Patents Issued in August 1, 2017
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Patent number: 9722502Abstract: A converter arrangement comprises first and second modular multilevel converters, Each of the modular multilevel converters comprises two converter branches. Each converter branch comprises a plurality of series-connected converter cells. Each converter cell comprises a cell capacitor and semiconductor switches for connecting and disconnecting the cell capacitor to the converter branch. At least two converter branches of the first modular multilevel converter are connected via first branch connection point and at least two converter branches of the second modular multilevel converter are connected via second branch connection point. The multilevel converters are connected in parallel via a phase connection point for connecting the converter arrangement to a load or a power source, wherein the phase connection point is connected via a first inductance with the first branch connection point and/or via a second inductance with the second branch connection point.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventor: Peter Steimer
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Patent number: 9722503Abstract: In an embodiment, a power converter includes: a plurality of power amplifier units, each having: a plurality of slice each with a power conversion module including an AC/DC/AC converter; a mains controller to control the plurality of slices; and a feedback conditioning system coupled to the mains controller; a plurality of input contactors and a plurality of output contactors via which each of the plurality of power amplifier units is to couple between a transformer and a load; and a master controller coupled to the plurality of power amplifier units.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: TECO-Westinghouse Motor CompanyInventors: Enrique Ledezma, Thomas Keister, Kaiyu Wang, Ryan Edwards, Randall Pipho, Bhaskara Palle, Alex Skorcz
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Patent number: 9722504Abstract: An inverter for converting an input direct current (DC) waveform from a DC source to an output alternating current (AC) waveform for delivery to an AC grid includes an input converter, an output converter, and an active filter, each of which is electrically coupled to a bus. The bus may be a DC bus or an AC bus. The input converter is configured to convert the input DC waveform to a DC or AC bus waveform. The output converter is configured to convert the bus waveform to the output AC waveform at a grid frequency. The active filter is configured to reduce a double-frequency ripple power of the bus waveform by supplying power to and absorbing power from the power bus.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Brian T. Kuhn, Robert S. Balog, Jonathan W. Kimball, Philip T. Krein, Alexander Gray
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Patent number: 9722505Abstract: A wind power conversion system includes plural first converting circuits and a second converting circuit. The plural first converting circuits perform a power converting task, and include respective first generator-side terminals and respective first network-side terminals. The first generator-side terminals are electrically connected with a wind power generator. The first network-side terminals are electrically connected with corresponding secondary windings of an isolating transformer. The second converting circuit includes plural second generator-side terminals and a second network-side terminal. The second network-side terminal is electrically connected with the corresponding secondary winding of plural secondary windings of the isolating transformer. The second generator-side terminals are serially connected with the corresponding first generator-side terminals of the first converting circuits.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Changyong Wang, Li Cai, Yansong Lu, Fei Lu
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Patent number: 9722506Abstract: A controller for a switched mode power converter includes limit-to-valley ratio circuitry, an on-time generator, and a drive circuit. The limit-to-valley ratio circuitry is coupled to generate a ratio signal in response to sensing a switch current of a switch that regulates an output of the switched mode power converter. The ratio signal is representative of a time ratio between a first length of time that the switch current is at or above a switch current limit and a second length of time that the switch current is at or below a switch current valley that is a portion of the switch current limit. The on-time generator is coupled to vary a switch on-time signal in response to receiving the ratio signal. The drive circuit is coupled to output a drive signal to a control terminal of the switch in response to receiving the switch on-time signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.Inventors: Tiziano Pastore, Sundaresan Sundararaj
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Patent number: 9722507Abstract: An electric power conversion apparatus according to an embodiment includes, wherein when a constituent element constituted of a leg in which two switching elements provided with self-arc-extinguishing capability are connected in series, and a capacitor connected in parallel with the leg is made a converter unit, and a constituent element formed by connecting one or more converter units in series is made a phase arm, a phase arm on the positive side, a single-phase four-winding transformer, and a phase arm on the negative side are included in each of three phases, one end of the phase arm on the positive side is connected to the positive side of a secondary winding of the four-winding transformer, and the other end thereof is connected to a DC positive side terminal.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Yosuke Nakazawa, Takeru Murao, Shunsuke Tamada
