IGBT/FET-based energy savings device for reducing a predetermined amount of voltage using pulse width modulation

• US 8,723,488 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powerwise Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Powerwise Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Lumsden, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhang, Jue
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Lakaisha
• Application Number:
  US13/331,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20120086415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 323/223, 323/224, 323/225, 323/237, 323/241, 323/244, 323/266, 323/274, 323/283, 323/300, 323/320, 323/322
• US Class Current: 323/239
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/293 using semiconductor devices only

Abstract

An energy savings device, system, and method wherein a predetermined amount of voltage below a nominal line voltage and/or below a nominal appliance voltage is saved, thereby conserving energy. Phase input connections are provided for inputting analog signals into the device and system. A volts zero crossing point detector determines the zero volts crossing point of the signal. The positive half cycle and negative half cycle of the signal are identified and routed to a digital signal processor for processing the signal. The signal is reduced by pulse width modulation and the reduced amount of energy is outputted, thereby yielding an energy savings for an end user.

Claims

1. An energy savings device comprising:

at least one phase input connection configured to input a predetermined amount of energy having at least one analog signal;

at least one volts zero crossing point detector configured to determine at least one zero crossing point of said at least one analog signal;

at least one half cycle identifier configured to identify at least one positive half cycle of said at least one analog signal and at least one negative half cycle of said at least one analog signal;

at least one logic device configured to route said at least one positive half cycle of said at least one analog signal and said at least one negative half cycle of said at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal processor configured to process said at least one analog signal;

at least one drive control configured to reduce said predetermined amount of energy by providing pulse width modulation to said at least one analog signal to yield a reduced amount of energy, wherein said at least one drive control is in electrical connection with said at least one digital signal processor; and

at least one phase output connection configured to output said reduced amount of energy, wherein said at least one drive control comprises a positive half cycle control transistor configured to provide pulse width modulation to said at least one positive half cycle of said at least one analog signal, a negative half cycle control transistor configured to provide pulse width modulation to said at least one negative half cycle of said at least one analog signal, a first shunt control transistor and a second shunt control transistor configured as routing switches to clamp a back electromotive force.

2. The energy savings device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one sensing means for sensing said predetermined amount of energy.

3. The energy savings device of claim 2, wherein said at least one sensing means measures said predetermined amount of incoming energy via galvanic isolation.

4. The energy savings device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one lost phase detection device configured to prepare said at least one analog signal for inputting into said at least one half cycle identifier.

5. The energy savings device of claim 4, wherein said at least one logic device is in electrical connection with said at least one lost phase detection device.

6. The energy savings device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one power supply unit in electrical connection with said energy savings device configured to power said energy savings device.

7. The energy savings device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one floating power supply in electrical connection with said at least one drive control.

8. The energy savings device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one computing device in electrical connection with said energy savings device.

9. The energy savings device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one communications interface in electrical connection with said at least one digital signal processor.

10. The energy savings device of claim 9, wherein said at least one communications interface is at least one USB communications interface.

11. The energy savings device of claim 9, wherein said at least one communications interface permits a user to monitor said predetermined amount of energy inputted into said energy savings device and said reduced amount of energy outputted from said energy savings device.

12. The energy savings device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one digital electricity meter in electrical connection with said at least one digital signal processor.

13. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said positive half cycle control transistor and said negative half cycle control transistor are IGBT devices.

14. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said positive half cycle control transistor and said negative half cycle control transistor are FET devices.

15. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said first shunt control transistor and said second shunt control transistor are IGBT devices.

16. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said first shunt control transistor and said second shunt control transistor are FET devices.

17. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one digital signal processor comprises at least one real-time clock.

18. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one digital signal processor comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter.

19. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one digital signal processor is in electrical connection with said at least one logic device.

20. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one logic device is in electrical connection with said at least one half cycle identifier.

21. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one logic device is in electrical connection with said at least one volts zero crossing point detector.

22. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one logic device is in electrical connection with said at least one drive control.

23. The energy savings device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one analog signal conditioning device configured to condition said at least one analog signal for inputting into said at least one half cycle identifier.

24. The energy savings device of claim 23, wherein said at least one analog signal conditioning device comprises a first filter for removing or reducing harmonics and transients or interfering signals of said at least one analog signal.

25. The energy savings device of claim 24, wherein said at least one analog signal conditioning device comprises a second filter for permitting at least one phase change if necessary.

26. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one volts zero crossing point detector comprises a comparator and a Schmidt buffer.

27. The energy savings device of claim 26, wherein said comparator has a reference point of approximately half a supply voltage.

28. The energy savings device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one phase rotation device configured to prepare said at least one analog signal for inputting into said at least one half cycle identifier.

29. The energy savings device of claim 28, wherein said at least one logic device is in electrical connection with said at least one phase rotation device.

