4104results about "Boards/switchyards circuit arrangements" patented technology

A handheld surgical device includes a multi-position throttle, rotatably attached to the body of the device, to allow for ambidextrous positioning of a motor speed control lever. The motor speed control lever may interact with a speed control sensor in the body of the device capable of detecting the actuation level of the motor speed control lever in any one of two or more positions.

A mobile computing device includes a processor and a trigger device operatively attached to the mobile computing device and configured to generate a mechanical vibration pattern for selectively actuating the mobile computing device. A trigger interface, illustratively an accelerometer, is configured to convert the mechanical vibration pattern into an electrical signal pattern. The processor is configured to actuate a mobile computing function depending on the mechanical vibration pattern generated by the trigger device. A table of properties stored in memory correlates the mechanical vibration generated by the trigger device with a specific mobile computing function. The trigger device may include a plurality of trigger parts; and the mechanical vibration pattern generated by the trigger device may include multiple bits of data generated by the plurality of trigger parts. The mobile computing device may be in a candy bar, clam shell, or other form factor and may include a removable handle.

A home automation system and method for automatic control of controlled devices throughout a home. A unique architecture of occupancy sensors includes entry / exit sensors for detecting movement through doorways that separate rooms in the home, room motion sensors for detecting room occupancy, spot sensors to detect occupancy of specific locations within the rooms, and house status sensors to detect the status of certain parameters of the home. A central controller communicates with the sensors and controlled objects over a communications network, where the sensors and controlled objects can be added to the system in a ‘plug and play’ manner. The central controller controls the controlled objects in response to the entry / exit sensors, room motion sensors, spot sensors and the house status sensors. This control is accomplished by assigning each room to one of a plurality of room occupancy states, and to one of a plurality of room modes for creating desired room atmospheres using the controlled objects, which both dictate how the controlled objects are controlled by the central controller. The room modes travel from room to room as the occupant moves throughout the home, and multiple occupants can be using different room modes as they move about the home. The controlled objects also have controlled object states, which are used by the central controller to control the controlled objects.

Systems and method for installing computer equipment and power distribution equipment in facilities is provided. In one aspect, the present invention provides a power distribution rack, and uninterruptible power supply rack and a plurality of equipment racks. A plurality of power cables are run from the power distribution rack to each of the plurality of equipment racks using power cable tracks located on the roofs of the equipment racks.

A battery assembly for use with a surgical device having a battery terminal and operational parameters includes a housing having a shape formed to removably connect with the terminal. The housing contains a modular battery operable to supply power to the device at the terminal and has a control circuit with a microprocessor, a memory, and a real-time clock. The control circuit is communicatively coupled to the battery and is operable to detect an identity of the surgical device, to determine at least one piece of information pertaining to at least one of the operational parameters of the surgical device based upon the detected identity, to record the piece of information at least in the memory, and to selectively allow or prevent the battery from supplying power to the surgical device dependent upon the piece of information.

A method and apparatus for switching AC appliances and lights of residences and other automation systems through SPDT or DPDT relays connected in electrical circuit with SPDT or DPDT switch including a current sensor and / or a status sensor. The operating key of the relay and the key lever of the electric switch can each be used for operating a dedicated appliance or light, a group of appliance and lights and all appliance and / or lights including scenarios setup via the many well known two way, three way or four way light switches, by operating the switch lever or key in multi steps. The SPDT or DPDT relays are operated via RF, IR and fiber optic communicating two way signal for operating the lights and reporting statuses.

A programmable wallbox dimmer is disclosed. Upon entering a programming mode, the dimmer presents a main menu from which the user may select one or more features to program. The user may scroll through a list of programmable features by actuating the dimmer's raise / lower intensity actuator. The user may select a highlighted feature by actuating the dimmer's control switch. The dimmer may enter a value selection mode that is associated with the selected feature. In the value selection mode, the user may scroll through a list of features that define the selected feature by actuating the dimmer's raise / lower intensity actuator. The user may select a value for the selected feature. The selected value may be stored in the dimmer's memory.

A smart device is discussed, which is connected to a smart grid to perform a power saving function. According to an embodiment, the smart device includes a power information receiving unit configured to receive power information through the smart grid network; a power saving control unit configured to perform the power saving function for at least one apparatus based on the power information in a power saving mode; at least one mode switching unit configured to switch from the power saving mode to a manual mode according to a user command; and a manual mode operational time determining unit configured to determine a manual mode operational time for operating the at least one apparatus in the manual mode, the at least one mode switching unit further configured to switch from the manual mode back to the power saving mode, automatically, when the manual mode operational time expires.

