Plural Converters Patents (Class 307/82)
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Patent number: 10727774Abstract: A multi-level high-speed adjustable speed drive has a plurality of modular multilevel, 3-phase inverter bridges, wherein the multilevel, 3-phase inverter bridges operate with fundamental frequency, f, wherein the multilevel, 3-phase inverter bridges include at least three levels, wherein the multilevel, 3-phase inverter bridges operate in Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) mode with 9 to 21× or operating in Fundamental Frequency Mode (FFM), wherein inverter commutation frequency equals the fundamental frequency, wherein the multilevel, 3-phase inverters operate with split phase such that one group is displaced from the other by an angle, ?=60°/q, wherein the phase displacement of a harmonic component of order n between groups, ?n is n?/q; a high-speed polyphase motor with phases arranged in q 3-phase groups; and electromagnetic means for blocking selected groups of harmonics while passing components at fundamental frequency, f, wherein the electromagnetic means includes coils carrying motor current linked by a magnType: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: General AtomicsInventor: George Thomas Santamaria
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Patent number: 10720771Abstract: A current/voltage control apparatus capable of following power changes in a DC system. A current/voltage control apparatus includes a central monitoring control device that controls V-I characteristics of a terminal converter based on power consumption consumed by a load facility and generated power generated by a power generation facility, and the central monitoring control device includes a load state setting unit that predicts a change range of the power consumption in a predetermined period and also predicts a change range of the generated power in the period and a V-I characteristic determination unit that determines the V-I characteristics of the terminal converter based on the change range of the power consumption and the change range of the generated power predicted by the load state setting unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventor: Tomihiro Takano
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Patent number: 10720774Abstract: Various embodiments include a hybrid energy system that includes a gas-turbine generator (GTG), an energy storage device configured to store energy that is coupled to an inverter, with the GTG and energy storage device coupled to a low side of a step-up transformer, and methods of operating such hybrid energy systems to meet power output contract requirements or provide power for industrial power applications that exhibit load swings. Some methods of operation include controlling power output from and charging of the storage device so as to satisfy a contract schedule of electric power output. Some methods of operation include discharging a portion of stored energy of the energy storage device to satisfy swing loads of the industrial application and charging the energy storage device by the GTG between swing loads.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2019Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Wellhead Power Solutions, LLCInventors: John Grant McDaniel, Harold Edwin Dittmer
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Patent number: 10714975Abstract: A dual band wireless power reception unit is disclosed. The wireless power reception unit according to one embodiment comprises: a first resonator; a second resonator connected to the first resonator in parallel; a single rectifier having, as an input, a node in which outputs of the first resonator and the second resonator are connected to each other in parallel; at least one switch having a first output, a second output, and an input, wherein the second output is connected to the ground; at least one capacitor connected to the second resonator in parallel, and of which one terminal is connected to the first output of the switch and the other terminal is connected to the rectifier input; and a frequency sensor sensing an input frequency from the rectifier input, and of which an output is connected to the input of the switch.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2016Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: MAPS, INC.Inventors: Jong-Tae Hwang, Sung-Min Park, Ki-Woong Jin, Sang-O Jeon, Ik-Gyoo Song, Hyun-Ick Shin, Joon Rhee
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Patent number: 10700617Abstract: A converter converting between a dc voltage at a first voltage level and at least one waveshape at a second higher voltage level has a primary connection port for the dc voltage, one secondary connection port for each waveshape, and one stack of cells for each secondary port. Each stack includes n cells connected in cascade between the primary port and the corresponding secondary port. At least (n?1) of the cells in a stack have: first, second, third, and fourth terminals, a first energy storage, and first, second, and third switches, where the first energy storage is connected in parallel with the first and second switches, the first terminal is provided at a junction between the first energy storage and the first switch, and the second terminal is provided at a junction between the first energy storage element, the second switch and the third switch.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2019Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: ABBSchweiz AGInventors: Ahmed Abdelhakim Moustafa Abdelrazek, Cicero Postiglione, Frans Dijkhuizen
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Patent number: 10693297Abstract: Disclosed is a centralized MPPT exiting method for a photovoltaic inverter comprising multiple DC chopper circuits and one inverter circuit. The method comprises: when the photovoltaic inverter is in a centralized MPPT mode, MPPT control is implemented independently for each photovoltaic cell in a photovoltaic component and the maximum power point for each photovoltaic cell is obtained; a reference value of the maximum power point for each photovoltaic cell is determined according to the type of the multiple DC chopper circuits; whether the voltage difference between the other maximum power points and the reference value goes beyond an allowable voltage difference is judged and the operation of the DC chopper circuits connecting to the photovoltaic cells with a voltage difference beyond the allowable voltage difference is recovered.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2014Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: SUNGROW POWER SUPPLY CO., LTD.Inventors: Fenggang Zhang, Hua Ni, Qun Zheng, Yanhu Zhang, Bing Hu