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Patent number: 9722508Abstract: Provided is a power conversion device that converts power between DC units and three-phase AC. A first-phase conversion device, a second-phase conversion device, and a third-phase conversion device each include a DC/DC conversion circuit and a single-phase power conversion circuit. For each of the first-phase conversion device, the second-phase conversion device, and the third-phase conversion device, when an absolute value of a voltage target value for the AC exceeds DC voltage of each DC unit, a control unit causes the DC/DC conversion circuit to operate to achieve the absolute value of the voltage target value and causes the single-phase power conversion circuit to only perform necessary polarity inversion, and when the absolute value of the voltage target value is smaller than the DC voltage, the control unit stops operation of the DC/DC conversion circuit and causes the single-phase power conversion circuit to operate to achieve the voltage target value.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Ayai, Koichi Takeshita
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Patent number: 9722509Abstract: A circuit device comprises a circuit board and a plurality of leads each comprising an island portion, a bonding portion elevated from the island portion, and an oblique slope portion connecting the island portion and the bonding portion, and a plurality of circuit elements mounted on the island portions so as to be connected to corresponding bonding portions through wirings. Two leads are adapted to be connected to positive and negative electrodes of a direct-current power source, and yet another lead is an output lead adapted to output alternating-current power. One electrode provided on a transistor mounted on an island portion of the second input lead is connected to a bonding portion of the output lead through a wiring, and another electrode provided on a transistor mounted on an island portion of the output lead is connected to a bonding portion of the first input lead through a wiring.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Shigeaki Mashimo, Fumio Horiuchi, Kiyoaki Kudo, Akira Sakurai, Yuhki Inagaki
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Patent number: 9722510Abstract: Modular inverter platforms and methods for providing physical and electrical configurability and scalability are disclosed. The modular inverter apparatus includes a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising at least two modules and one or more mounting components structured to switch the at least two modules between a plurality of physical configurations. The modular inverter apparatus also includes a plurality of electrical interconnections structured to electrically connect the at least two modules and to switch the at least two modules between a plurality of electrical configurations.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.Inventors: Sergey Kunin, Bradford K. Palmer, Elias M. Ayana
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Patent number: 9722511Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an electrical power supply are provided. One system includes an input configured for receiving voltage measurement signals for the power supply and a controller for one or more electrical phases of the power supply. The controller includes an integrator configured to integrate the received voltage measurement signals and to generate integrated control signals or integrated error signals. The controller is configured to generate an output signal using the integrated control signals or the integrated error signals. The system also includes an output configured to output the output signal to control switching of the power supply.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2012Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Luis Jose Garces, Juan Antonio Sabate, Di Zhang
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Patent number: 9722512Abstract: A method for controlling an inertial drive on the basis of pulse trains is disclosed. The pulse trains include pulses having sections of different gradients and having variable amplitude and/or frequency. A pulse interval occurs between the individual pulses, wherein the selected pulse duration is so short that is substantially less than the cycle duration of the natural oscillation of the system to be driven.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2012Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: SmarAct Holding GmbHInventors: Christoph Rass, Axel Kortschack
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Patent number: 9722513Abstract: One embodiment describes a method that includes determining a desired torque level of a motor actuated by a motor starter; determining, using a control system, a configuration of the motor starter to achieve the desired torque level, in which determining the configuration includes determining which of a plurality of switching devices in the motor starter should be opened and which should be closed; and instructing, using the control system, the motor starter to implement the determined configuration by opening or closing one or more of the plurality of switching devices.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher H. Bock, Christopher J. Wieloch, James J. Kinsella, Stefan T. Dziekonski
