Plural Inverters Patents (Class 363/71)
  • Patent number: 11322937
    Abstract: A power supply device with improved current balancing mechanism includes a power supply module, and a current detecting module detecting the output current to generate a sample voltage. A compensation voltage is provided that is in superposition with the sample voltage to synthesizes a corrected sample voltage, and a current mirror unit receives the corrected sample voltage at a first end. A positive input end of a comparator unit is connected to a second end of the current mirror unit, and is connected to the first end through a voltage divider, while the comparator unit outputs the current share voltage under negative feedback control. The current share output is corrected by compensating the sampling voltage and reflecting it by a current mirror with a certain ratio, the inconvenience of manually adjusting variable resistor, or the problem of temperature influenced BJT and MOSFET, or phase delay of digital sampling is solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Acbel Polytech Inc.
    Inventor: Chia-Chih Hsiang
  • Patent number: 11289995
    Abstract: A method for generating an alternating electric current is provided. The method includes generating a plurality of component currents, superposing the component currents to form a summation current. Each component current is modulated by voltage pulses and the voltage pulses for each component current are generated by a component switching device by virtue of the component switching device generating the voltage pulses by switching between different input voltages. The method includes specifying a tolerance band for the summation current having an upper and a lower tolerance limit, where the summation current is detected and the switching of each component switching means is controlled to generate the voltage pulses for modulating the component current depending on the detected summation current with respect to the tolerance band. The plurality of component switching devices are switched at least partly or predominantly in a manner asynchronous with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Albrecht Gensior
  • Patent number: 11289910
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting an impedance of a power conditioning unit (PCU). In one embodiment, the method comprises applying a disturbance to a virtual AC voltage produced by a power conditioning unit (PCU) that is coupled to a power grid, where the disturbance has a first phase; measuring a second phase of the applied disturbance on the power grid; comparing the second phase of the applied disturbance to the first phase of the disturbance; and adjusting, when the second phase differs from the first phase by more than a threshold amount, an impedance of the PCU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Richard Zimmanck
  • Patent number: 11283368
    Abstract: An open phase detection system for a power conversion system includes a phase difference abnormality detection unit, an amplitude difference abnormality detection unit, and an open phase determination unit. The phase difference abnormality detection unit outputs a phase difference abnormality signal when an absolute value of a phase difference between a current flowing through a reactor and a current flowing through a capacitor is equal to or smaller than a phase threshold value. The amplitude difference abnormality detection unit outputs an amplitude difference abnormality signal when an absolute value of a value based on an amplitude difference between the current flowing through the reactor and the current flowing through the capacitor is equal to or smaller than an amplitude threshold value. The open phase determination unit outputs an open phase signal when receiving inputs of both the phase difference abnormality signal and amplitude difference abnormality signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenta Yamabe, Yoshihiro Tawada, Tomoya Katsukura
  • Patent number: 11271508
    Abstract: In a power converter, a first single-phase AC conversion unit, which is connected to a first line of a first phase and a second line of a second phase of a first three-phase AC, a second single-phase AC conversion unit, which is connected to the second line of the second phase and a third line of a third phase of the first three-phase AC, and a third single-phase AC conversion unit, which is connected to the third line of the third phase and the first line of the first phase of the first three-phase AC, form a delta-connected load for an AC power supply system. At least the first single-phase AC conversion unit, the second single-phase AC conversion unit, and the third single-phase AC conversion unit form a first set in which respective output terminals are connected in series to one another, and the first set, and a second set and a third set, which are different from the first set, form each phase of a star connected power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto Niimura, Teruo Yoshino
  • Patent number: 11223287
    Abstract: A resonant DC-DC converter includes an inverter circuit, a rectifier circuit and a transformer unit. The inverter circuit is connected to a first terminal of the transformer unit, and the rectifier circuit is connected to a second terminal of the transformer unit. The first and second terminals are galvanically isolated from one another by a first transformer. The transformer unit is configured to adapt a transformation ratio of the transformer unit. The transformer unit has an energy transmission path which includes an inverter and a second transformer, with an input of the energy transmission path being arranged parallel to a primary side of the first transformer and an output of the energy transmission path being arranged in series with the secondary side of the first transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Martin Hergt, Marcel Lutze, Sebastian Nielebock, Markus Pfeifer, Markus Zocher
