Plural Converters Patents (Class 307/82)
  • Patent number: 9891679
    Abstract: A single phase redundant power supply system may include a first power supply having an input coupled to a first phase voltage in a polyphase power distribution system and an output coupled to a load for supplying an amount of DC power to the load, and a second power supply having an input for coupling to a second phase voltage in the polyphase power distribution system and an output coupled to the load for supplying an amount of DC power to the load. At least the first power supply is configured to reduce phase current imbalances in the polyphase power distribution system by adjusting the amount of DC power supplied to the load by the first power supply and the amount of DC power supplied to the load by the second power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ASTEC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Vijay Gangadhar Phadke, Robert Lee Myers
  • Patent number: 9886051
    Abstract: A device includes an energy unit coupled to an energy device and adapted to couple a pair of split DC rails. A controller senses the voltage on the DC rails and regulates its output current response by means of an autonomous current response that creates the aggregate effect of controlling the rail voltage in cooperation with other units coupled to the DC rails. A system includes multiple such devices coupled to split DC rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Pika Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Daniel Kaufman, Benjamin Francis Polito, Keith Thomas Richtman
  • Patent number: 9882507
    Abstract: A multi-phase power generation system for renewable energy, in which reactive elements (i.e., capacitors and/or inductors) can be selectively switched in and out in order to meet a particular power factor requirement, is provided. Each phase of the multi-phase power system receives generated powers from a set of inverters, and each phase has a set of switch reactive elements for making power factor adjustments to the power generated by the set of inverters. The power outputs of the set of inverters belonging to a particular phase are combined into a one combined ac power output, and the power factor adjustment for that particular phase is performed on the combined power output by the set of the switch reactive elements of that particular phase. In some embodiments, at least some of the inverters are micro-inverters that convert DC power from one or two solar panels to AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Garrity, Aaron M. Jungreis
  • Patent number: 9866030
    Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes solar cells and photovoltaic inverters configured to convert direct current generated by the solar cells to alternating current. Grid voltage at the point of interconnection (POI) of the photovoltaic system and the power grid is measured and compared to a setpoint. A control signal is generated based on the measured grid voltage. The control signal is provided to the photovoltaic inverters. The control signal is adjusted to cause the photovoltaic inverters to generate or absorb reactive power to respond to transient grid voltage changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Lars Johnson, Robert Johnson
  • Patent number: 9849789
    Abstract: An operation mode selection unit selects an efficiency priority mode for minimizing the overall loss in a power supply system based on a load request voltage obtained in accordance with the condition of a load and on the conditions of DC power supplies, and generates a mode selection signal in accordance with the selection result. When SOC and/or output power have/has reached power supply restriction values in any DC power supply, an operation mode modification unit generates a final mode selection instructing signal so as to modify selection of the efficiency priority mode by the mode selection signal to select an operation mode in which power distribution between the DC power supplies can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuji Tomura, Masanori Ishigaki, Naoki Yanagizawa, Masaki Okamura
  • Patent number: 9847645
    Abstract: The neuro-fuzzy control system for a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system includes an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) implemented in real time. Independent active and reactive P-Q power control transfers the generated power to the grid using a voltage source inverter (VSI). The PV system includes a PV module, a buck converter, a VSI, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller for the buck converter, and a VSI controller. The MPPT controller uses irradiation and temperature as inputs. A five-layer ANFIS processes these inputs and provides a control reference voltage as input to a PI controller connected to the buck converter to maintain the output voltage of the photovoltaic array with respect to the control reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Mohammad Ali Abido, Muhammed Y. Worku
  • Patent number: 9837921
    Abstract: A method includes converting power by a power converter comprising a plurality of converter cells and at least one filter cell, receiving a cell input power at a cell input and providing a cell output power at a cell output of at least one of the plurality of converter cells, and operating the filter cell in one of an input power mod, in which the filter cell receives an input power, and an output power mode, in which the filter cell provides an output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Gerald Deboy, Johann Kolar, Matthias Kasper
  • Patent number: 9837822
