Patents Issued in June 20, 2023
  • Patent number: 11682964
    Abstract: A driving circuit and a driving method are provided. The driving circuit includes an energy-storage capacitor, a first power converter and a bidirectional converter. An output port of the first power converter is coupled to a load and the energy-storage capacitor. The energy-storage capacitor is connected in parallel with the load. The bidirectional converter is coupled between the load and the energy-storage capacitor. The first power converter supplies power to the load during a light load interval. During at least a part of the light load interval, the first power converter charges the energy-storage capacitor via the bidirectional converter. During a heavy load interval, the first power converter supplies power to the load and the energy-storage capacitor supplies power to the load via the bidirectional converter. The driving circuit is applicable to drive a load requiring low average power and high peak power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SILERGY SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY (HANGZHOU) LTD
    Inventor: Kaiwei Yao
  • Patent number: 11682965
    Abstract: A power supply with lightning protection includes a surge voltage suppression apparatus, an electromagnetic interference control circuit, a surge current bypass apparatus, an active bridge rectifier circuit, a power factor correction circuit, and a DC-to-DC conversion circuit. The surge voltage suppression apparatus is used to increase a tolerance of a surge voltage for the power supply. The electromagnetic interference control circuit is coupled to the surge voltage suppression apparatus. The surge current bypass apparatus is used to increase a tolerance of a surge current for the power supply. The active bridge rectifier circuit is used to rectify an input voltage. The power factor correction circuit is used to adjust the rectified input voltage to provide an adjusted input voltage on a bulk capacitor. The DC-to-DC conversion circuit is used to convert the adjusted input voltage into a DC output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: CHICONY POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yung-Hung Hsiao, Chia-Hsien Yen, Cheng-Chang Hsiao, Che-Han Li, Yu-Xian Zeng
  • Patent number: 11682966
    Abstract: A switched capacitor converter circuit includes: plural capacitors and plural switches which periodically switch the coupling relationships of the plural capacitors. During a first period, the switches control at least two of the capacitors to be electrically connected in series between the first power and the second power, and control a first capacitor of the capacitors to be electrically connected in parallel to the second power. During a second period, the switches control at least two of the capacitors to be electrically connected in series between the second power and a ground voltage level, and control a second capacitor of the capacitors to be electrically connected in parallel with the second power, thereby executing power conversion between the first power and the second power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuo-Chi Liu, Ta-Yung Yang, Chung-Lung Pai
  • Patent number: 11682967
    Abstract: A system for determining a power requirement for a device powered by a buck converter on a system on chip based on Time on pulses (Ton) is disclosed. A buck converter supplies output voltage to enable the device. The buck converter is driven by a Ton pulse generator generating Ton pulses to control charging of a load capacitor. A counter counts the Ton pulses during the supply of output voltage while the device is enabled. A controller is coupled to the counter and the buck converter. The controller determines the power requirement for the device based on the count of the Ton pulses. The power requirement may be used to adjust the trim value to change the width of the Ton pulses for greater energy efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Ambiq Micro, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Bogue, Jesse Coulon, Andre Belanger
  • Patent number: 11682968
    Abstract: Various examples of power converters including Integrated Capacitor Blocked Transistor (ICBT) cells and methods of control of power converters having ICBT cells are described. In one example, a power converter includes an upper arm including a plurality of upper ICBT cells connected in series to form a series connection path and a lower arm including a plurality of lower ICBT cells connected in series in the series connection path. A controller can be configured to provide a control signal pair to each of the upper ICBT cells and a complementary control signal pair to each of the lower ICBT cells to control the converter output. A capacitor voltage controller can be configured to balance a voltage potential among ICBT capacitors in at least one of the upper arm and the lower arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianghui Yu, Rolando Burgos
  • Patent number: 11682969
