Abstract: Provided herein is a controller for a low voltage disconnect (LVD), a method of protecting and providing a maximum or substantially maximum battery reserve coupled to a DC load bus and a power system manager. In one embodiment, the LVD controller includes an adaptive disconnect system configured to determine a variable LVD threshold voltage value and instruct the LVD to disconnect a battery reserve from a DC load bus based thereon. The variable LVD threshold voltage is determined based on a current of the battery reserve during a battery-discharge event.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a DC plant controller, methods of selecting among multiple power sources and DC plants incorporating the DC plant controller or the method. In one embodiment, the DC plant controller includes: (1) a source identifier configured to identify power sources couplable to a common DC bus, (2) a source prioritizer coupled to the source identifier and configured to prioritize the power sources based on at least one criterion and (3) an output characteristic assigner coupled to the source prioritizer and configured to assign output characteristics to the power sources that differ from one another as a function of the priority.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an electrically conductive generally planar strip having a thickness, having a width greater than the thickness and having a length greater than the width. The strip is arranged in alternating length segments. Each adjacent pair of length segments are oriented about divergent axes and are joined by a respective transition arrangement. Each respective transition arrangement presents the strip foldingly lapped upon itself in a laminate structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a central current share coordinator for use with remotely and non-remotely controllable rectifiers coupled to an output bus. In one embodiment, the central current share coordinator includes a rectifier current resolver configured to determine an existing current share condition for the remotely and non-remotely controllable rectifiers. Additionally, the central current share coordinator also includes a load share adjuster coupled to the rectifier current resolver and configured to adjust an output current of the remotely controllable rectifiers toward a target current share distribution on the output bus.

Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure provides an electrical connector pin for a printed wiring board. This embodiment includes an unmachined, collar having an acircular configuration and including a side wall. This embodiment further includes a machined first cylindrical connector shaft integrally formed with the collar and extending from collar along the longitudinal axis, and a machined second cylindrical connector shaft integrally formed with the collar and extending from the collar and along the longitudinal axis in a direction opposite to that of the first cylindrical connector shaft.

Abstract: A system is provided having a first LLC power converter and a second LLC power converter. The first LLC power converter comprises a first LLC voltage source. The second LLC power converter also comprises a second LLC voltage source. The first LLC power converter also comprises a first resonant inductor, a first magnetic inductor, and a first resonant capacitor coupled to the first voltage source of the first LLC power converter. The second LLC power converter comprises a second resonant inductor, a second magnetic inductor, and a second resonant capacitor coupled to the second voltage source of the second LLC power converter. The first LLC power converter and the second LLC power converter are both magnetically couplable to a common load. A resonance of the first LLC power converter substantially matches a resonance of the second LLC power converter.

Abstract: A method for operating a power controller is provided. The method includes activating a rectifying FET upon a detection of an activation body diode conduction current occurring in the rectifying FET. The method generates an activation signal for a corresponding primary FET. The method further includes deactivating the corresponding rectifying FET upon a reception of a deactivation signal. The method further includes then deactivating the corresponding primary FET after delaying the deactivation signal, wherein the delay lessens a conduction time of a deactivation body current of the corresponding rectifying FET. The method further includes generating a deactivation signal and deactivating the corresponding rectifying FET upon a reception of the deactivation signal and deactivating the primary FET after delaying the deactivation signal. The delaying lessens a conduction time of a deactivation body current of the corresponding rectifying FET.

Abstract: An apparatus for predicting fan wear-out and impending failure and a method of manufacturing the same. One embodiment provides for (1) a lookup table containing expected fan speeds at given duty cycles; and (2) a processor for comparing a measured fan speed at a given duty cycle with an expected fan speed at the given duty cycle, the processor generating a predicted fan wear-out and impending failure.

Abstract: A converter controller and a method of controlling converters. In one embodiment, the converter controller includes: (1) a converter efficiency database configured to store data pertaining to efficiencies of converters, (2) a power requirement assessor configured to compare ratings of online ones of the converters to an output power requirement of a given output power bus and (3) a controller mode selector coupled to the power requirement assessor and configured to retrieve online and standby converter efficiencies from the converter efficiency database, assess efficiencies of alternative converter combinations appropriate for the output power requirement and place one of the alternative converter combinations online.

