Patents by Inventor Patrick L. Chapman
Patrick L. 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).
-
Patent number: 11912545Abstract: A wireless hoist system including a first hoist device having a first motor and a first wireless transceiver and a second hoist device having a second motor and a second wireless transceiver. The wireless hoist system includes a controller in wireless communication with the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless. The controller is configured to receive a user input and determine a first operation parameter and a second operation parameter based on the user input. The controller is also configured to provide, wirelessly, a first control signal indicative of the first operation parameter to the first hoist device and provide, wirelessly, a second control signal indicative of the second operation parameter to the second hoist device. The first hoist device operates based on the first control signal and the second hoist device operates based on the second control signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2020Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool CorporationInventors: Matthew Post, Gareth Mueckl, Matthew N. Thurin, Joshua D. Widder, Timothy J. Bartlett, Patrick D. Gallagher, Jarrod P. Kotes, Karly M. Schober, Kenneth W. Wolf, Terry L. Timmons, Mallory L. Marksteiner, Jonathan L. Lambert, Ryan A. Spiering, Jeremy R. Ebner, Benjamin A. Smith, James Wekwert, Brandon L. Yahr, Troy C. Thorson, Connor P. Sprague, John E. Koller, Evan M. Glanzer, John S. Scott, William F. Chapman, III, Timothy R. Obermann
-
Patent number: 11784555Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting DC power to AC power. For example, apparatus for converting DC power to AC power comprises an input adapted to be coupled to a high-powered distributed generator having a maximum voltage at a first voltage and an arc fault mitigation device, coupled to the input, for providing a second voltage at the input that is lower than the first voltage, where a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is not large enough to cause an arc.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, John Scott Berdner, Mark Baldassari, Raghuveer R. Belur, Donald H. Scrutchfield, Rian van der Colff, Phillip Mark Hunter, Philip Rothblum
-
Patent number: 11621628Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) in power conversion stage line filter are provided herein. The method, for example, includes determining an estimated ripple voltage or estimated ripple current using a predictive model, generating a ripple cancellation signal of opposite polarity to the estimated ripple voltage or ripple current, while compensating for at least one of magnitude or phase distortions in a signal path, and injecting the ripple cancellation signal into a power supply's line filter to reduce a ripple voltage.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.Inventors: Brian Acker, Patrick L. Chapman, Martin Fornage
-
Publication number: 20230055522Abstract: Reconfigurable PV panels can have features that include cut lines for separating full panels into smaller subpanels, connector ribbons for assembling several reconfigurable PV panels into a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array and can be stacked upon each other and unstacked by rotating them about a shared connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: Zachary S. Judkins, David C. Okawa, Brian S. Wares, Tamir Lance, Patrick L. Chapman
-
Patent number: 11495698Abstract: Reconfigurable PV panels can have features that include cut lines for separating full panels into smaller subpanels, connector ribbons for assembling several reconfigurable PV panels into a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array and can be stacked upon each other and unstacked by rotating them about a shared connection.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Zachary S. Judkins, David C. Okawa, Brian S. Wares, Tamir Lance, Patrick L. Chapman
-
Patent number: 11398731Abstract: A method and apparatus for balancing loads on a split-phase islanded system. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a device, coupled between a DG and a plurality of loads, comprising: an autotransformer coupled to first and second phase lines and a neutral line of the split-phase islanded system; a plurality of switches to switch between coupling a corresponding load to the first phase line and coupling the corresponding load to the second phase line; and a controller for determining, when a load imbalance is identified, at least one load to be switched from one of the first or second phase lines to the other of the first or second phase lines to reduce the load imbalance, and controlling at least one switch to switch the at least one load from the one of the first or second phase lines to the other of the first or second phase lines.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2021Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.Inventors: Donald Richard Zimmanck, Raghuveer R. Belur, Martin Fornage, Patrick L. Chapman
-
Patent number: 11349434Abstract: Electrical component location is provided. Employed location techniques may include providing a signal, having components to be located sense the signal and report back the sensed signal, and determining relative locations for one or more of the components using the sensed signals reported by the components.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Fernando Rodriguez, Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan Ehlmann
-
Patent number: 11342756Abstract: An alternating current (AC) module system includes branch circuits and a main service panel to receive power from the branch circuits. A photovoltaic (PV) supervisor is located between the branch circuits and the panel. The PV supervisor aggregates the power from the branch circuits. The PV supervisor also performs a nonredundant operational function for one or more of the branch circuits. The PV supervisor includes a gateway device to permit control of the operational functions.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Miles F. Bintz, II, Patrick L. Chapman
-
Publication number: 20220103060Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting DC power to AC power. For example, apparatus for converting DC power to AC power comprises an input adapted to be coupled to a high-powered distributed generator having a maximum voltage at a first voltage and an arc fault mitigation device, coupled to the input, for providing a second voltage at the input that is lower than the first voltage, where a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is not large enough to cause an arc.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, John Scott Berdner, Mark Baldassari, Raghuveer R. Belur, Donald H. Scrutchfield, Rian van der Colff, Phillip Mark Hunter, Philip Rothblum
-
Patent number: 11271522Abstract: Photovoltaic (PV) assemblies and modules for converting solar radiation to electrical energy are disclosed. A PV module comprises a plurality of PV or solar cells for generating DC power. In some embodiments, the plurality of solar cells are encapsulated within a PV laminate. A PV assembly comprises an electronic component assembly coupled to the PV module. The electronic component assembly comprises an enclosure defining an interior region and a power conditioning circuit within the interior region of the enclosure. The power conditioning circuit comprises at least one electronic component for conditioning power generated by the plurality of solar cells. The electronic component assembly comprises a first electrical conduit for inputting direct current (DC) generated by the plurality of solar cells to the power conditioning circuit. The electronic component assembly further comprises a second electrical conduit for outputting conditioned power from the power conditioning circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2016Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.Inventor: Patrick L. Chapman