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Patent number: 10673334Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes converting power by a power converter circuit having a plurality of converter cells coupled to a supply circuit. Converting the power includes a plurality of successive activation sequences and, in each activation sequence, activating at least some of the plurality of converter cells at an activation frequency. The activation frequency is dependent on at least one of an output power and an output current of the power converter circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AGInventors: Gerald Deboy, Kennith Kin Leong
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Patent number: 10666046Abstract: A scalable DC power distribution and control system suitable for commercial buildings includes one or more power and control hubs. Each DC power and control power hub provides power and control for any suitable distributed DC loads such as light-fixtures. AC power from the electric utility is applied to the power and control hub and is converted to DC power for distribution to DC loads within the space using low-voltage cables.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2018Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey T. Davis, Jonathan P. Cartrette
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Patent number: 10651735Abstract: The disclosure relates to technology for providing power, voltage, and/or current from a combination of DC sources. The DC sources may be photovoltaic panels. One aspect includes a stack of DC power sources (e.g., photovoltaic modules) with a DC to DC converter (e.g., power optimizer) associated with each DC power source. An output capacitor of a DC to DC converter is connected in series with its DC power source. Thus, there is a string of DC power sources and output capacitors connected in electrical series. The DC output of the system is a series connection of the DC power sources and the output capacitors. This reduces stress on the output capacitors, while allowing for efficient power generation by the DC power sources.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2017Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Heping Dai
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Patent number: 10631395Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing the RF power switched into a resonant load by achieving voltage multiplication by means of coupled inductors are provided herein. In one approach, the RF electromagnetic wave achieved by voltage multiplication is used to drive a diode opening switch in order to create a fast rising, unipolar electrical pulse.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2019Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: TRANSIENT PLASMA SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Jason M. Sanders, Mark Thomas
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Patent number: 10622812Abstract: A power control method for controlling power of a plurality of power conversion modules that are respectively connected in parallel to a plurality of photovoltaic, includes: sensing a string current value flowing between outermost opposite ends of the plurality of photovoltaic modules, and voltage and current values of each of the photovoltaic modules; changing the string current value and respectively calculating conversion power values of the plurality of power conversion modules per the changed string current value by using the voltage and current values; searching a string current value for a minimum power point tracking control among the changed string current values by using the conversion power values; and controlling the plurality of power conversion modules to track the searched string current value.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: SOONGSIL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CONSORTIUM TECHNO-PARKInventors: Joung Hu Park, Young Tae Jeon
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Patent number: 10615685Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with deriving power output from an energy harvester are disclosed herein. In embodiments, an apparatus may include one or more processors, devices, and/or circuitry to identify a plurality of times at which an intermediate voltage of a two stage power conversion circuit corresponds to a voltage reference, and ascertain an amount of time between one of the identified times and another one of the identified times. The one or more processors, devices, and/or circuitry may derive a power or current value associated with the second power supply using the amount of time.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2016Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Lilly Huang, Christopher Schaef, Vaibhav Vaidya, Suhwan Kim
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Patent number: 10615578Abstract: A pre-fabricated electrical apparatus has: a main housing configured to enclose electrical equipment in use; a splice compartment mounted, or integrally formed, external to and adjacent the main housing; a conductor passage defined between the main housing and the splice compartment; and in which the main housing and splice compartment are configured to, in use, permit a conductor to extend from a first conductor termination point, defined within the main housing, to a second conductor termination point, defined within the splice compartment, with the second termination point having a temperature rating that is higher than a temperature rating of the electrical equipment. A method includes: prefabricating, at a prefabrication facility, an electrical apparatus by mounting or integrally forming a splice compartment adjacent an external part of a main housing; and installing the electrical apparatus at an end user facility, which is remote from the prefabrication facility.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Inventor: Shawn Murray Karle
