Abstract: A luminaire with a light pipe assembly and related methods of assembly are provided. According to one aspect, the luminaire may include a housing and lens covering an opening formed in the housing. A light source may be disposed in the housing and configured to emit artificial light in a forward direction toward the lens. The light pipe assembly may span at least a portion of a distance between the lens and the light source, and may be configured to transport ambient light rays present in an environment outside of the housing to a location within the housing isolated from the artificial light.

Abstract: An autopilot actuator includes first and second motors each including a rotatable motor output shaft such that either one or both of the motors can drive an actuator output shaft. An autopilot main unit enclosure is removably mounted to the helicopter proximate to a cyclic control and commonly houses autopilot actuators as well as main autopilot electronics. A cyclic vibration isolator is removably supported by an actuator shaft for co-rotation and coupled to the cyclic control to attenuate a cyclic vibration frequency at the actuator shaft while output rotations of the actuator shaft below a resonant frequency are coupled to the cyclic control. A force limited link includes first and second ends and a variable length between. The force limited link having a relaxed length when less than an unseating force is applied and the variable length changes when an applied force exceeds the unseating force to permit pilot override.

Abstract: A detector detects first information which represents sensing presence or absence of a person in an illuminated space and represents a position of the person in the illuminated space when sensing the presence, and second information representing brightness of the illuminated space. When external light enters the illuminated space, a controller receives both detected results of first information and second information and controls lighting fixtures in a lump so that the second information becomes a prescribed target value when the presence is sensed. When no external light enters the illuminated space, the controller receives a detected result of the first information and individually controls respective lighting fixtures in accordance with the first information regardless of the second information.

Abstract: A vehicle power system including an unregulated alternator; a saturable reactor receiving an output AC voltage from the alternator and generating a reduced AC voltage in response to a bias signal; and an active rectifier rectifying the reduced AC voltage to a DC voltage.

Abstract: A haptic actuator system and a method of making the same include an ultrasonically vibrating motor body. A shaft is coupled to the vibrating motor body, the shaft arranged to rotate in at least one direction in response to the vibrating motor body. At least one unbalanced mass is coupled to and is moveable with the shaft to generate human-detectable vibrations in response to a motion of the shaft.

Abstract: Method and systems for testing an electric motor are provided. A switching circuit coupled to the motor is operated in a first mode causing current to flow through the motor such that the motor is actuated with near zero torque. A magnitude of the current is repeatedly adjusted between first and second values. The current flow through the motor is monitored.

Abstract: An active pilot inceptor system includes a pilot inceptor, a multi-phase motor, and a motor control. The pilot inceptor is configured to receive user input and is operable, in response to the user input, to move to a control position. The multi-phase motor is coupled to the pilot inceptor to selectively supply haptic feedback thereto. The motor control is operable to selectively energize the multi-phase motor in a manner that causes the multi-phase motor to generate torque and supply the haptic feedback to the inceptor, and to selectively energize the multi-phase motor in a manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque.

Abstract: An HVAC actuator configured to function in cold environments by providing a supplemental current component to an HVAC actuator in order to generate supplemental heat to warm the HVAC actuator.

Abstract: An actuator (20) comprises a rotor (22); an electromagnetic circuit (24) configured to produce bidirectional torque on the rotor; and, a rotation limitation assembly (26). The rotor (22) comprises a rotor shaft and plural magnets (80) affixed to the rotor shaft. In an example embodiment the rotation limitation assembly (26) comprises at least one stationary clockwise boundary (40) configured to limit clockwise rotation of the rotor (22); at least one stationary counterclockwise boundary (42) configured to limit counterclockwise rotation of the rotor (22); and a rotor stop arm (50) connected to the rotor and configured to selectively abut the clockwise boundary (40) and the counterclockwise boundary (44) and thereby limit the rotation of the rotor to a predetermined angle about an axis of the rotor shaft.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for generating and varying stiffness, which may be applied to a joint of a robot manipulator. The stiffness generating device of the present invention, comprises: a rotating shaft connected to a driven member; a rotor fixed to the rotating shaft and having arms comprising a magnetic element; a stator disposed to surround the rotor outside the arms and being connected to a drive motor; electromagnets fixed to an inner periphery of the stator and being opposed to each other about the rotating shaft, each having a core and a coil wound around the core; and means for applying current to the coils. One half of the electromagnets has N-poles at their inward ends and the other half of the electromagnets has S-poles at their inward ends. Current regulating means regulates the current being applied to the coils.