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Patent number: 9722514Abstract: There is provided a motor drive comprising: a temperature sensor arranged to sense a temperature of the drive; a braking resistor; switching means arranged when activated to cause current to flow to the braking resistor; and controlling means arranged to activate the switching means when the sensed temperature falls below a predetermined threshold. There is also provided a method of controlling a temperature of a motor drive comprising a braking resistor. The method comprising comprises: monitoring a temperature of the drive; and activating switching means to cause current to flow to the braking resistor when the monitored temperature falls below a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: NIDEC CONTROL TECHNIQUES LIMITEDInventor: James Frank Chmielewski
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Patent number: 9722515Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, includes a drive having a housing, a stator disposed in the housing, a rotor disposed in the stator, and a programmable logic controller disposed inside, mounted on, or in general proximity to the housing. In another embodiment, a system includes a network, a first motor having a first integral programmable logic controller coupled to the network, and a second motor having a second integral programmable logic controller coupled to the network. In a further embodiment, a system includes a rotary machine having a rotor and a stator disposed concentric with one another, a microprocessor, memory coupled to the microprocessor, a power supply coupled to the microprocessor and the memory, and a machine sensor coupled to the microprocessor.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Yehia M. El-Ibiary
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Patent number: 9722516Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a drive circuit is provided for driving for a motor wherein the drive circuit includes a first signal generator coupled to a second signal generator. A bias generator is connected to the second signal generator. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for driving a motor is provided that includes comparing a first signal at a first output of a Hall sensor with a second signal at a second output of the Hall sensor to generate a comparison signal. An indicator signal is generated in response to the comparison signal, wherein the indicator signal has a first edge and a second edge. A bias signal for the Hall sensor is generated in response to the indicator signal in response to the indicator signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventor: Takashi Ogawa
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Patent number: 9722517Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a system and method to eliminate mutual flux effect on rotor position estimation of switched reluctance motor (SRM) drives at rotating shaft conditions without a prior knowledge of mutual flux. Neglecting the magnetic saturation, the operation of conventional self-inductance estimation using phase current slope difference method can be classified into three modes: Mode I, II and III. At positive-current-slope and negative-current-slope sampling point of one phase, the sign of current slope of the other phase changes in Mode I and II, but does not change in Mode III. In one example embodiment, in order to operate the self-inductance estimation in Mode III, a variable-hysteresis-band current control method is proposed for the incoming phase and variable-sampling method is proposed for the outgoing phase.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: McMaster UniversityInventors: Jin Ye, Ali Emadi
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Patent number: 9722518Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for improving acceleration performance of an electric vehicle that includes an electric motor for propulsion. An exemplary system may include an inverter configured to drive the electric motor. The inverter may include at least one power electronic device. The system may also include a torque capability controller. The torque capability controller may be configured to receive information indicative of a selection between a first mode and a second mode. The second mode may correspond to a higher torque to be output by the electric motor than the first mode. The torque capability controller may also be configured to apply a switching frequency to the at least one power electronic device. The switching frequency may have a lower value when the received information indicates the selection of the second mode than when the received information indicates the selection of the first mode.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: FARADAY & FUTURE INC.Inventors: Steven E. Schulz, Silva Hiti
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Patent number: 9722519Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a stepper motor of a pump at a desired low velocity include memory for storing information corresponding to an intake velocity profile. The intake velocity profile represents an optimized acceleration curve for operating the stepper motor over a range of motor velocities during an intake cycle. A processor of a system controller dynamically accesses the memory during the intake cycle to acquire the information representing the intake velocity profile and issues a series of pulses to the stepper motor based on this information. In response to the pulses, the stepper motor accelerates in accordance with the optimized acceleration curve represented by the intake velocity profile. The optimized acceleration curve is based on the available torque of the stepper motor across a range of motor velocities and enables the motor to operate with greater torque utilization and less margin than traditional linear acceleration profiles.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Joshua A. Shreve, Steven J. Ciavarini
