With Control Of Magnitude Of Energy Transfer Patents (Class 307/20)
  • Patent number: 8237307
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing electrical power, including determining a plurality of fine power duty cycles according to a respective plurality of power values, and generating the respective plurality of power values using a time-shared pulse-width modulator (PWM), the time-shared PWM being configured to be modulated at the respective plurality of fine duty power cycles during a respective plurality of time slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Almquist, Steve DeCabooter
  • Patent number: 8217626
    Abstract: The present relates to a system and method for dynamic power management of a mobile device. The mobile device has a plurality of loads and a battery charger electrically connected to a voltage rail. The method comprises monitoring the plurality of loads to determine when at least one of the loads will become active or inactive, determining a minimum required output voltage level to be provided by the voltage converter based on active loads and the at least one load that will become active or inactive and device operation; and adjusting an input voltage level via the voltage converter to provide the minimum required output voltage level on the voltage rail in advance of the at least one load becoming active or after the at least one load becomes inactive. The method further monitors the input voltage level, and determines whether the input voltage level is below a first predetermine threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Lyall Winger, Dusan Veselic, Martin Guthrie
  • Patent number: 8207628
    Abstract: A power converter that gives priority to the high power output and only provides power to the low power output when the total potential output power is equal to or less than the rated power of the power converter. A specific power threshold is established, and when the high power output remains below this threshold for a period of time the low power output is allowed to turn on. If the high power output subsequently exceeds this threshold for a period of time, then an electronic circuit powers down the low power output in order to keep the total output power below the rated power of the power converter. Subsequently, the high power output is checked against the threshold to determine if the low power output can be turned on again. If the high power output is below the threshold, then the low power output is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Igo, Inc.
    Inventors: Garry DuBose, Ann Briggs
  • Patent number: 8143742
    Abstract: A power distribution controller includes electronic circuitry operable to receive power and distribute power, for simultaneous consumption, to a first power load and to one or more second power loads. The electronic circuitry is also operable to monitor the amount of power consumed by the one or more second power loads, and determine whether or not the received power is or substantially is the maximum amount of power available to be received. In response to the amount of power consumed by the one or more second power loads, and the amount of received power relative to the maximum amount of power available to be received, the electronic circuitry diverts power to the first power load to cause the received power to be or substantially be the maximum amount of power available to be received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Michael A Maloney
  • Publication number: 20110296218
    Abstract: A battery management system (BMS), a method of controlling the same, and an energy storage system including the battery management system. The BMS may reduce costs by stably supplying power to an insulating unit in a power-saving mode even when an isolator has no built-in direct current (DC)-DC converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Seong-Joong Kim, Joon-Woo Song
  • Publication number: 20110257805
    Abstract: A power generation system is provided that includes an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational mechanical energy. A generator is configured to receive the rotational mechanical energy and generate electrical power in response to the rotational mechanical energy. A fluid medium is provided to the internal combustion engine and to the generator for removing thermal energy from the internal combustion engine and from the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: PowerSys, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Woods, Douglas Alan Koeneman
  • Patent number: 8004111
    Abstract: A DC-DC switching cell module includes a switch, a rectifier, an output filter coupled to the rectifier, and an input port for receiving an external PWM control signal from a controller. The switching cell module is configured to control the switch in response to the external PWM control signal to generate a DC output voltage from a DC input voltage. The switching cell module is configured for attachment to a circuit board as a discrete component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Geoffrey Potter, Hong Mao
  • Patent number: 7936088
    Abstract: Distributed power supply arrangements and related methods are disclosed. Voltage is sensed at least one sense point in a power plane of a power distribution network. The power plane includes distributed source points and load points through which a plurality of power sources supply power to a plurality of loads. Currents supplied to the power plane by the power sources are regulated based on the voltage sensed at each of the at least one sense point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond K. Orr, Yan-Fei Liu
  • Patent number: 7932630
    Abstract: A wireless power system includes a power source, power receiver, and components thereof. A current sensor senses the amount of current through the antenna. That amount of current is then used to adjust characteristics of the transmitting or receiving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
    Inventors: Nigel P. Cook, Lukas Sieber, Hanspeter Widmer
