Abstract: A method for mitigating current distortion on inverter supply lines that supply a load with power from a PWM inverter, the inverter including a switch and diode bridge constructed using devices that are characterized by losses that cause current distortion, the invert, lines and load together characterized by inductive and capacitive dynamics that also cause line current distortions, the method including identifying both a device drop error due to device operating characteristics and a system related dynamics error due to interaction of system components and using those errors along with a more conventional dead time compensation scheme to modify modulating waveforms used in PWM comparison by a controller.

Abstract: An electronic device/heat sink assembly having at least first and second heat generating electronic devices, a heat sink member, a resilient integral spring clip, the clip including a base member and first and second oppositely facing resilient leg members extending from opposite ends of the base member, the heat sink member having oppositely facing first and second surfaces, a separate one of the electronic devices positioned on each of the first and second sink surfaces, the clip dimensioned and positioned such that the leg members sandwich the devices and heat sink therebetween.

Abstract: A clearing method for use with a conveyor belt driven by a reversible motor for essentially automatically eliminating swarf or other obstructions along the belt including an clearing process including sensing motor load and comparing sensed load to a maximum load, when the sensed load exceeds the maximum, performing a clearing process for a predetermined time period calculated to, given the clearly process, clear the obstruction.

Abstract: An information system network and method for use thereof for remotely gathering information and storing the information at specific network memory locations for easy access, the system including at least a remote information collecting device and a network including an input device and a memory storage device, the collecting device in remotely gathering information and, based on the information gathered, generating storage addresses and browser configuration information to enable easy review and modification of collected information and subsequent storage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the voltage resolution of a PWM controller wherein the controller controls pulse width as a function of a PWM register count having a maximum count X where 1 part in X affords insufficient resolution, the method including receiving a high resolution voltage request count from within the range 0 through count Y where the voltage corresponding to count Y is equal to the voltage corresponding to count X and where count Y is greater than count X, the method including dividing the request signal by a divisor (Y/X) to generate an output value and a remainder, identifying a pseudo-random number within the range of possible remainder values, comparing the pseudo-random number to the remainder, where the pseudo-random number is less than the remainder, incrementing the output value, providing the output value to the PWM register as the register count and repeating the aforementioned steps.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a synchronous frame current regulator wherein the apparatus includes a current predictor and a current predictor adjuster, the current predictor predicting the current provided to a plant from both a forcing function and an actual current value and the adjuster adjusting the current prediction based on a difference between the current prediction and the actual current sampled thereby driving the actual current so as to conform with a commanded current value.

Abstract: A computer system for use in hospitals and the like to automate the referencing, locating, and retrieving of data records according to temporal descriptors. The temporal descriptors identify the date and time of creation of data records sought to be retrieved, and may do so by referring to a particular event known to have occurred at a particular date and time (e.g., a patient's admission to the hospital). The temporal descriptors may be used in a simple query for a data record, or they may be used within data records to refer to other data records. In either case, a system user can select one or more data records referred to by the temporal descriptors wherein selection criteria include information such as date and time ranges and other instructions for electing data records.

Abstract: The invention includes an autotransformer for converting three-phase AC power to nine-phase AC power. The autotransformer includes three coils, each coil including a plurality of serial windings that together form a polygon. Nine output nodes are provided between adjacent winding pairs, the windings sized and arranged such that adjacent output voltages are separated by 40 degree phase shift and such that output voltage magnitudes are essentially identical. Both step-down and unity gain input node sets are provided wherein, when three-phase AC supply lines are linked to the step-down input set the output voltage is stepped down and when the three-phase AC supply lines are linked to the unity gain input set the transformer gain is unity. The invention also includes an isolation transformer having characteristics similar to those of the autotransformer.

Abstract: A superconducting electromechanical rotating (SER) device, such as a synchronous AC motor, includes a superconducting field winding and a one-layer stator winding that may be water-cooled. The stator winding is potted to a support such as the inner radial surface of a support structure and, accordingly, lacks hangers or other mechanical fasteners that otherwise would complicate stator assembly and require the provision of an unnecessarily large gap between adjacent stator coil sections. The one-layer winding topology, resulting in the number of coils being equal to half the number of slots or other mounting locations on the support structure, allows one to minimize or eliminate the gap between the inner radial ends of adjacent straight sections of the stator coilswhile maintaining the gap between the coil knuckles equal to at least the coil width, providing sufficient room for electrical and cooling element configurations and connections.

Abstract: A method for reducing required memory in a PET acquisition system processor wherein imaging data is collected and binned in a two dimensional histogram of coincident counts, the two dimensions being a flight path angle &thgr; and a distance R from the center of an imaging area, the method including the steps of determining when data acquired at a current acquisition angle will not include data corresponding to a specific flight angle and, when this is the case, storing the data corresponding to the specific flight angle on a secondary memory storage device independent of the processor memory. The method also includes a back projection method for using the stored data to construct an image and the invention includes an apparatus for performing the method.

