Insulation Patents (Class 324/551)
  • Patent number: 12259422
    Abstract: A method for monitoring insulation in a motor drive circuit configured to convert DC power from a power source to AC power to drive a motor. The method includes boosting a DC link voltage of an inverter of the motor drive, isolating the motor drive circuit from the power source; performing at least one isolation test by providing a current path through components of the motor drive and preferably a motor connected to the output of the inverter to be tested; and monitoring the current during each isolation test to detect partial discharge or excessive leakage from the current path, thereby indicating that there exists defects in the insulation in the current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ali Khalid Al-Karaghouli, Grzegorz Popek
  • Patent number: 12248014
    Abstract: An insulation monitoring device, according to various embodiment of the present application, comprising an impedance formed between a power line and a ground of a system comprises, a signal generation circuit for applying a triangular wave signal to the power line through a signal measurement circuit, the signal measurement circuit for measuring a voltage difference across the detection resistor of the signal measurement circuit or a current flowing through the detection resistor when the triangular wave signal is applied to the impedance, a control circuit for obtaining an impedance value of the impedance based on at least one of the voltage difference and the current, and monitoring the impedance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignees: DONGWOO ELECTRIC CORP. & CHUNGBUK NATIONAL, UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Sun Woo Kim, Jong-Phil Hong
  • Patent number: 12184225
    Abstract: An apparatus may determine a parameter related to a voltage value at a midpoint terminal of a system power device, and may adjust a voltage applied to a second terminal of the system power device based on the parameter and a reference value. The second terminal may be different from the midpoint terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ilan Yoscovich, Liron Har-Shai, Amir Grossberg, Matan Atias
  • Patent number: 12174267
    Abstract: A first voltage output unit generates a cyclic voltage that changes cyclically, and applies the cyclic voltage to the other end of a coupling capacitor via a first resistance. A second resistance and a third resistance are connected in series between a node and a second voltage output unit, the node being between the coupling capacitor and the first resistance. A voltage measurement unit measures a voltage at a voltage dividing point between the second resistance and the third resistance. In a period in which two types of fixed voltages are applied to the voltage dividing point in order, a diagnosing unit determines whether the leakage detecting device is in a normal state, based on the voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Nakayama
  • Patent number: 12146921
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery cell, and more particularly, to a cell insulation defect detection system configured to detect insulation defects of individual cells forming a battery. The cell insulation defect detection system of the present disclosure comprises a contact unit comprising a conductive roller configured to contact a battery cell to be inspected, the battery cell being rotatably housed therein, and a measurement unit configured to measure insulation resistance between the roller and the cell in contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Kyung Mo Kim
  • Patent number: 12142926
    Abstract: A method may include: applying a first voltage on at least one first terminal of a first direct current (DC) bus electrically connected to a power source, obtaining at least one indication that discharge of a second voltage related to the first voltage should be performed, and discharging the second voltage by electrically connecting at least one second terminal of a second DC bus to a ground in response to the at least one indication. Another method may include: injecting a current at least one terminal of a direct current (DC) bus that is electrically connected to a power source, simultaneous to injecting the current, measuring an insulation relative to ground, obtaining an electrical parameter related to the power source, and, in response to the electrical parameter, maintaining the current injected at the terminal of the DC bus without ceasing the measuring of the insulation relative to a ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ilan Yoscovich, Liron Har-Shai, Amir Grossberg, Matan Atias, Daniel Zmood, David Avraham
  • Patent number: 12130331
    Abstract: A test interface circuit includes N switches and N resistors, wherein N is a positive integer. A first end of each of the N switches is coupled to each of N test connection ends, a second end of each of the N switches receives a reference voltage. Each of the N first resistors is coupled to each of the N switches in series between each of the N test connection ends and the reference voltage. Wherein, each of the N switches is controlled by each of N control signals to be turned on or cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Che-Wei Chen, Kai-Li Liu, YuLin Sung
  • Patent number: 12117502
    Abstract: An earth leakage detection device includes the following items. Voltage output unit generates a periodically changing periodic voltage and applies the periodic voltage to the other end of coupling capacitor via first resistor. Second resistor and third resistor are connected in series between a connection point between coupling capacitor and first resistor, and a predetermined fixed potential. Voltage measurement unit measures a voltage at a voltage dividing point between second resistor and third resistor. Diagnosis unit determines whether or not coupling capacitor is normal based on a voltage measured when switch is turned on in a state where voltage output unit outputs a fixed voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Nakayama
