Abstract: In a cordless power tool system, protection methods, circuits and devices are provided to protect against fault conditions within a battery pack that is operatively attached to a power tool or charger, so as to prevent internal or external damage to the battery pack or attached tool or charger. The exemplary methods, circuits and devices address fault conditions such as over-charge, over-discharge, over-current, over-temperature, etc.

Abstract: A charging device for charging a rechargeable power store is discussed. The charging device includes a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface. The charging device has a ledge extending from the top surface. The charging device also includes a power source and a pair of charging terminals positioned under the ledge and connected to the power source. The charging device is configured to engage terminals on a wireless input device.

Abstract: A battery with a battery balancing assembly that regulates the discharge of battery cell charge and a method of evenly discharging battery cells, the battery comprising a plurality of cells. The balancing assembly includes switches disposed between the cells such that the switches may configure the cells in a normal configuration and a balance configuration, wherein in the normal configuration the plurality of cells may be connected to an electronic device and wherein in the balance configuration the plurality of cells are connected to a balancing circuit. The balancing circuit serving to balance the charge in the plurality of cells prior to the recharging of the cell.

Abstract: To provide a technology for obtaining a remaining capacity of a battery with high accuracy.

Abstract: A galvanically isolated charge balance system for a multicell battery includes a balancing circuit associated with each cell; each balancing circuit including a flying capacitor; a variable conductance switch; and a biasing circuit for the variable conductance switch; and a galvanically isolating MEMS switching device for selectively connecting the flying capacitor to a voltage supply to charge it to a predetermined voltage and to the biasing circuit for setting the variable conductance switch to adjust the charge on its associated cell to a preselected level.

Abstract: A battery-capacity management device comprises a charged/discharged-capacity integrating unit that detects a voltage and a current of a driving battery and that calculates a discharged capacity of the driving battery. The device also comprises a battery temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the driving battery, a memory, and an available-capacity calculating unit. Map data that represents relationships among voltages, currents, and temperatures of the driving battery at states in which remaining capacity of the driving battery has reached a preset value can be stored in the memory. The available-capacity calculating unit calculates a renewed available capacity of the driving battery based on a discharge capacity discharged over a period between a time when the driving battery is charged and a time when the voltage value detected by the charged/discharged-capacity integrating unit reaches a voltage value corresponding to the current value and the battery temperature in the map data.

Abstract: To prevent a battery pack from being over-discharged even under a state that the battery pack (a secondary battery) is connected to a discharging device that is not connected to an ac input power source for a long time. A charging device 200 has a pair of output lines L1 and L2 and an anode terminal O1 and a cathode terminal O2 of a secondary battery 2 electrically connected between the output lines L1 and L2 to carry out a charging operation. In the charging device 200 including a component circuit part (a resistance 33, a series connecting circuit of resistances 102, 103 and 105, a series connecting circuit of resistances 91 and 92 and an inner circuit part of a shunt regulator 116) electrically connected by traversing a part between the pair of output lines L1 and L2, a switching element 121 is inserted between the component circuit part (the resistance 33 or the like) and one of the pair of output lines L1 and L2.

Abstract: A system and method of dynamically charging a lead-acid battery that has been in a deep discharged state for an extended period of time or is deeply sulfated includes an alternating current (AC) line input connected to a transformer. The output of the transformer is connected to a pair of silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCRs). The SCRs are in turn connected to terminals of a lead-acid battery. A pair of signal diodes is used to obtain waveform information for the AC input for phase control to trigger the SCRs. The outputs of the signal diodes and the SCRs are connected to a phase regulated output controller. A turn-on time for the SCRs is delayed to create a differential voltage between the transformer output and a voltage of the battery. The differential voltage is applied to terminals of the battery at an increased frequency rate to break battery sulfation.

Abstract: Torque auxiliary units 30 are disposed at opposed positions outside rotary traces of the rotating permanent magnets 18 provided for the flywheel 11, in which permanent magnets 31 are arranged so as to be the same polarities as those of rotating permanent magnets 18 by being moved by cams 28 attached to a flywheel 11.

Abstract: An acquisition circuit for providing a first and a second validation signal based on an alternator output signal has a coupler being adapted for receiving the alternator output signal and for providing a coupling signal having information on the phase of the alternator output signal, the coupler having a capacitive element for coupling the alternator output signal and the coupling signal, the coupler having a resistive element for coupling the coupling signal and a reference signal. The acquisition circuit further has a detector adapted for receiving the coupling signal and for providing the first and second validation signals, wherein the relation between the validation signals is based on the information on the phase of the output signal, wherein the frequency of the alternator output signal is derivable from the validation signals and the validity information is derivable from the relation between the validation signals.