  • Publication number: 20110074165
    Abstract: A system for controlling power load to a rig engine of a wellbore rig. The system includes a controller for controlling the rig engine, a sensor for sensing the exhaust temperature of the rig engine, the sensor in communication with the controller for providing to the controller signals indicative of the exhaust temperature. The controller maintains the power load to the rig engine based on the exhaust temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Mark Francis Grimes, Gregory Paul Cervenka, Kent Hulick
  • Publication number: 20100207448
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a load management controller for a household electrical installation comprising a pair of electricity supplies, a grid supply and a micro-generator supply, providing electricity to a plurality if sub-circuits. The household electrical installation has means to monitor the amount of electricity being supplied by the micro-generator supply and the amount of electricity being consumed in the household. The load management controller has means to access and use that information to control the supply of electricity to an energy storage sub-circuit to route surplus electricity supplied by the micro-generator to the energy storage sub-circuit. Furthermore, the load management controller can communicate with a remote electricity supplier to control the loads in the household to achieve better grid management and efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Timothy Patrick Cooper, Colin David Harris, Thomas Laurence Bean
  • Patent number: 7769497
    Abstract: A method of performing loadflow calculations for controlling voltages and power flow in a power network by reading on-line data of given/specified/scheduled/set network variables/parameters and using control means, so that no component of the power network is overloaded as well as there is no over/under voltage at any nodes in the network following a small or large disturbances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Inventor: Sureshchandra B. Patel
  • Patent number: 7750498
    Abstract: An adaptive power management system includes a number of load devices, including a burst load device operable with a time-varying load having a controllable duty cycle. A shared power source supplies power to the load devices. The system adaptively determines a power allocation for the burst load device based on operational requirements of the load devices, and the maximum power supplied to the burst load device is limited to a selected power level based on the determined power allocation. A power storage module stores power supplied by the shared power source and supplies sufficient power to permit the burst load device to operate during burst periods with a peak power that exceeds the average power supplied to the power storage module. The duty cycle of the burst periods of the burst load device is controlled to maintain the power stored by the power storage module above a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Wight, James Kroeger
  • Patent number: 7741730
    Abstract: This method of determination of a distribution of energy to a plurality of electrical loads (121, 122, . . . , 12n) during a modulation period (T), the energy coming from at least one generator (14), the supply of a predetermined quantity of energy to any one of the electrical loads during this modulation period being effected by the generator emitting during a predetermined fraction of the modulation period an electrical signal the power whereof corresponds to that demanded by that electrical load, includes a temporal distribution of the electrical signals emitted by the generator in the modulation period in accordance with a distribution criterion determined as a function of the electrical signals and applied successively to each electrical signal in the same modulation period. The temporal distribution criterion for the electrical signals is determined as a function of the temporal length and the power of the electrical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Eurothem Automation
    Inventors: Yves Level, Gerard Pierre Louis Ledee
  • Publication number: 20100148579
    Abstract: A power distribution controller includes electronic circuitry operable to receive power and distribute power, for simultaneous consumption, to a first power load and to one or more second power loads. The electronic circuitry is also operable, to monitor the amount of power consumed by the one or more second power loads, and determine whether or not the received power is or substantially is the maximum amount of power available to be received. In response to the amount of power consumed by the one or more second power loads, and the amount of received power relative to the maximum amount of power available to be received, the electronic circuitry diverts power to the first power load to cause the received power to be or substantially be the maximum amount of power available to be received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventor: Michael A. Maloney
  • Publication number: 20100141030
    Abstract: Decentralized power generation installations are connected to a low-voltage electrical system NS. These installations can make available control energy. The control of the active power output by the power generaton installations into the low-voltage electrical system takes place by means of active variation of the system voltage by means of a transformer T with a variable transformation ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Gunnar Kaestle
  • Patent number: 7728546
    Abstract: In a multiple power supply apparatus installed in a vehicle, a first power supply system includes a generator and a first battery. The generator is driven by an operation of the engine. The first battery is chargeable by an electrical output of the generator. A second power supply system includes a second battery. The second battery works to supply electrical power to an electrical load installed in the vehicle. A power transfer module is operative to transfer electrical power supplied from the first power supply system based on at least one of the electrical output of the generator and a charged level of the first battery to the second power supply system. The power transfer module is integrally joined to the first battery to constitute a battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Katsunori Tanaka, Akira Kato, Michinori Tanibata, Yutaka Kuroyanagi
