Patents by Inventor MIGUEL GARCIA CLEMENTE
MIGUEL GARCIA CLEMENTE 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).
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Patent number: 10425001Abstract: A power switch apparatus for a power converter includes a semiconductor power switch and a gate drive unit connected to the semiconductor power switch for supplying gate drive signals to the semiconductor power switch to switch it on and off to cause the power converter to generate an alternating current voltage having a nominal operational frequency based on command signals received from a controller. The gate drive unit receives command signals based on the AC voltage to be generated and to alter the switching events of the semiconductor power switch by addition of a pre-defined jitter-like deviation to the gate drive signals such as to cause the power converter to generate an AC voltage having a modified operational frequency which partly and temporarily deviates from the nominal operational frequency by a pre-defined minimum percentage. A power converter comprising such a power switch apparatus is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2016Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology LimitedInventors: Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Christof Sihler, Miguel Garcia Clemente, Thomas Alois Zoels
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Publication number: 20180337587Abstract: A power switch apparatus for a power converter includes a semiconductor power switch and a gate drive unit connected to the semiconductor power switch for supplying gate drive signals to the semiconductor power switch to switch it on and off to cause the power converter to generate an alternating current voltage having a nominal operational frequency based on command signals received from a controller. The gate drive unit receives command signals based on the AC voltage to be generated and to alter the switching events of the semiconductor power switch by addition of a pre-defined jitter-like deviation to the gate drive signals such as to cause the power converter to generate an AC voltage having a modified operational frequency which partly and temporarily deviates from the nominal operational frequency by a pre-defined minimum percentage. A power converter comprising such a power switch apparatus is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2016Publication date: November 22, 2018Inventors: Alvaro Jorge MARI CURBELO, Christof SIHLER, Miguel GARCIA CLEMENTE, Thomas Alois ZOELS
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Patent number: 10054619Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to measure a voltage across a two-state dipole. The systems and methods measure voltages across two measurement paths of operational circuitry at first and second sensor terminals. The operational circuitry is configured to decouple the first and second sensor terminal based on a dipole voltage. The systems and methods further estimate the dipole voltage based on the voltages of the two measurement paths.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2017Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Miguel Garcia Clemente, Philipp Leuner, Thomas Alois Zoels, Bertrand Bastien, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo
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Publication number: 20180188299Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to measure a voltage across a two-state dipole. The systems and methods measure voltages across two measurement paths of operational circuitry at first and second sensor terminals. The operational circuitry is configured to decouple the first and second sensor terminal based on a dipole voltage. The systems and methods further estimate the dipole voltage based on the voltages of the two measurement paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2017Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Miguel Garcia Clemente, Philipp Leuner, Thomas Alois Zoels, Bertrand Bastien, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo
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Patent number: 9634657Abstract: A method includes detecting current from a first terminal of the switch to a second terminal of the switch, wherein the current exceeds a current limit for a linear region of the switch. The method includes controlling a gate voltage of the switch from a first voltage to a second voltage. The second voltage is configured to enable the switch to operate in an active region of the switch. The method further includes opening the switch when the switch is operating in the active region.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Alois Zoels, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Miguel Garcia Clemente
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Publication number: 20170108538Abstract: A probe device includes a measurement stage and an output connection. The measurement stage has a circuit configured to be connected with a power device under measurement, to measure one or more of a voltage or a current of the power device under measurement. The measurement stage is configured for at least one of a power supply rail or a reference of the measurement stage to be coupled to an electrode of the power device when the one or more of the voltage or the current is measured. The output connection is configured to communicate one or more of the voltage or the current of the power device under measurement that is measured or a derived parameter to a digital processing device or an external computer acquisition system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2015Publication date: April 20, 2017Inventors: Nicolas Wannenmacher, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Thomas Alois Zoels, Miguel Garcia Clemente
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Patent number: 9429488Abstract: A system includes a magnetostrictive sensor. The magnetostrictive sensor includes a driving coil configured to receive a first driving current and to emit a first magnetic flux portion through a target and a second magnetic flux portion. The magnetostrictive sensor also includes a first sensing coil configured to receive the first magnetic flux portion and to transmit a signal based at least in part on the received first magnetic flux portion. The received first magnetic flux portion is based at least in part on a force on the target. The magnetostrictive sensor further includes a magnetic shield disposed between the driving coil and the first sensing coil. The magnetic shield is configured to reduce the second magnetic flux portion received by the first sensing coil.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dan Tho Lu, Pekka Tapani Sipila, Charles Terrance Hatch, Lam Arthur Campbell, Miguel Garcia Clemente
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Patent number: 9425786Abstract: A gate driver circuit for the power switch is disclosed. The gate driver circuit includes a resistor network coupled to the power switch. The resistor network includes a plurality of resistors and a control unit operatively coupled to the resistor network. The control unit detects an occurrence of a commutation phase and a saturation phase based on an identity of the power switch and corresponding time stamps associated with a start of a delay phase, the commutation phase, and the saturation phase. The control unit further controls the resistor network to provide different resistance values in at least two of a delay phase, a commutation phase, and a saturation phase when the power switch is transitioned to a first state. A method for driving the power switch is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Alois Zoels, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Miguel Garcia Clemente