Abstract: A battery-less power generation control system that maintains fuel economy and minimizes losses in horsepower generated by engine operation includes a magnet-type generator driven by an internal combustion engine and a controller for rectifying the alternating current generated by the generator to a direct current, the controller supplying the generated direct current to electric equipment. The controller includes a rectifying section for converting the alternating current generated by the generator to direct current, and a control section for controlling the generated current output by the rectifying section. The battery-less power generation control system detects a load current flowing through the electric equipment and the control section controls the rectifying section so that the generated current is generally equal to the load current.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a reference voltage generation circuit relatively unaffected by ambient temperature, capable of supplying reference voltage equal to or less than the bandgap voltage of silicon. The reference voltage generation circuit includes: a current generation circuit which generates current; and a current-voltage conversion circuit which converts the current generated by said current generation circuit into voltage to generate reference voltage. The current generation circuit generates current which varies in value according to ambient temperature of the current generation circuit. The current-voltage conversion circuit includes two resistors, in which the current generated by the said current generation circuit flows, and which perform voltage conversion. One of the resistors has a positive temperature coefficient and the other has a negative temperature coefficient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dynamically correcting overshoot and undershoot errors in an analog integrated circuit by improving the reaction time (?t) of the analog integrated circuit. Equivalently, an error correction circuit is disclosed including an overshoot correction circuit and an undershoot correction that are only activated to reduce overshoot and undershoot errors by increasing the bandwidth of the integrated circuit when either undershoot or overshoot errors are detected.

Abstract: A pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit and a method for enabling the same are provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving a first power voltage and a second power voltage; providing a high-side driving power pin, wherein the peripheral circuit of the high-side driving power pin is adapted for generating a high-side driving voltage according to the first power voltage and the second power voltage; and enabling the PWM circuit when the high-side driving voltage is larger than the second power voltage.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a power supply comprising: a switching regulator circuit converting an input voltage to an intermediate voltage; a low dropout linear regulator circuit converting the intermediate voltage to an output voltage so as to supply a load current to a load; and a feedback control circuit which increases the noise filtering effect of the low dropout linear regulator circuit when the load current increases.

Abstract: A regulated voltage is generated at an output terminal of a voltage regulator circuit having at least one input terminal. A feedback signal is coupled from a first transistor coupled in parallel with a first resistor between the output terminal and the input terminal. The feedback signal is coupled to the input terminal to regulate the stability of the voltage regulator circuit. In a method of operation, the stability of a circuit is regulated by generating a feedback signal in the circuit to add a zero to a transfer function and raise an open loop phase curve of the circuit to result in a better power signal rejection ratio over a frequency range for the circuit.

Abstract: A switching circuit for supplying current to a load has a switching element, an inductive element coupled to the switching element, and a load current extraction circuit responsive to current in the inductive element for producing a load current signal as a simulated current approximating current in the load.

Abstract: A method includes simultaneously driving a load via first and second magnetically coupled regulator phases for a first duration, uncoupling one of the phases from the load after the first duration, and, after uncoupling the one phase from the load, allowing a current through the one phase to decay. For example, such a method allows energy stored in the uncoupled phase to be recaptured to the output transient response of a power supply.

Abstract: An embodiment of a power-supply controller is operable to couple a first node of a first inductor to first and second reference nodes, the first inductor composing a first phase of a power supply and having a second node coupled to an output node of the power supply. The controller is also operable to couple a first node of a second inductor to third and fourth reference nodes, the second inductor composing a second phase of the power supply and having a second node. Furthermore, the controller is operable to uncouple the second node of the second inductor from the output node of the power supply. For example, where the first and second inductors are magnetically coupled, such a controller allows the power supply to operate as an uncoupled-inductor (UI) power supply in one mode, and as a coupled-inductor (CI) power supply in another mode.

Abstract: The switching power supply can reduce electric power consumption in the standby mode, while preventing overcurrent at the start of the switching power supply, as well as providing protection against short-circuiting. The switching power supply includes a switching control circuit that provides a PFM control when a light-load judging section thereof judges based on a feedback signal that the load is light, a PWM control when light-load judging section thereof judges based on the feedback signal that the load is not light, setting the minimum ON-period of a switching device when the predetermined condition is met during the PWM control such that the minimum ON-period during the PWM control is shorter than the ON-period of the switching device during the PFM control, and turning off the switching device when the current flowing through the switching device exceeds the allowable value to the higher side after the elapse of the minimum ON-period.

