Plural Converters Patents (Class 307/58)
  • Patent number: 11705828
    Abstract: A power conversion device according to an embodiment includes a cell, a first sensor, a second sensor, a storage, a first controller, and a second controller. The first controller is configured to control or protect the cell on the basis of at least one of an output result of the first sensor and an output result of the second sensor. The second controller, in a case in which a change in at least one of the output result of the first sensor and the output result of the second sensor satisfies a first condition, is configured to execute at least one of a first operation of storing the output result of the first sensor in the storage, a second operation of storing the output result of the first sensor in the storage over a second period longer than a first period, and a third operation of storing the output result of the second sensor instead of the output result of the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunsuke Tobayashi
  • Patent number: 11594963
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a switching power circuit compares a reference voltage with a feedback voltage of an output voltage, and controls the output voltage in accordance with the reference voltage, in which in a case where the output current is greater than a predetermined set current, the voltage of the reference voltage is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshimasa Namekawa, Ryoma Matsuo, Katsumasa Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11427086
    Abstract: Electrical power conversion systems and methods suited for driving electric motors, and related systems such as propulsion systems, and vehicles employing same, are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, the electrical power conversion system includes a plurality of series coupled inverters, each including respective first and second DC input terminals and also including respective AC output ports by which the inverters can respectively be coupled at least indirectly to motor winding sets. Additionally, the system includes a controller coupled to the inverters and configured to generate control signals that are respectively provided to the inverters. The control signals tend to cause respective AC output powers output from the respective AC output ports to be equal or substantially equal in a manner that tends to result in respective DC link voltage portions applied between the respective DC input terminals of the respective inverters being or becoming equal or substantially equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Kaney Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam White
  • Patent number: 11239689
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a power supply operable to output power to a load along with at least one other power supply, a sensing component for identifying a load level, and a control component for switching the power supply from a full power mode to a power saving mode based on the identified load level. The power supply shares current with the other power supply at a lower current and generally the same voltage as the other power supply while in the power saving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Paul Arduini, Sung Kee Baek, Jonathan Lee Smith, Joel Richard Goergen
  • Patent number: 11165338
    Abstract: A bidirectional power conversion system includes three power conversion ports. A first power conversion port includes a power factor correction device and a primary power conversion network. A second power conversion port includes a plurality of switches and a plurality of diodes, wherein an output voltage of the second power conversion port is regulated through adjusting an output voltage of the power factor correction device as well as through adjusting an operating parameter of the primary power conversion network. A third power conversion port includes a first switch network and a power regulator connected in cascade, wherein the first power conversion port, the second power conversion port and the third power conversion port are magnetically coupled to each other through a transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heping Dai, Dianbo Fu, Huibin Zhu
  • Patent number: 11070063
    Abstract: Different systems to achieve solar power conversion are provided in at least three different general aspects, with circuitry that can be used to harvest maximum power from a solar source (1) or strings of panels (11) for DC or AC use, perhaps for transfer to a power grid (10) three aspects can exist perhaps independently and relate to: 1) electrical power conversion in a multimodal manner, 2) alternating between differing processes such as by an alternative mode photovoltaic power converter functionality control (27), and 3) systems that can achieve efficiencies in conversion that are extraordinarily high compared to traditional through substantially power isomorphic photovoltaic DC-DC power conversion capability that can achieve 99.2% efficiency or even only wire transmission losses. Switchmode impedance conversion circuits may have pairs of photovoltaic power series switch elements (24) and pairs of photovoltaic power shunt switch elements (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: AMPT, LLC
    Inventors: Anatoli Ledenev, Robert M. Porter
  • Patent number: 10732693
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a power switch are disclosed. A power switch may be coupled between a power supply signal and a virtual power supply signal coupled to a circuit block. The power switch may be configured to couple the power supply signal to the virtual power supply signal based on a first control signal, and reduce a voltage level of the virtual power supply signal to a voltage level less than a voltage level of the power supply signal based on a second control signal. The power switch may be further configured to change a current flowing from the power supply signal to the virtual power supply signal based on a third control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vivekanandan Venugopal, Ajay Kumar Bhatia
