Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator includes a housing and a bobbin positioned within the housing and secured relative thereto so as to be centered therein, the bobbin comprising a bobbin formed of a non-magnetic material. The electromagnetic actuator also includes a coil wound about the bobbin and a magnetic circuit comprising a plurality of actuator components positioned within the housing and on or adjacent to the bobbin. The actuator components include a permanent magnet that induces a magnetic flux flow through the magnetic circuit so as to generate a magnetic force, and an armature selectively movable within an opening formed through the bobbin responsive to the magnetic force and to current selectively provided to the coil. The bobbin locates and centers the components of the magnetic circuit about the central axis and provides a bearing surface for the armature as it moves within the opening formed through the bobbin.

Abstract: An electrical connection element is for a power connector. The power connector includes an electrical component having a number of first electrical mating members. The electrical connection element comprises: a housing including a number of second electrical mating members structured to be electrically connected to the number of first electrical mating members; a contact assembly enclosed by the housing and being electrically connected to the number of second electrical mating members; and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the contact assembly. The contact assembly is structured to electrically connect and disconnect power while the number of first electrical mating members remain mechanically coupled to the number of second electrical mating members.

Abstract: A latching electromechanical actuator (9) includes a soft iron armature (31) movable between first and second positions, a permanent magnet (5A), a solenoid (23), and a soft iron external frame (11). The permanent magnet (5A) may be stationary relative to the solenoid (23) and operative to hold the armature (31) stably in either the first position or the second position. The actuator (9) provides two distinct magnetic flux paths (24A, 24B), one or the other of which is the primary flux path for the permanent magnet (5A) depending on whether the position of armature (31). Both flux paths pass through the armature (31). One of the flux paths may pass through the external frame (11). The other does not. The actuator (9) may include two permanent magnets (5) performing complementary roles for the first and second positions. The actuator (9) can be simply constructed, compact, and highly efficient.

Abstract: A voltage sensor system for sensing voltage in a conductor, the voltage sensor system including a first plate, a first electrode disposed a first distance away from the first plate, a second plate, a second electrode disposed a second distance away from the second plate, a control unit structured to control one of the first plate and the second plate to be grounded and the other of the first plate and the second plate to be electrically floating, and a differential amplifier electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode and being structured to output an output voltage that is proportional to a difference in voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: An electric machine may include a plurality of stator sections each formed from one or more stator laminations stacked to form a stator. The stator may have windings arranged therein to form magnetic poles. The stator may surround a rotor. A diamagnetic or paramagnetic stator layer may be interposed between at least one adjacent pair of the stator sections.

Abstract: An electric machine may include an adjacent pair of laminations each defining pockets having permanent magnets arranged therein to form magnetic poles. The laminations may be stacked in a pole-skewed fashion to form a portion of a rotor. A stator may surround the rotor. The machine may further include a separator lamination between the adjacent pair defining cutout portions having a shape based on a superposition of shapes of the pockets to increase a reluctance of leakage paths between the permanent magnets.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for specialized shaped charges that perforate similar sized diameter holes regardless of the fluid gaps between the shaped charge and the casing wall.

Abstract: Multi-layer capacitor divider voltage sensors include a plurality of voltage sensor conductive layers having sensor to ground interface surfaces. Respective voltage sensor conductive layers are connected to each other and sensor output voltage Vs by continuations of material forming the interface surfaces extending therebetween. The voltage sensors also include a plurality of conductive ground layers connected to electrical ground, the ground layers interleaved with the voltage sensor conductive layers so that a conductive ground layer resides between adjacent conductive voltage sensor layers. A first voltage sensor conductive layer (closest to a line conductor) is electrically connected to the other conductive voltage sensor layers and output voltage Vs and has a sensor to conductor interface surface with a corresponding interface area.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a valvetrain having a rocker arm assembly including a rocker arm on which a latch pin is mounted. An actuator for the latch pin, including an electromagnet, is mounted separately from the rocker arm. Therefore, the rocker arm is able to move independently from the electromagnet. The electromagnet is operative to cause the latch pin to actuate through magnetic flux following a magnetic circuit that passes through the rocker arm. Mounting the electromagnet apart from the rocker arm allows wires powering the electromagnet to be held in relatively static positions. The magnetic circuit is arranged to bring magnetic flux into the latch pin, or a co-acting part, within the volume of the rocker arm. This enables a compact design that is suitable for installation in engines where the available space under the valve cover may be very limited.

Abstract: An aircraft for use in fixed wing flight mode and rotor flight mode is provided. The aircraft can include a fuselage, wings, and a plurality of engines. The fuselage can comprise a wing attachment region further comprising a rotating support. A rotating section can comprise a rotating support and the wings, with a plurality of engines attached to the rotating section. In a rotor flight mode, the rotating section can rotate around a longitudinal axis of the fuselage providing lift for the aircraft similar to the rotor of a helicopter. In a fixed wing flight mode, the rotating section does not rotate around a longitudinal axis of the fuselage, providing lift for the aircraft similar to a conventional airplane. The same engines that provide torque to power the rotor in rotor flight mode also power the aircraft in fixed wing flight mode.

