Patents by Inventor Marco Bohlländer

Marco Bohlländer 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: 11901854
    Abstract: An arrangement for detecting a direction of rotation of a multi-phase electric motor includes a plurality of single-phase converters. Each single-phase converter of the plurality of single-phase converters supplies one phase of the multi-phase electric motor with current. The arrangement also includes two sensor units that are configured to determine actual values of the phase currents of the multi-phase electric motor and to transmit the actual values to the plurality of single-phase converters. The arrangement also includes a monitoring and control unit in each converter of the plurality of single-phase converters. The monitoring and control unit is configured and programmed to determine the direction of rotation and a speed of rotation of the multi-phase electric motor from the actual values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Marco Bohlländer
  • Publication number: 20240014745
    Abstract: A power electronics converter includes a carrier substrate, and a converter commutation cell including a power circuit. The power circuit includes a power semiconductor switching element included in a power semiconductor prepackage. The power semiconductor prepackage includes a power semiconductor switching element and an electrical connection extending from a terminal of the power semiconductor switching element to an electrical connection side of the power semiconductor prepackage. The power electronics converter includes a heat sink arranged to remove heat from the power semiconductor prepackage, a thermal interface layer arranged between the heat removal side of the power semiconductor prepackage and the heat sink, and an electrical isolation layer arranged between the power semiconductor switching element and the heat sink. A product of a thermal conductivity of the thermal interface layer and a breakdown electric field strength of the electrical isolation layer is greater than or equal to 5 MVW/m2K.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Uwe Waltrich, Stanley Buchert, Marco Bohlländer, Claus Müller
  • Patent number: 11855551
    Abstract: A power electronics converter includes a carrier substrate, and a converter commutation cell including a power circuit. The power circuit includes a power semiconductor switching element included in a power semiconductor prepackage. The power semiconductor prepackage includes a power semiconductor switching element and an electrical connection extending from a terminal of the power semiconductor switching element to an electrical connection side of the power semiconductor prepackage. The power electronics converter includes a heat sink arranged to remove heat from the power semiconductor prepackage, a thermal interface layer arranged between the heat removal side of the power semiconductor prepackage and the heat sink, and an electrical isolation layer arranged between the power semiconductor switching element and the heat sink. A product of a thermal conductivity of the thermal interface layer and a breakdown electric field strength of the electrical isolation layer is greater than or equal to 5 MVW/m2K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG B
    Inventors: Uwe Waltrich, Stanley Buchert, Marco Bohlländer, Claus Müller
  • Publication number: 20230382236
    Abstract: A power electronics converter may include a converter commutation cell having a power circuit and a gate driver circuit. The power circuit includes at least one power semiconductor switching element and at least one capacitor. Each power semiconductor switching element is included in a power semiconductor prepackage, each prepackage including one or more power semiconductor switching elements embedded in a solid insulating material, each power semiconductor switching element having at least three terminals including a gate terminal. The gate driver circuit is electrically connected to and configured to provide switching signals to the gate terminal of each of the at least one power semiconductor switching element. A peak rated power output of the power electronics converter is greater than 25 kW and a value of a converter parameter ? is greater than or equal to 0.5 PV/FH.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Uwe Waltrich, Stanley Buchert, Marco Bohlländer, Claus Müller
  • Publication number: 20230387909
    Abstract: A method of designing and manufacturing a power electronics converter for an electrical power system is provided. A circuit design for the power electronics converter is selected. A shape constraint for integrating the power electronics converter into the electrical power system is determined, and at least one multi-layer carrier substrate is obtained according to the determined shape constraint. A plurality of power semiconductor prepackages are obtained. Each power semiconductor prepackage includes a power semiconductor switching element embedded in a solid insulating material and an electrical connection extending through the solid insulating material from a terminal of the power semiconductor switching element to a connection surface of the prepackage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Uwe Waltrich, Stanley Buchert, Marco Bohlländer, Claus Müller
  • Publication number: 20230387821
    Abstract: A power electronics converter may include: a first multi-layer planar carrier substrate having one or more electrically conductive layers; a second multi-layer planar carrier substrate having one or more electrically conductive layers; a converter commutation cell circuit including a plurality of commutation cell components that are electrically connected together via the one or more electrically conductive layers of the first planar carrier substrate and electrical connections, the commutation cell components including one or more power semiconductor switching elements in one or more power semiconductor prepackages, each power semiconductor prepackage including a power semiconductor switching element embedded in a solid insulating material; one or more additional converter components electrically connected to the one or more electrically conductive layers of the second planar carrier substrate; and one or more further electrical connections connecting together one or more of the electrically conductive layer
