Abstract: A battery management system comprises a battery manager and battery sensors for sensing related information of each battery in a battery string. The batteries in the battery string are divided into a plurality of first groups. The battery sensors are divided into a plurality of second groups. Each second group senses the batteries in a corresponding first group, and each battery sensor senses at least one battery. Each of a part of the communication ports of the battery manager is signal connected to the battery sensors of one of the second groups. The number of the battery sensors in each second group is less than or equal to the number of battery sensors that each communication port can support. The battery manager merges the battery sensors signal connected to the part of the communication ports as the battery sensors in a same battery string according to a merging command.

Abstract: An LDMOS device with a field plate contact having a field plate contact metal layer being positioned above the field plate contact. The field plate contact metal layer has a sub-maximum size satisfied for the electrical connection between the field plate contact and an external applying voltage. This sub-maximum size is prescribed by the physical limitation of the LDMOS device. The field plate contact metal layer extends a sub-maximum length from one edge toward to the other edge of the field plate contact.

Abstract: A battery management system (BMS) used in a battery pack, the battery pack has a discharging switch coupled between a battery and a load, and the load has a capacitor charged by the battery pack. The BMS has a driver circuit having a power supply terminal to receive a drive voltage, a ground reference terminal coupled to receive the battery pack voltage and an output terminal coupled to a control terminal of the discharging switch. The BMS generates a normal drive voltage and a ramp drive voltage, and the normal drive voltage is selected as the drive voltage when the voltage difference between the battery voltage and the battery pack voltage is less than a threshold voltage, and the ramp drive voltage is selected as the drive voltage when the voltage difference between the battery voltage and the battery pack voltage is higher than the threshold voltage.

Abstract: A circuit assembly for a power converter includes a substrate, power stage integrated circuit (IC) dies, and output inductors that connect switch nodes of the power stage IC dies to an output node of the power converter. The power stage IC dies are mounted on one side of the substrate and the output inductors are mounted on an opposing side of the substrate. Two output inductors go through a magnetic core. A heatsink is attached to surfaces of the power stage IC dies. A power stage IC die has a pair of switching transistors, and a switch node formed by the switching transistors is connected by an output inductor to the output node of the power converter.

Abstract: A system includes first and second dam modules, a power generation unit, and first and second turbine modules. The first dam module can be secured to a foundation of a dam site and redirect a first flow of water. The second dam module can be secured to the first dam module opposite the foundation and redirect a second flow of water. The first turbine module can be secured to the foundation. The second turbine module can be secured to the first turbine module opposite the foundation. The power generation unit includes a turbine to be driven by a third flow of water at least partially including at least one of the first flow of water or the second flow of water. The first turbine module includes a draft tube having an inlet to receive water from the turbine and an outlet to discharge water from the first turbine module.

Abstract: The invention provides an uninterruptible power supply, which comprises a battery management circuit and a control circuit. The battery management circuit is electrically coupled to each battery of at least one battery string for measuring the voltage of each battery. When the battery strings discharge, the control circuit obtains the voltage of each battery through the battery management circuit to calculate the discharge current of each battery, and determines whether there is any measured voltage having dropped to an EOD voltage corresponding to a discharge current of a corresponding battery. When the determination result is positive, the control circuit controls the uninterruptible power system to stop the discharging of at least one battery string in which there is at least one measured voltage having dropped to an EOD voltage corresponding to a discharge current of a corresponding battery. Furthermore, a corresponding battery management apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A LED driving system for a LED matrix having a plurality of LEDs connected in parallel. The LED driving system includes a plurality of driving modules. Each one of the plurality of driving modules drives a corresponding one of the plurality of LEDs. The plurality of LEDs are divided into a plurality of groups. The plurality of driving modules drive the plurality of LEDs ON successively group by group. In each one of the plurality of groups, the LESs are driven ON successively row by row, and for each row in each one of the plurality of groups, the LEDs are driven ON successively column by column with a programmed delay time between the LEDs in every two successive columns. Each one of the plurality of driving modules can include a grayscale control module for adjusting a brightness of the corresponding one of the plurality of LEDs.

Abstract: A system includes at least one generator coupled to an island grid, at least one energy storage unit and at least one converter coupled to the at least one energy storage unit and configured to be coupled to the island grid. The system further includes a control circuit configured to cause the at least one converter to transfer power between the at least one energy storage unit and the grid responsive to a change in a load on the island grid to maintain operation of the at least one generator at a predetermined operating point. The at least one generator may include a control system configured to match generator output to the load and the control circuit may be configured to maintain the control system of the at least one generator within a predetermined dynamic response capability limit responsive to the change in the load.

Abstract: A reactive power system comprises a plurality of electrical capacitor banks, with each electrical capacitor bank electrically connected in series with an electrical switch. The electrical switches may be electrically connected to a system such as, for example, an electrical induction motor starter system. A controller is coupled with the motor starter system and each of the electrical switches. The controller, in response to receiving a signal from the motor starter system, determines which of the plurality of electrical capacitor banks from which electrical power should be provided for the motor starter system. For the determined or identified electrical capacitor bank(s), the controller identifies the corresponding electrical switch(es) and communicates a signal to close the switch(es). Closing the switches results in the capacitors in the corresponding electrical capacitor banks to be electrically connected to the motor starter system and to provide current to the motor starter system.

