By Semiconductor Rectifier And Inverter Patents (Class 363/37)
  • Patent number: 10862404
    Abstract: Harmonics are generated when pulse width modulation is carried out with an asymmetrical triangular wave as a carrier signal in a power conversion device. In order to restrict these harmonics, a command value is corrected in advance so as to be distorted, a gate signal of a switching operation is determined lasing a post-correction command value and an asymmetrical carrier signal, and pulse width modulation is carried out, whereby an output voltage or output current with no distortion is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Takahashi, Satoshi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10848053
    Abstract: An inverter system includes an inverter controller and at least one surge protection device. The inverter controller is configured to operate multiple switches to provide an alternating current to an output. The at least one surge protection device is configured to limit a voltage on a direct current link of the inverter. The at least one surge protection device includes a variable resistance component coupled to the direct current link of the inverter, a sensing resistor selectively connected in parallel to the variable resistance component by a switching component, a detection device configured to measure a parameter of the sensing resistor, and a control circuit including failure sensing logic configured to detect a failure in the variable resistance component in response to information from the variable resistance component and information from the detection device for the parameter of the sensing resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Adam Larson
  • Patent number: 10840814
    Abstract: The control unit controls the converter unit not to cause transfer of power between the transformer circuit unit and the converter unit in the first time period including the reversal time period in which a reversal of polarity of the voltage across the primary winding occurs. The control unit controls the converter unit to cause transfer of power in the first direction from the transformer circuit unit to the converter unit or the second direction opposite to the first direction in the second time period different from the first time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumito Kusama, Makoto Ozone, Takaaki Norisada, Yutaka Kamon
  • Patent number: 10833620
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments of the technical solutions described herein, an example method includes determining an input voltage (Vinv) of an inverter in a power circuit. The method further includes measuring an input current (Ii) of the inverter. The method further includes estimating a power supply current from a power supply of the power circuit based on the input voltage and the input current using a state observer and a plant model of the power circuit, the power supply current estimated at a non-steady state. The method further includes performing an active power management of a motor that receives electric power via the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Aparna Saha, Infane O. Lowe
  • Patent number: 10828502
    Abstract: Implantable devices and/or sensors can be wirelessly powered by controlling and propagating electromagnetic waves in a patient's tissue. Such implantable devices/sensors can be implanted at target locations in a patient, to stimulate areas such as the heart, brain, spinal cord, or muscle tissue, and/or to sense biological, physiological, chemical attributes of the blood, tissue, and other patient parameters. In some embodiments, the implantable devices can include power management schemes that have one or more AC-DC conversion chains arranged and configured to rectify the induced alternating current or voltage into one or more energy domains. Methods of use are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ada Shuk Yan Poon, Alexander J. Yeh
  • Patent number: 10826378
    Abstract: A control device generates a voltage command value for controlling a current flowing between a three-phase AC power supply and a power converter such that a full voltage representative value representing voltage values of all power storage devices agrees with a DC voltage command value. The control device generates a zero-phase voltage command value for controlling a circulating current flowing in a delta connection such that the voltage values of the power storage devices are balanced among first to third arms. The control device combines the voltage command value and the zero-phase current command value to generate an output voltage command value for controlling an output voltage of each unit converter. The control device removes a control amount of the full voltage representative value from a computation of the zero-phase voltage command value to cause output current control and circulating current control not to interfere with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kaho Mukunoki, Toshiyuki Fujii, Ryosuke Uda, Taichiro Tsuchiya, Hisanori Taguchi, Ryota Okuyama
  • Patent number: 10826327
    Abstract: Provided is a power feeding system configured to supply electric power from a power feeding device to a power receiving device. The power feeding device includes: a feeding coil; a drive transistor; and a drive control circuit. The power receiving device includes: a resonant circuit including a receiving coil, a resonant capacitor, and a resonance control transistor; and a resonance control circuit. The feeding coil and the receiving coil are arranged so that a central axis of the feeding coil and a central axis of the receiving coil are orthogonal to each other, and a winding portion of the receiving coil is not positioned in a region of a magnetic flux parallel to the central axis of the feeding coil which is generated by the feeding coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventor: Masafumi Hoshino
  • Patent number: 10811988
