1. A method of detecting an input signal, comprising the steps of:
a) sampling a plurality N of input signal samples;
b) detecting a coincidence between the N input signal samples and N corresponding samples of a reference signal; and
c) generating a 1-hit output value indicative of the coincidence.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting a coincidence includes detecting an absolute coincidence between all the N input signal samples and all the N corresponding reference signal samples.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of generating a 1-bit output value includes generating a positive value indicative of the absolute coincidence.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein detecting an absolute coincidence includes:
i. providing the N input signal samples to N XOR logic gates,
ii. providing outputs of the N XOR logic gates to an OR logic gate, and
iii. generating from the OR logic gate the 1-bit output value.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of.
d) integrating the 1-bit output value to obtain an integrated result.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein integrating the 1-bit output value includes increasing an integration result by the 1-bit output value when the 1-hit output value is positive, and decreasing the integration result by the 1-bit output value when the 1-bit output value is negative.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:
e) comparing the integration result with a threshold value.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the input signal is a Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) modulated signal transmitted over a power line.
9. An apparatus for detecting an input signal, comprising:
a) a delay line configured to provide a plurality N of input signal samples; and
b) at least one symbol decoder configured to detect a coincidence between the N input signal samples and N corresponding samples of a reference signal, and to generate a 1-bit value indicative of the coincidence.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the symbol decoder is configured to detect the coincidence by providing the N input signal samples to N XOR logic gates, by providing outputs of the N XOR logic gates to an OR logic gate, and by generating from the OR logic gate the 1-bit output value.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the symbol decoder is further configured to integrate the 1-bit output value by increasing an integration result by the 1-bit output value when the 1-bit output value is positive, and by decreasing the integration result by the 1-bit output value when the 1-bit output value is negative.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a symbol detector configured to compare the integration result with a symbol threshold.
13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is configured to be coupled to a power line and wherein the input signal is a Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum modulated signal transmitted over the power line.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claims which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for driving a fastening element into a substrate, comprising placing the fastening element in contact with a device comprising a mechanical-energy storage device for storing mechanical energy; an energy-transfer element that can move between a starting position and a setting position for transferring energy from the mechanical-energy storage device to the fastening element; an energy-transfer mechanism for transferring energy from an energy source to the mechanical-energy storage device, wherein the energy-transfer mechanism comprises a motor, operable in a tensioning direction against a load torque that is exerted by the mechanical-energy storage device on the motor and operable essentially load-free in a restoring direction opposite the tensioning direction; and, a motor control mechanism for controlling the motor, wherein the motor control mechanism can regulate the current intensity received by the motor to a specified desired current intensity, for rotation of the motor in the tensioning direction, and, can regulate the rotational speed of the motor to a specified desired rotational speed, for rotation of the motor in the restoring direction; and,
operating the device, wherein the energy-transfer element moves between a starting position and a setting position and transfers energy from the mechanical-energy storage device to the fastening element, driving the fastening element into the substrate.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the energy source comprises an electrical-energy storage device.
3. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining a desired current intensity according to specified criteria before operating the motor in the tensioning direction.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the specified criteria comprise a charge state andor a temperature of the electrical-energy storage device.
5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the specified criteria comprises an operating period andor an age of the device.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the motor is an electrically commutated motor.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the motor is a brush-less direct-current motor.
8. The method according to claim 1, comprising lowering the rotational speed of the motors while energy is stored in the mechanical-energy storage device.
9. A device for driving a fastening element into a substrate, comprising a mechanical-energy storage device for storing mechanical energy; an energy-transfer element that can move between a starting position and a setting position for transferring energy from the mechanical-energy storage device to the fastening element; an energy-transfer mechanism for transferring energy from an energy source to the mechanical-energy storage device, wherein the energy-transfer mechanism comprises a motor operable in a tensioning direction against a load torque that is exerted by the mechanical-energy storage device on the motor and operable essentially load-free in a restoring direction opposite the tensioning direction; and, a motor control mechanism for controlling the motor, wherein the motor control mechanism regulates the current intensity received by the motor to a specified desired current intensity for rotation of the motor in the tensioning direction, and, regulates the rotational speed of the motor to a specified desired rotational speed for rotation of the motor in the restoring direction.
10. The device according to claim 9, further comprising the energy source.
11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the energy source is formed by an electrical-energy storage device.
12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the motor control mechanism is suitable for determining the specified desired current intensity according to specified criteria.
13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the specified criteria comprise a charge state andor a temperature of the electrical-energy storage device.
14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the specified criteria comprise an operating period andor an age of the device.
15. The device according to claim 9, wherein the motor is an electrically commutated motor andor a brush-less direct-current motor.
16. The device according to claim 10, wherein the motor control mechanism is suitable for determining the specified desired current intensity according to specified criteria.
17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the specified criteria comprise an operating period andor an age of the device.
18. The device according to claim 11, wherein the motor control mechanism is suitable for determining the specified desired current intensity according to specified criteria.
19. The device according to claim 10, wherein the motor is an electrically commutated motor andor a brush-less direct-current motor.
20. The device according to claim 11, wherein the motor is an electrically commutated motor andor a brush-less direct-current motor.