A power controller for an AC power converter connected in series with a load and receiving power from or delivering power to a power source, the power controller comprising: a radial control block controlling a radial component of an electrical parameter of the AC power converter; and a chordal control block controlling a chordal component of the electrical parameter of the AC power converter. Also provided is a power system comprising one or more loads each connected in series to a power converter each controlled by a power controller as described above. There is also provided a method of controlling an AC power converter connected in series with a load and receiving power from a power source, the method comprising: controlling a radial component of an electrical parameter of the AC power converter; and controlling a chordal component of the electrical parameter of the AC power converter.

A semiconductor switch control device includes a first FET and a second FET arranged adjacent to each other, in which source terminals are connected in series. A drain terminal of the first FET is connected to a high voltage battery, and a drain terminal of the second FET is connected to a high voltage load. A controller determines a temperature state of a minus-side main relay including the second FET based on a forward voltage of a body diode of the first FET.

A semiconductor switch control device includes a first FET and a second FET arranged adjacent to each other, in which source terminals are connected in series. A drain terminal of the first FET is connected to a high voltage battery, and a drain terminal of the second FET is connected to a high voltage load. A controller determines a temperature state of a minus-side main relay including the second FET based on a forward voltage of a body diode of the first FET.

A heating control system and method for switching on a heating load, wherein the heating load is controllable via forward-phase control, and wherein, at a particular instant in time, the forward-phase control has a corresponding phase control angle, where the heating load is switched on via a specifiable initial phase control angle and an ascertained effective current and a definable switch-on current curve are taken into account in order to determine the subsequent phase control angles such that an efficient cold start with any heating loads can be performed.

A two-wire load control device (such as, a dimmer switch) for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load (such as, a high-efficiency lighting load) includes a thyristor coupled between the source and the load, a gate coupling circuit coupled between a first main load terminal and the gate of the thyristor, and a control circuit coupled to a control input of the gate coupling circuit. The control circuit generates a drive voltage for causing the gate coupling circuit to conduct a gate current to thus render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half cycle of the AC power source, and to allow the gate coupling circuit to conduct the gate current at any time from the firing time through approximately the remainder of the half cycle, where the gate coupling circuit conducts approximately no net average current to render and maintain the thyristor conductive.

An aspect of the present invention provides a circuit and arrangement for generating and amplifying an electric scalar potential field and a method for capturing the associated available electromagnetic energy into the system. The device is comprised of a transformer whose primary is powered periodically by short pulse durations; a resonant coupled transformer secondary circuit with synchronous parameter variation; and an extraction circuit of appropriate impedance and components to provide isolation and distribution to load.

An aspect of the present invention provides a circuit and arrangement for generating and amplifying an electric scalar potential field and a method for capturing the associated available electromagnetic energy into the system. The device is comprised of a transformer whose primary is powered periodically by short pulse durations; a resonant coupled transformer secondary circuit with synchronous parameter variation; and an extraction circuit of appropriate impedance and components to provide isolation and distribution to load.

A power supply apparatus includes a first circuit, a second circuit, an adjustment unit, a detection unit configured to detect a parameter, a first communication unit, a second communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with the first communication unit, and a control unit configured to control the adjustment unit, the detection result being transmitted from the first communication unit to the second communication unit by the wireless communication. The detection unit operates with power resulting from a voltage output from the control unit to the second communication unit. The first communication unit includes first wiring, the second communication unit includes second wiring, and the first wiring is disposed to not contact the second wiring. At least a part of a region surrounded by the first wiring and the detection unit overlaps a region surrounded by the second wiring and the control unit.

A power supply apparatus includes a first circuit, a second circuit, an adjustment unit, a detection unit configured to detect a parameter, a first communication unit, a second communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with the first communication unit, and a control unit configured to control the adjustment unit, the detection result being transmitted from the first communication unit to the second communication unit by the wireless communication. The detection unit operates with power resulting from a voltage output from the control unit to the second communication unit. The first communication unit includes first wiring, the second communication unit includes second wiring, and the first wiring is disposed to not contact the second wiring. At least a part of a region surrounded by the first wiring and the detection unit overlaps a region surrounded by the second wiring and the control unit.

An electrical load controller includes an electrical switching device and an actuator assembly having at least one user actuator for use in turning power on and off to the load and for use in adjustably controlling the level of power to the load. A frame attached to the actuator includes an integrally formed backlightable indicator region having an outer continuous solid surface. Light from an illumination assembly related to the level of power to the load is directable onto a portion of an inner surface of the backlightable indicator region, transmittable through the backlightable region from the inner surface to the outer surface, emittable from a portion of the outer surface, and observable by the user.