Patents by Inventor James L. Munro

James L. Munro 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: 6128204
    Abstract: A line power unit controls electrical power delivery to a grid from a three phase permanent magnet generator. A line power unit controller receives a power level command and controls a main inverter that draws DC power from a DC bus to deliver the commanded power to a grid. The DC bus is fed DC voltage via a three phase permanent magnet generator and a rectifier. The inverter delivers power to the grid via a filter, transformer and main contactor. The line power unit controller also controls the main contactor to break the connection with the grid. A precharge circuit draws power from the grid to precharge the DC bus to a precharge voltage. Alternatives include a start inverter separate from the main inverter that permits simultaneous delivery of power to the grid and commutation of the permanent magnet generator as a motor to spin an engine connected thereto at a speed sufficient to permit engine starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Munro, Thomas C. Underwood, Thomas C. Matty, William B. Hall, Edward T. Wagner
  • Patent number: 6118238
    Abstract: A conventional motor controlling circuit is adapted to control an inverter that drives a permanent magnet generator as a motor to spin an engine to a speed sufficient to permit the engine to start. The commutation frequency is adjusted as a function of speed utilizing an automatic commutation frequency adjustment circuit. This circuit has multiple commutation frequency ranges that overcome a large initial bearing drag during low speed operation while still permitting high speed operation. The automatic commutation frequency adjustment circuit preferably generates first and second voltage ramps that overcome the initial bearing drag and accelerate the generator at a rate fast enough for sufficient back EMF to be generated for a closed-loop commutation phase. A speedup circuit operates during the closed-loop commutation phase to achieve the high speeds typically necessary for engine starting. The inventive circuits even permit a turbine type engine to be successfully started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Satcon Technology Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Munro, Thomas C. Matty
  • Patent number: 5831409
    Abstract: An electric vehicle propulsion system having a motor with first and second electrically isolated windings and a system control unit for controlling the motor, wherein the system control unit includes a first power bridge for driving the first windings and a second power bridge for driving the second windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Frank A. Lindberg, David L. Schantz, Jr., Brian H. Smith, Charles S. Kerfoot, Joseph J. Springer, Patricia A. O'Donnell, James H. DeOms, Ronnie L. Starling, Michael J. Ankrom, James L. Munro, Geoffrey B. Lansberry, Beth A. Herman, William B. Hall, Marshall G. Jones, William B. Winkel, Brian A. DeAbreu, Thomas C. Underwood, Todd M. Zaranski, Aaron D. Valdivia, Richard M. Young, Frank E. Altoz, Ngon B. Nguyen, Eric L. Mohler
  • Patent number: 5627758
    Abstract: A vector control board for an electric vehicle propulsion system motor controller comprising a microcontroller for generating torque requests, a digital signal processor for receiving the torque requests from the microcontroller and for generating phase voltage signals in accordance with the torque requests, and a digital gate array for receiving the phase voltage signals from the digital signal processor and for generating gate drive signals from the phase voltage signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey B. Lansberry, James L. Munro
  • Patent number: 5552976
    Abstract: A EMI filter for an electric vehicle propulsion system, comprising a first and second capacitive element electrically connected in parallel with first and second power conductors, an inductive element electrically connected in series with the first power conductor and separating the first and second capacitive elements, and first and second junctions electrically connecting the second capacitive element to an electronic switch, wherein the sum of intrinsic inductances of the first and second junctions is less than the intrinsic inductance of the second capacitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Munro, David L. Schantz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5506484
    Abstract: A pulse width modulator (PWM) circuit for generating pulses to enable a driver control unit to drive a pair of switching circuits for an electric motor including an input section for receiving an N bit digitized input signal to be modulated and a PWM counter for continuously counting up from zero to a predetermined number and back down to zero, the PWM counter generating a digitized triangular waveform having N bits of resolution corresponding to the predetermined number. A compare unit receives and compares the digitized input signal and the digitized triangular waveform to produce an output pulse and a dead-time generator unit produces a first pulse and a second pulse from the output pulse produced from the compare unit. The first and second pulses each drives a corresponding one of the switching circuits and the first and second pulses have different transition times relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: James L. Munro, Geoffrey B. Lansberry, Beth A. Herman
  • Patent number: 5481194
    Abstract: A fault detection circuit for detecting leakage currents between a DC power source and chassis of an automobile, includes a voltage sensor coupled to the DC power source, the voltage sensor including an analog reference and a chassis ground. A differential amplifier is coupled to the voltage sensor and detects variations in the analog reference and the chassis ground. A voltage comparator unit determines whether the variations detected in the differential amplifier is above a predetermined threshold value. A built-in test circuit tests whether the fault detection circuit is operating correctly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: David L. Schantz, James L. Munro