Abstract: A method includes applying an excitation including a voltage step to a resonant tank comprising a first coil and a capacitor, comparing a damped sinusoidal waveform having a resonant attenuation envelope with a predetermined threshold voltage and detecting a last time instant at which a value of the damped sinusoidal waveform is equal to the predetermined threshold voltage, calculating a quality factor of the resonant tank based on a plurality of parameters derived from the last time instant, and determining whether a foreign object is magnetically coupled to the first coil based on the quality factor.

Abstract: Aircraft power distribution systems and methods for regulating a system voltage in aircraft power distribution systems are described. An example system includes a first generator, a first power feeder, a second power feeder, a first load, a second load, and a plurality of contactors. The first power feeder and the second power feeder are coupled in parallel between the first generator and a power panel. The first load is coupled to the first power feeder, and the second load is coupled to the second power feeder. The plurality of contactors is configurable to transfer power in a first direction from the first generator to both the first load and the second load during a first mode of operation, and configurable to transfer power in a second direction from the power panel to the first load or the second load during a second mode of operation.

Abstract: A vehicular battery control device controls an electric storage amount of a battery as which a lithium-ion battery is employed. The vehicular battery control device includes a control unit that reduces the electric storage amount of the battery until the electric storage amount of the battery assumes a second state, before the lapse of a first time, when the electric storage amount of the battery assumes a first state and it is predicted that a charge current will flow in the first time. The first state is a state where lithium metal is precipitated by charging the battery with a predetermined amount of electric power, and the second state is a state where no lithium metal is precipitated even when the charge current flows through the battery.

Abstract: A small cell networking device mountable to a streetlight fixture includes circuitry for converting alternating current power into direct current (DC) power and providing a digitally stable ground for operation of the small cell device. The circuitry includes a transformer isolating a primary side from a secondary side of the circuitry. A switching controller on the primary side directs a switching circuit to selectively permit current flow through a primary side of the transformer to a first ground node on the primary side. A secondary winding of the transformer sources a rectified DC output relative to a second ground node that is isolated from the first ground node. In some cases, compensation on the secondary winding side provides isolated feedback to the controller, such as via an optical isolator. The controller directs the switching circuit based at least on the feedback and input from an auxiliary winding of the transformer.

Abstract: A method of operating an aircraft electrical power distribution system comprises determining a measure of ambient pressure; and setting a target operating voltage in accordance with the measure of ambient pressure. The method further comprises controlling the operating voltage in accordance with the set target operating voltage. The target operating voltage may refer to a distribution voltage of the aircraft. An aircraft electrical power distribution system is also disclosed, comprising: a sensor configured to determine a measure of ambient pressure; a controller configured to set a target operating voltage in accordance with the measure of ambient pressure, and a voltage regulator configured to regulate the operating voltage in accordance with the set target value.

Abstract: An operation method for a backup power supply of an electronic system is provided. The backup power supply includes a fuse. The operation method includes: estimating a reading voltage error and a resistance of the fuse; reading a real-time battery discharging current; reading and calculating a voltage difference between two terminals of the fuse; and determining whether to send a fuse replacement message to the electronic system according to the voltage difference between the two terminals of the fuse, the reading voltage error, the resistance of the fuse and the real-time battery discharging current.

Abstract: A resonant transformer connected between a ground terminal and elevated terminal draws current from the earth's electric field through a primary winding of the transformer. An impulse generator applies a high voltage impulse to the primary winding of the resonant transformer to cause current to flow from the ground terminal through the primary winding. The flow of current through the primary winding of the resonant transformer induces a current in the secondary winding, which may be converted and filtered to a usable form, e.g. 60 Hz AC or DC.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first electrical component, a second electrical component, and a brake line. At least part of an electrical connection between the first electrical component and the second electrical component is defined by the brake line. The electrical connection may be a secondary electrical connection for rerouting an electrical path. The brake line may include first and second tubular conductive structures for defining first and second electrical connections. A repeater may be used to retransmit a data signal along the brake line. A nonconductive layer may be disposed on a tubular conductive structure of the brake line. A controller may switch operation of the brake line between an electrical power transmission mode and a data signal transmission mode. A controller may be operable determine a connected state or a disconnected state of the brake using the electrical connection.

Abstract: An apparatus attachable to a luminaire includes circuitry for converting alternating current power into direct current (DC) power and providing a digitally stable ground for operation of a processor-based device. The circuitry includes a transformer isolating a primary side from a secondary side of the circuitry. A switching controller (e.g., a pulse width modulation controller) on the primary side directs a switching circuit to selectively permit current flow through a primary side of the transformer to a first ground node. A secondary winding of the transformer sources a rectified DC output relative to a second ground node that is isolated from the first ground node. In some cases, compensation on the secondary winding side provides isolated feedback to the controller, such as via an optical isolator. The controller directs the switching circuit based at least partially on the feedback and input from an auxiliary winding of the transformer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for use in tuning reactance are described. Open loop and closed loop control for tuning of reactances are also described. Tunable inductors and/or tunable capacitors may be used in filters, resonant circuits, matching networks, and phase shifters. Ability to control inductance and/or capacitance in a circuit leads to flexibility in operation of the circuit, since the circuit may be tuned to operate under a range of different operating frequencies.

