For Plural Phase To D.c. Rectifier Patents (Class 363/87)
  • Patent number: 11463014
    Abstract: A power supply circuit includes a matrix converter that converts a first to third input alternating current (AC) phases into a single primary phase, a transformer including a primary side electrically connected to the single primary phase, a rectifier electrically connected to a secondary side of the transformer, and an output voltage terminal electrically connected to the rectifier. The matrix converter includes first through sixth bi-directional switch pairs, and each of the first through sixth bi-directional switch pairs includes first and second uni-directional switches. When the third input AC phase is disconnected or short circuited, the second and the fifth bi-directional switch pairs are turned off, and, in each of the first, third, fourth, and sixth bi-directional switch pairs, one of the first and second uni-directional switches are turned on and the other of the second and first uni-directional switches are operated as a full-bridge phase-shifted converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jahangir Afsharian, Bing Gong, Dewei Xu
  • Patent number: 11054485
    Abstract: A power supply monitoring apparatus includes dual supply path controllers. The controllers continuously test the power supply and the supply paths by alternating power states and monitoring the response from the supply path. If an interruption in normal operation is sensed in one supply path, information regarding the abnormality can be sent to the other controller, thereby allowing for continued operation and monitoring despite the failure of a supply path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Takanori Ito
  • Patent number: 11031804
    Abstract: One example discloses a power controller for a power device, wherein the power device includes a normal state, the power controller having: an input configured to receive fault detection signals attributable to the power device; an output configured to be coupled to the power device; and wherein the power controller is configured to send a state change signal over the output to change the normal state of the power device to a first fault state for a first time period in response to a first fault detection signal; and wherein the power controller is configured to send a state change signal over the output to change the first fault state of the power device to a second fault state for a second time period in response to a second fault detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Jacobus Eduardus Henricus Maria Peeters, Peter Theodorus Johannes Degen
  • Patent number: 9912249
    Abstract: A rectifying circuit including: between a first terminal of application of an AC voltage and a first rectified voltage delivery terminal, at least one first diode; and between a second terminal of application of the AC voltage and a second rectified voltage delivery terminal, at least one first anode-gate thyristor, the anode of the first thyristor being connected to the second rectified voltage delivery terminal; and at least one first stage for controlling the first thyristor, including: a first transistor coupling the thyristor gate to a terminal of delivery of a potential which is negative with respect to the potential of the second rectified voltage delivery terminal; and a second transistor connecting a control terminal of the first transistor to a terminal for delivering a potential which is positive with respect to the potential of the second rectified voltage delivery terminal, the anode of the first thyristor being connected to the common potential of voltages defined by said positive and negative p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (TOURS) SAS
    Inventors: Ghafour Benabdelaziz, Laurent Gonthier
  • Patent number: 9784813
    Abstract: A relay (20) receives a battery information acquisition time from each battery module (10) and calculates measurement time differential information ?t, that is, a time difference between the battery information acquisition time as a reference and the battery information acquisition time of another battery module (10) among the received battery information acquisition times, for each battery module (10). A measurement time correction unit (115) of each battery module (10) corrects a measurement time by the measurement time differential information ?t, using the measurement time differential information ?t received from the relay (20) to adjust the battery information acquisition time of each battery module (10) to the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Takeda, Kouichi Yokoura
  • Patent number: 9577430
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic device, which includes an external power supply unit configured to receive power from an external power source and an auxiliary power storage unit configured to be charged upon receiving the power from the external power supply unit and store the power. The electronic device further includes a first switching element connected to the external power supply unit and the auxiliary power storage unit, the first switching element configured to select any one of the external power supply unit and the auxiliary power storage unit as a power source, a power information receiver configured to receive power information including at least one of electric rate information and power demand information, and a controller configured to control the first switching element based on the power information received from the power information receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Haesoo Lee, Jaehong Kim