Abstract: An apparatus for establishing at least one turn for a magnetic circuit includes: (a) at least one first magnetic element oriented substantially about an axis generally between a first axial position and a second axial position; and (b) at least one second magnetic element coupled with at least one selected first magnetic element of the at least one first magnetic element generally at the second axial position. The at least one second magnetic element establishes at least one return magnetic path from the second axial position generally toward the first axial position. The at least one return magnetic path is generally about the axis.

Abstract: An apparatus securing a component in a receiver structure having an engagement structure includes: (a) An actuator coupled with the component for swinging movement along a first axis between a first position and a second position. (b) At least one engaging member coupled with the component and responding to the actuator moving to one position of the first and second position to move in a second axis substantially perpendicular with the first axis into an engaging position with the engagement structure. (c) At least one bias member coupled with the at least one engaging member. The at least one bias member urges the at least one engaging member from the engaging position. The actuator is fitted with the component to permit at least partial insertion of the actuator within the receiver structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors includes: (a) A plurality of power supply bus structures. Each respective power supply bus structure is coupled with at least one respective power source and presents a respective plurality of first electrical connection structures arranged in a respective first spaced array. (b) Each respective electrical conductor presents a respective plurality of second electrical connection structures arranged in a respective second spaced array. (c) At least one electrical bridging unit coupling a respective first electrical connection structure and a respective second electrical connection structure to establish electrical connection between a selected respective power supply bus structure and a selected respective electrical conductor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modulation controller for use with a three phase converter. In one embodiment, the modulation controller includes a three phase modulator configured to provide vector control signals for the three phase converter that generate a common mode voltage. Additionally, the modulation controller also includes a transition modifier coupled to the three phase modulator and configured to provide a shaping function for the vector control signals that extends a transition period of the common mode voltage.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a latch/ejector face plate assembly for an end of an electronics chassis assembly. The face plate is pivotally couplable to a front end of an electronics chassis. The face plate has a latch/ejector that comprises a latching portion that is latchably engageable against a rear side of a latching/fulcrum flange of a electronics rack shelf when the face plate is in a closed position, and an ejector edge that is engageable against a front side of the latching/fulcrum flange when the face plate is in an open position, to thereby provide an ejection force of the electronics chassis.

Abstract: An electrical winding structure configured for use in assembling a plurality of electrical winding structures in an installed orientation wound about a central member includes: a unitary segmented strip. First portions of the unitary strip are oriented about a first axis. Second portions of the unitary strip are oriented about a second axis substantially perpendicular with the first axis. Each of the first portions and the second portions have a thickness, have a width greater than the thickness and have a length at least as great as the width. The first and second portions are oriented to effect arranging the electrical winding structure at predetermined loci during winding to clear the winding path to establish a predetermined plurality of strata in the installed orientation.

Abstract: A circuit for, and method of, changing transient response characteristics of a DC/DC converter module having an output rail pin and a trim pin and a distributed power conversion system incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes a reactive component coupled to the output rail pin and the trim pin of the DC/DC converter module and configured to interact with at least one network internal to the DC/DC converter module to change the transient response characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention provides a soft-transition controller for use with a synchronous converter having primary and secondary rectifiers. In one embodiment, the soft-transition controller includes a primary driver configured to provide a primary drive signal to the primary rectifier operating in a synchronous mode, while the secondary rectifier is operating in a diode mode, to provide an output voltage of the synchronous rectifier. Additionally, the soft-transition controller also includes a complementary driver coupled to the primary driver and configured to provide a soft-transition drive signal during a transition period, which transfers the secondary rectifier from the diode mode to a synchronous mode while maintaining the output voltage within a predetermined voltage range.

Abstract: A fault detector for use with a telephone wire-pair having a return conductor and an output conductor, a method of protecting a telecommunications network including the telephone wire-pair and a power supply for the telecommunications network. In one embodiment, the fault detector includes (1) a passive sensor coupled between Earth and the wire-pair to detect a ground fault thereon, (2) an amplifier having inputs coupled across the passive sensor and configured to characterize the ground fault in terms of a value and (3) a controller configured to receive the value via an output of the amplifier and compare the value to a threshold to determine if the ground fault exceeds a safety limit.

Abstract: For use in a power converter having parallel power trains, a circuit for, and method of, reducing voltage spikes due to magnetizing current imbalances in the power trains and a power converter incorporating the circuit or the method. In one embodiment, the circuit includes: (1) a conductive bypass path coupling nodes between transformer secondary windings and inductors in each of the power trains and configured to provide an alternative path to redirect magnetizing current imbalances from the inductors and (2) a capacitor located in the conductive bypass path.