7773results about "Power conversion systems" patented technology

A system for providing power to a wireless card includes power interface that provides power to a compact flash card. A boost regulator boosts the power from the power interface. A battery provides power that is summed with the power from the power interface. Moreover, a buck regulator limits the voltage of the summed power. A compact flash card can be powered by the power interface while a wireless card can be powered by the summed power.

Improved methods and systems for position acquisition and/or monitoring are disclosed. The position acquisition and/or monitoring can be performed with improved intelligence so that data acquisition, transmission and/or processing is reduced. As a result, the position acquisition and/or monitoring is able to be performed in a power efficient manner.

A system and method for supplying power to a load and for controlling the power factor presented to the power line. Output voltage is controlled by a digital, outer, control loop, and inner, analog, control loop causes the input current to be substantially proportional to the input voltage at any particular point in the power line cycle. Thus, the system presents a load to the power line that appears to be purely resistive. The use of an analog multiplier is not required, nor is sampling of input voltage. Limiting of inrush current provides for brown-out protection and soft-start.

An electric power tool is powered by a plurality of battery packs connected in series. The electric power tool comprises a controller configured to receive signals outputted from the integrated circuits located in each of the battery packs. A first voltage level-shifter is disposed between the controller of the electric power tool and one of the integrated circuits of the battery packs. The first voltage level-shifter is configured to shift the voltage level of the signal outputted from the respective integrated circuit to the tool controller to an acceptable level for the controller.

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system includes an AC power input configured to receive AC power from a single-phase AC power source or a multi-phase AC power source, a DC power source, an output circuit including a power output, a controllable switch configured to selectively couple at least one of the AC power input and the DC power source to the output circuit, and a processor coupled and configured to affect operation of the output circuit depending upon which of single-phase and multi- phase operation of the UPS is indicated.

A system for rack level power management, the system comprising: at least one power source; a management module; and a plurality of power managed modules in communication with the management module and connected to draw power from the at least one power source, each of the plurality of power managed modules comprising a power manager and an operating circuit, the operating circuit being operable at a plurality of power drawing levels responsive to the power manager, the management module being operative to allocate a power budget to each of the plurality of power managed modules and communicate the allocated power budgets to the power managers, each of the power managers being operative to control the operating circuit of the power managed module to be operable at a power drawing level within the allocated budget.

A photovoltaic energy conversion system includes a distributed control structure for groups of cells of each multi-cellular panel, the components of which are entirely physically integrated in the photovoltaic panel. Each multi-cellular photovoltaic panel has a DC bus, supplied in parallel by a plurality of DC-DC converters, each provided with a controller that controls the working point of the photovoltaic cells coupled to the input of the DC-DC converter for a maximum yield of electric power by implementing a relatively simple MPPT algorithm. The controller includes a logic circuit and A/D converters of analog signals representing the input voltage and the input current generated by the group of cells that is coupled to the input of the DC-DC converter and optionally also of the output voltage of the converter, and a relatively simple D/A converter of the drive control signal of the power switch of the DC-DC converter.

A wind turbine generator control system is provided for controlling output of a plurality of tightly-coupled windfarms connected at a point of common coupling with a power system grid. A master reactive control device employs algorithms whose technical effect is to coordinate the real power, reactive power and voltage output of the multiple windfarms. The controller incorporates a reactive power regulator that can be used to regulate reactive power, power factor or voltage at the point of common coupling and an active power regulator that can be used to regulate real power at the point of common coupling; such that each windfarm is not asked to contribute or violate its own operating capability.

A stored energy system is provided for delivering AC electrical power to a load. This system includes a single housing containing within a battery bank for storing DC power, and an inverter for receiving either DC power or AC power and converting DC power to AC power. The stored electrical system includes five circuit breakers mounted on the outside surface of the housing. Twist lock plugs are connected to each of the circuit breakers for removably connecting input power sources and output loads with the circuit breakers. A first circuit breaker is connected to a solar power source. A second circuit breaker is connected to a wind generator. A third circuit breaker is connected to a generator for generating AC power. A fourth circuit breaker is connected to a utility supplying AC power. A fifth circuit breaker is connected to the outside AC power load.

