Abstract: An amplifier especially suitable for use as a reading-head amplifier in a disc drive employing a magnetoresistive sensor. The amplifier is capable of injecting a fixed current into the magnetoresistive sensor and of providing an output signal dependent on the voltage developed across the magnetoresistive sensor as the resistance of the sensor varies in accordance with its magnetic environment.

Abstract: A single channel double-duct liquid metal electrical generator using a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) device. The single channel device provides useful output AC electric energy. The generator includes a two-cylinder linear-piston engine which drives liquid metal in a single channel looped around one side of the MHD device to form a double-duct contra-flowing liquid metal MHD generator. A flow conduit network and drive mechanism are provided for moving liquid metal with an oscillating flow through a static magnetic field to produce useful AC electric energy at practical voltages and currents. Variable stroke is obtained by controlling the quantity of liquid metal in the channel. High efficiency is obtained over a wide range of frequency and power output.

Abstract: A microprocessor detects input power and output power of a two transistor, Class AB amplifier, and provides an adapted bias level of the transistors which has been adapted from detected input power. The gain of the amplifier is maintained by the microprocessor depending upon the detected input power and frequency as well as detected output power.

Abstract: An automatic threshold control circuit includes a bottom detection circuit, a relative peak detection circuit, and a voltage divider circuit. The bottom detection circuit detects an absolute minimum level of an input signal, and the relative peak detection circuit detects, in accordance with the input signal, a maximum level relative to the minimum level detected by the absolute bottom detection circuit. Further, the voltage divider circuit generates a threshold level by dividing the absolute minimum level and the relative maximum level in a predetermined ratio. Using this configuration, a signal amplifying circuit can be constructed that is capable of accurately reproducing digital signals at all times regardless of variations in the amplitude or the DC level of the input signal.

Abstract: Two unbalanced connectable systems are moving over the above two portions of their movement with different speed during the separation from one another.

Abstract: In a switched reluctance motor, the projected poles of a rotor have feeble-magnetic portions each having a shape that extends radially inward approximately in the rotational direction from a position relative close to a radially outer end of the projected pole and to an end of the projected pole facing in a counter-rotational direction, that is, a direction opposite to the rotational direction, or a shape that has a side extending radially inward approximately in the rotational direction from a position relatively close to a radially outer end and an counter-rotational direction-facing end of the projected pole and that extends radially inward approximately in the counter-rotational direction. The feeble-magnetic portions are weaker in magnetism than the material of the rotor and reduce the magnetic attraction force occurring at the time of switching of coil energization, thereby reducing noises while ensuring generation of a desired amount of torque.

Abstract: A rail-to-rail type of operational amplifier is provided, which has a low offset voltage and improved bandwidth, slew rate, and phase margin. This operational amplifier includes two level-shifting input circuits for receiving two input voltages. The input voltages are further divided into four subvoltages which are then processed by a pair of differential amplifiers. The output differential currents from the differential amplifiers are further processed respectively by two current-summing circuits. The potential difference between the outputs of these two current-summing circuits is then fed to a bias circuit which, in response to the input potential difference, generates a floating bias. An output circuit takes the floating bias as input to thereby generate an output voltage which is regarded as the output of the operational amplifier.

Abstract: A low distortion amplifier circuit employing a main amplifier and a correction amplifier in a feed-forward loop, is particularly adapted for amplifying multi-tone signals. The main amplifier produces fundamental frequency power along with undesirable distortion products. The correction amplifier provides correction signals at the distortion product frequencies to cancel the distortion products of the main amplifier. In addition, the correction amplifier produces fundamental frequency power which is combined with the fundamental frequency power of the main amplifier, thereby increasing the amplifier circuit output power.

Abstract: A sensor of instantaneous power which is dissipated through a power transistor of the MOS type connected between the output terminal of a power stage and ground. It comprises a MOS transistor having its gate terminal connected to that of the power transistor, source terminal connected to ground, and drain terminal connected to a circuit node which is coupled to the output terminal by means of a current mirror circuit which includes a resistive element in its input leg. Connected to the circuit node is the base terminal of a bipolar transistor which is respectively connected, through a diode and a constant current generator between the output terminal and ground.

Abstract: A switch (380) couples one group of MR channels (340, 342, 344) while decoupling another group of MR channels (340, 342 and 344). Thus, the parasitic capacitance associated with the decoupled group of MR channels does not limit the frequency response of the preamplifier.

Abstract: A millimeter-sized machine, including electromagnetic circuits adapted to convert electromagnetic energy to mechanical energy, for engaging and operating external mechanical loads. A plurality of millimeter-sized magnetic actuators operate out of phase with each other to control a plurality of millimeter-sized structural elements to drive an external mechanical load. Each actuator is connected to a link. Each link, in turn, is connected to a drive pinion at another similar pivoting joint. When the magnetic actuators are energized, each drive pinion is then capable of driving a larger output gear in gear-like fashion to produce positive torque about the drive pinion center at all angular positions of the output gear.

Abstract: A low noise RF input amplifier circuit has an input impedance Z.sub.IN for matched-impedance coupling to an antenna having a resistive impedance R.sub.A. The amplifier circuit has an input and output nodes, an inverting amplifier, and a feedback capacitor. The input node receives an antenna signal which the inverting amplifier amplifies by a frequency-dependent gain -A(s) approaching -A.sub.0 at low complex frequencies s. The feedback capacitor C couples the output node to the input node for negative feedback and is selected to match Z.sub.IN to R.sub.A. When the amplifier's gain A(s) has a rolloff approximated by ##EQU1## where p.sub.1 is a negative pole, the capacitance of C which matches Z.sub.IN to R.sub.A is approximately inversely proportional to both (A.sub.0 +1) and R.sub.A.

