1044 results about "Galvanic isolation" patented technology

A LED driver circuit is disclosed that has the ability to drive a single series string of power LEDs. The LED driver circuit uses a single stage power converter to convert from a universal AC input to a regulated DC current. This single stage power converter current is controlled by a power factor correction unit. Furthermore, the LED driver circuit contains a galvanic isolation barrier that isolates an input, or primary, section from an output, or secondary, section. The LED driver circuit can also include a dimming function, a red, green, blue output function, and a control signal that indicates the LED current and is sent from the secondary to the primary side of the galvanic barrier.

A non-optical isolator having a driver circuit for providing an input signal to one or more first passive components which are coupled across a galvanic isolation barrier to one or more corresponding second passive components, and an output circuit that converts the signal from the second passive components to an output signal corresponding to the input signal. The entire structure may be formed monolithically as an integrated circuit on one or two die substrates, for low cost, small size, and low power consumption. The passive components may be coils or capacitor plates, for example. When the first and second passive components are capacitor plates, a Faraday shield may be provided between them, with the first and second passive components being referenced to separate grounds and the Faraday shield referenced to the same ground as the second passive components.

An apparatus for renal neuromodulation includes an expandable support member having a main body portion for engaging a wall of a blood vessel proximate a renal vasculature and at least one electrode connected with the main body portion. The at least one electrode is arranged to selectively deliver electric current to a desired location where modulation of the sympathetic nervous system is effective to alter renal function. The apparatus further includes an insulative material attached to at least a portion of the main body portion for isolating blood flow through the vessel from the electric current delivered by the at least one electrode.

A coupling circuit arrangement for data communication over a power line comprises a modulator / demodulator circuit for modulating data signals for transmission over the power line, and for demodulating signals which have been transmitted over the power line into data signals, a power supply circuit, and isolation means for providing galvanic isolation from the power line. The isolation means comprises light emitting elements and light detecting elements, which are arranged between the modulator / demodulator circuit and the power line. The isolation means may also be used to transmit a digital control signal which indicates the status of the power supply circuit or an over-temperature condition, or which is a transmit enable signal. The digital control signal may be encoded in the analog data signal by a digital shift in the DC bias level or by a complete removal of the DC biasing signal.

A galvanic isolated DC-DC and DC-AC power conversion system is coupled to a plurality of DC sources which are derived from a combination of a plurality of single-phase and three-phase AC-DC converters. The DC-DC and DC-AC power conversion system in one embodiment is configured to provide mixed type outputs (mixed frequency, e.g. DC with 50 or 60 Hz, with 400 Hz; mixed voltage levels).

An apparatus for insertion into a blood vessel and for modulating the baroreflex system of a mammal includes an expandable support member for engaging a wall of a blood vessel at a desired location where baroreceptors are located, and at least one electrode connected with the expandable support member. The at least one electrode is arranged to selectively deliver electric current to modulate the baroreceptors. The apparatus further includes an insulative material attached to at least a portion of the expandable support member for isolating blood flowing through the vessel from the electric current delivered by the at least one electrode.

A system for transferring electrical signals while providing electrical isolation may include a first circuit and a second circuit electrically isolated from the first circuit. The first circuit may provide a first electrical signal path for conveying a transmit electrical signal and including a first EHF communication unit. The first EHF communication unit may be configured to receive the transmit electrical signal and to electromagnetically transmit an electromagnetic EHF signal representative of the electrical signal. The second circuit may provide a second electrical signal path and including a second EHF communication unit. The second EHF communication unit may be configured to electromagnetically receive the transmitted electromagnetic EHF signal, extract a received electrical signal from the received electromagnetic EHF signal, and apply the received electrical signal to the second electrical signal path. A dielectric element may conduct the electromagnetic EHF signal between the first and second EHF communication units.

A method and apparatus of powering components on a network by using a load-share technique and by using over-voltage and current-limiting circuitry. The power subsystem for a component in a network is designed in a load-share manner whereby the power subsystem will supply power to the network bus and to the component load. Under normal operation of the power subsystem, the load will be powered directly from the power subsystem. In the event of a failure, the load will immediately pull power from the bus and thereby maintain network operation. The power subsystem and the power supply are protected from disruptions due to voltage or current surges. Further, the power subsystem is in compliance with the IEEE 1394 specifications in terms of recommended current levels and galvanic isolation of the power sources.

