41results about How to "Minimize switching" patented technology

A power management system and method permit the total power consumption by a portable electronic device to be reduced so that the portable electronic device has a longer operating time on a limited power source, such as a battery. The system may also be used with devices that are powered by a more permanent source of power. The system may combine static power management techniques as well as dynamic power management techniques. The system may include a flexible clock generator.

A self-oscillating switching amplifier having an error amplifier output combined with the output of an output signal differentiator according predetermined weighing factors to force a small oscillation around the averaged output signal at a high frequency. The feedback voltage is sensed at the output of the switching amplifier. Additional feedback can be derived from a switching node of the power switch. The switching of the power switch can be dynamically changed from binary switching when the amplitude of the audio signal is low, to ternary switching when the amplitude of the input signal is high to minimize distortion of the output signal. The amplifier can be supplied with a pulsing voltage. In certain embodiments the output signal differentiator is simply a capacitor or a LC resonance circuit coupled directly to an appropriate speaker terminal for the highest possible self-oscillating frequency of the switching amplifier.

In an earth drilling rig in which an air compressor and one or more hydraulic pumps are driven by the same engine, the intake throttle of the compressor is controlled by an electronic controller having a proportional integral derivative control. The controller minimizes unloading of the compressor, allowing the engine to operate more efficiently, the hydraulic system to provide more consistent power to drilling functions and the volume and pressure of compressed air to be optimized for the drilling conditions encountered. The electronic controller also operates a blowdown valve at the discharge side of an air receiver, and effects various overrides of the control system, for example when air discharge temperature approaches a critical level, or when an overpressure condition is detected.

A graphics system including a custom graphics and audio processor produces exciting 2D and 3D graphics and surround sound. The system includes a graphics and audio processor including a 3D graphics pipeline and an audio digital signal processor. A memory controller performs a wide range of memory control related functions including arbitrating between various competing resources seeking access to main memory, handling memory latency and bandwidth requirements of the resources requesting memory access, buffering writes to reduce bus turn around, refreshing main memory, and protecting main memory using programmable registers. The memory controller minimizes memory read / write switching using a “global” write queue which queues write requests from various diverse competing resources. In this fashion, multiple competing resources for memory writes are combined into one resource from which write requests are obtained. Memory coherency issues are addressed both within a single resource that has both read and write capabilities and among different resources by efficiently flushing write buffers associated with a resource.

A switching DC to AC power converter includes an automatic zero voltage switching (ZVS) mode controller. The automatic zero voltage switching mode controller may adjust a ZVS dead-time in accordance with a range of load currents being supplied by the power converter that range from quiescent conditions to a predetermined loading level of the power converter. The variable ZVS dead-time may be larger nearer to quiescent conditions, and become progressively smaller as load currents increase. Outside a predetermined range of load currents, the variable ZVS dead-time may be disabled or minimized.

In an earth drilling rig in which an air compressor and one or more hydraulic pumps are driven by the same engine, the intake throttle of the compressor is controlled by an electronic controller having a proportional integral derivative control. The controller minimizes unloading of the compressor, allowing the engine to operate more efficiently, the hydraulic system to provide more consistent power to drilling functions and the volume and pressure of compressed air to be optimized for the drilling conditions encountered. The electronic controller also operates a blowdown valve at the discharge side of an air receiver, and effects various overrides of the control system, for example when air discharge temperature approaches a critical level, or when an overpressure condition is detected.

A method and computer program product are provided for selecting switching cells for voltage contribution in a phase arm of a multilevel converter, a cell selecting control device for a multilevel converter and a multilevel converter. The cell selecting control device and multilevel converter includes a balancing control element that obtains a reference voltage for the phase arm, obtains a measurement of the current running through the phase arm and selects cells for contributing to an AC voltage output from the multilevel converter based on the reference voltage and the magnitude of the phase arm current.

A starter includes a motor and an electromagnetic switch disposed close to and radially outward of the motor. The switch includes a contacts cover, a terminal bolt, and a conductive metal member. The contacts cover is cup-shaped. The terminal bolt is secured in the contacts cover so as to extend in the axial direction of the motor through an end wall of the contacts cover. The metal member has a first and a second end portion. The first end portion is inserted in the contacts cover through a side wall of the contacts cover. The second end portion is located outside the contacts cover and electrically connected to the motor. The switch further includes a movable contact, a first fixed contact that is electrically connected to a power source via the terminal bolt, and a second fixed contact made up of the first end portion of the metal member.