  • Patent number: 10700550
    Abstract: A wireless power transfer system is disclosed. The wireless power transfer system includes a first converting unit configured to convert a first DC voltage of an input power to a first AC voltage. Further, the wireless power transfer system includes a contactless power transfer unit configured to receive the input power having the first AC voltage from the first converting unit and transmit the input power. Also, the wireless power transfer system includes a second converting unit configured to receive the input power from the contactless power transfer unit and convert the first AC voltage of the input power to a second DC voltage. Furthermore, the wireless power transfer system includes a switching unit configured to decouple the second converting unit from the contactless power transfer unit if the second DC voltage across the electric load is greater than a first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kapil Jha, Pradeep Vijayan, Yash Veer Singh
  • Patent number: 10610953
    Abstract: A plasma cutting system includes a plasma torch having a head, and a housing. A power supply is disposed within the housing and is in communication with the plasma torch. The power supply is configured to provide an output current for generating and maintaining a plasma cutting arc by the plasma torch, and includes a control processor in communication with a plurality of autonomous switching circuits via a multi-node communications bus. Each of the autonomous switching circuits includes a microcontroller configured to control the generation of a portion of the output current based on messages received from the control processor, monitor operating parameters of the autonomous switching circuit, and modify a control parameter of the autonomous switching circuit independent of and asynchronous to the other autonomous switching circuits of the plurality of autonomous switching circuits when one or more of the operating parameters exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Chin, Girish R. Kamath, Norman LeBlanc, Christopher S. Passage, Shane M. Selmer
  • Patent number: 10608437
    Abstract: Different systems to achieve solar power conversion are provided in at least three different general aspects, with circuitry that can be used to harvest maximum power from a solar source or strings of panels for DC or AC use, perhaps for transfer to a power grid three aspects can exist perhaps independently and relate to: 1) electrical power conversion in a multimodal manner, 2) alternating between differing processes such as by an alternative mode photovoltaic power converter functionality control, and 3) systems that can achieve efficiencies in conversion that are extraordinarily high compared to traditional through substantially power isomorphic photovoltaic DC-DC power conversion capability that can achieve 99.2% efficiency or even only wire transmission losses. Switchmode impedance conversion circuits may have pairs of photovoltaic power series switch elements and pairs of photovoltaic power shunt switch elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: AMPT, LLC
    Inventors: Anatoli Ledenev, Robert M. Porter
  • Patent number: 10584708
    Abstract: A method for checking functions of fans includes starting a normal operation mode, evaluating a fan monitoring signal depending on the fans' speeds, and starting a dynamic fan checking routine. If the monitoring signal is smaller than a lock threshold value, normal operation proceeds. If the monitoring signal is bigger than the lock threshold value, a multiple-fan checking routine is started. During each fan test the corresponding fan is activated for a predetermined time period, while the other fans are deactivated during the time period, and the monitoring signal is compared with the lock threshold value and a disconnecting threshold value. If the monitoring signal is bigger than the lock threshold value, the corresponding fan is locked and an error is detected. If the monitoring signal is smaller than the disconnecting threshold value, the corresponding fan is disconnected and an error is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Laurent Jeanneteau, Massimo Nostro, Massimo Zangoli, Alex Viroli, Nicola Terracciano
  • Patent number: 10581246
    Abstract: When a voltage-fluctuation suppression device suppresses, for input/output of connected power between a first power grid, or a commercial power grid, and a second power grid including a power generation device and grid-connected to the first power grid, voltage fluctuations in the first power grid, a control unit includes a voltage allowable range computing unit, controls a ratio between active and reactive power output by the voltage-fluctuation suppression device to be equal to a ratio between active and reactive power of power flowing between the first and second power grids, and controls the ratio between the active and reactive power output by the voltage-fluctuation suppression device to be equal to the ratio between the active and reactive power of power flowing between the first and second power grids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Yukitaka Monden, Yuji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10439405
