Abstract: A timing control signal for separating a display time period corresponding to one line horizontal scan period and a reset time period corresponding to a retrace period of horizontal scan is provided for each of R, G and B display colors. The display time periods for R, G and B display colors are determined by setting the reset time periods of the timing control signals according to externally set data, so that luminance for each display color is regulated.

Abstract: The invention provides a power supply or drive circuit for a pulsed flashlamp which utilizes a two-core component having common windings as both an inductor for arc mode drive and for breakdown triggering of the lamp. Discharge of a capacitor through the inductor and lamp is controlled by a high-speed semiconductor switch which is turned on and off by a suitable control, current flowing from the inductor through a one-way path including the lamp when the switch is off. The control maintains the ratio of the power variation through the lamp to the average power through the lamp substantially constant. The controls may also be utilized to control output pulse shape. Novel protective features are also provided for circuit components during turn on periods for the switch.

Abstract: Improved method and device for lighting a high pressure discharge lamp are provided which prevent arc jump and inhibit deterioration of lamp voltage and luminance. The method includes the step of: alternately repeating a superposition operation for superposing a pulse current on a lamp current applied to the high pressure discharge lamp for a predetermined time period and a superposition stopping operation for stopping the superposition of the pulse current for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A ballast for electrical lighting fixtures with improved thermal protection features is disclosed. The ballast has ballast laminations, primary and secondary coils, and a thermal protector, the thermal protector being wired in series with the secondary coil. The ballast preferably is of the type having multiple input voltage taps on the primary coil; in such cases, the electrical positioning of the thermal protector in series with the secondary coil causes the wiring assembly of the thermal protector (as part of the ballast) to be independent of the primary coil input voltage tap used in a particular application. Also disclosed are improved electrical lighting circuits for high-intensity-discharge lamps, the circuits having the above-described thermally-protected ballasts.

Abstract: Dispersion occurs in the characteristics of the transistors. The invention is a signal line driving circuit having a first and a second current source circuits corresponding to each of a plurality of signal lines, a shift register, and a constant current source for video signal, in which the first current source circuit is disposed in a first latch and the second current source circuit is disposed in a second latch. The first current source circuit includes capacitive means for converting the current supplied from the constant current source for video signal into a voltage, according to a sampling pulse supplied from the shift register, and supplying means for supplying the current corresponding to the converted voltage. The second current source circuit includes capacitive means for converting the current supplied from the first latch into a voltage, according to a latch pulse, and supplying means for supplying the current corresponding to the converted voltage.

Abstract: A multicolor lamp system. The multicolor lamp system includes a dimming circuit and an illumination module electrically connected to the dimming circuit. The illumination module has a detection circuit for detecting the output of the dimming circuit. The detection circuit generates a detection signal corresponding to the output of the dimming circuit. A microcontroller is programmed to receive the detection signal and to supply a corresponding electrical signal to a plurality of LEDs. The LEDs are able to generate a variety of colors corresponding to the electrical signal supplied from the microcontroller. In a preferred embodiment the illumination module also includes an infrared receiver.

Abstract: A generator is used in a controllable dimmer ballast of a fluorescent lamp for eliminating a striation. The generator includes an interface for transforming an input signal to a first input voltage and a second input voltage, an oscillator electrically connected to the interface for receiving the first input voltage and producing a pair of complementary pulse trains, a comparator electrically connected to the interface for receiving and comparing the second input voltage with a given thresh voltage and providing an enable signal, and a controller electrically connected to the oscillator and the comparator for alternately modulating the pulse trains and providing a first and a second control signals according to the pulse trains and the enable signal so as to eliminate the striation of the lamp.

Abstract: The present invention describes an apparatus and methods for operating one or more gas arc lamps or metal vapor, wherein a rectified multiphase voltage is directly used by an electronic ballast device without intermittently connecting any active component, so as to achieve an efficient control of a gas arc lamp with a reduced interference radiation, wherein the power factor is inherently higher than 0.95.

