Patents by Inventor Lance P. Haines
Lance P. Haines 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).
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Patent number: 8320146Abstract: A power converter system includes a power converter system including: a DC-to-AC power converter; a first output configured to be coupled to a power grid; a first input configured to be coupled to the power grid; second outputs each configured to be coupled to a corresponding AC load; a power-grid switch coupled to the converter and to the first output; load switches coupled to the converter, the second outputs, and the first input; and a controller coupled to the load switches and to the first output and configured to determine whether energy from the power grid satisfies at least one criterion, the controller being further configured to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to couple the converter to the first output and to couple the first input to the second outputs if the at least one criterion is satisfied and otherwise to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to isolate the converter from the first output and to couple the converter to at least one of the second outputs.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventors: Lance P. Haines, Vishwas M. Deokar
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Publication number: 20110254372Abstract: A power converter system includes a power converter system including: a DC-to-AC power converter; a first output configured to be coupled to a power grid; a first input configured to be coupled to the power grid; second outputs each configured to be coupled to a corresponding AC load; a power-grid switch coupled to the converter and to the first output; load switches coupled to the converter, the second outputs, and the first input; and a controller coupled to the load switches and to the first output and configured to determine whether energy from the power grid satisfies at least one criterion, the controller being further configured to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to couple the converter to the first output and to couple the first input to the second outputs if the at least one criterion is satisfied and otherwise to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to isolate the converter from the first output and to couple the converter to at least one of the second outputs.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: American Power Conversion CorporationInventors: Lance P. Haines, Vishwas M. Deokar
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Patent number: 8013566Abstract: A solar powered apparatus that includes a battery, at least one photovoltaic cell (which may be part of a solar module comprising multiple photovoltaic cells), and a DC-capable AC appliance, such as a compact fluorescent light. The solar powered apparatus may also include a first DC to DC converter that receives a first electrical signal from the at least one photovoltaic cell and provides a charging signal to the battery, and a second DC to DC converter that receives a second electrical signal from the battery and provides a DC power signal to the DC-capable AC appliance.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2010Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventor: Lance P. Haines
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Patent number: 7929327Abstract: A power converter system includes a power converter system including: a DC-to-AC power converter; a first output configured to be coupled to a power grid; a first input configured to be coupled to the power grid; second outputs each configured to be coupled to a corresponding AC load; a power-grid switch coupled to the converter and to the first output; load switches coupled to the converter, the second outputs, and the first input; and a controller coupled to the load switches and to the first output and configured to determine whether energy from the power grid satisfies at least one criterion, the controller being further configured to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to couple the converter to the first output and to couple the first input to the second outputs if the at least one criterion is satisfied and otherwise to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to isolate the converter from the first output and to couple the converter to at least one of the second outputs.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventors: Lance P. Haines, Vishwas M. Deokar
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Publication number: 20110084647Abstract: A solar powered apparatus that includes a battery, at least one photovoltaic cell (which may be part of a solar module comprising multiple photovoltaic cells), and a DC-capable AC appliance, such as a compact fluorescent light. The solar powered apparatus may also include a first DC to DC converter that receives a first electrical signal from the at least one photovoltaic cell and provides a charging signal to the battery, and a second DC to DC converter that receives a second electrical signal from the battery and provides a DC power signal to the DC-capable AC appliance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2010Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATIONInventor: Lance P. Haines
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Patent number: 7834580Abstract: A solar powered apparatus that includes a battery, at least one photovoltaic cell (which may be part of a solar module comprising multiple photovoltaic cells), and a DC-capable AC appliance, such as a compact fluorescent light. The solar powered apparatus may also include a first DC to DC converter that receives a first electrical signal from the at least one photovoltaic cell and provides a charging signal to the battery, and a second DC to DC converter that receives a second electrical signal from the battery and provides a DC power signal to the DC-capable AC appliance.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventor: Lance P Haines
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Patent number: 7529110Abstract: A power conversion device for receiving AC and/or DC power and providing a DC output includes: an AC input; a DC input; an output; AC-to-DC converter circuitry coupled to the AC input and to the output and configured to convert an AC voltage received at the AC input into a first output DC voltage and to provide the first output DC voltage to the output; and non-isolated DC-to-DC up/down converter circuitry coupled to the DC input and to the output and configured to directly convert an input DC voltage received at the DC input into a second output DC voltage that is one of a down-converted DC voltage that is lower than the input DC voltage and an up-converted DC voltage that is higher than the input DC voltage, the DC-to-DC up/down converter circuitry being further configured to provide the second output DC voltage to the output.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2006Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventor: Lance P. Haines
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Publication number: 20090027001Abstract: A solar powered apparatus that includes a battery, at least one photovoltaic cell (which may be part of a solar module comprising multiple photovoltaic cells), and a DC-capable AC appliance, such as a compact fluorescent light. The solar powered apparatus may also include a first DC to DC converter that receives a first electrical signal from the at least one photovoltaic cell and provides a charging signal to the battery, and a second DC to DC converter that receives a second electrical signal from the battery and provides a DC power signal to the DC-capable AC appliance.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2007Publication date: January 29, 2009Inventor: Lance P. Haines
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Publication number: 20090027932Abstract: A power converter system includes a power converter system including: a DC-to-AC power converter; a first output configured to be coupled to a power grid; a first input configured to be coupled to the power grid; second outputs each configured to be coupled to a corresponding AC load; a power-grid switch coupled to the converter and to the first output; load switches coupled to the converter, the second outputs, and the first input; and a controller coupled to the load switches and to the first output and configured to determine whether energy from the power grid satisfies at least one criterion, the controller being further configured to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to couple the converter to the first output and to couple the first input to the second outputs if the at least one criterion is satisfied and otherwise to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to isolate the converter from the first output and to couple the converter to at least one of the second outputs.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2008Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: American Power Conversion CorporationInventors: Lance P. Haines, Vishwas M. Deokar
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Publication number: 20020190525Abstract: A distributed generation system is disclosed that is capable of conditioning power from a utility grid, providing backup power in the event the utility grid fails, and exporting excess power to the utility grid. The system comprises an engine coupled to an asynchronous generator, an energy storage device, an engine controller capable of managing the engine and controlling its torque or speed or power, and an inverter for generating an AC output and also capable of controlling the frequency and voltage of the generator to match the frequency of a coupled utility grid.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2001Publication date: December 19, 2002Applicant: Solectria CorporationInventors: James Worden, Lance P. Haines, Beat J. Arnet
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Publication number: 20020101122Abstract: A controllable switching mechanism integrally housed within a motor to optimally couple the windings of an AC motor for improved torque-speed characteristics. The switching mechanism includes a plurality of double throw switches each with a first and second closed position. The first closed position results in connecting the windings of the AC motor in one configuration for improved torque at lower rotor speeds. The second closed position results in connecting the windings of the AC motor in another configuration for improved torque at higher speeds. The winding configurations may be wye for lower speeds and delta for higher speeds. An accompanying controller, based on various inputs, optimally senses the best time for switching between configurations and sends appropriate control signals to the switching mechanism housed with the AC motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2001Publication date: August 1, 2002Applicant: Solectria CorporationInventors: Lance P. Haines, Beat J. Arnet