Abstract: A detent mechanism includes: a control member to be operated rotationally; a rotary member including a pair of magnetic poles adapted to rotate in conjunction with the control member; a plurality of electromagnets provided along a rotational path of the magnetic poles of the rotary member; and a detent controller that has a detent energization pattern in which a current energization direction and an energization amount are determined for the plurality of electromagnets. The detent controller gives a detent in operation of the control member by applying an electromagnetic force between at least one of the plurality of electromagnets and the rotary member by energization control for the plurality of electromagnets according to the detent energization pattern.

Abstract: A stator position adjustment method and device relating to a motor driving device including a motor case, a rotor and a stator disposed on an outer periphery of the rotor concentrically with the rotor, includes adjusting a position of the stator relative to an axial center of the rotor, wherein: the position of the stator relative to the axial center of the rotor is adjusted in a non-inserted state, in which the stator is housed inside the motor case and the rotor is not inserted in the stator, using an adjustment tool, and the adjustment tool is positioned using a rotor shaft-support portion, that shaft-supports the rotor on the motor case as a reference.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a reverse rotation preventing electronic cam curve generating method of an electronic cam type rotary cutter control which serves to prevent the reverse rotation of a cutter. According to the invention, there is provided an electronic cam curve parameter setting unit 28 for previously calculating a critical cutting length Ljag from which an electronic cam curve passing through a point having an acceleration of 0 and a speed of 0 is obtained by setting a rotor diameter r of a rotary cutter 5, the number of blades M disposed at regular intervals on a rotor, synchronizing speed coefficients ?1 and ?2 for regulating synchronizing speeds in cutting, and synchronizing angles ?1 and ?2, comparing the critical cutting length Ljag with a set cutting length Lset of a processed product set by an operator, and generating an electronic cam curve pattern for preventing a reverse rotation when the set cutting length Lset is greater.

Abstract: An actuator including an electric motor driven by a drive circuit powered by a power source, and a load coupled to the electric motor. The actuator further includes a spring biasing the load to a first position, and a microcontroller coupled to the electric motor to commutate the electric motor. Upon failure of the power source, the spring returns the damper to the first position, and, as the spring returns the load to the first position, the electric motor is spun to generate electricity that is used to power the microcontroller. The microcontroller can govern a speed at which the spring returns the load to the first position. In addition, a potentiometer can be used to indicate when the load approaches the first position so that the microcontroller can slow the speed of return prior to the load reaching the first position.

Abstract: A control device for a DC motor driving a diaphragm pump including a pulse generating integral circuit and a variable voltage setting integral circuit. The variable voltage setting integral circuit sets a pulse-base voltage at a level such that the DC motor is not rotated when no pulse is applied, thereby a high voltage overshoot generated at the rising and the falling point of an electrical pulse is restricted. Discharge of the diaphragm pump is accurately regulated by means of modifying frequency, voltage, and duty ratio of the pulse.

Abstract: The electrically powered actuator includes a capacitor for supplying supplemental electrical power to a motor in response to a loss of power to the motor from a main power source in order to enable the motor to overcome the magnetic resistance of the motor and a frictional resistance of a gear train in order to bias a positioning device into a retracted fail-safe position. The supplemental electrical power supplied to the motor supplements the biasing force of a spring or the like for biasing the positioning device from an extended position into the retracted fail-safe position. The capacitor is connected to the electrical circuit of the motor so as to be charged during normal operation of the motor and for delivering a pulse of reverse polarity power to the motor in response to a loss of power to the motor from the main source of power.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotatable inverter. The rotatable inverter comprises a rotatable inverting means for inverting a DC power source to an AC power source by means of a rotational force, and a transformer which receives the AC power source inverted by the rotatable inverting means and outputs a predetermined higher voltage. The rotatable inverting means comprises a motor generating the rotational force, a commutator driven by the motor and a plurality of brushes which are respectively contacted with the outer surface of the commutator. The commutator comprises a cylindrical body made of an insulating material, and conductive parts which are divided into an even-number by non-conductive parts, respectively, having a desired width. Further, it is preferable that the cooling fan is coupled to the motor along with the commutator.

