Abstract: A quasi regulated electric generator, comprising a stator having teeth on an inner periphery defining slots therebetween, stator windings disposed in the slots forming output phases, a rotor rotatably mounted within the stator, the rotor having permanent magnets mounted thereon forming rotor poles which induce a voltage in the stator windings when the rotor is driven by an external prime mover, and a series saturation circuit coupled to an external source of dc current for saturating the stator, decreasing the induced voltage thereby. Magnetic slot closers are placed in the slots in which are disposed the series saturation circuit to aid tooth saturation.

Abstract: A power controller with overload protection having an alternating current source (AC) connected through power lines (L1, L2) and a pair of power switching devices (FET1, FET2) and a current sensor resistance shunt (SH) in series to a load (LD). A line-derived control power supply circuit (LDS) is connected through one of the power switching devices (FET1) to the lower line (L1, L2) such that the control power supply current does not flow through the shunt (SH) or the load (LD). Close and open commands are applied from a control switch (CSW) through a threshold detector (DT) and a logic circuit (LG1) to operate a latch (LCH) that turns the power switching devices (FET1, FET2) on and off under the clocking control of a zero voltage detector (ZVD) and a zero current detector (ZCD) and the gating control of a minimum current circuit (MCC). An overload circuit (AVC, ITC, TTC) provides instantaneous trip of the latch on rupture current or timed trip of the latch on smaller overloads.

Abstract: A solid state DC power control system having a single N-type or N-channel or majority carrier solid state switching element (Q1) connected to the high side (L) of the power supply for energizing a ground or neutral (V.sub.o) connected load (LD). A voltage level translation circuit (2,2') supplies a floating regulated control voltage to the switching element (Q1) high enough to maintain it turned on even if the voltage at the low side of the switching element (Q1) rises up to or near the supply voltage thereby allowing use of such N-type switching device (Q1) in the high side (L) of the supply. A zener diode (ZD3) limits the gate(G)-to-source(S) voltage to the proper level. A non-inverting drive circuit (10,12) controlled by a logic level signal input element (Q2) controls connection of the high voltage to the switching (Q1) gate (G). A first version uses a DC-DC converter (CON) and a preferred version uses a voltage multiplier (VM) in the voltage level translation, high voltage, gate supply circuit (2,2').

Abstract: A resistance wire sensing overcurrent protection module (CSM) for an electrical supply circuit (SC) having a hot temperature sensing diode (32) mounted at the center portion (8c) of an M-shaped resistance wire (8) connected in the supply circuit and an ambient temperature sensing diode (20) mounted on a substrate (18) supported between the supply terminals (4a-b, 6a-b), both diodes being connected to respective pairs of terminals (12a-b, 10a-b) mounted on a header (18) along with the supply terminals. A cover (46) is mounted on the header and filled with glass micro-balloons (48) to isolate thermally the two diodes. A constant current circuit (49) supplies constant current to the two diodes which operate a differential amplifier (52) having an output proportional to the temperature difference as a measure of supply current. This output trips a Schmitt trigger comparator (54) when the supply current rises to an overload value.

Abstract: A knock detector for an internal combustion engine comprises a resonantly tuned knock sensor mounted on the engine, a variable gain amplifier for amplifying the signal from the knock sensor, knock and reference channels which are operatively coupled with the output of the variable gain amplifier to develop respective knock and reference channel signals, and a comparator for comparing the signal of one channel against the signal of the other channel. The gain of the variable gain amplifier, in general, is an inverse function of engine speed. The amplified signal from the variable gain amplifier is gated to a peak detector of the reference channel circuit during absence of any appreciable engine knock to develop a reference signal representing background noise. The knock channel detects peaks of the amplifier output signal, and the comparator compares the two peak detected signals to provide a knock signal when a predetermined relationship between the two is attained.