Abstract: A printed circuit board having an electrically insulative layer and a conductive solder pad. The conductive solder pad is disposed at least partially over the electrically insulative layer, and defines a solder contact area. The solder contact area is configured for making an electrical connection to an electrical component via laser soldering. The printed circuit board further includes a solder mask coating the conductive solder pad and defining an exposed area of the conductive solder pad. The conductive solder pad protects the electrically insulative layer from incident heat during the laser soldering by extending a length underneath the solder mask along a periphery of the exposed area.

Abstract: A power control system is provided for AC mains, including an input bridge rectifier connected to the AC power mains, and a buck regulator circuit connected to the DC output of the input bridge rectifier, the output of the buck regulator circuit providing a DC power output bus. A current sensor is connected to the output of the buck regulator circuit, and one or more capacitors is connected across the DC power output bus for receiving current from the buck regulator circuit. The buck regulator circuit is controlled to limit peak output current thereof.

Abstract: An electric motor drive system is provided wherein safety is achieved by commanding the process system of the relevant axis or set of axes to execute motion that follows a defined path, namely trajectory of position, velocity and acceleration against time, re-constructing an identical trajectory in the safety system and in, the safety system, supervising deviations between the safely reconstructed target position and the safe measurement of position.

Abstract: A torque-limiting safety circuit servo drive for AC permanent magnet motors including a three-phase inverter bridge, a first current sensor in series with a first motor phase, a second current sensor in series with a second motor phase, a third current sensor in series with the DC bus, and a drive control circuit that controls the six pulse-width modulated gate drive signals for the three-phase inverter bridge. The drive circuit has first and second safety channel STO inputs whereby either channel can shut down the three-phase inverter bridge, emits a signal set to represent the switching state of the three-phase inverter bridge, and modifies the switching pattern of the PWM to ensure the dwell times of PWM is sufficiently long to allow a valid measurement of phase current using the bus current sensor. First and second safety processors controls the first and second safety channel STO inputs, respectively.

Abstract: A mechanical joint configured for providing dissipation of heat generated is provided. The mechanical joint includes a housing containing a motor assembly configured to drive a gear assembly for driving the mechanical joint, the motor assembly configured to be controlled by a control assembly for controlling rotation of a rotor of the motor assembly; wherein a brake disk of the control assembly is configured to increase air flow within the housing. A robot and a robotic system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cable vent connector configured for venting an electric motor is provided. The cable vent connector includes an input for receiving a motor-side cable that includes a vent tube and a plurality of electrical conductors; a body configured for venting the vent tube to a local atmosphere, thus permitting an interior of the electric motor to reach pressure equilibrium; and a port for connecting the plurality of electrical conductors with a drive-side cable configured to drive the electric motor. A venting system and a production system are disclosed.

Abstract: An over-voltage comparator and shutdown circuit for a power converter, comprising at least a first voltage divider connected between ground and a monitored voltage, the voltage divider including a first resistor and a second resistor, a switch mode regulator connected to a primary switch of the power converter, and a first threshold comparator, wherein a monitored input of the first threshold comparator is connected between the first resistor and the second resistor, an anode of the first threshold comparator is connected to ground, and a cathode of the first threshold comparator is connected to the switch mode regulator, and wherein the monitored voltage is voltage at an end of a primary winding of the power converter. An auxiliary output circuit of the power converter may be provided having a first output providing the monitored voltage and a second output providing power to the switch mode regulator.

Abstract: A rotary motor comprising an annular rotatable bearing having an inner surface having a diameter equal to or greater than 0.5 meters and an outer surface, the bearing including a plurality of magnetic rotor teeth elements positioned around a circumference of the outer surface and a stator including a plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of energizable coils, the stator mounted separately from and positioned with respect to the bearing such that the plurality of rotor teeth elements of the bearing are radially proximate to the permanent magnets of the stator. Upon application of alternating current in a flux switch pattern in the plurality of energizable coils of the stator, torque is applied to the plurality of magnetic rotor teeth elements.

Abstract: A device for communicating and providing power over a cable having at least two conductors comprises an inductor having two secondary windings and one primary winding, and a transceiver coupled to the primary winding of the inductor, the two secondary windings of the inductors being coupled to two of the at least two conductors of the cable. Further, a voltage signal provided by the secondary windings of the inductors to the conductors varies symmetrically from an average potential. The inductor of the device can also comprise two primary windings connected in series and two secondary windings connected in series, the secondary windings also connected to two of the at least two conductors in the cable, wherein the voltage signal provided to the two conductors from the secondary windings varies symmetrically from an average potential.

Abstract: A control circuit configured to control an electromechanical brake is provided. The control circuit includes: a switching regulator configured to control a magnitude of voltage applied to a brake coil of the electromechanical brake; wherein said switching regulator includes at least one semiconductor switch, one diode, one capacitor and one inductor; the control circuit is configured such that, in operation, at least one signal from a process sub-system specifies the magnitude of the voltage for the brake coil; and at least one brake applying control signal from a safety sub-system can cause the brake coil voltage to be reduced to a level low enough to apply the brake by opening a switch and each brake applying control signal from the safety sub-system has a corresponding diagnostic feedback signal to the safety sub-system that indicates the state of the corresponding switch. A method and a system are disclosed.

