Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for reducing resonant vibrations in impact tools. The embodiments disclosed herein include the use of certain particles positioned within an impact tool, such as a drumstick, for converting the energy of vibration to heat energy resulting from collisions between the particles.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for reducing resonant vibrations in impact tools. The embodiments disclosed herein include the use of certain particles positioned within an impact tool, such as a drumstick, for converting the energy of vibration to heat energy resulting from collisions between the particles.

Abstract: A heel-toe actuated bass drum pedal system includes a pedal having a heel hinge point at a rear portion and an opposing toe hinge point at a front portion. A heel transfer arm is connected between the heel hinge point and the base. A heel rocker pivot is connected to the base and a heel linkage connected between the heel transfer arm and the heel rocker pivot such that movement of the heel linkage provides rotational movement to the heel rocker pivot which may carry a drum beater. A toe rocker pivot is connected to the base and a toe linkage connected between the toe rocker pivot and the toe hinge point for providing the rotational movement to the toe rocker pivot which may include a second drum beater. A return spring biases the rocker pivots toward a preselected rotation.

Abstract: A coil former provides for restricted cross-over locations for a coil resulting in an optimum wire packing at all points within the coil. The coil former has a first side wall in a spaced relation to an opposing second side wall, wherein a cavity formed between the side walls accommodates multiple turns of wire for forming a coil. A block is fixed between the opposing first and second side walls and has its peripheral wall surface tapered from the first wall surface inwardly toward the opposing second wall surface for preferentially receiving and positioning turns of wire forming the coil.

Abstract: A limited rotation electromechanical rotary actuator includes a stator having an aperture sized to accept a rotor assembly and a rectangular coil. A rotor assembly is bidirectionally operable with the stator over a limited range of rotation. The rotor assembly includes an output shaft and a two-pole magnet and a position sensor shaft, wherein the output shaft and position sensor shaft are each rigidly attached to only a portion of the magnet. The rotor assembly includes apertures for allowing an electrical coil to pass through. The electrical coil extends around the magnet on four sides and is excitable for providing bidirectional torque to the rotor.

Abstract: A heel-toe actuated bass drum pedal system includes a pedal having a heel hinge point at a rear portion and an opposing toe hinge point at a front portion. A heel transfer arm is connected between the heel hinge point and the base. A heel rocker pivot is connected to the base and a heel linkage connected between the heel transfer arm and the heel rocker pivot such that movement of the heel linkage provides rotational movement to the heel rocker pivot which may carry a drum beater. A toe rocker pivot is connected to the base and a toe linkage connected between the toe rocker pivot and the toe hinge point for providing the rotational movement to the toe rocker pivot which may include a second drum beater. A return spring biases the rocker pivots toward a preselected rotation.

Abstract: A galvanometer-based optical scanner limits a range of mirror rotation angles and includes posts extending from an adjustable base to define a range of angles for rotation of the mirror and cushioning carried by the posts for softening an impact of the mirror when making contact with the posts. A band of rubber-like material is placed around the posts to provide the cushioning. Operation of the scanner is such that an adjustable mirror stop is provided which does not stop rotation of the rotor itself, but stops rotation of the mirror.

Abstract: An electromechanical rotary actuator includes a rotor and a stator having one or more slots into which one or more coils are placed. The stator includes a rotor position restoring means which overcomes cogging outside a desired rotation range. The rotor position restoration means may include one or more restoring magnets or optionally include a contoured cavity within the stator proximate the rotor. One stator includes teeth having contoured ends forming a portion of the aperture within which the rotor operates. Distal ends of the teeth form a relatively large gap compared to typical actuators, wherein the gap is sized to the rotor magnet. An actuator desirably having a high torque constant, low coil resistance and a low coil inductance is provided.

Abstract: A beam brush includes one lens fixed for receiving a laser beam propagating along a first beam axis, a retroreflector positioned for redirecting the laser beam onto a second beam axis through a change in beam path length, and a second lens transmitting the redirected beam. The retroreflector is rotatable about an offset axis and has its angle of rotation controlled for affecting a change in beam path length. The angle of rotation resulting in the path length change is selected for providing a focus or divergence of the reflected beam transmitted through the second lens. Such a system is useful as a Z-axis focusing device operable an X-Y scanner located downstream the modified beam.

Abstract: A scanning mirror includes a reflective surface having a preset width dimension measured orthogonally to its axis of rotation. The preset width dimension accommodates a maximum angle of incidence of a beam being scanned by the reflective surface. A length dimension of the reflective surface, as measured along the axis of rotation, is at least equal to a diameter of the beam being scanned. A bottom portion of the reflective surface has an effective width dimension greater than the preset width dimension, and a top portion of the reflective surface has an effective width dimension less than the preset width dimension, such that a greater inertia is provided to the bottom portion of the scanning mirror that to the top portion. One shape for the reflective surface comprises a trapezoid.

