Having Plural Converters For Single Conversion Patents (Class 363/65)
  • Patent number: 9436257
    Abstract: A system includes power supply units (PSUs) to supply power to components. For each PSU, a power conversion efficiency profile is determined. A maximum amount of power consumed during operation of the components is determined. A minimum number of PSUs capable of providing the maximum amount of power is determined. A first amount of power consumed at inputs of the minimum number of PSUs is calculated based on the maximum amount of power and based on the determined power conversion efficiency profile of each of the PSUs. A first number of PSUs to engage is determined, the first number greater than the minimum number of PSUs, wherein a total amount of power consumed at inputs of the first number of PSUs during operation of the system is less than the first amount of power, the determining based on the power conversion efficiency profile of each PSU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
    Inventors: Ashish Munjal, Jaydev Reddy, Michael J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 9431903
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a first power source generator, the first power source generator including an input port and a first output port, the first power source generator being configured to receive an input power source to the input port, and being configured to generate a first power source, the first power source being output to the first output port, and a selecting unit, the selecting unit being configured to selectively transmit, to the first power source generator, one of: a feedback voltage, the feedback voltage being input from an external feedback wiring line via a feedback terminal, and a voltage of the first output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soon-Gi Kwon, Sung-Cheon Park
  • Patent number: 9419451
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting against certain energy sources used to charge a battery is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Fenix International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Lin, Mitchell Heinrich, Jonas Ketterle, Brian Warshawsky, Paul Jehlen, Jonathan Thomas, John Pelochino, Akbar Dhanaliwala, Brian Krieger
  • Patent number: 9407092
    Abstract: A method for managing a number of power supply units (PSUs) of a power supply device is provided. A total operation time of each PSU is counted. A number of the PSUs to be assigned to work is determined according to a load value of a load connected to the power supply device. Which of the PSUs will be assigned to work and which of the PSUs will be assigned to idle are determined according to the total operation time of each PSU and the determined number of the PSUs to be assigned to work. The PSUs to be assigned to work are controlled to enter a work state, and the PSUs to be assigned to idle are controlled to enter a standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Zijilai Innovative Services Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuei-Chih Hou
  • Patent number: 9379609
    Abstract: A voltage adjustment system includes an adjust module, a control module, and a load module. The adjust module includes a voltage converting unit which includes a buck converter and an inductor. The control module includes a first resistor, a second resistor, and a variable resistance unit. The load module is electrically connected to the buck converter via the inductor. A connecting point between the inductor and the load module is grounded via the first resistor and the second resistor in series. A connecting point between the first resistor and the second resistor is grounded via the variable resistance unit. The variable resistance unit includes a thermal resistor located adjacent to the inductor. A resistance of the thermal resistor changes when a temperature of the inductor changes. An equivalent resistance of the variable resistance unit changes to adjust a voltage received by the load module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Pin Tseng, Min-Wei Lee
  • Patent number: 9374001
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving load transient response in power conversion systems are provided herein. The system includes a primary stage and a secondary stage, an isolation barrier electrically isolating the primary stage and the secondary stage, and a primary stage controller positioned in the primary stage. The primary stage controller is configured to adjust a step-up converter reference voltage based on a load current signal indicative of a load transient. The load current signal is transmitted from the secondary stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Palanivel Subramaniam, Raghothama Reddy
  • Patent number: 9369042
    Abstract: A multiphase DC-to-DC synchronous power converter, which has a number of converter channels that generate a corresponding number of current sense signals, blanks the current sense signals in a first converter channel for periods of time that correspond with the actions of the transistors in a second converter channel, where the actions result in noise spikes across the converter that falsely interfere with current sensing in the first converter channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Joseph Maurice Khayat
  • Patent number: 9318967
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a DC/DC converter and a DC/DC conversion system. The DC/DC converter includes a transformer, a primary power circuit, a secondary bridge synchronous rectifying circuit, an output inductor and a control circuit. The primary power circuit receives an input voltage, and deliver a symmetrical power flow to a secondary side of the transformer during positive and negative switching cycles, and a magnetic flux in the transformer core is balanced through the above symmetrical power flow. The rectifying circuit is coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer. The control circuit provides primary and secondary driving signals to the primary power circuit and the rectifying circuit, respectively. When an output voltage of the primary power circuit is zero, the control circuit controls the first, the second, the third and the fourth switches to be conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yahong Xiong, Zhongwang Yang, Qiong Zhang, Guisong Huang