Abstract: An apparatus has a first H-bridge having a first motor contact on a shared first side and a second motor contact on a second side. The apparatus also has a half H-bridge having a third motor contact on a third side, wherein the shared first side of the first H-bridge and the third side of the half H-bridge may be operated as a second H-bridge. Another apparatus has a first H-bridge having a first motor contact on a shared first side and a second motor contact on a second side. The other apparatus also has a switch coupled to a third motor contact, wherein the shared first side of the first H-bridge and the switch may be operated as a partial H-bridge. A method of operating an alternate H-bridge and a method of flexibly using an H-bridge circuit on an ASIC are also provided.

Abstract: A method of controlling a motor may include controllably operating a motor with a desired input command to attain a desired output response of the motor, monitoring an output of the motor, and determining a difference between the monitored output and the desired input command. The method may further include establishing a deadband around the difference and determining a torque command based on a relationship between the difference and the deadband.

Abstract: An electric motor position control apparatus in accordance with the present invention has a plurality of sets of control parameters including at least the proportional gain of a position control section and the proportional gain of a speed control section beforehand, wherein set selection and the measurement of the response state of an electric motor to a position command at the time when the electric motor is controlled by using the control parameters of the selected set are carried out sequentially, one preferable set is selected depending on the measured response state, the control parameters of the selected set are set, and the control parameters are changed as a set.

Abstract: A system for preventing a security gate from making hard contact with an object in its path is disclosed. The apparatus detects the presence of an object by use of ultra sonic detectors that use ultra sonic transceivers. When an object is detected the gate operator makes the appropriate calculations to avoid hitting the object. The system operates continuously and can determine if the object is still in the protected area or has moved beyond the protected area.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for confining a robot to a particular space. The system includes a portable barrier signal transmitter that produces a barrier signal primarily along an axis, and a mobile robot capable of avoiding the barrier signal upon detection of the barrier signal. In the preferred embodiment the barrier signal is emitted in an infrared frequency and the robot includes an omni-directional signal detector. Upon detection of the signal, the robot turns in a direction selected by a barrier avoidance algorithm until the barrier signal is no longer detected.

Abstract: Provided is a robot arm mechanism that conveys and supports a work, which requires neither a traveling axis that demand a high installation accuracy nor a jig for fixedly supporting a work. A robot 1 includes: a parallel link mechanism 6 having a lower link 2 and an upper link 3, in which the lower link 2 and the upper link 3 are coupled with an arm 4 and an auxiliary link 5; a driving portion for driving one joint 12 of the lower link 2 in the parallel link mechanism; a parallel link mechanism 11 having a lower link 7 and an upper link 8 fixed on the upper link 3 in the parallel link mechanism 6, in which the lower link 7 and the upper link 8 are coupled with an arm 9 and an auxiliary link 10; a driving portion for driving one joint 15 of the upper link 8 in the parallel link mechanism 11; and an arm 17 fixed on the lower link 7 in the parallel link mechanism 11 and holding up an object for support.

Abstract: A system for controlling an electric motor includes a controller and a position indicator that provides position information regarding at least one motor component to the controller. The controller utilizes phase relationships indicative of the position information to determine the actual position of the component of interest. The phase information in one example is derived from the output of a resolver that provides two output signals corresponding to sin (&thgr;) and cos (&thgr;), where &thgr; is the angular position. Utilizing the phase relationship simplifies the task of determining accurate position information that is useful to modify motor control signals to compensate for latency when making position determinations, velocity calculations or both. The inventive system makes it possible to use less expensive electronics to arrive at more reliable results.

Abstract: A dual stage drive for a switched reluctance motor (SRM) is disclosed, the SRM having a plurality of phase coils associated therewith. In an exemplary embodiment, the dual stage drive includes at least one of the plurality of phase coils coupled to a first power bus, and at least another one of the plurality of phase coils coupled to a second power bus. Energy within the at least one phase coil coupled to said first power bus is dissipated through said second power bus.

