Abstract: An illumination circuit includes a ballast, a capacitor, a first lamp and a second lamp. The capacitor and the second lamp constitute a first operative current path for igniting the second lamp by a coupling of the capacitor to a first node and a second node, and a coupling of the second lamp to the second node. A ballast, the first lamp and the second lamp constitute a second operative current path for igniting the first lamp by a coupling of the ballast to the first node, a coupling of the first lamp to the second node, and a series coupling of the ballast and the first lamp.

Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting circuit includes an open-circuit protection means to protect a driving means when a discharge lamp is not lighted. The open-circuit protection means is adapted to send out to a control means a signal for limiting a current flowing in the driving means to or below a predetermined value when the tube current is equal to or lower than a first value predetermined, and a signal for sequentially increasing a current flowing in the driving means up to a rated current when the tube current is higher than the first value and also is equal to or lower than a second value predetermined, and to stop a driving signal sent from the control means when a tube current flowing in the discharge lamp has a value equal to or lower than the first value after a predetermined time.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrical engineering.

Abstract: An electronic ballast comprises a direct current power supply configured to provide a direct current voltage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a supply circuit for a load, and in particular to an electronic ballast for a lamp having such a supply circuit. In order to drive a switching transistor T1 of the supply circuit, a forcing circuit ZS is used which is supplied by the supply circuit. At the start of operation, an oscillation of an oscillator circuit OS, which can preferably serve as an amplifier for the forcing circuit ZS in the continuous operating mode, is used for driving.

Abstract: The following circuit is proposed for discharge lamps having a particularly high starting voltage. An a.c. voltage generator (1) provides a corresponding a.c. voltage. A starting voltage generating device, which comprises a piezo transformer (2), is connected to the a.c. voltage generator (1) and can be connected at its output to a discharge lamp (4), generates a starting voltage from the a.c. voltage. The starting voltage generating device in this case comprises at least one diode (3) which is connected in parallel with the output of the starting voltage generating device. A zero-order pump circuit is thus integrated in the starting circuit. Advantageous here is the use of higher-order pump circuits.

Abstract: The invention relates to an operating method for fluorescent lamps and a corresponding ballast, in which the brightness of the fluorescent lamps (LP) is set to the desired value by varying the switching frequency of the inverter switches (T1, T2). In order to prevent oscillations between different operating states in a critical dimming range, the power consumption of the fluorescent lamps (LP) is stabilized according to the invention by means of an additional control loop.

Abstract: A light-weight, portable photocuring device possesses a single light emitting diode (LED). The single LED backed with a heat sink is driven by a driving circuit and controlled by a timing circuit. A temperature monitor can be included in a closed loop to feed back and control the driver. Lenses and/or light guides in the device act to further direct the light.

Abstract: A rare gas discharge lamp lighting apparatus has a power supply, a transformer, a switching element which is in series connected to the power supply and a primary side of the transformer, a rare gas discharge lamp connected on a secondary side of the transformer, and an input terminal for inputting a lamp lighting signal, a controlling circuit for outputting a controlling signal to the switching circuit by calculating at least one of output voltage, output current and output power, and an operating voltage input terminal to which voltage is impressed to initiate an operation of the controlling circuit based on the lamp lighting signal, wherein a delay element is provided between the input terminal and the operating voltage input terminal.

Abstract: An inverter apparatus for driving a plurality of lamp units including a plurality of lamps is provided. The inverter apparatus includes a plurality of inverters. Each inverter includes a delay block delaying an input ON/OFF signal to generate an output ON/OFF signal and an inverting block controlling the lighting of the corresponding lamp unit based on the output ON/OFF signal. The plurality of inverters includes a first inverter receiving the input ON/OFF signal from an external device and a second inverter receiving the input ON/OFF signal from one of the plurality of inverters.

Abstract: A dimming control system includes dimmer modules that receive dimming level information from one of at least two control modules. Each dimmer module includes a microprocessor that provides internal intelligence for controlling power to a load in response to dimming level information. Control modules receive industry standard protocol dimming information from various sources, convert it to dimming level information, and serially communicate the dimming level information to the dimmer modules. Dimmer modules and control modules are mounted in a rack which includes a backplane having a nonvolatile memory device that retains configuration data even if control modules are removed from the rack. An inactive control module can assume control of the rack when an active control module fails.

