An energy supply apparatus may be modular and can be used underwater. In some examples, the modules comprise pressure vessels. The modules are chosen independently of each other from a group comprising a battery module, a fuel cell module, and air-independent Diesel module. The pressure vessels may be cylindrical and may have spherical segments disposed at ends segments of the pressure vessels. One or more of the spherical segments of the pressure vessels may be configured to be swiveled. Modules that are configured as battery modules may include battery elements, an inverter, a battery monitoring system, a separating unit, a control unit, a transformer, and/or a cooling unit.

An electronic device according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include one or more switches, one of more sub-systems, and an interface control unit electrically coupled with the one or more sub-systems and the one or more switches. The interface control unit is configured to: detect a coupling of an external device to the electronic device, identify a type of the coupled external device, when the external device is identified as a current detecting device, generate a first control signal for turning off power to the one or more sub-systems, and a second control signal for setting a first path to supply the one or more sub-systems with power from the current detecting device, and transmit the first control signal to the one or more sub-systems and the second control signal to the one or more switches.

According to one embodiment, a vibration power generator includes a housing, an elastic member, a mover, and a coil. The elastic member is fixed to the housing. The mover is supported by the elastic member and able to vibrate in a first direction. The coil is positioned inside the mover. The mover includes a first magnet, a second magnet, a third magnet, and a first magnetic yoke. The second magnet is placed to be aligned with the first magnet in the first direction so as to repel each other. The third magnet is placed annularly with respect to the first magnet and the second magnet. The first magnetic yoke surrounds the first magnet, the second magnet and the third magnet. The coil is positioned between the third magnet, and both the first magnet and the second magnet.

According to one embodiment, a vibration power generator includes a housing, an elastic member, a mover, and a coil. The elastic member is fixed to the housing. The mover is supported by the elastic member and able to vibrate in a first direction. The coil is positioned inside the mover. The mover includes a first magnet, a second magnet, a third magnet, and a first magnetic yoke. The second magnet is placed to be aligned with the first magnet in the first direction so as to repel each other. The third magnet is placed annularly with respect to the first magnet and the second magnet. The first magnetic yoke surrounds the first magnet, the second magnet and the third magnet. The coil is positioned between the third magnet, and both the first magnet and the second magnet.

Apparatuses, systems and methods for configuring and managing the combination of strings of photovoltaic energy generators to improve the energy production performance of such generators. The strings of photovoltaic energy generators are connected to terminals in a combiner box having receptacles for receiving removable modular units of various types. Removable modular units with measurement capabilities are used in the combiner boxes to measure the direct current input provided by the strings; and in light of the measurements, the removable modular units can be selectively downgraded to simpler units that do not have measurement capabilities to reduce cost, and/or selectively upgraded to more sophisticated units that can adjust the output of the respective strings, such as upconverting the output voltage of the respective strings, to improve the performance of the strings.

A changeover method of a high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system is provided. A first system is set to an active state. A ready signal is transmitted from the first system to a first COL. A ready detection signal and an active signal are transmitted to the first system, in response to the ready signal. A confirm signal is transmitted to the first system in response to the active signal when the ready detection signal matches the ready signal.

A changeover method of a high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system is provided. A first system is set to an active state. A ready signal is transmitted from the first system to a first COL. A ready detection signal and an active signal are transmitted to the first system, in response to the ready signal. A confirm signal is transmitted to the first system in response to the active signal when the ready detection signal matches the ready signal.

An electric power supply device includes a first electric power supply to employ electric power supplied from outside as an input source; a second electric power supply to employ a rechargeable battery as an input source; a load electric power supply part to supply electric power to a constant voltage load; a heater electric power supply part to supply electric power to a heater; a DC internal bus to connect the first electric power supply, the second electric power supply, the load electric power supply part, and the heater electric power supply part; and a controller to control an output of the second electric power supply. The controller controls electric power supply from the second electric power supply to the DC internal bus based on a voltage of the DC internal bus.

Techniques for optimizing power production from photo-voltaic systems using, e.g., inductive coupling, are provided. In one aspect, a method of optimizing photo-voltaic generated power from a string of photo-voltaic devices is provided. The method includes the step of: providing corrective power to at least one photovoltaic device in the string of photo-voltaic devices to boost performance of the at least one photovoltaic device and thereby increase overall the photo-voltaic generated power from the string of photo-voltaic devices, wherein the corrective power is from about 1% to about 5%, and ranges therebetween, of the photo-voltaic generated power from the string of photo-voltaic devices. A system for optimizing photo-voltaic generated power from a string of photo-voltaic devices and a method for use thereof are also provided.

A system comprises a cathodic protection system having an anode and configured to protect a protected structure from corrosion. The system comprises a monitoring circuit operatively coupled to the cathodic protection system. The monitoring circuit comprises an electrical-to-optical transducer. The electrical-to-optical transducer is configured to generate a light signal in response to electrical current flowing between the protected structure and the anode of the cathodic protection system, the protected structure and a reference electrode, or the reference electrode and the anode.