Patents Examined by Adolf D. Berhane
  • Patent number: 11979086
    Abstract: This application provides a resonant conversion system, including a controller and a resonant conversion circuit. The resonant conversion circuit includes a high frequency chopper circuit, a resonant cavity, a transformer, and a rectification filter network, and the high frequency chopper circuit includes switches S1 and S2. The controller is configured to: detect a bridge arm midpoint voltage VSW, and determine based on the VSW a current threshold signal used to indicate a current threshold; detect a resonant current on a primary side of the transformer, and compare the resonant current with the current threshold signal to control on/off of the switch S1 or S2 based on the second electrical signal, so that the system operates in an inductive mode to ensure zero voltage switching of the switch, while operating in a state close to a capacitive mode to maximize the use of a gain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Chin, Yuanjun Liu, Zhixiang Hu, Shuaibing Wang
  • Patent number: 11980105
    Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for operating superconducting circuits. In one aspect, an electric circuit includes: (1) a superconductor component having a first terminal at a first end and a second terminal at a second end; (2) a gate component thermally-coupled to the superconductor component at a first location between the first terminal and the second terminal, where the gate component is thermally-coupled via a first section of the gate component; and where the gate component has a smallest width at the first section so as to focus resistive heating toward the superconductor component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignees: PSIQUANTUM CORP., Government of the United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Faraz Najafi, Qiaodan Jin Stone, Adam Nykoruk McCaughan
  • Patent number: 11979093
    Abstract: A resonant parallel triple active bridge converter comprising a DC port configured to receive DC energy, an AC port configured to produce AC energy, and an AC line cycle energy storage port, coupled to both the DC port and the AC port, where the AC line cycle energy storage port comprises an energy storage device for storing energy during an energy conversion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Harrison
  • Patent number: 11973434
    Abstract: A rectifier has at least three outputs at which the rectifier provides a high potential, a low potential and at least one medium potential. Phase voltages of a supply grid can be supplied to the rectifier via feed lines. Inductors are arranged in the feed lines. A clamping circuit has two diode circuits that are connected in series. One of the end points of the series circuit is connected to an output at which the rectifier provides one of the medium potentials. The other end point is connected to another output. The node is connected to a reference potential via an overall capacitor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alexander Hensler, Philipp Oschmann, Hubert Schierling
  • Patent number: 11971763
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a connector for coupling a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The first electronic device is able to supply power to the second electronic device and implement data transmission between the first electronic device and the second electronic device. The connector includes: a power source; a first connector component configured to be coupled with the first electronic device; a power-supplying connector component configured to be coupled with the power source; a power line configured to couple the second electronic device and the first connector component with the power-supplying connector component; a power-supplying state detection circuit configured to be coupled with the power-supplying connector component; and a message transmission line having a first end coupled with the power-supplying state detection circuit and a second end configured in one of a first configuration and a second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Matrixed Reality Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Pengda Sun
  • Patent number: 11973438
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a first switch leg connected between a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may also include a second switch leg connected between a second input terminal and the first output terminal, the second switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may further include a third switch leg connected between an input voltage midpoint and the first output terminal. A control circuit may control the first switch leg, the second switch leg and the third switch leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Zmood, Tzachi Glovinsky, Yakir Loewenstern
  • Patent number: 11967908
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for controlling an electrical converter system that includes: determining a nominal pulse pattern (tp,i*, ?up,i*) and a reference trajectory (x*) of at least one electrical quantity of the electrical converter system over a horizon of future sampling instants, the nominal pulse pattern (tp,i*, ?up,i*) comprises switching transitions (?up,i*) between output voltages of an electrical converter of the electrical converter system and the reference trajectory (x*) indicates a desired future development of an electrical quantity of the converter system; determining a small-signal pulse pattern (?abc(t, ?p,i)) by minimizing a cost function; determining a modified pulse pattern (topt,p,i, ?up,i) by moving the switching transitions of the nominal pulse pattern (tp,i*, ?up,i*) to generate modified switching transitions; and applying at least the next switching transition of the modified pulse pattern (topt,p,i, ?up,i) to the electrical converter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Martinus David Dorfling, Hendrik Du Toit Mouton, Tobias Geyer