Abstract: A wireless power system has a wireless power transmitting device and a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power transmitting device may be a wireless charging mat or other device with one or more wireless power transmitting coils for transmitting wireless power signals. The wireless power receiving device may be a portable electronic device with one or more wireless power receiving coils for receiving the transmitted wireless power signals. The wireless power transmitting device may have foreign object detection coils. Q-factor measurements may be made on the transmitting coil during wireless power transmission and/or voltage measurements may be made using the foreign object detection coils to detect whether a foreign object is present. The foreign object detection coils may include overlapping coils with different winding patterns to enhance foreign object detection coverage.

Abstract: A method for controlling an item of electrical equipment of a motor vehicle including a device for controlling the item of equipment including a microcontroller, which is configured to generate an AC electrical signal for controlling the item of equipment characterized by its duty cycle, and a driver interface that is characterized by a maximum operating temperature threshold beyond which the driver interface is inoperative. The method includes determining the internal temperature of the driver interface, comparing the determined internal temperature with a first predetermined warning threshold and decreasing the duty cycle of the electrical signal when the first warning threshold has been exceeded so as to limit the power of the electrical signal and thus to keep the internal temperature of the driver interface below its maximum operating temperature threshold.

Abstract: A system and method to detect the presence of conductive foreign objects for a multi-coil wireless power system is described. A wireless power receiver resonant circuit quality information may be obtained without any costly hardware or termination of power delivery to the power receiver load. The power receiver free-running coil current or voltage may be measured during a very short time window. In this time window, the measurement may be unaffected by transmitter and receiver load due to the transmitter coil disconnection and because the wireless power receiver has sufficient DC-bus capacitance.

Abstract: An aircraft seat having a voltage supply connection assigned only to the aircraft seat and/or at least one data connection assigned only to the aircraft seat, a voltage supply unit assigned to the aircraft seat and having a voltage input for connection to an on-board voltage network of an aircraft and at least one voltage output, each connected to another of the voltage supply connections. A switching arrangement is assigned only to the aircraft seat and connected between the voltage output and the voltage supply connection and/or between the data connection and a data network. A control unit is assigned only to the aircraft seat and connected to the switching arrangement. An infrared reading device is connected to the control unit and assigned only to the aircraft seat to wirelessly receive infrared signals from an external infrared transmitting device.

Abstract: A method of generating a customized secondary power distribution assembly (SPDA) includes generating one or more customizable SPDAs. Each of the one or more customizable SPDAs is a construct corresponding with a microprocessor configured to control a set of customizable channels in each of a set of virtual line replaceable modules (vLRMs). The method also includes creating a mapping between one of the one or more customizable SPDAs and the customized SPDA, the mapping indicating line replaceable modules (LRMs) of the customized SPDA and defining each channel of each LRM, and deploying the customized SPDA in an application. The microprocessor is initiated to control the customized SPDA according to the mapping at startup.

Abstract: A power supply circuit for powering components of a facility are disclosed. The power supply circuit may include a power transformer, a power input terminal, a power output terminal, a bridge, a relay, and a control circuit. The relay is connected between the power input terminal and the power output terminal. A primary side of the power transformer is coupled between the relay and the power output terminal. The bridge is coupled to the secondary side of the power transformer. In a normal power mode, the control circuit closes the relay and operates the bridge as a rectifier. In an emergency power mode, the control circuit opens the relay and operates the bridge as a pulse width modulator. In this manner, the bridge and the power transformer can be used both to charge a battery during normal operation and generate emergency AC power from the battery.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an onboard charging system of an electric vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may include a controllably conductive device. The apparatus may also include a first wireless communication circuit that may be operable to communicate on a first wireless communication network via a first protocol and the first communication circuit may be in communication with the controller. The apparatus may also include a second communication circuit that may be operable to communicate on a second communication network via a second protocol. The controller may be further operable to control the first wireless communication circuit to communicate configuration data with the first wireless communication network via the first protocol. The controller may also be operable to control the second wireless communication circuit to communicate operational data with the second communication network via the second protocol.

Abstract: Systems and methods integrate advanced solar tracker, battery, inverter, and software technologies to improve performance, plant output, and costs. The systems may incorporate an advanced vanadium flow battery (VFB) that is DC-voltage (DV)-coupled to photovoltaic (PV) arrays for high, round-trip efficiency. The systems incorporate a DC architecture that optimizes performance for commercial, industrial, agricultural, and utility applications. A distributed direct current (DC) power system includes a centralized, single-stage inverter; PV arrays; maximum power point tracking (MPPT) converters coupled between the PV arrays and the centralized, single-stage inverter; batteries; and DC-DC battery converters (DCBCs) coupled to the batteries. The MPPT converters maximize solar power production by the PV arrays and minimize mismatch between the PV arrays.

Abstract: Techniques for improving efficiency of wireless power transfer to shunt-based receiver are provided. In an example, techniques can optimize wireless power transfer by comparing instantaneous peak voltage of a transmit coil of a wireless power transmitter to an average peak voltage of the transmit coil, and then, based on the comparison, adjust a setpoint of the wireless power transmitter to a more efficient level.