Abstract: Ultrasonic measurements of fluid properties are performed with the aid of an optical fiber or a package of optical fibers by exciting ultrasound waves at a first location along the optical fiber in the fluid by means of light from the optical fiber and detecting an effect of the ultrasound waves on light reflection or propagation in the optical fiber and/or a further optical fiber in the package at a second location along the optical fiber or at the end of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method includes, at a controller, sensing a magnitude of a first force applied to the thumbstick in a substantially downward direction relative to a top portion of the housing while the thumbstick is in the stationary default position, and a magnitude of a second force applied to the thumbstick in the substantially downward direction relative to the top portion of the housing while the thumbstick is in a position other than the stationary default position. The method includes receiving the magnitude of the first and the second force, and determining whether the magnitude of the first force or the second force satisfies a predefined force value. The method further includes providing haptic feedback to the user in response to a determination that the magnitude of the first force or the second force satisfies the predefined force value.

Abstract: A method for isolating an electrical fault in a floating High Voltage direct current (DC) system is provided. The method includes receiving a measurement of an output voltage of a High Voltage DC bus and receiving a measurement of a load current for each of a plurality of channels coupled to the High Voltage DC bus. The method also includes, when the output voltage is determined to be out of balance, comparing the measurement of the load current of each of the plurality of channels in the frequency domain, and, flagging one channel of the plurality of channels as a faulty channel based on the comparing the measurement of the load currents in the frequency domain.

Abstract: A mode of a rectifier may be changed between at least fully passive and fully synchronous based upon direct current (DC) output by the rectifier and/or direct current voltage output by the rectifier. This extends the range of direct current output by the rectifier for a given range of DC voltage output by the rectifier.

Abstract: A control system for an electrical power generation system (EPGS) provides overload protection without disconnecting a generator of the EPGS from an excessive electrical load. Available engine power and current levels of the electrical load are continuously measured and computed. A command voltage is calculated in real time that corresponds to a voltage required to sustain with the maximum available power. Output voltage of a generator of the EPGS is controlled at the calculated command voltage so that a power limit of the engine is not exceeded during electrical overload conditions.

Abstract: Properly managing surges of regenerative power is needed in systems where power is generated and distributed to mechanical and electrical loads to protect them from overvoltage. A controller provides protection against excess regenerative power when these systems operate at a wide range of speeds. Controller functions and control methods for overvoltage protection may include an added control loop for detecting an overvoltage condition, calculating a power factor and generating a gating signal to transition the controller into a motoring mode that converts the excess regenerative power into mechanical power.

Abstract: Properly managing surges of regenerative power is needed in systems where power is generated and distributed to mechanical and electrical loads to protect them from overvoltage. A controller provides protection against excess regenerative power when these systems operate at a wide range of speeds. Controller functions and control methods for overvoltage protection may include an added control loop for detecting an overvoltage condition, calculating a power factor and generating a gating signal to transition the controller into a motoring mode that converts the excess regenerative power into mechanical power.

Abstract: A power converter control system and method is provided to maximize the power output of the converter where an overload condition is present. A controller calculates a command voltage and command power factor. The command voltage and command power factor are used to generate a switching vector. Where the voltage associated with a switching vector exceeds an output voltage limit of the converter, a power factor adjustment is generated.

Abstract: A control system for an electrical power generation system (EPGS) provides overload protection without disconnecting a generator of the EPGS from an excessive electrical load. Available engine power and current levels of the electrical load are continuously measured and computed. A command voltage is calculated in real time that corresponds to a voltage required to sustain with the maximum available power. Output voltage of a generator of the EPGS is controlled at the calculated command voltage so that a power limit of the engine is not exceeded during electrical overload conditions.

Abstract: A power converter control system and method is provided to maximize the power output of the converter where an overload condition is present. A controller calculates a command voltage and command power factor. The command voltage and command power factor are used to generate a switching vector. Where the voltage associated with a switching vector exceeds an output voltage limit of the converter, a power factor adjustment is generated.

Abstract: A device that includes an active rectifier (14) having control gates controllable to produce an output voltage on a DC bus (20), a gate control circuit (16) for producing gate control signals for controlling the active rectifier control gates, a first circuit (18) connected to the gate control circuit (16) and producing a command current magnitude signal and a power factor signal for use by the gate control circuit (16), a current line (30) providing a current related to the DC load current to the first circuit (16), and a voltage line (32) providing a voltage related to the DC bus voltage to the first circuit (16), the first circuit (16) including a peak detector (64) detecting current peaks on the DC bus (20), a command current magnitude signal generator (34) commanding a current as a function of the detected peaks, and a power factor controller (33, 40) varying the power factor signal (42) to control the voltage on the DC bus (20).

