Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080284449 | Power converters with component stress monitoring for fault prediction - A power converter includes a controller and at least one circuit component. The controller is configured for monitoring stress on the circuit component during operation of the power converter and estimating a remaining life of the circuit component based on the monitored stress. | 11-20-2008 |
20080285184 | Power converters with operating efficiency monitoring for fault detection - A power converter includes a controller and at least one output terminal for providing an output voltage and an output current to a load. The controller is configured for monitoring the output voltage and the output current and calculating an efficiency of the power converter based on the monitored output voltage and output current. The controller is also configured to generate a fault signal after detecting a degradation in the power converter efficiency. | 11-20-2008 |
20080285192 | Power converters with rate of change monitoring for fault prediction and/or detection - A power converter includes a controller having at least one input for monitoring a rate of change of an operating parameter of the power converter. The controller is configured for comparing the monitored rate of change of the operating parameter with an allowable rate of change for the operating parameter, and for generating a fault signal when the monitored rate of change of the operating parameter deviates from the allowable rate of change for the operating parameter. The operating parameter for which the rate of change is monitored may be, for example, a temperature, a current and/or a voltage in the power converter. | 11-20-2008 |
20090073731 | Health monitoring of power converter fans and electric motors - A method for detecting a performance degradation of a fan in a power converter is disclosed. The method includes monitoring a speed of the fan and detecting the performance degradation of the fan based, at least in part, on the monitored speed. The method further includes generating a warning signal after detecting the performance degradation of the fan. According to another aspect, a power converter includes a fan and a processor operably coupled to the fan for monitoring a speed of the fan. The processor is configured for detecting a performance degradation of the fan based, at least in part, on the monitored fan speed. The processor generates a warning signal after detecting the performance degradation of the fan. | 03-19-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090085546 | Fast Transient Step Load Response in a Power Converter - A method of controlling a power converter having at least one switching device for supplying an output voltage and a load current to a load is disclosed. The method includes sensing the output voltage and sensing the load current. The method further includes controlling a duty cycle of the switching device according to the sensed output voltage and a voltage control loop when a rate of change of the load current does not exceed a threshold level. The method also includes adjusting the duty cycle of the switching device set by the voltage control loop when the rate of change of the load current exceeds the threshold level. | 04-02-2009 |
20100026095 | Multiple Output Isolated DC/DC Power Converters - Methods of regulating an output voltage of a multi-output isolated power converter are disclosed. One method includes allowing the output voltage to vary unregulated when the output voltage is below a threshold value and preventing the output voltage from increasing when the output voltage reaches the threshold value. Additional methods and multi-output power supplies are also disclosed. | 02-04-2010 |
20110074533 | Center Tapped Transformers for Isolated Power Converters - A cost effective solution for construction of high frequency, double ended, isolated, push pull, center tapped power transformers operating in continuous/discontinuous mode with minimized winding proximity losses comprises at least two identical sets of windings with identical coupling coefficients. Each set of windings consists of at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding tightly coupled to each other. Both the sets of windings are loosely coupled to each other with a magnetic field isolating separator. | 03-31-2011 |
20110075458 | AC-DC Switching Power Converters With Frequency Variation in Response to Load Changes - A method of operating a switching power converter having at least one power switch controlled by a drive signal having a switching frequency is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an output power of the switching power converter, determining whether the output power has decreased below a threshold level and, in response to the output power decreasing below the threshold level, changing the switching frequency of the drive signal from a first switching frequency to a second switching frequency when an operating condition of the switching power converter is satisfied. Also disclosed are controllers and switching power converters (including PFC converters). | 03-31-2011 |
20110075459 | Power Factor Correction Circuits, Systems and Power Supplies Operable With Different Input Voltages - A cost effective solution for power factor correction in power devices operating at two widely separated input voltages comprises two unequal power rails. One power rail is optimized for operation at high line voltage only, while the other power rail is designed only for low line voltage. When operating at high line voltage, the second rail is disabled. At low line, both power rails are enabled but by virtue of unequal boost inductors, the high line power rail handles only about 30% of the power while the low line power rail handles the remaining power. Hence, the efficiency at high line voltage is maximized. As the inductance used in the high line power rail is much higher in value, it stays in continuous conduction mode for all load conditions and hence the power factor is significantly improved. | 03-31-2011 |
