Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a current monitoring device comprising a current transformer configured to be removeably coupled to a power line and to generate a reference signal having a level related to a current level of the power line, a sensor circuit connected to the current transformer and configured to be removeably coupled to a communications bus and to convert the reference signal to a digital reference signal and provide a signal indicative of the current level to the communication bus, and a housing containing the sensor circuit and the current transformer.

Abstract: Systems and methods of transmitting data to a plurality of devices are provided. In one example, a system is configured to broadcast data to a group of multiple devices. Each of the group of devices is configured to inspect the message and locally store the content of the message. Further, the group of devices is configured so that a single device of the group responds to each message.

Abstract: Systems and methods that automatically assign addresses to devices coupled to a shared bus are provided. In one example, a system for assigning addresses to a plurality of devices within a network includes a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The system is configured to instruct all of the plurality of devices to respectively select a first dynamic address from a first set of dynamic addresses, respectively assign a different static address to each device having a first dynamic address that uniquely identifies the device, instruct all of the plurality of devices having a first dynamic address that identifies at least two devices to respectively select a second dynamic address from a second set of dynamic addresses and respectively assign another different static address to each device having a second dynamic address that uniquely identifies the device.

Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a system for monitoring a plurality of circuit branches coupled to an input line, the system comprising a communication bus, a plurality of sensor circuits, each configured to be coupled to the communication bus and at least one of the plurality of circuit branches, wherein each sensor circuit is further configured to sample current in the at least one of the plurality of circuit branches, a controller configured to be coupled to the communication bus and the input line; wherein the controller is further configured to sample voltage on the input line, and wherein the controller is further configured to synchronize, via the communication bus, current sampling performed by the plurality of sensor circuits with the voltage sampling performed by the controller.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method for overcurrent sensing including; generating an analog output signal representative of a sensed AC current, generating a digital representation of the analog output signal using a plurality of discrete samples, determining those of the plurality of discrete samples having a substantially identical magnitude and estimating an amount of overcurrent in the sensed AC current by evaluating those of the plurality of discrete samples that have the substantially identical magnitude. In some embodiments, the substantially identical magnitude is a maximum magnitude represented by the digital representation.

Abstract: A power converter system includes a power converter system including: a DC-to-AC power converter; a first output configured to be coupled to a power grid; a first input configured to be coupled to the power grid; second outputs each configured to be coupled to a corresponding AC load; a power-grid switch coupled to the converter and to the first output; load switches coupled to the converter, the second outputs, and the first input; and a controller coupled to the load switches and to the first output and configured to determine whether energy from the power grid satisfies at least one criterion, the controller being further configured to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to couple the converter to the first output and to couple the first input to the second outputs if the at least one criterion is satisfied and otherwise to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to isolate the converter from the first output and to couple the converter to at least one of the second outputs.

Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a system for monitoring a plurality of circuit branches coupled to an input line, the system comprising a communication bus, a plurality of sensor circuits, each configured to be coupled to the communication bus and at least one of the plurality of circuit branches, wherein each sensor circuit is further configured to sample current in the at least one of the plurality of circuit branches, a controller configured to be coupled to the communication bus and the input line; wherein the controller is further configured to sample voltage on the input line, and wherein the controller is further configured to synchronize, via the communication bus, current sampling performed by the plurality of sensor circuits with the voltage sampling performed by the controller.

Abstract: Systems and methods of transmitting data to a plurality of devices are provided. In one example, a system is configured to broadcast data to a group of multiple devices. Each of the group of devices is configured to inspect the message and locally store the content of the message. Further, the group of devices is configured so that a single device of the group responds to each message.

Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a current monitoring device comprising a current transformer configured to be removeably coupled to a power line and to generate a reference signal having a level related to a current level of the power line, a sensor circuit connected to the current transformer and configured to be removeably coupled to a communications bus and to convert the reference signal to a digital reference signal and provide a signal indicative of the current level to the communication bus, and a housing containing the sensor circuit and the current transformer.

