Feeder Protection In Distribution Networks Patents (Class 361/62)
  • Patent number: 11990951
    Abstract: A method for implementing fault diagnosis by means of a spread spectrum carrier includes the following steps: designing incident signal parameters, selecting a spread spectrum sequence for fault detection, determining a center frequency and a sequence length of a spread spectrum code, and segmenting and transforming a power carrier source signal; using the fault detection spread spectrum sequence as a carrier spread spectrum code, and performing spread spectrum modulation on the transformed power carrier source signal to generate an SSPLCR sequence; coupling the SSPLCR sequence to a cable to be tested, and when the cable works normally without failure, transmitting the SSPLCR signal to the receiving terminal via the cable; when the cable fails, reflecting the SSPLCR signal back to the transmitting terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY OF AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS
    Inventors: Li Wang, Weijia Chen
  • Patent number: 11943233
    Abstract: An electronic control unit is connected to a network in an in-vehicle network system. The electronic control unit includes a first control circuit and a second control circuit. The first control circuit is connected to the network via the second control circuit. The second control circuit performs a first determination process on a frame to determine conformity of the frame with a first rule. Upon determining that the frame conforms to the first rule, the second control circuit transmits the frame to the first control circuit. The first control circuit performs a second determination process on the frame to determine conformity of the frame with a second rule. The second rule is different from the first rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ujiie, Jun Anzai, Yoshihiko Kitamura, Masato Tanabe, Hideki Matsushima, Tomoyuki Haga, Takeshi Kishikawa, Ryota Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11889607
    Abstract: An enhanced lighting control system is provided that utilizes updated communications technology to provide a cost and resource efficient lighting control system that allows for a retrofit installation into existing lighting systems. The lighting control system utilizes single pair ethernet connection protocols, as well as a pulsed power source, to enable the efficiencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventor: Michael J. Vermeer
  • Patent number: 11879433
    Abstract: A method (1000-1001) for operating a wind turbine (100) including a rotor (106) having rotor blades (108) and a power conversion system (118, 210, 234) mechanically connected with the rotor (106), configured to convert input motive power into electrical output power, and electrically connected to a network (242) for feeding the electrical output power (P) to the network is provided. The method includes determining (1100) a current frequency (f) of the network (242), and, when the current frequency (f) is equal to or lower than a threshold frequency (fthresh), operating (1300) the power conversion system (118, 210, 234) at an electrical output power (P) which is increased by an electrical output power increase (PI) in accordance with a monotonic function (PI(f)) of the current frequency (f) limited to a maximum value (PImax).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventor: Christoph Schulten
  • Patent number: 11870234
    Abstract: Series arcing in wiring is a potentially catastrophic situation that has proven to be difficult to detect reliably with existing methods. This invention allows for the quick and accurate detection of series arcing in an electrical circuit. The method works with AC or DC power sources, and at any voltage or current level. This method will also detect high resistance in a circuit, which is another indicator of a potentially hazardous fault condition. The method compares the voltage at each end of a conductor, and will declare a fault when this voltage exceeds the minimum voltage required to sustain arcing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Fred J. Potter, Patrick Mills, Warren J. Wambsganss
  • Patent number: 11862944
    Abstract: A switchgear device may include a frame defining an interior compartment, an electrical breaker component carried within the interior compartment, and a first optical sensor carried within the interior compartment. The switchgear device may include a grounding device coupled to the electrical breaker component and being within the interior compartment. The grounding device may include an axle extending between the interior compartment and an exterior of the frame, a linkage coupled to the axle, and a grounding switch coupled to the linkage and switching between a first open state and a second closed state. The switchgear device may include a controller coupled to the electrical breaker component, the first optical sensor, and the grounding device and configured to cause the grounding switch to switch to the second closed state based upon the first optical sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: JST POWER EQUIPMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Koustubh Ashtekar, Alex Florencia Cochran
  • Patent number: 11846959
