Abstract: A lead angle estimator is provided for estimating a lead angle of a brushless DC motor. The lead angle is the angle between a phase-voltage-vector of a phase-voltage, and a phase-current-vector of a phase-current. The lead angle estimator comprises a sampling unit and a processing unit. The sampling unit is adapted for obtaining phase-samples, which are a measure of the phase-current. The processing unit is adapted for estimating the lead angle by calculating a difference of the phase-samples in a extremum period around a maximum or around at least the phase-voltage, and by normalizing the obtained difference.

Abstract: A lead angle estimator is provided for estimating a lead angle of a brushless DC motor. The lead angle is the angle between a phase-voltage-vector of a phase-voltage, and a phase-current-vector of a phase-current. The lead angle estimator comprises a sampling unit and a processing unit. The sampling unit is adapted for obtaining phase-samples, which are a measure of the phase-current. The processing unit is adapted for estimating the lead angle by calculating a difference of the phase-samples in a extremum period around a maximum or around at least the phase-voltage, and by normalizing the obtained difference.

Abstract: A method for detecting stall of a multiphase motor operated in a sinusoidal micro-stepped mode. The method comprises: a) measuring at least one phase current and/or measuring the sum of all phase currents at regular time intervals synchronous with the micro-steps, b) calculating the difference between the measured phase current at a first moment and the measured phase current of the same phase at a previous moment and/or the difference between the measured sum of all phase currents at a first moment and the measured sum of all phase currents at a previous synchronous moment, c) analyzing the series of obtained current differences so as to generate a stall detection signal.

Abstract: A method for detecting rotor position for a single coil DC motor or 2-coil DC motor with non-parallel windings, with no need of Hall position sensor. The method comprises applying a first respectively second probe pulse for generating a first response pulse having a first direction or polarity and a second response pulse having a second direction or polarity. The probe pulses are adapted so they do not substantially move the rotor with respect to the stator, but affect the magnetic properties of the stator. By comparing the measured effects caused by the probe pulses, the initial position of the rotor with respect to the stator is determined. A method for start-up, a motor driver circuit, and a motor assembly comprising said motor and driver circuit are also provided.

Abstract: A method for detecting stall of a multiphase motor operated in a sinusoidal micro-stepped mode. The method comprises: a) measuring at least one phase current and/or measuring the sum of all phase currents at regular time intervals synchronous with the micro-steps, b) calculating the difference between the measured phase current at a first moment and the measured phase current of the same phase at a previous moment and/or the difference between the measured sum of all phase currents at a first moment and the measured sum of all phase currents at a previous synchronous moment, c) analyzing the series of obtained current differences so as to generate a stall detection signal.

Abstract: A method for detecting rotor position for a single coil DC motor or 2-coil DC motor with non-parallel windings, with no need of Hall position sensor. The method comprises applying a first respectively second probe pulse for generating a first response pulse having a first direction or polarity and a second response pulse having a second direction or polarity. The probe pulses are adapted so they do not substantially move the rotor with respect to the stator, but affect the magnetic properties of the stator. By comparing the measured effects caused by the probe pulses, the initial position of the rotor with respect to the stator is determined. A method for start-up, a motor driver circuit, and a motor assembly comprising said motor and driver circuit are also provided.

Abstract: A robust method for addressing each of the participants of a bus system comprising a control unit, and a bus and a plurality of addressable participants connected to the bus, comprising the steps of a) pre-selecting a first number of participants, b) selecting from the pre-selected participants a second number of participants, and c) assigning one or more addresses to them, and repeating the steps a) to c). The selection and pre-selection is based on current sources, specific threshold values, and measurement error. The bus system and addressable device (are also claimed.

