Feeder Protection In Distribution Networks Patents (Class 361/62)
  • Patent number: 11588319
    Abstract: A differential protection method for monitoring a line of a power grid. Current phasor measured values are captured at the ends of the line and transmitted to an evaluation device which is used to form a differential current value with current phasor measured values temporally allocated to one another. Time delay information indicating the time delay between local timers of the measuring devices is used for the temporal allocation of the current phasor measured values captured at different ends, and a fault signal indicating a fault affecting the line is generated if the differential current value exceeds a predefined threshold value. The reliability of the time synchronization is further increased by forming a quotient of the current phasor measured values to form an asymmetry variable, that is used to check a transit time difference of messages transmitted via the communication connection in different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Torsten Kerger, Robert Matussek, Matthias Gross
  • Patent number: 11538646
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for operating a three-way switch. The system includes a user input. The system further includes a relay electrically coupled to a first traveler wire, a second traveler wire, and a LINE conductor, wherein the relay has a first position and a second position. The relay may be initially set to the first position. The system further includes a toroid having an aperture, wherein a sensing conductor passes through the aperture to generate a sensing voltage. The system further includes a controller configured to toggle the relay from the first position to the second position when (1) the user input is in the on-setting and the sensing voltage is less than a threshold value or (2) the user input is in the off-setting and the sensing voltage is greater than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony M. Testani
  • Patent number: 11531048
    Abstract: A circuit for monitoring an output voltage of a voltage supply is shown. The circuit comprises a microcontroller for controlling a system, a shift register and a diagnostic circuit. The microcontroller has an input for receiving serial output data of the shift register, wherein the input is connected to the serial output of the shift register. The diagnostic circuit is designed to diagnose the voltage supply and has a diagnostic output which is connected to a data input of the shift register for inputting a diagnostic bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Christopher Wohlgemuth, Christian Voss
  • Patent number: 11495062
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method that includes: collecting seat sensor data associated with a plurality of seats in a vehicle; selecting a first subset of data from the collected seat sensor data; providing the first subset of data to a fault detection model; receiving, from the fault detection model, one or more detected seat component faults; and generating, based on the one or more detected seat component faults, a seat condition map associated with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Ralf Rene Shu-Zhong Cabos, Nils Kneuper, Andre Lutz
  • Patent number: 11489339
    Abstract: A system and a method for locally controlling delivery of electrical power along the distribution feeder by measuring certain electricity parameters of a distribution feeder line using a substation phasor measurement unit (PMU) electrically coupled to a substation distribution bus at a first node on the feeder line, and at least one customer site PMU electrically coupled to a low voltage end of a transformer at a customer site, wherein the transformer is coupled by a drop line to a second node on the distribution feeder line and the customer site is coupled by another drop line to the transformer, and by controlling at least one controllable reactive power resource and optionally a real power resource connected to the second node or at the customer site. Related apparatus, systems, articles, and techniques are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Power Management Holdings (U.S.), Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm Stuart Metcalfe, Severin Nowak, John Sankey, Eric Young
  • Patent number: 11478293