  • Patent number: 12032038
    Abstract: A load short-circuit detection method is a load short-circuit detection method executed in a load drive device including: a power storage element that stores electric power for driving a load; a first switch that is connected to a low-potential side of the load and controls a current flowing through the load; and a voltage detection circuit that detects a voltage of a current flow path flowing from the power storage element to a low-potential side power supply via the first switch. The load short-circuit detection method includes: PWM-driving the first switch at a predetermined duty ratio; and detecting that the load is being short-circuited in a case where a state in which the voltage of the current flow path detected by the voltage detection circuit is lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold voltage continues for a predetermined period of time or longer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya Nishinaka, Hisashi Senga
  • Patent number: 12007427
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for connecting an electrical measurement device (16), which is used to measure partial discharges in a power grid having an operating voltage in the range of 1-69 kV, and which has an A/D converter (17) for converting a measured voltage pulse into a digital signal and has a microprocessor unit (18) for evaluating the digital signal, with a measurement output of a capacitive voltage testing system (3) of switchgear for the power grid having the operating voltage in the range of 1-69 kV. The electrical circuit (8) has a frequency response matching resistor (9) which is connected between an input line (10) for connection to the live pole of the measurement output and to ground, and has a high-pass filter (11) connected down-circuit of the frequency response matching resistor (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Baur GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Heinzle, Mathias Hupp, Manfred Bawart, Martin Jenny
  • Patent number: 12000881
    Abstract: A method for automatically creating installation-specific measuring profiles for an insulation monitoring system, includes: assisting in a computer-controlled manner by means of an assist system via guided instructions for acquiring installation data; and executing the instructions by means of one more sensor devices. The method further includes pre-selecting, assisting, recording, evaluating, detecting, and optimizing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Bender GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dieter Hackl
  • Patent number: 11921138
    Abstract: An insulation resistance detection device detects a voltage at a connection point between a coupling capacitor and a resistance in the case where a frequency signal is outputted to the resistance, and detects an insulation resistance between a ground portion and a power supply path based on a moving average value of a detection voltage. The insulation resistance detection device includes a first determination unit, a resistance detection unit, and a second determination unit. In response to a determination that the pulsation of the detection voltage is attenuated, the resistance detection unit detects the insulation resistance based on, instead of a first moving average value, a second moving average value calculated by using the detection voltage in a second range including a smaller number of detection voltages than in the first range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Kouda, Ryota Kubokawa, Yusuke Shindo, Toru Wakimoto
  • Patent number: 11855263
    Abstract: A communication device includes a battery, a communication module, a first charging circuit between the battery and the communication module, a fast charge signal, a second charging circuit between the battery and the communication module, and a control module configured to route power from the battery to the communication module via the second charging circuit in response to the fast charge signal being enabled and to route the power via the first charging circuit in response to the fast charge signal being disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Murali Krishna Bezawada, Golakoti Ravi Kumar
  • Patent number: 11768242
    Abstract: A test device for testing an electrical circuit includes input terminals connectable by test leads to different test points of the electrical circuit; at least first and second measurement circuits; switches; a processor; and a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the test device to perform a first test of the electrical circuit while one or more of the switches electrically couples at least first and second ones of the input terminals to the first measurement circuit, and perform a second test of the electrical circuit while one or more of the switches electrically couples at least third and fourth ones of the input terminals the second measurement circuit, where the first and second tests are performed without changing connections of the input terminals of the test device to the different test points of the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: Ulrich Boecherer
  • Patent number: 11745286
    Abstract: An example welding-type power supply includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power, and to output the welding-type power via a welding-type circuit; a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of at least one component of the welding-type power supply; and stray current detection circuitry configured to detect stray welding-type current based on the measured temperature of the at least one component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Schneider, Michael D. Madsen, Bernard J. Vogel, Andrew J. Henry
  • Patent number: 11675012
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting partial discharge in a stator for an electric motor are provided. An exemplary method includes applying a high voltage AC sinewave input signal to the stator and energizing at least one winding therein. The method includes sensing a first resulting load signal occurring in the stator with a first device and filtering the first resulting load signal to form a first high frequency signal indicating any partial discharge (PD) voltage occurring in the stator. The method also includes sensing a second resulting load signal occurring in the stator with a second device and filtering the second resulting load signal to form a second high frequency signal indicating any partial discharge voltage occurring in the stator. Further, the method includes processing the first and second high frequency signals to form a processed signal indicating whether partial discharge occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ronald M Lesperance, John S Agapiou
  • Patent number: 11614475
    Abstract: A method and a photovoltaic inverter for determining the insulation resistance of a photovoltaic system relative to ground are provided. The voltage required for the measurement can be provided by an intermediate circuit in the form of an intermediate circuit voltage and a measuring device is designed to actuate an input short-circuit switch for short-circuiting a DC input with an AC disconnector open, as a result of which the intermediate circuit voltage can be applied to the DC input in the reverse direction. The measuring device is configured to record measured voltages with a switch of a voltage divider open and closed, and to determine the insulation resistance from the measured values of the two measured voltages recorded with the switch of the voltage divider open and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Fischereder, Andreas Muehlberger, Juergen Pirchenfellner, Andreas Luger
  • Patent number: 11515701
    Abstract: A coupling circuit (20) with switching function for coupling an insulation monitoring device (6, 6a, 6b) to an unearthed power supply system (2, 2a, 2b), consisting of a coupling module (22) or a plurality of identical coupling modules (22) connected in series, wherein the coupling module (22) has at least one switch unit (25), which comprises a coupling impedance (26), a switch (24), arranged in series to the coupling impedance (26), for mains disconnection and a control circuit (28) for controlling the switch (24), and also exactly one transformer (30) for voltage supply and for potential separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: BENDER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Herber, Gerd Joachim Klostermann
  • Patent number: 11474164
    Abstract: A method for determining a function of a capacitor of a passive filter circuit, which partially reduces line-conducted interference of an electrical device electrically coupled to a power supply system via the passive filter circuit. The passive filter circuit comprises the capacitor having a predefined capacitance value and a choke having a predefined inductance value. An electric capacitor voltage on the capacitor is detected. A connection voltage of the electrical device is detected. Spectral components are determined for the capacitor voltage and the connection voltage. The function of the capacitor is determined by analysing the spectral components in consideration of the inductance value of the choke by a statistical processing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Benesch, Franz Bauer
  • Patent number: 11448683
    Abstract: A circuit includes: an isolation power module, a first and second sampling modules, a first and second sampling points, a processor. A first terminal of the first sampling module is connected to a positive electrode of a battery pack and first terminal of a positive switch module, a second terminal of the first sampling module is connected to a negative electrode of the battery pack and a first terminal of the negative switch module, a third terminal of the first sampling module is connected to a first reference voltage end; a first terminal of the second sampling module is connected to a second terminal of the positive switch module and a positive electrode of the isolation power module, a second terminal of the second sampling module is connected to a second terminal of the negative switch module and a negative electrode of the isolation power module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Baohai Du, Le Chu, Jiayu Yu, Qiandeng Li
  • Patent number: 11418018
    Abstract: An arc detection circuit includes: a current detector that detects a current supplied from a power supply apparatus via a transmission path; a voltage detector that detects a voltage applied to the transmission path; and an arc determination unit configured to determine whether an arc has occurred in the transmission path based on the voltage, when one or more particular frequency components of the current exceed a first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Koga
  • Patent number: 11372047
    Abstract: A drive circuit for driving an electronically commutated motor contains a DC voltage intermediate circuit, and an inverter which is connected to the latter and has a bridge circuit containing a plurality of transistors, to which the motor phases of a motor configuration containing the motor can be connected. For detecting an insulation fault in the motor configuration, a positive or negative transistor of the inverter is switched on, while all other transistors of the inverter are switched off before all transistors of the inverter are switched off. A motor phase voltage of a selected motor phase of the motor phases with respect to a reference potential is then captured, while all transistors of the inverter remain switched off in order to determine whether there is an insulation fault on the motor phase on a basis of a voltage profile of the motor phase voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Weinmann, Andreas Schmid, Sebastian Tinius
  • Patent number: 11255883
    Abstract: A device for detecting a current leakage and a current leakage detection system including the same are provided. The device for detecting a current leakage includes a magnetic core having an internal space and both ends the core are separated from each other. An electric wiring extends to pass through the internal space of the magnetic core, and is connected between a power source and an electric load to supply power from the power source to the electric load. A hall sensor senses a magnetic field induced in the magnetic core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Ju Han Kim
  • Patent number: 11187759
    Abstract: A ground fault detection device comprising a capacitor which serves as a flying capacitor, a switch group which switches between a V0-charging path, a Vcn-charging path, a Vcp-charging path and a charging voltage measurement path for the capacitor, and a controller which controls the switch group and calculates an insulation resistance based on V0, Vcn and Vcp, wherein V0 is a measured value on the V0-charging path, Vcn is a measured value on the Vcn-charging path, and Vcp is a measured value on the Vcp charging path, wherein, if Vcn can be considered as zero, the controller switches to the Vcp-charging path and performs measurement while keeping a charged state of the capacitor, wherein Vcp obtained after discharging the capacitor is subtracted from a measured value obtained from the measurement in order to calculate Vcn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11169199
    Abstract: A method and device for online insulation monitoring of a motor are applied to an inverter-driven motor system. The method includes: measuring phase-to-ground voltages of three-phase inlet lead ends of a motor; acquiring leakage currents of the three-phase inlet lead ends of the motor; acquiring a voltage common-mode component, a voltage differential-mode component, a current common-mode component and a current differential-mode component from the phase-to-ground voltages and the leakage currents; and acquiring ground-wall insulation equivalent capacitance and phase-to-phase insulation equivalent capacitance according to the components. A ground-wall insulation monitoring result and a phase-to-phase insulation monitoring result are distinguished from each other by the acquired ground-wall insulation equivalent capacitance and phase-to-phase insulation equivalent capacitance, such that two kinds of insulation are monitored respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Pinjia Zhang, Dayong Zheng, Hongdong Zhu
  • Patent number: 11150291
    Abstract: The functional reliability of a cable shield system for a high voltage cable circuit is determined by electrically isolating a segment of the conductive shield from ground along the circuit length and supplying a test voltage of gradually increasing amplitude to the isolated shield segment. Current flows in the shield segment and a connected shield voltage limiter (SVL) in response to the supplied test voltage. The current through the SVL is monitored; and the operational integrity of the shield system is determined as a function of the voltage across and the monitored current through the SVL. Current flow is monitored by sensing the heat dissipated by the SVL included in the link box to which the shield segment is connected. Information representing the voltage across and monitored current through the SVL are transmitted to a remote location whereat the operational integrity of the SVL is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Underground Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Smith, Charles J. Wills, Duncan C. Breese, Paul A. Alex
  • Patent number: 11125802
    Abstract: A method measures partial discharge pulses of a shielded cable, which has a core and a sheath. The method includes: connecting a coupling capacitor with a first connecting point of the core; providing a first, second, and third coupling unit, each having an input and a signal output; connecting the input of the first coupling unit with the coupling capacitor; connecting the input of the second coupling unit with a first connecting point of the sheath; connecting the input of the third coupling unit with a second connecting point of the sheath; providing a test voltage at the first connecting point of the core; acquiring respective measurement signals of the coupling units at their signal outputs; and determining at least one characteristic value for an apparent charge of a partial discharge pulse of the cable in dependence on the measurement signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: MASCHINENFABRIK REINHAUSEN GMBH
    Inventor: Erik Winkelmann
  • Patent number: 11095131
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to battery management technologies, and disclose a battery management system and an energy storage power station. The battery management system comprises: a plurality of CSC groups corresponding to a plurality of battery packs respectively, CSCs in each CSC group being connected to the battery units in a battery pack respectively; a plurality of SBMUs corresponding to the plurality of CSC groups respectively, each SBMU being connected to every CSC in a CSC group; an MBMU and an IMM, the MBMU being connected to every SBMU and connected to the IMM; the IMM further being connected to a plurality of the batteries, and used to acquire insulation parameter values of the plurality of the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Fangjie Zhou, Qiandeng Li, Fuming Ye
