Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle's instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine's maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine's maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle's load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle's instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine's maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine's maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle's load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle's instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine's maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine's maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle's load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle's instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine's maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine's maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle's load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a, control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle's instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine's maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine's maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle's load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine controllably coupled to road wheels of the vehicle by a clutch, and having a turbocharger that is operated only when extra power is needed for a extended time, a traction motor coupled to road wheels of said vehicle, a starting motor coupled to the engine, both motors being operable as generators, a battery bank for providing electrical energy to and accepting energy from said motors, and a microprocessor for controlling these components, is operated in different modes, depending on its instantaneous torque requirements, the state of charge of the battery bank, and other operating parameters. The mode of operation is selected by the microprocessor in response to a control strategy.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle's instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine's maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine's maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle's load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances.

Abstract: A stand-by uninterruptible power supply which provides for extended backup time and/or an increase in power rating for stand-by power supply applications. The uninterruptible power supply also has a waveshape circuit for rating the power capacity of the supply. The waveshape circuit provides a more effective way of rating the capacity of the power supply so that different supplies may be easily compared with little confusion.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprising an an internal combustion engine controllably coupled to road wheels of the vehicle by a clutch, a traction motor coupled to road wheels of said vehicle, a starting motor coupled to the engine, both motors being operable as generators, a battery bank for providing electrical energy to and accepting energy from said motors, and a microprocessor for controlling these components is operated in different modes, depending on its instantaneous torque requirements, the state of charge of the battery bank, and other operating parameters. The mode of operation is selected by the microprocessor in response to a control strategy.

Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is disclosed in which AC line power is used to charge a back-up battery and to operate a load during a stand-by mode of operation of the UPS. In the back-up mode of operation when AC line power is not available, the battery is used to supply power to the load. The UPS automatically tests the load and the battery when the AC line power is available to assure availability of back-up power in case of a failure of the AC power. The results of the test is displayed to the user.

Abstract: AS uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is disclosed in which AC line power is used to charge back-up battery and to operate a load during a stand-by mode of operation of the UPS. In the back-up mode of operation when AC line power is not available, the battery is used to supply power to the load. The UPS is implemented with only one inexpensive high frequency transformer and a single bi-directional power converter. Thus, the UPS of the present invention is lower in cost and complexity than such UPSs known in the prior art.

Abstract: A phase adaptable AC/DC converter having three input terminals capable of connection to either a single phase or dual phase electrical power service. A feedback circuit in a control portion of the converter sums a first voltage and a second voltage which are proportional to first and second output voltages, respectively, to control a first bidirectional switch in a voltage boost circuit. The feedback circuit also sums the first and second voltage with a difference between the first and second output voltages to control a second bidirectional switch in the voltage boost circuit.

Abstract: An improved hybrid electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Both the motor and the engine provide torque to drive the vehicle directly through a controllable torque transfer unit. Typically at low speeds or in traffic, the electric motor alone drives the vehicle, using power stored in batteries; under acceleration and during hill climbing both the engine and the motor provide torque to drive the vehicle; and in steady state highway cruising, the internal combustion engine alone drives the vehicle. The internal combustion engine is sized to operate at or near its maximum fuel efficiency during highway cruising. The motor is operable as a generator to charge the batteries as needed and also for regenerative braking. No transmission is employed. The motor operates at significantly lower currents and higher voltages than conventionally and has a rated power at least equal to that of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which is capable of conditioning any of a variety of utility service AC power inputs having distortion and noise into a clean AC power signal at the output by using symmetrical topology. The present invention is capable of maintaining a constant voltage amplitude at the output while the input utility voltage amplitude varies, and attenuates any distortions present at the input. The present invention first comprises a boost converter comprised of four semiconductor switches in parallel with a diode bridge to convert the incoming AC signal into a DC signal which is stored on two storage capacitors. Secondly, using a buck inverter, the stored DC signal is reconverted into a clean AC signal applied to the output. Input and output filters are used to help clean the signal, and chokes are used to help separate damaging signals produced by the converter and inverter from the storage capacitors.

Abstract: A multiphase common mode transient suppressor is disclosed which uses a plug choke placed at the utility power service input to the circuit of the present invention. The plug choke contains, for example, three coils corresponding to three power carrying input conductors. Each coil is wound in the same direction, and has the same number of turns. Preferably, a magnetic core is provided around which the coils are wound. At the output of the plug choke are placed three capacitors, in parallel between a grounding conductor and three output conductors. The choke in combination with the capacitors creates a resonant circuit.A control circuit is provided which is connected to the plug choke via a catcher coil. The catcher coil "catches" the flux induced by the transient and dissipates its energy through a resistor, thus dampening the resonant circuit. Current through the resistor is controlled by a semiconductor switch.

Abstract: A half-bridge inverter circuit is provided for converting a DC voltage source to an AC voltage waveform, and supplying the AC voltage waveform to a load. The half-bridge inverter includes an inverter comprising a first capacitor for supplying a positive output voltage and a second capacitor for supplying a negative output voltage during respective intervals of the output waveform. An equalizer, responsive to a control circuit, equalizes the voltage output from the first capacitor and the second capacitor in order to overcome non-symmetry of these voltages resulting from a non-symmetrical load.

Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply is disclosed which is cheaper and more adaptable to various utility service inputs than presently available power supplies. A storage capacitor is placed between a boost AC/DC converter at the input and a DC/AC inverter at the output. A storage battery for maintaining constant voltage should the utility service power be interrupted is placed at the input, before the boost converter. Thus, a small battery is required because the boost converter is capable of boosting the battery's voltage to the voltage contained on the storage capacitor. A bidirectional semiconductor switch is provided in the boost converter to allow current to flow in both directions between its switch terminals when a AC input is applied. Appropriate control circuitry is provided which monitors the voltage at specific points throughout the circuit and controls operation of the bidirectional switch.

Abstract: Two single phase uninterruptible power supplies are coupled together and controlled such that the two-phase output voltage is matched in frequency and phase with the electrical power provided by the electric utility. The phase difference between the electric utility power lines is measured and stored as a reference signal. When electrical power from the electric utility is lost, the stored reference signal is used to control a master and slave UPS to deliver two-phase power having the same frequency and phase.

Abstract: A line isolated current detector for detecting low frequency peak to peak currents on a high frequency chopped line with a first series diode and resistor detecting positive waves and a second series diode and resistor detecting negative waves. First and second capacitors across the first and second resistors, respectively, temporarily store positive and negative detected waves. A third series diode and resistor connected in parallel across the first series diode and resistor and a fourth series diode and resistor connected in parallel across the second series diode and resistor allows faster charging and slower discharging of the capacitors. This allow the capacitors to charge waveforms quick enough to use a high frequency current transformer sensing a high frequency chopped line and discharge waveform slow enough to reconstruct the low frequency waveform before high frequency chopping to allow accurate current measurements of direct current or low frequency currents using a current transformer.