Cypress Technologies L.L.P, a leader in rugged enclosures for storage device has announced an OEM partnership with Ultera Systems (www.ultera.com). Ultera, which was founded in 1994 and is based in Laguna Hills California, delivers innovative high performance storage solutions for tape, virtual tape and other removable storage devices. Ultera’s MDR (Mirage Data Recorder) solutions are now available in Cypress’ A6 and A7 rugged enclosures which protection against shock, vibration, dust and humidity. These new product lines from Cypress were unveiled at the Society of Exploration and Geophysics meeting in October. “As in the past, Cypress’ A6 and A7 rugged enclosures will help both land and marine based seismic crews protect their valuable data and their investment from the hazardous environments that are seen in this industry” said Mike Romeyn, Director of Sales at Cypress Technologies.

One of the most important features of the new A6 and A7 MDR solution is the ability for user’s to have read after write (RAW) capability which was not achievable before now. Implementation of RAW is accomplished by providing an independent secondary
host (monitor) port. Seismic files are retrieved and displayed via the monitor port while the MDR primary host port is used to simultaneously record seismic acquisition data. “The ability to display seismic data immediately after is written to the media
offers the ultimate assurance in real time data acquisition applications”, said Mo Nour, President, of Ultera Systems.

The A6 and A7 MDR solutions are 100% compatible with data acquisition systems from Sercel, ION, ARAM and Fairfield. The A6 and A7 MDR are available with FC and SCSI interfaces. MDR’s built-in archive includes support for tape drives and flash
disk for distribution and processing. The A6 and A7 MDR are available with the following disk drives options: Dual 146GB 15,000 rpm SCSI, Dual 300GB 15,000 rpm SCSI and Dual 500GB 7,200 rpm SATA drives. All options have RAID 1 mirroring capabilities
for additional protection against data lost. An additional feature that has helps the seismic industry record data at a much higher rate of speed is the ability for the A6 and A7 MDR to emulate IBM’s 3590, 3592 and LTO tape technologies. All these products
are backed by a 1 year return to factory warranty and extended warranties are available upon request.

These new products are available through our reseller partners who are located in the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia, and China. Our valuable partners are all very knowledgeable of the Seismic Industry and can assist you with your
next ruggedized storage requirements. For more information, please feel free to contact one of our partners or you can also contact Mike Romeyn (Director of Sales) with Cypress Technologies at miker@cypressmfg.com or 800-444-1309 X 130.

Technical Disclosure Bulletin

Cypress Technologies Corporation

1.  TITLE OF INVENTION:

Solar Energy Sharing Module

2.  DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION:  In describing the technology, the following points are presented:

1. the general purpose;
2. a technical description;
3. the advantages and improvements over the existing methods, devices or materials; and,
4. the economic potential or commercial applications for the technology.

(a)  General Purpose

The Energy Sharing Module (ESM) is designed to provide a means for a single grid-tied UL-1741-compliant inverter to be safely connected to multiple dwellings within a single building, for the purpose of sharing the generated energy.  This product is specifically targeted towards apartment buildings, where a single building might have two, four, or more apartments.  An ESM is connected to the output of an inverter, which is fed by an array of photo-voltaic (PV) cells.  The ESM routes power from the inverter to one of its outputs.  There is one output for each apartment, and each day power is routed to a different apartment.  The ESM measures and records how much power has been routed to each dwelling, and uses this information to determine which output should next be selected.

The following diagram shows how an ESM would be integrated into a solar power system.

The ESM consists essentially of an array of “contactors” (relays), which are connected to the output of the inverter.  An internal circuit board senses the power being produced by the inverter, and controls the closing of the appropriate contactor.

Note that although this module is targeted to PV systems, it will work with any generating system that implements a UL-1741-compliant inverter.

An important safety feature of the module is that it is impossible for the control system to connect two dwellings to the inverter at the same time, even if the control system fails.  This is accomplished with an array of relays, which allow the contactor-coil-current to flow only through one control path.

The control electronics are powered by a separate small solar panel, and the control circuit is electrically isolated from the grid-connected power.

The entry model ESM (ESM32-5) is designed to operate with single-phase 240V inverters, up to 32 amps output (approximately 7.5Kw).

(b) Technical Description

The ESM is connected to the output of the inverter.  Inside is an array of contactors, one contactor per dwelling, with a control circuit board and an LCD for displaying pertinent information, such as the amount of energy distributed per dwelling, etc.  A low-wattage 12-volt PV panel, mounted separately, provides the power required to operate the contactors and control board.

