Patents by Inventor Eric Martina
Eric Martina 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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Publication number: 20210194248Abstract: In distributed green-energy architectures, where a customer location has energy storage as well as local generation, the present application provides techniques which advantageously prevent the battery from being charged from the grid. This is preferably implemented by using voltage-level signaling to limit power transfer from grid to battery, thereby 1) allowing transfer from PV to battery, and 2) preventing “round-trip” transfer of net energy from grid to battery to grid. This is particularly advantageous where net energy metering is allowed, or where any analogous form of preferential pricing is given to green energy (or to solar energy specifically).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2020Publication date: June 24, 2021Applicant: CE+T Group SAInventors: Eric Martina, Guy Michael Barron, Andrew Brian Young, Uwe Uhmeyer
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Publication number: 20180342874Abstract: A device, system, and method for global maximum power point tracking comprises monitoring an output power of a DC power source while executing a maximum power point tracking algorithm and adjusting a maximum power point tracking command signal in response to the output power being less than a reference output power. The command signal is adjusted until the output power exceeds a previous output power by a reference amount. The command signal may be a voltage command signal, a current command signal, an impedance command signal, a duty ratio command signal, or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2018Publication date: November 29, 2018Inventors: Jonathan Ehlmann, Daniel Blair, Eric Martina, Patrick Chapman, Brian Kuhn
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Patent number: 10050446Abstract: A device, system, and method for global maximum power point tracking comprises monitoring an output power of a DC power source while executing a maximum power point tracking algorithm and adjusting a maximum power point tracking command signal in response to the output power being less than a reference output power. The command signal is adjusted until the output power exceeds a previous output power by a reference amount. The command signal may be a voltage command signal, a current command signal, an impedance command signal, a duty ratio command signal, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2017Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Jonathan Ehlmann, Daniel Blair, Eric Martina, Patrick Chapman, Brian Kuhn
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Publication number: 20180054066Abstract: A device, system, and method for global maximum power point tracking comprises monitoring an output power of a DC power source while executing a maximum power point tracking algorithm and adjusting a maximum power point tracking command signal in response to the output power being less than a reference output power. The command signal is adjusted until the output power exceeds a previous output power by a reference amount. The command signal may be a voltage command signal, a current command signal, an impedance command signal, a duty ratio command signal, or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2017Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Jonathan Ehlmann, Daniel Blair, Eric Martina, Patrick Chapman, Brian Kuhn
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Patent number: 9647574Abstract: An inverter for converting an input direct current (DC) waveform from a DC source to an output alternating current (AC) waveform for delivery to an AC grid includes an input converter, an output converter, an input controller, and an output controller. The input controller is configured to control the operation of the input converter, and the output controller is configured to control the operation of the output controller. The input and output controllers are electrically isolated from each other and may be incapable of direct communications between each other. In some embodiments, the input and output controllers may communicate with each other via the input and output converters.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Patrick Chapman, Andrew O'Connell, Timothy Sams, Eric Martina
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Publication number: 20170012437Abstract: A device, system, and method for global maximum power point tracking comprises monitoring an output power of a DC power source while executing a maximum power point tracking algorithm and adjusting a maximum power point tracking command signal in response to the output power being less than a reference output power. The command signal is adjusted until the output power exceeds a previous output power by a reference amount. The command signal may be a voltage command signal, a current command signal, an impedance command signal, a duty ratio command signal, or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Inventors: Jonathan Ehlmann, Daniel Blair, Eric Martina, Patrick Chapman, Brian Kuhn
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Patent number: 9477247Abstract: A device, system, and method for global maximum power point tracking comprises monitoring an output power of a DC power source while executing a maximum power point tracking algorithm and adjusting a maximum power point tracking command signal in response to the output power being less than a reference output power. The command signal is adjusted until the output power exceeds a previous output power by a reference amount. The command signal may be a voltage command signal, a current command signal, an impedance command signal, a duty ratio command signal, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Jonathan Ehlmann, Daniel Blair, Eric Martina, Patrick Chapman, Brian Kuhn