    Abstract: Power management apparatuses and systems utilizing synchronous common coupling. A power management apparatus may include a plurality of ports and a plurality of electrically isolated stacks connected through a synchronous common coupling. Each electrically isolated stack may include a plurality of cascaded stages and may be connected to a source or load through one of the plurality of ports. The synchronous common coupling connects only power between each of the plurality of electrically isolated stacks and is configured to maintain electrical isolation for each of the plurality of stages in the plurality of electrically isolated stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Resilient Power Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Lyle Thomas Keister, Joshua David Keister, Bradley John Schafer, Albert Andreas Maria Esser
  • Patent number: 10811992
    Abstract: A power conversion device including an alternating current (AC) source, a plurality of switching units connected in series between positive and negative terminals of the AC source, each including a semiconductor switching element and having a load connected thereto, each switching unit outputting, to the load connected thereto, an input current from the AC source and a direct current (DC) output voltage that is generated through ON/OFF control of the semiconductor switching elements, a capacitor connected in parallel with the AC source and with the switching units, an inductor inserted between the capacitor and the switching units, and between the AC source and the switching units, a current measurement unit that measures a value of a current flowing from the AC source to the capacitor, and a control device that performs the ON/OFF control on the semiconductor switching elements on the basis of the measured current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Fujita, Ryuji Yamada
  • Patent number: 10804811
    Abstract: A duty calculating unit receives a phase, an amplitude, a command value of a voltage across a capacitor, and a command value of a DC voltage, and calculates an original discharge duty and an original rectification duty. A duty correcting unit corrects the original discharge duty and the original rectification duty to obtain a discharge duty and a rectification duty. The duty calculating unit and the duty correcting unit can collectively be regarded as a duty generating unit that generates the discharge duty and the rectification duty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 10790764
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes an MMC-type power conversion circuit and a central controller. The central controller limits an active power command value and a reactive power command value to a value corresponding to an active power limit value and a value corresponding to a reactive power limit value, respectively, and controls an operation of the power conversion circuit according to the limited active power command value and the limited reactive power command value. The central controller includes: an index value calculation unit configured to calculate an index value that shows an extent of a variation among voltages of energy storage devices included in a plurality of converter cells; and a limiter controller configured to change the active power limit value to a value smaller than the active power limit value when the index value exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro Adachi, Masahiro Hario, Noriyuki Imada
  • Patent number: 10784797
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes a controller that generates switching control signals according to duty cycles for a current switching control cycle, and adjusts the duty cycles by a non-zero offset value according to a modulation index in response to the modulation index exceeding a non-zero threshold. A method includes computing first duty cycles according to a modulation index, generating a plurality of switching control signals according to the first duty cycles in response to the modulation index being less than or equal to a non-zero threshold, computing second duty cycles offset from the first duty cycles and generating the plurality of switching control signals according to the second duty cycles in response to the modulation index exceeding the non-zero threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Willy E. Sedano, Peizhong Yi, Brian P. Brown, Lixiang Wei
  • Patent number: 10778122
    Abstract: A connecting device for motor and supply network is provided, comprising: a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD), a first switch (S1) and a second switch (S2), wherein the Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) is connected in series to the first switch (S1), and the second switch (S2) is connected in parallel to the series circuit composed of the Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) and the first switch (S1). The connecting device of the invention further comprises a bidirectional Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) or two anti-parallel single-directional Silicon Controlled Rectifiers (SCR1,SCR2), wherein the bidirectional Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) or the two anti-parallel single-directional Silicon Controlled Rectifiers (SCR1,SCR2) is/are connected in parallel to the second switch (S2). The connecting device of the present invention would not be subject to high current surge when VFD bypassing, avoids the high cost for the overrating of the cable and the bypassing switch, and is easy to be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Xiaoyuan Hong, Hao Luo, Kevin Lee
  • Patent number: 10777697
    Abstract: A method for communicating an event occurrence among a plurality of photovoltaic assemblies of a photovoltaic system includes the following steps: (1) in response to the event occurrence, injecting a first signal onto a power line at a first photovoltaic assembly of the plurality of photovoltaic assemblies, (2) detecting the first signal on the power line at a second photovoltaic assembly of the plurality of photovoltaic assemblies, and (3) in response to detecting the first signal on the power line at the second photovoltaic assembly, injecting a second signal onto the power line at the second photovoltaic assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth M. Kahn, Charles J. Razzell
