Patents Issued in August 17, 2017
  • Publication number: 20170237345
    Abstract: A current mode switching regulator circuit and operating method includes a variable duty cycle power switch controller, a voltage feedback loop that provides a feedback signal based on the output voltage, a current feedback loop that provides a current sense signal based on the output current, and an offset circuit having an external signal input and coupled to the current feedback loop. The power switch controller controls the switching regulator circuit to generate an output voltage and an output current. The offset circuit is configured to provide an offset output control signal, independently of the voltage feedback loop, to control the power switch controller so as to vary a duty cycle of the power switch controller based on the current sense signal and an external offset signal applied to the external signal input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Gregory MANLOVE, James MCKENZIE, Robert CHIACCHIA, Yi Ding GU, Jian LI
  • Publication number: 20170237346
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter as embodiments of the present invention includes an input terminal, multiple output terminals, an inductor, a first switch, a first condenser, a second switch and a switch controller. One end of the inductor is connected to the input terminal. The first switch is subjected to on-off control to change a current flowing through the inductor. The first condenser has one end connected between the inductor and a first output terminal, which is one of the multiple output terminals, and has the other end connected to a ground. The second switch is connected between the inductor and the first condenser. The switch controller controls the second switch to turn on when the first switch is turned off while a first output voltage from the first output terminal is smaller than a predetermined first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yosuke TOYAMA, Taichi OGAWA, Takeshi UENO, Tetsuro ITAKURA, Osamu WATANABE, Takayuki MIYAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20170237347
    Abstract: The system and method creates a substantially constant output voltage ripple in a buck converter in discontinuous conduction mode by varying the on-time of a pulse width modulator (PWM) signal driving the buck converter when the buck converter is operating in discontinuous conduction mode. A first signal is generated that is a function of the switching frequency of the buck converter. This signal is low-pass filtered and compared with a second signal that is a function of the switching frequency of the buck converter when operating in continuous conduction mode and with constant PWM on-time. The output signal generated by the comparator is a signal that is equal to the ratio of the first signal and the second signal. The on-time of a voltage controlled oscillator is controlled by the output signal, the oscillator signal causing the on-time of the PWM signal to vary in a controlled fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventors: Michael Jason HOUSTON, Steven Patrick LAUR
  • Publication number: 20170237348
    Abstract: A pulse width modulated power converter is presented with load-adaptive power transistor scaling scheme using analog-digital hybrid control. The coarse digital control generates an approximate duty cycle necessary for driving a given load and selects an appropriate width of power transistors to minimize redundant power dissipation. The fine analog control provides the final tuning of the duty cycle to compensate for the error from the coarse digital control. The mode switching between the analog and digital controls is accomplished by a mode arbiter which estimates the average duty cycle for the given load condition from limit cycle oscillations induced by the coarse adjustments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Euisik YOON, Sung-Yun PARK
  • Publication number: 20170237349
    Abstract: A multi phase power supply system includes a plurality of power controllers, each power controller configured to control a DC-DC power converter, a plurality of compensation loops configured to receive outputs from the DC-DC power converters and input feedback to the plurality of power controllers, wherein the plurality of power controllers are configured to operate the power converters phase shifted from one another to decrease a reaction time to load disturbances on a power rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Rami LABIB, James M. SCHRIEL
  • Publication number: 20170237350
    Abstract: To provide a synchronous rectification type DC-DC converter equipped with a protection circuit operated stably. There is provided a DC-DC converter equipped with a detection circuit which detects that electrical energy accumulated in an inductor is lost, or a timer circuit which counts a prescribed time after the protection circuit detects an abnormality. When the protection circuit detects an abnormal state, an output control circuit brings a high-side switching element into an off state and brings a low-side switching element into an on state. After the electrical energy accumulated in the inductor is lost, the output control circuit turns off the low-side switching element according to an output signal of the detection circuit or the timer circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Akihiro KAWANO, Katsuya GOTO
  • Publication number: 20170237351
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: David M. Giuliano, David J. Perreault, Robert C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Publication number: 20170237352
