Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a power tool, according to which a measuring device determines a winding resistance (RS) of a winding of an electric motor of the power tool. A test signal source applies a test signal (ip) to the winding during operation of the electric motor, a measuring unit records at least one measured value (Ud, id) as a reaction of the winding to the test signal (ip), and a control device determines the winding resistance (RS) while taking into consideration the measured value (Ud, id).

Abstract: A surgical system comprises a patient side cart, a motor, and a telesurgically operated instrument. The telesurgically operated instrument is coupled to the patient side cart and comprises a transmission and a surgical end effector having a plurality of end effector components. The transmission is driven by the motor and comprises a first effector drivetrain comprising a first gear, a first input gear, and a first locker arm, and a camshaft defining a longitudinal axis, the camshaft comprising a first power cam and a first locker cam. The motor is configured to drive the camshaft to a plurality of rotational states, the camshaft being configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the camshaft. In a first rotational state of the plurality of rotational states, the first power cam is configured to engage the first input gear with the first gear, and the first locker cam is configured to disengage the first locker arm from the first gear.

Abstract: A BLDC motor driver circuit includes: a driving power stage circuit configured to provide a start-up test signal in a start-up mode to excite a BLDC motor, to drive a rotor of the BLDC motor to rotate for a test; a current unidirectional circuit coupled to the BLDC motor at a reverse end for detecting a BEMF, to generate a detection signal at a forward end of the current unidirectional circuit, wherein when a voltage at the reverse end exceeds a voltage at the forward end, the current unidirectional circuit limits the voltage at the forward end not to be higher than a clamp voltage; a biasing circuit for biasing the current unidirectional circuit in a forward operation state and for providing the clamp voltage; and a sensor circuit for generating a sensing signal according to the detection signal to indicate a test rotation state of the BLDC motor.

Abstract: A rotary machine driving system includes: a rotary machine including a plurality of coils; an inverter device configured to operate the rotary machine at a variable speed, including a control device for controlling power conversion by an inverter circuit, and a coil switching device for switching a connection of the coils according to the control device. The control device commands the coil switching device to switch the connection of the coils when rotation of the rotary machine transitions between a low-speed rotation range and a high-speed rotation range due to acceleration and deceleration. A starting end and a terminal end of at least one set of coils per phase of the rotary machine are drawn out in a freely connectable state. The coil switching device includes at least one movable portion driven by one actuator.

Abstract: A hooked surgery camera for use in surgical robotic systems includes a hook coupled to a side or end of a camera body, for attaching the camera to tissue during a surgery. The camera also includes a lens on another end of the camera body, and electronic components inside the camera body. The electronic components include a battery, a digital camera module and a wireless data transmitter. The hooked surgery camera provides a supplementary view of the surgical site, that is from a different perspective than the view provided by an endoscope, during laparoscopic surgeries. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a hybrid-electrical drive system for an aircraft having two subsystems that are largely independent of each other. A stator winding of a common electrical machine is assigned to each of the subsystems such that both subsystems may be supplied with electrical energy from the common electrical machine. If a defect occurs in one of the subsystems, the drive system may be configured such that electrical energy from a battery of the non-defective subsystem may be transferred into the defective subsystem by utilizing the two stator winding systems.

Abstract: A dynamic safe state control circuit is disclosed that controls an electrical motor based on vehicle speed. A microcontroller or other processing device is configured to control an inverter system of an electrical motor. The dynamic safe state control circuit is configured to receive a first signal that corresponds to a speed of the electric motor. The circuit is configured to activate any one of a plurality of safe states in the inverter system based on the first signal and in response to a malfunction in the microcontroller.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system for sending control signals and receiving sensor signals over cables at long distances. Electric currents and signals traveling down long cables can undergo phenomenon that are not present in relatively short cables. Therefore, this disclosure contemplates solutions for overcoming or compensating for these phenomenon to enable control of an electric machine using long cables. The solutions can include a signal conditioning circuit, configured to output a DC current corresponding to the sensed voltage associated with the sensor, a first conductor, that transmits the DC current from the signal conditioning circuit to the controller, and a signal generator, configured to receive the command signals and generate pulse width modulated (PWM) actuating signals based on the command signals.

Abstract: A drive unit attached to a mobile entity is disclosed. The drive unit includes a motor, a first detector, and a controller. The first detector detects vehicle speed information regarding a vehicle speed of the mobile entity. The controller performs PWM control for the motor. The controller controls a duty cycle of a PWM signal in accordance with the vehicle speed information detected by the first detector.

Abstract: A generator control system is coupled to a motor generator. The system includes a DC port, a first switch unit, a DC bus, a first power conversion circuit, a second power conversion circuit, and a second switch unit. The first power conversion circuit has a first side coupled to the DC bus and a second side coupled to the first switch unit. The second power conversion circuit has a first side coupled to the DC bus and a second side coupled to the motor generator. One end of the second switch unit is coupled to the first power conversion circuit and the first switch unit, and the other end of the second switch unit is coupled to the DC port.

