Abstract: An electric vehicle charging station detects a property of a charging cable connected to the electric vehicle charging station and determines, based on the detected property, an ampere capacity of the charging cable. The electric vehicle charging station automatically sets a maximum amperage output of the electric vehicle charging station to not exceed the determined ampere capacity of the charging cable.

Abstract: An apparatus in an electric vehicle for controlling an electric vehicle pilot signal level includes proximity detection circuitry for detecting when a proximity switch in an electric vehicle connector is actuated, and pilot level-control circuitry for signaling an electric vehicle supply equipment coupled with the electric vehicle to remove charging voltage from the electric vehicle connector responsive to the proximity detection circuitry detecting that the proximity switch in the electric vehicle connector is actuated.

Abstract: An electric vehicle charging station detects a property of a charging cable connected to the electric vehicle charging station and determines, based on the detected property, an ampere capacity of the charging cable. The electric vehicle charging station automatically sets a maximum amperage output of the electric vehicle charging station to not exceed the determined ampere capacity of the charging cable.

Abstract: An apparatus in an electric vehicle for controlling an electric vehicle pilot signal level includes proximity detection circuitry for detecting when a proximity switch in an electric vehicle connector is actuated, and pilot level-control circuitry for signaling an electric vehicle supply equipment coupled with the electric vehicle to remove charging voltage from the electric vehicle connector responsive to the proximity detection circuitry detecting that the proximity switch in the electric vehicle connector is actuated.

Abstract: A safety supervisory module (SSM) of an electric vehicle charging station that controls flow of current from the electric vehicle charging station to an electric vehicle. The SSM includes a set of two or more processors to control operation of a contactor control circuitry of the SSM to open and close a set of contacts of a set of power supply lines to control flow of current from the charging station to an electric vehicle. Each processor independently determines whether an unsafe condition exists and asserts a relay enable signal to the contactor control circuitry only when an unsafe condition does not exist.

Abstract: A safety supervisory module (SSM) of an electric vehicle charging station that controls flow of current from the electric vehicle charging station to an electric vehicle. The SSM includes a set of two or more processors to control operation of a contactor control circuitry of the SSM to open and close a set of contacts of a set of power supply lines to control flow of current from the charging station to an electric vehicle. Each processor independently determines whether an unsafe condition exists and asserts a relay enable signal to the contactor control circuitry only when an unsafe condition does not exist.

Abstract: A method of regulating voltage at an output of a switching power converter, the converter comprising a switch and pulse generation circuitry, the pulse generation circuitry producing one or more drive signals for cycling the switch ON and OFF, wherein if the switch is cycled ON and OFF according to a cycle of a drive signal, power is transferred from a source to a load. The method includes sensing an output voltage feedback signal, comparing the sensed feedback signal to a reference at a determined time during a cycling of the switch, and regulating an output voltage at the load by controlling whether a cycle of one of the drive signals cycles the switch in response to the comparison.

Abstract: A power converter for delivering power from a source to a load includes a switch, pulse generation circuitry producing one or more drive signals for cycling the switch ON and OFF, wherein if the switch is cycled ON and OFF according to a cycle of a drive signal, power is transferred from the source to the load, a comparator for comparing a feedback signal approximating an output voltage at the load to a reference, and a controller coupled to the pulse generation circuitry for controlling which, if any, cycle of a drive signal cycles the switch in response to an output of the comparator.

Abstract: A power converter for delivering power from a source to a load includes a switch, pulse generation circuitry producing one or more drive signals for cycling the switch ON and OFF, wherein if the switch is cycled ON and OFF according to a cycle of a drive signal, power is transferred from the source to the load, a comparator for comparing a feedback signal approximating an output voltage at the load to a reference, and a controller coupled to the pulse generation circuitry for controlling which, if any, cycle of a drive signal cycles the switch in response to an output of the comparator.

Abstract: A method of regulating voltage at an output of a switching power converter, the converter comprising a switch and pulse generation circuitry, the pulse generation circuitry producing one or more drive signals for cycling the switch ON and OFF, wherein if the switch is cycled ON and OFF according to a cycle of a drive signal, power is transferred from a source to a load. The method includes sensing an output voltage feedback signal, comparing the sensed feedback signal to a reference at a determined time during a cycling of the switch, and regulating an output voltage at the load by controlling whether a cycle of one of the drive signals cycles the switch in response to the comparison.

Abstract: A digitally controlled, transformer-coupled switching power supply for conversion of power between a source and a load includes a power switch that, when coupled to the source and cycled ON and OFF by a controller, supplies a pulse of power to the load. Control circuitry for the power converter includes a pulse generator for generating switch activation pulses to cycle the power switch, each switch activation pulse produced by the pulse generator defining a new switching cycle. A pulse rate controller is coupled to the pulse generator for regulating an output voltage at the load by selectively allowing, on a pulse by pulse basis, switch activation pulses to cycle the power switch.

Abstract: A power converter control system is provided which combines a pulse train regulation control technique with a pulse train optimization technique, to control the output level of the power converter, while maintaining optimal performance for other power converter parameters. The power converter control system describe herein provides versatility not previously available in power converter control systems by providing features such as quasi-resonant mode control, discontinuous mode control, and/or power factor correction. A pulse optimizer adjusts or customizes, for example, the ON time, duty cycle or frequency of pulse train pulses output by a pulse generator. The adjusted pulses are gated by a pulse rate controller to selectively actuate a power switch, thereby regulating the output power level and optimize the overall performance of the power converter.