Plural Inverters Patents (Class 363/71)
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Patent number: 6956752Abstract: A power supply apparatus converts an input voltage (2) into a first (3) and a second output voltage (7). The first (3) and the second output voltage (7) are put into and/or out of operation sequentially. The power supply apparatus comprises a first converter unit (1) which converts the input voltage (2) into the first output voltage (3), and a second converter unit (5) for providing the second output voltage (7). The second converter unit input (6) is coupled to the first converter unit output (3). The second converter unit (5) can only start and provide an output voltage after the first converter unit (1) has started. During power-down, a sequence is created in which the second converter unit remains operational until any capacitance coupled to the first converter unit output has been discharged.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2002Date of Patent: October 18, 2005Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventor: Hubertus Cornelis Miermans
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Patent number: 6954366Abstract: A multifunction hybrid intelligent universal transformer includes a conventional transformer coupled with power electronics on the secondary side to enhance the functionality of power conversion. The universal transformer includes features for overcoming the deficiencies associated with conventional transformers, including voltage sag compensation, instantaneous voltage regulation, outage compensation, capacitor switching protection, harmonic compensation, single-phasing protection, DC output, and variable frequency output.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2003Date of Patent: October 11, 2005Assignee: Electric Power Research InstituteInventors: Jih-Sheng Lai, Arshad Mansoor, Arindam Maitra, Frank Goodman
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Patent number: 6947300Abstract: A parallel DC-to-AC power inverter system is provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2002Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Fu-Sheng Pai, Hung-Chieh Lin, Yuan-Fuan Lai
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Patent number: 6940733Abstract: A switch state controller generating a pulse train is used in a power converter utilizing a plurality of converter stages all simultaneously controlled by a single switch controlled by said pulse train. On time of the pulse train is controlled according to an input or interim node characteristic of the supply and period is controlled by a characteristic of the output of the converter. This allows development of AC-to-DC converters, including power-factor-correction converters, and DC to DC converters with high conversion ratio with minimal parts count & high reliability.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2003Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: Supertex, Inc.Inventors: David Chalmers Schie, Alexander Mednik, James Hung Nguyen, Sang Ton Ngo, Khai Minh Le, Wei Gu, Larry Kerenyi
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Patent number: 6940736Abstract: This invention relates to a multiple stage switch circuit for power electronics. The switch circuit is intended to supply electric power to any type of load. The invention provides a power supply circuit for providing power to a load, comprising: power supply stages each comprising a pair of switchable members in a bridge circuit and an LC filter connected between the center of the bridge circuit and the load, and a control stage for controlling turning on and off of the switchable members. According to the invention at least two power supply stages are connected in parallel with a common output to the load, and said power supply stages are synchronized by a common master control unit. The power supply circuit further comprises a unit for enabling a number of power supply stages while the rest of the power supply stages may be disabled in response to required output power characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2002Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Inventor: Ragnar Jönsson
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Patent number: 6933767Abstract: In an up-converter feed forward control of the output current is effected by rendering the conduction time of the switching element proportional to Vout/Vin2. This control is fast and avoids interference and loss of efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2003Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLCInventors: Marcel Johannes Maria Bucks, Johannes Mathcus Theodorus Lambertus Claessens, Jozef Petrus Emanuel De Krijger, Engbert Bernard Gerard Nijhof
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Patent number: 6917527Abstract: A low-cost, easily-miniaturized switching power supply restrains voltage stress on first and second main switches. The switching power supply has small loss and low noise, enables setting of duty factors over a broad range, and has reduced thickness. The first main switch has one end connected with a negative electrode of an input voltage, and the second main switch has one end connected with a positive electrode of the input voltage. A first magnetic element is connected to the first main switch, and a second magnetic element is connected to the second main switch and the first magnetic element. The switching power supply has: a first diode connected to the first main switch, the first magnetic element, and the second magnetic element; a second diode connected to the first diode, the second main switch, and the second magnetic element; and an auxiliary switch between the diodes.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2004Date of Patent: July 12, 2005Assignee: Yokogawa Electric CorporationInventor: Koji Takada
