Patents by Inventor Robert J. Breitzmann

Robert J. Breitzmann 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: 10158314
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include power conversion systems and methods to operate an inverter to drive a motor load through an intervening output filter, a transformer and a cable, including a current regulator to compute a command value according to a current reference value and a motor current feedback value, a cross-coupled feedforward component to compensate the command value by an estimated cross-coupled voltage value to compute a control output value, a cross-coupled object component to compute the motor current feedback value according to a voltage value using a plant transfer function representing the output filter, the transformer, the cable and the motor load, and a controller to provide the inverter switching control signals to control the inverter according to the control output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Jingya Dai, Thomas A. Nondahl, Jingbo Liu, Robert J. Breitzmann, Peter B. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10020766
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include power conversion systems, methods and computer readable mediums to operate an inverter to drive a motor load through an output filter, in which a control output value is computed according to a current reference value and a current feedback value using a proportional-integral (PI) current regulator, the control output value is filtered using a lag compensator filter to compute an inverter output command value, and the inverter is controlled according to the inverter output command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Robert J. Breitzmann, Jingbo Liu, Thomas A. Nondahl, Jingya Dai, Peter B. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20180138849
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include power conversion systems, methods and computer readable mediums to operate an inverter to drive a motor load through an output filter, in which a control output value is computed according to a current reference value and a current feedback value using a proportional-integral (PI) current regulator, the control output value is filtered using a lag compensator filter to compute an inverter output command value, and the inverter is controlled according to the inverter output command value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Robert J. Breitzmann, Jingbo Liu, Thomas A. Nondahl, Jingya Dai, Peter B. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20170141712
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include power conversion systems and methods to operate an inverter to drive a motor load through an intervening output filter, a transformer and a cable, including a current regulator to compute a command value according to a current reference value and a motor current feedback value, a cross-coupled feedforward component to compensate the command value by an estimated cross-coupled voltage value to compute a control output value, a cross-coupled object component to compute the motor current feedback value according to a voltage value using a plant transfer function representing the output filter, the transformer, the cable and the motor load, and a controller to provide the inverter switching control signals to control the inverter according to the control output value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Jingya Dai, Thomas A. Nondahl, Jingbo Liu, Robert J. Breitzmann, Peter B. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9595896
    Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for closed loop motor speed and torque control without a sensor at the motor, in which configuration parameters are received from a user interface to define operating characteristics of a filter, a transformer, a cable, and the motor coupled with the output of a motor drive, and an object model of the motor drive is configured according to the filter, transformer, cable and motor configuration parameters to facilitate sensorless closed loop motor speed and/or torque control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Thomas Nondahl, Jingya Dai, Thomas M. Cahill, Robert J. Breitzmann, Peter B. Schmidt, Jingbo Liu, Ehsan Al-Nabi
  • Patent number: 9331487
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 9318944
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for detecting degradation of delta-connected filter capacitors in an active front end (AFE) power converter, in which delta circuit capacitor leg currents are calculated based on measured branch circuit currents, and filter capacitor impedance values are computed based on the calculated leg currents as well as measured line-to-line voltages and corresponding phase angles for comparison with one or more thresholds to selectively detect degradation of the filter capacitors. Further apparatus and methods are provided for detecting degradation of Y-connected filter capacitors by computation of fundamental frequency RMS impedance values as ratios of RMS capacitor voltages and RMS circuit branch currents, and comparison of the calculated RMS impedance values with one or more thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Robert J. Breitzmann
  • Patent number: 9041327
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are presented for mitigating overvoltages and limiting reverse motor speeds for motor drive power loss events, in which a first power dissipation circuit is enabled at the motor drive output to limit reverse rotation of a driven motor load when motor drive power is lost, and a second power dissipation circuit in a DC bus circuit is used to mitigate over voltages following restoration of motor drive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Breitzmann, Semyon Royak, John M. Kasunich
  • Publication number: 20140368143
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are presented for mitigating overvoltages and limiting reverse motor speeds for motor drive power loss events, in which a first power dissipation circuit is enabled at the motor drive output to limit reverse rotation of a driven motor load when motor drive power is lost, and a second power dissipation circuit in a DC bus circuit is used to mitigate over voltages following restoration of motor drive power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Breitzmann, Semyon Royak, John M. Kasunich
  • Patent number: 8902616
    Abstract: Active front end power conversion systems are presented having a peak detector with adjustable decay providing a signal to an overload protection component to selectively discontinue rectifier switching control signals for protection of active rectifier switches during unbalanced line voltage conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, John M. Kasunich, Robert J. Breitzmann, John James Jenks
  • Publication number: 20140320056