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator having connectors for an electrosurgical instrument including a high-voltage generator electrically connected to the connectors and produces a high-frequency alternating current in its activated state and output said high-frequency alternating current via the connectors. The electrosurgical generator has an effective power determination unit including a phase shift determination unit that supplies an output signal representing a phase shift between the current and the voltage of an alternating current output during operation. The phase shift determination unit produces a pulsed DC voltage signal, in which the pulse width reflects a time difference between the zero crossings of the current and the voltage—and consequently the phase shift—and to process the pulsed DC voltage signal by way of a low-pass filter to form a low-pass filter output signal, the magnitude of which depends on the pulse width of the pulses of the pulsed DC voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventors: Daniel Ramin, Thomas Fähsing, Stefan Schiddel
  • Patent number: 11476658
    Abstract: A first converter station is part of a high voltage direct current transmission system that includes a DC transmission link connected to the first converter station a second converter station. A DC current and a DC voltage of the DC transmission link are sensed by the first converter station. It is determined that the sensed DC current is equal to or larger than a threshold current value, that the sensed DC current is equal to or larger than the threshold current value, and that at least a partial recovery of the sensed DC voltage has occurred. On the basis that it is determined that the at least a partial recovery of the sensed DC voltage has occurred, it is determined that a phase-to-ground fault has occurred. In response to determining that a phase-to-ground fault has occurred, a power delivered by the first converter station can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Saurav Roy-Choudhury, Ying Jiang-Häfner, Gaurav-Kumar Kasal, Morteza Mohammadi, Mats Andersson
  • Patent number: 11469613
    Abstract: A load-sharing device shares electrical load between a high-ranking load and a low-ranking load. A current transformer connected between a circuit breaker panel and the high-ranking load senses current draw. The current transformer closes a first switch when sufficient current is detected and opens the first switch otherwise. Low-voltage power is connected across nodes of the first switch. A control circuit is connected in parallel with the first switch to control one or more second switches connected between the circuit breaker panel and a low-ranking load. When there is current flow in the control circuit, the second switches are closed, thereby permitting power delivery to the low-ranking load and when there is no current flow in the control circuit, the one or more second switches are open circuited. When the first switch is closed, it provides a short circuit, thereby preventing current flow in the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Loadshare Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Waterman
  • Patent number: 11440412
    Abstract: A disconnection device for a high-voltage electrical system of a motor vehicle for disconnecting a high-voltage line of the high-voltage electrical system, includes an overcurrent protection apparatus; a first disconnecting unit which is made of a first actuatable disconnecting unit, the first disconnecting unit being designed to interrupt a current flow over the first disconnecting unit in the activated state; a second disconnecting unit which is made of a second actuatable disconnecting unit and the overcurrent protection apparatus, the second disconnecting unit being designed to conduct an overcurrent to the overcurrent protection apparatus which interrupts the current flow over the second disconnecting unit in the activated state; and a control unit which is designed to activate at least the second disconnecting unit in the event of an overcurrent and to activate at least the first disconnecting unit in the event of an overcurrent-independent event in order to separate the high-voltage line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Binder, Florian Pritscher, Wladislaw Waag
  • Patent number: 11437562
    Abstract: It is disclosed a composite yarn structure (10) comprising: —a first element (15) comprising a coaxial flexible bi-component monofilament including a conductive component (20) and a thermoplastic component (30) exhibiting piezoelectric properties, —at least a second element (40) twisted around the first element (15), wherein the second element (40) has a lower elasticity with respect to the elasticity of the first element (15) such that, upon elongation of the yarn structure (10) in a first direction, the yarn structure (10) expands in a second direction, whereby the dimensions of the yarn are increased both in first and second directions to generate an additional force on said piezoelectric component of the first element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Sanko Tekstil Isletmeleri San. Ve Tic. A.S.
