Patents by Inventor Richard A. Lukaszewski
Richard A. Lukaszewski 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: 10389263Abstract: Motor drive power conversion systems are provided including a rectifier and a switching inverter, wherein the switching devices of the rectifier, the inverter and/or of a DC/DC converter are silicon carbide switches, such as silicon carbide MOSFETs. Driver circuits are provided for providing bipolar gate drive signals to the silicon carbide MOSFETs, including providing negative gate-source voltage for controlling the off state of enhancement mode low side drivers and positive gate-source voltage for controlling the off state of enhancement mode high side drivers.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kevin Baumann, Richard Lukaszewski, Rangarajan Tallam, Lixiang Wei, Lee Gettelfinger, Garron Morris, Bruce Weiss, Neil Gollhardt, Navid R. Zargari, William Brumsickle, Robert Wright Reese, Stephen E. Denning
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Patent number: 10217555Abstract: For reducing volume requirements and magnetic flux leakage, a compact inductor includes a first planar core with a first core thickness along a first axis orthogonal to a plane of the first planar core. In addition, the inductor includes a second planar core disposed parallel to the first planar core with a second core thickness along the first axis. The inductor further includes a plurality of electrical windings disposed between and adjacent to an inside plane of the first planar core and an inside plane of the second planar core. The electrical windings may include insulated electrical wires. No magnetic teeth may be disposed between the first planar core and the second planar core. The first axis is parallel to a magnetic axis of each electrical winding.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2015Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xikai Sun, Wei Qian, Shaofeng Zhang, Haihui Lu, Lixiang Wei, Yuan Xiao, Jiangang Hu, Richard A. Lukaszewski
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Patent number: 9998030Abstract: The present techniques include methods and systems for operating converter to maintain a lifespan of the converter. In some embodiments, the operating frequency of the converter may be increased such that stress may be reduced on the bond wires of the converter. More specifically, embodiments involve calculating the aging parameters for certain operating conditions of the converter operating in a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) mode and determining whether the MPPT operation results in aging the converter to a point which reduces the converter lifespan below a desired lifespan. If the MPPT operation reduces the converter lifespan below the desired lifespan, the frequency of the converter may be increased such that the converter may be controlled to operate at a percentage of MPPT. Thus, in some embodiments, power output may be optimized with respect to maintaining a desired lifespan of the converter.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2014Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Russel J. Kerkman, Richard A. Lukaszewski, Haihui Lu, Zhenhuan Yuan
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Patent number: 9960723Abstract: Disclosed examples include power conversion systems, computer readable mediums and methods for mitigating input filter resonance, in which a controller operates an active front end (AFE) rectifier in a first mode to turn a single rectifier switching device on and off and measures a filter voltage or current signal while all of the rectifier switches are off. The controller determines a resonant frequency based on a transient response of the measured voltage or current signal, and selectively adjusts a rectifier control parameter to mitigate filter resonance based on the resonant frequency.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2016Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Shaofeng Zhang, Haihui Lu, Yogesh P. Patel, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Lixiang Wei, Richard Lukaszewski
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Publication number: 20180026544Abstract: Motor drive power conversion systems are provided including a rectifier and a switching inverter, wherein the switching devices of the rectifier, the inverter and/or of a DC/DC converter are silicon carbide switches, such as silicon carbide MOSFETs. Driver circuits are provided for providing bipolar gate drive signals to the silicon carbide MOSFETs, including providing negative gate-source voltage for controlling the off state of enhancement mode low side drivers and positive gate-source voltage for controlling the off state of enhancement mode high side drivers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2017Publication date: January 25, 2018Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kevin Baumann, Richard Lukaszewski, Rangarajan Tallam, Lixiang Wei, Lee Gettelfinger, Garron Morris, Bruce Weiss, Neil Gollhardt, Navid R. Zargari, William Brumsickle, Robert Wright Reese, Stephen E. Denning
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Publication number: 20170353138Abstract: Disclosed examples include power conversion systems, computer readable mediums and methods for mitigating input filter resonance, in which a controller operates an active front end (AFE) rectifier in a first mode to turn a single rectifier switching device on and off and measures a filter voltage or current signal while all of the rectifier switches are off. The controller determines a resonant frequency based on a transient response of the measured voltage or current signal, and selectively adjusts a rectifier control parameter to mitigate filter resonance based on the resonant frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2016Publication date: December 7, 2017Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Shaofeng Zhang, Haihui Lu, Yogesh P. Patel, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Lixiang Wei, Richard Lukaszewski
