Abstract: Described are a method and a system for controlling the distribution of power in a multi-battery charger. The system includes (a) a housing including a plurality of contacts configured to electrically couple with a plurality of batteries; and (b) a controller. The controller is programmed to: detect a connection status for each of the contacts by determining which of the plurality of contacts is coupled to a battery, determine a charge status of each coupled battery, and determine for each contact a respective charging current having a respective magnitude.

Abstract: An alkaline battery charger with universal connectors for the charging of alkaline batteries of type AA, AAA, C, and D includes a spring loaded slide bar, moving charging studs fixed into the spring loaded slide bar, a battery tray, four fixed lower charging studs, two fixed middle charging studs, two fixed upper charging studs, a safety cut off switch, a cover, an LCD showing charging status of each battery, and a PCB including independent circuitry for self monitoring which detects faults and places the unit into a safe operating mode.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for charging a battery. The system includes a processor powered by a battery; and a controller determining a remaining battery charge of the battery. The controller sets a first charge current to recharge the battery when the remaining battery charge is insufficient to operate the processor. The controller wakes the processor when the battery has been recharged so that the remaining battery capacity is sufficient to operate the processor. The processor negotiates for a second charge current to recharge the battery. The controller sets the second charge current when the processor successfully negotiated.

Abstract: An electric power supply system can determine a sharing ratio of an electric power so as to increase and decrease an output electric power supplied by an electric power generator in accordance with an output electric power value required for the electric power supply system, in a fuel cell following region where a frequency of a magnitude of the electric power is equal to or higher than a predetermined value in a frequency distribution of a magnitude of the electric power, and can determine the sharing ratio of the electric power so as to increase an output electric power supplied by an electricity storage device, in an assist region where the frequency is lower than a predetermined value in the frequency distribution, and can prevent an excess of discharging from an electricity storage device.

Abstract: A charging device capable of providing backflow current and inrush current protection includes a reception end for receiving a charging voltage, a rechargeable battery, and a dynamic protection unit coupled between the reception end and the rechargeable battery for controlling connection between the reception end and the rechargeable battery according to a control signal and connection condition between the reception end and the charging voltage.

Abstract: Control means (22) for a battery (20) for powering a load (18) wherein the battery is connected via switching means (24) to the load. The control means is able to ascertain when the remaining battery life is below a predetermined level and commands the switching means to disconnect the battery before it is fully discharged. A manual override (30) enables the battery to be reconnected to the load (18) to make use of the remaining battery life.

Abstract: A battery pack is disclosed. The battery pack includes a battery, an impact sensor, a processor and a memory. The impact sensor is capable of generating an impact signal in response to a detection of an impact on the battery pack. The processor is capable of generating impact information based on the impact signal, and processor continues to count a number of charging times to the battery after the generation of the impact information. The memory is capable of storing the impact information and the number of charging times. The processor can refer to the memory to deliver a control command to a battery charger so that the battery can only be charged up to an allowable charge capacity smaller than a full charge capacity after an occurrence of an impact when the battery pack is attached to the battery charger. The charging to the battery stops when the number of the counted charging times reaches a predetermined number of allowable charging times that is allowed after the generation of the impact information.

Abstract: Circuitry for charging a battery includes a switch for coupling the power source to the battery. The switch is turned on and off in accordance with a periodic control signal including a plurality of periods. Each period includes a first duration during which the control signal is in a first state and a second duration during which the control signal is in a second state. The switch is turned on when the control signal is in the first state to couple the power source to the battery, and turned off when the control signal is in the second state to decouple the power source from the battery. Since the switch is periodically turned off while the battery is being charged, the average amount of heat generated by the switch is reduced, thereby preventing excessive thermal emission from the battery charging circuitry.

Abstract: A battery charging circuit includes a power supply circuit being connected via a switching element and a current-limiting resistor to a battery to subject the battery to a trickle charge, and a control circuit turning on and off the switching element on a given duty to subject the battery to the trickle charge by means of a pulsed charge. The control circuit includes an on-timing adjustment circuit detecting a battery voltage to control the duty of turning on and off the switching element. The on-timing adjustment circuit makes a duty ratio smaller in a state of a low battery voltage than in a state of a high battery voltage and turns on and off the switching element to perform the trickle charge by means of the pulsed charge.

