A patient wearable, continuously operating extracorporeal pump apparatus which accesses the patient's arterial venous pressure differential by applying external pressure to a subcutaneous graft that has been cannualized to modulate blood flow through an extracorporeal circuit and to drive the pump for delivering a medicament, such as an anticoagulant, to the site of an intravenous cannula to prevent clogging thereof and also to move a dialysate through a circuit, including a dialyzer and a dialysate rejuvenating cartridge, whereby kidney failure can be treated without recourse to prior art hemodialysis machines found in most treatment facilities. With slight modification, the present invention can be used to remove excess fluids from CHF patients, to remove toxins from the blood in those suffering from liver failure and to facilitate administration of insulin to diabetics and/or glucose to those having hypoglycemia.

The present invention describes a method of optimizing CO2 concentration to increase the specific growth rate of Anammox bacteria and methanogens in wastewater and sludge treatment, as well as novel systems and methods of treating wastewater and sludge. The specific growth rate or doubling time of the Anammox bacteria and methanogens were determined to be sensitive to dissolved CO2 concentration. Optimizing dissolved CO2 concentration increases the specific growth rate of the Anammox bacteria, which may be used as an alternative biological nitrogen removal process for the treatment of domestic wastewater. In the method and system of treating sludge, the CO2 stripper returns biogas with low CO2 concentration to the headspace of an anaerobic digester in order to lower the headspace CO2 concentration and therefore, the soluble CO2 concentration. The lower soluble CO2 concentration increases the specific growth rate of the methanogens for a more efficient anaerobic digestion process.

A magnetic water conditioner treats water with a magnetic field. The magnetic water conditioner includes a tank having an inlet operable to receive water from a pump and an outlet operable to discharge the water. The magnetic water conditioner is installed in close proximity to the pump. A plurality of permanent magnet members are aligned and spaced apart in the interior of the tank with north and south poles disposed at opposite sides of the permanent magnet members. The water flows through the gaps between the permanent magnet members, thus being subjected to magnetic fields created by the permanent magnet members.

A water treatment system is disclosed having electrolytic cell for liberating hydrogen from a base solution. The base solution may be a solution of brine for generating sodium hypochlorite, or potable water to be oxidized. The cell has first and second opposing electrode endplates held apart from each other by a pair of supports such that the supports enclose opposing sides of the endplates to form a cell chamber. One or more inner electrode plates are spaced apart from each other in the cell chamber in between the first and second electrode plates. The supports are configured to electrically isolate the first and second electrode plates and the inner electrode plates from each other. The first and second electrode plates are configured to receive opposite polarity charges that passively charge the inner electrode plates via conduction from the base solution to form a chemical reaction in the base solution as the base solution passes through the cell chamber.

The invention relates to a method for treating wastewater containing nitroaromatics and nitrohydroxyaromatics, as for example arises in the production of nitroaromatics or in the production of nitrohydroxyaromatics, by a two-stage method consisting of pre-reduction and wet oxidation.

The present invention provides a water purifier which is easily removable from a drinking water supply apparatus, and has a built-in filtration filter with high efficiency of purifying raw water of a bottle. The water purifier is removable from a drinking water supply apparatus, and the drinking water supply apparatus including a bottle for containing water and a main body which has a recess into which a neck of the bottle is insertable. The water purifier is characterized by being placed between the recess of the main body and the neck of the bottle.

A lid lock controller includes a lid lock unit operable in a lock state, which keeps the lid closed, and an unlock state, which allows for the lid to open. A detection unit detects an unlocking operation performed on the lid lock unit. A key check unit checks whether or not an electronic key is located in the vicinity of the vehicle through wireless communication between the vehicle and the electronic key when the unlock operation is detected. An unlocking unit switches the lid lock unit to the unlock state when the electronic key is located in the vicinity of the vehicle. The unlocking unit switches the lid lock unit to the unlock state even when the electronic key is not located in the vicinity of the vehicle as long as a further lid unlock condition is satisfied.

An apparatus and method are provided for filling multi-chamber containers with different loose bulk materials. The apparatus and method may be particularly well-suited to packaging at least one bulk material, which is susceptible to water, chemicals, or other contaminants, with at least one other bulk material. The apparatus is a machine that includes separate hoppers for handling the separate bulk materials, and directs the separate bulk materials into different chambers of a multi-chamber container, which is then transported away from the machine for storage or use. The machine may include one or more movable hoppers supported on tracks, for moving the bulk materials to the hoppers that direct the bulk materials into different chambers of the multi-chamber container. A controller and data logger may be provided to control the apparatus and record the quantity and/or weight of the contents of each multi-chamber container.

