Patents by Inventor Robert Dean King
Robert Dean King 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).
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Patent number: 10958069Abstract: A multi-energy storage device system includes an electric drive coupled to a load, a DC link coupled to the electric drive, and a bi-directional voltage converter having an output channel coupled to the DC link and an input channel. A first energy storage device (ESD) is coupled to the input channel, and a switch is coupled to the DC link and to a second ESD. A system controller causes the switch to couple the second ESD to the DC link for delivering energy stored in the second ESD to the electric drive. The system controller also causes the voltage converter to convert a voltage of the first ESD to a higher voltage and to deliver the higher voltage to the DC link, wherein the higher voltage is greater than the voltage of the second ESD and causes the switch to decouple the second ESD from the DC link.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Paul Robert Gemin, Robert Dean King, Irene Michelle Berry, Lembit Salasoo
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Patent number: 10946748Abstract: An electric drive system includes a permanent magnet machine having a rotor and a stator and a power converter electrically coupled to the permanent magnet machine and configured to convert a DC link voltage to an AC output voltage to drive the permanent magnet machine. The power converter includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices having a voltage rating that exceeds a peak line-to-line back electromotive force of the permanent magnet machine at a maximum speed of the permanent magnet machine.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2017Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Ayman Mohamed Fawzi EL-Refaie, Robert Dean King
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Patent number: 10933754Abstract: An apparatus includes a multi-channel DC bus assembly comprising a first channel and a second channel, a first electromechanical device coupled to a positive DC link of the first channel, and a second electromechanical device coupled to a positive DC link of the second channel. A first DC-to-AC voltage inverter is coupled to the positive DC link of the first channel and a second DC-to-AC voltage inverter is coupled to the positive DC link of the second channel. The apparatus further includes a bi-directional voltage modification assembly coupled to the positive DC link of the second channel and a first energy storage system electrically coupled to the first electromechanical device.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Robert Dean King, Zhihao Li
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Patent number: 10766372Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a controller configured to receive sensor feedback from a high voltage storage device and from a low voltage storage device, compare the sensor feedback to operating limits of the respective high and low voltage storage device, determine, based on the comparison a total charging current to the high voltage storage device and to the low voltage storage device and a power split factor of the total charging current to the high voltage device and to the low voltage device, and regulate the total power to the low voltage storage device and the high voltage storage device based on the determination.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Ruediger Soeren Kusch, Robert Dean King, Robert Louis Steigerwald
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Publication number: 20200180446Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a motor drive circuit includes a first energy storage device configured to supply electrical energy, a bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter coupled to the first energy storage device, a voltage inverter coupled to the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter, and an input device configured to receive electrical energy from an external energy source. The motor drive circuit further includes a coupling system coupled to the input device, to the first energy storage device, and to the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter. The coupling system has a first configuration configured to transfer electrical energy to the first energy storage device via the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter, and has a second configuration configured to transfer electrical energy from the first energy storage device to the voltage inverter via the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2020Publication date: June 11, 2020Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Dean King, Robert Louis Steigerwald
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Patent number: 10666045Abstract: A multi-energy storage device system includes an electric drive coupled to a load, a DC link coupled to the electric drive, and a bi-directional voltage converter having an output channel coupled to the DC link and an input channel. A first energy storage device (ESD) is coupled to the input channel, and a switch is coupled to the DC link and to a second ESD. A system controller causes the switch to couple the second ESD to the DC link for delivering energy stored in the second ESD to the electric drive. The system controller also causes the voltage converter to convert a voltage of the first ESD to a higher voltage and to deliver the higher voltage to the DC link, wherein the higher voltage is greater than the voltage of the second ESD and causes the switch to decouple the second ESD from the DC link.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2015Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Paul Robert Gemin, Robert Dean King, Irene Michelle Berry, Lembit Salasoo