  • Patent number: 11073561
    Abstract: An insulation deterioration detection device which is mounted in an inverter device including a plurality of switching elements includes: a frequency component extractor which extracts the same frequency component as a frequency of the three-phase alternating current power from the current detection signal of an electric motor winding wire connected to the switching element; and an insulation deterioration detection controller which performs a first switching operation for turning on the switching element and turning off the other switching elements and stores in a first storage device the frequency component extracted by the frequency component extractor during an execution period of the first switching operation, in which it is determined whether insulation deterioration of the electric motor occurs at least based on a value stored in the first storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: OKUMA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasukazu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11073571
    Abstract: A ground fault detection apparatus includes a capacitor, switches for switching between a V0 charge path including the battery and the capacitor, a Vcn charge path including the battery, the capacitor and negative-side insulation resistance as insulation resistance between negative side of the battery and ground, a Vcp charge path including the battery, the capacitor and positive-side insulation resistance as insulation resistance between positive side of the battery and ground, and a charge voltage measurement path including the capacitor and a measurement resistor, an offset voltage divider circuit that divides and offsets voltage produced at the measurement resistor, a control device that controls the switches and calculates the insulation resistance using output voltage of the offset voltage divider circuit as a measured value, based on V0 measured at the V0 charge path, Vcn measured at the Vcn charge path and Vcp measured at the Vcp charge path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takamatsu, Yoshihiro Kawamura, Hisashi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10910993
    Abstract: The invention relates to circuit arrangements for reducing potential-induced degradation in photovoltaic modules of a photovoltaic generator, said circuit arrangements comprising an insulation monitoring device for a temporally continuous insulation monitoring of the photovoltaic generator. Furthermore, the invention relates to a photovoltaic system comprising a circuit arrangement for reducing potential-induced degradation in photovoltaic modules, said photovoltaic system comprising a photovoltaic generator and an insulation monitoring device for a temporally continuous insulation monitoring of the photovoltaic generator. Different solutions are proposed which enable reducing potential-induced degradation while simultaneously continuously monitoring insulations. The circuit arrangements according to the invention rest upon an insulation monitoring device interacting with measures based circuit technology for influencing potentials in a photovoltaic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: BENDER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Hackl, Oliver Schaefer, Manfred Geiss, Karl Schepp
  • Patent number: 10804703
    Abstract: A waveform separator system for determining DC leakage current flowing through an insulating structure in a high voltage direct current power system, wherein the DC leakage current is a composite DC current comprising one or more high magnitude momentary spikes, and having a DC component and an AC component includes: (1) a waveform separator configured to receive the composite DC current flowing through the insulating structure and to separate the composite DC current into corresponding direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) components wherein the AC component has a first rate of change, and wherein the DC component has a second rate of change, and wherein the first rate of change is greater than the second rate of change; (2) at least one comparator configured to receive the AC component and produce at least one corresponding digital signal; and (3) a processor configured to: (a) receive the at least one corresponding digital signal and the DC component, (b) analyze the at least one corresponding d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Quanta Associates, L.P.
    Inventors: Zoran Bilic, David James Ball
  • Patent number: 10782357
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements to automatic permanently installed insulation resistance test equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to improvements to insulation test equipment for testing low voltage, medium voltage, and high voltage electrical equipment on the order of the rated voltage level while limiting the maximum output current to a safe level. The preferred test output voltage of the insulation test equipment would have a maximum test output of 5000 VDC, due to design considerations, but the AIRT test output could be made to be higher, up to a maximum of 15,000 VDC. After installation of the insulation test equipment in the control cabinet of the electrical equipment there will be no requirement to open the control cabinet to operate the insulation test equipment. The improvements will also allow personnel to perform an insulation test on electrical equipment without having to manually isolate the electrical equipment from the power source to perform the testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: MEG-ALERT, INC.
