In electrical systems with DC-DC converters having synchronous rectification (SR) on the output stage, the input voltage can be monitored. When a potentially destructive transient occurs, the SR is rapidly turned on in a non-synchronous manner to “crowbar” the main power transformer. The resulting short circuit is reflected back to the DC input under current-limited pulse width modulation (PWM) control. In effect, the entire surge rating of the power train is applied to the potentially destructive input transient. The clamping capacity can be controlled accurately and is significantly more than what is available in prior art components and systems. When the input voltage is pulled down to safe levels, the clamp circuit disengages and the DC-DC converter returns to normal operation. DC output voltage regulation to the connected load is not maintained during this clamping event, but maintaining output voltage regulation during such destructive transients is not required.

A DC-DC auto-converter module includes a positive source terminal, a negative source terminal, a positive load terminal, a negative load terminal, and a DC-DC converter. The negative source terminal cooperates with the positive source terminal to facilitate electrical connection of a DC power source thereto. The negative load terminal cooperates with the positive load terminal to facilitate connection of an electrical load thereto. The isolated DC-DC converter comprises an input circuit and an output circuit that is galvanically isolated from the input circuit. The DC-DC converter includes a positive input terminal, a negative input terminal, a positive output terminal, and a negative output terminal. At least one of the positive input terminal, the negative input terminal, the positive output terminal, and the negative output terminal is galvanically connected to at least one of the positive source terminal, the negative source terminal, the positive load terminal, and the negative load terminal.

A DC-DC auto-converter module includes a positive source terminal, a negative source terminal, a positive load terminal, a negative load terminal, and a DC-DC converter. The negative source terminal cooperates with the positive source terminal to facilitate electrical connection of a DC power source thereto. The negative load terminal cooperates with the positive load terminal to facilitate connection of an electrical load thereto. The isolated DC-DC converter comprises an input circuit and an output circuit that is galvanically isolated from the input circuit. The DC-DC converter includes a positive input terminal, a negative input terminal, a positive output terminal, and a negative output terminal. At least one of the positive input terminal, the negative input terminal, the positive output terminal, and the negative output terminal is galvanically connected to at least one of the positive source terminal, the negative source terminal, the positive load terminal, and the negative load terminal.

A method for operating an inverter with reactive power capability that includes a voltage link circuit and an unfolding bridge, wherein poles of the voltage link circuit are configured to be selectively connected to terminals of an AC output in different configurations by means of the unfolding bridge, in order to change a polarity of the AC output relative to the voltage link circuit. The method includes in the case of a phase shift between an AC current (I) and an AC voltage (U) at the AC output reversing the direction of a current flowing via the voltage link circuit. Reversing the direction of the current flowing via the voltage link circuit includes disconnecting the AC output from the voltage link circuit, providing a freewheeling path between the terminals of the AC output, while the AC output is disconnected from the voltage link circuit, and reconnecting the AC output to the voltage link circuit with the polarity of the AC output relative to the voltage link circuit being changed by the unfolding bridge.

A power adapter includes a primary side and a secondary side. The primary side rectifies an alternating current voltage. The secondary side is coupled to the primary side, provides a direct current voltage of a specific voltage level to a cable. The second side includes a sensing resistor, and a compensation circuit. The compensation circuit monitors a voltage level across the sensing resistor, and injects a current into the cable based on the voltage level across the sensing resistor.

A power supply unit for an IED for LV or MV electric power applications characterized in that it comprises: a power transformer stage, which is operatively coupled to a feeding conductor to harvest electric power from said feeding conductor; a first storage stage, which is electrically connected to said power transformer stage to store electric energy; a first step-down conversion stage, which is electrically connectable/disconnectable to/from said first storage stage; a switching stage adapted to electrically connect/disconnect said first step-down conversion stage with/from said first storage stage; and a second storage stage, which is electrically connected to said first step-down conversion stage to store electric energy.

In an example, a power system (100) for generation and controlled distribution of power, comprises a transmitter circuit (108) coupled to a first rechargeable input DC source (106) to receive a DC-input power; a transmitter coil (102) coupled to the transmitter circuit (108) to receive an input voltage; a receiver coil (104) with magnets to induce a DC voltage in the receiver coil (104) based on the input voltage of the transmitter coil (102); a receiver circuit (116) coupled to the receiver coil (104) to receive the induced DC voltage; a DC-DC voltage converter (118) coupled to the receiver circuit (116) to receive and convert the induced DC voltage into a reduced DC voltage, which is supplied back to the first rechargeable input DC source (106); and a load unit (112) with a plurality of loads (114) coupled to the DC-DC voltage converter (118) to receive the reduced DC voltage.

A sensor for measuring current flow includes a power generation circuit, a current measurement circuit and a microcontroller. The power generation circuit includes a current transformer that harvests energy from a load applied to the conductor and uses the harvested energy to power the current measurement circuit and microcontroller. The current measurement circuit includes a Hall effect sensor that outputs a voltage signal in response to detecting a magnetic flux generated by the flow of current through the conductor. The microcontroller calculates a current measurement based on the voltage signal received from the current measurement system. The Hall effect sensor is able to generate the voltage signal used to measure current flow at the same time that the current transformer harvests energy from the current flowing through the conductor. A fault detection system is able to alert a user to problems with the current transformer and/or the Hall effect sensor.

A sensor for measuring current flow includes a power generation circuit, a current measurement circuit and a microcontroller. The power generation circuit includes a current transformer that harvests energy from a load applied to the conductor and uses the harvested energy to power the current measurement circuit and microcontroller. The current measurement circuit includes a Hall effect sensor that outputs a voltage signal in response to detecting a magnetic flux generated by the flow of current through the conductor. The microcontroller calculates a current measurement based on the voltage signal received from the current measurement system. The Hall effect sensor is able to generate the voltage signal used to measure current flow at the same time that the current transformer harvests energy from the current flowing through the conductor. A fault detection system is able to alert a user to problems with the current transformer and/or the Hall effect sensor.

Devices and techniques for controlling voltage regulation are disclosed. A voltage regulation system may include one or more loads disposed on an integrated circuit, a DC-to-DC voltage regulation device at least partially disposed on the integrated circuit, and a second device disposed external to the integrated circuit and comprising circuitry configured to communicate with the controller of the voltage regulation device. The voltage regulation device may include one or more voltage regulation modules and a controller configured to control the one or more voltage regulation modules. The one or more voltage regulation modules may be configured to supply one or more voltage levels, respectively, to the one or more loads. The controller may be configured to disable at least one of the one or more voltage regulation modules based on a determination that the second device is not suitable for use with the voltage regulation device.