    Abstract: A control device of an energy storage system is provided. The control device includes a voltage calculation unit calculating the difference between a reference voltage and a measured voltage; frequency calculation unit calculating the difference between a reference frequency and a measured frequency; a power reserve margin (PRM) calculating a ratio of reserve power to the maximum consumption of power; and a power calculation unit using, as input values, coefficients calculated at the voltage calculation unit, the frequency calculation unit and the PRM calculation unit, and calculating a switch control value of an energy storage system by further using a difference in reactive power and active power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Kwan Kang, Chung Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 9831676
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes: a conversion device for each phase which converts DC voltage inputted from a DC power supply, to voltage having an AC waveform to be outputted to each phase with respect to a neutral point of three-phase AC; and a control unit which controls these conversion devices. Each conversion device includes: a first conversion unit which has a DC/DC converter including an isolation transformer, and a capacitor, and which converts the inputted DC voltage to voltage containing a pulsating-current waveform corresponding to the absolute value of voltage obtained by superimposing a third-order harmonic on a fundamental wave as the AC waveform to be outputted; and a second conversion unit which has a full-bridge inverter for inverting the polarity of the voltage containing the pulsating-current waveform, per one cycle, thereby converting the voltage to voltage having the AC waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Okumura, Naoki Ayai
  • Patent number: 9825470
    Abstract: A multi-source power converter is proposed to permit bidirectional DC to AC conversion from n (n?2 and n?) DC voltage sources to an AC load with a reduced number of switches, and DC to DC conversion. Both single and three phases AC load are considered. The proposed topology consists in a single stage of conversion, and therefore a high efficiency can be expected for the system. Any type of DC sources can be used in the system (fuel-cell, battery, ultra-capacitor, photo-voltaic cells, DC bus, DC to DC or AC to DC converter, etc.). The AC load can be either single or three phases (single-phase AC grid/microgrid, three-phase electric machines, induction machine, synchronous machine, etc.). There is no requirement for the n DC voltage source values; they can be equal or different and they can be used individually or together by the converter to generate the AC output. If different DC voltage values are used, the converter can be controlled to generate a multi-level AC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: McMaster University
    Inventors: Ali Emadi, Pierre Magne
  • Patent number: 9806445
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for coupling power. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a trunk cable comprising a first conductor, a second conductor, and a third conductor; a first connector, wherein a first terminal of the first connector is conductively coupled to the first conductor; a second connector, wherein a first terminal of the second connector is conductively coupled to the second conductor; and a third connector, wherein a first terminal of the third connector is conductively coupled to the third conductor, and wherein the first, the second, and the third connectors are each adapted to couple to a different DC-AC power converter and an output of the trunk cable comprises three-phase AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Fornage, Raghuveer R. Belur
  • Patent number: 9806620
    Abstract: Methods, systems, circuits, devices, and apparatuses are described for multi-phase hysteretic buck switching regulators. Systems, circuits, devices, and apparatuses for multi-phase hysteretic buck switching regulators may include master phase components, multi-phase delay generators, and one or more slave phase components. Methods for multi-phase hysteretic buck switching regulation are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Melendy, Mark Rutherford
  • Patent number: 9800132
    Abstract: A power conversion system may include a plurality of power devices and a sensor operably coupled to at least one of the plurality of power devices and configured to detect a voltage, current, or electromagnetic signature signal associated with the plurality of power devices. The power converter may also include circuitry operably coupled to the plurality of power devices and the sensor. The circuitry may send a respective gate signal to each respective power device of the plurality of power devices, such that each respective gate signal is delayed by a respective compensation delay that is determined for the respective power device based on a respective time delay of the respective power device and a maximum time delay of the plurality of power devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Michael Szczesny, Rajib Datta, Fengfeng Tao, Jian Dai, Xu She, Tannous Frangieh
  • Patent number: 9787237
    Abstract: A fault tolerant control system for a multi-phase permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance motor utilizes vector control to provide safe operation under various phase loss fault conditions. Specifically, the vector control of the present invention utilizes a fault tolerant algorithm that receives a torque input and an electrical current feedback signal from the motor. Thus, in the presence of a fault condition, the vector control applies the optimal torque angle to the motor, while reducing the phase currents to an optimized value to lessen the saturation effect in the motor, so as to ensure that the motor delivers maximum torque output in the presence of such faults. As such, the control system allows the motor to operate safely with high reliability, which is highly desirable, such as in electric vehicles and the aerospace industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventors: Seungdeog Choi, AKM Arafat
