Variable Impedance Patents (Class 361/188)
  • Patent number: 7161377
    Abstract: The invention relates to bus type connection systems, in particular those for wiring backplanes of electronic systems, when the bus comprises connectors distributed in an irregular manner. It consists in selecting segments (D1, D2) over which the intervals (d1, d2) between the connectors are substantially constant. The structure of all the segments except one is then modified to make the effective impedance of the modified segments coincide with that of the unmodified segment. It produces a bus that is fully matched from end to end and able to operate at a very high frequency with a slight reduction of its propagation constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventor: Sébastien Guillaume
  • Patent number: 6522518
    Abstract: A system and apparatus provide for the packaging of electronic components as well as a monitoring system to periodically check and adjust connections between the various electronic components. A multichip module (MCM) may be employed with an interposer and circuit card interface to comprise an electronic assembly. Each of the components in the assembly includes external electrical contacts which provide for the conduction of electrical signals between the components as well as to remotely located systems. The electronics assembly further includes an actuator assembly which is employed to apply a compressive force to the electronic components in a stacked configuration and to periodically measure the resistance over a feedback circuit to determine that there is still a good electrical connections between the contacts. If the measured resistance is above a predetermined level, the compressive force may be increased to improve the electrical connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Lockhead Martin Corporation
    Inventor: David M. Barnett
  • Patent number: 5889406
    Abstract: The inductance-change detection apparatus comprises an inductance-change converter that converts inductance-change in coils into voltage to output, a reference-voltage generator that generates and outputs a predetermined reference voltage, a frequency characteristic adder that adds a frequency characteristic similar to that of the converted voltage converted by the inductance-change converter to the reference voltage, a reference-voltage compensator that varies and compensates the frequency spectrum of the reference voltage containing the added frequency characteristic, in parallel in the direction of amplitude, corresponding to a parallel variation of the frequency spectrum of the converted voltage in the direction of amplitude, and an inductance-change detector that compares the converted voltage with the compensated reference voltage to detect inductance changes in the coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Yamamoto, Yukio Yasuda
  • Patent number: 5608598
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an effector comprising power contacts for power supply of a receiver. The effector comprises an operating mechanism for the power contacts, this mechanism being actuated by an electromagnet. Between a power circuit for supplying power to the receiver and the return power circuit, there is connected a measuring and processing unit arranged to measure the impedance at the terminals of the power supply circuit of the receiver. This unit is coupled to a contact of the control circuit. The contact is arranged to cut the power supply of the control circuit in the event of a short-circuit of the power supply circuit of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Fran.cedilla.ois Dieppedalle, Alain Frolla
  • Patent number: 5467244
    Abstract: An apparatus for the electromagnetic control of the suspension of an object including an electromagnet including an inductive coil, a source of electric power for the electromagnet which source includes a controllable electric supply device capable of delivering a controlled electric supply to the coil of the electromagnet, a control signal producer for producing an error control signal in response to an incremental change in a parameter related to the position of the object relative to the electromagnet and a negative feedback control loop for feeding an error control signal generated by the control signal producer to the electrical supply device to adjust the electrical supply to the coil so as to stabilise the suspension of the object relative to the electromagnet, wherein the control signal producer includes a detector for detecting the component V.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: British Nuclear Fuels plc
    Inventors: Bhalchandra V. Jayawant, Raymond J. Whorlow
  • Patent number: 4912384
    Abstract: An emergency stop control circuit of a numerically controlled machine tool for controlling emergency stop signals. A relay circuit (1) is provided with input terminals connected to an emergency stop button (22), an overload switch (33), and overtravel switches (34, 35), which are the sources of all emergency stop signals generated by the numerically controlled machine tool. The relay circuit is also provided with output terminals, i.e., contacts (2a, 2b, 2c), connected as necessary to various units including for example, a numerical control apparatus, a servo amplifier, and a spindle amplifier. Accordingly, an emergency stop control circuit requiring only simple connections can be provided. This eliminates the need for a complicated wiring operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Kinoshita, Yoshihiro Nakashima
  • Patent number: 4607154
    Abstract: An electrical heating apparatus protected against an overheating condition and a temperature sensitive electrical sensor for the use therewith are disclosed. The electrical heating apparatus includes an electrical heater for generating heat in proportion to the amount of electricity flowing through it, and it provides essentially all the heat for the apparatus. An electrical sensor is disposed in a thermally responsive relationship to the electrical heater. The electrical sensor includes a coextruded pair of spaced flexible plastic conductors and a coextruded flexible temperature sensitive electrical impedance material having predetermined temperature coefficient impedance characteristics along its entire length. The temperature sensitive material is in electrical contact with the flexible conductors and controls the flow of electricity between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: Fieldcrest Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Edwin R. Mills
  • Patent number: 4475140
    Abstract: A power control relay with a solid state switching device being arranged to control the current to the coil of the relay in a series circuit therewith can be operated safely and reliably in manufacturing environments by control thereof with a floating voltage developed by the secondary of a low voltage transformer with one side of the secondary connected to the gate of the solid state switching device through a diode and the opposite side of the secondary being controlled by a resistive probe circuit, which when grounded, will cause a voltage to be impressed on the gate that will cause the switching device to trigger thereby operating the relay due to the differential impedance developed in the floating voltage circuit arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Inventor: Harry W. Day
  • Patent number: 4401896
    Abstract: An electrically non-conductive separator having a hole formed therethrough is interposed between a pair of switch contacts having a modulus of elasticity. A cover of electrically non-conductive flexible material covers the switch contacts. Electrically conductive leads are electrically connected to, and extend from, the switch contacts. The positions of the switch contacts relative to each other are determined by differences in pressure and control the operation of an electrical circuit electrically connected to the leads to operate a circuit to perform a function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Inventors: Eugene W. Fowler, Raymond W. Fowler
  • Patent number: 4225899
    Abstract: A ground detecting device for a vehicle, craft, or the like, having a storage tank mounted on the vehicle, or the like, equipment for selectively controlling the pumping of fluid into and out of the storage tank, comprises a transformer having first, second and third windings, the third winding being electrically connected to ground. A jack is electrically connected in shunt with the third winding. A prong is electrically connected to the vehicle, craft, or the like, and cooperates with the jack, when inserted therein, to short-circuit the third winding to ground. The short-circuit has a short-circuit impedance resulting in a voltage differential at the second winding. A comparator amplifier has a sensing input electrically connected to the second winding, a reference input, and an output. An astable multivibrator has an output electrically connected to the reference input of the comparator amplifier and to the first winding and supplies a reference input signal thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1980
    Inventor: George Sotiriou