Abstract: In order to improve the charging efficiency of a charging apparatus including a photovoltaic generator such as a solar battery, a charging apparatus includes: a battery which is rechargeable; a photovoltaic generator generating electric power in response to received light; and a generative charging portion supplying the electric power generated by the photovolaic generator to the battery. The generative charging portion includes: a control portion which controls current in the direction from the battery to the photovoltaic generator; and a voltage regulation portion which regulates voltage of the electric power supplied from the photovoltaic generator to the battery and is connected to the control portion in series.

Abstract: The invention concerns a rechargeable battery pack (20), in particular, for use with electrical hand tool devices, comprising a first and a second charging connection (24, 26), and a third control connection (28), all three being connectable to a charging device (46) for producing a charging connection, and with a calculating means (30) which can be addressed via an interface circuit (32), wherein the interface circuit uses the third control connection (28). In order to prevent destruction of the rechargeable battery pack due to erroneous charging, the invention proposes provision of a non-linear component (34) in the interface circuit (32) which, upon control of the interface circuit (32) by the charging device (46), can be distinguished from an NTC component, thereby permitting detection of the rechargeable battery type when the calculating means (30) provides no identification information in response to control by the charging device (46).

Abstract: Disclosed is a charging apparatus for charging a secondary battery incorporated in a portable electronic device. The charging apparatus includes a contactless IC card reader configured to supply operating power to a contactless IC card unit incorporated in the portable electronic device and have an authentication function of authenticating that an object to be authenticated is a correct one, a charging circuit configured to perform contactless charging of the secondary battery, and a control unit configured to activate the charging circuit if an authentication result is OK after the contactless IC card reader authenticates an object to be authenticated when the object to be authenticated is placed.

Abstract: The type of the attached batteries is determined by decision switch mechanisms. A protruding region is established in the attachment section to provide contact between charging terminals and the electrodes of short batteries. A stepped shelf region is established with the protruding region, and long batteries are mounted inside the attachment section on top of the stepped shelf region. Charging terminals are disposed in electrode alignment surface of the stepped shelf region, and decision switch mechanisms are housed inside the stepped shelf region. A decision switch mechanism is a switch that switches when pressed by the battery electrode of either a long battery or a short battery loaded in the attachment section. The control circuit switches charging current between a first charging current and a second charging current depending on the OFF or ON state of the decision switch mechanisms.

Abstract: A battery charger for charging one or more rechargeable batteries. One or more rechargeable batteries are placed into one or more charging areas of the battery charger. Each of the one or more charging areas has a positive charging plate and a negative charging plate and is configured to receive a battery. The battery charger includes a charging circuit coupled to the positive charging plate and the negative charging plate of each charging area, the charging circuit configured to provide a charging current through the positive charging plate and the negative charging plate of each charging area, the charging circuit further including a microcontroller configured to receive a detection signal and adjust the charging current in response to the detection signal. In one embodiment, the battery charger detects the presence of an AAA size battery and adjusts the charging current.

Abstract: The present invention is a shunt-type, battery-charging device that (through the use of a power dissipation and/or power reduction system and/or method) is designed to reduce the likelihood of overcharging and the possible deleterious effects (and cooling requirements) associated with the generation of heat during the charging process. Generally, the power reduction system and/or method may control the amount of power being used by the battery charger by monitoring the batteries' level of charge during charging, and by correspondingly reducing the magnitude of the charging current in response to such monitored level.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for charging a secondary battery with a constant current, in which method a peak of output voltage is detected by utilizing a predetermined current value, and then the battery continues to be charged with a current value lower than the predetermined current value, so that the peak of output voltage or a voltage drop subsequent to the peak is detected, or alternatively a timer may be used, for termination of the charging operation.

Abstract: A system for determining an operating limit of at least one battery according to some embodiments of the present invention comprises a voltage module that measures a voltage V across at least one battery during first and second periods. A current sensor that measures current I supplied by the at least one battery during the first and second periods. A limit module estimates an ohmic resistance R0 based on at least one of a temperature of the at least one battery and a time difference between the first and second periods, and that estimates a sum of a polarization voltage VP and an open circuit voltage V0 of the at least one battery at the second period based on the voltage V and current I of the at least one battery at the first period and an ohmic resistance R0 of the at least one battery.

