Current Conversion Patents (Class 363/13)
  • Patent number: 11979084
    Abstract: An isolated DC/DC converter includes a primary stage, a transformer circuit, a secondary stage, an active clamp, a first current sense node, and a second current sense node. The primary stage includes a primary switching inverter configured to invert the source DC voltage into a high-frequency alternating current (AC) voltage. The transformer circuit adjusts an AC voltage level of the high-frequency AC voltage and outputs an adjusted AC voltage. The secondary stage includes a secondary switching converter to convert the adjusted AC voltage into a secondary voltage, and the active clamp is configured to clamp the secondary voltage to provide an output DC voltage. The first current sense node is included in the primary stage conducts a source current having a first current level, and the second current sense node is included in the secondary stage and conducts a clamp current having a second current level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Sriram Chandrasekaran, Bruce Stoltz, Marty Perry, Noel Delgado
  • Patent number: 11948731
    Abstract: A control device for a power conversion device using a multi-phase magnetic coupling reactor is provided. The multi-phase magnetic coupling reactor including: a first outer coil; a second outer coil; an inner coil; and a core. Directions of magnetic fluxes generated in the first outer coil, the second outer coil, and the inner coil are opposite to each other in any combination. The control device is configured to switch among a one-phase operation, a two-phase operation, and a three-phase operation. The control device is configured to select two phases of the first outer coil and the second outer coil in the two-phase operation, and the control device is configured to select one of the first outer coil and the second outer coil in the one-phase operation before the two-phase operation or a one-phase operation after the two-phase operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryota Kitamoto
  • Patent number: 11888390
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for operating a first PEG element (PFC1) and a second PEC element (PFC2) in an interleaved mariner, said system comprising a first integrated circuit (IC1) having a first PFC controller, a second integrated circuit (IC2) having a second PFC controller, as well as a synchronization circuit (SYNC) connecting the first integrated circuit (IC1) and the second integrated circuit (IC2), whereas the synchronisation circuit (SYNC) is adapted to control the first integrated circuit (IC1) and the second integrated circuit (IC2) such that the first PFC element (PFC1) and the second PFC element (PFC2) are operated in anti-phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Secop GmbH
    Inventor: Rune Thomsen
  • Patent number: 11839044
    Abstract: A power electronics unit (1) for an electric drive unit, having an electrically conductive carrier element (2) and a power semiconductor module (3) arranged on the carrier element (2). The power semiconductor module (3) is designed to convert a direct current into a three-phase alternating current, and a current sensor (4) used to determine the alternating current is integrated such that it forms a main module (5) with the carrier element (2) and the power semiconductor module (3). A drive train for a motor vehicle having such a power electronics unit (1) is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Linbo Tang, Marco Bender, Matthias Kästle, Jan-Ulrich Biskup
  • Patent number: 11824380
    Abstract: A DC charging circuit for an electric vehicle includes a neutral-point clamped (NPC) rectifier and a DC/DC buck converter. The NPC rectifier is configured to convert three-phase AC power to a first DC voltage at a rectifier output stage. The DC/DC buck converter includes a first DC stage coupled to the rectifier output stage, and a second DC stage configured to be coupled to the electric vehicle. The DC/DC buck converter is configured to convert the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage to be supplied to the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Fei Xu, Ahmed Elasser, Silvio Colombi, Kum Kang Huh
  • Patent number: 11811297
    Abstract: A power module includes N inverter units outputting N AC voltages and being coupled to N high-frequency AC terminals, wherein the N high-frequency AC terminals are cascaded and connected to a post-stage rectifier circuit. A phase-shift control method for the power module includes: setting at least two phase-shift sequences, wherein phase sequence numbers of the N AC voltages of the N inverter units are different in the at least two phase-shift sequences; in one switching period, controlling the N AC voltages of the N inverter units to shift a first angle according to a first phase-shift sequence of the at least two phase-shift sequences; and in another switching period, controlling the N AC voltages of the N inverter units to shift the first angle according to a second phase-shift sequence of the at least two phase-shift sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hong Liu, Jie Kong, Wen Zhang, Baihui Song, Cheng Lu, Hongyang Wu
