Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation

Thomas P Joyce

Jordan K Vanevenhoven

Natalie Filipski

Michael C Harke

Adrian E Vandergrift

John F Defenbaugh

William S Heglund

Ashutosh Joshi

Lon R Hoegberg

Mike Arthur

Matthew Campbell

Art Beneditz

A system includes a two-switch H-bridge topology, which has a first switch with a first gate drive connected to control on and off states of the first switch. A second switch has a second gate drive connected to control on and off states of the second switch. An exciter winding is connected from a first node between the first switch and a second flyback diode to a second node between a first flyback diode and the second switch. A controller is connected to control the first gate drive and the second gate drive in a mode wherein the first switch is always on while the second cycles as a duty-cycle-controlled switch element for the exciter winding.

Two-switch exciter drive architecture with single switch modes

A generator system can include a first generator, a first controller operatively connected to the first generator to control a first generator voltage output, a second generator, and a second controller operatively connected to the second generator to control a second generator voltage output. The first generator and the second generator can be configured in a parallel generator configuration to share load power. The first controller and the second controller can be configured to provide foldback control. The first controller and the second controller can be configured to calibrate foldback to correct for current sharing imbalance between the first generator and the second generator.

Parallel generator systems and controllers therefor

A low-side contactor coil drive circuit can include an input line and a first solid state switch having a first switch base, a first switch collector, and a first switch emitter. The first switch collector can be connected to the input line and the first switch emitter is connected to ground. The circuit can include a second solid state switch having a second switch base, a second switch collector, and a second switch emitter. The second switch emitter can be connected to the input line in parallel with the first switch collector. The second switch collector can be connected to the first switch base. The circuit can include a third solid state switch having a third switch gate, a third switch source, and a third switch drain. The third switch drain can be connected to the second switch base.

Contactor drives having normally-on solid state switches

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a failure detection system for an integrated circuit component includes an integrated circuit component configured to connect to a circuit board, a first sensor operatively connected to sense and output a signal indicative of an actual current output of the component in a first state, and a second sensor operatively connected to sense and output a signal indicative of an actual condition of the component in the first state. A logic module can be configured to output a component failed state signal based at least in part on the signal indicative of the actual current output of the component in the first state and the signal indicative of the actual condition of the component in the first state.

Failure detection system for integrated circuit components

A method includes detecting a failure in a contactor economizer that is configured to provide a first current to a coil of a contactor to close the contactor, and to provide a second current lower than the first current to the coil after the contactor is closed to hold the contactor closed. The method includes at least one of: driving contactor actuation based on economizer failure status; and/or signaling failure of the economizer through built in test (BIT) indication.

Economizer failure detection and bit method circuits

A system includes a contactor operatively connected to a coil for actuating the contactor to open and close a circuit. A pass element includes a source, a drain, and a gate, wherein the drain is electrically connected to the coil, and wherein the coil is in series between the pass element and ground. A voltage source is connected to the source of the pass element to pass current into the coil when the pass element is in a pass state. A current source control circuit with economizer is operatively connected to the gate of the pass element. A delay circuit is operatively connected to the current source control circuit with economizer and to a command line to command a lower current for holding the contactor closed after a delay has expired for the contactor to transition.

Current source contactor drives with economizers

Current source contactor drive with economizers

A system including a generator and a controller. The generator includes a permanent magnet generator (PMG), and an exciter. The controller manages operations of the generator. The controller includes an alternating current to direct current (AC-to-DC) converter that generates a direct current (DC) voltage, an exciter drive that provides a DC current to the exciter of the generator using the DC voltage created by the AC-to-DC converter in accordance with the control signal, and a regulator controller that drives the active AC-to-DC converter.

Controller for a generator

Provided are embodiments for a circuit for a relay drive with a power supply economizer. The circuit includes a relay having a relay coil and a relay contact. The circuit also includes a power source to generate power for a coil drive voltage to operate the relay, and a controller configured to provide a command signal to operate the circuit in a plurality of modes. The circuit includes a first gate drive coupled to a first switch, wherein the first switch connects the relay coil to the circuit, and a second gate drive coupled to a second switch, wherein the second switch changes an effective resistance of a resistor network of the circuit to modify the coil drive voltage. Also provided are embodiments for a method for operating a circuit including relay drive with a power supply economizer.

Relay drive with power supply economizer

A system for connecting first and second high voltage direct current (HVDC) sources in parallel to a bus includes one or more contactors connecting the first HVDC source to the bus. The system also includes a bus coupling circuit located between the second HVDC source and the bus that utilizes inductors to couple, in operation, couples the second HVDC source to the bus such that first and second HVDC sources are in parallel with the second positive output is connected to the positive rail and the second negative output connected to the negative rail. The inductors are first connected to the bus though auxiliary contactors and, after a predetermined time, main contactors are closed that provide a path around the inductors.

System and method for adding a high voltage DC source to a power bus

Systems and methods for operating a transistor rectifier unit are provided. Aspects include providing a first transformer output and a second transformer output, providing a plurality of rectifier circuits, wherein the plurality of rectifier circuits comprises a first rectifier coupled to the first transformer output and a second rectifier coupled to the second transformer output, and wherein the first rectifier comprises a first output voltage and the second rectifier comprises a second output voltage, operating a plurality of switches based on a plurality of operational modes, wherein the plurality of operational modes comprises a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode, and wherein the plurality of switches comprises a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch.

Four-mode tap-switching transformer rectifier

Provided are embodiments that include a circuit configured to operate in a disabled mode error reduction for high-voltage bilateral operational amplifier current source. The circuit includes an operational amplifier, and a switching circuit coupled to the operation amplifier, wherein the switching circuit is operable in a normal mode and a disabled mode, wherein the disabled mode reduces error current at the output of the operational amplifier. Also provided are embodiments for a method for operating a circuit in a disabled mode for error reduction.

Disabled mode error reduction for high-voltage bilateral operational amplifier current source

A generator control unit (GCU) includes a fault detection system configured to generate a direct current (DC) voltage signal based on a difference of a DC-equivalent voltage between the positive and negative exciter gate drive signals. The fault detection system further outputs a fault detection signal indicating the fault status of the gate drive integrated circuits based on a comparison between the DC average voltage signal and a threshold value.

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Rockford, IL, United States of America

Thomas P Joyce