109results about "Self-interrupters" patented technology

A touch switch apparatus for detecting the presence of an object such as a human appendage, the apparatus having a touch pad and a local control circuit connected to the touch pad and to a controlled device. The touch pad preferable includes a first electrode and a second electrode spaced from and surrounding the first electrode. The control circuit is preferably in integrated circuit form. A signal is provided to the touch pad to generate an electric field thereabout. Introduction of a stimulus near the touch pad disturbs the electric field. The control circuit detects the electric field disturbance in and generates a control signal in response.

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.

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.

An apparatus and method for distributed control of an electrical appliance having a plug and a load and two power carrying conductors connecting the plug to the load, comprising locating power control elements completely within the plug, connecting interface elements to the two power carrying conductors, which interface elements are not within the plug, and transmitting status information from the interface elements to the power control elements by imposition of electrical signals onto the two power carrying conductors, wherein the electrical signals comprise an adjustable duration deadzone at a zero crossing of a sinusoidal excitation.

A method to incorporate the steady-state model of the generalized power flow controller into a Newton-Raphson power flow algorithm is disclosed. The disclosed method adopts a flexible steady-state model of the generalized power flow controller, which can be applied to calculate the power flow solution of a power grid embedded with STATCOM, UPFC, GUPFC and the generalized power flow controller in a single framework. The disclosed method only incorporates the control variables of the shunt voltage sourced converter into the state vector of Newton-Raphson power flow algorithm. The increment of state variables due to incorporating the generalized power flow controller is less than the prior art. Further, the method can preserve the quadratic convergence characteristic of the Newton-Raphson power flow algorithm after embedding the generalized power flow controller into a power grid.

A fast acting switching mechanism for a circuit breaker includes a drive rod articulated to a drive module and supporting at an end thereof a contact bridge having at opposite ends thereof respective moveable contacts for switchably engaging a pair of fixed contacts of the circuit breaker. A contact spring unit is operatively coupled to the drive module for applying closing pressure in the order of 200 Kg; and a latch latches the drive rod in an open or closed position after operation of the circuit breaker and prevents rebounds. The contact bridge includes a pair of side conductors supporting on upper edges thereof an armature having an exposed upper surface that supports the moveable contacts at opposite ends of the armature; and a reinforcing element inserted between the side conductors.

An inductive wireless power device comprises a transmitter configured to generate an electromagnetic field to a coupling region for wireless power transfer to a receiver, and control logic configured to determine a coupling coefficient of the wireless power transfer when the receiver is within the coupling region. The control logic also determines a presence of a foreign object within the coupling region responsive to a comparison of the determined coupling coefficient and an expected coupling coefficient for the wireless power transfer. An inductive wireless power device comprises a receiver configured to couple with an electromagnetic field in a coupling region for inductive wireless power transfer from a transmitter. The receiver is configured to alter a wireless power transfer characteristic of the transmitter for a determination of a presence of a foreign object within the coupling region responsive to a determination of a coupling coefficient of the wireless power transfer.

Systems and methods for impedance compensation in a subsea power distribution system. These systems and methods include the use of a plurality of distributed impedance compensation devices to control the impedance of the subsea power distribution system. These systems and methods may include the use of distributed impedance compensation devices that are inductively coupled to a subsea power transmission cable associated with the subsea power distribution system. These systems and methods also may include the use of distributed impedance compensation devices that are inductively powered by the subsea power transmission cable. These systems and methods further may include the use of distributed impedance compensation devices that are marinised for use under water.

In an electromagnet switch, a stationary iron core is composed mainly of a base part and a disk part. The base part is faced to a plunger and the disk part is forcedly inserted and fixed to a boss part formed in the base part. The disk part is composed of a metal plate of ferromagnetic substance (iron plate) and another substance plate (made of resin or rubber and the like, for example,) of a smaller spring constant or a larger damping coefficient than that of the metal plate. The metal plate and another substance plate are laminated. Another substance plate absorbs or reduces the impact force when the plunger is electromagnetically attracted toward and collides with the base part. The propagation of a large impact noise or crashing sound is thereby suppressed, and as a result the impact noise can be reduced.

Systems and methods for discharging a high-voltage bus coupled to a discharge circuit are provided. A method comprises obtaining a first voltage level of the high-voltage bus. The method further comprises determining a first discharge time based on the first voltage level and activating the discharge circuit. The method further comprises obtaining a second voltage level of the high-voltage bus after the first discharge time, comparing the first voltage level and the second voltage level, and deactivating the discharge circuit if a difference between the first voltage level and the second voltage level is less than a threshold value.

An inverter according to the invention includes an open circuit instructing device (ECU, Steps S5 to S8). The open circuit instructing device is for opening a switching circuit based on resistor inter-terminal voltage Vrb and resistor current Irb.