Abstract: An electric actuator including at least a first P-phase automatically-switched brushless synchronous motor, P being an integer ranging between 1 and 6, and N pairs of poles at the rotor, N being an integer not less than 1. The actuator also includes a position sensor outputting signal to control an electronic circuit controlling the motor. The rotor of the motor drives a gear ratio reducing mechanism. The position sensor is coupled to the reduction unit output shaft to measure the absolute angular position of the reduction unit output shaft. The electronic circuit includes a circuit sequentially controlling the current of each of the phases producing automatic switching of powering sequences of the phases on the basis of the absolute position of the reduction unit output shaft.

Abstract: A controller for a motor and a method for controlling the operation of the motor. The controller includes a model of the motor, where the model is utilized to determine modeled values of first and second motor variables. An estimated value of slip is adjusted based at least in part on a comparison of the modeled value of the second motor variable and an estimated value of the second motor variable which is based at least in part on a value of bus voltage and a value of bus current. As the estimated value of slip is adjusted, the modeled values are updated and the voltage utilized to energize the motor is thereby updated to provide control of the motor based on the control of the first motor variable.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a carrying case with an integrated power supply system for providing power to multiple electronic devices from a single power source. In addition to allowing quick access and storage of various electronic devices, the carrying case also allows the individual electronic devices to be easily connected to the power source and eliminates the need to carry multiple charging cords. In certain embodiments, the power supply system further includes an additional battery or other power source, which increases the runtime of connected electronic devices and reduces the need to carry additional individual batteries for the individual devices. With different connectors on the input to the power system, different AC or DC power sources may be utilized. Different connectors can also be used to provide power to different electronic devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a charging socket for a flashlight with a slot (7) in the socket body (1), in which an electric conducting pin (3), which is connected electrically to an electric conducting plate (2) affixed in the body (1), and an earth plate (4) are located.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a battery, a control unit having the first mode in which the battery is charged up to a fully charged state and the second mode in which the battery is charged up to a state less charged than the fully charged state, a unit which detects that the battery has been charged up to the fully charged state in the first mode, and a unit which switches control of the control unit from the first mode to the second mode when the battery is detected to have been charged up to the fully charged state.

Abstract: A motor/generator power conditioner is provided with a rectifier electrically coupled to a motor/generator port, and an inverter electrically coupled to the rectifier and to a load port. In a startup mode, the combined rectifier and inverter provides startup power to the motor/generator port. In an operational mode, the combined rectifier and inverter provides generated power to the load port and generates a neutral output.

Abstract: A generating device including a magneto generator, wherein: an AC control voltage is applied to an armature coil of the magneto generator from a battery via an inverter to change a phase angle of the AC control voltage, thus increase/reduce an output of the magneto generator and match the output of the generator with a target value; it is determined that a characteristic, in which the output of the magneto generator increases when the phase angle of the AC control voltage is delayed, is a normal control characteristic, and a characteristic, in which the output of the magneto generator decreases when the phase angle of the AC control voltage is delayed, is a reciprocal control characteristic; and it is determined whether a present control characteristic of the output of the generator relative to the phase angle of the AC control voltage is the normal control characteristic or the reciprocal control characteristic to decide, based on a determination result, a changing direction of the phase angle of the AC cont

Abstract: A DC-DC converter prevents reverse current from flowing through the inductor, suppresses ringing noise in the low-load state, lowers the power consumption, and increases the conversion efficiency. In the DC-DC converter composed of switches S1-S4 and inductor L1, in switching controller 10, output voltage Vout and current IL in inductor L1 are detected, and in accordance with the detection result, switches S1-S4 are turned on/off so that output voltage Vout is held at the desired level; also, when the current in inductor L1 is nearly zero, switches S2 and S3 are turned on, and switch S4 on the output side of inductor L1 is turned off, so that reverse current flow through the inductor can be prevented, and the generation of ringing noise can be suppressed.