    Abstract: A power storage apparatus includes a first storage module, a second storage module, a charge-discharge circuit, and circuitry. The first storage module includes a first detector to detect first current input to and output from the first capacitor. The second storage module includes a second detector to detect second current input to and output from the second capacitor. The charge-discharge circuit is connected to the first capacitor and the second capacitor to charge and discharge the first capacitor and the second capacitor. The circuitry is configured to control the charge-discharge circuit to control charging and discharging between the first capacitor and the second capacitor. The circuitry is configured to determine whether or not at least one of the first detector and the second detector is to be corrected based on the first current and the second current during charging and discharging between the first capacitor and the second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10418917
    Abstract: A method for generating a combined output waveform (VOUT) in a power inverter system (100) is disclosed. The power inverter system comprises a voltage equaliser (120) having an energy storage element adapted to be charged by a combined output voltage from a plurality of switching units and to add an adjustable voltage to the combined output waveform. A voltage of the combined output waveform is measured, a difference (?) between the measured voltage of the output waveform and a voltage of a target waveform (UT) is determined, and a voltage (UCORR) corresponding to the determined difference is added, by the voltage equaliser, to the combined output waveform so as to improve the matching of the combined output power waveform and the target power waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gustav Bergquist, Tomas Modeer, Joakim Asplund
  • Patent number: 10205390
    Abstract: A method for controlling a DC-to-DC converter includes: (a) regulating a magnitude of an output voltage of the DC-to-DC converter according to a magnitude of a reference voltage; (b) in response to a command to enter the unregulated operating mode, allowing the magnitude of the output voltage to fall; and (c) adjusting the magnitude of the reference voltage to track the magnitude of the output voltage. A controller for a DC-to-DC converter includes reference and switching modules. The reference module generates a reference voltage, such that: (a) a magnitude of the reference voltage is fixed, in a regulated operating mode, and (b) the magnitude of the reference voltage tracks a magnitude of an output voltage of the DC-to-DC converter, in the unregulated operating mode. The switching module controls a power stage of the DC-to-DC converter to regulate the magnitude of the output voltage, in the regulated operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Sombuddha Chakraborty, Jingquan Chen, Paul H. Choi
  • Patent number: 10128684
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods to provide energy control via power-requirement analysis and power-source enablement. Both demand-side and supply-side techniques are used alone or in conjunction to determine an optimal number of power sources to supply power to one or more loads. When fluctuations in power requirements are present, measures such as decoupling less-critical loads in order to continue delivering power to critical systems and turning on and off power sources as needed to meet the current power demands of a system are implemented. Power sources are periodically deactivated by the system on a rotational basis such that all power sources wear evenly, prolonging the life of the equipment. A scalable architecture that allows the virtualization of power from the underlying hardware form factor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Virtual Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Shankar Ramamurthy, Sushant Shankar, Rajaram Soundararajan, Andrew Sy, Andrew L Wang, Erich Karl Nachbar, K David Lin, Frank Chuang, Rajeev P Huralikoppi, Ryan Justin Kennedy, Denis Kouroussis, Milind Kukanur, Pranthik Samal
  • Patent number: 10103665
    Abstract: Systems and methods for protecting the redundancy of inverter blocks are provided. In one example implementation, a system can include a plurality of inverter blocks. Each inverter block can include a first conversion entity configured to convert DC power to AC power, a second conversion entity configured to convert AC power to DC power, and a third conversion entity configured to convert DC power to AC power. An isolation transformer can be coupled between the first conversion entity and the second conversion entity. The system includes an inverter block switching element coupled to an output of each inverter block. A protection element is disposed in each inverter block. The system includes one or more control devices configured to isolate at least one of the plurality of inverter blocks based at least in part on a status of the protection element disposed in the inverter block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, Govardhan Ganireddy, Saurabh Shukla, Ravisekhar Nadimpalli Raju, Harold Robert Schnetzka
  • Patent number: 10074989
    Abstract: Remaining power generation capability of power generation apparatuses is estimated to a high degree of accuracy. A power conversion apparatus (1) includes input interfaces (11) that input generated power from each of multiple power generation apparatuses (10) of the same type and a controller (14) that performs MPPT control on a priority basis on at least one input interface among the input interfaces and acquires the remaining power generation capability of the power generation apparatuses (10) connected to the other input interfaces (11) by calculation using the generated current of the power generation apparatus (10) connected to the at least one input interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Baba
  • Patent number: 10038318
