Abstract: A battery monitoring system comprises a battery control unit (BCU) and a plurality of module control units (MCUs) connectable to battery modules. The BCU comprises a low voltage power supply, a BCU controller, and a reference address signal source connected to an address signaling path. The MCUs receive low voltage power from the BCU. Each MCU comprises an address signal input and output with a signal coupler therebetween for connecting the module control unit along the address signaling path, and an MCU controller. The BCU controller determines a number of MCUs on the address signaling path, and each MCU controller determines the associated MCU's position along the address signaling path, based at least in part on a detected signal on the address signaling path and predetermined properties of the reference address signal and address signal coupler. A ground fault detection unit may provide a fault signal to the BCU controller.

Abstract: A system includes a fuel cell stack, a power communication path, a first controller and a second controller. The fuel cell stack generates electrical power, and the power communication path is coupled between the fuel cell stack and a load of the system to communicate the electrical power to the load. The power communication path includes a switch, which is operable to selectively couple the fuel cell stack to the load and isolate the fuel cell stack from the load. The first controller has a first response time to control the fuel cell stack and control the power communication path. The second controller has a second response time, which is significantly less than the first response time to monitor the power communication path for a fault condition and take corrective action in response to detecting the fault condition.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a first subsystem that is classified to operate in a hazardous environment and a second subsystem that is classified to operate in a hazardous environment. The second subsystem includes a sensor to detect inflammable gas, and the second subsystem is adapted to control communication of power to the first subsystem based on whether the second subsystem detects a concentration of the flammable gas exceeding a predefined threshold.

Abstract: A system includes a fuel cell stack, a power communication path, a first controller and a second controller. The fuel cell stack generates electrical power, and the power communication path is coupled between the fuel cell stack and a load of the system to communicate the electrical power to the load. The power communication path includes a switch, which is operable to selectively couple the fuel cell stack to the load and isolate the fuel cell stack from the load. The first controller has a first response time to control the fuel cell stack and control the power communication path. The second controller has a second response time, which is significantly less than the first response time to monitor the power communication path for a fault condition and take corrective action in response to detecting the fault condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for digitally controlling the average input current of a switch mode power supply are disclosed. In preferred embodiments, the switch mode power supplies are DC-DC converters. One aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling the switch of a switch mode power supply by digitally sampling the input current once during each power supply switching cycle at a time that is synchronized with the switching cycle. The predetermined time at which the input current is sampled may be midway through the time that the switch is in the “ON” state. This midway time may also be delayed slightly to compensate for delays associated with the switch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for digitally controlling the average input current of a switch mode power supply are disclosed. In preferred embodiments, the switch mode power supplies are DC-DC converters. One aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling the switch of a switch mode power supply by digitally sampling the input current once during each power supply switching cycle at a time that is synchronized with the switching cycle. The predetermined time at which the input current is sampled may be midway through the time that the switch is in the “ON” state. This midway time may also be delayed slightly to compensate for delays associated with the switch.

Abstract: An interactive video computer system with a light sensitive peripheral device having a photosensitive transducer operating in conjunction with a personal computer platform. The gun or pen-shaped light-sensitive device is connected to a peripheral adapter coupled between the computer and a video monitor. The peripheral adapter captures the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from the video adapter card in the computer and sends them to the light sensitive peripheral device so that processing circuitry therein can generate a peripheral position signal indicative of the position of the field of view of the photosensitive transducer relative to the screen. The light sensitive peripheral device also has means for transmitting the peripheral position signal to the computer means for further processing. This allows a light gun or pen to be used with a conventional personal computer without having to modify the computer with additional circuit boards and operating system changes.

Abstract: A video game system with a light gun video game peripheral device having a photosensitive transducer operating in conjunction with a personal computer platform. The gun-shaped light-sensitive device is connected to a peripheral adapter coupled between the computer and a video monitor. The peripheral adapter captures the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from the video adapter card in the computer and sends them to the light gun so that processing circuitry therein can generate a peripheral position signal indicative of the position of the field of view of the photosensitive transducer relative to the screen. The video game peripheral device also has means for transmitting the peripheral position signal to the computer means for further processing. This allows a light gun to be used with a conventional personal computer without having to modify the computer with additional circuit boards and operating system changes.