Abstract: A safety relay configuration for linking a power source to a device to be powered via at least one output wherein output contacts all have to be closed to provide power to the device, the configuration including first and second three contact relays or four contact relays, each relay including a first NC contact and at least two NO contacts and, wherein the second relay first contact is linked in parallel with the first relay second contact forming a first parallel configuration, the first relay first contact is linked in parallel with the second relay second contact forming a second parallel configuration, the first parallel configuration is linked in series with the first relay coil between the power source and ground, the second parallel configuration is linked in series with the second relay coil between the power source and ground and the relay third contacts are linked within the outputs between the power source and the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically selecting and employing different DC link pre-charge levels dependent upon different sources providing power to a power conditioning system wherein the different sources are characterized by different source inductances, the apparatus including a source control that selects a first pre-charge level when a utility supply provides power to the system and selects a relatively lower pre-charge level when a generator supply provides power to the system thereby reducing the possibility of inverter disablement due to DC link voltage dips.

Abstract: A development tool for use in specifying at least a sub-set of information required to generate control tools for an industrial process wherien the process is performed by mechanical resources, the control tools include execution logic, simulation facilitating tools, diagnostic tools, HMI tools and schematic diagrams, the development tool including a plurality of control assembles (CA), a separate CA for each mechanical resource type, which can be instantiated by selection and parameterization via an editor to specify the required information, after instantiation, the CAs compiled to generate the tools.

Abstract: A method for forming a heat transfer apparatus wherein a conduit construct is formed between first and second construct ends and is disposed in a mold cavity with the first and second ends extending from the cavity, air is removed from the construct, body material in molten fluid form is provided in the cavity so as to cover the construct and the molten material is permitted to solidify. In addition, the invention includes a manganese/nickel barrier material which is placed on a conduit construct prior to introducing molten material into the cavity to reduce bubbles in the sink. The invention also includes a system for maintaining heat sink temperature despite fluctuating amount of heat generated by devices mounted to or adjacent a sink wherein the system includes a temperature sensor, a controller and a regulator, the controller controlling the regulator as a function of feedback signals received from the sensor.

Abstract: The invention includes a transformer for converting three-phase AC power to nine-phase AC power. An autotransformer includes three coils, each coil including a plurality of serial windings that together form a polygon. Nine output nodes are provided between adjacent winding pairs, the windings sized and arranged such that adjacent output voltages are separated by 40 degree phase shift and such that output voltage magnitudes are essentially identical. Both step-up and unity gain input node sets are provided wherein, when three phase AC supply lines are linked to the step-up input set the output voltage is stepped up and when the three phase AC supply lines are linked to the unity gain input set the transformer gain is unity. An isolation transformer includes a secondary arranged like the autotransformer configuration described above.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining both a DC bus voltage and a motor current within limit values wherein, when a voltage limit condition occurs, a voltage error (i.e. DC bus voltage limit minus DC bus voltage) is used to increase an inverter output frequency until the voltage limit condition subsides, and, wherein during a current limit condition a current error signal (i.e. motor current limit minus motor current) is used to reduce inverter output frequency until the current limit condition subsides, a slew rate used to control the output frequency when neither a current nor a voltage limit condition exists, the slew rate decreased as a function of the voltage limit period durations and increases a function of the current limit period durations.

Abstract: An apparatus to be used with a PWM VSI which is linked by voltage supply cables to either a passive or a dynamic load, the VSI providing voltages on the cables which have at least one primary harmonic component, the apparatus linked to the output terminals of the VSI and including a line inductor between each output terminal and the load and, for each cable, at least one resonant filter branch including an inductor and a capacitor linked to each of the supply lines and to a common node wherein the line inductors are chosen so as to limit filter current and the branch elements are chosen such that a resonant frequency thereof is essentially equal to the frequency of the primary harmonic component.

Abstract: The invention includes an autotransformer for converting three-phase AC power to twelve-phase AC power using only three coils (e.g., no primary or dead windings are required). The autotransformer includes three coils, each coil including a plurality of serial windings that together form a polygon. Twelve output nodes are provided between adjacent winding pairs, the windings sized and arranged such that adjacent output voltages are separated by 30 degree phase shift and such that output voltage magnitudes are essentially identical. In some embodiments step-up, step-down and unity gain input node sets are provided while in other embodiments unity gain and either step-up or step-down input node sets are provided. The invention also includes an isolation transformer configuration that uses a secondary configuration that is identical to inventive autotransformer configurations.

Abstract: A simple voltage window sensing circuit including a current indicator, two Zener diodes and two digital transistors wherein the diode breakdown voltages are selected such that they define the upper and lower voltage limits of a voltage window, each diode causing a corresponding transistor to conduct when the breakdown voltage is exceeded, the indicator in series with a first transistor which is controlled by the diode which defines the lower limit and the transistors in parallel such that the first transistor only conducts when a voltage is within the window and hence the indicator only indicates when the voltage is within the window.

Abstract: A core configuration for use with an electromagnetic machine including first and second pluralities of laminations, each of the first and second pluralities having different properties and/or operating characteristics, the first and second pluralities interleaved together to form a core having desired core properties which are a combination of the properties of the first and second pluralities.