3459 results about "Load circuit" patented technology

A lighting control system is disclosed. The lighting control system is electrically coupled to a load circuit for controlling indoor and / or outdoor lighting. The lighting control system includes a control module with a night light for providing low-level night light illumination and one or more sensors for operatively controlling the indoor and / or outdoor lighting and the night light in response to measured light levels and / or detected motion. The system is preferably configured to provide low-level night light from the night light when measured light levels and detected motion are below threshold values and to automatically turn on the indoor and / or outdoor lighting and simultaneously turn off the night light when measured light levels and detected motion are above the threshold values.

To provide an induced power transmission circuit that transmits, from a transmission antenna (1) connected to a power supply circuit, an AC power having an angular frequency ω to a spaced reception antenna (2) with an excellent efficiency, thereby transmitting it to a load circuit. The induced power transmission circuit comprises a circuit the two ends of which are coupled by a capacitor (C1) and in which the power supply circuit is connected in series to a midway port (1) (P1) of the transmission antenna (1) having an effective self-inductance L1; and a circuit the two ends of which are coupled by a capacitor (C2) and in which the load circuit is connected in series to a midway port (2) (P2) of the reception antenna (2) having an effective self-inductance L2; wherein for a coupling coefficient k of the electromagnetic induction between the antennas and for a phase angle β having an arbitrary value, the angular frequency ω is set to the square root of the reciprocal of a value of L2×C2×(1+k*cos (β)), the output impedance of the power supply circuit is set to approximately kωL1*sin (β), and the input impedance of the load circuit is set to approximately kωL2*sin (β). There is also provided an impedance converting circuit that converts the circuit impedances.

A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load is operable to conduct enough current through a thyristor of a connected dimmer switch to exceed rated latching and holding currents of the thyristor. The load control device comprises a controllable-load circuit operable to conduct a controllable-load current through the thyristor of the dimmer switch. The load control device disables the controllable-load circuit when the phase-control voltage received from the dimmer switch is a reverse phase-control waveform. When the phase-control voltage received from the dimmer switch is a forward phase-control waveform, the load control device is operable to decrease the magnitude of the controllable-load current so as to conduct only enough current as is required in order to exceed rated latching and holding currents of the thyristor.

A self-powered current monitor for monitoring current in electric power systems. Various data relating to input currents may be displayed, such as current magnitude, current demand, and harmonics levels. Operating power is derived from one or more of the input currents. The power supply configuration may include a burden-reducing means to reduce the burden on input current sources during sampling of the input currents. The self-powered current monitor (1) includes a power supply section (3), input resistors (R1 and R3), an analog-to-digital converter circuit (5), a microprocessor circuit (6), a memory circuit (9), and a display circuit (7). Optional features include a burden-reducing circuit (2), input circuit protective elements (D1, D2, D3, D4, R2, and R4), an amplifier circuit (4), a user interface circuit (10), and an interface circuit (8) for communication to other equipment.

An implantable medical device, such as an implantable pulse generator (IPG) used with a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery having an anode electrode with a substrate made substantially from titanium. Such battery construction allows the rechargeable battery to be discharged down to zero volts without damage to the battery. The implantable medical device includes battery charging and protection circuitry that controls the charging of the battery so as to assure its reliable and safe operation. A multi-rate charge algorithm is employed that minimizes charging time while ensuring the battery cell is safely charged. Fast charging occurs at safer lower battery voltages (e.g., battery voltage above about 2.5 V), and slower charging occurs when the battery nears full charge higher battery voltages (e.g., above about 4.0 V). When potentially less-than-safe very low voltages are encountered (e.g., less than 2.5 V), then very slow (trickle) charging occurs to bring the battery voltage back up to the safer voltage levels where more rapid charging can safely occur. The battery charging and protection circuitry also continuously monitors the battery voltage and current. If the battery operates outside of a predetermined range of voltage or current, the battery protection circuitry disconnects the battery from the particular fault, i.e. charging circuitry or load circuits.

A light management system for controlling a load circuit is disclosed. The system preferably comprises a switch unit with a momentary switch for manually controlling the load circuit, a night light to provide low-level or reduced room lighting from the switch unit and a motion sensor for sensing motion from the switch unit. The motion sensor is configured to automatically control the load circuit and / or the night light based on detected motion. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the load circuit operates a room lighting system, the light unit comprises light emitting diodes to provide the low-level light. The switch unit is preferably programmable to customized modes of operation to suit a wide range of applications. In yet further embodiments of the invention, the system comprises a light sensor for controlling the load circuit or the night light in response to a level of detected room lighting.

