Patents by Inventor Marv Dargatz

Marv Dargatz 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: 9509142
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting a locally measured inverter voltage. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a voltage compensation to compensate for a voltage drop along an AC bus between an inverter and a remotely located point on the AC bus; obtaining a voltage measurement at the inverter; applying the voltage compensation to the voltage measurement to determine a corrected voltage measurement; comparing the corrected voltage measurement to a voltage requirement; and performing a corrective action at the inverter when the corrected voltage measurement does not meet the voltage requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Fornage, Marv Dargatz
  • Patent number: 9478967
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing DC arc faults. At least a portion of the method is performed by a controller comprising at least one processor. In one embodiment, the method comprises identifying, based on a first signature of a power converter, an arc fault; determining, based on the first signature, a type of the arc fault; and performing an action on the power converter based on the type of the arc fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Marv Dargatz, Martin Fornage
  • Publication number: 20140185344
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting a locally measured inverter voltage. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a voltage compensation to compensate for a voltage drop along an AC bus between an inverter and a remotely located point on the AC bus; obtaining a voltage measurement at the inverter; applying the voltage compensation to the voltage measurement to determine a corrected voltage measurement; comparing the corrected voltage measurement to a voltage requirement; and performing a corrective action at the inverter when the corrected voltage measurement does not meet the voltage requirement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Fornage, Marv Dargatz
  • Patent number: 8666561
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a corrected monitoring voltage, at least a portion of the method being performed by a computing system comprising at least one processor. The method comprises generating power at a first location; monitoring the generated power by measuring a first voltage proximate the first location; measuring a second voltage proximate a second location, the first and the second locations electrically coupled; and determining, based on the measured second voltage, a corrected monitoring voltage to compensate the measured first voltage for a distance between the first and the second locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Fornage, Marv Dargatz
  • Patent number: 8469735
    Abstract: Apparatus for coupling generated power to an output load. The apparatus comprises a first mounting rail, adapted for electrically coupling a power element to the output load. The first mounting rail comprises a frame defining a cavity; an insulative material disposed within at least a portion of the cavity; and a first at least two conductors, encapsulated within the insulative material, adapted for coupling power from the power element to the output load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Marv Dargatz
  • Publication number: 20120206843
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing DC arc faults. At least a portion of the method is performed by a controller comprising at least one processor. In one embodiment, the method comprises identifying, based on a first signature of a power converter, an arc fault; determining, based on the first signature, a type of the arc fault; and performing an action on the power converter based on the type of the arc fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Marv Dargatz, Martin Fornage
  • Patent number: 8179147
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing DC arc faults. At least a portion of the method is performed by a controller comprising at least one processor. In one embodiment, the method comprises analyzing a signature of a signal of a power converter and determining, based on analysis of the signature, whether an arc fault exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Marv Dargatz, Martin Fornage
  • Patent number: 7944083
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for characterizing a circuit coupled to an AC line. The apparatus comprises a consumption measurement unit (CMU), adapted for coupling, independent of voltage and current polarity, to the AC line and the circuit. The CMU comprises a discovery module adapted for (i) generating a circuit current signature based on current samples representative of current on a phase of the circuit, (ii) generating at least one AC line current signature based on AC line current samples representative of current on each phase of the AC line, and (iii) determining, based on the circuit current signature, the at least one AC line current signature, and at least one of a source profile or a load profile, at least one of a type or a voltage characteristic for the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Fornage, Marv Dargatz
  • Publication number: 20110019444
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing DC arc faults. At least a portion of the method is performed by a controller comprising at least one processor. In one embodiment, the method comprises analyzing a signature of a signal of a power converter and determining, based on analysis of the signature, whether an arc fault exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Marv Dargatz, Martin Fornage
  • Publication number: 20100195357
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a corrected monitoring voltage, at least a portion of the method being performed by a computing system comprising at least one processor. The method comprises generating power at a first location; monitoring the generated power by measuring a first voltage proximate the first location; measuring a second voltage proximate a second location, the first and the second locations electrically coupled; and determining, based on the measured second voltage, a corrected monitoring voltage to compensate the measured first voltage for a distance between the first and the second locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: MARTIN FORNAGE, MARV DARGATZ
  • Publication number: 20100181830
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for characterizing a circuit coupled to an AC line. The apparatus comprises a consumption measurement unit (CMU), adapted for coupling, independent of voltage and current polarity, to the AC line and the circuit. The CMU comprises a discovery module adapted for (i) generating a circuit current signature based on current samples representative of current on a phase of the circuit, (ii) generating at least one AC line current signature based on AC line current samples representative of current on each phase of the AC line, and (iii) determining, based on the circuit current signature, the at least one AC line current signature, and at least one of a source profile or a load profile, at least one of a type or a voltage characteristic for the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Martin Fornage, Marv Dargatz
  • Publication number: 20100139945
    Abstract: Apparatus for coupling generated power to an output load. The apparatus comprises a first mounting rail, adapted for electrically coupling a power element to the output load. The first mounting rail comprises a frame defining a cavity; an insulative material disposed within at least a portion of the cavity; and a first at least two conductors, encapsulated within the insulative material, adapted for coupling power from the power element to the output load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Marv Dargatz