Patents Assigned to Utah State University
  • Publication number: 20210399352
    Abstract: An apparatus for voltage sharing of series connected battery modules in a DC microgrid includes a battery management system and a battery module controller that generates, for an mth of N converters connected together to a DC microbus, a droop current ?d,m that includes a converter voltage error signal {tilde over (v)}err,m multiplied by a droop multiplier gd(i). Each converter is a DC/DC converter connected between a battery module, with one or more battery cells, and the DC microbus. The mth converter uses the droop current ?d,m, a common current reference ?all of a battery pack that includes the battery modules and an input current ?m to the mth converter to control switching of the mth converter. The common current reference ?all is from the battery management system. The voltage error signal {tilde over (v)}err,m is based on an output voltage {tilde over (v)}o,m of the mth converter and an average converter output voltage {tilde over (v)}avgeodcmastereodcmastereodcmaster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicants: Utah State University, University of Colorado Boulder
    Inventors: Mohamed Ahmed Kamel Ahmed, Regan Zane, Dragan Maksimovic
  • Publication number: 20210370788
    Abstract: A vehicle including a power receiving pad for wirelessly receiving power, a plurality of magnetic sensors for measuring a magnetic field of a power transmitting pad and obtaining magnetic field data, one or more processors, and one or more memory modules are provided. The one or more memory modules include a computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to receive the magnetic field data from the plurality of magnetic sensors, and estimate a lateral misalignment of the power receiving pad with respect to a magnetic axis of the power transmitting pad. The magnetic sensors are arranged to detect at least an X-component and a Y-component of a magnetic field produced by a power transmitting pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., Utah State University
    Inventors: Zeljko Pantic, Seyed Mohammad Reza Tavakoli, Chungchih Chou, Ercan Mehmet Dede
  • Publication number: 20210373147
    Abstract: For tracking a target, a method receives a first target signal reflected by a target for a first transmitter/receiver pair. The method receives a second target signal reflected by the target for a second transmitter/receiver pair or transmitter signal characteristics for a transmitter of the first transmitter/receiver pair. The method determines Doppler frequencies based on the first target signal and the second target signal or the transmitter signal characteristics. The method determines a target position and a target velocity vector for the target based on the Doppler frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Utah State University
    Inventors: Todd Moon, Thomas Bradshaw
  • Publication number: 20210318172
    Abstract: A technology is described for spatially estimating thermal emissivity. A method can include obtaining spectral emissivity data and satellite imaging data for a geographic area. A weighted emissivity model of emissivity values may be generated for surfaces included in the geographic area from the spectral emissivity data and the satellite imaging data, wherein the spectral emissivity data is mapped to the satellite imaging data to generate the weighted emissivity model. Thermal imaging data for the geographic area may be received from an airborne thermal imaging sensor and a thermal emissivity map can be generated for the geographic area using the thermal imaging data and the weighted emissivity model. The emissivity values from the weighted emissivity model can be used to estimate thermal emissivity values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: Utah State University
    Inventor: Alfonso Torres-Rua
  • Publication number: 20210293893
    Abstract: An apparatus monitoring system stability of a DC power system includes a switching power converter with a control loop. The converter is connected to a DC bus of the system. A monitoring loop injected into the control loop includes a sensor circuit monitoring voltage and current of the DC bus and a small signal injector producing a periodic signal with variable amplitude and frequency and injects the periodic signal on a reference signal of the control loop. The monitoring loop includes a stability measurement circuit that varies a frequency input to the small signal injector until the periodic signal has a frequency equal to a system minor loop gain crossover frequency of an impedance ratio of a converter closed loop output impedance and an impedance of the DC power system. The monitoring loop includes a measurement output circuit that outputs a DC power system stability margin at the crossover frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: Utah State University
    Inventors: ROHAIL HASSAN, HONGJIE WANG, REGAN A. ZANE
  • Patent number: 11101496
    Abstract: Methods of making magnesium-based compositions are disclosed. The methods include the addition of a metallic magnesium powder to a magnesium salt, a metal halide and a solvent. The methods provide compositions with advantageous properties that make them useful as electrolytes for battery applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Utah State University
    Inventors: Tianbiao Liu, Jian Luo
  • Publication number: 20210237602
