Toko, Inc.

Other

Toko America, Inc.

Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation

Fernando Ramon Martin-Lopez

Dan Fleming

Richard Redl

Steve Schoenbauer

Gabe C Gavrila

Troy J Littlefield

Gabriel C Gavrila

Takahiro Umeki

A solar energy collector utilizes one or more Fresnel lenses supported above a prepared surface for focusing sunlight at one or more sun ray spots. One or more tracking tables sense and track, during the course of the day, the movement of associated ones of the sun ray spots. Curved Fresnel lenses produce sun ray spots focused an offset distance above associated ones of one or more tracking tables, depending upon the sun's position. The sun ray spots may be forced to lie on the one or more tracking tables by moving an associated tracking table upward a distance equal to the offset distance. One or more wheel-equipped Stirling engines are positioned on the prepared surface and are conventionally controlled for tracking movement in concert with an associated sun ray spot.

Solar energy collector with XY or XYZ sun tracking table

A power factor correction converter in a buck-boost configuration may include a set-up circuit configured to supply an input voltage, a buck transistor connected to the set-up circuit, and configured to receive a current from the diode bridge, a first diode connected to the buck transistor, a boost transistor, a resistor connected to the boost transistor, a coil that connects the buck transistor and the boost transistor, a buck-boost PFC regulator connected to the set-up circuit, and configured to regulate a time pattern of the on/off status of the first transistor and the second transistor synchronously, a second diode connected to the coil and the boost transistor, and configured to output a first level voltage, a capacitor connected to the second diode and a load connected to the second diode.

Power factor correction converter with current regulated output

A multiplicity of Fresnel lenses are attached to tubular branches of a tree-like support structure. Fiber optic bundles are connected to the Fresnel lenses and routed inside the tubular branches and collected as a larger fiber optic bundle inside a main trunk structure to which each of the branches is connected. The larger fiber optic bundle may be connected to a remotely located power generating plant or other processing facility via a fiber optic transmission network. A domed solar energy collector includes an outer dome and one or more inner domes concentrically nested therewith, one or more Fresnel lenses being positioned on the hemispherical surface of each of the outer and inner domes to thereby multiply the solar energy focused through each of the domes to a collection area within the innermost dome.

Solar energy collector

A multiplicity of Fresnel lenses are attached to tubular branches of a tree-like support structure. Fiber optic bundles are connected to the Fresnel lenses and routed inside the tubular branches and collected as a larger fiber optic bundle inside a main trunk structure to which each of the branches is connected. The larger fiber optic bundle may be connected to a remotely located power generating plant or other processing facility via a fiber optic transmission network. A domed solar energy collector includes an outer dome and one or more inner domes concentrically nested therewith, one or more Fresnel lenses being positioned on the hemispherical surface of each of the outer and inner domes. Each of the inner domes is sized and positioned such that its hemispherical surface lies on the focal point of the next larger dome to thereby multiply the solar energy focused through each of the domes to a collection area within the innermost dome. Solar energy is collected by either a fiber optic network or a photovoltaic panel positioned in the collection area.

A method and circuits for improving the inductive DC converter delivery of regulated current into the load(s), where the inductive DC converter provides the output voltage to an ensemble consisting of the load(s) and a current source or a current source circuit connected in series with the load. The load current is controlled by the current source or the current source circuit in series with the load and not by the inductive DC converter, which only provides the voltage and power required at the output, without directly controlling the load current. The inductive DC converter can operate under much more relaxed specs, while the load current regulation is much tighter, being current source controlled.

Method and circuits for inductive DC converters with current regulated output

An offline trim circuit includes one or more irreversible trim elements, such as fuses, for example, used for setting electrical parameters to desired values. Associated circuitry is employed to verify the effect of trimming, prior to permanently setting trim bit values, permitting the optimal definition of the trim bit sequence and completely eliminating guesswork from the trimming procedure.

Method and circuits for performing offline circuit trimming

High voltage and low voltage switch mode circuits and methods serve to recover the charge stored on electro-luminescent lamp panels that would otherwise be dissipated during the discharge cycle of a drive circuit. The high voltage circuits and methods operate to transfer the charge to the high voltage rail, while the low voltage circuits and methods operate to transfer the charge to the source of low drive voltage.

Switch mode energy recovery for electro-luminescent lamp panels

Circuits and methods employing the inherent capacitance of an electro-luminescent lamp in a resonant circuit to recover the energy otherwise lost in electro-luminescent lamp driver circuits to thereby increase the overall efficiency of such circuits and to lower the noise and increase the life of the electro-luminescent lamp itself.

Resonant energy recovery for electro-luminescent lamp panels

An error signal isolator circuit for conveying an error signal across an electrical isolation boundary such as an external pulse transformer employs a level shifting process whereby a controllable voltage is measured with respect to a reference voltage and, with any gain implemented in the process, is level shifted upward such that the higher potential is referenced to a supply voltage and the lower potential is used dynamically to control the magnitude of voltage conveyed in a pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) process. In the PAM process, an ON pulse is terminated by monitoring when a PAM current has increased to a predetermined and controllable level. An ON pulse is initiated by monitoring when the voltage across a clamp diode has decayed below its normal forward bias level, indicating a commensurate decay in PAM current, following termination of the previous ON pulse.

Error signal isolator circuit

A primary side controller for regulated power converters may be implemented as a monolithic integrated circuit in which fewer pins are required as compared to the prior art 3842 controller. The present controller includes a current limit protection function having an extended time period over which a predetermined current value is reached.

Primary side controller for regulated power converters

A motor position controller energized by radiant energy, includes a member that rotates in response to radiant energy. A sensing means is mounted adjacent the absorbing member to sense rotational movement of the member and to generate a member rotational speed and direction movement signal in response thereto. A processor compares input command signals representing the desired member speed and rotational direction signal with the actual speed and rotational direction signal and generates a radiant energy control signal in response thereto. A radiant energy generating laser, controlled by the processor, transmits radiant light energy of varying magnitude onto the member thereby controlling the member's rotational speed, direction and position. In a preferred embodiment, the member is mechanically engaged to a mechanical joint and is used to control the arm's speed, position and movement.

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Colorado Springs, CO, United States of America

Fernando Ramon Martin-Lopez