Patents by Inventor Yifan Zhao

Yifan Zhao 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).

  • Publication number: 20030030395
    Abstract: A control system for a permanent magnet motor having low-resolution speed measurement is taught. The control system is comprised of a speed regulator, voltage regulator and current regulator. The speed regulator uses a speed command and a measured speed for calculating a desired motor voltage; the voltage regulator uses a voltage command and an applied motor voltage for calculating a motor current command; and the current regulator uses a current command and a motor phase current for calculating a desired motor voltage for use by said voltage regulator; thereby providing a low resolution speed measurement to be used in a high performance application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: Ballard Power Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Hampo, Yifan Zhao
  • Patent number: 6366049
    Abstract: A speed controller circuit for a motor including a ramp function generator having a first input connected to a source of a speed demand signal and a second input connected to a ramp step signal. The ramp function generator develops a frequency ramp that has a slope is initiated by the speed demand signal which is adjusted in response to the ramp step signal. The ramp function generator also provides a frequency signal wherein the ramp function increases or decreases the frequency according to the speed demand. A V/F circuit to the ramp function generator and a space vector modulation circuit are connected to the V/F circuit. The output of the space vector modulation circuit is applied through power switching devices to the motor for speed control. A PI controller circuit is connected to a motor current feedback signal and to a maximum current signal, which provides the current limit of the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Ecostar Electric Drive Systems L.L.C.
    Inventors: Li Chen, Richard Joseph Hampo, Yifan Zhao
  • Patent number: 6058031
    Abstract: A high power motor drive converter includes: a five level hybrid NPC output power conversion stage including three NPC phase bridges having switches and coupled in a wye configuration through a converter neutral point, each NPC phase bridge receiving power on a respective direct current bus; three isolated split series-connected DC capacitor banks each coupled in parallel to a respective one of the three NPC phase bridges; and a controller for selecting switch positions with active control of neutral voltages. The controller is adapted to select switch positions using feedforward sine-triangle modulation with third harmonic injection, zero sequence injection, and/or discontinuous modulation injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Patrick Lyons, Vlatko Vlatkovic, Paul Martin Espelage, Albert Andreas Maria Esser, Yifan Zhao, Fei Fred Wang, Sr.