The ESM powers up when sufficient PV energy is available to energize the control system.  Typically this would be fairly early in the morning—much earlier than the time when the inverter would normally become active.  When first powered up after installation, the ESM will select Contactor 1, connected to the first dwelling.  The UL-1741-compliant inverter will detect the presence of the grid, and will prepare for power-up.  The inverter will not power up until there is sufficient PV energy available from the PV array, and until a minimum start-up “OFF” time has elapsed.  (The off-time is a requirement of UL-1741-compliant inverters, and prevents an inverter from powering up before the grid has become stable, especially after the grid has become de-energized or disconnected for some reason.)

At some point the inverter will begin to generate energy, which is sourced either to the dwelling, or through the point-of-common-coupling (PCC) and into the grid.  The amount of energy generated is calculated, and recorded within the ESM, and used to determine which dwelling to select for subsequent connections.  Only one dwelling is connected through the ESM to the inverter at any point in time.  After one day of operation (one PV-generating period), the inverter will become inactive, due to decreasing sun-light.  This period of time will vary from day to day, depending upon weather conditions, time of year, etc.

On following days, the ESM powers up as described previously.  The ESM determines which contactor will be connected (which dwelling), based upon the following factors:

1. The order of the dwelling.  The ESM always begins with the first dwelling when first initialized, and proceeds sequentially from that point on.
2. The status of the dwelling.  The ESM can sense if electric service has been disconnected from a particular dwelling, and will not maintain a connection to that location.  The ESM will re-test each day for re-connection of this unit.
3. The total energy sourced to the dwelling.  The ESM measures and records how much energy has been sourced to each dwelling, and will prioritize connection to the dwelling with the least energy as determined by the sharing algorithm (see below).

The total quantity of energy sourced to each dwelling must be calculated and recorded in order for each dwelling to receive a “fair share” of the available energy being produced.  There are primarily two factors which must be considered:

1. The amount of energy generated from day to day.  This varies based upon the weather and other factors.
2. The number of dwellings connected to the ESM.  This will vary, due to residents moving in or out.  For example, in a complex of 8 apartments, all 8 may be connected to the ESM, however, several may be disconnected at any given time.  As residents move in and out, this number varies.

The ESM uses the above factors and determines the “energy-rate” for each dwelling based upon the following equation:

Energy Rate = Kwh / days

Where “Kwh” is the total number of killo-watt hours sourced to a particular dwelling within the sampling period, and “days” refers to the number of days that a dwelling has been connected.

The equation is constructed so that each dwelling receives an equal share of energy, per day of connection.  This prevents an unbalanced share of energy from being sourced to a dwelling which has been off-line (such as when an apartment is unoccupied), and then comes back on line.  For example, assume that the ESM has been sourcing energy to 4 of its 5 dwellings for 25 days and then the 5th unit comes on-line.  If the ESM used an equation based only on the total KWh (and not factoring in the number of days connected), it would have to source a high amount of energy to this new occupant.  In effect, this would be giving a new occupant the benefit of energy generated during the time when this person was not a resident.

(c)  Advantages Over Existing Systems

Without an ESM, if the owner of an apartment system intended to install a PV generating system, the owner would have to install one PV system per apartment, with each PV system having its own inverter.  For example, a single apartment building having 4 apartments would require 4 separate arrays, with each array having an inverter.  The most obvious benefit of installing an ESM is that it would be more cost effective, since one inverter and one ESM would replace four inverters.  The savings increase with the number of dwellings being served.

Another benefit of the ESM is that it can share energy much more accurately among the connected dwellings, as compared to 4 systems with 4 separate PV arrays.  This is because separate arrays would not necessarily generate the same amount of energy over a given period, due to the arrangement of the panels on the roof and other factors.  In contrast, the ESM is able to measure the generated energy produced and sourced to a given dwelling, and thereby guarantee that the energy is shared more evenly.

Remote Monitoring

The current design of the ESM does not include a remote monitoring feature.  However, this is a logical next step.  This would enable a central location--typically the office in an apartment complex—to monitor all ESM’s within an apartment complex, so that fault conditions could be quickly detected and resolved.

(d)  Economic Potential and Commercial Applications

This product would significantly reduce the cost of installing a solar system onto any multi-dwelling facility, specifically apartment buildings.  The amount of savings would be proportional to the number of dwellings connected to the ESM.   Any application requiring multiple loads to be connected to a single inverter in a sequential fashion could benefit from this invention.

