Abstract: An electrical connector includes an anode for conducting an electrical supply current from a source to a destination, a cathode for conducting an electrical return current from the destination to the source, and an insulator that prevents electrical conduction between the anode and the cathode. The first and second shapes are such as to provide a conformity of one to the other, with the insulator placed therebetween and having a predetermined relatively thin thickness. A predetermined low-resistance path for the supply current is provided respectively by the anode and the cathode, and a proximity of the anode to the cathode along these paths provides a predetermined low self-inductance of the connector. The anode and the cathode each comprises a plurality of sections that are disposed at one or more predetermined angles to form a rigid assembly that accommodates a geometry between the source and the destination.

Abstract: A DC-to-DC power converter device has a common magnetic core structure that serves the functions of both transformer device and output inductor by integrating each into the common core. The transformer device has primary and secondary windings integrated into a first leg structure of the magnetic core, and the output inductor device has an output inductor winding integrated into a second leg structure of the magnetic core, the inductor winding structure for delivering output current to a load when a periodically switched input voltage is applied across the primary winding structure. The winding polarities of the transformer secondary winding structure and of the output inductor winding structure provide oppositely oriented polarities of electromotive force (EMF) to substantially reduce an output current ripple to an output load when delivering power through the transformer, through the output inductor and into the output load.

Abstract: A power-delivery system may comprise a load device and a direct-current converter configured to deliver current to the load device when the direct-current converter is in an on state. The power-deliver system may comprise a voltage-measurement system configured to measure, at a beginning of each measurement cycle in a cyclic measurement pattern, a voltage at the load device. The power-deliver system may comprise a power controller configure to receive, at the beginning of each measurement cycle, the measurement of the voltage, and to perform, at the beginning of a control cycle in a cyclic control pattern, a voltage-control decision in response to a change in the measurement of the voltage being below a voltage-change threshold. The voltage-control decision may comprise whether to switch the state of the first direct-current converter. The cyclic control pattern may operate at a first frequency, and the measurement pattern may operate at a second frequency.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an anode for conducting an electrical supply current from a source to a destination, a cathode for conducting an electrical return current from the destination to the source, and an insulator that prevents electrical conduction between the anode and the cathode. The first and second shapes are such as to provide a conformity of one to the other, with the insulator placed therebetween and having a predetermined relatively thin thickness. A predetermined low-resistance path for the supply current is provided respectively by the anode and the cathode, and a proximity of the anode to the cathode along these paths provides a predetermined low self-inductance of the connector. The anode and the cathode each comprises a plurality of sections that are disposed at one or more predetermined angles to form a rigid assembly that accommodates a geometry between the source and the destination.

Abstract: A DC converter includes a non-isolated conversion module and an isolated conversion module. The non-isolated conversion module is implemented based on a redundant structure and has a first power conversion loop, a second power conversion loop, and an energy storage element. The first and second power conversion loops are connected and share the energy storage element. The energy storage element is further connected to an input terminal of the isolated conversion module. The first and second conversion loops of the non-isolated conversion module convert DC power outputted from two battery sets and output the converted power to the isolated conversion module. The isolated conversion module further supplies DC power to a load. Accordingly, power supply systems using the foregoing DC converter can reduce the number of transformer therein and thus size reduction of the power supply system can be achieved.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an anode assembly for conducting an electrical supply current from a source to a destination, the anode assembly includes an anode formed into a first shape from sheet metal or other sheet-like conducting material. A cathode assembly conducts an electrical return current from the destination to the source, the cathode assembly includes a cathode formed into a second shape from sheet metal or other sheet-like conducting material. An insulator prevents electrical conduction between the anode and the cathode. The first and second shapes are such as to provide a conformity of one to the other, with the insulator therebetween having a predetermined relatively thin thickness.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first circuit board including first components including a load, and a second circuit board including second components including switching power devices and an output inductor. Ground and output voltage contacts between the circuit boards are made through soldered or connectorized interfaces. Certain components on the first circuit board and certain components, including the output inductor, on the second circuit board act as a DC-DC voltage converter for the load. An output capacitance for the conversion is on the first circuit board with no board-to-board interface between the output capacitance and the load. The inductance of the board-to-board interface functions as part of the output inductor's inductance and not as a parasitic inductance. Sense components for sensing current through the output inductor are located on the first circuit board. Parasitic inductance of the board-to-board interface has less effect on a sense signal provided to a controller.

