Siemens Milltronics Process Instruments, Inc.

Magna International Inc.

Nigel Ashley Preston

Jamie A MacDonald

Robert William Gray

Jamie A Macdonald

A novel and advantageous power supply is disclosed for lighting systems employing semiconductor light sources where the semiconductor light sources are connected in series. The power supply includes a constant current source to supply current to the semiconductor light sources and a bypass switch is provided around each semiconductor light source, or each sub-string of series connected semiconductor light sources. By opening or closing respective bypass switches, individual semiconductor light sources or sub-strings of semiconductor light sources can be illuminated or extinguished as desired. If the bypass switches are electrically controllable, such as semiconductor switches or relays, failures of one or more semiconductor light sources can be determined by the power supply and failed light sources can be bypassed and/or redundant semiconductor elements illuminated to replace failed light sources. Further, if the bypass switches are semiconductor switches, the power supply can employ pulse width modulation techniques to dim one or more semiconductor light sources as desired.

Series connected power supply for semiconductor-based vehicle lighting systems

A method and system for high-pass filtering to remove DC and/or low frequency components of a receive signal from the transducer of a level measurement system. In one embodiment, the method includes generating a maximum signal profile and a minimum signal profile for the receive signal, generating a midpoint reference signal from the maximum and minimum signal profiles and subtracting the midpoint reference signal from the receive signal to produce a filtered signal.

Method for high-pass filtering for echo processing in time of flight ranging systems

A method and system for echo processing a receive signal using autocorrelation. A receive signal is sampled, digitized and high-pass filtered. A correlation signal is created by adding the filtered signal to a copy of the filtered signal shifted by a time unit. A set of correlation signals is created by repeating the process for a range of time units corresponding to a set of sequential sample points. Each correlation signal has a correlation indicator evidencing the strength of the correlation. The correlation signal having the highest correlation strength is identified, and the time shift used to create it is identified as the time of flight of the echo pulse. The echo distance is then calculated based upon the time of flight and the speed of propagation of the echo in the environment. The correlation indicator may the maximum peak value of the correlation signal.

Method for determining echo distance using autocorrelation in time of flight ranging systems

An intrinsically safe portable programmer for communicating with the electronic process control equipment over a wireless communication link. The portable programmer comprises a microprocessor controlled electronic circuit housed in an enclosure formed from a polymers polystyrene having a low surface resistivity. The electronic circuit is mounted inside the enclosure with a low voltage battery supply and encased in epoxy to prevent sparking. The electronic circuit includes an infrared transmitter and a keypad. In response to keypad inputs, the electronic circuit generates control signals which are transmitted to the electronic process control equipment via the infrared transmitter.

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Peterborough, Canada

Nigel Ashley Preston