  • Patent number: 9509364
    Abstract: An integrated antenna unit, including an extra-wideband antenna, a docking station, and an integrated, field replaceable remote radio unit that electrically couples to the docking station. The docking station may be configured to receive a removable transmission circuit that that electrically couples the remote radio unit and the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Amphenol Antenna Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy Ho, Jeffrey Sierzenga, Chengcheng Tang, Eric B. Berry, Jeffrey J. Liu
  • Patent number: 9287764
    Abstract: The invention concerns energy delivery system and method for a gate drive unit controlling a thyristor-based valve (19). The system comprises at least one current transformer (22) located in the main current path of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Marek Furyk, Roman Raubo, John Schwartzenberg
  • Patent number: 9172240
    Abstract: An electric rotating machine for a vehicle is equipped with a load dump protector. The load dump protector works to selectively perform a first and a second load dump protection operation to suppress a voltage surge arising from the load dump. When a rate at which an output voltage from the electric rotating machine is determined to be smaller than a given value, the load dump protector waits for stating the first load dump protection operation until the time when a voltage surge arising from changing of switching devices of a rectifier module of the electric rotating machine is expected to be suppressed and then performs the first load dump protection operation. When the rate is greater than the given value, the load dump protector immediately initiates the second load dump protection operation. This ensures the stability in eliminating the risk of a voltage surge arising from the load dump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshinori Maruyama, Takatoshi Inokuchi, Asaka Kimura, Masaya Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9154052
    Abstract: A power inverter circuit 1 is a bridge power inverter circuit comprising first and second switching elements 11, 12 sequentially connected in series between input terminals on higher and lower voltage sides and third and fourth switching elements 13, 14 sequentially connected in series between the input terminals on the higher and lower voltage sides and alternately turning on a set of the first and fourth switching elements 11, 14 and a set of the second and third switching elements 12, 14 so as to convert a DC power fed between the input terminals on the higher and lower voltage sides into an AC power. One of the sets of the first and third switching elements 11, 13 and the second and fourth switching elements 12, 14 is subjected to switching control at a frequency higher than that of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., National University Corporation TOYOHASHI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Fujikawa, Satoshi Hatsukawa, Nobuo Shiga, Takashi Ohira
  • Patent number: 9077261
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission system includes: a power transmitting section that converts DC energy input from a DC energy source into AC energy of a frequency f0; a transmitting antenna; and a receiving antenna. The power transmitting section includes: a class-E oscillator circuit including a switching element and a capacitor which are connected in parallel to the DC energy source, for converting the DC energy into the AC energy; and a switching control section that inputs a control signal for controlling a conduction state of the switching element to the switching element. The switching control section switches the switching element from a non-conductive state to a conductive state when a preset time period has elapsed or when a potential difference across the switching element takes a local minimum value after the switching element is switched from the conductive state to the non-conductive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9071159
    Abstract: A power converter includes a power converter section (4) (e.g., an inverter circuit) having a plurality of switching elements (Sp, Sn) in which a current can flow in a reverse direction, and a control section (10) which determines on-state time of each of the switching elements (Sp, Sn) according to an output voltage of the power converter section (4), thereby switching on/off states of the switching elements (Sp, Sn). The control section (10) instructs the power converter section (4) to perform synchronous rectification, and corrects the on-state time according to a drop of an on-state voltage of each of the switching elements (Sp, Sn).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Morimitsu Sekimoto
  • Patent number: 9019734
    Abstract: A gate firing phase shift delay line technique is described for use in DC motor drive systems and is easily adaptable for controlling a plurality of electronically coupled power modules. A drive regulator is configured to produce a master gate firing timing signal for controlling the gate firing pattern of switching devices for a first power module. One or more delay blocks are configured to generate slave gate firing timing signals that are phase locked and identical but delayed in time with respect to the master signal. Each additional delay block is coupled to an additional power module having a set of switching devices controllable by the slave signals. The current output of each power module is summed via summing circuitry to deliver an output suitable to drive motors or other electrical loads in high power applications. The power modules can also be connected in series to combine (sum) the voltages for delivery to an electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph V. Kreinbrink