Abstract: A sensor that detects contact using compression of a compliant material sandwiched between an electromagnetic signal transmitter and a corresponding signal receiver. Potential applications include inexpensive, robust collision sensors integrated into mobile robot bumpers, and sensors on robot grippers to detect grasping of an object. Deformation of the compliant material in response to contact forces changes the distance between the transmitter and the receiver, affecting the electromagnetic field between them. Changes in this electromagnetic field provide information on the location and magnitude of the contact forces. A transmitter and receiver may form opposing surfaces of a capacitor; the measured capacitance changes as the distance between transmitter and receiver changes. Alternatively, the strength of a received signal may be monitored to detect changing distance between transmitter and receiver. Shielding and signal filtering may be used to mitigate the effects of electromagnetic noise.

Abstract: A sensor that detects contact using compression of a compliant material sandwiched between an electromagnetic signal transmitter and a corresponding signal receiver. Potential applications include inexpensive, robust collision sensors integrated into mobile robot bumpers, and sensors on robot grippers to detect grasping of an object. Deformation of the compliant material in response to contact forces changes the distance between the transmitter and the receiver, affecting the electromagnetic field between them. Changes in this electromagnetic field provide information on the location and magnitude of the contact forces. A transmitter and receiver may form opposing surfaces of a capacitor; the measured capacitance changes as the distance between transmitter and receiver changes. Alternatively, the strength of a received signal may be monitored to detect changing distance between transmitter and receiver. Shielding and signal filtering may be used to mitigate the effects of electromagnetic noise.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first circuit board including first components including a load, and a second circuit board including second components including switching power devices and an output inductor. Ground and output voltage contacts between the circuit boards are made through soldered or connectorized interfaces. Certain components on the first circuit board and certain components, including the output inductor, on the second circuit board act as a DC-DC voltage converter for the load. An output capacitance for the conversion is on the first circuit board with no board-to-board interface between the output capacitance and the load. The inductance of the board-to-board interface functions as part of the output inductor's inductance and not as a parasitic inductance. Sense components for sensing current through the output inductor are located on the first circuit board. Parasitic inductance of the board-to-board interface has less effect on a sense signal provided to a controller.

Abstract: A redundant power supply apparatus includes at least two power inlets, at least two power supply units, and a common component. Each power inlet is connected to an AC power source. Each power supply unit has an input side and the at least two power supply units having a common output side, each input side is connected to the power inlet, and each power supply unit is configured to convert the AC power source into a DC power source. The common component is connected at the common output side and configured to receive DC power sources. Accordingly, the redundant power supply apparatus is provided to improve reliability of redundant operations between multiple external power sources without using mechanical switches.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an anode assembly for conducting an electrical supply current from a source to a destination, the anode assembly includes an anode formed into a first shape from sheet metal or other sheet-like conducting material. A cathode assembly conducts an electrical return current from the destination to the source, the cathode assembly includes a cathode formed into a second shape from sheet metal or other sheet-like conducting material. An insulator prevents electrical conduction between the anode and the cathode. The first and second shapes are such as to provide a conformity of one to the other, with the insulator therebetween having a predetermined relatively thin thickness.

Abstract: A power supply injects a series of “tickle” pulses into a pulse width modulated (PWM) controller to induce the controller to generate PWM pulses at a minimum switching frequency, preferably one that is super-sonic (especially for audio applications). The switching frequency may also be selected or controlled such that it avoids resonances in the power supply. The “tickle” pulses may be clocked by the same clock that times the PWM controller, and they may be shaped to help ensure that the power supply maintains some regulation during low-load conditions.