  • Patent number: 11742764
    Abstract: A resonant power converter includes a capacitive divider circuit, a coupled inductor, and N switching stages, where N is an integer greater than two. The coupled inductor includes N windings, and total leakage inductance of the coupled inductor and equivalent capacitance of the capacitive divider circuit collectively form a resonant tank circuit of the resonant power converter. Each switching stage is electrically coupled between a respective one of the N windings of the coupled inductor and the capacitive divider circuit. The capacitive divider circuit may include one or more resonant capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Angelo Genova, Laszlo Lipcsei, Alexandr Ikriannikov
  • Patent number: 11705774
    Abstract: An industrial electrical machine system includes an industrial electrical machine including a first housing and a first plug-in electrical connector disposed on the first housing; and an electronics module including a second housing; a converter disposed in the second housing and constructed to convert an input electrical power to an output electrical power; a second plug-in electrical connector electrically coupled to the converter and constructed to sealingly engage and electrically couple to the first plug-in electrical connector and electrically couple the converter to the industrial electrical machine and supply the output electrical power to the industrial electrical machine from the converter, wherein the industrial electrical machine is a motor, a generator or a motor/generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Sheng Zhong, Darren Tremelling, Elio Perigo
  • Patent number: 11658487
    Abstract: An energy generation system provides balancing power for an AC voltage grid, and comprises a photovoltaic generator and an energy store, wherein the energy generation system exchanges a total electrical power with the AC voltage grid (1), wherein the total power exchanged is set as a function of a current maximum PV power, a predefinable basic PV power between zero and the maximum PV power and a provided or requested balancing power. When no balancing power is requested: a total basic power, which comprises the basic PV power can be fed in; When a negative balancing power is requested: the PV power can be reduced compared to the basic PV power; When a positive balancing power is requested: a battery power can be drawn from the energy store if the requested positive balancing power is greater than the difference between the maximum PV power and the basic PV power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventor: Andreas Knobloch
  • Patent number: 11617280
    Abstract: A power electronics unit (1) for an electric drive unit, having an electrically conductive carrier element (2) and a power semiconductor module (3) arranged on the carrier element (2). The power semiconductor module (3) is designed to convert a direct current into a three-phase alternating current, and a current sensor (4) used to determine the alternating current is integrated such that it forms a main module (5) with the carrier element (2) and the power semiconductor module (3). A drive train for a motor vehicle having such a power electronics unit (1) is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Linbo Tang, Marco Bender, Matthias Kastle, Jan-Ulrich Biskup
  • Patent number: 11515731
    Abstract: A first detector detects a value of a current or voltage generated by an auxiliary coil. A second detector detects a value of a current flowing through a power transmitting coil. A coupling coefficient estimator estimates a first coupling coefficient between the power transmitting coil and a power receiving coil, based on the value of the current or voltage generated by the auxiliary coil, and estimates a second coupling coefficient between the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil, based on the value of the current flowing through the power transmitting coil. A control circuit controls a power supply circuit to stop power transmission to a power receiver apparatus when a difference between the coupling coefficients is greater than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shingo Nagaoka, Taichi Mishima, Takeshi Uematsu
  • Patent number: 11349416
    Abstract: A method for compensating parameter imbalance induced current harmonics in a synchronous motor drive includes reading an output current signal and extracting, based on the output current signal, a signature of a parameter imbalance corresponding to the synchronous motor drive. The method also includes compensating, based on the signature, for the current harmonics induced by parameter imbalance in a closed loop using a feedback path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Prerit Pramod
  • Patent number: 11233452