    Abstract: An electricity management system for a residential setting includes a controller that is coupled with a plurality of appliances. A plurality of sensors are coupled with the controller and respectively coupled to the plurality of appliances. The controller cooperates with the sensors and the appliances to generate a demand response plan for delivering electrical power to the plurality of appliances. The demand response plan includes a shifting strategy that regulates a delivery of electrical power based upon a regional pattern of electrical consumption, a shedding strategy that maintains a household consumption of electrical power below a household upper consumption limit and a modulating strategy based upon the respective operating cycles of the plurality of appliances that prevents a simultaneous peak electrical event within more than one appliance of the plurality of appliances. The shifting strategy, the shedding strategy and the modulating strategy are implemented contemporaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew W. Batek, Jason Schneemann, Kevin Y. Zhang
  • Patent number: 11817280
    Abstract: A circuit breaker device includes a bimetallic overcurrent protection element which is configured to be placed in series with an integrated replaceable fuse. The replaceable fuse may be faster-acting than the bimetallic overcurrent protection element, and may be higher-rated than the bimetallic overcurrent protection element. The circuit breaker device may include an electrically isolated terminal stud having a height sufficient to retain the replaceable fuse thereon, the electrically isolated terminal stud not directly connected to the bimetallic overcurrent protection element, so that current can only flow through the bimetallic overcurrent protection element when a replaceable fuse comprising an intact fuse element is supported on the electrically isolated terminal stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: MP Hollywood
    Inventor: Cuong Ha
  • Patent number: 11810709
    Abstract: A current transformer according to the present invention may comprise a magnetic core, a secondary coil, and a magnetic flux compensation member. A main circuit of an air circuit breaker penetrates the magnetic core. In addition, the secondary coil is arranged to be adjacent to the magnetic core, and a secondary current is induced through a current flowing in the main circuit. In addition, the secondary coil supplies the induced secondary current to a relay. The magnetic flux compensation member may be coupled to the magnetic core so as to correct magnetic flux of the secondary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: LS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Han-Baek Chung
  • Patent number: 11811234
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a variable output micro-grid frequency in order to cause loads and producers coupled to a micro-grid to change operating modes/behaviors accordingly. For example, the utility frequency delivered via the micro-grid may be used as a control signal for the purposes of demand response, e.g., increasing or decreasing load, energy storage control, e.g., to cause storage of energy or the discharging of energy, and generator output curtailment as is mandated by generator interconnection standards such as UL1741 for output power curtailment under high frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Non-Synchronous Energy Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Alan McDonnell
  • Patent number: 11789799
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a switching arrangement comprising: two processors; an OR gate; a first position feedback device; and a first switch. The a first switch. The OR gate output is connected to the first switch. The first processor is connected to the first input of the OR gate and the second processor is in operative communication with the OR gate via the second input of the OR gate; At least one of the processors sends a digital ON signal to the OR gate and the OR gate actuates the first switch on receipt thereof. The first position feedback device connects to both processors. The processors are interconnected and each programmed to: read a first position signal from the first position feedback device; send the first position signal to the other processor; compare the read signal to the received signal; and generate an error message if they do not match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Erik Lang, Tharsice Ball
  • Patent number: 11749985
    Abstract: A method and device for timing in time-varying distance protection based on multiple lines of a tower. The method includes: collecting an instantaneous current value at a time-varying distance protection installation location in the multiple lines of the tower, and acquiring preset parameters; calculating, according to the preset parameters and a multi-line ranging model, a multi-line ranging result; calculating, according to the preset parameters, the multi-line ranging result, and an adaptive calculation model, time of a section-II distance protection action and final time of a section-III distance protection action; and determining, according to the instantaneous current value, the preset parameters, and a cross-line failure auxiliary criterion model, final time of the section-II distance protection action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: CHINA ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA
    Inventors: Zexin Zhou, Tianhua Li, Hong Cao, Yarong Guo, Xingguo Wang, Dingxiang Du, Delin Wang, Pengfei Lv, Zhi Zhang
  • Patent number: 11745619
    Abstract: Multiple chemistry battery systems and methods for using such systems in electric vehicles are disclosed. In one embodiment, an example electric vehicle may include a drive motor configured to impart motion to one or more wheels of the electric vehicle, a plurality of batteries configured to power the drive motor, and one or more controllers. The plurality of batteries may include a first battery including a first cell having a first chemistry, and a second battery including a second cell having a second chemistry different from the first chemistry. The one or more controllers may be configured to cause the first battery and the second battery to power the drive motor, and to cause the drive motor to charge the first battery and the second battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: PREMERGY, INC
