Abstract: An instrument head is provided for attachment to a plurality of instrument handles having different power profiles. The instrument head contains an illumination assembly including at least one LED as well as a drive circuit for detecting a power profile of an attached instrument handle and converting variable voltages received from the attached instrument handle to a constant current for powering the at least one LED based on the power profile. Accordingly, the instrument head enables use with a plurality of instrument handles, including those originally configured for use only with incandescent light sources.

Abstract: An instrument head is provided for attachment to a plurality of instrument handles having different power profiles. The instrument head contains an illumination assembly including at least one LED as well as a drive circuit for detecting a power profile of an attached instrument handle and converting variable voltages received from the attached instrument handle to a constant current for powering the at least one LED based on the power profile. Accordingly, the instrument head enables use with a plurality of instrument handles, including those originally configured for use only with incandescent light sources.

Abstract: An instrument head is provided for attachment to a plurality of instrument handles having different power profiles. The instrument head contains an illumination assembly including at least one LED as well as a drive circuit for detecting a power profile of an attached instrument handle and converting variable voltages received from the attached instrument handle to a constant current for powering the at least one LED based on the power profile. Accordingly, the instrument head enables use with a plurality of instrument handles, including those originally configured for use only with incandescent light sources.

Abstract: A powered system includes a parent module including a first battery storing a charge and a child module including a second battery storing a charge and a controller. When the parent module and the child module are in electrical communication, the controller is configured to receive power from the parent module. When the charge in the parent module is depleted, the controller is configured to backfeed power from the child module to the parent module.

Abstract: A printed circuit board assembly includes a printed circuit board and a ferrite. The printed circuit board has a substantially planar top surface and a substantially planar bottom surface. The ferrite has an annular cross section that defines a channel. The ferrite is positioned on the printed circuit board such that a portion of the plurality of traces passes through the channel.

Abstract: A powered system includes a parent module including a first battery storing a charge and a child module including a second battery storing a charge and a controller. When the parent module and the child module are in electrical communication, the controller is configured to receive power from the parent module. When the charge in the parent module is depleted, the controller is configured to backfeed power from the child module to the parent module.

Abstract: A printed circuit board assembly includes a printed circuit board and a ferrite. The printed circuit board has a substantially planar top surface and a substantially planar bottom surface. The ferrite has an annular cross section that defines a channel. The ferrite is positioned on the printed circuit board such that a portion of the plurality of traces passes through the channel.

Abstract: A drive circuit for a light emitting diode, and applications thereof, are disclosed. In one example, the drive circuit includes an input voltage and a ground, and a current control block including a voltage supply connection, a ground connection, a first voltage sense connection, and a second voltage sense connection. The voltage supply connection electrically connects to the input voltage and the ground connection connected to the ground. The drive circuit includes a current sense resistor connected to the first voltage sense connection, a first current adjustment resistor connected between the current sense resistor and the second voltage sense connection, and a second current adjustment resistor connected between the second voltage sense connection and the input voltage. A light emitting diode can connect from a point between the current sense resistor and the first current adjustment resistor to the ground.

Abstract: A drive circuit for a light emitting diode, and applications thereof, are disclosed. In one example, the drive circuit includes an input voltage and a ground, and a current control block including a voltage supply connection, a ground connection, a first voltage sense connection, and a second voltage sense connection. The voltage supply connection electrically connects to the input voltage and the ground connection connected to the ground. The drive circuit includes a current sense resistor connected to the first voltage sense connection, a first current adjustment resistor connected between the current sense resistor and the second voltage sense connection, and a second current adjustment resistor connected between the second voltage sense connection and the input voltage. A light emitting diode can connect from a point between the current sense resistor and the first current adjustment resistor to the ground.

Abstract: A watercraft carrier is provided that rollably supports a watercraft for transit to a location on land. The watercraft carrier includes a cradle assembly that has a width adjustable and shape conforming sheet that supports the transported watercraft uniformly and distributing that support laterally along the hull. The cradle assembly also includes width adjustable, opposed, separately pivoting, pliant supports that wedge around the hull and secure the watercraft within the carrier. The cradle assembly fastens a watercraft to the cradle assembly as well with opposed gunwale straps that separately secure each opposing gunwale. The watercraft carrier includes a cradle assembly for supporting and securing a watercraft, a width adjustable frame assembly that detachably supports the cradle assembly, and a wheel assembly that is detachably connected to the frame assembly.

Abstract: An image generator generates brightness modulated bars for a video monitor. The bars run parallel to the scan line of the monitor allowing the use of a relatively slow digital to analog converter (DAC). A frame buffer need only be as deep as a number of different shades desired on a particular scan line, instead of needing to be as deep as the resolution of the DAC. Using a multiplexer allows use of a 1 bit deep frame buffer instead of a conventional 12 bit deep frame buffer. A feature of the image generator allows efficient determination of a mean gray scale used in generating the brightness modulated bars. The brightness modulation scheme is sinusoidal, that is, based on a sine function, for specified applications but can be any other modulation scheme based on, for example, a sawtooth function, a step function, an exponential function, and so forth.

Abstract: A circuit apparatus and method is disclosed for determining the actual beam current of a display device having at least one cathode and that actual beam current is used to both correctly bias a voltage that drives the display device and determine the actual drive voltage according to a desired beam current. At periodic intervals, according to the invention, a series of test voltages in known relation to one another are applied to the display device, and measured cathode currents corresponding to the applied voltages are stored in appropriate memory elements of an correction unit. If at least two of the test voltages is selected to result in a black level, and at least one of the test voltages is selected to result in a white level beam current then the correction unit can precisely determine actual beam current through application of a mathematical relationship between test voltage an measured beam current which takes into account a leakage current between a cathode and a first grid of the display device.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) shield protects sensitive components of a hand-held device where the ESD can enter the unit along a seam or join of the casing halves. The shield employs a insulating film of high electrical strength, e.g., Mylar. This is cut into a sheet that folds for insertion into one casing half. A printed conductive path on the Mylar aligns with the weak zones in the casing, i.e. the seam, and conducts any static charge away from the electronic components, and preferably to a grounding point such as a recharging contact. The region of the insulating sheet adjacent the sensitive circuitry is free of the printed conductive material.