Having Plural Converters For Single Conversion Patents (Class 363/65)
  • Patent number: 8159850
    Abstract: A converter control device includes a converter device formed by three converter circuits connected together in parallel between a secondary battery as a first power source and a fuel cell as a second power source. A control unit includes: a PID control module for controlling the converter device by PID control and executing a desired voltage conversion; a drive phase quantity changing module for changing the number of drive phases of the converter device in accordance with the passing power of the converter device; and an integration term correction function switching module which switches the PID control integration term correction function when changing the number of drive phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kota Manabe, Takahiko Hasegawa, Takeshi Maenaka
  • Patent number: 8154892
    Abstract: Power output of a power generation system is controlled by measuring the output voltage of the system, dividing the measured voltage value into a target power value, then controlling the current provided by the generation system to the calculated value. In some embodiments the power generation system is connected to a grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Arraypower, Inc.
    Inventor: Kent Kernahan
  • Publication number: 20120063182
    Abstract: Converter control system coupled between a wind turbine generator and the electric power distribution grid, comprising at least two converter modules connected in parallel which are enabled/disabled by out-of-phase pulse-width modulation (PWM) patterns. The control device guarantees dynamic switching of the converter modules irrespective of the enabling or disabling of at least one converter module, constantly delivering electric power to the distribution grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Rosa LAFORGA GALLO, Ramon Santamaria Isla, Marta Soto Asperribay
  • Publication number: 20120062035
    Abstract: The invention relates to a photovoltaic device comprising at least one photovoltaic cell (60) provided with active thin layers (15) deposited on a substrate (10), said active layers being unsegmented, and at least one static converter (50) associated with each photovoltaic cell (60). Each photovoltaic cell (60) supplies an electrical power with a maximum current (Icc) and a nominal voltage (Vp), and each static converter (50) is adapted in such a way as to transmit the electrical power supplied by the photovoltaic cell towards a load (100), reducing the transmitted current and increasing the transmitted voltage. The laser segmentations of the photovoltaic cells are thus limited, or completely eliminated, on a same panel. The yield of the photovoltaic device production is thereby improved and the dead surfaces are limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Bruno Estibals, Corinne Alonso, Marc Vermeersch, Loic Francke
  • Patent number: 8135967
    Abstract: A storage system includes one or more first power supplies which receive power from the first input and supplies power to each of multiple load groups through multiple first paths and multiple second power supplies which receive power from the second input and supplies power to each of the multiple load groups through multiple second paths. Each load group is comprised of at least one load, and each load is a storage device. Power is supplied from different second power supplies respectively to two or more load groups to which power is supplied from the first power supply through two or more first paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yosuke Tsuyuki
  • Patent number: 8130501
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power cell chamber for a drive system includes moveable and fixed portions. The moveable portion includes a rectifier stage to rectify an input signal received from a secondary winding of a transformer to provide a rectified signal and an inverter stage having a plurality of switching devices to receive a DC signal and output an AC signal. This moveable portion can be slidably adapted within a cabinet of the drive system. In turn, the fixed portion includes a DC link having at least one capacitor to receive the rectified signal and provide the DC signal to the inverter stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company
    Inventors: Enrique Ledezma, Thomas Keister, Mehdi Abolhassani, Ryan Edwards, Alex Skorcz, Randall Pipho, Srinivas Satumahanti
  • Patent number: 8125806
    Abstract: A multi-stage power supply uses a boost stage and an inverter stage to boost the voltage value of a DC power supply to a desired level, and then convert the power into an AC form. The multi-stage power supply additionally has a controller which can simultaneously control the boost stage and the inverter stage using counter-synchronous signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk Nangreaves, Charles-Lizhi Zhu, Richard Joseph Hampo
  • Publication number: 20120033466
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing the amount of power processed in a power converter during power generation is provided. In one aspect, the system includes a partial power converter connected between a set of power sources and a load. The partial power converter includes a primary power converter coupled to a first power source and a set of auxiliary power converters coupled to the remaining power sources. Moreover, the secondary power converters only process current that is necessary to achieve a maximum power point (MPP) for each power source. In one example, the secondary power converters are smaller in size and/or power rating, as compared to the primary power converter, and thus reduce the size and cost of the system. Additionally, the secondary power converters operate on an “as-needed” basis rather than in “always-on” fashion, and thus are more reliable and efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventor: Zaki Moussaoui
  • Publication number: 20120026763
    Abstract: A switching power supply includes power factor correction circuitry and a standby output converter. One or more loads may be coupled to one or more outputs of the switching power supply. The switching power supply is configured to disable the power factor correction circuitry under some load conditions and to enable the power factor correction circuitry under other load conditions. As a consequence, power that would have been drawn by the power factor correction circuitry is conserved when the power factor correction circuitry is disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel Humphrey, Mohamed Amin Bemat, David Paul Mohr
  • Patent number: 8098055
    Abstract: Methods and systems with a step-up converter are provided based on a boost converter. In one aspect, a step-up converter includes: a boost converter having a first inductor; a second inductor paired on a core with the first inductor; and a rectifier circuit coupled with the second inductor to generate a direct current output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Mordechay Avrutsky, Idan Avrutsky, Ron Hadar, Shmuel Arditi
  • Patent number: 8089788
    Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a switched capacitor voltage regulator to generate a regulated output voltage based on varying input voltages. The regulator is capable of operating at one of a plurality of voltage conversion ratios and selection of the one of a plurality of voltage conversion ratios is based on an input voltage received. The switched capacitor voltage regulator provides a lossless (or substantially lossless) voltage conversion at the selected ratio. The ratio selected provides a down converted voltage closest to the regulated output voltage without going below the regulated output voltage. The down converted voltage is adjusted to the regulated output voltage using a resistive mechanism to dissipate excess power (lossy). Selection of an appropriate conversion ratio limits the resistive regulation and losses associated therewith and increases the efficiency of the switched capacitor voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Rinkle Jain
  • Patent number: 8085031
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for supplying power to measuring sensors and transmitting a synchronous clock signal thereto, in particular, for a low-voltage switchgear, with a power supply unit (10) whose output signals are transmitted to the measuring sensors via transformers providing the isolation. A quartz-controlled oscillation circuit arrangement (quartz-controlled clock generator) is provided whose output signals are supplied to the power supply unit (10) so that the clock frequency of the power supply unit output signals is the same for the primary sides of the transformers (11, 12, 13), the frequency lying within the operating range of the transformers (11, 12, 13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Mast, Stefan Weiers, Klaus-Georg Müller
  • Patent number: 8080981
    Abstract: An interleaved-PWM power module system and method for operating the same are disclosed. The power system includes at least two power modules, each of which has a specific ID number. The power module with an extreme value of the specific ID number is set as a master power module and the remaining power modules are set as slave power modules. The master power module sends the sync signal to all of the slave power modules. Each of the slave power modules performs a phase-locking operation with reference to a specific phase offset to generate a frequency switching signal, where the frequency switching signal is synchronized with the sum of the sync signal and the phase offset for each slave power module. The power module outputs the frequency switching signal for PWM signal generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsueh-Cheng Wang, Ying-Sung Chang
  • Patent number: 8081497
    Abstract: A converter station for connecting an AC system to a bipolar HVDC transmission line. A DC neutral arrangement includes first DC breakers enabling breaking of a first current path from the neutral bus of one pole to the neutral bus of the other pole at bipolar operation of the station for changing to monopolar operation thereof for isolation of a faulty section of the system while establishing a current path to electrode line connecting members for diverting the current from the one pole thereto. A separate connecting member is provided for each of the electrode lines. A connector is configured to connect each neutral bus to an optional of the two electrode line connecting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Ulf Radbrant, Lars-Erik Juhlin
  • Patent number: 8076880
    Abstract: A motor control device has a three-phase bridge circuit, a driving circuit, and a microcomputer. The three-phase bridge circuit has three pairs of MOSFETs for U, V, and W phases of a three-phase AC motor as a control target. The microcomputer has a dead time set value storage unit and a PWM signal generation unit. The PWM signal generation unit generates a PWM signal with a dead time including a response characteristics of the pair of MOSFETs for each of U, V, and W phases of the AC motor based on a three-phase voltage instruction value supplied from an outside device and the dead time set value stored in the dead time set value storage unit. The PWM signal generation unit outputs the PWM signal for each phase to the driving circuit. This independently adjusts the dead time for the MOSFETs for each phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Mikihiro Hiramine
  • Patent number: 8077490