Abstract: A voltage regulator according to the present invention is operated stably. Regardless of a condition of a load (25), a variation in drain voltage of a PMOS transistor (34) is made equal to a variation in output voltage (Vout) at an output terminal of the voltage regulator. Then, a variation in voltage which is equal to the variation in output voltage (Vout) at the output terminal which is caused by a change of the condition of the load (25) is fed back to an error amplifier (70), so a gain of a signal for phase compensation which is fed back to the error amplifier (70) is determined based on the output voltage (Vout). Therefore, even when the condition of the load (25) changes, the behavior of phase compensation is correct.

Abstract: Various voltage regulators and/or voltage regulation systems are disclosed. For example, a voltage regulation system that includes a source follower output is disclosed. The source follower output includes a transistor where the source of the transistor provides a baseline voltage to a regulated voltage output node. The voltage regulation system further includes a body damping circuit and a low speed feedback circuit. The body damping circuit is electrically coupled to the body of the transistor, and is operable to provide a rapid opposition to any voltage disturbance at the regulated voltage output node. The low speed feedback circuit is electrically coupled to the gate of the transistor, and is operable to return the regulated voltage output node to the baseline voltage.

Abstract: A technique for addressing a low line voltage condition in an information handling system includes determining whether a magnitude of an input voltage of a power supply unit (PSU) is below a first threshold for at least a first time period. The technique also includes adjusting, based on the determining, a magnitude of a reference voltage of the PSU to track a magnitude of an output voltage of the PSU when the input voltage is below the first threshold for at least the first time period.

Abstract: A power regulator with a constant-voltage output is provided, which includes a voltage regulator module and a voltage buffer module, wherein the voltage regulator module is spaced from a load by the voltage buffer module, so that an output voltage of the voltage regulator module is not affected by the current of the load, thereby enhancing the output precision of the power regulator.

Abstract: A power converter driver that is supplied with two different voltages.

Abstract: A digital media drive failure prediction system comprises a prediction module configured to analyze a current draw associated with a digital media drive measured at least two different operating times of the digital media drive to automatically determine whether a different between the measured current draws indicates an impending failure of the digital media drive.

Abstract: A magnetic device and a frequency analyzer are provided as those industrially utilizing a resonance phenomenon of a direction of magnetization of a magnetoresistive element. Since polarities of an alternating current i vary with time, the direction of magnetization oscillates as affected by the magnitude and frequency of the alternating current. When the frequency fF of the direction of magnetization of a free layer in the magnetoresistive element coincides with the frequency f of the alternating current flowing in the magnetoresistive element, the oscillation of the direction of magnetization resonates to increase a voltage between output terminals. A magnetic yoke applies such a magnetic field as to cause resonance, to the free layer. A direct current is used as an electric current outputted from a current control circuit and, while this direct current is swept, voltages at respective specific resonance frequencies are detected by a monitor circuit.

Abstract: A built-in self-test system for a dynamic random access memory device using a data output register of the memory device to apply test signals to data bus terminals and a data strobe terminal of the memory device responsive to respective clock signals. The clock signal are generated by a test system oscillator and coupled through a clock tree of the memory device. The test system further includes a selector that sequentially selects each of the test signals applied to the data bus terminals and applies the selected test signal to a multi-phase generator. The multi-phase generator delays the selected signal by different time to generate a set of delayed signals. The phases of the delayed signals are compared to the test signal applied to the data strobe terminal to determine the delay of the compared signals relative to each other, thereby determining the timing parameter.

Abstract: Systems and methods that detect a phase loss condition in a three-phase electrical power source are presented. The system includes a detection component that measures and/or monitors a magnitude and frequency of a voltage of a power source, and a controller component that compares measured and/or monitored voltage characteristics to characteristics associated with phase loss.

Abstract: An electronic meter tamper detection system and method for sensing the removal of an electricity meter from a meter socket and generating a tamper signal when such removal is detected. The tamper detection circuit includes a control unit having an energy storage device that is charged during normal operation of the electricity meter. When power is interrupted to the electricity meter, the control unit applies a charging voltage to a voltage regulating device within the electricity meter. The voltage regulating device can be charged only when the electricity meter is installed within the meter socket. After applying the charging voltage to the voltage regulating device, the control unit senses whether the voltage regulating device has been charged. If the voltage regulating device has not been charged, the control unit indicates that the meter has been removed from the meter socket.

