A solar cell management system for increasing the efficiency and power output of a solar cell and methods for making and using the same. The management system provides an electric field across an individual solar cell, an array of solar cells configured as a panel, or a group of solar panels. The imposed electric field exerts a force on both the electrons and holes created by light incident on the solar cell and accelerates the electron-hole pairs towards the electrodes of the solar cell. Compared to conventional solar cells, these accelerated electron-hole pairs travel a shorter distance from creation (by incident optical radiation) and spend less time within the solar cell material, therefore the electron-hole pairs have a lower likelihood of recombining within the cells' semiconductor's material. This reduction in the electron-hole recombination rate results in an overall increase in the solar cells' efficiency and greater power output.

A multi-condition sensor, comprising a housing defining a component cavity, a pressure input tube disposed through the housing, a fault actuator disposed within the component cavity of the housing and in pressure communication with the pressure input tube through the housing, wherein the fault actuator is configured to extend and contract as a function of pressure from the pressure input tube, an alarm actuator disposed within the component cavity of the housing opposite the fault actuator and configured to be actuated by the fault actuator and to extend to a maximum fault position, and an adjustable alarm contact disposed on an opposite side of the alarm actuator within the component cavity and configured to be adjusted to a predetermined extension length from the housing to provide a predetermined alarm contact position.

A multi-condition sensor, comprising a housing defining a component cavity, a pressure input tube disposed through the housing, a fault actuator disposed within the component cavity of the housing and in pressure communication with the pressure input tube through the housing, wherein the fault actuator is configured to extend and contract as a function of pressure from the pressure input tube, an alarm actuator disposed within the component cavity of the housing opposite the fault actuator and configured to be actuated by the fault actuator and to extend to a maximum fault position, and an adjustable alarm contact disposed on an opposite side of the alarm actuator within the component cavity and configured to be adjusted to a predetermined extension length from the housing to provide a predetermined alarm contact position.

A system (116, 120) for electrically limiting leakage current in a patient-connected medical device (100). The system (116, 120) includes a first set (116) of one or more switching devices (118) that selectively connect a first power output (124) of a battery compartment (110) of the patient-connected medical device (100) with a first power input (126) of electronic components (102) of the patient-connected medical device (100) based on a first polarity of input voltage from the battery compartment (110). The system (116, 120) further includes a second set (120) of one or more switching devices (122) that selectively connect a second power output (128) of the battery compartment (110) of the patient-connected medical device (100) with a second power input (130) of the electronic components (102) based on a second polarity of the input voltage, wherein the first polarity is opposite the second polarity.

A proximity switch assembly and method are provided having wrong touch feedback and adaptive learning. The method includes the steps of detecting multiple attempted activations of a proximity switch that is not allowed, and adjusting one or more settings based on the detected multiple attempted activations to provide adaptive learning. The method also includes the steps of detecting an allowed activation of the proximity switch based on the adjusted one or more settings, and performing an action in response to the detected allowed activation. The proximity switch assembly includes one or more user perceived feedback devices for generating user perceived feedback when an attempted activation that is not allowed is detected.

A thermal/overheat sensor for an aircraft includes an outer electrode, an inner electrode, a support layer disposed between the outer electrode and the inner electrode. The support layer contains a state changing material wherein the state changing material is configured to transition between a non-conductive state to a conductive state at a threshold temperature to electrically connect the outer and inner electrodes.

The present invention relates to an electrical appliance comprising an electronic control unit (6) and a power circuit (7) supplying power to said electronic control unit (6), the power circuit (7) comprising a soft on/off switch (1) for turning on and off the electrical appliance, the soft on/off switch (1) being connected electrically in parallel with a relay (2) and a rectifier (3). The power circuit (7) further comprises an electrical node connecting the soft on/off switch (1) and the rectifier (3) to a button sensing circuit (4) and to an AC/DC converter (5) together.

Systems and methods of interconnecting devices may include an input/output (IO) connector assembly having a voltage regulator, one or more signaling circuits, a first set of contacts, a second set of contacts connected to the one or more signaling circuits, and logic to receive a configuration command. The logic may also connect the first set of contacts to the voltage regulator if the configuration command corresponds to a first protocol. If the configuration command corresponds to a second protocol, on the other hand, the logic can connect the first set of contacts to the one or more signaling circuits.

A sensor device includes a resin inner housing which has an accommodating space therein and in which an opening is provided, an externally exposed part which is disposed to cover the opening or pass through the opening and of which at least a part is exposed to the outside of the inner housing, and a metal outer housing which is positioned outside the inner housing and accommodates the inner housing and covers the inner housing. When a sealing treatment is performed between the inner housing and the externally exposed part, the accommodating space is sealed off from a space outside the inner housing. When a cut-off part is provided in the outer housing at a position corresponding to the part exposed to the outside of the inner housing of the externally exposed part, the part of the externally exposed part is also exposed to the outside of the outer housing.

An electrical power status-indicating device for integration with a Smart Grid network. The device comprises an electrical receptacle installed within a wall of a consumer premises, a communication module for retrieving and interpreting power status data from a centralized control module, and at least one indicator activated by the communication module, with activation based at least in part on the status data. In some embodiments, the device may comprise a power pass-through device for receiving at least one in-premise electronic device, and/or a light switch in communication with a lighting unit.