Plural Sources Of Supply Patents (Class 307/18)
  • Patent number: 9887549
    Abstract: A circuit, an installation that uses the circuit, and its design method, the circuit for distributing electricity that can supply at least two loads from two sources, and including: conductors, some of which form outputs configured to be connected to external equipment, and switching devices configured to establish a path between each load and the two sources by connecting the loads and sources to the outputs. For at least one pair of determined loads, the two switching devices on the paths connecting each source to the two loads of the pair are integrated in a double-flow switch. The double-flow switch is connected at its central point to the output that can be connected to the corresponding source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: HISPANO SUIZA
    Inventor: Romain Lucas
  • Patent number: 9876361
    Abstract: A method controls the operation of electric energy generators. A correction signal is sent to the control device and indicates a deviation of a current energy requirement of a supply network from a planned energy requirement. The control device transmits control signals to the energy generators, the correction signal being used for determining the control signals. To react to a correction signal, a control energy quantity is determined which indicates an energy quantity to be jointly provided by all energy generators, and a first energy generator is selected for providing a proportion of the control energy quantity. Further energy generators are sequentially selected, until the extent of the control energy quantity has been completely assigned to respective selected energy generators, and control signals are generated for the selected energy generators, which control signals indicate the proportions of the control energy quantity to be provided by the energy generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Norbert Ploett
  • Patent number: 9876438
    Abstract: In a converter unit system, converter units are connected in parallel. The converter unit includes a converter circuit connected to an AC power supply and a DC bus, a first inrush-current suppression resistor connected to the DC bus, a first contactor connected in parallel to the first inrush-current suppression resistor, a smoothing capacitor provided after the first inrush-current suppression resistor and the first contactor, a second contactor externally outputting ON/OFF signal, a voltage detection unit measuring a DC voltage value across the smoothing capacitor, and a control unit controlling the first contactor and the second contactor. The converter unit system includes a third contactor connected to the converter units, and a second inrush-current suppression resistor connected in parallel to the third contactor. When contacts of the second contactors are all closed, a contact of the third contactor is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori Kato
  • Patent number: 9876420
    Abstract: A submodule distributed control method, device and system are provided. Submodules of each bridge arm are grouped. Each group corresponds to one valve based controller. An upper-level control device calculates a weight of each group according to a bridge arm current, an average voltage of normal submodules in each group, and the number of the normal submodules in each group; calculates, according to the number of submodules to be input in a corresponding bridge arm, the number of submodules being input in each group and delivers the number to the valve based controller. The valve based controller operates according to a voltage balancing policy and a gating method that are provided in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignees: NR ELECTRIC CO., LTD, NR ENGINEERING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jiudong Ding, Jie Tian, Yunlong Dong, Haiying Li, Dongming Cao, Haibin Liu, Yu Lu
  • Patent number: 9843195
    Abstract: A voltage monitoring control system includes voltage control apparatuses controlling voltage on a power distribution line, a local voltage control device adjusting a voltage value controlled by the voltage control apparatuses such that it is maintained within a range between voltage upper-and-lower-limit values updated every first cycle, a voltage and power-flow measurement device calculating and transmitting fluctuation-band information indicating fluctuation band of the voltage every third cycle longer than a second cycle based on voltage on the power distribution line measured every second cycle shorter than the first cycle, and a centralized voltage control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Itaya
  • Patent number: 9843267
    Abstract: In a converter unit system, converter units are connected in parallel. The converter unit includes a converter circuit connected to an AC power supply and a DC bus, a first inrush-current suppression resistor connected to the DC bus, a first contactor connected in parallel to the first inrush-current suppression resistor, a smoothing capacitor provided after the first inrush-current suppression resistor and the first contactor, a second contactor externally outputting ON/OFF signal, a voltage detection unit measuring a DC voltage value across the smoothing capacitor, and a control unit controlling the first contactor and the second contactor. The converter unit system includes a third contactor connected to the converter units, and a second inrush-current suppression resistor connected in parallel to the third contactor. When contacts of the second contactors are all closed, a contact of the third contactor is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori Kato
  • Patent number: 9839078
    Abstract: A driving circuit includes a control circuit and a boost converter circuit. The control circuit receives a sense voltage associated with a direct-current (DC) source voltage, and generates a control signal with a duty cycle that varies with the sense voltage in a monotonically increasing manner. The boost converter circuit receives the DC source voltage and the control signal, thereby providing a driving current for driving light emission of a light emitting component. The driving current has a magnitude positively correlated to the duty cycle of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: Wen-Chin Shiau
