Patents by Inventor Matti Laitinen

Matti Laitinen 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: 11228234
    Abstract: A power converter arrangement includes a semiconductor switch system with a controllable switch. A capacitor unit includes a capacitor having a capacitance value, the capacitor unit being operatively connected to the semiconductor switch system. A conductor arrangement includes a conductor adapted to conduct an electric current between the capacitor unit and the semiconductor switch system. The conductor has a resistance and an inductance. A resonant circuit is formed by the resistance, the inductance and the capacitance, and the power converter arrangement includes at least one attenuating element for attenuating an electrical ringing in the resonant circuit. The attenuating element is conductively isolated from the resonant circuit. The attenuating element includes ferromagnetic material, and the attenuating element is magnetically coupled to the conductor such that variations in the electric current intensity of the conductor induces eddy currents within the attenuating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Henri Kinnunen, Matti Laitinen, Jukka-Pekka Kittilä
  • Publication number: 20200136498
    Abstract: A power converter arrangement including a semiconductor switch system including at least one controllable switch, a capacitor unit including at least one capacitor having a capacitance value, the capacitor unit being operatively connected to the semiconductor switch system, a conductor arrangement including of at least one conductor adapted to conduct an electric current between the capacitor unit and the semiconductor switch system, wherein the at least one conductor having a resistance and an inductance, and wherein a resonant circuit is formed by the resistance, the inductance and the capacitance, and wherein the power converter arrangement includes at least one attenuating element for attenuating an electrical ringing in the resonant circuit, wherein the at least one attenuating element is conductively isolated from the resonant circuit, and wherein the at least one attenuating element includes ferromagnetic material, and wherein the at least one attenuating element is magnetically coupled to the at least
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Henri Kinnunen, Matti Laitinen, Jukka-Pekka Kittilä
  • Patent number: 9941873
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for balancing currents of two or more parallel-connected power semiconductor switches during an on-state of the switches. A control terminal of each switch is driven by a driver unit. The method includes determining ratios between the currents through the switches. For each switch, the method includes controlling the voltage at the control terminal on the basis of the ratios by controlling a level of a supply voltage of the driver unit of the switch, and after a turn-on commutation transient, modulating the output of the driver unit. The duty cycle of the modulation is controlled to minimize the time required for the transition of the voltage at the control terminal from the one voltage level to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Ignacio Lizama, Rodrigo Alonso Alvarez Valenzuela, Steffen Bernet, Matti Laitinen
  • Publication number: 20180047496
    Abstract: A current conductor structure with a frequency-dependent resistance. The current conductor structure comprises a first current conductor and a second current conductor connected in parallel. The first and second current conductor are configured such that the second current conductor has a higher resistance and a lower inductance than the first conductor so that, above a set frequency limit, the resistance component of a total impedance of the current conductor structure is larger than the resistance component of the impedance of the first conductor current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Mika Masti, Henri Kinnunen, Matti Laitinen
  • Publication number: 20150162902
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for balancing currents of two or more parallel-connected power semiconductor switches during an on-state of the switches. A control terminal of each switch is driven by a driver unit. The method includes determining ratios between the currents through the switches. For each switch, the method includes controlling the voltage at the control terminal on the basis of the ratios by controlling a level of a supply voltage of the driver unit of the switch, and after a turn-on commutation transient, modulating the output of the driver unit. The duty cycle of the modulation is controlled to minimize the time required for the transition of the voltage at the control terminal from the one voltage level to another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Ignacio LIZAMA, Rodrigo Alonso Alvarez Valenzuela, Steffen Bernet, Matti Laitinen
  • Publication number: 20150155700
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a power semiconductor switch. A current through the switch is responsive to a control terminal voltage at a control terminal of the switch, and the control terminal voltage is driven by a driver unit. The method includes measuring or estimating the current based on a bond voltage of the switch, detecting a short circuit by comparing the measured or estimated current to a short circuit current limit, controlling an on-state voltage level of the control terminal voltage based on the comparison to limit the current through the switch during the short circuit, and controlling the control terminal voltage to an off-state voltage level to turn the switch off. The on-state voltage level voltage is controlled by pulse-width modulating the output of the driver unit. A switching frequency of the modulation is at least the cut-off frequency of low-pass characteristics of the control terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: ABB OY
    Inventors: Rodrigo Alonso ALVAREZ VALENZUELA, Ignacio Lizama, Steffen Bernet, Matti Laitinen
  • Patent number: 9007102