Abstract: An energy converter for inducing membrane vibrations of a membrane when subject to a fluid flow, and converting the vibrations into another form of energy, such as electricity. The energy converter includes at least one flexible membrane, at least one electrical conductor and at least one magnetic field generator configured to apply a magnetic field to the at least one electrical conductor. One of the electrical conductor and the magnetic field generator is attached to the membrane and configured to move with the membrane. The other one of the electrical conductor and the magnetic field generator has a curved surface bending towards the membrane. When subject to a fluid flow, the membrane vibrates and creates a relative movement between the conductor and the magnetic field, which induces a current.

Abstract: An energy storage flywheel system for a spacecraft is implemented with an electronically redundant power and attitude control system. In particular, the system includes a plurality of flywheels, and a multi-channel processing module and a multi-channel power control module associated with each flywheel. Each multi-channel processing module includes a plurality of controllers that may be operated in either an active or a standby mode, and each multi-channel power control module includes a plurality of power control circuits that may also be operated in either an active or standby mode.

Abstract: There is provided a power supply apparatus including a power supply section that supplies an output current to an external load, and a current control section that flows an electric current varying in a direction opposite to a supply current being supplied to the power supply section into a ground of the power supply section.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an input connectable to a voltage source and an output connectable to a load. The voltage regulator includes an inductor coupled to the output, a switch between the input and the inductor, and a current control loop configured to control the duty cycle of the switch to regulate voltage at the output, wherein the duty cycle being based on both a peak and valley threshold level of current flowing through the inductor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for concurrently eliminating or substantially reducing two or more switching losses in an inverter switching circuit. Embodiments of the invention concurrently reduce multiple types of switching losses under hard switching mode and soft switching mode for active switching devices and diodes. In one embodiment of the invention, the voltage across a switching device is substantially reduced during switch turn-off and/or turn-on time, and also maintained at a substantially reduced level throughout some or all of the tail current loss time of the switching device. The voltage reduction mechanism is implemented as a transformer circuit electrically serially implemented between the voltage source and the switching device. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: The invention is related to an apparatus configured to: monitor a power supply voltage and a transmission power need and adjust transmission power according to the power supply voltage and the transmission power need for prolonging operation time of an electronic device when the power supply voltage is at least the same as a predetermined limiting value set for a power supply voltage of the electronic device.

Abstract: A voltage regulator and a voltage regulating method thereof and a voltage generator using the voltage regulator are disclosed by the present invention. The voltage regulator of the present invention uses a first switching unit and a second switching unit to respectively provide an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) with different closed-loop feedback paths during a first period and a second period. In this way, an auto-zeroing unit is able to exactly store an input offset voltage presented between the inverting input terminal and the non-inverting input terminal of the OTA.

Abstract: Combined type transformer includes: a transformer core; first and second coils provided with respect to the transformer core; first and second inductor cores provided around the first coil; and third and fourth inductor cores provided around the second coil. The transformer core and the first and second coils constitute a transformer, the first coil and the first and second inductor cores constitute a first inductor, and the second coil and the third and fourth inductor cores constitute a second inductor.

Abstract: The switched-mode power supply includes a switching cell having an inductive element with two connections and several individually selectable outputs, and in which the two connections of the inductive element are joined respectively to at least two of the individually selectable outputs. It is thus possible to generate and regulate at least two different voltages, one positive and one negative.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a system for regulating an output voltage of a power converter. The system comprises an error amplifier that compares a feedback voltage associated with the output voltage with a reference voltage to generate an error signal that is employed to control a magnitude of the output voltage. The system also comprises a plurality of sample and hold circuits each configured to sample an error amplifier output voltage to provide the error signal. The system further comprises a switching controller configured to control switching of the error amplifier output voltage between each of the plurality of sample and hold circuits in response to a change in an output load of the power converter.

