Abstract: Various implementations are directed to a method for detecting, by a device, an increase in temperature at certain parts of an electrical system, and taking appropriate responsive action. The method may include measuring temperatures at certain locations within the system and estimating temperatures at other locations based on the measurements. Some embodiments include an integrated cable combining electrical conduction and heat-detection capabilities, or an integrated cable or connector combining electrical conduction with a thermal fuse.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for melting snow from a surface of a power source. The power source may be a photovoltaic (PV) module.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for a versatile UPS. The versatile UPS is operative to provide power to a load and to an interconnected network for delivering electricity from producers to consumers (i.e., an electricity grid, or simply, “a grid”). The versatile UPS has a plurality of switches providing for a multiplicity of switching states. The output to the load, the grid, or both is dependent, at least in part, on the switching states. Related systems, methods and apparatus is also described.

Abstract: A vehicle having a motor with a transmission, provided with a fixed gear ratio, to a propelling unit includes a virtual gearbox including a microprocessor, operatively interfaced with the motor and programmed to manage and check the generation of motor driving torque, limiting, at the motor output, a maximum angular velocity and a maximum torque which are variable with a predetermined law.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a first switch leg connected between a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may also include a second switch leg connected between a second input terminal and the first output terminal, the second switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may further include a third switch leg connected between an input voltage midpoint and the first output terminal. A control circuit may control the first switch leg, the second switch leg and the third switch leg.

Abstract: A capacitor manufacturing method is disclosed herein that includes a process for the isolation of electrode tabs attached to the capacitors' electrodes from other elements in the capacitor. An isolation patch or layer may be deposited over the tabs by a machine or a device after the tab is attached and before the electrodes are wound into a cylindrical internal element of a capacitor. The device may coat the tabs and surrounding regions with an isolating material. Electrode tabs may be provided with an isolating material pre-deposited at least in part over the tabs.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a signal transformer coupled to a power line and a signal transmission, reception, or detection circuit. A sensor is configured to be responsive to the power line current or magnetic flux generated in a ferrite core of the signal transformer. When the sensor indicates that the flux generated by the power line current mat cause an attenuation of the signal strength, a second circuit generates a current through a flux cancelling winding that cancels at least some of the flux generated by the power line current.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for discharging an input voltage by utilizing discharge circuitry configured to produce a relatively constant discharge voltage value/output voltage, a relatively constant discharge current value/output current, or a relatively constant discharge power value/output power. The discharge circuitry may include at least one power device, such as a DC to DC converter.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first leg having a plurality of transistors connected in series between a first node and a second node. Each of the plurality of transistors includes a respective body diode. The apparatus further includes a second leg connected between the first node and the second node and in parallel to the series connection of the plurality of transistors of the first leg. The second leg includes a first transistor. The second leg has lower reverse recovery losses relative to the first leg.

Abstract: A junction box used for making electrical connections to a photovoltaic panel. The junction box has two chambers including a first chamber and a second chamber and a wall common to and separating both chambers. The wall may be adapted to have an electrical connection therethrough. The two lids are adapted to seal respectively the two chambers. The two lids are on opposite sides of the junction box relative to the photovoltaic panel. The two lids may be attachable using different sealing processes to a different level of hermeticity. The first chamber may be adapted to receive a circuit board for electrical power conversion. The junction box may include supports for mounting a printed circuit board in the first chamber. The second chamber is configured for electrical connection to the photovoltaic panel. A metal heat sink may be bonded inside the first chamber.

Abstract: A distributed power system wherein a plurality of power converters are connected in parallel and share the power conversion load according to a prescribed function, but each power converter autonomously determines its share of power conversion. Each power converter operates according to its own power conversion formula/function, such that overall the parallel-connected converters share the power conversion load in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: A method for maintaining reliability of a distributed power system including a power converter having input terminals and output terminals. Input power is received at the input terminals. The input power is converted to an output power at the output terminals. A temperature is measured in or in the environment of the power converter. The power conversion of the input power to the output power may be controlled to maximize the input power by setting at the input terminals the input voltage or the input current according to predetermined criteria. One of the predetermined criteria is configured to reduce the input power based on the temperature signal responsive to the temperature. The adjustment of input power reduces the input voltage and/or input current thereby lowering the temperature of the power converter.

Abstract: A driver for improving reliability of a switch in a power device, comprising one or more sensors configured to sense an operational parameter of a power device. The driver comprises a controller configured to receive one or more sensor values from the respective sensors. The controller is configured to adjust a driving pulse according to the sensor values. The controller is configured to apply the driving pulse to one or more control terminal of one or more switch of the power device.

Abstract: A system and method for digital management and control of power conversion from battery cells. The system utilizes a power management and conversion module that uses a CPU to maintain a high power conversion efficiency over a wide range of loads and to manage charge and discharge operation of the battery cells. The power management and conversion module includes the CPU, a current sense unit, a charge/discharge unit, a DC-to-DC conversion unit, a battery protection unit, a fuel gauge and an internal DC regulation unit. Through intelligent power conversion and charge/discharge operations, a given battery type is given the ability to emulate other battery types by conversion of the output voltage of the battery and adaptation of the charging scheme to suit the battery.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for efficient operation of a switch arrangement are described. Selectively operating one of a plurality of parallel-connected switches at different times along a period of a periodic waveform may allow for improved efficiency, uniform loss-spreading, and enhanced thermal design of an electronic circuit including use of power switches.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to systems, apparatuses and methods for operating stand-alone power systems. The systems may include power generators (e.g., photovoltaic generators and/or wind turbines), storage devices (e.g., batteries and/or flywheels), power modules (e.g., power converters) and loads. The methods may include various methods for monitoring, determining, controlling and/or predicting system power generation, system power storage and system power consumption.

Abstract: A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.

Abstract: A solar array power generation system includes a solar array electrically connected to a control system. The solar array has a plurality of solar modules, each module having at least one DC/DC converter for converting the raw panel output to an optimized high voltage, low current output. In a further embodiment, each DC/DC converter requires a signal to enable power output of the solar modules.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a method for detecting, by a device, an increase in temperature at certain parts of an electrical system, and taking appropriate responsive action. The method may include measuring temperatures at certain locations within the system and estimating temperatures at other locations based on the measurements. Some embodiments disclosed herein include an integrated cable combining electrical conduction and heat-detection capabilities, or an integrated cable or connector combining electrical conduction with a thermal fuse.

Abstract: A fully isolated drive circuit to be used for regulating an output voltage across a load. The isolated drive circuit may charge, discharge, or preserve the load charge using a controller that controls one or more switches. The controller may operate a switch according to an internal/external clock or an external control signal received by the controller. The isolated drive circuit may be an effective solution to simplify the drive design and decrease the amount of energy dissipated by the drive, especially when the load, associated with the drive, requires a high input voltage level.