Patent classifications
G01R19/003
Enhanced utility disturbance monitor
A method for detecting a voltage disturbance on an electrical line coupled to a utility that includes calculating a sliding window actual root mean squared (RMS) voltage for each three-phase power signal, calculating a sliding window filtered RMS average voltage for each actual RMS voltage to identify normal changes in the voltage of the power signals from a nominal voltage, and obtaining a difference between the actual RMS voltage and the RMS average voltage for each of the power signals. The method determines whether the difference between the actual RMS voltage and the RMS average voltage for any of the three-phase signals is greater than a first predetermined percentage, or whether the difference between the actual RMS voltage and the RMS average voltage for any of the three-phase signals is less than a second predetermined percentage, and if so, disconnects a load from the utility.
CURRENT SENSING FOR MONITORING LOAD CURRENT IN A BUCK POWER CONVERTER
The disclosure describes techniques for measuring the average output current of a power converter circuit by determining peaks valleys in the output current. A current monitoring circuit may include an averaging unit, which may sample the output current during a current peak as well as during a current valley. During a hold phase the averaging unit may output a signal proportional to the average output current based on the sampled peak current and sampled valley current. In some examples, the averaging unit may include three functional units. A first unit may be configured to determine the output current, a second block may be configured to hold the previously determined peak current and a third block may be configured to hold the previously determined valley current. In this manner the averaging unit may continuously output a signal proportional to the average output current of the power converter.
Lossless average input and output current sensing in a switched-mode power supply
Methods and apparatus for current sensing and error correction in a switched-mode power supply composed of a high-side transistor coupled to a low-side transistor are described. One example method generally includes capturing a current associated with the low-side transistor at a first time corresponding to the low-side transistor turning off; capturing a current associated with the high-side transistor at a second time corresponding to a first delay after the high-side transistor turns on; capturing the current associated with the high-side transistor at a third time corresponding to the high-side transistor turning off; and applying a first correction current to a current-summing node of the current-sensing circuit for a first interval based on the first delay, wherein the first correction current is based on the captured current associated with the low-side transistor at the first time and on the captured current associated with the high-side transistor at the second time.
PROTECTION CIRCUIT, CORRESPONDING SYSTEM AND METHOD
A protection circuit for an automotive wiring harness includes an input node receiving a sensing signal indicating intensity of current in a conductor, an output node emitting a current control output signal to reduce the current and/or emitting a warning signal indicating the current intensity having reached a limit value. Signal processing circuitry coupled to the input node compares the current intensity with a reference value, and produces a comparison signal indicating whether the current intensity exceeds the reference value. A counting circuitry driven by the comparison signal counts in a first count direction as a result of the comparison signal indicating that the current intensity exceeds the reference value. Latching circuitry coupled to the counter circuitry generates the output signal at the output node as a result of the count value of the counter circuitry reaching a limit value.
Lighting systems, and systems for determining periodic values of a phase angle of a waveform power input
System for determining periodic values of phase angle of waveform power input including voltage detector for detecting periodic values of average voltage of waveform power input and detecting corresponding periodic values of peak voltage of waveform power input. System also includes phase angle detector in signal communication for receiving periodic values of average voltage and peak voltage from voltage detector. Phase angle detector also detects periodic values each being ratio of one of periodic values of average voltage divided by corresponding periodic value of peak voltage, or being ratio of peak voltage divided by average voltage; and determines periodic values of phase angle of waveform power input corresponding to periodic values of ratio. Lighting systems.
Evaluation of an average power consumption of an electronic circuit
A device includes an electronic circuit and a voltage-controlled oscillator configured to receive information representative of a power supply voltage of the device. The voltage-controlled oscillator is coupled to the electronic circuit. A first counter is configured to count pulses supplied by the voltage-controlled oscillator and a second counter is configured to count pulses of a clock signal. The device is configured to estimate an average power of the electronic circuit based on the pulses counted by the first counter.
ELECTRICAL CURRENT MEASUREMENT CIRCUIT
An electrical current measurement circuit is provided. The electrical current measurement circuit is configured to receive a sense current proportionally related to an electrical current of interest to continuously charge a capacitor to a sense voltage. The electrical current measurement circuit is configured to determine whether the sense voltage reaches a predefined voltage threshold and reduce the sense voltage to below the predefined voltage threshold in response to the sense voltage reaching the predefined voltage threshold. The electrical current measurement circuit counts each occurrence of the sense voltage reaching the predefined voltage threshold and quantifies the electrical current based on a total count of the sense voltage reaching the predefined voltage threshold during the predefined measurement period. By incorporating the electrical current measurement circuit in an electronic device, it may be possible to accurately monitor and thus help to optimize power consumption and battery life of the electronic device.
Distributed device network-based control system with decoupled intelligence for smart windows
A distributed device control system is provided. The system includes a plurality of windows, each window of the plurality of windows having at least one electrochromic window, a voltage or current driver for the at least one electrochromic window, and a first control system local to the window. The system includes a plurality of window controllers, each window controller configured to couple to one or more of the plurality of windows and having a second control system, for the one or more of the plurality of windows, local to the window controller. The system includes a command and communication device configured to couple to each of the plurality of window controllers, configured to couple to a network, and having a third control system, for the plurality of windows, wherein control of the plurality of windows is distributed across the plurality of windows, the plurality of window controllers, the command and communication device, and a portion of the network.
Method for detecting head crashing in a linear compressor
A method for detecting head crashing in a linear compressor includes sampling a rolling average of a peak applied voltage and a desired peak current each time that a current controller adjusts the desired peak current. The method also includes calculating a linear regression for a predicted peak applied voltage as a function of the desired peak current, calculating the predicted peak voltage for the motor of the linear compressor with the linear regression and a current value for the desired peak current from the current controller, and establishing that a piston of the linear compressor is soft crashing when the predicted peak voltage is different than the current value for the rolling average of the peak applied voltage by more than a threshold value.
Averaging unit and measuring apparatus
An averaging unit includes: a plurality of sensor connectors to which current sensors are detachably connected; an averager that generates an averaged signal for at least two detection voltage signals outputted from the current sensors connected to the sensor connectors; and an outputter that outputs the averaged signal.