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Patent number: 9722520Abstract: A method for controlling a variable speed wind turbine generator is disclosed. The generator is connected to a power converter comprising switches. The generator comprises a stator and a set of terminals connected to the stator and to the switches of the power converter. The method comprises: determining a stator flux reference value corresponding to a generator power of a desired magnitude, determining an estimated stator flux value corresponding to an actual generator power, determining a difference between the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value, and operating said switches in correspondence to the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value to adapt at least one stator electrical quantity to obtain said desired generator power magnitude.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2009Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventors: Anshuman Tripathi, Cao Shu Yu, Allan Holm Jörgensen, Lars Helle
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Patent number: 9722521Abstract: A control circuit for a microelectromechanical element includes: a waveform generator, which is designed to generate a digital trigger signal for the microelectromechanical element, a modulator, which is designed to oversample the digital trigger signal, to subject the signal to a noise shaping, and to output the oversampled and noise-shaped digital trigger signal; and a digital driver device, which is designed to drive the microelectromechanical element using the oversampled and noise-shaped digital trigger signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2011Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Mohamad Iyad Al Dibs, Axel Wenzler, Oliver Krayl
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Patent number: 9722522Abstract: A method for limiting the torque of a permanent magnet AC motor includes a torque limit controller. The torque limit controller at least in part bases the torque limit on a selected direct voltage limit. The selected direct voltage limit may be used in combination with other torque limit conditions to generate the torque demand for the AC motor.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: CANRIG DRILLING TECHNOLOGY LTD.Inventor: Gary Pace
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Patent number: 9722523Abstract: The present invention relates to an inverter vector driving system and a method for estimating capacitance using the same. The present invention provides a method for estimating capacitance in an inverter vector driving system including a capacitor to which a rectified DC voltage of a three-phase power supply is charged, and a PWM inverter configured to transform the DC voltage into a three-phase AC voltage to be applied to a motor of an induction motor, including: operating the motor of the IM in a regeneration mode; generating a d-axis voltage command and a q-axis voltage command for the motor; adjusting a pulse of the PWM inverter by using the d-axis voltage command and the q-axis voltage command; and estimating capacitance of the capacitor by using a DC-link voltage and a DC-link current that are generated at the capacitor due to the inclusion of the AC component.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: RESEARCH COOPERATION FOUNDATION OF YEUNGNAM UNIVERSITYInventors: Dong-Choon Lee, Thanh Hai Nguyen, Yoon-Cheul Jeung
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Patent number: 9722524Abstract: A motor controller of a permanent magnet motor includes an inverter, a torque and flux calculator configured to estimate or measure torque and flux generated in the permanent magnet motor as calculated torque flux, based on an output from the inverter and a rotor angle of the permanent magnet motor, a switching pattern selector configured to input a signal to the inverter to select one of a plurality of switching patterns based on comparison results of a reference torque and the calculated torque and a reference flux and the calculated flux, and a flux phase angle, and a reference flux calculator configured to compare a highest phase flux out of three phase fluxes obtained by the torque and flux calculator with a flux limit and to reduce the reference flux when the maximum phase flux is higher than the flux limit.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATIONInventor: Ahmad Ghaderi
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Patent number: 9722525Abstract: A protective redundancy circuit is provided for a power tool having an electric motor. The protective redundant subsystem is comprised of: a motor switch coupled in series with the motor; a motor control module that controls the switching operation of the motor switch; and a protective control module that monitors switching operation of the motor switch and disables the power tool when the switching operation of the motor switch fails. In the context of an AC powered tool, the switching operation of the motor switch is correlated to and synchronized to the waveform of the AC input signal. During each cycle or half cycle, the motor control module introduces a delay period before closing the motor switch and the protective control module determines the operational status of the motor switch by measuring the voltage across the motor switch during the delay period.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: John C. Vanko, Larrry T. Albert, Michael K. Forster, Bhanuprasad V. Gorti, Jason K. Leh, Garrett P. McCormick, Samuel G. Woods, David R. Beers