  • Patent number: 10770987
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a three-phase drive connected to a three phase power source. The method includes connecting a converter to transfer power from the power source to a first direct current (DC) bus, where the converter and the first DC bus each have a neutral common point (NCP). Connecting a second DC bus to the first DC bus and configuring an inverter connected to the second DC bus to draw power from the second DC bus to provide a plurality of motor signals, the inverter having an inverter NCP. The method also includes connecting a neutral point selection device to the first DC bus NCP and selectively connecting to the converter NCP or the inverter NCP, the bus selection device configured to disconnect the converter NCP or the inverter NCP from the first DC bus NCP under selected conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dhananjay Kumar, Vaibhav Kumar Somani
  • Patent number: 10759508
    Abstract: A charging system for an autonomous underwater vehicle includes: a sea floating body; a charging station suspended in water from the body through a string-shaped body and located downstream of the sea floating body by receiving a water flow, the station including a noncontact electricity supplying portion located away from the string-shaped body; and an autonomous underwater vehicle coupled to the station that is rotatable about the string-shaped body, the vehicle including a noncontact electricity receiving portion configured to receive electricity supplied from the supplying portion, wherein: the station takes by the water flow such a posture that the noncontact electricity supplying portion is located downstream of the string-shaped body in a water flow direction; and when the vehicle is coupled to the station, the vehicle takes by the water flow such a posture that the receiving portion is located downstream of the string-shaped body in the water flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakaue, Minehiko Mukaida, Noriyuki Okaya, Takashi Okada, Fumitaka Tachinami
  • Patent number: 10756532
    Abstract: A circuit for minimizing energy provided to a ground fault includes a source, a multiple switches, an output filter, and a controller. The switches include a first side pair of switches and a second side pair of switches configured to provide an output signal based on the source. The output filter includes one or more energy storage elements coupled to the first side pair of switches or the second side pair of switches. The controller is configured to receive a ground fault signal that indicates a fault has occurred and configured to generate a switch signal for the switches for a minimum energy state of the output filter and in response to the ground fault signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Adam Larson
  • Patent number: 10746803
    Abstract: A fault detection method includes, at a generator module having a generator, a rectifier connected to the generator by phase leads, and an inverter connected to the rectifier by a direct current (DC) link, receiving a measurement of voltage applied to the rectifier by the phase leads and receiving a measurement of voltage applied to the inverter by the DC link. DC link voltage balance and sequence voltages are calculated using the measurement of voltage applied to the rectifier by the phase leads and the measurement of voltage applied to the inverter by the DC link. Determination is made using the DC link voltage balance and phase sequence voltages when no fault exists in the generator module. Determination is made that a fault condition exists using the DC link voltage balance and phase sequence voltages when a fault exists in the generator module. Generator modules are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Huazhen Chai, Dwight D. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 10732656
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, system and computer program is provided for controlling an electric power system, including implementation of a voltage control and conservation (VCC) system used to optimally control the independent voltage and capacitor banks using a linear optimization methodology to minimize the losses in the EEDCS and the EUS. An energy validation process system (EVP) is provided which is used to document the savings of the VCC and an EPP is used to optimize improvements to the EEDCS for continuously improving the energy losses in the EEDS. The EVP system measures the improvement in the EEDS a result of operating the VCC system in the “ON” state determining the level of energy conservation achieved by the VCC system. In addition the VCC system monitors pattern recognition events and compares them to the report-by-exception data to detect HVL events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Dominion Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Tyler, Phillip W. Powell
  • Patent number: 10715054
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a coupled inductor having a first inductor and second inductor, connected to a DC source; a full-bridge switching unit including a first leg having a first switching element and a second switching element serially connected to the first switching element, and a second leg having a third switching element and a fourth switching element serially connected to the third switching element, wherein the first leg connected to the first inductor and the second leg connected to the second inductor; a transformer connected to the full-bridge switching unit; a third inductor connected in parallel with the transformer; and a storage capacitor connected to the full-bridge switching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: LG ELECTRONICS INC., POSTECH ACADEMY-INDUSTRY FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Suchang Lee, Youngchan Park, Hyeonseok Lee, Yoongeol Choi, Juhwan Yun, Bongkoo Kang
  • Patent number: 10700596
