Patents by Inventor Kenneth J. Farkas

Kenneth J. Farkas 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: 7545659
    Abstract: Cycle error correction is performed in an electronic power system to compensate for a difference between an AC grid side frequency and an AC load side frequency. The electronic power system can comprise an electronic power inverter, such as one usable with an uninterruptible power supply. Cycles of signals indicative of the AC grid power and the AC load power are counted and compared to obtain a cycle error value. If the cycle error value exceeds a first value to indicate that AC load side frequency is too high or too low, then compensation is performed to change the AC load side frequency to be closer to the AC grid side frequency. If the cycle error value falls below a second value to indicate that the AC grid side frequency and AC load side frequency are sufficiently close to one another, then the compensation is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventors: Duo Deng, Kenneth J. Farkas, Anil Tuladhar, Kerry E. Grand
  • Patent number: 7460030
    Abstract: An encoder failure detector system and method for detecting failure of an encoder during time periods when a zero rotational speed is expected. For example, in one embodiment a test signal is applied during a period when a zero rotational speed is expected and a failure is indicated if no movement of a rotor is detected in response to the test signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Farkas, Duo Deng
  • Publication number: 20080165555
    Abstract: Cycle error correction is performed in an electronic power system to compensate for a difference between an AC grid side frequency and an AC load side frequency. The electronic power system can comprise an electronic power inverter, such as one usable with an uninterruptible power supply. Cycles of signals indicative of the AC grid power and the AC load power are counted and compared to obtain a cycle error value. If the cycle error value exceeds a first value to indicate that AC load side frequency is too high or too low, then compensation is performed to change the AC load side frequency to be closer to the AC grid side frequency. If the cycle error value falls below a second value to indicate that the AC grid side frequency and AC load side frequency are sufficiently close to one another, then the compensation is deactivated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS US, INC.
    Inventors: Duo Deng, Kenneth J. Farkas, Anil Tuladhar, Kerry E. Grand
  • Publication number: 20080129549
    Abstract: An encoder failure detector system and method for detecting failure of an encoder during time periods when a zero rotational speed is expected. For example, in one embodiment a test signal is applied during a period when a zero rotational speed is expected and a failure is indicated if no movement of a rotor is detected in response to the test signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Farkas, Duo Deng
  • Patent number: 7362600
    Abstract: Cycle error correction is performed in an electronic power system to compensate for a difference between an AC grid side frequency and an AC load side frequency. The electronic power system includes an electronic power inverter, such as one usable with an uninterruptible power supply. Cycles of signals indicative of the AC grid power and the AC load power are counted and compared to obtain a cycle error value. If the cycle error value exceeds a first value to indicate that AC load side frequency is too high or too low, then compensation is performed to change the AC load side frequency to be closer to the AC grid side frequency. If the cycle error value falls below a second value to indicate that the AC grid side frequency and AC load side frequency are sufficiently close to one another, then the compensation is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventors: Duo Deng, Kenneth J. Farkas, Anil Tuladhar, Kerry E. Grand
  • Patent number: 7158395
    Abstract: A power system employs an outer voltage feedback loop and an inner current feedback loop to control a power converter, such as a DC to AC inverter for transferring electrical power between a power source, for example a photovoltaic array, and a load, for example a power grid. The outer loop accommodates variations in the output of the power source, for example accommodating anomalies in IV characteristics such as IV droop characteristic associated with photovoltaic cells. The outer loop may employ a first control regime or a second control regime, for example, dependent on whether a DC bus voltage or power is smaller than a value corresponding to measurement resolution or expected noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Duo Deng, Anil Tuladhar, Kenneth J. Farkas, Kerry E. Grand