Abstract: An electrically assisted street scooter includes a handlebar, a deck, front and back wheels, a battery pack integral with the deck, an electrical motor for driving at least one of the wheels, and a drive circuit for controlling electrical supply to the electrical motor from the battery pack. The drive circuit includes a switch for setting the drive circuit in a low power-mode where the electrical motor is not powered when the switch is off, or for setting the drive circuit in a drive mode where the electrical motor can be powered when the switch is on. An auto-power on circuit automatically switches the switch on when a user pushes the street scooter. An auto-power off circuit automatically switches the switch off when the scooter is not used during a predetermined duration. The level of electrical assistance is determined based on the peak value after each leg push.

Abstract: A power hand tool comprises a trigger (23), a motor (22), a blade (25) driven by the motor (22), and electronic circuit (10) for controlling the angular position or the speed of the motor (22) on the basis of the instantaneous position of the trigger (23). The electronic circuit (10) is arranged to detect a predefined movement sequence of the trigger (23) and to execute a function in response to the detection of such a sequence.

Abstract: A system for contactless transmission of energy and control signals between a primary device and a secondary device. The primary device has a primary set with at least one primary coil and an electronic supply driver for supplying primary signals to the primary set of primary coils. A secondary device has a secondary set with at least one secondary coil, at least one piezoelectric actuator, and electronic components including a resonant circuit powered by the secondary set. The piezoelectric actuator is powered and controlled through the secondary set of secondary coils and the electronic components.

Abstract: Method for determining the position of a rotor in a brushless motor or in a stepper motor, said method including the following steps: applying a voltage in at least one powered phase of the motor; measuring, in an unpowered phase of the motor, the voltage induced by mutual inductance between phases; and determining said position and/or the speed of the rotor from said induced voltage.

Abstract: A power hand tool comprising: a trigger (23); a motor (22); a blade (25) driven by said motor (22), an electronic circuit (10) for controlling the angular position or the speed of the motor (22) on the basis of the instantaneous position of the trigger. The electronic circuit (10) is arranged to detect a predefined movement sequence of the trigger (23) and to execute a function in response to the detection of such a sequence.

Abstract: A system for contactless transmission of energy and control signals between a primary device and a secondary device. The primary device has a primary set with at least one primary coil and an electronic supply driver for supplying primary signals to the primary set of primary coils. A secondary device has a secondary set with at least one secondary coil, at least one piezoelectric actuator, and electronic components including a resonant circuit powered by the secondary set. The piezoelectric actuator is powered and controlled through the secondary set of secondary coils and the electronic components.

Abstract: An electrically assisted street scooter includes a handlebar, a deck, front and back wheels, a battery pack integral with the deck, an electrical motor for driving at least one of the wheels, and a drive circuit for controlling electrical supply to the electrical motor from the battery pack. The drive circuit includes a switch for setting the drive circuit in a low power-mode where the electrical motor is not powered when the switch is off, or for setting the drive circuit in a drive mode where the electrical motor can be powered when the switch is on. An auto-power on circuit automatically switches the switch on when a user pushes the street scooter. An auto-power off circuit automatically switches the switch off when the scooter is not used during a predetermined duration. The level of electrical assistance is determined based on the peak value after each leg push.

Abstract: An apparatus for powering an electric hand-held power tool device by an output voltage includes at least two connectors for connecting the apparatus to at least two batteries. At least two switches, and a command circuit of the switches, are provided. The command circuit is arranged for commanding the powering of the electric hand-held power tool device by using the battery which presents the highest open circuit voltage if the output voltage is higher than the open circuit voltage of each of the other batteries. And, by using the battery which presents the highest open circuit voltage and at least one other battery if the output voltage is lower than the open circuit voltage of the other battery, the battery which presents the highest open circuit voltage and the at least one other battery being connected in parallel.

Abstract: The methods and devices provided herein include methods and devices for controlling a permanent magnet motor. In one implementation, a method is provided that allows for the determination of the values of the phase back EMF voltage and of the phase inductances while the phases are powered with a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) controlled current and/or voltage.

Abstract: Method for determining the position of a rotor in a brushless motor or in a stepper motor, said method including the following steps: applying a voltage in at least one powered phase of the motor; measuring, in an unpowered phase of the motor, the voltage induced by mutual inductance between phases; and determining said position and/or the speed of the rotor from said induced voltage.

Abstract: A handpiece and system having a surgical handpiece adapted to perform an operation on a patient, the surgical handpiece having a primary circuit being driven by an applied signal. A controller is operatively coupled to supply operating power to the surgical handpiece. A hand switch is operatively coupled in conjunction with the surgical handpiece to at least partially control an operation of the surgical handpiece. The switch has a secondary resonant circuit receiving the applied signal from the primary circuit and couples a response signal back to the primary circuit. Detection circuitry, operatively coupled to primary circuit, is responsive to a characteristic parameter of the response signal indicative of the presence of the hand switch in proximity of the surgical handpiece.