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Patent number: 9722526Abstract: A motor drive system includes a control module and a power module for generating control signals and power signals, respectively, for driving an electric motor. An add-on module or subassembly is physically positionable between the control and power modules, and communicates with the control module to allow for communication with external devices.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James B. Vitrano, August B. Schrab, Daniel J. Middlestetter, John James Jenks, Kurt R. Hohensee, Jimmy See Yong Koh, Teck Siang Tan
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Patent number: 9722527Abstract: The invention relates to a power supply system of an electric motor (1) comprising a power circuit (3), the input terminals of which are connected to a DC voltage source, and an electronic circuit (4) for controlling the electric motor (1) based on a control signal representative of the set speed of the motor. According to the invention, the system comprises a means (6) capable of reducing the DC voltage value received by the power circuit (3) during the starting of the electric motor (1) and/or during operating phases in which the set speed of the electric motor (1) is below a threshold speed.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Valeo Systemes ThermiquesInventors: Xavier Goumain, Xavier Rousseil
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Patent number: 9722528Abstract: A motor control device includes a power-consumption calculator that calculates a power loss L according to a motor current I or according to the motor current I and a motor velocity v, and calculates a motor output W from a product of the motor velocity v and a torque ? or thrust force, to determine whether a regenerative resistance is in an energized state. When the regenerative resistance is in an energized state, if a total value W+L of the power loss L and the motor output W is equal to or greater than 0 (W+L?0), the power-consumption calculator calculates a power consumption P as W+L, and if a total value W+L of the power loss L and the motor output W is less than 0 (W+L<0), the power-consumption calculator calculates the power consumption P=0.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Koichiro Ueda
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Patent number: 9722529Abstract: A method for assisting in operating a PWM driven motor comprising for at least one phase of the PWM driven motor: generating a pulse width modulated phase voltage scheme according to a desired phase profile with a base scaling factor, by time multiplexing a first pulse and at least a further pulse within a pulse width modulation period of the phase the first pulse having a pulse width according to a first profile, for that rotor position, multiplied with a first scaling factor, the first profile being in phase with the desired phase profile, and the at least a further pulse having a pulse width corresponds with a further profile, for that rotor position, multiplied with a further scaling factor, the further profile being not in phase with the desired phase profile, whereby the first pulse and the at least one further pulse are positioned within the pulse width modulation period of the phase in at least partially non-overlapping way.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES NVInventor: Christian Paintz
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Patent number: 9722530Abstract: A drive circuit for an electric motor, has a driving source unit, configured to generate a driving source signal and a driving unit, connected to the motor and configured to drive the motor according to the driving source signal. A sensing unit senses the actual speed of the motor. A control unit stops operation of the motor when the actual speed of the motor falls below a predetermined level. A timing unit counts a predetermined time period from the time the motor stops operation. The motor resumes operation at the end of the predetermined time period.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Johnson Electric S.A.Inventors: Chi Ping Sun, Fei Xin, Shing Hin Yeung, Xiu Wen Yang, Yun Long Jiang, Yan Yun Cui
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Patent number: 9722531Abstract: A coaxial bus connector has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end has a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal coupled to a primary direct current bus of a primary inverter. The second end has a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal coupled to the secondary direct current bus of a secondary inverter, wherein the coaxial bus connector comprises a dielectric material between a center conductor and a coaxial sleeve to form a snubber capacitor to absorb electrical energy or to absorb voltage spikes.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Brij N. Singh, Christopher J. Schmit
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Patent number: 9722532Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) module mounting system including a mounting bracket that has a curved mating surface extending as an arch between a pair of flat mounting feet portions. The mounting bracket supports a PV module coupling device. A hanger bolt is provided that has a first threaded portion adapted to engage a roof surface and a second threaded portion for passing through the curved mating surface of the mounting bracket. A threaded knob is adapted to mate with the second threaded portion of the hanger bolt.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: SOLARCITY CORPORATIONInventors: Charles Almy, David Molina
