Abstract: A rotating machine which includes a stator having a number of field winding slots, a number of field windings disposed in each of the field winding slots, at least two of the field windings have an outer jacket; and a number of conductive wires disposed within and enclosed by the outer jacket such that longitudinal passages are defined between the conductive wires. A pump circulates a coolant into and from the rotating machine through the longitudinal passages. Preferably, the rotating machine includes a housing that has a cavity for acceptance of the stator therein. The housing and stator define and second plenums at first and second ends of the stator. The coolant enters the rotating machine into the first plenum and exits the rotating machine from the second plenum.

Abstract: A rotating machine is provided which includes a stator having a number of field winding slots; a number of field windings disposed in each of the field winding slots, at least two of the field windings have: an outer jacket; and a number of conductive wires disposed within and enclosed by the outer jacket such that longitudinal passages are defined between the conductive wires; and circulation means for circulating a coolant into and from the rotating machine through the longitudinal passages. Preferably, the rotating machine further includes a housing which has a cavity for acceptance of the stator therein. The housing and stator define first and second plenums at first and second ends of the stator. The coolant enters the rotating machine into the first plenum and exits the rotating machine from the second plenum.

Abstract: A motor controller includes: a driver stage operable to provide voltage and current to a plurality of induction motors over a single power bus; and a control unit operable to monitor the current drawn from the driver stage and cause one or more of the induction motors to operate in a regenerative mode to supply current to at least one other of the induction motors when the current drawn from the driver stage exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: An energy control unit for a hybrid vehicle is operable to control stored energy of an energy storage unit such that the energy level of the hybrid vehicle is maintained substantially at a desired magnitude. The energy level of the hybrid vehicle is a function of at least: (i) mechanical kinetic energy of the hybrid vehicle; (ii) mechanical potential energy of the hybrid vehicle; and (iii) potential energy of the energy storage unit.

Abstract: A battery equalization circuit for equalizing charge between at least first and second series-connected batteries, where each battery has a positive end and a negative end, with the positive end of the second battery coupled to the negative end of the first battery at a common node, and using: a switching circuit connectable to the positive end of the first battery at a positive node and the negative end of the second battery at a negative node; a transformer having first and second magnetically coupled windings, each with a first end defining a polarity of the winding and a second opposing end; and a transformer reset circuit coupled from the windings of the transformer to the positive and negative nodes. The switching circuit acts to simultaneously couple the first and second windings in parallel with the first and second batteries, respectively, in the same polarity such that a charge is transferred between the first and second batteries as a function of a charge imbalance therebetween.

Abstract: A power converter comprises a power transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding flux coupled to the primary winding, input terminals for receiving an input voltage, and output terminals for providing an output voltage. A power switching arrangement comprising two pairs of switching devices arranged in a bridge configuration has a corresponding duty cycle which is selectable so as to cause the power converter to manifest different input output transfer characteristics corresponding to buck and boost modes of operation. An inductor having a single winding is coupled between the input terminals and the primary winding through the switching devices. Secondary winding rectification and filtering provides the power supply output.

Abstract: A polyphase AC-to-AC inverter (300) for driving a polyphase load (50), which may be an unbalanced load, includes a wye-connected AC voltage source (12) having a neutral terminal (312). The source (12) is coupled to a rectifying arrangement (16) for producing direct voltage across a direct-voltage bus (22). A capacitive bridge (24) on the DC bus (22) has a tap (26) connected to the neutral (312) of the source. The capacitive bridge is isolated from the AC source harmonics by a zero sequence inductor (20). The DC bus voltage at the capacitive bridge feeds a polyphase switching bridge (40). The average voltage at the output of the switching bridge is recovered by a low-pass filter (30) connected to the load. The unbalanced load current is conducted through an inductor to the capacitive bridge tap and the source neutral, with the inductor impedance isolating the load neutral from the DC bus. The switching bridge control can introduce triplen harmonics in the output to increase line-to-line output voltage.

Abstract: A battery equalization circuit for equalizing charge between at least first and second series connected batteries includes a switching circuit and a resonant circuit. Each battery has a positive end and a negative end, where the positive end of the second battery is coupled to the negative end of the first battery at a common node. The switching circuit is connectable to (i) the positive end of the first battery at a positive node, and (ii) the negative end of the second battery at a negative node; and the resonant circuit is connectable between the switching circuit and the common node of the batteries, wherein the switching circuit is adapted to alternately couple the resonant circuit in parallel with the first and second batteries such that a DC current component flows between the first and second batteries through the resonant circuit as a function of a charge imbalance therebetween.

Abstract: A single-stage power converter has an input-to-output transfer characteristic with two portions, each having a different operational characteristic, with each portion being selected by changing ONLY the duty-cycle of the power switching devices. At low input voltage the converter operates as a Boost converter, while operating as a Buck converter for greater input voltages. This transfer characteristic is provided by a circuit wherein the primary winding center tap of a split-primary power transformer is coupled through an inductive element, with one of the pair of push-pull power switching devices connected to each primary winding end. Secondary winding rectification and filtering provides the power supply output in the Boost mode, and a portion of the power supply output in the Buck mode.

Abstract: A single-ended converter circuit operating in a transformer coupled mode is disclosed having multiple outputs. A current limiting circuit is included on the primary side of the power transformer to limit the total aggregate current output of the converter. Secondary current limiting circuitry is included in selected ones of the multiple outputs to individually limit current outputs of the converter. A similar current limiting arrangement is disclosed for application to double-ended type converter circuits.

Abstract: A single-ended self-oscillating DC-to-DC converter is disclosed including base drive compensation circuitry. Compensation circuitry is active during saturation intervals of the power transistor to control its forced current gain at some fixed value irrespective of the magnitude of a saturated current flowing through the transistor.

Abstract: In a typical self-oscillating, single-ended converter that is pulse width modulated to regulate the output signal, duty cycle changes to stabilize the output signal cause the switching frequency of the converter to vary.The switching frequency of the single-ended converter disclosed herein is stabilized by controlling the on and off durations of the switching device in an inverse proportional relationship to each other. The relation is controlled by adjusting the charging threshold of a timer circuit controlling the conducting interval of the switching devices in response to a voltage regulation error signal which controls the nonconducting interval thus limiting the total period of the switching device to a fixed interval.

Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit for controlling the switching duration of inverting switching devices. The circuit comprises a capacitor connected to the output of the controlled switching device, a resistor connected between the capacitor and a common terminal, and a double Zener diode connected between the switching device's input and the capacitor-resistor junction.