Patents by Inventor Andreas Falk

Andreas Falk 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: 10615606
    Abstract: A circuit for limiting the voltage of a photovoltaic string divided into a first section and a second section of a series circuit of solar modules, includes a first terminal for connection to a first end of the first section, a second terminal for connection to a first end of the second section and a third terminal for connection to a second end of the second section. The circuit also includes a bypass switch, which is connected at one end to the first terminal and at the other end to the third terminal and a disconnect switch, which is connected at one end to the first terminal and at the other end to the second terminal. The circuit has a controller for actuating the bypass switch and the disconnect switch, wherein the controller is configured to determine a first threshold value UUL and a second, lower threshold value ULL depending on a switch voltage UOC dropped across the disconnect switch in an open state and taking into account the number of solar modules in the first section and in the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Karl Nesemann, Andreas Falk
  • Patent number: 10582185
    Abstract: An agricultural working machine, in particular a tractor, has at least one agricultural working unit for working a crop field including a multitude of useful plants, and a camera system which includes a 3D camera. The camera system is configured for generating with the 3D camera 3D information regarding the crop field by recording stereoscopic image pairs along two different viewing axes. The viewing axes proceed from optical centers of the 3D camera, which are connected to each other by a baseline that is inclined relative to the horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: CLAAS E-Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Andreas Falk Jensen, Pavel Lisouski, Gert Lysgaard Andersen, Morten Rufus Blas
  • Patent number: 10491103
    Abstract: A step-up converter includes a first inductance electrically connecting a first DC voltage input of the step-up converter to a first junction point, a step-up converter switch connecting the first junction point to a second DC voltage input and a second DC voltage output of the step-up converter, a first diode connecting the first junction point to a first DC voltage output of the step-up converter, and a snubber circuit comprising a charging path and a discharging path. The discharging path runs as a series connection of a capacitor and a second diode from the first junction point to the first DC voltage output, and the charging path is connected at its one end to a junction point between the capacitor and the second diode and is arranged such that the capacitor is charged when the step-up converter switch is switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Mario Willenberg, Raphael Knoke, Andreas Falk, Robert Stala, Marek Rylko, Jerzy Maslon, Andrzej Mondzik, Slawomir Szot, Adam Penczek, Mitosz Szarek
  • Publication number: 20190221681
    Abstract: A solar module includes a series circuit of solar cells, a switch arranged in parallel with a section of the series circuit, and an actuation circuit. The actuation circuit is operably coupled to the switch, and is configured to actuate the switch in a clocked manner with a duty cycle, wherein the duty cycle is based on a voltage dropped across the series circuit or across a portion of the series circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventor: Andreas Falk
  • Publication number: 20190190314
    Abstract: A network subscriber unit for an electrical energy supply network includes a control unit configured to control the power exchange of the network subscriber unit with the energy supply network, a device configured to determine a voltage zero crossing at a connection point of the network subscriber unit with the energy supply network and a receiving unit of the network subscriber unit configured to receive a signal of a reference time. The control unit is in this case configured to determine a time offset between a time of the voltage zero crossing determined by the device and the received reference time and to control the power exchange based on the time offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventor: Andreas Falk
  • Patent number: 10298017
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for a photovoltaic inverter includes two bus lines, input terminals for connecting at least one photovoltaic generator to the bus lines, respectively, and at least one DC/AC converter connected to the bus lines. The circuit arrangement further includes a disconnector between each DC/AC converter and the bus lines, respectively, and at least one short-circuit path for short-circuiting a voltage between the bus lines, wherein a short-circuit switch is arranged in the short-circuit path, wherein the at least one short-circuit path runs between the bus lines upstream of all disconnectors between the input terminals and the disconnectors, and wherein the short-circuit switch in the at least one short-circuit path between the bus lines is connected in series with a fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Andreas Falk, Franz Lukas
  • Patent number: 10218290
    Abstract: An inverter has an inverter bridge connected between two DC busbars on the input side and connected to an AC output on the output side. The two DC busbars run, in a manner overlapping one another, in planes which are parallel to one another. The inverter bridge has a subcircuit having a plurality of semiconductor switches between the AC output and each DC busbar. Semiconductor modules which form the two subcircuits are connected, in a manner arranged beside one another, to the two DC busbars and to the AC output via connections. A connection element which leads to the AC output begins on that side of the DC busbar which faces the semiconductor modules in a region overlapped by the DC busbars and connects the semiconductor modules of the two subcircuits to one another there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Karl Nesemann, Andreas Falk, Henning Schneider
