65results about How to "Closing operation" patented technology

The present invention relates to the field of photovoltaic systems with solar cell (s) or modules having insolation differences or mismatch. Each solar module is formed by placing a large number of solar cells in series. The PV system is then formed by placing a number of solar modules in series in a string and sometimes by placing multiple strings of series-connected solar modules in parallel, depending on the desired output voltage and power range of the PV system. In practical cases, differences will exist between output powers of the solar cells in the various modules, e.g. due to (part of) the modules being temporarily shaded, pollution on one or more solar cells, or even spread in solar-cell behaviour that may become worse during aging. Due to the current-source-type behaviour of solar cells and their series connection these differences will lead to a relatively large drop in output power coming from the PV system. This invention addresses this problem by adding DC-DC converters (803) on a single or multiple solar-cell level that source or sink difference currents thereby increasing the output power of the complete PV system. In embodiments, the efficiency of photovoltaic systems with solar cell (s) or modules is improved by compensating for output-power loss caused by insolation difference and mismatch.

An adjustable security device is configured for engaging and securing items of merchandise having various widths and thicknesses. The security device includes an adjustment mechanism that manipulates in a lateral direction a pair of opposed arms having retaining members for engaging the opposed sides and top of the item. The retaining members are operable to simultaneously engage and secure the item against removal from the security device in the lateral direction as well as a vertical direction, while at the same time permitting a potential purchaser to examine and operate a demonstration model of the item. Each of the retaining members may be pivotally mounted or slidably mounted to one of the opposed arms and at least one of the opposed arms is configured for extending and retracting movement relative to the base in the lateral direction. The security device may further include a lock for locking the opposed arms in a desired lateral position.

A transponder that may be used as an RFID tag includes a passive circuit to eliminate the need for an “always on” active RF receiving element to anticipate a wake-up signal for the balance of the transponder electronics. This solution allows the entire active transponder to have all circuit elements in a sleep (standby) state, thus drastically extending battery life or other charge storage device life. Also, a wake-up solution that reduces total energy consumption of an active transponder system by allowing all non-addressed transponders to remain in a sleep (standby) state, thereby reducing total system or collection energy. Also, the transponder and wake-up solution are employed in an asset tracking system.

A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber with a piston and a spark plug, when transitioning between spark ignition combustion and autoignition combustion, creating a first mixture of air and fuel, adjusting an operating condition of the engine so that said first mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber approaches, but does not achieve, the autoignition temperature, and performing a spark from the spark plug so that at least a portion of said first mixture combusts to raise a remaining portion of said first mixture to said autoignition temperature.

A power amplifier controller for adjusting a supply voltage to a power amplifier. The power amplifier controller adjusts the supply voltage so that distortion in an RF output signal corresponds to a predetermined limit. An amplitude error signal is generated by the power amplifier controller which represents a difference between an RF output signal and an attenuated RF output signal. The AC components of the amplitude error signal are processed to generate a deviation signal that represents the distortion in the RF output signal. The supply voltage to the power amplifier is increased when the deviation signal exceeds a distortion level control signal, and decreased when the deviation signal drops below the distortion level control signal.

In a method, computer program and system for determining an operational limit of a power transmission line, time-stamped current phasor information and voltage phasor information for a first end and a second end of the line are determined, an ohmic resistance of the line is computed from the phasor information, and an average line temperature is computed from the ohmic resistance. This allows to determine the average line temperature without dedicated temperature sensors. The average line temperature represents the actual average temperature and is largely independent of assumptions regarding line parameters.

In a method, computer program and system for determining an operational limit of a power transmission line, time-stamped current phasor information and voltage phasor information for a first end and a second end of the line are determined, an ohmic resistance of the line is computed from the phasor information, and an average line temperature is computed from the ohmic resistance. This allows to determine the average line temperature without dedicated temperature sensors. The average line temperature represents the actual average temperature and is largely independent of assumptions regarding line parameters.