    Inventors: Özgür Cobanoglu, Deniz Iyidogan, Özgür Akdemir
  • Patent number: 11387632
    Abstract: A power distribution box configured to house a plurality of electronic components is provided. The electronic components are mounted to a lower case. An upper case is mounted to the lower case and spaced apart from the lower case so as to define a storage compartment. The upper case includes a vent configured to allow heat generated by electric components to escape. In particular, the vents are registered so as to be above selective heat generating electric components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyles O. Hamilton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11303120
    Abstract: This specification describes a power distribution system comprising a first section that receives power from a first source. The power at the first section is adjusted by a rectifier coupled to a power bus of the first section. The system includes a second section that is separate from the first section and that receives power from a second source. The power at the second section is adjusted by a rectifier coupled to a power bus of the second distribution section. The system includes a swing rectifier connected to each of the first and second sections. The swing rectifier is configured to provide power to the first power bus and to the second power bus and to dynamically adjust the power capacity of the first section that is available to computing loads, and to dynamically adjust the power capacity of the second section that is available to computing loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Eduardo Lao, Jyoti Sastry, James Kennedy, Christopher Gregory Malone, Varun Sakalkar
  • Patent number: 11240253
    Abstract: An electronic control unit is connected to a network in an in-vehicle network system. The electronic control unit includes a first control circuit and a second control circuit. The first control circuit is connected to the network via the second control circuit. The second control circuit performs a first determination process on a frame to determine conformity of the frame with a first rule. Upon determining that the frame conforms to the first rule, the second control circuit transmits the frame to the first control circuit. The first control circuit performs a second determination process on the frame to determine conformity of the frame with a second rule. The second rule is different from the first rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ujiie, Jun Anzai, Yoshihiko Kitamura, Masato Tanabe, Hideki Matsushima, Tomoyuki Haga, Takeshi Kishikawa, Ryota Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11234322
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device (200), which comprises a power input (202) unit for reception of primary operating power from an external primary power supply, a lighting control unit (204) configured to control a lighting function of the lighting device, a secondary power supply unit (206) for storing operating energy and providing secondary operating power in absence of reception of the primary operating power, a wireless-transceiver unit (208), which is configured, in performing a pre-installation connectivity test routine under supply of only the secondary operating power, to generate and transmit, upon detecting reception of a trigger input signal (210), a first wireless test signal (212), to monitor for reception of a second wireless test signal (214) from an external wireless-transceiver unit; and to determine whether or not the received second wireless test signal fulfills predetermined test-signal criteria and to provide an output signal indicative thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Goutam Maji, Matthias Wendt, Eduard Gerhard Zondag
  • Patent number: 11132847
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an onboard power source, a vehicle interface, and a controller. The controller, responsive to an external power application drawing power from the onboard power source, outputs a power source time to empty for display by the vehicle interface. The power source time to empty is derived from a location of the vehicle and a power drawn from the onboard power source by the external power application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seth Anthony Bryan, Ryan Hunt, Jordan Mazaira
  • Patent number: 11130517
    Abstract: An energy dynamic control method for the EPS with hybrid power supply and an energy dynamic control system. Control system collects real-time current of vehicle electric appliances except the steering motor and the super-capacitor and calculates target current of the steering motor according to real-time steering torque and vehicle speed, and determines state of the super-capacitor by comparing rated current of vehicle power supply and sum of the current of vehicle electric appliances and target current of the steering motor. When super-capacitor is in the charging state, charging current is dynamically regulated to make vehicle power supply work in optimal working range, and maximum charging current is limited based on SOC of the super-capacitor. When super-capacitor is in discharging state, discharging current is dynamically regulated to make vehicle power supply work in optimal working range, and maximum discharging current is limited based on SOC of super-capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: JIANGSU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Bin Tang, Yingqiu Huang, Haobin Jiang, Di Zhang, Chaochun Yuan, Yingfeng Cai, Guoqing Geng, Chaofeng Pan, Shidian Ma, Dong Cao, Chenhui Yin
  • Patent number: 11088548
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes a system control module that determines the presence of a microinverter chain termination end cap. The end cap includes an embedded circuit. The embedded circuit includes components having resistive, reactive, or impedance values. A signal source provides a signal through the microinverter chain. A parameter for a sensed signal detected by the system control module is used to determine the presence of the end cap using a change between the parameter for the sense signal and a reference parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Philip Rothblum
