US 20110157942A1

( 19) United Sta tes

( 12) Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion ( 10) Pub. N o. : US 2011/0157942 A1
Ba bcock et a l. ( 43 ) Pub. D a te: Jun. 3 0, 2011
( 54) CON TROLLABLE UN IVERSAL SUPPLY Publica tion Cla s s i? ca tion
WITH REACTIVE POWER MAN AGEMEN T
( 51) Int. Cl.
H02M 7/06 ( 2006 . 01)
( 75) Inv entor s : Pa ul M. Ba bcock, Spoka ne Va lley , ( 52) U5. Cl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 6 3 /126
WA ( US) ; D a v id J. Ba bcock,
Spoka ne, WA ( U S) ; Ph illip N . ( 57) ABSTRACT
Sm ith , Spoka ne Va lley , WA ( Us ) Appa r a tus a nd a s s ocia ted m eth ods inv olv e a contr olla ble s up
ply a da pted f or contr olling s Witch ph a s ing a nd puls e Width to
_ s ubs ta ntia ll e ua liZe oWer in a d'a cent ua dr a nts of a s inu
( 73 ) As s lg nee: F LYBACK EN ERGY IN C" s oida l s our Ze g olta g e I: v a v ef or m tJo r eg u( l1a te r ea ctiv e poWer
Spoka ne Va lley , WA ( Us ) dr a Wn f r om th e s our ce. In a n illus tr a tiv e ex a m ple, th e s upply
m a y , in s om e em bodim ents , deliv er poWer to a loa d a t a lev el
( 21) Appl_ N o; 12/98 0, 3 26 r es pons iv e to a com m a nded input s ig na l. In s om e ex a m ples ,
th e poWer s upplied to th e loa d m a y be a dj us ted a ccor ding to
_ th e com m a nd input s ig na l to a s elected v a lue With in a n oper
( 22) F lledi D ec- 28 : 2010 a ting r a ng e. In s om e ex a m ples , th e oper a ting r a ng e m a y
include a por tion or a ll of 0 to 100% of r a ted loa d. Va r ious
Rela ted US Applica tion D a ta em bodim ents m a y be a da pted 'to s upply unipola r or bipola r
loa d ex c1ta t1on. In s om e em bodim ents , h ig h poWer f a ctor m a y
( 6 0) Pr ov is iona l a pplica tion N o. 6 1/290, 257, ? led on D ec. be m a inta ined ov er a s ubs ta ntia l r a ng e of com m a nded poWer
28 , 2009, pr ov is iona l a pplica tion N o. 6 1/290, 253 ,
? led on D ec. 28 , 2009.
200 Z
to th e loa d. Cer ta in em bodim ents m a y enh a nce s upply e? i
ciency by ca ptur ing a nd r ecy cling inductiv e loa d ener g y .
Vim
13 09: 140
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Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion
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US 2011/0157942 A1
CON TROLLABLE UN IVERSAL SUPPLY
WITH REACTIVE POWER MAN AGEMEN T
CROSS- REF EREN CE TO RELATED
APPLICATION S
[ 0001] Th is a pplica tion cla im s bene? t to US. a pplica tion
Ser . N o. 6 1/290, 253 , entitled Supply f or Lig h ting Sy s tem s ,
a s ? led on D ec. 28 , 2009 by Ba bcock, et a l. , a nd to US.
a pplica tion Ser . N o. 6 1/290, 257, entitled Recti? er Sy s tem s ,
a s ? led on D ec. 28 , 2009 by Ba bcock, et a l. , th e entir e con
tents of ea ch of Wh ich a r e f ully incor por a ted by r ef er ence
h er ein.
TECHN ICAL F IELD
[ 0002] Va r ious em bodim ents r ela te to oper a ting v a r ia ble
contr ol of loa ds s upplied f r om AC s our ces .
BACK GROUN D
[ 0003 ] Ma ny electr ica lly - oper a ted s y s tem s a nd dev ices
h a v e inducta nce. Som e inductiv e dev ices , s uch a s D C ( dir ect
cur r ent) m otor s , a utom otiv e ig nition s y s tem s , a nd s om e elec
tr om a g nets , ca n oper a te Wh en s upplied With a unidir ectiona l
cur r ent. Som e inductiv e dev ices , s uch a s tr a ns f or m er s , AC
( a lter na ting cur r ent) m otor s , a nd ? uor es cent lig h ts , oper a te
Wh en s upplied With a bidir ectiona l cur r ent.
[ 0004] In g ener a l, inductiv e elem ents ca n s tor e ener g y in a
m a g netic ? eld. Ty pica lly , th e m a g netic ? eld is s uppor ted by
a n electr ic cur r ent ? oWing th r oug h th e inductiv e elem ent.
Inducta nce m a y be a f unction of th e ch a r a cter is tics of a m a g
netic ? ux pa th . F or ex a m ple, inducta nce in s om e elem ents
m a y depend on m a ter ia l pr oper ties of a cor e ( e. g . , a ir , s teel,
a nd f er r ite) in th e ? ux pa th , a nd/ or a ? ux dens ity s a tur a tion
lev el.
[ 0005] Th e a m ount of ener g y s tor ed in a m a g netic ? eld of
a n inductiv e elem ent ca n be a f unction of th e inducta nce a nd
th e cur r ent. In g ener a l, th e a m ount of ener g y s tor ed in th e
m a g netic ? eld incr ea s es a s cur r ent incr ea s es , a nd decr ea s es a s
th e cur r ent decr ea s es . Accor ding ly , Wh en th e cur r ent th r oug h
th e inductiv e elem ent is Zer o, th e s tor ed inductiv e ener g y is
a ls o Zer o.
[ 0006 ] One ch a r a cter is tic of a n idea l inductor is th a t a v olt
a g e a cr os s th e inductor is pr opor tiona l to its inducta nce a nd
th e tim e r a te of ch a ng e of cur r ent. Th is concept m a y be
r epr es ented by a f or m ula a s : VILdi/dt.
[ 0007] Under cer ta in conditions , th e ener g y s tor ed in a n
inductor ca n g ener a te potentia lly uncontr olled la r g e v olta g es .
Th is ef f ect m a y be r ef er r ed to by ter m s s uch a s r ev er s e elec
tr om otiv e f or ce ( REMF ) , ? y ba ck v olta g e, or inductiv e
kick. As a n illus tr a tiv e ex a m ple, if a n inductor is being
s upplied a cur r ent th r oug h a s Witch , a nd th a t s Witch is r a pidly
opened, th en th e inductor m a y h a v e a r ela tiv ely la r g e ch a ng e
of cur r ent ( la r g e di) in a r ela tiv ely s h or t per iod of tim e ( s m a ll
dt) . As a cons equence, th e inductor could g ener a te a cor r e
s ponding ly la r g e v olta g e ( la r g e V) .
[ 0008 ] In s om e a pplica tions , th e ener g y s tor ed in a n induc
tor m a y be ca pa ble of g ener a ting s uf ? ciently la r g e v olta g es to
da m a g e or des tr oy , f or ex a m ple, a n unpr otected s Witch . In
s om e s y s tem s , s tor ed inductiv e ener g y m a y be dis s ipa ted a s
h ea t.
SUMMARY
[ 0009] Appa r a tus a nd a s s ocia ted m eth ods inv olv e a con
tr olla ble s upply a da pted f or contr olling s Witch ph a s ing a nd
Jun. 3 0, 2011
puls e Width to s ubs ta ntia lly equa lize poWer in a dj a cent qua d
r a nts of a s inus oida l s our ce v olta g e Wa v ef or m to r eg ula te
r ea ctiv e poWer dr a Wn f r om th e s our ce. In a n illus tr a tiv e
ex a m ple, th e s upply m a y , in s om e em bodim ents , deliv er
poWer to a loa d in r es pons e to a com m a nded input s ig na l. In
s om e ex a m ples , th e poWer s upplied to th e loa d m a y be
a dj us ted a ccor ding to th e com m a nd input s ig na l to a s elected
v a lue With in a n oper a ting r a ng e. In s om e ex a m ples , th e oper
a ting r a ng e m a y include a por tion or a ll of 0 to 100% of r a ted
loa d. Va r ious em bodim ents m a y be a da pted to s upply unipo
la r or bipola r loa d ex cita tion. In s om e em bodim ents , h ig h
poWer f a ctor m a y be m a inta ined ov er a s ubs ta ntia l r a ng e of
com m a nded poWer to th e loa d. Cer ta in em bodim ents m a y
enh a nce s upply ef ? ciency by ca ptur ing a nd r ecy cling induc
tiv e loa d ener g y .
[ 0010] In one ex em pla r y a s pect, a m eth od of m a na g ing
r ea ctiv e poWer , th e m eth od includes r ectif y ing a s ubs ta ntia lly
s inus oida l s our ce v olta g e Wa v ef or m f r om a s our ce to a r ecti
? ed v olta g e node, pr ov iding a s Witch a r r a ng ed to s electiv ely
couple th e r ecti? ed v olta g e node to a loa d a nd deter m ining a
puls e Width v a lue f or tur ning on th e s Witch to deliv er a des ir ed
a v er a g e poWer to th e loa d. Th e m eth od f ur th er includes
r eceiv ing inf or m a tion a bout r ela tiv e poWer dr a Wn f r om th e
s our ce dur ing a dj a cent qua dr a nts of th e s our ce v olta g e Wa v e
f or m , deter m ining a s Witch tur n on dela y tim e to s ubs ta ntia lly
equa liZe poWer betWeen a dj a cent qua dr a nts of th e s a m e
pola r ity , a nd, contr olling th e s Witch dur ing a t lea s t tWo s uc
ces s iv e h a lf cy cles of th e s our ce v olta g e Wa v ef or m a ccor ding
to th e deter m ined s Witch tur n on dela y tim e.