    Abstract: A power supply includes a phase-cut pre-regulator. The phase-cut pre-regulator comprises a switching device connected between a line voltage and an input voltage of a bulk capacitor and a comparator receiving the line voltage and a reference voltage, comparing the line voltage with hysteresis reference voltages based on the reference voltage, and switching the switching device according to the compared result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Charlie WANG, Sang Cheol MOON, Young-Bae PARK
  • Publication number: 20170237353
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power switch of a power converter includes: detecting whether a zero current event occurs; generating an error signal; generating an adjusted voltage by multiplying a setting voltage by a ratio of an on time during which of the power switch is turned on in a previous switching cycle to a time length of the previous switching cycle; performing a low-pass filtering operation on the adjusted voltage to generate a filtered signal; providing a transconductance amplifier for converting the filtered signal into a ramp signal; turning on the power switch when the zero current event occurs; and turning off the power switch and rapidly lowering the level of the ramp signal when the ramp signal is greater than or equal to the error signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chang-Yu WU, Tzu-Chen LIN
  • Publication number: 20170237354
    Abstract: An electric power conversion device includes a transformer composed of three or more windings magnetically coupled with each other, wherein power supply sources, are connected to at least two windings, via switching circuits, a load is connected to at least one winding, and a control circuit temporally divides, within one switching period, a total ON time during which power is supplied, in accordance with the number of the power supply sources, to supply power, the one switching period being the minimum repetitive unit during which power is supplied alternately. The control circuit allocates the divided ON times to the respective switching circuits, and the switching circuits, supply power from the power supply sources, to the load side during the allocated ON times, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki TAKAHARA, Satoshi MURAKAMI, Ryota KONDO, Masaki YAMADA, Naohisa UEHARA
  • Publication number: 20170237355
    Abstract: The invention relates to a DC-DC converter as well as to a DC network having a DC-DC converter, and to a method to operate a DC network having a DC-DC converter, whereby the DC-DC converter comprises a circuit arrangement with two bridge connections having semiconductor switches and a transformer arranged between the bridge connections. The transformer is provided with a step switch by means of which the transformation ratio can be switched. Through the selection of the transformation ratio, the soft-switched range of the dual active bridge in the form of the DC-DC converter can be enlarged. Consequently, a purely capacitive snubber can be used as the snubber, as a result of which the switching losses can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: RHEINISCH-WESTFALISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN
    Inventors: MARCO STIENEKER, RIK DE DONCKER
  • Publication number: 20170237356
    Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus, including serially-connected first and second switching elements, a series circuit of a resonant inductance and a resonant capacitor connected in parallel to the first or second switching element, first and second capacitors respectively connected in parallel to the first and second switching elements, and a switching control circuit that alternately turns on the first and second switching elements. The switching control circuit includes a load detection circuit detecting a load state, a burst control circuit that switches to a burst control mode when the load detection circuit detects a light load, and a detection circuit that detects a timing at which a high-side reference voltage at a connection point between the first and second switching elements has a lowest value. The burst control circuit switches from switching stop to switching operation of the first and second switching elements at the detected timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jian CHEN
  • Publication number: 20170237357
    Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide a DC-AC inverter comprising a DC-DC converter portion, an inverter portion, a clamp circuit, a controller configured to operate, in a first mode, the DC-DC converter portion to convert input DC power into DC power having a desired voltage level at a first polarity and the inverter portion to provide output power having the desired voltage level at the first polarity to the output, operate, in a second mode, the DC-DC converter portion to convert the input DC power into DC power having a desired voltage level at a second polarity and the inverter portion to provide output power having the desired voltage level at the second polarity to the output; and operate, in a third mode, the clamp circuit to drive voltage at the output to zero and to store energy discharged by a load capacitance in an energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Hui-Jung Chen, Chaocheng Yen, Yen-Chih Hu
  • Publication number: 20170237358
    Abstract: A converter with a DC link for converting an input voltage into an alternating voltage with a pre-determined amplitude and frequency for driving a single or multiple-phase load may include a number of modules which are stackable over one another. Each module may have a ceramic cooling body with a receiving surface on which electronic components of one phase are mounted, wherein the ceramic cooling body has channel(s) in the region of the receiving surface for carrying a coolant during the operation of the converter The converter may include a DC link capacitor and input-side and output-side power connections arranged on a first carrier having a arranged perpendicular to the receiving surface. The converter may also include a control unit for driving the electronic components of the phase, the control unit being arranged on a second carrier having a main plane arranged perpendicularly to the plane of the receiving surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ludwig Kraus, Dario Meraviglia, Gopal Mondal, Matthias Neumeister
