Abstract: A stator for an electric motor that includes a plurality of stacked laminations and a polymeric shell coupled to the plurality of laminations. Each lamination includes an annular plate having a plurality of notches defined therein. Each notch has an end positioned between the side walls of the annular plate. A plurality of teeth extend from one side wall of the annular plate. Each lamination includes a first slot defined at the first end of each notch and a second slot spaced apart from the first slot, the first slots of the laminations are aligned to define a first plurality of passageways, the second slots of the laminations are aligned to define a second plurality of passageways, and the polymeric shell includes a plurality of support beams that extend through the first plurality of passageways and the second plurality of passageways.

Abstract: A stator for an electric motor that includes a plurality of stacked laminations and a polymeric shell coupled to the plurality of laminations. Each lamination includes an annular plate having a plurality of notches defined therein. Each notch has an end positioned between the side walls of the annular plate. A plurality of teeth extend from one side wall of the annular plate. Each lamination includes a first slot defined at the first end of each notch and a second slot spaced apart from the first slot, the first slots of the laminations are aligned to define a first plurality of passageways, the second slots of the laminations are aligned to define a second plurality of passageways, and the polymeric shell includes a plurality of support beams that extend through the first plurality of passageways and the second plurality of passageways.

Abstract: A switched reluctance machine includes a stator with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced stator segment assemblies that include salient stator poles and inter-polar stator slots. Each of the stator segment assemblies includes a stack of stator plates forming a stator segment core, an end cap assembly, and winding wire wound around the stator segment core and the end cap assembly. The rotor defines a plurality of rotor poles. The rotor tends to rotate relative to the stator to maximize the inductance of an energized winding. A drive circuit energizes the winding wire around the stator segment assemblies based on a rotational position of the rotor. Each stator plate includes a first radially outer rim section and a tooth section that extends radially inwardly from a first center portion of the first radially outer rim section.

Abstract: A sensorless switched reluctance machine includes a stator with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced stator segment assemblies that include salient stator poles and inter-polar stator slots. Each of the stator segment assemblies includes a stack of stator plates forming a stator segment core, an end cap assembly, and winding wire wound around the stator segment core and the end cap assembly. The rotor defines a plurality of rotor poles. The rotor tends to rotate relative to the stator to a rotational position that maximizes the inductance of an energized winding. A sensorless drive circuit derives rotor position and energizes the winding wire around the stator segment assemblies based on the derived rotor position. Each stator plate includes a first radially outer rim section and a tooth section that extends radially inwardly from a first center portion of the first radially outer rim section.

Abstract: A weight plate for use with a barbell or dumbbell which incorporates a plurality of handgrips formed near the peripheral surface of the weight plate. The handgrips have a transverse width and radial height sized to provide a convenient gripping point for individuals with smaller hands, such as women, children, or smaller men. These small circumference handgrips are indented from the outside edges of the weight plate to allow for more convenient manipulation of the weight when the weight abuts against a solid obstruction, such as another weight plate on a weight stack. This indentation of the hand grips also provides protection for the hands and fingers of a weight lifter manipulating the weight plate in a weight lifting environment. The location of the handgrips of the present invention also facilitate the lifting and transport of the weight plate in the weight lifting environment, by reducing the stresses on the weight lifter's shoulder joints.

Abstract: A weight plate for use with a barbell or dumbbell which incorporates a plurality of handgrips formed near the peripheral surface of the weight plate. The handgrips have a transverse width and radial height sized to provide a convenient gripping point for individuals with smaller hands, such as women, children, or smaller men. These small circumference handgrips are indented from the outside edges of the weight plate to allow for more convenient manipulation of the weight when the weight abuts against a solid obstruction, such as another weight plate on a weight stack. This indentation of the hand grips also provides protection for the hands and fingers of a weight lifter manipulating the weight plate in a weight lifting environment. The location of the handgrips of the present invention also facilitate the lifting and transport of the weight plate in the weight lifting environment, by reducing the stresses on the weight lifter's shoulder joints.