  • Patent number: 11056888
    Abstract: The present invention provides method, apparatus, and computer readable storage medium for an electrical islanding detection. The method for electrical islanding detection method includes: receiving a three-phase voltage in an electrical power system; for the three-voltage voltage, calculating a voltage angle sudden-change of each phase, respectively; determining whether an absolute value of the voltage angle sudden-change of each phase is greater than a first angle sudden-change setting value; determining whether directions of the voltage angle sudden-changes of three phase are the same if the absolute value of the voltage angle sudden-change of each phase is greater than the first angle sudden-change setting value; and determining that the electrical islanding appears if the directions of the voltage angle sudden-changes of the three phases are the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventor: Jinlei Xing
  • Patent number: 11056290
    Abstract: A circuit breaker apparatus may include a housing, a circuit inside the housing for protecting the conductors and the load of the circuit, a display attached to outside of the housing, a controller, and a power control device. The display may be an electronically-alterable display that does not require power in situations other than changing its state. The power control device may provide power to the controller and the display when the apparatus is being tampered with. When the controller is powered, it may cause the power control device to cause the display to change from a state that indicates that the apparatus is authenticated to another state that indicates that the apparatus has been tampered with. The power control device may include a battery and a switch, or a power harvester, which can be configured to provide power to the controller when the apparatus is being tampered with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Zhi Gao, James L. Lagree, Brian E. Carlson
  • Patent number: 11018499
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power distribution network includes receiving, by an electronic processor, a fault indication associated with a fault in the power distribution network from a first isolation device of a plurality of isolation devices. The processor identifies a first subset of a plurality of phases associated with the fault indication and a second subset of the plurality of phases not associated with the fault indication. The first and second subsets each include at least one member. The processor identifies an upstream isolation device upstream of the fault. The processor identifies a downstream isolation device downstream of the fault. The processor sends an open command to the downstream isolation device for each phase in the first subset. Responsive to the first isolation device not being the upstream isolation device, the processor sends a close command to the first isolation device for each phase in the first subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: G & W ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Erich Keller, Nicholas Carmine DiFonzo
  • Patent number: 10971919
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic circuit-breaker for a load (RL) that can be connected to a low-voltage dc-voltage network, the circuit-breaker consisting of assemblies provided between input terminals and the load and said assemblies comprising a voltage monitoring unit (TVS1, R1), a current monitoring unit (Shunt, OPV), semiconductor switch units (MOSFET) and controllers (uC) associated therewith. According to the invention, a series circuit consisting of a TVS diode (TVS1) and a resistor (R1) is connected to the input terminals, the resistor having a connection to a first connector (1) of a microcontroller (uC) and the resultant voltage drop at the resistor providing the microcontroller with an overvoltage identification signal if a breakdown voltage is reached at the TVS diode as a result of an overvoltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: DEHN SE + CO KG
    Inventors: Thomas Böhm, Franz Schork
  • Patent number: 10950989
    Abstract: A GFCI latching apparatus and circuit is provided. The latching apparatus includes a solenoid; a solenoid plunger, wherein the solenoid plunger comprises a groove; a conical spring disposed at one end of the solenoid plunger; a forked latch, wherein the forked latch engages the groove with its forks. The latch also includes a bevel surface. Also included is a contact carrier having a first position when the solenoid is energized and a second position when the solenoid is deenergized. The contact carrier includes a bevel surface for mating with the latch bevel surface when the solenoid is energized. Also included is a GFCI configured to deenergize the solenoid upon the occurrence of a fault to disengage the latch, the latch thereby disengaging from the contact carrier, causing the contact carrier to move from the first position to the second position. The GFCI circuit detects ground faults and deenergizes the solenoid when a ground fault is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Tower Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Victor V Aromin, Louis J. Shatkin
  • Patent number: 10931109
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a computationally efficient technique for determining loads to shed based on both active and reactive power. For example, a monitoring and control system may receive electrical measurements of a power system. The monitoring and control system may determine an active power and a reactive power of each bus in the power system based on the received electrical measurements. The monitoring and control system may send a command to trip at least one breaker to cause the at least one breaker to shed a load based at least in part on both the active power and the reactive power consumed by each bus in the power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Niannian Cai, Abdel Rahman Khatib, Niraj Kiritkumar Shah