Abstract: A method and apparatus perform control. A control method according to one embodiment accesses a Hall effect signal; obtains an error signal relating to a system parameter using the Hall effect signal and a reference signal for the system parameter; obtains a calculated signal for the system parameter using the error signal; and utilizes the calculated signal as a new reference signal for the system parameter, for a next iteration of the obtaining steps.

Abstract: A method and apparatus perform control. A control method according to one embodiment accesses a Hall effect signal; obtains an error signal relating to a system parameter using the Hall effect signal and a reference signal for the system parameter; obtains a calculated signal for the system parameter using the error signal; and utilizes the calculated signal as a new reference signal for the system parameter, for a next iteration of the obtaining steps.

Abstract: A simulator (12) having at least one input (24) and first and second outputs (30, 34) includes an inverter model (22) receiving gating signals at the at least one input (24) and producing current and voltage signals based on said gating signals and a machine model (26) receiving the current and voltage signals from the inverter model (24) and producing a machine current signal at the first output (30) and a machine position signal at the second output (34). Also a method of providing feedback to a machine controller using a simulator.

Abstract: A device that includes an active rectifier (14) having control gates controllable to produce an output voltage on a DC bus (20), a gate control circuit (16) for producing gate control signals for controlling the active rectifier control gates, a first circuit (18) connected to the gate control circuit (16) and producing a command current magnitude signal and a power factor signal for use by the gate control circuit (16), a current line (30) providing a current related to the DC load current to the first circuit (16), and a voltage line (32) providing a voltage related to the DC bus voltage to the first circuit (16), the first circuit (16) including a peak detector (64) detecting current peaks on the DC bus (20), a command current magnitude signal generator (34) commanding a current as a function of the detected peaks, and a power factor controller (33, 40) varying the power factor signal (42) to control the voltage on the DC bus (20).

Abstract: A device includes an active rectifier (14) having control gates controllable to produce an output voltage on a DC bus (20), a gate control circuit (16) for producing gate control signals for controlling the active rectifier control gates, a first circuit (18) connected to the gate control circuit (16) for producing a command current magnitude signal and a power factor signal for use by the gate control circuit (16), a current line (30) providing a signal related to the DC load current to the first circuit (18), and a voltage line (32) providing a signal related to the DC bus voltage to the first circuit (18). The first circuit (18) includes a command current magnitude signal generator (34) producing the command current signal based on the DC load current and a power factor controller (44, 48) producing the power factor signal. The power factor controller (44, 48) includes a feed forward circuit (52, 56) for increasing the power factor signal in response to current fluctuations on the current line (30).

Abstract: A device includes an active rectifier (14) having control gates controllable to produce an output voltage on a DC bus (20), a gate control circuit (16) for producing gate control signals for controlling the active rectifier control gates, a first circuit (18) connected to the gate control circuit (16) for producing a command current magnitude signal and a power factor signal for use by the gate control circuit (16), a current line (30) providing a signal related to the DC load current to the first circuit (18), and a voltage line (32) providing a signal related to the DC bus voltage to the first circuit (18). The first circuit (18) includes a command current magnitude signal generator (34) producing the command current signal based on the DC load current and a power factor controller (44, 48) producing the power factor signal. The power factor controller (44, 48) includes a feed forward circuit (52, 56) for increasing the power factor signal in response to current fluctuations on the current line (30).

Abstract: An active filter (300) generates multi-phase compensating current in an AC power supply system (10) that supplies a load (200). The filter (300) includes a compensating current output device (34) outputting multi-phase compensating current to an AC power line (50); and a controller (310) for controlling the compensating current output (340) such that the multi-phase compensating current compensates for current harmonics and power factor on said AC power line (50). The controller (310) estimates current harmonics and power factor compensating values as a function of multi-phase power measurements.

Abstract: An active filter (300) generates multi-phase compensating current in an AC power supply system (10) that supplies a load (200). The filter (300) includes a compensating current output device (34) outputting multi-phase compensating current to an AC power line (50); and a controller (310) for controlling the compensating current output (340) such that the multi-phase compensating current compensates for current harmonics and power factor on said AC power line (50). The controller (310) estimates current harmonics and power factor compensating values as a function of multi-phase power measurements.

Abstract: An active filter (100) suppresses current harmonics generated in a dc bus (300) by generating a compensating current that is approximately equal-but-opposite in polarity to the current harmonics. In one implementation, the active filter (100) includes: an energy storage capacitor (103); a choke (104); a switch circuit (120); and a controller (150). The controller (150) receives a current harmonics measurement for the dc bus (300) and generates switch gating signals (156a, 156b) as a function of the current harmonics measurement. The switch circuit (120) receives the switch gating signals (156a, 156b) from the controller (150) and is operatively connected to the energy storage capacitor (103) and the choke (104) to selectively discharge the energy storage capacitor (103) to inject current into the dc bus (300) and to selectively draw current from the dc bus (300) via the choke (104).