    Abstract: Limit-cycle oscillation (LCO) generation by altering a digital transfer function of a feedback loop element provides a controllable method and apparatus for generating LCOs within a switch-mode power supply (SMPS). Measurements of the LCO characteristics can then be used to determine characteristics of the SMPS and/or determine proper compensation schemes. At least a zero error code of the feedback loop element is removed, causing the control value to oscillate between at least two values. Additional codes may be progressively removed until an LCO is detected, in order to ensure LCO generation with minimum disruption of SMPS operation. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that converts an output voltage or current to a control value may be used to generate an LCO by removing one or more output codes to alter its transfer function. Alternatively, a quantization step of the pulse-width modulator or other modulator may be increased to temporarily cause LCOs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksandar Prodic, Zhenyu Zhao
  • Patent number: 8072785
    Abstract: A switching power supply unit is provided, which may supply stable output while manufacturing cost is held down. In a smoothing circuit, a magnetic flux in a first circular magnetic path, a magnetic flux in a second circular magnetic path, a magnetic flux generated by a current flowing through a choke coil, and a magnetic flux generated by a current flowing through another choke coil are shared by one another in the inside of a common magnetic core. A current flowing through two choke coils and a current flowing through different, two choke coils are balanced, and thus stabilized. Moreover, in the smoothing circuit, since such a balanced state is automatically kept, a characteristic value of an element or the like need not be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru Nakahori
  • Patent number: 8072784
    Abstract: An exemplary electronic device includes a controller, a first convertor, a second convertor, and a switching unit. The first convertor is configured for receiving a first voltage from an external power supply and converting the first voltage into a second voltage. The controller is coupled to the first convertor for generating a start signal when receiving the second voltage. The second convertor is connected to the controller for receiving the first voltage, converting the first voltage into a third voltage to power an operating unit of the electronic device, and converting the first voltage into a fourth voltage to power the controller when receiving the start signal. The switching unit is coupled to the controller and the first convertor for disabling the first convertor when the controller receives the fourth voltage. A related power supply unit is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Lung Hung, Tao Wang, Wen-Ming Chen, Wang-Chang Duan, Qiang Huang, Shi-Ming Zhang
  • Patent number: 8072786
    Abstract: A power supply module is configured for converting an AC voltage to a first DC voltage and applying the first DC voltage to a load. The power supply module includes a rectifying and filtering unit, a PFC unit, a voltage transforming unit, an input port, and a switch unit. The rectifying and filtering unit rectifies the AC voltage into a primary DC voltage and filters the primary DC voltage. The PFC unit corrects a power factor of the filtered primary DC voltage. The voltage transforming unit converts the corrected primary DC voltage and generates the first DC voltage for applying the load. The input port receives a first instruction or a second instruction and generates a first signal or a second signal, respectively. The switch unit establishes or disconnects an electrical connection between the voltage transforming unit and the load according to the first signal or the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jian-Hui Lu
  • Patent number: 8064198
    Abstract: A cooling device for a semiconductor element module and a magnetic part, includes: a water-cooled type heat sink having a cooling water passage; a semiconductor element module including a plurality of chips arranged side by side in a circulation direction in the cooling water passage, the semiconductor element module being mounted on the heat sink; and a magnetic part including a core and a winding portion mounted on the core, the magnetic part being mounted on the heat sink or another heat sink. In the cooling device, a plurality of cooling fins is disposed to extend along the circulation direction in the cooling water passage in a manner that the plurality of cooling fins are separated into groups for the respective chips arranged side by side in the circulation direction, and that the groups of the cooling fins are offset from each other in a direction perpendicular to the circulation direction. Accordingly, it is possible to have improved cooling efficiency of a heat sink with cooling fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Higashidani, Takeshi Kato, Masao Nagano, Tsutomu Yoshino
  • Patent number: 8064232
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes input terminals, first output terminals, second output terminals, and an insulation transformer. The insulation transformer includes a primary coil and a secondary coil of equal inductance. The polarity of one end of the primary coil is same as the polarity of the other end of the secondary coil. One of the first output terminals is connected to an input terminal and the one end of the primary coil. The other of the first output terminals is connected to an input terminal and one end of the secondary coil. One of the second output terminals is connected to the other end of the primary coil and the other end of the secondary coil. The other of the second output terminals is connected to an input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Abdallah Mechi
  • Patent number: 8050065
    Abstract: A multi-phase voltage converting device includes voltage converters each performing voltage conversion based on a control period selected from among a plurality of predetermined control periods, and a control device indicating the control period to the voltage converters. The control device updates the control period of voltage converters in a predetermined period related commonly to the plurality of control periods. The update period is a least common multiple of the plurality of control periods. The plurality of voltage converters are n in number, and the control device successively updates the control periods for the plurality of voltage converters with a time difference equal to 1/n of the update period. Thereby, the multi-phase voltage converting device suppressing output voltage ripples can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Hasegawa, Kota Manabe
