Abstract: A multi-energy storage device system includes an electric drive coupled to a load, a DC link coupled to the electric drive, and a bi-directional voltage converter having an output channel coupled to the DC link and an input channel. A first energy storage device (ESD) is coupled to the input channel, and a switch is coupled to the DC link and to a second ESD. A system controller causes the switch to couple the second ESD to the DC link for delivering energy stored in the second ESD to the electric drive. The system controller also causes the voltage converter to convert a voltage of the first ESD to a higher voltage and to deliver the higher voltage to the DC link, wherein the higher voltage is greater than the voltage of the second ESD and causes the switch to decouple the second ESD from the DC link.

Abstract: A magnetic flux pad for receiving or generating magnetic flux. The pad includes two pole areas (11, 12) associated with a magnetically permeable core 14. Coils 17 define the pole areas. The pad allows useable flux to be generated at a significant height above a surface of the pad.

Abstract: A photovoltaic power plant includes a photovoltaic inverter that converts direct current generated by solar cells to alternating current. The output of the photovoltaic inverter is provided to a point of interconnection to a power grid. A meter at the point of interconnection may be read to detect the output of the photovoltaic inverter at the power grid. The photovoltaic power plant includes a plant controller with a state machine. The plant controller is configured to adjust setpoints of the photovoltaic inverter to control the output of the photovoltaic power plant. The plant controller is also configured to soft start and soft stop automatic voltage regulation (AVR) of the photovoltaic power plant to prevent perturbing the AVR.

Abstract: A method of delivering electrical energy to a point in an electrical power grid, including accessing a source of energy at a first location and converting the energy into a form of transportable energy. The next step is transporting the transportable energy via a bulk transportation network from the first location to the point on said electrical power grid at a second location having a need for additional electrical power without the transportable energy going through the electrical power grid to get to the point. The next step is converting the form of transportable energy into electrical energy suitable for connecting to the power grid and discharging the electrical energy into the power grid at the second location. A system for delivering electrical energy is also provided. The transportable energy preferably takes the form of charged electrolytes, compressed air or thermal storage units, transported, for example, by way of trains.

Abstract: The present invention may be embodied as an uninterruptible power supply comprising an input section, an output section, an inverter section, and a transformer. The transformer is operatively connected to the input section, the output section, and the inverter section. The uninterruptible power supply operates in a line mode and in a standby mode. In the standby mode, the output section generates an output power signal from a standby signal generated by the inverter section based on the alternative power source and at least one inverter control signal. When the uninterruptible power supply operates in the standby mode, the at least one inverter control signal is pulse-width modulated during at least a first portion of a cycle of the output power signal and not pulse-width modulated during at least a second portion of the cycle of the output power signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the inductive transfer of electric energy from a stationary unit comprising at least one primary inductance to a vehicle that is adjacent to said unit and has at least one second inductance. The stationary unit or the vehicle has a device for detecting the presence of an object in a predetermined area that covers at least the area lying between the primary inductance and the second inductance during the inductive energy transfer. The detection device has at least one contactless sensor and an evaluation unit that is connected to the sensor. At least the sensor of the detection device is integrated into or mounted on the same housing as the primary or secondary coil of the energy transfer device. The sensor can be an ultrasonic sensor, radar sensor, infra-red sensor or an electric image sensor.

Abstract: A remote control for a wireless load control system, the remote control comprising: a housing having a front surface and an outer periphery defined by a length and a width; an actuator provided at the front surface of the housing; a wireless transmitter contained within the housing; and a controller contained within the housing and coupled to the wireless transmitter for causing transmission of a wireless signal in response to an actuation of the actuator, the wireless transmitter and the controller adapted to be powered by a battery contained within the housing; wherein the length and the width of the housing are slightly smaller than a length and a width of a standard opening of a faceplate, respectively, such that the outer periphery of the housing is adapted to be received within the standard opening of the faceplate when the housing and the faceplate are mounted to a vertical surface.

Abstract: A method for power distribution management includes receiving data specifying a group of Power Distribution Units (PDUs) from which an electronic device powered by at least one of the group of PDUs draws power; and automatically determining whether the electronic device is redundantly powered.

Abstract: A starter circuit includes a battery, a starter electrically coupled with the battery, a relay disposed between the battery and the starter, and a starter switch mounted remotely from the starter. The starter includes a switch assembly and a starter motor. The switch assembly includes an actuator and a start signal switch. The relay is configured to operate to provide current to the switch assembly to close the start signal switch in response to a received signal. The starter switch closes in response to the start signal switch being closed, whereby the battery delivers current to the starter motor when the starter switch is closed. A starter unit is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to: an electrical-power-feed connector connecting an electrical power source and an electrical-power-fed object, the electrical-power-feed connector having a configuration to form a signal path as a closed system, the signal path being to transmit a signal between the electrical-power-feed connector and the electrical power source, the signal having a value to vary depending on: an electrical connection status of the electrical-power-feed connector with the electrical power source, and an instruction to allow feeding of electrical power from the electrical power source to the electrical-power-fed object; and an electrical power source being feedable electrical power to an electrical-power-fed object by being connected with the electrical-power-fed object via the electrical-power-feed connector, the electrical power source having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the electrical-power-feed connector.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a circuit for providing redundant power includes a first channel having a first input, a first electronic circuit breaker, and a first output, a second channel having a second input, a second electronic circuit breaker, and a second output, and a first transistor coupled to the first electronic circuit breaker, the first transistor in series with a second transistor coupled to the second channel. The circuit normally operates by providing power to the first and second outputs from the first and second channels, respectively. However, if the first channel fails, the transistors switch on to allow power from the second channel to feed the first output in the first channel in addition to feeding power to the second output, and vice versa. Other embodiments and methods for providing redundant power are described as well.