    Abstract: A power supply circuit includes: a coil having a first end that receives an input voltage and a second end; a transistor connected to the second end of the coil; a first capacitor connected to the second end of the coil; and a surge protection circuit connected to the second end of the coil in parallel with the first capacitor. The surge protection circuit includes a diode, a second capacitor, and a resistance. The diode, the second capacitor, and the resistance are connected in series to the second end of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Nagano, Kohei Tanino
  • Patent number: 10693406
    Abstract: A system or method for a VSD with an active converter including a controller, an inductor, an active converter, a DC link, and an inverter. The active converter is controlled to receive an input AC voltage and output a boosted DC voltage to a DC link, up to 850 VDC, the active converter using only low voltage semiconductor switches to provide the 850 VDC DC link voltage. The controller is configured to operate with a reactive input current magnitude equal to zero at a predetermined system load, and at system loads less than the predetermined system load, to introduce a reactive input current that results in a converter voltage having a magnitude less than the input voltage, wherein the vector sum of the input voltage and an inductor voltage is equal to the converter voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Konstantin A. Borisov, Ivan Jadric
  • Patent number: 10693386
    Abstract: An improved electronic oscillator circuit suitable for use in an isolating DC-to-DC converter circuit, and an improved isolating DC-to-DC converter circuit. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit coupled to a transformer includes an oscillator and an output driver. The integrated circuit is preferably fabricated using a silicon-on-insulator technology. The oscillator outputs an alternating pulse signal defined by electrical characteristics of components other than the transformer. The alternating pulse signal is coupled to the output driver, the alternating output of which is coupled to corresponding legs of the primary winding of the transformer. The secondary winding of the transformer provides an electromagnetically coupled isolated output which may be rectified and filtered to produce a DC output voltage. Additional functionality, such as current protection circuitry for the improved circuits, may be readily added to the integrated circuit at little or no increase in cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Moffat, Scott Andrew Parish, Quinn Kneller, Paul Denny, Simon Denny
  • Patent number: 10693683
    Abstract: A resilient HF linking approach can include an HF transmitting device sending an HF connection request to an HF receiving device over an HF channel. Upon receiving an acknowledgement of the request, the HF transmitting device can transmit a predefined data load to the HF receiving device. The predefined data load can be known to the HF receiving device. The HF receiving device can use the predefined data load to estimate one or more parameters of the HF channel, and send estimates of the parameter(s) back to the transmitting device. The transmitting device can use the estimates of the one or more parameters to determine a data rate for use to transmit data to the receiving device aver the HF channel. The HF channel can be a wideband HF channel. The resilient HF linking approach allows of improvement of the performance and resilience of established HF links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy W. Nelson, Weylin R. MacCalla, Joseph A. Lahart
  • Patent number: 10658951
    Abstract: An electric working machine according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a motor, a rectifier circuit, a capacitor, a series switching element, a resistive element, a drive circuit, a peak voltage value acquirer, and a controller. The capacitor smooths power rectified by the rectifier circuit. The series switching element is coupled in series with the capacitor. The resistive element is coupled in parallel with the series switching element. The controller brings the series switching element into conduction in a case where AC power is inputted to the rectifier circuit and where a specified conducting condition based on a peak voltage value acquired by the peak voltage value acquirer is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Kawai, Itsuku Kato
  • Patent number: 10658971
    Abstract: Disclosed are a photovoltaic module and a photovoltaic system including the same. The photovoltaic module includes a solar cell module, a converter to convert a DC voltage from the solar cell module, an inverter to convert the DC voltage from the converter into an AC voltage, and a plug to outwardly output the AC voltage from the inverter, the plug having a ground terminal. The ground terminal is electrically connected to a ground of the inverter, and the ground of the inverter is electrically connected to a ground of the solar cell module. Thereby, the AC voltage from the photovoltaic module is directly supplied to an outlet inside or outside a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Juwan Kang, Jaesung You
  • Patent number: 10651774
    Abstract: An inverter, motor drive device and freezing device, with which it is possible to effectively suppress current beats in the event of over-modulation without requiring additional circuits. This motor driving device includes: a rectifier circuit that converts the AC voltage from an AC power supply into a DC voltage; a smoothing capacitor that smoothes the DC voltage output from the rectifier circuit; an inverter circuit that converts the DC voltage output from the smoothing capacitor into an AC voltage; and a controller that reduces the current beat component by estimating, using a phase locked loop process, the frequency, phase and amplitude of the current beat component in the output current of the inverter circuit, and corrects the voltage command to the inverter circuit on the basis of the estimated frequency, phase and amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi-Johnson Controls Air Conditioning, Inc.
