Abstract: A microprocessor-controlled-circuit applies pulses to a standing motor whose rotor position is to be determined. The time required for the injected current to reach a predetermined threshold in a comparator is measured. The pulses are long enough to effectuate an accurate measurement, but not so long that the rotor moves. The pulse is applied twice to each phase, once with a positive polarity and once with a negative polarity, for a total of six measurements. The positive and negative rise times are subtracted from each other to determine whether the positive or negative current rise time was greater. Based upon the differences in the readings for all of the phases, the position of the rotor is known. There are differences in which the difference is zero or negligible. There are at least two methods to determine rotor position when there are ambiguities in the sign of the difference.

Abstract: A power bridge for an electric vehicle propulsion system, comprising a switching circuit including first and second switching elements operable between "on" and "off" states and a midpoint detector coupled to the switching circuit for detecting a failure of at least one of the first and second switching elements, where the midpoint detector is capable of detecting and isolating a failure when the switching elements are in the "on" or the "off" states.

Abstract: Control unit (1) for a cruise control system for a motor vehicle including at least one manually operated movable switch (4) for operating the cruise control system. The switch (4) has a neutral position (6) and can, when moved away from the neutral position (6) in a first direction, assume a first position (8) in which the switch (4) gives a control unit (21) a signal for temporarily switching off the system without cancellation of set speed. The switch (4) can also, when moved away from the neutral position (6) in the first direction, assume a second position (10) in which the switch (4) conveys signals to the control unit (21) in order to facilitate for the cruise control system to access, in some predetermined manner, a set speed stored in a memory unit situated in the control unit (21), where the second position (10) can only be reached by the switch (4) passing through the first position (8).

Abstract: A multiwinding spiral generator is capable of delivering any predetermined amount of energy at any predetermined voltage. The multiple spiral combines three components into a single component. The multiple spiral functions as the primary low voltage energy store, the voltage step-up means, and the high voltage energy store. The duplication of these functions by a single multiple spiral potentially offers a factor of three in reducing the size, weight, volume, and cost compared to the conventional pulse power conditioning apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a three-value power supply device, adapted for supplying developing bias voltages to a copying machine. The device comprises a positive high voltage source, a negative high voltage source, first and second high voltage transistors serially connected between the positive and negative high voltage sources, with an output terminal connected to the junction point between two transistors, and a timing controller for selectively turning on and off the two transistors.

Abstract: A load bank is constructed using a plurality of tubes made from electrica conductive material and a fluid system that supplies cooling fluid to the tubes. Each of a plurality of electrically conductive clamps is selectively positioned to electrically connect at least two of the tubes in a spaced apart parallel relationship. Each clamp can be adjusted in terms of the amount of force applied to the tubes it connects so that positioning of each clamp is adjustable along the length of the connected tubes. A combination of the clamps and the tubes form an electrically resistive current-carrying circuit that serves as the load for a power source while the cooling fluid serves to dissipate the heat generated in the load.

Abstract: To manufacture a thin sheet electret of small size having charge distributed in very uniform manner, even at its edges, use is made of a device comprising a grounded electrode (2) for supporting a dielectric (1) to be charged, means for generating ions (3) in the vicinity of the dielectric, a grid (4) extending parallel to the surface to be charged of the dielectric, at a small distance from said face, and raised to an electric potential different from ground potential and a conductive frame (7) that is insulated from the electrode and that is electrically connected to the grid, said frame surrounding the dielectric and forming a single block with the electrode.

Abstract: Apparatus for sensing the flexure of a surface includes an array of bistable dome shaped switches within the surface which change their state or position depending on the direction and degree of local flexure of the surface. A flexible sheet parallel to the surface carries wiring for detecting the state of the bistable switches and carrying this information to a computer. A second parallel sheet may be used to detect the second position of the bistable switches for extra accuracy. The bistable switches may be linked, meaning the perimeters of the bistable switches overlap, or unlinked. The two stable positions may include two oppositely protruding positions, or one protruding position and one flat position.

Abstract: A speed control system for brushless DC motors which maintains the rotational speed of the motor substantially constant even when the motor load and/or supply voltage fluctuates. Furthermore, by including a negative-resistance temperature coefficient thermistor in the speed control system, the rotational speed of the brushless DC motor may be varied as a function of ambient temperature. Thus, if the brushless DC motor is part of a motor fan and there is an increase in the ambient temperature, the rotational speed of the motor will increase to provide additional cooling. In contrast, if the ambient temperature decreases, the rotational speed of the brushless DC motor will be reduced thereby resulting in quieter operation of the motor.

Abstract: A pump control system has a pump unit composed of a turbo pump, a motor for operating the turbo pump, and a frequency/voltage converter for generating a frequency and a voltage to energize the motor. The rotational speed of the turbo pump is varied in order to equalize the current of the motor to a constant current irrespective of the head of the pump. The pump can be operated to take fully advantage of the current capacity of the motor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely controlling one or more vehicle functions. The method includes providing a first coded signal transmitted by a cordless transmitter. The signal is received in a receiver located in the vehicle. The receiver includes a decoding device to detect and identify the code and to compare the signal code with a vehicle specific code. When agreement is found between the received code and the vehicle specific code, the receiver activates one or more electronic circuits in the vehicle through the agency of a control circuit, such as to deactivate one or more of the vehicle functions. The method also includes transmitting from the cordless transmitter a second coded signal which results in the activation of those vehicle functions that were earlier deactivated.