A material-channeling tray comprising a tray surface, an opposing bottom surface, and a sidewall extending from the tray surface and bottom surface. The tray surface has a plurality of channel openings and a handle opening extending through the tray surface and the bottom surface. The sidewall has an exterior surface and an interior surface, with the interior surface and tray surface defining a tray volume. The sidewall extends away from the tray surface forming an angle between the interior surface and the tray surface that is at least ninety degrees. The invention further comprises a plurality of channel walls, each forming a channel, wherein the plurality of channel walls are attached to and extend from the bottom surface, and each of the channels is positioned subjacent to one of the channel openings.

A container (1, 2) for storing and dispensing a liquid, the container including an access port (16) having a frangible seal (18) for allowing contained liquid to be dispensed. A vent (19) permeable to vapour but impermeable to liquid is also provided so that vapour may be vented from the interior of the container.

Devices and methods for clamping a beverage extraction device to a beverage container, such as a wine bottle. One or more clamp arms may be arranged to clamp the extraction device to a wine bottle as well as allow the device to be supported upright on a table top. Clamp arms may include tab and ridge features that operate to properly engage and position a wide variety of different bottle neck shapes relative to the device. The one or more clamp arms may move the bottle neck distally, e.g., toward a resilient pad, so that the neck is suitably positioned relative to the device. Proper positioning and engagement of the neck may allow for desired piercing of a cork or other closure of the bottle by the device.

A reusable aseptic connector is provided. The connector may be used to provide fluid communication between a bag-in-box (BIB) container and a beverage dispenser. The connector may provide aseptic properties of the connection by insulation of an inner volume of a first part and an inner volume of a second part, with the beverage component kept from contacting any of the part of the connector structure that are exposed to the environment and have a risk of induced contamination. The connector may comprise a resilient membrane and a sliding tube wherein the sliding tube is configured to have a portion move toward and through the resilient membrane to establish fluid communication between the first part and the second part, and for the portion to move away from the resilient membrane to destablish fluid communication between the first part and the second part when desired.

A machine for dosing a product in capsules, includes a rotating turret which has seats suitable for receiving empty capsules and a dosing device for dosing the product in the capsules. The machine further includes a feeding unit having a first weighing device for weighing empty capsules, a transfer arrangement for transferring empty capsules, when weighed, to predetermined seats of the turret for being filled with the product, a second weighing device for weighing capsules filled with the product, and a processing device connected to the first and second weighing device for receiving data relative to weights measured by the first and second weighing devices and for calculating for each capsule a difference between the weight measured before and the weight measured after filling. In this manner, a respective quantity of dosed product is calculated.

A container and method are provided for storing fat containing liquid products. The container includes a body defining a storage chamber for receiving the product, and a container closure. A first material portion forms at least most of the surface area overlying the storage chamber that can contact any product therein. Neither the body nor the first material portion leach more than a predetermined amount of leachables into the product or undesirably alter a taste profile thereof. A needle penetrable and thermally resealable second material portion either (i) overlies the first material portion and cannot contact any product within the storage chamber, or (ii) forms a substantially lesser surface area overlying the storage chamber that can contact any product therein in comparison to the first material portion. A sealing portion is engageable with the body to form a substantially dry hermetic seal between the container closure and body.

An apparatus to introduce a defined amount of a second powder into a process container in which a first powder or a powder mixture is present, includes a coupling flange having a cover flap located on the process container. The second powder is introduced into a tubular cartridge mounted displaceably in a transport unit, the latter including a joining flange having a cover flap. The joining flange is joinable to the coupling flange so that the respective cover flaps can be opened, and the cartridge can be pushed through openings thereby provided into the plane of the inner wall of the process container. The second powder is emptied from the cartridge into the process container by a delivery piston. The cartridge may include a piston rod having multiple pistons. Other embodiments include a double piston, a rotatable cartridge core or a rotary closure.

A conveying device for free-flowing fine-particle solids, in particular for powdery and/or granular (mixed) material, especially plastic granulate, includes a vertically arranged and flexibly mountable telescopic pipe for the conveyance of, preferably, polymer granulates, for example in a plant for the filling of polymer granulates.

A powder refilling device includes a refill powder chamber to accommodate a powder bag containing powder, an opener to open the powder bag inside the refill powder chamber, and a squeezer to squeeze the opened powder bag to discharge powder therefrom and reduce a volume of the opened powder bag.

