Patents by Inventor Brian P Heber

Brian P Heber 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: 11183869
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for controlling power walk-in for an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) being switched to receive AC power from an AC generator. The system may have a control system and a power walk-in (PWI) subsystem. The PWI subsystem may be controlled in part by the control system. The PWI subsystem may be configured to control at least one of an input current or an input power of an AC signal being provided by an AC generator during a power walk-in operation to attempt to maintain a minimum frequency of the AC signal from the AC generator during the power walk-in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Vertiv Corporation
    Inventors: Terry D. Bush, Peter A. Panfil, Brian P. Heber
  • Publication number: 20200321800
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for controlling power walk-in for an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) being switched to receive AC power from an AC generator. The system may have a control system and a power walk-in (PWI) subsystem. The PWI subsystem may be controlled in part by the control system. The PWI subsystem may be configured to control at least one of an input current or an input power of an AC signal being provided by an AC generator during a power walk-in operation to attempt to maintain a minimum frequency of the AC signal from the AC generator during the power walk-in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Terry D. BUSH, Peter A. PANFIL, Brian P. HEBER
  • Patent number: 10637279
    Abstract: Effects of a surge in an AC input voltage to a UPS is mitigated. If the AC input voltage is overvoltage, the rectifier is operated using a DC bus target voltage for the DC bus voltage unless the rectifier reaches its current limit. If the rectifier reaches its current limit, the DC bus target voltage is increased by a predetermined amount which is used as a current DC bus target voltage unless the increased DC bus target voltage exceeds a maximum DC bus voltage limit in which case the current DC bus target voltage is set to the maximum DC bus voltage limit. The rectifier is then operated using the current DC bus target voltage until it reaches its current limit or the AC input voltage surge has passed. If the rectifier again reaches its current limit, the above steps starting with increasing the DC bus target voltage are repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Vertiv Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. Heber, Xian Chen
  • Patent number: 10340733
    Abstract: A common mode choke in a 3-wire transformer free UPS system with which different rectifier and bypass power sources are used is eliminated by using different types of PWM control depending on whether the inverter is paralleled with the bypass power source. When the inverter is paralleled with the bypass power source, a type of PWM control is used that does not have common mode voltage injection. When the inverter is not paralleled with the bypass power source, a type of PWM control is used that has common mode voltage injection. In an aspect, the PWM control that does not have common mode voltage injection is sine-triangle PWM and the PWM control that has common mode voltage injection is space-vector PWM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Vertiv Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin Shires, Terry D. Bush, Brian P. Heber, Charles F. Blair
  • Patent number: 10277066
    Abstract: A method is provided for balancing power amongst parallel connected power converters in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). The method includes: applying a control signal to each of the parallel connected power converters, where the control signals applied to the parallel connected power converters are derived from a common control signal output by a centralized controller; receiving measurements of current being supplied by each power converter to the load; and adjusting phase of voltage applied to at least one of the power converters based on the received current measurements, such that the phase adjustment causes same magnitude of current to flow though each filter. Advancing phase angle of the voltage increases current supplied by the at least one power converter while retarding phase angle of the voltage decreases current supplied by the at least one power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Vertiv Corporation
    Inventors: Terry D. Bush, Brian P. Heber
  • Publication number: 20180241246
    Abstract: Effects of a surge in an AC input voltage to a UPS is mitigated. If the AC input voltage is overvoltage, the rectifier is operated using a DC bus target voltage for the DC bus voltage unless the rectifier reaches its current limit. If the rectifier reaches its current limit, the DC bus target voltage is increased by a predetermined amount which is used as a current DC bus target voltage unless the increased DC bus target voltage exceeds a maximum DC bus voltage limit in which case the current DC bus target voltage is set to the maximum DC bus voltage limit. The rectifier is then operated using the current DC bus target voltage until it reaches its current limit or the AC input voltage surge has passed. If the rectifier again reaches its current limit, the above steps starting with increasing the DC bus target voltage are repeated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. HEBER, Xian CHEN
  • Patent number: 10042007
    Abstract: A method is provided for detecting a failure of a rectifier or a rectifier source in context of an uninterruptible power supply. The method includes: measuring an input current into the rectifier from a primary power source; determining a rate of change in the measured current; determining a current difference between a reference current and the measured current; measuring voltage output by the rectifier; determining a voltage difference between a reference voltage and the measured voltage; and detecting a failure condition of the rectifier as a function of the measured input current, the rate of change in the measured current, the current difference, the measured voltage and the voltage difference. More specifically, a failure condition of the rectifier is identified when the input current is decreasing and the rate of change in the measured current is decreasing and the current difference is increasing and the voltage difference is increasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventor: Brian P. Heber