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Patent number: 10608530Abstract: A switched tank converter includes at least three conversion units. Each conversion unit is a first-type conversion unit or a second-type conversion unit. An end of the support capacitor of each first-type conversion unit is electrically connected with a ground end. An end of a half-bridge clamping circuit of the second-type conversion unit is electrically connected with the ground end. A middle point of the half-bridge clamping circuit is electrically connected with an end of the support capacitor of the second-type conversion unit. The first-stage conversion unit is the first-type conversion unit. At least one conversion unit of the third-stage conversion unit to the Nth-stage conversion unit is the second-type conversion unit. Another end of the half-bridge clamping circuit of at least one second-type conversion unit is electrically connected with another end of the support capacitor of the lower-stage conversion unit excluding the first-stage conversion unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2019Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.Inventors: Tiansheng Zhu, Yiqing Ye
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Patent number: 10601223Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides thermoelectric power generating systems that can include an arrangement of power generator units electrically connected to provide a global output voltage, each power generator unit generating an individual output voltage, and an electronic stabilization system. The electronic stabilization system can include DC/DC converters connected to one or more of the power generator units; electrical variable detectors including at least one of voltage detectors and current detectors for automatically measuring the individual voltage or individual current existing at a point of a DC/DC converter; and a microprocessor-based controller connected to the voltage and/or current detectors to receive the measured voltages and/or currents, and, based on the measurements, to control the operation of the DC/DC converters to obtain desired DC/DC converter output voltages and/or desired DC/DC converter currents.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2016Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignees: Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Alternative Energy Innovations, S.L.Inventors: Raúl Aragonés Ortiz, Roger Malet Munté, Carles Ferrer Ramis, Joan Oliver Malagelada
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Patent number: 10601214Abstract: A method of clearing a fault in a high voltage DC electrical network, including power converters interconnected by a DC power transmission, comprising: detecting a fault in the DC power transmission and reconfiguring each power converter to a fault blocking mode driving the DC fault current towards zero; locating the fault and isolating a faulty portion from a healthy remaining portion; reconfiguring one of the power converters designated as a re-energising power converter from the fault blocking to re-energise the healthy remaining portion; and detecting a rise in the voltage level in the healthy remaining portion above a threshold level and reconfiguring the remaining power converter connected with the healthy remaining portion from the fault blocking to the normal power transmission.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2016Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBHInventor: Carl David Barker
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Patent number: 10594223Abstract: Apparatus for power conversion are provided. One apparatus includes a power converter including an input circuit and an output circuit. The power converter is configured to receive power from a source for providing power at a DC source voltage VS. The power converter is adapted to convert power from the input circuit to the output circuit at a substantially fixed voltage transformation ratio KDC=VOUT/VIN at an output current, wherein VIN is an input voltage and VOUT is an output voltage. The input circuit and at least a portion of the output circuit are connected in series across the source, such that an absolute value of the input voltage VIN applied to the input circuit is approximately equal to the absolute value of the DC source voltage VS minus a number N times the absolute value of the output voltage VOUT, where N is at least 1.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: VLT, Inc.Inventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Andrew D'Amico
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Patent number: 10530271Abstract: In a power conversion device in a configuration in which a plurality of power converter cells has serially connected outputs and includes a converter and an inverter as components, when a load is light, the cells also operate with a light load, and efficiency is reduced. A power conversion device has a plurality of power converter cells. The outputs of the cells are connected in series. The device has a controller that controls the cells. The cells each have a converter that converts an externally inputted power supply voltage and generates a DC link voltage and an inverter that converts the DC link voltage into an alternating current voltage and outputs the current. The controller stops a converter in some of the cells depending on power supply electric power or load electric power. The inverter continues to operate using a link capacitor as a power supply.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2017Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Mizuki Nakahara, Yasuaki Norimatsu, Takae Shimada, Mitsuhiro Kadota, Yuki Kawaguchi
