Abstract: A laser machining device comprises a movable stage which is controlled by a stage controller. A laser produces a beam for machining and the beam is scanned over the part using a laser scanner under control of the laser scanner. The scanner controller controls the stage controller to synchronize movements of the stage with movements of the scanner. The stage may carry the part to be machined or the scanner.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automated case handling system and method. The automated case handling system can determine the existence of a proper seal on a case, the location of a label or other criteria or place a label or other information on a case. It can be a self-contained unit that can be easily inserted into an existing case handling line. To facilitate easy installation, the disclosed embodiment is powered by electricity and can be configured to plug into a single power source. The automated case handling system has a control unit for controlling the operation. A first sensor determines the dimensions of a case. A second sensor is mounted on the moveable sensor support. The second sensor senses predetermined criteria on a case as the second sensor is moved along a case. The second sensor provides a detection signal to the control unit as to the existence of the predetermined criteria on a case.

Abstract: A cutting system for cutting sheets of material can automatically transfer original registration marks or other indicia from one side of the material to an opposite side, in direct alignment with the original registration marks or other indicia. The cutting system includes a cutting station, a feed station, and a registration transfer system between the feed and cutting stations. The registration transfer system includes a camera or other detector that moves in unison with a pen or other marker-type device to respectively detect the original registration marks or other indicia and apply a registration marks or other indicia on the sheets.

Abstract: Technology is described to provide a powered prosthetic wrist flexion device or elbow device. This device helps individuals with upper-limb loss to orient and position grasped objects.

Abstract: An electromechanical vehicle height adjustment unit comprises an upper spring pad operative to support an upper end of a vehicle spring, a top mount that is displaceable relative to the upper spring pad, and a displacement mechanism coupled to the upper spring pad and the top mount and operative to displace the top mount relative to the upper spring pad in a height direction. The displacement mechanism comprises a rotary-to-linear motion conversion mechanism and an electric motor.

Abstract: An electromechanical vehicle height adjustment unit comprises a control arm, a lower spring pad operative to support a lower end of a vehicle spring, and a displacement mechanism supported on the control arm. At least a portion of the displacement mechanism is integrated into the control arm. The displacement mechanism is coupled to the lower spring pad and is operative to displace the lower spring pad relative to the control arm. The displacement mechanism comprises a rotary-to-linear motion conversion mechanism and an electric motor.

Abstract: An electromechanical vehicle height adjustment unit comprises a displaceable member having an abutment surface for abutment of an end of a vehicle spring or for abutment of a vehicle body and a displacement mechanism coupled to the displaceable member and operative to displace the displaceable member in a height direction. The electromechanical vehicle height adjustment unit comprises a rechargeable energy storage device coupled to the electric motor to store electric energy output by the displacement mechanism during a vehicle lowering operation.

Abstract: Technology is described for easy and safe attachment of a prosthetic limb to a percutaneous post that has been osseointegrated into the remnant limb of an individual with limb loss. A quick-disconnect device for a prosthetic limb can comprise a percutaneous post support assembly comprising a post locking assembly attached to a percutaneous post. A roller support can be coupled to the percutaneous post support assembly and can support torsional breakaway rollers. A release housing assembly can be coupled to the percutaneous post support assembly, and can comprise a limb support housing supporting a limb attachment structure to support a prosthetic limb. The release housing assembly comprises a torsional breakaway spring. The plurality of torsional breakaway rollers are each biased to the torsional breakaway spring to generate a spring force to restrict or limit rotation of the percutaneous post support assembly. Other breakaway springs and rollers are provided for bending release and axial release.

Abstract: An integrated controller for motion control and motor control comprises a first processor, a second processor, a cache and a shared memory. The first processor is configured to run an operating system and at least perform motion control. The second processor is configured to at least perform motor control and normally not run the operating system. The cache is coupled to the first processor and the second processor. The shared memory maps onto the cache. The first processor and the second processor are configured to share the shared memory and accordingly perform data transmission via the cache during the periods of motion control and motor control. The first processor, the second processor and the cache are integrated in a same chip.

Abstract: A method and a circuit arrangement for damping stepper motor resonances during operation of a stepper motor, in particular in the medium and high speed range, is described, wherein the coils of the stepper motor are each connected into a bridge circuit comprising semiconductor switches, in order to impress into the coils a predetermined target coil current. The resonance damping is achieved by activating a passive FD-phase in the zero crossing of the target coil current, during which all semiconductor switches are opened or switched blocking, in order to thereby feed a coil current flowing in the related motor coil back into the supply voltage source either via inverse or body diodes and/or via diodes connected in parallel to the semiconductor switches in the reverse direction between the positive supply voltage and ground potential.

Abstract: A method and a circuit arrangement is described by means of which a stepper motor can be operated by an adaptive control over a large rotational speed range, including a standstill, in which the motor is electrically fixed in a specific rotational position, and with high precision and running smoothness corresponding to a specified motor current course. This is achieved essentially by the fact that the motor is operated in a low rotational speed range including a standstill with a voltage-controlled or voltage-regulated first operating mode and in a higher or high rotational speed range with a current-controlled second operating mode.

