Abstract: An electrical distribution panel for controlling the distribution of electrical power to a plurality of loads includes a plurality of solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs), each including a thermally conductive heatspreader and one or more power semiconductor devices that control whether electrical current is able to flow to an attached load; a distribution panel heatsink configured in thermal contact with the SSCB heatspreaders; one or more cooling fans that blow air onto the distribution panel heatsink; a stacked bus bar with quick-fit pin-mount receptacles for receiving mating/matching press-fit connection pins located on line-side terminals of the SSCBs; a communications and control (comm/control) bus communicatively coupled to the plurality of SSCBs; and a head-end interface and gateway to which an external computer can connect, to, among other things, set and alter trip settings of the plurality of SSCBs via the comm/control bus.

Abstract: Provided is a combined solar power generation and agricultural material dispersion system having at least one system module comprising a solar power generation panel having a solar energy collection surface disposed opposite a base surface; a barrier panel having a first surface disposed opposite to a second surface; at least two coupling elements extending between and coupled to the base surface of the solar power generation panel and the first surface of the barrier panel, the coupling elements specifically configured to form a cavity between the solar power generation panel and the barrier panel to enable an at least one electrical cable to be disposed within the cavity; and at least one liquid conduit coupled to the second surface of barrier panel and extending in a direction between said first and second edges of the solar power generation panel, the at least one liquid conduit specifically adapted for conveying agricultural dispersion material, wherein said barrier panel provides a waterproof barrier be

Abstract: In an electrical distribution system including a solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) and one or more downstream mechanical circuit breakers (CBs), a solid-state switching device in the SSCB is repeatedly switched ON and OFF during a short circuit event, to reduce a root-mean-square (RMS) value of the short circuit current. The resulting pulsed short circuit current is regulated in a hysteresis control loop, to limit the RMS to a value low enough to prevent the SSCB from tripping prematurely but high enough to allow one of the downstream mechanical CBs to trip and isolate the short circuit. Pulsing is allowed to continue for a maximum short circuit pulsing time. Only if none of the downstream mechanical CBs is able to trip to isolate the short circuit within the maximum short circuit pulsing time is the SSCB allowed to trip.

Abstract: A power management and selection system for a class 8 tractor trailer, directs excess solar and vehicular charge capacity to an auxiliary load by measuring available charge capacity from a reefer power system including a reefer battery, solar panel and charge controller for moderating solar power to the reefer batter, and measuring available charge capacity from a cab vehicle power system including a propulsion system battery and alternator. Charge logic, in a selector configured for switching charge capacity to the auxiliary load, determines which of the reefer power system and cab vehicle power system has the most potential excess charge capacity, and directs the determined excess charge capacity to the auxiliary load, while the measured available charge capacity remains sufficient for powering the respective reefer power system or cab vehicle power system.

Abstract: A reefer truck power unit employs a plurality of power sources including roof mounted solar panels, momentum generation, shore power and high capacity storage batteries. The refrigeration system is configured for refrigerating a payload area of the vehicle utilizing power from the power sources, and employs a voltage converter for augmenting the power from the propulsion vehicle source for use with a native vehicle charging//starting system, and a transport load transformer for converting power from the power sources to 3 phase power for powering the refrigeration system. A bank of batteries stores power from the sources for subsequent dispersal to the refrigeration unit.

Abstract: In an electrical distribution system including a solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) and one or more downstream mechanical circuit breakers (CBs), a solid-state switching device in the SSCB is repeatedly switched ON and OFF during a short circuit event, to reduce a root-mean-square (RMS) value of the short circuit current. The resulting pulsed short circuit current is regulated in a hysteresis control loop, to limit the RMS to a value low enough to prevent the SSCB from tripping prematurely but high enough to allow one of the downstream mechanical CBs to trip and isolate the short circuit. Pulsing is allowed to continue for a maximum short circuit pulsing time. Only if none of the downstream mechanical CBs is able to trip to isolate the short circuit within the maximum short circuit pulsing time is the SSCB allowed to trip.

Abstract: A dynamically coordinatable electrical distribution system includes a plurality of intelligently-controlled protection devices (PDs), a communication and control bus (comm/control) bus, and a central computer. The plurality of intelligently-controlled PDs is configured to protect a plurality of associated electrical loads from faults, developing faults, and other undesired electrical anomalies. Each of the PDs further has electrically adjustable time-current characteristics. The intelligently-controlled PDs are communicatively coupled to the comm/control bus and configured to report current data representative of real-time currents flowing through their respective loads to the central computer, via the comm/control bus. The central computer is configured to communicate with the plurality of PDs over the comm/control bus and dynamically coordinate the time-current characteristics of the plurality of PDs based on the current data it receives from the PDs.