An electrical switch for connecting and breaking a circuit including a connecting and breaking mechanism for connecting and breaking the circuit provided with at least a set of movable contacts and stationary contacts; a electromagnetism drive mechanism for controlling the contacts to be actuated so as to realize closed circuit; a housing for accommodating the movable contact and stationary contact; an arc-extinguishing mechanism disposed in the housing and corresponded to the movable and stationary contact; a case connected to a base for accommodating the electromagnetism drive mechanism; a bedplate associated with the case; and a holding mechanism disposed on the bedplate for holding the contacts to connect the circuit, the electromagnetic holding mechanism is electromagnetic and has a set of electromagnetic attracting mechanism in which the movable iron core is made to be a pothook or a baffle mechanism, the movable iron core is attracted so that the pothook or baffle keeps the switch closed by means of hitching or ramming the movable bolt when the electromagnetic attracting mechanism is powered on. The electrical switch has a structure in which it has a breakaway mechanism using winding, in which the remanence being small and the feedback force being large and the action of the limiting current being rapid, it can break the large short current as air switch.

A method to incorporate the steady-state model of the generalized power flow controller into a Newton-Raphson power flow algorithm adopts a flexible steady-state model of the generalized power flow controller, which can be applied to calculate the power flow solution of a power grid embedded with STATCOM, UPFC, GUPFC and the generalized power flow controller in a single framework. The method only incorporates the control variables of the shunt voltage sourced converter into the state vector of the Newton-Raphson power flow algorithm. The increment of the state variables due to incorporating the generalized power flow controller is less than the prior art. Further, the method can preserve the quadratic convergence characteristic of the Newton-Raphson power flow algorithm after embedding the generalized power flow controller into a power grid.

A projection display including first through third light source units to radiate first through third light beams having different colors, respectively, a light path combining unit to combine paths of the first through third light beams, an optical modulator to sequentially modulate the first through third light beams according to image information, and a projection lens unit to magnify and project the modulated light beams onto a screen. The light path combining unit includes first and second prisms. The first prism includes first and second incidence surfaces, through which the first and second light beams are incident, respectively, a first emission surface, and a first selective reflection surface to transmit the second light beam toward the first emission surface. The second prism includes a third incidence surface, through which the third light beam is incident, a fourth incidence surface, through which the first and second light beams emitted through the first emission surface are incident, a second emission surface, and a second selective reflection surface to reflect the third light beam and to transmit the first and second light beams toward the second emission surface.

An electrical switch for connecting and breaking a circuit including a connecting and breaking mechanism for connecting and breaking the circuit provided with at least a set of movable contacts and stationary contacts; a electromagnetism drive mechanism for controlling the contacts to be actuated so as to realize closed circuit; a housing for accommodating the movable contact and stationary contact; an arc-extinguishing mechanism disposed in the housing and corresponded to the movable and stationary contact; a case connected to a base for accommodating the electromagnetism drive mechanism; a bedplate associated with the case; and a holding mechanism disposed on the bedplate for holding the contacts to connect the circuit, the electromagnetic holding mechanism is electromagnetic and has a set of electromagnetic attracting mechanism in which the movable iron core is made to be a pothook or a baffle mechanism, the movable iron core is attracted so that the pothook or baffle keeps the switch closed by means of hitching or ramming the movable bolt when the electromagnetic attracting mechanism is powered on. The electrical switch has a structure in which it has a breakaway mechanism using winding, in which the remanence being small and the feedback force being large and the action of the limiting current being rapid, it can break the large short current as air switch.

A wireless power feed system with high transfer efficiency of electric power is disclosed. The wireless power feed system includes a power feeding device and a power receiving device, wherein the power feeding device includes a first electromagnetic coupling coil that is connected to an AC power source via a directional coupler; a first resonant coil; a switch connected to the opposite ends of the first resonant coil; a control circuit which conducts switching on / off of the switch based on a parameter of an amplitude of a reflective wave detected by the directional coupler; and an analog-digital converter provided between the first electromagnetic coupling coil and the control circuit; and the power receiving device includes a second resonant coil; and a second electromagnetic coupling coil, and wherein the first electromagnetic coupling coil is provided between the first resonant coil and the second resonant.

A method for detecting inductive elements in a communication line, including the processes of: inputting a detecting signal to an end of the communication line; sampling the time domain voltage vector of one end of the communication line; generating the amplitude-frequency characteristic curve of the differential input impedance of one end of the communication line according to the time domain voltage vector; determining the number of the inductive elements in the communication line according to the number of the apexes or zeros on the curve. The present invention also discloses a device for detecting inductive elements in a communication line. By the present invention, the automatic detections of the number of inductive elements such as load coils or phone splitters in the communication line are implemented with the exact detection and the high efficiency, thereby lowering the cost of detecting failures of communication line.

