公开(公告)号：US06906500B2

公开(公告)日：2005-06-14

申请号：US10295448

申请日：2002-11-14

申请人： Kent Kernahan

发明人： Kent Kernahan

IPC分类号： G05F3/26 ,  H02J7/00 ,  H02M1/084 ,  H02M3/156 ,  H02M3/157 ,  H02M3/158 ,  H03M5/08 ,  G05F1/613

CPC分类号： H02M3/157 ,  G05F3/262 ,  H02J7/0065 ,  H02M1/0845 ,  H02M3/156 ,  H02M3/1588 ,  H02M2001/0012 ,  H02M2001/007 ,  H02M2001/008 ,  H03M5/08 ,  H05B41/2828 ,  Y02B20/186 ,  Y02B70/1466 ,  Y10T307/438 ,  Y10T307/469

摘要： A method of operating a switching power converter circuit having first and second transistors connected to an inductor, where a conduction control signal is selectively applied to the second transistor as a function of an operation of the first transistor during a conduction cycle. The decision on whether to provide a conduction control signal to the second transistor is made in one mode of operation as a function of the length of the first conduction control signal applied to the first transistor during the conduction cycle. In another mode of operation a comparison is made of the on-to-off conduction transition time of the second transistor to the length of time remaining in a conduction cycle after the first transistor ceases to conduct.

摘要翻译： 一种操作具有连接到电感器的第一和第二晶体管的开关功率转换器电路的方法，其中在导通周期期间将导通控制信号选择性地施加到第二晶体管作为第一晶体管的操作的函数。 作为在导通周期期间施加到第一晶体管的第一导通控制信号的长度的函数，在一个操作模式中进行关于是否向第二晶体管提供导通控制信号的决定。 在另一种操作模式中，比较了在第一晶体管停止导通之后，第二晶体管的导通到导通转变时间到导通周期中剩余的时间长度。

公开(公告)号：US06864644B2

公开(公告)日：2005-03-08

申请号：US10295496

申请日：2002-11-14

申请人： Kent Kernahan

发明人： Kent Kernahan

IPC分类号： H05B41/282 ,  H05B41/392 ,  H05B37/02

CPC分类号： H05B41/2827 ,  H05B41/3927

摘要： Method of tuning a drive circuit for a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL). The drive circuit includes a piezoelectric transformer coupled to an output of first and second transistors. The frequency of drive signals to the first and second transistors are varied until about a ninety degree phase relationship is achieved between the frequency of the drive signals and a frequency of voltage across a resistor connected to the CCFL is achieved. Alternatively, the frequency of the drive signals provided to the first and second transistor is adjusted as needed to achieve maximum output voltage.

摘要翻译： 调谐冷阴极荧光灯（CCFL）驱动电路的方法。 驱动电路包括耦合到第一和第二晶体管的输出的压电变压器。 改变到第一和第二晶体管的驱动信号的频率是变化的，直到在驱动信号的频率和连接到CCFL的电阻之间的电压的频率达到90度的相位关系。 或者，根据需要调整提供给第一和第二晶体管的驱动信号的频率以实现最大输出电压。

公开(公告)号：US08952672B2

公开(公告)日：2015-02-10

申请号：US13352330

申请日：2012-01-17

申请人： Kent Kernahan

发明人： Kent Kernahan

IPC分类号： G05F1/40 ,  H01L31/02 ,  H02J3/38

CPC分类号： H01L31/042 ,  H01L31/02021 ,  H02J3/385 ,  Y02E10/58

摘要： A solar panel is constructed by electrically connecting one or more banks of solar cells in series, wherein each cell in each bank is electrically connected in series. In some aspects the cells are a quarter of typical full size cells in the direction of current flow. A module senses and controls small signal conduction and total conduction of the panel such that reverse current conduction of a weak or partially shaded cell is prevented, thereby allowing the panel to be constructed without bypass diodes. In some aspects the module prevents damage to the panel by an external inverter's maximum power point experiments; in other aspects the module itself provides maximum power point control.

