153results about How to "Limited supply" patented technology

An electric power supply apparatus includes a distributed power generator such as a gas turbine generator and a power converter such as an inverter apparatus for converting electric power generated by the distributed power generator into AC electric power (alternating-current power) having a required frequency and a required voltage and supplying the AC electric power to a load. The electric power supply apparatus further includes a control unit having output voltage vs. output current characteristics for determining an output voltage corresponding to an output current of the power converter. The output voltage vs. output current characteristics has a first dropping characteristic for causing output electric power of the electric generator to be limited, between a first output current exceeding a power generation capability of the electric generator and a second output current exceeding a power converting capability of the power converter.

A bipolar, filter press-like electrochemical cell stack comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells, where each electrochemical cell is supplied with a gaseous anodic reactant and either supplied with a gaseous cathodic reactant or produces a gaseous cathodic product, and where each electrochemical cell avoids drying out the ion exchange membrane polymer electrolyte, avoids flooding at the cathode, facilitates recovery of liquid water at the anode, and reduces water losses from at least one of the electrodes. A water retention barrier is variously positioned, such as between a gas diffusion electrode and a fluid flow field. The barrier may be either: (i) a thin, gas permeable, liquid water impermeable membrane; (ii) a thin, porous sheet of material; or (iii) a thin, substantially solid sheet of material except for a plurality of small through-holes that penetrate from one side of the sheet to an opposing side of the same sheet. The barrier is advantageously used at the cathode and facilitates air cooling of the cell.

A power control system is disclosed for controlling the power supplied to a lighting system and limiting power during time of peak demands and the like wherein the lighting system includes a power source and a lighting load connected to the power source. The control system comprises a main transformer having a first winding and a second winding, the first winding being connected between the power source and the lighting load. An autotransformer connected to the power source having a plurality of electrical transformer taps with prescribed voltage values. A plurality of solid-state tap switches is connected to the transformer taps and to the second winding of the main transformer to apply the prescribed voltage values across the second winding. A system controller has an input for receiving a voltage change signal representing a selected load voltage to be applied to the lighting load. The controller is connected to the tap switches for selectively closing one of the tap switches to produce said prescribed voltage value across the second winding of the main transformer whereby the selected load voltage is output across the first winding of the main transformer and applied to the lighting load without interruption of the lighting. A transient control circuit is connected across an output of the tap switches for dissipating transient currents during switching of tap switches.

The present disclosure relates to a return pad for use with an electrosurgical system and includes a contact layer configured to engage patient skin, a conductive layer disposed on the contact layer, and a heating layer operatively associated with at least one of the contact layer and the conductive layer. The heating layer is configured to heat the return pad.

A system for increasing the overall efficiency of a hydrogen fueled vehicle and refilling station infrastructure wherein the process of (1) consuming pressurized hydrogen gas that is stored in on board tanks used to power hydrogen fueled motor vehicles and (2) refueling the vehicle tanks at a hydrogen refilling station after the available on board fuel supply in the tanks is consumed is controlled according to a predetermined sequence involving the utilization of the hydrogen in the on board tanks.

An energy management apparatus is used to manage energy to be supplied to a system. A paid energy resource can be supplied to the system from the outside. The system is provided with two or more functional device units realizing a specific function using the input energy and adapted to satisfy an external request using at least one of the two or more functional device units such that supply of energy to the functional device units can be controlled. In the apparatus, a standardizing means standardizes input energy of each of the two or more functional device units in terms of the cost of the paid energy resource required for producing the input energy. In addition, a determining means determines to which of the two or more functional device units a predetermined quantity of energy should be fed such that the cost incurred in the system can be reduced.

Devices and methods for collecting solar energy using photovoltaic material are disclosed.

A driving force transmission device for four-wheel-drive vehicle based on the two-wheel drive of front wheels is provided. In the case of the two-wheel drive of front wheels, a multi-disc clutch mechanism for controlling the driving force distribution to a rear wheel output shaft, and a disconnection / connection mechanism for disconnecting and connecting a rear wheel differential and a right rear wheel drive shaft are provided, and in the two-wheel drive of front wheels, the dragging torque of the multi-disc clutch mechanism is made smaller than the friction torque of a rear wheel driving force transmission section, and the front wheel differential and the right rear wheel drive shaft are disconnected by the disconnection / connection mechanism, thereby the rotation of the rear wheel driving force transmission section is stopped.