  • Patent number: 8049474
    Abstract: A switching converter according includes a control arrangement to furnish a control signal dependent on the output voltage, as well as a first and at least one second converter stage. Each converter includes an inductive storage element, a ramp signal generator to furnish a signal having a ramp slope, a pulse width modulator which receives the control signal and the ramplike signal and which furnishes a pulse width modulated signal, and a driver circuit which receives the pulse width modulated signal and the input voltage and which applies the input voltage to the inductive storage element depending on the pulse width modulated signal. The ramp slope of the ramplike signal of the at least one second converter stage is adjustable. The ramp signal generator of the second converter stage receives a calibration signal which depends on the inductance of the inductive storage element of the first converter stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Giuseppe Bernacchia, Riccardo Pittassi
  • Patent number: 8045346
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a system having multiple modular transformers each including a primary winding coupled to an input power source and phase-shifted secondary windings each coupled to a power cell. The system further includes different phase output lines coupled to a load. These lines may include first, second and third phase output lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company
    Inventors: Mehdi Abolhassani, Ryan Edwards, Thomas Keister, Alex Skorcz, Enrique Ledezma, Chao Hsu Liao
  • Patent number: 8039989
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a low cost multiple output redundant power supply. Disclosed is a power supply that includes a primary stage for regulating voltage on an internal bus. The power supply includes a first regulator stage and a second regulator stage connected to the internal bus. The first regulator stage regulates voltage on a bus configured to connect to a first system. The second regulator stage regulates voltage on a bus configured to connect to a second system. The each regulator stage continues to operate in the event the other regulator stage is not operating. A disconnecting means is connected between the primary stage and the each regulator stage for isolating the failed regulator stage from the other regulator stage and the primary stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chu T. Chung, Cecil C. Dishman, Randhir S. Malik
  • Patent number: 8040702
    Abstract: Three or more circuits, in which series-connected low-voltage and high-voltage side switches including MOSFETs including parasitic diodes are connected across positive and negative terminals of each of smoothing capacitors, are connected in series. One of elementary series circuits, each including a capacitor and an inductor, is disposed between any adjacent two of the circuits with the elementary series circuits set to have the same period of resonance. The MOSFETs of rectifier circuits are brought into an ON state simultaneously with the MOSFETs of a driving inverter circuit and brought into an OFF state earlier than the MOSFETs of the driving inverter circuit by a period of time not exceeding a time period equal to (period of resonance)/2. A resonance phenomenon of the capacitor and the inductor is used and conduction loss in the rectifier circuits is reduced in DC/DC power conversion performed through charging and discharging operation of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Urakabe, Matahiko Ikeda, Akihiko Iwata, Kiyoharu Anzai, Hirotoshi Maekawa, Toshiyuki Kikunaga, Masaru Kobayashi, Tatsuya Okuda
  • Patent number: 8036007
    Abstract: A bus connection for connecting a field device to a field bus whereby the bus connection has a circuit for sending and receiving databus signals and for generating at least one regulated operating voltage, and the regulated operating voltage is generated from a bus voltage supplying the field bus, characterized in that a controllable resistor is provided for generating an additional operating voltage; circuitry means are provided, controlling the controllable resistor as a function of the bus voltage such that the input voltage of the circuit is regulated at its minimum required power supply voltage; and the sum of the regulated operating voltage and the additional operating voltage is supplied to the field device as the power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Vega Grieshaber KG
    Inventor: Siegbert Woehrle
  • Patent number: 8036008
    Abstract: Three or more circuits including a driving inverter circuit and rectifier circuits are connected in series, each of the circuits including a high-voltage side MOSFET and a low-voltage side MOSFET connected in series as well as a smoothing capacitor having positive and negative terminals between which the MOSFETs are connected. LC series circuits, each including a capacitor and an inductor, are disposed individually between one specific circuit and the other circuits with periods of resonance of the LC series circuits made equal to one another. In performing DC/DC power conversion through charging and discharging operation of the capacitors, a resonance phenomenon of the LC series circuits is used to improve conversion efficiency and achieve a reduction in size of the apparatus structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Matahiko Ikeda, Takahiro Urakabe, Kiyoharu Anzai, Akihiko Iwata, Hirotoshi Maekawa, Toshiyuki Kikunaga, Masaru Kobayashi, Tatsuya Okuda
  • Publication number: 20110235376
