Abstract: A method for monitoring a power coupler for a plug-in electric vehicle during a charging process, where the method may perform one of several alerts in the event that the vehicle stops receiving power. In an exemplary embodiment, the method performs a theft alert when the power coupler is physically unplugged or disconnected (this is intended to dissuade people from stealing the power coupler), and it performs a power loss alert when there is a loss of electrical power at the wall (this is intended to notify the vehicle owner when there is a power outage, a tripped circuit breaker, or any other condition that prevents the vehicle from being charged). By distinguishing between possible theft situations and simple power loss situations, the method can perform or issue an alert that is better tailored to the particular conditions that triggered it.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 30, 2010
Date of Patent:
August 27, 2013
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventors:
James C. Gibbs, Christopher A. Kinser, Don K. St. John
Abstract: A power module includes an upper arm circuit unit and a lower arm circuit unit each having a power semiconductor element; an insulating substrate with the units mounted on one surface thereof; a metal base bonded onto the other surface of the substrate opposite to the one surface where the units are mounted; a first connection conductor for supplying a high potential to the upper unit from outside; a second connection conductor for supplying a low potential to the lower unit from outside; an insulating sheet interposed between the conductors; and a resin case disposed on the metal base to support the conductors, the conductors are flat conductors and laminated with the sheet sandwiched therebetween; the sheet extends from one end of the laminated structure to secure the creepage distance between the conductors; and the case is furnished with a recess for containing the laminated structure.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 29, 2010
Date of Patent:
August 27, 2013
Assignee:
Hitachi, Ltd.
Inventors:
Katsunori Azuma, Mutsuhiro Mori, Michiaki Hiyoshi, Seiichi Hayakawa, Koji Sasaki, Isamu Yoshida
Abstract: A first electrical path has a terminal, and a second electrical path has a terminal. First photovoltaic (PV) dies are electrically connected within the first electrical path. Each first PV die is adapted to convert light having a first wavelength range to electrical energy. Second PV dies are electrically connected within the second electrical path. Each second PV die is adapted to convert light having a second wavelength range different than the first wavelength range to electrical energy. A circuit is electrically connected between the terminals of the first and the second electrical paths to limit an absolute voltage difference between the terminals to no greater than a threshold voltage.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 20, 2010
Date of Patent:
August 20, 2013
Assignee:
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Inventors:
Andrew L. Van Brocklin, Stephan R. Clark
Abstract: The power supply apparatus includes a plurality of voltage rising circuits each of which can be driven at a different duty ratio so as to convert and output a voltage output from a direct current power source according to a plurality of loads; and a control circuit which controls an input voltage from the direct current power source to each voltage rising circuit according to drive condition of the voltage rising circuit having the highest duty ratio of the plurality of voltage rising circuits. This configuration can provide a highly productive power supply apparatus capable of reducing a ripple voltage.
Abstract: An electric powertrain comprises a high voltage bus an electric machine, and a traction inverter is coupled between a high voltage bus and the electric machine. An electric voltage for the high voltage bus is generated with the electric machine and the traction inverter when the electric machine is driven mechanically. The generated electric voltage is limited and converted to a predetermined voltage lower than the limited voltage. A unit of the vehicle, such as a cooling pump, is powered with the predetermined voltage.
Abstract: A leakage current masking device for use with a circuit includes at least one inductive load device coupled to the circuit and configured to supply an inductive load to the circuit, and a processor communicatively coupled to the inductive load device. The processor is configured to receive a signal representative of a current through the circuit, calculate a capacitive leakage current component of the current, and cause the inductive load device to adjust the inductive load supplied to the circuit to reduce the capacitive leakage current component.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 8, 2010
Date of Patent:
June 25, 2013
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Cecil Rivers, Jr., Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr.
Abstract: A system comprising a contactless power transfer system is presented. The system includes a primary element, a secondary element, and at least one field-focusing element interposed between the primary element and the secondary element and configured to focus a magnetic field. A partition is disposed between the primary element and the secondary element. The contactless power transfer system is disposed within pressure isolation cavities of a sub-sea assembly and configured to transfer power between a power source and a load.
Abstract: A protection circuit 10 provided with a current regulating section 14 with a first end connected to a power source line VDD and a second end connected to an input terminal 116A of an inverter 116. The current regulating section 14 applies a voltage of less than a threshold value voltage to the input terminal 116A when a surge current having predetermined frequency characteristics flows from the first end in a particular flow path, by generating induced electromotive force so as to generate a magnetic field to cancel out the magnetic field occurring due to the surge current, thereby impeding flow of the surge current. The current regulating section 14 applies a voltage of the threshold value voltage or greater to the input terminal 116A when a driving current not having the frequency characteristics flows in from the first end.