A sensor assembly for monitoring physical parameters in a given environment, such as in a tire or wheel assembly, includes an improved interface between sensor components. The sensor assembly includes a piezoelectric substrate on which resonator elements, such as surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators are provided. The resonators are configured to produce electrical output at predetermined resonator frequency ranges that can be monitored to determined such information as pressure and temperature to which such devices are subjected. A projection is formed on a surface of the piezoelectric substrate, which selectively interfaces with a recessed surface area in a flexible lid casing component. The lid casing component and a rigid base casing component combine to form an enclosed package for the sensor assembly. An antenna may be coupled to the sensor assembly to facilitate receipt and / or transmission of communicated signals.

A motor vehicle door lock comprising a locking mechanism (1, 2) and a closing / opening device (7 to 16) with at least one drive (7 to 11 and 13, 14), at least one transfer element (12, 15) and a driving pawl (16), in which the drive acts on the driving pawl with the assistance of the transfer element to open and close the locking mechanism, wherein a mechanical and / or electrical opening drive (7 to 11) and a mechanical and / or electrical closing drive (13, 14) each with a respective opening transfer lever (12) and closing transfer lever (15) are provided, in which the opening drive (7 to 11) including the opening transfer lever (12) in addition to the opening function for the locking mechanism (1, 2) is also designed to interrupt a closing function initiated by the closing drive (13, 14) in connection with the closing transfer lever (15).

A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber with a piston and a spark plug, when transitioning between spark ignition combustion and autoignition combustion, creating a first mixture of air and fuel, adjusting an operating condition of the engine so that said first mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber approaches, but does not achieve, the autoignition temperature, and performing a spark from the spark plug so that at least a portion of said first mixture combusts to raise a remaining portion of said first mixture to said autoignition temperature.

A shutter opening / closing control device is proposed which can reduce an operation noise of the shutter without increasing the manufacturing cost. The shutter opening / closing control device includes a grille shutter for opening and closing a grille opening which introduces the outside air into the engine compartment, a shutter opening and closing operating portion having a drive source for operating the shutter to be open or to be closed, a closing operation judging portion for judging whether or not the grille shutter is operated in a closing direction based on the vehicle information and a drive source torque controlling portion for controlling the drive source of the shutter opening and closing operating portion to operate the shutter by a low torque when the grille shutter is operated in a closing direction under the engine being stopped. The low torque is lower than a high torque by which the drive source operates the grille shutter in an opening direction.

Provision is made of a semiconductor radiation source having a base body on which at least two LED chips are mounted, at least one chip of which is connected to a series resistor which can be adjusted. The LED chips (12, 14) are fitted to the base body (24) using a thermally conductive connection and at least one printed circuit board (30) which bears the series resistor (40, 42) is also mounted on the base body (24).

A power amplifier controller for adjusting a supply voltage to a power amplifier. The power amplifier controller adjusts the supply voltage so that distortion in an RF output signal corresponds to a predetermined limit. An amplitude error signal is generated by the power amplifier controller which represents a difference between an RF output signal and an attenuated RF output signal. The AC components of the amplitude error signal are processed to generate a deviation signal that represents the distortion in the RF output signal. The supply voltage to the power amplifier is increased when the deviation signal exceeds a distortion level control signal, and decreased when the deviation signal drops below the distortion level control signal.

A computer-implemented method of determining the pitch stability of an airfoil system, comprising using a computer to numerically integrate a differential equation of motion that includes terms describing PID controller action. In one model, the differential equation characterizes the time-dependent response of the airfoil's pitch angle, α. The computer model calculates limit-cycles of the model, which represent the stability boundaries of the airfoil system. Once the stability boundary is known, feedback control can be implemented, by using, for example, a PID controller to control a feedback actuator. The method allows the PID controller gain constants, KI, Kp, and Kd, to be optimized. This permits operation closer to the stability boundaries, while preventing the physical apparatus from unintentionally crossing the stability boundaries. Operating closer to the stability boundaries permits greater power efficiencies to be extracted from the airfoil system.

