Patents by Inventor Russel J. Kerkman

Russel J. Kerkman 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: 10527661
    Abstract: For calculating load resistance, a pulse generation module drives a pulse width modulation (PWM) inverter in response to a control voltage. The PWM inverter includes a U phase pole, a V phase pole, and a W phase pole. Each U, V, and W phase pole includes an upper pole device and a lower pole device. The PWM inverter turns off the U phase pole, turns on the W upper pole device, turns off the W lower pole device, and applies the control voltage to the V upper pole device and the V lower pole device. A forward drop correction module corrects the control voltage based on a feedforward compensation voltage determined from a forward voltage drop. A load resistance module calculates a load resistance for a load based on an average control voltage, an average bus voltage, and an average load feedback current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Leggate, Russel J. Kerkman, Brian J. Seibel
  • Publication number: 20190242934
    Abstract: For calculating load resistance, a pulse generation module drives a pulse width modulation (PWM) inverter in response to a control voltage. The PWM inverter includes a U phase pole, a V phase pole, and a W phase pole. Each U, V, and W phase pole includes an upper pole device and a lower pole device. The PWM inverter turns off the U phase pole, turns on the W upper pole device, turns off the W lower pole device, and applies the control voltage to the V upper pole device and the V lower pole device. A forward drop correction module corrects the control voltage based on a feedforward compensation voltage determined from a forward voltage drop. A load resistance module calculates a load resistance for a load based on an average control voltage, an average bus voltage, and an average load feedback current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: David Leggate, Russel J. Kerkman, Brian J. Seibel
  • Patent number: 10250161
    Abstract: Power conversion systems, methods and control apparatus to operate a power converter, including a processor computes an angle of an AC output current signal, compute a first voltage error that represents an inverter switch dead time voltage error in a synchronous reference frame according to the angle, computes a compensated voltage command according to the first voltage error and according to a voltage control reference, and controls an inverter according to the compensated voltage command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Leggate, Russel J. Kerkman
  • Patent number: 9998030
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Russel J. Kerkman, Richard A. Lukaszewski, Haihui Lu, Zhenhuan Yuan
  • Patent number: 9973103
    Abstract: A power conversion system can be implemented to actively control a load while compensating for reactive power which may be sourced or consumed by an input filter circuit. In one aspect, the power conversion system can receive externally supplied multi-phase AC electric power, such as three-phase power from a power grid, and use a converter circuit to generate a DC bus. The power conversion system can then use an inverter circuit to generate multi-phase AC electric power from the DC bus for driving the load with adjustable frequencies and/or amplitudes as desired. The input filter circuit can be coupled to the converter circuit to filter out harmonics resulting from switching of the converter circuit. The power conversion system can receive feedback signals which may be used to determine reactive power sourced or consumed by the filter circuit, and can adjust the converter circuit to compensate for such reactive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Prathamesh R. Vadhavkar, Brian J. Seibel, Russel J. Kerkman
  • Patent number: 9653984
    Abstract: Power conversion systems and methods are presented for detecting input filter capacitor degradation or approach of end of operational life based on filter capacitor current measurements using single and/or dual threshold comparisons for computed instantaneous sum of squares of filter currents or power values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yogesh Popatlal Patel, Lixiang Wei, Russel J. Kerkman
  • Patent number: 9651592
    Abstract: Impedance detection methods and systems are presented for automatic computation of an electrical component impedance value at one or more specific frequencies of interest using quadrature voltage and current values generated by quadrature tracking filters based on sensed or measured voltage and current signals or values and a base frequency input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russel J. Kerkman, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Brian J. Seibel, Shiv Gupta, Prathamesh Ramesh Vadhavkar
  • Patent number: 9590547
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Haihui Lu, Zhenhuan Yuan, Lixiang Wei, Russel J. Kerkman, Richard Lukaszewski, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Anmed
  • Patent number: 9584043
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for sampling low side inverter phase currents, in which current sampling is selectively delayed in a given PWM cycle by a non-zero sampling delay time value from a nominal sample time if the middle pulse width value is less than a non-zero first threshold to facilitate adequate signal settling for accurate current measurement, and if a middle total continuous on-time near the end of the given PWM cycle is less than a non-zero second threshold, the middle total continuous on-time is selectively extended by adding a non-zero adjustment offset time value to a middle pulse width value for a next PWM cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhendong Zhang, Takayoshi Matsuo, David Leggate, Timothy M. Rowan, Russel J. Kerkman, Bing Li