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Patent number: 10523448Abstract: A power source equipment for power over Ethernet system comprising a plurality of power source devices, each configured to determine, after having determined the power source device is connected by an external device without a powered device (PD) signature, whether another power source device is connected by a power device with a PD signature. If the determination is positive, the two power source devices are determined having been connected by the same PD and power is supplied to the PD by the two power source devices.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: IC PLUS CORP.Inventors: Hann-Yun Tarn, Chef Hsiao
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Patent number: 10514743Abstract: A method of controlling a power supply using software comprises setting a nominal output level through a waveform controlled by a micro-controller. The method identifies when a device is fully charged, and moves to a keep-alive mode, in which the output level is decreased below the nominal output level when the device is fully charged. The method further provides a failsafe to move the system to the keep-alive mode when the micro-controller is halted, crashed, in an error state.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2014Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: VELVETWIRE LLCInventors: Eric O. Bodnar, Christopher R. Kilgus, Jennifer J. Lee
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Patent number: 10498217Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of power converters in a power system includes controlling switching times on the plurality of power converters receiving an input using a master controller, such that at least one of the plurality of power converters switches at a different time than at least one other of the plurality of power converters to provide a summation of outputs at a coupling point, and adjusting control signals from the master controller to each power converter to control the summation of the outputs to a desired output. A method of controlling a plurality of power converters in a power system includes determining a base frequency, assigning an operating frequency to the power converters, wherein the operating frequency is a multiple of the base frequency, to each of the power converters, operating the plurality of power converters at the assigned frequencies, and summing the individual outputs of the power converters to produce an output.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2018Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventor: Todd Karin
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Patent number: 10483810Abstract: A wireless-power-transfer system includes a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit. The transmitter circuit includes a primary series-resonant capacitor connected to an oscillator-controlled drive stage that provides fixed-frequency output and a transmitting coil connected to the primary series-resonant capacitor. The transmitting resonant frequency is below the fixed frequency of the oscillator-controlled drive stage. The receiver circuit includes a receiving coil, a secondary series-resonant capacitor connected in series with the receiving coil, and a secondary parallel-resonant capacitor connected in parallel with the receiving coil. The receiving resonant frequency increases as a nonlinear capacitance of the at least one rectifier decreases when the rectifier-circuit DC output increases.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2015Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Jeffrey John Sorge
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Patent number: 10457159Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of power converters, a plurality of energy storage systems, a first common node, a second common node, and zero-reference voltage node. Each power converter is coupled between one energy storage system and the first and second common nodes. The system operates to regulate power between the power converters and the first and second common nodes. Each power converter is a bi-directional power converter and each energy storage system is a battery pack. In one example, the first common node is regulated to a voltage VSPAN, and the second common node is regulated to a voltage VSCN which is the mean of all voltages output by the battery packs. In another example, the first common node is regulated to a voltage ?VSPAN, and the second common node is regulated to a voltage +VSPAN. No power converter processes more than voltage VSPAN yielding high-efficiency power conversion.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2016Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Motiv Power Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jim Michael Castelaz, Elias Stein, William Treichler
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Patent number: 10461570Abstract: Systems and methods are herein disclosed for efficiently allowing current to bypass a group of solar cells having one or more malfunctioning or shaded solar cells without overwhelming a bypass diode. This can be done using a switch (e.g., a MOSFET) connected in parallel with the bypass diode. By turning the switch on and off, a majority of the bypass current can be routed through the switch, which is configured to handle larger currents than the bypass diode is designed for, leaving only a minority of the current to pass through the bypass diode.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2016Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: TIGO ENERGY, INC.Inventor: Mordechay Avrutsky
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Patent number: 10461575Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a UPS system comprising an input, an output, a converter coupled to the input and configured to convert input power into DC power, a plurality of DC busses coupled to the converter and configured to receive the DC power from the converter, an inverter coupled to the plurality of DC busses and configured to convert the DC power from the plurality of DC busses into output AC power and provide the output AC power to the output, and a controller configured to operate the inverter, during a positive half-period of the line cycle, in a first mode of operation to provide a positive output voltage to the output, in a second mode of operation to provide a zero output voltage to the output, and a third mode of operation to provide a negative output voltage to the output.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATIONInventors: Patrick Chambon, Alain Lacarnoy