-
Publication number: 20210408791Abstract: A method and apparatus for balancing loads on a split-phase islanded system. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a device, coupled between a DG and a plurality of loads, comprising: an autotransformer coupled to first and second phase lines and a neutral line of the split-phase islanded system; a plurality of switches to switch between coupling a corresponding load to the first phase line and coupling the corresponding load to the second phase line; and a controller for determining, when a load imbalance is identified, at least one load to be switched from one of the first or second phase lines to the other of the first or second phase lines to reduce the load imbalance, and controlling at least one switch to switch the at least one load from the one of the first or second phase lines to the other of the first or second phase lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Inventors: Donald Richard Zimmanck, Raghuveer R. Belur, Martin Fornage, Patrick L. Chapman
-
Publication number: 20210344301Abstract: Various technologies for integrating a microinverter with a photovoltaic module are disclosed. An alternating current photovoltaic (ACPV) module includes a photovoltaic module having a frame and a junction box including a direct current (DC) output connector, and a microinverter having a housing coupled to the frame and a DC input connector electrically mated with the DC output connector of the photovoltaic module.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Phil Gilchrist, William Morris, Kristine Little, Patrick L. Chapman, William P. Mulligan, Marco A. Marroquin
-
Patent number: 11121674Abstract: A modular photovoltaic (PV) system can include a PV cell, a frame coupled to the PV cell, and a converter. The frame is configured to support a plurality of pairs of externally accessible connectors, each pair having a positive voltage connector and a negative voltage connector, the positive voltage connector of each pair of the plurality electrically connected to each other and the negative voltage connector of each pair of the plurality electrically connected to each other. The converter is configured to receive voltage from the PV cell and change the voltage for output at one or more pairs of the externally accessible connectors. The converter may include Maximum Power Point Tracking services to manage the power output from the PV cell. Multiple PV systems may be connected to each other in coplanar and non-coplanar relationships. In some embodiments, the frames have triangular, rectangular, or other polygonal shapes.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventor: Patrick L. Chapman
-
Publication number: 20210281161Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) in power conversion stage line filter are provided herein. The method, for example, includes determining an estimated ripple voltage or estimated ripple current using a predictive model, generating a ripple cancellation signal of opposite polarity to the estimated ripple voltage or ripple current, while compensating for at least one of magnitude or phase distortions in a signal path, and injecting the ripple cancellation signal into a power supply's line filter to reduce a ripple voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2021Publication date: September 9, 2021Inventors: Brian Acker, Patrick L. Chapman, Martin Fomage
-
Patent number: 11095249Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes module-level power electronic (MLPE) devices that produce energy. The PV system includes a gateway to receive and send data to MLPE devices. The gateway also connects the PV system with a network, such as a local area network, that allows access to the Internet. The gateway provides functionality within the PV system to perform various processes to improve operation of MLPE devices.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.Inventors: Miles Bintz, Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Julianne Frances Haugh, Dale Herman, Brian Kuhn, Kelly Mekechuk, Eric Roesinger
-
Patent number: 11088548Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes a system control module that determines the presence of a microinverter chain termination end cap. The end cap includes an embedded circuit. The embedded circuit includes components having resistive, reactive, or impedance values. A signal source provides a signal through the microinverter chain. A parameter for a sensed signal detected by the system control module is used to determine the presence of the end cap using a change between the parameter for the sense signal and a reference parameter.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2019Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Philip Rothblum
-
Patent number: 10992237Abstract: A multi-inverter system with at least a string of inverters sharing a DC bus and outputting to a shared AC bus. Inverters are hot-swappable and configured to be turned on or off during powered cycles. Central control may comprise reducing power point tracking redundancies or promoting other operational changes at individual inverters of a group.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Zachary S. Judkins, Jacob Marshall
-
Publication number: 20210111672Abstract: Electrical component location is provided. Employed location techniques may include providing a signal, having components to be located sense the signal and report back the sensed signal, and determining relative locations for one or more of the components using the sensed signals reported by the components.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: Fernando Rodriguez, Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan Ehlmann
-
Patent number: 10892708Abstract: Electrical component location is provided. Employed location techniques may include providing a cycling signal, having components to be located sense the cycling signal at the same time, report back the sensed signal, and determining relative locations for one or more of the components using the sensed signals reported by the components.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2019Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Fernando Rodriguez, Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan Ehlmann
-
Patent number: 10886874Abstract: One or more hybrid management modules for Photovoltaic (PV) systems are provided. These modules may be configured for peer-to-peer communication and may also be configured for cellular communication outside of the PV system. The modules may be coupled or located near individual PV modules and may be configured with or alongside PV inverters or converters. The modules may take the place of a central system manager located beyond a main service panel and may work in conjunction with a controller located beyond a main service panel.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2018Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Patrick L. Chapman, John Peurach