  • Patent number: 8902621
    Abstract: A power supply device that is able to switch between rectifier circuits in accordance with the voltage of a multi-phase AC power supply, and able to accommodate different power supply voltages. The power supply device has rectifier circuits that include a first circuit that rectifies a line voltage of the AC power supply, converting it into a direct current voltage of a first predetermined value, when the voltage of the AC power supply is a predetermined value or less, and a second circuit that rectifies a phase voltage of the AC power supply, converting it into a direct current voltage of a second predetermined value, when the voltage of the alternating current power supply exceeds the predetermined value. The first and second circuits operate in such a way that the AC input current is of the same phase as the voltage of the AC power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuji Yamada, Kazuaki Mino
  • Patent number: 8848403
    Abstract: A compensating system for a power system includes a compensator including semiconductor switch means, which compensator has phase legs which on a first side of the compensator defines AC inputs for connection to a respective phase of the power system. The phase legs are connected in wye connection at a second side of the compensator, which wye connection has a neutral point. A filter arrangement at a first side thereof is connected to the neutral point of the wye connection and at a second side is connected to the AC inputs to thereby form a circuit with the compensator. The filter arrangement is arranged such that the circuit acts essentially as an open circuit for positive sequence currents or voltages and negative sequence currents or voltages, and as a closed circuit for zero-sequence currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Hasler
  • Patent number: 8848406
    Abstract: A method and a single-phase voltage type AC/DC converting device and a three-phase voltage type AC/DC converting device arranged between a load and a distribution network. The converting devices are capable of contributing to stabilize a system frequency and a system voltage. By applying an autonomous parallel operation control technique of an AC/DC converter to a load, which receives power from a distribution network, drooping characteristics (governor-free characteristics) for a frequency of active power and voltage-maintaining characteristics (V-Q characteristics) may be obtained. The governor-free characteristics automatically decrease and increase received power when the system frequency decreases and increases, so that even the load may contribute to stabilize the system frequency. The V-Q characteristics generates/absorbs reactive power so as to maintain a voltage at a receiving end constant regardless of load power to further stabilize the system voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Origin Electric Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masaaki Ohshima, Shuichi Ushiki, Yasuhiro Genjima, Kiyomi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8482948
    Abstract: A two-phase critical interleave PFC boost converter, includes a master-side control circuit configured to critically control a first switching element based on a master signal; and a slave-side control circuit configured to critically control a second switching element based on a slave-signal with a phase difference of 180° from the master signal. In the PFC boost converter, an off period generator of the master-side control circuit feeds an M_ON signal which is the same in waveform as the master signal to an on phase controller of the slave-side control circuit, and the slave-side control circuit determines the rising timing of the slave signal from the rising time of the master signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jian Chen
  • Patent number: 8416595
    Abstract: An arrangement for exchanging power, in shunt connection, with a three-phase electric power network includes a Voltage Source Converter having at least three phase legs with each a series connection of switching cells. Each switching cell has at least two semiconductor assemblies connected in series and having each a semiconductor device of turn-off- type and a rectifying element connected in anti-parallel therewith and at least one energy storing capacitor. A control unit is configured to control the semiconductor devices of each switching cell and to deliver a voltage across the terminals thereof being zero or U, in which U is the voltage across the capacitor. The control unit is also configured to calculate a value for amplitude and phase position for a second negative sequence-current or a zero-sequence voltage or a value of a dc current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Hasler
  • Patent number: 8400797
