134results about How to "More energy efficient" patented technology

A battery controller for charging and discharging a plurality of batteries is disclosed. The battery controller has a plurality of direct current to direct current (DC to DC) converters connected to each other in series. Each battery of a plurality of batteries is electrically connectable to a respective DC to DC converter. A co-ordinator connected to each of the plurality of DC to DC converters controls charging and discharging of the battery electrically connected to the respective converter. The co-ordinator can also control charging and discharging of any one of the batteries to ensure that the battery retains sufficient electrical capacity, and, to increase the longevity of the respective batteries. Because each battery is electrically connected to a respective DC to DC converter, the energy from one battery can be used to charge another battery in order to monitor battery characteristics including energy capacity of each battery. Each of the DC to DC converters is selected to operate preferably below 30 volts while the total voltage of the entire battery system can be much more than 30 volts depending on the number of DC to DC converters placed in series.

A controller for controlling a light emitting diode (LED) light engine. The controller includes a temperature sensor configured to sensor temperature at the LED light engine. A current sensor senses a drive current of the LED light engine. A voltage differential sensor senses a voltage differential across LEDs of the LED light engine. A timer monitors a time of operation of the LED light engine. Further, a control device controls the drive current to the LED light engine based on the sensed temperature, the sensed drive current, the sensed voltage differential, and the monitored time of operation. Further, the control device outputs an indication of intensity degradation of an LED, and if the intensity degradation exceeds a predetermined threshold the control can output an indication of such to a user, so that the user can be apprised that the LED needs to be changed.

A method for power control in an ultra wideband impulse radio system includes: (a) transmitting an impulse radio signal from a first transceiver; (b) receiving the impulse radio signal at a second transceiver; (c) determining at least one performance measurement of the received impulse radio signal; and (d) controlling output power of at least one of the first transceiver and the second transceiver in accordance with the at least one performance measurement.

A light bulb (10) includes a translucent housing (12) and a base (24). The housing (12) includes a plurality of LEDs (14a, 14b, 14c, and 15) positioned so as to emit light through the housing (12). The base (24) is configured to mate with a light socket. The base (24) also includes a compartment (23) for receiving and securing a replaceable active ingredient cartridge (22), and an active ingredient dispenser (20) for emitting an active ingredient from the cartridge (22) when the cartridge (22) is secured in the compartment (23). A fluorescent light source (30) may also be provided in the housing (12) as a source of illumination.

An integrated truck and trailer power system comprises auxiliary power generation and storage devices mounted on a trailer, such as an array of solar panels mounted on the roof of the trailer and a storage battery mounted on the trailer, and switching devices for controlling flow of power there between and to an electrically powered HVAC system of the truck, whereby the truck can be maintained at a comfortable temperature by supply of power stored by the auxiliary power storage device.

A method, system, apparatus and program extracts energy from organic residual materials produced by the manufacturing of biofuels. Energy is extracted from the biofuels residuals using anaerobic bioconversion to produce a fuel for use in the manufacturing process for producing synthetic biofuel or as an additional energy product for sale comprises: providing at least one bioconversion tank for conversion of organic waste material, the bioconversion tank containing an active biomass comprising at least one bacteria that decomposes organic material; providing at least one inlet to the bioconversion for organic material; a processor that receives and stores information on: the status of chemical oxygen demand of the active biomass; and the oxygen provision capability of any organic material that can be fed into the bioconversion tank through an inlet; a mass flow control system controlled by the processor which feeds at least one organic material through an inlet at a rate based at least in part upon the status of chemical oxygen demand in the bioconversion tank as recognized by the processor.

A structural insulated panel includes an internal foam (EPS) core, oriented strand board (OSB) faces on the core, and a sheet of magnesium oxide (MagOx) on one or both of the faces for environmental purposes of either weather resistance and / or fire protection. The outer faces incorporate interior and exterior surfaces that need little more than a finish top coat paint. The combination of core, oriented strand board, and outer sheets provide a thermally efficient insulating structure that is a fully nationally code approved building structure.

