Abstract: A circuit for effectively controlling the process of pre-charging a power capacitor, comprising an integrator circuit consisting of an operational amplifier implementing a voltage dependent current source, the power capacitor is being connected between the output of the integrator and ground; a high side driver connected to the positive input of the integrator via a serial current limiting resistor, for generating control signals provided to the dependent current source, the negative terminal of the driver being connected to the negative input of the integrator; a control capacitor connected between the positive input of the operational amplifier and ground. Upon activating the driver by an activation pulse, the power capacitor is being charged in a constant current determined by the current limiting resistor, until reaching a desired voltage, while the voltage across the power capacitor follows the voltage across the control capacitor.

Abstract: A circuit for effectively controlling the process of pre-charging a power capacitor, comprising an integrator circuit consisting of an operational amplifier implementing a voltage dependent current source, the power capacitor is being connected between the output of the integrator and ground; a high side driver connected to the positive input of the integrator via a serial current limiting resistor, for generating control signals provided to the dependent current source, the negative terminal of the driver being connected to the negative input of the integrator; a control capacitor connected between the positive input of the operational amplifier and ground. Upon activating the driver by an activation pulse, the power capacitor is being charged in a constant current determined by the current limiting resistor, until reaching a desired voltage, while the voltage across the power capacitor follows the volage across the control capacitor.

Abstract: A pipe fusion machine including a track mounted chassis supporting a horizontal turntable for unlimited, reversible rotation relative to the chassis. A boom pivotally attached at a rear end of, and extending forwardly of, the turntable enables manipulation of elevations and distances of the free end of the boom. The free end of the boom is adapted to permit pivotal mounting thereon of a pipe fusion tool such as an indexer configured to articulate and support a pipe-end facer and a pipe-end heater for respective independent orientation into and out of alignment with the ends of pipes to be fused. A carriage supports fixed and sliding jaws adapted to grip the ends of pipes to be fused for relative reciprocal movement during a pipe fusion process. Each of the jaws may include an upper half jaw and lower left and right quarter jaws.

Abstract: A tool actuation connector includes a tool activation interface, a longitudinal lock interface and a rotation lock interface. The tool actuation connector includes a latching spring, an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The latching spring includes a plurality of spring hooks, for coupling with the tool activation interface. The inner sleeve is operable to longitudinally move relative to the latching spring. The inner sleeve couples the latching spring to the activation interface when the inner sleeve is located over the latching spring and releases the latching spring from the activation interface when the inner sleeve moves away from the latching spring toward the proximal direction. The outer sleeve is rotationally locked with the inner sleeve and is operable to longitudinally move relative to the inner sleeve. The outer sleeve is further operable to rotationally lock with the tool via the rotation lock interface.

Abstract: A drive system for a BLDC motor having poles implemented by separate coils that are activated in corresponding phases, which comprises a controller for controlling the level and phase of input voltages supplied to the separate coils; a controlled inverter with outputs, for applying phase-separated input voltages to each of the separate coils at desired timing for each input voltage, determined by the controller; a power source for feeding power to the controlled inverter; an up/down DC-DC converter for converting the feeding power to the input voltages according to a command signal provided by the controller.

Abstract: A link for an articulation arm includes a vertebra, two outer bearing portions, two inner bearing portions and four control bore holes. The vertebra has a first base and a second base. The two outer bearing portions are formed on the first base and are located on a radial line of the first base. The two inner bearing portions are formed on the second base and are located on a radial line of the second base. The two of the four control bore holes enter the second base and exit a respective one of the outer bearing portions. The other two of the control bore holes enter the first base and exit a respective one of the inner bearing portions.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the charging level of a bank of serially connected electrical cells and performing equalization of the charges in the battery array, comprising circuitry for alternately connecting a capacitor to pairs of adjacent battery cells by controlling switches at a predetermined switching frequency; circuitry adjusting the switching frequency to control the impedance of the equivalent resistance of transfer, such that the charging/discharging current is maintained within a range of desired values.

