For Inverter Patents (Class 363/95)
  • Patent number: 8014177
    Abstract: A switching power supply exhibits high conversion efficiency and facilitates reducing the size thereof. The switching power supply includes a half-bridge circuit including a first series circuit formed of switching devices Q1 and Q2 and connected between the output terminals of a DC power supply; and a second series circuit connecting primary inductance Lr1 of transformer T1, primary inductance Lr2 of transformer T2 and capacitor Cr in series. The second series circuit is connected between the output terminals of the half-bridge circuit, and is made to conduct a series resonance operation. The switching devices Q1 and Q2 is controlled at the ON-duties of 0.5 for reducing the breakdown voltages of rectifying diodes D1 and D2 on the secondary side of transformers T1 and T2 and for improving the conversion efficiency of the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Device Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihiro Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7996124
    Abstract: In one aspect a method for controlling a fuel cell vehicle is provided, comprising generating a torque (TACCEL) calculated based or an accelerator pedal depression value upon completion of start-up of a fuel cell and entering a fuel cell only mode; performing a torque limit control for the torque (TACCEL) calculated based on the accelerator pedal depression value; performing charging from the fuel cell to a power storage means while the vehicle moves slowly by the torque limit control under the fuel cell only mode; and directly connecting the fuel cell to the power storage means by a main relay to enter a hybrid mode, when a voltage difference between the fuel cell and the power storage means is within a predetermined range. Preferred methods can protect the fuel cell, reduce the time for vehicle start-up and improve driving performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sang Uk Kwon, Soon Il Jeon
  • Patent number: 7990124
    Abstract: A power supply circuit for a motherboard includes a VRM, a first NMOS transistor, a second NMOS transistor, a first capacitor, a first induction coil, and a delay circuit. A gate of the first NMOS transistor is connected to a UGATE pin of the VRM. A source of the first NMOS transistor is connected to a BOOT pin of the VRM via the first capacitor and a PHASE pin of the VRM, and connected to an MCH on the motherboard via the first induction coil. A drain of the first NMOS transistor is connected to a system power. A gate of the second NMOS transistor is connected to an LGATE pin of the VRM. A source of the second NMOS transistor is grounded. A drain of the second NMOS transistor is connected to the source of the first NMOS transistor and the delay circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ke-You Hu
  • Publication number: 20110163669
    Abstract: A DC/AC inverter substrate includes a voltage abnormality detector circuit. All of a high voltage side detection sensor, a low voltage side detection sensor, and a high-voltage and low-voltage detection sensor in the voltage abnormality detector circuit are disposed without being electrically connected to a secondary side of a transformer or to a connection point. Those detection sensors are not damaged since overvoltage is not applied to the voltage abnormality detector circuit when abnormal discharge occurs because the detection sensors are not electrically connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: NEC LCD TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuuichi HASEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20110164440
    Abstract: A method is provided for preventing islanding of a power source connected to an electric AC grid via an interface. The method senses an output voltage waveform of the interface, controls an output current waveform of the interface to track a reference current waveform having a mathematical relationship with the sensed output voltage waveform, and discontinues the output current waveform when the output voltage waveform is sensed to be outside a predetermined waveform range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventor: Philip T. Krein
  • Patent number: 7965528
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a switching current of the power converter, wherein the apparatus includes a signal generation circuit, a sample-and-hold circuit, and a calculating circuit. The signal generation circuit generates a sample signal in accordance with the pulse width of a switching signal. The sample-and-hold circuit is coupled to receive the sample signal and switching current signal for generating a first current signal and a second current signal. The calculating circuit is coupled to receive the first current signal and the second current signal for generating output signals. The switching signal is used for switching the magnetic device of the power converter, and the switching current signal is correlated to the switching current of the power converter; the output signals are correlated to the value of the switching current of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: System General Corporation
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Chuh-Ching Li, Sheng-Fu Hsu, Li Lin, Jung-Sheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20110141778
    Abstract: A switch controller for switching power supply is coupled to an auxiliary winding of the switching power supply through a detecting resistor. The switch controller provides a detecting current passing through the detecting resistor for keeping the voltage level of a detecting signal transmitted by the detecting resistor higher than a predetermined voltage. In this way, the switch controller can avoid the latch-up phenomenon caused by receiving the detecting signal of the negative voltage level. In addition, the switch controller can detect the magnitude of an input voltage of the switching power supply by means of the detecting current, and accordingly control the operation of the switching power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Tsung-Hsiu Wu, Wen-Chung Yeh, Ming-Nan Chuang
