Abstract: A phosphor with an amorphous layer includes a core phosphor and an amorphous oxide layer having a thickness of about 1 to about 30 nm on the core phosphor, wherein the phosphor with the amorphous layer exhibits a zeta potential of about 10 to about 50 mV.

Abstract: A lighting fixture, such as for street lighting, comprises an external housing (11) which has a radio frequency antenna (26, 26a, 27) integrally formed therewith. The RF antenna enables telemanagement signals to be passed to the lighting fixture, and for the telemanagement signals to be passed between lighting fixtures in a network. The RF antenna is ideally located in or on a translucent dome portion (14) of the lighting fixture which is invariably formed from a dielectric (non-conductive) material and therefore avoids undesirable RF shielding in at least preferred directions.

Abstract: An RF plasma reactor is provided for depositing semi-conductive layers on to very large glass areas. The RF plasma reactor includes a vacuum chamber, a reactor chamber, RF power supply, a matching network, first and second metallic plates located inside the vacuum chamber and a plasma-discharge region defined between the first and second metallic plates. The RF plasma reactor further includes a feed line and an impedance-transformation circuit both of which are electrically connected to the first metallic plate. The impedance-transformation circuit further includes a blocking-tuneable capacitor that transforms an impedance of the reactor.

Abstract: A method for efficient lighting includes supplying power to a light source to control the intensity of light emitted from the light source according to an intensity waveform. The amplitude of the waveform over one period is at a high level for a first time interval and at or below a low level for a second time interval. The method includes selecting durations of the first time interval according to a first characteristic of human visual perception and selecting the second time interval according to a second characteristic of human visual perception.

Abstract: A backlight device capable of increasing luminance efficiency includes a power transformation device having a primary end and a secondary end for transforming current received by the primary end and outputting transformed current from the secondary end. The backlight device further includes a double-wind coupling element including a first coupling element and a second coupling element coupled to terminals of the secondary end, for adjusting current between the first coupling element and the second coupling element, and a cold cathode fluorescent lamp coupled to the first coupling element and the second coupling element, for making current flowing into the cold cathode fluorescent equal to current flowing out from the cold cathode fluorescent according to adjusted current between the first coupling element and the second coupling element.

Abstract: A plasma lamp with a positive-loop feedback topology, having a resonating waveguide body and at least one amplifier critically coupled to the body which is stable under all operating conditions both before a plasma is formed and after the plasma reaches steady state. An iterative method for configuring the lamp circuit includes determining the load trajectory of each amplifier under all operating conditions, and overlaying it on a polar-plot showing regions of stability, conditional stability, and instability. If the load trajectory passes through an unstable region, circuit alterations are made to avoid that region.

Abstract: A voltage sensing circuit (230) for sensing voltage signals of input alternating current (AC) signals includes a plurality of voltage dividing circuits (23n (n=1, 2, 3, . . . , n)) and a charging circuit (232). The voltage dividing circuits are used for dividing voltage signals of the input AC signals. The voltage dividing circuits are connected to the charging circuit, and then the divided voltage signals can be transmitted between the voltage dividing circuits, thereby pulling high corresponding DC levels of the divided voltage signals.

Abstract: A light control circuit for use in light control fluorescent lamps comprises a filter and rectifier circuit (1), a frequency control and resonant circuit (2) and an ambient brightness signal sampling and control circuit (4); wherein the ambient brightness signal sampling and control circuit (4) advantageously adopts an integrated circuit (U1) to control or adjust light sensitivity of the light control circuit in an accurate manner and to control the onoff of the light control circuit in an intelligent way such that the output of the light control circuit is not susceptible to a sudden change of the ambient brightness.