Abstract: A linear actuator includes a casing and a retractable member driven by a motor is movably received in the casing and a contact member is connected to the retractable member. A first position switch connected to the motor, a plurality of travel switches and a final position switch connected with a diode are connected to the actuator. These switches are connected in series by normal-close switches. Normal-open switches of the travel switches located between the first position switch and the final position switch are connected to a circuit of the control device. The motor is stopped when the final position switch touches the contact member of the retractable member, the motor is activated when a reverse electromotive is applied to the diode.

Abstract: A method and system of regulating an output voltage of a boiling water reactor nuclear reactor plant recirculation system motor generator are provided. The method includes sensing an alternator output voltage and transmitting an alternator output voltage signal to a voltage regulator circuit, sensing an alternator speed and transmitting an alternator speed signal to the voltage regulator circuit, comparing the alternator output voltage signal to the alternator speed signal with a volts per hertz divider network electrically coupled to the alternator output voltage sensing circuit and the alternator speed sensing device, adjusting a capacitive reactance of the voltage regulator with a lead compensation circuit electrically coupled in series with the volts per hertz divider network, and adjusting a current in a control winding of a saturable reactor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement of an electromotor comprising two terminals, in which the electromotor can be actuated for operation for both rotational directions, and in which, in the condition of the electromotor not energized with current, respectively one rotational direction of the electromotor is blocked and one rotational direction remains movable.

Abstract: An electronically commutated motor has a rotor (108), a stator having a stator winding arrangement (102), and a full bridge circuit (137) for controlling the current (i1, i2) in the stator winding arrangement (102); in the full bridge circuit (137), first semiconductor switches (114, 130) are connected to a first DC supply lead (116) and second semiconductor switches (132, 136) to the other DC supply lead (122), said second switches being bidirectionally conductive of current in the switched-on state. The motor has an arrangement (172, 198, 188) for opening the first semiconductor switches (114, 130) and for closing the second semiconductor switches (132, 136) during a predetermined operating state. An arrangement (202) is provided for monitoring the direction of the current (i1, i2) which flows in the second semiconductor switches (132, 136) when the latter are conductive during the predetermined operating state.

Abstract: A drive system for a brushless motor. The brushless motor includes a rotor having opposite magnetic poles on its periphery, and a stator facing the rotor. The stator has, for example, three interconnected coils at equal angular intervals. The drive system includes a memory for storing drive data which represent drive currents supplied to the respective coils at each angular position of the rotor. The drive system also includes a controller for reading those drive data which best match a target angular position of the rotor, from the memory. The controller generates drive signals based on the drive data. The drive system also includes a drive circuit for supplying the drive currents to the respective coils, based on the drive signals, respectively. The drive system can precisely control the angular position of the brushless motor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a windshield wiper system with two wipers (1, 2) that travel in opposite directions and can each be driven by a separate motor (MFS, MBS), wherein a regulating unit (7) is provided for triggering the motors (MFS, MBS) separately from each other by means of control signals, wherein the regulating unit (7) triggers the motors (MFS, MBS) of the wipers (1, 2) in order to preset a time-dependent angular position of the wipers according to a trigonometric function &phgr;(t).

Abstract: A rain sensor, in particular for a motor vehicle including a window-wiper device (windshield-wiper device), including a measuring element, which has a sensitivity that is predefinable by a control device, a signal, characterizing the speed of the motor vehicle, being able to be transmitted to the control device, and the control device increasing the sensitivity of the measuring element at lower speed. Furthermore, a method for controlling a windshield-wiper device, in particular for a motor vehicle. A measuring element is connected to a control device, its sensitivity being predefined by the control device. A signal characterizing a speed of the motor vehicle is transmitted to the control device and the sensitivity of the measuring element increased at lower speed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a biped walking mobile system or apparatus, typically a biped walking robot, which achieves walk stability without altering a preestablished gait, namely path of movement for each of joint region, as well as a walk controller and a work control method therefor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a motor controller to cause balanced positive and negative current half-cycles in a motor phase, the method comprising the steps of, for an occurring half-cycle, identifying the most recently obtained valid shut-off angle, identifying the fire angle immediately preceding the identified shut-off angle, mathematically combining the identified fire angle and the identified shut-off angle to identify a next virtual zero crossing (VZC) angle, mathematically combining the next VZC angle and the notch angle to determine a fire angle for the occurring half-cycle and repeating the method for the next half-cycle.