    Abstract: A multi-level parallel phase power converter has a power source, a converter, and an electrical node. The converter includes multiple converter modules. Each of the converter modules has multiple multi-level power converters, a poly-phase interphase inductor, and a set of poly-phase power summing connections. The summed power of each of the multiple converter modules are connected together to form a single poly-phase power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Frank Z. Feng, Waleed M. Said
  • Patent number: 8023296
    Abstract: A high voltage, high speed, and high repetition rate pulse generator solves the high pulse repetition rate limitations associated with RF power amplifiers. The pulse generator employs resonant techniques to provide current limiting features that allow for continued high voltage, high speed, and high repetition pulse rate operation of the pulse generator without impairment of the pulse generator during both short circuit and open circuit load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Fengfeng Tao, Frank Jakob John Mueller, Robert Carl Murray, Abdelkrim Younsi, Seyed Gholamali Saddoughi, Joseph Taher Mossoba, John Stanley Glaser
  • Patent number: 8018331
    Abstract: A multilevel inverter using a cascade configuration with a device for equally controlling a power factor for each unit cell includes: a master controller, a plurality of power cells connected in series for each of three AC (Alternating Current) phases, a phase shift transformer for supplying a power cell input voltage, a CAN (Controller Area Network) communication network to provide a communication path between the master controller and each power cell, and cell controllers to control output voltages and output frequencies of the respective power cells according to a voltage command and a frequency command from the master controller, each cell controller having a pulse width modulator to generate a pulse width modulation control signal of a variable voltage and a variable frequency to the connected corresponding power cell, wherein each cell controller is configured to calculate a phase difference value of the corresponding power cell according to a preset total number of connected power cells and the floor n
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Han-Keun Jang
  • Patent number: 8018746
    Abstract: A parallel inverter system needs neither a dedicated line for synchronizing common portions nor switching operations, and includes a plurality of inverter units operating in parallel. An inverter control circuit of each inverter unit includes a sinusoidal signal generating circuit, a PWM control signal generating circuit, a phase difference circuit, a frequency difference circuit, and a feedback circuit. The feedback circuit inputs to the sinusoidal signal generating circuit an addition result value which is obtained by adding to a commanded value for reference frequency a value obtained from multiplication of a phase difference by a predetermined gain and a value obtained from multiplication of a frequency difference by a predetermined gain. The phase difference among outputs from the inverter units occurring in the parallel operation of the inverter units is reduced by changing the output frequencies of the inverter units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Okui
  • Patent number: 8014178
    Abstract: A converter station for connecting an AC system to a bipolar HVDC transmission line. A DC neutral arrangement is provided with first DC breakers enabling breaking of a first current path from a neutral bus of one pole of the transmission line to a neutral bus of another pole at bipolar operation of the station for isolation of a faulty section and changing to monopolar operation/metallic return thereof. The DC neutral arrangement has in the first current path at least two first DC breakers connected in series and adapted to act as a backup for each other would the other thereof fail to break the first current path upon a control to isolate a faulty section by changing from bipolar to monopolar operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Ulf Radbrant, Lars-Erik Juhlin
  • Patent number: 8008923
    Abstract: A method. The method includes determining that a failure has occurred in a power cell of a multi-cell power supply. The method also includes moving a part of a first contact which is connected to first and second output terminals of the power cell from a first position to a second position, moving a part of a second contact which is connected to a first input terminal of the power cell from a third position to a fourth position, and moving a part of a third contact which is connected to a second input terminal of the power cell from a fifth position to a sixth position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Willard Hammond
  • Patent number: 8009451
    Abstract: A universal power adapter has an input for receiving an input voltage from a power source and an output for supplying an output voltage selected from amongst two or more preset voltages. A voltage converter circuit converts between the input voltage and the two or more preset voltages. A connector tip connectable with the output connects one of the two or more preset voltages to the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Modern Sense Limited
    Inventor: Kam Wah So
  • Publication number: 20110205769
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a method for optimizing the power consumption in a redundant power system. A pulse width modulation waveform is generated in each of a first and second power supply to control the power output of each power supply. In response to the system load reaching a power setpoint, the first and second power supplies supply power to the system load in parallel. In response to the system load being below the power setpoint, the pulse width modulation waveform is disabled or blocked in the second power supply, and the system load is powered substantially entirely with the first power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward L. Blackwell, Nickolas J. Gruendler, Henry G. McMillan
