Abstract: A multi-electrode double tube fluorescent lamp includes first external electrodes formed at two ends of an outer glass tube or an inner glass tube, and a second external electrode formed at an inner wall surface of the inner glass tube in a longitudinal direction. A first power source is connected with the first external electrode, and a second power source is connected with the second external electrode. A third external electrode formed along an outer surface of the outer glass tube is connected with the second power source. The second external electrode and the third external electrode are arranged in a radial shape in a direction vertical with respect to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a metal halide lamp that (i) prevents a decline in the lumen maintenance and a deterioration of quality in appearance due to the coloring of a casing tube surrounding the arc tube, and at the same time (ii) achieves high luminous efficiency. A metal halide lamp (1) has a pair of electrodes (20a&b) placed in an arc tube (3) made of translucent ceramic, and a sodium halide is enclosed therein. The metal halide lamp (1) satisfies L/D 4, where L (mm) is the length of the space between the electrodes (20a&b) and D (mm) is the internal diameter of the arc tube (3). The metal halide lamp (1) has a casing tube (2) surrounding the arc tube (3), at least around a portion between the electrodes (20a&b). Here, R/r 3.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed lamp having at least one seal-material-free bond. The seal material-free bond may be a material diffusion bond, a mechanically deformed bond such as a cold weld or crimp, a focused heat bond such as a laser bond, or any other such bond. For example, the hermetically sealed lamp may have one or more endcaps diffusion bonded to an arc envelope, such as a ceramic tube or bulb. The hermetically sealed lamp also may have one or more tubular structures, such as dosing tubes, which are mechanically closed via cold welding or crimping. Localized heating, such as the heat provided by an intense laser, also may be used to enhance any of the foregoing bonds.

Abstract: A collector in a microwave tube has a collector electrode for capturing an electron beam radiated from an electron gun and passing through a slow wave circuit, an insulator disposed in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the collector electrode, and a radiator disposed in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the insulator, wherein the insulator, the outer diameter of the collector electrode, and the inner diameter of the radiator are tapered in the axial direction of the tube.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying AC power (e.g. from an inverter) to a discharge light via a ballast circuit formed by a resonant circuit, and controlling the frequency of the AC power signal so as to operate below the natural resonance frequency of the ballast circuit in use after the discharge light has “struck.

Abstract: A flat panel display includes a discharge space filled with discharge gas and a plurality of electrodes for generating discharge in the discharge space. Ferroelectric powder is disposed between the electrodes and the discharge space so that the ferroelectric powder contacts the discharge space.

Abstract: A light string includes series-connected groups of individual lights, with each light in each group being electrically in parallel with each other and with a parallel group device that regulates voltage within the group when one of the lights fails. In an alternating current circuit, the parallel group device is preferably two back-to-back zener diodes held in a partially on status so that, in the event one of the bulbs fails, it more quickly passes current in the reverse direction, thus preventing the remaining, operating lights from experiencing a current surge.

Abstract: A shoe lamp device with multiple voltage levels by using a power supply having a voltage above 4.5 V batteries for supplying power to color light emitting diodes; a vibration switch for generating a trigger signal; and a substrate having an IC control circuit; the substrate being electrically connected to the color light emitting diodes through conductive wires; a switch for activating a CY pin, of which two duty control pins can be applied to select pulse duration of a pulse period; when the circuit receiving a trigger signal, it will generate a driving signal to drive the single color light emitting diodes according to the ½, ¼, ? pulse duration to flash in a predetermined sequence. The voltage of the power supply is 4.5 V (volts) which is formed by serially connecting two batteries of 1.5V and 3.0V, respectively or the two batteries of 3.0V and 3.0V, respectively.

Abstract: An intellectual lamp unit able to be installed on a conventional lamp socket controlled by a wall switch includes a bypass connected in parallel with a wall switch and provided with a resistance or a diode for producing potential difference or power phase difference when the wall switch is turned off. An intellectual lamp to be installed on a conventional lamp socket consists of a lamp main body disposed therein with a power processing circuit, a detecting switch, a charging circuit, a charging battery, a driving circuit, a microprocessor and a lamplight source. When the wall switch is turned on or off under the condition of normal power supply, the lamplight source can be controlled to produce or extinguish lighting, and during blackout, the lamplight source can be started to produce emergency lighting immediately, supplied with power by the charging battery.

