1. A cover for an electrical component, comprising:
a front wall;
at least one side wall that abuts the front wall;
a top wall that abuts the front wall, thereby forming a housing with an interior cavity, wherein the top wall protrudes beyond and overlaps the at least one side wall such that an overlapping portion of said top wall is parallel to the side wall; and
an air passage defined between the overlapping portion and the at least one side wall.
2. The cover of claim 1, further comprising:
means for attaching the cover to the electrical component.
3. The cover of claim 2, wherein the means for attaching comprises a plurality of attachment receptacles.
4. The cover of claim 1, further comprising:
a flexible button area located on the front wall.
5. A cover for an electrical component, comprising:
a front wall;
at least one side wall that abuts the front wall;
a top wall that abuts the front wall, thereby forming a housing with an
interior cavity, wherein the top wall protrudes beyond and overlaps the at least one side wall such that an overlapping portion of said top wall is parallel to the side wall; and
a moisture-resistant barrier material disposed upon an edge of the top wall.
6. A cover for an electrical component, comprising:
a front wall;
at least one side wall that abuts the front wall;
a top wall that abuts the front wall, thereby forming a housing with an interior cavity, wherein the top wall protrudes beyond and overlaps the at least one side wall such that an overlapping portion of said top wall is parallel to the side wall; and
a lower panel portion attached to and extending from the front wall.
7. The cover of claim 6, wherein the lower panel portion defines an aperture.
8. The cover of claim 7, wherein the lower panel portion defines a gap with the appliance to which the cover is attached to permit access to the electrical components.
9. In a combination of an electric appliance component and a protective cover for electric components, the combination comprising:
an upper portion, the upper portion comprising:
a housing defined by a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a front cover, wherein the side walls intersect the top wall and the front wall, and a vent in at least one of the side walls; and
a lower portion, the lower portion comprising:
a panel that is connected to, and defines an aperture with, the upper portion to permit access to the electrical component.
10. The combination of claim 9, further comprising:
a resilient button portion in the upper portion, operable to permit operation of the electric component.
11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the top wall is contoured to accommodate an appliance mounting surface to which the top wall abuts.
12. The combination of claim 10, further comprising:
a first sealing material located along the top wall operable to prevent moisture from entering the housing at the top wall.
13. The combination of claim 12, further comprising:
a plurality of attachment sockets located on the rear surface of the front wall, wherein the sockets interface with corresponding tabs on the electrical component.
14. The combination of claim 13, further comprising:
a second sealing material located along the first side wall operable to prevent moisture from entering the housing at the first side wall; and
a third sealing material located along the second side wall operable to prevent moisture from entering the housing at the second side wall.
15. A protective cover for an electrical component on an appliance, the cover comprising:
an upper portion;
a lower portion adjacent the upper portion;
the upper portion comprising a housing, the housing comprising:
a plurality of walls enclosing an interior portion of the housing and forming a perimeter of the housing, the plurality of walls including a top wall and opposite side walls;
at least one vent in at least one sidewall of the housing, the vent providing an opening through the sidewall to enable moisture to escape from the interior of the housing;
a front wall, the front wall comprising a button portion which may be depressed to contact an actuator of the electrical component; and
a seal positioned along an edge of the perimeter of the housing to impede liquid or moisture-laden air from entering the interior of the housing.
16. The protective cover of claim 15, wherein the vent is a baffle.
17. The protective cover of claim 15, further comprising:
means for attaching the protective cover to the electrical component.
18. The protective cover of claim 17, wherein the attaching means comprises a plurality of attachment receptacles including a female tab recess.
19. The protective cover of claim 15, further comprising:
a panel that is part of the lower portion and defines an aperture located intermediate the upper portion and the lower portion, the aperture providing access to the electrical component through the cover without necessitating removal of the cover from the electrical component.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for equalizing the charge between a first battery and a second battery, the first battery providing a first current to a first winding of a motor and the second battery providing a second current to a second winding of the motor, the motor supplying power to a mechanical device, the method comprising:
a. determining a value of a parameter of the first battery and a value of the parameter of the second battery; and
b. adjusting the first current and the second current to reduce a difference of the value of the parameter of the first battery from the value of the parameter of the second battery.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the parameter is an open circuit voltage.
3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:
c. limiting the performance of the mechanical device so that at least one of the first battery and the second battery can power the device.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the mechanical device is a balancing transporter and the performance includes the speed of the transporter.
5. A device for reducing a charge difference between a first battery and a second battery, the first battery providing a first current to a first winding of a motor and the second battery providing a second current to a second winding of a motor, a first amplifier controlling the first current and a second amplifier controlling the second current, the device comprising a processor including:
a. a comparator that receives measurements of a value of a parameter of the first battery and a value of the parameter of the second battery; and
b. logic that controls the first amplifier and the second amplifier such that the difference between the value of the parameter of the first battery and the value of the parameter of the second battery is reduced.
6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the parameter is an open circuit voltage.
7. A method for maximizing the speed limit for a balancing transporter, the speed limit set to maintain balance, the method comprising:
a. providing a transporter including:
(i) a platform which supports a payload including the user,
(ii) a ground-contacting module, mounted to the platform, including at least one ground-contacting member, characterized by a ground contact region and a fore-aft plane, and
(iii) a motorized drive arrangement, coupled to the ground-contacting module, the drive arrangement, ground-contacting module and payload constituting a system being unstable with respect to tipping in at least the fore-aft plane when the motorized drive is not powered, the arrangement powered by a first battery and a second battery, the first battery providing a first current to a first winding of a motor and the second battery providing a second current to a second winding of the motor, the motor powering the arrangement;
b. causing the drive arrangement to operate the ground-contacting module using a control loop in which the drive arrangement is included, for dynamically maintaining stability of the system in the fore-aft plane by operation of the drive arrangement;
c. limiting the speed of the transporter so that at least one of the first battery and the second battery can accelerate the transporter; and
d. equalizing the charge across the first battery and the second battery.
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein equalizing the charge includes:
a. determining a value of a parameter of the first battery and a value of the parameter of the second battery; and
b. adjusting the first current and the second current to reduce a difference of the value of the parameter of the first battery from the value of the parameter of the second battery.
9. A transporter for carrying a payload including a user, the transporter comprising:
a. a platform which supports a payload including the user;
b. a ground-contacting module, mounted to the platform, including at least one ground-contacting member, characterized by a ground contact region and a fore-aft plane;
c. a motorized drive arrangement, coupled to the ground-contacting module, the drive arrangement, ground-contacting module and payload constituting a system being unstable with respect to tipping in at least the fore-aft plane when the motorized drive is not powered, the arrangement powered by a first battery and a second battery, the first battery providing a first current to a first winding of a motor and the second battery providing a second current to a second winding of the motor, the motor powering the arrangement; and
d. a controller including:
(i) a control loop in which the drive arrangement is included, for dynamically maintaining stability of the system in the fore-aft plane by operation of the drive arrangement so that the net torque experienced by the system about the region of contact with the surface causes a specified acceleration of the system,
(ii) a comparator that receives measurements of a value of a parameter of the first battery and a value of the parameter of the second battery, and
(iii) logic for limiting the speed of the transporter so that at least one of the first battery and the second battery can accelerate the transporter; and
(iv) logic for equalizing the charge across the first battery and the second battery.