  • Patent number: 9780671
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus including a power converter, a first output port, a second output port, a load detection circuit and an output selection circuit is provided. The power converter generates a first and a second output voltages having different voltage specification. The first and the second output ports respectively provide the received output voltages to a back end. The load detection circuit is coupled with the power converter and the second output port and detects a load requirement of a load connected to the second output port to generate a load detection signal. The power converter generates a first switch control signal according to the load detection signal to control the output selection circuit, such that the output selection circuit provides one of the first and the second output voltages in response to the first switch control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: GREEN SOLUTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Ming Chan, Desi Pan, Shian-Sung Shiu, Li-Min Lee
  • Patent number: 9774256
    Abstract: A system includes a first buck type direct current (DC) to DC converter having: a first control switch; a first synchronized switch; an inductor; and a capacitor. The system further includes a second buck type DC to DC converter having: a second control switch; a second synchronized switch; the inductor; and the capacitor. The system further includes a controller operatively connected to the first buck type DC to DC converter and the second buck type DC to DC converter, wherein the controller controls a conduction state of the first control switch and the second control switch; and an output terminal pair operatively connected to the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: SOLANTRO SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventor: Gerald Augustoni
  • Patent number: 9768832
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a power electronics device in which a selects a first power electronics device and a second power electronics device from power electronics devices, based on power attribute information and communication attribute information of each power electronics device, and the first power electronics device is a master of power allocation control of electric energy that the power electronics devices connected to one power line of power lines perform input and output on the one power line, and the second power electronics device is a master of output power phase synchronization control of power which the power electronics devices connected to the one power line outputs to the one power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Nishibayashi, Kotaro Ise, Takafumi Sakamoto, Yuji Tohzaka, Ikuya Aoyama
  • Patent number: 9755454
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a set of power supply units where each power supply units from the set of power supply unit is associated with a power zone from a set of power zones. The apparatus can also includes a redundant power supply unit and a set of electronic devices where each electronic device from the set of electronic devices is associated with a power zone from the set of power zones. Additionally, each electronic device from the set of electronic devices is operatively coupled to a power supply unit from the set of power supply units for that power zone and is also operatively coupled to the redundant power supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Reynov, Ben T. Nitzan, Philip Quaife, Shreeram Siddhaye, Venkata S. Raju Penmetsa, Jack W. Kohn
  • Patent number: 9748848
    Abstract: A DC converter is suitable for continuous operation for connecting high-voltage DC networks having different voltages. The DC converter has a first partial converter and a second partial converter, which are connected in series with each other, forming a converter series circuit. The converter series circuit extends between the DC terminals of a DC connection. The second partial converter extends between the DC terminals of a second DC connection. The first partial converter and the second partial converter are connected to each other via a power exchange device, such that the exchange of electrical power between the first partial converter and the second partial converter is made possible via the power exchange device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mark-Matthias Bakran, Hans-Joachim Knaak, Andre Schoen
  • Patent number: 9740263
    Abstract: A power supply unit for a computer system including a first converter circuit with a first control circuit that converts an input-side electrical supply voltage into at least one first output voltage, a second converter circuit with a second control circuit that converts the input-side supply voltage into at least one second output voltage, wherein an output of the first converter circuit directly electrically connects to an output of the second converter circuit, a nominal level of the at least one first output voltage is higher by a predetermined voltage difference than a corresponding nominal level of the at least one second output voltage, the power supply unit includes an additional circuit on the input side of the second converter circuit, which additional circuit controls the second control circuit such that the second converter circuit operates with a minimum output power when the first converter circuit provides the at least one first output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Fujitsu Technology Solutions Intellectual Property GmbH
    Inventors: Willi Sterzik, Peter Busch
  • Patent number: 9722507