Abstract: A lamp driving device has a pulse width modulation circuit, a phase splitter and several switching circuits. The pulse width modulation circuit is arranged to generate a pulse width modulation signal. The phase splitter is coupled to the pulse width modulation circuit and arranged to split the pulse width modulation signal into several phased signals having different phases, wherein pulses of each phased signal are non-overlapping with those of another phased signal. The switching circuits are coupled to the phase splitter and are arranged to respectively receive one of the phased signals, wherein each switching circuit is controlled by the received phased signal.

Abstract: A safety light for vehicles, particularly small recreational vehicles such as all terrain vehicles, which is one or more light strips entwining the whip which supports the vehicle's pennant or flag. This invention can normally show light in a color which matches the color of the recreational vehicle. When the vehicle operator applies the brakes, the light entwining the whip changes to red to warn that the vehicle is braking. When the vehicle is overturned, or at the operator's command in the event of another emergency, the lights entwining the whip can be made to oscillate rapidly back and forth between the red and the other color that is normally shown. In this way the vehicle displays a clear emergency signal.

Abstract: An inverter has an inductor, a capacitor, a switching device, a driving circuit and a transformer. A first terminal of the capacitor is connected to the inductor, and the switching device is connected between the first terminal of the capacitor and a ground terminal. The driving circuit is connected to the switching device, wherein the driving circuit is arranged to control the switching device to turn on or turn off; and a primary side of the transformer is connected between a second terminal of the capacitor and the ground terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving lamps and a liquid crystal display having the same, wherein the uniformity of luminance among lamps is improved, includes a main transformer unit for supplying a driving voltage to the lamps, and a balance transformer unit for making a lamp current of each of the lamps uniform. The balance transformer unit has a plurality of coils wound on a single body, and the coils have the same turns ratio and share magnetic flux so that a constant uniform current can flow through each of the coils. Accordingly, a lamp current of each of the lamps connected to the respective coils of the balance transformer unit can be maintained to be constant, and thus, the luminance of the lamp can be maintained uniformly.

Abstract: A ballast according to the present invention operates in an ignition state, a warm-up state, and a steady state for igniting and powering a lamp. The ballast comprises an igniter that ignites the lamp during the ignition state and a switching power inverter, for example, a full bridge DC-AC inverter implemented with MOSFET switching transistors, that powers the lamp during the warm-up and steady states. The switching power inverter, which drives the igniter, operates at a first switching frequency during the ignition state and operates at a second switching frequency during the steady state. Preferably, the first switching frequency, which in one exemplary embodiment is in the kHz range, is higher than the second switching frequency.

Abstract: A backlight module control circuit of a multi-lamp display device includes a control unit, multiple lamp driving circuits and a fault detection unit. The control unit includes multiple signal output terminals. Input terminals of the lamp driving circuits are respectively coupled to a signal output terminal of the control unit and output terminals of the lamp driving circuits are respectively coupled to a terminal of a lamp. A fault detection unit includes multiple signal detection input terminals, which are respectively coupled to multiple lamp driving circuits and lamps. The fault detection unit can detect whether any one of the lamps is out of order and then output a signal to the control unit, so as to make the control unit shut down the driving circuit of the failure lamp and continue to maintain an operation of other normal lamps.

Abstract: A head lamp device for a vehicle includes a DC power source, a diode array having a plurality of series-connected light emitting diodes and a current control circuit that supplies driving current to the diode array. The current control circuit is constituted of a current supply circuit, a voltage measuring circuit, a comparing circuit that compares the voltage drop with a reference value, a judging circuit for judging that there is a short-circuiting at any of the light emitting diodes based on the comparison by the comparing circuit, and a display unit for displaying an alarm when the judging circuit judges that there is a short-circuiting.

