Patents by Inventor Kraig Bockhorst

Kraig Bockhorst 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: 10770966
    Abstract: A PFC circuit is provided. A first bridge rectifier receives an AC voltage. A power converter includes a switch and receives an output of the first bridge rectifier, converts the output to a first DC voltage, and supplies the first DC voltage to a DC bus to power a compressor. A second bridge rectifier receives the AC voltage and bypasses at least one of the first bridge rectifier, a choke and a diode of the PFC circuit to provide a rectified AC voltage out of the second bridge rectifier to the DC bus to power the compressor. A control module controls operation of a driver to transition the switch between open and closed states to adjust a second DC voltage on the DC bus, where the second DC voltage, depending on the AC and second DC voltages, is based on the first DC voltage or the rectified AC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz, Kraig Bockhorst, Charles E. Green
  • Patent number: 10312798
    Abstract: A PFC circuit is provided. A bridge rectification circuit receives an AC voltage and generates a rectified AC voltage. A power converter converts the rectified AC voltage to a first DC voltage, where the power converter includes a switch and supplies the first DC voltage to a DC bus to power a compressor. A current sensor detects an amount of current. A control module, while operating in a correction mode: based on the rectified AC voltage, a phase angle of the rectified AC voltage, a second DC voltage of the DC bus, or the detected amount of current, control operation of the switch to transition between operating in a high activity mode and an inactive or low activity mode; transition the switch between open and closed states while in the high and low activity modes; and maintain the power converter in an OFF state while in the inactive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Charles E. Green, Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz, Kraig Bockhorst
  • Patent number: 10284132
    Abstract: A drive includes: an inverter power circuit that applies power to an electric motor of a compressor from a direct current (DC) voltage bus; and a power factor correction (PFC) circuit that outputs power to the DC voltage bus based on input alternating current (AC) power. The PFC circuit includes: (i) a switch; (ii) a driver that connects a control terminal of the switch to a first reference potential when a control signal is in a first state and that connects the control terminal of the switch to a second reference potential when the control signal is in a second state; and (iii) an inductor that charges and discharges based on switching of the switch. The drive also includes a control module that generates the control signal based on a measured current through the inductor and a predetermined current through the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz, Kraig Bockhorst
  • Patent number: 10075065
    Abstract: A converter circuit is provided and includes: a first EMI filter connected to AC lines and includes one or more across-the-line capacitors; a charging circuit that receives power from the first EMI filter and limits an amount of current passing from the first EMI filter to a DC bus; and a PFC circuit of a compressor drive that provides PFC between an output of the charging circuit and a generated first DC voltage. The PFC circuit includes: a rectification circuit that rectifies the power from the AC lines or a charging circuit output; and a second EMI filter connected downstream from the rectification circuit and including a DC bus rated capacitor. The second EMI filter outputs a filtered DC signal based on a rectification circuit output. The PFC circuit, based on the second EMI filter output, outputs the first DC voltage to the DC bus to power the compressor drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz, Kraig Bockhorst
  • Publication number: 20170302160
    Abstract: A PFC circuit is provided. A first bridge rectifier receives an AC voltage. A power converter includes a switch and receives an output of the first bridge rectifier, converts the output to a first DC voltage, and supplies the first DC voltage to a DC bus to power a compressor. A second bridge rectifier receives the AC voltage and bypasses at least one of the first bridge rectifier, a choke and a diode of the PFC circuit to provide a rectified AC voltage out of the second bridge rectifier to the DC bus to power the compressor. A control module controls operation of a driver to transition the switch between open and closed states to adjust a second DC voltage on the DC bus, where the second DC voltage, depending on the AC and second DC voltages, is based on the first DC voltage or the rectified AC voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. MARCINKIEWICZ, Kraig BOCKHORST, Charles E. GREEN
  • Publication number: 20170302165
    Abstract: A converter circuit is provided and includes: a first EMI filter connected to AC lines and includes one or more across-the-line capacitors; a charging circuit that receives power from the first EMI filter and limits an amount of current passing from the first EMI filter to a DC bus; and a PFC circuit of a compressor drive that provides PFC between an output of the charging circuit and a generated first DC voltage. The PFC circuit includes: a rectification circuit that rectifies the power from the AC lines or a charging circuit output; and a second EMI filter connected downstream from the rectification circuit and including a DC bus rated capacitor. The second EMI filter outputs a filtered DC signal based on a rectification circuit output. The PFC circuit, based on the second EMI filter output, outputs the first DC voltage to the DC bus to power the compressor drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz, Kraig Bockhorst
  • Publication number: 20170302212
    Abstract: A drive includes: an inverter power circuit that applies power to an electric motor of a compressor from a direct current (DC) voltage bus; and a power factor correction (PFC) circuit that outputs power to the DC voltage bus based on input alternating current (AC) power. The PFC circuit includes: (i) a switch; (ii) a driver that connects a control terminal of the switch to a first reference potential when a control signal is in a first state and that connects the control terminal of the switch to a second reference potential when the control signal is in a second state; and (iii) an inductor that charges and discharges based on switching of the switch. The drive also includes a control module that generates the control signal based on a measured current through the inductor and a predetermined current through the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. MARCINKIEWICZ, Kraig BOCKHORST
  • Publication number: 20170302159
    Abstract: A PFC circuit is provided. A bridge rectification circuit receives an AC voltage and generates a rectified AC voltage. A power converter converts the rectified AC voltage to a first DC voltage, where the power converter includes a switch and supplies the first DC voltage to a DC bus to power a compressor. A current sensor detects an amount of current. A control module, while operating in a correction mode: based on the rectified AC voltage, a phase angle of the rectified AC voltage, a second DC voltage of the DC bus, or the detected amount of current, control operation of the switch to transition between operating in a high activity mode and an inactive or low activity mode; transition the switch between open and closed states while in the high and low activity modes; and maintain the power converter in an OFF state while in the inactive mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Green, Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz, Kraig Bockhorst