    Abstract: The invention can provide for a power supply, and in particular a fieldbus power supply, comprising a plurality of power supply modules each arranged to output power on a plurality of channels; a current share controller arranged to share an output current requirement across the plurality of power supply modules and wherein; at least a second of the plurality of channels in each module is arranged to track the loading of the first of the plurality of channels in each respective module and so that a multichannel and multimodule power supply with reduced power handling requirements for each module can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Les Price, Stephen Fowlston, David Gareth Williams
  • Patent number: 9853490
    Abstract: A distributed power system including multiple (DC) batteries each DC battery with positive and negative poles. Multiple power converters are coupled respectively to the DC batteries. Each power converter includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal and a fourth terminal. The first terminal is adapted for coupling to the positive pole. The second terminal is adapted for coupling to the negative pole. The power converter includes: (i) a control loop adapted for setting the voltage between or current through the first and second terminals, and (ii) a power conversion portion adapted to selectively either: convert power from said first and second terminals to said third and fourth terminals to discharge the battery connected thereto, or to convert power from the third and fourth terminals to the first and second terminals to charge the battery connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Adest, Lior Handelsman, Yoav Galin, Amir Fishelov, Guy Sella, Yaron Binder
  • Patent number: 9846464
    Abstract: The instant disclosure provides a power supply system and control method thereof. The power supply system comprises at least two power supplies electrically coupled in parallel. The control unit of the power supply generates a wake-up signal or a sleep signal according to the loading status. A second communication port of each power supply is coupled to a first communication port of the next stage power supply to establish cascading communications architecture. The first communication port receives a wake-up signal from the second communication port of the previous stage power supply and outputs a sleep signal to the second communication port of the previous stage power supply. The second communication port receives the sleep signal from the first communication port of the next stage power supply and outputs the wake-up signal to the first communication port of the next stage power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zih-Min Yang, Ting-Hsi Huang
  • Patent number: 9837906
    Abstract: An object of the disclosure is to provide a multiphase Buck, Boost, or other switching converter to give high efficiency over the full range of output currents, and to maximize the total output current the switching converter is able to supply, by fully utilizing every phase of the switching converter. Further, another object of this disclosure is to balance the asymmetric transconductance, such that the load share between phases is optimized for different load levels of coil value, coil type, pass-device scaling, and frequency. Still further, another object of this disclosure requires that each of the switching converter operates at a similar point of saturation current at each point along the output load range, and each phase provides a different percentage of the total output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Mark Childs, Carsten Barth, Jens Masuch
  • Patent number: 9793819
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention relates to a method for controlling operation of a parallel converter system. The parallel converter system includes multiple parallel power converters, and each of the parallel power converters is coupleable to a corresponding controller. The method includes: generating, via each of the controllers, a channel reference signal, transmitting each of the generated channel reference signals to a corresponding one of the parallel power converters, and adjusting an output current of each of the parallel converters responsive to the corresponding channel reference signals received, the adjusting controlling a combined output current of the parallel converter system. The channel reference signals of these parallel power converters are generated in response to the participation factors of each of the parallel power converters, and a net converter output reference current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Shyam Sunder Ramamurthy, Luke Anthony Solomon, Brian Babes Venus, Christopher Joseph Lee
  • Patent number: 9755547
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control system for an electric charge, said system comprising: —A first power converter (VV1) and a second power converter (VV2) connected in parallel, —A first control unit (UC1) associated with the first power converter and a second control unit (UC2) associated with the second power converter, —The second control unit (UC2) comprises a main control module (M1_2) for determining a second output voltage (v?2) to apply the electric charge and a secondary control module (M2_2) to determine a control voltage (?v?k) to be applied to said second output voltage (v?2), said control voltage being determined from the difference between the output current (i?2) of the second power converter and the output current (i?1) of the first power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER TOSHIBA INVERTER EUROPE SAS
    Inventors: Francois Malrait, Michael Hernandez
  • Patent number: 9748772