    Abstract: A power conversion system with zero-voltage start-up mechanism and a zero-voltage start-up device are disclosed. The system includes a power conversion circuit, a power factor correction unit, a storage capacitor, a storage switching unit, and a zero-voltage detection module. The storage switching unit is serially connected with the storage capacitor, and particularly controlled by the zero-voltage detection module. The zero-voltage detection module detects a timing as an input voltage is at low level, and then outputs a control signal to turn on the storage switching unit. Therefore, the present invention assures that the power conversion system is turned on when the input voltage is at the low level, in order to suppress the system from a surge current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Lien Chang Electronic Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Kong Chan, Hsi-Yuan Tsai
  • Patent number: 8288958
    Abstract: A controller device and corresponding method for modifying an AC input power to provide a reduced power AC output power to a load when coupled to the controller device. The AC output power has a series of cut-out pulses in half cycles of the AC output power waveform. The device includes a switching system having a plurality of switching elements for positioning the series of cut-out pulses in the half cycles of a waveform of the AC input power to result in said reduced power AC output power; and a switch control system for coordinating opening and closing of the plurality of switching elements during positioning of the series of cut-out pulses. The switch control system includes a synchronization system for synchronizing the switching system with timing of said half cycles of the AC input power waveform; wherein the series of cut-out pulses includes at least two cut-out pulses having different durations and different positioning in said half cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Vito Rinaldi
  • Patent number: 8279647
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein provide for a universal controller capable of controlling multiple types of three phase, two and three level power converters. The universal controller is capable of controlling the power converter in any quadrant of the PQ domain. The universal controller can include a region selection unit, an input selection unit, a reference signal source unit and a control core. The control core can be implemented using one-cycle control, average current mode control, current mode control or sliding mode control and the like. The controller can be configured to control different types of power converters by adjusting the reference signal source. Also provided are multiple modulation methods for controlling the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Taotao Jin, Keyue Smedley
  • Patent number: 8270188
    Abstract: Systems and methods for efficient three-phase auxiliary power supply for low power applications are disclosed herein. The system includes a capacitor divider circuit that can leverage electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter capacitors utilized in a main power converter. Further, three low voltage capacitors, connected in a star configuration (for a three-phase four-wire input) or a delta connection (for a three-phase three-wire input), can be utilized in the capacitor divider circuit. Additionally or alternatively, multiple high voltage capacitors can be paralleled. The capacitor divider circuit generates a low voltage alternate current (AC) signal that can be converted to a corresponding low voltage direct current (DC) signal by employing a rectifier circuit. Due to the three-phase input, the output DC signal has a very low output ripple voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Sangsun Kim
  • Patent number: 8159180
    Abstract: A battery charging device of the present invention has a rectifier portion that is formed by switching elements, and performs advance angle/delay angle control. An advance angle/delay angle amount in the advance angle/delay angle control is determined based on a differential voltage between the voltage of a battery and a predetermined target voltage. In this case, when a determined delay angle amount exceeds a delay angle limit value, delay angle control is performed using the delay angle limit value. Moreover, the power generation amount of an alternating current generator is detected, and the delay angle amount and power generation amount are stored. If the current delay angle amount is greater than the previous delay angle amount, and the previous power generation amount is greater than the current power generation amount, then the previous delay angle amount is set as the delay angle limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignees: Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidenori Suzuki, Tatsuya Arai, Takeshi Yanagisawa, Atsuo Ota
  • Patent number: 8159179
    Abstract: In the battery charging device of the present invention, a U, V, W phase voltage generating circuit detects a voltage signal of a U phase sub-coil of a three-phase alternating current generator, and generates a signal of a triangular wave that is in synchronization with the U phase. Moreover, a first triangular wave is generated in synchronization with a phase from 0° to 180° of the U phase rectangular wave, and a second triangular wave is generated in synchronization with a phase from 180° to 360° of the U phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignees: Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidenori Suzuki, Tatsuya Arai, Takeshi Yanagisawa, Atsuo Ota
  • Patent number: 8154895
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting three phase AC voltages on first, second and third input lines to DC voltage across positive and negative DC buses, the apparatus comprising a rectifier including first, second and third rectifier legs, each leg including a switch and a diode wherein the switch is linked between the positive DC bus and an cathode of the diode, an anode of the diode is linked to the negative DC rail and the first, second and third diode cathodes are linked to the first, second and third input lines, respectively, a DC bus voltage sensor linked to the positive DC bus and measuring the DC bus voltage to generate a measured DC bus voltage and a rectifier controller that receives the measured DC bus voltage, a reference voltage value and the three phase AC voltages wherein, when the measured DC bus voltage is at least equal to the reference voltage value, the controller turns on the switches in the first, second and third rectifier legs when the voltages on the first, second and third input li
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Patrick Gilmore
  • 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: 7796411
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein provide for a universal controller capable of controlling multiple types of three phase, two and three level power converters. The universal controller is capable of controlling the power converter in any quadrant of the PQ domain. The universal controller can include a region selection unit, an input selection unit, a reference signal source unit and a control core. The control core can be implemented using one-cycle control, average current mode control, current mode control or sliding mode control and the like. The controller can be configured to control different types of power converters by adjusting the reference signal source. Also provided are multiple modulation methods for controlling the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Taotao Jin, Keyue Smedley
  • Patent number: 7778052
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the operation of a converter circuit, wherein the converter circuit has a converter unit having a multiplicity of actuatable power semiconductor switches and an LCL filter which is connected to each phase connection of the converter unit, in which the actuatable power semiconductor switches are actuated by means of an actuation signal (S) formed from a hysteresis active power value (dP), from a hysteresis reactive power value (dQ) and from a selected flux sector (?n). The hysteresis active power value (dP) is formed from a differential active power value (Pdiff). In addition, the hysteresis reactive power value (dQ) is formed from a differential reactive power value (Qdiff). An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Leonardo Serpa, Srinivas Ponnaluri
  • Patent number: 7729145
    Abstract: A power converter that converts an AC power outputted from a generator into a DC power and supplies it to a battery (load). The power converter includes a thyristor (switch unit) connected between an output unit of the generator and the battery (load); and a gate control unit (control unit) for generating a triangle wave voltage having a constant peak voltage corresponding to each cycle of the AC power outputted from the generator, generating a differential voltage between the voltage supplied to the load via the switch unit and a predetermined target voltage, and controlling the conductive state of the switch unit based on the triangle wave voltage and the differential voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toyotaka Takashima
  • Publication number: 20100067269
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply (“UPS”) has a phase-controlled rectifier coupled to a source of AC power and having an output providing a DC bus, the output of the phase-controlled rectifier coupled to an inverter. A first controller generates a firing angle for the rectifier and a fuzzy logic controller generates a firing angle for the rectifier. In an aspect, the rectifier is controlled by the firing angle generated by the first controller during normal operating conditions of the UPS and the rectifier is controlled by the firing angle generated by the fuzzy logic controller during abnormal operating conditions of the UPS. The abnormal operating conditions can include loss of a direct DC bus voltage measurement and or a period of time after the UPS experiences a large load change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. Heber, Xian Chen, Paul Taylor
  • Publication number: 20090303764
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein provide for a universal controller capable of controlling multiple types of three phase, two and three level power converters. The universal controller is capable of controlling the power converter in any quadrant of the PQ domain. The universal controller can include a region selection unit, an input selection unit, a reference signal source unit and a control core. The control core can be implemented using one-cycle control, average current mode control, current mode control or sliding mode control and the like. The controller can be configured to control different types of power converters by adjusting the reference signal source. Also provided are multiple modulation methods for controlling the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Taotao Jin, Keyue Smedley
  • Patent number: 7586767
