Patents by Inventor Brian ACKER

Brian ACKER 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: 11621628
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) in power conversion stage line filter are provided herein. The method, for example, includes determining an estimated ripple voltage or estimated ripple current using a predictive model, generating a ripple cancellation signal of opposite polarity to the estimated ripple voltage or ripple current, while compensating for at least one of magnitude or phase distortions in a signal path, and injecting the ripple cancellation signal into a power supply's line filter to reduce a ripple voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Acker, Patrick L. Chapman, Martin Fornage
  • Publication number: 20210281161
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) in power conversion stage line filter are provided herein. The method, for example, includes determining an estimated ripple voltage or estimated ripple current using a predictive model, generating a ripple cancellation signal of opposite polarity to the estimated ripple voltage or ripple current, while compensating for at least one of magnitude or phase distortions in a signal path, and injecting the ripple cancellation signal into a power supply's line filter to reduce a ripple voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Brian Acker, Patrick L. Chapman, Martin Fomage
  • Patent number: 9952263
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring an AC line for impedance change. In one embodiment, the method, includes superimposing a tone on an AC current coupled to the AC line, wherein the tone is a higher frequency than an AC voltage waveform on the AC line; applying a correlation over a sampled AC voltage waveform, obtained by sampling the AC voltage waveform, to generate a correlated signal; and determining whether at least one change in characteristic of the correlated signal occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Barnes, Brian Acker
  • Patent number: 9184652
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing harmonic distortion. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining an inverter output current waveform; determining a plurality of harmonic components of the inverter output current waveform; determining, based on the plurality of harmonic components, a plurality of harmonic compensation components; and generating a compensating current comprising the plurality of harmonic compensation components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Acker, Andrew Barnes
  • Publication number: 20150077145
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring an AC line for impedance change. In one embodiment, the method, comprises superimposing a tone on an AC current coupled to the AC line, wherein the tone is a higher frequency than an AC voltage waveform on the AC line; applying a correlation over a sampled AC voltage waveform, obtained by sampling the AC voltage waveform, to generate a correlated signal; and determining whether at least one change in characteristic of the correlated signal occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew Barnes, Brian Acker
  • Patent number: 8896330
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring an AC line for impedance change. In one embodiment, the method, comprises superimposing a tone on an AC current coupled to the AC line, wherein the tone is a higher frequency than an AC voltage waveform on the AC line; applying a correlation over a sampled AC voltage waveform, obtained by sampling the AC voltage waveform, to generate a correlated signal; and determining whether at least one change in characteristic of the correlated signal occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Barnes, Brian Acker
  • Publication number: 20140063873
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing harmonic distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Acker, Andrew Barnes
  • Publication number: 20120306515
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring an AC line for impedance change. In one embodiment, the method, comprises superimposing a tone on an AC current coupled to the AC line, wherein the tone is a higher frequency than an AC voltage waveform on the AC line; applying a correlation over a sampled AC voltage waveform, obtained by sampling the AC voltage waveform, to generate a correlated signal; and determining whether at least one change in characteristic of the correlated signal occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew BARNES, Brian ACKER
  • Publication number: 20030078180
    Abstract: A composition of an aqueous, an aqueous acid, and an aqueous alkaline foaming additive (“foamer”) functions in a wide pH range and under conditions of salt, alcohol, and hydrocarbon contamination. The foaming additive (“foamer”) composition includes a mixture of a salt of an alkyl ether sulfate surfactant, a polymer or combination of polymers, and either a water miscible solvent for the liquid foamer additive or a silicon compound for a substantially anhydrous foamer additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Benchmark Research & Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Pablo Munoz, William Franklin Harris, David Brian Acker, Joel Farrell Siegel