Abstract: The ac voltage regulator apparatus of the present invention uses back-to-back silicon-controlled rectifier (“SCR”) power output switches which are triggered into conduction after being delayed for a period of time from the previous ac supply voltage zero point. The SCR switches are switching the load voltage at a determinate phase angle in order to obtain a constant true RMS voltage. The delay time of the trigger signal is variable and is changed to obtain regulation of the RMS voltage applied to the ac load. This regulation feature compensates for temperature changes, ac supply voltage variations, and ac load current changes.

Abstract: A power converter module includes a power transformer, a first power switch, and an active snubber circuit for recovering surge energy. The power transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding adapted to be coupled electrically to a load. The primary winding has first and second terminals connected electrically and respectively to first and second nodes. The first power switch has a first switch terminal connected electrically to the second node, and a second switch terminal connected electrically to a third node. The first and third nodes are adapted to be coupled electrically to a power source. The active snubber circuit includes a snubber diode, a snubber capacitor, a snubber transformer, and a second power switch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a static excitation system that can eliminate shaft vibrations of a generator and overvoltage when it is underexited. More specifically, the present invention relates to a static excitation system that can eliminate shaft vibrations of a generator and transient phenomena generated in a prior art, so that the present invention can be applied in a field in which an excitation system has a great importance in an isolated system or a weak system.

Abstract: The power supply PS includes a voltage detecting circuit VD for detecting a voltage level Vs inputted from an external voltage source, a boot strap circuit BS, andET connected in parallel with BS, a smoothing circuit SM connected with the BS output terminal and a regulating IC connected with BS and FET. The regulating IC includes VD, a transistor Tr and condenser C. Both when a PS switch is turned on and when VD detects that Vs (which once descended) reaches an ascending reference, a high level driving signal generated by VD is changed into a low level signal, thereby turning off Tr connected with C. Thus, until Tr completes charging up C, a duty ratio of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal dependent on the SM output is made gradually greater, thereby surely preventing a rush current by turning on and off the FET by the PWM signal.

Abstract: A programmable voltage supervisory circuit and method with minimum programming pins and low quiescent current is provided to monitor a supply voltage, by which only one programming pin can configure three voltage levels for the threshold voltage to be compared to the supply voltage. The programming pin is connected with a voltage select signal that is defined to be high, low or floating states each determines a setting voltage among three levels corresponding to the three threshold voltages, respectively, by a voltage select circuit. A sample/hold circuit in combination with a switch arrangement is further connected to the voltage select circuit such that the programmable voltage supervisory circuit is only operationable during the duty of a clock and thereby to reduce the power consumption thereof by squeezing the duty.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a computer power supply in which, by improving the circuit itself, internal heat loss can be reduced, thereby greatly improving efficiency. A partial resonance circuit 8 is constituted by a primary side winding N1 of a high frequency transformer 3, a resonance condenser 7, and two switching elements Q1, Q2, a secondary side output circuit 4 for driving a load is connected to a secondary side of the high frequency transformer 3 via a winding, and a reverse converter 11 for driving and halting the first switching element and second switching element by causing the respective phases thereof to differ on the basis of a driving signal is provided.

Abstract: In a voltage regulator for a spatially remote user, an adjustable voltage supply is provided for the user along with a measuring instrument allocated to the user. A sensor line is provided for the transmission of a measured signal to a setting device which in turn controls the voltage supply.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a specific circuit component having a circuit constant included in a function circuit serving a specific circuit function, and a measurement terminal for measuring the circuit constant. The circuit constant has a value in accordance with a specification. The electronic apparatus can avoid a misidentification during an identification procedure of the specification.

Abstract: A voltage probe includes a signal lead that is configured to be soldered to a probing location in a device that is to be probed by the voltage probe, and a first cable that is coupled to the signal lead and that is configured to conduct an output signal that is responsive to an input signal that is received by the signal lead from the device. The signal lead has a thermal conductivity of less than 200 Watts per meter Kelvin (W/mK). Methods and other systems for providing electrical connections to devices under test are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to installations for testing components, particularly electronic chips having a permanently-increasing performance, especially in terms of current supported over long periods. In order to perform said tests correctly, the invention provides for a device that can deliver currents of up to and of the order of 200 A in a few microseconds. For this purpose, the device comprises a time-dependent power chopper (PWM) linked to a high-frequency linear amplifier (HFLA).

