Patents by Inventor James L. Munroe
James L. Munroe 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: 6128204Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 26, 1998Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: James L. Munro, Thomas C. Underwood, Thomas C. Matty, William B. Hall, Edward T. Wagner
-
Patent number: 6118238Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 26, 1998Date of Patent: September 12, 2000Assignee: Satcon Technology CorporationInventors: James L. Munro, Thomas C. Matty
-
Patent number: 5831409Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 28, 1997Date of Patent: November 3, 1998Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: 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: 5627758Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 10, 1994Date of Patent: May 6, 1997Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Geoffrey B. Lansberry, James L. Munro
-
Patent number: 5552976Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 10, 1994Date of Patent: September 3, 1996Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: James L. Munro, David L. Schantz, Jr.
-
Patent number: 5506484Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 10, 1994Date of Patent: April 9, 1996Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventors: James L. Munro, Geoffrey B. Lansberry, Beth A. Herman
-
Patent number: 5481194Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 10, 1994Date of Patent: January 2, 1996Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventors: David L. Schantz, James L. Munro
-
Patent number: 4247772Abstract: A system for correcting misalignment and divergence in a long, propagating beam of radiation as is typically applied through a plurality of chambers to produce isotopically selective photoexcitation in a system for isotope separation. The corrective apparatus comprises a reflective relay system placed at predetermined intervals along the path of propagation of the radiation where correction of alignment and/or divergence are required. The reflective relay includes a concave mirror employed to correct divergence and which receives radiation directed at it by a first plane reflective surface which in turn responds to the radiation on the path of propagation. The concave mirror reflects toward a second plane mirror which in turn reflects the radiation back onto the path of beam propagation with correction of alignment and divergence.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1978Date of Patent: January 27, 1981Assignee: Jersey Nuclear-Avco Isotopes, Inc.Inventors: Joseph E. Lavelle, James L. Munroe
-
Patent number: 4111531Abstract: A system for correcting misalignment and divergence in a long, propagating beam of radiation as is typically applied through a plurality of chambers to produce isotopically selective photoexcitation in a system for isotope separation. The corrective apparatus comprises a reflective relay system placed at predetermined intervals along the path of propagation of the radiation where correction of alignment and/or divergence are required. The reflective relay includes a concave mirror employed to correct divergence and which receives radiation directed at it by a first plane reflective surface which in turn responds to the radiation on the path of propagation. The concave mirror reflects toward a second plane mirror which in turn reflects the radiation back onto the path of beam propagation with correction of alignment and divergence.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1976Date of Patent: September 5, 1978Assignee: Jersey Nuclear-Avco Isotopes, Inc.Inventors: Joseph E. Lavelle, James L. Munroe