    Inventors: Richard Edward Botts, Blakely Lane Fabiani, David S. Merrill
  • Patent number: 11732689
    Abstract: A wind turbine drive control device according to one aspect of the present invention is a wind turbine drive control device for controlling a plurality of drive devices for moving two structures included in a wind power generation device relative to each other, the wind turbine drive control device including: an obtaining unit for obtaining a plurality of information items related to loads occurring between each of the plurality of drive devices and one of the two structures that receives forces generated by the plurality of drive devices; and a control unit for controlling the plurality of drive devices in such a manner that, in a state where each of the plurality of drive devices is controlled to generate a predetermined braking force, the braking force of at least one first drive device among the plurality of drive devices is increased, based on the plurality of information items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Nabtesco Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Kodama, Hirofumi Komori
  • Patent number: 11658489
    Abstract: A method for managing an energy generation system is disclosed. The system includes a cluster of power generators connected by a connectivity network. Each power generator includes an inverter having a respective controller, and at least a data set available to the controller for controlling the respective power generator. Each inverter transmits through said connectivity network, to the other inverters of the cluster, information concerning said data set available to it, said information being sufficient to check whether the data sets available to each inverter are aligned. Each inverter receives, through said connectivity network, information concerning the data set available to other inverters of the cluster and checks whether the data set available to it is aligned with the data sets available to the other inverters of the cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Marici Holdings The Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Andrea Botarelli, Luigi Lamoglie, Tiberio Bucci, Alessandro Faggiani, Cosimo Falaschi
  • Patent number: 11649050
    Abstract: Techniques for an unmanned aerial system that embeds data into power sent from a control system to one or more motors so that one or more wires between the control system and the one or more motors can be used to transmit power and data are described. As one example, an unmanned aerial system includes a sensor, a control system comprising alternating current power generation circuitry and first embedded data communication circuitry, and a motor system coupled to the control system via a set of one or more wires and comprising at least one motor to provide propulsion from power generated by the alternating current power generation circuitry and second embedded data communication circuitry to embed data from the sensor into the power generated by the alternating current power generation circuitry to produce modulated power, wherein the first embedded data communication circuitry is to extract the data from the modulated power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Christien Samson Miller
  • Patent number: 11588319
    Abstract: A differential protection method for monitoring a line of a power grid. Current phasor measured values are captured at the ends of the line and transmitted to an evaluation device which is used to form a differential current value with current phasor measured values temporally allocated to one another. Time delay information indicating the time delay between local timers of the measuring devices is used for the temporal allocation of the current phasor measured values captured at different ends, and a fault signal indicating a fault affecting the line is generated if the differential current value exceeds a predefined threshold value. The reliability of the time synchronization is further increased by forming a quotient of the current phasor measured values to form an asymmetry variable, that is used to check a transit time difference of messages transmitted via the communication connection in different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Torsten Kerger, Robert Matussek, Matthias Gross
  • Patent number: 11538646
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for operating a three-way switch. The system includes a user input. The system further includes a relay electrically coupled to a first traveler wire, a second traveler wire, and a LINE conductor, wherein the relay has a first position and a second position. The relay may be initially set to the first position. The system further includes a toroid having an aperture, wherein a sensing conductor passes through the aperture to generate a sensing voltage. The system further includes a controller configured to toggle the relay from the first position to the second position when (1) the user input is in the on-setting and the sensing voltage is less than a threshold value or (2) the user input is in the off-setting and the sensing voltage is greater than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony M. Testani
  • Patent number: 11531048
