Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods involve thrust generation by interaction of an armature field with a stator field in an arrangement with substantially reduced flux coupling from the armature to the stator coil. In an illustrative example, solenoid coil segments may be arranged as the stator along a path of motion for the armature. In some examples, each armature may surround and overlap with at least one of the toroidal coil segments. Counter-electromotive force may be substantially reduced, for example, by stopping current flow in a stator coil while overlapped by the armature or while substantial armature flux couples to the stator coil. Thrust may be generated, in some examples, by interaction of armature and stator coil flux in arc-shaped regions external to and between each of the leading and trailing edges of the armature and their respective nearby stator coils.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated systems and methods may relate to a process for supplying unidirectional current to a load, controlling a reverse electromotive force (REMF), capturing inductive energy from the load, and supplying the captured inductive energy to the load. In an illustrative example, an operating cycle may include a sequence of operations. First, inductive energy captured from the load on a previous cycle may be supplied to the load. Second, energy may be supplied to the load from an external power source. Third, a REMF voltage may be substantially controlled upon disconnecting the power source from the load. Fourth, the load current may be brought to zero by capturing the inductive energy for use on a subsequent cycle. In some embodiments, a single power stage may supply a DC inductive load, or a pair of power stages may be operated to supply bidirectional current to an AC load.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods involve a controllable supply adapted for controlling switch phasing and pulse width to substantially equalize power in adjacent quadrants of a sinusoidal source voltage waveform to regulate reactive power drawn from the source. In an illustrative example, the supply may, in some embodiments, deliver power to a load at a level responsive to a commanded input signal. In some examples, the power supplied to the load may be adjusted according to the command input signal to a selected value within an operating range. In some examples, the operating range may include a portion or all of 0 to 100% of rated load. Various embodiments may be adapted to supply unipolar or bipolar load excitation. In some embodiments, high power factor may be maintained over a substantial range of commanded power to the load. Certain embodiments may enhance supply efficiency by capturing and recycling inductive load energy.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods involve a controllable supply adapted for controlling switch phasing and pulse width to substantially equalize power in adjacent quadrants of a sinusoidal source voltage waveform to regulate reactive power drawn from the source. In an illustrative example, the supply may, in some embodiments, deliver power to a load at a level responsive to a commanded input signal. In some examples, the power supplied to the load may be adjusted according to the command input signal to a selected value within an operating range. In some examples, the operating range may include a portion or all of 0 to 100% of rated load. Various embodiments may be adapted to supply unipolar or bipolar load excitation. In some embodiments, high power factor may be maintained over a substantial range of commanded power to the load. Certain embodiments may enhance supply efficiency by capturing and recycling inductive load energy.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods involve thrust generation by interaction of an armature field with a stator field in an arrangement with substantially reduced flux coupling from the armature to the stator coil. In an illustrative example, solenoid coil segments may be arranged as the stator along a path of motion for the armature. In some examples, each armature may surround and overlap with at least one of the toroidal coil segments. Counter-electromotive force may be substantially reduced, for example, by stopping current flow in a stator coil while overlapped by the armature or while substantial armature flux couples to the stator coil. Thrust may be generated, in some examples, by interaction of armature and stator coil flux in arc-shaped regions external to and between each of the leading and trailing edges of the armature and their respective nearby stator coils.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide low harmonic distortion AC power for distribution by converting energy from natural or renewable sources into electrical form, and constructing a current waveform on a primary winding of a transformer by recapturing inductive energy previously stored in the transformer so as to transform the converted electrical energy into substantially sinusoidal AC voltage at a secondary winding of the transformer. For example, AC power may be supplied to a utility power grid from raw electrical energy from renewable energy sources (e.g., solar cells). An inverter may construct the primary winding current waveform using two unidirectional switches. On each half cycle, one of the switches first applies energy previously recaptured from primary winding inductance, and then applies the raw energy to the transformer primary winding at the utility power grid frequency. Accordingly, the constructed primary winding current may exhibit substantially improved total harmonic distortion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide low harmonic distortion AC power for distribution by converting energy from natural or renewable sources into electrical form, and constructing a current waveform on a primary winding of a transformer by recapturing inductive energy previously stored in the transformer so as to transform the converted electrical energy into substantially sinusoidal AC voltage at a secondary winding of the transformer. For example, AC power may be supplied to a utility power grid from raw electrical energy from renewable energy sources (e.g., solar cells). An inverter may construct the primary winding current waveform using two unidirectional switches. On each half cycle, one of the switches first applies energy previously recaptured from primary winding inductance, and then applies the raw energy to the transformer primary winding at the utility power grid frequency. Accordingly, the constructed primary winding current may exhibit substantially improved total harmonic distortion.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated systems and methods may relate to a process for supplying unidirectional current to a load, controlling a reverse electromotive force (REMF), capturing inductive energy from the load, and supplying the captured inductive energy to the load. In an illustrative example, an operating cycle may include a sequence of operations. First, inductive energy captured from the load on a previous cycle may be supplied to the load. Second, energy may be supplied to the load from an external power source. Third, a REMF voltage may be substantially controlled upon disconnecting the power source from the load. Fourth, the load current may be brought to zero by capturing the inductive energy for use on a subsequent cycle. In some embodiments, a single power stage may supply a DC inductive load, or a pair of power stages may be operated to supply bidirectional current to an AC load.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated systems and methods may relate to a process for supplying unidirectional current to a load, controlling a reverse electromotive force (REMF), capturing inductive energy from the load, and supplying the captured inductive energy to the load. In an illustrative example, an operating cycle may include a sequence of operations. First, inductive energy captured from the load on a previous cycle may be supplied to the load. Second, energy may be supplied to the load from an external power source. Third, a REMF voltage may be substantially controlled upon disconnecting the power source from the load. Fourth, the load current may be brought to zero by capturing the inductive energy for use on a subsequent cycle. In some embodiments, a single power stage may supply a DC inductive load, or a pair of power stages may be operated to supply bidirectional current to an AC load.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated systems and methods may relate to a process for supplying unidirectional current to a load, controlling a reverse electromotive force (REMF), capturing inductive energy from the load, and supplying the captured inductive energy to the load. In an illustrative example, an operating cycle may include a sequence of operations. First, inductive energy captured from the load on a previous cycle may be supplied to the load. Second, energy may be supplied to the load from an external power source. Third, a REMF voltage may be substantially controlled upon disconnecting the power source from the load. Fourth, the load current may be brought to zero by capturing the inductive energy for use on a subsequent cycle. In some embodiments, a single power stage may supply a DC inductive load, or a pair of power stages may be operated to supply bidirectional current to an AC load.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated systems and methods may relate to a process for supplying unidirectional current to a load, controlling a reverse electromotive force (REMF), capturing inductive energy from the load, and supplying the captured inductive energy to the load. In an illustrative example, an operating cycle may include a sequence of operations. First, inductive energy captured from the load on a previous cycle may be supplied to the load. Second, energy may be supplied to the load from an external power source. Third, a REMF voltage may be substantially controlled upon disconnecting the power source from the load. Fourth, the load current may be brought to zero by capturing the inductive energy for use on a subsequent cycle. In some embodiments, a single power stage may supply a DC inductive load, or a pair of power stages may be operated to supply bidirectional current to an AC load.

