Patents Examined by Yusef Ahmed
  • Patent number: 11563385
    Abstract: This disclosure proposes a topology that integrates a DC chopper into the Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) cells of a power converter. The integrated DC chopper may include chopper resistors that may also be advantageously integrated into a heat sink for a power module including at least the power transistors of the MMC cell. Embodiments herein also describe a method for using an MMC cell's IGBTs and chopper resistors for providing a safe discharge of both cell capacitors and DC-link capacitors in different operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Ciprian Biris, Cem Özgür Gerçek, Lars Helle, Duy Duc Doan, Tune Pedersen
  • Patent number: 11557899
    Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for feeding electric power from a photovoltaic system via a grid connection point into an AC grid having a low short-circuit power is disclosed. The method includes connecting a DC voltage side of at least one first inverter of the photovoltaic system to a photovoltaic generator and an AC voltage side of the at least one first inverter to the grid connection point, wherein the at least one first inverter is operated as a current source, and connecting an AC voltage side of a second inverter of the photovoltaic system to the grid connection point, wherein the second inverter is operated as a voltage source based on measurement values of an AC voltage measured in the region of the photovoltaic system and a predefined characteristic curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Daniel Premm, Vitali Sakschewski
  • Patent number: 11552554
    Abstract: Provided are electrical circuits and methods for power factor correction. An example method includes receiving, by converter, an input voltage at a fundamental frequency and generating an output voltage; generating, based on the output voltage, a first measurement signal; subtracting a first reference signal from the first measurement signal to obtain a first error signal; generating an adaptive current sense signal, generating a reference voltage based on the input voltage, subtracting the reference voltage from the current sense signal thus generating a second measurement signal to control the current measurement; subtracting the second measurement signal from the input voltage to obtain a difference signal, wherein the difference signal is largely minimized by removing overtones of the fundamental frequency; generating, based on the difference signal, a second error signal; using a sum of the second error signal as a first order correction to the first error signal to regulate the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Robert S. Wrathall
  • Patent number: 11545822
    Abstract: A protection circuit, and related method, for an electronic device including a first power output interface and a second power output interface is disclosed. The protection circuit includes a first switch element, coupled between a first voltage source and the first power output interface. The detection circuit being operation to detect an output voltage value of the second power output interface to generate a detection result. The first switch element, according to the detection result, connects the first voltage source to the first power output interface to allow the first power output interface to output power to an external terminal, or disconnects the first voltage source from the first power output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Tsui-Chuan Chuang, Ming-Ruei Liu, Dien-Shen Chiang, Chien-Tai Kao
  • Patent number: 11537155
    Abstract: A low-dropout regulator having an output current branch being arranged between a supply line to provide a supply potential and an output node to provide a regulated output voltage. The output current branch includes an output driver to provide an output current at the output node. The output driver has a control connection to apply a control voltage to operate the output driver with a different conductivity in dependence on the control voltage. The LDO includes an input amplifier stage to provide the control voltage to the control connection of the output driver. The input amplifier stage is configured to provide the control voltage with a different slew rate in dependence on an increase or decrease of the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Carlo Fiocchi, Valerio Pisati
  • Patent number: 11539283
    Abstract: A power converter is configured to measure an output current and to determine a multi-phase voltage reference as a function of the output current. Within the same switching period the voltage reference is determined, a modulation routine determines a modulation index for each phase of the output voltage. In some instances, one or more phases must start modulation during the switching period before the new modulation index is determined. The modulation routine stores the value of the modulation index generated from the prior switching period and uses the stored value when a new value is not yet ready. An offset value for the phase voltage which used a modulation index from the prior switching period is determined in order to compensate the phase voltages of the other phases and to maintain a desired line-to-line voltage output from the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Hoffman, Adam M. Shea
  • Patent number: 11539201
    Abstract: A reverse polarity protection device includes a protection unit, a detection unit, and a control unit electrically connected between a power supply device and a load device. The detection unit is electrically connected to the power supply device for detecting the polarity of an output signal of the power supply device, and the control unit is electrically connected to the detection unit and the protection unit. The detection unit outputs a detection signal to the control unit according to a detection result of the polarity of the output signal. If the detection signal shows that the polarity of the output signal is reverse, the control unit will control the protection unit to form an open circuit between the power supply device and load device to stop transmitting the output signal of the power supply device to the load device and achieve a reverse polarity protection effect of the load device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: PORTWELL INC.
