Patents by Inventor Subarna Pal
Subarna Pal 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: 9291683Abstract: A power conversion unit includes a power converter and a controller coupled to the secondary or output stage of the power converter. The power conversion unit is configured to generate an output test voltage or current during a pre-start test period of the power converter, where the output test voltage or current is monitored to determine a converter fault condition. A method of operating a power conversion unit is also included.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Subarna Pal, Stephen C. Guthrie
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Patent number: 9236804Abstract: A power conversion system includes a power converter that converts an input voltage into a DC output voltage. Additionally, the power conversion system also includes a controller that provides a self-adjusting set-point control scheme for the power converter. A method of power conversion system operation is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 25, 2012Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Subarna Pal, Richard Hock
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Patent number: 8971074Abstract: A bias supply, a method of communicating data across an isolation barrier and a power supply are provided herein. In one embodiment, the bias supply includes: (1) a bias supply transformer having a primary winding inductively coupled to a secondary winding across an isolation barrier, (2) a controller configured to direct operation of the bias supply and (3) bias voltage manipulating circuitry, coupled to an input of the controller, configured to receive primary data and based thereon alter a secondary bias output voltage of the secondary winding between defined voltage levels by varying a voltage provided to the controller, the controller and the bias voltage manipulating circuitry located on the primary side.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Stephen C. Guthrie, Subarna Pal
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Patent number: 8929106Abstract: The power conversion module includes a power converter coupled to provide a DC output voltage from an input voltage source. The power converter may have primary and secondary stages, and the power converter may also provide a DC output voltage that is electrically isolated from the input voltage source. Additionally, the power conversion module also includes a voltage controller configured to measure a pre-bias value of the output voltage prior to start-up of the power converter and provide a start-up control signal, wherein the start-up control signal corresponds to an initial output voltage that is greater than the pre-bias value of the output voltage. The initial output voltage includes a start-up voltage margin above the pre-bias value and is maintained for a margin hold time. A method of operating a power conversion module is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Raghothama Reddy, Stephen Guthrie, Subarna Pal
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Patent number: 8913406Abstract: A power conversion system includes a shared output bus and a plurality of power conversion units coupled to the shared output bus. Each power conversion unit includes a power converter having a converter output coupled to the shared output bus and a delay generator that generates a start-up delay for the power converter if a pre-bias value of a bus voltage on the shared output bus is greater than a predefined threshold. Each power conversion unit also includes a voltage controller that controls the converter output subsequent to the start-up delay and maintains a current sourcing condition of the converter output during start-up of the power converter. The power conversion system also includes a load that is coupled to the shared output bus. A method of operating a power conversion unit is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2012Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Stephen Guthrie, Subarna Pal
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Publication number: 20130088894Abstract: A power conversion unit includes a power converter and a controller coupled to the secondary or output stage of the power converter. The power conversion unit is configured to generate an output test voltage or current during a pre-start test period of the power converter, where the output test voltage or current is monitored to determine a converter fault condition. A method of operating a power conversion unit is also included.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2012Publication date: April 11, 2013Inventors: Subarna Pal, Stephen C. Guthrie, Stephen C. Guthrie
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Publication number: 20120327688Abstract: A power conversion system includes a shared output bus and a plurality of power conversion units coupled to the shared output bus. Each power conversion unit includes a power converter having a converter output coupled to the shared output bus and a delay generator that generates a start-up delay for the power converter if a pre-bias value of a bus voltage on the shared output bus is greater than a predefined threshold. Each power conversion unit also includes a voltage controller that controls the converter output subsequent to the start-up delay and maintains a current sourcing condition of the converter output during start-up of the power converter. The power conversion system also includes a load that is coupled to the shared output bus. A method of operating a power conversion unit is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Stephen Guthrie, Subarna Pal