Abstract: Determining code coverage of a computer program is disclosed. In an embodiment, the program is divided into a plurality of code sections, and the program including the plurality of code sections is run with a plurality of test data sets. In the first test run, all code sections of the plurality of code sections are instrumented, and in each of a current test run other than the first test run, only those code sections that were not executed in any one of the test runs prior to the current test run are instrumented. A code section being executed in any of one of the test runs of the plurality of test runs is considered covered by the test runs. Additionally, within the current test run, the code coverage measurement is only done on the first execution of a code section.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated systems and methods may relate to a process for supplying unidirectional current to a load, controlling a reverse electromotive force (REMF), capturing inductive energy from the load, and supplying the captured inductive energy to the load. In an illustrative example, an operating cycle may include a sequence of operations. First, inductive energy captured from the load on a previous cycle may be supplied to the load. Second, energy may be supplied to the load from an external power source. Third, a REMF voltage may be substantially controlled upon disconnecting the power source from the load. Fourth, the load current may be brought to zero by capturing the inductive energy for use on a subsequent cycle. In some embodiments, a single power stage may supply a DC inductive load, or a pair of power stages may be operated to supply bidirectional current to an AC load.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dynamic instrumentation of an executable application program. The application program includes a plurality of functions, each function having an entry point and an endpoint. When the application is executed, a shared memory segment is created for an instrumentation program and the application program. Upon initial invocation of the original functions in the application program, corresponding substitute functions are created in the shared memory segment, the substitute versions including instrumentation code. Thereafter, the substitute functions are executed in lieu of the original functions in the application program.

