Patents by Inventor Thierry Meynard

Thierry Meynard 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: 11581821
    Abstract: A power switching circuit including a first DC/DC converter having a first input configured to receive a first input DC voltage, a second DC/DC converter having a first input configured to receive a second input DC voltage, a DC/AC inverter having a first input coupled to the output of the first DC/DC converter and a second input coupled to the output of the second DC/DC converter, the DC/AC inverter including n (n>2) switching legs, and at least one controller coupled to the first DC/DC converter, the second DC/DC converter, and the DC/AC inverter, the at least one controller configured to operate the DC/AC inverter to provide n AC signals to at least one load coupled to the DC/AC inverter by operating two of the n switching legs in a static state and n?2 of the n switching legs in a transition state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kepa Odriozola Sagasta, Thierry Meynard, Alain Lacarnoy
  • Publication number: 20200389099
    Abstract: A power switching circuit including a first DC/DC converter having a first input configured to receive a first input DC voltage, a second DC/DC converter having a first input configured to receive a second input DC voltage, a DC/AC inverter having a first input coupled to the output of the first DC/DC converter and a second input coupled to the output of the second DC/DC converter, the DC/AC inverter including n (n>2) switching legs, and at least one controller coupled to the first DC/DC converter, the second DC/DC converter, and the DC/AC inverter, the at least one controller configured to operate the DC/AC inverter to provide n AC signals to at least one load coupled to the DC/AC inverter by operating two of the n switching legs in a static state and n?2 of the n switching legs in a transition state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Kepa Odriozola Sagasta, Thierry Meynard, Alain Lacarnoy
  • Patent number: 10574130
    Abstract: An electric power converter includes a plurality of branches of switch units. A first stage, a second stage and a third stage of the converter are connected in series. The first stage includes first positive and negative branches, which are connected between a first output node and two first input nodes. The second stage includes three input nodes and positive and negative cells, each connected between a first input node and two second input nodes. The third stage includes third positive intermediate and negative branches, connected between the three second input nodes and three third input nodes. Capacitors are connected between the three second input nodes and between the three third input nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC ASI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Guillaume Gateau, Thierry Meynard, Gianluca Postiglione, Giovanni Borghetti, Daniele Falchi
  • Publication number: 20190363627
    Abstract: An electric power converter includes a plurality of branches of switch units. A first stage, a second stage and a third stage of the converter are connected in series. The first stage includes first positive and negative branches, which are connected between a first output node and two first input nodes. The second stage includes three input nodes and positive and negative cells, each connected between a first input node and two second input nodes. The third stage includes third positive intermediate and negative branches, connected between the three second input nodes and three third input nodes. Capacitors are connected between the three second input nodes and between the three third input nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Guillaume GATEAU, Thierry MEYNARD, Gianluca POSTIGLIONE, Giovanni BORGHETTI, Daniele FALCHI
  • Patent number: 8564238
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device having a polyphase electrical machine, wherein a plurality of inverters (36, 37, 38), which are controlled by an interlaced control modulated by pulse width to an identical cutoff frequency, provide, on the phase outputs thereof, an alternating voltage signal having an identical fundamental frequency, amplitude and phase to an electrical machine (2) that comprises at least two separate so-called star windings (33, 34, 35), each star winding being supplied by a related inverter, each phase output of which is connected to a phase circuit that includes the phase winding of the star winding, the device being characterized in that each phase circuit for a star winding has a negative mutual inductance with the homologous phase circuit of another star winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignees: Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.)
    Inventors: Thierry Meynard, Anne-Marie Lienhardt, Vincent Devanneaux, Pierre Brodeau, Regis Ruelland, Jean-Pierre Carayon
  • Patent number: 8467206
    Abstract: A power rectifying circuit for an electric current signal supplied by an alternating power source, which includes: two separate switching assemblies adapted to be connected to a power terminal of the source, wherein at least one switching assembly includes a plurality of boost cells in cascade, each boost cell including a diode, a switch mechanism and a capacitor, the capacitors of the two terminal boost cells of the switching assemblies having one terminal in common. The circuit may include two assemblies of boost cells, and can be used in electric systems onboard aircrafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignees: Airbus Operations S.A.S., Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse
    Inventors: Marcelo Fernando Iturriz, Frederic Richardeau, Thierry Meynard, Hassan Helali
  • Patent number: 8026484
    Abstract: Optical device comprising: a spatial filter means for eliminating, from the light rays emanating from an observed scene those coming from a direction or restricted range of directions in space, while letting through most of the light rays coming from said scene; means for varying the direction or the restricted range of directions in space in correspondence with which the spatial filter means eliminates said light rays; a spectral dispersion means for imparting to the light rays coming from said spatial filter means a deviation that is dependent on their wavelength; and an image detector for recording the light rays dispersed by said spectral dispersion means, each point on said image detector receiving light rays coming from said scene and having a different wavelength depending on the direction in space from which they come.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: SC SPIM
    Inventors: Thierry Meynard, Yves Guern, François Carpentier
  • Publication number: 20110002148
    Abstract: A power rectifying circuit for an electric current signal supplied by an alternating power source, which includes: two separate switching assemblies adapted to be connected to a power terminal of the source, wherein at least one switching assembly includes a plurality of boost cells in cascade, each boost cell including a diode, a switch mechanism and a capacitor, the capacitors of the two terminal boost cells of the switching assemblies having one terminal in common. The circuit may include two assemblies of boost cells, and can be used in electric systems onboard aircrafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicants: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS), CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENT. (CNRS), INSTITUT NAT. POLYTECHNIQUE DE TOULOUSE (I.N.P.T.)
