Patents by Inventor Lars Bethke
Lars Bethke 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: 11570884Abstract: A relay arrangement includes at least two series-connected relays, which are mechanically and electrically connected to a main printed circuit board via first terminals and second terminals, and at least one flat conductor for conducting current between the at least two series connected relays. The flat conductor is mechanically connected to the main printed circuit board and electrically and thermally connected to the first terminals of the relays, and the at least one flat conductor is configured to dissipate heat produced during operation of the relays.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2021Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Frank Papenfuss, Lars Bethke, Thomas Kuehn, Christian Gehrke
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Publication number: 20220007498Abstract: A relay arrangement includes at least two series-connected relays, which are mechanically and electrically connected to a main printed circuit board via first terminals and second terminals, and at least one flat conductor for conducting current between the at least two series connected relays. The flat conductor is mechanically connected to the main printed circuit board and electrically and thermally connected to the first terminals of the relays, and the at least one flat conductor is configured to dissipate heat produced during operation of the relays.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Frank Papenfuss, Lars Bethke, Thomas Kuehn, Christian Gehrke
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Patent number: 11129272Abstract: A relay arrangement includes at least two series-connected relays, which are mechanically and electrically connected to a main printed circuit board via first terminals and second terminals, and at least one flat conductor for conducting current between the at least two series connected relays. The flat conductor is mechanically connected to the main printed circuit board and electrically and thermally connected to the first terminals of the relays, and the at least one flat conductor is configured to dissipate heat produced during operation of the relays.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2019Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Frank Papenfuss, Lars Bethke, Thomas Kuehn, Christian Gehrke
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Patent number: 10561046Abstract: A seal for an International Protection (IP)-sealing and electromagnetic capability (EMC)-shielding connection between a first housing component and a second housing component of an electrical or electronic device is disclosed. The seal includes an elastomer-containing sealing body and a metallic support that is embedded to some extent in the sealing body. The sealing body and the metallic support are connected to one another in an adhesive and/or form-fitting manner and thus form a material bond, and the metallic support has a plurality of contact segments, which project out of the sealing body and are configured such that the contact segments make electrical contact in resilient fashion with a first boundary surface that is assigned to the first housing component, and a second boundary surface that is assigned to the second housing component, the seal being pressed in between said boundary surfaces in an installed state.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2019Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Frank Lampe, Lars Bethke, Jens Dittmar
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Publication number: 20190350073Abstract: A relay arrangement includes at least two series-connected relays, which are mechanically and electrically connected to a main printed circuit board via first terminals and second terminals, and at least one flat conductor for conducting current between the at least two series connected relays. The flat conductor is mechanically connected to the main printed circuit board and electrically and thermally connected to the first terminals of the relays, and the at least one flat conductor is configured to dissipate heat produced during operation of the relays.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Inventors: Frank Papenfuss, Lars Bethke, Thomas Kuehn, Christian Gehrke
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Publication number: 20190307027Abstract: A seal for an International Protection (IP)-sealing and electromagnetic capability (EMC)-shielding connection between a first housing component and a second housing component of an electrical or electronic device is disclosed. The seal includes an elastomer-containing sealing body and a metallic support that is embedded to some extent in the sealing body. The sealing body and the metallic support are connected to one another in an adhesive and/or form-fitting manner and thus form a material bond, and the metallic support has a plurality of contact segments, which project out of the sealing body and are configured such that the contact segments make electrical contact in resilient fashion with a first boundary surface that is assigned to the first housing component, and a second boundary surface that is assigned to the second housing component, the seal being pressed in between said boundary surfaces in an installed state.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Frank Lampe, Lars Bethke, Jens Dittmar
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Patent number: 10110141Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein include an inverter with a multi-part housing and internal cooling-air duct. In one example, the inverter can comprise a first housing part with direct current connections, a second housing part with alternating current connections, a third housing part for accommodating power-electronics components of a DC voltage converter, a fourth housing part for accommodating power-electronics components of an inverter bridge circuit, and a heat sink. The housing parts each have an essentially planar rear wall and are arranged in such a way that they enclose a cooling-air duct with an essentially rectangular cross section, wherein the first housing part is arranged opposite the second housing part and the third housing part is arranged opposite the fourth housing part. The heat sink has two essentially planar cooling faces opposite one another arranged in the cooling-air duct.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2017Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Lars Bethke, Jens Dittmar
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Publication number: 20170288565Abstract: An inverter for converting an input-end direct current into an output-end alternating current to be fed into an AC voltage supply system includes a first housing part with direct current connections for receiving direct current lines of a direct current generator, a second housing part with alternating current connections for receiving alternating current lines of an AC voltage supply system, a third housing part for accommodating power-electronics components of a DC voltage converter, and a fourth housing part for accommodating power-electronics components of an inverter bridge circuit. The housing parts each have an essentially planar rear wall and are arranged in such a way that they enclose a cooling-air duct with an essentially rectangular cross section, wherein the first housing part is arranged opposite the second housing part and the third housing part is arranged opposite the fourth housing part.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Lars Bethke, Jens Dittmar