An electrical power supply system including an engine driven permanent magnet generator (11) operable to produce a variable voltage and high frequency output which is converted by a series train AC / AC conversion circuit (14) into a fixed voltage and relatively low frequency AC output for supply through a trip switch (56-58) to an external load (53-55). A bypass circuit including a pair of normally-closed parallel connected oppositely biased thyristors (66-68) is connected between the generator output and the output of the AC / AC conversion circuit (14).

An auxiliary power supply equipment for a high voltage installation includes a power source at ground potential, a load circuit at high potential, and a transmission link for coupling the power source to the load circuit. The power source includes a high frequency voltage generator, and the transmission link comprises a first and a second current path. Each path is closed by capacitive coupling to provide insulation between the ground potential and the high potential, and each current path has a reactive compensation means for series compensation of reactive power generated by the capacitive coupling.

A leak detector pad comprising a circuit board having a bottom surface and a top surface, spaced first and second electrically conductive traces located on the bottom surface, and an electronic circuit mounted on the top surface. The circuit includes a first segment adapted to create an alternating current (AC) voltage waveform, a second segment adapted to apply the AC voltage waveform between the traces on the bottom surface of the circuit board, a third segment adapted to create a measure of a capacitance between the traces based upon an AC current flowing between the traces as a result of the AC voltage waveform, and a fourth segment adapted to create a direct current (DC) voltage alarm signal if the measure of capacitance provided by the third segment indicates the presence of fluid.

An improved electromechanical switch designed to operate at frequencies from DC through microwave has terminal probe tips that are formed from an alloy of noble metal and contoured with a pattern of peaks and valleys in order to provide better contact wiping operation and capture of wear debris. The switch incorporates damper elements to reduce switching contact bounce, thus providing increased contact life as well as higher quality signal switching.

An electromagnetic relay includes an electromagnet device, an armature and a fixed terminal. By coil current through a coil, the electromagnet device generates first magnetic flux that forces the armature and the electromagnet device together or apart in a first end in a first direction of the armature. The armature is connected with a movable contact at a second end of the first direction and forces the movable contact and a fixed contact together or apart according to coil current. The fixed terminal is electrically connected with the fixed contact, and provided around the armature so as to cross the armature as seen from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction with the armature closing the fixed and movable contacts. Electric current through the fixed terminal generates a second magnetic flux in the armature, a direction of which is opposite to that of the first magnetic flux.

An improved ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacle with reverse wiring protection. If the power lines are incorrectly connected to the load end of the receptacle during installation, power output to both the input end of the receptacle and the insertion outlets on the faceplate is prevented. The GFCI receptacle includes two stationary terminals on two first output conductors electrically connected to the insertion outlet, two stationary terminals on two second output conductors adapted for electrically connecting to the load, and four moveable terminal on two moveable connector arm adapted for electrically connecting to the power lines. The four moveable terminals corresponds in position to the four stationary terminals, respectively, and operate to electrical connect or disconnect the power lines to and from the load and the insertion outlet in a manner controlled by a disconnecting mechanism assembly and a reverse wiring protection mechanism.

Methods and systems for passive resonant voltage switching are provided. One passive resonant switching system includes a voltage switching system having one or more passive resonant modules to provide a switching voltage output. Each of the passive resonant modules include switching devices configured to operate in open and closed states to produce first and second voltage level outputs from a voltage input. The passive resonant modules also include a capacitor connected to the one or more switching devices and configured to receive a system discharge energy during a resonant operating cycle when switching an output voltage from the first voltage level to the second voltage level, and to be recharged when switching from the second to first voltage level. The passive resonant modules further include a resonant inductor and an additional switching device.

Methods for receiving a signal and a detection circuit are disclosed. The detection circuit and related methods may be useful for the fast and accurate receiving of data signals. The detection circuit generally comprises a first circuit having a first time constant, a second circuit having (i) a common input with the first circuit and (ii) a second time constant, the second time constant being less than the first time constant, and a switch configured to (i) charge the first circuit with an input signal when the switch is in a first state, and (ii) charge or discharge the second circuit with the input signal when the switch is in a second state, the switch having the second state when the input signal is no longer received at the common input.

A leak detector pad comprising a circuit board having a bottom surface and a top surface, spaced first and second electrically conductive traces located on the bottom surface, and an electronic circuit mounted on the top surface. The circuit includes a first segment adapted to create an alternating current (AC) voltage waveform, a second segment adapted to apply the AC voltage waveform between the traces on the bottom surface of the circuit board, a third segment adapted to create a measure of a capacitance between the traces based upon an AC current flowing between the traces as a result of the AC voltage waveform, and a fourth segment adapted to create a direct current (DC) voltage alarm signal if the measure of capacitance provided by the third segment indicates the presence of fluid.