Abstract: A stator of an electric motor is provided. The stator includes a plurality of segments, each of the segments including a tooth having a magnetically-permeable material, an electric coil surrounding the tooth, and at least one insulator. The stator also includes a plurality of connectors, each connector including first and second terminals, the first terminal adapted to be inserted into the at least one insulator and to couple to the electric coil of each of the plurality of segments and a circuit board coupled to input power lines and including apertures adapted to receive the second terminals of the plurality of connectors. The circuit board is coupled to the electric coils of each of the plurality of segments via when the second terminals are received in the apertures.

Abstract: A method for sanitizing an electric motor is provided. The method includes setting operational parameters for the electric motor for destroying targeted microbes; and energizing the electric motor using the set operational parameters. Computer program products and an electric motor are disclosed.

Abstract: A device for communicating and providing power over a cable having at least two conductors comprises a first inductor having a primary and a secondary winding, a second inductor having a primary and a secondary winding, the primary winding of the second inductor being coupled at one end to the primary winding of the first inductor, each of the secondary windings of the first and second inductors being coupled to one of the at least two conductors in the cable. The device further includes a transceiver coupled to the primary windings of the first and second inductors, wherein the first inductor is coupled to local ground potential, in a manner that varies the potential of each of the said conductors symmetrically from an average potential.

Abstract: A adapter for coupling a cable to a motor in a hygienic environment is provided. The hygienic adapter is non-rotatably coupled to and hygienically seals an opening of the motor housing, the hygienic adapter including a port adapted to receive the power supply cable connector such that the connector and cable are oriented parallel to the longitudinal surface of the housing and the connector is accessible to the electrical leads.

Abstract: Systems and methods of supporting communications over a common network connection in a master-slave field bus network with a first type of packet formatted with a time-sensitive protocol and a second type of packet formatted with a non-time-sensitive protocol are provided. The slave devices are configured with filters to prevent the first type of packet from reaching a configurator and the second type from reaching a master device. The slave devices are also configured with arbitration logic so that the packets formatted with the time-sensitive protocol are provided with a priority over the packets formatted with the non-time-sensitive protocol.

Abstract: A method for securing a motor housing to a motor assembly is provided. One application of the method creates a motor housing to secure and protect a motor assembly. A flat metal sheet is shaped, so that deformable ends of the sheet are incrementally rolled to form a split annulus approximating the outer circumference of a motor assembly. Once the split annulus is formed, the ends are elastically deformed to facilitate inserting the motor into a hollow portion of the split annulus. After the motor is inserted, the ends may be joined by welding one to the other. This type of housing secures the motor assembly through a crimping force applied by the housing. Alternately, the ends may be welded together and to the motor assembly itself, thereby forming a strong support structure between the housing and the motor assembly.

Abstract: A modular optronic periscope includes a staring module, having a plurality of static sensors providing image data for a wide field of view at moderate resolution, and an image processor, by way of which image data from the static sensors are stitched together into a single continuous image. A multi-spectral, narrow field of view at a higher resolution than the staring module is produced using a pointing module including a rotatable mirror, and a collimated optical bundle from the pointing module is imaged by way of an optical platform onto photosensitive devices to form a two dimensional image array. Each pixel of the image array is repositioned by way of image derotation circuitry before display.

Abstract: A multilayer laminated rotor is mountable on a shaft for rotation relative to a stator of a rotary electric machine arrangement. The rotor has a plurality of laminas, joined together, and voids for receiving magnets. An annular rotor section, which surrounds a shaft opening within which the shaft is receivable, extends between the shaft opening and a radially outer circumferential rotor surface. The annular section mentioned includes an undulating series of the voids in void groups extending from the radially outer circumferential rotor surface inwardly toward the shaft opening and then back toward the radially outer circumferential rotor surface, as well as a solid radially interior portion without any of the voids. Distal voids in the void groups include curved, arcuate, or recurved stress relieving features extending inwardly from radially innermost corner locations of the distal voids.

Abstract: A stator arrangement particularly suitable for use in an air-cooled generator or other such electric machine includes a stator with an outer stator surface, an opening therein defining an inner stator surface, and longitudinally opposed stator end surfaces. Conductive coils are supported by the stator, and include end turns overlying the longitudinally opposed stator end surfaces. In order to block out environmental contaminants and prevent conductive coil shorting, protective barriers are mounted over the end turns and secured to the stator.

Abstract: A system for providing operating or charging current supply in different modes of operation includes an electric machine including a rotor and a stator having stator windings, at least one charge storage device, such as a battery, and an inverter disposed between the charge storage device terminals and the electric machine. A contact arrangement modifies electrical interconnections between phases of the inverter and the stator windings. In a supply mode, the electrical interconnections are controlled so that each inverter phase is electrically interconnected with a stator winding set having windings separated from each other by stator windings in other winding sets for driving the rotor of the electrical machine. In a charge mode, however, these interconnections are controlled so that each inverter phase is electrically interconnected with a stator winding set having windings directly adjacent to each other and are not separated from each other.