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit includes a high side (HS) transistor having a control input and a low side (LS) transistor having a control input. The LS transistor is coupled to the HS transistor at a switching terminal. A comparator has first and second inputs and an output. A first resistor is coupled to the switching terminal. A second resistor is coupled between the first resistor and the second input of the comparator. A capacitor is coupled between a second resistor terminal of the second resistor and ground. A switch has first and second switch terminals and a control input. The first switch terminal is coupled to the first resistor terminal of the second resistor, and the second switch terminal is coupled to the second resistor terminal. A delay circuit has an input and an output. The output of the delay circuit is coupled to the control input of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Liang Zhang, Guoyang Wu, Weibing Jing, Dan Li
  • Patent number: 11682970
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-path converter, which adds a current transfer path using a capacitor to a current transfer path using an inductor to supply a current that is output to an output end (load) to a plurality of parallel paths, thereby reducing a total RMS current flowing through the inductor, and a control method therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Gyu Hyeong Cho, Yeun Hee Huh, Se Un Shin, Sung Won Choi, Yong Min Ju, Sang Jin Lim
  • Patent number: 11682971
    Abstract: A system has an input and an output. The system includes a voltage converter, including first transistor coupled to the input and to a first switching node, second transistor coupled to the first switching node and to ground, third transistor coupled to a second switching node and to the output, fourth transistor coupled to the second switching node and to ground, and an inductor having a first terminal coupled to the first switching node and a second terminal coupled to the second switching node. The system also includes a controller coupled to the voltage converter, the controller including a state machine and a plurality of drivers to control the transistors of the voltage converter. The state machine is adaptable to cause the second and fourth transistors to conduct and the first and third transistors not to conduct, in response to current through the inductor being less than a current threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Johann Erich Bayer, Rüdiger Ganz, Ivan Shumkov
  • Patent number: 11682972
    Abstract: Controller circuitry can employ a method to provide control signals to bridge switches operating an inductor for switched-mode inductive buck-boost voltage regulation. The buck mode can operate the bridge switches in a buck current control mode when the input voltage exceeds the output voltage. The boost mode can operate the bridge switches in a boost current control mode when the output voltage exceeds the input voltage. The buck-boost transition mode can operate the bridge switches in a peak buck-boost current control mode that minimizes a minimum duty cycle (having a minimum “on” duty time and a minimum “off” duty time) when the output voltage is approximately equal to the input voltage during a transition from at least one of the current control buck mode to the current control boost mode or from the current control boost mode to the current control buck mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Kyu Song, Min Chen
  • Patent number: 11682973
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first timer configured to determine a turn-off time of a first high-side switch of a buck-boost converter, and a second timer configured to determine a turn-off time of a second low-side switch of the buck-boost converter based on a comparison between a first signal and a second signal, the first signal being proportional to an input voltage of the buck-boost converter, and the second signal being generated based on a signal proportional to an output voltage of the buck-boost converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: M3 Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Yang, Xiaoyu Xi, David Meng
  • Patent number: 11682974
    Abstract: A multi-phase current mode hysteretic modulator implements phase current balancing among the multiple power stages using slope-compensated emulated phase current signals and individual phase control signal for each phase. In some embodiments, the slope-compensated emulated phase current signals of all the phases are averaged and compared to the slope-compensated emulated phase current signal of each phase to generate a phase current balance control signal for each phase. The phase current balance control signal is combined with the voltage control loop error signal to generate a phase control signal for each phase where the phase control signals are generated for the multiple phases to control the phase current delivered by each power stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor International LP
    Inventors: Rhys S. A. Philbrick, Steven P. Laur, Nicholas I. Archibald
  • Patent number: 11682975
    Abstract: The power converter A1 includes a semiconductor device B1, and a substrate H on which the semiconductor device B1 is mounted, where the semiconductor device B1 includes a control chip constituting a primary control circuit, a semiconductor chip constituting a secondary power circuit, and a transmission circuit for electrically insulating the primary control circuit and the secondary power circuit and for signal transmission between the primary control circuit and the secondary power circuit. The substrate H has a conductive portion K. The power converter A1 includes a connecting terminal T1 disposed on the substrate H and electrically connected to the conductive portion K. The power converter A1 includes a conductive path D1 that is at least partially formed by the conductive portion K of the substrate H, and that electrically connects the primary control circuit and the connecting terminal T1. Such a configuration contributes to downsizing the power converter A1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Ishimatsu, Ryuichi Furutani