    Abstract: An electric power conversion apparatus according to an embodiment includes, wherein when a constituent element constituted of a leg in which two switching elements provided with self-arc-extinguishing capability are connected in series, and a capacitor connected in parallel with the leg is made a converter unit, and a constituent element formed by connecting one or more converter units in series is made a phase arm, a phase arm on the positive side, a single-phase four-winding transformer, and a phase arm on the negative side are included in each of three phases, one end of the phase arm on the positive side is connected to the positive side of a secondary winding of the four-winding transformer, and the other end thereof is connected to a DC positive side terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yosuke Nakazawa, Takeru Murao, Shunsuke Tamada
  • Patent number: 9711663
    Abstract: A power generating system comprising: a plurality of power generating units coupled in parallel; a power collecting device for collecting electric power output from the plurality of power generating units; and wirings for coupling the plurality of power generating units and the power collecting device. A ratio of a conductor diameter to a predetermined length of each of the wirings is defined as a reference ratio. A value obtained by multiplying the reference ratio, a number of the wirings, and a loss generated by a specific wiring together is subtracted from a value obtained by multiplying a predetermined number of wirings for adjustment by a ratio of a conductor diameter to a length of the specific wiring. A total of the ratios of the conductor diameters to the lengths of the predetermined number of the wirings for adjustment is determined as a value less than the subtracted value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Kouno, Yuuichi Nagayama, Masaaki Fujimori, Tomoharu Nakamura, Koki Morikawa
  • Patent number: 9705406
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter for connecting high-voltage DC networks has series-connected sub-converters. The high-voltage DC networks which can be connected to the DC-DC converter can have different transmission symmetries by way of power exchanging devices and additional power exchanging devices. Thus, a symmetrical monopole can be connected to an asymmetrical bipolar network using the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mark-Matthias Bakran, Dominik Ergin, Hans-Joachim Knaak, Andre Schoen
  • Patent number: 9694694
    Abstract: Provided is an in-vehicle step-down switching power supply capable of obtaining a stable output while suppressing nose in a harmful frequency band even when an input voltage decreases. The in-vehicle step-down switching power supply includes a switching frequency control unit and the switching frequency control unit includes a switching frequency range setting unit that changes a switching frequency between fa and fb and a switching frequency path setting unit that skips a frequency band from fd to fe between fa and fb, via an intermediate frequency fc between fa and fb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayumu Hatanaka, Takuya Mayuzumi, Chihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 9685790
    Abstract: Approximately one-half of the loss of delivered power from a solar panel having photovoltaic (PV) cells connected in series to form sub-panels due to shading is recovered at low hardware cost by connecting sub-panels in series and providing maximum power point tracking control in common for the series connected sub-panels such that the respective sub-panels produce equal voltages even in the presence of shading of a portion of one or more sub-panels. By doing so, the input voltage of respective power converters which control the voltage at which each sub-panel is operated can be placed close to the maximum power point of each sub-panel regardless of shading and maximum total power harvested even though the respective sub-panels are not operated at optimum voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinke Wu, Zijian Wang, Fred C. Lee, Feng Wang
  • Patent number: 9680392
    Abstract: Provided is a modular multi-level converter (MMC) including a plurality of sub-modules including switching elements, and a central control unit which assigns an address to each of the plurality of sub-modules for distinguishing each of the plurality of sub-modules, determines switching operation conditions of the plurality of sub-modules based on the assigned addresses, and outputs switching signals corresponding to the determined switching operation conditions. The central control unit determines a switching sequence of the plurality of the sub-modules according to the sequence of the assigned addresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Woong Hyub Song, Young Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 9667064
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of power supplies and a controller. The plurality of power supplies outputs power to a load. A serial bus connects the plurality of power supplies in a daisy chain. The controller is connected to first and last ones of the power supplies by the serial bus. The controller is connected to a management bus via a management bus interface. The controller monitors the plurality of power supplies via the serial bus. The controller transmits status information of the plurality of power supplies to the management bus via the management bus interface of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: James Warren Templeton, Scott Kelly Herrington, Gregg Scott Kodra, Paul Walker Latham, II, Stewart Gall Kenly
  • Patent number: 9667149