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Patent number: 9722533Abstract: Designs of extremely high efficiency solar cells are described. A novel alternating bias scheme enhances the photovoltaic power extraction capability above the cell band-gap by enabling the extraction of hot carriers. When applied in conventional solar cells, this alternating bias scheme has the potential of more than doubling their yielded net efficiency. When applied in conjunction with solar cells incorporating quantum wells (QWs) or quantum dots (QDs) based solar cells, the described alternating bias scheme has the potential of extending such solar cell power extraction coverage, possibly across the entire solar spectrum, thus enabling unprecedented solar power extraction efficiency. Within such cells, a novel alternating bias scheme extends the cell energy conversion capability above the cell material band-gap while the quantum confinement structures are used to extend the cell energy conversion capability below the cell band-gap.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Ostendo Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hussein S. El-Ghoroury, Dale A. McNeill, Selim E. Guncer
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Patent number: 9722534Abstract: Described herein are technologies pertaining to computing the solar irradiance distribution on a surface of a receiver in a concentrating solar power system or glint/glare emitted from a reflective entity. At least one camera captures images of the Sun and the entity of interest, wherein the images have pluralities of pixels having respective pluralities of intensity values. Based upon the intensity values of the pixels in the respective images, the solar irradiance distribution on the surface of the entity or glint/glare corresponding to the entity is computed.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Inventors: Clifford Kuofei Ho, Siri Sahib Singh Khalsa
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Patent number: 9722535Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and a device for arc fault detection for a photovoltaic inverter, and a photovoltaic inverter using the same. The method includes: acquiring current signals at a DC side of the photovoltaic inverter; obtaining frequency spectral characteristics of the current signal according to the current signal; judging whether the frequency spectral characteristics of the current signal have a frequency spectral characteristic of an arc; and if the frequency spectral characteristics of the current signal have a frequency spectral characteristic of an arc, shutting down the photovoltaic inverter, acquiring respectively a first input voltage when the photovoltaic inverter is shut down and a second input voltage after a predetermined time period after the shutdown, calculating a voltage drop from the first input voltage to the second input voltage, and judging whether an arc fault occurs according to the voltage drop.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) CO., LTDInventors: Xuancai Zhu, Feidong Xu
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Patent number: 9722536Abstract: Low noise switchable varactors and digital controlled oscillator (DCO) circuitry are presented for creating alternating signals at controlled frequencies, including a first transistor for selectively coupling two capacitors between varactor output nodes when a control signal is in a first state, second and third transistors for selectively coupling first and second internal nodes between the respective capacitors and the first transistor with a third internal node when the control signal is in the first state, and an inverter disconnected from the first and second internal nodes to mitigate phase noise and operable to control the voltage of the third internal node according to the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Gireesh Rajendran, Rakesh Kumar, Subhashish Mukherjee, Ashish Lachhwani
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Patent number: 9722537Abstract: A novel and useful look-ahead time to digital converter (TDC) that is applied to an all digital phase locked loop (ADPLL) as the fractional phase error detector. The deterministic nature of the phase error during frequency/phase lock is exploited to achieve a reduction in power consumption of the TDC. The look-ahead TDC circuit is used to construct a cyclic DTC-TDC pair which functions to reduce fractional spurs of the output spectrum in near-integer channels by randomly rotating the cyclic DTC-TDC structure so that it starts from a different point every reference clock thereby averaging out the mismatch of the elements. Associated rotation and dithering methods are also presented. The ADPLL is achieved using the look-ahead TDC and/or cyclic DTC-TDC pair circuit.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Short Circuit Technologies LLCInventors: Gerasimos S. Vlachogiannakis, Augusto Ronchini Ximenes, Robert Bogdan Staszewski
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Patent number: 9722538Abstract: Provided are a constant voltage circuit configured to, when a power supply voltage is low, detect a leakage current to output a stable voltage at a power supply voltage level, and a crystal oscillation circuit using the constant voltage circuit. The constant voltage circuit includes a leakage current detection circuit including a PMOS transistor for monitoring a leakage current, which has a gate and a source being grounded. When a leakage current is detected, even with a constant voltage power supply, a voltage sufficient for turning on an output transistor of the constant voltage circuit can be applied to a gate of the output transistor.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Masaya Murata, Makoto Mitani, Kotaro Watanabe
