Abstract: In a system which includes a driven shaft that has limited angular rotation capabilities from a start position clockwise and counterclockwise through a common overlapping angular region, a device for enabling the determination of which desired direction the shaft should be rotated from the region in order to return to the start position including a first member connected for motion with the shaft rotation and a second member mounted for independent motion when moved by the first member in a first direction, the second member being held in the start position with motion of the first member in a second direction, and a sensor to sense the presence of the second member in the start position as an indication of the desired direction.

Abstract: The apparatus controls the positioning of a device in response to a commanded input signal, and comprises an element for moving the device in response to an error signal. A sensor component determines the actual position of the device, the sensor component outputting a primary signal and a derivative signal corresponding to the actual position and velocity of the device, respectively. A complementary filter system filters the primary signal and the derivative signal to generate a derived position signal, the derived position signal being combined with the commanded input signal thereby generating the error signal. The filtering results in effectively increasing the resolution of the sensor component thereby reducing the limit cycle caused by quantization of the sensor component.

Abstract: The proposed invention is an energy saving load control device primarily intended for inductive loads (i.e., fluorescent lighting, motors, etc.) operating from an alternating current (AC) source. The proposed device switches the load voltage off at arbitrary positions in the sine wave and simultaneously provides a commutating path for any inductive current. By switching the load voltage on and off and providing a commutating current path reduced energy consumption is realized.

Abstract: A magnetic actuator for providing a single-axis, noncontacting force capability with unconstrained cross-axis mobility utilizes flux feedback force linearization. Electromagnets cooperating with an armature suspended therebetween are energized by a bias flux and a signal derived from flux densities sensed in the air gaps. The bias flux density may be optimized to minimize the peak power required by the actuator. The flux density signals are applied in a closed force loop to provide a net force directly proportional to the commanded flux.