    Abstract: A solar power plant including a power conversion system and a method of controlling the power conversion system. Implemented in a DC/AC inverter, the plant includes photovoltaic modules (PV modules) arranged in arrays connected to a respective DC/DC converters. A power collecting grid interfaces between the DC/DC converters and the DC/AC inverter. The method includes monitoring the performance of each PV array by adjusting the voltage level of each interface between a PV array and the corresponding DC/DC converter, and includes monitoring the output power of each DC/DC converter as a feedback for the regulating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Panagiotis Bakas, Sara Ahmed, Michal Lazarczyk, Radoslaw Nalepa, Antonis Marinopoulos, Dimitrios Doukas, Jyoti Sastry
  • Patent number: 9634571
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver device (10) for driving a load (18), comprising input terminals (14, 16) for connecting the driver device (10) to a voltage supply (12) and for receiving an input voltage (V10) from the voltage supply (12), at least one output terminal for connecting the driver device (10) to the load (18), an electromagnetic converter unit (24) for converting a drive voltage to an output voltage (V20) for powering the load (18), two controllable switches (20, 22) connected to the input terminals (14, 16) for providing a variable voltage as the drive voltage to the electromagnetic converter unit (24), and a control unit (28) for controlling a first of the controllable switches (20, 22) on the basis of an electrical signal (V12) measured at a member of the electromagnetic converter unit (24) and a threshold level (40, 52) and for controlling a second of the controllable switches (20, 22) on the basis of a control parameter (50, tOFF) set to a value that the on-times of the controllable
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Andrew Ulrich Rutgers, Reinhold Elferich
  • Patent number: 9627893
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic management system (5) for electricity generating cells (3), the system comprising: cell connection terminals to be connected to n associated electricity generating cells (3), n being a positive integer number, outputs to be connected to m associated static converters (9); m being a positive integer number and at least m=2, an energy routing module (13) adapted for routing energy flows from and between said cell connection terminals towards said outputs; and an electronic control unit (15) adapted for controlling dynamically the energy routing module (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignees: Total Marketing Services, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Adrien Ramond, Carlos Carrejo, Youssef El Basri, Corrine Alonso, Bruno Estibals, Lionel Seguier
  • Patent number: 9541582
    Abstract: The invention relates to a DC power distribution system (1). The DC power distribution system comprises a track (2) with electrical conductors for distributing DC power for powering purposes and for position determination purposes and a position determination system (15) for determining the position of an electrical device (3, 13) like a luminaire, which is attached to the track, based on a voltage measured on the track. The DC power distribution system can therefore provide positioning information regarding the position of the electrical device along the track, which may be useful, for instance, for commissioning purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Wendt, Adrianus Johannes Stephanus Maria De Vaan
  • Patent number: 9530015
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for messaging in an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for messaging in an on-demand database service can enable embodiments to more flexibly message in on-demand database environments. The ability of embodiments to provide such feature may lead to enhanced messaging features which may be used for providing more effective ways of messaging in the context of on-demand databases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: Susan Carol Shanabrook, Richard Alan Stevens, Ron H. Kimble, Michael P. Cadden, Travis D. Corson
  • Patent number: 9450569
    Abstract: A very low power real-time clock is provided. The real-time clock includes a real-time clock core and a real-time clock controller, both included in an electronic device. The core is powered both when the electronic device is powered on and when it is powered off. When the electronic device is powered off, the core operates on battery power. The controller is powered off when the electronic device is powered off, to save power. The core maintains a tick count and a seconds count. Because the core is powered on even when the electronic device is powered off, the core continues to update the tick count and seconds count even when the electronic device is powered off. The controller provides access, to external components, to the core. By not powering the controller when the electronic device is powered off, non-core functions do not draw power from a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventor: Ahmad R. Ansari
  • Patent number: 9397499
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supplying power to an electrical line or grid by using high-frequency alternating current (HFAC) are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for collecting and transmitting electrical power to an AC line operating at a line frequency may include a plurality of high frequency AC power sources; a high frequency AC bus, connected to each of the high frequency AC sources; and a line frequency converter, the input of which is connected to the high frequency AC bus and the output of which is connectable to the AC line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SUNLIGHT PHOTONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sergey V. Frolov, Michael Cyrus, Allan J. Bruce
  • Patent number: 9379580