Abstract: A power output control module for power distribution is installed inside a power distributor that is connected to an AC power source and multiple electronic devices to control the AC power outputted to the electronic devices. The power output control module continuously detects whether the AC power inputted is normal. When the AC power source is disconnected by accident, a latch relay is controlled to switch to be open, so that the AC power source and the electronic devices are disconnected. This prevents the instantaneous surge current from damaging the electronic devices when the AC power source resumes its normal output and also increases the safety and reliability of electronic devices.

Abstract: Techniques for datacenter power management using dynamic redundancy are disclosed. A power control switch is configured to selectively apply power to one or two power cords of a dual-corded electronic apparatus. When the power control switch energizes both power cords, the electronic apparatus operates in 2N redundancy. When the power control switch energizes only one of the power cords, the electronic apparatus operates in 1N redundancy. The power control switch is configured to dynamically change the redundancy mode based on service level agreement (SLA) criteria, power policies, power supply and demand, and environmental factors.

Abstract: Electrical power is dynamically managed among one or more power sources and one or more loads. A plurality of monitor nodes is connected to an input terminal connected to each source, and to an output terminal connected to each load. A plurality of electrical power storage cells is connected among the input and output terminals, each cell being capable of storing power from at least one of the sources and being capable of discharging stored power to at least one of the loads. A plurality of controllable switches is connected to the cells. A programmed controller dynamically monitors operating conditions at the monitor nodes during operation of each source and each load, and selectively dynamically controls the switches to interconnect the cells in different circuit topologies in response to the monitored operating conditions.

Abstract: A circuit assembly for a power converter includes power stage blocks and heat-dissipating substrate. A power stage block includes a power stage IC die, an output inductor that is connected to a switch node of the power stage IC die, and capacitors that form an output capacitor of the power stage block. The output capacitors of the power stage blocks are symmetrically arranged. The output inductors can be placed on the same side of the substrate as the power stage IC dies, or on a side of the substrate that is opposite to the side where the power stage IC dies are disposed. A power stage block may generate two output phases of the power converter.

Abstract: A power outlet device including a first socket assembly coupled to an external power, a first switch, a detecting circuit coupled to the first socket assembly through the first switch, a controller is electrically coupled to the first switch and the detecting circuit, and a sensor is provided. The first switch is electrically coupled to the first socket assembly for turning on or oft power supply of the external power to the first socket assembly. The detecting circuit detects a first power value of the first socket assembly. A second power value of the first socket assembly is detected after detecting the first power value. The controller read the first and second power value. A first signal is received by the sensor for transmitting to the controller. The controller turns on or off the first switch according to the first signal, the first and second power value. A controlling method of the power outlet device is further provided.

Abstract: Methods for detecting a hydrogen leak and quantifying a rate of the same in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack are provided, as well as a fuel cell diagnostic apparatus that diagnoses a hydrogen leak in a fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A system includes a converter configured to be coupled between an energy storage unit and a grid and a control circuit configured to detect frequency and voltage variations of the grid and to responsively cause the converter to transfer power and reactive components to and/or from the grid. The control circuit may implement a power control loop having an inner frequency control loop and a reactive component control loop having an inner voltage control loop. The control circuit may provide feedforward from the inner frequency control loop to the inner voltage control loop to inhibit reactive component transfer in response to a voltage variation deviation of the grid due to a power transfer between the energy storage unit and the grid.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine-based system includes an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine-based system includes an engine interrupt connected to the engine. The engine interrupt is configured to selectively stop the operation of the engine. The internal combustion engine-based system includes a controller in communication with the engine interrupt. The internal combustion engine-based system includes a carbon monoxide detector in communication with the controller. The controller uses the engine interrupt to stop the operation of the engine when the carbon monoxide detector provides the controller with signals that are representative of a carbon monoxide level proximate the internal combustion engine that together form a trend of building carbon monoxide amounts over a set time interval.

Abstract: A control circuit and method for a voltage converter. The control circuit having a ramp circuit, a reference generating circuit, a comparison circuit and a logic circuit. The ramp circuit generates a ramp signal that decreases from the moment the power switch is turned off and increases from the moment the power switch is turned on. The reference generating circuit generates a reference voltage. The comparison circuit compares the reference voltage with the sum of the feedback voltage and the ramp signal to generate a comparison signal. The logic circuit uses the comparison signal and a clock signal to generate the control signal to control a power switch of the voltage converter.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an electronic device includes providing a III-V substrate having a hexagonal crystal structure and a normal to a growth surface characterized by a misorientation from the <0001> direction of between 0.15° and 0.65°. The method also includes growing a first III-V epitaxial layer coupled to the III-V substrate and growing a second III-V epitaxial layer coupled to the first III-V epitaxial layer. The method further includes forming a first contact in electrical contact with the III-V substrate and forming a second contact in electrical contact with the second III-V epitaxial layer.

Abstract: A load shed module configured to be connected in series between a power supply and a load is disclosed. A separate load shed module is connected in series between each load and the power supply. The load shed module determines the frequency of the voltage supplied from the power supply. Based on the frequency, the load shed module determines if utility power is connected or if a generator is connected. If the generator is connected and the frequency of the voltage goes outside of a desired operating range for a preset time, the load shed module disconnects the load from the power supply. Each load shed module includes a priority setting and reconnects its corresponding load after a predetermined time corresponding to the priority setting.