  • Publication number: 20110199797
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a power converter system includes a plurality of variable frequency power converters and a plurality of synchronization circuits. Each variable frequency power converter has a switching frequency. Each synchronization circuit is associated with a respective one of the plurality of variable frequency power converters. A control circuit is coupled to and coordinates the plurality of synchronization circuits. The plurality of synchronization circuits and the control circuit are operable to synchronize the switching frequencies of the variable frequency power converters to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher D. Bridge, Laszlo Balogh
  • Patent number: 7994750
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for powering a load are provided. In one embodiment, a method may include providing a power converter comprising electrical circuitry comprising at least a first leg and a second leg, supplying an input power signal to the power converter, supplying at least a first gating control signal to the first leg, supplying at least a second gating control signal to the second leg, and outputting at least one output power signal to the load responsive at least in part to the first and the second gating control signals supplied. According to this example embodiment, the first gating signal and the second gating signal may each comprise a waveform comprising a notch, and the second gating control signal may be phase shifted relative to the first gating control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, Allen Ritter
  • Patent number: 7995360
    Abstract: A power supply includes a first power converter, a second power converter, and a clamp reset circuit. The clamp reset circuit is electrically coupled to other components within the first power converter and the second power converter. A clamp standby connection can be provided to electrically couple the clamp reset circuit to components comprising the second power converter. The clamp reset circuit is coupled to reduce magnetizing energy of a transformer of the first power converter and limit voltage in a component of the second power converter. The clamp reset circuit may include a Zener diode and a resistor that are adapted to reduce magnetizing energy of the first power converter and manage leakage inductance energy through the second power converter. The clamp reset circuit normally includes a capacitor that is adapted to store energy from the first power converter and the second power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Mayell
  • Patent number: 7987058
    Abstract: A monitoring device to detect an indication of reverse power flow across a monitored transformer. The monitoring device adapted to handle a series of phase angle differences between a monitored current and a monitored voltage and establish a baseline phase angle difference after the network protector closes to connect the monitored transformer to a distribution network. The monitoring device working to establish a baseline phase angle even when a measured value for the magnitude of the monitored current has a reversed polarity from an actual current flowing from the monitored transformer or when the monitored current and the monitored voltage are not taken from the same phase from the monitored transformer. The monitoring device adapted to detect a significant change in phase angle difference from the baseline phase angle difference as an indication of reverse power flow. This abstract is intended as a tool to help others locate a relevant disclosure and not as a guide to the scope of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: DGI Creations, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Weber, Jr., Carl Francis Scheuermann
  • Patent number: 7986535
    Abstract: A method of providing power to a load is provided. A first series resonant converter is provided. A second SRC is operably coupled to the first SRC in a cascade connected arrangement. First and second zero voltage switching (ZVS)-assistance networks are operably coupled between the first SRC and the second SRC, such that the first and second ZVS-assistance networks are providing first and second ZVS-assistant currents flowing from each ZVS-assistance network to the cascade connected arrangement of SRCs. Power from a power source is received at the cascade connected arrangement of first and second SRCs, power from a power source. The cascade connected arrangement of first and second SRCs supplies an output voltage to the load in response to receiving power from the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Boris S. Jacobson, Evgeny N. Holmansky
  • Patent number: 7983063
    Abstract: The configurations of an interleaved flyback converter and a controlling method thereof are provided. The proposed two-phase interleaved flyback converter includes a transformer including a first primary winding having a first terminal, a first secondary winding having a first terminal, a second primary winding having a second terminal, a second secondary winding having a second terminal and a magnetic coupled core device, wherein the first primary, the first secondary, the second primary and the second secondary windings are wound therein, and the first terminal of the first primary winding has a polarity the same as that of any of the first terminal of the first secondary winding, the second terminal of the second primary winding and the second terminal of the second secondary winding so as to eliminate a ripple of a channel current of the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electrronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Zengyi Lu, Wei Chen, Ming Hsien Peng
  • Publication number: 20110170323