Abstract: A switching circuit includes a plurality of transistors connected to a primary winding of the transformer and alternately applies an input voltage and a ground voltage to the primary winding according to turning-on and turning-off of each of the transistors. A plurality of capacitors are provided to the respective fluorescent lamps. One ends of the capacitors are commonly connected to a secondary winding of the transformer, and the other ends thereof are connected to the respective fluorescent lamps. A control circuit monitors a current flowing through a predetermined current path among current paths of the entire circuits including an inverter and the fluorescent lamps and performs feedback control of the turning-on and turning-off states of a plurality of the transistors of the switching circuit to adjust supply of switching power to the primary winding of the transformer so that the monitored current can be maintained in a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A display with illuminator lamp includes a case, a display control circuit, a control unit, a display unit, and an illuminator lamp. The display is electrically connected to a personal computer; and the illuminator lamp includes three R, G, B LED lamps, an adjusting resistance, and a controlled switch assembly. The controlled switch assembly is used to receive control signals from the control unit, and control the on/off state of the illuminator lamp. The controlled switch assembly may be a switching transistor or a MOSFET. The illuminator lamp further includes three limiting resistances separately connected to the RGB LED lamps in series. With these arrangements, the display with illuminator lamp functions to illuminate a specific area before the display, so that a user may operate a keyboard or read documents in a dark environment.

Abstract: The bicycle lighting system includes a primary lighting circuit and at least one electrically operated component connected in parallel to a rectifying circuit that receives electricity from a hub dynamo. The electrically operated component can be a supplemental lighting circuit, an electric transmission component and/or a tail lamp. The lighting system includes a rectifying circuit configured and arranged to rectify electricity generated by a hub dynamo. The primary lighting circuit has at least one first light emitting diode that is configured and arranged to always receive electricity outputted from the rectifying circuit.

Abstract: A safety unit for use on vehicles such as school buses. In one embodiment, a housing is provided for the drive motor and related elements for moving a stop sign on the side of the bus between its retracted and extended positions. The housing has a removable cover to provide access to the drive motor and related elements, and the stop sign is mounted on a driveshaft that extends through a single opening in the bottom wall of the housing. In a second embodiment the safety unit is integrated with an access panel on the school bus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling two or more commutator DC motors with permanent magnets in driving mechanisms for setting a position of furniture parts such as tables, beds, chairs etc., where particular driving mechanisms must maintain mutually defined speed independently on their different load. The invention consists in that during functioning of the motors is periodically disconnected power supply of the motors, while in the time of disconnecting the supply is detected the voltage of each motor, which is adjusted using calibration constant characteristic for each motor and the direction of rotation and according to the differences of such adjusted voltages of particular motors is adjusted the operating mode of each motor, by means of which is reached an effective regulation of particular motor run to mutually defined speed independently on their load.