  • Patent number: 10193284
    Abstract: An apparatus for establishing a multi-phase electrical connection including at least one connecting element per phase, wherein each connecting element comprises two busbars and a number (N) of substantially identical, flexible conductors arranged in parallel with one another in a plane, said conductors electrically conductively connecting the two busbars. Further, a spacing (a) of geometric center points of cross sections of adjacent conductors from one another is at least twice as large as an equivalent diameter (d, dequiv) of one of the conductors, and each busbar respectively comprises a connection region for electrical and mechanical connection of the connecting element to an electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Andreas Falk, Sebastian Umlauf
  • Patent number: 10186872
    Abstract: A method for connecting an energy generation installation to a medium-voltage grid includes determining a calibration factor for adjusting first voltage values to second voltage values by a controller of the energy generation installation. During an idle state of a medium-voltage transformer, the first voltage values are detected at a capacitive voltage divider, arranged on the medium-voltage side of the medium-voltage transformer, and the second voltage values are detected by a voltage detection means, arranged on the low-voltage side of the medium-voltage transformer. The method further includes closing a circuit breaker arranged on the medium-voltage side of the medium-voltage transformer by the controller of the energy generation installation, when voltage values determined at the capacitive voltage divider exceed a first threshold value after the calibration factor has been applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventor: Andreas Falk
  • Publication number: 20190013420
    Abstract: A circuit for limiting the voltage of a photovoltaic string divided into a first section and a second section of a series circuit of solar modules, includes a first terminal for connection to a first end of the first section, a second terminal for connection to a first end of the second section and a third terminal for connection to a second end of the second section. The circuit also includes a bypass switch, which is connected at one end to the first terminal and at the other end to the third terminal and a disconnect switch, which is connected at one end to the first terminal and at the other end to the second terminal. The circuit has a controller for actuating the bypass switch and the disconnect switch, wherein the controller is configured to determine a first threshold value UUL and a second, lower threshold value ULL depending on a switch voltage UOC dropped across the disconnect switch in an open state and taking into account the number of solar modules in the first section and in the second section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Karl Nesemann, Andreas Falk
  • Patent number: 10178814
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an inverter, in particular for a photovoltaic system, including a housing with at least one chamber and a cooling air channel formed within the chamber for guiding ambient air as cooling air for electrical and/or electronic components of the inverter disposed along the cooling air channel. The cooling air channel extends through the housing from an air inlet to an air outlet. The inverter includes a further air outlet provided within the cooling air channel between two of the components to be cooled, and is arranged above the air inlet and the air outlet. The disclosure further relates to a method of cooling such an inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Andreas Falk, Jan Goldau, Thomas Kuehn, Henning Schneider, Jochen Roemer
  • Publication number: 20180376128
    Abstract: An agricultural working machine, in particular a tractor, has at least one agricultural working unit for working a crop field including a multitude of useful plants, and a camera system which includes a 3D camera. The camera system is configured for generating with the 3D camera 3D information regarding the crop field by recording stereoscopic image pairs along two different viewing axes. The viewing axes proceed from optical centers of the 3D camera, which are connected to each other by a baseline that is inclined relative to the horizontal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: CLAAS E-Systems KGaA mbH & Co KG
    Inventors: MARTIN ANDREAS FALK JENSEN, PAVEL LISOUSKI, GERT LYSGAARD ANDERSEN, MORTEN RUFUS BLAS
  • Patent number: 10027249
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for connecting a photovoltaic installation to a power supply grid, the photovoltaic installation comprising a photovoltaic generator, a direct voltage intermediate circuit with at least one capacitor, and an inverter. The method including connecting the direct voltage intermediate circuit to the photovoltaic generator and the capacitor is pre-charged to a first voltage. The direct voltage intermediate circuit is then separated from the photovoltaic generator and the capacitor is discharged to or below a second voltage that corresponds to a maximum operating voltage of the inverter. The inverter is then connected to the power supply grid, an inverter bridge of the inverter is clocked, and the direct voltage intermediate circuit is connected to the photovoltaic generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology
    Inventor: Andreas Falk
  • Publication number: 20180191293
    Abstract: A solar module includes one or more photovoltaic (PV) modules, a short-circuit switch connected in parallel with at least one of the one or PV modules, and a control unit connected in parallel with the short-circuit switch. The at least one of the one or more PV modules supplies electrical power to the control unit and is connectable via a first and a second module terminal to further solar modules to form a string. The control unit is configured to actuate the short-circuit switch depending on an insulation voltage dropped between a ground potential reference terminal of the solar module and one of the first and second module terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventor: Andreas Falk
  • Publication number: 20180175572
    Abstract: An apparatus for establishing a multi-phase electrical connection including at least one connecting element per phase, wherein each connecting element comprises two busbars and a number (N) of substantially identical, flexible conductors arranged in parallel with one another in a plane, said conductors electrically conductively connecting the two busbars. Further, a spacing (a) of geometric center points of cross sections of adjacent conductors from one another is at least twice as large as an equivalent diameter (d, dequiv) of one of the conductors, and each busbar respectively comprises a connection region for electrical and mechanical connection of the connecting element to an electrical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas Falk, Sebastian Umlauf
  • Patent number: 9917443
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a photovoltaic system for feeding a medium-voltage grid, wherein the photovoltaic system has a photovoltaic generator including a plurality of photovoltaic modules, at least one inverter and at least one medium-voltage transformer. The medium-voltage transformer is connected on the primary side directly to a low-voltage AC output of the inverter, the inverter is connected to the photovoltaic generator via a DC input, and the inverter permits reverse currents from the low-voltage AC output to the DC input. The method is characterized by the fact that in the event that there is insufficient generation of electric power for the feed by the photovoltaic modules, the inverter remains connected on the AC side to the medium-voltage grid via the medium-voltage transformer, and remains connected on the DC side to the photovoltaic generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignees: SMA Solar Technology AG, Adensis GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Falk, Bernhard Beck, Aaron Philipp Gerdemann, Frank Niebling
  • Publication number: 20180026448
    Abstract: A method for connecting an energy generation installation to a medium-voltage grid includes determining a calibration factor for adjusting first voltage values to second voltage values by a controller of the energy generation installation. During an idle state of a medium-voltage transformer, the first voltage values are detected at a capacitive voltage divider, arranged on the medium-voltage side of the medium-voltage transformer, and the second voltage values are detected by a voltage detection means, arranged on the low-voltage side of the medium-voltage transformer. The method further includes closing a circuit breaker arranged on the medium-voltage side of the medium-voltage transformer by the controller of the energy generation installation, when voltage values determined at the capacitive voltage divider exceed a first threshold value after the calibration factor has been applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventor: Andreas Falk
  • Publication number: 20170370746
    Abstract: A method is provided for updating parking area information in a navigation system for a vehicle. The method includes the following steps: detecting a parking area by way of data received at least one device on at least one vehicle; determining information relating to the parking area which at least partially relates to characterizing characteristics of the parking area; analyzing the determined information in relation to an adequate characterization of the parking area; comparing the determined information with data of at least one database; and updating the database in the event of a deviation between the determined information and the data of the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Andreas FALK, Christina BREINING, Christian CONNETTE, Sebastian GRUENWEDEL, Bernhard KISSLINGER, Benjamin SOBOTTA
  • Publication number: 20170238445
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an inverter, in particular for a photovoltaic system, including a housing with at least one chamber and a cooling air channel formed within the chamber for guiding ambient air as cooling air for electrical and/or electronic components of the inverter disposed along the cooling air channel. The cooling air channel extends through the housing from an air inlet to an air outlet. The inverter includes a further air outlet provided within the cooling air channel between two of the components to be cooled, and is arranged above the air inlet and the air outlet. The disclosure further relates to a method of cooling such an inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Andreas Falk, Jan Goldau, Thomas kuehn, Henning Schneider, Jochen Roemer
  • Patent number: 9634554
    Abstract: A short-circuit switch for use with a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor includes a controllable semiconductor switch that is configured to short-circuit a voltage present between the first conductor and the second conductor responsive to receipt of a trigger, and a mechanical press-pack structure. The controllable semiconductor switch is a press-pack-type thyristor having a first planar electrode and a second planar electrode on contact sides situated opposite one another. The thyristor is disposed in the mechanical press-pack structure. The mechanical press-pack structure includes: a first terminal electrode that is configured to connect the first planar electrode to the first conductor, wherein the first terminal electrode is resiliently supported by a spring assembly; and a second terminal electrode that is configured to connect the second planar electrode to the second conductor. The press-pack structure forms a protective cover enveloping the thyristor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Raycap, S.A.
    Inventors: Andreas Falk, Alexander Krug, Max Rothenburger, Gerold Schulze