[ 0011] In v a r ious ex a m ples , th e m eth od m a y f ur th er
include contr olling a r ev er s e electr om otiv e f or ce a s s ocia ted
With r a pid tur n of f of th e s Witch , a nd ca ptur ing inductiv e
ener g y s tor ed in th e loa d Wh en th e s Witch dis connects th e loa d
f r om th e r ecti? ed v olta g e node. It m a y f ur th er include r etum
ing th e ca ptur ed ener g y to th e loa d on a s ubs equent h a lf cy cle
of th e s our ce v olta g e Wa v ef or m . In s om e ex a m ples , th e
m eth od m a y include pr ov iding a ca pa citor a t th e r ecti? ed
v olta g e node to pr ov ide a lea ding ph a s e s h if t to th e cur r ent
dr a Wn f r om th e s our ce. D eter m ining a s Witch tur n on dela y
tim e to s ubs ta ntia lly equa liZe poWer betWeen a dj a cent qua d
r a nts of th e s a m e pola r ity m a y include deter m ining a dela y
tim e With r es pect to a per iodic r ef er ence point on th e s our ce
v olta g e Wa v ef or m . Th e per iodic r ef er ence point m a y be a Zer o
cr os s point, a nd m a y be a point a t Wh ich th e s our ce v olta g e
Wa v ef or m is incr ea s ing or decr ea s ing . Som e im plem enta tions
f ur th er include r eceiv ing a poWer com m a nd input s ig na l. Th e
s tep of deter m ining th e puls e Width v a lue f or tur ning on th e
s Witch to deliv er th e des ir ed a v er a g e poWer to th e loa d m a y
f ur th er include deter m ining a puls e Width v a lue in a ccor da nce
With th e r eceiv ed poWer com m a nd input s ig na l. Contr olling
th e s Witch dur ing a t lea s t tWo s ucces s iv e h a lf cy cles of th e
s our ce v olta g e Wa v ef or m a ccor ding to th e deter m ined s Witch
tur n on dela y tim e m a y f ur th er include contr olling th e s Witch
a ccor ding to th e deter m ined puls e Width v a lue.
[ 0012] Cer ta in em bodim ents m a y pr ov ide one or m or e
a dv a nta g es . F or ex a m ple, s om e em bodim ents m a y pr ov ide a n
ef ? ciency g a in Wh en r epla cing a n ex is ting inter f a ce betWeen
a loa d a nd a utility f eed line. F or ex a m ple, v a r ious im plem en
ta tions m a y com pens a te f or m or e th a n th e a dded s Witch los s
by a ny or a ll of th e f olloWing : ( i) r eca ptur e a nd r ecy cling of
inductiv e ener g y s tor ed in th e loa d ( e. g . , ? y ba ck ca ptur e
pr oces s ) ; ( ii) r educed ? lter ing ins er tion los s by elim ina tion of
h ig h f r equency ? lter com ponents to a ttenua te h ig h f r equency
s Witch ing s y s tem s ; ( iii) r educed utility r a tes f r om m a na g e
US 2011/0157942 A1
m ent of r ea ctiv e pow er cons um ption; or , ( iv ) s m ooth contr ol
of loa d pow er With in a Wide contr ol r a ng e ( e. g . , dim m a bility
f or lig h ting , or a dj us ta ble s peed f or m a ch ines ) a s needed to
cons er v e ener g y .
[ 0013 ] Som e im plem enta tions m a y a ch iev e h ig h ef ? ciency ,
h ig h poWer f a ctor ( e. g . , a bov e 0. 9) , a nd poWer r eg ula tion
With in a Wide contr ol r a ng e f or a v a r iety of loa ds . Ex em pla r y
loa ds th a t m a y be s upplied by v a r ious em bodim ents include,
but a r e not lim ited to, s ing le ph a s e induction m a ch ines
( a m ong oth er m a ch ine ty pes ) , HID lig h ts With poWer - r eg u
la ted ba lla s ts , a nd ba tter y ch a r g er s f or telecom m unica tion
a pplica tions , f or ex a m ple. Som e ex a m ples m a y pr ov ide a
h ig h ly contr olla ble, h ig h poWer f a ctor , loW los s , electr om a g
netica lly quiet, r obus t, a nd univ er s a l s upply m odule ca pa ble
of s upply ing r eg ula ted poWer to a Wide r a ng e of AC a nd D C
loa d ty pes .
[ 0014] Th e deta ils of v a r ious em bodim ents a r e s et f or th in
th e a ccom pa ny ing dr a Wing s a nd th e des cr iption beloW. Oth er
f ea tur es a nd a dv a nta g es Will be a ppa r ent f r om th e des cr iption
a nd dr a Wing s , a nd f r om th e cla im s .
D ESCRIPTION OF D RAWIN GS
[ 0015] F IG. 1 s h oWs a s ch em a tic r epr es enta tion of a n
ex em pla r y ener g y pr oces s ing m odule With a poWer s ta g e to
s upply ener g y f r om a D C input to a D C inductiv e loa d.
[ 0016 ] F IG. 2 s h oWs a s ch em a tic r epr es enta tion of a n
ex em pla r y poWer s ta g e to s upply ener g y f r om a D C input to a
D C inductiv e loa d.
[ 0017] F IG. 3 s h oWs plots of ex em pla r y v olta g e a nd cur r ent
Wa v ef or m s to illus tr a te oper a tion of th e poWer s ta g es of
F IGS. 1- 2.
[ 0018 ] F IG. 4 s h oWs a s ch em a tic r epr es enta tion of a n
ex em pla r y poWer s ta g e to s upply ener g y f r om a D C input to a
D C inductiv e loa d.
[ 0019] F IG. 5 s h oWs a s ch em a tic r epr es enta tion of a n
ex em pla r y pa ir of poWer s ta g es to s upply ener g y f r om a D C
input to a n AC inductiv e loa d.
[ 0020] F IG. 6 s h oWs a block dia g r a m r epr es enta tion of a n
ex em pla r y ener g y pr oces s ing s y s tem th a t us es th e poWer
s ta g es of F IG. 5 to s upply ener g y f r om a n AC input to a n AC
inductiv e loa d.
[ 0021] F IG. 7 s h oWs a ? ow ch a r t of a n ex em pla r y pr oces s
f or contr olling th e ener g y pr oces s ing s y s tem of F IG. 6 to dr a W
loW r ea ctiv e poWer f r om th e AC s our ce ov er a r a ng e of r eg u
la ted poWer to th e loa d.
[ 0022] F IG. 8 s h oWs a n ex em pla r y contr olla ble univ er s a l
s upply con? g ur ed to m a na g e r ea ctiv e poWer dr a Wn f r om a n
AC utility s our ce.
[ 0023 ] F IG. 9 s h oWs ex em pla r y loa ds f or ( a ) a h ig h inten
s ity dis ch a r g e ( HID ) lig h ting a pplica tion, a nd ( b) induction
m a ch ine a pplica tions , con? g ur ed to r eceiv e poWer f r om th e
s upply of F IG. 8 .
[ 0024] F IG. 10 s h oWs a n ex em pla r y r ecti? er loa d con? g
ur ed to connect to r eceiv e poWer f r om th e s upply of F IG. 8 ,
a nd to s upply poWer to a n indus tr ia l ba tter y ch a r g er .
[ 0025] F IG. 11 s h oWs a n ex em pla r y s et of electr ica l Wa v e
f or m s illus tr a ting per f or m a nce of a n ex per im enta l HID lig h t
loa d a s dis cus s ed With r ef er ence to F IG. 9( a ) Wh en s upplied
by th e s upply of F IG. 8 ov er a r a ng e of poWer lev els a nd us ing
th e pr oces s of F IG. 7.
Jun. 3 0, 2011
[ 0026 ] Like r ef er ence s y m bols in th e v a r ious dr a Wing s
indica te like elem ents .
D ETAILED D ESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE
EXAMPLES
[ 0027] F IG. 1 s h oWs a n ex em pla r y s y s tem 100 in Wh ich
ener g y m a y be s upplied to inductiv e a nd/or r es is tiv e loa ds a t
a contr olla ble r a te With h ig h e? iciency a nd loW electr om a g
netic nois e. Th e s y s tem 100 of th is ex a m ple includes a n
ener g y pr oces s ing m odule 105 th a t r eceiv es ener g y a t a n
input, pr oces s es th e ener g y , a nd deliv er s unidir ectiona l cur
r ent to s upply ener g y to a loa d connected a t a n output. Th e
m odule 105 includes a poWer s ta g e 110 th a t oper a tes in
r es pons e to contr ol s ig na ls f r om a contr oller 115. In oper a
tion, th e contr oller 115 contr ols th e oper a ting s ta tes of
s Witch es in th e poWer s ta g e 110 a ccor ding to a s equence of
oper a ting s ta tes th a t m a y , f or ex a m ple, be r epea ted in a cy cli
ca l pa tter n. In a n ex em pla r y cy cle of oper a tion, th e contr oller
115 g ener a tes a s equence of oper a ting s ta tes th a t ca us e th e
poWer s ta g e 110 to s tor e ener g y f r om a poWer s our ce 120 into
a n inductiv e loa d 125, contr ol a r ev er s e electr om otiv e f or ce
( REMF ) th a t m a y dev elop Wh en th e inductiv e loa d 125 is
dis connected f r om th e s our ce 120, dis ch a r g e inductiv e ener g y
f r om th e loa d into a ca pa cita nce, a nd th en dis ch a r g e th e
ca pa cita nce to s tor e ener g y ba ck into th e loa d 125 on a s ub
s equent cy cle. In v a r ious em bodim ents , th e poWer s ta g e 110
m a y deliv er s ubs ta ntia lly unidir ectiona l cur r ent How to th e
loa d 125. Som e em bodim ents m a y com pletely dis ch a r g e
s tor ed inductiv e ener g y f r om th e loa d 125 dur ing ea ch cy cle.
