SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS FOR ENHANCING REAR VISION FROM A VEHICLE
Issued August 4, 2009
United States Patent 7,568,823
A vehicle system is disclosed that includes a vehicle lamp assembly, including a plurality of LEDs that emit white light so as to function as an illuminator light. The lamp assembly also may include a plurality of LEDs that emit colored light to function as a signal light. The lamp assembly may include a camera. The lamp assembly may serve as a CHMSL or as a tail light. The system also includes a controller that rapidly pulses the LEDs at a rate that is imperceivable [sic] by the human eye. The pulsing intervals of the LEDs may be related to the readout intervals of the camera sensor array. In this manner, the LEDs may be pulsed on during camera readout to increase the illumination while the camera is capturing an image, or may be pulsed off during camera readout to prevent feedback glare from interfering with image capture by the camera.
Inventors: Bauer; Frederick T. (Holland, MI), Bauer; Lois (Holland, MI), Roberts; John K. (East Grand Rapids, MI), Stam; Joseph S. (Holland, MI)
Assignee: Gentex Corporation (Zeeland, MI)
Appl. No.: 11/534,756
Filed: September 25, 2006
VARIABLE SPEED WIND TURBINE DRIVE AND CONTROL SYSTEM
Issued August 4, 2009
United States Patent 7,569,943
A variable-speed wind turbine utilizes a hydraulic transmission, including a hydraulic pump coupled to a rotor and a hydraulic motor coupled to an induction generator, to produce variable-frequency power that is converted to grid-frequency power by electronic controls.
Inventors: Kovach; Joesph A. (Aurora, OH), Lindner; Norman C. (Lake Wylie, SC), Nicol; Bradley E. (Plain City, OH), Kimpel; Richard D. (Middleburg Hts., OH)
Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation (Cleveland, OH)
Appl. No.: 11/943,874
Filed: November 21, 2007
SELF-POWERED COMMUNICATIONS LINK FOR SMART CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Issued August 4, 2009
United States Patent 7,570,470
A circuit breaker communication system is provided including a circuit breaker, an electronic module to record and store data associated with the operation of the circuit breaker, and a portable communication unit for downloading the stored data. The portable communication unit includes a power source, a display unit, a processor unit, a communication interface, and a keypad. Also, a cable is provided for interconnecting the portable communication unit to the electronic module. The cable is configured to carry a data signal between the portable communication unit and the electronic module, and to conduct power to the electronic module from the power source.
Inventors: Holley; Robert D. (North Shoreline, WA)
Assignee: The Boeing Company (Chicago, IL)
Appl. No.: 11/317,149
Filed: December 23, 2005
LOW-NOISE DIGITAL TO PULSE-WIDTH-MODULATED CONVERTER WITH AUDIO APPLICATIONS
Issued August 4, 2009
United States Patent 7,570,693
The present invention relates to digital-to-analog conversion. In particular, it has application to [the] conversion of pulse-code-modulated signals, such as [those] used in CDs and DVDs, to a pulse-width-modulated or analog signal.
Inventors: Mallinson; A. Martin (Kelowna, CA), Forman; Dustin D. (Kelowna, CA), Damphousse; Simon (Kelowna, CA)
Assignee: ESS Technology, Inc. (Fremont, CA)
Appl. No.: 11/236,215
Filed: September 26, 2005
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PWM BUCK-OR-BOOST CONVERTER WITH SMOOTH TRANSITION BETWEEN MODES
Issued August 4, 2009
United States Patent 7,570,033
A PWM buck-or-boost converter is provided. The converter includes an error amplifier, a rectifier/splitter, a first comparator, and a second comparator. The rectifier/splitter provides two signals proportional to the departure of the error voltage from a central value but increasing in value from zero. Only one of the two signals departs from zero depending on the error voltage. The first comparator compares one of the two signals to a modulating waveform (e.g. a sawtooth waveform), and the second comparator compares the other of the two signals to the modulating waveform. Only one of the two signals intersects the modulating waveform, depending on the error voltage. During buck regulation, the first comparator controls the buck switches and the output of the second comparator remains high. During boost regulation, the second comparator controls the boost switches and the output of the first comparator remains high.
Inventors: Ju; Shu-Ing (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation (Santa Clara, CA)
Appl. No.: 11/397,589
Filed: April 3, 2006
DISCONTINUOUS QUASI-RESONANT FORWARD CONVERTER
Issued August 4, 2009
United States Patent 7,570,497
A discontinuous resonant forward power converter, including a controller having an output coupled to a controllable switch and which is configured to control the switch such that a voltage waveform on a secondary winding of a transformer of the converter has a first portion during which the switch is on and current flows into an output node of the converter which is coupled to the output rectifier and to a smoothing capacitor, and which has a second substantially resonant portion during which the switch and an output rectifier are both off. Substantially no current flows into the output node during the second portion of said voltage waveform.
Inventors: Jacques; Russell (Burton Green, GB), Coulson; David Robert (Comberton, GB)
Assignee: Cambridge Semiconductor (Cambridge, GB)
Appl. No.: 11/449,486
Filed: June 8, 2006
STRIKING AND OPEN-LAMP REGULATION FOR CCFL CONTROLLER
Issued August 4, 2009
United States Patent 7,569,998
An apparatus and method for igniting a lamp during a strike mode of an inverter comprising: sequentially controlling a duty-cycle sweep and a frequency sweep of driving signals in the inverter to provide an increasing output voltage to the lamp. One embodiment advantageously includes a closed feedback loop to implement the duty-cycle sweep and the frequency sweep such that an open lamp voltage is reliably regulated during the strike mode.
Inventors: Henry; George C. (Somis, CA), Lacombe; David K. (Mission Viejo, CA)
Assignee: Microsemi Corporation (Irvine, CA)
Appl. No.: 11/773,611
Filed: July 5, 2007
