A multi-level power converter for one or more phases includes one or more converter arms including a plurality of serial connected switching cells. Each switching cell includes a plurality of switching devices, a primary energy storage, a secondary energy storage and a first inductor. The switching devices are arranged to selectively provide a connection to the primary energy storage, wherein each switching cell includes a bridge circuit including the switching devices and the primary energy storage, a battery circuit connected to the bridge circuit and including the secondary energy storage, and an arm circuit providing a connection between two adjacent switching cells. The first inductor of each switching cell is arranged in the arm circuit.

Some embodiments of a method for premises management networking include monitoring premises management devices connected to a gateway at a premises; controlling premises management devices connected to the gateway at the premises; receiving, at the premises, an uplink-initiation signal associated with a network operations center server; and in response to the uplink-initiation signal, initiating, from the gateway at the premises, communications between the gateway and the network operations center server; and communicating, during the communications between the gateway and the network operations center server, information associated with the premises management devices.

Methods and systems for managing a premises are described. A gateway device may monitor a plurality of devices at a premises. A mobile device may receive, from the gateway device, data indicative of one or more events of the plurality of devices. The mobile device may output a user interface comprising status information associated with the plurality of devices. The user interface may allow for user input to generate control operations associated with the premises.

A rotation control apparatus includes a relative position sensor that contactlessly detects the mechanical displacement amount of a shaft to be actuated in a direction of rotation, absolute position sensors that are provided at mutually different positions within a rotatable range of the shaft to be actuated and each output a detection signal when the shaft to be actuated has reached its corresponding position, and a position calculating unit that calculates an absolute position of the shaft to be actuated in the direction of rotation on the basis of an integrated value of the mechanical displacement amount since the detection signal is output and a reference value indicating a position corresponding to the absolute position sensor that has output the detection signal. At least one of the absolute position sensors is provided to correspond to a third position excluding a first position and a second position within the rotatable range.

An individual signal unit; each said individual signal unit including; (a) a transceiver module, (b) a power supply, (c) a logic circuit, (d)at least one of a number of external event sensors,
and wherein a signal from a said individual signal unit to a central control facility causes said central control facility to execute one or more predefined steps; at least some of said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by an owner of said individual signal unit; at least some of the predefined steps provided by one or more independent parties; at least some predetermined steps configured or reconfigurable by said independent parties.

Also provided is a monitoring system including an individual signal unit; said individual signal unit communicating with a central control facility when an event sensor activates said individual signal unit; said central control facility executing a number of predefined steps on receipt of a communication from said individual signal unit; at least some of said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by an owner of said individual signal unit; at least some of the predefined steps provided by one or more independent parties; at least some predetermined steps configured or reconfigurable by said independent parties.

A cloud server associated with a plurality of home-control network, downloads sensor data, Internet data, and data from network devices outside the user's home-control network, and analyzes the data to control water valves and leak detectors within the user's home-control network.

A multi-level power converter for one or more phases includes one or more converter arms including a plurality of serial connected switching cells. Each switching cell includes a plurality of switching devices, a primary energy storage, a secondary energy storage and a first inductor. The switching devices are arranged to selectively provide a connection to the primary energy storage, wherein each switching cell includes a bridge circuit including the switching devices and the primary energy storage, a battery circuit connected to the bridge circuit and including the secondary energy storage, and an arm circuit providing a connection between two adjacent switching cells. The first inductor of each switching cell is arranged in the arm circuit.

A power management apparatus (120) includes management information storage unit (121) capable of storing a condition under which each consumer management apparatus (100) receives power (first condition) and a condition under which each consumer management apparatus (100) supplies power (second condition), power control unit (123) for supplying or received power to or from the consumer management apparatuses (110), and information control unit (122) for controlling the consumer management apparatus (110) and power control unit (123). Each consumer management apparatus (110) includes a distributed power supply (111), a load (112), and control unit (113) that controls the distributed power supply 112. When the information control unit (122) detects that one consumer management apparatus (110) has activated the first condition, it requests another consumer management apparatus (100) activating the second condition to supply power and supplies the power to the first consumer management apparatus (110) via the power control unit (123).

Systems and methods for controlling lab equipment such as transmitters are provided that includes a mini automation controller (MAC). The system provides a control system, user interface, and interfaces, including network interfaces usable for interfacing equipment, MAC, and user interfaces over a network, which provide a variety of functions including automation and monitoring of transmission sequences and receiver events. An exemplary MAC may include an Ethernet controller capable of converting an Ethernet signal to a serial signal. The MAC may also include a receiver monitor section comprising a fiber optic receiver input, a copper cable receiver input, and a monostable multivibrator. In addition to the receiver monitor section, the MAC may have a transmitter control section including a transmitter control pulse and a power output. An exemplary MAC may have a microcontroller coupled to the Ethernet controller, the receiver monitor section, and the transmitter control section.

A plant wireless access point (PWAP) is disclosed that bridges communications between a field communicator and a plant automation network. The PWAP may facilitate provisioning of new plant devices into a plant automation wireless network using the field communicator, and may also facilitate the field communicator performing various functions regarding one or more plant devices connected to the plant automation network. The PWAP may allow a field communicator to access information from the plant automation network and/or from other sources via the plant automation network such as the Internet. In addition, the PWAP may determine a location of one or more field communicators relative to the PWAP and/or other devices connected to the plant automation network.