Hughes Aircraft Company

Hughes Electronics Corporation

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

The Boeing Company

Delco Electronics Corporation

Stephen J Hulsey

George R Woody

James H Lee

Stephen W Raiser

Joe Anthony Ortiz

Ray G Radys

Philip C Todd

Bruce R Baker

James F Lazar

Various embodiments provide two-phase boost converters. One two-phase boost converter includes a node configured to be coupled to an input voltage and a transformer coupled to the node. The transformer includes primary and secondary windings, an inductor coupled in series with the primary winding, and an inductor coupled in series with the secondary winding. Another two-phase boost converter includes an inductor configured to be coupled to an input voltage, a node coupled to the inductor, and a transformer coupled to the node. The transformer includes primary and secondary windings, an inductor coupled in series with the primary winding, and an inductor coupled in series with the secondary winding. Yet another two-phase boost converter includes a transformer coupled to first and second external inductors. The transformer includes primary and secondary windings, an inductor coupled in series with the primary winding, and an inductor coupled in series with the secondary winding.

Two-phase transformer-coupled boost converter

A current control circuit forces current sharing among paralleled power converters. Each power converter has an associated current control circuit, which includes a current amplifier and a coupling circuit. The current amplifier outputs a feedback signal to a voltage regulation error amplifier when the power converter output current falls below a predetermined threshold level. The error amplifier causes an increase in the power converter output voltage, forcing an increase in output current. Therefore, each power converter in a paralleled arrangement is regulated to provide a minimum level of output current, based on a predetermined threshold value.

Regulator with feedback voltage and current signal summing into controller

An anode control circuit for at least two traveling wave tubes powered by a common electronic power conditioner. The anode control circuit has separate anode drive circuits for the traveling wave tubes that are referenced to a voltage that is higher than the cathode voltage being supplied by the electronic power conditioner. A relay between the anode drive circuit and the anode of the traveling wave tube being driven opens or closes a path between the traveling wave tube and the cathode voltage supplied by the electronic power conditioner. The anode drive circuits are referenced to one of the collector voltages that is closest to the anode operating voltage and such that the anode voltage is more positive than the reference voltage.

Electronic power conditioner anode voltage control

A current controlled voltage boost circuit for a high voltage converter. The voltage boost circuit includes a boost converter connected to receive an input voltage and a control signal, and output an increased output voltage to the high voltage converter as a function of a control signal. The circuit further includes a current sensing circuit providing an output voltage proportional to the sensed input current to the high voltage converter. The output voltage from the current sense circuit varies a reference voltage that is compared to the boost converter output voltage by an error amplifier. The error amplifier, in turn, outputs a control signal to the boost converter such that the control signal controls the boost converter output voltage as a function of the input current to the high voltage converter.

Voltage boost circuit for a high voltage converter

A transmission cable system that incorporates cooling channels that encircles electrical conductors with coolant. The transmission cable system also provides for breach or leak detection. More specifically, the transmission cable system maybe used with an inductive charging system that transfers electric power from a power source to batteries of an electric vehicle. The cable system includes a cooling system for storing, cooling, and pumping coolant, and a pressure sensitive switch for determining the pressure in the cooling system and for providing an output signal indicative of a drop in sensed pressure. A controller is coupled to the pressure sensitive switch that is responsive to the output signal from the switch for shutting down the inductive charging system in the event of a drop in sensed pressure. The transmission cable is electrically coupled between the power source and the electric vehicle for coupling electrical power to the batteries. The transmission cable is also coupled between the cooling system and the inductive charging system and includes a plurality of coolant channels that permit the flow of coolant between the cooling system and the inductive charging system that cools the transmission cable when transferring electrical power.

High power, high frequency transmission cable breach detection

A high voltage cable system for use with a contactless battery charging system that charge propulsion batteries of an electric vehicle, and the like. The contactless battery charging system includes a primary power converter coupled to a power source and a secondary power converter located on the electric vehicle that is coupled propulsion batteries of the electric vehicle. The primary and secondary power converters are connected by way of a coaxial power cable. An isolation transformer is coupled between the output of the primary power converter and the coaxial power cable. This transformer allows one of the two outputs of the primary power converter to be connected to ground potential. The isolation transformer improves the safety and reduces electromagnetic interference (EMI) when coupling power to the secondary power converter. The isolation transformer 30 allows for the use of a stepped-up voltage level to be used in the primary power converter, which reduces the amount of current in the coaxial power cable required to deliver power to the secondary converter. This allows a much higher charge power to be delivered to the electric vehicle using a reasonably sized coaxial power cable.

Contactless battery charging system with high voltage cable

An inductive charge port for an electric vehicle in which part of the inductive coupling transformer core is attached to the inside of an access door on the vehicle, and wherein only a primary coil assembly is inserted into the charging device when charging the vehicle. The charge port includes a primary coil assembly having a primary winding that is coupled by way of an electrical cable to a power source, and a secondary coil assembly disposed in the vehicle. A housing in the vehicle has the secondary coil assembly disposed therein. The secondary coil assembly includes a transformer core having a first portion disposed in the housing. A secondary winding is disposed in a cavity in the first portion of the transformer core which receives the primary winding therein. A hinged access door has a compressible, resilient member disposed on its inner wall and a second portion of the transformer core is secured to the compressible member. The second portion of the transformer core forms a lid or cap that mates with the first portion to form a complete transformer core. The mating first and second portions tightly secure the primary winding in the cavity when the door is closed. The secondary winding is coupled by way of an electrical cable to a charging circuit that is coupled to a battery of the vehicle. When the primary coil is inserted into the cavity and the external power source is energized, power flows from the power source through the inductive charge port to the battery. The present invention provides for an easy and safe inductive coupling that eliminates the possibility of shock hazard to a user when recharging the electric vehicle.

Electric vehicle inductive coupling charge port

A circuit for converting on d.c. voltage to another d.c. voltage including a transformer having a center tap and first and second end leads. A d.c. source voltage is connected to the center tap of the transformer. The end leads are connected to ground through first and second MOSFETs and to the gate of the MOSFET through which the other end lead is connected to ground such that the circuit is nominally self-oscillating due to transformer saturation. Current spikes may be minimized with a control circuit, consisting of an oscillator, a flip-flop, and first and second transistors, connected to the gates of the first and second MOSFETs. The control circuit turns the MOSFETS off prior to their natural oscillation turn off caused by transformer saturation. The circuit is particularly suited to operation with a low voltage d.c. source and low voltage MOSFETS.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Stephen J Hulsey