Abstract: A charging system (108) supplies a source voltage (Vco, FIG. 5) and a source current (Ico, FIG. 5) to a plurality of battery cells (110). The charging system operates according to a method (200) including the steps of determining (202) a capacity for each of the plurality of battery cells (120 and 130), determining (204) a desired cutoff current (Ico1, FIG. 5) for a select one of the plurality of battery cells (120) having the smallest capacity, determining (206) an optimal source cutoff current according to the capacity of the select one of the plurality of battery cells, adjusting (208) the source current according to the optimal source cutoff current, and periodically applying (209) the source current after reaching the optimal source cutoff current.

Abstract: A battery failure discharge apparatus includes a battery discharge device operable to drain power from a battery. A controller is coupled to the battery discharge device and operable to detect that a battery is in an over-voltage condition. In response to detecting a battery in an over-voltage condition, the controller is operable to discharge a battery through the battery discharge device until the battery charge is below a predetermined value.

Abstract: An electric power controller for vehicle comprises an overheat detector, a voltage detector, a voltage converter, a switching unit, and a controller. The overheat detector detects whether a power line supplying power from a vehicle battery to vehicle load is overheated. The voltage detector detects a voltage of the vehicle battery. The voltage converter converts power from the vehicle battery into a proper voltage and outputs a switching control signal reflecting the proper voltage. The switching unit performs ON/OFF switching operations based on the switching control signal to control power from the vehicle battery to the vehicle load. The controller receives an overheat signal from the overheat detector and the voltage from the voltage detector, determines whether there is an abnormal current, and outputs a switching control signal, corresponding to a change of the voltage, to the switching unit.

Abstract: A drive system which has a drive unit with a drive shaft; a centrifugal mass arrangement, which is mounted on the drive shaft; and an electrical machine, comprising a stator arrangement and a rotor arrangement, where the rotor arrangement is mounted on the centrifugal mass arrangement, and where the stator arrangement and the rotor arrangement are adjacent to each other in the radial direction. So that optimum use can be made of the space available inside the drive unit, and so that the overall length of the drive unit required in the axial direction relative to the axis of rotation (A) can be kept as short as possible, the centrifugal mass arrangement has a contour such that, relative to the axis of rotation (A), a receiving space (71) is formed radially inside the electrical machine. The receiving space is bounded on at least one side by the centrifugal mass arrangement, and at least one additional component of the drive unit is installed in the receiving space.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular alternator can improve its reliability and reduce its cost by attenuating a field current of a rotor coil with a simple circuit. The apparatus includes an armature coil, a rectifier circuit, a rotor coil and a voltage control circuit. The rectifier circuit has an AC input terminal, a positive and a negative output terminal. The voltage control circuit controls a generation voltage to be substantially constant by interrupting a field current when a generation voltage exceeds a first predetermined voltage, while passing the field current when the generation voltage is equal to or lower than the first predetermined voltage. A circulation circuit comprising a diode and a current attenuation element serves to circulate the field current upon interruption thereof. A short-circuiting circuit short-circuits the current attenuation element. A short-circuit control circuit opens the short-circuiting circuit when the generation voltage exceeds a second predetermined voltage.

Abstract: Multiple characteristics of a DC-DC converter, such as its mode of operation (e.g., either forced continuous conduction mode, or discontinuous conduction mode), and an operational parameter (such as the dead-time between switching times of the output switching devices (upper and lower MOSFETs) of the converter, whose associated driver integrated circuit has a pin usage that leaves only a single pin available for auxiliary purposes, are programmed by a single pin-based digital and analog information multiplexing circuit that couples both digital information and analog information within the same control signal to the driver IC by way of only the one available pin.

Abstract: A DC/DC converter for converting an input voltage to an output voltage comprises a switch, an inductor, two voltage dividers, a capacitor, and a controller. The switch coupled to the input voltage. The inductor having a parasitic direct current resistance is used for coupling the switch to an output node of the DC/DC converter so as to generate the output voltage at the output node. The first voltage divider is coupled to the output node for generating a divided voltage of the output voltage. The second voltage divider is coupled to the switch and ground. The capacitor coupled to the first voltage divider and the second divider to measure the current through the inductor by sensing a voltage across the capacitor. The controller coupled to the first switch for enabling and disenabling it so as to discontinuously providing power from the input voltage to the inductor.

Abstract: A circuit provides a voltage reference using very low power. It can also be used as a shut regulator for a quiescent current as low as 1.5 ?A. It includes a transconductance amplifier, a gain stage, and a power transistor. One embodiment of this invention utilizes a work function difference between p+ gate and n+ gate to generate a predetermined reference voltage. In another embodiment of this invention, the predetermined reference voltage can be pre-adjusted using gate materials with different work functions.