The phase margin compensation method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: outputting reference voltage (Vout2); outputting a first reference voltage (Vout1) actually supplied to the target circuit; comparing the reference voltage (Vout2) with the first reference voltage (Vout1) by the comparator; counting any section of an output signal (pulse signal) from the comparator by a predetermined frequency by the duty cycle calculator; and controlling a phase margin of a frequency of output voltage supplied to the target circuit by controlling buffer current based on the duty cycle ratios and the output bit information fed back from the duty cycle calculator.

A DC-DC converter includes a first amplifier that amplifies a first difference between a first reference voltage and a feedback voltage corresponding to an output voltage, a second amplifier that amplifies a second difference between the first reference voltage and an integrated value of the feedback voltage, and a controller that controls a switching circuit to change the output voltage when the first difference reaches the second different.

A method of operating a switching power converter may include determining an average value of a measured parameter for substantially each switching cycle, and adjusting a control parameter during substantially each switching cycle in response to a corresponding one of the average values. In one embodiment, the control parameter comprises a switch duty cycle, and the measured parameter comprises an output current. Determining the average value of the measured parameter may include obtaining a first sample of the measured parameter during a switching cycle, and calculating the average value of the measured parameter during the switching cycle in response to the first sample.

A power supply for a load control device generates a DC voltage and provides an asymmetrical output current, while drawing a substantially symmetrical input current. The power supply comprises a controllably conductive switching circuit for controllably charging an energy storage capacitor across which the DC voltage is produced. The energy storage capacitor begins charging at the beginning of a half-cycle and stops charging after a charging time in response to the magnitude of the DC voltage and the amount of time that the energy storage capacitor has been charging during the present half-cycle. The charging time is maintained substantially constant from one half-cycle to the next. The power supply is particularly beneficial for preventing asymmetrical current from flowing in a multiple location load control system having a master load control device supplying power to a plurality of remote load control devices all located on either the line-side or the load-side of the system.

Circuits and processes for detecting a peak value of an input signal are disclosed. In one example, a peak detector circuit may sample a line sense signal, determine the peak value of the line sense signal during a search window, and output a peak detection signal representative of the determined peak value. In a first mode, the peak detector circuit may cause the peak detection signal to be representative of the determined peak value from an immediately preceding search window. In a second mode, the peak detector circuit may cause the peak detection signal to follow the sampled line sense signal. The peak detector circuit may operate in the second mode in response to the sample of the line sense signal being greater than a peak value of the line sense signal from an immediately preceding search window by more than a threshold amount.

A power conversion system has a power converter configured to receive an input voltage signal, convert the input voltage to an output voltage signal, and provide the output voltage signal to a load and a closed loop compensator configured to receive the output voltage signal and a reference voltage signal, the closed loop compensator configured to transmit an error signal indicative of a difference between the output voltage signal and the reference voltage signal. The power conversion system further has a pulse with modulator configured to receive the error signal and modulate a control signal with the error signal to control the output voltage signal, the pulse width modulator configured to transmit the control signal to the power converter and logic configured to receive the error signal and control the closed loop compensator based upon the error signal. A controller observes the error signal characterstics such as peak-to-peak values, frequency and phase and adjust the closed loop controller variables and other power converter system variables in order to improve the dynamic performance and improve stability.

A method for controlling voltage crossing a power switch of a switched-mode power converter includes the steps of: controlling a switch frequency of the power switch of the switched-mode power converter to a first frequency as activating the switched-mode power converter; and then changing the switch frequency of the power switch to a second frequency after the switched-mode power converter is activated for a predetermined time; wherein the first frequency is lower than the second frequency.

In some aspects of the invention, overcurrent protection is carried out by suppressing fluctuations in current flowing through a switching element after overcurrent detection. A peak current reaching time detection circuit detects a peak current reaching time needed until current flowing through a switching element reaches a peak value. A difference voltage detection circuit, including a ½ time detection circuit which detects a time of ½ an ON time of the preceding cycle of the switching element, detects difference voltage between reference voltage used when detecting overcurrent flowing to a load and a signal which has detected current flowing through the switching element for the ½ time. A delay time adjustment circuit, based on at least one of the peak current reaching time and difference voltage, carries out adjustment and control of a delay time occurring until the time when the switching element is turned off after detecting the overcurrent.

