Patents by Inventor Patrick Chapman

Patrick Chapman 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).

  • Publication number: 20130016544
    Abstract: An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventor: Patrick Chapman
  • Publication number: 20130016536
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for global maximum power point tracking comprises monitoring an output power of a DC power source while executing a maximum power point tracking algorithm and adjusting a maximum power point tracking command signal in response to the output power being less than a reference output power. The command signal is adjusted until the output power exceeds a previous output power by a reference amount. The command signal may be a voltage command signal, a current command signal, an impedance command signal, a duty ratio command signal, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: SOLARBRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Ehlmann, Daniel Blair, Eric Martina, Patrick Chapman, Brian Kuhn
  • Publication number: 20120275196
    Abstract: An inverter for converting an input direct current (DC) waveform from a DC source to an output alternating current (AC) waveform for delivery to an AC grid includes an input converter, an output converter, an input controller, and an output controller. The input controller is configured to control the operation of the input converter, and the output controller is configured to control the operation of the output controller. The input and output controllers are electrically isolated from each other and may be incapable of direct communications between each other. In some embodiments, the input and output controllers may communicate with each other via the input and output converters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: SOLARBRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Chapman, Andrew O'Connell, Timothy Sams, Eric Martina
  • Patent number: 8284574
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an inverter includes operating the inverter in a one of a normal run mode or a pulse mode depending on one or more criteria. When operating in the pulse mode, the inverter generates a sinusoidal output pulse waveform including a plurality of pulses having a determined pulse width. The pulse width is less than a half-wave period of a full-cycle sinusoidal waveform and may be determined as function of, for example, the output power of the inverter, a grid voltage, and/or other criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Chapman, Philip Krein
  • Patent number: 8193788
    Abstract: An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Chapman
  • Patent number: 8174856
    Abstract: An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Chapman
  • Publication number: 20120087158
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an inverter includes operating the inverter in a one of a normal run mode or a pulse mode depending on one or more criteria. When operating in the pulse mode, the inverter generates a sinusoidal output pulse waveform including a plurality of pulses having a determined pulse width. The pulse width is less than a half-wave period of a full-cycle sinusoidal waveform and may be determined as function of, for example, the output power of the inverter, a grid voltage, and/or other criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: SOLARBRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Chapman, Philip Krein
  • Publication number: 20120075894
    Abstract: An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventor: Patrick Chapman
  • Publication number: 20110267858
    Abstract: An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: Patrick Chapman
  • Publication number: 20110267859
    Abstract: An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: Patrick Chapman
  • Publication number: 20110267855
    Abstract: An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Patrick Chapman, William R. Van Dell
  • Publication number: 20110261601
    Abstract: A method for controlling an multi-stage inverter comprises controlling an input converter of the multi-stage inverter with an input controller and controlling an output converter of the multi-stage inverter with an output controller separate from the input controller. The input controller and output controller may be galvanically isolated. Additionally, the method may include communicating data between the input controller and the output controller over a power bus of the multi-stage inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: SOLARBRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Chapman, Andrew O'Connell, Timothy Sams, Eric Martina
  • Patent number: 7078883
    Abstract: A startup circuit for starting a power converter for converting an input voltage to an output voltage includes a switch connected in series with a resistive element. The startup circuit is connected in parallel with a trigger switch in the power converter for enabling the power converter to generate the output voltage. When closed or activated, the switch in the startup circuit charges an energy storing device in the power converter. The energy storing device activates the trigger switch as the charge is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Patrick Chapman, Philip T. Krein, Jonathan Kimball, Theresa L. Flowers
  • Publication number: 20050226011
    Abstract: A startup circuit for starting a power converter for converting an input voltage to an output voltage includes a switch connected in series with a resistive element. The startup circuit is connected in parallel with a trigger switch in the power converter for enabling the power converter to generate the output voltage. When closed or activated, the switch in the startup circuit charges an energy storing device in the power converter. The energy storing device activates the trigger switch as the charge is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Inventors: Patrick Chapman, Philip Krein, Jonathon Kimball, Theresa Flowers
  • Publication number: 20050093373
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for converting a plurality of dc input voltages from a plurality of voltage sources to at least one dc output voltage. An apparatus embodiment includes a plurality of voltage inputs. A respective current-conducting-bidirectional-voltage-blocking switch is in an electrical path from each of the voltage inputs. A magnetically inductive device is in an electrical path from each of the current-conducting-bidirectional-voltage-blocking switches. A voltage output is in an electrical path from the magnetically inductive device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Patrick Chapman, Bryan Dobbs