Disclosed is a method for increasing vaccine potency whereby a subject's immune system is first primed with an Ii-Key hybrid peptide construct before the subject subsequently receives a vaccine for a pathogen of interest. The vaccine may be comprised of a protein or portion thereof that is encoded by the genome of the pathogen. The vaccine may also be a DNA vaccine comprised of DNA encoding a protein of the pathogen. The Ii-Key hybrid peptide construct includes the LRMK residues of Ii-Key protein and an MHC Class II epitope of the protein or portion thereof which is used in the vaccine. The Ii-Key construct may be administered in the form of a nucleic acid construct encoding the Ii-Key hybrid peptide. Priming with Ii-Key peptides enhances the immunogenicity of rHA protein and HA and HIV DNA vaccines. Methods are described relating to the use of Ii-Key hybrid constructs in vaccine protocols wherein the pathogen is HIV or Influenza A, including H5N1. Methods and compositions are described wherein the MHC Class II epitope of the Ii-Key hybrid is hemagglutinin encoded by Influenza A or the Gag protein encoded by HIV.

A reliable and efficient circuit for lighting a discharge lamp is described. An inverter accepts a direct current supply voltage and outputs an alternating current lamp voltage to drive the discharge lamp at a relatively high frequency. In one embodiment, the inverter includes semiconductor switches in a full-bridge configuration, a transformer feedback circuit to control the semiconductor switches, and a series L-C resonant circuit. In one embodiment, the inverter includes semiconductor switches in a half-bridge configuration, a transformer feedback circuit to control the semiconductor switches, and a series L-C resonant circuit. The inverter can drive multiple discharge lamps in a parallel configuration. A bypass circuit can also be coupled across a cathode of the discharge lamp to extend the life of the discharge lamp. The bypass circuit activates when a lamp cathode wears out.

A speed-limit-enforcing system for enforcing speed limit on a vehicle hosting the system, and methods of using thereof. The system includes a speed-limit controller, a drivers' profile DB, a driver-identifier and a throttle controller. The speed-limit profile of each driver is predefined by a master user, wherein a driver may not alter his speed-limit profile. The driver-identifier identifies the current driver, wherein the drivers' profile DB includes a speed-limit profile of that current driver. The speed-limit controller, being a personal mobile device, derives a current speed limit from rules defined in the speed-limit profile of the current driver, wherein the speed-limit controller activates the throttle controller to limit the fuel supply to the engine of the vehicle, such that the current velocity of the vehicle, provided by an external source, does not exceed the current speed limit.

A semiconductor device is provided, which comprises a first circuit including a variable resistance element, a second circuit electrically connected to the first circuit, and an antenna circuit configured to supply power to the first circuit. A resistance value of the variable resistance element is changed in accordance with the power supplied from the antenna circuit, and the variable resistance element is electrically connected in series between the second circuit and the antenna circuit.

A remote vehicle safety system for use with a child-operated riding vehicle (100) employs a portable remote control (50) operated by a user, having a transmitter (57) for transmitting a signal to a receiver (107) on the vehicle (100). The receiver recognizes the signal from the transmitter (57). The receiver (107) then operates an actuator (211) causing a modification circuit (109) to modify power being provided to a motor (103) on vehicle (100). It may slow or stop the vehicle (100) preventing a child rider from getting into a dangerous situation.

In a microprocessor module assembly, voltage regulators are integrated into the module and adapted for use with a processor and support electronics likewise mounted on the module. The voltage regulators receive a fixed imput voltage from a motherboard interface and provide modified regulated output voltages to the processor and support electronics. In this manner, the processor module is readily upgradable such that future generations are compatible with a fixed motherboard interface without the need for upgrading voltage regulators on the motherboard. In a preferred embodiment, bulk decoupling capacitance is provided on the processor assembly to stabilize the DC output voltage of the voltage regulators.