  • Publication number: 20110141779
    Abstract: A boost inverter includes a first capacitor for connection in parallel with a dc supply voltage; a second capacitor connected in series with the first capacitor; an energy transfer path including a transfer capacitor and switches connected to the transfer capacitor for cyclically transferring energy from the first capacitor to the transfer capacitor and then from the transfer capacitor to the second capacitor; a multilevel inverter circuit connected in parallel with the series combination of the first and second capacitors, the inverter having at least one phase output for connection to an electric motor; and a PWM controller that activates the energy transfer path when a desired peak-to-peak output voltage exceeds the dc supply voltage and deactivates the energy transfer means when the desired peak-to-peak output voltage is less than the dc supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventor: Alan JOSEPH
  • Patent number: 7948194
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring current for a motor drive including at least high-side and low-side switching transistors includes a driver circuit for driving a gate of the low-side switching transistor. First circuitry measures a drain to source voltage across the low-side switching transistor and generates a voltage output responsive thereto. Second circuitry has a first state of operation that samples the voltage output of the first circuitry when the low-side switching transistor is turned on and has a second state of operation to sample the voltage output of the first circuitry when the low-side switching transistor is turned off. The second circuitry further generates a monitored output current responsive to the sampled voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Ralph Garcia
  • Patent number: 7944722
    Abstract: This invention relates to SMPS controllers employing primary side sensing. We describe a system for identifying a knee point in a sensing waveform, at which the output voltage of the SMPS may be sampled accurately on the primary side. The system identifies the knee point by fitting a tangent to a portion of a power transformer voltage waveform, and samples the voltage waveform at the knee point to determine the SMPS output voltage. In preferred embodiments this technique is implemented using a decaying peak detector, providing a timing signal indicating detection of the knee point. Sample/hold and error amplifier circuits may be employed to achieve output voltage regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Cambridge Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: David R. Coulson, Johan Piper, David M. Garner
  • Patent number: 7940539
    Abstract: Single-phase full bridge boost converter systems and methods are provided. One system includes a direct-quatrature (D-Q) control system configured to generate a control voltage (vcon) including direct-phase and quadrature-phase voltage components. The system also includes a comparator configured to compare vcon to a carrier waveform voltage, generate switching commands based on the comparison, and transmit the switching commands to a current switch. Another system includes a boost converter including multiple switches coupled to a load and an AC voltage source. The switches are configured to provide charging current to the load in response to receiving switching commands. A D-Q control system configured to receive and delay an ia value, and issue switching commands based on the ia and delayed ia value is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gholamreza Esmaili, Lateef A. Kajouke
  • Patent number: 7929327
    Abstract: A power converter system includes a power converter system including: a DC-to-AC power converter; a first output configured to be coupled to a power grid; a first input configured to be coupled to the power grid; second outputs each configured to be coupled to a corresponding AC load; a power-grid switch coupled to the converter and to the first output; load switches coupled to the converter, the second outputs, and the first input; and a controller coupled to the load switches and to the first output and configured to determine whether energy from the power grid satisfies at least one criterion, the controller being further configured to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to couple the converter to the first output and to couple the first input to the second outputs if the at least one criterion is satisfied and otherwise to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to isolate the converter from the first output and to couple the converter to at least one of the second outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Lance P. Haines, Vishwas M. Deokar
  • Patent number: 7911811
    Abstract: A switching power supply with the increased efficiency at light load has a switching power circuit, a power monitoring circuit and a light load power supplying circuit. The switching power circuit converts an AC power to a stable DC power and sends the DC power to a load according to voltage variation of the load. When the power monitoring circuit detects the AC power and determines that the load is in a light state, the power monitoring circuit controls the light load power supplying circuit to output a small-power DC to the load. As the DC power provided by the light load power supplying circuit is small, the switching loss ratio is lower in its light load state. Therefore, the operating efficiency at the light load state is higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Acbel Polytech Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Wheeler, Wei-Liang Lin
  • Publication number: 20110049990
    Abstract: The invention relates to a grid synchroniser for connecting an AC output of a power converter to the AC grid mains. In one aspect the invention provides a grid synchroniser comprising an inverter controller to control an AC output of the inverter, the controller including a receiver to receive grid data from a grid sensor location remote from said inverter. In another aspect we describe techniques for rapid removal of charge from a control terminal of a power switching device such as a MOSFET, IGBT or Thyristor using a particular driver circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: ENECSYS LIMITED