Abstract: A dynamically coordinatable electrical distribution system includes a plurality of intelligently-controlled protection devices (PDs), a communication and control bus (comm/control) bus, and a central computer. The plurality of intelligently-controlled PDs is configured to protect a plurality of associated electrical loads from faults, developing faults, and other undesired electrical anomalies. Each of the PDs further has electrically adjustable time-current characteristics. The intelligently-controlled PDs are communicatively coupled to the comm/control bus and configured to report current data representative of real-time currents flowing through their respective loads to the central computer, via the comm/control bus. The central computer is configured to communicate with the plurality of PDs over the comm/control bus and dynamically coordinate the time-current characteristics of the plurality of PDs based on the current data it receives from the PDs.

Abstract: A solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) with galvanic isolation capability includes an electrical bus with line-side and load-side terminals and a solid-state device connected in series with a closeable air gap between the line-side and load-side terminals. During normal operating conditions, the solid-state device is switched ON and the SSCB forces movable contacts inside the SSCB to close the air gap, so that an electrical current path is maintained between the line-side and load-side terminals and electrical current is allowed to flow through the SSCB and an attached load. Upon a short circuit or overload of unacceptably long duration occurring in the load circuit, the SSCB switches the solid-state device OFF to prevent current from flowing through the load, and releases the movable contacts to open the air gap and thereby establish galvanic isolation between the line-side and load side terminals.

Abstract: An electrical distribution panel for controlling the distribution of electrical power to a plurality of loads includes a plurality of solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs), each including a thermally conductive heatspreader and one or more power semiconductor devices that control whether electrical current is able to flow to an attached load; a distribution panel heatsink configured in thermal contact with the SSCB heatspreaders; one or more cooling fans that blow air onto the distribution panel heatsink; a stacked bus bar with quick-fit pin-mount receptacles for receiving mating/matching press-fit connection pins located on line-side terminals of the SSCBs; a communications and control (comm/control) bus communicatively coupled to the plurality of SSCBs; and a head-end interface and gateway to which an external computer can connect, to, among other things, set and alter trip settings of the plurality of SSCBs via the comm/control bus.

Abstract: A hybrid air-gap/solid-state device protection device (PD) for use in an electrical power distribution system includes an air-gap disconnect unit connected in series with a solid-state device, a sense and drive circuit, and a microcontroller. Upon the sense and drive circuit detecting an impending fault or exceedingly high and unacceptable overvoltage condition in the PD's load circuit, the sense and drive circuit generates a gating signal that quickly switches the solid-state device OFF. Meanwhile, the microcontroller generates a disconnect pulse for the air-gap disconnect unit, which responds by forming an air gap in the load circuit. Together, the switched-OFF solid-state device and air gap protect the load and associated load circuit from being damaged. They also serve to electrically and physically isolate the source of the fault or overload condition from the remainder of the electrical power distribution system.

Abstract: A solid-state circuit protector includes a first power semiconductor device having an ON resistance that increases with increasing temperature and a second power semiconductor device connected in parallel with the first power semiconductor device having an ON resistance that decreases with increasing temperature. During times when abnormally high currents are flowing through the solid-state circuit protector, the second power semiconductor is switched ON so that some or all of the current is diverted through it, thus protecting the first power semiconductor device from being damaged due to overheating. The first power semiconductor device is either switched OFF, allowing it to cool in anticipation of a lighter load, or is configured to remain ON so that it shares the burden of carrying the high current with the parallel-connected second power semiconductor device yet operates cooler and at a lower ON resistance since it is not required to pass the full current.

Abstract: A dynamically coordinatable electrical distribution system includes a plurality of intelligently-controlled protection devices (PDs), a communication and control bus (comm/control) bus, and a central computer. The plurality of intelligently-controlled PDs is configured to protect a plurality of associated electrical loads from faults, developing faults, and other undesired electrical anomalies. Each of the PDs further has electrically adjustable time-current characteristics. The intelligently-controlled PDs are communicatively coupled to the comm/control bus and configured to report current data representative of real-time currents flowing through their respective loads to the central computer, via the comm/control bus. The central computer is configured to communicate with the plurality of PDs over the comm/control bus and dynamically coordinate the time-current characteristics of the plurality of PDs based on the current data it receives from the PDs.

Abstract: A solid-state circuit interrupter and arc prevention device (SSI/APD) is disclosed. The SSI/APD is designed to be configured in series with a mechanical circuit breaker and serves to interrupt current flowing through the circuit it is protecting upon a short circuit being detected or if an overload has persisted for an inordinate amount of time. The SSI/APD is capable of detecting and responding to faults in a matter of microseconds and detects and responds to faults on its own, without requiring the mechanical circuit breaker to trip. The mechanical circuit breaker can be optionally tripped after the SSI/APD has opened the circuit. However, the mechanical circuit breaker is tripped only after the SSI/APD has interrupted the circuit, so electrical arcing across the circuit breaker's contacts is avoided. The SSI/APD can also be reset remotely after a fault has been cleared, obviating the need for a person to be present to reset it.

Abstract: A hybrid air-gap/solid-state device protection device (PD) for use in an electrical power distribution system includes an air-gap disconnect unit connected in series with a solid-state device, a sense and drive circuit, and a microcontroller. Upon the sense and drive circuit detecting an impending fault or exceedingly high and unacceptable overvoltage condition in the PD's load circuit, the sense and drive circuit generates a gating signal that quickly switches the solid-state device OFF. Meanwhile, the microcontroller generates a disconnect pulse for the air-gap disconnect unit, which responds by forming an air gap in the load circuit. Together, the switched-OFF solid-state device and air gap protect the load and associated load circuit from being damaged. They also serve to electrically and physically isolate the source of the fault or overload condition from the remainder of the electrical power distribution system.

Abstract: A hybrid air-gap/solid-state device protection device (PD) for use in an electrical power distribution system includes an air-gap disconnect unit connected in series with a solid-state device, a sense and drive circuit, and a microcontroller. Upon the sense and drive circuit detecting an impending fault or exceedingly high and unacceptable overvoltage condition in the PD's load circuit, the sense and drive circuit generates a gating signal that quickly switches the solid-state device OFF. Meanwhile, the microcontroller generates a disconnect pulse for the air-gap disconnect unit, which responds by forming an air gap in the load circuit. Together, the switched-OFF solid-state device and air gap protect the load and associated load circuit from being damaged. They also serve to electrically and physically isolate the source of the fault or overload condition from the remainder of the electrical power distribution system.

Abstract: In an electrical distribution system including a solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) and one or more downstream mechanical circuit breakers (CBs), a solid-state switching device in the SSCB is repeatedly switched ON and OFF during a short circuit event, to reduce a root-mean-square (RMS) value of the short circuit current. The resulting pulsed short circuit current is regulated in a hysteresis control loop, to limit the RMS to a value low enough to prevent the SSCB from tripping prematurely but high enough to allow one of the downstream mechanical CBs to trip and isolate the short circuit. Pulsing is allowed to continue for a maximum short circuit pulsing time. Only if none of the downstream mechanical CBs is able to trip to isolate the short circuit within the maximum short circuit pulsing time is the SSCB allowed to trip.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for detecting optical discrepancies associated with image capture analyzing pixels in multiple images corresponding to common points of reference in a physical environment. In an embodiment, photometric error values are averaged over time to compute the mean error at each pixel. Once the estimate of the mean error has a sufficient number of updates above a specified value, the estimate is thresholded to provide a mask of any optical discrepancies occurring in the stereo pair of images. Applications include detecting optical discrepancies in images captured for use by a visual navigation system in guiding an autonomous vehicle (e.g., an unmanned aerial vehicle).

Abstract: Embodiments are described for detecting optical discrepancies associated with image capture analyzing pixels in multiple images corresponding to common points of reference in a physical environment. In an embodiment, photometric error values are averaged over time to compute the mean error at each pixel. Once the estimate of the mean error has a sufficient number of updates above a specified value, the estimate is thresholded to provide a mask of any optical discrepancies occurring in the stereo pair of images. Applications include detecting optical discrepancies in images captured for use by a visual navigation system in guiding an autonomous vehicle (e.g., an unmanned aerial vehicle).

Abstract: A dynamically coordinatable electrical distribution system includes a plurality of intelligently-controlled protection devices (PDs), a communication and control bus (comm/control) bus, and a central computer. The plurality of intelligently-controlled PDs is configured to protect a plurality of associated electrical loads from faults, developing faults, and other undesired electrical anomalies. Each of the PDs further has electrically adjustable time-current characteristics. The intelligently-controlled PDs are communicatively coupled to the comm/control bus and configured to report current data representative of real-time currents flowing through their respective loads to the central computer, via the comm/control bus. The central computer is configured to communicate with the plurality of PDs over the comm/control bus and dynamically coordinate the time-current characteristics of the plurality of PDs based on the current data it receives from the PDs.