Abstract: An electrochemical cell thermal testing fixture and related apparatus are provided for connection to a battery cycler. The thermal testing fixture comprises a temperature-controlled plate configured to contact a surface of a cylindrical electrochemical cell, and a cell stand, comprising positive and negative contacts, configured to receive the cell. In some examples, the negative contact is configured to contact the sidewall of a cylindrical cell. An electrochemical cell thermal testing fixture system is also provided, comprising a plurality of individually controlled thermal testing fixtures coupled together.

Abstract: A control system for an electrical motor comprises a rotor, a stator having a plurality of phase windings, and an inverter for applying voltage to the plurality of phase windings by connecting individual phase windings to a first or second voltage level. The control system is configured to measure a first rate of change of current in a first phase winding, of said plurality of phase windings, connected to the first voltage level, to measure a second rate of change of current in a second, different phase winding connected to the first voltage level, and to calculate a difference between the first and second rate of change of current. The control system is further configured to use the calculated difference to obtain data related to a position of the rotor.

Abstract: A control system for an electrical motor comprises a rotor, a stator having a plurality of phase windings, and an inverter for applying voltage to the plurality of phase windings by connecting individual phase windings to a first or second voltage level. The control system is configured to measure a first rate of change of current in a first phase winding, of said plurality of phase windings, connected to the first voltage level, to measure a second rate of change of current in a second, different phase winding connected to the first voltage level, and to calculate a difference between the first and second rate of change of current. The control system is further configured to use the calculated difference to obtain data related to a position of the rotor.

Abstract: A supercharger includes a magnetic flux switching motor and a wheel. The motor includes a rotor; a stator stores the rotor therein and includes stator projecting portions projecting inward in a radial direction from an internal circumferential portion toward the rotor; a field source provided in a field slot formed between the stator projecting portions to generate a magnetic field of a constant direction; an armature coil provided in an armature slot; and a controller applying a single-phase current to the armature coil and changing a direction of the applied single-phase current to change a direction of a magnetic field generated from the armature coil and rotate the rotor. The wheel is attached to the rotor, and rotates together with rotation of the rotor to compress the air.

Abstract: There is described a system for measuring an environmental parameter such as temperature experienced by a resistive component such as a thermistor (107) in a galvanically isolated circuit, or for measuring the voltage developed by a component. The system comprises a measurement circuit (1) comprising a voltage pulse generator (114). The measurement circuit is inductively coupled to the galvanically isolated circuit by a flyback transformer (101) such that a stable voltage (V104) across a first capacitor (114) in the measurement circuit after many voltage pulses is proportional to a stable voltage (V106) across a second capacitor (106) connected across the component in the galvanically isolated circuit. The stable voltages across the first and second capacitors are adjustable by adjusting a duty cycle of the voltage pulses.

Abstract: A point-of-sale security activation card is provided. The card includes first and second card panels, a security element selectively interposed between the card panels, and machine readable content carried by either or both of the card panels. An inside panel surface of the first card panel is characterized by a revealable information field comprised of revealable information. The second card panel includes a tab, the tab overlying an end portion of the revealable information field of the first card panel. The security element includes a body, and a head extending therefrom. The head underlies the tab of the second card panel, the body overlying a substantial portion of the revealable information and intersecting with the machine readable content. Manipulation of the tab in furtherance of revealing the revealable information results in corruption of the machine readable content by the security element.

Abstract: There is described a synchronous reluctance machine having a plurality of poles and comprising a stator with a plurality of spaced slots and a rotor. The rotor has one direct axis and one quadrature axis for each pole and comprises a plurality of flux barriers, each extending to a circumference thereof at least one barrier point. Successive angular separations between barrier points around the circumference of the rotor increase or decrease when moving around half a pole pitch from an initial axis to an adjacent finishing axis, the initial axis being one of a direct axis or a quadrature axis and the finishing axis being the other of a direct axis and a quadrature axis. The increase or decrease in size may be governed by a systematic progressive series.