30. The energy savings device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one reset switch in electrical connection with said at least one digital signal processor.

31. The energy savings device of claim 30 further comprising:

at least one light emitting diode in electrical connection with said at least one reset switch.

32. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one half cycle identifier identifies an absolute zero crossing of said at least one analog signal.

33. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one logic device is programmable.

34. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one logic device operates in real-time.

35. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one phase input connection is a single phase input system.

36. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one phase output connection is a single phase output system.

37. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one phase input connection is bi-phase input system.

38. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one phase output connection is a bi-phase output system.

39. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one phase input connection is a three-phase input system.

40. The energy savings device of claim 1, wherein said at least one phase output connection is a three-phase output system.

41. An energy savings system comprising:

an energy savings device comprising;

at least one phase input connection configured to input a predetermined amount of energy having at least one analog signal;

at least one volts zero crossing point detector configured to determine at least one zero crossing point of said at least one analog signal;

at least one half cycle identifier configured to identify at least one positive half cycle of said at least one analog signal and at least one negative half cycle of said at least one analog signal;

at least one logic device configured to route said at least one positive half cycle of said at least one analog signal and said at least one negative half cycle of said at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal processor configured to process said at least one analog signal;

at least one communications interface in electrical connection with said at least one digital signal processor;

at least one drive control configured to reduce said predetermined amount of energy by providing pulse width modulation to said at least one analog signal to yield a reduced amount of energy, wherein said at least one drive control is in electrical connection with said at least one digital signal processor; and

at least one phase output connection configured to output said reduced amount of energy, wherein said at least one drive control comprises a positive half cycle control transistor configured to provide pulse width modulation to said at least one positive half cycle of said at least one analog signal, a negative half cycle control transistor configured to provide pulse width modulation to said at least one negative half cycle of said at least one analog signal, a first shunt control transistor and a second shunt control transistor configured as routing switches to clamp a back electromotive force;

a power supply unit in electrical connection with said energy savings device configured to power said energy savings device; and

a computing device comprising a window interface and a communications interface in electrical connection with said at least one communications interface of said energy savings device.

42. The energy savings system of claim 41 further comprising:

at least one sensing means for sensing said predetermined amount of energy.

43. The energy savings system of claim 42, wherein said at least one sensing means measures said predetermined amount of incoming energy via galvanic isolation.

44. The energy savings system of claim 41 further comprising:

at least one reset switch in electrical connection with said at least one digital signal processor of said energy savings device.

45. The energy savings system of claim 44 further comprising:

at least one light emitting diode in electrical connection with said at least one reset switch.

46. The energy savings system of claim 41, the energy savings device further comprising:

at least one lost phase detection device configured to prepare said at least one analog signal for inputting into said at least one half cycle identifier.

47. The energy savings system of claim 46, wherein said at least one logic device is in electrical connection to said at least one lost phase detection device.

48. The energy savings system of claim 41, the energy savings device further comprising:

at least one floating power supply in electrical connection with said at least one drive control.

49. The energy savings system of claim 41, the energy savings device further comprising:

at least one digital electricity meter in electrical connection with said at least one digital signal processor.

50. The energy savings system of claim 41, wherein the positive half cycle control transistor and the negative half cycle control transistor are IGBT devices.

51. The energy savings system of claim 41, wherein the positive half cycle control transistor and the negative half cycle control transistor are FET devices.

52. The energy savings system of claim 41, wherein the first shunt control transistor and the second shunt control transistor are IGBT devices.

53. The energy savings system of claim 41, wherein the first shunt control transistor and the second shunt control transistor are FET devices.

54. The energy savings system of claim 41, wherein said at least one digital signal processor comprises at least one real-time clock.

55. The energy savings system of claim 41, wherein said at least one digital signal processor comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter.

56. The energy savings system of claim 41, wherein said at least one digital signal processor is in electrical connection with said at least one logic device.

57. The energy savings system of claim 41, wherein said at least one logic device is in electrical connection with said at least one half cycle identifier.

58. The energy savings system of claim 41, wherein said at least one logic device is in electrical connection with said at least one volts zero crossing point detector.

59. The energy savings system of claim 41, wherein said at least one logic device is in electrical connection with said at least one drive control.

60. The energy savings system of claim 41, the energy savings device further comprising:

at least one analog signal conditioning device configured to condition said at least one analog signal for inputting into said at least one half cycle identifier.

61. The energy savings system of claim 60,

wherein said at least one analog signal conditioning device comprises a first filter for removing or reducing harmonics and transients or interfering signals of said at least one analog signal.

62. The energy savings system of claim 61, wherein said at least one analog signal conditioning device has a second filter for permitting at least one phase change if necessary.

63. The energy savings system of claim 41, wherein said at least one volts zero crossing point detector comprises a comparator and a Schmidt buffer.