    Abstract: A limit-cycle oscillation (LCO) based switch-mode power supply (SMPS) response evaluation provides an effective mechanism for determining the characteristic response of an SMPS during normal operation of the SMPS. LCOs are induced in the SMPS loop by introducing a non-linearity in the loop, for example, decreasing the resolution of a pulse-width modulator that controls the SMPS switching circuit. The frequency and amplitude of the LCOs are determined and used to evaluate the characteristic response of the SMPS. In order to produce symmetric LCOs, which are more easily modeled, a zero-offset calibration circuit adjusts values provided to the pulse-width modulator, so that each value introduced during calibration is at the midpoint of a resolution cell. The frequency can be measured by counting between zero-crossings of the LCOs and the amplitude measured by capturing the LCO values immediately prior to each zero-crossing of a first difference of the LCO samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Inventors: Aleksandar Prodic, Zhenyu Zhao
  • Patent number: 7495940
    Abstract: A device that includes an active rectifier (14) having control gates controllable to produce an output voltage on a DC bus (20), a gate control circuit (16) for producing gate control signals for controlling the active rectifier control gates, a first circuit (18) connected to the gate control circuit (16) and producing a command current magnitude signal and a power factor signal for use by the gate control circuit (16), a current line (30) providing a current related to the DC load current to the first circuit (16), and a voltage line (32) providing a voltage related to the DC bus voltage to the first circuit (16), the first circuit (16) including a peak detector (64) detecting current peaks on the DC bus (20), a command current magnitude signal generator (34) commanding a current as a function of the detected peaks, and a power factor controller (33, 40) varying the power factor signal (42) to control the voltage on the DC bus (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Louis Cheng
  • Patent number: 7474081
    Abstract: An apparatus having a rectifier topology for use on a three-phase electrical system is disclosed. The apparatus includes an input filter at each phase, a rectifier set at each phase in power communication with and downstream of each respective input filter, and a separate and independent booster section at each phase in power communication with and downstream of each respective rectifier set. Each booster section comprises two switches, thereby providing a six-switch three-level discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) boost rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Silvio Colombi, Claudio Balbiano, Lauro Strozzi
  • Patent number: 7471529
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein provide for a universal controller capable of controlling multiple types of three phase, two and three level power converters. The universal controller is capable of controlling the power converter in any quadrant of the PQ domain. The universal controller can include a region selection unit, an input selection unit, a reference signal source unit and a control core. The control core can be implemented using one-cycle control, average current mode control, current mode control or sliding mode control and the like. The controller can be configured to control different types of power converters by adjusting the reference signal source. Also provided are multiple modulation methods for controlling the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Taotao Jin, Keyue Smedley
  • Patent number: 7466086
    Abstract: A motor drive unit comprises a DC power source, a plurality of inverter circuits for converting the a power of this DC power source to an AC power, current detectors for detecting an output current of at least one of those plurality of inverter circuits and a controller for performing PWM control of those plurality of inverter circuits. This controller is constructed in a way to synchronize a PWM period of the plurality of inverter circuits, so as to drive a plurality of motors at once by means of those plurality of inverter circuits respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuyuki Kiuchi, Sadayuki Tamae, Hisashi Hagiwara, Masahiro Suzuki, Shuichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 7447051
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of power conversion systems and methods employing synchronous multi-phase AC-to-DC conversion. In one embodiment, a power converter comprises a transistor bridge and a switching controller that operates the transistor bridge in response to AC voltage threshold crossings. The switching controller may include a period counter to measure times between threshold crossings, and a delay counter to trigger a delayed state transition for the transistor bridge. One disclosed method embodiment comprises: receiving multiple phased alternating voltages; comparing each phased alternating voltage to a threshold; determining a period associated with voltage threshold crossings; triggering state transitions at some fraction of the period after each threshold crossing; and placing a transistor bridge into a configuration associated with a current state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Masino, Roger L. Schultz
  • Patent number: 7355865
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for altering converter control as a function of the degree of unbalance in supply line voltages to substantially eliminate second harmonics on the supply lines caused by active control of the converter including identifying supply line peak amplitude values and using the peak values to identify potential second harmonics and then altering command values as a function of the potential second harmonic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Robert John Breitzmann
