Control Techniques Limited

Nidec Control Techniques Limited

Richard Mark Wain

Simon David Hart

Colin Hargis

Michael Cade

Stephen Berry

Luke Duane Orehawa

Dilesh Arvind Raut

Robert Anthony Cottell

James Robert Douglas Kirkwood

Dhananjay Dattatray Kapatkar

Andrew Jeremy Sykes

Richard Samuel Gibson

Robert Gwyn Williams

Bryce Trevor Beeston

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an a method, apparatus and computer program product for controlling the operation of a drive unit comprising a plurality of switching modules arranged to receive a DC electricity supply and generate an AC electricity supply for driving a load from the received DC electricity supply, the AC electricity supply being generated by the switching of the plurality of switching modules between a conducting state and a non-conducting state. The method comprises receiving one or more characteristics associated with each of the switching modules, comparing, for each switching module of the plurality of switching modules, a characteristic of the switching module with an equivalent characteristic associated with one or more other switching modules of the plurality of switching modules, and controlling a time period during which one or more of the plurality of switching modules are in the conducting state in accordance with a result of the comparison.

Control system and method

A control module for use within a control network, the control module comprising: interface circuitry for enabling communication with an external device; communication means configured to communicate with the external device over the control network by communication with the interface circuitry; coupling means configured to mechanically couple the control module to an adjacent control module and provide a data connection between the communication means and the adjacent module; and an electrical isolation in the data connection between the communication means and the coupling means.

Communication module

The present disclosure relates to a power conversion system comprising a transformer comprising first, second, and third inductive coupling elements, a first power supply arranged to provide a voltage across the first coupling element, a second power supply arranged to provide a voltage across the second coupling element, an output arranged to receive a voltage from the third coupling element. In use, the voltage across the first coupling element and the voltage across the second coupling element are arranged to induce a voltage in the third coupling element. The system also comprises a control arrangement arranged to independently control the operation of the first and second power supplies.

Power conversion system

Apparatus for preventing output of an input signal is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a signal control unit comprising a signal buffering unit having an input and an output, the signal buffering unit arranged to receive an input signal and pass the input signal to the output when the signal buffering unit is powered, wherein a negative power supply terminal of the signal buffering unit is arranged to be supplied by a first power source having a voltage. The signal control unit also comprises a boost circuit arranged to boost the voltage of the first power source to a boosted voltage higher than the voltage of the first power source and supply either the voltage of the first power source or the boosted voltage to a positive power supply terminal of the signal buffering unit. The signal buffering unit is powered when the boosted voltage is supplied to the positive power supply terminal of the signal buffering unit and the signal buffering unit is not powered when voltage of the first power supply terminal is supplied to the positive power supply terminal of the signal buffering unit. Also disclosed is an apparatus for providing output voltages for driving a motor as well as a motor drive system.

Fail safe circuit

Circuits arranged to produce first and second outputs produced by first and second switch-mode converters, respectively, wherein each switch-mode converter comprises a converter input, a converter output, a converter controller, a converter controller enable input arranged to provide power to the controller, and a semiconductor power switching device coupled between the converter input and the converter controller. A first output of the first converter and a second output of the second converter are each arranged to produce a voltage of higher magnitude than the voltage at the respective converter controller enable input and converter input when the converter controller is enabled. Methods of controlling first and second outputs from first and second switch-mode converters are also disclosed.

Fail-safe interface

A semiconductor device driving unit to supply a drive signal to a gate of a semiconductor switching device, the semiconductor device driving unit comprising: a plurality of gate impedance circuits selectably connectable to the gate of the semiconductor switching device; and a selector to select one or more of the gate impedance circuits to connect to the semiconductor switching device. Also provided is a method of supplying a drive signal to a gate of a semiconductor switching device, the method comprising: selecting one or more of a plurality of gate impedance circuits to be connected to the gate of the semiconductor switching device based on one or more operating conditions and stored data relating to the one or more operating conditions; and connecting the selected one or more of the gate impedance circuits to the semiconductor switching device.

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Newtown, United Kingdom

Richard Mark Wain