A system and method are provided for actively reducing ripple in a supply voltage provided by a switched mode power supply. In general, active ripple reduction circuitry operates to sense the ripple in the supply voltage to provide a signal indicative of the ripple. The signal indicative of the ripple is inverted and provided to the output of the switched mode power supply to substantially reduce or eliminate the ripple in the supply voltage.

A constant voltage/constant power AC adapter converts AC voltage to DC voltage to provide power to a plurality of loads. The adapter's output characteristic is approximately a constant voltage as long as the output current draw by the loads is less than a threshold (e.g. a safety threshold for the adapter). If, however, the power draw on the adapter is such that the output current exceeds the threshold, the adapter then decreases its output voltage to maintain the power draw at a safe level. One or more loads that draw power from the adapter may be adapted to detect a drop in the AC adapter's output voltage. When such a voltage drop is detected, that information tells the load that too much current is being drawn from the adapter and that the load should throttle back (e.g., reducing battery charge current, CPU clock frequency, display brightness, etc.).

A power control system comprises a plurality of POL regulators, at least one serial data bus operatively connecting the plurality of POL regulators, and a system controller connected to the serial data bus and adapted to send and receive digital data to and from the plurality of POL regulators. The serial data bus further comprises a first data bus carrying programming and control information between the system controller and the plurality of POL regulators. The serial data bus may also include a second data bus carrying fault management information between the system controller and the plurality of POL regulators. The power control may also include a front-end regulator providing an intermediate voltage to the plurality of POL regulators on an intermediate voltage bus.

A control strategy for distributed power generation modules in a power system that varies the line frequency or voltage according to a predetermined pattern to cause a PV inverter to modify its power output and thereby avoid overcharging a battery. When the power system operates in islanded mode, the AC load demand can be lower than the available energy from the PV array, causing the battery to become overcharged. To avoid this scenario, a hybrid inverter executes a pattern generator algorithm that varies the line frequency or voltage linearly, exponentially or any mathematical function or look-up tables. The PV inverter executes a pattern detection algorithm that detects the linear, exponential, or any mathematical function or look-up table change in the line frequency. In response, the PV inverter modifies its power output until an overcharging condition of the battery is removed. The line frequency/voltage can be varied within the anti-islanding limits to avoid premature disruption of the power system, and no additional settings are required at the device level in order to operate in any mode of operation: islanded, grid-connected or genset-connected.

A remote power feeding method allowing efficient remote power feeding into a network termination device in the event of a commercial power failure at a subscriber site is disclosed. When the commercial power failure occurs, a power failure signal is transmitted from the subscriber-side network termination device to the central office-side line termination device. The central office-side line termination device, when receiving the power failure signal, starts DC power feeding to the subscriber-side network termination device via the subscriber line. During the power failure, only voice communication is permitted using previously selected good channels.

A power distribution assembly (PDA) includes a plurality of power modules that are installed within a chassis that is mounted to a vehicle, such as an aircraft. The power modules are used to control aircraft systems such as braking, navigation, or temperature control systems. The PDA includes first and second microprocessors that have separate serial busses that are in communication with each of the power modules. A first power supply powers the first microprocessor and each of the power modules and a second power supply powers the second microprocessor and each of the power modules independently from the first power supply. Additionally the first and second microprocessors communicate with each other via both serial busses to determine which microprocessor is in active control and which microprocessor is on standby in addition to monitoring the health of the other microprocessor. The microprocessors can be used to provide command signals to satellite power distribution assemblies having satellite power modules for controlling additional aircraft systems. This configuration allows smaller satellite power distribution assemblies to be incorporated into the aircraft, which facilitates installation and provides more flexibility.

The invention discloses an LED drive circuit with dimming function and a lamp. The LED drive circuit comprises a TRIAC dimmer; the TRIAC dimmer receives an alternating-current input voltage and generates a cut phase voltage signal; the cut phase voltage signal is rectified by a rectifying module and then coupled to a dimming signal generator; and a power factor correcting controller receives an output signal of the dimming signal generator, reflects a feedback signal of LED brightness, and outputs a switching control signal to control the on and off of a switching tube so as to drive an LED. The dimming of the LED is implemented by adjusting a conduction angle of the TRIAC dimmer.