    Inventors: Marcelo Fernando Iturriz, Frederic Richardeau, Thierry Meynard, Hassan Helali
  • Publication number: 20090251686
    Abstract: Optical device comprising: a spatial filter means for eliminating, from the light rays emanating from an observed scene those coming from a direction or restricted range of directions in space, while letting through most of the light rays coming from said scene; means for varying the direction or the restricted range of directions in space in correspondence with which the spatial filter means eliminates said light rays; a spectral dispersion means for imparting to the light rays coming from said spatial filter means a deviation that is dependent on their wavelength; and an image detector for recording the light rays dispersed by said spectral dispersion means, each point on said image detector receiving light rays coming from said scene and having a different wavelength depending on the direction in space from which they come.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Thierry Meynard, Yves Guern, François Carpentier
  • Patent number: 7292460
    Abstract: A converter circuit is specified for switching a large number of switching voltage levels, which has n first switching groups for each phase, with the n-th first switching group being formed by a first power semiconductor switch and a second power semiconductor switch, and with the first first switching group to the-th switching group each being formed by a first power semiconductor switch and a second power semiconductor switch and by a capacitor, which is connected to the first and second power semiconductor switches, with each of the n first switching groups being connected in series to the respectively adjacent first switching group, and with the first and the second power semiconductor switches in the first first switching group being connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Barbosa, Jürgen Steinke, Peter Steimer, Luc Meysenc, Thierry Meynard
  • Publication number: 20070025126
    Abstract: A converter circuit is specified for switching a large number of switching voltage levels, which has n first switching groups for each phase, with the n-th first switching group being formed by a first power semiconductor switch and a second power semiconductor switch, and with the first first switching group to the-th switching group each being formed by a first power semiconductor switch and a second power semiconductor switch and by a capacitor, which is connected to the first and second power semiconductor switches, with each of the n first switching groups being connected in series to the respectively adjacent first switching group, and with the first and the second power semiconductor switches in the first first switching group being connected to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD.,
    Inventors: Peter Barbosa, Jurgen Steinke, Peter Steimer, Luc Meysend, Thierry Meynard
  • Patent number: 6885569
    Abstract: Device for reversible conversion of electric power capable of being connected between at least an input alternating voltage source and at least a load forming an output alternating current source, each input alternating voltage source having a supply terminal and a neutral terminal. The device comprises at least a switching block and includes an input terminal for connecting the supply terminal, a single reference terminal and an output terminal. Each switching block consists of a switching matrix formed of capacitors and switching cells, individually controlled. Each reference terminal is connected to a reference point other than the neutral terminal, and each block comprises elements for permanently maintaining at a constant or null sign the difference of potential between the first input terminal and the reference terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.), C.I.R.T.E.M., Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse
    Inventors: Thierry Meynard, Elie Lefeuvre
  • Patent number: 6879503
    Abstract: A cutting device for reversibly converting electric power between an alternating voltage source and an alternative current source, comprises switching cells each comprising first and second switches unidirectional in voltage and bidirectional in current. A first group of switches consists of the first switches of the switching cells connected in series between a first terminal of the voltage source and a first terminal of the current source, and a second group of switches consists of the second switches of the switching cells connected in series beween a second terminal of the voltage source and the first terminal of the current source, the unidirectional characteristics in voltage of the first and second switches belonging to a first half of the cells being respectively opposed to those of the first and second switches belonging to a second half of the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.), C.I.R.T.E.M., Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse
    Inventors: Thierry Meynard, Elie Lefeuvre
  • Publication number: 20040257843
    Abstract: Device for reversible conversion of electric power capable of being connected between at least an input alternating voltage source and at least a load forming an output alternating current source, each input alternating voltage source having a supply terminal and a neutral terminal. The device comprises at least a switching block and includes an input terminal for connecting the supply terminal, a single reference terminal and an output terminal. Each switching block consists of a switching matrix formed of capacitors and switching cells, individually controlled. Each reference terminal is connected to a reference point other than the neutral terminal, and each block comprises elements for permanently maintaining at a constant or null sign the difference of potential between the first input terminal and the reference terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Thierry Meynard, Elle Lefeuvre