    Abstract: A circuit for monitoring an output voltage of a voltage supply is shown. The circuit comprises a microcontroller for controlling a system, a shift register and a diagnostic circuit. The microcontroller has an input for receiving serial output data of the shift register, wherein the input is connected to the serial output of the shift register. The diagnostic circuit is designed to diagnose the voltage supply and has a diagnostic output which is connected to a data input of the shift register for inputting a diagnostic bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Christopher Wohlgemuth, Christian Voss
  • Patent number: 11495062
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method that includes: collecting seat sensor data associated with a plurality of seats in a vehicle; selecting a first subset of data from the collected seat sensor data; providing the first subset of data to a fault detection model; receiving, from the fault detection model, one or more detected seat component faults; and generating, based on the one or more detected seat component faults, a seat condition map associated with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Ralf Rene Shu-Zhong Cabos, Nils Kneuper, Andre Lutz
  • Patent number: 11489339
    Abstract: A system and a method for locally controlling delivery of electrical power along the distribution feeder by measuring certain electricity parameters of a distribution feeder line using a substation phasor measurement unit (PMU) electrically coupled to a substation distribution bus at a first node on the feeder line, and at least one customer site PMU electrically coupled to a low voltage end of a transformer at a customer site, wherein the transformer is coupled by a drop line to a second node on the distribution feeder line and the customer site is coupled by another drop line to the transformer, and by controlling at least one controllable reactive power resource and optionally a real power resource connected to the second node or at the customer site. Related apparatus, systems, articles, and techniques are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Power Management Holdings (U.S.), Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm Stuart Metcalfe, Severin Nowak, John Sankey, Eric Young
  • Patent number: 11478293
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator having connectors for an electrosurgical instrument including a high-voltage generator electrically connected to the connectors and produces a high-frequency alternating current in its activated state and output said high-frequency alternating current via the connectors. The electrosurgical generator has an effective power determination unit including a phase shift determination unit that supplies an output signal representing a phase shift between the current and the voltage of an alternating current output during operation. The phase shift determination unit produces a pulsed DC voltage signal, in which the pulse width reflects a time difference between the zero crossings of the current and the voltage—and consequently the phase shift—and to process the pulsed DC voltage signal by way of a low-pass filter to form a low-pass filter output signal, the magnitude of which depends on the pulse width of the pulses of the pulsed DC voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventors: Daniel Ramin, Thomas Fähsing, Stefan Schiddel
  • Patent number: 11476658
    Abstract: A first converter station is part of a high voltage direct current transmission system that includes a DC transmission link connected to the first converter station a second converter station. A DC current and a DC voltage of the DC transmission link are sensed by the first converter station. It is determined that the sensed DC current is equal to or larger than a threshold current value, that the sensed DC current is equal to or larger than the threshold current value, and that at least a partial recovery of the sensed DC voltage has occurred. On the basis that it is determined that the at least a partial recovery of the sensed DC voltage has occurred, it is determined that a phase-to-ground fault has occurred. In response to determining that a phase-to-ground fault has occurred, a power delivered by the first converter station can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Saurav Roy-Choudhury, Ying Jiang-Häfner, Gaurav-Kumar Kasal, Morteza Mohammadi, Mats Andersson
  • Patent number: 11469613
    Abstract: A load-sharing device shares electrical load between a high-ranking load and a low-ranking load. A current transformer connected between a circuit breaker panel and the high-ranking load senses current draw. The current transformer closes a first switch when sufficient current is detected and opens the first switch otherwise. Low-voltage power is connected across nodes of the first switch. A control circuit is connected in parallel with the first switch to control one or more second switches connected between the circuit breaker panel and a low-ranking load. When there is current flow in the control circuit, the second switches are closed, thereby permitting power delivery to the low-ranking load and when there is no current flow in the control circuit, the one or more second switches are open circuited. When the first switch is closed, it provides a short circuit, thereby preventing current flow in the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Loadshare Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Waterman
  • Patent number: 11440412