A method for charging a battery, such as a lithium based battery, which applies different charge pulses and discharge pulses to the battery, takes voltage measurements during those charge pulses, discharge pulses, and rest periods between the charge pulses and discharge pulses, and determines whether to terminate or to continue charging the battery. The full sequence of charge pulses, discharge pulses, and rest periods, includes a plurality of charge pulses (1), separated by rest periods (2) and followed by a rest period (3). This is then followed by a plurality of discharge pulses (4), separated by rest periods (5) and followed by a rest period (6). This is then followed by a plurality of extended charge pulses (7), separated by rest periods (8) and followed by a rest period (9). Then another discharge pulse (10) is applied, followed by a rest period (11). This is followed by a plurality of alternating charge pulses (13) and discharge pulses (12), separated by rest periods (13, 15) and followed by a rest period (16). Then another plurality of discharge pulses (17) is applied, separated by rest periods (18) and followed by a rest period (19). Open circuit voltage measurements taken during the rest periods, loaded circuit voltage measurements taken during the discharge pulses, and charge pulse voltage measurements taken during the charge pulses, are used to determine whether to continue or to terminate the charging of the battery.

An implantable medical device, such as an implantable pulse generator (IPG) used with a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, includes a rechargeable lithiumion battery having an anode electrode with a substrate made substantially from titanium. Such battery construction allows the rechargeable battery to be discharged down to zero volts without damage to the battery. The implantable medical device includes battery charging and protection circuitry that controls the charging of the battery so as to assure its reliable and safe operation. A multi-rate charge algorithm is employed that minimizes charging time while ensuring the battery cell is safely charged. Fast charging occurs at safer lower battery voltages (e.g., battery voltage above about 2.5 V), and slower charging occurs when the battery nears full charge higher battery voltages (e.g., above about 4.0 V). When potentially less-than-safe very low voltages are encountered (e.g., less than 2.5 V), then very slow (trickle) charging occurs to bring the battery voltage back up to the safer voltage levels where more rapid charging can safely occur. The battery charging and protection circuitry also continuously monitors the battery voltage and current. If the battery operates outside of a predetermined range of voltage or current, the battery protection circuitry disconnects the battery from the particular fault, i.e. charging circuitry or load circuits.

An inverter circuit allowing a single drive circuit to perform both tracking control for tracking resonance frequency fluctuations caused by load fluctuations, and power control, thereby reducing switching loss. An inverter drive circuit part obtains a phase difference between output current and output voltage directed to a load circuit connected to a midpoint of two arm circuits of the inverter circuit, and controls a phase of the driving signal directed to each semiconductor switch such that the phase difference becomes zero or a predetermined value, enabling an operating frequency of the inverter circuit part to track a resonance frequency of the load circuit, and enabling a current phase to be delayed with respect to a voltage phase, thereby achieving ZCS. Since the phase difference is used, an auxiliary circuit is not necessary for measuring a current value in proximity to the semiconductor switches.

An implantable medical device, such as an implantable pulse generator (IPG) used with a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery having an anode electrode with a substrate made substantially from titanium. Such battery construction allows the rechargeable battery to be discharged down to zero volts without damage to the battery. The implantable medical device includes battery charging and protection circuitry that controls the charging of the battery so as to assure its reliable and safe operation. A multi-rate charge algorithm is employed that minimizes charging time while ensuring the battery cell is safely charged. Slow charging occurs at lower battery voltages (e.g., battery voltage below about 2.5 V), and fast charging occurs when the battery voltage has reached a safe level (e.g., above about 2.5 V). When potentially less-than-safe very low voltages are encountered (e.g., less than 2.5 V), then very slow (trickle) charging occurs to bring the battery voltage back up to the safer voltage levels where more rapid charging can safely occur. The battery charging and protection circuitry also continuously monitors the battery voltage and current. If the battery operates outside of a predetermined range of voltage or current, the battery protection circuitry disconnects the battery from the particular fault, i.e. charging circuitry or load circuits.

An LED assembly has an AC voltage applied from a fluorescent lamp fixture via one or more power supply connectors belonging to a base which can be attached to the fluorescent lamp fixture, and the LED assembly includes a resistive circuit having impedance equivalent to that of a filament of a fluorescent lamp which can be attached to the fluorescent lamp fixture, a rectifier circuit for rectifying an AC voltage supplied via the resistive circuit, and a load circuit to be operated in response to a supply of a voltage rectified by the rectifier circuit.

