference current and to generate an AC current based on the DC reference current, a transformer, a rectifier circuit including a rectifier connected to the output coil, and a switching unit including a plurality of switches, each configured to selectively connect the rectifier to one of the battery cells. Full Article
en Multi-orientation stand for a portable electronic device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A stand for a portable electronic device includes a device receiving side including a coupling component for engaging with the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is in a first orientation relative to the device receiving side and when the portable electronic device is in a second orientation relative to the device receiving side. The stand also includes a first support side adjacent to the device receiving side to act as a base when the portable electronic device is in the first orientation, and a second support side adjacent to the first support side to act as a base when the portable electronic device is in the second orientation. Full Article
en Battery pack having improved strength By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein is a battery pack including a battery cell array including two or more battery cells, each of which has an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure disposed in a battery case together with an electrolyte in a sealed state, arranged in a lateral direction, a protection circuit module (PCM) connected to an upper end of the battery cell array to control an operation of the battery pack, a pack case in which the battery cell array and the protection circuit module are disposed, and a plate-shaped reinforcing member mounted between the pack case and the battery cell array to increase mechanical strength of the pack case. Full Article
en Energy storage system and method of controlling the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An energy storage system and a method of controlling the same is provided. The energy storage system may directly provide generated DC power or DC power stored in a battery to a DC load without performing a DC/AC conversion or an AC/DC conversion. Furthermore, in the case where a grid operates abnormally (e.g. power interruption) and the energy storage system functions as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), power stored in a battery may be selectively provided to loads according to power remaining in a battery, and thus stored power may be used stably. Full Article
en Battery charge management using a scheduling application By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to some embodiments, battery charge management using a scheduling application is disclosed. A first parameter may be received from a scheduling application running on a mobile computing device having a battery pack. Based on at least the first parameter and battery pack data, a required charge percentage for the battery pack may be determined and the remaining capacity of the battery pack may be determined. If the remaining capacity of the battery pack is less than the required charge percentage, a charge termination voltage may be determined and the battery pack may be charged to the charge termination voltage. Full Article
en Wireless self-sufficient monitoring system for a door lock mechanism By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a monitoring system for monitoring a state of a door lock mechanism of a door or of a closure of a storage space of a means of transportation, comprising a generator and a sensor/actuator. The generator produces electrical energy from vibration energy, and the sensor detects the state of the door lock mechanism. The sensor uses the kinetic energy that is produced by the actuation of the door lock to generate an electrical signal, which is then transmitted to a microcontroller. Full Article
en Battery module, electric vehicle, authentication apparatus, and discharging control method for battery module By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is provided a battery module including: a power storage unit storing power; a first authentication unit carrying out first authentication via a first authentication route; a second authentication unit carrying out second authentication via a second authentication route; and a discharging control unit controlling discharging from the power storage unit to an external appliance, wherein the first authentication unit is operable, when the first authentication has succeeded, to share key information to be used in the second authentication with an authentication party for the second authentication, the second authentication unit carries out the second authentication using the key information shared with the authentication party, and the discharging control unit is operable, when the second authentication has succeeded, to permit discharging from the power storage unit. Full Article
en Available charging/discharging current calculation method and power supply device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method includes steps of dividing resistance R into a physical and chemical resistances Ro and Rp, obtaining corrected open-circuit voltages Vo corresponding to setting currents Ia to Ix, acquiring predicted reaching voltages Va to Vx corresponding to the setting currents Ia to Ix, and creating a current-voltage curve. The corrected open-circuit voltages Vo are obtained to predict available maximum currents I—target in a particular time t2. The predicted reaching voltages Va to Vx are acquired based on corrected physical and chemical resistances Ro and Rp, and the corrected open-circuit voltages Vo. The current-voltage curve is creased based on the setting currents Ia to Ix and the predicted reaching voltages Va to Vx to acquire upper and lower limit voltages Vmax and Vmin, and upper and lower limit currents Imax and Imin at a temperature whereby assigning these limit currents to available maximum currents I—target in charging and discharging operations, respectively. Full Article
en Electricity generation device and permanent-magnet electric generator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST An electricity generation device includes a permanent-magnet electric generator with three or more phase windings each having an output terminal and connected to a neutral point, and bidirectional semiconductor switching circuits capable of interrupting connections between the respective phase windings and the neutral point. Each switching circuit allows current to flow in both directions. A gate signal generation circuit outputs to one of the switching circuits during a period including the time at which the AC voltage excited in the corresponding phase winding turns from positive to negative and during a period including the time at which the AC voltage excited in the corresponding phase winding turns from negative to positive. A startup gate signal output circuit outputs a startup gate signal to all of the bidirectional semiconductor switching circuits when the permanent-magnet electric generator is to be started. Full Article
en Automatic start/stop device for engine-driven power generator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST Starting and stopping an engine is automatically controlled based on a load without using a relay. An inverter engine-driven power generator has an alternator, a rectifying circuit, a DC/DC converter, and an inverter circuit. A load detection circuit is connected to an output of the inverter circuit in parallel. A load detection line of the load detection circuit is connected to an output line of the inverter circuit in parallel via resistors. A power supply formed of a battery is connected to the load detection line. A decision circuit outputs a load detection signal when a current having a preset value or more flows through the load detection line. A drive/stop CPU starts the engine in response to the load detection. The resistors are set at a resistance value which does not influence a load to which a generator output is supplied. Full Article