    Abstract: An apparatus including a plurality of transformers each having a primary winding and a secondary winding where the secondary windings are connected in series, a battery, a plurality of switches, each coupled to one of the plurality of transformers, the switches intermittently closes to complete a circuit between the battery and the primary winding of the one transformer and a processor that individually activates the respective switches of the plurality of transformers in a predetermined order to generate an alternating current voltage across an output of the series connected secondary windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: METROPOLITAN INDUSTRIES
    Inventor: Wayne Joseph Barkley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9368964
    Abstract: A distributed power system including multiple (DC) batteries each DC battery with positive and negative poles. Multiple power converters are coupled respectively to the DC batteries. Each power converter includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal and a fourth terminal. The first terminal is adapted for coupling to the positive pole. The second terminal is adapted for coupling to the negative pole. The power converter includes: (i) a control loop adapted for setting the voltage between or current through the first and second terminals, and (ii) a power conversion portion adapted to selectively either: convert power from said first and second terminals to said third and fourth terminals to discharge the battery connected thereto, or to convert power from the third and fourth terminals to the first and second terminals to charge the battery connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Adest, Lior Handelsman, Yoav Galin, Amir Fishelov, Guy Sella, Yaron Binder
  • Patent number: 9362745
    Abstract: A power storage module and a power storage device are disclosed. The power storage module and the power storage device include a DC/AC converter, a first power storage element, a second power storage element and at least one DC/DC converter. The first power storage element is coupled to the DC side of the DC/AC converter to form a first power storage branch. The second power storage element is coupled to the DC side of the DC/AC converter to form a second power storage branch. The DC/DC converter is disposed on the first power storage branch or the second power storage branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hong-Yang Wu, Xiao Li, Wen-Tao Zhan
  • Patent number: 9343957
    Abstract: A multi-converter system includes a first converter configured to receive an input voltage and output a first PWM switching signal based on the input voltage. A power distribution balancing circuit is configured to detect a frequency of the first PWM switching signal and generate a control signal based on the frequency of the first PWM switching signal. A second converter is configured to receive the input voltage and output a second PWM switching signal in response to the control signal. An output voltage node is configured to output an output voltage based on the first and second PWM switching signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Siew Yong Chui, Jun Li
  • Patent number: 9306417
    Abstract: A power system includes one or more notification circuits for powering notification devices, a backup power source, and a plurality of primary power supplies. The primary power supplies are configured to provide a combined current to the notification circuits. Each primary power supply regulates its output current to equal a highest output current provided by one of the primary power supplies so that each contributes approximately the same current to the load. The primary power supplies also include boost regulator circuits for boosting the voltage of the backup power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: UTC FIRE & SECURITY AMERICAS CORPORATION, INC.
    Inventors: William Edwards, Richard P. Tucker, Donald Becker
  • Patent number: 9257897
    Abstract: The invention is based on the problem of devising a circuit arrangement (10) for protecting electronic devices from incorrect logic voltages, wherein this circuit arrangement delivers increased protection against overvoltages, so that this circuit arrangement could also be used in multi-channel fail-safe systems that satisfy, for example, Performance Level “e” according to DIN EN ISO 13849. The circuit arrangement (10) has an input terminal (80) for connecting a power supply device and at least one voltage converter (90) that delivers, on the output side, an adjustable logic voltage. A controllable switching element (70) is connected between the one or more voltage converters (90, 95) and the input terminal (80). Furthermore, a first monitoring device (20) is provided for monitoring the logic voltage. The first monitoring device (20) is constructed so that it triggers the opening of the switching element (70) when the logic voltage reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus-Peter Saeck, Thomas Warneke, Viktor Oster
  • Patent number: 9239894
    Abstract: Certain embodiments herein are directed to systems and methods to predict failures in power systems equipment. In one embodiment, one or more life-span models associated with power systems equipment may be received. Examples of such life-span models may include a left-censoring model, a right-censoring model, and an interval-censoring model. An accuracy of the life-span models may be determined based at least in part on statistical analysis, such as a Weibull distribution analysis. A stability of the life-span models may also be determined, in certain embodiments herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Tong Zou, Yogesh Agarwal
  • Patent number: 9041245