Abstract: This PMDC machine concept operates from a constant dc voltage source with maximum torque capacity throughout its rotational speed range. The back electromotive force (back-emf) produced by the machine windings under the constant amplitude air gap field produced by the magnets is controlled by changing the winding configurations in series-parallel combinations. Torque is, thus, controlled from minimum to maximum speed without exceeding winding current capacities and without need to increase driving voltage with speed. At startup and low speed the combined back-emf of series connected windings limit current while producing maximum torque. At higher speeds where back-emf would severely limit torque, the windings are connected in series-parallel combinations for maximum achievable torque without exceeding winding current capacities. To accomplish this, windings concentrated in slots are used. Result is optimum utilization of core magnetics and capability of operating at constant input voltage.

Abstract: A circuit for stabilizing the gain-bandwidth product of analog circuits containing bipolar devices which determine the gm is disclosed. The stabilization circuit is formed to generate a reference current that is proportional to a reference capacitance C.sub.S and the thermal voltage V.sub.T. The reference current is ultimately mirrored (as the bias current) into the bipolar devices which determine the gm within the analog circuit. Since the transconductance gm of a bipolar device can be expressed as collector current, I.sub.C, divided by V.sub.T, the thermal voltage factor of the bias current itself will "cancel" the thermal voltage factor present in the transconductance. The effects related to the remaining variable, the capacitance, will be eliminated as long as the reference capacitance is formed to "track" the analog circuit capacitance by using similar types of capacitance to implement both capacitors and forming both the stabilization circuit and the analog circuit on the same silicon chip.

Abstract: A switched reluctance motor includes a stator having a plurality of pairs of opposing stator pole portions which project inward in the diametrical direction and which extend in the axial direction, a rotor rotatably disposed in the stator and having a plurality of rotor pole portions which project outward in the diametrical direction and which extend in the axial direction and axis portion which is rotatably supported on a housing. A plurality of coils are wound on each of the pair of the stator pole portions and an absorbing mechanism is provided for absorbing radial vibrations of the rotor which are generated by a variation of the magnetic attracting force acting on the rotor pole portions.

Abstract: Sag of a power signal delivered to of an amplifier is controlled. The maximum amount of sag is limited to limit crossover distortion. A measuring circuit monitors an observed signal to generate a measured signal. A sag control circuit receives the measured signal and one or more input control signals, and in response generates a sag control signal. A regulator circuit receives the sag control signal and a raw power supply signal and in response generates a regulated DC power supply signal for the amplifier. The regulator circuit decreases the maximum power available to the amplifier as the sag control signal magnitude increases, so as to increase distortion and compression in the output signal (e.g., and achieve a "warm", "airy" or "forgiving" sound quality resembling or improving the sound of a vacuum tube amplifier).

Abstract: An amplitude leveling circuit includes a variable gain, linear amplifier which receives an input signal and generates an output signal corresponding to the input signal. The signals may be in differential format. A signal processor receives the output signal and determines a corresponding mean squared signal. The signal processor includes a multiplier which squares the output signal, and an averager that averages the squared signal to generate the mean squared signal. An analyzer compares the mean squared signal with a reference and generates a feedback control signal that controls the gain of the variable gain amplifier in accordance with the difference between the mean squared signal and the reference value. The gain of the variable gain amplifier is controlled so that the amplitude of the output signal is maintained at a desired amplitude level without distorting the originally input waveform shape.

Abstract: A synchronous reciprocating electric machine includes a first magnet system having first and second opposing surfaces forming between them a gap, and a second magnet system mounted within the gap so as to be displaceable relative to the first magnet system along a line of travel through the gap. The the first magnet system is configured for generating a magnetic field, referred to as the "gap field", directed across the gap primarily perpendicular to the first surface. The second magnet system includes two magnetic elements configured to generate equal but opposite magnetic fields primarily perpendicular to the first surface. These magnetic elements are spaced from each other along the line of travel by a distance b, where b>0. One of magnet systems produces a non-alternating magnetic field and the other is a coil assembly for producing an operating magnetic field.

Abstract: An output circuit 1 has a p-type MOS transistor Q1 connected between a power-voltage node and an output node, and an n-type MOS transistor Q2 connected between a ground-voltage node and the output node. A voltage-current conversion circuit 2 outputs a voltage according to the voltage difference between an input signal and the comparison voltage. According to the output from the voltage-current conversion circuit 2, a signal conversion circuit 3 controls the voltage of the gate electrode of the MOS transistor Q1 with a reference of a second specified voltage, and controls the voltage of the gate electrode of the n-type MOS transistor Q2 with a reference of a first specified voltage.

Abstract: Carbon segments (7) of a planar commutator are molded over contact members (5). Anchor means (8), integral with each carbon segment (7) have an interlocking part (11) engaging the rear surface (6) of the contact member (5) and fit into a first blind hole (4) in the form of a recess of uniform transverse cross-section extending rearwardly of the front end (3) of a molded plastic base member (1). The contact members (5) are each attached to the base member (1) by means of locking portions (15) which project into second blind holes (14) having internal surfaces which grip the locking portions (15).