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University of Illinois Chicago
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University of Illinois Chicago

Laboratory for Energy and Switching-Electronics Systems

College of Engineering

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New Technologies

Boolean and Coded Transfer of Power and Data

Patented Boolean and Coded Transfer of Power and Data

Systems and methods for co-transmission of discrete power and data

Patent number: 11245437

Abstract: A system for co-transmitting discrete power and data over a common high frequency channel includes a power transmitting node, a power receiving node, a data transmitting node, a data receiving node, a power transmitting switch, a power receiving switch, a data transmitting switch, a data receiving switch, a primary power switch, a secondary power switch, a common high frequency channel, a first control unit, and a second control unit. When the primary power switch, power transmitting switch, and power receiving switch are in an activated state, a power signal is transmitted over the common high frequency channel from the power transmitting node to the power receiving node. When the secondary power switch, data transmitting switch, and data receiving switch are in an activated state, a data signal is transmitted over the common high frequency channel from the data transmitting node to the data receiving node.
Patented Differential-Mode Converter

Patented Differential-Mode Converter for Renewable- / Battery-Energy based System

Scalable single-stage differential power converter

Patent number: 9379640

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a scalable single stage differential power converter. The inverter can be implemented in signal, split and multi-phases. A multiphase converter can be achieved with only three modules. Integrated magnetics used in preferred embodiments of the invention mitigate the DC component of the steady-state dynamics and can be extended to AC ripple mitigation. Control architectures in preferred embodiments can mitigate higher order harmonics in steady state dynamics. Embodiments of the invention also provide scalability for voltage and current source topologies.r can be achieved with only three modules. Integrated magnetics used in preferred embodiments of the invention mitigate the DC component of the steady-state dynamics and can be extended to AC ripple mitigation. Control architectures in preferred embodiments can mitigate higher order harmonics in steady state dynamics. Embodiments of the invention also provide scalability for voltage and current source topologies.

Three-phase differential mode converter

Patented SiC Universal Electric-Vehicle (EV) Supercharger

Three-phase differential mode converter

Patent number: 11,502,596 B2

Abstract:  A system for charging a battery includes three sub-modules, each receiving a respective phase of a three-phase alternating current (AC) signal. The three sub-modules cooperate to transform the respective phases of the three-phase AC signal to a direct current (DC) signal by passing the respective phases of the three-phase AC signal through a respective semiconductor device configured to discontinuously modulate the respective phase of the three-phase AC signal to convert it to a DC signal provided to the battery to charge the battery.

Patented Hybrid-Modulation-based Capacitor-less High-Frequency-Link Inverter

Patented Hybrid-Modulation-based Capacitor-less High-Frequency-Link Inverter for Renewable- / Battery-Energy based System

Multiphase converter apparatus and method
Patent number: 7768800
Abstract: An ac/ac converter for accepting a pulsating dc input with encoded sinusoidal modulation and providing a multiphase modulated output. The converter comprises a bridge including a plurality of switches having switch legs for modulating the pulsating dc input at a carrier frequency over a plurality of phases. The bridge is coupled at one end to a pulsating dc source and coupled at another end to a modulated signal output. A controller is provided for the plurality of switches for causing, for each of the plurality of phases, under unity power factor, one of the switch legs to modulate the pulsating dc input at the carrier frequency while the other switch legs do not modulate the pulsating dc input at the carrier frequency.
Ripple Mitigating Filter Based Inverter

Patented Zero-Ripple Filter Based Inverter for Fuel-Cell- / Renewable- / Battery-Energy based System

Power conditioning system for energy sources

Patent number: 7372709

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for conditioning power generated by an energy source. The apparatus includes an inverter for converting a DC input voltage from the energy source to a square wave AC output voltage, and a converter for converting the AC output voltage from the inverter to a sine wave AC output voltage. A key aspect of the technology pertains to the integration of a ripple-mitigating active filter (power decoupler) that mitigates low and high frequency current ripples that may otherwise affect the operation, durability, and energy efficiency of a DC energy source.

Patented Photonically-Switched Wide-Bandgap Device

Patented Photonically-Switched Wide-Bandgap Device

Optically-triggered multi-stage power system and devices
Patent number: 8294078
Abstract: A multi-stage optically-triggered power system. At least one triggering stage is responsive to at least one optical trigger to directly create photogeneration of carriers in the at least one triggering stage and thus generate at least one output signal. At least one main power device stage coupled to the at least one triggering stage is responsive to the at least one generated output signal to activate the at least one main power device stage. The at least one triggering stage and the at least one main power device stage may be monolithically integrated.

 

Photonically-activated single-bias fast-switching integrated thyristor

Patent number: 8796728
Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention include a thyristor core that is single biased by a source, such as a power source (or a portion thereof) that is being switched through the thyristors. An optically activated transistor that is preferably a minority carrier device is in series with the thyristor core. The thyristor core has an optically activated gate. The turn-off of the thyristor can be accelerated by the turn-on (conduction state) of a gate switch, which ensures a unity gain turn-off of the core thyristor.
Optically-triggered power system and devices
Patent number: 8183512
Abstract: A power device is provided in an optically-triggered power system having a controller for generating electrical control signals and a converter for converting the electrical control signals to optical control signals. The power device includes a pair of terminals and a P-body region provided adjacent an N source region. An optical window is provided at least partially over the P-body region, and an N? drift region is provided between the two terminals. The P-body region causes current to conduct between the first and second terminal through the N? drift region when an optical control signal is incident on the optical window.
First Optically-Controlled High Freq. SiC Converter

First Patented Photonic Device based Optically-Controlled High-Frequency SiC Converter

Optical control of power MOSFETs can provide several improvements in system parameters including reduced electromagnetic interference (EMI), robust electrical separation, and separation of power and control stages. Control signals, by necessity, have very large di/dt and dv/dt values, which initiate noise problems in the power stage and can have coupling effects. Moving these signals to fiber-optic transmission reduces EMI and cross-talk effects. An optical link also allows the control and driver stages of a converter to remain separate, which can be useful for high-temperature power electronics. Such applications have become increasingly important and pervasive as power semiconductor devices (PSDs) have transitioned to wide-bandgap materials (such as SiC and GaN) enabling the power converters to operate at temperatures once thought extreme for Si based power devices and also providing multi-fold improvements in many metrics of the switched-mode converters encompassing switching frequency and power density. Towards that end, a solution to the optical control of a power SiC MOSFET and high-frequency SiC power converter is presented.