Abstract: A first magnetic sensor produces a first output signal in response to movement of a target such as a multi-pole ring magnet, and a second magnetic sensor produces a second output signal in response to movement of the target. The first and second magnetic sensors may be corresponding magnetoresistor sensors, the first and second magnetic sensors may be intertwined, the first and second magnetic sensors may be oriented at an angle with respect to one another so as to produce a difference in phase between the first and second output signals, the first and second magnetic sensors may be arranged so as to produce a 90° phase difference between the first and second output signals, and/or the first and second magnetic sensors may be formed on a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A first magnetic sensor is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and the first magnetic sensor produces a first output signal in response to movement of a multi-pole magnet. A second magnetic sensor is formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to be intertwined with the first magnetic sensor and so as to be at a predetermined angle with respect to the first magnetic sensor. The second magnetic sensor produces a second output signal in response to movement of the multi-pole magnet. The predetermined angle is between 0° and 180° exclusive, and the predetermined angle is sufficient to produce a difference in phase between the first and second output signals. An output signal converter converts the first and second output signals to a linear signal.

Abstract: An electromagnetic impedance sensor detects an object made of conducting material or soft magnetic material with contact-free. The sensor includes: a detection coil; and a detection circuit for supplying electricity to the coil and for measuring electromagnetic impedance change in the coil. The detection coil includes multiple coil portions provided by one wire. One coil portion has a side adjacent to a corresponding side of another coil portion. The side and the corresponding side extend along with a direction, and the side has a current flowing direction, which is the same as the corresponding side.

Abstract: A position indicator for use with a digitizer is provided. The position indicator generates a response to an alternating field received from the digitizer. The position indicator includes a core formed of a composition including a soft magnetic metal powder mixed with a resin binder, and at least one coil provided around the core configured to generate the response to the alternating field based on the alternating field received from the digitizer.

Abstract: A measuring element and a measuring method for determining a position are disclosed which use a track with a material measure that is scanned by at least two sensors. The material measure is embodied in such a way that the sensors generate a modulated sinusoidal trace signal as an output signal for determining the position. In this way, the invention provides a simple measuring element and a simple measuring method for determining a position, especially an absolute position.

Abstract: A slide operation device is comprised of a movement guide of a rod-shape, and a moving block that slides on the movement guide for setting an electric parameter as a measurement value in accordance with a movement amount or position of the moving block in a slide direction along the movement guide. The movement guide is composed of a slide bar and a magnetic scale material. The slide bar is formed of a rigid member with strength difficult to be bent, and formed with a groove extending along the slide direction. The magnetic scale material is made from a resin and a magnetic material and filled in the groove. The slide bar is formed with a concave which is deeper than the groove and which extends in a direction perpendicular to the slide direction, and the magnetic scale material is also filled in the concave.

Abstract: There is a method of estimating values of winding currents, at an instant of a period, in a winding of a load, controlled in space vector modulation mode through symmetrical control phases. The winding is cyclically coupled between two supply lines through respective switches. A measuring device is alternately coupled to the supply lines. A current of one supply line, with anticipation smaller than or equal to half of the period with respect to the instant and chosen so the current is equal in amplitude to the winding current, and a current of the supply line with delay equal to the anticipation with respect to the instant, is measured. The winding current is estimated at the instant based upon the supply line currents. A threshold interval is fixed between consecutive switching edges of control phases of the winding and another control phase of the switching period wherein current is measured.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring an electric current flowing through an electrical conductor (1), comprising a measuring device which detects a magnetic field formed by the electrical conductor in three orthogonal spatial directions and supplies measurement signals associated with the respective spatial directions.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus includes: an image display device for displaying diffusion emphatic images of respective axes corresponding to one slice; a designation operating device for allowing an operator to designate each diffusion emphatic image targeted for rephotograph from the displayed diffusion emphatic images of axes; a diffusion emphasis imaging device for rephotographing only the axis of each diffusion emphatic image designated by the operator; a diffusion emphatic image substituting device for substituting an original diffusion emphatic image with each diffusion emphatic image obtained at the diffusion emphatic photography; and a diffusion tensor image creating device for creating a diffusion tensor image from a set of the post-substitution diffusion emphatic images.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method includes the steps of performing a scan for collecting magnetic resonance signals from a subject in an imaging space where a magnetostatic field is formed, so as to match the PROPELLER method, wherein in executing the scan by the PROPELLER method, a reversed pulse is transmitted to the subject when the magnetic resonance signals are to be so collected successively at every repetition time as to match a blade including a plurality of trajectories and the magnetic resonance signals are successively collected by executing a pulse sequence matching the GRE method after the time of reversal has elapsed.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for MRT imaging, data sets acquired from magnetic resonance signals of at least two limited spatial regions of a subject to be examined, (the spatial regions being displaced relative to one another along one spatial direction and overlapping in the respective edge region. Phase coding occurs in an inhomogeneous non-edge region, likewise in this spatial direction. For at least one of these spatial regions, a modulation function is determined that is limited to this entire spatial region and modulates the subject information. Foldovers in the overlap regions of the different spatial regions are calculated on the basis of the modulation function and the MRT images of the non-edge regions of the respective spatial regions are combined without foldovers in the spatial direction under consideration of the calculated foldings.