    Abstract: A DC-DC voltage converter includes an input circuit, a parallel linked leg (PLL), an output circuit and a controller. The PLL includes an active leg switch, a leg inductor, a leg capacitor and a leg diode. The controller is configured to i) turn on the active input switch and the active leg switches while maintaining the active output switch at a turn off state for the first duty cycle period ii) turn off the active input switch and the active leg switches, and turn on the active output switch for a second duty cycle period following the first duty cycle period, and iii) turn off the active output switch while maintaining also turn off states of the active input switch and the active leg switches for a remaining period following the second duty cycle period. A method of controlling the DC-DC converter includes steps of i) to iii).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Prince Sultan University
    Inventors: Mahajan Sagar Bhaskar, Dhafer J. Almakhles, Umashankar Subramaniam, Sanjeevikumar Padmanaban, Sakthivel Rathinasamy
  • Patent number: 11226645
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reference voltage generating circuit. The reference voltage generating circuit includes a charge supply circuit providing a first reference voltage during a first period; and a voltage supply circuit providing a second reference voltage during a second period. The voltage supply circuit does not provide the second reference voltage during the first period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Sitronix Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yao-Sheng Hu, Li-Yu Huang
  • Patent number: 11204373
    Abstract: In the electric power converting apparatus, an electric current sensor that measures an electric current that flows through a busbar includes: a magnetic flux concentrating core that has a first end portion and a second end portion that face each other so as to have a measuring space interposed; and a magnetoelectric transducer that has a magnetically sensitive portion that is disposed in the measuring space. The magnetoelectric transducer generates a signal in response to a magnitude of a magnetic field that is sensed by the magnetically sensitive portion. Where a core opening direction of the magnetic flux concentrating core is a direction that is directed from the busbar, through the measuring space, and outward from the magnetic flux concentrating core, a direction of the magnetic leakage field at the electric reactor is a direction that is different than the core opening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Muneki Nakada, Shuichi Ueno, Satoshi Ishii, Tomonori Yamada
  • Patent number: 11125833
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for testing a disconnection point (12) of a photovoltaic inverter (1) and to a photovoltaic inverter (1) of this type. According to the invention, in a testing mode, an auxiliary voltage (U_Lx) is applied between the input (E_Lx) of each line (Lx) of the disconnection point (12) and an intermediate circuit potential (M), in each case, the first switching contacts (SW_Lx,1) are closed and the second switching contacts (SW_Lx,2) are opened alternately and vice versa, according to a switching pattern, and, for each switching pattern, the voltages (U_Lx,GD; U_MN) between the output (A_Lx) of each line (Lx) of the disconnection point (12) and the intermediate circuit potential (M) are measured, and the functionality of each switching contact (SW_Lx,j) is derived from the measured voltages (U_Lx,GD; U_MN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Wallisch, Joachim Danmayr
  • Patent number: 10797630
    Abstract: A method of modulating a cascaded three-phase VFD, including: obtaining space voltage vectors according to states and output levels of switches of power units in each stage, and dividing the vectors into large vectors, medium vectors, small vectors and zero vectors according to their lengths; arranging the vectors into a vector space, and dividing the vector space into sectors, wherein each sector corresponds to a group of the large vector, the medium vector, the small vector and the zero vector; determining a sector in which a reference voltage vector is located, wherein the reference voltage vector is composed by the group of vectors; calculating action time of the vectors in the group; allocating an action order to the vectors; and generating a three-phase modulated wave signal based on the action orders and the action time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kai Chen, Wenjiang Zhao, Yongqiang Lang, Peter Mantovanelli Barbosa
  • Patent number: 10707777
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for controlling semiconductor power switches, e.g. IGBTs, in parallel connected power devices, e.g. in frequency converters, wherein the semiconductor power switches connect either the positive or the negative pole of the intermediate DC-voltage of the power device to an output phase of the power device. In the method the voltages of those output phases which are connected in parallel are measured, the timing differences of the output voltage state changes are calculated on the basis of the output voltage measurement results, and the control signals of the semiconductor power switches are advanced or delayed such that the output voltage state changes in the phases which are connected together via output impedances occur at desired time instants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Vacon Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Pouttu, Ari Ristimäki, Toni Itkonen
