Patent US5694309A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5694309A
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Synchronization of power converter arrays
Assignee: VLT Corp
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Filing: 1996-04-16
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Granted: 1997-12-02
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Expires: 2016-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A power conversion array delivers power to a load. The array includes at least four power converters, each of the power converters comprising an output power port for connection to the load and a synchronization port for passing synchronization information. A synchronization medium connected to the synchronization ports of the converters carries the synchronization information among the converters. The synchronization medium defines paths among the synchronization ports such that every synchronization port is connected to every other synchronization port by at least one path that does not include a connection to the synchronization port of any of the other converters. In another aspect, in arrays which include at least three power converters, the synchronizing medium conveys synchronizing information via impedance elements connected to the synchronization ports by coupling conductors, and the path between any pair of coupling conductors includes exactly two impedance elements. In another aspect, an integral assembly includes impedance devices, each of which is formed by an element that is specific to that device and a common element that is shared by the devices, and a mechanism (e.g., insulation) that prevents exposure of the common element to the environment.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay Prager
- 👤 Patrizio Vinciarelli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:27
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H02M3/285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A power conversion array for delivering power to a load, said array comprising at least four power converters, each of said power converters comprising an output power port for connection to the load and a synchronization port for passing synchronization information, and a synchronization medium connected to the synchronization ports of the converters for carrying the synchronization information among the converters, the synchronization medium defining paths among the synchronization ports such that every synchronization port is connected to every other synchronization port by at least one path that does not include a connection to the synchronization port of any of the other converters.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A power conversion array for delivering power to a load, said array comprising at least four power converters, each of said power converters comprising an output power port for connection to the load and a synchronization port for passing synchronization information, and a synchronization medium connected to the synchronization ports of the converters for carrying the synchronization information among the converters, the synchronization medium defining paths among the synchronization ports such that every synchronization port is connected to every other synchronization port by at least one path that does not include a connection to the synchronization port of any of the other converters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The array of claim 1 in which the one path comprises a galvanically isolated region coupled by an electromagnetic field.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The array of claim 1 in which the one path includes impedance coupling.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The array of claim 3 in which the impedance coupling includes inductive coupling.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The array of claim 3 in which the impedance coupling includes impedances formed as an integrated device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The array of claim 3 in which the impedance coupling comprises resistors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The array of claim 3 in which the impedance coupling comprises active components.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The array of claim 3 in which the impedance coupling comprises JFETs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The array of claim 3 in which the impedance coupling includes capacitive coupling.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The array of claim 9 in which the capacitive coupling in the one path comprises a capacitor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The array of claim 9 in which the capacitive coupling comprises capacitors connecting each of the synchronization ports to every other synchronization port.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The array of claim 1 in which the paths comprise active components.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The array of claim 1 in which the synchronization ports of the converters are galvanically isolated from one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The array of claim 1 in which the synchronization medium comprises insulated conductors that are connected respectively to the synchronization ports of the power converters and are capacitively coupled to one another.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The array of claim 14 in which the conductors are wires twisted together.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The array of claim 1 in which the synchronization medium is connected to each of the ports using conductors which comprise windings and the paths include magnetic coupling.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The array of claim 16 in which the conductors enclose a magnetically permeable medium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The array of claim 17 in which the medium comprises a permeable core.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The array of claim 17 in which the conductors and the permeable medium comprise a leakage inductance transformer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The array of claim 17 in which the permeable medium comprises two stacked core pieces.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
73 words
A power conversion array for delivering power to a load, said array comprising at least three power converters, each of said power converters comprising an output power port for connection to the load, and a synchronization port for passing synchronization information, and a synchronization medium for conveying synchronizing information via impedance elements connected to the synchronization ports by coupling conductors, the path between any pair of coupling conductors including exactly two impedance elements.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
73 words
A power conversion array for delivering power to a load, said array comprising at least three power converters, each of said power converters comprising an output power port for connection to the load, and a synchronization port for passing synchronization information, and a synchronization medium for conveying synchronizing information via impedance elements connected to the synchronization ports by coupling conductors, the path between any pair of coupling conductors including exactly two impedance elements.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The array of claim 21 in which the two impedance elements comprise capacitive elements connected in series between the pair of ports.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The array of claim 21 in which the coupling conductors comprise a twisted bundle of insulated conductors.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The array of claim 21 in which the impedance elements comprise active components.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The array of claim 21 in which the impedance elements comprise capacitive elements.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The array of claim 25 in which the capacitive elements comprise metal tabs which are capacitively coupled to a single conductive element.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The array of claim 26 in which the single conductive element comprises a conductive plate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The array of claim 26 in which the single conductive element is insulated from the environment.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
The array of claim 25 in which the capacitive elements are formed by conductive plates associated respectively with the ports and a single common conductive element capacitively coupled to and shared by the conductive plates associated with the ports.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The array of claim 29 in which the common conductive element is insulated from the environment.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The array of claim 29 in which the common conductive element is folded.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
50 words
The array of claim 1 or 21 in which the synchronization medium comprises one capacitor for each converter in the array, one terminal of each capacitor being a coupling conductor connected to a different synchronization port in the array, the other terminals of all of the capacitors being connected together.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The array of claim 1 or 21 in which the converters comprise zcs converters.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The array of claim 1 or 21 in which the converters comprise enhancement-mode converters.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The array of claim 1 or 21 in which the converters include regenerative synchronization circuitry.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The array of claim 1 or 21 in which the converters include talker-listener synchronization circuitry.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
The array of claim 1 or 21 in which the synchronization medium comprises passive components.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The array of claim 1 or 21 in which the synchronization medium comprises resistors.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
The array of claim 1 or 21 in which the synchronization medium comprises JFETs.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The array of claim 1 or 21 in which at least one of the converters is a booster converter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-01 | 2001-06-02 | 2001-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-01 | 2005-06-02 | 2005-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-01 | 2009-06-02 | 2009-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |