Abstract: An optimizer for a single staged refrigeration system comprising a speed modulation device, controller, and supply air temperature sensor. The optimizer is intended for modulating the speed of the indoor fan and compressor in existing or new refrigeration systems in settings including but not limited to residential houses/buildings, residential heat pump systems, commercial heat pumps systems, water source heat pumps, and roof top units. The optimizer solves humidity and noise problems in existing systems, reduces peak demand, increases energy efficiency, reduces energy consumption rates, and minimizes compressor failure rates and O&M costs.

Abstract: A Substation Automation (SA) system in high or medium voltage power networks is provided for determining a bus bar voltage at a first node. The disclosure replaces a ‘real’ voltage transformer with an intelligent electronic device (IED) and/or a ‘virtual’ voltage transformer (VT), which determines the bus bar voltage at the first node from a first bay connected to the first node. The IED receives network message from a second IED of the SA system, indicating the bay voltage of the first bay connected to the first node. The IED also receives switch status of the switching device arranged between the first bay and the first node, from a third IED. Depending upon the switch status, the IED establishes the bay voltage as the bus bar voltage at the first node.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus of detecting and compensating for DC residual fault currents on electrical systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus which is capable of accurately detecting one or more parameters of the fault current waveform and generating a compensation factor which compensates for specific pulsed DC fault components present. In this way, trip sensitivity is optimized for all types of fault current waveforms. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention operates by detecting one or more parameters of the encoded fault current waveform and generating a measure of symmetry comparing the mean squared values of negative and positive sections of said encoded fault current waveform. In use, various bands of the ratio of the mean squared sum of the positive and negative sections of said encoded fault current waveform are obtained, and a compensation factor is determined from a look-up table stored in a processing means.

Abstract: An arrangement for protecting equipment of an AC electrical power system comprises first means configured to measure the frequency of the current and voltage at at least one location in the electrical power system along an interconnection between two theoretical electric machines of an equivalent two machine system. Fourth means are configured to use the values of the frequency of the current and voltage measured to determine whether a power swing has occurred and if an occurrence of a power swing has been determined determine whether the measuring location is located on a motor side or a generator side of a potential pole slip electrical centre along said interconnection, the electrical centre being defined as the location where the voltage becomes zero during a pole slip, and send this information further to third means for use in a control for protecting equipment of the electrical power system.

Abstract: A short-circuit recognition method is disclosed, especially an early short-circuit recognition method, for an electric network. In at least one embodiment, in order to improve the switching times of protective devices, the current and the first and second temporal derivation thereof are continuously and consecutively determined at the same time and in the same temporal distance and are processed as respective digital sequences of numbers. Every sequence of numbers is associated with a defined threshold value, the numbers of the three sequences of numbers being compared with the respective threshold value associated therewith. Every number that exceeds the threshold value associated therewith is associated with a weighting variable and the weighting variables that pertain to the same time are added up to a first weighting sum.

Abstract: A sensor module for a compressor, having an electric motor operating at a first voltage, the sensor module operating at a second voltage, is provided. The sensor module includes a plurality of inputs connected to a plurality of sensors that generate a plurality of operating signals associated with operating conditions of the compressor. A processor is connected to the plurality of inputs and records multiple operating condition measurements from the plurality of operating signals. A communication port is connected to the processor for communicating said operating condition measurements to a control module that controls the compressor. The processor is disposed within an electrical enclosure of the compressor, the electrical enclosure being configured to house electrical terminals for connecting a power supply to the electric motor. The second voltage is less than said first voltage.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, apparatus, and systems of measuring frequency. The invention includes sampling a first number of full cycles of a signal at a rate based on a nominal frequency of the signal; converting the samples to digital samples; processing the digital samples to identify a first pair of digital samples with each one disposed on either side of a first zero-crossing and a second pair of digital samples with each one disposed on either side of a last full cycle zero-crossing; interpolating the first pair of digital samples and the second pair of digital samples to determine a position of the first and last zero-crossings relative to each other in time; and calculating a fundamental frequency of the signal based on the first number of full cycles sampled and the relative position of the first and last zero-crossings. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for incorporating electronic signature analysis in a low voltage power supply to centrally monitor current consumption is disclosed. The electrical loads powered by the low voltage power supply can be tested individually via an automatic test routine by measuring and scaling of current through a differential amplifier. The current consumption of each electrical load can be measured by analyzing a “delta” in the current draw of each electrical load's ON and OFF condition. This value can be compared against a stored table of high and low limits for each electrical load. If a load's current is outside the limits, it will be logged for repairs. A current sensing device can be inserted in series with the output(s) of the low voltage power supply, while in test mode, to allow the automatic test routine to run, and then be shorted out for normal operation.

Abstract: Impedances of an electromagnetic (EM) coil positioned in a well lined with an electrically conductive liner are determined. The impedances correspond to plural frequencies of operation of the EM coil. Based on the impedances of the EM coil corresponding to the plural frequencies, an attenuation factor associated with the electrically conductive liner is determined.

Abstract: A system and method for improving energy usage and conservation of at least one air-management unit in a data center where a multiplicity of rack mounted power distribution units are used for power distribution to a multiplicity of electronic devices mounted on a plurality of racks in at least one computer room of the data center. A group of power load, temperature, humidity and differential pressure sensors are provided throughout the racks, and coupled to a computer through a network interface for automatically calculating multiple air-management effectiveness and energy efficiency indices (e.g., rack cooling index RCI, rack humidity index RHI, rack airflow index RAI, rack differential pressure index RPI and return temperature index RTI) based on the data from the sensors, such that the operation of the air-management unit can be adjusted accordingly to achieve an optimal efficiency of safe energy usage and conservation.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing a load current that flows from an amplifier into a load of the amplifier involves obtaining a voltage drop across internal impedance of the amplifier and computing the load current using the internal impedance and the voltage drop across the internal impedance.

Abstract: Methods are provided for creating dynamic lists from selected areas of a power system of a utility company. The utility company has an energy management system with a control panel. The energy management system is used to access one or more source displays of a site. Rubber-banding or lassoing is used to create selected areas from at least a portion of the source displays. Lists are dynamically created. Operator defined information is displayed for each element type in a list of network elements from the selected areas that have been rubber-banded or lassoed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and transmitting geophysical data from a plurality of electrodes inserted into the soil utilizing a set of identical dynamically reconfigurable voltage control units located on each electrode and connected together by a communications and power cable. A test sequence is provided in each voltage control unit. Each voltage control unit records data measurements for transmission to a central data collector. Each voltage control unit incorporates and determines its positional relationship to other voltage control units by logging when the unit is attached to the electrode. Each voltage control unit I equipped with a magnetic switch for detecting when they are in contact with the electrode.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus including: a test program 2 that acquires a first voltage value which is a voltage value at which a target apparatus operates, allows the target apparatus to operate at the first voltage value, and determines an operating state of the target apparatus; a voltage change controller 12 that changes, in the case where a result of the determination is abnormal state, a voltage value difference which is a difference between a voltage value at the next stage and the first voltage value or a time difference so as to reduce the change rate obtained by dividing the voltage value difference by the time difference and outputs, when a time obtained by adding the time difference to the current time has come, a second voltage value obtained by adding or subtracting to/from the first voltage value to the test program 2 as the first voltage value.

Abstract: A system may include acquisition of a supply voltage information representing past supply voltages supplied to an electrical component, acquisition of a temperature information representing past temperatures of the electrical component, and control of a performance characteristic of the electrical component based on the supply voltage information and the temperature information. Some embodiments may further include determination of a reliability margin based on the supply voltage information, the temperature information, and on a reliability specification of the electrical component, and change of the performance characteristic based on the reliability margin.

Abstract: A method for error-compensated current measurement of an electrical accumulator, including: providing a time window-related estimated charge ascertained by a model-based estimator from operating variables of the accumulator and reflecting the estimated charge that has been withdrawn from the accumulator and supplied to the accumulator within the time window; and detecting the accumulator current supplied to the accumulator and withdrawn from the accumulator during the time window, with a current detection sensor. A zero crossing point in time (estimated charge is essentially zero) and a maximum point in time (the absolute value of the estimated charge essentially has a relative maximum or has a value which is greater than a minimum charge difference) are detected. A current measurement offset error is ascertained at the zero crossing point in time by comparing the estimated charge to the detected accumulator current.

Abstract: A state-matrix-independent dynamic process estimation method in real-time for weakly observable measurement nodes without PMU is only dependent on real-time measurement dynamic data of measurement nodes with Phasor Mesurement Unit (PMU) and measurement data of Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system in electric power system or state estimation data. According to the SCADA measurement data or state estimation data at some continuous moments, the method utilizes recursive least squares solution to find a linear combination relationship between variation of measurement parameter to be estimated of nodes without PMU and variation of corresponding measurement parameter of nodes with PMU. Using the linear combination of relationship, the dynamic process of measurement nodes without PMU is estimated in real-time. The method provides high estimation precision and meets error requirements of engineering application.

Abstract: A fiber-optic current sensor includes a measuring unit having a light source and a light detector, and a sensing head having a sensing fiber wound around a conductor and a retarder connected to the sensing fiber. The scale factor as a function of current of the fiber-optic current sensor is described by the product of two scaling functions fe? and fs? for the measuring unit and the sensing head, respectively. The data describing the scaling functions fe?, fs? is stored in a memory of the measuring unit, while the data describing the scaling function fs? is also stored in a memory of the sensing head. Providing two such memory devices allows to store the scaling functions fe? and fs? separately, thereby turning the control unit as well as the sensor head into easily replaceable modules.

Abstract: A potential sensor for detecting a surface potential of an electrophotographic photosensitive member includes an insulative film; a thin film electrode layer formed on the film; a curved portion formed by folding back the film so that the thin film electrode layer is inwardly located, the curved potion functioning as a detecting portion for detecting the surface potential of the electrophotographic photosensitive member in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and an electroconductive shielding portion provided so as to cover an outer surface of the film except for at least an area in which the curved portion is contactable to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the shielding portion being electrically grounded.

Abstract: Testing or diagnostics are performed on an electric vehicle. The vehicle is operated and current flow through a system of the vehicle is monitored. A voltage related to the system is also monitored. Diagnostics are provided based upon the monitored voltage and the monitored current.

Abstract: Disclosed is a safety sensor provided with a plurality of input signal lines for inputting signals for setting. Specifically disclosed is a safety sensor wherein at least one input signal line is provided with a high-level detection circuit and a low-level detection circuit. In an initialization process wherein setting of an operation mode is permitted, a CPU registers in a memory the on-off states of detection signals from the respective detection circuits on condition that the on-off states of detection signals are mutually opposite, and the CPU identifies the connection state of the input signal line on the basis of the on-off states and sets an operation mode corresponding to the connection state.

Abstract: Multi-step statistical modeling in one embodiment of the present disclosure enables anomaly detection, forecasting and/or root cause analysis of the energy consumption for a portfolio of buildings using multi-step statistical modeling. In one aspect, energy consumption data associated with a building, building characteristic data associated with the building, building operation and activities data associated with the building, and weather data are used to generate a variable based degree model. A base load factor, a heating coefficient and a cooling coefficient associated with the building and an error term are determined from the variable based degree model and used to generate a plurality of multivariate regression models. A time series model is generated for the error term to model seasonal factors which reflect monthly dependence on energy use and an auto-regressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA) which reflects temporal dependent patterns of the energy use.

Abstract: A system and method uses a measurement control device and a measurement machine to measure pin voltages of electronic components installed in an electronic device. The measurement control device controls a mechanical arm of the measurement machine to move to the pins of the electronic components according to coordinates of the pins. A voltage probe installed on the end of the mechanical arm can measure voltages of the pins automatically.

Abstract: A processing arrangement for the fault situation of a local electric power transmission grid comprises a generator-specific element arranged to monitor the fault situation of a data communication bus and the statuses of the switches of the electric power transmission network and to compare the status data concerning the same switch. In case of a fault situation the generators change into droop control only if there are no other possibilities to continue with the normal adjustment of the generator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring an AC voltage. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an AC voltage monitor, including a solid state electrical isolation device, enabled to (i) generate at least a first voltage measurement of an AC power source, (ii) generate a serial data stream frame based on the at least a first voltage measurement, and (iii) transmit the serial data stream frame via the solid state electrical isolation device.

Abstract: A method includes supplying current to at least one photovoltaic device via a current source and detecting emitted photon radiations from the at least one photovoltaic device via a radiation detector. The method also includes outputting a signal corresponding to the detected emitted photon radiations from the radiation detector to a processor device, and processing the signal corresponding to the detected emitted photon radiations via the processor device to generate one or more two-dimensional photon images. The method further includes analyzing the one or more two-dimensional photon images to determine at least one defect in the at least one photovoltaic device.

