Author: claimsbot

1. An apparatus for charging an electrical energy store from an AC voltage source, the apparatus comprising:
a rectifier device with a capacitor interconnected in parallel with the rectifier device;
a current controller device having a switch, the current controller device interconnected with the rectifier device;
a converter device interconnected with the current controller device, the converter device having at least one first half-bridge comprising two switches connected in series;
an inductor interconnected with a connection point between the two switches of the first half-bridge and with the current controller; and
a three-phase electric motor including a first winding interconnected at the connection point between the two switches of the at least one first half-bridge of the converter device,
wherein, depending on the voltage of the AC voltage source and a current through the inductor, the switch of the current controller device and one of the switches of the first half-bridge of the converter device are switchable by a controller so that a charging current for charging the electrical energy store drawn from the AC voltage source and a voltage of the AC voltage source are substantially in phase.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein depending on the charging current and the voltage of the AC voltage source, a duty ratio of the second switch of the first half-bridge and of the switch of the current controller device is adjustable by the controller.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switch of the current controller device is permanently closed, wherein only the second switch of the first half-bridge of the converter device is cyclically switched.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the three-phase electric motor includes a second winding interconnected with a connection point between two switches of a second half-bridge of the converter device and a third winding interconnected with a connection point between two switches of a third half-bridge of the converter device.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second switches of the second and the third half-bridge of the converter device are switchable in a synchronized manner.
6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second switches of the second and the third half-bridges of the converter device are switchable in an interleaved manner.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, including omitting an intermediate circuit capacitor from the apparatus.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus being free from a transformer device providing galvanic isolation.
9. A method for charging an electrical energy store from an AC voltage source with an apparatus, comprising the steps of:
rectifying an AC input voltage with a rectifier device of the apparatus;
stepping down the rectified AC input voltage when a voltage level of the AC input voltage is higher than a voltage level of the electrical energy store using a step down converter of the apparatus; and
generating a back-emf with respect to the rectified voltage with a converter device of the apparatus, the converter device including at least one half-bridge so that a voltage of the AC voltage source and a current which is drawn from the AC voltage source are provided to the electrical energy store substantially in phase for charging the electrical energy store,
wherein the apparatus is free from an intermediate circuit capacitor.
10. The method according to claim 9, including providing an inductor between the step down converter and the converter device, the converter device including a plurality of half-bridges that each have first and second switches in series.
11. The method according to claim 10, including switching the second switches of the half-bridges in a synchronized manner.
12. The method according to claim 10, including switching the second switches of the half-bridges in an interleaved manner.
13. The method according to claim 9, including providing an inductor between the step down converter and the converter device.
14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is free from a transformer device providing galvanic isolation.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code for executing on an electronic controller to:
rectify an AC input voltage with a rectifier device of an apparatus;
stepping down the rectified AC input voltage when a voltage level of the AC input voltage is higher than a voltage level of the electrical energy store using a step down converter of the apparatus; and
generating a back-emf with respect to the rectified voltage with a converter device of the apparatus including at least one half-bridge so that a voltage of the AC voltage source and a current which are drawn from the AC voltage source are provided to the electrical energy store substantially in phase for charging the electrical energy store,
wherein the apparatus is free from an intermediate circuit capacitor.

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 sequencer system for corrosion data collection of specimens, comprising:
a container adapted to hold a plurality of specimens and a solution bath therein;
a reference electrode disposed near one inner side of the container;
a counter electrode disposed near another inner side of the container, the plurality of specimens being placed between the reference electrode and the counter electrode during a testing session;
a potentiostat coupled to the reference electrode and the counter electrode, the potentiostat facilitating a plurality of polarization cycles during the testing session;
a sequencer coupled to each of the specimens, the sequencer selectively switching connection to specimens between each polarization cycle of the potentiostat; and
a computer coupled to the potentiostat and the sequencer, the computer having a program for controlling synchronized operations of the potentiostat and the sequencer to thereby obtain data from each specimen during a single testing session.
2. The sequencer system for corrosion data collection of specimens according to claim 1, wherein said sequencer comprises:
a plurality of working electrode lines, each working electrode line being coupled to a respective specimen; and
a circuit communicating with each working electrode, the circuit selectively opening connection to a tested specimen and closing connection to a subsequent specimen to be tested between each polarization cycle of the potentiostat.
3. The sequencer system for corrosion data collection of specimens according to claim 1, wherein each of the polarization cycles comprises an idle phase and an active phase, the idle phase being divided into a pre-polarization pause and a post-polarization pause, said sequencer switching connection between one of the specimens to another during the idle phase.
4. The sequencer system for corrosion data collection of specimens according to claim 3, wherein said program for controlling synchronized operations of said potentiostat and said sequencer comprises:
means for establishing a number of specimens to be tested from the plurality of specimens;
means for operating said potentiostat to run said polarization cycle on a specimen; and
means for repeating the step of operating said potentiostat for each specimen until all of the specimens have been tested, said sequencer opening connection to a tested specimen and closing connection to the subsequent specimen to be tested during said idle phase in each of the polarization cycles.
5. The sequencer system for corrosion data collection of specimens according to claim 4, wherein said program for controlling synchronized operations of the potentiostat and the sequencer further comprises means for recording data from each tested specimen for further processing and analysis.
6. A method of collecting corrosion data from specimens, comprising the steps of:
providing a sequencer system, the sequencer system comprising:
a container adapted to hold a plurality of specimens and a solution bath therein;
a reference electrode disposed near one inner side of the container;
a counter electrode disposed near another inner side of the container, the plurality of specimens being placed between the reference electrode and the counter electrode during a testing session;
a potentiostat coupled to the reference electrode and the counter electrode, the potentiostat facilitating a plurality of polarization cycles during the testing session;
a sequencer adapted to be coupled to each specimen, the sequencer switching connection to select specimens between each polarization cycle of the potentiostat; and
a computer coupled to the potentiostat and the sequencer, the computer having a program for controlling synchronized operations of the potentiostat and the sequencer;

