Patents by Inventor Stuart Laval

Stuart Laval 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: 10965153
    Abstract: Methods of microgrid communications and connection transitions are provided. The methods include methods of operating recloser and/or switch systems. The methods of operating recloser and/or switch systems include transmitting a communication from a recloser and/or switch system of a microgrid to an inverter of the microgrid to trigger a control state change of the inverter. Related methods of operating inverters are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Tom Fenimore
  • Patent number: 10965124
    Abstract: Apparatuses including power electronics circuitry are provided. The power electronics circuitry includes at least one power converter that is coupled to a DC bus. Moreover, in some embodiments, the at least one power converter is configured to regulate a voltage of the DC bus. Related methods of operating an apparatus including power electronics circuitry are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignees: DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION, THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Aleksandar Vukojevic, Somasundaram Essakiappan, Madhav Manjrekar, Ehab Shoubaki
  • Patent number: 10727669
    Abstract: Apparatuses including power electronics circuitry are provided. The power electronics circuitry includes at least one power converter that is coupled to a DC bus. Moreover, in some embodiments, the at least one power converter is configured to regulate a voltage of the DC bus. Related methods of operating an apparatus including power electronics circuitry are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignees: Duke Energy Corporation, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Aleksandar Vukojevic, Somasundaram Essakiappan, Madhav Manjrekar, Ehab Shoubaki
  • Patent number: 10656663
    Abstract: Apparatuses including utility meter, power electronics, and communications circuitry are provided. The utility meter circuitry is configured to measure usage of electricity supplied by an electric utility to a premise of a customer of the electric utility. The power electronics circuitry is configured to regulate a voltage level supplied to the premise of the customer. Moreover, the communications circuitry is configured to provide communications with a first electronic device of the customer at the premise of the customer and to provide communications with a second electronic device that is upstream from the apparatus. Related methods of operating an apparatus including utility meter, power electronics, and communications circuitry are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Duke Energy Coporation
    Inventors: Jason Handley, Stuart Laval, Aleksandar Vukojevic
  • Patent number: 10079915
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include receiving data from an electric grid device via a network interface. The method may include processing the data from the electric grid device at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a filtered portion of the data to an electric utility head end system, after processing the data at the communication node. In some embodiments, a method of operating a communication node may include using a message broker controlled by a virtual machine in the communication node to provide a protocol to interface with a field message bus that includes a standards-based or open-source Application Programming Interface (API). Related communication nodes and computer program products are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Raiford Smith
  • Patent number: 10069944
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include receiving data from an electric grid device via a network interface. The method may include processing the data from the electric grid device at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a filtered portion of the data to an electric utility head end system, after processing the data at the communication node. In some embodiments, a method of operating a communication node may include using a message broker controlled by a virtual machine in the communication node to provide a protocol to interface with a field message bus that includes a standards-based or open-source Application Programming Interface (API). Related communication nodes and computer program products are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Raiford Smith
  • Publication number: 20180219381
    Abstract: Apparatuses including power electronics circuitry are provided. The power electronics circuitry includes at least one power converter that is coupled to a DC bus. Moreover, in some embodiments, the at least one power converter is configured to regulate a voltage of the DC bus. Related methods of operating an apparatus including power electronics circuitry are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Aleksandar Vukojevic, Somasundaram Essakiappan, Madhav Manjrekar, Ehab Shoubaki
  • Publication number: 20180219377
    Abstract: Apparatuses including power electronics circuitry are provided. The power electronics circuitry includes at least one power converter that is coupled to a DC bus. Moreover, in some embodiments, the at least one power converter is configured to regulate a voltage of the DC bus. Related methods of operating an apparatus including power electronics circuitry are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Aleksandar Vukojevic, Somasundaram Essakiappan, Madhav Manjrekar, Ehab Shoubaki
  • Publication number: 20180046208
    Abstract: Apparatuses including utility meter, power electronics, and communications circuitry are provided. The utility meter circuitry is configured to measure usage of electricity supplied by an electric utility to a premise of a customer of the electric utility. The power electronics circuitry is configured to regulate a voltage level supplied to the premise of the customer. Moreover, the communications circuitry is configured to provide communications with a first electronic device of the customer at the premise of the customer and to provide communications with a second electronic device that is upstream from the apparatus. Related methods of operating an apparatus including utility meter, power electronics, and communications circuitry are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Jason Handley, Stuart Laval, Aleksandar Vukojevic
  • Patent number: 9829899
    Abstract: Apparatuses including utility meter, power electronics, and communications circuitry are provided. The utility meter circuitry is configured to measure usage of electricity supplied by an electric utility to a premise of a customer of the electric utility. The power electronics circuitry is configured to regulate a voltage level supplied to the premise of the customer. Moreover, the communications circuitry is configured to provide communications with a first electronic device of the customer at the premise of the customer and to provide communications with a second electronic device that is upstream from the apparatus. Related methods of operating an apparatus including utility meter, power electronics, and communications circuitry are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Handley, Stuart Laval, Aleksandar Vukojevic
  • Publication number: 20170229868
    Abstract: Methods of microgrid communications and connection transitions are provided. The methods include methods of operating recloser and/or switch systems. The methods of operating recloser and/or switch systems include transmitting a communication from a recloser and/or switch system of a microgrid to an inverter of the microgrid to trigger a control state change of the inverter. Related methods of operating inverters are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Tom Fenimore