Abstract: The voltage at a spurious frequency is decreased while maintaining as much as possible the voltage at a resonance frequency of a piezoelectric transformer, thus controlling a wide voltage range with a comparatively low cost configuration. A high-voltage power supply apparatus includes a piezoelectric transformer that outputs a highest voltage at a predetermined resonance frequency, and a generating unit that generates a signal that oscillates at a drive frequency that drives the piezoelectric transformer, throughout a frequency range that includes the resonance frequency. Furthermore, the high-voltage power supply apparatus includes an output terminal connected to the piezoelectric transformer, and a constant-voltage element inserted in a path that couples the piezoelectric transformer and the output terminal.

Abstract: A bandgap reference circuit comprises: a current generator for generating an output current, the current generator comprising a first reference unit and a plurality of second reference units arranged in parallel, where the current generator is capable of determining the magnitude of the output current according to the reference units; a first resistor, coupled between a first terminal of the first reference unit and a node, for transmitting a first current; a second resistor, coupled to the node and a first terminal of each second reference unit, for transmitting a second current; a third resistor, coupled between the node and an output terminal of the bandgap reference circuit, for transmitting a third current; and a current-to-voltage converter, coupled to the third resistor, for generating a bandgap voltage according to the output current and the third current.

Abstract: A bandgap reference circuit includes a reference current generator for respectively generating a first reference current on a first current path and a second reference current on a second current path, a current mirror for generating a third reference current on a third current path based on the first and second reference currents, an operation amplifier for rendering the first reference current substantially identical to the second reference current and a feedback circuit for rendering a node voltage on the first current path substantially identical to another node voltage on the third current path, so as to eliminate possible errors caused by a channel length modulation effect in the current mirror.

Abstract: A reference voltage generator includes a first field effect transistor with n-type heavily doped gate structure and a second field effect transistor with p-type heavily doped gate structure. The first transistor is configured to have a gate and a substrate gate connected to ground, one terminal connected to a voltage supply, and another terminal connected to an output node. The second transistor is configured to have a gate and one terminal connected to the output node, and a substrate gate and another terminal connected to ground. The output node outputs a given reference voltage when voltage is supplied from the voltage supply. A voltage regulator that generates a constant voltage based on a given reference voltage incorporates the reference voltage generator.

Abstract: A dynamic voltage scaling system for a packet-based data communication transceiver includes a constant voltage supply, a variable voltage supply, and a voltage control unit. The constant voltage supply is configured to supply a constant voltage to at least one parameter-independent function of the transceiver, and the variable voltage supply is configured to supply a variable voltage in accordance with a control signal to at least one parameter-dependent function of the transceiver. Parameter-independent transceiver functions perform operations independent of a predetermined parameter and parameter-dependent transceiver functions perform operations dependent on the predetermined parameter The voltage control unit is configured to generate the control signal based on information provided by at least one parameter-independent transceiver function about the predetermined parameter.

Abstract: A circuit for transferring amplified resonant power to a load is disclosed. The circuit transfers amplified resonant power, which is generated in an inductor of a conventional transformer when serial or parallel resonance of a conventional power supply is formed, to a load through the conventional transformer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microarray bioprobe device integrated with an amplifier having bottom-gate thin film transistors. The present invention utilizes a micro-electro-mechanical process as well as a semiconductor process to integrate microarray bioprobes and an amplifier having bottom-gate thin film transistors on a flexible substrate. As such, a signal obtained by the microarray bioprobes can be amplified nearby to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and impedance matching. The microarray bioprobes are formed on the flexible substrate such that the present microarray bioprobe device can be disposed to conform to the profile of a living body's portion so as to improve electrical contact between the bioprobes and the living body's portion.

Abstract: A driver of a vehicle is alerted if an air passage from an air source to a battery becomes blocked. The determination as to whether the air passage is blocked may be based on the temperature of the battery, the airflow through the air passage, and the power to a fan used to move air through the air passage.

