7039 results about "Energy supply" patented technology

An electrosurgical method and apparatus comprises a probe, at least one temperature sensor, and a controller for generating and controlling electromagnetic energy supplied to the probe. The controller receives signals from the temperature sensor and controls the supply of electromagnetic energy such that the temperature of the probe is ramped up and then maintained at a steady state temperature of between 100° C. and 115° C. In an equilibration phase, between the ramping up and the steady state temperature, the controller holds the temperature of the probe substantially constant for a period of time to allow the temperature of different parts of the probe to equilibrate.

The present invention provides improved electrosurgical instruments and systems having electrocautery energy supply conductors that provide inhibited current leakage and methods of performing a robotically controlled minimally invasive surgical procedure while preventing unintended capacitive coupling. A surgical instrument generally comprises an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and defining an internal longitudinally extending passage. An electrocautery end effector is coupled to or disposed at the distal end of the shaft. An interface or tool base is coupled to or disposed at the proximal end of the shaft and removably connectable to the robotic surgical system. Typically, an independent electrical conductor extends from the interface to the end effector to transmit electrical energy to tissue engaged by the end effector. A sealed insulation tube extends within the passage and over the conductor. A separation is maintained between the sealed insulation tube and the conductor.

The invention relates to a device for supplying electrical energy to an electro-pen with an electric drive unit for driving a tool. The device comprises a console with an energy supply unit having an accumulator for supplying the electrical drive unit with electrical energy. The console may be configure to be sterilized by steam having a housing and electrical components that are sealed liquid-tight. The accumulator may include a sterile covering for sterile introduction into the console. A coupling between the console and the electro-pen carries the supply of electrical energy from the console to the electro-pen. The coupling may be an electrical contact in the form of a sterilizable connector or an inductive coupling. The console may be configured to store energy and is thus mobile, or the console may include a connection for connecting to a mains or external power supply for charging the accumulator. The console may include a switch-mode power supply for charging the accumulator. The console may include a holder for receiving and charging the electro-pen. The electro-pen includes an electrical storage device and a coupling for receiving the electrical energy supply from the accumulator. The holder may include an electrical coupling between the console and the electro-pen in which at least two electrical contacts and at least one transformer are disposed about each the holder and the electro-pen. Alternatively, the holder may include an inductive coupling in which at least one transformer having at least one coil is disposed about each the holder and the electro-pen.

A business methodology for optimizing energy procurement energy demand (usage) and energy supply for a facility or complex. After ascertaining a baseline model, energy consumption is monitored and adjusted to reflect dynamic economic factors of operations. With the accumulation of data, contract negotiations with energy suppliers may provide further energy savings. Over time and patterns of usage determined further savings and optimization in energy, equipment, staffing and other operational areas are obtained. Remote access provides efficient monitoring of established systems.

Methods and systems are provided for optimizing the control of energy supply and demand. An energy control unit includes one or more algorithms for scheduling the control of energy consumption devices on the basis of variables relating to forecast energy supply and demand. Devices for which energy consumption can be scheduled or deferred are activated during periods of cheapest energy usage. Battery storage and alternative energy sources (e.g., photovoltaic cells) are activated to sell energy to the power grid during periods that are determined to correspond to favorable cost conditions.

Systems and methods for energy optimization may receive receiving energy provider data, near-real time individualized energy usage data for each of a plurality of end-uses or near-real time individualized whole premise energy usage data, customer preferences, and near-real time and forecasted weather information. The systems and methods may forecast, for a selected time period, individualized energy usage for each of the plurality of end-uses or individualized whole premise energy usage data for a customer location using: (1) the energy provider data, (2) the near-real time individualized energy usage data, (3) the customer preferences, and (4) the near-real time and forecasted weather information. The systems and methods may optimize, for the selected time period, energy usage at the customer location using (1) the individualized energy usage, (2) the energy provider data, and (3) the customer preferences.

A method and apparatus for charging energy supplies in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The present invention relates to a UAV that comprises an inductive charging device that utilizes the electromagnetic field emanated by overhead/utility power lines, to charge the energy supplies. The UAV also includes a releasable latch for holding power lines to allow for the perching of the UAV on power lines during the charging process. The latch and the inductive charging device may be provided on a single device, a battery augmentation trap (BAT). The UAV may be perched in an upright orientation to allow for takeoff after the charging of energy supplies on the power line.

An auction service is provided that stimulates competition between energy suppliers (i.e., electric power or natural gas). A bidding moderator (Moderator) receives bids from the competing suppliers of the rate each is willing to charge to particular end users for estimated quantities of electric power or gas supply (separate auctions). Each supplier receives competing bids from the Moderator and has the opportunity to adjust its own bids down or up, depending on whether it wants to encourage or discourage additional energy delivery commitments in a particular geographic area or to a particular customer group. Each supplier's bids can also be changed to reflect each supplier's capacity utilization. Appropriate billing arrangements are also disclosed.