  • Patent number: 11205946
    Abstract: A photovoltaic power generation system, having a photovoltaic panel, which has a direct current (DC) output and a micro-inverter with input terminals and output terminals. The input terminals are adapted for connection to the DC output. The micro-inverter is configured for converting an input DC power received at the input terminals to an output alternating current (AC) power at the output terminals. A bypass current path between the output terminals may be adapted for passing current produced externally to the micro-inverter. The micro-inverter is configured to output an alternating current voltage significantly less than a grid voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ilan Yoscovich, Meir Gazit, Tzachi Glovinsky, Yoav Galin
  • Patent number: 11201563
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multilevel hysteresis current control for a cascaded multilevel converter having a plurality of power cells connected in series with a positive integer number of output voltage levels, and to control any shape of AC/DC current in the load, transfer electrical power from energy storage elements of the power cells to that load and recover the energy back to the storage elements. Systems and methods for voltage balancing on energy storage elements of the power cells to determine whether to inject energy into or extract energy from a selected storage element, and for zero switching state rotation technique of switching elements in each power cell of cascaded multilevel converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TAE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mikhail Slepchenkov
  • Patent number: 11167648
    Abstract: Modulated pulse control of electric machines to deliver a desired output in a more energy efficient manner by either (a) operating the electric machine in a continuous mode when a requested torque demand is greater than the peak efficiency torque of the electric machine or (b) in a pulsed modulation mode when the requested torque demand is less than the peak efficiency torque of the electric machine. When operating in the pulsed modulation mode, the inverter may be deactivated to further improve the system efficiency when field weakening is not required to mitigate or eliminate generation of a retarding torque in situations when Back Electromagnetic Force (BEMF) exceeds a supply voltage for the inverter of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Tula eTechnology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Carvell, Adya S. Tripathi
  • Patent number: 11146179
    Abstract: A device includes: a first power conversion circuitry configured to convert primary-side power into secondary-side power; and a control circuitry configured to: generate a command value associated with the secondary-side power; calculate a limited command value by modifying the command value so that the command value is equal to or less than a secondary-side limit, wherein the first power conversion circuitry is controlled based on the limited command value; transmit the limited command value to a second power conversion device comprising a second power conversion circuitry connected in parallel to the first power conversion circuitry; receive, from the second power conversion device, information indicating an adjustment value, wherein the adjustment value is added to the limited command value for controlling the second power conversion circuitry; and modify the secondary-side limit based on a difference between a primary-side limit associated with the primary-side power and the adjustment value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventors: Akira Yamazaki, Kentaro Inomata, Masato Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11133752
    Abstract: A modular multilevel converter with multi-port DC power flow control includes a modular multilevel converter topology and a DC power flow controller, wherein an input terminal of the DC power flow controller is connected in series to uppermost submodules of upper arms of the modular multilevel converter topology, and with power transfer and energy interaction between the modular multilevel converter topology and an AC power grid, a converter station or a solid state transformer based on the modular multilevel converter topology has a function of direct current power flow control. The output terminal of the DC power flow controller adopts DC/DC converters to regulate the output voltage, and a plurality of DC/DC converters share a common DC bus with the ports connected with different DC outlet lines, thereby providing a plurality of flexible and controllable DC ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SHANGHAI JIAO TONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jianwen Zhang, Weixin Fang, Jianqiao Zhou, Gang Shi, Han Wang, Xu Cai
  • Patent number: 11128212
    Abstract: Systems and methods for current ripple reduction for a direct current (DC) source powering an alternating current (AC) load. In accordance with one embodiment, the system and method involve interleaved operation of a 3×3-phase AC motor having multiple groups of windings. In accordance with another embodiment, the system and method involve interleaved operation of multiple co-shafted 3-phase AC motors. In accordance with a further embodiment, the system and method involve interleaved operation multiple 3-phase AC motors (not co-shafted) of the same level of power. The interleaved operation entails interleaved switching inside a set of inverters which are connected in parallel between a DC bus and the windings of the AC motor (motors).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Shengyi Liu, Eugene V. Solodovnik, Frederic Lacaux, Kamiar J. Karimi
