Abstract: The present invention provides the following rotation control method for reducing energy consumption of a motor driving a disk. In a constant speed mode, a supply voltage V1 for driving the motor at a constant speed N1 is selected; however, at a lower constant speed N2, a supply voltage V2 lower than V1 is selected. In an acceleration mode for accelerating the motor speed from N2 to N1, a higher supply voltage than V1 is selected just before starting acceleration, and then V1 is selected after the acceleration. In a speed deceleration mode for decelerating the motor speed from N1 to N2, a lower supply voltage than V1 is selected just before starting deceleration, then the supply voltage V2 is selected after the decleration.

Abstract: A railroad crossing gate electrical control system for moving a crossing gate in up and down directions and providing snubbing protection to gate movement in failure modes includes an electrical motor having two diametrically positioned permanent magnet poles and two series connected electromagnet poles. There is an armature which rotates inside of the poles. There is a motor and snub relay which has contacts connected to the armature and the series connected electromagnet poles. A terminal board has movable contacts which are connected to the motor and snub relay and to a relay coil for moving the contacts of the motor and snub relay. A source of power is connected to the terminal board, with the movable terminal board contacts controlling the application of power to the motor snub relay coil and the relay contacts for causing up and down movement and for providing snubbing of armature movement during up and down gate movement and gate failure modes.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for a stringed musical instrument having a plurality of movable strings includes at least one magnet disposed generally perpendicular to the at least one magnet and generating a magnetic field adjacent the strings, a primary winding creating a primary current from a disruption in the magnetic field by the strings, the primary current creating a primary electromagnetic flux, and at least one secondary winding spaced below the movable strings and adjacent to the primary winding and transforming the primary electromagnetic flux into a secondary current which is passed out of the stringed musical instrument.

Abstract: An automatic door system includes a motor which drives a door to open and close. A CPU operating in accordance with a signal from an encoder operatively coupled to the motor detects the position of the door and prepares and applies a control signal based on the detected door position to a motor drive unit. The motor drive unit alternately drives and brakes the motor. The CPU calculates the speed of the door at a particular door position on the basis of the signal from the encoder and operates to make the door speed equal to the aimed speed for the current door position.

Abstract: A termination network to be used with an induction motor for eliminating voltage reflections and voltage surges due to voltage reflections, the network includes a resistive element in series with a capacitive element between each two voltage supply lines. The capacitive element initially operates like a short so that a resistive element terminates each line for a short period, the termination network impedance matches the line impedance, and reflection is eliminated. After a voltage pulse passes to a stator winding the capacitor element is charged and the resistive element is effectively removed from the line circuit.

Abstract: A control circuit provides, for connecting a motor to a d.c. voltage source (1), two half bridge (3, 7, 5, 9) each with a respective switch (3, 5) with controlled opening and closing; the first of the half bridge connects a pole of the excitation winding (13) to the source (1) and the second of the half bridge connects a pole of the armature (15) to the source (1). A control unit (11) controls the opening and closing of the two switches (3, 5) of the half bridge and the toggling of the reversing device as a function of the operating conditions of the motor. The control unit (11) is programmed in such a way that in the braking phase it toggles both of the controlled switches (3, 5) cyclically, simultaneously or independently, from an open condition to a closed condition and vice versa.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for monitoring and controlling the operation of a motorized convertible top such that it may be extended and retracted automatically. The system and method of the present invention monitors the movement of the various components to provide fluid, simultaneous motion. It further detects and corrects improper alignments that may result in damage to the top due to overlapping elements or binding elements, and stores error information useful in diagnosing and repairing unrecoverable errors.

Abstract: A minimum fan RPM control circuit constantly turns a computer exhaust fan at a minimum RPM while the computer is on. The RPM control circuit includes a blanking and reset circuit responsive to a ramp signal, for generating a reset pulse at a reset output. The RPM control circuit also includes a latch circuit conductively coupled to the reset output, the latch circuit responsive to the reset pulse, and responsive to a tachometer pulse, for generating a latch pulse at a latch circuit output. The RPM control circuit further includes an integration node conductively coupled to the latch circuit output, and responsive to the latch pulse, for generating an integral signal of the latch pulse. Finally, the RPM control circuit includes a power switch driver conductively coupled to the integration node, and responsive to the ramp signal and the integral signal, for generating an RPM control pulse.

Abstract: A power generation control apparatus of a hybrid electric automobile includes an electric motor for driving driving wheels of the hybrid electric automobile, a power supply device for supplying electric power to the electric motor, a generator for supplying electric power to the electric motor and/or the power supply device, and an internal-combustion engine for driving the generator. Initially, an operating condition of the hybrid electric automobile is detected, and a required output of the electric motor is obtained based on the operating condition, and electric power corresponding to the required output is supplied to the motor. Meanwhile, an actual output generated by the motor is detected, while a required minimum output value to be generated by the motor is determined. Power generation by the generator is controlled based on the actual output and the required minimum output value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for controlling the motion of a machine system so as to cut individual lengths from a web having graphics on predetermined web positions and which allows the use of an inexpensive AC induction motor. An AC induction motor has an output power shaft for imparting the motive force necessary to drive the machine system, such as a web feeding system. A sensor is operatively coupled to the AC motor for determining the position of the motor during system operation. A controller is operatively connected to the sensor and motor and forms a closed loop control circuit. The controller changes the feedback loop characteristics of the closed loop control circuit during a stop, hold or start condition of the motor. By adding an externally generated compensating signal to the input of the feedback loop, the controller also minimizes acceleration error.

