The invention provides an electric driver control system and method that utilizes detection of change in current signature of an electric driver to automatically switch on/off and operate the driver. The change in current signature corresponds to a change in the conditions of the system driven by the electric driver.

An energy supply device for reliably supplying energy to electrical loads, provides the energy supply by constant voltage sources. The number of constant voltage sources corresponds to the number of electrical loads. The energy supply device has a deactivatable balancing network. In this case, only the compensating currents are conducted via the balancing network, while the energy supply is provided via a direct electrical connection between the constant voltage source and the load. If a fault occurs, the balancing network can be deactivated. Faults in one branch thus do not affect the level of reliability of the energy supply in the remaining branches. After a faulty component has been located and isolated, the sources that are still intact, and the intact loads, can be brought back into operation by suitably configuring the balancing network. The availability of the drive system can thus be increased.

The present innovation discloses a solid-state electric power distribution module. The module comprises an enclosure for housing one or more electrical components of an electrical distribution system. The enclosure comprises input power connections, an air-gap disconnect unit, current sensing devices, isolation devices, analog-to-digital (A-D) converters, a processor and output connections, which are electrically connected using a plurality of conductive tracks. The input power connections receive input power from a power source. The current sensing devices receive the input power and generate analog output current and voltage using the isolation devices, wherein the analog outputs are converted into digital signals using A-D converters. The output connections supply power at pre-established levels to one or more loads after completion of circuit tests, thereby securely transferring power to the loads. Further, an air-gap disconnect unit is configured to disconnect the input power when a fault has occurred.

A hybrid air-gap/solid-state device protection device (PD) for use in an electrical power distribution system includes an air-gap disconnect unit connected in series with a solid-state device, a sense and drive circuit, and a microcontroller. Upon the sense and drive circuit detecting an impending fault or exceedingly high and unacceptable overvoltage condition in the PD's load circuit, the sense and drive circuit generates a gating signal that quickly switches the solid-state device OFF. Meanwhile, the microcontroller generates a disconnect pulse for the air-gap disconnect unit, which responds by forming an air gap in the load circuit. Together, the switched-OFF solid-state device and air gap protect the load and associated load circuit from being damaged. They also serve to electrically and physically isolate the source of the fault or overload condition from the remainder of the electrical power distribution system.

A hybrid air-gap/solid-state device protection device (PD) for use in an electrical power distribution system includes an air-gap disconnect unit connected in series with a solid-state device, a sense and drive circuit, and a microcontroller. Upon the sense and drive circuit detecting an impending fault or exceedingly high and unacceptable overvoltage condition in the PD's load circuit, the sense and drive circuit generates a gating signal that quickly switches the solid-state device OFF. Meanwhile, the microcontroller generates a disconnect pulse for the air-gap disconnect unit, which responds by forming an air gap in the load circuit. Together, the switched-OFF solid-state device and air gap protect the load and associated load circuit from being damaged. They also serve to electrically and physically isolate the source of the fault or overload condition from the remainder of the electrical power distribution system.

A hybrid air-gap/solid-state device protection device (PD) for use in an electrical power distribution system includes an air-gap disconnect unit connected in series with a solid-state device, a sense and drive circuit, and a microcontroller. Upon the sense and drive circuit detecting an impending fault or exceedingly high and unacceptable overvoltage condition in the PD's load circuit, the sense and drive circuit generates a gating signal that quickly switches the solid-state device OFF. Meanwhile, the microcontroller generates a disconnect pulse for the air-gap disconnect unit, which responds by forming an air gap in the load circuit. Together, the switched-OFF solid-state device and air gap protect the load and associated load circuit from being damaged. They also serve to electrically and physically isolate the source of the fault or overload condition from the remainder of the electrical power distribution system.

A power winch overcurrent (overload) safety device includes a display panel with an overcurrent (overload) warning display zone. Simultaneously, amperages used in the power winch is set with an upper limit current setting value, and a current actual value is set for an actual amperage. The current setting value and the current actual value are displayed on the display panel. A first plug socket is plugged by a plug head of a controller to perform operating of the power winch, and a second plug socket is further disposed on the electrical control set of the power winch and connected to a circuit set for the current setting value in the electrical control set, and which using for the plug of a current regulator to regulate the current setting value.

A low-voltage protection switch unit, such as a motor protection switch, includes: at least an external conductor line, from an external line supply terminal of the low-voltage protection switch unit to an external line load terminal of the low-voltage protection switch unit; a neutral conductor line, from a neutral conductor terminal of the low-voltage protection switch unit to a neutral conductor load terminal of the low-voltage protection switch unit; a mechanical bypass switch arranged in the external conductor line; a semiconductor circuit arrangement connected in parallel with the mechanical bypass switch; an electronic control unit for actuating the mechanical bypass switch and the semiconductor circuit arrangement in a specifiable manner; and a current measurement arrangement connected to the electronic control unit, the current measurement arrangement being arranged at least in the external conductor line. The electronic control unit switches the semiconductor circuit arrangement on/off in a specifiable clocked manner.

A drive device with an abnormality detection mechanism may include a drive source; a drive member to which power of the drive source is transmitted; a driven member operably coupled to the drive member; and a detector structured to output a signal in response to the driven member being turned in the second direction around the second axial line. The driven member may be structured such that, in response to the drive member being turned in a first direction around a first axial line, the driven member is turned in a first direction around a second axial line; and, in response to transmission of the power from the drive member being disconnected, the driven member is turned in a second direction around the second axial line.

An electronic circuit for a surgical robotic system includes a central power node, a first voltage bus that electrically couples a first power source to the node, a second voltage bus that electrically couples a second power source to the node, and several robotic arms, each arm is electrically coupled to the node via an output circuit breaker and is arranged to draw power from the node. Each bus is arranged to provide power from a respective power source to the node and each bus has an input circuit breaker that is arranged to limit a first output current flow from the node and into the bus. Each breaker that is arranged to limit a second output current flow from the node and into a respective arm. A breaker is arranged to open in response to a fault occurring within the respective arm, while the other breakers remain closed.