  • Patent number: 11128142
    Abstract: The invention discloses a photovoltaic power generation system and a method for controlling the same. The photovoltaic power generation system comprises: an string of optimizing modules and an inverter, the string of optimizing modules comprises a plurality of optimizing modules each having an input port coupled to at least one photovoltaic module, output ports of the plurality of optimizing modules are connected in series, each of the optimizing modules comprises a control unit, an input port of the inverter is coupled to an output port of the string of optimizing modules, and the inverter comprises an auxiliary detection module for auxiliary detecting an output current of the string of optimizing modules, and the control unit controls an output voltage of the string of optimizing modules based on the output current of the string of optimizing modules, such that the output voltage satisfies a start-up condition of the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xuancai Zhu, Bingwen Weng, Qin Wang, Wei Zhao
  • Patent number: 11101681
    Abstract: A power converter arrangement, for feeding a plurality of energy stores of electrically driven vehicles has a transformer having a first multiphase winding and a plurality of second multiphase windings. The first winding is embodied to be connected to a power supply system, in particular to a medium-voltage power supply system, and the second windings are each connected to a first connection of an associated power converter. The invention also presents an installation having such a power converter arrangement, wherein the transformer is arranged in a weatherproof enclosure and at least a plurality of power converters form parts of respective charging stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SEMIKRON ELEKTRONIK GmbH & CO KG
    Inventor: Bernhard Kalkmann
  • Patent number: 11070145
    Abstract: Provided is a power conversion control method including: calculating a pre-switching pulse time being a time from a first conductive state switching timing being a conductive state switching timing of a second bridge circuit immediately before a predetermined carrier wave switching timing, to the carrier wave switching timing; calculating a post-switching pulse time being a time from the carrier wave switching timing to a second conductive state switching timing being an initial conductive state switching timing after the carrier wave switching timing; when a conductive state of the second bridge circuit is not switched at the carrier wave switching timing, determining that switching of the carrier wave is disabled when the sum of the pre-switching pulse time and the post-switching pulse time is less than a predetermined pulse time sum threshold value; and when the conductive state of the second bridge circuit is switched at the carrier wave switching timing, determining that the switching of the carrier wave
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sho Sato
  • Patent number: 11014602
    Abstract: A power conversion device may include a first inverter to which a first end of each phase winding of the electric motor is coupled; a second inverter to which a second end of each phase winding is coupled; a first phase isolation relay circuit structured to switch between connection and disconnection of the one end of each phase winding to and from the first inverter; and a first neutral point relay circuit to which the one end of each phase winding is coupled and which is structured to switch between connection and disconnection of the one end of each phase winding to and from the one end of each other phase winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Wada, Kaori Nabeshi
  • Patent number: 11011982
    Abstract: A power supply device includes battery circuit modules each having a battery, a first switching element S1 connected in parallel to the battery, and a second switching element S2 connected in series to the battery between the battery and the first switching element S1, the second switching element S2 being turned off when the first switching element S1 is turned on, a battery circuit module group in which the battery circuit modules are connected in series, and a control circuit for outputting, at intervals of a certain time, a gate signal for turning on and off the first switching element S1 and the second switching element S2 to the battery circuit modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Shigeaki Goto, Keisuke Ishikawa, Shuji Tomura, Naoki Yanagizawa
  • Patent number: 10985606
    Abstract: A power supply system disclosed here is connected to an electric power system through a distribution device. The power supply system includes a plurality of strings connected to the distribution device and a failure detector. The failure detector of the power supply system is configured to perform a first process of connecting at least one battery module to a main line to set a voltage detected by a string voltage detector at a voltage higher than a predetermined voltage in a state where a switch disconnects the distribution device and the main line, a second process of sending a disconnecting signal for disconnecting all the sweep modules from the main line, and a third process of determining whether the voltage detected by the string voltage detector is lower than the predetermined determination voltage or not after the second process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Juni Yasoshima, Junta Izumi, Kenji Kimura, Toshihiro Katsuda, Kohei Matsuura, Junichi Matsumoto, Shuji Tomura, Shigeaki Goto, Naoki Yanagizawa, Kyosuke Tanemura, Kazuo Ootsuka, Takayuki Ban, Hironobu Nishi
  • Patent number: 10972006