  • Patent number: 9831672
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that operates a power supply. During operation, the system disposes a first switching mechanism between a first output of a first power converter and two or more loads. Next, the system obtains two or more error signals for the two or more loads, wherein each error signal from the two or more error signals represents a difference between a load voltage of a load from the two or more loads and a first reference voltage for the load from a first set of reference voltages for driving the two or more loads using the first power converter. The system then uses the first switching mechanism to couple the load with a largest error signal from the two or more error signals to the first output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Louis Luh, William C. Athas, Heather R. Sullens
  • Patent number: 9831668
    Abstract: A power distribution system for off-shore natural resource platforms includes an off-shore medium voltage direct current (MVDC) power bus. The MVDC power bus includes multiple power bus segments, each of which may be connected to one or more other power bus segments via a corresponding circuit breaker. Each power bus segment may also be electrically coupled to an off-shore renewable energy source, such as a wind farm, and/or an off-shore drilling platform. The off-shore drilling platforms may include local power distribution systems electrically connected to a corresponding power bus segment via a circuit breaker to receive power from the MVDC power bus and supply power to local equipment of the off-shore drilling platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Anil K. Kondabathini, Zhenyuan Wang, Jiuping Pan, Jiaqi Liang
  • Patent number: 9825462
    Abstract: When some failure occurs in the case where power interchange is performed among grids, an alternate route is searched at high speed in consideration of a deficiency/excess amount of power. A power network system has a plurality of power routers (1-7), power transmission lines (100-111) connecting the power routers, a controller (8), a communication network (10), and communication lines (11). The controller (8) obtains a reception electric energy and a transmission electric energy in the power routers (1-7), detects a failure due to a fault in, for example, the power router (4), and searches for an alternate route to solve deficiency/excess power caused by the failure occurrence. Concretely, an alternate route is searched while following a power router having excessive power as a root node by a breadth first search, and transmitting the deficiency/excess power and an allowable power transmission capacity in each of the power routers to an adjacent power router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norio Yamagaki
  • Patent number: 9815376
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a first battery, a second battery, and an ECU configured to determine whether the following conditions i), ii), and iii) are satisfied: i) a degree of deterioration of the second battery is lower than a first threshold; ii) a state-of-charge of the second battery is lower than a second threshold; and iii) the state-of-charge is equal to or higher than a third threshold. The second threshold is higher by a prescribed value than a lowest allowable value of the state-of-charge at which the second battery can function as a backup power supply. The third threshold corresponds to the lowest allowable value. When determining that the conditions i), ii) and iii) are all satisfied, the ECU executes single-battery-using control in which regeneration control using the regenerative electric power is executed with use of the first battery and the second battery is not used for regeneration control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sunao Horitake, Yasuharu Terada, Hiroshi Nate, Takeaki Suzuki, Michihiro Miyashita, Kazuhito Eshima
  • Patent number: 9817467
    Abstract: Discussed are an energy storage device and an energy storage system including the energy storage device. The energy storage device includes at least one battery pack, a power conversion unit to convert, into DC power, AC power from a first phase from among three phases of an internal power network in a charging mode of the energy storage device, and to convert the DC power stored in the at least one battery pack into the AC power in a discharging mode of the energy storage device, a communication module to exchange data with an external energy storage device, and a controller to control the power conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seungyong Lee, Jihoon Ko, Heesoo Moon, Jeonghwan Kim
  • Patent number: 9810058
    Abstract: The invention is a petroleum well downhole logging tool (0) comprising —a wireline telemetry controller unit (6) comprising —a downhole modem (61) for transmitting data at a first bitrate uplink on a wireline (8) to a surface telemetry unit (106) connected to a surface read-out unit (SRO) with a memory (123)), a server toolbus controller (62) connected between said downhole modem (61) and an internal tool databus (7) operating at a second bitrate (r2) higher than the first bitrate; —one or more logging tools (4) each with sensors (40a, 40b, 40c, . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BERGEN TECHNOLOGY CENTER AS
    Inventors: Dag-Håkon Frantzen, Tarjei Rommetveit
  • Patent number: 9791901
    Abstract: A dual redundant computer safety relay box system includes first and second fail-safe computing systems (FSCs) individually mounted to first and second printed circuit boards. Each FSC includes two computing modules (CPUs) designated as a first CPU and a second CPU. The first and second FSC's are both connected to a safety relay box. The printed circuit boards are isolable from each other permitting maintenance on one of the printed circuit boards while operation of the FSC of the other printed circuit board is maintained. In each FSC a health signal generated from the first and second printed circuit boards of the first and second CPUs defines a multi-level dynamic pulse signal. Presence of the dynamic pulse signal produces an output identified as each of a first and a second healthy indication signal from each of the CPUs of one of the first or second FSCs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Artesyn Embedded Computing, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Charles Tufford, Liu Jiang, Pasi Jukka Petteri Vaananen, Martin Peter John Cornes