[ 0028 ] One ex em pla r y cy cle of oper a tion of th e poWer
s ta g e 110 includes a s equence of oper a ting s ta tes a s indica ted
by a r r oWs A, B, C, D . F or ex a m ple, th e pr oces s ing m odule
105 m a y dr a W cur r ent f r om th e poWer s our ce 120 dur ing a
s ta te B of a cy cle, Wh ile th e poWer s ta g e 110 m a y pr ov ide f or
unidir ectiona l cur r ent ? oW th r oug h th e loa d 125 ( e. g . , D C
( dir ect cur r ent) m otor ) dur ing s ta tes A, B, C, a nd D of th e
cy cle. In s om e a pplica tions , a dditiona l Wor k m a y be per
f or m ed dur ing s ta tes A, C, a nd D Wh en no poWer is being
dr a Wn f r om th e poWer s our ce 120. Ex a m ples of v olta g e a nd
cur r ent Wa v ef or m s a s s ocia ted With s om e em bodim ents of th e
poWer s ta g e 110 a r e des cr ibed in f ur th er deta il With r ef er ence
to F IG. 3 a nd F IG. 8 .
[ 0029] In th e depicted ex a m ple, th e poWer s ta g e 110
includes a pa ir of input s Witch es 13 0a , 13 0b, Wh ich m a y be
oper a ted, in s om e em bodim ents , a s a double- pole s ing le
th r oW s Witch . Som e oth er em bodim ents ( not s h oWn) m a y be
con? g ur ed to oper a te With only one of th e input s Witch es
13 0a , 13 01) . Th e input s Witch 13 0a connects betWeen a n input
node 13 5 a nd a n output node 140. Th e v olta g es of th e nodes
13 5, 140 m a y be r ef er r ed to h er ein a s Vin, Vout, r es pectiv ely .
Af ter th e input s Witch es 13 0a , 13 01) a r e tur ned on, a n input
cur r ent ( Iin) s upplied f r om th e poWer s our ce 120 m a y How to
th e input node 13 5, a nd th r oug h th e input s Witch 13 011 to th e
output node 140. An output cur r ent ( Iout) ? oWs f r om th e
output node 140, th r oug h th e loa d 125, a nd r etur ns th r oug h a
r etur n node 145 a nd th e input s w itch 13 0! ) to th e poWer s our ce
120. As Will be des cr ibed beloW, th e cur r ent Iin f r om th e
poWer s our ce 120 m a y beg in to How s om e tim e a f ter th e input
s Witch es 13 0a , 13 01) a r e tur ned on.
[ 003 0] Th e poWer s ta g e 110 f ur th er includes a tr a ns itiona l
cir cuit 150 Wh ich m a y be oper a ted to pr ov ide a cur r ent ? oW
pa th f or th e cur r ent Iout s o a s to contr ol a n a m plitude of a
REMF th a t m a y be g ener a ted Wh en th e input s Witch es 13 0a ,
13 01) open a nd r a pidly dis connect th e output cur r ent Iout
US 2011/0157942 A1
f r om th e input cur r ent Iin. As s uch , th e tr a ns itiona l cir cuit 150
m a y s ubs ta ntia lly pr otect th e input s Witch es 13 0a , 13 01) f r om
ex pos ur e to potentia lly des tr uctiv e REMF v olta g es . In th e
depicted ex a m ple, th e tr a ns itiona l cir cuit 150 includes a uni
dir ectiona l cur r ent elem ent ( e. g . , diode) 155 in s er ies connec
tion With a v olta g e lim iter elem ent 16 0 a nd a tr a ns itiona l
s Witch 16 5. Ex em pla r y em bodim ents of th e tr a ns itiona l cir
cuit 150 a r e des cr ibed in f ur th er deta il, f or ex a m ple, With
r ef er ence to F IGS. 2 a nd 8 - 9.
[ 003 1] Th e poWer s ta g e 110 a ls o includes a n ener g y ca ptur e
cir cuit 170 connected s ubs ta ntia lly in electr ica l pa r a llel With
th e loa d 125 a nd th e tr a ns itiona l cir cuit 150. In th e depicted
ex a m ple, th e ener g y ca ptur e cir cuit 170 includes a n ener g y
ca ptur e s Witch 175 in s er ies connection With a ca pa citor 18 0
a nd a unidir ectiona l cur r ent elem ent ( e. g . , diode) 18 5. Wh en
th e ener g y ca ptur e s Witch 175 is tur ned on, th e output cur r ent
Iout ca n ? oW f r om th e r etur n node 145 to th e output node
th r oug h th e ca pa citor 18 0. Accor ding ly , inductiv e ener g y in
th e loa d 125 is tr a ns f er r ed to s tor ed ch a r g e on th e ca pa citor
18 0. Th e r a te a t Wh ich output cur r ent Iout f a lls depends s ub
s ta ntia lly on a ca pa cita nce v a lue of th e ca pa citor 18 0. As one
s killed in th e a r t Will a ppr ecia te, incr ea s ing th e ca pa cita nce
v a lue m a y r es ult in a long er tim e f or th e Iout to r es et to Zer o.
In v a r ious em bodim ents , th e ca pa cita nce v a lue of th e ca pa ci
tor 18 0 m a y be s elected or dy na m ica lly a dj us ted to r es et th e
output cur r ent Iout to Zer o bef or e th e nex t oper a ting cy cle.
Af ter th e output cur r ent Iout r es ets to Zer o, th e unidir ectiona l
cur r ent elem ent 18 5 s ubs ta ntia lly pr ev ents Iout cur r ent f r om
? oWing in th e oppos ite dir ection. As s uch , r es ona nces or
os cilla tor y cur r ents m a y be s ubs ta ntia lly pr ev ented With
r es pect th e output node 140 of th e poWer s ta g e 110.
[ 003 2] F ina lly , th e depicted poWer s ta g e 110 includes
diodes 190a , 1901) to r etur n ca ptur ed ener g y f r om th e ca pa ci
tor 18 0 to th e input node 13 5. D ur ing s tea dy - s ta te oper a tion,
f or ex a m ple, th e ca pa citor 18 0 s upplies th e ca ptur ed ener g y
th r oug h th e diodes 190a , 1901) a nd ba ck to th e loa d 125 Wh en
th e input s Witch es 13 0a , 13 01) a r e tur ned on. In th is ex a m ple,
a blocking diode 195 s ubs ta ntia lly pr ev ents th e ca ptur ed
ener g y f r om ? oWing ba ck to th e poWer s our ce 120. Th is
ener g y r ecov er y m a y a dv a nta g eous ly im pr ov e e? iciency , f or
ex a m ple, in a pplica tions in Wh ich s ubs ta ntia l inductiv e
ener g y ca n be r ecov er ed f r om th e loa d a nd r e- s upplied to th e
loa d on a s ubs equent oper a ting cy cle.
[ 003 3 ] In v a r ious a pplica tions , th e contr oller 115 m a y g en
er a te one or m or e contr ol s ig na ls to contr ol th e s Witch es 13 0a ,
13 0b, 16 5, a nd 175 dur ing a n ex em pla r y cy cle of oper a tion.
To a id under s ta nding of a n ex em pla r y oper a tion of th e poWer
s ta g e 110, tim e per iod indica tor s A, B, C, D a r e s h oWn on
F IG. 1 to indica te cur r ent ? oWs a t s ucces s iv e tim e per iods
With in a ty pica l cy cle of oper a tion. Ex em pla r y v olta g e a nd
cur r ent Wa v ef or m s dur ing ea ch of th e indica ted tim e per iods
a r e des cr ibed in f ur th er deta il With r ef er ence to F IG. 3 .
[ 003 4] In th e ex a m ple depicted in F IG. 1, a n ex em pla r y
cy cle of oper a tion beg ins With a tim e per iod A. At th e beg in
ning of th e tim e per iod A, th e ca pa citor 18 0 m a y be ch a r g ed
With ener g y ca ptur ed f r om a pr ev ious oper a ting cy cle. D ur ing
th e tim e per iod A, th e input s Witch es 13 0a , 13 01) a r e tur ned
on, a nd th e ca pa citor 18 0 m a y dis ch a r g e its s tor ed ener g y
th r oug h th e diodes 190a , 190b, th e s Witch es 13 0a , 13 0b, a nd
th e loa d 125. D ur ing th e tim e per iod A, ener g y th a t is deliv
er ed to th e loa d 125 is dr a Wn s ubs ta ntia lly f r om th e ca pa citor
18 0. Th e tim e per iod A m a y end, f or ex a m ple, Wh en th e
ca pa citor 18 0 dis ch a r g es to a point th a t th e diode 195 is no
long er r ev er s e bia s ed.
Jun. 3 0, 2011
[ 003 5] At th e beg inning of th e tim e per iod B, th e input
s Witch es 13 0a , 13 01) r em a in tur ned on, a nd th e poWer s our ce
120 dr iv es cur r ent th r oug h th e diode 195, th e s Witch es 13 0a ,
13 0b, a nd th e loa d 125. Alth oug h v a r ious em bodim ents h a v e
been des cr ibed With r ef er ence to th e ? g ur es , oth er em bodi
m ents a r e pos s ible. F or ex a m ple, th is docum ent des cr ibes
ex em pla r y s y s tem s f or neW electr ic m a ch ines a nd r ela ted
a ppa r a tus a nd m eth ods f or s upply ing a nd/or g ener a ting elec
tr ica l ex cita tion us ing em bodim ents of th e neW electr ica l
m a ch ine s y s tem s . Va r ious ex em pla r y s y s tem s include s Witch
ing m odules . F or a ll pur pos es , including f or ex a m ple its dis
clos ur e of ex em pla r y s Witch ing m odules a s des cr ibed With
r ef er ence to F IGS. 1- 4, th is docum ent incor por a tes by r ef er
ence th e entir e contents of Us . Pa t. N o. 7, 6 02, 157 to Ba b
cock, et a l. , entitled Supply Ar ch itectur e f or Inductiv e
Loa ds .
