Patents by Inventor Gareth Christopher James

Gareth Christopher James 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).

  • Patent number: 9703337
    Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of a component is disclosed. The component is part of a drive configured to drive an electrical machine via an electrically conductive member. The method comprises determining a value of an attribute of the electrically conductive member; configuring a model to calculate the temperature of the component, the model being configured based on the determined value of the attribute of the electrically conductive member; using the model to calculate the temperature of the component; and if the calculated temperature of the component does not meet a predetermined temperature condition, issuing a command to control the operation of the drive such that the temperature of the component is changed to meet the predetermined temperature condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: NIDEC CONTROL TECHNIQUES LIMITED
    Inventors: Gareth Christopher James, Robert Gwyn Williams, Nathan Downes
  • Patent number: 9705487
    Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of a first semiconductor device on an inverter module of a drive configured to drive an electrical machine is disclosed. The method comprises calculating at least one harmonic component of at least one power loss of at least the first semiconductor device; using the at least one harmonic component of the at least one power loss of the at least the first semiconductor device to calculate a temperature of the first semiconductor device; and if the calculated temperature of the first semiconductor device does not meet a predetermined temperature condition, issuing a command to control the operation of the drive such that the temperature of the first semiconductor device is changed to meet the predetermined temperature condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: NIDEC CONTROL TECHNIQUES LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Cade, Gareth Christopher James
  • Patent number: 9083260
    Abstract: A method of controlling a switching frequency of an inverter, the method comprising the steps of: measuring a signal indicative of a temperature variable at a first switching frequency to determine a measured temperature variable; comparing the measured temperature variable to a first threshold; determining if the measured temperature variable is above the first threshold; if the measured temperature variable is not above the first threshold, calculating the temperature variable at a second switching frequency; if the temperature variable calculated at the second switching frequency is less than the first threshold, setting the switching frequency of the inverter to the second switching frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: CONTROL TECHNIQUES LIMITED
    Inventor: Gareth Christopher James
  • Publication number: 20140346989
    Abstract: A method of controlling a switching frequency of an inverter, the method comprising the steps of: measuring a signal indicative of a temperature variable at a first switching frequency to determine a measured temperature variable; comparing the measured temperature variable to a first threshold; determining if the measured temperature variable is above the first threshold; if the measured temperature variable is not above the first threshold, calculating the temperature variable at a second switching frequency; if the temperature variable calculated at the second switching frequency is less than the first threshold, setting the switching frequency of the inverter to the second switching frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Gareth Christopher James
  • Publication number: 20140239741
    Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of a first semiconductor device on an inverter module of a drive configured to drive an electrical machine is disclosed. The method comprises calculating at least one harmonic component of at least one power loss of at least the first semiconductor device; using the at least one harmonic component of the at least one power loss of the at least the first semiconductor device to calculate a temperature of the first semiconductor device; and if the calculated temperature of the first semiconductor device does not meet a predetermined temperature condition, issuing a command to control the operation of the drive such that the temperature of the first semiconductor device is changed to meet the predetermined temperature condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Cade, Gareth Christopher James