Abstract: A programmable controller includes memory for storing a ladder logic control program having a plurality of ladder logic instruction rungs. Each rung begins with a start of rung (SOR) instruction. A processor is coupled to the memory for executing the ladder logic control program. User interrupts are disabled during execution of the rungs. During execution of the SOR instruction, a predetermined register, such as a MCR register, is read causing simultaneous enabling of user interrupts which overrides the previously disabled user interrupts to allow the processor to receive an interrupt request signal. The interrupt request signal is received before the read function of the predetermined register has completed.

Abstract: An actuator, with two independent degrees of freedom, rotates a stage about an axis and moves the stage along the axis, the range of motion defining a cylinder or cylindrical section. The stage is mounted on a hollow cylindrical plunger fitting in an annular well. A bearing allows the plunger to move axially and rotationally, in the preferred embodiment the bearing is an air bearing. The plunger has an array of permanent magnets on its external cylindrical face opposite coils in the well. Equal numbers of oppositely-polarized permanent magnets are arranged in a regular cylindrical pattern at 50% packing density forming rings and columns of like-polarity magnets, the rings of one polarity alternating with rings of opposite polarity and the columns of one polarity alternating with columns of opposite polarity. A set of Z-axis coils (for axial movement) curve around the plunger and are shaped to allow a current in them to produce an axial force with respect to the rings of magnets. A set of .phi.

Abstract: A video timing generator provides control and timing signals for a variety of different camera types by employing a circular buffer scanned rapidly before the occurrence of each potential control and timing signal. The circular buffer holds operation codes for generating the control and timing signal linked to target event signal times. An operation code having a target event signal time matching with the next event time is decoded and queued to be executed at that event time.

Abstract: A system for determining wear of an article including an optical fiber for transmitting light from a light source. The optical fiber is embedded in the article, and operatively coupled to an interferometric system. The interferometric system is operatively coupled to a processor. The interferometric system provides the processor with information relating to wear of the optical fiber, and the processor determines wear of the article rate of wear and remaining useful life of the article based on the information relating to wear of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method of maintaining cross reference information regarding a user program comprises the steps of determining that an aspect of a first referencee has been modified, notifying a first referencer that the aspect of the first referencee has been modified, and updating cross reference information. The notifying step is performed by the first referencee, and the updating step is performed by the first referencer. The cross reference information is stored in a database comprising an entry for each reference made by a referencer to a referencee. Each entry stores a unique identifiers which identify a respective referencer and referencee. The cross reference information is automatically updated through a notification procedure in which referencees are responsible for notifying referencers when an aspect of the referencee changes, and the referencers are thereafter responsible for updating the cross reference information.

Abstract: Phase insulation for separating the end turns of the windings at the lead end of a stator core for a dynamoelectric machine and a method for the simultaneously inserting multiple sets of windings with the phase insulation into the stator core. The phase insulation is connected at its ends to form a continuous ring. The phase insulation includes openings along an edge combined with continuous portions between each opening and another edge. The openings and continuous portions allow the diameter of the phase insulation ring to contract while retaining substantially a ring shape without moving toward or away from the stator core and without tearing to maintain complete electrical separation of the different phase windings.

Abstract: An active input circuit module includes a plurality of active input circuits disposed on a circuit board each circuit having an input and a return. Each active input circuit further has a constant current source having a current source input and a constant current output coupled through a current limiting resistor to an opto-coupler input and the return. A shunt resistor is coupled in parallel with the opto-coupler input.

Abstract: A machine diagnostic system is provided which includes a host computer for determining a health state of a machine. The host computer is operatively coupled to a network backbone. The system also includes a machine diagnostic module adapted to be integrally mounted to a machine, the machine diagnostic module being operatively coupled to the network backbone. The machine diagnostic module collects data relating to operation of the machine and preprocesses the data, and the host computer analyzes the preprocessed data in determining the health state of the machine. The machine diagnostic system includes a system architecture which facilitates the machine diagnosis. The system architecture includes several software layers which provide for collecting and preprocessing machine data, transmitting the collected and/or preprocessed data over a network and analyzing such for machine diagnosis and process diagnosis.

Abstract: Low voltage logic circuitry is used to permit an entire subsystem of an industrial controller to be placed within a hazardous environment to receive a high speed serial link and undertake the control of multiple control points without expensive and awkward long cable runs and electrically isolating circuits for each cable run. Energy and bandwidth limiting on the high speed link allows power levels commensurate with high data rates yet intrinsic safety of the media allowing it to freely pass in and out of the hazardous area. A mixture of intrinsically safe and non-intrinsically safe equipment on the same logical rack is allowed through a bus isolator providing isolated data communication in backplane fashion between modules while wholly isolating power transmission along the backplane.

Abstract: A test procedure detects the onset of stator winding damage, identifies the failure mechanism, determines the winding's susceptibility to further damage, and predicts stator winding failure. This is accomplished by introducing a high frequency signal onto power lines which feed the stator and monitoring a change in the capacitance between the individual windings during introduction of the high frequency signal. In order to monitor the change in capacitance, a current sensor and voltage sensor are used to measure the current and voltage on the power lines during introduction of the high frequency signal. Changes in the capacitance between the individual stator windings are reflected as changes in the broadband impedance response of the stator windings which can be calculated by dividing the measured voltage by the measured current.