A converter is provided including: a first switch; an energy transmitting element for converting input energy into output energy according to the switching of the first switch; and a switching controller for detecting a time when a voltage between a first terminal and a second terminal of the first switch reaches a valley of a resonance waveform, and actuating the first switch corresponding to one of the detected valleys of the resonance waveform. The switching controller includes: a valley detector for changing the state of the output signal whenever a voltage between a first terminal and a second terminal of the first switch reaches a valley of the resonance waveform; and a PWM controller for actuating the first switch corresponding to an output signal of the valley detector.

An electronic device including: an antenna; a first switch functionally connected to the antenna and configured to perform switching to connect the antenna with a transmission path or a reception path; a first filter and a first amplifier configured to form the reception path; a second filter and a second amplifier configured to form the transmission path; a Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) connected to the reception path and the transmission path and configured to process an RF signal; and at least one processor configured to control the RFIC and the first switch such that a transmission signal generated by the RFIC is radiated from the antenna via the transmission path.

A technique is provided for facilitating peeking and reading of messages from multiple adapters connected, for example, to a high speed switch in a distributed computing environment. The technique employs a first, relatively quick filter to initially test whether a previously used adapter of the multiple adapters should be used to peek or read a new message. If the first filter fails to select the previously used adapter, then the technique includes employing a second, more complicated filter to determine which adapter of the multiple adapters should be used to peek or read the next message. The first filter includes a first set of tests, and the second filter includes a second set of tests.

An electronically controlled retractable landing light (100) for use with aircraft. A controller (106) compares the commanded position of a lighthead (108) by means of a contactless absolute position sensor (212). Operation of a brake (111), motor (110), and lamp (112) is controlled by a control unit (210). Electrical power to the brake (111), motor (110), and lamp (112) is slowly applied and removed to reduce electromagnetic emissions and extend the service life of a power stage (208), brake (111), motor (110), and lamp (112). The lighthead (108) may be manually stowed in the event of a fault.

An analog storage cell circuit includes a switch that minimizes subthreshold conduction and diode leakage, as well as an accumulation-mode coupling mechanism to minimize overall switch leakage to minimize accumulation-mode leakage. In one embodiment, an analog storage circuit includes a sample and hold circuit including an amplifier having first and second inputs and a switch coupled to the first input of the amplifier. The switch includes a first switching device forming a core of the switch, a second switching device coupled to the first switching device to disconnect the first switching device from a first terminal during the hold phase, and a third switching device coupled to the first switching device to connect the first switching device to a second terminal during the hold phase to minimize accumulation mode conduction in the first switching device.

A switching DC to AC power converter includes an automatic zero voltage switching (ZVS) mode controller. The automatic zero voltage switching mode controller may adjust a ZVS dead-time in accordance with a range of load currents being supplied by the power converter that range from quiescent conditions to a predetermined loading level of the power converter. The variable ZVS dead-time may be larger nearer to quiescent conditions, and become progressively smaller as load currents increase. Outside a predetermined range of load currents, the variable ZVS dead-time may be disabled or minimized.

Provided are a method and apparatus for determining connection configuration between a user equipment (UE) and a base station (ENB) and performing handover in a wireless communication system supporting dual connectivity. The method of setting a connection configuration for a UE in a wireless communication system supporting dual connectivity may include: detecting occurrence of a handover event; selecting a macro ENB with the highest signal strength among neighboring macro ENBs and a small ENB with the highest signal strength among neighboring small ENBs; checking whether dynamic association is allowed in dual connectivity; and determining the connection configuration for the UE on the basis of the selected ENBs and checking result.

An analog storage cell circuit includes a switch that minimizes subthreshold conduction and diode leakage, as well as an accumulation-mode coupling mechanism to minimize overall switch leakage to minimize accumulation-mode leakage. In one embodiment, an analog storage circuit includes a sample and hold circuit including an amplifier having first and second inputs and a switch coupled to the first input of the amplifier. The switch includes a first switching device forming a core of the switch, a second switching device coupled to the first switching device to disconnect the first switching device from a first terminal during the hold phase, and a third switching device coupled to the first switching device to connect the first switching device to a second terminal during the hold phase to minimize accumulation mode conduction in the first switching device.