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Patent number: 6917531Abstract: Two proposals are made for power supply systems comprising at least one resonant inverter and one control unit. According to the first proposal the power supply system comprises two inverters and produces two output voltages, the control circuit processing as an actual value on the one hand the sum of and on the other hand the difference between the two output voltages. According to the second proposal a control circuit does not directly process the controlled variables for a power supply system comprising at least one inverter, but difference units for controlled variables determine the deviations from a preceding sampling instant and these difference values are processed. Also the correcting variable calculated in this way is a difference value which is converted into a correcting variable value by a correcting variable summing unit. The two proposals can be advantageously combined.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2002Date of Patent: July 12, 2005Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Thomas Scheel, Christian Hattrup, Olaf Maertens, Thorsten Gercke
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Patent number: 6903947Abstract: The power supply according to the invention has a first switched-mode power supply and a second switched-mode power supply, which is connected in parallel with the first, and with both switched-mode power supplies having power factor correction. In this case, the first switched-mode power supply has an active power factor correction circuit, for example with a current pump which contains a coil which is coupled to a primary winding of a transformer, and the second switched-mode power supply has a power factor coil (NS) in its power supply for power factor correction. Both switched-mode power supplies are in this case arranged in one appliance, in particular in parallel and downstream from a common mains switch. The active power factor correction in this case flattens the pulsed current flow, and the power factor coil shifts the phase of the pulsed current flow.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2002Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventors: Wolfgang Hermann, Michel Thibault, Jean-Paul Louvel
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Patent number: 6903946Abstract: A power supply for a capacitive-resistive load includes plural paralleled phase correcting modules together with current sharing controllers for tending to equalize their currents. Each module is provided with a diode, poled to prevent forward current from flowing in the return current path, for aiding in equalizing module currents. Surge currents are reduced by a single saturable reactor coupled to the combined outputs of current sharing controllers, thereby avoiding the need for soft-start in each controller. A precharging path extends from a source of pulsating direct voltage to the load, for precharging the load capacitance at turn-on.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2003Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventor: Keng-Chih Wu
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Patent number: 6891736Abstract: In a multiphase DC/DC converter having a plurality of DC/DC converters, to prevent faults in the circuit and the circuit elements constituting it even when the balance of current limiting operation among the individual DC/DC converters is disturbed due to individual and temperature-related variations in the characteristics of the circuit elements, the output currents of the individual DC/DC converters are detected and added together, and are limited individually so that their sum does not exceed a predetermined level of current.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2003Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ko Takemura, Kiyotaka Umemoto
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Patent number: 6885171Abstract: A method and an apparatus for compensating reactive power and/or harmonic currents in an alternating-current network by means of a frequency converter (1) feeding an alternating-current load (3), which frequency converter has a mains bridge (10) and at least one load bridge (11), said bridges being provided with controllable semiconductor switches. In the method, the reactive power and/or harmonic currents in the alternating-current network are measured, the load of the mains bridge of the frequency converter is measured, and the reactive power and/or harmonic currents in the alternating-current network are compensated by means of the frequency converter when the mains bridge is running at less than full capacity or has no load.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2003Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: Vacon OyjInventors: Veijo Karppinen, Risto Komulainen
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Patent number: 6882550Abstract: A power converter that produces variable frequency multiphase AC power from fixed or variable frequency AC power. The converter can be used to drive an AC motor for propulsion applications or other motors and loads that require variable frequency AC power. The power converter system is based on a combination of several power conversion technologies used in a power circuit topology and a regulator control system that allows for higher electrical efficiency, higher power density and lower power distortion to be achieved than is possible from any of the individual technologies. Specifically, the input and output power distortion of a frequency changer is monitored, and a group of high performance inverters are used to inject harmonic currents into a specially designed transformer to neutralize the power distortion to a specified acceptable level. By this neutralization, the power density of a solid-state electric power converter is increased (e.g., by a factor of 5-6) and power quality distortion is reduced (e.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2003Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Electro-Mechanical CorporationInventor: Gary E. Baumgart