    Abstract: A method for a dynamic inductive wireless power transmission includes providing an AC/DC power converter that receives three-phase power and provides regulated DC output current, connecting a trunk cable to the AC/DC power converter output and to multiple power transmitter modules. The trunk cable connects inputs of the power transmitter modules in series. The power transmitter modules transmit inductive wireless power over an air gap. The method includes providing a system controller that detects a vehicle containing a receiver coil and confirms if the vehicle should receive the inductive wireless power from the multiple power transmitter modules, and includes configuring the system controller to communicate with the AC/DC power converter to maintain the regulated DC output current at a constant value and transmit the inductive wireless power to the vehicle through the multiple power transmitter modules when the vehicle should receive the inductive wireless power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Utah State University
    Inventors: Hongjie Wang, Regan A. Zane
  • Publication number: 20210230203
    Abstract: The present relates to novel bioactive amphiphilic kanamycin compounds having the general formula of: where R may be a C4 to C20 branched or straight chained alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. Also provided are methods of synthesizing and methods of using the compounds of the present invention. The compounds of the present invention are useful in treating and preventing various fungal and bacterial diseases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Utah State University
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei Tom Chang, JON Y TAKEMOTO
  • Publication number: 20210226255
    Abstract: Described herein are compounds and compositions for electrolytes based on bidentate and monodentate fluorinated alcohols. Also described are batteries that include the compounds and electrolytes described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: Utah State University
    Inventors: Tianbiao Liu, Jian Luo, Liping Zhang
  • Patent number: 11063435
    Abstract: An adaptive stability control system includes a direct current (DC) bus and one or more distributed controllers. The DC bus is configured to provide bidirectional pulsed power flow and energy storage. The distributed controller is configured to continuously measure an impedance of the DC bus and execute at least one adaptive control algorithm to regulate impedance of the DC bus to maintain stability of the bidirectional pulsed power flow and energy storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignees: RAYTHEON COMPANY, UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Boris S. Jacobson, David H. Altman, Charles P. Scheffler, Regan A. Zane
  • Patent number: 11059380
    Abstract: A dynamic inductive wireless power transmitter (“DIPT”) system is disclosed. In embodiments, a DIPT system includes an AC-to-DC power converter configured to receive three-phase power from an AC utility source. The DIPT system further includes a trunk cable electrically connected to the AC-to-DC power converter and multiple power transmitter modules electrically connected to the trunk cable and connected to each other in series. Each of the multiple power transmitter modules are configured to transmit inductive wireless power over an air gap from the DIPT system to a vehicle containing a receiver coil. The DIPT system further includes a system controller configured to detect a vehicle containing a receiver coil, identify the vehicle containing a receiver coil, and confirm if the vehicle containing a receiver coil should receive inductive wireless power from the DIPT system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Utah State University
    Inventors: Hongjie Wang, Regan A. Zane
  • Patent number: 11056996
    Abstract: In embodiments, a mechanical solar tracker for energy and shade disclosed herein includes a positioning cam comprising one or more paths being configured as a function of a latitude location of the mechanical solar tracker; a sleeve coupled to an adjustment arm, the adjustment arm operable to rotate the sleeve about a vertical axis; a cam follower coupled to the sleeve, the cam follower configured to translate a selected path of the one or more paths as the sleeve rotates about the vertical axis, and a surface coupled to the cam follower. In embodiments, the selected path is configured such that as the sleeve rotates about the vertical axis, the cam follower maintains the surface normal to a vector defined by an azimuth angle and elevation angle, wherein the azimuth angle may be the sun azimuth angle and the elevation angle may be the sun elevation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Utah State University
    Inventor: Nicholas Simon Flann
  • Patent number: 10983139
    Abstract: A system includes a vacuum chamber to receive a laser beam and a charged nanoparticle. The nanoparticle oscillates at a trapping frequency in a focus of the laser beam. Resonant oscillation of the nanoparticle is driven by a presence of an ambient electric field adjacent to the vacuum chamber. The system also includes a controller to tune the trapping frequency of an oscillating nanoparticle to be in resonance with the ambient electric field causing on-resonant enhancement of the system; a detector to detect positional changes of the oscillating nanoparticle; and a processor to calculate an electromagnetic force of the ambient electric field based on the positional changes of the oscillating nanoparticle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
    Inventors: Sean Krzyzewski, Maxwell D. Gregoire, Brian L. Kasch
  • Publication number: 20210101702
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system includes a housing, at least two electrodes, a solid-grain fuel material, a combustion chamber, an oxidizer port, and a nozzle. The housing has a first end and a second end and defines a cavity. The electrodes extend into the cavity. The fuel material is free of an oxidizer and is positioned in the cavity. The fuel material has a combustion surface and is exposed to the electrodes. The combustion chamber is defined between the combustion surface and the second end. The oxidizer port provides a flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber. The nozzle is positioned at the second end. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may be dominated by radiative heat transfer. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may generate thrust of no more than 5 N at an oxidizer flow rate of no more than 5 g/s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
