Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention reduces electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by a capacitive dropper power supply by synchronizing the openings and closings of a shunt switched used for regulation control of the DC output voltage generated by the power supply, to zero crossings of AC current from the current-limiting resistor disposed in series at the AC input of the power supply. In one or more other embodiments, the capacitive dropper power supply includes disconnect circuitry that senses a loss of the input AC voltage source and in response wholly or partly disconnects internal regulation control circuitry from the supply's output filter capacitor to reduce the current drawn from the filter capacitor, thereby reducing the decay rate of the DC output voltage from the filter capacitor. The contemplated power supply may also be implemented in a Bipolar, BiCMOS or CMOS process, for realization in a compact integrated circuit device.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention reduces electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by a capacitive dropper power supply by synchronizing the openings and closings of a shunt switched used for regulation control of the DC output voltage generated by the power supply, to zero crossings of AC current from the current-limiting resistor disposed in series at the AC input of the power supply. In one or more other embodiments, the capacitive dropper power supply includes disconnect circuitry that senses a loss of the input AC voltage source and in response wholly or partly disconnects internal regulation control circuitry from the supply's output filter capacitor to reduce the current drawn from the filter capacitor, thereby reducing the decay rate of the DC output voltage from the filter capacitor. The contemplated power supply may also be implemented in a Bipolar, BiCMOS or CMOS process, for realization in a compact integrated circuit device.

Abstract: A controller that is linearly responsive to an input voltage provides continuously adjustable control of the width of a periodically repeating digital pulse, thereby achieving a linear voltage to duty-cycle ratio transfer function. The circuit of the present invention includes a master clock input, a ratio control voltage input, a controlled duty cycle clock output, a high gain amplifier configured as an integrator having differential inputs, each equipped with a low pass filter, a controlled current source, a resettable timing capacitor, a threshold detector and a reference pulse generator.

Abstract: A system and method for compensating an amplifier apparatus for low frequency and/or DC components of an externally applied input signal as well as for any voltage offsets contributed by the amplifier circuitry. Band-limited servo feedback is applied to predetermined nodes in the forward gain path to null out unwanted signal components, leaving a residual signal that, when amplified, will be centered around ground, so that the full dynamic range of the amplifier system may be utilized. Consequently, the signal-to-noise ratio available at the output of the amplifier system will be maximized. The servo compensation may either operate in continuous time, or it may be held constant once a suitable level of compensation has been established, or it may be adjusted from time to time to accommodate slow variations of the average DC component of the input signal.

Abstract: A controller that is linearly responsive to an input voltage provides continuously adjustable control of the width of a periodically repeating digital pulse, thereby achieving a linear voltage to duty-cycle ratio transfer function. The circuit of the present invention includes a master clock input, a ratio control voltage input, a controlled duty cycle clock output, a high gain amplifier configured as an integrator having differential inputs, each equipped with a low pass filter, a controlled current source, a resettable timing capacitor, a threshold detector and a reference pulse generator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing imbalances among the outputs of a plurality of driver devices connected in a parallel configuration to drive a common load. One driver is designated as the master, and suitable servo circuitry is provided to each of the other slave drivers, each servo being operative to force the output of its associated slave driver to accurately track the output of the designated master driver. The servo circuitry may be disposed to equalize either the output voltages or output currents of the several drivers to ensure load balancing among the drivers, to reduce cross-conduction currents and attendant power wastage and improve dynamic performance. The plurality of drivers may either operate in an open-loop configuration, or be enclosed within an overall negative feedback loop under the control of a separate controller that itself may be an amplifier.

Abstract: A time varying electrical excitation(s) is applied to a system containing biologic and/or non-biologic elements, whereupon the time-varying electrochemical or electrical response is detected and analyzed. For biologic specimens, the presence, activity, concentration or relative quantity, and certain inherent characteristics of certain target substances (hereinafter referred to as “target analytes”) within, or comprising, the specimen of interest may be determined by measuring either the current response induced by a voltage-mode excitation, or the voltage response induced by a current-mode excitation. Labeling or marker techniques may be employed, whereby electrochemically active auxiliary molecules are attached to the substance to be analyzed, in order to facilitate or enhance the electrochemical or electrical response.