    Inventor: Richard J. Zelm
  • Patent number: 10746777
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting electrical current on an insulating element of a rail system, comprising: at least one electrically conductive lead or wire for attaching the sensor to the insulating element; an energy harvester for harvesting electric current transmitted from the insulating element to the energy harvester via the lead; a microprocessor circuit including a capacitor wherein the capacitor is charged by energy harvested by the energy harvester; and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting RF signals indicative of the detected current; wherein the microprocessor and transmitter are powered by the energy from the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: L. B. Foster Company
    Inventors: Jacob Bridges, Korhan Ciloglu
  • Patent number: 10734944
    Abstract: An inverter including a circuit arrangement configured to measure an insulation resistance is disclosed. The inverter includes at least one half-bridge including at least two switching elements extending between respective end points, and a grid disconnection point comprising a series circuit comprised of two disconnection devices. The series circuit is arranged between a center point of the half-bridge and an AC voltage terminal of the inverter, which AC voltage terminal is configured to connect to a phase conductor or a neutral conductor of an AC voltage grid. The circuit arrangement includes a resistor and a voltage measurement apparatus. The resistor is arranged electrically in parallel with one of the disconnection devices and the voltage measurement apparatus is arranged electrically between the output-side terminal of the resistor and one of the end points of the half-bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Jens Friebe, Burkard Mueller, Martin Putz
  • Patent number: 10718824
    Abstract: An apparatus for checking an inductor includes a detector outputting a detection signal including information corresponding to a parallel resistance component of a checking target inductor; and a determiner receiving the detection signal and determining whether the checking target inductor is satisfactory based on a magnitude of the parallel resistance component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gun Woo Koo, Hwan Soo Lee, Jong Woo Han
  • Patent number: 10700731
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated power cable is provided. The integrated power cable, comprises a power cable having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end is configured to be electrically coupled to a DC power supply; at least one DC-DC voltage converter having at least one input and at least one output; wherein the second end is fixedly electrically and mechanically connected to the input; a first connector fixedly connected mechanically and electrically to the output; and wherein the first connector is configured to be coupled to at least one remote radio head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Daryl A. Coleman, Khalid W. Al-Mufti
  • Patent number: 10690706
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring an electrical quantity of one phase of an AC electric current in an overhead electrical network, comprising: a sensor designed to be attached to an electric line of the network, the sensor including: an electrically conductive plate; an electrical conductor, designed to electrically connect the plate to the line, in order to circulate a first current from the line through the conductor; a processing unit, designed to determine the electrical quantity from value values of the first electric current and a value of a capacitance between the plate and ground. The device also comprises a generator, electrically connected to the conductor and designed to inject a second current through the conductor, the second current having a frequency other than the frequency of the first current, the processing unit also being designed to calculate the capacitance between the plate and ground as a function of the second current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Michel Clemence, Pascal Houbre, Erick Contini
  • Patent number: 10620256
    Abstract: A system for determining DC leakage current flowing through an electrically insulating structure in a high voltage direct current power system is provided. The DC leakage current is a composite DC current. The insulating structure is operatively coupled to at least an overhead energized DC electrical line. The system further includes a direct current meter adapted to be electrically coupled to at least the insulating structure. The meter includes a waveform separator. The separator is configured to receive and separate the composite DC current into a corresponding direct current (DC) and an alternating current (AC) component. The separator further includes at least one comparator which is configured to produce at least one corresponding digital signal from the AC component; and a processor. The processor receives and analyzes the at least one corresponding digital signal and the DC component to determine a resultant leakage current flowing through the insulating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Quanta Associates, L.P.
    Inventors: Zoran Bilic, David James Ball, Donald William McLennan
  • Patent number: 10580482
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory instance is provided that includes an array of memory cells. The array includes a plurality of semiconductor memory cells arranged in at least one column and at least one row. Each of the semiconductor memory cells includes a floating body region configured to be charged to a level indicative of a state of the memory cell. Further includes are a plurality of buried well regions, wherein each of the buried well regions can be individually selected, and a decoder circuit to select at least one of the buried well regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Zeno Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-Woo Han, Neal Berger, Yuniarto Widjaja
  • Patent number: 10416223
    Abstract: Provided is a ground fault detection device including a detection capacitor, a positive electrode power supply side resistor, a negative electrode power supply side resistor, a positive electrode ground side resistor, a negative electrode ground side resistor, a positive electrode side twin relay selectively switching a connection point of one end of the detection capacitor; a negative electrode side twin relay selectively switching a connection point of the another end of the detection capacitor, and a controller controlling switching of the positive electrode side twin relay and the negative electrode side twin relay, and calculating an insulation resistance of the system provided with the high-voltage battery based on a charging voltage of the detection capacitor, and determines there is a possibility that a sticking fault has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10379150
