1. A control device for a polyphase synchronous machine, the synchronous machine having a field coil, a rotor and polyphase windings, the control device comprising:
(a) a machine frequency detection sensor that detects machine frequency, the detection sensor set to 90\xb0 advanced electrically with respect to the rotor of the synchronous machine; and
(b) a control circuit including:
(i) a machine frequency detection circuit coupled to the machine frequency detection sensor and configured to generate pulses corresponding to the detected machine frequency;
(ii) a commutation driver circuit coupled to the machine frequency detection circuit and having a high-side output coupled to the windings and a low-side output coupled to the windings, the commutation driver circuit selectively and alternately controlling the high-side and low-side outputs to control commutation of the synchronous machine.
(iii) a time delay circuit coupled to the machine frequency detection sensor, the machine frequency detection circuit and the commutation driver circuit, the time delay circuit providing a control output to the commutation driver circuit based upon an adjustable setpoint compared to a speed of the machine as measured by the machine frequency detection circuit.
2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit further includes:
(iv) a stator current control circuit, the stator current control circuit selectively overriding control of the commutation driver circuit to at least the high-side output.
3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the stator current control circuit uses pulse width modulation (PWM) to selectively override the control of the high-side output.
4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit further includes:
(iv) a field coil voltage control circuit, the field coil voltage control circuit selectively modulating the voltage to the field coil to control back electromagnetic field (EMF).
5. The control device according to claim 4, wherein the field coil voltage control circuit uses pulse width modulation (PWM) to selectively modulate the voltage to the field coil.
6. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to control phase angle or torque with a linear voltage independently of frequency while simultaneously, by way of superposition, controlling torque with pulse width modulation (PWM) of stator current.
7. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the machine frequency detection circuit generates the commutation output when the synchronous machine is advanced and ceases the commutation output when the synchronous machine is lagging by a predetermined amount of phase.
8. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to control field weakening directly as a function of frequency to increase speed by reduction of back electromagnetic field (EMF).
9. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit further includes a setpoint amplifier having inverting and non-inverting inputs, a voltage representative of the speed of the machine as measured by the machine frequency detection circuit being applied to the inverting input of the setpoint amplifier as feedback.
10. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the machine frequency detection circuit is configured to determine when the phase of the stator flux vector of the machine is delayed beyond an in-phase condition of rotor position by a predetermined amount.
11. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the time delay circuit controls the phase of commutation from an advanced condition to an in-phase condition in an analog manner.
12. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to automatically switch control of the machine from motor control to generator control when the machine frequency detection circuit detects a predetermined amount of delay beyond an in-phase condition of the machine.
13. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is at least partially implemented in a microprocessor.
14. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit further includes a one time false pulse circuit that provides a one-shot output when the machine is being started up from a zero-speed condition or when the control circuit has not been reset since commutation control has ceased.
15. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit further includes:
(iv) a power transistor-driver bridge having two high-side and two low-side power transistors for each phase of the polyphase synchronous machine, the two high-side power transistors being electrically connected in parallel between the windings and a power source and the two low-side power transistors being electrically connected in parallel between the windings and ground, the high-side outputs of the commutation driver circuit activating and deactivating the two high-side power transistors and the low-side outputs of the commutation driver circuit alternately, with respect to the high-side power transistors, activating and deactivating the two low-side power transistors.
16. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit further includes:
(iv) a phase detection circuit that detects when the machine is lagging and leading with respect to electrical phase angle, the phase detection circuit generating a commutation output when the machine is leading, the commutation output being coupled to the commutation driver circuit to allow commutation.
17. The control device according to claim 16, wherein the control circuit further includes:
(iv) a phase detection circuit that detects when the machine is lagging and leading with respect to electrical phase angle, the machine frequency detection circuit ceasing the commutation output when the machine is lagging.
18. The control device according to claim 15, wherein low-side inputs of the commutation driver circuit, when on, deactivate high-side inputs of the commutation driver circuit and the low-side inputs of the commutation driver circuit, when off activate the high-side inputs of the commutation driver circuit.
19. A hybrid vehicle having a frame and at least two wheels, the at least two wheels being movably coupled to the frame, the vehicle comprising:
(a) a power source that supplies polyphase electrical power and direct current (DC) power;
(b) at least one battery coupled to the power source to charge using DC power;
(c) an inverter coupled to the at least one battery to convert DC voltage to a polyphase voltage;
(d) a drive-wheel polyphase synchronous machine coupled to the inverter to receive polyphase voltage when operating as a motor, the drive-wheel polyphase synchronous machine having a stator and a rotor, one of the stator and rotor being fixed to the frame of the hybrid vehicle and the other of the stator and rotor being mechanically coupled to one of the at least two wheels to provide drive power thereto in a driving mode and to receive power therefrom in a coasting or a braking mode, the drive-wheel polyphase synchronous machine controlling acceleration and deceleration of the wheel coupled thereto; and
(e) a drive-wheel rectifying circuit that receives polyphase voltage from the drive-wheel polyphase synchronous machine and converts the polyphase voltage to a direct current voltage to charge the at least one battery when the drive-wheel polyphase synchronous machine is operating as a generator.