Abstract: A provide a position-sensorless motor control apparatus comprises a salient-pole AC motor 2, a PWM inverter 3 for applying voltage to the AC motor 2, and a controller 1 for controlling the PWM inverter 3 by means of PWM signals, wherein the controller 1 has a position estimation means 11 which detects motor inductance in the pre-determined direction to the vector direction of the current that flows through the AC motor 2 and estimates the AC motor's rotor position based on the motor inductance.

Abstract: A permanent magnet DC brushless motor control assembly permits a user to select the permanent magnet DC brushless motor operating characteristics by selecting appropriate control circuits to interface with the motor. The assembly includes a permanent magnet DC brushless motor, a commutator electrically coupled to the motor, and at least one control module electrically coupled to the commutator, to control operating characteristics of the permanent magnet DC brushless motor.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a charging device (900) is capable of receiving a first device (102) coupled to a second device (100). The first device has a first battery associated therewith and the second device has a second battery associated therewith. The charging device is capable of charging the first battery and the second battery in one of the following manners: charging the first and second batteries in a serial manner, charging the first and second batteries in a parallel manner, and charging the second battery from the energy stored in the first battery.

Abstract: A battery charging system includes two or more rechargeable batteries, a charging power supply charging the batteries with an external electrical power, a charging power sensing part sensing at least one of a voltage and a current of a charging power supplied from the charging power supply to the batteries, and a charging control part controlling the charging power supply to supply an idle power created during charging one battery, to another battery according to a sensed result of the charging power sensing part. With this configuration, a charging time of the two or more batteries is reduced, and the electrical power is efficiently used when the two or more batteries are charged.

Abstract: A motor controller includes a motor-position detector, a motor driver and a power cable having a pair of electric lines (two lines) which feeds power from the driver to the detector. The detector superimposes serial information about the motor-position to the power cable via windings of a transformer or a coupling capacitor. The serial information is obtained by converting parallel information about the motor-position. The serial information superimposed travels to the driver via the power cable. The driver receives the serial information via windings of the transformer or a coupling capacitor, and converts it to parallel information. The driver drives the motor according to this parallel information. The information necessary for driving the motor is superimposed to the power cable and transmitted through the power cable, so that a number of electric lines between the detector and the driver can be minimized.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an on-vehicle electricity storage device, which enables an appropriate charging of the on-vehicle electricity storage device while preventing degradation of the on-vehicle electricity storage device. The counter value of a high voltage maintaining counter CVB14V and the timer value of a sustain time subtraction timer TACG2 are increased over the period after time t1 in which the inter-terminal voltage VB of the battery is maintained to be greater than the predetermined mode switching threshold voltage #VB14V. The counter value and the timer value decrease over the period from time t2 to time t3. At time t3, the operation mode is switched from a non-charging mode to a charging mode.

Abstract: A battery charger amusement has a receptacle adapted to receive a rechargeable battery, an electronic circuit monitoring battery charge status, and a mechanical movement signal activated upon charge status attainment. The battery charger can include a motion actuator so as to move during the battery recharge process. The device is intended to encourage the use of rechargeable batteries over a disposable counterpart.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an improved battery pack is employed. The battery pack includes a housing with opposing walls, a plurality of cells disposed within the housing, at least two terminals electrically connected to the cells, a latching mechanism disposed on each opposing wall for latching the battery pack to a cordless device, each latching mechanism including a latch and a button disposed on the wall for moving the latch between unlatching and latching positions, the latching buttons being disposed along a first plane, the first plane being substantially vertical, wherein the number of cells disposed along the first plane is smaller than the number of cells disposed along a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane. The battery pack may also include a stacked cell disposed on the plurality of cells. The stacked cell may be disposed along the first plane. However, the stacked cell is not included in the number of cells disposed along the first plane.

Abstract: A car accessory includes an elongate bar removably received and retained in a retainer that is selectively attached to a sun visor of a car. The elongate bar forms a connector for connection with a mobile phone and an electrical system of the car. A speaker is mounted to the bar for broadcasting audio signal from the mobile phone and giving off sound signals. A control circuit is arranged in the bar for controlling the operation of the car accessory and synthesizing the sound signals. A battery set is mounted in the bar for powering the car accessory. Three lighting units are mounted to the bar and controlled by switches to selectively give off light signals and serve as a flashlight. The lighting units are operable with the speaker to give off visual and sound signals.

Abstract: It is known that reforming implantable defibrillator capacitors at least partially restores and preserves their charging efficiency. An industry-recognized standard is to reform implantable capacitors by pulse discharging the connected electrochemical cell about once every three months throughout the useful life of the medical device. A Li/SVO cell typically powers such devices. The present invention relates to methodologies for significantly minimizing, if not entirely eliminating, the occurrence of voltage delay and irreversible Rdc growth in the about 25% to 70% DOD region by subjecting Li/SVO cells to novel discharge regimes. At the same time, the connected capacitors in the cardiac defibrillator are reformed to maintain them at their rated breakdown voltages.

Abstract: A charging circuit (28) particularly suited for use in a satellite (20) has a battery cell (32). A voltage sensor (36) is coupled to the battery for generating a cell voltage signal. A current sensor (34) is coupled to the battery cell (32) and generates a cell charge current signal. A controller (38) is coupled to the voltage sensor (36) and the current sensor (34). The controller (38) determines a compensated voltage in response to the cell voltage signal and the charge current signal and controls the charging of the battery cell (32) in response to the compensated voltage.

Abstract: A charging apparatus comprises a rectifying circuit for rectifying the alternating current from the bicycle dynamo; a full-wave charging element operatively coupled to the rectifying circuit for charging during both positive and negative half-cycles of the bicycle dynamo; a first half-wave charging element operatively coupled to the rectifying circuit in parallel with the full-wave charging element, wherein the first half-wave charging element charges during positive half-cycles of said dynamo; and a second half-wave charging element operatively coupled to the rectifying circuit in parallel with the full-wave charging element, wherein the second half-wave charging element charges during negative half-cycles of the dynamo.

Abstract: The invention, intended primarily for use in a steel flywheel power source (30), provides a vacuum system and a method of maintaining a vacuum inside a flywheel chamber (32) for the life of the power source (30). The vacuum system combines the use of cleaning and de-gassing treatments in the chamber (32) and vacuum tempering of the steel flywheel (31) with the use of a chemical type metal alloy nonevaporable getter, such as zirconium-vanadium-iron, that cooperatively matches the outgassing of the flywheel (31) and chamber (32) by sorbing those gases that are released. The getter may be reactivated throughout the life of the flywheel system by reheating it with an integral heater that is triggered by a timer instead of a vacuum gauge to increase the system reliability, using power taken directly from the energy stored in the flywheel.

Abstract: A voltage regulator having an output terminal adapted to being connected to a load, including an operational amplifier having its non-inverting input connected to a reference voltage, and its inverting input connected to the output terminal, an inverting amplifier having its input connected to the output of the operational amplifier, a capacitive impedance connected between the input and the output of the inverting amplifier, a power switch controlled by the output of the inverter amplifier, arranged to connect the output terminal to a first supply voltage, said capacitive impedance including a short-circuitable portion associated with active short-circuit means when the current flowing through the load is greater than a predetermined current.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes an output voltage generator, a reference voltage generator, a voltage divider, and a voltage control circuit. An input voltage is supplied from a direct current power source. The output voltage generator generates a constant output voltage based on the input voltage. The reference voltage generator generates a reference voltage. The voltage divider divides the constant output voltage into a divided voltage in accordance with a voltage dividing ratio variable in response to an externally-input control signal. The voltage control circuit controls the output voltage generator to regulate the constant output voltage such that the divided voltage from the voltage divider is equalized to the reference voltage.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an input terminal adapted for being coupled to an input voltage and an output terminal adapted for being coupled to a load. The voltage regulator includes a first switch adapted for selectively coupling to the input terminal and to the output terminal, a current sensor for measuring an output current flowing towards the output terminal, a voltage sensor for measuring the output voltage from the output terminal, and a digital controller which drives the first switch. The controller closes the first switch when the error voltage is less than a first preset value of voltage and opens the first switch when the output current is greater than a first preset value of current.