    Inventors: Gehan Anil Joseph Amaratunga, Lesley Chisenga, Andrabadu Viraj
  • Patent number: 7894222
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to limit the current in a switch of a switching power supply. An example switching regulator circuit includes a power switch to be coupled to an energy transfer element of a power supply. A controller to generate a drive signal is coupled to be received by the power switch to control the switching of the power switch. A short on time detector is included in the controller. The short on time detector is to detect an occurrence of a threshold number of one or more consecutive short on times of the switch. A frequency adjuster is also included in the controller and coupled to the short on time detector. The frequency adjuster is to adjust an oscillating frequency of an oscillator included in the controller in response to the short on time detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Andrew J. Morrish
  • Patent number: 7894224
    Abstract: A voltage drive system is provided having a plurality of modulators and a plurality of cascaded switching circuits which collectively generate a single-phase output signal to a load. Each modulator receives a phase current error and has an adder which generates a modulated phase current error based on the phase current error and based on a signal having a phase. For each respective modulator, the phase of the respective signal is different. Each respective modulator changes a respective gate input when the respective modulated phase current error changes from being within a predetermined current range to being outside of the predetermined current range. Each respective switching circuit receives the respective gate input and generates a respective output terminal voltage based on the respective gate input. The change in the respective gate input effectively causes a switching event of the respective switching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: DRS Power & Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James A Ulrich, Ashish R Bendre
  • Publication number: 20110038185
    Abstract: A variable frequency drive comprises a diode rectifier receiving multiphase AC power from a source and converting the AC power to DC power. An inverter receives DC power and converts the DC power to AC power to drive a load. A link circuit is connected between the diode rectifier and the inverter and comprises a DC bus to provide a relatively fixed DC voltage for the inverter. A bus capacitor is across the bus. A soft charge circuit limits inrush current to the bus capacitor. The soft charge circuit comprises an inductor connected between the source and the link circuit and a switch circuit in the link circuit for selectively providing a semiconverter configuration or a full bridge converter configuration to provide two stage charging of the bus capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Mahesh M. Swamy, Tsuneo Joe Kume
  • Patent number: 7881080
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an inverter capable of enhancing reliability of current measurement by ensuring an optimal time for which effective voltage vectors are applied to detect a three-phase current according to a phase current and sizes of the effective voltage vectors, the apparatus comprising a space voltage modulator that generates and outputs effective voltage vectors based upon a voltage command value, and a low modulation determiner that determines whether the effective voltage vectors are located within a low modulation region, and outputs a low modulation switching control signal or a normal modulation switching control signal according to the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung-Min Park, Tae-Kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 7876587
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power supply is disclosed. An example method includes deactivating the power supply in response to a first current through a first terminal of a power supply controller falling below a first threshold value. The power supply is activated in response to the first current through the first terminal rising above a second threshold value. Deactivating the power comprises causing a power switch coupled to a primary winding of the power supply not to receive a switching waveform for more than one cycle until the power supply is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc,
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Leif O. Lund
  • Publication number: 20110013432
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems, methods, and apparatus for operating a power converter. According to one embodiment, a system for operating a power converter can be provided. The system can include a direct current (DC) power source with an output electrically coupled to an input of the power converter. The system can also include a controller operable to modify the performance of the DC power source through the power converter. As part of this modification, the controller can determine whether a low voltage ride (LVRT) event exists in a load and can adjust the DC power source when a LVRT event occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: Robert Gregory Wagoner
  • Patent number: 7859873
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an operation control circuit without using a photo-coupler. The operation control circuit controls the operation of an LED in a DC/AC inverter comprising a voltage conversion circuit, a DC/AC conversion circuit for converting output voltage of the voltage conversion circuit to two pieces of AC voltage each with an opposite phase, and an LED which is lit when AC voltage is outputted from the DC/AC conversion circuit. The operation control circuit comprising a rectifier circuit, capacitors connected between the input terminal of the rectifier circuit and the output terminal of the DC/AC conversion circuit, and a comparator circuit connected to the same ground level as the ground level connected to the LED for lighting the LED when voltage V1 outputted from the rectifier circuit is higher than a threshold Vref1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Takayuki Ito, Masatoshi Hikosaka