Abstract: An information handling system has a printed circuit board power supply using a linear regulator and a very low ESR output capacitor. At least one printed circuit board conductive land having a desired resistance and coupled between the output capacitor and linear regulator output terminal may be used to stabilize operation of the linear regulator.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating output voltages is used to regulate and output DC voltages, and can output a plurality of DC voltages through a simple structure. The apparatus for regulating output voltages can handle the current mode, and has the function of overcharge protection. The apparatus for regulating output voltages comprises a voltage conversion and comparison module, an analog to digital conversion module, an accumulation module, a pulse generator, a timing generator, a switch module, and an overcharge protection module. The apparatus for regulating output voltages can regulate a plurality of output voltages to provide stable DC power sources required by electronic devices.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter that suppresses increase in area and obtains high conversion efficiency irrespective of the output current. A controller controls a first output transistor and a second output transistor in a PWM operation mode or a linear operation mode based on output voltage of the DC-DC converter. The controller operates the DC-DC converter as a switching regulator that activates and inactivates the first output transistor and the second output transistor in a complementary manner during the PWM operation mode. The controller operates the DC-DC converter as a linear regulator that inactivates the second output transistor and controls the ON-resistance value of the first output transistor to perform linear operation with the first output transistor during the linear operation mode.

Abstract: A multiphase DC chopper converts an input voltage of an input capacitor into an output voltage of an output capacitor. The multiphase DC chopper has a plurality N of DC choppers connected in parallel between the input capacitor and the output capacitor in which case the nth DC chopper, with n?[1, . . . , N], providing on its output side an nth charge current for charging the output capacitor. A regulation device, which in each case regulates a phase difference signal of two charge currents, which sequentially charge the output capacitor to a value of 360°/N.

Abstract: Circuits and methods to correct the load sharing in multiphase switching regulators are provided. Using these systems and methods, the input capacitor voltage signal can be sampled and used for current sensing of the regulator's stages. Differences in the amount of output current for a converter stage can then be determined. Corrections needed to equalize the output current of the converter stages can then be determined and carried out.

Abstract: A switched mode voltage regulator has a digital control system that includes dual digital control loops. The voltage regulator comprises at least one power switch adapted to convey power between respective input and output terminals of the voltage regulator and a digital controller adapted to control operation of the power switches responsive to an output of the voltage regulator. The digital controller further comprises dual digital control loops in which a first control loop provides high speed with lower regulation accuracy and a second control loop has high accuracy with lower speed. Thus, the digital control system provides the advantages of both high speed and high regulation accuracy.

Abstract: This patent specification describes a power adapter which includes a first amplifier configured to amplify a voltage difference between a voltage proportional to an output voltage of a switching regulator and a first reference voltage, a current detector configured to detect a current proportional to an output current of the switching regulator, a second amplifier configured to amplify an output signal from the current detector, a first converter configured to convert an output voltage of the first amplifier to a first current signal, a second converter configured to convert an output voltage of the second amplifier to a second current signal, an oscillator configured to oscillate with rectangular pulses and a controller configured to modulate an oscillation signal of the oscillator in accordance with the first and second current signals output from the first and second converters.

Abstract: A differential mode inductor includes a first inductor lead that receives a current. A first arm receives the current from the first inductor lead. A center tap receives the current from the first arm. A second arm receives the current from the center tap. The second arm is substantially parallel to the first arm. The current in the first arm flows in the same direction as the current in the second arm. A second inductor receives the current from the second arm.

Abstract: A band gap reference voltage generation circuit includes an operational amplifier for receiving first and second voltages and outputting an operational amplified signal; a first voltage generator for generating the first voltage in response to the operational amplified signal; a second voltage generator for generating the second voltage in response to the operational amplified signal; a common current path unit connected between output nodes of the first and second voltage generators and generating a current path based on a common voltage level of the first and second voltages; and a reference voltage generator for generating a reference voltage based on the operational amplified signal.

Abstract: A voltage generator includes a bias signal generator generating first to fourth bias signals using a reference voltage, the first to fourth bias signals having different voltage levels. A driving signal generator receives the first and third bias signals to generate a pull-up signal in response to a voltage level of an output terminal and receiving the second and fourth bias signals to generate a pull-down signal in response to a voltage level of the output terminal. A voltage driver pulls up and pulls down a voltage level of the output terminal in response to the respective pull-up and pull-down signals. An auxiliary driving controller disables the pull-up signal when the voltage level of the output terminal is greater than that of the reference voltage and the pull-down signal when the voltage level of the output terminal is less than that of the reference voltage.

