A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.

A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.

A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.

A portable, personal storage and carrying case for an e-liquid e-cigarette PV in which the case includes: a refillable PV that is removable from the case; an electrical power source for re-charging a rechargeable battery in the PV; a user-replaceable reservoir for holding e-liquid; and an electrical or electronic pump adapted to transfer e-liquid from the reservoir to a chamber in the PV, the pump delivering a pre-defined or variable quantity of e-liquid from the reservoir; and in which the case has closed and open positions, and lifts up the removable PV when in the open position to enable a user to readily withdraw the PV from the case.

An electric power control system for controlling supply and consumption of electric power in a system power supply, a storage battery and an electric power load, said electric power control system including: an estimated value correction unit configured to obtain a difference between a past power control estimated value and a past actual performance value, and to shift a power control estimated value obtained as a result of estimation in a predetermined period to an extent corresponding to said difference, thereby correcting the power control estimated value, wherein said past power control estimated value is a value obtained as a result of estimation performed in a past time relative to said predetermined period, and said past actual performance value is a value obtained as an actual result in the past time; and a power control unit configured to control supply and consumption of electric power in the system power supply, the storage battery, and the electric power load, based on the power control estimated value corrected by the estimated value correction unit.

A low-voltage circuit in a bidirectional DC-DC converter converts output AC power from a high-voltage circuit to DC power to charge a smoothing reactor and discharge the smoothing reactor, and includes an active snubber circuit including switching elements and each having a backward diode and a snubber capacitor. The snubber capacitor of the active snubber circuit has its one end connected to a drain end of the switching elements and has its other end connected to a node between a center tap of a high-frequency transformer and a smoothing reactor.

A radio frequency (RF) to direct current (DC) converter for an aerosol delivery device is provided. The aerosol delivery device includes a power source, and an antenna configured to receive radio-frequency (RF) energy from an external RF transmitter. The aerosol delivery device also includes a power harvesting circuitry configured to receive radio-frequency RF energy from an external RF transmitter, and harvest power from the RF energy to power or charge at least one electronic component of the aerosol delivery device.

A control body is coupled or coupleable with a cartridge that is equipped with a heating element and contains an aerosol precursor composition, the control body and cartridge forming an aerosol delivery device. The control body includes a control component to control the heating element to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition. The control body also includes a gas sensor configured to detect a presence of gas in an environment of the control body, and the gas sensor or control component are further configured to control operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device in response to the presence of gas so detected.

A control body is coupled or coupleable with a cartridge that is equipped with a heating element and contains an aerosol precursor composition, the control body and cartridge forming an aerosol delivery device. The control body includes a control component to control the heating element to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition. The control body also includes a gas sensor configured to detect a presence of gas in an environment of the control body, and the gas sensor or control component are further configured to control operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device in response to the presence of gas so detected.

A power management apparatus configured to control charge and discharge of the battery, power discharged from the battery being supplied to a power consumption apparatus, the power management apparatus includes a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to receive, from the power consumption apparatus, first information indicating a first power amount which is predicted to be used in the power consumption apparatus, determine, based on the first power amount, a first value that is a value regarding a residual amount of the battery and is used for determining which of the charge and the discharge of the battery is to be preferentially executed, and control, based on the determined first value and the residual amount of the battery, the charge and the discharge of the battery.