    Abstract: A power supply device includes battery circuit modules each having a battery, a first switching element S1 connected in parallel to the battery, and a second switching element S2 connected in series to the battery between the battery and the first switching element S1, the second switching element S2 being turned off when the first switching element S1 is turned on, a battery circuit module group in which the battery circuit modules are connected in series, and a control circuit for outputting, at intervals of a certain time, a gate signal for turning on and off the first switching element S1 and the second switching element S2 to the battery circuit modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Shigeaki Goto, Keisuke Ishikawa, Shuji Tomura, Naoki Yanagizawa
  • Patent number: 10968878
    Abstract: Circuits and methods to control a current in a coil are disclosed. The circuit and methods provide over-dwell protection and soft shut-down functionality to safely discharge the coil. The safe discharge of the coil is facilitated by a soft-start ramp signal that reduces the coil current gradually by controlling a switching device according. A profile of the soft-start ramp signal over time determines the gradual reduction. The profile of the soft-start ramp signal can be adjusted to set (i) an over-dwell period of the coil current, after which the coil current is shut down, and (ii) a soft shut-down period, over which the coil current is gradually reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Mikio Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 10958189
    Abstract: A control unit activates a power supply circuit when an input voltage becomes equal to or greater than a first threshold value. The control unit brings a switch into a conductive state when the input voltage becomes equal to or greater than a second threshold value and brings the switch into a non-conductive state when the input voltage becomes equal to or less than a third threshold value. The control unit deactivates the power supply circuit when the input voltage becomes equal to or less than a fourth threshold value. Based on the number of times that the input voltage becomes equal to or greater than the second threshold value after the power supply circuit is activated, the control unit further enables a latch function for holding the power supply circuit in a deactivated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jumpei Isozaki, Taichiro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 10958210
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) for energy harvesting is provided. The IC includes a voltage converter for converting an input power into an output power and a power point tracker for determining a target voltage for regulating the input voltage of the voltage converter. The IC includes an interface circuit to exchange information between the controller of the IC and one or more additional IC's for energy harvesting. The controller of the IC is configured to enable switching to a normal operating state on condition that a trigger signal from the interface circuit changes from a first reference value to a second reference value. The controller is further configured for outputting a status signal to the interface circuit wherein the status signal indicates if the power point tracker is enabled or disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: E-PEAS S.A.
    Inventors: Julien De Vos, Geoffroy Gosset, Cedric Hocquet
  • Patent number: 10951125
    Abstract: A power conversion system that has two power conversion apparatuses each including a converter that can control a DC voltage and an inverter and that drives the AC motor by connecting the outputs of the two inverters in parallel is provided. The output voltage of one of the converters is controlled according to the difference between the detection currents detected by the two current detectors for detecting the output currents of the two inverters so that a cross current flowing through the two inverters is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Tobayashi, Hiromitsu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10924018
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tracking energy consumption. An energy tracking system comprises at least one switching element, at least one inductor and a control block to keep the output voltage at a pre-selected level. The switching elements are configured to apply the source of energy to the inductors. The control block compares the output voltage of the energy tracking system to a reference value and controls the switching of the switched elements in order to transfer energy for the primary voltage into a secondary voltage at the output of the energy tracking system. The electronic device further comprises an ON-time and OFF-time generator and an accumulator wherein the control block is coupled to receive a signal from the ON-time and OFF-time generator and generates switching signals for the at least one switching element in the form of ON-time pulses with a constant width ON-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Horst Diewald, Johann Zipperer, Peter Weber, Anton Brauchle
  • Patent number: 10886741
    Abstract: Methods for damping oscillations in a high voltage power grid, including power distribution and supply systems by distributing a plurality of voltage/impedance injection modules to inject voltages/impedances onto high voltage power transmission lines of the power grid, sensing power oscillations on the high voltage transmission lines, extracting the dominant oscillatory mode or modes of sensed power oscillations on the high voltage transmission lines, and injecting voltages/impedances responsive to at least the most dominant oscillatory mode onto the respective high voltage transmission lines to counteract the respective oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Smart Wires Inc.
