Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130154711 | METHOD, POWER UNIT, AND POWER SYSTEM HAVING GATE VOLTAGE LIMITING CIRCUIT - A power unit (e.g., inverter module) includes a housing and a switch attached to the housing. The switch may be configured to be electrically coupled to a remotely-mounted drive circuit through two or more wire leads. The power unit also includes a clamping circuit electrically coupled to terminals of the switch and in parallel with the switch. The clamping circuit may be disposed inside the housing or on an outer surface of the housing, and is configured to limit a voltage across the switch. | 06-20-2013 |
20130308344 | POWER CONVERTER AND METHOD - A power converter apparatus includes a primary bridge having a plurality of diagonally opposed primary power elements, and a secondary bridge having a plurality of diagonally opposed secondary power elements. The primary and secondary bridges are electrically coupled by a transformer. At least one control unit is configured to phase-shift switch the primary and secondary power elements, such that one or more of the primary and secondary power elements are switched off under near-zero current conditions to reduce voltage and current stresses and commutation losses within the power converter. | 11-21-2013 |
20140078782 | POWER CONVERTER CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A power converter control system includes primary bridge controller that is configured to actuate a first plurality of gate drive units that switch a first plurality of power elements in a primary bridge of a power converter. The control system further includes a secondary bridge controller separate from the primary bridge controller that is configured to actuate a second plurality of gate drive units to switch a second plurality of power elements in a secondary bridge of the power converter | 03-20-2014 |
20140184113 | BRAKING AND AUXILIARY POWER CONVERTER - An integrated power converter includes first and second auxiliary switch modules, and one or more braking switch modules. The first auxiliary switch module is mounted at a first location of a laminated bus bar, and connects a first auxiliary lead with a first power layer and a second power layer of the bus bar. The second auxiliary switch module is mounted at a second location of the bus bar, and connects a second auxiliary lead with the first and second power layers. The braking switch modules are mounted at additional locations of the bus bar, adjacent to the first and second locations. Each braking switch module connects a braking lead with one of the power layers of the bus bar, and with a dual diode module or with the other power layer of the bus bar. | 07-03-2014 |
20140185328 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AVOIDING TRANSFORMER SATURATION - A controller for a power converter includes one or more controller modules operably linked to a transformer core of the power converter, to primary bridge switches of the power converter, and to secondary bridge switches of the power converter, wherein the one or more controller modules are configured to avoid saturation of the transformer core by modulating pulse widths of first electrical pulses sent to the primary bridge switches, based at least on measurements of DC components of current through primary and secondary windings adjacent the transformer core, and by modulating pulse widths of second electrical pulses sent to the secondary bridge switches, based at least on measurements of DC components of current through the primary and secondary windings. | 07-03-2014 |
20140191745 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MITIGATING PERTURBATIONS IN A POWER CONVERTER - A power converter includes a plurality of switches that interconnect first and second input terminals of the power converter with first and second output terminals of the power converter. The switches are switched to convert power from the input terminals to the output terminals. During the switching, voltage spikes are mitigated by a first RLC branch connected from the first input terminal to the first output terminal and by a second RLC branch connected from the second input terminal to the second output terminal. | 07-10-2014 |
20140354042 | FAILURE PROTECTION FOR A POWER DELIVERY SYSTEM - A power delivery system includes a bus bar and a housing coupled to the bus bar. A semiconductor power device is enclosed within the housing. The housing comprises an outlet configured to direct failure material of the power semiconductor device away from any remaining components connected to the bus bar. In another aspect, the power delivery system additionally or alternatively comprises two bus bars. A first of the two bus bars has a first landing, a riser, and a second landing, which is parallel to the first landing and in effect spatially offset from the first landing. A second of the two bus bars is attached to the second landing of the first bus bar, such that the second bus bar is parallel to but offset from the first landing of the bus bar. | 12-04-2014 |
20160101699 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING FUEL CONSUMPTION IN A VEHICLE - A drive system includes an engine, an alternator coupled to the engine, the alternator being configured to power at least one auxiliary load, a traction motor system operatively coupled to drive wheels of the vehicle, the traction motor system being configured for receiving primary electrical power from the alternator and for propelling the vehicle in response to the primary electrical power, and a motor electrically connected to the traction motor system and mechanically coupled to the engine. The motor is configured to receive electrical power from the traction motor system in a dynamic braking mode of operation of the traction motor system and to communicate power to the engine during the dynamic braking mode. | 04-14-2016 |