  • Patent number: 7855905
    Abstract: A digital power supply controller is disclosed for controlling the operation of a switched power supply. The controller is contained within an integrated circuit package enclosing an integrated circuit chip. A plurality of inputs are provided on the package for interfacing with the switched power supply for receiving sensed inputs therefrom. A plurality of outputs provide switch control signals for turning on and off switches in the switched power supply. An integrated digital controller on the chip receives the inputs and generates the outputs, and includes an integrated instruction based processing engine for providing a portion of the digital control of the digital controller. A memory associated with the processing engine stores instructions for the processing engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Ka Y. Leung, Kafai Leung, Jinwen Xaio, Chia-Ling Wei, Alvin C. Storvik, II, Biranchinath Sahu, Donald Alfano
  • Publication number: 20100315850
    Abstract: A power inverter is provided for converting DC power into AC power. The inverter may be operable to couple to two or more transformer modules each operable to convert at least a portion of the DC power to at least a portion of the AC power. In one embodiment, two or more transformer modules are removably coupled to the inverter. In an alternative embodiment, the inverter is capable of electrically coupling to an externally-housed transformer module. In an alternative embodiment, the inverter may include two or more transformer modules hard-wired into the device. The inverter may include an AC safety plug for releasably connecting to an AC power network and outputting AC power. The inverter may include one or more sensors configured to detect one or more properties of the AC power network for the purposes of determining whether a connection to the power network should be established.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Veranda Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Capra J'Neva Devi, Emilie Fetscher, Peter Jones
  • Patent number: 7852647
    Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus includes a transformer or an inductor, a switching element connected to the transformer or the inductor and configured to perform switching of an input power supply, and a switching control circuit including a digital control circuit configured to sample voltage values and/or current values and control on and off of the switching element in accordance with the voltage values and/or current values. The number of points of sampling is set to n or more points, where n is an integer greater than 3, in an ON period of the switching element except at around a turn-on point or a turn-off point of the switching element. The presence or absence of magnetic saturation of the transformer or the inductor is detected on the basis of whether or not a slope of change in current value over time is larger than a predetermined value, and circuit operation is protected from the effect of magnetic saturation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Nishiyama, Takashi Hara, Koichi Ueki
  • Patent number: 7852646
    Abstract: A control system is provided for controlling varying alternating current (AC) to a load with varying resistance and inductance. A plurality of nested control loops may employ cascaded proportional controllers to provide desired control of a pulse width modulation (PWM) block to control an inverter that supplies AC power to the load. An AC feedback signal may be supplied to each proportional controller. An AC signal may be added to outputs of the proportional controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Milan Rajne, Sukumar De, Ram Krishan Maheshwari
  • Publication number: 20100309695
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling power to an AC power grid. In one embodiment, the method comprises interleaving a storage period and a burst period, wherein (i) energy is stored during the storage period for a predetermined number of grid voltage cycles, and (ii) stored energy is converted to AC power and coupled to the AC power grid during the burst period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Martin Fornage
  • Publication number: 20100302819
    Abstract: A power generation system including a photovoltaic (PV) module to generate direct current (DC) power is provided. The system includes a controller to determine a maximum power point for the power generation system and a boost converter for receiving control signals from the controller to boost the power from the PV module to a threshold voltage required to inject sinusoidal currents into the grid. A DC to alternating current (AC) multilevel inverter is provided in the system to supply the power from the PV module to a power grid. The system also includes a bypass circuit to bypass the boost converter when an input voltage of the DC to AC multilevel inverter is higher than or equal to the threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Ralph Teichmann
  • Patent number: 7843713
    Abstract: When the three U-, V-, W-phase arms of a DC/DC converter are turned on, they are alternately turned on by gate drive signals. When the U-, V-, W-phase arms are alternately turned on, an upper arm switching device of the U-phase arm, for example, is turned on, and thereafter a lower arm switching device of the U-phase arm is turned on. Thereafter, an upper arm switching device of the V-phase arm which is next to the U-phase arm is turned on, and thereafter a lower arm switching device of the V-phase arm is turned on. The upper and lower arm switching devices are thus turned on in a rotation switching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Takenaka, Toshihiro Sone