    Abstract: An electric power converter apparatus incorporates a plurality of electric power converter circuits having respective output terminals connected in common, with output power being produced from the common output terminals. Each converter circuit uses an identical switching frequency, in executing power conversion based on PWM control of switching by a plurality of switching elements. The switching operations of the respective converter circuits mutually differ in phase, by an amount determined in accordance with the currently applied PWM duty ratio. The phase difference value is predetermined for minimizing the amplitude of specific harmonic frequency components of a ripple current component in the output current from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Akiyama, Shinji Ohoka, Yuuki Takemoto
  • Patent number: 9657973
    Abstract: A refrigeration system is powered primarily by a photovoltaic source and by an alternating current (AC) source as a backup. A variable frequency drive is used for controlling a powered component of the refrigeration system. The variable frequency drive includes drive circuitry configured to provide variable frequency power via an output interface, a first interface configured to receive power from the photovoltaic source, a second interface configured to receive AC power from the AC source, a DC bus coupled to the drive circuitry and configured to transmit power to the drive circuitry. The drive circuitry receives power from the first interface when the power from the photovoltaic source is adequate to power the drive circuitry and receives power from the second interface when the power from the photovoltaic source is not adequate to power the drive circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Bittner, John E. Bittner
  • Patent number: 9647548
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Gerald Deboy, Kennith Kin Leong
  • Patent number: 9627889
    Abstract: A renewable energy, utility-size electric power system is provided with a high voltage, renewable energy harvesting network connected by a direct current link to a centralized grid synchronized multiphase regulated current source inverter system. The harvesting network includes distributed renewable energy power optimizers and transmitters that control delivery of renewable energy to the grid synchronized multiphase regulated current source inverter system. A visual immersion monitoring and control system can be provided for a three dimensional, visually oriented, virtual reality display, and command and control environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ALENCON ACQUISITION CO., LLC.
    Inventors: Oleg S. Fishman, Ulrich K. W. Schwabe
  • Patent number: 9614442
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, A Body Corporate
    Inventors: Hua Chen, Robert Warren Erickson, Jr., Dragan Maksimovic, Tadakazu Harada
  • Patent number: 9608450
    Abstract: A static converter with parallel architecture or series architecture comprises a plurality of switching cells, arranged in parallel or in series, and controlled in a decentralized manner by associated control modules, strung together according to a loop by a series of communication links. Each control module comprises a single and different local unit for generating the triangular carrier of the module which controls the positioning of its interleaving phase as a function only of the signals of the triangular carriers of the two adjacent modules. Each control module comprises a local unit for balancing the currents of branches and/or a unit for internal regulation of the output voltage of AVP type, or a local unit for balancing the cell voltages and/or a unit for internal regulation of the input current or output current of the ACP type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique
    Inventor: Marc Cousineau
  • Patent number: 9608524
    Abstract: A power supply equipment includes a plurality of units each including a capacitor and an isolated DC-DC converter connected between the both terminals of the capacitor, wherein DC input sides of the plurality of units are connected in series and the DC output sides are connected together in parallel. The DC power supply equipment also comprises control circuits to control the isolated DC-DC converters. The control circuits generate operation commands to operate some of the plurality of units in an alternating sequence with a same time ratio in a predetermined control period in a light load condition, and the control circuits control the isolated DC-DC converters of the units according to the operation command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryuji Yamada
  • Patent number: 9608563
    Abstract: A method for detecting the degree of soiling of PV modules of a string includes the following steps: determination of the deviations of the string power output values from a calculated reference value over the last year; calculation of a historical trend line from the deviations; determination of a maximum difference between the trend line and the deviations; calculation of final deviations of the power output values through subtraction of the maximum difference from the trend line; and determination of the degree of soiling through subtraction of the final deviations from the deviations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SKYTRON ENERGY GMBH
    Inventors: Agustin Javier Carretero Batista, Hendrik Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9583645
    Abstract: Disclosed is a photovoltaic system including a power optimizer, capable of minimizing noise occurring due to shading, an error in an output power of a photovoltaic module, etc. while a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm is performed. The photovoltaic system includes a photovoltaic module; a power optimizer; and an inverter, wherein the power optimizer includes: an input unit configured to receive an output power of the photovoltaic module; a sensing unit configured to sense an output voltage and an output current of the photovoltaic module; and a controller configured to control an output of the power optimizer, by comparing the presently-sensed current with a previously-sensed current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Hyun Kim, Jong Kug Seon, Jong Bae Kim