Abstract: A power system includes a power source with a rotary output member. The power system may also include an electric machine having a rotor and a stator. The rotor of the electric machine may be drivingly connected to the rotary output member of the power source. Additionally, the power system may include a sensor configured to provide a signal relating to at least one of a position of the rotor and a speed of the rotor. The power system may also include power-system controls configured to control electric current supply to the stator dependent upon the signal and control the power source dependent upon the signal.

Abstract: An exterior mirror system for a motor vehicle includes a housing and a coupling arm. The coupling arm is adapted to couple the housing to a body of the motor vehicle. The exterior mirror system also includes a deployable panel substantially resident in the housing in a stowed position and extending toward the body in a deployed position.

Abstract: An electric power converter, electric power converter controlling method and electric power converting system for converting multi-phase alternating-current inputted from a generator and outputting multi-phase alternating current for controlling a drive of a motor. An input power factor commanding section outputs a command value of an input power factor according to an operating condition of the motor, and an input power factor controlling section controls the input power factor of the generator on the basis of the command value of the input power factor from the input power factor commanding section.

Abstract: Moderately accurate closed loop speed control of a universal motor is attained without the need for any type of speed sensor. Motor armature (across the brushes) voltage is sensed and supplied to a control circuit for processing along with sensed motor current and zero-crossing information. Integration of the motor armature voltage provides a value which is related to current motor speed. By adjusting the gating angle for triac actuation, the armature voltage integral can be maintained at a desired value associated with a desired motor speed. The sensed motor current is also integrated to provide a speed droop compensation value that is added to the desired value, and the gating angle for triac actuation is adjusted to move the armature voltage integral value to approach the summed value of the speed droop compensation value and desired value.

Abstract: System, method, and apparatus for commutating and controlling a multi-phase motor using one output rotor sensor and circuitry that measures time between rotor pole-to-pole transitions is disclosed. The exemplary system, method, and apparatus may utilize the polarity of the single-output rotor sensor and the measured time between the polarity transitions detected by the single-output rotor sensor.

Abstract: An electrically commutated motor includes a first module to measure a current in a coil of the motor, and a second module to adjust timing of commutation of the motor based on the current measurement.

Abstract: A motor control system capable of outputting motor control data contained in a numeric control device and inputting motor control data to the numeric control device as required, without using a proprietary connector and/or a switching unit. The control system has a numeric control device, a plurality of motor amplifiers for receiving a command from the numeric control device via a serial communication line, a plurality of motors such as servomotors each driven by each of the plurality of motor amplifiers, and a data I/O device for inputting and outputting motor control data, as analog data or digital data, included in software in the numeric control device. The data I/O device may also transmit motor control data, to the numeric control device, as analog or digital data.

Abstract: A position (or angle, in a rotary motion) sensor and a force (or torque, in a rotary motion) sensor of a master that are required for the construction a conventional force-feedback or parallel bilateral servo are used as mutually redundant sensors. In the force-feedback or parallel bilateral servo, a target position (angle) of a slave can be determined by a sensor other than a failed sensor, allowing a control operation to continue. Because the sensors that are originally provided for bilateral servo are utilized as redundant sensors, a control device having a predetermined reliability can be provided with a lower sensor redundancy.

Abstract: An arrangement for determining and controlling the position of a convertible top includes a potentiometer, a control unit and a top kinematic system motor. The potentiometer is able to register signals that are transmitted to the control unit, and the top kinematic system motor can be adjusted by the control unit. An arrangement for determining and controlling the position of a convertible top avoids the disadvantages of the state of the art by using a potentiometer that is a film potentiometer.

Abstract: A linear motor (10), a linear compressor (100), a method of controlling a linear compressor (100), a cooling system (20) and a system of controlling a linear compressor (100) to operate a linear compressor (100) in resonance in it's the greatest possible efficiency throughout its operation are described.

Abstract: A variable speed drive with a boost converter is provided for a chiller system driven by a switched reluctance motor. The boost converter can be a diode or thyristor rectifier followed by a boost DC/DC converter or a three-phase pulse width modulated boost converter. The boost converter provides a boosted voltage to the DC link, which results in a boosted voltage being applied to the switched reluctance motor by the inverter of the variable speed drive.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the drive of an electric motor, having a current detector for detecting the current through an externally connected electric motor; a controller for generating a control signal to control the electric motor on the basis of the current detected by the current detector and the speed command for specifying the rotational speed of the electric motor; wherein the apparatus includes a load estimator for estimating the mechanical load condition associated with the electric motor on the basis of the current detected by the current detector and the speed command, and the controller controls the electric motor current on the basis of the detected current, the speed command and the estimated load condition.