A charging monitor has: a switch that is disposed between a load section having a storage battery and an external AC power supply supplying a current to the load section via a plurality of lines and interrupts the supply of the current from the external AC power supply to the load section; a current detection circuit that outputs a detection signal corresponding to a difference in level between currents flowing through the lines; a suppression circuit that suppresses a DC component contained in the detection signal; a filter circuit that filters a plurality of frequency components contained in the detection signal so that attenuation increases as a frequency becomes high; a rectifier smoothing circuit that rectifies and smoothens an output signal obtained when the detection signal passes through the filter circuit and the suppression circuit; and an electric leakage determination circuit that detects an electric leakage and shuts off the switch when the level of the signal smoothened by the rectifier smoothing circuit exceeds a preset reference level.

A circuit for use with a power amplifier that amplifies an input signal. The circuit may comprise an amplitude correction circuit and an open-loop switching regulator. The amplitude correction circuit may be configured to generate a corrected envelope signal from an input envelope signal that represents an envelope of the input signal. The open-loop switching regulator may be connected to the amplitude correction circuit and may be for powering the power amplifier based on the corrected envelope signal. According to various embodiments, the corrected envelope signal generated by the amplitude correction circuit is a function of the input envelope signal and an error voltage of the open-loop switching regulator.

A system for supplying additional power to a module having an internal power supply, the system comprising: a module having an associated power supply, the power supply not being designed to accommodate power sharing; at least one load associated with the module, the load receiving power from the power supply; a variable current limited power source connected to the module supplying additional power to the at least one load; and a controller; whereby the variable current limited power supply is responsive to an output of the controller to vary the current limit of the variable current limited power supply.

The present invention provides methods and circuits for protecting power converters from over-current conditions that, in one embodiment, (1) reduce average inductor current to a steady-state threshold during a transient phase and regulate average inductor current in steady-state regulation approximately at the steady-state threshold; and (2) reduce instantaneous inductor current after the instantaneous inductor current exceeds a maximum instantaneous threshold during the transient phase.

In an operation range of an actuator subjected to quick acceleration and deceleration, a motor drive apparatus, an electric actuator and an electric power steering apparatus capable of continuous torque control up to the high drive speed and high torque area. A controller comprises a voltage saturation detecting means for detecting the voltage saturation of the output voltage of an inverter circuit, based on the battery voltage, and a waveform controller that converts the drive waveform of the inverter circuit into the waveform created by superimposing harmonics of high odd-numbered order on a sinusoidal wave as a fundamental wave of the modulated wave modulated by a PWN carrier wave; and continuously changes the ratio of superimposing the high-order harmonics in response to the voltage saturation detected by a voltage saturation detecting means. This arrangement allows the controller to continuously change the drive waveform of the inverter circuit.

A lightweight engine-driven generator set including a stator having at least first and second windings (preferably three-phase) and a rotor having a soft magnetic core and a plurality of high energy product permanent magnets, separated by consequence poles, disposed proximate the stator such that relative motion of the rotor and stator causes magnetic flux from the rotor to interact with and induce current in the stator windings. The first winding includes a predetermined number of turns corresponding to a first predetermined voltage output; and the second winding includes a predetermined number of turns corresponding to a second predetermined voltage output, the respective windings being grouped together as a unit and wound about the core such that the respective winding coils are wound in continuous close thermal contact with each other. The first winding generates a relatively high voltage, low amperage signal, and the second winding generates a relatively low voltage, high amperage signal; and a switch provides for selection of the desired output. Preferably the rotor is a hollow cylinder mounted on the engine shaft for rotation about the stator and such that the proper gap distance between rotor and stator is maintained during rotation of the rotor without bearings external to the engine. The low voltage, high amperage winding (or winding group) may be tapped to provide a selectable voltage output. Suitable rectifiers and inverters may be provided to effect selective DC and AC output signals.

A controller for use with a current-controlled frequency-modulated power factor corrector having a power switch therein, and a method of regulating the same. In one embodiment, the controller includes a sensing circuit configured to detect a sense current that is representative of an input current to the power factor corrector. The controller also includes a frequency modulation circuit, coupled to the sensing circuit, configured to provide a signal that causes at least one of: (a) an increase of a switching frequency of the power switch when the input current increases, and (b) a decrease of the switching frequency of the power switch when the input current decreases.