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Patent number: 6879503Abstract: A cutting device for reversibly converting electric power between an alternating voltage source and an alternative current source, comprises switching cells each comprising first and second switches unidirectional in voltage and bidirectional in current. A first group of switches consists of the first switches of the switching cells connected in series between a first terminal of the voltage source and a first terminal of the current source, and a second group of switches consists of the second switches of the switching cells connected in series beween a second terminal of the voltage source and the first terminal of the current source, the unidirectional characteristics in voltage of the first and second switches belonging to a first half of the cells being respectively opposed to those of the first and second switches belonging to a second half of the cells.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2001Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.), C.I.R.T.E.M., Institut National Polytechnique de ToulouseInventors: Thierry Meynard, Elie Lefeuvre
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Patent number: 6867987Abstract: A multilevel inverter control system having logic configured to substantially minimize and area between a target waveform and a step signal of a multilevel inverter.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2003Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Ballard Power Systems CorporationInventors: Bing Cheng, Fengtai Huang
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Patent number: 6853568Abstract: The present invention proposes a new structure for a high input VRM. This structure is similar to a simple buck converter and can simplify the 48V input VRM design. In this present invention, the interleaved voltage regulator is provided. The interleaved voltage regulator includes an integrated magnetic device for performing both transformer and output choke filter function, a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch, wherein the integrated magnetic device includes a transformer having a first primary winding, a second primary winding, a first secondary winding, and a second secondary winding, a first choke filter having one end coupled to a first terminal of the first secondary winding, and a second choke filter having one end coupled to a first terminal of the second secondary winding, and the other end of the second choke filter coupled to the other end of the first choke filter to form the output terminal of the isolated voltage regulator.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2003Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Wenhua Li, Zhongwei Ke, Guisong Huang, Alpha J. Zhang
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Patent number: 6850425Abstract: A parallel inverter system includes a plurality of inverters of an instantaneous voltage control type, an output bus, an active power bus, a phase bus, and controlling devices. The output bus is used for connecting outputs of said plurality of inverters to a load. The active power bus is connected to the plurality of inverters so as to provide an active power sharing reference. The phase bus is connected to the plurality of inverters so as to provide a system phase reference. And, controlling devices control sinusoidal wave references of inverters to have the same phase, the reactive power, and the active power responsive to the active power sharing reference and the system phase reference. The related methods are also discussed.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2003Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Jingtao Tan, Jianping Ying, Hua Lin
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Patent number: 6847531Abstract: A power conversion system for driving a load is provided. The power conversion system comprises a power transformer having at least one primary winding circuit and at least one secondary winding circuit, the primary winding circuit being electrically connectable to an AC power source. The system further comprises at least one power cell, each of the at least one power cell having a power cell input connected to a respective one of the at least one secondary winding circuit. Each power cell also has a single phase output connectable to the load. A power switching arrangement including at least one power switch is connected to the power cell input and a DC bus, and a switch controller is connected to the power switching arrangement and the power cell input. The power cell also has a PWM output stage having a plurality of PWM switches connected to the DC bus and the single phase output. A local modulation controller is connected to the PWM output stage.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2003Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Paul S. Bixel
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Patent number: 6839252Abstract: A two-step ripple-free multi-phase buck converter and method thereof comprises a first-stage voltage regulator to convert an input voltage to an intermediate voltage and a second-stage voltage regulator with a phase number not less than two to further convert the intermediate voltage to an output voltage by a split phase control, in which the ratio of the intermediate voltage to the output voltage is intended to the phase number such that the steady state output current of the converter approaches to be ripple-free, and hence the drivers and MOSFETs for the second-stage voltage regulator are lower cost, the efficiency of the second-stage voltage regulator is improved, and a higher slew rate current is obtained for transient driving capabilities.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2003Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.Inventors: Liang-Pin Tai, Shwu-Liang Hsieh, Hung-I Wang, Jing-Meng Liu
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Publication number: 20040264222Abstract: A power supply for a device which has a load, comprising a first resonant generator and a second resonant generator, coupled in parallel, each generator having a phase output. The power supply further comprises a control circuit coupled to the first and second generators controlling the first and second phase outputs, wherein the first phase output and the second phase output are summed to provide a variable power supply to the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventor: Robert Beland
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Patent number: 6831845Abstract: The invention relates to a high-voltage transformer arrangement which converts to the direct current voltage from a direct current voltage source (2) into a direct current voltage output signal (Vout), using a current inverter (4) and a transformer (8) to an output rectifier (12), which is connected downstream, and a filter (14). The transformer (8) has a transformer core comprising several interruption points in the magnetic path, at which insulator sections are located. The individual core sections are controlled by potential. The separate transformer core sections together with their corresponding windings form a primary system and a secondary system, which is separated from said primary system both spatially and in terms of potential, having a relatively high stray inductance.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2002Date of Patent: December 14, 2004Assignee: Magnet-Motor Gesellschaft fur Magnetmotorische Technik mbHInventor: Jens Biebach
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Publication number: 20040233686Abstract: The present invention proposes a new structure for a high input VRM. This structure is similar to a simple buck converter and can simplify the 48V input VRM design. In this present invention, the interleaved voltage regulator is provided. The interleaved voltage regulator includes an integrated magnetic device for performing both transformer and output choke filter function, a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch, wherein the integrated magnetic device includes a transformer having a first primary winding, a second primary winding, a first secondary winding, and a second secondary winding, a first choke filter having one end coupled to a first terminal of the first secondary winding, and a second choke filter having one end coupled to a first terminal of the second secondary winding, and the other end of the second choke filter coupled to the other end of the first choke filter to form the output terminal of the isolated voltage regulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2003Publication date: November 25, 2004Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Wenhua Li, Zhongwei Ke, Guisong Huang, Alpha J. Zhang
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Publication number: 20040228153Abstract: This invention relates to new soft-switching techniques for minimizing switching losses and stress in power electronic circuits using inverter legs. By choosing the switching frequency with specific relationships with the resonant frequency of the power electronic circuits, the proposed switching technique enables the power electronic circuits to achieve soft switching under full load and short-circuit conditions at the defined frequencies for both capacitive and inductive loads. This technique can be applied to an electronic circuit with two switches connected in totem pole configuration between two dc voltage rails or commonly known as a power inverter leg or inverter arm. Examples of these circuits are class-D power converter, half-bridge power converters and full-bridge power converters or inverters. The proposed techniques allow inverter circuits with resistive, capacitive and inductive loads to achieve soft switching.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2003Publication date: November 18, 2004Inventors: Xiao Hong Cao, Shu-Yuen Ron Hui, Shu-Hung Henry Chung
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Patent number: 6813167Abstract: A multiplex connection inverter apparatus is provided having two separate inverters connected to each other for declining current ripples which may be generated when the superposing of the alternating current outputs with their carrier signal components held in phase with each other. The alternating current outputs of the two inverters are set opposite in the phase while their carrier signal components are in phase with each other. For connecting in parallel, the positive port of one of the two inverters is connected to the negative port of the other inverter to constitute one of two output terminals while the negative port of the one inverter is connected to the positive port of the other inverter to constitute the other output terminal. For connecting in series, the negative ports of the two inverters are connected to each other while the positive ports of the same are assigned as two output ports.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2002Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masashi Nakamura, Motohiro Shimizu
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Publication number: 20040208027Abstract: An inductive coupler comprises a first coil defining a first outer periphery and a second coil defining a second outer periphery. A metal member extends around the first and second outer peripheries of the first and second coils forming a conductive loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Inventors: Joseph F. Elek, Jeffrey G. Felty, Neil A. Kammiller, Dennis F. Knurek
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Publication number: 20040208028Abstract: A DC/DC converter includes first and second bridges comprising a plurality of switch elements and a plurality of coupling capacitors. Each coupling capacitor couples one of the switch elements of the first bridge to one of the switch elements of the second bridge. The first and second bridges are connected to a transformer comprising a first primary winding, a second primary winding, and a secondary winding. A coupled inductor comprises first and second inductors and is connected to the transformer so that the first and second primary windings are inductively coupled through the coupled inductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Inventors: Joseph F. Elek, Jeffrey G. Felty, Neil A. Kammiller, Dennis F. Knurek
