Patents by Inventor Mark E. Shepard

Mark E. Shepard 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: 10356228
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling power semiconductor devices are described. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, there is disclosed a system. The system may include a serial communication link between a controller and a power electronics module, where a continuous bit stream passes through the serial communications link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Shepard, Todd David Greenleaf, Alan Carroll Lovell
  • Publication number: 20160065701
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling power semiconductor devices are described. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, there is disclosed a system. The system may include a serial communication link between a controller and a power electronics module, where a continuous bit stream passes through the serial communications link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Mark E. Shepard, Todd David Greenleaf, Alan Carroll Lovell
  • Patent number: 9184650
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling power semiconductor devices are described. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, there is disclosed a system. The system may include at least one power source for selectively providing power to one or more power semiconductor devices controlled by a gate driver. The gate driver may include at least one controller coupled to at least one power semiconductor device interface via a first channel and a second channel configured to provide galvanic isolation of information communicated between the controller and the at least one power semiconductor device interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Shepard, Todd David Greenleaf, Alan Carroll Lovell
  • Publication number: 20140097886
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling power semiconductor devices are described. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, there is disclosed a system. The system may include at least one power source for selectively providing power to one or more power semiconductor devices controlled by a gate driver. The gate driver may include at least one controller coupled to at least one power semiconductor device interface via a first channel and a second channel configured to provide galvanic isolation of information communicated between the controller and the at least one power semiconductor device interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark E. Shepard, Todd David Greenleaf, Alan Carroll Lovell
  • Patent number: 8259479
    Abstract: A power conversion system for providing power to an electrical grid is described. The system includes a boost converter coupled to a photovoltaic (PV) array and configured to control a PV array voltage. The system also includes an inverter coupled to the boost converter by at least one conductor and configured to regulate a voltage drop across the at least one conductor. The system also includes a system controller configured to control operation of the boost converter and the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, David Smith, Allen Michael Ritter, Mark E. Shepard
  • Publication number: 20120062044
    Abstract: A power conversion system for providing power to an electrical grid is described. The system includes a boost converter coupled to a photovoltaic (PV) array and configured to control a PV array voltage. The system also includes an inverter coupled to the boost converter by at least one conductor and configured to regulate a voltage drop across the at least one conductor. The system also includes a system controller configured to control operation of the boost converter and the inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, David Smith, Allen Michael Ritter, Mark E. Shepard
  • Patent number: 7984118
    Abstract: A control system having a host computer and one or more control computers connected to an interface for control of a process or machinery. The control computers are capable of automatically initiated network address assignment and configuration when powered up after installation. The network address is based on a location identifier situated in the interface that corresponds to a specific connection thereof to the control computer. The control computer reads the location identifier from the interface and requests a network address. The host computer assigns the network address based on the location identifier. Configuration of the control computer then proceeds. The procedure applies to newly installed control computers, whether first time installment or a replacement for a failed control computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Fred Henry Boettner, Stephen J. Sullivan, Craig William Moyer, Gary Kraterfield, Robert Kirby, Mark E. Shepard
  • Patent number: 7680034
    Abstract: A redundant control system for controlling an electromechanical system is provided. The control system includes a first processor, a second processor, an input-output node, a first communication channel, a second communication channel, and a signal selector. The first and second processors have a control algorithm and state variables resident thereon. The first and second processors each generate an output signal based on the control algorithm, the state variables, and an input signal from the electromechanical system. The first communication channel communicates the input signal and the output signal between the first processor and the input-output node, while the second communication channel communicates the input signal and the output signal between the second processor and the input-output node. The signal selector communicates either the output signal from the first processor or the output signal from the second processor to the electromechanical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dennis Brian King, John N. Cunningham, Fred Henry Boettner, Mark E. Shepard
  • Publication number: 20080125886
    Abstract: A redundant control system for controlling an electromechanical system is provided. The control system includes a first processor, a second processor, an input-output node, a first communication channel, a second communication channel, and a signal selector. The first and second processors have a control algorithm and state variables resident thereon. The first and second processors each generate an output signal based on the control algorithm, the state variables, and an input signal from the electromechanical system. The first communication channel communicates the input signal and the output signal between the first processor and the input-output node, while the second communication channel communicates the input signal and the output signal between the second processor and the input-output node. The signal selector communicates either the output signal from the first processor or the output signal from the second processor to the electromechanical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Dennis Brian King, John N. Cunningham, Fred Henry Boettner, Mark E. Shepard
  • Patent number: 7324360
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for converting power from a power source are described. In one example embodiment, the method includes controlling multiple transformer and switchgear units coupled to a power source, and controlling multiple converter units connected in parallel. Each converter unit is coupled to a respective one of the transformer and switchgear units to form an individual thread. The transformer and switchgear unit and power converters are controlled so that the carrier waveforms for each individual thread are interleaved between each other over a carrier cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Allen Michel Ritter, Richard S. Zhang, Luis Jose Garces, Rajib Datta, Ravisekhar Nadimpalli Raju, Mark E. Shepard
  • Patent number: 5808240
    Abstract: A low inductance bus bar arrangement includes two electrical conductors and an insulating system. The insulation system includes an insulation material and is disposed between the conductors. The insulation material has a thickness equal to or greater than a thickness threshold such that partial discharge in the insulating material is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Christopher S. Czerwinski, Mark E. Shepard
  • Patent number: 5635689
    Abstract: A speed command signal is applied to a variable voltage, variable frequency controller for driving a three-phase induction motor that operates a positive displacement pump for supplying fluid to a hydraulic elevator drive cylinder. An accelerometer mounted on the car provides an acceleration-related feedback signal to the car speed command input of the motor control, thereby to dampen low frequency resonant modes of the elevator car. A sensor on a check valve between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic cylinder provides a signal indicative of when the pump pressure is sufficient to support the car load, and the check valve begins to open; the signal is used to memorize ramped-up motor speed at that point, which equals the motor speed necessary to overcome pump leakage in order to support the car. That speed is added into the car speed command at the input of the motor controller to compensate for pump leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Shepard, Richard N. Fargo, Harold Terry
  • Patent number: 5635688
    Abstract: At the beginning of a run of an elevator 4, from an elevator control 14 a stiction removing velocity signal 20 is provided to a drive control 24 for commanding the elevator until stiction is broken; then as soon as the elevator 4 moves a normal dictated velocity signal 21 controls the elevator 4 throughout the remainder of the run. In further accordance with the present invention, the stiction removing velocity signal 20 is provided prior to the dictated velocity signal 21 only when the elevator 4 is operating in a regenerative mode, as determined by the elevator 4 moving in the up direction while lightly loaded or moving in the down direction while heavily loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Raj Kantesaria, Mark E. Shepard, Donald F. Cominelli
  • Patent number: 4718559
    Abstract: Selective non-magentic detection of non-ferrous metallic particles in a mixture of same with ferrous metallic particles and non-metallic particles derived from homogenized and magnetically treated municipal or like waste by a plurality of electronic detectors and separation of a non-ferrous metallic concentrate from said mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: Magnetic Separation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Garry R. Kenny, Edward J. Sommer, Jr., Mark E. Shepard
  • Patent number: 4541530
    Abstract: Separation of metallic particles from non-metallic particles of processed solid waste such as garbage to obtain a metallic concentrate, including use of such separation as the mid-step in a process which begins with homogenizing and magnetically treating components of the waste and ends with isolating the metallic concentrate as a high-purity metal fraction, for example, high-purity aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Magnetic Separation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Garry R. Kenny, Edward J. Sommer, Jr., Mark E. Shepard