Abstract: A method, digital circuit system and program product for reducing delta-I noise in a plurality of activity units connected to a common DC-supply voltage. In order to smooth the fluctuations (delta-I) of a total current demand I, and a respective resulting fluctuation of the supply voltage, a signalling scheme between said activity units and a supervisor unit which holds a system-specific “database” containing at least the current demand of each activity unit device when operating regularly. Dependent of the quantity of calculated, imminent delta-I a subset of said activity units with a respective current I demand is selected and controlled, for either temporarily delaying their beginning of activity in case of an imminent supply voltage drop, or temporarily continuing their activity with a predetermined, activity-specific NO-OP phase in case of an imminent supply voltage rise.

Abstract: A digitally modulated power control device comprises an input unit for inputting an AC voltage signal and a control signal; a signal detection unit for detecting the AC voltage signal and a frequency thereof and generating a first trigger signal in response to the AC voltage signal; a control unit for receiving the control signal and the first trigger signal, processing the first trigger signal in response to the control signal, and generating a second trigger signal; and an output unit including an AC switching unit. The output unit can receive the second trigger signal for activating the AC switching unit and output an adjusted AC voltage signal for adjusting an output power of an AC load.

Abstract: A switching regulator has a drive circuit, receiving an intermediate circuit input voltage, an output voltage of an intermediate circuit capacitor and an output current at a current measuring element and controls the electrical output parameters and the power factor of the switching regulator in accordance with an adjustable desired value by controlling the duty ratio of a power switch. The drive circuit has a start circuit for dynamically increasing a current limiting level for the power switch during a start time after the switch-on instant of the switching regulator from an initially low level up to a current-limiting desired level at the end of the start time. The loading current-time integral for the diode and the power switch of the power factor correction circuit of the switching regulator is the least with this soft start circuit. Moreover, noise due to abrupt magnetic driving of the inductor is avoided.

Abstract: An Anode Rod Depletion Indicator for use with a sacrificial anode in a fluid storage tank. A core wire, which is arranged within the anode, has a series of hollow or fluted passageways. When the anode depletion causes a predetermined amount of the core wire to be exposed, fluid contained in the storage tank flows in the hollows or flutes of the core wire. The fluid pressurizes and activates a pressure gauge or switch, or pushes a piston up to a location, which is visible to the owner. In an embodiment, a visible indicator such as “Good” is visible on a pressure gauge until the fluid pressure indicates “Replace” on the pressure gauge or until the piston pushes up a “Replace” indicator to the need to replace anode rod, to prevent corrosion and failure of the tank, while the anode is still providing corrosion protection of the tank. An electrical switch may cut off supply fluid, fuel supply, and/or activate an alarm.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide technique and an apparatus for precisely measuring high frequency current that flows in a transmission line of a small impedance load circuit. A current waveform can be measured in wide bandwidth (at high-time resolution) and at high sensitivity without processing DUT (nondestructive) and without having an effect of the impedance of the apparatus (noninvasive) by installing a magnetooptical device in a magnetic field generated based upon current that flows in the transmission line, applying a bias magnetic field to the magnetooptical device by a magnetic field generator, making polarized light incident under the control of a position so that detection sensitivity is maximum and detecting the variation of polarization included in reflected light from the magnetooptical device.

Abstract: An integrated circuit on a system board is used, for example, in a digital audio device (such as a DVD or A/V receiver). The integrated circuit includes a digital-to-analog converter and the system board may include circuitry to mute the analog output of the device under certain predefined conditions. Because it may not be known in advance by the designer of the integrated circuit whether the circuit is activated by a signal in a high state (polarity) or a low state, the integrated circuit includes a detector which detects and stores the required polarity. When it is necessary for the circuit to be activated, the detector provides a signal of the correct polarity.