    Abstract: A disconnection device for a high-voltage electrical system of a motor vehicle for disconnecting a high-voltage line of the high-voltage electrical system, includes an overcurrent protection apparatus; a first disconnecting unit which is made of a first actuatable disconnecting unit, the first disconnecting unit being designed to interrupt a current flow over the first disconnecting unit in the activated state; a second disconnecting unit which is made of a second actuatable disconnecting unit and the overcurrent protection apparatus, the second disconnecting unit being designed to conduct an overcurrent to the overcurrent protection apparatus which interrupts the current flow over the second disconnecting unit in the activated state; and a control unit which is designed to activate at least the second disconnecting unit in the event of an overcurrent and to activate at least the first disconnecting unit in the event of an overcurrent-independent event in order to separate the high-voltage line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Binder, Florian Pritscher, Wladislaw Waag
  • Patent number: 11437562
    Abstract: It is disclosed a composite yarn structure (10) comprising: —a first element (15) comprising a coaxial flexible bi-component monofilament including a conductive component (20) and a thermoplastic component (30) exhibiting piezoelectric properties, —at least a second element (40) twisted around the first element (15), wherein the second element (40) has a lower elasticity with respect to the elasticity of the first element (15) such that, upon elongation of the yarn structure (10) in a first direction, the yarn structure (10) expands in a second direction, whereby the dimensions of the yarn are increased both in first and second directions to generate an additional force on said piezoelectric component of the first element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Sanko Tekstil Isletmeleri San. Ve Tic. A.S.
    Inventors: Özgür Cobanoglu, Deniz Iyidogan, Özgür Akdemir
  • Patent number: 11387632
    Abstract: A power distribution box configured to house a plurality of electronic components is provided. The electronic components are mounted to a lower case. An upper case is mounted to the lower case and spaced apart from the lower case so as to define a storage compartment. The upper case includes a vent configured to allow heat generated by electric components to escape. In particular, the vents are registered so as to be above selective heat generating electric components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyles O. Hamilton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11303120
    Abstract: This specification describes a power distribution system comprising a first section that receives power from a first source. The power at the first section is adjusted by a rectifier coupled to a power bus of the first section. The system includes a second section that is separate from the first section and that receives power from a second source. The power at the second section is adjusted by a rectifier coupled to a power bus of the second distribution section. The system includes a swing rectifier connected to each of the first and second sections. The swing rectifier is configured to provide power to the first power bus and to the second power bus and to dynamically adjust the power capacity of the first section that is available to computing loads, and to dynamically adjust the power capacity of the second section that is available to computing loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Eduardo Lao, Jyoti Sastry, James Kennedy, Christopher Gregory Malone, Varun Sakalkar
  • Patent number: 11240253
    Abstract: An electronic control unit is connected to a network in an in-vehicle network system. The electronic control unit includes a first control circuit and a second control circuit. The first control circuit is connected to the network via the second control circuit. The second control circuit performs a first determination process on a frame to determine conformity of the frame with a first rule. Upon determining that the frame conforms to the first rule, the second control circuit transmits the frame to the first control circuit. The first control circuit performs a second determination process on the frame to determine conformity of the frame with a second rule. The second rule is different from the first rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ujiie, Jun Anzai, Yoshihiko Kitamura, Masato Tanabe, Hideki Matsushima, Tomoyuki Haga, Takeshi Kishikawa, Ryota Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11234322
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device (200), which comprises a power input (202) unit for reception of primary operating power from an external primary power supply, a lighting control unit (204) configured to control a lighting function of the lighting device, a secondary power supply unit (206) for storing operating energy and providing secondary operating power in absence of reception of the primary operating power, a wireless-transceiver unit (208), which is configured, in performing a pre-installation connectivity test routine under supply of only the secondary operating power, to generate and transmit, upon detecting reception of a trigger input signal (210), a first wireless test signal (212), to monitor for reception of a second wireless test signal (214) from an external wireless-transceiver unit; and to determine whether or not the received second wireless test signal fulfills predetermined test-signal criteria and to provide an output signal indicative thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Goutam Maji, Matthias Wendt, Eduard Gerhard Zondag
  • Patent number: 11132847