Abstract: Systems and methods that automatically assign addresses to devices coupled to a shared bus are provided. In one example, a system for assigning addresses to a plurality of devices within a network includes a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The system is configured to instruct all of the plurality of devices to respectively select a first dynamic address from a first set of dynamic addresses, respectively assign a different static address to each device having a first dynamic address that uniquely identifies the device, instruct all of the plurality of devices having a first dynamic address that identifies at least two devices to respectively select a second dynamic address from a second set of dynamic addresses and respectively assign another different static address to each device having a second dynamic address that uniquely identifies the device.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method for overcurrent sensing including; generating an analog output signal representative of a sensed AC current, generating a digital representation of the analog output signal using a plurality of discrete samples, determining those of the plurality of discrete samples having a substantially identical magnitude and estimating an amount of overcurrent in the sensed AC current by evaluating those of the plurality of discrete samples that have the substantially identical magnitude. In some embodiments, the substantially identical magnitude is a maximum magnitude represented by the digital representation.

Abstract: A power converter system includes a power converter system including: a DC-to-AC power converter; a first output configured to be coupled to a power grid; a first input configured to be coupled to the power grid; second outputs each configured to be coupled to a corresponding AC load; a power-grid switch coupled to the converter and to the first output; load switches coupled to the converter, the second outputs, and the first input; and a controller coupled to the load switches and to the first output and configured to determine whether energy from the power grid satisfies at least one criterion, the controller being further configured to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to couple the converter to the first output and to couple the first input to the second outputs if the at least one criterion is satisfied and otherwise to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to isolate the converter from the first output and to couple the converter to at least one of the second outputs.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a system for protecting a plurality of circuits including a plurality of circuit protective devices wherein each circuit protective device includes a respective nominal current rating. According to one embodiment, the system includes current sensing circuitry configured to measure a current of each circuit protective device; and a controller configured to receive each of the measured currents. According to one embodiment, the controller is further configured to determine a ratio between a total current being carried by all of the circuit protective devices combined and a total nominal current rating of all of the circuit protective devices combined and employ the ratio to determine a modified nominal current rating of each circuit protective device, respectively.

Abstract: A power converter system includes a power converter system including: a DC-to-AC power converter; a first output configured to be coupled to a power grid; a first input configured to be coupled to the power grid; second outputs each configured to be coupled to a corresponding AC load; a power-grid switch coupled to the converter and to the first output; load switches coupled to the converter, the second outputs, and the first input; and a controller coupled to the load switches and to the first output and configured to determine whether energy from the power grid satisfies at least one criterion, the controller being further configured to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to couple the converter to the first output and to couple the first input to the second outputs if the at least one criterion is satisfied and otherwise to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to isolate the converter from the first output and to couple the converter to at least one of the second outputs.

Abstract: A power converter system includes a power converter system including: a DC-to-AC power converter; a first output configured to be coupled to a power grid; a first input configured to be coupled to the power grid; second outputs each configured to be coupled to a corresponding AC load; a power-grid switch coupled to the converter and to the first output; load switches coupled to the converter, the second outputs, and the first input; and a controller coupled to the load switches and to the first output and configured to determine whether energy from the power grid satisfies at least one criterion, the controller being further configured to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to couple the converter to the first output and to couple the first input to the second outputs if the at least one criterion is satisfied and otherwise to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to isolate the converter from the first output and to couple the converter to at least one of the second outputs.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a system for protecting a plurality of circuits including a plurality of circuit protective devices wherein each circuit protective device includes a respective nominal current rating. According to one embodiment, the system includes current sensing circuitry configured to measure a current of each circuit protective device; and a controller configured to receive each of the measured currents. According to one embodiment, the controller is further configured to determine a ratio between a total current being carried by all of the circuit protective devices combined and a total nominal current rating of all of the circuit protective devices combined and employ the ratio to determine a modified nominal current rating of each circuit protective device, respectively.