Abstract: An electromechanical limited rotation rotary actuator comprises a stator having an aperture extending axially therein and at least two teeth having arcuate end portions forming an aperture. A rotor includes a diametral magnetized magnet bidirectionally operable with the stator and extending into the aperture. A non-uniform gap is formed between the magnet and the end portions of the teeth, and wherein the shape of the gap provides a restoration torque resulting in a spring-like return-to-center action of the rotor. An electrical coil extends around at least a portion of one tooth and is excitable for magnetizing the tooth and providing bidirectional torque to the rotor.

Abstract: An electromechanical device includes a rotor and a stator, wherein the stator includes multiple teeth excitable by a coil. The stator is formed from multiple stator sections with one section having a protrusion in spaced relation with a first tooth and a second section having a second protrusion in spaced relation with a second tooth. The protrusions have voids for receiving opposing protrusions in an overlapping manner to integrally form the first stator section with the second stator section. The electrical coil is extended around at least a portion of one tooth before mating the multiple stator sections. The rotor has a diametral magnetized magnet extending into the aperture.

Abstract: A fault protector for an opto-electronic device includes a MOSFET having an integral body-diode. A capacitor is connected between a drain and a gate of the MOSFET, and a resistor is connected between the gate and a source of the MOSFET. The drain of the MOSFET is connectable to a first terminal of an opto-electronic device, and the source of the MOSFET is connectable to a second terminal of the opto-electronic device. The device overcomes problems of previously known techniques by preventing a reverse-bias voltage from exceeding an absolute maximum specified by a manufacturer, and also prevents ESD or other power-related faults from exceeding the maximum forward-bias voltage of the laser diode, while not adding significant resistance or capacitance to the laser diode, thereby not complicating the task of driving the laser diode.

Abstract: A beam brush includes one lens fixed for receiving a laser beam propagating along a first beam axis, a retroreflector positioned for redirecting the laser beam onto a second beam axis through a change in beam path length, and a second lens transmitting the redirected beam. The retroreflector is rotatable about an offset axis and has its angle of rotation controlled for affecting a change in beam path length. The angle of rotation resulting in the path length change is selected for providing a focus or divergence of the reflected beam transmitted through the second lens. Such a system is useful as a Z-axis focusing device operable an X-Y scanner located downstream the modified beam.

Abstract: A coil former provides for restricted cross-over locations for a coil resulting in an optimum wire packing at all points within the coil. The coil former has a first side wall in a spaced relation to an opposing second side wall, wherein a cavity formed between the side walls accommodates multiple turns of wire for forming a coil. A block is fixed between the opposing first and second side walls and has its peripheral wall surface tapered from the first wall surface inwardly toward the opposing second wall surface for preferentially receiving and positioning turns of wire forming the coil.

Abstract: A laser light projector includes a laser beam generated by a laser light source, a scanner associated with the laser light source and having one or more moving mirrors capable of scanning the laser beam along X-Y coordinates, a scan-fail monitor and a safety-lens. The safety-lens includes a plurality of powers arranged for increasing the safety of the projected light within audience areas by increasing beam divergence in the audience, while keeping beam divergence low above the heads of the audience, thus allowing mirror targeting to occur.

Abstract: A laser light projector includes a laser beam generated by a laser light source, a scanner associated with the laser light source and having one or more moving mirrors capable of scanning the laser beam along X-Y coordinates, a scan-fail monitor and a safety-lens. The safety-lens includes at least one optical power, and is positioned and arranged for increasing the safety of the projected light within audience areas by increasing beam divergence in the audience, while keeping beam divergence low above the heads of the audience, thus allowing mirror targeting to occur.

Abstract: A rotary position detector includes a housing having an inner space having a reflective element. A light source emits light rays upwardly. A base supports a light detector assembly having a first number of toroidal-sector-shaped light sensors disposed in pairs about a motor shaft axis, one “A” detector element and one “B” detector element alternately disposed. A light blocker positioned between the light source and the light sensors rotates with the shaft. The light blocker includes a second number of opaque, equal-surface-area elements arrayed about the axis, the second number equal to one-half the first number. A circuit measures a signal from the “A” and “B” detectors relating to an amount of light falling thereon, a difference related to an angular position of the motor shaft.

Abstract: An electromechanical rotary actuator includes a rotor and a stator having one or more slots into which one or more coils are placed. The stator includes a rotor position restoring means which overcomes cogging outside a desired rotation range. The rotor position restoration means may include one or more restoring magnets or optionally include a contoured cavity within the stator proximate the rotor. One stator includes teeth having contoured ends forming a portion of the aperture within which the rotor operates. Distal ends of the teeth form a relatively large gap compared to typical actuators, wherein the gap is sized to the rotor magnet. An actuator desirably having a high torque constant, low coil resistance and a low coil inductance is provided.

Abstract: A rotary position detector includes a housing having an inner space having a reflective element. A light source emits light rays upwardly. A base supports a light detector assembly having a first number of toroidal-sector-shaped light sensors disposed in pairs about a motor shaft axis, one “A” detector element and one “B” detector element alternately disposed. A light blocker positioned between the light source and the light sensors rotates with the shaft. The light blocker includes a second number of opaque, equal-surface-area elements arrayed about the axis, the second number equal to one-half the first number. A circuit measures a signal from the “A” and “B” detectors relating to an amount of light falling thereon, a difference related to an angular position of the motor shaft.