  • Publication number: 20170237359
    Abstract: An inverter includes: a first transistor (Q1) connected between a first input terminal (T1) and an output terminal (T4); a second transistor (Q2) connected between the output terminal (T4) and a second input terminal (T2); first and second diodes (D1, D2) connected in anti-parallel to the first and second transistors (Q1, Q2), respectively; and a bidirectional switch that is connected between a third input terminal (T3) and the output terminal (T4) and that includes third and fourth transistors (Q3, Q4) and third and fourth diodes (D3, D4). The first and second transistors (Q1, Q2) and the third and fourth diodes (D3, D4) are each formed of a wide band gap semiconductor. The third and fourth transistors (Q3, Q4) and the first and second diodes (D1, D2) are each formed of a semiconductor other than the wide band gap semiconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicants: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke OHNISHI, Masahiro KINOSHITA, Kimiyuki KOYANAGI
  • Publication number: 20170237360
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a filter capacitor to accumulate therein DC power, and an element unit including a semiconductor element module to perform a switching operation for converting the DC power accumulated in the filter capacitor into AC power. The filter capacitor and the element unit are disposed in the same casing. A heat-resistant capacitor having a higher heat resistance than the filter capacitor is connected to the element portion by using a connection conductor, and is also connected to a busbar different from the connection conductor. An electrical connection between the filter capacitor and the element unit is established through the busbar, the connection conductor, and the heat-resistant capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu TAKABAYASHI, Yukio NAKASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20170237361
    Abstract: Due to increase of demand for safety of device, reinforcement of insulation of exposed conductive parts is required also in power conversion device. Relay unit having optical transmission unit, signal processing unit and power generating unit is provided between control circuit unit and gate drive circuit unit which form control device for an inverter. A gate signal generated in the control circuit unit is inputted into the signal processing unit of the relay unit through the optical transmission unit, and is outputted to the gate drive circuit unit from the signal processing unit through the optical transmission unit. Further, AC power is supplied to the power generating unit of the relay unit from a control device low-voltage AC power source through high-withstand voltage transformer. AC power is supplied to the gate drive circuit unit from the power generating unit of the relay unit through high-withstand voltage transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazunori MORITA
  • Publication number: 20170237362
    Abstract: An inverter circuit with a current detection circuitry includes a main bridge circuit connected between the pair of DC input nodes, the main bridge circuit converting the received DC voltage to a primary AC current so as to output the primary AC current through an output terminal to be connected to a load; a supplementary bridge circuit connected in parallel to the main bridge circuit between the pair of DC input nodes, the supplementary bridge circuit having a circuit configuration identical to that of the main bridge circuit with smaller circuit parameters in at least some of constituent circuit elements so as to generate a detection-use AC current that is a prescribed fraction of said AC current outputted by the main bridge circuit. The detection-use AC current is detected by a current detector so as to calculate the amount of the primary AC current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20170237363
    Abstract: A power control circuit according to one embodiment includes an H-bridge circuit formed using a plurality of power transistors. The power transistors are respectively connected to current measurement circuits that measure currents flowing through the power transistors. Each of the power transistors includes a main emitter and a sense emitter through which a current corresponding to a current flowing through the main emitter flows. Each of the current measurement circuits measures a current flowing through each of the power transistors by using a current flowing through the sense emitter included in the power transistor. A control circuit controls the power transistors based on current values respectively measured by the current measurement circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Shunichi KAERIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20170237364
    Abstract: An inverter output current passes from an inverter phase output, through a non-linear inverter side inductor, and into a line that connects through a grid side inductor to a grid phase. An inductance of the inverter side non-linear inductor is estimated, a current passing through the grid side inductor is estimated, and a current through the inverter side inductor is measured. An inverter feeding the inverter output is controlled using a weighted average of the estimated current through the grid side inductor and the inverter side inductor current measurement, applying a weighting using the estimated inductance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Hossein Safamehr, Tooraj Abbasian Najafabadi, Farzad Rajaei Salmasi