    Inventors: Govind Chavan, Haroon Inam
  • Patent number: 10886874
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, John Peurach
  • Patent number: 10879716
    Abstract: A charging method, a charging system and an electronic device are provided. The charging method includes the following steps: An inputting current limit is set. An inputting current of at least one charger is measured. A power source voltage of a power source is adjusted until a current difference between the inputting current and the inputting current limit is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Yuan Hsu, Shih-Ming Chen, Chi-Ming Lee
  • Patent number: 10848050
    Abstract: A power system includes at least one power unit, and each power unit has a direct current power source comprising at least two photovoltaic modules connected in series, each module having a positive and a negative output terminal, and a distributed inverter consisting of and an associated transistor switches connected to either the positive or negative output terminal of the at least two photovoltaic modules, and an alternating current power output. A power system has at least two power units, and each power unit has a direct current power source of at least one photovoltaic modules, and at least two transistor switches, wherein each power unit produces one polarity of voltage, used for generating alternating current power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Todd Karin
  • Patent number: 10833603
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method of controlling a three-phase paralleled passive front-end drive connectable to a three phase alternating current power source. The method includes connecting a coupling reactance to the rectifier bridge, the coupling reactance configured to transfer power from the rectifier to a first direct current (DC) bus, coupling the first DC bus to a second DC bus, and connecting a first inverter to the first DC bus and connecting a second inverter to the second DC bus. The method also includes connecting a first controller to the first inverter and the second inverter, the first controller configured to generate control signals to cause the first inverter and the second inverter to generate a plurality of motor excitation signals respectively, and combining the plurality of motor excitation signals from the first inverter with the plurality of motor excitation signals from the second inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ismail Agirman
  • Patent number: 10734919
    Abstract: An electric transformer circuit for connecting electrical equipment, such as a renewable energy-based generator or an energy storage system, to an electric grid. The circuit includes a first voltage converter connected to the equipment; a transformer connected to the first converter and a second voltage converter connected to the transformer and the electric grid. The transformer is a weakly coupled transformer, the magnetic coupling between the first coil and the second coil being less than 0.7. The transformer includes a first and second capacitor respectively associated with a first and second coil so as to form, with the corresponding coil, a circuit resonating at frequency f0. The electric transformer circuit can be included in an electric installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventor: Yann Herriot
  • Patent number: 10720844
    Abstract: A power supply control device for supplying electricity to a plurality of loads includes: a plurality of synchronous rectification type DC-DC converters, each regulating and supplying the power source to the load; a plurality of reference voltage circuits, each outputting a reference voltage; a common reference voltage circuit outputting a common reference voltage; a plurality of comparison circuits, each outputting a signal that corresponds to the difference between a feedback voltage, which is a fraction of the output voltage from the DC-DC converter, and the reference voltage or the common reference voltage; and a common reference voltage circuit controller controlling the common reference voltage circuit so that the common reference voltage falls when the input to the comparison circuit is switched from the reference voltage to the common reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10651656
    Abstract: A control system and method include a control strategy and a UDE (Uncertainty and Disturbance Estimator)-based controller incorporated into the control strategy to achieve proportional load sharing for parallel-operated inverters. The UDE-based controller regulates the reactive power against the output generated by a reactive power reference unit according to the load voltage to generate the amplitude of the control voltage. The conventional droop method regulates real power to generate the phase of the control voltage. As a result, the model uncertainties (e.g., parameter drifts and uncertain output impedance), and system disturbances (e.g., fluctuating DC-link voltage and load change) can be estimated and compensated for accurate load sharing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Beibei Ren, Yeqin Wang, Qing-Chang Zhong
  • Patent number: 10622913
    Abstract: A modular cell for a phase leg of a Modular Multilevel power Converter (MMC) is disclosed. The cell includes a power storing device, a plurality of semiconductor switches, a cell controller, and a current sensor. The current sensor is connected between a current conducting line in the cell and the cell controller for measuring a current through the cell and signaling information about the measured current to the cell controller. The cell controller includes an optical communication interface and is configured for forwarding the information about the measured current to a higher level controller over the optical communication interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Beat Buchmann, Simon Herold
  • Patent number: 10608752
    Abstract: A modular multilevel converter has a plurality of sub-modules, each of which includes at least two electronic switching elements and an electrical energy storage device. The sub-modules are controlled by a control device. An optical output of the control device of the converter is connected to an input of an optical distributor by way of a first optical waveguide. A plurality of outputs of the optical distributor are individually connected to an optical input of one of the sub-modules, respectively, by way of a second optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rodrigo Alonso Alvarez Valenzuela, Joerg Dorn, Dominik Ergin, Herbert Gambach, Martin Pieschel, Frank Schremmer