  • Patent number: 9876390
    Abstract: When the preferred voltage source for a static transfer switch is a UPS, there can be a brief interruption in the voltage received from the UPS while the UPS is switching from economy mode to normal mode. Operation of the static transfer switch can be improved during such voltage disturbances. Specifically, the static transfer switch may be in data communication with the UPS and thereby made aware that the voltage disturbance is temporary. As a result, the static transfer switch can avoid an unnecessary transfer to an alternate voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Terry D. Bush, Brian P. Heber, Russell E. Shetler, Jr., Peter A. Panfil
  • Patent number: 9843188
    Abstract: A multiple uninterruptible power supply system includes at least two uninterruptible power supply modules. Each uninterruptible power supply module has a control unit with the control unit coupled to a synchronization bus. The uninterruptible power supply module are synchronized to each other with one of the uninterruptible power supply modules being operated as a sync master UPS and its control unit sending synchronization signals on the synchronization bus that are received on the synchronization bus by control units of each of the other uninterruptible power supply module which are each operated as a slave UPS synchronized to the sync master UPS. When a bypass power source for the uninterruptible power supply module that is being operated as the sync master becomes unqualified, another one of the UPS modules is operated as the sync master and its control unit then sends out the synchronization signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Xian Chen, Brian P. Heber
  • Patent number: 9531288
    Abstract: A UPS includes an input that receives first power from a utility source to power a load and receives second power from the utility source. The load is separate from the UPS. An inverter receives when in a first mode, the first and second power and when in a second mode, the second power and not the first power. The second power is used to power the inverter. A bypass circuit is connected to the input and bypasses the inverter to supply the first power to an output of the UPS when operating in the second mode. A control module detects a voltage at the output of the UPS, integrates the voltage to generate a first sum, and subsequent to completing a transition between the first and second modes, adjusts an output voltage of the inverter based on the first sum to balance the voltage of the UPS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Terry D. Bush, Brian P. Heber, Russell E. Shetler, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160308389
    Abstract: A method is provided for balancing power amongst parallel connected power converters in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). The method includes: applying a control signal to each of the parallel connected power converters, where the control signals applied to the parallel connected power converters are derived from a common control signal output by a centralized controller; receiving measurements of current being supplied by each power converter to the load; and adjusting phase of voltage applied to at least one of the power converters based on the received current measurements, such that the phase adjustment causes same magnitude of current to flow though each filter. Advancing phase angle of the voltage increases current supplied by the at least one power converter while retarding phase angle of the voltage decreases current supplied by the at least one power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Terry D. BUSH, Brian P. HEBER
  • Patent number: 9431854
    Abstract: A multiple UPS system includes a plurality of multi-module UPS subsystems coupled to a power tie cabinet, each multi-module UPS subsystem having a plurality of UPS modules. The power tie cabinet includes one or more controllers, collectively referred to as PTC (power tie cabinet) controls. The PTC controls periodically determine a power error message for each of the multi-module UPS subsystems and pass it to the respective multi-module UPS subsystem. A controller of the multi-module UPS subsystem uses the power error message to determine error data that is provided to a power average control loop used in control of power sharing among the UPS modules of the multi-module UPS subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Xian Chen, Brian P. Heber
  • Publication number: 20160223620
    Abstract: A method is provided for detecting a failure of a rectifier or a rectifier source in context of an uninterruptible power supply. The method includes: measuring an input current into the rectifier from a primary power source; determining a rate of change in the measured current; determining a current difference between a reference current and the measured current; measuring voltage output by the rectifier; determining a voltage difference between a reference voltage and the measured voltage; and detecting a failure condition of the rectifier as a function of the measured input current, the rate of change in the measured current, the current difference, the measured voltage and the voltage difference. More specifically, a failure condition of the rectifier is identified when the input current is decreasing and the rate of change in the measured current is decreasing and the current difference is increasing and the voltage difference is increasing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: Liebert Corporation
    Inventor: Brian P. HEBER
  • Publication number: 20150244206