  • Patent number: 9300214
    Abstract: A multiphase DC-DC converter includes multiple groups of first and second LLC power trains coupled in parallel which collectively provide an output voltage to a load. A voltage feedback control loop senses an output voltage for the LLC converter and generates an identical reference current signal for each of the multiple groups of power trains, the signals representing a reference current based on the sensed output voltage, wherein an active current sharing operation is provided between each of the groups. A local current control loop for each of the groups generates PWM control signals to each of the respective first and second power trains based on the reference current, the PWM control signals having an identical frequency but out of phase with respect to each other, wherein a passive current sharing operation is provided within each of the plurality of power groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Power-One, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicola Cinagrossi, Urs Wild, Evan Espina
  • Patent number: 9292028
    Abstract: A control circuit can control the operation of a switching converter to provide a regulated load current to a load. The switching converter includes an inductor and a high-side and a low side-transistor for switching the load current provided via the inductor. A digital modulator is configured to provide a modulated signal having a duty cycle determined by a digital duty cycle value. A current sense circuit is coupled to at least one of the transistors and is configured to regularly sample a load current value. A comparator is coupled to the current sense circuit and is configured to compare the sampled load current value with a first threshold and to provide a respective comparator output signal. A regulator is configured to receive the comparator output signal and to calculate an updated digital duty cycle value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Giovanni Capodivacca, Paolo Milanesi, Andrea Scenini
  • Patent number: 9287765
    Abstract: A power system, a power module therein and a method for fabricating power module are disclosed herein. The power module includes a first and a second common pins, and a first and a second bridge arms. The first and the second common pins are symmetrically disposed at one side of a substrate. The first bridge arm includes a first and a second semiconductor devices, and the first and the second semiconductor devices are connected to each other through the first common pin and disposed adjacently. The second bridge arm includes a third and a fourth semiconductor devices, and the third and the fourth semiconductor devices are connected to each other through the second common pin and disposed adjacently. The first and the third semiconductor devices are disposed symmetrically, and the second and the fourth semiconductor devices are disposed symmetrically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Jian-Hong Zeng, Shou-Yu Hong, Xue-Tao Guo
  • Patent number: 9240724
    Abstract: A multiphase DC/DC power converter includes an input, an output, at least a first converter and a second converter coupled in parallel between the input and the output, an inductor coupled to the first and second converters, an output capacitor coupled between the first and second converters and the output, and a control circuit coupled to the first converter and the second converter. The first and second converters each include a power switch. The control circuit is configured to switch the power switches at a frequency with a phase shift therebetween, and to vary the frequency to regulate a voltage at the output. Additionally, the control circuit may be configured to switch power switches at a fixed frequency with substantially no phase shift therebetween during startup of a multiphase DC/DC power converter, and at a variable frequency with a defined phase shift therebetween after startup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: ASTEC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: James Sigamani, Vijay Gangadhar Phadke
  • Patent number: 9240723
    Abstract: A resonant circuit includes three resonant circuit input nodes and three output nodes and a transformer device having three primary windings and three secondary windings. The three primary windings are magnetically connected to the three secondary windings. The resonant circuit also includes a first resonant tank device, a second resonant tank device, and a third resonant tank device each connected between the respective first, second, and third resonant circuit input nodes and the respective first, second, and third primary windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Eltek AS
    Inventors: Kjetil Boysen, Roar Myhre
  • Patent number: 9218033
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for balancing the load placed by a data center on different phases of a power input. According to the method and apparatus, the load on the power is monitored and a load imbalance detected. Once the load imbalance is detected, a server rack from the data center is selected and a power supply in the selected server rack is reconfigured to output an increased or decreased voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Roy, Cornelius B. O'Sullivan, Taliver Brooks Heath
  • Patent number: 9219363
    Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes a photovoltaic array and a DC/AC inverter. The photovoltaic array includes an output, a plurality of photovoltaic strings each including a plurality of photovoltaic modules electrically connected in series to form an output having a first direct current voltage, and a plurality of DC/DC converters each including a first maximum power point tracking mechanism for a corresponding one of the photovoltaic strings, an input of the output of the corresponding one of the photovoltaic strings, and an output having a second direct current voltage. Each output of the DC/DC converters is electrically connected in parallel or series to form the output of the photovoltaic array having a direct current voltage. The DC/AC inverter includes a second maximum power point tracking mechanism for the photovoltaic array, an input of the output of the photovoltaic array, and an output having an alternating current voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu Liu, Charles J. Luebke, Christopher S. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9214819
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter circuit includes at least two DC/DC converters and a low-pass filter, the DC/DC converters in each case having one input side and one output side. The DC/DC converters are connected to each other in series on their output side, and the low-pass filter is post-connected to the DC/DC converters that are connected in series to each other, so as to smooth the output voltage generated by the DC/DC converters at their output side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Butzmann, Holger Fink
  • Patent number: 9214865
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flexible direct current (DC)-DC converter, which includes a charge pump buck power supply and a buck power supply. The charge pump buck power supply and the buck power supply are voltage compatible with one another at respective output inductance nodes to provide flexibility. In one embodiment of the DC-DC converter, capacitances at the output inductance nodes are at least partially isolated from one another by using at least an isolating inductive element between the output inductance nodes to increase efficiency. In an alternate embodiment of the DC-DC converter, the output inductance nodes are coupled to one another, such that the charge pump buck power supply and the buck power supply share a first inductive element, thereby eliminating the isolating inductive element, which reduces size and cost but may also reduce efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Levesque, Jean-Christophe Berchtold, Joseph Hubert Colles, Robert Deuchars, William David Southcombe, David Zimlich, David E. Jones, Scott Yoder, Terry J. Stockert
  • Patent number: 9189040
    Abstract: A single phase redundant power supply system may include a first power supply having an input coupled to a first phase voltage in a polyphase power distribution system and an output coupled to a load for supplying an amount of DC power to the load, and a second power supply having an input for coupling to a second phase voltage in the polyphase power distribution system and an output coupled to the load for supplying an amount of DC power to the load. At least the first power supply is configured to reduce phase current imbalances in the polyphase power distribution system by adjusting the amount of DC power supplied to the load by the first power supply and the amount of DC power supplied to the load by the second power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Vijay Gangadhar Phadke, Robert Lee Myers
  • Patent number: 9172250
    Abstract: An electrical generating system for aircraft with one or more engines includes a plurality of generators associated with the engines so as to produce respective AC outputs. The frequencies of these outputs can differ from each other, as a result of differing engine speeds and/or deliberate design, but they are to be connected to a common bus to avoid redundancy of wiring. One or more converters are present between the generators and the bus for adjusting the output frequency of the generators to provide an AC output voltage at a common bus frequency. The system includes a control system for setting the AC bus frequency in such a way that it can vary with time. The bus frequency may follow the natural frequency of the engine, and only small converters are needed to make the already approximately equal generator frequencies identical, so that they can all feed the common bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Gareth E. Moore, Jason E. Hill, Seamus Garvey
  • Patent number: 9172248
    Abstract: A cascade converter station and a multi-end cascade high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power transmission system. The converter station includes a low-voltage end converter station (11) and a high-voltage end converter station (12). The high-voltage end converter station (12) is connected in series with the low-voltage end converter station (11) through a medium-voltage direct current (DC) power transmission line (13) and connected to a HVDC power transmission line (14). With the cascade converter station and the multi-end cascade HVDC power transmission system, HVDC power transmission can be achieved in a flexible, reliable and economical manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: State Grid Corporation of China
    Inventor: Xin Sun
  • Patent number: 9166472
    Abstract: A system for filtering electromagnetic interference (EMI) includes a power source that provides alternating current (AC) power; a load; an active rectifier that converts AC power from the power source to direct current (DC) power for the load; and a filter connected between the power source and the active rectifier, wherein the filter comprises at least one notch filter that filters selected frequencies of EMI generated by the active rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Vietson M. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9148064