  • Patent number: 11682976
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power supply circuit has a power source, an inductor in series with a switching transistor connected to the power source, a pair of isolation capacitors connected across the switching transistor, a load connected to the isolation capacitors such that they isolate the load from low frequency energy from the power source, and a resonance circuit configured to amplify resonant ringing connected at least one of in parallel to the inductor or in parallel to the switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Masud Bolouri-Saransar, Walid Balid
  • Patent number: 11682977
    Abstract: This application provides a controller and control system for a DC/DC converter. The DC/DC converter includes a first switching transistor, a second switching transistor, a first capacitor, and a transformer. The transformer includes an excitation inductor and a transformer leakage inductor. The controller controls the first switching transistor to turn on to form a first closed circuit, where a current in the excitation inductor increases in a first direction; when a preset time period expires, the controller controls the first switching transistor to turn off, so that a voltage at two ends of the second switching transistor decreases; and when the voltage at the two ends of the second switching transistor is a first preset voltage threshold, the controller controls the second switching transistor to turn on to form a second closed circuit. When embodiments of this application are implemented, a turn-on loss in the DC/DC converter can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Liang Wu, Gun Yang
  • Patent number: 11682978
    Abstract: Disclosed is a converter circuit having high power in an ultra-wide range, which includes a transformer module, a first and second primary input modules, an output module, a high and low voltage mode control module, and a load output module. The first primary input module includes a first primary voltage equalization network, a first switch module and a first LC module, the second primary input module includes a second primary voltage equalization network, a second switch module and a second LC module. The first primary voltage equalization network is connected between a first input capacitor and the second switch module, and the second primary voltage equalization network is connected between a second input capacitor and the first switch module. In this disclosure, it is surprisingly found that through arranging resonant voltage equalization network, a designated primary voltage deviation problem, which is caused by a change of a pulse control of an LLC resonant converter under a light load, is solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Hui Liu
  • Patent number: 11682979
    Abstract: A transient current in a rectifier circuit is effectively reduced. In a rectifier circuit, a first rectifier is provided between a first terminal and a second terminal. In the rectifier circuit, when a switch element is turned ON, a primary winding current flows from a power supply to a primary winding of a transformer. When the switch element is turned OFF, a second rectifier current flows from a secondary winding of the transformer to a second rectifier. During a period in which the second rectifier current is flowing, a reverse voltage is applied between the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Shiomi
  • Patent number: 11682980
    Abstract: An improved distributed-output multi-cell-element power converter utilizes a multiplicity of magnetic core elements, switching elements, capacitor elements and terminal connections in a step and repeat pattern. Stepped secondary-winding elements reduce converter output resistance and improve converter efficiency and scalability to support the high current requirements of very large scale integrated (“VLSI”) circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Vicor Corporation
    Inventor: Patrizio Vinciarelli
  • Patent number: 11682981
    Abstract: A rectifying element includes a MOS transistor series-connected with a Schottky diode. A bias voltage is applied between the control terminal of the MOS transistor and the terminal of the Schottky diode opposite to the transistor. A pair of the rectifying elements are substituted for diodes of a rectifying bridge circuit. Alternatively, the control terminal bias is supplied from a cross-coupling against the Schottky diodes. In another implementation, the Schottky diodes are omitted and the bias voltage applied to control terminals of the MOS transistors is switched in response to cross-coupled divided source-drain voltages of the MOS transistors. The circuits form components of a power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventor: Frederic Gautier
  • Patent number: 11682982
    Abstract: An inverter subsystem that includes a direct current (DC) bus, a DC terminal, and a power storage interface that is configured to be connected to power storage. The DC terminal is configured to be: (1) connected to the DC bus via an internally-facing side of the DC terminal and (2) connected to a load via an externally-facing side of the DC terminal. The load is powered via the DC terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Lunar Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Richard Fine, Mark Holveck, Conrad Xavier Murphy