Abstract: A controller for brush less DC motors includes an angular position sensor and control logic to detect the phase difference between a target position signal and a current angular position signal. The detected phase difference is the basis for generating motor drive control signals to position the rotor of the motor to the target position.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor and Hall Effect commutation sensors are mounted on a common circuit board, and ferromagnetic elements partially embedded in the motor stator in proximity to the periphery of the rotor magnetically couple the rotor magnet to the Hall Effect sensors. Preferably, the ferromagnetic elements are embedded in the stator adjacent the radial periphery of the rotor magnet. Alternately, the ferromagnetic elements can be embedded in the stator adjacent the axial periphery of the rotor magnet.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling a polyphase motor in implantable medical device applications are provided. In one embodiment, the polyphase motor is a brushless DC motor. The back emf of a selected phase of the motor is sampled while a drive voltage or the selected phase is substantially zero. Various embodiments utilize sinusoidal or trapezoidal drive voltages. The sampled back emf provides an error signal indicative of the positional error of the rotor. In one embodiment, the sampled back emf is normalized with respect to a commanded angular velocity of the rotor to provide an error signal proportional only to the positional error of the motor rotor. The error signal is provided as feedback to control a frequency of the drive voltage. A control generates a speed control signal corresponding to a difference between a commanded angular velocity and an angular velocity inferred from the frequency of the drive voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electric drive for a vehicle, which is used as a main drive or a hybrid drive. The electric motor of said drive is embodied as a special type of reluctance motor or series wound motor. The rotor of the reluctance motor and the inverse speed motor is provided with an excitation winding to which a transistor is assigned that allows the motor to be braked in a sensitive manner so as to control the field currenL The braking current is fed to the source of current by switching operation of the motor during generator operation.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for thermal management of a CPU. Both hardware and software data are used to periodically calculate a power consumption index. An internal database is provided to convert power consumption data to rotational speed of an associated cooling fan for the CPU. Based upon a change in the calculated power consumption, the rotational speed of the fan may be adjusted to accommodate the change in power consumption. Accordingly, the method and system monitors and adjusts the rotational speed of the cooling fan based upon available hardware and software data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reversing a drive motor for a barrier movement operator are disclosed. The operator senses the nature of a request for reversal and based on the nature of the sensed request performs one of a plurality of processes to reverse the motor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing power demand of a motor in a cyclic load system having a rotational mass is provided. Flat power draw is achieved through continuous manipulation of the motor torque as a function of feedback velocity while using the rotational mass of the cyclic load as a means to store/retrieve energy. Alternatively, reduced variation of power draw is accomplished through continuous manipulation of motor velocity as a function of feedback torque. The methods and apparatus are used in systems where zero or reduced power demand variation is either required or desired, such as in generator powered applications.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus can protect circuit elements in an appropriate manner while preventing an incorrect abnormality determination when a motor is in regeneration operation, etc. The apparatus includes a target current calculation section (51), a drive control section (52) that generates a drive signal based on a current deviation ?I between a target current (IMT) and a detected current (IMS), an abnormality determination section (53) that generates an abnormality determination signal based on the target current (IMT) and the detected current (IMS), and a regeneration operation determination section (59) that determines whether the motor (4) is in a regeneration operation state. When it is determined that the motor (4) is in a regeneration operation, a determination threshold of the abnormality determination section (53) is set to a value larger than a determination threshold during power running operation.

Abstract: A method of protecting a power device of an inverter from overheating when a motor stalls or is operated in a low-speed range, including detecting and then performing an operation on a maximum tolerable temperature at a junction of the power device of the inverter and a casing temperature between the power device and a radiating plate, calculating an absolute value of an operating speed, and applying a pattern gain differently depending on the calculated absolute value, calculating inverter loss resulting from input motor torque and speed of the motor, performing an operation on the values calculated and calculating a difference between the temperature at the junction of the power device of the inverter and the casing temperature, limiting output of a PI controller that receives the temperature difference calculated, and limiting operational torque output of the motor according to the input motor torque command using the output of the PI controller.

Abstract: A robot having an obstacle detection unit and a method of controlling the robot. The robot includes a main body, a driving unit, an auxiliary body, and a control unit. The driving unit drives the main body along a given surface. The auxiliary body projects from the main body and detecting an obstacle around the main body. The control unit controls the driving unit according to results of the detection so that the main body and the obstacle are maintained at a predetermined distance from each other.

Abstract: A positioning control device based on an observer control has a disturbance suppression function to which a disturbance suppression function is added without affecting the control characteristics of the observer. Models of an actuator and a disturbance model are separated, and for the disturbance model, state information is generated using an estimated gain determined from a disturbance model defined by a transfer function of which denominator is a numerator of a filter in which degrees of denominator and numerator for shaping a sensitivity function are the same, and the disturbance suppression value of the actuator is computed from the state information. The vibration of the head can be prevented adapting to a wide range of disturbance frequencies without affecting the control characteristics of the observer.

Abstract: An electrical machine, such as a switched reluctance motor, has a rotor and at least one electrically energizable phase winding. A control map is derived during production that includes a predetermined advance angle profile representing the energization of the phase winding with respect to the angular position of the rotor over a range of rotor speeds. This is stored in memory in a controller together with an angle correction factor to be applied to a predetermined portion of the advance angle profile. The angle correction factor compensates for the difference between a desired input power and the measured input power. The correction factor may be transmitted to the controller by means of radio frequency signals.