  • Patent number: 10566894
    Abstract: A three-phase alternating-current power supply compatible electrically driven hoisting machine having a three-phase alternating-current input terminal, a three-phase rectifier circuit, a direct-current circuit, an inverter, and a three-phase alternating-current motor is changed into a single-phase alternating-current power supply compatible electrically driven hoisting machine by attaching a single-phase AC-DC converter unit having a single-phase alternating-current input terminal, a single-phase AC-DC converter, and a direct-current circuit to the three-phase alternating-current power supply compatible electrically driven hoisting machine and connecting the P and N electrodes of a direct-current output terminal of the single-phase AC-DC converter unit to the P and N electrodes of the direct-current circuit, respectively, and further open-circuiting the three-phase alternating-current input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: KITO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadashi Yamano
  • Patent number: 10536001
    Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes photovoltaic cells, inverters, a reduced electricity output state determiner which determines whether each of the photovoltaic cells is in a reduced electricity output state, a first command value generator which generates a first command value for decreasing a first power factor of a first inverter determined as in the reduced electricity output state, a second command value generator which generates a second command value for increasing a second power factor of at least one of second inverters so as to compensate for output power of the first inverter, and a controller which controls the inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Matsuoka, Tatsuaki Ambo, Naoki Fujiwara, Paul Bixel, Ryuta Saka
  • Patent number: 10516271
    Abstract: A single-phase Energy Utilization Tracker (EUT) inverter that comprises two DC/AC conversion modules. At any time, the two modules combined can sequentially extract and convert most the power provided by a DC energy source into two AC power (voltage) trains. The first AC power (voltage) train conforms to the power grid convention; while the second AC power train has a 90 degree phase difference to the specific power line pair. In according to the principle described herein, this single-phase EUT inverter further comprising a phase adjuster to adjust the phase of the second AC power (voltage) train by 90 degrees to become synchronous with the first AC power train; both AC power trains being then suitable to deliver into the same power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: LT LIGHTING (TAIWAN) CORP.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Wen-Tai Shuy
  • Patent number: 10483889
    Abstract: A frequency of an AC voltage of an AC grid present at a genset is defined by an UPS. The frequency is altered in one direction away from a desired frequency, if a power demand increases beyond a power supply in the AC grid, and in the other direction, if the power demand falls below the power supply. An alteration of the frequency in the one direction is limited to a maximum value in that missing power is temporarily fed out of an energy storage of the UPS into the AC grid. A shift of the frequency in the one direction is kept until no more power flows out of the energy storage. The genset responds to deviations of the frequency of the AC voltage from the desired frequency in the one and the other direction by an increase and a decrease of supplied genset power, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: PILLER GROUP GMBH
    Inventor: Frank Herbener
  • Patent number: 10431989
    Abstract: A low voltage, low frequency multi-level power converter capable of power conversion is disclosed. The power converter may include a low voltage, low frequency circuit that includes a plurality of phase-shifting inverters in series; a plurality of low voltage source inputs, and a plurality of phase-shifting inverters in series. Each of the plurality of phase-shifting inverters may be configured to receive at least one of the plurality of low voltage source inputs; and generate at least one square wave output. A semi-sine wave output may be derived from the generated at least one square wave output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: JABIL INC.
    Inventors: Salman Talebi Rafsanjan, David Michael Eckerson
  • Patent number: 10411758
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a drive control system is provided that includes a transmitting apparatus and a plurality of drive control apparatuses and drives and controls a plurality of devices to be controlled, wherein the transmitting apparatus includes: a control information addition apparatus that frequency-multiplexes a plurality of control signals, and an electric wire that supplies power and the plurality of control signals to the plurality of drive control apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: OSAKA CITY UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Hiroaki Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 10396683
    Abstract: A Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) includes multiple sub-modules connected in series with each other and a controller for controlling on/off switching of the sub-modules, in which the multiple sub-modules include N sub-modules that participate in the operation of the MMC and M redundant sub-modules for replacing at least one N sub-modules when the at least one N sub-modules fail, and the controller switches on a sub-module if a carrier signal assigned thereto is higher than a preset reference signal, and switches off the sub-module if the carrier signal assigned thereto is lower than the preset reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: HYOSUNG HEAVY INDSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hong-Ju Jung, Jong-Yun Choi, June-Sung Kim, Jung-Soo Park, Doo-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 10381950
    Abstract: A wireless charger for an electric vehicle and a resonant inverter comprising a resonant portion that serially connects to a phase shifting portion and serially connects with a load component and a method for controlling a resonant inverter having multiple phase shifts, comprising operating the frequency of the resonant inverter close to the resonant frequency of the inverter through the full operation range of the resonant inverter; and adjusting phase shifts to control the output power of the resonant inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Mariusz Bojarski, Dariusz Czarkowski, Francisco De Leon
