Steven A Robbins

US Patent:

8076793, Dec 13, 2011

Filed:

Feb 13, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/527067

Inventors:

Steven Andrew Robbins - Calabasas CA, US

Assignee:

Linear Technology Corporation - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

H02J 1/00
H02J 3/00
H04B 3/54

US Classification:

307 1

Abstract:

A circuit for providing electrical isolation of Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) circuitry from external circuitry in a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system has an inductive circuit for providing an isolation barrier to electrically isolate an isolated side of the isolation circuit from a non-isolated side of the isolation circuit. A signal path circuitry is configured for transferring bidirectional and/or unidirectional signals over the isolation barrier between respective nodes at the isolated and non-isolated sides.

US Patent:

8618864, Dec 31, 2013

Filed:

Jun 14, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/159952

Inventors:

Steven Andrew Robbins - Calabasas CA, US

International Classification:

H03K 17/687

US Classification:

327427, 327428, 363127

Abstract:

The active rectifier circuit and related method of operation disclosed herein is self-powered and improves the efficiency and reliability of photovoltaic solar power systems by replacing the conventional bypass and blocking rectifiers used in such systems. The circuit includes a power MOSFET used as a switch between the anode and cathode terminals, and control circuitry that turns on the MOSFET when the anode voltage is greater than the cathode voltage. The method of operation utilizes resonance to produce a large periodic voltage waveform from the small anode-to-cathode dc voltage drop, and then converts the period voltage waveform to a dc voltage to drive the gate of the power MOSFET.

US Patent:

20190131802, May 2, 2019

Filed:

Oct 26, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/172583

Inventors:

- Calabasas CA, US
Steven Andrew Robbins - Calabasas CA, US

International Classification:

H02J 7/00
G01R 31/396
H04W 16/18

Abstract:

A method of managing an energy storage system that includes a plurality of smart energy storage cells, and a related method of operation for said smart cells. The cells are arranged into a two-dimensional array, and at least one management unit for controlling and monitoring the smart cells is coupled to the array. The smart cells and management units engage in wireless communication that has relatively short range and is relatively directional, with the direction being electronically-steerable in the plane of the array. The management method assigns direction codes to each smart cell which the cells utilize to steer the directions of their communication links, thereby organizing the smart cells into a plurality of serially-linked communication networks. The methods include steps for automatically determining the size and arrangement of the array, including the orientation of each smart cell. The methods also include steps for automatically reorganizing the network links in response to any cell or management unit failing to communicate, thereby making the energy storage system highly fault-tolerant and extremely reliable.

US Patent:

20190131814, May 2, 2019

Filed:

Oct 26, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/172576

Inventors:

- Calabasas CA, US
Steven Andrew Robbins - Calabasas CA, US

International Classification:

H02J 7/02
H04B 5/00

Abstract:

The wireless management system for energy storage systems includes a plurality of smart cells arranged into a two-dimensional array and a plurality of distributed management units. The smart cells and management units communicate with each other wirelessly via capacitive coupling (not radio). The communication links have extremely short range (typically under 3 mm), are relatively directional, and are electronically-steerable in the plane of the array. The smart cells may also include at least one power resistor and switch for passive cell balancing. The circuitry in the smart cells is typically incorporated into a flexible sheet that wraps around the energy storage device like a label. This system is extremely reliable because it is massively redundant, fault tolerant, and eliminates the wires used in conventional monitoring systems.

US Patent:

20160172863, Jun 16, 2016

Filed:

Dec 2, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/956831

Inventors:

Steven Andrew Robbins - Calabasas CA, US

Assignee:

Sunfield Semiconductor Inc. - Calabasas CA

International Classification:

H02J 3/38
H02M 3/04

Abstract:

A smart junction box for a photovoltaic solar power module, and related method of operation. The junction box includes a plurality of active bypass circuits for protecting the solar cells from reverse bias, a novel power supply circuit in several embodiments that can operate with input voltages of either positive or negative polarity, a capacitor for storing and supplying energy, and a master control circuit. The master control circuit is able to enable/disable the power supply, force the bypass switches to open, and modulate the on-resistance of the bypass switches. The master control circuit performs these functions in a coordinated way to maintain the voltage across the capacitor within predetermined limits, thereby ensuring the internal circuitry is powered under all operating conditions including: full sunlight, partial shading, full shading, and safe mode for reducing the risk of electrical shock to firefighters.

US Patent:

20160164457, Jun 9, 2016

Filed:

Dec 2, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/956856

Inventors:

Steven Andrew Robbins - Calabasas CA, US

Assignee:

Sunfield Semiconductor Inc. - Calabasas CA

International Classification:

H02S 40/34
H02J 1/10

Abstract:

The invention comprises: a smart junction box with a safe mode for photovoltaic solar power modules; and the related method of operation. Power MOSFETs are used as active bypass diodes during the normal operation of the smart junction box, but in safe mode the power MOSFETs are turned on continuously, thereby reducing the output voltage to a safe level of approximately 200 mV. A Non Volatile Memory (NVM) keeps the module in the safe mode after power from the PV cells is interrupted by momentary shading or night. The smart junction box includes transmitter and receiver circuits for wirelessly communicating with other smart junction boxes. The smart junction box enters safe mode in response to receiving a shut-down signal, and exits safe mode in response to receiving a restart signal. The smart junction box acts as a signal repeater, thereby ensuring that the shut-down and restart signals propagate to all junction boxes in the solar array. Some embodiments of the smart junction box include at least one detection circuit for detecting the interruption of current flowing through the junction box, and the receiver circuit typically interprets the detected interruption of current as a shut-down signal.

US Patent:

20140291721, Oct 2, 2014

Filed:

Mar 27, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/851253

Inventors:

Steven Andrew Robbins - Calabasas CA, US

Assignee:

SUNFIELD SEMICONDUCTOR INC. - Calabasas CA

International Classification:

H01L 27/02

US Classification:

257134, 257146, 257133

Abstract:

A protection circuit for metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) that are used as active bypass diodes in photovoltaic solar power systems is disclosed. The protection circuit comprises, a detection circuit for detecting the start of a surge event, a switch disposed to connect the MOSFET's drain to it's gate in response to the start of the surge, a diode in series with the switch, a bistable circuit for keeping the switch closed during the surge, and a means of resetting the bistable circuit after the surge.

US Patent:

20140293491, Oct 2, 2014

Filed:

Mar 27, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/851231

Inventors:

Steven Andrew Robbins - Calabasas CA, US

Assignee:

SUNFIELD SEMICONDUCTOR INC. - Calabasas CA

International Classification:

H02H 9/04
H02H 7/00

US Classification:

361 54

Abstract:

An active bypass diode circuit that mitigates the hazard of arc flash events in a Photovoltaic (PV) solar power array, and a PV solar power module that utilizes a plurality of said active bypass circuits are disclosed The active bypass circuit comprises a diode, a switch in parallel with the diode, a control circuit for opening and closing the switch, a circuit for detecting arc flash events, a power management circuit, a power supply circuit, and a capacitor. When an arc flash event is detected, all the switches are closed concurrently, reducing the voltage produced by the PV string to a level that is too low the sustain the arc, and thereby terminating the arc.