Abstract: A prosthetic hand system may include a plurality of prosthetic fingers and a prosthetic thumb. The prosthetic hand system may include a thumb drive mechanism that may be used to actuate the prosthetic thumb. In some examples, the thumb drive mechanism may be configured to enable the prosthetic thumb to perform a pinching or grasping motion and a release motion. The prosthetic hand system may also include a backlock that enables the prosthetic thumb to maintain pinching or gripping pressure after a motor has been disengaged. The prosthetic hand system may also include a gear lock that may be configured to lock a finger joint. The prosthetic hand system may also include an adaptive gripping joint that may be located on each prosthetic finger. In some examples, the adaptive gripping joint may be configured to passively adapt the plurality of prosthetic fingers to one or more differently shaped objects.

Abstract: A prosthetic hand system may include a plurality of prosthetic fingers and a prosthetic thumb. The prosthetic hand system may include a thumb drive mechanism that may be used to actuate the prosthetic thumb. In some examples, the thumb drive mechanism may be configured to enable the prosthetic thumb to perform a pinching or grasping motion and a release motion. The prosthetic hand system may also include a backlock that enables the prosthetic thumb to maintain pinching or gripping pressure after a motor has been disengaged. The prosthetic hand system may also include a gear lock that may be configured to lock a finger joint. The prosthetic hand system may also include an adaptive gripping joint that may be located on each prosthetic finger. In some examples, the adaptive gripping joint may be configured to passively adapt the plurality of prosthetic fingers to one or more differently shaped objects.

Abstract: Power supply and drive device for a permanent magnet motor including a full-wave voltage rectifier stage, which can be supplied with an alternating current voltage to provide a rectified voltage, a power factor corrector stage, a smoothing capacitor to provide a direct current voltage and a motor drive stage, which is supplied with the direct current voltage and provides a signal indicating the power required by the motor. The smoothing capacitor is not of the electrolytic type and the power factor corrector stage has feedback control means to generate a reference current as a function of the direct current voltage and of the signal indicating the power required and to control an input current of the power factor corrector stage as a function of the reference current.

Abstract: A technology for a prosthetic above-knee device is provided. A socket may be used to attach the device to a residual limb, and may have a rigid body coupled to the socket. The device may include a first link with a first link end coupled through the rigid body to the socket and a second link end coupled to the rigid body. The second link of the device may have a third link end attached to the rigid body, and a fourth link end coupled to a housing. The device may include a hydraulic cylinder with a piston and a hydraulic cylinder link coupled between the rigid body and the piston of the hydraulic cylinder. The stability adjustment nut may adjust a travel distance of the hydraulic cylinder link with respect to the hydraulic cylinder to provide an adjustment of an instant center for stability modification.

Abstract: A method and a circuit arrangement is described by means of which a stepper motor can be operated by an adaptive control over a large rotational speed range, including a standstill, in which the motor is electrically fixed in a specific rotational position, and with high precision and running smoothness corresponding to a specified motor current course. This is achieved essentially by the fact that the motor is operated in a low rotational speed range including a standstill with a voltage-controlled or voltage-regulated first operating mode and in a higher or high rotational speed range with a current-controlled second operating mode.

Abstract: A method and a circuit assembly for driving a 2-, 3- or more phase stepper motor by predetermined courses of current curves, especially for a microstep operation, is disclosed. For minimizing the memory capacity needed for storing supporting points of the course of the current curve by which the microsteps are realized, the course of the current curve is divided into a number of segments to which each a basic or main gradient between adjacent supporting points is assigned, so that for each of the supporting points only a deviation of the gradient at this supporting point from the related basic or main gradient has to be stored.

Abstract: A servo-drive system for feedback-based control of motion and positioning of a motor comprises a current measurement device that obtains a measure of current being drawn by the drive motor from which to provide feedback. The current has an operating range which is made up of a relatively large current range for acceleration but remains within a relatively smaller current range for steady state operating of the motor. The current measurement device has a first, coarse, sensor optimized for measuring the relatively large current range and a second, fine, sensor optimized for measuring the relatively smaller current range, thereby to maximize feedback accuracy during steady state operation.

Abstract: A prosthetic hand system may include a plurality of prosthetic fingers and a prosthetic thumb. The prosthetic hand system may include a thumb drive mechanism that may be used to actuate the prosthetic thumb. In some examples, the thumb drive mechanism may be configured to enable the prosthetic thumb to perform a pinching or grasping motion and a release motion. The prosthetic hand system may also include a backlock that enables the prosthetic thumb to maintain pinching or gripping pressure after a motor has been disengaged. The prosthetic hand system may also include a gear lock that may be configured to lock a finger joint. The prosthetic hand system may also include an adaptive gripping joint that may be located on each prosthetic finger. In some examples, the adaptive gripping joint may be configured to passively adapt the plurality of prosthetic fingers to one or more differently shaped objects.

Abstract: An electrical machine (10) has three phase windings (12). Each phase winding (12) is connected to a respective current source (18). Each current source 18 provides alternating current to the corresponding winding (12). The current source 18 is connected independently to the respective winding (12). The electrical angles of the phase windings (12) are so arranged that none of the phase windings (12) has a zero torque angle which coincides with a zero torque angle of another phase winding (12).