Abstract: A high voltage regulator including a current mirror including a pair of transistors, one of the transistors being connected to a node that outputs an output voltage Vout, a diode stack that includes a plurality of serially connected transistors T0, T1, T2, . . .

Abstract: A driving circuit is disclosed that has low power consumption and supplies a current to a load. The driving circuit includes a constant current circuit section to generate and output a predetermined constant current, a current mirror circuit section to generate a current proportional to an input current supplied from the constant current circuit section and supply the current to the load, and a constant voltage supplying circuit section to generate a constant voltage and supply the constant voltage to a series circuit of the load and an output transistor of the current mirror circuit. The constant voltage supplying circuit section gene-rates the constant voltage so that an output voltage of the current mirror circuit section equals an input voltage of the current mirror circuit section.

Abstract: A power source device for diagnostic instruments is adapted for a connection of different types of illuminating devices and includes an active control unit for controlling an operating state of a power source in dependence on a type of a connected one of the illuminating devices.

Abstract: A method for measuring output current of a charge pump, the method including providing a charge pump including a plurality of n charge pump stages, wherein an output of stage n?1 (Von-1) is output to stage n, an output voltage of stage n being referred to as charge pump voltage output Vout, connecting an additional output pass device to the output of stage n?1, an output voltage of the additional output pass device being referred to as Voutm, forcing Voutm to be at least approximately equal to Vout, drawing at least one of output voltage (Voutm) and output current (Ioutm) from the additional output pass device, measuring Ioutm (e.g., comparing Ioutm with a reference current), and correlating Iout with Ioutm.

Abstract: A modular metering system comprises a data processing module, a current module and a voltage module. The current and voltage modules include sensor memories characterizing the respective current and voltage sensors facilitating assembly and repair of the metering system.

Abstract: A digital multi-meter (DMM) is described which can be inserted into a peripheral device card expansion slot of a personal digital assistant (PDA) to provide the PDA with DMM functionality. The DMM is configurable by configuration data supplied by application software running on the PDA. Configuration of the DMM may include, for example, setting measurement function and input ranges. The DMM internal circuitry measures input signals, digitizes them and supplies them to the PDA for display and/or storage. This allows for a data acquisition unit which combines a DMM with the computing power of a PDA. The PDA may be programmed to display or store data in a multitude of ways, depending on the requirements of a particular application. The combined DMM and PDA may benefit from various other functions of the PDA, for example wireless communication of data to allow remote data logging.

Abstract: An electronic component including at least one first conductor for operating at a first voltage applied thereto and at least one second conductor for operating at a second voltage applied thereto. The second voltage is smaller than the first voltage and at least a portion of the second conductor is located on at least one side of the first conductor whereby the second conductor acts as a shield to substantially inhibit at least one of magnetic and electric field from passing from the first conductor to a surrounding medium.

Abstract: A test fixture for collecting particulate matter carried in the exhaust gas stream of an engine has a pair of coaxially aligned mounting plates, each having a filter cartridge holder mounted thereon. One of the mounting plates is moveable with respect to the other along a predefined longitudinal axis of the test fixture between an open position, whereat a filter cartridge is easily placed or removed, and a closed position at which a filter media mounted in the filter cartridge is sealed during a prescribed test sequence. An actuator mounted on a third coaxially aligned mounting plate has an extendable rod connected to the second mounting plate to effect movement of the second mounting plate between the open an closed positions.

Abstract: A rotation angle detecting device that detects a rotation angle of a rotating object includes a permanent magnet that generates magnetic fields in response to rotation of the rotating object, a magnetic sensor, a first yoke and a second yoke. The magnetic sensor includes a pair of close integrated magnetic sensing elements, such as hall elements, disposed at a position around the permanent magnet so that one of the sensing elements senses magnetic field at a phase different from the other. The first yoke and the second yoke forms two magnetic paths crossing each other at the magnetic sensor.