    Inventors: Dongsheng Li, Yasuo Notohara, Yuuji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10644611
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a voltage reference reconfiguration fault-tolerant control method for a cascaded multi-level inverter. The fault-tolerant method for the inverter automatically reconfigures the three-phase voltage amplitudes and phases of the three-phase total voltage in accordance with the fault diagnosis, thus realizing three-phase voltage balance. On the basis of the reconfiguration of the total voltage signal, re-reconfiguration of reference voltage inputted into the various H-bridges is conducted in accordance with the fault signal vectors, thereby realizing removal of the fault bridges and fault-tolerance of the normal bridges, while guaranteeing the integral sinusoidal characteristics of the actual reference voltage. The inverter realized maximum three-phase balanced line voltage in a fault occurrence, has the advantages of requiring no redundant modules and algorithms and the advantages of ease of removing fault bridges, and is applicable for reduced load operable electrical equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Inventors: Tianzhen Wang, Zhuo Liu, Chao Geng, Jingang Han
  • Patent number: 10637352
    Abstract: A high power unidirectional or bidirectional charge pump with inductive elements for high power DC-DC converter applications. Inductive elements resonating with storage capacitors allow zero current switching processes. Storage elements in the form of capacitors instead of conventional inductors allow a cheap and lightweight construction. The output voltage cannot be actively regulated and corresponds to a fraction of the input voltage. However, several voltage ratios can be easily obtained between output and input, such as 0.25, 0.33, 0.5, 0.75, 1.25, 1.33, 1.5, 2, 3, and 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Brusa Elektronik AG
    Inventor: Enzo Illiano
  • Patent number: 10630164
    Abstract: A generator system can include a generator configured to output an alternating current (AC) generator output, a rectifier operatively connected to the generator and configured convert the AC generator output into a direct current (DC) rectifier output, and a four wire inverter operatively connected to the rectifier to receive the DC rectifier output, the four wire inverter configured to convert the DC rectifier output into 3 phase AC inverter output, wherein the four wire inverter can include three output wires, each output wire configured to output a respective phase of the 3 phase AC, wherein the four wire inverter can include a fourth neutral wire for providing a neutral path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Randall Bax, Dwight D. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 10615715
    Abstract: In a power conversion device, a power conversion unit includes a single-phase inverter on a secondary side of a resonant type converter that has an input of a direct current. A power conversion unit group is configured by connecting outputs of the single-phase inverters of a plurality of power conversion units in series. Respective phases of three phase alternate current are formed with the three power conversion unit groups housed in a power conversion device housing. The plurality of power conversion units constituting the power conversion unit group are disposed along a longitudinal direction of the power conversion device housing. The respective three power conversion unit groups are disposed at an upper stage, a middle stage, and a lower stage in a height direction of the power conversion device housing. The power conversion device housing has one end side in the longitudinal direction as output terminals of the three power conversion unit groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Norimatsu, Akihiko Kanouda, Yuuichi Mabuchi, Takae Shimada, Mitsuhiro Kadota, Yuki Kawaguchi, Mizuki Nakahara, Akira Yonekawa
  • Patent number: 10615637
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply apparatus includes a switch, a first inductor, a direct current controlling unit, a first bridge arm, a second bridge arm and a third bridge arm. When the switch switches the first inductor coupled to an alternative current (AC) power, the AC power converts into a bus voltage via the first inductor, the first bridge arm and the second bridge arm, and converts into an output power via the second bridge arm and the third bridge arm. When the switch switches the first inductor coupled to a DC power, the DC power converts into the bus voltage via the DC controlling unit and the first inductor, and converts into the output power via the second bridge arm and the third bridge arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chung-Chieh Cheng, Yung-Sheng Yan
  • Patent number: 10608556
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a three-phase power converter for converting power between a power grid network and a battery that includes a three-phase grid transformer, a three-phase switching converter for coupling to a positive terminal of the battery, a first, second and third series inductors coupled between the three-phase grid transformer and the three-phase switching converter, a control circuit configured for controlling a first, second and third phase differences between first, second and third time-periodical power grid voltage signals provided by the grid transformer and first, second and third converter time-periodical voltage signals provided to the switching converter such that the first, second and third time-periodical power grid voltage signals and first, second and third converter time-periodical currents are in phase. The three-phase grid transformer provides electrical isolation between the power grid network and the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: HELIOX B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Jan Mark Smidt, Jorge Luiz Duarte, Franciscus Bernardus Marie Van Horck
