Abstract: A system (10) for converting power comprising a plurality of modules (14) connected in series and having each at least one DC power source. Storage devices (18) are provided with each module (14) to store power from the power source and voltage control circuitry (19) in each module (14) connects the storage device between a maximum module voltage, a minimum module voltage to create a stepwise approximation of a mains signal. A compensator unit (20) is provided in series with the modules (14) including a storage device charged by the power sources. While each of the modules (14) is supplying either its maximum or minimum voltage to the system a control unit ramps up or down the voltage between the input and output of the compensator unit (20) to follow the desired AC signal.

Abstract: A battery pack (10) comprising a plurality of boards (12) having contacts thereon for contacting terminal of a plurality of cells (14). A plurality of cell guides (18) are provided to each receive a plurality of the cells (18). A plurality of tensioning members (32) are provided wherein the tensioning members (32) pass through holes (20) in the boards (12) to engage with first and second endmost boards (12) in order to pull together the boards (12) and thereby engage the terminal of the cells (14) with the contacts on the boards (12).

Abstract: A housing (10) comprising a main body including first and second side walls (16, 17) and first and second end walls (18, 19) extending between ends of the first and second side walls (16, 17). A plurality of mounting portions (26) are provided adjacent junction between the side walls (16, 17) and the end walls (18, 19). Bores (28) are provided in each of the mounting portions (26 and slots (36) are provided extending through outer surfaces of the mounting portions (26) into the bore (28). An elongate member of a frame (13) is receivable in the slots (28) of two or more of the mounting portions (26) such that fasteners (34) received in the bores (28) of said mounting portions (26) engage with the elongate member to secure the housing (12) to the frame (13).

Abstract: A system and method for detecting connector (20) faults in a power conversion system (10). The system (10) comprises a plurality of series of modules (14) operable in a power conversion mode. A loop connection (30) is provided between the output of a final module (14) in the series and a first module (14) in the series and a loop switch (RL3) is provided in the loop connection (30). Loop current circuitry is provided in one or more of the modules (14) to generate a current flow within the loop and voltage measurement circuitry within each of the modules measures voltage of the input of the module relative to a local reference voltage and/or the output of the module relative to a local reference voltage. A control unit compares the voltages measured for the input and/or output of each of the modules against the voltages measured for the output and/or input of the adjacent modules to determine the resistance of the connection contacts between the module and the adjacent modules.

Abstract: Described is a method for converting power including controlling operation of a plurality of series connected modules including a DC power sources and storage devices such that the total voltage across the series connected modules includes an AC signal. A storage parameter is defined based on a sum of a function of the voltages in the storage devices in the modules and one or more voltage control levels are defined for each of or a plurality of the storage devices. An average current drawn from the series connected modules over a time period is set such that the storage parameter approaches a target value. The target value is decreased for a subsequent time period in the event that none the voltage control levels are reached and increased in the event that one or more of the voltage control levels are reached.

Abstract: A housing (10) comprising a main body including first and second side walls (16, 17) and first and second end walls (18, 19) extending between ends of the first and second side walls (16, 17). A plurality of mounting portions (26) are provided adjacent junction between the side walls (16, 17) and the end walls (18, 19). Bores (28) are provided in each of the mounting portions (26 and slots (36) are provided extending through outer surfaces of the mounting portions (26) into the bore (28). An elongate member of a frame (13) is receivable in the slots (28) of two or more of the mounting portions (26) such that fasteners (34) received in the bores (28) of said mounting portions (26) engage with the elongate member to secure the housing (12) to the frame (13).

Abstract: A power conversion system comprising a plurality of modules each having an input and an output and being connected in series. Each module is connected to at least one DC power source that supplies power to the module. Voltage control circuitry provided within each of the modules to vary the voltage supplied between the input and the output between a maximum module voltage and a minimum module voltage. A control unit in communication with the voltage control circuitry of each of the modules varies the voltage supplied across the input and output of each of the modules such that the total voltage across the series connected modules forms an AC signal or a rectified version of an AC signal.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting connector (20) faults in a power conversion system (10). The system (10) comprises a plurality of series of modules (14) operable in a power conversion mode. A loop connection (30) is provided between the output of a final module (14) in the series and a first module (14) in the series and a loop switch (RL3) is provided in the loop connection (30). Loop current circuitry is provided in one or more of the modules (14) to generate a current flow within the loop and voltage measurement circuitry within each of the modules measures voltage of the input of the module relative to a local reference voltage and/or the output of the module relative to a local reference voltage.

Abstract: A system (10) for converting power comprising a plurality of modules (14) connected in series and having each at least one DC power source. Storage devices (18) are provided with each module (14) to store power from the power source and voltage control circuitry (19) in each module (14) connects the storage device between a maximum module voltage, a minimum module voltage to create a stepwise approximation of a mains signal. A compensator unit (20) is provided in series with the modules (14) including a storage device charged by the power sources. While each of the modules (14) is supplying either its maximum or minimum voltage to the system a control unit ramps up or down the voltage between the input and output of the compensator unit (20) to follow the desired AC signal.

Abstract: A method for converting power including controlling operation of a plurality of series connected modules including a DC power sources and storage devices such that the total voltage across the series connected modules comprises an AC signal. A storage parameter is defined based on a sum of a function of the voltages in the storage devices in the modules and one or more voltage control levels are defined for each of or a plurality of the storage devices. An average current drawn from the series connected modules over a time period is set such that the storage parameter approaches a target value. The target value is decreased for a subsequent time period in the event that none the voltage control levels are reached and increased in the event that one or more of the voltage control levels are reached.

