Patents by Inventor Torben Westphal

Torben Westphal 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).

  • Overvoltage protection for inverters that comprise an EMC filter at their input end
    Patent number: 8570692
    Abstract: In an overvoltage protection apparatus before an inverter configured to feed electric energy from a DC voltage source into an AC power grid, the overvoltage protection apparatus includes a DC voltage input stage. The DC voltage input stage includes at least two current-carrying lines and an EMC filter including interference suppressing capacitors and interference suppressing inductors, and surge arrestors configured to divert overvoltages with respect to ground are connected to the current-carrying lines after the EMC filter, from a point of view of the DC voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Andreas Jeppe, Henrik Wolf, Torben Westphal, Sven Bremicker, Frank Greizer, Adrian Haering
  • Overvoltage Protection for Inverters that Comprise an EMC Filter at Their Input End
    Publication number: 20120140363
    Abstract: In an overvoltage protection apparatus before an inverter configured to feed electric energy from a DC voltage source into an AC power grid, the overvoltage protection apparatus includes a DC voltage input stage. The DC voltage input stage includes, at least two current-carrying lines and an EMC filter including interference suppressing capacitors and interference suppressing inductors, and surge arrestors configured to divert overvoltages with respect to ground are connected to the current-carrying lines after the EMC filter, from a point of view of the DC voltage source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Andreas Jeppe, Henrik Wolf, Torben Westphal, Sven Bremicker, Frank Greizer, Adrian Häring
  • Method for converting direct voltage into three-phase alternating voltage
    Patent number: 7576449
    Abstract: A method of converting a direct voltage generated by a decentralized power supply system into three-phase alternating voltage by means of a plurality of single-phase inverters (WR1-WR3), said alternating voltage being provided for supplying an electric mains, is intended to avoid inadmissible load unbalances using single-phase inverters. This is achieved in that, upon failure of one inverter (WR1-WR3), an asymmetrical power supply distribution is reduced by limiting the output of the other inverters. The method makes it possible to simplify three-phase voltage monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Holger Becker, Günther Cramer, Sven Bremicker, Thorsten Dingel, Bernd Engel, Wilfried Groote, Frank Greizer, Ralf Joachim Laschinski, Matthias Victor, Torben Westphal
  • Method for converting direct voltage into three-phase alternating voltage
    Publication number: 20070179720
    Abstract: A method of converting a direct voltage generated by a decentralized power supply system into three-phase alternating voltage by means of a plurality of single-phase inverters (WR1-WR3), said alternating voltage being provided for supplying an electric mains, is intended to avoid inadmissible load unbalances using single-phase inverters. This is achieved in that, upon failure of one inverter (WR1-WR3), an asymmetrical power supply distribution is reduced by limiting the output of the other inverters. The method makes it possible to simplify three-phase voltage monitoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: SMA Technologie AG
    Inventors: Holger Becker, Gunther Cramer, Sven Bremicker, Thorsten Dingel, Bernd Engel, Wilfried Groote, Frank Greizer, Joachim Laschinski, Matthias Victor, Torben Westphal
  • Method for converting direct voltage into three phase alternating voltage
    Patent number: RE44901
    Abstract: A method of converting a direct voltage generated by a decentralized power supply system into three-phase alternating voltage by means of a plurality of single-phase inverters (WR1-WR3), said alternating voltage being provided for supplying an electric mains, is intended to avoid inadmissible load unbalances using single-phase inverters. This is achieved in that, upon failure of one inverter (WR1-WR3), an asymmetrical power supply distribution is reduced by limiting the output of the other inverters. The method makes it possible to simplify three-phase voltage monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Holger Becker, Guenther Cramer, Sven Bremicker, Thorsten Dingel, Bernd Engel, Wilfried Groote, Frank Greizer, Ralf Joachim Laschinski, Matthias Victor, Torben Westphal