A switch is used in circuits which interact with electromagnetic radiation. The switch includes a substrate for supporting components of the switch. A first conductive element on the substrate is provided for connecting to a first component of the circuit, and a second conductive element on the substrate serves to connect to a second component of the circuit. A switch element is made up of a switching material on the substrate and connects the first conductive element to the second conductive element. The switching material is a compound which exhibits a bi-stable phase behavior and is switchable between a first impedance state value and a second impedance state value upon the application of energy thereto. A circuit consisting of a plurality of conductive elements includes the switch for varying current flow which has been induced by the application of electromagnetic radiation.

A transmission-guard is disclosed for preventing an inductive power outlet from transmitting power in the absence of an inductive power receiver. A transmission lock is associated with an inductive power outlet and a transmission key is associated with an inductive power receiver. The transmission lock is configured to prevent a primary inductor from connecting to the power supply unless triggered by a release signal via the transmission key.

A ground fault detector and interrupter for a photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion system, method and apparatus are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes first and second inputs adapted to couple to a first and second rails of a PV array. An inverter is configured to convert DC power generated from the PV array to AC power. A ground fault detector and interrupter, which is coupled to the first and second rails and to the inverter, is configured to detect ground fault conditions in the PV array and to decouple the PV array from the remaining portion of the PV energy conversion system upon such detection. A known signal is coupled to the input of the ground fault detector and interrupter, and then sensed at the output of the ground fault detector and interrupter to determine whether components of the ground fault detector and interrupter are operating properly.

A sensor apparatus and a safety apparatus which can ensure significantly enhanced safety by monitoring constantly whether the sensor apparatus is operating normally. An auxiliary electrode plate of a small area is disposed in parallel and in opposition to an electrode plate with a short distance therefrom. A switching element is turned on every second for a period of milliseconds repetitively. When the switching element is turned on under the control of a central processing unit, the auxiliary electrode plate is connected to the ground potential, as a result of which a capacitance DELTAC effective between the auxiliary electrode plate and the electrode plate is electrically connected in parallel with a capacitor C0 effective between the electrode plate and a machine component, resulting in that the capacitance C0 is increased by a proportion corresponding to the capacitance DELTAC. Consequently, change of the capacitance C0 comparable to that brought about upon detection of the human body takes place, whereby a substantially similar detection signal as the human body detection signal is made available. On the basis of this detection signal, it is possible to monitor whether or not the sensor apparatus is operating normally.

An electrical safety outlet for accepting a plug to provide power to electrical appliances including a power supply and an intelligent circuitry for controlling the power supply to the electrical outlet; the intelligent circuitry includes circuits for determining temperature condition in the outlet, mechanical plug insertion into the outlet, load presence on the outlet, and current capacity conditions.

A capacitive proximity switch for detecting the change in the capacitance relative to a setpoint capacitance by the approach or retreat of an object in the sensitive area of a proximity switch, especially for use in the door handle of a motor vehicle, provides reliable error detection and error suppression at a fundamentally high sensitivity of the capacitive proximity switch by utilizing an evaluation unit that evaluates a measured value of the change in capacitance over time and depending on the time behavior of the measured value activates changes the operating threshold from a first threshold (which can be caused by a false object coming into or out of the sensitive area of the proximity switch) to a higher second threshold which can be reached only at a relatively greater change in capacitance caused by a target object coming into or out of the sensitive area of the proximity switch.

The present invention is directed to a carrying case with an integrated power supply system for providing power to multiple electronic devices from a single power source. In addition to allowing quick access and storage of various electronic devices, the carrying case also allows the individual electronic devices to be easily connected to the power source and eliminates the need to carry multiple charging cords. In certain embodiments, the power supply system further includes an additional battery or other power source, which increases the runtime of connected electronic devices and reduces the need to carry additional individual batteries for the individual devices. With different connectors on the input to the power system, different AC or DC power sources may be utilized. Different connectors can also be used to provide power to different electronic devices.