  • Publication number: 20160254760
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for sampling low side inverter phase currents, in which current sampling is selectively delayed in a given PWM cycle by a non-zero sampling delay time value from a nominal sample time if the middle pulse width value is less than a non-zero first threshold to facilitate adequate signal settling for accurate current measurement, and if a middle total continuous on-time near the end of the given PWM cycle is less than a non-zero second threshold, the middle total continuous on-time is selectively extended by adding a non-zero adjustment offset time value to a middle pulse width value for a next PWM cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2015
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Zhendong Zhang, Takayoshi Matsuo, David Leggate, Timothy M. Rowan, Russel J. Kerkman, Bing Li
  • Patent number: 9374021
    Abstract: Output voltage feedback systems and methods are provided for controlling voltage source inverter output voltages using low bandwidth buffer circuitry and low A/D converter sample rates to sense and sample PWM output voltage waveforms to provide an estimated volt-second value for phase voltage or line-line voltage as feedback for controlling the voltage source inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rangarajan Tallam, Doyle F. Busse, Brian P. Brown, Russel J. Kerkman
  • 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: 9270286
    Abstract: Present embodiments relate to a method for synchronizing an electric grid. The method includes receiving a phase voltage of the electric grid. The method further includes determining one or more disturbance frequencies in the phase voltage via a plurality of sequential tracking filters, wherein each of the plurality of tracking filters corresponds to a harmonic of the received phase voltage. The method further includes removing the disturbance frequencies components sequentially to produce a minimally distorted frequency, and performing a PLL operation on the clean frequency to determine a phase angle of the frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Russel J. Kerkman, Brian J. Seibel
  • Publication number: 20150381187
    Abstract: Present embodiments relate to a method for synchronizing an electric grid. The method includes receiving a phase voltage of the electric grid. The method further includes determining one or more disturbance frequencies in the phase voltage via a plurality of sequential tracking filters, wherein each of the plurality of tracking filters corresponds to a harmonic of the received phase voltage. The method further includes removing the disturbance frequencies components sequentially to produce a minimally distorted frequency, and performing a PLL operation on the clean frequency to determine a phase angle of the frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Russel J. Kerkman, Brian J. Seibel
  • Patent number: 9124245
    Abstract: A phase angle detector with a PLL, a power converter, and a method for reducing offsets in an input signal, in which an adaptive offset processor selectively removes a DC offset component from the input signal to generate a modified signal including a fundamental frequency component and higher order harmonics of the input signal with the DC offset component removed, and the PLL provides a phase angle signal at least partially according to the modified signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russel J. Kerkman, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Brian J. Seibel
  • Publication number: 20150229257
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Haihui Lu, Zhenhuan Yuan, Lixiang Wei, Russel J. Kerkman, Richard Lukaszewski, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed
  • Publication number: 20150171772
    Abstract: Output voltage feedback systems and methods are provided for controlling voltage source inverter output voltages using low bandwidth buffer circuitry and low A/D converter sample rates to sense and sample PWM output voltage waveforms to provide an estimated volt-second value for phase voltage or line-line voltage is feedback for controlling the voltage source inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: RANGARAJAN TALLAM, DOYLE F. BUSSE, BRIAN P. BROWN, RUSSEL J. KERKMAN
  • Publication number: 20150153397
    Abstract: Impedance detection methods and systems are presented for automatic computation of an electrical component impedance value at one or more specific frequencies of interest using quadrature voltage and current values generated by quadrature tracking filters based on sensed or measured voltage and current signals or values and a base frequency input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Russel J. Kerkman, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Brian J. Seibel, Shiv Gupta, Prathamesh Ramesh Vadhavkar
  • Patent number: 9048755
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Richard A. Lukaszewski, Russel J. Kerkman
  • Patent number: 8988060
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an electrical device is provided. The method comprises receiving three phase power from a source, decomposing signals representative of power in each phase of the three phase power to provide a positive-sequence component of each phase and tracking the positive-sequence component of each phase via a phase locked loop and a tracking filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russel J. Kerkman, Carlos D. Rodriguez-Valdez