Abstract: A DC converter includes a non-isolated conversion module and an isolated conversion module. The non-isolated conversion module is implemented based on a redundant structure and has a first power conversion loop, a second power conversion loop, and an energy storage element. The first and second power conversion loops are connected and share the energy storage element. The energy storage element is further connected to an input terminal of the isolated conversion module. The first and second conversion loops of the non-isolated conversion module convert DC power outputted from two battery sets and output the converted power to the isolated conversion module. The isolated conversion module further supplies DC power to a load. Accordingly, power supply systems using the foregoing DC converter can reduce the number of transformer therein and thus size reduction of the power supply system can be achieved.

Abstract: A power supply injects a series of “tickle” pulses into a pulse width modulated (PWM) controller to induce the controller to generate PWM pulses at a minimum switching frequency, preferably one that is super-sonic (especially for audio applications). The switching frequency may also be selected or controlled such that it avoids resonances in the power supply. The “tickle” pulses may be clocked by the same clock that times the PWM controller, and they may be shaped to help ensure that the power supply maintains some regulation during low-load conditions.

Abstract: A power supply injects a series of “tickle” pulses into a pulse width modulated (PWM) controller to induce the controller to generate PWM pulses at a minimum switching frequency, preferably one that is super-sonic (especially for audio applications). The switching frequency may also be selected or controlled such that it avoids resonances in the power supply. The “tickle” pulses may be clocked by the same clock that times the PWM controller, and they may be shaped to help ensure that the power supply maintains some regulation during low-load conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus in which an outer conductive ring surrounds the periphery of a touch-sensitive surface of a touch sensor serving as a manually-operable control, wherein a portion of the outer conductive ring is also between the touch-sensitive surface and another manually-operable control that lacks the ability to sense the mere touch of a tip of a digit of a user. A processing device causes the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring to be measured on a recurring basis for instances of an amount of additional capacitance above a minimum capacitance threshold, and employs such amounts of additional capacitance in a comparison to distinguish between the user interacting with a control surface defined on the touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor or the other manually-operable control.

Abstract: A touch sensor employing capacitive sensing technology in which a series of conductive pads enabling the detection of levels of capacitance imparted to each of the conductive pads as a result of the close proximity of a tip of a digit of a user, in which adjacent pairs of the conductive pads form slider controls, in which one of the conductive pads is a corner-type conductive pad at which two adjacent slider controls formed by the corner-type conductive pad and each of two adjacent conductive pads forms a corner in the series of slider controls, and in which the series of slider controls perhaps forms a rectangular ring shape loop of slider controls in which there are four of the corner-type conductive pads at which four different pairs of slider controls meet at right angles.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing synchronous rectifier gate drive timing is described. The apparatus includes circuitry to receive a first signal. The apparatus also includes circuitry to generate a second signal by modifying the first signal to delay a transition from high to low for a non-zero overlap duration. An output to apply an inverse of the first signal as a gate drive timing of at least a first transistor and to apply the second signal as a gate drive timing of at least a second transistor, where the first transistor is a part of a primary side of a full-bridge synchronous rectifier and the second transistor is a part of a secondary side of the full-bridge synchronous rectifier is also included. The second signal and the inverse of the first signal are high during the overlap duration. Methods and program storage devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A power supply injects a series of “tickle” pulses into a pulse width modulated (PWM) controller to induce the controller to generate PWM pulses at a minimum switching frequency, preferably one that is super-sonic (especially for audio applications). The switching frequency may also be selected or controlled such that it avoids resonances in the power supply. The “tickle” pulses may be clocked by the same clock that times the PWM controller, and they may be shaped to help ensure that the power supply maintains some regulation during low-load conditions.