Abstract: A power adaptor (20) is provided, comprising an input (22) for connection to an AC power supply, and a resonant circuit (34) coupled to the input (22) that provides an output suitable for driving a load (50). The capacitance and inductance of the resonant circuit (34) are selected to provide a pre-determined change in effective voltage, and a corresponding pre-determined change in effective current, between the input (22) and the output (24) of the power adaptor (20).

Abstract: There is described a synchronous reluctance machine having a plurality of poles and comprising a stator with a plurality of spaced slots and a rotor. The rotor has one direct axis and one quadrature axis for each pole and comprises a plurality of flux barriers, each extending to a circumference thereof at least one barrier point. Successive angular separations between barrier points around the circumference of the rotor increase or decrease when moving around half a pole pitch from an initial axis to an adjacent finishing axis, the initial axis being one of a direct axis or a quadrature axis and the finishing axis being the other of a direct axis and a quadrature axis. The increase or decrease in size may be governed by a systematic progressive series.

Abstract: A torque tool includes an electrical machine drive system, an electronic controller and a gear system. The drive system includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor includes a pattern of regions of relatively high magnetic permeability interspersed with regions of relatively low magnetic permeability extending generally parallel to the motor shaft such that there is a plurality of magnetic poles distributed circumferentially around the motor shaft. The stator includes electrical windings dispersed in slots disposed around an inner surface of the stator, the slots extending generally parallel to the motor shaft such that, when current flows in the windings, a stator magnetic field generated by the current has the same number of magnetic poles as the rotor. The electronic controller is configured to control the current flow in the stator windings to cause the stator poles to rotate in synchronism with rotation of the motor.

Abstract: A control system for an electronically commutated motor (401) can rotate smoothly to very low speeds without using a high resolution encoder and can respond to variations in load without excessive speed fluctuations. The control system can be applied to motors operating with low resolution encoders and motors operating with sensorless rotor position feedback. The electronic control system can vary the magnitude and frequency of the stator excitation applied to one or more stator phase windings, the electronic control system comprising a frequency setting section (402) and a magnitude setting section (403) characterized by the fact that the frequency setting section (402) is constrained to operate over a limited range of frequencies, the maximum frequency being a function which is closely related to the frequency associated with rotation of the rotor at the desired speed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a design for flux switching machines with one or more armature windings which can deliver controlled torque, in either selected direction on start up, without the use of a mechanical position sensor. Flux switching machines without sensors can operate equally well in either direction. The invention discloses design features for such machines which improves the torque profile of the motor with angle. In three phase machines this delivers higher torque and lower ripple torque. In single phase flux switching machines the invention allows the rotor to be placed in a position where maximum torque can be delivered in either direction by selection of either positive or negative armature current. Rotor slotting is introduced to create a path of low permeability across a rotor tooth with minimal impact on the normal torque producing flux paths. Asymmetry of stator slots is used to further create a stable rotor position when energized by predominantly field means or armature means.

Abstract: There is described a system for measuring an environmental parameter such as temperature experienced by a resistive component such as a thermistor (107) in a galvanically isolated circuit, or for measuring the voltage developed by a component. The system comprises a measurement circuit (1) comprising a voltage pulse generator (114). The measurement circuit is inductively coupled to the galvanically isolated circuit by a flyback transformer (101) such that a stable voltage (V104) across a first capacitor (114) in the measurement circuit after many voltage pulses is proportional to a stable voltage (V106) across a second capacitor (106) connected across the component in the galvanically isolated circuit. The stable voltages across the first and second capacitors are adjustable by adjusting a duty cycle of the voltage pulses.

Abstract: A power adaptor (20) is provided, comprising an input (22) for connection to an AC power supply, and a resonant circuit (34) coupled to the input (22) that provides an output suitable for driving a load (50). The capacitance and inductance of the resonant circuit (34) are selected to provide a pre-determined change in effective voltage, and a corresponding pre-determined change in effective current, between the input (22) and the output (24) of the power adaptor (20).