20. The hybrid vehicle of claim 19, wherein the power source includes:
(i) an internal combustion engine having an output shaft;
(ii) a power-system polyphase synchronous machine that converts mechanical input power to the polyphase electrical power being supplied, the power-system polyphase synchronous machine having a rotor and a stator, the output shaft being mechanically coupled to one of the rotor and the stator of the power-system polyphase synchronous machine; and
(iii) a power-system rectifying circuit that receives polyphase voltage from the power-system polyphase synchronous machine and converts the polyphase voltage to a DC voltage to charge the at least one battery.
21. The polyphase synchronous machine according to claim 19, further comprising:
(d) a step-down circuit formed by connecting a step-down sub-combination of the plurality of stator winding leads and by separately connecting a step-down sub-combination of the plurality of rotor winding leads, whereby the synchronous machine is configured as an electro-mechanical step-down transformer.
22. A hybrid vehicle having a frame, the vehicle comprising:
(a) a power source that supplies polyphase electrical power and direct current (DC) power;
(b) at least one battery coupled to the power source to charge using DC power;
(c) an inverter coupled to the at least one battery to convert DC voltage to a polyphase voltage;
(d) four drive wheels movably coupled to the frame of the vehicle;
(e) four drive-wheel control devices, each drive-wheel control device comprising:
(i) a drive-wheel polyphase synchronous machine coupled to the inverter to receive polyphase voltage when operating as a motor, the drive-wheel polyphase synchronous machine having a stator and a rotor, one of the stator and rotor being fixed to the frame of the hybrid vehicle and the other of the stator and rotor being mechanically coupled to a respective one of the four drive-wheels to provide drive power thereto in a driving mode and to receive power therefrom in a coasting or a braking mode, the drive-wheel polyphase synchronous machine controlling acceleration and deceleration of the wheel coupled thereto;
(ii) a drive-wheel control circuit that measures and controls the speed of the drive-wheel polyphase synchronous machine; and
(iii) a drive-wheel rectifying circuit that receives polyphase voltage from the drive-wheel polyphase synchronous machine and converts the polyphase voltage to a direct current voltage to charge the at least one battery when the drive-wheel polyphase synchronous machine is operating as a generator; and
(f) an anti-slip detection circuit that compares the speed of each drive-wheel polyphase synchronous machine to the speed of the other drive-wheel polyphase synchronous machines, the anti-slip detection circuit determining when the speed of one of the drive-wheel polyphase synchronous machines is greater than or less than one or more of the other drive-wheel polyphase synchronous machines by a predetermined amount.
23. An electrical generator comprising:
(a) an internal combustion engine having an output shaft; and
(b) polyphase synchronous machine mechanically coupled to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, the synchronous machine having a field coil, a rotor and polyphase windings, the synchronous machine including:
(ii) a machine frequency detection sensor set to 90\xb0 advanced electrically;
(iii) a machine frequency detection circuit coupled to the machine frequency detection sensor and configured to control electrical phase of the synchronous machine independent of frequency;
(iv) a commutation driver circuit coupled to the machine frequency detection circuit and having a high-side output coupled to the windings and a low-side output coupled to the windings, to the commutation driver circuit controlling the commutation of the synchronous machine only when the machine frequency detection circuit provides the commutation output; and
(v) a time delay circuit coupled to the machine frequency detection sensor, the machine frequency detection circuit and the commutation driver circuit, the time delay circuit providing a control output to the commutation driver circuit based upon an adjustable setpoint compared to a speed of the machine as measured by the machine frequency detection circuit, wherein control of the control output is independent of frequency.
24. A polyphase synchronous machine comprising:
(a) a stator having a plurality of stator windings, each stator winding having a plurality of stator winding leads;
(b) a rotor having a plurality of rotor windings, each rotor winding having a plurality of rotor winding leads, the rotor windings being inductively coupled to the stator windings by proximity and causing electrical power to be induced in the stator windings when the polyphase synchronous machine is being operated as a generator or receiving electromotive force from the stator windings when the polyphase synchronous machine is being operated as a motor; and
(c) a step-up circuit formed by connecting a step-up sub-combination of the plurality of stator winding leads and by separately connecting a step-up sub-combination of the plurality of rotor winding leads, whereby the synchronous machine is configured as an electro-mechanical step-up transformer.
25. An internal combustion engine-powered synchronous machine comprising:
(a) an internal combustion engine having a motor speed and an output shaft;
(b) a fuel flow control device that controls the flow of fuel to the internal combustion engine;
(c) a synchronous machine coupled to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, the synchronous machine having an electrical load;
(d) a control circuit that measures the electrical load of the synchronous machine and continuously controls the fuel flow control device in order to control the motor speed of the internal combustion engine based upon the measured electrical load from an idle speed to a maximum speed so as to achieve an optimal fuel efficiency with respect to electrical load.
26. The internal combustion engine-powered synchronous machine of claim 25, wherein the control circuit momentarily shifts electrical load, when there is a sudden electrical load increase at low engine speed, from the generator to the battery in order to prevent engine stall.