[ 003 6 ] Som e dis clos ed em bodim ents include s Witch m od
ules in com bina tion With tr a ns f or m er s . F or a ll pur pos es ,
including f or ex a m ple its dis clos ur e of AC oper a tion a s
des cr ibed With r ef er ence to F IG. 3 A, th is docum ent incor po
r a tes by r ef er ence th e entir e contents of Us . Publ. 2009/
0073 726 to Ba bcock, et a l. , entitled Cur r ent Wa v ef or m Con
s tr uction to Gener a te AC PoWer With LoW Ha r m onic
D is tor tion f r om Loca liZed
[ 003 7] D ur ing th e tim e per iod B, ener g y th a t is deliv er ed to
th e loa d 125 is dr a Wn s ubs ta ntia lly f r om th e poWer s our ce
120. Th e tim e per iod B m a y end, f or ex a m ple, Wh en th e
on- tim e of th e input s Witch es 13 0, 13 019 cor r es ponds to a duty
cy cle s et by th e contr oller 115, or Wh en th e output cur r ent Iout
r ea ch es a th r es h old v a lue. At th e end of th e tim e per iod B, th e
contr oller 115 m a y com m a nd th e input s Witch es 13 0a , 13 01)
to tr a ns ition to a n of f ( e. g . , non- conducting ) s ta te.
[ 003 8 ] Pr ior to th e end of th e per iod B, th e contr oller 115
m a y g ener a te a com m a nd to tur n on th e tr a ns itiona l s Witch
16 5 to m inim iZe dela y in a lloWing th e output cur r ent Iout to
How th r oug h th e tr a ns itiona l cir cuit 150. At th e beg inning of
th e tim e per iod C, th e loa d g ener a tes th e REMF v olta g e in
r es pons e to th e opening of th e input s Witch es 13 0a , 13 01) . Th e
REMF v olta g e m a y f or Wa r d bia s th e unidir ectiona l cur r ent
elem ent 155, s uch th a t th e output cur r ent Iout ? oWs s ubs ta n
tia lly th r oug h th e tr a ns ition cir cuit 150. Th e v olta g e lim iter
16 0 m a y oper a te to s ubs ta ntia lly contr ol ( e. g . , lim it, cla m p, or
th e like) th e REMF v olta g e to a v a lue th a t, f or ex a m ple, is
s ubs ta ntia lly With in th e v olta g e r a ting s of a ny dev ices th a t
could be ex pos ed to th e REMF v olta g e. D ur ing th e tim e
per iod C, s om e inductiv e ener g y m a y be tr a ns f er r ed f r om th e
loa d 125 to th e v olta g e lim iter 16 0. In v a r ious em bodim ents ,
th e tim e per iod C m a y be s uf ? ciently s h or t in dur a tion th a t th e
a m ount of ener g y tr a ns f er r ed to th e v olta g e lim iter is r ela
tiv ely s m a ll a nd ca n be, f or ex a m ple, dis s ipa ted a s h ea t ( e. g . ,
in a r es is tor ) With out s ig ni? ca ntly r educing ov er a ll e? iciency .
In s om e em bodim ents , th e contr oller 115 m a y g ener a te a
s ig na l to tur n on th e ener g y ca ptur e s Witch 175 bef or e or
dur ing th e tim e per iod C. As th e ener g y ca ptur e s Witch 175
tur ns on a nd becom es ca pa ble of conducting th e output cur
r ent Iout, th e tim e per iod C m a y conclude, a nd th e contr oller
115 m a y g ener a te a s ig na l to tur n of f th e tr a ns itiona l s Witch
16 5.
[ 003 9] At th e beg inning of th e tim e per iod D , th e output
cur r ent Iout ? oWs s ubs ta ntia lly th r oug h th e ener g y ca ptur e
s Witch 175, th e ca pa citor 18 0, a nd th e unidir ectiona l cur r ent
elem ent 18 5. As s uch , s tor ed inductiv e loa d ener g y , Wh ich is
s uppor ted by th e output cur r ent Iout, g ets tr a ns f er r ed to th e
ca pa citor 18 0 dur ing th e tim e per iod D . Th e tim e per iod D
US 2011/0157942 A1
m a y end, f or ex a m ple, a f ter th e output cur r ent Iout f a lls to
Zer o. Upon detecting th a t th e output cur r ent Iout h a s r es et to
Zer o, or a f ter a llow ing a tim e s uf ? cient to ens ur e th e output
cur r ent Iout is s ubs ta ntia lly r es et, th e contr oller 115 m a y
g ener a te a s ig na l to tur n of f th e ener g y ca ptur e s Witch 175.
[ 0040] F olloWing th e tim e per iod D , th er e m a y be, in s om e
em bodim ents , a n a dditiona l per iod of tim e f r om th e end of th e
tim e per iod D until th e end of th e oper a ting cy cle. In s om e
a pplica tions , f or ex a m ple, th e v olta g e lim iter 16 0 m a y be
dis ch a r g ing a ca pa citor into a r es is tor or th r oug h a s Witch ( not
s h oWn) dur ing th is a dditiona l tim e per iod. In v a r ious a ppli
ca tions , a m otor m a y be coa s ting , f or ex a m ple, dur ing th is
per iod.
[ 0041] In v a r ious ex a m ples , th e contr oller 115 m a y tim e th e
oper a tion of s om e or a ll of th e s Witch es 13 0a , 13 0b, 16 5, a nd
175 dur ing a n ex em pla r y oper a ting cy cle a s f olloWs . Th e
tr a ns itiona l s Witch 16 5 m a y be tur ned on pr ior to tur ning of f
th e input s Witch es 13 0a , 13 01) . Th e diode 155 m a y s ubs ta n
tia lly block cur r ent ? oW th r oug h th e tr a ns itiona l cir cuit 150
until th e output cur r ent Iout s ta r ts to decr ea s e a nd a REMF
v olta g e is g ener a ted by th e loa d 125. Th e tr a ns itiona l cir cuit
16 5 m a y be tur ned on ea r ly enoug h to s ubs ta ntia lly m inim iZe
a dela y tim e f or th e output cur r ent Iout to s ta r t ? oWing
th r oug h th e tr a ns itiona l cir cuit 150. Th e ener g y ca ptur e
s Witch 175 m a y be tur ned on a t a ny one of a num ber of tim es ,
Wh ich m a y be bef or e, a t th e s a m e tim e, or a f ter th e tr a ns itiona l
s Witch 16 5 is tur ned on. As th e ener g y ca ptur e s Witch 175
s ta r ts to conduct a s ubs ta ntia l por tion of th e cur r ent Iout, th e
tr a ns itiona l s Witch 16 5 m a y be tur ned of f .
[ 0042] In a noth er em bodim ent ( not s h oWn) , th e poWer
s ta g e 110 m a y oper a te s ubs ta ntia lly With out a n a ctiv ely con
tr olled tr a ns ition cir cuit, s uch a s th e tr a ns ition cir cuit 150. In
s uch em bodim ents , th e ener g y ca ptur e s Witch 175 m a y be
tur ned on Wh ile th e input s Witch es 13 0a , 13 01) a r e conducting
th e output cur r ent Iout. Th e unidir ectiona l cur r ent elem ent
18 5 m a y be r ev er s e bia s ed until th e output cur r ent Iout s ta r ts
to decr ea s e, a t Wh ich point th e REMF v olta g e m a y f or Wa r d
bia s th e unidir ectiona l cur r ent elem ent 18 5 s uch th a t th e
output cur r ent Iout Would s ta r t to How th r oug h th e ener g y
ca ptur e cir cuit 170. In v a r ious ex a m ples , pa s s iv e v olta g e
cla m ping cir cuitr y , ex a m ples of Wh ich a r e des cr ibed With
r ef er ence to F IGS. 2 a nd 8 - 9, could optiona lly be us ed to
contr ol a REMF v olta g e a m plitude, f or ex a m ple, in th e v olt
a g e lim iter 16 0. In s om e em bodim ents , th e tr a ns itiona l s Witch
16 5 m a y be tur ned on continuous ly dur ing nor m a l oper a tion,
or r epla ced With a s h or t cir cuit, f or ex a m ple. In s om e em bodi
m ents , th e tr a ns itiona l s Witch 16 5 m a y be tur ned on dur ing
pa r t or a ll of th e tim e per iods A a nd/ or B, f or ex a m ple.
[ 0043 ] Wh en th e input s Witch es 13 0a , 13 01) open, induc
ta nce in th e loa d 125 m a y g ener a te a r ev er s e electr om otiv e
f or ce ( REMF ) , Wh ich , in g ener a l, m a y be cons ider ed to r ep
r es ent a v olta g e With a n a m plitude th a t cor r es ponds to th e
tim e r a te of ch a ng e of th e loa d cur r ent ( e. g . , dIout/dt) . Reduc
ing Iout to Zer o v er y r a pidly , f or ex a m ple, m a y g ener a te a
s ubs ta ntia l REMF v olta g e in th e inductiv e loa d 125.