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for detecting degradation of delta-connected filter capacitors in an active front end (AFE) power converter, in which delta circuit capacitor leg currents are calculated based on measured branch circuit currents, and filter capacitor impedance values are computed based on the calculated leg currents as well as measured line-to-line voltages and corresponding phase angles for comparison with one or more thresholds to selectively detect degradation of the filter capacitors. Further apparatus and methods are provided for detecting degradation of Y-connected filter capacitors by computation of fundamental frequency RMS impedance values as ratios of RMS capacitor voltages and RMS circuit branch currents, and comparison of the calculated RMS impedance values with one or more thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Robert J. Breitzmann
  • Publication number: 20140265596
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20130094258
    Abstract: Active front end power conversion systems are presented having a peak detector with adjustable decay providing a signal to an overload protection component to selectively discontinue rectifier switching control signals for protection of active rectifier switches during unbalanced line voltage conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, John M. Kasunich, Robert J. Breitzmann, John James Jenks
  • Patent number: 8330405
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved current regulator for PWM based drives for electric motors. The invention provides compensation for the rotor position signal for delays introduced due to the PWM algorithm and for digital sampling present in such a drive. Current regulator commonly operate in a two-phase reference frame, requiring forward and reverse coordinate transformations between the physical current values and the two-phase reference frame variables. The present invention provides an improved compensation in the forward transformation by determining the phase lag between the commanded voltage reference and the output voltage reference and by further compensating the forward transformation for errors introduced due to sampling the current either at different sampling instances than the rotor position or at multiple sampling instances during a carrier period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Mark M. Harbaugh, Thomas A. Nondahl, Jingbo Liu, Peter B. Schmidt, Robert J. Breitzmann
  • Patent number: 8009450
    Abstract: Active power converters and methods are presented for converting input electrical power to output electrical power with converter switching control in which the individual phase voltage command values are compensated according to phase line voltage imbalances to compensate the converter control to provide balanced phase currents in the presence of unbalanced phase supply line voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Robert J. Breitzmann, Mark M. Harbaugh
  • Patent number: 7915852
    Abstract: The invention includes a motor controller and method for controlling a permanent magnet motor. In accordance with one aspect of the present technique, a permanent magnet motor is controlled by, among other things, receiving a torque command, determining a normalized torque command by normalizing the torque command to a characteristic current of the motor, determining a normalized maximum available voltage, determining an inductance ratio of the motor, and determining a direct-axis current based upon the normalized torque command, the normalized maximum available voltage, and the inductance ratio of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Mark M. Harbaugh, Robert J. Breitzmann, Thomas A. Nondahl, Peter B. Schmidt, Jingbo Liu
  • Publication number: 20100320948
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved current regulator for PWM based drives for electric motors. The invention provides compensation for the rotor position signal for delays introduced due to the PWM algorithm and for digital sampling present in such a drive. Current regulator commonly operate in a two-phase reference frame, requiring forward and reverse coordinate transformations between the physical current values and the two-phase reference frame variables. The present invention provides an improved compensation in the forward transformation by determining the phase lag between the commanded voltage reference and the output voltage reference and by further compensating the forward transformation for errors introduced due to sampling the current either at different sampling instances than the rotor position or at multiple sampling instances during a carrier period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Mark M. Harbaugh, Thomas A. Nondahl, Jingbo Liu, Peter B. Schmidt, Robert J. Breitzmann
  • Publication number: 20100054004
    Abstract: Active power converters and methods are presented for converting input electrical power to output electrical power with converter switching control in which the individual phase voltage command values are compensated according to phase line voltage imbalances to compensate the converter control to provide balanced phase currents in the presence of unbalanced phase supply line voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Robert J. Breitzmann, Mark M. Harbaugh
  • Publication number: 20090212732
    Abstract: The invention includes a motor controller and method for controlling a permanent magnet motor. In accordance with one aspect of the present technique, a permanent magnet motor is controlled by, among other things, receiving a torque command, determining a normalized torque command by normalizing the torque command to a characteristic current of the motor, determining a normalized maximum available voltage, determining an inductance ratio of the motor, and determining a direct-axis current based upon the normalized torque command, the normalized maximum available voltage, and the inductance ratio of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Mark M. Harbaugh, Robert J. Breitzmann, Thomas A. Nondahl, Peter B. Schmidt, Jingbo Liu
  • Patent number: 5530323
    Abstract: A system for synchronizing a plurality of motors is disclosed. The system includes a universal drive controller which can control the operation of two motors, a power module for each motor, and a power module interface rack which is utilized to interconnect the motor to its associated universal drive controller. If a plurality of universal drive controllers is involved, a common clock is utilized to synchronize the operation of same.Synchronization of the motors is achieved by monitoring the output shaft of each motor through the use of a resolver, transmitting feedback data relative to the position of the output shaft to the universal drive controller via the power module interface rack, calculation of command data by the universal drive controller to effect synchronization, and transmitting the command data to the power module interface rack wherein the power module causes the proper firing signals to be transmitted to the associated motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Industrial Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Breitzmann