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Publication number: 20200139825Abstract: An apparatus includes a multi-channel DC bus assembly comprising a first channel and a second channel, a first electromechanical device coupled to a positive DC link of the first channel, and a second electromechanical device coupled to a positive DC link of the second channel. A first DC-to-AC voltage inverter is coupled to the positive DC link of the first channel and a second DC-to-AC voltage inverter is coupled to the positive DC link of the second channel. The apparatus further includes a bi-directional voltage modification assembly coupled to the positive DC link of the second channel and a first energy storage system electrically coupled to the first electromechanical device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2019Publication date: May 7, 2020Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Dean King, Zhihao Li
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Publication number: 20200130518Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a controller configured to receive sensor feedback from a high voltage storage device and from a low voltage storage device, compare the sensor feedback to operating limits of the respective high and low voltage storage device, determine, based on the comparison a total charging current to the high voltage storage device and to the low voltage storage device and a power split factor of the total charging current to the high voltage device and to the low voltage device, and regulate the total power to the low voltage storage device and the high voltage storage device based on the determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Applicant: General ElectricInventors: Ruediger Soeren Kusch, Robert Dean King, Robert Louis Steigerwald
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Publication number: 20200114770Abstract: An apparatus comprises a power electronic energy conversion system comprising a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy and a first voltage converter configured to convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device. The apparatus also includes a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation and communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Dean King, Robert Louis Steigerwald
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Patent number: 10604023Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a motor drive circuit includes a first energy storage device configured to supply electrical energy, a bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter coupled to the first energy storage device, a voltage inverter coupled to the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter, and an input device configured to receive electrical energy from an external energy source. The motor drive circuit further includes a coupling system coupled to the input device, to the first energy storage device, and to the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter. The coupling system has a first configuration configured to transfer electrical energy to the first energy storage device via the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter, and has a second configuration configured to transfer electrical energy from the first energy storage device to the voltage inverter via the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2018Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Robert Dean King, Robert Louis Steigerwald
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Patent number: 10549648Abstract: An apparatus includes a multi-channel DC bus assembly comprising a first channel and a second channel, a first electromechanical device coupled to a positive DC link of the first channel, and a second electromechanical device coupled to a positive DC link of the second channel. A first DC-to-AC voltage inverter is coupled to the positive DC link of the first channel and a second DC-to-AC voltage inverter is coupled to the positive DC link of the second channel. The apparatus further includes a bi-directional voltage modification assembly coupled to the positive DC link of the second channel and a first energy storage system electrically coupled to the first electromechanical device.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2019Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Robert Dean King, Zhihao Li
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Patent number: 10543755Abstract: An apparatus comprises a power electronic energy conversion system comprising a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy and a first voltage converter configured to convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device. The apparatus also includes a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation and communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2019Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Robert Dean King, Robert Louis Steigerwald
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Patent number: 10520966Abstract: A system includes a control unit having a processor and a communication interface. The communication interface is configured to communicate with one or more charging stations that are electrically coupled to receive electrical power from a power distribution grid and that are configured to selectively charge one or more energy storage devices connected to the charging stations. The processor is configured to generate first control signals for communication by the communication interface to the one or more charging stations to control transfer of reactive and/or active power from the charging stations to the power distribution grid. The control signals are generated based at least in part on a load cycle profile of one or more electric machines electrically coupled to the power distribution grid.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Santosh Sambamoorthy Veda, Robert Dean King, Irene Michelle Berry, Zhi Zhou, Matthew Christian Nielsen, Lembit Salasoo
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Publication number: 20190381897Abstract: An apparatus includes a multi-channel DC bus assembly comprising a first channel and a second channel, a first electromechanical device coupled to a positive DC link of the first channel, and a second electromechanical device coupled to a positive DC link of the second channel. A first DC-to-AC voltage inverter is coupled to the positive DC link of the first channel and a second DC to AC voltage inverter is coupled to the positive DC link of the second channel. The apparatus further includes a bi-directional voltage modification assembly coupled to the positive DC link of the second channel and a first energy storage system electrically coupled to the first electromechanical device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2019Publication date: December 19, 2019Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Dean King, Zhihao Li
