Abstract: An apparatus for moving a battery relative to a shelf unit includes: (a) a motion generating unit presenting a first force in a first motion type at a first output locus; (b) a motion translating unit receiving the first force and translating the first force to present a second force related to the first force in a second motion type at a second output locus; (c) a battery engaging structure coupled with the second output locus for applying the second force to the battery; and (d) a substantially rigid frame supporting the motion generating unit and the motion translating unit and cooperating with the shelf unit to substantially fixedly situate the frame during the moving. The moving is effected in a generally vertical axis in response to the second force.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a transient suppressor, a method of suppressing a peak voltage associated with a rectifier, and a power converter employing the same. In one embodiment, the transient suppressor includes a saturable reactor circuit interposed between a rectifier and a transformer winding. The transient suppressor also includes a RC circuit, coupled between the rectifier and the saturable reactor circuit and across the transformer winding, configured to cooperate with the saturable reactor circuit to suppress a peak voltage associated with the rectifier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a PWB for attaching electrical components thereto. The PWB includes a stack of insulating layers, conductive layers located between the insulating layers, wherein the conductive layers terminate at an edge of the PWB, and an edge plate interconnect located on the edge. The edge plate interconnect is free of a complementary via and contacts and electrically interconnects the conductive layers. The present invention also provides a method of making the PWB and also provides a power converter implementing the edge plate interconnects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reconfigurable power distribution panel, a power distribution system, a method for reconfiguring a power distribution panel, and a method for manufacturing a reconfigurable power distribution panel. The reconfigurable distribution panel, among other elements, may include a first bus bar having a first plurality of contact points thereon and a plurality of circuit protection locations associated therewith and a second bus bar located proximate the first bus bar and having a second plurality of contact points thereon, the second plurality of contact points having the same plurality of circuit protection locations associated therewith.

Abstract: A vector controller for a polyphase synchronous rectifier, a method of vector-controlling a polyphase synchronous rectifier, and a synchronous rectifier incorporating the vector controller or the method. In one embodiment, the vector controller includes: (1) an input line voltage detector configured to detect voltages on at least two rectifier input lines and produce therefrom a neutral excursion vector and (2) a neutral excursion compensator, coupled to said input line voltage detector, that applies said neutral excursion vector to a partially compensated drive vector to yield an excursion-compensated drive vector suitable for generation of excursion-compensated pulse-width modulated drive signals for said synchronous rectifier.

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: The present invention provides a support mechanism for holding a component in a component rack, a method of manufacture therefor, and a rack of components. The support mechanism, among other elements, may include a shelf configured to hold a component, the shelf having a sidewall with at least two slots therein extending from the sidewall and the shelf. The support mechanism may further included a mounting flange coupleable to the shelf, the mounting flange having at least two tabs configured to engage the at least two slots.

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: The present invention provides a neutral point controller for use with a three level rectifier. In one embodiment, the neutral point controller includes a primary drive circuit configured to provide primary drive signals for the three level rectifier thereby establishing output voltages having a common neutral point. Additionally, the neutral point controller also includes a current balancing compensator coupled to the primary drive circuit and configured to maintain the common neutral point within a predefined voltage by adjusting the primary drive signals based on a current balancing feedback signal. In an alternative embodiment, the neutral point controller further includes a duty cycle compensator coupled to the current balancing compensator and configured to maintain the common neutral point within the predefined voltage by adjusting the primary drive signals based on a direct balancing pulse width modulation signal.

Abstract: A controller for, and related method of, controlling first and second alternately conducting switches of a power converter. In one embodiment, the controller includes a sensing circuit configured to sense a parameter representative of an input voltage of the power converter. The controller also includes a modification circuit configured to alter a drive signal to one of the first and second switches thereby modifying a delay between conduction intervals of the first and second switches as a function of the input voltage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transition-isolating drive circuit for a synchronous rectifier. In one embodiment, the transition-isolating drive circuit includes drive switches coupled to a transformer winding and configured to provide drive signals for the synchronous rectifier. Additionally, the transition-isolating drive circuit also includes a conduction-inhibiting circuit, coupled to the drive switches, that increases a turn-off voltage of the drive signals to a predetermined level.

