Patents by Inventor Lixiang Wei

Lixiang Wei 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).

  • Publication number: 20100080024
    Abstract: A power electronics device with an improved IGBT protection mechanism is provided. More specifically, systems and methods are provided for reducing the switching frequency of an inverter module based on the junction temperature variation of the IGBT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Masahiro Tsuyoshi, Richard A. Lukaszewski
  • Publication number: 20100079230
    Abstract: An improved choke assembly for a power electronics device is provided. More specifically, a choke assembly with improved protection from environmental conditions such as dirt and water is provided. An improved choke assembly may include an insulative housing for an inductor coil that seals the inductor coil from the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Brubaker, Lixiang Wei
  • Publication number: 20100078998
    Abstract: A power electronics device with an improved pre-charge circuit configuration is provided. More specifically, the input of the motor drive module may accept an AC or DC source voltage. In this way, the pre-charge circuit of the motor drive module may be utilized whether the motor drive is coupled to an AC or DC source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Richard A. Lukaszewski, Ajith H. Wijenayake, Paul Krause, Michael Loth
  • Publication number: 20090276165
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating a condition of a power module is provided. In accordance with an embodiment, a motor controller may be maintained by tracking a total proportion of power module life expended by a power module in a variable frequency motor controller based on a minimum junction temperature or a mean junction temperature and a junction temperature change, and indicating when the power module is estimated to fail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce W. Weiss, Lixiang Wei
  • Patent number: 7602622
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a compensator-filter circuit for reducing low order current harmonics in a three-phase drive system driving a single-phase load, the three-phase drive system including a three-phase source voltage connected to a rectifier system connected to a DC link capacitor connected to a three-phase voltage source inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Gary L. Skibinski, Richard A. Lukaszewski
  • Publication number: 20090251081
    Abstract: A dynamic braking circuit for an electronic motor drive shunts the DC link of the drive with a resistor using two control strategies. The first control strategy used for lower levels of braking employs a pulse width modulated signal and the second control strategy used for higher levels of braking uses a hysteretic signal significantly reducing switching losses in the semiconductor devices controlling the dynamic braking resistor allowing higher braking capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Jerry Dee Thunes, Lixiang Wei
  • Patent number: 7535738
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting X phase intermediate voltages on X intermediate lines to output voltage for driving a single three phase load, the apparatus comprising a positive DC bus, a negative DC bus and first and second three phase drives that each include a rectifier section and an inverter section, the rectifier sections each linked to a separate three of the X intermediate lines and to the positive and negative DC buses and the inverter linked to each of the positive and negative DC buses and to the single phase load such that each of the drives has a common positive DC bus and a common negative DC bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Gary Leonard Skibinski, Richard A. Lukaszewski
  • Patent number: 7518891
    Abstract: An auxiliary circuit for reducing low order current harmonics in a three-phase drive system driving a single-phase load, the three-phase drive system including a three-phase source voltage connected to a rectifier system connected to a DC link choke inductor connected to a three-phase current source inverter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Gary L. Skibinski, Richard A. Lukaszewski
  • Patent number: 7502238
    Abstract: A rectifier includes a transformer, a rectifying bridge, a link capacitor, and at least a first resonance loop. The transformer is operable to receive three phase input signals having a source frequency and generate a plurality of transformer phase signals. The rectifying bridge has a number of stages corresponding to the number of transformer phase signals and is operable to generate a rectified output signal based on the transformer phase signals. The link capacitor is coupled across the rectifying bridge. The first resonance loop is coupled between the rectifying bridge and the link capacitor. The first resonance loop has a first resonance frequency corresponding to a harmonic frequency of the source frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Gary L. Skibinski, Richard A. Lukaszewski
  • Publication number: 20090058350
    Abstract: Provided is a motor controller and method of controlling a motor with an improved maximum junction temperature rating. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a motor is controlled by varying a common mode voltage duty ratio for a plurality of solid state switching devices in a power inverter, generating drive signals for the solid state switching devices based at least in part upon the common mode voltage duty ratio, and changing states of the solid state switching devices based upon the drive signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Russel J. Kerkman
  • Patent number: 7477531
    Abstract: A compensator circuit for reducing low order current harmonics in a three-phase drive system driving a single-phase load, the three-phase drive system including a three-phase source voltage connected to a rectifier system connected to a DC link capacitor connected to a three-phase voltage source inverter that supplies three-phase power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Gary L. Skibinski, Richard A. Lukaszewski
  • Publication number: 20080278109