extending a working electrode line between the sequencer and each specimen to couple the sequencer to each specimen;
supplying the container with the bath solution; and
running the program to test all the specimens, the program controlling the sequencer and monitoring polarization activities in the potentiostat to facilitate the sequencer switching connection between specimens during pauses between polarization cycles.
7. The method of collecting corrosion data from specimens according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of
establishing a number of specimens to be tested from the plurality of specimens;
operating said potentiostat to run said polarization cycle on a specimen; and
repeating the step of operating said potentiostat for each specimen till all the number of specimens have been tested.
8. The method of collecting corrosion data from specimens according to claim 7, further comprising the step of recording data from each tested specimen for further processing and analysis.

1. A visual sensing and control system, comprising:
a first image sensing device;
a first controller associated with said first image sensing device; and
a computer vision system in communication with said first image sensing device and first controller, wherein said computer vision system receives image data from said first image sensing device and sends a signal through said controller to control a recognized object.
2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a haptic stimulator.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the image sensing device is a video camera.
4. A visual sensing and tactile stimulation system, comprising:
a first image sensing device;
a first haptic stimulator associated with said first image sensing device; and
a computer vision system in communication with said first image sensing device and first haptic stimulator, wherein said computer vision system receives image data from said first image sensing device and sends a signal to said first haptic stimulator when said received image data corresponds to a recognized object.
5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising:
a second image sensing device; and
a second haptic stimulator associated with said second image sensing device, wherein said second image sensing device and second haptic stimulator are in communication with said computer vision system.
6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the image sensing device is a video camera.
7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the image sensing device is a laser range finder.
8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the haptic stimulator is a vibratory transducer.
8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the haptic stimulator is a pneumatic device.
10. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of navigational beacons.
11. A method for remotely sensing the environment, comprising the steps of:
gathering image data using an image sensing device mounted on a user;
communicating the image data to a computer vision system;
processing the image data by the computer vision system to identify a specific feature in the environment; and
transmitting a signal to a haptic stimulator mounted on a user which provides tactile sensations when the specific feature in the environment is identified by the computer vision system.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the image sensing device and haptic stimulator are mounted on the dorsal aspect of a fingertip.
13. A method according to claim 11, wherein said processing step identifies edges or obstructions in the environment, and further wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting signals to the haptic stimulator when edges or obstructions in the environment are identified.
14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the computer vision system includes a database housing a plurality of predefined features in the environment.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the specific feature in said processing step is selected from said database via voice command.
16. A method according to claim 11, further comprising transmitting a command signal from said computer vision system to a controller associated with an object in the environment.
17. A method according to claim 11, wherein the image sensing device is mounted on the dorsal aspect of a fingertip.
18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the specific object identified by the computer vision system is a cursor on a computer screen, and further wherein the controller transmits signals to move the cursor on the computer screen.
19. A method according to claim 11, wherein said step of gathering image data includes gathering image data using a plurality of image sensing devices mounted on a user.
20. A method according to claim 19, wherein said step of processing the image data includes the computer vision system identifying a different specific feature in the environment for each of said plurality of image sensing devices.

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 liquid pump comprising
an annular stator having wire windings and a central opening,
a non-ferrous sealed housing having an inner opening that is accessible only through an input opening and an output opening,
a portion of said housing extending through said central opening of said stator,
a brushless rotor mounted on a shaft,
said brushless rotor and said shaft being entirely within said housing, and
a drive attached to said shaft wherein liquid from said input opening is urged by said drive toward said output opening.
2. A pump comprising
a sealed outer housing,
said sealed outer housing having a central opening accessible only through an input opening and an output opening,
a stator having a plurality of windings surrounding a central opening,
said central opening of said stator forming a portion of said central opening of said housing wherein liquid entering said central opening of said pump through said input opening will pass through said central opening of said stator to reach said output opening,
a rotor within said central opening of said stator, and
a drive connected to said rotor and within said central opening of said housing for urging said liquid or gas from said input opening to said output opening.
3. The pump of claim 21 wherein
said windings are configured as a plurality of lobes around a portion of said central opening of said housing, and
a spacing between two of said lobes wherein a portion of said liquid moving from said input opening passes between said spacing to reach said output opening.
4. The pump of claim 3 wherein said stator comprises at least four of said lobes and a spacing exists between adjacent pairs of said lobes wherein a portion of said liquid will pass between said adjacent pairs of lobes.
5. The pump of claim 2 and further comprising a sealing material applied to an outer surface of said windings to protect said windings from said liquid.