Abstract: Contactless electrical motion apparatus in which power is contactlessly made available to a moving part from a static part, comprises, a stator which in cross section comprising a magnetisable outer wall enclosing a conductor and a hollow space, the magnetizable outer wall having a discontinuity forming an airgap, the stator and hollow space in longitudinal section forming a rail. A moving part has a shoe or slider that fits within the hollow space to ride along the rail, the mover contactlessly filling the air gap at any given location when passing. With the airgap closed a magnetic circuit forms through the magnetizable outer wall and passes via the shoe or slider. The mover has a coil in which currents are induceable from the closed magnetic circuit.

Abstract: A transverse flux rotating electrical motor comprises a stator and a rotor, the rotor comprising rings of magnets around a shaft, the shaft defining an axial direction of the motor. The stator comprises a plurality of U-shaped magnetic circuit elements each having an open end, a closed end, and upper and lower legs and being oriented on the stator such that their lengths are along the axial direction. The U-shaped elements form rings on the stator around the rotor shaft and the open ends of the elements in a given ring are oriented together along the axis. Windings, also in the form of rings, are inserted into the rings of U-shaped magnetic circuit elements, and the upper and lower legs of the U-shaped elements extend along the axial direction to at least partially enclose one of the rings of magnets of the rotor.

Abstract: A pulse generator comprises a mounting to hold two bodies in proximity to each other. Two magnetic elements may be movably placed in the mounting, and the magnetic elements will align with each other in one of two stable states. A coil surrounds the magnetic elements in the mounting, and a force application device applies a force to the first magnetic element to cause the first magnetic element to break the current alignment and thereby make the first and second magnetic elements realign to the other stable state. The movement of the magnets generates a pulse in the coil which may be detected by suitable circuitry and used. The device may be used inter alia to count rotations or linear movements, or to provide switching or remote control without the need for a separate power source.

Abstract: A high resolution encoder device using a number of static sensors distributed on a circumference, and a rotating disc, having several sections of two different properties on an annular track according to a predefined pattern, placed so that the sensors can sense the properties of the sections of track in proximity. An auxiliary unit is also provided and by itself or in combination with the sensor signal values, provides a first low resolution position value. In a first processing step, the signals of each sensor are compared to a threshold, and bit values zero or one for each sensor are set according to the comparison result. All bits are then set in a digital word, in order to create a code number, which in combination with the output of the auxiliary unit, is characteristic of a first low resolution position value. For each low resolution position value, a mathematical combination of signals values is defined.

Abstract: A linear encoder has a stationary part and a moving part, and measures and encodes a relative displacement between the stationary part and the moving part along a linear extent of displacement. The encoder comprises multiple machine sensible elements arranged on one of the parts in a predetermined, pattern; and multiple evenly placed sensors arranged along the other part along the entire linear extent, thereby to measure and encode the displacement. The encoder may be an absolute encoder and may be based on magnetic or optical or any other kind of sensing.

Abstract: An Electrical Linear Motor having a number of electrical windings with long linear sections arranged parallel to the linear path of the motor. A row of equidistant magnets parallel to the linear path and having alternating magnetic field direction perpendicular to the linear path of the motor is provided. A number of magnetic circuits each enclose some of the long linear winding sections, further referred as “set of long linear sections”. Any two of these magnetic circuits enclose a different set of long linear sections. Each magnetic circuit is provided with an opening receiving the magnet row. The magnet row and the magnetic circuits slide along the linear path relatively to each other to vary working force. A required force value is obtained by controlling the current in the windings for each position of the moving row relative to the magnetic circuits.

Abstract: A pulse generator comprises a mounting to hold two bodies in proximity to each other. Two magnetic elements may be movably placed in the mounting, and the magnetic elements will align with each other in one of two stable states. A coil surrounds the magnetic elements in the mounting, and a force application device applies a force to the first magnetic element to cause the first magnetic element to break the current alignment and thereby make the first and second magnetic elements realign to the other stable state. The movement of the magnets generates a pulse in the coil which may be detected by suitable circuitry and used. The device may be used inter alia to count rotations or linear movements, or to provide switching or remote control without the need for a separate power source.