Abstract: A method of detection of faults on circuit boards comprising the steps of capturing an image (14) of each of a plurality of circuit boards (10) and dividing each of the captured images (14) into a plurality of image segments, each having an image characteristic value. One of the circuit boards 10 is selected for testing and each image segment is compared with corresponding image segments of each other circuit boards (10) to define a plurality of differential image characteristic values. The differential image characteristic values for each image segment are ranked from lowest to highest and an nth differential image characteristic value is selected. An overlay image comprising a representation of the selected differential image characteristic values is created and displayed over the selected circuit board.

Abstract: A power conversion system (10) for converting power from a plurality of solar panels. The system (10) comprises a plurality of panel modules (14) each having an input (16) and an output (17) and being connected in series. Each panel module (14) is connected to at least one solar panel (12) that supplies power to the panel module (14). Voltage control circuitry is provided within each of the panel modules (14) to vary the voltage supplied between the input (16) and the output (17) between a maximum module voltage and a minimum module voltage. A control unit (29) in communication with the voltage control circuitry of each of the panel modules varies the voltage supplied across the input (16) and output (17) of each of the panel modules (14) such that the total voltage across the series connected panel modules (14) forms an AC signal or a rectified version of an AC signal.

Abstract: A method of detection of faults on circuit boards comprising the steps of capturing an image (14) of each of a plurality of circuit boards (10) and dividing each of the captured images (14) into a plurality of image segments, each having an image characteristic value. One of the circuit boards 10 is selected for testing and each image segment is compared with corresponding image segments of each other circuit boards (10) to define a plurality of differential image characteristic values. The differential image characteristic values for each image segment are ranked from lowest to highest and an nth differential image characteristic value is selected. An overlay image comprising a representation of the selected differential image characteristic values is created and displayed over the selected circuit board.

Abstract: A power conversion system comprising a plurality of modules each having an input and an output and being connected in series. Each module is connected to at least one DC power source that supplies power to the module. Voltage control circuitry provided within each of the modules to vary the voltage supplied between the input and the output between a maximum module voltage and a minimum module voltage. A control unit in communication with the voltage control circuitry of each of the modules varies the voltage supplied across the input and output of each of the modules such that the total voltage across the series connected modules forms an AC signal or a rectified version of an AC signal.

Abstract: A power conversion system (10) for converting power from a plurality of solar panels. The system (10) comprises a plurality of panel modules (14) each having an input (16) and an output (17) and being connected in series. Each panel module (14) is connected to at least one solar panel (12) that supplies power to the panel module (14). Voltage control circuitry is provided within each of the panel modules (14) to vary the voltage supplied between the input (16) and the output (17) between a maximum module voltage and a minimum module voltage. A control unit (29) in communication with the voltage control circuitry of each of the panel modules varies the voltage supplied across the input (16) and output (17) of each of the panel modules (14) such that the total voltage across the series connected panel modules (14) forms an AC signal or a rectified version of an AC signal.

Abstract: Reflow soldering apparatus comprising a vapour chamber in communication with a reservoir of heat transfer fluid such that a volume of vaporised heat transfer fluid is created and held in the vapour chamber by heating of the heat transfer fluid. A heating chamber is provided for receiving a board and a transportation mechanism is provided to transport vapour, and condensate formed from the vapour, from the volume of vaporised heat transfer fluid to the heating chamber. The transported vapour and condensate applies heat to the heating chamber for the reflow soldering process.

Abstract: Reflow soldering apparatus comprising a vapour chamber in communication with a reservoir of heat transfer fluid such that a volume of vaporised heat transfer fluid is created and held in the vapour chamber by heating of the heat transfer fluid. A heating chamber is provided for receiving a board and a transportation mechanism is provided to transport vapour, and condensate formed from the vapour, from the volume of vaporised heat transfer fluid to the heating chamber. The transported vapour and condensate applies heat to the heating chamber for the reflow soldering process.

Abstract: A safety apparatus and method for protecting an object entering into the path of a moving blade in a press brake (10) is provided, which includes laser emitters (22) and receivers (24) for mounting in fixed relationship to the leading edge (36) of the blade (18) to provide a plurality of light beams (26) in advance of the blade (18). A controller (51) including halting means (57) for halting advancing movement of the blade in response to certain contingencies is also provided, wherein the contingencies may include those involving interruption or obstruction of the light beams (26) and those which are indicative of a fault with the press or the safety apparatus itself. The controller (51) also includes laser control and processing means (54), blade movement control means (56), blade position processing means (58) and vibration sensing means.

Abstract: A safety apparatus and method for protecting an object entering into the path of a moving blade in a press brake (10) is provided, which includes laser emitters (22) and receivers (24) for mounting in fixed relationship to the leading edge (36) of the blade (18) to provide a plurality of light beams (26) in advance of the blade (18). A controller (51) including halting means (57) for halting advancing movement of the blade in response to certain contingencies is also provided, wherein the contingencies may include those involving interruption or obstruction of the light beams (26) and those which are indicative of a fault with the press or the safety apparatus itself. The controller (51) also includes laser control and processing means (54), blade movement control means (56), blade position processing means (58) and vibration sensing means.

Abstract: Safety apparatus and method for protecting an object entering into the path of a moving blade in a press brake (10). The apparatus includes laser emitters (22) and receivers (24) for mounting in fixed relationship to the leading edge (36) of the blade (18) to provide a plurality of light beams (26) in advance of the blade (18). A controller (51) including halting means (57) for halting advancing movement of the blade in response to certain contingencies is provided. These contingencies include those involving interruption or obstruction of the light beams (26) and those which are indicative of a fault with the press or the safety apparatus itself. Accordingly the controller (51) also includes laser control and processing means (54), blade movement control means (56) and blade position processing means (58) which operate in conjunction with the halting means (57) to enable overriding control of the movement of the blade (18).