[ 0044] F a s t tr a ns ient v olta g es a s s ocia ted With a la r g e
REMF could g ener a te, f or ex a m ple, s ubs ta ntia l r a dia ted a nd/
or conducted electr om a g netic r a dia tion ( e. g . , r a dio f r equency
nois e) . Gener a lly , s y s tem s th a t g ener a te s uch nois e ener g y
m a y em ploy s h ielding a nd/or ? lter ing , Wh ich m a y r educe
ef ? ciency a nd incr ea s e th e cos t, v olum e a nd/ or Weig h t of th e
s y s tem .
[ 0045] Mor eov er , la r g e REMF v olta g es m a y im pa r t s ub
s ta ntia l v olta g e s tr es s to com ponents , s uch a s s Witch es ,
Jun. 3 0, 2011
diodes , ca pa citor s , a nd tr a ns is tor s . In s om e ex a m ples , a s ing le
puls e of a la r g e REMF v olta g e ca n s ubs ta ntia lly da m a g e or
des tr oy a s em iconductor dev ice, f or ex a m ple, by ex ceeding
th e dev ice s v olta g e r a ting .
[ 0046 ] Th e poWer s ta g e 110 pr ov ides a ca pa bility f or r a p
idly s Witch ing cur r ent s upplied to a n inductiv e loa d. In one
a s pect, th e poWer s ta g e 110 includes a tr a ns itiona l cir cuit 150
in pa r a llel With th e loa d 125. In s om e em bodim ents , th e
tr a ns itiona l cir cuit 150 m a y pr ov ide a pa th f or th e loa d cur r ent
Iout to How s o th a t dIout/dt is contr olled dur ing a br ief tr a n
s ition per iod a f ter th e input s Witch 13 0 opens . Contr olling th e
dIout/dt f or th e inductiv e loa d 125 m a y s ubs ta ntia lly r educe
th e REMF v olta g e. At s uf ? ciently s m a ll v a lues of REMF
v olta g e, f or ex a m ple, th e a s s ocia ted tr a ns ient ener g y m a y be
ins uf ? cient to ex cite s ubs ta ntia l conducted or r a dia ted nois e.
As s uch , s h ielding a nd/or ? lter ing m a y be s ubs ta ntia lly
r educed or elim ina ted in s om e s y s tem s .
[ 0047] In a noth er a s pect, s om e em bodim ents of th e poWer
s ta g e 110 m a y include one or m or e s em iconductor s Witch
elem ents With h ig h pea k r ev er s e v olta g e ca pa bility . Som e
em bodim ents m a y us e h ig h v olta g e dev ices to im pr ov e r eli
a bility in s y s tem s th a t s Witch inductiv e loa ds . In s om e
em bodim ents , one or m or e of th e s Witch elem ents m a y com
bine a h ig h pea k r ev er s e v olta g e ca pa bility With v er y s h or t
tur n- on a nd/or tum - of f tim es . Ex a m ples of v a r ious s Witch
elem ents th a t m a y be us ed in th e poWer s ta g e 110 a r e
des cr ibed in f ur th er deta il With r ef er ence to F IG. 2.
[ 0048 ] In th e depicted ex a m ple, th e contr oller 115 r eceiv es
a contr ol input. In v a r ious ex a m ples , th e contr ol input m a y
couple th e contr oller 115 to a f eedba ck s ig na l f r om one or
m or e pos ition, tor que, s peed, v olta g e, lig h t intens ity , or cur
r ent s ens or s , or a com bina tion of s ig na ls f r om th es e a nd/or
oth er s ens or s . In s om e oth er ex a m ples , th e contr ol input m a y
couple th e contr oller 115 to one or m or e com m a nd inputs ,
Wh ich m a y be in th e f or m of a na log ( e. g . , potentiom eter , r ela y
conta cts , a nd th e like) a nd/or dig ita l ( e. g . , s er ia l, pa r a llel)
input s ig na ls .
[ 0049] In r es pons e to s uch f eedba ck a nd/or com m a nd input
s ig na ls , th e contr oller 115 m a y a dj us t oper a tion of th e poWer
s ta g e 110, f or ex a m ple. In v a r ious ex a m ples , th e r es pons es to
contr ol input s ig na ls m a y include, but a r e not lim ited to,
tur ning th e output on or of f , incr ea s ing or decr ea s ing th e
a v er a g e output v olta g e, m a inta ining th e output cur r ent With in
pr edeter m ined lim its , a dj us ting oper a ting duty cy cle a nd/or
f r equency , f or ex a m ple. In s om e im plem enta tions , s uch con
tr ol a ctions m a y be us ed to, f or ex a m ple, m a inta in th e output
cur r ent or loa d tem per a tur e With in pr edeter m ined lim its ,
r eg ula te a m otor s h a f t pos ition a nd/ or s peed, or contr ol a la m p
output intens ity .
[ 0050] Ex em pla r y em bodim ents a nd f ea tur es of th e con
tr oller 115 a r e des cr ibed, f or ex a m ple, With r ef er ence to F IG.
6
[ 0051] In v a r ious ex a m ples , th e ener g y s tor ed in th e loa d
( e. g . , r ea ctiv e ener g y ) m a y be s uppor ted by a unidir ectiona l
cur r ent s upplied by th e poWer s ta g e 110. Unidir ectiona l cur
r ent loa ds m a y include, but a r e not lim ited to, D C m otor s ,
inductor s ( e. g . , a ir cor e, ir on cor e, la m ina ted s teel cor e, h ig h
per m ea bility cor es ) , electr om a g nets , lig h ting ( e. g . , dir ect cur
r ent h ig h intens ity dis ch a r g e elem ents ) , D C tr a ns m is s ion
lines , or com bina tions of th es e a nd/or oth er unidir ectiona l
cur r ent loa ds . Som e em bodim ents m a y be us ed a s , or a s
r epla cem ent f or , m ech a nica l r ela y s or conta ctor s . F or
ex a m ple, th e poWer s ta g e 110 m a y a ct a s a n electr onica lly
contr olla ble s Witch to a D C loa d, f or ex a m ple, th a t m a y be
US 2011/0157942 A1
contr olled by a s w itch , optica l s ig na l, m a g netic s ig na l, or
electr ica l s ig na l, Wh ich m a y be g ener a ted by , f or ex a m ple, a
pr oces s or , tim er , contr ol cir cuit, or oth er elem ent ( e. g . , bim e
ta llic s tr ip, lev el s ens or , h um idity s ens or , or th e like) .
[ 0052] Som e oth er em bodim ents m a y oper a te to s upply
ener g y to unidir ectiona l cur r ent a nd/ or bi- dir ectiona l cur r ent
loa ds th a t a r e s ubs ta ntia lly inductiv e, s ubs ta ntia lly r es is tiv e,
or pa r tia lly r es is tiv e a nd pa r tia lly inductiv e. Bidir ectiona l
cur r ent loa ds m a y include, but a r e not lim ited to, AC m otor s
( e. g . , s y nch r onous , br us h les s D C, induction) , D C m otor s
( e. g . , f or w a r d a nd r ev er s e tor que) , r es is tor s ( e. g . , h ea ting
elem ents ) , inductor s ( e. g . , a ir cor e, ir on cor e, la m ina ted s teel
cor e, h ig h per m ea bility cor es ) , electr om a g nets , lig h ting ( e. g . ,
? uor es cent, h ig h intens ity dis ch a r g e) , AC tr a ns m is s ion lines ,
tr a ns f or m er s , or com bina tions of th es e a nd/or oth er bi- dir ec
tiona l cur r ent loa ds . Ex a m ples of ener g y pr oces s ing m odules
th a t a r e ca pa ble of s upply ing unidir ectiona l a nd/or bidir ec
tiona l cur r ent loa ds a r e des cr ibed in f ur th er deta il With r ef er
ence, f or ex a m ple, to F IGS. 5- 7.
[ 0053 ] F IG. 2 s h oWs a s ch em a tic r epr es enta tion of a n
ex em pla r y poWer s ta g e to s upply ener g y f r om a D C input to a
D C inductiv e loa d. In th e depicted em bodim ent, th e unidir ec
tiona l cur r ent elem ent 18 5 is im plem ented With a n SCR th a t
m a y be contr olled to conduct cur r ent dur ing tim e per iod D .
[ 0054] In th e depicted ex a m ple, th e s Witch es 13 0a , 13 0b,
175 a r e im plem ented With a g a ted unidir ectiona l cur r ent ele
m ent connected in s er ies With a contr olled s em iconductor
s Witch . In s om e em bodim ents , ea ch s Witch m a y be contr olled
to pr ov ide Zer o cur r ent tur n on f or th e contr olled s em icon
ductor s Witch ( e. g . , IGBT) a nd/or contr olled tur n- of f f or th e
g a ted unidir ectiona l cur r ent elem ent ( e. g . , SCR) . In a n illus
tr a tiv e ex a m ple, Wh ich is not m ea nt to be lim iting , a ny of th e
s Witch es 13 0a , 13 0b, 175 m a y be tur ned on by s upply ing a n
ena bling s ig na l to a contr ol ter m ina l ( e. g . , g a te, ba s e) of th e
contr olled s em iconductor s Witch ; a f ter th e contr olled s em i
conductor s Witch h a s h a d s uf ? cient tim e to s ubs ta ntia lly tr a n
s ition to a s ubs ta ntia lly h ig h conducta nce s ta te, a f a s t tur n- on
tim e g a ted unidir ectiona l cur r ent elem ent m a y be contr olled
to tur n on. Th e r ela tiv e tim ing of th e ena bling s ig na l to th e
contr olled s em iconductor s Witch a nd to th e g a ted unidir ec
tiona l cur r ent elem ent m a y depend, a t lea s t in pa r t, on th e
tur n- on tr a ns ition tim es of th e dev ices . In v a r ious em bodi
m ents , th e ena bling s ig na ls to th e contr olled s em iconductor
s Witch a nd to th e g a ted unidir ectiona l cur r ent elem ent m a y be
g ener a ted in r es pons e to one s ig na l ( e. g . , s ubs ta ntia lly s im ul
ta neous ) , or th e s ig na ls m a y be s epa r a ted in tim e by a con
tr olled dela y ( e. g . , ba s ed on h a r dWa r e or s of tWa r e tim er s ,
ba s ed on ev ents a s deter m ined by a pr oces s or ex ecuting
ins tr uctions , a nd/or a na log dela y cir cuit, or th e like) . In s om e
em bodim ents , ena bling s ig na ls f r om th e contr oller 115 m a y
be coupled to one or m or e of th e dev ices , f or ex a m ple, v ia
s uita ble g a te s upply cir cuits , s om e of Wh ich m a y include, but
a r e not lim ited to, optica l, m a g netic ( e. g . , puls e tr a ns f or m er )
cir cuits . In v a r ious em bodim ents , th e g a ted unidir ectiona l
cur r ent s Witch m a y include, but is not lim ited to, a n SCR
( s ilicon contr olled r ecti? er ) , D IAC, TRIAC, ? a s h tube, or th e
like. In v a r ious em bodim ents , th e s em iconductor s Witch m a y
include one or m or e s er ies a nd/or pa r a llel com bina tions of
IGBTs ( ins ula ted g a te bipola r tr a ns is tor s ) , MOSF ETs ( m eta l
ox ide s em iconductor ? eld ef f ect tr a ns is tor s ) , BJTs ( bipola r
j unction tr a ns is tor s ) , D a r ling ton pa ir s , JF ETs ( j unction ? eld
ef f ect tr a ns is tor s ) , v a cuum tubes , or th e like.