Abstract: A current measurement circuit utilizing pn junction diodes is presented. The inherent non-linear current-to-voltage (I-V) characteristics of diodes allow a wide dynamic current range to be accommodated. By periodically calibrating the diode-based current measurement circuit and storing the associated parametric I-V data points in a look-up table, the value of a current can be made available quickly by looking up a voltage value in the look-up table or by interpolating between two known data points as required. The effects induced by the temperature variations on diodes due to self-heating, environmental, and others, are automatically taken into account because parametric I-V data points are acquired and stored in the look-up table as a result of periodic calibration sessions which take place frequently enough so that any effects due to temperature changes are accounted for and reflected in the stored I-V data points.

Abstract: A plurality of semiconductor devices is placed in pockets of a tray with terminal surfaces facing upward. Positions of bump terminals of the semiconductor devices are adjusted relative to the tray. The tray is successively moved such that the bump terminals of the semiconductor devices are successively placed at a testing position. The semiconductor devices are successively tested at the testing position by, for example, contacting test electrodes to the bump terminals.

Abstract: Magnetic sensor methods and systems for decreasing variations in switching angles thereof are disclosed. An angled face magnet can be angularly positioned adjacent one or more sensing elements of a magnetic sensor thereof. The angled face magnet can be configured to include a recessed portion into which the one or more of the sensing elements can be positioned. When the teeth of a target pass by the angled face magnet, it produces a magnetic signal, which is steeper in switching regions. The angle face magnet can thus alter a magnetic signal thereof, thereby decreasing variations in switching angles associated the magnetic sensors relative to a sensor target.

Abstract: There is provided a compact, noncontact rotary position sensor that accurately detects a rotary position of a rotating object. A magnetism throttling portion is provided in a midway point of a magnetic path. Two magnetic induction elements are disposed adjacently each other at the magnetism throttling portion. This arrangement effectively allows a magnetic flux to converge at the location, at which the magnetic induction elements are mounted. A noncontact rotary position sensor offering high sensitivity and high accuracy can then be obtained. It is also possible to simplify routing of signal lines from the two magnetic induction elements, since the two magnetic induction elements are adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A rotation sensor includes a rotor rotatable together with an automotive steering shaft, a conductive band formed on the rotor, a magnetic coil/core unit fixed near the rotor, the unit having a core body and an exciting coil, and a rotation angle detection circuit electrically connected to the coil. The width of the band gradually increases along a half-circumference of the rotor and then gradually decreases along the remaining half-circumference of the rotor, as viewed in the rotating direction of the rotor. The detection circuit applies an alternating signal to the coil. As the rotor is rotated with the alternating signal applied to the coil, the band causes the impedance of the coil to change in accordance with the rotation angle of the rotor, and based on the impedance change, the detection circuit detects the rotation angle of the rotor, that is, the steering shaft.

Abstract: The method of determining the stopped angular position of a rotor comprises the following steps:

Abstract: A modified hybrid Hall effect device is provided which is the combination of a conventional Hall effect device and a second Hall effect device having a Hall plate coupled to a ferromagnetic layer. The hybrid Hall effect device can be used to determine the independent magnetic field vector components comprising a vector magnetic field, such as for determining the {circumflex over (x)} and the {circumflex over (z)} components of a magnetic field, or for measuring the total magnitude of a vector magnetic field of any orientation. The modified Hall Effect device can be adapted for use as a magnetic field sensor for the detection of macroscopic objects that have associated magnetic fields, or for microscopic objects that have been tagged by microscopic magnetic particles.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor based on efficient spin injection of spin-polarized electrons from ferromagnets into semiconductors and rotation of electron spin under a magnetic field. Previous spin injection structures suffered from very low efficiency (less than 5%). A spin injection device with a semiconductor layer sandwiched between &dgr;-doped layers and ferromagnets allows for very high efficient (close to 100%) spin polarization to be achieved at room temperature, and allows for high magneto-sensitivity and very high operating speed, which in turn allows devising ultra fast and sensitive magnetic sensors.

Abstract: In a gradient coil system for a magnetic resonance apparatus and a method for manufacturing such a gradient coil system, a first winding is arranged on a first surface and a conductor arrangement is arranged on a second surface spaced from the first surface, a conductor end of the first winding, located in an inner region of the first surface, is bent toward the second surface, and the conductor end is electrically conductively connected to the conductor arrangement.

Abstract: In this feature of the present invention a charge pump is used to supply current to the ionization detection circuit. To detect in-cylinder ions generated during the combustion process, a DC bias voltage needs to be applied. There are two ways to generate the DC bias: conventional DC power supply (large electronics) and capacitor charges by primary or secondary flyback voltage (high voltage capacitor). Typically, flyback voltage is used to charge the capacitor which supplies current to the ionization detection circuit. This necessitates the use of high voltage capacitors. Generally, ceramic capacitors are used. However, as temperature fluctuates, the board that the capacitor is mounted on can flex, causing the ceramic capacitor to crack. This invention proposes to use a high voltage charge pump to provide enough DC bias voltage for measuring ionization current. In a preferred embodiment, a model number MIC4827 EL driver is used in the charge pump circuit.

Abstract: A circuit for measuring ionization current in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine including an ignition coil, having a primary winding and a secondary winding, and an ignition plug. The ignition plug ignites an air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber and produces an ignition current in response to ignition voltage from the ignition coil. A capacitor, charged by the ignition coil, provides a bias voltage producing an ionization current after ignition of the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. A current mirror circuit produces an isolated current signal proportional to the ionization current. In the present invention, the ignition current and the ionization current flow in the same direction through the secondary winding of the ignition coil. The charged capacitor operates as a power source and, thus, the ignition current flows from the charged capacitor through the current mirror circuit and the ignition coil to the ignition plug.

Abstract: The present feature of the invention is generally directed to a subsystem of an ignition diagnostics and feedback control system using ionization current feedback. It utilizes the ionization signal from an ionization detection circuit to monitor ignition parameters, such as primary charge timing, primary charge duration, ignition/spark timing, and ignition/spark duration for future “smart” ignition system control. In addition, the ionization signal is also used to detect spark plug carbon fouling, as well as plug insulator overheating. These parameters can be monitored for every cylinder of the engine for each engine cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing an electrical relay is disclosed which comprises a portable housing and an electrical testing circuit within the housing for performing a plurality of types of tests on the relay. A connector arrangement is provided for connecting the electrical testing circuit to the relay and a display is provided for displaying the results of the tests.

Abstract: In order to monitor a state of a battery, a threshold value of an internal impedance of the battery is first determined. It is prepared an approximate expression indicating a correlation between a residual capacity of the battery and an internal impedance of the battery which is greater than the threshold value. The internal impedance of the battery is then measured. When the measured internal impedance is the threshold value or less, the residual capacity is determined as an initial value. When the measured internal impedance is greater than the threshold value, the residual capacity is monitored with the approximate expression.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method for operating an evaluation circuit for an electrochemical cell wherein the evaluation circuit is switched on for a first time period and is switched off for a second time period. The ratio between the first and the second time periods is selected to be less than 1. The measurement value of the electrochemical cell undergoes a current amplification in the evaluation circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a fault signal are disclosed which indicate a short to ground on a polyphase power transmission line, in which, the phase currents on the power transmission line are detected by means of current transformers in order to form a sum current measured value. Furthermore, a first short to ground suspicion signal is produced if the sum current measured value is greater than a predetermined current threshold value, the phase voltages on the power transmission line are detected in order to form a residual voltage measured value, and a second short to ground suspicion signal is produced if the residual voltage measured value is greater than a predetermined voltage threshold value, and a fault signal which indicates a short to ground is produced if at least one short to ground suspicion signal is present.