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

Abstract: A system and method for testing derating performance of a component obtains a component list, a pin list, and a standard derating list of the electronic device from a storage. The system and method further receives parameters of each component, the parameters of each component comprising voltages of two pins of the component and a working temperature of the component, calculates a working voltage and a derating ratio of the component according to the parameters. The system and method also analyzes the working voltage and the derating ratio of the component to get analysis result, generates a test report comprising the derating ratio, the working temperature, the analysis results of each component in the component list, and storing the test report in the storage.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for determining an input voltage of a transformer of a local network station. The method includes measuring an input current of the transformer, an output current of the transformer, an output voltage of the transformer, and a phase angle between the output current and output voltage. The method also includes determining a translation ratio and an admittance of a cross-member of a p-equivalent circuit diagram of the transformer of the local network station using the measured input current, the measured output current, the measured output voltage and the phase angle between the output current and the output voltage. The method also includes determining the input voltage of the transformer of the local network station based on the determined translation ratio and the determined admittance of the cross-member of the p-equivalent circuit diagram.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus associated with monitoring and controlling streetlights include monitoring light levels and voltage levels at corresponding streetlights and controlling the streetlights to set or maintain a particular light output at the respective streetlights or providing power consumption estimates for respective streetlights (streetlight specific metering) based on the voltage levels and light levels. A streetlight controller for a streetlight includes a microcontroller; a first sensor to sense a light level from a lamp within the streetlight; a second sensor operative to sense a voltage level on a power supply for the streetlight; and a switching network coupled with the microcontroller and operative to adjust the light level of the lamp. Methods includes monitoring a light level and voltage level and adjusting a light level, estimating power consumption, or facilitating maintenance in accordance with the light level and voltage level.

Abstract: A method includes generating a first, second and third voltage output from a temperature sensing element of an integrated circuit using a respective, corresponding first, second and third, switched current source, for sequentially switching a respective first, second and third excitation current through the temperature sensing element. The third switched current source generates the corresponding third voltage output as a reference voltage between the first voltage and the second voltage. An error corrected difference is calculated between the first voltage and the second voltage using the reference voltage. In the method, the second excitation current is proportional to the first excitation current by a value n, and the third excitation current is proportional to the first excitation current by the square root of n.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a synthetic jet ejector is provided. The method includes (a) taking a first measurement DCR0 of the DC resistance of the coil; (b) adjusting the actuator drive voltage Vd to achieve a desired maximum displacement dmax1 at a frequency f1; (c) measuring the input current Iin and input voltage Vin; (d) calculating the back electromagnetic frequency BEMF, wherein BEMF=Vin?Iin*DCR; and (e) storing the calculated value of BEMF in a memory device associated with the synthetic jet actuator.

Abstract: A system includes a high-current junction, a voltage sensor, and a controller. Power connectors of two components are electrically connected at the high-current junction, where a high current passes between the two components at the high-current junction. The voltage sensor detects a voltage at the high-current junction. The controller performs a predetermined action in response to the voltage sensor detecting the voltage at the high-current junction being greater than a predetermined threshold voltage. The system may be a data center rack. The high-current junction may be the junction at which an alternating current (AC) input receives AC power from AC mains. The high-current junction may alternatively be the junction at which a power supply receives the AC power from the AC input to generate direct current (DC) power to provide to data center rack components insertable within the data center rack.

Abstract: An inductor current estimator for a switching power supply includes a first sensing and averaging component that generates an average of a switch voltage and a second sensing and averaging component that generates an average of an output voltage of the switching power supply. A first subtraction component receives the average of the switch voltage and the average of the output voltage. A first multiplying component receives an output of the first subtraction component and multiplies the output of the first subtraction component by a first model parameter. A second multiplying component multiplies an input to the second multiplying component by a second model parameter. An adding component adds an output of the first multiplying component and an output of the second multiplying component. A delay component receives an output of the adding component and provides an output to an input of the second multiplying component.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an approach that presents unbalance information obtained from electrical assets in a manner that facilitates management of the electrical assets. In one aspect, a screen view is generated that provides a visual representation of the electrical assets as partitioned into one or more groupings that are each based on a common operational characteristic associated with the electrical assets. The screen view also contains unbalance information that is associated with each of the electrical assets in the one or more groupings and an indication of whether there is a presence of abnormal operation associated with each of the one or more groupings.