  • Publication number: 20040037101
    Abstract: The invention concerns a cutting device for reversibly converting electric power between an alternating voltage source (2) and an alternative current source (4), comprising switching cells (61, , 62n) each comprising first (81, , 82n) and second (101, , 102n) switches unidirectional in voltage and bidirectional in current. A first group of switches consists of the first switches (81, , 82n) of the switching cells connected in series between a first terminal (14) of the voltage source (2) and a first terminal (12) of the current source (4), and a second group of switches consists of the second switches (101, , 102n) of the switching cells connected in series between a second terminal (16) of the voltage source (2) and the first terminal (12) of the current source (4), the unidirectional characteristics in voltage of the first and second switches belonging to a first half of the cells being respectively opposed to those of the first and second switches belonging to a second half of the cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Thierry Meynard, Elie Lefeuvre
  • Patent number: 6262904
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for controlling a static converter (1) associated with a polyphased electrical source (2) which consists in generating synchronizing times t(i) defined by a periodic clock T; measuring at least a value representing the state of the electrical source; computing from the measured values at least a control value {dot over (c)}(t) and its derivative c(t), and the value cp (t(i)+T) which each control value would have at the following synchronizing time t(i)+T, for the static converter configuration at time t(i); comparing each control value cp (t(i)+T) to a set value; determining said static converter configuration enabling to minimize the difference between each control value and the set value corresponding to the following synchronizing time t(i)+T; computing the derivative at time t(i)+T of a privileged control value, corresponding to the configuration Cc(t(i)+T) at time t(i)+T; determining the switching time t(i)+tcom between these times t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.)
    Inventors: Thierry Meynard, Xavier Roboam, Carlos de Almeida Martins
  • Patent number: 5969960
    Abstract: A multilevel converter including, in particular, a voltage source, a current source, and a capacitor for each of its cells, and a controller. The controller evaluates any current difference between an observed current through the current source and a current requested by the current source. The controller also includes ON-time controller for taking into account the current difference, if any, and altering accordingly a duration of the first conduction state of all of the cells in the converter in a direction suitable for reducing the current difference. The controller also maintains all of the floating capacitors at their equilibrium voltage values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Olivier Tachon, Maurice Fadel, Thierry Meynard, Philippe Carrere
  • Patent number: 5940285
    Abstract: A multilevel converter including, in particular, a capacitor for each of its cells, and control means comprising means for evaluating the mean voltage across the terminals of each of the capacitors, means for measuring any difference on each of said capacitors between the evaluated mean charge voltage and the nominal mean charge voltage of the capacitor, and additional control means changing the time positions of the converter control signals in a direction such that the measured difference is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom Transport SA
    Inventors: Philippe Carrere, Jean-Paul Lavieville, Thierry Meynard, Jean-Luc Thomas
  • Patent number: 5737201
    Abstract: This invention relates to an electronic device for the conversion of electric energy between a voltage source E and a current source J. This device is comprised of cascaded switching cells (CL.sub.k) each having two switches (I.sub.Ak, I.sub.Bk) and comprising capacitors (C.sub.k) associated with the cells for distributing the voltage of the source over the switches, and control logics (LG.sub.k) which condition the exchanges of energy and are synchronized for limiting the voltage supported by each switch to a fraction (V/n) of the supply voltage, for limiting the ripple amplitude of the voltage of the output to the same fraction V/n and for conferring on this ripple voltage a frequency (nF) which is a multiple of the switching frequency (F) of the switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventors: Thierry Meynard, Henri Foch
  • Patent number: 5726870
    Abstract: A multilevel converter comprising, in particular, one capacitor (C1, C2, . . . , Cn) and two switches (T1, T'1; for example) in each of its cells. The cells operate successively in a period that repeats at a converter frequency. In parallel with the load (C), a filter circuit (CF) is provided to dissipate the energy of any component having a fundamental frequency that corresponds to said converter period. The filter comprises one or more RLC type series circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom Transport SA
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Lavieville, Olivier Bethoux, Philippe Carrere, Thierry Meynard