  • Patent number: 9584014
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a DC-DC converter includes a comparator circuit that compares a feedback voltage of an output voltage with a reference voltage and a control circuit that controls an output voltage based on an output signal of the comparator circuit. The comparator circuit performs a discrete-time operation in response to a clock signal, and a frequency of the clock signal is adjusted according to a load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takayuki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9559614
    Abstract: A grid-connected inverter for feeding current via a transformer into an electric power grid includes an output bridge arrangement that is actuated via a pulse width modulator, wherein a periodic auxiliary signal is used to determine switching times of the output bridge arrangement. The inverter also includes a synchronization unit for phase synchronization of the auxiliary signal with the electric power grid, wherein the synchronization unit is configured to set a predetermined phase offset (??0) of the periodic auxiliary signal with respect to a phase of the electric power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SMA SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Thomas Eberhardt, Josef Petschenka, Christopher Krause, Christian Landau
  • Patent number: 9547033
    Abstract: A method of detecting faults in a solar power system includes monitoring at least one operating parameter including outputs from a solar module, inputs and outputs to a microinverter, and inputs and outputs of a power optimizer, comparing the operating parameter to at least one of an expected value or another operating parameter, using results of the comparing to determine if there is a fault event, analyzing a location of an entity in the system that generated the operating parameter to localize the fault event, and performing remedial action on a location of the fault event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Batten, Ravindranath Naiknaware
  • Patent number: 9543854
    Abstract: The invention provides a solar photovoltaic three-phase micro-inverter system comprising a plurality of three-phase micro-inverters. Every three of the three-phase micro-inverters form a group and are coupled to a three-phase AC power grid. Each of the three-phase micro-inverters comprises 3 single-phase inverter circuits, each of the single-phase inverter circuits comprises 2 conversion circuits, and each of the conversion circuits corresponds to one phase of the three-phase AC power grid. AC outputs of the same conversion circuits of the three micro-inverters in one group are coupled to three-phase live wires of the three-phase AC power grid respectively. Accordingly, the invention provides a method for improving conversion efficiency of the solar photovoltaic three-phase micro-inverter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM, INC.
    Inventors: Yuhao Luo, Dongming Zhou
  • Patent number: 9543884
    Abstract: A motor control device of an air conditioner may include: a DC/DC converter that level-changes a DC power supply supplied from the outside to output the level-charged DC power supply to a DC bus terminal; a bidirectional DC/AC converter that converts the DC power supply of the DC bus terminal into an AC power supply to transfer the converted AC power supply to a system, or that converts the AC power supply from the system into the DC/power supply to supply the converted DC power supply to the DC bus terminal; and an inverter that converts the DC power supply of the DC bus terminal into the AC power supply by a switching operation, and drives a compression motor by the converted AC power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Young Ho Hong, Ho Yong Jang, Yoo Sool Yoon
  • Patent number: 9541063
    Abstract: A wind turbine is provided having a first converter connected between an electric generator of the wind turbine and a DC link and a second converter connected between the DC link and an output of the wind turbine connectable to a utility grid. The wind turbine further includes a wind turbine controller adapted to control at least one of an output current of the wind turbine, an output voltage of the wind turbine, a reactive output power of the wind turbine, an output voltage of the DC link and an output current of the DC link. The wind turbine further includes a communication device adapted to receive a control signal and to set a control parameter of the wind turbine controller in accordance with the control signal. A network converter, method of operating a wind turbine, methods of operating a wind park and computer-readable storage medium are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bo Yin
  • Patent number: 9543762
    Abstract: Connection methods for UHVDC transmission at rectification side and at inversion side, UHV converter stations at rectification side and at inversion side, and an UHVDC transmission system are disclosed. The present invention employs a manner of multiple drop points to solve the problem of poor security stability of electric grid caused by feeding a large amount of power via one point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: State Grid Corporation of China
    Inventors: Zhenya Liu, Yinbiao Shu, Xin Sun, Liying Gao
  • Patent number: 9537402