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a converter to convert AC power into DC power, an SMPS to convert the DC power into DC powers desired by loads, a capacitor to interconnect the converter and the SMPS, a PTC element connected to the converter, a first switch connected in parallel with the PTC element, and a second switch connected in series with the first switch. The method includes turning on the second switch to start charging of the capacitor, turning on the first switch to charge the capacitor to a target voltage level, and turning off both the first switch and second switch if a voltage across the capacitor rises over the target voltage level, to discharge the voltage across the capacitor so as to lower the voltage across the capacitor to the target voltage level or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ho Yoon, Dae Hyun Lim, Joong Ki Moon, Sung Wook Kang
  • Patent number: 9042145
    Abstract: An inverter circuit contains a first and second DC sources for providing a DC voltage, a common step-up converter for boosting the DC voltage, an intermediate circuit capacitor connected between the outputs of the common step-up converter, and an inverter for converting the DC voltage provided by the capacitor into an AC voltage. The common step-up converter contains a series circuit having a first inductance and a first rectifier element and is connected between an output of the first DC source and one side of the intermediate circuit capacitor as well as a series circuit which includes a second inductance and a second rectifier element and is connected between an output of the second DC source and another side of the intermediate circuit capacitor. The common step-up converter further contains a common switching element which is connected between the first and second DC sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Platinum GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Schill
  • Patent number: 8964431
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes n (n being an integer of 2 or more) power conversion devices (P1 to P4) connected in parallel to a load (4); and a communication line (2) connected to the n power conversion devices (P1 to P4). Each of power conversion devices includes a communication circuit (10) which transmits a load current value detected by a current sensor (37) to each of other (n?1) power conversion devices through the communication line (2), and receives (n?1) load current values transmitted through the communication line (2) from other (n?1) power conversion devices; and an operation circuit (11) calculating a shared current and a cross current of the corresponding power conversion device based on the n load current values. Accordingly, a wiring line is prevented from becoming complicated even when the number of power conversion devices is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Eduardo Kazuhide Sato, Masahiro Kinoshita, Yushin Yamamoto, Tatsuaki Amboh, Katsumi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8928259
    Abstract: A modular stacked DC architecture for traction system includes a propulsion system includes an electric drive, a direct current (DC) link electrically coupled to the electric drive, and a first DC-DC converter coupled to the DC link. A first energy storage device (ESD) is electrically coupled to the first DC-DC converter, and a second DC-DC converter is coupled to the DC link and to the first DC-DC converter. The system also includes a second energy storage device electrically coupled to the second DC-DC converter and a controller coupled to the first and second DC-DC converters and configured to control a transfer of energy between the first ESD and the DC link via the first and second DC-DC converters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Viswanathan Kanakasabai, Bhaskar Sen
  • Patent number: 8890374
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply includes plural power units, plural output capacitor units, a capacitor energy bleeder circuit, plural output units, a detecting unit and a controlling unit. The capacitor energy bleeder circuit is electrically connected to the plural output capacitor units. The plural output units are connected with each other in parallel to issue the output voltage to the power output side and avoid returning electrical energy from the power output side back to the capacitor energy bleeder circuit. The detecting unit is used for detecting operating statuses of the plural power units. The controlling unit is used for controlling operations of the plural power units and the capacitor energy bleeder circuit. In response to a to-be-interrupted status of a specified power unit, the controlling unit controls the capacitor energy bleeder circuit to discharge electrical energy of the output capacitor unit corresponding to the specified power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan-Fang Lai, Ying-Sung Chang
  • Patent number: 8884563
    Abstract: A renewable energy source is converted into a desired DC voltage that is delivered to a DC motor controller of a permanent magnet motor. A micro controller monitors the amount of supplied renewable DC having the desired DC voltage, which is delivered to each phase of the motor by turning on FET switches on demand. If the renewable DC available at a given instant is not adequate to power a particular phase of the motor, then the micro controller turns on backup FET switches that are part of an independent drive circuit that is in parallel with drive circuits of the renewable DC power circuit, to deliver to the motor line DC, which is produced from an AC supply that has gone through an AC to DC converter. Once charged, the renewable DC power will power the next available phase of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Jerry Fan
    Inventors: John Berkheimer, Jerry Fan, Jianchu Zheng
  • Patent number: 8804313