  • Patent number: 11682983
    Abstract: A multiport multilevel converter/inverter includes a connection point with a two-line connection. The multiport multilevel converter/inverter also includes a capacitor electrically coupled across the two-line connection of the connection point. The multiport multilevel converter/inverter also has a first flying capacitor multilevel path with a first external two connection port configured to connect outside of the multiport multilevel converter/inverter, and a first interface conveying DC power and that is electrically coupled to the connection point. The multiport multilevel converter/inverter also includes a second flying capacitor multilevel path with a second external two connection port configured to connect outside of the multiport multilevel converter/inverter, and a second interface conveying DC power and that is electrically coupled to the connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Tamasas Elrais, Issa Batarseh
  • Patent number: 11682984
    Abstract: A converter with a half bridge circuit with at least one active half bridge branch, of which the phase connection in each case is connected via a respective switching device to a respective reference potential. A control device of the converter is configured to alternatingly conductively and non-conductively switch the respective switching device. The first and second switching device in each case includes a parallel connection of at least one transistor of a first type and at least one transistor of a second type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Daniel Ruppert
  • Patent number: 11682985
    Abstract: A piezoelectric driving device includes a substrate, a plurality of piezoelectric elements disposed on the substrate, a first groove section provided between the plurality of piezoelectric elements, and a first wire provided in at least a part of a side surface and a bottom section of the first groove section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoaki Takahashi, Kiichi Kajino
  • Patent number: 11682986
    Abstract: A piezoelectric drive device includes a substrate, a convex portion coupling to the substrate and transmitting drive power to a driven member, first drive piezoelectric elements placed on the substrate and vibrating the substrate in Y directions in which the substrate and the convex portion are arranged, second drive piezoelectric elements placed on the substrate and vibrating the substrate in Z directions orthogonal to the Y directions, a reference piezoelectric element placed on the substrate, receiving the vibration in the Y directions, and outputting a detection signal, and a concave portion placed side by side with the reference piezoelectric element in the Z directions in a plan view from an X direction orthogonal to the Y directions and the Z directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiichi Kajino, Tomoaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11682987
    Abstract: A drive control method is applicable to a drive system including a driver, a bus and a motor, the motor being directly connected to the bus in a first connection mode or connected to the driver in a second connection mode. The drive control method includes the driver feeding an electric signal to the motor through the output port and simultaneously detecting its own actual output feature; and the driver determining whether the output port is connected to the bus according to the actual output feature. Upon the output port being determined not to be connected to the bus, the driver starts the motor normally. Upon the output port being determined to be connected to the bus, the driver disconnects the output port. In addition, a corresponding drive system, a processing system and a storage medium are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Hao Hu, Yong Lin Guo, Bin Li, Yu Wang, Peng Cheng Li
  • Patent number: 11682988
    Abstract: A method is described for controlling an electric motor having a rotor. The method is carried out after a shutdown of the motor has been initiated. The method includes starting a timer in a motor controller, performing regenerative braking to recapture kinetic energy from the rotor as electrical energy, and using the recaptured electrical energy from the regenerative braking to power the motor controller. If the timer in the motor controller exceeds a predetermined timer value, a flag is set in memory in the motor controller to indicate that the motor has stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Libo Zheng, Min Zhang
  • Patent number: 11682989
    Abstract: A motor control device includes: a power converter to which a first motor and a second motor are connected in parallel, the power converter being configured to convert a direct-current voltage into an alternating-current voltage and supply the alternating-current voltage to the first motor and the second motor; a switching unit provided between the second motor and the power converter; a current detector configured to detect an electric current flowing through the first motor and the second motor; and a controller configured to control the power converter based on at least a current value detected by the current detector. The controller deactivates the power converter upon receiving from outside an abnormal step signal, attributed to the occurrence of an abnormality, that excludes a normal stop signal representing a stop command and switches the switching unit from an on state to an off state upon deactivation of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Junki Ishizaki, Yasuhiko Wada, Akihiro Tsumura
