New HB LED sets the bar at 1 Lumen per Penny
LED Design Engineers are used to evaluating LED performance in engineering units such as candellas, Lumens, and Lumens per watt, but Sales and Marketing are often just as interested in total product costs, giving rise to a pseudo engineering measurement unit of “Lumens per Penny”. Both Engineering and Sales have reason to rejoice over Seoul Semiconductor’s (http://www.seoulsemicon.com/en/) new STW8Q2PA device 1/3 Watt SMT LED which sets the bar at 1 PENNY per LUMEN! Rated at 100 mA typical forward current and Vf of 3.2 V typical, the 2600-3700K (warm white) devices produce about 25 Lumens and the 3700-7000K are about 27 Lumens typical. With large volume pricing around $0.26, that is right at magic sweet spot that Sales, marketing, AND engineering can get excited.
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Patent: Mutichannel Active Sensing Device
Multichannel Active Sensing and Switching Device patent application filed (20090213515) Patent Application.
The present invention provides a multichannel active sensing and switching device featuring a multiple sensing and switching module configured to respond to operational conditions of different load types and provide load type sensor signals containing information about the operational conditions of the different load types, and also configured to respond to controller signals for controlling the operation of the different load types in two or more different protection configurations; and a controller module configured to respond to the load type sensor signals and provide the controller signals in order to control the operation of the different load types in the two or more different protection configurations. The controller module may be programmable and configured to provide a default circuit breaker configuration and a device specific configuration using active intelligence (AI).
Patent: Early Warning and Protection for Heat Exchange Systems
US Patent 7,300,321 issued for early warning and protection for heat exchange system. Patent 7,300,321
Method and apparatus are provided for warning a user or operator about a malfunction in a pump and/or engine of a marine vessel or another suitable device or equipment, featuring steps of: comparing a sensed pressure differential at a sensed RPM when the pump/engine is running to a learned database having a pressure differential versus RPM curve; and providing an indication to the operator when there is a change in the relationship that exceeds a predetermined relationship. The apparatus may include an active intelligence unit or module for making the comparison and providing the indication according to the invention.
Patent: Active Sensing and Switching Device
Patent issued for active sensing and switching device. Patent 6,998,807
An active sensing and switching device for use in controlling current to a load, comprising a controller means (U1) for disconnecting the load from a power source by providing a switch-open control signal based on a signal indicating a sensed value of electrical current to the load, characterized in that the controller means (U1) determines a nominal value for the electrical current to the load based on monitoring the signal indicating the sensed value of electrical current to the load. A load control system is also provided, including a single ASSD adapted to receive signals indicating sensed values of electrical current to a plurality of respective loads, and further comprising a plurality of load control modules adapted so as to be disposed in proximity to respective loads or a main power line, wherein the load control modules provide respective signals indicating sensed values of electrical currents to the respective loads.
Patent: Hose Separation Transmitter System and Methods
US Patent issued for Hose separation transmitter system and methods. Patent 6,924,733.
A hose separation transmitter system includes a shock sensor and a transmitter that are secured to the delivery hose. If the hose becomes disconnected, the shock sensor will generate a shock signal when the hose falls to the ground and the transmitter will respond to the shock signal by generating an encoded RF signal. A receiver at the vehicle receives the RF signal from the transmitter, determines that a hose disconnect has occurred, and automatically disables a fluid pump or closes a valve to stop the flow of fluid. The shock sensor preferably uses a strip of piezoelectric material. Related methods are also disclosed. For quick connect and disconnect, the shock sensor and transmitter are preferably secured to the hose by a hook and loop fabric material. The transmitter is immune to normal ambient vibration levels. Related methods are also disclosed.
Patent: Spa Pressure Sensing System Capable of Entrapment Detection 6,390,781
Spa pressure sensing system capable of entrapment detection. Patent 6,390,781
A safety circuit for use with a spa system includes a pressure sensor which generates a signal representative of the pressure in the system. The safety circuit provides a constant current to the pressure sensor. A microcontroller is coupled to receive the signal from the sensor and is configured to store a first pressure level. The microprocessor compares the first pressure level with the subsequently measured pressure level and generates a control signal if the comparison indicates a change in pressure which exceeds a predetermined amount. The control signal is sent to a spa control circuit. An electronically controlled switch is coupled to receive the control signal from the microcontroller and turn electrical power to the pump off in response thereto.
Patent: Spa Pressure Sensing System Capable of Entrapment Detection 6,227,808
Spa pressure sensing system capable of entrapment detection. Patent 6,227,808
A control circuit for use with a spa system includes a pressure sensor which generates a signal representative of the pressure in the system. A microcontroller is coupled to receive the signal from the sensor and is configured to store a first pressure level. The microprocessor compares the first pressure level with the subsequently measured pressure level and generates a control signal if the comparison indicates a change in pressure which exceeds a predetermined amount. An electronically controlled switch is coupled to receive the control signal from the microcontroller and turn electrical power to the pump off in response thereto.
Patent: Electronic Device Control System
US Patent issued for electronic device control system. Patent 6,120,262
A control system for a device powered by an AC power source is presented. The control system includes a fixed controller adapted to be wall-mounted and powered by the AC power source. The fixed controller is also adapted to transmit control signals to the device. The control system further includes at least one movable controller adapted to be powered by a DC power source and transmit control signals to the device. In one embodiment, both movable controller and the fixed controller are adapted to transmit to the receiver via the same transmission medium, such as RF or infrared. The electronic device to be controlled may, for example, comprise a ceiling fan and associated light fixtures.
Patent: Spa Heater Temperature Control Circuit
US Patent issued for spa heater temperature control circuit. Patent 6,084,218
A heater assembly for use with spas, hot tubs and the like, includes a control circuit which controls the application of electrical power to the heater. A control circuit controls application of power to the heater in response to a thermostat setting, the flow of water in the spa system and in response to a high limit temperature. When the high limit temperature is exceeded, electrical power to the heater is removed. Electrical power to the heater cannot be restored until power to the entire system is turned off and then back on. The control circuit is mounted on the heater and includes spring-loaded standoffs which maintain the temperature sensors in good thermal contact with the body of the heater.
Patent: Switched-output Controller Apparatus with Repeater Function
Us patent issued for switched-output controller apparatus with repeater function. US Patent 5,923,103
An electronic switched-output controller apparatus comprises a plurality of relays for providing a plurality of controlled switched outputs, the relays being selected from the group consisting of power relays, signal switching relays, dry contact closing relays and combinations thereof, each of the relays having a corresponding relay operating coil. A power section is configured for receiving AC line power and for providing internal operating DC voltage and is connected for providing line AC power to any power relays and thereby to corresponding outputs when the corresponding power relay coils are actuated, and for providing DC voltage to any signal switching relays and thereby to corresponding outputs when the corresponding switching signal relay coils are activated. A microcontroller is connected for receiving at least one operating DC voltage and has outputs connected to the relay coils, the microcontroller being programmable so as to activate one or more of the relay coils in accordance with a preestablished protocol for operation of said relays. An RS485 or RS 482 network, having a parallel-connected RS232 network, is connected to the microcontroller for receiving commands from an external source and for relaying the received signals to another switched-output controller apparatus at a remote distance of up to about 4000 feet. A corresponding method of constructing a switched-output controller apparatus and system is provided.