Abstract: An object is to provide a vector control apparatus for an induction motor which is capable of correcting a set value of a mutual inductance so as to match an actual value thereof by addition of software processing without addition of any particular device. A vector control apparatus (1) for an induction motor according to the present invention includes a mutual inductance correction section (3) that obtains a correction value of a mutual inductance of the induction motor (15) based on an error between a torque calculation value calculated by using a measured value of a primary current of the induction motor (15) and a torque command value to the induction motor (15) generated by a torque command generation section, and a vector control section (2) that controls the induction motor by using a circuit constant of the induction motor (15) including the correction value of the mutual inductance in such a manner that a torque generated by the induction motor (15) coincides with the torque command value.

Abstract: A battery charger includes a first housing for holding a battery pack of a power hand tool to be charged, a second housing pivoted to the first housing and provided with a connector connectable to a power socket of a vehicle, a charging unit installed in the first housing and electrically connected to the connector for charging the inserted battery pack, a fastening device for locking the second housing to the first housing after adjustment of the angular position of the second housing relative to the first housing, and a spring member for holding the fastening device in the locking position.

Abstract: A battery charger (100) includes a housing (102), a battery compartment (104) which receives one or more batteries to be charged, and faceplate or skin (108). The faceplate (108) covers a portion of the charger (100) which is ordinarily visible during operation of the device. The faceplate (108) is readily replaceable to as to facilitate the alteration of a decorative appearance of the charger (100).

Abstract: A counter electromotive force prevention unit for batteries is provided that can prevent occurrence of noise due to the counter electromotive force generated by loads of a battery and turning on and off of the charging generator, that can suppress noise emanating from the car audio speakers which are electrical equipment and malfunctioning of electronic equipment, and that can be easily attached to an existing battery. A blocking diode (104) and a fuse (105) that fuses with overcurrent are serially connected between the positive lead wire (102) and negative lead wire (103) that are respectively connected to the positive terminal and negative terminal of the battery which is the direct-current supply source, and a capacitor (106) is connected in parallel to the blocking diode (104).

Abstract: The battery pack is charged by an electronic equipment and communicates with the electronic equipment. The battery pack is provided with a discrimination resistor electrically connected to communication lines, and a controller having a discrimination function for electronic equipment judgment of battery pack type from communication via the communication lines. The electronic equipment has a discrimination function that determines battery pack type utilizing the discrimination section of the battery pack controller. In addition, the electronic equipment has a discrimination function that applies voltage to the discrimination resistor to determine battery pack type.

Abstract: Circuitry and techniques for managing a power supply are disclosed. A processor-controlled switch is employed to control the delivery of power to conductors that provide power to an external electronic device wherein the processor controls the switch opening and the switch opening based not only on contemporaneous parameter measurements but also on state information known to the processor. The management circuit can control the power supply without requiring the use of an additional sense wire between the management circuit and the external electronic device.

Abstract: A method for determining a voltage based or current based state of charge (SOC) and state of health (SOH) of a battery system is provided. The method includes: providing a model of the battery system including an equivalent circuit having both low frequency and high frequency elements; establishing a plurality of functional relationships comprising relationship of the equivalent circuit with SOC; reducing at least part of the plurality of functional relationships into a set of time segmented recursive functional relationships, wherein a state at a first time t can be modeled by a functional presentation of a state at a second time t??t that occurred before the first time t; and computing a set of data points based upon the set of time segmented recursive functional relationships using a matrix for operation in matrix algebra.