Abstract: Previously, electrical power systems have been analyzed to provide theoretical fault levels values for different zones of an electrical power distribution system based upon a worse case scenario. However, existing electrical loads will in practice provide a more adaptable and higher fault level. By monitoring and identifying an I-V characteristic upon switching electrical load in practical operation an actual default level at particular nodes in a power distribution system is determinable. In such circumstances decisions with regard to the connectability of further electrical generators or loads at particular parts and zones of an electrical power distribution system can be quantified by reference to the actual fault level rather than the theoretical worse case scenario level and therefore avoid unnecessary upgrading of transmission equipment or denying access to the electrical power system.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a battery tester having high precision, which has a casing having an input device and two detecting wires, a microprocessor, a variable loading unit and a battery power status detecting unit. The microprocessor builds a strategic decision process therein to determine a proper resistance of a load for a battery according to the battery capacity, initial voltage and detection requirements having 1/N CCA and loading time. When the resistance of the load is determined, the microprocessor adjusts a resistance of the variable loading unit equal to the resistance of the load for the battery. Therefore, the battery tester does not use the load with the fixed resistance to detect batteries with different capacities and has accurate detecting results.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for evaluating a plurality of electrical devices variously powered by a common alternating current service. In an embodiment, a set of transition reports are processed to determine a cluster of transition reports including on-transition reports for an electrical device. In another embodiment, a data structure is created based on such an identified cluster, the data structure characterizing a first device of the plurality of electrical devices. The data structure is provided in one embodiment for an automatic determining of whether a first transition report subsequent to the set of transition reports corresponds to the first device.

Abstract: A diagnostic device for the starter of a combustion engine is provided. The electrical system of a motor vehicle includes a battery in whose connecting line a battery disconnect switch is provided, and the electrical system of the motor vehicle is monitored by a vehicle electrical system state detection device which includes starter diagnostic functionality.

Abstract: A method and system to enable power measurements of a system-on-chip in various modes. In one embodiment of the invention, the system-on-chip has full controllability of its logic and circuitry to facilitate configuration of the system-on-chip into a desired mode of operation. This allows hooks or interfaces to access the system-on-chip externally for measurements. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, the hooks in the system-on-chip allow a backend tester to configure the system-on-chip into various modes easily to perform power consumption measurements of one or more individual components of the system-on-chip. The power consumption measurement of the individual components in the system-on-chip can be performed faster and can be more accurate. In addition, the overall yield of the SOC can be increased as it is easier to detect failure parts.

Abstract: An alternating current (AC) power supply measuring circuit includes a voltage dividing circuit, a measuring integrated circuit (IC), a control board, and a first power rectifying circuit. The voltage dividing circuit receives an AC voltage signal and divides the AC voltage signal to a first voltage dividing signal and a second voltage dividing signal. The measuring IC receives the first and second voltage dividing signals to obtain an AC voltage measuring signal. The control board receives the AC voltage measuring signal and processes the AC voltage measuring signal. The first power rectifying circuit provides a floating ground signal to the voltage dividing circuit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring operation of an LED string. An exemplary system includes an LED string, a circuit that supplies current to the LEDs, a current measuring circuit that measures current through the LEDs, a voltage measuring circuit that measures voltage across the LEDs, and a temperature sensor that measures temperature proximate to the LEDs. A processor calculates a predicted string voltage based on a predefined voltage-current curve, number of LEDs, a predefined temperature coefficient value, the measured string current, a measured junction temperature, a life curve function, a prestored calibration string current value, a prestored calibration string voltage value, a prestored junction calibration temperature and an accumulated time value. The process also calculates an error value based on the predicted string voltage and a measured string voltage and generates an indication that there is a failure in the LED string if the calculated error value is greater than the predefined error limit.

Abstract: In a method of electronic design automation, discretized meshes of layers of current conducting materials of a computerized device model are determined. Each discretized mesh corresponds to the current conducting material of one model layer. For each discretized mesh, a corresponding impedance matrix having cells is determined. Each cell includes an impedance value Zij which is based on a voltage (Vi) induced in a cell i of the discretized mesh due to a current (Ij) flowing in a cell j of the discretized mesh. A subset of the cells, including impedance values, of the impedance matrices is dispatched to node computers via an electronic communications network. In response to dispatching the cells of the impedance matrices, charge densities estimated by the node computers to exist on a subset of the cells of the discretized meshes are returned.

