A method and system for checking continuity of a motor (104), motor drive, motor relay (110), dc relay (108) and interconnections (122a-c) thereof for a power steering system (204) produces minimal torque on a motor shaft (426) of the power steering system (204). The position of the motor shaft (426) is located using a sensor. Thereafter, it is determined which switches (106a-f) of an inverter circuitry (100) to switch to produce a minimal torque on the motor shaft (426). The inverter circuit (100) converts dc voltage from a power source (102) to ac voltage required by the motor (104). Thereafter, the switches (106a-f) that produce the minimal torque on the motor shaft (426) are switched and current flow is checked to determine the continuity of the circuitry. To produce minimal torque on the motor shaft (426), the complementary pair of switches (106a-f) to the first pair is then switched.

Method and system of testing continuity for a motor and associated drive circuitry

A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.

Distributed Power Harvesting Systems Using DC Power Sources

An electronic current control circuit is provided. This electronic circuit comprises a power-supply, an H-Bridge module connected to a load, and a current sensor connected between the H-Bridge module and the power-supply and adapted to sense load current characteristics. A computerized controller is connected to the current sensor and the H-Bridge module, includes at least a module for operating load current analysis algorithm for analyzing the load current characteristics to determine current control parameters that provide over-current protection and load current control. A load current control module controls the H-Bridge module based upon the current control parameters.

Apparatus and method for current control in H-Bridge load drivers

A monitoring system and method for monitoring performance of individual powers sources in a distributed power source system A monitoring module is coupled to each of the power sources, or to each string of serially connected power sources, to monitor and collect data regarding current, voltage, temperature and other environmental factors at the power source The collected data is transmitted over a power line to a central analysis station for analysis Data collected from each source indicates malfunction or degradation at the source Comparison of data collected from adjacent sources filters for environmental factors impacting neighboring sources such as cloudy days for a solar panel Comparison of data collected from the same source at different times indicates soiling or degradation of the source with time or periodic events such as a moving shade from an adjacent building

Monitoring of Distributed Power Harvesting Systems Using DC Power Sources

Method for distributed power harvesting using DC power sources

A power supply switching circuit arrangement is configured to provide a relatively smooth (low noise) power supply switch-over during the transition between active and quiescent modes. Complementary inputs of an operational amplifier are selective coupled to feedback paths to the amplifier and the power supply switching circuit arrangement, so as to bias a switching transistor during system active mode at a value that is just slightly below the turn-on voltage of the transistor. This means that turning on the switching transistor for the purpose of providing quiescent mode powering of the utility device requires only a small transition in control voltage from an active mode ‘almost turned-on’ level.

Smooth voltage regulation transition circuit having fast recovery

An automatic fault monitoring system prevents the detection of fault conditions during operating modes or conditions that can produce false fault conditions. A motor control system that utilizes an H-bridge circuit having active devices, preferably field effect transistors, in each arm of the bridge. The motor is connected in the leg of the bridge. Currents and voltages are sensed in each arm as different operating conditions represented by input control signals, which may be computer generated, drive the bridge and place the transistors in different states (on or off). Such operating conditions include rotation of the motor in opposite directions and reversal of direction. Fault detection logic is responsive to currents and voltages in the arms and leg of the bridge and provides outputs indicative of over-current fault conditions in the arm and open circuit fault conditions in the leg. Fault detection control logic analyzes the input control signals and also applies them to change the state of the transistors in the H-bridge. When the control signal inputs and the sequence in which they occur represents a command to the H-bridge to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor, the fault detection logic is inhibited thereby preventing false detection of over-current conditions that can occur in response to the back EMF generated by the motor as it stalls and stops briefly while reversing direction of rotation. The fault detection control logic also enables the detection of open load fault condition during states where the motor is being driven in either direction of rotation, but not when a reversal of rotation is occurring or the motor is started from a stopped position and the current in the motor must build exponentially.

Automatic fault monitoring system and motor control system incorporating same

A normally non-conducting control device whose turn-on threshold decreases with increasing temperature is supplied with a control voltage which increases with temperature for causing a more rapid increase in the conduction of the control device when a predetermined temperature is exceeded.

Integrated circuit thermal sensor

A transconductance amplifier suitable for the input stage of a comparator with the capability of amplifying input signals with common mode voltage components in a range including the entirety of its operating voltage. Operation at one voltage extreme is accomplished by use of a long tailed pair connection of a pair of bulk modulated FETs with gates at the input terminals of the amplifier. Operation at the other voltage extreme is accomplished by the use of a pair of FETs in a source follower mode to drive common gate transistors of opposite polarity, the gates of the FETs also being connected to the input terminals of the amplifier. A common high impedance load for the comparator is connected to current mirrors of the drains of both pairs of FETs in the amplifier. The circuit may be implemented with bipolar transistors and additional amplification provided. Methods of comparing voltages are also disclosed.

Wide common mode range comparator and method

The accuracy of a bandgap reference voltage generator that contains two n-p-n transistors, an operational amplifier and five resistors, is increased by the use of current compensation circuitry which includes a third n-p-n transistor with an emitter resistor and a current mirror circuit. A master leg of the current mirror circuit generates a first output current which is identical to base current needed by the two transistors of the bandgap voltage generator. A slave leg of the current mirror circuit generates a second output current which is identical to the first output current and which is coupled to bases of the two transistors of the bandgap reference voltage generator. Thus base current needed by the two transistors is supplied by the compensation circuitry. This improves the accuracy of the output voltage generated by the reference voltage bandgap generator.

Raymond L. Giordano

Papers

Smooth voltage regulation transition circuit having fast recovery

Automatic fault monitoring system and motor control system incorporating same

Integrated circuit thermal sensor

Wide common mode range comparator and method

Simplified transistor base current compensation circuitry