Abstract: An indoor unit of an air conditioner includes a relay K2R switched by an indoor control circuit between an on state in which the relay K2R connects signal and power lines and an off state in which the relay K2R disconnects the signal and power lines. An outdoor unit of the air conditioner includes a relay K13R switched by an outdoor control circuit between an on state in which the relay K13R connects the outdoor control circuit to the AC power supply and an off state in which the relay K13R connects the outdoor control circuit to the signal line. The relay K2R is switched to the on state with the relay K13R in the off state. When the outdoor control circuit is started, the relay K13R is switched to the on state, and then the relay K2R is switched to the off state, thereby starting the outdoor unit.

Abstract: In an air conditioner, an auxiliary circuit configured to prevent a current flow in a power supply wiring in an operation stop period and to determine whether to adapt an outdoor unit to a unit that is able to transition to a standby mode, is provided on the power supply wiring.

Abstract: A load control device includes: a main switching unit which has a main switch element connected in series to an AC power source and a load and controls the supply of power to the load; a manipulation switch that outputs a start-up signal for starting at least the load; a control unit which controls the opening and closing of the main switching unit; a first power source unit supplying a stable voltage to the control unit; and a second and a third power source unit each supplying power to the first power source unit. The load control device is characterized in that upon receiving the start-up signal, the control unit outputs an initial drive signal, for closing the main switch element, to the main switching unit before a power source supplying power to the first power source unit is switched from the second to the third power source unit.

Abstract: An appliance's control and sensing circuit selectively applies AC electrical power to a load (72). The circuit includes a relay (44) having contacts (52) connected in series between an AC power source and the load (72). When energized, the relay's electromagnetic coil (54) changes the contacts (52) to supplying electrical power to the load (72) or conversely. The control and sensing circuit measures AC voltage induced in the coil (54) by an alternating magnetic field produced by AC electrical current supplied to the load (72) through the relay's contacts (52). A microcontroller (46) included in the control and sensing circuit: 1. measures the AC voltage produced by the coil (54); 2. compensates the measured voltage for inductive coupling between the AC current flowing through the contacts (52) and the coil (54); and 3. determines various characteristics of the AC power supplied to the load (72).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a load management controller for a household electrical installation comprising a pair of electricity supplies, a grid supply and a micro-generator supply, providing electricity to a plurality if sub-circuits. The household electrical installation has means to monitor the amount of electricity being supplied by the micro-generator supply and the amount of electricity being consumed in the household. The load management controller has means to access and use that information to control the supply of electricity to an energy storage sub-circuit to route surplus electricity supplied by the micro-generator to the energy storage sub-circuit. Furthermore, the load management controller can communicate with a remote electricity supplier to control the loads in the household to achieve better grid management and efficiency.

Abstract: In an electric vehicle in which a high voltage battery supplying electric power to an electric motor generating power to drive a drive wheel and a low voltage battery supplying electric power to an accessory are mounted in a vehicle body, a breaker (62) is provided in a circuit (74) of a high power system linked to the high voltage battery (36); manual connection-disconnection means (71) for allowing switching between connection and disconnection of a circuit (75) of a low power system linked to the low voltage battery (40) to be performed by a manual operation is provided in the circuit (75) of the low power system; a relay switch (63, 64) which is capable of performing switching between connection and disconnection of the circuit (74) of the high power system by being supplied with electric power from the circuit (75) of the low power system, and which interrupts the circuit (74) of the high power system when the circuit (75) of the low power system is interrupted is provided on the circuit (74) of the high

Abstract: In a plug-in operation, a first winding which functions as an armature winding for supplying an R-phase current of a three-phase rotary electric machine, a third winding, and a second winding are connected respectively to terminals for supplying R-phase, S-phase, and T-phase currents of a three-phase power source. Thus, the S-phase current and the T-phase current are interchanged as compared with in a normal operation. Thereby, reverse rotation of a field element is intentionally caused. A reverse-rotation prevention mechanism is provided in the field element.

Abstract: A power transfer device for connecting an electrical load to a power supply is disclosed. The power transfer device monitors the operating status of the power supply. Upon loss of power at the power supply, the power transfer device opens a switch between the power supply and the electrical load. When power is restored, the power transfer device executes a delay time module. After the delay time module has timed out, the power transfer device closes the switch to reconnect the power supply and the electrical load. Power transfer devices may be supplied to each of multiple loads connected to a power supply. By setting the time delay period of each power transfer device to a different duration, the electrical transients resulting from reconnecting all of the electrical loads to the power supply are reduced.

Abstract: A data storage device (DSD) is disclosed comprising a non-volatile memory (NVM), and control circuitry comprising a first voltage regulator having a first output operable to generate a first current, and a second voltage regulator having a second output operable to generate a second current. When in an independent mode, the first current is operable to supply a first load independent of the second current, and the second current is operable to supply a second load independent of the first current. When in a parallel mode, the second output is coupled to the first output in order to increase the first current supplied to the first load and decrease the second current supplied to the second load.