    Abstract: A motor drive system is disclosed that includes a power input configured to receive alternating current (AC) power and a rectifier having a switching frequency selected to convert the AC power to direct current (DC) power. The motor drive unit also includes an input filter circuit connected between the power input and the rectifier and configured to suppress frequency harmonics across a range of harmonics. Additionally the motor drive unit includes a block filter circuit connected between the power input and the rectifier and configured to substantially block frequency harmonics associated with the switching frequency of the rectifier. Furthermore, the motor drive unit includes an inverter configured to receive the DC power from the rectifier and convert the DC power to a series of pulses configured to drive a motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Wei Qian, Qiang Yin, Lixiang Wei, Richard A. Lukaszewski
  • Publication number: 20080140350
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting junction device temperature of at least a first switching device in a power conversion module that includes the first switching device and at least a second switching device, the method comprising the steps of identifying a cross thermal impedance value indicative of how the temperature of the second switching device effects the first switching device temperature and using the cross thermal impedance value to predict the temperature of the at least a first switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Russel J. Kerkman, Lixiang Wei, Richard A. Lukaszewski, Brian P. Brown, Neil Gollhardt, Bruce W. Weiss
  • Publication number: 20080140351
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting junction device temperature of at least a first switching device in a power conversion module that includes a plurality of switching devices, the method comprising the steps of, during switching activity, identifying at least one operating characteristic of the first switching device and solving an equation that uses the identified operating characteristic to predict the temperature of the first switching device where the equation solved is a function of the location of the first switching device with respect to the other switching devices in the plurality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Russel J. Kerkman, Lixiang Wei, Richard A. Lukaszewski, Brian P. Brown, Neil Gollhardt, Bruce W. Weiss
  • Patent number: 7356441
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting junction device temperature of at least a first switching device in a power conversion module that includes the first switching device and at least a second switching device, the method comprising the steps of identifying a cross thermal impedance value indicative of how the temperature of the second switching device effects the first switching device temperature an using the cross thermal impedance value to predict the temperature of the at least a first switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russel J. Kerkman, Lixiang Wei, Richard A. Lukaszewski, Brian P. Brown, Neil Gollhardt, Bruce W. Weiss
  • Publication number: 20080049468
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting X phase intermediate voltages on X intermediate lines to output voltage for driving a single three phase load, the apparatus comprising a positive DC bus, a negative DC bus and first and second three phase drives that each include a rectifier section and an inverter section, the rectifier sections each linked to a separate three of the X intermediate lines and to the positive and negative DC buses and the inverter linked to each of the positive and negative DC buses and to the single phase load such that each of the drives has a common positive DC bus and a common negative DC bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Gary Leonard Skibinski, Richard A. Lukaszewski
  • Publication number: 20070073510
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting junction device temperature of at least a first switching device in a power conversion module that includes the first switching device and at least a second switching device, the method comprising the steps of identifying a cross thermal impedance value indicative of how the temperature of the second switching device effects the first switching device temperature an using the cross thermal impedance value to predict the temperature of the at least a first switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Russel Kerkman, Lixiang Wei, Richard Lukaszewski, Brian Brown, Neil Gollhardt, Bruce Weiss
  • Patent number: 7190143
    Abstract: A method for controlling a device including a plurality of switching devices operated in accordance with a pulse width modulation technique includes receiving a reference voltage signal associated with a first pair of the switching devices. A switching signal is generated. The first pair of switching devices are controlled based on the reference voltage signal and the switching signal in accordance with the pulse width modulation technique. A frequency of the switching signal is varied based on the value of the reference voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Richard A. Lukaszewski
  • Publication number: 20070030706
    Abstract: A compensator circuit for reducing low order current harmonics in a three-phase drive system driving a single-phase load, the three-phase drive system including a three-phase source voltage connected to a rectifier system connected to a DC link capacitor connected to a three-phase voltage source inverter that supplies three-phase power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Gary Skibinski, Richard Lukaszewski
  • Publication number: 20070030707
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an auxiliary circuit for reducing low order current harmonics in a three-phase drive system driving a single-phase load, the three-phase drive system including a three-phase source voltage connected to a rectifier system connected to a DC link choke inductor connected to a three-phase current source inverter system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Gary Skibinski, Richard Lukaszewski