    Inventor: Jhih-Huei Hong
  • Patent number: 11539300
    Abstract: A DC to DC power converter device includes a controller, and a DC to DC resonant converter that includes first and second full bridge chopper circuits (FBCCs) and an LLC resonant converter coupled between the first and second FBCCs. To cause the DC to DC resonant converter to operate in a conversion mode where an input voltage received by the second FBCC is converted to an output voltage provided by the first FBCC, the controller controls switches of the second FBCC and switches of the first FBCC to transition between an ON state and an OFF state with the ON state reoccurring at a frequency lower than a resonant frequency of the DC to DC resonant converter, so that the output voltage can be higher than the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: VOLTRONIC POWER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jian-Qun Wu, Stone Peng, Juor-Ming Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11533013
    Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative controllers, dual power inverter modules, and electric vehicles. In an illustrative embodiment, a controller includes a first processor for a first power inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Schulz, David Tang, Daniel L. Kowalewski, Silva Hiti
  • Patent number: 11527965
    Abstract: A power conversion circuit has an inverter circuit including a first node and a second node that output a voltage according to an input voltage, a resonant circuit connected to the first node and the second node and including a third node and a fourth node that output a resonant voltage; and an output circuit connected to the third node and the fourth node and configured to output a DC voltage, wherein the resonant circuit includes a first inductor having one end connected to the third node, a first capacitor connected between the first node and another end of the first inductor, a second capacitor connectable between the second node and the fourth node, a second inductor connectable between the third node and the fourth node, and a first switch that switches whether or not to connect the second inductor between the third node and the fourth node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yusuke Hayashi, Masahiro Koyama, Kazuto Takao
  • Patent number: 11527963
    Abstract: A control unit is provided. The control unit is configured to provide a control signal for controlling a power unit. The power unit includes a first positive voltage terminal, a second positive voltage terminal, a first negative voltage terminal, a second negative voltage terminal, and a switching element. The first negative voltage terminal and the second positive voltage terminal are coupled to each other in a short circuit manner. One terminal of the switching element is electrically connected to the first negative voltage terminal. The control unit is configured to: receive a pulse width modulation signal; receive a first power supply signal; receive a second positive voltage terminal signal; output a second power supply signal; and output the control signal for controlling the switching element to be turned on or turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Da Jin, Xue-Liang Chang, Ya-Hong Xiong, Qing-Hua Su
  • Patent number: 11522466
    Abstract: An output terminal of one phase switched capacitor converter is connected to a first output terminal, and an output terminal of the other phase switched capacitor converter is connected to the first output terminal via a second switch, such that the power conversion structure can operate in a mode of two phase switched-capacitor converters in parallel, and a current formed by the operating of only one phase switched capacitor converter flows through the second switch, thus greatly reducing a value of current flowing through the second switch, greatly reducing the on-state loss of the second switch, and improving the efficiency of the power conversion structure, and because the second switch has lower on-state loss and less heat, there is a larger selectivity of the second switch and a reduction of the cost of power conversion structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: NuVolta Technologies (Hefei) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhengyu Li, Junhe Zhang, Cheong Kun, Fuchun Zhan, Penghao Zeng
  • Patent number: 11515801
    Abstract: A power conversion device which is premised on converting electric power supplied from a power source with use of a magnetic component, includes: a plurality of bus bars configured to supply electric power to a load; current sensor elements which are respectively provided for the plurality of bus bars, and are configured to detect magnetic fluxes generated when electric currents flow through the plurality of bus bars; and a plate-like magnetic shield plate which is arranged on a straight line connecting the magnetic component and the current sensor element, and is configured to shield magnetic fluxes directed from the magnetic component to one or more current sensor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuro Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11515806
    Abstract: A conversion device includes: an inductor connected to the AC power grid; a first-stage converter configured to output a bus voltage based on the AC power grid; a second-stage converter configured to convert the bus voltage into an output voltage to the load; and a filtering network, wherein a first resistance-capacitance circuit is disposed between the first and third terminals of the filtering network, a second resistance-capacitance circuit is disposed between the second and third terminals of the filtering network, the first terminal of the filtering network is connected to the AC power grid, the second terminal of the filtering network is connected to the bus or the second terminal of the second-stage converter, and the third terminal of the filtering network is grounded through a first capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Teng Liu, Jianping Ying, Lifeng Qiao, Xin Wang, Hongwei Xiao