Abstract: A power management system comprises a power management module configured to receive a requested duration for powering an electronic device by a battery, the power management module configured to control use of power-consuming elements of the electronic device based on a prioritization of the power-consuming elements to enable powering of the electronic device by the battery for at least the requested duration.

Abstract: A system for charging a power tool battery includes a charging device capable of charging a battery, a memory device capable of storing data of a plurality of sound patterns, a selecting device capable of selecting a sound pattern data from the plurality of sound patterns, and a sound generating device capable of generating a sound based on the selected sound pattern data when the charging operation of the battery by the charging device has been completed.

Abstract: A system for updating battery software includes a programmable battery unit that includes an internal access point. The programmable battery unit includes a battery control unit that controls the overall functionality of the programmable battery unit. A programmable storage medium may be included on the battery control unit. The storage medium has stored therein battery software operable to control certain features of the programmable battery unit. An input port may be connected with the battery control unit. An update device that includes a second storage medium having stored therein updated battery software for the programmable battery unit. A connector may be included for connecting the update device to the input port of the programmable battery unit. A software routine on the update device is operable to automatically transfer the updated battery software from the update device to the first storage medium of the programmable battery unit thereby reprogramming the programmable battery unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining to which battery cell in a string of battery cells between a pair of busses a test instrument is connected. Knowing the average voltage of the battery cells in the string, the voltage from one of the busses to the side furthest from that bus of the cell of interest is measured, and that measured voltage is compared with a voltage range calculated as a multiple of the average voltage.

Abstract: A system and method interconnects battery packs using a flexible bus bar to prevent vibration from breaking or damaging the connections therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of charging a battery having internal resistance, the method including the step of feeding the battery with substantially constant charging current at a charging voltage that is regulated so as to compensate at least in part for the voltage drop generated by the internal resistance of the battery. The invention also provides a charger and a battery for implementing the method.

Abstract: Abnormal detecting means 112 for detecting that an electrically conductive foreign substance has migrated into a charging device 1 is provided, and whether or the foreign substance has migrated is judged from the detection result of the abnormal detecting means 112.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle electrical system, comprising a generator, a battery, a starter and a high-capacity capacitor for storing electric energy for the starting process of a motor vehicle engine. The electrical system further comprises a voltage transformer and an interrupter which are connected in parallel between the capacitor and the battery and are controlled for preparing a starting process of the motor vehicle engine in such a way that the voltage transformer transforms the voltage of the battery into a larger voltage and the interrupter interrupts the electrical connection between the battery and the capacitor.

Abstract: An electrical device having a generator, e.g., for use in the vehicle electrical system of a motor vehicle, includes a controller for controlling the generator voltage. In the device, an area is provided in which a voltage control is carried out, and other areas are provided in which a torque control is carried out.

Abstract: An electronic load regulation system for a locomotive may comprise a solid state replacement for existing electro-mechanical load regulators that are used to adjust the excitation current in the field windings of the locomotive's generator. A pressure sensor may include a first chamber and a second chamber, each chamber having a pressure switch. The pressure sensor may be installed in place of a prior art vane motor and may connect to the existing governor hydraulic output. The pressure switches send status data to an electronic load regulator circuit that may replace a prior art rheostat. The electronic load regulator may increase or decrease the excitation current depending upon the status data received from the pressure sensor.

Abstract: Regulator circuit includes at least two input terminals, one or several groups of reactances with at least two reactances, at least two output terminal, a plurality of interconnections suitable for connecting said reactances with respect to one another and suitable for connecting at least one of the reactances with the input and output terminals. The interconnections include miniaturized relays that allow exchanging a series connection of said reactances for a parallel connections and vice versa. The circuit can include a voltage monitoring means, power supply modules, input and output protectors, reference signal modules, and control modules. The regulator circuit has multiple applications such as a charge pumps, power supply, DC/DC converter, DC/AC converter, AC/DC converter, D/A converter, A/D converter, and power amplifiers.

