Patents by Inventor Mario Willenberg

Mario Willenberg 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: 10491103
    Abstract: A step-up converter includes a first inductance electrically connecting a first DC voltage input of the step-up converter to a first junction point, a step-up converter switch connecting the first junction point to a second DC voltage input and a second DC voltage output of the step-up converter, a first diode connecting the first junction point to a first DC voltage output of the step-up converter, and a snubber circuit comprising a charging path and a discharging path. The discharging path runs as a series connection of a capacitor and a second diode from the first junction point to the first DC voltage output, and the charging path is connected at its one end to a junction point between the capacitor and the second diode and is arranged such that the capacitor is charged when the step-up converter switch is switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Mario Willenberg, Raphael Knoke, Andreas Falk, Robert Stala, Marek Rylko, Jerzy Maslon, Andrzej Mondzik, Slawomir Szot, Adam Penczek, Mitosz Szarek
  • Patent number: 10197608
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining insulation resistance at a PV generator includes a first unit configured to shift a generator potential at an output terminal of the PV generator, and a second unit. The second unit is configured to determine the insulation resistance by: connecting a measurement voltage to the output terminal of the PV generator, measuring a first current value and a first voltage value at the output terminal of the PV generator before the measurement voltage is connected, measuring a second current value and a second voltage value at the output terminal of the PV generator after the measurement voltage is connected, and determining the insulation resistance of the PV generator based on the measured first and second current values and the measured first and second voltage values. The first and second units are connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Mario Willenberg, Dirk Hermeling, Volker Bergs, Karl Nesemann
  • Publication number: 20170343593
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining insulation resistance at a PV generator includes a first unit configured to shift a generator potential at an output terminal of the PV generator, and a second unit. The second unit is configured to determine the insulation resistance by: connecting a measurement voltage to the output terminal of the PV generator, measuring a first current value and a first voltage value at the output terminal of the PV generator before the measurement voltage is connected, measuring a second current value and a second voltage value at the output terminal of the PV generator after the measurement voltage is connected, and determining the insulation resistance of the PV generator based on the measured first and second current values and the measured first and second voltage values. The first and second units are connected in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Mario Willenberg, Dirk Hermeling, Volker Bergs, Karl Nesemann
  • Patent number: 9594126
    Abstract: For monitoring an inverter that includes separate input-side connectors for multiple direct-current generators with regard to the occurrence of a critical fault current, differential currents in at last two pairs of input lines are measured separately in the inverter. The at last two pairs of input lines conduct the currents that are fed in at different input-side connectors, and all pairs of input lines in their entirety transmit all currents that are fed in at the connectors. The differential currents are compared with a limit value separately for each pair of input lines. A case of the limit value being exceeded is recognized as a fault. In addition, a sum of simultaneously occurring differential currents in all pairs of input lines is determined and the sum is compared with a further limit value, wherein a case of the further limit value being exceeded is also recognized as a fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SMA SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Andreas Falk, Mario Willenberg
  • Publication number: 20160226372
    Abstract: A step-up converter includes a first inductance electrically connecting a first DC voltage input of the step-up converter to a first junction point, a step-up converter switch connecting the first junction point to a second DC voltage input and a second DC voltage output of the step-up converter, a first diode connecting the first junction point to a first DC voltage output of the step-up converter, and a snubber circuit comprising a charging path and a discharging path. The discharging path runs as a series connection of a capacitor and a second diode from the first junction point to the first DC voltage output, and the charging path is connected at its one end to a junction point between the capacitor and the second diode and is arranged such that the capacitor is charged when the step-up converter switch is switched on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Mario Willenberg, Raphael Knoke, Andreas Falk, Robet Stala, Marek Rylko, Jerzy Maslon, Andrzej Mondzik, Slawomir Szot, Adam Penczek, Mitosz Szarek
  • Publication number: 20150137850
    Abstract: For monitoring an inverter that includes separate input-side connectors for multiple direct-current generators with regard to the occurrence of a critical fault current, differential currents in at last two pairs of input lines are measured separately in the inverter. The at last two pairs of input lines conduct the currents that are fed in at different input-side connectors, and all pairs of input lines in their entirety transmit all currents that are fed in at the connectors. The differential currents are compared with a limit value separately for each pair of input lines. A case of the limit value being exceeded is recognized as a fault. In addition, a sum of simultaneously occurring differential currents in all pairs of input lines is determined and the sum is compared with a further limit value, wherein a case of the further limit value being exceeded is also recognized as a fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Andreas Falk, Mario Willenberg
  • Publication number: 20130272032
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a DC/DC voltage converter comprising a first switching bridge with at least two first switches coupled to an input of the DC/DC voltage converter, a second switching bridge with at least two second switches coupled to an output of the DC/DC voltage converter, a transformer and at least one capacitor, wherein the first switching bridge is connected to the second switching bridge via the transformer. The first switches are switched such that a resonant circuit formed by the transformer and the at least one capacitor is operated in resonance, and the second switches are switched at the same clock frequency with a phase shift compared to the first switches, such that the second switches are switched prior to the first switches. The disclosure also relates to a DC/DC voltage converter comprising a control circuit for the first and second switches which is configured to carry out the method, and to a backup power system including such a DC/DC voltage converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Jens-Uwe Mueller, Torsten Leifert, Sebastian Heinze, Mario Willenberg