  • Patent number: 7714461
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for reducing resonance in a multiple inverter system are provided. One apparatus includes an inverter coupled to a decoupling element, wherein the inverter and the decoupling elements are couplable to a power source. A system includes a motor vehicle power source including first positive and negative terminals, and a plurality of inverters coupled to the power source. Each inverter includes a second positive terminal coupled to the first positive terminal and a second negative terminal coupled to the first negative terminal. A first inverter of the plurality of inverters includes a decoupling element coupled between the first positive terminal and the positive terminal of the first inverter. One method includes operating first and second inverters at different frequencies, and controlling the impedance of a decoupling element coupled between a power source and the first inverter based on the second inverter frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian A. Welchko
  • Patent number: 7710192
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is partitioned into two or more sub-circuits, each sub-circuit including two supply terminals across which to receive supply voltage. The sub-circuits are connected in series with the first sub-circuit receiving input voltage at its first supply terminal, and the voltage level output at the second supply terminal of the first sub-circuit being used as input voltage level in a second sub-circuit. Further, a control-circuit is configured to balance voltage drops across the sub-circuits and to maintain constant voltage-drops over the sub-circuits. The control-circuit includes two buffer capacitors, each coupled in parallel over one of the two sub-circuits respectively. The control-circuit also includes at least one bucket capacitor alternately coupled in parallel over the first and the second buffer capacitor through a switching system controlled by a toggling signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Bernafon AG
    Inventors: Hubert Kaeslin, Norbert Felber
  • Patent number: 7671484
    Abstract: A device for controlling power transfer between two cores of a direct current network, in which the cores, which are source-charge interconnection nodes, include protective and contact members, placed in different areas of a power distribution system in which the direct current network is installed. The device includes an electronic power converter including two switching cells mutually interconnected by an inductance, wherein each switching cell includes two switches, and a module for controlling the converter, which ensures both a controllable direct current power transfer and stabilization of the direct current voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignees: Airbus France, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Loic Raulin, Hubert Piquet, Xavier Roboam, Henri Foch, Jeremi Regnier
  • Patent number: 7602080
    Abstract: Systems and methods to balance currents among a plurality of photovoltaic units connected in series. In aspect, a management unit is coupled between a photovoltaic energy production unit and a string of energy production units. The management unit has an energy storage element (e.g., a capacitor) connected to the photovoltaic energy production unit. The management unit further has a switch to selectively couple to the energy storage element and the photovoltaic energy production unit to the string. The management unit allows the current in the string to be larger than the current in the photovoltaic energy production unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Hadar, Shmuel Arditi
  • Publication number: 20090230767
    Abstract: A power supply system for supplying power to a plurality of loads includes a plurality of fuel cells for generating and supplying power to be supplied to the respectively corresponding loads, wherein the fuel cells are provided to correspond to the plurality of loads, a power network for receiving surplus power, which is generated ‘by the fuel cells except power to be supplied to the loads corresponding to the fuel cells, and supplying the surplus power to the loads short of power, wherein the power network is coupled to the plurality of fuel cells, and a control unit for stopping power generation of a first fuel cell among the fuel cells corresponding to a first load among the loads and controlling a second fuel cell among the fuel cells to generate power to be supplied to the first load as the surplus power if an amount of power to be supplied to the first load is less than a predetermined first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: THE JAPAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE, LIMITED
    Inventors: HITOSHI IKUMA, Makoto Inoue
  • Publication number: 20080284248
    Abstract: A device for controlling power transfer between two cores of a direct current network, in which the cores, which are source-charge interconnection nodes, include protective and contact members, placed in different areas of a power distribution system in which the direct current network is installed. The device includes an electronic power converter including two switching cells mutually interconnected by an inductance, wherein each switching cell includes two switches, and a module for controlling the converter, which ensures both a controllable direct current power transfer and stabilization of the direct current voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicants: Airbus France, Centre Nat De La Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Loic Raulin, Hubert Piquet, Xavier Roboam, Henri Foch, Jeremi Regnier
