Patents by Inventor Patrick L. Chapman

Patrick L. Chapman 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).

  • Publication number: 20170063094
    Abstract: Differential power processing (DPP) converters are used within circuit architecture of solar power modules to process the mismatched power between solar elements in a power module. The DPP converters use various topologies to process the mismatched power. These topologies can include a housekeeping power supply where the housekeeping power is coupled to the main bus, or, through various other tapping topologies, including to a subset of PV cell substrings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan L. Ehlmann
  • Patent number: 9564835
    Abstract: Technologies for communicating information from an inverter configured for the conversion of direct current (DC) power generated from an alternative source to alternating current (AC) power are disclosed. The technologies include determining information to be transmitted from the inverter over a power line cable connected to the inverter and controlling the operation of an output converter of the inverter as a function of the information to be transmitted to cause the output converter to generate an output waveform having the information modulated thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick L. Chapman
  • Patent number: 9509232
    Abstract: Communicating by a power inverter is provided. Processes can include outputting a first voltage at a frequency as determined by primary side control, applying the first voltage to a primary winding, generating a second voltage at a second frequency across a secondary winding, and determining the second frequency using a secondary side control, where the second frequency can provide information about an operating condition within the power inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick L. Chapman
  • Patent number: 9496794
    Abstract: Regulation of powertrain converter circuits is provided. The power conversion may include converting between direct current and alternating current and the regulation may include reduction of distortion on switching start up and zero-crossings. Solid-state implementations, code implementations, and mixed implementations are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Gray, Patrick L. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20160164427
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the delivery of power from a DC source to an AC grid includes an inverter configured to deliver power from the unipolar input source to the AC grid and an inverter controller. The inverter includes an input converter, an active filter, and an output converter. The inverter controller includes an input converter controller, an active filter controller and an output converter controller. The input converter controller is configured to control a current delivered by the input converter to a galvanically isolated unipolar bus of the inverter. The output converter is configured to control the output converter to deliver power to the AC grid. Additionally, the active filter controller is configured to control the active filter to supply substantially all the power that is deliver by the output controller to the AC grid at a grid frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Brian T. Kuhn, Robert S. Balog, Jonathan W. Kimball, Philip T. Krein, Alexander Gray, Trishan Esram
  • Publication number: 20160142100
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for communicating with a power inverter of an array of inverters includes transmitting a relay message from an inverter array controller to a relay inverter in response to failing to receive a response from at least one power inverter of the array. The relay inverter is configured to retransmit a message from the inverter array controller to a non-responsive power inverter of the array of inverters in response to receiving the relay message. The relay inverter may subsequently retransmit a reply received from the non-responsive power inverter to the inverter array controller or to another power inverter of the array of inverters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Philip Rothblum, Brian T. Kuhn, Jonathan Ehlmann, Patrick L. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20160134233
    Abstract: An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, William R. Van Dell
  • Patent number: 9276635
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for communicating with a power inverter of an array of inverters includes transmitting a relay message from an inverter array controller to a relay inverter in response to failing to receive a response from at least one power inverter of the array. The relay inverter is configured to retransmit a message from the inverter array controller to a non-responsive power inverter of the array of inverters in response to receiving the relay message. The relay inverter may subsequently retransmit a reply received from the non-responsive power inverter to the inverter array controller or to another power inverter of the array of inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip Rothblum, Brian T. Kuhn, Jonathan Ehlmann, Patrick L. Chapman
  • Patent number: 9263183
    Abstract: An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, William R. Van Dell
  • Patent number: 9225256
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the delivery of power from a DC source to an AC grid includes an inverter configured to deliver power from the unipolar input source to the AC grid and an inverter controller. The inverter includes an input converter, an active filter, and an output converter. The inverter controller includes an input converter controller, an active filter controller and an output converter controller. The input converter controller is configured to control a current delivered by the input converter to a galvanically isolated unipolar bus of the inverter. The output converter is configured to control the output converter to deliver power to the AC grid. Additionally, the active filter controller is configured to control the active filter to supply substantially all the power that is deliver by the output controller to the AC grid at a grid frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Brian T. Kuhn, Robert S. Balog, Jonathan W. Kimball, Philip T. Krein, Alexander Gray, Trishan Esram
  • Publication number: 20150333617