  • Patent number: 10508956
    Abstract: A temperature estimation device calculates a first estimation temperature of a reactor on the basis of a reference estimation temperature to which a first lag period is provided and outputs from a temperature change amount calculation unit to which a second lag period is provided, predicts a second temperature change amount of the reactor over a predetermined period on the basis of the first estimation temperature, and then predicts a second estimation temperature of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Higaki, Hirokazu Nakabayashi, Shoji Morita, Yutaka Kuboyama, Ryota Kondo
  • Patent number: 10457150
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes a power converter having output terminals that are electrically isolated from input terminals. The power conversion system further includes a circuit configured to couple a voltage input from a power source to the input terminals, and provide an output voltage to a load that is a series combination of the voltage input and a voltage across the output terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hadi Malek, Shuitao Yang, Yan Zhou
  • Patent number: 10097033
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical appliance comprising an electronic control unit (6) and a power circuit (7) supplying power to said electronic control unit (6), the power circuit (7) comprising a soft on/off switch (1) for turning on and off the electrical appliance, the soft on/off switch (1) being connected electrically in parallel with a relay (2) and a rectifier (3). The power circuit (7) further comprises an electrical node connecting the soft on/off switch (1) and the rectifier (3) to a button sensing circuit (4) and to an AC/DC converter (5) together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: ARCELIK ANONIM SIRKETI
    Inventors: Oner Hatipoglu, Ahmet Ihsan Yuce
  • Patent number: 10097082
    Abstract: An integrated circuit power factor controller includes a pulse width modulator and a line sensing circuit. The pulse width modulator has a first input for receiving a feedback signal, a second input for receiving a line sense signal, and an output for providing a drive signal having a duty cycle formed in response to the feedback signal and the line sense signal. The line sensing circuit has an input for receiving the drive signal, and an output coupled to the second input of the pulse width modulator for providing the line sense signal. The line sensing circuit forms the line sense signal in response to measuring a duty ratio of the drive signal. In another form, an offline converter includes an integrated circuit power factor controller that provides a line sense signal in response to a duty ratio of the drive signal without measuring a voltage on the input line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joel Turchi, Christophe Basso
  • Patent number: 10008924
    Abstract: An integrated circuit power factor controller includes a feedback input terminal for receiving a feedback signal representative of an output voltage, a control terminal for receiving an error signal and adapted to be coupled to a compensation network, a drive terminal for providing a drive signal and adapted to be coupled to a transistor, and a pulse width modulator. The pulse width modulator is coupled to the feedback input terminal, the control terminal, and the drive terminal, and provides the drive signal having a duty cycle formed in response to the feedback signal. The pulse width modulator includes a line sensing multiplier having a first input for receiving the error signal, a second input for receiving the drive signal, and an output for providing a multiplied signal, and the pulse width modulator further provides the drive signal in response to the multiplied signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joel Turchi, Christophe Basso
  • Patent number: 9882294
    Abstract: A connector for connecting a motor is provided. The connector for connecting a motor for electrically connecting a three phase coil connecting portion that is drawn out from a motor and a three phase power terminal that is connected with a power cable includes: i) a under terminal block that houses the each power terminal and the each coil connecting portion; ii) an upper terminal block that is coupled to the under terminal block and that presses the each power terminal and the each coil connecting portion; and iii) an engagement portion that engages the under terminal block and the upper terminal block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: MyungKyu Jeong, GaEun Lee, Young Jin Seo
  • Patent number: 9819281
    Abstract: A voltage period calculator obtains an oscillation period of a voltage. A power source impedance estimating unit obtains an estimated value of a power source impedance from the oscillation period, an inductance, and a capacitance. A gain setting unit sets a control gain using the estimated value, the inductance, the capacitance, and a desired attenuation coefficient command, and outputs the control gain. A multiplier obtains a product of the control gain and the voltage. A subtractor subtracts the product from a command value to obtain a voltage control ratio command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke Ohta