  • Patent number: 10608545
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for managing power utilizing synchronous common coupling. An apparatus comprises a synchronous common coupling, a plurality of ports, and a plurality of stacks connected through the synchronous common coupling. Each stack comprises at least one stage, with each stage comprising at least one source/load bridge, at least one flux bridge, and a DC bus. The at least one source/load bridge of one stage of each stack is connected to a source or load through one of the plurality of ports, the at least one flux bridge of each stage is connected to an electrically isolated winding in the synchronous common coupling, and the at least one flux bridge of each stage is connected to the at least one source/load bridge of the stage through the DC bus. The synchronous common coupling is configured to exchange power between each of the plurality of stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Resilient Power Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Lyle Thomas Keister, Joshua David Keister, Bradley John Schafer, Albert Andreas Maria Esser
  • Patent number: 10587119
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the disclosure, a power filter is provided including a first input configured to receive measurements of electrical characteristics of source power lines from a power source, a second input configured to receive measurements of electrical characteristics of load power lines to a load, an output configured to couple to output power lines to provide output current compensation signals, a power converter coupled to the power output and configured to receive input power, receive input control signals and provide the output current compensation signals based on the input control signals, and a controller configured to provide the control signals to the power converter, wherein the controller receives an indication of a neutral current limit, and the controller is configured to adjust the control signals based on the indication of the neutral current limit to limit current on a neutral of the output power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.
    Inventors: Mohammad Nanda Rahmana Marwali, Thierry Bravais, John Simon Batch
  • Patent number: 10587205
    Abstract: A switching power supply device includes: a plurality of power supply circuits which include a first power supply circuit and a second power supply circuit and respectively correspond to a plurality of phases of a multiphase AC power supply; a switching circuit; an inrush current prevention (ICP) circuit; and a control circuit. The control circuit causes the switching circuit to switch a phase to be connected to the second power supply circuit to a phase corresponding to the first power supply circuit, and causes the ICP circuit to function so that initial charge of electrolyte capacitors included in the respective power supply circuits is performed. After the initial charge is completed, the control circuit causes the switching circuit to switch the phase to be connected to the second power supply circuit to the phase corresponding to the second power supply circuit, and causes the ICP circuit to turn off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shintaro Tazaki, Shinta Kato, Shigenori Arai, Ryo Ichiki
  • Patent number: 10571987
    Abstract: A power supply device includes: a first power supply circuit capable of exerting control of both boosting and bucking; a second power supply circuit configured to be supplied with an output of the first power supply circuit and cause an output to be controlled in accordance with a frequency or a pulse width; and a control unit configured to control the first and second power supply circuits. The control unit is configured to execute control while switching between first control in which the output of the first power supply circuit is made variable and the output of the second power supply circuit is accordingly made variable, and second control in which the output of the first power supply circuit is made constant and the output of the second power supply circuit is set to a predetermined output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Yuuki
  • Patent number: 10574131
    Abstract: A method for controlling a converter, wherein positive and negative lines of an intermediate circuit are connected by a half-bridge to an alternating voltage phase conductor via semiconductor switches, where each semiconductor switch has a series connected separate fuse, and where the method includes detecting a defective semiconductor switch that permanently remains in an electrically conductive state and incrementally melting the fuse of the defective semiconductor switch by short-circuiting the positive and the negative lines to each other multiple times via the defective semiconductor switch and via at least two others of the semiconductor switches, during which each short circuit lasts only one pulse duration Tsoa that is shorter than a melting duration Ta needed by the fuse to melt in the event of a continuous short circuit such that the converter robustly reacts in the event of a permanent short circuit caused by one of the semiconductor switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Marcel Lutze