An improved washer (10, 210, 710) having a quick fill (32, 34) and a quick drain (36, 38) with reduced overall wash time is provided. Means are provided for doing a very cold wash to permit machine washing of fine clothing that heretofore was hand washed or dry cleaned. The washer (10, 210, 710) can be provided with one (30), two (224, 230) or three tanks (750A, B & C, 950A, B & C) for water at three temperatures, very cold (refrigerated), tap or city water supply temperature, or hot water. The very cold can be made by a refrigeration or chilling means (62, 64, 98), located in or adjacent the very cold water tank. The hot water can be provided from or have a heater (230, 320, 750C, 950C) therein one of the tanks. The washer also includes an improved embossed basket (600) with increased surface area. The features can be built into a new washer or retrofitted into an existing washer. Very cold water wash and rinse can be provided so that cloths, and particularly clothes such as made of wool, rayon, acetate or other clothes, such as leathers or furs, usually dry cleaned or hand washed, can be machine washed with the present invention without use of hazardous chemicals or shrinkage.

A semiconductor device is equipped with a step-up circuit having a series of multiple charge pump units. Each of the units has a well separation type MOS transistor. The separation well of the transistor is coupled to a high potential so as to form double reverse biases between the N-type well and a P-type substrate and between the N-type well and a P-type well. This permits the threshold Vth of the MOS transistor to be held at low level. The units are provided with a clock whose current supply capability is limited until a predetermined condition (that a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the onset of the step-up circuit by a startup signal or that the output voltage has reached a predetermined level). This limitation of the clock facilitates suppression of power consumption by the step-up circuit during a startup, thereby reducing changes in amplitude of a supply voltage.

A driving force transmission device for four-wheel-drive vehicle based on the two-wheel drive of rear wheels or front wheels is provided. In the case of the two-wheel drive of rear wheels, a multi-disc clutch mechanism for controlling the driving force distribution to a front wheel output shaft, and a disconnection / connection mechanism for disconnecting and connecting a front wheel differential and a left front wheel drive shaft are provided, and in the two-wheel drive of rear wheels, the dragging torque of the multi-disc clutch mechanism is made smaller than the friction torque of a front wheel driving force transmission section, and the front wheel differential and the left front wheel drive shaft are disconnected by the disconnection / connection mechanism, thereby the rotation of the front wheel driving force transmission section is stopped.

A biometric key (10) having a body or housing (11) incorporating a biometric sensor (17) uses a plurality of contacts (19, 20, 21) enabling the key to gain access to a facility. There is also provided a receptor (25) for receiving the biometric key (10), wherein the biometric key (10) and receptor (24) have contacts (19, 20, 21) and mating contacts (30, 31, 32), respectively, for communicating. The biometric key (10) can communicate biometric data acquired from a key operator to the receptor (25). The biometric key (10) can communicate with the receptor (25) when received in a first orientation and also when received in a second orientation where the contacts (19, 20, 21) are inverted from the first orientation.

An image forming apparatus for controlling power supply is provided. An image forming apparatus includes at least one cover unit to be mounted in the image forming apparatus, at least one replaceable unit to participate in an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus, a sensing unit to sense whether the at least one cover unit is opened or closed, and a main board unit to cut off the power supply to the at least one replaceable unit for a predetermined period of time when the at least one cover unit is opened or closed. Accordingly, stable operation is enabled.

Devices and methods for collecting solar energy using photovoltaic material are disclosed.

The present invention relates to a building that uses composite light-weight panels for structure and a construction method therefor, more particularly, to a building constructed without pillars using composite light weight panels for structure and a construction method therefor, wherein the building comprises: a steel floor made out of sectional steel for example; walls which are formed by joining composite light-weight panels for structure having steel structure frames installed at corners to the steel floor by welding or joining means, neighboring steel structure frames being joined together by welding or joining means to form walls; roof frames which are constituted by a steel structure and have a truss structure to be positioned on the top of the walls and joined to the wall panels by welding or joining means; wall inner / outer coverings applied to the inner / outer peripherals of the walls; and roof coverings applied to the outer peripheral face of the roof frame.

