Stacked power converter assembly

• US 10,050,438 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2015
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Jacobson, Boris S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Richard
• Application Number:
  US14/885,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20170110878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 307 23
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/00 Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith position fixing by co-ordinating a plurality of determinations of direction or position lines G01S5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/00 Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas arrangements for varying orientation of directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/42 for ships or vessels
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/04 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/06 using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode

Abstract

An antenna-based modular power system includes a prime power supply configured to generate a first alternating current (AC) power signal having a first AC voltage level. At least one transformer is configured to convert the first AC signal into a second AC signal having a second AC voltage level less than the first AC voltage level. At least one Transmit or Receive Integrated Microwave Module (T/RIMM) dual power converter antenna array is in signal communication with the at least one transformer. The at least one T/RIMM dual power converter antenna array includes at least one load, and an AC/DC converter is embedded therein to convert the second AC signal into a DC power drive signal to energize the at least one load.

Claims

1. An antenna-based modular power system, comprising:

a prime power supply configured to generate a first alternating current (AC) power signal having a first AC voltage level;

at least one transformer configured to convert the first AC voltage signal into a second AC voltage signal having a second voltage level less than the first AC level; and

at least one Transmit or Receive Integrated Microwave Module (T/RIMM) dual power converter antenna array in signal communication with the at least one transformer, the at least one T/RIMM dual power converter antenna array including at least one antenna and an AC/DC converter embedded therein to convert the second AC voltage signal into a DC power drive signal to energize the at least one antenna, the AC/DC converter comprising;

at least one frequency unfolder circuit configured to generate a power-corrected rectified signal based on the second AC voltage signal;

at least two isolated series resonant DC/DC converters configured to generate the first DC power signal based on the power-corrected rectified signal,

wherein the at least one T/RIMM dual power converter antenna array further includes a DC/DC converter in signal communication with the AC/DC converter, the DC/DC converter configured to convert a first DC power signal having a first DC power value output by the AC/DC converter into the DC power drive signal having a second DC power value that is less than the first DC power value.

2. The antenna-based modular power system of claim 1, wherein the at least one T/RIMM dual power converter antenna array further includes a transmit/receive (T/R) modulation circuit that receives the DC power drive signal and generates a pulse width modulated (PWM) DC signal that energizes the at least one power amplifier.

3. The antenna-based modular power system of claim 2, further comprising a T/RIMM processor configured to drive the at least one T/RIMM dual power converter antenna array according to a plurality of different operating modes.

4. The antenna-based modular power system of claim 3, wherein the at least one T/RIMM dual power converter antenna array includes a plurality of T/RIMM dual power converter antenna arrays, and wherein the T/RIMM processor controls a first T/RIMM dual power converter antenna array based on a power level demanded by a second T/RIMM dual power converter antenna array different from the first T/RIMM dual power converter antenna array.

5. The antenna-based modular power system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of T/RIMM dual power converter antenna arrays are connected in parallel with each other, and wherein the AC/DC converter and the DC/DC converter configured to provide bidirectional power distribution.

6. The antenna-based modular power system of claim 1, further comprising an AC power bus interposed between the at least one transformer and the at least one Transmit or Receive Integrated Microwave Module (T/RIMM) dual power converter antenna array to receive the second AC voltage signal.

7. The antenna-based modular power system of claim 6, wherein the AC/DC converter is connected directly to the AC power bus so as to directly receive the second AC voltage signal.

8. The antenna-based modular power system of claim 7, further comprising at least one energy storage device connected between the prime power supply and the AC power bus.

9. The antenna-based modular power system of claim 8, wherein the at least one energy storage device is a flywheel energy storage (FES) device.

10. The antenna-based modular power system of claim 1, wherein the first AC voltage signal includes a first AC voltage ranging from approximately 4000 volts (V) to approximately 5000V, and wherein the second AC voltage signal includes a second voltage ranging from approximately 400 V to approximately 500 V.

11. A Transmit or Receive Integrated Microwave Module (T/RIMM) dual power converter antenna array, comprising:

a plurality of transmit/receive circuits configured to energize at least one power amplifier, each transmit/receive circuit comprising;

an AC/DC converter configured to convert an AC signal into a first DC power signal having a first DC power level;

a DC/DC converter configured to convert the first DC power signal into a second DC power signal having a second DC power level less than the first DC power level; and

a transmit/receive (T/R) modulation circuit configured to modulate the second DC power signal to generate a PWM drive signal, wherein the PWM drive signal energizes the at least one power amplifier; and

a T/RIMM processor configured to control a power distribution of the plurality of transmit/receive circuits, and to control a first transmit/receive circuit based on a power level demanded by a second transmit/receive circuit different from the first T/RIMM dual power converter antenna array,

wherein the plurality of transmit/receive circuits are each configured to provide bi-directional power output, and wherein the plurality of transmit/receive circuits are connected in parallel with one another.

12. The T/RIMM dual power converter antenna array of claim 11, wherein the T/RIMM processor commands the first transmit/receive circuit to output a first power to the second transmit/receive so as to extend a pulse width of the PWM drive signal to satisfy the power level demand.

13. The T/RIMM dual power converter antenna array of claim 11, wherein the T/RIMM processor activates a first transmit/receive circuit while deactivating remaining transmit/receive circuits, and performs at least one diagnostic test to diagnose the AC/DC converter and the DC/DC converter.

14. The T/RIMM dual power converter antenna array of claim 13, wherein the at least one diagnostic test includes:

a first test to determine at least one of a failed AC/DC converter or a failed DC/DC converter of the first transmit/receive circuit; and

a second test to determine power efficiency of the first transmit/receive circuit.

15. The T/RIMM dual power converter antenna array of claim 11, wherein the T/RIMM processor performs at least one diagnostic test while a plurality of transmit/receive circuits generate the second DC power signal, and wherein the T/RIMM processor commands a first transmit/receive circuit to reduce a respective second DC power level in response to a failed diagnostic test.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising executing at least one diagnostic test while generating the second DC power signal, and wherein the T/RIMM processor commands a first transmit/receive circuit to reduce a respective second DC power level in response to a failed diagnostic test.

17. A method of controlling a Transmit or Receive Integrated Microwave Module (T/RIMM) dual power converter antenna array, the method comprising:

energizing at least one power amplifier using a plurality of transmit/receive circuits, wherein energizing each transmit/receive circuit includes;

converting an AC voltage signal into a first DC power signal having a first DC power level;

converting the first DC power signal into a second DC power signal having a second DC power level less than the first DC power level;

modulating the second DC power signal to generate a PWM drive signal that energizes the at least one power amplifier; and

distributing power among the plurality of transmit/receive circuits to activate a first transmit/receive circuit while deactivating remaining transmit/receive circuits so as to execute at least one diagnostic test to diagnose at least one of an AC/DC converter configured to generate the first DC power signal and a DC/DC converter configured to generate the second DC power signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a T/RIMM processor activates the first transmit/receiver circuit while deactivating remaining transmit/receiver circuits, and executing at least one diagnostic test to diagnose the AC/DC converter and the DC/DC converter.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein executing the at least one diagnostic test includes:

performing a first test to determine at least one of a failed AC/DC converter or a failed DC/DC converter of the first transmit/receive circuit; and

performing a second test to determine power efficiency of the first transmit/receive circuit.