  • Patent number: 9793582
    Abstract: A method is provided for transmitting measured data from cells of a battery system, having a plurality of individual cells, to a control device, comprising the steps of identifying a first individual cell for which measured data are to be furnished at a first measured-data quality; identifying at least one further individual cell or which measured data are to be furnished at a second measured-data quality; the first measured-data quality being higher than the second measured-data quality; identifying the first-quality measured data; identifying the second-quality measured data; transferring the first-quality measured data to a control device using a data connection; and transferring the second-quality measured data after the first-quality measured data have been transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Joerg Poehler
  • Patent number: 9787897
    Abstract: Systems and methods for extending operation of radio-frequency (RF) power amplifiers. In some embodiments, a system for operating a battery-powered wireless device can be implemented. The system includes a boost converter capable of generating a boosted-voltage output. The system further includes a controller coupled to the boost converter and configured to generate a control signal for the boost converter to generate the boosted-voltage output under a selected condition. The system further includes a switching circuit configured to route the boosted-voltage output of the boost converter to an RF block under the selected condition. Such an RF block can include a power amplifier. Accordingly, the power amplifier can operate for a longer time when powered by a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Innsung Lee
  • Patent number: 9768640
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system includes an electronic apparatus and an extension device detachable from and attachable to the apparatus. The extension device includes a first battery. The apparatus includes a second battery, a power supply circuit configured to generate operation power of the apparatus with power from a power supply source, a switching circuit configured to switch the power supply source to one battery of the first battery and the second battery, when the power supply source is an other battery of the first battery and the second battery and a switching signal is input, and a power supply controller configured to output the switching signal to the switching circuit after exerting control for reducing power consumption of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Yutaka Horie
  • Patent number: 9748838
    Abstract: A method of operating a controller for a power converter having a plurality of switches couplable to respective electrical devices is disclosed, in which the controller includes a switch activating unit, a frequency varying unit, a comparator and a selector. The method comprises comparing respective electrical parameters of the electrical devices with respective reference electrical parameters by the comparator to obtain associated results; and based on the results, selecting by the selector either no switches or at least one switch to be activated to enable at least two electrical devices to be electrically connected. The activation is performed on receipt of a signal pulse, and if no switches are selected, the signal pulse is skipped by the switch activating unit to reduce power consumption of the controller, and based on the results, a frequency of the signal pulse is varied by the frequency varying unit to further reduce power consumption of the controller. A controller is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kin Wai Roy Chew, Liter Siek
  • Patent number: 9735564
    Abstract: A system protects electrical equipment. The system includes a backplane including electrically communicative inputs and outputs, input and output wiring, input and output detectors and a processor. Power sources respectively connect with corresponding inputs by way of the input wiring. The input detectors are respectively disposed on the input wiring to detect an amount of power provided from each of the power sources. Each of the outputs respectively connects with a corresponding load by way of the output wiring. The output detectors are respectively disposed on the output wiring to detect an amount of power provided from each of the outputs. The processor is configured to determine a relationship between the detected amounts of power and to take an action relative to at least one of the power sources based on the determined relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
  • Patent number: 9735583
    Abstract: This invention proposes a method of and a device for transmitting power via electromagnetic coupling from a transmission device to a set of reception devices, said method comprising a step of calculating by the transmission device, a first sum of given power levels defined by each reception device of said set of reception devices; if a maximum power that can be transmitted by the transmission device to said set of reception devices is less than said first sum, then performing a step of determining by said transmission device, based on said first sum and according to a set of criteria, a subset of reception devices among said set of reception devices, to which the transmission device transmits power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Andries van Wageningen, Antonius Adriaan Maria Staring, Achim Hilgers, Eberhard Waffenschmidt
  • Patent number: 9705328
    Abstract: A startup control method of controlling startup of a PV PCS 150 configured to perform interconnected operation in which a PV 100 is interconnected to a grid 10 to supply power to a load 400: supplies power from independent operation output of the PV PCS 150 to a storage PCS 250 by an independent operation that does not interconnect the PV 100 to the grid 10 before starting the interconnected operation; measures the output power amount of the PV 100 or the PV PCS 150 when the power is supplied to the storage PCS 250; and stops the independent operation to start the interconnected operation when the measured output power amount is larger than a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomonari Kusunose
