Patents by Inventor Wilfried Groote

Wilfried Groote 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: 8854846
    Abstract: When determining a fault current portion IF in a differential current idiff(t) measured by an inverter, an AC voltage uAC(t) applied to an AC output of the inverter is measured and a periodic reference function y(t) of alternating sign is generated as a function of the measured AC voltage uAC(t) in order to determine an AC fault current portion IFAC in the differential current idiff(t). The differential current idiff(t) is multiplied by the periodic reference function y(t), and the product of the differential current idiff(t) and the reference function (y(t)) is averaged over an integral number of periods of the reference function y(t). The reference function y(t), at least for one operating state of the inverter, is generated with a predefined phase offset with respect to the measured AC voltage uAC(t) and/or with a frequency which is an integer multiple of the frequency of the measured AC voltage uAC(t).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Alexander Nuss, Christian Bode, Wilfried Groote
  • Publication number: 20140043880
    Abstract: When determining a fault current portion IF in a differential current idiff(t) measured by an inverter, an AC voltage uAC(t) applied to an AC output of the inverter is measured and a periodic reference function y(t) of alternating sign is generated as a function of the measured AC voltage uAC(t) in order to determine an AC fault current portion IFAC in the differential current idiff(t). The differential current idiff(t) is multiplied by the periodic reference function y(t), and the product of the differential current idiff(t) and the reference function (y(t)) is averaged over an integral number of periods of the reference function y(t). The reference function y(t), at least for one operating state of the inverter, is generated with a predefined phase offset with respect to the measured AC voltage uAC(t) and/or with a frequency which is an integer multiple of the frequency of the measured AC voltage uAC(t).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Alexander Nuss, Christian Bode, Wilfried Groote
  • Patent number: 8362658
    Abstract: A method for determining a load capability of a direct current (“DC”) voltage source connectable to an alternating current (“AC”) power grid having a predetermined frequency via an inverter and a grid disconnect switch includes controlling, while the grid disconnect switch is in an open position, the inverter so as to convert a DC input voltage to a test frequency different than the predetermined frequency of the AC power grid so as to increase a test load acting on the DC voltage source above an internal consumption of the inverter at the predetermined frequency. The DC input voltage is measured while the grid disconnect switch is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Alexander Ahlborn, Wilfried Groote, Wolfgang Reichenbaecher
  • Publication number: 20100127576
    Abstract: A method for determining a load capability of a direct current (“DC”) voltage source connectable to an alternating current (“AC”) power grid having a predetermined frequency via an inverter and a grid disconnect switch includes controlling, while the grid disconnect switch is in an open position, the inverter so as to convert a DC input voltage to a test frequency different than the predetermined frequency of the AC power grid so as to increase a test load acting on the DC voltage source above an internal consumption of the inverter at the predetermined frequency. The DC input voltage is measured while the grid disconnect switch is in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: SMA SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Alexander Ahlborn, Wilfried Groote, Wolfgang Reichenbaecher
  • Patent number: 7576449
    Abstract: A method of converting a direct voltage generated by a decentralized power supply system into three-phase alternating voltage by means of a plurality of single-phase inverters (WR1-WR3), said alternating voltage being provided for supplying an electric mains, is intended to avoid inadmissible load unbalances using single-phase inverters. This is achieved in that, upon failure of one inverter (WR1-WR3), an asymmetrical power supply distribution is reduced by limiting the output of the other inverters. The method makes it possible to simplify three-phase voltage monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Holger Becker, Günther Cramer, Sven Bremicker, Thorsten Dingel, Bernd Engel, Wilfried Groote, Frank Greizer, Ralf Joachim Laschinski, Matthias Victor, Torben Westphal
  • Publication number: 20070179720
    Abstract: A method of converting a direct voltage generated by a decentralized power supply system into three-phase alternating voltage by means of a plurality of single-phase inverters (WR1-WR3), said alternating voltage being provided for supplying an electric mains, is intended to avoid inadmissible load unbalances using single-phase inverters. This is achieved in that, upon failure of one inverter (WR1-WR3), an asymmetrical power supply distribution is reduced by limiting the output of the other inverters. The method makes it possible to simplify three-phase voltage monitoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: SMA Technologie AG
    Inventors: Holger Becker, Gunther Cramer, Sven Bremicker, Thorsten Dingel, Bernd Engel, Wilfried Groote, Frank Greizer, Joachim Laschinski, Matthias Victor, Torben Westphal
  • Patent number: RE44901
    Abstract: A method of converting a direct voltage generated by a decentralized power supply system into three-phase alternating voltage by means of a plurality of single-phase inverters (WR1-WR3), said alternating voltage being provided for supplying an electric mains, is intended to avoid inadmissible load unbalances using single-phase inverters. This is achieved in that, upon failure of one inverter (WR1-WR3), an asymmetrical power supply distribution is reduced by limiting the output of the other inverters. The method makes it possible to simplify three-phase voltage monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Holger Becker, Guenther Cramer, Sven Bremicker, Thorsten Dingel, Bernd Engel, Wilfried Groote, Frank Greizer, Ralf Joachim Laschinski, Matthias Victor, Torben Westphal