[ 0055] Ty pica l s Witch ing tr a ns ition tim es m a y be, f or
ex a m ple, betWeen a bout 2 a nd a bout 10 m icr os econds ,
Jun. 3 0, 2011
a lth oug h em bodim ents m a y be us ed With s ubs ta ntia lly f a s ter
or s loWer s Witch ing tim es . In a n illus tr a tiv e ex a m ple, th e tim e
f or th e s Witch es 13 0a , 13 01) to tur n com pletely of f a nd th e
s Witch 175 to tur n on m a y ty pica lly ta ke a bout 5 m icr os ec
onds . In s om e ex a m ples , th e tr a ns itiona l s Witch 16 5 m a y
conduct cur r ent dur ing a t lea s t th os e 5 m icr os econds . In s om e
em bodim ents , th e v olta g e lim iter 16 0 m a y s ubs ta ntia lly con
duct th e loa d cur r ent in r es pons e to th e REMF v olta g e in, f or
ex a m ple, 10 to 40 na nos econds .
[ 0056 ] Als o depicted in F IG. 2 is a n ex em pla r y em bodi
m ent of th e v olta g e lim iter 16 0, including a pa r a llel r es is tor
a nd ca pa citor netWor k. In v a r ious im plem enta tions , th e
ca pa citor m a y be im plem ented a s one or m or e ca pa citor s in
s er ies a nd/ or pa r a llel com bina tions . F or ex a m ple, ca pa citor s
of With a r a ng e of f r equency r es pons e ch a r a cter is tics m a y be
us ed to r es pond to th e REMF v olta g e ov er a Wide f r equency
r a ng e. In s om e em bodim ents , Wh ich m a y be us ed in h ig h er
s Witch ing f r equency a pplica tions , th e v olta g e lim iter 16 0
m a y include a contr olled s Witch to dum p ch a r g e s tor ed on
a ca pa citor dur ing th e tim e per iod C. In th is em bodim ent, th e
ca pa citor 18 0 is im plem ented a cr os s th e input ter m ina ls of th e
m odule 110. In oth er em bodim ents , th e ca pa citor 18 0 m a y be
im plem ented in Wh ole or in pa r t With in th e m odule 18 0, a nd
m a y be s upplem ented With a dditiona l ex ter na l pa r a llel
ca pa cita nce to s uit a Wide v a r iety of a pplica tion conditions ,
f or ex a m ple.
[ 0057] In th is em bodim ent, th e tr a ns itiona l s Witch 16 5 is
depicted a s being im plem ented With a s em iconductor s Witch .
In v a r ious im plem enta tions , th e tr a ns itiona l s Witch 16 5 m a y
be im plem ented, f or ex a m ple, With one or m or e IGBTs ,
MOSF ETs , BJTs , D a r ling ton pa ir s , JF ETs , v a cuum tubes , or
th e like. In a ddition, th e poWer s ta g e 110 of th is em bodim ent
includes a diode 210 connected betWeen th e tr a ns itiona l
s Witch 16 5 a nd th e output node 140. In s om e em bodim ents ,
th e diode 210 m a y pr ov ide a dditiona l pr otection f or th e tr a n
s itiona l s Witch 16 5, f or ex a m ple. In s om e ex a m ples , th e diode
210 m a y r epla ce th e diode 155.
[ 0058 ] F IG. 3 s h oWs plots of ex em pla r y v olta g e a nd cur r ent
Wa v ef or m s to illus tr a te oper a tion of th e poWer s ta g es of
F IGS. 1- 2.
[ 0059] In th is ex a m ple, a plot 3 00 illus tr a tes th a t th e poWer
s our ce 120 pr ov ides a unipola r input v olta g e. In th is ca s e, th e
v olta g e m a y be th a t s upplied by a ba tter y . In oth er ex a m ples ,
th e poWer s our ce 120 m a y be a ny oth er s uita ble unipola r or
D C s our ce, s uch a s a h a lf - or f ull- Wa v e r ecti? edAC s ig na l, f or
ex a m ple. In s om e a pplica tions , th e poWer s our ce 120 m a y
ex h ibit a v olta g e s tif f ch a r a cter is tic, Wh ich m a y be pr ov ided,
f or ex a m ple, by a s ubs ta ntia lly la r g e h old- up ca pa citor . In
s om e oth er a pplica tions , th e poWer s our ce m a y pr ov ide a
r ecti? edAC s ig na l With out a s ubs ta ntia l h old- up ca pa cita nce.
In s uch a pplica tions , th e v olta g e of th e unipola r poWer s our ce
120 m a y dr op to With in one or tWo diode dr ops of th e AC
s upply v olta g e, f or ex a m ple, dur ing th e tim e per iod B Wh en
th e output cur r ent Iout is s upplied s ubs ta ntia lly by th e poWer
s our ce 120.
[ 006 0] Th e plot 3 05 illus tr a tes th a t th e poWer s our ce 120
s upplies th e input cur r ent Iin to th e loa d dur ing th e tim e
per iod B ( e. g . , Iin: Iout) , a nd not dur ing a ny oth er tim e per iod
of th e ex em pla r y oper a ting cy cle.
[ 006 1] Th e plot 3 1 0 illus tr a tes th a t V111 a t th e input node 13 5
is elev a ted a t th e beg inning of th e tim e per iod A, Wh ich
r e? ects th e ch a r g e on th e ca pa citor 18 0. Th e plot 3 15 of th e
output cur r ent Iout illus tr a tes th a t th e dis ch a r g e of th e ca pa ci
tor 18 0 dur ing th e tim e per iod A s upplies r ea l ener g y to th e
US 2011/0157942 A1
loa d, Wh ich m a y a dv a nta g eous ly r educe th e pow er dr a Wn
f r om th e pow er s our ce 120 dur ing th e oper a ting cy cle.
[ 006 2] Th e plots 3 10, 3 15 a ls o s h oW th e ch a r g ing of th e
ca pa citor 18 0 a nd a contr olled decr ea s e in output cur r ent Iout
in th e tim e per iod D . Th e contr olled decr ea s e of Iout m a y
a dv a nta g eous ly contr ol a n a m plitude of th e REMF .
[ 006 3 ] Th e plot 3 20 illus tr a tes , in a m a g ni? ed v ieW, a por
tion of th e output cur r ent Iout Wa v ef or m a r ound th e tim e
per iod C in th e plot 3 15. In s om e ex a m ples , th e tim e per iod C
is s h or t r ela tiv e to th e tim e per iods A, B, a nd D . D ur ing th e
tim e per iod C in th is ex a m ple, th e s lope ( e. g . , dIout/dt) of th e
plot 3 15 is contr olled s ubs ta ntia lly by oper a tion of th e v olta g e
lim iter 16 0. In s om e em bodim ents , th e s lope m a y be con
tr olled s uf ? ciently Well s uch th a t th e a m plitude a nd nois e
ener g y a s s ocia ted With th e REMF v olta g e s ig na l m a y be
s ubs ta ntia lly r educed.
[ 006 4] In s om e a pplica tions , s ucces s iv e oper a ting cy cles
m a y occur With out inter r uption f or a n inde? nite per iod dur ing
Wh ich ener g y m a y be s upplied to th e loa d. F or ex a m ple,
oper a ting cy cles m a y h a v e a s ubs ta ntia lly ? x ed per iod, Wh ich
m a y include, but is not lim ited to, per iods of betWeen a bout 10
a nd a bout 20 m illis econds , or betWeen a bout 1 a nd a bout 3 0
m illis econds , or betWeen a bout 50 a nd a bout 1000 m icr os ec
onds , or les s th a n 6 0 m icr os econds , f or ex a m ple. In s om e
a pplica tions , one or m or e ? nite num ber of s ucces s iv e per iods
m a y be inter r upted by v a r ia ble tim es of not s upply ing poWer
to a loa d. In s om e em bodim ents , th e dur a tion of a n oper a ting
cy cle m a y be v a r ied a ccor ding to loa d r equir em ents , a n input
com m a nd, or oth er r equir em ents ( e. g . , to a v oid a n a udible
r es ona nce f r equency , ? lter ing r equir em ents , s y nch r oniza tion
to a utility s upplied v olta g e) .
