Patents by Inventor Francisco Canales

Francisco Canales 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: 20140369093
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a method and an adaptive RCD snubber circuit for a switching converter having a series-connection of a main inductor and a main switching device. A voltage stress of the main switching device is sensed, and the sensed voltage stress is controlled to a reference level by controlling a snubber capacitor voltage, wherein the snubber capacitor voltage is controlled by adjusting the snubber resistance of the RCD snubber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD,
    Inventors: Ki-Bum PARK, Francisco CANALES, Sami PETTERSSON
  • Publication number: 20140362613
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an LC snubber circuit for a switching converter, wherein the switching converter includes an inductor and a switching device connected in series. The LC snubber circuit can include a first snubber diode, a snubber capacitor, a second snubber diode, and a snubber transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding of the snubber transformer is connected to an output of the switching converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Ki-Bum PARK, Francisco CANALES, Sami PETTERSSON
  • Publication number: 20140340041
    Abstract: A modular converter is disclosed for a battery charging station, having at least two charging modules connected in parallel. Each of the charging modules can be configured for generating an output current I1, I2, I3 for charging a battery. Each charging module can have a local controller for controlling the charging module. Each local controller of a charging module can be configured for determining a global charging current I and for determining the output current I1, I2, I3 of the charging module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel AGGELER, Francisco Canales, Georgios Papafotiou, RiverTinHo LI, Oscar Apeldoorn
  • Patent number: 8848409
    Abstract: A converter includes an active stage for converting an AC input voltage at an AC input into an intermediate DC voltage, and a DC/DC converter for transforming the intermediate DC voltage into an output DC voltage at a DC output. The DC/DC converter has a resonant transformer formed by a resonant circuit and a transformer. The converter also includes control unit configured to actively operate the active stage only based on an output DC voltage of the DC/DC converter, an input voltage, and an input current of the converter, and to operate the DC/DC converter in an open loop mode. A method for operating such a converter is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Drazen Dujic, Francisco Canales, Akos Mester
  • Publication number: 20140241016
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to methods and systems for producing a three-phase current to a three-phase output. Switching converters are used to generate a positive current, a negative current, and an intermediate current. The system is configured such that the produced positive current follows a path of a highest phase of a sinusoidal three-phase signal at a given time, the produced negative current follows a path of a lowest phase of the three-phase signal at the given time, and the produced intermediate current follows a path of a phase of the three-phase signal between the highest and the lowest phase at the given time. The produced currents are switched to each phase conductor of the three-phase output in sequence so that phase currents of the three-phase current are formed in the output conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Ngai-Man HO, Gerardo ESCOBAR, Francisco CANALES
  • Patent number: 8559194
    Abstract: A converter circuit has a first resonant converter that is connected on the DC voltage side to a first energy storage circuit, and a transformer. A second resonant converter is connected on the AC voltage side to the secondary winding of the transformer and on the DC voltage side to a load converter, and a CLL resonant circuit is connected to the first resonant converter and to the primary winding of the transformer. The CLL resonant circuit has a resonant capacitance, a first resonant inductance and a second resonant inductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Antonio Coccia, Francisco Canales, Manfred Winkelnkemper, Marc Pellerin, Nicolas Hugo, Philippe Stefanutti, Toufann Chaudhuri
  • Patent number: 8488351
    Abstract: An exemplary non-isolated DC-DC converter for a solar power plant, can be adapted to connect to a full-bridge inverter. The converter includes positive and negative input terminals, and positive and negative output terminals. A plurality of switches, diodes, inductors and capacitors are connected in a circuit configuration to the input and output terminals. A control means is connected to the circuit for controlling the switching of a first, second, and third switch between an open and closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Leonardo-Augusto Serpa, Francisco Canales, Ngai-Man Ho, Antonio Coccia
  • Publication number: 20130063981
    Abstract: A converter includes an active stage for converting an AC input voltage at an AC input into an intermediate DC voltage, and a DC/DC converter for transforming the intermediate DC voltage into an output DC voltage at a DC output. The DC/DC converter has a resonant transformer formed by a resonant circuit and a transformer. The converter also includes control unit configured to actively operate the active stage only based on an output DC voltage of the DC/DC converter, an input voltage, and an input current of the converter, and to operate the DC/DC converter in an open loop mode. A method for operating such a converter is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Drazen Dujic, Francisco Canales, Akos Mester
  • Patent number: 8169797
    Abstract: An AC/DC intermediate-circuit converter has a very wide AC input voltage range with a ZVS three-level DC/DC resonant converter with an LLC series-resonant circuit. Two intermediate-circuit capacitors are connected in series between DC intermediate-circuit connections with their common connection point forming a DC intermediate-circuit center connection (5). The DC intermediate-circuit connections are connected to the DC connections of a rectifier whose AC input connections have an AC input voltage applied thereto. A range changeover switch is arranged between an AC input connection and the DC intermediate-circuit center connection. The range changeover switch is closed in a lower AC input voltage range, when the ZVS three-level DC/DC resonant converter is operated on the basis of a “two-level operating mode” modulation strategy, such that the LLC series-resonant circuit has the full DC input voltage present between the DC intermediate-circuit connections applied to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Antonio Coccia, Francisco Canales
  • Patent number: 8149599
    Abstract: A controller circuit is specified, having a step-up controller, a resonant converter connected downstream of the step-up controller on the output side, a transformer, a rectifier, which rectifier is connected to the secondary winding of the transformer on the input side, and a CLL resonant circuit connected to the resonant converter and to the primary winding of the transformer, which CLL resonant circuit has a resonance capacitance and a first and a second resonance inductance. In order to reduce the switching losses, the CLL resonant circuit is embodied as a “T” circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Antonio Coccia, Francisco Canales, Gerold Knapp, Marcel Merk, Fabiana Da Silveira Cavalcante
  • Publication number: 20110228578
    Abstract: An exemplary non-isolated DC-DC converter for a solar power plant, can be adapted to connect to a full-bridge inverter. The converter includes positive and negative input terminals, and positive and negative output terminals. A plurality of switches, diodes, inductors and capacitors are connected in a circuit configuration to the input and output terminals. A control means is connected to the circuit for controlling the switching of a first, second, and third switch between an open and closed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Leonardo-Augusto Serpa, Francisco Canales, Ngai-Man Ho, Antonio Coccia
  • Publication number: 20110222317
    Abstract: A converter circuit has a first resonant converter that is connected on the DC voltage side to a first energy storage circuit, and a transformer. A second resonant converter is connected on the AC voltage side to the secondary winding of the transformer and on the DC voltage side to a load converter, and a CLL resonant circuit is connected to the first resonant converter and to the primary winding of the transformer. The CLL resonant circuit has a resonant capacitance, a first resonant inductance and a second resonant inductance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD
    Inventors: Antonio Coccia, Francisco Canales, Manfred Winkelnkemper, Marc Pellerin, Nicolas Hugo, Philippe Stefanutti, Toufann Chaudhuri
  • Publication number: 20110103118
    Abstract: A non-isolated DC-DC converter assembly includes a boost converter and a ?uk converter connected together in a specific way. The non-isolated DC-DC converter assembly allows for grounding of a source and load at the same time, and provides a complete adjustability of the output voltage of the non-isolated DC-DC converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Leonardo-Augusto SERPA, Mikko Paakkinen, Francisco Canales, Gerardo Escobar, Antonio Coccia
  • Publication number: 20100244575
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling single-phase DC/AC converters, along with a converter arrangement having at least two single-phase DC/AC converters. A controller is provided which can control the at least two single-phase DC/AC converters, and an isolation transformer, wherein outputs of the at least two single-phase DC/AC converters are cascade-connected with each other and an input of the isolation transformer. The controller is configured to control the at least two single-phase DC/AC converters to deliver power from their inputs to their outputs by turns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Antonio Coccia, Francisco Canales, Leonardo-Augusto Serpa, Mikko Paakkinen
  • Publication number: 20090316443
    Abstract: An AC/DC intermediate-circuit converter has a very wide AC input voltage range with a ZVS three-level DC/DC resonant converter with an LLC series-resonant circuit. Two intermediate-circuit capacitors are connected in series between DC intermediate-circuit connections with their common connection point forming a DC intermediate-circuit centre connection (5). The DC intermediate-circuit connections are connected to the DC connections of a rectifier whose AC input connections have an AC input voltage applied thereto. A range changeover switch is arranged between an AC input connection and the DC intermediate-circuit centre connection. The range changeover switch is closed in a lower AC input voltage range, when the ZVS three-level DC/DC resonant converter is operated on the basis of a “two-level operating mode” modulation strategy, such that the LLC series-resonant circuit has the full DC input voltage present between the DC intermediate-circuit connections applied to it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: ABB AG
    Inventors: Antonio COCCIA, Francisco CANALES
  • Publication number: 20090154200
    Abstract: A controller circuit is specified, having a step-up controller, a resonant converter connected downstream of the step-up controller on the output side, a transformer, a rectifier, which rectifier is connected to the secondary winding of the transformer on the input side, and a CLL resonant circuit connected to the resonant converter and to the primary winding of the transformer, which CLL resonant circuit has a resonance capacitance and a first and a second resonance inductance. In order to reduce the switching losses, the CLL resonant circuit is embodied as a “T” circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Antonio Coccia, Francisco Canales, Gerold Knapp, Marcel Merk, Fabiana Da Silveira Cavalcante
  • Patent number: 6349044
    Abstract: A three-level DC-to-DC converter is provided having zero-voltage and zero-current switching (ZVZCS). A flying capacitor is provided on the primary side of the converter to achieve zero voltage switching (ZVS). In addition, during freewheeling (i.e., when no power is being transferred from the primary side to the secondary side), an auxiliary power source is provided to eliminate the circulating energy and to achieve zero current switching (ZCS) for the commutation switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Francisco Canales-Abarca, Peter M. Barbosa, Fred C. Lee