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an onboard power source, a vehicle interface, and a controller. The controller, responsive to an external power application drawing power from the onboard power source, outputs a power source time to empty for display by the vehicle interface. The power source time to empty is derived from a location of the vehicle and a power drawn from the onboard power source by the external power application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seth Anthony Bryan, Ryan Hunt, Jordan Mazaira
  • Patent number: 11130517
    Abstract: An energy dynamic control method for the EPS with hybrid power supply and an energy dynamic control system. Control system collects real-time current of vehicle electric appliances except the steering motor and the super-capacitor and calculates target current of the steering motor according to real-time steering torque and vehicle speed, and determines state of the super-capacitor by comparing rated current of vehicle power supply and sum of the current of vehicle electric appliances and target current of the steering motor. When super-capacitor is in the charging state, charging current is dynamically regulated to make vehicle power supply work in optimal working range, and maximum charging current is limited based on SOC of the super-capacitor. When super-capacitor is in discharging state, discharging current is dynamically regulated to make vehicle power supply work in optimal working range, and maximum discharging current is limited based on SOC of super-capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: JIANGSU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Bin Tang, Yingqiu Huang, Haobin Jiang, Di Zhang, Chaochun Yuan, Yingfeng Cai, Guoqing Geng, Chaofeng Pan, Shidian Ma, Dong Cao, Chenhui Yin
  • Patent number: 11088548
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes a system control module that determines the presence of a microinverter chain termination end cap. The end cap includes an embedded circuit. The embedded circuit includes components having resistive, reactive, or impedance values. A signal source provides a signal through the microinverter chain. A parameter for a sensed signal detected by the system control module is used to determine the presence of the end cap using a change between the parameter for the sense signal and a reference parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Philip Rothblum
  • Patent number: 11056888
    Abstract: The present invention provides method, apparatus, and computer readable storage medium for an electrical islanding detection. The method for electrical islanding detection method includes: receiving a three-phase voltage in an electrical power system; for the three-voltage voltage, calculating a voltage angle sudden-change of each phase, respectively; determining whether an absolute value of the voltage angle sudden-change of each phase is greater than a first angle sudden-change setting value; determining whether directions of the voltage angle sudden-changes of three phase are the same if the absolute value of the voltage angle sudden-change of each phase is greater than the first angle sudden-change setting value; and determining that the electrical islanding appears if the directions of the voltage angle sudden-changes of the three phases are the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventor: Jinlei Xing
  • Patent number: 11056290
    Abstract: A circuit breaker apparatus may include a housing, a circuit inside the housing for protecting the conductors and the load of the circuit, a display attached to outside of the housing, a controller, and a power control device. The display may be an electronically-alterable display that does not require power in situations other than changing its state. The power control device may provide power to the controller and the display when the apparatus is being tampered with. When the controller is powered, it may cause the power control device to cause the display to change from a state that indicates that the apparatus is authenticated to another state that indicates that the apparatus has been tampered with. The power control device may include a battery and a switch, or a power harvester, which can be configured to provide power to the controller when the apparatus is being tampered with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Zhi Gao, James L. Lagree, Brian E. Carlson
  • Patent number: 11018499
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power distribution network includes receiving, by an electronic processor, a fault indication associated with a fault in the power distribution network from a first isolation device of a plurality of isolation devices. The processor identifies a first subset of a plurality of phases associated with the fault indication and a second subset of the plurality of phases not associated with the fault indication. The first and second subsets each include at least one member. The processor identifies an upstream isolation device upstream of the fault. The processor identifies a downstream isolation device downstream of the fault. The processor sends an open command to the downstream isolation device for each phase in the first subset. Responsive to the first isolation device not being the upstream isolation device, the processor sends a close command to the first isolation device for each phase in the first subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: G & W ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Erich Keller, Nicholas Carmine DiFonzo
  • Patent number: 10971919