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Uwe Waltrich, Stanley Buchert, Marco Bohlländer, Claus Müller
  • Patent number: 11762037
    Abstract: A method for identifying an inverter short circuit between two phases includes measuring AC current values of three phases. Values of a temporal current change are also identified based on the measured AC current values. A short circuit between two phases is then assumed if, in one phase at DC+ and one phase at DC?, the current rises more quickly or falls more quickly than a predetermined threshold value. In order to check this assumption, it is identified whether the value of the identified rise in a first phase possibly affected by the short circuit corresponds to the value of the identified fall in a second phase possibly affected by the short circuit. In the event that the assumption has been positively confirmed, it is also checked whether a current sum of the phases is still unchanged. A short circuit is established when the two checks have proven positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Marco Bohlländer
  • Patent number: 11764647
    Abstract: An electrical power system includes an electrical machine having one or more windings and an AC-DC power electronics converter including a commutation cell having a power circuit and a gate driver circuit. The power circuit includes a plurality of power semiconductor switching elements and a capacitor. The gate driver circuit is electrically connected to and configured to provide switching signals to a gate terminal of each power semiconductor switching element. A peak rated power output of the electrical machine and the AC-DC power electronics converter is greater than 25 kW, a maximum efficiency of the AC-DC power electronics converter is greater than 97%, and a value of parameter ? is greater than or equal to 0.3 PV/s2, where ? is a product of a maximum switching frequency of the switching signals and a maximum rate of change of a source-drain voltage of the plurality of power semiconductor switching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Uwe Waltrich, Stanley Buchert, Marco Bohlländer, Claus Müller
  • Patent number: 11728743
    Abstract: A power electronics converter includes a carrier substrate, and a converter commutation cell including a power circuit. The power circuit includes at least one power semiconductor switching element. Each power semiconductor switching element is comprised in a power semiconductor prepackage. One or more terminals of each power semiconductor switching element are connected to at least one conductive layer of the carrier substrate at an electrical connection side of the respective power semiconductor prepackage. The electrical connection side is spaced apart from the carrier substrate by a gap. At least a portion of the gap is filled with an electrically insulating material with voids. A peak rated power output of the power electronics converter is greater than 25 kW, and a converter parameter, which is defined as a product of a dielectric strength of the electrically insulating material and a maximum void size, is less than or equal to 10,000 V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Uwe Waltrich, Stanley Buchert, Marco Bohlländer, Claus Müller
  • Patent number: 11637504
    Abstract: A power electronics converter includes a carrier substrate, and a converter commutation cell including a power circuit. The power circuit includes a power semiconductor switching element. The power semiconductor switching element is comprised in a power semiconductor prepackage. The power semiconductor prepackage includes a power semiconductor switching element embedded in a solid insulating material, and an electrical connection extending from a terminal of the power semiconductor switching element through the solid insulating material to an electrical connection side of the power semiconductor prepackage. The power electronics converter includes a heat sink arranged to remove heat from the power semiconductor prepackage. The power electronics converter includes a thermal interface layer arranged between the heat removal side of the power semiconductor prepackage and the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Uwe Waltrich, Stanley Buchert, Marco Bohlländer, Claus Müller
  • Patent number: 11581822
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement of a converter (1) for the electrical supply of a multi-phase electric motor (2). The arrangement comprises multiple DC-voltage-supplied (+DC, ?DC) phase intermediate circuits (13) and multiple inverter circuits (5) that are electrically connected to each phase intermediate circuit (13), wherein a respective phase intermediate circuit (13) and inverter circuit (5) are provided for each phase, together forming a commutation cell (14). The invention also relates to an aircraft having a circuit arrangement of this type, and an operating method with a circuit arrangement of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Marco Bohlländer
  • Patent number: 11539305
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a modular arrangement of a converter for the electrical supply of a multi-phase electric motor. The modular arrangement includes multiple output stage modules, each module having a separate first housing. An output stage module is provided for each phase of the electric motor, wherein the output stage module has a phase intermediate circuit and an inverter circuit, together forming a commutation cell. The phase intermediate circuit supplies DC voltage and is electrically connected to the inverter circuit. The disclosure also relates to a motor arrangement and an aircraft having a motor arrangement of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Marco Bohlländer
  • Patent number: 11525867
