A load control device may control power delivered from a power source, such as an alternating-current (AC) power source, to at least two electrical loads, such as a lighting load and a motor load. The load control device may include multiple load control circuit, such as a dimmer circuit and a motor drive circuit, for controlling the power delivered to the lighting load and the motor load, respectively. The load control device may adjust the rotational speed of the motor load in a manner so as to minimize acoustic noise generated by the load control device and reduce the amount of time required to adjust the rotational speed of the motor load. The load control device may remain powered when one of the electrical loads (e.g., the lighting load) has been removed (e.g., electrically disconnected or uninstalled) and/or has failed in an open state (has burnt out or blown out).

A method for phase compensating a power factor correction circuit is provided. Firstly, a present current value of an input current is sampled, and the sampled signal is filtered. Then, a present waveform of the input current corresponding to the present current value of the filtered sampled signal and a previous waveform of the input current corresponding to a previous current value of the filtered sampled signal are predicted, and a current error signal is generated according to a difference between the present waveform and the previous waveform. Then, the current error signal is adjusted, and an adjusted signal is generated. Then, a feedforward signal is added to the adjusted signal, and a phase compensation signal. Then, a current control signal is added to the phase compensation signal, and a pulse width modulation signal is generated to control a switching circuit.

Device for operating an electric motor, comprising a detection unit for detecting zero-crossings and phase angles of applied phase-shifted sinusoidal voltage phases of a multi-phase power supply network; and a switching unit for connecting half-waves of the applied sinusoidal voltage phases through by means of semiconductor switches in accordance with switching patterns applied to the semiconductor switches, said patterns being synchronised with the detected phase angles and zero-crossings, to generate phase-shifted quasi-sinusoidal voltage phases which are applied directly to the electric motor.

A power tool includes a tool accessory, a motor, a control module, a power supply, and an operating switch. The operating switch includes a trigger mechanism, a current switch coupled to the trigger mechanism to be actuated by the trigger mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the electrical connection between the power supply module and the motor, and a signal switch coupled to the trigger mechanism to be actuated by the trigger mechanism at least configured to output a control signal to the control module to control the start of the motor.

Apparatus and methods of operating an electric motor are provided, comprising energizing a plurality of stator coils in sequence to rotate a rotor. Each said coil is energized with a repeating pulse sequence comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions repeating alternately to form the repeating pulse sequence. The first portion comprises a first pattern of pulses, each pulse in the first pattern having either a first polarity or second polarity, and at least two consecutive pulses in the first pattern having the same polarity. The second portion comprises a second pattern of pulses, the second pattern of pulses having the same pattern as said first pattern of pulses, but having inverted polarity with respect to said first pattern of pulses.

A system for reducing inrush loading when a source power is restored includes a device for switching power that selectively connects a load to the source of power and a circuit for measuring the AC voltage at the source and for determining when the AC voltage is within operating range. Responsive to the AC voltage being within operating range, the system delays for a time period then connects the load to the source of power by way of the device for switching power.

A load control device may control power delivered from a power source, such as an alternating-current (AC) power source, to at least two electrical loads, such as a lighting load and a motor load. The load control device may include multiple load control circuit, such as a dimmer circuit and a motor drive circuit, for controlling the power delivered to the lighting load and the motor load, respectively. The load control device may adjust the rotational speed of the motor load in a manner so as to minimize acoustic noise generated by the load control device and reduce the amount of time required to adjust the rotational speed of the motor load. The load control device may remain powered when one of the electrical loads (e.g., the lighting load) has been removed (e.g., electrically disconnected or uninstalled) and/or has failed in an open state (has burnt out or blown out).

A load control device may control power delivered from a power source, such as an alternating-current (AC) power source, to at least two electrical loads, such as a lighting load and a motor load. The load control device may include multiple load control circuit, such as a dimmer circuit and a motor drive circuit, for controlling the power delivered to the lighting load and the motor load, respectively. The load control device may adjust the rotational speed of the motor load in a manner so as to minimize acoustic noise generated by the load control device and reduce the amount of time required to adjust the rotational speed of the motor load. The load control device may remain powered when one of the electrical loads (e.g., the lighting load) has been removed (e.g., electrically disconnected or uninstalled) and/or has failed in an open state (has burnt out or blown out).

A control system may include a processor that may receive a first dataset associated with a current received at a load device coupled to a relay device. The processor may also determine harmonics data associated with the current and determine a switching profile to control moving a first armature of three armatures in the relay device based on the harmonics data. The switching profile is configured to control movement of the first armature between a first position and a second position, and wherein the switching profile comprises a firing angle for moving the first armature with respect to an electrical waveform, a second armature, and a third armature. The processor may then control a current provided to a relay coil of the relay device based on the switching profile, such that the relay coil causes the first armature to move.

An electrical machine (1) comprises a rotor (20), a stator (10), a rotor power supply (50), at least one sensor (70) and a rotor magnetization control arrangement (60). The rotor has rotor windings (22) for controlling magnetization of rotor magnetic poles (24). The sensor is arranged to measure a parameter associated with a relative force between the stator and the rotor. The rotor magnetization control arrangement is communicationally connected to the sensor for receiving a signal representing the measured parameter. The rotor magnetic poles are divided into at least two groups (23). The rotor magnetization control arrangement is arranged for controlling the magnetization of the groups individually by providing a respective individually controllable rotor current. The rotor magnetization control arrangement is arranged to individually control the rotor currents in dependence of the signal representing the measured parameter. A method for controlling such an electrical machine is also disclosed.