  • Publication number: 20080238196
    Abstract: An energy recycle system for use with an AC current power supply, for example, an electronic ballast, is presented. The energy recycle system includes an energy recycle load connected to an output terminal of the AC current power supply, in which the energy recycle load includes a rectifier for rectifying the output AC current of the AC current power supply into a rectified DC current and a filter connected to the rectifier for removing the high-frequency harmonics from the rectified DC current. Also, the energy recycle system further includes a DC-AC converter connected to the energy recycle load for receiving the DC current outputted from the energy recycle load, which is in turn delivered to the utility grid to achieve energy recycling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chao Yan, Chongfeng Zheng, Zhiqiang Zhan, Jianhong Zeng, Jianping Ying
  • Patent number: 7388303
    Abstract: An electrical power system that can be used to interconnect a plurality of generators to a plurality to loads while being rated at less than a total power consumed. The system is preferably used to distribute power for a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility. The system broadly comprises a primary bus connected between the generators and the loads, such as electrical compressor motors used in the LNG facility. The generators and the loads are arranged along the primary bus in order to distribute the power from the generators to the loads, without overloading the primary bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Conocophillips Company
    Inventor: John R. Seiver
  • Patent number: 7362005
    Abstract: An isolated dual power source system for isolating a first power source of a vehicle, connected to an engine starter, from a second power source of the vehicle which has an electrical circuit for distributing electrical power among the consumers, includes first and second switches for selectively connecting the first and second power sources to the electrical circuit, respectively. The system may include a controller that independently and operatively connects to the first and second switches to control operation thereof for selective and respective isolation from the electrical circuit. A third switch connecting the second power source to the starter may be used to selectively provide power thereto and bypass the first power source to start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Red Tech Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Leblanc
  • Patent number: 7151326
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical system and method for providing power to a truck's cab while the truck's engine is turned off. An already available primary power supply of the truck and a secondary power supply generally located on a trailer being hauled by the truck, are used to charge auxiliary power storage units. The secondary power supply is further used to maintain charge of the auxiliary power storage units while the truck's engine is off. The system may provide power to electrical devices within the truck as DC, or as AC by means of an inverter. The system may further include thermostatic controls to protect the secondary power supply when high-voltage electrical devices such as space heaters are being used. Separate operating circuits are employed that include switching means to enable an operator to, or to automatically, control operation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Idle Free Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert Howard Jordan
  • Patent number: 7049710
    Abstract: A monitoring system includes a power source, a power bus coupled to said power source, a plurality of power taps coupled to said power bus, each of said power taps having a ride-through capacitor operatively coupled thereto to provide power during brief interruptions in the power supply to said power bus by said power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Mark C. Dahlman
  • Patent number: 7015596
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for displaying electronic devices operable when electrical power is supplied to them at respective operating voltages through respective power connectors. The system has a power supply providing input electrical current at a first voltage and cable structures each connected with the power supply and having a respective power connector electrically connecting with the power receiving structure of one of the electronic devices. The cable structures each include a voltage regulator system that receives the input electrical current, converts it to an output electrical current at an output voltage, and transmits it to the power connector, so as to transmit an operating electrical current to the associated electronic device. The voltage regulator system sets the output voltage of the output electrical current such that the operating electrical current delivered to the associated electronic device has a voltage that corresponds to the operating voltage of that device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventor: Opher Pail
  • Publication number: 20040114290
    Abstract: A multi-line power transmission system includes a first power transmission line having a first impedance characteristic, a second power transmission line, in parallel with the first power transmission line, and having a second impedance characteristic less than the first impedance characteristic, and a power flow controller, coupled to the second power transmission line, for controlling at least one of the magnitude and direction of the power flowing through the second power transmission line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventor: Arnold P. Kehrli
  • Patent number: 6665590
