Plural Substitute Sources Patents (Class 307/65)
  • Patent number: 8018091
    Abstract: A selectable backup power supply device for providing power to a real time clock (RTC) and a memory unit is disclosed. The device includes a backup battery, a first power outputting unit and a second power outputting unit, wherein the backup battery outputs a backup voltage, the first power outputting unit is connected to the backup battery and the RTC for receiving the backup voltage and outputting a first supply voltage to the RTC, and the second power outputting unit is connected to the backup battery and the memory unit, for receiving the backup voltage and, in accordance with a selection signal, outputting a second supply voltage to the memory unit or stopping the output of the second supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Universal Scientific Industrial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Universal Global Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huang-Chu Liu, Chun-Ta Wu
  • Publication number: 20110215645
    Abstract: It is an object of this disclosure to provide an efficient continuous power system that may be deployed quickly and at low cost to a variety of destinations. The containerized nature of the presently disclosed system may allow these advantages to be attained. The disclosed system is particularly well suited for deployment in data center applications, but one of ordinary skill will recognize that it may be useful in a variety of situations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: ACTIVE POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Markus Schomburg, Uwe Schrader-Hausmann, James Murphy, Ron Landis, Karl Schuetze, Bradley Walter
  • Publication number: 20110213999
    Abstract: A system for supplying an electrical system with direct current, the system including at least two direct current power supply devices each having means of electrical connection to an alternating current power supply source and an AC/DC converter of alternating current into direct current, a module for managing the power supply of the electrical system which, after reception of an information of failure of a first active power supply device, transmits a command to start up a second inactive power supply device and a back up electrical energy storage device electrically by-pass connected between the power supply devices and the electrical system. The management module also receives the information of failure from the back up device and/or from the electrical system and transmits the command to start up the second power supply device during a discharge phase of the back up device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventor: Georges LECOURTIER
  • Patent number: 8006132
    Abstract: The present invention includes a plurality of disk units for storing data from a host computer, a plurality of power supply apparatuses for supplying DC power to each of the disk units via main power supply wirings, and a redundant power supply apparatus for generating, with any one of the disk units among the plurality of disk units as a load, DC power to the load. As auxiliary power supply wirings for guiding the output of the redundant power supply apparatus to each of the disk units, a common power supply wiring that is common to each of the power supply apparatuses, a plurality of branch power supply wirings branching from the common power supply wiring and connected to each of the disk units, and a redundant power supply wiring for connecting the redundant power supply apparatus and the common power supply wiring are wired to a backboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Sone
  • Patent number: 7999410
    Abstract: The power conversion system allows for multiple segregated and ground independent power sources to provide redundant power to modules within an electronics equipment cabinet with increased reliability and reduced sensitivity to common fault propagation. The power conversion system provides power conditioning modules having independent supply rails that supply power to each module within an electronics equipment cabinet. FET and diode solid-state control and driver logic enable each individual supply rail. Efficient power distribution is facilitated by primary and hot-backup operation of one or more power conditioning modules. Power conversion is facilitated by one or more input supply power feeds and one or more converter stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Smiths Aerospace LLC
    Inventors: David B. Hartung, Brian G. Krug
  • Publication number: 20110187194
    Abstract: An emergency power supply system for a load connected to an AC grid (normal grid) includes a fuel cell for generating direct current, an inverter for providing alternating current, and a controller. The controller includes a synchronizing means which synchronizes the current provided by the inverter in phase with the current of the AC grid. The emergency power supply system hence is able to again provide the normal grid to the loads without further interruption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: FRAPORT AG FRANKFURT AIRPORT SERVICES WORLDWIDE
    Inventors: Marcus Keimling, Jens Gommermann, Christian Eller
  • Patent number: 7982331
    Abstract: A transfer switch assembly is disclosed that includes a power switch device with a number engagement landings and a printed circuit board defining an opening bordered by a number of tabs. The tabs engage the landings as the switch device extends through the openings, and can be fastened together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Murray, Allen B. Carney, Randall L. Bax, Elias Ayana, Roger Pautzke, John McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20110148205
    Abstract: A power storage system and method of controlling the system is disclosed. The power storage system is connected to a power generation system and a grid. If a remaining amount of power of a battery is insufficient when the grid is in a quasi-normal state, the battery is charged by directly receiving electric power from the grid, and thus electric power is available for the if the grid subsequently goes back into the abnormal state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chong-Sop Moon