[ 006 5] F IG. 4 s h oWs a s ch em a tic r epr es enta tion of a n
ex em pla r y poWer s ta g e 110 to s upply ener g y f r om a D C input
to a D C inductiv e loa d.
[ 006 6 ] In th e depicted em bodim ent, th e poWer s ta g e 110
h a s a n a r r a y of diodes 405, ea ch of Wh ich is connected f r om
th e s Witch 175 to a ca pa citor in a n a r r a y of pa r a llel- connected
ca pa citor s f or m ing a ca pa cita nce 410. In v a r ious im plem en
ta tions , th e m odule or s y s tem s m a y incor por a te s om e or a ll of
th e ca pa cita nce 410, Wh ich m a y include a n a r r a y of pa r a llel
ca pa citor s to im plem ent th e ca pa citor 18 0. In s om e em bodi
m ents , one or m or e of th e indiv idua l ca pa citor s m a y ea ch
h a v e a dif f er ent f r equency r es pons e ch a r a cter is tic ( e. g . ,
inducta nce) s uch th a t th e a r r a y of ca pa citor s 410 m a y ef f ec
tiv ely ca ptur e ener g y f r om th e inductiv e loa d ov er a Wide
r a ng e of f r equency com ponents , f or ex a m ple, in th e REMF
v olta g e s ig na l.
[ 006 7] Als o depicted in th is em bodim ent is a diode a r r a y
405 connected betWeen th e ener g y ca ptur e s Witch 175 a nd
one of th e ca pa citor s in th e a r r a y of ca pa citor s 18 0.
[ 006 8 ] Th e pa r a llel diodes 405 m a y , in s om e em bodim ents ,
a dv a nta g eous ly r educe r ing ing a nd/ or os cilla tions a m ong th e
ca pa citor s in th e ca pa cita nce 410. Th e ca pa citor 410 m a y be
im plem ented us ing tWo or m or e pa r a llel ca pa cita nces th a t
m a y pr ov ide Wider r es pons e ba ndWidth ( e. g . , loW inducta nce
pa th s ) a nd/or incr ea s ed ca pa cita nce. Optiona lly , th e a r r a y of
diodes m a y be im plem ented a s a s ing le diode ( e. g . , diode
19019 of F IG. 1) . In s om e im plem enta tions ( not s h oWn) , a
contr olla ble dev ice s uch a s a n SCR m a y optiona lly be
included in th e pa th ca r r y ing cur r ent dur ing tim e per iod D , a n
ex a m ple of Wh ich is des cr ibed With r ef er ence to th e elem ent
18 5 in th e F IG. 2. Such a n SCR m a y a dv a nta g eous ly incr ea s e
pea k v olta g e With s ta nd ca pa bility , a nd/or r educe undes ir ed
( e. g . , inter - electr ode, pa r a s itic) ca pa cita nce, f or ex a m ple.
Jun. 3 0, 2011
[ 006 9] F IG. 5 s h oWs a s ch em a tic r epr es enta tion of a n
ex em pla r y pa ir of poWer s ta g es 110a , 1101) to s upply ener g y
f r om a D C input to a n AC inductiv e loa d. In th is em bodim ent,
th e poWer s ta g es 110a , 1101) a r e s ubs ta ntia lly s im ila r in th a t
th ey h a v e s ubs ta ntia lly th e s a m e cir cuitr y a nd dr a W poWer
f r om th e s a m e poWer s our ce ( e. g . , th r oug h th e diode 195) .
Th ey dif f er pr im a r ily in th e tim ing of th eir output s ig na ls . In
v a r ious em bodim ents , th e poWer s ta g es 110a , 1101) m a y a lter
na tely s upply output cur r ent to th e loa d. In pa r ticula r , th e
poWer s ta g e 1 1011 m a y s upply unidir ectiona l output cur r ent A,
B, C, D in a ? r s t dir ection to th e loa d, a nd th e poWer s ta g e
1101) m a y s upply unidir ectiona l output cur r ent A', B', C', D ' in
a s econd dir ection to th e loa d. In s om e im plem enta tions , th e
ca pa citor 410 m a y be im plem ented us ing tWo or m or e pa r a llel
ca pa cita nces th a t m a y pr ov ide Wider r es pons e ba ndWidth
( e. g . , loW inducta nce pa th s ) a nd/or incr ea s ed ca pa cita nce, a s
des cr ibed in em bodim ents With r ef er ence to F IG. 4, f or
ex a m ple.
[ 0070] In a n illus tr a tiv e em bodim ent, a contr oller ( not
s h oWn) m a y g ener a te contr ol s ig na ls to per f or m a n oper a ting
cy cle us ing poWer s ta g e 110a . D ur ing poWer s ta g e 110a s
oper a ting cy cle, th e contr oller m a y tur n of f a ll of th e s Witch es
in th e poWer s ta g e 110b, th er eby pr ev enting a ny output cur
r ent f r om th e s ta g e 11011 f r om ? oWing in th e s ta g e 1101) .
Sim ila r ly , th e contr oller m a y dis a ble th e s ta g e 11011 Wh en th e
poWer s ta g e 110! ) per f or m s its oper a ting cy cle.
[ 0071] F IG. 6 s h oWs a block dia g r a m r epr es enta tion of a n
ex em pla r y ener g y pr oces s ing s y s tem th a t ca n us e th e poWer
s ta g es of F IG. 5 to s upply ener g y f r om a n AC input to a n AC
inductiv e loa d. Th e s y s tem 6 00 r eceiv es AC poWer input f r om
a n AC poWer s our ce 6 05, a nd s upplies a nAC poWer output to
oper a te a n AC loa d 6 10.
[ 0072] In th e depicted ex a m ple, th e ener g y pr oces s ing
m odule 105 includes tWo poWer s ta g es 110a , 110b, a nd a
contr oller 6 15. Us ing th e contr oller 6 15, th e ener g y pr oces s
ing m odule 105 m a y pr ov ide a utom a tic a nd intellig ent con
tr ol to th e poWer s ta g es 110a , 1101) to im pr ov e ef ? ciency
a nd/or contr ol a poWer f a ctor of th e AC poWer input. F or
ex a m ple, th e ener g y pr oces s ing m odule 105 m a y contr ol
REMF of th e loa d a nd ca ptur e a nd r e- us e inductiv e loa d
ener g y to pr ov ide h ig h ener g y ef ? ciency . Additiona lly , th e
ener g y pr oces s ing m odule 105 m a y be dig ita lly contr olled. In
s om e ex a m ples , th e contr oller 6 15 m a y be pr og r a m m ed to
contr ol th e poWer s ta g es 110a , 1101) a ccor ding to v a r ious
inputs ( e. g . , us er inputs , a na log inputs , a nd/or com m unica
tion netWor k input) . F or ex a m ple, th e contr oller 6 15 m a y a ls o
include s of tWa r e a nd h a r dWa r e to contr ol th e s Witch es in th e
poWer s ta g es 110a , 1101) ba s ed on us er input a nd/or in
r es pons e to s peci? ed ev ents ( e. g . , AC br oWnout conditions ,
loa d f a ult conditions , tim e of da y ev ents , or th e like) .
[ 0073 ] Th e s y s tem 6 00 a ls o includes a n input s ta g e 6 20.
Th e ener g y pr oces s ing m odule 105 r eceiv es th e AC poWer
input f r om th e AC poWer s our ce 6 05 v ia th e input s ta g e 6 20
a nd s upplies th e AC poWer output to th e loa d. In s om e im ple
m enta tions , th e AC poWer s our ce 6 05 m a y s upply poWer f r om
a n electr ica l poWer dis tr ibution netWor k ( e. g . , utility poWer a t
a bout 50- 6 0 HZ, or m a r ine/ a v ia tion poWer a t a bout 400 HZ) .
Th e input s ta g e 6 20 m a y pr econdition a n input v olta g e, f or
ex a m ple, by s m ooth ing a nd/ or r ectif y ing input poWer f or th e
ener g y pr oces s ing m odule 105.
[ 0074] As s h oWn, th e input s ta g e 6 20 includes a diode
br idg e r ecti? er 6 25 a nd a ca pa citor 6 3 0 to ? lter th e D C poWer
output. In s om e im plem enta tions , th e ca pa citor 6 3 0 m a y
r educe th e v a r ia tion in th e D C output v olta g e Wa v ef or m f r om
US 2011/0157942 Al
th e br idg e. In s om e ex a m ples , th e ca pa citor 6 3 0 m a y be tuned
f or Wa v e s h a ping to im pr ov e poWer ef ? ciency of th e ener g y
pr oces s ing m odule 105. In v a r ious em bodim ents , th e ca pa ci
tor 6 3 0 m a y be s iZed to ef f ectiv ely pr ov ide input cur r ent Wa v e
s h a ping th a t s ubs ta ntia lly r educes cr es t f a ctor by r educing
cur r ent pea ks a nd a s s ocia ted AC cur r ent h a r m onics .
[ 0075] In s om e im plem enta tions , th e ca pa citor 6 3 0 m a y
r a is e th e D C a v er a g e v olta g e to s upply th e ener g y pr oces s ing
m odule 105. In s om e ex a m ples , th e h ig h er D C v olta g e m a y be
us ed to s ta r t th e loa d 6 10 a nd im pr ov e v a r ious ty pes of induc
tiv e dev ice per f or m a nce. In s om e ex a m ples , th e incr ea s e in
D C v olta g e lev els m a y a ls o be us ed to ov er dr iv e line los s es to
m a inta in inductiv e dev ice per f or m a nce.