  • Patent number: 11682990
    Abstract: A method for controlling an inverter-based resource (IBR) having a power converter and a generator connected to an electrical grid includes determining an available active power of the electrical grid. The method also includes determining an available active power of the IBR based on an effect of a speed and a rating of the generator. Further, the method includes determining a minimum available active power based on the available active power of the electrical grid and the available active power of the IBR. Moreover, the method includes determining an active power limit change for the IBR based on one or more thermal margins of the IBR. In addition, the method includes determining an active power estimation as a function of the minimum available active power and the active power limit change. The method further includes providing the active power estimation to a supervisory controller for controlling the IBR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Igor Berroteran, Enno Ubben
  • Patent number: 11682991
    Abstract: In a method for determining the rotor position of a three-phase machine without using a rotary encoder, and to a device for controlling a three-phase motor without using a rotary encoder, the three-phase machine is fed by a converter that can be operated by pulse-width modulation, and the converter has model variables for the rotor angle and the current indicator of the three-phase machine, and the converter has device(s) by using which, in control operation, at least two values are measured which represent a measure of the local inductances of the machine which represent a measure of the local inductances of the machine, the error of the model rotor angle is determined in that, depending on the model rotor angle and the model current indicator, at least two weighting factors are determined, and in that a weighted sum is formed from the at least two measured values and the at least two weighting factors, and in that a further offset value is substracted from the sum, which is likewise determined on the basis
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hammel, Harald Wolf
  • Patent number: 11682992
    Abstract: A motor drive device: a power conversion unit; a current detection unit that detects a phase current of the alternating-current motor; a position/speed specifying unit that specifies a magnetic pole position and a rotational speed of the alternating-current motor; a d-axis current pulsation generating unit that generates a d-axis current pulsation command based on q-axis current pulsation or a q-axis current pulsation command, which being in synchronization with the q-axis current pulsation or the q-axis current pulsation command and preventing or reducing an increase or decrease in amplitude of the voltage command; and a dq-axis current control unit that generates the voltage command for controlling the phase current on the dq rotating coordinates, which rotate in synchronization with the magnetic pole position, by using the magnetic pole position, the rotational speed, the phase current, the q-axis current pulsation or the q-axis current pulsation command, and the d-axis current pulsation command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Takahashi, Shinya Toyodome, Mitsuo Kashima, Tomohiro Kutsuki
  • Patent number: 11682993
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are provided for determining mechanical characteristics of an electric motor and mechanical load with a speed signal modulator, FOC current loop, sensor-less rotor speed estimator, and speed signal demodulator which are configured to provide a q-axis AC reference current, q-axis DC reference current, estimated maximum AC rotor speed, estimated DC rotor speed, estimated phase angle of the AC rotor speed component, and torque constant to a mechanical characteristics estimator which is configured to determine a plurality of load torque parameters for the electric motor and mechanical load which include a combined moment of inertia parameter, a combined static friction, and a combined viscous friction coefficient parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Marek Mu{hacek over (s)}ák, Tomá{hacek over (s)} Fedor, Marek {hacek over (S)}tulrajter
  • Patent number: 11682994
    Abstract: A system includes a motor configured to be coupled to a non-rigid load and a control system disposed within, or communicatively coupled to, a drive system configured to control an operation of the motor. The control system includes a processor and a memory accessible by the processor. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to generate a smooth move input profile to control the operation of the motor based on inputs specifying a desired operation of the motor, apply a notch filter having a notch filter frequency to the smooth move input profile to produce a filtered smooth move input profile, and send a command to the drive system based on the filtered smooth move input profile, wherein the command is configured to adjust the operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Miklosovic, Brian Fast
  • Patent number: 11682995
