Patents Examined by Harry R Behm
  • Patent number: 11909304
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a plurality of semiconductors that form a power converter, a protocol for controlling the plurality of semiconductors is transmitted via a signal line between a control unit and the semiconductors. Additionally transmitted via the signal line is a sign-of-life signal, wherein the semiconductors are switched off, when the sign-of-life signal is absent, and the semiconductors of the power converter are switched using optimized pulse patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Meritor Electric Vehicles Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Ditterich, Herbert Eder
  • Patent number: 11892864
    Abstract: A voltage supervisor includes a first transistor coupled between a first supply voltage and a second supply voltage. The voltage supervisor includes a second transistor coupled between the first supply voltage and the second supply voltage. The voltage supervisor is configured to provide a first current proportional to a difference in gate-to-source voltages of the first transistor and the second transistor. The voltage supervisor is also configured to provide a second current proportional to a difference in the first supply voltage and the difference in gate-to-source voltages of the first transistor and the second transistor. The voltage supervisor is configured to compare the first current to the second current to determine a voltage value that changes a state responsive to the first supply voltage crossing a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ramakrishna Ankamreddi, Rohit Phogat, Siddhant Rohela
  • Patent number: 11888403
    Abstract: A galvanic isolator circuit and method provide for galvanically isolating and current limiting a power source from a load. A direct current (DC) input voltage (“vin”) and an input current (“iin”) are received. A full- or half-bridge rectifier is switched to synthesize a first alternating voltage waveform that magnetically couples through a transformer to induce a second alternating voltage waveform with galvanic isolation from the first alternating voltage waveform, preventing potentially-faulted load from a source. The second alternating voltage waveform is rectified to produce a direct current (DC) output voltage (“vo”) having output current (“io”) through more than one drive transistor or diode. The more than one primary-side drive transistor is current limited to reduce or prevent brown-out, black-out, or protective race conditions in the non-faulted portions of DC power generation systems and DC distribution electrical power systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Nathaniel Smith
  • Patent number: 11876458
    Abstract: An electrical system can include an isolated bidirectional converter (having an input couplable to a grid connection and an output couplable to a battery) and an isolated converter (having an input coupled to the input of the isolated bidirectional converter and couplable to the grid connection, with an AC output coupled to a convenience outlet). The electrical system can further include a controller that controls operation of the converters to operate in one of a plurality of modes including a charging mode in which the isolated bidirectional converter operates in a forward direction to charge the battery and the non-isolated converter powers the convenience outlet from the grid connection, and a non-charging mode in which the isolated bidirectional converter operates in a reverse direction to power the non-isolated converter from the battery and the non-isolated converter powers the convenience outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish K. Sahoo, Jie Lu, Brandon Pierquet, Anish Prasai
  • Patent number: 11855460
    Abstract: A photovoltaic inverter is provided, including an inverter circuit, a data sampling module, and a control module. The inverter circuit includes a switch component and an alternating current output terminal. The data sampling module is configured to collect, from the alternating current output terminal, an instantaneous current value at each sampling point moment in target sampling duration and an instantaneous value of each-phase current at a target moment. The control module is configured to: determine a valid current value of the target sampling duration based on the instantaneous current value at each sampling point moment, determine an upper switching frequency limit and a lower switching frequency limit of an Nth switching period based on the valid current value, and determine a target instantaneous current value IN based on the instantaneous value of each-phase current at the target moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xinyu Yu, Kai Xin
  • Patent number: 11855559
    Abstract: A power supply system includes a first saturable reactor electrically connected to a first AC phase input, to a second AC phase input, and to a third AC phase input. The first saturable reactor is electrically connected to a first DC output. A second saturable reactor is electrically connected in parallel with the first saturable reactor to the first AC phase input, to the second AC phase input, and to the third AC phase input. The second saturable reactor is electrically connected to a second DC output. A reactor controller can be operatively connected to the first saturable reactor and to the second saturable reactor to regulate DC output voltage to the first and second DC outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Dhaval Patel, Andreas C. Koenig
  • Patent number: 11848609