Floating electrically isolated active impedance modules are formed to attach to power transmission lines without breaking the lines such that the power line forms a secondary of the main transformer of the module. Each module includes an electrical energy storage device and a switching circuit, such as a single phase inverter, connected to the storage device and to the main transformer primary winding. The inverter can be controlled to couple a selected voltage to the transmission line through the main transformer primary winding which can provide effective positive impedance, negative impedance, or a voltage at or near phase quadrature with the line current. Many active impedance modules may be distributed over a power system grid to allow control of the impedance of the power lines in the grid and to steer power through the grid, with each module electrically isolated from ground and from other phase lines of the transmission system.

A system and method is provided for using a point-on-load (“POL”) control unit to program and/or monitor a POL regulator. Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, a power supply controller is adapted to provide initial-configuration data to at least one POL regulator. A POL control unit (located within the POL regulator) then stores at least a portion of the initial-configuration data in a storage device and uses at least a portion of the initial-configuration data to produce an output. The POL control unit is further adapted to store fault-monitoring data in the storage device and provide at least a portion of the fault-monitoring data to the controller. If the provided portion violates a known parameter, the controller (or POL control unit) may respond by perform a particular action (e.g., disable the POL regulator, etc.). In another embodiment of the present invention, the POL regulator further includes at least one sensor circuit adapted to produce fault monitoring data, or data that can be used to determine the fault-monitoring data. In another embodiment of the invention, the initial-configuration data and the fault-monitoring data are transmitted over a serial data bus.

An automatic sensing power system automatically determines power a requirement for an electrical device, converts power to the required level, and outputs the power to the electrical device when the electrical device is connected to the automatic sensing power system.

An AC/DC adapter in which an AC to DC converter is incorporated in a multiple outlet wall adapter. The AC/DC adapter includes at least one standard AC plug receptacle and at least one DC receptacle. Electronic devices which require DC power can be plugged into to the AC/DC adapter by a power cord having a universal DC plug at one end and a connector or plug specific to the make and/or model of the electronic device at the other end. The universal DC plug corresponds with the DC receptacle provided on the AC/DC adapter. The adapter may be formed as one integrated unit or as a modular assembly which includes an AC module and a DC module. In the assembly, the AC and DC modules are constructed so that they can be fitted together and used as one conveniently sized unit, but modules can also be used independently of the other.

A power module package includes a power circuit element, a control circuit element, a lead frame, an aluminum oxide substrate having a heat sink and an insulation layer, and a sealing resin. The control circuit element is electrically connected with the power circuit element to control chips within the power circuit element. The lead frame has external connection terminal leads in its edge and has a first surface to which the power circuit element and the control circuit element are attached and a second surface which is used as a heat transmission path. The heat sink is a plate made of metal such as aluminum and the electrical insulation layer is formed at least on an upper surface of the heat sink and made of aluminum oxide. The electrical insulation layer may be formed over an entire surface of the heat sink. Here, the insulation layer is attached to the second surface by an adhesive, on a region below where the power circuit element is attached, to the first surface of the lead frame. In addition, the sealing resin encloses the power circuit element and the control circuit element, the lead frame, and the metal oxide substrate and exposes the external connection terminals of the lead frame.

Apparatus and methods for transmitting power over non-adjacent multiple conducting pairs and aggregating power from the conducting pairs to power a remote electronic device. In an embodiment, the apparatus and method comprises a wiring closet which has power supplying capabilities for providing power to a plurality of conducting pairs. A remote termination is adapted to aggregate power provided to and transmitted by two or more non-adjacent conducting pairs. The aggregated power is supplied to a remote electronic device. Preferably, a plurality of power circuits provide power to the conducting pairs. Preferably one or more rectifier circuits aggregate power from the non-adjacent pairs to the remote electronic device.

The present invention relates to a power management system comprising at least one power management subsystem. Each power management subsystem comprises a first power module coupled to a first load and comprising at least one first power supply for supplying power to the first load; a second power module coupled to a second load and comprising at least one second power supply, wherein at least one second power supply is retractably installed in the second power module and selectively coupled to the second load; and a pass-through module comprising at least one pass-through unit retractably installed in the second power module to replace with the at least one second power supply and selectively connecting the first power module to the second load for allowing the first power module to supply power to the second load.