Cypress Technologies Successfully Upgraded to ISO 9001:2008

June 6, 2009

After the re-assessment of the existing ISO certification to ensure that all elements of the scope of registration and all requirements of the management standard have been met, Cypress Technologies successfully upgraded to ISO 9001:2008. There were no nonconformities identified.

Cypress Technologies is one of the first companies to achieve this accomplishment.

ISO 9001:2008 was introduced with no new requirements but with content to refine and clarify some of the requirements of ISO 9001:2000. The need to revise ISO 9001:2000 is based on ISO's continual review process, incorporation of user defined inputs and keeping the standard aligned to recent developments in management system practices. Users of the former standard should evaluate their existing management system against the changes as identified in ISO 9001:2008, Annex B, and make any required adjustments prior to requesting their registrar to verify conformance to the new standard at their next surveillance or recertification audit.

The following are examples of changes for General Requirements of ISO 9001:2008:

4.1 General Requirements

a) Determine the processes needed for the quality management system and their application throughout the organization (see 1.2),

Although similar, the words 'Identify' and 'Determine' have slightly different meanings. To identify is to recognize or establish something as being a particular thing. To determine is to apply reason and reach a conclusive decision. Therefore, to determine the processes implies more analysis and judgment than merely identifying them.

e) monitor, measure (where applicable) and analyze these processes, and ...

Processes are monitored, but may not need to be measured. Therefore, the requirement change indicates processes are only measured where applicable.

Later in clause 4.1 regarding outsourcing:

The type and extent of control to be applied to these outsourced processes shall be defined within the quality management system.

This addition clarifies that specific controls are to be defined and applied, not just identified. See the new Note 3 below for an explanation of the type and extent of controls for an outsourced process.

Next, the current Note under clause 4.1 has been expanded and two new Notes have been added:

NOTE 1: Processes needed for the quality management system referred to above include processes for management activities, provision of resources, product realization, and measurement, analysis, and improvement.

This change expands from "measurement" to "measurement, analysis, and improvement" to match the title for clause 8. And, by deleting "should", the Note clearly states that these processes are included.

The new Notes are:

NOTE 2: An outsourced process is identified as one being needed for the organization's quality management system but chosen to be performed by a party external to the organization.

This new Note provides an explanation of what is considered an outsourced process. The next Note identifies the factors influencing the control of an outsourced process.

NOTE 3: The type and nature of control to be applied to the outsourced process may be influenced by factors such as:

a) the potential impact of the outsourced process on the organization's capability to provide product that conforms to requirements;

b) the extent to which the control for the process is shared;

c) the capability of achieving the necessary control through the application of clause 7.4.

Ensuring control over outsourced processes does not absolve the organization of the responsibility of conformity to all customer, statutory, and regulatory requirements.

Outsourcing a process to another organization typically involves the purchase of those services. As a result, the requirements of clause 7.4, including the controls mentioned in 7.4.1, apply to the supplier selected to perform the outsourced process.

1 BSI Customer News Letter – February 2009
2 Whittington Newsletter – January 2008
3 Whittington Newsletter – January 2008

New Building Dedicated Solely to Manufacturing

The new building at Cypress Technologies is now fully completed and is operational. This is our second building, and it is dedicated solely to manufacturing. Of the 20,000 sq/ft, only a few offices exist for training, meetings, and breaks. According to Greg Child, “We’ve built a strong bond with our customers over the last 25 years. Quite often our customers ask us to broaden our services, something our existing building could not accommodate especially with the larger, heavier products often seen in the oil and gas industry. Now, with the completion of our new building, we not only more than doubled our manufacturing capacity, but we have a brand new building and equipment that can accommodate those grander sized projects. “The second building shares the same address: Cypress Technologies Corporation 17301 FM 1431, Leander, TX 78641. Along with panel, cable, and through-hold PCBA manufacturing, our new facility has a compact pick and place machine for surface mount board builds.

Lean Manufacturing Initiative

Additionally, the new building allows Cypress to roll out phase two of our lean manufacturing initiative. Almost a year ago, we started a small project to test lean manufacturing. That small project changed the way we run our business. The benefits of lean manufacturing have been realized already at Cypress. We have seen increased productivity, lower costs, less lead times, and better quality. This is especially important to us right now, as we strive to stay a lean machine during the slow global economy.