20110278926 | Multiple Output Isolated DC/DC Power Converters - Methods of regulating an output voltage of a multi-output isolated power converter are disclosed. One method includes allowing the output voltage to vary unregulated when the output voltage is below a threshold value and preventing the output voltage from increasing when the output voltage reaches the threshold value. Additional methods and multi-output power supplies are also disclosed. | 11-17-2011 |
20110278927 | Multiple Output Isolated DC/DC Power Converters - Methods of regulating an output voltage of a multi-output isolated power converter are disclosed. One method includes allowing the output voltage to vary unregulated when the output voltage is below a threshold value and preventing the output voltage from increasing when the output voltage reaches the threshold value. Additional methods and multi-output power supplies are also disclosed. | 11-17-2011 |
20120080943 | Photovoltaic Power Systems - A power system includes a plurality of DC/DC converters and a DC/AC inverter. The plurality of DC/DC converters having outputs electrically connected in parallel for supplying a DC voltage bus to an input of the DC/AC inverter. The plurality of DC/DC converters each include a maximum power point tracker (MPPT). Various DC/DC converters and DC/AC inverters suitable for use in this system and others are also disclosed. | 04-05-2012 |
20120081937 | Converters and Inverters for Photovoltaic Power Systems - A power system includes a plurality of DC/DC converters and a DC/AC inverter. The plurality of DC/DC converters having outputs electrically connected in parallel for supplying a DC voltage bus to an input of the DC/AC inverter. The plurality of DC/DC converters each include a maximum power point tracker (MPPT). Various DC/DC converters and DC/AC inverters suitable for use in this system and others are also disclosed. | 04-05-2012 |
20120127764 | Power Systems for Photovoltaic and DC Input Sources - A power conversion system for use with a photovoltaic (PV) power source may include a DC/DC converter for converting a first DC voltage into a second DC voltage, an isolation transformer, an inverter for converting DC power to AC power, and at least one controller for controlling the DC/DC converter and the inverter. The controller may be configured to operate the DC/DC converter as a buck converter or a boost converter based, at least in part, on whether the first DC voltage is less or greater than a reference voltage. Additionally, the controller may operate the converter according to a maximum power point tracking algorithm. Further, the controller may be configured to operate the inverter to control the DC voltage at the inverter's input as a function of the AC voltage at the inverter's output. Example embodiments of power systems, DC/DC converters, DC/AC inverters and related methods are also disclosed. | 05-24-2012 |
20120224401 | Variable Input Voltage PFC Circuits, Systems and Power Supplies With Phase Shifted Power Rails - A method of generating an output voltage from a variable input voltage with a power factor correction (PFC) system is disclosed. The PFC system includes a first power rail and a second power rail connected in parallel between an input for receiving the input voltage and an output for outputting the output voltage. The method includes operating one or both of the first power rail and the second power rail to generate the output based, at least in part, on whether the input voltage exceeds a threshold voltage. Power supplies and PFC systems suitable for performing the method are also disclosed. | 09-06-2012 |
20130010500 | CONVERTERS AND INVERTERS FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS - A power system includes a plurality of DC/DC converters and a DC/AC inverter. The plurality of DC/DC converters having outputs electrically connected in parallel for supplying a DC voltage bus to an input of the DC/AC inverter. The plurality of DC/DC converters each include a maximum power point tracker (MPPT). Various DC/DC converters and DC/AC inverters suitable for use in this system and others are also disclosed. | 01-10-2013 |
20130027979 | CONVERTERS AND INVERTERS FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS - A power system includes a plurality of DC/DC converters and a DC/AC inverter. The plurality of DC/DC converters having outputs electrically connected in parallel for supplying a DC voltage bus to an input of the DC/AC inverter. The plurality of DC/DC converters each include a maximum power point tracker (MPPT). Various DC/DC converters and DC/AC inverters suitable for use in this system and others are also disclosed. | 01-31-2013 |
20130076245 | LED DRIVER CIRCUITS - A driver circuit for one or more LEDs includes a power circuit having an output terminal, a capacitor coupled to the output terminal and a switch, and a control circuit coupled to the power circuit for controlling the power circuit. The control circuit is configured to operate the switch for coupling a resistance in series with the capacitor in response to detecting an open circuit condition at the output terminal. Additionally, or alternatively, the driver circuit may include a switched mode power supply, and the control circuit may be configured to switch operation of the switched mode power supply from a current control mode to a voltage control mode, and reduce a current setting for the current control mode, in response to detecting an open circuit condition at the output terminal. | 03-28-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130162042 | SINGLE PHASE REDUNDANT POWER SUPPLIES FOR REDUCING PHASE CURRENT IMBALANCES - A single phase redundant power supply system may include a first power supply having an input coupled to a first phase voltage in a polyphase power distribution system and an output coupled to a load for supplying an amount of DC power to the load, and a second power supply having an input for coupling to a second phase voltage in the polyphase power distribution system and an output coupled to the load for supplying an amount of DC power to the load. At least the first power supply is configured to reduce phase current imbalances in the polyphase power distribution system by adjusting the amount of DC power supplied to the load by the first power supply and the amount of DC power supplied to the load by the second power supply. | 06-27-2013 |
