IP Library Granted Patent US 10,901,489
Granted Patent B2
US 10,901,489 · App. 15/464,143 · Granted Jan 26, 2021

Multiphase electrical power construction and assignment at minimal loss

Inventors: Lynn Smith (San Mateo, CA); Stacey Reineccius (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Stem, Inc.
G06F1/3287G05B15/02G05F5/00G06F1/26G06F1/263G06F1/3296H02J3/26Y02E40/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,901,489
App. No.
15/464,143
Granted
Jan 26, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a multiphase electrical power construction and assignment, a processor: determines a phase and voltage configuration for bi-directional power device pairs; determines a given bi-directional power device pair is to be coupled to a given phase connection based on the configuration; determines whether the given bi-directional power devices in the given bi-directional power device pair are to be coupled to each other; confirms that the given bi-directional power device pair is not coupled to any of the plurality of phase connections; couples the given bi-directional power device pair to the given phase connections, where power signals of the given bi-directional power device pair are synchronized with a power signal of the given phase connection; and in response to determining that the given bi-directional power devices are to be coupled to each other, couples each of the bi-directional power devices to a short bus.

Claims (50)

1. A processor-implemented method, comprising:

determining a phase and voltage configuration for a bi-directional power device pair;

determining, via a processor, that at least one bi-directional power device included in the bi-directional device pair is to be coupled to at least one phase connection included in a plurality of phase connections; and

coupling the at least one bi-directional power device included in the bi-directional power device pair to the at least one phase connection.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more power signals associated with the bi-directional power device pair are synchronized with a power signal associated with the at least one phase connection.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bi-directional power device pair comprises an alternating current (AC) power source/load device pair, and determining that at least one bi-directional power device included in the bi-directional power device pair is to be coupled comprises:

determining that at least one device included in the AC power source/load device pair is to be coupled to at least one target phase; and

placing the AC power source/load device pair into an idle mode.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that one or more bi-directional power devices included in the bi-directional power device pair are to be coupled to one another; and

closing a switch included in a plurality of switches and is associated with a short bus.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after coupling, confirming that each of a plurality of switches coupled between the bi-directional power device pair and the plurality of phase connections is in a desired state; and

in response, instructing the bi-directional power device pair to begin providing or drawing power.

6. A processor-implemented method, comprising:

determining a phase and voltage configuration for a power source/load device pair;

determining, via a processor, that at least one power source/load device included in the power source/load device pair is to be coupled to at least one phase connection included in a plurality of phase connections;

determining, via the processor, that the power source/load device pair is not coupled to any phase connections included in the plurality of phase connections by:

issuing a command to place each of a plurality of switches coupled between the power source/load device pair and the plurality of phase connections in an open state, and

confirming that each of the plurality of switches is in the open state; and

coupling the at least one power source/load device included in the power source/load device pair to the at least one phase connection.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, after confirming, issuing one or more commands to the power source/load device pair that synchronizes one or more power signals associated with the source/load device pair with the at least one target phase.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein issuing one or more commands comprise:

determining a frequency and zero crossing point of the at least one target phase; and

issuing one or more timing and control commands to the power source/load device pair to synchronize one or more frequencies associated with the one or more power signals associated with the source/load device pair with one or more frequencies associated with the at least one target phase.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein issuing one or more timing and control commands further comprises issuing a command to first fixed logic coupled to the plurality of switches to close at least one switch corresponding to the at least one target phase at the zero crossing point.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a phase and voltage configuration for a bi-directional power device pair;

determining that at least one bi-directional power device included in the bi-directional device pair is to be coupled to at least one phase connection included in a plurality of phase connections; and

coupling the at least one bi-directional power device included in the bi-directional power device pair to the at least one phase connection.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein one or more power signals associated with the bi-directional power device pair are synchronized with a power signal associated with the at least one phase connection.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the bi-directional power device pair comprises an alternating current (AC) power source/load device pair, and determining that at least one bi-directional power device included in the bi-directional power device pair is to be coupled comprises:

determining that at least one device included in the AC power source/load device pair is to be coupled to at least one target phase; and

placing the AC power source/load device pair into an idle mode.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining that one or more bi-directional power devices included in the bi-directional power device pair are to be coupled to one another; and

closing a switch included in a plurality of switches and is associated with a short bus.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising:

after coupling, confirming that each of a plurality of switches coupled between the bi-directional power device pair and the plurality of phase connections is in a desired state; and

in response, instructing the bi-directional power device pair to begin providing or drawing power.

15. A system, comprising:

a bi-directional power device pair that includes a first bi-directional power device and a second bi-directional power device;

a plurality of switches configured to couple the bi-directional power device pair to a plurality of phase connections; and

a processor that executes program code and, upon executing the program code, performs the steps of:

determining a phase and voltage configuration for a bi-directional power device pair,

determining that at least one bi-directional power device included in the bi-directional device pair is to be coupled to at least one phase connection included in a plurality of phase connections, and

coupling the at least one bi-directional power device included in the bi-directional power device pair to the at least one phase connection.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the bi-directional power device pair comprises an alternating current (AC) power source/load device pair.

17. The system of claim 15 , further comprising first fixed logic coupled to the plurality of switches and configured to close at least one switch corresponding to at least one target phase at a zero crossing point of the at least one target phase.

18. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a short bus configured to couple the first bi-directional power device to the second bi-directional power device, wherein, when the first bi-directional power device is coupled to the second bi-directional power device via the short bus, the first bi-directional power device and the second bi-directional power device operate in series.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2025
From: STEM, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 071569/0935 →
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL 051629/FRAME 0400 Recorded May 3, 2021
From: GENERATE LENDING, LLC
To: STEM, INC.
Reel/Frame 056121/0527 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT REEL 052677/FRAME 0027 Recorded Apr 28, 2021
From: ARES CLIMATE INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS, L.P.
To: STEM, INC.
Reel/Frame 056079/0736 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2020
From: STEM, INC.
To: ARES CLIMATE INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS, L.P., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 052677/0027 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2020
From: STEM, INC.
To: GENERATE LENDING, LLC
Reel/Frame 051629/0400 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FIRST CONVEYING PARTY'S NAME AND THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 041648 FRAME: 0920. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 4, 2017
From: SMITH, LYNN; REINECCIUS, STACEY
To: STEM, INC.
Reel/Frame 042153/0286 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2017
From: SMITH, LYNNE; REINECCIUS, STACEY
To: STEM, INC.
Reel/Frame 041648/0920 →