The present disclosure relates to an interface comprising: a terminal for delivering a DC voltage; a comparator for delivering a first signal representative of a comparison of the DC voltage with a high threshold; a comparator for delivering a second signal representative of a comparison of the DC voltage with a low threshold; and a circuit configured to: deliver successive pairs of values of high and low thresholds for a time period after the DC voltage crosses a first value of the low threshold; modify successive pairs of values of the thresholds based on the first and second signals to determine values of thresholds surrounding the DC voltage; and determining a current value of the DC voltage based on the values of thresholds surrounding the DC voltage.

An apparatus comprises a first power supply, a second power supply, and a controller. The first power supply supplies a first input voltage to power a first input of a load over a first circuit path. The second power supply supplies a second input voltage to power a second input of the load over a second circuit path. The controller controls connectivity of the first circuit path to the second circuit path as a function of the first input voltage and the second input voltage during at least ramp up or ramp down of either or both of the first input voltage and the second input voltage.

An automotive power supply device includes first and second batteries, first and second load groups, a plurality of fuses interposed between the first and second batteries and the first and second load groups, and instantaneous interruption prevention devices. First and second redundant system loads that complement operation of each other are allocated to the first and second load groups. The instantaneous interruption prevention devices are connected to the first and second load groups, and prevent an instantaneous interruption of electric power supplied to at least any of the first and second load groups when one or more fuses are blown.

An integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed herein for adaptive power multiplexing with a power distribution network. In an example aspect, the integrated circuit includes a first power rail, a second power rail, and a load power rail. The integrated circuit also includes multiple power-multiplexer tiles and power-multiplexer control circuitry. The multiple power-multiplexer tiles are coupled in series in a chained arrangement and configured to jointly perform a power-multiplexing operation. Each power-multiplexer tile is configured to switch between coupling the load power rail to the first power rail and coupling the load power rail to the second power rail. The power-multiplexer control circuitry is configured to control a direction of current flow to prevent cross-conduction between the first power rail and the second power rail during the power-multiplexing operation.

A power distribution system 100 is installed in an aircraft, and comprises: a first DC power supply unit 10 including a generator 11; a second DC power source unit 20 including a battery 30, a step-up/down converter 41, a voltage sensor 43, and control unit 44; and a diode 50. When the voltage sensor 43 does not detect regenerative power, the control unit 44 executes a running power processing mode in which generated power generated by the first DC power supply unit 10 is supplied to an electric actuator 80 while charging and discharging the battery 30 using the step-up/down converter 41 so as to keep a charge rate A of the battery 30 within a predetermined range. When the voltage sensor 43 detects regenerative power, the control unit 44 executes a regenerative power processing mode in which the battery 30 is charged with the regenerative power using the step-up/down converter 41.

Embodiments concern a plant for melting and/or heating metal material and a corresponding method to supply electrical energy. The plant comprises at least one induction furnace (11) and means (12) for supplying electrical energy to the induction furnace 11), wherein the electric power supply means (12) comprise at least one transformer (13) connected to an alternating current mains power network (14), at least one rectifier (15) located downstream of the transformer (13), at least one converter (16) located downstream of the rectifier device (15), and at least one coil (17) for melting and/or heating metal material.

A power distribution system is provided that ensures that a car is able to operate safely in an autonomous mode. The system includes multiple power rails, including a pair of safety critical power rails. Associated with each safety critical power rail is a safety switch, vehicle sensors (e.g., vehicle location and obstacle sensors), vehicle actuators (e.g., braking and steering actuators) and an autonomous control unit. If a fault is detected during vehicle initialization or general operation, the safety switch which detected the fault opens and that particular power rail is decoupled from the general purpose power rail as well as the remaining safety critical power rail. The remaining safety critical power rail is then able to provide power to a sufficient number of sensors, actuators and controllers to allow the car to safely and autonomously complete an emergency stop on the side of the road.

Provided is an power and communications network convergence system including wireless base stations, and DC grid groups, each grid group belonging to a cell. Each grid in the grid group has a DC line to which devices including a power generator and a power storage are connected, and performs, based on state information on each device, first control for reducing power fluctuations in the line. A first grid belonging to a cell performs, based on state information on each grid, second control for interchanging power with a second grid belonging to the cell. If a power situation of a first grid group belonging to a first cell and a power situation of a second grid group belonging to a second cell satisfy a preset condition, the first grid group performs third control for interchanging power with the second grid group.

A communication device for connection with a power source and a host device is provided. The communication device comprises a device controller and a converter circuit. The device controller is adapted for data communication with the host device and the converter circuit is configured to provide a virtual device ground at least to the device controller, so as to compensate a ground potential difference between the host device and the communication device.

The invention relates to a two-way electrical power distribution network including: a high electrical power distribution bus; medium voltage electrical power feed lines; low voltage distribution lines, wherein the low voltage distribution lines are connected to load(s) and/or source(s); and, medium voltage electrical power regulating apparatus including: a DC contactor having DC terminals; a transmission network connector connected to the medium voltage electrical power feed line including: live terminal(s) connected to live connection(s) and a neutral terminal connected to a neutral of the medium voltage electrical power feed line; switches connected to the DC contactor; and electronic controlling devices coupled to the switches and control the switches to independently regulate electrical power on each of the live connection and the neutral connection of the medium voltage electrical power feed line to thereby maintain a voltage in the electrical power distribution bus during different load and source conditions.