  • Publication number: 20110148204
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing alternating current (“AC”) power redundancy in power supplies. A first input module is configured to receive a first AC power input waveform. A second input module is configured to receive a second AC power input waveform. A first switch and second switch are controlled by a switching logic module to select one of the AC power input waveforms for use by a power supply. If the first AC power input waveform is present, then it is selected for use. If both the first and second AC power input waveforms are present, then the first AC power input waveform is selected for use. If only the second AC power input waveform is present then it is selected for use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert DiMarco, Randhir S. Malik
  • Publication number: 20110133555
    Abstract: An energy storage system is disclosed. The system can supply DC power from a battery to a DC load or from the DC load to the battery without inverting an AC power to the DC power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jungjin Choi
  • Publication number: 20110133556
    Abstract: An energy storage system capable of improving the lifespan of a battery pack while supplying power in a secured manner is provided. In one embodiment, the energy storage system includes a plurality of battery packs connected between a grid and a solar cell to charge/discharge power. The energy storage system includes an inverter connected among the grid, the solar cell, and the battery pack and inverting an alternating current (AC) power to a direct current (DC) power and vice versa according to charging/discharging operations. The energy storage system includes a converter connected to the solar cell, the battery pack, and the grid and converting power supplied from the solar cell, and a plurality of bidirectional converters connected to the plurality of battery packs, the solar cell, and the grid and connected in one-to-one correspondence to the plurality of battery packs and converting the power for charging/discharging the battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Looney Choi
  • Publication number: 20110125336
    Abstract: A supervisory system controller for controlling and monitoring the generation of electrical energy from renewable sources and management methods for the storage of energy so generated and interconnecting the energy-generating elements, storage and load. The supervisory system controller operates to maximum the power transfer from a wind turbine to a battery by automatically varying the threshold levels at which turbine dump loads are switched based on system inputs and measurements. The method conserves generator fuel by delaying a scheduled generator maintenance running period such that it to occurs when renewable energy availability is predicted to be low and battery is in a reduced state of charge. Further modifications and management methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Paul Groves, Peter William Dale Bishop
  • Publication number: 20110115295
    Abstract: An energy management system includes: a first interface configured to receive a first power from a power generation system; a second interface configured to couple to the power generation system, a power grid, and a storage device, and to receive at least one of the first power from the power generation system, a second power from the power grid, or a third power from the storage device, and to supply a fourth power to at least one of the power grid or a load; and a third interface configured to receive the third power from the storage device, and to supply a fifth power to the storage device for storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Chong-Sop Moon, Jung-Pil Park
  • Publication number: 20110110136
    Abstract: A multi-level converter to at least convert an AC switched voltage available on a switched voltage point into at least five DC voltage levels available on positive and negative DC voltage lines, said converter comprising two separate switching units to convert respectively positive and negative half-waves of said switched voltage, connected to the DC voltage lines respectively presenting positive and negative DC voltage levels, and wherein each switching unit comprises a switching point connected to said switched voltage point by means of change-over means. An uninterruptible power supply comprising said converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: MGE UPS
    Inventor: Alain Lacarnoy
  • Patent number: 7939967
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided. A system includes two or more power supplies receiving electrical energy from respective independent sources. One of the power supplies detects an anomalous condition of the associated energy source and provides an alert signal. At least one of the other power supplies transitions from a standby mode to a normal output mode in response to the alert signal. The failing power supply provides operating level energy to an electrical load while the one or more other power supplies transition from standby to normal output level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Daniel Humphrey, Amin Bemat, Reynaldo Domingo
  • Patent number: 7932637
    Abstract: A method includes operating a microsource in a grid mode in which the microsource is connected to a utility grid. The microsource is located in a microgrid and is configured to deliver a power P1 at a frequency ?1. During operation in the grid mode ?1 is a first frequency and P1 is a first power. The first frequency is an operating frequency of the utility grid. The microsource is transferred from the grid mode to an island mode, causing a frequency change such that ?1 changes to a second frequency and a power change such that P1 changes to a second power. The frequency change occurs at a first rate with respect to the power change while ?1 is less than a slope switch frequency. The frequency change occurs at a second rate with respect to the power change while ?1 is greater than the slope switch frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Robert H. Lasseter, Paolo Piagi