  • Patent number: 10916944
    Abstract: A solar and/or wind inverter that uses an ultracapacitor for grid stabilization. The ultracapacitor may be directly tied to, and placed between, a power source and an inverter. The ultracapacitor may supply power to a grid via the inverter during a reduction of power or a loss in power from the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Edward J Simburger
  • Patent number: 10872529
    Abstract: A sensor device for monitoring an occupancy state of a parking space of a parking facility for motor vehicles includes: at least one parking space sensor connected, via a first electric circuit, to a first electrical energy store for an electrical energy supply of the at least one parking space sensor, a detection device for detecting an interruption of the first electric circuit, a communication interface connected in a second electric circuit for transmitting a signal via a communication network when an interruption of the first electric circuit is detected, the signal indicating the interruption, a second electrical energy store being connected in the second electric circuit for an electrical energy supply of the communication interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Nordbruch
  • Patent number: 10853295
    Abstract: The present invention provides an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit includes a switching circuit, an over-voltage detection circuit and a control signal generating circuit. In the operations of the interface circuit, the switching circuit is configured to receive an input signal from an input terminal, and selectively transmit the input signal to an internal circuit. The over-voltage detection circuit is configured to detect whether a voltage level of the input signal is greater than a threshold value, and accordingly generate at least one over-voltage signal. The control signal generating circuit is configured to generate a control signal according to said at least one over-voltage signal, to control the switching circuit to be in one of three or more states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Jiun-Hung Pan, Leaf Chen
  • Patent number: 10855168
    Abstract: Each arm circuit of a power conversion device includes a plurality of cascaded cell blocks and a plurality of bypass circuits connected in parallel to the respective cell blocks. Each cell block includes: a first connection node on a high potential side and a second connection node on a low potential side for connection to another cell block; and a plurality of converter cells cascaded between the first and second connection nodes, each converter cell containing an energy storage. The plurality of converter cells include at least one first converter cell of a full-bridge (or hybrid) configuration and at least one second converter cell of a half-bridge configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryosuke Uda, Kenichi Kuroda, Masashi Kitayama, Yoshiyuki Kono, Shigeo Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10847777
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a battery module having a housing and a stack of battery cells disposed in the housing. Each battery cell has a battery cell terminal and a battery cell vent on an end of each battery cell, and the battery cell vent is configured to exhaust effluent into the housing. The battery module has a vent shield plate disposed in the housing and directly along an immediate vent path of the effluent, a first surface of the vent shield plate configured to direct the effluent to an opening between the shield plate and the housing, and a second surface of the vent shield plate opposite the first surface. The battery module also has a venting chamber coupled to the opening and at least partially defined by the second surface and a vent configured to direct the effluent out of the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, Dale B. Trester
  • Patent number: 10829967
    Abstract: A latching solenoid (100, 200, 300) includes a coil (114) and an armature (120). The armature (120) moves between latch position and a rest position in response to momentary energization of the coil (114) without moving in response to de-energization of the coil (114). A solenoid controller (140) is operable to receive messages from a vehicle bus (108, 410) and output control signals that cause energization of the coil (114).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Philip J. Mott
  • Patent number: 10756536
    Abstract: A system for handling short circuits on an electrical network comprising parallel operated units which are droop controlled for active and reactive power sharing and connected to each other via impedances and protection switches for detecting and handling a short circuit on the electrical network and for disconnecting the faulty part of the electrical network, said units including a DC-source and a grid forming voltage source inverter controlled by a cascaded control structure with an inner voltage control loop and a short circuit control for limiting the output current by changing the output voltage at the output terminals of the inverter as a function of the measured output current and a desired droop voltage provided by a droop controller for voltage and frequency power sharing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Aggreko Deutschland GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Kral, Christian Hans, Peter Merk
  • Patent number: 10720773