Abstract: A superconducting magnet includes: a superconducting coil for generating a static magnetic field; a refrigerant container for containing the superconducting coil and a refrigerant; a vacuum container for holding the refrigerant container in a vacuum state; a radiation shield between the refrigerant container and the vacuum container; a refrigerator for re-liquidfying the refrigerant; and a dynamic magnetic field shield. The refrigerator includes: first and second regenerative refrigerants. The dynamic magnetic field shield is an electric good conductor and arranged around the first regenerative refrigerant along a motion axis of the first regenerative refrigerant, wherein a direction of the motion axis is aligned with a direction of a magnetic force line of the static magnetic field at the first regenerative refrigerant.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a system and method for a coil having a plurality of resonant elements capable of radiofrequency transmission, reception, or both transmission and reception. One example includes a receive-only coil disposed within a transmit-only coil. Adjacent resonant elements are decoupled from one another by both capacitive elements and by the geometric configuration of the elements. Cables are coupled to each resonant element and are gathered at a junction in a particular manner.

Abstract: An arrangement for radiation of a radio-frequency field into an examination subject has a local coil unit with a housing. An insulating dielectric material is embodied at least at one part of the housing in order to passively compensate an inhomogeneity of the B1 field that occurs in the examination subject. An adjustment arrangement allows for fixed but detachable provision of the insulating dielectric material at the housing part.

Abstract: A mobile positioning device for an MRI inductively coupled coil, has at least one pair of coupled coils which are coupled with each other for transmitting signals, wherein one of the at least one pair of coupled coils is deployed on a surface of a patient's bed. A moveable platform is provided that can move in a direction parallel to the patient's bed, and the other one of the at least one pair of coupled coils is deployed on the moveable platform opposite to the coupled coil deployed on the patient's bed. The device can be driven by a motor or a spring. When the patient's bed needs to be placed at different positions for an examination, the coupled coil deployed on the moveable platform can be aligned completely and in parallel to the coupled coil fixed on the patient's bed by moving the moveable platform, so as to achieve the best coupling effects.

Abstract: An observation-point arranging unit arranges an observation point indicating a portion to be included in a slice area on a positioning image displayed on a display device. A scanning-condition receiving unit receives a specification of a scanning condition including number of movements of a couch on which an object is placed during scanning and a size of the slice area. A slice-area setting unit sets the slice area including the observation point for each position to which the couch is to be moved, based on the observation point and the scanning condition. A scanning unit scans the object multiple times while moving the couch, based on the slice area.

Abstract: A current lead for the superconducting magnet of a magnetic resonance system, the superconducting magnet being refrigerated by a cold head, has a positive current lead and a negative current lead electrically connected to the superconducting magnet for magnetization thereof. The cold head is electrically connected to the superconducting magnet and is used as one of the positive and negative current leads. The cold head is used as the positive current lead or the negative current lead so as to reduce the number of current leads as well as the heat conducted by the current lead, therefore it maintains a stable superconducting environment more efficiently. Furthermore, the cold head and the current lead can be provided in the same conduit without the need to design a separated turret tube and side tube, and the structure of the current leads of the superconducting magnet of the magnetic resonance system is simplified.

Abstract: A battery monitor for monitoring the performance of at least one battery within an array of batteries, comprising: a data acquisition device for measuring at least one parameter of the at least one battery associated with the battery monitor, a first data interface operable to exchange data with a first device, and a second data interface operable to exchange data with a second device.

Abstract: A cable testing assembly includes a plurality of different connectors thereon. The different connectors can be automatically used to automatically test a wire by coupling the cable between two different connectors. The testing then switches power to different pins in the connectors and automatically detests continuity and short-circuit among those connectors. The results can be displayed and/or printed on a label. In addition to the continuity test, the system can automatically detects things like wrong gauge, pin placement, links, and capacitance. The connectors can be arranged by power handling connectors, and signal handling connectors.

Abstract: Power supplies are disclosed herein. One embodiment of a power supply comprises a first input and a second input, wherein the first input and the second input are connectable to a pulse width modulation controller and wherein a pulse width modulation signal is outputable from the pulse width modulation controller. A power stage connected to the first input and the second input. A first comparator having a first comparator first input is connected to the first input and a first comparator second input connected to the output of the power stage. A change of voltage at the output of the first comparator constitutes a difference in phase between the first input and the output of the power stage.