Abstract: A Power Factor Correction (PFC) controller includes an error amplifier for amplifying a difference between Vout and intended Vout to provide a power demand (Pdem) output at a compensation pin. A burst mode controller includes soft-start circuitry coupled to receive Pdem and to a drive pin which provides pulses to a control node of a power switch of a DC-DC converter during burst periods. The pulses slow ramping of line current over a first 2 to 36 switching cycles at a beginning of bursts when energizing the inductor to reduce a line current slope as compared to without ramping up, and for slowing ramping down of line current over the last 2 to 36 switching cycles to reduce a line current slope when de-energizing the inductor as compared to a line current without ramping down. The PFC controller does not utilize zero-crossings of the line voltage for burst period synchronization.

Abstract: A Power Factor Correction (PFC) controller includes an error amplifier for amplifying a difference between Vout and intended Vout to provide a power demand (Pdem) output at a compensation pin. A burst mode controller includes soft-start circuitry coupled to receive Pdem and to a drive pin which provides pulses to a control node of a power switch of a DC-DC converter during burst periods. The pulses slow ramping of line current over a first 2 to 36 switching cycles at a beginning of bursts when energizing the inductor to reduce a line current slope as compared to without ramping up, and for slowing ramping down of line current over the last 2 to 36 switching cycles to reduce a line current slope when de-energizing the inductor as compared to a line current without ramping down. The PFC controller does not utilize zero-crossings of the line voltage for burst period synchronization.

Abstract: Provided is a method for adaptively controlling the charging time of a storage heater, comprising: determining a stored energy requirement of the heater; determining a background heat requirement of the heater; determining a daily energy requirement (DER) based on the stored energy requirement and the background heat requirement; and determining a daily run time (DRT) at a predetermined time to calculate the charging time for a following period of time based on the daily energy requirement (DER).

Abstract: A bathing area accessory may be used within a bathing area. The bathing area accessory may be a bathing area shelving assembly, a bathing area bar assembly, a storage assembly, a bathing area seat assembly, or a shaving ledge assembly. The shelving assembly for use within a bathing area may include a niche and at least one shelf that is attachable to, removable from, and reattachable to the attachment portions of the niche. The niche may include attachment portions that receive and secure the at least one shelf. The niche may include two sidewalls that extend substantially vertically along a vertical length of the niche. The attachment portions may be on the two sidewalls and the at least one shelf may attach with a pair of the attachment portions that are vertically aligned with each other.

Abstract: An improved thermal store is provided. The thermal decouples the heat output from the thermal store from the energy provided to the heater.

Abstract: A bathing area accessory may be used within a bathing area. The bathing area accessory may be a bathing area shelving assembly, a bathing area bar assembly, a storage assembly, a bathing area seat assembly, or a shaving ledge assembly. The shelving assembly for use within a bathing area may include a niche and at least one shelf that is attachable to, removable from, and reattachable to the attachment portions of the niche. The niche may include attachment portions that receive and secure the at least one shelf. The niche may include two sidewalls that extend substantially vertically along a vertical length of the niche. The attachment portions may be on the two sidewalls and the at least one shelf may attach with a pair of the attachment portions that are vertically aligned with each other.

Abstract: Provided is a method for adaptively controlling the charging time of a storage heater, comprising: determining a stored energy requirement of the heater; determining a background heat requirement of the heater; determining a daily energy requirement (DER) based on the stored energy requirement and the background heat requirement; and determining a daily run time (DRT) at a predetermined time to calculate the charging time for a following period of time based on the daily energy requirement (DER).

Abstract: A bathing area accessory may be used within a bathing area. The bathing area accessory may be a bathing area shelving assembly, a bathing area bar assembly, a storage assembly, a bathing area seat assembly, or a shaving ledge assembly. The shelving assembly for use within a bathing area may include a niche and at least one shelf that is attachable to, removable from, and reattachable to the attachment portions of the niche. The niche may include attachment portions that receive and secure the at least one shelf. The niche may include two sidewalls that extend substantially vertically along a vertical length of the niche. The attachment portions may be on the two sidewalls and the at least one shelf may attach with a pair of the attachment portions that are vertically aligned with each other.

Abstract: A circuit includes a device monitoring component, a voltage error component, a current error component, a power error component, an error selecting component, a filter instruction component and a filter. The device monitoring component monitors load voltage and load current, and outputs a device state signal. The voltage error component outputs a voltage error signal. The current error component outputs a current error signal. The power error component outputs a power error signal. The error selecting component outputs a selected error signal. The filter instruction component outputs a filter instruction based on the device state signal. The filter outputs a modification signal to modify operation of a device so as to modify one of the load voltage, the load current and the load power.