Abstract: A high resolution encoder device using a number of static sensors distributed on a circumference, and a rotating disc, having several sections of two different properties on an annular track according to a predefined pattern, placed so that the sensors can sense the properties of the sections of track in proximity. An auxiliary unit is also provided and by itself or in combination with the sensor signal values, provides a first low resolution position value. In a first processing step, the signals of each sensor are compared to a threshold, and bit values zero or one for each sensor are set according to the comparison result. All bits are then set in a digital word, in order to create a code number, which in combination with the output of the auxiliary unit, is characteristic of a first low resolution position value. For each low resolution position value, a mathematical combination of signals values is defined.

Abstract: A linear encoder has a stationary part and a moving part, and measures and encodes a relative displacement between the stationary part and the moving part along a linear extent of displacement. The encoder comprises multiple machine sensible elements arranged on one of the parts in a predetermined, pattern; and multiple evenly placed sensors arranged along the other part along the entire linear extent, thereby to measure and encode the displacement. The encoder may be an absolute encoder and may be based on magnetic or optical or any other kind of sensing.

Abstract: An Electrical Linear Motor having a number of electrical windings with long linear sections, said sections being arranged parallel to the linear path of the motor. A unique row of equidistant magnets (magnet row), parallel to the linear path and having alternating magnetic field direction perpendicular to the linear path of the motor is provided. A number of magnetic circuits are provided; each magnetic circuit encloses a number of the said long linear winding section, further referred as “set of long linear sections”, and at least two of these magnetic circuits enclose a different set of long linear sections. Each magnetic circuit is provided with an opening receiving the magnet row. The magnet row and the magnetic circuits slide along the linear path relatively to each other. Embodiments include variations in the static and movable elements.

Abstract: A solar tracker device continuously captures sun rays to be redirected towards a target The device includes a mirror defining a center point and fixedly mounted to a heliostat, an imaging device having an optical axis passing through the mirror center point, an electronic board, and a partly transparent dome extending between the imaging device and the target When sun rays penetrate said dome, the mirror reflects rays toward the dome and a portion are reflected back by the dome to the imaging device to form an image of the mirror center point An image of the fixed target is formed on the imaging device through the dome and defines an image of the target Whenever the images of the mirror and the target center are not in coincidence, the electronic board is activated to rotate the heliostat reflecting surface toward an orientation for which coincidence is obtained.

Abstract: A transverse flux electrical motor to produce motion from an input electric current, the electrical motor comprising: a static element having a plurality of magnets arranged in at least two rows and defining a path of movement; a magnetizable movable element having at least two openings, each opening being sized and shaped to receive a magnet from one of the rows of magnets, the movable element being movable along the path of movement such that the magnets of each row pass through one of the openings; and a plurality of windings positioned adjacent to the movable element, to receive the electric current and produce a magnetic flux circuit in the movable element and a force on the movable element in the direction of the path of movement; wherein the magnetic flux circuit in the movable element is transverse to the direction of force on the movable element.

Abstract: The device to measure the absolute rotation angle of a rotating shaft includes a rotating disc, fixed to the shaft. A group of permanent magnets of different sizes and polarities is disposed on a circular track. Further, a group of Hall sensors, fixed to a static part of the device, are disposed on a circular path, in proximity of the rotating disc magnets tracks, and generate electric signals proportional to the strength of the magnetic field produced by the magnets in proximity. The signs of these electric signals are used to calculate a code characteristic of a low resolution absolute angular position. Two analog signals are associated to the obtained code, according to a predefined table. The associated analog signal having the closest value to zero is used as an entry to a pre-recorded table containing the correspondent angular position of the shaft.