Abstract: An in-situ gas flow measurement controller measures the temperature and rate of pressure drop upstream from a flow control device (FCD). The controller samples the pressure and temperature data and applies the equivalent of a decimating filter to the data to produce filtered data at a slower sampling rate. The controller derives timestamps by counting ticks from the sampling clock of the A/D converter that is sampling the pressure at regular intervals to ensure the timestamps associated with the pressure samples are accurate and do not contain jitter that is associated with software clocks. The controller additionally normalizes the temperature reading to account for power supply fluctuations, filters out noise from the pressure and temperature readings, and excludes data during periods of instability. It calculates the gas flow rate accounting for possible non-linearities in the pressure measurements, and provides the computed gas flow measurement via one of many possible interfaces.

Abstract: The amount of energy actually available in an energy storage module having a plurality of individual storage elements connected in series is determined. An upper and/or a lower limit voltage for the energy storage module is determined dynamically. During a charging operation of the energy storage module, in the event that a maximally permissible upper cell voltage is reached on at least one storage cell, the upper limit voltage of the energy storage module is determined by summing all cell voltages of all storage elements existing at that point-in-time. During a discharging operation, if a minimally permissible lower cell voltage is reached on at least one storage element, the lower limit voltage is determined by summing all cell voltages existing at that point-in-time. The actually available amount of energy is computed as a function of the determined limit voltage or voltages and of the determined actual storage capacity.

Abstract: A spa control system designed to reduce maintenance cost by providing modular construction for major control functions, with built-in diagnostic capabilities for isolating defective spa components. Multi-colored LEDs on the spaside panel constantly report the status of each component of the spa as well as the status of the functional modules themselves. Each time a component is activated, measurements of operational parameters, such as load currents, are instantly made and evaluated so that the proper LED color can be presented at the spaside. Since major functions such as audio, LED control, wireless, and spa logic are separated into removable modules, repair of the control system requires less time and less skilled personnel. Other design improvements, such as direct monitoring of heater element temperature and the purging of pumps on an as required-basis, enhance the spa's overall reliability and thus reduce the need for maintenance.

Abstract: A trip unit for a circuit breaker having at least one sensor for monitoring a current in a protected circuit and a tripping system is provided. The trip unit includes a first controller operably coupled to receive a current signal from the at least one sensor and electrically coupled to the tripping system. The first controller includes a first processor that transmits a first signal to the tripping system in response to a detection of a first undesired condition. A second controller is operably coupled to receive the current signal from the at least one sensor and is electrically coupled to the tripping system in parallel with the first controller. The second controller includes a second processor that detects the first condition and transmits a second signal to the tripping system after a predetermined first time period.

Abstract: Techniques for solar cell electrical characterization are provided. In one aspect, a solar testing device is provided. The device includes a solar simulator; and a continuous neutral density filter in front of the solar simulator having regions of varying light attenuation levels ranging from transparent to opaque, the continuous neutral density filter having an area sufficiently large to filter all light generated by the solar simulator, and wherein a position of the continuous neutral density filter relative to the solar simulator is variable so as to control a light intensity produced by the device. A solar cell electrical characterization system and a method for performing a solar cell electrical characterization are also provided.

Abstract: A system operating in a process control environment includes a field device to perform a process control function in the process control environment, a remote device disposed away from the field device to perform an auxiliary function associated with the process control function of the field device, a first wired communication link communicatively coupled to the field device and to the remote device to support data communication between the field device and the remote device, and a common-mode noise reduction circuit coupled to the field device and to the wired communication link to reduce common-mode noise generated in the first wired communication link.

Abstract: A charge amplifier for use in radiation sensing includes an amplifier, at least one switch, and at least one capacitor. The switch selectively couples the input of the switch to one of at least two voltages. The capacitor is electrically coupled in series between the input of the amplifier and the input of the switch. The capacitor is electrically coupled to the input of the amplifier without a switch coupled therebetween. A method of measuring charge in radiation sensing includes selectively diverting charge from an input of an amplifier to an input of at least one capacitor by selectively coupling an output of the at least one capacitor to one of at least two voltages. The input of the at least one capacitor is operatively coupled to the input of the amplifier without a switch coupled therebetween. The method also includes calculating a total charge based on a sum of the amplified charge and the diverted charge.