Abstract: Disclosed a multi-output type DC/DC converter including: a reactor connected to a direct-current power supply; a first switching circuit composed of switches to apply a current to the reactor; a second switching circuit composed of switches to switch an output from the reactor to any one of output terminals; output voltage detection sections to detect voltages of the output terminals; comparison circuits to compare outputs with a waveform signal of a predetermined frequency; and an output selection circuit to receive inputs form comparison circuits, and to select an output of a comparison circuit, the output having the earliest rise or the earliest fall, so as to generate a control signal pertaining to on and off of the first and/or second switching circuit, wherein a current generated by a discharge of energy accumulated in the reactor is output to any one of the terminals in accordance with the control signal.

Abstract: A versatile voltage regulator accommodates either an Alkaline or Lithium-Ion battery main battery and provides low-current power for a real time clock module and for charging a backup battery. Depending upon the battery power source that is used, the present invention provides a best circuit configuration for efficient power conversion. If the power converter according to the present invention provides a regulated output voltage that is greater than the main battery voltage of an Alkaline battery, a low drop-out-voltage (LDO) voltage regulator is used in feedback loop with a charge pump. Otherwise, for a Lithium-Ion battery, only a LDO voltage regulator is used. The voltage regulator includes a series low drop-out-voltage (LDO) voltage regulator that is coupled between the main external battery and the vout load terminal, when the voltage at the vout load terminal is less than the voltage of the main external battery.

Abstract: An inrush current limiting circuit (12) includes a transistor (Q), a switch element (M), and a short-circuit protection circuit (121). An emitter of the transistor is as an input of the inrush current limiting circuit. An input of the switch element is connected to a collector of the transistor. A second output of the switch element is as an output of the inrush current limiting circuit. A first terminal of the short-circuit protection circuit is connected to a first output of the switch element. A second terminal of the short-circuit protection circuit is connected to a base of the transistor. A third terminal of the short-circuit protection circuit is connected to the second output of the switch element.

Abstract: A circuit for minimizing voltage inrush upon startup in a switching power converter having a switching stage including high and low switches connected at a common node, a feedback loop for maintaining a target output voltage, an output capacitor connected between an output node and the ground, an inductor connected between the common node and the output node, and a control circuit having a first error amplifier for providing a first signal based on a comparison of a reference voltage and voltage provided by the feedback loop, the control circuit including a level switch connected between the ground and the common node, the level switch being controlled in accordance with the first signal, wherein a large inrush current flowing into the output capacitor when the circuit is starting up is minimized.

Abstract: A current-mode switching regulator including at least: an inductor; a main switch for controlling the current flow through the inductor; and a feedback control circuit for operating the main switch cyclically and to vary a duty cycle of the main switch so as to substantially maintain an output voltage of the regulator at a desired level. The feedback control circuit further includes slope compensation circuitry adding slope compensation to a signal representing the inductor current prior to the slope compensated signal being compared to the fed-back output error voltage.

Abstract: A controller comprises an error comparator, a frequency generator, a pulse-width modulator and an output driver. The error comparator generates an error signal according to a feedback signal and a reference voltage. The frequency generator provides a frequency signal. The pulse-width modulator coupled to the error comparator and the frequency generator generates a pulse-width modulated signal according to the error signal and the frequency signal. The output driver coupled to the pulse-width modulator generates at least one switch signal according to the pulse-width modulated signal. Because the frequency signal is within at least one of the first predetermined bandwidths of the frequency range during a second predetermined time interval is within a third predetermined number, beat frequency interference is not detectable by users.

