11131 results about "Power switching" patented technology

A method and apparatus for braking a motor has a braking power switching device coupled across windings of the motor. To brake the motor, the braking power switching device is cycled on and off.

A frequency modulation type wireless power supply and charger system includes a power supply base unit consisting of a first microprocessor, a power circuit, a power switch driver circuit, a first resonant circuit, a first coil, a detection module and a power input interface, and a wireless power supply and charge receiver unit consisting of a secondary coil, a second resonant circuit, a rectifier filter circuit, a detection and protection module, a second microprocessor, a temperature sensor, a charging module and a power output interface and adapted for receiving electrical power from the power supply base unit wirelessly for charging an external electronic device. The detection and protection module of the wireless power supply and charge receiver unit detects the supply of the electrical power, and the second microprocessor sends a feedback signal to the power supply base unit through the signal generator circuit and the second resonant circuit subject to the detection of the detection and protection module for enabling the power supply base unit to control the power switch driver circuit to regulate its output power automatically, thereby minimizing power transmission loss and the load of the internal components of the wireless power supply and charge receiver unit.

A bus system is disclosed for use with switching devices, such as power electronic devices. The system includes generally parallel bus elements that define electrical reference planes, such as for a dc bus. The bus elements are separated from one another by insulative layers, with additional insulative layers being available for separating the system from other circuit components. Portions of the bus elements are extended or exposed to permit connection to the circuit elements, including packaged switching circuits and energy storage or filtering circuits. The bus system may be conformed to a variety of geometric configurations, and substantially reduces parasitic inductance and total loop inductance in the resulting circuitry.

The invention relates to a DC/DC converter design. The converter requires only one single inductor to draw energy from one input source and distribute it to more than one outputs, employing Flexible-Order Power-Distributive Control (FOPDC). It include a single inductor, a number of power switches, comparators, only one error amplifier, a detecting circuit and a control block to regulate outputs. This converter can correctly regulate multiple outputs with fast transient response, low cross regulation, and effective switching frequency for each output. It can work in both discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) and continuous conduction mode (CCM). Moreover, with FOPDC, future output extension is simple, making a shorter time-to-market process for next versions of the converter. The design can be applied to different types of DC-DC converter.

In a welding power supply for creating welding current in a succession of current pulses with a maximum current level and a trailing off state which current pulses passing through a series circuit including an inductor and electrode in welding relationship with a workpiece wherein the power supply has (a) an inverter stage with an input to be connected to a power source, a first terminal at a first electrical polarity when the inverter is on, a second terminal at a second electrical polarity when the inverter is on, and a control to generate an off signal to turn the inverter off and remove current from the terminals to shift said current pulse toward an off state; and, (b) a power switching stage including a transistor based switch having a conduction condition passing current from the first terminal upon creation of a first logic signal and a non-conduction condition blocking current upon creation of a second logic signal, the improvement comprising: a sensor for measuring the instantaneous value of the welding current, a comparator for producing a low current signal when the instantaneous current is at a selected value substantially below the maximum current level and a circuit or program for creating the second logic signal upon production of a low current signal after generation of an off signal whereby the transistor based switch is switched from the conduction condition to the non-conduction condition when the welding current is generally at the selected value.

Power factor correction apparatus, for a switching power supply fed by an array of rectifying diodes and consisting of at least an input inductor, a contact of which is connected in series with a contact of the array, and of a power switch connected between the other contact of the array and the other contact of the input inductor that comprises circuitry for identifying, in each cycle determined by the switching frequency of the power supply, whenever the instantaneous value of the current through the inductor reaches a minimal value; circuitry for switching the power switch to its conducting state in response to the minimal current through the inductor; circuitry for reflecting the current flowing through the inductor by a measurable or simulated parameter; and circuitry for providing indication, in each cycle, by using the parameter, the indication being related to the timing until the peak value of the current, that corresponds to a specific load, has been essentially reached, or to the time from the moment that the current reaches the minimal value until the timing, and for switching the power switch to its non-conducting state in response to the indication.

The invention relates to a grid synchroniser for connecting an AC output of a power converter to the AC grid mains. In one aspect the invention provides a grid synchroniser comprising an inverter controller to control an AC output of the inverter, the controller including a receiver to receive grid data from a grid sensor location remote from said inverter. In another aspect we describe techniques for rapid removal of charge from a control terminal of a power switching device such as a MOSFET, IGBT or Thyristor using a particular driver circuit.