An apparatus for manufacturing chains of linked food products such as sausages with twisted portions and having a plurality of stuffing tubes, includes a plurality of stuffing tubes 2 provided at equal intervals about a rotational axis Xo; a stuffing tube moving body 4 which rotates through predetermined angles about the rotational axis Xo so that the respective stuffing tubes 2 sequentially move to a filling position III; and a stuffed casing conveying means 50 which conveys in a suspended state a stuffed casing C formed by the stuffing tube 2 positioned at the filling position III.

The separable bottom end stop assembly has male and female members engageable with and releasable from each other in a front-to-back direction thereof. A slide plate of the male member has an engagement leg portion projected therefrom, while a sliding plate of the female member has an engagement hole. Sliding surfaces are respectively formed at peripheries of the engagement leg portion and the engagement hole of the slide plates. Each of the slide surfaces is formed with steep incline surfaces and a gentle incline surface. With the cam mechanism, when the male member and the female member are pressed from both surfaces thereof, an insert plate disposed at one of the male member and the female member is automatically guided to an inside of the slider held by a holding portion disposed at the other of the male member and the female member, which simultaneously causes the slider to start moving.

A method for controlling differences in exhaust gas residual amount for a two cylinder bank engine having at least one turbocharger is presented. In one example, the description includes a method for adjusting valve timing to reduce cylinder exhaust gas residual variation.

A method of controlling a series-resonant, half-bridge inverter includes turning off the bottom switch and turning on the top switch the inverter when the current through the resonant inductor crosses the zero axis while the current is increasing, thereby insuring zero voltage switching of the inverter switches and increases the overall switching period so that the actual inverter frequency is closer to the resonant frequency of the series-resonant circuit. Using an on-time control circuit, the method further includes controlling the current delivered to the load (such as a gas discharge lamp) by varying the on-time of the top inverter switch.

Provision is made of a semiconductor radiation source having a base body on which at least two LED chips are mounted, at least one chip of which is connected to a series resistor which can be adjusted. The LED chips (12, 14) are fitted to the base body (24) using a thermally conductive connection and at least one printed circuit board (30) which bears the series resistor (40, 42) is also mounted on the base body (24).

The present invention relates to a beacon light (100) for aviation obstacle warning comprising an elongated body portion formed into a hollow tube (19), a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) (10) mounted on the outer surface of the hollow tube (19) and electrically connected together to form a substantially cylindrical array of LEDs (10), characterized in that a plurality of grooves (21) are formed axially on the outer surface of the hollow tube for arranging the array of LEDs (10) in a substantially cylindrical and orderly manner, and the hollow tube and the LEDs (10) being encapsulated with sealing composition (11), wherein at least a part of the lens body of the LEDs (10) protrudes out from the surface of the encapsulation to allow the direct emission of light. The LEDs (10) are affixed along an elongate conductor set within the grooves (21) and the surface of the body portion. The beacon light (100) which is very compact, light weight for use high up on communications towers and in an around airports, etc. The clear portion of the LED lens to project the light directly outwards 360 degrees horizontally and with a vertical beam width of 15-35 degrees. This eliminates the need for a dome or covers over the LEDs that cut down effective light output. This construction further improves heat conduction and cooling from direct convection of air. It is particularly good for keeping out moisture from causing deterioration of the electrical and electronic circuits in the light (100) in hot and humid tropical climates and for long term operation of the light (100).

A system for automated audio quality testing, having various endpoint emulators, call engines, audio generator devices, and head and torso simulator devices. The call engine utilizes reference audio samples to simulate customer interactions with a contact center. The endpoint manager utilizes reference audio samples to simulate contact center agents' interactions with customers.

A motor vehicle door lock comprising a locking mechanism (1, 2) and a closing / opening device (7 to 16) with at least one drive (7 to 11 and 13, 14), at least one transfer element (12, 15) and a driving pawl (16), in which the drive acts on the driving pawl with the assistance of the transfer element to open and close the locking mechanism, wherein a mechanical and / or electrical opening drive (7 to 11) and a mechanical and / or electrical closing drive (13, 14) each with a respective opening transfer lever (12) and closing transfer lever (15) are provided, in which the opening drive (7 to 11) including the opening transfer lever (12) in addition to the opening function for the locking mechanism (1, 2) is also designed to interrupt a closing function initiated by the closing drive (13, 14) in connection with the closing transfer lever (15).