    Inventors: Tyson Smith, Zachary Lewis, Kurt Olsen, Anthony Marc Bulcher, Stephen Whitmore
  • Publication number: 20210083335
    Abstract: The invention relates to a battery-based system for powering refrigerated transport and other industrial applications. It includes a battery-based system for supplying power comprising a housing encasing a battery unit, a battery management system connected to the battery unit and operable to manage battery unit, and a power management unit connected to the battery unit and operable to convert battery power from the battery unit to 3 phase power of between 380 and 480 Vac. One exemplary application of the invention is to replace diesel gen-sets in refrigerated transport with more reliable and reduced emission battery power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicants: Transchill, LLC, Utah State University
    Inventors: Bahman SADEGHI, Michael J MORLEY, Regan Andrew ZANE, Rees Randall HATCH, Ryan BOHM
  • Patent number: 10934258
    Abstract: Described herein are aqueous organic redox flow batteries that include a first redox active material that can include a metallocene or a salt thereof, and a second redox active material that can include a viologen or a salt thereof. The aqueous organic redox flow batteries may further include a first aqueous electrolyte, a second aqueous electrolyte, and a separator between the first and second aqueous electrolytes. In addition, disclosed herein are methods of making the metallocene and viologen compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Utah State University
    Inventors: Tianbiao Liu, Bo Hu, Camden DeBruler, Jian Luo
  • Patent number: 10939205
    Abstract: For canceling acoustic echoing, a processor receives audio signals comprising a speaker output and an ambient input. The processor further calculates separated output signals from mixed signals using a separating transfer function. The processor calculates a criterion function based on the separated output signals. In addition, the processor calculates an acoustic echo transfer function based on maximizing the a criterion function. The processor separates a source signal from the audio signal using the acoustic echo transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Utah State University
    Inventors: Todd K. Moon, Jacob H. Gunther
  • Patent number: 10938313
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an active bridge section with input terminals that receive power from a constant current source where the active bridge section operates at a fixed switching frequency. The apparatus includes a resonant section with a resonant inductor, a transformer and a resonant capacitor. The inductor is connected in series with a primary winding and the capacitor is connected in parallel with a secondary winding of the transformer. The resonant section is connected to an output of the active bridge section. The apparatus includes an output rectifier section that receives power from the resonant section and includes output terminals for connection to a load, and includes a controller that regulates output voltage to the load where the controller regulates output voltage to the load by controlling switching of the active bridge section. The fixed switching frequency of the active bridge section matches a resonant frequency of the resonant section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Utah State University
    Inventors: Tarak Saha, Hongjie Wang, Anindya Chitta Bagchi, Regan A. Zane
  • Patent number: 10917019
    Abstract: A power converter includes an unfolder with an input connection with three terminals that connect to a three-phase AC power source and that has an output connection with a positive terminal, a negative terminal and a neutral terminal. The unfolder unfolds the bipolar AC voltages into two unipolar piece-wise sinusoidal DC voltages offset from each other by a half of a period. The power converter includes a three-input converter that produces a DC voltage output across output terminals. The three-input converter includes a positive input connection connected to the positive terminal, a negative input connection connected to the negative terminal and a neutral input connection connected to the neutral terminal. The three-input converter includes switches that selectively connect a voltage to the positive, negative and neutral input connections across a primary transformer winding of a transformer. A secondary transformer winding is connected to the output terminals through a rectification section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Utah State University
    Inventors: Dorai Babu Yelaverthi, Regan A Zane
  • Patent number: 10873471
    Abstract: For measuring an area of interest based on a sensor task and/or routing sensor data, a method discovers a network topology for a network comprising a plurality of network nodes connected by links. The method dynamically generates a minimum spanning tree from the network topology. Given sensor data traverses one link of the minimum spanning tree only once. The method routes a sensor task to a sensor with a sensor motion track that includes an area of interest. The method measures the area of interest with the sensor based on the sensor task. The method routes sensor data from the measurement of the area of interest via links of the minimum spanning tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
    Inventors: Troy R. Johnson, Jonathan R. Haws, Nathan A. Jensen