    Abstract: An exemplary gate drive circuit and method are disclosed for controlling a gate-controlled component, the gate drive circuit having a PI controller adapted to receive an input reference signal and to control a gate voltage of the gate-controlled component. The gate drive circuit can include a first feedback loop for the PI controller, the first feedback loop having a first gain (kv), a second feedback loop for the PI controller, the second feedback loop having a second gain (ki), and a clipping circuit adapted to modify a feedback signal in the second feedback loop during turn-on of the gate-controlled component when the time derivative of the collector current is negative. The first feedback loop can include a first blanking circuit adapted to cut the feedback loop when the gate-controlled component is in a blocking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Yanick Lobsiger, Johann Kolar, Matti Laitinen
  • Patent number: 8963585
    Abstract: An exemplary apparatus and method for using intelligent gate driver units with distributed intelligence to control antiparallel power modules or parallel-connected electrical switching devices like IGBTs is disclosed. The intelligent gate drive units use the intelligence to balance the currents of the switching devices, even in dynamic switching events. The intelligent gate driver units can use master-slave or daisy chain control structures and instantaneous or time integral differences of the currents of parallel-connected switching devices as control parameters. Instead of balancing the currents, temperature can also be balanced with the intelligent gate driver units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Yanick Lobsiger, Dominik Bortis, Johann Walter Kolar, Matti Laitinen
  • Publication number: 20140375362
    Abstract: An exemplary gate drive circuit and method are disclosed for controlling a gate-controlled component, the gate drive circuit having a PI controller adapted to receive an input reference signal and to control a gate voltage of the gate-controlled component. The gate drive circuit can include a first feedback loop for the PI controller, the first feedback loop having a first gain (kv), a second feedback loop for the PI controller, the second feedback loop having a second gain (ki), and a clipping circuit adapted to modify a feedback signal in the second feedback loop during turn-on of the gate-controlled component when the time derivative of the collector current is negative. The first feedback loop can include a first blanking circuit adapted to cut the feedback loop when the gate-controlled component is in a blocking state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Yanick LOBSIGER, Johann Kolar, Matti Laitinen
  • Patent number: 8710876
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a gate drive circuit and a method for controlling a gate-controlled component. The gate drive circuit includes a PI controller that receives an input reference signal (vref,d/dt) controls a gate voltage of the gate-controlled component. The gate drive circuit also includes a first feedback loop for the PI controller adapted to provide feedback from a time derivative of a collector-to-emitter voltage (vCE) of the controlled component. The first feedback loop has a first gain (kv). A second is provided in the gate drive circuit feedback loop for the PI controller that provides feedback from the time derivative of the collector current (iC) of the controlled component. The second feedback loop has second gain (ki) and includes a clipping circuit that modifies the feedback signal in the second feedback loop during turn-on of the controlled component when the time derivative of the collector current is negative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Yanich Lobsiger, Johann Walter Kolar, Matti Laitinen
  • Patent number: 8710885
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a semiconductor component which includes a voltage controlled gate. The method includes determining and storing, prior to use of the semiconductor component, reference values of a gate voltage to be given to the gate of the semiconductor component during a change of operating states. The method also includes providing a pulse width modulated voltage from a driver circuit to a resistor connected to the gate of the semiconductor component according to the stored reference values of the gate voltage when a change in operating states of the semiconductor component is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventor: Matti Laitinen
  • Publication number: 20130328599
    Abstract: An exemplary apparatus and method for using intelligent gate driver units with distributed intelligence to control antiparallel power modules or parallel-connected electrical switching devices like IGBTs is disclosed. The intelligent gate drive units use the intelligence to balance the currents of the switching devices, even in dynamic switching events. The intelligent gate driver units can use master-slave or daisy chain control structures and instantaneous or time integral differences of the currents of parallel-connected switching devices as control parameters. Instead of balancing the currents, temperature can also be balanced with the intelligent gate driver units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Yanick LOBSIGER, Dominik BORTIS, Johann Walter KOLAR, Matti LAITINEN
  • Patent number: 8604841
    Abstract: An exemplary apparatus and method for using intelligent gate driver units with distributed intelligence to control antiparallel power modules or parallel-connected electrical switching devices like IGBTs is disclosed. The intelligent gate drive units use the intelligence to balance the currents of the switching devices, even in dynamic switching events. The intelligent gate driver units can use master-slave or daisy chain control structures and instantaneous or time integral differences of the currents of parallel-connected switching devices as control parameters. Instead of balancing the currents, temperature can also be balanced with the intelligent gate driver units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Yanick Lobsiger, Dominik Bortis, Johann Walter Kolar, Matti Laitinen
  • Patent number: 8575974