  • Patent number: 7235891
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the operation of power conditioners (10) for supplying the generated power to an external power system such as a commercial power system, in which power conditioners (10) are interconnected to an external power system, the power conditioners (10) are interconnected through information exchange means, at least one of the power conditioners (10) monitors the reverse power flow, and the power conditioners (10) exchange the monitor information with information of the other power conditioners (10), thereby equalizing the outputs of all the power conditioners (10). A generator (42) has armature windings (60), and an inverter circuit (13) of the power conditioner (10) provided for each of the armature windings (60) is controlled by cable or radio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventors: Masayoshi Tokiwa, Shinji Hibi, Kotaro Nakamura, Masao Mabuchi, Nobuyuki Toyoura, Kenichi Inoue, Katsutaka Tanabe, Yasuyuki Okoba
  • Patent number: 7173834
    Abstract: A half-controlled silicon control rectifying system and method thereof are provided. In this case, the first detection unit detects the zero cross phase of the triphase AC in input port thereof. The second detection unit detects the voltage of the DC bus. Then the control unit controls the silicon-controlled rectifying unit by software. Therefore, the efficiency of soft actuation is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chui-Min Tai, Cheng-Te Chen
  • Patent number: 7012823
    Abstract: A method controls and monitors a parallel array of a plurality of rectifier bridges each of which is adapted to convert a plurality of alternating current voltages of a plurality of alternating current phases to a voltage. The bridges include a plurality of segments each of which has an element. Each of the elements of one bridge is electrically interconnected in parallel with at least one corresponding element of at least another one of the bridges. A plurality of control signals are output to repetitively fire the elements. Conduction or non-conduction of the elements is sensed. The method determines, for the elements of the bridges, if any of the elements of one bridge and all of the at least one corresponding element of at least another one of the bridges, which are electrically interconnected in parallel, have the sensed non-conduction. An alarm signal is output responsive to the sensed non-conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Irving A. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 6998735
    Abstract: A controlled rectifier bridge includes a plurality of segments each having an element responsive to a control signal, and an output having a voltage, a first current and a second current. Sensors provide sensed current values from first and second output currents from the bridge. A routine determines if the sensed current values are greater than a predetermined value. A regulator outputs the control signals to the segments in order to control current conduction within the segments. A routine determines if a circuit interrupter is open or if current is not flowing between bridge inputs and the corresponding alternating current phases. A routine disables the control signals to pairs of the segments when the sensed current values are greater than the predetermined value, and when the circuit interrupter is open or when current is not flowing between the inputs and the corresponding alternating current phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Irving A. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 6765425
    Abstract: A rectifying circuit and method to produce a DC output by rectifying a sinusoidal source having a plurality of output phase voltages and a plurality of phase-to-phase voltages, the rectifying circuit including a bridge circuit coupled to the output phase voltages, the bridge circuit having a plurality of switches; and a control circuit coupled to the output phase voltages and to the bridge circuit, the control circuit being configured to control the switches in accordance with respective absolute values of the phase-to-phase voltages; wherein the output phase voltages are rectified to produce the DC output. When the sinusoidal source is inductive, switch turn-off may be timed to provide synchronous rectification related to estimates of source periodicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Bertrand Vaysse
  • Patent number: 6704214
    Abstract: An excitation control system includes a circuit breaker, a bridge and a controller. The bridge converts AC phases from the breaker to an excitation voltage. The controller includes an output to open the breaker, a first sub-system inputting voltages corresponding to the AC phases and outputting a sensed voltage, and a second sub-system inputting the excitation voltage and outputting a sensed excitation voltage. A first function detects a trip signal and responsively outputs firing signals to the bridge to provide a negative excitation voltage. A second function determines if a threshold is greater than the sensed voltage and if the trip signal is asserted, and responsively asserts the output to open the breaker. A third function determines if the trip signal is asserted and responsively delays for a predetermined time, unless a negative threshold is greater than the sensed excitation voltage, and after the predetermined time responsively asserts the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Irving A. Gibbs, Charles R. Mummert