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.

Abstract: For use with a power converter shelf having a rear wall, a floating power connector mount and a power converter rack incorporating the power connector mount. In one embodiment, the power connector mount includes a float housing having a recess therein configured to receive and capture a flange of a standards-based power connector between the float housing and the rear wall, the standards-based power connector enabled to float or move freely within the recess.

Abstract: A controller for use with a current-controlled frequency-modulated power factor corrector having a power switch therein, and a method of regulating the same. In one embodiment, the controller includes a sensing circuit configured to detect a sense current that is representative of an input current to the power factor corrector. The controller also includes a frequency modulation circuit, coupled to the sensing circuit, configured to provide a signal that causes at least one of: (a) an increase of a switching frequency of the power switch when the input current increases, and (b) a decrease of the switching frequency of the power switch when the input current decreases.

Abstract: A multiple output converter, and related method of operation thereof, that includes a primary output and at least one auxiliary output. In one embodiment, the multiple output converter includes a transformer having a primary winding and at least one secondary winding. The multiple output converter also includes a switch, coupled to the primary winding, that impresses an input voltage across the transformer. A first output voltage of the multiple output converter is produced at the primary output via a magnetizing inductance associated with the transformer. The multiple output converter still further includes an output inductor coupled to the at least one secondary winding. A second output voltage of the multiple output converter is produced at the auxiliary output via the output inductor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a PWB having a heat sink connected to the internal circuits of the PWB that allows for heat dissipation from those internal circuits. In one aspect, the PWB includes at least two insulating layers that are coupled together and that have a conductive layer located therebetween. A conductive interconnect is located on an edge of or through the PWB and is thermally coupled to the conductive layer and a heat sink. The conductive layer forms a thermal conductive path from the conductive layer to the heat sink and thereby allows for heat to be dissipated from within an internal portion of the PWB.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reserve time calculator for use with multiple parallel-connected battery string types. In one embodiment, the reserve time calculator includes a load current estimator configured to employ coefficients corresponding to discharge characteristics of at least two of the multiple parallel-connected battery string types and a reserve time estimate to provide a load current estimate. Additionally, the reserve time calculator also includes a load current adjustor coupled to the load current estimator and configured to adjust the load current estimate to within an acceptable error of an actual load current and provide an adjusted reserve time based thereon.

Abstract: A system for, and method of, increasing effective pulse-width modulated (PWM) drive signal resolution and a power converter incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a duty cycle calculator configured to calculate a theoretical duty cycle for a PWM drive signal to be provided to an associated power converter based on at least one operating condition thereof, the theoretical duty cycle not a member of a pre-established set of allowable duty cycles and (2) a duty cycle approximator coupled to the duty cycle calculator and configured to generate a sequence of members of the set of allowable duty cycles, wherein the sequence at least approximately averages to the theoretical duty cycle.

Abstract: Converter modules for providing and receiving electric power through a single telephone wire-pair and related systems and methods. In one embodiment, a converter module for providing electric power to a single telephone wire-pair includes: (1) a DC/DC boost converter configured to receive input power from an existing power supply and an existing distribution bus at a central office and further configured to provide output power to the single wire-pair and (2) a current-limiting converter controller coupled to the DC/DC boost converter and configured to limit a current output of the DC/DC boost converter to the single wire-pair.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transition-isolating drive circuit for a synchronous rectifier. In one embodiment, the transition-isolating drive circuit includes drive switches coupled to a transformer winding and configured to provide drive signals for the synchronous rectifier. Additionally, the transition-isolating drive circuit also includes a conduction-inhibiting circuit, coupled to the drive switches, that increases a turn-off voltage of the drive signals to a predetermined level.