  • Patent number: 9680080
    Abstract: An electrical generator includes a rotor, a stator core disposed axially around the rotor, a stator sleeve assembly disposed axially around the stator core, and a stator housing disposed axially around the stator sleeve assembly. The stator sleeve assembly includes a cylindrical stator sleeve and thermoelectric elements. The cylindrical stator sleeve has a radially inward facing surface and a radially outward facing surface. The thermoelectric elements are affixed to the radially outward facing surface of the cylindrical stator sleeve. The stator housing includes at least one coolant channel. The coolant channel is in thermal contact with the thermoelectric elements. The thermoelectric elements generate power as a function of the temperature difference between the cylindrical stator sleeve and the coolant channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sunstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Debabrata Pal
  • Patent number: 9614450
    Abstract: A feedback signal generating circuit may include a control voltage adjusting circuit outputting a feedback voltage by comparing a control voltage input from an external voltage source with a reference voltage and adjusting a ratio of control voltage drop, and an amplifying circuit generating a feedback signal by differentially amplifying the feedback voltage and a detection voltage associated with a current flowing in a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SOLUM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki Hong Kim, Byoung Woo Ryu, Jung Woo Choi
  • Patent number: 9499055
    Abstract: An inverter for an electric vehicle is provided. The inverter for an electric vehicle, which controls an RPM of a motor for the electric vehicle, the inverter including a busbar connected to a power semiconductor module for supplying current, a current sensor measuring the current passing through the busbar, and a control board on which the current sensor is mounted, the control board controlling the motor for the electric vehicle according to a result measured by the current sensor. The busbar is disposed to vertically pass through the current sensor and control board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Jun Oh, Chang Min Jung, Beum Jun Kim, Ung Hoe Kim, Ki Young Moon
  • Patent number: 9172300
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention disclose a charge-pump voltage divider and associated start-up method. The charge-pump voltage divider comprises a start-up circuit that can regulate an inrush current during start up. The start-up circuit comprises a switch, which operates in linear region state during start-up, and operates in switching state after the start-up completes. The charge-pump voltage divider may further comprise a load control switch configured to ensure the start-up is independent of a load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taofeng Li, Yike Li
  • Patent number: 9132738
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes: a vehicle-mounted electric power storage device; an electric power generation mechanism that is configured to generate charging electric power for charging the electric power storage device; an electric power supply device that is configured to supply electric power to external equipment that is not a component of the electric vehicle, by using output electric power from the electric power storage device; and a controller that is configured to control electric power to be supplied by the electric power supply device, according to information indicative of an upper limit of the electric power for charging the electric power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takanori Aoki
  • Patent number: 9035350
    Abstract: Methods, systems, circuits, and devices for power-packet-switching power converters using bidirectional bipolar transistors (BTRANs) for switching. Four-terminal three-layer BTRANs provide substantially identical operation in either direction with forward voltages of less than a diode drop. BTRANs are fully symmetric merged double-base bidirectional bipolar opposite-faced devices which operate under conditions of high non-equilibrium carrier concentration, and which can have surprising synergies when used as bidirectional switches for power-packet-switching power converters. BTRANs are driven into a state of high carrier concentration, making the on-state voltage drop very low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Ideal Power Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Blanchard, William C. Alexander
  • Patent number: 9029909