Abstract: A bathing area accessory may be used within a bathing area. The bathing area accessory may be a bathing area shelving assembly, a bathing area bar assembly, a storage assembly, a bathing area seat assembly, or a shaving ledge assembly. The shelving assembly for use within a bathing area may include a niche and at least one shelf that is attachable to, removable from, and reattachable to the attachment portions of the niche. The niche may include attachment portions that receive and secure the at least one shelf. The niche may include two sidewalls that extend substantially vertically along a vertical length of the niche. The attachment portions may be on the two sidewalls and the at least one shelf may attach with a pair of the attachment portions that are vertically aligned with each other.

Abstract: A controller providing selective activation of thermal storage devices within a network to balance requirements of a user to manage their heating and the network operator to balance the load available with the load on the network.

Abstract: A circuit includes a device monitoring component, a voltage error component, a current error component, a power error component, an error selecting component, a filter instruction component and a filter. The device monitoring component monitors load voltage and load current, and outputs a device state signal. The voltage error component outputs a voltage error signal. The current error component outputs a current error signal. The power error component outputs a power error signal. The error selecting component outputs a selected error signal. The filter instruction component outputs a filter instruction based on the device state signal. The filter outputs a modification signal to modify operation of a device so as to modify one of the load voltage, the load current and the load power.

Abstract: Methods, control apparatus and series resonant or LLC power conversion systems are presented in which a resonant series circuit current is compared with a threshold during a portion of a modulation switching cycle following turn on of a corresponding switching device and one or more indications or remedial actions are undertaken to modify modulation control of a switching circuit in response to a determination that the resonant current is below the threshold to facilitate our promote zero voltage switching or near-zero voltage switching and provide current reversal protection.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic display panel for installation on devices subject to temperature fluctuations, the panel comprising a controller configured to deactivate the display panel when the temperature of the display panel is outside a preferred operational temperature range of the display panel.

Abstract: A bathing area accessory may be used within a bathing area. The bathing area accessory may be a bathing area shelving assembly, a bathing area bar assembly, a storage assembly, a bathing area seat assembly, or a shaving ledge assembly. The shelving assembly for use within a bathing area may include a niche and at least one shelf that is attachable to, removable from, and reattachable to the attachment portions of the niche. The niche may include attachment portions that receive and secure the at least one shelf. The niche may include two sidewalls that extend substantially vertically along a vertical length of the niche. The attachment portions may be on the two sidewalls and the at least one shelf may attach with a pair of the attachment portions that are vertically aligned with each other.

Abstract: A bathing area accessory may be used within a bathing area. The bathing area accessory may be a bathing area shelving assembly, a bathing area bar assembly, a storage assembly, a bathing area seat assembly, or a shaving ledge assembly. The shelving assembly for use within a bathing area may include a niche and at least one shelf that is attachable to, removable from, and reattachable to the attachment portions of the niche. The niche may include attachment portions that receive and secure the at least one shelf. The niche may include two sidewalls that extend substantially vertically along a vertical length of the niche. The attachment portions may be on the two sidewalls and the at least one shelf may attach with a pair of the attachment portions that are vertically aligned with each other.

Abstract: A bathing area accessory may be used within a bathing area. The bathing area accessory may be a bathing area shelving assembly, a bathing area bar assembly, a storage assembly, a bathing area seat assembly, or a shaving ledge assembly. The shelving assembly for use within a bathing area may include a niche and at least one shelf that is attachable to, removable from, and reattachable to the attachment portions of the niche. The niche may include attachment portions that receive and secure the at least one shelf. The niche may include two sidewalls that extend substantially vertically along a vertical length of the niche. The attachment portions may be on the two sidewalls and the at least one shelf may attach with a pair of the attachment portions that are vertically aligned with each other.

Abstract: An improved thermal store is provided. The thermal decouples the heat output from the thermal store from the energy provided to the heater.

Abstract: A digital control circuit is provided for use with a switch-mode power converter that receives an input signal at a first input node and a control signal at a second input node, and that provides an output signal at a first output node and a current signal at a second output node. The digital control circuit generates a programmable current reference signal based on a difference between the output signal and a voltage reference signal, calculates a time instant when the current signal substantially equals the programmable reference current signal, and generates the control signal based on the calculated time instant.

Abstract: The embodiments of the Lens Protector are comprised of two large eyepiece lens covers, two small objective lens covers, and a flat connective lanyard. The embodiments of the optical protection device, the larger end covers are placed over the eye optical lenses and the smaller end covers are placed over the objective lenses to protect the eye lenses and objective lenses from damage due to light or damage due to foreign objects being deposited on the lens glass. The lanyard with the X-shaped connection allows the end covers to be maintained in place relative to each other and also prevents the end covers from being entangled thereby allowing ease of replacement of the end covers onto the optical lenses when the optical device is to be stored or taken out of application use.