Abstract: A battery management system for managing current supplied by a battery to a load. The battery management system detects an input current and drives the load at a substantially constant voltage if the detected input current reaches a predetermined current threshold. In addition, the circuit limits the input current to the predetermined current threshold, thereby allowing the output voltage to decrease when the input current is being limited to the threshold by the circuit.

Abstract: A power supply unit according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is self testing. The power supply unit is enabled to function with no external loads applied, and includes a visual indicator of whether or not one or more voltage outputs of the power supply unit is within tolerance. To benefit from the self-test feature, a user in the field may simply unplug the power supply unit from all loads, plug the unit into an A/C source, and observe the visual indicator. If the visual indicator is lit, then the user may reasonably assume that the power supply unit is functioning correctly. But if the visual indicator is not lit, then the user may reasonably assume that the power supply unit is faulty.

Abstract: A pair of cooling fans in an electronic system is operated synchronously at a common speed and with a particular phase relationship between their respective acoustic properties that minimizes the combined acoustic noise produced by the pair of cooling fans.

Abstract: A method for reducing commutation-related acoustic noise in a fan system is provided. A constant frequency periodic signal is generated and a fan commutation event is synchronized with a zero level value of the constant frequency periodic signal. A system for controlling a direct current fan is provided. The system comprises a signal generator adapted to produce a periodic signal of a constant frequency and a phase-locked loop. A zero level value of the periodic signal is synchronized with a commutation event of the fan.