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 of forming a surgical opening extending through an abdominal wall and into a bladder, comprising:
providing an elongate tubular body having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
inserting the distal portion through a urethra and into the bladder;
providing an elongate arm having a first end and a second end having an indicator establishing an axis;
operably attaching the first end of the arm with the proximal portion of the tubular body and positioning the indicator externally over the abdominal wall with the axis arranged in coaxial alignment with the distal portion of the tubular body; and
puncturing the surgical opening with a cutting member extending along the axis through the bladder and through the abdominal wall.
2. The method of claim 1 further including puncturing the opening from inside the bladder outwardly through the abdominal wall.
3. The method of claim 2 further including extending the cutting member along the axis from the distal portion through the bladder and the abdominal wall.
4. The method of claim 3 further including attaching the cutting member to an elongate advancement member and sliding the advancement member in the tubular body to advance the cutting member through the bladder and the abdominal wall.
5. The method of claim 4 further including removing the cutting member from the advancement member after forming the opening and attaching a catheter to the advancement member externally of the abdominal wall and drawing the catheter into the bladder.
6. The method of claim 5 further including disconnecting the catheter from the advancement member while inside the bladder.
7. A method of forming a surgical opening extending through an abdominal wall and a bladder using a suprapubic transurethral cystotomy apparatus, the cystostomy apparatus comprising an elongate tubular body and an alignment structure, the tubular body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the alignment structure connecting to the proximal portion of the tubular body and having an indicator which indicates a pathway from the distal portion of the tubular body, the method comprising:
inserting the distal portion of the tubular body through a urethra and into the bladder while the proximal portion of the tubular body remains outside of the urethra;
manipulating the proximal portion of the tubular body outside of their urethra to position a distal tip of the distal portion at a predetermined location within the bladder at which the surgical opening will communicate with the bladder; and
forming the surgical opening by advancing a cutting member along the pathway through the bladder and the abdominal wall between the distal tip and the indicator.
8. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising:
manipulating the proximal portion of the tubular body and the connected alignment structure to position the indicator externally over the abdominal wall at a predetermined location at which the surgical opening will extend through the external abdominal wall.
9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the distal portion defines a pathway from the distal portion through the distal tip, and wherein the connected alignment structure positions the indicator in alignment with the pathway, and the method further comprises:
advancing the cutting member from the distal tip substantially along the pathway to the predetermined position at the external abdominal wall.
10. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising:
moving the indicator while maintaining alignment of the indicator with the pathway externally of the abdominal wall to accommodate a thickness of the abdominal wall at the predetermined location at the external abdominal wall.
11. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the distal portion is linear and inclined relative to the proximal portion of the tubular body and defines the pathway as an axis along the distal portion through the distal tip, and wherein the connected alignment structure positions the indicator in coaxial alignment with the axis, and the method further comprises:
advancing the cutting member from the distal tip substantially along the axis to the predetermined position at the external abdominal wall.
12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the cystotomy apparatus further comprises an advancement member movably positioned within the tubular body and to which the cutting member is connected at a distal end of the advancement member, and the method further comprises:
moving the advancement member to advance the cutting member from the distal tip of the tubular body at the predetermined location within the bladder substantially along the axis through the bladder and the abdominal wall to the predetermined location at the external abdominal wall indicated by the indicator to form the surgical opening.
13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein a proximal end of the advancement member extends from the proximal portion of the tubular member, and the method further comprises:
moving the advancement member to form the surgical opening by manipulating the proximal end of the advancement member extending from the proximal portion of the tubular member.
14. A method as defined in claim 12, further comprising:
disconnecting the cutting member from the distal end of the advancement member after forming the surgical pathway and while the distal end of the advancement member remains external of the abdominal wall;
connecting a surgical instrument to the distal end of the advancement member while advancement member extends through the surgical pathway and the distal end of the advancement member remains external of the abdominal wall; and
retracting the advancement member to guide the connected surgical instrument into the surgical pathway.
15. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising:
disconnecting the surgical instrument from the distal end of the advancement member inside the bladder.
16. A method as defined in claim 11, further comprising:
moving the indicator while maintaining the coaxial alignment of the indicator with the axis to accommodate a thickness of the abdominal wall at the predetermined location of the indicator.
17. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising:
capturing the cutting member in a capture device as the cutting member completes formation of the surgical opening at the predetermined location at the exterior abdominal wall.
18. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising:
positioning the capture device along the axis adjacent to the exterior abdominal wall.
19. A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising:
disconnecting the cutting member from the advancement member while the cutting member is captured within the capture device.
20. A method of forming a surgical opening extending through an abdominal wall and a bladder, comprising:
inserting a cutting member through a urethra and into the bladder to a predetermined location within the bladder at which the surgical opening will communicate with the bladder;
manipulating an indicator externally above the abdominal wall to a predetermined location at the exterior abdominal wall where the surgical opening will extend through the external abdominal wall, the indicator having a predetermined physical relationship with the cutting member which defines a path between the cutting member and the indicator; and
advancing the cutting member from the predetermined location within the bladder through the bladder and the abdominal wall to the predetermined location at the external abdominal wall to form the surgical opening.