    Abstract: A multi-phase switching power conversion circuit has at least three phases and includes a plurality of switching circuits, a plurality of transformers, a plurality of output rectifier circuits, a resonant network and a control circuit. The resonant network includes a plurality of symmetrical terminals and a plurality of phase branches, which are connected in a multi-phase symmetrical relationship. Each of the symmetrical terminals is connected to the output side of respective switching circuits. The phase branches are connected to a resonant common terminal such that the phase branches are in a star connection. The resonant common terminal is different from the positive terminal and the first reference terminal of the input voltage source. The control circuit is connected to an output terminal of the multi-phase switching power conversion circuit and a plurality of the control terminals of the plurality of switching circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Teng Liu, Ziying Zhou, Jian-Ping Ying
  • Patent number: 9142958
    Abstract: The power supply apparatus includes a first power device, a second power unit, and controlling means. Each of the first power device and the second power unit supplies DC power to a DC supply line. The first power device makes constant voltage control. The second power unit includes a second power device configured to make inclination control of monotonically decreasing its output voltage with an increase of its output current, and of monotonically increasing its output voltage with a decrease of its output current. Upon acknowledging that a measurement (a magnitude of a current flowing through the DC supply line) exceeds an optimal current magnitude (a magnitude of a current supplied to the DC supply line from the first power device operating at maximum conversion efficiency), the controlling means outputs an instruction such that a magnitude of a current supplied to the DC supply line from the second power unit is identical to a difference between the measurement and the optimal current magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Koshin, Takuya Kagawa
  • Patent number: 9136772
    Abstract: A phase shift transformer in a multi-level medium voltage inverter is disclosed, wherein structure is modularized to provide layout freedom and to reduce volume and weight of an entire system, and a continuous operation of a motor is enabled, even if one module is faulted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: An No Yoo
  • Patent number: 9136764
    Abstract: Power control systems and power control devices may include a power control chip having a power control module configured to generate a power stage control signal, and an external power stage having a timing control module. The timing control module may be configured to receive the power stage control signal and generate a timing control signal controlling at least one switch to regulate an output voltage of the external power stage. The power control device further includes an auto-configuration module configured to communicate with the external power stage and request auto-configuration information from the external power stage. A related method of auto-configuring a power control system includes communicating auto-configuration information between at least one external power stage of a power control system and a power control chip, and configuring a setting of the at least one external power stage of the power control system based on the auto-configuration information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Krellner, Stephen Ulbrich, Kenneth Kwok
  • Patent number: 9077239
    Abstract: A circuit for connecting lower AC voltage-rated AC-DC power supplies with higher voltage power sources. A power line matching transformer connecting the source to the power supplies needs only to support the self-dissipation and output current mismatch between supplies. The circuit can also protect the line matching transformer from overheating in various fault scenarios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Transistor Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: John Santini, Thomas A. Hansen, Gary Mulcahy
  • Patent number: 9065372
    Abstract: A driving circuit comprises three switch groups, each comprising a first switch, a second switch, a third switch and a fourth switch. The first and the second switches are coupled in series. The third switch is serially coupled to the fourth switch and coupled between the first and the second switches. An ith inductor of a first driving device is coupled between the third and the fourth switches, wherein i ranges between 1˜3. In high speed mode, the first and the third switches of one of the switch groups are turned on, the second and the fourth switches are turned off, the first and the third switches of another of the switch groups are turned off, the second switch is turned on, and the fourth switch is turned on or off to raise voltage of the a driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jian-Feng Tsai, Yong-Kai Lin
  • Patent number: 9054599
    Abstract: A power conversion system with multiple parallel connected motor drives including a plurality of rectifiers and a corresponding inverters connected by windings of a single common mode choke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Yuan Xiao, Navid Zargari, Richard Lukaszewski
  • Patent number: 9041372
    Abstract: A switching power converter includes a voltage source that provides an input voltage Vin to an unregulated DC/DC converter stage and at least one buck-boost converter stage to produce a desired output voltage Vout. The unregulated DC/DC converter stage is adapted to provide an isolated voltage to the at least one regulated buck-boost converter stage, wherein the unregulated DC/DC converter stage comprises a transformer having a primary winding and at least one secondary winding and at least one switching element coupled to the primary winding. The at least one buck-boost converter stage is arranged to operate in a buck mode, boost mode or buck-boost mode in response to a mode selection signal from a mode selection module. By influencing the pulse width modulation output power controller the at least one buck-boost converter stage is arranged to produce one or multiple output voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventors: Renjian Xie, Qingyi Huang, Yingyang Ou
  • Patent number: 9041368
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a first converter which converts an input voltage to a first voltage, a second converter which converts the first voltage from the first converter to a second voltage, a voltage comparison section which compares the first voltage outputted from the first converter with a predetermined reference voltage, a voltage comparison result output section which outputs a first signal until the first voltage is determined to be higher than the predetermined reference voltage by the voltage comparison section and retains a second signal as an output after the first voltage is determined to be higher than the predetermined reference voltage, and a converter control section which controls the second converter to stop when the first signal is outputted from the voltage comparison result output section and controls the second converter to operate when the second signal is outputted from the voltage comparison result output section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiro Ijichi
  • Patent number: 9036389
    Abstract: A system for controlling photovoltaic electricity production equipment having photovoltaic modules each equipped with a DC/DC microconverter connected to a DC bus, a DC bus manager, and an inverter for converting the direct current from the photovoltaic panels into alternative current intended for an electrical distribution network. Power is injected into the DC bus when the voltage of the DC bus is less than a minimum voltage until the minimum voltage is reached. Each of the microconverters injects a maximum power from the photovoltaic modules into the DC bus when the voltage of the DC bus is between a first voltage and a second voltage. The injecting of power from the photovoltaic modules into the DC bus is stopped when the voltage of the DC bus is less than a low threshold voltage or greater than a high threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Jacques Ecrabey, Christian Petit, Yves Jeanjean, Antonio Almeida
  • Patent number: 9036386
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing power factor correction for high-power loads using two interleaved power factor correction stages. Each power factor correction stage includes a controllable switch that is operated to control the phasing of each power factor correction stage. The phasing of output current from the second power factor correction stage is shifted 180 degree relative to the output current from the first power factor correction stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventor: Vijay K. Earanky
  • Publication number: 20150123612
    Abstract: A power supply unit (1) that is to be connected to different types of power supply networks includes an input (2) to receive AC power from the power supply network and an output (3) for providing power to an electrical device. The electrical device may for example be a computer, a telecom infrastructure device, inductive cooking/heating systems or an on-board charger of an electrical automotive vehicle. The power supply unit (1) includes at least two converters (4) that are connected between the inputs (2) and the output (3) and it further includes a controllable switching arrangement (5). The switching arrangement (5) includes a number of controllable switches (6) to controllably connect the converters (4) in different configurations to the input (2) and therefore also controllably to different supply lines of the power supply network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: DET International Holding Limited
    Inventors: Peter IDE, Frank SCHAFMEISTER, Jörg RICHTER, Barzin POUR, Daniel SPESSER, Dirk HERKE
  • Publication number: 20150124501
    Abstract: A power converter system suitable to provide a load with electrical power, the system comprising; an input voltage terminal; an output voltage terminal; a first power converter unit; a second power converter unit; an input relay unit; an output relay unit; a control unit; wherein the control unit is configured to control the input relay unit and the output relay unit such that the first and second power converter units are engaged alternating at subsequent power ups of the voltage input terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Daniel Dermark, Lars Kanderhag
  • Patent number: 9024609
    Abstract: A power conversion system and method includes a DC-DC converter and an auxiliary circuit configured to ensure that a minimum input voltage is provided to the DC-DC converter during power interruption and for at least a predetermined hold-up time period. The auxiliary circuit includes an energy storage device, an auxiliary energy source for charging the energy storage device, and a clamping circuit to limit the energy stored by the energy storage device to a threshold voltage. A discharge time of the energy storage device from the threshold voltage to the minimum voltage thereby exceeds the predetermined hold-up time, but is only incrementally greater such that the size of the energy storage device is substantially reduced. The auxiliary energy source may typically be a current source, with the clamping circuit being control logic effective to disable the current source as a voltage across the storage device approaches the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: PAI Capital LLC
    Inventor: Johann Ferdinand Milavec
  • Patent number: 9019732