A system comprising a sensor assembly adapted to measure a magnetic field, and a mechanical assembly comprising an indicator element with a magnet moving together therewith, the magnet being configured to generate a spatial magnetic field which relative to the sensor assembly varies corresponding to the spatial position and orientation of the magnet, wherein the indicator element is adapted to both rotate and move axially during operation of the assembly. Processor means is configured to determine on the basis of measured values both a rotational position and an axial position of the indicator element.

An aircraft, in particular an unmanned aerial vehicle with wing-borne flight mode and hover flight mode, comprises a wing structure (4) having a left (6), middle (7), and right wing section (8). A support structure extends from the wing structure (4), and has an upper and lower support section. Each one of the left and right wing section (6, 8), and upper and lower support section (18, 20) has a thrust unit (10, 12, 22, 24). Left and right wingtip sections are rotatable relative to a left and right wing base section, respectively, around an axis extending substantially in a lengthwise direction of the wing structure. The thrust units (10,12) of the left and right wing sections(6, 8) are provided at the respective wingtip sections, in particular at the extremities thereof.

The instant disclosure relates to a light bulb, which includes a base, a conducting cap arranged on one end of the base, a heat-dissipating member disposed on the opposite end of the base, and a lamp cover. The heat-dissipating member has a wedged structure, and a plurality of inclined surfaces are formed adjacently thereon. A plurality of LEDs is disposed on the inclined surfaces, and the lamp cover is arranged over the wedged structure and the LEDs. The instant disclosure uses the LEDs to replace tungsten filament as the light sources, and arranging the LEDs on the wedged structure of the heat-dissipating member. Thereby, the light bulb can have higher heat-dissipating rate.

In an endoscope system including: a light emission unit emits laser light as illumination light or excitation light; a light guide unit guides the illumination light or the excitation light to an object; and an image pickup unit picks up a normal image formed with reflection light generated by reflection of the illumination light from the object or a fluorescence image emitted from the object in response to the excitation light. The laser light is multiaxial-mode laser light, or the light emission unit includes a plurality of laser-light sources which emit single-axial-mode laser beams having different wavelengths or phases. Alternatively, a vibration unit which vibrates the light guide unit is provided, or a high-frequency signal is superimposed on a driving current of the light emission unit, so that the wavelength of the laser light is shifted among a plurality of values.

A retrofit-style lamp is disclosed. The retrofit-style lamp includes a plurality of light sources, and a one-dimensional linear batwing lens. The one-dimensional linear batwing lens beam shapes light emitted by at least two light sources of the plurality of light sources. The retrofit-style lamp also includes a housing including the plurality of light sources, and attached to the one-dimensional linear batwing lens. The combination of housing and lens is then itself fitted with endcaps, including electrical connectors, for placement within a fixture, such as within an existing conventional fluorescent tube fixture located within a storage structure, for example a refrigeration case. Alternatively, the plurality of light sources, the one-dimensional linear batwing lens, and the housing may be formed, along with a power supply, as a standalone retrofit fixture for use in enclosed storage structures, such as refrigeration cases, where the retrofit fixture replaces a conventional fluorescent fixture.

A wound electrode group includes an electrode stack that is formed by laminating a strip of positive electrode plate, a strip of negative electrode plate, and a pair of separators interposed therebetween. When the electrode stack is wound, a difference L in length between an inner turn and an adjacent outer turn satisfies L=2tπ+(W×k), where t is a thickness of the electrode stack, W is a maximum diameter of a cross section of the wound electrode group, and k is a coefficient that is preset in accordance with expansion coefficients of active materials of the positive and negative electrode plates and is within a range from 0.005 to 0.05.

A one-dimensional linear batwing lens, and retrofit-style lamp and fixture including the same, are provided. The one-dimensional linear batwing lens includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion includes a first top spherical surface and a second top spherical surface. The bottom portion includes a first bottom spherical surface and a pair of second bottom spherical surfaces. Thus, the one-dimensional linear batwing lens includes five spherical surfaces. A surface of the bottom portion of the lens faces a light source on which the lens acts. A retrofit-style lamp including the same additionally includes a plurality of light sources, wherein the one-dimensional linear batwing lens beam shapes light emitted by at least one light source of the plurality of light sources. The fixture including the same additionally includes a housing and a power supply.

Methods and systems are disclosed for utilizing liquid desiccant air conditioning systems in connection with existing HVAC equipment to achieve reductions in electricity consumption.

A hot water heater and method for controlling same. The hot water heater can be programmed to only heat water when the consumer anticipates that they will need it. The consumer can control the temperature of the water, the time at which the hot water will be needed, and can specify the speed vs. efficiency tradeoff regarding how the water is heated by selecting an operating mode, for example, thereby resulting in a more energy efficient and cost effective hot water heater.

Wave-generating apparatus (1) that is installed in an aquatic environment (3) and which comprises, as its main elements, at least one elongated profile (5) that moves tangentially in relation in relation to a uniformly-deep floor (4) by the action of a drive mechanism (6). As a result, a wave (2) forms on the profile (5) and moves along with the profile (2). The profile (5) is disposed to form an angle (8) other than 90° with the direction of displacement (7), the purpose being to generate a wave (2) with an escape area and which can therefore be surfed. Some parameters of the apparatus (1) may be adjusted for the purpose of changing the degree of difficulty of the wave (2) that is generated.

A program for encouraging homebuyers to purchase more efficient HVAC equipment at the time they purchase an existing house is described. The purchase price of the HVAC equipment is included in the mortgage loan. The overall monthly cost of the mortgage payment and heating and cooling costs is lowered for any given house. The program is marketed through a real estate agent working closely with a HVAC supplier. A central control entity may oversee the process, provide standardized forms, and locate appropriate installers.

Multi-lane, side-by-side, independently driven transport systems particularly useful for transfer on conveyor belts or finger / chains of thin work pieces, such as silicon wafers, through processing equipment for converting the wafers into solar cells, including UV pre-treaters, dopers, dryers, diffusion furnaces and metallization furnaces. The inventive multi-lane transport systems may employ wire mesh belts having a flying bridge wafer support system comprising longitudinally spaced carrier wire elements that support the wafers at their side edges at only point contacts, by means of opposed, inwardly inclined, downwardly slanted segments or wings. Alternately, finger drives comprising spaced-apart chains having inwardly projecting fingers may be used for transport of the wafers by side edge contact. Friction or sprocket drives having tensioner assemblies associa-ted therewith are used to move the transport belts or finger chains through the furnace zones. Each lane may be independently controlled to provide unique thermal profiles along their processing paths.

The present invention provides a system and method for culturing a microalgae biofamily to produce lipids. The method includes growing a microalgae biofamily comprises multiple microalgae species in a liquid medium at a first stress level. A portion of the microalgae are exposed to a second stress level and harvested. Lipids are extracted from the harvested portion. Also disclosed is a system for culturing a microalgae biofamily that comprises an enclosed pond containing microalgae in growth medium and having a sloped bottom, at least one photobioreactor positioned above the pond, and a pump circulating the microalgae-containing growth medium between the pond and the at least one photobioreactor.

An indoor located air distribution device for providing distribution of purified supply air to a service area. The air distribution device with air purifier can reduce the amount of bacteria, viruses, and bad spores inside the service area, can minimize the spreading of bacteria, viruses and spores, and can create overall healthier conditions in the service area. With low energy usage and maintenance cost, an air supply unit with built-in bi-polar air purifier can improve the quality of room breathable air, minimize the amount of outside air in total supply air, and decrease the usage of energy (heating / cooling) and electricity.

The invention relates to acyl-CoA-independent methods of producing a wax ester in recombinant host cells engineered to express an acyl-ACP wax ester synthase, and an alcohol-forming acyl-ACP reductase. The methods of the invention may take place in photosynthetic microorganisms, and particularly in cyanobacteria. Isolated nucleotide molecules and vectors expressing an acyl-ACP wax ester synthase and / or an alcohol-forming acyl-ACP reductase, recombinant host cells expressing an acyl-ACP wax ester synthase and optionally an alcohol-forming acyl-ACP reductase, and systems for producing a wax ester via an acyl-CoA-independent pathway, are also provided.

A fluid system includes a controllable first pump unit for supplying fluid pressure to at least one implement; a prime mover arranged to supply a driving torque to the first pump The first pump unit is arranged to supply fluid pressure to the implement. The fluid system further includes a controllable second pump unit connected to a fluid accumulator. The prime mover is arranged to supply a driving torque to the second pump unit in order to accumulate fluid pressure in the accumulator during periods of low demand. Fluid pressure from the accumulator is arranged to drive the second pump unit to assist the prime mover during periods of high demand in order to supply an additional driving torque in excess of the available driving torque from the prime mover.

Enables a synergy between a consumer's Smartphone such as an IPHONE® and an inexpensive, energy-efficient electronic-reader type device, to provide the consumer the features of a more-expensive and higher-energy-use device by relegating capabilities requiring keyboard use e.g., physical or electronic, touch-screen, wireless-connection, telephony-connection e.g., 3G / 4G, microphone, speaker, and more to the Smartphone while supporting where desired full-power standalone document-display features to the electronic reader. Apparatus includes an electronic-reader device with an electronic-ink screen and a small number of buttons to perform standalone features such as “display next page”; a low power transceiver, memory, processing hardware, and associated software and battery. The electronic-reader device is especially designed to prevent inappropriate distribution of copyright-protected material.

A repetitive lighting fixture will alternate between at least two different illuminated images projected in a desired direction. The fixture includes edge-lit flat panels that are configured and / or overlayed to reproduce one or more desired images. Each panel is made of light-transmissive material, which optionally may contain colorant. Each edge-lit flat panel contains optics coupled with a second planar surface of the panel. The optics are arranged to define a desired shape of an image and are configured so as to cause light distributed within the panel to exit a first planar surface of the panel. Each panel has its own light source that projects light into a light transmitting edge of the panel. The panel's light source can include light emitting diodes (LED) that only or selectively illuminate the specific optics of that panel.

A repetitive lighting fixture will alternate between at least two different illuminated images projected in a desired direction. The fixture includes edge-lit flat panels that are configured and / or overlayed to reproduce one or more desired images. Each panel is made of light-transmissive material, which optionally may contain colorant. Each edge-lit flat panel contains optics coupled with a second planar surface of the panel. The optics are arranged to define a desired shape of an image and are configured so as to cause light distributed within the panel to exit a first planar surface of the panel. Each panel has its own light source that projects light into a light transmitting edge of the panel. The panel's light source can include light emitting diodes (LED) that only or selectively illuminate the specific optics of that panel.

A method of treating an aqueous liquid. The method comprises providing an aqueous feed liquid comprising water and at least one solute to a first side of a membrane. A draw solution comprising water and a draw solute comprising at least one of a phosphazene compound and a triazine compound is provided to a second side of the membrane. At least a portion of the water of the aqueous feed liquid is osmosed across the membrane and into the draw solution to form a diluted draw solution comprising water and the draw solute. The water of the diluted draw solution is separated from the draw solute of the diluted draw solution to form a purified water product. Draw solutes comprising phosphazene compounds and draw solutes comprising triazine compounds are also disclosed, as are methods of forming the draw solutes.

A microcontroller having a computing unit and a logic circuit. The microcontroller carries out computations for a regulation or control in a vehicle. The computing unit is connected to the logic circuit, and the logic circuit has an arrangement for computing an exponential function and is configurable.

An LED bulb comprises a structural shell formed by folding a flat PCB into a three-dimensional polyhedron shape and a fitting for removably coupling the bulb to a light socket. The PCB comprises a plurality of LEDs, at least one LED mounted electronically on a plurality of faces of the polyhedron, and a driver circuit for driving each LED. The perimeter of the PCB is shaped to join adjacent faces. Each LED produces minimal excess heat, which is partially conducted by a metallic heat sink bridge to the PCB and dissipated to the air through the PCB and through a plurality of spaces in the shell.

An integrated truck and trailer power system comprises auxiliary power generation and storage devices mounted on a trailer, such as an array of solar panels mounted on the roof of the trailer and a storage battery mounted on the trailer, and switching devices for controlling flow of power there between and to an electrically powered HVAC system of the truck, whereby the truck can be maintained at a comfortable temperature by supply of power stored by the auxiliary power storage device.