A clock and data recovery circuit having parallel dual path is disclosed, which includes a phase detecting circuit, a first charge pump, a proportional load circuit, a second charge pump, an integration load circuit, and a voltage control oscillating circuit. The phase detecting circuit respectively compares a phase difference between a data signal and a plurality of clock signals to generate two proportional control signal and two integration control signal for respectively controlling the first charge pump and the second charge pump to generate a first current and a second current. The proportional load circuit and the integration load circuit respectively receive the first current and the second current to output a proportional voltage and an integration voltage. The voltage control oscillating circuit adjusts the phase and frequency of the plurality of clock signals in response to the proportional voltage and the integration voltage.

A nonvolatile semiconductor device is configured so that a load circuit applying voltage to a variable resistive element is provided electrically connecting in series to the variable resistive element, a load resistive characteristic of the load circuit can be switched between two different characteristics. The two load resistive characteristics are selectively switched depending on whether a resistive characteristic of the variable resistive element transits from low resistance state to high resistance state, or vice versa, voltage necessary for transition from one of the two resistive characteristics to the other is applied by applying writing voltage to a serial circuit of the variable resistive element and load circuit. After the resistive characteristic of the variable resistive element transits from one to the other, voltage applied to the variable resistive element does not allow a resistive characteristic to return from the other to one depending on the selected load resistive characteristic.

An apparatus and method is provided for adjusting a reference voltage at an output terminal of a floating gate reference voltage generator circuit in order to improve the accuracy of the reference voltage at an input terminal of a load circuit. The apparatus and method compensates for the voltage drop produced between the output terminal of the reference voltage generator circuit and the input terminal of the load circuit, and includes a capacitor for capacitively coupling the voltage at the input terminal of said load circuit to a floating gate, and a differential amplifier operatively coupled to the floating gate which acts in response to the capacitively coupled load circuit input voltage to adjust the voltage at the output terminal such that the voltage at the input terminal of the load circuit becomes equal to the reference voltage.

A device housing a battery 50 includes a receiving coil 51, and a charging pad 10 includes a transmitting coil 11 that magnetically couples with, and supplies charging power to the receiving coil 51. The device further includes a modulator circuit 61 that changes the impedance of the receiving coil according to internal battery 52 data. The charging pad further includes a detection circuit 17 that detects receiving coil impedance changes to detect the battery data. The modulator circuit 61 has a load circuit 62 that is connected in parallel with the receiving coil 51 and has a series-connected switching device 64 and impedance modulating capacitor 63, and a control circuit 65 that switches the load circuit 62 switching device 64 ON and OFF according to the battery data. The modulator circuit 61 switches the switching device 64 ON and OFF to transmit battery data to the charging pad 10.

A power source inverter circuit is provided which, when a feeding unit generates enough electric power, puts a load circuit into operation while storing electric power in a storage unit and, when the power feeding unit stops generating power, efficiently uses up the electric power stored in the storage unit. The power source inverter circuit is composed of: a variable DC—DC converter for raising or dropping a voltage of electric power that is supplied from the power feeding unit; the storage unit; MOSFET switches for connecting the power feeding unit and the storage unit to an input of the variable DC—DC converter and for connecting an output of the variable DC—DC converter to the storage unit and the load circuit; a control circuit for controlling gates of the MOSFET switches; and a voltage detector for monitoring output of the power feeding unit, the voltage of the storage unit, the input voltage of the load circuit, and for outputting voltage information to the variable DC—DC converter as well as to the control circuit.

Disclosed is inductive coupling of power to devices having negative resistances, such as gas-filled discharge lamps (fluorescent tubes, neon signs, and the like) from a primary inductive loop, using resonant conditioning of the power provided to the device. A "C" shaped inductor (202) around the loop and a resonating capacitor (406) in parallel with the inductor provide a current source to the lamp (403) from across the capacitor. The circuit is capable of first igniting a lamp using a higher voltage available when the Q of the unloaded circuit is high, then running the lamp or other device at a controlled current. The lamp current is substantially proportional to the primary inductive loop flux, and substantially independent of the lamp resistance. A second inductor (404) in series with the first though not itself a collector of flux acts as a current limit. Applications include lighting, displays (optionally isolated and dimmable), and production of ultraviolet radiation.