Abstract: A compact-sized position detecting switch-combined electronic control unit disposed on the main body of an automatic transmission and used for detecting range positions chosen by a driver during a shifting operation. The control unit has a base board on which a plurality of elements are arranged, including a microcomputer containing an automatic transmission control program, and a position detecting switch whose detecting portion is connected to the microcomputer. The base board and the position detecting switch are disposed in a single case. The position detecting switch has a rotor and a plurality of non-contact sensors disposed on the base board. The microcomputer contains a learning control program for calculating and correcting any positional deviation in the rotational angle of the rotor with respect to each sensor on the basis of signals from the sensors corresponding to rotation of the rotor. Some of the elements on the base board are arranged outside the range of rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor is controlled by determining a speed of the motor and a line voltage supplying drivers of the motor. Based upon these determined values and predetermined motor performance data, a maximum PWM on-time is determined for drive signals supplied to windings of the motor. This maximum PWM on-time thereby limits motor torque output to a predetermined maximum. Stopping the motor is performed in sequential phases including a loaded generator phase, an active braking phase and a holding phase. During holding, the amount of energy supplied to the motor is reduced to the point just before slippage such that holding energy is minimized. Upon power failure, the motor is driven toward a spring return home position overcoming static friction that may prevent the spring return mechanism from functioning properly. These techniques are applied to a motor in an actuator.

Abstract: The variable-reluctance servocontrolled linear motor comprises an electromagnet formed by a shell and by a winding around a displacement path, a magnetic portion mobile in the direction of displacement, guided mechanically so as to have a single degree of freedom with respect to the shell, under the effect of the force exerted by the electromagnet. A detector circuit is formed by an inductive or capacitive measurement sensor for the instantaneous value of the air gap and delivers a signal sd representative of the displacement of the mobile magnetic portion. A subtracter circuit receives a displacement control signal e and the signal sd representative of the displacement in order to deliver a displacement error signal .epsilon. for the mobile magnetic portion. A current amplifier circuit receives the error signal .epsilon. and delivers a supply current to the winding. A restoring element for the mobile magnetic portion exerts on the latter a restoring force opposed to the force exerted by the electromagnet.

Abstract: A system for providing modulated air flow control in response to an on-off thermostat having an on-off thermostat, a self-returning, slow moving motor connected to the thermostat for moving in a first direction when the thermostat is on and moving in a second direction when the thermostat is off, a damper motor adapted to drive a damper, and a controller driven by the self-returning, slow moving motor and connected to the damper motor for modulating air flow in response to the on-off thermostat.

Abstract: A drivetrain (48) for an electric passenger vehicle (10) includes a battery (40) for energizing a single-phase A.C. traction motor (18) which drives a ground engaging wheel (12) through a multi-speed transaxle (20). The motor is characterized by an external ferrite permanent magnet rotor (26) drivingly engaging an input shaft (32) of the transaxle. The motor is controlled by an inverter circuit (44) and a control circuit (46) which generates switch command signals to reciprocally actuate power transistors (56 and 62) within the inverter circuit as a function of operator demand, rotor position and rotor speed. The control circuit includes a motor positioning circuit (442) which toggles the motor current when the rotor speed falls below a predetermined level to dither the rotor about a park position for a predetermined period. A pre-start rotor positioner (224) is provided to mechanically lock the rotor in its park position to ensure the availability of a high electrical starting torque.

Abstract: An electronic ratchet for allowing the application of mechanical resistance to an output shaft in one direction while ratcheting in the opposite direction, which comprises, in combination:(a) an electromagnetically controlled friction brake coupled to an output shaft;(b) provision for controlling the application of DC voltage across the electromagnet, regardless of the direction of rotation;(c) a switch for selectively applying such voltage to obtain resistance to clockwise, counter clockwise, or both directions of rotation;(d) an incremental shaft encoder coupled to the output shaft for determining the direction of shaft rotation;(e) a decoder for decoding the direction of shaft rotation; and(f) an armature through which the output shaft is inserted, the shaft and armature being held as a single rotating unit by opposing keys on the output shaft and the keyways being characterized by a degree of free play equal to the sensitivity of the shaft encoder, whereby the direction of shaft revolution can be determin