Abstract: For enabling a resolver (120) to have absolute position sensing over a wide displacement range while still obtaining the resolution, accuracy and precision obtainable by operation in an incremental mode, the resolver is provided with a number of terminals (.phi..sub.1, .phi..sub.1, .phi..sub.2, .phi..sub.2) for providing offset pitch phase indications (C.sub.1, C.sub.2) as a function of position. A microcomputer (171) is programmed to execute a decoding procedure (160) for reading the offset pitch phase indications and from them computing the absolute position. This method is applicable to linear as well as rotary position sensing. By using multiplexing, digital signal processing and large-scale circuit integration (170) for interfacing the resolver (120) to the microcomputer (171), the method can achieve absolute position sensing with high reliability and low cost.

Abstract: For enabling a resolver to have absolute position sensing over a wide displacement range while still obtaining the resolution, accuracy and precision obtainable by operation in an incremental mode, the resolver is provided with a number of terminals for providing offset pitch phase indications as a function of position. A microcomputer is programmed to execute a decoding procedure for reading the offset pitch phase indications and from them computing the absolute position. This method is applicable to linear as well as rotary position sensing. By using multiplexing, digital signal processing and large-scale circuit integration of interfacing the resolver to the microcomputer, the method can achieve absolute position sensing with high reliability and low cost. The offset pitch phase indications are readily provided by inductive coupling between a multiplicity of windings, including a set of offset pitch windings connected to the terminals.

Abstract: For enabling a resolver to have absolute position sensing over a wide displacement range while still obtaining the resolution, accuracy and precision obtainable by operation in an incremental mode, the resolver is provided with a number of terminals for providing offset pitch phase indications as a function of position. A microcomputer is programmed to execute a decoding procedure for reading the offset pitch phase indications and from them computing the absolute position. This method is applicable to linear as well as rotary position sensing. By using multiplexing, digital signal processing and large-scale circuit integration for interfacing the resolver to the microcomputer, the method can achieve absolute position sensing with high reliability and low cost. The offset pitch phase indications are readily provided by inductive coupling between a multiplicity of windings, including a set of offset pitch windings connected to the terminals.

Abstract: An offset QPSK demodulator samples inphase and quadraphase channels at the data rate and derives carrier phase and clock phase control signals even if the samples are hard limited. The demodulator may be fabricated as a low cost integrated circuit. In one embodiment, a data clock having a 50% duty cycle clocks D flip-flops to store inphase data samples and quadraphase control samples upon rising clock transitions, and to store inphase control samples and quadraphase data samples upon falling clock transitions. To generate a tristate carrier phase control signal, an inphase exclusive-OR gate compares the inphase control samples to the complement of the quadraphase data samples, and a quadraphase exclusive-OR gate compares the quadraphase control samples to the inphase data samples.

Abstract: An electrical discharge thermonuclear reactor having a capacitor which is discharged into a reaction chamber through a low inductance distribution circuit funneling discharge current to a focus point in the reaction chamber so that the magnitude of the magnetic field intensity associated with the discharge current is generally inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the focus point. Then the circuit inductance is limited to a minimum value regardless of the absolute maximum distance from the capacitor to the focus point and thus the size of the capacitor. The distribution circuit has two outward-branching, interpenetrating three dimensional circuit networks of opposite polarity conveniently fabricated by stacking conductor plates having a generally cylindrical geometry.