Abstract: A protection circuit is provided. The protection circuit protects a battery pack from overcurrents and overvoltages using sensing means and a protection device having a heating resistor and a fuse element provided on a circuit board. This protection circuit allows for sharing a protection device regardless of the current rating and the voltage rating of the battery pack, thereby being manufactured at low costs. A protection circuit protects a battery pack having serially connected rechargeable batteries from overcurrents and overvoltages. The protection circuit includes a protection device having heating resistors and fuse elements provided on a circuit board, and sensing means for detecting an overvoltage across any of the batteries in the battery pack and switching a current flowing into the heating resistor. The protection circuit allows the sensing means in an overvoltage condition to switch on the current flowing through the heating resistor.

Abstract: A generator control circuit is provided that includes a first circuit (44) monitoring a generator voltage change rate and producing a first output when the voltage change rate is above a first level, a second circuit (48) monitoring a generator current change rate and producing a second output when the current change rate is above a second level, and a third circuit (13, 28) operatively connected to the first circuit (44) and the second circuit (48) for decreasing a power level supplied to the generator when a plurality of conditions are satisfied, the plurality of conditions including the voltage change rate being above the first level and the current change rate being above the second level. A method of controlling a generator is also disclosed.

Abstract: A brushless exciter for a synchronous generator or motor generally includes a stator and a rotor rotatably disposed within the stator. The rotor has a field winding and a voltage rectifying bridge circuit connected in parallel to the field winding. A plurality of firing circuits are connected the voltage rectifying bridge circuit. The firing circuit is configured to fire a signal at an angle of less than 90° or at an angle greater than 90°. The voltage rectifying bridge circuit rectifies the AC voltage to excite or de-excite the field winding.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for a power converter with feed-forward voltage compensation to enable a PFC circuit are proposed. A voltage divider and a feedback unit output a compensation voltage and a feedback voltage in response to an input voltage and an output voltage, respectively. The feedback voltage is compensated by the compensation voltage through an operation unit. A comparator activates the PFC circuit within a predetermined input power range based on the already compensated feedback voltage. The proposed power converter can always activate the PFC circuit before the input power reaches 75 W regardless of any variation of the input voltage.

Abstract: A control circuit for DC-DC converters and a control method therefor wherein unstable operation in which output voltage fluctuates can be detected and the unstable operation be prevented from continuing are provided. The control circuit includes: an error amplifier ERA1 that has an inverting input terminal to which detecting voltage V1 detected according to output voltage is inputted and a non-inverting input terminal to which reference voltage e1 is inputted, and amplifies the difference voltage of detecting voltage relative to reference voltage e1; and a detection unit 50 that detects that an error output signal VOP of the error amplifier ERA1 stays at a predetermined voltage level. The detection unit 50 includes: a signal determination unit that determines that the predetermined voltage level is out of a normal operating range; and a duration count unit that detects that the predetermined voltage level stays out of the normal operating range for a predetermined time by the signal determination unit.

Abstract: A switching power converter includes a transformer having a first primary winding and a second primary winding. The first primary winding is coupled to the positive supply rail. The second primary winding is coupled to the negative supply rail. A switch is connected in between the first primary winding and the second primary winding for switching the transformer. A control circuit is coupled to the switch and the second primary winding to generate a switching signal for switching the switch and regulating the output of the switching power converter. A supplied capacitor is connected to the control circuit to supply the power to the control circuit. The second primary winding has a leakage inductor to store a stored energy when the switch is on. A diode is coupled from the negative supply rail to the supplied capacitor. The stored energy of the leakage inductor is discharged to the supplied capacitor through the diode once the switch is off.

