Patents by Inventor Simon Herbert Schramm

Simon Herbert Schramm 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: 10521005
    Abstract: A power converter includes primary and secondary bridges, a transformer, and a controller configured to generate a switching mode map that correlates each of a plurality of switching modes to a respective set of value ranges of system parameters of the power converter. The sets of system parameter value ranges are contiguous and non-overlapping across the switching mode map, each of the plurality of switching modes includes gate trigger voltage timings for commuting at least one of the primary and secondary bridges. The controller is configured to obtain a plurality of measured system parameter values, select from the switching mode map one of the plurality of switching modes that correlates to the set of system parameter values containing the plurality of measured system parameter values, and adjust gate trigger voltage timings of at least one of the primary and secondary bridges, according to the selected switching mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventors: Simon Herbert Schramm, Said Farouk Said El-Barbari, Stefan Schroeder, Zhihui Yuan
  • Publication number: 20190220083
    Abstract: A power converter includes primary and secondary bridges, a transformer, and a controller configured to generate a switching mode map that correlates each of a plurality of switching modes to a respective set of value ranges of system parameters of the power converter. The sets of system parameter value ranges are contiguous and non-overlapping across the switching mode map, each of the plurality of switching modes includes gate trigger voltage timings for commuting at least one of the primary and secondary bridges. The controller is configured to obtain a plurality of measured system parameter values, select from the switching mode map one of the plurality of switching modes that correlates to the set of system parameter values containing the plurality of measured system parameter values, and adjust gate trigger voltage timings of at least one of the primary and secondary bridges, according to the selected switching mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Simon Herbert Schramm, Said Farouk Said El-Barbari, Stefan Schroeder, Zhihui Yuan
  • Patent number: 10300791
    Abstract: A trolley interfacing device for interfacing a traction load to a voltage source is presented. The trolley interfacing device includes a first charging unit coupled in parallel to the voltage source. Further, the trolley interfacing device includes a second charging unit coupled in parallel to the traction load, where the second charging unit includes at least one inductor. Also, the trolley interfacing device includes a pre-charging unit coupled in parallel to the second charging unit and configured to pre-charge the first charging unit with a voltage across the at least one inductor prior to electrically coupling the first charging unit to the voltage source. In addition, the trolley interfacing device includes a voltage converting unit disposed between the first charging unit and the second charging unit and configured to step down a voltage provided by the voltage source to the traction load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventors: Said Farouk El-Barbari, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Paolo Soldi, Simon Herbert Schramm
  • Patent number: 10305387
    Abstract: A single active bridge converter is provided. The single active bridge converter includes a transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding, a primary side circuit electrically coupled to the primary winding and including an H bridge circuit, and a secondary side circuit electrically coupled to the secondary winding, the secondary side circuit including a switch configured to selectively short the transformer secondary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Said Farouk Said El-Barbari, Simon Herbert Schramm
  • Patent number: 10296071
    Abstract: A power converter includes primary and secondary bridges, a transformer, and a controller configured to generate a switching mode map that correlates each of a plurality of switching modes to a respective set of value ranges of system parameters of the power converter. The sets of system parameter value ranges are contiguous and non-overlapping across the switching mode map, each of the plurality of switching modes includes gate trigger voltage timings for commuting at least one of the primary and secondary bridges. The controller is configured to obtain a plurality of measured system parameter values, select from the switching mode map one of the plurality of switching modes that correlates to the set of system parameter values containing the plurality of measured system parameter values, and adjust gate trigger voltage timings of at least one of the primary and secondary bridges, according to the selected switching mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventors: Simon Herbert Schramm, Said Farouk Said El-Barbari, Stefan Schroeder, Zhihui Yuan
  • Publication number: 20190073021
    Abstract: A power converter includes primary and secondary bridges, a transformer, and a controller configured to generate a switching mode map that correlates each of a plurality of switching modes to a respective set of value ranges of system parameters of the power converter. The sets of system parameter value ranges are contiguous and non-overlapping across the switching mode map, each of the plurality of switching modes includes gate trigger voltage timings for commuting at least one of the primary and secondary bridges. The controller is configured to obtain a plurality of measured system parameter values, select from the switching mode map one of the plurality of switching modes that correlates to the set of system parameter values containing the plurality of measured system parameter values, and adjust gate trigger voltage timings of at least one of the primary and secondary bridges, according to the selected switching mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Simon Herbert Schramm, Said Farouk Said El-Barbari, Stefan Schroeder, Zhihui Yuan
  • Patent number: 10073512