    Abstract: Methods, systems, circuits, and devices for power-packet-switching power converters using bidirectional bipolar transistors (BTRANs) for switching. Four-terminal three-layer BTRANs provide substantially identical operation in either direction with forward voltages of less than a diode drop. BTRANs are fully symmetric merged double-base bidirectional bipolar opposite-faced devices which operate under conditions of high non-equilibrium carrier concentration, and which can have surprising synergies when used as bidirectional switches for power-packet-switching power converters. BTRANs are driven into a state of high carrier concentration, making the on-state voltage drop very low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ideal Power Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Blanchard, William C. Alexander
  • Patent number: 9025346
    Abstract: A structure of a fly-back power converting apparatus is disclosed. The structure includes a power transistor, a current detector, a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generator and a current limiter. The power transistor is coupled to an input voltage and receives a PWM signal. The current detector detects a current output from the power transistor and generates a detecting voltage according to the current. The PWM signal generator generates the PWM signal according to a comparing result by comparing the detecting voltage and a standard voltage. The current limiter generates the standard voltage according to a turn-on time of the power transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Excelliance MOS Corporation
    Inventors: Pao-Chuan Lin, Su-Yuan Lin, Hung-Che Chou
  • Patent number: 9005832
    Abstract: An arrangement for improved operability of a high temperature fuel cell device at higher fuel cell voltage values than nominal voltage values, each fuel cell in the fuel cell device including an anode side, a cathode side, and an electrolyte between the anode side and the cathode side, and the arrangement includes means for determining temperature information of the fuel cells and main power converter for loading fuels cells at least up to their rated power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Convion Oy
    Inventors: Kim Åström, Marko Laitinen
  • Patent number: 8995155
    Abstract: A photovoltaic power conditioning system and method is provided. The system includes an isolated DC/DC converter (41), a DC/AC inverter (42), and a sine filter (43). The isolated DC/DC converter (41) receives a DC voltage from a solar cell through a parallel connection structure and converts the DC voltage into another DC voltage and then outputs the converted DC voltage through a series connection structure. The DC/AC inverter (42) converts the DC voltage output from the isolated DC/DC converter into an AC voltage. The sine filter (43) performs sine filtering on the AC voltage output from the DC/AC inverter and outputs the filtered AC voltage. The system employs a topology allowing it to be responsible for part of the output capacity, thereby significantly reducing the required capacity and increasing the system efficiency, so that the system can be applied to small and large-capacity photovoltaic power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute
    Inventors: Byung Duk Min, Dong Wook Yoo, Ju Won Bak, Tae Jin Kim, Jong Hyun Kim, Myung Hyo Ryu, Jong Pil Lee
  • Patent number: 8891251
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a processing system with a soft power switch assembly configured to include a zero-power off mode that would allow an off state with no power drain by the device while maintaining all other soft power off mode capabilities, including low power modes, (e.g., sleep, hibernation modes). The processing system can be restored from the zero-power off mode using the same actuation mechanism used when switching from a power on mode to a soft power off mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Costa
  • Publication number: 20140321166
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process of connecting an AC output of a transformerless inverter of a solar power plant to an internal AC power grid at an input side of a galvanic isolation, while an offset voltage for shifting a potential center point of a photovoltaic generator connected to the inverter is applied. The process includes: (i) synchronizing the inverter with the power grid; (ii) essentially matching a potential center point of the current-carrying lines of the AC output and a potential center point of the power grid, while only one of the potential center points of the current-carrying lines and the power grid is yet shifted by the offset voltage; and (iii) galvanically connecting all current-carrying lines of the AC output with the power grid only after the steps of synchronizing and essentially matching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Stephanie Coors, Tobias Mueller, Oliver Prior
  • Publication number: 20140313781
    Abstract: Described herein is a stacked switched capacitor (SSC) energy buffer circuit architecture and related design and control techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: David J. Perreault, Khurram K. Afridi, Minjie Chen
  • Publication number: 20140292085