    Abstract: The present embodiment is a high rotor pole switched reluctance machine (HRSRM) which provides a plurality of combinations of the number of rotor poles Rn and number of stator poles Sn utilizing a numerical relationship defined by a mathematical formula, Rn=2Sn?Fp, when Sn=m×Fp, wherein Fp is the maximum number of independent flux paths in the stator when stator and rotor poles are fully aligned, and m is the number of phases. The mathematical formulation provides an improved noise performance and design flexibility to the machine. The mathematical formulation further provides a specific number of stator and rotor poles for a chosen m and Fp. The HRSRM can be designed with varying number of phases. The HRSRM provides a smoother torque profile due to a high number of strokes per revolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Turntide Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahesh Krishnamurthy, Trevor Creary, Piyush Desai, Mark Johnston
  • Patent number: 11682996
    Abstract: An inverter is provided for driving a motor. A first capacitor, and a second capacitor including capacitors connected in series, are connected in parallel to a DC power supply. A switch circuit having switching elements is connected between the inverter and the second capacitor. A control circuit is provided for controlling the inverter and the switch circuit. The control circuit performs control to switch the switch circuit so as to supply current from the second capacitor to the inverter during 3-level operation, and supply current from both of the first capacitor and the second capacitor to the inverter during 2-level operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Murakami, Yoshihiro Takeshima, Yoshiaki Ishiguro, Akira Nakagawa, Ryota Kondo
  • Patent number: 11682997
    Abstract: In some examples, a rotary electric machine includes a stator having a plurality of stator coils arranged in a circular pattern around a central opening configured for receiving a rotor. The rotary electric machine further includes a respective dedicated inverter circuit associated with each respective stator coil. For instance, each respective inverter circuit may be configured to convert direct current power to alternating current power to provide to the respective stator coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO AMERICAS, INC.
    Inventors: Zhiyi Su, Zifu Wang, Subrata Kumar Kundu
  • Patent number: 11682998
    Abstract: A motor control method for controlling a motor by using an applied AC voltage converted from a DC voltage with an inverter driven by a PWM control, the motor control method includes: calculating a voltage command value for the inverter in order to achieve a desired torque output in the motor; calculating a compensation gain configured to maintain a linear relation between the voltage command value and the applied AC voltage according to a modulation factor indicating a ratio of the applied AC voltage to the DC voltage before and after a conversion in the inverter; limiting the compensation gain using an upper limit value; calculating a compensation voltage command value by multiplying the voltage command value by the limited compensation gain; and applying the applied AC voltage to the motor by driving the inverter using the compensation voltage command value; wherein the upper limit value is set so that the upper limit value become smaller when the modulation factor changes significantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kima, Mitsuhiro Shouji
  • Patent number: 11682999
    Abstract: A motor control method inputs one or more controlled variables or target values each representing a state of a motor to one or more node layers as an input value, and performs calculation in each of the one or more node layers to output one or more manipulated variables used for control of the motor and control the motor in accordance with the one or more manipulated variables. Each the one or more node layers has a plurality of nodes that execute calculations in parallel. Each of the plurality of nodes multiplies the input value by a coefficient specified for the corresponding node, and performs calculation using a function specified for the corresponding node and designating a multiplied value as an input variable to determine an output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ken'ichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11683000
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and a method for detecting a fault of an operation of a synchronous motor. The method includes collecting an electrical input and measurements associated with the operation of the synchronous motor caused by the electrical input. The method further includes determining sequences of points defining a mutual position between a stator and a rotor of the synchronous motor that results in magnetostatic determined as a weighted summation over real-space basis functions parameterized on pairs of adjoint points in the determined sequence of points and weighted with a surface charge density between corresponding adjoint points, such that the resulted magnetostatic explains the measurements of the operation of the synchronous motor given the electrical input. Further, the method includes determining the fault of the operation of the synchronous motor based on the mutual position between the stator and the rotor of the synchronous motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Chungwei Lin, Bingnan Wang, Saleh Nabi