Abstract: A power adaptor (20) is provided, comprising an input (22) for connection to an AC power supply, and a resonant circuit (34) coupled to the input (22) that provides an output suitable for driving a load (50). The capacitance and inductance of the resonant circuit (34) are selected to provide a pre-determined change in effective voltage, and a corresponding pre-determined change in effective current, between the input (22) and the output (24) of the power adaptor (20).

Abstract: An electronic resonant circuit of very high efficiency which is suitable for driving loads with a known and controlled current. The resonant circuit has input terminals and output terminals with a first reactance Xs, in series with an input terminal, a second reactance XL, in series with an output terminal, and a reactance Xp, connected such that there is a series connection path between the first input terminal through Xs and Xp to the second input terminal and such that there is also a second series connection path between the first output terminal through XL and Xp to the second output terminal the input terminals being driven from a high frequency inverter, the output terminals being connected to a load, the value of the reactances Xs, XL and Xp being chosen such that at least one frequency, the reactances of Xs, XL and Xp are approximately similar in magnitude.

Abstract: The present invention relates to control of synchronous machines. A sensorless control system for an electrical machine is provided comprising a rotor and a stator having one or more phase windings for generating a rotating stator magnetic field. The current in the phase windings is monitored to determine real and imaginary components of the current vector in a rotating reference frame, from which real and imaginary components of the emf vector rotating in the rotating reference frame can also be determined. The ratio of the real and imaginary emf components is calculated, and an angular position of the rotational emf vector is estimated from this ratio. An angular error signal indicative of the deviation of the estimated angular position from a desired position in line with the real axis of the rotating reference frame is determined, and the machine is controlled such that the error signal tends towards zero.

Abstract: A power supply circuit having at least two conversion stages wherein the first conversion stage includes input terminals for connection to an ac or dc supply, an electronic converter with constant output current characteristics and output terminals for connection to at least one second conversion stages. Each second conversion stage includes input terminals to receive a substantially constant current input from a first conversion stage, current multiplier circuit and output terminals for connection to a load. The electric converter of the first conversion stage is a high frequency resonance converter having a series parallel resonant converter with an inductance connected in series with a capacitor. The output terminals for connection to the second conversion stage are connected across the capacitor and the inductance. Circuits are particularly suitable for lighting applications, for controlling the large number of LEDs in LED display panels or in backlighting for televisions and LCD displays.

Abstract: There is an increasing need for simple and low cost power supplies to control loads such as battery chargers and LEDs. It is the object of this invention to provide an alternative method for the control of current in such loads with very high efficiency and to reduce the variation of load current with supply voltage. This invention is particularly relevant to LED power supplies or battery chargers and provides an electronic power supply for the control of an electrical load connected to an electrical source, the electrical load comprising a main load with at least one LED and an auxiliary load with at least one LED, the electronic power supply comprising a series compensation block connected in series with the main load and the voltage source, the series compensation block providing a voltage in opposition to the voltage source by directly controlling the power delivered to the auxiliary load and indirectly controlling the power converted in the main load.

Abstract: There is described a torque tool comprising a synchronous reluctance motor. The torque tool comprises an electrical machine drive system, an electronic controller and a gear system. The drive system comprises a rotor and a stator arranged around the rotor. The rotor is attached to a motor shaft and comprises a pattern of regions of relatively high magnetic permeability interspersed with regions of relatively low magnetic permeability extending generally parallel to the motor shaft such that there is a plurality of magnetic poles distributed circumferentially around the motor shaft. The stator comprises electrical windings dispersed in slots disposed around an inner surface of the stator, the slots extending generally parallel to the motor shaft such that, when current flows in the windings, a stator magnetic field generated by the current has the same number of magnetic poles as the rotor.