Abstract: An apparatus with a bus bar, a heat-pipe, and device, which has a metal structure, a metal element, and a transistor. The metal structure may include first and second surfaces, that are flat and opposite facing. The metal element may include first and second surfaces that are flat and opposite facing. The transistor may include first and second terminals between which electrical current is transmitted when the transistor is activated. The first and second terminals may include first and second surfaces, respectively, that are substantially flat and opposite facing. The first and second surfaces of the first and second terminals, respectively, may be sintered to the first and second surfaces, respectively, of the metal structure and the metal element, respectively. The heat-pipe is thermally connected to the bus bar. The second surface of the metal structure is electrically and thermally connected to the bus bar.

Abstract: An apparatus with a bus bar, a heat-pipe, and device, which has a metal structure, a metal element, and a transistor. The metal structure may include first and second surfaces, that are flat and opposite facing. The metal element may include first and second surfaces that are flat and opposite facing. The transistor may include first and second terminals between which electrical current is transmitted when the transistor is activated. The first and second terminals may include first and second surfaces, respectively, that are substantially flat and opposite facing. The first and second surfaces of the first and second terminals, respectively, may be sintered to the first and second surfaces, respectively, of the metal structure and the metal element, respectively. The heat-pipe is thermally connected to the bus bar. The second surface of the metal structure is electrically and thermally connected to the bus bar.

Abstract: An apparatus with a bus bar, a heat-pipe, and device, which has a metal structure, a metal element, and a transistor. The metal structure may include first and second surfaces, that are flat and opposite facing. The metal element may include first and second surfaces that are flat and opposite facing. The transistor may include first and second terminals between which electrical current is transmitted when the transistor is activated. The first and second terminals may include first and second surfaces, respectively, that are substantially flat and opposite facing. The first and second surfaces of the first and second terminals, respectively, may be sintered to the first and second surfaces, respectively, of the metal structure and the metal element, respectively. The heat-pipe is thermally connected to the bus bar. The second surface of the metal structure is electrically and thermally connected to the bus bar.

Abstract: An apparatus with a device having a metal structure, a metal element, a metal pedestal, and a transistor. Each of the metal structure, the metal element, and the metal pedestal may include first and second surfaces, which are substantially flat and opposite facing. The transistor may include first and second terminals, which may include first and second surfaces, respectively, that are substantially flat and opposite facing. The first surface of the metal pedestal may be electrically connected to the second surface of the metal element. The first and second surfaces of the first and second terminals, respectively, may be electrically connected to the first and second surfaces, respectively, of the metal structure and the metal pedestal, respectively. The second surface of the metal structure can be electrically and thermally connected to a bus bar.

Abstract: A power converter that includes a bus bar, a transistor, and a heat-pipe. The transistor includes first and second terminals between which current is transmitted when the first transistor is activated, and a gate terminal for controlling the transistor. The terminal is thermally and electrically connected to the bus bar. The heat-pipe is thermally connected to the first bus bar.

Abstract: A device that includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a metal conductor, and a transistor. The metal conductor includes first and second oppositely facing surfaces. The transistor includes first and second terminals between which current is transmitted when the transistor is activated, and a gate terminal for controlling the transistor. The first terminal is sintered to the first surface, and the gate is electrically connected to a trace on the PCB.

Abstract: A first differential amplifier output drives a first winding of a stepper motor and a second differential amplifier output drives a second winding of the stepper motor. Inputs of the first and second differential amplifiers receive input drive signals generated by either a digital to analog converter or a pulse width modulator, where the input drive signals are phase offset sinusoids. Current flowing through a stepper motor winding is sensed to generate a current sense signal. A stall sensing circuit processes the current sense signal to determine whether the stepper motor has stalled by: taking a first derivative of the current sense signal to generate a first derivative signal; taking a second derivative of the current sense signal to generate a second derivative signal; and processing one or more of the current sense signal, the first derivative signal and the second derivative signal to detect a stepper motor stall condition.

Abstract: A first differential amplifier output drives a first winding of a stepper motor and a second differential amplifier output drives a second winding of the stepper motor. Inputs of the first and second differential amplifiers receive input drive signals generated by either a digital to analog converter or a pulse width modulator, where the input drive signals are phase offset sinusoids. Current flowing through a stepper motor winding is sensed to generate a current sense signal. A stall sensing circuit processes the current sense signal to determine whether the stepper motor has stalled by: taking a first derivative of the current sense signal to generate a first derivative signal; taking a second derivative of the current sense signal to generate a second derivative signal; and processing one or more of the current sense signal, the first derivative signal and the second derivative signal to detect a stepper motor stall condition.