[ 0076 ] Us ing th e ener g y pr oces s ing m odule 105, th e AC
poWer s our ce 6 05 m a y s upply unidir ectiona l a nd/or bidir ec
tiona l cur r ent to a loa d, s uch a s th e loa d 6 10. Th e loa d 6 10
m a y include a s ing le dev ice ( e. g . , m otor ) or m ultiple dev ices
( e. g . , a ba nk of lig h ts ) .
[ 0077] In th e depicted ex a m ple, th e loa d 6 10 includes a
tr a ns f or m er 6 3 5 th a t r eceiv es th e bidir ectiona l ( e. g . , AC)
poWer output f r om th e ener g y pr oces s ing m odule 105. In one
im plem enta tion, th e tr a ns f or m er 6 3 5 m a y tr a ns f or m th e AC
poWer output v olta g e f r om th e ener g y pr oces s ing m odule 105
to a loa d v olta g e ( e. g . , 200 V- 500 V) th a t is us ed by th e loa d
6 10. F or ex a m ple, th e tr a ns f or m er 6 3 5 m a y s tep- up a loW
output v olta g e ( e. g . , 100 V- 220 V) to a h ig h er v olta g e ( e. g . ,
48 0 V) f or th e loa d 6 10.
[ 0078 ] Th e ener g y pr oces s ing m odule 105 m a y pr ov ide
im pr ov ed poWer ef ? ciency a nd/or contr ol ov er th e input
poWer f a ctor . F or ex a m ple, th e ener g y pr oces s ing m odule 1 05
m a y pr ov ide line f r equency poWer f a ctor cor r ection to
im pr ov e a poWer f a ctor dr a Wn f r om th e AC poWer s our ce 6 05.
In s om e im plem enta tions , th e s y s tem 6 00 m a y pr ov ide line
f r equency s Witch ing ( LES) oper a tions a t a ny in a r a ng e of
f r equencies . In s om e ex a m ples , th e LF S pr oces s m a y be
tim ed a nd s y nch r onized With a ph a s e of th e AC poWer s our ce
6 05 to pr oduce, f or ex a m ple, 50 HZ or 6 0 HZ, s Witch ed
v olta g es a nd cur r ent Wa v ef or m s f or a Wide s pectr um of induc
tiv e loa ds ( e. g . , th e loa d 6 10) .
[ 0079] In s om e ex a m ples , th e contr oller 6 15 m a y us e th e
LF S pr oces s to r a is e th e electr ica l ef ? ciency a nd contr olla
bility of s ta nda r d 50 HZ a nd 6 0 HZ inductiv e dev ices , s uch a s
th e tr a ns f or m er 6 3 5, la m p ba lla s ts , AC induction m otor s , D C
m otor s , a nd poWer s upplies . In s om e ex a m ples , th e LF S pr o
ces s m a y be us ed in h ig h - poWer a pplica tions a nd h ig h - poWer
contr ol. F or ex a m ple, v er y la r g e inductor s oper a ting a t h ig h
poWer lev els m a y be oper a ted With im pr ov ed s ta bility a nd
ener g y e? iciency . In s om e ex a m ples , th e contr oller 6 15 m a y
us e th e LF S pr oces s to pr ov ide ca pa bilities th a t include, but
a r e not lim ited to, poWer f a ctor ( PF ) cor r ection, poWer lev el
contr ol, h ig h - s peed s h utdoWn pr otection, s of t- s ta r t a nd/or
h a r d- s ta r t, a nd univ er s a l input ( e. g . , AC a nd/or D C) . Ex em
pla r y a pplica tions m a y include, but a r e not lim ited to line
f r equency inductiv e dev ices s uch a s m eta l h a lide a nd ? uor es
cent lig h ting , AC induction m otor s , a nd Welder s , f or ex a m ple.
[ 008 0] In one ex a m ple a pplica tion, a s m a ll a m ount of ? lter
ca pa cita nce ( e. g . , to pr ov ide AC cur r ent Wa v e s h a ping a nd
im pr ov ed cr es t f a ctor ) m a y be com bined With LF S tim ing to
s ubs ta ntia lly equa liZe input poWer a m ong a ll f our qua dr a nts .
In s uch a n ex a m ple, th e ener g y pr oces s ing m odule 105 m a y
g ener a te th e AC poWer output With a h ig h PF .
[ 008 1] In s om e em bodim ents , th e contr oller 6 15 m a y oper
a te to a dj us t ph a s e a nd duty cy cle to m a x im iZe a ch iev a ble
poWer f a ctor Wh en s upply ing a ny output poWer lev el to th e
Jun. 3 0, 2011
inductiv e dev ice. F or ex a m ple, a PE of better th a n 0. 9 m a y be
a ccom plis h ed doWn to a bout 50% output poWer lev els in
s om e a pplica tions . If a h ig h er PE is r equir ed beloW 50%
output poWer lev els , s om e em bodim ents m a y include a n AC
line r ea ctor a t th e AC poWer s our ce 6 05 to r a is es PF ba ck to
a ccepta ble lev els .
[ 008 2] Th e contr oller 6 15 in th e ener g y pr oces s ing m odule
105 m a y pr ov ide cer ta in contr ol f unctions to a dj us t PE in th e
s y s tem 6 00 a nd to, f or ex a m ple, r educe REMF , im pr ov e
ener g y e? iciency , a nd/or ex ecute s of tWa r e ins tr uctions . Th e
contr oller 6 15 includes a pr oces s or 6 40 ( e. g . , a CPU) a nd a
r a ndom a cces s m em or y ( RAM) 6 45 to pr ov ide v a r ious dig ita l
contr ol f unctions . Th e contr oller 6 15 a ls o includes a non
v ola tile m em or y ( N VM) 6 45 to s tor e s of tWa r e a nd da ta . In th e
depicted ex a m ple, th e N VM 6 45 s tor es a code 6 55. Th e
pr oces s or 6 40 m a y ex ecute th e code 6 55 to per f or m v a r ious
dig ita l contr ol f unctions in th e ener g y pr oces s ing m odule
105.
[ 008 3 ] In th e depicted ex a m ple, th e contr oller 6 15 m a y
r eceiv es ex ter na l input v ia a us er inter f a ce 6 6 0, a n a na log
inter f a ce 6 6 5, a nd/or a com m unica tion por t 6 70.
[ 008 4] F r om th e us er inter f a ce 6 6 0, th e contr oller 6 15 m a y
r eceiv e us er input. Th e us er inter f a ce 6 6 0 m a y be, f or
ex a m ple, a s et of dip s Witch es f or s etting a n oper a ting m ode
of th e ener g y pr oces s ing m odule 105. F or ex a m ple, a us er
m a y us e th e us er inter f a ce 6 6 0 to s et th e output v olta g e of th e
ener g y pr oces s ing m odule 105 to be 1 10V f or oper a tion in th e
Us . or 220V f or oper a tion in Eur ope. In a noth er ex a m ple, th e
us er inter f a ce 6 6 0 m a y r eceiv e us er input to dim or br ig h ten
intens ity of a ba nk of ? uor es cent lig h ts in a com m er cia l
building .
[ 008 5] Th e contr oller 6 15 m a y r eceiv e a na log input v ia th e
a na log inter f a ce 6 6 5. Th e a na log input m a y include s ig na ls
g ener a ted f r om s ens or s . F or ex a m ple, th e s y s tem 6 00 m a y
include a Ha ll Ef f ect s ens or , v olta g e s ens or , cur r ent s ens or ,
pos ition s ens or , v elocity s ens or , a tem per a tur e s ens or , a lig h t
s ens or , AC line ( e. g . , 50- 6 0 HZ) ph a s e s ens or , a nd/or oth er
s ens or to detect ex ter na l env ir onm ent pa r a m eter s . In s om e
im plem enta tions , th e contr oller 6 15 m a y r eceiv e m ea s ur e
m ent s ig na ls f r om a Ha ll Ef f ect s ens or f or pr ox im ity s Witch
ing , pos itioning , s peed detection, a nd cur r ent s ens ing a ppli
ca tions . In s om e im plem enta tions , th e contr oller 6 15 m a y
r eceiv e m ea s ur em ent of a n a m bient tem per a tur e a t f r om a
tem per a tur e s ens or to contr ol poWer output. F or ex a m ple, th e
pr oces s or 6 40 m a y a dj us t to s upply m a x im um output poWer
to a n a ir conditioning loa d Wh en th e a m bient tem per a tur e is
h ig h er th a n a s et point. In s om e im plem enta tions , th e contr ol
ler 6 15 m a y r eceiv e m ea s ur em ent of a n ex ter na l lig h t inten
s ity . F or ex a m ple, th e pr oces s or 6 3 5 m a y contr ol th e poWer
s ta g es 110a , 1001) to s upply a decr ea s ed poWer output to dim
th e lig h ts ( e. g . , Wh en th e s un is s h ining , dur ing of f h our s , a nd
th e like) .
[ 008 6 ] Th e contr oller 6 15 com m unica tes With a com m uni
ca tion netWor k 6 75 v ia th e com m unica tion por t 6 70. F or
ex a m ple, th e com m unica tion por t 6 70 m a y tr a ns m it a nd
r eceiv e da ta betWeen th e pr oces s or 6 40 a nd th e com m unica
tion netWor k 6 75. Th e com m unica tion netWor k 6 75 m a y
include th e Inter net, a loca l a r ea netWor k ( LAN ) , a nd/or a
com m unica tion ca ble ( e. g . , a univ er s a l s er ia l bus ( USB)
ca ble, a F ir eWir e, oth er pa r a llel or s er ia l da ta bus ) f or com
m unica ting With a com puter dev ice. Th e connection betWeen
th e contr oller 6 15 a nd th e com m unica tion netWor k 6 75 m a y
a ls o be Wir eles s . F or ex a m ple, th e com m unica tion netWor k
6 75 m a y be connected to th e contr oller 6 15 us ing Wir eles s