Abstract: A worm gear assembly for a medical mobility apparatus, such as a motorized wheelchair or scooter, comprises a worm and a worm gear. The worm is operatively coupled to a motor shaft of a drive motor of the medical mobility apparatus. The worm gear, which is disposed on an intermediate shaft, is adapted for being driven by the worm and is adapted for driving a drive wheel of the medical mobility apparatus. The worm gear and the worm have a gear ratio of less than 10:1 and the worm has a lead angle in the range of about 20-30.degree.. This arrangement permits the worm gear to selectively drive the worm and permits manual reverse mobility of the medical mobility apparatus.

Abstract: A latching mechanism comprises a stationary chamber (1), a spring-loaded main slide (2) which is guided along the stationary chamber (1) in a first direction, a spring-loaded message slide (3) disposed inside the stationary chamber (1) which is guided in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a spring-loaded snap lever (4) which is pivotally mounted inside the stationary chamber (11) and which supports the switch lock's toggle linkage during the switched-on position of an overload protection switch. The main slide (2) is mechanically coupled to a manual actuator. During switching-on, the main slide (2) is moved in the direction of the message slide (3), such that the message slide (3) is moved via interacting bevels (19, 28), and locks the main slide (2). During tripping, the trip latch moves the message slide (3), causing the main slide (2) to be locked into a tripped position and causing the snap lever (4) to be released.

Abstract: A multilayer circuit board or laminated circuit board includes an insulated mounting area for a surface mount package. The mounting area is provided in a recess or portion of the circuit board where the circuit board is only a single layer thick. The insulated mounting area is provided in a blind via in the multilayer circuit board. The insulating medium associated with the single layer provides a heat conductive yet highly electrically insulative mounting area for a heat sink. The heat sink may be mounted on a side opposite the electrical device. The heat sink may be a standard heat sink or a copper coil directly soldered to the circuit board. The heat sink mounting advantageously eliminates the need for bolts, nuts, brackets, and an additional insulating layer necessary to insulate power semiconductor components.

Abstract: A multilayer circuit board or laminated circuit board includes an insulated mounting area for a surface mount package. The mounting area is provided in a recess or portion of the circuit board where the circuit board is only a single layer thick. The insulated mounting area is provided in a blind via in the multilayer circuit board. The insulating medium associated with the single layer provides a heat conductive yet highly electrically insulative mounting area for a heat sink. The heat sink may be mounted on a side opposite the electrical device. The heat sink may be a standard heat sink or a copper coil directly soldered to the circuit board. The heat sink mounting advantageously eliminates the need for bolts, nuts, brackets, and an additional insulating layer necessary to insulate power semiconductor components.

Abstract: A heat sink apparatus including a fluid conduit within a body portion wherein the body portion including at least one body member linked to the fluid conduit and forming at least first and second walls which are in different planes, the walls forming at least a first mounting surface for mounting heat generating devices.

Abstract: Bearing assemblies supporting the shaft of an electrical rotating machine are electrically insulated from the bearing housing. For each bearing assembly, a portion of the housing defines a receptacle into which an insertion ring is positioned. The gap between the insertion ring is filled with an appropriate insulative material, such as a nonconductive binding compound or an insulative polymer. In a preferred construction, nonconductive binding compound is located between spacers of insulative polymer. In another preferred construction, a nonconductive coating is applied to the outer surface and the remainder of the gap is filled with nonconductive binding compound. Insulative polymeric material may be used without binding compound in some embodiments. The bearing assembly is maintained in the insertion ring.

Abstract: A multiphase circuit interrupter includes a plurality of power phase sections for establishing and interrupting electrical power carrying paths for a plurality of phases. Each power phase section includes first and second conductive regions which contact one another to complete the current carrying path for the phase. The second conductive region is movable to an interrupted position to interrupt the path. An interphase current carrying path is established between the power phase sections to conduct electrical energy between the sections following a trip event in any one of the sections. The interphase current carrying path may be established by a conductive element extending between the power phase sections. Channels may be formed in the interrupter housing between the power phase sections to communicate conductive plasma generated during separation of the contact regions from one another between the power phase sections.

Abstract: An arrangement for measuring the operating temperature of an electromechanical machine utilizes at least one elongate sensor device inserted into a winding slot of the stator core. The sensor device includes a lead attachment portion at which a plurality of relatively large gauge lead wires are attached. The lead wires preferably have a length sufficient to extend to a location outside of the motor housing. The sensor device includes an elongate sensing portion having temperature sensitive conductors. Preferably, the sensing portion is located entirely within the axial extent of the stator core. An elongate transition portion having temperature insensitive conductors provides electrical connection between the lead wires and the temperature sensitive conductors of the sensing portion.

Abstract: A micro-viscosity sensor for measuring the viscosity of a lubricant. The micro-viscosity sensor including at least one finger-like element or an array of finger-like elements vertically extending from the surface of a semiconductor base, the at least one finger-like element being oscillated at a desired frequency. The power required to oscillate the at least one-finger-like element is monitored because the power required is a function of the viscosity of the lubricant. The sensor also includes a temperature detector, wherein the thermal conductivity of the temperature detector varies in correspondence with the temperature of the lubricant. A first set of electrical contacts provides for electrical connection to the at least one finger-like element; and a second set of electrical contacts provides for electrical connection to the temperature detector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting one of several different modulating signals for use with a system including a PWM controller and an inverter to generate low frequency alternating voltages on three motor supply lines, modulating signals selected as a function of a modulating index to minimize harmonic distortion in the alternating voltages, minimize switching losses, maximize overall system gain at high modulating index values and maximize the linear range of system operation.