  • Patent number: 9698599
    Abstract: An electric power system includes N electric power sources and N switching circuits, where N is an integer greater than one. Each switching circuit includes an input port electrically coupled to a respective one of the N electric power sources, an output port, and a first switching device adapted to switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port. The output ports of the N switching circuits are electrically coupled in series and to a load to establish an output circuit. Each of the N switching circuits uses an interconnection inductance of the output circuit as a primary energy storage inductance of the switching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor LLC
    Inventors: Anthony J. Stratakos, Michael D. McJimsey, Ilija Jergovic, Alexandr Ikriannikov, Artin Der Minassians, Kaiwei Yao, David B. Lidsky, Marco A. Zuniga, Ana Borisavljevic
  • Patent number: 9691197
    Abstract: A data processing apparatus for a vehicle, which operates upon receiving a power supply from an in-vehicle device, and performs a predetermined data processing, includes: a nonvolatile memory for storing backup data, to be held at a time when stopping the power supply from the in-vehicle device; a predicting device for predicting that the power supply from the in-vehicle device is cut off; and a first backup device for storing the backup data in the nonvolatile memory when the predicting device predicts that the power supply from the in-vehicle device is cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Murakami
  • Patent number: 9692247
    Abstract: A system, topology, and methods for providing power or data to electronic devices are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. The system may include an internal power source, charging module, modem, and an external power coupling module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Inventor: Ramin Rostami
  • Patent number: 9671848
    Abstract: A redundant power supply circuit includes a port detection circuit, a fixed state detection circuit, a voltage conversion circuit, and a control circuit. The port detection circuit detects and outputs a plurality of ready signals according to a plurality of power signals of a number of POE ports. The fixed state detection circuit outputs first control signals according to a predetermined voltage signal of a network device. The control circuit generates and sends enable signals to the voltage conversion circuit according to the first control signals and the plurality of ready signals. The voltage conversion circuit converts the plurality of power signals into driving voltage signals according to the enable signals. A POE system and method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yi-Feng Wang
  • Patent number: 9671799
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a power supply controller includes an error signal input configured to be coupled to a sensing node of a power supply, a control output configured to be coupled to a switch control circuit, and a control circuit having an input coupled to the error signal input. The control circuit is configured to provide a first variable limit signal if the error signal input is in a first range, and to adjust the first variable limit signal according to the error signal input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Martin Krueger
  • Patent number: 9673713
    Abstract: A neutral point clamped, multilevel level converter including a DC voltage link having a positive rail and a negative rail; a phase leg coupled to an AC node, the phase leg having a first switch and a second switch in series between the negative rail and the AC node, the phase leg having a third switch and a fourth switch in series between the positive rail and the AC node; and a gate drive power supply having a charge pump section, the charge pump section generating a first gate drive voltage for the first switch and a second gate drive voltage for the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Marinko Kovacic, Shashank Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 9653922
    Abstract: Provided is a plurality of power supply apparatuses connected in parallel with a grid that are capable of obtaining the same measured values of the same voltage. The power supply apparatus according to the present invention is connected in parallel with the grid and includes a voltage sensor 108 configured to obtain a first measured voltage value by measuring a voltage of the grid, a communication interface 114 configured to communicate with another power supply apparatus connected in parallel with the grid, and a controller 118 configured to obtain, via the communication interface 114, a second measured voltage value obtained by the another power supply apparatus by measuring the voltage of the grid and carrying out an adjustment such that the first measured voltage value and the second measured voltage value of the same voltage of the grid approximate to the same value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Baba
  • Patent number: 9653892
    Abstract: An electrical core comprising an assembly of power management and distribution contactors is provided. The power management contactors are attached to a first support element and the distribution contactors are carried by a second support element superimposed on the first so as to form a multilayer assembly. The distribution contactors are arranged in double symmetry about two axes perpendicular to one another. They are mechanically linked through a mechanical linkage element extending between two rows of contactors and which carries electrical connection elements connecting the contactors to an element for connecting to a power source. The contactors are assembled in modules according to their type. In particular, the management module comprises at least one modular element common to the power management contactors which is suitable for performing a given secondary function other than the function of establishing a contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.A.S.
