Patents by Inventor Keith Thomas Richtman

Keith Thomas Richtman 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).

  • DC microgrid for interconnecting distributed electricity generation, loads, and storage
    Patent number: 11275398
    Abstract: A device includes an energy unit coupled to an energy device and adapted to couple a pair of split DC rails. A controller senses the voltage on the DC rails and regulates its output current response by means of an autonomous current response that creates the aggregate effect of controlling the rail voltage in cooperation with other units coupled to the DC rails. A system includes multiple such devices coupled to split DC rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Pika Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Daniel Kaufman, Benjamin Francis Polito, Keith Thomas Richtman
  • DC MICROGRID FOR INTERCONNECTING DISTRIBUTED ELECTRICITY GENERATION, LOADS, AND STORAGE
    Publication number: 20200393864
    Abstract: A device includes an energy unit coupled to an energy device and adapted to couple a pair of split DC rails. A controller senses the voltage on the DC rails and regulates its output current response by means of an autonomous current response that creates the aggregate effect of controlling the rail voltage in cooperation with other units coupled to the DC rails. A system includes multiple such devices coupled to split DC rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Joshua Daniel Kaufman, Benjamin Francis Polito, Keith Thomas Richtman
  • DC microgrid for interconnecting distributed electricity generation, loads, and storage
    Patent number: 10732659
    Abstract: A device includes an energy unit coupled to an energy device and adapted to couple a pair of split DC rails. A controller senses the voltage on the DC rails and regulates its output current response by means of an autonomous current response that creates the aggregate effect of controlling the rail voltage in cooperation with other units coupled to the DC rails. A system includes multiple such devices coupled to split DC rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Pika Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Daniel Kaufman, Benjamin Francis Polito, Keith Thomas Richtman
  • DISTRIBUTED SUBSTRING ARCHITECTURE FOR MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING OF ENERGY SOURCES
    Publication number: 20200036191
    Abstract: A photovoltaic array system includes multiple strings of series coupled photovoltaic modules to provide current at a voltage dependent on the number of modules in each string and their operating efficiency. Each string is coupled to a DC-to-DC converter to convert the current from each string for output to a DC bus. An inverter is coupled to DC bus to convert the current from the strings of series coupled photovoltaic modules to AC current at a grid-compatible voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Joshua Daniel Kaufman, Benjamin Francis Polito, Keith Thomas Richtman
  • Distributed substring architecture for maximum power point tracking of energy sources
    Patent number: 10411477
    Abstract: A photovoltaic array system includes multiple strings of series coupled photovoltaic modules to provide current at a voltage dependent on the number of modules in each string and their operating efficiency. Each string is coupled to a DC-to-DC converter to convert the current from each string for output to a DC bus. An inverter is coupled to DC bus to convert the current from the strings of series coupled photovoltaic modules to AC current at a grid-compatible voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Pika Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Daniel Kaufman, Benjamin Francis Polito, Keith Thomas Richtman
  • DC MICROGRID FOR INTERCONNECTING DISTRIBUTED ELECTRICITY GENERATION, LOADS, AND STORAGE
    Publication number: 20180253117
    Abstract: A device includes an energy unit coupled to an energy device and adapted to couple a pair of split DC rails. A controller senses the voltage on the DC rails and regulates its output current response by means of an autonomous current response that creates the aggregate effect of controlling the rail voltage in cooperation with other units coupled to the DC rails. A system includes multiple such devices coupled to split DC rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Joshua Daniel Kaufman, Benjamin Francis Polito, Keith Thomas Richtman
  • DC microgrid for interconnecting distributed electricity generation, loads, and storage
    Patent number: 9886051
    Abstract: A device includes an energy unit coupled to an energy device and adapted to couple a pair of split DC rails. A controller senses the voltage on the DC rails and regulates its output current response by means of an autonomous current response that creates the aggregate effect of controlling the rail voltage in cooperation with other units coupled to the DC rails. A system includes multiple such devices coupled to split DC rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Pika Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Daniel Kaufman, Benjamin Francis Polito, Keith Thomas Richtman
  • Centrifugal brake for overspeed protection
    Patent number: 9551386
    Abstract: A centrifugally triggered brake mechanism is used to halt a rotating assembly. The brake mechanism includes a braking surface, a brake shoe, and a rotating centrifugal trigger. Upon attaining a selected rotational speed the trigger releases the brake pad to engage the drum. The mechanism may be useful for instance in providing backup overspeed protection for wind turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Pika Energy LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Francis Polito, Keith Thomas Richtman, Joshua Daniel Kaufman
  • Low-cost molded wind turbine blade
    Patent number: 9512818
    Abstract: An optimally-shaped single part molded wind turbine blade is provided for small wind turbines. Two mold bodies are brought together to form a cavity, and a third retractable mold body is inserted into the cavity. A flowable material such as filled thermoplastic resin is introduced into the space between the mold bodies and solidified. The retractable mold body is retracted and the mold is opened to reveal a single-part wind turbine blade with a hollow root region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Pika Energy LLC
    Inventors: Keith Thomas Richtman, Benjamin Francis Polito, Joshua Daniel Kaufman
  • DC MICROGRID FOR INTERCONNECTING DISTRIBUTED ELECTRICITY GENERATION, LOADS AND STORAGE
    Publication number: 20160018837
    Abstract: A device includes an energy unit coupled to an energy device and adapted to couple a pair of split DC rails. A controller senses the voltage on the DC rails and regulates its output current response by means of an autonomous current response that creates the aggregate effect of controlling the rail voltage in cooperation with other units coupled to the DC rails. A system includes multiple such devices coupled to split DC rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Joshua Daniel Kaufman, Benjamin Francis Polito, Keith Thomas Richtman
  • DC microgrid for interconnecting distributed electricity generation, loads, and storage
    Patent number: 9148016
    Abstract: A device includes an energy unit coupled to an energy device and adapted to couple a pair of split DC rails. A controller senses the voltage on the DC rails and regulates its output current response by means of an autonomous current response that creates the aggregate effect of controlling the rail voltage in cooperation with other units coupled to the DC rails. A system includes multiple such devices coupled to split DC rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Pika Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Daniel Kaufman, Benjamin Francis Polito, Keith Thomas Richtman
  • CENTRIFUGAL BRAKE FOR OVERSPEED PROTECTION
    Publication number: 20130313054
    Abstract: A centrifugally triggered brake mechanism is used to halt a rotating assembly. The brake mechanism includes a braking surface, a brake shoe, and a rotating centrifugal trigger. Upon attaining a selected rotational speed the trigger releases the brake pad to engage the drum. The mechanism may be useful for instance in providing backup overspeed protection for wind turbines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Pika Energy LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Francis Polito, Keith Thomas Richtman, Joshua Daniel Kaufman
  • DC MICROGRID FOR INTERCONNECTING DISTRIBUTED ELECTRICITY GENERATION, LOADS, AND STORAGE
    Publication number: 20120299386
    Abstract: A device includes an energy unit coupled to an energy device and adapted to couple a pair of split DC rails. A controller senses the voltage on the DC rails and regulates its output current response by means of an autonomous current response that creates the aggregate effect of controlling the rail voltage in cooperation with other units coupled to the DC rails. A system includes multiple such devices coupled to split DC rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Pika Energy LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Daniel Kaufman, Benjamin Francis Polito, Keith Thomas Richtman