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Patent number: 10439512Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a power supply system comprising an input, an output, a neutral point, a converter configured to convert input AC power into converted DC power, the converter including a first converter switch, a positive DC bus configured to receive the converted DC power, a negative DC bus configured to receive the converted DC power, an inverter configured to convert DC power from the positive and negative DC busses into output AC power, the inverter including a first inverter switch, and a clamp circuit coupled to the positive DC bus and coupled across at least one of the first converter switch and the first inverter switch, the clamp circuit configured, during switching operation, to clamp a voltage across the first converter switch and/or the first inverter switch to a voltage level of the positive DC bus or the negative DC bus.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2018Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATIONInventor: Jonas Sonsby Mouridsen
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Patent number: 10431978Abstract: A system and method for conditioning DC power received from hybrid DC power sources is disclosed. A power conversion circuit is coupled to a respective DC power source to selectively condition the output power generated thereby to a DC bus voltage. The power conversion circuit includes a switch arrangement and capacitors arranged to provide a charge balancing in the power conversion circuit. A controller in operable communication with the switch arrangement receives inputs on a DC bus voltage and at least one parameter related to operation of the DC power source, and determines an adjustable voltage to be output from the conversion circuit to the DC bus based on the received inputs. The controller then selectively controls operation of the switch arrangement in order to generate the determined adjustable voltage.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Fengfeng Tao, Ahmed Elasser, Song Chi, Maja Harfman Todorovic
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Patent number: 10424934Abstract: A multi-input power manager includes: first to n-th maximum power point tracking circuits for respectively receiving first to n-th powers from the outside and controlling voltages of first to n-th nodes to be first to n-th reference voltages based on the first to n-th powers; first to n-th input capacitors which respectively store the first to n-th powers by control of the first to n-th maximum power point tracking circuits, and are respectively connected to the first to n-th nodes; first to n-th transfer switches which are respectively connected to the first to n-th nodes, and output powers respectively stored in the first to n-th input capacitors, responding to first to n-th transfer switching signals; and a transfer switch control circuit which compare the first to n-th reference voltages and the voltages of the first to n-th nodes respectively, and generate the first to n-th transfer switching signals accordingly.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2016Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventor: Jong Pil Im
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Patent number: 10411589Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes a main capacitor to store therein DC power, and an inverter circuit to convert the DC power stored in the main capacitor to AC power. The main capacitor and a power semiconductor element that constitutes the inverter circuit are connected to each other by a P-side common wire through which a switching current flows. A switching-current shunt component is connected in parallel to the P-side common wire.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2015Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Yukio Nakashima, Takayoshi Miki
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Patent number: 10396669Abstract: A power converter controller and methods for its operation are provided that can control a self-oscillating power converter that uses a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) as a switch by manipulating the current flowing in a control winding. The controller is able to determine the optimum time to remove a short circuit applied to the control winding, as well as being able to determine the optimum time to pass current through the control winding. The controller can further draw power from the power converter using the control winding. The controller is capable of maintaining the midpoint voltage of the power converter in the case that the converter has more than one switch. The controller estimates the output power of the converter without requiring a connection to the secondary side of the converter transformer. The controller further controls entry and exit into a low-power mode in which converter oscillations are suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Inventor: Russell Jacques
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Patent number: 10396554Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling power distribution from a plurality of inverters to one or more loads. The method comprises determining, using one or more computer processors, a plurality of possible combinations of the plurality of inverters to meet load demands corresponding to the one or more loads. Each possible combination of the plurality of possible combinations includes a respective set of one or more inverters of the plurality of inverters. The method further comprises accessing, from a memory coupled with the one or more computer processors, one or more predefined efficiency functions associated with the one or more inverters; selecting, based on the one or more predefined efficiency functions, a combination from the plurality of possible combinations; and transmitting control signals to the set of one or more inverters corresponding to the selected combination to thereby power the one or more loads.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Mun Shin Chik, Lijun Gao, Shengyi Liu