A novel and advantageous power supply is disclosed for lighting systems employing semiconductor light sources where the semiconductor light sources are connected in series. The power supply includes a constant current source to supply current to the semiconductor light sources and a bypass switch is provided around each semiconductor light source, or each sub-string of series connected semiconductor light sources. By opening or closing respective bypass switches, individual semiconductor light sources or sub-strings of semiconductor light sources can be illuminated or extinguished as desired. If the bypass switches are electrically controllable, such as semiconductor switches or relays, failures of one or more semiconductor light sources can be determined by the power supply and failed light sources can be bypassed and / or redundant semiconductor elements illuminated to replace failed light sources. Further, if the bypass switches are semiconductor switches, the power supply can employ pulse width modulation techniques to dim one or more semiconductor light sources as desired.

A wireless sensor for a load control system is adapted to be releasably mounted to a surface, such as a drop ceiling panel, to allow the optimum location of the sensor to be determined. A releasable mounting means of the sensor comprises two posts extending perpendicularly from a rear surface of the sensor. Each post has a small diameter and is rigid enough to pierce the panel without creating a large aesthetically-displeasing hole. The sensor may be permanently affixed to the panel by bending the posts at a rear surface of the panel without the use of a tool, such that the panel is captured between the mounting plate and the deformed posts. The sensor further comprises multiple test buttons provided on an outwardly-facing surface of the sensor for separately testing the communications of the load control system and the operation of the sensor. Alternatively, the releasable mounting means may comprise one or more magnets for magnetically coupling the sensor to a grid structure of the ceiling.

A protective circuit for electrical connection to solar cells of a solar cell module is provided with a protective circuit that has a controlled electronic circuit arrangement. In this way, only minimal heating of the protective circuit for electrical connection of solar cells of a solar cell module occurs in operation. The controlled electronic circuit arrangement can have a trigger circuit and a switching arrangement which can be triggered by the trigger circuit, the switching arrangement being connected parallel to at least one solar cell, and in the case of shading of the solar cells, is at least temporarily activated by the trigger circuit so that a current bypass for the shaded solar cell is achieved.

An AC controller provides programmable switching of AC power flow, together with producing a source of DC power for the AC controller. The AC controller is connected in series with only one side of the AC power source and the AC load, and uses a microcontroller or a Programmable Logic Device (PLD) for the programmable capability. The AC controller can be programmed to provide a light flasher function, a time delay off function, an automatic fade function, a dimming function, a burglar deterrent function, and a time delay dim function. With a multiple-position switch replacing a current wall switch, the operator can easily select many pre-programmed functions.

A system and method for remotely controlling power to an electrically powered device in a simple and efficient manner is disclosed herein. The system comprises an apparatus, an electrically-powered device and a controller. The apparatus comprises a cord, an alternating current outlet socket, an alternating current input plug, a latching relay, a processor and a transceiver. The system preferably uses a WiFi communication signal to transmit commands from the remote controller to the apparatus.

A system includes a thin-film battery and an activity-activated switch. The system is placed on a substrate with an adhesive backing. In some embodiments, the substrate is flexible. Also formed on the substrate is an electrical circuit that includes electronics. The activity-activated switch places the thin-film battery in electrical communication with the circuit and electronics. The battery and the circuit are formed on the substrate and may be comprised of one or a plurality of deposited layers.

A system to monitor the health of a structure, sensor nodes, program product, and associated methods are provided. The system includes an array of health monitoring sensor nodes connected to or embedded within a structure to monitor the health of the structure. The health monitoring sensor nodes include sensor elements positioned to sense parameters of the structure and to provide data related to the parameters to a health monitoring sensor node data collector. The sensor nodes can each include an energy harvester to harvest energy to power the sensor node. The system also includes an energy distributing node positioned to provide energy to the sensor nodes, through the structure being monitored, to be harvested by energy harvester of the sensor nodes.

A discharge prevention circuit and electronic equipment with the discharge prevention circuit are provided. The discharging prevention circuit includes a first power line, a second power line, a capacitor, a current detector and a switch. The first and second power lines directly or indirectly connect a power feed line to a load. The capacitor and the current detector are directly or indirectly connected in series between the first and second power lines. The switch is disposed in the first or second power line. The current detector detects at least charging current to the capacitor and discharging current from the capacitor. And if the current detector detects discharging current from the capacitor, the switch acts to stop current flow between the capacitor and the power feed line through the switch.

An electrical safety outlet for accepting a plug to provide power to electrical appliances including a power supply and an intelligent circuitry for controlling the power supply to the electrical outlet; the intelligent circuitry includes circuits for determining temperature condition in the outlet, mechanical plug insertion into the outlet, load presence on the outlet, and current capacity conditions.