Abstract: Circuitry for directly providing drive power to a BLDC motor having separated coils, comprising unipolar controlled current sources for supplying current to each of the separated coils; a controller, for controlling the level and phase of the unipolar controlled current sources; a polarity switch for converting the unipolar current to a bipolar (AC) current, supplied to the separated coils. The controller is adapted to shape the current being fed to the BLDC motor by the current source via the polarity switch, to be in phase with the back EMF sensed on the separated coils, and of a magnitude that corresponds to a required torque.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to allow the viewing of an item from several virtual positions for evaluation and potential purchase. The information, including photographs, about the item is made available using the Internet.

Abstract: Triggering a prioritized alert and provisioning an action may include receiving historical data associated with a set of projects, the historical data spanning multiple consecutive time periods. A hierarchical data structure is generated that includes occurrences of performance factors in the historical data. Based on the hierarchical data structure, Bayesian scores associated with the performance factors are derived, the Bayesian scores representing likelihood of the performance factors occurring in a given project. The performance factors are ranked based on the Bayesian scores. Based on ranking, an alert and an action may be automatically triggered.

Abstract: A battery management system, comprising a bank of serially connected battery cells having a lower most cell connected to ground and an uppermost cell connected to one port of a load, the other port of which being connected to ground; circuitry for sampling the output voltage of a selected battery cell; a voltage to current converter for receiving the sampled battery cell output voltage, which consists of a current source that outputs current being proportional to the sampled output voltage a predetermined resistor, connected between the current source output and ground, into which the output current of the current source is fed; a control circuit, adapted to measure the voltage generated across the predetermined resistor with respect to ground; determine whether or not the selected battery cell is fully charged according to the difference between the measured voltage and a predetermined threshold voltage; repeat the process for additional battery cells of the bank.

Abstract: A drive system for a BLDC motor having poles implemented by separate coils that are activated in corresponding phases, which comprises a controller for controlling the level and phase of input voltages supplied to the separate coils; a controlled inverter with outputs, for applying phase-separated input voltages to each of the separate coils at desired timing for each input voltage, determined by the controller; a power source for feeding power to the controlled inverter; an up/down DC-DC converter for converting the feeding power to the input voltages according to a command signal provided by the controller.

Abstract: Circuitry for efficiently operating a three-phase AC motor having three coils, each of which implementing a corresponding phase, comprising four half-bridge inverters having a common bus voltage, for controlling the level and the phase of input voltages supplied to the coils and a control circuitry for operating the four half bridges.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves an electrical power management module configured to provide electrical power from a power unit to a parallel power bus, comprising: a switch circuit coupleable to the power unit and to the parallel power bus for delivering power from the power unit to the parallel power bus and for charging the power unit from the parallel power bus, the switch circuit changeable between connecting and disconnecting the power unit with the parallel power bus; and a bypass circuit around the switch circuit, coupleable to the power unit and to the parallel power bus for delivering power from the power unit to the parallel power bus and for charging the power unit from the parallel power bus, the bypass circuit comprising a bidirectional power converter.

Abstract: A tool actuation connector includes a tool activation interface, a longitudinal lock interface and a rotation lock interface. The tool actuation connector includes a latching spring, an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The latching spring includes a plurality of spring hooks, for coupling with the tool activation interface. The inner sleeve is operable to longitudinally move relative to the latching spring. The inner sleeve couples the latching spring to the activation interface when the inner sleeve is located over the latching spring and releases the latching spring from the activation interface when the inner sleeve moves away from the latching spring toward the proximal direction. The outer sleeve is rotationally locked with the inner sleeve and is operable to longitudinally move relative to the inner sleeve. The outer sleeve is further operable to rotationally lock with the tool via the rotation lock interface.

Abstract: A link for an articulation arm includes a vertebra, two outer bearing portions, two inner bearing portions and four control bore holes. The vertebra has a first base and a second base. The two outer bearing portions are formed on the first base and are located on a radial line of the first base. The two inner bearing portions are formed on the second base and are located on a radial line of the second base. The two of the four control bore holes enter the second base and exit a respective one of the outer bearing portions. The other two of the control bore holes enter the first base and exit a respective one of the inner bearing portions.