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Patent number: 10396684Abstract: Output current ripple is reduced in a three-level DC-DC power converter by connecting a plurality of phase legs in parallel between a source of input power and an output of the power converter and conducting power from the source of input power to the power converter output in an interleaved manner. The large current that results from such interleaved operation is reduced to acceptable levels, potentially less than the output current ripple of the power converter by providing inversely coupled inductors having a mutual inductance preferably greater than the inductor of the power converter in respective phase legs and in series in the circulating current path to avoid any need to increase the power converter inductance due to the circulating current. The inductor and inversely coupled inductors are preferably integrated into a single magnetic element of compact design.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2015Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, IncInventors: Mingkai Mu, Sizhao Lu, Yang Jiao, Fred C. Lee
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Patent number: 10391879Abstract: An energy storage system includes a first energy storage, a second energy storage, a transformer, and circuitry. The first energy storage outputs a first output voltage. The second energy storage outputs a second output voltage. The transformer transforms at least one of the first output voltage and the second output voltage. The circuitry is configured to detect a sign of a fault in at least one of the first energy storage and the second energy storage. The circuitry is configured to control the transformer so as to transfer power from one energy storage among the first energy storage and the second energy storage to another energy storage among the first energy storage and the second energy storage in a case where the detector detects the sign of the fault in the one energy storage.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Ryota Unno, Daijiro Takizawa
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Patent number: 10381977Abstract: Circuits integrated or integrable with a photovoltaic panel to provide built-in functionality to the photovoltaic panel including safety features such as arc detection and elimination, ground fault detection and elimination, reverse current protection, monitoring of the performance of the photovoltaic panel, transmission of the monitored parameters and theft prevention of the photovoltaic panel. The circuits may avoid power conversion, for instance DC/DC power conversion, may avoid performing maximum power tracking to include a minimum number of components and thereby increase overall reliability.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Solaredge Technologies LtdInventors: Liron Har-Shai, Alon Zohar, Ilan Yoscovitch, Yoav Galin, Lior Handlesman
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Patent number: 10377259Abstract: An apparatus comprises a power electronic energy conversion system comprising a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy and a first voltage converter configured to convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device. The apparatus also includes a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation and communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Robert Dean King, Robert Louis Steigerwald
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Patent number: 10348202Abstract: A modular dc-dc boost converter system is provided that can substantially improve efficiency over a wide range of input and output voltages. The system includes three modules: a buck module, a boost module, and a dc transformer module. These modules are interconnected such that the system output voltage is equal to the sum of the output voltages of adc-dc converter module and a dc transformer module. Depending on the operating point, one or more modules may operate in passthrough mode, leading to substantially reduced ac losses. The required capacitor size and the transistor voltage ratings are also substantially reduced, relative to a conventional single dc-dc boost converter operating at the same input and output voltages.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporateInventors: Hua Chen, Robert Warren Erickson, Dragan Maksimovic, Tadakazu Harada
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Patent number: 10348095Abstract: A method for controlling a switching circuit including an input port electrically coupled to a photovoltaic device and an output port electrically coupled to a load includes (1) entering a voltage limiting operating mode and (2) in the voltage limiting operating mode (i) causing a control switching device of the switching circuit to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states in a manner which limits magnitude of an output voltage to a maximum voltage value, the output voltage being a voltage across the output port, and (ii) varying the maximum voltage value as a function of magnitude of an output current, the output current being a current flowing through the output port.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2016Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.Inventors: Seth M. Kahn, Anthony J. Stratakos, Ilija Jergovic, Vincent W. Ng, Ryan James Ricchiuti, Artin Der Minassians
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Patent number: 10340703Abstract: An energy system for renewable energy applications includes a renewable energy source, a bidirectional inverter connected an AC bus and a DC bus, an energy storage unit connected to the bidirectional DC/DC converter, and a control system comprising one or more controllers coupled to the bidirectional inverter and the bidirectional DC/DC converter. The bidirectional inverter is connected to the renewable energy source and a bidirectional DC/DC converter through the DC bus. The system is configured to capture low power of a photovoltaic (PV) array, energy typically lost to inverter clipping, and through the utilization of ramp rate control.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2018Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: DYNAPOWER COMPANY LLCInventors: John C. Palombini, Apurva Somani