    Abstract: It is presented a high voltage DC/DC converter for converting between a first DC connection and a second DC connection. The high voltage DC/DC converter comprises: a first set of DC terminals; a second set of DC terminals); a multiphase transformer device comprising a plurality of primary windings and a corresponding plurality of secondary windings; a first converter arranged to convert DC to AC, comprising a plurality of phase legs serially connected between the first set of DC terminals, wherein each phase leg is connected to an AC connection of a respective primary winding; and a second converter arranged to convert AC from the secondary windings to DC on the second set of DC terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Staffan Norrga, Konstantinos Papastergiou, Sasitharan Subramanian, Tomas Jonsson
  • Patent number: 9013901
    Abstract: A modular voltage source converter (100) comprises a plurality of cells conformal to a basic cell design comprising a first and a second terminal, a capacitor and at least two switches arranged in a half-bridge or full-bridge configuration. In the converter, a first group is formed by a number n of cells (101-k, k=1, n) connected serially at their terminals, and a second group is formed by an equal number n of cells (102-k, k=1, n) connected serially at their terminals. The terminals of the cells (101-k) in said first group are connected, via a resistive or inductive connection element (110-k), to the terminals of corresponding cells (102-k) in said second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Falah Hosini, Dimitris Giannoccaro, George Nikhil, Vechalapu Kasunaidu
  • Patent number: 9013902
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-terminal power conversion device, a multi-terminal power transfer device, and a power network system which allows an existing power grid to be divided into a plurality of power grids that can be interconnected together and operated stably via existing or new transmission lines. An inter-power grid asynchronous interconnection network system includes a multi-terminal power conversion device characterized by connecting together a plurality of asynchronous power grids including a bulk power grid and controlling power so that the sum of inflow power and outflow power is zero. An intra-power grid synchronous network system includes a power apparatus control terminal device with means for controlling power for a power apparatus installed in an autonomous power grid. A plurality of inter-power grid asynchronous interconnection network systems are connected to an intra-power grid synchronous network system to integrate the power control with communication control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Tokyo
    Inventor: Rikiya Abe
  • Patent number: 9002529
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for power control. An apparatus for power control in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can include: a voltage comparing part configured to compute an error voltage by using a measured voltage measured at the generator and a reference voltage that is designated; a control module configured to compute a first reactive power value for power control of the generator by being inputted with the error voltage; and a driving module configured to compute a reference reactive power value by using the first reactive power value and a second reactive power value computed using an active power value of the power converter and configured to control the power converter in correspondence with the computed reference reactive power value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Heavy Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee Sang Ko, Jung Hoon Kim, Won Deok Baek, Tai Yeon Cho
  • Publication number: 20150092461
    Abstract: A three phase inverter consisting of three single phase legs using either switch mode or linear control is fed by a DC-DC converter to provide input output isolation. This requires that the DC-DC converter delivers equal positive and negative voltages to the single phase legs to allow each output to generate a high fidelity sine wave outputs to the load. By measuring the error voltages on the positive output, the negative output and the total output of the DC-DC converter it is possible to control a single duty cycle while maintaining all three output voltages within the limits required by the DC-AC phase legs. This significantly reduces the cost and complexity of the DC-DC converter and eliminates the need to use a fourth phase leg to generate the neutral connection for a three phase output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Philip Henry Richard Epps, Andrew Benjamin Cole
  • 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: 8982590
    Abstract: The invention describes a solar generation method by means of a system (1) comprising a set of solar cells (2) connected to an inverter (4) that transmits the energy generated to an electrical network (6), which comprises controlling the active and reactive power that the system (1) transmits to the electrical network (6) by controlling the voltage (Vcell) of the cells (2) and the output current (Iinv) of the inverter (4), such that: in a first mode of operation, the voltage (Vcell) of the cells (2) provides the maximum active power in accordance with the operating conditions; and, in a second mode of operation, the voltage (Vcell) in the cells (2) is different from the voltage that provides the maximum active power, generating an active power that is lower than the maximum, in order to optimise the integration of the solar generation system (1) into the electrical network (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Acciona Energia, S.A.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Giraut Ruso, María A. Padrós Razquin, Carlos Itoiz Beunza
  • Patent number: 8976553