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Patent number: 6806662Abstract: A programmable motor controller for receiving three-phase input power at an input power frequency and having a polarity is presented. The controller includes a primary chopper for reversing each phase of electrical power according to a reference frequency. Each primary chopper has a power input, a signal input, and an output. The power input is electrically connected in wye connection to each phase of power. A transformer for each phase of power has primary and secondary terminals and is connected electrically by its primary terminals to the output of the primary chopper. A secondary chopper for each phase of power is configured to reverse each phase or electrical power according to the reference frequency and phase shifted according to a second reference signal. The secondary chopper has an input connected electrically to the secondary terminals of the transformer in an output connected to a winding of a motor.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2003Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Douglas S. York
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Publication number: 20040196677Abstract: A cross current control system for multiple, parallel-coupled power converters includes common mode chokes, local cross current feedback controllers, and local converter controllers. Each common mode choke is coupled to a respective power converter. Each local cross current feedback controller is configured for receiving common mode cross currents from a respective local cross current detector, calculating a resultant cross current, and generating a local feedback control signal. Each local converter controller is configured for using a respective local feedback control signal to drive the respective power converter in accordance with a coordinated switching pattern. An integral choke assembly includes a common mode choke and a differential mode choke with common and differential mode choke cores configured with at least one magnetic flux path being shared by magnetic flux generated by common mode coils and differential mode coils.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2003Publication date: October 7, 2004Inventors: Richard S. Zhang, James Patrick Lyons, Luis Jose Garces, Xiaoming Yuan
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Patent number: 6801442Abstract: When islanding operation is to be detected in a power conversion apparatus for converting a DC power into an AC power and outputting the AC power to a system power supply, a plurality of variation generation systems for executing, in accordance with different schemes, detection of islanding operation in which power supply from the system power supply is stopped are arranged, and at least one variation generation systems is selected by selection system from the plurality of variation generation systems and operated.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2003Date of Patent: October 5, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaki Suzui, Nobuyoshi Takehara
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Patent number: 6778415Abstract: A controller for controlling at least two power circuits comprises a pulse generator and a selector. The pulse generator generates a first pulse signal which is coupled to a first power circuit of the at least two power circuits for initiating the operation of the first power circuit. The first power circuit then outputs a second pulse signal to a second power circuit of the at least two power circuits to initiate the operation of the second power circuit. The selector generates a reference signal which is coupled to each of the at least two power circuits for indicating a number of power circuits controlled. The controller is used to control energy supplying to an electrical circuit comprising multiple inverters and is more particularly to provide phase shifts to the electrical circuit. Usually, the electrical circuit is applied to display devices, such as liquid crystal display monitors, liquid crystal display computers and liquid crystal display televisions.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2003Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: O2Micro, Inc.Inventor: Yung-Lin Lin
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Patent number: 6771519Abstract: A power supply is described that comprises two or more flyback-type, DC-to-DC converters having substantially the same periods for their respective charge-discharge cycles; inputs from a common power source; outputs that are connected to a common output node and circuitry for controlling the charge-discharge cycles of the two or more converters so that the cycles of one converter is out of phase with respect to the charge-discharge cycles of at least one of the other converters.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2002Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Unison Industries, Inc.Inventors: John R. Frus, Michael J. Cochran
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Patent number: 6771138Abstract: A method of forming a power supply timing controller circuit (10, 80, 90) includes forming a bi-directional synchronization oscillator controller (11, 81, 91) to oscillate at an internal frequency. The bi-directional synchronization oscillator controller (11, 81, 91) receives an external sync signal, suspends the oscillation, begins operating at the forced frequency of the external sync signal, and begins a delay period. If another external sync signal is not received before the end of the delay period, the controller resets and once again begins oscillating at the internal frequency.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2003Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Semiconductor Component Industries, L.L.C.Inventors: Jeffrey Dumas, Benjamin M. Rice