Abstract: Circuits and methods to provide an LDO output stage implemented with low-voltage devices. and still allowing higher voltage levels have been achieved. The output stage has been built using two low voltage MOS devices in series. During the time the regulator is in active mode the second MOS device acts as a small resistor in series to the pass device. During power down this second device actively protects the MOS pass device and itself from high voltage stress levels. This is achieved by a robust regulating mechanism that compensates leakage currents. These leakage currents normally determine the different potentials of the output stage during power down. Although the second transistor presents a resistive obstacle during active mode the total chip area required is smaller compared to a single pass device tolerating e.g. 5 Volts.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for providing a regulated voltage is disclosed. The voltage regulator comprises an error amplifying module and a regulator. The error amplifying module provides a reference voltage, based on an output voltage to be regulated. The regulator provides a regulated output voltage based on the reference voltage. Voltage regulator provides stable output voltage against variations caused by power supply and load with a defined temperature coefficient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low dropout (LDO) regulator with a stability compensation circuit. A “zero frequency” tracking as well as “non-dominant parasitic poles' frequency reshaping” are performed to achieve a good phase margin for the LDO by means of the compensation circuit. In this compensation method neither a large load capacitor nor its equivalent series resistance is needed to stabilize a regulator. LDO regulators, in system on chip application, having load capacitors in the range of few nano-Farads to few hundreds of nano-Farads can be efficiently compensated with this compensation method. A dominant pole for the regulator is realized at an internal node and the second pole at an output node of the regulator is tracked with a variable capacitor generated zero over a range of load current to cancel the effect of each other. A third pole of the system is pushed out above the unity gain frequency of the open loop transfer function with the help of the frequency compensation circuit.

Abstract: A constant-voltage circuit includes a first transistor, a first control circuit, and a second control circuit having a second transistor and a differential amplifier. The first transistor controls an output current according to a first control signal output by the first control circuit such that an output voltage is substantially equal to a predetermined voltage. The second control circuit has a response property faster than the first control circuit to a variation of the output voltage, and causes the first transistor to increase the output current for a predetermined time period, regardless of the first control signal, when the output voltage varied to an extent greater than a predetermined output voltage variation value. The second transistor controls an operation of the first transistor according to a second control signal output by the differential amplifier such that a voltage at an inverting input terminal is substantially equal to the bias voltage.

Abstract: The invention is an in-line voltage transformer. The invention converts input voltage from 9 volts to the selected output voltage. The output voltage options are 12, 18 and 24 volts. Thus allowing various signal processor or effects (requiring different voltages) to be powered from the same voltage source. The invention works in conjunction with a digital 12 volt power supply. The input voltage (9V) passes through a filter comprised of two capacitors C1 (1 ?F) for low frequencies and C2 (1 ?F) for high frequencies. The current then goes into a constant frequency (1.2 MHz) current mode boost switching regulator controlled by U1. The VC pin on U1 provides loop frequency compensation [comprised of C5 (100 pF), C7 (6800 pF) and R4 (6.8K 1%)]. This compensation reduces the output voltage ripple. U1 uses L1 (high frequency 10 ?H inductor) and D1 (low drop, high frequency schottky diode) to step the voltage up.

Abstract: A system for sensing the supply current of a switched DC-to-DC converter is discussed. The system includes a first circuit that senses a first voltage that is proportional to the supply current, wherein the first voltage has first ripple; a second circuit coupled to the first circuit, wherein the second circuit outputs a second voltage that is based on the first voltage, and wherein the second voltage has a second ripple that is smaller than the first ripple; and a third circuit coupled to the second circuit, wherein the third circuit compares the second voltage to a reference voltage to provide an indication of the supply current. According to the system disclosed herein, the system provides accurate current sensing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a switching power source and a semiconductor integrated circuit which realize an acquisition a sufficient driving voltage of a high-potential side switching element M1 even when a power source voltage VDD is low.

Abstract: A switching regulator converts an input voltage to a predetermined voltage and outputs the predetermined voltage to a load through an output terminal. The switching regulator includes a first switching element, a second switching element, a control switching circuit part, and a smoothing circuit. When a first operating mode in which a PFM control is performed and a voltage from the output terminal becomes a first voltage is shifted to a second operating mode in which a PWM control is performed and the voltage from the output terminal becomes a second voltage larger than the first voltage, the control switching circuit part increases the voltage from the output terminal stepwise progressively from the first voltage to the second voltage while performing the PWM control.

Abstract: A power supply with high pulse width modulation gain and low noise sensitivity has been disclosed. In one embodiment, a power supply includes a regulator circuit controlling a power switch. The regulator circuit includes a control input that receives a current, which is the sum of a consumption current of the regulator and a feedback current. The consumption current of the regulator is varied as a function of the duty cycle of the power switch. The feedback current is the current in a shunt regulator, which is control current in excess of the internal consumption of the regulator.