Abstract: A method of detecting stall of a multi-phase motor operated in a micro-stepped mode, the method comprising: a) applying at least two phase-shifted micro-stepped waveforms to the phase windings of the motor; b) determining a sum of currents flowing through the phase windings, and taking samples of the sum of currents synchronously with the application of the micro-stepped waveforms; c) calculating a moving average or moving sum of the samples over one or more “full steps” of the phase-shifted waveforms; d) calculating an adaptive threshold based on the samples; e) detecting stall of the motor when the moving average is larger than the adaptive threshold. An electrical circuit and a computer program are arranged to perform the method.

Abstract: A method of detecting stall of a multi-phase motor operated in a micro-stepped mode, the method comprising: a) applying at least two phase-shifted micro-stepped waveforms to the phase windings of the motor; b) determining a sum of currents flowing through the phase windings, and taking samples of the sum of currents synchronously with the application of the micro-stepped waveforms; c) calculating a moving average or moving sum of the samples over one or more “full steps” of the phase-shifted waveforms; d) calculating an adaptive threshold based on the samples; e) detecting stall of the motor when the moving average is larger than the adaptive threshold. An electrical circuit and a computer program are arranged to perform the method.

Abstract: A system comprising a motor controller for providing a plurality of first power signals and a single common second power signal to a motor module comprising a plurality of potentiometers connectable to a plurality of DC-motors. The power signals and feedback signals are sent over a wire interface having less than three wires per motor. A position feedback signal is read when a motor is being powered. The power signals may be DC-signals, pulsed or tri-state signals. The circuit may have a voltage divider consisting of two or three resistors. The actual motor position can be derived from the position feedback signals using one of two formulas or curves. A motor controller, and a method for driving a plurality of DC-motors is also disclosed.

Abstract: A robust method for addressing each of the participants of a bus system comprising a control unit, and a bus and a plurality of addressable participants connected to the bus, comprising the steps of a) pre-selecting a first number of participants, b) selecting from the pre-selected participants a second number of participants, and c) assigning one or more addresses to them, and repeating the steps a) to c). The selection and pre-selection is based on current sources, specific threshold values, and measurement error. The bus system and addressable device (are also claimed.

Abstract: A system comprising a motor controller for providing a plurality of first power signals and a single common second power signal to a motor module comprising a plurality of potentiometers connectable to a plurality of DC-motors. The power signals and feedback signals are sent over a wire interface having less than three wires per motor. A position feedback signal is read when a motor is being powered. The power signals may be DC-signals, pulsed or tri-state signals. The circuit may have a voltage divider consisting of two or three resistors. The actual motor position can be derived from the position feedback signals using one of two formulas or curves. A motor controller, and a method for driving a plurality of DC-motors is also disclosed.

Abstract: A photo-catalytic composition, comprising nanoparticles of at least one photo-catalyst and an aqueous colloidal dispersion of SiO2 nanoparticles wherein the concentration of the photo-catalyst ranges from at least 20 to less than 50 parts by weight and the concentration of SiO2 provides the balance to 100 parts by weight.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the occurrences of pulses for implementing a pulse count monitoring method for driving a brushed DC motor driven by a pulse width modulated (PWM) driving current. The method comprises acquiring the driving current signal; performing peak detection on the acquired signal; identifying the largest peaks and thus determining the occurrence of pulses. The peak detect is implemented by fast peak detection or diode peak detection operable to detect appropriate peak widths as determined by the chosen PWM frequency, duty cycle and PWM pulse height.

Abstract: In an arrangement including a remote control device and at least a first electronic device, said remote control devices having a first memory for storing a set of code data for controlling a further electronic device, which first memory is connected to an input of a signal generator to supply said code data to said input, which signal generator is adapted to generate, on the basis of said code data, control signals for controlling said further electronic device, and to transmit said control signals to said further electronic device, said first electronic device having a data input arranged to receive data from said remote control device, said remote control has a code data output unit connected to said first memory, said code data output unit having a further input for receiving an upload signal and being adapted to read, under control of said upload signal, at least a subset of said set of code data from said memory, said code data output unit being further adapted to transmit said subset burstwise to said d