Abstract: A system for testing the hardware of a digital computer includes a test terminal which stores and executes: 1) a hardware test program for the digital computer, 2) a simulated operator program for the hardware test program, and 3) a control program for the simulated operator program. The hardware test program tests the hardware in the digital computer in response to signals from a mouse and a keyboard. The simulated operator program includes commands that simulate the signals from the mouse and keyboard. The control program: a) sequentially executes the commands in the simulated operator program; b) displays, on a monitor, each particular command that is currently being executed; c) slows the execution of the commands to a rate where each displayed command can be viewed by an operator; d) enables an operator to stop, edit and restart the simulated operator program at any selected command.

Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus for analyzing a motor of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The diagnostic apparatus includes a portable control unit which is detachably coupled to the HVAC system. The control unit can monitor, generate and simulate all control functions associated with the HVAC system.

Abstract: A method is described in which load current present in a thyristor device may be detected by monitoring the characteristic voltage found on the gate of the thyristor. Load status information may be used in various ways such as, to turn off the output, to signal a load voltage, or to act as a lamp-fail reset on an aircraft passenger reading light.

Abstract: Disclosed is an AC power module for controlling the level of power to multiple electrical devices such as lights and household appliances according to control signals supplied from a processor unit. The apparatus utilizes low voltage control signals which are synchronous with the standard AC power supply to control several solid state relay which in turn regulate the AC power supplied to the devices. Each relay is optically isolated from the module. The module incorporates additional terminals through which back-up switching or control of additional relays (with different power ratings) may be provided.The module may be constructed on a single printed circuit board (PCB) to facilitate installation and removal. According to this embodiment, the PCB has pins which matably attach to a corresponding number of L-shaped tabs provided on a standard electrical box.

Abstract: A footswitch for ophthalmic surgery includes a rotatable foot pedal, a spring member which biases the foot pedal to resist rotation and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the bias of the spring member to a surgeon selected value. In an illustrated embodiment, the adjustment mechanism includes a worm screw gear assembly which is used to vary the amount of torque generated by a coil spring on a shaft upon which a pedal is mounted. As a worm gear is rotated by a thumb wheel, a spur gear is rotated to wind or unwind coil spring thereby increasing or decreasing the amount of tension exerted by coil spring on a shaft.

Abstract: A remotely controlled actuator assembly is provided to switch a large power distribution switch used in an electrical utility power grid. The actuator of the assembly throws the switch between at least two positions to establish at least two power routing conditions. The actuator assembly includes a position-sensing device to repeatably and accurately indicate the position of the actuator. The position-sensing device generates a signal indicative of the extent of displacement of the actuator. The generated signal provides feed-back to a control system which control the extent of actuator travel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing distortion currents present in an alternating current power system supplying power to a load which includes a passive filter and an active filter. In a first embodiment, the passive filter is operably connected to the power system across the load by a switching device. An active filter is then connected across the switching device and operated to draw a current equal to the current through the passive filter. The active filter and the passive filter are thereby connected in series across the load. The active filter is controlled to draw a fundamental frequency component and to provide distortion currents required by the load. In a second embodiment, the active filter is connected in parallel with a first circuit, the parallel combination of which is connected in series with a second circuit across the load.

Abstract: A charge stacking, high voltage generating circuit is provided wherein a plurality of capacitors are charged in parallel and discharged in series through a single diode to an output terminal. A switching circuit is used to connect each of the capacitors in parallel between a first supply voltage and a second supply voltage during a first half clock cycle. This configuration allows the capacitors to charge during this first half clock cycle. During a second half clock cycle, the switching circuit connects the charged capacitors in series between the first supply voltage and the output terminal through a single diode. The series configuration of the capacitors is such that the voltage at the output terminal is approximately equal to the first supply voltage, plus the sum of the voltages of the charged capacitors, minus the threshold voltage drop across the series diode.

Abstract: A system for distributing power throughout a computer system, preferably a portable computer, while still maintaining a desired power mode hierarchy so that the most critical components or circuits-within the computer system receive power before non-critical components. The system includes a micro-controller unit for controlling power allocations throughout the system. The system further includes a power connector for interfacing with a dual-line AC-to-DC adapter, a switching regulator for providing regulated DC power outputs to a central processing unit, memory unit and the like, a battery switching circuit having two battery packs to support simultaneous charging and sequential discharging of the battery packs in the event that the AC-to-DC adapter is decoupled from the computer system and an auxiliary battery source for supplying power to critical components in the computer system as a last resort.

Abstract: A manually actuatable integrated contact module connecting to an output access module by means of a common communications link. The integrated contact module has an electrical contact, a logic circuit, a communications circuit and a communications terminal mounted on a common printed circuit board. The printed circuit board provides communication between the electrical contact and the logic circuit, between the logic circuit and the communications circuit, and between the communications circuit and the communications terminal. The printed circuit board is enclosed within a protective housing. A contact operator is slidably mounted with respect to the printed circuit board such that it is partially enclosed within the housing and movable between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: Device and method for administering timed orders for the remote control of apparatus, comprising a clock (4) adapted to mark the time, an adjuster (5) for the clock, a programmer (6) permitting selecting an absolute wake up time, a comparator (7) for comparing the clock time and the absolute time, and a control (10) which can have either an active condition in which it sends information for starting the apparatus and to which it is brought by the coincidence of the clock time with the absolute time, or an inactive condition in which it authorizes no operation of the apparatus in the absence of such coincidence. The control (10) is subordinated to a corrector (11 ) for the absolute time which retards or advances a predetermined time relative to the selected absolute time so as to fix a relative time. The control (10) then passes to its active condition at this relative time. The programmer (6) comprises an automatic device (12) for positioning the relative time with respect to the programmed absolute time.