  • Patent number: 7933689
    Abstract: A method for controlling at least one load connected to a primary and a backup power supply having sensor for sensing a voltage on the primary power supply with a first voltage sensor; sensor for sensing a voltage on the backup power supply with a second voltage sensor and implementing a control algorithm in a controller to augment power from said primary power supply with power from the backup power supply in response to an input from the first and second voltage sensors and an input from at least one external sensor wherein the algorithm controls a switch between the at least one load and the primary and backup power supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Warren, John Smith
  • Publication number: 20110074216
    Abstract: A power system is designed for providing reliable electrical power to a facility and/or associated devices. The system includes one or more fuel cells and a circuit adapted to receive power from the one or more fuel cells. The circuit is electrically connected to a device receiving the electrical power from the system. Additionally, the system includes one or more capacitors included in the circuit, and being adapted for maintaining power in the circuit when the one or more fuel cells are temporarily unavailable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
    Inventor: Larry L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7915760
    Abstract: An electric power conservation system to be used between an AC utility power source and a load circuit in a home or business. The electric power conservation system comprises an energy charger component, a DC rechargeable energy source, an inverter unit, a bypass isolation circuit, a monitor and control unit, coil contactors and contacts, and necessary circuitry for supplying a load circuit with the power it requires. The invention reduces consumption of electric power from public utility companies, thereby decreasing the load on the national electrical grid. Where utility companies offer lower off-peak rates to consumers of electrical power, it becomes exceedingly desirable to have such a system in place, to save consumers money. During normal operations wherein normal utility power is available, the load circuit derives part of its power from the AC utility power source, and the remaining power that it requires from the electric power conservation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventor: Bruce Jonathan Evans, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7911084
    Abstract: A parasitic power supply provides for drawing power for an auxiliary device from a set of sequentially driven loads. A typical source of power is a traffic signal wherein the power may be sequentially applied to red, green and yellow lamps. The design provides isolation between loads so no two loads will be powered through any single-point failure of the power supply. The device may further contain control elements such as time delays to make the system compatible with requirements of safety devices used in traffic control systems to sense burned-out bulbs, and to sense conflicts between lighting patterns that are supposed to be mutually exclusive. The device may be configured as a separate component, or it may be integrated into a traffic signal head or into any selected device intended for connecting to a traffic signal head. The invention is particularly suitable for standard systems operating nominally at 115 VAC, though other AC voltages, and direct-current supplies, can also be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Aldis Corporation
    Inventors: Martin L. Bauer, James Vig Sherrill
  • Patent number: 7898109
    Abstract: The invention provides a switching converter comprising as few as two high-side switching transistors and a low-side rectifying device, along with a control circuit. The switching converter is capable of operating from a main supply source or an auxiliary supply source. The invention further includes a method for producing a regulated voltage from a first supply voltage and a second supply voltage via the two high-side switching transistors and a low-side rectifying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas D. Lopata
  • Patent number: 7898106
    Abstract: A direct current (DC) uninterruptible power supply (UPS) configured as an intrinsic power transfer switch is provided. The DC UPS includes first and second inputs. First and second rectifiers are coupled to the first and second inputs. A common node is coupled to the first and second rectifiers. At least one DC output is coupled to the common node. The at least one DC output is adapted for connection to at least one electrical load. The first input is adapted for connection to a first electrical service, and the second input is adapted for connection to a second electrical service. The DC UPS continues to supply power to the at least one electrical load in the event of a loss of either the first or second electrical services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Mark Groff, Trung Le
  • Patent number: 7888819
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply has first and second input terminals, first and second inductors, first and second AC switch units, first and second storing devices and a control unit. The first and the second inductors are electrically connected to the first and the second input terminals. The first and the second AC switch units are electrically connected to the first and the second inductors for conducting input currents. The control unit is electrically connected to the first and the second AC switch units which may be turned on and off thereby to control the first and the second inductors which charge the input currents and discharge the input currents to the first and the second storing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Phoenixtec Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheng-Tan Lee
  • Patent number: 7888820
