Molex Corporation

Nview Corporation

Par Technologies, LLC

Air Systems International, Inc.

Garth S Jones

Burke J Crane

Kevin L Nelson

James H Vogeley

Stephen Samuel Trani

Joseph D Comerci

Robert W DeRoss

Michael J O'Connell

Joseph C Miller, Jr

Marcel F C Schemman

Kenneth Kosin

James S Love

James K Hollomon, Jr

James Vogeley

Preston B Johnson

A drive circuit () produces a drive signal for a pump () having a piezoelectric actuator (), with the piezoelectric actuator () forming a part of the drive circuit () and serving to shape a waveform of the drive signal. The drive circuit () comprises a pulse generator () which generates pulses; a converter circuit () which receives the pulses and produces charge packets at a rate which equals a desired drive frequency; and, the piezoelectric actuator (). The piezoelectric actuator () receives the charge packets and, by its capacitive nature, integrates the charge packets to shape the waveform of the drive signal. Preferably, the piezoelectric actuator () integrates the charge packets to yield a drive field that approximates a sine wave. In one non-limiting example embodiment, the pulse generator () comprises a microcontroller-based pulsed width modulator (PWM) circuit () and the converter circuit () comprises a flyback circuit.

Piezoelectric devices and methods and circuits for driving same

An automatic switched power receptacle includes an outlet receptacle adapted to receive a plug. A relay is connected between the power receptacle and a source of power to selectively power the receptacle. A plug presence sensor in proximity to the receptacle senses presence of a plug in the receptacle. The plug presence sensor comprises a light source and light sensor, the light source and light sensor being disposed on opposite sides of a path of movement of a plug being inserted in the receptacle. An automatic control circuit is connected between the relay and the plug presence sensor for selectively energizing the relay to power the receptacle incident to the sensor sensing presence of a plug.

Hysteresis in a circuit for sensing presence of a plug

A plug presence sensor comprises an LED and a light sensor in the form of a photo-transistor which senses presence of a plug in a receptacle. The sensor is monitored by a microcontroller to control latching of a relay. The microcontroller de-energizes the relay, so that no power is present at the receptacle, when no plug is inserted. When the plug is inserted, then the microcontroller causes the relay to be energized to provide power to the receptacle. The microcontroller is preprogrammed to communicate with a remote master controller. In the event that a loss of communication occurs between the microcontroller and the master controller, the microcontroller automatically de-energizes the relay so that no power is present at the receptacle. A communication error output signal is connected to an override circuit including a capacitor which differentiates an edge of the communication error signal to inject a pulse onto the plug presence sensor signal which simulates removal and reinsertion of the plug. As such, the override circuit fools the microcontroller into thinking that a plug was removed and then inserted so that the relay remains energized to power the outlet receptacle.

Circuit for overriding the cripple mode so that the relay remains latched

A switched receptacle includes a latching relay selectively providing power to an outlet receptacle. A drive circuit for the latching relay provides indirect feedback to a logic controller which follows or tracks each relay operation to ensure that the relay is in the commanded mode.

Feedback of relay status

A control circuit synchronizes operation of a latching relay to extend contact life. The relay is switched using an H-bridge drive circuit. The synchronization is done using a two-step delay. The first delay is provided by a phase shifter, which delays the timing signals used by a logic controller relative to a zero crossing. The second delay is provided by an adjustable timer circuit including a potentiometer. The two delays are used so that the latching relay is tripped at a selectable time coinciding with the second zero crossing after a switching command is received.

Method and circuit for synchronization of relay operation

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for mixing internally generated or stored video with an external video and driving an LCD display device. External video is clocked into a dual port external frame store. Internal video is either internally generated or read from an internal mass store device and stored in an internal frame store and in a preferred embodiment, the internal video data includes an embedded code which serves to select on a pixel by pixel basis the appropriate frame store signal, either external or internal for display on the LCD panel. By adjusting the start number on row and column counters for reading out data from the external frame store, panning of an external video image can be accomplished. By repeating the readout of the external frame store selectively, a 'zoom' of the image can be provided to an LCD display device. By reversing either the direction in which the external video is stored in the frame store or the direction in which columns of information are read out, the displayed image can be reversed permitting rear projection of an accurate image.

Method and apparatus for merging independently generated internal video

An electrical connector assembly includes a pair of spaced receptacle modules mounted to a first printed circuit board which is electrically coupled to a second printed circuit board spaced from and generally parallel to the first printed circuit board. A conductive ground plate is electrically coupled between the printed circuit boards and mechanically supports the circuit boards in their spaced generally parallel relationship. The ground plate is disposed perpendicular to the first and second printed circuit boards forming two separate compartments between the first and second printed circuit boards to provide electromagnetic interference isolation between the compartments. An electrical component such as transformer may be mounted on one side of the ground plate between the spaced generally parallel printed circuit boards, and the ground plate provides a heat sink for the transformer. A third printed circuit board may be mounted on the side of the ground plate opposite the transformer and electrically coupled to the transformer through the ground plate.

Electrical connector assembly with printed circuit board layout

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for converting interlaced input video to a sequential output compatible with sequential input display devices. The video input is digitized and decoded so as to provide separate luminance or chrominance information for each pixel to a line buffer memory. A line derived frequency reference from the input video serves to reference a pixel clock which clocks pixel information into the memory and clocks pixel information out of the memory at twice the pixel clock rate. The decoder also digitizes the luminance/chrominance information prior to storage in the memory and, as this information is read out of the memory, it is converted back into analog data by a suitable D-A converter and then is converted into appropriate format to provide red, green and blue video output information for operating sequential input devices.

Method and apparatus for deinterlacing video inputs

A negative pressure filtration device is used in conjunction with a containment enclosure for the removal of hazardous material such as asbestos insulation surrounding pipes in habitable buildings. The inventive negative pressure filtration device generates a negative pressure within the containment enclosure, which negative pressure is quantitatively adjustable and capable of being continuously monitored by the user. Advantageously, the negative pressure filtration device is small, lightweight, portable, battery-operated and reliable, for use in a wide variety of hazardous material removal scenarios. The portability and versatility of the negative pressure filtration device is achieved through the use of operational vacuum pressures and air flow volumes much smaller than those of known systems.

Growing community of inventors

Virginia Beach, VA, United States of America

Garth S Jones