Patents by Inventor John Eckerle

John Eckerle 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: 11709976
    Abstract: A method for determining a converter Thevenin equivalent model for a converter system, includes: receiving measurement values of a coupling point voltage and a coupling point current measured at a point of common coupling between a grid emulator system and the converter system, wherein the grid emulator system supplies the converter system with a supply voltage; and determining a converter Thevenin impedance and a converter Thevenin voltage source of the converter Thevenin equivalent model by inputting the measurement values of the coupling point voltage and of the coupling point current into a coupled system model, which includes equations modelling the converter system and the grid emulator system and from which the converter Thevenin impedance and a converter Thevenin voltage source are calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Mats Larsson, John Eckerle
  • Publication number: 20210165933
    Abstract: A method for determining a converter Thevenin equivalent model for a converter system, includes: receiving measurement values of a coupling point voltage and a coupling point current measured at a point of common coupling between a grid emulator system and the converter system, wherein the grid emulator system supplies the converter system with a supply voltage; and determining a converter Thevenin impedance and a converter Thevenin voltage source of the converter Thevenin equivalent model by inputting the measurement values of the coupling point voltage and of the coupling point current into a coupled system model, which includes equations modelling the converter system and the grid emulator system and from which the converter Thevenin impedance and a converter Thevenin voltage source are calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Mats Larsson, John Eckerle
  • Patent number: 10454276
    Abstract: A method is provided for connecting a main converter, e.g. for use in a power plant for regenerative energy having a generator, to a power grid. The method includes providing energy from the pre-charge unit to at least one of at least two converter paths. The at least one converter path is pre-charged using the energy provided from the pre-charge unit. At least one further converter path of the at least two converter paths is pre-charged using the energy provided from the pre-charge unit via the at least one converter path through the grid side converter of the at least one converter path and the grid side converter of the at least one further converter path. The main converter is connected to the power grid by closing the grid breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Matthias Schult, Christian Schlegel, Dominik Flum, John Eckerle
  • Publication number: 20190280475
    Abstract: A method for eliminating an arc driven by at least one phase voltage source of a converter circuit is disclosed. The converter circuit can include a converter unit and an energy storage circuit, wherein the at least one phase voltage source can be connected on an AC voltage side of the converter unit, and the converter unit can have a plurality of actuable power semiconductor switches. The method can include monitoring a state variable of the converter circuit for a predeterminable threshold value of the state variable to detect an arc, and actuating at least one of the plurality of actuable power semiconductor switches of the converter unit upon detecting a discrepancy between the state variable and the predeterminable threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Adrian Guggisberg, John Eckerle, Jonas Wahlstroem
  • Publication number: 20180069404
    Abstract: A method is provided for connecting a main converter, e.g. for use in a power plant for regenerative energy having a generator, to a power grid. The method includes providing energy from the pre-charge unit to at least one of at least two converter paths. The at least one converter path is pre-charged using the energy provided from the pre-charge unit. At least one further converter path of the at least two converter paths is pre-charged using the energy provided from the pre-charge unit via the at least one converter path through the grid side converter of the at least one converter path and the grid side converter of the at least one further converter path. The main converter is connected to the power grid by closing the grid breaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Matthias Schult, Christian Schlegel, Dominik Flum, John Eckerle
  • Publication number: 20150138852
    Abstract: An exemplary method for operating a converter to supply electrical power to a load includes controlling the converter for a provided overload time so that overload power is applied to the load, and controlling the converter for a provided resting time, so that resting power is applied to the load. The overload power is higher than a nominal power which corresponds to a steady-state operation limit of the converter, wherein the resting power is lower than the nominal power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Daniel SIEMASZKO, John Eckerle, Ata Douzdouzani, Klaus Ruetten
  • Publication number: 20140254049
    Abstract: A method for eliminating an arc driven by at least one phase voltage source of a converter circuit is disclosed. The converter circuit can include a converter unit and an energy storage circuit, wherein the at least one phase voltage source can be connected on an AC voltage side of the converter unit, and the converter unit can have a plurality of actuable power semiconductor switches. The method can include monitoring a state variable of the converter circuit for a predeterminable threshold value of the state variable to detect an arc, and actuating at least one of the plurality of actuable power semiconductor switches of the converter unit upon detecting a discrepancy between the state variable and the predeterminable threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Adrian GUGGISBERG, John Eckerle, Jonas Wahlstroem
