Abstract: Generally, this disclosure relates to methods of prioritizing or directing available power to a main device, such as a temperature-stabilized and/or temperature-controlled storage container. In an embodiment, the method may include measuring electrical power available from a solar photovoltaic module array that is electrically coupled to the main device, and modulating the electrical power drawn by the main device based on the available electrical power. Available power unused by the main device may be diverted to one or more secondary devices.

Abstract: A refrigeration device includes a thermal transfer unit with an evaporative region, an adiabatic region, and a condensing region with a reversible valve attached to the adiabatic region. The device includes a container sealed around PCM, with a set of refrigeration coils of a compressor unit in thermal contact with the PCM. A storage region is in thermal contact with the evaporative region of the thermal transfer unit. A controller is operably connected to the reversible valve and the refrigeration compressor unit. The storage region can be used to store cold packs within a predetermined temperature range for medical outreach.

Abstract: A refrigeration device includes a thermal transfer unit with an evaporative region, an adiabatic region, and a condensing region with a reversible valve attached to the adiabatic region. The device includes a container sealed around PCM, with a set of refrigeration coils of a compressor unit in thermal contact with the PCM. A storage region is in thermal contact with the evaporative region of the thermal transfer unit. A controller is operably connected to the reversible valve and the refrigeration compressor unit. The storage region can be used to store cold packs within a predetermined temperature range for medical outreach.

Abstract: Generally, this disclosure relates to methods of prioritizing or directing available power to a main device, such as a temperature-stabilized and/or temperature-controlled storage container. In an embodiment, the method may include measuring electrical power available from a solar photovoltaic module array that is electrically coupled to the main device, and modulating the electrical power drawn by the main device based on the available electrical power. Available power unused by the main device may be diverted to one or more secondary devices.

Abstract: A system for and method of generating electromagnetic radiation in which the radiation has both a first and second utility. The electromagnetic radiation is modulated to produce electronically detectable variations to achieve the second utility, the variations not affecting the first utility. In one embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation is visible light. In this embodiment, the first utility is illumination and the second utility is the transmission of data. In another embodiment, the invention provides a lamp for generating visible light capable of providing illumination and transmitting data to a receiver. Any variations in the visible light resulting from the data transmission are imperceptible by a human eye regardless of the nature of the data being transmitted. In yet another embodiment, a power line carrier modem or wireless network may be used with the present invention to transmit information to the source.

Abstract: A lamp ballast for energizing a lamp has short circuit protection. The lamp ballast contains a transformer that provides an output voltage to the lamp. The transformer has a primary winding, a secondary winding, and a third sense winding. The third sense winding has an output that provides an indication of transformer output voltage. A reference voltage circuit creates a reference voltage that provides an indication of a non-short circuited lamp ballast condition. A comparator compares the reference voltage and the output of the third sense winding to provide an indication if the third sense winding output is below the reference. This indicates if there is a short in the output of the lamp ballast. The secondary is wound on multiple sections of a bobbin with one section being a low voltage section. The sense winding is wound under the secondary in the bobbin secondary low voltage section.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) switching power converter includes a main power supply for providing a main voltage output and an auxiliary power supply for providing an auxiliary voltage output lower than the main voltage output. All of the integrated components of the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply are formed in a single IC die which is mounted in a single IC package. For improved economy and/or efficiency, the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply can share external electrical connection pins, and the two power supplies may also share circuitry.

Abstract: A system for enabling an apparatus having a feedback loop to resume steady state operation after feedback loop interruption without the occurrence of transients, the system generally comprising a first circuit for applying a state variable to a load and a second circuit for (i) controlling the first circuit, (ii) monitoring the state variable applied to the load, and (iii) controlling the first circuit to regulate the state variable applied to the load in accordance with a desired state variable. The first and second circuits and the load define a feedback loop. The second circuit further includes an input for receiving a control signal that has a first state that causes the second circuit to enable the first circuit to apply the state variable to the load and a second state that causes the second circuit to inhibit the first circuit from applying the state variable to the load thereby interrupting the feedback loop.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an electric vehicle drive control system is provided. The system of the present invention controls the supply of actuating power to an electric motor for driving the vehicle. One preferred embodiment of the system permits a user to temporarily override a previously selected maximum power usage level for the motor so as to permit the amount of power supplied to the motor to be increased to a higher maximum power usage level.

Abstract: A logic circuit is driven by a single alternating voltage power supply so that the energy stored in parasitic capacitances can be mostly recovered, rather than dissipated, as in conventional logic designs. Successive stages of the logic circuit are of opposite conductivity types such that the successive stages are activated in alternate half cycles of the power supply without separate clock signals. Each stage of the logic circuit is precharged during a respective first half cycle of the power supply and is active in logical processing during a second half cycle. The half cycles are defined by the rising and falling edges of the power supply. The logic circuit resonates with an inductor coupled across the power supply but closely coupled to the logic circuit. This inductor and the method of charging and discharging the capacitors in the logic circuit serve to minimize the power dissipated during logical processing.