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Patent number: 6771522Abstract: An inverter includes a DC power supply circuit, an inverter circuit having a plurality of switching elements and switching an output of the DC power supply circuit on the basis of a PWM signal to deliver a high-frequency voltage, a filter circuit converting the high-frequency voltage to a substantially sinusoidal AC voltage, a power detector detecting an effective or wattless power of the AC power, a phase angle calculator calculating a phase angle of current relative to voltage from the detected effective or wattless power, a phase detector detecting a leading or lagging state of the phase angle, and a controller decreasing a frequency of the output voltage when the phase detector detects the leading state of the phase angle, the controller increasing the frequency of the output voltage when the phase detector detects the lagging state of the phase angle.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2003Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Sawafuji Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidetake Hayashi, Hitoshi Takimoto, Touru Yoshioka
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Publication number: 20040136214Abstract: A parallel inverter system includes a plurality of inverters of an instantaneous voltage control type, an output bus, an active power bus, a phase bus, and controlling devices. The output bus is used for connecting outputs of said plurality of inverters to a load. The active power bus is connected to the plurality of inverters so as to provide an active power sharing reference. The phase bus is connected to the plurality of inverters so as to provide a system phase reference. And, controlling devices control sinusoidal wave references of inverters to have the same phase, the reactive power, and the active power responsive to the active power sharing reference and the system phase reference. The related methods are also discussed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Applicant: Delta Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Jingtao Tan, Jianping Ying, Hua Lin
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Patent number: 6757184Abstract: A power converter with high efficiency, low component count, and high step down conversion capability. The converter has a full bridge circuit connected to a pair of buck output circuits. The full bridge circuit and buck circuits are not isolated. In one embodiment, a transformer is connected between the full bridge and buck circuits without providing isolation. In operation, the transformer is operated as an autotransformer, which results in reduced voltages and currents applied to the switches. As a result, the present invention is capable of reduced switching losses, lower output voltage and other benefits. The present invention also includes an embodiment having coupled inductors instead of a transformer. Also, the present invention includes embodiments having additional parallel buck output circuits for higher power and higher current capability.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2003Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.Inventors: Jia Wei, Fred C. Lee
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Patent number: 6754090Abstract: A power supply apparatus for use in electroplating includes an input-side rectifier (32). A rectifier output is converted into high-frequency signals in inverters (38a, 38b), which are transformed in transformers (48a, 48b). When the transformed high-frequency signals from the transformers are of positive polarity, they are rectified by a diode (50a or 50b) to cause a positive current to be supplied to a load (60). When the transformed high-frequency signals are of negative polarity, they are rectified by a diode (50c or 50d) to thereby cause a negative current to flow through the load. A first IGBT (54a) is connected in series with each of the diodes (50a, 50b) and is rendered conductive and nonconductive at a frequency lower than the high-frequency signal. Also, a second IGBT (54b) is connected in series with each of the diodes (50c and 50d) and is rendered nonconductive when the IGBT and nonconductive at the lower frequency.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2002Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Sansha Electric Manufacturing Company, LimitedInventors: Toru Arai, Makoto Sakurada, Yoshiyuki Nishioka
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Patent number: 6751107Abstract: A DC power supply device includes transformers that operate with an enhanced efficiency and can reduce the factors that generate ripples in the output voltage to make it possible to downsize the transformers and the smoothing filters of the device, reduce the loss attributable to the switching elements during its constant power output operation and also downsize the heat sink fins so that the overall dimensions of the power supply device may be reduced. The DC power supply device also comprises a pair of switching changers, two output transformers and two rectifying/smoothing sections for rectifying the respective outputs of the switching changers. Each of the two switching changers has the same switching cycle period and the striking phases of the switching elements of one of the switching changers and those of the switching elements of the other switching changer are made variable.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2002Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiaki Matsuda, Shinya Ofuji
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Patent number: 6751106Abstract: A cross current control system for multiple, parallel-coupled power converters includes common mode chokes, local cross current feedback controllers, and local converter controllers. Each common mode choke is coupled to a respective power converter. Each local cross current feedback controller is configured for receiving common mode cross currents from a respective local cross current detector, calculating a resultant cross current, and generating a local feedback control signal. Each local converter controller is configured for using a respective local feedback control signal to drive the respective power converter in accordance with a coordinated switching pattern. An integral choke assembly includes a common mode choke and a differential mode choke with common and differential mode choke cores configured with at least one magnetic flux path being shared by magnetic flux generated by common mode coils and differential mode coils.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2002Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard S. Zhang, James Patrick Lyons, Luis Jose Garces, Xiaoming Yuan
