Abstract: A switched mode power supply includes a communication interface and an address terminal for setting a communication address for the power supply using the resistance of an external resistor when the external resistor is coupled to the address terminal. The power supply is configured to determine a first resistance value for the external resistor using a first technique, determine a second resistance value for the external resistor using a second technique, set the communication address of the power supply using the first resistance value if the first resistance value is greater than a threshold value, and set the communication address of the power supply using the second resistance value if the first resistance value is less than the threshold value. Other example switched mode power supplies, power systems including one or more power supplies, and methods for setting a communication address of a power supply are also disclosed.

Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure, power modules having current sensing circuits, and corresponding sensing methods, are disclosed. Example power modules include a printed circuit board (PCB) having a PCB trace, a first sense terminal coupled to the PCB trace at a first location, and a second sense terminal coupled to the PCB trace at a second location such that a resistance between the first and second sense terminals is defined by a resistance of the PCB trace between the first location and the second location. The power module further comprises a control coupled to the first sense terminal and the second sense terminal, the control adapted to measure a voltage between the first sense terminal and the second sense terminal and determine a current through the PCB trace based on the measured voltage and the resistance between the first sense terminal and the second sense terminal.

Abstract: A current limiting circuit for controlling current from a power supply to a load having a capacitance includes an inductor, a transistor coupled in a current path with the inductor, and a control circuit. The transistor includes a control terminal. The control circuit is coupled to sense a voltage across the inductor and coupled to the control terminal of the transistor. The control circuit is configured to turn off the transistor when the voltage across the inductor is greater than a threshold to restrict current from a power supply, and turn on the transistor when a defined parameter is met to allow current from the power supply to charge the load capacitance. Other example current limiting circuits are also disclosed.

Abstract: Example electrical power systems include an output for supplying a DC output voltage to a load, a first power source connected with the output to supply DC power to the load, and a second power source connected with the output to supply DC power to the load. The electrical power system is configured to supply DC power to the load using only the first power source when a demand of the load is less than an output capacity of the first power source, and the second power source is configured to maintain an enabled on-state when only the first power source is supplying DC power to the load. Additional electrical power systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A multiphase interleaved forward power converter includes an inductor and first and second subconverter comprising respective transformers. The converter also includes first and second drives configured to respectively operate the first and second subconverters with cycling periods comprising a conduction period, a reset period, and an idle period. The first and second drives are also configured to phase shift the cycling periods in each subconverter such that the conduction period of the subconverter is at least partially complementary to the idle period of the other subconverter. The second drive also clamps a voltage across a winding of the transformer of the first subconverter to substantially prevent a first resonance voltage from propagating in the first subconverter during the idle period of the first subconverter.

Abstract: A road sensor system for sensing data about a road surface and for providing that data, in real time, to data receivers. The system includes a communications network and a data control center that receives and transmits data via the communications network. Sensor assemblies include a housing that is implanted into the road surface, a sensor in the housing that collects sensor data related to an area local to the sensor assembly, and a communications module for communicating sensor data via the communications network from the sensor to the data control center for storage in the database. Sensor data received and stored is associated with location data for a location of the road surface where the housing is implanted. The data receivers receive sensor data or metadata derived from sensor data via the communications network.

Abstract: A control circuit for a switching power converter includes a current compensator. The current compensator is configured to receive a first current reference signal, a second current reference signal and a signal representing an input current of the switching power converter, generate a first current error signal based on the signal representing the input current and the first current reference signal for controlling at least one power switch of the power converter, generate a second current error signal based on the signal representing the input current and the second current reference signal, and adjust the first current error signal based on the second current error signal to limit the amount of current flowing through the switching power converter. Other example control circuits, switching power converters including control circuits and methods for limiting current in switching power converters are also disclosed.

Abstract: Example MOSFET circuits include a first metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) having a gate, a source and a drain, and a second MOSFET coupled in series with the first MOSFET. The second MOSFET has a gate, a source and a drain. The MOSFET circuit also includes a controller configured to supply a same control signal to the gate of the first MOSFET and the gate of the second MOSFET to turn on or turn off the first MOSFET and the second MOSFET when a drain-source voltage of the first MOSFET and a drain-source voltage of the second MOSFET are substantially zero. Other MOSFET circuits and methods of operating MOSFET circuits are also disclosed.

Abstract: A burner assembly including a housing and an airflow restrictor plate for selectively restricting an amount of airflow passing out of the housing in order to reduce a heat output of the burner assembly. The housing has an air inlet and an air outlet and is configured to guide an airflow from the air inlet and out of the housing via the air outlet. The airflow restrictor plate has a single opening through which all airflow flowing through the housing from the air inlet must pass in order to exit the housing via the air outlet.

Abstract: A remediation plant for remediating drilling mud, cuttings, and fluids. The preferred plant includes a reboiler that is adapted to provide heat to the drilling mud, cuttings, and fluid, a mud drum that is operatively connected to the reboiler, a distillation column that is operatively connected to the reboiler, a heat exchanger that is operatively connected to the reboiler, a condenser that is operatively connected to the distillation column, a condenser tank that is operatively connected to the condenser, an oil-water separator that is operatively connected to the condenser tank, and a pump that is operatively connected to the oil-water separator. The preferred remediation plant is adapted to remove synthetic drilling fluid from drilling mud, cuttings, and fluids. A method for remediating drilling mud, cuttings, and fluid.

Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure, circuit board assemblies and methods of circuit board assembly are disclosed. Example circuit board assemblies include a circuit board and a magnetic component coupled to the circuit board. The magnetic component includes a primary winding and a secondary winding. The assembly also includes a winding interconnect terminal electrically coupled to the magnetic component. The winding interconnect terminal is disposed on the circuit board remote from the magnetic component, and the circuit board defines an air gap between the winding interconnect terminal and the magnetic component to provide electrical isolation between the winding interconnect terminal and the magnetic component. Corresponding methods of assembling circuit boards and magnetic components are also disclosed.

Abstract: A power supply comprises a main circuit board and a multilayer power transmission board electrically coupled to the main circuit board. The multilayer board includes a conductive neutral layer having an inner side, a conductive line layer having an inner side facing the inner side of the conductive neutral layer, and a dielectric medium positioned between the conductive neutral layer and the conductive line layer. The power supply also comprises a first conductive outer layer positioned adjacently to an outer side of the conductive neutral layer, a second conductive outer layer positioned adjacently to an outer side of the conductive line layer, and a conductive plating material positioned within a slot formed in the multilayer power transmission board and covering an interior portion of the multilayer power transmission board facing the slot. The conductive plating material electrically couples the first and second conductive outer layers.

Abstract: A back-feed protection circuit includes input circuits and a control circuit. Each input circuit includes an input for receiving an input DC voltage. The control circuit is configured to enable one of the first input circuit and the second input circuit having the highest input DC voltage, and disable the other input circuit to substantially prevent current from back feeding to the first input circuit and/or the second input circuit. Each input circuit additionally and/or alternatively includes a positive rail, a reference rail and a plurality of switching devices. A set of the switching devices are coupled in series in the positive rail of each input circuit, and another set of the switching devices are coupled in series in the reference rail of each input circuit. Other example back-feed protection circuits, and electric power supplies including back-feed protection circuits are also disclosed.

Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure, resonant converter power supplies and control methods for reducing unbalanced currents in resonant power supplies are disclosed. Example resonant converter power supplies include an input, an output, a transformer, and a bridge circuit coupled between the input and a primary winding of the transformer. The power supply also includes first and second rectifier rails each coupled between a secondary winding of the transformer and the output, and at least one sensor coupled to generate an error signal representing unbalanced currents in the first and second rectifier ails. The power supply further includes a controller configured to receive the error signal, and adjust a duty cycle of at least one of a first switch and a second switch of the bridge circuit based on the error signal to reduce the unbalanced currents in the first and second rectifier rails.

Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure, power modules having current sensing circuits, and corresponding sensing methods, are disclosed. Example power modules include a printed circuit board (PCB) having a PCB trace, an output choke inductor, and an output pin. The power module also includes a first sense terminal coupled to the PCB trace, a second sense terminal coupled to the output pin such that a resistance between the first sense terminal and the second sense terminal is defined by a resistance of the PCB trace and a resistance of the output pin, and a control coupled to the first sense terminal and the second sense terminal. The control is adapted to measure a voltage between the sense terminals, and to determine a current through the PCB trace and the output pin based on the measured voltage and the resistance between the sense terminals.

Abstract: A storage silo apparatus having a storage silo including a shell wall, a secondary wall spaced radially outwards from the shell wall, and a space having a first width formed between an outer surface of the shell wall and an inner surface of the secondary wall. An insulation layer located in the space is narrower than the space such that an air gap is formed within the space. The air gap is formed radially adjacent the insulation layer and is configured to resist heat transfer between the shell wall and the secondary wall.

Abstract: A dc-dc power converter is for use in data communications and for connection between a front end ac-dc power supply and a point-of-load circuit. The dc-dc power converter includes either an unregulated flyback converter or an unregulated buck converter. Each flyback and buck converter has an input for connection to an output of the front end ac-dc power supply and an output for connection to an input of the point-of-load circuit. A switch controller has an input connected to either the flyback converter input or the buck converter. The switch controller has an output connected to either a switch of the flyback converter or a switch of the buck converter.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing lightweight debris from a debris-contaminated stream of heavier material. The apparatus includes an enclosed chamber having a material inlet, a chute having a free portion through which the stream can freely fall due to gravity, and a material outlet positioned below the chute. A material stream flows into the chamber via the inlet and then a portion of the stream falls through the free portion and exits the chamber via the outlet. An airflow pathway guides airflows into the chamber via an airflow inlet and out of the chamber via an airflow outlet. An airflow flowing through the airflow pathway that separates a first portion of the debris-contaminated stream from a heavier portion of the debris-contaminated stream. The airflow then carries the first portion out of the chamber via the airflow outlet.

Abstract: A switch-mode DC-DC power converter includes one or more input terminals for receiving an input voltage from a voltage source, one or more output terminals for supplying an output voltage to a load, and a transformer coupled between the input and output terminals. The transformer includes at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding. The converter also includes a primary switch coupled to control current through the at least one primary winding, a synchronous rectifier coupled to control current through the at least one secondary winding, and means for controlling switching operation of the synchronous rectifier by disabling switching of the synchronous rectifier for a defined time delay in response to receiving an input signal indicative of a startup of the DC-DC power converter, and enabling switching of the synchronous rectifier after the defined time delay has elapsed.

Abstract: An impulse mechanism for a vibratory device includes an eccentrically weighted shaft that is adapted to be rotated to create vibratory forces. A fan component is mounted on the eccentrically weighted shaft. The fan component has a plurality of fan blades spaced around its periphery.