    Inventor: Bernard Guering
  • Patent number: 9647532
    Abstract: A control device for a converter of the switched-mode type provided with an inductor element and a switch element generates a driving signal for controlling switching of the switch element and determining alternately a phase of storage of energy in the inductor element as a function of an input quantity and a phase of transfer of the energy stored in the inductor element to an output element on which an output quantity is present; the control device generates the driving signal by means of a control based on the value of the output quantity in order to regulate the same output quantity. In particular, an estimation block determines an estimated value of the output quantity, and a driving block generates the driving signal as a function of said estimated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Giuseppe Scappatura
  • Patent number: 9634486
    Abstract: Managing power rails, including: a plurality of power rails, each power rail coupled to at least one power supply and configured to support a plurality of similarly-configured loads; and a power rail controller configured to merge and split the plurality of power rails based on total power consumption of the plurality of similarly-configured loads. The power rail management also determines the optimal power rail mode (merge/split) based on current load of each rail and adjusts the dynamic clock and voltage scaling policy, workload allocation on each core, and performance limit/throttling management according to the power rail mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hee Jun Park, Yuancheng Christopher Pan, Christopher Kong Yee Chun
  • Patent number: 9634485
    Abstract: An improved power manager includes a power bus (410) and multiple device ports (1-5), with at least one device port configured as a universal port (3 and 4) to be selectively connected to the power bus over an input power channel that includes an input power converter (510) or over a output or universal power channel (412, 416) that includes an output power converter (440, 442). The universal power channel (412) allows the input port (4) to be selected as an output power channel instead of an input power channel (i.e. operated as a universal port) for outputting power to device port (4) over power converter (440). The improved power manager (500) includes operating modes for altering an operating voltage of the power bus (505), to minimize overall power conversion losses due to DC to DC power conversions used to connect non-bus voltage compatible power devices to the power bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Protonex Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David N. Long, Seth M. Dziengeleski, James D. Kazmierczak, Benjamin Apollonio, Michael J. Grennan, My H. Lac
  • Patent number: 9625533
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method that includes predicting terminal voltage of a battery module in a vehicle using a battery control module. Predicting the terminal voltage includes determining a gassing current of the battery module using a gassing current model, in which the gassing current quantifies terminal current that is not used to charge the battery module, and calculating the predicted terminal voltage based at least in part on a measurement model and the determined gassing current. The method also includes measuring terminal voltage of the battery module using a sensor communicatively coupled to the battery control module, and determining a corrected state of the battery module using the battery control module by minimizing a difference between the predicted terminal voltage and the measured terminal voltage. In other words, the corrected state of the battery (e.g., corrected state of charge) may be more accurately determined using the measurement model and the gassing current model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Daniel B. Le, Brian C. Sisk
  • Patent number: 9627967
    Abstract: One embodiment of a power management system includes a reservoir configured to collect energy. The system also includes a voltage regulator coupled to the reservoir via an input terminal and configured to convert the energy to an output voltage via an output terminal when enabled. A threshold detector is coupled to the reservoir and is configured to sense the energy and enable the voltage regulator when the energy exceeds a threshold. The system further includes a feedback circuit coupled between the output terminal and the threshold detector, and configured to feedback the output voltage to the threshold detector to compensate for a voltage drop across the threshold detector due to an output current drawn by the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Ranajay Mallik, Jitendra Jain
  • Patent number: 9608447
    Abstract: The invention provides a solar photovoltaic three-phase micro-inverter, comprising DC terminals, connected with three DC photovoltaic assemblies for receiving DC; three single-phase inverter circuits, having DC input terminals connected with the DC photovoltaic assemblies via the terminals, for converting the DC to AC; AC terminals, connected with the AC output terminals of the inverter circuits and a three-phase AC power grid, for outputting the AC generated by the inverter circuits; wherein DC input terminals of each inverter circuit are connected in parallel with each other, and AC output terminals are connected with one phase of the three-phase AC power grid and a neutral wire via the AC terminals. The invention further provides a solar photovoltaic generation system. The invention connects DC sides of three single-phase inverter circuits in parallel, which can simply eliminate ripple power at DC side input terminals in a three-phase micro-inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM, INC.