Abstract: A pair of functions setjmp( ) and longjmp( ) shares the data related to the program context. When instrumentation starts, the instrumentation tool creates the instrumented code, resulting in two sets of program code, e.g., the original code and the instrumented code. Functions setjmp( ) and longjmp( ) in the instrumented code may be referred to as functions setjmp′( ) and longjmp′( ), respectively. In one embodiment, when function setjmp′( ) is reached, but before being executed, the setjmp′-continued location is identified, and based on this setjmp′-continued location, the corresponding setjmp-continued location is also identified and saved for later use. When un-instrumentation occurs, the instrumented code is discarded, execution reverts to the original code, and function longjmp( ) is executed, which, based on the saved information, causes execution to continue at the setjmp-continued location.

Abstract: A system and method for programming a digitally tunable oscillator is provided. A desired output frequency is received. A tuning effect of a set of digital tuning words on a crystal resonant frequency is determined, and valid parameters of an algorithm for translating and tuning the crystal resonant frequency to a value within an error tolerance of the desired frequency, based on the determined tuning effect are calculated. Valid parameters are preferably calculated based on an intermediate tuning value, sorted by ascending divide parameter of the algorithm, and then evaluated in sorted order for ability of a tuning effect to null frequency error to within the error tolerance. The valid set of calculated parameters are then programmed into a nonvolatile memory. The oscillator control parameters may remain unprogrammed until all necessary parameters are defined.

Abstract: A system and method for programming a digitally tunable oscillator is provided. A desired output frequency is received. A tuning effect of a set of digital tuning words on a crystal resonant frequency is determined, and valid parameters of an algorithm for translating and tuning the crystal resonant frequency to a value within an error tolerance of the desired frequency, based on the determined tuning effect are calculated. Valid parameters are preferably calculated based on an intermediate tuning value, sorted by ascending divide parameter of the algorithm, and then evaluated in sorted order for ability of a tuning effect to null frequency error to within the error tolerance. The valid set of calculated parameters are then programmed into a nonvolatile memory. The oscillator control parameters may remain unprogrammed until all necessary parameters are defined.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dynamic instrumentation of an executable application program. The application program includes a plurality of functions, each function having an entry point and an endpoint. When the application is executed, a shared memory segment is created for an instrumentation program and the application program. Upon initial invocation of the original functions in the application program, corresponding substitute functions are created in the shared memory segment, the substitute versions including instrumentation code. Thereafter, the substitute functions are executed in lieu of the original functions in the application program.

Abstract: A system and method for programming a digitally tunable oscillator is provided. A desired output frequency is received. A tuning effect of a set of digital tuning words on a crystal resonant frequency is determined, and valid parameters of an algorithm for translating and tuning the crystal resonant frequency to a value within an error tolerance of the desired frequency, based on the determined tuning effect are calculated. Valid parameters are preferably calculated based on an intermediate tuning value, sorted by ascending divide parameter of the algorithm, and then evaluated in sorted order for ability of a tuning effect to null frequency error to within the error tolerance. The valid set of calculated parameters are then programmed into a nonvolatile memory. The oscillator control parameters may remain unprogrammed until all necessary parameters are defined.