Abstract: An energy management system including a universal energy flow manager that has a housing, an energy storage device disposed in the housing, a power electronics module disposed in the housing and adapted to convert and manage power and a connections interface. It also includes distribution and communications module with a HVDC Bus (High-Voltage Direct Current Bus) having variable power limits that powers an entire load requirement of one or more coupled electrical loads up to a defined power limit determined by an aggregation of power from one or more coupled energy sources. The one or more coupled electrical loads and the one or more coupled energy sources are external to the universal energy flow manager and connect to the HVDC Bus through the connections interface.

Abstract: An energy management system including a universal energy flow manager that has a housing, an energy storage device disposed in the housing, a power electronics module disposed in the housing and adapted to convert and manage power and a connections interface. It also includes distribution and communications module with a HVDC Bus (High-Voltage Direct Current Bus) having variable power limits that powers an entire load requirement of one or more coupled electrical loads up to a defined power limit determined by an aggregation of power from one or more coupled energy sources. The one or more coupled electrical loads and the one or more coupled energy sources are external to the universal energy flow manager and connect to the HVDC Bus through the connections interface.

Abstract: An energy management system including a universal energy flow manager that has a housing, an energy storage device disposed in the housing, a power electronics module disposed in the housing and adapted to convert and manage power and a connections interface. It also includes distribution and communications module with a HVDC Bus (High-Voltage Direct Current Bus) having variable power limits that powers an entire load requirement of one or more coupled electrical loads up to a defined power limit determined by an aggregation of power from one or more coupled energy sources. The one or more coupled electrical loads and the one or more coupled energy sources are external to the universal energy flow manager and connect to the HVDC Bus through the connections interface.

Abstract: A gate driver circuit receiving an input control signal and providing a voltage at a gate terminal of a semiconductor switching device (e.g., an IGBT) may include: (i) a first voltage source providing a first voltage; (ii) a second voltage source providing a second voltage, wherein the first voltage is higher than the second voltage; and (iii) a selector circuit selecting, based on the input control signal's logic state, either the first voltage or the second voltage to be placed on the gate terminal of the semiconductor switching device.

Abstract: A gate driver circuit receiving an input control signal and providing a voltage at a gate terminal of a semiconductor switching device (e.g., an IGBT) may include: (i) a first voltage source providing a first voltage; (ii) a second voltage source providing a second voltage, wherein the first voltage is higher than the second voltage; and (iii) a selector circuit selecting, based on the input control signal's logic state, either the first voltage or the second voltage to be placed on the gate terminal of the semiconductor switching device.

Abstract: An inverter system is provided. The inverter system has a first voltage zone and a second voltage zone isolated with each other. The inverter system includes a power unit, a controller, a power regulator, an isolated power supply, a driver and an inverter. The power unit in the first voltage zone provides an initial power. The controller in the first voltage zone generates a power control signal. The power regulator in the first voltage zone receives the power control signal and the initial power and outputs a first adjustable power accordingly. The isolated power supply has a primary part and a secondary part in the first and second voltage zones respectively. The primary part receives the first adjustable power, and the secondary part outputs a second adjustable power. The driver in the second voltage zone receives the second adjustable power and outputs an adjustable driving signal to control the inverter.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle pre-charge limiting system is disclosed. The system includes an inverter, a comparator, a latch circuit, and a microprocessor. The inverter inverts a first power signal into a second power signal. The comparator receives a first measured current of the second power signal and compares the first measured current to a predetermined current value. The comparator transmits a first control signal indicative of the first measured current exceeding the predetermined current value. The latch circuit transmits a second control signal to the inverter to discontinue inverting the first power signal and transmits a first latch signal. The microprocessor receives a first sense signal indicative of current of the first power signal and transmits a third control signal to the latch circuit. The microprocessor inverts the first power signal into the second power signal for a predetermined number of output periods.

