Patents by Inventor Eike MEINTS

Eike MEINTS has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method, system and apparatus for discharging DC link capacitors in power-distribution-units
    Patent number: 11716042
    Abstract: The present subject matter refers a discharge circuit for a smoothing capacitor within a power-distribution-unit. The discharge circuit comprises a first sub-circuit connected in parallel to a DC-Link capacitor, said first sub-circuit in turn comprises a series connection of a first switching element (SE) and a first discharge resistor, wherein the DC-link capacitor is connected in parallel to a power supply. A second sub-circuit is connected in parallel to the DC-Link capacitor and comprises a series connection of a second switching element (SE) and a second discharge resistor. A control device is configured to control the plurality of SEs within the sub-circuits by scheduling switching of the plurality of SEs. Such scheduling comprises switching ON of the second SE after a switching ON of the first SE for enabling a discharging of the DC link capacitor within a predetermined duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Max Richter, Eike Meints
  • METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING DC LINK CAPACITORS IN POWER-DISTRIBUTION-UNITS
    Publication number: 20220352813
    Abstract: The present subject matter refers a discharge circuit for a smoothing capacitor within a power-distribution-unit. The discharge circuit comprises a first sub-circuit connected in parallel to a DC-Link capacitor, said first sub-circuit in turn comprises a series connection of a first switching element (SE) and a first discharge resistor, wherein the DC-link capacitor is connected in parallel to a power supply. A second sub-circuit is connected in parallel to the DC-Link capacitor and comprises a series connection of a second switching element (SE) and a second discharge resistor. A control device is configured to control the plurality of SEs within the sub-circuits by scheduling switching of the plurality of SEs. Such scheduling comprises switching ON of the second SE after a switching ON of the first SE for enabling a discharging of the DC link capacitor within a predetermined duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Max RICHTER, Eike MEINTS