  • Patent number: 6594164
    Abstract: A power conversion device according to the invention of the present application includes: an active current controller that calculates a phase angle reference value for determining the ON/OFF phase with reference to the AC power source voltage phase, from the deviation of the input active current with respect to an active current reference value; and a fixed pulse pattern generator that controls the self-excited voltage type power converter by generating switching signals of fixed pulse pattern whose fundamental frequency is synchronized with the AC power source frequency, based on the phase angle reference value calculated by this active current controller. In this way, with the invention of the present application, the harmonic components contained in the AC input current can be reduced without raising the switching frequency of the PWM power conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kentaro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6535404
    Abstract: An AC/DC converter has an auxiliary control system which attenuates or suppresses an unwanted or non-characteristic harmonic component (such as a 3rd harmonic component) of voltage in an AC power system caused by operation of the converter. The converter comprises thyristors and is connected via transformer to the AC power system which comprises an AC or Thevenin e.m.f. source, an impedance, and busbars. The auxiliary control system is connected to a main control system of the AC/DC converter providing firing pulses for the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: John Desmond Ainsworth, Lorenzo Bottacchiari, Robert Stephen Whitehouse
  • Patent number: 6442051
    Abstract: A circuit is provided for use in a synchronous generator excitation system. The circuit comprises a three-phase bridge having six legs. The bridge is connected with an AC power supply. A thyristor is provided in each of the six legs, wherein the thyristors provide a path for a device current. A free wheeling diode functions as a de-excitation means connected in parallel with the three-phase bridge. The free wheeling diode provides a discharge path for a field current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael John Ryan, Mohammed Kassem Saleh, Rodney Alen Lawson, John Earl Bittner
  • Patent number: 6385066
    Abstract: A method and system for determining zero current level occurrences in a reversible power converter without requiring additional component complexity and costs. A digital controller selectively determines the line to line voltage for the most recently fired thyristor pair. The selected line to line voltage is identified as the bridge reconstruction voltage and is compared against the actual bridge output voltage for the conducting bridge. The difference between the two voltage signals is identified as the bridge error voltage and the sign of its magnitude is indicative of a load current zero level occurrence. A zero current level occurrence happens whenever the bridge error voltage drops below zero. This indication is positive and substantially instantaneous and safely enables the reversal of power flow without the risk of line faults due to cross-bridge short circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Luis Jose Garces, Vinod John, Peter Claudius Sanza, Paul Michael Szczesny
  • Patent number: 6366483
    Abstract: A PWM rectifier wherein the switching bridge has m input filter capacitors, each connected at a terminal thereof, to the line side of the bridge. These terminals are used to connect an m-phase a.c. power supply (m>=1) having a per phase system inductance to the bridge. A current smoothing inductor is connected to the load side of the bridge and enables a load to be connected thereto. A switching pattern generator controls the switches in the switching bridge based on a reference output current. A first control loop is provided for determining an active portion of the reference output current based on a desired power level of the load and an m-phase voltage at the capacitor terminals. A second control loop is provided for determining a reactive portion of the reference output current based on the m-phase voltage at the capacitor terminals. The reactive portion of the current is selected so as to obtain a desired per phase power factor, such as unity, on the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daming Ma, Bin Wu, Navid R. Zargari, Steven C. Rizzo
  • Patent number: 6320773
    Abstract: A ground power unit for providing dc power for aircraft includes a source of 3-phase ac power and a transformer/rectifier arrangement for converting 3-phase ac power to dc power. The transformer/rectifier arrangement includes an A-phase transformer formed by an A-phase magnetic member, an A-phase primary winding having first and second sides, and an A-phase secondary winding; a B-phase transformer formed by a B-phase magnetic member, a B-phase primary winding having first and second sides, and a B-phase secondary winding; and a C-phase transformer formed by a C-phase magnetic member, a C-phase primary winding having first and second sides, and a C-phase secondary winding. The A-phase primary winding first side is connected to receive A-phase power, the B-phase primary winding first side is connected to receive B-phase power, and the C-phase primary winding first side is connected to receive C-phase power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Urish, Jerome John Sirotnik, David Wayne Leadingham, Daniel Lee Downey