Abstract: A local loop control system and method of operating the same for use with a power converter. The power converter includes a first output coupled to a first synchronous rectifier circuit and a second output coupled to a second synchronous rectifier circuit. The power converter employs a main controller configured to regulate a voltage proportional to a weighted sum of the first and go second outputs. In one embodiment, the local loop control system includes: (1) a first output controller configured to regulate a voltage at the first output and (2) a second output controller configured to regulate a voltage at the second output, one of the first and second output controllers configured to reduce a drive signal to a corresponding one of the first and second synchronous rectifier circuits when a corresponding voltage at one of the first and second outputs exceeds a voltage proportional to the weighted sum.

Abstract: A connector for an automobile airbag gas generator assembly requires only a single operator action to establish both mechanical and electrical engagement with a mating socket connector and two independent operator actions to disengage the connector from the socket connector. An alternate embodiment of the connector present invention requires two independent operator actions to establish both mechanical and electrical engagement with a mating socket connector carrying a deflectable shorting clip and three independent operator actions to disengage from the socket connector. A further embodiment of the connector of the present invention requires two independent operator actions for both establishing and breaking mechanical and electrical engagement with a mating socket. An improved shorting clip design is also provided as well as keying modes for assuring proper mechanical connection.

Abstract: An electrical connector for assembly on a printed circuit board, the electrical connector having connecting elements for connecting the electrical connector at least electrically to the printed circuit board, and including an anchoring device for mechanically connecting the electrical connector to the printed circuit board, the anchoring device including a multiplicity of anchoring elements arranged side by side and formed so as to be solderable to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A board mountable power supply module is described. The power supply module includes a power train for converting an input voltage into a regulated output voltage and a controller operable to control the power train. The power train is connected to the input and output voltages through an input voltage pin, an output voltage pin and a common pin. The controller includes a multifunction control pin, which allows for disabling the power supply module and for trimming the output voltage. Additionally, two or more power supply modules can be connected in parallel to form a power supply that is capable of meeting increased load current requirements. Each of the multifunction control pins in the power supply is electrically connected together to improve current sharing between modules by reducing internal variances between modules.

Abstract: Interconnection apparatus is provided which is especially useful to mount and connect circuit boards having a contact assembly of resilient compressive contacts to a backplane or other mateable board or device. The apparatus includes an enclosure having guide channels for each board to be housed in the enclosure, a contact assembly for providing compressive contact between the contact ends of each board and corresponding contacts of the backplane, and elements for seating each board into engagement with the backplane.

Abstract: A compact single or multiple band antenna assembly for wireless communications devices. One multi-band embodiment includes a high frequency portion and a low frequency portion, both fed at a common point by a single feed line. Both portions may be formed as a single stamped metal part or metallized plastic part. The overall size is suitable for integration within a wireless device such as a cell phone. The low frequency portion consists of two resonant sections which are stagger tuned to achieve a wide resonant bandwidth, thus allowing greater tolerance for manufacturing variations and temperature than a single resonant section, and is useful for single band antennas as well as multi-band antennas where it may be used to enhance bandwidth for both sections of a dual band antenna as well. The resonant sections for single or multi-band antennas operate in conjunction with a second planar conductor, which may be provided by the ground trace portion of the printed wiring board of a wireless communications device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a combination patch antenna element and bowtie-shaped slot antenna element together disposed upon a first major surface of a dielectric element. The bowtie-slot antenna element is defined upon the dielectric element within a boundary of the patch antenna element. The bowtie-slot antenna element defines a first antenna electrical resonance frequency characteristic, and the patch antenna element defines a second antenna electrical resonance frequency characteristic. The combination patch antenna element and bowtie-shaped slot antenna element are provided in relation to a ground plane element, such as provided by a printed wiring board of a wireless communications device. An additional optional feature of the antenna includes a plurality of conductive pattern enhancement elements disposed on an opposite side of the dielectric element.

Abstract: A plate-shaped ceramic circuit substrate (6), which is adapted to be vertically mounted on a mother board, has near a lower edge (7) thereof a series of contact areas (solder pads) (1) for contacting the circuit with terminals of the mother board. For improved solderability also in case of small contact area (1), these contact areas extend down as far as the lower edge (7), and there is provided one recess (2) each which constitutes a solder deposit (3) and which extends through the circuit substrate (6) and runs from the lower face side (5) of the circuit substrate (6) upwardly into the respective contact area (1).

Abstract: A dual frequency wideband antenna assembly for use in a wireless communication device. The antenna assembly includes a first radiating element having two substantially collateral arms with a dielectric member therebetween and a second radiating element having two substantially collateral arms also with a dielectric member therebetween. A conducting element operatively connects the first and second radiating elements to each other in an adjacent and substantially coplanar relation. The assembly is spaced a predetermined distance from the ground plane of a printed wiring board and is operatively connected thereto at several predetermined locations by several components. One component, a capacitor, operatively couples one of the arms of the first radiating element to a ground plane while other components, namely a feed element and a grounding element operatively connect one of the arms and a portion of the second radiating element, respectively, to the ground plane.