    Abstract: A power converter includes primary and secondary bridges, a transformer, and a controller configured to generate a switching mode map that correlates each of a plurality of switching modes to a respective set of value ranges of system parameters of the power converter. The sets of system parameter value ranges are contiguous and non-overlapping across the switching mode map, each of the plurality of switching modes includes gate trigger voltage timings for commuting at least one of the primary and secondary bridges. The controller is configured to obtain a plurality of measured system parameter values, select from the switching mode map one of the plurality of switching modes that correlates to the set of system parameter values containing the plurality of measured system parameter values, and adjust gate trigger voltage timings of at least one of the primary and secondary bridges, according to the selected switching mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Simon Herbert Schramm, Said Farouk Said El-Barbari, Stefan Schroeder, Zhihui Yuan
  • Patent number: 10024898
    Abstract: A system includes a power converter including a primary bridge unit to receive a primary voltage from a voltage source, the primary bridge unit includes a first plurality of electronic switches, and each of the first plurality of electronics switches has a turn ON time and a turn OFF time. Further, the power converter includes a transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding is coupled to the first plurality of electronic switches. Also, the power converter includes a secondary bridge unit including a second plurality of electronic switches coupled to the secondary winding. Additionally, the system includes a controller to determine an inductance of the power converter based on the primary voltage, the turn ON time of the first plurality of electronic switches, a switching cycle time of the power converter, and one of an average current and a peak current in the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Said Farouk El-Barbari, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Simon Herbert Schramm
  • Patent number: 9951779
    Abstract: A subsea boosting module for use with an alternating current (AC) power system includes a housing defining at least one interior chamber. A fluid pump is disposed within the interior chamber. An electric motor is disposed within the interior chamber and drivingly coupled to the fluid pump. A plurality of power components is disposed within the interior chamber to deliver power to the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Simon Herbert Schramm, Manoj Ramprasad Shah, Siddharth Navinchandra Ashar, Christof Martin Sihler, Svend Erik Rocke, Vittorio Michelassi
  • Publication number: 20170370977
    Abstract: A system includes a power converter including a primary bridge unit to receive a primary voltage from a voltage source, the primary bridge unit includes a first plurality of electronic switches, and each of the first plurality of electronics switches has a turn ON time and a turn OFF time. Further, the power converter includes a transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding is coupled to the first plurality of electronic switches. Also, the power converter includes a secondary bridge unit including a second plurality of electronic switches coupled to the secondary winding. Additionally, the system includes a controller to determine an inductance of the power converter based on the primary voltage, the turn ON time of the first plurality of electronic switches, a switching cycle time of the power converter, and one of an average current and a peak current in the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Said Farouk El-Barbari, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Simon Herbert Schramm
  • Patent number: 9847731
    Abstract: A converter assembly and method are provided. The converter assembly includes a galvanic isolation device, first switching devices, and second switching devices. The switching devices are conductively coupled with each other and with opposite sides of the isolation device. The first switching devices control conduction of an input voltage, and the second switching devices control conduction of electric power. The first switching devices are configured to switch between an open state and a closed state at frequencies that are faster than frequencies at which the second switching devices switch between the open state and the closed state to control a shape of a waveform of the electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Farouk Said El-Barbari, Simon Herbert Schramm, Stefan Schroeder, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo
  • Patent number: 9780675
    Abstract: A power converter is presented. The power converter includes a primary bridge unit coupled to a voltage source. Further, the power converter includes a secondary bridge unit coupled to a load. Also, the power converter includes a transformer disposed between the primary bridge unit and the secondary bridge unit and configured to magnetically couple the primary bridge unit to the secondary bridge unit. Additionally, the power converter includes a current sensor configured to measure instantaneous current flowing at an input terminal of the transformer. Furthermore, the power converter includes a cyclic state controller configured to receive the measured instantaneous current flowing at the input terminal of the transformer, and change a switching state of the power converter from a present switching state to a subsequent switching state based on the measured instantaneous current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Said Farouk El-Barbari, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Simon Herbert Schramm
  • Patent number: 9774183
    Abstract: A subsea power distribution module includes an outer vessel defining an interior chamber and a plurality of power modules disposed within the interior chamber. The outer vessel is configured to maintain a pressure within the interior chamber substantially the same as an ambient pressure outside the outer vessel. Each power module includes a pressure vessel defining an interior chamber and a power converter disposed within the interior chamber of the pressure vessel. Each pressure vessel is configured to maintain a substantially constant pressure within the interior chamber of the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christof Martin Sihler, Manoj Ramprasad Shah, Simon Herbert Schramm, Svend Erik Rocke, Piniwan Thiwanka Bandara Wijekoon
  • Publication number: 20170174087