  • Patent number: 11962251
    Abstract: Provided is a hybrid modular multilevel converter (HMMC) based on a neutral point pilot (NPP) topology and having an ABC N-phase structure. The HMMC includes N pairs of identical upper and lower arms, each upper and lower arm being composed of X submodules and Y sets of switches. The switches within each set are cascaded and connected in series, each of the submodules is formed of full-bridge silicon (Si) insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) converters, and at least one of the set of switches is formed of IGBTs of opposite polarities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited
    Inventor: Zhi Zhou
  • Patent number: 11962245
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit included in a computer system may include multiple phase circuits coupled to a regulated power supply line via corresponding one of multiple inductors. The phase circuits may modify a voltage level of the regulated power supply line using respective control signals generated by a digital control circuit that processes multiple data bits. An analog-to-digital converter circuit may compare the voltage level of the regulated power supply node to multiple reference voltage levels and sample the resultant comparisons to generate the multiple data bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjay Pant, Fabio Gozzini, Hubert Attah, Jonathan F. Bolus, Wenxun Huang
  • Patent number: 11962250
    Abstract: Provided is a hybrid modular multilevel converter (HMMC) based on a neutral point clamped (NPC) topology and having an ABC N-phase structure. The HMMC includes N pairs of identical upper and lower arms, each upper and lower arm being composed of X submodules and Y sets of switches. The switches within each set are cascaded and connected in series, each of the submodules is formed of full-bridge silicon (Si) insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) converters, and at least one of the set of switches is formed of IGBTs of opposite polarities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited
    Inventor: Zhi Zhou
  • Patent number: 11960313
    Abstract: One variation of a system for regulating power output of multiple solar substrings includes: a set of solar substrings and a power regulator. The power regulator includes: a power supply; an adder; a modulation signal generator; a de-modulator; and an integrator. The power supply is configured to receive an input voltage from the set of solar substrings. The adder is configured to modify a voltage gain of the input voltage at the power supply. The modulation signal generator is coupled to the adder and configured to generate an oscillating power signal at the power supply. The de-modulator is configured to de-modulate the oscillating power signal output from the power supply. The first integrator: is coupled to the de-modulator and the adder; and configured to define voltage gain step at the power supply based on a DC signal component output from the de-modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Optivolt Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Linda Stacey Irish, Weston Braun
  • Patent number: 11955888
    Abstract: As inputs of a controller of a direct current (DC)-DC converter are sampled for a predetermined time and thus two-dimensional state information in which one axis is an input physical quantity and the other axis is a time is generated, the two-dimensional state information is processed by a convolutional neural network to determine and output one of a plurality of control signals. An artificial intelligence control part may operate in accordance with a plurality of operation conditions or dynamically determined operation conditions by applying different artificial intelligence engines according to operation modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventors: Kang Yoon Lee, Jong Wan Jo, Min Young Kim, Dong Soo Park, Kyung Duk Choi, Young Gun Pu
  • Patent number: 11953576
    Abstract: A smart current transformer for determining primary current or power consumption, by stepping down the primary current to a secondary current for subsequent measurement by a connected meter. The current transformer is provided with a connected non-volatile memory for storing calibration data (and optionally identification data) regarding that particular current transformer. The calibration data can include the gain error and/or phase delay for the current transformer, as determined from prior calibration testing of the current transformer. The calibration data may be communicated to or otherwise determined by the meter, and used to calibrate the measurement of the secondary current, in order to determine the primary current or power consumption. Also disclosed is a system and method utilizing such a smart current transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Generac Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Klumper, Jonathan Hallam, Shabnam Shambayati, Jonathan Li, Colby Gore, Ching Kun Meng
  • Patent number: 11955894
