Abstract: A gripping device for gripping at least one deformable food product, includes: a chamber, a depressurization system for depressurizing the chamber, a fluid connection connecting the depressurization system to the chamber, and at least one perforated plate (246) defining a receiving surface (248) for receiving the deformable food product, the perforated plate (246) having at least one perforation opening into the receiving surface (248) and into the chamber.

Abstract: A modular connector plug includes controlled capacitances to compensate for near end cross talk at the connector interface created by interaction of signals having signal frequencies in a data transmission bandwidth. A printed circuit board (PCB) is configured to receive cable pairs, and a connector assembly includes first and fourth plug contacts corresponding to the first cable pair and second and third plug contacts corresponding to the second cable pair. First ends of each contact are connected to the PCB, and second ends extend in parallel with each other and transversely to the PCB length, collectively defining a contact interface proximate the contact end. Each contact has a maximum width at the contact interface, with at least one plug contact having a maximum width greater than the maximum width of another plug contact. Each contact accordingly defines an electrode of a compensating capacitance formed between adjacent pairs of plug contacts.

Abstract: A power switching device is provided with an integrated current sensor. The device includes component housing and multiple terminal legs extending therefrom. A current sensor assembly includes an interior cavity having a galvanically insulating tubular sleeve extending therethrough. A toroidal inductive winding resides within the first cavity and is circumferentially disposed about the sleeve, with one leg of the device defining a (single-turn) primary winding and the winding defining a secondary winding magnetically coupled to the device leg. Current sensing terminals are associated with respective locations along the inductive winding, wherein a current through the encapsulated terminal leg is detectable via respective current sensing leads extending from the assembly housing. A damping inductive element such as a ferrite bead may be provided within a second interior cavity defined by the assembly housing to suppress high frequency oscillations associated with a second (e.g.

Abstract: A modular jack connector compensates for plug characteristics via a controlled primary compensation in the immediate vicinity of the connector interface. A jack contact assembly is positioned within a jack housing and includes first and second sets of elongate contacts each having a plug contact portion and a signal output portion. Each elongate contact is configured such that their respective plug contact portions are coplanar and a signal path is defined between their plug contact portions and their signal output portions. A flexible circuit board is coupled proximate to the plug contact portions, and configured to provide capacitance compensation between respective contacts engaged thereby, wherein the capacitance compensation is offset from a signal path defined between the plug contact portions and the corresponding signal output portions.

Abstract: A modular jack connector compensates for plug characteristics via a controlled primary compensation in the immediate vicinity of the connector interface. A jack contact assembly is positioned within a jack housing and includes first and second sets of elongate contacts each having a plug contact portion and a signal output portion. Each elongate contact is configured such that their respective plug contact portions are coplanar and a signal path is defined between their plug contact portions and their signal output portions. A flexible circuit board is coupled proximate to the plug contact portions, and configured to provide capacitance compensation between respective contacts engaged thereby, wherein the capacitance compensation is offset from a signal path defined between the plug contact portions and the corresponding signal output portions.

Abstract: A digitally printed, water-activated, peel-off and slide-on permanent transfer decal includes a base layer of gum-coated decal paper comprising a cornstarch and dextrose coating having a thickness of between approximately 10 microns to approximately 30 microns, a layer of lacquer over the cornstarch and dextrose coating of the base layer, and a full-color artwork comprising a digital, UV-LED-cured printing ink printed onto the lacquer layer to form a ready-decal sheet having a decal formed by the ink and the lacquer layer. The lacquer layer has a thickness of between approximately 150 microns and approximately 300 microns, is sandwiched between the cornstarch and dextrose coating and the ink, and is bonded to the ink. The decal is permanently bonded to a surface of an object comprising at least one of ceramic, metal, stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, acrylic, wood, and glass.

Abstract: A power supply includes power circuitry configured to provide DC power to a separate load, and wireless communication circuitry for wirelessly communicating with an external control device such as a smart phone. A controller is configured to (1) conduct communications with the external control device via the wireless communication circuitry to receive configuration parameters, and (2) incorporate the configuration parameters into a control scheme for operation of the power supply. The power supply may be used with an LED lamp including a series of LEDs, and the configuration parameters establish desired operating characteristics including selection of constant-current or constant-voltage operation, and/or parameters for a dimming curve applied in dimming operation of the LED lamp. The power supply may be used in other applications including battery charging applications.

Abstract: A circuit and method are provided for recuperating energy and decreasing driver power consumption in a switching converter. An inductor is directly connected between a gate driver and a gate electrode of a switch. A first burst pulse signal is generated, wherein energy from a power source is stored in the inductor and transferred to a parasitic capacitance of the switch. A driving pulse signal is subsequently generated to the gate electrode of the switch, wherein the gate voltage is equal to the supply voltage and no balancing current flows through the inductor. After the driving pulse signal is terminated a second burst pulse signal is generated, wherein energy is accumulated in the inductive element and returned to the power source. The energy provided from the power source during the first burst pulse signal is equal to the energy returned to the power source during the second burst pulse signal.

Abstract: A distributed planar inductor is provided with energy storage components featuring high energy storage density, multilayer winding and low copper losses. The inductor includes a magnetic core with a plurality of vertically oriented posts, a plurality of horizontally oriented plates coupled to define an interior, and a conductive winding extending through the interior. The vertical posts each include a plurality of energy storage elements coplanar in orientation with respect to the winding and having a substantially two dimensional structure. The conductive winding may comprise co-planar winding tracks extending through the interior, for example vertically coupled in parallel. A set of co-planar winding tracks may correspond to respective layers in a multilayer printed circuit board, and for example may comprise printed circuit board tracks vertically interconnected by vias extending there-through.

