A power regulation apparatus includes a first switch and a switch control signal generation unit including a first transconductance unit including a first input terminal for receiving a first voltage from a first terminal of the first switch, a second input terminal for receiving a second voltage from a second terminal of the first switch, and an output terminal for being connected to a first node, a node voltage generation unit connected to the first node and configured to generate a node voltage signal at the first node, and a second transconductance unit including a first input terminal for receiving a current characterization signal characterizing a current flowing through the first switch, a second input terminal for being connected to the first node so as to receive the node voltage signal, and an output terminal for being connected to a control terminal of the first switch.

The present invention is directed at improving charge transfer based measurement techniques. This may be done through the use of a sigma-delta like sensing circuit that continually removes a specific amount of charge from an accumulator to produce a binary bit output stream reflective of the state of a connected sensor. Further techniques include detection of a charge transfer measurement residual through a controlled, multi-step charge removal until a trip event is cleared, as well as the reuse of a voltage threshold with a plurality of charge transfers measurements of different resolution.

An impact detection device includes an impact detector, a wireless communication device, an energy storage device, an autonomous electrical energy generation device, a device for receiving energy by radio frequency, the device being configured to adopt the following two modes: a first mode, referred to as autonomous mode, in which the autonomous electrical energy generation device is configured to supply the impact detector and the wireless communication device; a second mode, referred to as external mode, in which the device for receiving energy by radio frequency is configured to supply the impact detector and the wireless communication device.

In a method for operating an electric vehicle, including an electrical drive device for driving the vehicle, a control device for controlling the driving of the vehicle, a first energy storage device for supplying the control device with a first DC voltage, a second energy storage device for supplying the drive device with a second DC voltage, and an energy supply unit providing an output DC voltage, the first energy storage device is connected to the energy supply unit via a converter device, the second energy storage device is connected to the energy supply unit, the converter device converts the output DC voltage into the first DC voltage, a first power flow from the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device is prevented and a second power flow from the second energy storage device to the first energy storage device is prevented.

A precharge system and method are provided. The precharge system comprises a load circuit, a precharge circuit and a control circuit. The load circuit comprises an input terminal, an input switch and a bus capacitor. The precharge circuit comprises a precharge resistor and a precharge switch. The precharge method comprises: during the load circuit being in a precharge mode, controlling the input switch to be in an off state, and controlling the precharge switch to switch between the on and off state for multiple times; and during the load circuit being in a work mode, controlling the input switch to be in an on state. During the load circuit being in the precharge mode, when the precharge switch is in the on state, a consuming power of the precharge resistor is larger than a threshold power and is smaller than or equal to a limit power of the precharge resistor.

An apparatus for covering an open top of a transportation trailer container, such as a chip train carrying wood chips, is provided. A flexible cover (e.g. tarp) may be deployed and retracted using a roller moved overtop of the container using pivotable arms. An electrically powered covering mechanism automatically deploys and retracts the cover. The covering mechanism is powered by a supercapacitor, which is charged when connected to an external power source. A charging control circuit can selectably allow or inhibit charging of the supercapacitor depending on power demands of other electrical loads.

A charging/discharging apparatus according to the present embodiment comprises first and second electrode terminals inputting or outputting direct-current power. First to third switching elements are connected in series between the first electrode and the second electrode. A first electric storage is connected in parallel to the second switching element located between the first switching element and the third switching element. A second electric storage is connected in parallel to the third switching element. First to third diodes are respectively connected in antiparallel to the first to third switching elements.

A method of controlling a charging voltage, the method including: receiving first environmental information from an environmental sensor, setting a voltage level of the charging voltage to a first voltage level in response to the first environmental information; charging a secondary power source including at least one capacitor with the charging voltage having the first voltage level; receiving second environmental information from the environmental sensor; in response to the second environmental information being different than the first environmental information, changing the voltage level of the charging voltage; and charging the secondary power source with the charging voltage having the changed voltage level.

An uninterruptible power supply device includes a bidirectional chopper that converts a first DC voltage supplied from a battery into a second DC voltage and supplies the second DC voltage to an inverter when a power failure of a commercial AC power supply occurs. The bidirectional chopper includes a capacitor that stabilizes the second DC voltage. The uninterruptible power supply device further includes: a current detector that detects an output current of the battery; and a control circuit that, based on a detection result by the current detector, calculates an estimated temperature increase value of the capacitor every time a predetermined time period elapses, and stops an operation of the bidirectional chopper when the calculated estimated temperature increase value is higher than an upper limit value.

A portable hybrid power module is provided. The power module represents a combined capacitor and battery residing together in a single housing. The battery is preferably a 12 volt DC gel cell battery while the capacitor is an ultra-capacitor residing in parallel with the battery. The ultra-capacitor may be a series of 6 to 12 super capacitors residing in series, with each super capacitor providing 2.5 volts DC charge. The hybrid power module is configured to provide a charge to start an external portable device. The device may be an all-terrain vehicle, a personal water craft, a generator set, or a vehicle. The power module includes a first device terminal and a second device terminal for establishing electrical communication with a battery of the external portable device.