    Abstract: An operation support system is arranged to effectively provide an operator of an energy supply facility for supplying a plurality of energies in different forms with a hint of an operating method in which energy safety supply and operation cost reduction are both realized. The operation support system takes the steps of deriving demand prediction upper limit value and lower value for each energy form based on recorded demand data; deriving target operation pattern upper and lower limit values of each energy supply device based on the demand prediction upper and lower values; and displaying the target operation pattern upper and lower limit values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Harada, Yasushi Tomita, Shigeru Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6465931
    Abstract: The invention described herein is a novel power circuit capable of electrically driving devices whose mechanical action is accomplished by induced strain transducers. The power circuit neither recycles nor dissipates the energy returned from the near lossless transducer, instead redirects power either to another transducer of the same type or to the transducer itself. The invention is based on a balanced capacitive loading method wherein the load itself acts as the energy storage element in the energy balance system. In the preferred mode, the circuit directs power to a symmetric couple where both loads in the couple consist of one or more transductive elements. The invention eliminates the need for a large power-supply bypass capacitor in driving reactive loads thereby reducing the peak power handled by the d.c. power section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: QorTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Gareth J. Knowles, Bruce Bower
  • Patent number: 5917251
    Abstract: A method and circuit arrangement for covering peak energy demand in an electrical AC or three-phase current network having a plurality of consumers of which at least some of the consumers are equipped with a stand-by power supply network having accumulators and at least one rectifier fed from the electrical network. The method includes feeding a fraction of energy from the accumulators of each individual stand-by power supply network into the electrical network via inverters for a short term peak demand of the electrical network. The fraction of energy is fed from the accumulators as long as peak demand is present and sufficient energy for the stand-by power supply is still available in the accumulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignees: Bayernwerk AG, Hagen Batterie AG
    Inventors: Dietolf Schermann, Hans Heindlmeier
  • Patent number: 5763959
    Abstract: A control cabinet for distributing power to a plurality of automated independent and parallel operated loads. A plurality of control cabinets can be interfaced with control cable to be supervised by one main controller. The main controller distributes low voltage ac signals to each control cabinet, which transfers the low voltage signal into high voltage power distribution by a series of low and high voltage relays, thus eliminating the need for excess circuit boards and transformers normally associated with this task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Inventor: Michael Chambers
  • Patent number: 5635771
    Abstract: In the case of an electrical wiring for a motor vehicle having a primary system which includes a voltage-controlled generator, a primary energy accumulator as well as at least one primary energy consuming device, and having a paralleled secondary system which includes a secondary energy accumulator as well as at least one secondary energy consuming device, the secondary system includes a control unit with a controllable resistor connected to the generator. The control unit monitors the charge condition of the secondary energy accumulator. As a function of the currently determined charge condition of the secondary energy accumulator, the control unit, on the one hand, controls the controllable resistor in such a manner that, during the charging of the secondary energy accumulator, the primary system is not overloaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventors: Rainer Mertl, Erhard Otto, Walter Streit, Kurt Maute, Wolfgang Zag, Dirk Katzenellenbogen
  • Patent number: 5629862
    Abstract: Dynamic security analysis of a power system is divided into several diverse sub-problems, including sub-problems that may be analyzed using artificial intelligence ("AI") technology. A rule-based topological analysis procedure distinguishes between outage contingencies that are definitely safe or harmless to the integrity of the power system, and potentially severe outage contingencies that are harmful to the power system. Initial outage selection correctly relates the state of the power system before the analysis. By methodically and automatically identifying potentially severe outages, the need for extensive off-line studies based on time domain simulations is avoided, thus promoting computational efficiency. This methodology further provides automatic detection of critical interfaces, e.g., flows through which may significantly impact the post-contingency state of the power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventors: Vladimir Brandwajn, Ali Ipakchi, A. B. Ranjit Kumar, Gerald W. Cauley
  • Patent number: 5608275
    Abstract: A fault tolerant isolation system providing fault tolerant electrical isolation between different components receiving power from separate power sources regardless of which of the power sources fails. One power source provides operating voltage to an isolation device, which is a transceiver, buffer, quick switch, etc. The other power source activates a transistor switch coupled to the output enable input of the isolation device, and a current limit device is provided between the output enable and power inputs of the isolation device. In this manner, failure of either power source disables the isolation device and therefore provides fault tolerant isolation between the devices on either side. In the preferred embodiment, the isolation device acts as a high impedance open switch if its power is removed thereby isolating the devices on either side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Dell USA L.P.
