Patents by Inventor Colin Hargis
Colin Hargis 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).
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Patent number: 9906180Abstract: An electromechanical system includes an inverter drive, a component arranged during operation to generate a variable force having one or more periodic frequency components, and processing circuitry arranged to determine the power output of the inverter drive, measure a difference between the power output and a reference power output, and control an output frequency of the inverter drive as a function of the measured difference, so as to stabilise the power output during operation of the component. Other example electromechanical systems, inverter drives and methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2017Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: NIDEC CONTROL TECHNIQUES LIMITEDInventor: Colin Hargis
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Publication number: 20170207740Abstract: An electromechanical system includes an inverter drive, a component arranged during operation to generate a variable force having one or more periodic frequency components, and processing circuitry arranged to determine the power output of the inverter drive, measure a difference between the power output and a reference power output, and control an output frequency of the inverter drive as a function of the measured difference, so as to stabilise the power output during operation of the component. Other example electromechanical systems, inverter drives and methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2017Publication date: July 20, 2017Inventor: Colin HARGIS
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Patent number: 9685903Abstract: According to a first aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling a power output of an inverter. The method comprises measuring an output current of the inverter, determining a difference between the output current and a reference current, and controlling a reference input voltage of the inverter as a function of the determined difference. In a second aspect of the disclosure, there is described a system for controlling a power output of an inverter. The system comprises an inverter arranged to output a current as a function of a reference input voltage. The system further comprises a controller arranged to determine a difference between the output current and a reference current. The controller is further arranged to control the reference input voltage as a function of the determined difference.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: NIDEC CONTROL TECHNIQUES LIMITEDInventor: Colin Hargis
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Patent number: 9647592Abstract: An electromechanical system includes an inverter drive, a component arranged during operation to generate a variable force having one or more periodic frequency components, and processing circuitry arranged to determine the power output of the inverter drive, measure a difference between the power output and a reference power output, and control an output frequency of the inverter drive as a function of the measured difference, so as to stabilize the power output during operation of the component. Other example electromechanical systems, inverter drives and methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: NIDEC CONTROL TECHNIQUES LIMITEDInventor: Colin Hargis
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Publication number: 20160164402Abstract: A fail-safe interface circuit arranged to provide an inverter enable input to drive an inverter, the circuit being supplied by a first voltage and comprising: a charge pump comprising a charge pump input and a charge pump output, the charge pump output being coupled to a circuit output; and a pulsed input arranged to supply pulsed power to the charge pump input; wherein the charge pump output is arranged to produce a second voltage distinct from the first voltage only when the pulsed input is supplying pulsed power to the charge pump input, and wherein the circuit output is arranged to provide the inverter enable input when the second voltage is produced at the charge pump output.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2015Publication date: June 9, 2016Inventor: Colin HARGIS
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Publication number: 20160079902Abstract: An electromechanical system includes an inverter drive, a component arranged during operation to generate a variable force having one or more periodic frequency components, and processing circuitry arranged to determine the power output of the inverter drive, measure a difference between the power output and a reference power output, and control an output frequency of the inverter drive as a function of the measured difference, so as to stabilise the power output during operation of the component. Other example electromechanical systems, inverter drives and methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2015Publication date: March 17, 2016Inventor: Colin HARGIS
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Patent number: 9246431Abstract: A method of controlling a current flowing through a component of a drive comprising the steps of: estimating the current flowing through a component; estimating the temperature of the component; comparing the estimated temperature with a desired maximum temperature for the component; and adjusting the current flowing through the component based on the result of the comparing step.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: CONTROL TECHNIQUES LIMITEDInventor: Colin Hargis
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Patent number: 9209718Abstract: Apparatus for preventing output of an input signal is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a signal control unit comprising a signal buffering unit having an input and an output, the signal buffering unit arranged to receive an input signal and pass the input signal to the output when the signal buffering unit is powered, wherein a negative power supply terminal of the signal buffering unit is arranged to be supplied by a first power source having a voltage. The signal control unit also comprises a boost circuit arranged to boost the voltage of the first power source to a boosted voltage higher than the voltage of the first power source and supply either the voltage of the first power source or the boosted voltage to a positive power supply terminal of the signal buffering unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: CONTROL TECHNIQUES LIMITEDInventors: Andrew Jeremy Sykes, Richard Mark Wain, Colin Hargis
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Patent number: 9093945Abstract: Circuits arranged to produce first and second outputs produced by first and second switch-mode converters, respectively, wherein each switch-mode converter comprises a converter input, a converter output, a converter controller, a converter controller enable input arranged to provide power to the controller, and a semiconductor power switching device coupled between the converter input and the converter controller. A first output of the first converter and a second output of the second converter are each arranged to produce a voltage of higher magnitude than the voltage at the respective converter controller enable input and converter input when the converter controller is enabled. Methods of controlling first and second outputs from first and second switch-mode converters are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2013Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: CONTROL TECHNIQUES LIMITEDInventors: Colin Hargis, Richard Mark Wain
