General Electric Company

Robert James Thomas

Ramanujam Ramabhadran

Sayed-Amr A El-Hamamsy

William Newell Schultz

Ahmed Elasser

Michael Joseph Schutten

Kum-Kang Huh

Maja Harfman Todorovic

Cong Li

Maja Harfman-Todorovic

Krishna Mainali

Manoj Ramprasad Shah

Stanton Earl Weaver, Jr

Charles Erklin Seeley

John Stanley Glaser

Victor D Roberts

David Joseph Kachmarik

Rayette Ann Fisher

Joseph C Borowiec

Satish Prabhakaran

Hsueh-Rong Chang

Han Peng

Sayan Acharya

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward designs and methods of improving driving of switching devices. One proposed solution to improving driving of switching devices is an auxiliary control circuit that selectively guides the switching device through at least one switching region, permitting an improved operation of the switching device.

Miller transition control gate drive circuit

A power electronics circuit is disclosed that includes a switching circuit comprising a first solid-state device coupled in series with a second solid-state device, with at least the first solid-state device comprising a solid-state switch having a gate terminal. The power electronics circuit also includes a current sense transformer positioned between the first and second solid-state devices and configured to sense a current flowing on a conductive trace connecting the first and second solid-state devices, and a controller coupled to the switching circuit and the current sense transformer so as to be in operable communication therewith. The controller is programmed to receive a current sense signal from the current sense transformer indicative of the current flowing on the conductive trace and modulate a gate voltage to the gate terminal of the first solid-state device based on the received current sense signal, so as to control switching thereof.

System and method for rapid current sensing and transistor timing control

Systems and methods provided herein relate to a gate drive circuit for controlling operation of a wide bandgap semiconductor switch. The systems and methods receive a control signal and configuring an operation signal configured to activate a wide bandgap switch (WBG switch). A profile of the operation signal being based on electrical characteristics of first and second shaping circuits. The systems and methods further deliver the operation signal to the WBG switch.

Systems and methods for a gate drive circuit

A feedthrough includes a flange comprising an inner cylindrical surface and a planar mounting surface. The inner cylindrical surface defines a cylindrical passage within the flange. The feedthrough further includes a printed circuit board ('PCB') mounted on the planar mounting surface of the flange, and an electrically conductive element that extends through the cylindrical passage of the flange.

High power feedthrough for use with a high frequency power converter

An electric motor is configured with a stator core assembly that includes a stator core having a plurality of winding slots. A plurality of stator windings pass through the plurality of winding slots that include slot liners configured to provide electrostatic shields surrounding the plurality of stator windings. The electrostatic shields are referenced to an electrical location to reduce common mode currents associated with the electric motor.

Electric motor structure to minimize electro-magnetic interference

A cooling system includes a synthetic jet having a first synthetic jet lead and a second synthetic jet lead. The cooling system also includes a capacitor having a first capacitor lead and a second capacitor lead. The first capacitor lead is coupled to the first synthetic jet lead. The synthetic jet is configured to be powered via an alternating current (AC) power source coupled to the second capacitor lead and to the second synthetic jet lead.

Power circuitry for a synthetic jet of a cooling system

A starting system for an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp includes a parallel tuned LC network including a fixed capacitor and a starting inductor, and also including a conductive plate for application to the starting inductor for detuning the network once the lamp has started. The detuned starting network produces insufficient voltage to maintain the starting plasma while the lamp is running. The conductive plate is removed from the starting inductor by a solenoid or other mechanical actuator during lamp starting.

Starting system for electrodeless metal halide discharge lamps

A CFL ballast includes complementary-type switching devices connected in series with their gates connected together at a control node. The switching devices supply a resonant tank circuit which is tuned to a frequency near, but slightly lower than, the resonant frequency of a resonant control circuit. As a result, the tank circuit restarts oscillations immediately following each zero crossing of the bus voltage. Such rapid restarts avoid undesirable flickering while maintaining the operational advantages and high efficacy of the CFL ballast.

Zero energy-storage ballast for compact fluorescent lamps

A fluorescent lamp ballast utilizes a single a transformer for providing both tank inductance and current mode feedback to the ballast driver circuitry. The transformer has an 'EE' core with inductor windings on the center legs and gate windings on one of the outer legs. The center leg is gapped to avoid magnetic core saturation and to adjust inductance to a desired value. Coupling can be adjusted further by gapping one or the other of the outer legs.

Fluorescent lamp ballast with current feedback using a dual-function

An electrodeless SEF fluorescent discharge lamp of the type having an envelope with a re-entrant cavity formed therein for containing an excitation coil includes an amalgam positioned for maintaining an optimum mercury vapor pressure during lamp operation. The amalgam is doped with a magnetic material, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, aluminum or tungsten, and is initially located in an optimal operating position using a magnetic field generated by a magnet situated about the lamp envelope. Advantageously, the magnetic field can be used to relocate the amalgam within the exhaust tube, as desired, during lamp processing steps. After processing, the magnet is removed, and no amalgam holder is required.

Using a magnetic field to locate an amalgam in an electrodeless

A starting circuit for an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp comprises a high efficiency power supply for providing a radio frequency signal to a starting probe disposed proximate the arc tube of the lamp. The power supply may comprise either a Class-D or Class-E power amplifier having an output resonant circuit tuned to a substantially higher frequency than the operating frequency of the signal provided to the excitation coil by the lamp ballast to ensure minimal interaction between the starting circuit and the ballast. The output resonant circuit includes an inductance coupled in series with a capacitance that preferably comprises the capacitance between the excitation coil and the starting probe. After initiating the arc discharge, the starting circuit is deactivated.

Starting circuit for an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp

A starting aid for an electrodeless high intensity discharge (HID) lamp comprises a spiral starting electrode which, at least during lamp starting, conforms to the shape of the arc tube so as to provide a relatively high capacitive starting current upon receipt of a radio frequency starting signal, resulting in a rapid transition from a glow discharge to a high intensity solenoidal discharge. At least one turn of the spiral starting electrode is preferably in contact with the portion of the arc tube nearest the arc discharge to be formed and is oriented so as to provide a capacitive starting current that flows in substantially the same location as the arc discharge to further ease lamp starting. In one embodiment, the spiral starting aid comprises first and second coil portions. The first coil portion conforms to the shape of the arc tube and has at least one turn disposed nearest the portion of the arc tube where the arc discharge is to be formed. The second coil portion has at least one turn in contact with the arc tube and the remaining turns extend outwardly therefrom. Once the lamp is started, the starting aid may be moved to a predetermined location away from the arc tube.

Starting aid for an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp

A lamp ballast configuration in which input power is conducted by one circuit board to the switching devices of a half bridge circuit whose output is conducted on a second circuit board with the two circuit boards mounted parallel and spaced apart disposes the device package which extends between the two circuit boards in an exposed position for direct contact to a heat sink. Drive transformers for the switching devices are preferably mounted between the circuit boards and shielded on four of their six sides by a combination of ground planes on the circuit boards and wide, flat ground conductors connecting the ground planes of the two circuit boards. A compact, high efficiency (&gt;91%) RF system is obtained which is suitable for excitation of an electrodeless, high-intensity-discharge lamp.

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Clifton Park, NY, United States of America

Robert James Thomas