    Abstract: A photovoltaic power generation system, having a photovoltaic panel, which has a direct current (DC) output and a micro-inverter with input terminals and output terminals. The input terminals are adapted for connection to the DC output. The micro-inverter is configured for converting an input DC power received at the input terminals to an output alternating current (AC) power at the output terminals. A bypass current path between the output terminals may be adapted for passing current produced externally to the micro-inverter. The micro-inverter is configured to output an alternating current voltage significantly less than a grid voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: SOLAREDGE TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Ilan Yoscovich, Meir Gazit, Tzachi Glovinsky, Yoav Galin
  • Publication number: 20140265579
    Abstract: A method of configuring an installed energy harvesting device to comply with a local grid connection standard is provided. The method identifies a local grid connection standard for an energy harvesting device that has been installed in a physical installation. The method then configures the energy harvesting device to apply the identified grid connection standard. To identify the local gird connection standard, the method determines a physical location for the installation of the energy harvesting device. The method then identifies the local grid connection standard based on the determined physical location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Enecsys Limited
    Inventor: Asim Mumtaz
  • Patent number: 8836165
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dual-source converter for a hybrid power supply. The converter includes a first power circuit, a second power circuit, an auxiliary circuit, an output circuit and a closed loop circuit. The first power circuit is electrically connected to the second power circuit in series for receiving two varied voltage sources. The auxiliary circuit is configured to achieve soft switching of all switches. The closed loop circuit is configured to control the duty cycles of the first power circuit, the second power circuit and the auxiliary circuit so as to improve the efficiency of the dual-source converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, Armaments, Bureau, Ministry of National Defense
    Inventors: Jung-Tzung Wei, Chung-You Lin, Bo-Han Chen, Kuo-Kuang Jen, Yu-Min Liao
  • Publication number: 20140254200
    Abstract: A high resolution rectifier suitable for low voltage signals includes a signal input end connected to a signal source for inputting an original AC current; two amplifiers; one receiving the original AC current from a positive end; and the other receiving the AC current from a negative end; amplification factors of the two amplifiers being reversed to each other; two half wave rectifiers each connected to a respective amplifier selected from the two amplifiers; each half wave rectifier receiving an output from the respective amplifier and removing negative half parts of the input current; and an adder connected to the two half wave rectifiers for adding outputs from the two half wave rectifiers so as to full-wave rectifying of the original AC current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventor: Kuei-Wei Kuo
  • Publication number: 20140247623
    Abstract: A reactor 1A of the present invention includes a sleeve-like coil 2, a magnetic core 3 that is disposed inside and outside the coil 2 to form a closed magnetic path, and a case 4A that stores the coil 2 and the magnetic core 3. At least part of the magnetic core 3 (herein an outer core portion 32 provided on the outer circumference side of the coil 2) is formed by a composite material that contains magnetic substance powder and resin. At least part of the outer circumference of the coil 2 is covered by a resin mold portion 21 that is formed by an insulating resin, whereby the shape of the coil 2 is retained. A heat dissipating pedestal portion 5A that forms at least part of the case 4A and that is formed by a non-magnetic metal material is integrally retained with the coil 2 by the resin forming the resin mold portion 21.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Inaba
  • Publication number: 20140241011
    Abstract: A reactor of the present invention includes a coil 2, a magnetic core 3 in which the coil 2 is disposed, and a case that stores a combined product 10 made up of the coil 2 and the magnetic core 3. The case includes a bottom plate portion 40 made of a metal material, and a sidewall portion that is attached to the bottom plate portion 40 to surround the combined product 10. A joining layer 42 that fixes the coil 2 is provided at the inner face of the bottom plate portion 40. The region provided with the joining layer 42 has been subjected to surface roughening treatment. When anodic oxidation treatment is carried out as the surface roughening treatment, the bottom plate portion 40 includes an anodic oxide layer 43. The surface roughening treatment increases the contact area between the bottom plate portion 40 and the joining layer 42, whereby the joining strength between the bottom plate portion 40 and the coil 2 can be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Nomura, Izumi Memezawa, Hiroshi Teraniti, Atsushi Ito
  • Publication number: 20140233262
