US5751150A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bidirectional load and source cycler
Assignee: Ampure Charging Systems Inc
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Filing: 1995-08-11
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Granted: 1998-05-12
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Expires: 2015-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for cycling loads and sources can be connected to one or more loads and sources to controllably supply or absorb current with respect thereto. For example, DC voltages can be controllably supplied to each load from a DC bus using a plurality of DC-DC converters. Various DC converter configurations are available including independent, parallel and differential, to expand the types of simulations which can be performed on the load(s).
Inventors
- 👤 Wally E. Rippel
- 👤 Darrell Buchanan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:21
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H02M3/285; G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/2832; G01R31/2836; G01R31/2839; G01R31/2841; G01R31/36; G01R31/385; G01R31/386; B; B60; B60R; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60R16/03; G01R31/005; G01R31/006; G01R31/34; H02M1/00; H02M1/0067; H02M1/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A system for sourcing and sinking electrical power comprising: a poly-phase utility port for connecting the system with an electrical utility; a device connected to the poly-phase utility port for interfacing the poly-phase utility port with a DC bus to provide a first DC voltage level thereon; at least one bi-directional DC-to-DC converter for converting the first DC voltage level to at least one second DC voltage level; and a controller for coordinating operation of the at least one bidirectional DC to DC converter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 words
A system for sourcing and sinking electrical power comprising: a poly-phase utility port for connecting the system with an electrical utility; a device connected to the poly-phase utility port for interfacing the poly-phase utility port with a DC bus to provide a first DC voltage level thereon; at least one bi-directional DC-to-DC converter for converting the first DC voltage level to at least one second DC voltage level; and a controller for coordinating operation of the at least one bidirectional DC to DC converter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller coordinates operation of the at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC converter to reduce current harmonics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller reduces current harmonics by controlling a phase relationship between duty cycles of the at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC converter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller coordinates operation of the at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC converter such that at least one pair of the at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC converter operates in parallel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller operates switches associated with a first of the at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC converter according to a first duty cycle and operates switches associated with a second of the at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC converter according to a second duty cycle, and wherein the first and second duty cycles are out of phase with respect to one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second duty cycles are 180 degrees out of phase.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller operates switches associated with a first of the at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC converter according to a first duty cycle and operates switches associated with a second of the at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC converters according to a second duty cycle, and wherein the first and second duty cycles are phased with respect to one another based upon a polarity of current through the first and second DC-to-DC converters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller coordinates operation of the at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC converter such that at least one pair of the at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC converter operates differentially.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller operates switches associated with a first of the at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC converter according to a first duty cycle and operates switches associated with a second of the at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC converter according to a second duty cycle, and wherein the first and second duty cycles are in phase with respect to one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC converter further comprises: first and second switches; an inductor connected in parallel between said first and second switches; and a capacitor for isolating ripple currents generated by said at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC converter.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
60 words
A system for testing at least one electrical device comprising: a DC bus driven at a DC voltage; a pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters for controllably converting the DC voltage and providing at least one output DC voltage; and a controller for connecting the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters to operate in one of a parallel and a differential mode.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
60 words
A system for testing at least one electrical device comprising: a DC bus driven at a DC voltage; a pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters for controllably converting the DC voltage and providing at least one output DC voltage; and a controller for connecting the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters to operate in one of a parallel and a differential mode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller coordinates operation of the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters to reduce signal harmonics.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller reduces signal harmonics by controlling a phase relationship between duty cycles of the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller operates the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters in parallel by electrically connecting a positive voltage output of one of the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters to a positive voltage output of another of the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller operates the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters differentially by electrically connecting a load between the positive voltage output terminals of each of the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller operates switches associated with a first of the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters according to a first duty cycle and operates switches associated with a second of the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters according to a second duty cycle, and wherein the first and second duty cycles are in phase with respect to one another.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller operates switches associated with a first of the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters according to a first duty cycle and operates switches associated with a second of the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters according to a second duty cycle, and wherein the first and second duty cycles are out of phase with respect to one another.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first and second duty cycles are 180 degrees out of phase.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller operates the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters such that each of the bidirectional DC-to-DC converters operates independently of the other.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller operates switches associated with a first of the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters according to a first duty cycle and operates switches associated with a second of the pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters according to a second duty cycle, and wherein the first and second duty cycles are phased with respect to one another based upon a polarity of current through the first and second bidirectional DC-to-DC converters.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters each further comprise: first and second switches; an inductor connected in parallel between said first and second switches; and a capacitor for isolating ripple currents generated by an associated one of said pair of bidirectional DC-to-DC converters.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for sinking and sourcing electrical power comprising: a poly-phase utility port for connecting the system with an electrical utility; a device connected to the poly-phase utility port for interfacing the poly-phase utility port with a DC bus to provide a first DC voltage level thereon; at least one DC-to-DC converter for converting the first DC voltage level to at least one second DC voltage level; and a controller for coordinating operation of the at least one DC to DC converter wherein the controller reduces current harmonics by controlling a phase relationship between duty cycles of the at least one DC-to-DC converter.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for sinking and sourcing electrical power comprising: a poly-phase utility port for connecting the system with an electrical utility; a device connected to the poly-phase utility port for interfacing the poly-phase utility port with a DC bus to provide a first DC voltage level thereon; at least one DC-to-DC converter for converting the first DC voltage level to at least one second DC voltage level; and a controller for coordinating operation of the at least one DC to DC converter wherein the controller reduces current harmonics by controlling a phase relationship between duty cycles of the at least one DC-to-DC converter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 22, wherein said at least one DC-to-DC converter is a bidirectional DC-to-DC converter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 23, wherein said at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC converter further comprises: first and second switches; an inductor connected in parallel between said first and second switches; and a capacitor for isolating ripple currents generated by said at least one bidirectional DC-to-DC 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) | 2001-05-11 | 2001-11-10 | 2002-05-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-11 | 2005-11-10 | 2006-05-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-11 | 2009-11-10 | 2010-05-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |