40results about How to "Reduce wattage" patented technology

The invention features a flow-through capacitor system that achieves enhanced power efficiency by sequential control and actuation of at least two or more flow-through capacitor cells within the flow-through capacitor system. Alternatively or in addition, power efficiency is enhanced by integrating the purification stages of the system, for example, by placing more than one cell within a single cell casing. Preferably, integrated stage flow-through capacitors are controlled sequentially.

A back for an office chair comprises a peripheral frame shaped generally to outline the back of an occupant in the chair; a lumbar base structure attached to the frame; and a lumbar back support for an occupant of the chair connected to the lumbar base structure and extending toward the lumbar area of an occupant through an adjustable connection. The adjustable connection helps to provide comfort to the occupant and comprises one or more of a detent to allow adjustment of the height of the back support in relation to the frame, a movable joint to allow rotary motion of the lumbar back support in relation to movement of the back of the occupant, and an extensible connection to allow adjustment of the distance between the lumbar base structure and the lumbar back support. The chair back may also comprise at least one movable and flexible LED light supported by the back for reading comfort and may contain electrical circuitry to supply power to the LED light. The light may be removable with an electrical plug-in connection.

The present invention relates to a variable-torque magnetorheologically actuated prosthetic knee which utilizes a plurality of interspersed and alternating rotors and stators to shear magnetorheological fluid in gaps formed therebetween. Advantageously, by operating in the "shear mode" there is substantially no or negligible fluid pressure buildup or change. Moreover, the multiple MR fluid gaps or flux interfaces desirably allow for the production of a large torque at low speed-eliminating the need for a transmission-and also for a wide dynamic torque range. One embodiment of the invention allows the rotors and/or stators to close the gaps therebetween to create a frictional torque component, thereby forming a "hybrid" braking system which provides a total torque or damping which is a combination of viscous torque and frictional torque.

A portable electric appliance (1, 23) such as a hand held hair dryer uses a brushless electric motor (13, 25) in combination with a secondary fan assembly (14) and/or an air scoop (24) to redirect air toward the motor (13, 25), to maintain a cool operating temperature. The appliance includes a control circuit (50, 80, 94, 102, 110) for controlling the brushless motor (13, 25) and other appliance features. The control circuit and the coil windings (21) of the brushless electric motor are designed to run the appliance at a relatively low current to accommodate a higher operating voltage, thereby operating at a low wattage for reducing extraneous or waste heat. This facilitates placement of the control circuit in a small, portable appliance, and may enhance operation of the appliance in certain modes such as a hair dryer “cool shot.”

The invention provides an electrically activated valve assembly for control of a fluid. It has a diaphragm with a control chamber on one side and a flow barrier on the second side. Portions of a first flow passage and a second flow passage are on the second side of the diaphragm, with the flow barrier between them. When the control chamber has a relatively high pressure, the diaphragm is pressed against the flow barrier, isolating the first flow passage from the second flow passage. When the control chamber has a relatively low pressure, the diaphragm moves away from the flow barrier, so flow may occur between the first flow passage and the second flow passage. The position of the diaphragm is determined by pressure in the control chamber so the pressure in the control chamber controls the fluid flow connection between the first flow passage and the second flow passage. The valve also has an electrically activated valve responsive to an electrical signal to control pressure in a flow passageway to the control chamber so that when the electrically activated valve is energized, the control pressure is changed, so the electrically activated valve controls the fluid flow connection between the first flow passage and the second flow passage.

A composite illumination module includes at least one first light-emitting element, a light-emitting unit, and a control circuit assembly, and further has a motion sensor. The light-emitting unit has a circuit board and at least one second light-emitting element electrically connected with the circuit board. The wattage and the intensity of the first light-emitting element are higher than those of the second light-emitting element. The control circuit assembly is electrically connected with the first light-emitting element and the light-emitting unit so as to electrically control the first and second light-emitting elements to selectively emit light. The motion sensor is electrically connected with the control circuit assembly. With this arrangement, the present invention can provide an indicative or guiding effect at a far distance, and provide a common illumination at a close distance using less electricity than in prior art models.

Disclosed herein are a contactless power transmitting system having an overheat protection function, which protects a battery cell module from damage due to overheating while the battery cell module is being charged, and a method thereof. In the contactless power transmitting system, a contactless power transmitting apparatus transmits a first power to a contactless power receiving apparatus through a power transmitting coil to charge the battery cell module with the first power, and transmits a second power, of lower wattage than the first power, to the contactless power receiving apparatus through the power transmitting coil to charge the battery cell module with the second power if an overheat alarm signal is received from the contactless power receiving apparatus, thereby making it possible to fully charge the battery cell module while preventing overheating of the battery cell module.

An apparatus and method for radon mitigation using natural convection to remove radon-contaminated air from beneath the slab foundation of a structure, building, or dwelling, comprising a section of vertically mounted convection duct including an internal heat source, an inlet duct extending from said convection duct through the slab into the gas permeable sub-slab layer, an outlet duct extending from said convection duct through the structure and out the roof thereof, the internal heat source comprising a thermally conductive tube disposed concentrically within said convection duct and heated by one or more electrical heater elements to assist the upward airflow of the radon-contaminated air from the structure.

A light source device for a projector device having a discharge lamp with a silica glass discharge vessel containing a pair of opposed electrodes and at least 0.15 mg/mm³ of mercury, a concave reflector which surrounds the discharge lamp and reflects light emitted from the discharge lamp in a given direction, and a power supply device which selectively supplies a first wattage and a lower second wattage, is provided with a reflection heating arrangement which, in operation of the discharge lamp with the lower second wattage, returns at least part of the light emitted by the discharge lamp in the direction of the discharge lamp, and in operation of the discharge lamp at the first, higher wattage returns less light than in operation with the second wattage in the direction of the discharge lamp.

The performance of a thermal insulation for a building surface 6 (FIG. 1), subject to a thermal gradient emitting from the building interior, is enhanced by a neutral thermal gradient. For this purpose an electrical heating element 1 has means for releasing very low Wattages of thermal energy and is contained within an inner layer 4 and an outer layer 5 of thermal insulation. Adjusting the thermal efficiency of the insulation layers controls the magnitude of the thermal energy required to maintain the temperature of the element 1 at the equivalent temperature level to the building interior.

The element 1 may be provided with a moisture controller and discharge sizeable quantities of thermal energy to dry moisture from the thermal insulation materials of the assembly.

A compact dual ellipsoidal reflector (DER) system for illuminating a target with rays of electromagnetic radiation comprises first and second molded module. The first molded module has at least a first ellipsoidal reflector section comprising an optical axis, a first focal point and a second focal point. The rays of electromagnetic radiation being directed substantially proximate to the first focal point of the first ellipsoidal reflector section and substantially converge at the second focal point of the first ellipsoidal reflector section. The second molded module has at least a second ellipsoidal reflector section comprising an optical axis, a first focal point and a second focal point. The second ellipsoidal reflector section being positioned and oriented with respect to the first ellipsoidal reflector section to receive at least a portion of the rays of radiation reflected from the first ellipsoidal reflector section and reflect the portion of the rays of radiation to the second focal point of the second ellipsoidal reflector section. The first molded module is placed together with the second molded module to form the compact DER system.

A power interface is proposed, which keeps an adjustable power supply circuit in a conducting state even if the average current consumption of an attached load is below the adjustable power supply circuit's holding current requirement. The power interface makes use of the dynamic properties of adjustable power supply circuits. Due to the recovery time of the adjustable power supply circuit, it will stay in the conducting state even if there is no current flowing for a short while. The power interface makes use of this effect by interrupting and re-establishing a current flow from the adjustable power supply circuit.

Optical systems capable of use in a variety of lighting applications particularly including industrial high bay and similar applications, the systems of the invention deliver energy efficient and effective light distribution through use of dual reflector arrangements wherein an inner reflector having a divergent and convergent profile is stationary relative to a lamp to form an inner reflector/lamp assembly, a prismatic outer reflector being displaceable relative to the inner reflector/lamp assembly to produce differing photometric distributions.

A spotlight having a variable angle of radiation includes a light source and a converging lens. The converging lens is the front lens of the spotlight. The front lens is eccentrically arranged such that the principal optical axis of the front lens is not coincident with the principal optical axis of the spotlight. For example, the principal optical axis of the front lens is parallel to and spaced from the principal optical axis of the spotlight by a predetermined distance.