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Patent number: 6744647Abstract: A power converter apparatus includes an input port and an output port. First and second inductors are coupled to the output port. A first switching circuit is coupled to the input port and the first inductor. The first switching circuit is operative to repetitively perform a cycle including a first state in which the first switching circuit couples the first inductor to the input port such that energy is transferred from the input port to the first inductor, a second state in which the first switching circuit short circuits the first inductor, and a third state in which the first switching circuit decouples the first inductor such that energy is transferred from the first inductor to the output port. A second switching circuit is coupled to the input port and the second inductor and implements a similar cycle. The second switching circuit may operate such that the first and second states of the second switching circuit substantially coincide with the third state of the first switching circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2002Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Lambda Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Isaac Cohen
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Patent number: 6741483Abstract: A power amplifier system capable of operation with paralleled power amplifiers includes a circulating current sensing device. The circulating current sensing device decouples the outputs of the paralleled power amplifiers and passively minimizes unbalanced power output of the paralleled amplifiers. In addition, the circulating current sensing device provides the capability to measure circulating current. The measured circulating current may be used in a negative feedback circulating current control to actively minimize unbalanced power output of the paralleled power amplifiers.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2002Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: Harman International Industries, IncorporatedInventor: Gerald R. Stanley
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Patent number: 6738275Abstract: A power supply for a device which has a load, comprising a first resonant generator and a second resonant generator, coupled in parallel, each generator having a phase output. The power supply further comprises a control circuit coupled to the first and second generators controlling the first and second phase outputs, wherein the first phase output and the second phase output are summed to provide a variable power supply to the load.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2000Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Electromed Internationale Ltee.Inventor: Robert Beland
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Patent number: 6713898Abstract: A configuration of a thyristor stack is provided. The stack includes thyristors, electrically conductive bars, and reactors that are mounted around the electrically conductive. Heat sinks may be included in the thyristor stack to assist in heat dissipation, although they may not be necessary. A method for constructing a thyristor stack is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2001Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, Brian Mathew Hamill, John Wilbur Cannon
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Method and system for providing a DC voltage with low ripple by overlaying a plurality of AC signals
Patent number: 6697266Abstract: An AC-DC converter that includes a plurality of power conversion units that overlay their signals to generate a DC signal with low voltage level, small voltage and current ripples, but high DC current. The DC signal is further filtered by a LC low pass filter to further minimize the ripples before output to the load. In one embodiment, the plurality of power conversion units is preferably powered by a plurality of input pulse generators. In an alternative embodiment, the power conversion units is powered by a input pulse generator circuit that includes a plurality of n-channel MOSFETs arranged in a full bridge configuration whose gate voltages are controlled by a plurality of pulse generators.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: University of Hong KongInventors: Franki Ngai Kit Poon, Man Hay Pong, Joe Chui Pong Liu -
Patent number: 6697271Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention comprises a multi-level PWM inverter that is constructed by cascading multi-level H-bridge inverters and providing different voltage inputs to the multi-level H-bridges. The values of the voltages, or the ratios of the voltages, are selected in order to provide an increased number of output levels. In the cascaded arrangement, at least one of the multi-level H-bridge inverters has more than three levels. Preferably, at least one of the multi-level H-bridge inverters is a 5-level inverter. According to one aspect of the invention, the cascaded arrangement may use a primary 5-level H-bridge with at least one 3-level H-bridge (referred to as a “5/3H” arrangement). This arrangement can provide up to fifteen output levels if regenerative voltage sources are used, and up to eleven output levels if a non-regenerative voltage sources are used.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2001Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventor: Keith Allen Corzine