    Abstract: A trolley interfacing device for interfacing a traction load to a voltage source is presented. The trolley interfacing device includes a first charging unit coupled in parallel to the voltage source. Further, the trolley interfacing device includes a second charging unit coupled in parallel to the traction load, where the second charging unit includes at least one inductor. Also, the trolley interfacing device includes a pre-charging unit coupled in parallel to the second charging unit and configured to pre-charge the first charging unit with a voltage across the at least one inductor prior to electrically coupling the first charging unit to the voltage source. In addition, the trolley interfacing device includes a voltage converting unit disposed between the first charging unit and the second charging unit and configured to step down a voltage provided by the voltage source to the traction load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Said Farouk El-Barbari, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Paolo Soldi, Simon Herbert Schramm
  • Publication number: 20170170738
    Abstract: A power converter is presented. The power converter includes a primary bridge unit coupled to a voltage source. Further, the power converter includes a secondary bridge unit coupled to a load. Also, the power converter includes a transformer disposed between the primary bridge unit and the secondary bridge unit and configured to magnetically couple the primary bridge unit to the secondary bridge unit. Additionally, the power converter includes a current sensor configured to measure instantaneous current flowing at an input terminal of the transformer. Furthermore, the power converter includes a cyclic state controller configured to receive the measured instantaneous current flowing at the input terminal of the transformer, and change a switching state of the power converter from a present switching state to a subsequent switching state based on the measured instantaneous current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Said Farouk El-Barbari, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Simon Herbert Schramm
  • Patent number: 9611855
    Abstract: A subsea boosting module for use with a direct current (DC) power system includes a housing defining at least one interior chamber. A fluid pump is disposed within the interior chamber. An electric motor is disposed within the interior chamber and drivingly coupled to the fluid pump. A plurality of power components is disposed within the interior chamber to deliver power to the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christof Martin Sihler, Manoj Ramprasad Shah, Siddharth Navinchandra Ashar, Simon Herbert Schramm, Svend Erik Rocke, Vittorio Michelassi
  • Patent number: 9570252
    Abstract: A system for operating an on-load tap changer (OLTC) includes a plurality of legs that include mechanical switches. At least one leg switches from a first to a second tap of the OLTC on receipt of a tap change signal. At least one mechanical switch is activated to establish an electrical connection between one of the first and the second tap and a power terminal of the OLTC. Further, the system includes semiconductor switches that are parallel to the mechanical switches and when activated electrically couple one of the first and the second tap and the power terminal. The system includes a processing unit that selectively activates and deactivates the mechanical and semiconductor switches in such a way that electrical contact is maintained between at least one of the taps and the power terminal during the transition of at least one leg from the first tap to the second tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Piniwan Thiwanka Bandara Wijekoon, Eva-Maria Baerthlein, Simon Herbert Schramm, Stefan Schroeder, Ara Panosyan, Rohit Kumar Gupta
  • Patent number: 9557754
    Abstract: A method of switching taps of an on-load tap changer includes providing a main finger, a first side finger including a first solid state switch and a second side finger including a second solid state switch. The main finger, the first side finger and the second side finger are utilized to provide a connection between the taps and a power terminal of the on-load tap changer. The method also includes triggering the on-load tap changer to shift the fingers from a first tap to a second tap of the on-load tap changer when a tap change signal is received and utilizing the first solid state switch and the second solid state switch to commutate a current during the tap change operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ara Panosyan, Eva-Maria Baerthlein, Simon Herbert Schramm, Stefan Schroeder, Rohit Kumar Gupta, Pinwan Thiwanka Bandara Wijekoon, Malcolm Graham Smith, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170025964
    Abstract: A converter assembly and method are provided. The converter assembly includes a galvanic isolation device, first switching devices, and second switching devices. The switching devices are conductively coupled with each other and with opposite sides of the isolation device. The first switching devices control conduction of an input voltage, and the second switching devices control conduction of electric power. The first switching devices are configured to switch between an open state and a closed state at frequencies that are faster than frequencies at which the second switching devices switch between the open state and the closed state to control a shape of a waveform of the electric power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Farouk Said El-Barbari, Simon Herbert Schramm, Stefan Schroeder, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo
  • Patent number: 9413217
    Abstract: An electromagnetic braking system of a power generation system includes an electrically conductive disc coupled to a rotatable shaft operatively coupled between a prime mover and a generator; a controller for receiving a status signal from the power generation system and for generating a control signal based on the status signal; and an inducting unit for applying an electromagnetic braking force on the electrically conductive disc when commanded by the control signal to regulate a rotational speed of the rotatable shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ara Panosyan, Simon Herbert Schramm, Jan Erich Hemmelmann, Christof Martin Sihler, Francesco Papini, Xiaoting Dong, Johannes Huber