The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 31, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 19, 1996
Steven Norman Montminy, Groton, MA (US);
Brian James Shaffer, Reading, MA (US);
Patrizio Vinciarelli, Boston, MA (US);
VLT Corporation, San Antonio, TX (US);
Abstract
An automated system for designing power converters includes receiving power converter operating characteristic information, and, in a computer, determining alternative power converter configurations that are consistent with the operating characteristic information. One of the alternative power converter configurations that tends to have optimal efficiency is selected in the computer. Optimization criteria or selection criteria may be received, or a combined heat loss may be calculated for each configuration, and the selection may be of the configuration that is optimal with respect to the optimization criteria, or may be based upon the selection criteria, or may be of the configuration that minimizes the combined heat loss. The functional operating characteristic information and optimization criteria may be received by a first party from a second party. A power converter generator in a computer may determine power converter configurations that meet the functional operating characteristic information and determine and store information about each configuration with respect to the optimization criteria. One of the determined power converter configurations that tends to optimize the power converter configuration based on the optimization criteria is selected in the computer. Specifications for the selected power converter configuration are provided to the second party. Upon receipt by the first party of approval of the selected power converter configuration from the second party, fabrication information for the selected power converter configuration is delivered to a manufacturing facility.