1. An apparatus comprising:
a transformer comprising at least one winding, wherein said at least one winding has a first tap and a second tap, and having a magnetizing inductance; and
a bypass inductor having a first terminal coupled to said first tap, and a second terminal coupled to said second tap, and providing a bypass path around the transformer.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for redirecting a DC current to flow through said inductor, said means for directing DC current being arranged between said first tap and said first terminal of the inductor.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said means for redirecting a DC current comprises a resistor.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the resistor has a resistance value greater than the resistance value of the inductor.
5. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the means for redirecting a DC current further comprises a capacitor arranged in parallel with said resistor.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transformer comprises at least a primary winding and a secondary winding, and wherein said transformer is configured as a voltage combiner.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a first voltage is connected between first and second taps of said primary winding.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a second voltage is connected to a first tap of said secondary winding, said second voltage comprising a DC component, and wherein said at least one winding comprises said secondary winding.
9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein an output voltage being the combined first and second voltages is provided on a second tap of said secondary winding.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second voltage is a coarse voltage signal.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first voltage is a fine voltage signal representative of an error in the coarse voltage signal.
12. A power supply including the apparatus of claim 1.
13. The power supply of claim 12, wherein said power supply is configured to provide a modulated supply voltage to a power amplifier.
14. A voltage combiner comprising:
a transformer having a first and second winding each having a first and second tap, and having a magnetizing inductance; and
a bypass inductor connected between the first and second taps of the second winding,
wherein:
the first tap of the first winding is adapted for connection to a first voltage, the first tap of the second winding is adapted for connection to a second voltage, and the second tap of the second winding is adapted to provide an output being the first and second voltages combined,
and further wherein:
the bypass inductor is adapted to provide a bypass path for the current associated with the second voltage.
15. The voltage combiner of claim 14 further including a resistor connected between the first tap and the inductor for directing the DC current to the bypass path.
16. The voltage combiner of claim 15 further including a capacitor in parallel with the resistor to provide a low resistance path for AC current in the second voltage.
17. The voltage combiner of claim 16 wherein the second voltage is provided by a switchable voltage source and the first voltage is provided by subtracting the output voltage from a reference voltage.
18. The voltage combiner of claim 16 wherein the ratio of the resistance value of the resistor and the resistance value of the inductor determines the DC current flow in the inductor.
19. A method of reducing DC current in a winding of a transformer having a magnetizing inductance, the method comprising:
applying a voltage including a DC component to a first tap of the winding; and
providing a bypass inductor coupled between the first tap and a second tap of the winding;
wherein a proportion of the DC component of the voltage is bypassed around the transformer through said bypass inductor.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising controlling the proportion of the DC component that is bypassed around the transformer by providing a resistive element coupled between the first tap.
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 linear motion return mechanism, comprising:
a frame;
spring means, fixed relative to said frame, having one or more elastic arms which provide a force when shifted outwardly;
a movable body, shiftable within said frame between a first at rest position and a second activated position, having a pair of extensions located between said one or more arms of said spring means;
and a pair of rollers, each rotatably coupled at the end of a body extension, contacting said one or more arms of said spring means;
such that when said movable body is shifted from said first at rest position to said second activated position, said body is returned to said first at rest position by the force applied to said rollers by said spring means when said arms are shifted outwardly.
2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said spring means comprises a torsional spring.
3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said frame further comprises a pair of rails for guiding said movable body in a linear direction.
4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the cross section of said spring arms is circular.
5. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the cross section of said spring arms is rectangular.
6. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said rollers each contain a groove for guiding said spring arm.
7. The mechanism of claim 6, further comprising a retaining member enclosing said groove of each roller to contain said spring arm within said groove.
8. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said spring means comprises a torsional spring having a concentric loop connecting said first and second arms.
9. The mechanism of claim 8, wherein said spring means comprises a first concentric loop coupled to said first arm, a second concentric loop coupled to said second arm, and a linear section coupling said first and second concentric loops.
10. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a first compression spring coupled to said first arm and a second compression spring coupled to said second arm wherein said first and second compression springs bias said first and second arms toward one another.
11. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising guide means, affixed relative to said frame, having a first channel for limiting the outward travel of said first arm and a second channel for limiting the outward travel of said second arm.
12. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said spring means is affixed to said frame.
13. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said first and second arms of said spring means are angled toward one another.
14. The mechanism of claim 13, wherein said first and second arms comprise linear arms.
15. The mechanism of claim 13, wherein said first and second arms comprise curvilinear arms.
16. A return mechanism for use in a fastener driving tool of the type having a body, a fastener containing magazine affixed to said body, a trigger for actuating a drive cycle in said tool, a cylinder within said tool and an assembly located within said cylinder movable between an actuated position and a fastener driving position, said mechanism comprising:
a frame affixed within the cylinder;
spring means, affixed to said frame, having a pair of downwardly depending elastic arms which provide a force when shifted outwardly;
a piston, movable within said frame between an unactuated position and an actuated fastener driving position, having a pair of extensions located between said arms of said spring means;
a pair of rollers, each rotatably coupled to the end of a piston extension and contacting an arm of said spring means;
and a driver blade, affixed to said piston between said extensions, for driving a fastener from said magazine;
such that when said trigger is actuated, said piston and driver shift from said unactuated position to said fastener driving position to drive a fastener from said magazine, said piston and driver are returned to said unactuated position by the force applied to said rollers by said spring means when said arms are shifted outwardly.
17. The mechanism of claim 16, wherein said spring means comprises a torsional spring.
18. The mechanism of claim 16, wherein said frame further comprises a pair of rails for guiding said piston in a linear direction.
19. The mechanism of claim 16, wherein said pair of downwardly depending arms are angled inwardly.