Abstract: A two degree of freedom gyroscope having a drive motor (20), with a permanent magnet rotor (22), which includes an optical sensor (11) for providing an X-axis signal and a Y-axis signal which are indicative of the displacement of the actual rotor (22) spin axis from the null spin axis (28), a torquer coil (26) looped around the permanent magnet rotor (22) and disposed in a plane orthogonal to the null spin axis, and torquer drive elements (52, 54, 56) responsive to the X-axis and Y-axis signals induced in the sensor when the actual rotor (22) spin axis is displaced form the null spin axis (28) for providing current to said torquer coil (26) to urge the axes to coincide. A voltage induced in an open phase of a two phase motor stator is used to provide the instantaneous position of the rotor poles to obtain correct phasing information for commutation of the single polar torquer.

Abstract: A method of controlling operation of a DC motor including the steps of detecting the level of acceleration caused by the rotation of the output shaft of the DC motor; determining the square root of the detected level of acceleration; and supplying the DC motor with a driving voltage which is determined in accordance with the difference between the square root of the acceleration and a voltage command.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk drive having a spindle motor, a disk that is rotated by the spindle motor, and a movable actuator arm that carries a read/write head. The head physically engages a parked, or home, position at the Inner Diameter (ID) of the disk when the spindle motor is not energized and the disk is stationary. The electrical energization that must be applied to the spindle motor in order to breakaway the head from the disk (i.e., the breakaway current), and the energization that is necessary to cause the motor to achieve a stable spinning state (i.e., the spin current) are monitored. Possible future failure of the disk drive is predicted as a function of any changes in these two electrical parameters, as these parameters may change over a period of time; i.e., may change over a number of disk drive stop/start events.

Abstract: A high impedance AC coupling arrangement that processes a transducer feedback signal derived from an output shaft of an electric vehicle motor to compensate for electrical motor pulsations. The high impedance AC coupling arrangement is coupled between the transducer and a summing device and generates a feedback compensation signal that is combined with an input signal to compensate for output shaft oscillations. The high impedance AC coupling arrangement includes a loop amplifier having a predetermined transfer function that is coupled to the transducer, and AC coupling circuitry, typically including a plurality of coupling capacitors, that is coupled between the loop amplifier and the summing device. A limiter circuit having first and second oppositely coupled diodes is coupled between a voltage source and a point between the AC coupling capacitors. A cascode amplifier is coupled to the AC coupling circuitry.

Abstract: In an apparatus for regulating the power consumption of a vacuum cleaner, it is proposed to detect the pulsating alternating current present at the driving electric motor and delivered by a phase-angle circuit by means of a parallel voltage sensor, rectify it, smooth it, digitize it, and, on the basis of data stored in tabular form from a memory arranged in a microprocessor, convert it into a true effective value of the motor voltage; and subsequently to compare it with various associated respective manually defined power data and to activate the phase-angle circuit so that irrespective of fluctuations or different power system alternating voltages or frequencies, motor output is regulated to constant values corresponding to the manual setting.

Abstract: A series motor has a braking device, a stator having a field winding and a pole shoe plate pack, the pole shoe plate pack of the stator having field coils and also having a further element inducing a magnetic field, a rotatable armature, and an element for influencing a braking operation of the field winding.

Abstract: A braking and auxiliary driving unit for an internal combustion engine which produces braking and auxiliary motive power by converting electrical energy in both directions between a polyphase AC circuit of a squirrel-cage polyphase induction machine linked to the rotary shaft of the internal combustion engine and the DC circuit of an electricity storage means, the electricity storage means comprises an electrostatic capacitive circuit. A low-voltage storage battery is provided in addition to this electrostatic capacitive circuit, and this can be coupled to the electrostatic capacitive circuit by a bidirectional DC-to-DC converter.

Abstract: A method and circuit for providing a dual slew rate to a driver transistor. The method includes turning off a driver transistor at a programmable slew rate until a BEMF voltage spike is sensed, and then switching in a slower clamping slew rate. The slew rates are controlled by discharging a capacitor through a programmable discharge path until a voltage spike is detected and then through a clamping discharge path. The discharge paths include several transistors connected in series and control by digital logic.

Abstract: A pulse generating unit responds to a series of instruction pulses to generate a series of driving pulses which includes alternately occurring first driving pulses and second driving pulses. The pulse generating unit generates the first driving pulses directly in response to the series of instruction pulses. The pulse generating unit measures a predetermined delay time using a series of reference clock pulses since the unit received the first pulse of the series of instruction pulses. The pulse generating unit generates the second driving pulses after the thus measured predetermined delay time has elapsed. A motor requires an initial exciting period between a first one of the first driving pulses and a first one of the second driving pulses of the series of driving pulses, and requires a steady-state exciting period between each two adjacent pulses of the series of driving pulses. The predetermined delay time is longer than the initial exciting period.