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first conversion unit configured to convert a ramp voltage signal into a ramp current signal flowing through a first resistor, a second conversion unit configured to convert a feedback voltage signal into a feedback current signal flowing through the first resistor, a third conversion unit configured to convert a control voltage signal generated by an error amplifier into a control current signal flowing through a second resistor, and a comparator having a first input coupled to the first resistor and a second input coupled to the second resistor, wherein an output of the comparator determines a turn-on of a high-side switch of a power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: M3 Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Xi, Bo Yang
  • Patent number: 11831243
    Abstract: The subject application provides a power converter with lossless current sensing capability. The power converter comprises: a transformer, a primary switch for conducting or blocking a current flowing in a primary winding of the transformer, a controller configured to generate a first control signal through a first control node to control the primary switch; and a current sensing circuit configured for sensing a current flowing in the primary winding. The current sensing circuit comprises a current sensing switch that is configured to be normally open and has a gate length smaller than a gate length of the primary switch. A relatively simple current sensing circuit is achieved and the overall power efficiency is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: INNOSCIENCE (SUZHOU) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanbo Zou, Yulin Chen, Fada Du, Tao Zhang
  • Patent number: 11823833
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for improving generation efficiency of a distributed generation facility, and more specifically, to an apparatus and method for improving generation efficiency of a distributed generation facility configured to improve generation efficiency by boosting a voltage within an allowable voltage range according to a linkage capacity when the generated power of the distributed generation facility is linked and supplied to a power transmission and distribution side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SYNERGY INC.
    Inventor: Kwun Young Jang
  • Patent number: 11823852
    Abstract: A DC voltage switch includes a first switch arranged at a first potential between a first terminal of the first switch and a second terminal of the first switch, a first discharging device which is arranged between the first terminal at the first potential and a third terminal at a second potential and includes a first switching element designed as a thyristor, and a second discharging device which is arranged between the second terminal and a fourth terminal at the second potential and includes a second switching element designed as a semiconductor switch that can be switched off. The respective discharging devices connect the first terminal and the third terminal and/or the second terminal and the fourth terminal, at least temporarily, when the DC voltage switch is being or has been switched off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Köllensperger
  • Patent number: 11817782
    Abstract: An inverter device includes a converter circuit and a filter. The converter circuit converts a DC input voltage into an AC intermediate voltage based on six control signals, and includes first and second converters. Each of the first and second converters includes three switches, two diodes and a coupled inductor circuit. The switches of the first converter operate respectively based on three of the control signals. The switches of the second converter operate respectively based on the other three of the control signals. The filter filters the AC intermediate voltage to generate an AC output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: I SHOU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chien-Hsuan Chang, Yi-Fan Chen
  • Patent number: 11817709
    Abstract: A configuration for stabilizing an AC voltage grid has a rotating phase-shifter that is configured to exchange reactive power with the AC voltage grid. The configuration is distinguished by a converter which has a grid side for connection to the AC voltage grid and a machine side for connection to the phase-shifter. A method is furthermore taught for stabilizing the AC voltage grid by way of the configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralph Morgenstern, Markus Naukamm, Bjoern Hellfritzsch, Andreas Haselbauer
  • Patent number: 11817695
    Abstract: A system and method for interrupting power in a three-phase power system interrupts power in the faulted phase and the next sequential phase at high speeds, while interrupting power in the remaining phase at a normal operation speed. Limiting high-speed interruption to only two phases requires significantly less energy storage than implementing high-speed interruption in all three phases. When hybrid circuit interrupters are used, the need to wait for a zero-crossing in the current signal in order to initiate interruption operations is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Steven Chen, Tyler Holp
  • Patent number: 11817772
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first gate control circuit including a first time delay element and first and second logic gates. The first time delay element and first and second logic gates receive a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. The first logic gate includes a first output and second logic gate includes a second output. The circuit also includes a second gate control circuit that includes a second time delay element and third and fourth logic gates. The second time delay element includes an input coupled to the output of the first time delay element. The third logic gate includes a third output, and the fourth logic gate includes a fourth output. A first gate driver receives a first signal from one of the first or third outputs. A second gate driver receives a second signal from one of the second or fourth outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Subhash Sahni, Murugesh Subramaniam, Pranav Sinha