    Abstract: A control system for controlling conversion of an input power into an output power in a converter module is provided. The control system includes an input power terminal, an output power terminal, and an active switching device. The control system further includes a master controller and a communication link interconnecting the master controller and the converter module. Also, the system has a timing generator generating a timing signal with a cycle time equal to or less than the shortest time constant of the converter module and immediate power circuit elements relating to the converter module. The timing generator is integrated in or interconnected with the master controller. Furthermore, the control system has a signal generator integrated in or interconnected with the master controller generating switching control signals, each switching control signal containing a control message defining a switching state for the active switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Vernon Fulcher, Rodney Jones, Philip Perry Waite
  • Patent number: 7974106
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for power generation systems are described. In particular, embodiments of the invention relate to the architecture of power conditioning systems for use with fuel cells and methods used therein. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems usable to reduce ripple currents in fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Ranganathan Gurunathan, Ramesh Srinivasan, Pavana Kumar
  • Patent number: 7965510
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes a power module, four corners of which are fastened to a cooling jacket from its front surface by a front surface side fastening apparatus that includes nuts which are screwed with bolts projecting from the rear face of the cooling jacket to fasten the power module. An AC terminal of the power module, a DC positive electrode terminal connection portion, and a DC negative electrode terminal are arranged on the top surface of the cooling jacket facing the bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyo Suzuki, Keisuke Horiuchi, Fusanori Nishikimi, Atsushi Yukita
  • Patent number: 7960958
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an output terminal. A plurality of feedback terminals receives a feedback signal. A voltage regulator has a feedback input in communication with the plurality of feedback terminals to receive the feedback signal. The voltage regulator has a power output in communication with the output terminal. The voltage regulator is responsive to the feedback signal to generate the power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventor: Sehat Sutardja
  • Patent number: 7960939
    Abstract: A fuel/electric drive system having an internal combustion engine is disclosed, having a generator which is driven by the internal combustion engine and has a first stator winding set, having a first rectifier which is connected to the first stator winding set at the AC voltage end and to a first DC voltage circuit at the DC voltage end, and having a first inverter which is connected to the first DC voltage circuit at the DC voltage end and to a drive motor at the AC voltage end. In order to increase the robustness and availability of the fuel/electric drive system, the generator has a second stator winding set, with a second rectifier being connected to the second stator winding set at the AC voltage end and to a second DC voltage circuit at the DC voltage end, and a second inverter being connected to the second DC voltage circuit at the DC voltage end and to the drive motor at the AC voltage end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Peter Steimer
  • Publication number: 20110116290
    Abstract: A pick-up circuit for an inductive power transfer (IPT) system includes a series-tuned pick-up coil and a plurality of parallel AC processing circuits provided between the series-tuned pick-up coil and an output, each processing circuit being adapted to produce an output signal based directly or indirectly at least in part on a voltage of the series-tuned pick-up coil and including a switch for selectively coupling the processing circuit to the output so as to selectively provide the respective output signal to the output of the pick-up circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventor: John Talbot Boys
  • Patent number: 7944720
    Abstract: Provided is a control technique of a PWM conversion type power converter capable of compensating for a voltage error due to voltage drop mainly at a switching element and managing a switching time of a PWM signal at the same time, and capable of suppressing increase/decrease of software operation load and addition of a hardware circuit to the minimum. A semiconductor integrated circuit having a PWM signal generating unit which generates a PWM signal is provided with a PWM timer unit including a counter counting a pulse width of a pulse signal inputted from the outside with delay from a PWM signal, a register loading a counter value of the counter in synchronization with the PWM signal, and an A/D converting unit converting an analog signal serving as a source signal of the pulse signal inputted from the outside to a digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Suzuki, Yasuo Notohara, Tsunehiro Endo, Yuji Mori
  • Patent number: 7940537
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a medium voltage drive system having multiple power cells each to couple between a transformer and a load. A first subset of the power cells are configured to provide power to the load and to perform partial regeneration from the load, and a second subset of the power cells are configured to provide power to the load but not perform partial regeneration. A controller may be included in the system to simultaneously control a DC bus voltage of at least one of the first subset of the power cells, correct a power factor of the system, and provide harmonic current compensation for the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company
    Inventors: Mehdi Abolhassani, Thomas Keister, Alex Skorcz, Enrique Ledezma, Ryan Edwards