Patents by Inventor Yanick Lobsiger

Yanick Lobsiger 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: 9007102
    Abstract: An exemplary gate drive circuit and method are disclosed for controlling a gate-controlled component, the gate drive circuit having a PI controller adapted to receive an input reference signal and to control a gate voltage of the gate-controlled component. The gate drive circuit can include a first feedback loop for the PI controller, the first feedback loop having a first gain (kv), a second feedback loop for the PI controller, the second feedback loop having a second gain (ki), and a clipping circuit adapted to modify a feedback signal in the second feedback loop during turn-on of the gate-controlled component when the time derivative of the collector current is negative. The first feedback loop can include a first blanking circuit adapted to cut the feedback loop when the gate-controlled component is in a blocking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Yanick Lobsiger, Johann Kolar, Matti Laitinen
  • Patent number: 8963585
    Abstract: An exemplary apparatus and method for using intelligent gate driver units with distributed intelligence to control antiparallel power modules or parallel-connected electrical switching devices like IGBTs is disclosed. The intelligent gate drive units use the intelligence to balance the currents of the switching devices, even in dynamic switching events. The intelligent gate driver units can use master-slave or daisy chain control structures and instantaneous or time integral differences of the currents of parallel-connected switching devices as control parameters. Instead of balancing the currents, temperature can also be balanced with the intelligent gate driver units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Yanick Lobsiger, Dominik Bortis, Johann Walter Kolar, Matti Laitinen
  • Publication number: 20140375362
    Abstract: An exemplary gate drive circuit and method are disclosed for controlling a gate-controlled component, the gate drive circuit having a PI controller adapted to receive an input reference signal and to control a gate voltage of the gate-controlled component. The gate drive circuit can include a first feedback loop for the PI controller, the first feedback loop having a first gain (kv), a second feedback loop for the PI controller, the second feedback loop having a second gain (ki), and a clipping circuit adapted to modify a feedback signal in the second feedback loop during turn-on of the gate-controlled component when the time derivative of the collector current is negative. The first feedback loop can include a first blanking circuit adapted to cut the feedback loop when the gate-controlled component is in a blocking state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Yanick LOBSIGER, Johann Kolar, Matti Laitinen
  • Publication number: 20130328599
    Abstract: An exemplary apparatus and method for using intelligent gate driver units with distributed intelligence to control antiparallel power modules or parallel-connected electrical switching devices like IGBTs is disclosed. The intelligent gate drive units use the intelligence to balance the currents of the switching devices, even in dynamic switching events. The intelligent gate driver units can use master-slave or daisy chain control structures and instantaneous or time integral differences of the currents of parallel-connected switching devices as control parameters. Instead of balancing the currents, temperature can also be balanced with the intelligent gate driver units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Yanick LOBSIGER, Dominik BORTIS, Johann Walter KOLAR, Matti LAITINEN
  • Patent number: 8604841
    Abstract: An exemplary apparatus and method for using intelligent gate driver units with distributed intelligence to control antiparallel power modules or parallel-connected electrical switching devices like IGBTs is disclosed. The intelligent gate drive units use the intelligence to balance the currents of the switching devices, even in dynamic switching events. The intelligent gate driver units can use master-slave or daisy chain control structures and instantaneous or time integral differences of the currents of parallel-connected switching devices as control parameters. Instead of balancing the currents, temperature can also be balanced with the intelligent gate driver units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Yanick Lobsiger, Dominik Bortis, Johann Walter Kolar, Matti Laitinen
  • Publication number: 20120098577
    Abstract: An exemplary apparatus and method for using intelligent gate driver units with distributed intelligence to control antiparallel power modules or parallel-connected electrical switching devices like IGBTs is disclosed. The intelligent gate drive units use the intelligence to balance the currents of the switching devices, even in dynamic switching events. The intelligent gate driver units can use master-slave or daisy chain control structures and instantaneous or time integral differences of the currents of parallel-connected switching devices as control parameters. Instead of balancing the currents, temperature can also be balanced with the intelligent gate driver units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Yanick Lobsiger, Dominik Bortis, Johann Walter Kolar, Matti Laitinen