    Abstract: An electric circuit for regulating power transfer in a power grid includes a compensator circuit arranged to be connected between outputs of one or more power sources and a point of common coupling in the power grid. The compensator circuit is arranged to detect one or more electrical properties associated with the outputs and one or more electrical properties associated with the point of common coupling; and provide, based on the detection, a voltage output to emulate a resistor for suppressing filter resonance associated with the one or more power sources and to reduce equivalent impedance of the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
    Inventors: Yuanbin He, Shu-Hung Henry Chung, Chun-Tak Lai
  • Patent number: 10693889
    Abstract: An electronic control unit is connected to an in-vehicle network bus in an in-vehicle network system. The electronic control unit includes a first control circuit and a second control circuit. The first control circuit is connected to the in-vehicle network bus via the second control circuit over wired communication and/or wireless communication. The first control circuit performs a first determination process on a frame to determine conformity of the frame with a first rule. The second control circuit performs a second determination process on the frame to determine conformity of the frame with a second rule, and, upon determining that the frame conforms to the second rule, transmits the frame to the in-vehicle network bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ujiie, Jun Anzai, Yoshihiko Kitamura, Masato Tanabe, Hideki Matsushima, Tomoyuki Haga, Takeshi Kishikawa, Ryota Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10680427
    Abstract: Systems devices and methods are disclosed for detecting DC arc faults in a high voltage vehicle electrical distribution system. An example vehicle includes a high voltage electronic system comprising a current sensor configured to capture current data and a processor. The processor is configured to generate filtered data by applying a filter to the current data, determine a Hurst exponent based on the filtered data, and responsive to determining a threshold change in the Hurst exponent, detect the presence of a DC arc in the high voltage electronic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Amin Emrani, Jin Wang, Zhuo Wei, Boxue Hu, Yafeng Wang, Yousef Abdullah
  • Patent number: 10673226
    Abstract: An example electrical power distribution system includes a plurality of circuit protection devices coupled between an electrical power source and a plurality of electrical loads. Each circuit protection device includes a trip unit, a network interface, a processor, and a memory. The trip unit is configured to selectively trip to prevent a flow of electrical current through said circuit protection device. The network interface is communicatively coupled to a communication network including the plurality of circuit protection devices. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit, using the network interface, circuit protection device data to the network. The circuit protection device data is formatted according to a network communication protocol of the communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Lathom Alexander Louco, Jeffrey Marcel Kubascik, Shawn Alan Morgan, Lucas Ray Mallory, Craig Benjamin Williams
  • Patent number: 10557875
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring AC voltage of an insulated conductor are provided, without requiring a galvanic connection between the conductor and a test electrode. A non-galvanic contact voltage measurement system includes a sensor subsystem, an internal ground guard and a reference shield. A common mode reference voltage source is electrically coupled between the internal ground guard and the reference shield to generate an AC reference voltage which causes a reference current to pass through the conductive sensor. Control circuitry receives a signal indicative of current flowing through the sensor subsystem due to the AC reference voltage and the AC voltage in the insulated conductor, and determines the AC voltage in the insulated conductor based at least in part on the received signal. The sensor subsystem includes a plurality of sensors that are polled to compensate for conductor position while allowing for measurement of physical characteristics of the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Steuer, Ricardo Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10551416
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring AC voltage of an insulated conductor are provided, without requiring a galvanic connection between the conductor and a test electrode or probe. A non-galvanic contact (or “non-contact”) voltage measurement system includes a sensor subsystem, an internal ground guard and a reference shield. A common mode reference voltage source is electrically coupled between the internal ground guard and the reference shield to generate an AC reference voltage which causes a reference current to pass through the conductive sensor. Control circuitry receives a signal indicative of current flowing through the sensor subsystem due to the AC reference voltage and the AC voltage in the insulated conductor, and determines the AC voltage in the insulated conductor based at least in part on the received signal. The sensor subsystem includes at least two independent sensors that are used to compensate for conductor position while improving accuracy and dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Steuer, Ricardo Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10495696
    Abstract: A battery system includes a battery module having a plurality of assembled batteries. Battery monitoring circuits are provided to correspond to each of the assembled batteries of the battery module. A control circuit controls operation of the battery monitoring circuits. A first signal transmission path transmits signals that are input and output between the battery monitoring circuits and the control circuit. A first isolation element is connected to the control circuit, and a second isolation element is connected to the battery monitoring circuit. The first signal transmission path is isolated from the control circuit by the second isolation element. The electrical potential of the first signal transmission path is a floating potential in relation to the electrical potentials of the control circuit and battery monitoring circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hikaru Miura, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Akihiko Kudoh, Tomonori Kanai
  • Patent number: 10474119
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for interfacing process controllers in a process automation system with one or more intelligent electrical devices of an electrical automation system to use process and electrical control space information to perform actions and make decisions regarding actions in a connected enterprise system to facilitate energy management goals as well as process control goals in view of electrical control space information and process control space information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Duane Day, Michael Robert Bayer, David Christopher Mazur, Jeffrey Gerard Nolan, Sergio Luiz Gama, John Albert Kay, Bruce K. Venne
  • Patent number: 10445747
    Abstract: A method for tracking procedures performed on personal protection equipment (PPE) and actions of individuals includes the following steps. An article of PPE configured with a smart tag is provided to an individual prior to performance of a task. After the individual performs the task, the article of PPE is processed. Information is retrieved from the smart tag during at least one of: before, during and after processing the article of PPE. After the performance of the task, the individual's data is read and the individual enters into a designated area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Luca D. Farioli Brioschi, Luis V. Ramirez Chaidez, Lawrence J. Ptasienski, Mark T. Anderson, Michael E. Hamerly
  • Patent number: 10421370
    Abstract: A coordinated control method for a distribution network with DER and EV and coordinated control system thereof includes acquiring information from at least one DER controller, at least one EV controller and/or at least one load controller; calculating P/Q references and/or circuit breaker control commands for the DER, the EV and the load based on active/reactive power balance, voltage and/or frequency requirement; allocating the references and/or the control commands to the DER, the EV and the load based on their locations and available capacity; and outputting the allocated references and/or control commands to the DER, the EV and the load. The solutions minimize negative impacts from DER and EVs and maintain a controllable voltage and frequency stabilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Zhao Wang, Yao Chen, Hector Zelaya De La Parra
  • Patent number: 10411472
    Abstract: A distributed method is provided for controlling electrical power in a microgrid, wherein a plurality of distributed generators supply electrical power to the microgrid, and each of the distributed generators is connected to a controller for controlling the real and reactive output power from the distributed generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventor: Ritwik Majumder
  • Patent number: 10411587
    Abstract: Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of a DC fault isolation system are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a power conversion system comprising a converter including a midpoint connection structured to receive AC power, a first converter arm, a second converter arm, and a control system. The control system is configured to operate the converter a fault condition mode in response to a DC fault condition, wherein the fault condition mode operates at least one full bridge cell of the second converter arm so as to interrupt current flowing between the midpoint connection and the second DC bus rail and operates the first converter arm so as to allow the AC power to flow between the midpoint connection and the first DC bus rail in response to detecting the DC fault condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Li Qi, Helen-Xing Huang, Xianyong Feng, Jiuping Pan
  • Patent number: 10395507
    Abstract: An emergency command device comprises: two safety inputs connectable to a control/evaluating unit to receive an input voltage; two safety outputs connectable to the control/evaluating unit; two electrical switching paths respectively extending between the two safety inputs and the two safety outputs; an emergency actuating unit comprising: a manually triggerable actuating element, a background element, and two switches connected to the actuating element and respectively disposed in the two electrical switching paths; a light emitting unit comprising red LEDs to backlight the actuating element and yellow LEDs to backlight the background element; a voltage detector detect an electrical output voltage at one of the two safety outputs; and a flashing circuit arrangement coupled to activate flashing of the yellow LEDs and/or the red LEDs in response to detection by the voltage detector of a drop in the output voltage below a preset or presettable threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Bellingkrodt, Jörg Seid, Sergej Birt
  • Patent number: 10389174
    Abstract: A resource management system includes first and second opening/closing control mechanisms and a grid manager. The first and second control mechanisms each include: a controller to transmit a signal between a resource supply source and a load, a monitor to monitor a state of a resource from the source, a storage to store a policy defining the signal corresponding to the state of the resource from the source; and a path controller to generate the signal based on a monitoring result of the monitor and the policy. The grid manager includes: a third monitor to monitor the state of the resource from the first source; and a third path controller to generate at least one of the first and second signals by controlling at least one of the first path and second path controllers based on a monitoring result of the third monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Satoko Itaya, Fumihide Kojima, Hiroshi Harada
