Systems, methods, and computer program products for remote configuration of one or more power supplies, particularly lighting power supplies, are disclosed. A configuration signal that includes a setting for a parameter is generated and then transmitted to a power supply. The power supply decodes the configuration signal and, if one or more certain conditions are met, configures the power supply according to information provided in the configuration signal.

A comparator circuit is described, which is configured to provide a control current and a control voltage based on a first input voltage and a second input voltage. The comparator circuit comprises an input amplifier configured to generate an output signal based on the first input voltage and the second input voltage, and offset means configured to generate a first offset. Furthermore, the comparator circuit comprises a first output circuit configured to generate the control current based on the output signal and based on the first offset. In addition, the comparator circuit comprises a second output circuit configured to generate the control voltage based on the output signal and not based on the first offset.

A method includes activating a transistor providing current to a load via an inductor based on values stored at a first timer and at a second timer. The second timer is enabled based a value of a current conducted at the inductor and based on a value of a reference current. The transistor is deactivated in response to determining that a measurement of time elapsed at the first timer is a predetermined multiple of the second measurement of time.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to deploying safety mechanisms in an autonomous vehicle. A projected future location of an object may be identified. The projected future location of the object will intersect with a projected future location of the vehicle at a time T. An impact point P corresponding to a three dimensional location in space where the vehicle and object will collide at the time T may be identified. One of a plurality of safety mechanisms of the vehicle that can be moved closest to point P before or at the time T may be selected. The selected safety mechanism may be moved from a first point on the vehicle to a second point on the vehicle such that the safety mechanism moves towards the point P. After moving the selected safety mechanism, the safety mechanism is then deployed based on the time T.

A step down convertor with a distributed driving system. In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes an inductor coupled to an output node. The apparatus also includes first and second circuits. The first circuit can transmit current to the output node via the inductor, and the second can transmit current to the output node via the inductor. The apparatus also includes a third circuit for modifying operational aspects of the first circuit or the second circuit based on a magnitude of current flowing through the inductor.

A voltage regulator includes an error amplifier; an output transistor; and a first transistor including a gate for inputting a reference voltage and a source for inputting an output voltage. The first transistor is configured to cause a current to flow when the output voltage becomes an irregular voltage, and a current of the output transistor is controlled based on the current flowing through the first transistor. The voltage regulator capable of improving the overshoot or undershoot of the output voltage in a wide temperature range and to reduce a delay in detection of the overshoot or undershoot.

The invention relates to a method for charging a battery comprising rechargeable cells. According to the invention, to perform the ith charge of the battery, where i≧2, connection of the charging terminals to the charger is detected triggering connection of the cells to their bypass circuit during a pre-emptive bypass time (TP.sub.ji). Next, for each cell, during a second phase (C.sub.ji), the bypass circuit is disconnected from the cell until the voltage of the cell reaches a preset voltage, the pre-emptive bypass time (TP.sub.ji) for the ith charge having been calculated as a function of the total connection time, during at least one preceding charge, of the bypass circuit associated with this cell, until all the cells have reached the preset voltage. At least one length of time allowing the first time (TP.sub.ji) for the ith charge and/or said total connection time to be determined was memorized in a memory of the battery during this at least one preceding charge.

A driving circuit for providing a driving voltage to a first flash light-emitting diode is provided. The driving circuit includes an inductor, a first switch, a second switch, a capacitor, a third switch, a fourth switch and a control unit. The control unit controls operating modes of the inductor and the capacitor to a boost mode or a buck mode according to a driving mode of the first flash light-emitting diode, and determines whether to switch the operating modes of the inductor and the capacitor according to a first driving current flowing through the first flash light-emitting diode. An operating method for the driving circuit is also provided.

A method and apparatus for monitoring operational parameters in an IoT device is provided. An exemplary method includes performing a statistical analysis of a system metric. A determination is made as to whether an alert limit has been breached. If so, a message is constructed and dispatched to a server.

A method and apparatus for monitoring operational parameters in an IoT device is provided. An exemplary method includes performing a statistical analysis of a system metric. A determination is made as to whether an alert limit has been breached. If so, a message is constructed and dispatched to a server.