Abstract: A fault tolerant virtual elliptical electric motor has at least four coil elements constrained in a stator case. A drive plate is supported by a fulcrum for nutating motion and has at least four core segments each associated with a respective one of the at least four coil elements for attraction upon activation. A control processor provides independent current control to each of the at least four coil elements for activation responsive to a received position command and a received wobble angle input, inducing the at least four coil elements to operate in a pure torque sum configuration upon the drive plate.

Abstract: A fault tolerant virtual elliptical electric motor has at least four coil elements constrained in a stator case. A drive plate is supported by a fulcrum for nutating motion and has at least four core segments each associated with a respective one of the at least four coil elements for attraction upon activation. A control processor provides independent current control to each of the at least four coil elements for activation responsive to a received position command and a received wobble angle input, inducing the at least four coil elements to operate in a pure torque sum configuration upon the drive plate.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure, in accordance with one or more embodiments, include a current source adapted to provides volts*sec at a fixed frequency, a magnetic core adapted to be saturated with energy, and a control winding around the magnetic core. The control winding is adapted to receive current from the current source to saturate the magnetic core. A control circuit is adapted to selectively provide additional volt*sec for at least one half of a cycle of the fixed frequency to the control winding. A second winding around the magnetic core provides a load current to a load through desaturation of energy stored in the magnetic core.

Abstract: A half-bridge assembly is provided, such as for use in a drive assembly of a controller for controlling a motor. The half-bridge assembly includes a first arrangement, and a first diode electrically connected in parallel with the first arrangement. The half-bridge assembly also includes a second arrangement electrically connected in series with the first arrangement, as well as a second diode electrically connected in parallel with the second arrangement. Each arrangement includes a base switching element, such as a metal-oxide semiconductor field—effect transistor (MOSFET), electrically connected in series with a supplemental switching element (e.g., MOSFET).

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a more robust flat panel display by using the Faraday effect to control light emission from a solid state material so as to form two-dimensional or three-dimensional images. Flux tubes can be configured to define a two dimensional array. Each flux tube is somewhat analogous to a single bubble of a magnetic bubble memory and can define a pixel. At least some aspect of light transmitted through a flux tube can be varied thereby, so as to facilitate the formation of an image.

Abstract: An integrated propulsion and guidance system for an aircraft or other vehicle includes an engine coupled to a propeller via a driveshaft to produce propulsive force. One or more of the propeller blades are pivotably mounted with respect to the hub of the propeller. A control signal is provided to adjust the blade pitch of the pivotable blades as the blades rotate about the hub. The change in blade pitch as the blade rotates produces a torque imbalance that can be used to control the heading of the vehicle. By varying the magnitude and phase of the control signal provided to the propeller, the torque can be applied in a multitude of distinct reference planes, thereby allowing the orientation of the vehicle to be adjusted through action of the pivotable propeller blade(s).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for driving a power amplifier load, such as a loudspeaker. The apparatus comprises a processor-controlled drive assembly configured as an H-bridge system. Groupings of half-bridge assemblies are connected to the load in an H-bridge structure, and are operated in pulse-width-modulation mode by the processor. The half-bridge assembly groupings receive time sliced commands from the processor in order to output a composite output signal to the load at a frequency higher than the operating frequency of a single half-bridge assembly. In general, the composite output frequency is the product of the individual half-bridge assembly operating frequency and the number of half-bridge assemblies in a grouping. As such, high frequency and high power output levels can be achieved using standard low-cost components.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for frequency scaling the PWM signal output of a controller/driver for an electrical device such as a BLDC motor. The apparatus comprises a number of multiple half-bridge assemblies, with each multiple half-bridge assembly connected to a respective phase winding of the motor. Each individual half-bridge assembly is operated within the frequency limit of its internal switching elements, but the composite output frequency of each multiple half-bridge assembly can be the product of the switching element frequency and the number of individual half-bridge assemblies in the multiple half-bridge assembly. High-speed torque loop control is implemented by synchronizing multiple DSP's with overlapping interrupts, so that the output pulse width of the PWM signal can be adjusted on a pulse-to-pulse basis. Moreover, the frequency scaling and pulse-to-pulse control processes can be achieved with standard off-the-shelf devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for frequency and power scaling a drive assembly for a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor. The apparatus comprises multiple groups of half-bridge switching element assemblies connected to respective “In-Hand” phase windings of the BLDC. Each group of half-bridge assemblies receives time sliced commands from a processor so that the resultant frequency of the output drive signal can be higher than the frequency capability of an individual switching element. By effectively paralleling groups of half-bridge assemblies connected to respective In-Hand phase windings, the current delivered to the phase windings can be greater than the individual current capability of the switching elements in the half-bridge assemblies. The electromagnetic field generated in the “In-Hand” phase windings forces essentially equal current sharing in the respective driver switching elements.