Abstract: A sensorless switched reluctance machine includes a stator with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced stator segment assemblies that include salient stator poles and inter-polar stator slots. Each of the stator segment assemblies includes a stack of stator plates forming a stator segment core, an end cap assembly, and winding wire wound around the stator segment core and the end cap assembly. The rotor defines a plurality of rotor poles. The rotor tends to rotate relative to the stator to a rotational position that maximizes the inductance of an energized winding. A sensorless drive circuit derives rotor position and energizes the winding wire around the stator segment assemblies based on the derived rotor position. Each stator plate includes a first radially outer rim section and a tooth section that extends radially inwardly from a first center portion of the first radially outer rim section.

Abstract: A switched reluctance machine includes a stator with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced stator segment assemblies that include salient stator poles and inter-polar stator slots. Each of the stator segment assemblies includes a stack of stator plates forming a stator segment core, an end cap assembly, and winding wire wound around the stator segment core and the end cap assembly. The rotor defines a plurality of rotor poles. The rotor tends to rotate relative to the stator to maximize the inductance of an energized winding. A drive circuit energizes the winding wire around the stator segment assemblies based on a rotational position of the rotor. Each stator plate includes a first radially outer rim section and a tooth section that extends radially inwardly from a first center portion of the first radially outer rim section.

Abstract: A weight plate for use with a barbell or dumbbell which incorporates a plurality of handgrips formed near the peripheral surface of the weight plate. The handgrips have a transverse width and radial height sized to provide a convenient gripping point for individuals with smaller hands, such as women, children, or smaller men. These small circumference handgrips are indented from the outside edges of the weight plate to allow for more convenient manipulation of the weight when the weight abuts against a solid obstruction, such as another weight plate on a weight stack. This indentation of the hand grips also provides protection for the hands and fingers of a weight lifter manipulating the weight plate in a weight lifting environment. The location of the handgrips of the present invention also facilitate the lifting and transport of the weight plate in the weight lifting environment, by reducing the stresses on the weight lifter's shoulder joints.

Abstract: A direct drive robot motor may be used for the arms, legs, eyes and fingers of a robot. The motor comprises a rotor, having a permanent magnet, and a tubular arm portion, which is integral with the rotor and extends outwardly through a slot in a stator body. The stator body is wound with an aluminum coil and has a tubular extension to link it with the arm of another direct drive motor.

Abstract: A 2-D pointer motor provides for panning (sideways actuate motion) and tilt (yaw motion) and may be made smaller than one-cubic inch. The motor is preferably controlled by a microcomputer based controller using pulse-width modulation (PWM) to separately control each of its three coils. The coils are arranged orthogonally to provide a single unified torque vector which turns the rotor and accurately points it in the desired directions. The motor is especially adapted to carry a sensor such as a CCD array.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to transmit logmap video images through telephone line band-limited analog channels. The pixel organization in the logmap image is designed to match the sensor geometry of the human eye with a greater concentration of pixels at the center. The transmitter divides the frequency band into channels, and assigns one or two pixels to each channel, for example a 3KHz voice quality telephone line is divided into 768 channels spaced about 3.9Hz apart. Each channel consists of two carrier waves in quadrature, so each channel can carry two pixels. Some channels are reserved for special calibration signals enabling the receiver to detect both the phase and magnitude of the received signal. If the sensor and pixels are connected directly to a bank of oscillators and the receiver can continuously receive each channel, then the receiver need not be synchronized with the transmitter.

Abstract: An indexing device includes an adapter conforming to the contours of the test model body with a cavity for housing a ring gear which has internal teeth segments in two diametrically opposed quadrants and is rigidly attached to the adapter. A movable fin with an aerodynamic surface includes a cylindrical hub welded to the base portion thereof. The hub is provided with a central shaft extension which engages a close fitting opening in the adapter and with two curved slots to accept clamping fasteners that thread into tapped holes in the adapter. A spur gear, modified to mesh with the modified ring gear on the adapter, is bolted on the under surface of the hub concentric with the shaft extension.