Abstract: This invention provides a switched reluctance motor SRM speed control apparatus capable of accurately adjusting an amount of current flowing in a stator coil even at higher speed, thereby accomplishing higher speed control of the SRM, this preferably being accomplished by generating a resonant frequency corresponding to motor speed specified by a user, controlling, in a phase controlling stage, phase of a commercial AC voltage incoming from the external source with reference to the resonant frequency signal to adjust average voltage level, and increasing or decreasing the amount of current in the stator coil.

Abstract: A step motor driving method employing an electric circuit operable on a supply voltage applied thereto for generating a step drive signal having a variable on-duty ratio to drive the step motor. A PWM control is made to change the step drive signal on-duty ratio. The the step drive signal on-duty ratio is increased to compensate for a supply voltage drop.

Abstract: A method for the compensation of periodic shaking forces in an AC-machine having a special winding for the combined generation of a torque and a transverse force. The compensation takes place by a pre-control that acts on the desired force (at the input of the control method) or on the control current, and which is dependent on the flux angle, on the mechanical rotor angle, on the angular velocity of the flux, and on the mechanical angular velocity of the rotor. Additionally, linear and non-linear errors in the control of the transverse force vector such as arise from slot harmonics and winding harmonics and from the material saturation are compensated by a rotation stretching of the control current vector dependent on the flex vector.

Abstract: A control circuit is integrated in a semiconductor chip for controlling operation of an electronic musical instrument according to a custom program stored in an external memory so as to generate a musical tone. In the control circuit, an internal memory is formed in the semiconductor chip separately from the external memory for permanently storing a common program which is dedicated to synthesis of the musical tone while the custom program stored in the external memory is customized for the operation of the electronic musical instrument. A tone synthesizer is formed in the same semiconductor chip for synthesizing -,he musical tone when the common program is executed.

Abstract: An actuator is provided to protect against pinching an object when closing powered automatic windows or sun roofs in motor vehicles in compliance with safety requirements. The displacement speed of the actuator is reduced as a function of the path location of the window or sun roof so that the total force including the stored kinetic energy of the entire drive system in the approach of the window or sun roof panel to an obstacle does not exceed the maximum allowed closing force.

Abstract: An inverter circuit includes a plurality of sets each having a series combination of two switching elements. Two ends of each of the sets are connected to a vehicle battery. A junction between the two switching elements in each of the sets is electrically connected to a polyphase ac motor. A vector controller is operative for controlling the inverter circuit on the basis of a torque-current command value and a magnetizing-current command value. The vector controller includes a command value calculating device for calculating a motor-torque command value on the basis of a required torque, and an operation mode judging device for judging an operation mode to be a quicker-torque-response mode or a higher-efficiency mode on the basis of various conditions.

Abstract: A switch mode sine wave driver circuit selectively sources and sinks driving currents to and from a DC brushless motor in accordance with the substantially sinusoidal switched driving signals. A signal waveform monitoring circuit monitors electrical signals appearing the motor windings and puts out motor phase reference signals. A phase clock generator provides a motor-synchronized clock signal. A phase counter is clocked by the motor clock signal and is reset by the motor phase reference signals. The phase counter counts predetermined phase intervals and generates phase counts and phase polarity signals. A motor state decoder responds to the phase polarity signals by generating state control signals. Sine wave logic circuitry is addressed by the phase counts and puts out digital polyphase sine values for each one of the polyphases. A polyphase pulse width modulator circuit responds to the polyphase sine values by generating phase pulses having duty cycle duration controlled by the sine values.

Abstract: A fiberoptically illuminated electronic stringed musical instrument is disclosed that has at least one pickup. At least one light source is disposed within the body of the instrument. A plurality of optical fibers are embedded in the instrument such that each fiber extends from the light source to a predetermined location on the exterior surface of the instrument. The fibers provide a transmission path for the light rays emitted by the light source, thereby illuminating the exterior surface of the instrument while at the same time the fiber becomes part of the mechanical/composite structure of the guitar. Control circuitry, disposed within the body of the instrument, is connected to the pickup and the light source. The control circuitry selectively controls the illumination of the light source, and therefore the exterior surface of the instrument, based upon electrical signals generated by the pickup.

Abstract: A system which energizes an SR motor with a three phase sequential and time sharing energization. Coil of respective phase is energized in an interval from an energization ON angle to an energization OFF angle. The OFF angle is advanced in reverse proportion to a speed and a target torque of a rotor of the motor in a high speed range exceeding a threshold Rbase which is an upper limit of a speed range in which a high noises is generated by a tangential oscillation of the rotor. The OFF angle is advanced in proportion to the speed of the rotor and in reverse proportion to the target torque in a low speed range under the threshold Rbase. The advance prevents the generation of noises. The system includes a compensator which corrects an energization level for accommodating an actual acceleration to a target acceleration of the rotor.

Abstract: A feed apparatus for feeding a recorded image or film (scanned medium) in a reading or recording apparatus has a feed drum for feeding the scanned medium and a motor for rotating the feed drum. The rotating states of the feed drum and the motor are detected respectively by a rotary encoder and a frequency generator for feedback control of the feed drum and the motor. The eccentricity of the feed drum is limited to a predetermined value which is calculated according to the following equation:.DELTA.D=1/2{(T+D).DELTA.L/L-2.DELTA.T}where .DELTA.D represents the predetermined value, L the length of the scanned medium in the auxiliary scanning direction, .DELTA.L the allowable feed error of the scanned medium in the auxiliary scanning direction, T the thickness of the scanned medium, and .DELTA.L the thickness variation of the scanned medium.