Abstract: A gate driver circuit, including either a full-bridge or a half-bridge configuration of gate drive switching devices, is capable of applying gate drive signals of variable pulse widths in a substantially loss,less manner to power switching devices of a high-frequency resonant switching converter, while providing transformer isolation between the gate drive electronics and the power switching devices.

Abstract: Supply of ac current from the marina source to the boat's DC loads is permitted only when an isolation relay completes the electrical circuit therebetween. A control means monitor the boats battery voltage, battery charger current and DC load current, and supplies operating current to the isolation relay only when those monitored conditions indicate a need for the supply of current from the on-shore source to the boat. The duration in which the on-shore ground lead is connected to the boat's ground system, a customary path for electrolysis currents, and corrosion damage caused by those currents, and the duration of consumption of on-shore electricity, are thus limited.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery driven equipment including an equipment body, a battery pack detachably mounted in the equipment body, a locking mechanism for releasably locking the battery pack with respect to the equipment body, a device for determining whether or not the battery pack is allowed to be removed from the equipment body, and a device for instructing the locking mechanism to lock or unlock the battery pack according to a result of determination by the determining device.

Abstract: An electronic switch circuit switches out bad decoupling capacitors on a high speed integrated circuit chip. The circuit comprises a control device that operates in the subthreshold or off device state to detect leakage in a decoupling capacitor. This control device operates in a low impedance state if the capacitor is good and in a high impedance sate if the capacitor is bad. A feedback circuit is connected from an internal node of the capacitor to a gate of the control device so that once a state of the capacitor is detected it can be stored on the gate of the control device. A single external signal source shared by a group of capacitors activates the control device to detect leakage in the capacitor. The circuit operates to switch out capacitors that fail during normal operation.

Abstract: A split battery contact arrangement (10) for a low voltage portable electronic product having a first circuit (18) and second circuit (18) comprises a split positive battery contact having a first positive contact point (20) selectively isolatable from a second positive contact point (17), the first positive contact point being coupled to the first circuit (18) and the second circuit (16) being coupled to the second positive contact point. The arrangement further comprises a back-up energy source (24) coupled to the first positive contact point and a removable battery (12), which when removed selectively isolates the first circuit from the second circuit, thereby preventing the back-up energy source from powering the second circuit. When the removable battery is inserted, it couples the first circuit to the second circuit.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor circuit is provided which comprises: a sensor electrode (16) forming a first plate of a sensing capacitor (14) relative to a reference terminal (10), a first (2) and a second (26) inverting Schmitt trigger having the same threshold voltages. A feedback resistor (8) provides feedback from the output (6) to the input (4) of the first trigger (2), which together with the sensing capacitor (14) forms an oscillator whose frequency depends on the magnitude of the sensing capacitor (14). The input (24) of the second trigger (26) is connected to the output of the first trigger (2) via a series resistor (22) and to the reference terminal (10) via a reference capacitor (30). The resistance values of the feedback resistor (8) and the series resistor (22) are equal. A d.c. signal will appear on the output (32) of the second trigger if the capacitance of the sensing capacitor (14) is smaller than the capacitance of the reference capacitor (30) and an a.c. signal in the opposite case.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) capable of operating at first and second predetermined voltage levels including a plurality of metal layers, one of the metal layers being divided to provide two electrically isolated sections, the two electrically isolated sections being on substantially the same plane; one of the electrically isolated sections being associated with the first predetermined voltage level and the other of the electrically isolated sections being associated with the second predetermined voltage level. The PCB includes a first plurality of signal pins coupled to the one of the electrically isolated sections. The PCB also includes at least one capacitor coupled to a ground plane, the first plurality of signal pins and the one of the electrically isolated metal sections, wherein an alternating current path is provided. The PCB in a preferred embodiment is an expansion board utilized in a personal computer.

Abstract: A hand-held image scanner can scan an object larger than the scanner itself. Successive multiple partial images scanned in the Y (or longitudinal) direction) are combined to form a single image by keeping track of the position and motion of the scanner in both the Y direction and the X (or latitudinal) direction. The scanner measures distance moved in either the X or the Y direction, but it cannot measure in both directions at once, nor does it scan when it moves in the X direction.

Abstract: An electronic device for multiplexing several loads to the terminals of a source of alternating electrical energy. The source(4) of alternating electrical energy is coupled by electromagnetic flux to the loads by using primary excitation windings 71, 81 and 91 connect to the terminals of the source (4) of alternating electrical energy and secondary windings respectively corresponding to the number of loads. The secondary windings are at least partially coupled to the primary winding and are each connected to the terminals of a load. The coupling is inhibited by auxiliary winding 73 which are each totally coupled with the secondary winding 72. The inhibition function is controlled in order to inhibit all the magnetic couplings except for one and this particular one changes as a function of the respective load to be coupled to the source 4 of alternating electrical energy.