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic circuit-breaker for a load (RL) that can be connected to a low-voltage dc-voltage network, the circuit-breaker consisting of assemblies provided between input terminals and the load and said assemblies comprising a voltage monitoring unit (TVS1, R1), a current monitoring unit (Shunt, OPV), semiconductor switch units (MOSFET) and controllers (uC) associated therewith. According to the invention, a series circuit consisting of a TVS diode (TVS1) and a resistor (R1) is connected to the input terminals, the resistor having a connection to a first connector (1) of a microcontroller (uC) and the resultant voltage drop at the resistor providing the microcontroller with an overvoltage identification signal if a breakdown voltage is reached at the TVS diode as a result of an overvoltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: DEHN SE + CO KG
    Inventors: Thomas Böhm, Franz Schork
  • Patent number: 10950989
    Abstract: A GFCI latching apparatus and circuit is provided. The latching apparatus includes a solenoid; a solenoid plunger, wherein the solenoid plunger comprises a groove; a conical spring disposed at one end of the solenoid plunger; a forked latch, wherein the forked latch engages the groove with its forks. The latch also includes a bevel surface. Also included is a contact carrier having a first position when the solenoid is energized and a second position when the solenoid is deenergized. The contact carrier includes a bevel surface for mating with the latch bevel surface when the solenoid is energized. Also included is a GFCI configured to deenergize the solenoid upon the occurrence of a fault to disengage the latch, the latch thereby disengaging from the contact carrier, causing the contact carrier to move from the first position to the second position. The GFCI circuit detects ground faults and deenergizes the solenoid when a ground fault is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Tower Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Victor V Aromin, Louis J. Shatkin
  • Patent number: 10931109
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a computationally efficient technique for determining loads to shed based on both active and reactive power. For example, a monitoring and control system may receive electrical measurements of a power system. The monitoring and control system may determine an active power and a reactive power of each bus in the power system based on the received electrical measurements. The monitoring and control system may send a command to trip at least one breaker to cause the at least one breaker to shed a load based at least in part on both the active power and the reactive power consumed by each bus in the power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Niannian Cai, Abdel Rahman Khatib, Niraj Kiritkumar Shah
  • Patent number: 10916944
    Abstract: A solar and/or wind inverter that uses an ultracapacitor for grid stabilization. The ultracapacitor may be directly tied to, and placed between, a power source and an inverter. The ultracapacitor may supply power to a grid via the inverter during a reduction of power or a loss in power from the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Edward J Simburger
  • Patent number: 10872529
    Abstract: A sensor device for monitoring an occupancy state of a parking space of a parking facility for motor vehicles includes: at least one parking space sensor connected, via a first electric circuit, to a first electrical energy store for an electrical energy supply of the at least one parking space sensor, a detection device for detecting an interruption of the first electric circuit, a communication interface connected in a second electric circuit for transmitting a signal via a communication network when an interruption of the first electric circuit is detected, the signal indicating the interruption, a second electrical energy store being connected in the second electric circuit for an electrical energy supply of the communication interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Nordbruch
  • Patent number: 10855168
    Abstract: Each arm circuit of a power conversion device includes a plurality of cascaded cell blocks and a plurality of bypass circuits connected in parallel to the respective cell blocks. Each cell block includes: a first connection node on a high potential side and a second connection node on a low potential side for connection to another cell block; and a plurality of converter cells cascaded between the first and second connection nodes, each converter cell containing an energy storage. The plurality of converter cells include at least one first converter cell of a full-bridge (or hybrid) configuration and at least one second converter cell of a half-bridge configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryosuke Uda, Kenichi Kuroda, Masashi Kitayama, Yoshiyuki Kono, Shigeo Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10853295
    Abstract: The present invention provides an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit includes a switching circuit, an over-voltage detection circuit and a control signal generating circuit. In the operations of the interface circuit, the switching circuit is configured to receive an input signal from an input terminal, and selectively transmit the input signal to an internal circuit. The over-voltage detection circuit is configured to detect whether a voltage level of the input signal is greater than a threshold value, and accordingly generate at least one over-voltage signal. The control signal generating circuit is configured to generate a control signal according to said at least one over-voltage signal, to control the switching circuit to be in one of three or more states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Jiun-Hung Pan, Leaf Chen
  • Patent number: 10847777