  • Patent number: 10374531
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is not only to reduce ripple current but also to improve operation efficiency by reducing heat generation. When n is defined as an integer of 2 or more, a motor control device of the present invention drives n sets of windings by n sets of inverters. The motor control device is characterized in that when said n sets of inverters output high power, at least one or more of said n sets of inverters are set to have an output duty cycle of 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Kanekawa, Ryoichi Kobayashi, Tomonobu Koseki, Takuro Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 10348217
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed with multiple direct current (DC) voltage source inverters to supply power to an alternating current (AC) power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Milan Ilic, Mika Nuotio
  • Patent number: 10340699
    Abstract: [Problem] It is intended to provide a system, a related method and a minimum current detection and control system for, even when partial shading occurs in a string composed of a series connection of a plurality of solar cell modules, maintaining an output current of the whole. [Solution] By inputting an output voltage of the string into an inverter to convert the output voltage into an AC voltage and applying the AC voltage to the string via a multi-stage voltage multiplier rectification circuit, a compensation current is supplied to a shaded module on a priority basis to maintain an output current of the whole string while lowering an operating voltage of the shaded module by impedance generated on a pathway of the compensation current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
    Inventors: Masatoshi Uno, Akio Kukita
  • Patent number: 10291111
    Abstract: A system and method includes parallel power converters, at least one current sensor, and a first feedback control circuit. A first power converter is configured to convert a first input power to a first output power, and is controlled using pulse width modulation having a first switching period. One or more second power converters are connected in parallel with the first power converter and configured to convert a second input power to a second output power. The first output power and the second output power are provided to a load. The at least one current sensor is positioned to sense first output current of the first output power, and the first feedback control circuit is configured to calculate a first metric based on the first sensed current at each of a plurality of first edges of each half switching period of the first switching period, and at intermediate points between each of the plurality of first edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Rosado, Virgilio Valdivia Guerrero, Laura Albiol-Tendillo
  • Patent number: 10284094
    Abstract: A circuit configured to, for each of values of output currents output from power conversion devices connected in parallel to one another and driven based on common ON signals applied to the power conversion devices, output a difference between the output current value and a reference value when a polarity of the output current value is positive, and output a difference between an absolute value of the output current value and an absolute value of the reference value when the polarity of the output current value is negative; and a circuit configured to output adjustment time signals each of which indicates an amount of a delay time of a rising timing or a falling timing of the ON signal, according to an output value of the output current difference calculation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Suzuo Saito, Akihisa Matsushita, Yoichi Morishima
  • Patent number: 10250234
    Abstract: Measures, including apparatus, methods and computer program products, for generating an output signal with a defined waveform shape are provided. A plurality of switched inductor arrangements are each connected in parallel to generate a combined output signal. Each of the switched inductor arrangements are selectively enabled, wherein the number of enabled switched inductor arrangements is varied to define a waveform shape of the combined output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventor: David Pietromonaco
  • Patent number: 10243447
    Abstract: A controller controls power between a source and a load with a link capacitor. (a) A switch vector is selected based on load and source values, a capacitor voltage value, and a switch state selection mode. The switch vector identifies an on or off configuration for load and source switches during a subcycle that allow or do not allow current flow between the link capacitor and the load switch or source switch. (b) The state of the load and source switches is controlled in the on configuration or in the off configuration based on the selected switch vector. (c) It is determined that it is time to select a next switch vector. (a) to (c) are repeated for each subcycle of the determined number of switching subcycles. At least one load switch and at least one source switch are simultaneously in the on configuration during at least one subcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Venkata Giri Venkataramanan, Mahima Gupta
  • Patent number: 10230242
    Abstract: In the present legacy electrical power generation and distribution system, the power quality delivered to end consumers is being degraded by a number of disruptive technologies and legislative impacts; especially with the rapidly increasing myriad of privately owned and operated domestic and commercial distributed energy generation (DEG) devices connected at any point across a low voltage (LV) distribution network. The present invention bypasses this increasing critical DEG problem by offering a solution comprising an energy processing unit (EPU) that is installed at the customer's electrical power point of use (POU). And because of the controlled tightly voltage regulated output of the EPU, significant energy savings can be achieved through dynamic voltage control, utilizing the CVR effect, reduced reactive power demand, and reduced or eliminated peak demand billings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Edge Electrons Limited
    Inventors: Neal George Stewart, Gordon Currie, Jian Zapata, Richard McIndoe