Patents by Inventor Donald J. Lucas

Donald J. Lucas 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).

  • Publication number: 20190145371
    Abstract: A DC power plant generating DC power from a variety of engines including a Stirling cycle engine. The DC power plant includes a relatively small start-up power source that is discontinued after the engine is running. A method for producing DC power for a load including starting up an engine using power supplied by a relatively small power supply supplemented by a capacitor bank, providing output from the engine to a generator, producing alternating current (AC) power by the generator, converting the AC power to direct current (DC) power, disabling output of the DC power during a first set of pre-selected conditions, limiting a rate of change of current of the DC power during a second set of pre-selected conditions, reducing conducted and radiated emissions of the DC power, disconnecting the DC power from the load under a third set of pre-selected conditions, and providing the DC power to the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew A. Schnellinger, James R. Lowell, Jr., Bryan A. Finseth, Christopher L. Barber, Jason M. Sachs, Donald J. Lucas, Shannon Prescott, Jeffrey W. Kite, Andras K. Fekete, Douglas R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20190074696
    Abstract: A modular power conversion system and power electronics enabling any power production device or entity to connect to any load or electrical grid including, but not limited to, electricity conversion between low level producer(s) such as a diesel or gas generator, Stirling engine, wind turbine or photovoltaic array, to a consumer such as a commercial or residential building, either directly or via the grid, is disclosed. The modular power conversion system including hardware and software power electronics designed as a modular power stage aggregating different power production entities, transmission systems, consumption and loads as well as energy storage is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Jason M. Sachs, Donald J. Lucas
  • Patent number: 10215146
    Abstract: A DC power plant generating DC power from a variety of engines including a Stirling cycle engine. The DC power plant includes a relatively small start-up power source that is discontinued after the engine is running. A method for producing DC power for a load including starting up an engine using power supplied by a relatively small power supply supplemented by a capacitor bank, providing output from the engine to a generator, producing alternating current (AC) power by the generator, converting the AC power to direct current (DC) power, disabling output of the DC power during a first set of pre-selected conditions, limiting a rate of change of current of the DC power during a second set of pre-selected conditions, reducing conducted and radiated emissions of the DC power, disconnecting the DC power from the load under a third set of pre-selected conditions, and providing the DC power to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Andrew A. Schnellinger, James R. Lowell, Jr., Bryan A. Finseth, Christopher L. Barber, Jason M. Sachs, Donald J. Lucas, Shannon Prescott, Jeffrey W. Kite, Andras K. Fekete, Douglas R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20190052083
    Abstract: A method for determining when a connection of a power system to a grid has been disconnected. The method includes the power system supplying a first amount of reactive power to the grid to which the power system is connected, and the power system determining if there is a frequency change within the grid. This includes if the frequency change does not exceed a predetermined threshold, the power system supplying a second amount of reactive power to the grid, and if the frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold, the power system supplying a first amount of reactive power to the grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Donald J. Lucas, JR., Christopher L. Barber, Xiaorong Xia
  • Patent number: 10122178
    Abstract: A modular power conversion system and power electronics enabling any power production device or entity to connect to any load or electrical grid including, but not limited to, electricity conversion between low level producer(s) such as a diesel or gas generator, Stirling engine, wind turbine or photovoltaic array, to a consumer such as a commercial or residential building, either directly or via the grid, is disclosed. The modular power conversion system including hardware and software power electronics designed as a modular power stage aggregating different power production entities, transmission systems, consumption and loads as well as energy storage is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jason M. Sachs, Donald J. Lucas
  • Patent number: 10110010
    Abstract: A method for determining when a connection of a power system to a grid has been disconnected. The method includes the power system supplying a first amount of reactive power to the grid to which the power system is connected, and the power system determining if there is a frequency change within the grid. This includes if the frequency change does not exceed a predetermined threshold, the power system supplying a second amount of reactive power to the grid, and if the frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold, the power system supplying a first amount of reactive power to the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Donald J. Lucas, Christopher L. Barber, Xiaorong Xia
  • Publication number: 20160369761
    Abstract: A DC power plant generating DC power from a variety of engines including a Stirling cycle engine. The DC power plant includes a relatively small start-up power source that is discontinued after the engine is running. A method for producing DC power for a load including starting up an engine using power supplied by a relatively small power supply supplemented by a capacitor bank, providing output from the engine to a generator, producing alternating current (AC) power by the generator, converting the AC power to direct current (DC) power, disabling output of the DC power during a first set of pre-selected conditions, limiting a rate of change of current of the DC power during a second set of pre-selected conditions, reducing conducted and radiated emissions of the DC power, disconnecting the DC power from the load under a third set of pre-selected conditions, and providing the DC power to the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew A. Schnellinger, James R. Lowell, JR., Bryan A. Finseth, Christopher L. Barber, Jason M. Sachs, Donald J. Lucas, Shannon Prescott, Jeffrey W. Kite, Andras K. Fekete, Douglas R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20150318705