    Abstract: An inverter for converting an input direct current (DC) waveform from a DC source to an output alternating current (AC) waveform for delivery to an AC grid includes an input converter, an output converter, and an active filter, each of which is electrically coupled to a bus. The bus may be a DC bus or an AC bus. The input converter is configured to convert the input DC waveform to a DC or AC bus waveform. The output converter is configured to convert the bus waveform to the output AC waveform at a grid frequency. The active filter is configured to reduce a double-frequency ripple power of the bus waveform by supplying power to and absorbing power from the power bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Brian T. Kuhn, Robert S. Balog, Jonathan W. Kimball, Philip T. Krein, Alexander Gray
  • Publication number: 20150229221
    Abstract: Regulation of powertrain converter circuits is provided. The power conversion may include converting between direct current and alternating current and the regulation may include reduction of distortion on switching start up and zero-crossings. Solid-state implementations, code implementations, and mixed implementations are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander Gray, Patrick L. Chapman
  • Patent number: 9093919
    Abstract: An inverter for converting an input direct current (DC) waveform from a DC source to an output alternating current (AC) waveform for delivery to an AC grid includes an input converter, an output converter, and an active filter, each of which is electrically coupled to a bus. The bus may be a DC bus or an AC bus. The input converter is configured to convert the input DC waveform to a DC or AC bus waveform. The output converter is configured to convert the bus waveform to the output AC waveform at a grid frequency. The active filter is configured to reduce a double-frequency ripple power of the bus waveform by supplying power to and absorbing power from the power bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Brian T. Kuhn, Robert S. Balog, Jonathan W. Kimball, Philip T. Krein, Alexander Gray
  • Patent number: 9048740
    Abstract: Power conversion methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and devices are provided. The power conversion may include converting between direct current and alternating current wherein switching losses associated with latent electrical charges are reduced. Current sensing may be low-side bus reference. Solid-state implementations, code implementations, and mixed implementations are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Gray, Patrick L. Chapman
  • Patent number: 8842454
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering AC power to an AC load may include a plurality of inverters to receive direct current (DC) power from a respective DC power source and respectively provide AC power to an AC load. The apparatus may further include a first controller to generate a first control signal based on total AC current and total AC voltage being delivered to the AC load by the plurality of inverters. The apparatus may further include a plurality of secondary controllers to each receive the first control signal and each produce a respective secondary control signal based on the first control signal. The respective secondary control signal for each of the plurality of secondary controllers is configured to control a corresponding one of the plurality of inverters to provide a portion of the AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Johnson, Philip Krein, Alexander Gray, Patrick L. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20140268958
    Abstract: Technologies for communicating information from an inverter configured for the conversion of direct current (DC) power generated from an alternative source to alternating current (AC) power are disclosed. The technologies include determining information to be transmitted from the inverter over a power line cable connected to the inverter and controlling the operation of an output converter of the inverter as a function of the information to be transmitted to cause the output converter to generate an output waveform having the information modulated thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Patrick L. Chapman
  • Patent number: 8823356
    Abstract: Processes, machines, and articles of manufacture that may serve to enable the detection or determination of alternating line voltages from an alternating power source, such as the power grid, are provided. This automatic sensing may be useful when connections are made to the power grid, such that when connections are made, the connections may be configured to be compatible with the available power source. This automatic sensing may also be useful if power sources change characteristics over time or if devices may be connected to different power sources over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick L. Chapman
  • Patent number: 8767421
    Abstract: Processes, machines, and articles of manufacture that may management power conversion as provided. This may include circuit topology or management that serves to improve power conversion efficiency from a DC waveform to an AC waveform. This circuit topology or management may include considering and managing the voltage across a DC-link capacitive bus and the phase angle output of an AC waveform in order to influence or improve power conversion characteristics or efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick L. Chapman
  • Patent number: 8737100
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an inverter includes operating the inverter in a one of a normal run mode or a pulse mode depending on one or more criteria. When operating in the pulse mode, the inverter generates a sinusoidal output pulse waveform including a plurality of pulses having a determined pulse width. The pulse width is less than a half-wave period of a full-cycle sinusoidal waveform and may be determined as function of, for example, the output power of the inverter, a grid voltage, and/or other criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Philip T. Krein
  • Publication number: 20140133197
    Abstract: A power inverter may include a transformer serving as an isolation barrier. The power inverter may include a first controller on one side of the isolation barrier. The first controller may encode the frequency of an input voltage of the transformer with one or more operating conditions of a direct current power supply electrically coupled to the inverter. As second controller on the other side of the isolation barrier may determine a frequency associated with an output voltage of the transformer. The second controller may decode the frequency associated with the output voltage of the transformer to determine the encoded operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick L. Chapman