The invention discloses an electric field coupling-based wireless power transmission system. The system comprises a power supply circuit, a high-frequency inverter circuit, a tuning circuit, an electric field coupling polar plate, a rectifier filter circuit and a load circuit and is characterized by also comprising a coupling capacitance detection module, a controller and a fixed frequency drive circuit; a capacitance compensation array is arranged in the tuning circuit; the controller detects parameters of the electric field coupling polar plate and controls compensation values of the capacitance compensation array through the coupling capacitance detection module, and outputs fixed frequency control signals; and the fixed frequency signals are transmitted to the fixed frequency drive circuit, and then the high-frequency inverter circuit is driven to work. The electric field coupling-based wireless power transmission system has the advantages that based on the electric field coupling, the transmission capacity and efficiency of the system are improved by adopting an E amplifier; and by arranging the coupling capacitance detection module, the electric field coupling polar plate of the system is detected in real time, and the capacitance compensation value can be effectively controlled, so that the system is kept in the soft switching state, and the power transmission stability and reliability of the system are improved.

The invention discloses a serial arc-fault circuit interrupter, comprising a power circuit, a current sensor, a current sensing circuit, an amplifying and filtering circuit, a voltage zero-crossing comparison circuit, a microcontroller, a trip trigger circuit. A current transformer collects current signals in a circuit; the current signals are converted into voltage signals through the current sensing circuit, and are input into the microcontroller through the amplifying and filtering circuit; the voltage zero-crossing comparison circuit inputs a voltage zero-crossing pulse signal into the microcontroller; the microcontroller judges arc emergence through arc characteristics analysis and is disconnected with a load circuit by the trip trigger circuit. The protection method transforms a one-dimensional time signal into a two-dimensional time signal by utilizing short-time Fourier transform, analyzes changes of fundamental component, even-order harmonic and odd harmonic component of eachcyclic wave, extracts and judges the serial arc-fault characteristics. The method has the advantages that multiple characteristics are extracted to realize comprehensive judgment of fault arc, missedtrip and balk generated in serial arc detection in small load are prevented, and the reliability of judgment is improved effectively.

Setting the clock frequency provided to a load circuit as function of the operating temperature and supply voltage of the load circuit, and setting the supply voltage as a function of the operating temperature of the load circuit. The load circuit can be safely operated above the frequency which would be the limit if the load circuit were operating at the maximum test temperature. At the given operating temperature, the supply voltage can be raised to permit even higher frequency operation, or lowered to reduce power.

A hybrid air-gap / solid-state device protection device (PD) for use in an electrical power distribution system includes an air-gap disconnect unit connected in series with a solid-state device, a sense and drive circuit, and a microcontroller. Upon the sense and drive circuit detecting an impending fault or exceedingly high and unacceptable overvoltage condition in the PD's load circuit, the sense and drive circuit generates a gating signal that quickly switches the solid-state device OFF. Meanwhile, the microcontroller generates a disconnect pulse for the air-gap disconnect unit, which responds by forming an air gap in the load circuit. Together, the switched-OFF solid-state device and air gap protect the load and associated load circuit from being damaged. They also serve to electrically and physically isolate the source of the fault or overload condition from the remainder of the electrical power distribution system.

A RF power generator for exciting inductively coupled plasma for spectrometry includes an induction coil for exciting the plasma as part of its load circuit. The load circuit also comprises a capacitor connected in parallel with the induction coil. The RF power generator is a free running oscillator having a switching circuit of two MOSFETs alternately switchable on and off via a feedback control circuit from the load circuit. RF power from the switching circuit is coupled to the load circuit via an inductor. The inductor and load circuit is resonant at a first frequency, which is lower than the operating frequency of the power generator.

A protection device protecting a load circuit by shutting off a power thereof depending on an estimated present temperature of a wire provided in the load circuit to connect a load. The protection device has a first temperature estimation device estimating a rising temperature of a conductor including the wire based on both a current in the conductor and thermal properties of the conductor, a second temperature estimation device estimating a falling temperature of the conductor based on the thermal properties, a third temperature estimation device estimating an arc-induced rising temperature of the conductor when arcing occurs in the conductor, and a fourth temperature estimation device estimating the present temperature of the conductor deduced from the above estimated temperatures. If the estimated temperature exceeds a predetermined allowable temperature, the protection device shut off the power of the load circuit.

A switching power supply circuit in which a series circuit comprising a resistive element and a capacitive element is provided in a parallel configuration with an inductor which supplies a load current to a load circuit, a voltage comparator having first and second threshold voltages discriminates a voltage obtained from a mutual connecting point of the series circuit therefrom and controls a switch element for supplying a current to the inductor, thereby varying the current supplied to the inductor in accordance with a variation in the load current is combined with a series power supply circuit which shares the load current of the load circuit.

