A device includes a current monitor, an electronic switch, an energy harvester, and a load controller. The current monitor monitors current drawn by a load coupled to the device and generate an alert signal in response to the monitored current exceeding a predefined threshold value. The electronic switch decouples a battery from the load in response to the alert signal, the electronic switch being electrically disconnected from a negative terminal of the battery coupled to the device. The energy harvester stores energy from the battery while the load is drawing current from the battery. The load controller receives, from the energy harvester, the stored energy from the energy harvester and generates a voltage to power the current monitor to reset the alert signal while the battery is decoupled from the load.

A device includes a current monitor, an electronic switch, an energy harvester, and a load controller. The current monitor monitors current drawn by a load coupled to the device and generate an alert signal in response to the monitored current exceeding a predefined threshold value. The electronic switch decouples a battery from the load in response to the alert signal, the electronic switch being electrically disconnected from a negative terminal of the battery coupled to the device. The energy harvester stores energy from the battery while the load is drawing current from the battery. The load controller receives, from the energy harvester, the stored energy from the energy harvester and generates a voltage to power the current monitor to reset the alert signal while the battery is decoupled from the load.

An electrical power grid includes multiple, networked buildings that receive electrical power from one or more power generation sources. A networking control system communicates with a utility control center to obtain information regarding the amount of power being supplied by the power generation sources. The networking control system further obtains information from one or more building automation controllers that are controllably associated with a plurality of networked buildings. The networking control system determines whether the total amount of power being supplied exceeds a total demand load for the plurality of buildings. And if so, the networking control system commands one or more of the building automation controllers to operate one or more of the buildings a reduced energy efficiency level, which may take the form of an optimization curve.

An electrical power grid includes multiple, networked buildings that receive electrical power from one or more power generation sources. A networking control system communicates with a utility control center to obtain information regarding the amount of power being supplied by the power generation sources. The networking control system further obtains information from one or more building automation controllers that are controllably associated with a plurality of networked buildings. The networking control system determines whether the total amount of power being supplied exceeds a total demand load for the plurality of buildings. And if so, the networking control system commands one or more of the building automation controllers to operate one or more of the buildings a reduced energy efficiency level, which may take the form of an optimization curve.

Hybrid welding systems and portable hybrid welding modules are disclosed. An example portable welding power supply includes an output converter circuit to convert direct current (DC) power to welding power, the DC power comprising at least one of DC input power or converted battery power. The portable welding power supply also includes a battery and a bidirectional DC-DC converter circuit configured to receive the DC input power and coupled to the battery. The portable welding power supply also includes a control circuit configured to control the output converter to output the welding power, control the bidirectional DC-DC converter circuit to convert the DC input power to charge the battery, and control the bidirectional DC-DC converter circuit to convert power from the battery to provide the battery power to the output converter.

Hybrid welding systems and portable hybrid welding modules are disclosed. An example portable welding power supply includes an output converter circuit to convert direct current (DC) power to welding power, the DC power comprising at least one of DC input power or converted battery power. The portable welding power supply also includes a battery and a bidirectional DC-DC converter circuit configured to receive the DC input power and coupled to the battery. The portable welding power supply also includes a control circuit configured to control the output converter to output the welding power, control the bidirectional DC-DC converter circuit to convert the DC input power to charge the battery, and control the bidirectional DC-DC converter circuit to convert power from the battery to provide the battery power to the output converter.

The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a surgical instrument. The method includes connecting a power assembly to a control circuit, wherein the power assembly is configured to provide a source voltage, energizing, by the power assembly, a voltage boost convertor circuit configured to provide a set voltage greater than the source voltage, and energizing, by the voltage boost convertor, one or more voltage convertors configured to provide one or more operating voltages to one or more circuit components.

The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a surgical instrument. The method includes connecting a power assembly to a control circuit, wherein the power assembly is configured to provide a source voltage, energizing, by the power assembly, a voltage boost convertor circuit configured to provide a set voltage greater than the source voltage, and energizing, by the voltage boost convertor, one or more voltage convertors configured to provide one or more operating voltages to one or more circuit components.

A voltage supply and a method for calibrating the voltage supply are provided. The voltage supply is for providing a reference voltage to supply a voltage to at least one electrode. The voltage supply comprises: an ultra-stable DC voltage source, an accurate DC voltage source, a tuning unit, a comparator, and a control unit. An ultra-stable voltage is applied to the tuning unit, which is provided based on a supplied voltage of the ultra-stable DC voltage source. The tuning unit provides an output voltage. A voltage based on the output voltage of the tuning unit is compared by the comparator with an accurate voltage. The accurate voltage is provided based on a supplied voltage of the accurate DC voltage source. The comparator provides a signal resulting from the comparison to the control unit, wherein the control unit is tuning the tuning unit during a tuning period according to the signal provided by the comparator to minimize the absolute difference between the voltage based on the output voltage of the tuning unit and the accurate voltage. The reference voltage of the voltage supply is provided based on the output voltage of the tuning unit after the tuning period.

A voltage supply and a method for calibrating the voltage supply are provided. The voltage supply is for providing a reference voltage to supply a voltage to at least one electrode. The voltage supply comprises: an ultra-stable DC voltage source, an accurate DC voltage source, a tuning unit, a comparator, and a control unit. An ultra-stable voltage is applied to the tuning unit, which is provided based on a supplied voltage of the ultra-stable DC voltage source. The tuning unit provides an output voltage. A voltage based on the output voltage of the tuning unit is compared by the comparator with an accurate voltage. The accurate voltage is provided based on a supplied voltage of the accurate DC voltage source. The comparator provides a signal resulting from the comparison to the control unit, wherein the control unit is tuning the tuning unit during a tuning period according to the signal provided by the comparator to minimize the absolute difference between the voltage based on the output voltage of the tuning unit and the accurate voltage. The reference voltage of the voltage supply is provided based on the output voltage of the tuning unit after the tuning period.