    Inventor: Farzad Khosrowpour
  • Patent number: 5479358
    Abstract: An energy supply system operates to supply heat energies, such as cooling water, steam, heating water, etc. to a community, and the system has a function for predicting a future energy demand of the community and to correct it. In a system having an energy plant to store energy and an energy supply pipeline network for connecting the energy plant to the community, the system includes an energy demand plan making section for predicting an energy demand of the community on the basis of past cases of energy supply and for formulating an energy demand plan with respect to time, and an energy demand variation detecting section for determining a variation of the energy demand from the energy demand plan by using a personnel flow measured value measured by personnel flow measuring apparatuses provided at paths to or positions of the community as a parameter. The variation of the future energy demand of the community is predicted and energy which accomodates the determined variation can be prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Shimoda, Hiroshi Matsumoto, Hiroshi Miyadera, Akira Sugano
  • Patent number: 5436512
    Abstract: A UPS device adapted for parallel connection to a load along with one or more other UPS devices, having circuitry for sharing of the load, including load harmonics. A feedback network has an error signal circuit which generates an error signal representative of the difference between the actual current provided by the device and the designated share of current it should provide. The error signal is transformed by a value representative of the effective output impedance of the UPS inverter, whereby the inverter is controlled to share the fundamental of the load current as well as the harmonics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Exide Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Haroon Inam, Robert W. Johnson, Jr., William J. Raddi
  • Patent number: 5302857
    Abstract: An adapter for connecting an electrical load which is mobile, such as the electrical system of a pleasure craft, to a stationary power source, such as the electrical pedestal at a marina. In its preferred embodiment, the adapter serves to connect a higher voltage load (such as a 240 volt electrical load of a pleasure craft) to a pair of conventional 120 volt sources. Input cables include a pair of connectors for independent connection to sources on the pedestal. Isolation means within the adapter serves to isolate the input connectors from each other during the connection operation such that a user holding one connector while connecting the other will not receive an electrical shock. Sensing means within the adapter determines that the sources are in the proper relationship to sum to the level required by the mobile load. When the sensing means determines that the sources are connected and in the proper relationship, contacts are closed connecting the summed inputs to the output for driving the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Charles Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph T. Charles, Michael A. Reinhart
  • Patent number: 5175439
    Abstract: A novel vehicle power supply system is suggested which receives its voltage supply from a starter/generator which can be used as a generator in normal operation and as a starter when starting, wherein the starter/generator is connected with a 24 volt ring mains as well as with a 24 volt battery via a pulse inverter and a 300 volt DC intermediate circuit and a bidirectional converter. Additional consumers can be supplied with higher voltages than 24 volts and electric control devices can be supplied with voltage, possible via additional converters, from the bidirectional push-pull converter and the 300 volt DC intermediate network. In addition, this vehicle power supply system contains a plug receptacle with a 220 volt 50 Hz voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Harer, Gerhard Henneberger, Jd van Wyk
  • Patent number: 5170071
    Abstract: A probabilistic or stochastic artificial neuron in which the inputs and synaptic weights are represented as probabilistic or stochastic functions of time, thus providing efficient implementations of the synapses. Stochastic processing removes both the time criticality and the discrete symbol nature of traditional digital processing, while retaining the basic digital processing technology. This provides large gains in relaxed timing design constraints and fault tolerance, while the simplicity of stochastic arithmetic allows for the fabrication of very high densities of neurons. The synaptic weights are individually controlled by a backward error propagation which provides the capability to train multiple layers of neurons in a neural network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory A. Shreve
  • Patent number: 5051603
    Abstract: A power switching system for controlling the conductivity of a plurality of thyristors of the gate turn-off type (GTOs) which are connected in parallel between two power sources by gradually introducing a time compensation to force the times of turn-off of each of the thyristors toward matched values by determining the turn-off time during each conduction cycle and thereafter advancing or retarding the turn-off signal for the following conduction cycle to correct for the difference in turn-off times. A difference signal is generated between time of turn-off of an average current of the thyristors and the time of turn-off of an individual current in one of the thyristors from which a time advance or delay signal is added to the thyristor turn-off signal in response to the current flowing in a capacitor type integrator. This allows the turn-off times to reach a perfect match during periods in which the current is the same for several cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Loren H. Walker
  • Patent number: 4983856
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and a system for interconnecting a first and a second three-phase alternating electric networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventor: Pierre Pelletier