Abstract: A DC/DC converter is provided for operation within a narrow voltage range during normal conditions, while allowing for a wider input voltage range for short periods of time. A first switch is coupled across first and second input terminals, and a capacitor is coupled in parallel with the first switch and across the input terminals. A second switch is coupled in series with the first input terminal and between the first switch and the capacitor. Operation of the switches is regulated in accordance with a bypass mode of operation when received input power is within a defined range, and a boost mode of operation when received input power is less than a threshold value, wherein the received input power is boosted to a bulk output power within the defined range. Boost operations may in various embodiments be provided via, for example, a critical conduction scheme or continuous conduction scheme.

Abstract: A power distribution system includes a server rack comprising a vertically stacked plurality of power shelf assemblies. Each assembly has first and second opposing sides defining vertical planes, and third and fourth opposing sides extending between the first and second sides. For each assembly, a first bus bar extends along a horizontal plane between the third and fourth sides, a second bus bar extends along the horizontal plane between the first bus bar and the first side of the assembly, a first set of power supply pins extends along the horizontal plane from the first bus bar toward the second side of the assembly, and a second set of power supply pins extends along the horizontal plane from the second bus bar toward the second side of the assembly, wherein the second set of power supply pins further protrude through respective apertures in the first bus bar.

Abstract: A method of creating a digitally printed, water-activated, peel-off and slide-on decal for permanent transfer to an object includes the steps of printing a layer of lacquer on top of a base layer of gum-coated decal paper comprising a cornstarch and dextrose coating having a thickness of between approximately 10 microns to approximately 30 microns, drying the lacquer layer for no more than 90 minutes, printing a full-color artwork with digital, light-cured printing ink in one printing pass onto the lacquer layer to produce a ready-decal sheet having a decal formed by the ink and the lacquer layer, the lacquer layer bonding to the ink and being sandwiched between the cornstarch and dextrose coating and the ink and—having a thickness of between approximately 150 micrometers and approximately 300 micrometers, and—curing the ink with light.

Abstract: This method for producing stuffed food(s), each stuffed food including an outer envelope in a first food product, and an inner stuffing in a second food product, includes the following steps: providing a sheet of the first food product, and a roller of the second food product, and winding the sheet around the roller.

Abstract: A power converter is provided with a totem-pole power factor correction (PFC) circuit for bridgeless line rectification, and current sensing circuit that can be selectively disabled to reduce unwanted current sense signal components and undesirable current transformer voltage stresses. The totem-pole PFC has at least a first leg with first and second switching elements coupled in series. A PFC inductor is coupled between an AC input on a first end and a node between the switching elements. The current sensing circuit includes a first transformer winding coupled in series with the first switching element, a second transformer winding magnetically coupled to the first winding and configured to deliver current from the first winding to a current sense terminal during an active phase for the first switching element, and a shunt circuit configured to disable the current sensing circuit during a freewheeling phase for the first switching element.

Abstract: A method is provided of operating a resonant converter, the converter having a controller and power stage and providing an output voltage, by determining a characteristic frequency of the power stage. The characteristic frequency is defined as a natural oscillation frequency of the power stage observed right after the power stage control signals from the controller are disabled. The converter is operated at the characteristic frequency during ramp-up or ramp-down of the converter output voltage and/or during overload or input overvoltage conditions.

Abstract: A commutation current steering method is provided for a power converter having an isolation transformer, a plurality of primary ZVS switches, a plurality of secondary switches for synchronous rectification, and a boosting resonant circuit. A commutation current is shared between all of the switches, and a resonance is induced in the boosting resonant circuit by controlling each of the synchronous rectifier switches to turn off at a time prior to a turn-off time for a corresponding one of the switches operating under ZVS conditions, wherein the primary current is boosted above a minimum commutation value during ZVS periods. The ZVS switches are further driven with a constant dead time, and the synchronous rectifier switches are driven to provide a fixed time relation with respect to all of the switches.

Abstract: A low profile (1U) power distribution system includes a power shelf assembly having a first side and an opposing second side. First and second bus bars extend across the assembly and substantially in parallel with the first and second sides, the second bar positioned behind the first bar. One row of power supply pins extends from the bars to engage power supply units within the assembly. A first set of pins extends from the first bus, while a second set extends from the second bar and protruding through respective apertures in the first bar. An insulating material may be provided to electrically insulate power supply pins of the second bar from the first bar. The reduced height profile of the bars allows for cooling air to pass through the remaining >50% of the assembly, which may now desirably include additional electrical circuits within the cooling channel.

Abstract: A power converter startup circuit establishes an operating voltage for control circuitry during startup and is then disabled to reduce no-load power dissipation. The startup circuit has a normally on characteristic to automatically provide startup charging current for a startup capacitor. The control circuitry begins operating as the startup capacitor voltage reaches an operating value, and it generates an inhibitory signal that disables the startup circuit to stop the startup charging current and reduce power dissipation. The normally on characteristic is achieved by an emitter switched current source employing a normally on device such as a depletion-mode J-FET. A resistor divider network provides both biasing for the startup current source and a point of monitoring the power supply input voltage during steady state operation. A charge pump provides a voltage of the inhibitory control signal sufficiently above the auxiliary voltage to turn off the normally on switching transistor.

Abstract: Viscosity or rheology measuring instrument utilizing Hall Effect or like magnetic coupling with parts mounted on driving and driven rotational assemblies.