    Abstract: A method of performing space vector modulation for PWM control for creating AC waveforms includes generating and sampling a reference signal to generate reference samples and performing a reference vector approximation to synthesize a reference vector associated with at least one of the reference samples. The reference vector approximation employs active vectors, one or more zero vectors, and one or more pseudo zero vectors in the formation thereof. Another method of performing space vector modulation (SVM) includes generating a reference signal and sampling the reference signal at a sampling frequency to generate a plurality of reference samples. The method also includes performing a reference vector approximation to synthesize a reference vector associated with at least one of the reference samples, wherein the reference vector approximation has a first portion that employs two adjacent active vectors and a remaining portion that employs two non-adjacent active vectors in the formation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Tao Zhao, Arno Rabenstein, Theng Kiong Gan, Choon Keat Kok, Sze Main Wong
  • Publication number: 20140233263
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a tracking method for a voltage transformer, in particular an inverter, of a photovoltaic system. In the method, an intermediate circuit voltage is repeatedly decreased or increased in one direction to a lower or higher voltage by voltage steps of a specified magnitude. The method is characterized in that an average rate of change of the intermediate circuit voltage in a partial time period between two voltage steps is limited by a maximum average rate of change, the maximum average rate of change being defined according to the magnitude of the intermediate circuit voltage. The disclosure further relates to a tracking device designed to perform the tracking method and to an inverter equipped with the tracking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Martin Bock, Tobias Mueller, Thomas Ortmann, Alexander Unru
  • Publication number: 20140226365
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for checking a separation point (14) between a photovoltaic inverter (1) and a power supply network (7) having multiple phases (L1, L2, L3) and a neutral conductor (N), wherein multiple switching contacts of the separation point (14) are controlled by the photovoltaic inverter (1), and to a photovoltaic inverter (1). To allow a simple and quick check of the functionality of the separation point (14), the switching contacts of the separation point (14) are each formed by single-pole relays (15-22) and switched in steps according to a switching pattern. For checking switching contacts, a voltage (26, 27, 28) is measured at at least one phase (L1, L2, L3) with respect to the neutral conductor (N), upstream of the separation point (14), and compared to voltage values assigned in accordance with the switching pattern, thereby to deduce the functionality of the switching contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Friedrich OBERZAUCHER, Joachim DANMAYR
  • Publication number: 20140218980
    Abstract: An inverter circuit comprises an inverter which can be configurable for controlling the supply of mains current from a grid to an electric machine in a start-up mode whereby the machine drives the prime mover for initialisation. Thereafter the same inverter is reconfigurable as part of the circuit to supply reactive power to the grid when the machine is running as a generator powered by the prime mover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Control Techniques Limited
    Inventor: Peter Eigenbrodt
  • Publication number: 20140204613
    Abstract: For controlling a photovoltaic system connected to an AC power grid and including a photovoltaic generator and an inverter, electric power which includes positive and negative dynamic control power is transferred by means of the inverter between the photovoltaic generator and the AC power grid as a function of a received power control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Jonathan Blanz, Volker Wachenfeld, Stijn Stevens, Jens Friebe
  • Publication number: 20140197764
    Abstract: Device for operative connection between a subsea step out cabie far end and subsea toads such as pumps, compressors and control systems, distinctive in that the device is a subsea DC provider (SDCP), and it comprises: a SDCP unit for altering alternating current power received from the step out cable to direct current power for delivery to said loads, a gas and/or liquid filled vessel into which said unit is arranged, and the device is a SDCP for subsea location at a far end of a subsea step out cable connected to at least one AC power source at the step out cable near end, and the step out length is long, which means long enough to cause, stability problems at frequency and power levels feasible for subsea pump and compressor motors, and where the device via the step out cable receives input electrical power at a low enough frequency to have stable transmission and the device, operativeSy connected to the subsea motors, delivers a DC output electrical amperage and voltage feasible for operation of connected
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Aker Subsea AS
    Inventor: Kjell Olav Stinessen