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Patent number: 9425704Abstract: An inverter includes a DC/AC converter connectable to a DC power grid, at least one DC/DC converter arranged upstream of the DC/AC converter and providing a galvanic isolation, and a DC voltage link at the input of the at least one DC/DC converter and connectable to at least one DC power source. The inverter also includes at least one further DC voltage link which is galvanically isolated from the first DC voltage link by the DC/DC converter, on-board voltage rails supplying a controller and other auxiliary devices of the inverter with electric energy; and an on-board supply unit. The on-board supply unit is configured and adapted to feed the electric energy into the on-board voltage rails both out of the first DC voltage link and out of the at least one further DC voltage link.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2012Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: SMA SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AGInventors: Burkard Müller, Lars Bethke
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Patent number: 9203324Abstract: A method for limiting an output power of an inverter having an output bridge and an upstream boost converter includes determining a first measurement variable representative of a bridge temperature and a second measurement variable representative of an output power of the inverter. The method also includes determining a third measurement variable representative of a generator voltage at generator connections of the inverter or a fourth measurement variable representative of an output voltage at a power output of the inverter, and reducing the output power supplied to a power supply grid to a reduced power value. The reduced power value is determined based on the first measurement variable, the second measurement variable and at least one of the third and fourth measurement variables. A control device having such functionality is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Oliver Kirsch, Lars Bethke, Bernhard Sofaly
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Patent number: 9048745Abstract: During startup of a DC/DC converter having a high-frequency transformer whose primary winding is supplied with current from an input-side DC link via an inverter bridge having pulsed switches and whose secondary winding is used to charge an output-side DC link via a rectifier bridge. The switches of the inverter bridge are operated to load the output-side DC link, in a manner that deviates from a normal operation of the switches in order to limit the currents that flow in the DC/DC converter during startup of the DC/DC converter. Particularly, the switches of the inverter bridge are operated during startup of the DC/DC converter at a pulse width that is fixed during each of a limited number of stages of the startup, and have a duty cycle that is not more than 5 percent during each of the stages of the startup.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2012Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Christian Seel, Lars Bethke
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Publication number: 20130301315Abstract: A method for limiting an output power of an inverter having an output bridge and an upstream boost converter includes determining a first measurement variable representative of a bridge temperature and a second measurement variable representative of an output power of the inverter. The method also includes determining a third measurement variable representative of a generator voltage at generator connections of the inverter or a fourth measurement variable representative of an output voltage at a power output of the inverter, and reducing the output power supplied to a power supply grid to a reduced power value. The reduced power value is determined based on the first measurement variable, the second measurement variable and at least one of the third and fourth measurement variables.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2013Publication date: November 14, 2013Inventors: Oliver Kirsch, Lars Bethke, Bernhard Sofaly
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Patent number: 8520381Abstract: An inverter (1) for supplying electric energy from a DC source to an AC grid includes a housing (2) in which electrical and electronic components (21, 22, 30) are accommodated. A cooling air channel (9) with cooling fins (37) arranged along its longitudinal axis runs across the back of the housing (2) in the middle. Sockets (13) for large electrical components (21, 22) that are closed in on at least three sides by the metal outer walls (14-19) of the housing (2) are provide on both sides of the cooling air channel (9) in the housing (2).Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2010Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Thorsten Hobein, Bernd Gebert, Lars Bethke
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Publication number: 20120319495Abstract: An inverter includes a DC/AC converter connectable to a DC power grid, at least one DC/DC converter arranged upstream of the DC/AC converter and providing a galvanic isolation, and a DC voltage link at the input of the at least one DC/DC converter and connectable to at least one DC power source. The inverter also includes at least one further DC voltage link which is galvanically isolated from the first DC voltage link by the DC/DC converter, on-board voltage rails supplying a controller and other auxiliary devices of the inverter with electric energy; and an on-board supply unit. The on-board supply unit is configured and adapted to feed the electric energy into the on-board voltage rails both out of the first DC voltage link and out of the at least one further DC voltage link.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Burkard Müller, Lars Bethke
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Publication number: 20120176816Abstract: During startup of a DC/DC converter having a high-frequency transformer whose primary winding is supplied with current from an input-side DC link via an inverter bridge having pulsed switches and whose secondary winding is used to charge an output-side DC link via a rectifier bridge. The switches of the inverter bridge are operated to load the output-side DC link, in a manner that deviates from a normal operation of the switches in order to limit the currents that flow in the DC/DC converter during startup of the DC/DC converter. Particularly, the switches of the inverter bridge are operated during startup of the DC/DC converter at a pulse width that is fixed during each of a limited number of stages of the startup, and have a duty cycle that is not more than 5 percent during each of the stages of the startup.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Christian Seel, Lars Bethke
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Publication number: 20110069451Abstract: An inverter (1) for supplying electric energy from a DC source to an AC grid includes a housing (2) in which electrical and electronic components (21, 22, 30) are accommodated. A cooling air channel (9) with cooling fins (37) arranged along its longitudinal axis runs across the back of the housing (2) in the middle. Sockets (13) for large electrical components (21, 22) that are closed in on at least three sides by the metal outer walls (14-19) of the housing (2) are provide on both sides of the cooling air channel (9) in the housing (2).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: SMA SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AGInventors: Thorsten Hobein, Bernd Gebert, Lars Bethke