  • Patent number: 11683001
    Abstract: An over-current protection circuit for a motor capable of selecting one of a plurality of connection states has a plurality of decision circuits, a combining circuit, and a nullifying circuit. The combining circuit combines results of the comparisons in the plurality of decision circuits. The nullifying circuit nullifies part of the comparisons in the plurality of decision circuits. The number of outputs of the over-current protection circuit is one, so that for controlling the driving and stopping of the inverter needs just one terminal is required for receiving the output of the combining circuit. Moreover, because the over-current protection circuit is formed of hardware, the protection can be performed at a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Iwazaki, Koichi Arisawa, Takashi Yamakawa, Keisuke Uemura, Shinya Toyodome
  • Patent number: 11683002
    Abstract: Plant for producing solar energy including a support structure formed from support poles aligned fixed to the ground, a movement system for receiving devices of solar energy positioned on poles arranged in a row, adapted for allowing the movement of the devices about a first axis and a second axis substantially perpendicular to one another, a rotating main tube about the first axis, to which a plurality of secondary tubes is connected, associated with said main tube, the secondary tubes having the receiver devices fixed to them and a movement mechanism for the primary tubes, and a sustaining and movement support arranged on each pole of said row, which has a housing that receives the main tube of the movement system and that allows the rotation thereof about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: REM TEC S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alessandro Reboldi, Ronald Knoche, Paolo Parma
  • Patent number: 11683003
    Abstract: A solar tracker system comprising one or more tracker rotation control systems that include: a curved gear plate; and a locking element configured to lock the solar tracker system in a first configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SUNFOLDING, INC.
    Inventors: Victoria Macomber, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Matthew N Schneider, Christopher Oestreich, Eric Preston Lien Suan, Louis Hong Basel, Saul Thomas Griffith, Peter Aumann, Kyle Allen Lamson, Jonah Sternthal, Eleanor Blair, Nicholas Andrew Catalan, Amando Luke Miller
  • Patent number: 11683004
    Abstract: A solar panel assembly where a solar panel(s) is mounted on a support pole that is pivotally attached to a footing. By adjusting the angle of the support pole relative to ground, the orientation of the solar panel can be changed in full-axis directions. A plurality of the solar panel assemblies can be arranged into an array of rows and columns. Each row includes a row support cable that is connected to each one of the solar panel assemblies in the row to simultaneously adjust an angle of each of the solar panels in the row. In addition, each column includes a column support cable that is connected to each one of the solar panel assemblies in the column which may be used to simultaneously adjust an angle of each of the solar panels in the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: RUTE FOUNDATION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Doug Krause, Louis Wood
  • Patent number: 11683005
    Abstract: A dual drive shaft solar tracker system comprises a photovoltaic (PV) structure, which includes at least one solar panel, a support structure and first and second drive shafts. The first and second drive shafts comprise first and second belt mechanisms wherein movement of the PV structure occurs by wrapping belts of the first belt mechanism onto the first drive shaft and by wrapping belts of the second belt mechanism onto the second drive shaft so as to provide a non-linear wrapping rate to accommodate the non-linearity of the belt wrapping onto the first and second drive shafts. A linkage, which ties two rows that are unbalanced in opposite directions, cancels out the imbalance as long as both rows have identical components. This allows trackers to use PV modules of any size and weight and the perfect balance is unaffected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Miguel M. L. Praca
  • Patent number: 11683006
    Abstract: A driveline joint may include a driveline shaft that has a plurality of slots and a shaft coupling positioned in an interior of the driveline shaft in which the shaft coupling includes one or more openings with each of the openings corresponding to one or more respective slots of the plurality of slots included in the driveline shaft. The driveline joint may include one or more spherical bearings that are each positioned between an interior lateral surface of the driveline shaft and an exterior lateral surface of the shaft coupling and against one of the openings of the shaft coupling. The driveline joint may include one or more fasteners, wherein each of the fasteners extends through one of the slots and one of the openings of the shaft coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: ARRAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. de Fresart, Jonathan Sokol, Robert Clark Rowan, Jr., Frank Heydrich
  • Patent number: 11683007