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Publication number: 20150249405Abstract: An inverter for converting an input direct current (DC) waveform from a DC source to an output alternating current (AC) waveform for delivery to an AC grid includes an input converter, an output converter, an input controller, and an output controller. The input controller is configured to control the operation of the input converter, and the output controller is configured to control the operation of the output controller. The input and output controllers are electrically isolated from each other and may be incapable of direct communications between each other. In some embodiments, the input and output controllers may communicate with each other via the input and output converters.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2015Publication date: September 3, 2015Inventors: Patrick Chapman, Andrew O'Connell, Timothy Sams, Eric Martina
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Publication number: 20150212535Abstract: A device, system, and method for global maximum power point tracking comprises monitoring an output power of a DC power source while executing a maximum power point tracking algorithm and adjusting a maximum power point tracking command signal in response to the output power being less than a reference output power. The command signal is adjusted until the output power exceeds a previous output power by a reference amount. The command signal may be a voltage command signal, a current command signal, an impedance command signal, a duty ratio command signal, or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2014Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: Jonathan Ehlmann, Daniel Blair, Eric Martina, Patrick Chapman, Brian Kuhn
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Patent number: 9065354Abstract: An inverter for converting an input direct current (DC) waveform from a DC source to an output alternating current (AC) waveform for delivery to an AC grid includes an input converter, an output converter, an input controller, and an output controller. The input controller is configured to control the operation of the input converter, and the output controller is configured to control the operation of the output controller. The input and output controllers are electrically isolated from each other and may be incapable of direct communications between each other. In some embodiments, the input and output controllers may communicate with each other via the input and output converters.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2011Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Patrick Chapman, Andrew O'Connell, Timothy Sams, Eric Martina
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Patent number: 8922185Abstract: A device, system, and method for global maximum power point tracking comprises monitoring an output power of a DC power source while executing a maximum power point tracking algorithm and adjusting a maximum power point tracking command signal in response to the output power being less than a reference output power. The command signal is adjusted until the output power exceeds a previous output power by a reference amount. The command signal may be a voltage command signal, a current command signal, an impedance command signal, a duty ratio command signal, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2011Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Ehlmann, Daniel Blair, Eric Martina, Patrick Chapman, Brian Kuhn
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Patent number: 8817510Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a DC-to-AC inverter is disclosed. The DC-to-AC inverter may be configured to convert DC power received from an alternative energy source to AC power for supplying an AC grid or load. The inverter may determine whether the power presently supplied by the alternative energy source is less than a predetermined amount of power and, if so, disable an output converter of the inverter. Additionally, the inverter may predict the voltage of a DC bus of the inverter at a future point in time and, if the predicted DC bus voltage is greater than a predetermined maximum DC bus voltage, enable the output converter to transfer energy from the DC bus to the AC grid to reduce the DC bus voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Trishan Esram, Alexander Gray, Eric Martina, Patrick Chapman
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Publication number: 20140036563Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the delivery of a pre-determined amount of power from a DC source to an AC grid includes an inverter and an inverter controller. The inverter includes an input converter, an energy storage capacitor, and an output converter. The inverter controller includes an input converter controller and an output converter controller. The input converter controller includes feedforward controller configured to perform a calculation to determine a value for the duty cycle for the input converter such that: (1) the input converter delivers the pre-determined amount of power and (2) the magnitude of a ripple signal reflected into the input source is attenuated toward zero. The input converter controller may also include a quadrature corrector configured to determine the effectiveness of the calculation in attenuating the ripple and to adaptively alter the calculation to improve the effectiveness.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Trishan Esram, Eric Martina, Brian T. Kuhn
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Patent number: 8611107Abstract: A method for controlling an multi-stage inverter comprises controlling an input converter of the multi-stage inverter with an input controller and controlling an output converter of the multi-stage inverter with an output controller separate from the input controller. The input controller and output controller may be galvanically isolated. Additionally, the method may include communicating data between the input controller and the output controller over a power bus of the multi-stage inverter.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Chapman, Andrew O'Connell, Timothy Sams, Eric Martina
