Abstract: An electronic power equipment, which is configured to be connected to both an AC power source and a DC power source, has a motor 14 configured to be driven by both AC power and DC power, an AC circuit 30 for supplying AC electric power to the motor 14, a DC circuit 40 for supplying DC electric power to the motor 14, switching parts RL1-RL12 for switching between the AC circuit 30 and the DC circuit 40 wherein the AC and DC circuits are insulated relative to each other, and a controller A1 configured to control the switching parts RL1-RL12, the AC circuit 30, and the DC circuit 40.

Abstract: A woodworking machine including a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and a working portion of the machine is disclosed. The machine includes a reaction system associated with the detection system to cause a predetermined action to take place relative to the working portion upon detection of the dangerous condition. A motion detection system is adapted to detect motion of the working portion and to disable the reaction system when the working portion is not moving. The motion detection system may sense whether motion in a machine has stopped by monitoring the back emf produced on the motor leads as the motor coasts to a stop. The woodworking machine may take the form of a saw, the working portion may be a blade adapted to cut when spinning, and the dangerous condition may be a person contacting the blade.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for improved monitoring and controlling of mechanically commutated DC motors. The system and method include DC motors, pulse-count driver circuitry for driving the motors, motor position sensing circuitry, and motor control circuitry. The system and method provide for improved motor current waveform sensing that is able to effectively reject false brake pulses, avoid erroneous processing due to fluctuating battery voltage levels, and reduce the sensitivity to variations in motor current signals due to dynamic motor load, manufacturing variation, system aging, temperature, brush bounce, EMI, and other factors. The system and method also include an improved ability to multiplex additional external motor drivers to the motor control circuitry, select between sequential and simultaneous drive modes using an SPI bit, and monitor the system controller for an error condition and drive the connected motors in response to the error condition.

Abstract: A method for starting a battery driven motor, wherein an input voltage is measured continuously. In case the input voltage becomes smaller than a predefined minimum voltage the attempt to start the motor is stopped and the maximum permitted current level to be supplied from the battery to an electronic unit of the motor is lowered before the next attempt. This is repeated until the input voltage is larger than the minimum voltage and the motor is no longer in start-up mode. The method protects the battery from collapsing. The method is suitable for starting battery driven motors for driving compressors. The number of attempted start-up sequences may be counted and on the basis of this it may be determined that the battery is weak or that the wiring is misdimensioned. Furthermore, a control system for controlling starting of a motor.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling operation of a reciprocating compressor is capable of reducing a stroke estimation error by eliminating an error that occurs due to resistance and inductance of a compressor motor by estimating a stroke with a counter electromotive force induced by a searching coil. Furthermore, by leaving errors of inductance and resistance, among all motor parameters, out of consideration in stroke estimation, a stroke estimation error can be reduced.

Abstract: A door, especially a sectional door, is operated with the use of a drive unit with a drive gear, a clutch, and a position-detecting unit. The position-detecting unit detects the direction of rotation of the drive gear, detects the number of revolutions of the drive gear by pulses, and stores the pulses, taking the direction of rotation into consideration, in a nonvolatile memory. A data-processing unit is present in which different variable sequence programs are stored, which include not only safety-relevant programs but also a learning program. Reference values are determined by the position-detecting unit for a variable open position of the door, which position can be set as desired, and for a completely open position, which is limited by a stop, as well as for a closed position of the door are stored in a nonvolatile memory and are processed during automatic travel of the door.

Abstract: A robot or vehicle locomotes by tumbling. Legs distributed over the surface of the robot individually extend or retract. A control system coordinates the action of the legs to cause the robot to tumble in any direction. A robot using this form of locomotion is highly maneuverable, can climb slopes, and can step over obstacles. It can provide a smooth ride on rugged terrain. A variation can jump into the air and land safely. A variation can be built with as few as six moving parts, can fold to fit into a projectile, and instantly unfold on landing. It may use airbags instead of legs. It can include a video system without moving parts that produces a stable, non-tumbling view of its surroundings while tumbling. It is an ideal remotely operated vehicle for search and rescue, firefighting, or reconnaissance for the military or police.

Abstract: A method for controlling at least two variable frequency drives connected in parallel. The method comprises, for each variable frequency drive, communicating a magnetizing current component value to a master controller, and receiving a speed demand, a flux demand, and an average magnetizing current component value from the master controller. The method also comprises determining a motor speed and a motor flux based on measurements of a stator voltage and current of a motor coupled to the variable frequency drive, determining a speed reference based on a torque current component value, and determining a flux reference based on the magnetizing current component value and the average magnetizing current component value. The method further comprises adjusting a torque current component based on the speed reference and/or adjusting a magnetizing current component based on the flux reference.

Abstract: A motor control system for a wound field synchronous dynamoelectric machine used as an electrical starter and a generator for aeronautical engines that uses its integral auxiliary permanent magnet generator as an angular position sensor in its starting mode.

Abstract: An electrical machine is controlled without using a physical rotor position detector. When more than one phase is used simultaneously to produce sufficient torque for the application, the increased leakage flux and the reduced permeability of parts of the magnetic circuit distort the information gleaned from diagnostic pulses. By storing sets of characterizing data appropriate to the number of phases in use, the control system is able to determine the rotor position more accurately.