  • Patent number: 7835163
    Abstract: This invention discloses a power converter with a secondary-side control, including an input circuit with one or more switches, an output circuit with an output end and a controller, and a transformer with a primary-side coil assembly connecting the switch(es) and a secondary-side coil assembly connecting the output circuit. The on/off state of the switch(es) is controlled by variations in voltage of primary-side coil assembly. The controller in the output circuit detects an output voltage and sends detected results to the primary-side coil assembly as a feedback for primary-side coil assembly to regulate the PWM or PFM action of the switch in a specific way to maintain voltage stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Chung Fu Chou
  • Patent number: 7835164
    Abstract: An AC power supply system modulates a high frequency switching signal with a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to produce a composite signal. The duty cycle of the PWM component of the composite signal is used to control the brightness of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp for backlighting a liquid crystal display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Lyle, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100277002
    Abstract: In a general aspect, a power conversion system includes a power converter, a transformer, and a voltage adjustment device. The power converter is configured to receive a variable DC power generated by a power generation device and to convert the received DC power to AC power at a first voltage. The transformer is configured to receive the AC power from the power converter and to deliver AC power at a second voltage to a utility power network. The voltage adjustment device is configured to adjust the first voltage to a target value determined on the basis of a voltage of the DC power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas C. Folts, Arnold P. Kehrli
  • Patent number: 7826236
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a switching power supply with high efficiency near zero load conditions. A power detection module detects power provided to a load. The switching power supply is capable of operating in a zero voltage switching mode. The power detection module detects when the load power falls below a minimum power threshold. A low load power control module operates the switching power supply in a low load mode if the power detection module detects that the power to the load is below the minimum power threshold. The low load mode includes operating the power supply in zero voltage switching mode in response to an output voltage of the power supply falling below a regulation voltage threshold. The low load mode includes turning off switching of the power supply in response to the output voltage of the power supply rising above the regulation voltage threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cecil C. Dishman, Randhir S. Malik
  • Publication number: 20100253250
    Abstract: A current controller for an electric machine that includes an input, an output, a threshold generator and a comparator. The threshold generator stores a scaling factor and includes a PWM module that operates on a reference voltage to generate a threshold voltage. The duty cycle of the PWM module is then defined by the scaling factor. The comparator compares a voltage at the input against the threshold voltage and causes an overcurrent signal to be generated at the output when the voltage at the input exceeds the threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: John Dunstan MARVELLY, Seth Alan Yates
  • Publication number: 20100246223
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a transformerless photovoltaic grid-connecting inverting device and an inverting control method thereof. The inverting device comprising a boosting unit, an inverting unit, a grid-connecting unit and a control unit. The boosting unit is connected to a solar cell, for boosting an output voltage of the solar cell and then outputting a direct voltage. The inverting unit is used to convert the direct voltage output by the boosting unit into an alternating voltage. The grid-connecting unit is connected between the inverting unit and an alternating power grid, and closes or breaks up the electrical connection between the inverting unit and the alternating power grid based on a control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Kun XUAN
  • Patent number: 7804264
    Abstract: Present invention belongs to the field of inventers, motor controllers and pulse modulated waveform generation methods and circuits. More specifically it belongs to such methods and circuits utilizing fundamental vectors. This invention features better and more efficient fundamental vectors. The proposed method offers reduced losses, increased efficiency and longer life time of inverters and motor controllers. Better approximation of a three-phase voltage waveform approaching the ideal one is a significant advantage of the proposed method. Another advantage is an easy decomposition of any point of an ideal sinusoidal voltage waveform into the fundamental vectors. This invention is particularly useful for a vector control of asynchronous AC motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Inventors: Sergey Antonov, Alexei I Antonov
  • Patent number: 7782640
    Abstract: An inverter circuit according to an embodiment includes an input unit to which a first voltage is applied. In the inverter circuit, a transformer transforms the first voltage output from the input unit, and a first switching unit switches an on/off state of the transformer. An inverter controller controls an operation of the first switching unit, and an output unit of the inverter circuit outputs a second voltage output from the transformer. A feedback unit detects an electrical signal from the transformer and supplies the detected electrical signal to the inverter controller, and an initial operation controller controls an intensity of the electrical signal supplied to the inverter controller from the feedback unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang Sun Yun