    Abstract: An exemplary method and a control circuit are disclosed for controlling a power semiconductor component by producing a control signal (Ucin) for controlling the component, forming a second control signal (Ucout) in the potential of the controlled component from the control signal (Ucin), measuring a current flowing through the component, and comparing the measured current with a set limit. A fault signal (Ufault) having a logical state is provided on the basis of the comparison between the measured current and the set limit, producing a component control signal (Uave) from the fault signal (Ufault) and the second control signal (Ucout). If a fault is indicated, the component control signal has a value between high and low states, and otherwise the state of the component control signal (Uave) equals the state of the second control signal (Ucout).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Matti Laitinen, Jukka Palomäki
  • Patent number: 8502524
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement of measuring inverter current, where the inverter is connected to and supplied by a DC intermediate circuit having two or more parallel capacitor branches connected between the positive and negative rail of the DC intermediate circuit, and the capacitance of the capacitor branches being known. The method comprises the steps of measuring the current of one of the parallel capacitor branches, and determining from the measured current the magnitude of the inverter current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Ora Veli-Matti Leppänen, Matti Laitinen, Jussi Suortti
  • Patent number: 8379384
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a cooling structure for an electronic device including an inlet for conveying a flow in a first flow direction towards a first component and an outlet for conveying the flow further. To deter dirt particles from proceeding to electronic components, the cooling structure can include a second flow channel, which starts from a port oriented transversely to the first flow direction or away therefrom and receives part of the flow from the inlet, and which conveys the part of the flow to an electronic component located in the second flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Matti Smalen, Timo Koivuluoma, Matti Laitinen
  • Publication number: 20120223744
    Abstract: An exemplary method and a control circuit are disclosed for controlling a power semiconductor component by producing a control signal (Ucin) for controlling the component, forming a second control signal (Ucout) in the potential of the controlled component from the control signal (Ucin), measuring a current flowing through the component, and comparing the measured current with a set limit. A fault signal (Ufault) having a logical state is provided on the basis of the comparison between the measured current and the set limit, producing a component control signal (Uave) from the fault signal (Ufault) and the second control signal (Ucout). If a fault is indicated, the component control signal has a value between high and low states, and otherwise the state of the component control signal (Uave) equals the state of the second control signal (Ucout).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Matti Laitinen, Jukka Palomäki
  • Patent number: 8221589
    Abstract: In a method for detaching a web threading tail from a moving surface in a fiber web machine, the web threading tail (12) is detached from a moving surface (23) by means of air that flows from a blow-off blow channel (19) included in a blade holder (14). A trailing blow (26) is directed to the web threading tail (12) using air that flows from a trailing blow channel (17) included in the blade holder (14). The blade holder (14) includes a flow surface (32), and the trailing blow (26) is blown to the same direction with or in a small angle relative to the flow surface (32). The invention also relates to a corresponding blade holder and a doctor apparatus for detaching a web threading tail from a moving surface in a fiber web machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Metson Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Tuomo Pekka Auranen, Reijo Hassinen, Veli-Pekka Koljonen, Kari-Matti Laitinen, Pekka Meriläinen, Anssi Toivanen
  • Publication number: 20120098577
    Abstract: An exemplary apparatus and method for using intelligent gate driver units with distributed intelligence to control antiparallel power modules or parallel-connected electrical switching devices like IGBTs is disclosed. The intelligent gate drive units use the intelligence to balance the currents of the switching devices, even in dynamic switching events. The intelligent gate driver units can use master-slave or daisy chain control structures and instantaneous or time integral differences of the currents of parallel-connected switching devices as control parameters. Instead of balancing the currents, temperature can also be balanced with the intelligent gate driver units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Yanick Lobsiger, Dominik Bortis, Johann Walter Kolar, Matti Laitinen
  • Patent number: 8149604
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling a thyristor (V1) into conducting state, the thyristor (V1) being in a rectifier, which rectifier is adapted to supply DC voltage to a DC voltage circuit. The circuit comprises a pulse transformer (T1), means for generating voltage pulses on the primary winding of the pulse transformer (T1), a trigger capacitor (C2) adapted to be charged from the voltage pulses in the secondary winding of the pulse transformer, a zener diode (V5) adapted to be triggered with the voltage of the trigger capacitor (C2) when the voltage of the trigger capacitor (C2) exceeds the breakdown voltage of the zener diode (V5), and an auxiliary thyristor (V3) adapted to be triggered with the current from the trigger capacitor (C2) flowing via the zener diode (V5), wherein the cathode of the auxiliary thyristor (V3) is connected to the gate of the thyristor (V1) for triggering the thyristor (V1) with the current from the trigger capacitor (C2) flowing via the auxiliary thyristor (V3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: ABB OY
    Inventor: Matti Laitinen