  • Patent number: 10554116
    Abstract: A pulse width modulation (PWM) based active harmonic filter (AHF) system including a controller configured to adjust a load on the system from a first to a second load, the first load being greater than the second load, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a frequency of the system from a first to a second frequency when the load is equal to the second load, and wherein the second frequency is greater than the first; a first harmonic compensator configured to filter a first order of harmonics of a load when the load is equal to the second load; and a second harmonic compensator configured to filter a second order of harmonics of the load in parallel with the first order of harmonics when the load is equal to the second load and frequency equals the second frequency, the second order of harmonics being greater than the first order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Da Zhang, Bassel Al-Annouf
  • Patent number: 10554123
    Abstract: A power converter includes a power module having a positive electrode of a positive-side switching device connected to a first terminal, a negative electrode of the positive-side switching device and a positive electrode of a negative-side switching device connected to a second terminal, and a negative electrode of the negative-side switching device connected to a third terminal. The first terminal is connected to a P terminal of a filter capacitor via a first conductor of a bus bar that is a parallel flat plate conductor. The third terminal is connected to an N terminal of the filter capacitor via a second conductor of the bus bar. The bus bar as the parallel flat plate conductor has an L shape. The second terminal is connected to a load via a conductor bar physically different from the bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio Nakashima, Takayoshi Miki
  • Patent number: 10549652
    Abstract: A power transmission device is configured to transmit power underwater to an underwater vehicle having a power reception coil. The power transmission device includes a power transmission coil configured to transmit power to the power reception coil through a magnetic field, a power transmission unit configured to transmit an alternating current voltage having a frequency a 10 kHz or lower to the power transmission coil, and a first capacitor connected to the power transmission coil and configured to form a resonance circuit resonating at the frequency with the power transmission coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Futoshi Deguchi, Yoshio Koyanagi, Kazuhiro Eguchi, Katsuya Okamoto, Ryosuke Hasaba
  • Patent number: 10546706
    Abstract: A contactor includes a coil through which current flows in an active state of the contactor; a controller configured to control the contactor; and a voltage converter, wherein, in the active state, the voltage converter is configured to converts an input voltage into a coil voltage which drops across the coil. The voltage converter can be electrically switched back into the active state from an inactive state using the controller. The contactor is configured to be switched into the active state from the inactive state by activating the voltage converter. The contactor is switched out of the active state into the inactive state by deactivating the voltage converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: Wolfgang Meid
  • Patent number: 10541622
    Abstract: An electric motor drive device includes a smoothing capacitor and an inverter, and further includes an overvoltage protection unit for overvoltage protection for the smoothing capacitor, and a phase short-circuit control unit. The overvoltage protection unit includes: a discharge circuit having a discharge resistor and an IGBT connected in series; and a first determination circuit which determines, with determination delay, that smoothing capacitor voltage exceeds first set voltage, and turns on the IGBT. The phase short-circuit control unit is provided in a control device for drive-controlling the inverter and includes a second determination circuit which determines, with a determination period longer than the determination delay of the first determination circuit, that smoothing capacitor voltage exceeds second set voltage lower than the first set voltage, to perform phase short-circuit control for the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kohei Onda, Yoshihiro Takeshima, Hiroyasu Iwabuki, Masahiro Iezawa, Ryo Shinohara, Hideki Sugita
  • Patent number: 10530152
    Abstract: A power distribution system has a power converter with a plurality of semiconductor switching devices per phase, a PWM controller, and a current limitation controller. The current limitation controller is adapted, at least when a short-circuit fault is detected, to calculate the difference between a measured current for each phase and a reference current for the corresponding phase. If the calculated difference is located outside a predetermined current range centered about the reference current for the corresponding phase, the current limitation controller will allow the semiconductor switching devices of the corresponding phase to be turned on and off by the PWM controller. Otherwise, if the calculated difference is located inside the predetermined current range, the current limitation controller will control the semiconductor switching devices for the corresponding phase to be turned off irrespective of the PWM control strategy applied by the PWM controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited
    Inventors: Teng Long, Ushindibaba Mupambireyi
  • Patent number: 10523108
    Abstract: A system for providing resonance damping is disclosed. The system comprises a power generation circuit arranged to supply power to a direct current (DC) bus. The DC bus comprises a first link conductor and a second link conductor arranged such that a current induced in either of the conductors generates a magnetic field having a plurality of magnetic flux lines that extend in a direction generally perpendicular to a first direction of current flow. At least one electronic circuit is coupled to the DC bus. A damping element is coupled to or arranged proximate the first link conductor and the second link conductor of the DC bus, and is arranged such that the plurality of magnetic flux lines induces a plurality of eddy currents having a second direction of current flow in at least one surface of the damping element to provide resonance damping of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Clement V. Godbold, David M. Loken
  • Patent number: 10516347
    Abstract: Safe detection of an external load attached to an AC power outlet of a power supply stands out as one advantage of the power supply apparatus and method contemplated herein, although other advantages flow therefrom. Not least among the other advantages are a simplicity of design offering an economical and robust mechanism for detecting external loads. The contemplated mechanism relies on the application of a DC voltage to one electrical phase of the AC power outlet and the coupling of that voltage to the other electrical phase of the AC power outlet through an interconnecting resistor. With both phases respectively coupled to voltage divider circuits nominally matched in value, the divided down voltages measured from the respective phases will differ in dependence on the relative size of the interconnecting resistor and the resistive value of any load attached to the AC power outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucretiu Pisau, Sudarshan Ravindran, Srivatsan Jayaramasundaram
  • Patent number: 10516344
    Abstract: A convertor apparatus includes: a main circuit unit which converts an alternating current to a direct current and outputs the same to a DC link; a DC link capacitor; an alternating current voltage detection unit which detects an alternating current voltage crest value of the main circuit unit; a DC link capacitor voltage detection unit which detects a DC link capacitor voltage value; an initial charging unit which includes a switch for opening and closing an electrical path between the main circuit unit and the DC link capacitor and a charging resistor; a current detection unit which detects a current value flowing into the main circuit unit or flowing out of the main circuit unit; and a voltage reference value setting unit which sets the voltage reference value in accordance with the current value when the switch is adapted from to be opened into to be closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomokazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10490336
    Abstract: A three-phase AC reactor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes three-phase coils that are not arranged in parallel, an input and output terminal block having an input and output unit having a parallel arrangement, and an external connection position change unit disposed between a coil end of each of the three-phase coils and the input and output terminal block to connect the coil end to the input and output terminal block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Tsukada, Kaname Matsumoto, Makoto Takeshita, Yuuichi Yamada, Masatomo Shirouzu
  • Patent number: 10491122
    Abstract: A relative maximum point and a relative minimum point, are provided in a first reactor current and a second reactor current within one control cycle as a result of control of on and off of switching elements. At least one of the inflection points in the first and second reactor currents, a plurality of switching elements to simultaneously be turned on or and off are controlled to be turned on or off in a prescribed order with a time lag being set. At the inflection point with the time lag being set, a switching loss is produced in a switching element turned on later or a switching element turned on earlier in accordance with the prescribed order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeaki Goto, Shuji Tomura, Naoki Yanagizawa, Masaki Okamura, Naoyoshi Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 10468858
    Abstract: Described is a supply circuit for a corona ignition device, with an input for connection to a direct voltage source, a first converter, a second converter, and an output for connecting a load. The two converters each generate an output voltage, which is provided on its secondary side and exceeds the input voltage. The two converters each contain a transformer that galvanically separates the primary side of the converter from its secondary side. At least one transistor switch is arranged between the input and primary side of the two converters for pulse width-modulation of the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: BORGWARNER LUDWIGSBURG GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Holzschuh, Hans-Peter Etzkorn, Peter Schaefer