Abstract: A universal, wireless, nano-optical voltmeter comprises an organic core having at least one voltage-sensitive dye and at least one polymeric shell substantially surrounding the organic core. The nano-optical voltmeter can detect electric fields in cells. The nano-optical voltmeter allows three-dimensional E field profiling throughout the entire volume of living cells. The nano-optical voltmeter may be calibrated externally and then applied for E field determinations inside any live cell or cellular compartment, with no further calibration steps.

Abstract: An integrated circuit current sensor includes a lead frame having at least two leads coupled to provide a current conductor portion, and a substrate having a first surface in which is disposed one or more magnetic field sensing elements, with the first surface being proximate to the current conductor portion and a second surface distal from the current conductor position. In one particular embodiment, the substrate is disposed having the first surface of the substrate above the current conductor portion and the second surface of the substrate above the first surface. In this particular embodiment, the substrate is oriented upside-down in the integrated circuit in a flip-chap arrangement. The current sensor can also include an electromagnetic shield disposed between the current conductor portion and the magnetic field sensing elements.

Abstract: An approach is provided for digital triggering a recording of one or more digitized signals on a digital oscilloscope by means of carrying out a level comparison for determining a triggering instant in each case between two successive sample values of a reference signal and a threshold values. According to the approach, at least one additional sample value of the reference signal is determined between two sequential samples of the reference signals by means of interpolation.

Abstract: A handler for handling semiconductor chips during a testing process includes a loading position at which packaged chips are loaded into a test tray, and an unloading position at which the packaged chips are unloaded from the test tray. The test tray follows a path through the handler from the loading position to the unloading position, and from the unloading position to the loading position. By separately performing the loading and unloading operations at these different positions within the handler, malfunctions in loading and unloading pickers that load and unload the chips may be reduced. Further, a malfunction in one picker performing one operation may be prevented from influencing operations of the other picker performing another operation. Additionally, collision between the loading picker and the unloading picker may be prevented.

Abstract: A manipulator for positioning a test head is provided with a positioning means by which the test head is three-dimensionally positionable and with a cradle to which the test head is securable and which is connected to the positioning means. The manipulator includes a compensator which can be loaded by the mass of the test head. The positioning means includes a column and at least one lead screw extending in the vertical direction. The compensator is connected to the cradle and can be moved by the lead screw in the vertical direction. The compensator includes a driver cooperating with the lead screw and is guided in the vertical direction on the column. The compensator has a spring element which is biased and supported by the driver.

Abstract: A system for testing a microcircuit having a center ground (CG) terminal has an insert for electrically connecting the CG terminal with a ground contact on a load board. The insert is held within a housing having an aperture that includes at least one shelf facing toward the load board. The shelf interacts with a resilient projection on the insert to distort the projection. The projection's resilient distortion generates continual force pressing the insert against the load board. The continual force limits migration of debris created by the testing operations into the interface between the insert and the load board.

Abstract: The density of a multipolar magnet in this type of magnetic encoder, in particular, a multipolar magnet composed of a sintered compact, is made uniform. Samarium-iron based magnetic powder is used as magnetic powder, tin powder is used as non-magnetic metal powder, and a compressed molded body 114 is obtained by compression molding of a mixed powder of 20 to 90 wt % of samarium-iron based magnetic powder and 10 to 80 wt % of tin powder. The compressed molded body 114 is sintered at a temperature less than the melting point of the tin powder serving as the non-magnetic metal powder, so that the sintered compact is formed which serves as the multipolar magnet of the magnetic encoder 10.

Abstract: Device for measuring the separation, between any vehicle of a number of vehicles and the preceding vehicle along a stretch and for a direction, includes a reference conductor and a measuring conductor, along the stretch, the latter including a number of serial separate sections. Each section is electrically-connected to the previous section, via a diode. A constant current generator is provided in each vehicle, whose contacts are each connected to a section of the measuring conductor, corresponding to the position of the vehicle and to the reference conductor, via first and second moving contacts. Each second electric contact is connected to a segment, following the section, lying behind the first electrical contact, the direction of travel, via a corresponding third moving electrical contact. The contacts of the constant current generator form an output, which provides a voltage signal correlated to the distance between the relevant vehicle and the previous vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor system (1) having a sensor magnet (2) and a magnetosensitive sensor (3) associated therewith, a sensed object (5) being located and movable near the magnetosensitive sensor (3), and according to the invention an additional magnet (4) is spaced from the sensor magnet (2) and the sensed object is movably positioned between the two magnets (2 and 4).

