Patents by Inventor Thomas Zoels

Thomas Zoels 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).

  • Reverse conduction mode self turn-off gate driver
    Patent number: 9948290
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a switch module, a sense circuit coupled to the switch module and configured to indicate an operating conduction mode of the switch module, and a drive circuit operatively coupled to the switch module to enable and disable forward conducting mode of the switch module. Once the switch module is in forward conducting mode, the drive circuit is configured to maintain enablement of the forward conducting mode even if the sense circuit indicates reverse conduction mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Thomas Zoels
  • REVERSE CONDUCTION MODE SELF TURN-OFF GATE DRIVER
    Publication number: 20150035585
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a switch module, a sense circuit coupled to the switch module and configured to indicate an operating conduction mode of the switch module, and a drive circuit operatively coupled to the switch module to enable and disable forward conducting mode of the switch module. Once the switch module is in forward conducting mode, the drive circuit is configured to maintain enablement of the forward conducting mode even if the sense circuit indicates reverse conduction mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: ALVARO JORGE MARI CURBELO, THOMAS ZOELS
  • Method, power unit, and power system having gate voltage limiting circuit
    Patent number: 8767369
    Abstract: A power unit (e.g., inverter module) includes a housing and a switch attached to the housing. The switch may be configured to be electrically coupled to a remotely-mounted drive circuit through two or more wire leads. The power unit also includes a clamping circuit electrically coupled to terminals of the switch and in parallel with the switch. The clamping circuit may be disposed inside the housing or on an outer surface of the housing, and is configured to limit a voltage across the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Daniel Kuttenkuler, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Matthias Menzel, Jeffrey Wolff, Henry Young, Thomas Zoels
  • METHOD, POWER UNIT, AND POWER SYSTEM HAVING GATE VOLTAGE LIMITING CIRCUIT
    Publication number: 20130154711
    Abstract: A power unit (e.g., inverter module) includes a housing and a switch attached to the housing. The switch may be configured to be electrically coupled to a remotely-mounted drive circuit through two or more wire leads. The power unit also includes a clamping circuit electrically coupled to terminals of the switch and in parallel with the switch. The clamping circuit may be disposed inside the housing or on an outer surface of the housing, and is configured to limit a voltage across the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Jason Daniel Kuttenkuler, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Matthias Menzel, Jeffrey Wolff, Henry Young, Thomas Zoels
  • REVERSE CONDUCTION MODE SELF TURN-OFF GATE DRIVER
    Publication number: 20130049843
    Abstract: There is provided a power electronic module that includes a power switch module and a drive circuit operatively coupled to the power switch module. The drive circuit is configured to enable and disable a forward conduction mode operation of the switch module. The drive circuit disables forward conduction mode operation of the power switch module when the power switch module is operating in reverse conduction mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Mari Curbelo Alvaro Jorge, Thomas Zoels