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Patent number: 9722539Abstract: A phase-locked loop circuit comprises a multi-phase oscillator having a plurality of coupled oscillators. A calibration module detects mismatches between frequency characteristics of the different oscillators in the phase-locked loop circuit during a calibration process. The calibration module then calibrates the various oscillators to compensate for the detected mismatch. Once calibrated, the phase-locked loop circuit can operate with little or no performance degradation despite the mismatch in frequency characteristics between the different oscillators.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Rambus Inc.Inventors: Mohammad Hekmat, Reza Navid
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Patent number: 9722540Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for setting the frequency of wireless power transmission. To this end, the method for setting the frequency of a wireless power transmission apparatus can include the steps of: obtaining power transmission information from the wireless power receiving apparatus receiving a wireless power signal; and setting the transmission frequency of the wireless power signal on the basis of the obtained power transmission information.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2012Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Jaesung Lee, Bongsik Kwak, Yongcheol Park, Taewook Kwon, Seonghun Lee
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Patent number: 9722541Abstract: A distributed amplifier includes: an input-side transmission line; M amplification circuits; M output-side transmission lines; and a combination circuit configured to combine outputs of the M output-side transmission lines; wherein the input-side transmission line has an input-side serial line formed by connecting in series M×N unit transmission lines each including the same line length, and an input-side terminating resistor, the M amplification circuits each includes N amplifiers and the N amplifiers of the i-th amplification circuit take the input node of the ((k?1) M+i)-th input-side transmission line to be the input, and the output-side transmission line includes an output-side serial line including N transmission lines each being connected in series between the neighboring outputs of the N amplifiers and each having a line width in which the phase of the output of the amplifier in each stage agrees with one another.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Masaru Sato, Naoko Kurahashi
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Patent number: 9722542Abstract: A power amplification module includes a first transistor which amplifies and outputs a radio frequency signal input to its base; a current source which outputs a control current; a second transistor connected to an output of the current source, a first current from the control current input to its collector, a control voltage generation circuit connected to the output and which generates a control voltage according to a second current from the control current; a first FET, the drain being supplied with a supply voltage, the source being connected to the base of the first transistor, and the gate being supplied with the control voltage; and a second FET, the drain being supplied with the supply voltage, the source being connected to the base of the second transistor, and the gate being supplied with the control voltage.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kenichi Shimamoto, Satoshi Tanaka, Tadashi Matsuoka
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Patent number: 9722543Abstract: There is described a method of generating a power supply tracking a reference signal, comprising the steps of: filtering the reference signal; generating a first voltage in dependence on the filtered reference signal; generating a second voltage in dependence on the reference signal; and combining the first and second voltages to provide a power supply voltage.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: SnapTrack, Inc.Inventors: Martin Paul Wilson, Gerard Wimpenny
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Patent number: 9722544Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure may include a method and apparatus for improving the efficiency and extending the operation time between recharges or replacement batteries of a portable audio delivery system. The audio delivery system may include a processor, an audio processing device, a speaker, and a rechargeable power source. The audio delivery system is generally configured to generate and/or receive an audio input signal and efficiently deliver an amplified, high quality audio output signal to a user. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the audio processing device of the audio delivery system may include a switch mode power supply (SMPS), a signal delay element, an envelope detector, and a switching signal amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.Inventors: Alan Olson, Sean Chiu, Jianhua Pan, Constantine Mouzakis, Jeffrey Anderson, Patrick Nicolet
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Patent number: 9722545Abstract: Provided is an emphasis circuit capable of obtaining a desired emphasis amount with which waveform deterioration of an output signal in a high frequency band (high frequency band deterioration) is suppressed without increasing power consumption (current consumption). In the emphasis circuit, a baseband amplifier section and a peaking amplifier section are connected in parallel to each other, and respective drive current setting sections are adjusted to adjust respective drive current values thereof so that the sum of the drive current value of the baseband amplifier section and the drive current value of the peaking amplifier section may be constant.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Satoshi Yoshima, Masaki Noda, Masamichi Nogami