    Abstract: A earth fault detector has a controller, a detection capacitor, a positive side first resistance connected to a positive side of a high voltage battery, a negative side first resistance connected to a negative side thereof, a positive side second resistance, a negative side second resistance, a positive side C contact switch, and a negative side C contact switch. The positive side C contact switch switches a connection destination of a first end of the detection capacitor to either a path including the positive side first resistance or a path including the positive side second resistance based on an instruction of the controller. The negative side C contact switch switches a connection destination of a second end thereof to either a path including the negative side first resistance or a path including the negative side second resistance based on an instruction of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10358036
    Abstract: A vehicle ground fault detection apparatus (1) detects a ground fault of a high-voltage system electrically insulated from a vehicle body connected to a low-voltage system and includes a transformer (2) blocking a DC component between the low- and high-voltage systems, an oscillation circuit (3), in the low-voltage system, connected to a primary coil (21) of the transformer (2), and a voltage dividing resistor (4), in the high-voltage system, connected to a secondary coil (22) of the transformer (2). The vehicle ground fault detection apparatus (1) measures a positive peak of voltage generated in the voltage dividing resistor (4) by voltage induced in the secondary coil (22) through AC voltage generated by the oscillation circuit (3) and detects the ground fault using the peak voltage. The insulation of the coupling portion between the ground fault detection circuit and the high-voltage system circuit does not suffer breakdown during temporary AC noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumihito Watanuki
  • Patent number: 10236704
    Abstract: A charge collection device includes a capacitor, a first switch disposed between one terminal of the capacitor and a positive electrode of a DC power source, a second switch disposed between the other terminal of the capacitor and a negative electrode of the DC power source, a third switch disposed between the one terminal of the capacitor and a ground, a fourth switch disposed between the other terminal of the capacitor and the ground, and a charge collection circuit that has a fifth switch connected to the one terminal of the capacitor and configured to supply charge stored in the capacitor to an external circuit via the fifth switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10222196
    Abstract: The present invention monitors an electric power system using a time-series measurement value including abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Yamazaki, Masahiro Yatsu, Sumito Tobe, Osamu Tomobe, Tatsuki Inuduka
  • Patent number: 10067190
    Abstract: An object is to conduct an insulation degradation diagnosis with a simple configuration. An insulation diagnostic system includes a current detection sensor 4a that is installed, for a coil 3a of at least one phase of a ? connection type rotating machine in which current flows in the reverse direction at a winding start position and a winding end position, such that the current detection sensor 4a surrounds a current path flowing into a leader line at the winding start of the coil 3a and a current path flowing out from a leader line at the winding end of the coil 3a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Kato, Kohji Maki
  • Patent number: 10060970
    Abstract: An electronic component testing device which is able to release heat (radiate heat) efficiently from a self-heating electronic component, and is able to carry out an intended test efficiently while keeping the temperature of the electronic component within a predetermined range higher than ordinary temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Kinoshita, Keiichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9997909
    Abstract: Disclosed is a surge protection device (10, 110) for an outdoor lighting fixture that includes a live connection (23A, 123A), a neutral connection (23B, 123B), and a ground connection (23C, 123C). A first varistor (42) and a second varistor (43) may be electrically connected to one another in a series connection between the live and neutral connections and a third varistor (41) electrically connected between the live and neutral connections in a parallel configuration with the first varistor and the second varistor. A surge arrestor (46, 146) may also be electrically connected between the ground connection (23C, 123C) and the series connection between the first varistor and the second varistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Gerardus Wilhelmus Cornelis Sesink
  • Patent number: 9977067
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements to automatic permanently installed insulation resistance test equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to improvements to insulation test equipment for testing low voltage, medium voltage, and high voltage electrical equipment on the order of the rated voltage level while limiting the maximum output current to a safe level. The preferred test output voltage of the insulation test equipment would have a maximum test output of 5000 VDC, due to design considerations, but the AIRT test output could be made to be higher, up to a maximum of 15,000 VDC. After installation of the insulation test equipment in the control cabinet of the electrical equipment there will be no requirement to open the control cabinet to operate the insulation test equipment. The improvements will also allow personnel to perform an insulation test on electrical equipment without having to manually isolate the electrical equipment from the power source to perform the testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: MEG-ALERT, INC.
    Inventor: Richard J. Zelm
  • Patent number: RE50243
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated power cable is provided. The integrated power cable, comprises a power cable having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end is configured to be electrically coupled to a DC power supply; at least one DC-DC voltage converter having at least one input and at least one output; wherein the second end is fixedly electrically and mechanically connected to the input; a first connector fixedly connected mechanically and electrically to the output; and wherein the first connector is configured to be coupled to at least one remote radio head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Outdoor Wireless Networks LLC
    Inventors: Daryl A. Coleman, Khalid W. Al-Mufti