Abstract: A proximity detection apparatus including a detection circuit is provided. The detection circuit is configured to receive a proximity signal indicative of a first voltage level and a reference signal indicative of a second voltage level and to receive a wake up signal at predetermined intervals. The detection circuit is further configured to compare the first voltage level to the second voltage level in response to the wake up signal and to generate a first output indicative of an external power source being electrically coupled to a vehicle to charge one or more batteries in the vehicle based on the comparison of the first voltage level to the second voltage level.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle pre-charge limiting system is disclosed. The system includes an inverter, a comparator, a latch circuit, and a microprocessor. The inverter inverts a first power signal into a second power signal. The comparator receives a first measured current of the second power signal and compares the first measured current to a predetermined current value. The comparator transmits a first control signal indicative of the first measured current exceeding the predetermined current value. The latch circuit transmits a second control signal to the inverter to discontinue inverting the first power signal and transmits a first latch signal. The microprocessor receives a first sense signal indicative of current of the first power signal and transmits a third control signal to the latch circuit. The microprocessor inverts the first power signal into the second power signal for a predetermined number of output periods.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a bi-directional power conversion device including a DC/DC converter, an inverter, and a bi-directional store device is disclosed. The DC/DC converter is configured to generate a first direct current (DC) output in response to a first DC input in a consumer mode and to receive a second DC input to power the low voltage zone in a vehicle charge mode. The inverter is configured to generate an alternating current (AC) output to power at least one consumer device in response to the first DC output in the consumer mode and to provide the second DC input to the DC/DC converter in response to an AC input signal from an AC power source in the vehicle charge mode. The bi-directional storage device is configured to store the first DC output in the consumer mode and to store the second DC input in the vehicle charge mode.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an apparatus comprising a vehicle inverter is provided. The vehicle inverter is programmed to invert a direct current (DC) input into a maximum alternating current (AC) output to power at least one external load and to receive first information indicative of whether a vehicle is in one of a drive mode and a park mode. The vehicle inverter is further programmed to provide the maximum AC output to the power the at least one external load in response to the information indicating that the vehicle is in the park mode and to invert the DC input into a first AC output that is less than the maximum AC output to power the at least one external load in response to the information indicating that the vehicle is in the drive mode.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a bi-directional power conversion device including a DC/DC converter, an inverter, and a bi-directional store device is disclosed. The DC/DC converter is configured to generate a first direct current (DC) output in response to a first DC input in a consumer mode and to receive a second DC input to power the low voltage zone in a vehicle charge mode. The inverter is configured to generate an alternating current (AC) output to power at least one consumer device in response to the first DC output in the consumer mode and to provide the second DC input to the DC/DC converter in response to an AC input signal from an AC power source in the vehicle charge mode. The bi-directional storage device is configured to store the first DC output in the consumer mode and to store the second DC input in the vehicle charge mode.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a vehicle apparatus including a power conversion device is provided. The power conversion device is further configured to receive a direct current (DC) output voltage and invert the DC output voltage into an alternating current (AC) based signal to drive one or more AC loads in a vehicle. The power conversion device is further configured to measure the DC output voltage during a pre-charge operation and to provide a diagnostic threshold during the pre-charge operation based on the measured DC output voltage. The power conversion device is further configured to determine a plurality of accumulated values during the pre-charge operation, each accumulated value is indicative of a measured current across a resistive element. The power conversion device is further configured to compare the plurality of accumulated values to the diagnostic threshold during the pre-charge operation.

Abstract: A resolver excitation signal generator includes a source configured to generate a sinusoidal input signal and an inverting amplifier circuit. The inverting amplifier circuit has an input connected to the source to receive the sinusoidal input signal and an output lacking a transistor stage. The inverting amplifier circuit is configured to amplify the sinusoidal input signal to generate at the output of the inverting amplifier circuit an excitation signal in the form of an amplified version of the sinusoidal input signal for a resolver.

Abstract: A proximity detection apparatus including a detection circuit is provided. The detection circuit is configured to receive a proximity signal indicative of a first voltage level and a reference signal indicative of a second voltage level and to receive a wake up signal at predetermined intervals. The detection circuit is further configured to compare the first voltage level to the second voltage level in response to the wake up signal and to generate a first output indicative of an external power source being electrically coupled to a vehicle to charge one or more batteries in the vehicle based on the comparison of the first voltage level to the second voltage level.

Abstract: A gate drive power supply (GDPS) system includes a voltage boost stage configured to boost an input voltage into a boost voltage and an inverter stage configured to invert the boost voltage into an AC voltage. The GDPS system further includes gate drive voltage supply circuits transformer coupled to the inverter stage to receive an AC output based on the AC voltage and configured to convert the AC output into DC supply voltages for gate drives.

Abstract: A housekeeping circuit configured to facilitate powering multiple loads is contemplated. The housekeeping circuit may include a transformer to regulate voltage output for using in powering the loads. A trickle circuit may be included to facilitate setting a minimum loading on the transformer. The minimum loading may be beneficial in insuring proper regulation of the transformer.

Abstract: A proximity detection circuit is operable to detect connection of a cordset to a vehicle charging system or connection of another device to some other electrical circuit where it may be desirable to facilitate detection while a controller or other current drawing source is inactive.

Abstract: A proximity detection circuit is contemplated to detect connection of a cordset to a vehicle charging system or connection of another device to some other electrical circuit where it may be desirable to facilitate detection. A short protection circuit may be included as part of the proximity detection circuit to facilitate disconnection in the event of a shorter other condition where undesirable currents and/or voltages may be propagated to other systems of portions of the vehicle charging system.

Abstract: Vehicle high-voltage side heater systems and methods are described. In an example, a controller to input a modulated control signal from a low-voltage side is connected to a high-voltage side heater, which is controlled by the modulated control signal from the controller. The controller can be on low-voltage side and not directly connected to a low-voltage side power but does derive the control signal from an input signal, which can be pulse width modulated.