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a battery module having a housing and a stack of battery cells disposed in the housing. Each battery cell has a battery cell terminal and a battery cell vent on an end of each battery cell, and the battery cell vent is configured to exhaust effluent into the housing. The battery module has a vent shield plate disposed in the housing and directly along an immediate vent path of the effluent, a first surface of the vent shield plate configured to direct the effluent to an opening between the shield plate and the housing, and a second surface of the vent shield plate opposite the first surface. The battery module also has a venting chamber coupled to the opening and at least partially defined by the second surface and a vent configured to direct the effluent out of the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, Dale B. Trester
  • Patent number: 10829967
    Abstract: A latching solenoid (100, 200, 300) includes a coil (114) and an armature (120). The armature (120) moves between latch position and a rest position in response to momentary energization of the coil (114) without moving in response to de-energization of the coil (114). A solenoid controller (140) is operable to receive messages from a vehicle bus (108, 410) and output control signals that cause energization of the coil (114).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Philip J. Mott
  • Patent number: 10756536
    Abstract: A system for handling short circuits on an electrical network comprising parallel operated units which are droop controlled for active and reactive power sharing and connected to each other via impedances and protection switches for detecting and handling a short circuit on the electrical network and for disconnecting the faulty part of the electrical network, said units including a DC-source and a grid forming voltage source inverter controlled by a cascaded control structure with an inner voltage control loop and a short circuit control for limiting the output current by changing the output voltage at the output terminals of the inverter as a function of the measured output current and a desired droop voltage provided by a droop controller for voltage and frequency power sharing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Aggreko Deutschland GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Kral, Christian Hans, Peter Merk
  • Patent number: 10720773
    Abstract: An electric circuit for regulating power transfer in a power grid includes a compensator circuit arranged to be connected between outputs of one or more power sources and a point of common coupling in the power grid. The compensator circuit is arranged to detect one or more electrical properties associated with the outputs and one or more electrical properties associated with the point of common coupling; and provide, based on the detection, a voltage output to emulate a resistor for suppressing filter resonance associated with the one or more power sources and to reduce equivalent impedance of the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
    Inventors: Yuanbin He, Shu-Hung Henry Chung, Chun-Tak Lai
  • Patent number: 10693889
    Abstract: An electronic control unit is connected to an in-vehicle network bus in an in-vehicle network system. The electronic control unit includes a first control circuit and a second control circuit. The first control circuit is connected to the in-vehicle network bus via the second control circuit over wired communication and/or wireless communication. The first control circuit performs a first determination process on a frame to determine conformity of the frame with a first rule. The second control circuit performs a second determination process on the frame to determine conformity of the frame with a second rule, and, upon determining that the frame conforms to the second rule, transmits the frame to the in-vehicle network bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ujiie, Jun Anzai, Yoshihiko Kitamura, Masato Tanabe, Hideki Matsushima, Tomoyuki Haga, Takeshi Kishikawa, Ryota Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10680427
    Abstract: Systems devices and methods are disclosed for detecting DC arc faults in a high voltage vehicle electrical distribution system. An example vehicle includes a high voltage electronic system comprising a current sensor configured to capture current data and a processor. The processor is configured to generate filtered data by applying a filter to the current data, determine a Hurst exponent based on the filtered data, and responsive to determining a threshold change in the Hurst exponent, detect the presence of a DC arc in the high voltage electronic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Amin Emrani, Jin Wang, Zhuo Wei, Boxue Hu, Yafeng Wang, Yousef Abdullah
  • Patent number: 10673226
    Abstract: An example electrical power distribution system includes a plurality of circuit protection devices coupled between an electrical power source and a plurality of electrical loads. Each circuit protection device includes a trip unit, a network interface, a processor, and a memory. The trip unit is configured to selectively trip to prevent a flow of electrical current through said circuit protection device. The network interface is communicatively coupled to a communication network including the plurality of circuit protection devices. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit, using the network interface, circuit protection device data to the network. The circuit protection device data is formatted according to a network communication protocol of the communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Lathom Alexander Louco, Jeffrey Marcel Kubascik, Shawn Alan Morgan, Lucas Ray Mallory, Craig Benjamin Williams