Abstract: An asymmetrical half-bridge converter has an auxiliary winding, a main switch and a resonant switch. The auxiliary winding generates a feedback voltage. A controller turns on the main switch for a first ON duration, turns off the main switch and the resonant switch for a first OFF duration after the first ON duration, turns on the resonant switch for a second ON duration after the first OFF duration, turns off the main switch and the resonant switch for a second OFF duration after the second ON duration, turns on the resonant switch for a third ON duration after the second OFF duration, and turns off the main switch and the resonant switch for a third OFF duration after the third ON duration. The length of the second ON duration is a fixed ratio of a discharge period, and the fixed ratio is less than 1.

Abstract: A control method is disclosed for an asymmetric half-bridge power supply having a resonant circuit, a first switch, a second switch, and an assisting switch. The resonant circuit includes a transformer and a resonance capacitor. The transformer has a primary winding connected to the resonance capacitor and an auxiliary winding connected to the assisting switch. Within a switching cycle, the first switch is turned on for a first ON time to increase an exciting current of the transformer. After the first ON time, the second switch is turned on for a second ON time to decrease the exciting current. Whether a discharge duration of the transformer ends is detected. The assisting switch is turned ON after the end of the discharge duration, making the exciting current negative, so as to assist the first switch achieving ZVS.

Abstract: A method includes monitoring, by an energy management system, a microgrid using multiple sensors associated with a utility grid, one or more power sources in the microgrid, and one or more load devices in the microgrid, and determining, by the energy management system, one or more load profiles corresponding to the one or more load devices based on measurements from the multiple sensors. The method also includes determining, a priority order of the one or more load devices in the microgrid based on the one or more load profiles corresponding to the one or more power sources, and dynamically connecting and disconnecting the one or more power sources and the one or more load devices based on a utility grid condition, available powers from the one or more power sources, the one or more load profiles, and the priority order of the one or more load devices.

Abstract: Examples described herein relate to energy management and optimization. An energy management system can monitor a microgrid using sensors associated with a utility grid, one or more power sources, and one or more load devices. The energy management system can determine one or more load profiles corresponding to the one or more load devices based on measurements from the sensors. The energy management system can determine a priority order of the one or more load devices based on a user input or availability of the one or more power sources. The energy management system can then dynamically connect and disconnect the one or more power sources and the one or more load devices based on a utility grid condition, available powers from the one or more power sources, the one or more load profiles, and the priority order of the one or more load devices.

Abstract: A system includes a first computing device having a first non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, first communication circuitry, and at least one first processor in communication with the first non-transitory machine-readable storage medium and the first communication circuitry. The at least one first processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the first non-transitory machine-readable storage medium to cause the first communication circuitry to receive a first signal from a first transmission medium, calculate a first authentication value for an object based on data included in the first signal, and cause the first communication circuitry to transmit a second signal to the first transmission medium. The second signal identifies whether the object is authentic based, at least in part, on the first authentication value.

Abstract: A control circuit of a power conversion circuit includes an energy storing circuit coupled between an AC/DC rectifier circuit and a DC/DC conversion circuit. When a first condition “the absolute peak value of the input voltage of the AC/DC rectifying circuit is smaller than a reference voltage” is satisfied, discharge current is provided for lowering the voltage on the first output end of the AC/DC rectifying circuit. When the first condition and a second condition “the discharge current is smaller than reference current” are both satisfied, a switch of the energy storing circuit is turned on. When the first condition and the second are not both satisfied, the switch of the energy storing circuit is turned off.

Abstract: A flyback converter includes a primary winding, a main switch, a charging switch, a primary side controller and an energy storage device. The primary winding receives an input power; the primary side controller has a power input terminal and provides a first control signal and a second control signal to the main switch and the charging switch; after the main switch is turned off, the charging switch maintains turned on during a charging period. During the charging period, the input power passes through the primary winding and the charging switch, and stores a first portion of the input power in the energy storage device as a power supply energy; the power input terminal is coupled to the energy storage device, and the primary side controller receives the power supply power from the energy storage device through the power input terminal.

