Abstract: A microprocessor controls multiple electrical switching units to selectively connect an energy accumulator to either a power source or a load. The microprocessor is electrically attached to multiple A/D converters that sense voltages present at various nodes of the circuit. If the power source supplies A.C. power, the switching units operate to periodically connect and disconnect the power source to and from the energy accumulator, to maintain a selected charge on the energy accumulator. Each time the energy accumulator is disconnected from the power source, the microprocessor directs the switching units to connect the energy accumulator to the load. When the load reaches a selected voltage, the switching units .disconnect the load from the energy accumulator. These steps are repeated continuously, to supply a nearly constant D.C. voltage to the load. If a D.C.

Abstract: A control system for heating or cooling equipment prior to startup. A temperature sensor senses the temperature of equipment whose temperature is to be controlled. Using an input device, the user of the invention may provide input parameters such as the equipment's expected start time, the size of the equipment, and the rating of the heating or cooling device(s) to be used. A computer utilizes the input parameters and the temperature of the equipment to calculate an activation time at which the heating or cooling device(s) should begin heating or cooling the equipment to provide the equipment with a desired temperature at the expected start time. At the activation time, the computer provides an initiation signal, which causes the heating or cooling device(s) to begin heating or cooling the equipment. In a more specific embodiment, the invention may be utilized to efficiently preheat an engine in frigid conditions by selectively applying power to one or more heaters.

Abstract: An orthopaedic system is provided which includes a plurality of support members, a plurality of rods interconnecting the support members, a plurality of pins attached to the support members for passing through bone of a patient, and an automatic drive device to control an adjustment mechanism of the rods to adjust the rod length of the rods to alter the relative positions of the support members. The drive device includes at least one motor for incrementally adjusting the adjustment mechanism of at least one of the rods and a controller device for providing pulses to the motor and for storing information regarding the number of stepwise adjustments of the rod length by the motor.

Abstract: An orthopaedic system is provided which includes a plurality of support members, a plurality of rods interconnecting the support members, a plurality of pins attached to the support members for passing through bone of a patient, and an automatic drive mechanism to control an adjustment mechanism of the rods to adjust the rod length of the rods to alter the relative positions of the support members. The drive mechanism includes at least one motor for incrementally adjusting the adjustment mechanism of at least one of the rods and a controller mechanism for providing pulses to the motor and for storing information regarding the number of stepwise adjustments of the rod length by the motor. An internal orthopaedic system is also disclosed in which a telescoping rod driven by an internal drive screw is placed internal to the bone of a patient and driven by means of either a flexible drive shaft connected to a motor and controller assembly or an internal motor and controller assembly.

Abstract: An orthopaedic system is provided which includes a plurality of support members, a plurality of rods interconnecting the support members, a plurality of pins attached to the support members for passing through bone of a patient, and an automatic drive mechanism to control an adjustment mechanism of the rods to adjust the rod length of the rods to alter the relative positions of the support members. The drive mechanism includes at least one motor for incrementally adjusting the adjustment mechanism of at least one of the rods and a controller mechanism for providing pulses to the motor and for storing information regarding the number of stepwise adjustments of the rod length by the motor.