Abstract: A left-side ring magnet and a right-side ring magnet are fastened to a roller-shaped operation part, circumferentially displaced from each other by a certain angle. Magnetic variation generated by rotation of the magnets is detected by a magnetism detection element. Additionally, a left-side stationary magnet and a right-side stationary magnet, with the same magnetic pole, are annexed correspondingly to the left-side ring magnet and the right-side ring magnet, respectively, so that the stationary magnets are arranged with the same proximal arrangement relative to the ring magnets, respectively. With such a structure, two attractive and repulsive forces between the left-side ring magnet and the left-side stationary magnet; and between the right-side ring magnet and the right-side stationary magnet are totally exerted on the operation part, thereby providing a sharp, clear click touch during rotation.

Abstract: A sensor device for detecting a relative movement including a transmitter unit configured to generate a field. The transmitter unit includes first transmitter elements and second transmitter elements, wherein the first transmitter elements and the second transmitter elements, configured to generate a spatially varying field, are arranged alternately one behind another along a line at predetermined positions, and at a reference position, which corresponds to at least one of the predetermined positions of a first or second transmitter element along the line, at least one value of the field is altered by a positive factor with respect to a corresponding other position of a first or second transmitter element. Furthermore, a pick-up unit is configured to generate an alternating output signal depending on the field generated by the first and second transmitter elements, wherein the transmitter unit and the pick-up unit can be moved relative to one another.

Abstract: Using eddy currents to inspect a hole that is possibly not rectilinear and/or of section that is not circular. The inspection device comprises a stick shaped and dimensioned to be capable of being engaged in said hole, at least one arm hinged to a support fastened to one end of the stick, an eddy current sensor being embedded in said arm, and resilient means for urging the arm outwards against the inside surface of the hole.

Abstract: The invention relates to the identification of points of interest in a region of the surface of a part, by bringing a surface reference into intimate contact with said region, said surface reference consisting of a thin film sufficiently flexible to conform to the region, the thin film supporting tracks made of electrically conductive material, the passage of an eddy current probe over a track delivering a significant signal representative of the track, this representative signal corresponding to a point of interest thus identified in said region. The invention makes it possible in particular to optimize the path and the angular position of an eddy current probe scanning a region of a part to be tested.

Abstract: The invention concerns an arrangement for magnetic field measurement of a measurement object (in particular a gradient coil in a magnetic resonance apparatus) with a magnetic field sensor that is designed to measure a magnetic field of the measurement object and with a measurement mechanism on which the magnetic field sensor is arranged at a first position. The measurement object has detectable reference points that can be used for calibration of a spatial position of a position sensor. The calibrated position sensor is arranged at a second position of the measurement mechanism, such that, with the first position and the second position, a spatial position relative to the measurement object can be associated with each magnetic field strength that is measured by the magnetic field sensor.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) phantom for 1H/19F signal detection that permits the stable and uniform dispersion of a vesicle and to accomplish the adjustment of a measurement parameter for a 1H/19F signal and performance confirmation by use of the phantom. The present invention provides an MRI phantom having a gel comprising a vesicle comprising at least one of a perfluorocarbon and a superparamagnetic iron oxide particle and an MRI system having the phantom.

Abstract: An RF coil assembly includes a plurality of RF source coils and an RF target coil separate from the plurality of RF source coils. A computer is programmed to acquire MR data of an imaging object from each of the plurality of RF source coils and to acquire MR data of the imaging object from the RF target coil. The computer is further programmed to calculate a set of weights based on a relationship between MR data acquired from each RF source coil and MR data acquired from the RF target coil and to reconstruct an image based on an application of the set of weights to at least a portion of the MR data acquired from each of the plurality of RF source coils.