  • Publication number: 20100208501
    Abstract: A power transfer system provides power factor conditioning of the generated power. Power is received from a local power source, converted to usable AC power, and the power factor is conditioned to a desired value. The desired value may be a power factor at or near unity, or the desired power factor may be in response to conditions of the power grid, a tariff established, and/or determinations made remotely to the local power source. Many sources and power transfer systems can be put together and controlled as a power source farm to deliver power to the grid having a specific power factor characteristic. The farm may be a grouping of multiple local customer premises. AC power can also be conditioned prior to use by an AC to DC power supply for more efficient DC power conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Stefan Matan, William B. Westbrock, JR., Fred C. Horton, Joseph M. Klemm, Frank P. Marrone, Arnold F. McKinley, Kurt W. Wiseman
  • Publication number: 20100195357
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a corrected monitoring voltage, at least a portion of the method being performed by a computing system comprising at least one processor. The method comprises generating power at a first location; monitoring the generated power by measuring a first voltage proximate the first location; measuring a second voltage proximate a second location, the first and the second locations electrically coupled; and determining, based on the measured second voltage, a corrected monitoring voltage to compensate the measured first voltage for a distance between the first and the second locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: MARTIN FORNAGE, MARV DARGATZ
  • Patent number: 7768806
    Abstract: A DC/AC inverter and method thereof are disclosed. The DC/AC inverter for driving a load includes a DC power supply for supplying a DC input voltage, a converter circuit coupled to the DC power supply which converts the DC input voltage into an AC signal used to drive the load, and a control circuit coupled to the converter circuit which sets a frequency of the AC signal. The control circuit is further capable of operating the DC/AC inverter in a fixed frequency mode and in a variable frequency mode in accordance with the DC input voltage and the load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: O2Micro International Limited
    Inventors: Yung-Lin Lin, Da Liu
  • Patent number: 7760526
    Abstract: A method of controlling an inverter to includes determining the components of a phasor representing the output current from the inverter in a fixed reference system; determining the components of the current phasor in a reference system rotating at a velocity equal to the velocity of rotation of the phasor representing the grid voltage; and comparing the components of the current phasor in the rotating reference system with a reference, again expressed in the rotating reference system, to determine an error signal, by means of which the inverter is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Power-One Italy, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Marroni, David Martini
  • Patent number: 7760518
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to detect a fault in the feedback circuit of a switching power supply while the power supply operates in a mode where the output is below its regulated value. The power supply delivers maximum power at a given switching frequency without a feedback signal while the output is below its regulated value. A fault protection circuit substantially reduces the average output power if there is no feedback signal for the duration of a fault time. When there is no feedback signal, the power supply increases the maximum output power by increasing the switching frequency before the end of the fault time to increase the output to a regulated value. The presence of a feedback signal when the output reaches a regulated value restores the original switching frequency and returns the output to its unregulated value. The absence of a feedback signal at the end of the fault time engages the fault protection circuit to substantially reduce the output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Bäurle, William M. Polivka
  • Patent number: 7755917
    Abstract: Digital control of a switching regulator in one aspect includes a compare circuit to be coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output level of a power supply. A feedback state signal is generated having a first feedback state and a second feedback state. An adjustment circuit is coupled to the compare circuit to adjust the feedback state signal in response to at least one of adjusting the threshold level or adjusting the feedback signal. The adjusted feedback state signal causes the feedback state signal to revert from a state at the time of adjustment to a state immediately preceding the adjustment. A control circuit is to be coupled to a power switch and is to be coupled to receive an oscillating signal and the feedback state signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Andrew J. Morrish, Arthur B. Odell, Kent Wong
  • Publication number: 20100149844
    Abstract: An inverter apparatus converts a DC power of a capacitor charged via a rectifier circuit connected to a first AC power system into an AC power, and supplies the AC power to a second AC power system. The inverter apparatus includes a discharge circuit, a control circuit, a trigger circuit, a first voltage-sag detection circuit, a control power circuit, and a second voltage-sag detection circuit. When the second voltage-sag detection circuit detects a voltage sag of the control power circuit below a threshold, the trigger circuit generates a discharge command signal for causing the discharge circuit to discharge a charge from the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi YASUDA, Hitoshi TERAMOTO, Michihiro TADOKORO
  • Patent number: 7723996