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Publication number: 20160142048Abstract: A gate driver circuit for the power switch is disclosed. The gate driver circuit includes a resistor network coupled to the power switch. The resistor network includes a plurality of resistors. The gate driver circuit further includes a control unit operatively coupled to the resistor network. The control unit is configured to control the resistor network such that the resistor network provides different resistance values in at least two of a delay phase, a commutation phase, and a saturation phase when the power switch is transitioned to a first state. A method for driving the power switch is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2014Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Thomas Alois Zoels, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Miguel Garcia Clemente
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Patent number: 9209618Abstract: A gate drive unit includes a measurement unit, a multi-resistive driving device, and a processing unit. The measurement unit measures a voltage across main terminals of a power switch. The driving device includes plural individually controllable resistive elements. The processing unit controls a control voltage applied to a control electrode of the power switch to activate the power switch. The processing unit individually activates or deactivates the resistive elements of the multi-resistive driving device to change which of the resistive elements at least partially conducts the control voltage to the power switch at different times responsive to the voltage across the main terminals representing a short circuit event. The processing unit changes which of the resistive elements are activated or deactivated to control a rate at which the control voltage decreases.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Thomas Alois Zoels, Miguel Garcia Clemente, Philipp Leuner, Nicolas Wannenmacher
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Publication number: 20150326009Abstract: A gate drive unit includes a measurement unit, a multi-resistive driving device, and a processing unit. The measurement unit measures a voltage across main terminals of a power switch. The driving device includes plural individually controllable resistive elements. The processing unit controls a control voltage applied to a control electrode of the power switch to activate the power switch. The processing unit individually activates or deactivates the resistive elements of the multi-resistive driving device to change which of the resistive elements at least partially conducts the control voltage to the power switch at different times responsive to the voltage across the main terminals representing a short circuit event. The processing unit changes which of the resistive elements are activated or deactivated to control a rate at which the control voltage decreases.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2014Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventors: Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Thomas Alois Zoels, Miguel Garcia Clemente, Philipp Leuner, Nicolas Wannenmacher
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Publication number: 20150292962Abstract: A system includes a magnetostrictive sensor. The magnetostrictive sensor includes a driving coil configured to receive a first driving current and to emit a first magnetic flux portion through a target and a second magnetic flux portion. The magnetostrictive sensor also includes a first sensing coil configured to receive the first magnetic flux portion and to transmit a signal based at least in part on the received first magnetic flux portion. The received first magnetic flux portion is based at least in part on a force on the target. The magnetostrictive sensor further includes a magnetic shield disposed between the driving coil and the first sensing coil. The magnetic shield is configured to reduce the second magnetic flux portion received by the first sensing coil.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2014Publication date: October 15, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dan Tho Lu, Pekka Tapani Sipila, Charles Terrance Hatch, Lam Arthur Campbell, Miguel Garcia Clemente
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Patent number: 8923365Abstract: A communication method includes detecting at a gate drive unit a change of state of a command signal that is received via a command link of the gate drive unit and initiating, responsive to the change of state of the command signal, a blanking period in which the gate drive unit will process as incoming data any further changes of state of the command signal. The method also includes receiving incoming data at the gate drive unit, by processing modulations of the command signal, within the blanking period.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Alois Zoels, Henry Todd Young, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Miguel Garcia Clemente
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Patent number: 8717069Abstract: A switch apparatus includes a semiconductor power switch connected for delivering current while driven by a gate drive voltage and an adaptive gate drive unit connected to a gate of the power switch. The gate drive unit is configured to select one of a plurality of pre-determined time functions for a gate drive voltage, and to deliver the gate drive voltage to the gate of the power switch according to the selected time function, thereby driving the power switch to deliver current within a pre-determined slew rate envelope.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Thomas Alois Zoels, Miguel Garcia Clemente, Philipp Leuner
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Publication number: 20130301755Abstract: A communication method includes detecting at a gate drive unit a change of state of a command signal that is received via a command link of the gate drive unit and initiating, responsive to the change of state of the command signal, a blanking period in which the gate drive unit will process as incoming data any further changes of state of the command signal. The method also includes receiving incoming data at the gate drive unit, by processing modulations of the command signal, within the blanking period.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2012Publication date: November 14, 2013Inventors: Thomas Alois Zoels, Henry Todd Young, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Miguel Garcia Clemente
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Publication number: 20130278298Abstract: A switch apparatus includes a semiconductor power switch connected for delivering current while driven by a gate drive voltage and an adaptive gate drive unit connected to a gate of the power switch. The gate drive unit is configured to select one of a plurality of pre-determined time functions for a gate drive voltage, and to deliver the gate drive voltage to the gate of the power switch according to the selected time function, thereby driving the power switch to deliver current within a pre-determined slew rate envelope.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2012Publication date: October 24, 2013Inventors: ALVARO JORGE MARI CURBELO, THOMAS ALOIS ZOELS, MIGUEL GARCIA CLEMENTE, PHILIPP LEUNER