Even when a grounding capacitor is included at either end of a common mode coil, there is noise that flows from a load into a metal frame, and there is a need to restrict an amount of noise propagating to a system power supply. Because of this, a noise loop is formed of a rectifier circuit, an inverter, a first electrical wire that connects a positive polarity side of the rectifier circuit and the inverter, a second electrical wire that connects a negative polarity side of the rectifier circuit and the inverter, a ground wire terminal that can connect a load connected to an output terminal or the inverter, and a conductive plate that connects at least one or the first electrical wire and second electrical wire and the ground wire terminal.

A driving signal supply control semiconductor device includes a load driving device that includes: (i) a bridge circuit including a high-side first transistor and a low-side second transistor, the transistors being electrically connected to a load as an object to be driven and being turned on or off to energize or de-energize the load; (ii) a first driving circuit driving the first transistor; (iii) a second driving circuit driving the second transistor; (iv) a first power supply circuit supplying driving power to the first driving circuit; (v) a second power supply circuit supplying driving power to the second driving circuit; (vi) a supply content setting unit setting a supply content of each of driving signals regarding low-power driving of the load driving device, according to a standby status of the load; and (vii) a driving signal supply control unit controlling supply of the driving signals to the first and the second power supply circuits. Based on the supply content set by the supply content setting unit, the driving signal supply control unit controls independently contents of the driving signals supplied to each of the first and the second power supply circuits such that the load driving device is driven with lower power consumption than in a normal driving status of the load driving device.

A power converter is provided which comprises two main MOS-FETs 4, 5 connected in series to a DC power source 1; an oscillator 2 which has two capacitors 3a, 3b connected in parallel to main MOS-FETs 4, 5; a primary winding 9a of a transformer 9 connected between a junction of two main MOS-FETs 4, 5 and a junction of two capacitors 3a, 3b; an electricity controller 12, 37 which comprises first and second regulatory MOS-FETs 10, 35, 12, 37 connected between respectively one and the other ends of a secondary winding 9b, 9c of transformer 9 and a speaker 15, 40; a polarity detector 51 for detecting the polarity of AC voltage produced on secondary winding 9b, 9c of transformer 9 by the on and off operation of MOS-FETs 4, 5 to generate detection signals; and a drive circuit 24, 25, 49, 50 for receiving detection signals from polarity detector 51 to control the on and off operation of first and second regulatory MOS-FETs 10, 35, 11, 36 to simplify the circuit configuration and improve power conversion efficiency in the power converter.

A portable computer with a power control function is disclosed to include a first body, a hinge, a second body coupled to the first body through the hinge, an optical sensor having a transmitter and a receiver and mounted on the first body, an optical grating connected to the hinge and having a part located between the transmitter and the receiver, a control circuit, and an electronic component. When the second body is turned relative to the first body, the optical sensor generates a first sensing voltage and a second sensing voltage subject to the turning action of the optical grating so that the control circuit controls the power of the electronic component based on the first sensing voltage and the second sensing voltage provided by the optical sensor.

Capsules which contain vital cells or tissues as the contents and in which these cells or tissues can be grown. Since these cells or tissues can be grown in the capsules, an extremely high cell density can be achieved. By using these capsules, foods having an excellent effect of ameliorating intestinal disorders, etc. can be provided. Moreover, it is possible to provide artificial seeds showing an excellent storage stability and a high germination ratio which comprise seamless soft capsules consisting of an innermost layer containing indefinite embryo, indefinite shoots, multiple shoots, shoot apexes, growing points, protocorm-like bodies, indefinite roots, hairy roots, etc., an inner coating layer comprising a hardened oil and an outer coating layer made of a biodegradable film comprising gelatin, polysaccharides, etc.

A multiple well plate and method for media exchange, including a body defining a plurality of cell wells each connected via a channel to one of a plurality of aspiration holes, is provided. The cell wells contain a porous, hydrophilic frit which is suspended on a ledge above a reservoir of fluid media and supports a tissue sample. The properties of the frit wick the fluid media upwards to supply the tissue sample with nutrients for growth and proliferation. Old media is aspirated from the wells by a liquid handling device which inserts a pipette tip into the aspiration holes. The pipette tip applies a suction pressure which draws the media out of the cell well, through the channel, into the aspiration hole and out through the pipette tip. New media is dispersed through the pipette tip and directly into the cell well.