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Publication number: 20150200624Abstract: According to a first aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling a power output of an inverter. The method comprises measuring an output current of the inverter, determining a difference between the output current and a reference current, and controlling a reference input voltage of the inverter as a function of the determined difference. In a second aspect of the disclosure, there is described a system for controlling a power output of an inverter. The system comprises an inverter arranged to output a current as a function of a reference input voltage. The system further comprises a controller arranged to determine a difference between the output current and a reference current. The controller is further arranged to control the reference input voltage as a function of the determined difference.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2015Publication date: July 16, 2015Inventor: Colin HARGIS
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Patent number: 9024557Abstract: A drive system for an electrical load such as an electric motor or generator comprises a PWM converter and a controller therefore. A signal indicative of a condition of the converter outpost is used in a controller to drive an optimal value of PWM switching frequency based on a load characteristic that is used to control the pulse switching frequency. The system takes account of the overall system in deriving an efficient PWM switching frequency.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Control Techniques LtdInventor: Colin Hargis
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Publication number: 20140333135Abstract: An apparatus for producing a compensated voltage output comprising: a first power source or power sink coupled between a first node and a reference node; a second power source or power sink coupled between a second node and the reference node; a biasing means comprising one portion coupled between the first node and the reference node, and another portion coupled between the first node and the second node. The biasing means is operable to generate a controllable bias voltage of either polarity between the first and second nodes to produce the compensated voltage output.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: Control Techniques LimitedInventors: Colin Hargis, Mark Towers, Oleksandr Melnyk
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Publication number: 20140266288Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an arc on a circuit having a solar panel assembly is arranged to determine that an output of the solar panel assembly is below a threshold value and is therefore indicative of an arc on the circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: CONTROL TECHNIQUES LIMITEDInventors: Paolo Trabacchin, Colin Hargis
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Publication number: 20140253008Abstract: Apparatus for preventing output of an input signal is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a signal control unit comprising a signal buffering unit having an input and an output, the signal buffering unit arranged to receive an input signal and pass the input signal to the output when the signal buffering unit is powered, wherein a negative power supply terminal of the signal buffering unit is arranged to be supplied by a first power source having a voltage. The signal control unit also comprises a boost circuit arranged to boost the voltage of the first power source to a boosted voltage higher than the voltage of the first power source and supply either the voltage of the first power source or the boosted voltage to a positive power supply terminal of the signal buffering unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: Control Techniques LimitedInventors: Andrew Jeremy Sykes, Richard Mark Wain, Colin Hargis
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Publication number: 20130307457Abstract: A method of controlling a current flowing through a component of a drive comprising the steps of: estimating the current flowing through a component; estimating the temperature of the component; comparing the estimated temperature with a desired maximum temperature for the component; and adjusting the current flowing through the component based on the result of the comparing step.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: Control Techniques LimitedInventor: Colin Hargis
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Publication number: 20130264985Abstract: Circuits arranged to produce first and second outputs produced by first and second switch-mode converters, respectively, wherein each switch-mode converter comprises a converter input, a converter output, a converter controller, a converter controller enable input arranged to provide power to the controller, and a semiconductor power switching device coupled between the converter input and the converter controller. A first output of the first converter and a second output of the second converter are each arranged to produce a voltage of higher magnitude than the voltage at the respective converter controller enable input and converter input when the converter controller is enabled. Methods of controlling first and second outputs from first and second switch-mode converters are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: Control Techniques LimitedInventors: Colin Hargis, Richard Mark Wain
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Publication number: 20120280571Abstract: An apparatus is provided for producing a compensated voltage output comprising at least one photovoltaic module biasing means connected in series with the at least one photovoltaic module. The biasing means is operable to generate a controllable bias voltage for modulating an output voltage of the at least one photovoltaic module to produce the compensated voltage output.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2010Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: CONTROL TECHNIQUES LTDInventor: Colin Hargis
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Patent number: 5854546Abstract: For the suppression of radio frequency emissions from an electrical drive comprising an electric motor supplied with electrical power via an electronic controller having a high speed switching device which generates high frequency energy, an electrical screen is provided to receive the radio frequency energy and is connected back to the input side of the high speed switching device.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1995Date of Patent: December 29, 1998Assignee: Control Techniques PLCInventor: Colin Hargis
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Patent number: 4812751Abstract: It is known to detect a single breakdown of the electrical insulation separating the rotor winding from the earthed rotor body of a generator: such a failure does not lead to intense arcing, however, as there is no return path for current flowing to earth. Disclosed is a potential divider network which allows continuous monitoring of the voltages between earth and the two ends of the winding: a second breakdown can be rapidly detected since it results in a shift in both the position and magnitude of the effective resistance to earth from that associated with the first breakdown.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1986Date of Patent: March 14, 1989Assignee: The Central Electricity Generating BoardInventors: Ian A. Roberts, Colin Hargis