Abstract: The device to measure the absolute rotation angle of a rotating shaft includes a rotating disc, fixed to the shaft. A group of permanent magnets of different sizes and polarities is disposed on a circular track. Further, a group of Hall sensors, fixed to a static part of the device, are disposed on a circular path, in proximity of the rotating disc magnets tracks, and generate electric signals proportional to the strength of the magnetic field produced by the magnets in proximity. The signs of these electric signals are used to calculate a code characteristic of a low resolution absolute angular position. Two analog signals are associated to the obtained code, according to a pre-defined table. The associated analog signal having the closest value to zero is used as an entry to a pre-recorded table containing the correspondent angular position of the shaft.

Abstract: An encoder and method for precisely indicating the position of a first member with respect to a second member by utilizing a pattern of machine-sensible elements carried on a single track of the first member; the machine-sensible elements being located at successive incremental rotations on the track of the first member and each representing one of the binary values “0” and “1”; and a plurality of “n” sensors, wherein “n” is greater than “3”, carried by the second member at a plurality of spaced locations thereon in proximity to the track of the first member and alignable with the machine-sensible elements of the first member.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring displacements of a rotary or linearly-displaceable member by counting periods of displacement thereof along a predetermined displacement path, including a pulse generator located at a pulse-generation station proximate to the displacement path; and an electrical circuit controlled by the pulse generator to actuate a first sensor to sense the status of the displaceable member at the particular instant one of said second machine-sensible elements passes through the pulse-generation station, and to increment a counter in accordance with said status determination.

Abstract: A solar tracker device continuously captures sun rays to be redirected towards a target The device includes a mirror defining a center point and fixedly mounted to a heliostat, an imaging device having an optical axis passing through the mirror center point, an electronic board, and a partly transparent dome extending between the imaging device and the target When sun rays penetrate said dome, the mirror reflects rays toward the dome and a portion are reflected back by the dome to the imaging device to form an image of the mirror center point An image of the fixed target is formed on the imaging device through the dome and defines an image of the target Whenever the images of the mirror and the target center are not in coincidence, the electronic board is activated to rotate the heliostat reflecting surface toward an orientation for which coincidence is obtained

Abstract: A transverse flux electrical motor to produce motion from an input electric current, the electrical motor comprising: a static element having a plurality of magnets arranged in at least two rows and defining a path of movement; a magnetizable movable element having at least two openings, each opening being sized and shaped to receive a magnet from one of the rows of magnets, the movable element being movable along the path of movement such that the magnets of each row pass through one of the openings; and a plurality of windings positioned adjacent to the movable element, to receive the electric current and produce a magnetic flux circuit in the movable element and a force on the movable element in the direction of the path of movement; wherein the magnetic flux circuit in the movable element is transverse to the direction of force on the movable element.

Abstract: An optical encoder for measuring the rotary angle of a rotating shaft comprising an electronic board with light emitter and light sensor means disposed between a pair of overlying light guides having a common symmetry axis that coincides with the shaft rotation axis, the light guides receiving light from a light emitter means on the electronic board and returning light to a light sensor means the electronic board; an optical pattern of two concentric annular sections attached to the rotating shaft and an optical pattern of two concentric annular sections on a stationary device. A method for measuring the rotary angle of the rotating shaft by emitting light from the electronic board into the light guides and processing the signals received on the electronic board from light rays returning through the light guides after interacting with the said optical patterns.

Abstract: System and method for detecting the inclusion of strings of words (records) in an input string of words. In a preparation phase, the records are pre-processed. Each record is represented by a string of chunks, each chunk composed of a pre-defined number of words. Each chunk found in at least one record is assigned a number of attributes, such as a “Begin of Record” attribute and an “End of Record” attribute. In the searching phase the input string is also divided in chunks, and for each input chunk, an Incremental Hash Function (IHF) is calculated for comparing with a prerecorded value ?I. If the two values IHF and ?I coincide for matching chunks with certain predefined attributes, a “probable match” is set, indicating a very high probability that a chunk was found in the records.