Provided are a method and apparatus for determining connection configuration between a user equipment (UE) and a base station (ENB) and performing handover in a wireless communication system supporting dual connectivity. The method of setting a connection configuration for a UE in a wireless communication system supporting dual connectivity may include: detecting occurrence of a handover event; selecting a macro ENB with the highest signal strength among neighboring macro ENBs and a small ENB with the highest signal strength among neighboring small ENBs; checking whether dynamic association is allowed in dual connectivity; and determining the connection configuration for the UE on the basis of the selected ENBs and checking result.

A power supply device includes: a regulator transformer; a primary switch for selectively supplying a current to the regulator transformer; a control circuit for reducing to 0, following each election made at the primary switch, the minimum value of a current output by the secondary side of the regulator transformer; and a coupling transformer for magnetically coupling routes along which a plurality of loads are connected in parallel to the secondary side of the regulator translator in a direction in which magnetic flux along each of the routes is offset by a current change. In this case, the control circuit increases the maximum value of the output current on the secondary side larger than twice of the target value of the current supplied to the loads.

A rotating valve apparatus includes a cylindrical casing; a shaft arranged symmetrically in the casing; a member fixedly attached to the shaft and in close fit with the cylindrical casing, defining separated chambers within the casing; at least one outlet fixedly arranged along the circumference of the casing; and a plurality of axially arranged inlets, each of which being constantly in fluid communication with a respective one of the separated chambers, wherein the axially arranged inlets are alternately in fluid connection with the outlet fixedly arranged along the circumference of the casing in response to rotation of the shaft and the member with respect to the casing. The outlet(s) has / have a fluid path length that varies along the circumference of the casing depending on the rotational speed of the shaft such that the interfaces between fluids originating from different ones of the axially arranged inlets will be essentially vertical to the flow direction of the fluids.

A down converter includes an integrated circuit, which includes a control FET (CF) and a synchronous rectifier FET (SF). The control FET is a lateral double-diffused (LDMOS) FET, and the conductivity-type of the LDMOS FET and the conductivity-type of the substrate are of the same type.

The invention relates to a controllable energy store (2) with n parallel energy supply branches (3-1, 3-2, 3-3), wherein n≧1, each said branch having a first energy supply sub-branch (3-11; 3-21; 3-31) and a second energy supply sub-branch (3-12; 3-22;3-32) that is connected in parallel to said first energy supply sub-branch. Each energy supply sub-branch (3-11; 3-12; 3-21; 3-22; 3-31; 3-32) has at least one energy storing module (4), each of which comprises at least one electric energy storing cell (5) with a corresponding controllable coupling unit (6). The coupling units (6) disconnect the energy supply sub-branch (3-11; 3-12; 3-21; 3-22; 3-31; 3-32) or bridge the respective corresponding energy storing cells (5) or connect the respective corresponding energy storing cells (5) into the respective energy supply sub-branch (3-11; 3-12; 3-21; 3-22; 3-31; 3-32) dependent on control signals. The energy storing cells (5) of the energy storing modules (4) in the first energy supply sub-branch (3-11; 3-21; 3-31) and the energy storing cells (5) of the energy storing modules (4) in the second energy supply sub-branch (3-12; 3-22; 3-32) are arranged in an anti-parallel manner.

A device and method for generating pulses to activate and deactivate a kicker magnet is provided. When the kicker magnet is deactivated the circuit generates and stores a magnetic field in an inductor. When the kicker magnet is activated, the circuit changes configuration so that the magnetic field and current stored in the inductor can provide the necessary current to activate the kicker magnet is a minimal amount of time. The configuration of the circuit changes via the use of switches. The switches can employ Zener diodes arranged so as to provide protection against high voltage events and rogue neutrinos that may bombard the switches when the kicker magnet is used in the context of deflecting a particle beam.

