Abstract: A wireless sensor system for a vehicle includes a controller, a wireless transmitter in electronic communication with the controller, a sensor, and a generator device. The generator device includes a wireless receiver in wireless communication with the wireless transmitter. The generator device further includes an electric-to-mechanical transducer in electronic communication with the wireless receiver and a piezoelectric or triboelectric generator proximate to or in contact with the electric-to-mechanical transducer. The generator device further includes an energy-storage device. The energy storage device includes an input in electronic communication with the piezoelectric or triboelectric generator, and an output in electronic communication with the sensor.

Abstract: A four-switch buck-boost converter configured to couple to a source battery and a target battery includes an inductor and switches S1, S2, S3, and S4 connected so as to define (i) a buck mode in which the switch S3 is always ON, and the switches S1 and S2 control charging and discharging of the inductor, (ii) a boost mode in which the switch S1 is always ON, and the switches S3 and S4 control the charging and the discharging of the inductor, and (iii) a buck-boost mode in which all of the switches S1, S2, S3, and S4 control the charging and the discharging of the inductor. A controller operates the converter in the buck mode, the boost mode, and the buck-boost mode, when it turns the switch S1 ON at a beginning of a switching cycle, and turns the switch S4 ON at an end of the switching cycle.

Abstract: Inverters that interface dc and ac power sources and loads are provided. An example application is solar power systems, in which a dc source of power is an array of solar panels; the inverter converts the dc power supplied by these panels to ac power that is fed into the utility grid. Another example is battery energy storage; the inverter changes the dc power of the batteries into ac power that is fed into the grid, and also can convert (rectify) ac power from the grid for charging the batteries. In one embodiment, for example, an inverter comprises slow switches that generate a three-level ac voltage, followed by a plurality of fast-switching half-bridges that introduce high-frequency pulse-width modulation into a plurality of ac output voltages.

Abstract: A transformerless bidirectional power converter is provided. The bidirectional power converter, in one implementation, interfaces split-phase ac, such as the 240 V ac commonly available in the United States, to dc terminals for charging and discharging the battery of an electrified vehicle. The bidirectional power converter enables and controls bidirectional power flow, to charge the battery from the ac power and to supply power from the battery to the ac, possibly with variable power factor.

Abstract: A combination and separation apparatus for combining and separating a delivery container and a storage container. The apparatus incudes a storage container station, a delivery container station, a combined station, and a merge/separation station. The merge/separation station is configured to combine the storage container and the delivery container, and or the merge/separation station is configured for separating the storage container and the delivery container.

Abstract: A combination and separation apparatus for combining and separating a delivery container and a storage container, the delivery container being containable within the storage container, the apparatus including a clamping device configured for clamping the delivery container through at a least one cut-out extending through the storage container; a lifting device configured for combining and separating the storage container and the delivery container; and an alignment mechanism configured for aligning the delivery container and the clamping device relative to each other so as to enable the clamping device to clamp the delivery container when the delivery container is nested within the storage container.

Abstract: A charger for an electric vehicle (EV) comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) on which power circuits defining respective phases of a multi-phase power conversion circuit are disposed along a first dimension, a conductive input bus bar mounted on a surface of the PCB and extending along the first dimension, a conductive output bus bar mounted on the surface of the PCB and extending along the first dimension parallel to the input bus bar, an input connector disposed at an end of the input bus bar, configured to receive input power for the plurality of power circuits; and an output connector disposed at an end of the output bus bar, configured to receive output power from the plurality of power circuits. The input bus bar and the output bus bar provide a substantially equal, low-resistance resistance path for current distribution to each of the plurality of power circuits.

Abstract: Controlling a charging current while transferring energy from a source battery to a target battery in an electric vehicle (EV) includes operating, by control circuitry, a buck converter at a fixed switching frequency to transfer power from the source battery to the target battery, in a first operational mode; in response to detecting a first trigger event, transitioning from the first operational mode to a second operational mode to operate the buck converter at a variable switching frequency; and in response to detecting a second trigger event, transitioning to a third operational mode to activate a boost converter coupled to the source battery and the target battery.

Abstract: Inverters that interface dc and ac power sources and loads are provided. An example application is solar power systems, in which a dc source of power is an array of solar panels; the inverter converts the dc power supplied by these panels to ac power that is fed into the utility grid. Another example is battery energy storage; the inverter changes the dc power of the batteries into ac power that is fed into the grid, and also can convert (rectify) ac power from the grid for charging the batteries. In one embodiment, for example, an inverter comprises slow switches that generate a three-level ac voltage, followed by a plurality of fast-switching half-bridges that introduce high-frequency pulse-width modulation into a plurality of ac output voltages.

Abstract: A charger for an electric vehicle includes a battery system; a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) bus configured to connect the charger to an external battery system; a DC-to-DC converter; and a switching component configured to (i) in a first operational state, connect the battery system to the HVDC bus directly so as to provide a parallel electric connection to the external battery system, and (ii) in a second operational state, connect the battery system to the HVDC bus via the DC-to-DC converter to align a voltage across the battery system with a voltage across the HVDC bus

Abstract: Controlling a charging current while transferring energy from a source battery to a target battery in an electric vehicle (EV) includes operating, by control circuitry, a buck converter at a fixed switching frequency to transfer power from the source battery to the target battery, in a first operational mode; in response to detecting a first trigger event, transitioning from the first operational mode to a second operational mode to operate the buck converter at a variable switching frequency; and in response to detecting a second trigger event, transitioning to a third operational mode to activate a boost converter coupled to the source battery and the target battery.

Abstract: Controlling a charging current while transferring energy from a source battery to a target battery in an electric vehicle (EV) includes operating, by control circuitry, a buck converter at a fixed switching frequency to transfer power from the source battery to the target battery, in a first operational mode; in response to detecting a first trigger event, transitioning from the first operational mode to a second operational mode to operate the buck converter at a variable switching frequency; and in response to detecting a second trigger event, transitioning to a third operational mode to activate a boost converter coupled to the source battery and the target battery.

Abstract: Inverters that interface dc and ac power sources and loads are provided. An example application is solar power systems, in which a dc source of power is an array of solar panels; the inverter converts the dc power supplied by these panels to ac power that is fed into the utility grid. Another example is battery energy storage; the inverter changes the dc power of the batteries into ac power that is fed into the grid, and also can convert (rectify) ac power from the grid for charging the batteries. In one embodiment, for example, an inverter comprises slow switches that generate a three-level ac voltage, followed by a plurality of fast-switching half-bridges that introduce high-frequency pulse-width modulation into a plurality of ac output voltages.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed provide electrostatic discharge protection. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a circuit is disclosed having a diode string and a transistor in a cascode configuration that provides electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection and can operate in a mixed voltage environment.

Abstract: Multiplexer circuits are disclosed, such as for example for programmable logic devices. As an example of one embodiment, a multiplexer circuit is disclosed having a default state and a state-locking latch.