    Inventor: Yuhao Luo
  • Patent number: 9595846
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, and the like, for an automatic transfer switch (ATS) of a power system. The ATS allows for switching between two or more power systems while preventing back-feeding of the power systems. To provide the safety features of the ATS, a safety circuit and control board may be implemented with the magnetic latching relays to control the actions of the latching relays and provide the switching function of the ATS. In one particular embodiment, the safety board comprises one or more electromechanical relays positioned between the controlling electronics of the control board and the magnetic latching relays. The safety board design contains measures to ensure it still functions if one of the disconnect switches is not connected, if one of the connections to a first load phase, a second load phase or neutral is lost and if the main control board is not connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: MILBANK Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: John V. Siglock, Shawn J. Glasgow, Andrew John Nowell
  • Patent number: 9548657
    Abstract: When a control device simultaneously drives first and second direct-current power converter circuits, the control device can arbitrarily control a first voltage and a second voltage, and a load voltage by changing at least one of first and second duties. The control device generates a loop current, which discharges a first power source and charges a second power source, or a loop current, which charges the first power source and discharges the second power source, in a loop circuit where a first reactor and a second reactor are connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasumichi Ohnuki, Satoshi Hashino
  • Patent number: 9520721
    Abstract: A solar photovoltaic three-phase micro-inverter comprises: DC terminals, coupled with three DC photovoltaic assemblies adjacent to each other; three single-phase inverter circuits having input terminals coupled respectively with the three DC photovoltaic assemblies via the DC terminals, for converting the DC currents generated by the three DC photovoltaic assemblies to AC currents, respectively; AC terminals coupled with a three-phase AC power grid; wherein output terminals of each single-phase inverter circuit are coupled respectively with a neutral wire and one of the three phases of the three-phase AC power grid. A solar photovoltaic power generation system is also provided. The three single-phase inverter circuits can be integrated as above Because the three DC photovoltaic assemblies on one three-phase micro-inverter are disposed adjacently and have similar environment conditions, such as illumination, temperature, etc., the three-phase AC current can be well balanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Altenergy Power System, Inc.
    Inventor: Yuhao Luo
  • Patent number: 9509149
    Abstract: A power management system comprises a power generation equipment that generates power and a storage battery that stores power, and is connected to a power grid. The power management system comprises: a control unit that controls an operation mode of the storage battery so as to start charging the storage battery when a voltage value of the power grid exceeds a predetermined system voltage threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomonari Kusunose
  • Patent number: 9490641
    Abstract: Systems and methods for extending operation of radio-frequency (RF) power amplifiers. In some embodiments, a system for operating a battery-powered wireless device can be implemented. The system includes a light-emitting diode (LED) driver capable of generating a boosted-voltage output. The system further includes a controller coupled to the LED driver and configured to generate a control signal for the LED driver to generate the boosted-voltage output under a selected condition. The system further includes a switching circuit configured to route the boosted-voltage output of the LED driver to an RF block under the selected condition. Such an RF block can include a power amplifier. Accordingly, the power amplifier can operate for a longer time when powered by a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Innsung Lee
  • Patent number: 9472940
    Abstract: When a power switch is turned off, a protection device for an electricity supply circuit starts keeping time using a timer and turns on a disconnection flag. Then the protection device turns off the disconnection flag when the timer has counted a predetermined time. When the power switch is turned off, the disconnection flag does not subsequently turn off until the predetermined time has passed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an excessive temperature increase in the power switch and prevent damage to the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihide Nakamura, Akinori Maruyama, Yoshinori Ikuta, Keisuke Ueta
  • Patent number: 9472954
    Abstract: A microgrid power generation system includes a plurality of generators having a plurality of different rated capacities and a plurality of distribution nodes, at least some of the distribution nodes being powered by the generators. A grid is formed by the distribution nodes, the grid includes a system frequency. A plurality of loads are powered by the grid through the distribution nodes, the loads have a power demand. A processor includes a plurality of efficiency bands, each of the efficiency bands being for a corresponding one of the generators and including a plurality of generator switching points based upon droop of the system frequency and the power demand of the loads. The processor is structured to operate the generators and the loads under transient conditions based upon the efficiency bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Damrongrit Piyabongkarn, Edward F. Buck, Steven A. Dimino
  • Patent number: 9415872