    Abstract: A device for treating smooth surfaces includes a treatment unit, a support structure with a pivoting support arm for positioning and holding the treatment unit and a load balancer for setting and automatically controlling the contact pressure acting on the surface to be treated by the treatment unit. The treatment unit in the form of a spraying device includes at least one support roller or support wheel for supporting the treatment unit against the surface to be treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Franz Ehleuter
  • Patent number: 11683008
    Abstract: A photovoltaic inverter, a photovoltaic system, and a method for controlling discharging are provided. The photovoltaic inverter includes a first DCDC converter, an inverter circuit, a first discharging circuit, and a controller. A port capacitor is connected between a positive input end and a negative input end of the first DCDC converter. The port capacitor includes an X capacitor and a first group of Y capacitors. The first discharging circuit is connected between a common terminal of the first group of Y capacitors and a direct current bus, where the common terminal of the first group of Y capacitors is grounded. The controller is configured to control, when receiving a rapid shutdown instruction, the first discharging circuit to operate. The first discharging circuit is configured to discharge electrical energy of the port capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xinyu Wang, Anying Jiang, Shun Ding, Yanfei Yu, Xiaoxun Li
  • Patent number: 11683009
    Abstract: An array of antenna assemblies each generate solar power and utilize the generated solar power at that antenna assembly, which enables large amounts of power to be generated. An antenna assembly having a flat antenna layer forming a first outer surface of said antenna assembly, a flat solar layer forming a second outer surface of said antenna assembly, and a flat structural layer having a flat support structure sandwiched between the antenna layer and the solar layer. The antenna layer has a flat antenna plate with one or more antennas at the first outer surface of the antenna assembly to communicate with Earth. The solar layer has a flat solar plate with one or more solar cells at the second outer surface of the antenna assembly to receive solar energy and generate power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: AST & Science, LLC
    Inventors: Javier Hernandez Bahlsen, Aitor Martinez De Osaba Fernandez, Ryan D. Honour, Abel Avellan, Huiwen Yao, Adam H. Halperin
  • Patent number: 11683010
    Abstract: An oscillation circuit includes first and second constant current circuits, first and second switch circuits, first and second MOS transistors, and an output port. The first constant current circuit is connected to one port of a capacitor. The first MOS transistor has a gate and a drain connected to the second constant current circuit and a source connected to another port of the capacitor. The second MOS transistor has a gate connected to the gate of the first MOS transistor, and a drain connected to the one port of the capacitor. The second switch circuit is connected between a source of the second MOS transistor and a second power supply terminal. The output port outputs a signal based on a voltage of the one port. Turn-on and turn-off of the first and second switch circuits are controlled by the signal of the output port and an inverted signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: ABLIC Inc.
    Inventor: Manabu Fujimura
  • Patent number: 11683011
    Abstract: A switching system is connected to the power amplifier of an RF system. The switching system can switch the DC supply voltage to the power amplifier while handling the high DC current and the nanosecond switching speed requirements that are mandatory for most RF systems. The embodiments can rapidly control DC voltages but not interfere with the optimized operation of the RF transistor. The embodiments provide a desired sharp turn-on leading edge for an RF pulse while eliminating the extremely long and undesirable ramp down that typically occurs beyond the desired RF pulse period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Weather Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick Smeltzer
  • Patent number: 11683012
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a radio-frequency (RF) circuit, which includes a power amplifier coupled to receive an RF input signal and to provide an RF output signal in response to a modified bias signal. The RF circuit further includes a bias path circuit coupled to modify a bias signal as a function of a characteristic of an input signal to generate the modified bias signal. The bias path circuit provides the modified bias signal to the power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Luigi Panseri, Mustafa H. Koroglu, Praveen Vangala, John M. Khoury
  • Patent number: 11683013
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for power amplifier bias modulation for low bandwidth envelope tracking are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a power amplifier system for a mobile device includes a power amplifier that amplifies an RF signal and a low bandwidth envelope tracker that generates a power amplifier supply voltage for the power amplifier based on an envelope of the RF signal. The envelope tracking system further includes a bias modulation circuit that modulates a bias signal of the power amplifier based on a voltage level of the power amplifier supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Serge Francois Drogi, Philip John Lehtola, Florinel G. Balteanu