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a delocalized power generation system with computer controls and storage optimization capacity. A plurality of power generating systems is linked to a building along with a plurality of electrical storage means. By selectively charging and discharging the storage means and by selectively picking which electrical generating means one uses, the generation of power to the structure is maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventors: Jared A. Dunnmon, Avishek Panth
  • Patent number: 7875995
    Abstract: A power system is designed for providing reliable electrical power to a facility and/or associated devices. The system includes one or more fuel cells and a circuit adapted to receive power from the one or more fuel cells. The circuit is electrically connected to a device receiving the electrical power from the system. Additionally, the system includes one or more capacitors included in the circuit, and being adapted for maintaining power in the circuit when the one or more fuel cells are temporarily unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Larry L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7868484
    Abstract: A multi-coil automatic transfer switch (ATS) adapted for automatically switching an appropriately rated component to render the ATS operational over a worldwide voltage range is provided. A low voltage contactor includes a low voltage coil magnetically linked with a normally open low voltage main contact. A high voltage contactor is coupled in parallel with the low voltage contactor. The high voltage contactor includes a high voltage coil magnetically linked with a normally open high voltage main contact. A normally closed high voltage auxiliary contact is magnetically linked with the high voltage coil. The normally closed high voltage auxiliary contact has a phase opposite the normally open high voltage main contact. The high voltage contactor opens the normally closed high voltage auxiliary contact to disconnect the low voltage coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Mark Groff, Trung Le
  • Patent number: 7863774
    Abstract: A multi-output power supply includes a standby power system and a main power system. The main power system has a transformer and a rectification output circuit connecting to the transformer to generate first output power. The power supply further has an output time series judgment circuit and a plurality of voltage regulation units connecting respectively to the standby power system and the rectification output circuit. The output time series judgment circuit has a preset reference potential compared with the potential of the first output power to determine whether to output a feedback signal. Each voltage regulation unit is connected to the output time series judgment circuit to receive the feedback signal and be activated normally and determine a regulation time spot to synchronously regulate the first output power to second output power. Thus the time difference for delivering the first output power and the second output power can be regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Zippy Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Yun-Chen Chen
  • Patent number: 7859133
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable apparatus combining a battery charger with an emergency power supply, including: a hand-held body; an AC input section, a battery section; a DC output section; an LED display section; and a control circuit section. Accordingly, the inventive portable apparatus combining a battery charger with an emergency power supply functions as an adapter for supplying electric power to an electronic device and a charger for charging a battery contained therein when being applied with an external power supply, and functions as an emergency power supply for supplying proper electric power to the electric device using a built-in charged battery when being not applied with the external electric power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Smart Power Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Dae-Young Youn, Hyun-June Kim, Sang-Min Kim, Suck Noh
  • Patent number: 7855472
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing uninterruptible power are provided by aspects of the invention. One aspect is more particularly directed to an uninterruptible power supply for providing power to a load. The uninterruptible power supply includes an input to receive input power, an output to provide output power, a plurality of battery modules that provide backup power, a power circuit coupled to the input, coupled to the plurality of battery modules and coupled to the output to provide power derived from at least one of the input power and the backup power to the output, a controller, a return line coupled to the controller and coupled to each of the battery modules, and a first sense line coupled to the controller and coupled to the plurality of battery modules. The controller and each of the battery modules are configured and arranged such that at least one characteristic of the battery modules is determined by the controller based on signals detected by the controller on the first sense line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Enne Hjort, Michael Pedersen, Henrik Mathiesen, Henning Roar Nielsen, Richard Dyrmose Olsen
  • Publication number: 20100314944
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply (“UPS”) includes an input module having a plurality of inputs, and at least one jumper element configured to selectively couple at least one input of the plurality of inputs to at least one other input of the plurality of inputs. The plurality of inputs and the at least one jumper element may be constructed and arranged to selectively achieve the following configurations: single power feed, single phase input and single phase output; dual power feed, single phase input and single phase output; single power feed, three phase input and single phase output; dual power feed, three phase input and single phase output; single power feed, three phase input and three phase output; and dual power feed, three phase input and three phase output. Other embodiments and methods of selectively achieving multiple power configurations are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward Kotlyar, Mirza Akmal Beg, Marcel Bertrand Grenier, Venkatraman Chennakesavan