A “Smart Grid Pricer” enables automated balancing of the supply and demand of energy supply and consumption, such as the generation and consumption of electricity between electricity providers and electricity consumers. The Smart Grid Pricer automatically computes and delivers real-time energy pricing information to consumers on behalf of energy retailers (e.g., electricity utilities) to help drive the balance of demand with supply. In various embodiments, real-time pricing is determined by using various probabilistic models to estimate overall consumer demand as a function of factors such as energy price, time of day, region, weather, etc. to compute a price that will result in an energy demand that is closely balanced to the available supply. On the consumer side, various components of the Smart Grid Pricer automatically respond to such pricing information to optimize energy consumption in accordance with a variety of automated and/or user defined rules and preferences.

Systems and methods are provided for swapping the battery on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV may be able to identify and land on an energy provision station autonomously. The UAV may take off and/or land on the energy provision station. The UAV may communicate with the energy provision station. The energy provision station may store and charge batteries for use on a UAV.

A system that facilitates and implements energy savings decisions by a home owner. The system will provide a mechanism to reduce the peak level of energy demand. A controller in logical communication with energy consuming appliances responds to request for energy from energy consuming appliances and devices by permitting or curtailing energy supply to the appliances or devices based on evaluation of a plurality of logical considerations. The controller may be operated to provide energy to fewer than all of the energy requesting appliances to reduce the energy demand on an energy supply source, including the instantaneous peak demand.

In the processes for treating municipal sewage and storm water containing biosolids to discharge standards, biosolids, even after dewatering, contain typically about 80% water bound in the dead cells of the biosolids, which gives biosolids a negative heating value. It can be incinerated only at the expense of purchased fuel. Biosolids are heated to a temperature at which their cell structure is destroyed and, preferably, at which carbon dioxide is split off to lower the oxygen content of the biosolids. The resulting char is not hydrophilic, and it can be efficiently dewatered and/or dried and is a viable renewable fuel. This renewable fuel can be supplemented by also charging conventional biomass (yard and crop waste, etc.) in the same or in parallel facilities. Similarly, non-renewable hydrophilic fuels can be so processed in conjunction with the processing of biosolids to further augment the energy supply.

A semi-automatic welding work cell, including a welding job sequencer that automatically selects a welding schedule for use by an operator in the semi-automatic welding work cell. The automatic selection may be by way of elapsed time, a detection of welding operations, a detection of the amount of welding wire supplied for the welding operation, or a detection of the amount of energy supplied for the welding operation.

An energy supply and storage system for a rig power supply system is disclosed for a rig power supply system of the type having a power generator coupled to rig loads and motors via a bus. The energy supply and storage device is a power supply in parallel with the rig motors and adapted for receiving energy generated by the generator in excess of demand. The energy storage system is in communication with the power supply for receiving and storing the excess energy, with the power supply being adapted to draw energy from the storage system when the rig motor demand exceeds the capacity of the generator.

The present invention comprises a method, and corresponding system, apparatus and memory for trading energy commitments to reduce or increase energy demand (a demand response commitment), to increase or reduce energy production (a supply response commitment) upon demand or to deliver or to not deliver energy (an energy delivery commitment). Such commitments are made available by energy consumers, energy generators and energy delivery companies, respectively, to an entity that provides consideration for these energy commitments and trades them as fungible commodities to energy market participants. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a method for trading energy commitments to reduce or increase energy consumption, to increase or reduce energy generation, or to deliver energy, comprising receiving a plurality of multi-year energy commitments; providing consideration for each of the multi-year energy commitments; and trading at least one of the plurality of energy commitments upon demand.

A male impotence prosthesis apparatus comprises an operable penile prosthesis implanted in an impotent patient's corpus cavernosum to provide flaccid or erect states of the patient's penis. An energy transmission device for wireless transmission of energy from outside the patient's body to inside the patient's body is provided for use in connection with the operation of the penile prosthesis.

A switching power converter tracks a time-varying input voltage during each cycle of the input voltage to provide power factor correction. The switching power converter includes a switch with a frequency and duty cycle modulated control signal. The switch controls the transfer of energy between the input and output of the switching power converter. The frequency of the control signal is greater than a frequency of the input signal. The control signal frequency is modulated during each cycle of the input voltage so that energy transferred from the switching power tracks the energy supplied to the switching power converter.

A medical device energy source may comprise an energy supply, a power interface, a computing device, a networking interface, and a data interface. The power interface and the data interface may communicate with a medical device and the networking interface may communicate with a data server. The energy source may receive an identifier code from the medical device and receive medical device identity codes from the data server. The energy source may receive additional medical device information from the data server. The energy source may compare the identifier code with each of the identity codes and control the function of the energy supply based on the comparison of the identifier code with the identity codes. The energy source may also maintain usage records of the medical device. A medical device system may include the medical device energy source, the medical device, and the data server.

Supplying energy into a hearing apparatus in order to charge its rechargeable battery is to be carried out by way of components, which take up as little space as possible. Components, which are mostly already present, are thus used for the energy supply. Energy is inductively injected into the coil of a receiver, into a data transmission coil or a telephone coil for instance. Alternatively, acoustic energy can also be injected via the receiver or microphone and converted there into electrical energy. Special components need then not be provided for the energy supply process.