Abstract: Nondestructive material condition monitoring and assessment is accomplished by placing, mounting, or scanning magnetic and electric field sensors and sensor arrays over material surfaces. The material condition can be inferred directly from material property estimates, such as the magnetic permeability, dielectric permittivity, electrical property, or thickness, or from a correlation with these properties. Hidden cracks in multiple layer structures in the presence of fasteners are detected by combining multiple frequency magnetic field measurements and comparing the result to characteristic signature responses. The threshold value for indicating a crack is adjusted based on a high frequency measurement that accounts for fastener type. The condition of engine disk slot is determined without removal of the disk from the engine by placing near the disk a fixture that contains a sensor for scanning through the slot and means for recording position within the slot.

Abstract: An attitude detection sensor includes three magnetic sensing parts that detect magnetic field strength in respective directions along three axes perpendicular to each other, and two tilt sensing parts that detect tilt angles around two axes perpendicular to each other. The tilt sensing parts each include a cantilever having a magnet body that moves in accordance with the tilt angle, and a magnetic detection head that detects a displacement of the magnet body. The three magnetic sensing parts and the two magnetic detection heads are each formed using a magnetic detection element of the same type. At least one electronic circuit for controlling the five magnetic detection elements, the three magnetic sensing parts, and the two tilt sensing parts is disposed in a single package in the form of a module.

Abstract: It is possible to simplify the cooling mechanism of a superconductor, significantly reduce the cost, simplify the measurement work, and reduce the time required for measurement. A beam current meter includes: a cylindrical super conductor beam current sensor arranged in a vacuum vessel in such a manner that the beam incoming into the vacuum vessel is guided to pass through a bore of the vacuum vessel and a bridge portion is formed at the outer diameter, a SQUID arranged at the bridge portion of the beam current sensor; a cylindrical superconductor magnetic shield arranged so as to surround the external diameter side of the beam current sensor in such a manner that the SQUID is positioned between the beam current sensor and the magnetic shield, so that a beam is guided to pass through the bore of the beam current sensor, thereby measuring the beam the beam current of the beam. The beam current meter uses a freezing device as cooling means for cooling the beam current sensor, the SQUID, and the magnetic shield.

Abstract: A magnetometer assembly (22) for a torque transducer (10) includes inner and outer coils (34,38,36,40) wrapped and supported on a bobbin assembly (22). The bobbin assembly (22) includes upper and lower axial portions (21,23) divided by a middle flange (28). The middle flange (28) includes a plurality of notches (32) that are disposed equal angularly about an axis (18). A plurality of corresponding magnetic strips (42) extend axially through each of the notches (32) and through the entire length of the magnetometer assembly (22). The magnetic strips (42) are disposed between an inner and outer coil assembly (34,38,36,40) and becomes saturated in the presence of a magnetic field. Divergent magnetic fields created by torque applied to a torque transducer element (12) disposed within the magnetometer assembly (22) and detected and measured to provide an indication of applied torque.

Abstract: A pulse sequence for time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) includes a fatsat segment, a magnetization transfer segment, and a spatial saturation segment that are applied by an MR apparatus to acquire MR data for image reconstruction with improved image quality. The pulse sequence is constructed such that at the beginning of each iteration of the inner loop of a 3D acquisition, a fatsat pulse is applied. After the fatsat pulse, MR data is acquired in a series of imaging segments with well-suppressed fat signal. Effective fat suppression is achieved by sampling central k-space data first, before signal from fat relaxes back to a pre-saturation level. Each imaging segment is immediately preceded by one of a MT pulse or a spatial saturation pulse and immediately followed by the other one of the MT pulse or the spatial saturation pulse.

Abstract: An MRI configuration comprising a magnet system for generating a homogeneous magnetic field, a radio frequency (RF) system (105) for generating/detecting an RF field B1, and a gradient system (106) for temporarily superposing defined gradient fields on a magnetic field B0, and an MRI phantom (104) positioned in the volume under investigation, wherein the MRI phantom (104) comprises a chamber (1) disposed in a housing (2) and filled with a liquid, in which a gas bubble (3) forms, wherein the liquid contains nuclei which have an NMR relaxation time T1, of between 100 ms and 20 s, is characterized in that the chamber (1) of the MRI phantom (104) comprises a main chamber (4) and a partial chamber (5), wherein the main chamber (4) is delimited from the partial chamber (5) such that the gas bubble (3) can completely enter the partial chamber (5) due to its buoyancy by changing the spatial orientation of the MRI phantom (104) in the gravitation field, and remains in the partial chamber (5) in a measurement orientati