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Patent number: 8503200Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the delivery of a pre-determined amount of power from a DC source to an AC grid includes an inverter and an inverter controller. The inverter includes an input converter, an energy storage capacitor, and an output converter. The inverter controller includes an input converter controller and an output converter controller. The input converter controller includes feedforward controller configured to perform a calculation to determine a value for the duty cycle for the input converter such that: (1) the input converter delivers the pre-determined amount of power and (2) the magnitude of a ripple signal reflected into the input source is attenuated toward zero. The input converter controller may also include a quadrature corrector configured to determine the effectiveness of the calculation in attenuating the ripple and to adaptively alter the calculation to improve the effectiveness.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2010Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Trishan Esram, Eric Martina, Brian Kuhn
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Publication number: 20130027998Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a DC-to-AC inverter is disclosed. The DC-to-AC inverter may be configured to convert DC power received from an alternative energy source to AC power for supplying an AC grid or load. The inverter may determine whether the power presently supplied by the alternative energy source is less than a predetermined amount of power and, if so, disable an output converter of the inverter. Additionally, the inverter may predict the voltage of a DC bus of the inverter at a future point in time and, if the predicted DC bus voltage is greater than a predetermined maximum DC bus voltage, enable the output converter to transfer energy from the DC bus to the AC grid to reduce the DC bus voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2012Publication date: January 31, 2013Inventors: Trishan Esram, Alexander Gray, Eric Martina, Patrick Chapman
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Publication number: 20130016536Abstract: A device, system, and method for global maximum power point tracking comprises monitoring an output power of a DC power source while executing a maximum power point tracking algorithm and adjusting a maximum power point tracking command signal in response to the output power being less than a reference output power. The command signal is adjusted until the output power exceeds a previous output power by a reference amount. The command signal may be a voltage command signal, a current command signal, an impedance command signal, a duty ratio command signal, or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2011Publication date: January 17, 2013Applicant: SOLARBRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Jonathan Ehlmann, Daniel Blair, Eric Martina, Patrick Chapman, Brian Kuhn
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Publication number: 20120275196Abstract: An inverter for converting an input direct current (DC) waveform from a DC source to an output alternating current (AC) waveform for delivery to an AC grid includes an input converter, an output converter, an input controller, and an output controller. The input controller is configured to control the operation of the input converter, and the output controller is configured to control the operation of the output controller. The input and output controllers are electrically isolated from each other and may be incapable of direct communications between each other. In some embodiments, the input and output controllers may communicate with each other via the input and output converters.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2011Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: SOLARBRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Patrick Chapman, Andrew O'Connell, Timothy Sams, Eric Martina
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Patent number: 8279649Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a DC-to-AC inverter is disclosed. The DC-to-AC inverter may be configured to convert DC power received from an alternative energy source to AC power for supplying an AC grid or load. The inverter may determine whether the power presently supplied by the alternative energy source is less than a predetermined amount of power and, if so, disable an output converter of the inverter. Additionally, the inverter may predict the voltage of a DC bus of the inverter at a future point in time and, if the predicted DC bus voltage is greater than a predetermined maximum DC bus voltage, enable the output converter to transfer energy from the DC bus to the AC grid to reduce the DC bus voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2010Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Trishan Esram, Alexander Gray, Eric Martina, Patrick L. Chapman
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Publication number: 20120087159Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the delivery of a pre-determined amount of power from a DC source to an AC grid includes an inverter and an inverter controller. The inverter includes an input converter, an energy storage capacitor, and an output converter. The inverter controller includes an input converter controller and an output converter controller. The input converter controller includes feedforward controller configured to perform a calculation to determine a value for the duty cycle for the input converter such that: (1) the input converter delivers the pre-determined amount of power and (2) the magnitude of a ripple signal reflected into the input source is attenuated toward zero. The input converter controller may also include a quadrature corrector configured to determine the effectiveness of the calculation in attenuating the ripple and to adaptively alter the calculation to improve the effectiveness.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2010Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicant: SOLARBRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Trishan Esram, Eric Martina, Brian Kuhn