Abstract: A handpiece and system having a surgical handpiece adapted to perform an operation on a patient, the surgical handpiece having a primary circuit being driven by an applied signal. A controller is operatively coupled to supply operating power to the surgical handpiece. A hand switch is operatively coupled in conjunction with the surgical handpiece to at least partially control an operation of the surgical handpiece. The switch has a secondary resonant circuit receiving the applied signal from the primary circuit and couples a response signal back to the primary circuit. Detection circuitry, operatively coupled to primary circuit, is responsive to a characteristic parameter of the response signal indicative of the presence of the hand switch in proximity of the surgical handpiece.

Abstract: A handpiece and system having a surgical handpiece adapted to perform an operation on a patient, the surgical handpiece having a primary circuit being driven by an applied signal. A controller is operatively coupled to supply operating power to the surgical handpiece. A hand switch is operatively coupled in conjunction with the surgical handpiece to at least partially control an operation of the surgical handpiece. The switch has a secondary resonant circuit receiving the applied signal from the primary circuit and couples a response signal back to the primary circuit. Detection circuitry, operatively coupled to primary circuit, is responsive to a characteristic parameter of the response signal indicative of the presence of the hand switch in proximity of the surgical handpiece.

Abstract: The methods and devices provided herein include methods and devices for controlling a permanent magnet motor. In one implementation, a method is provided that allows for the determination of the values of the phase back EMF voltage and of the phase inductances while the phases are powered with a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) controlled current and/or voltage.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided for controlling a motor having three phases driven by a motor driver. In one implementation, the electronic device includes a detection means and a control circuit. The detection means includes three high-gain differential amplifiers and three A/D converters. The detection means detects back EMF voltages induced by the rotation of the motor and applies corresponding signals to the control circuit. The control circuit computes and filters the position and/or the speed of the motor and then delivers the filtered values of the computed rotor position and/or speed to control the motor driver. The motor may thus be controlled even at near-zero rotational speed.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided for controlling a motor having three phases driven by a motor driver. In one implementation, the electronic device includes a detection means and a control circuit. The detection means includes three high-gain differential amplifiers and three A/D converters. The detection means detects back EMF voltages induced by the rotation of the motor and applies corresponding signals to the control circuit. The control circuit computes and filters the position and/or the speed of the motor and then delivers the filtered values of the computed rotor position and/or speed to control the motor driver. The motor may thus be controlled even at near-zero rotational speed.

Abstract: A handpiece and system having a surgical handpiece adapted to perform an operation on a patient, the surgical handpiece having a primary circuit being driven by an applied signal. A controller is operatively coupled to supply operating power to the surgical handpiece. A hand switch is operatively coupled in conjunction with the surgical handpiece to at least partially control an operation of the surgical handpiece. The switch has a secondary resonant circuit receiving the applied signal from the primary circuit and couples a response signal back to the primary circuit. Detection circuitry, operatively coupled to primary circuit, is responsive to a characteristic parameter of the response signal indicative of the presence of the hand switch in proximity of the surgical handpiece.

Abstract: An electric motor for use in a surgical procedure, including a motor output member, a driven member and a driving member. The driven member is coupled to the motor output member. The driving member includes a winding and a magnetic portion comprising a nanocrystalline alloy. The driving member, or at least the magnetic portion thereof, is disposed proximate the driven member such that energizing the driving member imparts motion to the driven member.

Abstract: A method and device for controlling a synchronous permanent magnet motor with at least one phase, a coil and a rotor, wherein the method and device controls the powering of each motor phase, simultaneously measures the voltage of each motor phase, determines the rotor speed and the motor load from the measured voltage; determines a variable frequency from the speed and the load, samples at the variable frequency output signals from the voltage measurement of each phase; determines the rotor position from the sampled signals; and controls the powering of each motor phase as a function of the rotor position. The device is powered from an electric power source and comprises a power bridge powering the motor coil, a unit for controlling the powering of the coil, a circuit for measuring the voltage of each motor phase and means for sampling, at a variable frequency, signals from the measuring circuit.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor control apparatus and method for regulating the speed of a motor at a nominal speed. The apparatus maintains a nominal motor speed without the use of conventional rotor position location devices such as Hall sensors. The current speed of the motor is determined using the back EMF zero-crossing measured only on complete rotor revolutions to mitigate motor dissymmetry errors. A control system compares the current speed to a desired speed and adjusts the total motor current to attain the desired speed. As a result, highly accurate speed control is maintained.