  • Patent number: 8164296
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for determining a field current through a field winding in an electrical machine with a stator and a rotor. The electrical machine includes a field-circuit transformer to produce, by induction of an electrical current on the rotor side, field current with which a field winding is energized in order to generate an excitation magnetic field. The method includes driving the primary side of the field-circuit transformer to produce a field current in the rotor, which is derived from the current induced on the secondary side in the field-circuit transformer; measuring one or more phase currents in one or more primary-side phases of the field-circuit transformer; determining a maximum value depending on the one or more measured phase currents; determining the field current through the field winding depending on the determined maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: John Eckerle
  • Publication number: 20100219786
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for determining a field current through a field winding in an electrical machine with a stator and a rotor. The electrical machine includes a field-circuit transformer to produce, by induction of an electrical current on the rotor side, field current with which a field winding is energized in order to generate an excitation magnetic field. The method includes driving the primary side of the field-circuit transformer to produce a field current in the rotor, which is derived from the current induced on the secondary side in the field-circuit transformer; measuring one or more phase currents in one or more primary-side phases of the field-circuit transformer; determining a maximum value depending on the one or more measured phase currents; determining the field current through the field winding depending on the determined maximum value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: John ECKERLE
  • Patent number: 7775555
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a first structure, a pedal pivotably connected to the first structure for pivoting between rest and fully-applied positions, a control attachment connecting the pedal to a vehicle system to be controlled, a second structure located rearward of the pedal, and an engagement bracket connected to the pedal to engage the second structure upon rearward movement of the pedal during a vehicle frontal collision. The control attachment is connected to the engagement bracket and disengages from the pedal so that the pedal pivots independent of the control system when the engagement bracket strikes the second structure with a predetermined force. There is a constant distance between the engagement bracket and the second structure as the pedal pivots so that the position of the pedal does not affect the disengagement of the control attachment during the frontal collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Robert Allen, Brian John Eckerle, Jason Allen Booher
  • Publication number: 20090250285
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a first structure, a pedal pivotably connected to the first structure for pivoting between rest and fully-applied positions, a control attachment connecting the pedal to a vehicle system to be controlled, a second structure located rearward of the pedal, and an engagement bracket connected to the pedal to engage the second structure upon rearward movement of the pedal during a vehicle frontal collision. The control attachment is connected to the engagement bracket and disengages from the pedal so that the pedal pivots independent of the control system when the engagement bracket strikes the second structure with a predetermined force. There is a constant distance between the engagement bracket and the second structure as the pedal pivots so that the position of the pedal does not affect the disengagement of the control attachment during the frontal collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: James Robert Allen, Brian John Eckerle, Jason Allen Booher
  • Patent number: 7568406
    Abstract: An adjustable control pedal includes an upper arm and a lower arm carrying a pedal. The lower arm can be selectively moved relative to the upper arm to adjust the position of the pedal between a forward position and a rearward position. A control pin is operably connected to the upper arm for rotation with the upper arm to supply a control signal when force is applied to the pedal. An adjuster is operably connected to the control pin to adjust the position of the control pin relative to the pivot axis so that a ratio of a distance between the pivot axis and the pedal and a distance between the pivot axis and the control pin remains constant as the pedal is adjusted between the forward position and the rearward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Allen Booher, James Robert Allen, Brian John Eckerle
  • Publication number: 20090025505
    Abstract: An adjustable control pedal includes an upper arm and a lower arm carrying a pedal. The lower arm can be selectively moved relative to the upper arm to adjust the position of the pedal between a forward position and a rearward position. A control pin is operably connected to the upper arm for rotation with the upper arm to supply a control signal when force is applied to the pedal. An adjuster is operably connected to the control pin to adjust the position of the control pin relative to the pivot axis so that a ratio of a distance between the pivot axis and the pedal and a distance between the pivot axis and the control pin remains constant as the pedal is adjusted between the forward position and the rearward position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Jason Allen Booher, James Robert Allen, Brian John Eckerle