Abstract: A voltage regulation system provides a relatively stable voltage source without introducing the typical costs of a ground buffer. The disclosed voltage regulation system includes a voltage regulator that is operative to detect a change of the load current and regulate a current bypass mechanism to stabilize a total supply current. For example, the voltage regulator includes a current sensor and a current compensation circuit. The current sensor is configure to generate a current compensation signal based on the load current change, whereas the current compensation circuit is configured to adjust a bypass current in response to the current compensation signal. As a result, the bypass current dynamically compensates the load current change such that the ground voltage of a variable load becomes relatively stable over a range of load currents.

Abstract: A vehicle computer is programmed to receive weather data from a remote server, to determine a frequency, based on the weather data, to obtain precipitation data from one or more vehicle sensors. The computer is further programmed to obtain the precipitation data, and to close one or more vehicle windows based at least in part on the precipitation data.

Abstract: A vehicle computer is programmed to receive weather data from a remote server, to determine a frequency, based on the weather data, to obtain precipitation data from one or more vehicle sensors. The computer is further programmed to obtain the precipitation data, and to close one or more vehicle windows based at least in part on the precipitation data.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention is arranged to provide a hair treatment apparatus adapted to reduce the temperature of hair. This apparatus includes at least one thermal energy storage core arranged to draw heat out of hair wherein said at least one thermal energy storage core is arranged to cool hair to a temperature below 0° Celsius.

Abstract: A digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) circuit has a resistor ladder circuit controlled by high order bits and a resistor string circuit controlled by low order bits. The resistor ladder circuit includes a stem resistor and a branch resistor. The stem resistor has a stem resistance, and the branch resistor has a branch resistance that is substantially equal to two times of the stem resistance. The resistor string circuit includes a string current source, a string resistor, and a bridge resistor. The string current source is configured to generate a string current that is based on a ratio of a reference voltage divided by a predetermined resistance. The string resistor has a string resistance that corresponds to the predetermined resistance, and it is configured to selectively receive the string current based on a selection signal decoded from the low order bits.

Abstract: An electrical connection element is for a power connector. The power connector includes an electrical component having a number of first electrical mating members. The electrical connection element comprises: a housing including a number of second electrical mating members structured to be electrically connected to the number of first electrical mating members; a contact assembly enclosed by the housing and being electrically connected to the number of second electrical mating members; and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the contact assembly. The contact assembly is structured to electrically connect and disconnect power while the number of first electrical mating members remain mechanically coupled to the number of second electrical mating members.

Abstract: A tire comprising an overlay ply wherein (i) the shoulder section of the overlay comprises an elastomer and short polymeric or non-polymeric reinforcing fibers present in an amount of from 0.1 to 10 parts fiber per hundred parts of elastomer, the short fibers having a tenacity of at least 2 grams per dtex, a modulus of at least 10 grams per dtex and a length of from 0.1 to 8 mm and wherein the fibers are aligned substantially parallel to each other in a controlled angle of orientation within the overlay wherein the orientation is selected such that it decreases tire noise, and (ii) the section of overlay in the crown of the tire comprising cords of continuous filament polymeric fibers or continuous strands of metal or combinations thereof, the cords being aligned in a circumferential direction around the tire.

Abstract: A method may be performed by a sensor arrangement and a controller. The method may include capturing, by the sensor arrangement, data indicative of anthropometric characteristics of an expected 3rd row passenger prior to the passenger entering a vehicle. The method may also include deploying, by a controller, a 3rd row seat and moving a 2nd row seat prior to the expected 3rd row passenger entering the vehicle to a riding position that is based on the characteristics and 2nd row passenger data. The sensor arrangement may include an optical sensor arrangement such as used in a blind-spot detection system for a vehicle.

Abstract: In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for providing a service for exceeding account thresholds via a transaction machine. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided that includes: (a) receiving transaction information associated with a transaction, where the transaction involves an account, a transaction machine, and a holder of the account; (b) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the account will incur an exceeded threshold as a result of the transaction; (c) prompting, via the transaction machine, the holder to consent to the exceeded threshold; (d) receiving the holder's consent to the exceeded threshold; and (e) authorizing the transaction based at least partially on the receiving the holder's consent.

Abstract: In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for providing a service for exceeding account thresholds via a mobile device. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided that includes: (a) receiving transaction information associated with a transaction, where the transaction involves an account, a transaction machine, and a holder of the account; (b) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the account will incur an excess threshold amount as a result of the transaction; (c) prompting the holder to consent to the excess threshold amount via the mobile device, where the holder is associated with the mobile device; (d) receiving the holder's consent to the excess threshold amount; and (e) authorizing the transaction based at least partially on the receiving the holder's consent.