  • Publication number: 20170237365
    Abstract: An electrostatic power generation fiber comprising a thread-shaped core that comprises a conductive component; a charge building-inducting-tunneling layer on the core that comprises a contact electrification material. An embodiment of the present invention is directed to an electrostatic power generation fiber comprising: (a) a thread-shaped core that comprises a conductive component; and (b) a charge building-inducting-tunneling layer on the core that comprises a contact electrification material; wherein electrical charge, formed via contact electrification of the charge building-inducting-tunneling layer, travels along the core, which during electrostatic power generation the core is a constituent of an electrical network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Jae Wan KWON, Quang NGUYEN, Baek Hyun KIM
  • Publication number: 20170237366
    Abstract: A transducer that converts electrical energy to mechanical energy, the transducer includes: a dielectric layer; a first electrode that is provided on one surface of the dielectric layer; and a second electrode that is provided on another surface of the dielectric layer. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode becomes an insulator, before the dielectric layer suffers insulation breakdown by voltage that is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: SHUJI FUJITA, YUKARI TSUNODA, SATOSHI NAKAMARU
  • Publication number: 20170237367
    Abstract: The vibration-type-motor driving apparatus includes a vibration-type motor including a vibrator on which vibration is excited by an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, a shaft that supports the vibrator, and a rotor that contacts the vibrator to be rotated thereby. A first end portion of the shaft is moved with the vibration of the vibrator. The apparatus further includes a housing that houses therein the motor, and a first elastic member that contacts the first end portion of the shaft and is deformable in a direction in which the first end portion vibrates. The first elastic member transfers heat of the shaft to the housing or another member provided inside the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Hideomi Nakagami, Katsuhiko Sato, Koji Sato, Yasuhiro Hatakeyama
  • Publication number: 20170237368
    Abstract: An exemplary energy harvester includes a piezoelectric diaphragm, an eccentric mass that rotates in response to external motion, and a piezoelectric stress inducer coupled with the eccentric mass and the piezoelectric diaphragm. The piezoelectric stress inducer deforms the piezoelectric diaphragm in response to rotational motion of the eccentric mass, causing the piezoelectric diaphragm to generate electrical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Qian Zhang, Yingqi Jiang, Kuang L. Yang
  • Publication number: 20170237369
    Abstract: An electric power-generating system for a rotor blade includes at least one electromechanical power-converting device and at least one power-guide line, which is connected mechanically to the electromechanical power-converting device. The electromechanical power-converting device is configured in such a way that, during a movement of the power-guide line, the device converts into electric power the forces introduced by the movement of the power-guide line into the electromechanical power-converting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas T Becker, Johannes Sebald
  • Publication number: 20170237370
    Abstract: A motor control topology relevant to airborne wind turbines and a control process for such a motor control topology is disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Damon Vander Lind, Geoff Dolan, Corwin Hardham
  • Publication number: 20170237371
    Abstract: A battery powered device includes a battery and a motor controller that is coupled to the battery. A motor is operably coupled to the motor controller. The motor controller is configured to detect an amount of available power from the battery and engage the motor based on the amount of available power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Russell Lovegren, Richard Louis Nelson
  • Publication number: 20170237372
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a power system for a locomotive. The power system includes an engine, a first alternator, a second alternator and an inverter module. The first alternator operatively coupled to the engine and configured to provide electrical power to one or more traction motors. The second alternator operatively coupled to the engine and configured to provide electrical power to one or more auxiliary loads. The inverter module configured to selectively couple to an energy storage device to provide electrical power to the first alternator for cranking the engine and to a DC link to provide electrical power to the auxiliary load during regenerative braking of the traction motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Madan M. Jalla
  • Publication number: 20170237373
    Abstract: A power generation system is provided in which, when a static frequency converter (SFC) is connected to synchronous generator's armature windings, an AC exciter performs AC excitation by allowing a d-axis winding and a q-axis winding of the AC exciter to configure d-q orthogonal axes; and, at the time of steady-state operation of the synchronous generator, an alternating current(s) supplied from an electric power source is rectified by a thyristor excitation device, and also the AC exciter thereby performs DC excitation by connecting the d-axis winding and the q-axis winding in series with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akiko TABUCHI, Toshiyuki FUJII, Ryota ONISHI, Shinya NOGUCHI, Ryoji MIYATAKE
