Patents by Inventor Robert Vernon Fulcher

Robert Vernon Fulcher 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: 11495972
    Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling wind turbine converters of wind turbines parallel connected at a point of common coupling, the method including: generating for each converter within a same length of a pulse width modulation period a pulse, wherein the pulses start for different converters at different pulse start phases, wherein pulse start phase differences of the pulse start phases between at least two of adjacent converters are unequal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Dreyer, Robert Vernon Fulcher, Jerome Koenig, Christoph Nentwig
  • Publication number: 20210249865
    Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling wind turbine converters of wind turbines parallel connected at a point of common coupling, the method including: generating for each converter within a same length of a pulse width modulation period a pulse, wherein the pulses start for different converters at different pulse start phases, wherein pulse start phase differences of the pulse start phases between at least two of adjacent converters are unequal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Dreyer, Robert Vernon Fulcher, Jerome Koenig, Christoph Nentwig
  • Patent number: 9531290
    Abstract: A method of controlling a power unit having a plurality of converter modules coupled in parallel, is configured to convert DC into AC voltages or AC into DC voltage. The method includes (a) receiving a control value for each phase of each converter module, (b) obtaining a set of phase current values for each converter module, (c) generating a compensation value for each phase of each converter module based on the set of phase current values and a set of stored data, the set of data representative of non-linearity characteristics of the converter modules as functions of phase current value, (d) generating a compensated control value for each phase of each converter module based on the corresponding control value and compensation value, and (e) supplying the compensated control values to the respective converter modules. A controller, power unit, wind turbine, computer program and computer program product are similarly configured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Vernon Fulcher, Paul Godridge, Joseph Hartley, Rodney Jones, Fan Yue
  • Patent number: 9293921
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of power converters 1a, 1b and 1c can be used to interface to a supply network, ac busbar etc. Each power converter includes a network bridge 14 operating in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy having the same switching period and which causes at least one unwanted harmonic in the supply network voltage. The method includes the step of providing the switching period of the PWM strategy of each network bridge with a different time offset relative to a time datum such that the at least one unwanted harmonic in the supply network voltage is at least partially cancelled. Two alternative ways of providing the time offset are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Rodney Jones, Robert Vernon Fulcher, Henrik Stiesdal
  • Publication number: 20160043651
    Abstract: A method of controlling a power unit having a plurality of converter modules coupled in parallel, is configured to convert DC into AC voltages or AC into DC voltage. The method includes (a) receiving a control value for each phase of each converter module, (b) obtaining a set of phase current values for each converter module, (c) generating a compensation value for each phase of each converter module based on the set of phase current values and a set of stored data, the set of data representative of non-linearity characteristics of the converter modules as functions of phase current value, (d) generating a compensated control value for each phase of each converter module based on the corresponding control value and compensation value, and (e) supplying the compensated control values to the respective converter modules. A controller, power unit, wind turbine, computer program and computer program product are similarly configured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Vernon Fulcher, Paul Godridge, Joseph Hartley, Rodney Jones, Fan Yue
  • Publication number: 20120206945
    Abstract: There is provided a controller for a converter and a respective method of operating such a controller. The converter receives an input power and provides an output power by a switching operation wherein in an embodiment the output power has at least two phases. The controller includes an input for receiving a feedback signal depending on the output power of the converter, and an output for providing a control signal to the converter to thereby control the switching operation of the converter. The control signal corresponds to a switching pattern that is updated in response to the feedback signal. The control signal includes a harmonic compensation signal which reduces higher harmonics in the output power, the higher harmonics originating from a time delay between taking the feedback signal and the updating of the switching pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Paul Brian Brogan, Robert Vernon Fulcher
  • Patent number: 8217533
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of power converters 1a, 1b and 1c can be used to interface to a supply network, ac busbar etc. Each power converter includes a network bridge 14 operating in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy having the same switching period and which causes at least one unwanted harmonic in the supply network voltage. The method includes the step of providing the switching period of the PWM strategy of each network bridge with a different time offset relative to a time datum such that the at least one unwanted harmonic in the supply network voltage is at least partially cancelled. Two alternative ways of providing the time offset are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Converteam Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Rodney Jones, Robert Vernon Fulcher, Henrik Stiesdal
  • Publication number: 20120133211
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of power converters 1a, 1b and 1c can be used to interface to a supply network, ac busbar etc. Each power converter includes a network bridge 14 operating in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy having the same switching period and which causes at least one unwanted harmonic in the supply network voltage. The method includes the step of providing the switching period of the PWM strategy of each network bridge with a different time offset relative to a time datum such that the at least one unwanted harmonic in the supply network voltage is at least partially cancelled. Two alternative ways of providing the time offset are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Converteam Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Rodney JONES, Robert Vernon FULCHER, Henrik STIESDAL
  • Patent number: 8050067
    Abstract: A control system for controlling conversion of an input power into an output power in a converter module is provided. The control system includes an input power terminal, an output power terminal, and an active switching device. The control system further includes a master controller and a communication link interconnecting the master controller and the converter module. Also, the system has a timing generator generating a timing signal with a cycle time equal to or less than the shortest time constant of the converter module and immediate power circuit elements relating to the converter module. The timing generator is integrated in or interconnected with the master controller. Furthermore, the control system has a signal generator integrated in or interconnected with the master controller generating switching control signals, each switching control signal containing a control message defining a switching state for the active switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Vernon Fulcher, Rodney Jones, Philip Perry Waite
  • Publication number: 20110170323
    Abstract: A control system for controlling conversion of an input power into an output power in a converter module is provided. The control system includes an input power terminal, an output power terminal, and an active switching device. The control system further includes a master controller and a communication link interconnecting the master controller and the converter module. Also, the system has a timing generator generating a timing signal with a cycle time equal to or less than the shortest time constant of the converter module and immediate power circuit elements relating to the converter module. The timing generator is integrated in or interconnected with the master controller. Furthermore, the control system has a signal generator integrated in or interconnected with the master controller generating switching control signals, each switching control signal containing a control message defining a switching state for the active switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Vernon Fulcher, Rodney Jones, Philip Perry Waite
  • Patent number: 7724548
    Abstract: A method of controlling a power converter is used to interface to a power grid or supply network operating at a frequency (Fnet) that is nominally fixed (say at 50 Hz, for example) but which can be varied as a way of controlling power imbalanced within the network as a whole. The power converter can include a network bridge that operates in accordance with the pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy having a switching frequency (Fpwm), a nominal switching frequency (Fpwm_nom) and a number of pulses per period (Pulse_Number).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Converteam UK Ltd
    Inventors: Rodney Jones, Robert Vernon Fulcher, Eric Anthony Lewis
  • Publication number: 20080284252
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of power converters 1a, 1b and 1c can be used to interface to a supply network, ac busbar etc. Each power converter includes a network bridge 14 operating in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy having the same switching period and which causes at least one unwanted harmonic in the supply network voltage. The method includes the step of providing the switching period of the PWM strategy of each network bridge with a different time offset relative to a time datum such that the at least one unwanted harmonic in the supply network voltage is at least partially cancelled. Two alternative ways of providing the time offset are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Rodney Jones, Robert Vernon Fulcher, Henrik Stiesdal