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Patent number: 10340817Abstract: The inverter circuit has a first silicon carbide MOSFET and a second silicon carbide MOSFET connected in series and external freewheel diodes respectively connected in anti-parallel to the first and second MOSFETs. The inverter circuit is configured such that during a deadtime when the first silicon carbide MOSFET and the second silicon carbide MOSFET are OFF and freewheeling current starts flowing, a pulse width of a transient current flowing to a built-in diode of the first silicon carbide MOSFET or a built-in diode of the second silicon carbide MOSFET is less than 2 ?s.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2018Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Takumi Fujimoto, Mikiya Chounabayashi
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Patent number: 10333329Abstract: A method includes activating electrochemical cells of a cell assembly to output electrical energy in accordance with a superordinate clock signal in order to have an activation and/or switch-off time points of the respective cells on the basis of the superordinate clock signal not all occur at the same time. To reduce the complexity of smoothing the total battery voltage, the switching time points according to the disclosure are shifted on the basis of the superordinate clock signal for the first cell in accordance with a first switching specification by a cell-specific first clock shift signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2014Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventor: Stefan Butzmann
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Patent number: 10326282Abstract: Methods and apparatus may provide for the adaptive operation of a solar power system (3). Solar energy sources (1) and photovoltaic DC-DC power converters (2) may be interconnected in serial, parallel, or combined arrangements. DC photovoltaic power conversion may be accomplished utilizing dynamically adjustable voltage output limits (8) of photovoltaic DC-DC power converters (2). A photovoltaic DC-DC power converter (2) may include at least one external state data interface (7) receptive to at least one external state parameter of a solar power system (3). A dynamically adjustable voltage output limit control (12) may be used to relationally set a dynamically adjustable voltage output limit (8) of a photovoltaic DC-DC power converter (2). Dynamically adjusting voltage output limits (8) may be done in relation to external state parameter information to achieve desired system results.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2016Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: AMPT, LLCInventors: Robert M. Porter, Anatoli Ledenev
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Patent number: 10298019Abstract: A communication host and a photovoltaic power generation system are provided. The communication host includes an acquiring module, a determining module and a control module. The acquiring module is configured to acquire an operating state parameter of the system. The determining module is configured to determine whether the optimizer meets a first preset triggering condition based on the operating state parameter. In a case where the optimizer meets the first preset triggering condition, a first triggering instruction is transmitted, to instruct the system to decrease, in response to the first triggering instruction, the direct current bus voltage of the grid-connected inverter, and/or a second triggering instruction is transmitted, to instruct the system to increase, in response to the second triggering instruction, an output voltage limiting value of at least one of the optimizers meeting the first preset triggering condition.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2018Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: SUNGROW POWER SUPPLY CO., LTD.Inventors: Xinyu Wang, Yanfei Yu, Yu Gu, Jun Xu, Yilei Gu
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Patent number: 10284115Abstract: An inverter system includes an input inverter including a positive and a negative DC input terminals and first and second AC output terminals; and a bidirectional inverter device, including a first bidirectional subinverter and a second bidirectional subinverter. The first and second bidirectional subinverters have DC terminals that are interconnected in parallel with a DC power storage device. The first bidirectional subinverter have first and second AC terminals. The first AC terminal is connected to the first AC output terminal of the input inverter. The second bidirectional subinverter have first and second AC terminals. The first AC terminal is connected to the second AC output terminal of the input inverter. The second AC terminal of the first bidirectional subinverter and the second AC terminal of the second bidirectional subinverter are interconnected.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2015Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Eltek ASInventors: Arkadiusz Kulka, Kjetil Boysen
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Patent number: 10284083Abstract: A DC/DC converter includes a first low-voltage terminal point, a second low-voltage terminal point and a third low-voltage terminal point, and a first high-voltage terminal point and a second high-voltage terminal point. The first low-voltage terminal point and the first high-voltage terminal point are directly connected to one another, and an actively drivable switching element, a capacitor and a further switching element are connected in series between the first high-voltage terminal point and the second high-voltage terminal point. The capacitor is connected between the second low-voltage terminal point and the third low-voltage terminal point, a further capacitance is directly connected between the second low-voltage terminal point and the third low-voltage terminal point, and the further capacitance is decoupled from the capacitor at two terminals by two inductors, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2017Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventor: Burkard Mueller