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Patent number: 10454290Abstract: An apparatus for transferring energy using onboard power electronics with high-frequency transformer isolation includes a power electronic drive circuit comprises a dc bus and a first energy storage device coupled to the dc bus. A first bi-directional dc-to-ac voltage inverter is coupled to the first energy storage device and to the dc bus, and a first electromechanical device coupled to the first bi-directional dc-to-ac voltage inverter. A charging system coupled to the dc bus via a charge bus comprises a receptacle configured to mate with a connector coupled to a voltage source external to the power electronic drive circuit and an isolation transformer configured to electrically isolate the charge bus from the receptacle. A controller configured to cause the charging system to supply a charging voltage to the dc bus based on a voltage received from the voltage source external to the power electronic drive circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2016Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Robert Louis Steigerwald, Robert Dean King, Ruediger Soeren Kusch
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Publication number: 20190317539Abstract: A system includes a control unit having one or more processors and a communication interface. The communication interface is configured to communicate with one or more charging stations that are electrically coupled to receive electrical power from a power distribution grid and that are configured to selectively charge one or more energy storage devices connected to the charging stations. The one or more processors are configured to generate first control signals for communication by the communication interface to the one or more charging stations to control transfer of reactive and/or active power from the charging stations to the power distribution grid. The control signals are generated based at least in part on a load cycle profile of one or more electric machines electrically coupled to the power distribution grid.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2019Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventors: Santosh Sambamoorthy Veda, Robert Dean King, Irene Michelle Berry, Zhi Zhou, Matthew Christian Nielsen, Lembit Salasoo
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Patent number: 10442296Abstract: An apparatus includes a multi-channel DC bus assembly comprising a first channel and a second channel, a first electromechanical device coupled to a positive DC link of the first channel, and a second electromechanical device coupled to a positive DC link of the second channel. A first DC-to-AC voltage inverter is coupled to the positive DC link of the first channel and a second DC-to-AC voltage inverter is coupled to the positive DC link of the second channel. The apparatus further includes a bi-directional voltage modification assembly coupled to the positive DC link of the second channel and a first energy storage system electrically coupled to the first electromechanical device.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2017Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Robert Dean King, Zhihao Li
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Patent number: 10377259Abstract: An apparatus comprises a power electronic energy conversion system comprising a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy and a first voltage converter configured to convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device. The apparatus also includes a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation and communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Robert Dean King, Robert Louis Steigerwald
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Patent number: 10379562Abstract: A system includes a control unit having a processor and a communication interface. The communication interface is configured to communicate with one or more charging stations that are electrically coupled to receive electrical power from a power distribution grid and that are configured to selectively charge one or more energy storage devices connected to the charging stations. The processor is configured to generate first control signals for communication by the communication interface to the one or more charging stations to control transfer of reactive and/or active power from the charging stations to the power distribution grid. The control signals are generated based at least in part on a load cycle profile of one or more electric machines electrically coupled to the power distribution grid.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Santosh Sambamoorthy Veda, Robert Dean King, Irene Michelle Berry, Zhi Zhou, Matthew Christian Nielsen, Lembit Salasoo
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Publication number: 20190222022Abstract: A multi-energy storage device system includes an electric drive coupled to a load, a DC link coupled to the electric drive, and a bi-directional voltage converter having an output channel coupled to the DC link and an input channel. A first energy storage device (ESD) is coupled to the input channel, and a switch is coupled to the DC link and to a second ESD. A system controller causes the switch to couple the second ESD to the DC link for delivering energy stored in the second ESD to the electric drive. The system controller also causes the voltage converter to convert a voltage of the first ESD to a higher voltage and to deliver the higher voltage to the DC link, wherein the higher voltage is greater than the voltage of the second ESD and causes the switch to decouple the second ESD from the DC link.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Paul Robert Gemin, Robert Dean King, Irene Michelle Berry, Lembit Salasoo