A sensing apparatus includes a sensor, a processing circuit that acquires sensor output information from the sensor, a communication circuit that receives communication start time information, a power supply circuit that supplies the processing circuit with power supply voltage based on battery voltage from a battery, and a clocking circuit that operates by using the battery voltage and generates time information. The power supply circuit is activated by an instruction from the clocking circuit. The processing circuit starts acquiring the sensor output information after the power supply voltage is supplied from the power supply circuit. The communication circuit starts transmitting the transmission information at communication start time specified by the communication start time information.

A sensing apparatuses includes a sensor, a processing circuit that acquires sensor output information from the sensor, a communication circuit that transmits transmission information corresponding to the sensor output information, and a clocking circuit that generates time information. The communication circuit receives time information for correction before the processing circuit starts acquiring the sensor output information. The clocking circuit corrects the time information based on the time information for correction received by the communication circuit. The processing circuit starts acquiring the sensor output information based on the corrected time information.

An integrated circuit includes: a primary supply stage including a primary supply node, the primary supply stage being configured to deliver a primary supply voltage to the primary supply node; a secondary supply stage including a secondary supply node, the secondary supply stage being configured to deliver a secondary supply voltage to the secondary supply node; a supply-switching circuit; a pre-charging circuit controllably coupled to the secondary supply node via the supply-switching circuit; and a volatile memory circuit controllably coupled to the primary supply node and the secondary supply node via the supply-switching circuit, wherein the switching circuit is configured to connect a supply of the volatile memory circuit either to the primary supply node in a primary supply mode, or to the secondary supply node in a secondary supply mode.

A power supply system includes; a first switch connected between a main power source and loads; a second switch connected between a sub-battery and the loads; and backflow prevention circuit that prevent current backflow between the main power source and the sub-battery, and polarity of the backflow prevention circuit is devised so as to allow current passage in a direction from the sub-power source to the loads even when the second switch is in an off state. When power from the main power source is interrupted, the power source power of the sub-power source is supplied to the loads via the backflow prevention circuit even the second switch remains in the off state, so that the power supply is not interrupted.

A system is described that turns off a high power, power supply when a device no longer needs high power. A low power, power supply or a rechargeable battery provides power to determine when the device again needs high power. The low power supply consumes a minimum possible power when the device does not need high power and the power rechargeable battery is not charged. That is, the high power and low power, power supplies are turned on or off based on the real time power consumption need of the device and the charged state of the battery. The power need of the device is monitored by a current shunt monitoring circuit and a control signal monitoring circuit.

Systems for providing operating reserves to an electric power grid are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system comprises at least one power consuming device, at least one controllable device, and a client device constructed and configured in network communication. The at least one controllable device is operably coupled to the at least one power consuming device. The at least one controllable device is operable to control a power flow from the electric power grid to the at least one power consuming device responsive to power control instructions from the client device. Each of the at least one power consuming device has an actual value of power reduced and/or to be reduced based on revenue grade metrology, and confirmed by measurement and verification. The actual value of power reduced and/or to be reduced is a curtailment value as supply equivalence and provides operating reserve for the electric power grid.

A power supply charging system having first and second alternating power cells, a motor driven generator adapted to operably switch between providing power between the first and second alternating power cells, a third power cell which supplies power to the motor driven generator, and a control system having a power cell managing module and a charge control module. The power cell module is adapted to alternate the motor driven generator to operably switch between providing power to the first and second alternating power cells. The charge control module is adapted to detect the occurrence of a pre-determined power supply condition to activate the motor driven generator to provide power to the first or second alternating power cells. The power supply charging system may find particular use in generating a direct current, converting the direct current to an alternating current, and providing a continuous alternating current to a facility or equipment.

A power supply charging system having first and second alternating power cells, a motor driven generator adapted to operably switch between providing power between the first and second alternating power cells, a third power cell which supplies power to the motor driven generator, and a control system having a power cell managing module and a charge control module. The power cell module is adapted to alternate the motor driven generator to operably switch between providing power to the first and second alternating power cells. The charge control module is adapted to detect the occurrence of a pre-determined power supply condition to activate the motor driven generator to provide power to the first or second alternating power cells. The power supply charging system may find particular use in generating a direct current, converting the direct current to an alternating current, and providing a continuous alternating current to a facility or equipment.

Described are mechanisms and methods to facilitate power saving in Type-C connectors. Some embodiments may comprise an interface to a Configuration Channel (CC) signal path and to a ground signal path of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C connector port, a first circuitry, and a second circuitry. The first circuitry may be operable to place toggled values on the CC signal path. The second circuitry may be operable to couple the ground signal path to a detection signal path. The placement of the toggled values on the CC signal path is enabled when the detection signal path carries a first value that corresponds with the USB Type-C connector port being connected to a USB Type-C device, and may be disabled when the detection signal path carries a second value that corresponds with the USB Type-C connector port not being connected to a USB Type-C device.

A transient increase or decrease of power supplied to a reconfiguration circuit to be a logic circuit whose circuit configuration can be changed is reduced. An autonomous traveling control ECU 201 has a reconfiguration circuit 209, a main power supply circuit 211, an auxiliary current source circuit 213, and a function control unit 207. The reconfiguration circuit 209 is a reconfigurable logic circuit. The main power supply circuit 211 supplies a power supply voltage to the reconfiguration circuit 209. The auxiliary current source circuit 213 increases or decreases a current supplied from the main power supply circuit 211 to the reconfiguration circuit 209. The function control unit 207 determines an operation mode of the reconfiguration circuit 209 on the basis of a mode determination signal input from the outside and indicating a traveling mode of a vehicle, and controls a reconfiguration of the reconfiguration circuit 209 on the basis of a determination result. The auxiliary current source circuit 213 increases or decreases the current supplied to the reconfiguration circuit 209 in accordance with a load variation of the reconfiguration circuit 209, on the basis of an auxiliary current control signal for giving an instruction on an increase or decrease of the current supplied to the reconfiguration circuit 209.