Embodiments of the acoustic galvanic isolator comprise a carrier signal source, a modulator connected to receive an information signal and the carrier signal, a demodulator, and an electrically-isolating acoustic coupler connected between the modulator and the demodulator. In an exemplary embodiment, the electrically-isolating acoustic coupler comprises film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs). An electrically-isolating acoustic coupler is physically small and is inexpensive to fabricate yet is capable of passing information signals having data rates in excess of 100 Mbit / s and has a substantial breakdown voltage between its inputs and its outputs.

A component coil for constructing transformers and the transformer constructed therefrom are disclosed. The component coil includes a substrate having an insulating layer of material having top and bottom surfaces. First and second traces are included on the top and bottom surfaces. Each trace includes a spiral conductor. The inner ends of the spiral conductors are connected by a conductor that passes through the insulating layer. The first and second spiral conductors are oriented such that magnetic fields generated by the first and second spiral conductors have components perpendicular to the top surface and in the same direction. The component coils can be used to construct a power transformer or a galvanic isolator.

A device (1) for feeding electrical energy from an energy source with variable source voltage into an electric power supply network (15), said device (1) including a transformer (112) for galvanic isolation, a resonant inverter (11) with semi-conductor switches (a-d; A, B), one or several resonant capacitors (17; 18, 19; 20, 21) and one rectifier (113), is: intended to provide high efficiency and have galvanic isolation. This is achieved in that the resonant inverter (11) is operated in the full resonant mode if the operating voltage is in an operation point (MPP) and in the hard-switching mode if the voltages exceed the operation point (MPP).

A method and apparatus of powering components on a network by using a load-share technique and by using over-voltage and current-limiting circuitry. The power subsystem for a component in a network is designed in a load-share manner whereby the power subsystem will supply power to the network bus and to the component load. Under normal operation of the power subsystem, the load will be powered directly from the power subsystem. In the event of a failure, the load will immediately pull power from the bus and thereby maintain network operation. The power subsystem and the power supply are protected from disruptions due to voltage or current surges. Further, the power subsystem is in compliance with the IEEE 1394 specifications in terms of recommended current levels and galvanic isolation of the power sources.

The method of the invention in one aspect involves electronic power control by varying the amplitude of an electrical power supply voltage, independent of frequency, whereby the output frequency will always be the same as the input frequency. An electrical circuit apparatus for accomplishing this function in a preferred embodiment is also disclosed herein. The preferred circuitry of this aspect of the invention uses four solid state switches, such as IGBT's, four diodes, an inductor, input and output filters and novel controlling circuitry. The controller apparatus and methods of the invention may be used to implement all otherwise conventional converter types, buck, boost, and inverting (and duals of these) versions to obtain different regulating characteristics, including galvanic isolation of the output from the input. The inventive methods and devices may be used in power factor correction, voltage and / or current harmonic filtering and neutralization, line and load conditioning, control of power transfer between two power grids, and programmable control of surges, sags, dropouts and most other voltage regulation problems.

Featured is a controller for a motor that is ultra-compact, with a power density of at least about 20 watts per cubic cm (W / cm3). The controller utilizes a common ground for power circuitry, which energizes the windings of the motor, and the signal circuitry, which controls this energization responsive to signals from one or more sensors. Also, the ground is held at a stable potential without galvanic isolation. The circuits, their components and connectors are sized and located to minimize their inductance and heat is dissipated by conduction to the controller's exterior such as by a thermally conductive and electrically insulating material (e.g., potable epoxy). The controller uses a single current sensor for plural windings and preferably a single heat sensor within the controller. The body of the controller can also function as the sole plug connector.

The method of the invention in one aspect involves electronic power control by varying the amplitude of an electrical power supply voltage, independent of frequency, whereby the output frequency will always be the same as the input frequency. An electrical circuit apparatus for accomplishing this function in a specific embodiment is also disclosed herein. The specific circuitry of this aspect of the invention uses eight solid state switches, such as IGBT's, eight diodes, an inductor, input and output filters and novel controlling circuitry. The controller apparatus and methods of the invention may be used to implement all otherwise conventional converter types, buck, boost, and inverting (and duals of these) versions to obtain different regulating characteristics, including galvanic isolation of the output from the input. Indeed, the eight-switch controller can act to either buck or boost the input voltage, and can switch between bucking and boosting during a cycle, thus providing more control of the regulated output voltage. The inventive methods and devices may be used in power factor correction, voltage and / or current harmonic filtering and neutralization, line and load conditioning, control of power transfer between two power grids, and programmable control of surges, sags, dropouts and most other voltage regulation problems.

