Abstract: A switchable buck-converter with zero voltage switching capability includes a non-linear inductor having an inductance as a function of a load current to allow for a constant switching frequency operation of the switchable buck-converter.

Abstract: The present application provides a method of calculating DC-DC converter power losses without the requirement for a measurement of input current. The application also describes the use of such a calculation to determine the optimum point for switchover between a single phase mode or dual phase mode in a two phase DC-DC power supply.

Abstract: The present application is directed at methods of controlling power supplies. In particular the present application employs an analog compensator to control the power stage of the power supply with a digital tuner employed to adaptively tune the operation of the analog compensator.

Abstract: The Application is directed at arrangements at which switch mode power converters share a common load. More particularly, the application provides a masterless arrangement in which no single converter controls the operation of the other converters. This is achieved by an arrangement in which each converter attempts to share its current measurement with other converters through an arbitration scheme employed on a data line, with the winning converter providing a defacto current measurement; for example, a maximum or minimum, to the overall arrangement.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for express voting. In some example embodiments, there is provided a method for express voting. The method may include authenticating a voter based on a token carried by a user equipment, the token mapped to at least one of an identity of the voter, a precinct of the voter, and a ballot for the voter; and providing, when the authenticating indicates the voter is authorized to vote, the ballot presented on the user equipment. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present application provides an adaptive control system for controlling a plant in particular a DC-DC power converter. The control system has two controllers of differing characteristics. The output of the individual controllers H0 and H1 are combined together to provide a combined control signal H to the plant, where H=?H1+(1??)H0 and where the adaptive control system is tuned by adjusting the value of ? between 0 and 1 to find an optimum control position.

Abstract: A bird decoy, such as the kind used for hunting, includes a body and head representative of the type of bird (e.g., goose, duck, turkey, etc.) being decoyed. The head is removably attached to a body. A wind rotation mechanism is inserted into the ground to support the decoy. The wind rotation mechanism can be attached to the head of the decoy and can include a shaft rotatably inserted into a tube. A tether can connect the decoy to a stake in the ground to constrain movement of the decoy. A set of such decoys includes a plurality of decoy bodies nested together in a stack.

Abstract: The present application provides a tunable compensator providing a control signal to control a switch in a power supply. A measurement is taken of the level of activity of the control signal. This measurement is used to introduce a bias into a tuner tuning the compensator when the amount of activity in the control signal drops.

Abstract: The present application is directed at methods of controlling power supplies. In particular the present application employs an analog compensator to control the power stage of the power supply with a digital tuner employed to adaptively tune the operation of the analog compensator.

Abstract: The present application provides a method of calculating DC-DC converter power losses without the requirement for a measurement of input current. The application also describes the use of such a calculation to determine the optimum point for switchover between a single phase mode or dual phase mode in a two phase DC-DC power supply.

Abstract: The Application is directed at arrangements at which switch mode power converters share a common load. More particularly, the application provides a masterless arrangement in which no single converter controls the operation of the other converters. This is achieved by an arrangement in which each converter attempts to share its current measurement with other converters through an arbitration scheme employed on a data line, with the winning converter providing a defacto current measurement; for example, a maximum or minimum, to the overall arrangement.

Abstract: A method of passive current balancing for digital control of multiphase DC-DC converters is provided based upon the duty-cycle matching principle. Current balance is achieved by inserting a digital filter into the control path. Being sensorless, it is insensitive to current measurement inaccuracies caused by noise, component value tolerance or variation. It will be shown that effective current balancing can be achieved via some simple modifications to standard voltage mode control laws, allowing current balancing to be achieved with minor additional complexity. The current share scheme has been shown to perform well dynamically, matching currents cycle by cycle during load steps, and clearly benefiting from the absence of the slow current share loop popular in traditional methods. The current share filter proposed, blends well with existing digital controllers. Given the very low complexity in implementing the filter, the degree of matching achieved is exceptional.

Abstract: In assisting migration of data processing resources from a first operating environment to a second operating environment, a migration controller responds to a problem encountered during a migration process by invoking a network-based service to discover migration resources. A service provider makes migration resources available via the network-based service. The migration controller can obtain the latest migration rules and use them to resolve certain migration problems. The cooperation between the migration controller and network-based service can be automated to reduce reliance on manual updating of installed computer programs.

Abstract: A method of determining the state of a cable including at least one electrical conductor, uses a generated test signal and applies it to at least one conductor by a non-contact coupling transmitter. The resulting signal is propagated along the at least one conductor and a non-contact electrical coupling receiver picks up a reflected signal, and compares the reflected signal to expected state signal values for the cable to determine its current state.

Abstract: A method of passive current balancing for digital control of multiphase DC-DC converters is provided based upon the duty-cycle matching principle. Current balance is achieved by inserting a digital filter into the control path. Being sensorless, it is insensitive to current measurement inaccuracies caused by noise, component value tolerance or variation. It will be shown that effective current balancing can be achieved via some simple modifications to standard voltage mode control laws, allowing current balancing to be achieved with minor additional complexity. The current share scheme has been shown to perform well dynamically, matching currents cycle by cycle during load steps, and clearly benefiting from the absence of the slow current share loop popular in traditional methods. The current share filter proposed, blends well with existing digital controllers. Given the very low complexity in implementing the filter, the degree of matching achieved is exceptional.

Abstract: The present application provides an adaptive control system for controlling a plant in particular a DC-DC power converter. The control system has two controllers of differing characteristics. The output of the individual controllers H0 and H1 are combined together to provide a combined control signal H to the plant, where H=?H1+(1??)H0 and where the adaptive control system is tuned by adjusting the value of ? between 0 and 1 to find an optimum control position.

Abstract: A method of determining the state of a cable comprising at least one electrical conductor, uses a generated test signal and applies it to at least one conductor by a non-contact coupling transmitter. The resulting signal is propagated along the at least one conductor and a non-contact electrical coupling receiver picks up a reflected signal, and compares the reflected signal to expected state signal values for the cable to determine its current state.

Abstract: In assisting migration of data processing resources from a first operating environment to a second operating environment, a migration controller responds to a problem encountered during a migration process by invoking a network-based service to discover migration resources. A service provider makes migration resources available via the network-based service. The migration controller can obtain the latest migration rules and use them to resolve certain migration problems. The cooperation between the migration controller and network-based service can be automated to reduce reliance on manual updating of installed computer programs.

Abstract: Apparatus for drying a gas comprises an elongate housing having an inlet port and an outlet port for the gas. The housing comprises at least two axially separable parts which can be separated to allow access to the interior of the housing. A cartridge contains an adsorbent material through which gas can flow axially from an inlet end which is in fluid communication with the inlet port to the housing towards an outlet end which is in fluid communication with the outlet port from the housing. The cartridge has a plurality of flexible vanes at the inlet end which, when the cartridge is located within the housing, are twisted so that gas flowing over the vanes has a circumferential flow imparted to it around the axis of the cartridge.

Abstract: An adaptive control system is described. The system includes a control having a plurality of control parameters, the control parameters providing for control of an associated plant. The control parameters are tuned using a prediction error filter, the prediction error filter selecting values of the control parameters that minimise the values of a prediction error between actual and predicted values of an autoregressive process.