  • Patent number: 7847434
    Abstract: A cogeneration system comprising a generator connected to an AC power feed line between a power network and an electrical load and an internal combustion engine for driving the generator and for supplying its exhaust heat to a thermal load. The power supply from the generator to the power network is interrupted by turning off a switch installed in the feed line when an outage of the power network is detected. A battery for storing DC power is connected to an inverter circuit to invert the DC power to AC power, such that the inverted AC power of the battery and the output of the generator are supplied to the electrical load, thereby enabling the system to respond to a power network outage and preventing reverse flow of the power output by the cogeneration system into the power network while supplying as much electric power as possible to the electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Wakitani, Hiroyuki Eguchi, Yoshinori Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7843083
    Abstract: The present invention includes plural power supplying units, a power distributing backplane and more than one protection circuits, wherein the power supplying unit produces an output power and the power distributing backplane integrates the output powers from plural power supplying units and distributes thereof into plural driving powers for supplying loads. The power circuit for the driving power to drive each load has a protection circuit mounted thereon, wherein the protection circuit detects a driving condition of the load or the power circuit, and according thereto, the protection circuit becomes open or close so as to disconnect or maintain the driving power. Therefore, the abnormal driving power will not influence the operation of the whole power system and other normal loads still can maintain operation. Furthermore, since plural power supplying units are used to provide the power needed by loads, the power capacity will not be wasted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Zippy Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Yu-Yuan Chang
  • Patent number: 7843166
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an alternating-current power supply device which can improve a power factor of an alternating-current load, realizes low cost and miniaturization, and recovers magnetic energy. The alternating-current power supply device includes a bridge circuit composed of four reverse conducting semiconductor switches, a capacitor that is connected between direct-current terminals of the bridge circuit and absorbs the magnetic energy at the time of cutting off the current, an alternating-current voltage source that is connected to the induction load in series and is inserted between alternating-current terminals of the bridge circuit, and a control circuit that gives a control signal to gates of the respective reverse conducting semiconductor switches and controls on/off states of the respective reverse conducting semiconductor switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: MERSTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryuichi Shimada, Hideo Sumitani, Taku Takaku, Takanori Isobe
  • Patent number: 7839020
    Abstract: An electric power supply system which, in the event of a power failure, is capable of efficiently supplying electric power to household electric appliances in cooperation of a vehicle, including a mechanism supplying electric power outside the vehicle, with a stationary fuel cell system and also includes an electric power supply system using a power converter for converting direct current powers from a vehicle fuel cell and a stationary fuel cell into alternating current powers. The electric power supply system is constructed by a vehicle fuel cell provided on a fuel cell vehicle, a stationary fuel cell provided in a stationary power supply system, and a power converter for converting direct current powers from the vehicle fuel cell and the stationary fuel cell into alternating current powers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20100289335
    Abstract: Several methods and a system to implement an efficient power supply management are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus of a voltage supply includes a power supply providing a voltage. The apparatus includes an active supply module communicating with a supply voltage to a voltage bus through an ORing element. The apparatus also includes a redundant supply module providing an additional voltage to the voltage bus if the active supply module fails, through an additional ORing element. The redundant supply module may be coupled with the power supply in parallel with the active supply module. Further, the apparatus includes an automatic changeover module detecting a failure of the active supply module disabling the active supply module and enabling the redundant supply module to supply the additional voltage supply to the voltage bus. Further, the apparatus also includes a voltage bus coupled with a load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventor: RADHAKRISHNA TOGARE
  • Patent number: 7830039
    Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically and/or locally adjusting power-valid detection. In one class of embodiments, local power-on-reset circuits are included in individual power islands; in another class of embodiments, the power-on-reset circuit is automatically reprogrammed, depending on the detected interface voltage level, to use the same circuitry for power-valid detection in either case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel P. Nguyen, Steve X. Chi
  • Patent number: 7830038
    Abstract: In one embodiment there is provided a power management system for managing the power from solar panels and rechargeable batteries to power a system that includes DC loads and AC loads. The power management system includes a DC-DC converter in communication with the solar panels, a first switch positioned to control power from the DC-DC converter, to and from the rechargeable batteries, and to the DC loads and AC loads, and when in response to a power requirement from the system being equal to or less than a solar panel power provided by the solar panels, the first switch automatically set, by the power management system, to supply the system with only the solar panel power, and wherein any excess solar panel power not consumed by the system is at the same time automatically directed to recharge the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventor: Shay-Ping Thomas Wang
