Abstract: A solid-state switch includes a plurality of transistors connected in parallel and a plurality of fuses. Each fuse is connected in series with a separate one of the plurality of transistors. A combination of current ratings of the plurality of fuses is greater than a load current of a load connected to the plurality of transistors and the plurality of fuses, and a current rating of each separate fuse of the plurality of fuses is less than the load current.

Abstract: A method of performing active vibration damping in a front end accessory drive (FEAD) system of an automobile using an alternator of the FEAD system and an alternator are described. The method includes determining a resonance to be counteracted, determining a counteracting forcing function to counteract the resonance, and determining a duty cycle change to apply to a field voltage to obtain an output voltage with the counteracting forcing function, wherein the field voltage results in a field current supplied to a rotor that causes a stator to generate the output voltage. The method also includes implementing the duty cycle change for a period of time.

Abstract: A solid-state switch includes a plurality of transistors connected in parallel and a plurality of fuses. Each fuse is connected in series with a separate one of the plurality of transistors. A combination of current ratings of the plurality of fuses is greater than a load current of a load connected to the plurality of transistors and the plurality of fuses, and a current rating of each separate fuse of the plurality of fuses is less than the load current.

Abstract: A battery includes an on-board microprocessor-controlled MOSFET-switched cell monitoring and protection system which provides over-charge protection, low-voltage protection, thermal-runaway protection and cell balancing. The output voltage of the battery is fully regulated and user adjustable. Internal switching provides for switching the battery on or off from a control interface on the battery housing or from a remotely located switch. The battery preferably incorporates lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) power cells, although the monitoring and protection circuitry is also applicable to lithium ion and other cell chemistries. The battery includes a charging input connection separate from the voltage output connection which allows for charging the battery at a voltage considerably higher than the output voltage.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for regulating the output voltage of a diode-rectified alternating current generator that supplies the electrical loads on a motor vehicle including the storage battery. The voltage regulator has an up-down counter which is incremented when the output voltage of the generator is below a desired regulated value and is decremented when the output voltage of the generator is above the desired regulating value. The magnitude of the count in the counter is repeatedly sampled and used to determine the on time of a semiconductor switch that is connected in series with the field winding to thereby control the duty cycle of the field voltage pulses. The counter is incremented at a lower rate when the speed of the engine that drives the generator is below a predetermined speed than it is when the speed of the engine is above the predetermined speed. When the generator is not rotating, the up-count of the counter is limited to a predetermined value that provides a minimum field voltage duty cycle.

Abstract: A switching circuit that utilizes an N-channel field effect transistor. The circuit can be used in a generator voltage regulator wherein the drain and source of the transistor are connected in series with the field winding of the generator. The circuit includes a capacitor that is repetitively charged and discharged. At the end of the charge period a gate bias voltage is developed that is applied to the gate of the transistor. The magnitude of the gate bias voltage that is developed is the sum of the capacitor voltage and the voltage of a voltage source. The capacitor is allowed to discharge until the gate bias voltage decreases to a value that is high enough to maintain the transistor conductive whereupon the discharge period is terminated and the capacitor is recharged.

Abstract: An expansion joint seal assembly for sealing a roadway gap, which includes a pair of spaced apart elongated anchoring channel extrusion members to be secured in structural slab portions oppositely bounding the gap, and an elongated resilient sealing strip member for sealing the gap between the anchoring channel members. The anchoring channel members have an anchoring cavity opening toward the gap shaped to define a constricted entrance throat portion opening to the gap and communicating with a transversely enlarged, inner retaining chamber portion, and the strip member has a diaphragm web portion providing distortable folds and anchoring bead formations each forming substantially a hollow triangle in cross-section providing a back wall portion and a pair of forwardly converging walls which form an apex located below a horizontal reference plane extending through the vertical midpoints of back wall portion and provide a shallow concave trough immediately subjacent each apex.