The invention discloses a DC / DC converter. The DC / DC converter includes a square wave generator, which is used to output a series of voltage in form of square wave. The said square wave generator includes a serial capacitor which is connected to serial inductor and parallel inductor. Primary side of transformer is cascaded to a serial inductor in the DC / DC converter, then connected to an inductorin parallel. Secondary side of transformer is connected to a rectification circuit so as to provide a rectified DC voltage for output load circuit. The first characteristic resonance frequency of theserial capacitor and the serial inductor are expressed as fs. The second characteristic resonance frequency of the serial capacitor and the serial inductor as well as parallel inductor are expressed as fn where fs>fn. Switching of variable frequency in the converter carries out the output adjustment. Based on frequency switching between first and second characteristic resonance frequency, the converter realizes high conversion efficiency when working under high input voltage.

A system for controlling a load circuit is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of multi-way sensor switches for mounting in an electrical boxes and coupling to the load circuit. Preferably, each of the multi-way sensor switches includes a tactile switch for manually opening and closing the load circuit load circuit, a built-in sensor for automatically opening and closing the load circuit in response to a level of detected motion and a micro-processor for generating status signals. The status signals are transmitted between each of the multi-way sensor switches over a traveler wire that is electrically coupled to each of the multi-way sensor switches. The micro-processor then uses the status signals to synchronize the operation of each of the multi-way sensor switches to allowing the multi-way sensor switches to operate in a true three-way fashion.

A power system and method make highly efficient use of power supplied from a utility to a facility. A 110-volt line will commonly supply between 107 to 120 volts. A power system couples energy from the utility to a load circuit and may interface with further sources to supply the load circuit. The power system limits output voltage circuit to a preselected nominal level, e.g., 107 volts. Energy provided by the utility which is embodied in voltage above the nominal level is diverted to a charging circuit to charge a storage circuit. On command, the storage circuit delivers input power coupled to a waveform generator which produces a mirror of the waveform of the utility voltage as a supplemental AC voltage. The supplemental voltage is provided to the facility circuit either in response to a user-generated control signal, an output level from the storage circuit or in response to load requirements.

A power converter includes first and second circuit modules, a first capacitor, a second diode and a control module. The first circuit module includes a switching element in parallel with a first diode. The second circuit module includes a first inductor and the first circuit module. The inductor is in series with the first circuit module. The first capacitor is in parallel with the second circuit module. The second diode includes a first terminal and a second terminal, where the first terminal is in series with the second circuit module and the first capacitor, and the second terminal is coupled to a second power terminal. The control module varies one or more of the first capacitor and the first inductor based on at least one of a current of a load circuit or an input voltage. A resonating waveform is generated by a resonant circuit of the second circuit and is used by the control module to turn off the switching element under zero-current and zero-voltage conditions.

A method for detecting a welding of a relay contact in a circuit having a DC power supply; a load circuit; a first main relay and a second main relay respectively inserted in a pair of power supply lines disposed between the DC power supply and the load circuit; and a precharge relay which is provided in parallel to the contact of the first main relay has the step of carrying out a sequence control to each of the relays (11, 12, 13) while measuring voltage across both ends of the load circuit (16) when shifting from a normal operation state in which a first main relay (11) and a second main relay (12) are controlled to be on and the precharge relay (13) is controlled to be off to a suspension state in which each of the relays (11, 12, 13) are controlled to be off. The welding of the relay contact of the first main relay (11) and the second main relay (12) is determined independently and separately from a correspondence between the proceeding of the sequence and the measured voltage.

Enhanced voltmeter leads includes load circuitry having a test load that can be switchably coupled between the leads to help identify faults in a circuit under test. In certain embodiments, the value of the test load can be any appropriate value set according to parameters or characteristics of the circuit under test. In these embodiments, the value of the test load can be set manually or automatically or both. The types of faults that can be identified include a short-to-ground, an open circuit, and a high (e.g., corrosive) resistance. The leads include a switch whose setting is adjustable to couple and decouple the test load between the leads. The switch can be located in the leads or in a lead handle of the leads for easy access by a user / technician. The leads can also include a fuse or circuit breaker for safety reasons. The leads can be used systematically to help identify the type and location of a fault from voltage readings. The voltage readings are obtained at various points in the circuit under test with the switch both closed and open. Conventional test leads or the leads that include the switch to couple / decouple the test load can be used if the load circuitry is integrated into the voltmeter or if the load circuitry has a separate coupling or connection to the voltmeter inputs.