  • Patent number: 7821159
    Abstract: A power supply system includes an energy generator and an energy storage system, each electrically connected to a power bus. The power bus provides electrical power to a load. The energy generator includes a wind turbine and a solar panel. The energy storage system includes a storage device and a regulator. The regulator is configured to transfer energy from the power bus to the storage device when the power bus exceeds a maximum voltage and to transfer energy from the storage device to the power bus when the power bus drops below a minimum voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Milton Roy Company
    Inventor: Thomas Day
  • Publication number: 20100259102
    Abstract: System for producing electric energy and hydrogen based on renewable energy sources, such as wind energy from one or several wind turbines, and incorporating means for producing hydrogen. The system comprises a hybrid electrolyzer device, which comprises a combination of at least two different electrolysis technologies and at least one control device, which manages the hydrogen production between the two electrolyzers of the different electrolysis technologies; being at least one electrolyzer of a rapid dynamics electrolysis technology type and, at least the second one of a substantially slower dynamics electrolysis technology type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Eugenio Guelbenzu Michelena, Javier Pérez Barbáchano
  • Patent number: 7812480
    Abstract: A method includes powering a device using one or more first power sources and coupling one or more second power sources to provide power to the device. The method also includes replacing at least one of the first power sources, where the one or more second power sources provide power to the device during replacement of the at least one first power source. The first power source(s) could include one or more first batteries in one or more first battery slots, and the second power source(s) could include one or more second batteries in one or more second battery slots. The second batteries could be inserted into the second battery slots prior to replacement of at least one of the first batteries. The first power source(s) could also include one or more batteries in one or more battery slots, and the second power source(s) could include a portable voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Indradyumna Datta, Ramesh Subbaiah, RamKumar K. Ramamoorthy, Y. Jaganmohan Reddy
  • Publication number: 20100253147
    Abstract: System and methods of supplying power to a load are provided. A module monitors electrical grid power. When the grid power fails the module initially provides power from a performance battery. When a bulk energy power system has warmed-up/activated, the module switches the power to the load from the performance battery to the bulk energy power system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: ENCELL TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Randy OGG
  • Patent number: 7800248
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a backup power system configured to be a UPS system, with a customer generation system and with a network monitoring device with a switch topology including a first connection node, that is connected to the customer generation system that is connected to at least one automatic disconnection switch including a first switch said first switch being disposed between the customer generation system and a utility grid, and that is connected to a second switch that is connected to one or several loads, said system including a second connection node that is connected to said second switch connected to said load, that is connected to a third switch disposed between the utility grid and the load and that is connected to a fourth switch to which there is connected a standalone inverter with a storage device, and said system including a third connection node, connecting said first switch and said third switch to said utility grid, said customer generation system supplying an AC volta
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Thomas Krämer, Martin Rothert, Volker Wachenfeld, Andreas Falk
  • Publication number: 20100225170
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing uninterruptible power are provided by aspects of the invention. One aspect is more particularly directed to an uninterruptible power supply for providing power to a load. The uninterruptible power supply includes an input to receive input power, an output to provide output power, a plurality of battery modules that provide backup power, a power circuit coupled to the input, coupled to the plurality of battery modules and coupled to the output to provide power derived from at least one of the input power and the backup power to the output, a controller, a return line coupled to the controller and coupled to each of the battery modules, and a first sense line coupled to the controller and coupled to the plurality of battery modules. The controller and each of the battery modules are configured and arranged such that at least one characteristic of the battery modules is determined by the controller based on signals detected by the controller on the first sense line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Enné Hjort, Michael Pedersen, Henrik Mathiesen, Henning Roar Nielsen, Richard Dyrmose Olsen
  • Patent number: 7786703