Methods and systems are described for providing power factor correction for high-power loads using two interleaved power factor correction stages. Each power factor correction stage includes a controllable switch that is operated to control the phasing of each power factor correction stage. The phasing of output current from the second power factor correction stage is shifted 180 degree relative to the output current from the first power factor correction stage.

In one implementation, a modular power converter having a reduced switching loss includes a package, a field-effect transistor (FET) including a gate terminal, a drain terminal, and a source terminal, and fabricated on a semiconductor die situated inside the package, and a driver circuit inside the package. The driver circuit is configured to drive the gate terminal of the FET. The driver circuit is further configured to sample a drain-to-source voltage (VDS) of the FET directly from the drain terminal and the source terminal, thereby enabling the reduced switching loss.

A ballast circuit for a Light Emitting Diode (LED) has a regulator element coupled to the LED and to an input voltage source. A control circuit is coupled to the LED and to an input voltage source. A first switching device is coupled in series with the regulator element. A second switching device is coupled to the input voltage and the control circuit.

A “windowless” H-bridge buck-boost switching converter includes a regulation circuit with an error amplifier which produces a ‘comp’ signal, a comparison circuit which compares ‘comp’ with a ‘ramp’ signal, and logic circuitry which receives the comparison circuit output and a mode control signal indicating whether the converter is to operate in buck mode or boost mode and operates the primary or secondary switching elements to produce the desired output voltage in buck or boost mode, respectively. A ‘ramp’ signal generation circuit operates to shift the ‘ramp’ signal up by a voltage Vslp(p−p)+Vhys when transitioning from buck to boost mode, and to shift ‘ramp’ back down by Vslp(p−p)+Vhys when transitioning from boost to buck mode, thereby enabling the converter to operate in buck mode or boost mode only, with no need for an intermediate buck-boost region.

This disclosure relates to radio frequency (RF) power converters and methods of operating the same. In one embodiment, an RF power converter includes an RF switching converter, a low-drop out (LDO) regulation circuit, and an RF filter. The RF filter is coupled to receive a pulsed output voltage from the RF switching converter and a supply voltage from the LDO regulation circuit. The RF filter is operable to alternate between a first RF filter topology and a second RF filter topology. In the first RF filter topology, the RF filter is configured to convert the pulsed output voltage from a switching circuit into the supply voltage. The RF filter in the second RF filter topology is configured to filter the supply voltage from the LDO regulation circuit to reduce a ripple variation in a supply voltage level of the supply voltage. As such, the RF filter provides greater versatility.

This disclosure relates to radio frequency (RF) power converters and methods of operating the same. In one embodiment, an RF power converter includes an RF switching converter, a low-drop out (LDO) regulation circuit, and an RF filter. The RF filter is coupled to receive a pulsed output voltage from the RF switching converter and a supply voltage from the LDO regulation circuit. The RF filter is operable to alternate between a first RF filter topology and a second RF filter topology. In the first RF filter topology, the RF filter is configured to convert the pulsed output voltage from a switching circuit into the supply voltage. The RF filter in the second RF filter topology is configured to filter the supply voltage from the LDO regulation circuit to reduce a ripple variation in a supply voltage level of the supply voltage. As such, the RF filter provides greater versatility.

A voltage regulator includes an amplifier having a first input coupled to a first reference voltage and a second input coupled to a voltage feedback signal; a multiplexer having a first input coupled to an output of the amplifier, a second input coupled to a voltage clamp signal, and a control input; and a control circuit having a first input coupled to an over current indicator, a second input coupled to a no over voltage indicator, a third input coupled to a timer signal, and an output coupled to the control input of the multiplexer.

A power supply device includes a first converter which converts an input voltage to a first voltage, a second converter which converts the first voltage from the first converter to a second voltage, a voltage comparison section which compares the first voltage outputted from the first converter with a predetermined reference voltage, a voltage comparison result output section which outputs a first signal until the first voltage is determined to be higher than the predetermined reference voltage by the voltage comparison section and retains a second signal as an output after the first voltage is determined to be higher than the predetermined reference voltage, and a converter control section which controls the second converter to stop when the first signal is outputted from the voltage comparison result output section and controls the second converter to operate when the second signal is outputted from the voltage comparison result output section.

A charge pump regulator circuit includes a voltage controlled oscillator and a plurality of charge pumps. The voltage controlled oscillator has a plurality of inverter stages connected in series in a ring. A plurality of oscillating signals is generated from outputs of the inverter stages. Each oscillating signal has a frequency or amplitude or both that are variable dependent on a variable drive voltage. Each oscillating signal is phase shifted from a preceding oscillating signal. Each charge pump is connected to a corresponding one of the inverter stages to receive the oscillating signal produced by that inverter stage. Each charge pump outputs a voltage and current. The output of each charge pump is phase shifted from the outputs of other charge pumps. A combination of the currents thus produced is provided at about a voltage level to the load.