    Abstract: A quasi-resonant auto-tuning controller includes a zero-voltage crossing detection circuit and a valley tuning finite-state machine having a look-up table. The zero-voltage crossing detection circuit receives a reference voltage and receives an auxiliary signal from an auxiliary winding. The zero-voltage crossing detection circuit produces a comparison signal having pulses when the auxiliary signal is less than the reference voltage. The valley tuning finite-state machine produces a divided pulse width based on the comparison signal, stores the divided pulse width of each pulse in the look-up table, determines, from the comparison signal, that the auxiliary signal is less than the reference voltage, waits a time period corresponding to the divided pulse width stored in the look-up table if the auxiliary signal is less than the reference voltage, and produces a valley point signal after waiting the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Aleksandar Radic
  • Patent number: 11955883
    Abstract: A magnetic apparatus includes a first magnetic member, a second magnetic member, a first winding, and a second winding, where the first magnetic member includes a first magnetic cylinder, a second magnetic cylinder, a third magnetic cylinder, and at least one fourth magnetic cylinder, and where the first winding is wound around the first magnetic cylinder and the second magnetic cylinder, the second winding is wound around the first magnetic cylinder and the third magnetic cylinder, and a direction in which the first winding is wound around the second magnetic cylinder is opposite to a direction in which the second winding is wound around the third magnetic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Tan, Peng Yu
  • Patent number: 11953961
    Abstract: An electric switch-mode power converter comprises: a parameter predictor for predicting and updating at least one regulator parameter of a regulator controlling a switching device of the converter, a performance feedback signal generator for providing a performance feedback signal indicative of a performance of the conversion operation, wherein the parameter predictor is configured to predict an update of the regulator parameter based on the performance feedback signal and during update intervals, the intervals being during the power conversion operation and being separated by pauses without update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Salman Nazir, Benjamin L. Schwabe
  • Patent number: 11949327
    Abstract: A power factor correction circuit comprising: a global voltage input; and means for deriving a reference current from the global voltage; whereby the means for deriving the reference current comprises a leading phase admittance cancellation, LPAC, transfer function and a filter, whereby the reference current is derived from a sum of an output of the LPAC transfer function and an output of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Ignacio Castro, Ponggorn Kulsangcharoen, Rodrigo Fernandez-Mattos
  • Patent number: 11949332
    Abstract: A power converter for converting an input voltage at an input of the power converter into an output voltage at an output of the power converter may include a first power converter branch comprising a first capacitor, a first switch network, and a first inductor, the first switch network arranged to selectably couple the first capacitor between an input voltage, a first reference voltage, and a first terminal of the first inductor, wherein a second terminal of the first inductor is coupled to an output node; a second power converter branch comprising a second capacitor, a second switch network, and a second inductor, the second switch network arranged to selectably couple the second capacitor between the input voltage, a second reference voltage, and a first terminal of the second inductor, wherein a second terminal of the second inductor is coupled to the output node; and a third switch network between the first power converter branch and the second power converter branch, wherein the third switch network is
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic Inc.
    Inventor: Changjong Lim
  • Patent number: 11949281
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein provide examples of an electrical panel (e.g., a modular electrical panel) that is configured to control a plurality of electrical loads. The electrical panel may include a control circuit, memory, a communication circuit, and an alternating current (AC) line feed and/or a direct current (DC) line feed. The electrical panel may also include a plurality of power supplies and a plurality of control modules, where more than one control module is associated with each of the plurality of power supplies. Each control module may configured to receive DC power from the associated power supply and provide an output voltage to at least one electrical load. The electrical panel provides flexibility as to whether each stage of conversion, regulation, and/or control is performed at a control module located within the electrical panel or performed at an accessory module located at an electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Stuart W. DeJonge, Robert C. Newman, Jr., Matthew W. Nuhfer, Michael W. Pessina, Thomas M. Shearer
  • Patent number: 11948731
    Abstract: A control device for a power conversion device using a multi-phase magnetic coupling reactor is provided. The multi-phase magnetic coupling reactor including: a first outer coil; a second outer coil; an inner coil; and a core. Directions of magnetic fluxes generated in the first outer coil, the second outer coil, and the inner coil are opposite to each other in any combination. The control device is configured to switch among a one-phase operation, a two-phase operation, and a three-phase operation. The control device is configured to select two phases of the first outer coil and the second outer coil in the two-phase operation, and the control device is configured to select one of the first outer coil and the second outer coil in the one-phase operation before the two-phase operation or a one-phase operation after the two-phase operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryota Kitamoto