摘要翻译： 通过将一个或多个太阳能电池组串联电连接来构造太阳能电池板，其中每个组中的每个电池串联电连接。 在一些方面，电池在电流方向上是典型的全尺寸电池的四分之一。 模块感测并控制面板的小信号传导和总导通，从而防止弱或部分阴影单元的反向电流传导，从而允许面板被构建而没有旁路二极管。 在某些方面，模块可以通过外部变频器的最大功率点实验来防止面板损坏; 在其他方面，模块本身提供最大功率点控制。

公开(公告)号：US08154892B2

公开(公告)日：2012-04-10

申请号：US12473356

申请日：2009-05-28

申请人： Kent Kernahan

发明人： Kent Kernahan

IPC分类号： H02J1/10

CPC分类号： H02J3/383 ,  Y02E10/563

摘要： Power output of a power generation system is controlled by measuring the output voltage of the system, dividing the measured voltage value into a target power value, then controlling the current provided by the generation system to the calculated value. In some embodiments the power generation system is connected to a grid.

摘要翻译： 通过测量系统的输出电压来控制发电系统的功率输出，将测得的电压值除以目标功率值，然后将发电系统提供的电流控制为计算值。 在一些实施例中，发电系统连接到电网。

公开(公告)号：US07884500B2

公开(公告)日：2011-02-08

申请号：US12428351

申请日：2009-04-22

申请人： Kent Kernahan

发明人： Kent Kernahan

IPC分类号： H02J1/10

CPC分类号： H02M7/48 ,  H01L31/02021 ,  H02J3/382 ,  H02J3/383 ,  H02J3/386 ,  Y02E10/563 ,  Y02E10/763 ,  Y10T307/50 ,  Y10T307/505 ,  Y10T307/549 ,  Y10T307/642 ,  Y10T307/653 ,  Y10T307/685 ,  Y10T307/691 ,  Y10T307/707 ,  Y10T307/718 ,  Y10T307/735

摘要： A direct current to pulse amplitude modulated (“PAM”) current converter, denominated a “PAMCC”, is connected to an individual source of direct current. The PAMCC receives direct current and provides pulse amplitude modulated current at its output. An array of PAMCCs constructed in accordance with the present invention form a distributed multiphase inverter whose combined output is the demodulated sum of the current pulse amplitude modulated by each PAMCC. The array is configured as a series of stages, wherein the power sources within each stage are in parallel. The series of stages provides for a high voltage AC or DC output. In some embodiments a weak power source is compensated for by adjusting the voltage or the current of the weak power source.

摘要翻译： 称为“PAMCC”的直流脉冲幅度调制（“PAM”）电流转换器连接到单独的直流电源。 PAMCC接收直流电流，并在其输出端提供脉冲幅度调制电流。 根据本发明构造的PAMCC阵列形成分布式多相逆变器，其组合输出是由每个PAMCC调制的当前脉冲幅度的解调和。 阵列被配置为一系列级，其中每个级内的电源是并联的。 该系列级提供高压交流或直流输出。 在一些实施例中，通过调节弱电源的电压或电流来补偿弱电源。