A disclosed switching regulator includes a speed-up circuit for speeding up an operation of an error amplifier circuit during the time starting from when a switching element is turned OFF based on an output of an abnormality detection circuit, or starting from a fixed period of time after the switching element is turned OFF based on the output of the abnormality detection circuit, until the next time the switching element is again turned OFF based on an output of a PWM comparison circuit.

A switching power converter includes a voltage source that provides an input voltage Vin to an unregulated DC/DC converter stage and at least one buck-boost converter stage to produce a desired output voltage Vout. The unregulated DC/DC converter stage is adapted to provide an isolated voltage to the at least one regulated buck-boost converter stage, wherein the unregulated DC/DC converter stage comprises a transformer having a primary winding and at least one secondary winding and at least one switching element coupled to the primary winding. The at least one buck-boost converter stage is arranged to operate in a buck mode, boost mode or buck-boost mode in response to a mode selection signal from a mode selection module. By influencing the pulse width modulation output power controller the at least one buck-boost converter stage is arranged to produce one or multiple output voltages.

A constant on-time switching converter includes a switching circuit, an on-time control circuit, a comparing circuit and a logic circuit. The switching circuit has a first switch and is configured to provide an output voltage to a load. The on-time control circuit generates an on-time control signal to control the on-time of the first switch. The comparing circuit compares the output voltage of the switching circuit with a reference signal and generates a comparison signal. The logic circuit generates a control signal to control the first switch based on the on-time control signal and the comparison signal. When the switching frequency of the switching circuit approaches an audible range, the switching converter enters into a sleep mode, the on-time control signal is reduced to increase the switching frequency of the switching circuit.

A power converting circuit includes an upper gate switch, a transistor, a current source circuit, a comparator circuit, a delay circuit, and a pulse width modulation signal generating circuit. The transistor and the current source circuit provide a reference signal. The comparator circuit generates a comparing signal according to the reference signal and an output signal provided by the upper gate switch. The delay circuit generates a delay signal according to the comparing signal and a clock signal. The pulse width modulation signal generating circuit generates a control signal for the upper gate switch according to the delay signal and the clock signal for configuring the conduction status of the upper gate switch. The power converting circuit adjusts the conduction time of the upper gate switch according to the reference signal and the output signal.

A step-down regulator comprising a pseudo constant on time control circuit is disclosed, comprising an on-time generator configured to receive a switching signal provided by the step-down regulator and a control signal provided by the pseudo constant on time control circuit, and generates an on-time signal; a feedback control circuit configured to receive a feedback signal representative of the output voltage of the step-down regulator and generate an output signal; and a logic control circuit coupled to the on-time generator and the feedback control circuit to receive the on-time signal and the output signal and generating the control signal, and a power stage configured to receive an input voltage and the control signal and generate the switching signal.

A power-supply circuit for a DC appliance includes an input unit including a first terminal and a second terminal so as to receive a DC current, an output unit including a third terminal to output the DC current entered by the input unit and a fourth terminal, a connection unit including a first conductive line and a second conductive line so as to interconnect the input unit and the output unit, a rectifier unit including first to fourth diodes coupled as a bridge diode format so as to rectify the input DC current in a predetermined direction, an inductor unit that is connected in series to the rectifier unit in such a manner that the input DC current is gradually increased from an abrupt change time point of the DC current, and a condenser unit that is connected in series to the inductor unit.

An electronic apparatus includes a switching element which has a control terminal and is driven by controlling voltage of the control terminal, a driving power supply circuit which supplies voltage required for driving the switching element, an on-driving circuit which is connected to the driving power supply circuit and the control terminal of the switching element and is supplied with voltage from the driving power supply circuit, and which applies a constant current to the control terminal of the switching element to charge the control terminal, thereby turning on the switching element, and at least one diode which is connected between the on-driving circuit and the control terminal of the switching element. The on-driving circuit applies a constant current to the control terminal of the switching element through the diode.

Polyphase converter, comprising a plurality of electrical phases (11 to 16), which can each be driven by switching means (21 to 26), wherein at least one coupling means (31 to 39) is provided, which magnetically couples at least one first phase (11) to at least one further phase (12, 14, 16), wherein at least two phases (11, 12) to be coupled are surrounded at least partially by the coupling means (31), wherein at least one insulating body (72) is provided, which on the upper or lower side thereof accommodates the phases (11 to 16) to be coupled and on which at least one fastening means (74, 76, 90) is provided, which interacts with at least one of the phases (11 to 16) for fastening purposes.

An integrated power quality control system includes a transformer with a primary winding, a secondary winding and a compensation winding wound on a magnetic core. A power electronic converter in the system provides a reference voltage to the compensation winding for injecting a series voltage in the secondary winding of the transformer. A controller is utilized to generate a reference control voltage for the power electronic converter based on a power quality control requirement.

A bridge-less step-up switching power supply device includes (i) a first and a second reactor having: a first and a second main winding connected to a first and a second input terminal, respectively; and a first and a second auxiliary winding magnetically coupled to the first main winding and connected to the first and second main windings, the first and second auxiliary windings having a first and a second leakage inductance, respectively; (ii) a first and a second diode connected between the first and second auxiliary windings and a first output terminal, respectively; (iii) a first capacitor connected between the first output terminal and a second output terminal; (iv) a second capacitor connected between a connection point of a third switch and a fourth switch, and the first output terminal; and (v) a controller for controlling turning on/off of first to fourth switches.

A switched mode power supply provides a reduction of switching losses and increased efficiency. The switched mode power supply includes a first switch coupled to an input terminal configured to receive an input voltage, a second switch, an inductor and an output capacitor. The first switch and the second switch are coupled together at a node, the inductor is coupled between the node and an output terminal, and the output capacitor is coupled to the output terminal. The switched mode power supply further includes a transformer coupled between a control input of the first switch and the node and a pulse generator connected to a control input of the second switch. Further, the transformer includes at most two windings, in particular a primary winding and a secondary winding which are not directly connected to each other.

There is provided a DC-DC converter which converts an input voltage into an output voltage for supply to a load, in which an input terminal receives the input voltage, an output terminal outputs the output voltage, power stages each includes: a high side switch, a low side switch and an inductor, the control unit executes a first mode and a second mode wherein the first mode controls the high side switch and the low side switch in each of the power stages so that a ratio of an output current in each of the power stages to a load current flowing through the load becomes a set value and the second mode controls the high side switch and the low side switch in each of the power stages so that duty ratios of the high side switch and the low side switch are equalized among the power stages.

A low-dropout voltage regulator includes a power transistor configured to receive an input voltage and to provide a regulated output voltage at an output voltage node. The power transistor includes a control electrode configured to receive a driver signal. A reference circuit is configured to generate a reference voltage. A feedback network is coupled to the power transistor and is configured to provide a first feedback signal and a second feedback signal. The first feedback signal represents the output voltage and the second feedback signal represents an output voltage gradient. An error amplifier is configured to receive the reference voltage and the first feedback signal representing the output voltage. The error amplifier is configured to generate the driver signal dependent on the reference voltage and the first feedback signal. The error amplifier includes an output stage that is biased with a bias current responsive to the second feedback signal.

A power control circuit for a power supply system including a control unit, a driving circuit and a power supply unit is disclosed. The power control circuit includes a current detection unit, a voltage detection unit and a power detection unit. The current detection unit is used for detecting a current signal. The voltage detection unit is used for detecting a voltage signal. The power detection unit is connected with the current detection unit, the voltage detection unit and the control unit for acquiring a power signal according to the current signal and voltage signal. By comparing an adjustable power reference signal with the power signal, the control unit issues a control signal to the driving circuit. In response to the control signal, the power supply unit is driven by the driving circuit to output an adjusted power to the load according to the adjustable power reference signal.

A mode controller shifts, along with increase in an electric power in first and second of chopper circuits and, operation modes of the first and the second of the chopper circuits from a first mode to a third mode via a second mode. An operation controller causes, in the first mode, the first of chopper circuit to perform an chopping operation, and the second of chopper circuit to suspend the chopping operation, in the second mode, causes the first and the second of chopper circuits to alternatively perform the chopping operations, and in the third mode causes both of the first and the second of chopper circuits to perform the chopping operations.

A device for accommodating objects, in particular for use in an airplane, comprises at least one panel. The panel has at least one outer edge which is provided with a rim in order to form a shock-absorbing edge. The rim comprises plastic that is integrally molded onto the outer edge of the panel. The device can be an airplane trolley, folding trolley, container or galley.