  • Publication number: 20170237374
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a generator control device and a method to control the output power of at least one generator connected to an electric grid. It is an object of the invention to provide a fast solution to counteract electric grid frequency instabilities. Disclosed is a generator control device and method to control the output power of at least one turbogenerator driven by a turbine connected to an electric grid with a static frequency converter. The generator control device includes a frequency measuring device to measure the electric grid frequency fel, and the static frequency converter is configured to operate the turbogenerator in dependency of the measured electric grid frequency fel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin Kok Fun CHAN, Joerg OESTERHELD, Klaus Dieter WALLI
  • Publication number: 20170237375
    Abstract: A system for detecting offset error in a power steering system is provided. The system includes a programmable high pass filter module configured to filter a final voltage command and generate a filtered final voltage command. The filtered final voltage command includes the sinusoidal component, a gain and phase compensation module configured to perform a gain compensation and a phase compensation on the filtered final voltage command to generate a compensated final voltage command. An error detection module is configured to determine an offset of the compensated final voltage command in a stator reference frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Siddharth Ballal, Julie A. Kleinau
  • Publication number: 20170237376
    Abstract: A motor controller includes an inverter including circuitry which supplies power to a motor, and a controller including circuitry which controls the inverter such that the circuitry of the inverter supplies an AC current to a first axis of a stationary orthogonal coordinate system in the motor while changing a frequency of the AC current. The first axis has a predetermined phase relationship with a phase voltage of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventor: Takahiro SAEKI
  • Publication number: 20170237377
    Abstract: A control unit for driving a motor mainly includes an input circuit for inputting various kinds of information pieces, an output circuit for driving the coil windings of the motor, an MPU for calculating a control amount based on the information from the input circuit and outputting a control signal to the output circuit; the control unit has two pieces each of the input circuit, the output circuit, and the, and can supply respective electric currents to the windings of the motor or can cut off the supply; the MPUs each have a CPU incorporated therein, a trigger circuit for a trigger signal having a predetermined period; the two CPUs synchronize at least control commands in accordance with the trigger signal and output the control commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akira FURUKAWA, Akihiko MORI, Jiro OKADA
  • Publication number: 20170237378
    Abstract: A method for driving an AC motor is disclosed. The method comprises generating two phases of currents to drive the motor coils to generate one magnetic field sum, and each positive and negative half output cycle of each phase of current has a positive or negative curved-triangle current. A method for generating electric power with an AC motor generator is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventor: Ghing-Hsin DIEN
  • Publication number: 20170237379
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a first and second motors, a high-voltage device, and a power converter. The power converter is disposed between the first and second motors. The power converter is configured to convert the electric power and to supply the converted electric power to the first and second motors. The power converter has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that has a first side wall, a second side wall opposite to the first side wall, a third side wall, and a fourth side wall opposite to the third side wall. The first connector is provided on the first side wall and is connected to a first three-phase line via which the first motor is electrically connected to the power converter. The second connector is provided on the third side wall and is connected to a second three-phase line via which the second motor is electrically connected to the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro FUKAZU, Noboru FUJIYOSHI, Kosuke OGURI
  • Publication number: 20170237380
    Abstract: A heat pump device includes a compressor compressing refrigerant; a motor driving the compressor; an inverter applying alternating-current voltage to the motor; and an inverter control unit generating a control signal for controlling the inverter. The inverter control unit executes control by using a first switching pattern in which all of three switching elements on a positive or negative voltage side of the inverter are changed to an ON state, then executes control by using a second switching pattern in which two switching elements to which electric current flows in the same direction when controlled by using the first switching pattern are changed to an OFF state, and then executes control by using a third switching pattern in which two switching elements on a reverse voltage side of the two switching elements changed to an OFF state by using the second switching pattern are changed to an ON state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventor: Kazunori HATAKEYAMA
  • Publication number: 20170237381
    Abstract: A switching control unit that ON/OFF-controls switching elements of a power conversion circuit includes a power supply side abnormality determination unit, and a regeneration abnormality response processing selection unit that selects either three-phase short circuit processing, in which all upper stage side switching elements or all lower stage side switching elements are switched ON, or six-switch opening processing, in which all of the switching elements of the power conversion circuit are switched OFF, as processing to be executed when the power supply side abnormality determination unit determines that a power supply side abnormality has occurred, the three-phase short circuit processing and the six-switch opening processing being selected in accordance with a motor operating condition of the AC motor at the time of the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Ryo SHINOHARA
  • Publication number: 20170237382
    Abstract: A motor driving circuit has a supply line connected to a DC power source, an inverter whose input side is connected to the supply line and whose output side is connected to a motor, a power switch inserted in the supply line for switching the supply line between conducting and cut-off states, a voltage detector for detecting a voltage between the direct-current power source and the power switch, and an insulation resistance detector for first detecting, based on a result of detection by the voltage detector with the power switch in the cut-off state, an insulation resistance on the preceding-stage side of the power switch and subsequently detecting, based on a result of detection by the voltage detector with the power switch in the conducting state, an insulation resistance on the succeeding-stage side of the power switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Yoshinori HAYASHI, Hoshihito OKADA, Yoshihiko MAEDA, Yoichi ENOMOTO, Hiroshi TAKAO
  • Publication number: 20170237383
    Abstract: A method and power converter unit for operating a generator includes a rotatable shaft operably coupled with a source of rotational force, a rotor mounted to the rotatable shaft and having at least one rotor pole defining a rotatable direct axis, a stator encircling the rotor and having a set of stator windings, and a power output electrically coupled with the set of stator windings and operable in a power generating mode and a power absorption mode
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: RYAN LEE BUFFENBARGER, XIAOCHUAN JIA, SLOBODAN GATARIC
  • Publication number: 20170237384
    Abstract: A motor controller, a motor control method, and a motor control program are provided, all of which are capable of appropriately suppressing temperature elevation in a motor, while protecting an amplifier. A motor controller for driving a motor by way of pulse width modulation includes: a temperature acquisition unit that acquires a temperature of a motor; a limiting value determination unit that determines, based on the temperature, a limiting current value for driving the motor; and a frequency determination unit that determines, based on the limiting value, a PWM frequency to be generated with an amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuki MORITA, Tomohisa TSUTSUMI
  • Publication number: 20170237385
    Abstract: A system may include a motor drive that controls one or more operations of a motor. The motor drive may include a first processor that controls the operations of the motor according to a first control mode application. The system may include a second processor that controls the operations of the motor according to a first control mode profile that corresponds to the first control mode application, receives a request to operate the motor according to a second control mode application, and executes a set of computer-readable instructions upon receipt of the request. The set of computer-readable instructions may cause the second processor to load an executable file associated with the second control mode application onto the first processor and send a first command to the first processor to execute the executable file associated with the second control mode application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Gary A. Kabitzke, Scott D. Braun, Ting Yan, Kenneth J. Fiore
  • Publication number: 20170237386
    Abstract: Clamp assemblies for mounting solar panels and accessories. Clamp assemblies can have geometric features, shaped apertures for fasteners, and measured protrusions for allowing clamp rotation, lateral adjustment, self-alignment, and angled surfaces for facilitating installation of a solar panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris
  • Publication number: 20170237387
    Abstract: Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing and appear seamless to an observer. BIPV systems can be on-roof systems, elevated from the surface of a roof, being flush or forming a substantively uniform plane with roof panels or other panels mimicking a solar panel appearance. Pans supporting BIPV solar panels can be coupled by standing seams to other photovoltaic-supporting pans or pans supporting non-photovoltaic structures, having both functional and aesthetic advantages. In some configurations, inverted seams can couple photovoltaic-supporting pans and non-photovoltaic structures, forming a substantively planar surface. In some configurations, the appearance of BIPV systems can be particularly aesthetically pleasing and generally seamless to an observer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Charles Almy, Martin Seery, Daniel Preston Flanigan, Ryan Devine, River Broussard
  • Publication number: 20170237388
    Abstract: A Modular Roof Mounting System utilizes an assembly Jig that makes assembly of the structural units very easy and repeatable. The assembly Jig incorporates a photovoltaic panel mounting frame that the structure is required to support. In addition to the photovoltaic panel mounting frame it includes only two low cost universal components: two South rail locators and two North rail locators. The North and South rail locators are attached to the mounting holes in the panel frame, two on the South edge and two on the North, and produce a rail spacing that lines up with the same holes. The North Rail Locators have additional locating features to position the cross beams. Using a photovoltaic panel mounting frame to create a Jig that automatically determines the configuration of the Precision-Modular assembly and requires no adjustments and allows for the assembly of mounting structures for various photovoltaic panel geometries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Miguel M.L. Praca, Yury Reznikov, Joost Richard de Wilde
  • Publication number: 20170237389
    Abstract: Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing and appear seamless to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, flush or forming a substantively uniform plane with roof panels or other panels mimicking a solar panel appearance. Pans supporting BIPV solar panels can be coupled by standing seams, in both lateral and longitudinal directions, to other photovoltaic-supporting pans or pans supporting non-photovoltaic structures, having both functional and aesthetic advantages. In some configurations, the appearance of BIPV systems can be particularly aesthetically pleasing and generally seamless to an observer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Charles Almy, Martin Seery, Daniel Preston Flanigan, Ryan Devine, River Broussard
  • Publication number: 20170237390
    Abstract: Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing and appear seamless to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, flush or forming a substantively uniform plane with roof panels or other panels mimicking a solar panel appearance. Pans supporting BIPV solar panels can be coupled by standing seams, in both lateral and longitudinal directions, to other photovoltaic-supporting pans or pans supporting non-photovoltaic structures, having both functional and aesthetic advantages. In some configurations, adjacent photovoltaic modules may be oriented so that a boundary between an up-roof photovoltaic module and a down-roof photovoltaic module is not noticeable by observers positioned at typical viewing angles of the roof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Charles Almy, Martin Seery, Daniel Preston Flanigan, Jack Raymond West, Garret Anthony Bautista, William Paul Buchanan, Johann Fritz Karkheck, Ethan Ely
  • Publication number: 20170237391
    Abstract: The invention relates to a single-axis follower support system (1) for a solar collector (9) comprising a stationary structure (2) for anchoring to the ground; and a platform (30) suitable for supporting a solar collector, attached to at least one central horizontal beam (32) rotatably mounted on the stationary structure along a horizontal rotational axis inside at least one bearing (4) attached to the stationary structure; wherein the at least one bearing (4) comprises: a rotatable part (5) having a cavity (50) for receiving the central beam and a guide rail (51) in the shape of a circular arc centered on said horizontal rotational axis, wherein said guide rail extends below said cavity; and a base (7) retained on the stationary structure and onto which rolling members are attached which are rollingly mounted in the guide rail of the rotatable part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventor: Madyan MICHOTTE DE WELLE
  • Publication number: 20170237392
    Abstract: A junction box housing (3) for a photovoltaic panel (4) comprises first and second housing parts (1, 2). The first housing part (1) has a first contact surface (5) for direct or indirect arrangement on a surface (7) of the photovoltaic panel (4). The second housing part (2) has a second contact surface (6) for direct or indirect arrangement on the other surface (8) of the photovoltaic panel (4). The first contact surface (5) is spaced apart from the second contact surface (6) so that a slot (9) for receiving the photovoltaic panel (4) is provided by the first contact surface (5) and the second contact surface (6). The two housing parts (1, 2) are connected to each other via at least one guide (10) and are designed to be displaceable relative to one another along an assembly movement (M) so that the thickness (D) of the slot (9) is adjustable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Multi-Holding AG
    Inventor: Holger Roland Sauerzapf
  • Publication number: 20170237393
    Abstract: This disclosure describes embodiments of a receiver component that can support a plurality of photovoltaic devices, which collectively are useful to generate electricity from sunlight. The receiver component can comprise a substrate that integrates one or more bypass elements (e.g., a diode) and a cooling mechanism coupled to the substrate to dissipate thermal energy by dispersing a cooling fluid thereon. In this manner, embodiments of the receiver component combine in a single package the features necessary to maintain performance of the photovoltaic devices, e.g., to achieve sufficient electrical output while reducing costs and manufacturing time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventor: Brad Siskavich
  • Publication number: 20170237394
    Abstract: A device is provided which reduces the temperature of a solar PV panel. The device includes an enclosure comprising a heat sink attachable to a bottom side of the solar PV panel to provide an air channel, and a tornado tube. The tornado pipe may be oriented vertically to the plane of the earth, and may act as a solar chimney, instigating a flow of air to enter the enclosure through an air inlet. This air flow may be drawn across the heat sink and exit back to the atmosphere through the tornado tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventor: Karl W. BÖER