    Abstract: Arrangements and methods for identifying a phase-to-ground inverter short circuit in an IT (isolé-terre or isolated ground) network are provided. In the method, AC current values of all three phases and DC current values are measured and evaluated at a frequency that is higher than the clock frequency of the inverter. An AC short-circuit current is also identified by subtracting the fundamental wave from the AC current sensor values. An AC component of the DC current sensor value is also identified, and it is identified whether this component is higher than a value predefined for regular operation. The AC short-circuit current and the AC component of the DC current sensor value are also compared. A short circuit is identified for the phase if the two values of the AC short-circuit current and the AC component of the DC current sensor value are approximately equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Marco Bohlländer
  • Patent number: 11450621
    Abstract: A housing is provided for an output stage with power semiconductors of a modular converter. The housing includes a stretchable hood arranged on the base plate. The housing further includes a metallic lattice formed in or on the hood and forming a Faraday cage, wherein the hood is configured to be stretchable so as to enlarge the volume enclosed by the hood in the event of an explosion of a power semiconductor as a result of the explosion energy, without destroying the hood. An output stage, a converter, and an aircraft are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Marco Bohlländer
  • Publication number: 20220239240
    Abstract: An arrangement for detecting a direction of rotation of a multi-phase electric motor includes a plurality of single-phase converters. Each single-phase converter of the plurality of single-phase converters supplies one phase of the multi-phase electric motor with current. The arrangement also includes two sensor units that are configured to determine actual values of the phase currents of the multi-phase electric motor and to transmit the actual values to the plurality of single-phase converters. The arrangement also includes a monitoring and control unit in each converter of the plurality of single-phase converters. The monitoring and control unit is configured and programmed to determine the direction of rotation and a speed of rotation of the multi-phase electric motor from the actual values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventor: Marco Bohlländer
  • Publication number: 20220201892
    Abstract: A power Converter having power semiconductor components is disclosed herein, wherein a DC-link capacitor has a capacitance of less than 3 ?F and is not designed as a separate electrical device of the power converter, and wherein the clock frequency is greater than 1 MHz. A vehicle, (e.g., an aircraft), including a power Converter of this kind is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventor: Marco Bohlländer
  • Publication number: 20210148990
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for identifying a phase-to-ground inverter short circuit in an IT (isolé-terre or isolated ground) network. In the method, AC current values of all three phases and DC current values are measured and evaluated at a frequency that is higher than the clock frequency of the inverter. An AC short-circuit current is also identified by subtracting the fundamental wave from the AC current sensor values. An AC component of the DC current sensor value is also identified, and it is identified whether this component is higher than a value predefined for regular operation. The AC short-circuit current and the AC component of the DC current sensor value are also compared. A short circuit is identified for the phase if the two values of the AC short-circuit current and the AC component of the DC current sensor value are approximately equal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventor: Marco Bohlländer
  • Publication number: 20210148994
    Abstract: A method for identifying an inverter short circuit between two phases includes measuring AC current values of three phases. Values of a temporal current change are also identified based on the measured AC current values. A short circuit between two phases is then assumed if, in one phase at DC+ and one phase at DC?, the current rises more quickly or falls more quickly than a predetermined threshold value. In order to check this assumption, it is identified whether the value of the identified rise in a first phase possibly affected by the short circuit corresponds to the value of the identified fall in a second phase possibly affected by the short circuit. In the event that the assumption has been positively confirmed, it is also checked whether a current sum of the phases is still unchanged. A short circuit is established when the two checks have proven positive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventor: Marco Bohlländer
  • Publication number: 20210044217
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement of a converter (1) for the electrical supply of a multi-phase electric motor (2). The arrangement comprises multiple DC-voltage-supplied (+DC, ?DC) phase intermediate circuits (13) and multiple inverter circuits (5) that are electrically connected to each phase intermediate circuit (13), wherein a respective phase intermediate circuit (13) and inverter circuit (5) are provided for each phase, together forming a commutation cell (14). The invention also relates to an aircraft having a circuit arrangement of this type, and an operating method with a circuit arrangement of this type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventor: MARCO BOHLLÄNDER
  • Publication number: 20200411451
    Abstract: A housing is provided for an output stage with power semiconductors of a modular converter. The housing includes a stretchable hood arranged on the base plate. The housing further includes a metallic lattice formed in or on the hood and forming a Faraday cage, wherein the hood is configured to be stretchable so as to enlarge the volume enclosed by the hood in the event of an explosion of a power semiconductor as a result of the explosion energy, without destroying the hood. An output stage, a converter, and an aircraft are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventor: Marco Bohlländer