Abstract: A power conversion circuit, a power conversion system, a power source and a method and a device of controlling the same are provided. The power conversion circuit includes an AC/DC rectifier circuit, a DC/DC conversion circuit and an energy storing circuit coupled between the AC/DC rectifier circuit and the DC/DC conversion circuit. The energy storing circuit includes a first capacitor, a second capacitor and a switch. The first capacitor and the second capacitor are coupled in series. The switch is coupled in parallel with the second capacitor. The switch is configured to turn on when the output voltage of the AC/DC rectifier circuit is smaller than or equal to a threshold value; and turn off when the output voltage of the AC/DC rectifier circuit is larger than the threshold value, wherein the threshold value is smaller than or equal to the rated voltage of the first capacitor.

Abstract: A tape reader is provided that reads data from a tape without requiring specific alignment. The tape reader may include a reader head comprising a sensor array with a plurality of sensors that detect the data independent of the track within which the data is stored. Multiple sensors may detect data in each track instead of a single, dedicated sensor for each track. The sensor array may comprise multiple sensors in multiple dimensions, such as perpendicular to the movement of the tape or in parallel to the movement of the tape, including serpentine linear recording formats where the sensors may be in a matrix positioned at various angles from horizontal to vertical.

Abstract: A system can include a battery pack with battery cell sections connected in series, where each of the battery cell sections includes a battery cell and a bypass switch. The system can also include a control circuit. The control circuit can determine a capacity of a particular battery cell in a particular battery cell section, determine that the capacity of the particular battery cell is less than a predefined threshold, and in response, execute a bypass sequence for the particular battery cell. The bypass sequence can involve determining a bypass period for which to bypass the particular battery cell based on the capacity of the particular battery cell, and transmitting a bypass signal to a drive circuit. The drive circuit can receive the bypass signal and responsively operate the bypass switch of the particular battery cell section to bypass the particular battery cell for the bypass period.

Abstract: A target system may include a carrier. The carrier may include a housing, at least one wheel rotatably coupled to an interior of the housing, at least one gear coupled to the at least one wheel, a motor coupled to the at least one gear to drive the at least one wheel via the at least one gear, and a controller to activate the motor based on user input. The target system may also include at least one arm coupled to the carrier, and a coupling device to couple a panel to the at least one arm.

Abstract: A power conversion apparatus supplies power to a load, and the power conversion apparatus includes a power switch, a transformer, and a control module. The control module alternately turns on and turns off a power switch of the power conversion apparatus to convert an input voltage into an output voltage through the transformer. When the power switch is turned off, a primary side of the transformer generates a resonance voltage. The control module sets a predetermined counting threshold according to the output voltage, and sets a blanking time interval according to a feedback signal related to the load. After the blanking time interval ends, the control module counts a number of an oscillation turning point generated by the resonance voltage due to the oscillation of the resonance voltage. When the number reaches the predetermined counting threshold, the control module turns on the power switch.

Abstract: A dynamic two-dimensional code group generation method for generating a two-dimensional code group for dynamically displaying, repeatedly in sequence, a plurality of two-dimensional codes arranged in a time series includes a base identifying step of determining a first setting value of a base two-dimensional code serving as a base from among first setting values identified by evaluation values each associated with a corresponding one of the two-dimensional codes in the two-dimensional code group; and a data block arrangement step of generating and arranging a data block in a storage two-dimensional code identified on the basis of a second setting value corresponding to the first setting value determined in the base identifying step, the data block being based on content of target information to be coded.

Abstract: A bioreactor includes a scaffold, a scaffold support, and a manifold. The scaffold is seeded with a plurality of cells. The scaffold has an extended state and a non-extended state. The scaffold support that selectively modifies a state of the scaffold from the non-extended state to the extended state. A manifold is configured to provide a medium to the scaffold. The state of the scaffold from the non-extended state to the extended state is modified at a rate tuned to maintain a cell density associated with the plurality of cells within a particular density range.

Abstract: A system for culturing cells includes a bioreactor including a scaffold on which the cells tend to adhere. The system further includes a circulatory system that intermittently flows fluid over the scaffold.

Abstract: Modular frames for instructional use that provide secure mounts for geometric solids are presented. Some contemplated modular frames can be assembled into three dimensional modular devices and are particularly suitable for instructional purposes. Modular devices comprising two or more frames could be coupled via a clip in two or more different configurations. Containers including conductive material and configured to provide a Faraday cage around their contents are also provided.