Abstract: A method includes collecting data for average units including acquisition of template data and acquisition of imaging data, calculating a frequency difference between a resonant frequency in a reference average unit and a resonant frequency of an object average unit based on a phase variation of the magnetic field in a period where the template data is collected in the reference average unit and a phase variation of the magnetic resonance signal in a period where the template data is collected in the object average unit, correcting a phase shift produced in image data collected in the object average unit constituted by one or more average units based on the frequency difference, and reconstructing an image concerning the subject based on the imaging data collected in the reference average unit and the corrected imaging data concerning the object average unit constituted by one or more average units.

Abstract: Provided is an RF coil which can highly efficiently and uniformly irradiate a RF magnetic field having two or more magnetic resonance frequencies close to each other, and receive magnetic resonance signals of two or more magnetic resonance frequencies close to each other with high sensitivity and uniform sensitivity profile in an MRI apparatus. Two or more frequencies to which the coil is tuned are adjusted so as to be between resonance frequencies of series resonant circuits constituting the RF coil.

Abstract: An arrangement to control an antenna arrangement in a magnetic resonance examination representatively has a device for signal splitting. This device has an input and a first input and a second output. A radio-frequency transmission signal is supplied at the input. The device for signal splitting has phase-shaping components with which the transmission signal supplied via the input is divided into a first transmission signal for the first output and a second transmission signal for the second output. A phase difference between the first transmission signal and the second transmission signal can be adjusted by the phase-shaping components. An antenna arrangement is provided that has a first and second connections and that is fashioned to radiate a circularly-polarized transmission signal as soon as the two transmission signals with a phase difference of 90° are present at both connections. Each output of the device for signal splitting is connected with an associated connection of the antenna arrangement.

Abstract: An NMR probe permits measurements to be made with its inner coil without replacing the probe. The NMR probe has three coils disposed to surround a sample tube. An inner coil can resonate with the HF and LF. An intermediate coil can resonate with the HF and LF, and produces an RF magnetic field perpendicular to the RF field produced by the inner coil. An outermost coil can resonate at least at a lock frequency. The outermost coil produces an RF magnetic field which is perpendicular to the RF field produced by the intermediate coil but which is coincident in direction with the RF field produced by the inner coil.

Abstract: Described are a “Discrete Magic Angle Turning” (DMAT) system, devices, and processes that combine advantages of both magic angle turning (MAT) and magic angle hopping (MAH) suitable, e.g., for in situ magnetic resonance spectroscopy and/or imaging. In an exemplary system, device, and process, samples are rotated in a clockwise direction followed by an anticlockwise direction of exactly the same amount. Rotation proceeds through an angle that is typically greater than about 240 degrees but less than or equal to about 360 degrees at constant speed for a time applicable to the evolution dimension. Back and forth rotation can be synchronized and repeated with a special radio frequency (RF) pulse sequence to produce an isotropic-anisotropic shift 2D correlation spectrum.

Abstract: An implementation of a direction finding and magnetic nulling metal detector is provided. Some embodiments of the present invention provide for a metal detector having multiple resonant circuits and associated coils for transmitting a primary transmit signal, transmitting a magnetic nulling signal, and receiving a receive signal. A controller includes logic to process the generate the transmit signals and to process the received signal in order to determine a gradient vector along one or two dimensions, a depth and whether or not a metal object is ferrous.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus for detecting an interface between first and second materials, each have a different dielectric loss factor, disposed in a stratified manner in a volume of materials having a predetermined depth comprises a length of transmission line having an inner conductor surrounded by a dielectric material and a shielding conductor. The transmission line may be coaxial or planar in form. The transmission line of the sensing apparatus has a predetermined number of sublengths of inner conductor exposed along the length of the transmission line. Adjacent sublengths of exposed inner conductor are separated by shielded sublengths. The exposed sublengths of inner conductor may be bare or surrounded by the dielectric layer. In use, the sensing apparatus having the exposed sublengths of inner conductor is excited by a radio frequency signal at a predetermined amplitude and is inserted into the volume of material.