    Abstract: A power conversion device according to an aspect of an embodiment includes a power conversion unit and a control unit. The power conversion unit includes N (N is an integer number not less than two) power converters that output voltages on the basis of base signals having the same period and phase differences equivalent to ½N of the period of the base signal. The control unit controls the N power converters by using ½ of the period of the base signal as a control period and shifts each of control timings of the N power converters by the ½N of the period of the base signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Takashi Tanaka, Taisuke Katayama, Kenji Mitsuda
  • Patent number: 8976554
    Abstract: A cascaded multi-level inverter is controlled in fault bypass operation. Rather than relying on approximations or feedback forms, the reference voltages are generated as an analytic solution. The analytic solution and its implementation are not affected by the output frequency of the inverter and it is able to provide maximum possible balanced line-line voltage to a three-phase motor. In addition, the analytic solution provides exact limits for the allowable operation region of the motor power factor in order to prevent overvoltage conditions of the cell inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Corporation
    Inventor: Liviu Mihalache
  • Patent number: 8976526
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a medium voltage drive system includes a transformer, multiple power cubes each coupled to the transformer, and a manifold assembly. Each power cube includes cold plates each coupled to a corresponding switching device of the cube, an inlet port in communication with a first one of the cold plates and an outlet port in communication with a last one of the cold plates. The manifold assembly can support an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit and further support first and second connection members to enable blind mating of each of the first connection members to the inlet port of one of the power cubes and each of the second connection members to the outlet port of one of the power cubes to enable two phase cooling of the plurality of power cubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company
    Inventors: Devdatta P. Kulkarni, Thomas Keister, Manzoor Hussain, Scott Simmons, Ut V. Pham, Rose Craft, Randall Pipho
  • Patent number: 8976555
    Abstract: A converter has converting groups with a first stage connected to input lines thereof and a second stage connected to output lines. The first and second stages have positive and negative branches that are connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Joerg Oesterheld, Thierry Lecomte, René Wilhelm Schaefer
  • Patent number: 8971044
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first output unit configured to output a first phase; a second output unit configured to output a second phase different from the first phase, the second output unit being disposed to be stacked on the first output unit; and a controller configured to control the output units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Okumura, Takukazu Otsuka, Masao Saito
  • Patent number: 8971073
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing a high efficiency bypass circuit for multi-stage direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converters used in battery powered systems. When the system is operating in a battery mode, the vehicle power source is unplugged from the power supply input connector and the external battery is connected in its place. The system uses a relay to bypass the flyback converter so as to connect the boost converter output directly to the output terminals. The system uses a single control signal to: 1) energize the relay connecting the boost converter output directly to the output terminals, 2) adjust the boost converter circuit to cause the boost converter to deliver a voltage equal to what the flyback converter would have delivered, and 3) disable the flyback converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kristy M. Grant, James W. Blair, Reba Cox
  • Patent number: 8963372
    Abstract: Disclosed is an inverter having improved power conversion efficiency. The inverter (200) converts direct current power supplied from a plurality of direct current power supplies (V1, V2) having different voltages into alternating current power. The inverter (200) is provided with a control unit (20). The control unit (20) generates modified sine waves using a power supply voltage (E1) of the power supplied from the first direct current power supply (V1), a power supply voltage (E2) of the power supplied from the second direct current power supply (V2), and a potential difference (E1?E2) between the two power supply voltages. The control unit (20) generates the modified sine waves by controlling H bridge circuits provided for the direct current power supplies (V1, V2), respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoh Takano, Tetsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8957660
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a current balance circuit for a multiphase DC-DC converter. The current balance circuit comprises a current error calculation circuit, for generating a plurality of current balance signals indicating imbalance levels of a plurality of inductor currents of a plurality of channels of the multiphase DC-DC converter according to a plurality of current sensing signals of the plurality of channels, a time shift circuit, for adjusting pulse widths of a plurality of clock signals according to the plurality of current balance signals, and a ramp generator, for deciding shift levels of a plurality of ramp signals according to the plurality of clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Anpec Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ke-Horng Chen, Yueh-Lung Kuo, Chih-Heng Su, Yi-Ping Su, Yu-Ping Huang, Yu-Huei Lee