US5612615A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cryogenic electronics power supply
Assignee: American Superconductor Corp
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Filing: 1995-02-06
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Granted: 1997-03-18
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Expires: 2015-02-06
Abstract
Abstract A cryogenically cooled circuit, operating at temperatures at which inductors windings of the circuit exhibit superconducting characteristics, provides unique advantages in high performance, preferably high power circuits. Portions of the circuit (or the entire circuit), as opposed to, for example only the superconducting elements (i.e., inductor winding), are refrigerated to cryogenic temperatures. Advantages in the characteristics of not only the superconducting based components but also the diodes, and gating elements such as MOSFET's, yield a uniquely advantageous circuit enabling the operation of, for example, a switching power supplies, frequency converters, and motor speed controllers with increased performance and efficiency. Size, component count, and stability are benefits attained by cryogenically cooling the entire circuit configuration. Cryogenically-cooled solid-state contacting switches may be utilized for connecting/disconnecting AC and/or DC power between the high performance circuit and a source/load.
Inventors
- 👤 Calman Gold
- 👤 Carl J. Russo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:49
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M7/00; H02M7/003; H02M3/00; H02M3/02; H02M3/04; H02M3/10; H02M3/145; H02M3/155
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A high performance circuit comprising: at least one inductor winding composed of a high temperature superconductivity material and, a power supply circuit including at least one of a MOSFET, bipolar IGFET, GTO or other power device in circuit configuration with said inductor winding, wherein the power supply circuit is a rectifier circuit for converting alternating current into direct current and providing the direct current to a load, refrigeration means for cryogenically cooling at least the superconducting element of the supply circuit to a temperature wherein said inductor winding exhibits superconducting characteristics, and input/output means for supplying power to said circuit and receiving power from said circuit, said circuit providing at least one hundred watts of power to said load.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A high performance circuit comprising: at least one inductor winding composed of a high temperature superconductivity material and, a power supply circuit including at least one of a MOSFET, bipolar IGFET, GTO or other power device in circuit configuration with said inductor winding, wherein the power supply circuit is a rectifier circuit for converting alternating current into direct current and providing the direct current to a load, refrigeration means for cryogenically cooling at least the superconducting element of the supply circuit to a temperature wherein said inductor winding exhibits superconducting characteristics, and input/output means for supplying power to said circuit and receiving power from said circuit, said circuit providing at least one hundred watts of power to said load.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The high performance circuit of claim 1 wherein the rectifier circuit is a half-bridge rectifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The high performance circuit power supply circuit of claim 1 wherein the rectifier is a full-bridge rectifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The high performance circuit of claim 1 wherein the rectifier is a polyphase switching rectifier including a plurality of switching devices and said power source applies to the polyphase switching rectifier a plurality of alternating current input signals having a differential phase shift relationship with respect to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The high performance circuit of claim 4 wherein the differential phase shift between the plurality of alternating current input signals is 120°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The high performance circuit of claim 1 wherein the cryogenic cooling system cools the power supply circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The high performance circuit of claim 1 wherein said power supply circuit is an inverter circuit for converting direct current into alternating current and providing the alternating current to a load.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The high performance circuit of claim 7 wherein the inverter is a polyphase switching inverter including a plurality of switching devices controlled to generate polyphase AC output signals from a DC link voltage, said AC output signals having a differential phase shift relationship with respect to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The high performance circuit of claim 8 further comprising: a DC chopper; and a filter circuit for generating from a DC chopper output said DC link voltage, the DC link voltage provided to the input of the polyphase switching inverter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The high performance circuit of claim 9 further comprising a polyphase bridge rectifier coupled to the input of the DC chopper.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The high performance circuit of claim 10 wherein the differential phase shift between the plurality of alternating current input signals is 120°.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The high performance circuit of claim 9 wherein the cryogenic cooling system cools the inverter circuit, DC chopper, filter circuit and polyphase bridge rectifier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The high performance circuit of claim 1 wherein said power supply circuit and/or said input output means include electrical bus interconnections comprising high temperature superconductor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
A high performance circuit comprising: at least one inductor winding composed of a high temperature superconductivity material and, a frequency converter including at least one of a MOSFET, bipolar IGFET, GTO or other power device in circuit configuration with said inductor winding, refrigeration means for cryogenically cooling at least the superconducting element of the circuit to a temperature wherein said inductor winding exhibits superconducting characteristics, and input/output means for supplying power to said circuit and receiving power from said circuit, said circuit providing at least one hundred watts of power to a load.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
93 words
A high performance circuit comprising: at least one inductor winding composed of a high temperature superconductivity material and, a frequency converter including at least one of a MOSFET, bipolar IGFET, GTO or other power device in circuit configuration with said inductor winding, refrigeration means for cryogenically cooling at least the superconducting element of the circuit to a temperature wherein said inductor winding exhibits superconducting characteristics, and input/output means for supplying power to said circuit and receiving power from said circuit, said circuit providing at least one hundred watts of power to a load.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The high performance circuit of claim 14 wherein said frequency converter and/or said input output means include electrical bus interconnections comprising high temperature superconductor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
95 words
A high performance circuit comprising: at least one inductor winding composed of a high temperature superconductivity material and, a motor speed controller including at least one of a MOSFET, bipolar IGFET, GTO or other power device in circuit configuration with said inductor winding, refrigeration means for cryogenically cooling at least the superconducting element of the supply circuit to a temperature wherein said inductor winding exhibits superconducting characteristics, and input/output means for supplying power to said circuit and receiving power from said circuit, said circuit providing at least one hundred watts of power to a load.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
95 words
A high performance circuit comprising: at least one inductor winding composed of a high temperature superconductivity material and, a motor speed controller including at least one of a MOSFET, bipolar IGFET, GTO or other power device in circuit configuration with said inductor winding, refrigeration means for cryogenically cooling at least the superconducting element of the supply circuit to a temperature wherein said inductor winding exhibits superconducting characteristics, and input/output means for supplying power to said circuit and receiving power from said circuit, said circuit providing at least one hundred watts of power to a load.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
90 words
A high performance circuit comprising: a plurality of circuit elements in a circuit configuration, said circuit elements including at least one inductor winding composed of a high temperature superconductivity material, input/output means for supplying power to said circuit and receiving power from said circuit, said input output/means comprising at least one contacting switch for connecting/disconnecting power from a source and/or load, and refrigeration means for cryogenically cooling said at least one contacting switch and said at least one inductor winding to a temperature wherein said inductor winding exhibits superconducting characteristics.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
90 words
A high performance circuit comprising: a plurality of circuit elements in a circuit configuration, said circuit elements including at least one inductor winding composed of a high temperature superconductivity material, input/output means for supplying power to said circuit and receiving power from said circuit, said input output/means comprising at least one contacting switch for connecting/disconnecting power from a source and/or load, and refrigeration means for cryogenically cooling said at least one contacting switch and said at least one inductor winding to a temperature wherein said inductor winding exhibits superconducting characteristics.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The high performance circuit of claim 17 wherein said contacting switch connects/disconnects AC power from a source and/or load.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The high performance circuit of claim 17 wherein said contacting switch connects/disconnects DC power from a source and/or load.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The high performance circuit of claim 17 wherein said plurality of circuit elements includes at least one of a MOSFET, bipolar IGFET, GTO or other power device in circuit configuration with said inductor winding.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The high performance circuit of claim 17 further comprising electrical bus interconnections formed of high temperatures superconductor between at least a pair of said plurality of circuit elements.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-17 | 2000-09-16 | 2001-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-17 | 2004-09-16 | 2005-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-17 | 2008-09-16 | 2009-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |