Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080303488 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CHARGING SUPER CAPACITORS - Systems and methods are provided for charging a super capacitor bank. One method provides for determining a charge voltage for the super capacitor bank, providing a charging current, limiting the charging current according to a corresponding worst case temperature within the super capacitor bank operating temperature range, limiting the charge voltage according to the worst case temperature, and turning off the charging current once the super capacitor bank is charged. One system provides a super capacitor bank for storing energy providing specified power demand to a circuit, a current charger providing charging current to the super capacitor bank, the charging current limited in accordance with a corresponding worst case temperature within the super capacitor bank operating temperature range, a voltage sense circuit to detect the super capacitor bank voltage, and a control to disconnect the current charger from the super capacitor bank once the super capacitor bank is charged. | 12-11-2008 |
20090129133 | Devices and Methods For Converting Alternating Current (AC) Power to Direct Current (DC) Power - Methods, circuit designs, systems, and devices for the conversion of high voltage alternating current (AC) to low voltage, high current direct current (DC) are described. An exemplary apparatus includes a rectifier for receiving a high voltage AC line power input and for outputting a full wave, high voltage DC, a gating component coupled to the rectifier for receiving the high voltage DC output by the rectifier, wherein the gating component is configured to gate the high voltage DC by turning on at a zero crossing level and turning off when the high voltage DC exceeds a preset voltage threshold and wherein the output of the gating component is an intermediate voltage DC capped by the preset voltage threshold, and a DC-DC converter coupled to the gating component for receiving the intermediate voltage DC output by the gating component, wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to step down and smooth out the intermediate voltage DC to a desired high current, low voltage DC output. | 05-21-2009 |
20110149544 | ANTENNA FOR WIRELESS UTILITY METERS - An integrated antenna and electromagnetic (EM) noise shield apparatus for use with a radio frequency communicating device and EM noise generating electronic equipment housed within a generally cylindrical outer glass enclosure or bezel of wireless utility meter. A flexible printed circuit (PC) board has an upper region and a lower ground plane region. A radiating element is defined on the PC board in the upper region. A metal ground plane component has a first portion having the shape of a circle segment and a second orthogonal portion. The ground plane component is mechanically fixed and electrically connected to the ground plane region of the PC board, with the orthogonal second portion being proximate to and shielding the radiating element. The ground plane component and the ground plane portion of the PC board define an electromagnetic shield for electromagnetic emissions between EM noise generating electronic equipment housed within said outer bezel and the radiating element. | 06-23-2011 |
20110235368 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVERSION OF HIGH VOLTAGE AC TO LOW VOLTAGE DC USING INPUT VOLTAGE GATING - A method and apparatus for conversion of high voltage AC to low voltage high current DC without using high voltage capacitors or transformers. A single switch is used to perform both the functions of pre-regulation and switching conversion. An input voltage detector determines when the input power AC is below a predetermined voltage limit. A threshold voltage generator provides a threshold voltage corresponding to the output voltage. A voltage comparator coupled to the input voltage detector and threshold voltage generator enables a pulse generator to activate the switch to gate a number of pulses of the input power below the predetermined voltage limit at predetermined frequency to a transformer. The converter regulates its output voltage by changing the input voltage threshold at which it starts switching, instead of using PWM or other known regulation technique. | 09-29-2011 |
20110248685 | INDUCTIVE CHARGING OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE COMPONENTS - According to aspects of the present invention, systems and methods are provided for faster charging of electrical energy storage components such as supercapacitors while maintaining the safety limits. In one or more exemplary embodiments, a flyback transformer is used to provide constant energy charging to the supercapacitor several times faster than in conventional systems or methods, due to the high frequency output of the flyback transformer, while not exceeding the power output rating of the power supply. According to one embodiment, a cycle-by-cycle energy transfer limit is used to charge one or more supercapacitors. | 10-13-2011 |
20120038328 | Systems and Methods for Charging Super Capacitors - Systems and methods are provided for charging a super capacitor bank. One method provides for determining a charge voltage for the super capacitor bank, providing a charging current, limiting the charging current according to a corresponding worst case temperature within the super capacitor bank operating temperature range, limiting the charge voltage according to the worst case temperature, and turning off the charging current once the super capacitor bank is charged. One system provides a super capacitor bank for storing energy providing specified power demand to a circuit, a current charger providing charging current to the super capacitor bank, the charging current limited in accordance with a corresponding worst case temperature within the super capacitor bank operating temperature range, a voltage sense circuit to detect the super capacitor bank voltage, and a control to disconnect the current charger from the super capacitor bank once the super capacitor bank is charged. | 02-16-2012 |
20120098710 | Forward Throw Antenna Utility Meter with Antenna Mounting Bracket - A utility meter assembly comprising: a plurality of meter components configured for measuring and collecting data, the meter components including a transceiver operative for communications over a network; a faceplate, configured such that meter reading information is displayed on the front of the faceplate; an exterior cover configured to enclose the meter components and the faceplate, wherein the faceplate is forward of the plurality of meter components; an internal dipole antenna that is situated in a space defined between the faceplate and the exterior cover toward the front of the utility meter assembly; and a mounting bracket that supports the internal dipole antenna. The combined sub-assembly of the mounting bracket and the internal dipole antenna is typically situated away from the meter components, so as to minimize interference by the meter components, and thus achieve improved communications properties measured in isotropic sensitivity and radiated power. | 04-26-2012 |
20130188398 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CONVERTING ALTERNATING CURRENT (AC) POWER TO DIRECT CURRENT (DC) POWER - Methods, circuit designs, systems, and devices for the conversion of high voltage alternating current (AC) to low voltage, high current direct current (DC) are described. An exemplary apparatus includes a rectifier for receiving a high voltage AC line power input and for outputting a full wave, high voltage DC, a gating component coupled to the rectifier for receiving the high voltage DC output by the rectifier, wherein the gating component is configured to gate the high voltage DC by turning on at a zero crossing level and turning off when the high voltage DC exceeds a preset voltage threshold and wherein the output of the gating component is an intermediate voltage DC capped by the preset voltage threshold, and a DC-DC converter coupled to the gating component for receiving the intermediate voltage DC output by the gating component, wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to step down and smooth out the intermediate voltage DC to a desired high current, low voltage DC output. | 07-25-2013 |