Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a power meter comprising a voltage sensor, at least one current and phase sensor circuit, and a central metering unit, wherein the voltage sensor is further configured to measure a voltage on an input line and transmit a signal related to the voltage to the central metering unit, wherein the at least one current and phase sensor circuit is further configured to measure a current and a voltage phase shift of a feeder line, and to transmit a signal related to at least one of the current of the feeder line and the voltage phase shift of the feeder line to the central metering unit, and wherein the central metering unit is configured to calculate power provided to a load via the feeder line based on the signal transmitted from the at least one current and phase sensor circuit.

Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a power meter comprising a voltage sensor, at least one current and phase sensor circuit, and a central metering unit, wherein the voltage sensor is further configured to measure a voltage on an input line and transmit a signal related to the voltage to the central metering unit, wherein the at least one current and phase sensor circuit is further configured to measure a current and a voltage phase shift of a feeder line, and to transmit a signal related to at least one of the current of the feeder line and the voltage phase shift of the feeder line to the central metering unit, and wherein the central metering unit is configured to calculate power provided to a load via the feeder line based on the signal transmitted from the at least one current and phase sensor circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus and technique are provided for generating a plasma using a power supply circuit and arc detection arrangement. The power supply circuit has a cathode enclosed in a chamber, and is adapted to generate a power-related parameter. The arc detection arrangement is communicatively coupled to the power supply circuit and adapted to assess the severity of arcing in the chamber by comparing the power-related parameter to at least one threshold. According to various implementations, arc occurrences, arcing duration, intensity and/or energy are measured responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to the at least one threshold. According to further implementations, the above-mentioned measured quantities are accumulated and/or further processed. An apparatus and method are also provided for detecting arc events when the current spikes above a threshold level.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating a driving point voltage of a resistance weld system. The method includes periodically sampling a supplied voltage and a supplied current of a system to obtain a plurality of sets of a sampled voltage value and a sampled current value. The sampled values are used for creating a volt time area of the sampled voltage, a current time area of the sampled current, and a current difference time area of the sampled current. The method further includes creating an estimated line resistance and an estimated line reactance of the system based on the first set of a sampled voltage value and a sampled current value and the second set of a sampled voltage value and a sampled current value. The volt time area, current time area, current difference time area, line resistance and line impedance are used for creating a driving point voltage area or waveform. The system includes circuitry for implementing the method for a resistance weld control.

Abstract: A phase reference generator for use in a resistance weld control. The phase reference generator including a digital signal processor having a digital volt-time area generator to generate a volt-time area of an observed voltage; a digital current-time area and current-difference-time area generator to generate a current-time area of an observed current and a current-difference-time area of the observed current; a line impedance estimator; and, a driving point voltage area estimator configured to receive values from the digital volt-time area generator, the digital current-time area generator and current-difference-time area generator, and the line impedance estimator and generate estimates of the driving point voltage.

Abstract: According to an example embodiment, a system controls a resistance-based welding application with certain compensation for adverse aspects attributable to the power for the welding application being from an AC line. The system includes a power metering arrangement adapted to measure a first value of a power-based parameter from the AC line for a condition in which weld power is not commanded, a second value of the power-based parameter from the AC line while weld power is commanded during a first interval, and a third value of the power-based parameter from the AC line while weld power is commanded during a second interval. The system additionally includes a circuit adapted to respond to the first, second and third values by generating an estimated value for the power-based parameter corresponding to the condition in which weld power is not commanded, wherein the resistance welding application is controlled based on the estimated value.