Abstract: A controller that is linearly responsive to an input voltage provides continuously adjustable control of the width of a periodically repeating digital pulse, thereby achieving a linear voltage to duty-cycle ratio transfer function. The circuit of the present invention includes a master clock input, a ratio control voltage input, a controlled duty cycle clock output, a high gain amplifier configured as an integrator having differential inputs, each equipped with a low pass filter, a controlled current source, a resettable timing capacitor, a threshold detector and a reference pulse generator.

Abstract: A time varying electrical excitation(s) is applied to a system containing biologic and/or non-biologic elements, whereupon the time-varying electrochemical or electrical response is detected and analyzed. For biologic specimens, the presence, activity, concentration or relative quantity, and certain inherent characteristics of certain target substances (hereinafter referred to as “target analytes”) within, or comprising, the specimen of interest may be determined by measuring either the current response induced by a voltage-mode excitation, or the voltage response induced by a current-mode excitation. Labeling or marker techniques may be employed, whereby electrochemically active auxiliary molecules are attached to the substance to be analyzed, in order to facilitate or enhance the electrochemical or electrical response.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a time-varying electrical excitation, delivering it to a system comprising at least one electronic or electrochemical element, and measuring and analyzing a time-varying electrical response developed within the system in response to the excitation. The response signal, and optionally the excitation signal, are sampled in a synchronous manner, and the sampled values are analyzed to determine various characteristics of the system, including State of Charge and State of Health. Additional analysis may be performed to: identify specific system defects; identify and quantify time-dependent processes; and, obtain values for elements of an equivalent electric circuit model. The method and apparatus may serve both as a measurement system as well as a control sub-system, and may be configured to operate in either an open-loop or closed loop manner.

Abstract: A controller that is linearly responsive to an input voltage provides continuously adjustable control of the width of a periodically repeating digital pulse, thereby achieving a linear voltage to duty-cycle ratio transfer function. The circuit of the present invention includes a master clock input, a ratio control voltage input, a controlled duty cycle clock output, a high gain amplifier configured as an integrator having differential inputs, each equipped with a low pass filter, a controlled current source, a resettable timing capacitor, a threshold detector and a reference pulse generator.

Abstract: A controller that is linearly responsive to an input voltage provides continuously adjustable control of the width of a periodically repeating digital pulse, thereby achieving a linear voltage to duty-cycle ratio transfer function. The circuit of the present invention includes a master clock input, a ratio control voltage input, a controlled duty cycle clock output, a high gain amplifier configured as an integrator having differential inputs, each equipped with a low pass filter, a controlled current source, a resettable timing capacitor, a threshold detector and a reference pulse generator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating, measuring and analyzing polarization voltages developed across an element, such as an electronic component or an electrochemical energy cell, or network of such elements, in response to a current mode excitation provided by a driver composed of a voltage controlled voltage source connected to one terminal of a Device Under Test and a voltage controlled current source connected to the other terminal of a Device Under Test. A voltage sensor, also connected across the Device Under Test, determines the magnitude and polarity of any potential appearing across the DUT; whenever the excitation current is exactly zero, this measured potential will be equal to the Open Circuit Potential of the DUT. This configuration of driver and sensor is known as a Kelvin connection.

Abstract: A time delay corrector corrects the relative time delay or phase error between two signals, for example, stereo audio signals. A window of no correction is established between two threshold levels. So long as a signal representative of the relative phase error on a relatively fast integration basis does not logically exceed the thresholds which define this window, no rapid phase error or time delay correction is accomplished. The window of zero correction thereby prevents any time delay or phase error corrections which might otherwise result from the normal phase fluctuations inherent in the two correlated stereo signals, thereby preserving the stereo imaging and information content of those signals. Upon the occurrence of the need for a relatively major time delay error correction, such as that which originates with tape splices and the like, detection signals logically exceed the thresholds of the window and a phase correction is rapidly attained.