Abstract: A motor includes a rotor and a plurality of pairs of electromagnets. The energy needed for alignment of the rotor is used to generate the first movement in forced commutation and may be combined with the initial energy to start the motor. The logic is configured to align the rotor by energizing the three coils of the motor. PWM is applied to the first coil to control current on the coils; when a maximum PWM duty cycle is reached, the coil not required to rotate the correct direction are released, thereby initiating motion in a rotor. A rotation period is determined. One or more pairs of electromagnets are excited at a first excitation level which may be increased, over a second period, to a second level. The second level may be a higher level than the first level. The rotation period may be decreased over the first and second periods.

Abstract: System and method for digitizing analog voltage signals. A first voltage signal may be received at a comparator. A ramp signal may be received at the comparator. The ramp signal may be generated by a ramp generator. An output signal may be generated by the comparator. The output signal may indicate whether the analog voltage signal or the ramp signal is greater. The output signal may be conveyed to logic circuitry by the comparator. Control information may be conveyed by the logic circuitry to the ramp generator. The ramp generator may generate the ramp signal based on the control information. The logic circuitry may determine a digital representation of the first voltage signal based on the output signal from the comparator and the control information.

Abstract: System and method for aligning and initiating rotation of a rotor in a motor. The motor may include the rotor and a plurality of pairs of electromagnets. The energy needed for alignment of the rotor of the motor may be used to generate the first movement in forced commutation. The energy needed for alignment may be combined with the initial energy to start the motor. The logic may be configured to align the rotor of the motor by energizing the three coils of the motor. Pulse width modulation may be applied to the first coil to control current on the coils; when a maximum PWM duty cycle is reached, the coil not required to rotate the correct direction may be released, thereby initiating motion in a rotor of the three phase motor. A rotation period may be determined. One or more pairs of electromagnets of the plurality of pairs of electromagnets may be excited at a first excitation level. The excitation level may be increased, over a second period of time, to a second excitation level.

Abstract: System and method for digitizing analog voltage signals. A first voltage signal may be received at a comparator. A ramp signal may be received at the comparator. The ramp signal may be generated by a ramp generator. An output signal may be generated by the comparator. The output signal may indicate whether the analog voltage signal or the ramp signal is greater. The output signal may be conveyed to logic circuitry by the comparator. Control information may be conveyed by the logic circuitry to the ramp generator. The ramp generator may generate the ramp signal based on the control information. The logic circuitry may determine a digital representation of the first voltage signal based on the output signal from the comparator and the control information.

Abstract: A non-isolated buck converter with input and output current steering. The input current steering is connected across the input switching transistor and steers input current to the output when the switch is turned off, thereby preventing the input current from pulsating between on and off states. The output current steering is connected across the low-pass output filter and further steers the steered input current back to the input dc voltage source. This prevents the steered input current from adding to the normal output current and thereby producing a pulsating output current. The ratio of the output dc voltage to the input dc voltage is proportional to the switching duty cycle.

Abstract: A non-isolated boost converter with input and output current steering. The input current steering is connected across the input switching transistor, is magnetically coupled to the input inductor and conducts the input current when the switch is turned off, thereby reducing ripple in the input current. The output current steering is connected across the diode in the low-pass output filter and is magnetically coupled to the input inductor to generate an induced current for the output filter when the switch is turned on, thereby preventing the output current from pulsating. With the output filter connected across the switch, a boost converter is formed with the output dc voltage being greater than the input dc voltage in relation to the switching duty cycle. With the output filter connected across the input inductor, a buck-boost converter is formed with the output dc voltage being greater than or less than the input dc voltage in relation to the switching duty cycle.