20130163297 | SINGLE PHASE REDUNDANT POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS FOR REDUCING PHASE CURRENT IMBALANCES - A single phase redundant power supply system may include a first power supply having an input coupled to a first phase voltage in a polyphase power distribution system and an output coupled to a load for supplying an amount of DC power to the load, and a second power supply having an input for coupling to a second phase voltage in the polyphase power distribution system and an output coupled to the load for supplying an amount of DC power to the load. At least the first power supply is configured to reduce phase current imbalances in the polyphase power distribution system by adjusting the amount of DC power supplied to the load by the first power supply and the amount of DC power supplied to the load by the second power supply. | 06-27-2013 |
20140217832 | DISCONNECT SWITCHES IN DC POWER SYSTEMS - A system includes a soft DC power source having an output terminal, a DC load, a disconnect switch coupled between the output terminal of the DC power source and the DC load, and a capacitor coupled between a power side of the disconnect switch and a reference potential. The capacitor inhibits a rise in voltage across the disconnect switch as the disconnect switch is opening to inhibit arcing in the switch. Further, a disconnect switch assembly includes a pair of input terminals for coupling to a DC power source, a pair of output terminals for coupling to a DC load, a disconnect switch coupled between one of the input terminals and one of the output terminals, and a capacitor coupled between the pair of input terminals. | 08-07-2014 |
20140247632 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING ISLANDING CONDITIONS IN GRID-TIED INVERTERS - A grid-tie inverter includes a power circuit and a control circuit coupled to the power circuit. The power circuit has an input terminal for coupling to a DC power source and an output terminal for coupling to an AC power grid. The control circuit is configured to perturb an AC output current of the power circuit a first time and detect a first change in an AC output voltage of the power circuit without shutting down the power circuit, perturb the AC output current of the power circuit a second time and detect a second change in the AC output voltage of the power circuit, and shut down the power circuit in response to detecting at least the first change in the AC output voltage and the second change in the AC output voltage. Example embodiments and related methods of controlling grid-tied inverters are also disclosed. | 09-04-2014 |
20140268891 | MULTIPHASE DC/DC CONVERTERS - A multiphase DC/DC power converter includes an input, an output, at least a first converter and a second converter coupled in parallel between the input and the output, an inductor coupled to the first and second converters, an output capacitor coupled between the first and second converters and the output, and a control circuit coupled to the first converter and the second converter. The first and second converters each include a power switch. The control circuit is configured to switch the power switches at a frequency with a phase shift therebetween, and to vary the frequency to regulate a voltage at the output. Additionally, the control circuit may be configured to switch power switches at a fixed frequency with substantially no phase shift therebetween during startup of a multiphase DC/DC power converter, and at a variable frequency with a defined phase shift therebetween after startup. | 09-18-2014 |
20140268943 | ARC PREVENTION IN DC POWER SYSTEMS - A power system includes a DC power source having a maximum output voltage, a DC/AC inverter having an input coupled via a connection to the DC power source and an output for supplying AC power to a load, and a control circuit for controlling the DC/AC inverter. The control circuit is configured to maintain a DC voltage at the input of the DC/AC inverter above a threshold voltage to inhibit arcing as a result of a break in the connection between the DC power source and the DC/AC inverter. The threshold voltage is substantially equal to the maximum output voltage of the DC power source less a minimum arcing voltage for the connection between the DC power source and the DC/AC inverter. | 09-18-2014 |
20140268947 | Reducing Phase Current Imbalances In Single Phase Redundant Power Supply Systems With Unbalanced Loads - A system includes first and second pluralities of single phase AC/DC power supplies each having an input for coupling to first and second phase voltages, respectively, in a polyphase power distribution system. The outputs of the power supplies are electrically connected in parallel for supplying DC current to a load at a substantially constant voltage. The system further includes a controller coupled to at least the first plurality of power supplies and configured to increase the DC current supplied to the load by at least one of the first plurality of power supplies in response to another one of the first plurality of power supplies shutting down. Various other systems, power supplies, controllers and methods are also disclosed. | 09-18-2014 |