Abstract: A rotating equipment system with in-line drive-sense circuit (DSC) electric power signal processing includes rotating equipment, in-line drive-sense circuits (DSCs), and one or more processing modules. The in-line DSCs receive input electrical power signals and generate motor drive signals for the rotating equipment. An in-line DSC receives an input electrical power signal, processes it to generate and output a motor drive signal to the rotating equipment via a single line and simultaneously senses the motor drive signal via the single line. Based on the sensing of the motor drive signal via the single line, the in-line DSC provides a digital signal to the one or more processing modules that receive and process the digital signal to determine information regarding one or more operational conditions of the rotating equipment, and based thereon, selectively facilitate one or more adaptation operations on the motor drive signal via the in-line DSC.

Abstract: A battery heating system and method using a motor driving system are provided. A temperature of a battery is increased by injecting an alternating current into the battery so that charging and discharging of the battery is repeated using the motor driving system including an inverter and a motor provided in a vehicle.

Abstract: A control device 10 for a rotary apparatus 1 includes a driving circuit 40 configured to apply a driving voltage to a stepping motor 20 that rotates an output gear 74, and a control circuit 30 configured to output, to the driving circuit 40, driving pulses in a number corresponding to a driving target included in a driving command signal from the outside. The control circuit 30 includes a driving-pulse output unit 61 configured to output the driving pulse in the number corresponding to the driving target, a position-information acquiring unit 52 configured to acquire position information from a potentiometer 75 that reads a rotating position of the output gear 74 of the rotary apparatus 1, and a rotation-abnormality determining unit 59 configured to determine, based on the position information acquired by the position-information acquiring unit 52, whether a rotation abnormality has occurred in the rotary apparatus 1.

Abstract: In a driver for a piezo-electric transducer, when a converter circuit and a sensing circuit are the same circuit, many limitations exist on the accuracy of the sensing, due to multiple parasitic effects arising from the interconnection of the power devices. These limitations may limit viability of the sensing for many applications, in particular an accurate determination of when the force on the piezo-electric transducer is fully removed. Providing an additional switch in the sensing circuit configured to repeatedly zero the sensed voltage across the piezo-electric transducer each time the sensed voltage reaches a threshold voltage generates a plurality of voltage segments between zero and the threshold voltage. Accordingly, a controller may then be configured to generate a digital reconstruction of the sensed voltage across the piezo-electric transducer by adding the plurality of voltage segments.

Abstract: A stopper according to one or more embodiments may include: a stopper body; and a rotation restriction portion provided at the stopper body and configured to restrict rotations of the drive transmission member. The stopper may be configured such that the rotation restriction portion restricts the rotations of the drive transmission member in a state where the stopper body is attached to the adaptor main body and the rotation restriction portion releases the restriction of the rotations of the drive transmission member in a state where the stopper body is detached from the adaptor main body.

Abstract: A drive system comprises a DC-DC converter that is arranged to receive an input voltage from a battery having a nominal battery voltage. The DC-DC converter has a first mode of operation in which the DC-DC converter generates a regulated output voltage from the input voltage and supplies the regulated output voltage to a load, and a second mode of operation in which the DC-DC converter is by-passed such that the input voltage from the battery is supplied to the load. A controller is arranged to compare the input voltage to a threshold voltage that is less than the nominal battery voltage. The controller operates the DC-DC converter in the first mode when the input voltage is less than the threshold voltage, and operates the DC-DC converter otherwise.

Abstract: Power based self-sensing of a rotor position of an SR motor at mid to high speeds and low torque is achieved by an SR motor control system by comparing the motor power to an injection maximum power. A position current pulse is injected to a stator pole in response to the motor power being less than the injection maximum power. An actual stator current created by the position current pulse is compared to an estimated stator current, and a stored estimated rotor position in a memory is updated to a new estimated rotor position if the actual stator current is not equal to the estimated stator current.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the performance of a multi-phase electric motor (13), wherein the electric motor comprises a plurality of stator windings (7, 8, 9) connected in a wye configuration to form a wye point. The method comprises measuring an electrical characteristic of the wye point in a time domain; based upon the measured electrical characteristic of the wye point in the time domain, determining an electrical characteristic of the wye point in the frequency domain; and deriving data indicative of at least one parameter of the performance of the electric motor based upon the determined electrical characteristic of the wye-point in the frequency domain.

Abstract: Examples described herein provide a method for overspeed protection of a motor of a gate crossing mechanism. The method includes monitoring, by an overspeed protection circuit, a voltage across a first Zener diode and a second Zener diode. An anode of the first Zener diode is connected to an anode of the second Zener diode. The method further includes, responsive to determining that a Zener voltage threshold is exceeded, allowing a current to flow into a gate pin of a triac. The triac controls the motor of the gate crossing mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are electric vehicles with various characteristics. For example, electric vehicles with at least two energy storage systems are described. As another example, electric vehicles with liquid temperature regulated battery packs are described. As yet another example, electric vehicles with high voltage battery limit optimization are disclosed. And, as another example, electric vehicles with dual-battery system charge management are described.