The method of the invention in one aspect involves electronic power control by varying the amplitude of an electrical power supply voltage, independent of frequency, whereby the output frequency will always be the same as the input frequency. An electrical circuit apparatus for accomplishing this function in a preferred embodiment is also disclosed herein. The preferred circuitry of this aspect of the invention uses four solid state switches, such as IGBT's, four diodes, an inductor, input and output filters and novel controlling circuitry. The controller apparatus and methods of the invention may be used to implement all otherwise conventional converter types, buck, boost, and inverting (and duals of these) versions to obtain different regulating characteristics, including galvanic isolation of the output from the input. The inventive methods and devices may be used in power factor correction, voltage and / or current harmonic filtering and neutralization, line and load conditioning, control of power transfer between two power grids, and programmable control of surges, sags, dropouts and most other voltage regulation problems.

The method of the invention in one aspect involves electronic power control by varying the amplitude of an electrical power supply voltage, independent of frequency, whereby the output frequency will always be the same as the input frequency. An electrical circuit apparatus for accomplishing this function in a preferred embodiment is also disclosed herein. The preferred circuitry of this aspect of the invention uses four solid state switches, such as IGBT's, four diodes, an inductor, input and output filters and novel controlling circuitry. The controller apparatus and methods of the invention may be used to implement all otherwise conventional converter types, buck, boost, and inverting (and duals of these) versions to obtain different regulating characteristics, including galvanic isolation of the output from the input. The inventive methods and devices may be used in power factor correction, voltage and / or current harmonic filtering and neutralization, line and load conditioning, control of power transfer between two power grids, and programmable control of surges, sags, dropouts and most other voltage regulation problems.

A radar level gauge using electromagnetic waves for determining a process variable of a product in a tank, comprising timing circuitry adapted to provide timing control of a transceiver, and a communication interface arranged to receive power in an intrinsically safe manner and to connect the radar level gauge externally thereof. The RLG further comprises an isolation interface arranged to galvanically isolate the transceiver from the timing circuitry and the communication interface, the isolation interface being arranged to transfer power and timing control from the timing circuitry and the communication interface to the transceiver circuitry.According to this design, the galvanic isolation splits the radar level gauge system internally into two circuits, with no galvanic connection there between. An advantage is that this design eliminates any potential ground loops between the transceiver and the communication interface.

Provided are novel back sheets for solar module encapsulation. According to various embodiments, the back sheets are ungrounded and flexible. In certain embodiments, the back sheets include an integrated flexible and electrically isolated moisture barrier. The electrically isolated moisture barrier may be a thin metallic sheet, e.g., an aluminum foil. The electrically isolated, flexible moisture barrier eliminates the need for grounding.

The present invention allows multiple IC devices to be placed on the same substrate within a single BGA package. The invention requires minimum distances to be kept between electrical connections of the IC devices to maintain the electrical isolation, so that the devices can be operated at different voltage differentials. Signals between the devices can be connected externally from the package to each other utilizing galvanic isolation techniques. The invention provides the flexibility of choice for the customers to use isolation or not between the devices and takes up less PC board space because only a single package is used on the board.

The invention relates to a high-voltage direct-current direct-current (HVDC-DC) power electronic converter transformer comprising a cascade modular converter (1), a double-winding medium or high-frequency transformer (2) and a fully-controlled H bridge (3). The cascade modular converter (1) consists of two same bridge arms, and the two bridge arms are formed by connecting the same number of sub-modules end to end in a cascading way; the middle points of both the two bridge arms are respectively connected with two leads of the primary side of the double-winding medium or high-frequency transformer (2); and the secondary side of the double-winding medium or high-frequency transformer (2) is directly connected with the fully-controlled H bridge (3) or is connected in series with a resonant capacitor (5) between the double-winding medium or high-frequency transformer (2) and the fully-controlled H bridge (3). The HVDC-DC power electronic converter transformer can realize the conversion of the high-voltage DC voltage and the low-voltage DC voltage and has the electrical isolation function. Compared with the prior HVDC-DC converting device, the HVDC-DC power electronic converter transformer has the advantages of small volume and light weight.