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Patent number: 9722546Abstract: A bias circuit for applying bias current to a low quiescent current amplifier includes first and second transistors and a transistor pair circuit. The first transistor is connected to a supply bias voltage source and an auxiliary bias voltage source, and is controlled by a bias voltage output from the auxiliary bias voltage source, the first transistor acting as a current source. The second transistor is connected to the supply bias voltage source and an output of the first transistor, and is controlled by the output of the first transistor to selectively buffer supply bias current from the supply bias voltage source provided to the low quiescent current amplifier via a bias resistor. The transistor pair circuit includes third and fourth transistors connected in series, one of the third and fourth transistors is also connected in parallel with a dividing resistor, the transistor pair circuit acting as a voltage source.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Jagadheswaran Rajendran, Yut Hoong Chow
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Patent number: 9722547Abstract: Compression control through amplitude adjustment of a radio frequency input signal. A power amplifier module can include a power amplifier. The power amplifier can include a cascode transistor pair. The cascode transistor pair can include a first transistor and a second transistor. The power amplifier module can include a power amplifier bias controller. The power amplifier bias controller can include a current comparator, a saturation controller, and a radio frequency (RF) attenuator. The current comparator can be configured to compare a first base current of the first transistor and a second base current of the second transistor to obtain a comparison value. The saturation controller can be configured to supply a reference signal to the RF attenuator based on the comparison value. The RF attenuator can be configured to modify the amplitude of an RF input signal supplied to the power amplifier based at least in part on the reference signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Philip John Lehtola
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Patent number: 9722548Abstract: An amplification circuit includes a first switching circuit that includes input terminals and first and second output terminals and that puts the second output terminal into an open state with respect to the input terminals while selectively putting the first output terminal into a state of being connected to any of the input terminals or selectively puts the second output terminal into a state of being connected to any of input terminals while putting the first output terminal into a state of being open with respect to the input terminals, a matching network that is connected to the first output terminal, an amplifier that is connected to an output side of the matching network, a second switching circuit that is connected to an output side of the amplifier, and a bypass path that electrically connects the second output terminal and an output terminal of the second switching circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Teruaki Oshita
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Patent number: 9722549Abstract: A pixel master-slave photodiode bias control amplifier system is disclosed. The pixel master-slave photodiode bias control amplifier system may include a master pixel and one or more slave pixels. The slave pixel(s) may be connected to a portion of the master pixel. In this manner, components may be shared between/among the master pixel and the slave pixel(s); thus, for example, optimizing the component count of the pixel master-slave photodiode bias control amplifier system and the size occupied by the pixel master-slave photodiode bias control amplifier system.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Sensors Unlimited, Inc.Inventors: Joshua Lund, Minlong Lin
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Patent number: 9722550Abstract: A power amplifying radiator is disclosed that includes an electric field receiver or radio frequency (RF) energy coupling and impedance matching element, a capacitive coupler, a cavity combiner including a coaxial-cavity section providing electromagnetic communication with the capacitive coupler, and a phased-array antenna/one or more phased-array antennas. The RF energy coupling and impedance matching element is in electromagnetic communication with the one or more phased-array antennas via the cavity combiner. The cavity combiner includes a center conductor configured and disposed to project from the coaxal-cavity section such that the cavity combiner defines a co-axial cross-sectional configuration. The power amplifying radiator may be included within a high power microwave system.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Inventor: Hoon Ahn
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Patent number: 9722551Abstract: A selective low noise amplifier (LNA) comprising an input hybrid coupler receives a first input and a second input and to provide a first output and a second output; and an output hybrid coupler receives a first input and a second input and to provide for at least one output. A first amplifier and a second amplifier, each respective amplifier in first and second parallel paths are couple to and between the first output and the second output, respectively, of the input hybrid coupler and the first input and the second input, respectively, of the output hybrid coupler. A phase controller coupled to at least one of the first input and the second input of the output hybrid coupler delays signals from the first and second inputs of the output hybrid coupler to the at least one output of the output hybrid coupler. A method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: LOCKHEED MATRIN CORPORATIONInventors: William Scott McKinley, Eugene Fischer