Abstract: A thermal protection apparatus for an AC traction motor including a stator, a rotor, a blower fan, and an inverter includes measuring apparatus for measuring ambient air temperature of the motor and atmospheric air pressure of the motor. A computer is provided for using the measured ambient air temperature and atmospheric air pressure values for estimating a plurality of temperatures in the AC traction motor and for calculating a plurality of motor torque limits imposed by the plurality of estimated temperatures. A control system is provided for controlling the inverter by providing a signal comprising the lowest of the calculated plurality of motor torque limits to an inverter controller. The control system can also be used to calculate a plurality of blower speed requirements imposed by the plurality of estimated temperatures and set the blower speed of the motor to the highest of the calculated plurality of blower speed requirements.

Abstract: A device in which a processor controls a desired frequency and a desired instantaneous angle of a pattern generation circuit. The processor also controls a desired amplitude of the system. The pattern generation circuit includes a ROM having firing data for only a portion of the angles for which the circuit produces output. Output for the angles stored in the PROM and for the remaining angles is generated using the partial data from the PROM. The processor selects the desired voltage levels of the motor output, and can instantaneously set an angle of the output.

Abstract: The end region of a fiber optic sensor is tapered by suspending a fiber in a container. Etchant is added to the container at a controlled rate in order to etch a taper into the fiber. The taper size and shape are controlled by the selection of the size and shape of the container, as well as by the rate of adding etchant to the container.

Abstract: Pin-mounted components, such as DIP-packaged devices, multi-pin toroids and memory cubes are integrated into high density interconnect (HDI) structures by external attachment. Frozen spheres of conductive epoxy are placed, using automated pick-and-place equipment, into laser-drilled well-like via holes in an HDI module and then thawed under temperature and vacuum, prior to component pin insertion. Precision dispensing and uniform dispersion of adhesive results.