  • Patent number: 11811232
    Abstract: An electric power source includes: a battery defining a state of charge; a converter in electrical communication with the battery; and a controller in operable communication with the converter, the controller including a compensation toggle circuit configured to provide a compensation toggle value based on a power output of the battery; a dynamic droop control circuit configured to receive the compensation toggle value and switch an output droop value of the dynamic droop control circuit from an upper output droop measurement to a lower output droop measurement, wherein the lower output droop measurement is based on the state of charge of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pradeep Vijayan, Ruxi Wange
  • Patent number: 11811219
    Abstract: A method for restoration of a fault isolation in a medium voltage, MV, network having a plurality of feeders and a plurality of normally open, NO, switches possibly in parallel with MV direct current, DC, links is presented. The method is performed in a control device of the MV network. The method includes closing at least two NO switches in parallel with MVDC links of the plurality of NO switches, being connected to a fault isolated feeder of the plurality of feeders of the MV network, and opening the closed at least two NO switches in parallel with MVDC links except one. A control device, a computer program and a computer program product for restoration of a fault isolation in a MV network are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Ritwik Majumder, Bertil Berggren, David Schaeffer, Lidong Zhang, Frans Dijkhuizen
  • Patent number: 11811213
    Abstract: A transformer assembly including a transformer that is part of an underground residential power distribution circuit and that provides fault isolation and restoration. The transformer assembly includes an enclosure enclosing a primary winding and a secondary winding. The transformer assembly also includes first and second switching devices mounted to a panel of the enclosure, where each switching device includes an outer housing, a transformer interface electrically coupled to the primary winding, a connector interface electrically coupled to a first connector and a vacuum interrupter having a fixed contact and a movable contact. The fixed contact is electrically coupled to the connector interface or the transformer interface and the movable terminal is electrically coupled to the other connector interface or the transformer interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: S&C Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Seng, Michael R Maroney, Alejandro Montenegro, Goran Djogo
  • Patent number: 11811217
    Abstract: A photovoltaic power generation system includes a capacitor bridge arm, an inverter bridge arm, and the fault protection apparatus. The capacitor bridge arm includes a positive electrode output port, a negative electrode output port, and a reference output port The inverter bridge arm includes a positive electrode input port, a negative electrode input port, and a reference input port. The positive electrode input port is connected to the positive electrode output port. The negative electrode input port is connected to the negative electrode output port. The reference input port is connected to the reference output port by using the fault protection apparatus. The fault protection apparatus is turned off based on a magnitude value or a variation of a voltage, or a magnitude value or a variation of a current between the reference input port and the positive electrode input port or the negative electrode input port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Chen, Lei Shi, Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 11799317
    Abstract: The present specification relates to a power supply system which enables uninterruptible power supply, wherein a circuit breaker is provided to switch on/off each of electric circuits via which a plurality of power supply devices are connected, and thus the UPS function can be performed among the plurality of power supply devices by opening or closing the circuit breaker according to various situations occurring in the system to control power reception and supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: LS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dohyun Kim, Dongjin Yun, Minjun Park
  • Patent number: 11777315
    Abstract: A power converter, a voltage detector that detects a system voltage at an AC wiring side of the power converter; and a controller that performs power conversion control between AC wiring and DC wiring by transmitting a drive signal to the power converter. The controller includes: a phase calculator that calculates a current phase from the system voltage detected by the voltage detector; a phase jump angle calculator that calculates a virtual phase that follows temporal changes in the current phase in a lagging manner, and calculates a phase difference between the current phase and the virtual phase as a phase jump angle; and a drive signal generator that generates the drive signal to the power converter, which is a signal for adjusting active power that is inputted to/outputted from the power converter so as to suppress the phase jump angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Yamaguchi, Yusuke Umezu, Soichiro Bando, Kazushige Sugimoto