A computer monitor for allowing the easy connection of computer peripherals thereto, and supplying a power supply voltage from an internal power supply therein to the computer peripherals via universal serial bus hubs. The monitor has a power supply for converting externally applied AC power into DC power; and a universal serial bus hub having at least one upstream port and at least two downstream ports; wherein the upstream port is electrically connected in communication with the computer system, and the downstream ports receive DC power in response for a power switching signal in accordance with power supply control information from the computer system through the upstream port to selectively provide the DC power to external devices connected therewith in response to the power switching signal.

An LED lamp with an integrated circuit, a rectifier, and a string of series-connected LEDs rectifies an incoming AC signal. The integrated circuit includes power switches that can separately and selectably short out a corresponding one of several groups of LEDs in an LED string across which the rectified AC signal is present. As the voltage across the string increases, the integrated circuit controls the power switches to increase the number of LEDs through which current flows, whereas as the voltage across the string decreases the integrated circuit controls the power switches to decrease the number of LEDs through which current flows. The flow of LED string current is broken to reduce flicker. Alternatively, a valley fill capacitor peaks LED current during the valleys of the incoming AC signal to reduce flicker. LED current is regulated to provide superior efficiency, reliability, power-factor correction, and lamp over-voltage, -current, and -temperature protection.

An electronic cigarette having a shell, an insert, and a mouthpiece component. The shell has a lid with a bracket on the lid's interior surface and a base connected by a hinge that allows the shell to be in an open position or a closed position. The insert has a power on/off switch, a tang, a more power switch and a less power switch, an atomizer connection, electronic circuitry, and a mouthpiece sanitary, storage cavity. At least one aperture in the shell exposes the power on/off switch, the more power switch, the less power switch, and the atomizer connection. The mouthpiece component is capable of being properly positioned (a) into the mouthpiece sanitary, storage cavity for safer and more sanitary environment when the electronic cigarette is not being used for smoking purposes and (b) in the atomizer connection when the electronic cigarette is being used for smoking purposes.

The present invention provides an intelligent power unit, and applications thereof. In an embodiment, the intelligent power unit includes a battery, a power switch, and a control unit. The control unit receives price information and operates the power switch based on the price information to charge the battery during periods of relatively low electrical energy prices. During periods of relatively high electrical energy prices, the control unit cause the energy stored in the battery to be used to power attached loads. The price information provided to the control unit can be actual price information regarding the cost to generate electrical power, estimated price information, or contract price information. It is a feature of the intelligent power unit of the present invention that it can be used to shift a utility's electrical power demand in time.

An active power factor correction (PFC) circuit and its controlling method are provided. The method comprises the following steps. Drive the power switch of the circuit so that the average inductor current waveform follows the rectified input voltage waveform. Suspend the operation of the power switch at a first moment in a first line cycle of the rectified input voltage and then resume the operation of the power switch at a second moment in a second line cycle of the rectified input voltage. The first moment is when the phase angle of the rectified input voltage exceeds a predetermined angle and the switching frequency of the power switch exceeds a predetermined frequency. The time span from the first moment to the end of the first line cycle is substantially as long as the time span from the beginning of the second line cycle to the second moment.

A modulated power supply comprises a power switching stage having at least one power switching device for generating a power signal in response to an input modulating signal. A current source is positioned in parallel with the power switching stage and continuously generates an output current. An output stage combines the power signal and the output current to form an output power supply signal. The current source supplies some, or all, of the required current at any given time. The switching device in the power switching stage either supplies the remaining required current or sinks any excess current. This has an advantage of reducing the average and peak currents flowing through the switching device, and hence the average power dissipation in the device. The output current can be set at an average (e.g. RMS) value of the current in the output power supply signal.

An electric fan with mounted light (6) mounted overhead within a square dome camping tent (1). The fan/light unit is supported by a series of fiberglass poles (12), and pole footings (10). The fan/light unit is powered by a portable power supply and control unit (7) which contains power switches (23), an updraft/downdraft switch (24), an accessory plug (25), and a charger plug (27).

An external defibrillator with an output circuit having four legs arrayed in the form of an “H” (an “H-bridge”) is disclosed. The output circuit is designed to be able to conduct a range of defibrillation pulse energies, from below 50 joules to above 200 joules. Each leg of the output circuit contains a solid-state switch. By selectively switching on pairs of switches in the H-bridge, a biphasic defibrillation pulse may be applied to a patient. The switches in three of the legs of the H-bridge output circuit are preferably SCR switches, while the fourth leg includes an IGBT switch. In one embodiment, a single power switch is utilized in each of the legs of the H-bridge output circuit, and are included in a single integrated module or package. The use of single semiconductor switches in an integrated surface mountable module or package simplifies the assembly and manufacturing of the defibrillator device. The use of a single IGBT in a leg of the H-bridge (as opposed to two or more IGBTs in series) also greatly simplifies the drive circuitry required to turn on and off the IGBT.