    Abstract: An inverter circuit includes plural pairs of third coils, in which adjacent third coils are serially connected to each other so as to offset AC voltage generated from the paired third coils, one end of the paired third coils being connected to ground. Input terminals of plural diodes are connected to one end of the paired third coils so as to generate the voltage detection value by detecting voltage generated from the paired third coils. A fault detector compares the voltage detection value generated from the diodes with a predetermined threshold value to detect a fault and generates the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun-Gun Lee, Jin-Won Jang, Tatsuhisa Shimura, Osamu Sengoku
  • Publication number: 20100124084
    Abstract: A control circuit for use in a power converter has a multi-function terminal, a current comparator circuit, and an under-voltage detection circuit. The current comparator circuit compares current flowing through a power switch of the power converter with a reference value through the multi-function terminal when the power switch is on, and turns the power switch off when the current reaches the reference value. The under-voltage detection circuit determines whether an input voltage of the power converter is less than a predetermined value through the multi-function terminal when the power switch is turned off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Yuan-Wen Chang, Chun-Teh Chen, Ren-Yi Chen, Yi-Shan Chu
  • Patent number: 7715217
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter includes a reactor, IGBT devices, a dead time generation unit, and a DC-CPU. The dead time generation unit operates in response to a reference signal for a duty ratio, to output first and second activation signals provided with an inactive period corresponding to a dead time preventing both of the IGBT devices from conducting. The DC-CPU corrects a tentative duty ratio calculated as based on a voltage control value, in accordance with a value of a current flowing through the reactor, to output the reference signal. Preferably the DC-CPU associates the value of the current of the reactor with three states and when the value approaches a value at which a state transitions to a different state, the DC-CPU gradually switches a correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kota Manabe, Masahiro Shige
  • Patent number: 7710077
    Abstract: Techniques for high performance inverter charger systems are described herein. In one embodiment, a power supply system includes, but is not limited to, an inverter to generate an AC (alternating current) output based on a DC (direct current) input, a current sensing circuit coupled to the inverter to sense an amount of current drawn from the inverter, and a microcontroller coupled to the inverter and the current sensing circuit to reduce the AC output of the inverter according to a predetermined algorithm stored within the microcontroller, in response to a detection that the amount of current drops below a predetermined threshold. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: HDM Systems Corp.
    Inventors: James Jin Xiong Zeng, David S. C. Liu
  • Patent number: 7710064
    Abstract: A motor driving semiconductor device has: six switching elements for driving a three-phase motor; three output terminals for applying output voltages to three terminals of coils of the three-phase motor; drive circuits for driving the six switching elements; and six control signal input terminals for receiving six control signals for on/off control of the six switching elements, wherein the motor driving semiconductor device is formed by sealing at least one semiconductor chip in one package with resin, and further includes a dead time generation function of generating a dead time relative to the six control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Sakurai, Hiroyuki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7706162
    Abstract: System and method for providing switching to power regulators. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides system for providing switching. The system includes a first voltage supply that is configured to provide a first voltage. The system also includes a second voltage supply that is configured to provide a second voltage. The second voltage being independent from the first voltage. The system additionally includes a controller component that is electrically coupled to the first voltage supply. For example, the controller component being configured to receive at least a first input signal and to provide at least a first output signal. Additionally, the system includes a gate driver component that is electrically coupled to the second voltage supply. The gate driver component is configured to receive at least the first output signal and generated a second output signal in response to at least the second voltage and the first output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhiliang Chen, Shifeng Zhao, Lieyi Fang, Zhenhua Li
  • Patent number: 7698802
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a calibration device for an active circuit on a chip, comprises: providing an active circuit that is capable of exhibiting a desired electrical characteristic; and providing a calibration mechanism on-chip with the active circuit. The calibration mechanism generates a control output and comprises a device under test (DUT) configured as a replica of at least one segment of the active circuit, and which generates a test output that causes finite adjustments to the control output, based on a comparison of the electrical characteristics exhibited by the DUT with a known electrical characteristic. The method further comprises: attaching to each control input terminal of the active circuit a corresponding control output from the calibration mechanism. The control output of the calibration mechanism dynamically adjusts control input applied to devices of the active circuit to force the active circuit to exhibit the desired electrical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Clements, William P. Cornwell, Carrie E. Cox, Hayden C. Cranford, Jr., Vernon R. Norman