    Abstract: An electronic device which is capable of performing high-accuracy remaining battery capacity management. The electronic device has a plurality of battery pack compartments assigned specific addresses, respectively. A remaining capacity-detecting unit detects the remaining battery capacity of a battery pack mounted in a battery pack compartment. A control microcomputer receives information indicative of a remaining battery capacity sent from a battery pack accommodated in one of the battery pack compartments and address information on the battery pack compartment, and sends correction information concerning the remaining battery capacity to the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kunihisa Nakao
  • Patent number: 7786618
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a UPS includes an input configured to be coupled to an AC power source, a DC power source, an output configured to receive power from at least one of the AC power source and the DC power source, a first switched receptacle outlet coupled to the output and configured to be coupled to a first electrical load and a second receptacle outlet coupled to the output and configured to be coupled to a second electrical load. According to some embodiments, the UPS also includes a control unit configurable to provide a first configuration associated with the first switched receptacle outlet, where the first configuration is employed by the control unit to control a connection of the first switched receptacle outlet to the output independent of the second receptacle outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Cohen, David A. Colucci, Mark R. Melanson, James S. Spitaels
  • Patent number: 7781914
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply (“UPS”) includes an input module having a plurality of inputs, and at least one jumper element configured to selectively couple at least one input of the plurality of inputs to at least one other input of the plurality of inputs. The plurality of inputs and the at least one jumper element may be constructed and arranged to selectively achieve the following configurations: single power feed, single phase input and single phase output; dual power feed, single phase input and single phase output; single power feed, three phase input and single phase output; dual power feed, three phase input and single phase output; single power feed, three phase input and three phase output; and dual power feed, three phase input and three phase output. Other embodiments and methods of selectively achieving multiple power configurations are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Kotlyar, Mirza Akmal Beg, Marcel Bertrand Grenier, Venkatraman Chennakesavan
  • Publication number: 20100207452
    Abstract: The mobile hybrid electrical power source (100) is reconfigurably disposed in a street-legal size compact metallic container (105) positioned on a hydraulic trailer (107) that can be towed by a truck. An alignment pin (109) is provided on the container (105) for aligning and mating the container with a rotary bearing (111) on the trailer (107). The rotary bearing (111) allows the metallic container (105) to rotate about a vertical central axis +/?180° from an initial position of the container (105). The generator (100) combines a plurality of power sources to provide optimal operation in multiple applications and conditions. The power sources comprise wind, solar, and fossil fuel energy components. When a power grid is available, the mobile hybrid electrical power source (100) can be connected to the grid to sell energy back to the grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventor: Antoine Saab
  • Patent number: 7737580
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing uninterruptible power are provided by aspects of the invention. One aspect is more particularly directed to an uninterruptible power supply for providing power to a load. The uninterruptible power supply includes an input to receive input power, an output to provide output power, a plurality of battery modules that provide backup power, a power circuit coupled to the input, coupled to the plurality of battery modules and coupled to the output to provide power derived from at least one of the input power and the backup power to the output, a controller, a return line coupled to the controller and coupled to each of the battery modules, and a first sense line coupled to the controller and coupled to the plurality of battery modules. The controller and each of the battery modules are configured and arranged such that at least one characteristic of the battery modules is determined by the controller based on signals detected by the controller on the first sense line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Enné Hjort, Michael Pedersen, Henrik Mathiesen, Henning Roar Nielsen, Richard Dyrmose Olsen
  • Patent number: 7714462
    Abstract: A composite backup-type power supply system can be configured and assembled to become a small backup-type power supply system or a large backup-type power supply system according to actual requirements. In a condition of a lower loading requirement, one power supply unit consisting of M+P sets of power supply devices can be selected to connect to a main power panel to form the small backup-type power supply system. When the load increases, extra N sets of power supply units each consisting of M+P sets of power supply devices can be added, and N+1 sets of power supply units are connected to the main power panel so that all the base power supply devices and backup power supply devices can be integrated to form the large backup-type power supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Zippy Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Yun-Chen Chen
  • Patent number: 7696642
    Abstract: In a cogeneration system having a generator unit that generates DC power, an internal combustion engine for driving the generator unit, a battery that stores DC power for starting the engine, and an inverter that inverts the DC power generated by the generator unit to AC power, there are provided a solar unit that generates DC power by converting radiant energy of sunlight into electrical energy and a DC/DC converter that boosts the DC power stored in the battery, such that one of the battery and the solar unit is connected to the inverter through the DC/DC converter, thereby enabling them to share the DC/DC converter and thus to make the structure simple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Wakitani, Yoshinori Nakagawa