Abstract: The invention discloses a slot antenna having a pair of orthogonally oriented front and rear reflector panels. In one embodiment, the antenna assembly includes first and second front panels oriented approximately orthogonally to each other, said first and second front panels being coupled together and having a substantially elongate slot defined upon at least a portion of each of the first and second front panels, and first and second rear reflector panels oriented approximately orthogonally to each other, and disposed proximate the first and second front panels, and a feed terminal coupled to one of the first or second front panels, said feed terminal being coupled to an input/output RF connection point. The slot antenna according to the present invention may be disposed within an associated wireless communications device relative to a ground plane element of a printed wiring board, or may be disposed separately away from the associated wireless communications device.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and diagnosing the status of a battery in an electrical system, more particularly, a method for determining a battery's reserve time based on comparison of measurements made during a battery discharge to a universal normalized discharge curve. Specifically, a battery discharge is initiated and the battery's voltage and discharge time is continuously measured. The measured battery voltage is normalized by dividing it by either the peak voltage or foothill voltage, as monitored during the discharge. By comparing this normalized voltage measurement to a universal normalized discharge curve, the percent discharge level of the battery is determined. Using the percent discharge level and the discharge time, the reserve time and total capacity of the battery can be determined.

Abstract: An asymmetrical dipole antenna is disclosed consisting of a planar conductor, matching network, and resonator. The antenna is compact, may operate on one or more frequency bands, and is suitable for high volume production. The antenna exhibits simultaneous dual linear polarizations and a unidirectional pattern in at least one of its operating frequency ranges when configured for multiple-band operation. Applications for the antenna include wireless communication devices such as cellular telephones or data devices.

Abstract: In an incremental encoder signal processing system there is provided a pair of sensor/encoders adapted to generate a quadrature pair of analog positioning signals that are converted to digital signals and processed to produce a digital position vector and a digital error signal. The digital position vector is processed in a novel logic analyzer to determine if sequential position vectors are indicative of an invalid change of state. The digital position vector signal is filtered in a novel low pass digital filter and the before-and-after signals at a plurality of states of the digital filter are analyzed and compared to detect conditions which permit the system to produce optimum rates of change in the servo-controller which controls a servo-drive at optimum speeds without creating error conditions and to detect error conditions in the sensor/encoder.

Abstract: A connector module is provided that includes a first connector housing, a second connector housing and a connector positive assurance member. Insertion of the first housing into the second housing will cause a latching mechanism located within the assembled first and second housings to latch the housings together so that they can not be readily disengaged. When the first and second housings are fully engaged in this manner, the connector positive assurance member may be moved from a first position to a second position to assure complete engagement has been effected and to lock the housings together. If the first and second housings are not fully engaged, the connector positive assurance member can not be moved from such first position to such second position.

Abstract: The invention discloses a slot antenna assembly for a wireless communications device having a printed wiring board element defining at least a ground plane and an input/output RF connection point. The antenna assembly further includes a dielectric element having a pair of opposed major surfaces; a conductive feed circuit disposed upon one of the major surfaces, said feed circuit coupled to the RF connection point of the printed wiring board; and a resonator circuit including a pair of resonator arms oriented approximately parallel to each other, said pair of resonator arms being coupled together via a conductive connection and defining a substantially elongate slot, one of said pair of resonator arms being conductively coupled to the feed circuit, and the other of said pair of resonator arms being conductively coupled to the ground plane of the printed wiring board.

Abstract: A connector for detachable connection of one end region of an optical waveguide to another optical waveguide in a plug-in direction includes a ferrule and a housing. The housing has a holding region for holding and guiding the ferrule such that the ferrule is angularly moveable and guided with respect to the plug-in direction. The housing includes a stress-relief region for firmly connecting the optical waveguide to the housing. In the region between the stress-relief region and the holding region, the connector includes at least one curvature-limiting region for limiting the outward bending of the optical waveguide given an angular displacement of the ferrule with respect to the plug-in direction. The curvature-limiting region limits the movement of the optical waveguide and/or the ferrule. Given the configuration of the curvature-limiting region, outward bending of the optical waveguide beyond a maximum permissible curvature is prevented.

Abstract: The invention provides a helical device and method of producing same for engagement with a cable, the helical device comprising a single length of metal strip comprising a first helical section, a second non-helical section, and a third helical section, the end of either or both the first and third helical sections remote the second helical section being flared away from the longitudinal axis of the helix, the flaring being in the form of a section of spiral helix form.

Abstract: A galloping control rod for suppressing the vertical, torsional and horizontal movement associated with the galloping affect on aerial cables due to freezing rain, wet snow or frost deposits. The anti-galloping rod includes a non-conductive rod having a preformed helical midsection and a first and second end, the first end including a helical gripping section. The second end includes a one-half helical turn with a differing pitch length than the preformed helical midsection such that the conductor galloping control device can be installed on an aerial cable without having to slide the device along the cable or without the installer having to move his lifting device, such as a bucket lift, along the cable line.

Abstract: A connector has a slot formed in a housing to accommodate a terminal and a lance disposed in the slot to engage with and latch the terminal inserted into a slot. A curved surface is formed on a part of the terminal which is in contact with the lance so that the terminal is released by applying a predetermined external force to the terminal in a temporary latch state where the terminal is temporarily latched by the lance. The external force may be applied to the terminal by a tool.