In accordance with disclosed embodiments, a power conversion system and method are provided. The power conversion system comprises a main power source configured to deliver drive power to a load and an add-on power module. The add-on power module comprises an isolated DC/DC converter and a low voltage source coupled in series with a high voltage source. The add-on power module is coupled to the main power source and the load and configured to output boost power to the load. The power conversion system further comprises a controller coupled to the main power source and the add-on power module, wherein the controller is configured to: determine that the load requires power from the main power source, and if so, direct boost power from the add-on power module to the load; and direct drive power from the main power source to the load when boost power falls below a predetermined threshold.

An alternatively changeable electric circuit comprising a voltage source, an electric load electrically connected with said electric voltage source via a basic electric conductor having a primary branch and a secondary branch, and an alternative conductor connected in parallel to said basic electric conductor, wherein upon fulfillment of a predetermined circumstance, said primary branch is physically interrupted, causing an electric current which initially flowed through said primary branch to be redirected through said alternative conductor. The alternative conductor comprises two electric conductive sections which are aligned with each other and spaced apart at a distance, forming an electrically insulating gap there-between. The primary branch includes an electrically conductive section, which upon the predetermined circumstance is removable from the primary branch and displaceable into said gap between said two electric conductive sections, causing the alternative conductor to become bridged and electrically conductive.

An alternatively changeable electric circuit comprising a voltage source, an electric load electrically connected with said electric voltage source via a basic electric conductor having a primary branch and a secondary branch, and an alternative conductor connected in parallel to said basic electric conductor, wherein upon fulfillment of a predetermined circumstance, said primary branch is physically interrupted, causing an electric current which initially flowed through said primary branch to be redirected through said alternative conductor. The alternative conductor comprises two electric conductive sections which are aligned with each other and spaced apart at a distance, forming an electrically insulating gap there-between. The primary branch includes an electrically conductive section, which upon the predetermined circumstance is removable from the primary branch and displaceable into said gap between said two electric conductive sections, causing the alternative conductor to become bridged and electrically conductive.

In electronic systems, the downstream circuitry may be damaged by overcurrent and overvoltage events. Therefore, there is provided a dual protection device for protecting electrical components in electronic systems. The protection device includes a mechanical fuse in conjunction with an electronic fuse, eFuse, the two components connected in series, together protecting against overcurrent events on two levels. The mechanical fuse provides high overcurrent protection, realising fast and reliable protection at high overcurrent events, and the electronic fuse provides low overcurrent protection, realising accurate and resettable protection for low overcurrent events.

In electronic systems, the downstream circuitry may be damaged by overcurrent and overvoltage events. Therefore, there is provided a dual protection device for protecting electrical components in electronic systems. The protection device includes a mechanical fuse in conjunction with an electronic fuse, eFuse, the two components connected in series, together protecting against overcurrent events on two levels. The mechanical fuse provides high overcurrent protection, realising fast and reliable protection at high overcurrent events, and the electronic fuse provides low overcurrent protection, realising accurate and resettable protection for low overcurrent events.

A DC/DC converter, including a piezoelectric element; a first switch, coupling a first electrode of the piezoelectric element to a first terminal of application of a first voltage; a second switch, coupling the first electrode of the piezoelectric element to a first terminal of supply of a second voltage; and at least one third switch connecting the first electrode to a second electrode of the piezoelectric element, said switches being cyclically controlled, at an approximately constant frequency with, between each turning-on of one of the switches, a phase where all switches are off.

A DC/DC converter, including a piezoelectric element; a first switch, coupling a first electrode of the piezoelectric element to a first terminal of application of a first voltage; a second switch, coupling the first electrode of the piezoelectric element to a first terminal of supply of a second voltage; and at least one third switch connecting the first electrode to a second electrode of the piezoelectric element, said switches being cyclically controlled, at an approximately constant frequency with, between each turning-on of one of the switches, a phase where all switches are off.

In the present legacy electrical power generation and distribution system, the power quality delivered to end consumers is being degraded by a number of disruptive technologies and legislative impacts; especially with the rapidly increasing myriad of privately owned and operated domestic and commercial distributed energy generation (DEG) devices connected at any point across a low voltage (LV) distribution network. The present invention bypasses this increasing critical DEG problem by offering a solution comprising an energy processing unit (EPU) that is installed at the customer's electrical power point of use (POU). And because of the controlled tightly voltage regulated output of the EPU, significant energy savings can be achieved through dynamic voltage control, utilizing the CVR effect, reduced reactive power demand, and reduced or eliminated peak demand billings.

A DC/DC converter, including a piezoelectric element; a first switch, coupling a first electrode of the piezoelectric element to a first terminal of application of a first voltage; a second switch, coupling the first electrode of the piezoelectric element to a first terminal of supply of a second voltage; and at least one third switch connecting the first electrode to a second electrode of the piezoelectric element, said switches being cyclically controlled, at an approximately constant frequency with, between each turning-on of one of the switches, a phase where all switches are off.

A DC/DC converter, including a piezoelectric element; a first switch, coupling a first electrode of the piezoelectric element to a first terminal of application of a first voltage; a second switch, coupling the first electrode of the piezoelectric element to a first terminal of supply of a second voltage; and at least one third switch connecting the first electrode to a second electrode of the piezoelectric element, said switches being cyclically controlled, at an approximately constant frequency with, between each turning-on of one of the switches, a phase where all switches are off.