  • Patent number: 10374456
    Abstract: An embedded system may distribute, e.g. at the point of coupling to a main power grid, information corresponding to one or more operational parameters (e.g. phase angle, frequency, amplitude, etc.) of a power delivery device to other power delivery devices, using a deterministic communication link. Updates of some or all of the information may be transmitted at future or past points in time, for example at defined time intervals. Time synchronization methods, e.g. a locked instantaneous interpolation mechanism may be used to create a coordinated time, shared among all power delivery devices. Various operating parameter mismatches, e.g. a phase mismatch between power delivery devices delivering power to the power grid, may thereby be reduced to less than a specified, negligible value. This creates tight time synchronization between the power delivery devices and allows them to interoperate in a manner that stabilizes rather than destabilizes the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Brian C. MacCleery, Todd J. Walter, Burt D. Snover
  • Patent number: 10374415
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with simplified configuration as well as supervision and testing of load restoration functions in high or medium voltage substations of electrical power transmission or distribution networks. The invention takes advantage of the fact that all information for load restoration is available from a standardized configuration representation and from dynamically observable events. Specifically, the IEC 61850 Substation Configuration Description (SCD) file includes the substation single line, the bus bar or breaker failure protection functionality related to it, and the way how reclosing commands can be conveyed for the restoration process. A load restore function or load transfer application observes the execution of a protection trip function and the concurrent connection state of the bays to bus bars in order to automatically restore the power flow across a failed bus bar segment to a parallel healthy bus bar segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Wimmer
  • Patent number: 10324132
    Abstract: Systems and methods for power line event zone identification are disclosed. Power line event zone identification may include receiving measured data corresponding to a signal measured on a power line, determining from the measured data that a power line event has occurred, and identifying a probable one of at least two monitoring zones in which the power line event occurred. The at least two monitoring zones may be defined for an Intelligent Electronic Device (IED). The systems may include an IED connected to the power line and a processor linked to the IED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Inc.
    Inventors: Kari Saarinen, Mirrasoul Mousavi, James Stoupis, John McGowan
  • Patent number: 10317452
    Abstract: A testing device tests an intelligent electronic device of a power system. A PC generates failure data by performing: simulation calculation for a CT and a PT with respect to current waveform data of a current transformer and voltage waveform data of a potential transformer based on a characteristic of an instrument transformer; and simulation calculation for an MU with respect to the current waveform data of the current transformer and the voltage waveform data of the potential transformer based on a characteristic of the MU. The testing device acquires device information data indicating a circuit breaker of the power system, in synchronization with the failure data. The testing device transmits the failure data and the device information data to the intelligent electronic device via a process bus in accordance with a setting of outputting data to the process bus and a setting of sampling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigetoo Oda
  • Patent number: 10256745
    Abstract: A multilevel converter converting between AC and DC includes a phase leg having a first and a second phase arm, the first phase arm being connected between a first pole having a first potential and a first AC terminal and the second phase arm being connected between the first AC terminal and a second potential, where the phase arms include half-bridge and full-bridge cells, where each cell includes at least one energy storage element for providing the voltage contribution and cell switching units with cell switches and anti-parallel diodes for controlling the voltage contribution, where the full-bridge cells include a bypass switch controllable to bypass the corresponding energy storage element, and when a phase-to-ground fault occurs the cell switches are blocked and the bypass switches activated with a delay in relation to the blocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Alireza Nami, Jiaqi Liang, Frans Dijkhuizen, Liwei Wang
  • Patent number: 10247356
    Abstract: A configurable industrial safety relay device allows individual adjustment of rated input currents for each safety input. The safety relay device can support a number of programmable configuration settings or parameters, including parameters that allow a desired input current to be individually selected for each safety input. In this way, an input current can be selected for each safety input that is appropriate for the safety circuit being monitored by the safety input. In particular, an input current can be selected that ensures reliable detection of the safety signal by the safety input while substantially minimizing power consumption by the safety relay device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Norbert Machuletz, Thomas Helpenstein, Oliver Heckel, Rudolf Laurenz Papenbreer