Abstract: Active acoustic damping is provided with a motor or similar propulsive element such as a multi-phase brushless direct current (DC) motor. To produce the appropriate canceling effect with the motor, the relationship between the operating mode of the motor and the noise produced is observed. This data can be used to identify a relevant transfer function that can be applied to produce a control signal for the motor. For a multi-phase motor, the current control signals provided to at least one phase may be made asymmetric with respect to the other phases to produce actuating forces upon the motor. This actuating force can be used to modify acoustic signals produced by the motor. The active acoustic damping techniques may be applied in any vehicles or devices, including unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), in either an open loop or closed loop manner.

Abstract: An integrated propulsion and guidance system for a vehicle includes an engine coupled to an impeller via a driveshaft to produce propulsive force. The impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades, including at least one control blade pivotably mounted to the hub. A control system provides a control signal to a magnetic actuator to adjust the blade pitch of the control blades as the blades rotate about the hub. The magnetic actuator provides an electromagnetic field that interacts with a magnet coupled to the control blade to adjust the pitch of the control blade. The change in blade pitch produces a torque on the driveshaft that can be used to control the heading of the vehicle. By varying the magnitude and phase of the control signal provided to the impeller, the torque can be applied in a multitude of distinct reference planes, thereby allowing the orientation of the vehicle to be adjusted through action of the impeller.

Abstract: An integrated propulsion and guidance system for a vehicle includes an engine coupled to an impeller via a driveshaft to produce propulsive force. The impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades, wherein one or more of the blades is pivotably mounted to the hub. A control system provides a control signal to the impeller to adjust the blade pitch of the pivotable impeller blades as the blades rotate about the hub. The change in blade pitch produces a torque on the driveshaft that can be used to control the heading of the vehicle. By varying the magnitude and phase of the control signal provided to the impeller, the torque can be applied in a multitude of distinct reference planes, thereby allowing the orientation of the vehicle to be adjusted through action of the impeller.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling an optical imaging system capable of providing an image of a target. The system includes a focal plane array and a tracker controller. The focal plane array can receive light from the optical imaging system. At least a portion of the focal plane array can then be capable of integrating light for a selectable integration time, and thereafter reading out data representative of the integrated light for a readout time. At least a portion of the focal plane array is capable of integrating light and reading out data such that the integration time is capable of increasing at a rate higher than a rate of decrease in a frame rate of the focal plane array. The tracker controller, in turn, can control the integration time of the focal plane array based upon an intensity of light received by the focal plane array.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling an optical imaging system capable of providing an image of a target. The system includes a reflector, an optical amplifier and a tracking device. The reflector is capable of reflecting light representative of the image provided by the optical imaging system. In addition, the reflector is capable of being adjusted in at least one direction based upon movement of the image provided by the optical imaging system. The optical amplifier is capable of amplifying an intensity of the light reflected by the reflector with a variable gain based upon the intensity of the reflected light. And the tracking device is capable of receiving the light from the optical amplifier. As such, the reflector can be driven to a position in at least one direction based upon an image of the target represented by the light received by the tracking device.