This invention presents a method that generates a harmonics free AC voltage at a specific frequency, such as 60 Hz, from unregulated DC source by precisely biasing complementary push-pull NOMS and PMOS switches. The precise bias triggering pulse is continuous pulse that is created using a feedback linear regulator. Since the feedback linear regulator uses low power electronics such as op-amps and comparators, the bias triggering pulse is stepped up using low power step-up transformer for high voltage applications. The step-up transformer is used to step-up the bias triggering pulse at the output of the feedback amplifier to drive the solid state switches precisely so that the output is harmonic free sine wave. In order to minimize the power losses by the switches, two DC-DC converters are used to control the voltages across the NMOS and PMOS switches. One DC-DC converter generates a positive voltage that is connected to the drain of the NMOS switch; where its voltage follows the output voltage during the positive half cycle of the load's current. The other DC-DC converter generates a negative voltage that is connected to the drain of the PMOS switch and it follows the output voltage during the negative half cycle of the current. Hence, a power factor controller is not needed as the NMOS automatically conducts when the load current is positive and the PMOS automatically conducts when the load current is negative. This method is applicable to a single phase as well as three phase system, and for a standalone load as well as for grid connected load. Also, this method does not require the need for a high power filter or bulky inductors to remove the harmonics as the harmonics are removed by precisely biasing each switch during its conduction.

A technique is provided for facilitating peeking and reading of messages from multiple adapters connected, for example, to a high speed switch in a distributed computing environment. The technique employs a first, relatively quick filter to initially test whether a previously used adapter of the multiple adapters should be used to peek or read a new message. If the first filter fails to select the previously used adapter, then the technique includes employing a second, more complicated filter to determine which adapter of the multiple adapters should be used to peek or read the next message. The first filter includes a first set of tests, and the second filter includes a second set of tests.

A rotating valve apparatus includes a cylindrical casing; a shaft arranged symmetrically in the casing; a member fixedly attached to the shaft and in close fit with the cylindrical casing, defining separated chambers within the casing; at least one outlet fixedly arranged along the circumference of the casing; and a plurality of axially arranged inlets, each of which being constantly in fluid communication with a respective one of the separated chambers, wherein the axially arranged inlets are alternately in fluid connection with the outlet fixedly arranged along the circumference of the casing in response to rotation of the shaft and the member with respect to the casing. The outlet(s) has / have a fluid path length that varies along the circumference of the casing depending on the rotational speed of the shaft such that the interfaces between fluids originating from different ones of the axially arranged inlets will be essentially vertical to the flow direction of the fluids.

The invention relates to a controllable energy store (2) with n parallel energy supply branches (3-1, 3-2, 3-3), wherein n≧1, each said branch having a first energy supply sub-branch (3-11; 3-21; 3-31) and a second energy supply sub-branch (3-12; 3-22; 3-32) that is connected in parallel to said first energy supply sub-branch. Each energy supply sub-branch (3-11; 3-12; 3-21; 3-22; 3-31; 3-32) has at least one energy storing module (4), each of which comprises at least one electric energy storing cell (5) with a corresponding controllable coupling unit (6). The coupling units (6) disconnect the energy supply sub-branch (3-11; 3-12; 3-21; 3-22; 3-31; 3-32) or bridge the respective corresponding energy storing cells (5) or connect the respective corresponding energy storing cells (5) into the respective energy supply sub-branch (3-11; 3-12; 3-21; 3-22; 3-31; 3-32) dependent on control signals. The energy storing cells (5) of the energy storing modules (4) in the first energy supply sub-branch (3-11; 3-21; 3-31) and the energy storing cells (5) of the energy storing modules (4) in the second energy supply sub-branch (3-12; 3-22; 3-32) are arranged in an anti-parallel manner.

Methods and systems for embedding VI demands in a software-defined network include mapping virtual nodes over physical nodes in a network topology. An auxiliary graph including virtual links between physical nodes that have a residual capacity sufficient to meet a virtual infrastructure demand is constructed. Virtual links over physical links are mapped to maximize use of existing optical channels and to minimize switching of a virtual link between a wavelength division multiplexing layer and an IP layer. New optical channels with a maximum spectral efficiency are established. A set of potential solutions for embedding a set of virtual infrastructure demands is determined. A solution is selected from the set of potential solutions that maximizes a weighted average of spectrum needed to support the set of virtual infrastructure demands and a cost of provisioning the virtual infrastructure demands.