  • Patent number: 9729678
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include receiving data from an electric grid device via a network interface. The method may include processing the data from the electric grid device at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a filtered portion of the data to an electric utility head end system, after processing the data at the communication node. In some embodiments, a method of operating a communication node may include using a message broker controlled by a virtual machine in the communication node to provide a protocol to interface with a field message bus that includes a standards-based or open-source Application Programming Interface (API). Related communication nodes and computer program products are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Raiford Smith
  • Patent number: 9722665
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include transmitting a first power line communication signal from the communication node to a sensor device that is at or adjacent an electric grid device. The method may include receiving from the sensor device a second power line communication signal that is responsive to the first power line communication signal, at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include determining a distance between the communication node and the electric grid device by measuring an electrical parameter of the second power line communication signal, at the communication node. Related communication nodes are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Raiford Smith, Stuart Laval, Jason Handley
  • Patent number: 9648143
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include receiving data from an electric grid device via a network interface. The method may include processing the data from the electric grid device at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a filtered portion of the data to an electric utility head end system, after processing the data at the communication node. In some embodiments, a method of operating a communication node may include using a message broker controlled by a virtual machine in the communication node to provide a protocol to interface with a field message bus that includes a standards-based or open-source Application Programming Interface (API). Related communication nodes and computer program products are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Raiford Smith
  • Patent number: 9407324
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include transmitting a first power line communication signal from the communication node to a sensor device that is at or adjacent an electric grid device. The method may include receiving from the sensor device a second power line communication signal that is responsive to the first power line communication signal, at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include determining a distance between the communication node and the electric grid device by measuring an electrical parameter of the second power line communication signal, at the communication node. Related communication nodes are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Duke Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Raiford Smith, Stuart Laval, Jason Handley
  • Publication number: 20160131686
    Abstract: Apparatuses including utility meter, power electronics, and communications circuitry are provided. The utility meter circuitry is configured to measure usage of electricity supplied by an electric utility to a premise of a customer of the electric utility. The power electronics circuitry is configured to regulate a voltage level supplied to the premise of the customer. Moreover, the communications circuitry is configured to provide communications with a first electronic device of the customer at the premise of the customer and to provide communications with a second electronic device that is upstream from the apparatus. Related methods of operating an apparatus including utility meter, power electronics, and communications circuitry are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Jason Handley, Stuart Laval, Aleksandar Vukojevic
  • Publication number: 20150180538
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include transmitting a first power line communication signal from the communication node to a sensor device that is at or adjacent an electric grid device. The method may include receiving from the sensor device a second power line communication signal that is responsive to the first power line communication signal, at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include determining a distance between the communication node and the electric grid device by measuring an electrical parameter of the second power line communication signal, at the communication node. Related communication nodes are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Duke Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Raiford Smith, Stuart Laval, Jason Handley
  • Publication number: 20150180282
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include transmitting a first power line communication signal from the communication node to a sensor device that is at or adjacent an electric grid device. The method may include receiving from the sensor device a second power line communication signal that is responsive to the first power line communication signal, at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include determining a distance between the communication node and the electric grid device by measuring an electrical parameter of the second power line communication signal, at the communication node. Related communication nodes are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Duke Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Raiford Smith, Stuart Laval, Jason Handley
  • Publication number: 20150097696
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include receiving data from an electric grid device via a network interface. The method may include processing the data from the electric grid device at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a filtered portion of the data to an electric utility head end system, after processing the data at the communication node. In some embodiments, a method of operating a communication node may include using a message broker controlled by a virtual machine in the communication node to provide a protocol to interface with a field message bus that includes a standards-based or open-source Application Programming Interface (API). Related communication nodes and computer program products are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Duke Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Raiford Smith
  • Publication number: 20150097694
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include receiving data from an electric grid device via a network interface. The method may include processing the data from the electric grid device at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a filtered portion of the data to an electric utility head end system, after processing the data at the communication node. In some embodiments, a method of operating a communication node may include using a message broker controlled by a virtual machine in the communication node to provide a protocol to interface with a field message bus that includes a standards-based or open-source Application Programming Interface (API). Related communication nodes and computer program products are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Duke Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Raiford Smith