    Abstract: An electric power converter is equipped with a master converter and a slave converter that are connected in parallel with each other, and to a load. The master converter operates having priority over the slave converter. The slave converter includes a voltage sensor for detecting an output voltage of the electric power converter and a control unit for controlling an output of the slave converter based on a target command value. The control unit selects a current command value Ic2 received from the master converter as a target command value when a variation ?V per predetermined time of a detected output voltage Vo2 is lower than a variation ?Vth1. The control unit selects a voltage command value Vc2a calculated so as to suppress the output voltage Vo2 from changing as the target command value when the variation ?V exceeds the variation ?Vth1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Syuji Kurauchi, Tsuyoshi Hosoda, Keisuke Yagyu
  • Patent number: 9537311
    Abstract: A power transmission and distribution system includes a supplying side having a current source and a receiving side. The receiving side includes a modular converter with plurality of direct current (DC)-alternating current (AC) current source converters connected in series with the current source and a plurality of AC-DC rectifiers connected in parallel to supply power to a multiplicity of loads. Each of the DC-AC current source converters supply power to a corresponding AC-DC rectifier and includes a plurality of reverse blocking fully controllable switches having bidirectional voltage blocking capability. Furthermore, a current from the current source flows in at least one reverse blocking fully controllable switch at any instant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Pierluigi Tenca
  • Patent number: 9494637
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement are disclosed for detecting islanding operation of a distributed power generator. The method can include determining a frequency of a grid to which the distributed power generator is connected, measuring a rate of change of the frequency of the grid at an output of the distributed power generator, determining a threshold value for an alteration speed, comparing the rate of change of the frequency of the grid with the threshold value, and detecting islanding operation when the measured rate of change of the frequency exceeds the threshold value for a certain time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Janne Hellberg, Kimmo Heinonen, Jari Uusimäki
  • Patent number: 9496803
    Abstract: We describe a photovoltaic (PV) power generation system comprising at least two PV panels and a power conditioning unit. The dc power outputs of the PV panels are connected in parallel to a dc power input of the power conditioning unit. The power conditioning unit comprises a dc-to-dc converter having an input coupled to the dc power input and an output coupled to a dc link of the unit, a dc-to-ac converter having an input coupled to the dc link and an ac mains power supply output, and an energy storage capacitor coupled to the dc link. The power conditioning unit is configured to perform maximum power point tracking (MPPT) responsive to a level of power flowing into the dc power input, and the level of power flowing into said dc power input is sensed at the dc link. In preferred implementations the energy storage capacitor is a non-electrolytic capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Lesley Chisenga, Andrew John Matthews, Paul Randal Engle, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9461535
    Abstract: A system and a method provide a photovoltaic system which regenerates the output characteristics of the photovoltaic at different ambient condition with high precision under all environmental conditions. The photovoltaic system includes a photovoltaic array, a buck/boost converter, a DC link capacitor to connect the buck/booster converter to a load/inverter, an adaptive network-based fuzzy inference maximum power point tracking controller, a voltage control loop, a proportional integral controller to maintain the output voltage of the photovoltaic array to the reference voltage by adjusting the duty ratio of buck/boost converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
    Inventors: Mohamed Ali Abido, Muhammad Sheraz Khalid
  • Patent number: 9461557
    Abstract: A multilevel converter cell includes a first section with a first group of series connected switching units in parallel with a first energy storage element, where a junction between a first and second switching units of the first group of series connected switching units forms one cell connection terminal, a second section with a second group of series connected switching units in parallel with a second energy storage element, where a junction between a third and fourth switching units of the second group of series connected switching units forms another cell connection terminal, and an interconnecting section with a third group of series-connected switching units comprising a fifth, sixth and seventh switching unit, with the fifth and sixth switching units connected in parallel with the first energy storage element and the sixth and seventh switching units connected in parallel with the second energy storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventor: Kalle Ilves
  • Patent number: 9436203
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide an integrated circuit (IC) chip that includes a feedback control circuit and a detecting circuit. The feedback control circuit is configured to govern a feedback signal to a first regulator that regulates a first power supply to the IC chip based on the feedback signal. The feedback control circuit is powered at least partially by a second power supply. The detecting circuit is configured to detect a power down of the second power supply, and to cause the feedback control circuit to be disengaged from the feedback signal in response to the power down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Reuven Ecker, Ido Bourstein