公开(公告)号：US07528571B2

公开(公告)日：2009-05-05

申请号：US11688876

申请日：2007-03-21

申请人： Kent Kernahan ,  Milton D. Ribelro ,  Dongsheng Zhou ,  Larry A. Klein

发明人： Kent Kernahan ,  Milton D. Ribelro ,  Dongsheng Zhou ,  Larry A. Klein

IPC分类号： H01M10/44

CPC分类号： H02J7/045 ,  H01M10/44 ,  H01M10/48 ,  H02J7/0077

摘要： A method for charging a battery is disclosed, wherein a constant current charging current is periodically adjusted as needed such that the change in battery voltage increases approximately linearly during the charging period. In some embodiments the charging is in three phases. An optional first phase charges with a low current until the battery voltages rises to a certain minimum. During a second phase a constant current is provided while the battery voltage is monitored. The second phase constant current is periodically increased if the rate of change of battery voltage is less than a predetermined value and is decreased if the rate of change of battery voltage is more than the predetermined value. When the battery voltage attains a predetermined value, a third phase begins wherein a constant voltage is applied to the battery while the battery current draw is periodically monitored. Charging is stopped when the battery current draw falls to a predetermined value or, in some embodiments, when the charging current drops to a value that is a certain percentage of the charging current at the termination of phase two.In one embodiment the battery voltage is monitored to determine a possible battery failure, for example in the case of the battery voltage decreasing during the constant current charging of phase two. In some embodiments the battery is shorted out in response to detection of a possible failure.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种用于对电池充电的方法，其中根据需要周期性地调节恒定电流充电电流，使得电池电压的变化在充电期间近似线性地增加。 在一些实施例中，充电分三个阶段。 可选的第一阶段以低电流充电直到电池电压上升到一定的最小值。 在第二阶段期间，在监视电池电压的同时提供恒定电流。 如果电池电压的变化率小于预定值，则第二相恒定电流周期性地增加，并且如果电池电压的变化率大于预定值，则第二相恒定电流会降低。 当电池电压达到预定值时，开始第三阶段，其中在电池电流消耗被周期性地监测的同时向电池施加恒定电压。 当电池电流下降到预定值时，或者在一些实施例中当充电电流下降到在阶段2结束时充电电流的一定百分比的值时，停止充电。 在一个实施例中，监视电池电压以确定可能的电池故障，例如在阶段2的恒定电流充电期间电池电压降低的情况下。 在一些实施例中，响应于可能的故障的检测，电池被短路。

公开(公告)号：US07221130B2

公开(公告)日：2007-05-22

申请号：US11030688

申请日：2005-01-05

申请人： Milton D. Ribeiro ,  Kent Kernahan

发明人： Milton D. Ribeiro ,  Kent Kernahan

IPC分类号： G05F1/59

CPC分类号： H02M3/156

摘要： A method for controlling a switching power converter provides an efficient algorithm for controlling the output voltage across loads that are relatively light with small transients. When the output voltage is at or below a predetermined first magnitude, a determination is made of the charge required for one or more pulses to increase the output voltage to a predetermined second magnitude which is greater than a target output voltage. Corrective action is taken to raise the output voltage to the second magnitude and the system takes no further corrective action until output voltage is determined to be at or below the first magnitude. The method is useful with synchronous or non-synchronous power converters of buck, boost, buck/boost or other topologies. The method further provides a simple means for determining the amount of charge removed from a battery.

摘要翻译： 用于控制开关功率转换器的方法提供了一种有效的算法，用于控制跨越具有小瞬变的相对较轻的负载的输出电压。 当输出电压处于或低于预定的第一幅度时，确定一个或多个脉冲所需的电荷将输出电压增加到大于目标输出电压的预定的第二幅度。 采取纠正措施将输出电压提高到第二幅度，并且在确定输出电压等于或低于第一幅度之前，系统不再采取任何纠正措施。 该方法对于降压，升压，降压/升压或其他拓扑的同步或非同步电源转换器非常有用。 该方法还提供了用于确定从电池移除的电荷量的简单装置。

公开(公告)号：US20060149499A1

公开(公告)日：2006-07-06

申请号：US11030729

申请日：2005-01-05

申请人： Milton Ribeiro ,  Kent Kernahan

发明人： Milton Ribeiro ,  Kent Kernahan

IPC分类号： G04F10/00

CPC分类号： H02M3/157

摘要： In a power converter, an input power source (98) is intermittently coupled to provide a current flow (Icoil) in consecutive cycles (T) to generate an output voltage (Vo). The coupling durations (Tp) are adjusted in conjunction with a cycle skip count (112CNT) which is the count of cycles in which no coupling occurs. In some embodiments, the adjustments are performed to keep the coupling durations near the maximum efficiency range (between TLOW and THIGH), and the skip count is adjusted at the same time to obtain the desired output voltage in the presence of load current variations. The coupling frequencies are kept in a desired range to avoid interference with other circuit elements.

