Abstract: A boost inductor value reduction circuit is integrated into a traditional boost power converter to greatly reduce undesirable high frequency harmonics from being fed back to the input side of the boost power converter. The boost inductor value reduction circuit is very small when compared with traditional filter techniques, is less costly than traditional filter techniques, and does not degrade the boost power converter control performance. It can also be used to reduce the size of the boost inductor without compromising the converter performance for use in energy efficient sensitive applications such as photovoltaic inverters.

Abstract: A film capacitor includes metallization that is sectionalized, patterned and configured to provide interconnections on only one face of a rolled or stacked film capacitor.

Abstract: Photovoltaic power converter system including a controller configured to reduce load harmonics is provided. The system comprises a photovoltaic array and an inverter electrically coupled to the array to generate an output current for energizing a load connected to the inverter and to a mains grid supply voltage. The system further comprises a controller including a first circuit coupled to receive a load current to measure a harmonic current in the load current. The controller includes a second circuit to generate a fundamental reference drawn by the load. The controller further includes a third circuit for combining the measured harmonic current and the fundamental reference to generate a command output signal for generating the output current for energizing the load connected to the inverter. The photovoltaic system may be configured to compensate harmonic currents that may be drawn by the load.

Abstract: Photovoltaic power converter system including a controller configured to reduce load harmonics is provided. The system comprises a photovoltaic array and an inverter electrically coupled to the array to generate an output current for energizing a load connected to the inverter and to a mains grid supply voltage. The system further comprises a controller including a first circuit coupled to receive a load current to measure a harmonic current in the load current. The controller includes a second circuit to generate a fundamental reference drawn by the load. The controller further includes a third circuit for combining the measured harmonic current and the fundamental reference to generate a command output signal for generating the output current for energizing the load connected to the inverter. The photovoltaic system may be configured to compensate harmonic currents that may be drawn by the load.

Abstract: An integrated inductor and capacitor component is provided and includes a number of tapered conductors. Neighboring ones of the tapered conductors are separated by a gap extending along a length of the component. A first one of the tapered conductors is characterized by a first width w1 that is larger at a first end of the component and tapers along the length of the component toward a second end of the component, and a second one of the tapered conductors is characterized by a second width w2 that is larger at the second end of the component and tapers toward the first end of the component.

Abstract: System, method, and apparatus are provided for harvesting electrical energy from a photovoltaic source of electrical energy. The photovoltaic source has power-generating characteristics defined by a family of voltage-current curves comprising points of maximum electrical power over a respective range of at least one of the following for the photovoltaic source: distinct illumination intensities and distinct temperatures. The apparatus is made up of a switching converter coupled to the photovoltaic source. The converter has an input voltage-current curve having a predefined functional relationship between the input voltage and the input current.

Abstract: A power electronic module includes: a switch module including a desaturation detection diode and a power semiconductor switch, and wherein the desaturation detection diode is coupled to a switching connection of the power semiconductor switch; and a driver module coupled to the switch module, wherein the driver module is configured for obtaining a voltage signal across the desaturation detection diode and the power semiconductor switch and configured for turning off the power semiconductor switch upon the voltage signal exceeding a threshold. In one example, the driver module is discrete from the switch module. In another example, the switch module and driver modules are configured to respectively provide and receive a voltage signal of less than or equal to seventy volts.

Abstract: A spirally-wound inductor having a tapered conductor. The height of the conductor increases from a smaller height near the center of the inductor to a greater height at the outer edge of the inductor. A spherically-shaped inductor and methods for manufacturing the spherically-shaped inductor. The spherically-shaped inductor has a series of coils that increase in diameter from each end toward the middle.

Abstract: A system includes an energy source configured for operating as a current limited source and a DC-to-DC converter or current switched inverter configured to receive current from the energy source and comprising a normally-on switch.

Abstract: A current sensing system for estimating current in substantially parallel planar conductors. The system includes a magnetostrictive optical sensor including an optical sensing element coupled to a magnetostrictive element and disposed between substantially parallel planar conductors, wherein the magnetostrictive element is configured to cause a strain in the optical sensing element in the presence of a magnetic field between the substantially parallel planar conductors, and wherein the optical sensing element is configured to receive an optical interrogation signal and provide a wavelength modulated data signal indicative of magnitude of the current flowing through the conductors.