Driven by the slow economy, Cypress Technologies is also moving research and development resources towards other markets. For over 25 years, Cypress has traditionally serviced the oil and gas market space. However, offshore rig counts continue to fall along with all aspects of fossil fuel for energy. Additionally, the current administration is applying governmental pressures and providing grant money for companies developing products and services geared around renewable greener energy. Since the oil and gas industry may be slow to rev back-up again, we feel it is important to diversify our business now more than ever.

Cypress Diversifies: Supports Security, Medical Product Companies and Military Industries

In an effort to diversify, Cypress has targeted and met with several medical product companies. Additional market expansion is expected in both the security and military industries.

Our push into the military industry is a natural fit for us as they share common problems, designs, and quality levels seen in the oil and gas industry. In fact, we have done 100’s of projects for the military and companies that service the military. The only difference is they sought our services versus us finding them.

Additional resources are focused towards hazard rated products. Approximately three months ago, Cypress launched an effort to design and build ATEX controlled products. ATEX is the framework for controlling explosive atmospheres. ATEX provides standards of equipment and protective systems. It is based on two directive requirements one being the ATEX workplace directive and the second being the ATEX equipment directive. Cypress will design and manufacture products for both directives. Our Quality Management System is established, documented, implemented and maintained in accordance with ISO 9001:2008. Our system also includes Standard EN 13980:2002, which includes POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES - APPLICATION OF QUALITY SYSTEMS.

Our quality mission statement is “Excellence through exceeding customer expectations is our goal. Nothing less is acceptable”. Let us exceed your expectations!

Cypress Technologies Implements Lean Manufacturing

Challenge: Try to manufacture in a highly mixed manufacturing environment while reducing inventory, reducing cost, and improving delivery, all while keeping it simple.

Cypress Technologies manufactures products for all types of businesses and industries, and has a strong bond with oil and gas service companies. These companies have unique manufacturing challenges. They need rugged products that withstand harsh environments like extreme weather conditions, debris, and vibration. They also need products that are extremely high in quality, delivered on-time, and they need products that are manufactured at the lowest costs possible to maximize their profits.

Manufacturing products with military levels of quality and at the same time reducing costs and improving deliveries has always been a significant challenge for any contract manufacturing company, one that Cypress Technologies has solved with experience and Lean Manufacturing.

Lean manufacturing is a manufacturing method with a goal of removing waste and maximizing value of the product being manufactured. It is quite simple. Value is something the customer will pay for while waste is not. Lean manufacturing redirects efforts to value based steps and flushes out the wasteful ones.

Cypress Technologies also uses one-piece or continuous flow manufacturing. We do this in-order to make small batches of products. This alone keeps our inventory down, reduces our lead times and improves our quality. A smaller batch also keeps our assembly floor flexible which is what a high mix manufacturing environment demands. With one piece manufacturing, we in effect eliminate over-production a lead time killer. We also identify and correct problems while they are happening enabling us to correct the process and educate the assembler immediately thereby improving our quality.

For each assembly line or work cell, Cypress Technologies has KanBan carts for maintaining sub-assemblies. These sub-assembly carts give our assemblers a visual tool and self-managing system for knowing what is needed to maintain efficient manufacturing flow. It is simple; if the sub assembly is missing build it. If not, build something else thereby controlling over-production a wasteful problem. In other words we only build what is needed at that particular time, and not what is needed is say 30 days from now.

You cannot effectively go lean unless you adopt 5S. Cypress Technologies does embrace 5S. Before we launched our lean manufacturing programs, we trained and counseled with each Cypress Technologies employee to understand the importance of Sorting, Simplify, Sweeping, Standardizing, and Sustain or Self-discipline.

Where do we go from here? While internally Lean Manufacturing has lead to significant improvements that we have already passed on to our customers, we will expand our lean ideas out to our supply chain. We will work with them to adopt similar techniques with their material deliveries and encourage them to do the same with their suppliers. In a perfect world, we want items delivered today to hit the floor today. While this level of flow is difficult to achieve, we feel confident that we can make great improvements in this area to further reduce lead times, costs, and improve quality, so we can pass these savings on to our customers’ while keeping us competitive especially during these difficult economical times.

Internally, we still have yet to integrate all of our departments into work cells. This is mainly due to our facilities change over. However, around April 1st, 2009, our new 12,000 sq/ft facility will be set-up and fully functional which will double our floor space and allow much needed room for our new customers to benefit from our lean processes.