摘要翻译： 在功率转换器中，输入电源（98）间歇地耦合以在连续周期（T）中提供电流（Icoil）以产生输出电压（Vo）。 耦合持续时间（Tp）与循环跳过计数（112 CNT）一起进行调整，循环跳跃计数是不发生耦合的循环计数。 在一些实施例中，执行调整以将耦合持续时间保持在最大效率范围（TLOW和THIGH之间）附近，并且在负载电流变化存在的情况下同时调整跳跃计数以获得期望的输出电压。 耦合频率保持在期望的范围以避免与其它电路元件的干扰。

公开(公告)号：US20060145678A1

公开(公告)日：2006-07-06

申请号：US11030688

申请日：2005-01-05

申请人： Milton Ribeiro ,  Kent Kernahan

发明人： Milton Ribeiro ,  Kent Kernahan

IPC分类号： G05F5/00

CPC分类号： H02M3/156

摘要： A method for controlling a switching power converter provides an efficient algorithm for controlling the output voltage across loads that are relatively light with small transients. When the output voltage is at or below a predetermined first magnitude, a determination is made of the charge required for one or more pulses to increase the output voltage to a predetermined second magnitude which is greater than a target output voltage. Corrective action is taken to raise the output voltage to the second magnitude and the system takes no further corrective action until output voltage is determined to be at or below the first magnitude. The method is useful with synchronous or non-synchronous power converters of buck, boost, buck/boost or other topologies. The method further provides a simple means for determining the amount of charge removed from a battery.

摘要翻译： 用于控制开关功率转换器的方法提供了一种有效的算法，用于控制跨越具有小瞬变的相对较轻的负载的输出电压。 当输出电压处于或低于预定的第一幅度时，确定一个或多个脉冲所需的电荷将输出电压增加到大于目标输出电压的预定的第二幅度。 采取纠正措施将输出电压提高到第二幅度，并且在确定输出电压等于或低于第一幅度之前，系统不再采取任何纠正措施。 该方法对于降压，升压，降压/升压或其他拓扑的同步或非同步电源转换器非常有用。 该方法还提供了用于确定从电池移除的电荷量的简单装置。

公开(公告)号：US06946753B2

公开(公告)日：2005-09-20

申请号：US10295656

申请日：2002-11-14

申请人： Kent Kernahan ,  Mark J. Nohr

发明人： Kent Kernahan ,  Mark J. Nohr

IPC分类号： G05F1/40 ,  G06F1/24 ,  G06F1/26 ,  H02J1/00 ,  H02M1/12

CPC分类号： G06F1/24 ,  G06F1/26 ,  Y10T307/438

摘要： Switching power converter controller providing control of plurality of switching power converters which provide power to a host microprocessor. A watchdog timer included in the switching power converter controller is configured to countdown a timer unless it receives a reset signal from the host microprocessor. The switching power converter controller is configured to assert a reset command for the host microprocessor if the watchdog timer expires and to not de-assert the reset command until the plurality of switching power converters are operating as desired.

摘要翻译： 开关电源转换器控制器提供对主机微处理器提供电力的多个开关电源转换器的控制。 包括在开关电源转换器控制器中的看门狗定时器被配置为对定时器进行倒计时，除非它从主微处理器接收到复位信号。 开关电源转换器控制器被配置为如果看门狗定时器期满，则断言主机微处理器的复位命令，并且在多个开关电源转换器根据需要进行操作之前不断开复位命令。