Patents by Inventor Robert S. Balog, Jr.

Robert S. Balog, Jr. 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: 10790779
    Abstract: In some examples, a system comprises a first component; a second component configured to receive signals from the first component via one or more wires; and a controller. In at least some examples, the controller is coupled to the one or more wires and is trained with a classification model to distinguish between signals indicating arc events and signals not indicating arc events. In at least some example, the controller is further configured to: receive the signals; extract features that are at least partially related to the received signals; classify the extracted features using the classification model; determine an occurrence of the arc event based on the classification; and provide an output signal indicating an arc event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Robert S. Balog, Jr., Zhan Wang
  • Publication number: 20180351505
    Abstract: In some examples, a system comprises a first component; a second component configured to receive signals from the first component via one or more wires; and a controller. In at least some examples, the controller is coupled to the one or more wires and is trained with a classification model to distinguish between signals indicating arc events and signals not indicating arc events. In at least some example, the controller is further configured to: receive the signals; extract features that are at least partially related to the received signals; classify the extracted features using the classification model; determine an occurrence of the arc event based on the classification; and provide an output signal indicating an arc event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Robert S. Balog, Jr., Zhan Wang
  • Publication number: 20160190975
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing a panel to a substrate includes a base member, an attachment member for securing the substrate within an opening of the base member; a clip member comprising a U-shaped member and a curve-sided member, wherein the U-shaped member includes a central portion and first and second walls defining a generally U-shaped access region for accepting the curve-sided member, wherein at least one of the first and second walls includes a longitudinal flange extending laterally outwardly from an upper end thereof, wherein each of the U-shaped member and a curved area of the curve-sided member includes a corresponding hole for accepting the attachment member therethrough, and securing member for pressing the longitudinal flange against a top edge portion of the panel, thereby securing the panel to the substrate, wherein the securing member is positioned between the angle-sided member and a top end of the attachment member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: David B. Scoggins, Robert S. Balog, JR.
  • Patent number: 8727291
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for securing a panel to a substrate. The apparatus includes a base member, and an attachment member for securing the base member to the substrate. The apparatus further includes a clip member including a U-shaped member and an angle-sided member. The U-shaped member includes a central portion and first and second walls defining a generally U-shaped access region for accepting the angle-sided member. At least one of the first and second walls includes a longitudinal flange extending laterally outwardly from an upper end thereof. Each of the U-shaped member and the angle-sided member includes a corresponding hole for accepting the attachment member therethrough. The apparatus further includes a securing member for pressing the longitudinal flange against at top edge portion of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Sundance Renewable Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Scoggins, Robert S. Balog, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8325499
    Abstract: A method is provided for minimizing a double-frequency ripple power exchanged between a load and an energy source, the energy source delivering electrical power to the load through a single-phase power conditioner, and the power conditioner being coupled to an energy storage device. The method includes determining a phase shift of an AC output signal of the power condition and an average AC output power of the power conditioner. The average AC output power may be a predetermined value or a calculated value based on sensed or measured signals. The method further includes generating an AC signal at an energy storage device. The generated AC signal has an amplitude that is a function of the average AC output power and a phase shift substantially equal to 45 degrees minus an amount that is dependent on the determined phase shift. In some embodiments, the phase shift may be determined to be of a non-zero value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip T. Krein, Robert S. Balog, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120090139
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for securing a panel to a substrate. The apparatus includes a base member, and an attachment member for securing the base member to the substrate. The apparatus further includes a clip member including a U-shaped member and an angle-sided member. The U-shaped member includes a central portion and first and second walls defining a generally U-shaped access region for accepting the angle-sided member. At least one of the first and second walls includes a longitudinal flange extending laterally outwardly from an upper end thereof. Each of the U-shaped member and the angle-sided member includes a corresponding hole for accepting the attachment member therethrough. The apparatus further includes a securing member for pressing the longitudinal flange against at top edge portion of the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Sundance Renewable Solutions
    Inventors: David B. Scoggins, Robert S. Balog, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110305050
    Abstract: A method is provided for minimizing a double-frequency ripple power exchanged between a load and an energy source, the energy source delivering electrical power to the load through a single-phase power conditioner, and the power conditioner being coupled to an energy storage device. The method includes determining a phase shift of an AC output signal of the power condition and an average AC output power of the power conditioner. The average AC output power may be a predetermined value or a calculated value based on sensed or measured signals. The method further includes generating an AC signal at an energy storage device. The generated AC signal has an amplitude that is a function of the average AC output power and a phase shift substantially equal to 45 degrees minus an amount that is dependent on the determined phase shift. In some embodiments, the phase shift may be determined to be of a non-zero value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Philip T. Krein, Robert S. Balog, JR.
  • Patent number: 8004865
    Abstract: A method is provided for minimizing a double-frequency ripple power exchanged between a load and an energy source, the energy source delivering electrical power to the load through a single-phase power conditioner, and the power conditioner being coupled to an energy storage device. The method senses a first AC signal at an output of the power conditioner and generates a second AC signal at the energy storage device. The second AC signal has a frequency substantially equal to a frequency of the first AC signal and a phase shift of about 45 degrees relative to a phase of the first AC signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip T. Krein, Robert S. Balog, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100238690
    Abstract: A method is provided for minimizing a double-frequency ripple power exchanged between a load and an energy source, the energy source delivering electrical power to the load through a single-phase power conditioner, and the power conditioner being coupled to an energy storage device. The method senses a first AC signal at an output of the power conditioner and generates a second AC signal at the energy storage device. The second AC signal has a frequency substantially equal to a frequency of the first AC signal and a phase shift of about 45 degrees relative to a phase of the first AC signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Philip T. Krein, Robert S. Balog, JR.
  • Patent number: 7755916
    Abstract: A method is provided for minimizing a double-frequency ripple power exchanged between a load and an energy source, the energy source delivering electrical power to the load through a single-phase power conditioner, and the power conditioner being coupled to an energy storage device. The method senses a first AC waveform at the output of the power conditioner, generates a second AC waveform at the energy storage device, the second AC waveform having the same frequency as the first AC waveform, and shifts the second AC waveform by a phase shift equal to ?/4 radians relative to a phase of the first AC waveform, thereby minimizing the double-frequency ripple power in the power supplied by the energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip T. Krein, Robert S. Balog, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090097283
    Abstract: A method is provided for minimizing a double-frequency ripple power exchanged between a load and an energy source, the energy source delivering electrical power to the load through a single-phase power conditioner, and the power conditioner being coupled to an energy storage device. The method senses a first AC waveform at the output of the power conditioner, generates a second AC waveform at the energy storage device, the second AC waveform having the same frequency as the first AC waveform, and shifts the second AC waveform by a phase shift equal to ?/4 radians relative to a phase of the first AC waveform, thereby minimizing the double-frequency ripple power in the power supplied by the energy source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Philip T. Krein, Robert S. Balog, JR.
  • Patent number: 7187149
    Abstract: A system for controlling a commutation of a load current is provided. The system comprises a AC-to-AC converter that includes a plurality of switching elements, an energy source that provides an oscillating voltage and is connected to the converter, an electrical load connected to the converter, and a controller that controls the converter, and monitors the oscillating voltage and the load current delivered to the electrical load. The controller determines a plurality of machine states of the converter, each of the plurality of machine states representing a corresponding conducting set of the plurality of switching elements, and controls switching between the plurality of machine states based on polarity commutations of the load current in the electrical load and polarity commutations of the oscillating voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Robert S. Balog, Jr., Philip T. Krein
  • Patent number: 6188181
    Abstract: An improved signal generator that is capable of providing a multitude of control schemes to connected ballasts or transformers to adjust the luminous output of an attached lamp or light source. The control scheme is preferably at least one of the type 0 to 10V sink, 0 to 10V source, pulse width modulated (PWM), and digital serial interface (DSI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Siddharth Prakash Sinha, Robert S. Balog, Jr.