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Patent number: 10277036Abstract: An inverter device includes a circuit configuration for converting, to AC power, DC powers respectively given from a first power supply and a second power supply which outputs power with voltage lower than that of the first power supply. The inverter device includes: a first step-up circuit; a second step-up circuit; an inverter circuit connected to both step-up circuits connected in parallel to each other, the inverter circuit configured to convert powers given from both step-up circuits to AC power; and a control unit configured to multiply a power value including the AC power outputted from the inverter circuit, by a ratio of a power value of the DC power of each step-up circuit to a total power value obtained by summing the DC powers of both step-up circuits, and set a current target value for each step-up circuit based on a value obtained by the multiplication.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2014Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Ayai, Kenji Abiru, Toshiaki Okumura
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Patent number: 10270275Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an energy storage system are provided. In particular data indicative of a load profile can be received. The load profile can specify one or more amounts of power to be delivered by an energy storage system over a duration. The energy storage system can include one or more energy storage elements of a first type and one or more energy storage elements of a second type. One or more time windows associated with high power events and one or more time windows associated with high energy events can then be determined based on the load profile. Power delivery by the energy storage elements of the first type and the energy storage elements of the second type can then be controlled based at least in part on the determined time windows.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2015Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Chester Stanley Jezierski, Jr.
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Patent number: 10218180Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling a voltage source converter to energize a DC link. A voltage order generating module generates a voltage order for controlling the voltage source converter to generate a DC voltage on the DC link. the voltage order is based on a time varying voltage reference signal. A voltage reference module, which may include a ramp generator generates the time varying voltage reference signal such that the rate of change of the voltage reference signal changes over time. The rate of change of the voltage reference signal may decrease over time, to become more gradual as the nominal operating voltage is reached to avoid over-voltages.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2016Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBHInventors: Robin Gupta, Carl Barker, Andrzej Adamczyk
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Patent number: 10214111Abstract: An electrified vehicle high voltage battery pack has series-connected battery units or cells combining to provide the high voltage. To power a low voltage bus (e.g., for low voltage accessories or charging a low voltage battery) in a balanced manner, a plurality of DC/DC converters each has an input coupled to a respective battery unit and the converters have respective outputs coupled in parallel to the low voltage bus. A first loop controller receives an actual bus voltage. The first controller generates a target current in response to the bus voltage adapted to regulate the actual bus voltage to a target voltage less than the high voltage. A second controller distributes the target current into a plurality of allocated current commands for respective converters according to respective states of charge of the battery units connected to the converters.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2016Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Michael J. Hand, III, Richard Dyche Anderson
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Patent number: 10218270Abstract: A power converter includes a power conversion circuit converting an input voltage into an output voltage, and a feedback control circuit including a voltage detector module generating a feedback signal having a signal frequency proportional to a magnitude of the output voltage, a phase detector module generating counting-up and counting-down signals based on the signal frequency and a reference frequency, and a control input generator module controlling the power conversion circuit to adjust the output voltage based on the counting-up and counting-down signals. The logic levels of the counting-up and counting-down signals are maintained until a relative relationship between the signal frequency and the reference frequency changes.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2018Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: NATIONAL CHI NAN UNIVERSITYInventors: Yo-Sheng Lin, Yang-Yun Lai
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Patent number: 10211635Abstract: To establish a system capable of efficient operation control between a plurality of distributed power sources without undermining the versatility of the distributed power sources, a power control system controls a power generation device and other distributed power sources, the power generation device generating power while a current sensor detects forward power flow. The power control system includes: a power control device including an output unit configured to output power supplied from the other distributed power sources, in a state where the power generation device and the other distributed power sources are paralleled off from a grid; and a dummy output system configured to supply a dummy current detectable by the current sensor as a current in the same direction as the forward power flow, using an output from the output unit, wherein the dummy output system includes step-down unit located between the output unit and the current sensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2015Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: KYOCERA CorporationInventor: Shusuke Nakayama