64. The energy savings system of claim 63, wherein said comparator has a reference point of approximately half a supply voltage.

65. The energy savings system of claim 41, the energy savings device further comprising:

at least one phase rotation device configured to prepare said at least one analog signal for inputting into said at least one half cycle identifier.

66. The energy savings system of claim 65, wherein said at least one logic device is in electrical connection to said at least one phase rotation device.

67. The energy savings system of claim 41, wherein said at least one communications interface is at least one USB communications interface.

68. The energy savings system of claim 41, wherein said at least one communications interface permits a user to monitor said predetermined amount of energy inputted into said energy savings system and said reduced energy outputted from said energy savings system.

69. The energy savings systems of claim 41, wherein said at least one half cycle identifier identifies an absolute zero crossing of said at least one analog signal.

70. The energy savings systems of claim 41, wherein said at least one logic device is programmable.

71. The energy savings systems of claim 41, wherein said at least one logic device operates in real-time.

72. The energy savings systems of claim 41, wherein said at least one phase input connection is a single phase input system.

73. The energy savings systems of claim 41, wherein said at least one phase output connection is a single phase output system.

74. The energy savings systems of claim 41, wherein said at least one phase input connection is a bi-phase power system.

75. The energy savings systems of claim 41, wherein said at least one phase output connection is a bi-phase output system.

76. The energy savings systems of claim 41, wherein said at least one phase input connection is a three-phase power system.

77. The energy savings systems of claim 41, wherein said at least one phase output connection is a three-phase output system.

78. An energy savings system comprising:

means for inputting a predetermined amount of incoming energy having at least one analog signal, the at least one analog signal comprising a plurality of slices;

means for determining at least one zero crossing point of said at least one analog signal;

means for identifying at least one positive half cycle and at least one negative half cycle of said at least one analog signal;

means for routing said at least one positive half cycle of said at least one analog signal and said at least one negative half cycle of said at least one analog signal to at least one processing means for processing said at least one analog signal;

means for reducing said at least one analog signal of said predetermined amount of energy to yield a reduced amount of energy, wherein the means for reducing is configured to remove at least one of the plurality of slices from the at least one analog signal; and

means for outputting said reduced energy.

79. The energy savings system of claim 78 further comprising:

means for sensing said predetermined amount of incoming energy.

80. The energy savings system of claim 78 further comprising:

means for conditioning said at least one analog signal.

81. The energy savings system of claim 78 further comprising:

means for lost phase detection of said at least one analog signal.

82. The energy savings system of claim 78 further comprising:

means for phase rotation of said at least one analog signal.

83. The energy savings system of claim 78 further comprising:

means for communicating with at least one computing device.

84. The energy savings system of claim 78 further comprising:

means for resetting said energy savings system.

85. The energy savings system of claim 78, wherein said means for reducing comprises a positive half cycle control transistor configured for providing pulse width modulation to said at least one positive half cycle of said at least one analog signal, a negative half cycle control transistor configured for providing pulse width modulation to said at least one negative half cycle of said at least one analog signal, and a first shunt control transistor and a second shunt control transistor configured as routing switches to clamp a back electromotive force.

86. The energy savings system of claim 85, wherein the positive half cycle control transistor and the negative half cycle control transistor are IGBT devices.

87. The energy savings system of claim 85, wherein the positive half cycle control transistor and the negative half cycle control transistor are FET devices.

88. The energy savings system of claim 85, wherein the first shunt control transistor and the second shunt control transistor are IGBT devices.

89. The energy savings system of claim 85, wherein the first shunt control transistor and the second shunt control transistor are FET devices.

90. A method of reducing energy consumption by an energy savings device comprising:

inputting a predetermined amount of energy having at least one analog signal, the at least one analog signal comprising a plurality of slices;

determining at least one zero crossing point of said at least one analog signal;

identifying at least one positive half cycle of said at least one analog signal and at least one negative half cycle of said at least one analog signal;

processing said at least one analog signal;

reducing said predetermined amount of energy by removing at least one of the plurality of slices from the at least one analog signal using pulse width modulation; and

outputting a reduced amount of energy.

91. The method of claim 90 further comprising:

sensing said predetermined amount of energy.

92. The method of claim 90 further comprising:

conditioning said at least one analog signal.

93. The method of claim 90 further comprising:

detecting lost phase of said at least one analog signal.

94. The method of claim 90 further comprising:

determining phase rotation of said at least one analog signal.

95. The method of claim 90 further comprising:

routing said at least one positive half cycle of said at least one analog signal and said at least one negative half cycle of said at least one analog signal to processing means in advance of processing.

96. The method of claim 90, wherein said reducing comprises:

providing pulse width modulation to said at least one positive half cycle of said at least one analog signal;

providing pulse width modulation to said at least one negative half cycle of said at least one analog signal; and

providing a plurality of routing switches to clamp a back electromotive force.