A PGIA for use in measurement devices (e.g., data acquisition device) including a composite amplifier for level shifting and improved signal-to-noise ratio. The composite amplifier may level shift from a constant common mode voltage to a lower common mode voltage with a large voltage swing. The large output signal swing of the PGIA may allow excellent signal-to-noise ratio. Additionally, input op-amps of the PGIA may be bootstrapped so that their supply rails move according to an input signal of the PGIA. The PGIA may also include protection circuitry to protect components from damage, e.g., due to over-current conditions, and to keep all op-amps in proper closed loop operation. Furthermore, the PGIA may include DA compensation circuitry to cancel some dielectric absorptions effects and improve a step response of the PGIA and CMRR enhancement circuitry to increase symmetry at inputs of the PGIA and improve a CMRR associated with the PGIA.

An apparatus for manufacturing chains of linked food products such as sausages with twisted portions and having a plurality of stuffing tubes, includes a plurality of stuffing tubes 2 provided at equal intervals about a rotational axis Xo; a stuffing tube moving body 4 which rotates through predetermined angles about the rotational axis Xo so that the respective stuffing tubes 2 sequentially move to a filling position III; and a stuffed casing conveying means 50 which conveys in a suspended state a stuffed casing C formed by the stuffing tube 2 positioned at the filling position III.

A control device has a CPU for determining an opening time and a conversion time, set in a non-injection period between preceding and present injections, in an interception process every fuel injection, and a control circuit for controlling a converting unit, independent of the operation of the CPU, to convert an analog signal, indicating fuel pressure of an injector, into a converted value at the conversion time. The CPU determines a closing time from the opening time and the converted value in another interception process. The device has a driving circuit for starting the valve opening at the opening time to open the injector and to inject fuel from the opened injector into an engine and starting the valve closing at the closing time to close the injector and to stop the fuel injection when the injected fuel reaches a required quantity.

An integrated circuit 2 is provided with a plurality of pipeline stages 10. These pipeline stages 10 have speculative processing control circuitry 12 which permits speculative processing in downstream pipeline stages and triggers a first error recovery operation (partial pipeline flushing) if such speculative processing is determined to be based upon an error. The pipeline stage 10 further includes speculative error detecting circuitry 14 which generates a prediction nc regarding whether or not the processing circuitry 18 will produce an error. This prediction is used to trigger a second error recovery operation (partial pipeline stall). This second error recovery operation has a lower performance penalty than the first error recovery operation.

For use in a multi-carrier CDMA receiver, a noise reduction circuit for improving a signal-to-noise ratio of a multi-carrier signal corresponding to a predetermined sequence of chips. Each chip has a value of Logic 0 or Logic 1. The noise reduction circuit comprises a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) circuit for receiving the multi-carrier signal and generating frequency-domain component signals. A sampling circuit generates a first sequence of samples of the frequency-domain component signals. A controller identifies samples in the first sample sequence corresponding to Logic 0 chips and identifies samples in the first sample sequence corresponding to Logic 1 chips. A randomizing circuit generates a second sample sequence by shifting positions within the first sample sequence of some of the identified samples corresponding to Logic 0 chips, or by shifting positions within the first sample sequence of some of the identified samples corresponding to Logic 1 chips.

For use in ause in a multi-carrier CDMA receiver, a noise reduction circuit for improving a signal-to-noise ratio of a multi-carrier signal corresponding to a predetermined sequence of chips. Each chip has a value of Logic 0 or Logic 1. The noise reduction circuit comprises a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) circuit for receiving the multi-carrier signal and generating frequency-domain component signals. A sampling circuit generates a first sequence of samples of the frequency-domain component signals. A controller identifies samples in the first sample sequence corresponding to Logic 0 chips and identifies samples in the first sample sequence corresponding to Logic 1 chips. A randomizing circuit generates a second sample sequence by shifting positions within the first sample sequence of some of the identified samples corresponding to Logic 0 chips, or by shifting positions within the first sample sequence of some of the identified samples corresponding to Logic 1 chips.