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Publication number: 20040032755Abstract: A method in connection with converter bridges connected in parallel, whereby the converter bridges are directly connected in parallel and the converter bridges are controlled independently on the basis of control variables, the method comprising the steps of controlling the converter bridges to produce an output switching vector on the basis of the control variables, determining the magnitude of a common-mode current component of the converter bridges, and selecting a zero vector to be used during control as a switching vector on the basis of the sign of the common-mode current component to minimize common-mode current of the converter bridges.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2003Publication date: February 19, 2004Inventors: Riku Pollanen, Antti Tarkiainen
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Patent number: 6693809Abstract: A device for equal-rated parallel operation of at least two inductively coupled inverters without additional synchronisation and/or communication lines is described. Each inverter is provided respectively with a control circuit which is intended to control its output voltage, to which control circuit a reference voltage (uref) is supplied as desired voltage, the frequency (f) of which is derived from the active power (P) taking into account preselected frequency statics and the amplitude (|u|) of said reference voltage being derived from the reactive power (Q) of the relevant inverter (1, 2) taking into account preselected voltage statics. According to the invention a value for the phase (&phgr;) of the reference voltage (uref) is also derived from the active power (P) taking into account a preselected weighting coefficient (St1′) by which oscillations and build-ups of the active power components can be avoided.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2002Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Institut fuer Solare Energieversorgungstechnik (ISET) Verein an der Universitaet Gesamthochschule Kassel e.V.Inventor: Alfred Engler
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Patent number: 6690585Abstract: A bi-directional DC-to-DC power converter is provided. The power converter has three modes of operation: (1) a step-down mode, in which the power converter converts power in a first direction (such as from a high-voltage power bus to a low-voltage power bus), and (2) a step-up mode, in which the power converter converts power in the opposite direction (such as from the low-voltage power bus to the high-voltage power bus), and (3) an off mode, in which no power is transferred. A single power converter may therefore be used to replace both a conventional step-down converter and a conventional step-up converter. The power converter may provide a battery charge-control functionality, and may be used to charge a battery that may, for example, provide a source of power to a component of an electrical device.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2002Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: OQO, Inc.Inventor: Jonathan Betts-LaCroix
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Patent number: 6690588Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for a direct conversion programmable power source controller. The invention uses a sampling rate optimized for a transformer used to isolate or to step up or step down the power. The power is sampled at the source frequency and that sampling is phase-angle modulated according to a modulating signal at a frequency representing the sum of the frequencies of the power source and the desired output. After passing the power through the transformer, the invention then again chops that power to produce a multiplication of the power sinusoid with the modulation sinusoid. The output is filtered to integrate the waveform and fed to a load in delta. Between any two terminals of the delta connection, the output voltage presents as a well-formed sinusoid of controlled amplitude and frequency.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2002Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Douglas S. York
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Publication number: 20040017689Abstract: A cross current control system for multiple, parallel-coupled power converters includes common mode chokes, local cross current feedback controllers, and local converter controllers. Each common mode choke is coupled to a respective power converter. Each local cross current feedback controller is configured for receiving common mode cross currents from a respective local cross current detector, calculating a resultant cross current, and generating a local feedback control signal. Each local converter controller is configured for using a respective local feedback control signal to drive the respective power converter in accordance with a coordinated switching pattern. An integral choke assembly includes a common mode choke and a differential mode choke with common and differential mode choke cores configured with at least one magnetic flux path being shared by magnetic flux generated by common mode coils and differential mode coils.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2002Publication date: January 29, 2004Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard S. Zhang, James Patrick Lyons, Luis Jose Garces, Xiaoming Yuan
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Patent number: 6680856Abstract: A power converter circuit for wind power devices which feed into a high-voltage grid consisting of a power converter circuit arrangement to transform the variable frequency and variable voltage alternating current generated in the AC voltage generator into DC. The DC is chopped to again produce AC but with a fixed frequency and voltage. The power converter consists of a cascaded serial arrangement of several power converter cells. The power converter cells are made dynamically active or inactive by the master control unit, depending on the power being generated by the AC voltage generator. Each phase of each power converter cell supplies a primary winding of an output transformer.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2002Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: Semikron Elektronik GmbHInventor: Dejan Schreiber