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Patent number: 9787212Abstract: Motor drive power conversion systems are provided including a rectifier and a switching inverter, wherein the switching devices of the rectifier, the inverter and/or of a DC/DC converter are silicon carbide switches, such as silicon carbide MOSFETs. Driver circuits are provided for providing bipolar gate drive signals to the silicon carbide MOSFETs, including providing negative gate-source voltage for controlling the off state of enhancement mode low side drivers and positive gate-source voltage for controlling the off state of enhancement mode high side drivers.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kevin Baumann, Richard Lukaszewski, Rangarajan Tallam, Lixiang Wei, Lee Gettelfinger, Garron Morris, Bruce Weiss, Neil Gollhardt, Navid R. Zargari, William Brumsickle, Robert Wright Reese, Stephen E. Denning
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Publication number: 20170178782Abstract: For reducing volume requirements and magnetic flux leakage, a compact inductor includes a first planar core with a first core thickness along a first axis orthogonal to a plane of the first planar core. In addition, the inductor includes a second planar core disposed parallel to the first planar core with a second core thickness along the first axis. The inductor further includes a plurality of electrical windings disposed between and adjacent to an inside plane of the first planar core and an inside plane of the second planar core. The electrical windings may include insulated electrical wires. No magnetic teeth may be disposed between the first planar core and the second planar core. The first axis is parallel to a magnetic axis of each electrical winding.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Xikai Sun, Wei Qian, Shaofeng Zhang, Haihui Lu, Lixiang Wei, Yuan Xiao, Jiangang Hu, Richard A. Lukaszewski
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Patent number: 9612269Abstract: A method is provided for detection of a ground fault in a high resistance network in a voltage source power conversion circuit comprising a power converter that converts incoming AC power to DC power applied to a DC bus and an inverter that converts DC power from the DC bus to output AC power. The method includes detecting a midpoint-to-ground voltage between a low side of the DC bus and a ground potential and detecting the presence of a ground fault in a high resistance network based upon the detected midpoint-to-ground voltage.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Zhijun Liu, Brian Patrick Brown, David W. Kirschnik, Russ J. Kerkman, Richard A. Lukaszewski, Gary Skibinski, Carlos Daniel Rodriguez-Valdez
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Patent number: 9590547Abstract: A double fed induction generator (DFIG) converter, methods and computer readable mediums are presented in which rotor side current spikes are attenuated by selectively activating at least one series damping circuit to conduct current through a series damping circuit resistance coupled in series between one or more DFIG rotor leads and a grid side converter in response to a grid fault occurrence or a grid fault clearance, and selectively bypassing the series damping circuit resistance after activating the series damping circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Haihui Lu, Zhenhuan Yuan, Lixiang Wei, Russel J. Kerkman, Richard Lukaszewski, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Anmed
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Patent number: 9331487Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for unintentional islanding detection for grid tie converters in which the phase angle disturbance is introduced by modification of grid side converter switching control signals and a mismatch of reactive power between generation and the grid load is formed upon the occurrence of unintentional islanding, where the applied phase disturbance is determined according to two pre-defined curves to form an equivalent positive feedback at different frequencies to prevent the converter from forming an island at a new stable frequency after the grid is disconnected.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Zhenhuan Yuan, Shaofeng Zhang, Haihui Lu, Lixiang Wei, Russel J. Kerkman, Richard Lukaszewski, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Robert J. Breitzmann
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Publication number: 20150318791Abstract: Motor drive power conversion systems are provided including a rectifier and a switching inverter, wherein the switching devices of the rectifier, the inverter and/or of a DC/DC converter are silicon carbide switches, such as silicon carbide MOSFETs. Driver circuits are provided for providing bipolar gate drive signals to the silicon carbide MOSFETs, including providing negative gate-source voltage for controlling the off state of enhancement mode low side drivers and positive gate-source voltage for controlling the off state of enhancement mode high side drivers.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kevin Baumann, Richard Lukaszewski, Rangarajan Tallam, Lixiang Wei, Lee Gettelfinger, Garron Morris, Bruce Weiss, Neil Gollhardt, Navid R. Zargari, William Brumsickle, Robert Wright Reese, Stephen E. Denning
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Publication number: 20150229257Abstract: A double fed induction generator (DFIG) converter, methods and computer readable mediums are presented in which rotor side current spikes are attenuated by selectively activating at least one series damping circuit to conduct current through a series damping circuit resistance coupled in series between one or more DFIG rotor leads and a grid side converter in response to a grid fault occurrence or a grid fault clearance, and selectively bypassing the series damping circuit resistance after activating the series damping circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2015Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Haihui Lu, Zhenhuan Yuan, Lixiang Wei, Russel J. Kerkman, Richard Lukaszewski, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed
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Patent number: 9054599Abstract: A power conversion system with multiple parallel connected motor drives including a plurality of rectifiers and a corresponding inverters connected by windings of a single common mode choke.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Yuan Xiao, Navid Zargari, Richard Lukaszewski
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Patent number: 9048755Abstract: The present techniques include methods and systems for operating an inverter to maintain a lifespan of the inverter. In some embodiments, the switching frequency and/or the output current of the inverter may be changed such that stress may be reduced on the inverter bond wires of the inverter. More specifically, embodiments involve calculating the aging parameters for certain operating conditions of the inverter and determining whether the operating conditions result in aging the inverter to a point which reduces the inverter lifespan below a desired lifespan. If the operating conditions reduce the inverter lifespan below the desired lifespan, the switching frequency may be reduced to a lower or minimum switching frequency of the inverter and/or the output current of the inverter may be reduced to a maximum output current at the minimum switching frequency.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2013Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Richard A. Lukaszewski, Russel J. Kerkman
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Patent number: 9041234Abstract: A double fed induction generator (DFIG) converter method are presented in which rotor side current spikes are attenuated using series-connected damping resistance in response to grid fault occurrences or grid fault clearances.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2012Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Haihui Lu, Zhenhuan Yuan, Lixiang Wei, Russel Kerkman, Richard Lukaszewski, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed
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Publication number: 20150009726Abstract: The present techniques include methods and systems for detecting the grounding condition of an electrical system to automatically determine a suitable electrical drive configuration. The drive includes a test resistor which may be connected or disconnected from the drive to measure different drive voltages. The measured drive voltages are analyzed to determine a type of grounding configuration of the electrical system in which the drive is to be installed. Embodiments also include determining ground resistance condition such as a high resistance ground (HRG) fault or a ground resistance fault when the drive is in operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2014Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Lixiang Wei, David W. Kirschnik, Richard A. Lukaszewski, Gary L. Skibinski
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Patent number: 8841917Abstract: The present techniques include methods and systems for detecting the grounding condition of an electrical system to automatically determine a suitable electrical drive configuration. The drive includes a test resistor which may be connected or disconnected from the drive to measure different drive voltages. The measured drive voltages are analyzed to determine a type of grounding configuration of the electrical system in which the drive is to be installed. Embodiments also include determining ground resistance condition such as a high resistance ground (HRG) fault or a ground resistance fault when the drive is in operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Lixiang Wei, David W. Kirschnik, Richard A. Lukaszewski, Gary L. Skibinski
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Publication number: 20140265596Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for unintentional islanding detection for grid tie converters in which the phase angle disturbance is introduced by modification of grid side converter switching control signals and a mismatch of reactive power between generation and the grid load is formed upon the occurrence of unintentional islanding, where the applied phase disturbance is determined according to two pre-defined curves to form an equivalent positive feedback at different frequencies to prevent the converter from forming an island at a new stable frequency after the grid is disconnected.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Zhenhuan YUAN, Shaofeng ZHANG, Haihui LU, Lixiang WEI, Russel J. Kerkman, Richard Lukaszewski, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Robert J. Breitzmann
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Publication number: 20140253055Abstract: The present techniques include methods and systems for operating converter to maintain a lifespan of the converter. In some embodiments, the operating frequency of the converter may be increased such that stress may be reduced on the bond wires of the converter. More specifically, embodiments involve calculating the aging parameters for certain operating conditions of the converter operating in a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) mode and determining whether the MPPT operation results in aging the converter to a point which reduces the converter lifespan below a desired lifespan. If the MPPT operation reduces the converter lifespan below the desired lifespan, the frequency of the converter may be increased such that the converter may be controlled to operate at a percentage of MPPT. Thus, in some embodiments, power output may be optimized with respect to maintaining a desired lifespan of the converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Russel J. Kerkman, Richard A. Lukaszewski, Haihui Lu, Zhenhuan Yuan