Abstract: A DC to DC converter comprising an energy storage element comprising an energy storage element input and an energy storage element output, the energy storage element input coupled to receive a first power level and the energy storage element output providing a second power level. The converter also comprises a feedback circuit comprising a feedback input and a feedback output, the feedback input coupled to the energy storage element output. The converter further comprises a regulator circuit comprising a regulator circuit feedback input and a regulator circuit output, the regulator circuit feedback input coupled to the feedback output and the regulator circuit output coupled to the energy storage element input, the regulator circuit regulating the input of the first power level to the energy storage element input.

Abstract: An improved method of canceling a RHPZ of a switching regulator can include detecting a predetermined error signal provided to a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit, wherein the predetermined error signal is associated with the RHPZ. Once a RHPZ is detected, a ramp waveform provided to the PWM circuit can be temporarily lengthened, thereby canceling the RHPZ. Notably, temporarily lengthening the ramp waveform can be based on adjusting an RZ*CZ time constant. In one embodiment, the ramp waveform can be lengthened to create a left half-plane zero (LHPZ), which improves stability.

Abstract: There is provided an electric power applying circuit for applying a direct current power to a load.

Abstract: The present invention provides a passive RFID chip with on-chip charge pumps for generating electrical power for the chip from radio frequencies. The passive RFID chip comprises an analog portion and a digital portion. The analog portion primarily comprises a voltage sensor and an AM data detector. The digital portion comprises a state machine digital logic controller. Incoming RF signals enter the chip via external antennas. The RF signals are converted into regulated DC signals by RF-DC converters with the voltage sensor. The RF-DC converters provide power for all the on-chip components and hence the chip does not require external power supply. The incoming RF signals are demodulated by demodulators and enter the AM data detector where the envelope transitions are detected. A voltage alarm is provided to ensure the voltage level does not drop below an operational level of the chip.

Abstract: A reference voltage generation circuit has transistors generating a PTAT current that increases in proportion to temperature, a transistor generating a CTAT current that decreases in proportion to temperature, a first variable resistor adjusting an output voltage, a transistor supplying the PTAT current to the first variable resistor via a first switch, a transistor supplying the CTAT current to the first variable resistor via a second switch, and a second variable resistor adjusting the CTAT current. The first switch is on in first and third operation modes and off in a second operation mode. The second switch is on in the first and second operation modes and off in the third operation mode. Switching the operation modes realizes independently outputting a PTAT voltage or a CTAT voltage. Independently adjusting the voltages makes it possible to correct output reference voltage of the reference voltage generation circuit accurately at low cost.

Abstract: A device (8), for adjusting the impedance of a high voltage line (9), supplying an alternating current, has at least one control coil (2), which may be inserted in series in the high voltage line (9) and at least one switching device (3,10), provided for each control coil (2). The device is compact and economical. A control unit (4) for controlling each switching device (3,10) is also provided, such that the reactance of the control coil (2), acting in the device may be adjusted by the switching of the switching device (3,10), whereby each switching device (3,10) is arranged parallel to the corresponding control coil (2) in a parallel branch (5).

Abstract: An accumulated current counter (11) includes a sense resistor (30) configured for being coupled in series between an electronic circuit (13) and a power source (12). The sense resistor is further for use in sensing a voltage (VIN(i)) across the sense resistor as a function of a current (Ibatt) provided via the power source. An incremental counter (16) is coupled to the sense resistor for incrementally counting an amount of current, corresponding to an average value of charge Q, going (i) into or (ii) out of the power source. A register (63) accumulates a representation of the incrementally counted current. In one embodiment, the representation of incrementally counted current corresponds to a remaining power source life in hours and minutes.

Abstract: A method for testing a generator including a plurality of phase groups is provided. The method includes electrically isolating a first phase group from remaining phase groups by substantially encapsulating at least a portion of a plurality of stator bars electrically coupled together within the first phase group with an insulative member, electrically grounding at least a second phase group, and inducing a high voltage to the first phase group to facilitate proof testing the first phase group.