Patents by Inventor Christian Angerer

Christian Angerer 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: 8645937
    Abstract: The invention relates to a photovoltaic plant having a plurality of inverters (1) connected to each other by way of a network (12), wherein the inverters (1) comprise a control apparatus (7) having at least one microprocessor (8) and at least one storage, an interface for communicating with the remaining inverters (1), a DC/AC module (3) for converting a direct current supplied from an external energy source into an alternating current, and an input/output unit (9), and to such an inverter (1) and a USB mass storage device (11), as well as to a method for carrying out software updates. According to the invention, a USB interface (10) is arranged on at least one inverter (1) for connecting a USB mass storage device (11), in particular a USB stick, so as to carry out automatic updates in a software running in the microprocessor (8) and/or configuration block updates and/or so as to record logging data of the inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Angerer, Alexander Zorn, Harald Josef Kreuzer, Joachim Danmayr
  • Patent number: 8456877
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inverter system (1) with several inverters (2), each of which having at least one control unit (6), with at least one line (7) each being provided between the inverters (2) for data exchange, as well as to an inverter (2), and to a method of operating several inverters (2) in such an inverter system (1). To achieve a high transmission safety, and a high data-transmission rate, it is provided that each inverter (2) has a communication device (8) which is connected to a control unit (6) of the inverter (2) and to the data lines (7) of two neighboring inverters (2), and which has a switching device (13), the switching device (13) being configured to switch the data lines (7) between a ring system and between a bus system logically based on this ring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Angerer, Hannes Heigl, Harald Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20110283272
    Abstract: The invention relates to a photovoltaic plant having a plurality of inverters (1) connected to each other by way of a network (12), wherein the inverters (1) comprise a control apparatus (7) having at least one microprocessor (8) and at least one storage, an interface for communicating with the remaining inverters (1), a DC/AC module (3) for converting a direct current supplied from an external energy source into an alternating current, and an input/output unit (9), and to such an inverter (1) and a USB mass storage device (11), as well as to a method for carrying out software updates. According to the invention, a USB interface (10) is arranged on at least one inverter (1) for connecting a USB mass storage device (11), in particular a USB stick, so as to carry out automatic updates in a software running in the microprocessor (8) and/or configuration block updates and/or so as to record logging data of the inverters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Angerer, Alexander Zorn, Harald Josef Kreuzer, Joachim Danmayr
  • Patent number: 7859871
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the voltage and power of several HF inverters (2), connected in parallel at the output, of an electrically isolated inverter assembly as well as for distributing the load to these HF inverters (2) each consisting of at least one DC-DC converter (3), one intermediate circuit (4) and one DC-AC converter (5), with a command variable (Ui?) being formed for each HF inverter (2) so as to preset a nominal value for control of an intermediate-circuit voltage (UZKi) at the intermediate circuit (4) of the HF inverter (2). The load of each HF inverter (2) is determined by a control unit (13) by measuring the current or power required, an internal resistance of the HF inverter (2) is simulated via which internal resistance a virtual voltage drop (UVR) is caused which depends on the load determined and is used for controlling the voltage (UZKi) of the intermediate circuit (4) so as to produce a purposive change in the output voltage of each HF inverter (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Angerer, Hannes Heigl, Harald Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20100253667
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detection of the actuation of at least one control element (16) of a control front (14) of an inverter (1) and to a control front (14) for an inverter (1) with at least one control element (16). The method essentially does not affect the efficiency of the inverter (1). The method provides that upon actuation of the at least one control element (16) at one secondary side of a transmitter (15), the transmitter will be placed under load, and the load will be detected and evaluated on one primary side of the transmitter (15) by a control apparatus (8), to which at least one actuated control element is allocated, wherein a voltage signal is applied to the primary side of the transmitter (15) and the actuation at least of one control element (16) is detected and evaluated at the voltage-free and/or unpowered secondary side of the transmitter (15) due to the change in the voltage signals at the primary side of the transmitter (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: FRONIUS INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Angerer, Bernhard Grossauer, Harald Josef Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20090290393
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inverter system (1) with several inverters (2), each of which having at least one control unit (6), with at least one line (7) each being provided between the inverters (2) for data exchange, as well as to an inverter (2), and to a method of operating several inverters (2) in such an inverter system (1). To achieve a high transmission safety, and a high data-transmission rate, it is provided that each inverter (2) has a communication device (8) which is connected to a control unit (6) of the inverter (2) and to the data lines (7) of two neighboring inverters (2), and which has a switching device (13), the switching device (13) being configured to switch the data lines (7) between a ring system and between a bus system logically based on this ring system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Christian Angerer, Hannes Heigl, Harald Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20090251933
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the voltage and power of several HF inverters (2), connected in parallel at the output, of an electrically isolated inverter assembly as well as for distributing the load to these HF inverters (2) each consisting of at least one DC-DC converter (3), one intermediate circuit (4) and one DC-AC converter (5), with a command variable (Ui?) being formed for each HF inverter (2) so as to preset a nominal value for control of an intermediate-circuit voltage (UZKi) at the intermediate circuit (4) of the HF inverter (2). The load of each HF inverter (2) is determined by a control unit (13) by measuring the current or power required, an internal resistance of the HF inverter (2) is simulated via which internal resistance a virtual voltage drop (UVR) is caused which depends on the load determined and is used for controlling the voltage (UZKi) of the intermediate circuit (4) so as to produce a purposive change in the output voltage of each HF inverter (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Christian Angerer, Hannes Heigl, Harald Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 7577005
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recognizing the operational state of a load (10) connected to the output (6, 7) of an island inverter (1). A load recognition signal (SL) is applied at specific moments in time to the output (6, 7) of the island inverter (1), during which specific electric parameters are measured on the island inverter (1), enabling the operational state of the load (10) to be determined, wherein the island inverter (1), when the load (10) is activated, is switched from a possible standby mode into a permanent operation mode and, when the load is deactivated (10), the island inverter is switched from a possible permanent operation mode to a standby mode. The invention also relates to an island inverter (1). In order to ensure reliable recognition of all possible collected loads (10), a load recognition signal (SL) with parameters (T, d, A, H, f) that are modified at least according to the type of load (10) is applied to the output (6, 7) of the island inverter (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Angerer, Hannes Heigl, Harald Kreuzer, Christoph Wolf
  • Publication number: 20080130333
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recognizing the operational state of a load (10) connected to the output (6,7) of an island inverter (1). A load recognition signal (SL) is applied at specific moments in time to the output (6, 7) of the island inverter (1), during which specific electric parameters are measured on the island inverter (1), enabling the operational state of the load (10) to be determined, wherein the island inverter (1), when the load (10) is activated, is switched from a possible standby mode into a permanent operation mode and, when the load is deactivated (10), the island inverter is switched from a possible permanent operation mode to a standby mode. The invention also relates to an island inverter (1). In order to ensure reliable recognition of all possible collected loads (10), a load recognition signal (SL) with parameters (T, d, A, H, f) that are modified at least according to the type of load (10) is applied to the output (6,7) of the island inverter (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Christian Angerer, Hannes Heigl, Harald Kreuzer, Christoph Wolf