    Abstract: Computational enclosures may be designed to distribute power from power supplies to load units (e.g., processors, storage devices, or network routers). The architecture may affect the efficiency, cost, modularity, accessibility, and space utilization of the components within the enclosure. Presented herein are power distribution architectures involving a distribution board oriented along a first (e.g., vertical) axis within the enclosure, comprising a power interconnect configured to distribute power among a set of load boards oriented along a second (e.g., lateral) axis and respectively connecting with a set of load units oriented along a third (e.g., sagittal) axis, and a set of power supplies also oriented along the third axis. This orientation may compactly and proximately position the loads near the power supplies in the distribution system, and result in a comparatively low local current that enables the use of printed circuit boards for the distribution board and load boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric C. Peterson, Shaun L. Harris
  • Patent number: 8723360
    Abstract: A distributed electrical generation system includes a plurality of turbines, generators, diode bridges, transformers and high voltage diodes. The system further includes a HVDC-cable and a high voltage inverter bridge. Each turbine drives a respective one of a plurality of electrical generators producing an alternating current. Each electrical generator is electrically connected to an associated diode bridge and each diode bridge rectifies the alternating current to a direct current. Each diode bridge is electrically connected to an associated transformer and each transformer steps up the direct current to a high voltage direct current. Each transformer is electrically connected in parallel to a high voltage direct current cable by associated high voltage diodes. The high voltage direct current cable is electrically connected to the high voltage inverter bridge. The high voltage inverter bridge converts the direct current to alternating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Paul D. Hopewell
  • Patent number: 8707066
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for a zero voltage processor sleep state. A voltage regulator may be coupled to a processor to provide an operating voltage to the processor. During a transition to a zero voltage power management state for the processor, the operational voltage applied to the processor by the voltage regulator may be reduced to approximately zero while an external voltage is continuously applied to a portion of the processor to save state variables of the processor during the zero voltage management power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jose Allarey, Sanjeev Jahagirdar
  • Patent number: 8659186
    Abstract: A power conversion system is described. The power conversion system includes a first power converter coupled to an electrical grid at a first point of interconnection (POI), a first processing device coupled to the first power converter and configured to control operation of the first power converter, and a first power measurement device coupled to the first processing device and configured to collect data associated with power output of the first power converter. The power conversion system also includes a first global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to the first processing device and configured to receive location information corresponding to a location of the first power converter and temporal information corresponding to a time at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ralph Teichmann, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, John Freer
  • Patent number: 8618692
    Abstract: A distributed power system including multiple (DC) batteries each DC battery with positive and negative poles. Multiple power converters are coupled respectively to the DC batteries. Each power converter includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal and a fourth terminal. The first terminal is adapted for coupling to the positive pole. The second terminal is adapted for coupling to the negative pole. The power converter includes: (i) a control loop adapted for setting the voltage between or current through the first and second terminals, and (ii) a power conversion portion adapted to selectively either: convert power from said first and second terminals to said third and fourth terminals to discharge the battery connected thereto, or to convert power from the third and fourth terminals to the first and second terminals to charge the battery connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: SolarEdge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Adest, Lior Handelsman, Yoav Galin, Amir Fishelov, Guy Sella, Yaron Binder
  • Patent number: 8552692
    Abstract: A charger and discharger for a secondary battery includes a secondary battery coupled to an output stage of the charger and discharger, a first converter circuit including a first pulse voltage generator that outputs a first pulse voltage according to a first duty ratio, and a first inductor that outputs a first current in proportion to a value of an integral of the outputted first pulse voltage with respect to time to a positive electrode terminal of the secondary battery, a second converter circuit including a second pulse voltage generator that outputs a second pulse voltage according to a second duty ratio, and a second inductor that outputs a second current in proportion to a value of an integral of the outputted second pulse voltage with respect to time to a negative electrode terminal of the secondary battery, and first and second controllers controlling the duty ratios of the first and second pulse voltage generators, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ria Ju, Young-Hak Pyo, Sergey Vasichev, Seung-Hyuck Paek, Sang-Chul Seo