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Publication number: 20120294052Abstract: The power conversion module includes a power converter coupled to provide a DC output voltage from an input voltage source. The power converter may have primary and secondary stages, and the power converter may also provide a DC output voltage that is electrically isolated from the input voltage source. Additionally, the power conversion module also includes a voltage controller configured to measure a pre-bias value of the output voltage prior to start-up of the power converter and provide a start-up control signal, wherein the start-up control signal corresponds to an initial output voltage that is greater than the pre-bias value of the output voltage. The initial output voltage includes a start-up voltage margin above the pre-bias value and is maintained for a margin hold time. A method of operating a power conversion module is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: General Electric Co.Inventors: Raghothama Reddy, Stephen Guthrie, Subarna Pal
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Publication number: 20120169316Abstract: A bias supply, a method of communicating data across an isolation barrier and a power supply are provided herein. In one embodiment, the bias supply includes: (1) a bias supply transformer having a primary winding inductively coupled to a secondary winding across an isolation barrier, (2) a controller configured to direct operation of the bias supply and (3) bias voltage manipulating circuitry, coupled to an input of the controller, configured to receive primary data and based thereon alter a secondary bias output voltage of the secondary winding between defined voltage levels by varying a voltage provided to the controller, the controller and the bias voltage manipulating circuitry located on the primary side.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2012Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: Lineage Power CorporationInventors: Stephen C. Guthrie, Subarna Pal
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Patent number: 8000076Abstract: An interrupter, a method of responding to a monitored event and an IC are disclosed. In one embodiment, the interrupter includes: (1) a monitoring circuit configured to monitor for an occurrence of at least one event and generate an external event signal when detecting the occurrence, (2) a microprocessor, having: (2A) at least one functional pin and (2B) a reset input pin, coupled to the monitoring circuit, the microprocessor configured to begin a reset process in response to receiving the external event signal at the reset input pin and thereby set the functional pin to a reset state, and (3) a responding circuit coupled to the functional pin and configured to initiate a predetermined action when the functional pin is set to a reset state.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2009Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Lineage Power CorporationInventors: Stephen C. Guthrie, Subarna Pal
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Publication number: 20110012649Abstract: An interrupter, a method of responding to a monitored event and an IC are disclosed. In one embodiment, the interrupter includes: (1) a monitoring circuit configured to monitor for an occurrence of at least one event and generate an external event signal when detecting the occurrence, (2) a microprocessor, having: (2A) at least one functional pin and (2B) a reset input pin, coupled to the monitoring circuit, the microprocessor configured to begin a reset process in response to receiving the external event signal at the reset input pin and thereby set the functional pin to a reset state, and (3) a responding circuit coupled to the functional pin and configured to initiate a predetermined action when the functional pin is set to a reset state.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2009Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: Lineage Power CorporationInventors: Stephen C. Guthrie, Subarna Pal
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Patent number: 6882548Abstract: The present invention is directed to an auxiliary active clamp circuit and a method of clamping a voltage of a rectifier switch associated with a power converter. The power converter includes a main active clamp circuit associated with a main power switch coupled to a primary winding of a transformer and a rectifier switch coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer. The main power switch conducts during a main conduction period of the power converter and the rectifier switch conducts during an auxiliary conduction period of the power converter. In one embodiment, the auxiliary active clamp circuit includes an auxiliary clamp capacitor, coupled across the rectifier switch, that stores a clamping voltage substantially equal to an off-state voltage of the rectifier switch.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2003Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignee: Tyco Electronics Power Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark E. Jacobs, Subarna Pal, John F. Steel
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Patent number: 6822882Abstract: A gate driver and a method of driving a switch for use with a power converter having a main active clamp circuit associated with a main power switch coupled to a primary winding of a transformer and a rectifier switch coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer. The main power switch conducts during a main conduction period of the power converter and the rectifier switch conducts during an auxiliary conduction period of the power converter. In one embodiment, the gate driver includes a DC offset bias circuit, coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer, that provides a gate drive signal having a DC bias voltage to a gate terminal of the rectifier switch.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2003Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: Tyco Electronics Power Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark E. Jacobs, Subarna Pal, John F. Steel