    Abstract: A common mode choke in a 3-wire transformer free UPS system with which different rectifier and bypass power sources are used is eliminated by using different types of PWM control depending on whether the inverter is paralleled with the bypass power source. When the inverter is paralleled with the bypass power source, a type of PWM control is used that does not have common mode voltage injection. When the inverter is not paralleled with the bypass power source, a type of PWM control is used that has common mode voltage injection. In an aspect, the PWM control that does not have common mode voltage injection is sine-triangle PWM and the PWM control that has common mode voltage injection is space-vector PWM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: LIEBERT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edwin SHIRES, Terry D. BUSH, Brian P. HEBER, Charles F. BLAIR
  • Publication number: 20150137604
    Abstract: A multiple uninterruptible power supply system includes at least two uninterruptible power supply modules. Each uninterruptible power supply module has a control unit with the control unit coupled to a synchronization bus. The uninterruptible power supply module are synchronized to each other with one of the uninterruptible power supply modules being operated as a sync master UPS and its control unit sending synchronization signals on the synchronization bus that are received on the synchronization bus by control units of each of the other uninterruptible power supply module which are each operated as a slave UPS synchronized to the sync master UPS. When a bypass power source for the uninterruptible power supply module that is being operated as the sync master becomes unqualified, another one of the UPS modules is operated as the sync master and its control unit then sends out the synchronization signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Xian CHEN, Brian P. HEBER
  • Publication number: 20140159493
    Abstract: A multiple UPS system includes a plurality of multi-module UPS subsystems coupled to a power tie cabinet, each multi-module UPS subsystem having a plurality of UPS modules. The power tie cabinet includes one or more controllers, collectively referred to as PTC (power tie cabinet) controls. The PTC controls periodically determine a power error message for each of the multi-module UPS subsystems and pass it to the respective multi-module UPS subsystem. A controller of the multi-module UPS subsystem uses the power error message to determine error data that is provided to a power average control loop used in control of power sharing among the UPS modules of the multi-module UPS subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Xian CHEN, Brian P. HEBER
  • Publication number: 20140139022
    Abstract: A UPS includes an input that receives first power from a utility source to power a load and receives second power from the utility source. The load is separate from the UPS. An inverter receives when in a first mode, the first and second power and when in a second mode, the second power and not the first power. The second power is used to power the inverter. A bypass circuit is connected to the input and bypasses the inverter to supply the first power to an output of the UPS when operating in the second mode. A control module detects a voltage at the output of the UPS, integrates the voltage to generate a first sum, and subsequent to completing a transition between the first and second modes, adjusts an output voltage of the inverter based on the first sum to balance the voltage of the UPS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Terry D. BUSH, Brian P. HEBER, Russell E. SHETLER, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140132074
    Abstract: When the preferred voltage source for a static transfer switch is a UPS, there can be a brief interruption in the voltage received from the UPS while the UPS is switching from economy mode to normal mode. Operation of the static transfer switch can be improved during such voltage disturbances. Specifically, the static transfer switch may be in data communication with the UPS and thereby made aware that the voltage disturbance is temporary. As a result, the static transfer switch can avoid an unnecessary transfer to an alternate voltage source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Terry D. Bush, Brian P. Heber, Russell E. Shetler, JR., Peter A. Panfil
  • Patent number: 8271146
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) includes a plurality of UPS modules. Each of the UPS modules has a battery that provides power to a protected load in the event of a utility power failure. A plurality of controllers control how much power each of the batteries deliver to the protected load, and a communication bus allows the controllers to exchange information about the battery voltages. One of the controllers calculates the average battery voltage of the plurality of batteries and adjusts the amount of energy provided by an individual battery such that the battery voltage is about equal to the average battery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P Heber, Kevin Eschhofen, Mohammad Nanda Marwali, Terry D Bush
  • Patent number: 8060321
    Abstract: A monitoring system for detecting a short circuit condition in a switching subsystem of a bypass input of a power supply. The system may comprise a voltage monitoring subsystem for monitoring a voltage across at least one component of the switching subsystem and generating a first output signal in accordance therewith. A processor, responsive to the first output signal from the voltage monitoring subsystem, may be used to compare the first output signal with a predetermined threshold signal and to generate a second output signal based on the comparison. The processor may also be used to consider a state of a circuit breaker in communication with the switching subsystem and to use the state of the circuit breaker and the second output signal to determine whether at least one of a short circuit condition and an open circuit condition exists with respect to the switching subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. Heber, Jason D. Peltier