Abstract: A power module includes a substrate that includes an upper layer, an electrical insulator and a thermal coupling layer. The upper layer includes an electrically conductive pattern and is configured for receiving power devices. The electrical insulator is disposed between the upper layer and the thermal coupling layer. The thermal coupling layer is configured for thermal coupling to a heat sink. The power module further includes at least one laminar interconnect that includes first and second electrically conductive layers and an insulating layer disposed between the first and second electrically conductive layers. The first electrically conductive layer of the laminar interconnect is electrically connected to the upper layer of the substrate. Electrical connections connect a top side of the power devices to the second electrically conductive layer of the laminar interconnect.

Abstract: A ripple current reduction circuit is provided that reduces the ripple current of a transformer by providing a substantially opposite or inverse ripple of an auxiliary current that can be combined with the ripple current of the transformer for cancellation or reduction of the ripple current.

Abstract: A dual coil induction cooking system and method for heating ferrous and non-ferrous cooking vessels. The system includes a first resonant circuit for inducing a current in a ferrous metal cooking vessel at a first frequency and a second resonant circuit, wired in a parallel combination with the first resonant circuit, for inducing a current in a non-ferrous metal cooking vessel at a second frequency. The system also includes a power source for powering the parallel combination, so that one of the first and the second resonant circuits is coupled to supply power through the parallel combination to a respective one of the cooking vessels. A method for coupling power to a load includes sweeping a parallel combination of resonant circuits with a variable frequency power, detecting a resonant frequency response corresponding to a metallic composition of the load, and simultaneously powering the parallel combination of resonant circuits at a frequency corresponding to the detected resonant frequency.

Abstract: A method of making an electrical cable, the method comprising: bonding a plurality of electrical conductors to respective neighboring ones of the electrical conductors to form a ribbon, the electrical conductors being electrically insulated from the respective neighboring ones; folding the ribbon to form cable assembly, each of the electrical conductors traversing the width of the cable assembly at least twice; optionally bonding the cable assembly; and optionally coiling the cable assembly.

Abstract: An induction heating coil with integrated resonant capacitor is provided, along with methods of fabrication thereof, and induction heating systems employing the same. The induction heating coil includes a cable having a first conductor and a second conductor separated by a dielectric. The resonant capacitor is defined by at least a portion of the cable's first conductor and second conductor with the dielectric disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A ripple current reduction circuit is provided that reduces the ripple current of a transformer by providing a substantially opposite or inverse ripple of an auxiliary current that can be combined with the ripple current of the transformer for cancellation or reduction of the ripple current.

Abstract: A method of making an electrical cable, the method comprising: bonding a plurality of electrical conductors to respective neighboring ones of the electrical conductors to form a ribbon, the electrical conductors being electrically insulated from the respective neighboring ones; folding the ribbon to form cable assembly, each of the electrical conductors traversing the width of the cable assembly at least twice; optionally bonding the cable assembly; and optionally coiling the cable assembly.

Abstract: An electrical cable and method of making, the method comprising: providing a litz cable having a plurality of electrical conductors; electrically coupling at a first end of the litz cable a subset of the electrical conductors to produce a first coupled subset leaving an uncoupled remainder of the electrical conductors; and electrically coupling at a second end of the litz cable the uncoupled remainder of the electrical conductors to produce a second coupled subset.

Abstract: An induction heating coil with integrated resonant capacitor is provided, along with methods of fabrication thereof, and induction heating systems employing the same. The induction heating coil includes a cable having a first conductor and a second conductor separated by a dielectric. The resonant capacitor is defined by at least a portion of the cable's first conductor and second conductor with the dielectric disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A method of making an electrical cable, the method comprising: bonding a plurality of electrical conductors to respective neighboring ones of the electrical conductors to form a ribbon, the electrical conductors being electrically insulated from the respective neighboring ones; folding the ribbon to form cable assembly, each of the electrical conductors traversing the width of the cable assembly at least twice; optionally bonding the cable assembly; and optionally coiling the cable assembly.