    Abstract: A method for determining when a connection of a power system to a grid has been disconnected. The method includes the power system supplying a first amount of reactive power to the grid to which the power system is connected, and the power system determining if there is a frequency change within the grid. This includes if the frequency change does not exceed a predetermined threshold, the power system supplying a second amount of reactive power to the grid, and if the frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold, the power system supplying a first amount of reactive power to the grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Donald J. Lucas, Christopher L. Barber, Xiaorong Xia
  • Publication number: 20150084563
    Abstract: A modular power conversion system. The modular power conversion system includes at least one first electric resource, a modular power stage, at least one second electric resource, and wherein the modular power stage comprising at last one module including power electronics for converting power between the at least one first electronic resource and the at least one second electric resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Donald J. Lucas, Jason M. Sachs
  • Publication number: 20140091622
    Abstract: A modular power conversion system. The modular power conversion system includes at least one first electric resource, a modular power stage, at least one second electric resource, and wherein the modular power stage comprising at last one module including power electronics for converting power between the at least one first electronic resource and the at least one second electric resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Deka Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Donald J. Lucas, Jason M. Sachs
  • Publication number: 20130099565
    Abstract: A modular power conversion system and power electronics enabling any power production device or entity to connect to any load or electrical grid including, but not limited to, electricity conversion between low level producer(s) such as a diesel or gas generator, Stirling engine, wind turbine or photovoltaic array, to a consumer such as a commercial or residential building, either directly or via the grid, is disclosed. The modular power conversion system including hardware and software power electronics designed as a modular power stage aggregating different power production entities, transmission systems, consumption and loads as well as energy storage is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jason M. Sachs, Donald J. Lucas
  • Patent number: 7741798
    Abstract: An RFI/EMI filter for a variable frequency motor drive system includes a variable frequency drive; a common mode choke; a motor; a cable including a plurality of power leads interconnecting the motor with the variable frequency drive and passing through the choke; a ground shield surrounding the cable and connected to motor ground and variable frequency drive ground; and a common mode return conductor interconnected between the variable frequency drive and the motor and disposed within the shield and passing through the choke for returning a portion of the common mode current to cancel a portion of the saturation current experienced by the choke to increase the portion of the common mode current carried by the return conductor and decrease the portion carried by the shield to reduce the RFI/EMI contributed by the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Azure Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Lucas
  • Patent number: 7561008
    Abstract: A filter package includes a pair of spaced circuit boards; a magnetic core between the circuit boards; a plurality of windings on the core extending to at least one of the boards; and a plurality of conductor bars mechanically fastening and electrically interconnecting the circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Azure Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Lucas
  • Publication number: 20080143285
    Abstract: An RFI/EMI filter for a variable frequency motor drive system includes a variable frequency drive; a common mode choke; a motor; a cable including a plurality of power leads interconnecting the motor with the variable frequency drive and passing through the choke; a ground shield surrounding the cable and connected to motor ground and variable frequency drive ground; and a common mode return conductor interconnected between the variable frequency drive and the motor and disposed within the shield and passing through the choke for returning a portion of the common mode current to cancel a portion of the saturation current experienced by the choke to increase the portion of the common mode current carried by the return conductor and decrease the portion carried by the shield to reduce the RFI/EMI contributed by the shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Donald J. Lucas
  • Publication number: 20080100400
    Abstract: A filter package includes a pair of spaced circuit boards; a magnetic core between the circuit boards; a plurality of windings on the core extending to at least one of the boards; and a plurality of conductor bars mechanically fastening and electrically interconnecting the circuit boards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventor: Donald J. Lucas
  • Patent number: 5377092
    Abstract: There is described a method and apparatus for substantially cancelling harmonic distortion from the output voltage signal of a power supply. The system samples the output of the power supply and detects the harmonic distortion within the output signal. After the harmonic distortion is detected, the amplitude of the real and imaginary components of the harmonic distortion are determined. The amplitude components are applied to a PI compensator to generate the harmonic distortion correction signal necessary to substantially cancel harmonic distortion from the output voltage signal. The harmonic distortion correction signal is then applied to the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: International Power Machines
    Inventors: Edwin W. Rowand, Jr., Donald J. Lucas
  • Patent number: 4445176
    Abstract: Secondary storage subsystems exchange messages and data with host data processing systems and also forward messages between host systems. Host systems thereby communicate with each other in addition to having access to data in subsystem storage. Access to subsystem storage is initiated by a "request" sent from a host to the subsystem. Each request is a message containing an array of one or more commands, each command specifying a transfer of data or a control function to be performed by the subsystem. A subsystem may process more than one request at a time. It also may process the commands in a request in an arbitrary sequence suited to the availability of subsystem resources and data links to host systems. After all commands in a request have been processed the subsystem transmits an associated "completion" message to the host system which originated the request. The completion message indicates the status of completion or abnormal termination of each command in the associated request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John L. Burk, Roger L. Cormier, Michael H. Hartung, Ray A. Larner, Donald J. Lucas, Kenneth R. Lynch, Brian B. Moore, Howard L. Page, David H. Wansor, Carl Zeitler, Jr.