Abstract: A circuit provides an electrical output signal proportional to but electrically isolated from a current flowing in a power circuit, and more particularly, to the current supplied to the field or armature winding of a DC motor load which receives power from a rectifier circuit coupled to an AC power source. The circuit includes a transformer including at least two windings, a primary and a secondary, wound on a saturable core. The primary winding is coupled to the power circuit, whereas the secondary winding is coupled to an output circuit along with control circuit means which are adapted to keep the core out of saturation in response to a power current flowing in the primary winding which by itself is adapted to drive the core into saturation. Accordingly, the time the core is not in saturation an output current flows in the secondary winding, which is related to the primary current by the turns ratio of the transformer.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting the conductive state of a semiconductor device (e.g., a thyristor) which exhibits a substantial terminal to terminal voltage difference between its conducting and nonconducting states and which utilizes a gating signal to render the device conductive includes a bistable circuit (e.g., a flip-flop) which is placed into a first stable state with the occurrence of the gating signal. A voltage sensing circuit disposed across the semiconductor device is utilized to develop an additional signal which is applied to the bistable circuit to thereby place that latter circuit into its second stable state. The state of the bistable circuit is representative of the conductive state of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an overload protective circuit for an electric motor which is adaped to monitor and track motor temperature as a function of an operating parameter, namely armature current. The motor's armature current is sensed and converted to a multi-bit digital signal which is used to address a programmable read only memory (PROM) which has been pre-programmed with discrete digital values of temperature for a plurality of armature currents for the motor being protected. The digital address signal for the armature motor current is periodically updated at a relatively rapid rate and depending upon the armature current sensed, multi-bit temperature values are outputted from the PROM to a digital latch which operates a relatively slower rate to output another address back to the PROM so as to predict what the temperature will be at the next time increment based on the present current value and the present temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exciter circuit for an electrical load such as the field winding of a direct current (DC) motor. The exciter circuit regulates the DC current applied to the load from an alternating current (AC) source in response to an isolated feedback signal developed by means of a saturating square loop current transformer. The current signal developed is compared against a signal corresponding to the desired current value and an error signal is generated which is fed to photo-optical firing circuit means which are coupled to and operative to control at least one thyristor (SCR) which, when rendered conductive, is adapted to provide a freewheeling current path for the load current during the half cycle of the AC line voltage when it is disconnected from the load by at least a half wave rectifier. The present invention includes embodiments for both single and bidirectional current flow through the load which, as noted above, preferably comprises the field winding of a DC motor.

Abstract: A motor drive system having a direct current, shunt motor utilized in a web coiling operation and operated in a tension control mode includes circuitry to automatically provide compensation for inertial effects of the drive and the web coil during periods of acceleration and deceleration.

Abstract: A shorting clip, for use with a semiconductor package, for shorting the several package leads comprises a conductive member having leg portions to electrically contact each of the leads of the package. Retaining means cooperating with resilient means operative to bias the package and clip apart serve to maintain the clip-package assembly in positive registration.