Abstract: A positioner, such as a test head carrier for a semiconductor wafer and device tester, includes a vertical support and a main arm for supporting a test head. The main arm is suspended for vernier movement by use of a counterbalancing force such as counterweights. The suspension of the main arm is performed at a mechanical advantage so that reduced counter-blancing force and correspondingly large movements on the counterblance side are used to effect the vernier movement. The vertical support may be adjusted with a non-compliant drive such as a ball screw mechanism. The vernier movement can also be used to sense collisions and other positioning errors and actuation of the drive for the vertical support can be controlled accordingly.

Abstract: A tester that is well suited for operation at high speeds or with narrow pulses. The tester includes a state based pulse shaping circuit that combines edge signals into a pulsed output signal. The circuit combines groups of set and reset signals. The edge signals define the start and stop of pulses in the output signal even if the set and reset edge signals overlap or successive set signals overlap or successive reset signals overlap. This circuit allows for a low cost and low power CMOS implementation of an output signal formatter.

Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for controlling probe tip sanding in semiconductor device testing equipment, resistance values of pads of a probed chip are measured and stored. If a maximum resistance value among the stored resistance values is greater than a contact resistance reference value, a consecutive fail counting value and an accumulated fail counting value are increased. An automatic sanding command is generated to activate automatic sanding of a probe tip, when at least one of the consecutive fail counting value and the accumulated fail counting value is greater than a respective counting reference value. In this manner, false negative readings in the testing of semiconductor devices as the result of increased contact resistance between a probe tip and a pad in an EDS test are reduced and therefore device yield is improved.

Abstract: To provide a method for checking bores in or edges on an object of measurement, and, in particular, for recognizing burrs, by means of which bores can be checked in a simple and accurate way, it is proposed that a prepared object of reference be scanned by a distance sensor and in correlation therewith the object of measurement be scanned by a further distance sensor and a comparison be made of the measurement signals of the two distance sensors.

Abstract: A rotation sensor comprising: a stator of the rotation sensor; a rotator arranged around the stator in a rotatable manner relative to the stator, so as to detect a rotated-angle variation of a detection target correspondingly to an overlapped state of the rotator with the stator; and a casing for accommodating the rotator therein; wherein at least a part of an outer peripheral surface of the rotator is slidable relative to an inner surface of the casing for accommodating the rotator and stator therein, so that the rotator is constantly smoothly rotated, to thereby accurately detect the rotated-angle variation of the measurement target.

Abstract: Probes are electrically connected to a surface of a tunnel junction film stack comprising a free layer, a tunnel barrier, and a pinned layer. Resistances are determined for a variety of probe spacings and for a number of magnetizations of one of the layers of the stack. The probe spacings are a distance from a length scale, which is related to the Resistance-Area (RA) product of the tunnel junction film stack. Spacings from as small as possible to about 40 times the length scale are used. Beneficially, the smallest spacing between probes used during a resistance measurement is under 100 microns. A measured in-plane MagnetoResistance (MR) curve is determined from the “high” and “low” resistances that occur at the two magnetizations of this layer. The RA product, resistances per square of the free and pinned layers, and perpendicular MR are determined through curve fitting.

Abstract: A process for measuring the thickness of a layer of oxide on a rod cladding in a fuel assembly comprising a bundle of rods parallel to each other and held in a framework comprising spacer grids for transversely holding rods distributed in an axial direction of the bundle

Abstract: A scanning SQUID microscope for acquiring spatially resolved images of physical properties of an object includes a SQUID sensor arranged in perpendicular to the plane of the object under investigation for detecting tangential component of the magnetic field generated by the object. During scanning of the SQUID sensor over the object under investigation, the position signal from a position interpreting unit, as well as relevant output signals from the SQUID sensor are processed by a processing unit which derives from the data, spatially resolved images of the physical properties of the object. The specific orientation of the SQUID sensor with respect to the plane of the object permits an enlarged area of the SQUID chip on which the modulation and feedback line can be fabricated in the same technological process with the SQUID sensor. Additionally, larger contact pads afforded provide for lower contact resistance and ease in forming contact with bias and read-out wires.