    Abstract: An aircraft galley power and control system is disclosed having a plurality of electrical appliances within a monument, the galley control system including a control panel removed from the electrical appliances that include controls for operating each of the electrical appliances, The galley also includes a galley controller interface for receiving commands from a display screen on the control panel and communicating the commands to the electrical appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Nicolaas Van Zwieten, Michael Kemery, Eid-Beng Goh
  • Patent number: 9407164
    Abstract: Described is a method and apparatus for per-panel photovoltaic energy extraction with integrated converters. Also described are switched-capacitor (SC) converters have been evaluated for many applications because of the possibility for on-chip integration; applications to solar arrays are no exception. Also described is a comprehensive system-level look at solar installations, finding possibilities for optimization at and between all levels of operation in an array. Specifically, novel concepts include new arrangements and options for applying switched-capacitor circuits at 3 levels: for the panel and sub-panel level, as part of the overall control strategy, and for ensuring stable and robust interface to the grid with the possibility of eliminating or reducing the use of electrolytic capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Arthur Hsu Chen Chang, David J. Perreault, Khurram K. Afridi, Minjie Chen, Steven B. Leeb
  • Patent number: 9369033
    Abstract: A switched mode power supply for supplying power from a power source to one or more output voltage rails, including: a switching unit configured to receive a source voltage from the power source and to output a switched voltage, the switching unit including: a first switch configured to switch the source voltage to the switched voltage, and configured to be driven by the source voltage; and a second switch connected in parallel with the first switch, the second switch configured to switch the source voltage to the switched voltage, and configured to be driven by an output voltage of one of the output voltage rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
    Inventor: Sukanta Kishore Panigrahi
  • Patent number: 9310402
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automated electricity delivery management. More specifically, the invention relates to systems and methods for instantly and electronically determining available electricity, predicting short-term delivery forecasts, evaluating transmission availability, capacity and paths, determining inter-tie availability, capacity and price, and bidding the power into the market. Such systems and methods may occur on a mobile device, and/or web interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: GRIDSPEAK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Karl A. Simmons
  • Patent number: 9296307
    Abstract: Disclosed is a charging apparatus whereby charging can be suitably performed even in the cases where a plurality of electric vehicles are connected to a charging station. The charging apparatus has: a charging cable (4), which is configured of a power supply line (6) that charges an electric vehicle (2) and a pilot line (8) that detects connection of the electric vehicle (2); a power supply unit (10), which supplies power to the charging cable (4); a voltage detecting unit (11), which detects, via a pilot line (8), a voltage pattern that corresponds to identifying information of the electric vehicle (2); and a power line communication unit (12), which performs, with the electric vehicle (2), data communication in the state wherein the identifying information of the electric vehicle (2) is added, said identifying information having been acquired by means of the voltage detecting unit (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigekiyo Nosaka
  • Patent number: 9251868
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to make effective use of the structure of a multilayered semiconductor device that uses penetration electrodes in such a manner that the layered chips obtain stable internal power supply voltages with no increase in current consumption or in the area of the layered chips. Internal power supply generation circuits furnished in each of the layered core chips have their outputs commonly coupled via electrodes penetrating the layered core chips. This allows electrical charges to be shared among the core chips, optimizes internal power consumption of the multilayered semiconductor device as a whole, and inhibits fluctuations in the internal power supply voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuo Fukushi, Atsunori Hirobe, Muneaki Matsushige
  • Patent number: 9252600
    Abstract: A power converter apparatus is provided with a lead-in board in which alternating-current power received from power converting units is connected in parallel, and a connection base including frames for installing the power converting units therein. The frames are provided with connection sections for connecting the main circuits of the power converting units. The lead-in board is provided with breakers for cut off alternating-current power from the power converting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Ruben Alexis Inzunza Figueroa, Nobuhiro Takahashi, Eiichi Ikawa, Takeshi Sumiya, Yosuke Fujii
  • Patent number: 9214807
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering power from a first energy source to a second energy source. An electrical system for delivering power from a first energy source to a second energy source comprises an interface configured to be coupled to the second energy source, a switching element coupled between the first energy source and the interface, and a processing system coupled to the switching element and the interface. The processing system is configured to identify a connection event based on an electrical characteristic of the interface that is indicative of the interface being coupled to the second energy source and operate the switching element to provide a path for current from the first energy source in response to identifying the connection event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Dennis Hicks