Abstract: The present invention provides an MRI apparatus with selective saturation without affection to the integral value of gradient magnetic field in 1TR. The MRI apparatus comprises a signal acquisition device for applying static field, gradient magnetic field pulses and RF pulses to an object to acquire magnetic resonance signals therefrom, an image reconstruction device for reconstructing an image based on the magnetic resonance signals acquired, and a controller device for controlling both device. The controller device directs the signal acquisition device to apply gradient magnetic field pulses and RF pulses for selective saturation for a number of times prior to applying gradient magnetic field pulses and RF pulses for signal acquisition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a parallel magnetic resonance imaging method, in which core magnetization is excited in the examination volume of an MR device by generating at least one HF pulse. Two or more MR signals are then recorded in parallel from the examination volume via two or more receiving channels (R, S) of the MR device using an HF coil arrangement (9), which comprises a number of coil elements (15, 16) which is greater than the number of receiving channels (R, S), wherein the respective MR signal on each receiving channel (R, S) is formed by weighted superimposition of coil signals (A, B, C, D, E) of the individual coil elements (15, 16). Finally, according to the invention, an MR image is reconstructed from the recorded MR signals, the MR signals being combined with one another taking into account effective spatial sensitivity profiles associated with the individual receiving channels (R, S).

Abstract: An MRI system (1) comprises a housing (10) defining an examination space (2) for receiving a body for examination, a patient table (3) being displaceable into and out of the examination space (2), a magnetic field generating system (4) for generating a magnetic field in the examination space (2), and an electromagnetic resonance receive system (5) which comprises a set of dedicated receive coils (20). According to the invention at least one dedicated receive coil (20) is fixedly attached to the housing (10).

Abstract: A radio frequency coil unit includes a plurality of surface coils and a distributing/combining unit. The plurality of surface coils are arranged in a body-axis direction. The distributing/combining unit distributes and combines reception signals output from the plurality of surface coils to generate a new reception signal.

Abstract: An assembly for magnetic field generation in a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus has a device for generation of a basic magnetic field, a vacuum vessel surrounding the basic field device and a device for generation of at least one gradient magnetic field. The assembly has a volume with a reduced magnetic field strength in a region between windings of at least one superconducting coil of the basic field device and a non-conductive wall of the vacuum vessel. The gradient field device is fashioned as a superconductor and is at least partially accommodated in this volume.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a method for shimming such an apparatus, at each of mirror-symmetrical assemblies respectively disposed at opposite faces of a static magnetic field generator, that each include a shimming ring, an additional shimming ring is provided that is adjustable in position relative to the other shimming ring to shim the static magnetic field. Additionally or alternatively, at each face of the static magnetic field generator, a permanently magnetic arrangement is provided that is divided into a number of permanently magnetic columns respectively having different energy levels. Additionally or alternatively, magnetic bolts, such as magnetically conducting bolts or permanently magnetic bolts can be symmetrically inserted into either of the mirror-symmetric assemblies, or the permanently magnetic columns, for additionally shimming adjustment.

Abstract: An above ground locator includes an apparatus for determining the strength of the locating signal at a selected point relative to the boring tool. The apparatus includes an antenna arrangement configured for measuring the strength of the locating signal at the selected point along first and second orthogonally opposed receiving axes to produce first and second received signals. A phase shifting arrangement phase shifts the first and second received signals in a predetermined way to generate first and second phase shifted signals, respectively. Thereafter, a summing arrangement adds the first and second phase shifted received signals to generate an output signal which is a vector sum of the first and second received signals. In one feature, third and fourth signals derived from the first and second signals are used to eliminate balance point ambiguity which is present using the first and second signals alone.

Abstract: The invention a method and device for carrying out geoelectric mappings. The device includes electrodes, a power supply and a voltage measuring device, for carrying out the method. The electrodes are disposed apart from one another on ground to be investigated and electric current is supplied by certain electrodes to the ground and electric potential is measured by remaining electrodes using the voltage measuring device. The device and method carry out a continuous, geoelectric mapping, with which accurate measurements are achieved. The device is embodied such that the electrodes are disposed at a outside of an endless loop and that this endless loop revolves continuously at the same rate at which the device is moving over the ground to be investigated during the mapping, so that at least two supplying and two potential electrodes rest on the ground investigated during each individual measurement.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic apparatus includes first and second electrical connections configured to electrically couple to an electrical system of an automotive vehicle which includes a battery. Digital samples are obtained during operation of the vehicle which are related to the system. The digital samples are stored in memory.