A zone selective interlocking system for electronic trip circuit breakers includes a plurality of downstream terminals, each downstream terminal connecting with at least one of a plurality of downstream electronic trip circuit breakers having input terminals. A restraint input circuit module, including a voltage comparator, is connected to the input terminals of each of the downstream electronic trip circuit breakers and the input terminals are shorted together providing a self-restraint signal for each downstream electronic trip circuit breaker at the occurrence of a downstream fault condition. The system also includes a plurality of upstream terminals, each upstream terminal connecting with at least one of a plurality of upstream electronic trip circuit breakers having input terminals. The restraint input circuit module is connected to the input terminals of each of the upstream electronic trip circuit breakers for receiving a signal indicative of the downstream fault condition and wherein the restraint input circuit module is self-sourcing. An output circuit module including an opto-isolator is connected to each of the upstream electronic trip circuit breakers and each of the downstream electronic trip circuit breakers for providing galvanic isolation between circuit breakers in a restrained mode and circuit breakers in an unrestrained mode.

A system and method for providing an intrinsically safe (IS) galvanically isolated barrier device. An IS barrier device provides IS galvanic isolation between a non-IS system and an IS system using a two-stage approach. In the first stage, a non-galvanically isolated IS barrier limits energy of electrical transmissions received from the non-IS system to convert such electrical transmissions into IS transmissions. In the second stage, the IS transmissions are transmitted through a galvanic isolator to the IS system to galvanically isolate the IS system from the non-IS system. A digital monolithic isolator cannot be IS certified to be the single bridge between IS and non-IS systems, however, it can be used in a certifiable fashion to isolate between IS systems. When used in conjunction with a non-galvanic IS barrier that is capable meeting the IS certification as non-IS to IS barrier, a digital monolithic isolator can be used to implement the galvanic isolator such that high speed, low cost galvanic isolation is possible. Such a galvanically isolated barrier device can be used to implement an IS galvanically isolated high speed communication bus for sample system control.

Systems and methods are provided for bi-directional energy delivery. A charging system comprises a first bi-directional conversion module, a second bi-directional conversion module, and an isolation module coupled between the first bi-directional conversion module and the second bi-directional conversion module. The isolation module provides galvanic isolation between the first bi-directional conversion module and the second bi-directional conversion module.

Featured is a controller for a motor that is ultra-compact, with a power density of at least about 20 watts per cubic cm (W / cm3). The controller utilizes a common ground for power circuitry, which energizes the windings of the motor, and the signal circuitry, which controls this energization responsive to signals from one or more sensors. Also, the ground is held at a stable potential without galvanic isolation. The circuits, their components and connectors are sized and located to minimize their inductance and heat is dissipated by conduction to the controller's exterior such as by a thermally conductive and electrically insulating material (e.g., potable epoxy). The controller uses a single current sensor for plural windings and preferably a single heat sensor within the controller. The body of the controller can also function as the sole plug connector.

Provided are novel back sheets for solar module encapsulation. According to various embodiments, the back sheets are ungrounded and flexible. In certain embodiments, the back sheets include an integrated flexible and electrically isolated moisture barrier and a seal around the edge of the moisture barrier. The electrically isolated moisture barrier may be a thin metallic sheet, e.g., an aluminum foil. The electrically isolated, flexible moisture barrier eliminates the need for grounding.

Galvanic isolation between a high-voltage die and a low-voltage die in a multi-die chip is provided by a galvanic isolation die that physically supports the high-voltage die and the low-voltage die, and provides capacitive structures with high breakdown voltages that allow the high-voltage die to capacitively communicate with the low-voltage die.

The invention provides an energy-storage voltage-balanced power electronic electric energy converting system and a control method thereof. The energy-storage voltage-balanced power electronic electric energy converting system is composed of an energy storage module, a voltage-balanced converter, a power-grid-side inverter, a power grid load, an energy-storage-side inverter and an independent load. Through control over the high-frequency soft-switching voltage-balanced converter, balanced control over an energy storage unit or module is realized, the service life of energy storage equipment is prolonged, the use cost is reduced, and meanwhile, multiple routes of isolation direct voltage are provided for the power-grid-side inverter. The energy storage unit or module is charged and discharged through the electric energy converting system, electric isolation of energy storage and a power grid is realized, interaction is formed with the power grid, and the purposes of peak load shifting, harmonic suppression and reactive compensation are realized. The energy-storage voltage-balanced power electronic electric energy converting system is realized through modularized design and has the advantages that electric isolation of the power grid and the energy storage side is realized, control is simple, the size is small, the efficiency is high and the cost is low.