Patents by Inventor Manfred Winkelnkemper

Manfred Winkelnkemper 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: 8760892
    Abstract: A method is provided for operation of a converter circuit. The converter circuit has at least two phase modules, where each phase module has a first and a second sub-converter system, and the sub-converter systems for each phase module are connected in series with one another. Each sub-converter system includes a plurality of series-connected two-pole switching cells. In the method, the control signals for the switching cells are additionally formed from a damping signal. The damping signal is formed from a measured current through the respective sub-converter system and from a predeterminable resistance value, in order to attenuate undesirable currents in the sub-converter systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Manfred Winkelnkemper, Arthur Korn
  • Patent number: 8717787
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for operating a converter circuit, which includes at least two phase modules each having first and second subconverter systems, which include power semiconductor switches. The switches of the first and second subconverter systems are driven by first and second drive signals, respectively. To enable dimensioning a capacitive energy store of the converter circuit to be independent of a desired current at an output connection of the converter circuit, for each phase module, the first and second drive signals are respectively formed from a voltage signal across inductances and a switching function for the switches of the first and second subconverter systems, respectively. The switching functions are formed by a voltage signal corresponding to the voltage at the output connection and a selectable reference signal. The voltage signals are selected to be in phase with the voltage at the output connections of the phase modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Manfred Winkelnkemper, Arthur Korn
  • Patent number: 8687397
    Abstract: A method and device for operating a direct converter circuit are provided. A control signal controls power semiconductor switches of switching cells of the associated phase module. The control signal is formed, for each phase module, from the difference between a reference signal relating to the voltage over the phase module and a voltage signal over the inductor. The voltage signal over the inductor is formed from a reference signal relating to the current through the corresponding phase module. The reference signal relating to the current through the phase module is formed from a respective mean value or instantaneous value of a phase power of a phase of the first and second current or voltage systems connected to the phase module and from respective sums of the instantaneous values or the mean values of the phase powers of the phases of the first and second current or voltage systems, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Manfred Winkelnkemper, Arthur Korn
  • Patent number: 8559194
    Abstract: A converter circuit has a first resonant converter that is connected on the DC voltage side to a first energy storage circuit, and a transformer. A second resonant converter is connected on the AC voltage side to the secondary winding of the transformer and on the DC voltage side to a load converter, and a CLL resonant circuit is connected to the first resonant converter and to the primary winding of the transformer. The CLL resonant circuit has a resonant capacitance, a first resonant inductance and a second resonant inductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Antonio Coccia, Francisco Canales, Manfred Winkelnkemper, Marc Pellerin, Nicolas Hugo, Philippe Stefanutti, Toufann Chaudhuri
  • Patent number: 8284577
    Abstract: An exemplary method is disclosed for operation of a converter circuit having first and second partial converter systems, the partial converter systems being connected in series to one another via two series-connected inductances. A junction point of the two series-connected inductances forms an output connection. Each partial converter system can include at least one two-pole switching cell, each switching cell having two series-connected controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switches. The power semiconductor switches in the switching cells of the first and second partial converter system are controlled by first and second control signals. A capacitive energy store in the converter circuit can be designed independent of desired current at the output connection of the converter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Manfred Winkelnkemper
  • Publication number: 20120249113
    Abstract: A method and device for operating a direct converter circuit are provided. A control signal controls power semiconductor switches of switching cells of the associated phase module. The control signal is formed, for each phase module, from the difference between a reference signal relating to the voltage over the phase module and a voltage signal over the inductor. The voltage signal over the inductor is formed from a reference signal relating to the current through the corresponding phase module. The reference signal relating to the current through the phase module is formed from a respective mean value or instantaneous value of a phase power of a phase of the first and second current or voltage systems connected to the phase module and from respective sums of the instantaneous values or the mean values of the phase powers of the phases of the first and second current or voltage systems, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Manfred WINKELNKEMPER, Arthur Korn
  • Publication number: 20120201057
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for operating a converter circuit, which includes at least two phase modules each having first and second subconverter systems, which include power semiconductor switches. The switches of the first and second subconverter systems are driven by first and second drive signals, respectively. To enable dimensioning a capacitive energy store of the converter circuit to be independent of a desired current at an output connection of the converter circuit, for each phase module, the first and second drive signals are respectively formed from a voltage signal across inductances and a switching function for the switches of the first and second subconverter systems, respectively. The switching functions are formed by a voltage signal corresponding to the voltage at the output connection and a selectable reference signal. The voltage signals are selected to be in phase with the voltage at the output connections of the phase modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Manfred WINKELNKEMPER, Arthur KORN
  • Publication number: 20110222317
    Abstract: A converter circuit has a first resonant converter that is connected on the DC voltage side to a first energy storage circuit, and a transformer. A second resonant converter is connected on the AC voltage side to the secondary winding of the transformer and on the DC voltage side to a load converter, and a CLL resonant circuit is connected to the first resonant converter and to the primary winding of the transformer. The CLL resonant circuit has a resonant capacitance, a first resonant inductance and a second resonant inductance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD
    Inventors: Antonio Coccia, Francisco Canales, Manfred Winkelnkemper, Marc Pellerin, Nicolas Hugo, Philippe Stefanutti, Toufann Chaudhuri
  • Publication number: 20110075465
    Abstract: A direct converter includes n input phase connections and p output phase connections, where n?2 and p?2. The direct converter also includes (n·p) two-pole switching cells for switching at least one positive voltage and at least one negative voltage between the poles. Each output phase connection is connected in series with each input phase connection, respectively, via a switching cell. To enable any desired and continuous current flow setting from an input phase connection to an output phase connection of the direct converter and, moreover, to exchange electrical energy between the two-pole switching cells of the direct converter, at least one inductance is connected into each series connection. A system including a direct converter is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Manfred WINKELNKEMPER, Arthur Korn
  • Patent number: 7911755
    Abstract: A circuit that electrically controls power includes at least one power control device and at least one heat extraction device. The at least one extraction device is in thermal contact with the at least one power control device. The heat extraction device is arranged such that it can be clamped to a fixed predefined electric potential and electrically insulated by the at least one power control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Peter Barbosa, Luc Meysenc, Manfred Winkelnkemper, Peter Steimer
  • Publication number: 20100253304
    Abstract: An exemplary method is disclosed for operation of a converter circuit having first and second partial converter systems, the partial converter systems being connected in series to one another via two series-connected inductances. A junction point of the two series-connected inductances forms an output connection. Each partial converter system can include at least one two-pole switching cell, each switching cell having two series-connected controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switches. The power semiconductor switches in the switching cells of the first and second partial converter system are controlled by first and second control signals. A capacitive energy store in the converter circuit can be designed independent of desired current at the output connection of the converter circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Manfred WINKELNKEMPER
  • Publication number: 20090141455
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a circuit arrangement for electrically controlling power, comprising at least one power control device and at least one heat extraction device. The at least one extraction device is in thermal contact with the at least one power control device. The heat extraction device is arranged such that it can be clamped to a fixed predefined electric potential and electrically insulated by the at least one power control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Peter Barbosa, Luc Meysenc, Manfred Winkelnkemper, Peter Steimer