  • Patent number: 11515703
    Abstract: An electronic barrier device, includes an Isolating Barrier or a Zener Barrier, with a voltage limiter or voltage shunt such as at least one zener device for voltage limitation in a circuit during a fault condition. The barrier device includes a crowbar device arranged to latch across the at least one voltage shunt device to reduce power dissipation in the at least one voltage shunt device in the circuit fault condition. The crowbar device is arranged to latch responsive to a change in a current flowing in the barrier device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: Frederic Vladimir Esposito
  • Patent number: 11515699
    Abstract: A protection circuit, and related method, for an electronic device including a first power output interface and a second power output interface is disclosed. The protection circuit includes a first switch element, coupled between a first voltage source and the first power output interface. The detection circuit being operation to detect an output voltage value of the second power output interface to generate a detection result. The first switch element, according to the detection result, connects the first voltage source to the first power output interface to allow the first power output interface to output power to an external terminal, or disconnects the first voltage source from the first power output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Tsui-Chuan Chuang, Ming-Ruei Liu, Dien-Shen Chiang, Chien-Tai Kao
  • Patent number: 11509239
    Abstract: A conversion device includes: an inductor electrically connected to the AC power grid; a first-stage converter configured to output a bus voltage according to the AC power grid, wherein the first-stage converter includes an N-level alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter, and the N-level AC-DC converter includes a plurality of switch bridge arms, wherein both an upper bridge arm and a lower bridge arm of each of the plurality of switch bridge arms of the N-level AC-DC converter include a plurality of semiconductor devices connected in series, and a rated withstand voltage Vsemi of each of the semiconductor devices is greater than or equal to (Vbus*?)/((N?1)*Nseries*?); and a second-stage converter configured to convert the bus voltage into an output voltage to supply energy to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Teng Liu, Jianping Ying, Lifeng Qiao, Xin Wang, Hongwei Xiao
  • Patent number: 11509233
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a surge voltage blocker circuit to couple between a distribution grid network and a grid-side power converter of a power conversion system. The surge voltage blocker circuit may include a plurality of series-coupled AC switch circuits, each including: a bidirectional switch formed of a first power transistor and a second power transistor; and a transient voltage suppression device coupled in parallel with the bidirectional switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Resilient Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Keister, Lyle T. Keister, Mehdi Abolhassani
  • Patent number: 11502613
    Abstract: A bidirectional or unidirectional DC-DC converter includes a primary stage and a secondary stage. The primary stage is configured to receive or output a first DC voltage. The primary stage includes a first switching network configured to convert the first DC voltage to a first alternating current (AC) voltage or vice versa. The DC-DC converter also includes a transformer having primary windings and secondary windings. The primary windings are in electrical communication with the first switching network. The transformer is configured to convert between the first AC voltage and a second AC voltage. The DC-DC converter also includes a secondary stage that has a second switching network. Characteristically, the second switching network and the transformer operate as an interleaved converter to convert the second AC voltage to an output DC voltage or vice versa. Advantageously, the required series inductance for this interleaved converter is integrated into the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Rafael Jimenez Pino, Pablo Gaona Rosanes, Hector Sarnago Andia, Oscar Lucia Gil
  • Patent number: 11502685
    Abstract: A gate drive circuit in a switching circuit including a switching terminal connected to a node that is connected to a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor, and connected to an end of a boot-strap capacitor, a bootstrap terminal connected to another end of the bootstrap capacitor, a high-side driver having an output terminal connected to a gate of the high-side transistor, an upper power supply node connected to the bootstrap terminal, and a lower power supply node connected to the switching terminal, a low-side driver having an output terminal connected to a gate of the low-side transistor, a rectifying device for applying a constant voltage to the bootstrap terminal, and a dead time controller for controlling a length of a dead time during which the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor are simultaneously turned off, based on a potential difference between the bootstrap terminal and the switching terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Karasawa, Hiroki Niikura