  • Patent number: 4894765
    Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for connecting a storage battery to an elevator inverter, the storage battery being connected to a d.c. circuit of the elevator inverter power stage, a voltage in the d.c. circuit is higher than the battery voltage. Power flows bidirectionally from the storage battery to the d.c. circuit and vice versa. When power is flowing from the storage battery to the d.c. circuit, the battery voltage is matched to the voltage in the d.c. circuit by the aid of a semiconductor switch, by means of which an energy store is charged, and a diode, by which the energy in the energy store is discharged into the d.c. circuit. When power is flowing from the d.c. circuit to the storage battery, the voltage of the d.c. circuit is matched to the battery voltage with the aid of a second semiconductor switch, by means of which the energy store is charged, and a second diode, by which the energy in the energy store is discharged into the storage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Kone Elevator GmbH
    Inventor: Matti Kahkipuro
  • Patent number: 4868410
    Abstract: In the load flow calculating method of the present invention, a Jacobian matrix for reactive power with respect to voltage is made to coincide with a part of a Jacobian matrix for effective power with respect to phase by introducing variables of the quotients of differences between effective power and reactive power flowing through each node and specified values divided by the square of voltage on each node, whereby the need for triangular factorization of the Jacobian matrix for reactive power with respect to voltage is eliminated, and, at the time of calculating a voltage correction amount, the voltage correction amount is compensated by the use of the product of a Jacobian matrix for reactive power with respect to phase and a vector of phase correction amount, and by virtue of the needlessness of triangular factorization of the Jacobian matrix for reactive power with respect to voltage and nonnecessity, at the time of calculating the voltage correction amount, for calculating discrepancy of reactive power
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shizuka Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4551632
    Abstract: In a system including an electrical power center for producing and distributing electrical energy for vehicles, particularly aircraft, primary circuit breakers and contactors are distributed between a D.C. electrical power center, relay boxes, electronic bays and control panels and the electrical power center forms a central unit grouping together different protection or safety devices. The system permits the electrical network on board an aircraft to be simplified and lightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Jourdan, Jean Betelle, Philippe M. M. Bougon
  • Patent number: 4488198
    Abstract: An electrical distribution system has parallel connected generators powered by variable speed engines. Loads connected with each generator are interconnected through an electrical distribution bus. Constant speed drives have inputs connected with the engines and outputs directly connected with the generators. The connections between the constant speed drive outputs and the generators are characterized by the absence of overrunning clutches used in prior systems. An improved electrical protective circuit senses a flow of electrical power from the distribution bus to a generator, driving the generator as a motor. If the power flow to the generator is excessive, the bus tie breaker is opened disconnecting the generator from the bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Roland W. Christen, Alfred A. Deichstetter
  • Patent number: 4433250
    Abstract: Apparatus is adapted for connection to an alternating current source and a direct current power supply powered by the source. The supply is enabled when the source is operative and disabled when the source is inoperative. The apparatus utilizes first, second and third terminals. A power line monitor is connected at its input to said source and at its output to said first terminal. The monitor maintains the first terminal at a selected potential when the source is enabled, and is unable to maintain the first terminal at any potential when the source is disabled. A first circuit connected to the supply, a battery and the second terminal to charge said battery and to maintain the second terminal at a selected potential when the supply is enabled. The battery maintains the second terminal at the selected potential when the supply is disabled. The first circuit is connected via a resistor to the first terminal to maintain the first terminal at a different potential when the monitor is inoperative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1984
    Assignee: GTE Business Communication Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Jawed M. Khan
  • Patent number: 4320306
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a current and/or power between interconnected power stations.A deviation from a base load in an active current or power flowing out of a power station and a deviation from a normal value in the terminal voltage of the power station are measured. A linear function of the ratio of the voltage deviation to the active current deviation is obtained, and a product of the active-current to voltage deviation function and an active current flowing out of the power station is calculated, and thus a reactive current is defined by the product.An internal generation current of the power station is controlled so as to coincide substantially with the sum of the current composed of the active current and the reactive current defined above, and other currents of the power station including the internal load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1982
    Assignee: Shoei Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Kohga, Shigemitsu Taguchi